Chapter IV (6)

_Preces & Lachrimcæ_, Prayers and Tears, the Primitive Christians
Weapons, we had great Plenty of to defend us withal; but had the
House all fallen upon our Heads, we were in that Fright as we could
scarce have had Power to rise for the present, or do any thing for
our Security. Upon our rising, and sending a Servant to view what
she could discover, we soon understood that the Chimney was fallen
down, and that with its Fall it had beaten down a great part of that
End of the House, _viz._ the Upper Chamber, and the Room under it,
which was the Room I chose for my Study: The Chimney was thought as
strong, and as well built as most in the Neighbourhood; and it
surpriz'd the Mason (whom I immediately sent for to view it) to see
it down: but that which was most surprizing to me, was the Manner of
its Falling; had it fallen almost any other Way than that it did, it
must in all Likelihood have killed the much greater part of my
Family, for no less than Nine of us lay at that End of the House, my
Wife and Self, and Five Children, and Two Servants, a Maid, and a
Man then in my Pay, and so a Servant, though not by the Year: The
Bed my Eldest Daughter and the Maid lay in joyned as near as
possible to the Chimney, and it was within a very few Yards of the
Bed that we lay in; so that as _David_ said to _Jonathan_, there
seem'd to be but one single Step between Death and us, to all
outward Appearance. One Thing I cannot omit, which was very
remarkable and surprizing: It pleased God so to order it, that in
the Fall of the House two great Spars seem'd to fall so as to pitch
themselves on an End, and by that Means to support that other Part
of the House which adjoined to the Upper Chamber; or else in all
Likelihood, that must also have fallen too at the same Time. The
Carpenter (whom we sent for forthwith) when he came, ask'd who
plac'd those two Supporters, supposing somebody had been there
before him; and when he was told, those two Spars in the Fall so
plac'd themselves, he could scarce believe it possible; it was done
so artificially, that he declar'd, they scarce needed to have been
removed.

In short, Sir, it is impossible to describe the Danger we were in;
you your self was an Eye-witness of some Part of what is here
related; and I once more assure you, the whole Account I have here
given you is true, and what can be attested by the whole Family.
None of all those unfortunate Persons who are said to have been
killed with the Fall of a Chimney, could well be much more expos'd
to Danger than we were; it is owing wholly to that watchful
Providence to whom we all are indebted for every Minute of our
Lives, that any of us escaped; none but he who never sleeps nor
slumbers could have secured us. I beseech Almighty God to give us
All that due Sense as we ought to have of so great and so general
Calamity; that we truly repent us of those Sins that have so long
provoked his Wrath against us, and brought down so heavy a Judgment
as this upon us. O that we were so wise as to consider it, and to
_sin no more lest a worse thing come upon us_! That it may have this
happy Effect upon all the sinful Inhabitants of this Land is, and
shall be, the Dayly Prayer of Dear Sir,

_Your real Friend and Servant_,
John Gipps.

Another Account from a Reverend Minister in _Dorsetshire_, take as follows, _viz._

_SIR_,

As you have desired an Account of the Disasters occasion'd by the
late Tempest, (which I can assure you was in these Parts very
Terrible) so I think my self oblig'd to let you know, that there was
a great Mixture of Mercy with it: For though the Hurricane was
frightful, and very mischievous, yet God's gracious Providence was
therein very remarkable, in restraining its Violence from an
universal Destruction: for then there was a Commotion of the
Elements of Air, Earth and Water, which then seemed to outvie each
other in Mischief; for (in _David_'s Expression, 2 _Sam._ 22. 8.)
_The Earth trembled and quak'd, the Foundations of the Heavens mov'd
and shook, because God was angry_: and yet, when all was given over
for lost, we found our selves more scar'd than hurt; for our Lives
was given us for a Prey, and the Tempest did us only so much Damage,
as to make us sensible that it might have done us a great deal more,
had it not been rebuk'd by the God of Mercy; the Care of whose
Providence has been visibly seen in our wonderful Preservations. My
Self and Three more of this Parish were then strangely rescued from
the Grave: I narrowly escaped with my Life, where I apprehended
nothing of Danger; for going out about Midnight to give Orders to my
Servants to secure the House, and Reeks of Corn and Furses from
being blown all away; as soon as I mov'd out of the Place were I
stood, I heard something of a great Weight fall close behind me, and
a little after going out with a Light, to see what it was, I found
it to be the great Stone which covered the Top of my Chimney to keep
out the Wet; it was almost a Yard square, and very thick, weighing
about an Hundred and Fifty Pound. It was blown about a Yard off from
the Chimney, and fell Edge-long, and cut the Earth, about four
Inches deep, exactly between my Foot-steps; and a little after,
whilst sitting under the Clavel of my Kitchen Chimney, and reaching
out my Arm for some Fewel to mend the Fire, I was again strangely
preserved from being knock'd on the Head by a Stone of great Weight;
it being about a Foot long, Half a Foot broad, and two Inches thick:
for as soon as I had drawn in my Arm, I felt something brush against
my Elbow, and presently I heard the Stone fall close by my Foot, a
third Part of which was broken off by the Violence of the Fall, and
skarr'd my Ancle, but did not break the Skin; it had certainly
killed me, had it fallen while my Arm was extended. The Top of my
Wheat Rick was blown off, and some of the Sheaves were carried a
Stones Cast, and with that Violence, that one of them, at that
Distance, struck down one _Daniel Fookes_ a late Servant of the Lady
_Napier_, and so forceably, that he was taken up dead, and to all
Appearance remain'd so a great while; but at last was happily
recover'd to Life again. His Mother, poor Widow, was at the same
time more fatally threatned at Home, and her Bed had certainly
prov'd her Grave, had not the first Noise awaken'd and scar'd her
out of Bed; and she was scarce gotten to the Door, when the House
fell all in: The Smith's Wife likewise being scar'd at such a Rate,
leapt out of Bed, with the little Child in her Arms, and ran hastily
out of Doors naked, without Hose or Shooes, to a Neighbour's House;
and by that hasty Flight, both their Lives were wonderfully
preserved. The Sheets of Lead on _Lytton_ Church, were rolled up
like Sheets of Parchment, and blown off to a great Distance. At
_Strode_, a large Apple Tree, being about a Foot in Square, was
broken off cleverly like a Stick, about four Foot from the Root, and
carried over an Hedge about ten Foot high; and cast, as if darted,
(with the Trunk forward) above fourteen Yards off. And I am credibly
inform'd, that at _Ellwood_ in the Parish of _Abbotsbury_, a large
Wheat Rick (belonging to one _Jolyffe_) was cleverly blown, with its
Staddle, off from the Stones, and set down on the Ground in very
good Order. I would fain know of the Atheist what mov'd his
_Omnipotent Matter_ to do such Mischief, _&c._

SIR, _I am,
Your Affectionate Friend and Servant,
though unknown_,

Jacob Cole, _Rect. of_ Swyre in County of _Dorset_.

This Account is very remarkable, and well attested, and the Editor of this Collection can vouch to the Reputation of the Relators, tho' not to the Particulars of the Story.

_A great Preservation in the late Storm_

About Three of the Clock in the Morning, the Violence of the Wind
blew down a Stack of Chimneys belonging to the dwelling House of Dr.
_Gideon Harvey_, (situate in St. _Martin_'s Lane over against the
Street End) on the back Part of the next House, wherein dwells Mr.
_Robert Richards_ an Apothecary, at the Sign of the Unicorn; and
Capt. _Theodore Collier_ and his Family lodges in the same. The
Chimney fell with that Force as made them pierce thro' the Roofs and
all the Floors, carrying them down quite to the Ground. The two
Families, consisting of Fourteen, Men, Women, and Children, besides
Three that came in from the next House, were at that Instant
dispos'd of as follows, a Footman that us'd to lie in the back
Garret, had not a Quarter of an Hour before remov'd himself into the
fore Garret, by which means he escap'd the Danger: In the Room under
that lay Capt. _Collier_'s Child, of Two Months old, in Bed with the
Nurse, and a Servant Maid lay on the Bed by her; the Nurse's Child
lying in a Cribb by the Bed-side, which was found, with the Child
safe in it, in the Kitchen, where the Nurse and Maid likewise found
themselves; their Bed being shatter'd in Pieces, and they a little
bruis'd by falling down Three Stories: Capt. _Collier_'s Child was
in about Two Hours found unhurt in some Pieces of the Bed and
Curtains, which had fallen through Two Floors only, and hung on some
broken Rafters in that Place, which was the Parlour: In the Room
under This, being one Pair of Stairs from the Street, and two from
the Kitchen, was Capt. _Collier_ in his Bed, and his Wife just by
the Bed-side, and her Maid a little behind her, who likewise found
her self in the Kitchin a little bruis'd, and ran out to cry for
Help for her Master and Mistress, who lay buried under the Ruins:
Mrs. _Collier_ was, by the timely Aid of Neighbours who remov'd the
Rubbish from her, taken out in about Half an Hours Time, having
receiv'd no Hurt but the Fright, and an Arm a little bruis'd: Capt.
_Collier_ in about Half an Hour more was likewise taken out unhurt.
In the Parlour were sitting Mr. _Richards_ with his Wife, the Three
Neighbours, and the rest of his Family, a little Boy of about a Year
old lying in the Cradle, they all run out at the first Noise, and
escap'd, Mrs. _Richards_ staying a little longer than the rest, to
pull the Cradle with her child in it along with her, but the House
fell too suddenly on it, and buried the Child under the Ruins, a
Rafter fell on her Foot, and bruis'd it a little, at which she
likewise made her Escape, and brought in the Neighbours, who soon
uncovered the Head of the Cradle, and cutting it off, took the Child
out alive and well. This wonderful Preservation being worthy to be
transmitted to Posterity, we do attest to be true in every
Particular. Witness our Hands,

_Gideon Harvey._
_London_, _Theo. Collier._
Nov. 27. 1703. _Robert Richards._

These Accounts of like Nature are particularly attested by Persons of known Reputation and Integrity.

_SIR_,

In order to promote the good Design of your Book, in perpetuating
the Memory of God's signal Judgment on this Nation, by the late
dreadful Tempest of Wind, which has hurl'd so many Souls into
Eternity; and likewise his Providence in the miraculous Preservation
of several Persons Lives, who were expos'd to the utmost Hazards in
that Hurricane: I shall here give you a short but true Instance of
the latter, which several Persons can witness besides my self; and
if you think proper may insert the same in the Book you design for
that Purpose; which is as follows. At the _Saracen_'s Head in
_Friday_ Street, a Country Lad lodging three Pair of Stairs next the
Roof of the House, was wonderfully preserv'd from Death; for about
Two a Clock that _Saturday_ Morning the 27th of _November_, (which
prov'd fatal to so many) there fell a Chimney upon the Roof, under
which he lay, and beat it down through the Ceiling (the Weight of
the Tiles, Bricks, _&c._ being judged by a Workman to be about Five
Hundred Weight) into the Room, fell exactly between the Beds Feet
and Door of the Room, which are not Two Yards distance from each
other, it being but small: the sudden Noise awaking the Lad, he
jumps out of Bed endeavouring to find the Door, but was stopt by the
great Dust and falling of more Bricks, _&c._ and finding himself
prevented, in this Fear he got into Bed again, and remain'd there
till the Day Light, (the Bricks and Tiles still falling
between-whiles about his Bed) and then got up without any Hurt, or
so much as a Tile or Brick falling on the Bed; the only thing he
complain'd of to me, was his being almost choak'd with Dust when he
got out of Bed, or put his Head out from under the Cloaths: There
was a great Weight of Tiles and Bricks, which did not break through,
as the Workmen inform me, just over the Beds Tester, enough to have
crush'd him to Death, if they had fallen: Thus he lay safe among the
Dangers that threatned him, whilst wakeful Providence preserv'd him.
And SIR, if this be worthy your taking Notice of, I am ready to
justify the same. In Witness whereof, here is my Name,

Dec. 3. 1703. _Henry Mayers._

_A great Preservation in the late Storm_

_William Phelps_ and _Frances_ his Wife, living at the Corner of
_Old Southampton Buildings_, over against _Gray's-Inn Gate_ in
_Holborn_, they lying up three pair of Stairs, in the Backroom, that
was only lath'd and plaister'd, he being then very ill, she was
forc'd to lie in a Table-Bed in the same Room: about One a Clock in
the Morning, on the 27th of _November_ last, the Wind blew down a
Stack of Chimneys of seven Funnels that stood very high; which broke
through the Roof, and fell into the Room, on her Bed; so that she
was buried alive, as one may say: she crying out, _Mr._ Phelps,
_Mr._ Phelps, _the House is fall'n upon me_, there being so much on
her that one could but just hear her speak; a Coachman and a Footman
lying on the same Floor, I soon call'd them to my Assistance. We all
fell to work, tho' we stood in the greatest Danger; and through the
Goodness of God we did take her out, without the least hurt; neither
was any of us hurt, tho' there was much fell after we took her out.
And when we took the Bricks off the Bed the next Morning, we found
the Frame of the Bed on which she lay broke all to pieces.

_William Phelps._

_Another great Preservation_

Mr. _John Hanson_, Register of _Eaton College_, being at _London_
about his Affairs, and lying that dreadful Night, _Nov._ 26, at the
_Bell-Savage Inn_ on _Ludgate Hill_, was, by the Fall of a Stack of
Chimneys (which broke through the Roof, and beat down two Floors
above him, and also that in which he lay) carried in his Bed down to
the Ground, without the least hurt, his Cloaths, and every thing
besides in the Room, being buried in the Rubbish; it having pleased
God so to order it, that just so much of the Floor and Ceiling of
the Room (from which he fell) as covered his Bed, was not broken
down. Of this great Mercy he prays he may live for ever mindful, and
be for ever thankful to Almighty God.

_SIR_,

The Design of your Collecting the remarkable Accidents of the late
Storm coming to my Hands, I thought my self obliged to take this
Opportunity of making a publick Acknowledgment of the wonderful
Providence of Heaven to me, namely, the Preservation of my only
Child from imminent Danger.

Two large Stacks of Chimneys, containing each five Funnels, beat
through the Roof, in upon the Bed where she lay, without doing her
the least Harm, the Servant who lay with her being very much
bruised. There were several Loads of Rubbish upon the Bed before my
Child was taken out of it.

This extraordinary Deliverance I desire always thankfully to
remember.

I was so nearly touch'd by this Accident, that I could not take so
much notice as I intended of this Storm; yet I observ'd the Wind
gradually to encrease from One a Clock till a Quarter after Five, or
thereabouts: at which time it seem'd to be at the highest; when
every Gust did not only return with greater Celerity, but also with
more Force.

From about a Quarter before Six it sensibly decreas'd. I went often
to the Door, at which times I observ'd, that every Gust was preceded
by small Flashes, which, to my Observation, did not dart
perpendicularly, but seem'd rather to skim along the Surface of the
Ground; nor did they appear to be of the same kind with the common
Light'ning Flashes.

I must confess I cannot help thinking that the Earth it self
suffer'd some Convulsion; and that for this Reason, because several
Springs, for the space of 48 Hours afterwards, were very muddy,
which were never known to be so by any Storm of Wind or Rain before:
nor indeed is it possible, they lying so low, could be affected by
any thing less than a Concussion of the Earth it self.

How far these small Hints may be of use to the more ingenious
Enquirers into this matter, I shall humbly leave to their
Consideration, and subscribe my self,

SIR, _Your humble Servant_,
Joseph Clench,

_Apothecary in_ Jermyn _Street_, _near_ St. James's.
_Dec._ 8, 1703.

_SIR_,

This comes to let you know that I received yours in the _Downs_, for
which I thank you. I expected to have seen you in _London_ before
now, had we not met with a most violent Storm in our way to
_Chatham_. On the 27th of the last Month, about Three of the Clock
in the Morning, we lost all our Anchors and drove to Sea: about Six
we lost our Rother, and were left in a most deplorable condition to
the merciless Rage of the Wind and Seas: we also sprung a Leak, and
drove 48 Hours expecting to perish. But it pleased God to give us a
wonderful Deliverance, scarce to be parallell'd in History; for
about Midnight we were drove into shoul Water, and soon after our
Ship struck upon the Sands: the Sea broke over us, we expected every
minute that she would drop to pieces, and that we should all be
swallowed up in the Deep; but in less than two hours time we drove
over the Sands, and got (without Rother or Pilot, or any Help but
Almighty God's) into this Place, where we run our Ship on shore, in
order to save our Lives: but it has pleased God also, far beyond our
expectation, to save our Ship, and bring us safe off again last
Night. We shall remain here a considerable while to refit our Ship,
and get a new Rother. Our Deliverance is most remarkable, that in
the middle of a dark Night we should drive over a Sand where a Ship
that was not half our Bigness durst not venture to come in the Day;
and then, without knowing where we were, drive into a narrow place
where we have saved both Lives and Ship. I pray God give us all
Grace to be thankful, and never forget so great a mercy.

I am,

_Your affectionate Friend and humble Servant_,
_Russell_, at _Helversluce_ in
_Holland_, Dec. 16. 1703. Henry Barclay.

_SIR_

According to the publick Notice, I send you two or three
Observations of mine upon the late dreadful Tempest: As,

1. In the Parish of St. _Mary Cray, Kent_, a poor Man, with his Wife
and Child, were but just gone out of their Bed, when the Head of
their House fell in upon it; which must have kill'd them.

2. A great long Stable in the Town, near the Church, was blown off
the Foundation entirely at one sudden Blast, from the West-side to
the East, and cast out into the High-way, over the Heads of five
Horses, and a Carter feeding them at the same time, and not one of
them hurt, nor the Rack or Manger touch'd, which are yet standing to
the Admiration of all Beholders.

3. As the Church at _Heyes_ received great Damage, so the Spire,
with one Bell in it, were blown away over the Church yard.

4. The Minister of _South-Ash_ had a great Deliverance from a
Chimney falling in upon his Bed just as he rose, and hurt only his
Feet; as blessed be God, our Lives have been all very miraculously
preserv'd, tho' our Buildings every where damag'd. You may depend on
all, as certify'd by me,

Thomas Watts,
_Vicar of_ Orpington _and St._ Mary Cray.

There are an innumerable variety of Deliverances, besides these, which deserve a Memorial to future Ages; but these are noted from the Letters, and at the Request of the Persons particularly concern'd.

Particularly, 'tis a most remarkable Story of a Man belonging to the _Mary_, a fourth Rate Man of War, lost upon the _Goodwin Sands_; and all the Ship's Company but himself being lost, he, by the help of a piece of the broken Ship, got a-board the _Northumberland_; but the Violence of the Storm continuing, the _Northumberland_ ran the same fate with the _Mary_, and coming on shore upon the same Sand, was split to pieces by the Violence of the Sea: and yet this Person, by a singular Providence, was one of the 64 that were delivered by a _Deal Hooker_ out of that Ship, all the rest perishing in the Sea.

A poor Sailor of _Brighthelmston_ was taken up after he had hung by his Hands and Feet on the top of a Mast 48 hours, the Sea raging so high, that no Boat durst go near him.

A Hoy run on shore on the Rocks in _Milford_ Haven, and just splitting to pieces (as by Captain _Soam_'s Letter) a Boat drove by, being broke from another Vessel, with no body in it, and came so near the Vessel, as that two Men jumpt into it, and sav'd their Lives: the Boy could not jump so far, and was drowned.

Five Sailors shifted three Vessels on an Island near the _Humber_ and were at last sav'd by a Long-boat out of the fourth.

A Waterman in the River of _Thames_ lying asleep in the Cabbin of a Barge, at or near _Black-Fryers_, was driven thro' Bridge in the Storm, and the Barge went of her self into the _Tower-Dock_, and lay safe on shore; the Man never wak'd, nor heard the Storm, till 'twas Day; and, to his great Astonishment, he found himself safe as above.

Two Boys in the _Poultry_ lodging in a Garret or Upper-room, were, by the Fall of Chimneys, which broke thro' the Floors, carried quite to the bottom of the Cellar, and receiv'd no Damage at all.

_SIR_,

At my Return home on _Saturday_ at Night, I receiv'd yours: and
having said nothing in my last concerning the Storm, I send this to
tell you, that I hear of nothing done by it in this Country that may
seem to deserve a particular Remark. Several Houses and Barns were
stript of their Thatch, some Chimneys and Gables blown down, and
several Stacks of Corn and Hay very much dispers'd; but I hear not
of any Persons either kill'd or maim'd. A Neighbour of ours was
upon the Ridge of his Barn endeavouring to secure the Thatch, and
the Barn at that instant was overturn'd by the Storm; but by the
good Providence of God, the Man received little or no harm. I say no
more, not knowing of any thing more remarkable. I am sorry that
other Places were such great Sufferers, and I pray God avert the
like Judgments for the future. I am

_Your real Friend to serve you_,
_Orby_, Dec. 18. 1703. Hen. Marshal.

_SIR_,

I have no particular Relation to make to you of any Deliverance in
the late Storm, more than was common with me to all the rest that
were in it: but having, to divert melancholly Thoughts while it
lasted, turn'd into Verse the CXLVIII Psalm to the 9th, and
afterwards all the Psalm; I give you leave to publish it with the
rest of those Memoirs on that Occasion you are preparing for the
Press.

SIR, _Your_, &c.
Henry Squier.

I. Verse 1, 2

_Hallelujah: From Heav'n
The tuneful Praise begin;
Let Praise to God be giv'n
Beyond the Starry Scene:
Ye Angels sing
His joyful Praise;
Your Voices raise
Ye swift of Wing._

II. 3, 4

_Praise him, thou radiant Sun,
The Spring of all thy Light;
Praise him thou changing Moon,
And all the Stars of Night:_
_Ye Heav'ns declare
His glorious Fame;
And waves that swim
Above the Sphere._

III. 5, 6

_Let all his Praises sing,
His Goodness and his Power,
For at his Call they spring,
And by his Grace endure;
That joins 'em fast,
The Chain is fram'd,
Their Bounds are nam'd,
And never past._

IV. 7, 8

_Thou Earth his Praise proclaim,
Devouring Gulfs and Deeps;
Ye Fires, and fire-like Flame,
That o'er the Meadows sweeps;
Thou rattling Hail,
And flaky Snow,
And Winds that blow
To do his Will._

V. 9, 10

_Ye Prodigies of Earth,
And Hills of lesser size,
Cedars of nobler Birth,
And all ye fruitful Trees;
His Praises show
All things that move,
That fly above,
Or creep below._

VI. 11, 12

_Monarchs, and ye their Praise,
The num'rous Multitude;
Ye Judges, Triumphs raise;
And all of nobler Blood:
Of ev'ry kind,
And ev'ry Age,
Your Hearts engage,
In Praises join'd._

VII. 13, 14

_Let all his glorious Name
Unite to celebrate;
Above the Heaven's his Fame;
His Fame that's only great:
His Peoples Stay
And Praise is He,
And e're will be:
Hallelujah._

The two following Letters, coming from Persons in as great Danger as any could be, are plac'd here, as proper to be call'd Deliverances of the greatest and strangest kind.

_From on board a Ship blown out of the_ Downs _to_ Norway.

_SIR_,

I cannot but write to you of the Particulars of our sad and terrible
Voyage to this Place. You know we were, by my last, riding safe in
the _Downs_, waiting a fair Wind, to make the best of our way to
_Portsmouth_, and there to expect the _Lisbon_ Convoy.

We had had two terrible Storms, one on the _Friday_ before, and one
on _Thursday_; the one the 18th, the other the 25th of _November_:
In the last I expected we shou'd have founder'd at an Anchor; for
our Ground Tackle being new and very good held us fast, but the Sea
broke upon us so heavy and quick, that we were in danger two or
three times of Foundring as we rode but, as it pleas'd God we rid it
out, we began to think all was over, and the Bitterness of Death was
past.

There was a great Fleet with us in the _Downs_, and several of them
were driven from their Anchors, and made the best of their way out
to Sea for fear of going on shore upon the _Goodwin_. the Grand
Fleet was just come in from the _Streights_, under Sir _Cloudsly
Shovel_; and the Great Ships being design'd for the River, lay to
Leeward: Most of the Ships that went out in the Night appear'd in
the Morning; and I think there was none known to be lost, but one
_Dutch_ Vessel upon the _Goodwin_.

But the next Day, being _Friday_, in the Evening, it began to gather
to Windward; and as it had blown very hard all Day, at Night the
Wind freshen'd, and we all expected a stormy Night. We saw the Men
of War struck their Top-masts, and rode with two Cables an-end: so
we made all as _snug_ as we could, and prepar'd for the worst.

In this condition we rid it out till about 12 a-clock; when, the
Fury of the Wind encreasing, we began to see Destruction before us:
the Objects were very dreadful on every side; and tho' it was very
dark, we had Light enough to see our own Danger, and the Danger of
those near us. About One-a-clock the Ships began to drive, and we
saw several come by us without a Mast standing, and in the utmost
Distress.

By Two a-clock we could hear Guns firing in several Parts of this
Road, as Signals of Distress; and tho' the Noise was very great with
the Sea and Wind, yet we could distinguish plainly, in some short
Intervals, the Cries of poor Souls in Extremities.

By Four-a-clock we miss'd the _Mary_ and the _Northumberland_, who
rid not far from us, and found they were driven from their Anchors;
but what became of them, God knows: and soon after a large Man of
War came driving down upon us, all her Masts gone, and in a dreadful
Condition. We were in the utmost Despair at this sight, for we saw
no avoiding her coming thwart _our Haiser_: she drove at last so
near us, that I was just gowing to order the Mate to cut away, when
it pleas'd God the Ship sheer'd contrary to our Expectation to
Windward, and the Man of War, which we found to be the _Sterling
Castle_, drove clear off us, not two Ships Lengths to Leeward.

It was a Sight full of terrible Particulars, to see a Ship of Eighty
Guns and about Six Hundred Men in that dismal Case; she had cut away
all her Masts, the Men were all in the Confusions of Death and
Despair; she had neither Anchor, nor Cable, nor Boat to help her;
the Sea breaking over her in a terrible Manner, that sometimes she
seem'd all under Water; and they knew, as well as we that saw her,
that they drove by the Tempest directly for the _Goodwin_, where
they could expect nothing but Destruction: The Cries of the Men, and
the firing their Guns, One by One, every Half Minute for Help,
terrified us in such a Manner, that I think we were half dead with
the Horror of it.

All this while we rid with two Anchors a-head, and in great
Distress: To fire Guns for Help, I saw was to no Purpose, for if any
Help was to be had, there were so many other Objects for it, that we
could not expect it, and the Storm still encreasing.

Two Ships, a-head of us, had rid it out till now, which was towards
Five in the Morning, when they both drove from their Anchors, and
one of them coming foul of a small _Pink_, they both sunk together;
the other drove by us, and having one Mast standing, I think it was
her Main-Mast, she attempted to spread a little Peak of her Sail,
and so stood away before it; I suppose she went away to Sea.

At this time, the Raging of the Sea was so violent, and the Tempest
doubled its Fury in such a Manner, that my Mate told me, we had
better go away to Sea, for 'twould be impossible to ride it out; I
was not of his Opinion, but was for cutting my Masts by the Board,
which at last we did, and parted with them with as little Damage as
could be expected, and we thought she rid easier for it by a great
deal; and I believe, had it blown two Hours longer, we should have
rid it out, having two new Cables out, and our best Bower and Sheet
Anchor down: But about Half an Hour after Five to Six, it blew, if
it be possible to conceive it so, as hard again as it had done
before, and first our best Bower Anchor came Home, the Mate, who
felt it give way, cried out, we are all undone, for the Ship drove;
I found it too true, and, upon as short a Consultation as the Time
would admit, we concluded to put out to Sea before we were driven
too far to Leeward, when it would be impossible to avoid the
_Goodwin_.

So we slipt our Sheet Cable, and sheering the Ship towards the
Shore, got her Head about, and stood away afore it; Sail we had
none, nor Mast standing: Our Mate had set up a Jury Missen but no
Canvass could bear the Fury of the Wind, yet he fasten'd an old
Tarpaulin so as that it did the Office of a Missen and kept us from
driving too fast to Leeward.

In this Condition we drove out of the _Downs_, and past so near the
_Goodwin_, that we could see several great Ships fast a ground, and
beating to Pieces. We drove in this desperate Condition till
Day-break, without any Abatement of the Storm, and our Men heartless
and dispirited, tir'd with the Service of the Night, and every
Minute expecting Death.

About 8 a Clock, my Mate told me, he perceiv'd the Wind to abate;
but it blew still such a Storm, that if we had not had a very tite
Ship, she must have founder'd, as we were now farther off at Sea,
and by my Guess might be in the mid Way between _Harwich_ and the
_Brill_, the Sea we found run longer, and did not break so quick
upon us as before, but it ran exceeding high, and we having no Sail
to keep us to rights, we lay wallowing in the Trough of the Sea in a
miserable Condition: We saw several Ships in the same Condition with
our selves, but could neither help them, nor they us; and one we saw
founder before our Eyes, and all the People perish'd.

Another dismal Object we met with, which was an open Boat full of
Men, who, as we may suppose, had lost their Ship; any Man may
suppose, what Condition a Boat must be in, if we were in so bad a
Case in a good Ship: we were soon tost out of their Sight, and what
became of them any one may guess; if they had been within Cables
Length of us we could not have help'd them.

About Two a Clock in the Afternoon, the Wind encreased again, and we
made no doubt it would prove as bad a Night as before; but that Gust
held not above Half an Hour.

All Night it blew excessive hard, and the next Day, which was
Sabbath Day, about Eleven a Clock it abated, but still blew hard:
about three it blew something moderately, compar'd with the former;
and we got up a Jury Main-Mast, and rigg'd it as well as we could,
and with a Main Sail lower'd almost to the Deck, stood at a great
Rate afore it all Night and the next Day, and on _Tuesday_ Morning
we saw Land, but could not tell where it was; but being not in a
Condition to keep the Sea, we run in, and made Signals of Distress;
some Pilots came off to us, by whom we were inform'd we had reached
the Coast of _Norway_, and having neither Anchor nor Cable on board
capable to ride the Ship, a _Norweigian_ Pilot came on board, and
brought us into a Creek where we had smooth Water, and lay by till
we got Help, Cables, and Anchors, by which means we are safe in
Place.

_Your Humble Servant_,
J. Adams.

_From on board the_ John and Mary, _riding in_ Yarmouth _Roads during the great Storm, but now in the River of_ Thames.

_SIR_,

Hearing of your good Design of preserving the Memory of the late
Dreadful Storm for the Benefit of Posterity, I cannot let you want
the Particulars as happen'd to us on board our Ship.

We came over the Bar of _Tinmouth_ about the ---- having had
terrible blowing Weather for almost a Week, insomuch that we were
twice driven back almost the Length of _Newcastle_, with much
Difficulty and Danger we got well over that, and made the
_High-land_ about _Cromer_ on the North-side of _Norfolk_; here it
blew so hard the _Wednesday_ Night before, that we could not keep
the Sea, nor fetch the Roads of _Yarmouth_; but as the Coast of
_Norfolk_ was a Weather-shore, we hall'd as close _Cromer_ as we
durst lie, the Shore there being very flat; here we rode _Wednesday_
and _Thursday_, the 24th and 25th of _November_.

We could not reckon our selves safe here, for as this is the most
dangerous Place between _London_ and _Newcastle_, and has been
particularly fatal to our Colliers, so we were very uneasy; I
considered that when such Tempestuous Weather happen'd, as this
seem'd to threaten, nothing is more frequent than for the Wind to
shift Points; and if it should have blown half the Wind from the
South East, as now blew from the South West, we must have gone
a-shore there, and been all lost for being embayed; there we should
have had no putting out to Sea, nor staying there.

This Consideration made me resolve to be gon, and thinking on
_Friday_ Morning the Wind slacken'd a little, I weigh'd and stood
away for _Yarmouth_ Roads; and with great Boating and Labour got
into the Roads about One in the Afternoon, being a little after
Flood, we found a very great Fleet in the Roads; there was above
Three Hundred Sail of Colliers, not reckoning above Thirty Sail
which I left behind me, that rode it out thereabouts, and there was
a great Fleet just come from _Russia_, under the Convoy of the
_Reserve_ Frigate, and Two other Men of War; and about a Hundred
Sail of Coasters, _Hull_-Men, and such small Craft.

We had not got to an Anchor, moor'd, and set all to Rights, but I
found the Wind freshen'd, the Clouds gather'd, and all look'd very
black to Windward; and my Mate told me, he wish'd he had staid where
we were, for he would warrant it we had a blowing Night of it.

We did what we could to prepare for it, struck our Top-mast, and
slung our Yards, made all tite and fast upon Deck; the Night prov'd
very dark, and the Wind blew a Storm about Eight a Clock, and held
till Ten, when we thought it abated a little, but at Eleven it
freshen'd again, and blew very hard; we rid it out very well till
Twelve, when we veer'd out more Cable, and in about Half an Hour
after, the Wind encreasing, let go our Sheet Anchor; by One a Clock
it blew a dreadful Storm, and though our Anchors held very well, the
Sea came over us in such a vast Quantity, that we was every Hour in
Danger of Foundring: About Two a Clock the Sea fill'd our Boat as
she lay upon the Deck, and we was glad to let her go over board for
Fear of staving in our Decks: Our Mate would then have cut our Mast
by the Board, but I was not willing, and told him, I thought we had
better slip our Cables, and go out to Sea, he argued she was a deep
Ship, and would not live in the Sea, and was very eager for cutting
away the Mast; but I was loth to part with my Mast, and could not
tell where to run for Shelter if I lost them.

About Three a Clock abundance of Ships drove away, and came by us;
some with all their Masts gone, and foul of one another; in a sad
Condition my Men said they saw Two founder'd together, but I was in
the Cabin, and cannot say I saw it. I saw a _Russia_ Ship come foul
of a Collier, and both drove away together out of our Sight, but I
am told since the _Russia_ Man sunk by her Side.

In this Condition we rid till about Three a Clock, the _Russia_
Ships which lay a-head of me, and the Men of War, who lay a-head of
them, fir'd their Guns for Help, but 'twas in vain to expect it; the
Sea went too high for any Boat to live. About Five, the Wind blew at
that prodigious Rate, that there was no Possibility of riding it
out, and all the Ships in the Road seem'd to us to drive: Yet still
our Anchors held it, and I began to think we should ride it out
there, or founder; when a Ship's long Boat came driving against us,
and gave such a Shock on the Bow that I thought it must have been a
Ship come foul of us, and expected to sink all at once; our Men said
there was some people in the Boat, but as the Sea went so high no
Man dust stand upon the Fore-castle, so no Body could be sure of it;
the Boat stav'd to pieces with the Blow, and went away, some on One
Side of us and some on the other; but whether our Cable receiv'd any
Damage by it or not we cannot tell, but our Sheet Cable gave Way
immediately, and as the other was not able to hold us alone, we
immediately drove; we had then no more to do, but to put afore the
Wind, which we did: it pleased God by this Time the Tide of Ebb was
begun, which something abated the Height of the Sea, but still it
went exceeding high; we saw a great many Ships in the same Condition
with our selves, and expecting every Moment to sink in the Sea. In
this Extremity we drove till Daylight when we found the Wind abated,
and we stood in for the Shore, and coming under the Lee of the
_Cliff_ near _Scarbro_, we got so much Shelter, as that our small
Bower Anchors would ride us.

I can give you no Account but this; but sure such a Tempest never
was in the World. They say here, that of Eighty Sail in _Grimsby_
Road, they can hear of but Sixteen; yet the rest are all blown away,
Here is about Twelve or Fourteen Sail of Ships come in to this
Place, and more are standing in for the Shore.

_Yours_, &c.

Abundance of other strange Deliverances have been related, but with so small Authority as we dare not convey them into the World under the same Character with the rest; and have therefore chose to omit them.

_The Conclusion_

The Editor of this Book has labour'd under some Difficulties in this Account: and one of the chief has been, how to avoid too many Particulars, the Crowds of Relations which he has been oblig'd to lay by to bring the Story into a Compass tolerable to the Reader.

And tho' some of the Letters inserted are written in a homely Stile, and exprest after the Country Fashion from whence they came, the Author chose to make them speak their own Language, rather than by dressing them in other Words make the Authors forget they were their own.

We receiv'd a Letter, very particular, relating to the Bishop of _Bath_ and _Wells_, and reflecting upon his Lordship for some Words he spoke, _That he had rather have his Brains knock'd out, than_ &c. relating to his Inferiour Clergy. The Gentleman takes the Disaster for a Judgment of God on him: But as in his Letter the Person owns himself the Bishop's Enemy, fills his Letter with some Reflexions indecent, at least for us: and at last, tho' he dates from _Somerton_, yet baulks setting his Name to his Letter: for these Reasons we could not satisfie to record the Matter, and leave a Charge on the Name of that unfortunate Gentleman, which, he being dead, could not answer, and we alive could not prove. And on these Accounts hope the Reverend Gentleman who sent the Letter will excuse Us.

Also we have omitted, tho' our List of Particulars promis'd such a thing, An Account of some unthinking Wretches, who pass'd over this dreadful Judgment with Banter, Scoffing, and Contempt. 'Tis a Subject ungrateful to recite, and full of Horror to read; and we had much rather cover such Actions with a general Blank in Charity to the Offenders, and in hopes of their Amendment.

One unhappy Accident I cannot omit, and which is brought us from good Hands, and happen'd in a Ship homeward bound from the _West-Indies_. The Ship was in the utmost Danger of Foundring; and when the Master saw all, as he thought, lost, his Masts gone, the Ship leaky, and expecting her every moment to sink under him, fill'd with Despair, he calls to him the Surgeon of the Ship, and by a fatal Contract, as soon made as hastily executed, they resolv'd to prevent the Death they fear'd by one more certain; and going into the Cabbin, they both shot themselves with their Pistols. It pleas'd God the Ship recover'd the Distress, was driven safe into ---- and the Captain just liv'd to see the desperate Course he took might have been spar'd; the Surgeon died immediately.

There are several very remarkable Cases come to our Hands since the finishing this Book, and several have been promis'd which are not come in; and the Book having been so long promis'd, and so earnestly desir'd by several Gentlemen that have already assisted that way, the Undertakers could not prevail with themselves to delay it any longer.

_FINIS._