[61]A Way to the East India's being lately discovered by Sea, to the
{{7}} South of Affrich by certain Portugals, far more safe and profitable
then had been heretofore; certain English Merchants encouraged by the
great advantages arising from the Eastern Commodities, to settle a
Factory there for the advantage of Trade. And having to that purpose
obtained the Queens Royal Licence Anno Dom. 1569. 11. or 12. Eliz.
furnisht out for those parts four ships, my Master being sent as Factor
to deal and Negotiate for them, and to settle there, took with him his
whole Family, (that is to say) his Wife, and one Son of about
twelve years of age, and one Daughter of about fourteen years, two
Maidservants, one Negro female slave, and my Self, who went under him
as his Book-keeper, with this company on Monday the third of April next
following, (having all necessaries for Housekeeping when we should
come there), we Embarqued our selves in the good ship called the India
Merchant, of about four hundred and fifty Tuns burthen, and having a
good wind, we on the fourteenth day of May had sight of the Canaries,
and not long after of the Isles of Cafe Vert or Verd, where taking in
such things as were necessary for our Voyage, and some fresh Provisions,
we stearing our course South, and a point East, about the first of
August came within sight of the Island of St Hellen, where we took in
some fresh water, we then set our faces for the Cape of Good Hope, where
by Gods blessing after some sickness, whereof some of our company died,
though none of our family; and hitherto we had met with none but calm
weather, yet so it pleased God, when we were almost in fight of St.
Laurence, an Island so called, one of the greatest in the world, as
[62]Marriners say, we were overtaken and dispersed by a great storm of
Wind, which continued with luch violence {{8 }} many days, that losing
all hope of safety, being out of our own knowledge, and whether we
should fall on Flats or Rocks, uncertain in the nights, not having the
least benefit of the light, we feared most, alwayes wishing for day, and
then for Land, but it came too soon for our good; for about the first
of October, our fears having made us forget how the time passed to a
certainty; we about the break of day discerned Land (but what we knew
not) the Land seemed high and Rockey, and the Sea continued still very
stormy and tempestuous, insomuch as there seemed no hope of safety, but
looked suddenly to perish. As we grew near Land, perceiving no safety in
the ship, which we looked would suddenly be beat in pieces: The Captain,
my Master, and some others got into the long Boat, thinking by that
means to save their lives, and presently after all the Seamen cast
themselves overboard, thinking to save their lives by swimming, onely
myself my Masters Daughters, the two Maids, and the Negro were left on
board, for we could not swim; but those that left us, might as well have
tarried with us, for we saw them, or most of them perish, our selves now
ready after to follow their fortune, but God was pleased to spare our
lives, as it were by miracle, though to further sorrow; for when we came
against the Rocks, our ship having endured two or three blows against
the Rocks, (being now broken and quite foundred in the Waters), we
having with much ado gotten our selves on the Bowspright, which being
broken off, was driven by the Waves into a small Creek, wherein fell
a little River, which being encompassed by the Rocks [63]was sheltered
from the Wind, so that we had opportunity to land our selves, (though
almost drowned) in all four persons, besides the Negro: when we were
got upon the Rock, we could perceive the miserable Wrack to our great
terrour, I had in my {{9 }} pocket a little Tinder-box, and Steel, and
Flint to strike fire at any time upon occasion, which served now to good
Purpose, for its being so close, preserved the Tinder dry, with this,
and the help of some old rotten Wood which we got together, we kindled
a fire and dryed our selves, which done, I left my female company,
and went to see, if I could find any of our Ships company, that were
escaped, but could hear of none, though I hooted, and made all the noise
I could; neither could I perceive the foot-steps of any living Creature
(save a few Birds, and other Fowls). At length it drawing towards the
Evening, I went back to my company, who were very much troubled for want
of me. I being now all their stay in this lost condition, we were at
first afraid that the wild people of the Countrey might find us out,
although we saw no footsteps of any, not so much as a Path; the Woods
round about being full of Briers and Brambles, we also stood in fear of
wild Beasts, of such also we saw none, nor sign of any: But above all,
and that we had greatest reason to fear, was to be starved to death for
want of Food, but God had otherwise provided for us, as you shall know
hereafter; this done, we spent our time in getting some broken pieces
of Boards, and Planks, and some of the Sails and Rigging on shore for
shelter; I set up two or three Poles, and drew two or three of the Cords
and Lines from Tree to Tree, over which throwing some Sail-cloathes, and
having gotten Wood by us, and three [64]or four Sea-gowns, which we had
dryed, we took up our Lodging for that night altogether (the Blackmoor
being left sensible then the rest we made our Centry) we slept soundly
that night, as having not slept in three or four nights before (our
fears of what happened preventing us) neither could our hard lodging,
fear, and danger hinder us we were so over wacht. {{10 }}
On the morrow, being well refresht with sleep, the winde ceased, and the
weather was very warm; we went down the Rocks on the sands at low water,
where we found great part of our lading, either on shore or floating
near it. I by the help of my company, dragged most of it on shore; what
was too heavy for us broke, and we unbound the Casks and Cherts, and,
taking out the goods, secured all; so that we wanted no clothes, nor any
other provision necessary for Housekeeping, to furnish a better house
than any we were like to have; but no victuals (the last water having
spoiled all) only one Cask of bisket, being lighter than the rest was
dry; this served for bread a while, and we found on Land a sort of fowl
about the bigness of a Swan, very heavie and fat, that by reason of
their weight could not fly, of these we found little difficulty to kill,
so that was our present food; we carried out of England certain Hens and
Cocks to eat by the way, some of these when the ship was broken, by some
means got to land, & bred exceedingly, so that in the future they were
a great help unto us; we found also, by a little River, in the flags,
store of eggs, of a sort of foul much like our Ducks, which were very
good meat, so that we wanted nothing to keep us alive.
On the morrow, which was the third day, as soon as it was morning,
seeing nothing to disturb us, I lookt out a convenient [65]place to
dwell in, that we might build us a Hut to shelter us from the weather,
and from any other danger of annoyance, from wild beasts (if any should
finde us out: So close by a large spring which rose out of a high hill
over-looking the Sea, on the side of a wood, having a prospect towards
the Sea) by the help of an Ax and some other implements (for we had all
necessaries, the working of the Sea, having cast up most of our goods)
I cut down all the straightest poles I could find, and which were enough
{{11 }} for my purpose, by the help of my company (necessity being
our Master) I digged holes in the earth setting my poles at an equl
distance, and nailing the broken boards of the Caskes, Cherts, and
Cabins, and such like to them, making my door to the Seaward, and having
covered the top, with sail-clothes strain'd and nail'd, I in the space
of a week had made a large Cabbin big enough to hold all our goods and
our selves in it, I also placed our Hamocks for lodging, purposing (if
it pleased God to send any Ship that way) we might be transported home,
but it never came to pass, the place, wherein we were (as I conceived)
being much out of the way.
We having now lived in this manner full four months, and not so much as
seeing or hearing of any wild people, or of any of our own company, more
then our selves (they being found now by experience to be all drowned)
and the place, as we after found, being a large Island, and disjoyned,
and out of fight of any other Land, was wholly uninhabited by any
people, neither was there any hurtful beast to annoy us: But on the
contrary the countrey so very pleasant, being always clothed with green,
and full of pleasant fruits, and variety of birds, ever warm, and never
[66]colder then in England in September: So that this place (had it the
culture, that skilful people might bestow on it) would prove a Paradise.
The Woods afforded us a sort of Nuts, as big as a large Apple, whose
kernel being pleasant and dry, we made use of instead of bread, that
fowl before mentioned, and a sort of water-fowl like Ducks, and their
eggs, and a beast about the size of a Goat, and almost such a like
creature, which brought two young ones at a time, and that twice a year,
of which the Low Lands and Woods were very full, being a very harmless
creature and tame, so that we could easily {{12 }} take and kill them:
Fish, also, especially Shell-fish (which we could best come by) we had
great store of, so that in effect as to Food we wanted nothing; and
thus, and by such like helps, we continued six moneths without any
disturbance or want.
Idleness and Fulness of every thing begot in me a desire of enjoying
the women, beginning now to grow more familiar, I had perswaded the
two Maids to let me lie with them, which I did at first in private, but
after, custome taking away shame (there being none but us) we did
it more openly, as our Lusts gave us liberty; afterwards my Masters
Daughter was content also to do as we did; the truth is, they were all
handsome Women, when they had Cloathes, and well shaped, feeding well.
For we wanted no Food, and living idlely, and seeing us at Liberty to do
our wills, without hope of ever returning home made us thus bold: One of
the first of my Comforts with whom I first accompanined (the tallest
and handsomest) proved presently with child, the second was my Masters
Daughter, and the other also not long [67]after fell into the same
condition: none now remaining but my Negro, who seeing what we did,
longed also for her share; one Night, I being asleep, my Negro, (with
the consent of the others) got close to me, thinking it being dark, to
beguile me, but I awaking and feeling her, and perceiving who it was,
yet willing to try the difference, satissied my self with her, as well
as with one of the rest: that night, although the first time, she proved
also with child, so that in the year of our being here, all my women
were with child by me, and they all coming at different seasons, were a
great help to one another.
The first brought me a brave Boy, my Masters Daughter was the youngest,
she brought me a Girl, so did the other {{13 }} Maid, who being
something fat sped worse at her labour: the Negro had no pain at all,
brought me a fine white Girl, so I had one Boy and three Girls, the
Women were soon well again, and the two first with child again before
the two last were brought to bed, my custome being not to lie with any
of them after they were with child, till others were so likewise, and
not with the black at all after she was with child, which commonly was
at the first time I lay with her, which was in the night and not else,
my stomach would not serve me, although she was one of the handsomest
Blacks I had seen, and her children as comly as any of the rest; we had
no clothes for them, and therefore when they had suckt, we laid them in
Mosse to sleep, and took no further care of them, for we knew, when they
were gone more would come, the Women never failing once a year at least,
and none of the Children (for all the hardship we put them to) were ever
sick; so that wanting now nothing but Cloathes, nor them much neither,
other [68]than for decency, the warmth of the Countrey and Custome
supplying that Defect, we were now well satissied with our condition,
our Family beginning to grow large, there being nothing to hurt us, we
many times lay abroad on Mossey Banks, under the shelter of some Trees,
or such like (for having nothing else to do) I had made me several
Arbors to sleep in with my Women in the heat of the day, in these I and
my women passed the time away, they being never willing to be out of my
company.
And having now no thought of ever returning home, as having resolved and
sworn each to other, never to part or leave one another, or the place;
having by my several wives, forty seven Children, Boys and Girls, but
most Girls, and growing up apace, we were all of us very fleshly, the
Country so well agreeing with us, that we never ailed any thing; {{14 }}
my Negro having had twelve, was the first that left bearing, so I never
medled with her more: My Masters Daughter (by whom I had most children,
being the youngest and handsomest) was most fond of me, and I of her.
Thus we lived for sixteen years, till perceiving my eldest Boy to mind
the ordinary work of Nature, by seeing what we did, I gave him a Mate,
and so I did to all the rest, as fast as they grew up, and were capable:
My Wives having left bearing, my children began to breed apace, so we
were like to be a multitude; My first Wife brought me thirteen children,
my second seven, my Masters Daughter fifteen, and the Negro twelve, in
all forty seven.
After we had lived there twenty two years, my Negro died suddenly, but
I could not perceive any thing that ailed her; most [69]of my children
being grown, as fast as we married them, I sent them and placed them
over the River by themselves severally, because we would not pester one
another; and now they being all grown up, and gone, and married after
our manner (except some two or three of the youngest) for (growing my
self into years) I liked not the wanton annoyance of young company.
Thus having lived to the fiftieth year of my age, and the fortieth of
my coming thither, at which time I sent for all of them to bring their
children, and there were in number descended from me by these four
Women, of my Children, Grand-children, and great Grand-children, five
hundred sixty five of both sorts, I took off the Males of one Family,
and married them to the Females of another, not letting any to marry
their sisters, as we did formerly out of necessity, so blessing God for
his Providence and goodness, I dismist them, I having taught some of my
children to read formerly, for I had left still the Bible, I charged it
should be read once a moneth at {{15 }} a general meeting: At last one
of my Wives died being sixty eight years of age, which I buried in a
place, set out on purpose, and within a year after another, so I had
none now left but my Masters Daughter, and we lived together twelve
years longer, at length she died also, so I buried her also next the
place where I purposed to be buried my self, and the tall Maid my first
Wife next me on the other side, the Negro next without her, and the
other Maid next my Masters Daughter. I had now nothing to mind, but the
place whether I was to go, being very old, almost eighty years, I gave
my Cabin and Furniture that was left to my eldest son after my decease,
who had married my eldest Daughter by my beloved [70]Wife, whom I made
King and Governour of all the rest: I informed them of the Manners of
Europe, and charged them to remember the Christian Religion, after the
manner of them that spake the same Language, and to admit no other; if
hereafter any should come and find them out.
And now once for all, I summoned them to come to me, that I might number
them, which I did, and found the estimate to contain in or about the
eightieth year of my age, and the fifty ninth of my coming there; in
all, of all sorts, one thousand seven hundred eighty and nine. Thus
praying God to multiply them, and lend them the true light of the
Gospel, I last of all dismist them: For, being now very old, and my
sight decayed, I could not expect to live long. I gave this Narration
(written with my own hand) to my eldest Son, who now lived with me,
commanding him to keep it, and if any strangers should come hither by
chance, to let them see it, and take a Copy of it if they would, that
our name be not lost from off the earth. I gave this people (descended
from me) the name of the ENGLISH PINES, George Pine being my {{16 }}
name, and my Masters Daughters name Sarah English, my two other Wives
were Mary Sparkes, and Elizabeth Trevor, so their severall Defendants
are called the ENGLISH, the SPARKS, and the TREVORS, and the PHILLS,
from the Christian Name of the Negro, which was Philippa, she having no
surname: And the general name of the whole the ENGLISH PINES; vvhom God
bless vvith the dew of Heaven, and the fat of the Earth, AMEN.{1}