4 THE SEA. 



coast of France, for fear of the enemy. As we sailed along, we met a vessel of Ostend, 

 who complained to our admiral that a French privateer had robbed him that very morning, 

 whereupon we endeavoured to pursue the said pirate ; but our labour was in vain, not being 

 able to overtake him. 



" Our fleet, as we sailed, caused no small fears and alarms to the inhabitants of the coasts of 

 France, these judging us to be English, and that we sought some convenient place for landing. 

 To allay their fright we hung out our colours, but they would not trust us. After this 

 we came to an anchor in the Bay of Conquet, in Brittany, near Ushant, there to 

 take in water. Having stored ourselves with fresh provisions here, we prosecuted our 

 voyage, designing to pass by the Pas of Fontenau, and not expose ourselves to the Sorlingues, 

 fearing the English thu'fc were cruising thereabouts. The river Pas is of a current -very 



PIKATB VESSELS (17TH CENTURY). 



strong and rapid, which, rolling over many rocks, disgorges itself into the sea on the coast 

 of France, in 48 deg. 10 min. latitude, so that this passage is very dangerous, all the 

 rocks as yet not being thoroughly known." 



Esquemeling mentions the ceremony which, at this passage and some other places, 

 was used by mariners, and by them called " baptism." The master's mate clothed 

 himself with a ridiculous sort of garment which reached to his feet, and put on his head 

 a comically constructed cap, made very burlesque; in his right hand he had a naked 

 wooden sword, and in his left a pot full of ink. His face was horribly blacked with soot, 

 and his neck adorned with a collar of many little pieces of wood. Thus apparelled 

 he ordered every one to be called who had never passed through that dangerous place 

 before, and then, causing them to kneel down, he made the sign of the cross on their forehead 

 with ink, and gave every one a stroke on the shoulder with his wooden sword. Meanwhile, the 

 standers-by threw a bucket of water over each man's head, and so ended the ceremony. 

 But that done, each of the baptised was obliged to give a bottle of brandy, placing it 

 near the mainmast, without speaking a word. If the vessel never passed that way before, 

 the captain was compelled to distribute some wine amongst the mariners and passengers; 

 other gifts, which the newly baptised frequently offered, were divided among the old 

 seamen, and of them they made a banquet among themselves. 



