A58039:85
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.
This was no small cause of sorrow to the Relator; the thoughts of their Inhumane and Barbarous actions sometimes surrounded him with fears and sorrows, hourly expecting to taste of the said Cruelty. Death did not seem so terrible to him, as the violent manner of it; being ⟨p. 77⟩left now alone, in a strange Country, destitute of friends or acquaintance, or any thing that might keep up his Spirits: dye he would fain, but not by the hands of Infidels and barbarous Monsters. But the great God that is most compassionate in the greatest extremities had pity on him, and notwithstanding the alteration of the Climate, and the want of Clothes, and the strangeness of his food, which was only herbs, he continued in good health, and had time enough to lament this direful providence. The Natives who were daily expecting another banquet, met with a disappointment: either their customs, or the over-ruling power of God, would not suffer them to destroy him, he continuing still in health. Therefore they resolve to sell him: his Arannia, or Master, was pretty free to discourse him, which the Relater was capable of, being about three years before in the West-Indies, where he had learned the Tata language, which is easily attained, being comprehended in a very few words, and all the Negroes •peak it. He began to discourse his Master, to know the reason of their Cruelty, who told him that he should rest himself contented, who if he were not sick, should not have ⟨p. 78⟩his head cut off. In the Boat, which in the beginning they took with them, was a Musket saved of the three which was not discharged; which his Master, some time after he had been with him, brought to him to know the use of it: he endeavoured as much as he could to make him apprehend the use of it, but still they profest their ignorance: but they commanded and threatened him to show the use of it. The fear of his masters displeasure and their inhumanity, caused him to shoot it off; but the Negroes, which expected some delightful thing, were frustrated, and at the sudden noise and flash of fire (which they very much dread) ran from him, and were greatly affrighted; but quickly after, hearing no more of that noise, they came up to him again, and commanded him to do the like: he told them he had not powder, which was the cause of the noise; but this would not satisfy these Barbarians.