Page 373
An.1687
A Snake about a Mans Neck.
tedious Voyage, and most of them despaired of ever getting home, and therefore did not care what they did, or whither they went. It was only want of being busied in some action that made them so uneasie ; therefore they consented to what Teat proposed, and immediately all that were aboard bound themselves by Oath to turn Captain Swan out, and to conceal this design from those that were ashore, until the Ship was under sail ; which would have been presently, if the Surgeon or his Mate had been aboard : but they were both ashore, and they thought it no prudence to go to Sea with- out a Surgeon : Therefore the next morning they sent ashore one John Cookworthy, to hasten off either the Surgeon or his Mate, by pretending that one of the men in the night broke his Leg by falling into the Hold. The Surgeon told him that he in- tended to come aboard the next day with the Cap- tain, and would not come before ; but sent his Mate Herman Coppinger.
This man some time before this was sleeping at his Pagallies, and a Snake twisted himself about his Neck ; but afterwards went away without hurting him. In this Country it is usual to have the Snakes come into the Houses, and into the Ships too ; for we had several came aboard our Ship when we lay in the River. But to proceed, Herman Coppinger provided to go aboard ; and the next day, being the time appointed for Captain Swan and all his men to meet aboard, I went aboard with him, nei- ther of us mistrusting what was designing by those aboard, till we came thither. Then we found it was only a trick to get the Surgeon off ; for now, having obtained their desires, the Canoa was sent ashore again immediately, to desire as many as they could meet to come aboard ; but not to tell the reason, left Captain Swan should come to hear of it,
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