Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/246

 what he pleaes, and returning what he thinks fit to the Owners, excepting Gold and Silver, which they have voted not returnable.

After a Decription of the Quarter-Mater, and his Duty, who acts as a ort of a civil Magitrate on Board a Pyrate Ship; I hall conider their military Officer, the Captain; what Privileges he exerts in uch anarchy and unrulynes of the Members: Why truly very little, they only permit him to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be Captain over him; they eparate to his Ue the great Cabin, and ometimes vote him mall Parcels of Plate and China, (for it may be noted that Roberts drank his Tea contantly) but then every Man, as the Humour takes him, will ue the Plate and China, intrude into his Apartment, wear at him, eize a Part of his Victuals and Drink, if they like it, without his offering to find Fault or contet it: Yet Roberts, by a better Management than uual, 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 uperior for Knowledge and Boldnes, Pitol Proof (as they call it,) and can make thoe fear, who do not love him; Roberts is aid to have exceeded his Fellows in thee Repects, and when advanced, enlarged the Repect that followed it, by making a ort of Privy-Council of half a Dozen of the greatet Bullies; uch as were his Competitors, and had Interet enough to make his Government eay; yet even thoe, in the latter Part of his Reign, he had run counter to in every Project that oppoed his own Opinion; for which, and becaue he grew reerved, and would not drink and roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed to take away his Captainhip, which Death did more effectually. The