208
CHAP. XI.
of
Captain Bartho. Roberts,
And his Crew.
Bartholomew Roberts ſailed in an honeſt Employ, from London aboard of the Princeſs, Captain Plumb Commander, of which Ship he was ſecond Mate: He left England, November 1719, and arrived at Guiney about February following, and being at Anamaboe, taking in Slaves for the Weſt-Indies, was taken in the ſaid Ship by Captain Howel Davis, as mentioned in the preceeding Chapter. In the beginning he was very averſe to this ſort of Life, and would certainly have eſcaped from them, had a fair Opportunity preſented it ſelf; yet afterwards he changed his Principles, as many beſides him have done upon another Element, and perhaps for the ſame Reaſon too, viz. Preferment,and what he did not like as a private Man he could reconcile to his Conſcience as a Commander.
Davis being cut off in the manner beforementioned, the Company found themſelves under a Neceſſity of filling up his Poſt, for which there appear’d two or three Candidates among the ſelect Part
