I was born in the city of York, in England, in the year 1632. My father was a man of some wealth, able to give me a good home and send me to school. It was his wish that I should be a lawyer but my head began to be filled very early with thoughts of travel, and I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea. My father gave me strong advice against it, but with little effect. One day, being at Hull, I met a school-fellow who was about to sail for London in his father's ship, and he invited me to go with him, and without telling my father, I went on board