State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
History
State Trials, Political and Social. Volume 2 (of 2)
Trials -- Great Britain
WILLIAMS--He was; and when they had brought him into the barge
captain Goodere desired to have the cloak put over sir John to
keep him from the cold, but sir John said he did not want a
cloak, neither would he have it. The privateer's men wanted me
to put them on the other side the water, but I said I would not
without the captain's orders. They asked the captain, and he
directed me to do it, and I put them ashore at the glass-house,
and just as we came over against the hot-wells, there was a
gentleman standing whom sir John knew, to whom sir John cried
out, Sir, do you know Mr. Jarrit Smith? But before he could
speak any more, the cloak was thrown over him to prevent his
crying out, and the captain told me to steer the barge on the
other side, until we got clear of the noise of the people; and
when we were got clear, he directed me to steer the boat in the
middle, as I ought to do. I obeyed his orders.
THE RECORDER--Who threw the cloak over him?
WILLIAMS--The captain. And the captain being as near to sir
John as I am to your lordship, sir John asked the captain what
he was going to do with him? Says the captain, I am going to
carry you on board, to save you from ruin, and from lying
rotting in a gaol.
VERNON--And what reply did sir John make to that?
WILLIAMS--He said, I know better things, I believe you are
going to murder me; you may as well throw me overboard, and
murder me here right, as carry me on board ship and murder me.
No, says the captain, I am not going to do any such thing, but
I would have you make your peace with God. As I steered the
boat, I heard all that passed. We brought sir John on board
between 7 and 8 o'clock, he could hardly go up into the ship,
he being so benumbed with cold; he did go up of his own accord,
with the men's assistance.
VERNON--How was he treated on board the man-of-war?
WILLIAMS--Sir, I don't know how they treated him after he went
on board the ship. I was excused from watching that night so I
went to my hammock; but after I was got out of my first sleep,
I heard some people talking and walking about backwards and
forwards: I was surprised; at last I peeped out of my hammock,
and asked the centinel what was o'clock. He said, between two
and three. And then I saw captain Goodere going down the ladder
from the deck towards the purser's cabin, but for what
intention I know not. I believe he came from his own cabin.
THE RECORDER--Whereabout is the purser's cabin?
WILLIAMS--The purser's cabin is in a place called the Cockpit,
the lower steps of the ladder is just by the door of the
purser's cabin.
THE RECORDER--And it was that ladder you saw the captain go
down, was it?
WILLIAMS--Yes, Sir, it was.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account