Capu Bart HO. Roberts. 287 



it proving to be a Frwfe built Ship of 32 Guns, cal- 

 led the Ranker n 



Jjaac Sufjy 

 Ralph Baldriciy 

 Daniel MacUuglin. 



When the Evidence had been heard, the Priib- 

 ners were called upon to anfwer, how they came 

 on Board this Pyrate Ship and their Reafon for 

 lb audacious a Refiftance, as had been made againft 

 the King's Ship* 



To this, each, in his Reply, owned himfelf to 

 be one of thofe taken out of the Ranger 5 that hq^ 

 had figned their pyratical Articles, and lhared in 

 their Plunder, Ibme few only accepted, who had 

 been there too Ihort a Time. But that neither ia 

 this figning, or fliaring, nor in \the Refiftance 

 had been made againfl: his Majefty's Ship, had they 

 been Voluntiers, but had afted in thefe leveral 

 Parts, from a Terror of Death \ which a Law 

 amongft them, was to be the Portion of thofe who 

 refufed. The Court then ask'd, who made thofe 

 Laws ? How thofe Guns came to be fired ? Or why 

 they had not deferted their Stations, and mutinied, 

 when fb fair a Profpefl: of Redemption offered ? 

 They replied ftill, with the fame Anfwers, and 

 could extenuate their Crimes, with no other Plea, 

 than being forced Men. Wherefore the Court 

 were of Opinion, that the Indidment, as it char- 

 ged them with an unlawful Attack and Refiftance 

 of the King's Ship, was fufficiently proved^ but 

 then it being undeniably evident, that many of 

 thefe Prifoners had been forced, and fome of them 

 of very fiiort ftanding, they did, on mature Deli** 

 beration, come to this merciful Refolution ; 



That they would hear further Evidence for, or 

 againft, each Perfon fingly, in Relation to thofe 

 Parts of the Indi3:ment, which declared them Vo^ 



luntiiers 



