The Deponents further ſay, that at Sierraleon every Man had more eſpecially the Means of eſcaping; and that this Priſoner, in particular, neglected it, and came off from that Place after their Ship was under Sail, and going out of the River.
The Priſoner, in his Defence, proteſts, he was at firſt forc’d; and that the Office of Boatſwain’s Mate was impoſed on him, and what he would have been glad to have relinquiſh’d. That the barbarous Whipping he had received from the Pyrates at firſt, was for telling them, that none who could get their Bread in an honeſt Way, would be on ſuch an Account. And he had certainly taken the Opportunity which preſented at Sierraleon, of ridding himſelf from ſo diſtaſtful a Life, if there had not been three or four of the old Pyrates on Shore at the ſame Time, who, he imagined, muſt know of him, and would doubtleſs have ſerved him the ſame, if not worſe, than they ſince had done William Williams; who, for ſuch a Deſign, being delivered up by the treacherous Natives, had received two Laſhes thro’ the whole Ship’s Company.
The Court obſerved, the Excuſes of theſe Pyrates, about want of Means to eſcape, was oftentimes as poor and evaſive as their Pleas of being forced at firſt; for here, at Sierraleon, every Man had his Liberty on Shore, and it was evident, might have kept it, if he, or they, had ſo pleaſed. And ſuch are further culpable, who having been introduced into the Society, by ſuch uncivil Methods, as whipping, or beating, neglect leſs likely Means of regaining Liberty; it ſhews ſtrong Inclinations to Diſhoneſty, and they ſtand inexcuſably, Guilty.
Jo. Manſfield.
It was proved againſt this Priſoner, by Captain Trahern and George Fenn, that he was one of thoſe Voluntiers who was at the Attack and Rob-bery
