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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