Wee Are Now In The Passage, And He That Brought Us, Which Was One Of The
Commissioners Called Collonell George Carteret, Was Taken By The
Hollanders, And Wee Arrived In England In A Very Bad Time For The Plague
And The Warrs.
Being at Oxford, wee went to Sir George Carteret, who spoke
to his Majestie, who gave us good hopes
That wee should have a ship ready
for the next spring, and that the king did allow us 40 shillings a week for
our maintenance, and wee had chambers in the Town by his order, where wee
stayed 3 months. Afterwards the King came to London and sent us to Windsor,
where wee stayed the rest of the winter. Wee are sent for from that place,
the season growing neare, and put into the hands of Sir Peter Colleton. The
ship was got ready something too late, and our master was not fit for such
a Designe. But the Hollanders being come to the River of Thames had stopp'd
the passage, soe wee lost that opportunity. So wee were put off till the
next yeare, & a little while after that same ship was sent to Virginia and
other places to know some news of the Barbadoes, and to be informed if that
Island was not in danger; which if it had been lost, had taken from the
English Ladyes the meanes or the pleasure of drinking french wine. Those of
Burdeaux & of Rochell were great loosers in the expectation of the ship,
that was not gone to the Isle of Sand, but to Holland. Wee lost our second
voyage, for the order was given to late for the fitting another ship, which
cost a great deale of money to noe purpose. The third yeare wee went out
with a new company in 2 small vessells, my Brother in one & I in another, &
wee went together 400 leagues from the North of Ireland, where a sudden
great storme did rise & put us asunder. The sea was soe furious 6 or 7
houres after that it did almost overturne our ship, so that wee were forced
to cut our masts rather then cutt our lives; but wee came back safe, God be
thanked, and the other, I hope, is gone on his voyage, God be with him. I
hope to embarke myselfe by the helpe of God this fourth yeare, & I beseech
him to grant me better successe then I have had hitherto, & beseech him to
give me Grace & to make me partaker of that everlasting happinesse which is
the onely thing a man ought to look after.
I have here put the names of severall Nations amongst which I have been for
the most part, which I think may extend to some 900 leagues by the
reckoning of my Travells.
The names of the Nations that live in the South: -
