A General History of the Pyrates Part 14

_To Desert the Ship, or their Quarters in Battle, was punished with Death, or Marooning._

VIII.

_No striking one another on Board, but every Man's Quarrels to be ended on Sh.o.r.e, at Sword and Pistol, Thus_; The Quarter-Master of the Ship, when the Parties will not come to any Reconciliation, accompanies them on Sh.o.r.e with what a.s.sistance he thinks proper, and turns the Disputants Back to Back, at so many Paces Distance: At the Word of Command, they turn and fire immediately, (or else the Piece is knocked out of their Hands:) If both miss, they come to their Cutlashes, and then he is declared Victor who draws the first Blood.

IX.

_No Man to talk of breaking up their Way of Living, till each had shared a_ 1000 _l. If in order to this, any Man should lose a Limb, or become a Cripple in their Service, he was to have_ 800 _Dollars, out of the publick Stock, and for lesser Hurts, proportionably._

X.

_The Captain and Quarter-Master to receive two Shares of a Prize; the Master, Boatswain, and Gunner, one Share and a half, and other Officers, one and a Quarter._

XI.

_The Musicians to have Rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six Days and Nights, none without special Favour._

These, we are a.s.sured, were some of _Roberts_'s Articles, but as they had taken Care to throw over-board the Original they had sign'd and sworn to, there is a great deal of Room to suspect, the remainder contained something too horrid to be disclosed to any, except such as were willing to be Sharers in the Iniquity of them; let them be what they will, they were together the Test of all new Comers, who were initiated by an Oath taken on a Bible, reserv'd for that Purpose only, and were subscrib'd to in Presence of the worshipful Mr. _Roberts._ And in Case any Doubt should arise concerning the Construction of these Laws, and it should remain a Dispute whether the Party had infring'd them or no, a Jury is appointed to explain them, and bring in a Verdict upon the Case in Doubt.

Since we are now speaking of the Laws of this Company, I shall go on, and, in as brief a Manner as I can, relate the princ.i.p.al Customs, and Government, of this roguish Common-Wealth; which are pretty near the same with all Pyrates.

For the Punishment of small Offences, which are not provided for by the Articles, and which are not of Consequence enough to be left to a Jury, there is a princ.i.p.al Officer among the Pyrates, called the Quarter-Master, of the Mens own chusing, who claims all Authority this Way, (excepting in Time of Battle:) If they disobey his Command, are quarrelsome and mutinous with one another, misuse Prisoners, plunder beyond his Order, and in particular, if they be negligent of their Arms, which he musters at Discretion, he punishes at his own Arbitrement, with drubbing or whipping, which no one else dare do without incurring the Lash from all the Ships Company: In short, this Officer is Trustee for the whole, is the first on Board any Prize, separating for the Company's Use, what he pleases, and returning what he thinks fit to the Owners, excepting Gold and Silver, which they have voted not returnable.

After a Description of the Quarter-Master, and his Duty, who acts as a sort of a civil Magistrate on Board a Pyrate Ship; I shall consider their military Officer, the Captain; what Privileges he exerts in such anarchy and unrulyness of the Members: Why truly very little, they only permit him to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be Captain over him; they separate to his Use the great Cabin, and sometimes vote him small Parcels of Plate and China, (for it may be noted that _Roberts_ drank his Tea constantly) but then every Man, as the Humour takes him, will use the Plate and China, intrude into his Apartment, swear at him, seize a Part of his Victuals and Drink, if they like it, without his offering to find Fault or contest it: Yet _Roberts_, by a better Management than usual, became the chief Director in every Thing of Moment, and it happened thus:--The Rank of Captain being obtained by the Suffrage of the Majority, it falls on one superior for Knowledge and Boldness, _Pistol Proof_ (as they call it,) and can make those fear, who do not love him; _Roberts_ is said to have exceeded his Fellows in these Respects, and when advanced, enlarged the Respect that followed it, by making a sort of Privy-Council of half a Dozen of the greatest Bullies; such as were his Compet.i.tors, and had Interest enough to make his Government easy; yet even those, in the latter Part of his Reign, he had run counter to in every Project that opposed his own Opinion; for which, and because he grew reserved, and would not drink and roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed to take away his Captainship, which Death did more effectually.

The Captain's Power is uncontroulable in Chace, or in Battle, drubbing, cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his Command. The same Privilege he takes over Prisoners, who receive good or ill Usage, mostly as he approves of their Behaviour, for tho' the meanest would take upon them to misuse a Master of a Ship, yet he would controul herein, when he see it, and merrily over a Bottle, give his Prisoners this double Reason for it.

First, That it preserved his Precedence; and secondly, That it took the Punishment out of the Hands of a much more rash and mad Sett of Fellows than himself. When he found that Rigour was not expected from his People, (for he often practised it to appease them,) then he would give Strangers to understand, that it was pure Inclination that induced him to a good Treatment of them, and not any Love or Partiality to their Persons; for, says he, _there is none of you but will hang me, I know, whenever you can clinch me within your Power._

And now seeing the Disadvantages they were under for pursuing the Account, _viz._ a small Vessel ill repaired, and without Provisions, or Stores; they resolved one and all, with the little Supplies they could get, to proceed for the _West-Indies_, not doubting to find a Remedy for all these Evils, and to retreive their Loss.

In the Lat.i.tude of _Deseada_, one of the Islands, they took two Sloops, which supply'd them with Provisions and other Necessaries; and a few Days afterwards, took a Brigantine belonging to _Rhode Island_, and then proceeded to _Barbadoes_, off of which Island, they fell in with a _Bristol_ Ship of 10 Guns, in her Voyage out, from whom they took abundance of Cloaths, some Money, twenty five Bales of Goods, five Barrels of Powder, a Cable, Hawser, 10 Casks of Oatmeal, six Casks of Beef, and several other Goods, besides five of their Men; and after they had detained her three Days, let her go; who being bound for the abovesaid Island, she acquainted the Governor with what had happened, as soon as she arrived.

Whereupon a _Bristol_ Galley that lay in the Harbour, was ordered to be fitted out with all imaginable Expedition, of 20 Guns, and 80 Men, there being then no Man of War upon that Station, and also a Sloop with 10 Guns, and 40 Men: The Galley was commanded by one Captain _Rogers_, of _Bristol_, and the Sloop by Captain _Graves_, of that Island, and Captain _Rogers_ by a Commission from the Governor, was appointed Commadore.

The second Day after _Rogers_ sailed out of the Harbour, he was discovered by _Roberts_, who knowing nothing of their Design, gave them Chase: The _Barbadoes_ Ships kept an easy sail till the Pyrates came up with them, and then _Roberts_ gave them a Gun, expecting they would have immediately struck to his pyratical Flag, but instead thereof, he was forced to receive the Fire of a Broadside, with three Huzzas at the same Time; so that an Engagement ensued, but _Roberts_ being hardly put to it, was obliged to crowd all the Sail the Sloop would bear, to get off: The Galley sailing pretty well, kept Company for a long while, keeping a constant Fire, which gail'd the Pyrate; however, at length by throwing over their Guns, and other heavy Goods, and thereby light'ning the Vessel, they, with much ado, got clear; but _Roberts_ could never endure a _Barbadoes_ Man afterwards, and when any Ships belonging to that Island fell in his Way, he was more particularly severe to them than others.

Captain _Roberts_ sailed in the Sloop to the Island of _Dominico_, where he watered, and got Provisions of the Inhabitants, to whom he gave Goods in Exchange. At this Place he met with 13 _Englishmen_, who had been set ash.o.r.e by a _French Guard de la Coste_, belonging to _Martinico_, taken out of two _New-England_ Ships, that had been seiz'd, as Prize, by the said _French_ Sloop: The Men willingly entered with the Pyrates, and it proved a seasonable Recruit.

They staid not long here, tho' they had immediate Occasion for cleaning their Sloop, but did not think this a proper Place, and herein they judg'd right; for the touching at this Island, had like to have been their Destruction, because they having resolved to go away to the _Granada_ Islands, for the aforesaid Purpose, by some Accident it came to be known to the _French_ Colony, who sending Word to the Governor of _Martinico_, he equipped and manned two Sloops to go in Quest of them. The Pyrates sailed directly for the _Granadilloes_, and hall'd into a Lagoon, at _Corvocoo_, where they cleaned with unusual Dispatch, staying but a little above a Week, by which Expedition they missed of the _Martinico_ Sloops, only a few Hours; _Roberts_ sailing over Night, that the _French_ arrived the next Morning. This was a fortunate Escape, especially considering, that it was not from any Fears of their being discovered, that they made so much hast from the Island; but, as they had the Impudence themselves to own, for the want of Wine and Women.

Thus narrowly escaped, they sailed for _Newfoundland_, and arrived upon the Banks the latter end of _June_, 1720. They entered the Harbour of _Trepa.s.si_, with their black Colours flying, Drums beating, and Trumpets sounding. There were two and twenty Vessels in the Harbour, which the Men all quitted upon the Sight of the Pyrate, and fled ash.o.r.e. It is impossible particularly to recount the Destruction and Havock they made here, burning and sinking all the shipping, except a _Bristol_ Galley, and destroying the Fisheries, and Stages of the poor Planters, without Remorse or Compunction; for nothing is so deplorable as Power in mean and ignorant Hands, it makes Men wanton and giddy, unconcerned at the Misfortunes they are imposing on their Fellow Creatures, and keeps them smiling at the Mischiefs, that bring themselves no Advantage. _They are like mad Men, that cast Fire-Brands, Arrows, and Death, and say, are not we in Sport?_

_Roberts_ mann'd the _Bristol_ Galley he took in the Harbour, and mounted 16 Guns on Board her, and cruising out upon the Banks, he met with nine or ten Sail of _French_ Ships, all which he destroyed except one of 26 Guns, which they seiz'd, and carried off for their own Use. This Ship they christ'ned _the Fortune_, and leaving the _Bristol_ Galley to the _French_ Men, they sailed away in Company with the Sloop, on another Cruise, and took several Prizes, _viz._ the _Richard_ of _Biddiford, Jonathan Whitfield_ Master; the _Willing Mind_ of _Pool_; the _Expectation_ of _Topsham_; and the _Samuel_, Captain _Cary_, of _London_; out of these Ships they encreased their Company, by entring all the Men they could well spare, in their own Service. The _Samuel_ was a rich Ship, and had several Pa.s.sengers on Board, who were used very roughly, in order to make them discover their Money, threatning them every Moment with Death, if they did not resign every Thing up to them. They tore up the Hatches and entered the Hold like a parcel of Furies, and with Axes and Cutlashes, cut and broke open all the Bales, Cases, and Boxes, they could lay their Hands on; and when any Goods came upon Deck, that they did not like to carry aboard, instead of tossing them into the Hold again, threw them over-board into the Sea; all this was done with incessant cursing and swearing, more like Fiends than Men. They carried with them, Sails, Guns, Powder, Cordage, and 8 or 9000 l. worth of the choicest Goods; and told Captain _Cary, That they should accept of no Act of Grace; that the K-- and P--t might be d.a.m.ned with their Acts of G-- for them; neither would they go to_ Hope-Point, _to be hang'd up a Sun drying, as_ Kidd_'s, and_ Braddish_'s Company were; but that if they should ever be overpower'd, they would set Fire to the Powder, with a Pistol, and go all merrily to h.e.l.l together._

After they had brought all the Booty aboard, a Consultation was held whether they should sink or burn the Ship, but whilst they were debating the Matter, they spyed a Sail, and so left the _Samuel_, to give her Chace; at Midnight they came up with the same, which proved to be a Snow from _Bristol_, bound for _Boston_, Captain _Bowles_ Master: They us'd him barbarously, because of his Country, Captain _Rogers_, who attack'd them off _Barbadoes_, being of the City of _Bristol._

_July_ the 16th, which was two Days afterwards, they took a _Virginia_ Man called the _Little York, James Philips_ Master, and the _Love_, of _Leverpool_, which they plundered and let go; the next Day a Snow from _Bristol_, call'd the _Phoenix, John Richards_ Master, met with the same Fate from them; as also a Brigantine, Captain _Thomas_, and a Sloop called the _Sadbury_; they took all the Men out of the Brigantine, and sunk the Vessel.

When they left the Banks of _Newfoundland_, they sailed for the _West-Indies_, and the Provisions growing short, they went for the Lat.i.tude of the Island _Deseada_, to cruise, it being esteemed the likeliest Place to meet with such Ships as (they used in their Mirth to say) were consigned to them, with Supplies. And it has been very much suspected that Ships have loaded with Provisions at the _English_ Colonies, on pretence of Trading on the Coast of _Africa_, when they have in reality been consigned to them; and tho' a shew of Violence is offered to them when they meet, yet they are pretty sure of bringing their Cargo to a good Market.

However, at this Time they missed with their usual Luck, and Provisions and Necessaries becoming more scarce every Day, they retired towards St.

_Christophers_, where being deny'd all Succour or a.s.sistance from the Government, they fir'd in Revenge on the Town, and burnt two Ships in the Road, one of them commanded by Captain _c.o.x_, of _Bristol_; and then retreated farther to the Island of St. _Bartholomew_, where they met with much handsomer Treatment. The Governor not only supplying them with Refreshments, but he and the Chiefs carressing them in the most friendly Manner: And the Women, from so good an Example, endeavoured to outvie each other in Dress, and Behaviour, to attract the good Graces of such generous Lovers, that paid well for their Favours.

Sated at length with these Pleasures, and having taken on Board a good supply of fresh Provisions, they voted unanimously for the Coast of _Guiney_, and in the Lat.i.tude of 22 N. in their Voyage thither, met with a _French_ Ship from _Martinico_, richly laden, and, which was unlucky for the Master, had a property of being fitter for their Purpose, than the Banker. _Exchange was no Robbery_ they said, and so after a little mock Complaisance to _Monsieur_, for the Favour he had done them, they shifted their Men, and took leave: This was their first _Royal Fortune._

In this Ship _Roberts_ proceeded on his designed Voyage; but before they reached _Guiney_, he proposed to touch at _Brava_, the Southermost of _Cape_ _Verd_ Islands and clean. But here again by an intolerable Stupidity and want of Judgment, they got so far to Leeward of their Port, that despairing to regain it, or any of the Windward Parts of _Africa_, they were obliged to go back again with the Trade-Wind, for the _West-Indies_; which had very near been the Destruction of them all. _Surinam_ was the Place now designed for, which was at no less than 700 Leagues Distance, and they had but one Hogshead of Water left to supply 124 Souls for that Pa.s.sage; a sad Circ.u.mstance that eminently exposes the Folly and Madness among Pyrates, and he must be an inconsiderate Wretch indeed, who, if he could separate the Wickedness and Punishment from the Fact, would yet hazard his Life amidst such Dangers, as their want of Skill and Forecast made them liable to.

Their Sins, we may presume were never so troublesome to their Memories, as now, that inevitable Destruction seem'd to threaten them, without the least Glympse of Comfort or Alleviation to their Misery; for, with what Face could Wretches who had ravaged and made so many Necessitous, look up for Relief; they had to that Moment lived in Defiance of the Power that now alone they must trust for their Preservation, and indeed without the miraculous Intervention of Providence, there appeared only this miserable Choice, viz. a present Death by their own Hands, or a ling'ring one by Famine.

They continued their Course, and came to an Allowance of one single Mouthful of Water for 24 Hours; many of them drank their Urine, or Sea Water, which, instead of allaying, gave them an inextinguishable Thirst, that killed them: Others pined and wasted a little more Time in Fluxes and Apyrexies, so that they dropped away daily. Those that sustain'd the Misery best, were such as almost starved themselves, forbearing all sorts of Food, unless a Mouthful or two of Bread the whole Day, so that those who survived were as weak as it was possible for Men to be and alive.

But if the dismal Prospect they set out with, gave them Anxiety, Trouble, or Pain, what must their Fears and Apprehensions be, when they had not one Drop of Water left, or any other Liquor to moisten or animate. This was their Case, when (by the working of Divine Providence, no doubt,) they were brought into Soundings, and at Night anch.o.r.ed in seven Fathom Water: This was an inexpressible Joy to them, and, as it were, fed the expiring Lamp of Life with fresh Spirits; but this could not hold long. When the Morning came, they saw Land from the Mast-Head, but it was at so great a Distance, that it afforded but an indifferent Prospect to Men who had drank nothing for the two last Days; however, they dispatch'd their Boat away, and late the same Night it return'd, to their no small Comfort, with a load of Water, informing them, that they had got off the Mouth of _Meriwinga_ River on the Coast of _Surinam._

One would have thought so miraculous an Escape should have wrought some Reformation, but ala.s.s, they had no sooner quenched their Thirst, but they had forgot the Miracle, till Scarcity of Provisions awakened their Senses, and bid them guard against starving; their allowance was very small, and yet they would profanely say, _That Providence which had gave them Drink, would, no doubt, bring them Meat also, if they would use but an honest Endeavour._

In pursuance of these honest Endeavours, they were steering for the Lat.i.tude of _Barbadoes_, with what little they had left, to look out for more, or Starve; and, in their Way, met a Ship that answered their Necessities, and after that a Brigantine; the former was called the _Greyhound_, belonging to St. _Christophers_, and bound to _Philadelphia_, the Mate of which signed the Pyrate's Articles, and was afterwards Captain of the _Ranger_, Consort to the _Royal Fortune._

Out of the Ship and Brigantine, the Pyrates got a good supply of Provisions and Liquor, so that they gave over the designed Cruise, and watered at _Tobago_, and hearing of the two Sloops that had been fitted out and sent after them at _Corvocoo_, they sailed to the Island of _Martinico_, to make the Governor some sort of an Equivalent, for the Care and Expedition he had shewn in that Affair.

It is the Custom at _Martinico_, for the _Dutch_ Interlopers that have a Mind to Trade with the People of the Island, to hoist their Jacks when they come before the Town: _Roberts_ knew the Signal, and being an utter Enemy to them, he bent his Thoughts upon Mischief; and accordingly came in with his Jack flying, which, as he expected, they mistook for a good Market, and thought themselves happiest that could soonest dispatch off their Sloops and Vessels for Trade. When _Roberts_ had got them within his Power, (one after another,) he told them, he would not have it said that they came off for nothing, and therefore ordered them to leave their Money behind, for that they were a Parcel of Rogues, and hoped they would always meet with such a _Dutch_ Trade as this was; he reserved one Vessel to set the Pa.s.sengers on Sh.o.r.e again, and fired the rest, to the Number of twenty.

_Roberts_ was so enraged at the Attempts that had been made for taking of him, by the Governors of _Barbados_ and _Martinico_, that he ordered a new Jack to be made, which they ever after hoisted, with his own Figure pourtray'd, standing upon two Skulls, and under them the Letters _A B H_ and _A M H_, signifying a _Barbadian_'s and a _Martinican_'s Head, as may be seen in the Plate of Captain _Roberts._

At _Dominico_, the next Island they touched at, they took a _Dutch_ Interloper of 22 Guns and 75 Men, and a Brigantine belonging to _Rhode-Island_, one _Norton_ Master. The former made some Defence, till some of his Men being killed, the rest were discouraged and struck their Colours. With these two Prizes they went down to _Guadalupe_, and brought out a Sloop, and a _French_ Fly-Boat laden with Sugar; the Sloop they burnt, and went on to _Moonay_, another Island, thinking to clean, but finding the Sea ran too high there to undertake it with Safety, they bent their Course for the North Part of _Hispaniola_, where, at Bennet's Key, in the Gulf of _Saminah_, they cleaned both the Ship and the Brigantine. For tho' _Hispaniola_ be settled by the _Spaniards_ and _French_, and is the Residence of a President from _Spain_, who receives, and finally determines Appeals from all the other _Spanish West-India_ Islands; yet is its People by no Means proportioned to its Magnitude, so that there are many Harbours in it, to which Pyrates may securely resort without Fear of Discovery from the Inhabitants.

Whilst they were here, two Sloops came in, as they pretended, to pay _Roberts_ a Visit, the Masters, whose Names were _Porter_ and _Tuckerman_, addressed the Pyrate, as the Queen of _Sheba_ did _Solomon_, to wit, _That having heard of his Fame and Atchievements_, they had put in there to learn his Art and Wisdom in the Business of pyrating, being Vessels on the same honourable Design with himself; and hoped with the Communication of his Knowledge, they should also receive his Charity, being in want of Necessaries for such Adventures. _Roberts_ was won upon by the Peculiarity and Bluntness of these two Men, and gave them Powder, Arms, and what ever else they had Occasion for, spent two or three merry Nights with them, and at parting, said, _he hoped the L-- would Prosper their handy Works._

They pa.s.sed some Time here, after they had got their Vessel ready, in their usual Debaucheries; they had taken a considerable Quanty of Rum and Sugar, so that Liquor was as plenty as Water, and few there were, who denied themselves the immoderate Use of it; nay, Sobriety brought a Man under a Suspicion of being in a Plot against the Commonwealth, and in their Sense, he was looked upon to be a Villain that would not be drunk. This was evident in the Affair of _Harry Glasby_, chosen Master of the _Royal Fortune_, who, with two others, laid hold of the Opportunity at the last Island they were at, to move off without bidding Farewel to his Friends.

_Glasby_ was a reserved sober Man, and therefore gave Occasion to be suspected, so that he was soon missed after he went away; and a Detachment being sent in quest of the Deserters, they were all three brought back again the next Day. This was a capital Offence, and for which they were ordered to be brought to an immediate Tryal.

Here was the Form of Justice kept up, which is as much as can be said of several other Courts, that have more lawful Commissions for what they do.--Here was no feeing of Council, and bribing of Witnesses was a Custom not known among them; no packing of Juries, no torturing and wresting the Sense of the Law, for bye Ends and Purposes, no puzzling or perplexing the Cause with unintelligible canting Terms, and useless Distinctions; nor was their Sessions burthened with numberless Officers, the Ministers of Rapine and Extortion, with ill boding Aspects, enough to fright _Astraea_ from the Court. The Place appointed for their Tryals, was the Steerage of the Ship; in order to which, a large Bowl of Rum Punch was made, and placed upon the Table, the Pipes and Tobacco being ready, the judicial Proceedings began; the Prisoners were brought forth, and Articles of Indictment against them read; they were arraigned upon a Statute of their own making, and the Letter of the Law being strong against them, and the Fact plainly proved, they were about to p.r.o.nounce Sentence, when one of the Judges mov'd, that they should first Smoak t'other Pipe; which was accordingly done.

All the Prisoners pleaded for Arrest of Judgment very movingly, but the Court had such an Abhorrence of their Crime, that they could not be prevailed upon to shew Mercy, till one of the Judges, whose Name was _Valentine Ashplant_, stood up, and taking his Pipe out of his Mouth, said, he had something to offer to the Court in behalf of one of the Prisoners; and spoke to this Effect.-- _By G--_, Glasby _shall not dye; d--n me if he shall._ After this learned Speech, he sat down in his Place, and resumed his Pipe. This Motion was loudly opposed by all the rest of the Judges, in equivalent Terms; but _Ashplant_, who was resolute in his Opinion, made another pathetical Speech in the following Manner. _G-- d--n ye Gentlemen, I am as good a Man as the best of you; d--m my_ S--l _if ever I turned my Back to any Man in my Life, or ever will, by G_--; Glasby _is an honest Fellow, notwithstanding this Misfortune, and I love him, D--l d--n me if I don't: I hope he'll live and repent of what he has done; but d--n me if he must dye, I will dye along with him._ And thereupon, he pulled out a pair of Pistols, and presented them to some of the learned Judges upon the Bench; who, perceiving his Argument so well supported, thought it reasonable that _Glasby_ should be acquitted; and so they all came over to his Opinion, and allowed it to be Law.

But all the Mitigation that could be obtained for the other Prisoners, was, that they should have the Liberty of choosing any four of the whole Company to be their Executioners. The poor Wretches were ty'd immediately to the Mast, and there shot dead, pursuant to their villainous Sentence.

When they put to Sea again, the Prizes which had been detained only for fear of spreading any Rumour concerning them, which had like to have been so fatal at _Corvocoo_, were thus disposed of: They burnt their own Sloop, and mann'd _Norton_'s Brigantine, sending the Master away in the _Dutch_ Interloper, not dissatisfied.

With the _Royal Fortune_, and the Brigantine, which they christened the _Good Fortune_, they pushed towards the Lat.i.tude of _Deseada_, to look out for Provisions, being very short again, and just to their Wish, Captain _Hingstone_'s ill Fortune brought him in their Way, richly laden for _Jamaica_; him they carried to _Berbudas_ and plundered; and stretching back again to the _West-Indies_, they continually met with some Consignment or other, (chiefly _French,)_ which stored them with Plenty of Provisions, and recruited their starving Condition; so that stocked with this sort of Ammunition, they began to think of something worthier their Aim, for these Robberies that only supplied what was in constant Expenditure, by no Means answered their Intentions; and accordingly they proceeded again for the Coast of _Guiney_, where they thought to buy Gold-Dust very cheap. In their Pa.s.sage thither, they took Numbers of Ships of all Nations, some of which they burnt or sunk, as the Carriage or Characters of the Masters displeased them.

Notwithstanding the successful Adventures of this Crew, yet it was with great Difficulty they could be kept together, under any kind of Regulation; for being almost always mad or drunk, their Behaviour produced infinite Disorders, every Man being in his own Imagination a Captain, a Prince, or a King. When _Roberts_ saw there was no managing of such a Company of wild ungovernable Brutes, by gentle means, nor to keep them from drinking to excess, the Cause of all their Disturbances, he put on a rougher Deportment, and a more magesterial Carriage towards them, correcting whom he thought fit; and if any seemed to resent his Usage, he told them, _they might go ash.o.r.e and take Satisfaction of him, if they thought fit, at Sword and Pistol, for he neither valu'd or fear'd any of them._

About 400 Leagues from the Coast of _Africa_, the Brigantine who had hitherto lived with them, in all amicable Correspondence, thought fit to take the Opportunity of a dark Night, and leave the Commadore, which leads me back to the Relation of an Accident that happened at one of the Islands of the _West-Indies_, where they water'd before they undertook this Voyage, which had like to have thrown their Government (such as it was) off the Hinges, and was partly the Occasion of the Separation: The Story is as follows.

Captain _Roberts_ having been insulted by one of the drunken Crew, (whose Name I have forgot,) he, in the Heat of his Pa.s.sion killed the Fellow on the Spot, which was resented by a great many others, put particularly one _Jones_, a brisk active young Man, who died lately in the _Marshalsea_, and was his Mess-Mate. This _Jones_ was at that Time ash.o.r.e a watering the Ship, but as soon as he came on Board, was told that Captain _Roberts_ had killed his Comrade; upon which he cursed _Roberts_, and said, he ought to be served so himself. _Roberts_ hearing _Jones_'s Invective, ran to him with a Sword, and ran him into the Body; who, notwithstanding his Wound, seized the Captain, threw him over a Gun, and beat him handsomely. This Adventure put the whole Company in an Uproar, and some taking Part with the Captain, and others against him, there had like to have ensued a general Battle with one another, like my Lord _Th.o.m.ont_'s c.o.c.ks; however, the Tumult was at length appeas'd by the Mediation of the Quarter-Master; and as the Majority of the Company were of Opinion that the Dignity of the Captain, ought to be supported on Board; that it was a Post of Honour, and therefore the Person whom they thought fit to confer it on, should not be violated by any single Member; wherefore they sentenced _Jones_ to undergo two Lashes from every one of the Company, for his Misdemeanour, which was executed upon him as soon as he was well of his Wound.