n born in their own native country, and would not leave
them on any account whatever; and they did verily believe that their
wives were as virtuous and as modest, and did, to the utmost of their
skill, as much for them and for their children, as any woman could
possibly do: and they would not part with them on any account. Will
Atkins, for his own particular, added that if any man would take him
away, and offer to carry him home to England, and make him captain of the
best man-of-war in the navy, he would not go with him if he might not
carry his wife and children with him; and if there was a clergyman in the
ship, he would be married to her now with all his heart.

This was just as I would have it. The priest was not with me at that
moment, but he was not far off; so to try him further, I told him I had a
clergyman with me, and, if he was sincere, I would have him married next
morning, and bade him consider of it, and talk with the rest. He said,
as for himself, he need not consider of it at all, for he was very ready
to do it, and was glad I had a minister with me, and he believed they
would be all willing also. I then told him that my friend, the minister,
was a Frenchman, and could not speak English, but I would act the clerk
between them. He never so much as asked me whether he was a Papist or
Protestant, which was, indeed, what I was afraid of. We then parted, and
I went back to my clergyman, and Will Atkins went in to talk with his
companions. I desired the French gentleman not to say anything to them
till the business was thoroughly ripe; and I told him what answer the men
had given me.

Before I went from their quarter they all came to me and told me they had
been considering what I had said; that they were glad to hear I had a
clergyman in my company, and they were very willing to give me the
satisfaction I desired, and to be formally married as soon as I pleased;
for they were far from desiring to part with their wives, and that they
meant nothing but what was very honest when they chose them. So I
appointed them to meet me the next morning; and, in the meantime, they
should let their wives know the meaning of the marriage law; and that it
was not only to prevent any scandal, but also to oblige them that they
should not forsake them, whatever might happen.

The women were easily made sensible of the meaning of the thing, and were
very well satisfied with it, as, indeed, they had reason to be: so they