Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/115



take, and carry away the aid Merchant Sloop, called the Frances, and alo twenty ix Hogheads, &c. &c. &c. being found in the aforeaid Sloop, in the Cutody and Poeion of the aid Peter Manwaring, and others, his Mariners of the aid Sloop, and from their Cutody and Poeion, then and there, upon the High-Sea aforeaid, called Cape James, alias Cape Inlopen, as aforeaid, and within the Juridiction aforeaid, againt the Peace of our now Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity.

This was the Form of the Indictments they were arraigned upon, and tho’ they might have proved everal more Facts upon the major Part of the Crew, the Court thought fit to proecute but two; the other was for eizing in a pyratical and felonious Manner, the Sloop Fortune, Thomas Read Commander; which Indictment running in the ame Form with the above-mentioned, it will be unneceary to ay more of it.

All the Prioners arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty, and put themelves upon their Tryals, except James Wilon, and John Levit, who pleaded Guilty to both Indictments, and Daniel Perry, to one only. The Major would have gone through both the Indictments at once, which the Court not admitting, he pleaded Not Guilty to both Indictments, but being convicted of one, he retracted his former Plea to the econd Indictment, and pleaded Guilty to it.

The Prioners made little or no Defence, every one pretending only that they were taken off a Maroon Shore, and were hipped with Major Bonnet to go to St. Thomas’s; but being out at Sea, and wanting Proviions, they were obliged to do what they did by others; and o did Major Bonnet himelf, pretend that ’twas Force, not Inclination, that occaioned what had happened. ever,