Page 414
An.1687
A most dreadful Storm. Corpus Sant.
sail; at 10 we furl'd our Fore-sail, keeping under a Main-sail and Mizen. At 11 a clock we furl'd our Main-sail, and ballasted our Mizen: at which time it began to rain, and by 12 a clock at night it blew exceeding hard, and the Rain poured down as through a Sieve. It thundered and lightned pro- digiously, and the Sea seemed all of a Fire about us: for every Sea that broke sparkled like Light- ning. The violent Wind raised the Sea presently to a great heighth, and it ran very short, and be- gan to break in on our Deck. One Sea struck a- way the Rails of our Head, and our Sheet Anchor, which was stowed with one Flook or bending of the Iron, over the Ships Gunal, and lasht very well down to the side, was violently washt off, and had like to have struck a hole in our Bow, as it lay beating against it. Then we were forced to put right before the Wind to stow our Anchor again; which we did with much ado: but afterwards we durst not adventure to bring our Ship to the wind again, for fear of foundring, for the turning the Ship either to or from the Wind is dangerous in such violent Storms. The fierceness of the weather con- tinued till 4 a clock that morning; in which time we did cut away two Canoas that were towing aftern.
After four a clock the Thunder and the Rain abated, and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main- top-mast head, on the very top of the truck of the Spindle. This sight joyc'd our Men exceedingly; for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft: but when they are seen lying on the Deck, it is generally accounted a bad sign.
A Corpus Sant is a certain small glittering light: when it appears as this did, on the very top of the Main- mast or at a Yard-arm, it is like a Star; but when it appears on the Deck, it resembles a great Glow- worm.