P R E F A C E. vii 



licentious crew fliould hearken to any 

 fadious leader rather than to the foli- 

 dity of their captain's advice, who made 

 it evident to every unprejudiced under- 

 Handing, jthat their faireft chance for 

 fafety and a better fortune, was to pro- 

 ceed with the long-boat till they fhould 

 make prize of fome veflel of the enemy, 

 and thereby be enabled to bring to the 

 commodore a fupply of flout fellows to 

 affill in his conquefts, and (hare in the 

 honour and rewards. 



And yet it is but juftice even to this 

 ungovernable herd to explain, that 

 though I have faid above they appeared 

 in the light of mutineers, they were not 

 adlually fuch in the eye of the law ; for 

 till a fubfequent a6l, made, indeed, on 

 this occafion, the pay of a fliip's crew 

 ceafed immediately upon her wreck, and 

 confequently the officers authority and 

 command. 



Having 



