A token for mariners

26. In June 1668. the Peach-tree of London, a small Vessel of the Burden of about sixty Tuns, Edward Dixon Master, came into the Downs, bound for Guinea, intending there to take in Negroes, and to transport them to the Barbados, and from thence to come for London, where John Watts, the Son of John Watts, of Eltham, in the Country of Kent, Chirurgeon, shipped himself with the consent of Richard Watts, public Notary of Deal; little dreading that his Nephew, being not above eighteen years old, should meet with such a calamitous Accident. The ship had not been long in the Downs, but a fair gale presenting, they suddenly hoisted Sail, God's Providence seeming to fill their Sails with prosperous success; the first place they touched at, was the Gold Coast, where they staid not long, but sailed to old Calabar, in the Bight of Guinea. They entered a River, called the Cross River into Pirates Island. After they had taken in their Negroes, and ready to sail, […] Anchor being a peek, the Master […] up the Boatswain and three men more, whereof the relater was one, and ⟨p. 74⟩commands them to look out the Copper Bars that were left, and carry them on shore to try if they could sell them: the Boatswain, with his small Company desired that they might have Arms with them, not believing the report of some that informed them they were a harmless, and innocent people: they took with them three Muskets and a Pistol, and so rowed towards the shore, but not far from it, unhappily our Match fell into the water, and the ship being fallen down from that narrow part of the River, nearer the Sea, quite out of our sight, we were consulting what should be safest for us to do▪ we were not willing to precipitate our own Ruin, and were also ashamed to return to our ship before we had dispatched what we were commanded to: at length the Boatswain commanded the Relator John Watts on shore, to the first house to light our Match, which we recovered out of the water, after it was extinct, which he readily obeyed: but before he was twenty Rods from the water-side, he was seized on by two blacks (or rather Tawny moors) and by them haled above half […] mile up into the Country, and throw• with great violence upon his belly, and so compelled to lye till they stripped him;

26. In June 1668. the Peach-tree of London, a small Vessel of the Burthen of about sixty Tuns, Edward Dixon Master, came into the Downs, bound for Guinny, intending there to take in Negroes, and to transport them to the Barbadoes, and from thence to come for London, where John Watts, the Son of John Watts, of Eltham, in the Country of Kent, Chyrurgion, shipt himself with the consent of Richard Watts, publick Notary of Deal; little dreading that his Nephew, being not above eighteen years old, should meet with such a calamitous Accident. The ship had not been long in the Downs, but a fair gale presenting, they suddenly hoisted Sail, God's Providence seeming to fill their Sails with prosperous success; the first place they touched at, was the Gold Coast, where they staid not long, but sailed to old Calabar, in the Bith of Guinny. They entered a River, called the Cross River into Piratts Island. After they had taken in their Negroes, and ready to sail, Anchor being a peek, the Master up the Boatswain and three men more, whereof the relater was one, and