43 FALCONER (Capt. R.) Voyages, Adventures
and Escapes; containing the Laws, Customs,
and Manners of the Indians in America; with
the Voyages of Thomas Randal, his being
taken by the Indians of Virginia, &c., front.,
sm. 8vo, orig. calf gilt, Lond., 1769
17 AMERICA:- FALCONER (Captain Richard)
The VOYAGES, DANGEROUS ADVENTURES, and
IMMINENT ESCAPES of, containing the Laws,
Customs, and Manners of the Indians in America,
his Shipwrecks, his narrow Escape from the
Island of Dominico, etc., intermixed with the
Voyages and Adventures of Thomas Randal of
Cork; his being taken by the Indians of Virginia,
etc., first edition, the two parts complete (pp.
136 and 180), with frontispiece, 8vo. old calf, £1. 10s
1720
The Wips Tallers
441:;
Hubbard
Imag. Vo
ре
3346
.03
1769

Frontispiece.
The author revenges the Death of his Indian Wife
by killing Two of the Three Indians that attacked them P.208.
THE
VOYAGES,
DANGEROUS
ADVENTURE S,
AND IMMINENT
ESCA PE S,
OF
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
CONTAINING
The Laws, Cuftoms, and Manners of the In-
dians in America; his Shipwrecks; his mar-
rying an Indian Wife; his remarkable Eſcape
from the Ifland of Dominico, &c.
Intermixed with
The VOYAGES and ADVENTURES OF THOMAS
RANDAL, of Cork, Pilot; with his Shipwreck
in the Baltick, being the only Man that eſcaped;
his being taken by the Indians of Virginia, &c.
and an Account of his Death.
Bold were the Men who on the Ocean firft
Spread their new Sails, when Shipwreck was the work.
More Danger now from Man alone we find,
Than from the Rocks, the Billows, or the Wind.
The SIXTH EDITION, Correctel.
WALLER.
To which is added, A Great DELIVERANCE at SEA,
by W. Johnjon, D. D. Chaplain to his Majefty.
LONDON:
Printed for G. KEITH in Gracechurch-street, and
F. BLYTH, No. 87. Cornhill. 1769.
William Rufus Chetwood, d. 1766.
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THE
PREFACE.
To the Fourth EDITION.
'T
# #
IS in Compliance with Sir Roger
L'Eftrange's Maxim, "That a
"Man had as good go to Court
"without a Cravat, as appear in Print
without a Preface;" that I give the gentle
Reader any Interruption of this Kind; for
to be plain with him, the Book itſelf, as
full of Misfortunes as it is, is but a Preface
to the Misfortunes I have met with fince
its firſt Publication, which I muſt freely
confefs are wholly owing to the Bent of
my own head-ſtrong Inclination, in not
taking my Father's Advice at my firſt ſet-
ting out into the World.
This
The PREFACE.
This fourth Appearance indeed, is, I
can't help owning, a Pleaſure to me, tho'
it is much more owing to the Candour of
the Public, than the Merit of the Perfor-
mance.
The Age of Gallantry I obferve, feems
to roll round again, for certainly Plays,
Novels and Romances, were never more
in Vogue that at this Juncture. And as
to thoſe who have a more refined Tafte
for Maſquerades, Operas, and Grotefque
Entertainments, this good Town is fully
convinced, that Dr. Fauftus from Germany,
now vies with our Countryman Mrs.
Robinſon at the Haymarket; that Mr. Le-
veridge, as a Devil, has more Admirers
than Signiora Cuzzoni; and that Heydegger
has a much greater Number of Pollers,
than the laudable Society eſtabliſhed for
Reformation of Manners. Theſe latter
Gentlemen are, if Dr. South may be cre-
dited, arrant Hypocrites; for that learned
Divine honeſtly tells us, That inftead of
making Godliness a Gain, they make a
Gain of Godlinefs: So much for Polite-
nefs.
The PREFACE.
nefs. But at the fame Time it muſt be con-
feffed, that it is very rueful to behold the
Quill-drivers of the prefent Age, fo egre-
giously triumphant over thofe of the laft;
for now Shakeſpear and Ben Johnson, muft
give way to Robinson Crusoe, and Colonel
Jack; as well as Dryden and Otway to
Moll Flanders, and Sally Salisbury: And I
myſelf am terribly afraid, that the Voyages
and Adventures of Captain Richard Falco-
ner, muſt in a ſhort Period of Time, ſtrike
to Sir John Mandeville's lying Travels, and
Mademoiſelle Beleau's unheard of Intri-
gues. Tho' I have ſtill fome Confolation
in my Hopes, that this fourth Edition,
wherein many Errors of the Preſs that ef
caped in the former, are corrected, will
come to a fifth, and ſo on.
To conclude, if Mr. Dennis, or any
other Critick of Renown, fhall think fit
to fall foul on me, to fuch I ſhall only re-
ply, in the Words of the fame Gentleman
with whom I began this Preface: "Thoſe
"that don't like my Book may let it
"alone, and there's no Harm done. "
VALE.
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THE
VOYAGES
AND
ADVENTURES
O F
Captain RICHARD FALCONER.
+
a Market
Town in Somerſetſhire, of Parents to-
HELLAS WAS born at Bruton,
I
我
​SR AL M
lerably well to país in the World;
my Mother died when I was very
young: my Father, Richard Fal-
coner, had been a great Traveller in his Youth,
and frequently repeating his Adventures abroad,
made me have a great Defire to follow his
Steps: I often begged he would let me go
B
to
2
The ADVENTURES of
to Sea with fome Captain of his Acquaintance; but
he would reply, Dick, ſtay where you are, you
know not the Hazards and Dangers that attend a ma-
ritime Life: You fhall have a good Trade in your
Belly, and that will keep you from a Defire of ram-
bling; therefore tell me what Calling you like beſt,
that I may immediately put you out in Order to your
living hereafter: You know, continued he, that my
Fortune is but ſmall, and I living to the Extent of
it, it will not be poffible for me to leave you where-
withal to fupport you without fome Employment¸
Therefore, (replied I,) as you have a Daughter, you
may leave your Subſtance to her, she must be pro-
vided for; as for our Sex, we can beft take Care
for ourſelves; and if you pleaſe but to fit me out
to Sea, even in what Station you think conveni-
ent, it ſhall be all I will defire. Son, (faid my
Father) think no more of going to Sea, for I'll not
have it fo; I know it is only a Defire of Youth
prone to change: If I ſhould give you Leave, I am
afſured one Week's Voyage would make you wiſh to
be at Home again. I ufed all the Arguments my
young Senfe prompted me with, but all to no Pur-
pofe, my Father was not to be moved; and thus I
lived two Years longer with him in Expectation of
his Mind altering. At laft an Accident happened.
that furthered my Defires, and tho' it was the Ruin
of our Family, I must confefs, I was not much
concerned.
My Father was Supervifor of a Tax laid upon the
Burning of Pipes, and he having gathered a Sum of
Money,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
3
Money, amounting to 3800l. in Order to pay in to
the Government for the King's Ufe, was, by an
under Excife-man robbed of the whole Sum, who
made his Eſcape. My Father ufed all poffible
Means to apprehend him without Noife, but all his
Endeavours were fruitlefs: So finding his Affairs
in a defperate Condition, refolved to retire to fome
Part of the World where he might be ſafe from the
griping Hands of the Law. One Morning, juft be-
fore his voluntary Exile, he called me to him: Dick,
(faid he) you have been often defirous of going to
Sea, and I have always ufed Arguments to diffuade
you from it; but now, fince what has happened,
it being impoffible for me to continue upon the Place
of my Birth, the Patrimony of my Anceſtors, I muft
even recommend that Way of Life to you which I
ſhould never have chofe, but that the Exigency of
my Affairs will not permit me to provide any other
Way for you. Here (continued he) take this 100l.
which I can ill fpare out of my little Fortune, but
fince it is all I can do for you, take it, and may
Heaven profper thy Undertakings; may the Bleffing.
of a Father always live with you, whofe Prayers.
ſhall ever be ſent to our Almighty Creator for thy
Welfare. Here (added he) is a Letter of Recom-
mendation for you to Captain Pultney of Bristol,
whoſe Friendſhip I am fure will be of Service to you.
With that, he embraced me with Tears in his Eyes,
gave me his Bleffing, kiffed me, and took his Leave
for ever, for never have my Eyes beheld him fince.
This
B 2
4
The ADVENTURES of
This Parting, I think, was the greateſt Grief my
Thoughts had ever known till then; (for nothing
could be fonder, or fhew more paternal Affection,
than my dear Father at his laft Farewell) but the Joy
of my being at Liberty to follow my own Defires,
foon drowned my Sorrow for parting with fo good a
Parent.
I had now nothing more to do, but to provide my
little Equipage in order to go to Bristol, to my Father's
Friend; 1 packed up my Things in a Portmanteau,
and gave them to an old Servant of my Father's,
who would fee me as far as Bristol for his Sake. We
fet out in the Morning, and reached it by Noon:
1 enquired for Captain Pultncy, and foon found him
out. I acquainted him who I was, and gave him
my Father's Letter. He read it, and received me
very kindly. It was to this Effè&:
Dear Pultney,
"Hope you'll forgive this Trouble of your
Friend. I have fent my Son to you, in order
to get him fome Poft by Sea, I know it is in
"your Power to do it: Something has happened that
hinders my providing for him as I ought, I
"would have waited on you in Perfon, but a Gap
has happened in my Affairs that I fhall never
"clofe again. Dick will tell you all. Let me
conjure you by our old Friendſhip to take all
the Care you can of him; and whenever he
“comes to England, let him come to you, for ast
I know not where to lead my wretched Life;
# I
yet
6.6 fo
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
5
2
"fo that I fhall confide in you, and let you know
"by a Letter, or Meffenger, as foon as poffible,
" where I fhall fettle.
:
Your most faithful
Friend and Servant.
R. FALCONER.
Falconer, (faid the Captain) I am heartily
forry for your Father's Misfortunes, which he tells
me in his Letter you will inform me of. After I
had related to him every Circumstance, he told me
he would provide for me as foon as poffible, and till
then I fhould be as welcome to him as his own
Son In the mean Time, faid he, I would have you
verfe yourſelf in the Mathematicks, which may be
of Uſe to you: 1'll take Care to provide you a
Mafter, and Inftruments, which accordingly he
did, and as I had a great Defire to be abroad, and
had fome fmall Knowledge of it which I learned at
School, apart from my other Studies, I foon at-
tained to the Theory of it.
After I had run through the whole Courfe, and
the Captain was informed I was capable, he got me
to be Mate (or rather Affiftant) on Board the Albion
Frigate, Captain Wafe Commander: and on the fè-
cond of May, 1699, we fet fail, (bound for Jamaica)
with a fair Wind. As foon as we loft Sight of Land,
I began to be extremely fea-fick, and bore the Jefts
of the Sailors but indifferently, who cryed, There's
}
B 3
an
6
The ADVENTURES of
an excellent Mafter's Mate, he'll hit Jamaica to a
Hair, if the Iſland were no bigger than the Bung-
hole of a Caſk. I must confefs, I believe myſelf to
be the only Perfon who ever fet out
on his firſt
Voyage as Mafter's Mate, without having feen a
River that was navigable. But in a Day or two I
was perfectly well, and was never troubled with
any Sickneſs afterwards.
We had nothing material happen'd to us till we
enter'd the Bay of Biscay, where we were encoun-
ter'd with a dreadful Storm; the Billows ran Moun-
tains high, and our Veffel feem'd to be the Sport
of the Waves: A Ship that overtook us the Day be-
fore, and accompany'd us, tho' it were not at half
a Furlong Diſtance, was fometimes loft, by Reaſon
of the Height of the Waves. The Storm continued
with this Violence three Days, and at laſt abated
fomething of its Fiercenefs, but ftill blew very hard.
The other Veffel, by firing a Gun, and making a
Signal, made it appear fhe was in Diftrefs, but the
Sea ran fo high it was impoffible to give them any
Affiftance, yet we bore down to them (being to
Windward) as nigh as we could without Danger to
ourſelves; we enquir'd into the Matter, and found
ſhe had ſprung a Leak; they had all Hands to
pump by Turns, but yet the Water gain'd on them.
They begg'd of us to hoift out our Boat (their own
being fav'd) to give them Succour upon Occafion:
Accordingly we put out our Long-Boat, with two
of our Men in it, but the Rope that held her to the
Ship, broke by the Violence of the Waves, and
drove
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
7
drove away with the two unfortunate Men in her,
and what became of them we could never learn;
but undoubtedly they perifh'd by the Sea, or Hun-
ger, we being twenty Leagues from any Shore. The
Ship, after prodigious Labour of the Sailors, and in
lefs than ten Minutes, funk to the Bottom; out of
fifty-feven Men, but four were fav'd, and they, by
good Fortune, laid hold on Ropes we threw out for
that Purpose; but it had not been poffible to fave
any, if we had not bore down to Leeward when
we ſaw them in the last Extremity. And here we
ought to admire at Providence; for this very Veffel
was a Pyrate, one Captain Jones, Commander, who
in an open large Boat fet out from Dover, and, near
Oftend, ftole upon a French Veffel in the Night, mur-
dered the Captain and fome others, and fet all the
Sailors afhore that would not embrace their De-
figns, and had refolv'd to attack us as foon as the
Storm was over. The four Men that were fav'd,
were three Englishmen and one Frenchman, who
faid they were forc'd, with feveral others, by the
above-mention'd Captain Jones, to take to that
Courfe of Life; but whether true or falfe, I can't
tell; indeed they behav'd themfelves very well
with us all the Voyage, and were entered into our
Books as four of the Ship's Crew, inſtead of two we
left on Shore, who were not to be found when we
fet fail, and the two poor Wretches that were loſt in
the Boat. The Storm fill continued, but the Wind
fair, fo we ran it away with a riv'd Forefail all
Night, and the next Morning we had a violent
B 4
Storm
$
The ADVENTURES of
Storm of Rain, and fome Thunder, but about Noon
the Sky cleared up, the Rain ceaſed, and the Tempeſt
was laid; the Wind however continuing fair, with
a middling Gale.
May the 28th, we difcovered the Canaries, and
the Peak of Teneriff, and paffed this lfland, or ra-
ther Rock, of a prodigious Height. At Night the
Wind rofe again, and continued to blow very hard
for two Days. As I was walking on the Deck one
Morning, my Chops were faluted with a Fiſh which
dropped down; I took it up, panting at the Gills
for Life; it proved to be a flying Fish, purfued (as
I fuppofe) by fome Dolphin, or Albacore; the Man-
ner of theſe Fishes avoiding their Enemies, is jump-
ing out of the Water, and flying till their Wings are
diy, then fall down again into the Sea. The Dol-
phin that chafes them, is one of the fineft coloured
Fishes that fwims. I have obferved our Painters
draw them bending like a Bow, but I think it is
as frait a Fiſh as any in the Sea. We caught one of
them with a Fizgig, an Inftrument made of feveral
Rows of Iron Spikes, bearded like Hooks, and
a Staff four or five Feet long to it; to this they tie a
Cord of a great Length, and dart it with all their
Strength; the wounded Fish immediately flounces
downward many Fathoms, and up again, which the
Darter obferves, giving him Rope and Play till his
Weakness makes him more tame: then they draw
him up the Ship's Side, and cut him in Pieces. The
fit we caught in this Manner was about fix Feet
long, which we dreffed, and Part of it ferved the
whole Ship's Company for Dinner; as foon as it
was
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
9
was caught, it loft that beautiful Colour it had in
the Water; as for my own Part, notwithſtanding
their praiſing it, I had rather eat a Herring or a
Mackrel than this rare Fiſh. I don't know whether
f
thefe Fiſh can hear, or love Mufick, but this I am
fure of, we had an excellent Trumpet on Board,
which diverted us in good Weather, and I have ob-
ferved, that at the Sound of it, the Number of theſe
Dolphins feemed to increafe, and fwim within two
Feet of our Veffel, but that may be pure Accident;
yet I fancy there's fomething in it, that occafioned
the Fable of Amphion and the Dolphin. Sharks are
taken as we take common Fish, only the Hook is
about two Feet long, and an Iron Chain above that
about four Feet long, and a long Rope to that;
they generally bait the Hook with a Piece of Beef of
three or four Pounds, which the voracious Fish fwal-
lows immediately, Hook and all; then they give
him Play a while, and when he is pretty well ſpent,
they draw him in with a Tackle: There's always
one lands ready with an Axe to make a Divorce
between his Tail and his Body, otherwife he would
give fuch large Thumps with it that might do the
Ship Damage: I myfelf was thrown dow a but
with a Touch of it. This that we took, had in its
Paunch the Collar-bone of a Man and a Boatswain's
Silver Whittle, with a red Ribbon in, it, intire, not
fo much as bruifed, which was given to me as a Pre-
fent, to make me Amends for the Fall I received; it
may be feen at my Bookfeller's, if any one has the
Curiofity to aſk for it; as to the Collar-bone, not
B 5
any
10
The ADVENTURES of
any one would accept of it, fo I return'd it to the
watry Element again.
We paffed the Tropick, attended by the Tropick-
Birds, a Fowl fomething bigger than a Pidgeon ;
but one would think, as it flies, it had an unlighted
Candle fix'd in its Tail. I cannot let go the Cere-
mony of paffing this Tropick: When you are in the
Latitude, the old Sailors aſk the rest of the Ship's
Crew, Whether they were ever that Way before? If
not they must either pay a Bottle and Pound, (as
they call it) or be duck'd: They that don't pay,
are fix'd to a Rope at the Main-Yard-Arm, and
duck'd three Times in the Sea; at which the rcft of the
Crew Huzza! and fire a Volley of fmall Shot.
When Admiral Bembow went with his Squadron
of Men of War, the whole Flect duck'd, but the
Admiral gave them Notice, by first firing a Gun,
which was immediately follow'd with a Volley of
Muſkets, and Huzzaing, by every Ship in the Fleet.
A Day or two before our Account is out, we fend
a Man to the Topmaft-Head, in order to difcover
Land, where he ftays an Hour, and looks about
him: He that difcovers it firft, is rewarded with
a Bottle and Pound: that is, a Bottle of Rum and
a Pound of Sugar, which is demanded as foon as
the Anchor is caft in a Place where fuch Commo-
dities are to be had. Now the Bottles and Pounds
that accrue from the People that are not willing to
be duck'd, in paffing the Tropick, are referv'd by
the old Sailors for a merry Bout, when fafe in Har-
bour,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
I I
bour, which muſt not be touch'd by the freſh Men,
as they call 'em.
July the third, our Man at the Topmaft-Head,
inftead of crying Land, (as we expected) called out
a Sail! a Sail! which, in a Quarter of an Hour,
we diſcovered plainly upon Deck. We did not
know what to think of it, we knew we were near
Land, and confequently in Fear of thofe Pyrates,
or Buccaniers, that infeſt thoſe Coaſts: Our Cap-
tain called all Hands aloft, and told us, Gentle-
men, 'Tis One to one, but this Veffel we fee may
be a Pyrate, if fo, how muft we behave ourſelves?
If you are refolved to ſtand it, I'll ftand it to the
laft; if not, we'll furrender without firing a Gun,
which may induce them to be civil to us. The Sail-
ors cried, Let's fight 'em, let's fight 'em. With
that we put our Chefs into the Hold, and brought
up our Hammocks, to place them in the Netting on
the Quarter Deck; we cleared our Guns, which
were twelve, and muftered our Men, which amount-
ed to Thirty Eight, Paffengers and all, who were
as willing to fight as any of us, they having fome-
thing on Board that was valuable; and ſome of them
perhaps all their Fortune. We kept our Way, and
the Ship bore up to us with all the Sail fhe could
make. Night coming upon us, our Man at the Top-
maft-Head diſcovered Land, and another Ship to
the Windward of us. With that, we called another
Council, and perfifted in our firft Opinion of fight-
ing; but yet to ufe all Means poffible of making to
Shore, (which was Barbadoes): But for all our En-
deavours,
B 6
12
The ADVENTURES of
deavours, the firft Ship got up with us, and about
Twelve o'clock at Night hailed us, and commanded
us to hoift out our Boat, and to come on Board him,
with our Captain. We anfwered, We had never a
Boat, (as indeed we had not) but we told him, if
he would fay 'till Morning, fomething might be
done. At last he threatened to fink us, if we would
not fend our Captain on Board immediately; and
thereupon fir'd a Gun, which ftruck our Veffel on
her Quarter. With that we fir'd our Broadfide
upon him, accompany'd with fome fmall Arms;
which, they little expecting, I believe, did fome
Damage, and put them in Confufion. Whereupon
we tack'd about, and with our fix Guns rak'd her
fore and aft; but was immediately feconded with
a Broad-fide from them, which kill'd us two Men,
and wounded a third. Upon which, with loud
Huzza's and Firing, they immediately boarded us on
our Starboard-Quarter, and poured into us at leaft
fourfcore Men: We refifted them with all the Force
we had, but all to no purpofe; they drove us into
the Fore-caftle, where, by good Chance, we made.
hift to barricade ourſelves; but they threaten'd to
turn our own Guns upon us, if we did not fur-
render immediately: But our Captain being refo-
lute, order'd us to fire upon them with our ſmall
Arms. Now we had under the Gratings, clofe to
our Steerage, a large Ciftern, lin'd with Tin,
where we had unwittingly plac'd feveral Carriages
of Powder, but happily for us, whether it was our
faring, or in the Buftle fome Match dropt in, I
know
f
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
know not, but the Powder took Fire, blew up the
Gratings, with fome Part of the Quarter-Deck,
and Thirty of the Enemy, at leaft, into the Air.
Upon that we fally'd out, and drove the reſt,
with our Cutlaffes, into their own Veffel again,
with the Lofs of feveral. But this fignified little,
for with the Fall and Breach of our Quarter-Deck,
the Powder-Room was intirely ſtopp'd up; nor
could we, without great Difficulty, clear it from
the Lumber, fo that we had not any Powder, but
what was in the Mens Cartouches, for their Muf-
kets: However, we fir'd brifkly with them; yet never-
theleſs they prepar'd to board us again, with all
the Menaces imaginable. This Fight continued at
leaſt four Hours, and the Dawn began to break
upon us, which diſcover'd to us the other Ship we
faw over Night, and we diftinguiſh'd English Co-
lours; with that we gave a great Shout, and fir'd
our ſmall Arms again. The Enemy no fooner faw
the Ship with English Colours, but they cut off
their Grappling-Irons, and did their Endeavour to
make off, but their Rigging was fo fhatter'd, that
their Sails could not be hoifted. In the mean Time
the other Ship came up to us, and, without hailing,
pour'd a Broad-fide into the Pyrate, and there fol-
low'd a deſperate Fight between them. As for our
Ship, it was of little Ufe,. fo we fteer'd off, and
clear'd our Gun-Room, and in half an Hour (the
Fight continuing all that while) we had charg'd
our great Guns, and returned to the Fight; bus
upon the Inftant we faw the Pyrate finking; the
English
14
The ADVENTURES of
English Ship had tore a Hole between Wind and
Water, that the funk in a Moment, and but eight
Men fav'd, who told us their Captain was a Pyrate
from Guadalupe; that when they were finking, they
had not above twenty Men left, out of an hundred
and fixty; and most of them wounded. The Ship
that gave us this Reaſonable refcue, was the Guernsey
Frigate, whofe Station was Barbadoes. We lay by
for an Hour or two, to repair our Rigging, &c.
and hail'd her, defiring them to fend a Boat on Board
for our Captain, becauſe we were without one,
which accordingly they did. Captain Wafe and 1
went immediately on Board, to pay our Refpects
to their Commander, who receiv'd us with all ima-
ginable Civility. We had on Board our Ship feven
Sailors and two Paffengers kill'd: the one Jofeph
Ridge of Barbadoes, and the other Daniel Thompſon of
Mevis, Merchant; and four wounded. The Guern-
Sey had fixteen Men kill'd, and three wounded;
among which was the Lieutenant, who died the
fame Day of a Wound he receiv'd in his Thigh,
with a Muſket Ball chew'd, which made the Wound
mortal. The Captain invited us to dine with him,
which we did; where we were treated with a new
Diſh, (at leaſt to me) a Pollo, that is, Fowls boil'd
with Rice and falt Pork; which was very palatable.
We took our Leave of the Captain, and went on
Board of our own Veffel, and at five o'clock in
the Evening (July the 4th), after faluting the Town,
caft Anchor in Carlisle Bay.
Barbadoes,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
Barbadoes, for its Bignefs, is the richeſt and beſt
peopled Iſland in all America; it is feated in thir-
teen Degrees, twenty Minutes; in Length, twenty-
four meaſur'd Miles, and in the broadest Part
about fixteen: It refembles a Leg of Mutton, with
the Knuckle off. The North and Eaſt Sides are
fortify'd by Nature, from any Harm from Ships of
War, by Reaſon there is no Anchoring Place. On
the South-Eaſt and Weſterly Part, are four excel-
lent, commodious, well fortify'd Harbours. The
chief is that where we now ride, which will con-
tain a thouſand Sail of Ships, free from the Danger
of any Winds. At the Bottom of this Harbour
ftands the Capital of the Iſland, call'd St. Michael's;
with a Fort at each End, and a Platform in the
Middle; which makes it of Strength fufficient to
oppofe a royal Navy: 'Tis a neat large Town,
with two Churches, one with a handfome Organ:
For Largeness, I think this Town may compare
with our City of Salisbury, but better inhabited.
As for the other three, which are, 1. Charles Town.
2. James's Town. 3. Little Bristol in Spright's Bay,
I can give no Manner of Account of: But for my
Reader's Satisfaction, if he will confult Legon's
Hiftory of Barbadoes, he may come to the beſt Know-
ledge of the whole Ifland. They are govern'd by
the fame Laws as we in England. A Native of Bar-
badoes told me, the whole Ifland contain'd at leaſt
12000 Inhabitants, Slaves included.
July the 20th, (after our Captain had left his Paf-
ſengers, and Part of his Cargo) we ſet Sail for Ja-
maica :
16
The ADVENTURES of
maica: Here you must Note, that from Barbadoes to
Jamaica, you always have the Wind in your Stern.
We pafs'd Martinico, Dominica, Guadalupe, and
Antigua, and the first of August anchor'd at Nevis,
where we had immediately the Friends of Mr. Da-
niel Thompson, Merchant, on Board us, to unlade the
Goods; for they had heard of his Death, by a Vef-
fel from Barbadoes a Week before.
Mcvis, or Nevis, lies in feven Degrees, nine.
teen Minutes; it is fix Leagues in Circumference:
There is but one Harbour in the whole Ifland,
which fome call Mevis Harbour, or Bath Bay, where
lies the Town, under the former Denomination.
It is pretty well fecured with a Fort and Platform
of great Guns. I was inform'd by one of the In-
habitants, that there is a Mineral Water, very good
to bathe in, which cures the fame Diftempers with
our Bath in Somerſet faire.
The English fettled here Anno Dom. 1628, and
have increaſed from one hundred and forty, to five
thousand and upward. They fend abroad as much
Sugar, Ginger, Cotton, and Tobacco, as any lland
of its Bignefs in the Caribbees. They are very regu.
lar in their Government here; they neither allow
Drunkenneſs, nor Whoring, (I mean in common,
as in Barbadoes, Jamaica, &c.) Here 1 was firft
faluted with a little Fly, call'd a Mufketo; and
tho' it is fmall, yet it has a devilifh fharp Sting
with it. They get into our Stockings, and are fo
very troubleſome to new Comers, that there's
hardly any Bearing of them. If you fcratch the
Places
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE.
17
Places ftung by them till the Blood comes, it may
prqve dangerous; I myſelf kept a fore Leg three
Months upon that Account. I was alfo inform'd
there was a Flea they call Chigos, which breed in
Dut, or Ashes; and of all the Infects in the
Caribbees, this is the most dangerous: they get
into the Nails of the Toes imperceptibly, and from
thence run over all the Body; tho' they chiefly fix
themfelves in the Bottom of the Feet: Which oc-
cafions an Itching, follow'd with Holes in the
Skin. They make Blifters as big as Peas in the
Flesh, where their young ones breeding, caufe Ul-
cers and rotten Flesh, which there is no Remedy for,
but to eat away the Parts affected with Aqua-fortis
and burnt Alum. While we lay here, there was a
Sword-Fish ran himſelf afhore, (which was fuppos'd
to be done in eagerly chafing fome other Fith :) It
had no Scales, but a duſky Skin, and a white
Belly, rough like a Smith's File, a flat head, two
Fins on each Side, two on the Back, and one in-
flead of a Tail. It is a Fish of prodigious Swift-
nefs: The Sword (which is fix'd in the Head) is
fix, feven, and fometimes eight Feet long: Near
his Eyes are two Noftrils out of which he throws
the Water a great Height into the Air. This Fish
often encounters with the Whale, and proves too
hard for him; for with his Sword he rips up the
Whale. I bought one of thefe Swords of a poor
Inhabitant, for four Bottles of English Beer, (which
is a great Rarity with them) that he got in a Piece
of
18
The ADVENTURES of
of Wreck, but thruft in fo far, that the End in
getting out, was broke three Inches.
Next to Mevis, lies St. Chriftopher's (or, as we
generally call it St. Kit's) in feventeen Degrees,
and twenty-five Minutes, Northward of the Equi-
noctial. It is twenty five Leagues in Circmference,
the Soil light and fandy, and produces Fruit
common with us in England. In the Middle of this
Iland rifes a high Mountain, from which run
Streams of freſh Water, that fometimes fwell fo
high with fudden Rains, that they drown all the
Country near them. This Ifland is inhabited by
both English and French, who even in the Time of
War live very friendly together. There was for-
merly diſcover'd a Silver Mine here, which the
Engliſh and French claim an equal Title to; but nei-
ther make any Uſe of it, by Reaſon of the Want of
Miners. The English Liberties are better peopled
than the French, but the French have more Conveni-
ences, and better fortify'd Places than the English. An
English Fryar belonging to the French Jefuits, (who
gave me this Deſcription) told me that the French,
had built a Town, call'd Baſſe Terre, (in a Harbour
of the fame Name, and Chief in the Ifland) full as
big as Gravesend, with very handfome Houfes, for
the Merchants, and Trades People, which are many;
where there is alſo an Hofpital to maintain their indi-
gent Sick, together with a handfome Free School, with
large Endowments, for the Children of the Iſland.
But what they moftly brag of is, their Caftle, which
is built about a Furlong from the Sea, at the Foot of a
high
Capt. RICHARD FALCON er.
19
high Mountain, fhadow'd with great Trees. Inthe Way
thither, ftand the Houfes of the Governor, and other
Officers, for mere Security; feated in a Walk of O-
range and Lemon Trees, from the Brow of the Sea
up to the Caftle; which is three Story high, built
with Freeftone and Brick: The Halls and Chambers
are very lightſome and high, and the Walls are adorn'd
with Cedar; On the Top is a flat Terrace, which
yields a delightful Prospect all over the Country. The
Winds which blow from the Hills, fo temper the
Heat, that it makes it more pleaſant than any other
Iſland of the Caribbees. As to the English Plantati-
ons, they are not much inferior to the French; they
have fix Churches, and two Chapels, for Divine Ser-
vice. This Ifland was planted jointly by English and
French, in 1625. Captain Thomas Warner, for the Eng-
liſh, and one Defnambuc for the French. The Natives
made a vigorous Réfiftance, but to little Purpoſe. With
this Succefs they return'd back to their feveral Coun-
tries, and went again and fettled there; but the Engliſh
having more Supplies from London, daily encreaſed;
when on the contrary, the Merchants at Paris grew
weary, fecing no Return for all the Charges they
had been at. But whilft this Buſineſs ſeem'd to go
on with Succeſs, an Accident happen'd, which ruin'd
all at once. The King of Spain fet out a Fleet the
fame Year, of thirty one Galloons, three Galleafes,
and four Pinnaces, with four Thouſand Men, under
the Command and Direction of Frederick de Toledo,
from Cadiz, Antonia, Nuunes, Barrico, and Franciſco de
Almeida, Commander of twenty Galleys, from Portu-
gal ;
20
The ADVENTURES f
gal; theſe join'd with the abovemention'd, with a
Refolution to drive the English, French, and Dutch,
entirely out of the American Iſlands. Coming before
Mevis, they took nine Engliſh Veffels: After that they
fail'd to St. Christopher's, where Captain Defnambuc
(altho' not prepar'd for Defence, becauſe their Forti-
fications were not finish'd) drew all his Forces near
the Shore, to hinder their landing: But Captain
Roffey, who commanded another Port, fuffer'd them
to land without the leaft Refiftance. Whereupon
young Defnambuc, Lieutenant of a Company under
Roffey, fally'd out, and fell valiantly on the firſt Com-
pany of Spaniards, killing many of 'em, and put them
to the Ront; but the Spaniards being feconded by a-
nother Battalion, he was flain, after having made a
ftout Refiftance, and forfaken by all his Men. Roffey,
upon this, abandons his Intrenchments, and flies to
the Hills, and high Grounds: Whereupon the Spa-
niards became Mafters of the Forts, but durft not
follow Roffey, for Fear of an Ambufcade; which Fear
prov'd true: For Defnambuc, undermining the Fort,
retir'd on board fome Veffel prepar'd for that Purpofe,
and made off. In the mean Time, the Powder taking
Fire, blew up the Fort, and fix hundred Spaniards,
into the Air. The English relying upon the League
between Spain and England, made no Refiſtance, but
fent Agents to Toledo, &c. to put him in Mind of
the League between their Maſters: To which he re-
ply'd, That St. Chriftopher's, being Part of the Weftern
World, was given by the Pope to his Mafter Philip.
Nevertheleſs
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
21
Nevertheless he gave them fix of the nine Veffels they
took at Mevis, to imbark themſelves, on Condition
they would fail immediately for England; which
they agreed to; but the fix Veffels not holding all, the
reft were left on the Island, for another Opportunity:
No fooner was Toledo out of Sight, but the remaining
Part of the English Inhabitants took freſh Courage,
and rebuilt ſeveral Forts, and made every thing rea-
dy for Defence, if Occafion fhould be. In the mean
Time Dejnambuc fuffered a great Deal of Hardſhip,
through ill Weather, and Want of Proviſion; hav-
ing been at ſeveral Iſlands, intending to fettle, with
his little Company, but not liking any of them, and
hearing that the Enemy were gone to the Havana,
and the English were bufy tilling their Ground, he
return'd to his former Station, where they fuffered
many Hardships; till fome Veffels from the Nether-
lands arrived, and furniſh'd them with Provifions,
Ammunition, and Cloaths, upon Credit: But in a
few Years they paid all, and grew rich, from their
plentiful Stock of Tobacco, Sugars, Ginger, and
Indico, till they brought it to the rich and flouriſh-
ing State it now remains in.
Having ended our Affairs, we fet Sail for Jamaica,
the 21st of August, 1699; and, on the 7th of Sep-
tember, anchor'd fafe in Port Royal Harbour, in the
great and flouriſhing Iſland of Jamaica, without any
Accident. This was our laft Station: Here we
were to unlade the remaining Part of our Goods,
and take in its Return, Rum, Sugar, and Spice.
This
22
The ADVENTURES of
This Ifland of Jamaica is the only Mart of all
America for the English, who drive a large Trade
here; but Wickedneſs is in its full Perfection; I re-
member Captain Waſe aſk'd one of our Men, that
had ſpent fome Money aſhore, what was his Opinion
of the Honefty of the Women of Port Royal? Why
truly, fays Tar, very bluntly, if there's one honeft
Woman fhould happen to tumble down, I believe
there's never another to take her up. Provifion is
prodigious dear here; two or three of us went on
Shore to Dinner, one Day, at Port Royal, where we
had only a roafted Turkey, wretchedly lean, and no-
thing nigh fo well tafted as our English Turkeys, and
our Eating came to thirty Shillings; but then, to make
amends, Money is plenty enough: We had a
Sailor on Board, that had been a 'Taylor by Trade;
this Fellow got Leave of the Captain to go on
Shore for a Month, where he clear'd, by working
Journey-Work, twelve Pounds for that Month:
But then he had the Ship's Provifion carry'd on
Shore to him two or three times a Week; had he
been to have paid for his Diet, he had fav'd but a
fmall Matter. I was mightily furpriz'd to fee a
Market for Turtle, in the fame Manner as our
Butchers. This is a Meat, or rather Fish, of an
odd Nature, but of an excellent Tafte; the
Lean looks like the Flesh of Pork, but fome-
thing of a deeper red; the Fat is a Sort of a
light green, but very luſcious; this is the common
Diet of the Slaves, or meaner Sort of Peo-
ple; but if Strangers eat too much of it, it is
apt
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
23
apt to give them the Bloody-Flux. This is a very
reigning Distemper here, and carries off Abundance
of new Comers. The Ifland of Jamaica lies
Leagues North from the Southern Continent of Ame-
rica, in the Sea call'd Mare del Nor; and South from
the Ifle of Cuba, about twelve Leagues; and
twenty Weft from Hifpaniola, in eighteen Degrees
Northern Latitude; and beareth from Rio de Hach,
North Weft, an hundred and fifty Leagues; from
Santa Martha, N. N. W. an hundred and thirty five;
from Carthegena, N. an hundred and fourteen
from Portobello, N. E. and by N. an hundred and
ninety; from the Ifthmus of Darien, N. and by E. an
hundred and feventy; and from the Bay of Mexico,
an hundred and fifty. Its Form is almoſt oval; be-
ing in Length, from East to West, about fifty-four
Leagues; from North to South, in the broadeft Part,
twenty three Leagues, growing narrower toward each
End, like a Rowling. Pin, (a good Compariſon.) In
Circumference, one hundred and fifty Leagues. The
Air of this Iſland is more temperate, and the Heat
more tolerable, than any of the other Iflands, by Rea-
fon of the cool Breezes which conftantly blow from
the East, with frequent Showers of Rain, and Dews
that fall in the Night. Thefe Dews are very perni-
cious to careless drunken People, that lie expos'd all
Night to them. This is alfo the only Iſle of the Bar-
loventi, which is not fubject to violent Storms, and
Hurricanes, as the other Iſlands are. And the Diſea-
ſes that are predominant here, are only bred by In-
temperance; as Surfeits, Bloody-flux, Fevers, and
Agues;
24
The ADVENTURES of
Agues; or occafioned by ill Diet, or Slothfulness.
This Iſland is well water'd with Springs and Rivulets
of freſh Water, (with many handſome Rivers ſtored
with feveral Sorts of Fiſh;) and is all over (efpe-
cially in the Western Parts) full of high Mountains.
and Hills: It is alfo well wooded; for the North and
South Parts chiefly abound with large and tall
Woods. Neither are there wanting Savana's, or
Plains. The Commodities of this Ifland are very
many; and firſt, for Vegetables; the Sugars are fo
good, that they now out-fell thofe of Barbadoes 55.
per Cent. Tobacco is fo excellent, that it is bought
up fafter than the Planters can cure it: The In-
digo is alfo here very good: The Cotton is much
the best of all the neighbouring Iflands. Tortoife-
fhell is very plenty here. Here are alſo great
Variety of Dyewood, as Fuftick, Red-rwood, a kind
of Log-wood, Cedar, Malogany, Lignum vitæ, Ebony,
Cranadille, and many others. Nay, there are many
Mines, both of Silver, Copper, and Gold; but that
the Inhabitants think it would be dangerous to break
them up, for fear of drawing the Spanish and French
Buccaniers upon 'em. There are ſeveral Fiſhermen
who have found Pieces of Ambergreafe upon the Sur-
face of the Water, near the Shore. Ginger grows
better here than in any other Part of America; and
Cod-Pepper very plentifully: And alſo, a certain Kind
of Spice call'd, Piemcte, in Form of East-India Pep-
per, of a very aromatical and curious Tate, parta-
king, as it were, of feveral Spices together: It
grows wild among the Mountains, and is highly
valu'd
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
25
valued among the Inhabitants. Of Medicinal Plants
I have ſeen ſeveral, as Guaiacum, China-root, Cafia Fij
tula, Veuillard, Achiotes, Tamarines, Contrayerva, Cipe-
ras, Adiantum-nigrum, Aloes, Cucumis, Agriftis, Sumach,
Acacia, Miffelto, with many other Drugs and Bal-
fams. The ingenious Sir Hans Sloan has wrote an
elaborate Book of the Plants of this Iſland. Co-
chineal is produc'd by a Plant that grows in. this
Country, but not brought to Perfection, without
much Care and Induftry. This Ifland is alfo very
well ſtock'd with Cattle, as Horfes, Cows, and Af-
ſes; there have been many Mules, but the Inhabi-
tants made fo little Ufe of 'em, that now there are
but few. Sheep are large and tall, and their Meat
indifferently good, but their Fleece worth nothing.
Goats (or Cabirates) are without Number, being a
Beaf peculiar to the Country. Hogs, both wild
and tame in Abundance. I have been hunting the
wild Hog in Porto Morant Bay, and it gives good
Diverfion, tho' fometimes dangerous: You go with
fome Ten or a Dozen in Company, arm'd with a
Musket and a Cutlafs; as foon as ever (with your
Dogs) you have found" 'em out, you all take Aim,
and fire as quick as you can, but if you don't kill
them immediately with your Shot, they fet upon
you open-mouth'd, fo that you muft either hew
'em down with your Cutlaffes, or club your Muf-
kets. Generally as foon as you have 'em, you flay
'em, as you do Mutton, and Barbicue 'em, even in
the very Place where you kill 'em; that is, you dig
a fquare Hole in the Earth, then clap four Stakes at
C
each
26
The ADVENTURES of
each Corner; and on 'em put your Meat, fo make a
Fire under it, and when one Side is done enough,
you turn the other. For tame Fowls, they have of
all the Kinds that we have in England; befides Gui-
nea Hens, Parrots, Parachetes, Machars, and Boobies,
(which are Boobies, indeed, for they will fit upon a
Tree, or Poft, till you come and take 'em.) They
have three Crops a Year, in this Ifland, and the
Trees are always green. They have three Sorts of
Bread, one of English Corn, another of Guinea
Wheat, and the third of a Root they call Caſavi,
which is rank Poifon, till prefs'd and bak'd in an
Oven; 'tis very white, but taftelefs, and the Bread
made of it, the Size of our thin Oat-Cakes. But
of all the Fruit this Tfland produces, the Pinc-Ap-
ple is the beſt, which grows very low, with Leaves
fomething like the Indicus Ficus that I have feen in
Gardens here in England; the Tafte is fo excellent,
that I know not what to compare it to, it having
the Relish of all fine-flavour'd Fruits.
Fruit that grows upon a low Bush,
Prickle-Pear, the Infide of which is red, and on
the Top is a little thorny Thing like a Star, which
if you do not take away before you eat it, may
prove pernicious. If you eat but two of this
Fruit, it will make your Urine as red as Blood.
Plantains are very good Fruit, which is, when
bak'd in the Afhcs, ufed by the Slaves inftead of
Bread: 'Tis a Fruit with a Skin on it, like our
Beans, which is taken off, and then the Fruit ap-
pears, about the Size of a Bolognia Saufage.
There's a
call'd the
Ban-
nanas
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
27
nanas is another Fruit fomething of the fame Kind,
but shorter, and more lufcious: Both theſe Fruits
are ripe all the Year, for when fome are fit to
gather, others are green, and fome in Bud. The
Oranges and Lemons, are neither of 'em good, in
my Opinion: But their Limes arc wonderful; they
grow upon a Tree full of Thorns, where you muſt
be fure to prick your Fingers, if you'll gather 'em.
Thefe, with Spring Water and Sugar, was the chief
of my Liquor, while we ftaid there. The Potatoes
are very fine here, exceeding, in my Opinion, even
thofe of Ireland. Then there's another Root call'd
Yams, fomething like a Jerufalem Artichoke, but lar-
ger and ſtringy. The Onions of Jamaica are much
milder and better tafted that our Engliſh Onions, and
very wholefome: they ufed to make a great Addi-
tion to our Crogick Brewis; that is, Biſket foak'd in
fair Water, for fome Time, then the Water thrown
away, and the Biſket ftrew'd over with Salt, Oil,
and Lime-Juice, together with Onions; and fo eaten.
as a dainty Dith. There is a fenfitive Plant in this
Iſland; the Stalk, ſurrounded with Leaves full of dark
red Spots, bears a fweet ſmelling violet-colour'd
Flower; the Leaves, as foon as touch'd, cloſe up to-
gether, and die; and accordingly as they are held in
the Hand a ſhorter or longer Time, this Alteration
continues. Ginger grows plentiful here; the Male
Plant (for there are Sexes) hath generally bigger Leaves
than the Female: The Stalks, which are without
Knots, have more Leaves upwards than downwards,
and ſpreads along the Earth, ftill taking Root anew.
When
There
C 2
28
The ADVENTURES of
When the Leaves wither, then the Ginger is com-
monly ripe, but it has not that Poignancy whilft green,
as when dry'd. The Cotton of this Place (of which
the Cloaths and Hammocks are made, and vended in
moft Parts of the Western World) grows on a Tree
about the Height of a Peach-Tree, with a flrait Stem,
or Body, out of which fhoot Boughs of an equal
Length, and at equal Diſtances: Between the Leaves,
which are narrow and long, grow red Flowers, and
from 'em, oval Cods, which, when ripe, incloſe the
Cotton, and a Seed like Pepper. Of hurtful Crea-
tures, there is the Crocodile, or Alligator, which in-
fefts many Rivers and Ponds; this is a Creature of a
monstrous Size; I have feen one twenty-fix Feet long;
it moves ſwiftly and frongly forward, but turns
flow; they are impenetrable every where but in the
Eye, or Belly; they have four Feet, or Fins, with
which they go, or ſwim; their ufual Courſe of | get-
ting their Food is to lie on their Backs as dead, then
with a fudden Onfet they ſpring upon their Prey,
whether Man or Beaſt: But 'tis eaſily avoided by a
Man, by Reaſon of an aromatic Smell that comes
from the Body, which may be fmelt five hundred
Yards; but if a Man has got a Cold, and can't finell,
if he has Eyes they are cafily avoided; for if they
run right forward, it is but flipping on one Side, for
they are as long in turning as a Coach. The Oil that's
made from thefe Creatures, is good for feveral Dif-
tempers. They lay their Eggs (about the Size of a
Turkey's) and cover 'em with Sand, which heated
by the Beams of the Sun, hatches the young ones,
who
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
2.9
who naturally creep into the Water. One of theſe
Creatures fwam after us fifty Yards in Porto Merant
Bay, and rais'd his Head upon the Edge of our
Long-Boat, which was deeply laden with Caſks of
Water; our Carpenter, who had been felling of
Timber to wood the Ship, ftruck him a very great
Blow on the Nofe with his Hatchet, that I am fure
hurt him, for he gave a Sort of Shriek, which no-
body ever - 1 before.
cách tự Jivit, Where
oferv'd him to run his Head into the Mud, as if
it pain'd him, which makes me think that their
Heads are not invulnerable, as is reported. The
Guana is another Creature amphibious as the Alliga-
tor, but nothing nigh fo large: There's an Iſland
near Jamaica, call'd Guana Island, inhabited by no-
thing elſe; our Seamen eat thefe latter, but much
Good may it do 'em, for their Flesh looks like a
Piece of a Black-a-moor's Arm; but how it taftes I
can't tell, neither do I ever defign to try. The Co-
coa Nut is a Fruit that is both Meat, Drink and
Cloathing to the Natives (I mean the Blacks): the
Rind ferves for weaving of Cloaths, nay and rigging
their Canoes, before they knew the Europeans; and
when you have taken off the Bark, you must be be-
holden to a Saw to cut off the Monkey's Face, which
is the Top, with three Marks that make it fome-
thing resemble that Animal; then the Infide con-
tains, first a liquid Subftance, like Whey, but very
fweet; after you have taken out this Liquor, round
the Nut is a Subſtance a Quarter of an Inch thick,
which you cut out, and that's the Meat, which is
C 3
very
30
The ADVENTURES of
very delicious and grateful to the Tafte, but not
wholefome, if eat of too much: There's another
Thing that's very remarkable, and that is the Phy
fick Nut, much of the Tafte of our Pig-Nuts, but
one or two of 'em will do your Bufinefs, upwards or
downwards, as well as Dr. Anodyne Necklace's Sugar-
Plumbs. As I was going one Day to dine with
Captain Kendal, (a Gentleman Inhabitant within a
dad by a Black
a Servant of his, I faw in the Hedge a fair pi
growing on a Bush, which I readily gathered, and
was conveying to my Mouth, but prevented by the
Black's giving me a Blow on the fland, which ftruck
it from me; I immediately drew my Sword in the
Scabbard, and fell to belabour the poor Fellow for his
Infolence, for I having been familiar with him,
and talked to him along the Road, thought he made
our Engliſh Proverb true, if you give an Inch they'll
take an Ell; but it feemed the Fellow faved my Life
by it, for this Fruit, which was called a Mangineel
Apple, was rank Poifon, but what I never had ſeen
or heard of before; I was fo concerned for the Blows
I had given the poor Fellow that I gave him a Dol-
lar to make him Amends. I remember I was after-
wards washing myſelf at a River, in the fame Bay,
and it raining very hard, I went under a Tree, to
fave my Cloaths from being wet, and in placing
them together in a Cavity of the Shore the Drops of
Rain fell on a Mangineel Tree, and fo on my Back,
but in less than half an Hour my Fleſh burned very hot,
and white Blifters appeared upon my Skin, infomuch
that
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
2
{
that I was in a high Fever; but a Native of the
Place being with me, ran for falt Water and washed
me all over, and afterwards got fome Oil, and dip-
ped my Shirt in it, and put it on my Back, which
gave me Eafe immediately; but the Spots remained
upon my Skin feveral Years afterwards. One of our
common Sailors by eating two or three of theſe
Apples dyed in three Days raving mad. This Ifland
was first discovered by Columbus, Anno Don. 1499.
After he had conquer'd the Natives, and built a Ci-
ty called Sevilla, (afterwards St. Jago de le Vega) con-
fifting of about feventeen hundred Houfes, two
Churches, two Chapels, and,an Abbey, he made his
Son Diego Columbus Governor of the whole Ifland, for
his Mafter Ferdinand King of Spain. The first Attempt
made upon this Ifland by the English, was A. D.
1592, under the Command of Mr: Anthony Shirley, but
after vanquishing the Spaniards they deferted it, as
not thinking it worth. their keeping, and re-
turned home. The Spaniards again poffeffing it,
remained unmolefted, till Anno Dom. 1654, when
Oliver Cromwell, then Lord Protector, fitted out a
Fleet of Ships to make a Defcent on Hifpaniola, under
the Command of Colonel Kenables; but being diſap-
pointed of their Hopes, and meeting with ill Suc-
ceſs, iteered away for Jamaica, and on the roth of
May (after a ſtout Refiſtance) made themſelves Maf-
ters of it. The Inland is fuppofed to contain two
hundred and fifty. thouſand Inhabitants, Slaves in-
cluded. The chief Towns are, 1ft, St. Jago, about
fix Miles up the Country. 2dly, Paffage-Town, fix
Miles from that. 3dly, (And indeed the largeft, before
C +
the
32
The ADVENTURES of
the Earthquake deftroyed it) Port Royal; it contain-
ed a thouſand Houfes, many of them eminent Build-
ings; but as it is now built on a ſmall Neck of Land,
which forms the Harbour, I take it to be about the
Bignéfs of Deptford. At both Ends of the Town is
a large Fort, known by the Name of the fquare and
round Fort: This fquare Fort, or Caftle, contains a
hundred Pieces of Ordnance, and the other about
thirty, befides feveral Cannon on the Platform,
which reaches from one Fort to the other; fo that,
without Treachery, they need not fear an Attack
either by Land or by Sea. About a Mile farther, is
another fmall Fort, called Landcard Fort, which
fecures the Town from any Attempt by Land: Off
the Mouth of the Harbour, towards the Sea, lie fe-
veral ſmall Iſlands, upon the most Western of which
(lying within half a League of the Town, and by
which all the Veffels mult pafs) they have erected a
Fort which contains eight Guns. The chief Har-
bour, after Port Royal, is Port St. Anthony, on the
Norths a very fafe, commodious landlocked Har-
bour, only the coming in is fomething difficult,
the Channel being narrowed by a little Inland
that lies off the Mouth of the Port zd. Porto Merant,
a very capacious Harbour, where Ships do conveni-
ently wood and water, and ride fafe from all
Winds. 3d, On the South is Port Gagway, which is
much the largeſt of all that has been mentioned, it
being five Leagues over in fome Places; it is land-
locked by a Point of Land that runs S. . from the
Main of the Inland: The Road is fo deep that a
Ship of a thouſand Tons may lay her Side to the
1
Shore
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
33
Shore of the Point, and lade or unlade at Pleaſure,
with Planks afloat.
Now finding our Affairs would detain us half a
Year longer, I got Leave of the Captain to go in a
Sloop, with fome of my Acquaintance, to get Log-
wood, and on September the 25th we fet Sail for the
Bay of Campeche, with a fair Wind. The old Man-
ner of getting this Wood is as follows; a. Com-
pany of defperate Fellows get together in a Sloop,
well armed, and land by Stealth, but in Cafe of
any Refiftance, the whole Crew attends on the
Cutters, ready armed to defend them; indeed there's
a Colony of English that fell this Logwood, but
many chufe the other Way; all this was ſtrange to
me, for I knew nothing of the Matter, till we
were out at Sea. There was one Fellow there that
told me, that about ten Years before he went with
a Veffel, and they took the fame Method as ufual,
in getting it, and landed all their Men but fix,
that they left on Board to look after the Veſſel; in
the mean Time the Spaniards having Intelligence of
their Defcent, fent a hundred Men in feveral Ca-
noes, to feize their Veffel; which accordingly
they did, without any Reſiſtance from the fix Men
on Board. After they had clapped theſe Men
under Hatches, they fearched and ranfacked the
Veffel, fending every Thing on Shore that was of
any Value; then they prepared to trepan the Crew,
as they came on Board, which happened the very
next Night, when ſome of the Men coming en
Board with a Load of Logwood, the Spaniards
caufed
C 5
34
The ADVENTURES of
cauſed the fix Men to ftand upon Deck, and on
Pain of Death, not to difcover the Truth of the
Matter, which happened as they defired, for the
Men coming on Board carelefly without their Arms,
were all feized immediately and clapped in Irons.
The reft that were on Shore, wondering at the Stay
of the Boat, ſent a Canoe with fix Men, to know
the Reaſon of their Delay, which were likewiſe
taken in the fame Trap with the former. The
Man that told me this Story, was one of theſe laſt
fix, who found Means fecretly in the Middle of the
Night to flip into the Water, and fwim afhore,
tho' half a League off, where he happily inform'd
the reft of the Crew (which were forty three) of
the Misfortune that had happened to the rest of
their Companions: Whereupon they confulted what
they had beft to do; when it was unanimoufly
agreed, to feize upon three large Canoes, that lay
at the Bottom of the Bay, that belonged to ſome
French Hunters that were on Shore; which was done
accordingly: On Board they immediately got, well
armed, and fteered away for their Sloop: But as
they defigned to trick them the fame Way as the
others had done their Companions, they confulted
what to do if they fhould be diſcovered before they
could get on Board, which was probable enough.
At length it was agreed to carry on the Plot in
order to deceive them, and as foon as ever they
could get over the Ship's Side, to affault the Ene-
my with all the Vigour imaginable, appointing
two or three to releafe their Companions, and put
Arms
1
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R.
35
Arms into their Hands, to be affiftant in recovering
their Liberties. Every Thing happen'd as was
fuggeſted, for when they came within half a
Furlong of the Veſſel, they were hail'd by fome of
their own Men, as it is ufual in fuch Cafes; which
was anſwered by them in the Canoes, with fwearing
and curfing at 'em, for not coming afhore with
their Long-boat, as ordered, but to force 'em to bring
their Wood aboard in Canoes. They aſked from on
Board, how many were come with them? All (an-
fwered they in the Boat) but three, that we left A-
fhore to look after our Arms, and a fmall Re-
mainder of Logwood, which you
muft go and fetch
immediately with the Long-boat, (which they pre-
tended could not go to them before, by Reafon ſhe
had a Hole broke in her Bow, againſt a Piece of
Rock, that gave them a great deal of Trouble in
getting her to the Veffel.) Our People fmiled to
themſelves to hear they had got their Leffon fo
ready. In afking and anfwering thefe Queftions.
they had reached the Veffel, and getting nimbly up
the Side, they drew from under their Watch - Coats,
their Piſtols and Cutlaffes, and firft fired upon the
Spaniards, who were running to feize them, half
unarmed, as not fufpecting any Refiftance: Thofe
whoſe Office it was to releaſe the Priſoners under
Hatches, did it immediately, by killing the two
Centinels that watched over them; and then com-
ing up with this freſh Recruit foon overcame the
Spaniards, and make them call for Quarter: Which
was not granted till they had thrown down their
Arms.
C 6
36
The ADVENTURES of
Arms. When they had furrendered, they chained
them all under Hatches; and fo the Conquerors
became Prifoners and the Prifoners Conquerors.
After the Action was over, they looked after the
Dead, which was found to be 'nine Spaniards, and
One Englishman, who was fuppofed to be killed by
our own Men, in the firft Fire.
Upon this good Succefs, they having Notice that
there lay a rich Ship in the Harbour before the Town
of Campeche, they refolved to try their good Fortune
farther, which they contrived as follows: They hoift-
ed Spanish Colours, and failed away immediately for
the Port of Campeche, where they arrived by next
Morning, faluted the Castle and Town with ſeven
Guns, as Friends, and were paid back the Comple-
ment. The Shore was filled with Numbers of People,
to fee the Engliſhmen brought afhore Prifoners; but
they were miſtaken. The Ship which they had a De-
fign upon lay about a League from the Town, as ha-
ving arrived but two Days before, but was to put
farther in that very Evening, before the Sea-Breeze
failed; our Men boarded her on the Starboard Side,
which lay from the Town, and took her, without
firing a Gun, cut her Cables, and made out to Sea,
before the Town knew what was the Matter: But
as foon as ever they ſmelt the Trick, a Spaniſh Man
of War of thirty Guns (being all that was in the
Harbour) flipped her Cables, and crouded all the Sail
fhe could, to come up with us; we finding fhegain-
ed upon us, called a Council, and at laſt reſolved
to bring up moft of our Spanish Prifoners bound, and
expoſe them to the whole, Fire of the Enemy.
Which
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
37
Which fucceeded accordingly, for the Ship coming
cloſe up to us without any firing on either Side, com-
manded us to ftrike. Upon that we ordered the
Spanish Captain to lay before them the Condition;
which profited little at firſt, but after many Intrea-
ties from them, and Threatnings from us, the
others were prevailed upon to steer off, and make
towards the Town, while we made the beſt of our
Way. But the Spaniards making up to the Town
again, was met by feveral armed Boats, with the
Governor himself in one of them, who gave a ftri&t
Command not to regard any Thing, but ufe all
poffible Means to retake the Ship, and the Pyrates.
(as they termed us.) When we perceived the Boats
making up to the Ship, and obſerved her tack about
to give us Chace, we gueffed at the Matter, and
finding the gained upon us, we put ourſelves into a
Pofture of Defence, and propofed to engage her in
the Prize we took laft, which carried 20 Guns: We
muftered our Men, and found we had 71, but then
we had 200 Spaniſh Priſoners, who, we feared, if by
any Accident they fhould get loofe, might prove our
Ruin; whereupon a Confultation was immediately
held to put moſt of them to Death. Upon which
the Captain of the first Prize ftood up, and ſaid (in
pretty good English) Gentlemen, you have taken us
fairly, and done no more than we ourſelves did to
you; now feeing that Ship which purfues ys, and
gains upon us every Moment, is coming in order to
fight you, we ſhall run a more certain Danger by
;t, by being your Priſoners, if you expoſe us to the
Fire of their Cannon, as you did before; and if they
Į
do
38
The ADVENTURES of
do really Fire, I may as well take them for an Ene
my, as you, fince we are fure to receive the moſt
Damage. But to make the Matter fhort, being the
Time is fo, I propoſe to you that if the Veffel fires
at you, we may reaſonably conclude, they have no
Manner of Regard for us, fo we fhall not have any for
them, and, if you'll give us that Liberty, we will
freely fight under your Command, and endeavour,
as far as in us lies, to defend your Veffel, as much
as if it was our own. This Speech of the Captain's
was approved of by the rest of the Priſoners ;
fo that at laſt we agreed to fet fixty of them at
Liberty, and the reft faft bound under Hatch-
es, where we put two Centinels, with two Patér-
reroes fixed, charged with fmall Shot, with Orders
that if there ſeemed to be any Thing like Diftur-
bance, to fire in upon them. The fixty we chofe
out to be aſſiſtant to us, were ordered to the great
Guns, fo that we still had the Command over them,
becauſe they had no Arms. After we had fettled
every Thing, we lay by, (fecing it impoffible to ef-
cape without fighting) in order for their coming up
to us, which they did in a fhort Time, and coming
within Hail, they ordered us to ftrike immediately,
and make no Refiftance, or elſe they would have
no Regard to their Friends on Board our Ship, but
fink or take us, and put every Man of us to Death.
Upon which the Spanish Captain that was our Priſo-
ner, made Anfwer, That if they offered to fire a
Gun, every Spaniard on Board refolved to fight againſt
them as Enemies: Which was anfwered, They muft
obey the Governor's Orders, who had juſt left them,
and
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R.
39
and was returned on Shore. Upon this they fired a
Broadfide upon us, but we returned it immediately
with our ſmall Arms, and great Guns, which were
well plyed by our Spanish Prifoners. The Fight con-
tinued half an Hour with all the Fiercenefs imagina-
ble; at laft the Spaniard prepared to board us with
his Boats at the fame Time, but were received fo
brifkly, and fo damaged by our Hand-granadoes,
that they were obliged to make to the Ship with
great Lofs. The Hand-granadoes, ftood us in great
Stead, for we difpatched three or four of our Men
into the Main-Top, who from thence difcharged
feveral Granadoes, that by their own Report killed
and wounded above thirty Men. They attempted
to board us once again, and came on brifkly with
firing and loud Shouts, to terrify us; but we return-
ed them their Shouts and Firing with Intereft, for
with a lucky Shot we drove away their Main-Maft,
which put them into ſtrange Confuſion: This Acci-
dent (if we could have laid hold on't) might have
given us an Opportunity of out-failing them; but
that was not once thought of, for Defire of Revenge
made us fight like Furies. The next Broadfide we
gave them, ftruck away their Rudder, which ren-
dered them incapable of fteering their Veffel, or
tacking about: Upon which we perceiving what had
happened, tacked about, and with a Broadfide that
raking her fore and aft, killed them, by their own
Confeffion, fixteen Men, for it fplit two of their
Guns, whofe Splinters did moſt of the Execution.
Now what we call to Rake Fore and Aft, is to lay
the Side of our Ship against the Enemy's Head or
Stern,
40
The ADVENTURES of
Stern, and fire into them, fo that every Shot goes
from one End of the Ship to the other, inftead of
going acroſs, ſo that of Confequence one Shot that
Way will do more Damage than ten directly Side
to Side. The Heat of the Spaniard now began to
abate, but yet he hectored as much as ever; at laſt
a lucky Shot entered her Powder Room, and blew
up her Main-Deck, with feveral Spaniards, into the
Air; upon which were heard fuch Groans and Yel-
ling, from wounded and dying Men, that were
enough to frighten Men lefs inured to fuch Encoun-
ters: With this Succeſs we prepared, in the Confu-
fion, to board them in our Turn, but was preven-
ted, by ſeeing their Veffel finking; whereupon they
ftruck down their Colours, and afked for Quarter
and Help; understanding their Diftrefs, we imme-
diately gave them Affiftance, by putting out our
Boats, and faved all the Men they had left, which
were ninety-five, out of four hundred and odd.
This Succefs flushed us mightily with Hopes of
fucceeding in any Enterprize. We loft out of our
Spaniards twenty-fix, and of English nine killed, and
two wounded, who died the next Day. The Spaniards
were of fignal Service to us, and fought bravely, even
to Deſperation; well knowing, if they fhould be
taken (after fighting on our Side) they muſt all in-
evitably fuffer Death: which proved happy for us;
for it had been impoffible to have eſcaped them, even
if all the Spaniards on Board us had ſtood neuter.
After
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
41
After we had cleared our Veffel of the Blood and
dead Men and refreshed ourſelves, we called up our
Spanish Prifoners, that they might refresh themfelves
likewife, and returned the others (who had fought
fo bravely in our Defence) our hearty Thanks; and
the Spanish Captain expreffed himſelf fo handfomely,
that our Maſter freely offered him our Sloop, victu-
alled and ready fitted up, to do what he thought fit
with. Upon this kind Offer the Captain fmiled,
and told him he would not take it without buying:
And as for Money, I have not a fingle Dollar, (pur-
fued he) but if you'll liften to a Stratagem of mine,
I'll engage to furnish you with Money for your Vef-
fel, and ſomething over and above. With that he
propofed to take fix of the Spaniards that had fought
for us, and in our Long-Boat to go on Shore to the
Governor, and demand a Ranfom for the Priſoners
we had taken; which was agreed to: Accordingly
they went ashore, and told the Governor, If he did
not immediately fend fifty Dollars a Man, for two
hundred and twenty, they would be every Soul tied
Back to Back, and thrown into the Sea. Upon
which there was a Gathering made through the
Town, and the Money raifed immediately, and in
twelve Hours the Captain returned with 1гooo
Dollars, gave our Captain 5000, dittributed 3000
among the Sailors, and kept the reft for himfelf.
The next Day we fet the Spaniards that were faved
from the Man of War on Shore, and as many more
that were willing, out of the other Ship, and of our
own Sloop; fo that Captain Fernando, our friendly
Spaniards
42
The ADVENTURES of
took his Leave of us, with eighty of his Countrymen,
with Intention for the South-Sea; and we teered our
Courſe, in our rich Prize, for Jamaica, where we
fhared it: Every common Sailor had to his Share
Ɛool. Moreover the Captain ordered me in parti-
cular 2001. more, for the Service I did in fwimming
afhore unperceived, to give them Notice.
After ending his Story, I asked him how he had
improved his Money from that Time? Pfha (faid
he) that, and five Times as much, is gone fince
then. And this is no Wonder, for Sailors are ſuch
Fools, that what they get with the utmoſt Danger,
-they spend as the meanest Trifles. We failed before
the Wind fix Days together, towards the Bay, but
on the feventh, the Clouds darkened, and the Wel-
kin feemed all on Fire, by Times, with Lightning,
and the Thunder roared louder than ever I heard it
in my Life; in fhort, a dreadful Hurricane ap-
proached, which was fufpected by a deceitful Calm,
and Showers of Rain, deſcribed by the inimitable
Shakespeare, thus:
We often fee against fome Storm
A Silence in the Heav'ns, the Rack ſtand ſtill;
The bold Winds Speechless, and the Orb below
As high as Death.
The Sailors had furled their Sails, and lowered
their Top-mats, waiting for it under a double-
reefed Fore-fail: Which at laft came with most ex-
treme Violence.
-
Either
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
43
Either Tropick now
'Gan thunder: At both Ends of Heav'n the Clouds
From many a horrid Rift abortive pour'd
Fierce Rain with Lightning mix'd, Water with Fire,
In Ruin reconcil'd. Dreadful was the Rack,
As Earth and Sky wou'd mingle.
Milton.
In vain the Mafter iffues out Commands,
In vain the trembling Sailors ply their Hands,
The giddy Ship, between the Winds and Tides,
hand forwards, in a Circle rides,
Stunn'd with the dipper. laws; then jhoots amain,
Till counterbuff'd, she stops, and fleeps goin.
The Face of Things a frightful Image bear,
And prefent Death in various Forms appear.
Dryden.
The Storm lafted with all its Violence three Hours,
and at laſt infenfibly abated, till it was ſtark Čalm,
and not one Breath of Wind was stirring, nor any
Sign of one, but a little Froth on the Surface.
The Tempest is o'erblown, the Skies are clear,
And the Sea charm'd into a Calm ſo ſtill,
That not a Wrinkle ruffles her ſmooth Face.
Dryden.
After the Storm was over, we looſened our Sails,
in Expectation of the Wind, which in half an Hour
ſtole out again, as frightened at the violent Storm.
or,
44
The ADVENTURES of
or, (if you'll grant me to make a Simile) like a
poor Debtor that fteals out of his Lurking-place,
when the bluftering Bailiffs are gone out of Sight.
About fix in the Evening, we faw a Water-Spout:
this is an aerial Engine, or Limbeck, that draws
up the falt Water of the Sea, and diftills it into
freſh Showers of Rain: This Cloud comes down in
Form of a Pipe of Lead of a vaft Thickneſs, and by
the Force of the Sun fucks up a great Quantity of
Water. Iftood an Hour to obferve it; after it had
continued about half an Hour in the Water, it drew
up infenfibly, by Degrees, till
Uit in the
Clouds; but in the rung of the fame, it ſhut out
fome fine Water, which fell into the Sea again,
with a Noife like that of Thunder, and occafioned
a Smoke in the Water that lafted for a confiderable
Time. The Sailors informed me, that theſe Water-
fpouts fometimes did great Damage to Ships that by
Calms were too near them when they fell. One
Fellow told me, that he faw a Bark of fixty Tons
fucked out of the Sea by one of them, which cauſed
the Breaking of the Spout, and funk the Veffel
with the Fall of the Waters, In the Streights, when
Ships approach thefe airy Engines, they fire off a
Gun, and that breaks them before they come too
near. The Perfon told me that at the Fall of the
Water, the Sea was curled as much as if you had
thrown a large Stone into a ſtanding Pond of Water.
We have fometimes at a Diftance feen fourteen or
fifteen at a Time at Work, but I never faw one fo
large as this.
་
In
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
45
In the Evening we caught a ſmall Shark, with
two fucking Fishes that ftuck cloſe to her till laid
on the Deck, and then dropped down of their own
Accord. This is allowed the Remora of the An-
cients. It is about the Bigneſs of a Mackrel, with
a flat Head, and is of a grifly Subftance. Theſe
ſtick to the Sides of Veffels very frequently, and
fometimes fwim upon the Surface of the Water, and
are even caught with a naked Hook. I have fome-
times feen theſe Fishes fticking to a Log of Wood,
in the Water. When we hogged our Ship, (a Hog
is an Inſtrument of fix Feet fquare, fomething like
a Harrow, and Stumps of old Brooms fixed cloſe in
the middle Part; this is put to the Bottom of the
Ship, with a Rope before and another aft, fixed
to the Capftand, which cleans the Veſſel from all
Sorts of Filth) I have feen many of them in the Hog
together, with Barnicles and Oyfters, and feveral
other Shell-fiſh.
October the 6th, we anchored at Trift Iſland, in
the Bay of Campeachy, and fent our Men on Shore at
Logwood-Creek, to feek for the Logwood-Cutters,
who immediately came on Board. The Bargain was
foon ſtruck, and in Exchange for our Rum and Su-
gar, and a little Money, we got in our Lading in
eight Days, and fet Sail for Jamaica the 15th Day
of October.
Now in getting up to Jamaica again, generally
takes up two Months, becauſe we are obliged to ply
it all the Way to windward One Day it being ſtark
calm, I went into the Water to wafh myſelf, tho'
I was diffuaded by all the Sailors, by Reafon of that
Coaft
46
The ADVENTURES of
Coaſt being infefted with Sharks, which often affault
People and bite off a Limb: But being there had not
been any feen that Day, I would venture, yet tied a
Rope about me, for Fear of any Accident that might
happen, or the Wind ftriking up of a fudden. But I
had not been long in the Water, before they cried
from the Gunnel, A Shark! But I thinking they
only bantered, as fometimes they do, when any
one is in the Water, did not mind them, till at
laft they pulled me by main Force, up the Side of
the Ship; when looking into the Water, I faw a
fwinging large Shark, with his white Belly tur-
ned up in order to bite at me. Upon which I
thanked God and good Friends that had pre-
vented him, by fwiftly pulling me up; though the
Rope had rubbed off the Skin, and fome Part of
my Flesh, with the Force. Now a Shark cannot
get his Prey, without firft turning himſelf upon his
Back, becauſe their upper Jaw is much larger and
longer than their under: Which often prevents Ac-
cidents.
I one Day went down into the Hold, to bottle
off a ſmall Parcel of Wine that I had there, for Fear
it would four, and not being a very cleanly Place,
I was foon in a filthy Pickle: Coming upon Deck
again, I wanted to clean myſelf, but did not care
to go into the Water, as before, fo went into the
Boat aftern, that we hoifted overboard in the
Morning to look after a Wreck that we difcovered
upon the Water: Being in the Boat, I began to
wash myself, and when I had dreffed myſelf
again, I pulled a Book out of my Pocket, and
fate
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
47 ·
fate reading in the Boat; when, before I was
aware, a Storm began to rife, fo that I could not
get up the Ship's Side as ufual, but called for
the Ladder of Ropes, that hangs over the Ship's
Quarter, in order to get up that Way; but whether
it was not faftened above, or whether it broke thro'
Rottennefs, as being feldom used, I cannot tell,
but down I fell into the Sea; and though the Ship
(as they told me afterwards) tacked about to take
me up, if it was poffible, yet I loft Sight of them,
through the Duſkineſs of the Evening, and the Storm
together. Now I had the moſt diſmal Fears that
could ever poffefs any one in my Condition: I was
forced to drive with the Wind, which fate (by good
Fortune) with the Current, and having kept myſelf
above Water, as near as I could gueſs in this
Fright, four Hours, 1 felt my Feet every now and
then touch Ground; and at laft, by a great Wave,
was thrown and left upon the Sand; yet it being
dark, I knew not what to do; but I got up and
walked, as well as my tired Limbs would let me;
and every now and then was overtaken by the
Waves, but not high enough to waſh me away.
✓
When I had got far enough, as I thought, to be
out of Danger, I could not difcover any Thing of
Land, and I immediately conjectured that it was
but fome Bank of Sand, that the Sea would over-
flow at high Tide: Whereupon I fate down to reſt
my weary Limbs, and fit myfelf for Death, for that
was all I could expect, in my own Opinion. Then
all my Sins came flying in my Face, which I re-
pented
48
The ADVENTURES of
pented of with all the Sincerity imaginable: I of-
fered up my fervent Prayers to our Almighty Cre-
ator, not for my Safety (becauſe I did not expect any
fuch Thing) but for all my paſt Offences; and I
may really ſay, I expected my Diffolution with a
Calmneſs that made me think I had made my Peace
with Heaven. At laft I fell aſleep, (tho' I tried all
I could against it, by rifing up and walking, till I
was obliged thro' Wearinefs to lie down again.)
In the Morning when I awakcd, 1 was amazed to
find myself among four or five very low fandy
Iſlands, but all feparated half a Mile or more (as I
gueffed) by the Sea. With that I began to be a
little chearful, and walked about to fee if I could
find any thing that was eatable, but to my great
Grief I found nothing but a few Eggs, that I was
obliged to eat raw; this laid my Condition before
my Eyes in a moſt horrid Manner, and the Fear of
ftarving feemed to me to be worſe than that of
drowning; and oft did I wish that the Sea had
fwallowed me, rather than thrown me on this de-
folate iſland; for I could perceive by the Evenneſs
of them, that they were not inhabited either by
Man or Beaft, or any Thing elfe but Rats, and
feveral Sorts of Fowl..
Upon this Ifland there were fome few Buſhes of a
Wood they called Burton Wood, which uſed to be
my Shelter at Night; but to compleat my Mifery,
there was not to be found one Drop of fresh Water on
the Iſland; fo that I was forced to drink my own
Urine for two or three Days together; which made
my
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
49
my
Skin come off like the Peel of a boiled Codlin.
At last my Mifery fo increaſed, that I was often in
the Mind to put an End to my wretched Life, but
defifted, on the Opinion that I had of fome Alli-
gator, or other voracious Creature, coming to do it
for me. Strange Circumſtances indeed! to wiſh to
be devoured alive as the leffer Misfortune.
I had lived a Week here upon Eggs only, when,
by good Fortune, upon a Buſh I diſcovered a Booby
fitting. I ran immediately, as faft as I could, and
with a Stick knocked him down: I never confidered
whether it was proper to eat or no, but I fucked
the Blood, and eat the Flesh, with fuch a Pleaſure
as none can exprcfs, but them that have felt the
Pain of Hunger to the fame Degree as myfelf.
After I had devoured this Banquet, I walked about,
and diſcovered many more of thefe Birds, which I
flew.
J
Now my Stomach being pretty well appeafed, I
began to confider whether I could not, with two
Sticks, make a Fire, as I had ſeen Blacks in Jamaica:
I tried with all the Wood I could get, and at laſt
happily did it. This done, I gathered fome more
Sticks, and made a Fire, picked feveral of my
Boobies, and broiled them as well as I could; and
now I refolved to come to an Allowance. This
Bird is a Water Fowl, about the Bignefs of a large
Crow, of a grey Colour; it has a long ftrong Bill,
and Feet like a Duck, and its Fleſh feemed to me
to tafte fomething like a Duck's, but ftronger, and
D
a little
50
The ADVENTURES of
a little fishy: And it is fuch a Booby, that it will
not get out of your Way without beating,
At Night I and the rest of my Fellow-Inhabitants
had a great Storm of Rain and Thunder, with the
reddeft Lightning I had ever feen, which well washed
us all, I believe; as for myſelf, my Cloaths (which
were only a Pair of thin Shoes and Thread Stock-
ings, and a Cotton Waiſtcoat and Breeches) were
foundly wet; but I had this Happineſs, to find in
the Morning feveral Cavities of Rain-Water, which
put in my Head a Thought of making a deep Well,
or hollow Place, that I'might have Water continu-
ally by me, which I brought to Perfection in this
Manner: I took a Piece of Wood I found on the
Iſland, and pitched upon a Place under a Burton
Tree, where with my Hands and the Stick together,
I dug a Hole, or Well, big enough to contain a
Hogfhead of Water, then put in Stones and paved
it, and got in and ftamped them down hard all
found, and with my Sticks beat the Sides clofe, fo
that I made it capable of holding Water for a long
Time.
But now the Difficulty was, how to get the Water
there, which at laſt I contrived very well, for with
my Shirt I effected it, by foaking it in Water for
fome Time, and then afterwards it would bear it
very well; fo with this Holland Bucket I could
carry two Gallons of Water at a Time, which would
not leak out above a Pint, in two hundred Yards;
fo in two Days Time I had filled my Well.
Νοιν
Capt. RICHARD FALCON 2 R.
5#
Now I began to think of Life again for a while,
for I had ready broiled forty of thefe Boobies, de-
figning to allow myſelf half a one a Day. I alfo
made myſelf a Cupboard of Earth, by mixing Water
with it, which was four Feet in Length, three in
Height, and two in Breadth, though it lafted but
four Days, the Sun drying it ſo faft, that it cracked,
and afterwards fell in Pieces. What moſt amazed
me, and pleafed me together, was, that my Boobies
continued fweet without the leaft Taint. I had a
fmall Ovid printed by Elzevir, which I had by
good Fortune put in my Breeches Pocket, when I
was going up the Ladder of Ropes, and by being
preffed cloſe was not quite fpoiled, but only the
Cover off, and ftained a little with the Wet. This
was a great Mitigation of my Misfortunes, for I
could entertain myſelf in this Book, under a Burton
Buſh, till I fell aſleep. I remained always in good
Health, only a little troubled with the Head-Ach,
for want of a Hat, which I loft in the Water, in
falling down from the Ladder of Ropes. But I re-
medied this as well as I could, by gathering a Par-
cel of Chicken-Weed (which grows there in Plenty)
and ftrewing it over the Burton Bushes, under which
I fate. Nay, at laft, finding my Time might be
longer there than I expected, I tore off one of the
Sleeves of my Shirt, and lined a Wooden Cap that
I had made of green Sprigs, and twifted with the
green Bark that I peeled off, fo that if I had been
feen in this Figure, I fhould have appeared like
a Mad-
D 2
52
The ADVENTURES of
1
a Madman, with the Basket of a Cudgel upon his
Head.
One Day coming from washing myſelf (which
I uſed often to do to cool me) I heard a flouncing in
the Water, and turning my Head, to fee from
whence the Noife came, I faw the oddest Fish, I
believe, that ever was known. It had (as I fup-
pofe) chafed fome other Fiſh very eagerly, and run
itſelf too far on the Sand, and the Tide being al-
moſt at the loweft, it had left it there. It was (as
near as I could guess) about fifteen Feet long; it
had a Head like a Hoife, and out of the Mouth
came two Horns curled like a Ram's Horn, only
twice as large; it had but one Eye, and that was at
the Extremity of the Nofe; it feemed, as it
flounced, to be fomething of a changeable Aſh-
colour, with a Tail that tapered to the End in a
fharp Point: It looked fo terrible to me, that I was
afraid to approach it; as it laboured it feemed to
groan; it lay in this Hole of Water half an Hour,
with its Body in, and its Tail out; and as foon as
the Tide came up to it, it shaked its Tail to and
fro, as a Dog does when he feems pleafed, all the
while it felt the Water; it ftruggled but now and
then, and at laft, when the Water was pretty high,
it turned its Head, and made a Noife fomething like
the Clucking of a Hen with Chickens, but louder;
and when it had Water enough to ſwim away, it
lay moving up and down a Quarter of an Hour, be-
ing as I fuppofe hurt with its ftruggling. But when
it
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
53
聾
​it had recovered itſelf, (as I imagined) it gave a
Spring into deep Water, and I faw it no more.
I had been here now a Month by my Reckoning,
and in that Time my Skin looked as if it had been
rubbed over with Walnut-fhells. I had a Mind
feveral Times to have fwam to one of the other
Inlands; but as they looked only like Heaps of
Sand, I thought I had got the beſt Birth, fo con-
tented myſelf with my own Station. Boobies I
could get enough (who built on the Ground) and
another Bird that lays the Eggs which I uſed to eat,
but I never vontured to taſte them, though as their
Liggs were good, we may ſuppoſe their Fleſh was
fo to: But however, I was fo well fatisfied with my
Boobies, that I did not care to try Experiments.
This Island, which I was upon, feemed to me to
be about two Miles in Circumference, and was al-
most round, and on the West Side there is a good
anchoring Place, for the Water is very deep, within
two Fathoms of the Shore. God forgive me, but I
often wiſhed to have had Companions in my Mif-
fortune, and hoped every Day either to have feen
fome Veffel come that Way, or a Wreck, where per-
haps I might have found fome Neceffaries which I
wanted: But I would often check myſelf in theſe
Cogitations, as not becoming a Chriftian, yet they
would as often awake in my Mind, in fpite of
all my Devotion and other good Thoughts; it
being natural to defire Company. I ufed to fancy,
that if I ſhould be forced to ftay there long, I fhould
forget my Speech; fo I ufed to talk aloud, afk my-
D 3
felf
54
The ADVENTURES of
felf Queftions, and anfwer them; but if any
Body had been by to have heard me, they would
certainly have thought me bewitched, I uſed to aſk
myſelf fuch odd Queftions. All this while I could
not inform myſelf where I was, or how near any in-
habited Place.
One Morning (which I took to be the 8th of No-
vember) a violent Storm arofe, which continued till
Noon; when in the mean Time I obferved a Bark la-
bouring with the Waves for feveral Hours, and at
laft with the Violence of the Tempeft, was perfect-
ly thrown out of the Water upon the Chore, within
a quarter of a Mile from the Place where I obferved
them. I ran to fee if there was any Body I could be
affifting to, where I found four Men (being all that
were in the Veffel) bufy about faving what they could
out of her: When I came up with them, and hailed
them in English, they feemed mightily furprized;
they aſked me how I came there, and how long I
had been there? When I told them my Story, they
were all mightily concerned for themfelves, as well
as for me, for they found there was no Poffibility of
getting their Bark off the Sands, being the Wind had
forced her fo far; With that we began to bemoan one
another's Misfortunes; but I must confefs to you,
without lying, I was never more rejoiced in my
whole Life; for they had on Board Plenty of every
thing for a Twelvemonth, and not any thing fpoiled.
Their Lading (which was Logwood) they had thrown
over-board to lighten the Ship; which was the Oc-
caſion of the Wind forcing her ſo far: Had they kept
in
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
55
in their Lading they would have bulged in the Sands.
half a quarter of a Mile from the Place where they
did, and the Sea flying over them, would not only
have ſpoiled their Provifions, but perhaps been the
Death of them all. By theſe Men I underſtood
where we were, viz. upon one of the Ifles of Alcranes,
which are five Iſlands, or rather large Banks of Sand;
(for there is not a Tree, nor Bufh upon any but that
where we were) they lie in the Latitude of Twenty-
two Degrees North, Twenty-five Leagues from Ju-
catan, and about Sixty from Campechy Town. We
worked as faſt as we could, and got out every Thing
that would be uſeful to us before Night. We had
fix Barrels of falt Beef, three of Pork, two of Peaſe,
and two of Flour, and eleven Barrels of Bifket; a
fmall Copper, and Iron Pot; feveral wearing Cloaths,
and a fpare Hat, which I wanted mightily; We
had befides ſeveral Kegs of Rum, and one of Brandy,
and a Cheft of Sugar, with many other Things of
Ufe; fome Gun-Powder, and one Fowling-Piece.
We took off the Sails from the Yards, and with fome
Pieces of Timber erected a Tent big enough to hold
twenty Men, under which
we put their Beds,
that we got from the Bark. It is true, we had no
Shelter from the Weather, for the Trees were fo low
they were of no Ufe to us. I now thought myſelf in a
Palace, and was as merry as if I had been at Jamai-
ca, or even at home in my own Country: I could joke
now and then, and tell a merry Tale. In fhort
when we had been there fome Time, we began to be
very easy, and to wait contentedly, till Providence
fhould fetch us out of this Ifland. The Bark lay
D +
upon
56
The ADVENTURES of
"
upon the Sands, fifty Yards from the Water when
at the higheft, fo that I used to lie in her Cabin, by
reafon there were no more Beds afhore, than were for
my four Companions, viz. Thomas Randal, of Cork
in Ireland, (whofe Bed was largest, which he did me
the Favour to fpare a Part of now and then, when
the Wind was high, and I did not care to lie on
Board) Richard White, of Port Royal, William Muf-
grave, of Kingſton in Jamaica, and Ralph Middleton,
of Cowes in the Isle of Wight. Thefe Men, with
Eight others, fet out of Port-Royal about a Month
after us, bound for the fame Place: But thofe others
lying afhore, and wandering too far up in the Coun-
try, were met, as it is fuppofed, by fome Spaniards
and Indians, who fet upon them: Yet by all Appear-
ance they fought defperately, for when Mr. Randal
and Mr. Middleton went to ſeek for them, he found
all the Eight dead, with fifteen Indians, and two
Spaniards; all the Englishmen had feveral Cuts in
their Heads, Arms, Breafts, &c. that made it very
plainly appear they had fold their Lives dearly.
They were too far up in the Country, to bring down
their Dead; fo they were obliged to dig a Hole in
the Earth, and put them in as they lay in their
Cloaths. As for the Indians and Spaniards, they
ftripped them, and left them above Ground as they
found them, and made all the Hafte they could to
embark, for fear of any other unlucky Accident that
might happen. They fet fail as foon as ever they
came on Board, and made the beſt of their Way for
Jamaica, till they were overtaken by the Storm that
fhipwrecked
:
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
57
fhipwrecked them on Make Shift Iſland (as I had
named it.) When I told them of the ftrange Fish I
had feen, there was not any of them, but Mr. Muf-
grave, that had ever feen the like, and he told me
when he was a Prifoner in Mexico, he had feen one
there, and they called it the Ram Fish; but he told
me, I was miſtaken concerning the Eyes, for they
were on the Top of the Head, but very finall, not
bigger than a Muſket-Ball; and that which I took for
an Eye, was a Hole that they fometimes fpouted
Water through.
This that he faw at Mexico was
carried about for a Siew in a Cart, but it was but
eight Feet and a half in Length, and was by Order
of the Viceroy fent two Leagues into the Bay, to be
buried, for it funk fo intolerably they were afraid
it would breed an Infection.
Now we had all manner of Fishing-Tackle with
us, but we wanted a Boat to go a little Way from
Shore to catch Fish, therefore we fet our Wits to
work, in order to make fome Manner of Engine,
and at laſt we pitched upon this odd Project. We
took fix Cafks, and tarred them all over, then
ftopped up the Bungs with Cork, and nailed them
cloſe down with a Piece of tarred Canvas; thefe
fix Cafks we tied together with fome of the Cords of
the Veffel, and upon them we placed the Skuttles
of the Deck, and fixed them, and made it fo
ftrong, that two Men might eafily fet upon them;
but for fear a Storm fhould happen, we tied to one
End of her a Coil or two of fmall Rope, of five
hundred Fathoms long, which we fixed to a Stake
D 5
on
58
The ADVENTURES of
on the Shore; then two of them went out, (as for
my Part, I was no Fisherman) in order to fee what
Succefs they ſhould have, but returned with only
one Nurſe, a Fiſh ſo called, about two Feet long,
fomething like a Shark, only its Skin is very rough,
and, when dry, will do the fame Office as a Seal-
fkin. The fame boiled in Lemon Juice, is the
only Remedy in the World for the Scurvy, by ap-
plying fome of the Skin to the Calves of your Legs,
and rubbing your Body with fome of the Liquor,
once or twice. We ſent out our Fishermen the
next Day again, and they returned with two old Wives
and a young Shark, about two Feet long; which we
dreffed for Dinner, and they proved excellent
Eating. In the Morning following we killed a
young Seale, with our Fowling-Piece, but firft ſhe
was fo kind as to give me a Blow on the Forehead,
that cut the Skin, and bled very much, which was
done with her Fins, for as they run towards the
Water, they throw backwards the Gravel, as Horſes
do when they gallop hard; this we falted, and it
eat very well, after lying two or three Days in the
Brine.
We past our Time in this Makeshift Iſland, (for we
had given it that Name) as well as we could; we in-
vented feveral Games to divert ourselves; One Day,
when we had been merry, Sorrow (as after Gaiety
often happens) ftole infenfibly on us all. I, as
being the youngest, began to reflect on my fad
Condition, in fpending my Youth on a barren
Land, without Hopes of being ever redeemed.
Whereupon,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
59
Whereupon, Mr. Randal, being the eldeft, rofe up
and made the following Speech, as nigh as I can
remember.
Mr. Falconer, and my Fellow-Sufferers; but it is
to you, (pointing at me) that I chiefly addrefs my
Speech, being you feem to defpair of a Redemption
from this Place, more than any other. Is not the
Providence of a Power Supreme fhewn in every
Accident in the Life of Man; even you yourſelf,
how much better is your Condition now, than you
could have imagined it would have been a Month
ago? There is a Virtue in manly Suffering, and to
repine feems to doubt of the All-feeing Power,
which regulates our Actions. If you feem conſcious
of your deferving (as a Puniſhment for any Crime
you have committed) what has happened to you,
why do you not with a contrite Heart lift up your
Voice to Heaven, and fincerely afk Forgiveneſs of
all your paſt Offences, and that Way free yourſelf
of thoſe grofs Errors that are crept into your weak.
Faith. Think you that the Divine Providence that
caft Jonas from the Bowels of the Whale, has not
the fame Power ftill left, to aid and fetch us from
this Place.
Here (purfued he) we have every thing that can
be required to fatisfy Nature; we have Beds to lie
on, and a Covering from the Weather; we have
Provifions for a Twelvemonth, and if we ſhould
continue here a longer Time, we need not fear
ftarving, the very Ifland producing wherewithal to
fupport Nature, as Eggs and Fowls; and tho' there.
D 6
is
60
The ADVENTURES of
is no Rivulet of fresh Water, yet it rains fo fre-
quently, we need not fear even that, being we
have Veffels enough to fave it in: You have the
leaft Reaſon to fpurn at Providence of any one heie,
that had only a Hole in the Earth to fave your Wa-
ter, which had not lafted two Days longer, before
we (very happily for you) were thrown on Shore.
Is there not a Providence in being thrown on Land,
when you expected drowning before the Morning
dawned, which happened otherwife? Is there not
a Providence in getting Food, when you expected
to ſtarve? Is there not a Providence in getting Fire
by rubbing two Sticks, which you know you could
not effect fince, though we have all endeavoured at
it? Was it not a Providence, that your Babies re-
mained fweet, even till the Day that we came
here? And was it not a Providence that we were
thrown here, which brought you all Sorts of Pro-
vifions, (I mean all that is neceffary) with Flint
and Steel, and other Utenfils? And can you then
doubt of a farther Providence, that have had all
theſe? Befides, even Company is fome Allay to
Sorrow; you were alone before, and had only
yourſelf to talk to. Our Bark is ftrong and firm,
and by Degrees, I do not doubt but with Time
and much Labour to get her into the Water again.
I have been on Board her this Morning when you
were all aſleep, and examined her carefully infide
and out, and fancy our Liberty may foon be ef-
fected; I only wonder we have never thought be-
fore of clearing the Sand from our Veffel, which
་
*
once
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R.
61
once done, I believe we may launch her out into
deep Water; we have all our Tackling, Sails, and
Mafts, entire, without Damage; I do not defpair of
the Mercy of God in working our Deliverance,
whofe Ways are paft the Knowledge of us poor in-
fignificant Mortals. I myfelf have more than once
been in the fame, or worfe Condition.
In a Voyage I made twelve Years ago, I ſuf-
fered Shipwreck, and not one Perfon faved but
myfelf: I fat out from the City of Cork in Ireland,
on Board a Bark bound for the Baltick; we paſſed
the Streigns of Eljenore and Helfinburgh without
mecting any Thing material; when one Evening it
began to thunder, lighten, and rain prodigiously;
the Storm was fo violent that we expected every
Moment when we fhould be drove on Shore on the
Coat of Sawedcland or Norway, and be dafhed to
Pieces. The Storm continued fo long, that all our
Mafts came by the Board, our Veffel fprung a Leak,
and the Water gained upon us every Moment; at
last it overpowered us fo much, that we left Pump-
ing, as believing it impoffible to fave ourſelves,
and recommended our Souls to the Mercy of the
Lord. At laft our Ship funk downright, and moft
of our Men with it; but I and two more had the
good Fortune to lay hold of the Main-Maft, (that
had been cut above Deck, being it was fprung
below, and thrown over-board to prevent any Dan-
ger) which was tangled in fome of the Cordage ;
but the Ship finking downright, with the Rope that
was turned to the Main-Maft, gave it fuch a Tug,
that pulled it under Water; but afterwards loofing
that
62
The ADVENTURES of
or flipping off by good Fortune, it rofe with two
of us again, but the third was never feen after.
The other that faved himfelf upon the Maft, was
the Mafter, a Man about fixty Years old, who held
pretty well for about an Hour, but at laft through
Weaknefs and Age (recommending his Soul to God)
fell off, but yet called for Help, and I being wil-
ling to give him what Affiftance I could, laid hold
of him, which I had no fooner done, but he graſped
at me, and laying fat hold of the Skirt of my
Waistcoat, (having never a Coat on) pulled me off
the Maft; but with his Weight, and fome Strug-
gling I made to fave myſelf, my Skirt ripped off,
and the Mafter funk to the Bottom, and I by good
Fortune laid hold of the Rigging that hung to the
Maft; ſo once more got on ftride it, but with little
Hopes of Life; yet doing my Endeavour to fave
myfelf, but with a Refignation to the Will of Hea-
ven. At laſt, after being toffed about for two or
three Hours more, the End of the Maft rushed with
fuch Violence againſt a Rock (as I fuppofed) that
with the Shock I was thrown off; but laid hold of
fome of the Cordage again, and held faft till it
fixed itſelf in fome of the craggy Clifts of the
Rock.
By this Time the Tempeft was very much abated,
and the Waves not daſhing ſo often, nor fo fierce,
I found that the Maft hung on the craggy Clifts of
the Rock, which I climbed up as faft I could, left
another Wave fhould dafh me againſt it, and beat
my Brains out. After I had got as high as I could,
and out of Danger of the Waves, I kneeled down
and
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
63
and returned Thanks to the Almighty for my won-
derful Deliverance; which was wonderful indeed!
For tho' the Malt beat ſo often again the Rock,
yet I eſcaped without being fo much as bruiſed.
When I had poured out the Fulnefs of my Soul to
the All-feeing Power, that had protected me from
fuch an imminent Danger, I compofed myſelf to
Sleep, but with a Calmnefs wonderful, (even to
myſelf) wonderful in every Circumftance, that the
Almighty Providence ſhould chufe me out of thirty
poor Souls that periſhed in the ftormy Deep, for a
Monument of his Mercy. I flept, but yet my
Dreams were troubled; I thought in my Sleep, I
was caft on Shore upon a bairen Rock, where there
was not a Creature but myfelf, no Food, nor any
Thing to ſuſtain Nature; which proved too true.
was awaked by fomething that licked my Face,
which in my Fright I laid hold on, but foon let it
go again upon finding it hairy, which ſtartled me
very much; and tho' it was ftill dark, I could not
get to Sleep again for the Concern I was in, for
fear fome devouring Creature fhould come and feize
me. I listened, and obferved the Storm was laid,
and the Dawn approaching, I began to compofe my
Mind, and put my Truſt in him, that had hitherto
preferved me.
When it came to be light enough to perceive any
Object, I rofe up and began to view the Place;
when, to my great Surprize, I found it to be only
a large Rock, about half a Mile in Circumference,
as near as I could guefs; but the north Part fo in-
acceffible
64
The ADVENTURES of
acceffible, there was no getting to the Top of it:
Looking about me, I faw coming fawning towards
me a large Bitch, which was the Creature that
awaked me by licking my Face. I must confels I
was furpriſed and pleafed, and made much of my
new Companion. I hoped from it I fhould find
fome human Creatures; but fearching about, and
not meeting with any, I was more grieved than be-
fore; yet ftill I refigned myſelf to the Will of him
that fees all Things, and knew it was in his Power
to fetch me out of Darknefs and the Shadow of
Death. In walking up and down, in a little Cavity
of the Rock, I met with feven young fucking Pup-
pies, that I found belonged to the Bitch my Com-
panion, for fhe gave them fuck, which I flayed a
little while to obferve. Then a Thought came into
my Head, that this might be fome Refort for Fisher-
men, and I ſhould very fhortly fee fome that would
take me from this defolate Place.
1
I began to fearch about for fomething to fuſtain
Nature, but could find nothing but fome Parry-
winkles, and other little Shell-fish, which I ventured
to feed upon, for I now began to be very hungry.
I wondered mightily at my poor Bitch, how the got
Food to fupport herſelf, and her feven young ones.
I obſerved fhe uſed to leave me two or three Times
a Day, but returned in a Quarter of an Hour. One
Day I had the Curiofity to watch her, but ſhe went
ſo faſt, that I could not come up to her, but fill
I followed, and at laft came to the Point of a Rock
where ſhe went down, and looking below, faw her
feeding
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
65
feeding upon a dead Seal; but how it came there I
could not fuppofe, neither could I go down the
Rock to fee farther, it being fo dangerous a Place:
When ſhe had eat her fill, fhe came up again, and
went to give her young ones fuck. I was mightily
put to it for Water, though there were good Quan.
tities in ſeveral Cavities of the Rock, but fo hard to
come at, that fometimes I ventured breaking my
Neck to get it; befides, I could not expect that
would always laft, for the Sun was pretty warm,
though not intolerable. I had in my Pocket a Knife
and Fork and a Cafe of Lancets, but they were
ruited by being wet, and of no Ufe to me, for I
could get nothing to exerciſe them on;
indeed my
Fork ferved me to twist out my Perriwinkles.
I had been here now fifteen Days, and nothing
to feed on but thefe Sort of Shell-fifh; yet ftill my
Strength and Health continued to a Miracle: I flept
well, though my Bed was fomething hard; it was
compoſed of Part of the Rigging that came on Shore
with the Maft, which I had untwisted, and pulled
into Okum, and laid it under a hollow Part of the
Rock, where no Rain or Wind could hurt me, un-
lefs it blew hard South, which when it did, would
force a little into my Bed-chamber.
Looking out one Day, I faw a Boat coming to-
wards my rocky Island; the Sight raiſed my Spirits
wonderfully; but obferving her narrowly, I found
fhe was only driven by the Wind and Tide, without
any one in her However, I got down my Rock,
and waited for her coming on Shore, which he did
within
66
The ADVENTURES of
within twenty Yards of me; I immediately got in
her to rummage her, and, furprifing Providence!
found twenty dried Fiſh, a Salt-box filled with Bif-
ket, and about half a Pint of Brandy in a Bottle.
After giving God Thanks with great Sincerity of
Soul, I fell to, and eat heartily. There were two
Oars in the Boat, a Boat-hook, a fmall Fishing-net,
and a Tinder-box, with a Grapling-iron and Rope
for a Cable: Upon this I began to be exceeding
eafy, and thought myſelf to be in a happy Condi-
tion: I brought my Fish on Shore, and ſtowed it in
my Bed-chamber, and over it (for fear of my Bitch)
put ſeveral Pieces of Ropes. I had a Tinder-Box,
and could ftrike a Light, but had no Candle to
burn, or any Provifion to drefs.
After I had fettled every thing as I would have
it, I refolved to take my Boat and go round the
Rock, to ſee if I could difcover any Thing on the
other Side of the inacceffible Part. Whereupon I
took two of my dried Fiſh, and half a dozen Biſ-
kets, and put myself on board: But my poor Bitch
came to the Shore Side, and took on fo mightily,
that I went and took her in. I rowed half round
(as near I could guess) the firſt Day; but what
made me fo long was, that in fome Places I was
obliged to row half a League from the Shore, to
avoid fome Shallows which lay out towards the
north-east Side. I ventured to lie in my Boat all
Night, and the next Morning went onwards with
my Voyage, and at laft came to that Part of the
Rock that I could not get over when I was afhore.
Here
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
67
Here I found upon the Ground a Neft of Eggs,
about the Bignefs of a Duck-egg; yet I could not
diſcover what Fowl owned them; but I took them
all away, and ventured to fuck one of them, which
I found as pleaſant as a new laid Hen-egg. Here
the Bitch grew very uneafy, and by her whining and
fruitless Endeavours to pafs the Rock, (which was
perpendicular) let me underſtand ſhe wanted to be
with her Puppies. Finding nothing here for my
Benefit, but my Eggs, I got on Board, and endea-
voured to go round, which I did, till I came to the
Place where the Seal lay that my Bitch found, but
it ftunk abominably; yet fhe fell too, and after
having eat, ran up the Rock, and fo (as I fuppofe,)
to her Puppies. I went on Board again; but there
arofe fuch a Fog on a fudden, that I could hardly
fee the Length of the Boat, fo rather chofe lo go
back again than venture farther out of my Know-
ledge, which I did in a little Time, the Sea being
higher over the Sand, and arrived at my own Ha-
bitation.
I pulled up my Boat as high as I could, and went
on Shore, and coming to vifit my young Compa-
nions found the weakest dead for want of the Dam,
which I immediately took, cut open and flayed off
the Skin, when after being dried, I made me a
Cap of, by cutting it in Form, and fewing it toge-
ther with fome fine Rope Yarn that I twiſted on
Purpofe, and my Fork I ufed inftead of a Needle.
The Fat ferved me to make Candles in this Manner,
by pulling to Pieces fine Rope Yarn and twisting it
hard;
68
The ADVENTURES of
hard; then I ftruck a Light, and with an Egg-
Shell heated my Fat, and drew the Rope Yarn
through it, fo I provided myfelf with a new
Sort of Candle. But then I had but a ſmall
Piece of Match, and when that ſhould be gone, I
fhould be at a ſtrange Lofs how to light my Candle.
Finding my Provifion decreaſe, I came to an Al-
lowance of a Quarter of a Fiſh a Day, and Half a
Biſket, and not to touch that if I could get any
Shell-Fiſh, which began to be ſcarce too, for fome
Days I could not find above ten or twelve, and
when I came first there, I fed to take them up
by Handfuls. Upon this I began to reflect, that
Winter was approaching, and confequently very
cold Weather; and then perhaps I Avuld not get
any Food; I refolved within myfelf to venture in
my Boat, and fail which Way the the Wind ſhould
direct me; but then I was put to it for a Sail, (for
we had cut off the Yards and Sails of the Main-
Maft, before we threw it over Board) but at laſt I
thought of a White Dimity Waiflcoat that I wore,
which was lined with Linnen; this I unripped and
fowed together again, fo pieced the Lining to the
Outfides, and made me a tolerable Sail. But in
the mean Time the Wind blew fo high, that I durit
not venture out; and continued fo long, that my
Provifion was diminiſhed to two Fiſh, which almoft
put me to my Wit's End. Shell-Fish were not to
be had. So at laſt I reſolved to kill one of my
Bitch's Whelps; which I did, made a Fire with
fome Boards I found at the Bottom of my Boat, and
*
roafted
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
69
roafted it; it was palatable, and eat wonderfully
well, they being not two Months old.
I don't question but you'll laugh at me, when I
fhall tell you that it went very much against me to
kill this harmlefs Creature; but my Neceffity had
no Law; befides, I had obſerved but two Days be-
fore,
that the Seal, which was the Dam's Food,
was gnawed to the Boues. n fhort, after fome
Strugglings with myfelf, I killed five of the fix,
and falted two of them; for after eating my Bifkets
out of the Salt Box, I found a Handful or two of
Salt at the Bottom, which I made Ufe of in that
Manner. The Entrails I boiled and gave to the
Dam and t'other Puppy, who eat of it heartily,
making no Scruple though their own Flesh and
Blood. The fixth and laſt Puppy I reſolved not to
kill at all if I could help it, it being fo like the
Dam, and would always be with me if it could,
when the others would only play about the Hole
where they lay.
In fhort, I began to find the Weather cold, and
ſo reſolved to fet Sail in my Boat, with my two
Companions, my Bitch and Puppy; and on the Ift
of September, after being on the Rock from May the
30th, I fet Sail with the Wind about N. E. a mid-
dling Gale, and fteering with my other Oar; for
you must know my Boat-Hook was my Maft, and a
Piece of flit Wood that I faved from the Fire was my
Yard; fo that I could make Shift to ply it to
Windward upon Occafion, but was refolved to fail
before the Wind till I diſcovered Land; for my
Boat
70
The ADVENTURES of
Boat being pretty large, and my Sail but fmall, I
could not make my Way as I might have done with
a Sail fitted to the Boat; fo that I could not diſcover
Land that Night, but failed on till about Midnight;
then I was fo fatigued that in Spite of myſelf, I
was obliged to lie along in the Boat, and fell aſleep,
and flept till I was awakened by a Fiſherman in a
Boat, whom I understood not, but found by his
Dialect to be a Dane. I gave him to underſtand
my
Condition, by ſpeaking and Sighs together,
which he feemed to be forry for by beating his
Breaft, and fhaking his Head.
He carried me afhore to a Village, where they
made very much of me, and gave me Cloaths; but
I would not ſtir without my Dogs. My Boat was
fold, and the Money given me for my own Ufe. Af-
ter I had ftaid at the Village three Days, I was car-
ried to Copenhagen, to Mr. Bridgwater, the Factor for
feveral English Merchants, who made a Gathering
for me, which amounted to twenty-feven Pounds in
English Money. The King of Denmark, fent a Per-
fon to me, who underſtood English very well, and
took down the Particulars of my Voyage in the Da-
nish Language, that I faw afterwards printed there;
but no one could ever fix upon the Rock that I lived
on. One faid it was fuch a One, another fuch a
One; and fome conjectured it to be a Part of the
Main Land of Saveden, which I fhould have found if
I had ventured when hindered by the Fog.
But I forgot to tell you, that by printing this
Account, a Man came to demand his Boat, that he
faid
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
71
faid he had loft by the Careleffnefs of a Boy, to whom
he had given it in Charge, who neglecting to faſten
it on Shore, it drove out to Sea, and came where I
had the good Fortune to meet with it, or rather
guided by the Eye of Providence, to be the Means
or Inftrument of faving my Life; which, but for
that, I muſt have inevitably perifhed. The Fisher-
man that owned the Boat, had a new one given hini
in the Room of it, and to the Value of five Pounds
for the Things it contained.
The Gentleman that was ordered to take the
Notes mentioned above, brought me a hundred Eng-
lih Guineas, collected from Merchants and Gentle-
men of the City. The King likewife ordered me
a hundred more from his Privy Purſe; ſo that on
November the 18th, I went on Board an English Ship,
called the Happy, Captain John Gibſon, Commander.
We immediately fet fail for London, and arrived at
Deptford, December the 25th, being Chriſtmas-Day,
1688; but finding Things out of Order in England,
I thought it was no Place to fettle in. So Fanuary
the first I took Horfe for Briſtol, and from thence
embarked for Cork, where I had fome fmall Effects,
and happily arrived there January the 14th; where
I was welcomed 'from Death, by all my Friends.
But I forgot one Thing which happened to me at
Copenhagen. Dining with the Gentleman that ſpoke
English very well, and ſeveral other Danes; I hap-
pened to drink to him in English, with, Sir, my bum-
ble Service to you, and afked him if he would Pledge
me: Upon which, he told me, I must never mention
Pledging
72
The ADVENTURES of
Pledging among Danes; for, added he, it is the
greateſt Affront you can put upon them. How fo,
Sir, faid I? Why, faid he, I know it is your Cuf-
tom in England, but if you all knew the Meaning of
it, you would furely abolish it. Whereupon, I
preſſed him to tell me the Foundation of that Cuftom
according to his Notion. Why, faid he, when the
Danes invaded England, and got the better of the
Natives, they uſed often to eat and drink together;
but ſtill allowing the Danes to be their Mafters: And
very often, upon fome Pique or Intereft, they uſed
even to ſtab them when they were lifting the Cup
to their Mouths. Upon the English being frequently
murdered in this Manner, they contrived at laft when
they were at Meals, or drinking with the Danes, to
fay to to their next Neighbour, Here's to you: Upon
which, the other cryed, I'll pledge you: Which was
as much as to fay, he would be a Surety or Pledge,
while the other drank; and accordingly the other
would guard him while he drank. When done, the
other would drink; and then he that drank before,
was to ftand his Pledge likewife. Nay, it came to
be fuch a Cuſtom at laft, that when one Englishman
came into the Company of feveral Danes, he would
fay in taking up his Cup, to his next Neighbour,
Will you pledge me, with an Emphafis? upon the
other's answering he would, he might drink without
Fear.
After ftaying the Winter at Cork, I defigned to
embark with Captain Clark, on Board the Ship Gil-
liflower, and accordingly we fet out from Cork, April
the
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
73
the 23d, 1689, for Befton in New-England, and fo
for Virginia; we arrived at Bofton June the 3d, hav-
ing a quick Paffage. After having done our Bufinefs
there, we fet fail for 'irginia. We doubled Cope-
Cod without any Danger: But one Night a Storm.
rofe, that flung us on Shore upon the Main, within
fix Leagues of Cape Charles, where our Men were all
faved, but in a poor Condition. Our Ship lying
upon the Sands a Furlong from Shore, fourteen out
of twenty of our Men that could fwim, went into
the Long-Boat, and went on Board the Ship to get
fome Neceflaries; as foon as they had got what
they wanted, they came towards the Shore again;
but the Boat being deeply laden, could not come
nigh enough to Shore to unload, fo that they refolv
ed to go farther to feek for deeper Water, and bid
us follow along the Shore, which we did; but they
doubling a Point of Land we loft Sight of them:
However we followed on ftill, when going over a
little Swamp, we perceived feyeral Indians in a Wood
on our Right Hand. Whereupon we began to be
in a deſperate Fright, but ftill we marched on; when
coming to the Skirt of the Wood, they let fly
their Arrows at us, which killed one of our Compa
nions, and wounded two more, one in the Arm,
and the other in the Side of his Neck; as for my
Part, I ftill remained unhurt, but had an Arrow
fticking in the Sleeve of my Waistcoat. After the
Indians had fired, they ran to us with incredible
Swiftnefs, whereupon (having no Weapons) we
kneeled down to them, and implored their Mercy.
One among them fpoke English pretty well, who
E
4
faid
74
The ADVENTURES of
faid, You English White Men, we will kill you
we
but we were
to be revenged of your Brothers at Lameficwn,
who kill us many Indians;
will take you
to our Werewance, (i. e. King,) and he will order us
to burn you, where we will drink your Blood, and
feed upon your Flefh. They hurryed us along that
Night at least twenty the Miles up in Country, and
next Morning brought us to their Village, where
was their Werowance, fick in his Cabin; but hearing
of our coming, he rofe up, and with feveral of his
Officers (who are called Cockoroofs) came towards us.
After he had examined the Indians (as we ſuppoſe)
how we were taken, he ordered a great Fire to be
made, and had us all tyed to one Stake fixed in the
Earth; but we were no fooner tyed, and the Signal
giving for firing the Wood about us,
untyed and brought back to the Tent, to ſtay, as we
were informed, till the next Day, till more Indians
could come to be Spectators of our Tragedy. They
had ftripped us naked, and in my Breeches-Pocket
had found my Box of Inftruments, which they ex-
amined very narrowly, and afked which of us it be-
longed to? When they were informed it was mine,
I was immediately fent, for before the Werewance:
who afked me, by his Interpreter, the Name and
Ufe of every Inftrument, which I informed him:
When he came to my Lancets, and being informed
they were to bleed, he aſked in a great Paffion, If I
was the Murderer of the Indians that were taken by
the English? But when I let him know it was to let
Blood in many Diftempers, for Eafe for the Body,
and that we were Strangers to thofe Engliſh that kil-
led
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
75
led their Indians, he abated of his Anger, and aſk-
ed me if I could fhew how I let Blood? which I
told him I could, if any one wanted it, and was not
well. Whereupon the Werowance faid he was not
very well; but he would have me try upon one of
my Companions, before he would let me bleed him.
I told his Interpreter that he fhould tell him I would
feel his Pulfe, that I might know whether it was
proper to let him Blood or no; Feel his Pulfe!
What's that? faid the Interpreter, who thought I
meant fomething elfe; whereupon I took him by the
Hand, and fhowed him what I meant. When the
Interpreter had fatisfyed him with what I faid, he
beckoned me to him, and held out his Hand, which
I felt, and found he was in a high Fever. I told
the Interpreter that he muſt be let Blood, for his In-
diſpoſition was a Fever, and explained his Diftemper,
which he finding to agree with his Condition, feem-
ed to be mightily pleafed; but he would have me
bleed fome other of my Companions before him. I
pitched upon one that it would not injure, and bled
him upon the Ground till he had bled enough, and
then tyed up his Arm. The Werowance and the rest
of the Indians were amazed to fee him bleed fuch a
Quantity, and afked me if he muft bleeds
much? I told them, yes, or rather more, but that
I would have fomething to fave the Blood, becaufe
I could make a better Judgment of the Caufe of his
Distemper. Whereupon they brought me a Calli.
bajh, which I fuppofed might hold a Quart; and
upon this I tyed up his Arm, and let him bleed
till I had taken about fixteen Ounces from him,
E 2
ſo
76
The ADVENTURES of
fo tyed up his Arm again. When I had done, he
wanted to go into his Hammock to Sleep; but I
told him he must not go to Reft till Night, which
he complyed with. The next Day he was much better,
and fent for me again, from the Place where they
had kept us walking all Night, by finging and
dancing round us; and if any of us offered to fleep,
they would jogg us and hinder us. When I came to
him I unbound his Arm, and he looked at the Ori-
fice, and finding it clofed, was more amazed than
before; then he made his Interpreter afk me con-
cerning his Blood, which was corrupted; and when
I told him if I had not bled him, he would foon
have died, he got up, and made me fit down upon
a Mat which lay in his Cabin, and told me by his
Interpreter, if I would ftay with him, he would fave
both me and my Companions, if we would fight
against the Whites, and marry Indian Women, that
fhould be allotted us. I told him I would ask my
Companions, who rejoiced at the Propofals; and
though all marryed before, yet they made no Scru-
ple of having another Wife. As for myſelf, (though
ot marryed) I did not much care for fuch a tawny
Rib, therefore told the Werewance, none of our Pro-
feffion ever marryed: he being well fatisfyed with
this Anfwer, fpared all our Lives. For my Part I
had a Houſe allotted me to myfelf, that is a Place
about the Height of one Story with us, and covered
with the Barks of Trees; the Fire-Place is in the
Middle of the Houfe, and all the Chimney is the
Door. The Country is generally pretty even, and
agrees very well with an English Conftitution; I
need
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
77
need not deſcribe the Climate, for I fuppofe you all
know the Nature of it as well as I. All the In-
dians that ever I faw, were well limbed, and near
fix Feet high.
The Marriages were made the next Day without
much Ceremony, they were only joined by their
Priests, without any Queſtion on either Side, and
fo carryed Home to their feveral Tents. All the
while I was here, they were making Preparations
to go againſt the English. One Day I was fent for
and orden-2 cu reel the Pulle of the King; after I
had done, he asked me if I could tell any Thing of
the Affairs of the English by feeling the Pulfe; but
I told him, that was impoffible, without I was with
them in Perfon. Whereupon the King afked me
if I would go to the English, and come to him again,
and give him a true Account of them; but faid he,
you must leave your Sagamore (meaning your Box of
Inftruments) behind you. I told him I would make
it my Business to inform myfelf in every Particular,
but that I did not know the Way; he told me I
ſhould have a Canoe and four Indians that should car-
ry me within a League of the English. I must con-
fefs I went with Joy and Sorrow; with Joy to leave
fuch a curfed Place, where Death threatened me
every Day; with Sorrow to go without my Com-
panions. We went into our Canoe, which lay about
fix Miles from the Place where the King lived, but
took no Provifions with us, becauſe my Indians were
to provide for me by catching of Fish, in which they
are very dexterous. We went down the River that
the Indians called Kustarra River, till we came to
E3
Cheloprack-
78
The ADVENTURES of
Chejateack-Bay; then we rowed in our Canoe pait
Rujèl's Iſlands, and made toward Cape, or Point-
Comfort; but coming about a League or thereabouts.
near the Island, a Boat came down the River, and
upon what Account 1 cannot tell, but they fired a
Mufquet, which being heard by the Indians, they
immediately jumped over-board, and fwam back a-
gain to Shore. I was not much concerned I muſt
cwn, for there was no Danger of their being drown-
ed, for moft Indians fwim like Fishes. I took the
Paddles and made the venurmy ~ Point-Com-
fort, which I paffed, and entered Parhattan River,
(being directed by my Indians ſo to do) and directed
my Way to Lamestown, where I arrived very late,
and was mightily rejoiced to find my Companions
all well in Health, and ready to embark the next
Day for Boston, in a Veffel bound for that Place.
After refreshing mvfelf, and felling my Canoe, I
with the reft of the Company fet fail the next Day,
and after various Adventures am arrived where you
fee me.
Now think with yourſelf, Mr. Falconer, whether we
need doubt the. Providence of God in helping us
from this Ifland? There is nothing here like the
Hardſhips. I have undergone, and yet have been
happily freed from; and therefore you need not
defpair. Deſpair is the Frenzy of the Mind, and
ought to be avoided, by having a true Notion of the
Power we ſerve. Upon this I happened to ſmile,
but was mightily checked by Mr. Randal, who aſked
me with a clouded Countenance, what I ſmiled at? I
replied
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
79
replied his Story might have had the fame Effect
upon fome old Women, (if it were in Print) that
the Sufferings of our Saviour had upon a Perfon in
Years. What mean you by that, faid Mr. Randal?
Why, I'll tell you, but I would not have you angry
at it, for I really believe every thing you have faid
to me: But a Reverend Divine once at Stamford in
Lincolnshire, was preaching a Sermon upon Chrift's
Paffion, where he expatiated on the many Sufferings,
and what our Saviour underwent to redeem us Mor-
tals from the Curfe that was laid upon us: An old
Woman (one of the Auditors) took the Parfon by
the Sleeve as he went out of the Church, and faid to
him, Indeed, Sir, you have made a very feeling
Sermon, which has moved me very much, and more
eſpecially to aſk you a Queſtion or two. Say on,
good Woman, faid the Parfon. Pray then, Sir,
(faid fhe) how long is it ago fince this Matter hap-
pened? Almoft feventeen Hundred Years ago. And
how far off? (added the old Gentlewoman) A great
Way off, fome three or four thousand Miles from
hence. Alack-aday! cried the old Woman, I'm
glad on it; Why fo, faid the Parfon? Becaufe (ad-
ded fhe) 'tis fo long ago, and fo far off, I hope in
God it is not true. As to your own Belief, (Mr.
Falconer, faid he,) I leave it to yourfelf, but I don't
like jefting with facred Things; The old Woman's
Ignorance was Compaffion; your Knowledge feems
to be prophane.
}
+4
I have known a great many airy young Fellows
that have talked idly on fuch Things, to make
E 4
People
80
The ADVENTURES of
People have an Opinion of their Wit; but yet, I
believe, even in the very Time of their Utterance,
their Conſcience told them, they were doing what
was not pleafing to God or Man. I really took
Mr. Randal's Way of exprefling himfelf very kindly,
and as I ought; for there appeared fo much Since-
rity and Candour in all that he faid, that it would
move any one that had a Senſe of Heaven or human
Nature. Therefore I begged his Pardon, and was
heartily forry if I had faid ought that might any
Ways offend him; which he freely forgave. After
we had fpent the Night in Reflection of what had
paffed, the next Morning we (after imploring the
Afiftance of the Almighty) went to work to clear
the Sand from our Veffel, which we continued
working on for fixteen Days together, refting only
on Sundays, which at laft we effected. We had
thrown up the Sand on each Side, down from the
Veffel, quite, to the Surface of the Water, when it
was lowest. Now the next Thing we had to do,
was to get Poles to put under our Veffel to launch
her out; which we got from the Burton Wood, but
with much Difficulty, for we were forced to cut a
great many before we could get them that were fit
for our Purpoſe. After we had done this, we re-
turned God Thanks for our Succefs hitherto, and
on the Day following refolved (God willing) to
thruſt off our Veffel into the Water, but were pre-
vented by Mr. Randal's being taken ill of a Fever,
occafioned (as we fuppofe) by his great Fatigue in
working to free our Ship from the Sand, wherein
he
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
81
he fpared no Pains for to encourage us as much by
his Actions as his Words, even beyond his Strength.
The Concern we were all in upon this, occafioned
our Delay in not getting our Veffel out, befides one
Hand out of five was weakning our Strength.
Mr. Randal never thought of his Inftruments till
now, which he wanted to let himfelf Blood, but not
feeling them about his Cloaths, we fuppofed they
might have been overlooked in the Veffel, fo I ran
immediately to fee if I could find them; and getting
up the Side, my very Weight pulled her down to
the Sand, which had certainly bruifed me to Death,
if I had not by the Appointment of divine Provi-
dence funk into the Hollow that we had made by
throwing the Sand from the Ship. I crept out in a
great Fright, and ran to my Companions, who with
much ado got her upright, and afterwards we fixed
ſome ſpare Oars on each Side, to keep her up from
falling again: For the Pieces of Wood that were
placed under her were greafed to facilitate her flipping
into the Water, and we had digged the Sand fo en-
tirely from her, that ſhe reſted only on them, which
occafioned her leaning to one Side with my Weight
only, which had. not happened, I believe, if I had
endeavoured to have got on Board on the other Side,
which was higheft, but chufing the loweft for my
more eafy Entrance was the Caufe of the Accident
that happened to me. When we were entered into
the Veffel, and found our Endeavours to find the
Box of Inftruments fruitlefs, we were all mightily
concerned, for we verily believed that bleeding
E5
would
82
The ADVENTURES of
;
would have cured him; nay, even he himself faid,
that if he could be let Blood, he was certain his Fe-
ver would abate, and he should be eafier; yet to
Tee with what a perfect Refignation he ſubmitted to
the Will of Heaven, it would have infpired one
with a true Knowledge of the Being good Men en-
joy after a Diffolution from this painful Life. He
was ſtill worſe and worfe; but yet fo patient in his
Sufferings, that perfectly amazed us all. He con-
tinued in this Manner a whole Week, without taft-
ing any Thing but Water-gruel ill made, for what
little Oatmeal we had, was four. When we faw bý
the Courfe of Nature, it was impoffible he ſhould
laft long, we all were very much grieved as for my
own Part, I could not forbear fhedding Tears, for I
had taken fuch an Affection to him, that almoft
equalled a Child's Love to a Parent. He feeing me
weep, called me with a faint Voice towards him;
and when I was near him, he made me fit down by
him.. "After ſeveral 'kind Expreffions, which made
my Tears flow more plentifully, he faid to me, Mr.
Falconer, If you grieve for me, dry your Tears I de-
fire nothing but your Prayers. I am going to pay a
Debt incumbent on me by Nature, and a Debt that
must be paid, which was contracted at my Birth, and
Death will not admit of any Evafion; all Mortals
owe the fame Acknowledgement, but fome fquan-
der away that Subftance which ſhould be freely paid
when called for. How happy are they that provide
againſt ſuch a Creditor, that may come at any Hour
of Day or Night, and lawfully demand his Due?
Hére
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
83
Here is no Shuffling as in worldly Matters, no put-
ting off the important Vifitor; therefore as we are
fure he will call upon us, 'tis good to be always
provided against the Time. How happy are honeft
Mind's, when they have provided to fatisfy their
worldly Creditors; they then live in a Contentment
of Mind, peculiar to an honeft Heart: But what
muſt be ſaid for the laſt Debt, upon which depends
the Welfare of the Soul, our doing well or ill here-
after, is it not of the utmoft Importance? There-
fore as I am endeavouring to pay that Debt, whoſe
utmoft Limit will foon expire, help me by your
Prayers to finish what I hope I have well begun,
and, as a Friend's Advice, prepare to make up
your Accounts to Heaven, for you know not how
foon they may be called for; befides you will have
one lefs to eat of the Provifion that is left. After
this, being tired with ſpeaking fo much together,
he turned to rest himself, but his Fever was fo vio-
lent, he could take no Eafe in Body, though tran-
quil in Mind. So finding we could not expect his
Life, we prayed for a ſpeedy and painleſs Releaſe
from it. After this we gave him fome Water (which
he often begged for in vain) to cool his Mouth.
When he had drank it, he faid he found himself a
little eafier, and the Pain and Burning fomething
abated, which we took as a Lightning before
Death, or as the Spirits collected together to make
their laſt fruitless Efforts.
When he found himself juft upon the Point of
expiring, he made this fhort Prayer, which was fo
imprinted
E 6
$+
The ADVENTURES of
imprinted in my Memory, that I fhall never forget
it: O Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth,
whofe all-feeing Eye looks into the inmoft Corner
of the Heart! Pardon my Offences, which I heartily
repent of, and rely upon the infinite Grace of thy
wonted Mercy to abfolve me of all my paft Crimes,
through the Merits of my Lord and Saviour Jefus
Chrift. Then, lifting up his Hands and Eyes to
Heaven, expired, with the Happinefs of continuing
in his right Senfes in fuch a Fever, which is almoſt
always attended with a Frenzy.
After our Sorrow for his Death was fomething
abated, we confulted how to bury him. Mr. Mid-
dleton and Mr. Mufgrave were, for fewing him in his
Hammock and throwing him into the Sea; but
M. White and myfelf were for burying him on the
Land, which they agreed to; fo we digged the
Hole which I defigned for my Well, feven Feet
long, and feven deep, and returned him to Earth
from whence he came. Upon the Bark of the Tree
that fhaded his Grave, I wrote this Epitaph:
'
-
Under this Tree lies the Body of Thomas Ran-
Gal, Gent. born in the City of Cork, Anno Domini,.
1641. who was thrown afhore with Richard White,
• William Mafgrave, and Ralph Middleton, all of
Jamaica, to the Confolation of Richard Falconer of
Bruton in Somerfetfire, who was unfortunately, caft
• on Shore before them on the 18th of September
1699, yet received from their Converfation a Mi-
tigation of his own Misfortune., Whofe Chance
it is ever to read thefe Lines, pay a Tear to the
• Memory
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
85
•
&
Memory of Thomas Randal, and endeavour to make
as good an End as he did, who died a natural
Death, on Friday December the 21ft, 1699, in his
perfect Mind, and a true Notion of the Power of
'God to pardon all his Faults, whofe Failings were
' corrected by a fincere Penitence, dying every Day
' he lived.'
This took me up a whole Tree. Mr. Randal
made no Will; yet I claimed his Dog, being the
Whelp of the Bitch he found upon the Rock which
he was thrown upon in the Baltick, the Bitch being
dead fome Years before. We were forced to tie
him up after we had buried Mr. Randal, for with
his Feet he would fcrape Holes in the Grave two
Feet deep, and howl prodigiously.
After this we prepared once more to launch our
Veſſel; but firſt we put on board what Proviſion we
had left, and all the Things that we took from
thence. Mr. Randal's Death gave me (with the
others Permiffion) a Title to a Bed, which I wanted
before. So that I took up the Cabin which was
allotted me, and laid on board every Night. And
now we bent our Thoughts entirely on our Veffel,
and on Monday the 31st of December launched her out
into the Sea, and defigned to fet fail the next Day.
After we had fixed her faft with two Anchors and a
Halfer on Shore, we went on board to dine and
make ourfelves merry, which we did very heartily,
and to add to our Mirth, we made a large Can of
Punch, which we never attempted to do before, be-
ing we had but one Bottle of Lime-juice in all, and
what
86
ADVENTURES of
The
what (indeed) we defigned for this Occafion; in
ſhort, the Punch ran down fo merrily, that we were
all in a drunken Condition; but when it was all
gone, we refolved to go to reft: But all I could do,
could not perfuade them to lie on board that Night'
in their Cabins, (yet without a Bed ;) but they
would venture, though they were obliged to ſwim
a hundred Yards before they could wade to Shore;
but however they got fafe, which I knew by their
halloping and rejoicing.
Having brought my Bed on board, I went to reſt
very contentedly, which I did till next Morning;
But oh! Horror! when I had dreffed myfelf, and
going on Deck, to call my Companions to come
on board to dine, which was intended over Night,
and afterwards to go on Shore, and bring our Sails
and Yards on board, and make to Sea as fast as we
could, I could not fee any Land, which fo overcame
me on the fudden, that I funk down on the Deck,
without Senfe or Motion: How long I continued
fo I can't tell, but I awaked full of the Senfe of my
lamentable Condition, and ten thoufand Times
(fpight of my Refolution to forbear) curfed my un-
happy Stars, that had brought me to that deplorable
State. O Wretch that I am! what will my un-
happy Fate do with me; is any one's Condition
equal to mine? (I would cry.) But 'tis a juft Pu-
niſhment, in not rendering to God the Tribute due
for his Mercies, that we had hitherto known.
ftead of coming on board to be frolick fome and
merry, we should have given Thanks to him, that
gave
In-
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER,
87
gave us the Bleffing of thinking we were no longer
fübject to ſuch Hardships, that we might probablý
have undergone, if we had been detained longer on
that Iſland. If poor Mr. Randal had remained
among us, this Misfortune had not happened. He
by his wife and prudent Care and Conduct, would
have prevented this unlucky Accident. What muft
my poor Companions. think that are left in a more
miferable Condition than myſelf, if it be poffible.
I have no Compafs, neither am I of myſelf capable
of ruling the Veffel in a Calm, much lefs if there
ſhould a Storm happen, which are too frequent in
this Climate.
3
After I had vented my Grief in a Torrent of
Words and Tears, I began to think how the Veſſel
fhould have gone to Sea without my Knowledge;
and by Remembrance of the Matter the Night be-
fore, found by our Eagerness and fatal Careleſſneſs,
we had forgot to faften our Cables to the Geers;
and pulling up the Halfer that we had faftened to
one of the Burton Trees on Shore, perceived that
the Force of the Veffel had pulled the Tree out of
the Earth. Then I too late found that a Hurricane
had roſe when I was found afleep; and ftupified by
too much Liquor, and carried off the Veffel. This
Reflection wounded me deeper than before, which
I followed with Curfes on that Liquor that fteals
away our Senfes, and makes worſe than Beafts of
human Creatures.
Now I began to call upon him that hears us in
the Time of Trouble; even when the Wind blows
loudeft,
88
The ADVENTURES of
Loudeft, whofe Nod can shake the Frame of Earth
from off its Bafis; and with a Heart fincere, and
vicious Thoughts corrected, I fent my Soul in pe-
nitential Words and Tears before his Throne of
Mercy, imploring a speedy Ending of my Life or
Troubles; when I began to be fomething better
contented in my Mind, and thought of fuftaining
Nature,, almoſt ſpent with the Eatigue and Griev
ing. One great Comfort 1 had of my Side, which
my poor (former) wretched Companions wanted,
that was Provifion in Plenty, and fresh Water; fo
that when I began to confider coolly,, I found I had
not that Cauſe to complain which they had, who
were left on a barren Iſland, without any other
Provifion than that very fame Diet which I was
forced to take up with, when first thrown afhore;
that is, the Boobies, whofe Numbers were mightily
diminiſhed before we defigned to leave the land.
1
1
What made me moft uneafy, was to think what
my Companions could judge of me, whether they
fhould take it for Defign or Chance; but then I
filled that Thought, by knowing they muft needs.
fee that the Tree was forced away with Violence
beyond the Strength of Man. Befide, I had ano.
ther ſmall Comfort, that was the Company of my
Dog, which lay on Board with me, which I used to
talk to as if he were a rational Creature; and the
poor Beaft would ſtand and ftare me in the Face, as
if he were fenfible of what I faid to him. It was a
very, handfome Creature of the Danish Kind, but
very good natured, and would often go to the Ca.
bin
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
89
bin where I lay, which was that of his old Maſter,
and whine mightily.
I remained toffed upon the Sea for a Fortnight
without diſcovering Land; for the Weather con-
tinued very calm, but yet fo hazy that I could not
perceive the Sun for feveral Days. One Day fearch-
ing for fome Linnen that I had dropped under the
Sacking of my Bed, (for I did not lie in a Ham-
mock) I found an old Glove with 75 Pieces of
Eight in it, which I took and fewed in the Waift-
band of my Breeches, for Fear I fhould want it
fome Time, or other I made no Scruple of tak-
ing it, for I was well affured it did belong to poor
Mr. Randal. Befide I had heard the other People
fay, that they were fure he had Money ſomewhere;
and after his Death we ſearched for it, but could
not find any.
January the 20th I diſcovered a Sail to Leeward
of me, but the bore away fo faft, that there was not
any Hope of Succour from her, and I had not any
Thing to diſtinguiſh me; and I fuppofed though I
could fee them, yet they could not fee me by Reafon
of
my Want of Sail, which would have made me
the more confpicuous. The next Day I difcovered
Land, about fix Leagues to the S. W. of me, which
I obſerved my Veſſel did not come nigh, but coaſted
along Shore; but I was well affured it was the Pro-
vince of Fucatan belonging to the Spaniards, and
was the Place we came from.
Now all my Fear
was that I fhould fall into their Hands, who would
make me do the Work of a Slave; but even that I
thought
go
The ADVENTURES of
1
thought was better than to live in continual Fear
of Storms and Tempefts, or Shipwreck.
I coafted along in this Manner for two or three
Days, and at laft difcovered Land right a-head,
which I was very glad of; but yet mixed with
fome Fear, in not knowing what Treatment I ſhould
have. I began now to think of fome Evafion, and
not to tell them the Truth, of belonging to the Log-
wood Veffel, but refolved to tell them that we were
taken by a French Privateer, and after being rum-
maged, were turned off as ufeleſs.
January the 30th, I made the Bay and Town of
Francifco di Campechy, as it proved afterwards, and
was almoſt upon it before I was met by any thing
of a Ship, or a Boat; but at laſt two Canoes came
on Board with one. Spaniard and fix Indians, who
were much furprized when they understood my
Condition by fpeaking broken French, which the
Spaniard understood. They immediately carried me
on Shore, and from thence to the Governor, who
I was at Dinner; they would have had me ſtaid till
he had dined; but he hearing of me, commanded
me to come in, where he was at Dinner with feveral
Gentlemen, and two Ladies; and though 'tis very
rare any one fees the Women, yet they did not
offer to veil themfelves. I was ordered to fit down
by myſelf at a little Table placed for that Purpoſe,
where I had fent me of what compofed their Dinner,
which was fome Fish and Fowls, and excellent Wine
of feveral Sorts.
The
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
91
The chief Town of the Province of Jucatan, lies
twelve Leagues from the Sea on either Side, which
is a Bishop's See, and the Refidence of the Gover-
nor of this Province. Valladolid is the fecond City;
and Campechy the third; yet though but the third
reckoned, it far exceeds the reft for Riches and
Magnificence. It is a well-fituated neat-built
Town, and by Computation, contains near two
thoufand Houfe's. It is well fortified both by Art
and Nature By the former in a ftrong, well built
neat Caſtle, that contains a hundred Brafs Cannon,
and feveral Mortars; and the latter by a Ridge of
II, that runs all along the Side of the City.
There is in the Canto a very neat Piazza, conſiſting
of about thirty high Arches. This Town has the
chief Trade; for from this Place, the other
Cities and Towns are furnished with all Neceffaries
that come from the Havana, and other Places in
America; and likewife from Old Spain. Yet for all
their Power, Riches and Strength, Capt. Parker, an
Englishman, with one Ship, and a fmall Bark, and
whoſe whole Crew contained but a hundred and
forty Men, landed in the Middle of the Day, and in
Spite of all their Forces, which were two hundred
Horfe, and five hundred Foot, took the Place,
with the Governor and feveral other Perfons of
Quality, together with a rich Ship laden with
Ingots and feveral other valuable Ladings, before.
they knew of the City's being taken. This Pro-
vince of Jucatan, contains in Compafs nine hundred
Miles, and is fituated between eighteen and twenty
Degrees
92
The ADVENTURES of
Degrees Northern Latitude. The Air is very hot,
and not altogether fo wholefome as fome other
Parts of America are. The Distempers that reign
here, are mostly Fluxes and Fevers, which carry off
Abundance of new Comers. This Province was first
difcovered by Ferdinando Cortez, among his Conquefts
of New Spain; and though not altogether fo fruit-
ful, yet by the Induſtry of the Inhabitants, 'tis as
rich as any of the other Provinces of New Spain;
for they are moſt either Merchants or Tradeſmen :
And it is the vulgar Opinion, that thefe People are
more hard and barbarous, than any other Part of
the Spanish West Indies; yet, for my own Part. I
ceived more Civility from them, than if I had been
among my own Friends in England.
የሶ
There is a Tradition here among the Inhabitants
that they used a Ceremony much like our Baptiſm,
and which had, in their Language, the Term of
Regeneration, or fecond Birth, which they thought
to be the Seed or Groundwork of all good and jult
Things; and after being initiated, they were cer-
tain it was not in the Power of the evil Spirit to
hurt them in Body or Goods: Neither were they
permitted to marry, without first taking that Order
upon them, which they uſed to diſtinguiſh by an
Oftrich's Feather, larger and longer than any
other they uſed to wear for Ornaments upon their
Heads.
They have another Tradition, that this Province
of Jucatan was first inhabited and cultivated by a
white-bearded People, that came from the East;
after
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
93
after being toffed many Moons upon the Sea, and
fuffering many Hardſhips for Want of Food and
fresh Water, and other Neceffaries; yet relieved
from Want and their Enemies, through the Power
of the Deity they worshipped, who even commanded
the Sun to fhine, or not to fhine; who made it rain,
or dry Weather; who could heal Sickness, or fend
Diftempers; in fhort, a God that kept all the other
petty Deities in Awe.
This Story, if true, feems to confirm an old Tra-
dition of our Welch Chronicles, that tells us of one
Madoc ap Owen, Son to Guineth, a Prince of that
Country, who was drove, by fome Difguft, from
his own Country, with feveral Companions; who,
after various Adventures at Sea, were driven on an
unknown Land to the Weft many hundred Leagues,
where they had Communication in a friendly Man-
ner with the Indians, and made a Settlement.
Whereupon Madoc ap Owen returned for Britain
again, and got to the Number of two thouſand
Men and Women, befides Children, which mixed
with the Natives, and left among them feveral of
their Opinions and Manners; which they retained
till the laft, when Cortez fubdued them; but now,
by the Cruelty of the Spaniards, the Natives are al-
most extinguiſhed.
After they had feaſted me for two or three Days,
they fent me about with feveral Officers appointed
by the Governor, to make a Gathering, which we
did with Succefs; for in three Days we had got
feven hundred and odd Pieces of Eight: And two
Merchants
94
The ADVENTURES of
Merchants there were at the Charge of fitting up
my Bark, in order to fend it for my poor Compa-
nions. When it was finiſhed, they gave me ſeveral
Neceffaries for myſelf and Companions, to hearten
us up; as fome Bottles of fine Wines; two Bottles
of Citron-water, for a Cordial; Chocolate, and
feveral other uſeful Things: But the Difficulty was
to get Seamen to go with me: At laſt they remem-
bered they had five Englishmen that were Priſoners
there, and taken in the Bay of Campechy, upon Suf-
picion of Piracy, but nothing could be proved
against them; which they freed without any Ranfom:
'This did not look like Barbarity or Ill-nature; for
I received as much Humanity among them, as could
be expected from any of the moft civilized Nations:
But they have a greater Kindneſs for the English,
than they have for their Neighbours the French, for
the English are more open and generous (they fay),
and don't uſe Stratagems to deceive them, as the
French do frequently; though they only pay them
in their own Coin, for there is no Nation under the
Sun more fruitful than the Spaniards in Plottings
and Ambufcades, (as they call them) to deceive
their Enemies; which yet they think lawful.
On February the 15th, 1700, we fet Sail from
Campechy Bay, after paying my Acknowledgment to
the generous Governor, &c. but having nothing to
prefent him worth Acceptance, but my Ovid, I
gave him that, which he took very kindly, and ſaid
he would prize it mightily, not only in the Efteem
he
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
95
he had for that Author, but in Remembrance of
me and
my
Misfortunes.
We plyed it to Windward very briskly, and in
fifteen Days difcovered the Ifles of the Akranes ;
but we durft not go within the Shoals, becauſe we
were all ignorant of the Channel. So we caſt An-
chor, and hoiſted out our Boat, with two Meu and
myſelf, and made to Shore, where we found my
three Companions, but in a miſerable Condition,
and Mr. Mufgrave fo faint and weak, that they ex-
pected he could not live long.
When they awaked the next Day, after I was
drove off in the Dark, they were all in Defpair, to
find the Veffel gone, which they perceived was oc-
cafioned by a Hurricane, that they were affured was
violent, becauſe it had blown down their Tent,
though without awaking them. But when they be-
gan to confider they had no Food, nor but very lit-
tle freſh Water, which was left in a Barrel without
a Head in the Tent, their Defpair increaſed; but,
as no Paffion can laft long that is violent, it wore of
with their Care for Suftenance, which they dili-
gently fearched for; but not finding any Quantity
of Eggs, or Boobies, the dreadful Fear of ftarving
came into their Minds, with all its horrid Attend-
ants. Now they imagined that all that had happened
to them was, as I had thought, a Judgment of Di-
vine Providence for the vile Sin of Drunkenneſs,
when they should have rather implored Heaven's
Affiftance, in furthering them in their Delivery from
the Place where they were.
They
96
The ADVENTURES of
They had now been five Days without eating o
drinking, not for Want of Stomachs, but Food,
which they endeavoured to get, but all to no Pur-
pofe; for the Boobies were retired, either out of
Fear, or Cullom, to fome other Place. Neither
could they find one Egg more, and Weakneſs came
fo faft upon them, with Hunger and Drought, that
they were hardly able to crawl, fo they thought of
nothing but dying; when at laft they remembered
the Body of good Mr. Randal, that had been buried
a Week, which they dug up, without being pu-
trified; and that poor Wretch that helped to fup-
port our Misfortunes when alive with his fage Ad-
vice, now was a Means cf preferving their Lives,
though dead. They had by good Fortune left them
a Tinder-box in the Tent, (we having two) with
which they truck a Light, and made a Fire, then
cnt off feveral Pieces of Flesh of the Brawn of his
Arms and Thighs, broiled them on the Coals,
though with a great Dcal of Reluctance; which was
the Means of keeping Life and Soul together, till
we came to relieve them from that deplorable Con-
dition. Mr. Mulgrave we brought to a little Life
and Strength, by giving him fome Citron-water in
fmall Quantities. When I faw the Carcafe of my
poor good Monitor lie for Food for human Crea-
tures, my Horror at the Sight overcame my Reaſon,
and I believe I faid Things fhocking enough; how-
ever, when I had calmly confidered their Condition,
I was very forry for what I had faid, and begged
their Pardon. After we had refreshed ourſelves,
we
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
97
we once more laid him in the Earth, having fewed
his poor Bones in one of the Hammocks.
I must confefs, I never think of that good Man,
but Tears come into my Eyes, and Melancholy
clouds all my Thoughts: For he was one whofe
Character came up to all we could defire in frail
Man. Honeft, without Intereft; friendly, without
Defign; religious, attended with Reafon; and not
fwaddled up fo tight as to make it deformed: Plea-
fant in Converfation, courteous to all, hating no-
thing but Vice; gentle in reproving; bold in all
Dangers, in being armed with an Innocence that
infpired him with Succefs: In fhort, he was a Mi-
racle of a Man, when we confider his Life had been
always at Sea, among a Crew prone to all Manner
of Vices, and where it was not poffible to find a
Pattern to follow of any Goodneſs.
He was a fingle Man, or rather indeed a Bache-
lor; for he had often told me, he could not bear to
marry a Woman, to put her into Frights and Fears
when the Wind blew hard, as every good Wife
muſt certainly be concerned for the Danger of her
Hufband. Befides, as it was his Fortune to lead a
Seafaring Life, he could not think of marrying, to
be abfent from his other Self ſo long (as he termed
it); not but if he had had a fufficient Competency,
he faid, he believed he ſhould have entered into the
Marriage State in the latter Part of Life, that he
might have fettled his Mind, and, free from the
Hazard and Turmoils of the Sea, flipped into his
F
Shrowd
98
The ADVENTURES of
Shrowd with Content, among his Friends and Ac-
quaintance at Home.
He was an excellent Sailor, and knew moft Parts
of the World perfectly well; understood French and
Spaniſh, and feemed to have a pretty good Know.
ledge in the Latin Tongue. His Journals were
moly taken in Short-Hand: But he had one fmall
Manufcript, containing about twenty-Leaves, Spa-
nijb on the one Side, and English on the other, all in
his own Hand; which I fuppofe he had tranflated
for his Diverfion, and to pafs away his leifure
Hours. It was a Treatife of Herbs and Flowers,
with other Rarities, to be found in the left-Indies :
On the Flat of his Book, he had writ in a large
Hand theſe Words: This Manuſcript in Spaniſh, I
barve tranfcribed from the Original of the Reverend Father
Pedro di Riberia, of the Order of Jefus, when I avas
Pilot in Mexico. The Tranflation I have made at my
kifure Hours, and the Cures by the Simples, &c. men-
toned in the faid Book, I have been an Eye-Witness 10
many of, and fome were practiſed on myſelf.
We now were got on Board once again, in or-
der to fail as foon as the Wind would rife, it being
ftark calm, and continued fo two Days; but at laſt
it blew a little, and we weighed Anchor, and flood
out to Sea; but made but little Way. I now was
Mafter, or Captain of a Ship, and began to take
we were in all nine Men, all Engliſh,
that is, myſelf firſt, Richard White, W. Mufgrave,
and Ralph Middletou, my old Companions; John.
upon me;
Stone,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
99
Stone, W. Keater, Francis Heod, W. Warren, and fo-
Jeph Meadows, (all of England) the five Men given
me by Don Antonio, who, as I faid before, were
taken on Sufpicion of Piracy; whereupon a Thought
came into my Head, that had escaped me before: I
confidered if thefe were really Pirates, being five to
four, they might be too powerful for us, and per-
haps murder us. Freak Hood we had made our
Cook, to dress our Provifion, which he underſtood
a little One Day we all dined together upon Deck,
under our Awning, it being very calm Weather;
an Arning is only a Sail fixed at the Quarter-Deck,
and carried over the Booms (that is, fpare Mafts that
lie along from Quarter to Fore caftle) to the Fore-
caſtle, to keep the Sun from our Heads: In Men of
War, and great Ships, they have one made of
feveral Kinds of handfome Stoff, for the Officers on
the Quarter-Deck; befides another on the Main
Deck, for the common Sailors. One Day, as I
faid before, being at Dinner, for we all eat to-
gether, I afked the five Men, what was the Reaſon
they were taken by the Spaniards for Pirates? Upon'
this they feemed nonplufed, but I'arren foon reco-
vered himself, as well as the reft, and spake for the
others, in this Manner: We embarked on Beard
the Ship Bonaventure, in the Thomas, bound for
Jamaica, where we inade a profperous Voyage; but
after taking in our Lading, in our Way Home, we
were overtaken by a Storm, in which our Ship was
loft, and all the Men perished, but myſelf and four
Companions,
F 2
100
The ADVENTURES of
Companions, who were faved in the Long-Boat:
But the Reaſon we were taken for Pirates was, that
making to Shore to fave ourſelves, we faw a Bark
riding at Anchor, without the Port of Campechy,
which we made to, in order to enquire whereabouts
we were, and to beg fome Provifions, our own being
gone; and entering the Vcffel, found but two
People in it; the third, jumping into the Water,
fwam on Shore, and brought three Boats filled
with Spanish Soldiers, which entered the Veffel
before we could make off. Make off! faid I.
What did you defign to run away with the Veffel?
No; anſwered Warren, with fome Confufion, but
we did deſign to weigh Anchor, and go farther on
Shore, that we might land in the Morning (it being
late at Night): But we were prevented by their
coming on Board us, where we were found, being
armed, which we had taken Care of, when we
were in our Boat, to defend ourfelves, if we were
obliged to land among the Savages: And indeed
they had their Arms reftored them, when they
were freed and fent on Board with me.
I must confeſs, I did not like the Fellow being
nonplufed now and then, in not knowing what to
fay; but upon Confideration, thought it might be
for Want of Words to exprefs himself better, which
is the Occafion very often of People of common
Underſtanding, Stammering, and Humming, and
Hawing, to put their Words in better Order; fo
for that Time I took no more Notice, not weighing
it
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
101
it in my Mind: But in the Evening Mr. Middleton
came to me, with a Face of Concern, and told me
he did not like theſe Fellows Tale. Why fo? faid
I; becauſe I obferve they herd together, anfwered
he, and are always whifpering and ſpeaking low to
one another. Oh! faid I, there cannot be any
Danger in them; for if they had any Inclination to
run away with our Veffel, they might have done it
when they were five to one, before we took you in.
I know not, replied Middleton, I have a IIcarɩ Suit-
bodes fomething. Pfhaw! old Women's Fears;
(faid I) for, as I faid before, they would have done
it when they had more Power, before I landed on
Defpair Ifland, (as I called it) if they had any fuch
Intentions. There is a Providence that rules over
all our Actions, anſwered Middleton, that we can no
more fee into, than the Book of Fate, but if a
foreboding Heart may fpeak, I am fure fomething
we fhall fuffer from theſe Fellows, that will be of
Danger to us. If fo, replied I, there's no refifting
the Will of Providence; for what will come, will
come, and there's no fending against it: But,
added he, this feems fomething like Foreknow-
ledge; and to refift against that, feems like ftrug-
gling againſt the Will of Heaven, that warns us by
theſe Forebodings to prevent thefe Accidents of
Life. I believe God, purfued he, has fixed a
Period to our Breath; but Accidents that happen in
this Pilgrimage of Life, may be avoided by a
F 3
timely
102.
The ADVENTURES of
timely Notice: As we are all Partakers of free Will,
and from that, forming our own Happiness, or
Wifery, it cannot be faid but that the Actions of
Life may be regulated by that Free Will. Our
Maker never formed a Villain: Neither do their
external Parts differ from a virtuous Man's; if they
did, they were to be eafily avoided: But as an old
Poct fays, There's no Art to find the Mind's Conftruction
in the Face.
Upon this Difcourfe, I began to ftagger in my
Opinion of their Honefty, and therefore we reful, od
to ſtand upon our Guard. We took no Notice of
cur Conference than to our two other Companions,
but refolved to ftay till Night, we having a better
Opportunity, as we lay together in the Cabbin
Aft; (which is as much to fay in the Stern, or
behind) when we were to go to Supper, we called
one another to come, but five of the Sailors excufed
themſelves, by faying they had dined fo lately,
that they had no Stomach as yet; whereupon we had
an Opportunity fooner to converfe together than we
defigned. For being at Supper, we opened the
Matter to our other two Companions, and they
agreed immediately that we were in fome Danger;
fo we refolved in the middle Watch of the Night,
to ſeize them in their Sleep. We were to have the
firſt Watch, which we fet at eight of the Clock;
then they were to watch till Twelve; and then in
their Watch, between One and Two,
concluded to feize upon them as they flept;
we had
that is,
four
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
103
four of them, for one of them watched with us,
which was Frank Hood, the Cook; whom we agreed
to feize and bind fait, towards the latter End of the
Watch, and to threaten him with Death, if he of-
fered to make the leaft Noife.
As foon as ever our firft Watch was fet, we fent
Mr. Mufgrave to prepare our Arms; in about half
an Hour, or thereabouts, Warren called to Hood upon
Deck, (they lying below) to get him a little Wa-
ter, for he was bloody dry, he faid; whereupon.
the other went down immediately with fome Water
in a Can to him. As foon as he was gone down, I
had the Curiofity to draw as near the Scuttle as I
could to hear the Difcourfe. Now you must know
Hond, our Cook, had been employed that Day about
fearching our Provifions, our Beef Cafks, and Pork,
to fee what Quantity we had, that we might know
how long it would laft; fo that the others had not
an Opportunity to difclofe the Defign to him. As
foon as he was got down, I could hear Will. Warren
fay to him, G-d d-n ye, Frank, we had like to
have been fmoaked to-Day; and though we had
contrived the Story that I told them, yet I was a
little furprized at their afking me, becaufe then I
did not expect it; but we defign to be even with
them in a very little Time; For, hark ye, faid he,
and fpoke fo low that I could not hear him; upon
which, the other faid, there's no Difficulty in the
Matter; but we need not be in fuch Hafte, for you
know, as we ply it to Windward, a Day or two
F +
call
104
The ADVENTURES of
can break no Squares, and we can foon (after the
effecting our Defign) bear down to Leeward to
our Comrades that we left on Shore; for I fancy,
added he, that they have fome fmall Sufpicion of
you now, (which in Time will fleep) and may be
on their Guard; therefore 'tis better to wait a Day
or two: No, G-d Z-ds, we'll do it To-
night, when they are afleep, replied Warren z
whereupon there were many Arguments, Fro and
Con; (as I fancied) but they spoke fo low, that I
could only hear a G-d D-n ye, now and then,
and fomething of that Kind.
A little while after, Hood came up again, and
after walking up and down, and fixing his Eyes.
often upon me, who in the mean Time was pro-
vided with a Couple of Piſtols under my Watch
Coat, and indeed were their own, that we hung up
ready charged in our Cabin ; which was one Reaſon
of their Defign to attack us in our Sleep, being
they had no Arms till they could feize on them
where they hung; or elfe they were fuch defperate
Fellows, they would have done it in the open
Day. Hood, as I faid before, feemed to fix his
Eyes frequently upon me, for till now I never
watched in the Night; at last, faid he very ſoftly,
if you please Mr. Falconer, I have a Word or two to
fay to you, that much concerns you all. What is
it? faid I. Why, anſwered he, I would have the
rest of your Companions Ear Witneffes too; with
that I called them together; but, faid he, let's
retire
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
105
that we
retire as far from the Scuttle as we can,
may not be heard by any below Deck; fo we went
into the Cabin, and opened the Scuttle above, that
Mr. Musgrave, who fteered, might hear what was
faid. When we were fat down upon the Floor,
Mr. Hood began as follows. My four Companions
below have a wicked Defign upon you; that is, to
feize you, and put you into the Boat, and run
away with your Veffel: But I thinking it an in-
human Action, not only to any one, but to you in
particular, that have been the Means of their
Freedom, therefore, I hope appointed by Provi-
dence, I come to let you know it, that we may
think of fome Means to prevent it. Upon this,
(finding his Sincerity,) I told him that we were pro-
vided againſt it already; and with the Confent of
my Companions, told him our Defign of feizing
them in the third Watch; but, faid he, they in-
tend to put their Project in Practice, their next
Watch, therefore I think it will be more proper
for us to Counter-plot them, and feize them this;
but as they have no Arms, faid I, and we have,
we need not fear them.
We had feveral Debates about this, which took
up too much Time to our Sorrow; for Warren mif-
trufting Hood, it feems, got up and liftened, and
when he found that we retired all of us to the Cab-
bin, he got upon Deck, and ftealing foftly, came
fo clofe, that he overheard every thing we faid,
which as foon as he underſtood, he went immediate-
F 5
ly
106
The ADVENTURES of
ly to his Companions, who waited impatiently, (as
they told us afterwards) and let them know all our
Difcourfe; whereupon, without paufing, they re-
folved to attack us immediately, in the Midſt of our
Confultation; which was no fooner refolved upon,
but done: For we were immediately furprized with
their feizing us, which they did with that Quick-
nefs, and fo unperceivably, that we were all con-
founded and amazed; they had whiped off two Pis-
tols in our Confternation, which they clapped to our
Breafts. In this Confufion, I had forgot mine that
were at my Girdle, (or elfe we might have been
hard enough for them;) neither did I remember
them till they found them about me. They had
fhut the Cabbin Door on the Infide, till they had'
bound us, and never minded Mr. Mulgrave knock-
ing and making a Noife, till they had fecured
Us. Which done, they opened the Door, and
feized him, who came to know what the Matter
was, for we had no Candle in the Cabbin, and he
hearing a Noife, amongst us, thought we were
feizing Hood, and called to us to forbear, (as he ſaid
afterwards) and make hafte, for he was going to
tack about, though we did not hear him; on which
he clapped the Heim a Lee, and came down to fetch
us out, to haul off the Sheets, &c. and was feized,
and bound with us; for they left us immediately,
for the Sails fluttered in the Wind, bv Reafon fhe
was veering round, when the Helm was a Lce.
After they had fixed the Veffel, and it was broad
Day, they came and unbound our Legs, and gave
ps Leave to walk upon Deck; whereupon I began
to
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
107
1
,
to expoftulate with them, particularly Mr. Warren,
being he ſeemed to have a- Sort of Command-over
the others. Pray, faid I to him, for what Reafor
have you feized upon us, and bound us in this
Minner? Have we done you any Injury? Why,
faid he, Self-Prefervation; I found you were going
to do the like by us, therefore you are but ferved
in your Kind. And what do you deſign to do with
us now you have your Defire? Do with you! Why,
by and by we defign to put you in the Boat, and
turn you a Drift; but for that Son of a B-h, Heed,
we'll murder him without Mercy'; a Dog, to betray
us; How, betray you! replied I? Yes! For I over-
heard all; then related the Manner of it as menti-
oned above. But as you have not fo much injured.
us, we'll put you immediately in the Boat with a
Week's Provifion, and a ſmall Sail, and you fhåll
feek your Fortune, as I fuppofe you would havé
done by us. No, anfwered I, we only defignedito
confine you till we came to Jamaica, and there to
have given you your Liberty to go where you had
thought fit. Ay, ay, faid Warren, ſhaking his
Head, that is eafily faid, nor are we bound to be-
lieve you. Why, 'tis plain, faid I, that our con
fulting to feize you, was but to prevent what has
happened. We are not to enquire into the Matter,
answered Warren, and now we have you in our Pow
er, we'll do as we think fit.
Why then, faid I put
us afhore at any Land that belongs to the English,
and we fhall think you have not done us any Injury.
No, faid he, we must go to meet our Captain and..
fifty Men upon the Main Land of Jucatan, where-
£ 6
Our
108
The ADVENTURES ઙ ઈં
of
our Veſſel was firanded not to be gotten off.
Our
firſt Deſign when we were taken in our Boat was to
get us a Veffel to go a Buccaneering, which we had
done at Campechy, if it had not been for the Indian
that fwam on Shore unknown to us, and brought
Succours too foon; which we could not avoid, the
Sea Breeze blowing very strong all Night; fo we
feeing our Danger, were forced to form the Lie we
told the Governor, which had fome Appearance of
Truth, for we did not uſe any Violence to the two
old Spaniards, becauſe by good Words we thought
to make them affifting to work our Bark back again
to our Men. Now, purfued he, if you will all re-
folve to go a Buccaneering with us, we'll venture to
carry you to our Captain and Men; if not, we'll do
as we have propofed. We looking one upon ano-
ther, as if we were to know each other's Refolu-
tions; he cryed, nay, if you paufe, you ſha'n't have
that Grace, if you defire it: Therefore prepare
every Thing, perfued he, to one of his Companions,
that they may be going, they won't be long before
they come to their Journey's End.
When they had got every Thing ready, that is to
fay, a Barrel of Biſket, another of Water, about
half a Dozen Pieces of Beef, and as much Pork, a
fmall Kettle, and a Tinder-Box; we were better
provided than we expected, by much. Befides, they
granted us four Cutlaffes, and a Fowling-piece,
with about four Pounds of Powder, and a fufficient
Quantity of Shot; together with all poor Mr. Ran-
dal's Journals, after their peruſing them, and find-
ing
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
109
ing them of no Ufe to them: When this was done,
he ordered them to tie Hood to the Maft of the Vef-
fel, and was charging a Piſtol to ſhoot him through
the Head, not confidering it was charged before,
for it was one of them I had at my Girdle,
and which they took from me; but in his Eagerness
and Heat of Paffion did not mind it. We all in-
treated for the poor Fellow, and he himſelf fell up-
on his Knees, and begged with all the Eloquence
he had, to ſpare him, and let him go with us; but
Warren fwore bitterly, nothing fhould fave him.
Said I, Mr. Warren, if you believe there is a Power,
that formed this Globe, and fees every Action of
Mankind, think what a Crime you commit by
wounding of him, by murdering his Image: But if
you are an Atheiſt, and believe in no Power fuper-
natural, yet confider what a Conqueft you will have
gained over yourſelf by overcoming this headstrong
Paffion. It may be your own Cafe another Time;
and Murder you know is puniſhed with Death.
What the Devil have we got here, a preaching Pup-
py? Why, doft think that I mind thy ridiculous
Cant? prythee mind thy own Buſineſs, and get thee
gone, or perhaps I may begin with you, and fend
you to the Devil before your Time. With that, he
cocked his Piſtol, and levelled it at Hood; but firing,
it ſplit into feveral Pieces, and one ftruck Warren
into the Skull fo deep, that he was breathing his
last upon Deck; one of the Bullets grazed upon the
Side of my Temple, and did but juft break the
Skin; as for Hood he was not hurt; but with the
Fright and Noife of the Piſtol, (as we fuppofed)
laboured
118
The ADVENTURES f
1
laboured with fuch an Agony of Spirit, that he
broke the Cords that tied him by the Arms, though
as thick as a middle Finger, and fell down; but
rofe immediately, and not finding himfelf hurt,
ran to us, and unbound our Arms, not perceived by
the other two, who were bufy about unfortunate
Warren; and though they were called to him by them
that fteered, (who ran immediately to prevent it) yet
they did not mind it, they were fo concerned about
Warren. And before he that fieered came, Hood had
unbound me, and ftopped the Fellow (Meadows) by
giving him a Blow with his Fift that knocked him
down. In the mean Time, I had unbound White.
Musgrave, and Middleton; and we went and feized
upon the other two Pyrates, for now we called them
nothing elſe. After we had bound in our Turn, we
went to ſee what Affiftance could be given to Warren,
where we found that a Piece of the Barrel of the
Piſtol had funk into his Skull, and that he was juſt
expiring; but yet he fat upon his Breech with great
Refolution; faid he, you fee you overpowered us,
and I likewife fee the Hand of Heaven is in it. I
now with Horror find (added he) that what you in-
timated to me about Heaven, to be true; I fee it
more in this one Accident, than in all the Preach
ings of the Fathers. I was bred à Roman, had good
Honeſt Parents, Romans, whole Steps, if I had fol-
lowed, would have made my Confcience eaſy to me
at this Time; but I forfook all Religion in général,
and now too late, Í find that to dally with Heaven-
is fooling ones felf; but yet in this one Moment of
my Life, that's left, I heartily repent of all my paſt
}
Crimes
अ
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 111
1
Crimes, and rely upon the Saviour of the World,
that died for our Sins to pardon mine. With that,
he croffed himſelf, and expired.
I must confefs, I was very forry for the unhappy
Accident of his Death; but yet, glad that we were
at Liberty; and were fomething eafy that the poor
Soul repented before his Expiration; not doubting
but the piercing Eye of Providence, faw that if he
had ſurvived, he would have lived a good Chriftian.
And fure the Almighty's infinite Stock of Bounty,
has enough Mercy to fave the repening Soul,
though late before his Repentance comes
After we had fecured our Tartars, we threw Mr.
Warren over-board, and bore to the Wind; for
after our firſt tacking about in the Morning, when
the Buftle happened, they bore away with Tack at
Cat-head, as being for their Purpoſe. The three
Men that were left, defired us to let them have the
Boat, and go feek their Companions; which we
refufed, as not having Hands enough to carry our
Veffel to Jamaica. But we promifed them, if they
would freely work in the Voyage, they fhould have
their intire Liberty to go where they thought fit
without any Complaint against them. Upon this,
we began to be a little fociable as before, and they
all declared, that that what they did was by the
Inftigation of Warren..
The next Day we diſcovered a Ship to Wind-
ward of us, that bore down upon us with crowd-
ed Sails. We filled all the Sails we had, and en-
deavoured to get away from her as fast as we could,
but all to no Purpofe; we faw they gained upon us
every
112
The ADVENTURES of
Po
every Moment, and therefore feeing it was not pof-
fible to eſcape, we backed our Sails and laid by
for them, that they might be more civil if they
were Enemies. As foon as ever they came up
with us, they hailed us, and ordered us to come
on Board, which we durft not deny; when Mr.
Muſgrave and I, with Hood and White for Rowers,
went on board them. We found by Hood's know-
ing them, that they were his Captain and Com-
rades. Now, as Hood faid, we did not know how
we ſhould behave ourſelves, or what we should fay
about Warren; but we only told the Captain how
we met with his Men, and that they were redeemed
upon my Account. He never aſked particularly for
Warren, but how they all did; but when they fent
on board to fearch our Veffel, they foon came to
the Truth on't; for the other three told them the
Story, though not with aggravating Circumstances:
Upon which poor Hood was tied to the Main-mait,
laſhed with a Cat of Nine-tails moft abominably,
and after that pickled in Brine, which was more
Pain than the Whipping; but it kept his Back
from feftering, which it might otherwife have done;
becauſe they flay the Skin off at every Stroke, and,
to prevent it, they wash it with Brine; which is
called Whipping and Pickling. After this they would
not keep him among them; but fent for the other
three Men from our Veffel, and ordered us all on
board, with another of their Men that was ill of a
dangerous Fever, which they feared might prove
infectious. They did not take any Thing from us,
as
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
713
as we expected at firft, only gave us this fick Man
to look after, which we were very well contented
with. So we parted with them very well fatisfied,
but much better when we were out of Sight, fear-
ing they had forgot themſelves, and would fend for
us back, and take our Provifion from us, or one
Miſchief or another; for Pyrates do not often ufe
to be fo courteous.
Our fick Man mended apace, for we took great
Care of him, and by keeping him low, only with
Water-gruel, his Fever left him; when I began to
keep up his Spirits with my Cordials that I had by
me, and in a Week's Time he was pretty hoddy,
(as we call it at Sea). Now we began to converſe
with him, and he ſeemed to be a fenfible good-
natured Fellow.
Among other Difcourfe, we aſked him how Cap-
tain M— -ll and his Crew got a Ship? Said he,
I can only tell the Story as I have heard it (for I was
fick on Shore); which is as follows:
Sixteen of our Men got a Paragua from the In-
dians, who hate the Spaniards, being under their
Subjection, and love the French and English very
well; theſe fet out to feize upon the firft Ship that
they thought they could compafs; when after be-
ing five Days cruifing along Shore, they ſpied a
large Ship weathering Cape Catoch; but believing it
to be too ftrong for them, they refolved to work by
Stratagem, thus: Twelve Men laid down in the
Boat, as if very faint and weak, and made a Signal
to the Ship, as if in Diftrefs, who very charitably
brought
114
The ADVENTURES of
brought to; now they had no Arms with them, før
when they refolved to ufe this Stratagem, they left
them afhore, as making the Pretence more feaſible;
fo that when they arrived at the Ship, they all
went feebly up, as if not able to ftand; nay, fome
were obliged to be led, forfooth, to colour the Mat-
ter the better. They then told them that their
Ship was caft away upon Leggerhead's Key, about
three Leagues from Cape Catech, and faving them-
felves in their Boats, they got fafe into the Cape;
but that wandering up in the Country, they were
met by the Indians, who uſed them barbarously,
killing eleven of their Number; and would have
ferved the ref fo, if they had not made their Eſcape
in that Paragua; that they were fo harraffed for
Want of Food, having been without eating two
Days, that they feared fome of their Companions
would never recover.
The pcor Spaniards ſwallowed the Bait, and their
Captain, being a very good Man, refolved to re-
lieve them, and afked him what they would have
him to do for them? They begged him to land
them on the firit English Colony or land in their
Way. He answered, he was bound for St. Domingo
in Hijpaniola; but that he would put in at Jamaica,
though fomething out of his Way; yet, faid he, I
don't care for going to any of the noted Ports, be-
caufe there is a War talked of between England and
Spain, and though it was not proclaimed, they
might meet with fome Trouble. They were migh-
tily obliged to him, they faid, but they did not
know
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
115
know how to return the Obligation, but by pray-
ing for him and his.
They failed very lovingly with them for three or
four Days, till at last Fortune gave them an Oppor-
tunity to put their Enterprize in Execution. They
had Notice that the Ship leaked mightily, and that
the Water came into the Bread-room; upon which,
the Spaniards went down to remove the Bread to
get at the Leak, and did not leave more than five
Men and the Captain above, whom they inftantly
feized, and clapped down the Hatches upon the reft.
When they had fecured them, they armed them-
felves with Piaols and Lances, which were placed
in the Steerage of the Ship, and fo capitulated with
them; but firit, they fieered their Courfe back
again; that they might not lofe any Time. As they
came up, one by one, they bound them, till they
were all fo, but the Captain and the Pilot: The
Captain they confined to his Cabin, with a Centry
to guard him; but they let the Pilot go loofe, that he
might fleer the Ship. O inhuman! cried I; thus
the Snake in the friendly Bofom warmed turns and
ftings his kind Protector: Thus was their generous
- Hoft (if I may call him fo) betrayed by his too
much good Nature.
After they had brought the Ship fafe to us, m'e
embarked, and put the Spaniards afhore without
a Morfel to help themfelves; nay, if the Indians
could conveniently meet with them, they would not
leave one alive. I must confefs, purfaed the Man,
that the barbarous Story fhocked my very Nature,
and
116
The ADVENTURES
and made me hate their Society; and I really be.
lieve the Abhorrence of this curfed Action brought
my Diflemper upon me.
How much are fome Beafts Acknowledgments of
Kindneſs more than Man? A poor Cur, fed but
a Cruft a Day, will follow the bounteous Hand that
gives it. Ingratitude is the Fountain of all other
Crimes, for from thence flow all the reft. But all
the Knowledge fome Men are endowed with, is but
to find the best Way to deceive. How happy it
would be if fuch Creatures could shake off their
Humanity, and become Beafts in Form as well as
Mind; then we fhould have a Mark to thun thent
by. Our Creator las formed all Kind of Beafts in
Shapes that tell us what they are: But Men differ
in their Natures more than Beafts, or are indeed,
under their human Form, the very Natures of the
Brute Creation. How many Villains, under a
fmooth Face and Tongue, betray their Brothers?
The Father cheats the Son, the Son the Father;
Mothers fquander the Dowry of their Daughters,
and then prostitute them to gain them Bread, which
is not Gain but Punishment: But Ingratitude, like
Murder, meets with its Punishment on Earth, as
well as in the other World; and an ungrateful Man
fhould have a Mark, that all human Society may
fhun him. I think the Lacedemonians ufed to punish
Ingratitude with Death, as a Crime equal to Sacri-
lege or Parricide.
After having taken all their Men on Board, (and
leaving Directions on the Bark of a Tree, for the five
Men
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
117
}
Men that were gone upon the fame Deſign another
Way) we fet Sail, and had not been out two Days
before we met with you. Pray, faid I, how came-
you among them, if you liked not their Defign?
Why, Sir, anfwered he, by Accident; embarking.
from Bermudas, bound for St. Catharines, or the Ifle
of Providence, we were met with by this Pirate, in a
Ship of twenty Guns, and a hundred and twenty
Men, who took us, and rummaging us, threatened
to turn us adrift without Provifion, if we would not
embrace his Deſigns, which was Piracy. We, ra-
ther than undergo what he threatened us withal,
confented with our Tongues; but our Inclinations
were far from it. And from our firſt being with him,
we were plotting to make our Eſcape the next Op-
portunity. But the other four (being but five in
all our Veffel) were unfortunately killed in that
Engagement, where they loft their Ship. What
Ship was it they fought with? Why, Sir, a Man of
War of twenty-fix Guns, fent out on Purpoſe to
take her; for the Captain had committed fuch Dif-
orders wherever he came, that he obliged the Go-
vernor of Jamaica to fend out the Ship called the
Experiment, to cruiſe till fhe met with him: which
ſhe did about five Weeks ago. Our Captain, as
foon as he ſaw her, gueffed at her Defign, and re-
folved to fight her to the laft; well knowing if he
could take or fink her, he might be pretty fecure to
range where he pleaſed, there being never another
Ship of War nearer than Barbadoes; who never came
fo far Weft. After he had made a Speech to his
Men
118
The ADVENTURES of
Men to encourage them to fight it out, and told
them their Advantage, they confented to hoift the
bloody Flag, and neither to give or take Quarter.
As ſoon as ever the Man of War faw our bloody
Flag out, they hoifted theirs, and there enfued a
dreadful Fight. We began about Two o'Clock,
and fought till dark Night, without perceiving any
Advantage on either Side; and then by Confent lay
by till Morning without fighting: which we did for
nigh, it being calm, that we could talk to one
another; but we did it only in threatning Lan-
guage. As foon as the Morning dawned, we went
to it again, with more Fury than before, for our
People fought like deſperate Madmen, well know-
ing if they ſhould be taken, they must all die. The
other Ship fought with a Bravery uncommon; but
I believe the Advantage was on our Side, though
we had killed on Board us thirty-fix Men.
We fought on till Noon, when we difcovered a
Ship about three Leagues to Windward of us,
which bore down upon us with all the Sail they
could. We foon conjectured, they could be no
Friends to us, fo without much Confultation, we
refolved to run it before the Wind, with all the
Sail we could make; as for the Experiment we
fought with, we had put it out of their Power to
follow us, for we had fhot their Main-Maft by the
Board, fo that if the other overtook us, we ſhould
have but one to deal with. We by good Fortune
had all our Mafls firm, and we out-failed the other
Veffel;
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
119
1
Veffel; but as foon as fhe came up with the Experi-
ment, (who never offered to follow us) the laid by,
as we ſuppoſe to affift her, and we obferved through
our Teleſcopes that ſhe had Spanish Colours out.
We foon loft Sight of them, and then we defigned
to change our Courfe, but were prevented by the
Men difcovering two Feet Water in the Hold; who
could not find out the Leak, though they fearched
with all the Diligence they could: So we were ob-
liged to pump, but all that we could do, the Water
ftill gained upon us; we refolved to bear away to
Fucatan, a Province belonging to the Spaniards, and
feek out fome convenient Place, unfrequented by
them, where we might find out our Leak, and ftop
it.
་
Notwithstanding our Labour in pumping, the
Water gained upon us; fo we put out our Long-
Boat, and our Pinnace, in order to put in our Pro-
vifion; which by Morning we effected, and very
happily for us; for it was agreed upon all Hands,
that the Ship could not fwim about eight Hours;
and though we diſcovered Land, and were not above
fix Leagues off Shore, yet we were afraid we could
not reach it, as the Ship was fo heavy with Water.
So all that could not fwim, were ordered into the
two Boats, with their Arms; which held in them
thirty-feven Men with Officers. They that were
left on Board, had Orders to pump as long as they:
could, and run directly in Shore to the Lecward of-
Gape Gatoch; but within half a League of the Place.
MA
the.
4
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​$20
The ADVENTURES of
the Ship funk, and the Men betook themfelves to
ſwimming, whom we met with our Pinnace, and
took up.
I cannot omit one barbarous Action of the Cap-
tain's. There were five Men wounded, who begged
to be taken into the Boat, but the Captain refuſed
them; and this was his Reaſon, as he gave to us in
the Boat: Said he, thofe five that are wounded,
will take up too much Room, for they cannot fit
as we do, but muft lie along; and another Thing is,
they will take more Time in looking after, than we
can well ſpare. Befides, as I believe they will not
recover, they will be fooner out of their Pain;
and if they ſhould recover, added he, they would
help us to devour our Provifion, which we muſt take
particular Care of, for we know not when we ſhall
I must confefs, this Uſage ftruck me to
get more.
the Heart almoft, eſpecially as to one of them, who
feemed to have a Senfe of his Condition, and re-
pented of all his paſt Crimes.
After we came on Shore, we found that we had
killed on Board us forty-three Men, befides the five
that our Captain barbaroufly murdered, by leaving
them in the Ship when fhe funk. Two of their
Bodies were drove on Shore the next Day, but were
ordered by the Captain to have Stones tied to their
Feet, and carried off Shore and funk. As foon as
we had made us two Tents with Sails that were put
in the Boat for that Purpoſe, they began to confult
in what Manner they ſhould get a Ship; when one
Warren
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
IZI
:
Warren propoſed to take the Boat, and four Men
beſide himfelf, with Arms, and a Week's Provifions,
for he would not have any more, and go to the Bay
of Campechy or Campechy Town, where he did not fear
getting a Veffel for their Purpofe; for he faid, he
had done fo upon the like Occafion before. Where-
upon the Boat and four Men were ordered for
him but he ſtaying longer than the appointed
Time, they thought fome Mifchance had happened
to him, fo took off their Thoughts of having any
Veffel from him. One Day they 'fpied a large Pa-
ragua coming towards Shore with nine Indians and
two Spaniards in it, and finding it come fo near,
that they muſt of Courſe ſee them, they immedi-
ately reſolved either to take or kill them all, for
Fear they would difcover them to the Spaniards,
before they had got a Veffel to go off again.
Though 1 muft confefs there was fome
Reaſon, yet I thought it barbarous to fee how
they murdered the two Spaniards and nine Indians.
They put out their Pinnace and ten Men well
armed, to go and take this Paragua; as foon as
ever they were difcovered by the Indians, they
jumped over-board, and made towards Shore; but
were ſhot by our Men, or knocked on the Head
with the Butt-End of their Mufquets. The two
Spaniards had a new Kind of Death; they tied them
Breaft to Breaſt, and their Hands behind them, and
threw them over board; where they ftruggled for
fome Time, and at laſt were drowned. I thought
this
G
122
The ADVENTURES of
this was a Cruelty exceeding all the Tyrants in the
World, and if I had had a Boat, and our People
never a one, I would have run any Hazard to have
faved them. Their Paragua was laden with Flower,
and dried Fish, with feveral Sides of dried Pork, or
Bacon; which was too good for the People that
had it. As for my own Part, but little of it came to
my Share, for I was taken ill the ſecond Day after
we came there, and fo weak and feeble, that I did
not expect to overcome it; and if it had not been
for a Black, that was Trumpeter to the Captain, I
fhould have perished for Want of Suftenance; but
the poor Fellow frequently would bring me fome-
thing or other to nouriſh me; and it is to him,
is to him, under
God, that lowe my Life. He would often tell me that
he did not love that Sort of Life, and wished he could
get rid of his Maßler; but faid he, if he did but
know I had fo much as a Thought that Way, he
would be the Death of me. I believe this was the
only poor Fellow that prayed in the whole Crew.
He was chriftened at Plymouth in England, (and had
very good Notions of Religion) where he was given
to his prefent Mafter, who had made feveral Voy-
ages into the West Indies, for a Plymouth Merchant;
but at last finding Matters on Shore go but indiffe-
rently, and having killed a French Officer there,
feized upon the Ship he uſed to command, and with
a Crew of defperate Fellows made off to Sea, and
fteered his old Courfe for the West Indies, and there
commenced
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
123
:
commenc.d Pirate; but had met with no other Suc-
cefs, than what has been related to you.
Said I, this Fellow's too wicked to have Succefs
in any Thing, eſpecially when Succeſs muſt be an
Addition to his Crimes: If it were poffible to know
his Fate, we ſhould find that he would have fome
deſperate End: For Men when abandoned by Pro-
vidence Divine, though perhaps they may meet with
ſome Succeſs at first, at laft find an End that's fitted
for fuch Wretches who deny a fuperior Being; and
even Atheists, notwithstanding their human Form,
are no better than Brutes; nay, I take an Atheißt to
have far lefs Right to Salvation, than thoſe Indians
that pray to the Devil; for they do it through Ig-
norance, and worſhip him with a more fincere De-
votion, becauſe they know 'tis in his Power to do
them Harm. With what a fervent Zeal would they
ferve the true God, if they knew (as all who profefs
Chriſtianity do) that it is in his Power to beſtow
Bleffings, even after this Life? With what Devotion
they worship the Sun, who they take to be the fu-
perior Deity, becauſe it makes the Earth green, and
is the fecond Caufe of all the Good they enjoy?
Then, with how much more Reverence ought we to
give Praiſe to that Power that lends Light and genial
Heat to that Planet? If an Atheist would confider the
Works of Nature juftly, he would find it an Impof-
fibility to be fo any longer; and to fancy this World
was formed by Chance, or Accident, is to allow
Beafts
Ge
124
The ADVENTURES of
Beafts the Privilege of Nature and Reaſon, to as
great a Degree as we that pretend to Humanity.
John Roufe was the Name of this Sailor we took
on Board, born at Bermudas. He offered us fome
Propofals, if we would go along with him thither,
but I declined it, as wanting to be with my old
Ship's Crew, and thought of ſeeing my own Coun-
try again, as I believe all Travellers do, who bring
nothing Home but Misfortunes, or the Vices of the
Places they have travelled through. From this Man
the faid Rouſe, I had the following ſhort Deſcription
of Bermudas, or the Summer Iſlands.
Bermudas (the Place of my Birth) or the Summer
Ilands, is fuppofed by fome, to take its Name of
Bermudas from certain black Hogs that came out of
a Spanish Ship that was caft away on thoſe Shores.
And by others from one John Bermudas, a Spaniard,
the firſt Diſcoverer of the Iſlands. The Name Sum-
mer Iſlands, is derived from George Summers, an En-
gliſhman, who fuffered Shipwreck there. They are
fituated in thirty two Degrees, and twenty five Mi-
nutes of Northern Latitude; fixteen hundred Leagues
from England; twelve hundred from Madeira;
four hundred from Hifpaniola; and about three hun-
dred from Bofton in New-England. The Spaniards
had it first, and after them the French; but the Sup-
plies that were fent them from France miſcarrying by
Shipwreck, they were obliged to abandon the Iſlands.
After this, one Wingfield, a Merchant in London,
fent in two Ships, Captains Gofnel and Smith, with
People to fettle there; but there was not much done
till
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
125
till 1612, when a Company was established at Lon-
don by Letters Patent, given by King James the first,
who immediately fent Captain Moor with fixty-five
Men, where he was two Years in fortifying the If-
lands againſt the Attempts of any Invafion from ei-
ther French, Spaniards, or Indians. In the mean
Time a Sort of Rats ſo increaſed, that they devour-
ed every Thing that was green in the whole Ifland,
and had like to have ſtarved the Inhabitants, if Pro-
vidence had not timely fent a'Diſeaſe among them
that confumed them all. In about three Years after
the firſt Plantation by Captain Moor, there was fent
them another Supply of Men and Provifion, by Cap-
tain Bartlet, who returned with a hundred Weight
of Ambergreafe. The next Year, there arrived five
hundred Men and Women, with Tradefmen of all
Sorts. In 1616, one Tuckard fucceeded in the Go-
vernment, and was very ferviceable to the Plantation,
in bringing and planting feveral Trees, and Tobac-
CO. He alfo divided the Country into Acres, and
parcelled it out to the Tenants. It encreaſed daily
in Culture and Inhabitants. The Form of the If-
lands, as they lie, reſembles fomething of a Lobſter
with its Claws off. The chief of the Iſlands is cal-
led George Iſland, and is divided into eight Parts,
befides the general Land. 1. Hamilton Tribe; 2.
Smith's Tribe; 3. Devonshire Tribe; 4. Pembroke
Tribe; 5. Paget's Tribe; 6. Warwick Tribe; 7.
Southampton Tribe; 8. Sundy's Tribe. The Islands
are all ſurrounded by Rocks, that at high Water are
dangerous to Strangers. The chief Harbours are
Southampton
G 3
126
The ADVENTURES of
Southampton, Harrington, and the Great Sound. Upon
St. George's Ifland, they have built feveral large and
ftrong Forts, whofe Chief are Warwick and Dover
Forts. The Soil in fome Places is fandy or clayed ;
and in other Places Afh-coloured, White and Black;
about two Feet deep under the Afh, is found great
Slates, which the Inhabitants make Ufe of ſeveral
Ways; and under the Black is found a ftony Sub-
ftance, fomething like a Spunge, or Pumice- ftone.
The Wells and Pits, ebb and flow with the Sea,
yet produce excellent fresh Water. The Sky is ge-
nerally ferene; but when 'tis over-caft they have
dreadful Thunder and Lightning. The Air is much
the fame as with you in England. They have two
Harvests in the Year: They fow in March, and reap
in June; then they fow in August, and gather in Ja.
nuary: And from that Month till May, the Whales
frequently fwim by them. They often find great
Quantities of Ambergreafe, and fometimes Pearl
Oyfters. No venomous Creature will live in any
of the faid Iſlands. The yellow large Spiders have
not the leaft Venom in them. There's Plenty of all
Sorts of Catile, both wild and tame, efpecially
Hogs, who have mightily encreafed fince their firſt
landing; but they are not altogether fo fat as we
could wifh, feeding only on Berries that fall from
the Palmetto-Trees, which are very fweet. There's
Plenty of Mulberries, both white and red, which
produce prodigious Numbers of Silk Worms; who
fpin Silk of the Colour of the Berry. The Trees
are here of different Kinds; the Cedar is reckoned
the
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
127
7
the largest in the Univerfe. The Leaves are downy,
and prickly at the End: The Berries that it pro..
duceth are of a pale Red which inclofe four white
Kernels; the outermoft Skin is fweet; the innermost
that contains the Kernel, is fharp; and the Pulp is
tartish. The Tree is always flourishing, being at
the fame Time full of Bloffoms, green and ripe
Fruit. The Berries when ripe begin to gape, and
fall off in rainy Weather; leaving a round Stalk on
the Boughs, which lofes not its Rind till that Time
Two Years after. The Berry requires one Year be-
fore it comes to its full Ripenefs, which happens
about December. The Boughs fhoot upwards, and in
a little Time are fo heavy, that they weigh down
the Body of the Tree. There are many Plants, as
the Pickle Pear, Poifon Weed, Red Weed, Purging Bean,
Red Pepper, and the Coftive Tree, and the Sea Feather,
which grows on the Brink of the Sea.. There is ano-
ther Plant called Nuchily, which grows in the Nich-
es of the Rocks, washed by the Waves of the Sea,
and produces a Fruit like a Pear, which they' call
the Speckled Pear, from its Spots. For Fowls, we
have all Sorts that England produces befides a great
Number of Cranes, larger than any I have ſeen
elſewhere; with a Sort of Fowl that lives in Holes
in the Rocks like Rabbits. As for Tortoifes, they
are as good there as any where. They catch them
in this Manner; they watch for them at Night,
when they come on Shore to dig Holes to bury their
Eggs in; while they are doing of it, they turn them
on their Backs, and not being able to get upon their
G 4
3
Legs
128
The ADVENTURES of
Legs again, they are eaſily taken. Some will have
a hundred Eggs in them about as big as a common
Tennis Ball, and very round; but a thin Skin, and
the Yolk lies on the Side of the Skin, or Shell, and
may be feen on the Outfide: Thefe hidden in the
Sand, are nouriſhed by the Sun, and never minded
by the Tortoise that lays them; and as foon as ever
they have broke the Shell, they all run into the Sea.
Some fay they are full fix Years a hatching. They
are excellent Meat, (for I can't call them Fiſh) and
very nouriſhing, and we uſe the Oil inſtead of But-
ter, which will keep longer, and is reckoned much
wholefomer for many Ufes. Befides, it is good to
bathe the Place that is ftung by a little Infect, called
Mufketo. The largeſt of theſe Iſlands is Long Iſland;
the next, St. George's Island; after that, Somerset, and
St. David's; next, Hibernia, or Ireland Island;
then Longberd, Cooper's, and Smith's Ifland; Non-
fuch Gates; and the Brothers Island; with many others
as well inhabited, and provided with every Thing
for the Life of Man; which is elegantly defcribed by
your English Poet, Mr. Edmund Waller.
{
Bermudas, wall'd with Rocks, who does not know
That happy Island where huge Lemons grow,
And Orange Trees, which golden Fruit do bear?
Th' Hefperian Garden boafts of nnoc jo fair.
Where Shining Pearl, Coral, and many a Pound,
On the rich Shore, of Ambergrcafe is found.
The lofty Cedar, which to Heav'n afpires,
The Prince of Trees, is Fewel for their Fires:
The
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
129
The Smoak, by which their loaded Spits do turn,
For Incenfe might on facred Altars burn:
Their private Roofs on od❜rous Timber born,
Such as might Palaces for Kings adorn.
The Sweet Palmettos, a new Bacchus yield,
With Leaves as ample as the broadeft Shield:
Under the Shadow of whofe friendly Boughs,
They fit carousing where the Liquor grows.
Figs there unplanted through the Fields do grow,
Such as fierce Cato did the Romans how;
With the rare Fruit inviting them to spoil
Carthage, the Mistress, of fo rare a Soil,
The naked Rocks are not unfruitful there,
But at fome conftant Seafons ev'ry Year,
Their barren Tops with luscious Food abound,
And with the Eggs of various Forvls are crown'd.
Tobacco is the worst of Things, which they
To English Landlords as their Tribute pay:
Such is the Mould, that the bleft Tenant feeds
On precious Fruits, and pays his Rent in Weeds:
With candied Plantanes, and the juicy Pine,
On choiceft Melons, and fweet Grapes they dine,
And with Potatoes fat their wanton Swine.
Nature thefe Cates with fuch a lavish Hand
Pours out among 'em, that our coarſer Land
Taftes of their Bounty, and does Cloth return,
Which not for Warmth, but Ornament is worn:
For the kind Spring, which but falutes us here,
Inhabits there, and courts them all the Year;
Ripe Fruits and Bloſſoms on the fame Trees live,
At once they promife, what at once they give.
ли
G5
So
13.0
The ADVENTURES of
So fweet the Air, Jo moderate the Clime,
None fickly lives, or dies before his Time.
Heav'n fure has kept this Spot of Earth uncurft,
To ſhew how all Things were created firſt.
The tardy Plants in our cold Orchard plac'd,
Referve their Fruit for the next Age's Tafte:
There afmall Grain in fome few Months will be
A firm, a lofty, and a spacious Tree:
The Palma Chrifti, and the fair Papah,
Now but a Seed, (preventing Nature's Law)
In half the Circle of the hafty Year
Project a Shade, and lovely Fruits do wear.
And as the Trees in our dull Region fet,
But faintly grow, and no Perfection get ;
So in this Northern Tract, our boarfer Throats
Utter unripe, and ill conſtrained Notes :
While the Supporter of the Poet's Stile,
Phoebus on them eternally does fmile.
O! how I long my careless Limbs to lay
Under the Plantane's Shade
}
}
There is now in the Inlands of Bermudas, near
forty thouſand Inhabitants, moftly English. The
Laws are the fame as in England. The Religion
and divine Worfhip the fame. There are three and
twenty Parish Churches, befides Chapels. In the
Year 1616, five Seamen fet Sail from thence in an
open Veffel of about three Tons, and after having
fuffered feveral Storms and Tempefts, were fafely
landed at Kinfale in Ireland. The French and Spa-
niards have made feveral Attempts upon thofe Iflands;
but always were drove away with confiderable Lofs.
About
}
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
131
About a Month before I embarked for this unfor-
tunate Voyage, we took a French Pirate, who was
ſo infolent as to come into Harrington's Sound, even
at Noon-day, and cut the Cables of a Merchant-
man, richly laden, bound for England; but by good
Fortune ran upon the Flats in the Mouth of the
Sound, in going out again: So we had Time to
inan fome Boats with fome of the Soldiers of the
Garrifon, and fend to their Relief, where there hap-
pened a deſperate Fight for fome Time; but more
Forces going to the Affiftance of the others, they
took them after an obftinate Refiftance, killing
twenty-seven of their Men, and lofing eleven of
our own. The Captain made his Efcape in his
Boat, in the latter End of the Engagement, when
he perceived his Danger; but was obliged to go on
Shore on Ireland Iſland for fome Provifion, where he
and four Men that were with him, were fecured,.
and fent to Tucker's Town; where they were to be
tried the Day I came away.
Two Nights after we had parted with the Pirate,
we were encountered with a dreadful Storm, that
lafted two Days without abating; and our poor
Bark, which was none of the beft, was tumbled and
toffed like a Tennis-ball, yet we received no Da-
mage, but that the would not answer the Heim;
fo that we were obliged to let her go before the
Tempeft, and truft to the Mercy of Heaven for Re-
lief. This Storm, and the Danger we had escaped
from the Pirate, put me in mind of theſe four Lines
of the forementioned Poet, the celebrated Waller :
G 6
Bo!
132
The ADVENTURES of
Bold were the Men, which on the Ocean firft
Spread their new Sails, when Shipwreck was the worst.
More Danger now from Man alone we find,
Than from the Rocks, the Billows, or the Wind.
We, in the middle of the Storm diſcovered Land
right a-Head, which put us all into our Panicks;
we endeavoured to bring our Veffel to bear up to
the Wind; but all to no Purpoſe; for fhe till drove
nearer to Shore, where we difcovered feveral To-
kens of a Shipwreck, as Pieces of broken Maſts,
and Barrels fwimming on the Water, and a little
farther Men's Hats; then we began to think we
fhould certainly run the fame Fate, when, as ſoon
as thought, our Bark was drove on Shore in a ſmooth
fandy Bay, but where we had Opportunity to quit
her, which was happy for us; for the Sea waſhed
over her with fuch Violence, we had not any Hopes
of her escaping the Storm, but thought of courſe
would be torn to Pieces.
1
When we were afhore, we all concluded it could
be no other Part but the South of Cuba ijland, be-
longing to the Spaniards. We were then in a terri-
ble Fright, left we were near any Part that belonged
to the Indians; for Mr. Muſgrave affured me, that
there were fome Parts of the South Side of Cuba, that
Indians dwelt in, in Spite of the Spaniards, and
maffacred them wherever they met them, or any
other Whites. We lay all Night in terrible Fear,
and though we found the Storm abated, or rather a
Calm
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
133
Calm fucceeded, yet we durft not ftir till the Moon
rofe, and then we all walked towards our Veffel,
which we found all on one Side; but by good For-
tune moſt of our Provifions were dry, which mightily
rejoiced us; but all the Veffel's Rigging and Maits
were ſhattered and torn in Pieces, and fome Part of
her Quarter wrung off, that he could not be of any
Uſe to us if we could have got her upright. But
we took out all our Provifion, and our Arms, with
two Barrels of Gun-powder that was dry, the reſt
being damaged with Water and Sand that had got
in. We had Arms enough, as having them that
belonged to the three Sailors that were taken in the
Pirate, which we fuppofed they had forgot; fo we
were fix Men well armed, with each a Mufket, a
Cafe of Piſtols, and a Bayonet; befides two Cut-
laffes, if Need were.
By that Time we had taken every Thing out,
Day approached, and then we defigned altogether,
well armed, to go and view the Country. John
Roufe was very well recovered of his Fever, but a
little weak, yet his Heart was as good as the best
of us.
So we reſolved, if we were fet upon by In-
dians, to defend ourſelves to the laft Drop of Blood,
choofing rather to die by their Hands in Fight, than
to be tortured after the Manner as they inflict upon
all the Whites they get into their Hands. But ftill
we had fome Hopes that we were too far towards
the Northward for them.
When we had placed our Provifion and other
Neceffaries fafe behind a Tuft of Trees that grew
clofe
134
The ADVENTURES of
clofe by the Water-fide, we fixed our Arms, and
ventured to walk up in the Country, which we
did almoſt every Way that Day, four or five Miles;
but could not diſcover any living Creature, nor
any Sign of Inhabitants, only in one Place the
Grafs feemed to be lately trodden, but whether by
Man or Beaft we could not diſcover, fo being
pretty well tired, we went back again to our
Station, where we ate heartily, and at Night we
laid ourſelves upon the Grafs, and fell aſleep; for
we durft not lie upon the Sails we had got for that
Purpoſe, becauſe they were not dry, though ſpread
all Day long.
I was awakened the next Morning by a Company
of Lizards creeping over me, which is an Animal
frightful enough to look at, but very harmlefs,
and great Lovers of Mankind; they fay, that theſe
Creatures, if any Perfon lies afleep, and any vora-
cious Beaſt, or the Alligator, which comes on Shore
often, is approaching the Place where you lie, will
crawl to you as falt as they can, and with their
forked Tongues tickle you till you awake, that
you may avoid by their timely Notice the coming
Danger. I got up, being roufed by thefe Animals,
and looked about me, but faw nothing but an odd
Kind of a Snake about two Feet long, having a
Head fomething like a Weafel, and Eyes fiery like
a Cat's; as foon as it fpied me it ran away, and
my Dog after it; but I believe put it in a terrible
Fright, for it made a Noife fomething like a
Weafel,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
135
جو
Weafel, but louder, which awakened my Compa-
nions. When I told Mr. Mufgrave what I had feen,
he faid it was a fmall Serpent, but not very hurtful
called the Guabiniquinaze Serpent, from eating a little
Creature of that Name, fomething refembling a
fmall Mole; and the Indians and Spaniards eat of
them, and reckon them dainty Food.
We now refolved for another Walk, to diſcover
what Inhabitants were our Neighbours, whether In-
dians or Spaniards; if Indians we defigned to patch
up our Boat, which had ſeveral Holes in it, and
make off as faft as we could, and row Northward,
till we came to fome Place inhabited by Spaniards.
But if we found the latter, to beg Protection, and
fome Mears to get to Jamaica; whereupon we ven-
tured out with thefe Refolutions, We met with
feveral fine large Cedar Trees, and one particularly
fo large, that Mr. Mulgrave and I could but juſt
fathom it with our Hands joined.
We had not gone far before my Dog began to
bark, when turning my Head on one Side, I
beheld a Black approaching towards us, and being
ftartled at the Sight, I cocked my Piece, and re-
folved to fire at him; but he called to me in English,
and told me he did not come to do me any Harm,
but was a poor diftreffed Englijkman that wanted
Food, and was almoft ftarved, having eat nothing
but wild Fruit for four Days. Upon that I let him
come near, where he was foon known by Mr. Rouf
to be William Plymouth, the Black that
Trumpeter to the Captain that commanded the
was
Pirate
136
The ADVENTURES of
Pirate Ship. Upon his knowing him, we fat down
and gave him fome Provifion, which we had
brought with us, becauſe we defigned to be out all
Day.
After he had refreſhed himſelf a little, we aſked
him how he came into this Iſland? Why, anſwered
he, we were cruiſing about Cuba, in Hopes of fome
Spanish Prize, when a Storm arofe and drove us
upon a Rock, where our Ship was beat to Pieces,
and not above eighteen Men faved befides the Cap-
tain. And did that wicked Wretch eſcape the
Shipwreck, faid I? Yes, anfwered Plymouth, but to
undergo a more violent Death. For, faid he, as
foon as ever we landed we wandered up in the
Country to fce for fome Food, without any Weapons.
but a few Cutlaffes, having loft our first Arms;
but however we all got fomething or other to
defend ourſelves on Shore, as long Clubs, which
we got from the Trees we found in our Walks;
our Captain refolved if he met with any Indians or
Spaniards Huts, that he would murder all that he
found in them, for Fear they fhould make their
Efcape, and bring more upon us. Thus he encou-
raged his Men to follow him with their Clubs; faid
he, we will walk till we find fome beaten Path,
and there lie hid till Night, when we may go on to
fome Houſes, and come upon them undiſcovered;
by which Mcans we may get Provifion and other
Arms For the Indians of Cuba ufe Fire Arms as
well as the Spaniards, and are full as dextrous in
ufing them as any Europeans, &c. After travelling
about
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
137
about ten Miles to the N. W. we diſcovered a Path,
upon which a Halt was commanded, and to retire
into the Woods again till Night; which we did,
and dined upon what Fruits we could get upon the
Trecs.
About two Hours before Night a Dog fmelled us
out, and running away from us, barked most furi-
oufly; upon that we were afraid of being difcovered,
which Fear proved true; for in half an Hour, or
thereabouts, after the Dog left us, we were faluted
with feveral Arrows and Mufquet-Shot, that killed
us three Men, and wounded me in the Foot, but it
proved the Means of faving my Life: For as ſcon
as our Men perceived what had happened, they ran
as hard as they could to meet the Danger, as know-
ing they could do no good till they came to
Handy-Blows; I, in endeavouring to follow
them, found my Hurt, which prevented my
keeping up with the reft; but I could hear
and fee them at it: There were about two
hundred Indians fet upon our Men, and in about
half an Hour killed them every one. I faw the
Captain lay about him defperately, but at laſt fell,
being run through the Throat with a wooden Stake.
As foon as ever they had conquered them, or rather
murdered them, they fell to ftripping of them as
faft as they could, and carried them off, together
with their own Dead, which were many, for the
English fold their Lives very dearly.
After they were gone, which I found by their
Screaming and Noife at a Distance, I ventured to
Real
138
The ADVENTURES of
fteal out from behind a Row of Bushes, where I had
placed myſelf to fee what had happened; I went to
the Place of Battle, where I found two of our Men
that they had left, with all their Arms, and fome
of their own; fo I took up one of their beft Muf-
quets, and a Cutlafs, and made farther into Wood,
for Fear of being caught; which I had certainly
been, if I had ftaid a Quarter of an Hour longer,
for 1 foon heard them come whooping, fcreaming,
and hallooing back, to fetch the other two Bodies,
and their Arms, as I conjectured.
I walked as far as my hurt Foot would let me
that Night, and out of the Danger of the Indians,
as I thought, and then laid me down to fleep as
well as I could, being very hangry, and fadly tired,
and flept pretty well till Morning, when I proceeded
forward in my painful Journey, and directed my
Courfe N. E. thinking that was the beft Way to
avoid the Indians, and probably to meet with fome
Spaniards, whom I knew inhabited towards the
North, the Havanna, the capital City of the whole.
Iſland, being feated there. I wandered for four
Days, eating nothing but Fruit in the Woods; but
laying myfelf down about an Hour ago, to reſt
myſelf a little, I thought I heard the Tongues of
Engliſhmen, which to my great Joy proved true. I
left my Mufquet behind the Bufhes, for Fear of
alarming you; but now, after returning God and
you Thanks for this timely Nourishment, I'll go
and fetch it, which he did; and we might easily
know it to be an Indian Piece, for they had rudely
carved
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
139
carved it all over with feveral Figures of Birds and
Beafts.
Now, faid I to my Companions, you fee the
Reward of Wickedness. He was not fuffered by
Providence to go on long in his Crimes; though
fome that are inured to Ills, yet they are overtaken at
laft, when their Crimes are full blown; for though
Juftice has leaden Feet, yet th always find the
has iron Hands; and we too often fee tha❤ he who
kills his Adverfary in a Duel, though he escapes
the Law, one Time or other meets the fame Fate
himſelf.
After poor Plymouth had refreshed himſelf, we
fet forward, and walked along till we came to a
Road that feemed to be the main Road of the
lfland, by the Largenefs. Here we confulted
what we fhould do, whether we fhould go on, or
return for more Provifion; but we refolved to go a
little Diſtance from the Road, for Fear we ſhould
meet with more of the Indians,
Fate with the other Englishmen.
and run the fame
But Plymouth told
us, we were a great Way from that Place where
his Countrymen were killed; (for Plymouth, though
born in Guinea, would always call himſelf an En-
glishman, as being brought over very young,) fo
we refolved one and all to venture.
We fent up our Prayers to the Almighty for our
Safety, and went on with a Faith that we ſhould
come off with Succefs; but we had not gone far
when we heard the Reports of feveral Mufquets,
and fhouting in a barbarous manner, behind us.
Looking
140
The ADVENTURES of
Imme-
Looking that Way, we faw a Muletto riding as fail
as ever his Mule could carry him; when he came
up to us, he stopped, and cried in Spanish, Make
hafte, run, for the Indians are coming upon you,
they have killed ſeveral Spaniards already, and they
are fighting with them. Mr. Mulgrave, who un-
derſtood Spanish very well, interpreted what he faid
to us; he afkodhim how far they were off? He
anfwered, juft by; and hearing another Shout,
put Spurs to his Mule, and left us in an Inftant.
We found by the Shouting and the Firing, that they
would be immediately upon us, fo we retired out
of the Road to let them pafs, and laid down upon
our Bellies that they might not diſcover us.
diately came by about twenty Spaniards on Horfe-
back, purfued by near a hundred Indians: Juft as
they came by us one Spaniard dropped, and crept into a
Buſh on the other Side of the Road; and preſently
the Indians followed, fhouting in a horrid Manner,
and overtook the Spaniards again, who being very
fwift of Foot, out-run an ordinary Horfe; and
they had thrown away their Fire-Arms, to make
them the lighter to run, as we fuppofed. The
Spaniards knew they would foon overtake them,
fo only ran to charge their Pistols, and ſtand till
they came up; then diſcharged them, to put them
in Confufion, and run again, to prolong the Time,
in Hopes of fome Aid. All this we underſtood by
the Spaniard, that crept into the Bush undiſcovered
by the Indians, by Reafon of the Horfes Feet, and
the Duft together, he being the foremoſt in Flight.
He
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
141
He told us moreover that about three Leagues
farther, there was a Fort belonging to the Spa-
niards to top the Indians, they ufing to make In-
roads before that Fort was built, even to the Gates
of the City Havanna. Upon this we confulted and
refolved to follow upon the Edge of the Road, to
fee how we could be affling; we foon came even
with them, for they were in a narrow Place, and
the Spaniards kept them at Bay pretty well; by
good Fortune there was a high Hedge made by
Trees all along as we went, which hindered us
from being difcovered. Here we refolved to fire
upon them all together, and then run further up,
and if poffible get out into the Road and face them.
Accordingly we agreed to fire four and three, and
the firſt four to charge again immediately. Mr. Muj-
grave, Mr. Middleton, Mr. White, and myfelf, agreed
to fire first; then Hood, Rufe, and Plymouth; which
as foon as we had taken good Aim, we did,
and, firing at their Backs, killed four downright,
and wounded feveral, for I had ordered them to
put two Bullets into each Piece. As foon as ever
we had fired our Mufquets, we let fly one Pistol
each, and then the other three fired their Guns.
As foon as Plymouth had fired, he ran and charged
our four Guns, (he having never a Piſtol) and then
we let Ay our other Piſtols. With thefe Difcharges
we had killed at leaſt fifteen Indians, and put the
reft into fuch Frights that they began to run; (for
with the Duft and Buftle they made, they could
hardly diftinguish from whence the Fire came)
neither
142
The ADVENTURES of
neither did they stop till they met with the poor
wounded Spaniard, who had crept out, hearing the
Diſcharge of our Pieces, (as we fuppofed); they fell
upon the poor Fellow with Shouts and Outcries, and
tore him to Pieces, never minding the Spaniards purfu-
ing them; who cried Miraculo! Miraculo! a Miracle!
a Miracle! By this Time we got within twenty
Yards of the End of the Hedge, where we feven
fired our Mufquets, and left them to Plymouth to
charge; then we ran in upon them with our Piſtols,
and diſcharged them cloſe upon them. With this
laft Fire we dropped them twelve Men, and they
fcreamed out, and ran away as fast as they could.
We did not think fit to follow them, for it was not
to any Purpoſe, for they were foon out of Sight.
We charged our Guns and Piſtols again, and the
twelve Spaniards did the like, they having Nine in
the laſt Conflict killed, and two deſperately
wounded. They gave us Thanks for our Reſcue,
and faid we were furely fent from Heaven to their
Relief; they let us know they were Tax-gatherers
for the King of Spain, and were obliged to go in
Numbers, and well armed, for Fear of theſe
defperate Indians; who, about nine Years ago,
fet upon them, and killed eighteen of them,
and but two eſcaped, but never met with any
Moleftation from that Time till now; fo that
this Time (thinking the Danger over) we leffened
our Number from fifty to thirty, which I fuppofe
the Indians having Notice of, was the Occafion of
their
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
143
their ſetting upon us.
They ſaid it was to no Pur-
pofe for to go back, for the rest of their Compa-
nions that were killed, which being a Mile off,
they had taken with them.
We had not gone above half a League onward,
but we heard dreadful Shoutings as before, and
looking behind us, it being a ſtrait Road, we could
perceive a Cloud of Duft, and the Indians running
full Speed toward us. Upon which we put down
our two wounded men that were on Horſeback,
and mounted upon the Spaniards fpare Horſes.
Now we being nineteen Horſemen, refolved to
ftand it: We divided into Ranks, four in a Rank,
which made five Ranks; only there were but three
in the last Rank. So we refolved to keep directly
one behind the other, and when the firft File had
fired, to fall in the Rear, and charge again The
Spaniards would make up the three firft Ranks, as
they ſaid they could not in Honour expofe us to the
firſt Onſet, becauſe we ventured our Lives in coming
to their Affiftance. We had no Time to difpute, for
now they were juft upon us, and to our Surprize had
feveral Fire-Aims among them. As foon as they got
within a hundred Paces of us they fired, but not
above two of their Pieces went off, the reft were
clogged with Duft in running, that very happily for
us hindered their Diſcharging. The Shot miffed
us providentially, and we would not give them
Time to charge again, but we moved forward and
fired in upon them, and did great Execution; when
it came to our Turn to fire, we in the Heat forgot
our
144
The ADVENTURES of
our Orders, but after we had diſcharged our Guns
and Piftols, we fell in with them with our Cutlaffes,
and being raiſed above them by being on Horſe-
back, did great Execution; and that with the Spa-
niards charging and firing again, put them to the
Rout; but now we followed them being on Horfe-
back, and difperfed them, fo that it was impoffible
for them to rally any more that Night. However
we took four of them Prifoners, and tying their
Hands behind them, faftened them to two of our
foremost Horfes, the reft following after, that they
might not get looſe.
We were met in the Road by twenty Spanish
Horſe, with each a Foot-Soldier behind them, who
were upon the full Gallop to our Affiſtance, being
alarmed by the Mulatto that rode by; but I believe
fome were glad they came too late. The Officer
and the reft faluted us very courteously, when they
heard how luckily we came to their Affiftance; but
fell a whipping the poor naked Indians fo barba-
rouſly, that though they deſerved it, I could not
bear to fee it done in cool Blood, and though the
Blood followed every Laſh, yet they never cried out.
This is the chief Caufe of the Hatred of the Indians,
when ever the Spaniards get any of them in their
Power, they put them to all Manner of Torture;
but if, on the contrary, they would uſe them ci-
villy, and diſcharge them now and then, I am fure
they might live in perfect Friendſhip with them :
For the Indians are good natured, loving, and affa-
ble, till they are incenfed, and then they are im-
placable.
We
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
145
We arrived at the Fort about Evening, and were
very well entertained. The Officer did not doubt
but to procure us a Ship to tranſport us to Jamaica,
though he had Orders from Havannah to ſecure all
English Veffels, there being a War talked of between
the Spanish and French, and English and Dutch. The
next Day the Officer mightily bragged of being an
old Spaniard, that is, born in Spain, and of an an-
cient Family; and Mr. Musgrave made us very
merry upon the Road, in interpreting the Don's
Speeches. We found, all along from the Fort, a
great many Gentlemens Houfes pleaſantly fituated,
and the Country all along yielded delightful Prof-
pects.
We were well entertained at a Gentleman's Houſe
at Dinner, with Provifions dreffed after the Engliſh
Way, and all Manner of Sweetmeats and cool
Wines. The Gentleman had a Vault or Cellar
thirty Feet deep under Ground. He spoke pretty
good English, and had been a Factor feveral Years
în London, and knew our Cuſtoms and Manners very
well, and preferred our Way of dreffing Victuals
before their own. He had an English Cook from a
Tavern behind the Royal-Exchange, that he brought
with him into Spain, and from thence to Cuba,
where he had a vaſt Eftate left him. His Cook's
Name was Hodges, a good underſtanding Fellow,
and made very much of us, and would fain have
had us to stay with his Mafter longer. But as
foon as we had dined, we were obliged to get on
Horſeback, and away for the Havanna, which we
reached about fix o'Clock in the Evening. We had
、 .
H
Rooms
146
The ADVENTURES of
Rooms allotted us, and feveral Engliſh and Iriſh Men
came to fee us that lived there.
Havanna is the capital City of the whole Iſland of
Cuba, and has as great a Trade as any Place belong-
ing to the Spaniards in the Weft-Indies. It has one of
the fineſt Harbours in the Univerfe, not for its
Greatnefs, but its Security, yet able to contain five
Hundred Ships of the greateſt Burthen. The Mouth
of the Harbour is commar ded by a Platform; and a
fquare Fort, faftened together by a ftrong Boom, or
Iron Chain, that no Ship can enter. The most fhal-
low Part of the whole Harbour, is eight Fathom
Water, and all its Banks paved round with fat
Stone, ſo that a Veffel of a Thoufand Tun may lay
her Side to it and unlade. Juft between the two
Forts there ftands a round Watch Tower, where
they diſcover to the Town how many Veffels are
coming towards the Harbour, by putting out a Flag
for every Ship. This Place is the beft fortified and
garriſoned in all the Indies, to fecure the Plate Fleet,
and all other Ships that meet here, to fet fail toge-
ther for Spain. This City is very large, near as big
as Briftol in England, and the Houfes are hand-
fomely built; but after the Spanish Fashion. There
are two handſome Churches, fine, and well
built, with Spires, and an Organ in each, befides
feveral Chapels; and a Foundation laid for a third
Church while we were there. This City, almoſt as
foon as it was built, was facked by a French Pirate
in the Year 1536, who was driven thither by a
Tempeft, and landing his Men well armed, took
the City in Spite of all their Refiftance, and burnt
many
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 147
many of the Houſes, they being moft part Wood;
and had confumed them all, had not the Spaniards
redeemed the reſt, by paying them a thouſand Du-
cats. Upon the receiving the Money, they made
out to Sea, and the fame Evening came into the Ha-
vanna three Ships from Spain, who hearing of what
had chanced, prepared to follow them, taking feve-
ral Soldiers on board them; the Admiral, who fail-
ed best, got the firft Sight of the Frenchman; but be-
ing fearful to attack him before the other Ships came
up, lay by. The Frenchman feeing that, boldly
fet upon the first Ship, and took her without
fighting; the fecond feeing that, tacked about,
and ran afhore, which was taken by the Ship's
Boat; the third alſo run the fame Fate. Fluſhed with
this Succefs, they returned to the Havannah the fe-
cond Time, and exacted a thouſand Ducats more, or
elfe they threatened to level the City with the
Ground, which was paid them immediately. Then
they took their laft Leave with this rich Booty, and
failed for Rochel in France, where they ſhared
their Prizes. After this they built their Houſes
with Stone, as they are now, which nevertheleſs
the English took about twelve Years after.
There are many fair Harbours befides the Havan-
nah, in Cuba, as that of St. Jago City and Harbour,
which is a handfome Place, feated on the South of
the Iſland, and is alfo a Bishop's See under the Arch-
bishoprick of St. Domingo. Three Leagues from St.
Jago lie thofe famous Copper Mountains, called by
the Spaniards, Sierra de Cobre. There's another Town
and Harbour fituated on the Eaſtern Part of Cuba,
H 2
called
148
The ADVENTURES of
called Baracoa, where they gather the beft Ebony of
all the Indies. There are many other good ones, as
St. Salvador, Trinedad, Puerto del Principe, which
has a Fountain near it, that fome Times of the Year
produces liquid Pitch.
Cuba was formerly divided into eight Provinces
and Governments, and better peopled than any o-
ther Ifland in America, before the Spaniards invaded
them; but now there are but few Indians, which in-
habit ſeveral Parts of the Iſland unmoleſted by the
Spaniards; but the Natives can never forget their
Barbarity, which they have by Tradition from Fa-
ther to Son. Nay, I have been informed that they
keep a folemn Feſtival once a Year, which was the
Time that the Maffacre of the Inaians happened;
and if they can get any Spaniards, they facrifice them
to fatisfy the Manes of their dead Anceſtors.
Hugh Linfcoten, the French Voyager, relates that a
Caffick, or one of the Lords of a Province, caught a
Spaniard at their firft Landing, and threw him into a
River, to ſee if he would drown, which he did, and
that fatisfied him they were not immortal. Where-
upon he encouraged his Men, and repulfed the Spa-
niards ſeveral Times with great Lofs; but at last run
the fame Fate with the rest of the Natives. 'Tis re-
ported that the Spaniards, firft and laft, had maffacred
fixty thousand Indians in the Iſland of Cuba.
La Cafès, a Bishop in New Spain, that wrote the
Hiftory of the Indies, tells us this Story of another
Caffick, that was taken by the Spaniards in Cuba,
and condemned to be burnt alive with green Wood,
that his Torture might be the longer and more
exquifite.
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
149
exquifite. While he was tied to the Stake, before
the Fire was lighted, the Fryar that was preſent
preached to him the Truth of the Chriftian Religion,
and that all who died in that Faith, and truſted in
God that formed the Earth, and all the Creatures
therein, fhould immediately after their Purgation
afcend into Heaven, the Refidence of our Creator,
there to converfe with Angels, and fuch as died in
that Faith; but on the contrary, if they perfifted in
Ignorance, and died in a contrary Opinion, they
ſhould defcend into Hell, and live in an Eternity of
Torments. Upon this the Caffick aſked him if there
were any Spaniards in Heaven? And being anſwered
there were many; then, faid the Caffick, let me go
to Hell, for I would rather converfe with thofe you
call Devils, than you Spaniards in Heaven; for I am
fure you are the worst of Devils, and take Delight
in nothing but tormenting us. Though the Fryar's
preaching was certainly true, yet Men of any Reafon
muft conclude, that no Religion can be propagated by
Cruelty and the Sword, which was always the Spa-
niards Method with the Indians, wherever they came;
and all their Excufe was, that if they had not uſed
them in that Manner, they could never have made
their Conquefts, for they were forced to leffen
them, for fear their Numbers might overpower
them; fo that in fhort, as Dryden ſays, in his Con-
quest of Mexico by the Spaniards, You threaten Peace,
but you invite a War.
I met there with a Prieft, that I am fure harboured
nothing of Cruelty in his Breaft, for he came to ſee
H 3
115
150
The ADVENTURES of
us every Day, and in fuch a friendly Manner, that
charmed us all. He was always fending us one
good Thing or other, and would take us to divert
us abroad. He understood Latin very well, and
fome English. On the Sunday he preached an excel-
lent Sermon in Spanish, as Mr. Musgrave informed
us, whofe chief Heads ran upon us, and to excite
Charity in the Auditors, to let us have what was
neceffary in carrying us to Jamaica. The next Day
he brought us to the Value of fifty Pounds in Spa-
nish Dollars, which were collected at the Church
Doors for us. There was a fmall Veffel of about
forty Ton upon the Stocks, that was bought of the
Owners for us, and a Collection made in the Town
for Money to pay for it. We told them of the Pro-
vifion we had left on Shore, which by our Compu-
tation could not be above twenty Leagues off; but
they told us it would be difficult to find it. One
Day a Spaniard met us walking with Father Antonio,
in one of the Cloifters of the Convent, and repri-
manded him for favouring Hereticks (as he called us)
fo much. He thought none of us understood Spa-
niſh, ſo was more free in his Converſation. Said
Father Antonio, We ought to uſe Charity even to
Brute Beafts, and much more to our Fellow Crea-
tures, who wear with us our Creator's Image; I
would not be thought to make a Schifm in our Re-
ligion, which I am fure is the holiest and most
pure; but yet I cannot confent in my Thoughts,
that all who are out of the Pale of our Church muft
fuffer Damnation; it would be horrid to think it,
and
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
151
and would take away from the Luftre of our Opi-
nion, which ſhines fo brightly. If they are in any
Errors, concerning their Belief, God, in whoſe
Breaſt it lies, can open their Eyes when he thinks
fit, that they may fee thofe Errors. Then added
the Spaniard, with the fame Reafon you may ſay
the Indians and Natives may ftill remain in Igno-
rance, till Heaven fhall think fit to open their Eyes,
as you fay; and if fo, the Miffionary Fathers may
fpare their Trouble. No, replied the Father, We
are there appointed by Providence to bring them
out of the Cloud that dims their Sight. But of
People that own Chrift, and ferve the, fame God
with us, who differ but in a few outward Forms of
Worſhip, it is very hard to believe that thofe in-
ftructed in that Worship, muft inevitably fink into
Damnation. I can't tell what the Spaniard's
Thoughts were upon this Difcourfe, but I am fure
he was more charitable than before, for he pulled
out of his Purſe a Moidore, and gave Father Antonio
for our Ufe, which it ſeems he had refufed to do,
when he went about collecting for us. After he
was gone, he told us his Diſcourſe pro and con, and
what he could not make out in English, Mr. Muf-
grave cleared to, us from the other's telling him in
Spanish what he meant.
❤
*
We were told our Veffel was ready, and therefore
might be going when we pleaſed.. It was a very
neat one as ever was built by the Spaniards, and
carried between thirteen and fourteen Ton.
H4
We
1
152
The ADVENTURES of
We had all Sorts of Provifion fent on Board for
half a Year, or more, fo that we only faid for the
Wind to rife, it being quite calm.
While we ftaid there, the four unfortunate In-
dians were to be executed in the Midft of the Parade.
They were firft to be dragged by four Horfes, na-
ked, along the great Street to the Parade, and then
to be chained to a Poft, fixed for that Purpoſe, and
burnt to Death: I must confefs, when I faw with
what barbarous Cruelty they defigned to uſe them,
I repented my being an Inftrument in the taking of
them. This Execution was ordered to be between
feven and eight in the Evening, being then it was
cooleft: All the Indian Slaves that ferved Spanish
Mafters in the Town, were ordered to go and be
Spectators of the Tragedy, that they might fee
what they muſt expect, if they ever offered to rebel
in the like Manner: When the Time came, the
whole Street was crowded with a vaft Number of
People of all Conditions. But fuch a Sight I never
defire to fee again; each Indian was tied by the Feet
to the Harneſs of the Horfe, and fo dragged from
the Prifon to the Place of Execution upon the bare
Stones naked, their Arms tied upon their Breafts,
and faſtened upon their Backs, that they might not
lift them up to fave themſelves as they were dragged
along the Stones; but by that Time the poor Crea-
tures' came to the Parade, the Skin of their Legs,
Thighs, and Back, was almoft ftripped off, yet
without the leaft Complaint; as foon as they were.
tied fast to the Stake, they took from a Pot of li-
quid
+
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 153
quid Pitch, boiling hot, a Stick with fomething
faſtened to the End on't, and rubbed over their
naked Bodies. One of them then, I obferved, be-
gan to faint, but was rated by another of his Fel-
low-Sufferers in their own Language, which none
underſtood but Indians, and the Fellow feemed to
bear it much better. Before the Fire was put to
the Pile, a Fryar ftepped up to them, and in Spanish
fpoke to the Indian that was ready to faint before,
who had been Servant in the Town, but run away
from his Mafter, and understood Spanish. The Fryar
defired them, if they would be happy in the other
World, to acknowledge themſelves Chriftians, and
go out of the World in that Faith. Upon this the
Indian anſwered, • When I lived among you (faid
he) and was taught to worship your God, you
'told me he was an upright God, aud a juſt God
C
6
•
•
·
to them that ferved him faithfully, but an aveng-
ing Power to thofe that once offended him; if
fo, how comes it to paſs that he has not puniſhed
you for all your Crimes? You have taught me,
that Whoring and Adultery were Sins not to be
pardoned, and yet you commit thofe Sins, as if
you were in no Fear of any Puniſhment. Murder is
one of your Commandments not to be forgiven,
when at the fame Time you'll hire a Bravo to kill
a Stranger that looks but wantonly on your
• Wives. In fhort, I know not any one Thing
that I have heard preached to us poor Indians, that
⚫ you practiſe yourſelves. Therefore if your Spaniſh
• God
HS
154
The ADVENTURES of
• God be as you deſcribed him to us, the Curfe muſt
fall
upon you if we cannot believe in him, being
we are deterred by the Cruelties you inflict upon
us, in ferving him as you would have us, when
we find your Actions and Words differ more than
our Complexions. You preach up Holiness and
Righteoufnefs, but you practiſe Debauchery and
• Lewdnefs.'
،
He faid more, which was to excite the Indians
to rebel, but they put a Stop to it, by putting Fire
to the Wood, which being compofed of feveral
combustible Matters, foon confumed the poor
Wretches.
When all was over, Father Antonio took us home
to his Lodgings, to give us a fmall Collation for the
laft Time, being the next Day we did all defign to
lie on Board, in Expectation of the Wind's rifing.
We told him by Mr. Muſgrave, that we thought it
a great Weakness in them to preach in that Manner
to Indians in their Condition, and it would be apt
to make others defpife their Religion; faid Mr. Muj-
grave, it is like courting a Woman to Love by
Stripes (pardon the Compariſon): Why, faid Fa-
ther Antonio, I must confefs it is not what any of our
Fathers like, but it is what we are ordered to do,
and therefore must not be denied. Befides, at first, it
was a Piece of barbarous Policy in the firft Conque-
rors of the Indies, they would order the Miffionaries
to preach to all Indian Criminals, but out of hear-
ing of any Spectators; fo as ſoon as they were exe-
cuted, they would declare to all the Indians that
they
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
155.
they died Chriftians, and were happy. Mr. Muſ-
grave afked him, What made them uſe them fo in-
humanly, was it not enough that they fuffered
Death, but must be tortured in that barbarous
Manner? He replied, it was done to terrify the
other Indians from any Violence. Mr. Musgrave
anfwered, That was certainly wrong, for as they
are an implacable Sort of People, and have handed
down to them from Father to Son, the firft Maffacre,
though almoft two hundred Years ago, they muſt
needs remember thefe Cruelties of fo freſh a Date,
which revive in their Memories the former, if they
had any Mind to forget them: He could not fay
much to it, he faid, but evaded the Difcourfe, by
bidding us be merry, that is, innocently and inof-
fenfively fo, for he did not allow of Diſorders in
any one; ſo we refreſhed ourfelves, and took our
Leaves of the good Father, who bleffcd and em-
braced us, and faid he would pray to Heaven for
our profperous Voyage. So on the next Day we
paid our hearty Acknowledgments to all our Bene-
factors, and went on Board; where we had not
been a Quarter of an Hour, before an extraordinary
Meffage came from the Governor for Plymouth, our
Black, who went with them without any Hefitation,
and returned with a Prefent from the Governor, of
feveral Bottles of Arrack, Spanish Wines, Fowls, Rice,
and Brandy, with twenty Pieces of Spanish Gold, as
the Meffenger told us, in Recompenfe for the Lofs
of one of our Companions; for the Governor had
fent for Plymouth, to know if he would ferve him in
H 6
Quality
156
The ADVENTURES of
Quality of his Trumpeter, and he would fettle a
Penfion upon him for Life. Plymouth thought fit to
accept of it, as having no Mafter, nor knowing
when he ſhould have one: But he got Leave to come
on Board to bid us farewel, which he did in a very
affectionate Manner. I bid him have a Care to
pleaſe the Governor, and then he need not fear do-
ing well; fo we parted with Plymouth, with our
hearty Thanks recommended to Father Antonio for
all his Favours, Plymouth had a Trumpet given
him by the Governor, as foon as he came on Shore,
which he brought with him, and founded all the
Way in the Boat, as he went back again to oblige
us; for really he founded extraordinary well, and
had learned to play on feveral other Inftruments,
having a tolerable Underſtanding in Mufick.
were ſorry to part with Plymouth, as being a faithful
honest Fellow, yet glad he had got fo good a Maf-
The Wind rifing, we weighed Anchor, and
left the Port with three Huzza's, and a Volley of
fmall Arms, (we having no Cannon) and in two
Days loft Sight of the Iſland of Cuba.
ter.
--
We
This famous Iſland, Cuba, which was firft called
Joanna, by Columbus the firſt Discoverer, afterwards
Fernandina, then Alpha and Omega, as being the
firſt and laſt Iſland the Spaniards touched at: But
afterwards was called Cuba, and ſtill retains that
Name. This is reckoned one of the four Iſlands
of the Barlovento. The others are Hifpaniola, Ja-
maica, and Porto-Rico. The North Side of Cuba is
fortified
-
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 157
fortified with a vaft Number of finall Iſlands,
called the Lucaies, which fome Geographers have
taken for a Part of the main Land. The chief is
Bahama, which forms the Gulph of Florida, the
Paffage that all Ships go through when they come
out of the West-Indies into Europe.
Cuba has on the North, Jucatan, a Province on
the main Land, diftant about 50 Leagues; and on
the South Jamaica, about 40 Leagues: In Length
220, and in the broadest Part about 56. The Soil
in moſt Parts, that are inhabited by Spaniards, is
fruitful, and much more healthy than Hifpaniola.
The Tobacco is reckoned the best in the Spaniſh
Weft-Indies. I have feen very large Vines there,
which bear excellent Grapes, but not fit to make
Wine; many have tried, but it turns four in a few
Days. And for Birds, Beafts, and Fishes, it
comes up to, if not exceeds any of the other
Iſlands. The Bird Flamingo is a Fowl fomething
bigger than our ordinary Geefe, but Legs and
Neck twice as long, and all over red, and generally
go in a Body. At a Diſtance they look like a
Company of Soldiers marching.
The Spaniards
have a Proverb here, That the Time will come
that Englishmen will walk as freely in their Streets,
as the Spaniards do now; if it were fo, it would be
of a prodigious Advantage to the English, being
the Havannah is a Strait that commands all the Ships
that come out of the Indies for Europe, and I really
think from what I have feen, that it would be in
the Power of ten thouſand Men, with a Fleet pro-
portionable,
$58.
The ADVENTURES of
portionable, to overcome the whole Island in a
little Time. Befides it is obferved, that there are
more Prizes brought into the Havannah, than any
four Havens in the Indies.
While we were at the Havannah, a Spaniard car-
ried two ſtrange Beafts about the Streets for a
Show, that he brought from Brazil, the one was
called At, with a Head fomething refembling that
of a Man's, and covered with rough fhort grey
Hair: Each Foot has three Claws clofe together,
about a Finger long, very fharp Teeth, with a
fmooth high black Nofe, very fmall fleepy Eyes,
and no Ears, with a Tail fmall above and broad at
the Bottom, with Hair all over the Body of an
Aſh Colour. This Beaft is about the Size of a
large Fox, but fo lazy a Creature, that when it
gets up a Tree, it never comes down till it has
devoured every Leaf, and when it has done, it
will fit there twenty Days together without eating,
and almoſt ſtarved before it will take the Pains to
go down to feed. It cannot travel or creep in a
whole Day not above a Quarter of a Mile. This
that was ſhown to us, never would ftir till roufed
with a Stick, and it would be afleep again in an
Inftant.
The other Creature was fomething like a Baboon,
but confiderably larger, with a Face and long Beard,
like an old Man's, and hairy like a Goat, all over
the Body; his Ears bald, his Eyes black, large,
and ſparkling. He that ſhowed it to us, called it a
Cayon: its Tail is about four or five Feet long,
which
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
159
which they twiſt round a Tree, and fo fling them-
felves to the next They are very fierce and fubtile,
and when wounded, will fet upon their Adverfary
without any Fear; and if forced to climb the
Trees, they carry their Mouth and Hands full of
Stones to throw at Travellers as they pafs by; and
when wounded, they fet up a Shriek, that imme-
diately brings all of their Kind, within Hearing,
to their Succour, who ftop the Wound with Leaves
and Mofs, which will foon be healed. This that
we faw was brought up very young by the Perſon
that had him, and would play many comical
Tricks; as he was fhown to us, he urined in his
Paw, and threw it in our Faces, before we were
aware, and while I was wiping mine, he gave me
fuch a Salute with his Tail, that made me ſtand
farther off, which feemed to pleaſe him mightily,
for he looked at me and chattered, as much as to
fay, I have given it you. The Spaniard told us,
they uſed to play at a certain Game with the Na-
tives for Money, and would often win, and then
go fpend what they had got, upon a Liquor that
made them drunk, and as foon as they found them-
felves fo, they would retire very decently, and take
a Nap, by which they were very often caught.
Jofeph de Acosta, that wrote the Hiſtory of the
Weft-Indies in Spaniſh, tells us a Story of one of
theſe Sort of Creatures going to a Tavern, with a
Pot, and Money to pay for his Wine, yet would
not part with his Money, till they had filled his
Pot with the Wine; but in the mean Time beat
four
або
The ADVENTURES of
four or five Boys, that did their Endeavour to take
it from him, and carried it fafe to them that ſent
him.
Peter Martyr relates another Story of one of
them, that feeing a Spaniard going to fire a Gun
at him, fnatched up a little Child that was there,
and held it before him as a Buckler, and would not
let it go before the Spaniard was retired; then he
laid the Child gently down, and ran away, after
having firft urined upon it.
The Fellow that fhowed them, fold them to the
Governor of Havannah for two hundred Dollars,
and would have gone with us to Jamaica or any
where; but we durft not take him without an Order
from the Governor, who does not fuffer any one to
go out of the Inland without a Pafs from him,
which cofts a Dollar, and brings into his Purſe a
great deal of Money in the Year, having no other
Revenue from the King of Spain, only fo much a
Year for a Table, and a Palace ready furnished
with every Thing that is neceffary, befides Servants.
Every Ship that comes in pays two Dollars, and at
going out four more, fo that the Government of
this Iſland exceeds in its Profit any other Govern-
ment (except the Vice Roy of Mexico) in the Spanish
Weft-Indies.
The Weather continued favourable, fo that we
arrived at Jamaica without meeting any thing re-
markable in our Paffage. As foon as we had caft
Anchor, I ordered the Boat to be made ready to
carry
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
161
carry me on Board my own Ship, which I faw ride
there. But when I got up the Ship's Side, I found
my Cloaths felling at the Maft, at, Who bids mere?
Which is the Method, as foon as a Perfon is dead,
or killed; the firft Harbour they anchor in, the
Cloaths of the Deceafed are brought upon Deck,
and fold by Auction, the Money to be paid when
they come to England, for it generally happens
that Sailors have not any till they come Home
again.
They were at the laft Article, when I came up
the Ship Side; which was a Pair of black Worfted
Stockings that coft I believe about four Shillings,
which went at twelve and Six-pence, though they
had been worn. As foon as I was feen by them,
fome cried out, a Ghoft! a Ghoft! and others ran
away to fecure the Cloaths they had bought, fuf-
pecting that now I would have them again. When
they were fatisfied of my being alive, and were
told my Story, they were all rejoiced at my good
Fortune, but none would be prevailed upon to let
me have my Cloaths again. So I took up the
Slop-Book, and caft up what they were fold for,
and found, that what coft me about twenty Pounds,
were fold for four times the Money: When I was
fatisfied in that, I called every Perfon, one by one,
that had bought any of my Cloaths, and ftruck a
Bargain with them for ready Money, and bought
them for about ten Pound; but the ready Money
pleafed them mightily.
i
Captain
162
The ADVENTURES of
ค
Captain Wafe being fick afhore, I went to pay
him a Vifit, where he was mighty glad to ſee me,
as believing I had perifhed; he told me that the
Veffel hung Lights out for feveral Hours, that I
might know where to ſwim, and laid by as long as
the Wind would permit, as the Crew acquainted
him when they came into Harbour. The Captain
told me, That he did not think he fhould live
long, therefore was mighty glad I was come to take
Charge of the Ship, which had failed before, if he
had been in a Condition to bear the Sea. From
thence I went on Board my new Bark, and fettled
my Affairs there with my Companions, who were
mighty forry to think of parting with me. Hood
and Roufe defired they might be received on Board.
as Sailors, and go for England with us; for Hood
was an Englishman, I mean born in England, and
Rouſe had Friends there. Befides it was as eaſy to
go from England to Bermudas, as from Jamaica. So
I spoke to the Captain, who was very well pleafed
to receive them, for he had loft five Men by the
Distemper of the Country. The poor Captain
died in a Week after my coming, and left me Ex-
ecutor for his Wife, who lived at Briſtol.
As foon as we had buried him, I went on Board
with my two Men, and did defign to fail in three
'Days at fartheft, which I would have done before,
but that I was hindered by wanting a Chapman for
our Bark, being we had Shares to difpofe of; when
I came on Board, the Mafter told me he had no
Occaſion for the two Men to add to their Charge ;
faid
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
163
faid I, that is as I fhall think fit, for the Power is
in my Hands now; and who put that Power into
your Hands? (ſaid the Maſter). He that had Power
fo to do (faid I) the Captain, whereupon I fhewed
him in Writing. He told me it did not fignify
any thing, and that he would find no one of the
Sailors would obey a Boy, uncapable to fteer a
Veffel. Said I, I don't defire to have any Com-
mand over you, but only to reprefent the Captain
that is deceaſed: We have no Want of any Repre-
fentatives (replied the Mafter), and you fhall go in
your own Station, or not at all. It would be a
pretty Thing, added he, for my Mate to become
my Captain, and as I was defign'd by the Captain
to have the Command of the Veffel before you
came, fo I intend to keep it. But, faid I, this
Paper, figned by his own Hand, is but of two
Days Date, and you cannot fhew any thing for the
Command, as you pretend to: Therefore (faid I)
I'll make my Complaint to the Governor, and he
fhall right me. Ay, ay, do fo! (faid he) I'll ftand
to any thing he fhall command. Whereupon Roufe,
Hood, and myſelf went into the Boat again, and
rowed immediately on Shore; but the Governor
was fix Miles up in the Country, and it being
pretty late, we defigned to wait for his coming
Home, which we were told would be in the Morn-
ing early. So I went on Board the Bark, and lay
all Night, the Ship lying beyond the Keys two
Leagues from the Harbour, in order to fail. The
next Morning getting up with an Intent to wait
upon
164
The ADVENTURES of
upon the Governor, and looking towards the Place
where the Ship lay over Night, found fhe was
gone, and cafting my Eyes towards Sea, faw a
Ship four or five Leagues diftant from us, which
we fuppofed to be ours. I immediately went on
Shore, and found the Governor just come to Town,
and made my Complaint. He told me there was
no Remedy, but to fend immediately to Blowfields
Bay, where he fuppofed they would ftop to get
Wood, which was ufual with our Ships that were
bound for England: Whereupon there was a Mef-
fenger ordered for Blewfields, which I accompanied,
to give Inftru&ions to the Officer that commanded
at the Fort, to feize the Maſter of the Ship, and
order him before the Governor at Port Royal: So
we got on Horfe-back, and reached it in three
Days, it being almoft a hundred Miles. When
we came there, we found feveral Ships in the
Harbour, but none that we wanted: So we waited
a Week, but all to no Purpoſe, for fhe paffed the
Bay, as miſtruſting our Defign; upon this we were
obliged to return with a heavy Heart, and tell
the Governor of our ill Succefs, who pitied me,
and told me he would fee me fhipped in the firft
Veſſel bound for England: So I went on Board my
own Bark, where they were all glad to fee me,
though forry I was fo difappointed. Now I was
very glad that I had not difpofed of my Bark, for I
thought now it might be of Ufe to me.. We con-
fulted together, to know what was beft to do; at
laft I made a Bargain with them, if they would
}
venture
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE r. 165
venture with me in our Bark to England, I would
give them not only my Share of her, but as much
Money as came to the other two Shares, if they
would be willing to part with them: Upon this
we agreed, and with what Money I had, I began
to lade my Veffel with Things to traffick with. I
bought a good Quantity of Indigo, fome Cotton,
Sugar, and Rum. In fhort, I laid out the beſt
Part of my Money; and on June the 1ft, 1700, ſet
fail, and ſteered our Courfe for England.
Before I leave Jamaica, I think it will not be a-
mifs to give fome Account of the dreadful Earthquake
that happened there in 1692. I am fure it is a true
Account of it, for it was wrote by the Rector of
Port Royal's own Hand, who was upon the Place
when the Accident happened. You fhall have it in
his own Words.
From on board the Granado Merchant in
Port Royal Harbour, June 22, 1692.
C Dear Friend,
I
DOUBT not but you will hear both from
Garret's and Bris's Coffee-Houfe, of the
great Calamity that hath befallen this Iſland by a
terrible Earthquake on the 7th Inftant. Which
have thrown down almost all the Houfes, Church-
es, Sugar Works, Mills, and Bridges, through
the whole Country; it tore the Rocks and Moun-
tains, and deftroyed fome whole Plantations, and
'threw them into the Sea; but Port-Royal had much
the greater Share in this terrible Judgment of
• God.
166
The ADVENTURES of
God. I will therefore be more particular in giving
you an Account of its Proceeding, that you may
know what my Danger was, and how unexpected
my Prefervation. On Tuesday the 7th of June I had
• been at Church reading of Prayers, (which I did
every Day) fince I was Rector of Port-Royal, to
keep up fome Show of Religion amongst a moſt
ungodly, and debauched People. When Prayers
being ended, I went to a Place hard by the Church,
(where Merchants ufe to meet) where the Prefident
' of the new Council, who acts in Chief till we have
a new Governor, came into my Company, and
engaged me to take a Glafs of Wormwood Wine
with him, as a Whet before Dinner. He being
my very good Friend, I ftaid with him; upon
which he lighted a Pipe of Tobacco, which he
was pretty long taking, and not being willing to
'leave him before it was out, I was detained from
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going to one Captain Rudders's where I was to dine;
whofe Houſe upon the firſt Concuffion funk into
the Earth, then into the Sea, with his Wife and
Family, and fome others that came to Dinner with
him. But to return to the Prefident and his Pipe
• of Tobacco; before it was out, I found the Ground
'rolling and moving underneath my Feet; upon
which I faid to him, Lord, Sir! What's this? He
replyed very compofedly, being a very grave Man,
it is an Earthquake, be not afraid, it will be foon
over; but it did encreaſe every Minute, and we
heard the Church and Tower fall, upon which we
ran to fave ourselves: I quickly loft him, and
• made
"
<
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 167
'made towards Morgan's Fort, which being a wide
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open Place, I thought to be there more fecure from
"the falling Houfes; but as I made towards it, I faw
'the Earth open and fwallow up a Multitude of Peo-
ple, and the Sea mounting in upon us over the For-
tifications. I then laid afide all Hopes of eſcaping,
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‹ and refolved to make towards my own Lodging,
' and there to meet Death in as good a Pofture as I
could, but I was forced to crofs and run through
two or three narrow Streets, the Houfes and Walls
' fell on each Side of me, fome Bricks came rolling
over my Shoes, but none hurt me: When I came
to my Lodging I found all Things in the fame Or-
' der I left them in, not a Picture (of which there
were feveral fair ones in my Chamber) being out
of its Place. I went to the Balcony to view the
• Street in which our Houfe ftood, I faw never a
Houfe down, nor the Ground fo much as cracked.
The People feeing me there cried out to me to
come and
with them. When I was come in-
to the Street every one laid hold on my Cloaths,
' and embraced me, that with their Fear and Kind-
'neſs I was almoft ftifled. I perfuaded them at last
'to kneel down, and make a large Ring, which
<
pray
they did: I prayed with them near an Hour; when
'I was almoſt ſpent with the Exercife, they brought
me a Chair; the Earth working all the while with
new Motions, and trembling like the rolling of the
Sea; infomuch that fometimes whilft I was at
Prayer, 1 could hardly keep myſelf upon my Knees.
By that Time I had been half an Hour longèr,
4
fetting
168
The ADVENTURES of
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fetting before them their many and heinous Sins,
fome Merchants came to me, who defired me to
go aboard ſome Ship in the Harbour and refreſh
myſelf; they told me they had gotten me a Boat to
< carry me off.
Coming to the Sea, which had en-
tirely fwallowed up the Wharf, with all thoſe
goodly Houfes on it, moſt of them as fine as thoſe
in Cheapfide, and two entire Houſes beyond it, I
upon the Tops of fome Houſes that lay level with
the Water, got firſt into a Canoe and then in a long
• Boat which put me aboard a Ship, called the Siam
Merchant, where I found the Picfident fafe, who
was overjoyed to fee me: I continued there that
Night, but could not fleep for the Returns of the
Earthquake almoft every Hour, which made all
the Guns in the Ship to jar and rattle. The next
Day I went from Ship to Ship to vifit thoſe that
were taken up in Boats bruiſed and dying, and to
pray with them; alfo to do the laft Office to them,
in faying the Form of Prayer that is ufed at the
• Burial of the Dead, which hath been my forrow-
ful Employment ever fince I came aboard this Ship,
• with Defign to come for England: we having no-
thing but Shaking of the Earth, Thunder, Light-
ning, and foul Weather ever fince. And the Peo-
ple being fo defperately wicked, it makes me afraid
to ſtay in the Place; for that very Time this ter-
rible Earthquake was, as foon as it was Night, a
• Crew of lewd Rogues, which they call Privateers,
fell to breaking open Warehoufes, with Intent to
• rob and rifle their Neighbours, whilft the Earth
trembled under them, and fome of the Houſes fell
«
• on
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
ябл
on them in the A&t, and thofe that remain ftill in
'the Place, are as impudent and drunken as ever. I
' have been twice afhore to pray with the bruiſed and
dying Perfons, and to chriſten their Children, where
I met too many drunk and fwearing. I did not
fpare them, nor the Magiftrates who have fuffered
Wickedness to grow to fo great a Height. I have,
I blefs God, to the beft of my Skill and Power,
diſcharged my Duty in that Place, which you
• will hear from meft Perfons that come from hence;
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I have preached ſo ſeaſonable to them, and fo
plain, in the laft Sermon I preached in the
Church, by fetting before them what would be
the Iffue of their Impenitence, that they have
⚫ fince confeffed it looked more like a Prophefy
than a Sermon. I had, I confefs, an Impulfe to
do it, and many Times I have preached in the
Pulpit, Things that I never meditated at Home,
' and could not methought do otherwife. The
Day (when all this befell us) was clear, afford-
ing not any Sufpicion of the leaft Evil; but in
the Space of three Minutes, about half an Hour
after Eleven in the Morning, Port-Royal, the
'fairest Town of all the English Plantations, the
beft Empire and Mart of this Part of the World,
exceeding in its Riches, plentiful of all good
Things, was taken and ſhattered to Pieces, funk
in, and covered for the greateſt Part by the Sea,
and will in a fhort Time be wholly eaten up by it;
• for ſome of thofe Buildings that yet ſtand, and are
left, we every Day hear fall, and the Sea daily
• encroaches
C
I
170
The ADVENTURES of
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ner,
encroaches upon the Town. We guess, by the Fal-
ling of the Houfes, and Opening of the Earth,
• and Inundation of the Waters, that there are kil-
• led fifteen hundred Perfons, and many of good
Note, of whom are my good Friend Attorney -
General Musgrave, Martial Reeves, William Tur-
Thomas Turner's Brother is loft: I have loft
the beſt Living that ever I had or fhall have. I
i came, as I told you, aboard this Ship, in order
to come Home; but the People are fo importunate
with me to ftay, I know not what to fay to them;
I muft undergo great Hardſhips if I ftay here, the
Country being broken all to Pieces; I must now
live in a Hut, and eat Yams and Potatoes for
Bread, which I could never endure; drink Rum
• Punch and Water, which were never pleafing to
me. I have wrote as effectually as I could to my
• Lord Bishop of London to fend a younger Perfon,
who may better endure the Fatigue of it, than I
can: Now it would look very unnatural in me to
leave the People in their Diftrefs, and therefore
whatever I fuffer, I would not have fuch a Blame
lie at my Door. I have acquainted my Lord of
London, That, by Reafon of the prefent Diſtreſs,
• I am willing to continue a Year longer. They are
going to build a new Town near the Rock in Li-
'guinca, the Garden of the Iſland. The French
from Petigauies did attack the Ifland on the North
Side, but were all defeated and deftroyed, it be-
ing near the Time of the Earthquake.
:
June
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
June 28, 1592.
(
E
VER fince that fatal Day (the moft terrible
that ever I faw) I have lived on Board
Ship, for the Shaking of the Earth returns every
now and then: Yeſterday we had a very great one,
'but it ſeems lefs terrible Aboard than on Shore.
Yet I have ventured to Port Royal three Times
(fince its Defolation) among the shattered Houfes
to bury the Dead, and chriften their Children.
Sandey laft I preached among them in a Tent;
the Houfes that remain being fo fhattered, that I
• durft not preach in them. The People are over-
joyed when they fee me amongst them; and wept
very bitterly when I preached to them. I hope by
this terrible Judgment, God will make them re-
t
嗔
​form themfelves, for there was not a more un-
godly People upon the Face of the Earth. It is a
fad Sight to fee fuch a fair Harbour covered with
the dead Bodies of the People of all Conditions ;
•for our great and famous Burial place, the Pal-
lifadoes, was deftroyed by the Earthquake, and
the Sea waſhed the Carcafes of thofe that were
there buried, out of their Graves. Their Tombs
being dafhed to Pieces by the Earthquake, of
which there were hundreds in that Place. Many
rich Men are utterly ruined, whilft many, by
watching Opportunities, fearching the funk
• Houſes, even almoſt whilst the Earthquake laſted
'(while Terror and Amazement had feized on all
I 2
• the
t
172
The ADVENTURES of
4
• the confiderable Perfons) have gotten great Riches.
• We have had an Account from feveral Places of
the Ifland, of Miſchiefs done there by the Earth-
quake From St. Anne's we hear, that above a
thoufand Acres of Woodland are waſhed into the
• Sea, carrying away whole Plantations in divers
• Places, but none fuffered like Port Royal, where
• Streets were fwallowed up by the Opening of the
• Earth. The Houfes and Inhabitants went down
together. Some of them were driven up again by the
Sea, which arofe in the Breaches of the Houſes, and
' wonderfully eſcaped. Others were ſwallowed up to
the Neck, the Earth fhut upon them, and fqueezed
them to Death. And in that Manner feveral are
left buried with their Heads above Ground, only
• fome Heads the Dogs have eaten. They are co-
vered with Duit and Earth by the People, which
yet remain on the Place, to avoid the Stench.
• Thus I have told you a long ard fad Story, and
• God knows what worfe may happen yet. The
People tell me they hear great Bellowing and
Noiſes in the Mountains, which makes fome very
apprehenfive of an Eruption of Fire; if fo, I fear
it will be more deftructive than the Earthquake. I
◄ know not how to ftay, and yet I cannot tell how,
‹ at ſuch a Jun&ture, to quit my Station.'
<
Yours, &c.
}
I believe
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
173
I believe this was the most terrible Earthquake
that has ever happened fince the Creation of the
World, and did more Damage. They tell a Story
of a wicked Fellow, that in the Time of the Earth-
quake ravished a Merchant's Daughter, and after
murdered her, that he might not be diſcovered; but
a Black, that happened to be in another Room,
and hearing what had happened, ran away to the
Ship where her Father was, to give him Notice,
that he might come and apprehend him. But when
he came and found his Daughter murdered, and the
Villain gone, he was almoſt diſtracted, and the
Houſe tumbling with the Earthquake, he perished
in the Ruins bemoaning his Daughter. The execra-
ble Wretch was foon overtaken with divine Ven-
geance; for going to make his Efcape, a large
Stone from one of the falling Houfes dropped on his
Back and broke it, where he was taken up in fuch
Mifery, that he prayed for fome one to knock him
on the Head to put him out of his Torture. The
Pain was fo violent, that it took away his Senfes,
and in the Height of his Raving, difcovered him-
felf to be the Author of the horrid Fact mentioned;
but he died without Repentance, curfing every body.
Another Story that was told me, was, That a
Gentlewoman had come out of the Country to lie
in there, being the would be better accommodated,
and was brought to Bed but two Days before. The
Huſband was gone out; and at the firit Shock of the
Houfe all her Servants left her, with the Infant with
her, which with the Violence of the Shock, was
overturned
I 3
174
The ADVENTURES of
overturned in the Cradle: With this Accident, the
Gentlewoman in a Fright rofe out of her Bed,
though in a weak Condition, and took up her
Child, and feeling the Houfe totter,
ran down
Stairs in her Shift, with her Infant in her Arms,
where he was met by her Husband, who took her
in his Arms to carry her away, just as the Houſe fell
upon them all, where they were drawn out, but
the Child was dead, and the Mother died in Half
an Hour, the Hufband mightily bruifed, with much
Pain lingered out to the next Day, and then expired,
and were all three buried together in one Grave.
One Abraham Mattberus, an Inhabitant of Port-
Royal, that was alive when I was there, told me of
a remarkable Providence that happened to him, as
he was packing up feveral Things to carry on
Board fome Veffel that was in the Harbour, for the
more Security. He had no fooner come out
of the Houfe where he lodged, but it fell down and
fmothered ſeveral People within. Juft as he got to
the Water-fide, the Boat was going off, and as he
put one Foot into the Boat, the Boat-man puſhed
him out again, and told him he must ftay till he
came back, being the Boat was full. The Boat, in
turning the Point by the Fort, was over-whelmed
by a Point of the Shore, which fell upon it, and all
that were in it perished. This was the fecond Deli-
verance. When he faw what had happened, he re-
tired to the Church, which was open, to return God
Thanks, and beg his farther Protection ; or if
Death happened, he could not chooſe a better Place
to
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
175
to die in. While he was at Prayers, he faw one of
the Buccaneers, or Thieves, ftealing away his Bundle,
which he immediately followed, feized, and took
it from him: As foon as he was out of the Church,
that fell to the Ground. When he had got the Bun-
dle, he kneeied upon the Earth to tie it fafter, the
adjacent Houfe funk down alfo, and mothered the
Fellow, with feveral others that were in it. Going
a little farther, he met fo.. of his Acquaintance,
who were getting a Cance ready to convey them-
felves on Board a Ship in the Harbour, where he
fafely arrived, and gave God Thanks for his many
and happy Deliverances.
We put in at Blewfields Bay, for the Conveniency
of Wood and Water, and when we were provided,
fteered our Courfe onward for England. But as we
came within ten Leagues of the Havanna, a Spaniſh
Man of War of forty Guns came up with us, who
commanded us to ftrike our Sails, which we did
immediately, and coming on Board us, were fur-
prized to find us all Engliſhmen, not expecting other
than Spaniards from the building of our Veſſel.
Whereupon they made us all Prifoners, and fent
fifteen Men on Board us to carry the Veffel into the
Havanna. Telling them how we came by the Vef-
fel did not fignify any Thing, for they faid we were
Pirates, and had feized it. And our Pafs which we
had from the Governor of Havanna, not being to
be found, made Things appear but with an indif-
ferent Face; we were afraid we should find many
Difficulties in getting our Liberty, especially if they
I 4
went
176
The ADVENTURES of
went to their Station, which was St. Jago. But it
happened better than we expected, for fhe made
directly to the Port of the Havanna, where we knew
every Thing would be placed in a true Light again.
When we were anchored, and the People could
come on Board us, we were foon known, and the
Captain going to the Governor, was foon informed
of the Matter; fo we were releaſed immediately,
and had a Vifit made us from Father Antonio, and
honest Plymouth, who were mightily rejoiced to fee
us.
We were detained two Days, before we could
get away.
And then we ſet Sail with a briſk Gale,
first faluting the Town with our four Guns, and
four Patteraroes, which I had forgot to mention our
buying at Port Royal.
In two Days after our first Sailing we made Cape
Florida, and entered the Gulph that bears the fame
Name, and paffed it without Danger. But here a
fudden Calm overtook us, as frequently happens
when you are paft the Gulph; and the Current fet
ſtrong to Weftward, occafioned, as we fuppofed,
by the Opening of the Land upon that Coaft. The
Calm lafting for four Days, we were infenfibly
carried within half a League of the Shore, but a
little Breeze rifing from Land, helped us farther
out again; But fill our Danger more encreaſed,
for we foon perceived three large Cances making
towards us, full of Indians armed. We had not
much Time to confult what to do, for they gained
upon us every Moment. Now Death, or fomething
worfe
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
177
worſe than Death, glared us in the Face, and moſt
of us thought this the laft Day we had to live.
Come, Friends, (faid I) if we must die, let us-die
brave like Englishmen. To die is juft as common as
to live, only Life is Choice; but Death we ftill
purſue, and every Step we take fhortens our
Journey. If then we follow Death, why fhould we
fear it? Or if we fhould fear, what would that
avail? fince Fearing cannot put back the fated
Hour. Then let us, like thoſe that would diſpoſe
of fomewhat, do it to the beſt Advantage. We
charged our four Guns with double and round, and
our Patteraroes with Musket-balls: The reit of our
Arms we got in Readineſs, and refolved to die fight-
ing, and not fuffer ourſelves to be taken, to be
miferably butchered, as all the Indians of Florida do,
when they get any Whites in their Power. We
refolved to fire our fix Muſkets upon them as foon
as they came within Reach; fo we took our Aim,
two at each Canoe, and fired upon them, which did
them fome Damage, for they ftopped upon it,
which made us make the beſt of our Way; but they
foon purfued us with loud and rude Shouts. By this
Time we had charged our Muſkets again, and fired
as before at the fame Diſtance; but whatever Damage
we did them, they came on as fat as they could,
but not before we had charged our Pieces the third
Time, which we'fired as before, but did more
Execution, as being nearer to us; and now we
charged them the fourth Time, and laid them
along upon the Deck for a farther Occafion; for
I 5
they
178
The ADVENTURES of
they being fo nigh, that our great Guns would
reach them with our double and round, which we
fired, one at a time; the firft we fired at was the
largest Canoe, which put them in fuch Confufion,
that they fell foul of one another, and being in a
Huddle together, we fired the other three, that
made a mighty Havock among them. We now
thought of a Victory, inſtead of being made Slaves,
and bore up to them, that we might make our Pat-
teraroes of Ufe to us, which we fired upon them
with Partridge (or Mufket) Shot, that anſwered our
End; for now they began to turn Tail, which we
feeing, fired our Mufkets the fourth Time, which
killed them two Indians; and charging our great
Guns with fingle Balls, of 3 Pound Weight, (or
3 Pounders, as they call them at Sea) and firing at
their Boats for Canoes) we funk one of them; but
the Men fwam to the other Canoes, and taking
hold of the Sides, with their Weight turned it over.
Mr. Musgrave, and the reft of our Men, adviſed to
make up to them, and in this Confufion kill them
all. But I was fatisfied with the Diſappointment
they had met with, and as it was not in their
Power to hurt us farther, refolved to make the belt
of our Way; but looking towards the Shore, faw
eight more of their Canoes making up to us. This
put us upon making all the Sail we could, and the
Sea breeze being now pretty ſtrong, we made good
Way. We thought the Canoes would ſtay when they
came up with the other three, but they made after
us along with thoſe Indians that they had taken up.
We
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
179
We had charged our great Guns with great Shot,
and fired at them, but miffed them; we changed
them the ſecond Time, and one Shot, by good
Fortune, took the first Canoe, and overfet her,
which put them into more Confufion than before;
but ftill five of them purfued us, which were met
with by fome of our Muſket Balls, that gave two
of them their Quietus eft; and firing our great Guns
once more, funk one of their Canoes; but the
Men foon got into the other, and followed us ftill.
Seeing this, we refolved to make one ftrong Effort,
and make the best of our Way: fo we backed our
main Sail, and laid by for them, and brought our
four Guns to one Side, and our four Pateraroes to
bear accordingly, we charged our Muſkets once
more, and laid them in Readinefs, with two Half-
pikes, and our Cutlaffes; and now we refolved not
to fire till every Gun might do Execution. We
ftaid till they came within two Ships Length of us,
and then we fired upon them as fast as ever we
could, which proved effectual, for we killed them
at least twenty. Upon which, they fet up dreadful
uncommon Noifes, and rowed back as fast as ever
they could; we gave them our farewell Musket-
fhots, and made the beft of our Way. By a mode-
rate Computation, we killed them at least 50 In-
dians, without their once firing at us; neither could
we conceive how they intended to affault us, or
whether they had any Fire-Arms, for we faw none.
After we had brought our Veffel to rights again,
we affembled ourièlves to Prayers, and returned
16
our
180
The ADVENTURES of
our fincere Thanks to the Defender of the weak,
and Giver of all good Things, for our happy Deli-
verance. We faw the Canoes paddling towards
Shore, and were met by feveral others, with a
Defign, as we fuppofed, to affift them; but we
were now too far for them, and there was nothing
more to be feared; fo we failed on with a profpe-
rous Gale, and met with nothing worth Note, till
Thurſday, July the 15th, we difcovered Land,
which amazed us all, for we did not think of
falling in with any Shore till we faw England. We
went to confult our Charts, and faw we were near
Newfoundland, and finding that we fteered directly
into St. John's Harbour, which is the Capital of
the Island, I mean of that Part which belongs to
the English. The Harbour is large, fair, ftrong,
and commodious, commanded by feveral good
Forts, and a ftrong Bomb that fhuts it up. The
Town confifts of about 800 Houfes, but after the
Manner of the Houfes in England.
Newfoundland, or Terra Nova, was difcovered by
Sebeftian Cabot, for King Henry the VIIth of England.
This Ifland is feated in fifty-two of Northern Lati-
tude, and divided from the Continent by an Arm of
the Sea, about 20 Leagues over. It is larger than
Ireland; the Climate is much the fame as in England,
very wholeſome, has feveral commodious Harbours.
The English poffefs one Part, and the French the
other but the English are more populous. This
Iſland is of great Benefit to the English, as well as
other Nations, from the vaft Quantities of Fifh that
are
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
18 F
are caught upon the Banks of Newfoundland. This
is a very large Bank of Sand, which extends a
hundred and twenty Leagues to the Weft, near the
Continent, and about twenty Leagues broad in the
middle, and ſharpens to each End. It is reckoned
the most extraordinary Thing found in the Sea of
that Kind; for Ships may anchor, though twenty
or thirty Leagues from Land. The Fruits are the
fame as with us in England, and the Soil ſo very rich,
that it will bear Peafe, Beans, &c. without Tillage,
which are as good as any in England. The Beats
the fame, only the Bear, which is found there. In
fhort, Newfoundland reſembles England in every .
Thing fo much, that if a Man could be carried
from thence in his Sleep, he would only think he
was ftrayed fomewhere out of his Knowledge.
There is only this to be faid, that there is not fo
many Inhabitants, fo there is more Plenty of every
Thing for human Life. Their chief Trade is Fith,
but they fend great Quantities of Mufk, Sables,
and other Furs. There is not one Indian to be
found upon the whole Iſland, but what are brought
from other Countries, and ufed as Servants; though
it is reported, about twenty Years ago, towards the
North-weft Parts, the French met with fome Indians,
that uſed to help them to cure their Fish, and make
their Oil. They defcribe them a civil Sort of
People, but no Knowledge of a fuperior Deity;
and when attempted to be taught, they would
anſwer, We are well contented with our own God,
neither do we defire any other; Why fhould we
offer
182
The ADVENTURES of
offer to change? We think our Forefathers wifer
than we are, and they worshipped the fame with
us: Therefore, as we think of going to the fame
Place where they are, we muſt worship the fame
Power. You have your God, and we have ours;
every
Nation muſt have a God according to their
own Language. Should we pray to your God in
our Indian Language, how fhould we be understood?
Or should you pray to ours, what would it avail
you, feeing he would not know what you faid to
him. Now we have not one God only, but many;
as one for Fishing, one for Fowling, and another
for Huſbandry; and when we are about any of theſe
particular Bufineffes, we pray to that God; for it
would be too much for one to mind them all.
Would it not ſeem ridiculous for one of us, if we
wanted Success in Hunting, to pray to him that
takes Care of Fiſhing? Or you that wear Cloaths,
would you go to a Fiſherman to bid him cloathe
you? You tell us, there are a vaft Number of Wor-
ſhippers of your God in all Countries; then what
need you any more? We will ferve you as well and
as faithfully as if we had but one God, and pray to
our Gods to give you Succefs in whatever you un-
dertake. If you fifh, we'll pray to that God; if
you go to fell Timber, we'll pray to that; and fo
on, to whatever you employ yourfelves in. When
you are out of their Dominions, you must pray for
yourſelves to your own God. In fhoit, there is
neither fair Means nor foul, will ever bring theſe
poor Creatures to the Knowledge of the true God.
If
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
183
If you are angry with them, they will comply with
you, and fay, Well, well, we will do as you would
have us; but never think of it afterwards: If you
reafon calmly with them, then they anſwer you as
above.
After being here two Days, we fet fail, and made
our Courſe for England, July 25, 1700. We met
with no extraordinary Accident in our Paffage, till
we diſcovered the Land's End, August the 21ft. How
rejoiced I was to fee my native Country, let them
judge that have been in the fame Condition as I have
been; and I may with Truth fay, that the Tranf-
ports felt in firft feeing the white Cliffs of the Inland
that gave me Birth, exceeded the Joy I received when
I was delivered from the most imminent Danger.
Here we confulted, whether it were better for us to
go to London, or to Bristol; but every one allowed
London to be the beft Mart for our Goods; ſo we
made for the Thames, and the Weather being fair,
and a brifk Gale, we anchored over-againſt Shadwell
Dock. Now all that we had to do was to get a Chap-
man for our Goods, I applied myſelf to a Merchant
upon 'Change, who foon ftruck a Bargain, and, with
the Conſent of my Companions, fold the Lading,
Bottom and all, for nine hundred and twenty
Pounds, reckoning the Lading feven hundred
Pounds, which was my own, and two hundred and
twenty for the Veffel, and every Thing befides.
They were all contented with their Dividend, but
ftill refolved to go with me to Bristol, to fee af-
ter my Affairs there. So we fet out on Foot, in
tending
184
The ADVENTURES of
tending to walk it, and be a little merry upon the
Road, for we expected more Diverfion by walking
it leifurely, than going in any other Manner. I had
turned all my Money into Bank Bills, which amoun-
ted to 800l. with my Money that I had for my
Goods, and fewed them in the Waistband of my
Breeches, not that there could be any Danger, be-
ing fo many in Company. We took the Salisbury
Road, though fomething out of our Way, I being
refolved to carry my Friends to Bruton, the Place of
my Birth. Coming through Bafing fiche, a Sailor
met us, begging Charity for God's Sake. I gave
him Sixpence, which he returned me many Thanks
for; I aſked him how it came to pafs, that a lufty
Sailor as he was did not go to Sea? (efpecially now
War being talked of between the English and French)
he answered, he was going to London for that Intent,
but was obliged to be beholden to good Men to aſ-
fift him in his Journey. Why, (purfued I) have you
no Friends? your Cloaths are good, you don't ſeem
to have begged long. No, anfwered he, this is my
firſt Day; I have made an End of the little Money I
had last Night. Have you been long from Sea,
(ſaid I)? But a Week, anſwered he. I had the
Misfortune to be caft away in Sight of Harbour.
From whence came you, (afked I)? Said he, We
came from Jamaica, and were bound for Briſtol;
but a violent Storm overtook us within fix Leagues
of the Mouth of the River Severn, and drove our Ship
upon
fome Rocks in the Mouth of the Bay, and all
the Men periſhed but myfelf. From jamaica, (faid
I),
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
185
1), pray what Ship? The Albion Frigate, replyed he.
Who was your Captain, added I? The Captain di-
ed at Jamaica, but the Maſter ſupplied his Place, one
Jacob Bingley. Did you ever hear of one Fal.cner?
Yes, he was the Mate, fuppofed to be loft in a Voy-
age he made to the Bay of Campechy, but coming
fafe into Harbour afterwards, the Captain before his
Death gave him the Command of our Ship; but the
Matter not approving of ſuch a young Man to have
the Power over him, fet Sail without him. This 1
learned on Board afterwards; for I and another Sail-
or were hired for the Voyage that Afternoon, before
the Morning we fet Sail. We had but an indifferent
Paffage the whole Voyage, which was made up with
nothing but Storms and Calms, that caufed much
Uneafinefs, and our Provifion received Damage by
the Salt-water, which drove us to the laft Extremity;
and when we were raiſed in our Hopes of fetting our
Feet upon our native Country, we were devoured by
the tempeftuous Waves. I myſelf was taken up for
dead upon the Shore by a Fisherman. Have you
any Friends (faid I) at London? None, (replied he)
every Place to me is Home, a Sailor is never out of
his Way. If fo, (faid I) return with us to Bristol,
where we are bound, and I'll promiſe you, if I can-
not get you a Ship, I will give you wherewithal to
carry you to London without begging. We eafily a-
greed upon the Matter, and honelt Tarr went on
with us.
I aſked him why he did not endeavour to
get a Ship at Bristol? he answered, He would rather
chufe to go in a Man of War than a Merchant-man,
fince
186
The ADVENTURES of
fince War was approaching, and he heard there was
WÏ
L
a Fleet fitting out for the "s; and if fo, (faid
he) there may be fome Hopes of getting fomething
there, either of Jack Spaniard or Jack Frenchman.
We came to Bruton, and took Lodgings in the Mag-
pyc-Inn, where I vifited all my Acquaintance; and
from thence we went in the fame Manner to Bristol,
where the first Thing was to enquire after my poor
Father; but I was informed by Capt. Pultney, that
he thought he was certainly dead; though he had
feen him but once fince I had been abroad, and that
was in the January before, when he came privately
to him, and told him he was ſettled in a ſmall Vil-
lage near Hereford, and went by the Name of Haw-
kins. What convinces me he is dead is, that about
two Months ago, he fent me a Letter, which I'll
fhow you. He went up Stairs and fetched it, which
contained thefe Words:
SIR,
W
HEN I had fettled myſelf in my little Tenement.
I began to think of turning Farmer, that I might
have fome Employment to pass away the tedious Hours of my
voluntary Banishment; but going the other Day to view a
bollow Place, where we had our Marl to marl our Ground,
the Earth on a fudden fell upon me, and I was fearce taken
out alive, my Back broke, and bruised all over in a piteous
Manner. This is the first Day of Reft or Eafe that I have
had from my intolerable Pain. It is allowed, and I am
very well fatisfied, that I cannot furvive it. Pray be kind
to my dear Dick, if he ever lives to come
home, if not,
awhat
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
187
what I have dipofited in your Hands, let it remain with
you for your own Ufe, fince my Daughter is provided for.
If I should, against the Expectation of every Body, recover,
you ſhall hear from me very foon; if not, believe that I am
returned to Earth, from whence I cane.
I hope I need not
caution you once more to be kind to my poor Boy, if he ſhould
return, and be a Father to him; comfort him amidst his
Affliction, and restore to him what I left with you, with
a dying Parent's Bleffing, that he may be as happy, as his
wretched Father was mif:rable; which is the hearty Defire
of your Friend and Servant,
FALCONER,
Grief fo overcame me for a Time, that I was not
able to ipcak; to be robbed of a Father, and
a Father I loved fo dearly, was a cutting Stroke;
and I was conftrained to make Ufe of all my young
Philofophy to fupport it. My Father had left the
Writing of his Eſtate with Captain Pultney, he hav-
ing only mortgaged it before for five hundred
Pounds to a Friend, to prevent its being feized on
by the Crown which was redeemed by the Cap-
tain, by my Father's Appointment, when he came
to fee him laft. I paid him his five hundred
Pounds, and would have given him Intereft for it,
but he would not accept of it, but advifed me to
part with it, without I defigned to fettle in England,
which I thought was the best Way, whether I ftaid
in England or not. The Captain undertook the
Matter, and fold it for four thoufand Pounds. But
whilft he was bufy about it, I got Mr. Mulgrave,
who
188
The ADVENTURES of
who was always my Bofom Friend, to go to
Hereford, and if it were poffible, to find out where
my dear Father was buried, and to fee how Matters
ftood there. Accordingly we hired a Couple of
Horſes, and fat out: when we arrived at Hereford,
we found it not a little difficult, but at laft, through
the Means of one Mr. Hall, Organift of the Cathe-
dral Church, we had Sight of the Place, which was
about half a Mile from the City. Mir. Hall came
by the Knowledge of it by the Means of an honeft
Clergyman, that my Father had contracted a
Friendſhip with, before that unhappy Accident be-
fel him, that deprived him of his Life. He brought
us to his Houſe, where the Gentleman was
laid up with a Fit of the Gout. As foon as we
were private, I let him know who I was, upon which
he tenderly embraced me, and was mightily joyed
to fee the Son of his late Friend. Said he, I ſhould
have been at Bristol ere now, but that the Gout
prevented me. Your Father was a Perſon I had but
a fhort Acquaintance with, yet that little Time dif-
covered him to be a Man of Integrity, Honefty, and
Honour. When he was upon his Death-bed, he
told me his real Name and Circumftances, and what
Misfortunes had brought him to this Part; he told
me alfo, that he had a Son at Sea, and begged of me
to diſpoſe of his little Fortune he had here, and fee it
put into the hands of Captain Pultney at Briftcl, which I
had done, but was prevented, as I faid before, by
this fudden Fit of the Gout. I have taken Care of all
your Father's Effects, and the little Farm I have
bought
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
189
bought myſelf, it being for my Turn. Upon that he
fent his Maid for a little Box, which he unlocked, and
told me out two hundred Guineas. This is what your
Father left in ready Money behind him; his Farm, &c.
I rate at two hundred and fifty Pounds more; there
are the Writings, and there is the Money; by the
Writings I faw it coft my Father but two hundred
Pounds. As for his Apparel, and other little Ne-
ceffaries, I gave them, by his Order, to a Maid
Servant, and a Man that he hired; and for his
Goods, there are but few, nor have we made any
Eftimate of them; but if you'll have them ap-`
praifed, I will give fomething more than what.
they are valued at, being I would willingly have
them along with the Houfe; Said I, neither
fhall they be parted; and if you pleaſe to accept
of them, be they what they will, you fhall be
heartily welcome. He refufed them obftinately,
but I prevailed with him to take them with much
ado. He also gave me a Ring, which I prized
mightily, becauſe it had been my Father's from his
Infancy, given him by my Grandfather. When he
had fettled every Thing, I went to fee the Place
where my Father's Bones were laid, which filled me
with fuch awful Sorrow, that I could not refrain from
weeping, in Spite of my Refolution to the contra-
ry. I would have erected a Tomb or Monument
for him, but it was his laft Requeft, that he might
be buried as obfcurely, as he defigned to live there.
After parting with my Father's Grave with a
Load of Sorrow, we took Leave of my Friend the
Parfon, and Mr. Hall, and rode for Briftol again,
but
+
190
The ADVENTURES of
were.
but were overtaken about fix Miles from Hereford,
by three Gentlemen of the Pad, that had got fome
Notice of the Booty they ſhould gain if they could
rob us; for I was fo inadvertent as to put all my
Money into my Bags, which I wore before me at
my Saddle. They paffed us firft, but looking wifh-
fully upon us, gave us fome Sufpicion of what they
Mr. Mujgrave adviſed me to ride back again,
and flay till we had more Company; but I told
him they would foon overtake us, and, feeing us
fearful, would make them more refolute; ſo I ra-
ther choſe to face them, for we obferved they were
returning to meet us. We refolved to be before-
hand with them, and we drew out our Piſtols ready,
and if they offered to come too near us, to begin
with them. As foon as they came within twenty
Yards of us, I called to them, and afked them
what they wanted; if it was our Mcney, they
ſhould firit take our Lives. They anfwered, they
had no fuch Intention. Then what is your Reafon
of paffing us firft, and then meeting us again ?
They anſwered, one of their Companions in alight-
ing to eaſe himſelf below the Hill, had dropped
his Watch, and they were returning to find it if
they could. Why then pafs by in the Name of
God, (faid I), and accordingly they did; but we
were cautious of letting them come too near us. As
foon as they were paft us, we fet Spurs to our
Horfes, and got over the Heath before we looked
behind us; but riding leifurely through the Vil-
lage, we faw them coming after a full Gallop.
Now we repented we had not ſtayed in the Village,
but
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. ΙΟΙ
but we refolved, as before, to encounter them if
they affaulted us. They foon overtook us, and
coming even with us, told us their Companion had
found his Watch, which he pulled out and ſhowed
us. They faid they could not blame us in taking
them for Highwaymen; but they affured us they
were Travellers, as we were, and were going to
Worcester. We did not make any Words with them,
but rode along with them, indeed, becauſe we
could not help it. They rode with us for about a
Mile, and then the Road going narrow, one of
them pretending to go foremoft, feized hold of my
Bridle; with the Surprize, my Horfe, being a very
good one, roſe up an End; and he diſcharging his
Pistol, the Ball grazed upon my Cloak-bag, and
did not do any farther Damage. Upon this I fired
one of my Piſtols, but miffed him; but I threw it
at him with all my Force, which hit him on the
Head fo full, that he ftaggered a little, and fell
from his Horſe. The other diſcharged a Pocket-
Piftol at me, and wounded me flightly in the left
Shoulder; but going to difcharge another, I fet
Spurs to my Horſe, and had the good Fortune to
fnatch it from him; but in the Buftle between us it
went off, and fhot the other Highwayman's Horfe in
the Head, which fo enraged him, that he ran away
with him in Spite of all he could do to ftop him.
Mr. Mulgrave, who engaged with him, followed
him, but confidering he had left me with two, re-
turned again, and in very good Time; for the
other Fellow that I had knocked down with my
Pistol
192
The ADVENTURES of
Piſtol, had got up again, and had juft caught his
Horſe that was grazing under the Hedge. His
other Companion that I had taken the Piftol from,
had drawn a broad cutting Sword, and was laying
at me. I, by good Fortune, had before me a great
Coat for Fear of Rain, and the Ball of his Piſtol had
bioke the Strap, fo that I wrapped it round my left
Arm, and received his Blow, which did me no
Damage, and in the mean Time thruft my Sword
into his Side up to the Hilt, which nevertheless
did not kill him. But he called to his Companion,
Come, Harry, let's make off, for by God I believe
I am killed. Accordingly they fled as faſt as ever
they could back again, the Way we came, with my
Sword in his Breaft; for when he received the
Wound, he turned fo fhort with his Horſe, that
wrung the Hilt out of my Hand. Mr. Mulgrave
was for following them, but I found fome Pain in
my Shoulder, and it began to grow ftiff, being cold,
and chofe to go on; but in our riding and talking
of the late Accident, we loft our Road, and had
taken that which led to Gloucester; and riding on,
we met the third Highwayman, whofe Horfe had
run away with him, who was coming back, as we
fuppofed, to fee how Things went. As foon as he
faw us, he turned his Horfe, and rode away as
hard as he could, and we rode as faft after him, it
being, as we thought, our Road. We followed
him through feveral Villages, and called to the
People to flop him, but to no Purpoſe; at laft his
Horfe ftumbled, which gave us Time to come
pretty
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
193
pretty near him, when he found he could not eſcape
us, he turned about, and diſcharged a Piſtol at us.
I had one Piſtol that I had not fired yet, which I
drew from the Houfing, and let fly at him, and
wounded him in the Neck. He fled as faft as he
could, and our Horfes beginning to tire, he got out
of our Sight. We aſked feveral People we met, whether
they had feen any fuch Perfon, and they told us he
was gone into Gloucester Town before them. We
followed, and got into Gloucester immediately, and
were told ſuch a Man was ſeen to ride through the
Town; fo we pursued him no farther, our Horfes
being very much tired; but they fent a Hue-and-
cry after him, but to no Purpoſe, for they returned
no wiſer than they went out. We stayed at Glou-
cefter two Days to have my Wound dreffed, and then
rode to Bristol, where all our Friends waited impa-
tiently for us, becauſe we had exceeded our Time
three Days. After having fettled my Money in the
Hands of People that the Captain appointed to im-
prove it for me, I refolved to make a Trip to Ire-
land, to fee my Sifter, who was married very well
to a Merchant there. But hearing of the grand
Fleet making Preparation for fome Expedition, put
us all agog, and my natural Genius for Travel,
made me once more refolve to be gadding. I opened
my Mind to Captain Pultney, who adviſed me to the
contrary; but I told him I was fo much concerned
for my Father's Death, (as indeed I was) that I
ſhould fooner wear it off at Sea, than on Shore, be-
cauſe here every Object that I faw put me in Mind of
him.
!..
K
194
The ADVENTURES of
him. He was very well fatisfied with my Reaſons
at laft; but, faid he, I would not have you go in
any Poft, but as a Volunteer, that you may not be
confined to stay longer than you fhould defire. I
thought this the beſt Way, therefore refolved for
London with all my Companions, and got us a Ship.
I had Letters of Recommendation to Secretary Bur-
chet, and ſeveral Gentlemen that had the Manage-
ment of the Navy. We arrived at London, February
the 8th, 1701. Mr. Mufgrave and I entered on
Board the Breda, Captain Fog Commander, becauſe
we were informed Admiral Benbow would hoift his
Flag in that Ship. Mr. Mulgrave, having formerly
had fome Acquaintance with the Admiral, waited
on him, and had a Warrant for a Quaiter-mafter
given him. The reft of our Companions entered be-
fore the Maft, that is, common Sailors, in the ſame
Ship. Hood was foon made ok's Mate, and the
reſt of them got fome little Office, that raiſed them
fomething above the common Sailors, though they
entered as fuch, and all by the Means of Mr. Muſ-
grave, who acquainted the Admiral with their For-
tunes. When we had fent all our Things on Board,
and not knowing when they would fail, Mr. Muf-
grave and I got Leave to go to Portsmouth by Land
where we arrived on Saturday, March the 3d, and
ftayed there till the English and Dutch Fleet arrived.
A Squadron was ordered out to cruife, of which our
Ship was one, but an unlucky Accident hindered,
my going with her, (but Mr. Musgrave was forced
to go againſt his Inclinations, and leave me behind
him ;)
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
195
him ;) which was as follows: One Evening, com-
ing from ſeeing a Play at the Bull-Head, a Gentle-
man coming out with a Lady, the Crowd by Chance
joftled me against the Lady, which this Gentleman,
Mr. Martin (Nephew to Johnny Gibſon, Governor
of the Place) took as an Affront put upon him, be
ing he had the Care of the Lady; but I begged her
Pardon, and told her it was an Accident I could
not help; but he being in a ſtrange Paffion, called
me feveral ungenteel Names, as Rogue, Raſcal, and
ſuch like, and ftruck me over the Head with his
Cane. Though I did not much mind his Words, I
did not care to take his Blows without a Return,
which I did with Intereft, and we were foon parted.
But an Hour after, being at the aforefaid Bull-
Head at Supper, the Drawer came up and told us,
there was a Gentlemen below defired to ſpeak one
Word with Mr. Fal. There was one Mr. Lang-
ley, Lieutenant to the Windfor Man of War, that I
had made an Acquaintance with at the Play, whơ
promiſed to come and fup with us, and I took the
Meffage to come from him, but was furprized to
find it the Gentleman that I had the Bustle with.
He wanted to drink a Glafs of Wine with me, he
faid, and led me into a Room. When we were
there, he told me he came for Satisfaction for the
Affront I put upon him about an Hour ago; there-
fore draw, added he, or I'll gun you through. I
endeavoured to pacify him with good Words, yet
all to no Purpoſe; he made ſo many Thruſts at me,
that I was in Danger of my Life; but at last I dif
K 2
armed.
196
The ADVENTURES of
armed him, but not without a little Wound in my
Arm. As foon as I gave him his Sword again, he
puſhed at me with all the Malice imaginable; and
hearing the People from all Parts of the Houſe,
coming to fee what was the Matter, he clapped his
Back against the Door, to keep them out, which
they on the other Side broke open, and giving him
a Pufh, his Breaft ran against the Point of my
Sword, which appeared at his Back, and he fell
down without any Sign of Life. The People com-
ing in, I was immediately fecured, and carried to
Priſon, till they knew whether he would live or die.
I was mightily concerned, not that any Danger was
to be feared, but that it would be a Hindrance to
my Voyage. The Gentleman continued in a vio-
lent Fever a great while, and his Life was deſpaired
of; but at laſt, after a tedious Illneſs, recovered,
but continued weak. One Day he came to viſit me
in a Chair, where I was confined, and told me he
was very forry for what had happened, and that
to-day I ſhould be at Liberty; and accordingly an
Order came in the Afternoon for my Freedom,
without paying any Fees. But to my great Grief
the Fleet was failed, and Benbow's Squadron de-
figned for the Indies. But Mr. Martin begged me
to be patient, and he would procure me a Paffage
in a Storefhip, that would fail in a Week at fartheſt
for Jamaica; and he was as good as his Word; for
the next Day he carried me to Captain Young, Com-
mander of the Tyger Store fhip, and entered me im-
mediately. Then my Heart began to be at Reſt,
and
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
197
and 1 gave him Thanks
him Thanks; and for the Time we
ſtayed there, Mr. Martin and I were very intimate,
and he expreffed himſelf fo genteelly about our for-
mer Encounter, that he gained my Efteem.
Paffion, indeed, is certainly a Madness; and
therefore what was done in that Heat ought to be
forgot, if the Perfons themfelves repent of it. But
how humane would it be, if in the Midst of that
Fire of Paffion which blazes out, they could fprinkle
the cool Water of Reafon, and quench it? For no-
thing more deforms the Mind or Body than Paffion,
and 'tis then we lofe our human Form, and are
metamorphofed into Beafts. How many great and
good Men have done fuch Things in a Paffion, that
they have repented of all their Lives after; there-
fore Paffion may well be termed a pilfering Devil,
that ſteals away our Senfes, and prompts us to de
Actions unbecoming the Form we bear.
We m
We fet Sail from Spithead, May the 18th, 1701,
and our Captain gave us Hopes of overtaking the
Fleet, by Reafon, he faid, one Ship could better
make Way than a whole Fleet, becauſe they were
obliged to wait for one another. We met with no-
thing extraordinary but a Storm,
moft upon the Ifland of Madeira,
nigh, our Captain refolved to anchor at, and ac-
cordingly we did, in the Bay of the City of Funzal,
the Capital of the Place. Captain Young and I
went on Shore to view the Town.
that drove us al-
which being fo
Funzal, the Capital of this Ifland, is a large hand_
fome City, with one Cathedral and four other
Churches,
K 3
199
The ADVENTURES of
Churches, all neatly built; two Cloifters, one for
the Men, and the other for the Women. The City
contains 1600 Houfes. There is alfo computed to
be upon this Iſland 100,000 Inhabitants. I bought
a Portugueſe Book here, that gives a better Account
of the firſt Diſcovery of this Ifland, than any I have
feen extant, which Mr. Mufgraus tranflated for me
into English. I have ſeen it in French fince, but not
truly tranflated, becauſe there was fomething left
out concerning King Edward the Third, that con-
quered France. And as the Honour belongs to the
English, as the firft Inhabitants, I fhall here give it
you faithfully tranflated. It being but short, I
hope it will not be found tedious; for in all my
Voyages I avoid Prolixity, as being offenfive to all
Readers, and the Places I deſcribe are generally
fuch as are not frequented by the English, it being
my Fortune to be carried there.
THI
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
199
M
IR
否
​मु
THE
宙
​$R
HISTORY
OF THE
DISCOVERY of the Ifland of
MADEIRA.
Written originally in Portugueſe by Don Francifco de
Alcafarado, and tranflated into English by W.
Mulgrave, Native of Jamaica.
**
XXXXX HEN England was fettled in a laſt-
ing Peace, after the Turmoils and
W Hazard of a dangerous War, King
**** Edward the Third, who conquered
XXX France, and fixed his Royal Standard
in the City of Paris; he who had felt the In-
conveniences of War, knew how to encourage the
Pleaſures of Peace; and London, the Metropolitan
City of the Kingdom, became the Seat of Mirth
and Jollity. All Thoughts of War were banished;
K 2
the
200
The ADVENTURES O
the Enfigns now were furled, and Swords were
wore for Ornament, not Ufe. Among the reft that
embelliſhed the Court, was one Lionel Machin, the
youngeſt Brother of a noble Family, and confe-
quently not over-rich; yet a Gentleman (which
often happens in younger Brothers) that was reck-
oned the only Ornament of the Root from whence
he fprung. This Gentleman fell deſperately in
Love with a Lady, beautiful to Perfection, and the
only Toaft of her Time. But there was a vaſt Diſ
parity in their Fortunes; for fhe was the only
Daughter to a Nobleman, whofe Riches exceeded
most of his Rank, and confequently courted by
thofe that could make her a Jointure, equal to the
Fortune her Father would give her.
But never-
thelefs the Force of Love is fuch, that it never minds
Intereft nor Duty; and the young Lady, whofe Name
was Arabella, was fo much taken with the winning
Behaviour of Lionel, that he placed her entire Af-
fection upon him, who was indeed, bating his
flender Means, the most deferving of her. But the
Parents of Arabella hearing of the Amity that was
between them, complained to King Edward, and
begged that he would interpofe his Royal Authority.
The King ufed many Perfuafions to Lionel to with-
draw his Affections, but it was like bidding the
Sun ſtand ſtill, or the Wind, or Rain to ceafe; for
their Affections were fo ftrongly united, that
nothing could ever part them. The Father having
provided a fit Match for his Daughter, intreated
the King to fecure Lionel till the Marriage was
folemnized,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
201
folemnized, who granted his Requeſt, and clapt Lionel
in Prifon under Pretence of fome treaſonable Prac-
tices. When immediately the Marriage Rites were per-
formed, and Arabella was conſtrained to give her
Hand where it was not in her Power to give her
Heart; and Parents are to blame to force their
Children to marry againſt their Inclinations, for
from thence fpring fuch Diſorders in Families that
are not in their Power to compofe. As foon as the
Ceremony was over, the Hufband carried his Lady
to a Palace, feated upon the River Severn, near
Briftol: When done, Lionel was releafed out of
Priſon, but with a heavy Heart, for the Lofs of his
dear Arabella. But ftill his Love encreaſed from the
Difficulties he found to obtain his Defire, and
knowing it impoffible to live without her, thought
of a Stratagem that gave him Hopes of conquering
all Difficulties. He fummoned about thirty young
Gentlemen, all refolute, bold, and fit for any Un-
dertaking. When he had got them all together,
he made this fhort Oration to them:
Moft here are my Relations, or what is a nearer Tye,
my bofom Friends: You all know the Indignity I bave
Suffered, by Arabella's forced Marriage; therefore I re-
quire you all to affift me in whatever I fhall undertake
(without tainting your Honour) to be revenged for the
Affront put upon me.
To this Request they all agreed to ſerve him with
their Lives and Fortunes. Whereupon it was re-
folved to part and take feveral Ways to Briftol:
K
When
206
The ADVENTURES of
When they all arrived at their Place of Rendezvous,
they confulted together, and refolved to feize any
Ship in the River, that they found was fit for their
Turn. Lionel thought nothing difficult when Love
was to be the Reward; but now he wanted fome
Means to let Arabella know their Defign: But at
laft it was agreed, that one of their Company
fhould enter into the Service of the Hufband, which
fell out as they could wifh, and a proper Perfon
was hired to be Groom, where he had the Care of a
fine ſpotted Horfe, that ufed to carry the Lady
abroad, to visit her Neighbours: The Wind
proving fair, Notice was given that the Project was
to be put in Execution; the pretended Groom, to
favour the Business, had omitted giving Arabella's
Horſe any Water, when Arabella had Notice
of the Hour, the ordered her fpotted Horfe
to be faddled under Pretence of taking the
Air, attended with her Groom and two more of her
Domefticks. When they came near the Cape of
Land, where Lionel and his Companions waited for
her, the Horfe, by the beating of the Waves againſt
the Shore, heard and fmelt the Water, and made
down to it to drink, where Lionel immediately laid
hold of the Lady, (who feemed to be mightily
frightened) and put her in their Boat and made off.
Now the Day that they had feized the Lady, was
alfo pitched on to feize the Ship they had a Deſign
upon; which was eafily done, as their Crew were
most of them afhore. They cut her Cables, and
made of to Sea with all the Sail they could bear,
and foon got out of Sight, and directed their Courſe
for
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
203
for France, but a Storm met them and drove them
quite contrary. Lionel's Friends now began to re-
pent of their Undertaking, and Lionel was mightily
concerned for the Danger of her he loved more
dear than Life; who though mightily difordered
with the Sea, yet feemed contented in having the
Object of her Defire with her. Thirty Days they
were the Sport of the Waves, every Day expecting
Death; but one Morning they difcovered Land,
high, craggy, and very woody, which filled them
with Joy, more especially Lionel, for now he hoped
a refting Place for his dear Arabella. None in the
Ship could guef's what Land it could be, for they
knew it was not inhabited, becauſe Birds of all
Sorts were ſo tame, that they would fuffer them-
felves to be taken with the Hand. The Place they
chofe for their Habitations was a fine Grove of
Laurel-Trees that were very delightful, as was alſo
every Part of the Country they had rambled over.
Finding they were to itay there a great while, they
got out of their Ship feveral Neceffaries, and lived
very pleaſant for about thirteen Days, defigning to
commit themſelves in a Day or two to the Mercy
of the Waves, for though the Ifland was delightful
to live in, yet it feemed tirefome to thofe that
wanted many Things they enjoyed in their own
Country.
The Night before they defigned to embark, 2
violent Storm arofe, and drove the Ship from the
Ifland with about fixteen Men that were preparing
all Things for failing the next Day. Thefe were
K 6
tok
204
The ADVENTURES of
toft by the Winds and Sea for many Days, but at
laft, to their great Joy, diſcovered Land, where
they ran their Ship on Shore, for fhe was fo leaky
she could hardly fwim. But their Joy for being.
faved from the watry Element, foon changed to
Sorrow, when they found themſelves taken by the
Moors, they being landed on the Coaſt of Africk.
Their new Maſters (after hard Ufage) arrived at the
City of Morocco, with their Purchafe, where they
fold them in the Market like Cows, or Oxen; but
all declaring they were Men of Rank, they were
imprifoned, in Hopes of large Ranfoms.
When Lionel and Arabella, and the reft that were
left on Shore, difcovered the next Morning their
fatal Difafter, Grief feized them with fuch a Force,
that fome of them loft their Senfes, running fran-
tick up and down the Woods, and raving, killed
themſelves. Poor Arabella's Grief funk inward,
and preyed upon her Life with fuch Violence, that
Death appeared to her Reſcue: She never upbraided
Lionel with her Misfortunes, but clofed her Eyes
with a true Repentance of her Failings.
Lionel was like a diſtracted Man, laid himſelf
down at her Feet, and could not be removed till
Death gave him his Releafe. His Companions bu
ried them together in one Grave, and at the Foot
erected a Crofs, to fhew thofe that were interred
there, died under the Banner of Chrift: Upon the
Bark of the Tree, they cut in Letters the whole
Story of their Misfortunes. The reft that remained
upon the Iland, propofed to themfelves of ven-
·
turing
Capt. RICHARD FALCON Ê R
205
turing into their Boat (which by good Fortune
was left on Shore) and fteer their Courſe to the
nigheſt main Land, where they happily arrived
without Danger, but ran the fame Fate with their
other Companions that were thrown on the ſame
Coaft in the Ship, that they all thought was caft
away. All the Comfort they received in their
Misfortunes, was, that they were committed to the
fame Priſon, that their Companions were in. They
were over-joyed to find thofe alive that were
thought dead, but mourned to think of meeting in
fuch a melancholy Place. In the fame Prifon was
one Juan de Morales, a noted Pilot, and an excellent
Navigator; this Man was mightily pleafed with
the Tales of theſe English Gentlemen, and ſo often
begged them to repeat their Adventures, that he
had every Mark of the Iſland exact, and perfectly
faw it in Imagination. In the Year 1416, Don
Sancho, Son to Ferdinand King of Arragon, died in
Caftile, and left confiderable Sums of Money to
redeem Spanish Prifoners that were Captive in Bar-
bary; among the reft was Juan de Morales; and at
the fame Time the English Gentlemen got their
Ranfom, and ſafely arrived in their own Country,
with a Pardon for their Offence from the King of
England, and the Hufband of Arabella. Morales,
and all the Ship's Crew, were taken by the Portu-
gueſe, who met with them cruifing in thofe Seas,
but all, excepting Morales, had their Liberty given
them, who was detained for his Knowledge in the
Mathematicks,
206
The ADVENTURES of
Mathematicks, and Promifes were made him of
great Recompence, if he would ferve King John
of Portugal in his Diſcoveries.
As foon as they were arrived at Lisbon, Moralis
was prefented to the King, by Don Henry the Infant,
who was a great Encourager of new Difcoveries,
where he opened the whole Story of Lionel and Ara-
bella: Which was fo generally received, that a Fleet
was ordered immediately for this new Voyage, and
June the 2d, 1420, fet out to Sea well armed. They
defigned first for Porto Sando, as being nigh the
Inland, as Morales conjectured, the English abandon-
ed.
When they arrived there, the Inhabitants advifed
them not to go any farther in their Difcoveries to-
wards the N. E. being there was a black Cloud which
would terminate their Navigation, becauſe there was
not any one that ever attempted it, but loft their
Lives for their Prefumption, and were never heard
of more. Notwithstanding Gonfales the Admiral,
and Morales the Pilot, were well affured that very
Cloud was the Inland they wanted to find, they were
the more convinced in it, by Reafon the Cloud con-
tinued of the fame Colour through every Change of
the Moon. But the rest of the Ship's Crew were
of the contrary Opinion, and mutinied against Mo-
rales, telling him that he being a Cafiilian, (and con-
fequently their Enemy) did it to difgrace them; and
that it was a prefumptuous Thing to pretend to
fearch into the Secrets of Providence.
Notwithstanding
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
207
Notwithstanding their Grumblings, they fet fail
from Porto Santo, and made forward for their Dif
covery; but the nearer they approached this Cloud,
the more frightful it grew, which cauſed a terrible
Fear in all the Sailors, intreating Gonfales to return,
and not to be the Death of fo many innocent Peo
ple. But ftill they held their Courfe for all thei
Clamours; yet Gonfales, to encourage the Sailors,
affured them it must be firm Land, and to diffipate
their Fears made them this following Oration:
Why Should I be more hardy than you, but that I am
confirmed it is as I tell you? If there should be any Danger,
have I any Means to extricate myself more than yourſelves?
Is not my Life as precious to me, as any of yours, my Com-
panions? A Fool Hardiness does not become us, it is true;
but a firm Courage is what all Men fhould be endued with.
Every Perſon here has ventured his Life for his King in
Battle before now, without half the Recompenfe er Honcur
that will be gained by this Expedition, if we fucceed, as
we certainly fhall, if we arm ourſelves with Reſolution to
overcome all Difficulties: Banish your Fears, and call your
Reaſon to your did, and let us proceed in the Name, and for
the Honour of God, and our King.
or
They proceeded cheerfully, animated by this O-
ration, and in a little Time entered the Cloud,
fettled Fog; but the Tide driving the Veffel too far
North, they put out their Boats to tow their Ship
in the midst of the Cloud; but the farther they row-
ed, the Cloud feemed to decreafe, and prefently af
ter they diſcovered Land to their great Joy, being
it was what but few of them expected: The firit
Cape
208
The ADVENTURES of
Cape they diſcovered, was called by Gonfales, Cape
St. Lawrence, which they doubled, and ſaw a fine and
fertile Country full of fair and lofty Trees, that
made the Profpect delightful. Sailing on, they dif
covered a large Bay, which Morales judged to be the
Place where the English were thrown; but it being
late, Gonfales ordered to let fall the Anchors, not
caring to land till they had the whole Day before.
them. The next Morning they landed, and found
it to be the fame Place where Lionel Machin and Ara-
bella were buried.
When they had given Account to the Admiral of
the State of Things, he landed and took Poſſeſſion
of the Ifland for his Mafter, John the firit, King of
Portugal. They erected an Altar upon the Tomb of
the two Lovers, faid Mafs, and returned God
Thanks for their happy Succefs.
Gonfules termed the Iſland Madera from the Quan-
tity of its Wood (which in the Portugueſe Language
fignifies Woody) that was found all over the Iiland,
but no human Inhabitants.
After they had fearched well on Shore, Boats were
ordered to row round the Iſland, being it was dan-
gerous for their Ship, by Reafon of many Rocks
and Shallows that lay in the Water. So ſteering Weſt,
they discovered four fine fmall Rivers running into
the Sea, the Water being extremely clear. Gonfales
ordered fome to be bottled to preſent to the King of
Portugal his Maſter at his Return.
Going farther, feveral Soldiers were landed in a
Valley, which was watered by a fine River, and a
noble
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
209
noble Grove of Trees that made a perfect Harbour,
where Gonfales erected a large Crofs.
Sailing on, they came to a Point of Land that ran
a great Way into the Sea, which was inhabited by
fuch a Number of great different Birds, that the
Men were afraid of being devoured by them. This
Place was named Punta des Gralhos, from the large
Number of Birds.
Going forward, they difcovered a Valley covered
with fine large Cedar-Trees; next to that they found
another large one, where was a great Lake or Pond,
from whence they could perceive the Bay they fet
out from. In fearching the Country, they difcove-
red a large Plain, which overlooked the reft of the
Ifland, free from Trees, but covered over with a
beautiful Fennel, called by the Portugueſe Funchall.
Upon this Plain they built a City, and called it Fun-
chall, from the Quantity of Fennel that was found
there, which was formerly a Biſhop's See, but is ſtill
the chief Place for Temporal Affairs.
From this Plain run three Rivers into the Sea,
which form an Ifland, and landlock the Haven, fe-
cure from Storms and Tempests.
Gonfales till fent out more Men for Difcoveries in
the Iſland, where they found a white Rock, called
by the Portugueſe Praya Formofa, or the fair Rock;
below which was a fierce Torrent of Water, fo clear,
that obliged them all to obferve it. Two refolute
Soldiers pulled off their Cloaths, and attempted to
ſwim across the Stream, but were hurried away with
the Current in fuch an impetuous Manner, that they
had
210
The ADVENTURES of
had perished if they had not been timely fuccoured
by their Companions by Ropes, which they threw
in, and pulled them up against the Violence of the
Stream. This Torrent they named Seccorides.
The moft remarkable Thing they found in their
Voyage, was a great Number of Sea- Wolves, which
rufhed out of a Cave into the Water when they ap-
proached them. Gonfales gathered all Sorts of Plants,
Roots, Flowers and Minerals, together with all
Sorts of Birds, and a large Parcel of the Earth, and
embarked for Portugal, where he fafely arrived Auguft
the 2d, the fame Year 1420, where he was received
with all the Favour imaginable.
In May 1421, Gonfales was made Governor of the
whole lfland, with an additional Title of Count, and
in the fame Month fet Sail with his Wife and two
Daughters, and many more, for the inhabiting the
fame, where he happily arrived, and laid the Foun-
dation for the preſent Capital of Funchall, or Funzal;
but to honour Lionel Machin, who was there interred,
he called the Place Porto Machino, and over the
Grave he erected a noble Church. Some Writers
relate that Gonſales fet the Woods on Fire, that con-
tinued burning for ſeven Years, which made Wood
ſcarce in that Ifland; but there is fuch Plenty of all
Sorts, that I look upon that Story but as a Fable.
The Iſland daily increafed in its Inhabitants, till it
came to the now flouriſhing State it remains in.
Madera is fituated in thirty Degrees and thirty one
Minutes. In Circumference about forty Leagues,
twelve in Length, about two broad. The Air fo
temperate,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 211
temperate, that neither Heat nor Cold is trouble-
fome, and the Soil fo fertile, that it yields more
Corn for the Bignefs of the Place than any other If-
land as large again. The Grafs ſhoots up ſo high,
that they are obliged to burn it, and in the Afhes
they plant Sugar-Canes, which in fix Months Time
produce Sugar. The Inhabitants are more civilized
than any of the Canary Iſlands.
After we had made an End of our Affairs, we fet
Sail from thence, and directed our Courfe for Tene-
riff, one of the Canary Islands, or the Infulæ Fortu-
nate of Ptolemy, where we fafely arrived. This
Ifland lies in twenty-feven Degrees, and thirty
Minutes; about fourteen Leagues in Length. Santa
Cruz, the Place where we anchored, is the chief
Harbour. It is an Iſland very well inhabited, con-
taining three Cities, or large Towns, befides
great Number of Villages. But what it's famed
moft for is the Pike, or high Mountain, that rears
its Head above the Clouds, and feems to ſcale even
Heaven itfelf. I have feen many People that have
told me they have been at the Top of this Moun-
tain But none give fo good a Defcription of it
(and even the whole Ifland) as the Right Reveren
Dr. Sprat in his Hiftory of the Royal Society; which :
as follows:
C
Having furniſhed ourſelves with a Guide, Su
vants and Horſes, to carry our Wine and Prov
fron, we fet forth for Oratava, a Port-Town i.
the Iſland of Teneriff, fituated on the North-fide
two Miles diftant from the main Sea, and travelled
• from
212
The ADVENTURES O
from twelve at Night till eight in the Morning,
by which Time we got to the Top of the first
• Mountain, towards the Pico de Terraira: There,
under a very large and confpicuous Pine-tree, we
⚫ took our Breakfaſt, dined and refreshed ourſelves
'till two in the Afternoon: Then we paſſed
through many fandy Ways, over many lofty
Mountains, but naked and bare, and not covered
with any Pine-Trees, as our firit Night's Paffage
was. This expofed us to exceffive Heat, till we
• arrived at the Foot of the Pico, where we found
many huge Stones, which feemed to have fallen
• from fome upper Part: About fix in the Evening
we began to afcend the Pico, but we were ſcarce
• advanced a Mile, and the Way being no more
'paffable for Horfes, we left them with our Ser-
In the Afcent of one Mile, fome of our
Company grew very faint and fick, difordered by
Fluxes, Vomitings, and agueifh Diftempers, our
Horfe's Hairs ftanding upright like Briftles; and
calling for fome of our Wine, carried in fmall.
Barrels on a Horfe, we found it fo wonderfully
'cold, that we could not drink it till we had made
< a Fire to warm it, notwithſtanding the Air was
• vants.
·
<
very calm and moderate. But when the Sun was
fet, it began to blow with fuch Violence, and
grew fo cold, that taking up our Lodging among
the hollow Rocks, we were neceffitated to keep
great Fires in the Mouths of them all Night.
• About four in the Morning we began to mount
again; and being come another Mile up, one of
· our
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
213
our Company failed, and was not able to pro-
'ceed any farther. Here began the black Rocks.
The rest of us purfued our Journey till we came to
-
the Sugar Loaf, where we began to travel again
' in a white Sand, being fitted with Shoes, whoſe
fingle Soles are made a Finger broader than the
upper Leather to encounter this difficult Paffage.
• Having afcended as far as the black Rocks, which
lay all flat like a plain Floor, we climbed within
•
C
a Mile of the very Top of the Pico, and at laft we
gained the Summit, where we found no fuch
'Smoke as appeared a little below, but a continual
• Perfpiration of a hot and fulphurous Vapour, that
* made our Faces extremely fore. All this Way we
• found no confiderable Alteration of the Air, and
very little Wind, but on the Top it was fo impe-
'tuous, that we had much ado to ſtand againſt it,
⚫ whilſt we drank the King's Health, and fired each
of us a Piece. Here alfo we took our Dinner,
but found that our ftrong Waters had loft their
• Virtue, and were almost infipid, while our Wine
was more fpirituous and brifk than before. The
4
Top on which we ftood being not above a Yard
broad, is the Brink of a Pit, called the Caldera,
which we judged to be a Muſket-ſhot over, and
• near fourſcore Yards deep, in Form of a Cone,
hollow within like a Kettle, and covered with
'fmall loofe Stones, mixed with Sulphur and Sand,
from among whichfiffued divers Spiracles of Smoke
• and Heat; which being ftirred with any Thing,
• puffs and makes a Noife, and fo offenfive, that we
· were
214
The ADVENTURES of
.<
were almoſt fuffocated with the fudden Emana-
tion of Vapours, upon the removing one of theſe
Stones, which were fo hot as not eafily to be
handled. We defcended not above four or five
Yards into the Caldera, becauſe of the Slipperi-
nefs under Foot, and the Difficulty; but fome
◄ have adventured to the Bottom. Other Matters
obfervable, we diſcovered none, beſides a clear
Sort of Sulphur which lay like Salt upon the
• Stones. From this renowned Pico we could fee
the Grand Canaries, 14 Leagues diftant; Palma
18; and Gomera 7; which Interval of Sea feemed
... not much wider than the Thames about London. We
C
<
·
difcerned alfo the Herro, being diftant about 20
Leagues, and fo to the utmoſt Limits of the Sea
• much farther. As foon as the Sun appeared, the
• Shadow of the Pico feemed to cover not only the
whole Iiland, and the Grand Canaries, but the Sea,
to the very Horizon, where the Top of the Sugar-
Loaf or Pico vifibly appeared to turn up, and caft
its Shade into the Air itſelf, at which we were
much furprized; but the Sun was not far aſcend-
ed, when the Clouds began to rife ſo faſt, as that
they intercepted our Profpect both of the Sea, and
the whole fland, except the Tops only of the
fubjacent Mountains, which feemed to pierce them
through. Whether thefe Clouds do ever furmount
the Pico, we can't ſay, but to fuch as are far be-
low they feem fometimes to hang above it, or
rather wrap themſelves about it, as conftantly
4
'as
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
215
4
r
as the Weft Winds blow; this they call the Cap,
' and is the infallible Prognoftick of enfuing Storms.
One of our Company who made this Journey
again two Years after, arriving at the Top of the
"Pico before Day, and creeping under a great Stone
to ſhroud himſelf from the cold Air, after a little
Time found himſelf all wet, and perceived it to
come from a perpetual Trickling of Water
from the Rocks above him. Many excellent and
⚫ exuberant Springs we found iffuing from the Tops
< of most of the other Mountains, gushing out in
great Spouts almoſt as far as the huge Pine-Tree
which we mentioned before. Having ftaid a-while
at the Top, we all defcended the fandy Way, till
we came to the Foot of the Sugar-Loaf, which be-
ing steep, even almoft to a Perpendicular, we foon
paffed; and here we met with a Cave about tem
• Yards deep, and fifteen broad, being in Shape like
an Oven, or Cupola, having a Hole at the Top,
near eight Yards over. This we defcended by a
Rope that our Servants held fast at the Top,
while with the other End (being faftened about
our Middles) we fwung ourſelves, till being over
• a Bank of Snow, we flid down, lighting upon it;
we were forced to fwing thus in our Defcent, be-
caufe in the Midft of the Bottom of this Cave,
oppofite to the Aperture at the Top, is a round
Pit of Water, like a Well, the Surface whereof is
about a Yard lower, but as wide as the Mouth at
Top, and about fix Fathom deep. We fuppofed
<
• this
216
The ADVENTURES of
<
•
* this Water not a Spring, but diffolved Snow
'blown in, or Water trickling through the Rocks.
• About the Sides of the Grot for fome Height there
' is Ice and Icicles hanging down to the Snow. But
being quickly weary of this exceffive cold Place,
and drawn up again, we continued our Defcent
• from the Mountains, by the fame Paffage we went
up the Day before, and fo about five in the Even-
ing arrived at Oratava, from whence we fet forth;
our Faces were fo red and fore, that to cool them,
we were forced to wash and bath them in Whites
of Eggs. The whole Height of the Pico in Per-
pendicular is vulgarly esteemed to be two Miles
and a half; no Trees, Herbs, nor Shrubs did we
⚫ find in all the Paffage, but Pines; and among the
whiter Sands, a Kind of Broom, being a bufhy
• Plant; and on that Side where we lay all Night,
a Kind of Coalon, which had Stems eight Feet
high, and the Trunk near a Foot thick, every
Stem growing in four Squares, and emerging
• from the Ground like Tufts of Ruſhes; upon the
• Edges of thefe Stems grow very small red Buttons,
•
•
or Berries, which being ſqueezed, produce a poi-
• fonous Milk; which falling upon any Part of a
Horfe, or other Beaft, fetches off all the Hair
from the Skin immediately; of the withered
• Sticks of this Vegetable we made our Fire all
Night. This Plant is alfo unive rfally ſpread
over the Ifland, and is perhaps a Kind of Euphor-
•bium.
<
• OF
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
217
<
⚫ Of the Iſland Teneriff itſelf, this Account was
given by a judicious and ingenious Man who
lived twenty Years in it, as a Phyfician and
'Merchant: His Opinion is, that the whole Iſland
being a Soil mightily impregnated with Brimftone,
'did in former Times take Fire, and blow up all,
or near all, at the fame Time; and that many
'Mountains of huge Stone, calcined and burnt,
which appear all over this Ifland, eſpecially in
'the South-Weft Part of it, were caft up, and raiſed
'
out of the Bowels of the Earth, at the Time of
✦ that general Conflagration; and that the greateſt
Quantity of this Sulphur lying about the Center of
the Ifland, raiſed up the Pice to that Height at
• which it is now feen; and he fays, that any one
upon the Place, that fhall carefully note the Situ-
⚫ation and Manner of thofe calcined Rocks, how
<
€
they lie, will eaſily be of that Mind; for they lie
(fays he) three or four Miles almoft round the
Bottom of the Pico, and in fuch Order one above
another, almoft to the Sugar-Leaf, as it is called,
as if the whole Ground fwelling and rifing up
together, by the Afcenfion of the Brimftone, the
''Torrents and Rivers of it did, with a fudden
Eruption, roll and tumble them down from the
reft of the Rocks, efpecially (as is faid before) to
the South-Weft, for on that Side from the very
Top of the Pico, almoft to the Sea-Coaft, lie huge
Heaps of thefe burnt Rocks one under another;
' and there ftill remain the very Tracts of the
Brimftone Rivers, as they run over this Quarter of
L
• the
218
The ADVENTURES of
4
،
遇
​‹ the Iſland, which has fo wafted the Ground
beyond Recovery, that nothing can be made to
grow there but Broom: But on the North Side
of the Pico few or none of thefe Stones ap-
peared; and hence he concludes, that the
• Volcano difcharged itſelf chiefly on the South-
• Weft Side. He adds farther, That at the
fame Time Mines of feveral Metals were blown
up, fome of thoſe calcined Rocks refembling
• Iron Ore, fome Silver, and others Copper; par-
• ticularly on the South-Weft Parts, called Azuleois,
< being very high Mountains, where never any En-
glishman but himſelf (that ever he heard of) was.
There are vaft Quantities of a looſe bluish Earth,
• mixt with blue Stones, which have a yellow Rust
upon them, like that of Copper, or Vitriol; as
alſo many fmall Springs of Vitriol Water, where
he fuppofes a Copper Mine; and he was told by
< a Bell-founder of Oratava, that he got out of two
• Horfe Loads of this Earth, as much Gold as made
two large Rings: And a Portuguese who had been
in the West Indies told him, that his Opinion was,
there were as good Mines of Gold and Silver
there, as the beſt in the West-Indies. Thereabouts
• alfo are Nitrous Waters, and Stones covered over
• with a deep Saffron-coloured Ruft, tafting of
• Iron;
and farther, he mentions one of his
Friends, which of two Lumps of Earth or Ore,
brought from the Top of this Side of the Moun-
tain, made two Silver Spoons. All this he con-
firmed by the laſt Inſtance of the Palm-Iſland, 18
Leagues from the Teneriff, where, about 12 Years
4
4
·
C fince,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
219
'fince, a Volcano was fixed, the Violence thereof
made an Earthquake in this Ifland, fo great, that
⚫ he and others ran out of their Houfes, fearing they
'would have fallen upon their Heads; they heard
the Noife of the Torrent of flaming Brimftone,
like Thunder, and faw the Fires as plain by
Night, for fix Weeks together, as a burning
Torch, and fo much Sand and Afhes, brought
from thence by the Wind and Clouds, fell upon
his Hat, as would fill the Sandbox of his Ink-
• horn.
<
• In fome Places of this Ifland grows a crooked
• Shrub called Legnan, which they bring to England
as a ſweet Wood. There are likewife Apricots.
Peach-trees, and others, which bear twice a Year;
alfo Pear-trees as pregnant, Almonds with a ten-
der Shell; Palms, Plantains, Oranges and Lemons,
eſpecially the Paegnadaes, which have finall ones
within them, from whence they are fo denomi-
'nated. Alfo they have Sugar-Canes, and a little
Cotton, Colloquintida, &c. The Rofes blow at
Christmas; there are good Carnations, and very
large, but no Tulips will grow or thrive there;
Samphire cloaths the Rocks in Abundance, and a
kind of Clover the Ground. Another Grafs
grows near the Sea, which is of a broader Leaf, fo
• luſcious and rank, that it will kill a Horſe that
eats of it, but no other Beaft. Eighty Ears of
‹ Wheat have been found to ſpring from one Root,
but grows not very high; the Corn of this is
tranfparent, like the pureft yellow Amber, and
C
✔
6
L 2
one
220
The ADVENTURES of
one Bushel has brought forth an hundred in a fea-
• fonable Year.
The Canary Birds which they bring to us in
England, breed in the Baranco's or Gills, which the
• Water has fretted away in the Mountains, being
Places very cold. There are alfo Quails, Par-
tridges larger than ours, and exceeding beautiful
large Wood Pidgeons, Turtles at Spring, Crows, and
fometimes the Falcons come flying over from the
• Coaſt of Barbary.
4
4
Bees are carried into the Mountains, where they
profper exceedingly, and there they have wild
• Goats which climb to the very Top of the Pico
• fometimes; alfo Hogs, and Multitudes of
• Coneys.
• Of Fiſh, they have the Cherna, a very large and
excellent Fish, better tafted than any we have in
England; the Mera, Dolphins, Lobsters without
great Claws, Mufcles, Periwincles, and the Clacas,
⚫ which is abfolutely the very beft Shell-Fiſh in the
• World; they grow in the Rocks, five or fix
under one great Shell, through the Top-Holes
whereof they peep out with their Nibs, from
whence (the Shells being broken open a little
more with a Stone) they draw them; there is
• alſo another Sort of Fifh like an Ecl, which hath
fix or feven Tails of a Span long, united to one
Head and Body, which is alfo as fhort; befides,
there they have Turtles, and Cabrido's which are
• better than our Trouts. The Ifland is full of Springs
of freſh Water, taſting like Milk; which in Lala-
gima,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
221
<
•
gima, where the Water is not fo clear and lympid,
they cleanfe by percolating it through a Kind of
fpungy Stone, cut in Form of a Bafon. The
• Vines which afford thoſe excellent Wines grow
all about the Ifland within a Mile of the Sea;
'fuch as are planted farther up are not fo much
'efteemed, nor will they thrive in any of the other
Iflands. Concerning the Guanchic's or ancient
Inhabitants he gave this full Account: The 3d of
September, about 12 Years fince, he took his
Journey from Guimar, a Town for the moſt Part
inhabited by fuch as derive themſelves from
the antient Guanchio's, in the Company of
• fome of them, to view their Caves, and the
Corps buried in them: (a Favour they fel-
dom or never permit to any, having the Corps
of their Anceſtors in great Veneration, and like-
wife being extremely againſt any Moleftation of
the Dead) but he had done feveral eleemofynary
Cures among them, for they are very poor (yet
the pooreft think themſelves too good to marry
with the beſt Spaniard) which endeared him to
them exceedingly; otherwife it is Death for any
Stranger to vifit thefe Caves and Bodies. The
Corps are fewed up in Goats Skins, with
Thongs of the fame, with very great Curiofity,
' particularly in the incomparable Exactnefs and
Evennefs of the Seams; and the Skins are made
very cloſe and fit to the Corps, which are for the
moft Part entire, the Eyes clofed, Hair on their
L 3
Heads,
<
222
The ADVENTURES of
<
Heads, Ears, Nofe, Teeth, Lips and Beard, all
'perfect, only difcoloured and a little fhrivelled,
likewife the Pudenda of both Sexes. He faw
about three or four Hundred in feveral Caves,
fome of them ftanding, others lying upon Beds of
Wood, fo hardened by an Art they had (which
the Spaniards call Curay, to cure a Piece of Wood)
that no Iron can pierce or hurt it. Thefe Bodies
are very light, as if made of Straw, and in ſome
'broken Bodies he obſerved the Nerves and Ten-
dons, and alfo the Spring of the Veins and Ar-
teries very diftinctly. By the Relation of the
moft ancient of this Ifland, they had a particular
Tribe that had this Art only among themfelves,
and kept as a Thing facred, and not to be com-
municated to the Vulgar; theſe mixt not them-
felves with the reft of the Inhabitants, nor mar-
ried out of their own Tribe, and were alſo their
• Priefts and Miniſters of Religion. But when the
Spaniards conquered the Place, moft of them were
deſtroyed, and the Art perished with them, only
they held fome Traditions yet of a few Ingredi-
ents that were uſed in this Bufinefs; they took
Butter (fome fay they mixed Bear's-greafe with it)
which they kept for that Purpoſe in the Skins;
wherein they boiled certain Herbs, firſt a Kind of
• wild Lavendar, which grows there in great
Quantities upon the Rocks; fecondly, an Herb
• called Lara, of a very gummy and glutinous Con-
'fiftence, which now grows there under the Tops
¿
· of
Capt. RICHARD FALCON ER.
223
C
"
C
of the Mountains; thirdly, a kind of Cyclamen,
or Sow-bread; fourthly, wild Sage, which grows
plentifully upon this Ifland; thefe with others,
'bruiſed and boiled up with Butter, rendered it a
perfect Balfam; this prepared, they first unbowel
the Corps (and in the poorer Sort, to fave
Charges, took out the Brains behind): after the
Body was thus ordered, they had in Readineſs a
• Lixivium made of the Bark of Pine-trees, where-
'with they waſhed the Body, drying it in the Sun
in Summer, and in the Winter in a Stove, this re-
'peating very often; afterwards they began their
Unction, both without and within, drying it as
'before; this they continued till the Balfam had
penetrated into the whole Habit, and the Muſcles
⚫ in all Parts appeared through the contracted Skin,
and the Body become exceeding light; then they
fewed them up in Goats Skins, as was before
• mentioned. The Ancients fay, that they have
' above twenty Caves of their Kings and great Per-
fonages, with their whole Families, yet unknown
to any but themſelves, and which they will never
• diſcover. Laſtly he ſays, that Bodies are found in the
Caves of the grand Canaries in Sacks, quite con-
fumed, and not as thefe in Teneriff. Antiently
' when they had no Knowledge of Iron, they made
their Lances of Wood, hardened as before men-
'tioped. They have earthen Pots fo hard that they
cannot be broken. Of theſe fome are found in
the Caves, and old Bavances, and ufed by the
poorer People that find them to boil Meat in.
• Their
<
.
L 4
224
The ADVENTURES of
<
•
Their Food is Barley parched, and then ground
‹ with little Stone Mills, and mingled ith Milk
and Honey, which they always carry with them
• in Goats-ſkins at their Backs: To this Day they
' drink no Wine, nor care for Flesh; they are very
ingenious, lean, tall, active, and full of Courage,
for they leap from Rock to Rock, from a pro-
digious Height, till they come to the Bottom,
'fometimes making ten Fathoms deep at one Leap,
in this Manner: Firft they tertiate their Lances,
which are about the Bignefs of a half Pike, and
• aim with the Point at any Piece of a Rock, upon
which they intend to light, fometimes not half a
Foot broad; in leaping off they clap their Feet
clofe to the Lance, and fo carry their Bodies in
the Air; the Point of their Lance comes first to
the Place, which breaks the Force of their Fall;
then they flide gently down by the Staff, and
pitch with their Feet on the very Place they firſt
defigned, and fo from Rock to Rock, till they
come to the Bottom; but their Novices fometimes
break their Necks in the learning. He told alfo
(and the fame was very feriously confirmed by a
Spaniard, and another Canary Merchant there in
the Company) that they whiftle fo loud, as to be
heard five Miles off, and that to be in the fame
Room with them when they whistle were enough
'to endanger the breaking the Tympanum of the
Ear; and added, that he being in Company of
one that whiſtled his loudeft, could not hear per-
•
<
C
<
C
•
•fectly in 15 Days after; he affirms alſo, that they
⚫ throw
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
225
throw Stones with a Force almoft as great as that
' of a Bullet; and now ufe Stones in all their
Fights as they did antiently.
This Account was given to that Ingenious and
Reverend Divine, Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rocheſter,
by fome English Merchants, who had the Curioſity
to afcend the Pico, one of the higheſt Mountains in
the World; neither could I find him out in any
Thing, but in the Height; he allows it to be but
two Miles and a half; but all the Inhabitants agree
to make it a full League high.
Capt. Young and I attempted to afcend it; but
there was ſuch a thick Fog, that we were perfuaded
to the contrary; we went up about a Quarter of a
Mile, but were fo wet with the Fog, that we had not
a dry Thread about us.
When we had fatisfied our Curiofities as far as we
could, we fet fail from Teneriff and made our Courſe
for the West Indies. We met a Dutch Ship from Ba-
tavia that was drove by ill Weather feveral Degrees
out of her due Courfe; we fpared them what Necef-
faries we could, being they were in great Want, and
took our Leaves of them. The fame Evening a
Storm overtook us, and drove us out of our Courte,
but in the Night it turned ftark calm. The next
Morning we difcovered a Galley with Turkish Colours
out, rowing up to us with all their Strength; we
were all furpriſed and amazed, and could hardly
give Credit to our Eyes, as no one on Board us ever
heard of a Turkiſh Galley fo far from their own
Coaft; but it feems we were nigher Africk than we
fuppofed, as it proved afterwards. Our Captain
LS
told
226
The ADVENTURES of
told us we had nothing to do but fight it to the laſt;
for if we were taken, we might be Slaves all our
Lives long. I adviſed our Captain to put out our
Boat, and tow our Ship from them: For, faid I, if
a Wind does not rife in the mean Time, that we
may eſcape them, we fhall gain more Time to put
ourſelves in Readiness to receive them, when they
come up with us. This Advice was approved of,
and the Boat was got out immediately with fix Men
to row, and I obliged myſelf to go along with her
to fteer her right, that they might row with all their
Strength. We rowed fo tightly for an Hour, that
we made pretty good Way with our Ship; but for
all our Endeavours, we found that in about another
Hour they would get up with us; but we defigned
to row, till they were within a Quarter of a Mile of
us, and then go into the Ship again. In the mean
Time our Men on Board had prepared every Thing,
and were in good Order to receive them. We had
fixteen Guns, and forty Men, and Ammunition
enough. We were preparing to come on Board,
when we found they were almoft up with us, but our
Captain adviſed me not, and ordered us to have
Arms in the Boat, with fome Hand-Granado's; and
as foon as we ſhould fee them engaged, to go to the
contrary Side of the Enemy, and fire upon them,
and by that Means we ſhould amuſe them, that they
would not venture to board us. Immediately it was
agreed, and two more Men, together with our
Arms, were put into us. The Galley came up with
us in an Inftant and hailed us in English, and bid
us
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
227
us ftrike our Colours immediately, or it fhould be
worfe for us, but were anfwered by us with our Can-
non, instead of our Voices, and we went to it.
Now to obey my Orders, I loofed my Tow-Rope,
rowed to get on the other Side of the Galley, but
was mightily furprized to find their Boat out, and
about the Number of twenty Turks getting into her;
our Men in the Boat adviſed immediately, to return,
but I told them it was too late, for it would be
worſe for us if we did: Nay, our Captain called us
to come on Board, but I thought they would do us
more Injury in getting up the Ship's Side, than if
we ſtood them boldly, which we refolved to do:
There were nine of us, and we had Arms enough;
fo before they could fire at us, we difcharged our
Muſkets at them, and laid ourſelves under the Gun-
nel of our Boat to charge again: When we were
prepared, I ordered them not to ftir till the Turks
had fired; and as foon as they had done fo, to fet
Fire to the Fuzee of their Hand-Granado's, and throw
them in upon them; as foon as we heard the Turks
fire, which did us no Damage, we fet fire to cur
Hand-Granado's as agreed upon, and threw them in
upon them but they fufpecting fomething, it feems,
ordered but half their Number to fire firft, and the
other half fired upon us fo unluckily, when we rofe
to diſcharge our Granado's, that they killed three of
my Men out-right, wounded another dangerously,
and myſelf in the left Arm. It is true our Grana-
do's killed them four, and wounded feveral; but
fill their Number doubled ours, and now they pre-
L6
pared
228
The ADVENTURES of
pared to board us. My four Companions and my-
felf fired upon them with our Pieces, but could not
prevent them boarding us; yet we clubbed our
Muſkets on both Sides, and fell to work; but a
Turk coming behind me while I was engaging with
another, ftruck the Cock of his Piftol into my
Skull, and I dropped down for dead; but when I
came to myſelf, which was not in feveral Hours, as
I was told, I found myſelf on Board the Galley.
They had ordered a Surgeon to drefs my Wounds,
which were three; one in my left Arm, that in my
Skull, and another upon the Side of my Throat,
which I did not feel in the receiving. I was ordered
to be taken particular Care of; for as I was not in
a Sailor's Habit, they thought I was fomething
above the reft, and therefore hoped to get a confi-
derable Sum for my Ranfom. The Surgeon that
dreſſed me was an English Renegado, whofe Name
was Matthews. The Captain was an Enghjkman too,
born at Deptford, but the vileft Wretch fure that ever
breathed. There were feveral other English Rene-
gadoes on Board, moft of them profligate Wretches.
I underſtood from my Surgeon, that the two Veſ-
fels parted after a defperate Engagement, and the
Turks had about fifty Men killed and wounded:
Three of my Companions were Prifoners likewife;
the fourth being killed in the laft Conflict, and the
other expired in the Boat with his Wounds. When
I began to mend, I walked upon Deck, and looked
about me a little; the other three (being well) had
renounced their Saviour Jefus Chrift; he who died
for
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
229
for their Sins, and took upon him the State of Man,
that he might redeem us miferable Sinners from the
Curfe of the Serpent. What must be their Puniſh-
ment, who for a little Eafe in this World, forego
their Portion of eternal Life? If the Tortures of
Hell have their Degrees, the laft and greatest muft
be their Lot. The Captain of the Galley ordered
me one Day to be brought before him on the Deck,
where he told me, If I did not in a Twelvemonth
procure him to the Value of eight hundred Pounds
for my Ranfom, I fhould be chained to the Oar,
and be a Slave all my Life; (it feems one of the
three that was taken with me, had told him of
my
Abilities, and that I was poffeffed of a plentiful
Fortune.) I answered, I would fend to England,
and do my Endeavour to get that Sum; but I told
him it was more than I was worth, and there was
no Hopes of fo much Money for my Ranfom, un-
lefs my Friends would out of Charity contribute
towards it. I added, I believed I could raiſe a hun-
dred and fifty, or two hundred Pounds: But he
ftuck to his Text, and told me, He would bate me
nothing of that; and when the Time was expired
that he had fixed, if the Money did not come, I
fhould never have my Liberty. I told him, I would
do my Endeavour to procure it for him when we
came into Port, and had Liberty to write to my
Friends in England.
The Captain did deſign to cruize a Month longer,
that he might take fome Prize to make him Amends
for his latt Difappointment. He never importuned
me
230
The ADVENTURES of
me to forfake my Religion; being, if I had been as
vile as the others, he would not have had any Hopes
of my Money to redeem me. We coafted of the
Shore of Africk a Fortnight or three Weeks, but met
with no Prize; which enraged the Captain very
much. One Day the Surgeon dreffing the Wound
in my Head, flipt into my Hand a Letter, which
he bid me read cautiously, and give him an Anfwer
the next Day. I had not an Opportunity for feve-
ral Hours to read the Contents; at laft I counter-
feited a fudden Weaknefs, and retired to my Cab-
bin, which was in the Place we call the Forecaſtle.
When I laid myfelf down, and found no one was
near me, I opened my Letter, and read the Con-
tents to this Effect:
We whofe Names are fubfcribed to this have refolved
upon a Stratagem for our Liberty, there is feven of us,
English, befides yourself; and the Galley-Slaves are
twenty in Number, who have Notice of the Project.
One of the English, that has the Keys of the Galley-
Slaves Chains, is aljo one of cur Number. Our ProjecZ
must be put speedily in Execution, being they will go into
Harbour in ten Days, and then it will be impoſſible to
effect it. We will procure Arms, and give you further
Notice of the Hour. We must not feem to conucrfe toge-
ther, neither must you take it ill if you find we give you
ill Language now and then, it being only to infinuate
ourselves into the good Efteem of the Turks. When we
have redeemed the Slaves, we shall be twenty-eight in
Number, which will be a fufficient Strength to cope with
the
Capt. RICHARD FALCON EP,
231
the Turks, they being but forty-one in all. We will
convey Arms into your Cabbin by the Means of Mr.
Matthews, and we doubt not but
are shall effect our
Liberty under God.
Signed,
Ralph Smallwood,
George Jenkins,
George Kirk,
William Ashton,
Richard Sloan,
Edward Wilkins.
Anthony Matthews.
After I had read it, I prayed to God to aid us in
our Defign. The next Day Mr. Matthews came to
dress me as before; I gave him to underſtand that I had
read, and confidered the Letter, and told him my
Opinion was to execute it as fast as ever we could,
for Fear of any Accident that might happen: For,
faid I, it is not impoffible but we may meet with
one of their own Galleys, and then we fhall find it
to be a fruitless Undertaking. Said he, we muſt wait
a convenient Time; for if we thould fail, we muſt
expect the wort of Torments. He went from me
upon this, being fome of the Turks came to look
upon my Wound.
The Captain asked him how my
Hurts fared? Ah! Damn him, faid he, the Chri-
ſtian Dog will do well enough I warrant him: So
much the better, anfwered the Captain, for I am
informed he is worth a great deal of Money, and I
fhall fet his Ranfom at a higher Rate than what I
firit determined. All this Difcourfe I heard, being
upon Deck, talking with my three Companions that
were
232
The ADVENTURES of
were taken with me, who treated me with ill Lan-
guage, and called me Chriſtian Fool, that would not
turn Mahometan, when I might have all the Liberty
I defired. One of them carried the Jeft fo far, that
he gave me two or three good Strokes with his
Hand; but the Captain feeing them (laughing) Let
the Fool alone, 'tis not worth your while to foul
your Fingers about him. I faid fo much to them,
concerning Mahomet their falfe Prophet, that if the
Turks had underflood me, I might have run the
Danger of being murdered. But generally the Re-
negadoes, (that is, thofe that forfake the Chriftian
Faith, and turn Turks) have fo little of any Reli-
gion in them, that they laugh at thoſe that have
any at all. At Night Mr. Matthews told me in
French very low, that the next Morning early was
defigned for their Enterprize, being it was fome
Faft-day with them, that they ufually at four
o'Clock in the Morning rife, and wash themſelves
all over, and pray to their Prophet for ſome Time;
and this being to be done below, they thought then
would be the right Time. Accordingly all that
Night they ſpent fecretly in preparing every thing.
He that commanded the Slaves (which was Jenkins)
found Fault with them for fomething, and chaflifed
them as ufual, but took the Opportunity to unlock
them all, and ordered them to lie fill as if their
Chains were falt, till they had Command to do
otherwife. Every Thing fucceeded to our Wishes,
for the Turks got up to their Devotion looner than
we expected, even before it was Light; and hud-
aling
Capt. RICHARD FALCON E R.
233
dling down together, we clapt down the Hatches,
and fecured the beft Part of them. The Captain,
with two Engliſhmen, and one Frenchman, were
feized in the Cabbin, and bound Hands and Feet;
and this without any Noife. About eight others
that had not got up as early as the reft, our Galley-
Slaves feized; and before we could prevent them,
had killed them all, and begged they might ferve
the Captain and the whole Crew in the fame Kind.
The Buftle the Slaves made in killing the eight
Turks, rouzed the others below from their Prayers ;
and when they found they were fhut down, they
made a Noife, and knocking to be let out, which
we did; but firſt we loaded a great Gun with Muf-
ket-fhot, and turned the Muzzle towards the Scut-
tle. Then as they came up, we bound them; but
being but few English, we could not hinder the
Slaves from killing feveral of theſe too. At last we
bound them all, being twenty-five, there being kil-
led by the Slaves fixteen, and, afterwards, by the
Confent and Agreement of all, we chained twenty
of them to the Oar in the Room of thoſe we had
releaſed; but they began to be very ftubborn at firſt,
but we put the Slaves to them, and they foon made
them work, by giving them the fame Ufage as they
generally uſed to receive from them.
When we had fecured them, we returned God
Thanks for our happy Succefs, and then confulted
which Way we ſhould ſteer. We Englib agreed to
go for England, but the Slaves we redeemed, being
moftly Spaniards and Portuguese, were for going to
Spoin i
234
The ADVENTURES of
Spain; in fhort there was no agreeing, for they be
ing the greater Number, they pretended to have
the Commard over us, never confidering it was to
us they chiefly owed their Liberty. I must confefs I
was very much diffatisfied at their Ingratitude, but
could not find any Means to help ourfelves. Mr.
Matthews fpoke to them in Spanish, and laid before
them the Benefit it would be for them to go for Eng-
land; but it was like preaching to fo many Beafts,
for they regarded him not, but refolved to follow
their firſt Deſign of directing their Courie for Spain.
When we found there was no Remedy, we defired
them to touch at Lifton in Portugal, and fet us afhore
there; which they confented to with much Intreaty.
If we had been of an equal Number, we would
have endeavoured to have forced them with us for
England, that they might have repented their Ingra-
titude.
They would not let any of us have the Command
of the Veffel, but one Velasques a Spaniard was
chofen Captain, who immediately turned out Mr.
Matthers, that we had given the Captain's Cabin
to, and took Poffeffion of it himſelf. This fet us all
a murmuring, and we confulted to contrive fome
Way to be even with 'em; but they were fo watch-
ful and always upon their Guard, that it was to no
Purpoſe to plot any thing. They used to put Cen-
tinels upon us every Time we went to reſt.
Night we were awakened out of our Sleep by Or-
ders from our new Captain Velafques; when we were
upon Deck, he told us there was a Ship difcovered
One
to
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
235
to Windward of us. Now my Reaſon of fending
for you, faid the Captain, is, we defign to attack
her, and make a Prize of her, let her be of what
Nation fhe will, excepting Spanish. When Mr. Mat-
thews had told us in English what he faid, my In-
dignation rofe that I could hardly forbear rushing
upon him, and tearing his Throat out; but at laſt my
Reafon conquered my Paffion, and I became calm.
I bid Mr. Matthews let him know he could not ex-
pect us to fight, if they were Englife, our Country-
men: But he ſwore we ſhould fight, or be killed, if
they were our own Fathers. I bid Mr. Matthews
tell him, as for my own Part, I would not fight a
Stroke, let it be what Nation it would; and for his
threatening to kill us, I did not know but it would
be better to die, than to affcciate with ſuch an un-
grateful Crew as they were. The Ship now inſtead
of keeping her Courſe, as ſhe did at firſt, made all
the Sail ſhe could, and bore down upon us, which
they did not mind in our difputing. The Captain
then began to change his Tone, and thought it the
wifeſt Way to ſteer away before the Wind, and en-
deavour to get from 'em. Whereupon he crowded
away, and belaboured the poor Turks with his Baf-
tinado to row with all their Strength, that I pitied
them. Looking towards the Ship that purfued us,
we could perceive English Colours out, which re-
joiced us English mightily. We now confulted how
we ſhould ſtop the Galley; for with failing and row-
ing we went fatter than they. At lalt I refolved to
take a Pistol and fhoot him through the Head, let
the
236
The ADVENTURES of
the Confequence be what it would. So I laid hold
of one of the Piſtols unperceived, (they having pre-
pared their Arms for the Engagement) went up to
Velafques, and tock him by the Throat with my
left Hand, and holding the Piſtol to his Breaft with
my Right, I threatened to shoot him dead if he or
his Men offered to flir. Several of his Companions.
were running to his Affiftance, but were ſtopped
by Mr. Matthews, telling them if they offered to ftir,
their Captain was a dead Man. This Buftle caufed
the Turks to lie upon their Oars, and in the mean
Tim: Mr. Sloan brought the Galley to the Wind,
and lay by, and the Ship got up with us in an In-
ftant, and without hailing us, poured in a Broad-
fide upon us, which killed us two of the Turks, and
five of our Spaniards, among which was that un-
grateful Monster Velafques, and the Wind of one of
the Shot threw me down upon Deck without any
further Hurt; we had no Colours up at all but the
Vane upon the Top-maft Head, which fhewed us to
be a Turkiſh Veffel; I fent up George Kirk to take
down that, which prevented their firing again;
upon this they hailed us: But after we told them we
were English, they fent immediately two Boats well
armed on Board us, and when we had fatisfied them
how it was with us, we feized upon our vile Spa-
niards and Portugueſe, and bound them; we ſaw it
was an English Man of War, and upon an Enquiry
found it was the Ruby, Captain Walton Commander,
bound after the Fleet for the West Indies. They had
met with Captain Young and his Crew fteering their
Courfe
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
237
Courſe for England, being they were fo difabled
with the Engagement they had with the Galley of
the Turks that we were in, they durft not hold on
their Way for the West Indies. So the Stores were
moſt of them put on Board the Ruby, and the reſt
were to follow as foon as they could fhip them in
another Veffel. Now there were two Men, that
were Paffengers in Captain Young's Ship, put on
Board the Ruby to purſue their Voyage, and they
feeing the Galley, knew her to be the fame that en-
gaged with Captain Young in the Tyger, and that
was the Reason they fired upon us without hailing,
as is ufual in thoſe Cafes.
}
I was very glad of an Opportunity to purſue my
Voyage; I made my Addreſs to Captain Walton,
who very friendly received me; while we were con-
ſulting what we ſhould do about our Priſoners, the
Galley feemed to lie deeper in the Water, and go-
ing to examine her, found a Shot had pierced her
between Wind and Water, but it was impoffible to
come to it to ſtop it; fo we took what we could out
of her, and going to unlock the Galley-Slaves
Chains, the Key was not to be found, and the Gal-
ley was finking every Minute, and before we could
break the Chains the funk downright with the
whole twenty poor unfortunate Turks, and all the
Spaniards, who being tied, could not help them-
felves, neither had we Time to give them any Af-
fiftance. I must confefs I was very much concerned
to fee fo many poor unfortunate Creatures meet with
Death
238
The ADVENTURES of
1
Death, when it was in our Power ten Minutes be-
fore to have faved them. Captain Walton was really
grieved at it, and fhowed a Temper full of Huma-
nity. We had juft brought on Board the Captain,
and two more Engliſhmen, with the Frenchmen, Re-
negadoes. The Captain was fo fullen that he would
not eat or drink, but intended (as we fuppofed) to
ftarve himſelf to death. Captain Il'alton ufed all
gentle Means poffible to bring him into Temper,
but to no Purpoſe, for he would not fo much as give
any Anſwer to what was afked him; 'and in about a
Week or eight Days after we took him on Board, he
was found dead in his Hammock : One of the Eng-
Lifhmen told us he had poifoned himself, for he al-
ways faid if he was ever taken by the English he
would make away with himſelf, to prevent the Pu-
niſhment he ſhould undergo. The other four Eng-
lifhmen that were inftrumental in our Deliverance,
were all Mahometans in Appearance, as I faid before,
that is, they for fook their Christianity in outward
Shew, but were really Chriftians in their Hearts, as
were likewife my three Companions that were taken
in the Boat with me, but as they told me they only
did it to have fome Opportunity of getting their
Liberty, and the Words that were ufed, though it
was in a Speech they did not understand perfectly,
fhdcked them in their Utterance, and they all hoped
their Peace was made with God for their Crimes,
with a fincere Penitence from the Moment they had
committed it.
Mr.
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R. 239
Mr. Matthews the Surgeon, George Jenkins, William
Aſhton, and Ralph Smallwood, were taken in a Ship
called the Two Brothers of Bristol, bound for Scan-
deroon, after an obftinate Fight, where all were
killed, excepting the abovementioned four, who
were taken and fold for Slaves, and continued fo
for fome Years; but feizing on a Boat with the four
Frenchmen that did defign to venture for their
Liberty with them, they put to Sea, and rather
choſe to trust in the Waves, and an open Boat,
than ftay there to be Slaves for ever. But Hamet
the Renegado, whofe Chriftian Name was Lewis
Gordon, having Notice of their Flight, followed
them with a ſwift Galley, and got Sight of them:
Mr. Matthews (who relates the Story in this Manner)
and his Companions feeing it impoffible to make
their Eſcape, thought of a Stratagem for four of
them to get the Good-will of the Renegado Hamet;
which was this: Seeing no Likelihood of getting
clear off, the four English propofed to the French to
caft Lots, and that fhould decide which four ſhould
be bound, and the other four ſhould immediately
row back, as if they had no Defign of running
away, and make out their Story as well as they
could; accordingly we drew, and the Lots fell
upon the four Frenchmen. Immediately we bound
them, and rowed back, and were foon met by the
Galley, where we made our Tale good, by telling
the Turks, that going a Fishing with the four
Frenchmen, they would have compelled us by Force
to have rowed with them in their Boat for Spain;
ነ
»
but
240
The ADVENTURES of
but we being not willing, fell to grappling with
them, and overcame them by main Force, tied
them, and were bringing them back. The Frencha
men kept true to their Promife, and never contra-
dicted us in our Story. Hamet upon this became
very
civil to us, and put us in Truſt: He made me
immediately Surgeon to the Galley, Mr. Jenkins
Mafter of the Slaves, and our two other Companions
had fome little Office that pleafed them. We went
feveral Voyages with him, and took many Veffels,
but never met with any English Ship before the
Tiger that we had the defperate Engagement with.
The four Frenchmen were made Slaves to row in
another Galley, which was taken about two Months
ago by a Spanish Man of War, and by that Means
got their Liberty.
The other two Engliſhmen, and Frenchman, that
were taken in the Cabin, confeffed that they had
been guilty of many Crimes, but more eſpecially in
denying their Saviour, but they now felt in their
Hearts and Minds a yearning to Repentance, and
begged that Captain Walton would forgive them,
and not take their Recantation for a Falfhood, be-
cauſe they were in fome Danger, but a true Light
of the divine Brightness. Captain Walton freely
forgave them, and having a Chaplain in the Ship,
we rechriftened them; and the Fellows feemed ever
afterwards to have a true Senſe of their happy
Condition. Captain Walton and myſelf were God-
fathers for them all. Therefore it behoved us to
fee, that they were now inftructed in their Faith ;
though
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
241
though theſe were of fufficient Years to know their
Duty without Sureties for them. We have many
People that undergo that Office, but never confider
what their Duty is, and, in fhort, make it nothing
but an outward Ceremony, when if they thought
of it, as they ought to do, they would find it of the
utmoſt Concern; for the true Office of Sureties, or
Godfathers, &c. is to train up the young Plant,
till it is capable of bearing Fruit itfelf of good
Works. But many now a-days do as the Turtles
do by their Eggs, lay them, cover them with Sand,
and never more regard them.
•
We came into our old Courfe again, and purſued
it with Succefs when we were got into the Lati-
tude of the Tropick, we ducked our Men as before;
but there was a great Mutiny of the Sailors: The
Captain had three Dogs on Board, and they would
have them ducked as well as themfelvés, unless he
would pay the ufual Rate; which being promifed
them, they were compofed again, and the Sailors
and Dogs were reconciled without going together
by the Ears.
We overtook an Engliſh Veffel that had ſuffered
much by an Engagement with a Spanish Pyrate; ſhe
had loft all her Mafts, but had raiſed a Jury-Main-
Maft, yet could make but little way, by Reafon of
her Leaks. Our Captain ſent a Boat on Board, and
gave them all the Affiftance he could; but finding
it was but two Days fince the Engagement, we had
fome Hopes of coming up with her, for we learnt
from the other Ship fhe was mightily difabled as
well
1
M
-
242
The ADVENTURES of
well as themfelves.
So we crowded all the Sail
we could; and though it was in the Night, we
made the beſt of our way. The Veffel we left,
faluted us with five Guns to take their Leave,
which we anſwered with three; and in a quarter of
an Hour afterwards heard feveral Guns fired now
and then, as if fome Veffel was in Diftrefs, and in
an Hour more diſcovered a Light, which we made
directly towards, and coming up with it, found it
to be the Spanish Veffel that had engaged with the
other English Ship two Days before; the Light that
they made was only a large Lanthorn fixed on their
Main Top-Maft-Head, that we might the fooner
perceive them. We immediately hailed them, and
commanded them to furrender: They readily
obeyed and begged our Affiftance, which they had
great Need of; for the Water gained upon them
every Moment, and in an Hour's time the Ship
funk, but we preferved all the Men, being in
Number 23. having loft in the Engagement with
the English Ship 27, and received feveral Shot
between Wind and Water, which they did not
perceive till they difcovered two Feet Water in the
Hold, and found no Hopes of being faved from the
merciless Enemy the Sea, if we had not fortunately.
for them come timely to their Afiftance.
allay their Joy for their Deliverance from Death,
they were made Prifoners, and being Pyrates (as we
fuppofed) for there was no War declared between
the two Nations; and therefore they might very
probably
!
But to
Capt. RICHARD FALCON BR.
243
probably think they were to be punished with
Death when they came on fhore.
The Ship funk fo faft, that we could fave nothing
but the Men, which took us up about four Hours,
and then we purſued our Courſe, and about four in
the Evening made the Iſland Barbadoes; where we
fet our Spanish Prifoners on fhore. Captain Walton
gave the Governor an Account of what had hap-
pened, and left it to his Difcretion to do with them
as he thought fit.
On June the twenty-third we fet fail for Domi-
nico, where we arrived without any Accident. Here
I went on fhore along with feveral of our Men to
get Wood and Water for our Ship. The Natives
feemed very civil, and came on Board us in their
Canoes.
Thefe Indians are moſt of them tall, lufty Men,
well featured and well limbed, but poor Brains, for
an ordinary Glafs of Rum will make them drunk:
They mightily like this Liquor, and will call for
it as ſoon as ever they come on Board you: They
wear no Cloaths, but a little Skirt about theirWailt;
but most of them have Pieces of Brafs in the Form of
a Three-quarter Moon in their Nofe and Ears. I
gave one of theſe Indians a Pair of Breeches, and he
made an Effay to put them on in this Manner. He
first put his two Arms into the Thighs of the
Breeches, and defired one of his Companions to
button the Waiſtband about his, Neck; but when
we ſhewed him the right Way, and he had put them
on, he walked as if he had formerly worn Irons,
M 2
and
244
The ADVENTURES of
曲
​and was fo uneafy with them that he pulled them.
off, and made Signs to have fome Linnen in Ex-
change In Return I gave him a long Cravat, and
tied it properly about his Neck: But to fee how the
Fellow ftrutted, 'one would have taken him for one
of the Captains of the Trained Bands ready to
march.
I rambled with theſe Indians feveral Miles up in
the Country, and faw their Huts, that were digged
about three Feet deep in the Earth, and then raiſed
about fix Feet high above the Surface, and covered
with Barks of Trees, and fometimes divided into
Apartments by a Couple of long Poles, and Fathers,
Sons and Daughters, lie promifcuouſly together.
The Day before we failed, (after we had provid-
ed ourſelves with Wood and Water) I went up to
the Indian Huts to exchange a Trifle or two for one
of their Bows and Arrows; and returning towards
the Ship, by myfelf, loft my way; and though I
directed my Courfe (as I thought right) I came to
that Part of the Shore where was no Ship to be found;
but endeavouring to go more Weft along the Strand,
my Way was intercepted by fome high pointed Rocks,
which I made feveral fruitleſs Effays to pafs: I then
endeavoured to make a Compaſs within Land to get
by the Rocks; which I did, but could not find the
Bay where the Ship rode. I was now in a deep Per-
plexity, and though very much tired, yet refolved
to look for the Track that would carry me back to
fome of the Huts, where I might get an Indian to
direct me; but there were fo many various ones, that
I knew
*
1
{
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
245
I knew not which to chufe. At laft I pitched upon
one that brought me to feveral of them, but not
thofe from whence I came: I fearched them, but
could find no Indians in them. I from thence walk-
ed a little farther, but was furprized with a Sight
that shocked me with Horror. Near the Skirt of a
thick Wood I found one of our Men killed, with an
Arrow in his Throat; and by the Pofture he lay in,
I found it was done when he was eafing Nature.
The Object fo overcame me, that I thought not on
my own unhappy Condition, till I was awakened
from my Stupidity by a Noife and Gabbling I heard
in the Wood on my Right. This put me into a
terrible Fright, which made me run as far from the
Noife as I could; for I made no doubt, that if they
caught me, I ſhould run the fame Fate with the
poor unfortunate Fellow, who perhaps might loſe
his Life by his feeking me. When I had got a con-
fiderable Distance, I entered the Wood, and ven-
tured to look out, where I could perceive (though
it was almoſt dark) what they were doing.
They cut off the poor Fellow's Head, and tore
out his Bowels in a moft inhuman Manner. Let any
one judge what my Condition'muft be'; I'm füre my
Thoughts were ſo confuſed, that I might juftly fay
I never thought at all. I obferved when they had
done, they carried him between Eight of them upon
four Staves, and went towards their Tents. When
they were gone, and I had Leifure for Reflection,
every Thought was a Dagger to me; but yet when
my Senfes were compofed, I put my Truft in God
M 3
that
246
The ADVENTURES of
that he would deliver me from this Danger, as well
as feveral other immediate ones, which through his
Mercy I had overcome.
I crept farther into the Wood to reft my Limbs,
but my Thoughts kept me waking all Night. When
Day approached I went ftill farther into the Wood,
not only to avoid thoſe barbarous Indians, but to fee
if, when on the other Side, I could find fome Path
that would-lead me to the Bay where our Ship rode;
but before I could get out of it I heard a Cannon
diſcharged, that both rejoiced and grieved me; it
joyed me to know that the Ship could not be far off,
and grieved me to think that it was certainly the
Signal for the Boat to come on Board, and perhaps
they might be that Moment under fail. I ran with
all the Hafte I could; but with a Mind mixed with
Hope and Fear. I got out of the Wood at laſt, and
I directed my Courfe to that Part as I thought the
Noife of the Gun came from, but could find no Path;
yet at last I got to the Top of a Rock from whence
I could behold the Sea, and with great Grief faw our
Ship under Sail not half a League from the Shore.
I immediately pulled off my Shirt, and hung it on a
Stick I had broke to fupport me in my Walking;
but my Signal did not do me any good, for they faw
nothing of it. My Defpair began to be predomi-
nant over my Reaſon, and I had often refolved to
throw myself down from the Rock to end my Mife-
ry; but fill my Confcience would give me a ſecret
Check; and at laft I refolved with myfelf to fubmit
to whatever ſhould befall me, with a thorough Re-
fignation
#
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
247
fignation to the Will of Heaven. As foon as the
Ship was out of Sight, I went down from the Rock
(not having Power to ftir before) and endeavoured
to find fɔme Food, but was prevented by a hideous
Noife I heard, which drove me to Shelter in the
Wood again; but the farther I went, the plainer I
heard the Noiſe, ſo that I knew not what to do, for
at last it encreaſed on every Side: fo that coming to
a thick Parcel of Shrubs, I laid myſelf down, and
couched ſo cloſe, that it was impoffible for them to
fee me, unless they came into the very middle of it.
I had thrown my Bow and Arrows away, as being
of no Ufe to me; but I had my Sword, which, how-
-ever, I did not defign to ufe. The Noife came fo
nigh me, that I could hear the Tread of their Feet,
and the Boughs ruftle about me; but at laſt it went
infenfibly away, fo that I heard no more of them for
fome Time.
1
When I found all was ftill, I began to get up and
look about me, where I faw them in the Plain en-
gaged with feveral other Indians, whom I thought
I knew, though at a good Distance, I faw feveral
of them fall upon the Ground. At laft thofe Indians
that went hallooing through the Wood feemed to
me to have the worst of it, and were drove by the
other Party quick back again; but did not purfue
them any farther, only let fly, their Arrows at them;
and one of them came among the Shrubs where I
lay, which fartled me, for I was afraid they would
come to look for their Arrows, and fo find me.
After the Hurlyburly was over, I refolved to go out
M 4
of
248
The ADVENTURES of
of the Wood, and follow thofe Indians that were
Vanquishers, with this Hope, That they might be
of a milder Nature, and not fo barbarous as the d-
thers who run through the Wood; who to my think-
ing had more ftern Looks than thofe Indians I had
feen upon that Part of the Ifland where we uſed to
land to get Wood and Water. So as I faid, I got
up, and directed my Courſe out of the Wood after
the Indians, but foon discovered two Indian Men,
and four Women coming towards me, (which I fup-
poſe had hid themſelves during the late Conflict :)
It was to no Purpoſe for me to fly, for they had got
Sight of me; or if I had, they would have foon fent
one of their winged Meffengers after me; fo I chofe
boldly to meet them. When we were come within
forty Paces of each other, one of the Indians was go-
ing to shoot at me, but was with-held by one of the
Women: As foon as ever I came cloſe to them, they
looked upon me with ftrange Geftures, and diftor-
ted Countenances: I put my Hand to my Head and
Breast, which is the Token of Submiffion with the
Indians; and they let me know by Signs that I muſt
go with them, which I did not deny; for if I had,
I knew I fhould be forced; fo I went willingly e-
nough. When we had got through the Wood, one
of the Indian Men would have my Coat and Waiſt-
coat off, which I durft not refufe: The Coat he put
upon his Companion, and the Waiftcoat on himſelf,
and ftrutted ftrangely. I gave my Handkerchief
and Neckcloth to the Woman that hindered the In-
dian from fhooting at me, who received it with a
great
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
249
great deal of Joy, and feemed mightily pleafed with
nie. When we arrived at their Huts, there came
out at leaſt a hundred frightful-looking Indians, who
came about me, and had a great deal of Talk with
thofe that brought me with them; but the two Indi-
ans were forced to part with their Cloaths they had
taken from me, to two of the oldeſt Indians, who
immediately put them on, and feemed mighty proud
of themſelves. They gave me fome Rice, and ano-
ther Sort of Victuals boiled; but what it was com-
poſed of, I could never learn, neither did I eat any
of the fame all the while I was among them. When
Night came, I was fent into a Hut by myſelf, and
the Door shut upon me, I had a Piece of Mat to lie
on, but nothing to cover me. Now I had Leifure
to reflect upon my Misfortunes, which I could not
do before, by Reafon of the Fears I was in. I thought
my Condition was now worſe than ever it was, for I
really believed they defigned to make a Sacrifice of
me, for I thought to myſelf they were Cannibals, or
Men-Eaters. I paffed the Night with a thouſand
Anxieties and Inquietudes; but nevertheleſs my
Senſes were ſo tired, that I flept whether I would
or no; and in the Morning was awakened by four
of the eldest Indians that came to vifit me, who made
Signs to me to follow them, which I did without
any Hefitation; when I was out in the midst of
the plain Place before the Doors of their Huts,
they brought before me feveral of their Women,
and gave me to know by Signs that I fhould take
one of them to be my Mate, or Bed-fellow, or fuf-
M 5
for
250
The ADVENTURES of
fer Death. I must confefs I was mightily fhocked,
but not giving myfelf much Time to weigh, or think
of the Matter, I pitched upon her that I had given
my Neckcloth and Handkerchief to, and immedi-
ately all the reft were difmiffed; and my Bride and
I (for it was even fo) were conducted to a Hut,
where there were feveral old Indians waiting for me
to compleat the Ceremony. When my Bride and I
came before them, we were ordered to fit down,
then both our Feet were washed with Water; After
that they brought us a Piece of their Indian Cake,
of Bread, of which I was ordered to break off a
Piece, and give to my Bride. She then came and
laid her Head on my Breaft; and then, kneeling,
put my right Foot upon her Neck; when that was
done, the roſe and went out, but immediately re-
turned, and brought me fome Flesh broiled on the
Coals, which fhe tore into Morfels, and put in my
Mouth, and food before me all the while I eat. Impft
confefs I was fo hungry, that I had a very good
Appetite to my Victuals, for I had not eat any Fleſh
for four Days: But I had no great Stomach to my
Bride, although a young well-featured Woman,
yet her Complexion did not pleaſe me. When I
had done eating, my Bride and I were put into a
Hut, and ſhut clofe without any Light; but the
old Proverb, Joan's as good as my Lady in the Dark,
had like to have proved no Proverb with me. In
the Morning we were awaked with a rude Noife
round our Tent, which ſtartled me at first; but I
found afterwards it was a fort of Epithalamium.
When
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R. 251
7
When they had made their frightful Noife for
fome Time, they entered promifcuouſly Men and
Women. The Men came and took hold of me, and
the Women of my new Spoufe, led us out with
Shouts, unpleafing Noifes, and antick Geftures ;
They continued it till we came to a River, and
then we parted; the Men with me, and the Women
with my Wife. They put me into the River, and
wafhed me all over, and I fuppofe the Women did
as much by my tawny Rib. After they had given
Notice by their Shouts, that they had made an End
of fcouring me, they put on my Shirt and Draw.
ers again, and led me to the Bank where my Spoufe
waited for me with her She-attendants, and we re-
turned with the fame Noife as we came out. When
we came to the Huts, the old Indians met us; the
old Men took me, and the old Women my Wife,
and gave us an Entertainment ſeparately, which
lafted two Hours, according to my Computation ;
when they had made an End, they fetched us out
of our different Tents, and feated us on a Bank,
and then danced, and played fuch mad, rude,
Monkey Gambols, that put me in mind of the mad
Feafts of the Bacchii in Virgil, for they would tear
their Faces with their Nails, and feratch one ano-
ther fo violently, that one would have thought they
had been fo many Bethlemites, and yet all in Mirth;
for they would laugh fuch Horfe-laughs whenever
any one of them was hurt, they quite tunned me.
When this Sport was over, the young Indians of
both Sexes took my Bride and I into one of their
C
M 6
-
Huts,
252
The ADVENTURES of
་ ;
When
Huts, and gave us an Entertainment of Fiſh broiled
upon the Coals, and a pleafant Liquor in a Cala-
bah, that was exceeding ftrong, which foon got into
moſt of their Noddles; and as faft as they grew a
little tipfy, they reeled out one by one, and laid
themſelves before the Door of the Hut, and went
to fleep. My good Wife, among the reft, got her
Dofe too; but was fo monftroufly loving withal,
that I could not tell what to do with her.
Night came, we retired to our Reſt as before, and
were waked next Morning by another Kind of Noiſe
that was made, with rude Knocking at our Door,
or rather Baſket, for it was nothing elſe, and five
or fix of the old Indians came in with Hatchets, and
other Inflruments, to enable us to get Food for our-
felves, as I understood. My Wife took me out by
the Arm, and carried me into the Wood with our
Bows and Arrows, and by her Signs gave me to un-
deiftand that he would bring me where I fhould
kill fome Creature. At laft we came to the Foot of
a Hill, which we afcended with fome Difficulty;
but when we had gained the Summit, we discovered
vaft Numbers, or Herds of Goats. My Spouſe
fhot, and killed one the firft Time; but I was fuch
a Bungler at it, that I never could do any Execu-
tion. But my Spoufe was very dexterous, as all the
Indians are in the Iſland of Dominico. My Wife
feemed to have a great Love for me, and would al
ways make much of me, her Way.
When we had
kinned our Goat, we took out our Implements,
and made a Fire to broil ſome of it. When it was
ready,
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
253
ready, I gave my Creator Thanks for providing for
us poor infignificant Mortals; and looking towards
Heaven, the Refidence of him that formed us all,
my Wife fixed her Eyes upon me, and then looked
upwards too, with a Kind of Concern.
After we
had done, I returned Thanks again in the ſame
Manner as before, and my Wife did the fame;
that is, fhe ftared upwards again as if he had a
Mind to fee ſomething as the thought I looked at :
And when the found he could not fee any Thing,
fhe came to me, and put her Arms tenderly about
my Neck, and with a Sort of begging Tone, feem-
ed to ask me, by Signs and Words, which I could
not understand, what I meant by looking upwards.
I was really grieved to know that I could not make
her underſtand, for I could not learn any of their
Speech, but here and there a common Word; nei-
ther did I ever perceive they had any Manner of
Worſhip to any Thing; otherwife, if I could have
made her comprehend what I meant, I might have
found it no hard Matter to have converted her from
their abominable Heathenifm; for he was of a
mighty mild Nature, very loving and courteous,
and nothing like the reft of the favage Crew, who
were prone to all Manner of Wickednefs. Her
Voice too, differed from theirs, for most of the
Indians pronounced their Words in their Throat, as
indeed you could not well ſpeak them without agut-
tural Sound; yet fhe, whatever was the Meaning of it,
fpoke her Words a different Way from the reft, and
had a pleafing Manner. I really began to love her,
and
254
The ADVENTURES of
and only wished she had been my Wife in the ufual
Forms: She could pronounce any Word in English
that I would fay to her, but I could never get her
to repeat whole Sentences; and all he did was like
a Parrot. After we had done our Hunting-work,
I was for going over the Hill to view the Country,
and walked up and down a good Way; but I ob-
ferved my Wife was very uneafy, but efpecially
when I got to the Brow of the Hill. On the other
Side, which was about half a League over, I made
an Effay to go down; fhe laid hold of my Arm, and
pulled me back with all her Force, and with many
fupplicating Actions feemed to beg of me not to
go; and when the found I was offering at it again,
the fcreamed out fo difmally, that it affrighted me
from making any more Attempts. I endeavoured
to know what ſhe meant, but could gather nothing
from her Words or Adlions, that could let me into
any Thing But he would often handle her Bow
and Arrows, and with menacing Actions let me
know there was fome Danger. As we went home-
ward, this odd Accident Fän very much in my
Head, and I was mighty defirous to find out the
Meaning of it, and every Time I went to hunt there
with my Wife, I wanted fadly to get down the Hill
on the other Side. This Hill was of a vaſt Length
and extended from Eaft to South-weft, almoft acroſs
the Iſland. I did 'not know how to contrive it, but
after hunting I made believe I was very much tired,
and laid myſelf down in order to fleep; and my
Wife, with her ufual good Humour, accompanied
me,
J
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
255
me, and in a very little Time I found fhe was in a
found Sleep. I immediately arofe, and ftole away
foftly upon my intended Journey. I got away from
my Wife without her awaking, and came to the
Brow of the Hill, which I furveyed, and found no
Difficulty in the defcending. When I had got to
the Bottom of the Hill, I was mightily pleaſed with
the Evenneſs of the Ground, and the Profpect round
me, which I could compare to nothing but the Vale
of Elbam in Worcestershire, bating the Houſes and
Towns in it. I had walked up and down the Vale
for near an Hour, and was preparing to go back
the fame ay I came, when looking back to take
my laft Survey, I faw a Smoke at a Diftance, and
it ran in my Mind it was the very Place that our
Men uſed to go to, from on Board, to truck with
the Inhabitants. The Thought took up fome of
my Time; and I believe, if it had not been for a
tender Regard for my Wife, I had certainly directed
my Courſe to the Smoke I ſaw there. But I muſt
confefs, I could not think of leaving her behind me;
but Curiofity put it into my Head to go a little
nearer the Smoke I had diſcovered. But just as I
was moving that Way, I heard a dreadful ſcream-
ing behind me, and turning about, I faw my Wife
upon the Brow of the Hill, making the moft pitiful
Lamentation imaginable. The tender Regard I
now began to have for my Wife made me make all
the Hafte I could to her Relief, as thinking fome
Mifchance might have befel her. When I came to
the Bottom of the Hill, I faw ſeveral of the Indians
of
256
The ADVENTURES of
of our Neighbourhood waiting for me above, and
fome were coming down. As foon as I had got to
the Top of the Hill, I was immediately feized by
the Indians above, and dragged along as if I had
been the greateſt Criminal imaginable, and my
poor Wife hanging upon my Arm all drowned in
Tears. I could not imagine what was the Matter,
and what could be the Reafon of their ufing me in
that Manner. I found it must be fomething ex-
traordinary by the Grief of my Wife, whofe Sorrow
increaſed the further I went towards our Huts; but
ere we could get there, it rained and thundered fo
violently, that we were all well washed before we
came to our Journey's End: When we were within
Ken of our Huts, the whole Tribe came near us,
fome fkipping and dancing, as mightily rejoiced;
others with the Face of Concern, and hanging their
Heads in Sign of Sorrow, and mightily lamented
over my Wife. After the old Indians had confulted
fome Time, they tied me to a withered Tree that
ſtood at the Mouth of the Huts; then I began to
underſtand what they meant, for I could perceive
they were bringing Boughs of green Wood, in or-
der to burn me. This Sight made my Courage fail
me, and. it was impoffible to exprefs my Defpair
and Horror. I found now that the laſt Day of my
Life was come, (for it was impoffible to foreſee any
Thing to the contrary). My laft Recourfe was to
the Maker and Giver of all good Things, for I had
tried all other Means in vain; as alſo had my poor
Wife, whofe Rage and Defpair overcame her; and
ſhe
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
257
fhe was carried away by the Women in the utmoſt
Agony. After my Wife was gone, they fet Fire to
the Wood which enclofed me; which being green
and wet with the late Rain, was a great while in
burning; all the while it was a kindling, fome of
the Indians jumped round me, and danced after
their barbarous Manner, while others ftood ready
with their Bows and Arrows to fhoot at me (as I
ſuppoſed) if the Fire fhould burn the Bands that
tied me, and I ſhould offer to ran away. The Wood
being green (as I faid before) was very ftubborn
in kindling, which made the Apprehenfion more
dreadful: I made feveral Effays to break the Bands
that held me,' but all my Efforts were but in vain ;
and I obferved every Time I made my fruitlefs En-
deavours, the barbarous Crew fhouted and laughed
for Joy. The Fire increafing, I prayed to Almighty
God to give me Strength to bear the horrid Pain I
was going to fuffer; and, if it was poffible, to go
out of the World with the Patience and Fortitude
of a good Chriftian, who was only going to change
this troublefome Life for å better. I compared my-
felf to a wounded Perfon, that must bear probing of
his Hurts, in order to cure them.
I now had given myſelf up entirely to my
Thoughts of the other World; and this feemed to
me like abandoning a barren Iſland, in order to go
to one where was Plenty of every Thing.
before the Fire reached me, there fell fuch a pro-
digious Shower of Rain, mixed with Thunder and
Lightning, that extinguished it. The Storm lafted
But
for
258
The ADVENTURES of
for feveral Hours with the utmoft Violence, and I
remained ftill tied to a Tree. When the Storm was
over, they began to renew their Fire, and brought
the Wood nearer than before, it being at firſt half a
Yard from my Body all round, but now they piled
it cloſe to me, that the Fire might the fooner be my
Executioner, which I wifhed for, as knowing it
would put me to a ſpeedier Death. But before they
had well placed the Wood, they heard Shouts, and
Noifes in the adjacent Woods; upon which the In-
dians immediately ran away from me, and took to
their Arms in an Inftant, old and young. The
Noiſe came ncarer, and nearer ftill, till at last I
could perceive feveral Indians bolt out of the Wood,
who were met by our Indians, and a bloody Fight
enfued. The Enemy Indians feemed to have the
beſt on it, by Reafon of fome Fire Arms that they
had, with which they made ftrange Havock with
our Indians; the Battle continued for fome Hours
with a great deal of Heat, and many of our In-
dians fell. At laft the Enemy Indians drove ours,
even beyond the Huts, and I could only hear the
Noiſe they made, for I was fill faftened to the
Tree. The Fight continued out of Sight about
half an Hour, when my Wife came running with
all the Tranſports of Joy imaginable; and after
having put her Head under my Feet fhe untied me,
and fell upon me with all the Signs of a fincere
Love. I must confefs I was mightily rejoiced to
fee myfelf at Liberty, and let what would happen,
my Condition could not be worse than it was fome
Hours
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
259
We
Hours ago.
I could not forbear expreffing my
Love to my Wife by Kiffes and Embraces.
went to our Hut, and I took my Sword that had
been laid up from my firft being amongst them. I
was going out of my Tent in order to go with my
Wife to fome other Part of the Ifland, that was
not known to thefe Indians: But juft as we came
among the Tents, three Indians met us that had run
away from the Fight (as I conjectured). As foon as
they faw me and my Wife, they came up with a
great deal of ill Nature in their Countenances; and
after fome Talk with my Wife, one of them with
his wooden Sword, went to make a Blow at me;
but my Wife interpofing, received the Blow upon
her Head, which ftruck her to the Ground, bloody
and fenfelefs. My Rage rofe fo high upon this,
that I could not contain myſelf; but I drew my
Sword, and thruft it up to the Hilt in the Wretch's
Body; the other two feeing their Companion's
Death, ran upon me with the Rage of Lions, but I
flipping on one Side, avoided the Strokes intended
me: They turned immediately upon me, and let
drive at me feveral Blows, which had the good
Fortune not to hit me; but I run one of them into
the Throat with my Sword; upon which he fet up
fuch a Cry that frightned me, and ran away, and
was immediately followed by the other. 1 then ran
to the Affistance of my Wife, who lay almoſt ſtrangled
in her own Blood. I raiſed her from the Earth,
and feated her under the Tree where I was tied,
and
260
The ADVENTURES of
་
and brought her to herſelf a little; but I found her
Skull was cracked with the Blow the Indian gave
her, and to my great Grief perceived fhe was juft
expiring. But the Sorrow and Tenderneſs to part
with me, (as I judged by her Actions) ftruck me
to the Soul. She laid one Arm about my Waiſt,
and her Head in my Lap, but with fuch piteous
Looks with her Eyes that almoſt diſtracted me.
She made Signs to me to look upwards (as I fan-
cied) to pray for her, though I could not tell for
certain what fhe meant; but fhe pronounced ſeveral
Words with Earneftnefs and Paffion; and I really
fancied, if we could have underſtood one another,
I fhould have found fhe would have had fome
Notions of a fupreme Being. Before the expired,
the Enemy Indians returned with all of our Indians
Prifoners, I mean all that they had not killed; for
out of two hundred Indians of our Party, there was
not above twenty-two left. They were mightily
ſurpriſed to find me, for many of the Enemy Indians
knew me; and when I came to examine their Faces,
I remembered they were the Indians that inhabited
about the Bay where our Ship lay. One or two of
them could speak a little English, which they learned
by conve fing with the English that ufually an-
chored in the Bay. One of them knew my Name,
that he had gathered from our Sailors enquiring for
me, when fent by the Captain before the Ship
failed. Mafter Falconer, faid he, me be glad to fee
you; white Men belong to great Ships come look
for you very great, and not look you here go away
much forry. My Wife took up all my Thoughts,
+
who
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER. 261
who was just dying; and though her Strength and
Speech failed her, yet the endeavoured to pull
down my Face to hers, which the kiffed; and then ›
funk her Head into my Bofom and expired. I was
really as much concerned as if I had married one of
my own Complexion and Country; for I had great
Hopes, if ever I could have made my Eſcape with
her, and could but have taught her English, to have
made her a good Chriflian. With the Affiftance of
my now friendly Indians, I laid her in the Earth:
They told me he was Daughter to one of the
Chief of their Enemy-Tribe. From thefe Indians I
learned, that thoſe I had fell among were a Tribe
of Indians that had lived on this Side the Ridge of
Mountains for many Years, and declared open War
with thofe of the other Side for holding Correfpon-
dence with Whites; and where fo ftrict, that they
put all Indians to Death that ever attempted fingly
to go over the Mountains, which was the Reafon
of my Danger of burning. The Women that they
took, (all that were with Child) were ſhot to
Death, and the Men in general ran the fame Fate ;
for they were refolved not to have any one of the
Breed alive. When they plundered the Huts, they
went through the Woods, and over the Mountains
again, and fo to their own Huts, which I knew.
The old Men and Women met them, fkipping and
dancing for Joy of their Succefs, and fome mourn-
ing for a Huſband, Brother, or Father, that was
flain in Battle. Theſe friendly Indians were often
plagued with their fudden rufhing upon them, and
deftroying
262
The ADVENTURES of
deſtroying many of them, till at laft they took up a
Refolution to affault them, and if poffible to ex-
tirpate the whole Race; and they had often made
Inroads upon them, which leffened their Number
till this laft ended them, as I faid before. The
Women and female Children dwelt contentedly
among them, being they had no where to go. I
began to live contentedly among thefe Indians, and
ufed to partake of their Diverfion and Labour;
as, Hunting and Fishing, &c. Theſe Indians were
fo expert in ſhooting with their Bows and Arrows,
that I have feen them hit the Mark three hundred
Yards, within the Compafs of a half Crown.
This Ifland of Dominico took its Name from its
being difcovered on a Sunday. It is computed to
be in Length about thirty Leagues, and about
twenty eight in Breadth. It is very mountainous,
eſpecially to the North-Eaft. I have heard there
are fome French Settlements upon the Ifland; but I
enquired of the above mentioned Indian, who
affured me there were not any Inhabitants but Na-
tives, and of thoſe not above an hundred Families,
who were moſtly feated near that Part that com-
pofed the Harbour. Said the Indian that I uſed to
talk with, there be fome indeed a great Way off in
de Island, dat are our Fathers and Mothers; and
fome of our Wives, that when dey die we throw
into the Sea, and dey fwim to dat place; and when
we die we ſwim dere too. By this we might per-
ceive they had fome Notion of the Immortality of
the Soul. I did my Endeavour to make him fenfi-
ble
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
263
ble of the Joys of Heaven, and Pains of Hell, but
to no Purpofe. I told him of a fuperior Being that
commanded all Things below, and that righteous
People dwelt with him after this Life. He afked,
where my God did live? His Throne is in Heaven,
anfwered I, pointing upward, where he fits to
judge the Quick and Dead. He live up dare,
high; how you get up high, no Steps reach dare?
It is our immortal Part, added 1, that afcends, our
Soul, which is cloathed with the Grace of our
Divine Creator, and enjoys an Eternity of Bleffings.
You be de White Man, you have Soul; we be no
I'hite, we have no Soul; when we die, we fling in
Water, big Fish come carry us to an oder Place, den
we live dare and die again, and Fish bring us upon
Back to an oder Place. How are you affured of
this (faid I) Have you
been tranſported in the Manner you tell me of? No
(anfwered he); but me be fure it be fo. But when
we were carried by Fiſh to that oder Place, we eat
de Leaf of Tree, dat we can no remember what
we do in toter Place, dat we be bring from. All
the Arguments F could uſe were of no Effect; for
Heathenifm was fo rooted in him, and all the In-
dians, that it will be the greatest Difficulty ima-
ginable to bring them to embrace Chriftianity.
Their Underſtandings are ſo infirm, that without a
Miracle there will be no curing them. The Indians
would have had me married into one of their Tribe;
and I; fearful to deny them, brought myself off by '
faying no 'White could marry under twelve Moons
ever feen any that have
{
after
264
The ADVENTURES of
after their Wife's Death; with which they feemed.
fatisfied, but made me promife when that Time
was expired to change my Condition of Widower to
that of Married Man. I might have been ac-
commodated with a She-Companion if I had found
any Inclination, but I evaded it as well as I could.
The Soil of the Ifland is very fruitful, and there's
Plenty of every Thing.
I could not perceive that theſe Indians worshipped
any Thing except the Moon: Which when at full,
they would all gather together, and locking up-
wards, ftand gazing a confiderable time, and then
with one Confent pronounce a Word which founded
like Hiu! This Word they generally repeated three
Times. When they had done Star-gazing they
would fall to Jumping and Capering like fo many
mad Things. When that was over, they would
retire to their feveral Huts, and not ftir out till
Morning upon any Account.
I asked Will (for that was the Name of him that
could ſpeak English, who was mighty proud to be
called fo) what Ceremony was it they performed
after they were retired into their Huts? But he an-
fwered, Me no tell dat, Wife make much Noiſe, ſhe no
care for dat; when you have new Wife, you know what
we do, but me no tell till den. What gave me a Curi-
ofty to know, was, Will told me, that after the
Ceremony was over, I must not offer to come out of
my Hut, nor come nigh any of theirs; for if I did
they would kill me. The Hut that was built for
me was ordered in another Manner than their own,
with
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
265
with a high Door made of Wickets, their's being
fo low, that an ordinary fized Man muſt have
ftooped to go in or out.
I uſed to go to fish in their Cances with them,
where they would catch good Store; and let it be
what it would, the Cargo was divided among the
whole Tribe, only he that caught them chofe firit.
I told Will, that as foon as ever a Ship arrived
there, I did defign to embark in her, in order to
purfue my Voyage: But he told me I must take
care not to let any other of the Indians know it, for
they would never fuffer any one to go from them,
after they had been once fettled among them.
How do you know that, faid I? Have you had
any Talk with them concerning me? He told me
he had not, but it was their Way: For he gave me
to underſtand, that about fix Years ago there were
four Men left on Shore upon their Ifland, by
Reaſon of their Veffel driving out to Sea by a
Hurricane; and thefe four Men fettled among them,
and married Indian Wives, and had Children by
them. But at any Time when a Ship came into
the Bay, they were hurried a great Way up in the
Country, and detained there till the Ships were
gone, and then lived with them as before. But a
fmall Veel putting in there by Night, the In-
glishmen fpied it, before any of the Indians, and
were got to the Shore-fide, converfing with the
Crew of the Veffel before the Indians found them
out; but when they faw them talking together, they
were mighly enraged. The four Men went on
Board the Veffel to make merry with their Coun-
trymen
N
266
The ADVENTURES of
But
trymen, and afterwards came on Shore again and
made it no Secret that they defigned to go on Board
that Veffel in order to go to their own Country.
The Indians took no Notice for the prefent: But the
Day they defigned to embark, they fet upon the Veffel
with their Canoes, and killed every Perfon on Board
it. When they had done that, they took as many
Things out of her as they had Occafion for, and fet
her adrift. He told me that the four Engliſhmen
were the firſt that taught them to ufe Fire- Arms,
and in the Ship they took, they had feveral
Muſkets and Quantities of Powder and Shot.
carrying the Powder to their Huts, a Boy met
them fmoaking in a Care, they call a fmoaking
Cane, and by me Accident the Fire caught hold
of the Powder and blew it up, with the Death of
eight Indians, and wounding feveral others. After
they had brought every Thing up to their Huts,
they took the Wives of the four Sailors, (the In-
dians with their Child:en) and fhot them to Death
with Arrows. This is the Senfe of the Story In-
dian Will told me, which was pretty hard to pick
out too, confidering his Manner of telling it. The
Relation made me very ureafy, yet put me upon
thinking to make my Eſcape the first Opportunity.
I waited a full Month before I could fee any Veffel,
but at last one came into the Harbour. I perceived
they came in order to get Wood by hoifting out
their Long Boat; but as I was obferving them I
was feized by feveral Indians, and carried at least
fix Miles up in the Country, in order to be fecured
till
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
267
till the Ship was gone. I began to defpair now of
ever getting away, being it was natural to fuppofe,
that they would be more watchful over me for the
future. Befides, I did not know but they would
uſe me after another manner, and not let me have
fo much Liberty as I had before. I wanted for
nothing in my Confinement, and was only guarded
by four Indians that went to fleep when I did. I
once thought I might make my Efcape whilft they
flept; but afterwards repented that Thought, in
knowing if they fhould chance to wake, I was cer-
tainly a dead Man; for Indian Will told me, as I
was carrying away, that the Indians had Orders to
ſhoot me if I offered to make my Eſcape: Befides,
I fhould have found it difficult enough to have
known my Way, eſpecially in the Dark; for they
carried me a Place that I had never been at before.
I had been here four Days, and had given over all
Hopes of my Liberty, and began to call together
my fcattered Thoughts, that were Aufered upon
that Occafion; when, on the fourth Day about
Noon, I was agreeably furprized, and wished they
might come to the Place where I was. I was not
long in expecting them; for one of them fpying the
Hut, where I was, called out to the others to come
along; for here's an Indian's Hut, faid he; we'll
go in it, and fee what they'll give us. With that
they immediately came in before two of my Indiens
could hide me, (the other two being gone in the
Morning to the Village): as foon as ever 1 faw them,
though Strangers, I could not forbear fhowing my
Transports
N 2
268
The ADVENTURES of
Tranſports at the Sight of my Countrymen. They
were mightily furprised to fee me; and when I told
them my Condition, they faid they would have me
along with them in Spite of their Teeth: But I told
them that was very dangerous; for if these Indians
hould raiſe the Village (that lay within a Mile of
the Shore) we fhould all lofe our Lives. Some ad-
viled to knock them on the Head; but I could not
agree to that, for theſe were Indians that had never
injured me. Two of my Countrymen had got a
Couple of Spaw Water Flasks filled with Rum,
upon the Sight of which a Thought came into my
Head, that feemed the most likely to compafs ny
Defign. I told my Countrymen, if we could make
the Indians drunk there might be fome Hopes of
getting off without either hurting them or endan-
gering ourfes. We diank to one another, and
the Indians did us Juflice in pledging us; for I
believe out of the two Flasks they drank one and
three quarters. It foon began to work with them,
and they got up and fell a dancing most madly,
and a while after diopt down drunk; we refolved
to tie them Hands and Feet, that if they awaked,
they might not follow us, and raife the whole Body
of Indians upon us. With the Help of our Garters
we tied them faft enough without waking them,
and made the beſt of our Way towards the Sea-fide.
All the Danger we ran was in meeting with any of
the other Indians, but we happily avoided them,
and came to the Place where the Boat lay. The
Ship was ready to fail, having got their Wood and
Water
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
269
As we
Water aboard; and thefe eight Men were thofe
that had been labouring hard in cutting Wood, &c.
and fo were refolved to go up the Country to view
it, never having been farther than the Place where
they felled the Trees, and happily for me came to
give me my Liberty under Providence.
were getting into the Boat to go on Board (the Ship
having made a Waft in her Ancient) Indian Will
came running down almoft out of Breath, and
cried, get quick in Ship, they come down prefently
kill all, me go wid you, dey kill me elfe for tell
you. We hurried away, and Indian Will with us,
and got on Board in very good Time; for before we
were well under Sail, we could perceive at leaſt two
hundred Indians bringing their Canoes with them.
We had a brifk Gale, fo that they could not well
overtake us; for they never go above two Leagues
from Shore. Nevertheless they put their Canoes
into the Water, and began to paddle after us.
The Captain was for firing at them with our great
Guns, but I perfuaded him againt it, by telling
him it might be worfe for other English Veffels that
fhould come after us; and as they could not over-
take us to do us any Damage, it was be not to
take any Notice of them. When we had loft Sight
of Dominico, I afked Indian Will the Reafon of their
endeavouring to detain all Whites in that clandeftine.
Manner; and he gave me to know, that they
feared if the IFhites thould know the Smallneſs of
their Number, that they would put them all to
Death, and feize upon the whole Ifland. The
N3
1
Ship
270
The ADVENTURES of
Ship that took us up was called the Tavins from
Carolina, Captain Fuller Commander; fhe came
then from Barbadoes, and was bound for Jamaica.
I took Indian Will as my Servant, and did defign to
give him fome Cloaths, as foon as we arrived at
Jamaica; but for the prefent I had none for myfelf,
and made but an odd Sort of a Figure. My Beard
was pretty long, and being fomething inclining
to red, looked but oddly: My Linnen was all gone,
fo that my whole Drefs confifted of a Hat, a Waiſt-
coat, a Pair of Breeches, and a Pair of Shoes, the
Captain was fo kind as to lend me a Shirt and a Pair
of Stockings, and I got my Beard off, and once more
looked like a Chriftian. We made Jamaica without
meeting with any Thing material, and found the
Fleet at Anchor. I went on Board the Admiral,
and paid my Refpects to him, which he took very
kindly. I there once more met with my Friend
Mr. Mulgrave, and the rest of my Companions who
had given me over for loft; for Captain Walton told
the Admiral and my Comrades, that I was certainly
murdered by the Indians. I had all my Things re-
ftored me, that were brought in the Albion Frigate,
that arrived about a Week before me with the Stores
of the Fleet, after ſhe had been in the Dock at Ply-
mouth and well mended. She alſo brought News of
War being declared between England and France,
and the Death of his Sacred Majefty King William
the Third, of Glorious Memory, and the Coronation
of her Majesty Queen Anne. July the 11th 1702,
the whole Fleet fet out from Jamaica, in order for
a Defcent upon St. Dominico, as was ſuppoſed; but
Things
Capt. RICHARD FALCON E R. 271
Things not answering, the Admiral, in the Breda,
Captain Fog, with fix other Men of War, viz. De-
fiance, Captain Kirby; Greenwich, Captain Wade;
Windfor, Captain Conftable; Ruby, Captain Walton ;
Falmouth, Captain Vincent; and Pendennis, Captain
Hudjon, went in Queſt of Monfieur Du Caffe, the
French Commodore, that was defigned for America
with Ammunition, Forces, Provifion, and Money
to pay the Garrifon, befides feveral Governors to
be put in the Room of others that were called back.
We directed our Courfe to Port Longoan, where Du
Cafe was expected every Day: But when we came
there we were informed that Du Caffe was failed for
Carthagena, upon which we directed our Courfe for
that Place, after having taken three Ships, one of
fixteen, another of thirty, called Reine de Angelos, or
the Queen of Angels, and another of fix Guns
richly laden, befides three Barks taken by Captain
Conftable, in the Windjor, and a fourth funk; like-
wife a French Man of War of forty Guns burnt.
On the 19th of Auguft, O. S. about ten in the
Morning, we diſcovered ten Sail to the Eaſtward of
us, which we bore up to, and found them to be the
Fleet we were in Queft of; though there were ten
Sail, yet there were but fix fighting Ships, the reſt
were Store-Ships which made the beſt of their Way;
fo when the Admiral came up with them we had but
fix to engage. The Line of Battle was formed about
Three in the Afternoon, the Defiance led the Van,
the Windſor the fecond, and Bembow in the Breda the
third. Theſe three kept pretty cloſe together, but
N 4
the
272
The ADVENTURES of
the other four were a League behind.
At four in
the Afternoon we began the Engagement, but the
Defiance after firing three Guns bore away to Lee-
ward, and lay there out of Gun-fhot all the Evening,
fo that the whole Strength of the French Fleet lay
upon the Admiral and the Windfor till it was dark.
In the Night the Windjor fell foul of our Ship, which
flartled a great many, that were not upon Deck, as
believing it might be a French Firefhip, though
we knew they had not one in the Fleet; but Fear,
as well as Paffion blinds our Reafon. The Wind
chopped about in the Night, fo that we had the
Weather gage of them; upon which we bore down
upon them, and engaged for three Hours; but the
Raty, Captain Walton, was difabled, and ordered
by the Admiral to make for Port-Royal. My Man
Indian Will, who was on Board, dreffed like an Eu-
ropean, was terribly frighted with the Noife of our
Guns; and every Time he faw the Flaſh of our Ene-
my's Cannon, he would fquat down upon the Deck,
and lye flat upon his Belly for fome Time; one of
our Men that was shot in the Guts lay expiring, and
Indian Will was getting away out of Danger, he faid,
but unfortunately ftumbled over the dying Man,
who in the Pangs of Death grafped Will ſo faſt,
that he cried out lufily for Help; but it was more
than I could do to unclench his Hand till he was
quite dead, and then we releafed poor Will, frigh-
ted out of his Wits, who could not be prevailed
upon to come upon Deck any more till we told him
we had done Fighting. We took one Ship from
the
Capt. RICHARD FALCONER.
273
י
the French, that they had taken from the Engliſh in
their Voyage. The Fight lafted fix Days, on and
off; but the Admiral being wounded in the Thigh,
and finding that Wade, Kirby, and Hudfon, did not
care for fighting, we left them, after difabling two
of their Ships, and directed our Courſe back to
Port-Royal. As foon as we arrived there, the Ad-
miral fent Orders to confine Captain Conftable, Wade,
Kirby, and Hudfon, and fummoned a Court Marſhal,
tried them, and found them guilty of Cowardice,
excluding Conftable; and accordingly the other three
were fent to England to receive Sentence of Death,
which was executed upon two of them. The third,
Captain Hudſon, died in the Voyage, and fo prevent-
ed an ignominious Death. How eafy it had been
for the English to have taken the French, if they
had been unanimous; but fuch an Inftance of Pufil-
lanimity is not to be found in the Records of the:
Navy.
1
December the 14th, 1702, we were all concerned at:
the News of Admiral Bembow's Death, who died
of the Wound in his Thigh that he received in the
Engagement with Monfieur Du Caffe, lamented by
all. I obfeved there was a perfect Groan in every
Ship in the Fleet, when the Admiral Flag was low-
ered with a Whiff, which is the Cuſtom at Sea. He
was buried at Kingstown, where he died. He had
ſeveral rich Plantations in Jamaica, and many Slaves.
He had made five fuccefsful Voyages to Jamaica,
and returned home laden with Wealth and Honour;;
but the fixth proved fatal to him. He had a perfect -
Knowledge
N5.
274
The ADVENTURES of
Knowledge in the Navigation of America, having
been feveral Years Captain of a Privateer there. He
was a Man beloved of both Officers and common
Sailors; a Perſon of true Courage, and Fortitude:
for when he was wounded in the Engagement, he
ordered the Carpenters to make him a Cradle, that
he might be upon Deck to give Orders. Nothing
went more near his Heart than this unfortunate Ex-
pedition; and the Surgeons reported, that the Grief
he conceived from it, hindered the Healing of his
Wound, which was given with a Mufket-Ball, and
not a Chain Shot, as has been reported in our Pub-
lick Papers. Admiral Martin, as being the eldeſt
Officer, fupplied his Place till Admiral Whetſtone
arrived in the Boyne. My very good Friend Captain.
Hercules Mitchell, Captain of the Strombolo Firefhip,
was made Captain of the Windfor; and Admiral
Bembow being dead, I removed myſelf, with Capt.
Fog's Leave into his Ship. The Fleet fet Sail with
the Merchant Ships for Egland, March the 8th,
1703, and met with nothing worthy of Note.
On May the 5th, we entered St. John's Harbour
in Newfoundland, and ftayed there till May the 12th,
then fet Sail for the Bay of Bulls, a convenient
Harbour for Wood and Water in the fame Ifland.
After we had provided every Thing we wanted there,
we weighed Anchor in order to fail for England. In
weighing our best Bower (an Anchor fo called) the
Nippers giving Way, the Capftorn-Bars killed us
three Men and broke the Back of a fourth, who died
in a Week after.
November
Capt. RICHARD FALCONE R. 275
November the 1ft, we were feparated from the Fleet
by a dreadful Storm, that threw all our Mafts by
the Board, and our Boltfprit was alfo fprung, but
we fiſhed that which preferved it. We were in a
very pitiful Condition, and I am fure in great Dan-
ger, for I really heard fome of the Sailors at their
Prayers. We loft two of our Men, who fell with
the Main-maft over Board. The Storm lafted for
two Days, and the Weather continued fo hazy we
could not take our Obfervations. We put up our
Jury-Mafts, but could make but little Way. We
had Captain Titchburn's Company of Marines, and
Major Bowls, Major of the Regiment that did belong.
to Colonel Jores, who died in the Voyage; fo that
having above our Complement, our Proviſion began
to be at an Ebb, which obliged us all to come to
half Allowance, and half a Pint of Water a Dav to
each Man, for we did not know how long we ſhould
be out at Sea; but we made Ireland beyond all our
Hopes November the 20th, and got fafe into Gailway
Harbour on the 23d, and it was a great Providence
we did fo; for on the 25th there aroſe ſuch a violent
Storm, that must have inevitably deftroyed us. This
was that fatal Hurricane that did fo much Damage
in England, &c. There were two Ships in Gallaway
Harbour that were ftranded, and it was allowed by
every Body that we fhould have run the fame Fate,
if our Mafts had been ftanding; but having none but
Jury-Maits, which we took down when the Storm
began to be pretty high, fo that the Wind could
not have the fame Power over us, neither do I think
N. 6
that.
276
The ADVENTURES of
that the Storm was fo violent in Ireland, by all De-
fcription, as it was in England, Holland, and France.
We ſtayed at Gallway four Months, and in that Time-
we had got Mafts up and repaired our other Dama-
ges. While the Ship was fitting up, I lay on Shore
in the Town. Gallway is a neat well fortified Town,
as big as Salisbury, yet has but one Church. Every
Thing is very cheap there. I had my Board in a
private Houſe for four Shillings per Week, and fel-
dom dined without two or three Dishes at Table:
We bought the beſt French Wine for Fourteen Pence
per Quart, and fometimes under. We fet Sail from
Gallaway, February the 27th, 1704, and arrived fafe-
ly at Plymouth. Thus after many Misfortunes and
Hazards I once more fet my Fect upon my dear na-
tive Country (accompanied with Indian Will, who
ftill lives with me, and proves an honeft faithful
Servant; and I have taken Pains to have him in-
structed in the Chriflian Religion, and likewife to
have him chriſtned by the Name of William Dominico,
from the Inland that he came from ;) and though
warned by many Dangers I had run, I could not
forbear making three Voyages more, but yet in a
Station different from what I went before.
But as
they were but common Voyages, that is, nothing
extraordinarily happening, I fhall conclude with
my Prayers and Thanks to Heaven for the many
Mercies I have received; wifhing long Life and
Happiness to my King, Profperity, Peace and Rich-
es to my Country, and a hearty Union among my
Fellow Subjects.
FIN I S.
INDE X.
A
A.
Lacranes, (or Scorpion) Ifles, Sufferings of the
Author, and fome others there, page 53.
Antonio, Father, an honeft Pricft, a great Rarity, p.
149, 154,
Arabella and Lionel, a diverting Love Story, p. 200..
B.
Barbadoes defcribed, p. 15.
Beafts, an Account of two ftrange ones, carried about.
by a Spaniard for a Show, p. 158.
Benbow, Admiral, his Death, and Character, p. 273.
Bermudas, or the Summer Islands, a Defcription of
them, p. 124.
Bristol, a Perambulation thither from London, p. 183.-
C.
Cedar Tree, defcribed, p. 126.
St. Chriftopher's, defcribed, p. 18.
Crocodile, Defcription of ene, p. 28.
Sarv a
Campechy, Jails for that Bay, in Quest of Logwood,
33. Several Skirmifbes occafioned thereby. 34. feq.
Took a rich Prize, 37. A Storm poetically deſcribed
by Shakeſpear, Milton, and Dryden, 42.
Water Spout, 44. Saved from a Shark, but after-
wards fell into the Sea, ibid. Caft upon a defolate
Hand, 47. The Hardfbips juffered there, 48. A
Bark
INDE X.
Bark forced on the fame Ifland by Stress of Weather,
with four Perjons, 54. One of whom dies, 84.
Drove to Sea in the Bark, and was greatly grieved
at leaving his Companions on the defolate Island, at
length arrives fafe at Campechy, 86. Relieves his
Companions, 96.
Cuba Iſland, thrown thereon by a violent Storm, 132.
148, 158. Courteously entertained at the Fort, 147.
Several fine Harbours, 122. Had a Vefel given us,
befides a very generous Contribution for our Support to
enable us to return to Jamaica, 150.
there, 160.
Cayon, a furprising Creature, 158.
D
Arrived
Deity, Notion of the Indians concerning one, p. 182.
Dolphins, the Manner of catching them, p. 9
Dominico, Iland of, and the Manners of its Inhabi-
tants, defcribed, p. 243, 262.
E.
Earthquake, an exact Narrative of the great one which
happened at Jamaica, in 1692, p. 165.
England, our happy Arrival and Return thither,
p. 183.
Exccution of four Indians, p. 153.
F.
Falconer Capt. and his Company attach the Indians,
P. 141.
Flamingo, a Forul defcribed, p. 157.
Florida,
INDE X.
Florida, paled that Gulph with Safety, and got the
better of fome Indians, who attacked us, p. 176.
Funzal, City of, defcribed, p. 197.
G.
Gloucester, came thither, in Pursuit of Highway Mer
P. 193.
Gonfales, his Adventures and Diſcoveries, p. 209.
Guimar, an Account of the Caves of Interment there,
p. 221.
H.
Havanna, the capital City of the Island of Cuba, de-
fcribed, p. 146.
Hereford, goes thither, where he hears of his Father's
Death, &c. 187. Attacked by Highway-Men, p. 191.
Hogs, Manner of Hunting Wild Ones, p. 25.
I.
Jamaica, his Voyage thither, defcribed, 5. A Ship-
wreck, 7. Ceremony of paffing the Tropick, 10..
Attacked by Pirates, 11. Arrives at Port-Royal,
Defcription of the Island of Jamaica, 22. Fruits, 26.
Cocoa-Nuts, 29.
Indians, maffacred by the Spaniards, p. 152. A barba-
rous Murder committed by them upon an Englishman,.
p. 245. Skirmishes among them, 247. The Author
taken by them, and obliged to marry one of their WF'o-
men, 250. Their Marriage Ceremonies defcribed,
251. The fevere Treatment he met with among them,
257. His Wife killed by them, 259. Their Notions.
of a future State, 262. Their Manner of worship-
ping the Moon, 264. Four Englishmen Shipwrecked,
who married Indian Women, 265. Indians murder a
while
INDE X.
whole English Ship's Crew, 266. Eight Indians
blown up with Gunpowder, ibid. Attempting to
make his Ejcape, the Author is again feized by them,
ibid. The Author's Efcape from the Indians, 268.
His Return to Jamaica, 270. Sails for Carthagena,
271. Arrives at Newfoundland, 274. F tar.is to
Ireland, 275. And from thence to England, 276-
Jucatan, Province of, defcribed, p. 78.
M.
Madeira, Hiftory of the Discovery of that Ifland, p. 190.
Mevis, or Nevis, defcribed. p. 16,
Make-Shift Inland, fo named by the Author, defcribed,.
P. 53.
N.
Newfoundland, defcribed, p. 180.
O.
Oratava, Journey from thence to Teneriff, p. 211.
P.
Pyrates, Adventures among, and Escapes from them, 98.
feq. their Cruelty, 120. A Fight between them
and the Indians, 137.
Portſmouth, forced into a Duel there, p. 195.
Randal (Mr.) an Account of his Sufferings in failing
from Cork in Ireland, to the Baltick, and miracu-
lous Prefervation in a Storm, p. 61. Caji upon a
Rock, 62. His Manner of Living there for threee
Months, 66. Gets off in a ſmall Boat and arrives at
Copenhagen, 69. The generous Treatment he found ·
there
INDE X.
Sails to
there, and his Return Home to Cork, 71.
Virginia, &c. and is thrown afbore among Indians,
72. Saves the Life of himself and Companions by
bleeding their King, 75. His providential Efape,
and Arrival at Bufton, 78. His Death and Burial,
84. His Character, 85.
S.
Sharks, the Manner of catching them, p. 9.
Sword-Fish, defcribed, p. 17.
Spaniards attacked by the Indians, p. 137.
T.
Teneriff, Pike of, defcribed, &c. p. 211, 217.
Tortoiles, the Manner of catching them, p. 127.
V.
Velafques, the Pyrate hot, p. 236.
W.
Waller, Edmund, his fine Verfes on the Summer Islands.
P. 128.
Weft-Indies, fails thither, and in the Voyage engages a
Turkish- Galley, 226. But was wounded and taken
Prifoner, 227. Obtains an Escape for himself, in
Concert with feveral other English Prifoners, 233.
Seize the Turkish Galley, which was funk by a
Shot from a Man of War, who engaged her, being
bound after the Fleet for the West Indies, 237.
DEUS NOBISCUM.
A
NARRATIVE
OF A
GREAT DELIVERANCE
A T
SE A.
WITH
The Name of the MASTER, SHIP, and
thoſe that ſuffered.
By WILLIAM JOHNSON, D. D.
Late Chaplain and Sub-Almoner to his SACRED
MAJESTY.
Quod durum eft pati,
Memiffe, dulce eft.
Sen.
The SIXTH EDITION, Corrected.
LONDON:
Printed for G. KEITH, in Grace-Church-Street,
and F. BLYTн, No. 87, Cornhill.
MDCCLXIX.
To the Honourable Society of the Eaft-
Country Merchants refident in England,
Dantzick, Koninferg, and elsewhere.
Worthy Friends,
I
are you
ره
AM led to honour your Society, net by the hafty Choice
and Election of the IVill, which o, tentimes i: tranſjorted
with Paffion, and loveth without any Merit; but by
the rational and understanding Part, which hath a long
Time perfectly known and understood your many Excellencies,
that I cannot chufe but love and honour the Society. Neither
beholden to any for the Respect they give, or rather
pay you, but to your own Merit, to which it is due. You
are not like Solomon's Merchants, thoſe I mean that brought
over Apes and Peacocks; but you furniſh this Iſland with
fuch ftaple Commodities, that ye have made London as fa-
mous as that City of Tyre, that crowned City, whoſe
Merchants are Princes, and whofe Traffickers are the
Honourable of the Ear h. There is as much Difference.
between the Trade of those worthy Merchants that furniſh
us with Spices, Plumbs, and Taffaties, and our Eaſt-
Country Trade that bring th us in Mafts, Materials for
Cordage, and Neceffaries for Shipping, as there is in Re-
ligion, between Ceremonies and Fundamentals. Spices and
fuch Things are pretty Ornaments, and ceremonial Supple-
ments to our Well being: But our Eaft-Country Commo-
dities are theſe which do conflitute the Being, and lay the
Foundation of a rich and flourishing Commonwealth: And
without them, if not the Art, yet the Practice of Naviga-
tion would be left among us. For we cannot fail to the In-.
dies in a Nutmeg, embark ourſelves in Cinnamon, make a
Maf
·
The Epiftle Dedicatory.
Mat of a Race of Ginger, and wing our Ships with Taffaty.
No, it is our Eaft-Country Trade that doth furnijh us
with the about Ne effaries for Navigation, and is indeed
the
•very Princle and Foundation of all Merchandize, and
Like a Muftrubel in a Watch, Jetteth ail other on Work.
So that what Goods are brought i to this Nation, may
Said pincipally and primarily to be imported by your Aid
and Affiftance, though jetcked hither by the Hands of
others.
be
This is a general Good, obligeth every one to honour you:
But I have an Agument of an higher Nature, which doth
diffute and convince my Affections into an high Efteem and
Reputation of your Society.
Your Company in Pruffia quere the first that called me to
the Exercise of my minifterial Function, being the fof Charge
that over I u dertock to preach to: And had I rot been fir-
ced to come into England by an Obligation which I could
not in Cojcience break, I had ra her have parted with my
Life than them, for they were, as the Apoſtle writeth to
the Philippians, my hope, my Joy, and Crown of
rejoicing in the Lord Jefus.
That I had a Defire again to come unto them, witness
thofe many Sufferings, Loffes, Shipwrecks, Fears, Straights,
Dangers, Deaths that I did undergo in that jecond Adven-
ture; and for the Love I bear them, am willing to repeat
them over again, not in Words only, but in real Sufferings,
Le I might be any W'ay ferviceable for the Good and Sula-
tion of their Souls.
But fome will fay to me, I by would you venture to Sea
again, feing you have fo cften found the Ship unfafe, the
Mariners fearful, the Winds treacherous, and the Il´aves
rebellious?
lane
The Epiftle Dedicatory.
I anfwer, if God call me to it, I shall not fear the
Frowns of Neptune, nor the crooked Face of an angry
Tempest. It was a brave Spirit of that Roman, who
being to undergo a dangerous Voyage at Sea for the Service
of his Country, being diffuaded from it, made this Anſwer,
πλειν ἀνάγκη, ζῆν ἐν ἀνάγκη: It is neceffary for me to fail,
but it is not neceffary for me to live. And it was a nolle and
virtuous Refolution in another, who faid, if he were command-
ed to put forth to Sea in a Ship that neither had Mafts ner
Tackling, he would do it; and being aſked, what Wiſdom
that was? replied, The Wiſdom must be in him that
hath Power to command, not in him whofe Confci-
ence bindeth to obey. When the Service of God calleth
us to buzard our Lives, why should we not be willing to
facrifice them? Quid revolvis? Deus præcipit, faith
Tertullian. If Chrift ſhould call me to Sea again, why
Should I be more afraid to go aboard a stately Ship, than
St. Peter was to walk upon the very Waves, when Chrif
called him to come to him?
But fecing God would not let me go to Tarfus, but fent
me back in an angry and furious Tempest, and made me a
Preacher of Repentance in this Place, I fhall ferve you in
my Devotions, and, as the Apostle faith, make Mention
always of you in my Prayers, that ye may be like that
wife Merchant in the Gospel, who when he had found
one Pearl of great Value, fold all and bought that
Pearl, which was the Kingdom of Heaven.
The first that fought after Chrift,
found him) fr Jented him with Gifts,
and (when they had
aver
were the Wife Men
that came from the East: They preſented to him Gold,
Frankincenfe,
The Epistle Dedicatory.
Frankincenfe, and Myrrh: I ſhould be glad it might be faid
fo of you, that go to and from the Eaft. I wish, with all
So
my Heart, that ye would firft feek after Chrift Jejus, and
w en ye have found him out, being guided to him by the
Star of your Faith, that then ye offer up to him the Sacri-
fice of a cheerful Obedience, in a true and faithful Service
of him; and that will be as fweet and acceptable to our
Saviour, as the Gifts of thofe Chaldean or Arabian Af
tronomers, their Gold, Frankincenfe, and Myrrh, or all the
Riches of the East.
So prayeth, SIRS,
Your poor Orator,
and Humble Servant,
WILL. JOHNSON.
To
Į vi]
To the Right Worſhipful the Governor,
Affiftants, and Fellowſhip of the East-
Land Merchants in London.
Right Worshipful,
IN Ours of the 28th of Auguft, we gave you Notice,
that in our deflitute Condition, it pleafed God by his
fingular Providence to Supply our ſpiritual Wants by the
Ministry of Mr. William Johnion, an able and picus
Devine. But he being now called Home, by a Charge ful-
len unto him, We cannot fuffer him to paſs without this de-
ferved Teftimony: That, for his Perfon, he hath been a-
mongst us, Grave, Retired, Learned; in his Life, with-
cut Blame, ana Scandal; in his Studies, Laboricus; in
his Preaching, both Orthodox and Fowerful: fo that tru-
ly, in Regard of the fingular Fruition of his Labours paſt,
and confidering our defolate enjuing Condition, We cannot
but mourn at by Dparture. Yet hath he left us this Com-
fort behind him, That the preſent Diſtractions at Home may
be a Motive to diſpoſe of his Living there, and to return
to us again in the Spring, if it please God that he be there-
unto lawfully chefen and called. Unto, us he is a Man
without Exception, which we testify by this our general
Subription. It may pleafe you therefore and it is cur feri-
ous and carneft Rig eft, that, if his Occafion will fut with
our Difires, you will bear him Preach, and by an undoubted
*
Election
(vii)
Election return him back again with all Speed. And this
will be an actual Prayer to implore Divine Mercy, and
to turn Curfes into Bleffings. We Say no more, but the
Lord be your Protector and Director.
Your Worſhips, in full
Dantzick,
Jan. 1.
Will. Gore.
Richard Jenks.
Sam. Travell.
Robert Searles.
Ed. Weftcomb.
Sam. Short.
Affurance to Command,
Ambrofe Griggs.
Geo. Hackett.
Fran. Sanderfon.
Amb. Medcalfe.
And. Taylor.
Ed. Daniel.
John Collins.
Jof. Oley.
Rich. Wallis.
Nich. Mitchel.
Will. Williamfon. Tho. Clench.
Will. Shires.
Ja. Hutchinfon.
Jo. Coozin.
Rich. Waynde.
Tho. Dawſon.
Will. Lockwood.
Jo. Whitehall.
Jo. Pearce.
The Name of the Ship, The William and John of
Ipfavich.
The chief Owners, were William Blithe, and John
Smytheir, both Merchants in Ip/wich, from whom the
Ship had the Name; the latter of thefe my worthy
Friend.
Q
The
(viii)
The Names of thoſe that fuffered in the Ship-
wrecks, were, Daniel Morgan, Mafter; Edmund Mor-
gan, Mate; Robert Lakeland, Mate; Matthew Bird,
Boatswain; Taylor, Carpenter; John Holmes,
Rob. Laurence, Will. English, Tho. Crofferd, Mariners;
and others, whoſe Names I cannot remember.
1
A
[ 1 ]
DR $R
ре
A
NARRATIVE
OF A
GREAT DELIVERANCE
AT SE A.
I can
E went aboard from Harwich on Michael-
*w*
W mas Day, the 29th of September. I con-
* fefs, a dull Kind of Sadneſs (as a Cloud)
fat upon my Spirits, ſo that I could not look out
cheerfully upon my departing Friends: But I took
my Farewell of them, as if I had been going not
only out of England, but out of the World.
give no Reaſon for this Deliquium, for I was fent on
a good Meffage, to preach the Gofpel of Jefus
Christ; I was embarked in a ſtout Ship with a fair
Wind, and a ſkilful Pilot; fo that the underſtand-
ing and rational Part of my Soul could not foreſee
any, nor fufpect the leaft Danger: But (fure) Na-
ture (whoſe Apocrypha we ſhall never underſtand)
02
was
2
A NARRATIVE of
was fenfible of fome approaching Storm; for I was
no fooner at Sea, but I was in a ſtrange Anguiſh
and Prepoffeffion, fo that I fuffered Shipwreck in
my Mind, and all the Terrors thereof before it
came. I preſently fell fick (as I ufually do at Sea)
for Water has always been an unkind Element to
me: Yet that Sickneſs hath no fpecifical Name;
we neither call it Fever nor Ague, Palfy nor Gout;
but I think it is all thefe, with the rest of human
Infirmities, or at leaſt an Index where we may find
them; for I was fo really fick, that to be drowned
had been a Puniſhment indeed, but in my Thoughts
no Affliction to me. This Sicknefs was neither Ter-
tian nor Quartan, but Quotidian; for I was as fick
the next Day as before. About four of the Clock
in the Afternoon, the Mafter of the Ship came
into our Cabin with more Hafte than he was wont,
for he was quickened with the Senfe and Appre-
henfion of fome fudden and enfuing Danger; which
though he concealed from me, I faw it in his very
Countenance, written plainly in pale Characters of
Fear and Amazement, which made me ask him,
Whether all was well? And like a loving, a tender-
hearted Man, who is loth to tell his dying Friend
that he is ſo near his End, he anſwered me, All is
rvell.
But when I faw him fhift himſelf, and make
Hafte out again in great Speed, but greater Paffion,
I roſe from my Bed, and crawled upon the Deck,
where I faw a fad Spectacle The Ship having
fprung a Leak, or rather a Plank, was ready to
•
fink.
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
3
fink. I do not wonder now I was fo fick before,
feeing Death was fo near. Oh how the Face of
every Man was changed by this Affrightment, fo
that we could not know almoſt one another, having
loft our natural Complexions through the Extremity
of Paffion! One was at his Prayers, another wring-
ing his Hands, a third his Eyes fhedding of Tears,
when we had no need of more falt Water. But after
this Fit, they fell to Work, and (as it is ufual in
fuch Extreams) we were all bufy about doing of
nothing, and we did we knew not what. We began
one Thing-fed facti pœnitet, but we prefently
fell to another, and perfected nothing to our Safety.
The Mafter's Mate and Brother, whom we fent
down to fearch out the Leak, quickly returned to
us with a fad Countenance; though naturally his
Face was red, yet Fear had fnowed it into a pale
Complexion. This Man with trembling Hands,
Gnashing of Teeth, a quivering Tongue, and
Words half ſpoken, fignified to us that the Wound
was incurable, that the Leak could not be stopped;
and the Water came in ſo faſt upon us, that we muſt
perish in this Moment. I never heard a Death's
Head ſpeak before; for he did look not like a Mef-
fenger, but Death itself; had he faid nothing, we
might have read, our Fate, and Ruin in his Coun-
tenance.
Here was now no Room for Counfel, neither had
we Time to afk one another, what was beſt to be
done? But we preſently caft out our Long-boat, and
03
fhot
A NARRATIVE of
}
fhot off fome eight or nine Guns, which feemed to
me to be fo many Tolls of a Paffing-bell before our
Death. But it was to give Notice to one Bartholo-
mew Cook, who was Maller of that Ship that came
out with us, and was but a little before us, that he
ſhould come to our Relief. In theſe fair Hopes we
leaped into the Boat; but it was my fad Chance to
leap fhort, one Leg in the Boat, alterum in Charontis
cymba: but not without fome Danger, I fcrambled
out of the Sea into the Boat; but was no fooner
there, but one of the Mariners leapt out of the Ship
upon me, and beat me down with his Weight;
which I took kindly enough, being willing to have
carried them all upon my Back to have faved their
Lives. But there was one, and but one, left in our
finking Ship, who made fuch lamentable Moan, that
his Tears prevailed against the Fears of our preſent
Danger, and we took him into the Boat, when we
expected our Ship (whofe Sails lay now flat upon.
the Water) fhould fink immediately, which muſt
neceffarily have drawn our fmall Boat after it, as
the greater Fishes fwallow up the lefs.
But (God be thanked) we all came clear off the
Ship, but now were rowing we knew not whither :
For Mr. Cook came not to our Relief, and we began
to be fevere in Language against him, as if he had
not been kind enough to us; when all that knew
him will fay, he was a Man of a ſoft, tender Na-
ture, and a Friend to others rather than to himſelf.
But all Men are fufpicious in Adverfity, and com-
monly
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
5
Omnes quibus
res funt minus
fecundæ magiş
funt nefcio quo-
modo fufpicioft
ſe ſemper cre-
Teren. Adelp.
dunt negligi.
monly take all Things in the worft Part, and fo did
we, not confidering at all how it
might fare with this honeft Mafler,
who, poor Man, was in greater
Diftrefs than themſelves, and drank
a deeper Draught of Affliction:
for both he and his Ship, and all
his Men, periſhed in that Hour,
not a Man eſcaped to tell us the
Caufe, Manner, and Method of his Fate.
Now were all our Hopes daſhed, as well as our-
felves, being in Deſpair of human Help; for we
were left in the North Seas, which feldom wear a
fmooth Brow, but at this Time contending with the
Wind, fwelled into prodigious Mountains, which
threatened every Moment to fall upon us.
To ſpeak plainly, it blew half a Storm, and we
were now in a fmall Veffel: what Credit could we
give to our Safety in a fmall and open Shallop, when
ſo ſtately a Caſtle of Wood, which we but now loft,
could not defend itſelf againſt the Infolency of the
Waves; we were many Leagues from any Shore,
having no Compafs to guide us, no Provifion to fuf-
tain us, being ftarved with Cold, as well as for
Want of Victuals; and the Night grew black upon
us, having nothing in our Boat but
a fmall * Kettle, and three Bags of
Pieces of Eight, to the Value of
300l. Sterling. But alas! what
Good can Money do where there
is no Exchange? we could not eat
*Which ferv-
ed us as a
Scoop to calt
the Water out
of the Boat.
04
nor
6
A NARRATIVE of
Eight keep us warm.
nor drink our Silver; neither could our Pieces of
Money, in its own Nature,
is but an impotent Creature, a very Cripple, inutile
pondus, a Burthen of no l'alue.
Good God! into what a fad Condition haft thou
now brought us! for which of our Sins doft thou
thus puniſh us? Teach us, O Lord, that we may
know it, and firft drown ourfelves in Tears of Re-
pentance, before the Sea fwallow us up; that
though our Bodies be caft away, we may fave our
Souls. Such Language my troubled Thoughts ſpake
within me; for it was with us now as it was with
St. Paul; All Hopes that we should be faved were
taken away, Acts xxvii. Nothing could preſerve us
but a Miracle, being out of the Reach of human
Help; we were finful Creatures, and could not ex-
pect that God fhould go out of his ordinary Way to
fave us. Though the Waves carried us up to Hea-
ven, yet we could not hope or believe that God
fhould put his Hand out of the Clouds, and take us
miferable Caitiffs unto himſelf from the Top of the
rifing Wave; we had nothing to help us but our
Prayers. I am forry that Word flipped from my
hafty Pen. Prayer is a Multitude, a Troop of Suc-
cours, and many enough to deliver us out of the
Depth, though we were intombed in the Belly of a
Whale, as it did Jonah. Prayer, if it be well qua-
lified, is that Rod of Mofes, that can turn the Sea
into a Wilderness, and make us pass through upon dry
Land, Pfal. cvii. Upon this only Staff did we all
lean; and I fuppofe it was with us, as in the Cafe
of
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
7
of Jonah: The Mariners were afraid, and every Man
called upon his God, Jonah ii. And truly, I think I
may with Modefty confefs, I thought on thofe
Words of David, though after a more imperfect
Manner: Out of the Depth have I cried unto thee :
Lord, hear my Voice, and let thine Ears be cttentive
to my Supplication. I fink in the deep Mire, where
there is no ftanding. Let not the Water-flood overflow
me, neither let the Deep Swallow me up, Pfal. Ixix.
But befde our perfonal Devotion, I am perfuaded
the Extremity of our Condition pleaded for us, and
our Mifery cried aloud in the Ears of God, for Pity
and Compaffion. It is an ufual Expreffion, when we
ſee any Man extremely poor and miſerable, to fay
his Poverty, or his Miſery ſpeaks for him. And com-
monly we are not fo much moved with a clamorous
Beggar, who hunts after our Alms with open
Mouth, and makes Hue and Cry after our Charity,
as if we had ſtolen fomething from him who begs of
us. I fay, we are not fo much moved with fuch
loud Impudence, as with the Silence of thofe difeafed
Cripples, and infirm Lazaro's, that lie at our Doors,
in the Streets, and fay nothing, but fhew only their
Wounds and Sores to thoſe that paſs by. Theſe Beg-
gars fpeak loudeft to our Affections; their very Con-
dition is eloquent; quot Vulnera, tot Ora; ſo many
Wounds, fo many Mouths, that cry aloud for Pity, and
cannot chufe but melt us into a charitable Compaf-
fion. This was our Cafe; our Mifery was louder
than our Prayers, and our deplorable Condition cer-
05
tainly
8
A NARRATIVE of
tainly was more prevalent with Almighty God, than
our imperfect Devotions; for we may fay with the
People of Ifrael, He heard our Cry, and had Compaf-
fion on us, Exod. ii. It is the ufual Way of God
to help in Extremities; when we are in abfolute De-
fpair of all outward Means, he loves to fave us, that
we may fay, It is his doing alone.
For in this Moment of Death, when we were
without the leaft Expectation of any Deliverance, he
fent a Ship to us, which we muſt needs confefs to
be Digitus Dei, the Finger of God, that pointed and
directed that Ship to our Deliverance: For though
many Ships come from the fame Place, and are bound
for the fame Haven, yet they feldom meet in the
vaft Ocean, and fail in the fame Line: for there are
no beaten Paths in the Floods, no Highways and
common Roads in the Sea. But fuch was the Good-
nefs of God, this Ship made towards us, and we
what we could towards it; but we had but two Oars,
and the Seamen counted that a great Diſadvantage
both to their Speed and breaking of the Waves:
Befides, it blew hard, and the Sea, that knows no
Pity, roſe high upon us, fo that we were forced to
fit cloſe to one another, to keep out the Sea with
our Backs; a poor Shelter against a raging Enemy,
who finding himſelf checked, through Indignation
flew over our Heads into the Boat, and fell upon us
in angry Showers; fo that had we not had that
Kettle, to caft the Water out as faft as it came in,
we might have been drowned from above with Rain
of our own making. It was my Lot to fit on the
Weather-
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
୨
Weather-fide, (and there is no Compliment, or
changing of Places in a Storm) and the Waves beat
on me fo falt, that I had almoſt ſaid with the Pro-
phet David, The Waters had even entered into my
Soul, Pfal. vi. 9.
And now we grew into another Deſpair; for
with all our Endeavours we could not reach the Ship,
nor the Ship us: Yet that good Man the Skipper,
hung on the Lee, and did what he could to retard
the Courſe of his Ship; and we, on the other Side,
did what we could to ſpeed our own.
His Ship
rode on furioufly before the Wind, like the Cha-
riot of Aminadab; and ours flowly, like the Chariots
of Pharaoh; and how could we expect, that our
Snail fhould overtake this Dromedary! Thus our
pregnant Hopes brought forth nothing but Wind
and Water; and we that before flattered ourſelves
with an Affurance of Safety, are now as much con-
founded with a Certainty of Perithing. It had
been better, I think, and lefs AMiction to us, to
have had no Hopes at all of a Deliverance, than
preſently to fall from it. It did redouble the Pu-
niſhment of Tantalus to kifs thofe Apples with his
Lips, which he must not tafte with his Tongue :
to have Happinefs near us in our Eye, and not to
enjoy it, is the Extremity of Unhappinefs. Many
Mariners, in a Storm and Tempeft, when they fee
a fatal Neceffity upon them, are contented to die
but thefe Men would murmur, Portu perire, to perish
in an Haven.
06
This
10
A NARRATIVE of
This was our Condition; we had a Ship hard
by, but could not board her by Reaſon of the Wea-
ther; fo that we were ready to perish, whilſt we
looked Safety in the Face. And that which, in all
Probability, increaſed our Danger, and made our
Fate inevitable, it grew dark Night, fo that we did
not know which Way to row.
But this, though it was an Evil in its own Na-
ture, by Accident became a Benefit to us; for now,
not ſeeing our Danger, we underſtood it not, and fo
grew bolder, and applied two to an Oar, and fo
broke through the Waves in a moſt defperate Con-
dition towards the Ship, as we conceived; and that
good Chriſtian, the Master of the Veffel, hung out
a Light to us, which was as a Star to guide us to
him; and fo, by Degrees, we grew nearer and
nearer.
But left the Howzoner (for the Matter was one of
Howzon) fhould think we were loft, and fo hoist up
his Sails and be gone, (for he could not fee us by
Reaſon of the Night, though we ſaw him by Virtue
of the Light he lent us) Order was given, that
when a Wave took us up, we ſhould give a great
Shout, which we did fo loud, that I believe our
Cry was heard to Heaven; for by God's miraculous
Affiſtance we grew very near the Ship, and our own
Safety.
Now were we in Difpute which Side of the Ship
we ſhould go aboard, which was
aboard, which was concluded on the
Lee-fide; and Promiſe was made we ſhould go up
by Order as we fat, left by a hafty Rifing we fhould
endanger
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
I l
endanger ourſelves, and by making too much Hafte
to fave our Lives, lofe them. But we had no fconer
come to the Ship, but they all ftrove to run up at
once; and the Seamen being dextrous in the Art
of climbing, got up in a Moment, and left me
alone in the Boat: Neither do I blame them, for
Life is fweet, and when that is in Jeopardy, we
care only for our felves.
And now was I the third Time lot, and in the
greatest Danger of drowning; for befides the natu-
ral Weakneſs I had in my Hands, they were ſo be-
numbed with Cold and Wet, and made ufelefs, that
I could not climb up a Rope though it was to fave
my Life. But I held the Rope which was flung to
me out of the Ship faft in my Hands, that our Boat
might not ſtave off; but it ftruck three Times against
our rowling Ship, or rather our Ship againſt it, and
as often ftruck me down in the Boat, which was half
full of Water; fo that I was afraid I fhould have
been drowned in that Epitome of the Sea. It would
have grieved a Man, but now to have efcaped the
vaft Champain of the Sea, and to be drowned in its
Encloſure; And it was God's Providence, the Boat,
being fo often ftruck, did not break in Pieces, as it
did preſently afterwards, when it had done its laſt
Office to my Deliverance. But having ufed feveral
Ways to get up in vain, there came at laft, two Sea-
men down to me on the Side of the Ship, and would
have heaved me up by the Arms: But being fo often
wet, my Cloaths, together with my own Weight,
were too heavy a Burthen to be trufſted in their
Arms;
1 2
A NARRATIVE of
Arms; and in this Strait and Exigency, I really knew
not what to do. I began to have fad Thoughts of
myſelf, and to think, that I alone was the Offender,
and muil now be facrificed to the Fury of the Sea, to
appeafe and calm the Tempeft. But whilft I was thus
wounding my Breast with thefe Thoughts, one of the
Seamen gave me down a Rope with a Nooze, and bid
me put it about my Middle: But as foon as I got it on
one Shoulder, he began to pull, and had like to have
forced me into the Sea; but defiring him to ſtay a-
while, I then got it over both Shoulders, and ordered
him to pull, but the Boat waving up and down, caft
me off at fome Distance, to that he firft drew me in-
to the Sea, and my own Weight drew the Rope fo
faft through his Hands, that had there not been a
Knot at the End of the Rope by meer Chance, (for
he tied it not, as he afterwards told me in England)
I had gone down into the Deep in a Moment; fo that
I may truly fay, there was not an Inch between me
and Death. Then at the next Pull, he fruck me a-
gainst the Side of the Ship, which I fhall always look
upon as a Courtely, being the kindeft Blow that ever
I received; it was like a Dofe of Opium to a Man that
hath the Extremity of the Stone, which maketh him.
forget himſelf as well as his Sorrow; and fo it ferved
me, for I remembered no more either Good or Evil.
But certainly the Mafter was a good Chriſtian, and
was indulgent to me; for I found myſelf in his own
Cabin the next Morning, where I flept all Night
very well, though in wet Cloaths: But I found my-
felf fore and lame all over. I thought of the Man
in
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
13
in the Almanack, wounded in every Part and Mem-
ber; only I really was what he feemed to be, and
had fome Signs likewife of it on my bruifed Body.
But I rofe from my Cabin, very defirous to know
how it fared with my Fellow-Sufferers; and truly I
found them, contrary to my Expectation, heavy, not
with Sleep, but with Sorrow. I thought I fhould.
have feen Joy ride in Triumph in their cheerful Coun-
tenances; but their Looks were dejected, and they
murmured within themſelves, fuffering (I fuppofe)
over their Shipwreck again in their fad Thoughts,
and every Alan telling himſelf of his own Misfor-
tune: But the Truth was, they having faved their
Lives, were now at Leifure to think of the Lofs of
their Goods: And I know it was a heavy Lofs to
fome, who loft much; and yet a greater Lofs to
others, who loft lefs. For they having but a little,
loft a great Deal, that little being all they had. For
my own Part, I loft more than I had, (for it caft me
in a Debt, which I have not yet waded through:)
But the Quantity of my Lofs doth not ſo much trou-
ble me as the Quality; for (befides my Goods and
whole Library) I loft all my Sermons, Notes and
Obfervations of fome Years Travel abroad, Things
in themſelves of no Value, nor much in my Efteem,
yet they were the Fruits of my (many Years) Labour
and Study, and might have been uſeful to me, both
in my miniſterial Function, and likewife in the fe-
cular and Lay-Part of my Life. But it were a Shame
to name any Lofs, when God fo graciouſly gave us
`our Lives; and a Sin to murmur at any Damage,
when
£
14
A NARRATIVE of
when God fo often and fo miraculously fnatched us
out of the very Jaws of Death. It feems to me like
calling Lazarus out of the Grave, and do we
think Lazarus, when he was reftored unto Life,
complained that his Winding-Sheet, and Napkin,
were ſpoiled by lying four Days in the Grave? Or
that he murmured that the Ointments and Spices
were ſpent in vain at his Funeral? For fure Mary,
that had a Box of Ointment for the Burial of our
Saviour, would be at fome Colt at the Funeral of her
beloved Brother Lazarus. But theſe Things are not
to be thought upon, when our Life is given us: But
we are fo enamoured of the World, that we cannot
but look back upon Things we love and lofe; and
we would fain be comforted after our Loffes, as Job
was, with twice as much as we had before: But then
we must remember, it was at the latter End of Job;
and before that Time Ged may redouble thefe tem-
poral Bleflings upon us.
The next Day, being Turfday, it blew very fair
for Norway, thither our Ship was bound; and about
Twelve o'clock at Noon we came in the View of it:
But Norway being a ragged Coaft, full of Rocks, and
ſeeing we could not reach it whilft it was Day, and
afraid to come upon it in the Dark, we turned our
Sails, and thought to have kept off the Coaft till the
Morning, that the Sun might fhew us the Way thi-
ther. Which done, we fat down to Meat, fome of
us having taken no Suſtenance fince we first came to
Sea; and truly I eat an hearty Meal, being the only
Meal, I made in five Days: And fo we were all very
well refreshed and comforted. And now God thought
it
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
15
it fit we ſhould ſuffer again; had it pleaſed the Lord
before this Refreshment to have brought us in fome
new Diſtreſs, we certainly, being weak, had perifh-
ed under the Weight of it, and the very Conceit of
it would have killed us, and a little more Sorrow have
drowned us without a Wave. But God will lay no
more upon his Children than they are able to bear.
About Ten o'clock at Night, when we had fet
our Watch, and prayed, with fafe and fecure
Thoughts we laid ourfelves to reft, fome of us upon
our Beds; but God had appointed an harder Lodg-
ing for us, fuch as he provided for Jacob in his Jour-
ney to Padan-Aram, when he took of the Stones of the
Place, and made himself a Pillow, and lay down in that
Place to fleep. For this our fecond Ship with full
Sails ran upon a Rock, and gave ſo great a Crack,
that it was able to awake the moît dead aſleep among
us: I wondered, I confefs, what the Matter was;
but the Mariners, knowing the Danger better than
myſelf, cried out, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, with fo dole-
ful a Tone and Accent, that, together with that hi-
deous Noife which both the Wind and Waves made
in this pitched Battle one againſt the other, it feem-
ed to me to be the very Image and Repreſentation of
the Day of Judgment. I made what Hafte I could
out of my Cabin, but was the laft that came upon
the Deck; where meeting with our own Maſter,
with both his Hands upon his Eyes, which yet could
not stop that Current of Tears, which ran down his
Cheeks, he bade me pray for them, pray for them, for
we shall certainly perish. I could believe no otherwife,
being taught that Leffon by our Master; and there-
fore
16
A NARRATIVE of
fore I fell preſently upon my Knees, and was juft
in the Condition of a condemned Perfon that expect-
ed the Stroke of the Executioner, the Night having
put a Blind before mine Eyes; and having prayed
awhile, I wondered the Waves did not come to do
their Office; for I forgave them with all my Heart,
having wholly refigned up myſelf to Death.
But fo it pleaſed God, that the Ship with full
Sails ftruck itfelf fo faft into the Cleft of the Rock,
or rather, as the Seamen fay, between two Sledges
of Rocks, with her Bow over the main Rock, fo
that it ftood as firm, for the prefent, I mean the
former Part of the Ship, as the Rock itſelf. So I
preſently rofe, and pulled off my Coat, with an
Intention to caft myſelf into the Sea, and fwim
thither; but was adviſed to the contrary by a
prefent enſuing Danger: For preſently there aroſe
a high and mighty Wave, one of the chief Giants
of the Sea, which firſt knocked againſt our Ship,
as if it would have called me forth, and then with
greater Violence dafhed against the Rock, and
brake itſelf in Pieces; which did plainly repreſent
unto me my future Condition, and foretel my For-
tune, had I ventured to ftride that great Leviathan,
and endeavoured to ſwim to the Rock.
But preſently our Ship, like St. Paul's Ship,
brake in the hinder Parts, and we were taught to
efcape our Danger, by our Danger; for our Ship
breaking in the Stern, we werè for-
Matthew Bird ced to fly to the former Part; and one
of Ipfwich. of the Seamen (the fame that pulled
me up by the Rope) leaped from the
Bow
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
17
Bow of the Ship upon the Rock with a Rope in his
Hand, which was faftened to one of our Mafts, and
held it with fo ftiff an Hand, that another flipt
down by it, and fo all our Company, and fome of
the Danes, (Eight and Twenty in Number) came
fafe to the Rock that Way.
All this while, being left alone upon Deck, I be-
gan to wonder what became of my Company, not
then knowing that they had found any Means of
Deliverance; but perceiving that they all crowded
to the Head of the Ship, I went to fee (God knows
that was all my Intention) what they did there, and
fo I came to the Knowledge of their Efcape, and
an Opportunity of my own. For I found a Dane
endeavouring to flide down himſelf and a ſmall
Leather Trunk by that Rope, who like a loving
Man took Pity on me, and preſently whipt away his
Trunk, and bid me flide down there: But I re-
turned him his Kindneſs, and defired him to go
down firft; not fo much out of Compliment, but
that I might know how to flide down; for I faw
none of them go before me, and I did not know
whether I ſhould go with my Head or Heels fore-
moft. I had no Time to aſk Counſel, or make Ex-
periment, but prefently I got upon the Rope, with
my Heels foremost, and Back uppermoft; But the
Waves beat upon me, and the Wind (which was
high) blew me round, and had almoft made me
let go my Hold; but, 1 praiſe God, I came fafely
to the Side of the Rock, and they cried, Off, of;
not out of Unkindneſs to me, (whom they knew
not
18
A NARRATIVE of
not in the Dark) but that I might make fpeedy
Way for another, which I quickly did: For having
laid one Hand upon the Rock, I came off the Rope,
and fo on all four, climbed up to the rest of the
Company.
I was the laft that came down the Ship that Way,
for in that very Moment the Ship began to decline
from us, and give Way, which the Mafter pcr-
ceiving, (who was ftill aboard) made lamentable
Moan to us to help him, which we did with our
utmoft Endeavours; But the Ship brake, and funk
immediately; there was this good Man, and four
of the Mariners drowned. I faw the Mafter, with
a Light in his Hand, fall into the Sea; the faddeft
Sight that I ever yet beheld in this World, and
that which pierced my very Soul, to fee him that
faved our Lives, lofe his own. There was nothing
fo bitter to me in all my Suffering at Sea, as the
Lofs of this Man; it raiſed fuch a Storm and
Tempeft again in my Affections, that I am not yet.
calm within. I never think of him, but I am caft
in a troubled Sea of Sorrow, and fuffer Shipwreck
daily in my Mind; for as he was a Man of a meek
and charitable Difpofition unto all, ſo I found him
kind unto myſelf after a more fpecial Manner.
How folicitous was he for us in our Diftrefs, and
uſed all Means, though it was to his own Hin-
drance to fave us! and in all Probability, had he
not ſtaid for us, he might have arrived at his own
Harbour in Safety. What shall we fay! fhall we
plead with the Almighty, with the Prophet, Jeremy?
Jer. xii.
A Great Deliverance at SEA:
19
Jer. xii. No; it is better to cry out with St. Paul,
Oh the Depth of the Riches, and Wisdom, and Knowledge
of God! How unſearchable are his Judgments, and his
Ways paft finding out! For who hath known the Mind
of the Lord, or who hath been his Counsellor? Rom. xi.
33, 34, 35. All that we can fay, is, that God
fometimes thus dealeth with his own Children:
Thofe whom by his Grace he hath made Inftru-
ments of great Good upon Earth, he taketh unto
himſelf, to make them highly bleffed in Heaven.
Certainly the Spirit of God moved upon thefe
Waters, and called this good Man, as Chrift did
St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee, Mat. xiv, to come
to him, that for this high Act of Charity he might
receive him, and prefently crown him with Glory.
Now were we upon the Rock,
but knew not
where; and ſome of the Company, before I came
to them, had meafured it round with their Feet,
and had found it both a Rock and an Iſle, and,
contrary to our Hopes, inhabitable; fo that we
waited for the Morning Star to draw the Curtain
of the Night, and difcover us first to ourſelves,
(for as yet, in the Dark, we were as ignorant of
ourfelves, as of our fad Condition) and then, to
fhew and difcover fome Coaft or Land to us, which
we hoped we were near to. It was a long and fad
Night with me: A Rock is an hard Pillow to fleep
on; befide, I was thinly clad, having caft off my
Coat, when I intended to fwim, and had no Leifure
to put it on again, for I thought it beft to leave
that behind me, rather than myfelf. We went
from
ZO
A NARRATIVE of
from Place to Place, up and down, I may truly
fay, for I had many a Fall upon the flimy Rock;
fometimes we were up to the Ankles in Water, I
cannot fay over Shoes, for I had none, fo that my
Feet were cut with the fharp Stones, as my Body
with the cold Wind; fo that I felt the very Teeth
of Winter bite quite through me: for Winter in
that Country, is an old Man with a grey Head,
when it is but a Child with us.
At length
we lighted on a Hole of the Rock, which was
a warm Shelter to us against the Wind. And
now the long expected Morning drew near, and
we fain would have feen before we could.
that Twilight, every black Cloud we difcerned,
we flattered ourſelves was Land; and here it was,
we faid, and there it was: But when the Sun arofe,
we faw it no where, only we had a Glimpse of
the Coaſt of Norway; but it was at that Diſtance,
that we were not in any Capacity to reach it, but
with our Defires.
In
It
Truly, when I rofe up and took a View of the
Sea, and the Place where I was, I was ftruck down
again with Amazement to fee many Hundreds of
Rocks round about us, lying for the moſt Part under
Water, which the Seamen call Breakers, becauſe
they break the Sea, and turn it into Feathers.
was a great Providence of God, that we ſhould in
the Night, with full Sails, pafs by all thefe Rocks,
(the leaft Touch againſt them had been as mortal
to us as our Sins) and then to come to the great
Rock, which was as a Church above Water.
I am
fure
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
21
The Country People
It was the fame Hand
fure it was an Aſylum to us.
defervedly call it Arn-Scare.
again of God's Providence, that our Ship fhould be
carried with a full ſtrong Wind into the Cleft and
open Part of the Rock, which was as a Bofom to
receive us; had we touched upon any other Part,
we had been utterly loft in the Twinkling of an
Eye. They that go down to the Sea in Ships, and cc-
cupy their Bufinefs in great Waters, thefe fee the Works
of the Lord, and his Wonders in the Deep, Pfal. cvii.
The Wonders of his Deliverances, as well as the
Miracles of his Creation: Neither are the Creatures
more to be admired than his Mercies. There is as
much Wonder and Variety in theſe as in the other.
Oh that we would therefore praife God for his Goodness,
and the Wonders he doth for the Children of Men,
Pfal. cvii. 8.
But now again were we loft in the Eye of Man, all
our Hope was, that a Ship might paſs by to relieve
us, which in my Judgment was Vanity of Thoughts.
For if a Ship should by Accident come by us in the
Day-time, they ſeeing the Rocks, would be afraid
to come at us; had it come in the Night, it had cer-
tainly periſhed, as ours did. And yet we did hope
even against Hope. But having fpent all that Day,
with fore Eyes, in Expectation of an imaginary De-
liverance, in looking for a Ship (or rather Caftle in
the Air) and ſeeing nothing come towards us, we
began to defpair, having now no Kind of Suftenance
to feed on, nor fcarce Cloaths to keep us warm; fo
We
22
A NARRATIVE of
we again crept into an Hole of the Rock, and lodg-
ed there, rather than refted, the fecond Night.
given all that
Water. God
In the Morning we arofe before the Sun, and ftill
we were looking for that which came not: And now
we began to be an hungry; and fome of our Com-
pany went fearching about the Rock, wifhing (I fup-
poſe) thofe Stones were turned into Bread. One of
the Sea-Boys brought me a Leaf of Scurvy-Grafs,
which I told him was Sauce rather than Meat. Some
of us went a fiſhing, but with no other Angle than
a long Arm, nor no other Hook then a bent Finger.
They put their Arms into the Sea as far as they could,
and drew up fome fmall Mafcles, which they eat
heartily. I began to be very fick in a feverish Dif-
temper, and fo had no Stomach, which I think is a
Benefit when we have no Meat to eat: But I did burn
with Thirft, fo that I would have
I had for a Draught of fresh
oftentimes makes us know the Worth of his
Creatures by the Want of them: Nothing fo mean
in our Efteem as a little Water, we fpill it eve-
ry where upon the Ground, and we look not after it
any more; yet at this Time a Drop of cold Water
had been more welcome to me than the Gold of 0-
phir, and in my Efteem, a better Creature. I went
into the highest Place of the Rock, thinking the Wa-
ter (that ſtood every where in Holes) might be freſh-
er there; but I found it falt; fo I perceive in fome
Storm it bounded thither from the Sea. Though it
was falt, yet it as Water; and therefore (like one
of thoſe that were chofen to fight againſt Midian,) I
lapped it with my Hand to my Mouth, till it
quenched
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
23
quenched my Thirft: But it came up again as faſt as
it went down, and brought a great Drought with it;
and this I did very often, which I am perfuaded was
both my preſent Cure, and future Prefervation of my
Health, as a learned Phyſician told me fince, Dr. H.
And now between Ten and Eleven o'Clock we
faw a Ship coming towards us with full Sails, which
lifted up all our Hearts with Joy, gilded over our Hearts
with Cheerfulneſs, and ſo painted our Faces with
Gladness, that we ſeemed to be new Creatures. The
Ship came nearer and nearer, and then we went all
of us to the Top of the Rock, and waved our Hats
to ſhew ourſelves to the Men of the Ship. But I
know not the Cauſe, for they never came at us; nei-
ther did they ſend out their Boat to know what we
were, or our Condition. Whether this Unkindneſs
proceeded from the Fear of our dangerous Rocks,
or from their own more ftony Hearts, harder than the
Rock we lay upon, I cannot fay; but it put us out
of Charity with them, as they ſeemed to be with us.
He was a Dane, of the fame Country with our former
kind loving Maſter; ſo that I perceive there may be
feveral Difpofitions under the fame Climate, and one
Womb may bring forth Twins of feveral Natures;
one was as fmooth to us as Jacob, the other rough
as Efau. When we ſaw the Ship pafs quite from us,
our Hearts began to fail, and our Countenances
changed into their former Paleneſs. How foon was
our fair Morning clouded over, and our beautiful
Hopes turned into Deformity and black Defpair? To
teach us that Man's Happiness is but for a Moment,
P
and
24
A NARRATIVE of
and the Joy of this World but a Span long. And
now we were all loft, even in our own Eyes; our
Condition, being ready to famiſh, would not give
us Time to expect another Ship, neither had we
now Faith enough to believe, ſhould there come one
by Chance, that the Mariners would venture their
own Lives to fave ou
So we betook ourfelves to our old Remedy, qúf-
pasov nadoninov, our Prayers. The Danes (I confeſs)
firft began their Devotions, having fung one of Luther's
Pfalms, fell to their Prayers, and then we fung one of`
our own Pfalms, and as long as I was able to ſpeak, I
prayed with the Company; and after fome Exhorta-
tion to my Fellow-Sufferers, being very weak, I laid
myſelf down upon the Rock, thinking I fhould rife
no more in this World.
But I overheard one of the Seamen, M. B. (the
fame that first leapt upon the Rock) fay Let us make
a Raft, and venture to Sea, I had rather be drowned, than
lie Lare and be flarved. They all prefently concluded
to follow that Deſign, though it was full of Danger.
But, you know, a finking Man will take hold of a
Bull-ruh, and one that is ready to perith will catch
at a Feather. All Things fell out to further this De-
fign: For the Waicr had now fallen from the Rock,
and left on the Side of it the Bottom of the Ship, the
Anchors, the Maft, the Sails lying on the Rock
like Linen upon an Hedge. In a thort Tine they
brake a Maft in Pieces, untwifted a Cable, made
fmall Cords, tied four or five Boards to the broken
Mat, put up the finall End of the Mizen - Maft, cut
out a fmall Sail, with fome flight Stern they had
made,
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
25
God
made, and fo ventured to Sea on thefe Ruins.
oftentimes faves by weak Means, and preferves us by
Improbabilities. There were four on this Raft, two
Danes, and two English; I do not remember whether.
it was by Lot, or voluntary Election.
It was now a great Calm, fuch a Calm I conceive
as was upon the Sea of Galilee when our Saviour
rebuked the Sea and the Winds, Mat. viii. It
blew only a ſmall Breath, which was our Advantage,
for it directly carried them toward that Place we con-
ceived the Coaft lay. It was the miraculous Good-
nefs of God, that after the Lofs of two great Ships,
he fhould fave us by a fwimming Plank: For this,
Raft paft through, and get clear of all the Breakers;
had it touched only on one of them, they would have
rent the Raft in Pieces, as Sampfon did the Wreath
when the Philiftines were upon him: But they paffed
by them all, and we that were upon the Rock fol-
lowed them with our Eyes as long as we could fee,
or rather as long as they could be feen; for our Life
was wrapt up in theirs, and the Hope of our Deli-
verance had no other Foundation but their Safety.
And now I may fay, God ftretched forth his Hand,
as Chrift did to Saint Peter when he was ready to
fink, and faved thefe Men, and brought them to
Shore; which yet we were ignorant of, and fo pul-
led in Pieces between two feveral Paflions, Hope and
Fear, and both of them equally troubleſome; as we
fee in an Ague, which hath two feveral Operations,
contrary in themfelves, as hot and cold, yet both of
them alike afflictive. Our Hope being with that
Violence
P 2
26
A NARRATIVE of
Violence of Paffion, was as wounding to our Affecti
ons as our Fear.
But theſe Fits were foon over, for before Night
we fpied feveral Shawls rowing towards us, which
gave us a certain Knowledge of the Safety of our
Men, and a Promiſe of our own Deliverance: They
brought with them Provifion; but we were more
greedy of the Shore than our Meat, and therefore we
made Hafte into the Boats, and by God's Goodness
unto us, we came all of us once more to Land.
The Place that we arrived at was an Iſland in
Norway, called by the People Waller Ifland; fo mean
and inconfiderable, that Ortelius takes no Notice of it in
his Maps, for I have fearched with
My Lord of E. better Eyes than my own, I mean
Dr. H.
more knowing in Geography, and
could not find it. A Place it ſeems
not worthy to be remembered, but I am fure never
to be forgotten by us. Though it was a Wildernefs
in its own Nature, yet it was a Paradife to us.
There was but one Houfe where we landed, and
that was the Parfon's, an honeft Lutheran, who had
many in his Family. They fhewed us, as Saint Paul
fays, no little Kindness: Acts xxviii. 2. The Language
they fpake was Nos; but I think it was not much
unlike Dutch, for we that fpake Dutch, did partly
underſtand them, and they us, and yet two feveral
Kinds of Speech. I fuppofe there is the fame Diffe-
rence between thefe two Languages, as there is be-
tween a Lobſter and a Cray-Fish, (which both are in
Plenty
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
27
Plenty there) for though they both are alike, yet they
are two ſeveral Species.
We made a Shift to tell the fad Iliads of our Mif-
fortune to the People of the Houfe, and they made
a Shift to underſtand us, for they wept moſt bitterly at
our Relation; fo that one would have thought that they
had fuffered Shipwreck, and not we. Which fhewed the
Goodness and Tenderneſs of their Nature, which are
principia gratiæ, the very Beginnings of Grace, or elſe I
may fafely fay, they are the first Difpofitions, or at least,
Capacities of Grace.
They fet before us what Meat they had; and the
Mariners fell to it fo heartily, as if they would have
repaired all they loft before by their long Fafting, at
one Meal. Their ordinary Bread was Rye-Pancakes,
but their Beer very ftrong. I thought of that English
Proverb, A Cup of good Beer is Meat, Drink and Cloath-
ing. Sure thefe People thought fo; for though at
that cold Seafon fome of the People had no Stockings
nor Shoes to their Feet, yet they kept their Under-
ftandings warm, and their Mouths well lined with
Lubeck Beer.
I loft my Stomach not with eating, but long faſt-
ing, and fo went fick to Bed: in the Morning I found
myſelf well, I praife God. And we began now to
examine ourſelves, and one another, what Monies
our double Shipwreck had left us: all that we had
we freely laid down; but there was an Ananias a-
mongst us, who, we fufpected, would conceal fome
Part; and therefore we fearched him, and found no
lefs than four and twenty Pieces of Eight, which
certainly
P 3
28
A NARRATIVE of
certainly this Man ftole out of our Bags when we were
in the Boat, after our firft Shipwreck, at that prefent
Time when we expected every Moment we fhould
be call away. Did this Man think that Saint Peter
would not let him into Heaven without his Peter's
Pence? Or that he ſhould go the other Way, and
muft pay Charon naulum fuum? It was a fad Thing for
a Man to feal in articulo mortis, at the Point of Death.
But it was well for us, for we loft all our
Monies in the fecond Shipwreck, but what this Man
fole from us. There are fome Divines that fay, Sin
is committed ordinante Deo; but the Ancients are wont
to fay Deo permittente, which is a more modeft and
civil Expreffion. I will not difpute the Queſtion.
here: But I believe, if God did ever ordain Sin, it
was in this Man's flealing; for this Money was our
Relief in our neceffitous Condition.
We ftaid in this land till Sunday: In the Morn-
ing we went to hear our Landlord preach; after Ser-
mon he gave us Cœna dubia, a doultful Meal, full of
Variety in one Diſh, as Beef, Mutton, Lard, Goat,
Roots, and fo many of God's Creatures, that it
fecmed to me to be the first Chapter of Genefis in a
Dish; but fo confounded, that the beft Palate could
not read what he cat, nor by his Tafte know and
diftinguiſh the Creatures. Though God hath given all
his Creatures for the Ufe of Man, fo that we may do
what we pleaſe with them; yet I think it not handfome
with our grand Mefle's and Olleprodida's to confound
and undo the Creation, cook it into a new Chaos, and
fauce
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
29
fauce God's Creatures out of our Knowledge. I love
to know what I eat, that I may praife God for the
Variety of his Bleffings: but truly I do rot blanc
the People of this Place; for I think it is not Curio-
-fity here, but Cuftom, and good Husbandry, rather
than Luxurioufnefs, who boil all together to fare
Charges.
After much Thanks, and a little Money, we
parted with this good old Prieft; and I having
purchaſed an old Pair of Shoes, at the Price of a
new, we travelled on Foot to Fredericktat a City in
Norway by the Coaft Side, and were very kindly
entertained by the Burgo-Mafter. The chief of his
Difcourfe to me, was in Commendation of the late
Archbishop of Canterbury, whom he called Excellen-
tiſſimum Dominum. I wonder how he came to know
him. But fure, thought I, if he be thus charitable
to ſpeak well of the Dead, who could not hear
him, he will be bountiful to the Living, who are
ready to thank him even beforehand. And truly
he was very kind to us, for he commanded fome of
the City to entertain us civilly, and provided us
Ships both for Holland and England, with the:
Promife of fome Proviſion at his own Charge.
I remember how the People ran after us in the
Streets, and what their compaffionate Eye faw we
wanted, their charitable Hand was ready to give
without asking. A good old Man beftowed on me
an excellent Pair of Mittens, which I brought into
England. We found much Civility every where :
though the Country is all rocky, yet the People's
P 4
Hearts
30
A NARRATIVE of
Hearts are tender; God made them è meliore luto,
out of a better Soil than their own Country.
But to make hafte out of my Story, as well as
out of Norway: We went away from Frederickflat
three or four Miles to Ofterfound, the Haven where
our Ships lay, having laid into the Ship, that was
bound for England, fome fmall Proviſion, as much
as our Stock could pay for, yet not fo much as our
Neceffity required; for had not God bleffed us
with a favourable Wind, we certainly had wanted
much. But we, with all that was left us, which
was now nothing, but ourfelves, entered into the
Ship in the Evening. In the Morning, before we
went out, there came a Ship from Lynn in Norfolk,
that ftruck againſt our Harbour, which was natu-
rally walled about with Rocks, and fo perifhed im-
mediately. This was a fad Omen, and it ſeemed
to me as a Prologue to a new Tragedy. We had
not been above two or three Hours at Sea, but
there was a fad Diſtraction amongst us in the Ship,
and the Mariners crying again for Mercy, Mercy;
for we had almoft fell foul on a Rock, which lay fo
cunningly in the Water, that we did not fpy it till
we were upon it; but by the Goodnefs of God we
failed clofe by it, and efcaped it; the leaft Touch
of it had been our Ruin. Thus God oftentimes
doth bring his Children as near the Mouth of
Danger, as may be, but he lets them not fall
therein, that they may both fear and praiſe his
Name.
About
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
31
About Noon we came clear off all the Rocks on
the Coaſt of Norway, and were failing for England
with a fair Gale of Wind. But in this Profperity
another fad Accident befel us; this third Ship
ſprang a Leak, a new one I cannot fay, but rather
repeated an old one, and ſo our Ship began to
fwim within as well as without; and we had no
Way to relieve ourſelves, (for the Leak could not
be found) but by Pumping; which we did Day
and Night, and fo took Revenge of the Sea, by
fpitting that Water back again in its Face, as faſt
as it came into our Ship. But now again we were
in a fad and deplorable Condition, being in Danger
to be drowned from the Spring that rofe within us,
and to fuffer an inteftine Shipwreck, which, like a
Civil War, is moſt dangerous. We had our Life
now at our Fingers Ends; and if we had not lifted
up our Hands to pump, as Mofes did to pray, theſe
Amalekites had prevailed; I mean theſe mercilefs
Waves had overcome us. Good God! in what,
and how many Streights haft thou brought us?
Our Sins are many, as the Waves of the Sea; and
fo haft thou, O Lord, made our Funishments.
For now we were, as I conceive, in a worſe Con-
dition than ever before; for though our Dan-
gers were great, or rather greater, yet they
came upon us fo on a fudden, that we under-
ftood them not. That Danger is lefs afflictive
which we lefs underſtand; and that Mifery we
apprehend not, is none at all, or at least none of
P 5
our
32
A NARRATIVE of
our own. But now we fee Death before our Eyes,
and are in Expectation to perith every Moment;
fo that we may fay, with Saint Paul, We die daily.
1 Cor. xv. We were in the Condition of him that
feeth himſelf bleed to Death. In our foriner
Dangers we had like to perish fuddenly, which
had been lefs penal to our Affections: We were
now to die at Leifure, and to be drowned with
Premeditation; which is more afflictive to our
Thoughts, though a lefs Punishment for our Sins.
Melius eft perire femel, quam timere femper: the Fear of
Death is more dreadful than Death itself; and iɛ
is better once to die, than to be always dying.
With thefe Fears about us, and black Apprehen-
fions, we failed on ftill with a fair Wind; and after
four or five Days and Nights fail, fo it pleafed
God, we came in the View of the English Coaſt on
Norfolk Side, near Winterton; where we faw the
Ruins of a Shipwreck, and the Country People en-
riching themfelves with the Loffes of other Men;
the worst way of getting in the World. This was
the Epilogue to our Tragedy, yet we had one Scene.
of Sorrow more · For when we came near Yarmouth
Road, on our left Hand lay the Shingles, on our
right, the Shore; and we could not agree amongſt
ourfelves on which Side we should go. Our two
Maſters, and two Pilots, (for fo many we had in
one Ship,) like four Winds, blew contrary Ways.
In this Conteſt they made a fearful Noiſe and Quar-
rel; their Language was as foul as the Weather, and
as high as the Wind, and brought us in as
great
1
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
33%
f
great Danger (as our own Mafter told me), as ever,
I think Monarchy is the best Government in a
Ship, as well as in the State. Many Pilots with
their Overwiſdomneſs, are oftentimes the Ruin
both of themſelves and their Veffel,
1
At length we did agree, and ordered one of our
own Company (a Shotley Man, who beft knew the
Coaft,) to fit at Stern; but this crazy and ill-built-
Ship, though fhe was fteered one Way, flew another,
as if all Things had confpired to our Ruin. We
refolved to fail by the Shore-Side, that in Cafe oúr
Ship fhould mifcary, we might fwim to Land.
Theſe were but fad Hopes; but it pleafed God,
we came ſafe into Yarmouth Road; and having caft
our Anchor, thought ourſelves fecure. But our
Anchor came Home to us again; and the Wind,
which was very high, had like to have driven
us on a Scotchman: They cried out, and fo did
we; for they could not be more afraid of us,
than we were of ourfelves; for had we boarded.
them, we certainly had endangered both our
Ships: but that God that had begun and gone-
along with us in fuch vifible Characters of his ex-
traordinary Mercy, would not now leave us at
the laft, but did perfect our Deliverance; for our
Anchor held, and we rode very fecure that Night.:
The next Morning we hung out a Whiff, and there
came four Men in a Shallop from Yarmouth, and
demanded no less than thirty Shillings to carry me,
a fingle Perfon, to Shore, when our whole Stock
was but two Pieces of Eight- Though I did long
for Land, yet I could not purchaſe it at fuch a
P6.
Rate:
34
A NARRATIVE of
Rate: But at length they were content to take
leſs, becauſe they could not get any more; and
took fomething, rather than to turn back with
nothing.
But they no fooner had got me into the Boat, but
they rowed me up and down, to weigh Anchors;
for there had been a great Storm the Night before,
and many Ships had broke their Cables, and were
driven away by the Tempeft. They tried at feveral
Anchors not without great Danger, as I conceived;
but finding themfelves not ftrong enough, they at
length brought me to the Shore, which was no
landing Place; but four Men, which ftood waiting
for us on the Shore, ran into the Sea up to their
Middles, laid Hands on our Boat, and fo ran it
on the Sands, and tumbled us over and over; fo
that I cannot ſay, whether I fet my Head or Feet
first on the Shore. After this Manner fure Jonah
was caft upon the dry Land, when the Whale vo-
mited him up; I fuppofe that great Leviathan did
not caft him upon his Legs: But a Man that had
made fuch a Trade of fuffering at Sea as we did,
and after fo long a Succeffion of Evils, would be
glad to be caft on dry Land in any Polture.
From the Shore I went into Yarmouth Town, with
a Company of People following at my Heels, won-
dering at me, as if I had been fome flrange Creature
come out of America, though they knew none of
my Sufferings, but faw me in a fad ragged, wea-
ther-beaten Condition. I prefently got into an
Inn, to hide myſelf from the Wonder of the People,
and
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
35
and from the Trouble of their impertinent Quef-
tions; but chiefly, that I might praife God in
private for his great and many Deliverances. I
cannot chufe but tell you fo much, left I should
feem ungrateful to my gracious God: But I will
fay no more, left I may feem vain-glorious to my
Friend. Therefore I will conceal from you my
particular Devotions: Non eft Religio ubi omnia
patent; I learned it from the Door of a Capuchin's
Convent.
The Sign of the Inn was the Arms of Farmouth,
the Man, I fuppofe the Hoft of the Houfe, was as
kind to me as Saint Paul's Hot Gaius was to him.
And here I must not forget the Kind-
nefs of a true Friend indeed, a good
Samaritan, * who had Compaffion on
*Thomas Le-
man, Efq. of
me, bound up my Wounds, pouring Wenbeton in
in Oil and Wine, and fet me on his Sufolk.
own Beat, brought me to his own
Houfe, and had a Care of me; and, which I took
moft kindly, he bestowed on my Sufferings Nazi-
anzen's Charity, a Tear of Compaffion, [Orat 6.
Si nihil habes, da lacrumulam]. God I hope, will turn
this Kindness to me, in Bleffings upon him, and
his dear Wife and Children. By the Kindneſs of
this Gentleman, I was recruited with all Manner of
Comforts; and now behold another Shipwreck,
not of my Goods but good Name. Some there
were, when they heard of the Monſter of my Suf-
ferings, were affrighted out of their Wits, I
fuppofe, as well as out of their Charity, and con-
cluded
36
A NARRATIVE of
cluded I was a Malignant. Thus God is pleafed
to affimulate my Sufferings to Saint Paul's in fome
Meaſure (the Latchet of whofe Shoe I am not
worthy to untie) who, when he had efcaped the
Danger of the Sea, was ftung by a Viper as foon
as he came to Shore. As xxviii. Suppofe I fhould
fay, I do ferve my God that Way which the World
calls Malignancy. Am I fuch an one, becauſe the
People fay it? Or was Saint Paul an Heretick, be-
caufe the World thought him fo? I do not care
what the Many fay of me, Bellua multorum Cepitum,
a Beast of many Heads, fed nullius Ingenii, but of no Un-
derstanding. Thus the People cenfured John the
Baptift, the Morning Star of the Gofpel; and like-
wife our Bleffed Saviour himſelf, that glorious Sun
of Righteoufnefs, or as St. Luke calls him, Luke ii.
the Day that Springs from on high; although their De-
portment in the World was different, walking under
feveral Schemes, and living after feveral and con-
trary Fashions.
For, John the Baptift came neither
eating Bread nor drinking Wine, and ye fay be hath a. Devil,
the Son of Man is come eating and drinking, and ye
behold a gluttonous Man, and a Winc-bibber, and a
Friend of Publicans aud Sinners. Luke vii. 33, 34.
Thus the People are never pleaſed, neither fall nor
fafting. Neither the Aufcrity of St. John's Life,
nor the Sweetnefs and Familiarity of our Saviour's
Converfation could content the People.
But you are a knowing Perfon, and one whoſe
good Opinion I efccm; I have therefore, here en-
clofed, fent you better Words of me drawn by the
Company of Dentsick, and fent to the Eaftland Com-
pany
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
37
pany here in Londen, for whoſe Sake I have fuffered
theſe adverſe Things, and am content to run them
over again to do them Service; fuch an Affection
I do and ſhall ever bear to their Society.
Thus I have given, at your earneft Requeft, the
fad Story of my Sufferings in my Eaftland Voyage.
What I have related, my unhappy Evidence hath
found it too true; yet I cannot tell you all, for
there were many Dangers which I underſtood not.
It was my Chance, a Year after our Arrival in Eng--
land, to meet with one of my Fellow Sufferers,
(M. B. the fame Man that drew me out of the Sea):
he preſently began to repeat our Shipwrecks, (for
Men that have fuffered together, love to talk of
their Dangers paſt, and bemoan one another); he
made Mention of feveral Streights, Extremities,
Dangers, Deaths that we were in, which I do not
remember; fo that from his Mouth this Story
feemed to be fo prodigious a Romance, that few but
thoſe that felt it would believe. But I have not
told you in this Relation, what others fay, but what
1 myſelf have fuffered; and though I was loth to
begin, I am now as unwilling to make an End-
Omnibus hoc Vitium-And therefore I fhall tell you
what further Adverfity I have fuffered by this bar-
barous Element of Water.
I will not tell you of my Venture over the Bars
in foul Weather to the Min at Dantzick in the Bal-
tick Seas, for that it may be was our Fear, and not
Danger; neither will I fpeak of my Paffage from
Groningen
38
A NARRATIVE of
Groningen to Amfterdam, when our Ship ftruck againſt
the Sands; for there was Danger and no Fear; for
the Ship got off as ſoon as we knew it was on: But
I will acquaint you with what happened to me upon
the River Loire in France, at Orleans.
I was adviſed by a French Gentleman, that had
formerly travelled with my noble
*Whofe Bro-
ther, Mr. Robert
Fane, was in our
Company.
*
Lord the prefent Earl of Weft-
morland, not to shoot the Bridge
at Bogency, for the Bridge is
made, not with a direct Line
over the River, but fomething obliquely, and fo
oftentimes dangerous to Paffengers.
When we
venture.
came near the Bridge, I would have bribed the
Batelier with a Quart d'Efcu, to have fet myſelf and
two of my Company afhore on this Side the Bridge,
and to have taken us in on the other Side. But the
rest of the Company were unwilling to be hindercd
in their Paffage, and we were almost as contented to
But this thin Deal Boat (which Boats are
made on purpoſe to ſwim down the River to Nants,
and return no more), came with a fwift Stream to-
wards a Corner of one of the Arches of the Bridge,
which the Batelier fecing, cried Nous sommes perdu,
We are all loft. He did ftrive, by putting his Rud-
der against the Bridge, to keep off the Blow, but
brought it upon himſelf; for it beat him all along,
and ftruck off one Board of our Boat, that we fwam
almoſt equal with the Stream, and the Water looked
in upon us: One Touch more would have daſhed
Our
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
39
our Boat in Pieces, and fo we had been all drowned
in wholeſale; for there was no fwimming out of a
Crowd, when our Arms were pinioned together with
fitting cloſe to one another. But by the Goodness
of God we got through the Arch, and came fafe to
Shore.
There came prefently to me two Cordelier Friars
which were our Fellow Paffengers; the one bade me
thank him, for he made the biggeft Crofs; the other
told me, I muſt thank him, for he prayed unto the
Bleſſed Virgin for us. I do remember, indeed, when
we were in our greatest Danger, thefe Friars being
ftruck with Fear, (which oftentimes killeth before
Death), fell down in the Midft of the Boat; one
of them meaſured himfelf with his Finger, or, aз
he faith, croffed himself; the other pulled out a
fmall Image, I fuppofe of Wood, about the Big-
nefs of my great Toe, and it feemed to me not
much unlike; to this he whifpered fomething,
which I believe it did not hear, no more than we.
I thanked them both, one for his civil Ignorance,
the other for his religious Folly. I confefs, in fo
fad and ſerious a Matter as drowning, I do not love
fuch Puppet Piety, fuch mechanic and handicraft
Devotion; my Thanks must be addreffed to God,
the Author and Fountain of our Deliverance, after
a more ſpiritual Manner.
After this, the fame Year, it was my Bufinefs to
return into England. I came to Calais the Day after
the Packet-boat was gone. Being weary of a charge-
able
40
A NARRATIVE of
able Town, and burning with a Defire of feeing my
own Country again; having taken Advice by a
Merchant, I ventured to Sea in a Shallop, which
the Tide before rame from Iver, and brought
three Almains fafe to Calan, without any
Darger. The Example of their fafe Arrival,
was a fufficient Argument to perfuade me to
venture from thence to Dover. So at four of
the Clock in the Morning with the Tide we went
to Sea; but had not gone half a League, but there
arofe a great and mighty Wind, which did blow
not only our Candle, but our Lanthorn out, I mean
out of the Boat, fo that we were fain to let our Boat.
drive till it was Day-light.
I offered the Seamen their Fare to carry us back
again to Calais, which they did endeavour, but
could not, the Wind was fo ftrong; yet as fair a
Wind as could blow out of the Sky to carry us to
Dover; but we had too much of it. The Surfeit of
good Things is as great an Evil as the Want of
them, and a Man may be too well fometimes. How
did Neptune play at Tennis with us poor Mortals,
and how like Balls were we banded up and down by
his furious Waves? Sometimes, as the Pfalmift
faith, they mounted us up to Heaven, as if they would
have fhewn us Lazarus in the Bofom of Abraham.
Sometimes they carried us down in the Deep, as if we
had been fent with more than a Drop of Water to
cool the Tongue of Dives. By and by there aroſe-
a great Wind, which with the first Blaft fplit our
Sail in Pieces; fo that we were forced to use our
great Sail, which was too big for the Wind, as the
Win
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
41
Wind was for it, and therefore we made Ufe but of
one half: the other lying on the Side of the Boat,
made it run ſo much on that Side, that I expected
We could
every Moment it fhould topple over.
not go backward, and we were afraid to go for-
ward. I laid myſelf down in the Boat from the
View of these threatening Waves (as a dying Man
is not willing to look the Executioner in the Face),
expecting every Moment to be fwallowed by thofe
roaring Lions of the Sea, who came upon us with
open Mouths, ready to devour us. But God ftop-
ped the Mouths of thofe Lions that they fhould not
hurt us; and our fmall Veffel rode in Safety and
Triumph upon the Head of the proudeft Wave. We
could not fay to the Pilot, as the Emperor did, Ca-
farem vehis, &c.-but there was in our Boat a noble
Gentleman, both by Birth and Virtue, (the beſt
and trueft Nobility), and likewife another civil Per-
fon. Thefe Gentlemen had fo much Worth and
Merit in them, that they fhould not need fear the
Threatening of an infolent Wave, but might boldly
fay unto the Sea, Sea, do thy werft. But I'll rather
impute all to the Goodnefs of God, in whofe Hands
we were, and therefore could not mifcarry.
By and by a Wave took us up, and fhewed us
England: But it was with us as it was with Mofès, we
might from this watry Pilgah, and Mountain of the
Sca, behold the Land with our Eyes, which yet we
must not reach with our Feet. One of theſe Gen-
tlemen called to me to rife, faying, I might fee Do-
ver Caſtle: But I thought it of no Concernment to
ine, and therefore lay ftill, but wishing that we
We
42
A NARRATIVE of
we were all Prifoners there, and fo I faid, little
thinking that within a few Days after I fhould be
apprehended and accufed for tak-
At Westonhan- ing Dover Caftle, and kept fome
gar, my Lord
Strangford's
Houfe, which
was then made
a Prifon to fe-
cure the honeſt
Gentlemen of
that County.
Months Prifoner in Kent. God
knows I would have taken it with
all my Heart, but for a Refuge
only; not as a Soldier taketh the
Fort of his Enemy, but as a poor
Weather-beaten Traveller taketh
the Houfe of a Friend, as a Shelter.
The Storm continued fill, and the Wind blew very
High, which though it put us in great Danger, yet
being fair for us, blew us the fooner out of it.
For now we came near Dover, and therefore I
defired my Friend to lie off my Legs, for now I
thought I should have fome Ufe of them myself;
which he did, and I rofe up and faw a World of
People standing upon the Pier at Dover, holding up
their Hands, not only in Admiration of our Dan-
gers, but in Zeal and Devotion for our Deliverance.
They directed us with their Hands which Way we
had beft enter into Dover, and fo with a freſh Gale
of God's Mercy, as well as with a fair Blaft of
Wind, with full Sails, we, not without fome Dan-
ge in hitting the Pier, ran afhore.
I must not omit one Mercy more, (which I forgot
in my laft) becauſe it is fo near of Kin, and allied
to my Deliverances at Sea, a Pre-deliverance, a
Deliverance before-hand, an antidated Mercy.
For
A Great Deliverance at SEA:
43
For after I had ſpent fome Time in Pruffia, and
had ſeen Elbing, Koninfberg, which is the Univerſity;
the Pillow, which is both the Key to the Country,
and to the chief Revenue of the Marquis of Bran-
denburg in Pruſſia, I returned to Dartzick, with a
Refolution for England, having met with a fair Op-
portunity as well as a Wind; for there was one
Captain Sharper of New-Castle, a King's Man, (as
they call thofe that love the King in that Country);
this was Argument enough both to confirm and
haften my Refolution.
This honeft Captain being ready fraught and bound
for England, 1 preſently went to him to ſpeak for my
Paffage; he, like a kind Man, as well as a King's
Man, promiſed me a Paffage gratis. The English
Company at Dantzick underſtanding fo much, the
greater Part of them came to me, and importuned
me to ſtay with them, and continue my preaching
with a Promife to anfwer my Pains with more than
I could defire or deferve. This unexpected Kindness
and Love, which is above the Price of any Reward
upon Earth, foon melted me into a Compliance with
their Defires, and fo without any Contract, I free-
ly, as fuddenly, without farther Counfel, promiſed
to ftay with them.
But God was in it, who inclineth our Hearts to
thoſe Ways which lead to our Safety and Felicity,
though we do not for the preſent fee the Secrets of
his Love and Wiſdom; for this good Man, Cap-
tain
44
A NARRATIVE of
tain Skarper, with all his Company *, fome few
were caft away near
Thus God fometimes.
Days after they went to Sea,
the Scund, not a Man efcaped.
preventeth his Children from falling into Evil, as
well as to deliver them when fallen, that they may
enjoy the Comforts of his Mercy without the Sorrow
of fuffering.
To deliver his Children when they are fallen into
any Calamity and Trouble, is an high and broad.
Expreffion of his Love and Kindneſs to them; yet
there is fome Bitterneſs in the Evil, though there
be Sweetnefs in the Deliverance: but now, by
Is Grace and Goodneſs, to eſcape before we
are taken, and to be delivered before we fuffer,
is a Mercy we cannot hope for, a Bleffing we
could not expect, and I am fure cannot expreſs.
* Amongst them were my two loving Friends,
Mr. Randolph Price, eldeft Son to Mr. Price of Eſher,
a Gentleman of great Hopes, taken away in the.
Flower of his Youth and Virtue. I gave him the
Holy and bleffed Sacrament before he went to Sea, -
which he received with much Devotion, which no
Doubt was a prefent and heavenly Cordial to him-
felf; fo I mention it as a dwelling and perpetual
Comfort to his fill weeping Friends. Captain Vaug
han, who accompanied me in my first Voyage into
the East Country.
It
A Great Deliverance at SEA.
45
It is like pure Wine without the Allay of Water;
a lively Picture, and true Portraiture of the State
of the Bleffed in Heaven, who poffefs Fulneſs of
Joy without any Mixture of Sorrow, and Life
without the Shadow of Death. I hope I fhall ne-
ver forget this great Mercy; and it is the greater,
becauſe it was bestowed upon one that had no
Title to it, but the free Grace and Goodneſs of
God.
After thefe great and many Dangers at Sea,
and as
many and great Deliverances, I had
thought once to tell you what happened to me on
the Shore.
Plus habet infefta Terra timoris Aqua.
But I will conceal them from my Friends; for in
this fad Age every Man hath Sorrow enough of his
own, and is not at Leifure to confider the fad Con-
dition of another from bemoaning and pitying
himfelf: I will therefore conclude, giving Glory to
God for his many Mercies, and my Thanks to
you for giving me an Opportunity to remember
them.
I hope you will pardon my plain Language; Sor-
row is dull and black, and fad Stories ought not to
be prefented in painted Words, and gaudy Exprefli-
ons of Rhetorick. No Man mourneth in coloured
Taffety. What is wanting in Allegories, you have
in
46
A NARRATIVE of
in Reality Truth needeth no Metaphors. You have
a true Relation of many fad Accidents and Afflic-
tions at Sea, by him who did undergo them, who
is,
SIR,
Your most affectionate
Friend to ferve you,
A
FINI S.
WILL. JOHNSON.
ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
TUEROR
INSULAM AMINAM
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
TUINTIISTRIKTRILIUNEHURS