Latroon and his friends arrive in Swalley Road, they go ashore at Surrat, are entertained with other Captains of Ships lately come to an Anchor, by the President; he discovers an old Mistress of his and his old fellow servant, waiting on a Captain in a disguising habit; he renews his acquaintance with her; she tells him what befell her after his unworthy shipping her to Virginia, and the cause of her coming for India. She enters into a League with Latroon to cheat her pretended Master, which she did, the manner how. They sail together from Surrat homeward.

The next day after our coming to an Anchor in Swalley Road, there came in to us six sail of Dutch-ships from Nova Batavia; and two days after came in four English ships more into the same Port. One of the Captains meeting with a Fleet of Friggats entring in at the Rivers mouth, was boarded by them and unhapily blown up, himself and others of his Company escaped, but were miserably burnt with powder. The ship drave into Swalley over the Bar and was tow’d on shore by our Boats and Barges, but all in a manner consumed by the fire; there was a Dutch-ship fought with the Friggats this while, which Sunk three of them, and in the fight there was three more surpriz’d, the first by the Charles Barge, the next by our Long-boat, which we doubly mann’d, and the last by the Dutch: they were but of little value, being laden with Paddee, Beech-leaves and other trifles.

Now did our Captain command the Skiffs to be mann’d, and taking me, the Scrivener, Drugster, with some of the Ship, we went ashore, and presented our selves to the President, who wellcom’d us in the best manner he could, and to speak the truth, his entertainment was magnificent; whilst we were frankly drinking Healths to our friends in England, there came into us (who came ashore that morning) the Captains of the other three Ships, with their Chief Officers, as also a great many Dutch Commanders and their Attendants, we used to say The more the merrier, and so found it, for the President as he was a very generous man, so he was prudent, and therefore by his noble deportment towards us, was resolved to oblige us both.

We on the other side, strove to out-vy each other in gallantry of Spirit, and in this manner we continued feasting three days, swimming in an Ocean of Liquor.

In this time of our Jollity I minded especially a young man that waited on one of the Captains; he had a very Sweet countenance, but his Complexion was very much Sun-burnt by travelling; I did verily believe I had seen the face before, and therefore very much eyed it, which he perceiving fixt his eyes as often on me, for I never cast my eye that way where he stood waiting, but I found him still looking towards me.

My heart renewed private intelligence what he was, but my reason could not so much as guess from whence it came; for by the extraordinary motion thereof beating strokes on my brest as nimbly as a Drummer a Travale on his Drum-head; I look’d on him as one I knew, neither was I alone thus, for at that distance I could perceive that the sight of me did put him into a strange confusion.

As I was contriving how to have some private conference with him, his Master commanded him to take some of the Boats Crew and go aboard and fetch him something which he wanted, he had no sooner receiv’d the Command, but casting his Eyes on me he endeavor’d to tell me by them, he had an eager desire to speak with me.

He going out, I withdrew from the Company, desiring their excuse for a while and follow’d him, but coming near him he trembled so he could hardly move a foot forward, seeing him in that agony, I asked him what ailed him? Bade him not be afraid, that I came not after him to mischief him, or injure him in the least. I believe, said he, you intend me no harm now, but it would have been well if you had never done me any. How! replyed I, it is impossible I should be so cruel as to injure a face so innocently harmless as thine appears: yes, Sir, you have, said he, and were it not for something within me I have no name for, I would be reveng’d on thy very soul for the abuse thou hast done me; I have now no longer time left to discourse you, but to-morrow meet me under the Southern Toddy-trees, and there I shall not fail to let you understand the miseries of ——, and there he dropt his tears so fast that he could hardly see his way before him. I was so amazed at what I had seen and heard, that there I stood as a thing immovable, speechless, and almost sensless; staying somewhat too long, the Captain came out to look me, and found me in this posture staring up into the Skie; What’s the matter man? said he, what wonders dost thou see there, thou dost so gaze? I tell thee man, said he, this is no proper time nor place to take an observation, we are now at Land; but he knew not what observation I had taken, if he had he would have spoiled the Instrument if he could.

Recollecting my self, Your pardon good Sir, said I, I protest you drink too smartly within, so that I was forc’d to come out to suck in some little airy refreshment. This shall not excuse you, quoth he, therefore come along with me. Coming in he told the whole company in what a rediculous posture he found me, and did so Romance upon it, that he made them all laugh. One while, said he, he was telling the Clouds he saw, pleasing himself with the several monstrous shapes they bore, though I could not see one in all our Hemisphere. Then he turned his ear up to the firmament, as if he were hearkening to the Sweet harmony of the Sphears, and in my conscience, if I had not prevented him, I had seen him madly dance by himself without one stroke of Musick. After this he turn’d his eyes upwards again, and fixing them there awhile, the nine heavens or firmaments were so transparent to his sight, that looking through them, he recounted their particular names to himself in order as they were posited. He would have proceeded but that the company would not let him, for my own part he might have talked till dooms-day without any interruption from me, my thoughts being wholly imployed in searching out the meaning of what the young man lately spake to me.

I observed after his return, he could not or would not look once towards me as long as I staid. That night we parted some staying ashore, others going aboard; but I, knowing what business I had to do the next morning, lay all night with one of the Factors, a true Toper, and one that I had been formerly merry with in London. I got up early and went to the place appointed, where I staid not long e’re I saw him whom I expected advancing towards me, I arose to meet him, so walking together we chose a place where we sate down, which was both convenient, and secret for our purpose. As I was about to speak he prevented it, by calling me base, faithless, perjur’d man (I starting up, laid my hand on my Sword) Nay hold, Sir, said he, think not to expiate your offence by murdering the person against whom they were committed, so pulling off his Perriwig discovered some short red hair? do you know this colour, said he, which once you told me you lov’d beyond any other? Here is the same Dimple in the Chin, and Mole on the Lip, and the same skin (stripping open his doublet) which you have unreasonably praised for its excelling whiteness; these were the flatteries you used to delude a poor credulous maiden, whom you not onely sham’d but ruin’d. You cannot forget your matchless treachery in seducing me aboard a Virginia ship, in whom I was carry’d thither and sold, you hoping by that villany to have been for ever rid of me and mine.

I now saw who she was (my fellow servant when I was an Apprentice) and knowing what she said to be a truth, I ask’d her forgiveness, acknowledging all my unworthyness to her, and protested if she durst trust me once more I would make her amends for all, at which she smil’d (for she ever lov’d me too well to be angry with me) I taking hold of this advantage did so press her to a forgiveness, that she could not deny me, having seal’d it with a thousand kisses: and now dear Jane, said I, I have a longing desire to know how you spent your time in Virginia, and how you came hither with this Captain; that I shall do briefly, she replyed.

When I saw that you had so cruelly trappan’d me, and that all your love was nothing but a deluding pretence to enjoy what you could, and be shut of me afterwards as I saw you had done, I attempted to fling my Self into the Sea, but being prevented in that, I betook my self to my Cabbin where for grief I lay the whole Voyage so desperately ill that none had any hopes of my life, for my Child dying as I suppose for want of those that should carefully looke after it. Arriving at Virginia, and anchoring at Potomack River: several Planters came aboard of us, and made a quick riddance of all the Passengers but my self, none offering a pipe of Tobacco for me, for I was grown so weak I could not stand, and so lean that I was a meer skinful of bones. The Master seeing me in this condition, and judging I could not live two dayes to an end, commanded me to be carried ashore to dye. A Planters wife that was very antient, seeing me lie in that miserable and deplorable manner, took pity on me, and took me home to her house, where she proved so good a Nurse to me that every day I did sensibly amend. Being well, there was a great contest between the Husband of this good old woman, and the Master whose Servant I should be, a Suit was commenced, and upon tryal the Master was cast he putting me a shore as useless to him, acquitted himself of all future trouble with me. I being clear from him, my good Patron and Patroness discharged me in open Court for having any thing to say to me, for what necessaries they had provided for me during my sickness, being now a free-woman I had a hundred good matches offered me, all which I refus’d; there were some of the great ones too courted me for their lust (for I had now recovered my complexion, and my eyes had shaken off that dulness which had clog’d the swiftness of their motion) but all these temptations prevailed not, the memory of you had too large a power over my heart than to yield to any one else. But length of time began by degrees to extenuate that esteem I had of you, so that I did not behave my self so reservedly as formerly I had, but assumed a great deal of freedome. One day my Master (as I now call him) coming to the house where I was (for his Ship then rode in the River not far off us) took so great a likeing to me at the first sight, that as he hath confess’d since, he was never at quiet but when in my society; So that in a little time he had so won upon my affections, that my carriage towards him sufficiently demonstrated how dearly I loved him. To conclude, he made a perfect conquest of me, and as the earnest of a perpetual tye, he fully enjoyed me, and promised marriage if I would go with him as soon as he came to Weymouth in the west of England, where stood his Habitation. I greedily swallowed all his perswations (although one would have thought me more wary, having been so notoriously cheated by you before,) & the time coming when he would set sail, I march’d down to his Ship with as many as would have compleated a Regiment which followed me, looking upon me as the most absolute mirror of Chastity which ever arrived in those parts, joyful I was to return to my native Country, and as glad was my overcomer in that he had obtained so pretty a play-fellow to pass away his time in his passage homewards. In seven weeks we came upon the coast of England, and was by the stress of weather put into Plymouth-sound, where we rode with much difficulty between the Island and the Land. The third day after our anchoring there, the wind ceasing though the weather was somewhat hazy, he went ashore, and taking none with him but my self Coxswain and his Crew. I wondred what he meant by it, my fond hopes prompted me to believe that here he would perform the promise he made me at Virginia, but I found my self deceiv’d; for he dismist the boat after he had fill’d their skins full of wine, and commanded them to wait upon him in the morning.

There being now none left but he and I together; Dearest, said he, be not troubled at what I shall tell you, and it shall be never the worse for you. I have a Wife and Children at Waymouth, although to gain my ends of you I pretended to have none; she is the most jealous woman in the world, and well she may, for she knows there is no woman in the Creation much more deform’d than her self, wherefore this I would have you to do that I may continue your company; you shall change your feminine habit for what is masculine, under which disguise you shall pass as a young man I have met with abroad, which for fancy’s sake I have chosen to be my Companion in my Travels. I thought I should have sunk into the Earth to hear him make this new confident proposition to me after so many vowes and promises to make me his wife, but gathering courage, I started out of his hand and would have gone down stairs, but pulling me back, what said I, are all my expectations come to this? must I be only your wandring whore at last? have I left so many wealthy matches at Potomack for this? no, I am in mine own Country, in a place where I am not known, & I will wash and scour for a lively-hood rather than submit so basely after so many worthy proffers. Notwithstanding a thousand resolutions I had to leave him; yet such was the subtlety of mans sly insinuation, that he made me unsay all that I had said in less than half an hour; and I agreed to everything he would have me do. Leaving me at the Tavern he went immediately, and bought a suite (which he guest would fit me) with Hatt, Shooes, Stockings, and whatever was requisite to cloath a young man fashionably, and brought them to me upon tryal, they exactly fitted me. Now because we would not give any cause of suspition to the people of the house where we were in changing my habit, it was concluded on between us to walk out of the town somewhere, he being well acquainted with all the places about the town, made choice of Catdown, where in the cleft of an hollow rock I unchas’d, throwing my proper habit into the Sea, and although it was somewhat immodest I was forc’d to beg his help in my new metamorphosis; he had procur’d me a very All-a-mode Perriwig, but before that would fit me he must play the Barbar himself, which he did by cutting my hair off close to my head. Being now clad with everything requisite from top to toe, we made towards the town again, where entring the former house we were in, we drank and were very merry, having a noise of musick, having supp’d one bed serv’d us without suspition; in the morning came the boat for us with the doctor in her, who asked my Master very seriously for the Gentlewoman, he replyed she had kindred and friends in this place and that she resolv’d to stay with them awhile; then he enquired what that young man was; O, said he, he is of my former acquaintance, who having little to depend on here, is resolv’d to see the world abroad with me. Coming aboard our Master need not make a repetition of what he had already said, the Doctor did it for him: now did we set sail steering for Waymouth which we did reach in a little time.

I was entertain’d in his house with much civility from his wife, and the servants observing what respect their Master shew’d me, paid me the like. There was seldom a day wherein he had me not to a Tavern, sometimes with company, but most commonly alone, and this life I led for fourteen moneths; at the expiration of which my master being employed by some Merchants in a Voyage to East-India, took me along with him by which means we have the wonderful hap to see one another again.

My Jinny having ended her discourse, I endeavoured to endear myself unto her with all the outward demonstrations I could devise or imagine, protesting for the future I would never violate my faith to her, that she and I would run our fortune, live together, and she dying I would voluntarily do so too, to accompany her to the other world.

Fearing lest I should detain her too long, and give her Master any cause of suspition, I dispatch’d her away, and soon after went aboard our own ship, but before I went I appointed her to meet me there two days after. The Captain, my self, and all that were concern’d, went roundly about our business, for since he had gone beyond the bounds of his commission, he was resolv’d not to return home with her, but convert Ship and goods to his own use; this in secret he acquainted me with, as knowing my ingenious rogueship would be very helpful and assistant to him in all his enterprizes; and that I might oblidge him to me in an absolute bond of friendship, I seem’d to make him my Cabinet-counsel in all my affairs, and did really inform him of the truth of the last Adventure, knowing I could not carry on my design without his privity and help.

He did much wonder to hear me tell him that I had here also discovered another of my wenches in man’s apparrel, but his wonder turn’d into rejoycing when I told him how this wench should enrich our Stock by robbing her or his pretended Master of his Gold and what else he had valuable, and could hardly rest to think how I would effect my design. Fear not, said I, his Gold is all our own, therefore let us lay out our own as fast as we can, in the commodites of this place. The Dutch thought we had the Devil and all of mony, to see our goods come tumbling in upon us so fast, so that with what goods we took in at Bantam, and what we receiv’d here, our ship wanted but little of her full fraught.

The time was come wherein I was to have another Mess of discourse with my Jinny, who was punctual to her time, and there before me at the place appointed. And after some few amorous ceremonies I seriously told her that it was my intent never to part with her during life, she answered that it was her desire, and that she would run any hazard to bear me company; well, said I, make your self ready to go along with us, for we are resolv’d to set sayl within these two dayes; that I shall (she said) and know that I will not come with empty hands; my love shall neither be burthensome to you, nor expensive; how prithee, how said I, why thus, my pretended Master, as I have told you loves me dearly, expressing it in whatever way I desire, and to let me see how great a trust he dares impose upon me, and what confidence he hath of my fidelity, I have the key of his Chest wherein is contain’d 8 hundred Jacobuss’s, besides a box of rough diamonds with other stones of price, all of which, or as much as I can carry off handsomely will I bring to thee, so much efficacy hath my first Lover over me that I could be content to undo all the rest to raise thee. I told her the notion was very suitable to our present affair, and that it was the best and easiest course I could propound for our happy living hereafter, and that when she saw any white thing hanging in our shrowd she should then fall to her work, which should be the token of our being all ready; which she could easily do at any time, for the Captain being almost continually a shore and she with him, it was but waiting for the boat (upon the sign given) which at her command would carry her aboard and bring her with the least word ashore. Moreover that having got the prize, she should presently make down to the Toddy-trees, over against which we lay at Anchor, and upon the signal of a Handkerchief, we would send our boat instantly ashore to receive her. All which according to instruction was exactly perform’d, the Captain whom she requited in this manner for all his love being at that time dead drunk by an invitation of the Factors of Surrat.

Having got my double Treasure aboard, and what lading we desir’d, our Hold shut up, our Anchors weigh’d, and our Canvas spread, away we sail’d over the Bar, with an hundred shot after us, for our Country-men as well as Hollanders, concluded there must be some damn’d inexpressible Treachery in this our suddain sailing, neither giving notice some days before, or fairly taking our leaves by fireing of Guns according to Custom; besides they knew we had not taken in our full Lading. Let them fire their hearts out we valued them not, in derision we fir’d a Gun at stern, and so stood to the Southwards.

I knew very well this female confident of mine would effectually do the business we had plotted together, and so to divert my self and make sport with the Captain of the discovery of my Rival, I wrote some few Lines and nail’d them on a Toddy-tree on the shore directed to the said Captain, which I knew would be discovered by some or other, and carried to him the verses were as follow.

Noble Captain.

I shall not trouble you with the particulars of an exact Journal of our voyage from Surrat till we came to Venice, to which part we were bound, but only give you some light touches by the way.

The last day of April we cross’d the Æquator, and the first of May made a new way by judgement, and by observation our way was four Leagues to the South-wards, having a rowling Sea out of the Souther board. The fourth of June in the morning we saw the Island Mauritius and a little after three or four small Islands appeared also; we stood in betwixt Mauritius and these Islands, and when we were thwart the point of Rocks which lye on Mauritius side, we edg’d off towards the Island, giving that point and breach a good birth; our depth was twenty, and two and twenty fathom hard ground, and being within one mile of the westermost rock, we had twenty four fathom, the wind being at south east, we left into the shore about a mile distant from it we anchored that night. Here we rode near ten days, refreshing our selves with what the Island afforded, as Goats, Hogs, and fresh fish good store. It is reported here are many fish rank poyson, we did eat all sorts, as Mullets, Lantarasks, Whiskers, Rockfish and Garfish, and many others, but found no harm by feeding on them. We set sail hence and about 28 Leagues distance from Mauritius, we pass’d by an Island call’d the Moschachenas, near which we sprung a leak, that each hour we pumpt above two hundred and fifty strokes, it being gusty whether and a great Sea out of the South-east, but by our Carpenters it was happily stopt, although it was under the next timber abaft the well near the Keel, which by rummidging the Hold they found it so to be. The next place we anchored at was the Island of Johanna, here we had much lightning and thunder, the wind having been out of the Sea in the day, and off shore in the night. This place affordeth very good flesh great quantity of fish and fowl, we had a Bullock for ten long red Cornelion heads; we had also excellent Oranges and Lemmons, the people are very loving and friendly, having two Governours or Captains among them, the one call’d Androm Pela, and the other Masse Core, they desired of us no other money for ought we bought than those red heads. Sailing from hence we sprung our main top-mast, which our Carpenters taking down fisht it and got it up again the same day. On the third of September in latitude 16. d. 33 the wind at South east, we saw the Island of St. Helena, to the west-ward of the Chappel thereof we anchored a mile distant, the Captain caused the skiff to be hoisted out and so my Jinny, the Scrivener, Drugster, and Doctor &c. we landed at Lemmon-valley. Here with some Guns we carried with us we kill’d Hogs and Goats, otherwise it is hard to take them, running at the sight of us up inaccessible craggy Rocks. In ranging through the Isle, our men found divers Oranges and Lemmon-trees but no fruit thereon, the Dutch having been there as we suppose, had gathered them, as appeared by their names on certain Stones and Trees; we caught here Mackrel, Breams and Borettoes good store.

And therefore Reader pardon the Printer, who promises amendment; and I hope thy acceptance of this and the fourth part already published will induce me to finish this Story with a fifth & last part. In the mean time the Author of this, hath lately written Printed and Published, another Book entitled.

The Unlucky Citizen, experimentially described in the various misfortunes of an Unlucky Londoner. Calculated for the Meridian of this City: but may serve by way of advice to all the Comonality of England. More particularly to Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, Husbands and Wives. Intermixed with several Choice Novels, Stored with variety of Examples and advice president and precept. Illustrated with Pictures fitted to the several Stories.

And let me assure thee Reader that no more is promised in the Title than is performed in the Book for it not only equals this in relating variety of pleasant extravagancies and other Novels but it is profitable in the many reflections and good advices given to the Reader, and is intended to be prosecuted in a second part wherein you shall have not only real and true examples and experiences, but also as good and sound advice as can be collected from any Book either Morall or Divine which this age hath produced. Therefore despise it not because of the Unlucky Title, for it is or will be worthy of thy perusall.