eys fitted out for his Majesty's Service in
England. They gave our Ship's Company three Huzzas, and we returned them
the like at parting. We told the Captain-Doctor that if we were forced
out of the Road, or gave chase hence, we would leave a Glass Bottle,
buried under a remarkable Great Stone agreed upon, with Letters in it,
to give an Account of how it was with us at the moment of our Departure,
and where to meet again. And he was to do the like. When the _Beginning_
was gone we fell to and scrubbed Ship, getting abundance of Barnacles
off her much bigger than Mussels. Seals numerous, but not so many as at
Juan Fernandez. A large one seized upon a fat Dutchman that belonged to
us, and had like to have pulled him into the water, biting him to the
bone about the arms and legs. This Hollander was henceforth known as
the Lord Chancellor, having been so very near the Great Seal. After
barnacling, we gave the _Marquis_ a good Keel, and Tallowed her low
down. Another Dutchman we had died of the Scurvy. His Messmates said
that it was because we had no more Cheese aboard, and that we could not
catch Red Herrings by angling for them in Blue Water.

March 28th. The little _Beginning_ came in with a Prize, called the
_Santa Josepha_, bound from Guayaquil to Truxillo, 50 tons burden, full
of Timber, with some Cocoa-nuts and Tobacco. A very paltry Spoil. There
were about twelve Spaniards aboard, who told us (after some little
Persuasion, in the way of Drubbing) that the Widow of the late Viceroy
of Peru would shortly embark at Acapulco, with her Family and Riches,
and stop at Payta to Refresh; and that about eight months ago there was
a Galleon with 200,000 pieces of Eight on board, that passed Payta on
her way to Acapulco. They continued, however, to Lie and Contradict
themselves when questioned; and so (as they howled most dismally on deck
while under Punishment) they were had down to the Cockpit, where the
Boatswain and his Mates had their Will of them, and I don't know what
became of them afterwards. These Spanish Prisoners give a great deal of
Trouble.

April 2d. The Superstitious among us were heartily frightened at the
Colour of the Water, which for several miles looked as Red as any Blood.
Some fellows among the crew that were of a Preaching Turn, gave out that
this unusual appearance was an Omen, or Warning to us of Judgments
coming for what had been done to the Spanish Prisoners (in the which
Duresse I declare I had no h