We had not been a day at sea before we had a
storm begun, that continued two days and two nights in a most violent
manner; and being in the Bay of Biscay, we had a hurricane that drew
the vessel up from the water, which had neither sail nor mast left,
and but six men and a boy. Whilst they had hopes of life they ran
swearing about like devils, but when that failed them, they ran into
holes, and let the ship drive as it would. In this great hazard of our
lives we were the beginning of the third night, when God in mercy
ceased the storm of a sudden, and there was a great calm, which made
us exceeding joyful; but when those beasts, for they were scarce men,
that manned the vessel, began to rummage the bark, they could not find
their compass anywhere, for the loss of which they began again such
horrible lamentations as were as dismal to us as the storm past.
Thus between hope and fear we passed the night, they protesting to us
they knew not where they were, and truly we believed them; for with
fear and drink I think they were bereaved of their senses. So soon as
it was day, about six o'clock, the master cried out, 'The land! the
land!' but we did not receive the news with the joy belonging to it,
but sighing said, God's will be done! Thus the tide drove us until
about five o'clock in the afternoon, and drawing near the side of a
small rock that had a creek by it, we ran aground, but the sea was so
calm that we all got out without the loss of any man or goods, but the
vessel was so shattered that it was not afterwards serviceable: thus,
God be praised! we escaped this great danger, and found ourselves near
a little village about two leagues from Nantz.
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