To this, each, in his Reply, owned himself to be one of those taken out of the _Ranger_; that he had signed their pyratical Articles, and shared in their Plunder, some few only accepted, who had been there too short a Time. But that neither in this signing, or sharing, nor in the Resistance had been made against his Majesty's Ship, had they been Voluntiers, but had acted in these several Parts, from a Terror of Death; which a Law amongst them, was to be the Portion of those who refused. The Court then ask'd, who made those Laws? How those Guns came to be fired? Or why they had not deserted their Stations, and mutinied, when so fair a Prospect of Redemption offered? They replied still, with the same Answers, and could extenuate their Crimes, with no other Plea, than being forced Men. Wherefore the Court were of Opinion, that the Indictment, as it charged them with an unlawful Attack and Resistance of the King's Ship, was sufficiently proved; but then it being undeniably evident, that many of these Prisoners had been forced, and some of them of very short standing, they did, on mature Deliberation, come to this merciful Resolution; That they would hear further Evidence for, or against, each Person singly, in Relation to those Parts of the Indictment, which declared them Voluntiers, or charged them with aiding and assisting, at the burning, sinking, or robbing of other Ships; for if they acted, or assisted, in any Robberies or Devastations, it would be a Conviction they were Voluntiers; here such Evidence, though it might want the Form, still carried the Reason of the Law with it. The Charge was exhibited also against the following Pyrates taken out of the _Royal Fortune._ * Mich. Mare in the Rover 5 Years ago * Chris. Moody under Davis 1718. * Mar. Johnson a Dutch Ship 1718. * James Philips the RevengePyrate Sloop 1717. * David Symson } Pyrates with Davis * Tho. Sutton } * Hag. Jacobson a Dutch Ship 1719 * W. Williams 1 } } * Wm. Fernon } Sadbury Captain Thomas } June 1720. * W. Willams 2 } Thomas Newfoundland } * Roger Scot } } * Tho. Owen } York of Bristol } * Wm. Taylor } } May 1720. * Joseph Nositer Expedition of Topsham }