It is a Rule amongst the Pirates, not to allow Women to be on board their Ships, when in the Harbour. And if they should take a Prize at Sea, that has any Women on board, no one dares, on pain of death, to force them against their Inclinations. This being a good political Rule to prevent disturbances amongst them, it is strictly observed. So now being in a Harbour, they went on Shore to the Negroe-women, who were very fond of their Company, for the sake of the great Presents they gave them. Nay, some white Men that lived there, did not scruple to lend their black Wives to the Pirates, purely on account of the great Rewards they gave. The Pirate Captains having taken these Cloaths without leave from the Quarter-master, it gave great Offence to all the Crew; who alledg’d, “If they suffered such things, the Captains would for the future assume a Power, to take whatever they liked for themselves.” So, upon their returning on board next Morning, the Coats were taken from them, and put into the common Chest, to be sold at the Mast. And it having been reported, “That I had a hand in advising the Captains to put on these Coats,” it gained me the ill-will in particular of one _Williams_, who was Quarter-master of _Le Boose_’s Ship. He seeing me in the _Tender_’s Boat, going on board a _French_ Ship lately taken, where he then was, he swore, “That if I came there, he would cut me to pieces, for the advice I had given the Captains.” But Captain _Elliot_, who was then in the Boat, whispered me, saying, “Don’t be afraid of him, for it is his usual way of talking. But be sure call him Captain, as soon as you get on board.” It seems this Villain had been Commander of a Pirate Sloop; who, with a Brigantine, two years before, took Captain _Laurence Prince_ in the _Whidaw Galley_ near _Jamaica_; and being now Quarter-master, which he did not like, he loved to have the Title of Captain given him. So when I came into the _French_ Ship, I adressed my self to him, saying, “Captain _Williams_, pray hear me upon the Point you are so offended at.” Upon that he gave me a slight Blow on the Shoulder, with the flat of his Cutlace, swearing at the same time, “he had not the heart to hurt me;” When I had told him how the affair had really happen’d, which he had been so angry about, he gave me a Keg of Wine, and was my Friend ever after. The _French_ Ship just now mentioned, fell into their hands about a fortnight after I was taken by them, in this manner. It was not bound to _Sieraleon_, but having not had an Observation for several days, because the Sun was near their _Zenith_, they made land unexpectedly; and not knowing certainly whereabouts they were, but seeing several Ships in the River at an Anchor, they came boldly towards them.