annings vessell; whoe as soone as hee came up with us, haveing
gotten to Windward of our Vessell, poured a Volley of Shott in upon us
with Dutch coullors flying, and presently affter wee saw a vessell
with French Coullors, upon which wee concluded All to be French and
thatt wee ware betrayed and should bee taken; thereupon Capt.
Rodregross Commanded every man to his Arms and to fight for his life.
But as soone as Capt. Mosely[7] Came up with us, hee haveing the
English Coullors out, Hee bid us A Maine for the King of England, and
I myselfe Loured the Maine Sayle three or foure foot doune, at which
Capt. Rodregross was very angry with me and Commanded me to hoyse it
againe, which I Refused to doe; and there upon I went forward and Laye
before the windles tell the vessell was taken; And when the Capt.
yeelded, I Edward Youringe Lett fall the Anchor; I being very glad
that I was freed from the Bondage and Slavery I was in untell the
vessell was taken by Capt. Moseley; I being all the voyage Comanded,
as occasion presented, to goe a Shoare with John Farmer to cott wood
and fetch watter to carry aboard; notwithstanding one halfe of the
vessell was my owne; and also I stand Still ingaged for one halfe of
the Cargoe thatt was Carryed out from Boston.

[Footnote 2: Naskeag; see note 5 to document 41.]

[Footnote 3: Captain of a small Boston vessel; his letter to the owner
is in the Maine _Documentary History_, second ser., VI. 42-43.]

[Footnote 4: _I.e._, lower your topsail, in token of surrender.]

[Footnote 5: Machias.]

[Footnote 6: The _Trial_, of Kittery, belonging to Maj. Nicholas
Shapleigh; _Doc. Hist._, VI. 46-47.]

[Footnote 7: Sent by the Massachusetts government to suppress these
pirates.]

Now all these premises being searyously pondred by this honord Courte
of Assistants, with the prudent and upright management of the Gent'men
of the Jury, Together with the testimonyes I have redy to give in, I
hope will thereby Evidently Appeare thatt I am not guiltie of Pyracy
or any Acttyons tending thereto, as is Layed to me in my Charge, And I
being over powered by the Privateers thatt did tyranize over me, I
was forced contrary to my minde and will to doe whatt I did during the
time I was with the Privateers upon A voyage to the Eastward; for the
true determination of which and of my being Concerned therein I freely
and willingly Leave my Selfe to the wise, Judicious and Righteous
proceedings of this Honoured Courte