about to throw him over-board, when they found him in the Sloop, as fearing he might betray them all, at their return to England; he having in his Childhood been bred a Pick-pocket, and before he became a Pyrate, a Houſe-breaker; both Profeſſions that theſe Gentlemen have a very mean Opinion of. However, Captain Kennedy, by taking ſolemn Oaths of Fidelity to his Companions, was ſuffered to proceed with them.
In this Company there was but one that pretended to any ſkill in Navigation, (for Kennedy could neither write nor read, he being preferred to the Command merely for his Courage, which indeed he had often ſignaliz’d, particularly in taking the Portugueſe Ship,) and he proved to be a Pretender only; for ſhaping their Courſe to Ireland, where they agreed to land, they ran away to the North-Weſt Coaſt of Scotland, and there were toſt about by hard Storms of Wind for ſeveral Days, without knowing where they were, and in great Danger of periſhing: At length they puſhed the Veſſel into a little Creek, and went all aſhore, leaving the Sloop at an Anchor for the next Comers.
The whole Company refreſh’d themſelves at a little Village about five Miles from the Place where they left the Sloop, and paſſed there for Ship-wreck’d Sailors, and no doubt might have travelled on without Suſpicion; but the mad and riotous Manner of their Living on the Road, occaſion’d their Journey to be cut ſhort, as we ſhall obſerve preſently.
Kennedy and another left them here, and travelling to one of the Sea-Ports, ſhip’d themſelves for Ireland, and arrived there in Safety. Six or ſeven wiſely withdrew from the reſt, travelled at their leaſure, and got to their much deſired Port of London, without being diſturbed or ſuſpected; but the
