Page:A Description of New England - Smith (1616).djvu/75

 Now the cause why the French detayned me againe, was the suspicion this Chambers and Minter gaue them, that I would reuenge my selfe, vpon the Bank, or in New found Land, of all the French I could there incounter; & how I would haue fired the ship, had they not ouerperswaded mee: and many other such like tricks to catch but opportunitie in this maner of leaue me. And thus they returned to Plimouth; and perforce with the French I thus proceeded.

Being a Fleet of eight or nine sayle, we watched for the West Indies fleet, till ill weather separated vs from the other 8. Still we spent our time about the Iles neere Fyall: where to keepe my perplexed thoughts from too much meditation of my miserable estate, I writ this dis course; thinking to haue sent it you of his Maiesties Councell, by some ship or other: for I saw their purpose was to take all they could. At last we were chased by one Captain Barra, and English Pyrat, in a small ship, with some twelue peeces of ordinance, about thirty men, and neer all starued. They sought by curtesie releefe of vs; who gaue them such faire promises, as at last wee betrayed Captaine Wolliston (his Lieftenant) and foure or fiue of their men aboard vs, and then prouided to take the rest perforce. Now my part was to be prisoner in the gun-roum, & not to speake to any of them vpon my life: yet had Barra knowledge what I was. Then Barra perceiuing wel these French intents, made ready to fight, and Wolliston as resolutely regarded not their threats,