My Master perceiving that nothing would appease my wrath, nor silence the harmonious Tongue of my tippled Madam, commanded us both to be clapt in the _Bilboes_, and there to continue till we were a little more sober. We soon talkt ourselves asleep, and sleept as soundly as if we had lain on a Feather-bed, awakening, we wondred to see our selves in that condition, and could not imagine how we came there, but by some inchantment; but our admiration and amazement were soon converted into something of another nature, by my Masters sending for us; coming before him, there did I see my two Antagonists, the sight whereof immediately informed my memory with the precedent days proceedings; my face did presently discover my guilt.
_Heu quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu?_ Alas how hard it is for any face To hide a crime, if it hath any Grace?
And had not our countenances betrayed us, there were too many apparent evidences for our conviction. Now did I see my _quondam_ loving friend lay aside the pleasantness of his former looks, and assume the severe gravity of a Judges aspect, and having dismist my fighting Madam, sentenced me and my two combatants to be that instant conveyed to the Capston, which was done accordingly, and there were we seized, inclosed within a Hoop, and a Cat of nine tails delivered into each our hands; and this being done, said our Master, _Let me see how you will fight now? if you do not lash one another soundly, I will have those that shall_; so commanding the Capston Bar to be turned round, to work we went; I laid it on gently at first on him that was before me, but finding the smart of the blows increase, and the lashes multiply in strength as well as quantity, by him that was behind me, I spared my fore-man not a jot, but as fast and as smartly as I could, I jerkt him about; this caused him to redouble his blows on the other, he again on me, and so we went round in that unmerciful manner, that our Master out of meer pity was forc’d to release us.
The severity of this punishment (for none could have had the heart to have whipt us as we whipt our selves,) cured me of my Drunken fits for that whole Voyage, and so reduced me to order and civility, that I was once more received into his favour. And now I grew so cautious in the disposal of those Liquors of Life, that none participated with me in their enjoyments, but my Master and his friends, who was a severe check over me in what he had committed to my charge. Immediately after our arrival at _Barbadoes_, having complemented the Island with the usual ceremony of firing some Guns, a swarm of Boats from thence settled about our Ship, the Planters therein boarded us on every side, as if they intended to have made lawful Prize of us. Our Commodities between Decks were forthwith rubbig’d, (rummig’d I mean) and exposed to the view of the Buyer; they need not question the goodness of the Ware, since it hath been sufficiently tryed, and could not want a _probatum_ on the report of hundreds. Nothing troubled me more than to see my young Female Comrade truckt for Tobacco, the exchange of equal levity, and as the one is fit only to be burnt, so in time may the other, though so green one would imagine nor capable of entertaining a flame. They were all disposed off in a very short time, and those that despaired of ever having Husbands in _England_, had them here ready made to their hands, and they with others found in this remote place a conveniency for raising a new credit and reputation, which they had irrecoverably lost elsewhere.