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What Provision is made for a
Journey at Sea and what to carry with us for our use at Land
by William Wood |
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from New-England's Prospect, being a
true, lively and experimental Description of that part of America commonly called
New-England, London 1639 |
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Many peradventure at the looking over of these relations, may have inclinations
or resolutions for the voyage; to whom I wish all prosperity in their undertakings;
although I will use no forcive arguments to persuade any, but leave them to the relation;
yet by way of advice, I would commend to them a few lines from the pen of
experience. And because the way to New-England is over the sea, it will not be amiss
to give you directions what is necessary to be carried. Many I suppose, know as
well, or better than myself; yet all do not; to those my directions tend. Although
every man have ship-provisions allowed him for his five pounds a man, which is salt beef,
pork, salt fish, butter, cheese, pease pottage, water grewel, and such kind of victuals,
with good biskets, and six shilling beer; yet it will be necessary to carry some
comfortable refreshing of fresh victuals. As first, for such as have ability, some
conserves, and good claret wine to burn [burnt wine is brandy] at sea; or you may
have it by some of your vintners or wine-coopers burned here, and put up into vessels,
which will keep much better than other burnt wine; it is a very comfortable thing
for the stomach, or such as are sea-sick; sallad-oil likewise, prunes are good to be
stewed, sugar for many things; white biskets, eggs, and bacon, rice, poultry, and some
weather sheep to kill aboard the ship, and fine flour baked meats will keep about a week
or nine days at sea. Juice of lemons, well put up, is good either to prevent or cure
the scurvy. Here it must not be forgotten to carry small skillets, or pipkins, and
small frying-pans, to dress their victuals in at sea. For bedding, so it be easy,
and cleanly, and warm, it is no matter how old or coarse it be for the use of the sea; and
so likewise for apparel, the oldest cloaths be the fittest, with a long coarse coat, to
keep better things from the pitched ropes and planks. Whosoever shall put to sea in
a stout and well-conditioned ship, having an honest master, and loving seaman, shall not
need to fear but he shall find as good content at sea as a land...
Now for the encouragement of his men, he [the head of a family with servants] must not do
as many have done (more through ignorance than desire) carry many mouths and no meat; but
rather much meat for a few mouths. Want of due maintenance produceth nothing but a
grumbling spirit with a sluggish idleness; when as those servants be well provided for, go
through their employments with speed and chearfulness. For meal, it will be
requisite to carry a hogshead and an half for every one that is a labourer, to keep him
till he may receive the fruit of his own labours, which will be a year and a half after
his arrival, if he land in May or June. He must likewise carry malt, beef, butter,
cheese, some pease, good wines, vinegar, strong-waters, &c. Whosoever transports
more of these than he himself useth, the overplus being sold, will yield as much profit as
any other staple commodity. Every man likewise must carry over good store of
apparel; for if he come to buy there, he will find it dearer than in England.
Woollen cloth is a very good commodity, and linen better; as holland, lockram, flaxen,
hempen, callico stuffs, linsey woolsies, and blue callico, green sayes for housewife's
aprons, hats, boots, shoes, good Irish stockings, which if they be good, are much more
serviceable than knit ones; all kind of grocery wares, such as sugar, prunes,
raisins,
currants, honey, nutmegs, cloves, &c soap, candles, and lamps, &c. All
manner of household stuff is very good trade there, as pewter and brass, for the use of
that country; warming-pans and stewing pans be of necessary use, and good traffick
there. All manner of iron wares, as all manner of nails for houses, and all manner
of spikes for building of boats, ships, and fishing stages; all manner of tools for
workmen, hoes for planters, broad and narrow for setting and weeding; with axes, both
broad and pitching axes. All manner of augers, piercing bits, whip-saws, two handed
saws, froes, both for the riving of pailes, and laths, rings for beetle heads, and iron
wedges; though all these be made in the country (there being divers blacksmiths) yet being
a heavy commodity, and taking but a little storage, it is cheaper to carry such
commodities out of England. Glass ought not to be forgotten of any that desire to
benefit themselves, or the country; if it be well leaded, and carefully packed up, I know
no commodity better for portage or sale. Here likewise must not be forgotten all
utensils for the sea, as barbels, splitting knives, leads, and cod-hooks, and lines,
mackrel hooks and lines, shark-hooks, seines, or bass-nets, large and strong, herring
nets, &c. Such as would eat fowl, must not forget their six foot guns, their
good powder, and shot of all sorts; a great round shot called Barnstable shot, is the
best; being made of a blacker lead than ordinary shot. Furthermore, good pooldavies [a
heavy canvas] to make sails for boots, roads, anchors for boats and
pinnaces, are good; sea-coal, iron, lead, and mill-stones, flints, ordnances, and
whatsoever a man conceive is good for the country, that will lie as ballast, he cannot be
a loser by it. And lest I should forget a thing of so great importance, no man must
neglect to provide himself, or those belonging to him, his ammunition, for the defence of
himself and the country. For there is no man there that bears a head, but that bears
military arms; even boys of fourteen years of age are practiced with men in military
discipline, every three weeks. Whosoever shall carry over drums and English colours,
pattesons [spear that is carried in front of troops], halberds, pikes, muskets,
bandeleroes, with swords, shall not need to fear good gain for them; such things being
wanting in the country.
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