A58039:97
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.
In the Year 1639. We took Ship at •avesend, in the Mary of London, Mr. ⟨p. 94⟩Boarder Master, bound for the Isle of Providence in the West-Indies, five weeks we lay in the Downs, waiting for a wind, and then we set Sail, and came to an Anchor near the Isle of Wight, but by this time all the Beer in our Ship stunk, and we were forced to throw it overboard, and so take in Vinegar to mix with Water for our Voyage; the next Lords day we set Sail again, and coming between the Island, and the main Land, we stuck fast in the Sands, but the Tide coming in• heaved us off: the sixth day after ou• setting Sail from the Isle of Wight, we discovered three Turks men of War, wh• chased us, and at break of day boarde• and took us; having kept us clo•• Prisoners at Sea, at the end of five or six weeks, they brought us to Algiers, when I was sold for a slave the first Market da• to a Patron, who told me, I must allow him two Dollars a Month, and live ashore where I would, and get it when I could, though I knew not where t• levy the least Mite of it: Wandering u• and down I met with an English-man […] his little Shop, who Traded with T• bacco, and a few other things; I beca•• his Partner with a little Money I h•• reserved, and a small modicum my Patr•• ⟨p. 95⟩had allowed me for my stock; Here I got money and hired a Cellar, where I laid up some other of my Goods; when weary of my slavery, I formed a design for my Liberty, and communicated it to John Anthony Carpenter, William Adams Brick-layer, John Jephs Seaman, John a Carpenter, and two others, men of able Bodies, and useful in the intended project, which was to contrive the Model of a Boat, which being formed in parcels, and afterward put together, might be the means of our escape: They approved the Proposal, and in my Cellar we began our work, we provided first a piece of Timber of twelve foot long to make the Keel, but because it was impossible to convey it of that length out of the City, but it must be seen and suspected; we therefore cut it in two pieces and fitted it for jointing just at the middle, and then we provided Ribs, after which we made the Boat Water-tight, and because boards would require much hammering, and that noise was like to betray us, we bought as much strong Canvas as would cover our Boat twice over upon the Convex of the Carine;