A Cruising Voyage Around the World - Woodes Rogers

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did not sail so well as the major part of the Gallies, our Masts and Rigging being all unfit for the Sea, our Ships out of trim, and every thing in disorder, being very indifferently mann’d; notwithstanding our Number, we had not 20 Sailors in the Ship, and it’s very little better on board the Dutchess; which is a Discouragement, only we hope to get some good Sailors at Cork. We saw a Sail at five last night, the Dutchess gave chase, and came near her; she seem’d a large Ship, but we lost sight of her at eight a clock. Being inform’d at Bristol that the Jersy, a French Man of War carrying 46 Guns, was cruising betwixt England and Ireland, it oblig’d us to keep our Hammocks up, and a clear Ship for a Fight, all night. About two this morning the rest of the Fleet that lay a-stern of us came up, and we kept an easy Sail, with a Light out all Night; but when Day came, we saw nothing, so that this prov’d a false Alarm: which happen’d well for us, since had it been real, we should have made but an indifferent Fight, for want of being better mann’d.

      Aug. 4. The Bristol Galley, Berkley Galley, Prince Eugene, and the Beecher Galley, being bound to the Westward, left us at six in the Evening; little Wind at E S E. and smooth Water.

      Aug. 5. We saw the Land, and finding we had overshot our Port, came to an anchor at twelve a clock off of the two Rocks call’d the Sovereigns Bollacks[85] near Kinsale, being calm.

      Aug. 6. About eight last night we weigh’d with the Flood, a small Gale at East; it came on to blow, and veer’d to the Northward. We had a Kinsale Pilot on board, who was like to have endanger’d our Ship, it being dark and foggy. Before day he would have turn’d us into the next Bay to the Westward of Cork, had not I prevented it; which provok’d me to chastise him for undertaking to pilot a Ship, since he understood his Business no better. The rest of our Company, except the Diamond and Sherstone Galley, got into Cork before us; only our Consort staid in the Harbour’s Mouth till we came up with her.

      Aug. 7. Yesterday at three in the Afternoon we came to an anchor with our Consort in the Cove, Wind at N N E.

      Aug. 8. Came in the Arundel a Queen’s Ship, and order’d us to strike our Pendant; which we immediately did, all private Commission Ships being oblig’d by their Instructions to pay that Respect to all her Majesty’s Ships and Fortifications.

      Aug. 9. Yesterday Afternoon came in the Hastings with the Fleet under her Convoy, which we left in Kingroad: as also the Elizabeth, a Merchant-Ship of 500 Tuns, about 26 Guns, and well mann’d, with a Fleet under her Convoy from Leverpool, bound to the Westward, with us and the Hastings, &c. Fair Weather, the Wind Southerly.

      Aug. 10. We were well pleas’d with the Men Mr. Noblett Rogers[86] got for us at Cork; upon which we clear’d several of those brought from Bristol, and some of ’em run away, being ordinary Fellows, and not fit for our Employment.

      Aug. 11. It blow’d fresh and dirty Weather; we had four Lighters from Cork to discharge our Ships, that we might have them well stow’d, and the Provisions in the bottom when they came aboard us. We lengthen’d our Mizen-Mast four Foot and a half, by placing it on a Step on the Gun-Deck; got our Fore-Mast forward, and did what we could in order to be in a better trim than before, against we had better Men to work the Ship, who lay all ready to come aboard from Cork.

      Aug. 12. Blew fresh, and dirty Weather; we clear’d and run near forty of our fresh-water Sailors. The Shoreham, Capt. Saunders,[87] came hither to convoy a Fleet back to Bristol.

      Aug. 16. Continu’d dirty Weather, so that we could not have an Opportunity to heel our Ship and clean her Bottom; and were forc’d to keep our Provisions cover’d in the Lighter, and Men to watch ’em. This Morning, about ten, one Boat loaded with Men came down from Cork to us. The Fellows appear’d to be brisk, but of several Nations; and I sent to Mr. Rogers to stop the rest till we were ready, our Ships being pester’d.

      Aug. 28. Nothing happen’d worth notice since the 16th, but that we had good Weather to clean and tallow our Ships five Streaks below the Water-Line, and to take in our Provisions and Men, &c. This Morning we fell down to the Spit-end by the Hastings Man of War, as our Consort did the night before. When I came without the Spit-end, I saluted the Hastings with seven Guns; they return’d five, and I three for Thanks. We had now above double the number of Officers usual in Privateers, and a large Complement of Men to each Ship. We took this Method of doubling our Officers to prevent Mutinies, which often happen in long Voyages, and that we might have a large Provision for a Succession of

      At Cork in Ireland.

      

      Officers in each Ship, in case of Mortality. Our Ship was now so full that we sent our Sheet-Cable and other new Store Cordage to Mr. Noblett Rogers at Cork, to make room for our Men and Provisions; having three Cables besides, and being willing rather to spare that, than any thing else we had aboard. Our Crew were continually marrying whilst we staid at Cork, tho they expected to sail immediately. Among others there was a Dane coupled by a Romish Priest to an Irish Woman, without understanding a word of each other’s Language, so that they were forc’d to use an Interpreter; yet I perceiv’d this Pair seem’d more afflicted at Separation than any of the rest: The Fellow continu’d melancholy for several days after we were at Sea. The rest understanding each other, drank their Cans of Flip[88] till the last minute, concluded with a Health to our good Voyage, and their happy Meeting, and then parted unconcern’d.

      I think it necessary to set down here the Names of all the Officers in both Ships, with the Number of our Men; because it is proper, that the Persons whom this Journal concerns, should be known.

      Officers of the Duke

      Woodes Rogers, Captain, a Mariner; Thomas Dover, a Doctor of Physick, second Captain, President of our Council, and Captain of the Marines; Carleton Vanbrugh, Merchant, now our Owners Agent; Robert Fry, a Mariner, chief Lieutenant; Charles Pope, second Lieutenant; Thomas Glendall, third Lieutenant; John Bridge, Master; William Dampier, Pilot for the South-Seas, who had been already three times there, and twice round the World; Alexander Vaughan, chief Mate; Lanc. Appleby, second Mate; John Ballet, rated third Mate, but design’d Surgeon, if occasion; he had been Captain Dampier’s Doctor, in his last unfortunate Voyage round the World; Samuel Hopkins, being Dr. Dover’s Kinsman and an Apothecary, was both an Assistant to him, and to act as his Lieutenant, if we landed a Party any where under his Command during the Voyage; George Underhill and John Parker, two young Lawyers design’d to act as Midshipmen; John Vigor, a Reformado,[89] to act as Capt. Dover’s Ensign when ashore; Benj. Parsons and Howel Knethel, Midshipmen; Richard Edwards, Coxswain of the Pinnace, to receive Midshipmens Pay; James Wasse, Surgeon; Charles May, his Mate; John Lancy, Assistant; Henry Oliphant, Gunner, with eight Men call’d the Gunner’s Crew; Nath. Scorch, Carpenter; John Jones, his Mate, with three Assistants; Giles Cash, Boatswain; and John Pillar, his Mate; John Shepard, Cooper, with two Assistants; John Johnson, Thomas Young, Charles Clovet, and John Bowden, all four Quarter-Masters; John Finch, late wholesale Oilman of London, now Ship’s Steward; Henry Newkirk, Sail-maker; Peter Vandenhende, Smith and Armourer; William Hopkins, Ship’s Corporal, Capt. Dover’s Serjeant, and Cook to the Officers; Barth. Burnes, Ship’s Cook.

      Officers of the Dutchess

      Stephen Courtney, Captain, a Mariner; Edward Cook, second Captain; William Stretton, chief Lieutenant; John Rogers, second Lieutenant; John Connely, third Lieutenant; William Bath, Owners Agent; George Milbourn, Master; Robert Knowlman, chief Mate; Henry Duck, second; Simon Hatley, third; James Goodall, fourth; and William Page, fifth Mate: With all other inferior Officers much the same as aboard the Duke. Most of us, the

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