heir families; accordingly going ashore at _Negril_ Point they
saw a Sloop, with a white pendant, making towards them, whereupon they
took up their arms, which were no other but what all people carry upon
such occasions, and ran into the woods, to hide themselves among the
bushes, not knowing what she might be. But when they hailed them and
told them they were _Englishmen_, they ventured out, and came aboard
them, as they desired, to drink a bowl of punch, they being poor men,
who get their livelihood very hardily, and such a thing was very
acceptable to them. But when they came on board the Sloop, to their
very great surprise, they found they were Pirates; upon which they
begged to be released; but _Rackham_ swore, That if they did not stay
and assist them against that Sloop that was coming down against them,
he would cut all their throats. So being compelled thereunto by
_Rackham_ and his men, to save their Lives, they did assist him, and
with no other design but to prevent their being cut in pieces, but as
soon as Captain _Barnet_ came up with them, they all very readily and
willingly submitted.

This being all they had to say in their own Defence, the Prisoners
were ordered from the Bar: The Court were divided in their Judgments;
but the majority were of opinion, that they were all guilty of the
Piracy and Felony they were charged with; thereupon they all received
Sentence of Death, as usual in such cases, the Judge making a very
pathetic Speech to them, exhorting them to bear their Sufferings
patiently, assuring them, that if they were innocent, which he very
much doubted, then their reward would be greater in the Other World:
But everybody must own their case was very hard in this.

February the 17th, _John Eaton_, _Thomas Quick_, and _Thomas Baker_,
were accordingly executed at _Gallows-Point_; and the next Day, _John
Cole_, _John Howard_, and _Benjamin Palmer_, underwent the same fate
at _Kingston_. The other three got a Reprieve, they being against
going aboard the Pirate's Sloop, and are now living.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CAPTAIN SPRIGGS, AND HIS CREW

_Spriggs_ sailed at first with _Lowe_, and came away with him from
_Lowther_. Afterwards _Lowe_ took a ship of twelve guns on the Coast
of _Guinea_, called the _Delight_, which _Spriggs_ went off on board
with twenty men, and leaving _Lowe_ in the night, came to the _West
Indies_. In their passage they made a Black Ensign, which they cal