Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/312



Pyrates unmoved at Ditres or Poverty, not only poil and rob, but do it from Men needy, and who are purchaing their Livlihoods thro’ Hazards and Difficulties, which ought rather to move Compaion; and what is till wore, do often, by Perwaion or Force, engage the inconiderate Part of them, to their own and Families Ruin, removing them from their Wives and Children, and by that, from the Means that hould upport them from Miery and Want.

To a trading Nation, nothing can be o Detructive as Pyracy, or call for more exemplary Punihment; beides, the national Reflection it infers: It cuts off the Returns of Indutry, and thoe plentiful Importations that alone can make an Iland flourihing; and it is your Aggravation, that ye have been the Chiefs and Rulers in thee licentious and lawles Practices.

However, contrary to the Meaures ye have dealt, ye have been heard with Patience, and tho’ little has, or poibly could, have been aid in Excue or Extenuation of your Crimes, yet Charity makes us hope that a true and incere Repentance (which we heartily recommend) may entitle ye to Mercy and Forgivenes, after the Sentence of the Law has taken Place, which now remains upon me to pronounce.

OU ''Dav. Simpon, William Magnes, R. Hardy, Tho. Sutton, Chritopher Moody, and Val. Ahplant''.

Ye, and each of you, are adjudged and entenced, to be carried back to the Place from whence ye came, from thence to the Place of Execution, without the Gates of this Catle, and there within the Flood-Marks, to be hanged by the Neck till ye are dead.

After this, ye, and each of you hall be taken down, and your Bodies hanged in Chains.