HKB
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.
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 called the Jolly Roger, with a skeleton in the middle holding a dart in one hand, striking a bleeding heart; and in the other an hour-glass; and being hoisted, they fired all their guns to salute Spriggs, whom they chose Captain, and then went to look out for prey.
In their voyage they took a Portugueze barque, wherein they had rich plunder. Near St. Lucia, they took a Sloop belonging to Barbadoes, which they first plundered, and then burnt, forcing some of the men into their Service, and beating, in a barbarous manner, those that refused to join with them, and afterwards sent them away in the Boat, half dead with their wounds, the rest got to Barbadoes, with much ado, though some of them died soon after of their cuts and slashes. After this they took a Martinico Man, which they used in like manner, save that they did not burn the ship. Then running down to the Leeward, they took one Captain Hawkins coming from Jamaica, laden with Logwood; out of which, they took her stores, arms, and ammunition, and what they did not want they threw over-board; they cut the cables to pieces, knocked down the cabins, broke the windows, and did what mischief they could, taking Burridge and Stephens, the two Mates, and some other Hands, by force; and then after keeping her a week, they let her go. On the 27th they took a Rhode Island Sloop, compelling the Captain, and all his men, to go on board the Pirate: One of them not being willing to stay with them, they told him he should have a discharge presently, which was to receive ten lashes from every man on board.
The next day Burridge signed their Articles; which pleased them so much, that they fired all the Guns, and made him Master, spending that day in rejoicings and drinking healths.