of one of them; the Lading of theſe Sloops was of conſiderable Value, conſiſting of European Goods, in order to be exchanged with the French and Spaniards; and many of the Hands on Board of them, were the Pyrates lately come in upon the late Act of Grace. The firſt Place they touched at, was the Iſland of Martinico, belonging to the French, where Davis having conſpired with ſome others, riſe in the Night, ſecured the Maſter and ſeized the Sloop; as ſoon as this was done, they called to the other Sloop, which lay a little Way from them, among whom they knew there were a great many Hands ripe for Rebellion, and ordered them to come on Board of them; they did ſo, and the greateſt Part of them agreed to join with Davis; thoſe who were otherwiſe inclined, were ſent back on Board the Mumvil Sloop, to go where they pleaſed, Davis having firſt taken out of her, every Thing which he thought might be of Uſe.
After this, a Counſel of War was called over a large Bowl of Punch, at which it was propoſed to chuſe a Commander; the Election was ſoon over, for it fell upon Davis by a great Majority of legal Pollers, there was no Scrutiny demanded, for all acquieſced in the Choice: As ſoon as he was poſſeſs’d of his Command, he drew up Articles, which were ſigned and ſworn to by himſelf and the reſt, then he made a ſhort Speech, the ſum of which, was, a Declaration of War againſt the whole World.
After this they conſulted about a proper Place where they might clean their Sloop, a light Pair of Heels being of great Uſe either to take, or eſcape being taken; for this purpoſe they made Choice of Coxon’s Hole, at the Eaſt End of the Iſland of Cuba, a Place where they might ſecure themſelves from Surprize, the Entrance being ſo narrow, that one Ship might keep out a hundred.
