was ſo warm, as to refuſe going off the Deck, till he found all was loſt.
In his Defence, he ſays, he was forced from a Mate’s Employ on Board a Sloop call’d the Greyhound, of St. Chriſtophers, Oct. 1720. The Pyrate having drubbed him, and broke his Head, only for offering to go away when that Sloop was diſmiſſed. Cuſtom and Succeſs had ſince indeed blunted, and, in ſome Meaſure, worn out the Senſe of Shame; but that he had really for ſeveral Months paſt been ſick, and diſqualified for any Duty, and though Roberts had forced him on this Expedition much againſt his Will, yet the Evidence muſt be ſenſible, the Title of Captain gave him no Pre-eminence, for he could not be obeyed, though he had often called to them, to leave off their Fire, when he perceived it to be the King’s Ship.
The Sickneſs he alledged, but more eſpecially the Circumſtance of loſing his Leg, were Aggravations of his Fault, ſhewing him more alert on ſuch Occaſions, than he was now willing to be thought: As to the Name of Captain, if it were allowed to give him no Precedence out of Battle, yet here it was proved a Title of Authority; ſuch an Authority as could direct an Engagement againſt the King’s Colours, and therefore he was in the higheſt Degree, Guilty.
John Walden.
Captain John Trahern, and George Fenn, depoſed, the Priſoner to be one of the Number, who, in an open Boat, pyratically aſſailed, and took their Ship, and was remarkably buſy at Miſchief, having a Pole-Ax in his Hand, which ſerved him inſtead of a Key, to all the lock’d Doors and Boxes he come nigh: Alſo in particular, he cut the Cable of our Ship, when the other Pyrates were willing, and buſied at heaving up the Anchor,
