A Token for Mariners, Frontispiece – To the reader
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 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, and Sold at his Shop at the Graſhopper in the Poultry. 1698.
THE Preface to the Reader. And Particularly to Mariners, and other Seafaring-Men.
THough God's Wonders are every where viſible, and his Mercies no where hid from the Eyes of Men; yet more particularly are they Evident to Sea-faring Men, whoſe Buſineſs is in the Great Waters, and their Lives Expoſed more than others to Iunumerable hazards and dangers, of Contending Winds and Seas, Rocks, Quickſands, and Inhoſpitable Shoaers: Theſe, as it were, carry their Lives in their hands, and their beſt Security is Wholly to Rely on the Providence and Protection of him whoſe Power the Winds and Waves obey: Seeing there is ſo ſmall a partition between them and Eternity, the Striking on a Treacherous Rock, over which, many times, the Flattering Water ſmoothly glides, gives them their Winding-ſheet in a Rumpled Wave. Nor is this all their danger, the Springing of a Plank, a Leak not to be found, nor ſuddenly ſtopped, Running on a Shoal, or the Falling of a Water-ſpout, frequently carry with them the ſame Inevitable Fate, and often makes them at their Wits Ends before they end their Lives; for, a certain Proſpect of Ʋnavoidable Death muſt needs be Terrible to Fleſh and Blood, and, in a great meaſure, remove that Conſtant Preſence of Mind that ſhould ſupport their Spirits amidſt all Dangers: From this there is no way to ſecure themſelves, but by laying hold on him that is Mighty, and able to ſave to the utmoſt, on God, who is a preſent help at need, whoſe eyes are in all places, in Heaven and Earth, and in the Great Deep; and thoſe that Cry to him in their Diſtreſs, he will ſurely hear them and Deliver them out of all their Troubles, if they are ſincere in heart, and walk uprightly with him. For a Praying-Paul's ſake, we find, though the Ship was broken, and periſhed on a Rock on the Coaſt of the Iſland, antiently Melita, now called Malta, all that were in it were ſaved, when they expected nothing leſs than to be ſwallowed up in that dangerous Ocean, as we find it in the Acts, Chap. 27. Therefore the beſt thing I can Recommend to Mariners, and others that Navigate the Deep, is to have a ſtedfaſt Relyance on God in all their Dangers, nay, at all times, for that is the beſt and ſureſt Anchor-hold and Security that can be had recourſe to, and therefore I have furniſhed this Book with many Wonderful and Remarkable Sea-Deliverances, to ſhow them that their hopes are not in vain; for, the Wonders he has already wrought, he will doubtleſs continue to all that fear and put their Truſt in him.
This Collection is taken moſtly from the Mouths of thoſe who have experienc'd God's Mercy this way, and whoſe Dangers have been as great as any could be on this ſide the Grave; yet God, in his Mercy, delivered them out of all. The reſt are taken from ſuch Reverend Authors, that their Credit and Integrity is Indiſputable, being purpoſely Written to raiſe the Minds of Men to Contemplate and Adore the Love and Goodneſs of the All-wiſe Creator of the Ʋniverſe, and may indifferently ſerve to this end as well at Land as Sea, though chiefly intended for Sea-faring Men, to put them in Mind, when they Read it, of their Danger, and what they may expect in their Danger, from the Death they apprehend in it, if they apply their hearts to true Wiſdom. When all help or hopes fail, or ſeem to be at a loſs, then fix your hearts and eyes ſtedfaſtly on him who is able to do all things, and to whom nothing is impoſſible; on him, in whoſe hands is all the Breath of Life, who can ſtop the ſhafts of Death in their winged motion, check the Bellowing Thunder in the Midd-Volley, and turn the Raging of the Winds to a ſudden Calm.
But not to be Tedious in a Preface; I recommend this to you, as a ſuitable Companion in your Voyages or Travels, nay in your houſes, or at all times, that you may know theſe things are the Lord's doing, tho they are Marvellous in our eyes. And ſo Conclude, ſubſcribing my ſelf,
Chriſtian Reader, Your Friend and Servant, J. J.
REMARKABLE SEA Deliverances.
ONe Major Gibbons, a man well known in new England, a Gentleman of good education, good parts, and of good Converſation, (as the Author hath been credibly informed by them that knew him) was bound upon a voyage to Sea, himſelf being Supra Cargo with ſuch commoditys as thoſe parts of America doth afford, after going out from Boſton ſeveral days, by hard weather, and contrary winds, the Ships company were much diſtreſſed, and through the Continuance of the contrary winds Proviſions now begin to faile them; and O how feeble doth Spirit grow, when Bread, the Staffe of life faileth! now Hunger becomes more dreadfull to them, then the every moment threatning Billows of the devouring Ocean; and they that one while feared drowning, now fears Starving; they are brought to the laſt meal in the Barrel, and the laſt oyl in the Cruſe, and ſay as ſhe did We will Eat this little that is left, and dye: and now when they thought they had eaten the laſt, what conflicts muſt they needs have within themſelves? who knew not where to have another morſel to fortify the tyred and ſpent Spirits with the conſtant toyl, and hard labour: how they look one upon another, as men already under a Sentence of death; and by one anothers looks, Strike terror to one anothers Hearts; They look on every ſide, Pſal. 142. 4, 5. (as David ſays) I looked on my right hand, but there was no man that would know me; Refuge failed me; or periſhed from me. They look downward, and ſee nothing but the Belly of deſtruction opening for them; they look upward, the onelyonly, and laſt refuge, and remedy, in this deplorable eſtate was, out of the depths, they cry'd to the Lord,
But though they look out of the Ship, as Noah did out of his Ark, upon the waters and ſend forth the Dove of Prayer, that winged Meſſenger, to Heaven, yet ſhe brings no Olive branch, no Anſwer; the waters aſſwage not, the winds calm not, they are like the Prophets Servant, when he bid him 1 Kings 18. 43. go up now; and look to-wards the Sea, and he went up and looked and ſaid, there is nothing; and this ſtrikes them into dolefull and diſmall Lamentations; out of which Lamentations, at laſt Springs up a tragical and ſorrowfull Motion. The Motion is, that which the Marriners, in Jonahs Veſſel, put in execution, Come let us caſt Lots, &c. only with this difference, they caſt Lots to find out the dilinquent; and theſe, which of them ſhould dye firſt, to be a Sacrifice for ravenous Hunger to feed upon: Concluding, as he in that caſe, John. 11. 50. It is expedient for us that one man ſhould dye for the People, and that the whole Ships Company periſh not. Life being ſweet, Skin for Skin, and all a man hath will he give for his life, they at laſt bring it, through many a ſad debate, to a reſult, they caſt the Lott, the diſpoſing of which is of the Lord; one of the Company is arreſted by the Lott; here is the Condemned Priſoner: O but where is the Executioner to be found to act his office upon a poor Innocent? is it not death to them now, to think who ſhall act this bloody part in the Tragedy? But before they fall upon their involuntary Execution, Major Gibbons calls them to Prayer, conſidering, that in the Mount, the Lord is often ſeen, and that many times our extremity proves Gods opportunity; he alſo askes the poor man if he was willing to dye; but O what a hard Queſtion is that to Anſwer! He replys, if it might preſerve the reſt of the lives, he could be the more willing; to which he hath this Anſwer: All events are in the hands of God, we muſt not diſpute them, to Prayer they go: and, O ſure theſe Prayers muſt melt hearts of Adamant! and Behold, while they are at it, God ſends a viſible commentary upon that Scripture: Eſay 58. 9. Then ſhalt thou call, and the Lord ſhall Anſwer; thou ſhalt Cry, and he ſhall ſay here I am: For while they were calling, God was Anſwering; there leaps a mighty Fiſh into the Boat; and as it is ſaid of the Whale: that ſwallowed up Jonah, God prepared a Fiſh, for the Lord here prepared, or provided a Fiſh, that a poor creature might not be ſwallowed up: but O what joy was here at ſuch a token for good! not only it at preſent releiving and refreſhing their huuger, which no Queſton made them quick Cooks; but when they looked upon the Finger of God in it, ſending it as an anſwer to prayer, they conclude it an happy Omen of their deliverance, and a pledg of approaching mercy: but alas, it is not long before their hearts grow faint again, their Countenances pale, their Spirits ſink now as low as they were lifted up high; and now the poor Sea-men are like their Ship, one while mounted up in the hopes to Heaven, and another while they are ſunk down again in deſpair as low as hell; they know not now of another cake, another Morſell, they are reduced to their former exigency, which brings them to a reſolve to ſteer in this ſtrait their old courſe; to Lotts they go again the Second time, only they have ſuch an honour for the Providence of God, they will not put him into condemnation, that God hath acquited; the Lott now falls upon another perſon, and O now they receive the old trouble, and inteſtine Combats, how they ſhall find in their Hearts, to puniſh one, that never had offended any of them; and while one thinks of it, ſayes he, Alas poor man, what hath he done to deſerve this ſentence? another crys, Will not this blood cleave to my Conſcience another day? though I went to this expedition a Preſt Souldier? another ſays, for his part he ſees no way but death, therefore he cannot take away life, when he ſees not any life can be preſerved by it: but they are called again to look upward, before they put the Knife to the Throat of this Sacrifice, and they remember the laſt encouragement to put life into the almoſt dead-mens Prayers; they pray now with a pledge in their hands, and are ready to tell God, the laſt time he gave them a Pawn, an Earneſt; and O it is not vain to ſeek the Lord! for lo…, while they are ſeeking to him, he is ſending to them; as the Prayers flye to Heaven, Mercy is diſpatched upon the wing from Heaven.
O turn aſide, and ſee this great ſight, while they are praying. Behold a ſecond Anſwer from above; A great Bird lights and fixes her ſelf upon the Maſt, which one in the Company eſpies, and up he goes and there ſhe ſtands until he took her with his hand by the wing, & brought her down to the Company; and O what life from the dead is this to them a ſecond time! Sure they will hearken to the voyce of the ſecond Sign, if not to the voyce of the firſt; and now that which they hoped by the firſt Providence (viz) that it was a fore-runner of the compleat deliverance; Now they are by this ſecond confirmed in the Faith, and now they begin to think (as I can eaſily imagin) if God will ſave them out of this diſtreſs, O what manner of perſons they will become! what manner of lives they will live! what Sacrifices of Thankſgiving will they offer up to God! but while they are thus thinking they have no viſible hopes, but that it muſt be a third Miracle that brings them out of this their miſerable condition; they have the ſame diſappointments upon them ſtill, only now they divert their Hunger all they can, by telling of, and remembring the Loaves, (as I may ſay) their experiences in this extremity of theirs, and comforting themſelves, that if they come to a third ſtrait, it would (they hoped) be an outlet from their preſent miſery and calamity: They are reduced the third time to the former courſe and ſtrait, to caſt Lotts; and when they were to go to the heart-aking work, to put him to death, upon whom the Lott fell, they go to their Old Friend, in a day of Adverſity, (to God) by hearty and humble Prayer; And O now they do, as the Prophets man at the Sea-ſide, look again and again, but alas Maſter they cry, there is nothing. Prayer is done, concluded, nothing appears; O but as the Prophets Man looked ſeaven times, ſo ſays this good man Major Gibbons, look again, as Jonah, I will look again towards his Holy Temple (ſays he to one of the Company) Go up to the top, and ſee what you can eſpy; and at laſt he makes a Sayl, (viz.) eſpys a Ship; this puts new life into all their ſpirits; they bear up with the Veſſel, they Man their Boat, they deſire, in the manner of periſhing humble Suppliants, to Board them, which they are Admitted; the Veſſel proves a French Veſſel, yea, a French Pyrate; Major Gibbons Petitions him for a little Bread to ſuſtain their lives, who had been ſeveral days wiſhing for death, but could not find it in their Extremity; and take the Ship and Cargo. So ſweet is life, that all that a man hath will he give for his life; and now behold, God draws forth to theſe Poor Periſhing men his beſt Wine to the laſt, nay, turns the Water of Affliction into the Wine of Conſolation. The Commander of the Veſſel knows the Major, and replys readily and chearfully, Major Gibbons, not one hair of your head ſhall periſh, nor any of your Ships Company, if it lye in my power either to ſupply you, or preſerve you. O the Wiſdom of God that hath ways we know not of, to Relieve in the greateſt ſtraits, and cauſe himſelf to be ſeen in the Mount. The Commander of this French Pyrat was one that ſome years before, Major Gibbons had ſhown ſignal Kindneſs to, when his life was in danger at Boſton in New England. Thus the Lord appeared a God, hearing Prayers in Extremitys, which appearances are not to be forgotten in ſucceeding Generations. O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his wonderful works to the Children of men.
Secondly. About the year 1636. there ariſing a ſtorm and tempeſt of troubles in the Church of Scotland, five Miniſters, eminent for Piety, Learning, and their Honourable ſucceſs in the Miniſtry, were ſo hard born under by a prevailing Party impoſing upon their Conſciences, that they were forced to Embarque themſelves for America; three of their names were Mr. Levinſton, Mr. Mackleland; and Mr. Blaire, with two more whom my Author could not call to mind.
Theſe good men Say…d half the Channel over, about 500. Leagues, where they met with great diſtreſs of weather, which broke off the Rudder of their Ship, and occaſioned a deſperate leak to ſpring in her, which expoſed them to eminent danger; but they in this diſtreſs endeavour to hang on their Rudder again, but often were they fruſtrated in their attempt, to a total deſpair of effecting it. They alſo laboured with the like unſucceſsfulneſs to find out and ſtop the leak; this poor Ships Crew had laboured alſo by pumping, to keep the Ship above water, until all their few hands were feeble, and all their hearts faint; ſo that as ſo many diſpairing perſons of life, they ceaſe all endeavours, and yield themſelves to death, expecting every moment to be Entombed in the belly of the devouring deeps; during the time of this their great diſtreſs, the Miniſters kept on their courſe, as at other times of Worſhip, (viz) the reading of a Chapter in courſe, and taking obſervations from it, with Prayers and Preaching, which they did by turns; at the criſis of this deplorable caſe, it fell to be the Lott of Mr. Mackleland to perform this Exerciſe, a man Auſteer in his life, reſerved in his ſpeech, and of great Piety, who was often obſerved to let fall many remarkable Prophetical Expreſſions of future events; the Chapter that at that time came to be read in courſe by him, was the 3… of Exodus, which he had read all along (until he came to the 12th. verſe.) where he made a full ſtop; the verſes run thus.
And Moſes beſought the Lord his God, and ſaid, Lord, why doth thy Wrath wax hot againſt thy people, which thou haſt brought out of the Land of Egypt with great Power, and a mighty hand? Wherefore ſhould the Egyptians ſay, for miſchief did he bring them out to ſlay them in the Mountains, and to conſume them from the face of the Earth? Turn from thy ſevere Wrath, and repent of this Evil againſt thy People,—upon the reading of theſe verſes over again he declared to them, the Caſe which Moſes was here interceeding for, compared with his Expoſtulation in the 12 verſe, did parallel their caſe, and conſidering the happy event of that Argument, which Moſes uſed (mentioned in the 14 verſe, which runs thus:) and the Lord Repented of the Evil which he thought to doe unto his People—he could not but comfortably hope, that they might have the ſame Effect: Nay he goes further, and his Spirit raiſed into a peremptory prediction, that he durſt aſſure them from his great Lord and Maſter, that not one hair of their heads ſhould fall to the ground; after this he went to Prayer, urging God with the ſame Argument, and then roſe up comfortably aſſuring his ſtedfaſtneſs in believing the ſame; he adviſes the Sea-men and the Company in the Ship to refreſh themſelves by taking ſome meat, the long faſting and hard labour having much infeebled them. Then he encouraged them to make another Attempt to faſten the Rudder, without which they could not poſſible make towards any point for ſhore. He after adviſed them to clear the ſhip, as well as they could, from water by pumping, which they did happily Effect, the Leak being ſtopt providentially of it ſelf—whether it was ſome noak of a plank ſtarted by the deſtreſs of weather which occaſioned the Leak, and by the ſurges of the Sea, clapt into the place again, or what it was elſe could not be known. But however this lookes like life from the dead to theſe poor men, who had received but a little before a ſentence of Death in themſelves, that they might truſt in him who raiſeth the Dead. Soon after this, God who had heard in Heaven great Tears and Prayers, Commands the Wind Tack about to the Weſt, and to blow ſo ſtrong a gale that they were forced to bear up before it, and it continued ſo long, that it brought them back to the North of Ireland, where they continued ſome time; although but ſhort, they were very inſtrumental in the Converting of many ſouls, which ſeed-plot remains to this day; and ſoon after they paſſed into Scotland. This Relation was given by ſeveral Miniſters of the North of Ireland: alſo the Reader may take notice, the Author of that Book called the Fullfilling of the Scriptures, pag. 487. mentions this remarkable Providence, though not ſo largely, with theſe two additional, but very conſiderable circumſtances; firſt, That a poor Sea-man was made the inſtrument to preſerve the ſame Veſſel, by faſtening the Rudder, whoſe company they had all ſhun'd, others having given it over. Secondly, Several Paſſengers being Aboard, who ſhipt themſelves for America, upon only external accounts, expecting a fat ſoyle, and outward advantage in that place, and not as the others upon the account of Conſcience, to enjoy the purity of Ordinances; they did all dye upon the Sea ſave one, being five in number. And who is ſo blind, as cannot ſee here the out ſtretched Arm of an Omnipotent God, commanding deliverance for his poor diſtreſſed, perſecuted, praying, believing Servants, and alſo for all them that Sayled with them? O who would not Pray at Sea, and truſt in him who raiſes the dead in the ſaddeſt of their Extremities and diſtreſs! and ſpeaks forth much of the power and goodneſs of God, calling upon all to truſt in him, let the dangers and ſtraits be never ſo great.
3. A Veſſel of ours about the year 1636. being at New-found Land a Fiſhing, being ſomewhat of the lateſt in the year, until the Ice came in great flakes; and being ready to hoiſe Sayle for the return home, they ſent out in the Boat ſix of the men to weigh their Anchor; but while they were about it, a ſad Providence prevents them, a great flake of Ice interpoſes between them and their ſhip, and carryes them adrift, ſo that by all means that they and the ſhip could uſe, they could not recover their Veſſel again, whereby they were expoſed to an inevitable ruine, neither having Food, nor any other Accomodation to keep them warm; they having continued thus three daysand three nights, they began to be Hunger-ſtarv'd, and accounting themſelves all dead men, they began to conſult one with another what courſe to take; they at laſt, though with great regret and grief, reſolve one of them muſt dye to become Food for the reſt; each perſon begg'd to have it his Lot to dye firſt, to be freed from that torment that they languiſhed under; ſo that they were forced to determine it by Lot: He upon whom the Lot fell, deſired to go to one end of the Boat, there to recommend his ſoul to God by Prayer, before he dyed; the reſt being in a deep Agony upon apprehenſion of ſhedding the blood of one of their Comerades: But while they were ſat together, lamenting and imploring God's favour to prevent ſuch a fact according to that they wiſhed and deſired: The perſon ſeparated by Lot for death, dyed upon the place where he was praying, which in their deplorable Condition occaſioned great Joy to the reſt, that hereby they were not forced againſt their wills to take his life; ſo looking upon this as a good Omen, they proceeded to ſatisfie their Hungers upon the dead body: the Boat was ſtill A-drift, not frozen up; ſo that by that time, their Food was ſpent, they were brought aſhore many Leagues to the Norward of New-England, where the five landed alive, where the poor Barbarians did commiſerate them, and help them as they could; three of them dyed with the diſtreſs they had been in, the other two made a ſhift to get to New-England, and ſo at laſt, by a good hand of God upon them, came to their Habitations in the Weſt of England, having both loſt their heels with the extremity of the cold in the Boat. This Relation my Author had from one of theſe two Sea-men, with whom he came afterwards a Paſſenger from Ireland, to whom he ſhewed his heels ſo loſt.
4. A ſmall Veſſel, about 45 Tun, the Maſters name Phillip Hangare, coming upon the Coaſt of New-England, they ſuddenly ſprang a leak, and ſo foundred: There were in this poor miſcarrying Veſſel 18 Sea-men and Paſſengers; 12 of the men got into the Long-boat, and as that was ſuddenly brought to their minds in this ſurpriſe, they threw into their Boat alſo ſome ſmall matters of Proviſions, but they were wholly without fire: Theſe 12 men at that time of the year about Michaelmas, (and as Paul ſaid in his Voyage, Sayling was become dangerous) Sayled five hundred Leagues, and were to a Miracle preſerved all that time in this ſmall Boat, five weeks; but it pleaſed the Lord, who appears in our ſtraits moſt, to ſend them great relief, by cauſing ſome flying Fiſh to fall into the Boat, which they eat raw, and were unto them more acceptable than the greateſt rarities and dainties at another time; God's Providence now proving the Caterer, they catch'd a Shark, and that Ravenous Fiſh that uſes to prey upon men, now becomes a prey to theſe poor diſtreſſed Creatures; but they were glad of food in the want of fire, and have an heat in their Stomacks, to eat that raw, and digeſt at this time what would have made them ſick at other times; but alas, another want they had, was drink as well as fire, but they were forced to open the belly of this Shark, and ſuck his blood for drink; at laſt, that God who hath a deſire to the work of his own hands, gives them hopes to releaſe them out of this inſupportable miſery, by letting them come to a diſcovery of Land in the Weſt-Indies; but alas, they were ſo weak, that when they came aſhore, one or two of them dyed; but moſt of them lived to declare the works of the Lord. This the Author had from one of the 12 that were thus miraculouſly preſerved, but ſince caſt away at Sea.
5. Captain Jonas Clark, of New-England, going for Virginia, the Veſſel was Caſt away in a ſtrange amazing manner, about two hours before day, among the Indians where the Ship-wrackt men lay aſhore in great fear; but three days after they thought to get their ſhip off again; to which end the Maſter, with ſome others, went into the boat, they came threeſcore Fathom from the ſhore, where there aroſe a great Sea, and broke in upon them; but the ſecond Sea came and turned the boat up; four men under water, all were drowned, but Captain Clark, who was kept under water by one of the men, until his breath was gone, but then God appeared, and ſet him at liberty from him in a moſt Miraculous way, and inabled him to ſwim to the ſhore; they that were alive now, were in great ſtraits and perplexities, not knowing what to do, but yet ſome of their eyes were up to God; at laſt they Unanimouſly reſolve to Travel, and when they had Travelled one night, and part of a day, meeting with many Swamps and thick places, ſo that all hope failed them of going along, ſo they ſtood ſtill as (wayfaring men) aſtoniſh'd, not knowing what courſe to take; and though before they were afraid of any Indians, now they were glad to pray to the Lord for the ſight of an Indian, which in this extremity and perplexity, within half an hour the Lord was pleaſed to grant: The Indian was all alone, which was obſervable alſo; when they got to him, they asked the way to the Engliſh, and they did perſwade him by entreaty to go along with them, but within one hours time, he carryed them to a Town of the Indians, which did ſadly fright and amaze them; but they ſtill looked up to the Lord to help and ſave them; and at laſt they got to the Engliſh, and ſo were preſerved.
This Relation the Author had from Captain Clarks own hand, a perſon of known Godlineſs and Integrity.
6. The laſt Providence called to mind a ſtrange and ſtupendious paſſage of a Godly Gentlewoman, who in the firſt breaking forth of the Rebellion in Ireland, was forced to fly for her life, with ſome other perſons in her Company; eſpecially three Children, one of them upon her Breaſt: But alas, theſe poor trembling Travellers had not gone long before they were ſtriped Naked by the Iriſh, who to admiration ſpared their lives; but paſſing on to the foot of a River, others met them and would have caſt them into the River but this Godly Woman not being diſmay'd, ask'd a little liberty to Pray, and as ſhe lay on frozen ground Naked, ſhe got a little reſolution not to go on her own feet to ſo unjuſt a death; upon which having call'd her, upon her reſolution, they drag'd her by the heels along the ground, with the reſt of the Company; ſhe turns upon them, and on her knees ſays, You ſhould I am ſure be Chriſtians, and men I ſee you are; in taking away our miſerable lives you do us a pleaſure; but know, as we never wrong'd you, nor yours, you muſt dye alſo your ſelves, and one day give an account of this Cruelty to the Judge of Heaven and Earth. Suddenly upon which, an Iriſh Prieſt ſays, Let us not take their lives, but we will put them in this Iſland of the Lake; a Boat being at the River, all the eight Naked, and without Meat, are turn'd into that Iſland, where after four days ſtaying, ſome of the Company dy'd with Hunger and Cold, but not this Woman, nor any of her Children; a day after, the two Boys found the Hyde of a Beaſt which had been kill'd at the root of a Tree, which they and the Mother endeavoured to caſt over them; then …ying upon the Snow, the next day a little …oat goes by, to whom ſhe calls for God's …ake to take her out, but they refus'd, …eing Iriſh; ſhe deſir'd a little Bread, but …hey ſaid they had none; ſhe begs a Coal …f Fire, which ſhe obtain'd, for they had …ome fewel in the Boat, and thus with …ome fallen Chips, made a fire; and the …oys taking a piece of the Hyde, lay'd it …pon the Coals, and began to gnaw the …eather; but alas, without an extraordi…ary Divine ſupport, what could this do? Thus they lived ten days without any vi…ble ſupplies, and that good Woman pro…eſt it was by Faith and Joy in God ſhe …iv'd; nor had ſhe any Bread but Ice and …now, nor any Drink but Water, but ſhe …hought God put more ſubſtance in it, and …ound it as it were clammy. The next …ay a Boat carryed her out to the ſide of …he Band-water, where yet ſhe had been …oſt, but that ſhe could not ſuffer to ſee her Children dye in her ſight; and therefore … though the two Boys were young, and ſo …tarv'd, that they had no ſtrength) ſhe …reſſed them to go out of her ſight, under …retence of ſeeking ſome fire; the poor Children had not gone far until they ſaw …wo or 3 great Dogs eating a man who had …een kill'd; the Children were not afraid of the Dogs, (who needed not fear any thing but to live in ſuch a Condition) and one of them came running, and leaped upon one of the Children, without doing him the leaſt hurt, and would run a little before, and then tarry until the Children come up, and ſo led them on where an Houſe whence Smoke appeared, which was an Iriſh mans, Protected by the Engliſh in Antrum, by which means they were marvellouſly pleaſed, and the Mother ſent for, and ſuccour'd by a party from Antrum. Although this Providence be not a Sea-deliverance, yet it is a remarkable preſervation from danger by Water, and Hunger at Land.
7. In the firſt ſetling of the Bohemi… Iſlands off the Cape of Florida, about the year 1642. there were at that preſent great troubles in the Burmoudas, one Captaine Sale who had been Governour the year before, comes for London, and here informing ſome of his Acquaintance and Perſons of Worth and Eſtate, how things then ſtood, they undertake fo… him, and got him a Ship, and all thing… neceſſary for the diſcovery of theſe Iſland… which he had inform'd them of, ſ… they proceeded to Burmoudas, whe… they took in ſeveral Paſſengers, Captai… Sale being Cheif, and Captain Lane and his Family which came from London with him as his Aſſiſtant in the management of the Deſigne, ſo they in purſute of the Voyage, came to an Iſland call'd Cicatra, …he lay down in the Platts, where they could not at preſent find an Harbour. So they ſent out their Shallop upon a diſcovery, which upon Return inform'd them of a better place to Ride in.—But ſending out the Shallop again upon a diſcovery, before ſhe Return'd, there aroſe a dreadful Storm that carried her immediately upon the Rocks, and ſtav'd her, with very much difficulty moſt of the People were ſav'd, and ſome Proviſions. Then were they Reduc'd to very great ſtraits formidable to fleſh and blood, a Barren Iſland, no inhabitants, no likelyhood of Releif, little Proviſions left; in this great ſtrait moſt of them reſolv'd to travel up to the weſter end of the Iſland and there to abide. (Captaine Lane and his Family, and his Son who was his Leiutenant) they Reſolv'd to ſeek for ſome kind of Proviſions, and ſo ſtay'd on the Iſland. But Captaine Sale and one Mr. Bounly who had been Maſter of the Ship, and ſome other Sea-men, and one Mr. Shadwel; duplicate page duplicate page in all eight, Reſolv'd to go to Virginia, and took what Proviſions they could get, which was one Shark; but before they made to the Land they were in very great wants; For from this Iſland from whence they departed to Virginia, was three hundred Leagues: in their now great Extreamity, Providence car'd for them, ſo that they got another Shark, and were glad to eat him Raw. They were a 11 days going to Virginia, and the Boat a very little one, that they could ſcarcely Steer in her for fear of danger. Yet the Lord in this deep Diſtreſs, made his Arm bare for their Salvation, and brought them ſafe to a place call'd Nuſe mum; to one Mr. Richard Brunkets Houſe, where they were curtiouſly Entertain'd; and after the Relation upon what account they were put to theſe Hardſhips and Neceſſities, Captain Sale had a Veſſel provided laden with neceſſaries, to go for Cicatra, to Relieve thoſe they had left there in ſuch Diſtreſs, and they arriv'd there. And O now what Comfort muſt this be, after ſuch long wiſhing and gradual Dying, to ſee that there was now Hopes of Life brought to them; but ſeveral of them were ſtarv'd to Death before their Arrival. Captain Lane is now ſent to fetch ſome Proviſions who had been in unſpeakable Extreamity. He came down in a little Boat, his Son alſo the Lieutenant and two Servants, but when they had gotten in their Proviſion, and going home with hopes of a new Life; Behold, the ſtupendious providence of God, all of a ſudden Death creeps in and Arreſts them. For in a narrow place where the Tyde runs ſwiftly, the Boat is ſunk, all are drowned but one man, who carried the deſolate Widdow the ſad Tydings… what an unwelcome Meſſenger this was you may eaſily conjecture; about three months after arrived a Veſſel to them (the maſter of her my Author,) and ſo Mrs. Lane, her Son and Daughter, Maid Servant and Man Servant, where all brought up about forty miles, where they were entertain'd by my Author for ſix weeks, and gave an account of ſome notable paſſages of Gods Providence in preſerving them. Worthy never to be forgotten! Her Husband and the men went out to ſee what they could get for … every Day, and they had for the moſt part juſt for the Day, and ſhe told my Author that ſhe as a tender hearted Mother would lay ſomething by for her younger Children; but ſhe obſerv'd that the next Day they never got any thing.
And thus Providence train'd them up in the School of Faith; but further ſhe gave an account of one Remarkable thing, In the laſt day of the week, upon a time it proved a very ſtormy Day, and they being abroad a hunting for ſome ſupport, could get nothing. The Husband and Son comes home very much troubled, and the men that were gon into the Woods they could get nothing; and they being very much troubled, one took up a Reſolution not to come home, knowing their Captain would not ſuffer them to go and hunt on the Lords Day; on the other hand they thought he would wounder what was become of them, and fear leſt evil had befallen them; ſo they alter their Reſolution to come home, but empty of any Reliefe; this very Evening before the Sabbath in this perplexety of thoughts, there flys over their Heads three gray Geeſe; a wonder it was for ſuch Geeſe that were never ſeen before nor after. O ſays ſhe to her Husband, that we had ſome of them againſt to morrow! obſerving they lighted in a Bottome, ſhe acquaints her Husband, he ſays they have no ſhot left. O ſays ſhe, here is a Porrenger, melt it or cut it into peices, which he did for expedition, and charged his Peice, and at the firſt ſhot kill'd them all,—Theſe things, and many more my Author had from her own Mouth, after her marvellous Preſervation. O that men would Praiſe the Lord, for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men.
8. We have a very wonderful Deliverance recorded, an honeſt poor man in Maulden in Eſſex, one Gregory Crow, who with his man and boy, was in his Boat going to fetch Fullers-Earth; but by the way meeting with a Stom his Boat was driven upon a banck of ſand, and there ſunk; The men were glad to hang upon the Maſt, but poor Crow ſeeing his New-Teſtament in the water, which he prized highly, caught it up, and took it into his Boſom; the tyde being gone, they were left upon the ſand, at leaſt ten miles from land; now in this great Diſtreſſe they made their Prayers to the Lord, that he would ſend ſome means of Deliverance, For now within half an hour it would be flood, but in this little time before Flood, they found a Cheſt wherein was five pounds ſix Shillings eight pence, but honeſt Crow caſt it into the Sea again ſaying, If the Lord will pleaſe to ſave our lives he will provide us a little food; and ſo they went again up the Maſt, where they to Admiration hung by the Arms and Leggs for ten hours together, only the Boy was ſo weary, and beaten with the Waves that he fell off, and was drowned; now their fears encreaſe upon them, and they know not what to do. But Crow adviſes his man to cut down the Maſt and when the F…ood comes again, to fit upon it, and ſo, ſayes he, it may pleaſe God to drive us to ſome Ship; this Councel was taken, they commit themſelves to God upon this Maſt, and thus continu'd Tueſday Night, Wedneſday, and Wedneſday Night; in which time the man was ſo tir'd out with Hunger, Watching, and Cold, that he dyed; now was Crow left alone in this ſad and deplorable Condition, who pray'd now the more earneſtly for ſome Succor and Relief, but durſt not Sleep, leſt the Sea ſhould beat him off the Maſt; and when this diſtreſſ'd miſerable object was almoſt ſpent, his fleſh ſodden with Sea water, and his eyes almoſt cloſed up with the Salt, now in his Extremity the Lord makes it his opportunity, and ſ…eps in by his Providence, perſents a Ship going for Antwerp: (obſerve here the Finger of God:) The Wind not being favourable was driven out of the way, and eſpying ſomething a far off in the Sea, but ſuppoſeing it to be ſome Fiſher-boy ſteer'd from it. Crow ſeeing this, held up his Cap and ſhaked it over his head, whereby at length they were mov'd to go to him, and ſo they took him in; when he came into the Ship, being half dead, careful of his New Teſtament, he pluckt it out of his Boſome and gave it to ſome to dry. They in the Ship were careful of him, and with great difficulty recover'd him, and carryed him with them to Antwerp, where the fame of his being miraculouſly deliver'd, drew many to ſee him, and relieve him with neceſſaries. Fox's Book of Martyrs.
9. A Ship of Holland being driven againſt her will, came to a Place call'd Zembla, where the Pole is elevated Seventy Six degrees; they among many delays, and great dangers, ſcarce reach'd the Aurange Iſlands; for now they were ſet faſt in a Conſolidated body of continu'd Ice, which threatn'd them every moment; at laſt being reduc'd to their ultimate hope, they reſolve to return the ſame way they came, but now they find the Ship quite frozen up, not far from ſhore, and now they think they ſhould winter in Zembla and waite for a better Seaſon, wherefore taking out Boards and Plancks, they built for themſelves, and their Stuffe, a poor ſhelter, and by a good Providence, the Tide had thrown up a good quantity of Timber, they not knowing from whence it came, it proved a great advantage to them during their abode; here they had continual fights with Bears, which ſometimes were driven away with making great out-crys, other whiles with Shot… they found their fleſh unwholeſome for food. (For in this place the Maritine wild Beaſts, are the food to the wild Beaſts of the land) the fat of the Bears they made uſe of to burn for lights in the night; theſe poor creatures were at laſt, after all other Humane Benefits, left by the Sun, in this Barren Country, and left amongſt none but wild Beaſts: The vaſt Mountains of Snow, with great difficulty they remove, leſt the Habitation ſhould be overwhelm'd, and if at any time they went forth, their jawes were ſo benum'd they could ſcarce recover their former heat; now the Bears in the dark, being dull of fight did not venture out to diſturbe them, but multitudes of Foxes, which they took in Traps, and made of them both Victuals and Rayment; and yet after all theſe dangers and difficultys God preſerved them, though indeed ſome of them dyed, they were 12 of them: The chief of them was one Jacob Hamskerk, who returned afterwards to Amſterdam. Gro…ius in his Annalls.
10. In the year 1616 a flemming named Pickman, well known in England and Holland, for the art he had in getting out of the Sea, the great Guns of that Spaniſh Fleet, that was forced upon the Coaſt of Ireland and Scotland, in the year 1588. coming from Dronthem in Norway, laden with Boards, was overtaken by a Calm, during which, the current of the Sea carryed him on a Rock or a little Iſland towards the extremity of Scotland, where he was in ſome danger of being caſt away; to avoide a wrack, he commanded ſome of his men to go into the ſhallop, and to tow off the Ship: theſe having done ſo, would needs go upon a certain Rock to ſeek for eggs, but as ſoon as they were got up into it, they eſpy'd a man, whence they imagine there were others lay there about, and that he had made an Eſcape thither to avoid ſome Pirats which might Surprize their Ship, ſo that they made all the haſt they could to the Shallop, and return'd to the Ship; but the Calme continuing, and the current of the Sea driving the Veſſel againſt the Iſland, they were forc'd to get into the Long-boat and Tow her off again; the man they ſaw before, was in the mean time come to the brink of the Iſland, and made ſignes to them with his hands, entreating them to come nearer; and falling on his Knees, and joyning his Hands together, he beg'd Relief from them; at laſt coming near the Iſland, they ſaw ſomething more like a Ghoſt than a living Perſon, a body ſtark Naked, black, hairy, of a meager and deform'd Countenance, hollow and diſtorted Eyes, which raiſed ſuch Compaſſion in them, that they proffer'd to take him into their Boat; at laſt with ſome difficulty they took him in; they found upon the Iſland no Graſs nor Trees, nothing for Food, nor any ſhelter, but the ruins of a boat, wherewith he had made himſelf an Hut, under which he might be cover'd from Rain and injuries of the Weather; when they came to ask him who he was, and how he came into that un-inhabited place, he reply'd to them he was an Engliſh Man, and that a year before he was to go from England to Dublin in Ireland in the Paſſage-Boat, and that they were taken by a French-Pyrate, who by a Storm that immediately aroſe, was forc'd to let go the Paſſage-Boat, left us to the mercy of the Waves, which carryed us between Ireland and Scotland, into the main Sea, expecting to be caſt away every minute, as at laſt we were: For the Bark being ſplit againſt the Rock, where you took me in, I eſcaped with one of my Comrades into the Iſland, in a more wretched condition than if ſwallow'd up by the Sea; who then had been deliver'd out of the Extremities we were in for want of meat and drink; of ſome of the boards of our Boat we made the Hutt you ſaw, and we took ſome Seamews which we ſet a drying in the Wind and Sun, and ſo eat them raw; we found alſo in the crevices of the Rock, by the Sea-ſide, ſome Eggs: Thus were we kept from ſtarving; but what we thought moſt inſupportable, was Thirſt; for there was no Water, but what fell from Heaven; we liv'd thus ſix weeks, comforting one another, and finding ſome eaſe in our common misfortune, till that being left alone, it began to grow inſupportable to me; for one day, awaking in the morning, and miſſing my Comrade, I fell into ſuch a Deſpair, that I had ſome though… of caſting my ſelf head-long, and ſo put a final period to that Affliction, whereof I had but endur'd the one half while I had a Friend ſuffering with me: I know not what became of him, but I am of that opinion that he fell into the Sea, ſeeking for Eggs; I left with him my Knife, with which we kill'd the Sea-Doggs, and the Mews, upon which we lived; ſo I was forc'd to get out of my Hut a great Nail, which I made a ſhift to ſharpen upon the Rock, that it ſerv'd me for a Knife: I was alſo forc'd to lade a little ſtick, with a little Sea-dogg fat, and put it out of a crevice of my Hut, and ſo got ſome Mews to keep me from ſtarving: I liv'd in this condition and ſolitude Eleven Months, and was reſolv'd to end my days in it, when God ſent you to deliver me out of the greateſt miſery that ever man was in, and this Sea-man after this miſery and miraculous preſervation, liv'd to return to England. Ambaſadors Travels.