I had an Account given me of one of theſe merry Tryals, and as it appeared diverting, I ſhall give the Readers a ſhort Account of it.
The Court and Criminals being both appointed, as alſo Council to plead, the Judge got up in a Tree, and had a dirty Taurpaulin hung over his Shoulders; this was done by Way of Robe, with a Thrum Cap on his Head, and a large Pair of Spectacles upon his Noſe: Thus equipp’d, he ſettled himſelf in his Place, and abundance of Officers attending him below, with Crows, Handſpikes, &c. inſtead of Wands, Tipſtaves, and ſuch like.The Criminals were brought out, making a thouſand ſour Faces; and one who acted as Attorney-General opened the Charge againſt them; their Speeches were very laconick, and their whole Proceedings conciſe. We ſhall give it by Way of Dialogue.
Attorn. Gen. An’t pleaſe your Lordſhip, and you Gentlemen of the Jury, here is a Fellow before you that is a ſad Dog, a ſad ſad Dog; and I humbly hope your Lordſhip will order him to be hang’d out of the Way immediately.He has committed Pyracy upon the High Seas, and we ſhall prove, an’t pleaſe your Lordſhip, that this Fellow, this ſad Dog before you, has eſcap’d a thouſand Storms, nay, has got ſafe aſhore when the Ship has been caſt away, which was a certain Sign he was not born to be drown’d; yet not having the Fear of hanging before his Eyes, he went on robbing and raviſhing Man, Woman and Child, plundering Ships Cargoes fore and aft, burning and ſinking Ship, Bark and Boat, as if the Devil had been in him. But this is not all, my Lord, he has committed worſe Villanies than all theſe, for we ſhall prove, that he has been guilty of drinking Small-Beer; and your Lordſhip knows, there never was a ſober Fellow but what was a Rogue.My Lord, I ſhould have ſpoke much finer than I do now, but that, as yourLordſhip
