Recto: Barlow describes his boyhood near Manchester, employed in farm work and carting coal but more interested in seeing the world through travel. Verso: Barlow starts a trial placement with a whitester (bleacher) in Manchester.

Item reference:	JOD/4/5-6
Catalogue Section:	Manuscript volumes acquired singly by the Museum
Level:	ITEM
Extent:	1 page
Date made:	1656
Credit:	National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Recto: 'The author's name Barlow born in some village near Manchester.' Verso: blank page (Manuscript) (JOD/4/1-2)

Recto: Poem 'make use of time comming: one: for that is perished: which is gone.' Verso: 'The Maner of the Marreners Sea Compass or the Merridianes of the World.' (Manuscript) (JOD/4/3-4)

Recto: Barlow describes his boyhood near Manchester, employed in farm work and carting coal but more interested in seeing the world through travel. Verso: Barlow starts a trial placement with a whitester (bleacher) in Manchester. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/5-6)

Recto: Barlow does not enjoy his placement at the whitester's, and tells his parents he will not return there. Verso: Despite the misgivings of his mother, Barlow prepares to leave his home for London. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/7-8)

Recto: Barlow says goodbye to his father and departs for London, travelling from Manchester on foot. Verso: Barlow sees ships for the first time at London Bridge, close to his uncle's tavern where he starts work as a barman and servant. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/9-10)

Recto: Barlow visits Greenwich to see the whale which had been killed there. He decides to take a job at a tavern in Dartford. Verso: Barlow returns to his uncle and delivers post for him in Kent, but is then offered work on a ship sailing to Barbados. His uncle refuses to let him go as he fears the man is a kidnapper. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/11-12)

Recto: Barlow prepares to go to sea as apprentice to the chief master's mate on the NASEBY. Verso: Barlow travels with his new master's wife towards Chatham, where the NASEBY is lying. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/13-14)

Recto: Lower Pool, River Thames. Verso: Limehouse Reach, River Thames. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/15-16)

Recto: Section of the River Thames, Deptford to Blackwall. Verso: Bugsby's Reach, River Thames. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/17-18)

Recto: Woolwich Reach, River Thames. Verso: Woolwich. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/19-20)

Recto: Barking Reach, River Thames. Verso: Erith Reach, River Thames. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/21-22)

Recto: Erith Reach, River Thames. Verso: Long Reach, River Thames. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/23-24)

Recto: Long Reach, River Thames. Verso: Gravesend Reach, River Thames. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/25-26)

Recto: Gravesend Reach, River Thames. Verso: Lower Hope, Thames Estuary. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/27-28)

Recto: Sea Reach, Thames Estuary. Verso: Sea Reach, Thames Estuary. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/29-30)

Recto: Nore and Sheerness, Thames Estuary. Verso: Blackstakes, Medway. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/31-32)

Recto: Long Reach, Medway. Verso: Long Reach, Medway. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/33-34)

Recto: Gillingham Reach, Medway. Verso: Upnor and Chatham Reaches, Medway. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/35-36)

Recto: Barlow joins the NASEBY at Chatham and two days later they set sail to the Nore. Verso: The NASEBY sets sail from the Hope and Barlow receives a head injury when struck by a bar. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/37-38)

Recto: The NASEBY sails with the fleet to Elsinore, where they sight the Dutch fleet but do not see action in the war between Sweden and Denmark. Verso: The fleet returns home but encounters bad weather in the North Sea. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/39-40)

Recto: The fleet runs into danger as they approach Chatham because the pilots mistakenly direct the ships into shallow water. Verso: Barlow has a severe illness as a result of his earlier head wound, and convalesces at a cook shop in Whitechapel, where he is put to work. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/41-42)

Recto: In March 1660 Barlow rejoins the NASEBY, which receives orders to lead a fleet of fourteen ships to fetch King Charles II from exile in The Hague. Verso: Goodwin Sands, Kent. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/43-44)

Recto: The Downs, Kent. Verso: King Charles II and his two brothers take ship to sail back to England from Holland, accompanied by much ceremony and rejoicing. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/45-46)

Recto: The Ship ROYAL CHARLES. Verso: The King arrives back in England, and the NASEBY is renamed the ROYAL CHARLES. The Duke of York embarks on her to meet his sister the Queen of Bohemia, but hears of the death of his brother the Duke of Gloucester. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/47-48)

Recto: Barlow remains on board the ROYAL CHARLES while she is moored at Gillingham for the winter. He explains the difficulties he and others had receiving and keeping their pay. Verso: Barlow joins the AUGUSTAINE at Woolwich, a Flemish-built ship carrying spare masts for the fleet and bound for Algiers. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/49-50)

Recto: Barlow's ship sails to North Africa via Portugal, reaching Malaga in Spain. The sailors are put on a short allowance of food, which is of poor quality. Verso: The ships are watered at Malaga. Barlow and other sailors go ashore for a session drinking local wine. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/51-52)

Recto: Barlow describes Malaga as a place with strong trading links, where the people are Roman Catholics. Verso: The fleet anchors at Alicante, where provisions are taken on board. Barlow describes the people, customs and trade of Alicante. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/53-54)

Recto: Alicante, Spain. Verso: The fleet arrives at Algiers, where the King bombards the fleet, but little damage is done to the ships. Barlow describes the town. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/55-56)

Recto: Coast of Algiers, Algeria. Verso: The ship encounters bad weather near Gibraltar, and the anchor and its cable are lost. Water and food run short. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/57-58)

Recto: Barlow describes the dangers and hardships of serving at sea, but concludes that the chance to see the world outweighs these. Verso: Lisbon, Portugal. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/59-60)

Recto: The ship arrives at Lisbon and Barlow explores the city. The inhabitants are Catholics and the women are veiled and strictly controlled, but there are also many courtesans. Verso: Barlow sees the King of Portugal at Mass and baiting bulls. After convoying some merchant ships to Cape Finisterre, the ship reaches Tangiers. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/61-62)

Recto: Barlow's ship departs for England, but he is able to exchange with a sailor on board the MARTAINE GALLEY. They sail to Cadiz and spend Christmas there. Verso: Cadiz, Spain. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/63-64)

Recto: Straits of Gibraltar. Verso: Barlow's ship arrives in Tangier, stopping briefly in Asilah to take on provisions. Tangier is poorly manned by the Portugese after a recent battle with the Moors. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/65-66)

Recto: Barlow goes ashore to help the Portugese defend Tangier, until a squadron with reinforcements arrives from England. His ship is ordered to take dispatches to England. Verso: Barlow's ship lands near Milford Haven by mistake, and he visits Pembroke. When they reach Deptford he goes to Lambeth to see Catherine of Braganza pass by in state on the river. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/67-68)

Recto: Milford Haven. Verso: Barlow joins a Dutch-built merchant ship, the QUEEN CATHRANE, bound for Lisbon. On the voyage they encounter two Spanish men-of-war. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/69-70)

Recto: Barlow's ship reaches Lisbon and clears customs there. It sails on to Cape St. Vincent on a private mission. Verso: The ship sails past the Balearic Islands and anchors near Barcelona, where the captain goes ashore. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/71-72)

Recto: The ship encounters a French man-of-war en route from Barcelona to Lisbon, where salt and oil are taken on board. These are exchanged at Madeira for a cargo of wine destined for Brazil. Verso: On 1 May 1663 the ship sets sail for Brasil, and turns south into fairer winds. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/73-74)

Recto: Barlow describes the weather and the fish found near the Equinoctial Line, including sharks. The ship runs short of provisions and he complains that sailors often have to buy their own food. Verso: Rio de Janeiro. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/75-76)

Recto: Rio de Janeiro. Verso: The ship reaches Rio de Janeiro, where it is loaded with sugar for the return voyage. Barlow describes the people, wildlife and produce of Brazil.. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/77-78)

Recto: Barlow explains the government of Brazil by Portugal. On her return voyage the ship calls in at St. Michael in the Azores. Verso: Barlow describes the products and trade of the Azores. The ship returns via Lisbon to England, where the crew are paid but £3 is stopped from their wages to pay for cargo allegedly spoiled. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/79-80)

Recto: Barlow and others in the crew successfully recover their money in Doctors Commons Court. He evades the pressgang and signs on the MADEROSSE, bound for Guinea. Verso: Western part of the Isle of Wight, opposite Hurst Castle, with a view of the Isle of Wight from the South West. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/81-82)

Recto: Eastern part of the Isle of Wight, opposite Portsmouth. Verso: War with the Dutch is imminent, and Barlow is transferred to the frigate MONKE. The MADEROSSE is ordered to look for Flemings at Lands's End, but Barlow stays too long on a visit to another ship and misses its departure. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/83-84)

Recto: Barlow joins the GRAYHOUNDE, bound for Plymouth, and travels overland from there to Falmouth. He is short of money and has to spend a night in a barn. Verso: Barlow rejoins his ship, which looks for Dutch ships and captures one which may be Dutch. They hear news of the blowing up of the LONDON. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/85-86)

Recto: Plymouth. Verso: The MONKE is visited by the King, and then joins the fleet of fighting ships bound for Holland. Barlow describes the opening stages of the Battle of Lowestoft. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/87-88)

Recto: Falmouth. Verso: Barlow describes the outcome of the Battle of Lowestoft. Part of the fleet then attempts to capture Dutch East India merchant ships in Norway, but is beaten back. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/89-90)

Recto: The King declares war on Denmark, but little happens. Verso: The MONKE captures a small fishing vessel and gets a new foremast. Barlow learns that several relatives and friends have died of the plague. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/91-92)

Recto: Humber, with Grimsby on the left, and Hull at the top of the page. Verso: The MONKE convoys some merchant ships near Heligoland. On return to Chatham Barlow receives nine months' pay (£10). (Manuscript) (JOD/4/93-94)

Recto: Barlow gives details of the preparations for and the early stages of the Four Days Battle. Verso: Barlow receives a minor wound and criticises papist traitors at home. The second day of battle is hard fought and ends in a retreat to the coast as many ships are damaged. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/95-96)

Recto: The Four Days Battle ends with the English in retreat and the ROYAL PRINCE burnt. The MONKE returns for repairs and Barlow gets treatment for his wound in Rochester. Verso: Barlow praises his ship the MONKE. He describes the St James Day Battle. (Manuscript) (JOD/4/97-98)

Recto: Barlow describes his boyhood near Manchester, employed in farm work and carting coal but more interested in seeing the world through travel. Verso: Barlow starts a trial placement with a whitester (bleacher) in Manchester.

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