Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/319

 was o warm, as to refue going off the Deck, till he found all was lot.

In his Defence, he ays, he was forced from a Mate’s Employ on Board a Sloop call’d the Greyhound, of St. Chritophers, Oct. 1720. The Pyrate having drubbed him, and broke his Head, only for offering to go away when that Sloop was dimied. Cutom and Succes had ince indeed blunted, and, in ome Meaure, worn out the Sene of Shame; but that he had really for everal Months pat been ick, and diqualified for any Duty, and though Roberts had forced him on this Expedition much againt his Will, yet the Evidence mut be enible, the Title of Captain gave him no Pre-eminence, for he could not be obeyed, though he had often called to them, to leave off their Fire, when he perceived it to be the King’s Ship.

The Sicknes he alledged, but more epecially the Circumtance of loing his Leg, were Aggravations of his Fault, hewing him more alert on uch Occaions, than he was now willing to be thought: As to the Name of Captain, if it were allowed to give him no Precedence out of Battle, yet here it was proved a Title of Authority; uch an Authority as could direct an Engagement againt the King’s Colours, and therefore he was in the highet Degree,Guilty.

John Walden.

Aptain John Trahern, and George Fenn, depoed, the Prioner to be one of the Number, who, in an open Boat, pyratically aailed, and took their Ship, and was remarkably buy at Michief, having a Pole-Ax in his Hand, which erved him intead of a Key, to all the lock’d Doors and Boxes he come nigh: Alo in particular, he cut the Cable of our Ship, when the other Pyrates were willing, and buied at heaving up the Anchor, Rh