winter months as the ships were generally laid up. The house in Grape
Street, at present occupied by Mr. Braithwaite, is pointed out as the one
where he lived whilst with Mr. Walker; but this is incorrect, for Mr.
Waddington ascertained from the rate books that Mr. Walker's mother was
living there at that time, and Mr. Walker lived in Haggargate from 1734
to 1751, removing thence to the north side of Bakehouse Yard in that
year, and to Grape Street in 1752, after his mother's death. That is, he
did not reside in Grape Street till three years after Cook's
apprenticeship was ended, when, following the usual custom, he would have
to fend for himself. During these periods of leisure between his voyages,
Cook endeavoured to improve his store of knowledge, and it is believed he
received some instruction in elementary navigation. He made great friends
with Mr. Walker's housekeeper, Mary Prowd, from whom he obtained the
concession of a table and a light in a quiet corner away from the others,
where he might read and write in peace. That he worked hard to improve
himself is evident from the fact that Mr. Walker pushed him on at every
opportunity, and gave him as varied an experience of things nautical as
lay in his power.

After several voyages in the Freelove (which is stated by the Yorkshire
Gazette to have been "lost, together with one hundred and fifty
passengers and the winter's supply of gingerbread for Whitby, off either
the French or Dutch coast" one stormy Christmas, the date not given) Cook
was sent to assist in rigging and fitting for sea a vessel, called the
Three Brothers, some 600 tons burden, which was still in existence
towards the close of last century. When she was completed, Cook made two
or three trips in her with coals, and then she was employed for some
months as a transport for troops from Middleburg to Dublin and Liverpool.
She was paid off by the Government at Deptford in the spring of 1749, and
then traded to Norway, during which time Cook completed his