Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/363

 However, an Accident that happened on Board the Ship, did not a little contribute to this Mifortune, which was a Pique that the Captain of her took againt his econd Mate, George Lowther, the Man who is the Subject of this hort Hitory; and who loing his Favour, found Means to ingratiate himelf into the good liking of the common Sailors, inomuch that when Captain Ruel ordered him to be punih’d, the Men took up Handpikes, and threat’ned to knock that Man down, that offered to lay hold of the Mate. This erved but to widen the Differences between him and the Captain, and more firmly attach’d Lowther to the Ship’s Company, the greatet Part of which, he found ripe for any Michief in the World.

Captain Maey was no wit the better reconciled to the Place, by a longer Continuance, nor to the Uage he met with there, and having often Opportunities of convering with Lowther, with whom he had contracted an Intimacy in the Voyage; they aggravated one another’s Grievances to uch a height, that they reolved upon Meaures to curb the Power that controul’d them, and to provide for themelves after another Manner.

When the Governor recover’d of his Fever, he went ahore to the Iland, but took no Notice of Maey’s Behaviour, tho’ it was uch as might give Supicion of what he deigned; and Lowther, and the common Sailors, who were in the Secret of Affairs, grew inolent and bold, even refuing to obey when commanded to their Duty by Captain Ruel and the chief Mate. The Captain eeing how Things were carried, goes ahore early one Morning to the Governor and Factory, in order to hold a Council, which Lowther apprehending, was in order to prevent his Deign, ent a Letter in the ame Boat to Maey, intimating it to him, and that he hould repair