Of Major Stede Bon^ET. 105 



take J and carry away the faid Merchant Sloops called th^ 

 Frances, and alfo twenty fix Hogfheadsy &c. &c. &€• 

 being found in the afore faid Sloops in the Cuftody and Toffef* 

 fion of the faid Peter Manwaring, and others^ his Mart-' 

 ners of the faid Sloop y and from their Cufiody and Toffef^ 

 poriy then and therCy upon the High-Sea aforefaidy called 

 Cape James, alias Cape Inlopen, as aforefaidy and 

 within the JurifdiUion aforefaidy againft the Peace of 

 our now Sovereign Lord the Kingy his Crown and 

 Dignity. 



This was tl>e Form of the Indiflrments they were 

 arraigned upon, and tho' they might hSve proved 

 leveral more Fafts upon the major Part of the 

 Crew, the Court thought fit to profecute but two; 

 the other was for feizing in a pyratical and felonious 

 Manner, the Stoop F&rtuney Thomas Read Commander ; 

 which Indiftment running in the fame Form with 

 the above-meiltidned, it will be unneceflary to fay 

 more of it. 



An the Priibiiers arraigned, pleaded Not Guilty, 

 and put theififelves lipon their Tryals, except James 

 Wilfony znA Jvhn Levity who pleaded Guilty to 

 both Indifl:ments, and Daniel Perry y to one only. 

 The Major would have gone through both thehv 

 diOiraents at once, which the Court not admitting, 

 he pleaded ISIot Guilty to both Indidments, but 

 being convicted of one, he retrafted his former 

 Plea ' to the fecond Indiftment, and pleaded duil- 

 ty to it. 



The Prilbners made little or no Defence, every 

 one pretending oply that they were taken off a 

 Maroon Shore, and were Ihipped with Major 

 Bonnet to go to 'St J Thomas'^s ^ but being out at Sea, 

 kiid wanting Provifions, they were obliged to do 

 what they did by others and fo did Major Bon^ 

 pet himfelf, pretend that 'twas Force, not Incli- 

 ^Jtion^ that occafioned what had happened. How- 



ever. 



