Though they were not sufficiently strong, yet being
most new men, they could not agree, but resolving to break up company,
sent a Petition to His Majesty by a Merchant Ship, expecting her
Return at _Cuba_.

Here they staid about nine months; but not having provisions for above
two, they were obliged to take what the Island afforded; which is many
sorts of fish, particularly turtle; though they eat not a bit of
bread, nor flesh meat, during their being on the Island.

They passed their time here in dancing, and other diversions,
agreeable to these sort of folks. Among the rest, they appointed a
mock Court of Judicature, to try one another for Piracy, and he that
was a Criminal one day, was made a Judge another. I shall never forget
one of their Trials, which for the curiosity of it, I shall relate.
The Judge got up into a tree, having a dirty tarpaulin over his
shoulders for a robe, and a Thrum Cap upon his head, with a large pair
of spectacles upon his nose, and a monkey bearing up his train, with
abundance of Officers attending him, with crows and hand-spikes
instead of wands and tip-staves in their hands. Before whom the
Criminals were brought out, making 1000 wry Faces; when the
Attorney-General moved the Court, and said, An't please your Lordship,
and you Gentlemen of the Jury, this fellow before you is a sad dog, a
sad, a sad dog, and I hope your Lordship will order him to be hanged
out of the way; he has committed Piracy upon the High Seas; nay, my
Lord, that's not all; this fellow, this sad dog before you, has
out-rid a hundred storms, and you know, my Lord, _He that's born to be
hanged, will never be drowned_. Nor is this all, he has been guilty of
worse villany than this, and that is of drinking of small beer; and
your Lordship knows, there was never a sober fellow but what was a
rogue--My Lord, I should have said more, but your Lordship knows our
rum is out, and how should a Man speak that has drunk a dram to-day.

[Illustration]

_Judge._ Harkee me, Sirrah--you ill-looked dog. What
have you to say why you may not be tucked up, and set
a-sun-drying like a scare-crow?--Are you Guilty, or not?

_Prisoner._ Not Guilty, an't please your Worship.

_Judge._ Not Guilty! say so again, and I will have you
hanged without any Trial.

_Prisoner._ An't please your Worship's Honour, my Lord,
I am as honest a fellow as ever went between stem and
stern of a ship, and can hand, reef