Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Wonderful And Tragical Relation Of , A Voyage From The Indies.*
to deprive him of , he was on a sudden becalmed ; insomuch that , for several weeks , they could scarcely tell whether they were forwarded a league ' s space . In this time , of the sixteen seamen , besides the master , that were on board , several died of a disease that increased amongst them ; and , by degrees their provision growing short , they Avere forced to deal the same more sparingly about , hoping , by their care , they mi
ght have enough to serve them through their voyage , and made the best way they could to their . destined port ; yet , such was their misfortune , that they failed of their expectation , and came to see the last of what they had spent , and for four days lived without any sustenance . The wind being cross , they could not make land , where they mi ght revictual , but were forced to keep on their voyage . Their extremity
was such , that the two children , not so well able to bear the hardships as others , both died , on whose bodies , notwithstanding the tears and intreaties of trie merchant and his wife , they were forced to feed . These being in a short time consumed , it came to be considered , having no sight nor hope of any shore , that they must either all of them submjt to the fate that threatened themor contrive some other
, method to save themselves , which at present they had not the least prospect of , unless , in fhe common calamity , they consented by lot , or otherwise , to destroy some one in the number to save the rest . To this sad alternative they were at length inforced , and jointly agreed that , according to the number then on board , they should number so many lotsand on whom number One fellhe should be slainand
, , , number Two should be his executioner . - _ But here a dispute arose , whether the merchant ' s wife , whose two children had , to her great grief , been already eaten , in favour to her sex , should not be exempted from the fatal lot . Some were of opinion she ought , and particularly one George Carpinger , a stout English seamanwho iised his endeavours to tvork the company to
as-, sent thereunto ; but as nothing is so voracious or cruel as the jatvs of Ijunger , on the one hand , or " so estimable as life , on the other , he could not effect his desi gn ; so that , the majority having over-ruled his arguments , they drevy in common , and such was their misfortune , that the lot fell on the woman for death , and on her husband for
executioner . Miserable , was the lamentation of the husband and wife , that so fatal a mischance , should for ever part them ; yet tears and intreaties were " ineffectual , for nothing but submission was . left , though the merchant ' s servant and Carpinger stood resolutely against the rest , and resolved to spare them ; which ihe merchant perceiving , and knowing their force was . too little to accomplish their wisheshewith a settled countenancespoke to them to the following
, , , purport :. " Honest friends , for such you have approved yourselves to me , } 'ou have seen the hardship of my fate ; and , since it is driven to this point , 1 am resolved never to be the executioner of her AVIIO hath been so loving and just a wife to me ; but in her stead I am resolved myself to be the sacrifice : and therefore what I have to say to you is , ilr . it you stand her friends , tvhen I am dead . What is in this vessel
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Wonderful And Tragical Relation Of , A Voyage From The Indies.*
to deprive him of , he was on a sudden becalmed ; insomuch that , for several weeks , they could scarcely tell whether they were forwarded a league ' s space . In this time , of the sixteen seamen , besides the master , that were on board , several died of a disease that increased amongst them ; and , by degrees their provision growing short , they Avere forced to deal the same more sparingly about , hoping , by their care , they mi
ght have enough to serve them through their voyage , and made the best way they could to their . destined port ; yet , such was their misfortune , that they failed of their expectation , and came to see the last of what they had spent , and for four days lived without any sustenance . The wind being cross , they could not make land , where they mi ght revictual , but were forced to keep on their voyage . Their extremity
was such , that the two children , not so well able to bear the hardships as others , both died , on whose bodies , notwithstanding the tears and intreaties of trie merchant and his wife , they were forced to feed . These being in a short time consumed , it came to be considered , having no sight nor hope of any shore , that they must either all of them submjt to the fate that threatened themor contrive some other
, method to save themselves , which at present they had not the least prospect of , unless , in fhe common calamity , they consented by lot , or otherwise , to destroy some one in the number to save the rest . To this sad alternative they were at length inforced , and jointly agreed that , according to the number then on board , they should number so many lotsand on whom number One fellhe should be slainand
, , , number Two should be his executioner . - _ But here a dispute arose , whether the merchant ' s wife , whose two children had , to her great grief , been already eaten , in favour to her sex , should not be exempted from the fatal lot . Some were of opinion she ought , and particularly one George Carpinger , a stout English seamanwho iised his endeavours to tvork the company to
as-, sent thereunto ; but as nothing is so voracious or cruel as the jatvs of Ijunger , on the one hand , or " so estimable as life , on the other , he could not effect his desi gn ; so that , the majority having over-ruled his arguments , they drevy in common , and such was their misfortune , that the lot fell on the woman for death , and on her husband for
executioner . Miserable , was the lamentation of the husband and wife , that so fatal a mischance , should for ever part them ; yet tears and intreaties were " ineffectual , for nothing but submission was . left , though the merchant ' s servant and Carpinger stood resolutely against the rest , and resolved to spare them ; which ihe merchant perceiving , and knowing their force was . too little to accomplish their wisheshewith a settled countenancespoke to them to the following
, , , purport :. " Honest friends , for such you have approved yourselves to me , } 'ou have seen the hardship of my fate ; and , since it is driven to this point , 1 am resolved never to be the executioner of her AVIIO hath been so loving and just a wife to me ; but in her stead I am resolved myself to be the sacrifice : and therefore what I have to say to you is , ilr . it you stand her friends , tvhen I am dead . What is in this vessel