When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me some little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as the wretches that had been so long his masters had not plundered him of. Upon this he called aloud to the boat and bade his men bring the things ashore that were for the governor. Indeed, it was a present as if I had been one that was not to be carried away with them, but as if I had been to dwell upon the island still.
First, he had brought me a case of bottles full of excellent cordial waters, six large bottles of Madeira wine, two pounds of excellent tobacco, twelve good pieces of the ship's beef, and six pieces of pork, with a bag of peas, and about a hundred weight of bisket.
But, besides these, and what was a thousand times more useful to me, he brought me clean shirts, very good neckcloths, gloves, shoes, a hat, and one pair of stockings, with a very good suit of cloathes of his own which had been worn but very little. In a word, he cloathed me from head to foot. It was a very kind and agreeable present to one in my circumstances, but never was any thing in the world of that kind so unpleasant, awkward, and uneasy, as it was to me to wear such cloathes at their first putting on after so many years.
After these ceremonies were past, and after all his good things were brought into my little apartment, we began to consult what was to be done with the prisoners we had. It was worth considering whether we might venture to take them away with us or no, especially two of them, whom he knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the last degree. Burke said he knew they were such rogues there was no obliging them. If he did carry them away, it must be in irons, to be delivered over to justice at the first English colony he could come at. I found the captain himself was very anxious about it.
Upon this I told him if he desired it, I would undertake to bring the two men he spoke of to make it their own request he should leave them upon the island, tho' I did warn him this was but a sentence of a different kind. "I should be very glad of that," said the captain, "with all my heart."
"Well," said I, "I will send for them up, and talk with them for you." So I caus'd Friday and the two hostages to go to the cave and bring up the five men to the bower, and keep them there till I came.
After some time, I came thither dressed in my new habit, and now I was called governor again. Being all met, and Burke with me, I caused the men to be brought before me. I told them I had got a full account of their villainous behaviour to the captain, and how they had run away with the ship and were preparing to commit farther piracy. But Providence had ensnared them in their own ways, and they were fallen into the pit which they had dug for others.
I let them know by my direction the ship had been seized. She lay now in the road, and they might see their new captain, Doyle, had received the reward of his villainy. They would see him hanging at the yard-arm.
I wanted to know what they had to say, why I should not execute them as pirates, as by my commission they could not doubt but I had authority so to do.
One of them answered in the name of the rest that they had nothing to say but this-- when they were taken, Burke promised them their lives, and they implored my mercy. But I told them I knew not what mercy to show them. As for myself, I had resolv’d to quit the island with all my men, and had taken passage to go for England. As for Burke, he could not carry them to England other than as prisoners to be tried for mutiny, the consequence of which would be the gallows. I could not tell what was best for them, unless they had a mind to take their fate on the island. If they desired, I had some inclination to give them their lives, if they thought they could shift on shore, tho' I did warn them it was a dark place and no true mercy.
They seemed very thankful for it, and said they would much rather venture to stay there than be carried to England to be hanged. I left it on that issue.
However, Burke pretended to make some difficulty of it, as if he durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry with the captain, and told him they were my prisoners, not his. Seeing I had offer'd them so much favour, I would be as good as my word. If he did not think fit to consent to it, I would set them at liberty, as I found them. He might take them again if he could catch them.
Upon this they appeared very thankful, and I set them at liberty and bade them retire into the woods to the place whence they came. I would leave them some fire-arms, some ammunition, and some directions how they should live very well, if they thought fit.