Part 2

On their first setting sail, they enjoyed as fine Weather, and as fair Winds as could possibly be wished for, to convey a Ship safely and expeditiously from one Harbour to another. But no sooner were they arrived in the Bay of _Biscay_ than the Scene was altered; their favourable Weather converted into a dismal Hurricane, and their smooth placed Ocean, changed into Billows, which threaten'd them with immediate Death, by this Moment raising them to the Clouds, and in the next plunging them, as it were, to the Centre of the Earth. The Danger may be easily estimated, from the Circumstance, for the _Swallow_ was as strong and well built a Vessel, as any belonging to his Majesty's Navy of her Burden: yet such was the Stress of Weather, that she sprung her Main-mast, and lost not only the Gib-Boom, but also two Top-masts. After they had for several Days been beat about in this imminent Danger, they with great Difficulty arrived in the Port of _Lisbon_, which was great Joy to them, after having suffered so much in the Bay of _Biscay_, where every Moment they had been in danger of being swallowed up in the vast Abyss. In this Port, which to them was like a safe Asylum, or Sanctuary, to a Man pursued by a hungry and enraged Lyon, they continued three Weeks; because the Vessel was so damaged, that the Number of Hands employed in refitting her could not do it sooner.

Here they found the _Vigilant_ Man of War, which was likewise much damaged in the Storm in the Bay of _Biscay_, being one of the Fleet that sail'd from _Portsmouth_ with them.

While she was ashore at _Lisbon_, with her Master, she was quartered at one Mrs. _Poore_'s a Punch-House and Tavern; but says nothing material happened there, during the three Weeks.

As it often happens for the wise and noble Purposes of Heaven, that one Misfortune succeeds another, as close as the Waves on the Sea-shore; so the _Swallow_ set sail in Company with the _Vigilant_ Man of War, in Order to join the Admiral's Squadron; and the next Night after their Departure, another violent Storm happened, in which the _Swallow_ not only lost sight of the _Vigilant_, but also sprung her Main-mast, lost most of her Rigging, and was so much damaged in her Hold, that all the Sailors and Marines were obliged to take their several Turns at the Pump, which is by far a harder Piece of Labour, than those who have never tried it are apt to imagine. Such a Series of Calamities succeeding each other so fast, and so unexpectedly, were, in all Appearance, sufficient to daunt the strongest Resolution, and cool the Courage of the bravest young Sailor that ever trod the Deck of a Ship. But some Minds are cast, if I may so speak, in so happy a Mould, that Danger and Difficulties instead of depressing, raise them above themselves, enlarge their Views, and animate them to stem the Tide of Adversity, which they rarely fail to surmount by Steadiness and Perseverance. To this favourite Class of Mortals our Heroine belonged, since on this Occasion she not only willingly took her Turn at the Pump of a sinking Vessel, but also performed the several Offices of a common Sailor, and in both Qualities behaved with such Judgment and Intrepidity, that, next under God, she was looked upon by the Ship's Company as a Kind of Deliverer, and an Instrument of their Preservation. The _Swallow_ after this Disaster made the best of her Way to _Gibraltar_, were as soon as they arrived, she went on Shore, and attended Lieutenant _Richard Wigate_, Lieutenant of the Marines, who was very ill, and lodged at Mrs. _Davis_'s on the Hill.

The Ship refitted here with the utmost Expedition, and sailed for the _Madiera_ Islands, where she took in such Wines, and other Provisions, as was thought necessary for the intended Voyage. As Providence is always Kind to Distress, she here met with the _Sheerness_ Privateer of _Bristol_, whose Commander generously supplied her with a sufficient Number of Hands, and from thence, they sailed to the Cape of _Good Hope_, and in their Voyage, were put upon Short, and some time after upon Half Allowance.

During their Passage, their Allowance was shortened, as I just beforementioned, and that which they had, was salt and bad, and besides there was so great a Scarcity of Water on board, that they were allowed only a Pint a Day for some Time; all which, must have been great Hardships to her.

When they arrived at the Cape, they there met with the Admiral in the _Namur_, which was great Joy to them; and our Heroine being disappointed hitherto of meeting her faithless Husband, and now seeing the Fleet all in Company, was in hopes of acquiring some Glory as a Soldier, knowing the Reason of this Fleet's being fitted out was to annoy the Enemies of her Country, which soon happened according to her Wishes, as the Fleet soon sailed from this Port for _Morusus_, on which Place they began their first Attack; and though unexperienced in the Use of Arms, except in learning her Exercise, she behaved with an uncommon Bravery, and exerted herself in her Country's Cause.

This Attack did not hold long; our brave Admiral finding this impracticable, and unwilling to lose his Ships and Men, for whom he had great Regard, left that Place, and sailed for Fort St. _David_'s, where they arrived in a little Time, and the Marines being put on Shore joined the _English_ Army, and encamped, and in about three Weeks marched and encamped before _Elacapong_, and laid Siege to it, with an Intent to storm the Place. This fresh Adventure inspired her with fresh Hopes of shewing her undaunted Courage, which she did to the Admiration of her Officers; but on the tenth Day of the Siege, a Shell from the _English_ took the Magazine of the Enemy, and blew it up, which occasioned them to surrender at Discretion.

I cannot help reflecting a little upon the Hardships, Fatigues and Dangers she incountered from the Time she left _Lisbon_ in _Europe_, till her Arrival before _Pondicherry_ in _Asia_, so many Vicissitudes, as were sufficient to damp the Spirits of an _Alexander_ or a _Caesar_, Storms, Hurricanes and pinching Want, were her Concomitants, pumping an almost wrecked Vessel, was her most constant (tho' laborious) Employment; seventeen Weeks short Allowance from the _Maderas_ to the _Cape_ of _Good Hope_, was all she had to subsist upon; Attacks upon fortified Towns, some of which were impregnable, where Bomb-Shells and Cannons were incessantly displaying Death wherever they fell; at other Times, moving, marching, and encamping; I say such Reflections and gloomy Prospects, prove the Cause of many such Hardships and Difficulties even in the most robust of the Masculine Gender, how much more in one of the tender Sex, who are afraid of Shaddows, and shudders at the Pressage of a Dream.

I shall now proceed to their March to _Pondicherry_, which is but a few Leagues from the forementioned Place; they encamped within about three Miles from the Town, _Boscawen_ being then both Admiral and General, and Major _Mount Pleasant_ informed them with their Intention, which was to storm the Place, which Attack was began by the Ships firing at the Fort, some of which Time they lay Middle-deep in Water in their Trenches: This Attack continued eleven Weeks, part of which Time they had no Bread, most of their Food being Rice; and the many Bombs and Shells thrown among them, killed and wounded many of their Men. During this Space of Time, she behaved with the greatest Bravery and Intrepidity, such as was consistent with the Character of an _English_ Soldier, and though so deep in Water, fired 37 Rounds of Shot, and received a Shot in the Groin, six Shots in one Leg, and five in the other.

The Siege being now broke up, by reason of the heavy Rains, and violent Claps of Thunder, it being the Time of the Year when the _Monzoons_ (for so they are called in that Country) happens, she was sent to an Hospital at _Cuddylorom_, under the Care of two able Physicians, _viz._ Mr. _Belchier_ and Mr. _Hancock_; but she, not willing to be discovered, extracted the Ball out of her Groin herself, and always drest that Wound; and in about three Months was perfectly cured; but most of the Fleet being sailed before her Recovery, she was left behind, and sent on board the _Tartar Pink_, which then lay in the Harbour, where she remained, doing the Duty of a Sailor, till the Return of the Fleet from _Madrass_ when she was turned over to the _Eltham_, Captain _Lloyd_ Commander, and sailed for _Bombay_, where they arrived in about ten Days, being scarce of Hands, having only eight in a Watch, of which she was one; and what made their Fatigue still more, was their being obliged to keep continually at the Pump, the Ship having sprung a Leak in her Larboard Bow.

At _Bombay_ they were obliged to heave the Ship down in Order to clean her Bottom, which kept them there about five Weeks, and then they sailed to _Monserrat_, to take the _Royal Duke Indiaman_ under Convoy, to bring her to Fort St. _David_'s where she was gone for Provisions.

At _Bombay_ her Master being on Shore, she was obliged to watch in her turn, as is usual on such Occasions; but being one Night on Duty, Mr. _Allen_, who then had the Command of the Ship, being on Shore, desired her to sing for him, which she begged that he would excuse, as she was not very well; but he being proud in this his new Employ, as Commander, absolutely commanded her to sing; which she refused to do, as she did not think it any incumbent Duty for a Soldier to sing when commanded so to do, and that by one who was not an Officer in their Core, or had she any Obligations to him; however this Refusal proved of fatal Consequence to her; he ordered her immediately into Irons, which accordingly was done, and continued for the Space of five Days, and then ordered her to have a dozen Lashes, which she had at the Gang-Way of the Ship, and after that sent to the Foretop-mast-head, for four Hours; such is the Cruelty of those that are invested with Power, and do not know how to use it. However, this Man's Cruelty did not go unpunished; for after there Arival in _England_, as they were unriging the Ship, one of the Sailors let a Block fall on his Head, which hurt him greatly.

They now, with the _Royal Duke_, sailed from _Montserrat_ to Fort St. _David_'s, and was there at the Time of the great Hurricane, when the _Namur_ and _Pembroke_, and other Ships were lost: The _Eltham_, of which she was on board, had some Share in the said Hurricane, for she broke her Cables, and was forced to Sea; but happily returned in again to the Port without receiving any great Damage.

Now during her stay here at Fort St. _David_'s, she had frequent Opportunities, and Causes for Reflection: She went on Shore sundry Times along with some of the Men, where her Ears and her Eyes were often affected with the disagreeable Sound of horrible Oaths, and many lewd Actions and Gestures, such as stripping themselves naked, when they went to swim, a Sight, which however disagreeable it might appear to her, yet she was forced to make a Virtue of Necessity, by openly conforming herself to those rude, indiscreet, and unwomanly Actions, which she silently disfavoured and contemned. But here the unpolished Tars had not Opportunities of extending their Wickedness to such a high Pitch as they would have done, had they had Objects to satiate their brutish Appetites; for there were but a few white Women in the Place; however she saw too much not to be afflicted, lest her Sex should by their impudent, and unlimited Behaviour, be discovered, and her Virtue sacrificed to their rapacious, boundless and lustful Appetites; but Innocency and Virtue is the safest Protection in the worst of Times; and this was what sheltered her from the much dreaded Calamity that threatned her.

On the 19th of _November_ last, the _Eltham_ sailed with the rest of the Fleet from Fort St. _David_'s, and kept Company till they came to the Cape of _Good Hope_; when the _Eltham_ had Orders to make the best of her Way to _Lisbon_, to take in Money for the Use of the Merchants of _London_.

The Day after they left Fort St. _David_'s, her Master Lieutenant _Wyegate_ died, in whose Death she lost the only Friend she had on board, and where to find such another, she knew not: This brought afresh into her Mind the Remembrance of her faithless Husband, whole Villainy and Cruelty had drove her to all the Straits, Hardships and Dangers she endured both by Sea and Land, and had reduced her to the wretched State she was then in. These Reflections were sufficient to have sunk the Spirits of the most hardy Hero; but she bore them with a becoming Resignation. She was distinguished amongst the Ship's Crew for her Ingenuity in washing and mending of Linnen, but as it is common on board of King's Ships to have some Men who are dexterous at such Performances, she was not suspected upon that Score.

Some Time after the Death of Lieutenant _Wyegate_, she was taken into the Service of Lieutenant _Kite_, second Lieutenant of the Ship, and continued so about two Months; when he getting a Boy, he recommended her to Mr. _Wallace_, third Lieutenant of the Ship, who proved also a very good Master to her. But now she was laid open (though contrary to her Inclination) to the Company of the Sailors, for they were used, when she had her Head shaved, to enquire why she did not shave her Beard; her Answer was, that she was too young. Upon which they used to damn her, calling her Miss _Molly Gray_, she used to return the uncivil Compliment, by damning them, and telling them, that she could prove herself, as she had always done, during the Voyage, as good a Man as any Seaman on board, and that she would lay them a Wager upon that Point.

During this long Voyage, they often used, as I have just said, on account of her smooth Face, to burlesque her, by swearing she was a Woman. This Expression, however indifferently they meant it, gave her abundance of Trouble; she foresaw what the Consequence would be, in case this Joke was carried too far; to prevent which, she with a masculine but modest Assurance, told them, that if they would lay any Wager, she would give them ocular Demonstration of her being as much a Man as the best in the Ship; which Reply had the desired Effect, seeing it put a Stop to their further Suggestions: Next, they began to declare her to be a Woman on account of her smooth Face, seeing she had no Beard; but she told them that she was so very young, that it could not be supposed she should have a Beard so soon; however, she could not prevent their calling her by the Name of _Molly Gray_, which Appellation she went by during the Voyage, until they arrived at _Lisbon_.

While they lay at _Lisbon_, she often went on Shore in Company with the Ships Crew, upon Parties of Pleasure, and was always their Companion in their Revellings; this Part she acted, not out of Choice, but for wise Ends. She remember'd in what Manner she had been reflected upon by them during the Voyage from St. _David_'s to _Lisbon_, therefore she pointed out this Method as the most effectual, to prevent any further suspicious _Reflections for the future_. She very wisely judged, that by associating herself with them, by shewing a free and chearful Disposition, and by being ready to come into their Measures, she should banish from their Imaginations the least Suspicion of her being a Woman, and by that Means enjoy a free and uninterrupted Passage to her native Country, without discovering her Sex. There was one of the Ship's Crew, named _Edward Jefferies_, an intimate Acquaintance, a Marine, and Mess-mate of her's; they two had contracted an Acquaintance and Familiarity with two young Women in _Lisbon_, the handsomest of which was the favourite of our Heroine; but _Jefferies_ taking a greater liking to her Choice than his own, proposed to toss up who should have her, which she readily agreed to, not caring how soon she should be rid of such a Companion: This _Jefferies_ on tossing up gained the Lady, upon which she readily resigned her into his Hands, and made that serve as a good Excuse for being rid of them both. This Intimacy subsisted between them and the _Portugueze_ Women while they remained at _Lisbon_, and when they were about to set sail for _England_, their Sweethearts came to the Ship's side in order to take Leave of them, but was prevented from coming on board, by the Command of the Captain.

We shall leave the candid Reader at liberty to judge the Disorders, Terrors and Distractions that so many various Scenes must have plunged her into; such a Disquiet, that she had not felt the like in all her past Enterprizes. A thousand Inquietudes rolled in upon her, like so many Billows, and almost sunk her down into the Abyss of Despair. She began to reflect upon the many Vicissitudes she had underwent, since her first launching out into the boisterous Sea of War, occasioned by the Cruelty of a perfidious Husband. What Dangers, what Hardships, and what Fatigues she had underwent! The many Inconveniences she had overcome, and the Difficulties she had surmounted, in preserving her Virtue untainted in the midst of so many vicious and prophane Actions, as had often been represented in their blackest Sable to her view, and that she had hitherto come off Conqueress, and when almost at the Door of her native Country, unsullied and undefiled by any of these Temptations wherewith she had been assaulted; then to be in the greatest Danger; then to have that Virtue, which had hitherto been her assistant and comfortable Companion in all her adverse Fortune, tore from her Breast, and nothing left behind but Shame, Guilt and Confusion. These Reflections had almost vanquished her great Spirit, had not her good Genius led her to put in Practice the Scheme she had formed at _Lisbon_, which answered the End she aimed at, and by which her Virtue, which was always dear to her, remains still untainted, to her immortal Praise.

On the Affair of the Supply of the Men they had from the _Sheerness_ Privateer at _Madeira_, she gave the following Account; which was, that after they were come on board the _Swallow_ Sloop, some of them seemed very pensive; so that her Curiosity led her to enquire into the Reason of their Grief, which she found was occasioned by their being brought on board a Man of War, which at first to her seemed strange, not being acquainted with the Manner of Men being impressed; and having often conversed with some of them, found they were sent on board by Force; and some of them having Wives and Children in _England_, and some in _Ireland_, the Thoughts of their long Separation from their Wives and Families, and the uncertainty of ever seeing them again, was the chief Cause of their Sorrows.

This Relation, and the Anxieties some of them shewed, gave her new Matter of Contemplation, and often, when retired in her Master's Cabin, reflected on her own Fate, having herself been married to a most faithless Man, who had left her in the utmost Distress, at a Time she was not able to help herself, and that without any Reason, but what was occasioned by his own Extravagances. But here she found the Difference in that Sex, and that greater then she ever conceived before: Here she saw Men in the greatest Affliction, for being forced from them they loved; offering there all for Liberty to return to their native Land and Families, whilst her perfideous Husband's chief Care was to avoid her. However, it was some Consolation to her, in these her distressed Circumstances, to find some on board, and who she concluded must be her Companions as Shipmates, inspired with Sentiments of Honour and Virtue; she also reflected on the unhappy Circumstances of those poor Women and Children these Men had left behind, and often wished she could have an Opportunity of relating to them what she now saw; imagining from her own Case, that it would be some Consolation to them to hear so great Proof of their Affections. She at first blamed them for going to Sea on board the Privateer, but when she was informed that it was only for a little Time, and they not bound to serve longer, than a certain Time specified in their Articles, and that their chief Motives was to serve their Families; in so doing she looked on them as real Objects of Compassion, which occasioned her to sympathize with them; and though Fortune had been so unkind to herself, she could not refrain thinking of theirs, and often endeavoured to asswage their Sorrows, by recommending to them Hopes of a happy Return to _England_; and also procured every Thing which she thought necessary for them on board, which was somewhat in her Power, having Recourse to all her Master's Stores, especially his Liquors, which was pretty plentiful at that Time.

I shall depart a little from the Subject, and give the Reader an Account of that basest of Men, our Heroine's Husband, who upon deserting his lawful Wife, entered himself as a Foremast Man on board one of his Countrymen, then lying in the River _Thames_. But where can the guilty Criminal fly for Sanctuary? His own Conscience must prove his Executioner, and a thousand Monitors within, who Vulture like, always gnaw the Liver, not suffering the Mind to enjoy the shortest Interval of Quiet; this admirable Truth has been fully verified in him, according to the most substantial Circumstances, as shall hereafter be made appear.