Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/350

 I had an Account given me of one of thee merry Tryals, and as it appeared diverting, I hall give the Readers a hort Account of it.

The Court and Criminals being both appointed, as alo Council to plead, the Judge got up in a Tree, and had a dirty Taurpaulin hung over his Shoulders; this was done by Way of Robe, with a Thrum Cap on his Head, and a large Pair of Spectacles upon his Noe: Thus equipp’d, he ettled himelf in his Place, and abundance of Officers attending him below, with Crows, Handpikes, &c. intead of Wands, Tiptaves, and uch like.The Criminals were brought out, making a thouand our Faces; and one who acted as Attorney-General opened the Charge againt them; their Speeches were very laconick, and their whole Proceedings concie. We hall give it by Way of Dialogue.

''Attorn. Gen.'' An’t pleae your Lordhip, and you Gentlemen of the Jury, here is a Fellow before you that is a ad Dog, a ad ad Dog; and I humbly hope your Lordhip will order him to be hang’d out of the Way immediately.He has committed Pyracy upon the High Seas, and we hall prove, an’t pleae your Lordhip, that this Fellow, this ad Dog before you, has ecap’d a thouand Storms, nay, has got afe ahore when the Ship has been cat away, which was a certain Sign he was not born to be drown’d; yet not having the Fear of hanging before his Eyes, he went on robbing and ravihing Man, Woman and Child, plundering Ships Cargoes fore and aft, burning and inking Ship, Bark and Boat, as if the Devil had been in him. But this is not all, my Lord, he has committed wore Villanies than all thee, for we hall prove, that he has been guilty of drinking Small-Beer; and your Lordhip knows, there never was a ober Fellow but what was a Rogue.My Lord, I hould have poke much finer than I do now, but that, as your