what he pleaſes, and returning what he thinks fit to the Owners, excepting Gold and Silver, which they have voted not returnable.
After a Deſcription of the Quarter-Maſter, and his Duty, who acts as a ſort of a civil Magiſtrate on Board a Pyrate Ship; I ſhall conſider their military Officer, the Captain; what Privileges he exerts in ſuch anarchy and unrulyneſs of the Members: Why truly very little, they only permit him to be Captain, on Condition, that they may be Captain over him; they ſeparate to his Uſe the great Cabin, and ſometimes vote him ſmall Parcels of Plate and China, (for it may be noted that Roberts drank his Tea conſtantly) but then every Man, as the Humour takes him, will uſe the Plate and China, intrude into his Apartment, ſwear at him, ſeize a Part of his Victuals and Drink, if they like it, without his offering to find Fault or conteſt it: Yet Roberts, by a better Management than uſual, became the chief Director in every Thing of Moment, and it happened thus:---The Rank of Captain being obtained by the Suffrage of the Majority, it falls on one ſuperior for Knowledge and Boldneſs, Piſtol Proof (as they call it,) and can make thoſe fear, who do not love him; Roberts is ſaid to have exceeded his Fellows in theſe Reſpects, and when advanced, enlarged the Reſpect that followed it, by making a ſort of Privy-Council of half a Dozen of the greateſt Bullies; ſuch as were his Competitors, and had Intereſt enough to make his Government eaſy; yet even thoſe, in the latter Part of his Reign, he had run counter to in every Project that oppoſed his own Opinion; for which, and becauſe he grew reſerved, and would not drink and roar at their Rate, a Cabal was formed to take away his Captainſhip, which Death did more effectually.
