Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/411

 or to ee England any more. When the Ship came to Peter Harbour in Newfoundland aforeaid, he ran away from her, and hired himelf a Splitter in the Fihery, for the Seaon: But this was only till he could have an Opportunity of proecuting his intended Rogueries; in order to which, he combined with everal others, in the ame Employ, to go off with one of the Veels that lay in the Harbour, upon the pyratical Account; accordingly the Time was fix’d, viz. the 29th of Augut 1723, at Night; but whether Remore or Fear prevented their coming together, I know not, but of ixteen Men that were in the Combination, five only kept the Appointment: Notwithtanding which, Phillips was for puhing forward with that mall Number, auring his Companions, that they hould oon encreae their Company; and they agreeing, a Veel was eiz’d on, and out of the Harbour they ailed.

The firt Thing they had now to do, was to chue Officers, draw up Articles, and ettle their little Commonwealth, to prevent Diputes and Ranglings afterwards; o John Phillips was made Captain, John Nutt, Mater, (or Navigator) of the Veel; James Sparks, Gunner; Thomas Fern, Carpenter; and Wiliam White was the only private Man in the whole Crew: When this was done, one of them writ out the following Articles (which we have taken verbatim) and all wore to ’em upon a Hatchet for want of a Bible.

The Articles on Board the Revenge. 1.