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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 got an
answer to it； and the next day came down herself to the ship；
bringing me； in the first place； a sea…bed as they call it； and
all its furniture； such as was convenient； but not to let the
people think it was extraordinary。 She brought with her a
sea…chestthat is； a chest； such as are made for seamen； with
all the conveniences in it； and filled with everything almost
that I could want； and in one of the corners of the chest； where
there was a private drawer； was my bank of moneythis is to
say； so much of it as I had resolved to carry with me； for I
ordered a part of my stock to be left behind me； to be sent
afterwards in such goods as I should want when I came to
settle； for money in that country is not of much use where all
things are brought for tobacco； much more is it a great loss
to carry it from hence。
But my case was particular； it was by no means proper to me
to go thither without money or goods； and for a poor convict；
that was to be sold as soon as I came on shore； to carry with
me a cargo of goods would be to have notice taken of it； and
perhaps to have them seized by the public； so I took part of my
stock with me thus； and left the other part with my governess。
My governess brought me a great many other things； but it
was not proper for me to look too well provided in the ship；
at least till I knew what kind of a captain we should have。
When she came into the ship； I thought she would have died
indeed； her heart sank at the sight of me； and at the thoughts
of parting with me in that condition； and she cried so intolerably；
I could not for a long time have any talk with her。
I took that time to read my fellow…prisoner's letter； which；
however； greatly perplexed me。 He told me was determined
to go； but found it would be impossible for him to be discharged
time enough for going in the same ship； and which was more
than all； he began to question whether they would give him
leave to go in what ship he pleased； though he did voluntarily
transport himself； but that they would see him put on board
such a ship as they should direct； and that he would be charged
upon the captain as other convict prisoners were； so that he
began to be in despair of seeing me till he came to Virginia；
which made him almost desperate； seeing that； on the other
hand； if I should not be there； if any accident of the sea or of
mortality should take me away； he should be the most undone
creature there in the world。
This was very perplexing； and I knew not what course to take。
I told my governess the story of the boatswain； and she was
mighty eager with me treat with him； but I had no mind to it；
till I heard whether my husband； or fellow…prisoner； so she
called him； could be at liberty to go with me or no。 At last I
was forced to let her into the whole matter； except only that
of his being my husband。 I told her I had made a positive
bargain or agreement with him to go； if he could get the liberty
of going in the same ship； and that I found he had money。
Then I read a long lecture to her of what I proposed to do
when we came there； how we could plant； settle； and； in short；
grow rich without any more adventures； and； as a great secret；
I told her that we were to marry as soon as he came on board。
She soon agreed cheerfully to my going when she heard this；
and she made it her business from that time to get him out of
the prison in time； so that he might go in the same ship with
me； which at last was brought to pass； though with great
difficulty； and not without all the forms of a transported
prisoner…convict； which he really was not yet； for he had not
been tried； and which was a great mortification to him。 As
our fate was now determined； and we were both on board；
actually bound to Virginia； in the despicable quality of
transported convicts destined to be sold for slaves； I for five
years； and he under bonds and security not to return to England
any more； as long as he lived； he was very much dejected and
cast down； the mortification of being brought on board； as he
was； like a prisoner； piqued him very much； since it was first
told him he should transport himself； and so that he might go
as a gentleman at liberty。 It is true he was not ordered to be
sold when he came there； as we were； and for that reason he
was obliged to pay for his passage to the captain； which we
were not； as to the rest； he was as much at a loss as a child
what to do with himself； or with what he had； but by directions。
Our first business was to compare our stock。 He was very
honest to me； and told me his stock was pretty good when he
came into the prison； but the living there as he did in a figure
like a gentleman； and； which was ten times as much； the
making of friends； and soliciting his case； had been very
expensive； and； in a word； all his stock that he had left was
#108； which he had about him all in gold。
I gave him an account of my stock as faithfully； that is to say；
of what I had taken to carry with me； for I was resolved；
whatever should happen； to keep what I had left with my
governess in reserve； that in case I should die； what I had with
me was enough to give him； and that which was left in my
governess's hands would be her own； which she had well
deserved of me indeed。
My stock which I had with me was #246 some odd shillings；
so that we had #354 between us； but a worse gotten estate was
scarce ever put together to being the world with。
Our greatest misfortune as to our stock was that it was all in
money； which every one knows is an unprofitable cargo to be
carried to the plantations。 I believe his was really all he had
left in the world； as he told me it was； but I； who had between
#700 and #800 in bank when this disaster befell me； and who
had one of the faithfullest friends in the world to manage it
for me； considering she was a woman of manner of religious
principles； had still #300 left in her hand； which I reserved as
above； besides； some very valuable things； as particularly two
gold watches； some small pieces of plate； and some ringsall
stolen goods。 The plate； rings； and watches were put in my
chest with the money； and with this fortune； and in the
sixty…first year of my age； I launched out into a new world；
as I may call it； in the condition （as to what appeared） only
of a poor； naked convict； ordered to be transported in respite
from the gallows。 My clothes were poor and mean； but not
ragged or dirty； and none knew in the whole ship that I had
anything of value about me。
However； as I had a great many very good clothes and linen
in abundance； which I had ordered to be packed up in two
great boxes； I had them shipped on board； not as my goods；
but as consigned to my re