The Witnesses having been Severally Examined and Deposed as aforesd., the Prisoners were asked whether they had any thing to say on their own Defence. William Phillips said he was forced by the Pyrates out of the Sloop _Glasgow_, William Warden Master, that sometime after he was on board, he understood there were articles drawn up,[10] for the Captain Called him auft, and with his pistol Cocked demanded him to sign the sd. Articles or Else he would blow his Brains out, which he refused to do, Reminding the Captain of his promise that he should be cleared; but the Captn. Declaring that it should not hurt him, and Insisting on it as aforesd., he was Obliged to sign the sd. Articles. Then when Ferne and Wood were running away with the snow, they never told him what design they were upon but told him they were going to Holmes's hole,[11] and there every one to shift for himself, and the rest alledging they were forced men and some of them that they were in the secret of subduing the Pyrates and active in it, and others that there was no vessels taking whilst they were on board. [Footnote 10: Johnson, pp. 397-398, gives verbatim the text of these articles of agreement (_cf._ doc. no. 50), a very curious set, to which these pirates "swore upon a Hatchet for want of a Bible."] [Footnote 11: Now Vineyard Haven, in Martha's Vineyard.] Then the Prisoners being taken away and all withdrawn but the Register, The Court maturely Weighed and Considered the Evidences and Cases of the Prisoners and by a Plurality of Voices found the sd William Phillips Guilty of the Pyracies, Robberies and Felonys Exhibited against him, and by an unanimous voice found the sd. Isaac Lassen, Henry Gyles, Charles Ivemay, John Bootman, John Coombes and Henry Payne not Guilty. Then the Prisoners were brought to the Bar and the President acquainted William Phillips That the Court had found him Guilty of the Pyracies, Robberies and Felonies Exhibited against him, and asked him if he had any thing to say why sentence of Death should not pass upon him for his Offences. And he offering nothing Material the President Pronounced sentence of Death against him in the following words-- "You, William Phillips, are to go from hence to the place from whence you Come and from thence to the place of Execution, and there you are to be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and God of His Infinite Mercy save your Soul." And the President Pronounced the said Isaac Lassen, Henry Gyles, Charles Ivemay, John Bootman, John Coombs and Henry Payne not Guilty. Then the Court adjourned till to morrow morning Eight of the Clock. _121. Trial of William White, John Rose Archer, and William Taylor. May 13, 1724._ May the 13th day A.M. The Court met according to Adjournmt. and was opened by Proclamation.