Zealand

50. Westward to Barbados

When Captain went to sit at his desk, I returned to sorting the charts while I pondered his words, pausing at self-pleasuring. Must be the rubbing and stroking I do the mornings I awake with it stiff. Such pleasant feelings. Whatever, need my attention on the charts, not on that.

A while later, I finished matching most of the Dutch charts to the English ones. But for some, I could find no matches, so I set them aside in a separate pile for Captain to look at.

Should I return the others to the drawers? If I do, in what order? Twelve drawers. Maybe to follow the progress of a voyage around the ocean. Aha, as it had been with the English ones - and they are still in that order on the table. But six piles, not twelve. Seven, including the ones without matches. But where to divide ...

My thoughts were interrupted by Captain's words, "Have you finished already, Boy?"

"I have, sir. Except for deciding how to divide the six piles into twelve - and some of the Dutch I could not match." I pointed. "This pile, sir."

He smiled and nodded. "Where they are divided matters little, so long as they follow each other in the drawers."

"Yes, of course. Equal size so there is no cramming."

He leafed through the small pile with no matches. "These are mostly harbour plans, so they would be near impossible for you to have matched." Then he paused to examine more closely. "Oh, my! Some are of English seaports - Portsmouth, Plymouth and this one, a detailed plan of the King's Dockyard and anchorages in the Medway."

"Where is that, sir?"

"At Chatham, in the Thames approaches. It is the largest and most important in the Navy, being both well sheltered and close to London and to the sea."

I nodded and pointed. "The writing in the title block does not look like the other Dutch ones, sir."

Captain leant closer to read it. "Aye, indeed. This was drawn by the German, ​​Matthaus Merian and dated this year." Then, straightening up and shaking his head, he continued, "Likely commissioned by the Dutch. Seems they have plans to attack our ports. I shall send word of this at our first opportunity."

"When would that be, sir?"

"Because the winds and currents are in the wrong direction here, there are no England-bound ships, so we will not find one until we reach Barbados." He shrugged. "But we captured Zealand and Delfe many months ago - before the fire - and that may well have delayed or cancelled their plans." [1]

Thursday, 24th March 1666

After another nine days at sea, we arrived in Barbados mid-afternoon and anchored in Carlisle Bay in front of the town of Saint Michael. When we had settled to the anchor, Captain called for all hands to be rung.

It was not but a minute before all had gathered below us, and he called loud and strong to be heard above the jumble of voices, "Hoy! Hoy! Hear here now."

Then, with everyone's attention, he said, "Well done, all. We have made Barbados from London in twenty-five days, proving well the ability of Zealand, but more ..."

He paused as a loud clamour arose with whistles and hoots. Then, calling above the hubbub, he continued, "But more ... but more, proving well the excellence of our crew."

The clamour redoubled, and when it had subsided, he pointed seaward and said, "Delfe is less than half a bell behind us, showing how well we are matched. And speaking of bells, this watch and the first will each be three hours to bring our time back to that of the sun. We are now four hours earlier than London."

I did not understand this, but the nodding of many gathered below us showed they did.

"We will pause here a few days, primarily to replenish and gather information on how we may best assist with the war. But also, to mark the arrival of the new year, and to help with your celebration of it, at sixteen bells, we will broach a firkin of ale."

Again, the whistles and huzzahs arose while I pondered all the strangeness with time. Three-hour watches, four hours earlier than London and now, sixteen bells. More things to ask him about. Will he tire of my questions? No, he appears to delight in explaining. Now. But if I ask too many, will he remain so?

When the crew had again quieted, Captain said, "For those of you who still follow the Papist teachings, there is a church here you may attend on the morrow to offer Lady Day worship."

More unknown. Might be better to ask some of the hands. No, they are too often not right. Captain will let me know if my questions interturb. [2]

He raised his arm and swept it past the other ships in the anchorage. "Even though we are now in an area at war, we are in safe company. It appears a squadron of His Majesty's fleet has chosen to anchor here for a respite. I shall meet with them on the morrow and seek advice on how we may best assist against the French and the Dutch."

Again, loud whistles and huzzahs broke the relative quiet.

A while later, after Captain finished addressing the crew and we had descended to the great cabin, I asked, "What did you mean by four hours earlier than London, sir?"

"As the earth turns, the sun moves across the sky fifteen longitude degrees each hour. We are now sixty degrees west of London, so the noon sun arrives here four hours later."

"Aha!" Then puzzled, I asked, "Then, why do we change only two hours with the watches?"

He chuckled. "Because we changed one in Cabo Verde and another a few days ago on our way here. As we voyage, we change at convenient times to keep our bells aligned with the sun."

"Ah! The forenoon when I lost track of time with tutoring." I nodded while I thought. "And if we did not change, it would eventually be dark at noon."

"Exactly, Boy.

"Do you tire of my questions, sir?"

"Nay, Boy. Rather, it is the opposite - I welcome them. They cause me to think more deeply, but more, I am inspired by your thirst for knowledge and by your easy grasp of new concepts."

Relieved, I asked, "What is sixteen bells, sir?"

"That is struck at midnight on the twenty-fourth of March, the first eight ending the watch and the day, the second eight ending the year. The morrow will be 1667, and we will finally be rid of the six, six, six." [3]

"The six, six, six, sir? Why anxious to be rid of it?"

"It is the symbol of the devil in the Christian Bible. Think of all that bedevilled us the past year - the plague, the war, the fire, the Act that ended my dream."

"But there was good, as well, sir. I met you, and you are again high-spirited and adventuring at sea."

"Indeed, Boy. There is often good to balance the bad, and we must always look for it. Celebrate it."

Notes:

[1] Three months later, the Dutch raided the Medway, capturing two ships, destroying thirteen and causing thirty to be scuttled to prevent capture.

[2] Interturb is an obsolete word that meant to disturb by interfering.

[3] At this time, England used the Julian calendar with the new year beginning on 25 March. It wasn't until the beginning of 1752 that Great Britain and the British Empire adopted the Gregorian calendar.