Sir Humphrey Gilbert appeared to have been a missionary as well as an
explorer, for it was recorded that he "set out to discover the remote
countries of America and to bring off those savages from their
diabolical superstitions to the embracing of the Gospel," which would
probably account for his having a Bible in his hand when he went down
with his ship--an event which in later years was immortalised by
Longfellow:
Eastward from Campobello
Sir Humphrey Gilbert sailed;
Three days or more seaward he bore.
Then, alas! the land wind failed.
* * * * *
He sat upon the deck,
The Book was in his hand;
"Do not fear, Heaven is as near,"
He said, "by water as by land!"
Beyond Dittisham the river turned towards Dartmouth through a very
narrow passage, with a dangerous rock near the centre, now called the
Anchor Stone, which was covered at high water. It appeared, however, to
have been used in former times to serve the purpose of the
ducking-stool, for the men of Dartmouth and Dittisham brought scolds
there and placed them on the rock at low water for immersion with the
rising tide, whence it became known-as the "Scold's Stone.
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