Start in life

(Het Begin van het Leven)

1. He started to cry when he talked about my brother who died. "Your brother did not listen to me either. He wanted to be a soldier. He wanted glory. Now he is dead in a foreign country. Do you want to die far from home too?" My father could not speak anymore.

2. I was moved by his words. What son would not be? I decided to stay home. I would forget the sea. I would make my father happy. But my decision did not last. After a few days I wanted to leave again.

3. I waited a few weeks. Then I talked to my mother. I thought she might be easier to convince than my father. "Mother," I said, "I am eighteen years old now. I cannot stop thinking about traveling. If I stay here I will be unhappy forever."

4. "Please talk to Father," I continued. "Ask him to let me go on just one voyage. If I do not like it I will come home. I promise. I will work twice as hard to make up for lost time." But my mother became very angry.

5. "How can you ask this?" she said. "Your father loves you. He wants what is best for you. He will never agree to this foolish plan. And I will not ask him. I will not help you destroy your life!"

6. But my mother did tell my father about our conversation. Later I heard what he said. He sighed deeply. He told her, "If that boy stays home he could be happy. But if he goes to sea he will be the most miserable person on earth. I cannot give permission."

7. I waited almost a year. During this time my parents tried everything. They wanted me to learn a trade. They wanted me to work in a shop. But I refused. I could only think about ships and adventure. Nothing else interested me.

8. Then one day I went to Hull. I had no plan to run away. I was just visiting. But in Hull I met a friend. His father owned a ship going to London. "Come with me!" my friend said.

9. "It will cost you nothing," he continued. "My father's ship has space. London is exciting. You will love it!" I should have said no. I should have gone home. But I did not think. I did not pray.

10. On September 1st, 1651, I stepped onto that ship. I did not write to my parents. I did not ask for my father's blessing. It was the beginning of all my troubles. The ship left Hull and entered the open sea.

11. Immediately the wind began to blow. The waves grew bigger and bigger. I had never been on a ship before. I became terribly sick. My stomach turned. My head spun. But worse than the sickness was the fear.