fitted out two Ships of thirty odd Guns, and 120 Hands each, well furniſhed with Proviſion aud Ammunition, and all other Stores; and the Hire being agreed for, by ſome Agents for Spain, they were commanded to ſail for Corunna or the Groine, there to receive their Orders, and to take on Board ſome Spaniſh Gentlemen, who were to go Paſſengers to New-Spain.
Of one of theſe Ships, which I take to be call’d the Duke, Capt. Gibſon Commander, Avery was firſt Mate, and being a Fellow of more Cunning than Courage, he inſinuated himſelf into the good Will of ſeveral of the boldeſt Fellows on Board the other Ship, as well as that which he was on Board of; having ſounded their Inclinations before he opened himſelf, and finding them ripe for his Deſign, he, at length, propoſed to them, to run away with the Ship, telling them what great Wealth was to be had upon the Coaſts of India. It was no ſooner ſaid than agreed to, and they reſolved to execute their Plot at Ten a Clock the Night following.
It muſt be obſerv’d, the Captain was one of thoſe who are mightily addicted to Punch, ſo that he paſſed moſt of his Time on Shore, in ſome little drinking Ordinary; but this Day he did not go on Shore as uſual; however, this did not ſpoil the Deſign, for he took his uſual Doſe on Board, and ſo got to Bed before the Hour appointed for the Buſineſs: The Men alſo who were not privy to the Deſign, turn’d into their Hammocks, leaving none upon Deck but the Conſpirators, who, indeed, were the greateſt Part of the Ship’s Crew. At the Time agreed on, the Dutcheſs’s Long-Boat appear’d, which Avery hailing in the uſual Manner, was anſwered by the Men in her, Is your drunken Boatſwain on Board?
Which was the Watch-Word agreed between them, and Avery replying in the Affirmative, the Boat
