bery of the Company’s Ship, called the King Solomon: That he bully’d well among them who dar’d not make any Reply, but was very eaſy with his Friends, who knew him; for Moody, on this Occaſion, took a large Glaſs from him, and threatned to blow his Brains out, (a favourite Phraſe with theſe Pyrates) if he muttered at it.
From others acquitted, it likewiſe appeared, that he was at firſt a Voluntier among them, from an Iſland call’d Dominico, in the Weſt-Indies, and had to recommend himſelf, told them, he was a Deſerter from the Roſe Man of War, and before that, had been on the High-Way; he was always drunk, they ſaid, and ſo bad at the Time they met with the Swallow, that he knew nothing of the Action, but came up vapouring with his Cutlaſh, after the Fortune had ſtruck her Colours, to know who would go on Board the Prize; and it was ſome Time before they could perſwade him into the Truth of their Condition.
He could ſay little in Defence of himſelf, acknowledg’d this latter Part of Drunkenneſs; a Vice, he ſays, that had too great a Share in inſnaring him into this Courſe of Life, and had been a greater Motive with him than Gold. Guilty.
William Davis.
William Allen depoſed, he knew this Priſoner at Sierraleon, belonging to the Ann Galley; that he had a Quarrel with, and beat the Mate of that Ship, for which (as he ſaid) being afraid to return to his Duty, he conſorted to the idle Cuſtoms and Ways of living among the Negroes, from whom he received a Wife, and ungratefully ſold her, one Evening, for ſome Punch to quench his Thirſt. After this, having put himſelf under the Protection of Mr. Plunket, Governor there for the Royal African Company: The Relations andFriends
