by Daniel Defoe
2 directed to the Royal Society…as follows: The Royal Society of London for the Improving of Natural Knowledge was founded in 1660. Its proceedings, the Philosophical Transactions, were published from 1665 onwards.
3 the Reverend Mr. William Derham, F.R.S.: Derham (1657-1735) was a prominent natural theologian and author of PhysicoTheology: or a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God from his Works of Creation (London: W. Innys, 1713). His letter was published in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. 24 (1704-5), pp. 1530-4.
4 St. Andrews Day: 30 November.
5 Richard Townely, Esq: Richard Towneley (c. 1629-1707), of Towneley Hall, Lancashire, was a noted experimental meteorologist.
6 l.: Pound: many early meteorologists measured rainfall by weight.
7 Tunnel: A funnel leading into a rain gauge.
8 Nitro-sulphureous…Atmosphere: Francis Bacon had suggested in the 1620s that the presence of nitre (saltpetre, an ingredient of gunpowder) could adversely affect the weather, a belief which remained current until the late eighteenth century.
9 Mr. Halley: Edmond Halley (1656-1743), Clerk to the Royal Society. Wind and weather were high on his list of interests.
10 Ph. Tr. No. 262: See Philosophical Transactions, vol. 22 (1700-1), pp. 527-9.
11: The chemical symbol for Mercury.
12 Travail: Labour.
13 Out-Parts: Suburbs.
14 several Rods: One rod is equivalent to 16.5 feet (5.029 metres).
15 Almanacks: Annually published calendars of information and events.
16 Damon, Melibáus: Pastoral characters taken from Virgil’s Eclogues (c. 42-39 BC).
17 Isis: The Oxford stretch of the river Thames.
18 Cherwel’s banks: The River Cherwell, which flows south from Northamptonshire and into the Thames at Oxford.
19 Orpheus Lyre…Amphion’s Hand: In Greek myth Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope, was able to tame all nature with the beauty of his lyre-playing; Amphion, the son of Jupiter and Antiope, was said to have built the walls of Thebes with the magical sound of his lyre alone.
20 Neptune: The Roman god of the sea, corresponding to the Greek Poseidon.
21 Thetis: In Greek legend, Thetis was one of the Nereids (minor sea deities) and the mother of Achilles, one of the heroes of the Trojan War.
22 the áolian God: Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of winds and storms.
23 Charles of Spains’: Archduke Charles (1685-1740), the second son of the Emperor Leopold of Austria, was waiting to be escorted from Holland to Lisbon, from where he would launch his claim on the Spanish throne as ‘Charles III of Spain’. The effort was unsuccessful, but in 1711, at the death of his older brother Joseph, he became Charles VI of Austria.
24 angry Juno’s Hate: Juno, the jealous wife of Jupiter, was responsible for the storm that drove Aeneas on to the shore at Carthage; see Virgil, Aeneid, Bk I. 34-80.
25 Dardan Prince: Trojan prince, i.e. Aeneas.
CHAPTER IV
Of the Extent of this Storm
1 Sir Francis Wheeler…Straelsond: Admiral Sir Francis Wheler (c. 1656-94) and 548 of his men drowned in a storm off Gibraltar on 19 February 1694. Straelsond is a small Pomeranian city on the Strelasund, an inlet of the Baltic sea. The church there lost its spire in the storm of 26-7 November 1703.
2 Sir William Temple: The diplomat and author Sir William Temple (1628-99) was English ambassador to The Hague from 1668.
3 the Texel: An island in the Waddenzee, off the coast of Holland.
4 J stay’d only a Night…lost: From William Temple, Memoirs of What Pass’d in Christendom, from the War Begun in 1672, to the Peace Concluded 1679 (London: Samuel Buckley, 1709), pp. 34-5, 105.
5 Mirabilis Annis: From Mirabilis Annus Secundus; or, the Second Year of Prodigies; Being a True and Impartial Collection of Many Strange Signes and Apparitions, which Have This Last Year Been Seen in the Heavens, and in the Earth, and in the Waters (London, 1662), pp. 54-9.
6 lest we likewise perish: Luke 13:3.
7 Fane: Weathervane.
8 Audley-End House…Earl of Suffolk: Audley End House, a vast Jacobean mansion, was built in the early seventeenth century for the Earls of Suffolk. The lighthouse designer Henry Winstanley (1644-1703), who lost his life in the storm, was brought up at Audley End, where his father was head steward.
9 Hampton-Court: A Thames-side Tudor palace built in 1516 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (c. 1475-1530), chief political advisor to Henry VIII. Henry requisitioned the palace and rebuilt it as a royal residence following Wolsey’s later fall from favour. It was to be William III’s favourite palace.
10 Sir Edward Harly: Sir Edward Harley (1624-1700), governor of Dunkirk.
11 a Pole in Length: A pole is equivalent to a rod, i.e. 16.5 feet (5.029 metres).
12 the white Tower: Part of the Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century, with four corner cupolas added during the reign of Henry VIII.
13 the several Triumphant Arches: James I had seven triumphal arches built along the route of his coronation in 1603.
14 some of the Heads…Westminster-Hall: The heads of executed traitors were displayed on the outer walls of Westminster Hall.
15 he only knows…the Dust of his Feet: Nahum 1:3. Defoe cites this passage on the title-page of The Storm, and takes it as his text for The Lay-Man’s Sermon upon the Late Storm.
16 Meridian: Greatest.
17 Leagues: One league was equivalent to just under three nautical miles (just under five kilometres).
18 the Nore: A sandbank in the outer Thames Estuary, which was marked by a warning buoy.
19 Sir Cloudsly Shovel: Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1650-1707), commander of the fleet, who was to die in a shipwreck off the Scilly Isles in October 1707.
20 the Gunfleet: A sandbank in the Thames estuary, off Clacton.
21 Tenders and Victuallers: Ships carrying fuel, water and food for the fleet.
22 Admiral Dilks…Lisbon: Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Dilkes (c. 1667-1707); for the ‘King of Spain’ and his trip to Lisbon see note 23 to Ch. III.
23 Admiral Callenberge: Vice-Admiral Gerrit van Callenburgh (1642-1722). Defoe questions his abilities in The Lay-Man’s Sermon upon the Late Storm, p. 195.
24 Paris Gazetteer: A French newspaper, founded in the seventeenth century, the contents of which were regularly summarized in the London press.
OF THE EFFECTS OF THE STORM
1 Fox, Grimston, Holinshead or Stow: The four long history books mentioned here are: John Fox, Book of Martyrs, 2 vols. (London: John Daye, 1570); Sir Harbottle Grimston, The Reports of Sr George Croke, &c. (London: R. Hodgkinsonne, 1658); Raphael Holinshed, The Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, 3 vols. (London: John Harrison, 1577); and John Stow, A Survey of London (London: John Wolfe, 1598).
I. Of the Damages in the City of London
1 Earls of Northampton: A notable royalist family that included Henry Compton (163 2-1713), Bishop of London.
2 Bills of Mortality: Parish burial records, which were published on a weekly basis.
3 Coin of the House: Corner-stone, also known as coin-stone or quoin.
4 a Wherry: A passenger boat.
5 the Indraft: Inward flow of air.
6 Cardinal Woolsey: Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey (c. 1475-1530), chief political advisor to Henry VIII.
II. Of the Damages in the Country
1 riving: Tearing or rending.
2 Circumgyration: A circular course of movement.
3 Fell-mongers: Dealers in animal skins.
4 Rouses: Rice, that is, brushwood twigs.
5 Plummer: Plumber, a craftsman working in lead.
6 the dismal Accident of our late Bishop and Lady…remarkable: The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Richard Kidder (1633-1703) and his wife Elizabeth (c. 1638-1703) were killed at their home during the storm.
7 an Ell: 45 inches (114 cm).
8 Miserere, &c.: ‘Lord have mercy’: Psalm 51:1.
9 Ashler: Square hewn stone used in building.
10 Munnel: Mullion, a vertical bar dividing the windowpanes.
11 Trenchard: Trencher, a plate for serving food.
12 Loads: The maximum amount that could be carried by a single horse or cart.
13 Imprimus: In the first place.
14 Stadle: Platform or base.
15 Holms: Holly trees.
16 Causeth the Vapours…remembrance: Psalm 135:7; Ecclesiasticus 17:9.
17 Closes: Enclosed fields.
18 Deals: Deal-boards, thin planks made of fir or pine timber.
19 Perches: The same as poles and rods, a measure equivalent to 16.5 feet (5.029 metres).
20 Bed-teaster: Tester, the canopy over a four-poster bed.
21 Hoy: Sea-going passenger sloop.
22 Pannel of Pales: Fence-panels.
23 lights: Small panes of glass.
24 Furlongs: A furlong is one eighth of a mile (220 yards or 201 metres).
25 Hogsheds: Large wooden casks that could hold around 52.5 gallons (239 litres) of liquid or other goods.
26 the Watch: Night watchmen patrolled the streets of London until the late nineteenth century.
27 That a Physician…therewith: From Philosophical Transactions, vol. 24 (1704-5), p. 1534.
28 Anthony van Lauwenhoek, F. R. S.: The Dutch naturalist and microscope-maker Anthony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) was a regular correspondent to the Philosophical Transactions. This letter appeared in vol. 24 (1704-5), pp. 1535-7.
29 Quick-silver: Mercury.
Of the Damages on the Water
1 Negoce: Commerce.
2 Sheet Anchor: The largest anchor on a ship, used only in emergencies.
3 Groundsils, Cap-heads: Timber foundations, tops of shafts.
4 Wood-buss: A boat or barge carrying wood.
5 Ruff-cast: Rough-cast, a lime and gravel wall coating.
6 Moars: Roots.
7 Pink: A large vessel with a narrow stern.
8 Shrouds: Ropes leading down from the head of a mast.
9 Saltterns: Boats laden with salt.
10 Healing: Roofing.
11 the Cob: The Cobb, Lyme Regis’s distinctively curved harbour wall.
12 Hookers: One-masted fishing smacks.
13 the Rear Admiral of the Blew: The fleet was made up of three squadrons, the red, the white and the blue, each squadron having its own admiral, vice-admiral and rear-admiral.
14 small Bower Anchor: One of the two anchors carried at the bows of a vessel.
15 Kedge Anchor: Small mooring anchor.
16 bonet: Bonnet, an extra piece of canvas laced to the foot of a sail.
17 Slop-Seller: A dealer in ready-made clothing for sea-goers.
18 Boltsprits: Bowsprits, large spars pointing forwards from the bows of ships.
19 Watermen: Ferrymen.
20 Lighters: Flat-bottomed barges used for unloading larger ships.
21 Flambro: Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire.
22 advice Boat: Intelligence, or dispatch, boat.
23 Ricebank: A sea-wall made of brushwood.
24 Sir Stafford Fairborn: Sir Stafford Fairborne (c. 1660-1742), vice-admiral of the red.
25 From Abel Boyer, The History of the Reign of Queen Anne, Digested into Annals: Year the Second (London: F. Coggan, 1704), Appendix II, pp. 8-11.
26 Port: A shutter covering a porthole.
27 Gun-Wale: The timbers running along the top of a ship’s sides.
28 Belle Isle: Belem, a magnificent harbour town to the west of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, was known to the British as Belle-Isle.
29 Privateers: Privately owned armed vessels authorized to attack enemy merchant and naval shipping.
Of the Damage to the Navy
1 Mr. Winstanly: Henry Winstanley (1644-1703), the doomed designer of the Eddystone Lighthouse.
Of the Earthquake
1 Pharos: The Lighthouse of Alexandria, built c. 290 BC, and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
2 Innocent’s Day: Childermas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents: 28 December.
3 Mr. Thorsby of Leeds in Yorkshire: Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725), Yorkshire antiquary and topographer.
4 December 1703: See Philosophical Transactions, vol. 24 (1704-5), pp. 1555-8.
Of Remarkable Deliverances
1 as David said to Jonathan…outward Appearance: 1 Samuel 20:3.
2 Reeks: Ricks.
3 Clavel: The lintel over a fireplace.
4 Funnels: Flues.
5 Rother: Rudder.
6 shoul Water: Shallow water.
7 Hallelujah…Hallelujah: See Psalm 148: 1-14.
8 Ground Tackle: Ropes and cables used for anchoring.
9 Haiser: Hawser, a rope or cable used for mooring.
10 the Board: The sides of the ship.
11 Jury Missen: Temporary sail attached to the mizzen-mast.
12 the Brill: Brielle, a Dutch port served by Harwich packet-boats during the 17th and 18th centuries.
13 Weather-shore: A windward shore.
The Conclusion
1 We receiv’d a Letter…excuse Us: Bishop Kidder made many enemies during his career, among the last of whom was the Revd Samuel Hill, Rector of Kilmington, Somerset, who may well have been responsible for the anonymous letter sent from nearby Somerton.
THE LAY-MAN’S SERMON UPON THE LATE STORM
1 Nineveh: The capital of the Assyrian Empire, destroyed by Babylonian-led forces in 612 BC.
2 the Lord is…acquit the wicked: Nahum 1:3.
3 God is jealous…his Enemies: Nahum 1:2.
4 Elija…God in Israel: 1 Kings 18:27-36.
5 That if a Nation…their King: 1 Samuel 12:25.
6 Miserere Dei: God have mercy. For the story of the carpenter see The Storm, p. 59.
7 Jacobites and Non-Jurants: Jacobites were supporters of the deposed Stuart King James II (1685-8) and his descendants, whom they regarded as their lawful sovereigns; non-jurors were members of the clergy who refused to swear the oath of allegiance to William and Mary, the monarchs who replaced James II in 1689.
8 Occasional Conformists: Some Dissenters practised Occasional Conformity, which involved taking communion once a year in an Anglican church, in order to comply with the Test Act of 1673, while continuing to worship regularly at a Nonconformist chapel. Defoe wrote a number of pamphlets attacking the practice, which he described as ‘playing Bo-peep with God Almighty’.
9 the late King William: William, Prince of Orange (1650-1702), crowned William III in 1689, died on 8 March 1702 after falling from his horse while out riding in Hampton Court Park.
10 the Streights: The Straits of Gibraltar, the entrance to the Mediterranean, where the English fleet had had a generally unsuccessful campaign during the summer of 1703.
11 pay so dear for Coals: In order to pay for the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire of 1666, the tax on coal was raised; many coal-merchants took advantage of this by raising their prices even further, some of them, allegedly, inventing stories of robbery by French privateers in order to justify the increase. See the Review, 8 April 1704.
12 If Mr. Sachaverell…Guilty: Defoe’s model for The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters was the High Church minister Dr Henry Sacheverell (c. 1674-1724), who preached a sermon in Oxford on 2 June 1702 against toleration of the Dissenters, in which he called upon his followers to ‘hang out the bloody flag, and banner of defiance’.
13 If Dr. J—ne…not Guilty: Henry Sacheverell (see above) was the author of The Character of a Low-Churchman (1702), while the non-juror Charles Leslie (1650-1722), was author of the New Association (c. 1700, part II, 1703). In 1685 Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which extended religious freedom to the Protestant Huguenots, many of whom fled to England during the ensuing persecution.
14 If Sir John Friend…Repentance: Sir John Friend (d.1696) and Sir William Parkyns (c. 1649-1696) were both executed in 1696 for their part in a conspirac
y to assassinate William III in 1695. Jeremy Collier (1650-1726),and two other non-juring clergymen (Snett and Cook) gave public absolution to the prisoners at the gallows, for which they were themselves arrested.
15 Fuller: William Fuller (1670-1733), Dissenting pamphleteer, who was pilloried and imprisoned in 1703, as was Defoe only a few months later.
16 Father P—, my Lord S—: Father P—is William Bentinck, first Earl of Portland (1649-1709), at one time William III’s closest friend and advisor; John, Lord Somers (1651-1716), Lord Chancellor of England, was forced to resign his post in 1699.
17 the Settlement: The Act of Settlement of 1701 was a statute providing for a Protestant monarch if either William III or Anne died without an heir.
18 Our Observator: John Tutchin (c. 1661-1707), author and editor of the Whig newspaper the Observator, which he ran from April 1702 until his death in September 1707.
19 Sons of Levy: Priests and clergymen. See Deuteronomy 31:9.
20 Trimming: To adjust one’s outlook to suit the mood of the times (originally a nautical term meaning to adjust a ship’s sails to suit the prevailing wind).
21 Prelacy: A hostile term for episcopacy, the system of church government by prelates or lordly bishops.
22 Thanksgiveing for Victories: The Duke of Marlborough’s successful military campaign of 1702 was marked by a thanksgiving service and a grand procession through London on 12 November 1702. See also note 24 below.
23 against it self: ‘And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand’: Mark 3:24.
24 The D—of M—…Mannagement: John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), a supporter of William III, was created a duke in 1702 at the accession of his wife’s friend Anne. He was commander-in-chief of the allied forces during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-13).
25 his hand is Stretched out still: Isaiah 5:25.
26 the Persons…of this War: The various admirals of the Anglo-Dutch fleet, under the command of Sir George Rooke (1650-1709), had had a generally unsuccessful campaign season during the summer of 1703.
