only two or three years previously had learnt to read that he might
gratify a parent's pride and love by perusing his son's first voyage
round the world. He was the father of Captain Cook."

If it is true that he was the son of an Elder of the Scottish Church, it
is extremely improbable that he was entirely uneducated, and the position
he held as hind to Mr. Skottowe would necessitate at any rate some
knowledge of keeping farming accounts. More convincing information still
is to be found in the Leeds Mercury of 27th October 1883, where Mr.
George Markham Tweddell, of Stokesley, writes:

"I may mention that Captain Cook's father was not the illiterate man he
has been represented; and I have, lying on my study table as I write, a
deed bearing his signature, dated 1755; and the father's signature bears
a resemblance to that of his distinguished son."

Reading is invariably learnt before writing, and as in 1755 the old man
was sixty-one, it is evident he did not wait till he was eighty to learn
to read.

FATHER'S GRAVE.

He claimed to have carved the inscription on the family tombstone in
Great Ayton churchyard, and after spending the last years of his life
under the roof of his son-in-law, James Fleck of Redcar, he died on 1st
April 1778, aged eighty-four years. He was buried in Marske churchyard,
but there was nothing to mark his grave, and its place has long been
forgotten. His death is registered as that of a "day labourer."

CHAPTER 2. 1755 TO 1757. H.M.S. EAGLE.

Notwithstanding the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748, troubles were
constantly arising between the French and English in which the American
Colonies of both nations took a conspicuous part, and ultimately led to
open war. The first shot was fired on 10th June 1755, although war was
not formally declared till May 1756. In June 1755 the Friendship was in
the Thames, and it is said that to avoid the hot press which had been
ordered Cook first went into hiding for some time and then decided to
volunteer. This is untrue, for, as has been shown, he had already made up
his mind and had refused Messrs. Walker's offer of the command of one of
their ships, the acceptance of which would have saved him from the press
as Masters were exempt. He now saw his opportunity had come. He knew that
experienced men were difficult to obtain, that men of a certain amount of
nautical knowledge and of good character could soon raise themselves
above the rank of ordinary seamen