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great boxes； I had them shipped on board； not as my goods；
but as consigned to my real name in Virginia； and had the
bills of loading signed by a captain in my pocket； and in these
boxes was my plate and watches； and everything of value
except my money； which I kept by itself in a private drawer
in my chest； which could not be found； or opened； if found；
with splitting the chest to pieces。
In this condition I lay for three weeks in the ship； not knowing
whether I should have my husband with me or no； and therefore
not resolving how or in what manner to receive the honest
boatswain's proposal； which indeed he thought a little strange
at first。
At the end of this time； behold my husband came on board。
He looked with a dejected； angry countenance； his great heart
was swelled with rage and disdain； to be dragged along with
three keepers of Newgate； and put on board like a convict；
when he had not so much as been brought to a trial。 He made
loud complaints of it by his friends； for it seems he had some
interest； but his friends got some check in their application；
and were told he had had favour enough； and that they had
received such an account of him； since the last grant of his
transportation； that he ought to think himself very well treated
that he was not prosecuted anew。 This answer quieted him at
once； for he knew too much what might have happened； and
what he had room to expect； and now he saw the goodness of
the advice to him； which prevailed with him to accept of the
offer of a voluntary transportation。 And after this his chagrin
at these hell…hounds； as he called them； was a little over； he
looked a little composed； began to be cheerful； and as I was
telling him how glad I was to have him once more out of their
hands； he took me in his arms； and acknowledged with great
tenderness that I had given him the best advice possible。 'My
dear；' says he； 'thou has twice saved my life； from henceforward
it shall be all employed for you； and I'll always take your advice。'
The ship began now to fill； several passengers came on board；
who were embarked on no criminal account； and these had
accommodations assigned them in the great cabin； and other
parts of the ship； whereas we； as convicts； were thrust down
below； I know not where。 But when my husband came on
board； I spoke to the boatswain； who had so early given me
hints of his friendship in carrying my letter。 I told him he had
befriended me in many things； and I had not made any suitable
return to him； and with that I put a guinea into his hand。 I told
him that my husband was now come on board； that though
we were both under the present misfortune； yet we had been
persons of a different character from the wretched crew that
we came with； and desired to know of him； whether the captain
might not be moved to admit us to some conveniences in the
ship； for which we would make him what satisfaction he
pleased； and that we would gratify him for his pains in procuring
this for us。 He took the guinea； as I could see； with great
satisfaction； and assured me of his assistance。
Then he told us he did not doubt but that the captain； who was
one of the best…humoured gentlemen in the world； would be
easily brought to accommodate us as well as we could desire；
and； to make me easy； told me he would go up the next tide
on purpose to speak to the captain about it。 The next morning；
happening to sleep a little longer than ordinary； when I got up；
and began to look abroad； I saw the boatswain among the men
in his ordinary business。 I was a little melancholy at seeing
him there； and going forward to speak to him； he saw me； and
came towards me； but not giving him time to speak first； I said；
smiling； 'I doubt； sir； you have forgot us； for I see you are very
busy。' He returned presently； 'Come along with me； and you
shall see。' So he took me into the great cabin； and there sat
a good sort of a gentlemanly man for a seaman； writing； and
with a great many papers before him。
'Here；' says the boatswain to him that was a…writing； 'is the
gentlewoman that the captain spoke to you of'； and turning to
me； he said； 'I have been so far from forgetting your business；
that I have been up at the captain's house； and have represented
faithfully to the captain what you said； relating to you being
furnished with better conveniences for yourself and your
husband； and the captain has sent this gentleman； who is made
of the ship； down with me； on purpose to show you everything；
and to accommodate you fully to your content； and bid me
assure you that you shall not be treated like what you were at
first expected to be； but with the same respect as other passengers
are treated。'
The mate then spoke to me； and； not giving me time to thank
the boatswain for his kindness； confirmed what the boatswain
had said； and added that it was the captain's delight to show
himself kind and charitable； especially to those that were
under any misfortunes； and with that he showed me several
cabins built up； some in the great cabin； and some partitioned
off； out of the steerage； but opening into the great cabin on
purpose for the accommodation of passengers； and gave me
leave to choose where I would。 However； I chose a cabin
which opened into the steerage； in which was very good
conveniences to set our chest and boxes； and a table to eat on。
The mate then told me that the boatswain had given so good
a character of me and my husband； as to our civil behaviour；
that he had orders to tell me we should eat with him； if we
thought fit； during the whole voyage； on the common terms
of passengers； that we might lay in some fresh provisions； if
we pleased； or if not； he should lay in his usual store； and we
should have share with him。 This was very reviving news to
me； after so many hardships and afflictions as I had gone
through of late。 I thanked him； and told him the captain should
make his own terms with us； and asked him leave to go and
tell my husband of it； who was not very well； and was not yet
out of his cabin。 Accordingly I went； and my husband； whose
spirits were still so much sunk with the indignity （as he
understood it） offered him； that he was scare yet himself； was
so revived with the account that I gave him of the reception
we were like to have in the ship； that he was quite another man；
and new vigour and courage appeared in his very countenance。
So true is it； that the greatest of spirits； when overwhelmed
by their afflictions； are subject to the greatest dejections； and
are the most apt to despair and give themselves up。
After some little pause to recover himself； my husband came
up with me； and gave the mate thanks for the kindness； which
he had expressed to us； and sent suitable acknowledgment by
him to the captain； offering to pay him by advance； whatever
he demanded for our passage； and for the conveniences he had
helped us to。 The mate told him that the captain would be on
board in the afternoon； and that he would leave all that till he
came。 Accordingly； in the afternoon the captain came； and we
found him the same courteous； obliging man that the boatswain
had represented him to be； and he was so well pleased with
my husband's conversation； that； in short； he would not let us
keep the cabin we had chosen； but gave us one that； as I said
before； opened into the great cabin。
Nor were his conditions exorbitant； or the man craving and
eager to make a prey of us； but for fifteen guineas we had our
whole passage and provisions and cabin； ate at the captain's
table； and were very handsomely entertained。
The captain lay himself in the other part of the great cabin；
having let his round house； as they call it； to a rich planter
who went over with his wife and three children； who ate by
themselves。 He had some other ordinary passengers； who
quartered in the steerage； and as for our old fraternity； they
were kept under the hatches while the ship lay there； and came
very little on the deck。
I could not refrain acquainting my governess with what had
happened； it was but just that she； who was so really concerned
for me； should have part in my good fortune。 Besides； I wanted
her assistance to supply me with several necessaries； which
before I was shy of letting anybody see me have； that it might
not be public； but now I had a cabin and room to set things in；
I ordered abundance of good things for our comfort in the
voyage； as brandy； sugar； lemons； etc。； to make punch； and
treat our benefactor； the captain； and abundance of things for
eating and drinking in the voyage； also a larger bed； and bedding
proportioned to it； so that； in a word； we resolved to want for
nothing in the voyage。
All this while I had provided noth