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The fascinating history of a 17th century trading vessel and its master, a unique account of shipping and trading hundreds of years ago.

  The George was probably a product of the well-established shipbuilding industry in Leith, during the latter part of the seventeenth century. A wealth of information is included on topics such as the construction of the hull form and fittings, an inventory of equipment, details of the navigation instruments that were used, how the tonnage was calculated and the different types of sails.

  Details of the ships expenses show the food purchased which consisted mainly of meat, beer and bread - apparently standard fare for all voyages for the master and crew! (Perhaps this would have brought to mind the old saying that 'God sent the food and the devil sent the cooks'!) Freight such as salt and coal were carried to surprisingly diverse places as Rotterdam, London and Norway as well as more local ports and extracts from the accounts show the cost of so doing.

  One erstwhile master of the George, James Forrester, was seized by French privateers in 1710 and held for ransom and it was only due to the efforts of his wife, Janet Johnston, that he was eventually released. This absorbing account was taken from the records of an Admiralty Court case in Edinburgh that she had raised.