A58039:104
A token for mariners
A token for mariners containing many famous and wonderful instances of God's providence in sea dangers and deliverances, in mercifully preserving the lives of his poor creatures, when, in humane probability, at the point of perishing by shipwreck, famine, or other accidents. much enlarged, with the addition of many new relations, one whereof happening this present year, and never before printed. Mostly attested by the persons themselves. Also The seaman's preacher, being a sermon on the right improvement of such mercies. And prayers for seamen on all occasions.A token for mariners containing many famous and wonderful instances of God's providence in sea dangers and deliverances, in mercifully preserving the lives of his poor creatures, when, in humane probability, at the point of perishing by shipwrack, famine, or other accidents. much enlarg'd, with the addition of many new relations, one whereof happening this present year, and never before printed. Mostly attested by the persons themselves. Also The seaman's preacher, being a sermon on the right improvement of such mercies. And prayers for seamen on all occasions.
London: printed by Hugh Newman, 1698
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
but, as God would have it, just against the House that we had taken for our Habitation, in the Snow, we saw Two Cask, and we went and found them both full of Rye Meal, which was a Joy beyond measure to us in our Extremity; and then we found another Cask with a Kneading-Tub in it: December the First, the Dutch Merchant, and Four more of our hands went out and took a Compass, and Provision with them, upon Discovery, hoping to see some body to speak to, that we might know where we were, but they could find no Inhabitants, the Course they steered was S. E. but when they came to turn back, their Compass unhung, and they not minding it, went up and down a long time, and at length came to the same place where they were when they first turned back; then they looked more earnestly upon their Compass, and ⟨p. 105⟩found it unhung, they hung it, and came the direct way home again; but when they came in sight of a House that was about Two Miles off of our House, the Merchant and one more Travelling better than the other Three, went before, and promised them to make a Fire against they came; but the Weather being so severe, they were not able to come along, but were Starved with the Cold before they could get up to us: So the Lord, of his great Mercy, made Provision for us until the First of March, it being a Sabbath day, and we at our Devotion, one of our Boys being at another Ho•se Boiling of our Victuals, saw some Men upon the Island, he fell down, being much surprised, but soon got up again, and run and told us; upon which we left our Prayers, and run to see what they were; our Merchant could speak the Language, which was the preservation of all our Lives, for otherways they would have Murdered us for breaking down their Houses, and Eating their Provisions that we found upon the Island, for they would not be persuaded but we were Pirates and Robbers, by reason that we were Building of a Small Vessel for our own Security, of carrying us to the ⟨p. 106⟩Main when the Ice broke up; but our Merchant speaking their Language, persuaded them, and promised them to make them Satisfaction for what Damage we had done them; for we broke down Two of their Houses for Firing: So they ••rned us out of our Houses, and took our Meal from us. The Men that came over were in Number 500, Ten Men in a Boat, they came there to kill Seals: They asked us what we had seen?