146 Of Capt. Charles Vane. 



the Man of War was too ftrong to cope with ^ but 

 one John Rackam^ who was an Officer, that had a 

 kind of a Check upon the Captain, rofe up in De- 

 fence of a contrary Opinion, faying. That tho\ Jhe 

 had more GunSy and a greater Weight of Mettal^ they 

 might board her^ a^id then the befi Boys would carry the 

 JDay. Eackam was well feconded, and the Majority 

 was for boarding • but f^ane urged, That it was too 

 rajh and defter ate an Enterpriz^e^ the Man of War af^ 

 fearing to he twice their Force and that their Brigan^ 

 tine might be funk by Iger before they could reach on board. 

 The Mate, one Robert Dealy was of Fane'^ Opinion, 

 as were about fifteen more, and all the reft joined 

 with Raclamj the Quarter-Mafter. At length the 

 Captain made ufe of his Power to determine this 

 Dilpute, which, in thefe Cales, is abfblute and un- 

 controulable, by their own Laws, 'viz.* in fightings 

 chafingy or being chafed ^ in all other Matters whatfo- 

 ever, he is governed by a Majority ^ fo the Brigan- 

 tine having the Heels, as they term it, of the French 

 Man, flie came clear off. 



But the next Day, the Captain's Behaviour was 

 obliged to fland the Teft of a Vote, and a Re- 

 folution pafTed againft his Honour and Dignity, 

 branding him with the Name of Coward, depo- 

 fing him from the Command, and turning him 

 out of the Conipany, with Marks of Infamy ; 

 and, with him, went all thofe who did not Vote for 

 boarding the French Man of U^ar. They had with 

 them a fmall Sloop that had been taken by them 

 fc^me Time before, which they gave to f^ane^ and 

 the difcarded Members ; and, that they might be 

 in a Condition to provide for themfelves, by their 

 own honeft Endeavours, they let them have a fuf- 

 ficient Quantity of Provifions and Ammunition along 

 with them. 



y^hn 



