Every man reflected on this Accident according to his Inclination. Some were of Opinion it was a Contrivance; and it was debated in Council, Whether we should proceed to Portugal, or return to Rochel, or Rochfort;Return to Rochfort. but the latter Resolution prevail’d. The other Ships design’d for the Islands and Canada, parted from us, and held on their Course. We made back for the River of Rochfort, whither the other three Vessels follow’d us, and a Boat was sent in, to acquaint the Intendant with this Accident. The Boat returned some Hours after, towing along a Boltsprit, which was soon set in its Place, and after Monsieur de la Sale had confer’d with the Intendant, he left that Place on the first of Aug. 1684August, 1684.
Cape Finisterre.We sail’d again, steering W. and by S. and on the 8th of the same Month weather’d Cape Finisterre, which is in 43 Degrees of North Latitude, without meeting any Thing remarkable. The 12th, we were in the Latitude of Lisbon, or about 39 Degrees North. The 16th, we were in 36 Degrees, the Latitude of the Streights, and the 20th, discover’d the Island Madera,Madera. which is in 32 Degrees, and where Monsieur de Beaujeu propos’d to Monsieur de la Sale to anchor, and take in Water and some Refreshments.
Difference between the Commanders.Monsieur de la Sale was not of that Mind, on Account that we had been but twenty one Days from France, had sufficient Store of Water, ought to have taken aboard Refreshments enough, and it would be a Loss of eight or ten Days[32] to no Purpose; besides, that our Enterprize requir’d Secrecy, whereas the Spaniards might get some Information, by Means of the People of that Island, which was not agreeable to the King’s Intention.
This Answer was not acceptable to Monsieur de Beaujeu, or the other Officers, nor even to the Ships Crew, who mutter’d at it very much, and it went so far, that a Passenger, call’d Paget, a Hugonet of Rochel, had the Insolence to talk to Monsieur de la Sale in a very passionate and disrespectful Manner, so that he was fain to make his Complaint to Monsieur de Beaujeu, and ask of him, Whether he had given any Incouragement to such a Fellow to talk to him after that Manner. Monsieur Beaujeu made him no Satisfaction. These Misunderstandings, with some others which happen’d before, being no Way advantageous to his Majesty’s Service, laid the Foundation of[33] those tragical Events, which afterwards put an unhappy End to Monsieur de la Sale’s Life and Undertaking, and occasion’d our Ruin.
Flying Fish.However, it was resolv’d not to come to an Anchor at that Island, whereupon Monsieur de Beaujeu said, That since it was so, we should put in no where but at the Island of Santo Domingo. We held on our Course, weather’d the Island of Madera, and began to see those little flying Fishes, which to escape the Dorados, or Gilt-Heads, that pursue them, leap out of the Water, take a little Flight of about a Pistol Shot, and then fall again into the Sea, but very often into Ships, as they are sailing by. That Fish is about as big as a Herring, and very good to eat.
On the 24th, we came into the Trade Wind,Trade Wind. which continually blows from East to West, and is therefore call’d by some Authors Ventus subsolanus, because it follows the Motion of the Sun. The 28th, we were in 27 Degrees 44 Minutes[34] of North Latitude, and in 344 of Longitude. The 30th, we had a Storm, which continu’d violent for two Days, but being right astern of us, we only lost Sight of the Ketch, for want of good Steering, but she join’d us again a few Days after.
The 6th of September,Sept. 1684 we were under the Tropic of Cancer, in 23 Degrees 30 Minutes of North Latitude and 319 of Longitude. There Mons. de la Sale’s Obstructing the Ceremony the Sailors call Ducking,Ducking. gave them Occasion to mutter again, and render’d himself privately odious. So many have given an Account of the Nature of that Folly, that it would be needless to repeat it here; it may suffice to say, that there are three things to authorize it, 1. Custom. 2. The Oath administer’d to those who are duck’d, which is to this Effect, That they will not permit any to pass the Tropics or the Line, without obliging them to the same Ceremony. And 3, which is the most prevailing Argument, the Interest accruing to the Sailors upon that Occasion, by the Refreshments, Liquors or Money given them by the Passengers to be excus’d from that Ceremony.
Monsr. de la Sale, being inform’d that all Things were preparing for that Impertinent Ceremony of Ducking, and that a Tub full of Water was ready on the Deck (the French Duck in a great Cask of Water, the English in the Sea, letting down the Person at the Yard Arm)[35] sent Word, that he would not allow such as were under his Command to be subject to that Folly, which being told to Monsr. de Beaujeu, he forbid putting of it in Execution, to the great Dissatisfaction of the inferior Officers and Sailors, who expected a considerable Sum of Money and Quantity of Refreshments, or Liquors, because there were many Persons to Duck, and all the Blame was laid upon Monsr. de la Sale.
On the 11th of September, we were in the Latitude of the Island of Santa Domingo, or Hispaniola,Hispaniola Island. being 20 Degrees North, and the Longitude of 320 Degrees. We steer’d our Course West, but the Wind flatting, the ensuing Calm quite stopp’d our Way. That same Day Monsr. Dainmaville, the Priest,[36] went aboard the Bark la Belle, to administer the Sacraments to a Gunner, who died a few Days after. Monsr. de la Sale went to see him, and I bore him Company.
The 21st,[37] the Ketch, which we had before lost sight of, join’d us again; and some Complaints being made to Monsr. de la Sale, by several private Persons that were aboard the Flyboat, he order’d me to go thither to accomodate those Differences, which were occasion’d only by some Jealousies among them.