ry ready to do it; but if they reſolved to proſecute him, he begg’d only this Favour, that he might not be hang’d like a Dog, but to die like a Soldier, as he had been bred from his Childhood, that is, that he might be ſhot.
This was the Subſtance of the Letter, which, however, did not produce ſo favourable an Anſwer as he hoped for, Word being brought back to him, That he ſhould be fairly hang’d.
Whereupon, Maſſey reſolved not to be out of the Way, when he found what important Occaſion there was likely to be for him, but takes a Lodging in Alderſgate-Street, the next Day went to the Lord Chief Juſtice’s Chambers, and enquired, if my Lord had granted a Warrant againſt Captain John Maſſey, for Pyracy: But being told by the Clerks, that they knew of no ſuch Thing; he informed them, he was the Man, that my Lord would ſoon be apply’d to for that Purpoſe, and the Officer might come to him at ſuch a Place, where he lodg’d: They took the Directions in Writing, and, in a few Days, a Warrant being iſſued, the Tipſtaff went directly, by his own Information, and apprehended him, without any other Trouble, than walking to his Lodging.
There was then no Perſon in Town to charge him with any Fact, upon which he could be committed; nor could the Letter be proved to be of his Hand-Writing, ſo that they had been obliged to let him go again, if he had not helped his Accuſers out at Pinch: The Magiſtrate was reduced to the putting of this Queſtion to him, Did you write this Letter?
He anſwered, He did
: And not only that, but confeſſed all the Contents of it; upon which, he was committed to Newgate, but was afterwards admitted to a hundred Pounds Bail, or thereabouts.
On
