46 



A True and ExaB Hijlory 



their (pirits no way inferiour^ refolved to draw as many of tlic difcon- 

 tented party into this plot, as poffibly they could 5 and tlioicof this 

 perfwafion, were the greateft numbers of Servants in the Ifland. So 

 that a day was appointed to fall upon their MafterSg and cut ail their 

 throats, and by that means, to make themfelves duly freemen , but 

 Maftcrs of the Illand. And fo clofeiy was this plot carried, as oodif- 

 covery was made, till the day before they were to put it in acl : And 

 then one of them, either by the failing of his courage , or ibmt new 

 obligation from the love of his Maftcr, revealed this long plotLed con- 

 fpiracy^ and fo by this timely advertiiement, the Maftcrs were favcd: 

 Juftice Hethcrfall (whole fervant this was ) fending Letters to all his 

 friends, and they to theirs, and fo one to another, till they were all fe- 

 cured ^ and , by examination, found out the greateft part of them , 

 whereof eighteen of the principal menin thecoofpiracy, andihcythe 

 firft leaders and contrivers of the plot , were put to death, for exam.- 

 ple to the refto And the reafon why they made examples of fo many, | 

 was, they found thefo fo haughty in their refolutions , and fo incor-, | 

 rigible, as they were like enough to become Adors in a fecondplot^ I 

 and fo they thought good to focure them , aad for the reft, to have a i 

 Ipecial eye over them. ! 



It has been accounted a ftrangc thing, that the Negroes^ being more j 

 than double the numbers of the Chriftians that are there , and they 

 accounted a bloody people, wfiere they think they have power or ad- 

 vantages 3 and the more bloody, by how much they are more fearful 

 than others : that thefe fliould not commit fome horrid mafia ere 

 upon the Chriftians, thereby to enfranchife themfelves , and become 

 Mafters of the lOand; , But there are three reafons that take away this 

 wonder 5 the one is. They are not fuffered to touch or handle any 

 weapons: The other, Thatthey areheld infuch awe and Oavcry, as 

 they are fearful to appear in any daring ad , and feeing the muftering of 

 our men, and hearing their Gun-fhot , ( than which nothing is more 

 teri-ible to them) their fpirits are fubjugated to fo low a condition , 

 as they dare not look up to any bold attempt. Befides thefe, there is 

 a third reafon, which ftops all defigns of that kind, and that is. They 

 are fetch'd from feveral parts of Africa , who fpeak feveral langua- 

 ges, and by that means, one of them underftands not another For, j 

 fome of them are fetch'd ^vomGuinny and Binnj.^ fome from Cutckew^ 

 fome from Atjgdla^ and fome from the River o^GamhU. And in fome 

 ofthefe places where petty Kingdomes are, they fell their Subjefts, 

 and fuch as they take in Battle, whom they make flaves 5 and fonie 

 mean men fell their Servants , their Children , and fometimes their 

 ^ivcs, and think all goodtraffick, for fuch cominodities as our Mer- 

 chants fend thenii 



When they are brought to us, the Planters buy them out of the 

 Ship, where they find them ftark naked, and therefore cannot be de- 

 ceived in any outward infirmity. Theychoofe them as they do Horfes 

 in a Market ^ the ftrongeft, youthfulleft , and moft beautiful , yield 

 the greateft prices. Thirty pound fterling is a price for the beft 

 man Ncgroe and twenty five, twenty fix, or twenty feven pound for 

 a Woman 3 the Children are at eafier rates. And v/e buy them fo, as 



the 



