with him, and ſhift for himſelf. Whereupon Maſſey, with about ten more Malecontents, goes aboard the Sloop, and comes away in her directly for Jamaica.
Notwithſtanding what had paſſed, Captain Maſſey puts a bold Face upon the Matter, and goes to Sir Nicholas Laws, the Governor, informs him of his leaving Lowther the Pyrate, owns, That he aſſiſted in going off with the Ship, at the River Gambia
; but ſaid, ’twas to ſave ſo many of his Majeſty’s Subjects from periſhing, and that his Deſign was to return to England; but Lowther conſpiring with the greater Part of the Company, went a pyrating with the Ship; and that he had taken this Opportunity to leave him, and ſurrender himſelf and Veſſel to his Excellency.
Maſſey was very well received by the Governor, and had his Liberty given him, with a Promiſe of his Favour, and ſo forth; and, at his own Requeſt, he was ſent on Board the Happy Sloop, Captain Laws, to cruiſe off Hiſpaniola, for Lowther; but not being ſo fortunate as to meet with him, Captain Maſſey returned back to Jamaica in the Sloop, and getting a Certificate, and a Supply of Money, from the Governor, he came home Paſſenger to England.
When Maſſey came to Town, he writes a long Letter to the Deputy Governor and Directors of the African Company, wherein he imprudently relates the whole Tranſactions of his Voyage, the going off with the Ship, and the Acts of Pyracy he had committed with Lowther; but excuſes it as Raſhneſs and Inadvertency in himſelf, occaſioned by his being ill uſed, contrary to the Promiſes that had been made him, and the Expectations he had entertained; but own’d, that he deſerved to dye for what he had done; yet, if they had Generoſity enough to forgive him, as he was ſtill capable to do them Service, as a Soldier, ſo he ſhould be ve-
