Owen Morris, Marriner, was first Examined upon Oath, Who solemnly Testifyed and Declared that he knew the Prisoner at the Barr, That he belonged to the Ship _St. Michael_, whereof James Williams was Master, and in the Month of September 1716 They left Bristol bound to Jamaica and in December following the said Ship was taken by two Pyrat Sloops, one comanded by Capt. Samuel Bellamy, and the other by Louis Le Boose, about Twenty Leagues off Sabia,[2] That they Gave the said Williams his Ship and Detained the Prisoner, because he was a Carpenter and a Singleman, together with Three others of the Ships Company. And further the Dep't Saith that the Prisoner was very Unwilling to goe with Bellamy and prevailed with him by reason of his Intreatys to promise that he should be Discharged the next Vessell that was taken, and afterwards the Dep't was again taken in the Ship _Whido_, Commanded by Capt. Prince, by the said Captain Bellamy, who was then Commander of the Ship _Sultana_, taken from Capt. Richards as the Dep't understood, and then he saw the Pris'r aboard the said Ship. At which time the Pris'r reminded the said Bellamy of his promise. When he asked him if he was willing to goe he answered, yes, and then the said Capt. Bellamy replyed if the Company would Consent he should go. And thereupon he asked his Comp'y if they were willing to lett Davis the Carpenter go, Who Expressed themselves in a Violent manner saying no, Dam him, they would first shoot him or Whip him to Death at the Mast. [Footnote 2: Saba; see doc. no. 108, note 5.] Thomas South, Marriner, lately taken by Capt. Samuel Bellamy in the Pyrate Ship _Whido_, Cast away upon this Coast, and Discharged upon his Tryal, was admitted an Evidence, and being Accordingly Sworn Saith; That the said Bellamy while he was in Command of the said Ship _Whido_ took a Scotch Vessel off the Capes of Virginia last Spring, Cutt down her Masts and Sunk her. That he heard the said Thomas Davis went on Board her: but I did not see him. That this Depo't Thought it not prudent to be too familiar with the Prisoner[3] because it might tend to Create a Jealousy in the Pyrates, that the Depo't and the Pris'r (whom they Suspected, because he was a forced man) would runn away together, and The Depo't Saith further that Capt. James Williams, Commander of the Ship _St. Michael_ (whose Carpenter the Pris'r was) Intreated the said Capt. Bellamy when he took him to lett the Pris'r go. But the Ships Comp'y would by no means Consent thereto by reason he was a Carpenter, And swore that they would shoot him before they would lett him go from them. [Footnote 3: He had been a shipmate of Davis on the _St. Michael_.] Capt. John Brett, Marriner, Sworn, Saith that he was taken by Capt. Samuel Bellamy before the Ship _Sultania_ was taken from Capt. Richards, and then it was the Custome among the Pyrates to force no Prisoners, but those that remained with them were Voluntiers.