Soon after they saw a large ship to the windward bearing down upon them, which at first they thought to have been a _Portugueze_ Man-of-War; but they found afterwards, it was a _French_ Merchant Ship coming home from the _West-Indies_, which not fearing them, came on to the windward. _Gow_ perceiving she was a Ship of great strength, called all his men together, telling them they had a great many prisoners on board, and that he could not trust many of his own men; besides, six of his best Hands were on Board the other Ship, therefore he advised them not to meddle with her, she being far superior in Force. This so exasperated _Williams_, that he demanded of _Gow_ to give his orders for fighting; but he, by the advice of the whole crew, declined it; whereupon _Williams_ snapt his pistol at his Face; which not going off, made him still madder. _Winter_ and _Peterson_ standing by him fired each a Pistol at _Williams_, one shooting him through the arm, and the other in the belly; at which he fell, and they believing he was killed, were going to throw him overboard, when he leapt up, and ran into the Powder-Room, with his pistol cocked in his hand, swearing he would blow them all up; which he had certainly done, had they not prevented him that very moment, he having opened the scuttle to do it. They immediately put him in irons, and hand-cuffed him, and then put him between decks, in a place prepared for prisoners. Two days after this, they took the _Triumvirate_, a _Bristol_ Sloop, _Joel Davis_ Master, bound from _Newfoundland_ to _Oporto_, with fish; from whence they took all her provisions, arms, sails, and two of her men, and then let her go with the rest, and all her cargoe. Not knowing what to do with _Williams_, they resolved to put him on board them, and send him away, for fear of further danger, ordering the Master to put him on board the first _English_ man of War he should meet with, to hang him for Piracy; which when _Williams_ found they were resolved to do, he made all the submission he was able to Captain _Gow_, begging for pardon, knowing if he was carried to _Lisbon_ he should meet with his deserts. But all his entreaties would not do, he was brought up double fettered, when he begged they would throw him into the sea, and drown him, rather than give him up to be hanged in chains, which he knew he deserved from the _Portugueze_ as well as _English_. This made many of them begin to relent and pity him; but considering his savage disposition, they knew there was no safety to keep him on board, and so resolved to let him go, and give him a hearty curse at parting, wishing him a safe voyage to the gallows, not dreaming that they themselves should accompany him. The _Bristol_ Captain obeyed their orders, and as soon as he came to _Lisbon_ put him on board the _Argyle_ man of War, Captain _Bowler_ Commander, who brought him home not above three days before Gow and his Crew came to keep him company.