life of a sailor 1500s

First Day At Sea

Jul 13, 1532

Today we set sail for the new land found to the west. I was enlisted by the king because im a cartographer and he wanted to map the new land. there have been little problems so far. Some of the younger crewmaits are haveing trouble ajusting to life at sea but they'll get used to it. The port we sailed out of is named Harwich.

Problems

Oct 5, 1532

We can see the land. The crew has been very troublsome because we are running low on food. People say there will be food on the new continent. the ship has been runnaground in the middle of the cove we came into. the captain says that it will be a while for the hull of the ship needs repairing. A fire broke out in the cargo hold and destroyed the rest of the food. A native tribe came and traded with us and they refured to the port we are in as Duwam. They traded a new vegtuble to us for cloth.

ariving at a new port

Dec 12, 1532

We have arrivede at a new port that we named Brunswick. The captain has aloud a group to go and try to make trade with the natives because our supplies are running low. 3 of the 15 that were sent to trade came back they say the rest were killed by the natives. When the captain heard this he said to imeadietly set sail down the coast. On my map i labbled this cove death cove.

Down the coast

Feb 4, 1533

We are travling down the coast and up rivers trying to find a faster way past the continent. So far its been a failer. I have been mapping the land we are travling past though. Most native tribes we have run into are hostile but some will trade. Natives have killed more crew members. Crew members have also died from exposure. Its getting colder as we travle further south so the rags the sailers call clothes will not be enough to keep warm.

Around the continent

May 14, 1533

Today we have circled the continent and are heading north again more crew members have died from natives and exposure and my map is nearly complete. Butal storms have been a problem and some crew members are planing a mutiny because the captain has gone crazy. We landed on a small island port known as Mrytime and we have picked up a few trade goods but we mostly bought suplyes for the real trade goods are in china.

The boats nearly sunk

Dec 16, 1533

A nother fire broke out in the cargo hold this time the fire starter was found and was thrown over board. The ships mast was struck by lightning and killed a 13 year old who i had grown quite fond of. the hull was damaged by the fire and we repared it best we could but we are still taking on water. The mast that was struck caused the boat to be slower than usual. And when the mast was struck it fell and destroyed half the life boats.

The captains been killed

Mar 10, 1534

The captain was killed by the muteneerers and they have taken over the ship. To try to liten the load a little we tosed what little cargo we had left overboard with the captain. We still are trying to get to china as fast as posible.

I left

Jul 9, 1534

The boat has sank and i had to make a choice, I decided to take one of the 2 remaining life boats and left the ship. I was alone for 2 days and then i wa spicked up by a chines ship and they took me to china. I then joined up with a spainish expudition at the same port i was port ming and i was able to barder my way onto the ship with the money i stole from my previous captain befor they threw him over board.

To spain

Sep 14, 1534

The spainish took me to there country and they told me that i would be sold to the king as an english spy. so when they arived at port a snuk into one of the small fishing trollys at the port and told them to return me to england for a price. so i payed them and they took me to england when i arrived i took what was left of my map to the king who by now couldnt reconise me and he gave me the money he promised me and i gave him the map.

Soon after

Nov 20, 1534

Then next week i found out that the ship i left made it back. The crew found the shop that i had bought and they walked in killed my brother and cut off my hand for deserting them and leving them with the one life boat that not all 15 of them could fit on so 9 more had died at my hand Then they burned down the shop.