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To make short this sad part of my story, we went the way of all sailors; the punch was made and I was made half drunk with it: and in that one night’s wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past conduct, all my resolutions for the future.

The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads. These Roads are the common harbor, where the ships might wait the tailwind. Here we came to an anchor for seven or eight days. During this time many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads.

But the wind blew to fresh, and after we had lain four or five days, blew very hard. However, the crew of our ship was absolutely calm: the Yarmouth Roads are known as the safest place; there is no more danger there, than in any other harbor. Moreover, our ship had the good anchor, and our ground-tackle very strong. So, our men spent all the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea.

But the eight day, in the morning, the wind increased, and we had all hands at work to strike our topmasts, and make everything close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible.

By noon the sea went very high. Once or twice we thought, that our anchor had come home; upon which our master ordered out the sheet-anchor, so that we rode with two anchors ahead.

By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed. Anyone may judge, what a condition I must been in at all this, who was such a young sailor, and was so frightened in a first little storm. But not the fear of death scared me. It seemed like a Providence punishment. I had broken my oath, which I gave during the first storm. Now it seemed clear, what fate awaits me, if I don’t return home. And these, added to the terror of the storm, put me into such a condition, that I have no words to describe it.

During the first hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, but in the next time I heard as the master went in and out of his cabin by me, saying softly several times a minute “Lord, be merciful to us! We shall be all lost! We shall be all undone!” and the like. I got up out of my cabin and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw. I saw terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The sea ran mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes.

Towards evening the mate and boatswain asked the master of our ship to let them cut away the fore-mast. When they had cut it away, the main mast shook the ship so much, that they were obliged to cut that away also, and make a clear deck.

Two more ships, that were standing near us, drived from their anchors and were run out of the Roads to sea, at all adventures, without any masts. The similar fate awaited for us. The boatswain, the master, and some others more sensible than the rest were praying, expecting every moment when the ship would go to the bottom.

In the middle of the night we found out the leak in a hold. One of the men that had been down to see cried out, that there was four feet water in the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. We worked all night long, but the water kept coming. It was clear, that the ship would founder; and though the storm began to fall off a little, but it was impossible to keep afloat till we might run into any port. So the master began firing guns for help.