all working in the field about their corn land), knocked
the brute down. Another of the Englishmen, running up at the same time
to help his comrade, knocked the Spaniard down; and then two Spaniards
more came in to help their man, and a third Englishman fell in upon them.
They had none of them any firearms or any other weapons but hatchets and
other tools, except this third Englishman; he had one of my rusty
cutlasses, with which he made at the two last Spaniards, and wounded them
both. This fray set the whole family in an uproar, and more help coming
in they took the three Englishmen prisoners. The next question was, what
should be done with them? They had been so often mutinous, and were so
very furious, so desperate, and so idle withal, they knew not what course
to take with them, for they were mischievous to the highest degree, and
cared not what hurt they did to any man; so that, in short, it was not
safe to live with them.

The Spaniard who was governor told them, in so many words, that if they
had been of his own country he would have hanged them; for all laws and
all governors were to preserve society, and those who were dangerous to
the society ought to be expelled out of it; but as they were Englishmen,
and that it was to the generous kindness of an Englishman that they all
owed their preservation and deliverance, he would use them with all
possible lenity, and would leave them to the judgment of the other two
Englishmen, who were their countrymen. One of the two honest Englishmen
stood up, and said they desired it might not be left to them. "For,"
says he, "I am sure we ought to sentence them to the gallows;" and with
that he gives an account how Will Atkins, one of the three, had proposed
to have all the five Englishmen join together and murder all the
Spaniards when they were in their sleep.

When the Spanish governor heard this, he calls to Will Atkins, "How,
Seignior Atkins, would you murder us all? What have you to say to that?"
The hardened villain was so far from denying it, that he said it was
true, and swore they would do it still before they had done with them.
"Well, but Seignior Atkins," says the Spaniard, "what have we done to you
that you will kill us? What would you get by killing us? And what must
we do to prevent you killing us? Must we kill you, or you kill us? Why
will you put us to the necessity of this, Seignior Atkins?" says the
Spaniard very calmly, and smiling. Seignior At