Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 459

he would pay them their Wages and Pounds on such Con-
dition or as a Reward for their assisting him, that imme-
diately after this the Schooner's Mate (as this Examinant
hath been told he is) with some others he thinks four of the
Schooner's Crew went on Board the Brig carrying some Cut-
lasses with them but how many he does not know, that soon
afterwards the Examinant hearing the Person who com-
manded the Schooner (being the same that under the Title
of Mate had first visited the Brig) say that he would carry
the Vessel (meaning as he supposes the Brig) to Providence,
the Examinant and his Comrades said that it was very hard
to be carried so far, as there were many Ports or Harbours
nigh, to which they were willing and ready to go, that there-
upon the said Person declared that he would put the Exami-
nant and his Comrades in Irons, and forthwith sent one of
his People into the Cabbin for Irons, and a Pair of Fetters

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

were accordingly brought but that the Examinant's Com-
rades or some of them saying it would be very hard for
English Men to be put in Irons on Board an English Vessel,
as they apprehended the Schooner was and begging that he
would not treat them in such a Manner, he did not proceed
to put any of them in Irons or to confine them the Examinant
further saith that soon after this had passed on Board the
Schooner which was then standing down the Bay after the
Brig the Brig being as he imagines about a Mile a head, it
was discovered by the People on the Schooner's Deck that
the Boat was broke loose from the Brig, whereupon the
Schooner stood towards the Boat and she was taken or
picked up — as he thinks, by one of the Brig's Crew, but the
Examinant says he does not remember who at that Time had
Command of the Schooner nor what Person had hold of her
Helm, that the Boat being taken and secured, the Schooner
stood after the Brig and this Examinant saith that when
the said Schooner came up with her or was very near the
Brig some of the Brig's Crew hoisted a Whifft to the Top
Mast Head but he does not remember that any Orders were
given by any one for making such Signal, nor does he re-
member that any Person on Board the Schooner hailed the
Brig at that Time or forbad the People on Board her to
obey or regard the Signal abovementioned: This Exami-
nant further saith that at the Time when the Whifft was
hoisted as is abovementioned some of the Schooner's People
were tied on the Deck but he doth not know how many of
them were tyed, how long they had been tied, or who tyed
them, nor does he remember on what Part of the Deck, these
were whom he saw tyed: This Examinant saith that the
Schooner coming up with the Brig soon after the above-

p. 292