Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/311

 ragious Manner, putting them in bodily Fears, ometimes for the Ship, and ometimes for themelves; and in particular, Kreft charged it on Sutton, that he had ordered all their Gunner’s Stores out; on which that Prioner preently interrupted, and aid, he was perjured, A Reply, I believe, not deigned as any awcy Way of jeting, but to give their Behaviour an Appearance of more Humanity than the Dutch would allow.

From Mr. Catel, Wingfield and others, they were proved to be ditinguihed Men, Men who were conulted as Chiefs in all Enterprizes; belonged mot of them to the Houe of Lords, (as they call’d it,) and could carry an Authority over others. The former aid, particularly of Hardy, (Quarter-Mater of the Ranger,) that when the Diligence Sloop was taken, (whereto he belonged,) none was buier in the Plunder, and was the very Man who cuttled and unk that Veel.

From ome of the Prioners acquitted, it was farther demanded, whether the Acceptance or Refual of any Office was not in their own Option? And it was declared, that every Officer was choe by a Majority of Votes, and might refue, if he pleaed, ince others gladly embraced what brought with it an additional Share of Prize.Guilty

The Court on the 31t of March, remanded the following ix before them, for Sentence, viz. ''Dav. Sympon, Wm. Magnes, R. Hardy, Thomas Sutton, Chritopher Moody, and Valen. Ahplant''.

To whom the Preident poke to the following Purpoe;

The Crime of Pyracy, of which all of ye have been jutly convicted, is of all other Robberies the mot aggravating and inhumane, in that being removed from the Fears of Surprize, in remote and ditant Parts, ye do in Wantonnes of Power often add Cruelty to Theft.