I understand you are a Person concerned in making up a Collection of

some remarkable accidents that happened by the Violence of the late

dreadful Storm. I here present you with one of the like. I presume

you never heard before, nor hope may never hear again of a Ship that

was blown from her Anchors out of _Helford Haven_ to the _Isle of

Wight_, in less than eight hours, _viz._ The Ship lay in _Helford

Haven_ about two Leagues and a half Westward of _Falmouth_, being

laden with Tin, which was taken on Board from _Guague_ Wharf, about

five or six miles up _Helford_ River, the Commanders name was

_Anthony Jenkins_, who lives at _Falmouth_. About eight Clock in the

Evening before the Storm begun, the said Commander and Mate came on

Board and ordered the Crew that he left on Board, which was but one

Man and 2 Boys; that if the Wind should chance to blow hard (which

he had some apprehension of) to carry out the small Bower Anchor,

and moor the Ship by 2 Anchors, and gave them some other orders, and

his Mate and he went ashoar, and left the Crew aforesaid on Board;

about nine a Clock the Wind began to blow, then they carried out the

small Bower (as directed) it continued blowing harder and harder at

West North West, at last the Ship began to drive, then they were

forced to let go the best Bower Anchor which brought the Ship up.

The Storm increasing more, they let go the Kedge Anchor, which was

all they had to let go, so that the Ship rid with four Anchors a

head: Between eleven and twelve a Clock the Wind came about West and

by South in a most Terrible and Violent manner, that notwithstanding

a very high Hill just to Windward of the Ship, and four Anchors

ahead, she was drove from all her Anchors; and about twelve a Clock

drove out of the Harbour without Anchor or Cable, nor so much as a

Boat left in case they could put into any Harbour. In dreadful

condition the Ship drove out clear of the Rocks to Sea, where the

Man with the two Boys consulted what to do, at last resolved to keep

her far enough to Sea, for fear of _Deadman's Head_, being a point

of Land between _Falmouth_ and _Plimouth_, the latter of which

places they designed to run her in, if possible, to save their

Lives; the next morning in this frighted condition they steer'd her

clear of the Land (to the best of their skill) sometimes almost

under Water, and sometimes a top, with only the bonet of her

Foresail out, and the Fore yard almost lower'd to the Deck; but

instead of getting into _Plymouth_ next day as intended, they were

far enough off that Port, for the next morning they saw Land, which

proved to be _Peverel_ Point, a little to the Westward of the _Isle

of Wight_; so that they were in a worse Consternation then before,

for over-running their designed Port by seven a Clock, they found

themselves off the _Isle of Wight_; where they consulted again what

to do to save their Lives, one of the Boys was for running her into

the _Downs_, but that was objected against, by reason they had no

Anchors nor Boat, and the Storm blowing off shore in the _Downs_,

they should be blown on the unfortunate _Goodwin Sands_ and lost.

Now comes the last consultation for their lives, there was one of

the Boys said he had been in a certain Creek in the _Isle of

Wight_, where between the Rocks he believed there was room enough to

run the Ship in and save their Lives, and desired to have the Helm

from the Man, and he would venture to steer the Ship into the said

place, which he according did, where there was only just room

between Rock and Rock for the Ship to come in, where she gave one

blow or two against the Rocks, and sunk immediately, but the Man and

two Boys jumpt ashore, and all the Lading being Tin was saved, (and

for their Conduct and Risk they run) they were all very well

gratified, and the Merchants well satisfied.

_Your Friend and Servant_,

_May_ 28. 1704. R.P.

And here I cannot omit that great Notice has been taken of the

Towns-people of _Deal_ who are blam'd, and I doubt not with too much

Reason for their great Barbarity in neglecting to save the Lives of

abundance of poor Wretches; who having hung upon the Masts and Rigging

of the Ships, or floated upon the broken Pieces of Wrecks, had gotten a

Shore upon the _Goodwin Sands_ when the Tide was out.

It was, without doubt, a sad Spectacle to behold the poor Seamen walking

too and fro upon the Sands, to view their Postures, and the Signals they

made for help, which, by the Assistance of Glasses was easily seen from

the Shore.

Here they had a few Hours Reprieve, but had neither present Refreshment,

nor any hopes of Life, for they were sure to be all wash'd into another

World at the Reflux of the Tide. Some Boats are said to come very near

them in quest of Booty, and in search of Plunder, and to carry off what

they could get, but no Body concern'd themselves for the Lives of these

miserable Creatures.

And yet I cannot but incert what I have receiv'd from very good Hands in

behalf of one Person in that Town, whose Humanity deserves this

remembrance, and I am glad of the Opportunity of doing some Justice in

this Case to a Man of so much Charity in a Town of so little.

Mr. _Thomas Powell_, of _Deal_, a Slop-Seller by Trade, and at that

time Mayor of the Town. The Character of his Person I need not dwell

upon here, other than the ensuing Accounts will describe, for when I

have said he is a Man of Charity and Courage, there is little I need to

add to it, to move the Reader to value both his Person, and his Memory;

and tho' I am otherwise a perfect Stranger to him, I am very well

pleased to transmit to Posterity the Account of his Behaviour, as an

Example to all good Christians to imitate on the like Occasions.

He found himself mov'd with Compasion at the Distresses of the poor

Creatures, whom he saw as aforesaid in that miserable Condition upon the

Sands, and the first Thing he did, he made Application to the

Custom-House Officers for the Assistance of their Boats and Men, to save

the Lives of as many as they could come at, the Custom House Men rudely

refus'd, either to send their Men, or to part with their Boats.

Provoked with the unnatural Carriage of the Custom House Officers, he

calls the People about him; and finding some of the Common People began

to be more than ordinarily affected with the Distresses of their

Countrymen, and as he thought a little enclin'd to venture; he made a

general Offer to all that would venture out, that he would pay them out

of his own Pocket _5s. per head_ for all the Men whose Lives they could

save, upon this Proposal several offered themselves to go, if he would

furnish 'em with Boats.

Finding the main Point clear, and that he had brought the Men to be

willing, he with their Assistance took away the Custom House Boats by

Force; and tho' he knew he could not justify it, and might be brought

into Trouble for it, and particularly if it were lost, might be oblig'd

to pay for it, yet he resolv'd to venture that, rather than hazard the

loss of his Design, for the saving so many poor Men's Lives, and having

Mann'd their Boat with a Crew of stout honest Fellows, he with them took

away several other Boats from other Persons, who made use of them only

to Plunder and Rob, not regarding the Distresses of the poor Men.

Being thus provided both with Men and Boats he sent them off, and by

this means brought on Shore above 200 Men, whose Lives a few Minutes

after, must infallibly ha' been lost.

Nor was this the End of his Care, for when the Tide came in, and 'twas

too late to go off again, for that all that were left were swallow'd up

with the Raging of the Sea, his Care was then to relieve the poor

Creatures, who he had sav'd, and who almost dead with Hunger and Cold,

were naked and starving.

And first he applied himself to the Queen's Agent _for Sick and Wounded

Seamen_, but he would not relieve them with One Penny, whereupon, at his

own Charge, he furnish'd them with Meat, Drink and Lodging.

The next Day several of them died, the Extremities they had suffer'd,

having too much Master'd their Spirits, these he was forc'd to bury also

at his own Charge, the Agent still refusing to Disburse one Penny.

After their Refreshment the poor Men assisted by the Mayor, made a fresh

Application to the Agent for Conduct Money to help them up to _London_,

but he answer'd he had no Order, and would Disburse nothing, whereupon

the Mayor gave them all Money in their Pockets, and Passes to

_Graves-End_.

I wish I could say with the same Freedom, that he receiv'd the Thanks of

the Government, and Reimbursement of his Money as he deserv'd, but in

this I have been inform'd, he met with great Obstructions and Delays,

tho' at last, after long Attendance, upon a right Application I am

inform'd he obtain'd the repayment of his Money, and some small

Allowance for his Time spent in solliciting for it.

Nor can the Damage suffered in the River of _Thames_ be forgot. It was a

strange sight to see all the Ships in the River blown away, the Pool was

so clear, that as I remember, not above 4 Ships were left between the

Upper part of _Wapping_, and _Ratcliff Cross_, for the Tide being up at

the Time when the Storm blew with the greatest violence. No Anchors or

Landfast, no Cables or Moorings would hold them, the Chains which lay

cross the River for the mooring of Ships, all gave way.

The Ships breaking loose thus, it must be a strange sight to see the

Hurry and Confusion of it, and as some Ships had no Body at all on

Board, and a great many had none but a Man or Boy left on Board just to

look after the Vessel, there was nothing to be done, but to let every

Vessel drive whither and how she would.

Those who know the Reaches of the River, and how they lye, know well

enough, that the Wind being at South West Westerly, the Vessels would

naturally drive into the Bite or Bay from _Ratcliff Cross_ to

_Lime-house Hole_, for that the River winding about again from thence

towards the New Dock at _Deptford_, runs almost due South West, so that

the Wind blew down one Reach, and up another, and the Ships must of

necessity drive into the bottom of the Angle between both.

This was the Case, and as the Place is not large, and the Number of

Ships very great, the force of the Wind had driven them so into one

another, and laid them so upon one another as it were in heaps, that I

think a Man may safely defy all the World to do the like.

The Author of this Collection had the curiosity the next day to view the

place and to observe the posture they lay in, which nevertheless 'tis

impossible to describe; there lay, by the best Account he could take,

few less than 700 sail of Ships, some very great ones between _Shadwel_

and _Limehouse_ inclusive, the posture is not to be imagined, but by

them that saw it, some Vessels lay heeling off with the Bow of another

Ship over her Waste, and the Stem of another upon her Fore-Castle, the

Boltsprits of some drove into the Cabbin Windows of others; some lay

with their Sterns tossed up so high, that the Tide flowed into their

Fore-Castles before they cou'd come to Rights; some lay so leaning upon

others, that the undermost Vessels wou'd sink before the other could

float; the numbers of Masts, Boltsprits and Yards split and broke, the

staving the Heads, and Sterns and Carved Work, the tearing and

destruction of Rigging, and the squeezing of Boats to pieces between the

Ships, is not to be reckoned; but there was hardly a Vessel to be seen

that had not suffer'd some damage or other in one or all of these

Articles.

There was several Vessels sunk in this hurry, but as they were generally

light Ships, the damage was chiefly to the Vessels; but there were two

Ships sunk with great quantity of Goods on Board, the _Russel_ Galley

was sunk at _Lime-house_, being a great part laden with Bale Goods for

the _Streights_, and the _Sarah_ Gally lading for _Leghorn_, sunk at an

Anchor at _Blackwall_; and though she was afterwards weighed and brought

on shore, yet her back was broke, or so otherwise disabled, as she was

never fit for the Sea; there were several Men drown'd in these last two

Vessels, but we could never come to have the particular number.

Near _Gravesend_ several Ships drove on shoar below _Tilbury_ Fort, and

among them five bound for the _West Indies_, but as the shoar is ouzy

and soft, the Vessels sat upright and easy, and here the high Tides

which follow'd, and which were the ruin of so many in other places, were

the deliverance of all these Ships whose lading and value was very

great, for the Tide rising to an unusual height, floated them all off,

and the damage was not so great as was expected.

If it be expected I should give an account of the loss, and the

particulars relating to small Craft, _as the Sailors call it_, in the

River it is to look for what is impossible, other than by generals.

The Watermen tell us of above 500 Wheries lost, most of which were not

sunk only but dasht to pieces one against another, or against the Shores

and Ships, where they lay: Ship Boats without number were driven about

in every corner, sunk and staved, and about 300 of them is supposed to

be lost. Above 60 Barges and Lighters were found driven foul of the

_Bridge_: some Printed accounts tell us of sixty more sunk or staved

between the _Bridge_ and _Hammersmith_.

Abundance of Lighters and Barges drove quite thro' the _Bridge_, and

took their fate below, whereof many were lost, so that we Reckon by a

modest account above 100 Lighters and Barges lost and spoil'd in the

whole, not reckoning such as with small damage were recovered.

In all this confusion it could not be, but that many Lives were lost,

but as the _Thames_ often times Buries those it drowns, there has been

no account taken. Two Watermen at _Black Fryars_ were drowned,

endeavouring to save their Boat; and a Boat was said to be Overset near

_Fulham_, and five People drown'd: According to the best account I have

seen, about 22 People were drown'd in the River upon this sad occasion,

which considering all circumstances is not a great many, and the damage

to Shipping computed with the vast number of Ships then in the River,

the Violence of the Storm, and the heighth of the Tide, confirms me in

the Truth of that Opinion, which I have heard many skilful Men own,

_viz._ that the River of _Thames_ is the best Harbour of _Europe_.

The heighth of the Tide, as I have already observ'd, did no great damage

in the River of _Thames_, and I find none of the Levels or Marshes,

which lye on both sides the River overflowed with it, it fill'd the

Cellars indeed at _Gravesend_, and on both sides in _London_, and the

Alehouse-keepers suffered some loss as to their Beer, but this damage is

not worth mentioning with what our Accounts give us from the _Severn_;

which, besides the particular Letters we have already quoted, the Reader

may observe in the following, what our general intelligence furnishes us

with.

The Damages in the City of _Gloucester_ they compute at 12000 _l._ above

15000 Sheep drown'd in the Levels on the side of the _Severne_, and the

Sea Walls will cost, as these Accounts tell us, 5000 _l._ to repair, all

the Country lyes under Water for 20 or 30 Miles together on both sides,

and the Tide rose three Foot higher than the tops of the Banks.

At _Bristol_ they tell us, The Tide fill'd their Cellars, spoil'd 1000

Hogsheads of Sugar, 1500 Hogsheds of Tobacco, and the Damage they reckon

at 100000 _l._ Above 80 People drown'd in the Marshes and River, Several

whole Families perishing together.

The Harbour at _Plimouth_, the Castle at _Pendennis_, the Cathederal at

_Gloucester_, the great Church at _Berkely_, the Church of St.

_Stephen's_ at _Bristol_; the Churches at _Blandford_, at _Bridgewater_,

at _Cambridge_, and generally the Churches all over _England_ have had a

great share of the Damage.

In _King Road_ at _Bristol_, the Damage by Sea is also very great; the

_Canterbury_ store Ship was driven on Shoar, and twenty-five of her Men

drown'd, as by our account of the Navy will more particularly appear,

the _Richard and John_, the _George_, and the _Grace_ sunk, and the

number of People lost is variously reported.

These Accounts in the four last Paragraphs being abstracted from the

publick Prints, and what other Persons collect, I desire the Reader will

observe, are not particularly vouch'd, but as they are all true in

substance, they are so far to be depended upon, and if there is any

mistake it relates to Numbers, and quantity only.

From _Yarmouth_ we expected terrible News, and every one was impatient

till they saw the Accounts from thence, for as there was a very great

Fleet there, both of laden Colliers, _Russia_ Men, and others, there was

nothing to be expected but a dreadful Destruction among them.

But it pleas'd God to order Things there, that the loss was not in

Proportion like what it was in other Places, not but that it was very

great too.

The _Reserve_ Man of War was come in but a day or two before, Convoy to

the great Fleet from _Russia_, and the Captain, Surgeon and Clerk, who

after so long a Voyage went on Shoar with two Boats to refresh

themselves, and buy Provisions, had the Mortification to stand on Shoar,

and see the Ship sink before their Faces; she foundred about 11-a-Clock,

and as the Sea went too high for any help to go off from the Shoar to

them, so their own Boats being both on Shoar, there was not one Man

sav'd; one _Russia_ Ship driving from her Anchors, and running foul of a

laden Collier sunk by his side, but some of her Men were sav'd by

getting on Board the Collier; three or four small Vessels were driven

out to Sea, and never heard of more; as for the Colliers, tho' most of

them were driven from their Anchors, yet going away to Sea, we have not

an account of many lost.

This next to the Providence of God, I give this reason for, first by all

Relations it appears that the Storm was not so violent farther

Northward, as it was there; and as it was not so Violent, so neither did

it continue so long: Now those Ships, who found they could not ride it

out in _Yarmouth_ Roads, but slipping their Cables went away to Sea,

possibly as they went away to the Northward, found the Weather more

moderate at least, not so violent, but it might be borne with, to this

may be added, that 'tis well known to such as use the Coast after they

had run the length of _Flambro_, they had the benefit of the Weather

Shoar, and pretty high land, which if they took shelter under might help

them very much; these, with other Circumstances, made the Damage much

less than every Body expected, and yet as it was, it was bad enough as

our Letter from _Hull_ gives an Account. At _Grimsby_ it was still worse

as to the Ships, where almost all the Vessels were blown out of the

Road, and a great many lost.

At _Plymouth_ they felt a full Proportion of the Storm in its utmost

fury, the _Edystone_ has been mention'd already, but it was a double

loss in that, the light House had not been long down, when the

_Winchelsea_, a homeward bound _Virginia_ Man was split upon the Rock,

where that Building stood, and most of her Men drowned.

Three other Merchant Ships were cast away in _Plimouth_ Road, and most

of their Men lost: The _Monk_ Man of War rode it out, but was oblig'd to

cut all her Masts by the Board, as several Men of War did in other

places.

At _Portsmouth_ was a great Fleet, as has been noted already, several of

the Ships were blown quite out to Sea, whereof some were never heard of

more; the _Newcastle_ was heard off upon the Coast of _Sussex_, where

she was lost with all their Men but 23; the _Resolution_, the _Eagle_

advice Boat, and the _Litchfield_ Prize felt the same fate, only sav'd

their Men: From _Cows_ several Ships were driven out to Sea, whereof one

run on Shoar in _Stokes-bay_, one full of Soldiers, and two Merchant Men

have never been heard off, as I could ever learn, abundance of the Ships

sav'd themselves by cutting down their Masts, and others Stranded, but

by the help of the ensuing Tides got off again.

_Portsmouth_, _Plymouth_, _Weymouth_, and most of our Sea Port Towns

look'd as if they had been Bombarded, and the Damage of them is not

easily computed.

Several Ships from the _Downs_ were driven over to the Coast of

_Holland_, and some sav'd themselves there; but several others were lost

there.

At _Falmouth_ 11 Sail of Ships were stranded on the Shoar, but most of

them got off again.

In _Barstable_ Harbour, a Merchant Ship outward bound was over-set, and

the express advice Boat very much shatter'd, and the Quay of the Town

almost destroy'd.

'Tis endless to attempt any farther Description of Losses, no place was

free either by Land or by Sea, every thing that was capable felt the

fury of the Storm; and 'tis hard to say, whether was greater the loss

by Sea, or by Land; the Multitude of brave stout Sailors is a melancholy

subject, and if there be any difference gives the sad Ballance to the

Account of the Damage by Sea.

We had an Account of about 11 or 12 Ships droven over for the Coast of

_Holland_, most of which were lost, but the Men saved, so that by the

best Calculation I can make, we have not lost less than 150 sail of

Vessels of all sorts by the Storm; the number of Men and other damages,

are Calculated elsewhere.

We have several Branches of this Story which at first were too easily

credited, and put in Print, but upon more strict examination, and by the

discoveries of Time, appear'd otherwise, and therefore are not set down.

It was in the design to have Collected the several Accounts of the fatal

effects of the Tempest abroad in Foreign Parts; but as our Accounts came

in from thence too imperfect to be depended upon; the Collector of these

Papers could not be satisfied to offer them to the World, being willing

to keep as much as possible to the Terms of his Preface.

We are told there is an Abstract to the same purpose with this in

_France_, Printed at _Paris_, and which contains a strange variety of

Accidents in that Country.

If a particular of this can be obtained, the Author Promises to put it

into _English_, and adding to them the other Accounts, which the rest of

the World can afford, together with some other Additions of the

_English_ Affairs, which could not be obtain'd in time here shall make

up the second part of this Work.

In the mean time the Reader may observe, _France_ felt the general

shock, the Peers, and Ricebank at _Dunkirk_, the Harbour at _Haver de

Grace_, the Towns of _Calais_ and _Bulloign_ give us strange Accounts.

All the Vessels in the Road before _Dunkirk_, being 23 or 27, I am not

certain, were dasht in pieces against the Peer Heads, not one excepted,

that side being a Lee shoar, the reason is plain, there was no going off

to Sea; and had it been so with us in the _Downs_ or _Yarmouth_ Roads,

it would have fared with us in the same manner, for had there been no

going off to Sea, 300 sail in _Yarmouth_ Roads had inevitably perisht.

At _Diepe_ the like mischief happened, and in proportion _Paris_ felt

the effects of it, as bad as _London_, and as a Gentleman who came from

thence since that time, affirmed it to me it was much worse.

All the N. East Countries felt it, in _Holland_ our accounts in general

are very dismal, but the Wind not being N.W. as at former Storms, the

Tyde did not drown them, nor beat so directly upon their Sea Wall.

It is not very irrational to Judge, that had the Storm beat more to the

North West, it must have driven the Sea upon them in such a manner, that

all their Dikes and Dams could not have sustained it, and what the

consequence of such an Inundation might ha' been they can best judge,

who remember the last terrible Irruption of the Sea there, which drowned

several thousand People, and Cattle without number.

But as our Foreign Accounts were not satisfactory enough to put into

this Collection, where we have promised to limit our selves by just

Vouchers, we purposely refer it all to a farther description as before.

Several of our Ships were driven over to those parts, and some lost

there, and the story of our great Ships which rid it out, at or near the

_Gunfleet_, should have come in here, if the Collector could have met

with any Person that was in any of the said Vessels, but as the accounts

he expected did not come in the time for the Impression, they were of

necessity left out.

The _Association_, a Second Rate, on Board whereof was Sir _Stafford

Fairborn_, was one of these, and was blown from the Mouth of the

_Thames_ to the Coast of _Norway_, a particular whereof as Printed in

the Annals of the Reign of Queen _Ann_'s is as follows.

_An Account of Sir_ Stafford Fairborne_'s Distress in the late Storm_.

_SIR_,

Her Majesty's Ship _Association_, a second Rate of 96 Guns,

commanded by Sir _Stafford Fairborne_, Vice-Admiral of the Red, and

under him Captain _Richard Canning_, sailed from the _Downs_ the

24th of _November_ last, in Company with seven other Capital Ships,

under the Command of the Honourable Sir _Cloudesley Shovel_, Admiral

of the White, in their return from _Leghorn_ up the River. They

anchored that Night off of the _Long-sand-head_. The next Day struck

Yards and Top-Masts. The 27th about three in the Morning, the Wind

at West South West, encreased to a Hurricane, which drove the

_Association_ from her Anchors. The Night was exceeding dark, but

what was more Dreadful, the _Galloper_, a very dangerous Sand, was

under her Lee; so that she was in Danger of striking upon it, beyond

the Power of Man to avoid it. Driving thus at the Mercy of the

Waves, it pleased God, that about five a Clock she passed over the

tail of the _Galloper_ in seven Fathom of Water. The Sea boisterous

and angry, all in a Foam, was ready to swallow her up; and the Ship

received at that time a Sea on her Starboard-side, which beat over

all, broke and washed several half Ports, and forced in the entering

Port. She took in such a vast quantity of Water, that it kept her

down upon her side, and every Body believ'd, that she could not have

risen again, had not the Water been speedily let down into the hold

by scuttling the Decks. During this Consternation two of the

Lower-Gun-Deck-Ports were pressed open by this mighty weight of

Water, the most hazardous Accident, next to touching the Ground,

that could have happened to us. But the Port, that had been forced

open, being readily secured by the Direction and Command of the

Vice-Admiral, who, though much indisposed, was upon Deck all that

time, prevented any farther Mischief. As the Ship still drove with

the Wind, she was not long in this Shoal, (where it was impossible

for any Ship to have lived at that time) but came into deeper Water,

and then she had a smoother Sea. However the Hurricane did not

abate, but rather seemed to gather Strength. For Words were no

sooner uttered, but they were carried away by the Wind, so that

although those upon Deck spoke loud and close to one another, yet

they could not often distinguish what was said; and when they opened

their Mouths, their Breath was almost taken away. Part of the Sprit

Sail, tho' fast furled, was blown away from the Yard. A

Ten-Oar-Boat, that was lashed on her Starboard-side, was often hove

up by the Strength of the Wind, and over-set upon her Gun-Wale. We

plainly saw the Wind skimming up the Water, as if it had been Sand,

carrying it up into the Air, which was then so thick and gloomy,

that Day light, which should have been comfortable to us, did, but

make it appear more ghastly. The Sun by intervals peeped through the

corner of a Cloud, but soon disappearing, gave us a more

melancholick Prospect of the Weather. About 11 a Clock it dispersed

the Clouds, and the Hurricane abated into a more moderate Storm,

which drove us over to the Bank of _Flanders_, and thence along the

Coast of _Holland_ and _Friesland_ to the entrance of the Elb, where

the 4th of _December_ we had almost as violent a Storm, as when we

drove from our Anchors, the Wind at North West, driving us directly

upon the Shoar. So that we must all have inevitably perished, had

not God mercifully favoured us about 10 a Clock at night with a

South West Wind, which gave us an opportunity to put to Sea. But

being afterwards driven near the Coast of _Norway_, the Ship wanting

Anchors and Cables, our Wood and Candles wholly expended; no Beer on

Board, nor any thing else in lieu; every one reduced to one quart of

Water _per_ Day, the Men, who had been harrassed at _Belle Isle_;

and in our _Mediterranean_ Voyage, now jaded by the continual

Fatigues of the Storms, falling sick every Day, the Vice-Admiral in

this exigency thought it advisable to put into _Gottenbourgh_, the

only Port where we could hope to be supplied. We arrived there the

11th of _December_, and having without lost of time got Anchors and

Cables from _Copenhagen_, and Provisions from _Gottenbourgh_, we

sailed thence the Third of _January_, with twelve Merchant Men under

our Convoy, all loaden with Stores for her Majesty's Navy. The

Eleventh following we prevented four _French_ Privateers from taking

four of our Store-Ships. At Night we anchored off the

_Long-Sand-Head_. Weighed again the next Day, but soon came to an

Anchor, because it was very hazy Weather. Here we rid against a

violent Storm, which was like to have put us to Sea. But after three

Days very bad Weather, we weighed and arrived to the _Buoy of the

Nore_ the 23d of _January_, having run very great Risks among the

Sands. For we had not only contrary Winds, but also very tempestuous

Winds. We lost 28 Men by Sickness, contracted by the Hardships which

they endur'd in the bad Weather; and had not Sir _Stafford

Fairborne_ by his great care and diligence, got the Ship out of

_Gottenbourgh_, and by that prevented her being frozen up, most part

of the Sailers had perished afterwards by the severity of the

Winter, which is intolerable Cold in those parts.

A LIST _of such of Her Majesty's Ships, with their Commanders Names, as

were cast away by the Violent Storm on_ Friday _Night the_ 26_th of_

November 1703. _the Wind having been from the_ S.W. _to_ W.S.W. _and

the Storm continuing from about Midnight to past Six in the Morning_.

| | _Number of | |

| | Men before | |

Rates. | Ships. | the Storm._ | Guns. | Commanders.

-------------+----------------+---------------+-------+---------------

Fourth-- | Reserve-- | 258 | 54 | John Anderson--

| | | |

{| Northumberland | 253 | 70 | James Greenway

Third-- {| Restoration-- | 386 | 70 | Fleetwood Emes

{| Sterling | 349 | 70 | John Johnson--

{| Castle-- | | |

| | | |

Fourth-- | Mary-- | 273 | 64 | Rear Admiral

| | | | Beaumont,

| | | | Edward Hopson

| | | |

| Vigo-- | 212 | 54 | Thomas Long--

Bomb. Vessel | Mortar-- | 59 | 12 | Raymond Raymond

Advice Boat | Eagle-- | 42 | 10 | Nathan Bostock--

Third-- | Resolution-- | 211 | 70 | Thomas Liell--

Fourth-- | Newcastle-- | 233 | 46 | William Carter--

Storeship | Canterbury-- | 31 | 8 | Thomas Blake--

Bomb-Vessel | Portsmouth-- | 44 | 4 | George Hawes--

-------------+----------------+---------------+-------+---------------

Commanders. | Places where |

| lost. |

------------------------+----------------+----------------------------

John Anderson-- | Yarmouth Roads | Her Captain, Purser, Master,

| | Chyrsurgeon, Clerk and

| | Sixteen Men were Ashoar,

| | the rest drowned.

James Greenway }| ---- ---- }| All their men lost.

Fleetwood Emes }| ---- ---- }|

John Johnson-- }| ---- | Third Lieutenant, Chaplain,

}| | Cook Chyrsurgeon's Mate;

}| | four Marine Captains, and

}| Goodwin Sands | sixty-two Men saved.

}| |

Rear Admiral Beaumont, }| ---- | Only one Man saved by

Edward Hopson }| | Swimming from Wreck to Wreck,

}| | and getting to the Sterling

}| | Castle; the Captain Ashoar,

}| | as also the Purser.

Thomas Long-- |} Holland-- | Her Company saved except

Raymond Raymond |} | four.

Nathan Bostock-- | Selsey-- }| Their Officers and Men saved.

Thomas Liell-- | Pemsey-- }|

William Carter-- | Drove from | Carpenter and twenty-three

| Spithead and | Men saved.

| lost upon the |

| Coast near |

| Chichester. |

Thomas Blake-- | Bristol-- | Captain and twenty-five Men

| | drown'd; the Ship recover'd

| | and order'd to be sold.

George Hawes-- | Nore-- | Officers and Men lost.

------------------------+----------------+----------------------------

The Van Guard, a Second Rate, was over-set at Chatham, but no Men lost,

the Ship not being fitted out.

_Of the Damage to the Navy_

This is a short but terrible Article, there was one Ship called the

_York_, which was lost about 3 days before the great Storm off of

_Harwich_, but most of the Men were saved.

The loss immediately sustain'd in the Royal Navy during the Storm, is

included in the List hereunto annex'd, as appears from the Navy Books.

The damage done to the Ships that were sav'd, is past our Power to

compute. The Admiral, Sir _Cloudesley Shovel_ with the great Ships, had

made sail but the day before out of the _Downs_, and were taken with the

Storm as they lay at or near the _Gunfleet_, where they being well

provided with Anchors and Cables, rid it out, tho' in great extremity,

expecting death every minute.

The loss of small Vessels hir'd into the Service, and tending the Fleet,

is not included in this, nor can well be, several such Vessels, and some

with Soldiers on Board, being driven away to Sea, and never heard of

more.

The loss of the _Light-House_, call'd the _Eddystone_ at _Plymouth_, is

another Article, of which we never heard any particulars other than

this; that at Night it was standing, and in the Morning all the upper

part from the Gallery was blown down, and all the People in it perished,

and by a particular Misfortune, Mr. _Winstanly_, the Contriver of it, a

Person whose loss is very much regreted by such as knew him, as a very

useful Man to his Country: The loss of that _Light-House_ is also a

considerable Damage, as 'tis very doubtful whether it will be ever

attempted again, and as it was a great Security to the Sailors, many a

good Ship having been lost there in former Times.

It was very remarkable, that, as we are inform'd, at the same time the

_Light-House_ abovesaid was blown down, the Model of it in Mr.

_Windstanly_'s House at _Littlebury_ in _Essex_, above 200 Miles from

the _Light-House_, fell down, and was broken to pieces.

There are infinite Stories of like nature with these, the Disasters at

Sea are full of a vast variety, what we have recommended to the view of

the World in this History, may stand as an Abridgment; and the Reader is

only to observe that these are the short Representations, by which he

may guess at the most dreadful Night, these parts of the World ever saw.

To relate all Things, that report Furnishes us with, would be to make

the story exceed common probability, and look like Romance.

Tis a sad and serious Truth, and this part of it is preserv'd to

Posterity to assist them in reflecting on the Judgments of God, and

handing them on for the Ages to come.

_Of the_ Earthquake

Tho' this was some time after the Storm, yet as the Accounts of the

Storm bring it with them in the following Letters, we cannot omit it.

The two following Letters are from the respective Ministers of _Boston_

and _Hull_, and relate to the Account of the Earthquake, which was felt

over most part of the County of _Lincoln_ and the East Riding of

_Yorkshire_.

The Letter from _Hull_, from the Reverend Mr. _Banks_, Minister of the

Place, is very particular, and deserves intire Credit, both from the

extraordinary Character of the worthy Gentleman who writes it, and from

its exact Correspondence with other Accounts.

_SIR_,

I receiv'd yours, wherein you acquaint me with a Design that (I

doubt not) will meet with that Applause and Acceptance from the

World which it deserves; but am in no capacity to be any way

serviceable to it my self, the late Hurricane having more frighted

than hurt us in these Parts. I doubt not but your Intelligence in

general from the Northern Parts of the Nation, supplies you with as

little Matter as what you have from these hereabouts, it having been

less violent and mischievous that way. Some Stacks of Chimneys were

over-turn'd here, and from one of them a little Child of my own was

(thanks be to God) almost miraculously preserv'd, with a Maid that

lay in the Room with him. I hear of none else this way that was so

much as in danger, the Storm beginning here later than I perceive it

did in some other Places, its greatest Violence being betwixt 7 and

8 in the Morning, when most People were stirring.

The Earthquake, which the Publick Accounts mention to have happen'd

at _Hull_ and _Lincoln_ upon the 28th _ult._ was felt here by some

People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there,

as well as at _Grantham_ and other Places, perceived it. We have

some flying Stories about it which look like fabulous, whose Credit

therefore I wou'd not be answerable for; as, that upon

_Lincoln-Heath_ the Ground was seen to open, and Flashes of Fire to

issue out of the Chasm.

I doubt this Account will hardly be thought worth the Charge of

Passage: Had there been any thing else of note, you had been very

readily serv'd by,

SIR, _Your Humble Servant_,

_Boston_, Jan. 8. 1703. E.K.

_SIR_,

I am afraid that you will believe me very rude, that yours, which I

receiv'd the 12th of _April_, has not sooner receiv'd such an Answer

as you expect and desire, and truly I think deserve; for, a Design

so generous, as to undertake to transmit to Posterity, A Memorial of

the dreadful Effects of the late terrible Tempest (that when God's

Judgments are in the World, they may be made so publick, as to

ingage the Inhabitants of the Earth to learn Righteousness) ought to

receive all possible Encouragement.

But the true Reason why I writ no sooner, was, Because, by the most

diligent Enquiries I cou'd make, I cou'd not learn what Harm that

dreadful Tempest did in the _Humber_; neither indeed can I yet give

you any exact Account of it: for, the great Mischief was done in the

Night; which was so Pitch-dark, that of above 80 Ships that then rid

in the _Humber_, about _Grimsby_ Road, very few escap'd some Loss or

other, and none of 'em were able to give a Relation of any body but

themselves.

The best Account of the Effects of the Storm in the _Humber_, that I

have yet met with, I received but Yesterday, from Mr. _Peter Walls_,

who is Master of that Watch-Tower, call'd the _Spurn-Light_, at the

_Humber_ Mouth, and was present there on the Night of the 26th of

_November_, the fatal Night of the Storm.

He did verily believe that his Pharos (which is above 20 Yards high)

wou'd have been blown down; and the Tempest made the Fire in it burn

so vehemently, that it melted down the Iron-bars on which it laid,

like Lead; so that they were forced, when the Fire was by this means

almost extinguished, to put in new Bars, and kindle the Fire

a-fresh, which they kept in till the Morning Light appear'd: And

then _Peter Walls_ observed about six or seven and twenty Sail of

Ships, all driving about the _Spurn-Head_, some having cut, others

broke their Cables, but all disabled, and render'd helpless. These

were a part of the two Fleets that then lay in the _Humber_, being

put in there by stress of Weather a day or two before, some from

_Russia_, and the rest of 'em _Colliers_, to and from _Newcastle_.

Of these, three were driven upon an Island call'd the _Den_, within

the _Spurn_ in the Mouth of the _Humber_.

The first of these no sooner touch'd Ground, but she over-set, and

turn'd up her Bottom; out of which, only one of six (the Number of

that Ship's Company) was lost, being in the Shrowds: the other five

were taken up by the second Ship, who had sav'd their Boat. In this

Boat were saved all the Men of the three Ships aforementioned

(except as before excepted) and came to Mr. _Walls_'s House, at the

_Spurn-Head_, who got them good Fires, and all Accommodations

necessary for them in such a Distress. The second Ship having no

body aboard, was driven to Sea, with the Violence of the Tempest,

and never seen or heard of more. The third, which was then a-ground,

was (as he supposes) broken up and driven; for nothing, but some

Coals that were in her, was to be seen the next Morning.

Another Ship, the Day after, _viz._ the 27th of _November_, was

riding in _Grimsby_ Road, and the Ships Company (except two Boys)

being gone a-shore, the Ship, with the two Lads in her, drive

directly out of _Humber_, and was lost, tho' 'tis verily believ'd

the two Boys were saved by one of the _Russia_ Ships, or Convoys.

The same Day, in the Morning, one _John Baines_, a _Yarmouth_

Master, was in his Ship, riding in _Grimsby_ Road, and by the

Violence of the Storm, some other Ships coming foul upon him, part

of his Ship was broken down, and was driven towards Sea; whereupon

he anchored under _Kilnsey-Land_, and with his Crew came safe

a-shore, in his Boat, but the Ship was never seen more.

The remainder of the six or seven and twenty Sail aforesaid, being

(as was before observed) driven out of the _Humber_, very few, if

any of 'em, were ever heard of; and 'tis rationally believ'd, that

all, or the most of them, perished. And indeed, altho' the Storm was

not so violent here as it was about _Portsmouth_, _Yarmouth_ Roads,

and the Southern Coast, yet the Crews of the three Ships

above-mentioned declare, that they were never out in so dismal a

Night as that was of the 26th of _November_, in which the

considerable Fleet aforesaid rid in _Grimsby_ Road in the _Humber_;

for most of the 80 Sail broke from their Anchors, and run foul one

upon another; but by reason of the Darkness of the Night, they cou'd

see very little of the Mischief that was done.

This is the best Account I can give you at present of the Effects of

the Tempest in the _Humber_; whereas had the Enquiry been made

immediately after the Storm was over, a great many more of

remarkable Particulars might have been discover'd.

As to the Earthquake here, tho' I perceiv'd it not my self (being

then walking to visit a sick Parishoner) yet it was so sensibly felt

by so many Hundreds, that I cannot in the least question the Truth

and Certainty of it.

It happen'd here, and in these Parts, upon _Innocent_'s Day, the

28th of _December_, being _Tuesday_, about Five of the Clock in the

Evening, or thereabout. Soon after I gave as particular Account as I

cou'd learn of it, to that ingenious Antiquary Mr. _Thorsby_ of

_Leeds_ in _Yorkshire_, but had no time to keep a Copy of my Letter

to him, nor have I leisure to transcribe a Copy of this to you,

having so constant a Fatigue of Parochial business to attend; nor

will my Memory serve me to recollect all the Circumstances of that

Earthquake, as I sent them to Mr. _Thoresby_; and possibly he may

have communicated that Letter to you, or will upon your least

intimation, being a generous Person, who loves to communicate any

thing that may be serviceable to the Publick.

However, lest I shou'd seem to decline the gratifying your Request,

I will recollect, and here set down, such of the Circumstances of

that Earthquake as do at present occur to my Memory.

It came with a Noise like that of a Coach in the Streets, and

mightily shak'd both the Glass Windows, Pewter, _China_ Pots and

Dishes, and in some places threw them down off the Shelves on which

they stood. It did very little Mischief in this Town, except the

throwing down a Piece of one Chimney. Several Persons thought that a

great Dog was got under the Chair they sat upon; and others fell

from their Seats, for fear of falling. It frighted several Persons,

and caus'd 'em for a while to break off their Reading, or Writing,

or what they were doing.

They felt but one Shake here: but a Gentleman in _Nottinghamshire_

told me, that being then lame upon his Bed, he felt three Shakes,

like the three Rocks of a Cradle, to and again.

At _Laceby_ in _Lincolnshire_, and in several other Parts of that

County, as well as of the Counties of _York_ and _Nottingham_, the

Earthquake was felt very sensibly; and particularly at _Laceby_

aforesaid. There happen'd this remarkable Story.

On _Innocent_'s Day, in the Afternoon, several Morrice-Dancers came

thither from _Grimsby_; and after they had Danc'd and play'd their

Tricks, they went towards _Alesby_, a little Town not far off: and

as they were going about Five a Clock, they felt two such terrible

Shocks of the Earth, that they had much ado to hold their Feet, and

thought the Ground was ready to open, and swallow 'em up. Whereupon

thinking that God was angry at 'em for playing the Fool, they

return'd immediately to _Laceby_ in a great Fright, and the next Day

home, not daring to pursue their intended Circuit and Dancing.

I think 'tis the Observation of Dr. _Willis_, that upon an

Earthquake the Earth sends forth noisome Vapours which infect the

Air, as the Air does our Bodies: and accordingly it has prov'd here,

where we have ever since had a most sickly time, and the greatest

Mortality that has been in this Place for 15 Years last past: and so

I believe it has been over the greatest part of _England_. This,

SIR, is the best Account I can give you of the Earthquake, which had

com'd sooner, but that I was desirous to get likewise the best

Account I cou'd of the Effects of the Storm in the _Humber_. My

humble Service to the Undertakers: and if in any thing I am capable

to serve them or you, please freely to command,

SIR, _Your most humble Servant_,

Ro. Banks.

We have a farther Account of this in two Letters from Mr. _Thoresby_,

F.R.S. and written to the Publisher of the Philosophical Transactions,

and printed in their Monthly Collection, No. 289. as follows, which is

the same mentioned by Mr. _Banks_.

_Part of two Letters from Mr._ Thoresby, F.R.S. _to the Publisher,

concerning an Earthquake, which happen'd in some Places of the North of_

England, _the 28th of_ December 1703.

You have heard, no doubt, of the late _Earthquake_ that affected

some part of the North, as the dreadful Storm did the South. It

being most observable at _Hull_, I was desirous of an Account from

thence that might be depended upon; and therefore writ to the very

obliging Mr. _Banks_, Prebendary of _York_, who being Vicar of

_Hull_, was the most suitable Person I knew to address my self unto:

and he being pleased to favour me with a judicious Account of it, I

will venture to communicate it to you, with his pious Reflection

thereupon. 'As to the Earthquake you mention, it was felt here on

_Tuesday_ the 28th of the last Month, which was _Childermas_ Day,

about three or four Minutes after Five in the Evening. I confess I

did not feel it my self; for I was at that moment walking to visit a

sick Gentleman, and the Noise in the Streets, and my quick Motion,

made it impossible, I believe, for me to feel it: but it was so

almost universally felt, that there can be no manner of doubt of the

Truth of it.

Mr. _Peers_, my Reader, (who is an ingenious good Man) was then at

his Study, and Writing; but the heaving up of his Chair and his

Desk, the Shake of his Chamber, and the rattling of his Windows, did

so amaze him, that he was really affrighted, and was forc'd for a

while to give over his Work: and there are twenty such Instances

amongst Tradesmen, too tedious to repeat. My Wife was then in her

Closet, and thought her _China_ would have come about her Ears, and

my Family felt the Chairs mov'd, in which they were sitting by the

Kitchen Fire-side, and heard such a Rattle of the Pewter and Windows

as almost affrighted them. A Gentlewoman not far off said, her Chair

lifted so high, that she thought the great Dog had got under it, and

to save her self from falling, slipt off her Chair. I sent to a

House where part of a Chimney was shak'd down, to enquire of the

particulars; they kept Ale, and being pretty full of Company that

they were merry, they did not perceive the Shock, only heard the

Pewter and Glass-windows dance; but the Landlady's Mother, who was

in a Chamber by her self, felt the Shock so violent, that she verily

believed the House to be coming down (as part of the Chimney afore

mention'd did at the same Moment) and cried out in a Fright, and had

fall'n, but that she catched hold of a Table. It came and went

suddenly, and was attended with a Noise like the Wind, though there

was then a perfect Calm.'

From other Hands I have an Account that it was felt in _Beverly_,

and other Places; at _South Dalton_ particularly, where the Parson's

Wife (my own Sister) being alone in her Chamber, was sadly frighted

with the heaving up of the Chair she sat in, and the very sensible

Shake of the Room, especially the Windows, _&c._ A Relation of mine,

who is a Minister near _Lincoln_, being then at a Gentleman's House

in the Neighbourhood, was amaz'd at the Moving of the Chairs they

sat upon, which was so violent, he writes every Limb of him was

shaken; I am told also from a true Hand, that so nigh us as _Selby_,

where Mr. _Travers_, a Minister, being in his Study writing, was

interrupted much as Mr. _Peers_ above-mentioned; which minds me of

worthy Mr. _Bank_'s serious Conclusion. 'And now I hope you will not

think it unbecoming my Character to make this Reflection upon it,

_viz._ that Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes, are joyned by our

Blessed Saviour, as portending future Calamities, and particularly

the Destruction of _Jerusalem_ and the _Jewish_ State; if not the

End of the World, St. _Matth._ 24. 7. And if, as Philosophers

observe, those gentler Convulsions within the Bowels of the Earth,

which give the Inhabitants but an easie Jog, do usually portend the

Approach of some more dreadful Earthquake; then surely we have

Reason to fear the worst, because I fear we so well deserve it, and

pray God of his infinite Mercy to avert his future Judgments.'

* * * * *

Since my former Account of the Earthquake at _Hull_, my Cousin

_Cookson_ has procured to me the following Account from his Brother,

who is a Clergyman near _Lincoln_, viz, That he, being about Five in

the Evening, _December_ the 20th past, set with a neighbouring

Minister at his House about a Mile from _Navenby_, they were

surpriz'd with a sudden Noise, as if it had been of two or three

Coaches driven furiously down the Yard, whereupon the Servant was

sent to the Door, in Expectation of some Strangers; but they quickly

perceived what it was, by the shaking of the Chairs they sat upon;

they could perceive the very Stones move: the greatest Damage was to

the Gentlewoman of the House, who was put into such a Fright, that

she miscarried two Days after. He writes, they were put into a

greater Fright upon the Fast-day; when there was so violent a Storm,

they verily thought the Church would have fallen upon them. We had

also at _Leedes_ a much greater Storm the Night preceding the Fast,

and a stronger Wind that Day, than when the fatal Storm was in the

South; but a good Providence timed this well, to quicken our too

cold Devotions.

_Of remarkable_ Deliverances

As the sad and remarkable Disasters of this Terrible Night were full of

a Dismal Variety, so the Goodness of Providence, in the many remarkable

Deliverances both by Sea and Land, have their Share in this Account, as

they claim an equal Variety and Wonder.

The Sense of extraordinary Deliverances, as it is a Mark of Generous

Christianity, so I presume 'tis the best Token, that a good Use is made

of the Mercies receiv'd.

The Persons, who desire a thankful Acknowledgement should be made to

their Merciful Deliverer, and the Wonders of his Providence remitted to

Posterity, shall never have it to say, that the Editor of this Book

refus'd to admit so great a Subject a Place in these Memoirs; and

therefore, with all imaginable Freedom, he gives the World the

Particulars from their own Mouths, and under their own Hands.

The first Account we have from the Reverend Mr. _King_, Lecturer at St.

_Martins_ in the Fields, as follows.

_SIR_,

The short Account I now send to shew the Providence of God in the

late Dreadful Storm, (if yet it comes not too late) I had from the

Mouth of the Gentleman himself, Mr. _Woodgate Gisser_ by Name, who

is a Neighbour of mine, living in St. _Martin's-street_ in the

Parish of St. _Martins_ in the Fields, and a Sufferer in the common

Calamity; is as follows, _viz._

Between Two and Three of the Clock in the Morning, my Neighbour's

Stack of Chimneys fell, and broke down the Roof of my Garret into

the Passage going up and down Stairs; upon which, I thought it

convenient to retire into the Kitchen with my Family; where we had

not been above a Quarter of an Hour, before my Wife sent her Maid to

fetch some Necessaries out of a Back Parlour Closet, and as she had

shut the Door, and was upon her Return, the very same Instant my

Neighbour's Stack of Chimneys, on the other Side of the House, fell

upon my Stack, and beat in the Roof, and so drove down the several

Floors through the Parlour into the Kitchen, where the Maid was

buried near Five Hours in the Rubbish, without the least Damage or

Hurt whatsoever: This her miraculous Preservation was occasion'd

(as, I afterwards with Surprize found) by her falling into a small

Cavity near the Bed, and afterwards (as she declar'd) by her

creeping under the Tester that lay hollow by Reason of some Joices

that lay athwart each other, which prevented her perishing in the

said Rubbish: About Eight in the Morning, when I helped her out of

the Ruins, and asked her how she did, and why she did not cry out

for Assistance, since she was not (as I suppos'd she had been) dead,

and so to let me know she was alive; her Answer was, that truly she

for her Part had felt no Hurt, and was not the least affrighted, but

lay quiet; and which is more, even slumbred until then.

The Preservation of my self, and the rest of my Family, about Eleven

in Number, was, next to the Providence of God, occasion'd by our

running into a Vault almost level with the Kitchen upon the Noise

and Alarm of the Falling of the Chimneys, which breaking through

three Floors, and about two Minutes in passing, gave us the

Opportunities of that Retreat. Pray accept of this short Account

from

_Your Humble Servant, and Lecturer_,

Feb. 12. 1703. James King, _M.A._

Another is from a Reverend Minister at ---- whose Name is to his Letter

as follows.

_SIR_,

I thank you for your charitable Visit not long since; I could have

heartily wish'd your Business would have permitted you to have made

a little longer Stay at the parsonage, and then you might have taken

a stricter View of the Ruins by the late terrible Wind. Seeing you

are pleas'd to desire from me a more particular Account of that sad

Disaster; I have for your fuller Satisfaction sent you the best I am

able to give; and if it be not so perfect, and so exact a one, as

you may expect, you may rely upon me it is a true, and a faithful

one, and that I do not impose upon you, or the World in the least in

any Part of the following Relation. I shall not trouble you with the

Uneasiness the Family was under all the fore Part of the Evening,

even to a Fault, as I thought, and told them, I did not then

apprehend the Wind to be much higher than it had been often on other

Times; but went to Bed, hoping we were more afraid than we needed to

have been: when in Bed, we began to be more sensible of it, and lay

most of the Night awake, dreading every Blast till about Four of the

Clock in the Morning, when to our thinking it seemed a little to

abate; and then we fell asleep, and slept till about Six of the

Clock, at which Time my Wife waking, and calling one of her Maids to

rise, and come to the Children, the Maid rose, and hasten'd to her;

she had not been up above Half an Hour, but all on the sudden we

heard a prodigious Noise, as if part of the House had been fallen

down; I need not tell you the Consternation we were all in upon this

Alarm; in a Minutes Time, I am sure, I was surrounded with all my

Infantry, that I thought I should have been overlay'd; I had not

even Power to stir one Limb of me, much less to rise, though I could

not tell how to lie in Bed. The Shrieks and the Cries of my dear

Babes perfectly stun'd me; I think I hear them still in my Ears, I

shall not easily, I am confident, if ever, forget them. There I lay

preaching Patience to those little Innocent Creatures, till the Day

began to appear.

_Preces & Lachrimcæ_, Prayers and Tears, the Primitive Christians

Weapons, we had great Plenty of to defend us withal; but had the

House all fallen upon our Heads, we were in that Fright as we could

scarce have had Power to rise for the present, or do any thing for

our Security. Upon our rising, and sending a Servant to view what

she could discover, we soon understood that the Chimney was fallen

down, and that with its Fall it had beaten down a great part of that

End of the House, _viz._ the Upper Chamber, and the Room under it,

which was the Room I chose for my Study: The Chimney was thought as

strong, and as well built as most in the Neighbourhood; and it

surpriz'd the Mason (whom I immediately sent for to view it) to see

it down: but that which was most surprizing to me, was the Manner of

its Falling; had it fallen almost any other Way than that it did, it

must in all Likelihood have killed the much greater part of my

Family, for no less than Nine of us lay at that End of the House, my

Wife and Self, and Five Children, and Two Servants, a Maid, and a

Man then in my Pay, and so a Servant, though not by the Year: The

Bed my Eldest Daughter and the Maid lay in joyned as near as

possible to the Chimney, and it was within a very few Yards of the

Bed that we lay in; so that as _David_ said to _Jonathan_, there

seem'd to be but one single Step between Death and us, to all

outward Appearance. One Thing I cannot omit, which was very

remarkable and surprizing: It pleased God so to order it, that in

the Fall of the House two great Spars seem'd to fall so as to pitch

themselves on an End, and by that Means to support that other Part

of the House which adjoined to the Upper Chamber; or else in all

Likelihood, that must also have fallen too at the same Time. The

Carpenter (whom we sent for forthwith) when he came, ask'd who

plac'd those two Supporters, supposing somebody had been there

before him; and when he was told, those two Spars in the Fall so

plac'd themselves, he could scarce believe it possible; it was done

so artificially, that he declar'd, they scarce needed to have been

removed.

In short, Sir, it is impossible to describe the Danger we were in;

you your self was an Eye-witness of some Part of what is here

related; and I once more assure you, the whole Account I have here

given you is true, and what can be attested by the whole Family.

None of all those unfortunate Persons who are said to have been

killed with the Fall of a Chimney, could well be much more expos'd

to Danger than we were; it is owing wholly to that watchful

Providence to whom we all are indebted for every Minute of our

Lives, that any of us escaped; none but he who never sleeps nor

slumbers could have secured us. I beseech Almighty God to give us

All that due Sense as we ought to have of so great and so general

Calamity; that we truly repent us of those Sins that have so long

provoked his Wrath against us, and brought down so heavy a Judgment

as this upon us. O that we were so wise as to consider it, and to

_sin no more lest a worse thing come upon us_! That it may have this

happy Effect upon all the sinful Inhabitants of this Land is, and

shall be, the Dayly Prayer of Dear Sir,

_Your real Friend and Servant_,

John Gipps.

Another Account from a Reverend Minister in _Dorsetshire_, take as

follows, _viz._

_SIR_,

As you have desired an Account of the Disasters occasion'd by the

late Tempest, (which I can assure you was in these Parts very

Terrible) so I think my self oblig'd to let you know, that there was

a great Mixture of Mercy with it: For though the Hurricane was

frightful, and very mischievous, yet God's gracious Providence was

therein very remarkable, in restraining its Violence from an

universal Destruction: for then there was a Commotion of the

Elements of Air, Earth and Water, which then seemed to outvie each

other in Mischief; for (in _David_'s Expression, 2 _Sam._ 22. 8.)

_The Earth trembled and quak'd, the Foundations of the Heavens mov'd

and shook, because God was angry_: and yet, when all was given over

for lost, we found our selves more scar'd than hurt; for our Lives

was given us for a Prey, and the Tempest did us only so much Damage,

as to make us sensible that it might have done us a great deal more,

had it not been rebuk'd by the God of Mercy; the Care of whose

Providence has been visibly seen in our wonderful Preservations. My

Self and Three more of this Parish were then strangely rescued from

the Grave: I narrowly escaped with my Life, where I apprehended

nothing of Danger; for going out about Midnight to give Orders to my

Servants to secure the House, and Reeks of Corn and Furses from

being blown all away; as soon as I mov'd out of the Place were I

stood, I heard something of a great Weight fall close behind me, and

a little after going out with a Light, to see what it was, I found

it to be the great Stone which covered the Top of my Chimney to keep

out the Wet; it was almost a Yard square, and very thick, weighing

about an Hundred and Fifty Pound. It was blown about a Yard off from

the Chimney, and fell Edge-long, and cut the Earth, about four

Inches deep, exactly between my Foot-steps; and a little after,

whilst sitting under the Clavel of my Kitchen Chimney, and reaching

out my Arm for some Fewel to mend the Fire, I was again strangely

preserved from being knock'd on the Head by a Stone of great Weight;

it being about a Foot long, Half a Foot broad, and two Inches thick:

for as soon as I had drawn in my Arm, I felt something brush against

my Elbow, and presently I heard the Stone fall close by my Foot, a

third Part of which was broken off by the Violence of the Fall, and

skarr'd my Ancle, but did not break the Skin; it had certainly

killed me, had it fallen while my Arm was extended. The Top of my

Wheat Rick was blown off, and some of the Sheaves were carried a

Stones Cast, and with that Violence, that one of them, at that

Distance, struck down one _Daniel Fookes_ a late Servant of the Lady

_Napier_, and so forceably, that he was taken up dead, and to all

Appearance remain'd so a great while; but at last was happily

recover'd to Life again. His Mother, poor Widow, was at the same

time more fatally threatned at Home, and her Bed had certainly

prov'd her Grave, had not the first Noise awaken'd and scar'd her

out of Bed; and she was scarce gotten to the Door, when the House

fell all in: The Smith's Wife likewise being scar'd at such a Rate,

leapt out of Bed, with the little Child in her Arms, and ran hastily

out of Doors naked, without Hose or Shooes, to a Neighbour's House;

and by that hasty Flight, both their Lives were wonderfully

preserved. The Sheets of Lead on _Lytton_ Church, were rolled up

like Sheets of Parchment, and blown off to a great Distance. At

_Strode_, a large Apple Tree, being about a Foot in Square, was

broken off cleverly like a Stick, about four Foot from the Root, and

carried over an Hedge about ten Foot high; and cast, as if darted,

(with the Trunk forward) above fourteen Yards off. And I am credibly

inform'd, that at _Ellwood_ in the Parish of _Abbotsbury_, a large

Wheat Rick (belonging to one _Jolyffe_) was cleverly blown, with its

Staddle, off from the Stones, and set down on the Ground in very

good Order. I would fain know of the Atheist what mov'd his

_Omnipotent Matter_ to do such Mischief, _&c._

SIR, _I am,

Your Affectionate Friend and Servant,

though unknown_,

Jacob Cole, _Rect. of_ Swyre in County of _Dorset_.

This Account is very remarkable, and well attested, and the Editor of

this Collection can vouch to the Reputation of the Relators, tho' not to

the Particulars of the Story.

_A great Preservation in the late Storm_

About Three of the Clock in the Morning, the Violence of the Wind

blew down a Stack of Chimneys belonging to the dwelling House of Dr.

_Gideon Harvey_, (situate in St. _Martin_'s Lane over against the

Street End) on the back Part of the next House, wherein dwells Mr.

_Robert Richards_ an Apothecary, at the Sign of the Unicorn; and

Capt. _Theodore Collier_ and his Family lodges in the same. The

Chimney fell with that Force as made them pierce thro' the Roofs and

all the Floors, carrying them down quite to the Ground. The two

Families, consisting of Fourteen, Men, Women, and Children, besides

Three that came in from the next House, were at that Instant

dispos'd of as follows, a Footman that us'd to lie in the back

Garret, had not a Quarter of an Hour before remov'd himself into the

fore Garret, by which means he escap'd the Danger: In the Room under

that lay Capt. _Collier_'s Child, of Two Months old, in Bed with the

Nurse, and a Servant Maid lay on the Bed by her; the Nurse's Child

lying in a Cribb by the Bed-side, which was found, with the Child

safe in it, in the Kitchen, where the Nurse and Maid likewise found

themselves; their Bed being shatter'd in Pieces, and they a little

bruis'd by falling down Three Stories: Capt. _Collier_'s Child was

in about Two Hours found unhurt in some Pieces of the Bed and

Curtains, which had fallen through Two Floors only, and hung on some

broken Rafters in that Place, which was the Parlour: In the Room

under This, being one Pair of Stairs from the Street, and two from

the Kitchen, was Capt. _Collier_ in his Bed, and his Wife just by

the Bed-side, and her Maid a little behind her, who likewise found

her self in the Kitchin a little bruis'd, and ran out to cry for

Help for her Master and Mistress, who lay buried under the Ruins:

Mrs. _Collier_ was, by the timely Aid of Neighbours who remov'd the

Rubbish from her, taken out in about Half an Hours Time, having

receiv'd no Hurt but the Fright, and an Arm a little bruis'd: Capt.

_Collier_ in about Half an Hour more was likewise taken out unhurt.

In the Parlour were sitting Mr. _Richards_ with his Wife, the Three

Neighbours, and the rest of his Family, a little Boy of about a Year

old lying in the Cradle, they all run out at the first Noise, and

escap'd, Mrs. _Richards_ staying a little longer than the rest, to

pull the Cradle with her child in it along with her, but the House

fell too suddenly on it, and buried the Child under the Ruins, a

Rafter fell on her Foot, and bruis'd it a little, at which she

likewise made her Escape, and brought in the Neighbours, who soon

uncovered the Head of the Cradle, and cutting it off, took the Child

out alive and well. This wonderful Preservation being worthy to be

transmitted to Posterity, we do attest to be true in every

Particular. Witness our Hands,

_Gideon Harvey._

_London_, _Theo. Collier._

Nov. 27. 1703. _Robert Richards._

These Accounts of like Nature are particularly attested by Persons of

known Reputation and Integrity.

_SIR_,

In order to promote the good Design of your Book, in perpetuating

the Memory of God's signal Judgment on this Nation, by the late

dreadful Tempest of Wind, which has hurl'd so many Souls into

Eternity; and likewise his Providence in the miraculous Preservation

of several Persons Lives, who were expos'd to the utmost Hazards in

that Hurricane: I shall here give you a short but true Instance of

the latter, which several Persons can witness besides my self; and

if you think proper may insert the same in the Book you design for

that Purpose; which is as follows. At the _Saracen_'s Head in

_Friday_ Street, a Country Lad lodging three Pair of Stairs next the

Roof of the House, was wonderfully preserv'd from Death; for about

Two a Clock that _Saturday_ Morning the 27th of _November_, (which

prov'd fatal to so many) there fell a Chimney upon the Roof, under

which he lay, and beat it down through the Ceiling (the Weight of

the Tiles, Bricks, _&c._ being judged by a Workman to be about Five

Hundred Weight) into the Room, fell exactly between the Beds Feet

and Door of the Room, which are not Two Yards distance from each

other, it being but small: the sudden Noise awaking the Lad, he

jumps out of Bed endeavouring to find the Door, but was stopt by the

great Dust and falling of more Bricks, _&c._ and finding himself

prevented, in this Fear he got into Bed again, and remain'd there

till the Day Light, (the Bricks and Tiles still falling

between-whiles about his Bed) and then got up without any Hurt, or

so much as a Tile or Brick falling on the Bed; the only thing he

complain'd of to me, was his being almost choak'd with Dust when he

got out of Bed, or put his Head out from under the Cloaths: There

was a great Weight of Tiles and Bricks, which did not break through,

as the Workmen inform me, just over the Beds Tester, enough to have

crush'd him to Death, if they had fallen: Thus he lay safe among the

Dangers that threatned him, whilst wakeful Providence preserv'd him.

And SIR, if this be worthy your taking Notice of, I am ready to

justify the same. In Witness whereof, here is my Name,

Dec. 3. 1703. _Henry Mayers._

_A great Preservation in the late Storm_

_William Phelps_ and _Frances_ his Wife, living at the Corner of

_Old Southampton Buildings_, over against _Gray's-Inn Gate_ in

_Holborn_, they lying up three pair of Stairs, in the Backroom, that

was only lath'd and plaister'd, he being then very ill, she was

forc'd to lie in a Table-Bed in the same Room: about One a Clock in

the Morning, on the 27th of _November_ last, the Wind blew down a

Stack of Chimneys of seven Funnels that stood very high; which broke

through the Roof, and fell into the Room, on her Bed; so that she

was buried alive, as one may say: she crying out, _Mr._ Phelps,

_Mr._ Phelps, _the House is fall'n upon me_, there being so much on

her that one could but just hear her speak; a Coachman and a Footman

lying on the same Floor, I soon call'd them to my Assistance. We all

fell to work, tho' we stood in the greatest Danger; and through the

Goodness of God we did take her out, without the least hurt; neither

was any of us hurt, tho' there was much fell after we took her out.

And when we took the Bricks off the Bed the next Morning, we found

the Frame of the Bed on which she lay broke all to pieces.

_William Phelps._

_Another great Preservation_

Mr. _John Hanson_, Register of _Eaton College_, being at _London_

about his Affairs, and lying that dreadful Night, _Nov._ 26, at the

_Bell-Savage Inn_ on _Ludgate Hill_, was, by the Fall of a Stack of

Chimneys (which broke through the Roof, and beat down two Floors

above him, and also that in which he lay) carried in his Bed down to

the Ground, without the least hurt, his Cloaths, and every thing

besides in the Room, being buried in the Rubbish; it having pleased

God so to order it, that just so much of the Floor and Ceiling of

the Room (from which he fell) as covered his Bed, was not broken

down. Of this great Mercy he prays he may live for ever mindful, and

be for ever thankful to Almighty God.

_SIR_,

The Design of your Collecting the remarkable Accidents of the late

Storm coming to my Hands, I thought my self obliged to take this

Opportunity of making a publick Acknowledgment of the wonderful

Providence of Heaven to me, namely, the Preservation of my only

Child from imminent Danger.

Two large Stacks of Chimneys, containing each five Funnels, beat

through the Roof, in upon the Bed where she lay, without doing her

the least Harm, the Servant who lay with her being very much

bruised. There were several Loads of Rubbish upon the Bed before my

Child was taken out of it.

This extraordinary Deliverance I desire always thankfully to

remember.

I was so nearly touch'd by this Accident, that I could not take so

much notice as I intended of this Storm; yet I observ'd the Wind

gradually to encrease from One a Clock till a Quarter after Five, or

thereabouts: at which time it seem'd to be at the highest; when

every Gust did not only return with greater Celerity, but also with

more Force.

From about a Quarter before Six it sensibly decreas'd. I went often

to the Door, at which times I observ'd, that every Gust was preceded

by small Flashes, which, to my Observation, did not dart

perpendicularly, but seem'd rather to skim along the Surface of the

Ground; nor did they appear to be of the same kind with the common

Light'ning Flashes.

I must confess I cannot help thinking that the Earth it self

suffer'd some Convulsion; and that for this Reason, because several

Springs, for the space of 48 Hours afterwards, were very muddy,

which were never known to be so by any Storm of Wind or Rain before:

nor indeed is it possible, they lying so low, could be affected by

any thing less than a Concussion of the Earth it self.

How far these small Hints may be of use to the more ingenious

Enquirers into this matter, I shall humbly leave to their

Consideration, and subscribe my self,

SIR, _Your humble Servant_,

Joseph Clench,

_Apothecary in_ Jermyn _Street_, _near_ St. James's.

_Dec._ 8, 1703.

_SIR_,

This comes to let you know that I received yours in the _Downs_, for

which I thank you. I expected to have seen you in _London_ before

now, had we not met with a most violent Storm in our way to

_Chatham_. On the 27th of the last Month, about Three of the Clock

in the Morning, we lost all our Anchors and drove to Sea: about Six

we lost our Rother, and were left in a most deplorable condition to

the merciless Rage of the Wind and Seas: we also sprung a Leak, and

drove 48 Hours expecting to perish. But it pleased God to give us a

wonderful Deliverance, scarce to be parallell'd in History; for

about Midnight we were drove into shoul Water, and soon after our

Ship struck upon the Sands: the Sea broke over us, we expected every

minute that she would drop to pieces, and that we should all be

swallowed up in the Deep; but in less than two hours time we drove

over the Sands, and got (without Rother or Pilot, or any Help but

Almighty God's) into this Place, where we run our Ship on shore, in

order to save our Lives: but it has pleased God also, far beyond our

expectation, to save our Ship, and bring us safe off again last

Night. We shall remain here a considerable while to refit our Ship,

and get a new Rother. Our Deliverance is most remarkable, that in

the middle of a dark Night we should drive over a Sand where a Ship

that was not half our Bigness durst not venture to come in the Day;

and then, without knowing where we were, drive into a narrow place

where we have saved both Lives and Ship. I pray God give us all

Grace to be thankful, and never forget so great a mercy.

I am,

_Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant_,

_Russell_, at _Helversluce_ in

_Holland_, Dec. 16. 1703. Henry Barclay.

_SIR_

According to the publick Notice, I send you two or three

Observations of mine upon the late dreadful Tempest: As,

1. In the Parish of St. _Mary Cray, Kent_, a poor Man, with his Wife

and Child, were but just gone out of their Bed, when the Head of

their House fell in upon it; which must have kill'd them.

2. A great long Stable in the Town, near the Church, was blown off

the Foundation entirely at one sudden Blast, from the West-side to

the East, and cast out into the High-way, over the Heads of five

Horses, and a Carter feeding them at the same time, and not one of

them hurt, nor the Rack or Manger touch'd, which are yet standing to

the Admiration of all Beholders.

3. As the Church at _Heyes_ received great Damage, so the Spire,

with one Bell in it, were blown away over the Church yard.

4. The Minister of _South-Ash_ had a great Deliverance from a

Chimney falling in upon his Bed just as he rose, and hurt only his

Feet; as blessed be God, our Lives have been all very miraculously

preserv'd, tho' our Buildings every where damag'd. You may depend on

all, as certify'd by me,

Thomas Watts,

_Vicar of_ Orpington _and St._ Mary Cray.

There are an innumerable variety of Deliverances, besides these, which

deserve a Memorial to future Ages; but these are noted from the Letters,

and at the Request of the Persons particularly concern'd.

Particularly, 'tis a most remarkable Story of a Man belonging to the

_Mary_, a fourth Rate Man of War, lost upon the _Goodwin Sands_; and

all the Ship's Company but himself being lost, he, by the help of a

piece of the broken Ship, got a-board the _Northumberland_; but the

Violence of the Storm continuing, the _Northumberland_ ran the same fate

with the _Mary_, and coming on shore upon the same Sand, was split to

pieces by the Violence of the Sea: and yet this Person, by a singular

Providence, was one of the 64 that were delivered by a _Deal Hooker_ out

of that Ship, all the rest perishing in the Sea.

A poor Sailor of _Brighthelmston_ was taken up after he had hung by his

Hands and Feet on the top of a Mast 48 hours, the Sea raging so high,

that no Boat durst go near him.

A Hoy run on shore on the Rocks in _Milford_ Haven, and just splitting

to pieces (as by Captain _Soam_'s Letter) a Boat drove by, being broke

from another Vessel, with no body in it, and came so near the Vessel, as

that two Men jumpt into it, and sav'd their Lives: the Boy could not

jump so far, and was drowned.

Five Sailors shifted three Vessels on an Island near the _Humber_ and

were at last sav'd by a Long-boat out of the fourth.

A Waterman in the River of _Thames_ lying asleep in the Cabbin of a

Barge, at or near _Black-Fryers_, was driven thro' Bridge in the Storm,

and the Barge went of her self into the _Tower-Dock_, and lay safe on

shore; the Man never wak'd, nor heard the Storm, till 'twas Day; and, to

his great Astonishment, he found himself safe as above.

Two Boys in the _Poultry_ lodging in a Garret or Upper-room, were, by

the Fall of Chimneys, which broke thro' the Floors, carried quite to the

bottom of the Cellar, and receiv'd no Damage at all.

_SIR_,

At my Return home on _Saturday_ at Night, I receiv'd yours: and

having said nothing in my last concerning the Storm, I send this to

tell you, that I hear of nothing done by it in this Country that may

seem to deserve a particular Remark. Several Houses and Barns were

stript of their Thatch, some Chimneys and Gables blown down, and

several Stacks of Corn and Hay very much dispers'd; but I hear not

of any Persons either kill'd or maim'd. A Neighbour of ours was

upon the Ridge of his Barn endeavouring to secure the Thatch, and

the Barn at that instant was overturn'd by the Storm; but by the

good Providence of God, the Man received little or no harm. I say no

more, not knowing of any thing more remarkable. I am sorry that

other Places were such great Sufferers, and I pray God avert the

like Judgments for the future. I am

_Your real Friend to serve you_,

_Orby_, Dec. 18. 1703. Hen. Marshal.

_SIR_,

I have no particular Relation to make to you of any Deliverance in

the late Storm, more than was common with me to all the rest that

were in it: but having, to divert melancholly Thoughts while it

lasted, turn'd into Verse the CXLVIII Psalm to the 9th, and

afterwards all the Psalm; I give you leave to publish it with the

rest of those Memoirs on that Occasion you are preparing for the

Press.

SIR, _Your_, &c.

Henry Squier.

I. Verse 1, 2

_Hallelujah: From Heav'n

The tuneful Praise begin;

Let Praise to God be giv'n

Beyond the Starry Scene:

Ye Angels sing

His joyful Praise;

Your Voices raise

Ye swift of Wing._

II. 3, 4

_Praise him, thou radiant Sun,

The Spring of all thy Light;

Praise him thou changing Moon,

And all the Stars of Night:_

_Ye Heav'ns declare

His glorious Fame;

And waves that swim

Above the Sphere._

III. 5, 6

_Let all his Praises sing,

His Goodness and his Power,

For at his Call they spring,

And by his Grace endure;

That joins 'em fast,

The Chain is fram'd,

Their Bounds are nam'd,

And never past._

IV. 7, 8

_Thou Earth his Praise proclaim,

Devouring Gulfs and Deeps;

Ye Fires, and fire-like Flame,

That o'er the Meadows sweeps;

Thou rattling Hail,

And flaky Snow,

And Winds that blow

To do his Will._

V. 9, 10

_Ye Prodigies of Earth,

And Hills of lesser size,

Cedars of nobler Birth,

And all ye fruitful Trees;

His Praises show

All things that move,

That fly above,

Or creep below._

VI. 11, 12

_Monarchs, and ye their Praise,

The num'rous Multitude;

Ye Judges, Triumphs raise;

And all of nobler Blood:

Of ev'ry kind,

And ev'ry Age,

Your Hearts engage,

In Praises join'd._

VII. 13, 14

_Let all his glorious Name

Unite to celebrate;

Above the Heaven's his Fame;

His Fame that's only great:

His Peoples Stay

And Praise is He,

And e're will be:

Hallelujah._

The two following Letters, coming from Persons in as great Danger as any

could be, are plac'd here, as proper to be call'd Deliverances of the

greatest and strangest kind.

_From on board a Ship blown out of the_ Downs _to_ Norway.

_SIR_,

I cannot but write to you of the Particulars of our sad and terrible

Voyage to this Place. You know we were, by my last, riding safe in

the _Downs_, waiting a fair Wind, to make the best of our way to

_Portsmouth_, and there to expect the _Lisbon_ Convoy.

We had had two terrible Storms, one on the _Friday_ before, and one

on _Thursday_; the one the 18th, the other the 25th of _November_:

In the last I expected we shou'd have founder'd at an Anchor; for

our Ground Tackle being new and very good held us fast, but the Sea

broke upon us so heavy and quick, that we were in danger two or

three times of Foundring as we rode but, as it pleas'd God we rid it

out, we began to think all was over, and the Bitterness of Death was

past.

There was a great Fleet with us in the _Downs_, and several of them

were driven from their Anchors, and made the best of their way out

to Sea for fear of going on shore upon the _Goodwin_. the Grand

Fleet was just come in from the _Streights_, under Sir _Cloudsly

Shovel_; and the Great Ships being design'd for the River, lay to

Leeward: Most of the Ships that went out in the Night appear'd in

the Morning; and I think there was none known to be lost, but one

_Dutch_ Vessel upon the _Goodwin_.

But the next Day, being _Friday_, in the Evening, it began to gather

to Windward; and as it had blown very hard all Day, at Night the

Wind freshen'd, and we all expected a stormy Night. We saw the Men

of War struck their Top-masts, and rode with two Cables an-end: so

we made all as _snug_ as we could, and prepar'd for the worst.

In this condition we rid it out till about 12 a-clock; when, the

Fury of the Wind encreasing, we began to see Destruction before us:

the Objects were very dreadful on every side; and tho' it was very

dark, we had Light enough to see our own Danger, and the Danger of

those near us. About One-a-clock the Ships began to drive, and we

saw several come by us without a Mast standing, and in the utmost

Distress.

By Two a-clock we could hear Guns firing in several Parts of this

Road, as Signals of Distress; and tho' the Noise was very great with

the Sea and Wind, yet we could distinguish plainly, in some short

Intervals, the Cries of poor Souls in Extremities.

By Four-a-clock we miss'd the _Mary_ and the _Northumberland_, who

rid not far from us, and found they were driven from their Anchors;

but what became of them, God knows: and soon after a large Man of

War came driving down upon us, all her Masts gone, and in a dreadful

Condition. We were in the utmost Despair at this sight, for we saw

no avoiding her coming thwart _our Haiser_: she drove at last so

near us, that I was just gowing to order the Mate to cut away, when

it pleas'd God the Ship sheer'd contrary to our Expectation to

Windward, and the Man of War, which we found to be the _Sterling

Castle_, drove clear off us, not two Ships Lengths to Leeward.

It was a Sight full of terrible Particulars, to see a Ship of Eighty

Guns and about Six Hundred Men in that dismal Case; she had cut away

all her Masts, the Men were all in the Confusions of Death and

Despair; she had neither Anchor, nor Cable, nor Boat to help her;

the Sea breaking over her in a terrible Manner, that sometimes she

seem'd all under Water; and they knew, as well as we that saw her,

that they drove by the Tempest directly for the _Goodwin_, where

they could expect nothing but Destruction: The Cries of the Men, and

the firing their Guns, One by One, every Half Minute for Help,

terrified us in such a Manner, that I think we were half dead with

the Horror of it.

All this while we rid with two Anchors a-head, and in great

Distress: To fire Guns for Help, I saw was to no Purpose, for if any

Help was to be had, there were so many other Objects for it, that we

could not expect it, and the Storm still encreasing.

Two Ships, a-head of us, had rid it out till now, which was towards

Five in the Morning, when they both drove from their Anchors, and

one of them coming foul of a small _Pink_, they both sunk together;

the other drove by us, and having one Mast standing, I think it was

her Main-Mast, she attempted to spread a little Peak of her Sail,

and so stood away before it; I suppose she went away to Sea.

At this time, the Raging of the Sea was so violent, and the Tempest

doubled its Fury in such a Manner, that my Mate told me, we had

better go away to Sea, for 'twould be impossible to ride it out; I

was not of his Opinion, but was for cutting my Masts by the Board,

which at last we did, and parted with them with as little Damage as

could be expected, and we thought she rid easier for it by a great

deal; and I believe, had it blown two Hours longer, we should have

rid it out, having two new Cables out, and our best Bower and Sheet

Anchor down: But about Half an Hour after Five to Six, it blew, if

it be possible to conceive it so, as hard again as it had done

before, and first our best Bower Anchor came Home, the Mate, who

felt it give way, cried out, we are all undone, for the Ship drove;

I found it too true, and, upon as short a Consultation as the Time

would admit, we concluded to put out to Sea before we were driven

too far to Leeward, when it would be impossible to avoid the

_Goodwin_.

So we slipt our Sheet Cable, and sheering the Ship towards the

Shore, got her Head about, and stood away afore it; Sail we had

none, nor Mast standing: Our Mate had set up a Jury Missen but no

Canvass could bear the Fury of the Wind, yet he fasten'd an old

Tarpaulin so as that it did the Office of a Missen and kept us from

driving too fast to Leeward.

In this Condition we drove out of the _Downs_, and past so near the

_Goodwin_, that we could see several great Ships fast a ground, and

beating to Pieces. We drove in this desperate Condition till

Day-break, without any Abatement of the Storm, and our Men heartless

and dispirited, tir'd with the Service of the Night, and every

Minute expecting Death.

About 8 a Clock, my Mate told me, he perceiv'd the Wind to abate;

but it blew still such a Storm, that if we had not had a very tite

Ship, she must have founder'd, as we were now farther off at Sea,

and by my Guess might be in the mid Way between _Harwich_ and the

_Brill_, the Sea we found run longer, and did not break so quick

upon us as before, but it ran exceeding high, and we having no Sail

to keep us to rights, we lay wallowing in the Trough of the Sea in a

miserable Condition: We saw several Ships in the same Condition with

our selves, but could neither help them, nor they us; and one we saw

founder before our Eyes, and all the People perish'd.

Another dismal Object we met with, which was an open Boat full of

Men, who, as we may suppose, had lost their Ship; any Man may

suppose, what Condition a Boat must be in, if we were in so bad a

Case in a good Ship: we were soon tost out of their Sight, and what

became of them any one may guess; if they had been within Cables

Length of us we could not have help'd them.

About Two a Clock in the Afternoon, the Wind encreased again, and we

made no doubt it would prove as bad a Night as before; but that Gust

held not above Half an Hour.

All Night it blew excessive hard, and the next Day, which was

Sabbath Day, about Eleven a Clock it abated, but still blew hard:

about three it blew something moderately, compar'd with the former;

and we got up a Jury Main-Mast, and rigg'd it as well as we could,

and with a Main Sail lower'd almost to the Deck, stood at a great

Rate afore it all Night and the next Day, and on _Tuesday_ Morning

we saw Land, but could not tell where it was; but being not in a

Condition to keep the Sea, we run in, and made Signals of Distress;

some Pilots came off to us, by whom we were inform'd we had reached

the Coast of _Norway_, and having neither Anchor nor Cable on board

capable to ride the Ship, a _Norweigian_ Pilot came on board, and

brought us into a Creek where we had smooth Water, and lay by till

we got Help, Cables, and Anchors, by which means we are safe in

Place.

_Your Humble Servant_,

J. Adams.

_From on board the_ John and Mary, _riding in_ Yarmouth _Roads during

the great Storm, but now in the River of_ Thames.

_SIR_,

Hearing of your good Design of preserving the Memory of the late

Dreadful Storm for the Benefit of Posterity, I cannot let you want

the Particulars as happen'd to us on board our Ship.

We came over the Bar of _Tinmouth_ about the ---- having had

terrible blowing Weather for almost a Week, insomuch that we were

twice driven back almost the Length of _Newcastle_, with much

Difficulty and Danger we got well over that, and made the

_High-land_ about _Cromer_ on the North-side of _Norfolk_; here it

blew so hard the _Wednesday_ Night before, that we could not keep

the Sea, nor fetch the Roads of _Yarmouth_; but as the Coast of

_Norfolk_ was a Weather-shore, we hall'd as close _Cromer_ as we

durst lie, the Shore there being very flat; here we rode _Wednesday_

and _Thursday_, the 24th and 25th of _November_.

We could not reckon our selves safe here, for as this is the most

dangerous Place between _London_ and _Newcastle_, and has been

particularly fatal to our Colliers, so we were very uneasy; I

considered that when such Tempestuous Weather happen'd, as this

seem'd to threaten, nothing is more frequent than for the Wind to

shift Points; and if it should have blown half the Wind from the

South East, as now blew from the South West, we must have gone

a-shore there, and been all lost for being embayed; there we should

have had no putting out to Sea, nor staying there.

This Consideration made me resolve to be gon, and thinking on

_Friday_ Morning the Wind slacken'd a little, I weigh'd and stood

away for _Yarmouth_ Roads; and with great Boating and Labour got

into the Roads about One in the Afternoon, being a little after

Flood, we found a very great Fleet in the Roads; there was above

Three Hundred Sail of Colliers, not reckoning above Thirty Sail

which I left behind me, that rode it out thereabouts, and there was

a great Fleet just come from _Russia_, under the Convoy of the

_Reserve_ Frigate, and Two other Men of War; and about a Hundred

Sail of Coasters, _Hull_-Men, and such small Craft.

We had not got to an Anchor, moor'd, and set all to Rights, but I

found the Wind freshen'd, the Clouds gather'd, and all look'd very

black to Windward; and my Mate told me, he wish'd he had staid where

we were, for he would warrant it we had a blowing Night of it.

We did what we could to prepare for it, struck our Top-mast, and

slung our Yards, made all tite and fast upon Deck; the Night prov'd

very dark, and the Wind blew a Storm about Eight a Clock, and held

till Ten, when we thought it abated a little, but at Eleven it

freshen'd again, and blew very hard; we rid it out very well till

Twelve, when we veer'd out more Cable, and in about Half an Hour

after, the Wind encreasing, let go our Sheet Anchor; by One a Clock

it blew a dreadful Storm, and though our Anchors held very well, the

Sea came over us in such a vast Quantity, that we was every Hour in

Danger of Foundring: About Two a Clock the Sea fill'd our Boat as

she lay upon the Deck, and we was glad to let her go over board for

Fear of staving in our Decks: Our Mate would then have cut our Mast

by the Board, but I was not willing, and told him, I thought we had

better slip our Cables, and go out to Sea, he argued she was a deep

Ship, and would not live in the Sea, and was very eager for cutting

away the Mast; but I was loth to part with my Mast, and could not

tell where to run for Shelter if I lost them.

About Three a Clock abundance of Ships drove away, and came by us;

some with all their Masts gone, and foul of one another; in a sad

Condition my Men said they saw Two founder'd together, but I was in

the Cabin, and cannot say I saw it. I saw a _Russia_ Ship come foul

of a Collier, and both drove away together out of our Sight, but I

am told since the _Russia_ Man sunk by her Side.

In this Condition we rid till about Three a Clock, the _Russia_

Ships which lay a-head of me, and the Men of War, who lay a-head of

them, fir'd their Guns for Help, but 'twas in vain to expect it; the

Sea went too high for any Boat to live. About Five, the Wind blew at

that prodigious Rate, that there was no Possibility of riding it

out, and all the Ships in the Road seem'd to us to drive: Yet still

our Anchors held it, and I began to think we should ride it out

there, or founder; when a Ship's long Boat came driving against us,

and gave such a Shock on the Bow that I thought it must have been a

Ship come foul of us, and expected to sink all at once; our Men said

there was some people in the Boat, but as the Sea went so high no

Man dust stand upon the Fore-castle, so no Body could be sure of it;

the Boat stav'd to pieces with the Blow, and went away, some on One

Side of us and some on the other; but whether our Cable receiv'd any

Damage by it or not we cannot tell, but our Sheet Cable gave Way

immediately, and as the other was not able to hold us alone, we

immediately drove; we had then no more to do, but to put afore the

Wind, which we did: it pleased God by this Time the Tide of Ebb was

begun, which something abated the Height of the Sea, but still it

went exceeding high; we saw a great many Ships in the same Condition

with our selves, and expecting every Moment to sink in the Sea. In

this Extremity we drove till Daylight when we found the Wind abated,

and we stood in for the Shore, and coming under the Lee of the

_Cliff_ near _Scarbro_, we got so much Shelter, as that our small

Bower Anchors would ride us.

I can give you no Account but this; but sure such a Tempest never

was in the World. They say here, that of Eighty Sail in _Grimsby_

Road, they can hear of but Sixteen; yet the rest are all blown away,

Here is about Twelve or Fourteen Sail of Ships come in to this

Place, and more are standing in for the Shore.

_Yours_, &c.

Abundance of other strange Deliverances have been related, but with so

small Authority as we dare not convey them into the World under the same

Character with the rest; and have therefore chose to omit them.

_The Conclusion_

The Editor of this Book has labour'd under some Difficulties in this

Account: and one of the chief has been, how to avoid too many

Particulars, the Crowds of Relations which he has been oblig'd to lay by

to bring the Story into a Compass tolerable to the Reader.

And tho' some of the Letters inserted are written in a homely Stile, and

exprest after the Country Fashion from whence they came, the Author

chose to make them speak their own Language, rather than by dressing

them in other Words make the Authors forget they were their own.

We receiv'd a Letter, very particular, relating to the Bishop of _Bath_

and _Wells_, and reflecting upon his Lordship for some Words he spoke,

_That he had rather have his Brains knock'd out, than_ &c. relating to

his Inferiour Clergy. The Gentleman takes the Disaster for a Judgment of

God on him: But as in his Letter the Person owns himself the Bishop's

Enemy, fills his Letter with some Reflexions indecent, at least for us:

and at last, tho' he dates from _Somerton_, yet baulks setting his Name

to his Letter: for these Reasons we could not satisfie to record the

Matter, and leave a Charge on the Name of that unfortunate Gentleman,

which, he being dead, could not answer, and we alive could not prove.

And on these Accounts hope the Reverend Gentleman who sent the Letter

will excuse Us.

Also we have omitted, tho' our List of Particulars promis'd such a

thing, An Account of some unthinking Wretches, who pass'd over this

dreadful Judgment with Banter, Scoffing, and Contempt. 'Tis a Subject

ungrateful to recite, and full of Horror to read; and we had much rather

cover such Actions with a general Blank in Charity to the Offenders,

and in hopes of their Amendment.

One unhappy Accident I cannot omit, and which is brought us from good

Hands, and happen'd in a Ship homeward bound from the _West-Indies_. The

Ship was in the utmost Danger of Foundring; and when the Master saw all,

as he thought, lost, his Masts gone, the Ship leaky, and expecting her

every moment to sink under him, fill'd with Despair, he calls to him the

Surgeon of the Ship, and by a fatal Contract, as soon made as hastily

executed, they resolv'd to prevent the Death they fear'd by one more

certain; and going into the Cabbin, they both shot themselves with their

Pistols. It pleas'd God the Ship recover'd the Distress, was driven safe

into ---- and the Captain just liv'd to see the desperate Course he took

might have been spar'd; the Surgeon died immediately.

There are several very remarkable Cases come to our Hands since the

finishing this Book, and several have been promis'd which are not come

in; and the Book having been so long promis'd, and so earnestly desir'd

by several Gentlemen that have already assisted that way, the

Undertakers could not prevail with themselves to delay it any longer.

_FINIS._