from the Owners; though the true Reaſon might be, that he thought it diſhonourable to treat with Robbers; and that the Ship, ſeparate from the Slaves, towards whom he could miſtruſt no Cruelty, was not worth the Sum demanded; hereupon, Roberts ſends the Boat to tranſport the Negroes, in order to ſet her on Fire; but being in haſt, and finding that unſhackling them coſt much Time and Labour, they actually ſet her on Fire, with eighty of thoſe poor Wretches on Board, chained two and two together, under the miſerable Choice of periſhing by Fire or Water: Thoſe who jumped overboard from the Flames, were ſeized by Sharks, a voracious Fiſh, in Plenty in this Road, and, in their Sight, tore Limb from Limb alive. A Cruelty unparalell’d! And for which had every Individual been hanged, few I imagine would think that Juſtice had been rigorous.
The Pyrates, indeed, were obliged to diſpatch their Buſineſs here in haſt, becauſe they had intercepted a Letter from General Phips to Mr. Baldwin, the Royal African Company’s Agent at Whydah, (giving an Account, that Roberts had been ſeen to Windward of Cape Three Points,) that he might the better guard againſt the Damages to the Company’s Ships, if he ſhould arrive at that Road before the Swallow Man of War, which he aſſured him, (at the Time of that Letter,) was purſuing them to that Place. Roberts call’d up his Company, and deſired they would hear Phip’s Speech, (for ſo he was pleaſed to call the Letter,) and notwithſtanding their vapouring, perſwaded them of the Neceſſity of moving; for, ſays he,
ſuch brave Fellows cannot be ſuppoſed to be frightned at this News, yet that it were better to avoid dry Blows, which is the beſt that can be expected, if overtaken.
