A Book of Voyages

  The weather now growing fair, and the water smooth, a black we had aboard, and I, were let down in ropes out at our great cabbin ports, with each a pocket full of spikes and a hammer, to try if we could stop the leaks made by the tearing of the rudder bands; which with great trouble we perform’d, driving in two and thirty spikes between us, about a foot and a half under water: which made our hull so tight in the run, that she made not a drop of water there all the voyage after; so that we had no more trouble of the pump. The same black that afternoon going up on the poop, happen’d to drop the piece of our ensign-staff over-board, and knowing we should be at a mighty loss for want of it, he boldly leap’d into the sea, and brought it to us again, which after serv’d us for a mizen-mast. Being now somewhat favour’d by the weather, as hath been said, we began to consult how to get new masts and yards. In order to it, with the help of our former shores, viz, the piece cross-jack yard, and the piece of our ensign-staff, we got up the stump of our mizen-mast, which was about seven foot long serviceable, and no more. Our carpenter proving a meer bungler, and unfit to do any thing, the captain himself made a pair of cross-trees on one end of the aforesaid stump; then I saw’d away all the splinter’d part of our main-mast down to the sound wood, and about two foot and a half lower down I saw’d the remaining stump one third part through, and with a coopers-ads I hollow’d a place in the said stump of the main-mast, large enough to contain the stump of the mizen-mast when plac’d in it. These two stumps we spik’d and woulded together, and, with wedges drove within the woulding with a maul, secur’d them. Then taking out the stump of the boltsprit, whose serviceable timber was not above three foot and a half, we fix’d that to the lower part of our main-mast in the well, which, with the help of another man, I plac’d in the step, and spik’d them together, then woulded and wedg’d them securely. So that when we had done, our main-mast was about seventeen foot high above our upper-deck. The piece of boltsprit was lower’d down to me through the hole of the pump into the well. Whilst I was in the well, I knock’d down two boards at the bottom of it to get at the ground tire of sugar, and beating in the head of a hogshead, found all the said ground tire was quite out, and pumpt over-board. The piece of our cross-jack yard made us a main-topmast. A main-yard we made with a spare tiller we had in the ship, and the tiller that broke in the rudder head. The top-sail yard was a main-top gallant yard that lay between decks. Our mizen-shrouds made us main-shrouds, and for the top-mast we made shrouds of two inch rope. Our main-top gallant sail was a main-top-sail, and we made a main-sail out of an old fore-sail. Thus the main-masts, yards and sails were fix’d.

  What to do for a fore-mast we knew not, but being one day in the gun-room, I perceiv’d a beam under the great cabbin, which was loose upon the ceiling, not bolted nor kneed. Having acquainted the captain with it, he view’d it and had it cut down at both ends, and carrying it on the deck, he himself lin’d it all round with three-inch plank, after which we clapt eleven wouldings on it, and having fix’d on a cap and cross-trees, we stept it in the stump of our fore-mast, and made shrouds of two inch and a half rope; so was our fore-mast fix’d. For a top-mast to it, we took our whip-staff, and to strengthen it with a small gouge, on that side we design’d to stand aft, we goug’d a score, into which we put a long piece of a spare iron-bolt of about two inches and a half in size, and having woulded it securely with seven yarn sidnet, we got it over head, and it prov’d serviceable all the voyage. Our boltsprit was the long-boat’s davit, lash’d to the stump of the cut-water, and spik’d. It was lash’d with our two main-top gallant clunings, and our fore-stay, being a two inch and a half rope, came over the roule, and then reev’d upwards through the hole, where the lanier of the davit was wont to be reev’d, so with three or four round turns about the davit, we hitch’d the end on the standing part, and belay’d it. Our fore-top sail was the fore-top gallant sail, and the yard belonging to the same for a fore-top sail yard, which went as a down-hall top-sail. Our fore-yard was made of pieces of three-inch plank nail’d together, and then woulded. We made a sail to it of our sprit-sail top-sail, adding two cloths to it in the middle of the sail. The mizen-mast was made of the piece of our ensign-staff, on which we carry’d our long-boat’s main-sail with a reef in it. We also made a stay-sail, which was hoisted up to the head of our main-mast, and belaying the tack forward, we hawl’d aft the sheet.

  This was the best shift we could make, and had then about 260 leagues to the lands-end of England. It pleas’d God the wind from this time always continu’d westerly, and yet the greatest of our run with all our sails drawing, was scarce a knot and a half, that is a mile and a half an hour, so that we could scarce perceive the ship’s motion through the water. Our lame side we had made up by clenching a piece of our main-sheet we had sav’d about a timber on the quarter deck, which with a small gun-tackle we brought taught forwards upon the fore-castle, and belay’d the fall. Then we sew’d the wet hides round this rope with some marline and a boltrope needle, and then nail’d them without board with small battens to the side, which serv’d to keep off the spray of the sea. We endeavour’d to steer with our head sails, but they not being enough to command her, it was an unspeakable trouble; for when our course was to be north-east, she would take a fling and look south-west. Then the way to pull her about was thus: we had lash’d two of our burton clocks forward, one at each cat-head to a timber of the gunnel, and having aboard two small warps of about 120, or 130 fathom long each, one of these warps being reev’d in a block to the uttermost end of it, we did bend a grapnel, which had a cross made of three-inch plank slipt over the ring down the shank, and a coil of old rope coil’d round the said cross, which was of two pieces, each five foot and a half long; this rope was seiz’d securely fast to make it hold water taught, and on the fluke of the iron grapnel was a nun-buoy made fast, to keep it from sinking. Then veering this out to the better end of our warp, all our people, being 31, would turn violently to, and by meer strength pull her about the right way again. It would sometimes take up two or three hours to get her about, and in five or six minutes she would look again as she did before. Thus were we continually plagu’d till our commander found out another way to steer, which was very ingenious; but it somewhat hindred the ship’s way.

  The thing was this; we took the end of our stream cable, about five inches and a half in size, and veer’d out at the larboard stern port in the great cabbin about five or six fathom, and bringing the end upon our poop or quarter-deck, there we had a cross made of three-inch and half elm plank, about five foot and a half in length, bolted in the center with a short pump bolt, and having a small ring over the small end of it, we forelock’d it, and then drove two spikes in each quarter; then clench’d them securely; and in each end of the cross we bor’d with a large auger two holes, into which we drove two trennels; then we coil’d an old rope about the cross, and between the two trennels, and bor’d other small holes in each end of the cross, and through them seiz’d this rope very fast, and on one end of the cross we bor’d a hole, and there splic’d in a wooden buoy, to keep the cross from sinking. Then we took a round turn about the cross with the end of the stream cable, and clench’d it round the standing part of it; which done, we hove the cross, thus fix’d to the cable, over-board, and veer’d it astern about twelve fathom; next we took one of our small warps, and reev’d one end of it through the block at our cat-head on the starboard, and the other on the larboard side, and passing the ends of the hauser or warp round our quarters, we brought them into our great cabbin stern-port, and clapping both ends on the stream-cable with rowling hitches, and seizing them fast, veer’d the cross in all about sixteen fathom astern. Then we belay’d the cable to our main-mast, and with good caskets seiz’d it securely to the rings of our ports, along the larboard side within board, in the great cabbin and steerage, and with a piece of two inch and a half rope, we made two small sarvices splicing in each an iron thimble. These sarvices we clapt upon each part of the warp within board, abaft the windlass on d
eck, and hook’d therein two small tackles. They being hook’d in the eye-bolt, where our top tackle was wont to be hook’d at the bulk-head of our steerage, and a man standing on the main-hatches with a tackle-fall in each hand, when he saw the ship fall off, he slack’d the lee-tackle, and hawl’d lightly the weather-tackle, and the ship answer’d immediately. And if the ship came too near the wind, he slack’d the weather-tackle, and gently hawl’d the lee-tackle, and so she fell off without any trouble. So that in short one man could steer the ship, and she answer’d as well as she would before the rudder. All the harm was, that the draught of water of the cross, did hinder our way.

  By these contrivances we were fitted for sailing, and had a little ease from labour; but our fare was still very hard. And therefore for fear we should be drove to greater distress, we made tryal of eating hides, both by boiling and broiling, but still found them not eatable, for the first way they were but meer thong, and the latter no better than a burnt sole of a shoe. Some days after we had fix’d our new rudder, we met with another storm, which lasted a few days, and one night we shipt a sea, which falling upon the bunt of our main-sail, tore it to rags, and carry’d our main-top mast by the board. The mast we soon got up again, tho’ about two foot shorter than before. We cut up an old top-sail to make a main-sail, and for want of twine to fix it, we cut a piece of a white steering hauser, which we open’d and made hemp, and holding one end in our teeth, with our hands made small threads, and the captain and boatswain sewed them up. Thus we made the sail, and quilted it all over, and it prov’d serviceable. When it blew so hard, that we were fain to lie try, we would bowse our stream-cable up to the cat-head, with that part of the hauser or warp that lay to windward, by which means, and the help of our main-sail, she always tended the sea well. A great dog we had, who before was as fat as bacon, was now grown as lean as a rake, and so ravenous, that he was ready to seize upon the men; him we now threw over-board. We had contriv’d to make a box to our only compass left us, which the captain had one day upon deck, and coming down, left it wrapt up in his watch-gown. Our black going up, put the gown about his shoulders; but being still very cold, left it again carelessly with the compass upon deck; and soon after he was gone, we heard a rumbling above, a man ran up, and found the dish of the compass standing fast on the top of our lee gunnel, but the box it hung in before was fallen over-board. This was the stranger, because our ship being but 130 ton burthen, the gunnel was very low on the quarter-deck; and had this compass been lost, we had been in a miserable condition, being still many leagues from land. The storm continu’d about 48 hours; and tho’ the wind was fair, we could carry no sail to it, which made us lie a-try.

  When the weather broke up, we out with all the sail we could make, and crouded on to the eastward, with the wind sometimes upon our quarter, a brisk gale, yet she seldom ran above a knot and half, or six miles in four hours; but if ever she happen’d to run two knots, or eight miles in four hours, we were all over-joy’d, and presently began to reckon how long we should be getting into the soundings. At length, when by our reckoning we judg’d we could strike ground, our deepsea lead and line were brought out, and having hove it over-board, we struck ground the first cast at 100 fathom water. But when I drew up the lead, I perceiv’d two of the strands of the deep-sea line quite broke asunder just above the eye of the line, so that only one strand brought up the weight. Then going to hang it on a cleat at the main-mast, the strap was so rotten, that it broke from the lead, so that it had a double escape in the sea, being so near failing in two places; and if that had been lost, we had none left aboard. For joy of striking ground and preserving our lead, the captain made a half powder barrel of punch, and gave every man a large cocoa-nut shell full, which was about a pint. By our soundings we guess’d our selves to be upon one of the outward banks coming into the channel from the westward, so we held on our course with very brisk westerly winds, and a day’s good observation, often heaving our lead.

  At length, by our account, observations, and soundings, we judg’d our selves very near the channel, and expected by the next day at noon, to fall in about six leagues to the southward of Scilly. That night I was upon deck from twelve till four in the morning, and, according to my commander’s order, carefully steer’d E.N.E. it being a clear moonlight night. This was the 11th day of April, 1689. and at 4 in the morning I went off, leaving the boatswain upon deck, and my orders. When day appear’d, one of our passengers coming upon the deck, and looking forward over our larboard bow, the weather being foggy, he thought he discover’d a parcel of rocks; and acquainting the captain with it, he was of the same opinion, and took them to be the rocks by Scilly, call’d the bishop and his clerks. Hereupon he calls for me up, and asking what course I had steer’d, all I could say did not perswade him that I had steer’d E.N.E. according to his orders, but was positive I had fallen asleep, and not minded which way we were, concluding we were lost, as not able to avoid being upon the island of Scilly: however, he order’d in a hurry, the ship to be brought to, with our larboard tack aboard, to stand for Milford haven. I us’d all possible means to convince the captain, that I had punctually fulfill’d his orders, yet we could not guess what those we took for rocks should be. We held our course for Milford haven; but the fog clearing up in half an hour, we discover’d those we had taken for rocks, to be sixteen men of war, with some yachts, and other tenders in their company, which proved to be admiral Herbert, or lord Torrington, bound for Bantry bay, where, on the first day of May, he engag’d the French fleet.

  The fleet discovering us, and judging we were in distress, the Ruby man of war stood with us; and being come alongside of us, hois’d out her boat and came aboard. They told us, King James had left the kingdom, that the prince of Orange was proclaim’d king, and war declar’d against France, which was all news to us. They took a particular account of all our damages, and then return’d to their ship, and made sail to the fleet, our commander having desir’d them to acquaint the admiral with our condition, and beg the assistance of some ship to tow us into any harbour of England, for fear the wind should come about easterly, and drive us out to sea again, where we must all perish. The commander of the Ruby went and acquainted the admiral with our distress; and captain Greenville, commander of the Advice, and youngest son to the earl of Bath, whom the voyage before we had carry’d from Smyrna to Constantinople, being there present, and hearing the ship’s and commander’s name, acquainted the admiral with it, and had orders to sail after us, and tow us into Plymouth. We were now in despair of any help, the fleet being almost sail’d out of sight, when at last we discover’d a great ship making all the sail she could after us. She came up with us, and prov’d to be the Advice aforesaid. The lieutenant came aboard, and acquainted us his captain had orders to tow us into Plymouth: then our commander order’d the tarpaulins to be taken off our hatches, and the hatches unlaid. By the by I must observe, that these tarpaulins were no other but some of the duke of Albemarle’s rich hangings curiously painted in oyl colours, which had lain there ever since our misfortune, and kept out the wet to admiration. When our hatches were open, we rous’d up the end of our best bower-cable, and brought it to the windlass; and then passing the end of it out at the hawse, we bent it to a warp we had on board from the man of war; then we veer’d the cable out, and their men rouz’d the end of it on board their ship, where making it fast on one quarter with a spring from the other quarter, they tow’d us after the rate of eight knots a glass, that is, eight miles an hour, or, ten leagues and two miles a watch, which is four hours.

  When we were fast to the man of war, our commander gave up the keys of the bread-room and lazaretto, and order’d we should all have what bread, meat, and drink we would, which we were very greedy of; and yet when it was dress’d, we had very little stomach to it. The Advice tow’d us in as far as the buoy in Plymouth sound, where she cast us off; then we rouz’d in our cable, and by the help of their pinnace and our sails, we ran our ship fast a-ground at low-water mark, und
er the Lammey, and against the Barbican at Plymouth; then running our stream-anchor and cable out to windward upon the flood, we veer’d her into the harbour between the old causey and the Barbican, and warp’d her up to Smart’s key, thousands of people flocking on shore to see us. This was on the 11th of April, 1689. Abundance of people came from all parts of the country to see the wreck ship, by which name she is call’d at Plymouth to this day. Here we entred a solemn protestation against the sea, drawn by Mr. Samuel Eastlick, notary-publick of that town, and sign’d by our commander, the boatswain, and myself; but nevertheless the Cambridge man of war press’d eight of our men the next day; and had I not by chance made my escape down thro’ the hole of our pump, into the well, they had carry’d me away too. The next morning their press-gang came to beset me before day, but I kept close in my hole till they were gone; then I made my escape in a small boat to one Madam Spark’s at the Friery, where I was known, and the lady kept me above a week in her house, till having an opportunity to ride out as far as a place call’d St. Austin, where my parents dwelt, I had the satisfaction of seeing them again, and they new rigg’d me. When my commander sent me word that the press ship was gone, I return’d to Plymouth, and by that time he had got our boatswain clear. Here we new rigg’d, got new masts and yards, boltsprit, sails, and rudder, but did not repair our sides or bulk-heads till she came to London, where, I suppose, our masts may now be seen lying at our captain’s house near Rotherhith church. From Plymouth we went in company with the fleet that came from Bantry engagement, to Spithead, where I and all the ship’s crew, except the commander, his servant, and the black, were press’d to sail in his majesty’s ship the Old Lion, Capt. Charles Skelton commander; from aboard whom I was one of the io6 men put ashore sick at Godsport, upon the king’s account. Our ship went away to Chatham, and I left my chest with our old boatswain, who being careless, consum’d and lost all my books, instruments, and cloaths, and among the rest, the journal I kept of this voyage.