CHAPTER XXI.
OF MY ADVENTURES AT SEA.
It was but some three weeks after these things that my dear motherdied. I would not lay her death to the door even of these cruel men,for 'tis certain that she had declined from the very beginning of herwidowhood; but I cannot doubt that her end was hastened by grief andtrouble. Notwithstanding, she passed away in great peace and comfort,having as lively a faith in the world to come--and in her meetingagain with those whom in this world she had lost--as was ever seen inChristian woman. After her death, which took place in the house of theworthy neighbour who had given shelter to my brother's family at thefirst, my sister and her child took up their dwelling with JohnVickers, which worthy man, whose kindness and truth I cannotsufficiently praise, most hospitably entertained her. Notwithstanding,she judged it best for her greater safety from molestation to layaside her estate as a gentlewoman and to labour with her hands in thehouse and dairy. She told me afterwards that the good John was muchtroubled and distressed at her so humbling herself, and would doff hiscap and show other courtesy to her which did contrast very strangelywith her lowly dress, till by slow degrees and with much unwillingnesshe learnt to behave himself in a more suitable fashion.
Meanwhile, John Ellgood, having departed for his home, where hisfather much needed his presence, Master Blagrove and I set out forLondon, desiring there to settle some urgent affairs. He had somesmall property, for which he was desirous to make composition, and Iwas minded to do the same for my father's estate, if this could by anymeans be contrived. And here we met with an adventure which shall nowbe told.
We went on a certain afternoon to the Strand, purposing to visit mycousin Master Rushworth, of whom I have spoken before. We found himbut half recovered of a sickness, but hearty in spirit, and as kind asever he was. Indeed, I marvelled a little at the praises which he andhis wife heaped upon me. If they were to be believed, there had neverbeen so well-behaved and admirable a boy. I did not remember myself tohave possessed so many virtues, and, indeed, could bring to mind not afew reproofs which these good people had administered to me for sundrymisdoings, ay, and prophecies that, unless I amended my ways, I shouldbring shame on all my kindred. Now this was all forgotten, and thegood only remembered, a fault of memory, doubtless, but one which mayeasily be pardoned.
We stayed somewhat late with Master Rushworth over a flask of canary,which he would have replenished again and again had we suffered it.'Twas ten of the clock, or thereabouts, when we set out for ourlodging, which was in Westminster, and the street was almost deserted.We had scarce walked a hundred yards westward when there ran out uponus a company of fellows attired as sailors. I was unarmed save for astout staff which I had in my hand, and my brother had not even somuch; and we were also taken unawares, so that I had but time tostrike one blow for my liberty. Even so, being very fleet of foot, Imight have escaped, but could not in honour leave my companion who wasan older man, and of a student's habit, which, as all know, isill-fitted for bodily exercise. Hence the fellows laid hold upon uswithout much difficulty, and clapping handcuffs upon our hands, andgags in our mouths, had us at their mercy. They then carried us to awherry, and so conveyed us to a ship which lay moored near the fartherbank of the river, about half-a-mile below London Bridge. Being therearrived, and hoisted on to the deck, they took the gags from ourmouths and lowered us into the hold. That we had company even in thisplace was easy to be told, for we heard the snoring of sleepers, andsome round oaths also from someone, over whom, not knowing where wewere, we stumbled; but how many they were and of what sort, we knewnot, it being pitch dark. Thus we disposed ourselves as best we could,and, after the manner of St. Paul and his shipmates, "wished for themorning." When it was light, or as much light as the nature of theplace permitted, and we could examine our company, we were notover-well pleased. There were some thirty in all, as villainous a setof jail-birds, the most of them, as ever was gathered together. Two orthree, indeed, were as we afterwards learned, of a more honest sort,but the rest, it was manifest, were the very off-scouring of theprisons. Says one of them, a tall, stout fellow, that seemed to be asort of captain among them:
"Come, friends, tell us how we came to have the honour of yourcompany. Was it for lifting a purse, or breaking into a house, orcracking a man's skull?"
Before I could answer he caught sight of my brother's clergyman'shabit, and stirring with his foot one of the company that lay with hisface to the wall, said:
"Parson, here is one of thy cloth; up and bid him welcome to thismeeting of good fellows."
The man raised himself, and turned his face to us, a more wretchedcountenance than ever I had seen before.
"I could not have believed," he said, "that there was anyone in theworld so wretched as I; yet, to judge from your habit, you are myfellow in misery. I have been sent down into this hell upon earth forno other offence save that I am a priest of the Church of England."
He then went on to tell us his history. He had, like thousands ofothers, been dispossessed of his living, and this with suchcircumstances of cruelty as cost him the life of his wife, who at thetime of his expulsion was lain-in but a few days before of her firstchild. Afterwards, coming to London to see if he could make alivelihood by teaching, he had been kidnapped, as we had been.
"But what," I inquired of him, "will they do with us?"
"We are bound," said he, "for the plantations. 'Tis a monstrous thingthat innocent men should be so dealt with. I do not say, for I wouldnot be unjust for all my misery, that they who are in authority knowof these doings. I judge that they do not. But they are careless; theymake no inquiry. It matters not to them if there be some score ofmalignants the less to trouble them with their complaints, or to plotagainst them; so much the better. Hence the villains who carry on thisbusiness are emboldened to lay their hands upon us. Their occupationis to find labourers for the plantations in the Indies; and for eachof these that they bring out they receive so many pounds sterling; howmany I know not, but I take it that it is a considerable sum. Theyseek their recruits first in the jails. When these are overcrowded,and they never were crowded more than now, all England being overrunwith disbanded soldiers, they find a plentiful supply. Themagistrates, partly for gain, and partly for humanity's sake, handover to them some that had else rotted in prison or stretched thehangman's rope, but if the tale be short, then they must make it upelsewhere; nor do they care at all how they come by theirmerchandise."
This was dismal hearing, and would have thrown us into despair had wehad more leisure to think of it. As it was, we were fully occupiedwith the miseries of our present position. A more deplorable conditionthan ours it was scarce possible to conceive. For food we had biscuit,mouldy and full of weevils, and had it been more eatable, insufficientin quantity. Salted beef was also given to us, harder than ever Ithought beef could be. Of water we had a sufficient quantity, a greatbarrel being set in the hold, over which one of the company, deputedto that office by his fellows, kept guard. This was the chiefbelightening of our lot. In another respect, also, its hardship wassomewhat mitigated. At the first we suffered much from the hideousnessof the oaths and blasphemy and foul language of every kind which weheard from our companions. Having borne this for a day I resolvedwithin myself to see whether I could not mend it. With this purpose inview I said to the captain, as I may call him, "I like not thistalking. Will you please to change it?"
"Who are you," said he, "that pretend to order our behaviour? As youlike it not, you can depart whither you will or can."
"Captain," said I, for so we called him, though he had never been morethan a captain of thieves, "I would choose, if it may be, to be yourfriend rather than your foe. And you too, if you are wise, will choosethe same. But I make this condition of peace, that there be no foullanguage or oaths; which in this narrow space, reach to ears for whichdoubtless they are not intended."
At this one of the captain's friends, a fellow of the sort that lovealways to play jackal to a lion, brake rudely in upon me with, "I
knownot whether your ears be daintier than other men's; but certainly theyare longer."
I had resolved to have the matter out, if need were, with the captainhimself, and did not doubt but that, being expert in manly exercises,and sound in health and wind, I should get the better of him.Nevertheless I would willingly have avoided such a conflict, knowingthat it might leave ill-blood behind. So when this rude fellowinterrupted me I saw an occasion of showing my strength which mightserve my purpose better than giving the captain actual experience ofit. Turning, therefore, upon the fellow I caught him by the collar ofhis coat, and held him out for some space of time at arm's length,which, as all who have tried such an action know, is no easy matter.When I put the man down, the captain stretched out his hand to me andsaid:
"You are right, good sir, we will be friends rather than foes, and youshall have your way in this matter of talking. And hark ye, myfriends," he said turning to the others; "he that speaks an ill wordhereafter in this place must reckon with me."
This habit of foul speaking, like other ill habits, is not broken in aday, and the captain himself, who indeed had been wont to garnish hisspeech with as strange a variety of oaths as ever were heard frommortal tongue, was a frequent offender. But he was not, therefore, theless severe upon others; and before long there was a visibleamendment. Then, again, we two and the two or three others of thebetter sort of whom I have already written, used our best endeavoursto put something more edifying in the place of the thieves' storieswith which these poor wretches were accustomed to entertain eachother. They were, as may be readily supposed, wholly ignorant of allthat it concerned them as Englishmen to know of the history of thisrealm; of gallant deeds that have been done by our countrymen on seaand land they had not so much as heard. Yet they listened eagerlyenough to stories of such things, and were never wearied of hearingthe tale of King Alfred fighting against the Danes, and of Harold, atwhose defeat by the Conqueror they murmured loudly, and of the BlackPrince at Cressy and Poictiers. With such narratives we kept themquiet and orderly, and my brother in particular, who had a mostpleasant voice, gained such a mastery over them that when he proposedthat they should say a few prayers with him both morning and evening,there was not a man to say him "Nay," and indeed at the end of aweek's time he had a most respectful congregation.
How long we remained in this condition I cannot exactly say, for nightand day were scarce to be distinguished in that place; but I considerit to have been as much as six weeks. That we were journeying south weknew from the heat, which had much increased so that the place wasscarce endurable. We had indeed besought the men that brought us ourprovisions (which they lowered from above) that they would give ussome more air, but had besought in vain, and were even thinking ofgetting by force what was then cruelly denied, when there happenedthat which made our schemes superfluous.
One night the wind began to rise (hitherto we had had extraordinaryfine weather), and increased so much that we were tossed about in amost dangerous fashion. The seams of the ship also began to open, andto let in water, so that our condition became almost intolerable. Thenext day the hatches were opened, as they had never been opened beforesince our coming down on board, and a ladder was let down into thehold. "Come," cried one from above, "unless you would die like rats ina hole." We needed no second bidding, and indeed for the last twohours the water had been increasing upon us in most threateningfashion. No sooner had we reached the deck than we saw that the shipwas lower in the water than promised well for her safety. And, indeed,what with the lowering sky and the waves, that were like mountains onevery side of us, the prospect was gloomy, and it seemed that we hadrecovered our liberty only that we might perish. Nevertheless, wethought it better to die in the open air and in the light, even asAjax the Greater prays to Jupiter, "Slay me, so it be in the light."Says the man that had let down the ladder, whom we now found to be themate, "Come, my friends, if you would see land again; set your handsto the pumps." This we did with a good will and with such strength aswas still left us by our imprisonment and scanty diet. For a time welost rather than gained, and it seemed as if our days were numbered;but as it grew towards evening, the wind abated and the sea fell, sothat it brake not over the ship as before. By good fortune also thecarpenter discovered the principal leak and repaired it, so that aboutan hour after sunset, by which time indeed we were well nigh spentwith labour, we had respite from pumping, and ate the supper which themate had caused to be prepared for us. 'Twas no very luxuriousbanquet, but 'twas royal fare to us, and we feasted with as good anappetite as ever men had in this world. While we sat at meal the matetold us what had happened.
"We had, you must know," he said, "but one boat, and that wouldcontain but two parts of the crew. Well, when it appeared this morningthat the ship could hardly swim much longer, and there seemed no signof the weather abating, the captain contrived that the carpenter and Iand three more of us should go below, if we might chance to find anyof the leaks. And while we were gone, he and the others lowered theboat, which was already fitted and provisioned, and so departed. Avillain I knew him to be, but had not thought him capable of suchwickedness. But I reckon that he has made a mistake, for all hiscunning. I had ten times sooner be here, things being as they are,than in the boat with him."
And indeed the mate was right, for the captain and the rest of thecrew were never heard of more.
The next day the sea was as calm as though it were a pond, and the skywithout a cloud. I asked the mate whereabouts, in his judgment, wewere. "God only knows," he said. "The Captain took the reckoning, andhe has the instruments with him, for I cannot find them. But Iremember him to have said the day before the storm that we were aboutfour hundred miles from our journey's end. But I reckon that we mustnow be more than that, the wind for the last day having blown verystrongly from the west."
"What then," said I, "would you have us do?"
"I think that we had best sail westward, for, even if we have beendriven back two hundred miles or more, the nearest land must still liein that quarter. We will rig up a jury mast" (for both the ship'smasts had been lost in the storm), "and sail as best we may; but Imust confess that my great hope is in falling in with some ship thatmay help us."
But we were not yet past all our troubles. That rascal, whom I havecalled the "captain," and some of his fellows, having found where thespirits were kept, brake open the place, and helped themselves to theliquor. Inflamed by drinking, they conceived the plan (first hatched,I believe, in the brain of the fellow with whom I had the passage ofarms before described) of making themselves masters of the ship andtaking to the trade of buccaneers or pirates, between whom, I take it,there is no great distinction. Accordingly they seize the mate in hisbed, to which, after I know not how many days' toil and watching, hehad betaken himself for a few hours' rest, bring over the remainder ofthe crew to their side by threats and promises, and clap those of thecompany whom they had no hope of persuading into the hold again.
I must confess that at this ill turn of fortune I began to despair,but found comfort where I had least expected it. For now the poorparson, of whose doleful countenance I have before written, plays thepart of a St. Paul.
"Be of good cheer," says he, "for I am persuaded that He who hashelped us so far will not now desert us. I was as downcast as you noware; and God sent you to cheer me up. Let me do the same office nowfor you, for I have learnt that to despair is nothing less than a sinagainst God."
And sure enough the good man was in the right. We had not been in ourprison more than three or four hours when we overheard a loud noise asof talking and tramping of feet overhead, and not long after, to ourgreat joy, saw the hatches thrown open, and were released from ourduress. What had happened may be briefly told.
The mutineers had scarce made themselves masters of the ship whenthere hove in sight a strange sail, which, by great good fortune, or,I should rather say, by God's kind providence, was a Dutch man-of-war.She was heading right for us, and the villains, having but a poorpretence of mast and sa
il, had no chance of escape. The Dutchmanseeing a vessel in distress, as was evident from our appearance, sendsone of his officers on board. The villains speak him fair, and tell aplausible tale, which, but for the carpenter, might have deceived him.But the carpenter, who had given in to the mutineers only for fear ofhis life, whispers in the officer's ear that he had best inquirefurther. And so the whole truth comes out.
The mutineers, having some bold fellows among them, would, I doubtnot, have made a fight for the mastery, but were so ill-armed thatthey durst not venture. To make my story short, when the Dutch captaincame on board and had heard how matters stood, he came to thisconclusion.
"The ship, which was but a rotten craft before, and is now damaged bythe storm beyond repair, I shall take leave to scuttle. As for thevillains they would but meet with their proper deserts were I to leavethem to sink with her, or hang them from my yard-arm. But I care notto have their blood upon my soul. Yet I should be doing but anill-turn to mankind were I to take them back to Europe. It seems tome, therefore, the best course to leave them on some uninhabitedisland, of which there is more than one in these seas, where they mayearn their bread by tilling the soil, or, if it please them better,cut each other's throats. As for you, gentlemen, I shall be happy togive you a passage back to Holland, to which country I am now bound."
And this he did. Never was a more courteous host, or guests who werebetter pleased with their entertainment. I had much talk with the goodman during the voyage, which, the wind being often light and baffling,occupied near upon two months, and among other things related to himthe story of my life. And this, by his counsel, I have now writtendown.
EPILOGUE.
ROTTERDAM, May 1st, 1660.
'Tis about eleven years since I wrote in this book of how I had beenwith the King at Oxford, and of other things which grew out of thesame. And now, if anyone should desire to know how I and others ofwhom mention has been made in this writing have since fared, I will ina very few words here set it forth.
Being brought to Holland after my escape from the kidnappers, asrelated in the chapter last written, and seeking some means of earningmy bread, I chanced to meet with a certain merchant of Rotterdam,Richard Daunt by name, who, having satisfied himself that I was a manof decent conversation and sufficient scholarship, would have me cometo him as a tutor to his sons. "And you shall find," he said, "othersof our nation at Rotterdam, who will gladly put their children in yourcharge." To this I was willing enough to hearken, nor have I everrepented that I did so, having found in Master Daunt and his fellowsat Rotterdam, as good friends as a man could desire to have.
About a year after my going to Rotterdam, the charge of minister tothe congregation of English merchants in that city fell vacant, by thecession of Master Richard Chalfont, some time Fellow of LincolnCollege, by whose good word, many of the congregation also favouring,I had from the Committee the promise of the succession, if only Icould obtain Holy Orders. This agreed well with what had always beenmy desire, and I determined to seek Orders from some Bishop inEngland, if only one could be found able and willing to give them; forthis, in the distress of the times, could not be with certaintycounted upon. I knew of none in England from whom I could get betterinformation and advice than Master Ellgood. To him, therefore, Iresolved to resort, not, it will readily be believed without thethought present in my mind of seeing again my dear Cicely; for it hadbeen long understood that we were to be married so soon as I hadreasonable prospect of maintaining a wife. Master Ellgood behavedhimself most friendly to me. When I asked him about the obtaining ofOrders, he said:
"'Tis not impossible. My Lord of Oxford, or, to speak more agreeablywith the spirit of the times, Dr. Robert Skinner, has licence to givethem, or, I should rather say, having friends among them that are inpower, is winked at in so doing."
Hearing this, I expounded to the good man my hopes and plans, which heencouraged, knowing that I had for a long time cherished this design.
"The charge at Rotterdam," said I, "is worth eighty pounds by theyear; and I can add as much more by the teaching of English boys inthat city, for which employment I shall have ample time. If then I cansatisfy the bishop of my fitness (of which I have a good hope), afterhaving received Orders from him, I will ask you to give me yourdaughter Cicely in marriage."
"I like not," said he, "that a priest should marry, nor can I give myconsent that he should marry a daughter of mine."
'Twas as if a thunderbolt had fallen upon me when I heard him saythese words. Cicely, too, for she was present at our conference, grewsuddenly pale.
"Nay, my good sir," I said, "how can that be? Does not St. Paul saythat a bishop should be 'the husband of one wife'?"
"I am not so careless a student of holy Scripture," answered he, "asto have overlooked that text. Yet, having studied Christian antiquitywith all the diligence that I could use, I could never find oneinstance in which a priest (to which I take the word 'bishop' to behere equal) has contracted matrimony. But that married men have beenordained priests and deacons I know full well, and this, which indeedis the custom of the Greek Church, I take to be the apostle's meaning.So, then, if you are willing to marry my daughter before ordination, Irefuse not my consent, but rather give it, and my blessing with it,most willingly."
At this, which the good man said not without a certain twinkle in hiseye, Cicely, if she had been pale before, grew red; but was not sodispleased but that when I reached out my hand to hers and took it shesuffered it to remain.
The next day I set out for Launton, where Dr. Skinner had his charge,in which, indeed, he had not been disturbed. With him I sojournedthree days, and, after being closely examined in my knowledge ofScripture and other matters with which a clergyman should have someacquaintance, received from him a promise, which he put in writing forthe satisfaction of Master Ellgood, that he would presently admit meboth to deacon's and priest's orders.
In two weeks time after my return from the bishop my sweet Cicely andI were married, first by a neighbouring magistrate (for so marriageswere performed at that time), and after by one of the dispossessedclergy, that was chaplain to one of the gentry in those parts, MasterEllgood saying that he was still, however worthy, under ecclesiasticalcensure, and could perform no spiritual function. And again, in twoweeks more I was ordained deacon by Dr. Skinner, and, being of fullage, because it would not be convenient for me to come again toEngland, priest on the day following. I thank my God that he gave meHis two best gifts, a good calling in life, and a good helpmeet.Verily they are gifts of which I have not repented me for a moment,though I must confess that I am scarce worthy of them.
My Cicely's father has lived with us since our marriage, busyinghimself with books and with good works. John Ellgood has risen to ahigh place in the Stadtholder's service.
My brother-in-law has for the last ten years been chaplain to my LordBrandon, and has found under his protection both safety and comfort.
It is now, I hear, a settled thing that monarchy shall be restored inEngland. I could wish that there were a better report of the new King.That he will avoid his father's faults, I doubt not, for 'tis hissettled resolve, as has often been heard from his mouth, to die Kingof England, and he will not imperil his crown by obstinacy orself-will. But he is lacking in his father's best virtues, and 'tismuch to be doubted whether England will get much advantage from hiscoming back. But God can overrule all things for good, and 'twere lackof faith to doubt that He will.
THE END.
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._
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With the King at Oxford: A Tale of the Great Rebellion Page 22
