part8-第7章
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come in against him; I thought his friend was in the right; and
I lay at him night and day to delay it no longer。
At last; with much difficulty; he gave his consent; and as he
was not therefore admitted to transportation in court; and on
his petition; as I was; so he found himself under a difficulty
to avoid embarking himself as I had said he might have done;
his great friend; who was his intercessor for the favour of that
grant; having given security for him that he should transport
himself; and not return within the term。
This hardship broke all my measures; for the steps I took
afterwards for my own deliverance were hereby rendered
wholly ineffectual; unless I would abandon him; and leave
him to go to America by himself; than which he protested he
would much rather venture; although he were certain to go
directly to the gallows。
I must now return to my case。 The time of my being transported
according to my sentence was near at hand; my governess; who
continued my fast friend; had tried to obtain a pardon; but it
could not be done unless with an expense too heavy for my
purse; considering that to be left naked and empty; unless I had
resolved to return to my old trade again; had been worse than
my transportation; because there I knew I could live; here I
could not。 The good minister stood very hard on another
account to prevent my being transported also; but he was
answered; that indeed my life had been given me at his first
solicitations; and therefore he ought to ask no more。 He was
sensibly grieved at my going; because; as he said; he feared I
should lose the good impressions which a prospect of death
had at first made on me; and which were since increased by
his instructions; and the pious gentleman was exceedingly
concerned about me on that account。
On the other hand; I really was not so solicitous about it as I
was before; but I industriously concealed my reasons for it
from the minister; and to the last he did not know but that I
went with the utmost reluctance and affliction。
It was in the month of February that I was; with seven other
convicts; as they called us; delivered to a merchant that traded
to Virginia; on board a ship; riding; as they called it; in
Deptford Reach。 The officer of the prison delivered us on
board; and the master of the vessel gave a discharge for us。
We were for that night clapped under hatches; and kept so
close that I thought I should have been suffocated for want
of air; and the next morning the ship weighed; and fell down
the river to a place they call Bugby's Hole; which was done;
as they told us; by the agreement of the merchant; that all
opportunity of escape should be taken from us。 However;
when the ship came thither and cast anchor; we were allowed
more liberty; and particularly were permitted to come up on
the deck; but not up on the quarter…deck; that being kept
particularly for the captain and for passengers。
When by the noise of the men over my head; and the motion
of the ship; I perceived that they were under sail; I was at first
greatly surprised; fearing we should go away directly; and that
our friends would not be admitted to see us any more; but I
was easy soon after; when I found they had come to an anchor
again; and soon after that we had notice given by some of the
men where we were; that the next morning we should have
the liberty to come up on deck; and to have our friends come
and see us if we had any。
All that night I lay upon the hard boards of the deck; as the
passengers did; but we had afterwards the liberty of little
cabins for such of us as had any bedding to lay in them; and
room to stow any box or trunk for clothes and linen; if we
had it (which might well be put in); for some of them had
neither shirt nor shift or a rag of linen or woollen; but what
was on their backs; or a farthing of money to help themselves;
and yet I did not find but they fared well enough in the ship;
especially the women; who got money from the seamen for
washing their clothes; sufficient to purchase any common
things that they wanted。
When the next morning we had the liberty to come up on the
deck; I asked one of the officers of the ship; whether I might
not have the liberty to send a letter on shore; to let my friends
know where the ship lay; and to get some necessary things
sent to me。 This was; it seems; the boatswain; a very civil;
courteous sort of man; who told me I should have that; or any
other liberty that I desired; that he could allow me with safety。
I told him I desired no other; and he answered that the ship's
boat would go up to London the next tide; and he would order
my letter to be carried。
Accordingly; when the boat went off; the boatswain came to
me and told me the boat was going off; and that he went in it
himself; and asked me if my letter was ready he would take
care of it。 I had prepared myself; you may be sure; pen; ink;
and paper beforehand; and I had gotten a letter ready directed
to my governess; and enclosed another for my fellow…prisoner;
which; however; I did not let her know was my husband; not
to the last。 In that to my governess; I let her know where the
ship lay; and pressed her earnestly to send me what things I
knew she had got ready for me for my voyage。
When I gave the boatswain the letter; I gave him a shilling
with it; which I told him was for the charge of a messenger
or porter; which I entreated him to send with the letter as
soon as he came on shore; that if possible I might have an
answer brought back by the same hand; that I might know
what was become of my things; 'for sir;' says I; 'if the ship
should go away before I have them on board; I am undone。'
I took care; when I gave him the shilling; to let him see that
I had a little better furniture about me than the ordinary
prisoners; for he saw that I had a purse; and in it a pretty deal
of money; and I found that the very sight of it immediately
furnished me with very different treatment from what I should
otherwise have met with in the ship; for though he was very
courteous indeed before; in a kind of natural compassion to
me; as a woman in distress; yet he was more than ordinarily
so afterwards; and procured me to be better treated in the ship
than; I say; I might otherwise have been; as shall appear in
its place。
He very honestly had my letter delivered to my governess's
own hands; and brought me back an answer from her in writing;
and when he gave me the answer; gave me the shilling again。
'There;' says he; 'there's your shilling again too; for I delivered
the letter myself。' I could not tell what to say; I was so surprised
at the thing; but after some pause; I said; 'Sir; you are too kind;
it had been but reasonable that you had paid yourself coach…hire;
then。'
'No; no;' says he; 'I am overpaid。 What is the gentlewoman?
Your sister。'
'No; sir;' says I; 'she is no relation to me; but she is a dear
friend; and all the friends I have in the world。' 'Well;' says
he; 'there are few such friends in the world。 Why; she cried
after you like a child;' 'Ay;' says I again; 'she would give a
hundred pounds; I believe; to deliver me from this dreadful
condition I am in。'
'Would she so?' says he。 'For half the money I believe I could
put you in a way how to deliver yourself。' But this he spoke
softly; that nobody could hear。
'Alas! sir;' said I; 'but then that must be such a deliverance
as; if I should be taken again; would cost me my life。' 'Nay;'
said he; 'if you were once out of the ship; you must look to
yourself afterwards; that I can say nothing to。' So we dropped
the discourse for that time。
In the meantime; my governess; faithful to the last moment;
conveyed my letter to the prison to my husband; and