THECONSOLATIONOFNAVIGATORS.In which is TaughtHow they who Travel by Sea may preserve themselves from Hunger and Thirst,as also from Diseases, which are wont to happen to them in long Voyages.
In which is Taught
How they who Travel by Sea may preserve themselves from Hunger and Thirst,as also from Diseases, which are wont to happen to them in long Voyages.
Written for the Help, Comfort, and Solace of all those who make long Voyages for the Good of their Country.
THE PREFACE.
Reader,
OUR SAVIOUR CHRIST hath prescribed to us this Doctrine, that we shouldbehave our selves towards our Neighbour, as we would that he should do to us; yea,that we should love him as our selves: This He hath earnestly commended unto us, as the indispensible Will of God, contained in the Law and the Prophets. But although there be few who consider this, and all men seek only their own, yet one or other is still found, who calleth this duty to mind, and as far as he can, taketh every opportunity or occasion of serving his Neighbour. Although also there may be some who bear a love to others, and desire to assist them with their counsel and help, and yet are destitute of a power of giving them any thing; for no man can distribute more than he hath. Moreover, Covetousness and Envy so far governeth some, who have plenty enough to bestow upon others, that they will do good to none but themselves; of which sort there are many now to be found in the World, and hence Charity towards our Neighbour is wholly vanished.
Seeing therefore that the Almighty, of His singular Grace, hath bestowed on me a small Talent, in searching out the Secrets of Nature, it is, without doubt, to the end that I should thereby do good to others; which Talent I would not bury, but have put to use in writing particularly from year to year, for the publick Good, and being affected towards my Neighbour, have made them publick. I have also determined, if time shall permit, to publish yet more and better things of this nature. But after that some described Voyages to theEastandWest-Indies, and other far distant places, had happened into my hands, I perceived, not without great admiration what immense daggers occurr on the Seas, not only from Robbers and Pyrates, but also the adversitys of violent Winds, (to pass by many other Calamities in silence) by which the Ship, together with all in it that draw breath, are overwhelmed, and perish: And when I further contemplate those things with an intent mind, nothing seems to me more grievous and intolerable than Hunger and Thirst, or the want of Meat and Drink, which sometimes happeneth to Ships by adverse Fortune: For when they are overcome by the hand of an Enemy, they are wont indeed to suffer the loss of their Goods, but the Lives of the men are for the most part saved; which loss of Goods they may again easily repair by Merchandizing; and although they should be adjudged to death, yet their pain would quickly have an end. But if through an ill fate of necessity one be destitute of Bread and Water, and be forced to tear another in pieces to eat, that is of all the highest misfortune, and death it self were more desirable, than to sustain extremities and miseries of this sort. And although the want of Food doth not so frequently happen, yet the want of Water often falls out, whence Seamen are grievously tormented with Thirst, to whom, as in a most urgent Calamity, Mercy and Christian Compassion ought to be administred; but, Who can carry them succour afar off, and in a tempestuous Sea? And seeing that the Prosperity ofMaritimeCountries (where for the most part there is no Wine, no Fruits, no Mines, as in the upperGermany, and other places) consisteth only in Navigation, it were very well worth the while that this should be promoted to the utmost. I have therefore diligently considered the matter with my self, and have found that a Remedy may be applied to this Evil,viz.the want of Meat and Drink, by providing in time anApparatus, or certain matter to be carried in Ships, which is of far greater efficacy in mitigatingHungerandThirst, than common Bread and Water; yea, is able to prevent and expel that Disease which is so familiar to Seamen, to wit, theScurvy, which is often a great hindrance to Sailing: So that this matter may be carried together with the usual Provisions, as a Preservative, and in case of necessity,as if the Ship be overmuch harass’d with Storms, or be hindred by other infelicities, or detained longer in the Voyage than expected, it may be taken and used. It were indeed to be wished, that these materials might never be wanted in any Ships, but as the old Proverb hath it,A superfluous Caution never doth hurt; therefore it is alwaies better to have a thing in readiness, which we do not use, than to want it when its use is necessary. But what those materials are, of which I speak, and how they are to be used when need is, I shall communicate to my Neighbour, for the publick Good, not at all doubting, but that this invention will prove highly profitable to many who use the Seas.
The Reader now understands what hath moved me to write this Treatise,viz.the love of my Neighbour, and that I have not composed it only for the sake of some few, but that I have emitted it to the publick, to the end, that those highly profitable Inventions might afford help and comfort to all Mankind, and especially to all that use the Seas, and such who are infirm in their health: Nor do I doubt but that this my sincerity of mind will be a great preservative, comfort, and relief to those who pass the Seas, when they are in danger, by the benefit of which, they may escape various Chances and many Misfortunes, or beware of them for the future: For by this means which I shall here produce against Hunger and Thirst, or other Diseases which are wont to afflict Sailors, it will be found, that what I ascribe to them may be fully deduced to the desired effect. And therefore many Thousands of men may thence receive Fruit and Profit, as long as the World shall endure; so that all who travel the Ocean, and are afflicted with any Disease, ought to rejoice, and give Thanks to God.
Now, if any one should yet doubt of the success of this matter, (which nevertheless is shewed from so clear and irrefragable Fundamentals) I leave him to his freedom, whether he will put the matter into examination, and certifie himself of the Truth, before he give credit to it: Which also may be proved in a small quantity, and not only on the Seas in Voyages, but on the Land also in the House, among both the Sound and the Sick. Therefore let no man vilifie what he doth not understand, but let him commit the thing to trial, and see its reason and quality, before he contemneth it, or pass an immature Judgment, lest his curiosity or imaginary Wisdom from a vain instinct, deceive him, or confound him with shame, when the proof shall shew it to be better than he could perswade himself.
But that in some places I have used obscure words, and have not proposed all things so clearly, as that every man will be able to understand them, let no man wonder at this for I have certain reasons for so doing; for no man will have any prejudice or injury thereby, seeing that nevertheless there are such points of this sort elucidated, which will remain after me safe and sound: Therefore whatsoever the Reader shall here find written, let him esteem it worthy to be received and embraced, as the Gift of God; the which, if I find to be gratefully accepted, more (God willing) shall follow. Also to all those who shall have need, I offer the Medicaments aforesaid, profitable against Hunger and Thirst, and all Sea-faring Diseases, a good quantity of which I will cause to be prepared, that every man may use them that will, and thence satisfie his desire.
Wherefore it is the interest of any to whom I have committed the Preparation of this Medicine, to betake himself to it, and when need shall be, he will not be unwilling to use it. I have not sought my self in these things, being content to serve my Neighbour out of Christian Charity. And although this my good Will shall not be accepted by foolish and ungrateful men, nevertheless God shall have the praise, who hath committed to us a mutual participation of love and good will, which also in his own time will grant the benefit of this to be derived and redound to my Children after me, by some pious Souls, of which I make no doubt, and therefore readily acquiesce in my present condition.