and adviſed them to ſtand in, which they did boldly, to board her; but when they came within a Cable’s length or two of the Chace, now near Shore, the Fort fired two ſmall Guns, whoſe Shot falling nigh their Muzzels, they inſtantly bore out of the Road, made an eaſy Sail to the Southward, and anchored at Night in their former Birth, where John Trumpet, to engage their Stay a little longer, informed them, that in a few Days a very rich Ship was to paſs by, commanded by the General of Bombay’s Brother.
This Governor is an Emblem of foreign Power. What Inconvenience and Injury muſt the Maſter’s Subjects ſuſtain under one who can truckle to ſuch treacherous and baſe Means, as correſponding and trading with Pyrates to enrich himſelf? Certainly ſuch a Man will ſtickle at no Injuſtice to repair or make a Fortune. He has the Argumentum bacillum always in his own Hands, and can convince, when he pleaſes, in half the Time of other Arguments, that Fraud and Oppreſſion is Law. That he imploys Inſtruments in ſuch dirty Work, expreſſes the Guilt and Shame, but no way mitigates the Crime. John Trumpet was the Tool; but, as the Dog ſaid in the Fable, on another Occaſion, What is done by the Maſter’s Orders, is the Maſter’s Actions.
I cannot but reflect, on this Occaſion, what a vile Government Sancho Pancho had of it; he had not only ſuch Perquiſites reſcinded, but was really almoſt ſtarved; the Victuals taken from him almoſt every Day, and only under a Pretence of preſerving his Excellency’s Health: But Governments differ.
From Cochin ſome were for proceeding to Madagaſcar directly; others thought it proper to cruize till they got a Store-Ship, and theſe being the Majority, they ply’d to the Southward, and after ſome Days ſaw a Ship in Shore, which being to Windward of them, they could not get nigh, till the
