Yet so slow was my recovery of the maine sicknesse and my relapses so frequent, as I was ever and anon, looking out to meet my familiar Companion Death; my Memory and Intellect suffering the same decayes with my body, for I could hardly give an account of ⅔ of the time I was sick; but as my health increast, they return’d. In three months more, I was able to ride down to the Bridge, where finding a ship bound for England, I agreed for my passage and dyet by the way; and (as the manner of all Masters of ships is,) he made me large promises, of plentifull provisions aboard, as Beefe, Porke, Pease, Fish, Oyle, Bisket, Beere, and some Wine; This Ship had bin fifteen months out of England, and had traded at Guinny and Binny for Gold and Elephants teeth, but those commodities taking up but little room, the Captaine made the Barbadoes in his way home, intending to take in his full lading of Sugar, and such other commodities as that Iland afforded; and so being ready to set sayle, my selfe and divers other Gentlemen embarkt, upon the fifthteenth of April 1650, at twelve a clock at night; which time our Master made choyce of, that he might the better passe undescri’d by a well known Pirate, that had for many dayes layne hovering about the Iland, to take any ships that traded for London, by vertue of a Commission as he pretended, from the Marquesse of Ormond. This Pirate was an Irish man, his name Plunquet, a man bold enough: but had the character of being more mercilesse and cruell, then became a valiant man. To confirme the first part of his character; he took a ship in one of the Habours of the Iland, out of which he furnisht himselfe with such things as he wanted, but left the carcase of the vessell, to floate at large. He had there a Frigot of about 500 Tunns, and a small vessell to wayte on her, but the night cover’d us from being discern’d by him, and so we came safely off the Iland. About a fortnight after we had bin at sea, our Master complain’d, that his men had abus’d him, and (for some commodities usefull to themselves) had truckt away the greatest part of his Bisket; So that instead of bread, we were serv’d with the sweepings and dust of the bread roome, which caused a generall complaint of all the passengers but no remedy: our Pease must now supply that want, which with some Physicall perswasion of the Master, that it was as hearty and binding as bread, we rested satisfied, with this Motto, Patience upon force. The next thing wanting, was Fish, an excellent food at Sea; and the want of that troubled us much, yet the same remedy must serve as for the other, Patience. The next thing wanting was Porke; and the last Beere, which put us clean out of all Patience; So that now our staple food of the Ship, was onely Beefe, a few Pease, and for drink water that had bin fifteen months out of England; finding how ill we were accommodated, we desir’d the Master to put in at Fiall, One of the Ilands of Azores, a little to refresh our selves, which Iland was not much out of our way, but the Master loath to be at the charge of re-victualling, and losse of time; refus’d to hearken to us, and being a request much to his disadvantage, slighted us and went on, till he was past recovery of those Ilands, and then a violent storme took us, and in that storme a sad accident, which happened by meanes of a Portugall, who being a Sea-man, and trusted at the Helme, who though he have a compasse before him, yet is mainely guided by the quarter Master that Conns the ship above, upon the quarter deck; whose directions the Portugall mistooke, being not well verst in the English tongue, and so steer’d the Ship, so neer the winde, that she came upon her stayes, which caused such a fluttering of the sayles, against the Masts, (the winde being extreame violent) as they tore all in peeces, Nor was there any other sayles in the ship, all being spent in the long voyage to Guinny; nor any thread in the ship, to mend them, so that now the Master (though too late) began to repent him of not taking our Counsell to goe to Fiall.

But how to redeeme us out of this certaine ruine, neither the Master, nor his Mates could tell; for though the winds blew never so faire, we lay still at Hull; and to make use of the Tide, in the Maine, was altogether vaine and hopelesse. Our victualls too, being at a very low Ebbe, could not last us many dayes. So that all that were in the ship, both Sea-men and Passengers, were gazeing one upon another, what to doe when our small remainder of provision came to an end. But the Sea-men, who were the greater number, resolv’d, the Passengers should be drest and eaten, before any of them should goe to the Pot; And so the next thing to be thought on was, which of the Passengers should dye first, for they were all design’d to be eaten; So they resolved upon the fattest and healthfullest first, as likely to be the best meat, and so the next, and next, as they eate Cherries, the best first. In this Election I thought my selfe secure, for my body being nothing but a bagg-full of Hydroptique humours, they knew not which way to dresse me, but I should dissolve and come to nothing in the Cooking; At last the Cooper took me into his consideration, and said that if they would hearken to him, there might be yet some use made of me; and that was in his opinion the best; that seeing my body was not of a consistence to satisfie their hunger, it might serve to quench their thirst. So I saying a short Prayer against drought and thirst, remain’d in expectation of my doome with the rest; So merry these kinde of men can make themselves, in the midst of dangers, who are so accustomed to them; And certainely those men, whose lives are so frequently exposed to such hazards, do not set that value upon them as others, who live in a quiet security; yet, when they put themselves upon any noble action, they will sell their lives at such a rate, as none shall out-bid them; and the custome of these hazards, makes them more valiant then other men; and those amongst them, that do found their courage upon honest grounds; are certainly valiant in a high perfection.

At last, a little Virgin, who was a passenger in the Ship, stood up upon the quarter deck, like a she-Worthy, and said, that if they would be rul’d by her, she would not only be the contriver, but the acter of our deliverance. At whose speech, we all gave a strict attention, as ready to contribute our help to all she commanded; which was, that the Ship-Carpenter should make her a Distaffe and Spindle, and the Saylers combe out some of the Occome: with which instruments and materialls, she doubted not, but to make such a quantity of thread, as to repair our then uselesse Sailes which accordingly she did, and by her vertue (under God) we held our lives.

Though such an accident as this, and such a deliverance, deserve a gratefull commemoration; yet, this is not all the use we are to make of it, somewhat more may be considered, that may prevent dangers for the future; and that is, the great abuse of Captaines and Masters of Ships, who promise to their Passengers, such plenty of victualls, as may serve them the whole voyage: But, before they be halfe way, either pinch them of a great part, or give them that which is nastie and unwholsome. And therefore I could wish every man, that is to go a long voyage, to carry a reserve of his owne, of such viands, as will last, and to put that up safe; for, if it be not under lock and key, they are never the neer; for, the Saylers will as certainty take it, as you trust it to their honesties; Complaine to the Master, and you finde no remedy. One thing I have observed, let a Sayler steal any part of the Ships provision, he shall be sure to have severe punishment; but, if from a Passenger, though it concern him never so neerly, his remedy is to be laughed at. These enormities are fit to be complained on at the Trinity-house, that some redresse may be had; for, the abuses are grievous.

Out of this danger at Sea, it has pleased the God of all mercy to deliver me, as also from a grievous and tedious sicknesse on land, in a strange Country; For which, may his holy Name be eternally blessed and praised, for ever and ever.

I am now cast in Prison, by the subtle practices of some, whom I have formerly called Friends; But the eternall and mercifull God has been pleased to visit and comfort me, and to raise me up such friends, as have kept me from cold and hunger, whose charities in an Age, where cruelties and tyrannies are exercised in so high a measure, may be accounted a prodigie. But, I doubt not of my release out of this restraint, by the power of him, who is able to do all in all. For, as David said to Saul, that God, who had delivered him out of the paw of the Lion, and out of the paw of the Bear, would deliver him from that uncircumcised Philistine, Goliah of Gath: So may I now say; that God, which has delivered me from a sicknesse to death, on land, and from shipwrack and hazards at Sea, will also deliver me from this uncircumcised Philistine, the Upper Bench, than which, the

burning fire of a Feavour, nor the raging waves of the Sea,
are more formidable: But, we have seen and suffered
greater things. And when the great Leveller of
the world, Death, shall run his progresse, all
Estates will be laid eeven.
Mors Sceptra Ligonibus æquat.

A TABLE,
Of the severall things mentioned in this
HISTORY.

A View of Porto Sancto, Madera’s, and Desertes.pag. 2.
A view of Bonavista, Isle of May and Palma.pag. 3.
Hunting and Hawking at Sea.pag. 4.
Shark and Pilot fish.pag. 5.
Carvil, a fish that sails.pag. 6.
Observations upon the Ship’s way, as also the treachery of Bernardo, a Portugall.pag. 7.
The first sight of the Iland of Saint Jago.pag. 8.
Description of the Bay there, which they call the Pry.pag. 9.
The Padre Vadago’s house and entertainment.pag. 10.
Our landing on the Iland, and what hapned to us there.pag. 13.
There are seven Ilands more, which are neighbours to this.pag. 18.
The first sight of the Barbadoes.pag. 21.
The Iland first discovered by a ship of Sir William Curteen’s.pag. 23.
The Scituation of the Iland.pag. 25.
The extent and length of daies.pag. 26.
Temperature of the aire.pag. 27.
How watered.pag. 28.
Meat and drink for supportation of life.pag. 29.
Bread and drink.pag. 31.
Severall sorts of meat.pag. 33.
The manner of killing a Turtle.pag. 36.
Victualls brought from forraign parts.pag. 37.
A Feast of an inland Plantation.pag. 38.
The like of a Plantation neer the Sea.pag. 39.
Commodities exported and imported.pag. 40.
What materialls grow on the Iland, fit to build with.pag. 41.
The number and nature of the Inhabitants.pag. 43.
A combination among the Servants, to kill their Masters.pag. 45.
Reasons why the Negres can plot no Massacres upon their Masters.pag. 46.
Negres pastime upon Sundaies, and their aptnesse to learne Arts.pag. 48.
The Planters will not allow their Slaves to be Christians.pag. 50.
Observations upon the shapes of the Negres.pag. 51.
A plot of some Negres, to burn the Ingenio, and the plot discovered by some of their own country-men, who were honest and noble.pag. 53.
Observations upon the Indians.pag. 54.
Somwhat of the Planters themselves.pag. 55.
Tame Beasts, which are of great use to the planters, as, Camells, Horses, Bulls, Oxen, Cowes, Assinigoes, Hoggs, Sheep, Goats.pag. 58.
Birds of all sorts.pag. 60.
Animalls and Insects.pag. 61.
Crabs that come and dwell upon the Land.pag. 65.
Severall Trees growing upon the Iland, and first of the poysonous trees and plants.pag. 66.
Severall kinds of Fruit-trees.pag. 69.
Trees of mixt kinds.pag. 72.
Timber trees of severall kinds.pag. 73.
The Palmet Royall described.pag. 75.
Plants that bear fruit.pag. 79.
The Pine described.pag. 82.
Sugar Canes, with the manner of planting, growth, time of ripenesse, with the whole processe of Sugar-making, both Muscavadoes and Whites.pag. 84.
The manner of distilling the skimings of the Coppers, of which we make the strong drink, which the planters call kill-devill.pag. 92.
An estimate of the value of the Sugar made upon this Iland, in twenty months.pag. 95.
The Withs described.pag. 96.
Caves, and the description of their largenesse.pag. 98.
The use of Liam-hounds.ibid.
Aloes growing there.ibid.
The flower of the Moon.pag. 99.
English Herbs and Rootes.ib.
Strength of the Iland by Nature to Sea-ward.pag. 100.
As also within Land.ibid.
How Governed, and how Divided.ibid.
No Mines in this Iland.p. 101.
The Tar River.ib.
The ill contrivance of the Planters houses, as we found them, when first we came there.pag. 102.
Directions for better buildings.p. 103.
A survey of the pleasures and profits, commodities and incommodities, sicknesse and healthfulnesse, of this Iland, ballanced with those of England.p. 104.
The beauties of the Heavens, and how much they transcend those of farther distances from the Line.p. 106.
The voluptuous nor lazy persons are not fit to inhabit on this Iland.pag. 108.
The value of a Plantation Stock’t, of five hundred acres of Land, whereof two hundred for Canes, to be sold for 14000 l.ibid.
How this purchase of 14000 l. by providence and good husbandry, may be made with 3000 l.p. 109.
The yearly revenue of this Plantation, being once set in an orderly course, will amount unto 8866 l.pag. 112.
An Estimate of the expence, that will issue out yearly to keep this Plantation in good order, as you first received it, which we will presuppose to be compleatly furnished with all things.p. 113.
The account ballanced, the yearly Revenue will amount unto 7516 l. 19 s.p. 116.
An Objection answered, how it comes to passe, that Plantations of so great a yearly value, can be purchased with so little mony.p. 116.
Somewhat of the Diseases of the Country, as also of the Physitians.p. 118.
An incomparable medicine for the Stone.ibid.
Plunquet, a great Pirate, took a ship in one of the Bayes.p. 119.
I Embarked, and set sail for England, the fifteenth of Aprill, 1650.ibid.
The abuses of the Captains and Masters of ships, that promise large provision of Victuall and Drink to their passengers; and when they need it most, fail them grossely.ibid.
A storme at Sea, out of which we were delivered (under God) by a little Virgin, being a passenger in the Ship.p. 121.