Preſident. Mr. Caſtel, acquaint the Court of what you know in Relation to this Robbery of the King Solomon; after what Manner the Pyrate-Boat was diſpatch’d for this Attempt.
Tho. Caſtel. I was a Priſoner, Sir, with the Pyrates when their Boat was ordered upon that Service, and found, upon a Reſolution of going, Word was paſſed through the Company, Who would go? And I ſaw all that did, did it voluntarily; no Compulſion, but rather preſſing who ſhould be foremoſt.
The Priſoners yielded to what had been ſworn about the Attack and Robbery, but denied the latter Evidence, ſaying, Roberts hector’d, and upbraided them of Cowardice on this very Occaſion; and told ſome, they were very ready to ſtep on Board of a Prize when within Command of the Ship, but now there ſeem’d to be a Tryal of their Valour, backward and fearful.
Preſident. So that Roberts forc’d ye upon this Attack.
Priſoners. Roberts commanded us into the Boat, and the Quarter-Maſter to rob the Ship; neither of whoſe Commands we dared to have refuſed.
Preſident. And granting it ſo, thoſe are ſtill your own Acts, ſince done by Orders from Officers of your own Election. Why would Men, honeſtly diſpoſed, give their Votes for ſuch a Captain and ſuch a Quarter-Maſter as were every Day commanding them on diſtaſtful Services?
Here ſucceeded a Silence among the Priſoners, but at length Fernon very honeſtly own’d, that he did not give his Vote to Magnes, but to David Sympſon (the old Quarter-Maſter,) for in Truth,
ſays he, I took Magnes for too honeſt a Man, and unfit for the Buſineſs.
The Evidence was plain and home, and the Court, without any Heſitation, brought them in Guilty.
