Oh, okay! I was being vague because I don't remember how you feel about spoilers.

SPOILERS

So Aubrey is convicted and sentenced to spend time in the pillory. The people who set him up send their goons to egg him or whatever, but his loyal sailors make them leave, and then actually the entire crowd is all his own crews and people who know them and people who have heard of him and they all cheer for him and throw their caps when he is put in.