Sunday the 11th, this morning the captain sent for me, and told me he had rather be shot than carried off a prisoner, and that he would not go off with us; therefore desired me to ask the people to suffer him to remain on the island:  The people readily agreed to his request, and also consented to leave him all things needful for his support, as much as could be spared.  Lieutenant H——­n and the surgeon chose to stay with him.  We offer’d him also the barge and yawl, if he could procure men to go with him.  The question was proposed before the whole body, but they all cry’d aloud for England, and let him stay and be d——­’d; does he want to carry us to a prison?  There is not a man will go.  The captain being deprived of his command in the manner above mentioned, and for the reasons already given, it was resolved to draw some articles to be sign’d for the good of the community, and to give the lieutenant a limited command.  The paper was drawn up in this manner:—­

“Whereas Captain David C——­p, our commander in his majesty’s ship the Wager, never consulted any of his officers for the safety and preservation of the said ship, and his majesty’s subjects thereto belonging, but several times, since the unhappy loss of the said ship, he has been solicited in the most dutiful manner, promising him at the same time to support his command with our lives, desiring no more than to go off heart in hand from this place to the southward, which he gave his word and honour to do; and being almost ready for sailing, did apply to him some few days past, to draw up some proper articles, in order to suppress mutiny, and other material things, which were thought necessary to be agreed to before we went off; but he, in the most scornful manner, hath rejected every thing proposed for the public good, and as he is now a prisoner, and the command given to the lieutenant, upon his approbation of the following articles: 

“First, As we have no conveniency for dressing provisions, on board the vessel, for a third part of the number to be carried off the spot, therefore this day served out to every man and boy twelve days’ provision, for them to dress before we go off; and also it is agreed, that whoever is guilty of defrauding another of any part of his allowance, on sufficient proof thereof, the person found guilty (without any respect of person) shall be put on shore at the first convenient place, and left there.

“Secondly, In regard to the boats going off with us, we think proper to allow one week’s provision for each man appointed to go in them, in order to prevent separation from each other, which would be of the worst consequence of any thing that can happen to us:  To prevent which, we do agree, that when under way they shall not separate, but always keep within musket-shot, and on no pretence or excuse whatsoever go beyond that reach.  The officer, or any other person, that shall attempt a separation, or exceed the above-mention’d bounds, shall, on proof, be put on shore, and left behind.