This Prize was of little Value to the pyrates, who took nothing but some ‘Sail-Cloaths and small Arms, and after two Days let her go, but took away six of his Men,’ setting on board Capt. Fulker and a Passenger (Mr. Atkinson was detained) and Capt. Green's Surgeon; they kept this Gentleman, Mr. Atkinson, knowing he was a good Artist, and lately Master of the Boneta Brigantine, as a Pilot for the Coast of New England, which they were satisfied he was well acquainted with.
Upon Mr. Atkinson's desiring to have his Liberty with the others, Captain Fly made him the following Speech: Look ye, Captain Atkinson, it is
not that we care a T— d for your Company, G— d d — n ye; G— d d — n my Soul, not a T— d by G— d, and that's fair; but G— d d — n ye, and G— d's B— d and W— ds, if you don't act like an honest Man G— d d — n ye, and offer to play us any Rogues Tricks by G— d, and G— d sink me, but I'll blow your Brains out; G— d d — n me, if I don't. Now, Capt. Atkinson, you may do as you please, you may be a Son of a Whore and pilot us wrong, which, G— d d — n ye, would be a rascally Trick by G— d, because you would betray Men who trust in you; but, by the eternal J— s, you shan't live to see us hang'd. I don't love many Words, G— d d — n ye, if you have a Mind to be well used you shall, G— d's B— d; but if you will be a Villain and betray your Trust, may G— d strike me dead, and may I drink a Bowl of Brimstone and Fire with the D— l, if I don't send you head-long to H— ll, G— d d — n me; and so there needs no more Arguments by G— d, for I've told you my Mind, and here's all the Ships Crew for Witnesses, that if I do blow your Brains out, you may blame no Body but your self, G— d d — n ye.
Mr. Atkinson answered, it was very hard he should be forced to take upon him the Pilotage, when he did not pretend to know the Coast, and that his Life should answer for any Mistake his Ignorance of the Coast might make him guilty of, and therefore begg'd he might be set on board Capt. Gale; and that they would trust to their own Knowledge, since he did not doubt there being better Artists on Board. No, No, replied Fly, that won't do by G— d, your palavring won't save your Bacon. Muchas palabras no valen nada, as the Spaniards say; so either discharge your Trust like an honest Man, for go you shan't by G— d, or I'll send you with my Service to the D— l; so no more Words, G— d d — n ye.
There was no Reply made, and they stood for the Coast of New England; off Delaware's Bay they made a Sloop, commanded by one Harris, bound from New York to Pensilvania: She had on Board about fifty Passengers; Fly gave Chase, and coming up with her, hoisted his black Ensign, and ordered her to strike, which she immediately did; and Fly sent Capt. Atkinson on Board with three of his Hands, to sail her, tho’ he would not allow him, (Atkinson) any Arms: They, the pyrates, ransack'd this Prize, but not finding her of any Use to them, after a Detention of 24 Hours, they let her go, with her Men, excepting only a well made young Fellow, whose Name was James Benbrooke, whom they kept.
Fly, after having releas'd the Prize, ordered Captain Atkinson to carry the Snow into Martha's Vineyard, but, he willfully miss'd this Place. Fly finding himself beyond Nantuckets, and that his Design was baulk'd, called to Atkinson, and told him, he was a rascally Son of an envenom'd Bitch, and d — n his Blood it was a Piece of Cruelty to let such a Son of a Whore live, who design'd the Death of so many honest Fellows. Atkinson, in his Defence said, he never pretended to know the Coast, and that it was very hard he should die for being thought an abler Man than he really was; had he pretended to be their Pilot, and did not know his Business, he deserved Punishment; but when he was forc'd upon a Business which he before declared he did not understand, it would be certainly cruel to make him suffer for their Mistake. — G— d d — n ye, replied Fly, you are an obstinate Villain, and your Design is to hang us; but, B— d and W— ds you Dog, you shan't live to see it, and saying this, he ran into his Cabbin and fetch'd a Pistol with Design to shoot Atkinson; but by the Interposition of Mitchell, who thought him innocent of any Design, he escaped.
Atkinson, who perceived his Life every Minute in Danger, began to ingratiate himself with the pyrates, and gave them Hopes, that with good and gentle Usage, he might be brought to join them; this he did not say in express Terms, but by Words he now and then let drop, as by Accident: They were not a little rejoiced at the View of having so good an Artist to join them; nay, some of them hinted to him, that if he would take upon him the Command, they were ready to dispossess Capt. Fly, who carried his Command too high, and was known to all the Crew to be no Artist, and to understand nothing beyond the Business of a Boatswain. Atkinson thought it his Interest to keep them in the Opinion that he would join; but always declined hearing any Thing as to the Command.
This made him less severely us'd, and protected him from the Insults of Fly, who imagined he would betray them the first Opportunity, and therefore more than once proposed his being thrown over Board, which was never approved by the Snow's Company.
From Nantuket they stood to the Eastward, and off Brown's Bank made a Fishing Schooner. Fly coming up with her fired a Gun, and hoisting his black Ensign, swore, d — n his Blood, if they did not instantly bring to, and send their Boat on Board, he would sink her: The Schooner obeyed, and sent away her Boat on Board the Snow; he examined the Captain what Vessels were to be met with, and promised, if he could put him in the Way of meeting with a good Sailor, to let him go, and give him his Vessel, or he should otherwise keep her: The poor Man told him, he had a Companion which would soon be in Sight, and was a much better Vessel; accordingly about 12 at Noon the same Day, which was the 23d of June, the other Schooner hove in Sight; upon which, Fly mann'd this Prize with six pyrates, and a Prisoner nam'd George Tasker, and sent her in Chase, having himself on Board the Snow, no more than three pyrates, Captain Atkinson, (who had work'd himself into some Favour with him) and fifteen forced Men; but he took Care to have his Arms upon Deck by him.
The Men who had not taken on with Fly, were, Atkinson, Capt. Fulker's Mate, and two Youths belonging to him; the Carpenter and Gunner belonging formerly to Captain Green; six of Captain Gate's Men, and the aforesaid Benbrooke, who belonged to Captain Harris, with three of the Men out of the Schooner. Atkinson seeing the Prisoners and forced Men were five to one of the pyrates, thought of delivering himself from the Bondage he was in; and, as by good Luck, several other Fishing Vessels hove in Sight, right a-head of the Snow, he call'd to Captain Fly, and told him, he spied several other Vessels a-head, desiring, he would come forward and bring his Glass; Fly did so, and leaving his Arms on the Quarter-Deck, sat him on the Windlass to see if he could make what they were. Atkinson, who had concerted his Measures, with one Walker and the above-mention'd Benbrook, secured the Arms on the Quarter-Deck, and gave them a Signal to seize Fly, which they did, with very little Trouble, and after made themselves Masters of the other three pyrates and the Snow; the rest of the Prisoners, not knowing any Thing of, or what the Design might be, remaining altogether inactive, and brought the Snow and pyrates to Great Brewster, where a Guard was puton Board June 28, 1726.
Soon after, the said pyrates were brought to their Trial, that is, on the fourth of July following, before the Honourable William Dummer, Esq; Lieutenant Governor and Commander in chief, of the Province of Massachuset's Bay, President of the special Court of Admiralty, held at the Court-house of Boston, assisted by 18 Gentlemen of the Council, before whom they were found guilty of Murder and Pyracy, condemn'd to be executed, and accordingly were executed the 12th of July; Fly was order'd to be hang'd in Chains at the Entrance of the Harbour of Boston. Thus ended the short Reign of an obdurate Wretch, who only wanted Skill and Power to be as infamous as any who had scoured the Seas; the Names of the three pyrates, executed with him, were Samuel Cole, George Condick and Henry Greenvill.