Part 3

A vessel rigged as a cutter, but with one head-sail only set on a very short bowsprit.]

Two-masted vessels, fore and aft rigged, sometimes having square topsails on the fore-mast.]

A two-masted vessel, square rigged on fore-mast.]

GALLEY.

A large vessel rowed by oars and sometimes having auxiliary sail of various rigs.

PINK.

Probably a small, fast vessel used as a tender and despatch boat for river work.

A two-masted vessel with a stay, known as a "Horse," from the main-mast to the poop on which the trysail was set. Sometimes a spar was fitted instead of a stay. The rig was most likely of a brig (i.e., a two-masted ship, square sails on both masts), and the triangular trysail set on the stay in bad weather or when hove to.]

C. L. F.

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN AVERY

He was the son of John Avery, a victualler near Plymouth, in Devonshire, who in a few years was grown as opulent in his purse as in his body, by scoring two for one; and when he had so done, drinking the most of the liquor himself. By which means, and having a handsome wife, who knew her business as well as if she had been brought up to it from a child (which, indeed, she mostly was, her mother keeping the House before she married Mr. Avery), they soon became very rich and very able to give credit to a whole ship's crew upon their tickets, which in those days were sold for less than half their value.

Having but one child (afterwards the Captain), they at first resolved to bring him up a scholar, that he might advance the dignity of the family. But instead of learning his book, he was taught by such companions that he could soon swear to every point of his compass, which was a very diverting scene for the Boatswain and his crew, who were then drinking in the kitchen, having just received ten pounds apiece short allowance money on board the Revenge, every farthing of which they spent before leaving the house.

But as soon as their money was spent, they were all like to have been imprisoned by their Landlady for a riot, as she called it, so they were soon glad to sheer off, and he thought himself happiest that could get first aboard. Indeed, it would have been happy for them if they had, for the ship was unmoored and gone to sea; which put the Boatswain and his crew swearing in earnest, and not knowing what to do, they resolved to return to their Landlady, Mrs. Avery, at "the Sign of the Defiance." But she shut them out of doors, calling them a parcel of beggarly rascals, and swearing that if they would not go from the door she would send for the Constable; and notwithstanding all the entreaties and tears of her only son, who was then about six years of age, she could not be prevailed upon to let them in, so they were obliged to stroll about the street all night. In the morning, spying the ship at anchor, being driven back by contrary winds, they resolved to make the best of their way aboard; but on the way, whom should they meet but young Avery, who had no sooner seen them, but he cried after them. "Zounds," says the Boatswain, "let's take the young dog aboard, and his mother shall soon be glad to adjust the reckoning more to our satisfaction before she shall have her son."

This was agreed upon by all hands, and the boy was as willing as any of them. So, stepping into the boat, in about an hour's time they reached the ship, which they had no sooner boarded but they were brought before the Captain, who, being in want of hands, contented himself with bidding them all go to their business; for the wind turned about, and there was occasion for all hands to be at work to carry out the ship.

All this while young Avery was at the heels of the Boatswain, and was observed to swear two oaths to one of the Boatswain's; which being soon observed by the Captain, he inquired who brought that young rascal aboard.

To which the Boatswain replied that he did, that the boy's mother was his Landlady on shore, and he had taken him up in jest, but was afraid that they would now have to keep him in earnest.

When the hurry was a little over, the Captain commanded the boy to be brought to him in his cabin. He had not talked long to him before he took a fancy to him, telling him that if he would be a good boy, he should live with him.

He, being a mighty lover of children, would often divert himself by talking to the boy, till at length he took such a fancy to him, that he ordered him a little hammock in his own cabin, and none were so great as the Captain and his boy Avery, which had like to have proved very fatal to him; for Avery one night, observing the Captain to be very drunk with some passengers that were on board, got a lighted match and had like to have blown up the ship, had not the Gunner happened accidentally to follow him into the store-room. This made the Captain ever after very shy of his new Acquaintance, and Avery, after he had been well whipped, was ordered down into the hold, where he remained until they arrived at Carolina, which happened four or five days after.

The boy was given to a merchant, who, taking a fancy to him, put him to school; but he made so little progress in learning, and committed so many unlucky tricks, that the merchant, in about three years, shipped him off to his friends at Plymouth on board the Nonesuch, where he was no sooner arrived but his mother was overjoyed with the sight of her son, his father being dead about a month before his arrival.

And, indeed, it was thought the loss of their son broke his heart, for it was observed the father never held up his head after, the neighbours often reflecting upon him for his ill-usage of the seamen, who had spent so much money at his house; saying he could never expect that all his ill-gotten riches could prosper him, which so happened, as you shall hear presently. For his mother, dying soon after, the boy was left under the guardianship of one Mr. Lightfoot, a merchant, who, having great losses at sea, became a bankrupt, and so young Avery was left to look out after himself; there he continued for many years in pilfering and stealing till the country was too hot for him, when he betook him to sea again, where in time he became as famous for robbing as Cromwell for rebellion.

He entered himself on board the Duke, Captain Gibson Commander, being one of the two ships of twenty-four guns and one hundred men which were fitted out by the merchants of Bristol for the service of Spain, which they had no sooner done, but they were ordered by their agents at Bristol to sail for the Groyne to receive their orders.

On board one of which ships Avery, being at this time above twenty years old, entered himself, where he had not been long before he observed the Captain was much addicted to drunkenness.

He endeavoured to spirit up not only his own ship's crew, but having also given the word to part of the other ship's crew, the conspirators gave the signal.

At which the Duchess, as the other ship was named, put off her longboat; which the conspirators hailing were answered by the men in the boat, "Is your drunken Boatswain on board?" This being the word agreed upon, Avery answered, "All is safe;" upon which twenty lusty fellows came aboard and joined them, which they had no sooner done but they secured the hatches and went to work, putting to sea without any disorder, although there were several ships in the bay, amongst whom was a frigate of forty-four guns.

The Captain, by this time being awaked by the noise of the conspirators working the ship, rung the bell, inquiring what was the matter, to whom Avery and some of the crew replied, "Nothing. Are you mutinous in your cups? Can't you lie down, sleep, and be quiet?"

"No," saith the Captain. "I am sure something's the matter with the ship. Does she drive? What weather is it? Is it a storm?"

Saith Avery: "Cannot you lie quiet while you are quiet? I tell you all's well; we are at sea in a fair wind and good weather."

"At sea," saith the Captain; "that can't be."