Lincolnshire coastal villages and the sea c.1300 - c.1600 : economy and society
The idea that mariners have a distinctive tradition, generated by a view of the world not open to other men, is an old one. ~They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; they see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the Deep~, says one of the Psalms; emphasizing not only the sense of separation which went with the occupation of seafarer, but a unique proximity to God, which made the sea in general, and fishermen in particular, important images for the medieval church. Even at sea, as the story of Jonah reminded men, nobody could flee from God; while fishing, as James I is said to have pointed out, was ~the Apostles' own calling~. Educated nineteenth century commentators, less concerned with the dignity this gave to mariners, often regarded them as similar to the primitive societies contemporary explorers encountered overseas. Ebenezer Mather, an Anglican missionary, took the gospel to fishermen at sea, after discovering them to be ~the wildest men I had ever encountered~. The naturalist, J.G. Bertram, who was principally interested in the classification and habits of fish, wrote of the marriage customs and superstitions of the ~fisher folk~ he encountered on the Scottish coast,
Pawley, Simon
History
Lincolnshire coastal villages and the sea c.1300 - c.1600 : economy and society. The idea that mariners have a distinctive tradition, generated by a view of the world not open to other men, is an old one. ~They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; they see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the Deep~, says one of the Psalms; emphasizing not only the sense of separation which went with the occupation of seafarer, but a unique proximity to God, which made the sea in general, and fishermen in particular, important images for the medieval church. Even at sea, as the story of Jonah reminded men, nobody could flee from God; while fishing, as James I is said to have pointed out, was ~the Apostles' own calling~. Educated nineteenth century commentators, less concerned with the dignity this gave to mariners, often regarded them as similar to the primitive societies contemporary explorers encountered overseas. Ebenezer Mather, an Anglican missionary, took the gospel to fishermen at sea, after discovering them to be ~the wildest men I had ever encountered~. The naturalist, J.G. Bertram, who was principally interested in the classification and habits of fish, wrote of the marriage customs and superstitions of the ~fisher folk~ he encountered on the Scottish coast,
lincolnshire coastal village sea economy_society idea distinctive tradition generate view world open men old they sea ship business great water see work lord wonder deep say emphasize sense separation occupation seafarer unique proximity god make sea general particular important image medieval_church even sea story remind men could flee god fishing james say point the apostles educated nineteenth_century commentator less concerned dignity give often regard similar primitive society contemporary explorer encounter overseas anglican missionary take gospel fisherman sea discover the wild men ever encountered naturalist principally interested classification habit fish write marriage custom superstition fisher folk encountered scottish coast