Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/94

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This Wreck had been a Spanish Galeon lost on these Shoals, near the Abreojos or Handkercher Shoals, to the North East of Hispaniola, about the year 1659. bound for Spain. The inhabitants of Hispaniola, who used to Trade with Sir Willian Phipps, had acquainted him with it. He proposed the taking up of this Silver to the Duke of Albemarle, who together with Sir James Hayes, Mr. Nicholson, and others, set out two Ships, a greater and a lesser, laden with Goods to Trade with Hispaniola, and the Spaniards in the West Indies, in case they sailed of the Wreck. They found this Wreck, as is above related, and wrought on it till the Ships Crew grew scarce of Provisions, when they had taken up about Twenty six Tuns of Silver. A Sloop from Bermudas came to their help: when they sail'd for England the Sloop return'd to Bermudas, and there disclosed the Matter, which soon went to the other Islands. From these parts, and Jamaica, Sloops and Divers were sent, who took up a vast quantity more of Plate and Money, so that before a second Fleet came from England, the greatest part of what Silver remain'd unfish'd was taken up. Not only the English from the Plantations and England, but the Prince of Orange, afterwards King William, from Holland, equip'd a Ship which was sent thither, but they came too late. Those who commanded the Dutch Ship, and Sir John Narborough, who was in the English, return'd without any considerable Cargoes of Silver. It happened so not only to the first Patentees, but to many other People, who by the example of this Project (where the Duke of Albemarle received Fifty thousand Pound for Eight hundred, and others in proportion) hoping for the same Success, took out Patents for Wrecks lying at the bottom of the Seas in all places, especially in the West-Indies, where any Traffick is used, not considering that though there have been lost divers Ships laden with Money, on many Shoals of the West-Indies, such as the Serranillas between Jamaica and the Continent, the Bahama Shoals, &c. yet in most parts there is such a Vegetation of Coralline matter out of the Sea-water, as that the bottom of the Sea is incrustated with it, and the Wrecks hid by them. The Pieces of Eight in the Silver-Wreck above-mention'd, that was lost in 1659. were covered with this Matter about a quarter of an Inch thick, and I have a piece of the Timber of the Ship, with an Iron Bolt in it, grown over with the Corallium asperum candicans adulterinum J.B. and some of the Pieces of Eight incrustated, others almost covered with Astroites. Those underneath were corroded with the Sea-water, so that many of them stuck together. These things I have caused, at least some of them, to be graved. It is not only from this, but also Sand driving by the Winds and Currents, or Earthquakes that happen at the bottom of the Sea, that Wrecks may be cover'd, and past finding out. I remember