A DESCRIPTION OF THE Last Voyage TO BERMUDAS, In the Ship MARYGOLD, S. P. Commander; By J. H. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begun Nobember the twelfth, 1670. And ending May the third, 1671. With Allowance. London, printed for Rowland Reynald at the Sun and Bible in the Poultry 1671. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, THE Governor and Company OF LONDON, For Plantation of the Summer Islands. AS richest Diamonds when enshrined in Gold, And set in darkest foils, more Rays unfold, So stands that beauteous ISLE on Rocks and Sands, Encircled with Great Neptune's watery Bands; Who when impelled with Gusts, make haste before, Dashing themselves, Enamel all the Shore: This pleasant Piles the Subject of my Muse, That late from raging Seas suffered abuse, Now enters Port, and after dreadful Toils, To You (Renowned Sirs) gives up her Spoils. The Matter, Place, Occasion, every Section Are Yours, and therefore claims your just Protection. Accept (Great Sirs) Your own; for by Your Eye These Sea-sick Lines must live or die. Your Honour's most humble Servant, John Hardy. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To his Honoured Friend, CAPTAIN S. P. Commander of the Good Ship MARYGOLD, 1670/71. MOst noble Captain, under whose Command, I have been Servant both by Sea and Land, Peruse these Lines, which though they do not show Wonders unto you, yet they're true, you know, Yourself enduring many a bitter Blast, From the first of the Voyage, to the last. Read and accept them, so desires your Friend Who is, and will be, till his Life doth end. John Hardie. To his loving Friends, Mr. T. H. and P. H. Master's Mates of the Ship MARYGOLD. MOst loving Friends, to you I do indite This my small Journal, you being in sight Of what is mentioned in it: Don't expect Here Signs and Tangents, or a Course direct Unto this Island: If so, I a fool Should be by you accounted, in the School Of Mathematics never being bred, Nor ever heard Mysterious Lectures read Concerning Navigation: Idle times Was the true Product of these foolish Rhimes, Which craves Acceptance from your friendly hand, By him who is your Friend for to command, John Hardie. The Prologue. ASsist Great Jove, and help my wand'ring Muse, Poetic Strains into my Quill infuse, To sing the Truth, the Praises, and the Fame Of th' Isle Bermuda, called so from the Name Of Spanish Jam. Bermudas: * According to Heylin's Cosmography it was found out by a Spaniard, who was there cast away; then by an Englishman, whose name was Forbisher; lastly inhabited by Captain Summer, who dying in this Island was Embalmed, and his Body carried into England, but his Bowels buried at St. George's Island near the Statehouse, as they name it: It hath not been long since Inhabited; for there was found Engraven on a Palmeta-Tree these Words, which are set up in the Governor's Hall over his Chair: though of late Its Name was changed by Summer's happy fate, Whose Heart and Bowels buried there, to be A Witness of it to Eternity. CONDITUR IN HOC LOCO NAVIS PER RICHARDUM FROBISHERUM ONERIS 70. QUAE VIRGINIAE DESTINATOR NOS OMNES HINC TRANSPORTABAT. ANNO 1610. MAY 4. OUR VOYAGE Outward bound. WHen cold November with a hoary Head, The fertile Earth with Snow had overspread, Joined with white Frost, upon its twelfth day, we Set sail from Gravesend, being bound to see Bermudas, in th' Ship Marygold; which Flower O' all the Deities take in your Power, And from all Dangers safely her defend, Granting her Voyage may have happy end. Into the Hope we got, and there make stay Two Nights, when with a fair wind we weigh Our Anchors, setting Sail into the Downs, Where shortly we arrived, which was the Bounds For Shipping granted then, till mighty Jove Sent a cold quaking Northwind from above; After twice seven days space again we set Our Sail, and in the term of two days get Near to a point of Land is called the Start, From which in the dark Evening we did part, Jove's aid imploring, for now nothing we Behold, but briny Billows of the Sea: When shortly, for not fifty Leagues or more, We gotten had from Noble England's shore, But Aeolus that too incoastant God, Thought good to punish us, the blustering Rod Of West winds Fury, and dark Nights together Made cloudy, cold, and too inconstant weather: Now Neptune with his furious Waves doth kiss, And toss our S, but 'tis our bliss She's good conditioned, though Skies-mounting waves Do threaten death, & seem to make our Graves In it's in satiate Bowels, her ribbed Sides Over the white curled Billows swiftly glides; And although over all salt Seas she takes, Yet little water then she's wont she makes; It being Winter time, Reason doth guide Unto the Southward Mariners to slide, To make the Proverb good, He that doth run The farthest way about, is nearest home. Unto which purpose we our Course do take, Some of the Charibby Islands for to make, And cross (a) Thinking to cross the Tropic Cancer, and make Anguilla Sombrero, or some of the Virgin-Islands. the Tropic Cancer, but the wind Proved to us more auspicious and kind Than we expect, to our Port we incline, So strait our Course as if it were a Line For many days, when as that at the last, Bold Boreas from his Den sends cruel blast From the Western Islands, at which rocky Land I think he keeps his Court, and doth command All Winter time, for near't we always must Expect to have sharp storms, & thundering gust A week or more expired in this same weather, A pleasant day came, and fair wind together; So Dolphins swiftly through the Ocean glide, To pray on flying (b) Dolphin's when once struck and brought into the Ship, change their colours very often, till at the last they die, and remain a dunnish colour, and are of this form. Fifish so near the side; depiction of a flying fish The Sailors with a Fish-gig deeply wound Their tender bodies, that a deadly sound The form of a Fish-gig. depiction of a fishing harpoon Possesseth all their parts throughout, the which Small time a Proteus change of colours reach. Though Fortune hath been churlîsh at the best, Yet now we're paid with double Interest; For within four times seven fair days, we Long wished for Summer Islands plainly see; When as our Captain caused a (c) To fire a Piece of Ordnance, the usual custom to give warning to the Pilot and Inhabitants that there is the Magazine Ship on the Coast, whose duty it is to convey into Harbour. In Kings-Castle Harbour, about a Mile and a half from the Shoar. roaring Gun For to be fired, which once being done A Pilot came aboard, through dangerous Rocks Us safely carrying without any knocks, Into King's Castle Harbour, where doth stand Two Castles, entering ships for to command; After salutes to either we at last Near Captain Hubbarbs Bridge our Anchor cast; So Januaries twenty seventh put end To dangere outward, which us did attend; We now our Sails unbend, and Topmast lo're, And in short time our Goods (d) The custom there is to fetch and bring their Goods aboard, and their Seamen to be at no trouble, as in other places of the West-Indies. are fetched ashore. The Description of the Island. WEll at Bermudas we arrived are, After great trouble, pains, gusts, storms, and care; And now the ship seems rightly named to be A Magazine, as termed, for you may see Some selling Linen cloth, with other knacks, Which Pedlars use to carry in their Packs; Some Brandy buy, and such like liquid ware, Others of new Tobacco-pipes have care To store themselves, whilst others do agree Good to exchange for such Commodity The Country doth afford, and some are willing To sell their Goods at three pence on the shilling This time it lasts not long, when suddenly Must work all hands, the Island-Boats we see Deep loaden with Tobacco, which they bring Unto the side, from whence we take it in. To give description of these same (e) The Islands Boats after this Form, carrying five or six Chests of Tobacco, or more. They lie so near the Wind, that they will fetch the same place they look upon, close haled. Boats, With triple corner'd Sails they always float depiction of a ship About the Islands, in the World there are None in all points that may with them compare But leave we now the ship till filled, take view Of th' Land, to try if what you heard be true; Then to begin; there's Rocky Hills so high, They seem for to outdare the cloudy Sky; And fertile Valleys during all the year, Continual Liveries of green do wear; In which no poisonous Creature e'er hath been No Adders, Serpents, Toads, or Snakes are seen To prejudice man's health, but it is stored With Bieves, Goats, Oxen, Sheep which doth afford Fine woolly fleeces, with such things as these Thou dost abound, tied (f) Tie all their , as Horses, Asses, Hogs, Goats, Sheep, etc. to Trees, where they feed on the melilot, and Fennel, round about them. to Palmeta-trees, Whose uses are so many, not unfold Them all can any man; from Winter's cold It keeps their Houses thatched with it, & its mats For bedding makes, with baskets, brooms, & hats Nay more, it Cordage doth afford, in 'tis top A Cabbage grows, for meat, and do but lop Or boar a hole in't, you may plainly see A pleasant Liquor flowing from the Tree; It's fruit is luscious, whose stone's black as Jet, Will make neat Buttons, if with Silver set; And its dry Leaves will serve in darksome night In stead of Torches, Travellers to light. Of all the Trees that is, or (g) The Palmeta Tree is a strait Tree, about the height of an Apple Tree, growing with broad Leaves at the top, closed together in manner of a Fannio, which they put to several uses more than I can here relate. ever were, None to the strait Palmeta may compare. The lofty fragrant Cedars here (h) Cedar Gumm as hath been often experienced, is good for Gonorrhea's, the Berries which are like Juniper Berries, are of the same nature as Juniper Berries are, they boil them in water and make Drink for their constant use of it. do grow, The Virtues of whose Fruits and Gums to know Requires a larger time; here you may see The Lime, the Lemon, and the Orange tree; So famed throughout the world, here at one time Buds, blossoms, green, & ripe Fruit in the prime; Pomegranates, Gwavers, Papawes, Figtrees too, Whereof a Pleasant kind of Drink they brew, With Mulberries likewise; but if I may Call it a Tree, the Pine bears (i) Pine are much after the Figure of a Sceth Thistle, and in my mind taste most like a Peach, or Maligotoon; they grow in low marshy Grounds. all away, Whose crowned tops & bottom compassed round, Seems as if it were with green Garland crowned. But Oh! its delicious taste surpasseth words Deep utterance; this only Fruit affords All taste of others in't you think upon, Pears, Apples, Peaches, Cherries, every one Appears ints taste; here grows the prickle Pear Whose inside of a scarlet (k) Prickled Pears are of a most rare scarlet colour, but its Juice will not slain, for by water it may soon be washed away; 'tis thought by some that Cochinele is produced of it. colour are. Here's Roots as well as Trees, Potatoes good For sustenance of man to make pure blood. And here Cassawder, to which, though its Juice Be Poison, yet they now have a device To press and grate it, so in time of need And sometimes else, they safely on it feed Being baked in form of Bread; here's Indian-Corn Whose weighty Ears on a long stalk is born; In thickness like a Cane, it Nature roul'd Close up in Leaves, to keep it from the cold; Which being grouned & boiled, Much they make Their hungry Servants Hunger for to slake: But let me tell you, that there cannot be A profit without discommodity; For though no poisonous Living thing indeed Inhabits there, yet grows a (l) Poyson-Weed, a shrub which runs up Trees as the Ivy, and hath poisoned abundance of People, especially in wet, foggy, rainy, weather, as myself can witness, and poisoned some that hath only looked upon it, as many can testify. Poyson-Weed, Whose very sight infects some, and its Juice Will make men itch, as if a thousand Lice About their bodies creep, in painful Wheals And Pimples at the last itself reveals, But never kills; It's Counterpoison is Sage of the Mountain, which you cannot miss At all times for to find, in places where This Weed is, for it grows to't very near. Of Fowls they have enough, such as are Hens, Capons, Ducks, Turkeys kooped up in Pens; Wild Pigeons, and other feathered Brood, Some bad for nourishment, yet some are good; With Tropic Longtails, of (m) Tropic Birds are called Longtails, from one or two Feathers longer than the rest, about a foot or more. whose Nest there be Amongst the rocks, a hundred Leagues to Sea They fly: and also near unto the Shore Plenty of Fish is, which the (n) They have many more fishes, such as Greyhound-fish, Rainbow-fish, Anchovies, though I think not the right; Cragfish as big as Lobsters; Oysters, where in sometime they find small Pearl. People store, As Pilchards, Sinnets, Gruats, and Salmon Peal, With Rock-fish, Porgoes, and the slippery Eel, And Mullets plentiful are in the sound, The water flowing to them under ground, Being most salt, and all (o) I believe the Island is hollow, for there is some holes that none can find the end of them, some hot as a Stove upon the Northerly wind, as that near Tuckers Town; and that there is water in them may be proved; by the Cooper's Hole, the Devil's Hole, and a place near Walsingham- Bay, etc. which water though a good distance from the Sea, is as briny and as salt as it is, which may prove a passage from one into the other. along the shore There are dark Caves, of a Miles length or more Extending under ground, in which there be Deep holes with water, though no one can see A passage for it in: Which dreadful Lakes, Some sort of Fish do for their Refuge take; Beside the foresaid Fish, with (p) The Grains are like an English Prong. grains they strike The horned Cuckold, Coney, and one like The prickled Hedgehog: Angel-fish, by light They carry in their Boats in darkest nights; And Groopers too, none of the meanest size, Which salted, they do send for Merchandise To the West-Indian Islands, with their Beef, Which yields the Inhabitants there much relief; Here in the time of year, the (q) The Whales here though they be of an indifferent large size, the Gills are not above one or two foot long at most, from whence the Whale-bone comes; some say that Sperma Ceti is the Spawn, others think that it lies in the head, but it is certainly found to be the fat of the Whale, for being put into a Lamp, and burned, it will turn to Sperma Ceti, which several in the West-Indies have proved to be true, that after the Oleus part is consumed, the substance called vulgarly Sperma Ceti, remains. mighty Whale Appears upon the Coast, who with his Tail Small Boats can over-set, out of whose Nose Hogsheads of water gushes when he blows; Which being seen on Land, in Boats they haste Towards him, and their Lances sharp make fast In his fat sides, who being hurt, along The Boats draw with him dangerous Rocks among, Changing the water with his purple gore, To red, which of a pale green was afore, Tiring himself, till at the last to Death He stoops, and roaring yieldeth up his breath, When into Harbour near unto the shore Being towed, they cut him up themselves to store With Oil out of his Blubber, which they burn In Lamps, and unto other uses turn It on occasion: but this sort of Fish Is not the same for which they all do wish; No Whale Bones in its Gill or in its Head, No Sovereign Sperma Ceti here is bred; The difference lying, others mouths are filled With rows of Teeth, whereas this none doth yield. Here's also Sharks, whose head affords a Jelly, Good for the Colic, and gripes of the Belly; (r) Sharks are here in abundance, whose Backbone looks most like a Japan, and its wide mouth stands so, that he is fain to take his Prey lying on his back; in the cavity of his head there is a substance, which being dried is good for abundance of Diseases, but more especially for Gripes, and easy bringing women to Bed, which the Inhabitants have approved even to admiration, when all things else have failed. Being dried and powdered, this same Fish they take As well as Whales, Oil of his fat to make. Besides these, many more Fishes are found About the main Land, being compassed round With four hundred small Islands, rather more, Some one, some two Miles distance from the shore. And now to write a little of the State Of this same Land, its Climate's temperate, Which doth produce long Life, and its degree Abating thirty Minutes, (s) It's Latitude is 32 Degrees, 30 Minutes, and its Longitude 316 Degrees. thirty three Is found for Latitude, and some men say, Three hundred and sixteen Degrees make way From the Azores to it, to incline By way of Longitude, unsearched Line; A Governor there is, who's always sent By th' Honoured Company, to the intent To put in force, whatever they think fit T' nact for good, when in the Court they sit; Their Judges, Justices of Peace, and Shrief, Constables, Marshals, Bailiffs, who relieve The oppressed, and there's Captains who delight Themselves in Arms, with daring Foes to fight. But I forget the Ministers, who preach In Churches, where young Children some do teach; But cease my Muse, for no man can unlock This Rock of Wonders, or this wondrous Rock, Which though but two Miles broad, and twenty long At most, it framed is so mighty strong By Art and Nature, none but them who see, Can think that such a place in the world to be; If Armies come against it, they may rest Free from all fears, if Treason in their Breast Do not lie lurking: But behold the Ship Which for to fill, our Seamen will not slip Any occasion, But with Cedar's Chest, And Ravensfoot Tobacco in (t) Ravensfoot Tobacco, called so from its blackness and brightness, a common Proverb amongst them, for the better Stowage. them pressed, The Ship's Hold fills, but whatsoever be In Cask to stow between Decks they agree; And now the Ship's near full, we all prepare Ourselves for going homeward, some take care For Fowls, fat Hogs, Corn, and Potatoes sweet, Oranges, Limbs, and Lemons for to eat With our Provision homewards, some do think Of Sugar, and of Liquor for to drink In time of need, but all of us take care Our Cabins with Oranges filled are; Others of Rarities which in the Sea Grows, such as Feathers, Black-rods, Coral be, Provide themselves to give unto a friend, Which when arrived they unto them send. Homeward bound Voyage. THE Ship now quite full, and a Western Gale, The Anchors being up, now fills her Sail, When that the glorious Rays of the bright Sun Through one Sign of the Zodiac had not run, The Pilot at the Boltsprit (u) Pilot stands at the Boltsprit end because there is no Landmarks, and he cuns the Ship in by the Rocks under water, luffing for one, and bearing up for another; they usually choose to Pilot them in or out at the Suns rising or setting, because then the Sun hath the least reflection. end doth stand, Giving from thence the strict Word of Command, For Port or Starboard, which he thinks most fit Her over the Sharp-pointed Rocks to get; The Castles at our parting, once again We do salute, while by them to the Main A Mile or two from Shore we softly high, Trimming our Sails on purpose to lie by, Unbending Cables, we our Anchors stow, And hoist our Boats in, then away we go Our Course for East, North-East we bravely steer, The wind North-West is, and the weather clear, So Marches twenty second about Night, Of Summer's Island we did lose the sight; But we not sailed a days time at the least, The Wind it came unto the East, Southeast; We tack about, and to the Northward stand, Where as they say, the West-Winds have command Most of the year, but we it found not so, For East South East, and South Winds over blow Putting us by out Sails we lie a hull, The briny Waves her almost filling full; Upon our upper Decks, where above Hens, And Ducks, with Turkeys, are shut up in Pens; Which was for fresh Provision in store, Of these are drowned in four hours or more, Full sixty seven, but at the length we find The Storms to assuage its fury, and the wind To cease a little, so again we set Our Courses reefed, till the Seas do get Abated, which are grown so vast and high, They seem to mount us to the Cloudy Sky; One of which stormy Afternoons about Four of the Clock, we saw a Waterspout So feared by Mariners, which passed by Us with a Circling in the muddy Sky. These Winds after about a Fortnight's stay In these same blustering Corners, came away Unto the Westward board, where it doth blow So hard, again we forced are to go Before it with our Foresail, which we tend With Braces aft, until the Storms do end; The Sea running so deep, we're forced to cun, Winding with Quarters, the Waves beat upon; To answered with our Helm, and Brace, which keeps Her right afore it, through the boisterous heaps Of Waters, these Storms eighteen hours or more Not lasts, but presently a sudden Shower Of Rain is poured down, when as the South. Wind opens loud his wide and blustering Mouth Thunder and Lightning, mixed with Hail and Rain, Unto the North-West brings it back again; So that it once more seems, and doth appear As if the Wether would be fair and clear; But all our Hopes soon vanished, for so hard It puffs, we take in all Sails, lo're our Yard Till better comes, and this I dare affirm ne'er worse Weather's for a three Weeks term, In which space never having any Wether We could count fair, for thirty Hours together; Our only comfort was, the Moon shines bright During this gusty time, most part of Night; But dreadful Storms, not always cruel Fate, To us poor Sailors, did predestinate; For when fair Wether was to make us glad, Our Oranges so rotten, caused a sad And heavy Countenance, scarce being found One amongst twelve, which we may call sound As to keep home, for since the World began See such a Hodgepodge ne'er did any man; Most part being pickled up in such a state, We bade from good with Shovels separate, We took them in with Care bestowing Pains To place them lightly, now as much again We take, for Baskets with the bad we fill To fling away, though sore against our Will; And now the Western Islands once more we Repass with a fair Wind, hoping to see No such bad Wether as we had before, To which end, we the Deities implore, And surely they our Orisons did hear, Most of the Wether being fair and clear; Though that the fresh Gales oftentimes were ranging From one unto another, changing Till Luna came so full butt at her wane, A South, and South South-west wind came again Which though 'twas for us fair, yet it was joined With dirty Wether, as 'twere interloined For us, amongst the rest, one foggy day A Bristol Ship we meet, for th' Isle of May Being bound, there Salt to load, who did us tell Affairs in England went then very well When she came out, with France we having Peace, And all War with our Neighbouring Nations cease, He told us also, how that England bore From us of Leagues, about two times fourscore Upon the North-East Point, and having sent Letters by us to's Friends, away he went; And now we're near our wished-for Port, we pray For Sol's bright Splendour, in the midst of day, An Observation that we may take Before our Native Land, again we make, But those our wishes we could not obtain, For misty Clouds to us yet still remain, With gusts, but th' water changing, we did sound On Easter Evening, and had the ground At ninety Fathom, Greekish Shelly-sand, Reckoning ourselves then threescore Leagues from Land; And seeing the warm Sun us debars Of sweetest sight, at Noon the Northern Stars We do observe, with his two Guards most bright, Which glistered on Sunday and Mundy Night; Which tho' 'twas truly done, next day we had A Solar Observation, which us glad Did make (although the Wind contrary blue; For by't how Scilly bore w' exactly knew, And that they Channel's open, the Degree Being forty nine, with Minutes nine times three, At which time we let run the Lead, and found That sixty Fathom reached to the Ground. Another certain sign is, that the Shore Not many Leagues is off; for Weeds great store, Called Britain Beds, upon the Seas do float, Which unto Seamen is a certain (x) Britain's Beds are Weeds like to Laces, which grow upon the Coast of Britain, and so are washed off from the Rocks into the Sea. Note Of being in our Channel, all Night we Bore in, and about twelve at Noon we see The Lizard, which we passed by with a Gale So gentle, that we carry all the Sail Which we can make, and parted about Night From sight of Falmouth, and by it was light We're near unto the Start, having passed by Portland, the Wight, and also Beachy-High, With Fairly, Foulstone, Dover, without stay, A Pilot came aboard, us to convey, So we hoist up our Sails atrip, and came To Westgate-Bay, and anchored in the same Till the next morning, when our Sails we set And the same Tide over the Flatts we get Up to the River's Mouth, from thence to Lee, So to Whole Haven, and to Tilbury; But cease my Muse, the Voyage it is done, At Gravesend let it end, as there't begun. Finis Itineris Maritini. The Epilogue. NOthing doth remain, but to give Praise To God, who to us Mortals many days His Favours and his Blessings did bestow On whatsoever we do, where e'er we go, By Land, by Sea, in Storms, most bitter Blasts, In Thunder, Lightning, and in Nights o'ercast With dismal Clouds, and from the briny Waves Most dreadful Fury, with what e'er we crave Hath granted to us, then let's with one near● Set forth his Praise till this Life we depart; Let all Hands say Amen, Amen say I, So be it done to Immortality. Finis Coronat Opus. J. H. FINIS.