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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:42:29 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13605-0.txt b/13605-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97e489f --- /dev/null +++ b/13605-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14661 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13605 *** + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y'e = the; y't = that; w't = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques + +AND + +Discoveries + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER. + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. XII. + +AMERICA. PART I. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ROBERT CECIL[1] KNIGHT. + +Principall Secretarie to her Maiestie, Master of the Court of Wards and + Liueries, and one of her Maiesties most honourable Priuie Councell. + +Right honourable, your fauourable acceptance of my second volume of the +English voyages offred vnto you the last yere, your perusing of the same at +your conuenient leasure, your good testimony of my selfe and of my +trauailes therein, together with the infallible signes of your earnest +desire to doe mee good, which very lately, when I thought least thereof, +brake forth into most bountiful and acceptable effects: these +considerations haue throughly animated and encouraged me to present vnto +your prudent censure this my third and last volume also. The subiect and +matter herein contained is the fourth part of the world, which more +commonly then properly is called America: but by the chiefest Authors The +new world. New, in regard of the new and late discouery thereof made by +Christopher Colon, alià s Columbus, a Genouois by nation, in the yere of +grace 1492. And world, in respect of the huge extension thereof, which to +this day is not throughly discouered, neither within the Inland nor in the +coast, especially toward the North and Northwest, although on the either +side it be knowen vnto vs for the space of fiue thousand leagues at the +least, compting and considering the trending of the land, and for 3000. +more on the backeside in the South Sea from the Streight of Magellan to +Cape Mendoçino and Noua Albion. So that it seemeth very fitly to be called +A newe worlde. Howbeit it cannot be denied but that Antiquitie had some +kinde of dimme glimse, and vnperfect notice thereof. Which may appeare by +the relation of Plato in his two worthy dialogues of Timæus and Critias +vnder the discourse of that mighty large yland called by him Atlantis, +lying in the Ocean sea without the Streight of Hercules, now called the +Straight of Gibraltar, being (as he there reporteth) bigger then Africa and +Asia: And by that of Aristotle in his booke De admirandis auditionibus of +the long nauigation of certaine Carthaginians, who sayling forth of the +aforesaid Streight of Gibraltar into the maine Ocean for the space of many +dayes, in the ende found a mighty and fruitfull yland, which they would +haue inhabited, but were forbidden by their Senate and chiefe gouernours. +Moreouer, aboue 300. yeeres after these wee haue the testimony of Diodorus +Siculus lib. 5 cap. 7. of the like mighty yland discouered in the Westerne +Ocean by the Tyrrheni, who were forbidden for certaine causes to inhabite +the same by the foresaid Carthaginians. And Senecca in his tragedie +intituled Medea foretold aboue 1500. yeeres past, that in the later ages +the Ocean would discouer new worlds, and that the yle of Thule would no +more be the vttermost limite of the earth. For whereas Virgile had said to +Augustus Caesar, Tibi seruiat vltima Thule, alluding thereunto he +contradicteth the same, and saith, Nec sit terris vltima Thule. Yea +Tertullian, one of our most ancient and learned diuines, in the beginning +of his treatise de Pallio alludeth vnto Plato his Westerne Atlantis, which +there by another name he calleth Aeon, saying Aeon in Atlantico nunc +quæritur. And in his 40. chapter de Apologetico he reporteth the same to be +bigger then all Africa and Asia.[2] Of this new world and euery speciall +part thereof in this my third volume I haue brought to light the best and +most perfect relations of such as were chiefe actours in the particular +discoueries and serches of the same, giuing vnto euery man his right, and +leauing euery one to mainteine his owne credit. The order obserued in this +worke is farre more exact, then heretofore I could attaine vnto: for +whereas in my two former volumes I was enforced for lacke of sufficient +store, in diuers places to vse the methode of time onely (which many worthy +authors on the like occasion are enforced vnto) being now more plentifully +furnished with matter, I alwayes follow the double order of time and place. +Wherefore proposing vnto my selfe the right situation of this New world, I +begin at the extreme Northerne limite, and put downe successiuely in one +ranke or classis, according to the order aforesaide, all such voyages as +haue bene made to the said part: which comming all together, and following +orderly one vpon another, doe much more lighten the readers vnderstanding, +and confirme his iudgment, then if they had bene scattered in sundry +corners of the worke. Which methode I obserue from the highest North to the +lowest South.[3] Now where any country hath bene but seldome hanted, or any +extraordinary or chiefe action occureth, if I finde one voyage well written +by two seuerall persons, sometimes I make no difficultie to set downe both +those iournals, as finding diuers things of good moment obserued in the +one, which are quite omitted in the other. For commonly a souldier +obserueth one thing, and a mariner another, and as your honour knoweth, +Plus vident oculi, quà m oculus. But this course I take very seldome and +sparingly. And albeit my worke do cary the title of The English voyages, +aswell in regard that the greatest part are theirs, and that my trauaile +was chiefly vndertaken for preseruation of their memorable actions, yet +where our owne mens experience is defectiue, there I haue bene careful to +supply the same with the best and chiefest relations of strangers. As in +the discouery of the Grand Bay, of the mighty riuer of S. Laurence, of the +countries of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay, of Florida, and the Inland of +Cibola, Tiguex, Cicuic, and Quiuira, of The gulfe of California, and the +North westerne sea-coast to Cabo Mendoçino and Sierra Neuada: as also of +the late and rich discouery of 15. prouinces on the backside of Florida and +Virginia, the chiefest whereof is called the kingdome of New Mexico, for +the wealth, ciuil gouernment, and populousnesse of the same. Moreouer +because since our warres with Spaine, by the taking of their ships, and +sacking of their townes and cities, most of all their secrets of the West +Indies, and euery part thereof are fallen into our peoples hands (which in +former time were for the most part vnknowen vnto vs,) I haue vsed the +vttermost of my best endeuour, to get, and hauing gotten, to translate out +of Spanish, and here in this present volume to publish such secrets of +theirs, as may any way auaile vs or annoy them, if they driue and vrge vs +by their sullen insolencies, to continue our courses of hostilitie against +them, and shall cease to seeke a good and Christian peace vpon indifferent +and equal conditions. What these things be, and of how great importance +your honour in part may vnderstand, if it please you to vouchsafe to reade +the Catalogues conteyning the 14 principal heads of this worke. Whereby +your honor may farther perceiue that there is no chiefe riuer, no port, no +towne, no citie, no prouince of any reckoning in the West Indies, that hath +not here some good description thereof, aswell for the inland as the +sea-coast. And for the knowledge of the true breadth of the Sea betweene +Noua Albion on the Northwest part of America, and the yle of Iapan lying +ouer against the kingdomes of Coray and China, which vntil these foure +yeeres was neuer reueiled vnto vs, being a point of exceeding great +consequence, I haue here inserted the voyage of one Francis Gualle a +Spaniard made from Acapulco an hauen on the South sea on the coast of New +Spaine, first to the Philippinas, and then to the citie of Macao in China, +and homeward from Macao by the yles of Iapan, and thence to the back of the +West Indies in the Northerly latitude of 37. degrees 1/2. In which course +betweene the said ylands and the maine he found a wide and spacious open +Ocean of 900. leagues broad, which a little more to the Northward hath bene +set out as a Streight, and called in most mappes The Streight of Anian. In +which relation to the viceroy hee constantly affirmeth three seuerall +times, that there is a passage that way vnto the North parts of Asia. +Moreouer, because I perceiue by a letter directed by her Maiestie to the +Emperour of China (and sent in the last Fleet intended for those parts by +The South Sea vnder the charge of Beniamin Wood, chiefly set out at the +charges of sir Robert Duddeley, a gentleman of excellent parts) that she +vseth her princely mediation for obtaining of freedome of traffique for her +marchants in his dominions, for the better instruction of our people in the +state of those countries, I haue brought to light certaine new +aduertisements of the late alteration of the mightie monarchie of the +confronting yle of Iapan, and of the new conquest of the kingdome of Coray, +not long since tributarie to the king of China, by Quabacondono the monarch +of all the yles and princedomes of Iapan; as also of the Tartars called +Iezi, adioyning on the East and Northeast parts of Coray, where I thinke +the best vtterance of our natural and chiefe commoditie of cloth is like to +be, if it please God hereafter to reueile vnto vs the passage thither by +the Northwest. The most exact and true information of the North parts of +China I finde in a history of Tamerlan, which I haue in French, set out +within these sixe yeeres by the abbat of Mortimer, dedicated to the French +king that now reigneth, who confesseth that it was long since written in +the Arabian tongue by one Alhacen a wise and valiant Captaine, employed by +the said mighty prince in all his conquests of the foresaid kingdome. Which +history I would not haue failed to haue translated into English, if I had +not found it learnedly done vnto my hand. + +And for an appendix vnto the ende of my worke, I haue thought it not +impertinent, to exhibite to the graue and discreet iudgements of those +which haue the chiefe places in the Admiraltie and marine causes of +England, Certaine briefe extracts of the orders of the Contractation house +of Siuil in Spaine, touching their gouernment in sea-matters: together with +The streight and seuere examination of Pilots and Masters before they be +admitted to take charge of ships, aswell by the Pilot mayor, and +brotherhood of ancient Masters, as by the Kings reader of The lecture of +the art of Nauigation, with the time that they be enioyned to bee his +auditors, and some part of the questions that they are to answere vnto. +Which if they finde good and beneficial for our seamen, I hope they wil +gladly imbrace and imitate, or finding out some fitter course of their +owne, will seeke to bring such as are of that calling vnto better +gouernment and more perfection in that most laudable and needfull vocation. +To leaue this point, I was once minded to haue added to the end of these my +labours a short treatise, which I haue lying by me in writing, touching The +curing of hot diseases incident to traueilers in long and Southerne +voyages, which treatise was written in English, no doubt of a very honest +mind, by one M. George Wateson, and dedicated vnto her sacred Maiestie. But +being carefull to do nothing herein rashly, I shewed it to my worshipfull +friend M. doctour Gilbert, a gentleman no lesse excellent in the chiefest +secrets of the Mathematicks (as that rare iewel lately set foorth by him in +Latine doeth euidently declare) then in his owne profession of physicke: +who assured me, after hee had perused the said treatise, that it was very +defectiue and vnperfect, and that if hee might haue leasure, which that +argument would require, he would either write something thereof more +aduisedly himselfe, or would conferre with the whole Colledge of the +Physicions, and set downe some order by common consent for the preseruation +of her Maiesties subjects. Now as the foresaid treatise touched the cure of +diseases growing in hot regions, so being requested thereunto by some in +authoritie they may adde their iudgments for the cure of diseases incident +unto men employed in cold regions, which to good purpose may serue our +peoples turnes, if they chance to prosecute the intermitted discouery by +the Northwest, whereunto I finde diuers worshipfull citizens at this +present much inclined. Now because long since I did foresee, that my +profession of diuinitie, the care of my family, and other occasions might +call and diuert me from these kinde of endeuours, I haue for these 3 yeeres +last pasts encouraged and furthered in these studies of Cosmographie and +forren histories, my very honest, industrious, and learned friend M. IOHN +PORY, one of speciall skill and extraordinary hope to performe great +matters in the same, and beneficial for the common wealth. + +Thus Sir I haue portrayed out in rude lineaments my Westerne Atlantis or +America: assuring you, that if I had bene able, I would haue limned her and +set her out with farre more liuely and exquisite colours: yet, as she is, I +humbly desire you to receiue her with your wonted and accustomed fauour at +my handes, who alwayes wil remaine most ready and deuoted to do your honour +any poore seruice that I may; and in the meane season will not faile +vnfainedly to beseech the Almighty to powre vpon you the best of his +temporall blessings in this world, and after this life ended with true and +much honour, to make you partaker of his joyes eternall. From London the +first of September, the yeere of our Lord God 1600. + +Your Honours most humble to +be commanded, + +RICHARD HAKLVYT, Preacher. + + + + +Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION IN AMERICA. + + * * * * * + +The most ancient Discovery of the West Indies by Madoc the sonne of Owen + Guyneth Prince of North-wales, in the yeere 1170: taken out of the + history of Wales, lately published by M. Dauid Powel Doctor of + Diuinity.[4] + +After the death of Owen Guyneth, his sonnes fell at debate who should +inherit after him: for the eldest sonne borne in matrimony, Edward or +Iorweth Drwydion, was counted vnmeet to gouerne, because of the maime upon +his face: and Howell that tooke vpon him all the rule was a base sonne, +begotten upon an Irish woman. Therefore Dauid gathered all the power he +could, and came against Howel, and fighting with him, slew him; and +afterwards inioyed quietly the whole land of Northwales, vntil his brother +Iorwerths sonne came to age. [Sidenote: Madoc the son of Owen Guyneth.] +Madoc another of Owen Guyneth his sonnes left the land in contention +betwixt his brethren, and prepared certaine ships, with men and munition, +and sought aduentures by Seas, sailing West, and leauing the coast of +Ireland so farre North, that he came vnto a land vnknowen, where he saw +many strange things. + +[Sidenote: Humf. Llyod.] This land most needs be some part of that Countrey +of which the Spanyards affirme themselues to be the first finders since +Hannos time. Whereupon it is manifest that that countrey was by Britaines +discouered, long before Columbus led any Spanyards thither. + +Of the voyage and returne of this Madoc there be many fables feined, as the +common people doe vse in distance of place and length of time rather to +augment then to diminish: but sure it is there he was. [Sidenote: The +second voyage of Madoc the sonne of Owen Guyneth.] And after he had +returned home, and declared the pleasant and fruitfull countreys that he +had seen without inhabitants, and vpon the contrary part, for what barren +and wild ground his brethren and nephews did murther one another, he +prepared a number of ships, and got with him such men and women as were +desirous to liue in quietness: and taking leaue of his friends, tooke his +journey thitherward againe. [Sidenote: Gomara. lib. 2. cap. 16.] Therefore +it is to be supposed that he and his people inhabited part of those +countreys: for it appeareth by Francis Lopez de Gomara, that in Acuzamil +and other places the people honored the crosse. Wherby it may be gathered +that Christians had bene there before the comming of the Spanyards. But +because this people were not many, they followed the maners of the land +which they came vnto, and vsed the language they found there. + +[Sidenote: M. Powels addition. Gutyn Owen.] This Madoc arriuing in that +Westerne countrey, vnto the which he came in the yere 1170, left most of +his people there, and returning backe for more of his owne nation, +acquaintance and friends to inhabit that faire and large countrey, went +thither againe with ten sailes, as I find noted by Gutyn Owen. I am of +opinion that the land whereunto he came was some part of the West +Indies.[5] + + * * * * * + +Carmina Meredith filij Rhesi[6] mentionem facientia de Madoco filio Oweni + Guynedd, et de sua nauigatione in terras incognitas. Vixit hic Meredith + circiter annum Domini 1477. + + Madoc wyf, mwyedic wedd, + Iawn genau, Owyn Guynedd: + Ni fynnum dir, fy enaid oedd + Na da mawr, ond y moroedd.[7] + +The same in English. + + + Madoc I am the sonne of Owen Gwynedd + With stature large, and comely grace adorned: + No lands at home nor store of wealth me please, + My minde was whole to search the Ocean seas. + + * * * * * + +The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus to + king Henry the seuenth in the yeere 1488 the 13 of February: with the + kings acceptation of the offer, and the cause whereupon hee was depriued + of the same: recorded in the thirteenth chapter of the history of Don + Fernand Columbus of the life and deeds of his father Christopher + Columbus.[8] + +Christophero Colon temendo, se parimente i Re di Castiglia non assentissero +alla sua impresa, non gli bisognasse proporla di nuouo à qualche alto +principe, e cosi in cio passasse lungo tempo; mando in Inghilterra vn suo +fratello, che haueua appresso di se, chiantato Bartholomeo Colon: il qual, +quantunque non hauesse lettere Latine, erà però huomo prattico, e +giudicioso nelle cose del mare, e sapea molto bene far carte da nauigare, e +sphere, et altri instrumenti di quella professione, come dal suo fratello +era instrutto. Partito adunque Bartholomeo Colon per Inghilterra, volle la +sua sorte, che desse in man di cor sali, i quali lo spogliarono insieme con +gli altri delta sua naue. Per la qual cosa, e per la sua pouertà et +infirmità , che in cosi diuerse terre lo assalirono crudelmente, prolungo +per gran tempo la sua ambasciata, fin che, aquistata vn poco di faculia con +le carte, ch' ei fabricana, cominciò a far pratiche co' il Re Enrico +settimo padre de Enrico ottauo, che al presente regna: a cui appresentò vn +mappamondo, nel quale erano scritti questi versi, che frá le sue scriture +lo trouai, e da me saranno qui posti piu rosto per l'antichità , che per la +loro elganza. + + Terraram quicunque cupis foeliciter oras + Noscere, cuncta decens doctè pictura docebit, + Quam Strabo affirmat, Ptolomæus, Plinius, atque + Isidorus: non vno tamen sententia cuique. + Pingitur hîc etiam nuper sulcata carinis + Hispanis Zona illa, priùs incognita genti + Torrida, quæ tandem nunc est notissima multis. + +Et piu di sotto diceua + +Pro Authore siue Pictore. + + Ianua cui patriæ est nomen, cui Bartholomæus + Columbus de Terra Rubra, opus edidit istud, + Londonijis anno Domini 1480 atque insuper anno + Octauo, decimaque die cum tertia mensis + Februarij. Laudes Christo cantentur abundè. + +Et, percioche auuertirà alcuno, che dice Columbus de Terra Rubra, dico +medesimamente Io viddi alcune sotto scritioni dell'Ammiraglio, primo che +acquistasse lo stato, ou' egli si sotto scriueua, Columbus de Terra Rubra. +Ma, tornando al Re d'Inghilterra, dico, che, da lui il mappamondo veduto, +et cio che i'Ammiraglio gli offeriua, con allegro volto accettò la sua +offerta, e mandolo a chiamare. Ma, percioche Dio Phaueua per Cas. tiglia +serbata, gia l'Ammiraglio in quel tempo era andato, e tornato con la +vittoria della sua impresa, secondo che per ordine si racconterà . Lasciarò +hora di raccontar ciò, che Bartolomeo Colon hauena negociato in +Inghilterra, e tornarò all'Ammiraglio, etc. + + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus fearing least if the king of Castile in like manner +(as the king of Portugall had done) should not condescend vnto his +enterprise, he should be inforced to offer the same againe to some other +prince, and so much time should be spent therein, sent into England a +certaine brother of his which he had with him, whose name was Bartholomew +Columbus, who, albeit he had not the Latine tongue, yet neuerthelesse was a +man of experience and skilfull in Sea causes, and could very wel make sea +cards and globes, and other instruments belonging to that profession, as he +was instructed by his brother. Wherefore after that Bartholomew Columbus +was departed for England, his lucke was to fall into the hands of pirats, +which spoiled him with the rest of them which were in the ship which he +went in. [Sidenote: The occasion why the West Indies were not discouered +for England.] Vpon which occasion, and by reason of his pouerty and +sicknesse which cruelly assaulted him in a countrey so farre distant from +his friends, he deferred his embassage for a long while, until such time as +he had gotten somewhat handsome about him with making of Sea Cards. At +length he began to deale with King Henry the seuenth the father of Henry +the eight, which reigneth at this present: vnto whom he presented a mappe +of the world, wherein these verses were written, which I found among his +papers: and I will here set them downe, rather for their antiquity then for +their goodnesse. + + Thou which desireth easily the coasts of lands to know, + This comely mappe right learnedly the same to thee will shew: + Which Strabo, Plinie, Ptolomew and Isodore maintaine: + Yet for all that they do not all in one accord remaine. + Here also is set downe the late discouered burning Zone + By Portingals, vnto the world which whilom was vnknowen. + Whereof the knowledge now at length thorow all the world is blowen. + +And a little vnder he added: + +For the Author or the Drawer. + + He, whose deare natiue soile hight stately Genua. + Euen he whose name is Bartholomew Colon de Terra Rubra, + The yeere of Grace a thousand and foure hundred and fourescore + And eight, and on the thirteenth day of February more, + In London published this worke. To Christ all laud therefore. + +And because some peraduenture may obserue that he calleth himselfe Columbus +de Terra Rubra, I say, that in like maner I haue seene some subscriptions +of my father Christopher Columbus, before he had the degree of Admirall, +wherein be signed his name thus, Columbus de Terra Rubra. [Sidenote: King +Henry the seuenth his acceptation of Columbus offer.] But to returne to the +king of England, I say, that after he had seene the map, and that which my +father Christopher Columbus offered vnto him, he accepted the offer with +ioyfull countenance, and sent to call him into England. But because God had +reserued the said offer for Castile, Columbus was gone in the meane space, +and also returned with the performance of his enterprise, as hereafter in +order shall be rehearsed. Now will I leaue off from making any farther +mention of that which Bartholomew Colon had negotiated in England, and I +will returne vnto the Admirall, &c. + + * * * * * + +Another testimony taken out of the 60 chapter of the foresayd history of + Ferdinando Columbus concerning the offer that Bartholomew Columbus made + to king Henry the seuenth on the behalfe of his brother Christopher. + +Tornato adunque l'Ammiraglio dallo scoprimento di Cuba and di Giamaica, +tornò nella Spagnuola Bartolomeo Colon suo fratello, quello, che era già +andato a trattare accordo col Re d'Inghilterra sopra lo scoprimento delle +Indie, come di sopra habiam detto. Questo poi, ritornando sene verso +Castiglia con capitoli conceduti, haueua inteso a Parigi dal re Carlo di +Francia, l'Ammiraglio suo fratello hauer gia scorperte l'Indie: per che gli +souenne per poter far il Viaggio di cento scudi. Et, Auenga che per cotal +nuoua egli si fosse molto affrettato, per arriuar l'Ammiraglio in Spagna, +quando non dimeno giunse a Siuiglia, egli era gia tornato alle Indie co' 17 +nauigli. Perche, per asseguir quanto ei gli haueba lasciato, di subito al +principio dell' anno del 1494 sen' andò a i Re Catholici, menando seco Don +Diego Colon, mio fratello, e me ancora, accioche seruissimo di paggi al +serenissimo principe Don Giouanni, il qual viua in gloria, si come hauea +commandata la Catholica Reina donna Isabella, che alhora era in +Vagliadolid. Tosto adunque che noi giungemmo, i Re chiamarono Don +Bartolomeo, et mandaronlo alia Spagnuola centre naui, &c. + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus the Admirall being returned from the discouery of Cuba +and Iamayca, found in Hispaniola his brother Bartholomew Columbus, who +before had beene sent to intreat of an agreement with the king of England +for the discouery of the Indies, as we haue sayd before. This Bartholomew +therefore returning vnto Castile, with the capitulations granted by the +king of England to his brother, vnderstood at Paris by Charles the king of +France that the Admirall his brother had already performed that discouery: +whereupon the French king gaue vnto the sayd Bartholomew an hundred French +crownes to beare his charges into Spaine. And albeit he made great haste +vpon this good newes to meet with the Admirall in Spaine, yet at his +comming to Siuil his brother was already returned to the Indies with +seuenteene saile of shipps. Wherefore to fulfill that which he had left him +in charge in the beginning of the yeere 1494 he repaired to the Catholike +princes, taking with him Diego Colon my brother and me also, which were to +be preferred as Pages to the most excellent Prince Don Iohn, who now is +with God, according to the commandement of the Catholic Queene Lady +Isabell, which was then in Validolid. Assoone therefore as we came to the +Court, the princes called for Don Bartholomew, and sent him to Hispaniola +with three ships, &c. + + * * * * * + +THE ENGLISH VOYAGES, NAVIGATIONS, AND DISCOUERIES. + +_(Intended for the finding of a northwest passage) to the north parts of + America, to meta incogita, and the backeside of Gronland, as farre as 72 + degrees and 12 minuts: performed first by Sebastian Cabota, and since by + Sir Martin Frobisher, and M. John Dauis, with the patents, discourses, + and aduertisements thereto belonging._ + +The Letters patents of King Henry the seuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and + his three sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius for the discouerie of new + and vnknowen lands. + +Henricus Dei gratia rex Angliæ, et Franciæ, et Dominus Hiberniæ, omnibus, +ad quos præsentes literæ nostræ peruenerint, salutem. + +Notum sit et manifestum, quòd dedimus et concessimus, ac per præsentes +damus et concedimus pro nobis et hæredibus nostris, dilectis nobis Ioanni +Caboto ciui Venetiarum, Lodouico, Sebastiano, et Sancio, filijs dicti +Ioannis, et eorum ac cuiuslibet eorum hæredibus et deputatis, plenam ac +liberam authoritatem, facultatem, et potestatem nauigandi ad omnes partes, +regiones, et sinus maris orientalis, occidentalis, et septentrionalis, sub +banneris, vexillis, et insignijs nostris, cum quinque nauibus siue +nauigijs, cuiuscúnque portituræ et qualitatis existant, et cum tot et +tantis nautis et hominibus, quot et quantos in dictis nauibus secum ducere +voluerint, suis et eorum proprijs sumptibus et expensis, ad inueniendum, +discooperiendum, et inuestigandum quascunque insulas, patrias, regiones +siue prouincias gentilium et infidelium quorumcunque, in quacunque parte +mundi positas, quæ Christianis omnibus ante hæc tempora fuerint incognitæ. +Concessimus etiam eisdem et eorum cuilibet, eorumque et cuiuslibet eorum +hæredibus et deputatis, ac licentiam dedimus ad affigendum prædictas +banneras nostras et insignia in quacunque villa, oppido, castro, insula seu +terra firma à se nouiter inuentis. Et quòd prænominatus Ioannes, et filij +eiusdem, seu hæredes et eorum deputati, quascunque huiusmodi villas, +castra, oppida, et insulas à se inuentas, quæ subiugari, occupari, +possideri possint, subiugare, occupare, possidere valeant tanquam vasalli +nostri, et gubernatores, locatenentes, et deputati eorundem, dominium, +titulum et iurisdictionem earundem villarum, castrorum, oppidorum, +insularum, ac terræ firmæ sic inuentorum nobis acquirendo. Ita tamen, vt ex +omnibus fructibus, proficuis, emolumentis, commodis, lucris, et +obuintionibus ex huiusmodi nauigatione prouenientibus, præfatus Iohannes, +et filij ac hæredes, et eorum deputati, teneanter et sint obligati nobis +pro omni viagio suo, toties quoties ad portum nostrum Bristolliæ +applicuerint (ad quem omnino applicare teneantur et sint astricti) deductis +omnibus sumptibus et impensis necessarijs per eosdem factis, quintam partem +capitalis lucri facti, siue in mercibus, siue in pecunijs persoluere: +Dantes nos et concedentes eisdem suisque hæredibus et deputatis, vt ab omni +solutione custumarum omnium et singulorum honorum et mercium, quas secum +reportarint ab illis locis sic nouiter inuentis, liberi sint et immunes. Et +insuper dedimus et concessimus eisdem ac suis hæredibus et deputatis, quod +terræ omnes firmæ, insulæ, villæ, oppida, castra, et loca quæcunque a se +inuenta, quotquot ab eis inueniri contigerit, non possint ab alijs +quibusuis nostris subditis frequentari seu visitari, absque licentia +prædictorum Ioannis et eius filiorum, suorumque deputatoram, sub poena +amissionis tam nauium quà m bonorum omnium quorumcunque ad ea loca sic +inuenta nauigare præsumentium. Volentes et strictissimè mandantes omnibus +et singulis nostris subditis, tam in terra quà m in mari constitutis, vt +præfato Ioanni et eius filijs ac deputatis, bonam assistentiam faciant, et +tam in armandis nauibus seu nauigijs, quà m in prouisione commeatus et +victualium pro sua pecunia emendorum, atque aliarum omnium rerum sibi +prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauore set auxilia +impertiant. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus +patentes. [Sidenote: Ann. Dom. 1495.] Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium +quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo. + +The same in English. + +Henry by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, +to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. + +Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue +and grant for vs and our heires, to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of +Venice,[9] to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the said Iohn, and +to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free +authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of +the East, of the West, and of the North, under our banners and ensignes, +with fiue ships of what burthen or quality soeuer they be, and as many +mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their +owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoeuer +isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels +whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which +before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians; we haue granted to +them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and their deputies, +and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery +village, towne, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. And that +the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignes may subdue, +occupy and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles of them +found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our vassals, and +lieutenants, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and iurisdiction of the same +villages, townes, castles, and firme land so found. [Sidenote: Bristol +thought the meetest port for Westerne discoueries.] Yet so that the +aforesayd Iohn, and his sonnes and heires, and their deputies, be holden +and bounden of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and commodities growing of +such nauigation, for euery their voyage, as often as they shall arriue at +our port of Bristoll (at the which port they shall be bound and holden +onely to arriue) all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made, +being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the +capitall gaine so gotten. [Sidenote: Freedome from custome.] We giuing and +granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies, that they shall be +free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as +they shall bring with them from those places so newly found. And moreouer, +we haue giuen and granted to them, their heires and deputies, that all the +firme lands, isles, villages, townes, castles and places whatsoeuer they be +that they shall chance to finde, may not of any other of our subiects be +frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his +sonnes, and their deputies, vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their +shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to +saile to those places so found. Willing, and most straightly commanding all +and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea, to giue good assistance +to the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in +arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in prouision of food, and +in buying of victuals for their money, and all other things by them to be +prouided necessary for the sayd nauigation, they do giue them all their +helpe and fauour. In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our +Letters patents. Witnesse our selfe at Westminister the fift day of March, +in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne.[10] + + * * * * * + +Billa signata anno 13 Henrici septimi. + +[Sidenote: A record of the rolls touching the voyage of Iohn Cabot and +Sebastian his sonne.] Rex tertio die Februarij, anno 13, licentiam dedit +Ioanni Caboto, quod ipse capere possit sex naues Anglicanas, in aliquo +portu, siue portibus regni Angliæ, ita quod sint de portagio 200. doliorum, +vel subtus, cum apparatu requisito, et quod recipere possint in dictas +naues omnes tales magistros, marinarios, et subditos regis, qui cum eo +exire voluerint, &c. + + +The same in English. + +The king vpon the third day of February, in the 13 yeere of his reigne, +gaue licence to Iohn Cabot to take sixe English ships in any hauen or +hauens of the realme of England, being of the burden of 200 tunnes, or +vnder, with all necessary furniture, and to take also into the said ships +all such masters, mariners, and subjects of the king as willingly will go +with him, &c.[11] + + * * * * * + +An extract taken out of the map[12] of Sebastian Cabot, cut by Clement + Adams, concerning his discouery of the West Indies, which is to be seene + in her Maiesties priuie gallerie at Westminster, and in many other + ancient merchants houses. + +Anno Domini 1497 Ioannes Cabotus Venetus, et Sebastianus illius filius eam +terram fecerunt peruiam, quam nullus priùs adire ausus fuit, die 24 Junij, +circiter horam quintam bene manè. Hanc autem appellauit Terram primùm +visam, credo quod ex mari in eam partem primùm oculos iniecerat. Nam quæ ex +aduerso sita est insula eam appellauit insulam Diui Ioannis, hac opinor +ratione, quòd aperta fuit eo die qui est sacer Diuo Ioanni Baptistæ: Huius +incolæ pelles animalium, exuuiasque ferarum pro indumentis habent, easque +tanti faciunt, quanti nos vestes preciosissimas. Cùm bellum gerunt, vtuntur +arcu, sagittis, hastis, spiculis, clauis ligneis et fundis. Tellus sterilis +est, neque vllos fructus affert, ex quo fit, vt vrsis albo colore, et +ceruis inusitatæ apud nos magnitudinis referta sit: piscibus abundat, +ijsque sane magnis, quales sunt lupi marini, et quos salmones vulgus +appellat; soleæ autem reperiuntur tam longæ, vt vlnæ mensuram excedant. +Imprimis autem magna est copia eorum piscium, quos vulgari sermone vocant +Bacallaos. Gignuntur in ea insula accipitres ita nigri, vt coruorum +similitudinem mirum in modum exprimant, perdices autem et aquilæ sunt nigri +coloris. + + +The same in English. + +In the yeere of our Lord 1497 Iohn Cabot a Venetian, and his sonne +Sebastian (with an English fleet set out from Bristoll) discouered that +land which no man before that time had attempted, on the 24 of Iune,[13] +about fiue of the clocke early in the morning. This land he called Prima +vista, that is to say, First seene, because as I suppose it was that part +whereof they had the first sight from sea. That Island which lieth out +before the land, he called the Island of S. Iohn vpon this occasion, as I +thinke, because it was discouered vpon the day of Iohn the Baptist. The +inhabitants of this Island vse to weare beasts skinnes, and haue them in as +great estimation as we haue our finest garments. In their warres they vse +bowes, arrowes, pikes, darts, woodden clubs, and slings. The soile is +barren in some places, and yeeldeth litle fruit, but it is full of white +beares, and stagges farre greater then ours. It yeeldeth plenty of fish, +and those very great, as seales, and those which commonly we call salmons: +there are soles also aboue a yard in length: but especially there is great +abundance of that kinde of fish which the Sauages call baccalaos. In the +same Island also there breed hauks, but they are so blacke that they are +very like to rauens, as also their partridges, and egles, which are in like +sort blacke. + + * * * * * + +A discourse of Sebastian Cabot touching his discouery of part of the West + India out of England in the time of king Henry the seuenth, vsed to + Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine, and reported by the + sayd Legate in this sort. + +[Sidenote: This discourse is taken out of the second volume of the voyages +of Baptista Ramusius.[14]] Doe you not vnderstand sayd he (speaking to +certaine Gentlemen of Venice) how to passe to India toward the Northwest, +as did of late a citizen of Venice, so valiant a man, and so well practised +in all things pertaining to nauigations, and the science of Cosmographie, +that at this present he hath not his like in Spaine, insomuch that for his +virtues he is preferred aboue all other pilots that saile to the West +Indies, who may not passe thither without his licence, and is therefore +called Piloto mayor, that is, the grand Pilot. [Sidenote: Sebastian Cabota +Pilot mayor of Spaine.] And when we sayd that we knew him not, he +proceeded, saying, that being certaine yeres in the city of Siuil, and +desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyards, it was +tolde him that there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian borne named +Sebastian Cabot, who had the charge of those things, being an expert man in +that science, and one that coulde make Cardes for the Sea, with his owne +hand, and by this report, seeking his acquaintance, hee found him a very +gentle person, who intertained him friendly, and shewed him many things, +and among other a large Mappe of the world, with certaine particular +Nauigations, as well of the Portugals, as of the Spaniards, and that he +spake further vnto him to this effect. + +When my father departed from Venice many yeeres since to dwell in England, +to follow the trade of marchandises, hee tooke mee with him to the citie of +London, while I was very yong, yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of +letters of humanitie, and of the Sphere. And when my father died in that +time when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had +discouered the coasts of India, whereof was great talke in all the Court of +king Henry the 7, who then raigned, insomuch that all men with great +admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane, to saile by +the West into the East where spices growe, by a way that was neuer knowen +before, by this fame and report there increased in my heart a great flame +of desire to attempt some notable thing. And vnderstanding by reason of the +Sphere, that if I should saile by way of the Northwest, I should by a +shorter tract come into India, I thereupon caused the King to be aduertised +of my deuise, who immediatly commanded two Caruels to bee furnished with +all things appertayning to the voyage, which was as farre as I remember in +the yeere 1496. in the beginning of Sommer. I began therefore to saile +toward the Northwest, not thinking to finde any other land then that of +Cathay, and from thence to turne toward India, but after certaine dayes I +found that the land ranne towards the North, which was to mee a great +displeasure. Neuerthelesse, sayling along by the coast to see if I could +finde any gulfe that turned, I found the lande still continent to the 56. +degree vnder our Pole. And seeing that there the coast turned toward the +East, despairing to finde the passage, I turned backe againe, and sailed +downe by the coast of that land toward the Equinoctiall (euer with intent +to finde the saide passage to India) and came to that part of this firme +lande which is nowe called Florida, where my victuals failing, I departed +from thence and returned into England, where I found great tumults among +the people, and preparation for wanes in Scotland; by reason whereof there +was no more consideration had to this voyage. + +[Sidenote: The second voyage of Cabot to the land of Brazil, and Rio de +Plata.] Whereupon I went into Spaine to the Catholique king, and Queene +Elizabeth, which being aduertised what I had done, intertained me, and at +their charges furnished certaine ships, wherewith they caused me to saile +to discouer the coastes of Brazile, where I found an exceeding great and +large riuer named at this present Rio de la plata, that is, the riuer of +siluer, into the which I sailed and followed it into the firme land, more +then sixe score leagues, finding it euery where very faire, and inhabited +with infinite people, which with admiration came running dayly to our +ships. Into this Riuer runne so many other riuers, that it is in maner +incredible. + +[Sidenote: The office of Pilote maior.] After this I made many other +voyages, which I nowe pretermit, and waxing olde, I giue myselfe to rest +from such trauels, because there are nowe many yong and lustie Pilots and +Mariners of good experience, by whose forwardnesse I doe reioyce in the +fruit of my labours, and rest with the charge of this office, as you +see.[15] + + * * * * * + +The foresaide Baptista Ramusius in his preface to the thirde volume of the + Nauigations writeth thus of Sebastian Cabot. + +In the latter part of this volume are put certaine relations of Iohn de +Vararzana, Florentine, and of a great captaine a Frenchman, and the two +voyages of Iaques Cartier a Briton, who sailed vnto the land situate in 50. +degrees of latitude to the North, which is called New France, which landes +hitherto are not throughly knowen, whether they doe ioyne with the firme +lande of Florida and Noua Hispania, or whether they bee separated and +diuided all by the Sea as Ilands: and whether that by that way one may goe +by Sea vnto the countrey of Cathaia. [Sidenote: The great probabilitie of +this North-west passage.] As many yeeres past it was written vnto mee by +Sebastian Cabota our Countrey man a Venetian, a man of great experience, +and very rare in the art of Nauigation, and the knowledge of Cosmographie, +who sailed along and beyond this land of New France, at the charge of King +Henry the seuenth king of England: and he aduertised mee, that hauing +sailed a long time West and by North, beyond those Ilands vnto the Latitude +of 67. degrees and an halfe, vnder the North pole, and at the 11. day of +Iune finding still the open Sea without any manner of impediment, he +thought verily by that way to haue passed on still the way to Cathaia, +which is in the East, and would haue done it, if the mutinie of the +ship-master and Mariners had not hindered him and made him to returne +homewards from that place. But it seemeth that God doeth yet still reserue +this great enterprise for some great prince to discouer this voyage of +Cathaia by this way, which for the bringing of the Spiceries from India +into Europe, were the most easy and shortest of all other wayes hitherto +found out. And surely this enterprise would be the most glorious, and of +most importance of all other that can be imagined to make his name great, +and fame immortall, to all ages to come, farre more then can be done by any +of all these great troubles and warres which dayly are used in Europe among +the miserable Christian people. + + * * * * * + +Another testunonie of the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to the West and + Northwest, taken out of the sixt Chapter of the third Decade of Peter + Martyr of Angleria. + +Scrutatus est oras glaciales Sebastianus quidam Cabotus genere Venetus, sed +à parentibus in Britanniam insulam tendentibus (vti moris est Venetorum, +qui commercij causa terrarum omnium sunt hospites) transportatus penè +infans. Duo is sibi nauigia, propria pecunia in Britannia ipsa instruxit, +et primò tentens cum hominibus tercentum ad Septentrionem donec etiam Iulio +mense vastas repererit glaciates moles pelago natantes, et lucem ferè +perpetuam, tellure tamen libera, gelu liquefacto: quare coactus fuit, vti +ait, vela vertere et occidentem sequi: tetenditque tantum ad meridiem +littore sese incuruante, vt Herculei freti latitudinis fere gradus æquarit: +ad occidentémque profectus tantum est vt Cubam Insulam à Iæua, longitudine +graduum penè parem, habuerit. Is ea littora percurrens, quæ Baccalaos +appelauit, eosdem se reperisse aquarum, sed lenes delapsus ad Occidentem +ait, quos Castellani, meridionales suas regiones adnauigantes, inuenient. +Ergò non modò verisimilius, sed necessario concludendum est, vastos inter +vtramque ignotam hactenus tellurem iacere hiatus, qui viam præbeant aquis +ab oriente cadentibus in Occidentem. Quas arbitror impulsu coelorum +circulariter agi in gyrum circa terræ globum, non autem Demogorgone +anhelante vomi, absorberique vt nonnulli senserunt, quod influxu, et +refluxu forsan assentire daretur. Baccalaos, Cabotus ipse terras illas +appellauit, eò quod in earum pelago tantam reperierit magnorum quorundam +piscium, tynnos æmulantium, sic vocatorum ab indigenis, multitudinem, vt +etiam illi interdum nauigia detardarent. Earum Regionum homines pellibus +tantum coopertos reperiebat, rationis haudquaquam expertes. Vrsorum inesse +regionibus copiam ingentem refert, qui et ipsi piscibus vescantur. Inter +densa namque piscium illorum agmina sese immergunt vrsi, et singulos +singuli complexos, vnguibusque inter squammas immissis in terram raptant et +comedunt. Proptereà minimè noxios hominibus visos esse ait Orichalcum in +plerisque locis se vidisse apud incolas prædicat. Familiarem habeo domi +Cabotum ipsum, et contubernalem interdum. Vocatus namque ex Britannia à +Rege nostro Catholico, post Henrici Maioris Britanniæ Regis mortem, +concurialis noster est, expectatque indies, vt nauigia sibi parentur, +quibus arcanum hoc naturæ latens iam tandem detegatur. + + +The same in English. + +These North Seas haue bene searched by one Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian +borne, whom being yet but in maner an infant, his parents carried with them +into England, hauing occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandise, +as in the maner of the Venetians to leaue no part of the world vnsearched +to obtaine riches. Hee therefore furnished two ships in England at his owne +charges, and first with 300 men directed his course so farre towards the +North pole, that euen in the moneth of Iuly he found monstrous heapes of +ice swimming on the sea, and in maner continuall day light, yet saw he the +land in that tract free from ice, which had bene molten by the heat of the +Sunne. Thus seeing such heapes of yce before him, hee was enforced to turne +his sailes and follow the West, so coasting still by the shore, that hee +was thereby brought so farre into the South, by reason of the land bending +so much Southwards, that it was there almost equal in latitude, with the +sea Fretum Hercoleum, hauing the Northpole eleuate in maner in the same +degree. He sailed likewise in this tract so farre towards the West, that +hee had the Island of Cuba on his left hand, in maner in the same degree of +longitude. [Sidenote: A current toward the West.] As hee traueiled by the +coastes of this great land, (which he named Baccalaos) he saith that hee +found the like course of the waters toward the West, but the same to runne +more softly and gently then the swift waters which the Spaniards found in +their Nauigations Southwards. Wherefore it is not onely more like to be +true, but ought also of necessitie to be concluded that betweene both the +lands hitherto vnknown, there should be certaine great open places whereby +the waters should thus continually passe from the East vnto the West: +[Sidenote: The people of Island say the Sea and yce setteth also West. +(Ionas Arngrimus.)[16]] which waters I suppose to be driuen about the globe +of the earth by the uncessant mouing and impulsion of the heauens, and not +to bee swallowed vp and cast vp againe by the breathing of Demogorgon, as +some haue imagined, because they see the seas by increase and decrease to +ebbe and flowe. Sebastian Cabot himselfe named those lands Baccalaos, +because that in the Seas thereabout hee found so great multitudes of +certaine bigge fishes much like vnto Tunies, (which the inhabitants called +Baccalaos) that they sometimes stayed his shippes. He found also the people +of those regions couered with beastes skinnes, yet not without the vse of +reason. He also saieth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions +which vse to eate fish: for plunging themselues into the water, where they +perceiue a multitude of these fishes to lie, they fasten their clawes in +their scales, and so draw them to land and eate them, so (as he saith) the +Beares being thus satisfied with fish, are not noisome to men. [Sidenote: +Copper found in many places by Cabote.] Hee declareth further, that in many +places of these Regions he saw great plentie of Copper among the +inhabitants. Cabot is my very friend, whom I vse familiarly, and delight to +haue sometimes keepe mee company in mine owne house. For being called out +of England by the commandement of the Catholique King of Castile, after the +death of King Henry the seuenth of that name king of England, he was made +one of our council and Assistants, as touching the affaires of the new +Indies, looking for ships dayly to be furnished for him to discouer this +hid secret of Nature. + + * * * * * + +The testimonie of Francis Lopez de Gomara a Spaniard, in the fourth Chapter + of the second Booke of his generall history of the West Indies concerning + the first discouerie of a great part of the West Indies, to wit, from 58. + to 38. degrees of latitude, by Sebastian Cabota out of England. + +He which brought most certaine newes of the countrey and people of +Baccalaos, saith Gomara, was Sebastian Cabote a Venetian, which rigged vp +two ships at the cost of K. Henry the 7. of England, hauing great desire to +traffique for the spices as the Portingalls did. He carried with him 300. +men, and tooke the way towards Island from beyond the Cape of Labrador, +vntill he found himselfe in 58. degrees and better. He made relation that +in the moneth of Iuly it was so cold, and the ice so great, that hee durst +not passe any further: that the dayes were long, in a maner without any +night, and for that short night that they had, it was very cleare. Cabot +feeling the cold, turned towards the West, refreshing himselfe at +Baccalaos: and afterwards he sayled along the coast vnto 38. degrees, and +from thence he shaped his course to returne into England. + + * * * * * + +A note of Sebastian Cabots[17] first discouerie of part of the Indies taken + out of the latter part of Robert Fabians Chronicle[18] not hitherto + printed, which is in the custodie of M. Iohn Stow[19] a diligent + preseruer of Antiquities. + +[Sidenote: Cabots voyage (from Bristol) wherein he discouered Newfound land +and the Northerne parts of that land, and from thence almost as farre as +Florida.[20]] In the 13. yeere of K. Henry the 7. (by meanes of one Iohn +Cabot a Venetian which made himselfe very expert and cunning in knowledge +of the circuit of the world and Ilands of the same, as by a Sea card and +other demonstrations reasonable he shewed) the King caused to man and +victuall a ship at Bristow, to search for an Island, which he said hee knew +well was rich, and replenished with great commodities: Which shippe thus +manned and victualled at the kings cost, diuers Merchants of London +ventured in her small stocks, being in her as chiefe patron the said +Venetian. And in the company of the said ship, sailed also out of Bristow +three or foure small ships fraught with sleight and grosse marchandizes, as +course cloth, caps, laces, points and other trifles. And so departed from +Bristow in the beginning of May, of whom in this Maiors time returned no +tidings. + + +Of three Sauages which Cabot brought home and presented vnto the King in + the foureteenth yere of his raigne, mentioned by the foresaid Robert + Fabian. + +This yeere also were brought vnto the king three men taken in the Newfound +Island that before I spake of, in William Purchas time being Maior: These +were clothed in beasts skins, and did eate raw flesh, and spake such speach +that no man could vnderstand them, and in their demeanour like to bruite +beastes, whom the King kept a time after. Of the which vpon two yeeres +after, I saw two apparelled after the maner of Englishmen in Westminster +pallace, which that time I could not discerne from Englishmen, til I was +learned what they were, but as for speach, I heard none of them vtter one +word. + + * * * * * + +A briefe extract concerning the discouene of Newfound-land, taken out of + the booke of M. Robert Thorne, to Doctor Leigh, &c. + +I Reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarie, so this inclination or +desire of this discouerie I inherited from my father, which with another +marchant of Bristol named Hugh Eliot, were the discouerours of the +Newfound-lands; of the which there is no doubt (as nowe plainely appeareth) +if the mariners would then haue bene ruled, and followed their Pilots +minde, but the lands of the West Indies, from whence all the golde cometh, +had bene ours; for all is one coast as by the Card appeareth, and is +aforesaid. + + * * * * * + +The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabot, + constituting him grand Pilot of England. + +Edwardus sextus Dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ rex, omnibus +Christi fidelibus ad quos præsentes hæ literæ nostræ peruenerint, salutem. +Sciatis quod nos in consideratione boni et acceptabilis seruitij, nobis per +dilectum seruientem nostrum Sebastianum Cabotam impensi atque impendendi, +de gratia nostra speciali, ac ex certa scientia, et mero motu nostro, nec +non de aduisamento, et consensu præclarissimi auunculi nostri Edwardi Ducis +Somerseti personæ nostræ Gubernatoris, ac Regnorum, dominiorum, +subditorumque nostrorum protectoris, et cæterorum consiliariorum nostrorum, +dedimus et concessimus, ac per præsentes damus, et concedimus eidem +Sebastiano Cabotæ, quandam annuitatem siue annualem reditum, centum +sexaginta et sex librarum, tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum +sterlingorum, habendam, gandendam, et annuatìm percipiendam prædictam +annuitatem, siue annalem reditum eidem Sebastiano Cabotæ, durante vita sua +naturali, de thesauro nostro ad receptum scacarij nostri Westmonasterij per +manus thesaurariorum, et Camerariorum nostrorum, ibidem pro tempore +existentium, ad festa annuntiationis beatæ Mariæ Virginis, natiuitatis +sancti Ioannis Baptistæ, Sancti Michaelis Archangeli, et Natalis Domini per +æquales portiones soluendam. Et vlteriùs de vberiori gratia nostra, ac de +aduisamento, et consensu prædictis damus, et per præsentes concedimus +præfato Sebastiano Cabotæ, tot et tantas Denariorum summas, ad quot et +quantas dicta annuitas siue annalis reditus centum sexaginta sex librarum, +tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum, à festo sancti Michaelis +Archangeli vltimô præterito hue vsque se extendit, et attingit, habendas et +recipiendas præfato Sebastiano Cabotæ et assignatis suis de thesauro nostro +prædicto per manus prædictoram Thesaurariorum, et Camerarioram nostrorum de +dono nostro absque computo, seu aliquo alio nobis, hæredibus, vel +successoribus nostris proinde reddendo, soluendo, vel faciendo: eo quòd +expressa mentio, &c. In cuius rei testimonium, &c. [Sidenote: Anno D. 1549] +Teste Rege, apud Westmonasterium 6. die Ianuarij, Anno 2. Regis Edwardi +sexti. + + +The same in English. + +Edward the sixt by the grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, +defender of the faith, to all Christian people to whom these presents shall +come, sendeth greeting. Know yee that we, in consideration of the good and +acceptable seruice done, and to be done, vnto vs by our beloued seruant +Sebastian Cabota, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, meere motion, +and by the aduice and counsel of our most honourable vncle Edward duke of +Somerset gouernour of our person, and Protector of our kingdomes, +dominions, and subiects, and of the rest of our Counsaile, haue giuen and +granted, and by these presents do giue and graunt to the said Sebastian +Cabota, a certaine annuitie, or yerely reuenue of one hundreth, three-score +and sixe pounds, thirteene shillings foure pence sterling, to haue, enioy, +and yerely receiue the foresaid annuitie, or yerely reuenue, to the +foresaid Sebastian Cabota during his natural life, out of our Treasurie at +the receit of our Exchequer at Westminster, at the hands of our Treasurers +and paymasters, there remayning for the time being, at the feasts of the +Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist, +S. Michael the Archangel, and the Natiuitie of our Lord, to be paid by +equal portions. + +And further, of our more speciall grace, and by the aduise and consent +aforesaide wee doe giue, and by these presents do graunt vnto the +aforesaide Sebastian Cabota, so many, and so great summes of money as the +saide annuitie or yeerely reuenue of an hundreth, three-score and sixe +pounds, thirteene shillings 4. pence, doeth amount and rise vnto from the +feast of S. Michael the Archangel last past vnto this present time, to be +had and receiued by the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota, and his assignes out of +our aforesaid Treasurie, at the handes of our aforesaide Treasurers, and +officers of our Exchequer of our free gift without accompt, or any thing +else therefore to be yeelded, payed, or made, to vs, our heires or +successours, forasmuch as herein expresse mention is made to the contrary. + +In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our Letters to be made patents: +Witnesse the King at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuarie, in the second +yeere of his raigne. The yeere of our Lord 1548. + + * * * * * + +A discourse written by Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight,[21] to proue a passage + by the Northwest to Cathaia, and the East Indies. + +¶ The Table of the matters in euery Chapter of this discourse. + +Capitulo 1. + +To prone by anthoritie a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe +to Cataia, China, and to the East India. + +Capitulo 2. + +To prone by reason a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe to +Cataia, Moluccæ, &c. + +Capitulo 3. + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauailes the opening of this +Northwest passage, whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Capitulo 4. + +To proue by circumstance, that the Northwest passage hath bene sailed +throughout. + +Capitulo 5. + +To proue that such Indians as haue bene driuen vpon the coastes of Germanie +came not thither by the Southeast, and Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America. + +Capitulo 6. + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed came not by the Northeast, and that +there is no thorow passage nauigable that way. + +Capitulo 7. + +To proue that these Indians came by the Northwest, which induceth a +certaintie of this passage by experience. + +Capitulo 8. + +What seuerall reasons were alleaged before the Queenes Maiestie, and +certaine Lords of her Highnesse priuie Council, by M. Anth. Ienkinson a +Gentleman of great trauaile and experience, to proue this passage by the +Northeast, with my seuerall answers then alleaged to the same. + +Capitulo 9. + +How that this passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffike, +then the other by the Northeast, if there were any such. + +Capitulo 10. + +What commodities would ensue, this passage being once discouered. + +To proue by authoritie a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe +to Cathaia, and the East India. + + +Chapter 1. + +When I gaue my selfe to the studie of Geographie, after I had perused and +diligently scanned the descriptions of Europe, Asia, and Afrike, and +conferred them with the Mappes and Globes both Antique and Moderne: I came +in fine to the fourth part of the world, commonly called America, which by +all descriptions I found to bee an Iland enuironed round about with Sea, +hauing on the Southside of it the frete or straight of Magellan, on the +West side Mar del Sur, which Sea runneth towards the North, separating it +from the East parts of Asia, where the Dominions of the Cathaians are: On +the East part our West Ocean, and on the North side the sea that seuereth +it from Groneland, thorow which Northern Seas the Passage lyeth, which I +take now in hand to discouer. + +Plato in Timæo, and in the Dialogue called Critias, discourseth of an +incomparable great Iland then called Atlantis, being greater then all +Afrike and Asia, which lay Westward from the Straights of Gibraltar, +nauigable round about: affirming also that the Princes of Atlantis did as +well enioy the gouernance of all Affrike, and the most part of Europe, as +of Atlantis it selfe. + +Also to proue Platos opinion of this Iland, and the inhabiting of it in +ancient time by them of Europe, to be of the more credite; Marinæus +Siculus[22] in his Chronicle of Spaine, reporteth that there haue bene +found by the Spaniards in the gold Mines of America, certaine pieces of +Money ingraued with the Image of Augustus Cæsar: which pieces were sent to +the Pope for a testimonie of the matter, by Iohn Rufus Archbishop of +Consentinum. + +[Sidenote: Prodns pag. 24.] Moreouer, this was not only thought of Plato, +but by Marsilius Ficinus,[23] an excellent Florentine Philosopher, Crantor +the Græcian,[24] and Proclus,[25] and Philo[26] the famous Iew (as +appeareth in his booke De Mundo, and in the Commentaries vpon Plato,) to be +ouerflowen and swallowed vp with water, by reason of a mightie earthquake, +and streaming downe of the heauenly Fludgates. [Sidenote: Iustine Lib. 4.] +The like whereof happened vnto some part of Italy, when by the forciblenes +of the Sea, called Superum, it cut off Sicilia from the Continent of +Calabria, as appeareth in Iustine, in the beginning of his fourth booke. +Also there chanced the like in Zeland a part of Flanders. + +[Sidenote: Plinie.] And also the Cities of Pyrrha and Antissa, about Meotis +palus: and also the Citie Burys, in the Corynthian bosome, commonly called +Sinus Corinthiacus, haue bene swallowed vp with the Sea, and are not at +this day to be discerned: By which accident America grew to be ['be be' in +original--KTH] vnknowen of long time, vnto vs of the later ages, and was +lately discouered againe by Americus Vespucius,[27] in the yeere of our +Lord 1497. which some say to haue bene first discouered by Christophorus +Columbus a Genuois, Anno 1492. + +The same calamitie happened vnto this Isle of Atlantis 600. and odde yeres +before Plato his time, which some of the people of the Southeast parts of +the world accompted as 9000. yeeres: for the maner then was to reckon the +Moone her Period of the Zodiak for a yeere, which is our vsual moneth, +depending à Luminari minori. + +So that in these our dayes there can no other mayne or Islande be found or +iudged to bee parcell of this Atlantis, then those Westerne Islands, which +beare now the name of America: counteruailing thereby the name of Atlantis, +in the knowledge of our age.[28] + +[Sidenote: A minore ad maius.] Then, if when no part of the sayd Atlantis, +was oppressed by water, and earthquake, the coast round about the same were +nauigable: a farre greater hope now remaineth of the same by the Northwest, +seeing the most part of it was (since that time) swallowed vp with water, +which could not vtterly take away the olde deeps and chanels, but rather be +an occasion of the inlarging of the olde, and also an inforcing of a great +many new: why then should we now doubt of our Northwest passage and +nauigation from England to India? &c. seeing that Atlantis now called +America, was euer knowen to be an Island, and in those dayes nauigable +round about, which by accesse of more water could not be diminished. + +Also Aristotle in his booke De Mundo, and the learned Germaine Simon +Gryneus[29] in his annotations vpon the same, saith that the whole earth +(meaning thereby, as manifestly doth appeare, Asia, Africk and Europe, +being all the countreys then knowen) is but one Island, compassed about +with the reach of the sea Atlantine: which likewise prooueth America to be +an Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia, or the rest. + +[Sidenote: Strabo lib. 15] Also many ancient writers, as Strabo and others, +called both the Ocean Sea, (which lieth East of India) Atlanticum pelagus, +and that sea also on the West coasts of Spaine and Africk, Mare Atlanticum: +the distance betweene the two coasts is almost halfe the compasse of the +earth. + +[Sidenote: Valerius Anselmus[30] in Catalogo annorum et principum. fol. 6. +Gen. 9. 10.] So that it is incredible, as by Plato appeareth manifestly, +that the East Indian Sea had the name Atlanticum pelagus of the mountaine +Atlas in Africk, or yet the sea adioining to Africk, had the name Oceanus +Atlanticus of the same mountaine: but that those seas and the mountaine +Atlas were so called of this great Island Atlantis, and that the one and +the other had their names for a memorial of the mighty prince Atlas, +sometimes king thereof, who was Iaphet yongest sonne to Noah, in whose time +the whole earth was diuided between the three brethren, Sem, Cam, and +Iaphet. + +Wherefore I am of opinion that America by the Northwest will be found +fauourable to this our enterprise, and am the rather imboldened to beleeue +the same, for that I finde it not onely confirmed by Plato, Aristotle, and +other ancient Phylosophers: but also by all the best moderne Geographers, +as Gemma Frisius, Munsterus, Appianus, Hunterus, Gastaldus, +Guyccardinus,[31] Michael Tramasinus, Franciscus Demongenitus, Bernardus +Puteanus, Andreas Vauasor, Tramontanus, Petrus Martyr, and also +Ortelius,[32] who doth coast out in his generall Mappe set out Anno 1569, +all the countreys and Capes, on the Northwest side of America, from +Hochalega to Cape de Paramantia: describing likewise the sea coastes of +Cataia and Gronland, towards any part of America, making both Gronland and +America, Islands disioyned by a great Sea, from any part of Asia. + +All which learned men and paineful trauellers haue affirmed with one +consent and voice, that America was an Island: and that there lyeth a great +Sea betweene it, Cataia, and Grondland, by which any man of our countrey, +that will giue the attempt, may with small danger passe to Cataia, the +Molluccæ, India, and all other places in the East, in much shorter time, +than either the Spaniard, or Portugal doeth, or may doe, from the neerest +parte, of any of their countreys within Europe. + +What moued these learned men to affirme thus much, I know not, or to what +ende so many and sundry trauellers of both ages haue allowed the same: +[Marginal note: We ought by reasons right to haue a reuerent opinion of +worthy men.] But I coniecture that they would neuer haue so constantly +affirmed, or notified their opinions therein to the world, if they had not +had great good cause, and many probable reasons, to haue lead them +therevnto. + +[Sidenote: A Nauigation of one Ochther made in king Alfreds time.] Now +least you should make small accompt of ancient writers or of their +experiences which trauelled long before our times, reckoning their +authority amongst fables of no importance: I haue for the better assurance +of those proofes, set downe some part of a discourse, written in the Saxon +tongue and translated into English by M. Nowel seruant to Sir William +Cecil, lord Burleigh, and lord high treasurer of England, wherein there is +described a Nauigation which one Ochther made, in the time of king Alfred, +king of Westsaxe Anno 871. the words of which discourse were these: +[Sidenote: A perfect description of our Moscouie voyage.] Hee sailed right +North, hauing alwaies the desert land on the Starborde, and on the Larbord +the maine sea, continuing his course, vntill hee perceiued that the coast +bowed directly towards the East, or else the Sea opened into the land he +could not tell how farre, where he was compelled to stay vntil he had a +westerne winde, or somewhat upon the North, and sayled thence directly East +alongst the coast, so farre as hee was able in foure dayes, where he was +againe inforced to tary vntill hee had a North winde, because the coast +there bowed directly towards the South, or at least opened he knew not howe +farre into the land, so that he sayled thence along the coast continually +full South, so farre as he could trauell in the space of fiue dayes, where +hee discouered a mighty riuer, which opened farre into the land, and in the +entrie of this riuer he turned backe againe.[33] + +[Sidenote: By Sir Hugh Willoughbie knight, Chancellor and Borough.[34]] +Whereby it appeareth that he went the very same way, that we now doe yerely +trade by S. Nicholas into Moscouia, which no man in our age knew for +certaintie to be by sea, vntil it was since discouered by our English men, +in the time of King Edward the sixt; but thought before that time that +Groneland had ioyned to Normoria, Byarmia, &c. and therefore was accompted +a new discouery, being nothing so indeede, as by this discourse of Ochther +it appeareth. + +Neuerthelesse if any man should haue taken this voyage in hand by the +encouragement of this onely author, he should haue bene thought but simple: +considering that this Nauigation was written so many yeres past, in so +barbarous a tongue by one onely obscure author, and yet we in these our +dayes finde by our owne experiences his former reports to be true. + +How much more then ought we to beleeue this passage to Cataia to bee, being +verified by the opinions of all the best, both Antique, and Moderne +Geographers, and plainely set out in the best and most allowed Mappes, +Charts, Globes, Cosmographical tables and discourses of this our age, and +by the rest not denied but left as a matter doubtfull. + + +To prooue by reason, a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe to + Cataia, &c. + +Chap. 2. [3 in original--KTH] + +[Sidenote: Experimented by our English fishers.] First, all seas are +maintained by the abundance of water, so that the neerer the end any Riuer, +Bay, or Hauen is, the shallower it waxeth, (although by some accidentall +barre, it is sometime found otherwise) But the farther you sayle West from +Island towards the place, where this fret is thought to be, the more deepe +are the seas: which giueth vs good hope of continuance of the same Sea with +Mar del Sur, by some fret that lyeth betweene America, Groneland and +Cataia. + +2 Also if that America were not an Island, but a part of the continent +adioyning to Asia, either the people which inhabite Mangia, Anian, and +Quinsay, &c. being borderers vpon it, would before this time haue made some +road into it hoping to haue found some like commodities to their owne. + +[Sidenote: Neede makes the old wife to trotte.] 3 Or els the Scythians and +Tartarians (which often times heretofore haue sought farre and neere for +new seats, driuen therevnto through the necessitie of their cold and +miserable countreys) would in all this time haue found the way to America, +and entred the same, had the passages bene neuer so straite or difficult; +the countrey being so temperate pleasant and fruitfull, in comparison of +their owne. But there was neuer any such people found there by any of the +Spaniards, Portugals, or Frenchmen, who first discouered the Inland of that +countrey: which Spaniards or Frenchmen must then of necessitie haue seene +some one ciuil man in America, considering how full of ciuill people Asia +is; But they neuer saw so much as one token or signe, that euer any man of +the knowen part of the world had bene there. + +4 Furthermore it is to be thought, that if by reason of mountaines, or +other craggy places, the people neither of Cataia or Tartarie could enter +the countrey of America, or they of America haue entred Asia, if it were so +ioyned: yet some one sauage or wandring beast would in so many yeres haue +passed into it: but there hath not any time bene found any of the beasts +proper to Cataia, or Tartarie &c. in America: nor of those proper to +America, in Tartarie, Cataia, &c. or any part of Asia. Which thing proueth +America, not onely to be one Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia: But +also that the people of those Countreys, haue not had any traffique with +each other. + +5 Moreouer at the least some one of those paineful trauellers, which of +purpose haue passed the confines of both countreys, with intent only to +discouer, would as it is most likely haue gone from the one to the other: +if there had bene any piece of land, or Isthmos, to haue ioyned them +together, or els haue declared some cause to the contrary. + +6 But neither Paulus Venetus,[35] who liued and dwelt a long time in +Cataia, euer came into America, and yet was at the sea coastes of Mangia, +ouer against it where he was embarked, and performed a great Nauigation +along those seas: Neither yet Verarzanus,[36] or Franciscus Vasques de +Coronado, who trauelled the North part of America by land, euer found entry +from thence by land to Cataia, or any part of Asia. + +7 Also it appeareth to be an Island, insomuch as the Sea [Marginal note: +The Sea hath three motions. 1 Motum ab oriente in occidentem. 2 Motum +fluxus et refluxus. 3 Motum circularem. Ad cæli motum elementa omnia +(excepta terra) mouentur.] runneth by nature circularly from the East to +the West, following the diurnal motion of Primum Mobile, which carieth with +it all inferiour bodies moueable, aswel celestiall as elemental; which +motion of the waters is most euidently seene in the Sea, which lieth on the +Southside of Afrike where the current that runneth from the East to the +West is so strong (by reason of such motion) that the Portugals in their +voyages Eastward to Calicut, in passing by Cap. de buona Sperança are +enforced to make diuers courses, the current there being so swift as it +striketh from thence all along Westward vpon the fret of Magellan, being +distant from thence, neere the fourth part of the longitude of the earth; +and not hauing free passage and entrance thorow, the fret towards the West, +by reason of the narrownesse of the sayd Straite of Magelian [sic--KTH], it +runneth to salue this wrong, (Nature not yeelding to accidentall +restraints) all along the Easterne coastes of America, Northwards so far as +Cape Fredo, being the farthest knowne place of the same continent towards +the North: which is about 4800 leagues, reckoning therewithall the trending +of the land. + +[Sidenote: Posita causa ponitur effectus.] 8 So that this current being +continually maintained with such force, as Iaques Cartier[37] affirmeth it +to be, who met with the same being at Baccalaos, as he sayled along the +coastes of America, then either it must be of necessitie haue way to passe +from Cape Fredo, thorow this fret, Westward towards Cataia, being knowen to +come so farre, onely to salue his former wrongs, by the authority before +named: or els it must needes strike ouer, vpon the coast of Island, Norway, +Finmarke, and Lappia, (which are East from the sayd place about 360 +leagues) with greater force then it did from Cape de buona Sperança, vpon +the fret of Magellan, or from the fret of Magellan to Cape Fredo, vpon +which coastes Iaques Cartier met with the same, considering the shortnesse +of the Cut from the sayd Cape Fredo, to Island, Lappia, &c. And so the +cause Efficient remaining, it would haue continually followed along our +coasts, through the narrow seas, which it doth not, but is digested about +the North of Labrador, by some through passage there thorow this fret. + +[Sidenote: Conterenus.] The like course of the water in some respect +happeneth in the Mediterrane sea, (as affirmeth Conterenus) whereas the +current which cometh from Tanais, and Pontus Euxinus, running along all the +coasts of Greece, Italy, France, and Spaine, and not finding sufficient way +out through Gibraltar, by meanes of the straitnesse of the fret it runneth +backe againe along the coastes of Barbary, by Alexandria, Natolia, &c. + +[Sidenote: An objection answered.] It may (peraduenture) bee thought that +this course of the sea doth sometime surcease, and thereby impugne this +principle, because it is not discerned all along the coast of America, in +such sort as Iaques Cartier found it: Wherevnto I answere this: that +albeit, in euery part of the Coast of America, or elswhere this current is +not sensibly perceuied, yet it hath euermore such like motion, either in +the vppermost or nethermost part of the sea; as it may be proued true, if +ye sinke a sayle by a couple of ropes, neere the ground, fastening to the +nethermost corners two gunne chambers or other weights: by the driuing +whereof you shall plainely perceiue, the course of the water, and current +running with such course in the bottome. [Marginal note: The sea doth +euermore performe this circular motion, either in Suprema, or concaua +superficie aquæ.] + +By the like experiment, you may finde the ordinary motion of the sea, in +the Ocean: howe farre soeuer you be off the land. + +9 Also there commeth another current from out the Northeast from the +Scythian Sea (as M. Ienkinson a man of rare vertue, great trauail and +experience, told me) which runneth Westward towardes Labrador, [Marginal +note: The yce set westward euery yeere from Island. Auth. Iona Arngriimo.] +as the other did, which commeth from the South: so that both these +currents, must haue way thorow this our fret, or else encounter together +and runne contrarie courses; in one line, but no such conflicts of +streames, or contrary courses are found about any part of Labrador, or +Terra noua, as witnesse our yeerely fishers, and other saylers that way, +but is there disgested, as aforesayd, and found by experience of Barnard de +la Torre, to fall into Mar del Sur. + +10 Furthermore, the current in the great Ocean, could not haue beene +maintained to runne continually one way, from the beginning of the world +vnto this day, had there not beene some thorow passage by the fret +aforesayd, and so by circular motion bee brought againe to maintaine it +selfe: For the Tides and courses of the sea are maintayned by their +interchangeable motions: as fresh riuers are by springs, by ebbing and +flowing, by rarefaction and condensation. + +So that it resteth not possible (so farre as my simple reason can +comprehend) that this perpetuall current can by any meanes be maintained, +but onely by continuall reaccesse of the same water, which passeth thorow +the fret, and is brought about thither againe, by such circular motion as +aforesayd. [Marginal note: The flowing is occasioned by reason that the +heate of the moone boyleth, and maketh the water thinne by way of +rarefaction.] And the certaine falling thereof by this fret into Mar del +Sur [Marginal note: An experience to prooue the falling of this current +into Mar del Sur.] is prooued by the testimonie and experience of Bernard +de la Torre, who was sent from P. de la Natiuidad to the Moluccæ, Anno +domini 1542. by commandement of Anthony Mendoza, then Viceroy of Noua +Hispania, which Bernard sayled 750. Leagues, on the Northside of the +Aequator, and there met with a current, which came from the Northeast, the +which droue him backe againe to Tidore. + +Wherfore, this current being proued to come from C. de buona Sperança to +the fret of Magellan, and wanting sufficient entrance there, by narrownes +of the straite, is by the necessitie of natures force, brought to Terra de +Labrador, where Iaques Cartier met the same, and thence certainly knowen, +not to strike ouer vpon Island, Lappia, &c. and found by Bernard de la +Torre in Mar del Sur, on the backeside of America: therefore this current +(hauing none other passage) must of necessity fall out thorow this our fret +into Mar del Sur, and so trending by the Moluccæ, China, and C. de buona +Sperança, maintaineth it selfe, by circular motion, which is all one in +nature, with Motus ab Oriente in Occidentem. + +So that it seemeth, we haue now more occasion to doubt of our returne, then +whether there be a passage that way, yea or no: which doubt, hereafter +shall be sufficiently remooued. Wherefore, in mine opinion, reason it self, +grounded vpon experience, assureth vs of this passage, if there were +nothing els to put vs in hope thereof. But least these might not suffice, I +haue added in this chapter following, some further proofe hereof, by the +experience of such as haue passed some part of this discouerie: and in the +next adioining to that the authority of those, which haue sailed wholy, +thorow euery part thereof. + + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauels, the opening of some part of + this Northwest passage: whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Chap. 3. + +Paulus Venetus, who dwelt many yeres in Cataia, affirmed that hee sayled +1500 miles vpon the coastes of Mangia, and Anian, towards the Northeast: +alwayes finding the Seas open before him, not onely as farre as he went, +but also as farre as he could discerne. + +[Sidenote: Alcatrarzi be Pelicanes.] 2 Also Franciscus Vasques de Coronado +passing from Mexico by Ceuola, through the country of Quiuira, to Siera +Neuada, found there a great sea, where were certaine ships laden with +Merchandise, carrying on their prowes the pictures of certaine birds called +Alcatrarzi, part whereof were made of golde, and part of siluer, who +signified by signes, that they were thirty dayes comming thither: which +likewise proueth America by experience to be disioyned from Cataia: on that +part by a great Sea, because they could not come from any part of America, +as Natiues thereof: for that so farre as is discouered, there hath not bene +found there any one Shippe of that countrey. + +[Sidenote: Baros lib. 9. Of his first Decas cap 1.] 3. In like maner, Iohn +Baros[38] testifieth that the Cosmographers of China (where he himselfe had +bene) affirme that the Sea coast trendeth from thence Northeast, to 50 +degrees of Septentrional latitude, being the furthest part that way which +the Portugals had then knowledge of: And that the said Cosmographers knew +no cause to the contrary, but that it might continue further. + +By whose experiences America is prooued to be separate from those parts of +Asia, directly against the same. And not contented with the iudgements of +these learned men only, I haue searched what might be further sayd for the +confirmation hereof. + +4 And I found that Franciscus Lopez de Gomara affirmeth America to be an +Island, and likewise Gronland: and that Gronland is distant from Lappia 40 +leagues, and from Terra de Labrador, 50. + +5 Moreouer, Aluaros Nunnius[39] a Spaniard, and learned Cosmographer, and +Iacobus Cartier, who made two voyages into those parts, and sayled 900 +miles upon the Northeast coastes of America doe in part confirme the same. + +6 Likewise Hieronymus Fracastorius,[40] a learned Italian, and trauailer in +the North parts of the same land. + +7 Also Iaques Cartier hauing done the like, heard say at Hochelaga in Noua +Francia, how that there was a great Sea at Saguinay, whereof the end was +not knowen: which they presupposed to be the passage to Cataia. + +[Sidenote: Written in the discourses of Nauigation.] Furthermore, Sebastian +Cabota by his personal experience and trauel hath set foorth, and described +this passage in his Charts, which are yet to be seene in the Queens +Maiesties priuie Gallerie at Whitehall, who was sent to make this discouery +by king Henrie the seuenth, and entred the same fret: affirming that he +sayled very farre Westward, with a quarter of the North, on the Northside +of Terra de Labrador the eleuenth of Iune, vntill he came to the +Septentrionall latitude of 67 degrees and a halfe,[41]and finding the Seas +still open, sayd, that he might, and would haue gone to Cataia, if the +mutinie of the Master and Mariners had not bene. + +Now as these mens experience hath proued some part of this passage: so the +chapter following shal put you in full assurance of the rest, by their +experiences which haue passed through euery part thereof. + + +To prooue by circumstance that the Northwest passage hath bene sayled + throughout. + +Chap. 4. + +The diuersitie betwene bruite beastes and men, or betweene the wise and the +simple is, that the one iudgeth by sense onely, [Marginal note: Quinque +sensus. 1 Visus. 2 Auditus. 3 Olfactus. 4 Gustus. 5 Tactus. Singularia +sensu, vniuersalia verò mente percipiuntur.] and gathereth no surety of any +thing that he hath not seene, felt, heard, tasted, or smelled: And the +other not so onely, but also findeth the certaintie of things by reason, +before they happen to be tryed. Wherefore I haue added proofes of both +sorts, that the one and the other might thereby be satisfied. + +1 First, as Gemma Frisius reciteth, there went from Europe three brethren +through this passage: whereof it tooke the name of Fretum trium fratrum. + +3 Also Plinie affirmeth out of Cornelius Nepos, (who wrote 57 yeeres before +Christ) that there were certaine Indians driuen by tempest, vpon the coast +of Germanie which were presented by the king of Sueuia, vnto Quintus +Metellus Celer, the Proconsull of France. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. cap. 66.] 3 And Plinie vpon the same sayth, that it is +no maruel though there be Sea by the North, where there is such abundance +of moisture: which argueth that hee doubted not of a nauigable passage that +way, through which those Indians came. + +[Sidenote: Pag. 590.] 4 And for the better proofe that the same authoritie +of Cornelius Nepos is not by me wrested, to proue my opinion of the +Northwest passage: you shall finde the same affirmed more plainly in that +behalfe, by the excellent Geographer Dominicus Marius Niger, who sheweth +how many wayes the Indian sea stretcheth it selfe, making in that place +recital of certaine Indians, that were likewise driuen through the North +Seas from India, vpon the coastes of Germany, by great tempest, as they +were sayling in trade of marchandize. + +5 Also while Frederic Barbarossa reigned Emperour, Anno Do. 1160. there +came certaine other Indians vpon the coast of Germanie. [Marginal note: +Auouched by Franciscus Lopes de Gomara in his historie of India, lib. I. +cap. 10.] + +6 Likewise Othon in the storie of the Gothes affirmeth, that in the time of +the Germane Emperours there were also certaine Indians cast by force of +weather, vpon the coast of the sayd countrey, which foresaid Indians could +not possibly haue come by the Southeast, Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America, nor yet by the Northeast: therefore they came of +necessitie by this our Northwest passage. + + +To prooue that these Indians aforenamed came not by the Southeast, + Southwest, nor from any other part of Afrike, or America. + +Cap. 5. + +First, they could not come from the Southeast by the Cape de bona Sperança, +because the roughnes of the Seas there is such (occasioned by the currents +and great winds in that part) that the greatest armadas the king of +Portugal hath, cannot without great difficulty passe that way, much lesse +then a Canoa of India could liue in those outragious seas without +shipwracke (being a vessel of very small burden) and haue conducted +themselues to the place aforesayd, being men vnexpert in the Arte of +nauigation. + +2 Also, it appeareth plainely that they were not able to come from alongst +the coast of Afrike aforesayd, to those parts of Europe, because the winds +doe (for the most part) blow there Easterly off from the shore, and the +current running that way in like sort, should haue driuen them Westward +vpon some part of America: for such winds and tides could neuer haue led +them from thence to the said place where they were found, nor yet could +they haue come from any of the countries aforesayd, keeping the seas +alwayes, without skilful mariners to haue conducted them such like courses +as were necessary to performe such a voiage. + +3 Presupposing also, if they had bene driuen to the West (as they must haue +bene, comming that way) then they should haue perished, wanting supplie of +victuals, not hauing any place (once leauing the coast of Afrike) vntill +they came to America, nor from America vntill they arriued vpon some part +of Europe, or the Islands adioyning to it, to haue refreshed themselues. + +4 Also, if (notwithstanding such impossibilities) they might haue recouered +Germanie by comming from India by the Southeast, yet must they without all +doubt haue stricken vpon some other part of Europe before their arriuall +there, as the Isles of the Açores, Portugal, Spaine, France, England, +Ireland, &c. which if they had done, it is not credible that they should or +would haue departed vndiscovered of the inhabitants: but there was neuer +found in those dayes any such ship or men but only vpon the coasts of +Germanie, where they haue bene sundry times and in sundry ages cast aland: +neither is it like that they would haue committed themselues againe to sea, +if they had so arriued, not knowing where they were, nor whither to haue +gone. + +[Sidenote: This fifth reason by later experience is proued vtterly vntrue.] +5 And by the Southwest it is vnpossible, because the current aforesayd +which commeth from the East, striketh with such force vpon the fret of +Magellan, and falleth with such swiftnesse and furie into Mar del Zur, that +hardly any ship (but not possibly a Canoa, with such vnskilfull mariners) +can come into our Westerne Ocean through that fret, from the West seas of +America, as Magellans experience hath partly taught vs. + +[Sidenote: That the Indians could not be natiues either of Africa, or of +America.] 6 And further, to prooue that these people so arriuing vpon the +coast of Germany, were Indians, and not inhabiters of any part either of +Africa or America, it is manifest, because the natiues both of Africa and +America neither had, or haue at this day (as is reported) other kind of +boates then such as do beare neither mastes nor sailes, (except onely vpon +the coasts of Barbarie and the Turkes ships) but do carie themselues from +place to place neere the shore by the ore onely. + + +To prooue that those Indians came not by the Northeast, and that there is + no thorow nauigable passage that way. + +Cap. 6. + +It is likely that there should be no thorow passage by the Northeast, +whereby to goe round about the world, because all Seas (as aforesayd) are +maintained by the abundance of water, waxing more shallow and shelffie +towards the ende, as we find it doeth by experience in Mare Glaciali, +towards the East, which breedeth small hope of any great continuance of +that sea, to be nauigable towards the East, sufficient to saile thereby +round about the world. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid naturali loco priuatur, quam citisimè corrumpitur.] +[Sidenote: Qualis causa, talis effectus.] 2 Also, it standeth scarcely with +reason, that the Indians dwelling vnder Torrida Zone, could endure the +iniurie of the cold ayre, about the Septentrional latitude of 80. degrees, +vnder which eleuation the passage by the Northeast cannot bee (as the often +experience had of all the South parts of it sheweth) seeing that some of +the inhabiants of this cold climate (whose Summer is to them an extreme +Winter) haue bene stroken to death with the cold damps of the aire about 72 +degrees, by an accidental mishap, and yet the aire in such like Eleuation +is alwaies cold, and too cold for such as the Indians are. + +3 Furthermore, the piercing cold of the grosse thicke aire so neere the +Pole wil so stiffen and furre the sailes and ship tackling, that no mariner +can either hoise or strike them (as our experience farre neerer the South, +then this passage is presupposed to be, hath taught vs) without the vse +whereof no voiage can be performed. + +4 Also the aire is so darkened with continuall mists and fogs so neere the +Pole, that no man can well see, either to guide his ship, or direct his +course. + +5 Also the compasse at such eleuation doth very suddenly vary, which things +must of force haue bene their destructions, although they had bene men of +much more skill then the Indians are. + +[Sidenote: Similium similis est ratio.] 6 Moreouer, all baies, gulfes, and +riuers doe receiue their increase vpon the flood, sensibly to be discerned +on the one side of the shore or the other, as many waies as they be open to +any main sea, as Mare Mediterraneum, Mare Rubrum, Sinus Persicus, Sinus +Bodicus, Thamesis, and all other knowen hauens or riuers in any part of the +world, and each of them opening but on one part to the maine sea, doe +likewise receiue their increase vpon the flood the same way, and none +other, which Mare Glaciale doeth, onely by the West, as M. Ienkinson +affirmed vnto me: and therefore it followeth that this Northeast sea, +receiuing increase but onely from the West, cannot possibly open to the +maine Ocean by the East. + +7 Moreouer, the farther you passe into any sea towards the end of it, on +that part which is shut vp from the maine sea (as in all those aboue +mentioned) the lesse and lesse the tides rise and fall. The like whereof +also happeneth in Mare Glaciale, which proueth but small continuance of +that sea toward the East. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid corrumpitur à contrario corrumpÃtur.] 8 Also, the +further yee goe toward the East in Mare Glaciale, the lesse salt the water +is: which could not happen, if it were open to the salt Sea towards the +East, as it is to the West only, seeing Euery thing naturally ingendreth +his like: and then must it be like salt throughout, as all the seas are, in +such like climate and eleuation.[42] + +[Sidenote: Omne simile giguit sui simile.] And therefore it seemeth that +this Northeast sea is maintained by the riuer Ob, and such like freshets, +as Mare Goticum, and Mare Mediterraneum, in the vppermost parts thereof by +the riuers Nilus, Danubius, Neper, Tanais, &c. + +9 Furthermore, if there were any such sea at that eleuation, of like it +should be alwaies frozen throughout (there being no tides to hinder it) +because the extreme coldnes of the aire being in the vppermost part, and +the extreme coldnesse of the earth in the bottome, the sea there being but +of small depth, whereby the one accidentall coldnesse doth meet with the +other, and the Sunne not hauing his reflection so neere the Pole, but at +very blunt angels, it can neuer be dissolued after it is frozen, +notwithstanding the great length of their day: for that the sunne hath no +heate at all in his light or beames, but proceeding onely by an accidentall +reflection, which there wanteth in effect. + +10 And yet if the Sunne were of sufficient force in that eleuation, to +preuaile against this ice, yet must it be broken before it can be +dissolued, which cannot be but through the long continuance of the sunne +aboue their Horizon, and by that time the Sommer would be so farre spent, +and so great darkenes and cold ensue, that no man could be able to endure +so cold, darke, and discomfortable a nauigation, if it were possible for +him then, and there to liue. + +11 Further, the ice being once broken, it must of force so driue with the +windes and tides, that no ship can saile in those seas, seeing our Fishers +of Island, and the New found land, are subiect to danger through the great +Islands of Ice which fleete in the Seas (to the sailers great danger) farre +to the South of that presupposed passage. + +And it cannot be that this Northeast passage should be any neerer the +South, then before recited, for then it should cut off Ciremissi, and Turbi +Tartari, with Vzesucani, Chisani, and others from the Continent of Asia, +which are knowen to be adioyning to Scythia, Tartaria, &c. with the other +part of the same Continent. + +And if there were any thorowe passage by the Northeast, yet were it to +small ende and purpose for our traffique, because no shippe of great burden +can Nauigate in so shallow a Sea: and ships of small burden are very vnfit +and vnprofitable, especially towards the blustering North to performe such +a voyage. + + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed, came only by the Northwest, which + induceth a certaintie of our passage by experience. + +Cap. 7. + +It is as likely that they came by the Northwest, as it is vnlikely that +they should come, either by the Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, or from +any other part of Africa or America, and therefore this Northwest passage +hauing bene alreadie so many wayes prooued, by disproouing of the others, +&c. I shall the lesse neede in this place, to vse many words otherwise then +to conclude in this sort, That they came onely by the Northwest from +England, hauing these many reasons to leade me thereunto. + +1 First, the one halfe of the windes of the compasse might bring them by +the Northwest, bearing alwayes betweene two sheats, with which kind of +sayling the Indians are onely acquainted, not hauing any vse of a bow line, +or quarter winde, without the which no ship can possibly come either by the +Southeast, Southwest or Northeast, having so many sundry Capes to double, +whereunto are required such change and shift of windes. + +2 And it seemeth likely that they should come by the Northwest, [Marginal +note: True both in ventis obliquè flantibus, as also in ventis ex diamentro +spitantibus.] because the coast whereon they were driuen, lay East from +this our passage, And all windes doe naturally driue a ship to an opposite +point from whence it bloweth, not being otherwise guided by Arte, which the +Indians do vtterly want, and therefore it seemeth that they came directly +through this our fret, which they might doe with one wind. + +3 For if they had come by the Cape de buona Sperança, then must they (as +aforesaid) haue fallen vpon the South parts of America. + +4 And if by the fret of Magellan, then vpon the coasts of Afrike, Spaine, +Portugall, France, Ireland or England. + +5 And if by the Northeast, then vpon the coasts of Cerremissi, Tartarji, +Lappia, Island, Terra de Labrador, &c. and vpon these coasts (as aforesaid) +they haue neuer bene found. + +So that by all likelihood they could neuer haue come without shipwracke +vpon the coastes of Germanie, if they had first striken vpon the coastes of +so many countries, wanting both Arte and shipping to make orderly +discouery, and altogether ignorant both in the Arte of Nauigation, and also +of the Rockes, Flats, Sands or Hauens of those parts of the world, which in +most of these places are plentifull. + +6 And further it seemeth very likely, that the inhabitants of the most part +of those countries, by which they must haue come any other way besides by +the Northwest, being for the most part Anthropophagi, or men eaters, would +haue deuoured them, slaine them, or (at the least wise) kept them as +wonders for the gaze. + +So that it plainely appeareth that those Indians (which as you haue heard +in sundry ages were driuen by tempest vpon the shore of Germanie) came +onely through our Northwest passage. + +7 Moreouer, the passage is certainely prooued by a Nauigation that a +Portugall made, who passed through this fret, giuing name to a promontorie +farre within the same, calling it after his owne name, Promontorium +Corterialis, neere adioyning vnto Polisacus fluuius. + +8 Also one Scolmus a Dane entred and passed a great part thereof. + +9 Also there was one Saluaterra, a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine, that +came by chance out of the West Indias into Ireland, Anno 1568. who affirmed +the Northwest passage from vs to Cataia, constantly to be beleeued in +America nauigable. And further said in the presence of sir Henry Sidney +(then lord Deputie of Ireland) in my hearing, that a Frier of Mexico, +called Andrew Vrdaneta, more then eight yeeres before his then comming into +Ireland, told him there, that he came from Mar del Sur into Germany through +this Northwest passage, and shewed Saluaterra (at that time being then with +him in Mexico) a Sea Card made by his owne experience and trauell in that +voyage, wherein was plainly set downe and described this Northwest passage, +agreeing in all points with Ortelius mappe. + +And further, this Frier tolde the king of Portugall (as he returned by that +countrey homeward) that there was (of certainty) such a passage Northwest +from England, and that he meant to publish the same: which done, the king +most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the passage +knowen to any nation: [Marginal note: The words of the king of Portugall to +Andro Vrdaneta a Frier, touching the concealing of this Northwest passage +from England to Cataia.] For that (said the King) if England had knowledge +and experience thereof, it would greatly hinder both the king of Spaine and +me. This Frier (as Saluaterra reported) was the greatest Discouerer by sea, +that hath bene in our age. Also Saluaterra being perswaded of this passage +by the frier Vrdaneta, and by the common opinion of the Spaniards +inhabiting America, offered most willingly to accompanie me in this +Discouery, which of like he would not haue done if he had stood in doubt +thereof. [43] + +[Sidenote: An obiection.] And now as these moderne experiences cannot be +impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of +ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to +prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India +were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise: +[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle +(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who +liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in +the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which +ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before +Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of +Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in +his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had +the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that +both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes. + +These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues +of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to +come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of +diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named, +the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c. + +And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of +this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons +with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following. + + +Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast, + before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by + Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same. + +Cap. 8. + +Because you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me, as +what doth serue for my purpose, I haue here added the reasons of Master +Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman, and a great traueller, who conceiued +a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs, to be by the Northeast, +then by the Northwest. + +[Sidenote: The Northwest passage assented vnto.] He first said that he +thought not to the contrary, but that there was a passage by the Northwest +according to mine opinion: but assured he was, that there might be found a +nauigable passage by the Northeast from England, to goe to all the East +parts of the world, which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes. + +[Sidenote: The first reason.] The first was that he heard a Fisherman of +Tartaria say in hunting the Morce, that he sayled very farre towards the +Southeast, finding no end of the Sea: whereby he hoped a thorow passage to +be that way. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that the +Tartarians were a barbarous people, and vtterly ignorant in the Arte of +Nauigation, not knowing the vse of the Sea Card, Compasse or Starre, which +he confessed to be true: and therefore they could not (said I) certainly +know the Southeast from the Northeast, in a wide sea, and a place vnknowen +from the sight of the land. + +Or if he sailed any thing neere the shore, yet he (being ignorant) might be +deceiued by the doubling of many points and Capes, and by the trending of +the land, albeit he kept continually alongst the shore. + +[Sidenote: Visus nonnunquam fallitur in suo obÃecto.] And further, it might +be that the poore Fishermen through simplicitie thought that there was +nothing that way but sea, because he saw no land: which proofe (vnder +correction) giueth small assurance of a Nauigable sea by the Northeast, to +goe round about the world, For that be iudged by the eye onely, seeing we +in this our cleare aire doe account twentie miles a ken at Sea. + +[Sidenote: The second reason or allegation.] His second reason is, that +there was an Vnicornes horne found vpon the coast of Tartaria, which could +not come (said he) thither by any other meanes then with the tides, through +some fret in the Northeast of Mare Glaciale, there being no Vnicorne in any +part of Asia, sauing in India and Cataia: which reason (in my simple +iudgement) forceth as litle. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] First, it is doubtfull whether those +barbarous Tartarians do know an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no: and if it were +one, yet it is not credible that the Sea could haue driuen it so farre, +being of such nature that it will not swimme. + +Also the tides running too and fro, would haue driuen it as farre backe +with the ebbe, as it brought it forward with the flood. + +There is also a beast called Asinus Indicus (whose horne most like it was) +which hath but one horne like an Vnicorne in his forehead, whereof there is +great plenty in all the North parts thereunto adioyning, as in Lappia, +Noruegia, Finmarke, &c. as Iacobus Zieglerus writeth in his historie of +Scondia. + +And as Albertus saieth, there is a fish which hath but one horne in his +forehead like to an Vnicorne, and therefore it seemeth very doubtfull both +from whence it came, and whether it were an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no. + +[Sidenote: The third and last reason or assertion.] His third and last +reason was, that there came a continuall streame or currant through Mare +Glaciale, of such swiftnesse (as a Colmax told him) that if you cast any +thing therein, it would presently be carried out of sight towards the West. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that there doth +the like from Mæotis Palus, by Pontus Euxinus, Sinus Bosphorus, and along +the coast of Græcia, &c. As it is affirmed by Contarenus, and diuers others +that haue had experience of the same: and yet that Sea lieth not open to +any maine Sea that way, but is maintained by freshets as by Tanais, +Danubius, &c. + +In like maner is this current in Mare Glaciale increased and maintained by +the Dwina, the riuer Ob, &c. + +Now as I haue here briefly recited the reasons alleaged, to prooue a +passage to Cataia by the Northeast, with my seuerall answeres thereunto: so +will I leaue it to your iudgement, to hope or despaire of either at your +pleasure.[44] + + +How that the passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffique, + then the other by the East, if there were any such. + +Cap. 9. + +First, by the Northeast (if your windes doe not giue you a maruelous +speedie and luckie passage) you are in danger (being so neere the Pole) to +be benighted almost the one halfe of the yeere, and what danger that were, +to liue so long comfortlesse, voide of light, (if the cold killed you not) +each man of reason or vnderstanding may iudge. + +[Sidenote: Some doubt of this.] 2 Also Mangia, Quinzai, and the Moluccæ are +neerer vnto vs by the Northwest, then by the Northeast, more then two fiue +parts, which is almost by the halfe. + +3 Also we may haue by the West a yeerely returne, it being at all times +nauigable, whereas you haue but 4. moneths in the whole yeere to goe by the +Northeast: the passage being at such eleuation as it is formerly expressed, +for it cannot be any neerer the South. + +4 Furthermore, it cannot be finished without diuers wintrings by the way, +hauing no hauens in any temperate climate to harbour in there: for it is as +much as we can well saile from hence to S. Nicholas, in the trade of +Moscouia, and returne in the nauigable season of the yeere, and from S. +Nicholas to Cerimissi Tartari, which stande at 80 degrees of the +Septentrional latitude, it is at the least 400 leagues, which amounteth +scarce to the third part of the way, to the end of your voyage by the +Northeast. + +5 And yet after you haue doubled this Cape, if then there might be found a +nauigable Sea to carie you Southeast according to your desire, yet can you +not winter conueniently, vntil you come to 60 degrees, and to take vp one +degree running Southeast, you must saile 24 leagues and three foure parts, +which amounteth to 495 leagues. + +6 Furthermore, you may by the Northwest saile thither with all Easterly +windes, and returne with any Westerly windes, whereas you must haue by the +Northeast sundry windes, and those proper, according to the lying of the +coast and Capes, you shalbe inforced to double, which windes are not +alwaies to be had, when they are looked for: whereby your iourney should be +greatly prolonged, and hardly endured so neere the Pole. As we are taught +by sir Hugh Willoughbie, who was frozen to death farre neerer the South. + +7. Moreouer, it is very doubtfull, whether we should long inioy that trade +by the Northeast, if there were any such passage that way, the commodities +thereof once knowen to the Moscouite, what priuilege so euer hee hath +granted, seeing pollicy with the masse of excessiue gaine, to the inriching +(so greatly) of himselfe and all his dominions would perswade him to +presume the same, hauing so great opportunitie to vtter the commodities of +those countries by the Narue. + +But by the Northwest, we may safely trade without danger or annoyance of +any prince liuing, Christian or Heathen, it being out of all their trades. + +8 Also the Queenes Maiesties dominions are neerer the Northwest passage +then any other great princes that might passe that way, and both in their +going and returne, they must of necessitie succour themselues and their +ships vpon some part of the same, if any tempestuous weather should happen. + +Further, no princes nauie of the world is able to incounter the Queenes +Maiesties nauie, as it is at this present: and yet it should be greatly +increased by the traffike insuing vpon this discouerie, for it is the long +voyages that increase and maintaine great shipping. + +Now it seemeth necessarie to declare what commodities would growe thereby, +if all these things were, as we haue heretofore presupposed, and thought +them to be: which next adioyning are briefly declared. + + +What commodities would ensue, this passage once discouered. + +Cap. 10. + +First, it were the onely way for our princes, to possesse the wealth of all +the East parts (as they terme them) of the world, which is infinite: as +appeareth by the experience of Alexander the great, in the time of his +conquest of India, and other the East parts of the world, alleaged by +Quintus Curtius, which would be a great aduancement to our countrey, a +wonderfull inriching to our prince, and an vnspeakable commoditie to all +the inhabitants of Europe. + +2 For through the shortnesse of the voyage, we should be able to sell all +maner of merchandize, brought from thence, farre better cheape then either +the Portugall or Spaniard doth or may do. And further, we should share with +the Portugall in the East, and the Spaniard in the West, by trading to any +part of America, thorow Mar del Sur, where they can no maner of way offend +vs. + +3 Also we might sayle to diuers very rich countreys, both ciuill and +others, out of both their iurisdictions, trades and traffikes, where there +is to be found great abundance of golde, siluer, precious stones, cloth of +gold, silkes, all maner of spices, grocery wares, and other kinds of +merchandize of an inestimable price, which both the Spaniard and Portugall, +through the length of their iournies, cannot well attaine vnto. + +4 Also we might inhabite some part of those countreyes, and settle there +such needy people of our countrey, which now trouble the common wealth, and +through want here at home are inforced to commit outragious offences, +whereby they are dayly consumed with the gallowes. + +5 Moreouer, we might from all the aforesaid places haue a yeerely returne, +inhabiting for our staple some conuenient place of America, about Sierra +Neuada, or some other part, whereas it shal seeme best for the shortning of +the voyage. + +6 Beside vttering of our countrey commodities, which the Indians, &c. much +esteeme: as appeareth in Hester, where the pompe is expressed of the great +king of India, Assuerus, who matched the coloured clothes, wherewith his +houses and tents were apparelled, with gold and siluer, as part of his +greatest treasure: not mentioning either veluets, silkes, cloth of gold, +cloth of siluer, or such like, being in those countreyes most plentifull: +whereby it plainly appeareth in what great estimation they would haue the +clothes of this our countrey, so that there would be found a farre better +vent for them by this meanes, then yet this realme euer had: and that +without depending either vpon France, Spaine, Flanders, Portugall, +Hamborow, Emden, or any other part of Europe. + +7 Also, here we shall increase both our ships and mariners, without +burthening of the state. + +8 And also haue occasion to set poore mens children to learne handie +craftes, and thereby to make trifles and such like, which the Indians and +those people do much esteeme: by reason whereof, there should be none +occasion to haue our countrey combred with loiterers, vagabonds, and such +like idle persons. + +All these commodities would grow by following this our discouery, without +iniury done to any Christian prince, by crossing them in any of their vsed +trades, whereby they might take any iust occasion of offence. + +Thus haue I briefly shewed you some part of the grounds of mine opinion, +trusting that you will no longer iudge me fantasticke in this matter: +seeing I haue conceiued no vaine hope of this voyage, but am perswaded +thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed +both by reason and certaine experiences. + +Also this discouery hath bene diuers times heretofore by others both +offered, attempted and performed. + +It hath bene offered by Stephen Gomes vnto Carolus the fift Emperour, in +the yeere of our Lord God 1527, as Alphonso Vllua testifieth in the story +of Carolus life: who would haue set him forth in it (as the story +mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long warres had +not caused him to surcease the same. + +[Sidenote: This discouery offered.] And the king of Portugall fearing least +the Emperour would haue perseuered in this his enterprise, gaue him to +leaue the matter vnattempted, the summe of 350000 crownes: and it is to be +thought that the king of Portugall would not haue giuen to the Emperour +such summes of money for egges in mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: This discovery attempted.] It hath bene attempted by Sebastian +Cabota in the time of king Henry the seuenth, by Corterialis the Portugall, +and Scolmus the Dane. + +[Sidenote: This discouery performed.] And it hath bene performed by three +brethren, the Indians aforesaid, and by Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico. + +Also diuers haue offered the like vnto the French king, who hath sent two +or three times to haue discouered the same: The discouerers spending and +consuming their victuals in searching the gulfes and bayes betweene Florida +and Terra de Labrador, whereby the yce is broken to the after commers. + +So that the right way may now easily be found out in short time: and that +with little ieopardie and lesse expences. + +For America is discouered so farre towards the North as Cape Frio,[45] +which is 62 degrees, and that part of Grondland next adioyning is knowen to +stand but at 72 degrees. [Sidenote: The labour of this discouerie shortned +by other mens trauell.] So that wee haue but 10 degrees to saile North and +South, to put the world out of doubt hereof: [Sidenote: Why the kings of +Spaine and Portugal would not perseuer in this discovery.] and it is likely +that the king of Spaine, and the king of Portugall would not haue sit out +all this while, but that they are sure to possesse to themselues all that +trade they now vse, and feare to deale in this discouery, least the Queenes +Maiestie hauing so good opportunitie, and finding the commoditie which +thereby might ensue to the common wealth, would cut them off, and enioy the +whole traffique to herselfe, and thereby the Spaniards and Portugals, with +their great charges, should beate the bush, and other men catch the birds: +which thing they foreseing, haue commanded that no pilot of theirs vpon +paine of death, should seeke to discouer to the Northwest, or plat out in +any Sea card any thorow passage that way by the Northwest. + +Now, and if you will indifferently compare the hope that remaineth, to +animate me to this enterprise, with those likelihoods which Columbus +alleaged before Ferdinando the king of Castilia, to prooue that there were +such Islands in the West Ocean, as were after by him and others discouered +to the great commodity of Spaine and all the world: you will thinke then +this Northwest passage to be most worthy trauell therein. + +For Columbus had none of the West Islands set foorth vnto him, either in +globe or card, neither yet once mentioned of any writer (Plato excepted, +and the commentaries vpon the same) from 942 yeeres before Christ, vntill +that day. + +Moreouer, Columbus himselfe had neither seene America nor any other of the +Islands about it, neither, vnderstood he of them by the report of any other +that had seene them, but only comforted himselfe with this hope, that the +land had a beginning where the Sea had an ending: for as touching that +which the Spaniards doe write of a Biscaine, which should haue taught him +the way thither, it is thought to be imagined of them, to depriue Columbus +of his honour, being none of their countrey man, but a stranger borne. + +And if it were true of the Biscaine, yet did he but roue at the matter, or +(at the least) gathered the knowledge of it, by coniectures onely. + +And albeit myselfe haue not seene this passage nor any part thereof, but am +ignorant of it as touching experience (as Columbus was before his attempt +made) yet haue I both the report, relation, and authoritie of diuers most +credible men, which haue both seene and passed through some and euery part +of this discouery, besides sundry reasons for my assurance thereof: all +which Columbus wanted. + +These things considered, and indifferently weighed togither, with the +wonderfull commodities which this discouery may bring, especially to this +realme of England: I must needes conclude with learned Baptista Ramusius, +and diuers other learned men, who said, that this discouery hath bene +reserued for some noble prince or worthie man, thereby to make himselfe +rich, and the world happie: desiring you to accept in good part this briefe +and simple discourse, written in haste, which if I may perceiue that it +shall not sufficiently satisfie you in this behalfe, I will then impart +vnto you a large discourse, which I haue written onely of this discouery. + +And further, because it sufficeth not only to know that such a thing there +is, without abilitie to performe the same, I wil at at leasure make you +partaker of another simple discourse of nauigation, wherein I haue not a +little trauelled, to make my selfe as sufficient to bring these things to +effect, as I haue bene readie to offer my selfe therein. + +And therein I haue deuised to amend the errors of vsuall sea cards, whose +common fault is to make the degrees of longitude in euery latitude of one +like bignesse. + +And haue also deuised therein a Spherical instrument, with a compasse of +variation for the perfect knowing of the longitude. + +And a precise order to pricke the sea card, together with certaine +infallible rules for the shortning of any discouery, to know at the first +entring of any fret whether it lie open to the Ocean more wayes then one, +how farre soeuer the sea stretcheth itself into the land. + +Desiring you hereafter neuer to mislike with me, for the taking in hande of +any laudable and honest enterprise: for if through pleasure or idlenesse we +purchase shame, the pleasure vanisheth, but the shame remaineth for euer. + +[Sidenote: Pereas qui vmbras times.] And therefore to giue me leaue without +offence, alwayes to liue and die in this mind, That he is not worthy to +liue at all, that for feare, or danger of death, shunneth his countreys +seruice, and his owne honour: seeing death is inevitable, and the fame of +vertue immortall. Wherefore in this behalfe, Mutare vel timere sperno. + + * * * * * + +Certaine other reasons, or arguments to prooue a passage by the Northwest, + learnedly written by M. Richard Willes, Gentleman. + +Foure famous wayes there be spoken of to those fruitfull and wealthie +Islands, which wee doe vsually call Moluccaes, continually haunted for +gaine, and dayly trauelled for riches therein growing. These Islands, +although they stand East from the Meridian, distant almost halfe the length +of the worlde, in extreame heate, vnder the Equinoctiall line, possessed of +Infidels and Barbarians: yet by our neighbours great abundance of wealth +there is painefully sought in respect of the voyage deerely bought, and +from thence dangerously brought home vnto vs. Our neighbours I call the +Portugalls in comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse vnto vs, for +like situation Westward as we haue, for their vsuall trade with vs, for +that the farre Southeasterlings doe knowe this part of Europe by no other +name then Portugall, not greatly acquainted as yet with the other Nations +thereof. [Sidenote: 1 By the Southeast.] Their voyage is very well +vnderstood of all men, and the Southeasterne way round about Afrike by the +Cape of Good hope more spoken of, better knowen and trauelled, then that it +may seeme needefull to discourse thereof any further. + +[Sidenote: 2 By the Southwest.] The second way lyeth Southwest, betweene +the West India or South America, and the South continent, through that +narrow straight where Magellan first of all men that euer we doe read of, +passed these latter yeeres, leauing therevnto therefore his name. +[Sidenote: This is an errour.] This way no doubt the Spaniardes would +commodiously take, for that it lyeth neere vnto their dominions there, +could the Easterne current and leuant windes as easily suffer them to +returne, as speedily therwith they may be carried thither: for the which +difficultie, or rather impossibility of striuing against the force both of +winde and streame, this passage is litle or nothing vsed, although it be +very well knowen. + +[Sidenote: 3 By the Northeast.] The third way by the Northeast, beyond all +Europe and Asia, that worthy and renowmed knight sir Hugh Willoughbie +sought to his perill, enforced there to ende his life for colde, congealed +and frozen to death. And truely this way consisteth rather in the +imagination of Geographers, then allowable either in reason, or approued by +[Sidenote: Ortel. tab. Asiæ 3.] experience, as well it may appeare by the +dangerous trending of the Scythish Cape set by Ortelius vnder the 80 degree +North, by the vnlikely sailing in that Northerne sea alwayes clad with yce +and snow, or at the least continually pestred therewith, if happily it be +at any time dissolued: besides bayes and shelfes, the water waxing more +shallow toward the East, that we say nothing of the foule mists and darke +fogs in the cold clime, of the litle power of the Sunne to cleare the aire, +of the vncomfortable nights, so neere the Pole, fiue moneths long. + +[Sidenote: 4 By the Northwest.] A fourth way to go vnto these aforesaid +happy Islands Moluccæ sir Humphrey Gilbert a learned and valiant knight +discourseth of at large in his new passage to Cathayo. The enterprise of +itselfe being vertuous, the fact must doubtlesse deserue high praise, and +whensoeuer it shal be finished, the fruits thereof cannot be smal: where +vertue is guide, there is fame a follower, and fortune a companion. But the +way is dangerous, the passage doubtfull, the voiage not throughly knowen, +and therefore gainesaid by many, after this maner. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 1.] First, who can assure vs of any passage rather by the +Northwest then by the Northeast? do not both waves lye in equall distance +from the North Pole? Stand not the North Capes of eyther continent vnder +like eleuation? Is not the Ocean sea beyond America farther distant from +our Meridian by 30. or 40. degrees West, then the extreame poyntes of +Cathayo Eastward, if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true: +[Sidenote: In Theatro.] In the Northeast that noble Knight Syr Hugh +Willoughbie perished for colde: and can you then promise a passenger any +better happe by the Northwest? Who hath gone for triall sake at any time +this way out of Europe to Cathayo? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 2.] If you seeke the aduise herein of such as make +profession in Cosmographie, Ptolome the father of Geographie, and his +eldest children, will answere by their mappes with a negatiue, concluding +most of the Sea within the land, and making an end of the world Northward, +neere the 63. degree. The same opinion, when learning chiefly florished, +was receiued in the Romanes time, as by their Poets writings it may +appeare: tibi seruiat vltima Thyle, said Virgil, being of opinion, that +Island was the extreme part of the world habitable toward the North. Ioseph +Moletius an Italian, and Mercator a Germaine, for knowledge men able to be +compared with the best Geographers of our time, the one in his halfe +Spheres of the whole world, the other in some of his great globes, haue +continued the West Indies land, euen to the North Pole, and consequently, +cut off all passage by sea that way. + +The same doctors, Mercator in other of his globes and mappes, Moletius in +his sea Carde, neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former +continent, haue opened a gulfe betwixt the West Indies and the extreame +Northerne land: but such a one, that either is not to be trauelled for the +causes in the first obiection alledged, or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe +by Groenland: the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme land with +America, the North part continent with Lappeland and Norway. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 3.] Thirdly, the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not +denie, but that if any such passage be, it lieth subiect vnto yce and snow +for the most part of the yeere, whereas it standeth in the edge of the +frostie Zone. Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre, and dissolued the yce, +eche one well knoweth that there can be no sailing: the yce once broken +through the continuall abode the sunne maketh a certaine season in those +parts, how shall it be possible for so weake a vessel as a shippe is, to +holde out amid whole Ilands, as it were of yce continually beating on eche +side, and at the mouth of that gulfe, issuing downe furiously from the +north, and safely to passe, when whole mountaines of yce and snow shall be +tumbled downe vpon her? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 4.] Well, graunt the West Indies not to continue continent +vnto the Pole, grant there be a passage betweene these two lands, let the +gulfe lie neerer vs then commonly in cardes we finde it set, namely, +betweene the 61. and 64. degrees north, as Gemma Frisius in his mappes and +globes imagineth it, and so left by our countryman Sebastian Cabot in his +table which the Earle of Bedford hath at Cheinies: Let the way be voyde of +all difficulties, yet doeth it not follow that wee haue free passage to +Cathayo. For examples sake: You may trend all Norway, Finmarke, and +Lappeland, and then bowe Southward to Saint Nicholas in Moscouia: you may +likewise in the Mediterranean Sea fetch Constantinople, and the mouth of +Tanais: yet is there no passage by Sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine, +now called Mare Maggiore. Againe, in the aforesaid Mediterranean sea, we +saile to Alexandria in Egypt, the Barbarians bring their pearle and spices +from the Moluccaes vp the Red sea or Arabian gulph to Sues, scarcely three +dayes iourney from the aforesayd hauen: yet haue wee no way by sea from +Alexandria to the Moluccaes, for that Isthmos or litle straight of land +betweene the two seas. In like maner although the Northerne passage be free +at 61 degrees of latitude, and the West Ocean beyond America, vsually +called Mar del Zur, knowen to be open at 40. degrees eleuation from the +Island Iapan, yea, three hundred leagues Northerly aboue Iapan: yet may +there be land to hinder the thorow passage that way by Sea, as in the +examples aforesaid it falleth out, Asia and America there being ioyned +together in one continent. Ne can this opinion seeme altogether friuolous +vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doings. Iosephus +Moletius is of that minde, not onely in his plaine Hemispheres of the +world, but also in his Sea card. The French Geographers in like maner be of +the same opinion, as by their Mappe cut out in forme of a Hart you may +perceiue: as though the West Indies were part of Asia. Which sentence well +agreeth with that old conclusion in the Schooles. Quicquid præter Africam +et Europam est, Asia est, Whatsoeuer land doeth neither apperteine vnto +Afrike nor to Europe, is part of Asia. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 5.] Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long, so +painefull, so doubtfull a voyage by such a new found way, if in Cathayo you +should neither bee suffered to land for silkes and siluer, nor able to +fetch the Molucca spices and pearle for piracie in those Seas. Of a law +denying all Aliens to enter into China, and forbidding all the inhabiters +vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into those countreys, shall +you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other +Portugals: as also in the Iaponish letters, how for that cause the worthy +traueller Xauierus bargained with a Barbarian Merchant for a great summe of +pepper to be brought into Canton, a port in China. The great and dangerous +piracie vsed in those Seas no man can be ignorant of, that listeth to reade +the Iaponish and East Indian historie. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 6.] Finally, all this great labour would be lost, all these +charges spent in vaine, if in the ende our trauellers might not be able to +returne againe, and bring safely home into their owne natiue countrey that +wealth and riches, which they in forrein regions with aduenture of goods, +and danger of their liues haue sought for. By the Northeast there is no +way, the Southeast passage the Portugals doe hold as the Lords of those +Seas. At the Southwest Magellans experience hath partly taught vs, and +partly we are persuaded by reason, how the Easterne current striketh so +furiously on that straight, and falleth with such force into that narrow +gulph, that hardly any ship can returne that way into our West Ocean out of +Mar del Zur. The which if it be true, as truly it is, then wee may say that +the aforesayd Easterne current or leuant course of waters continually +following after the heauenly motions, loseth not altogether his force, but +is doubled rather by an other current from out the Northeast, in the +passage betweene America and the North land, whither it is of necessity +caryed: hauing none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion, and +consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the straight of +Anian, where it striketh South into Mar del Zur, beyond America (if any +such straight of Sea there be) then in Magellans fret, both straights being +of like bredth: as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France, and in Don +Diego Hermano de Toledo his Card for nauigation in that region we doe finde +precisely set downe. + +Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest +from out of Europe, we haue experience, namely of three brethren that went +that iourney, as Gemma Frisius recordeth, and left a name vnto that +straight, whereby now it is called Fretum trium fratrum. We doe reade +againe of a Portugall that passed this straight, of whom Master Frobisher +speaketh, that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lisbone, to verifie +the olde Spanish prouerbe, I suffer for doing well. Likewise Andrew +Vrdaneta a Fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del Zur this way into Germanie: +his Carde (for he was a great discouerer) made by his owne experience and +trauell in that voyage, hath bene seene by Gentlemen of good credite. + +[Sidenote: Cic. 1. de orat. Arist, pri. Metaph.] Now if the obseruation and +remembrance of things breedeth experience, and of experience proceedeth +arte, and the certaine knowledge we haue in all faculties, as the best +Philosophers that euer were doe affirme: truely the voyage of these +aforesayd trauellers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del Zur, and +returned thence at the Northwest, do most euidently conclude that way to be +nauigable, and that passage free. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] So much +the more we are so to thinke for that the first principle and chiefe ground +in all Geographie, as Ptolome saith, is the history of trauell, that is, +reports made by trauellers skilful in Geometrie and Astronomie, of all such +things in their iourney as to Geographie doe belong. It onely then +remaineth, that we now answere to those arguments that seemed to make +against this former conclusion. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 1.] The first obiection is of no force, that generall table +of the world set forth by Ortelius or Mercator, for it greatly skilleth +not, being vnskilfully drawen for that point: as manifestly it may appeare +vnto any one that conferreth the same with Gemma Frisius his vniuersall +Mappe, with his round quartered carde, with his globe, with Sebastian +Cabota his table, and Ortelius his generall mappe alone, worthily preferred +in this case before all Mercator and Ortelius other doings: for that Cabota +was not onely a skilful Sea man, but a long traueller, and such a one as +entred personally that straight, sent by king Henry the seuenth to make +this aforesayd Discouerie, as in his owne discourse of nauigation you may +reade in his carde drawen with his owne hand, that the mouth of the +Northwesterne straight lyeth neere the 318. Meridian, betweene 61. and 64. +degrees in the eleuation, continuing the same bredth about 10 degrees West, +where it openeth Southerly more and more, vntill it come vnder the tropicke +of Cancer, and so runneth into Mar del Zur, at the least 18 degrees more in +bredth there, then it was where it first began: otherwise I could as well +imagine this passage to be more vnlikely then the voyage to Moscouia, and +more impossible then it for the farre situation and continuance thereof in +the frostie clime: as now I can affirme it to be very possible and most +likely in comparison thereof, for that it neither coasteth so farre North +as the Moscouian passage doeth, neither is this straight so long as that, +before it bow downe Southerly towardes the Sunne againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 2.] The second argument concludeth nothing. Ptolome knew +not what was aboue sixteene degrees South beyond the Equinoctiall line, he +was ignorant of all passages Northward from the eleuation of 63. degrees: +he knewe no Ocean sea beyond Asia, yet haue the Portugals trended the Cape +of Good hope at the South point of Afrike, and trauelled to Iapan an Island +in the East Ocean, betweene Asia and America: our merchants in the time of +king Edward the sixt discouered the Moscouian passage farther North than +Thyle, and shewed Groenland not to be continent with Lappeland and Norway: +the like our Northwesterne trauellers haue done, declaring by their +nauigation that way, the ignorance of all Cosmographers that either doe +ioyne Groenland with America, or continue the West Indies with that frosty +region vnder the north pole. As for Virgil he sang according to the +knowledge of men in his time, as an other poet did of the hot Zone. + +[Sidenote: Ouid. 1. Meta.] Quarum quæ media est, non est habitabilis æstu. +Imagining, as most men then did, Zonam torridam, the hot Zone to be +altogether dishabited for heat, though presently wee know many famous and +worthy kingdomes and cities in that part of the earth, and the Island of S. +Thomas neere Æthiopia, and the wealthy Islands for the which chiefly all +these voyages are taken in hand, to be inhabited euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 3.] To answere the third obiection, besides Cabota and all +other trauellers nauigations, the onely credit of M. Frobisher[46] may +suffice, who lately through all these Islands of ice, and mountaines of +snow, passed that way, euen beyond the gulfe that tumbleth downe from the +North, and in some places though he drewe one inch thicke ice, as he +returning in August did, yet came he home safely againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 4.] The fourth argument is altogether friuolous and vaine, +for neither is there any isthmos or strait of land betweene America and +Asia, ne can these two landes ioyntly be one continent. [Sidenote: Lib. +Geog.] The first part of my answere is manifestly allowed of by Homer, whom +that excellent Geographer Strabo followeth, yeelding him in this facultie +the price. The author of that booke likewise [Greek: perì kosmou] to +Alexander, attributed vnto Aristotle, is of the same opinion that Homer and +Strabo be of, in two or three places. Dionisius in [Greek: oikoumenaes +periaegaesi] hath this verse [Greek: otos hokeanos peridedrome gaian +hapasan.] So doth the Ocean Sea runne round about the worlde: speaking +onely of Europe, Afrike and Asia, as then Asia was trauelled and knowen. +[Sidenote: Note.] With these Doctours may you ioyne Pomponius Mela. cap. 2. +lib 1. Plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. and Pius 2. cap 2. in his description of +Asia. [Sidenote: Richard Eden.] All the which writers doe no lesse confirme +the whole Easterne side of Asia to be compassed about with the sea, then +Plato doeth affirme in Timæo, vnder the name Atlantis, the West indies to +be an Island, as in a special discoure thereof R. Eden writeth, agreeable +vnto the sentence of Proclus, Marsilius Ficinus, and others. Out of Plato +it is gathered that America is an island. Homer, Strabo, Aristotle, +Dionysius, Mela, Plinie, Pius 2. affirme the continent of Asia, Afrike, and +Europe to be enuironed with the Ocean. I may therefore boldly say (though +later intelligences thereof had we none at all) that Asia and the West +Indies be not tied together by any Isthmos or straight of land, contrary to +the opinion of some new Cosmographers, by whom doubtfully this matter hath +bin brought in controuersie. And thus much for the first part of my answere +vnto the fourth obiection. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. Meteor. cap 1.] The second part, namely that America and +Asia cannot be one continent, may thus be prooued, [Greek: kata taen taes +gaes koilotaeta rhei kai ton potamon to plaethos.] The most Riuers take +downe that way their course, where the earth is most hollow and deepe, +writeth Aristotle: and the Sea (sayeth he in the same place) as it goeth +further, so it is found deeper. Into what gulfe doe the Moscouian riuers +Onega, Duina, Ob, powre out their streames Northward out of Moscouia into +the sea? Which way doeth that sea strike: The South is maine land, the +Easterne coast waxeth more and more shalow: from the North, either +naturally, because that part of the earth is higher Aristot. 2. Met. cap. +1. or of necessitie, for that the forcible influence of some Northerne +starres causeth the earth there to shake off the Sea, as some Philosophers +doe thinke: or finally for the great store of waters engendered in that +frostie and colde climate, that the bankes are not able to holde them. +Alber, in 2. Meteor. cap. 6. From the North, I say, continually falleth +downe great abundance of water. So that this Northeasterne currant must at +the length abruptly bow towards vs South on the West side of Finmarke and +Norway: or else strike downe Southwest aboue Groneland and Iseland, into +the Northwest straight we speake of, as of congruence it doeth, if you +marke the situation of that Region, and by the report of M. Frobisher +experience teacheth vs. And M. Frobisher the further he trauailed in the +former passage, as he tolde me, the deeper always he found the Sea. Lay you +now the summe hereof together. The riuers runne where the chanels are most +hollow, the Sea in taking his course waxeth deeper, the Sea waters fall +continually from the North Southward, the Northeasterne current striketh +downe into the straight we speak of, and is there augmented with whole +mointaines of yce and snowe falling downe furiously out from the land vnder +the North pole. [Sidenote: Plin. lib. 2. cap. 67] Where store of water is, +there is it a thing impossible to want Sea, where Sea not onely doeth not +want, but waxeth deeper, there can be discouered no land, finally, whence I +pray you came the contrary tide, that M. Frobisher mette withall after he +had sailed no small way in that passage, if there be any Isthmos or +straight of land betwixt the aforesayd Northwesterne gulfe, and Mar del +Zur, to ioyne Asia and America together? That conclusion frequented in +scholes Quicquid præter, &c. was meant of the partes of the world then +knowen, and so it is of right to be vnderstood. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 5.] The fift obiection requireth for answere wisdome and +policie in the trauailer to winne the Barbarians fauour by some good +meanes: and so to arme and strengthen himselfe, that when he shal haue the +repulse in one coast, he may safely trauaile to an other, commodiously +taking his conuenient times, and discreetely making choise of them with +whom hee will throughly deale. To force a violent entry, would for vs +Englishmen be very hard, considering the strength and valour of so great a +Nation, farre distant from vs, and the attempt thereof might be most +perilous vnto the doers, vnlesse their part were very good. + +Touching their lawes against strangers, you shall reade neuerthelesse in +the same relations of Galeotto Perera, that the Cathaian king is woont to +graunt free accesse vnto all foreiners that trade into his Countrey for +Marchandise, and a place of libertie for them to remaine in: as the Moores +had, vntill such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieutenant of that +coast to be a circumcised Saracene: wherefore some of them were put to the +sword, the rest were scattered abroad: at Fuquien a great citie in China, +certaine of them are yet this day to be seene. As for the Iapans they be +most desirous to be acquainted with strangers. The Portingals though they +were straitly handled there at the first, yet in the ende they found great +fauor at the Prince his hands, insomuch that the Loutea or president that +misused them was therefore put to death. The rude Indian Canoa halleth +those seas, the Portingals, the Saracens, and Moores trauaile continually +vp and downe that reach from Iapan to China, from China to Malacca, from +Malacca to the Moluccaes: and shall an Englishman, better appointed then +any of them all (that I say no more of our Nauie) feare to saile in that +ocean? What seas at all doe want piracie? what Nauigation is there voyde of +perill? + +[Sidenote: Sol. 6.] To the last argument. Our trauailers neede not to seeke +their returne by the Northeast, neither shall they be constrained, except +they list, either to attempt Magellans straight at the Southwest, or to be +in danger of the Portingals for the Southeast: they may returne by the +Northwest, that same way they doe goe foorth, as experience hath shewed. + +The reason alleadged for proofe of the contrary may be disproued after this +maner. And first it may be called in controuersie, whether any current +continually be forced by the motion of Primum mobile, round about the +world, or no: For learned men doe diuersly handle that question. [Sidenote: +Luc. lib. 1. Pharsal.] The naturall course of all waters is downeward, +wherefore of congruence they fall that way where they finde the earth most +lowe and deepe: in respect whereof, it was erst sayd, the seas doe strike +from the Northern landes Southerly. Violently the seas are tossed and +troubled diuers wayes with the windes, encreased and diminished by the +course of the Moone, hoised vp and downe through the sundry operations of +the Sunne and the starres: finally, some be of opinion, that the seas be +carried in part violently about the world, after the dayly motion of the +highest moueable heauen, in like maner as the elements of ayre and fire, +with the rest of the heauenly spheres, are from the East vnto the West. +[Sidenote: What the Easterne current is.] And this they doe call their +Easterne current, or leuant stream. Some such current may not be denied to +be of great force in the hot Zone, for the neerenesse thereof vnto the +centre of the Sunne, and blustering Easterne windes violently driuing the +seas Westwards: howbeit, in the temperate climes, the Sunne being further +off, and the windes more diuers, blowing as much from the North, the West +and South, as from the East, this rule doeth not effectually withholde vs +from trauailing Eastward, neither be we kept euer backe by the aforesaid +Leuant windes and streame. But in the Magellans streight wee are violently +driuen backe West: Ergo, through the Northwesterne straight or Annian +frette shall we not be able to returne Eastward? It followeth not. The +first, for that the northwesterne straight hath more sea roome at the least +by one hundreth English myles, than Magellans frette hath, the onely want +whereof causeth all narrow passages generally to be most violent. So would +I say in the Anian gulfe, if it were so narrow as Don Diego and Zalterius +haue painted it out, any returne that way to bee full of difficulties, in +respect of such streightnesse thereof, not for the neerenesse of the Sunne, +or Easterne windes violently forcing that way any leuant streame: But in +that place there is more sea roome by many degrees, if the Cardes of +Cabota, and Gemma Frisius, and that which Tramezine imprinted be true. + +And hitherto reason see I none at all, but that I may as well giue credite +vnto their doings, as to any of the rest. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] +It must be Peregrinationis historia, that is, true reportes of skilfull +trauailers, as Ptolome writeth, that in such controuersies of Geographie +must put vs out of doubt. Ortelius in his vniuersall tables, in his +particular Mappes of the West Indies, of all Asia, of the Northern +kingdomes, of the East Indies, Mercator in some of his globes, and generall +Mappes of the world, Moletius in his vniuersall table of the Globe diuided, +in his sea Carde, and particuler tables of the East Indies, Zalterius, and +Don Diego, with Ferdinando Bertely, and others, doe so much differ from +Gemma Frisius and Cabota, among themselues, and in diuers places from +themselues, concerning the diuers situation and sundry limits of America, +that one may not so rashly, as timely surmise, these men either to be +ignorant in those points touching the aforesaid region, or that the Mappes +they haue giuen out vnto the world, were collected onely by them, and neuer +of their owne drawing. + + * * * * * + +The first Voyage of M. Martine Frobisher, to the Northwest, for the search + of the straight or passage to China, written by Christopher Hall, Master + in the Gabriel, and made in the yeere of our Lord 1576. + +The 7. of Iune being Thursday, the two Barks, viz. the Gabriel, and the +Michael [Marginal note: M. Matthew Kinderslye was Captaine of the Michael.] +and our Pinnesse set saile at Ratcliffe, and bare down to Detford, and +there we ancred: the cause was that our Pinnesse burst her boulsprit, and +foremast aboard of a ship that rode at Detford, else wee meant to haue past +that day by the Court then at Grenewich. + +The 8. day being Friday, about 12 of the clocke we wayed at Detford, and +set saile all three of vs, and bare downe by the Court, where we shotte off +our ordinance and made the best shew we could: Her Maiestie beholding the +same, commended it, and bade vs farewell, with shaking her hand at vs out +of the window. Afterward shee sent a Gentleman aboord of vs, who declared +that her Maiestie had good liking of our doings, and thanked vs for it, and +also willed our Captaine to come the next day to the Court to take his +leaue of her. + +The same day towards night M. Secretarie Woolly came aboorde of vs, and +declared to the company, that her Maiestie had appointed him to giue them +charge to be obedient, and diligent to their Captaine, and gouernours in +all things, and wished vs happie successe. + +The 12. day being ouer against Grauesend, by the castle or blockehouse, we +obserued the latitude, which was 51. degrees 33. min. And in that place the +variation of the Compasse is 11. degrees and a halfe. + +[Sidenote: Faire Island.] The 24. day at 2. of the clocke after noone, I +had sight of Faire yle,[47] being from vs 6. leagues North and by East, and +when I brought it Northwest and by North, it did rise at the Southermost +ende with a litle hommocke, and swampe in the middes. + +[Sidenote: Shotland.] The 25. day from 4. to 8. a clocke in the forenoone, +the winde at Northwest and by North a fresh gale, I cast about to the +Westward, the Southermost head of Shotland called Swinborne head +Northnorthwest from me, and the land of Faire yle, West Southwest from me. +I sailed directly to the North head of that said land, sounding as I ranne +in, hauing 60. 50. and 40. fathoms, and gray redde shels: and within halfe +a mile of that Island, there are 36. fathoms, for I sailed to that Island +to see whether there were any roadesteede for a Northwest winde, and I +found by my sounding hard rockes, and foule ground, and deepe water, within +two cables length of the shoare, 28. fathome, and so did not ancre but +plied to and fro with my foresaile, and mizen till it was a high water +vnder the Island. The tide setteth there Northwest and Southeast: the flood +setteth Southeast, and the ebbe Northwest. + +The 26. day hauing the winde at South a faire gale, sayling from Faire yle +to Swinborne head, I did obserue the latitude, the Island of Fowlay being +West Northwest from me 6. leagues, and Swinborne head East southeast from +me, I found my eleuation [Marginal note: By eleuation he meaneth the +distance of the sunne from the zenith.] to be 37. degr and my declination +22. degr. 46 min. So that my latitude was 59. degr. 46. min. [Sidenote: S. +Tronions.] At that present being neere to Swinborne head, hauing a leake +which did trouble vs, as also to take in fresh water, I plyed roome with a +sound, which is called S. Tronions, and there did ancre in seuen fathoms +water, and faire sande. You haue comming in the sounds mouth in the entring +17. 15. 12. 10. 9. 8. and 7. fathoms, and the sound lyeth in North +northwest, and there we roade to a West sunne, and stopped our leake, and +hauing refreshed our selues with water, at a North northwest sunne, I set +saile from S. Tronions the winde at South Southest, and turned out till wee +were cleare of the sound, and so sailed West to go cleare of the Island of +Fowlay. [Sidenote: Fowlay Island.] And running off toward Fowlay,[48] I +sounded, hauing fiftie fathome, and streamie ground, and also I sounded +Fowlay being North from mee one league off that Islande, hauing fiftie +fathome at the South head, and streamie ground, like broken otmell, and one +shell being redde and white like mackerell. + +[Sidenote: Latitude 59. deg. 59. min. Here they begin to saile West and by +North.] The 27. day at a South sunne I did obserue the latitude, the Island +of Fowlay being from me two leagues East Northeast: I found my selfe to be +in latitude 59. degrees, 59. min truly obserued, the winde at South +Southwest: I sailed West and by North. + +From 12. to foure a clocke afternoone, the wind at South, a faire gale the +shippe sailed West and by North 6. leagues, and at the ende of this watch, +I sounded hauing 60. fathome, with little stones and shels, the Island from +vs 8. leagues East. + +[Sidenote: July the first.] The first of Iuly, from 4. to 8. a clocke, wee +sailed West 4. glasses 4. leagues, and at that present we had so much winde +that we spooned afore the sea Southwest 2. leagues. + +The 3. day we found our Compasse to bee varied one point to Westwards: this +day from 4. to 8. a clocke we sailed West and by North 6 leagues. + +From 8. to 12. a clocke at noone West and by North 4. leagues. [Sidenote: +The Compasse varying Westwards one point.] At that present I found our +compasse to be varied 11 deg. and one 4. part to the Westwards, which is +one point. + +[Sidenote: The Island of Friseland.] The 11. day at a Southeast sunne we +had sight of the land of Friseland bearing from vs West northwest 16. +leagues, and rising like pinacles of steeples, and all couered with snowe. +I found my selfe in 61. degr. of latitude. Wee sailed to the shoare and +could finde no ground at 150. fathoms, we hoised out our boate, and the +Captaine with 4. men rowed to the shoare to get on land, but the land lying +full of yce, they could not get on land, and so they came aboord againe: We +had much adoe to get cleare of the yce by reason of the fogge. Yet from +Thursday 8. a clocke in the morning to Friday at noone we sailed Southwest +20. leagues. + +The 18. day at a Southwest sunne I found the sunne to be eleuated 33. deg. +And at a Southsoutheast sunne 40. deg. So I obserued it till I found it at +the highest, and then it was eleuated 52. deg. [Sidenote: The variation of +the needle two points and a halfe to the West.] I iudged the variation of +the Compasse to be 2. points and a halfe to the Westward. + +[Sidenote: A great drift of yce.] The 21. day we had sight of a great drift +of yce, seeming a firme land, and we cast Westward to be cleare of it. + +[Sidenote: The latitude of 62. degrees 2. min.] The 26. we had sight of a +land of yce: the latitude was 62. degrees, and two minutes. + +[Sidenote: Sight of land supposed to haue been Labrador.] The 28. day in +the morning was very foggie: but at the clearing vp of the fogge, we had +sight of lande, which I supposed to be Labrador, with great store of yce +about the land: I ranne in towards it, and sownded, but could get no ground +at 100. fathom, and the yce being so thicke, I could not get to the shoare, +and so lay off, and came cleare of the yce. Upon Munday we came within a +mile of the shoare, and sought a harborowe: all the sownd was full of yce, +and our boate rowing a shoare, could get no ground at 100. fathom, within a +Cables length of the shoare: then we sailed Eastnortheast along the shoare, +for so the lande lyeth, and the currant is there great, setting Northeast, +and Southwest: and if we could haue gotten anker ground, wee would haue +seene with what force it had runne, but I iudge a ship may driue a league +and a halfe, in one houre, with that tide. + +This day at 4. of the clocke in the morning, being faire and cleere, we had +sight of a head land, as we iudged, bearing from vs north, and by East, and +we sailed Northeast, and by North to that land, and when we came thither, +wee could not get to the lande for yce: for the yce stretched along the +coast, so that we could not come to the land, by fiue leagues. + +[Sidenote: August.] Wednesday the first of August it calmed, and in the +after noone I caused my boate to be hoysed out, being hard by a great +Island of yce, and I and foure men rowed to that yce, and sounded within +two Cables length of it, and had sixteene fathome, and little stones, and +after that sownded againe within a Minion shot, and had ground at an +hundreth fathome, and faire sand: we sownded the next day a quarter of a +myle from it, and had sixtie fathome rough ground, and at that present +being aboord, that great Island of yce fell one part from another, making a +noyse as if a great cliffe had fallen into the Sea. And at foure of the +clocke I sownded againe, and had 90. fathome, and small blacke stones, and +little white stones like pearles. The tide here did set to the shoare. + +The tenth I tooke foure men, and my selfe, and rowed to +shoare to an Island one league from the maine, and there the +flood setteth Southwest alongest the shoare, and it floweth as +neere as I could iudge so too, I could not tarry to prooue it, +because the ship was a great way from me, and I feared a fogge: +but when I came a shoare, it was a low water. I went to the top +of the Island, and before I came backe, it was hied a foote water, +and so without tarrying I came aboord. + +[Sidenote: They enter the Streit in the latitude of 63. deg. and 8. min.] +The 11. we found our latitude to be 63. degr. and eight minutes, and this +day we entred the streight. + +The 12. wee set saile towardes an Island, called the Gabriels Island, which +was 10 leagues then from vs. + +We espied a sound, and bare with it, and came to a Sandie Baye, where we +came to an anker, the land being East southeast off vs, and there we rode +al night in 8. fathome water. It floweth there at a Southeast Moone. We +called it Priors sownd, being from the Gabriels Island, tenne leagues. + +The 14, we waied, and ranne into another sownde, where wee ankered in 8. +fathome water, faire sand, and black oaze, and there calked our ship, being +weake from the wales vpward, and tooke in fresh water. + +The 15. day we waied, and sailed to Priors Bay, being a mile from thence. + +The 16. day was calme, and we rode still, without yce, but presently within +two houres it was frozen round about the ship, a quarter of an ynch thicke, +and that day very faire, and calme. + +The 17. day we waied, and came to Thomas Williams Island. + +The 18. day we sailed North northwest, and ankered againe in +23. fathome, and tough oaze, vnder Burchers Island, which is from +the former Island, ten leagues. + +[Sidenote: Sight of the Countrey people.] The 19. day in the morning, being +calme, and no winde, the Captaine and I tooke our boat, with eight men in +her, to rowe vs a shoare, to see if there were any people, or no, and going +to the toppe of the Island, we had sight of seuen boates, which came rowing +from the East side, toward that Island: whereupon we returned aboord +againe: at length we sent our boate with fiue men in her, to see whither +they rowed, and so with a white cloth brought one of their boates with +their men along the shoare, rowing after our boate, till such time as they +sawe our ship, and then they rowed a shoare: then I went on shore my selfe, +and gaue euery of them a threadden point, and brought one of them aboord of +me, where hee did eate and drinke, and then carried him on shoare againe. +Whereupon all the rest came aboord with their boates, being nineteene +persons, and they spake, but we vnderstoode them not. [Sidenote: The +description of the people.[49]] They bee like to Tartars, with long blacke +haire, broad faces, and flatte noses, and tawnie in colour, wearing Seale +skinnes, and so doe the women, not differing in the fashion, but the women +are marked in the face with blewe streekes downe the cheekes, and round +about the eyes. Their boates are made all of Seales skinnes, with a keele +of wood within the skin: the proportion of them is like a Spanish shallop, +saue only they be flat in the bottome, and sharpe at both ends. + +The twentieth day wee wayed, and went to the Eastside of this island, and I +and the Captaine, with foure men more went on shoare, and there we sawe +their houses, and the people espying vs, came rowing towards our boate: +whereupon we plied toward our boate: and wee being in our boate and they +ashoare, they called to vs, and we rowed to them, and one of their company +came into our boate, and we carried him a boord, and gaue him a Bell, and a +knife: [Sidenote: 5 of our men taken by the people.] so the Captaine and I +willed fiue of our men to set him a shoare at a rocke, and not among the +company, which they come from, but their wilfulnesse was such, that they +would goe to them, and so were taken themselues, and our boate lost. + +The next day in the morning, we stoode in neere the shoare, and shotte off +a fauconet, and sounded our trumpet, but we could hear nothing nothing of +our men: this sound wee called the fiue mens sound, and plyed out of it, +but ankered againe in thirtie fathome, and ooze: and riding there all +night, in the morning, the snow lay a foote thicke vpon our hatches. + +The 22. day in the morning we wayed, and went againe to the place we lost +our men, and our boate. We had sight of foureteene boates, and some came +neere to vs, but wee could learne nothing of our men: among the rest, we +intised one boate to our ships side, with a Bell, and in giuing him the +Bell, we tooke him, and his boate, and so kept him, and so rowed downe to +Thomas Williams Island, and there ankered all night. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 26. day we waied, to come homeward, and by +12. of the clocke at noone, we were thwart of Trumpets Island. + +The next day we came thwart of Gabriels Island, and at 8. of the clocke at +night, we had the Cape Labrador as we supposed West from vs, ten leagues. + +The 28. day we went our course Southeast. + +We sailed Southeast, and by East, 22. leagues. + +The first day of September in the morning we had sight of the land of +Friseland being eight leagues from vs but we could not come neerer it, for +the monstrous yce that lay about it. From this day, till the sixth of this +Moneth, we ranne along Island, and had the South part of it at eight of the +clocke, East from vs ten leagues. + +The seuenth day of this moneth we had a very terrible storme, by force +whereof, one of our men was blowen into the sea out of our waste, but he +caught hold of the foresaile sheate, and there held till the Captaine +pluckt him againe into the ship. + +The 25 day of this moneth we had sight of the Island of Orkney, which was +then East from vs. + +[Sidenote: The Sheld.] The first day of October we had sight of the Sheld, +and so sailed about the coast, and ankered at Yarmouth, and the next day we +came into Harwich. + +The language of the people of Meta incognita. + +Argoteyt, a hand. +Cangnawe, a nose. +Arered, an eye. +Keiotot, a tooth. +Mutchatet, the head. +Chewat, an eare. +Comagaye, a legge. +Atoniagay, a foote. +Callagay, a paire of breeches. +Attegay, a coate. +Polleuetagay, a knife. +Accaskay, a shippe. +Coblone, a thumbe. +Teckkere, the foremost finger. +Ketteckle, the middle finger. +Mekellacane, the fourth finger. +Yacketrone, the little finger. + + * * * * * + +The second voyage of Master Martin Frobisher, made to the West and + Northwest Regions, in the yeere 1577. with a description of the Countrey, + and people: Written by Master Dionise Settle. + +On Whitsunday, being the sixe and twentieth of May, in the yeere of our +Lord God 1577. Captaine Frobisher departed from Blacke Wall, with one of +the Queenes Maiesties ships, called The Aide, of nine score tunnes, or +thereabouts: and two other Little Barkes likewise, the one called The +Gabriel, whereof Master Fenton, a Gentleman of my Lord of Warwikes, was +Captaine: accompanied with seuen score Gentlemen, souldiers, and sailers, +well furnished with victuals, and other prouision necessarie for one halfe +yeere, on this his second voyage, for the further discouering of the +passage to Cathay, and other Countreys, thereunto adiacent, by West and +Northwest nauigations: which passage or way, is supposed to bee on the +North and Northwest part of America: and the said America to be an Island +inuironed with the sea, where through our Merchants may haue course and +recourse with their merchandize, from these our Northernmost parts of +Europe, to those Orientall coasts of Asia, in much shorter time, and with +greater benefite then any others, to their no little commoditie and profite +that do or shall frequent the same. Our said Captaine and General of this +present voyage and company hauing the yeere before, with two little +pinnesses, to his great danger, and no small commendations, giuen a worthy +attempt towards the performance thereof, is also prest, when occasion shall +be ministred (to the benefite of his Prince, and natiue Countrey) to +aduenture himelfe further therein. As for the second voyage, it seemeth +sufficient that he hath better explored and searched the commodities of +those people and Countreys, which in his first voyage the yeere before he +had found out. + +[Sidenote: The Islands Orcades, or Orkney.] Vpon which considerations, the +day and yeere before expressed, we departed from Blacke Wall to Harwich, +where making an accomplishment of things necessary, the last of May we +hoised vp sailes, and with a merrie winde the 7. of Iune we arriued at the +Islands called Orcades, or vulgarly Orkney, being in number 30. subiect and +adiacent to Scotland where we made prouision of fresh water; in the doing +wherof our Generall licensed the Gentlemen and souldiers for their +recreation to go on shore. [Sidenote: The Orcadians upon smal occasion flee +their home.] At our landing, the people fled from their poore cottages, +with shrikes and alarms, to warne their neighbours of enemies, but by +gentle perswasions we reclamed them to their houses. It seemeth they are +often frighted with Pirats, or some other enemies, that mooue them to such +sudden feare. Their houses are very simply builded with Pibble stone, +without any chimneis, the fire being made in the middest thereof. The good +man, wife, children, and other of their family eate and sleepe on the one +side of the house, and the cattell on the other, very beastly and rudely, +in respect of ciuilitie. [Sidenote: No wood in Orkney.] They are destitute +of wood, their fire is turffes, and Cowshards. They haue corne, bigge, and +oates, with which they pay their Kings rent, to the maintenance of his +house. They take great quantitie of fish, which they dry in the wind and +Sunne. They dresse their meat very filthily, and eate it without salt. +Their apparell is after the rudest sort of Scotland. Their money is all +base. Their Church and religion is reformed according to the Scots. +[Sidenote: Fisher men of England haue daily traffique to Orkney.] The +fisher men of England can better declare the dispositions of those people +then I: wherefore I remit other their vsages to their reports, as yeerely +repaires thither, in their course to and from Island for fish. + +[Sidenote: In Iune and Iuly no night in those West and Northwest regions.] +We departed herehence the 8. of Iune, and followed our course betweene West +and Northwest, vntill the 4. of Iuly: all which time we had no night, but +that easily, and without any impediment we had when we were so disposed, +the fruition of our bookes, and other pleasures to passe away the time: a +thing of no small moment, to such as wander in vnknowen seas, and long +nauigations, especially, when both the winds and raging surges do passe +their common and wonted course. This benefite endureth in those parts not +6. weekes, while the sunne is neere the Tropike of Cancer: but where the +pole is raised to 70. or 80. degrees, it continueth much longer. + +[Sidenote: Great abundance of Firre trees floting in the sea.] All along +these seas, after we were sixe dayes sailing from Orkney, we met floting in +the sea, great Firre trees, which as we iudged, were with the furie of +great floods rooted vp, and so driuen into the sea. Island hath almost no +other wood nor fuell, but such as they take vp vpon their coastes. +[Sidenote: Inquire further of this current.] It seemeth, that these trees +are driuen from some part of the New found land, with the current that +setteth from the West to the East.[50] + +The 4. of Iuly we came within the making of Frisland.[51] From this shoare +10. or 12. leagues, we met great Islands of yce, of halfe a mile, some +more, some lesse in compasse, shewing aboue the sea, 30. or 40. fathoms, +and as we supposed fast on ground, where with our lead we could scarse +sound the bottome for depth. + +[Sidenote: Yce, snow, and haile in Iune and Iuly.] Here, in place of +odoriferous and fragrant smels of sweete gums, and pleasant notes of +musicall birdes, which other Countreys in more temperate Zones do yeeld, +wee tasted the most boisterous Boreal blasts mixt with snow and haile, in +the moneths of Iune and Iuly, nothing inferior to our vntemperate winter: a +sudden alteration, and especially in a place or Paralelle, where the Pole +is not eleuate aboue 61. degrees: at which height other Countreys more to +the North, yea vnto 70. degrees, shew themselues more temperate then this +doth. + +All along this coast yce lieth, as a continuall bulwarke, and so defendeth +the countrey, that those that would land there, incur great danger. Our +Generall 3. dayes together attempted with the ship boate to haue gone on +shoare, which for that without great danger he could not accomplish, he +deferred it vntill a more conuenient time. All along the coast lie very +high mountains covered with snow, except in such places, where through the +steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall. Foure dayes +coasting along this land, we found no signe of habitation. [Sidenote: +Friseland subiect to fogge.] Little birds, whiche we iudged to haue lost +the shore, by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect +vnto, came flying into our ships, which causeth vs to suppose, that the +Countrey is both more tollerable, and also habitable within, then the +outward shore maketh shew or signification.[52] + +From hence we departed the eight of Iuly: and the 16. of the same, we came +with the making of land, which land our Generall the yeere before had named +The Queenes foreland, being an Island as we iudge, lying neere the supposed +continent with America: and on the other side, opposite to the same, one +other Island called Halles Isle, after the name of the Master of the ship, +neere adiacent to the firme land, supposed continent with Asia. [Sidenote: +Frobishers streight.] Betweene the which two Islands there is a large +entrance or streight, called Frobishers streight,[53] after the name of our +Generall, the firste finder thereof. This said streight is supposed to haue +passage into the sea of Sur, which I leaue vnknowen as yet. + +It seemeth that either here, or not farre hence, the sea should haue more +large entrance, then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone: +and that some contrary tide, either from the East or West, with maine force +casteth out that great quantity of yce, which commeth floting from this +coast, euen vnto Friseland, causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate +then others, much more Northerly then the same. + +I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole, the time of the Sunnes +Northerne declination being halfe a yere together, and one whole day, +(considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30. +minuts) can haue power to [Sidenote: Islands of yce comparable to +mountaines.] dissolue such monstrous and huge yce, comparable to great +mountaines, except by some other force, as by swift currents and tides, +with the hope of the said day of halfe a yeere. + +Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes, in +so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter, if the length of +the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobisher his speciall care and diligence for the +benefite of his Prince and Countrey.] At our first comming, the straights +seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce, which gaue no litle cause of +discomfort vnto vs all: but our Generall, (to whose diligence imminent +dangers, and difficult attempts seemed nothing, in respect of his willing +mind, for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey,) with two little +Pinnesses prepared of purpose, passed twise thorow them to the East shore, +and the Ilands thereunto adiacent: and the ship, with the two Barks lay off +and on something further into the sea, from the danger of the yce. + +[Sidenote: The order of the people appearing on shoare.] Whilest he was +searching the Countrey neere the shoare, some of the people of the Countrey +shewed themselues leaping and dauncing, with strange shrikes and cries, +which gaue no little admiration to our men. Our Generall desirous to allure +them vnto him by faire meanes, caused kniues, and other things to be +profered vnto them, which they would not take at our hands: but being laid +on the ground, and the party going away, they came and tooke vp, leauing +some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same. [Sidenote: Fierce and bold +people.] At the length two of them leauing their weapons, came downe to our +Generall and Master, who did the like to them, commanding the company to +stay, and went vnto them: who after certaine dumbe signes, and mute +congratulations, began to lay handes vpon them, but they deliuerly escaped, +and ranne to their bowes and arrowes, and came fiercely vpon them, (not +respecting the rest of our companie which were readie for their defence,) +but with their arrowes hurt diuers of them: [Sidenote: One taken.] we tooke +the one, and the other escaped. + +Whilest our Generall was busied in searching the Countrey, and those +Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare, the ship and barkes hauing great care, +not to put farre into the sea from him, for that he had small store of +victuals, were forced to abide in a cruell tempest, chancing in the night, +amongst and in the thickest of the yce, which was so monstrous, that euen +the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient, to haue shiuered our +ship and barks into small portions, if God (who in all necessities, hath +care vpon the infirmitie of man) had not prouided for this our extremitie a +sufficient remedie through the light of the night, whereby we might well +discerne to flee from such imminent dangers, which we auoyded with 14. +Bourdes in one watch the space of 4 houres. [Sidenote: Richard Cox, Master +gunner. Master Iackman. Andrew Dier.] If we had not incurred this danger +amongst those monstrous Islands of yce, we should haue lost our Generall +and Master, and the most of our best sailers, which were on shoare +destitute of victuals: but by the valure of our Master Gunner, Master +Iackman, and Andrew Dier, the Masters Mates, men expert both in nauigation, +and other good qualities, wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore +rehearsed, before we would with our owne safetie, runne into the seas, to +the destruction of our sayd Generall, and his company. + +The day following, being the 19. of Iulie, our captaine returned to the +ship, with report of supposed riches, which shewed it selfe in the bowels +of those barren mountaines, wherewith wee were all satisfied. + +[Sidenote: Iackmans sound.] Within foure daies after we had bene at the +entrance of the streights, the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce +into the sea, and made vs a large entrance into the streights, so that +without any impediment, on the 19. of Iulie we entred them, and the 20. +thereof, our Generall and Master with great diligence, sought out and +sounded the West shoare, and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and +barkes to ride in, and named it after our Masters mate, Iackmans sound, and +brought the ship, barkes and all their company to safe anker, except one +man, which died by Gods visitation. + +At our first arriuall, after the ship rode at anker, our generall, with +such company as could well be spared from the ships, in marching order +entred the lande, hauing speciall care by exhortations, that at our +entrance thereinto, wee should all with one voyce, kneeling vpon our knees, +chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall: secondly beseech him, that it +would please his diuine Maiestie, long to continue our Queene, for whom he, +and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Countrey: and thirdly, that by our Christian +studie and endeuour, those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme, and +infidelitie, might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion, and to the +hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer. With other words very apt to +signifie his willing mind, and affection toward his Prince and Countrey: +whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect, may credibly be iudged to +be vtterly exempted from his mind. All the rest of the Gentlemen and other +deserue worthily herein their due praise and commendation. + +These things in this order accomplished, our Generall commanded all the +company to be obedient in things needfull for our owne safegard, to Master +Fenton, Master Yorke, and Master Beast his Lieutenant, while he was +occupied in other necessarie affaires, concerning our comming thither. + +After this order we marched through the Countrey, with Ensigne displaied, +so farre as was thought needfull, and now and then heaped vp stones on high +mountaines, and other places in token of possession, as likewise to +signifie vnto such as hereafter may chance to arriue there, that possession +is taken in the behalfe of some other Prince, by those who first found out +the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Yce needfull to be regarded of sea faring men.] Who so maketh +nauigations to those Countreys, hath not onely extreme winds, and furious +sea to encounter withall, but also many monstrous and great Islands of yce; +a thing both rare, wonderfull, and greatly to be regarded. + +We were forced sundry times, while the ship did ride here at anker, to haue +continuall watch, with boats and men ready with halsers to knit fast vnto +such yce, as with the ebbe and flood were tossed to and fro in the +harborough, and with force of oares to hale them away, for endangering the +ship. + +Our Generall certaine dayes searched this supposed continent with America, +and not finding the commodity to answere his expectation, after he had made +triall thereof he departed thence with two little barks, and men sufficient +to the East shore being the supposed continent of Asia, and left the ship +with most of the Gentlemen, souldier, and sailers, vntill such time as he +either thought good to send or come for them. + +[Sidenote: Stones glister with sparkles like gold.] The stones of this +supposed continent with America be altogether sparkled, and glister in the +Sunne like gold: [Sidenote: A common prouerb.] so likewise doth the sand in +the bright water, yet they verifie the old Prouerb: All is not gold that +glistereth. + +[Sidenote: The sea Vnicorne.] On this West shore we found a dead fish +floating, which had in his nose a horne streight and torquet,[54] of length +two yards lacking two ynches, being broken in the top, where we might +perceiue it hollow, into the which some of our sailers putting spiders they +presently died. I saw not the triall hereof, but it was reported vnto me of +a trueth: by the verture whereof we supposed it to be the sea Vnicorne. + +After our Generall had found out good harborough for the ship and barks to +anker in, and also such store of supposed gold ore as he thought himselfe +satisfied withall, he returned to the Michael, whereof Master Yorke +aforesaid was Captaine, accompanied with our master and his Mate: who +coasting along the West shore not farre from whence the ship rode, they +perceived a faire harborough, and willing to sound the same, at the +entrance thereof they espied two tents of Seale skins, vnto which the +Captaine, our said Master, and other company resorted. [Sidenote: The +people fled at the sight of our men.] At the sight of our men the people +fled into the mountaines: neuerthelesse they went to their tents, where +leauing certaine trifles of ours, as glasses, bels, kniues, and such like +things they departed, not taking any thing of theirs, except one dogge. +They did in like maner leaue behind them a letter, pen, yncke, and paper, +whereby our men whom the Captaine lost the yere before, and in that peoples +custody, might (if any of them were aliue) be advertised of our presence +and being there. + +[Sidenote: Master Philpot. Master Beast.] On the same day after +consultation had, all the Gentlemen, and others likewise that could be +spared from the ship, vnder the conduct and leading of Master Philpot, +(vnto whom in our Generall his absence, and his Lieutenant Master Beast, al +the rest were obedient) went a shore, determining to see, if by faire means +we could either allure them to familiarity, or otherwise take some of them, +and so attaine to some knowledge of those men whom our Generall lost the +yeere before. + +At our comming backe againe to the place where their tents were before, +they had remooued their tents further into the said Bay or Sound, where +they might if they were driuen from the land, flee with their boates into +the sea. We parting our selues into two companies, and compassing a +mountaine came suddenly vpon them by land, who espying vs, without any +tarrying fled to their boates, leauing the most part of their oares behind +them for haste, and rowed downe the bay, where our two Pinesses met them +and droue them to shore: but if they had had all their oares, so swift are +they in rowing, it had bene lost time to haue chased them. + +[Sidenote: A fierce assault of a few.] When they were landed they fiercely +assaulted our men with their bowes and arrowes, who wounded three of them +with our arrowes; and perceiuing themselues thus hurt, they desperatly +leapt off the Rocks into the Sea, and drowned themselues: which if they had +not done, but had submitted themselues, or if by any meanes we could haue +taken them aliue (being their enemies as they iudged) we would both haue +saued them, and also haue sought remedy to cure their wounds receiued at +our hands. But they altogether voyd of humanity, and ignorant what mercy +meaneth, in extremities looke for no other then death: and perceiuing they +should fall into our hands, thus miserably by drowning rather desired death +then otherwise to be saued by vs: the rest perceiuing their fellowes in +this distresse, fled into the high mountaines. Two women not being so apt +to escape as the men were, the one for her age, and the other being +incombred with a yong child, we tooke. The old wretch, whom diuers of our +Saylers supposed to be eyther a deuill, or a witch, had her buskins plucked +off, to see if she were clouen footed, and for her ougly hew and deformity +we let her go: the yong woman and the child we brought away. We named the +place where they were slaine, Bloodie point: and the Bay or Harborough, +Yorks sound, after the name of one of the Captaines of the two Barks. + +[Sidenote: Faire meanes not able to allure them to familiarity.] Having +this knowledge both of their fiercenesse and cruelty, and perceiuing that +faire meanes as yet is not able to allure them to familiarity, we disposed +our selues, contrary to our inclination, something to be cruel, returned to +their tents and made a spoyle of the same: where we found an old shirt, a +doublet, a girdle, and also shoes of our men, whom we lost the yeere +before: on nothing else vnto them belonging could we set our eyes. + +[Sidenote: Boates of skinnes.] Their riches are not gold, siluer or +precious Drapery, but their tents and boates, made of the skins of red +Deare and Seale skins; also dogges like vnto woolues, but for the most part +black, with other trifles, more to be wondred at for their strangenesse, +then for any other commoditie needefull for our vse. + +[Sidenote: Our departure from the West shoare.] Thus returning to our ship +the 3. August, we departed from the West shore supposed firme with America, +after we had ankered there 13. dayes: and so the 4. thereof we came to our +Generall on the East shore and ankered in a faire Harborough name Anne +Warwickes sound, vnto which is annexed an Island both named after the +Countesse of Warwicke, Anne Warwickes sound and Isle. + +In this Isle our Generall thought good for this voyage, to fraight both the +ship and barkes, with such stone or supposed gold minerall, as he iudged to +counteruaile the charges of his first, and this his second nauigation to +these Countreys. + +[Sidenote: The countrey people shew themselues vnto vs.] In the meane time +of our abode here some of the countrey people came to shew themselues vnto +vs, sundry times on the maine shore, neere adiacent to the saide Isle. Our +Generall desirous to haue some newes of his men, whom he lost the yeere +before, with some company with him repaired with the ship boat to common, +or signe with them for familiaritie, whereunto he is perswaded to bring +them. They at the first shew made tokens, that three of his fiue men were +aliue, and desired penne, ynck, and paper, and that within three or foure +dayes they would returne, and (as we iudged) bring those of our men which +were liuing, with them. + +They also made signes or tokens of their king, whom they called Cacough, +and how he was carried on mens shoulders, and a man farre surmounting any +of our company, in bignesse and stature. + +[Sidenote: Their vsage in traffique or exchange.] With these tokens and +signes of writing, penne, yncke, and paper was deliuered them, which they +would not take at our hands, but being laid vpon the shore, and the partie +gone away, they tooke vp: which likewise they do when they desire any thing +for change of theirs, laying for that which is left so much as they thinke +will counteruaile the same, and not coming neere together. It seemeth they +haue been vsed to this trade or traffique, with some other people +adioining, or not farre distant from their Countrey. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues the third time.] After 4. dayes some +of them shewed themselues vpon the firme land, but not where they were +before. Our General very glad thereof, supposing to heare of our men, went +from the Island, with the boat, and sufficient company with him. They +seemed very glad, and allured him about a certaine point of the land: +behind which they might perceiue a company of the crafty villaines to lye +lurking, whom our Generall would not deale withall, for that he knew not +what company they were, and so with few signes dismissed them and returned +to his company. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues againe on firme land.] An other time +as our said Generall was coasting the Countrey with two little Pinnesses, +whereby at our returne he might make the better relation thereof, three of +the crafty villans, with a white skin allured vs to them. [Sidenote: Their +first meanes to allure vs to shore.] Once again, our Generall, for that he +hoped to heare of his men, went towards them: at our comming neere the +shore whereon they were, we might perceiue a number of them lie hidden +behind great stones, and those 3. in sight labouring by all meanes possible +that some would come on land: and perceiuing we made no hast by words nor +friendly signes, which they vsed by clapping of their hands, and being +without weapon, and but 3. in sight, they sought further meanes to prouoke +vs therevnto. [Sidenote: Their second meanes.] One alone laid flesh on the +shore, which we tooke vp with the Boate hooke, as necessary victuals for +the relieuing of the man, woman, and child, whom we had taken: for that as +yet they could not digest our meat: whereby they perceiued themselues +deceiued of their expectation, for all their crafty allurements. [Sidenote: +Their third and craftiest allurement.] Yet once againe to make (as it were) +a full shew of their craftie natures, and subtile sleights, to the intent +thereby to haue intrapped and taken some of our men, one of them +counterfeited himselfe impotent and lame of his legs, who seemed to descend +to the water side, with great difficulty: and to couer his craft the more, +one of his fellowes came downe with him, and in such places where he seemed +vnable to passe, he tooke him on his shoulders, set him by the water side, +and departed from him, leauing him (as it should seeme) all alone, who +playing his counterfeit pageant very well, thought thereby to prouoke some +of vs to come on shore, not fearing, but that one of vs might make our +party good with a lame man. + +[Sidenote: Compassion to cure a crafty lame man.] Our Generall hauing +compassion of his impotency, thought good (if it were possible) to cure him +thereof: wherefore he caused a souldier to shoote at him with his Caleeuer, +which grased before his face. The counterfeit villeine deliuerly fled, +without any impediment at all, and got him to his bow and arrowes, and the +rest from their lurking holes, with their weapons, bowes, arrowes, slings, +and darts. Our Generall caused some caleeuers to be shot off at them, +whereby some being hurt, they might hereafter stand in more feare of vs. + +This was all the answere for this time we could haue of our men, or of our +Generals letter. Their crafty dealing at these three seuerall times being +thus manifest vnto vs, may plainely shew their disposition in other things +to be correspondent. We iudged that they vsed these stratagemes, thereby to +haue caught some of vs, for the deliuering of the man, woman and child whom +we had taken. + +They are men of a large corporature, and good proportion: their colour is +not much vnlike the Sunne burnt Countrey man, who laboureth daily in the +Sunne for his liuing. + +They weare their haire something long, and cut before either with stone or +knife, very disorderly. Their women weare their haire long and knit vp with +two loupes, shewing forth on either side of their faces, and the rest +foltred vpon a knot. Also some of their women race their faces +proportionally, as chinne, cheekes, and forehead, and the wrists of their +hands, wherevpon they lay a colour which continueth darke azurine. + +They eate their meat all raw, both flesh, fish, and foule, or something per +boyled with blood and a little water which they drinke. For lacke of water +they will eate yce, that is hard frosen, as pleasantly as we will do Sugar +Candie, or other Sugar. + +If they for necessities sake stand in need of the premisses, such grasse as +the countrey yeeldeth they plucke vp and eate, not deintily, or salletwise +to allure their stomacks to appetite: but for necessities sake without +either salt, oiles or washing, like brute beasts deuouring the same. They +neither vse table, stoole, or table cloth for comlines; but when they are +imbrued with blood knuckle deepe, and their kniues in like sort, they vse +their tongues as apt instruments to lick them cleane: in doing whereof they +are assured to loose none of their victuals. + +[Sidenote: Dogges like vnto wolues.] They frank or keepe certaine dogs not +much vnlike Wolues, which they yoke togither, as we do oxen and horses, to +a sled or traile: and so carry their necessaries ouer the yce and snow from +place to place: as the captiue, whom we haue, made perfect signes. +[Sidenote: They eate dogs flesh.] And when these dogs are not apt for the +same vse: or when with hunger they are constrained for lacke of other +victuals, they eate them: so that they are as needfull for them in respect +of their bignesse, as our oxen are for vs. + +They apparell themselues in the skins of such beasts as they kill, sewed +together with the sinewes of them. All the foule which they kill, they +skin, and make thereof one kind of garment or other to defend them from the +cold. + +[Sidenote: Hoods and tailes to their apparell.] They make their apparel +with hoods and tailes, which tailes they giue when they thinke to gratifie +any friendship shewed vnto them: a great signe of friendship with them. The +men haue them not so side[55] as the women. + +The men and women weare their hose close to their legges, from the wast to +the knee without any open before, as well the one kind as the other. Vpon +their legges they weare hose of leather, with the furre side inward two or +three paire on at once, and especially the women. In those hose they put +their kniues, needles, and other thing needfull to beare about. They put a +bone within their hose, which reacheth from the foote to the knee, +whereupon they draw the said hose, and so in place of garters they are +holden from falling downe about their feete. + +They dresse their skinnes very soft and souple with the haire on. In cold +weather or Winter they weare the furre side inward: and Summer outward. +Other apparell they haue none but the said skinnes. + +Those beasts, fishes, and foules, which they kill, are their meat, drinke, +apparell, houses, bedding, hose, shooes, threed, and sailes for their +boates, with many other necessaries whereof they stand in need, and almost +all their riches. + +[Sidenote: Their houses of Seale skins and firre.] Their houses are tents +made of Seale skins, pitched vp with 4. Firre quarters foure square meeting +at the top, and the skins sewed together with sinews, and laid thereupon: +they are so pitched vp, that the entrance into them is alwayes South or +against the Sunne. + +They haue other sorts of houses which we found not to be inhabited, which +are raised with stones and Whale bones, and a skinne layd ouer them, to +with stand the raine, or other weather: the entrance of them being not much +vnlike an Ouens mouth, whereto I thinke they resort for a time to fish, +hunt, and foule, and so leaue them vntil the next time they come thither +again. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons of defence.] Their weapons are bowes, arrowes, +darts, and slings. Their bowes are of wood of a yard long, sinewed at the +back with strong sinews, not glued too, but fast girded and tyed on. Their +bow strings are likewise sinewes. Their arrowes are three pieces nocked +with bone, and ended with bone, with those two ends, and the wood in the +midst, they passe not in length halfe a yard or little more. They are +fethered with two fethers the penne end being cut away, and the fethers +layd vpon the arrow with the broad side to the wood; insomuch that they +seeme when they are tyed on, to haue foure fethers. [Sidenote: Three sorts +of heads to their arrowes.] They haue also three sorts of heads to those +arrowes: one sort of stone or yron, proportioned like to a heart: the +second sort of bone, much like vnto a stopt head, with a hooke on the same: +the third sort of bone likewise made sharpe at both sides, and sharpe +pointed. They are not made very fast but lightly tyed to, or else set in a +nocke, that vpon small occasion the arrowes leaue these heads behind them: +and they are of small force, except they be very neere when they shoote. + +[Sidenote: two sorts of darts.] Their Darts are made of two sorts: the one +with many forkes of bones in the fore end and likewise in the midst: their +proportions are not much vnlike our toasting yrons, but longer: these they +cast out of an instrument of wood, very readily. The other sort is greater +then the first aforesayd, with a long bone made sharpe on both sides not +much vnlike a Rapier, which I take to bee their most hurtfull weapon. + +[Sidenote: Two sortes of boates made of leather.] They haue two sorts of +boats made of leather, set out on the inner side with quarters of wood, +artificially tyed with thongs of the same: the greater sort are not much +vnlike our wherries, wherein sixteene or twenty men may sit: they haue for +a sayle drest the guts of such beasts as they kill very fine and thinne, +which they sew together: the other boate is but for one man to sit and row +in with one oare. + +[Sidenote: They vse to foule, fish, and hunt.] Their order of fishing, +hunting, and fouling are with these said weapons; but in what sort, or how +they vse them we haue no perfect knowledge as yet. + +[Sidenote: It is to be supposed that their inhabiting is elsewhere.] I can +suppose their abode or habitation not to be here, for that neither their +houses or apparell, are of such force to withstand the extremity of cold, +that the Countrey seemeth to be infected with all: neither do I see any +signe likely to performe the same. + +Those houses or rather dennes which stand there, haue no signe of footway, +or any thing else troden, which is one of the chiefest tokens of +habitation. And those tents which they bring with them, when they haue +sufficiently hunted and fished, they remoue to other places: and when they +haue sufficiently stored them of such victuals, as the Countrey yeeldeth or +bringeth forth, they returne to their winter stations or habitations. This +coniecture do I make, for the infertility which I coniecture to be in that +Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Their vse of yron.] They haue some yron whereof they make arrow +heads, kniues, and other little instruments, to worke their boates, bowes, +arrowes, and darts withall, which are very vnapt to doe any thing withall +but with great labour. + +It seemeth that they haue conuersation with some other people, of whom for +exchange they should receiue the same. They are greatly delighted with any +thing that is bright, or giueth a sound. + +[Sidenote: Anthropophagi.] What knowledge they haue of God, or what Idoll +they adore, we haue no perfect intelligence, I thinke them rather +Anthropophagi, or deuourers of mans flesh then otherwise: for that there is +no flesh or fish which they find dead (smell it neuer so filthily) but they +will eate it, as they finde it without any other dressing. A loathsome +thing, either to the beholders or hearers. + +There is no maner of creeping beast hurtfull, except some Spiders (which as +many affirme, are signes of great store of gold) and also certaine stinging +Gnattes, which bite so fiercely, that the place where they bite shortly +after swelleth, and itcheth very sore. + +They make signes of certaine people that weare bright plates of gold in +their foreheads, and other places of their bodies. + +[Sidenote: Description of the Countreis.] The Countreys on both sides the +streights lye very high with rough stony mountaines, and great quantitie of +snow thereon. There is very little plaine ground and no grasse, except a +little which is much like vnto mosse that groweth on soft ground, such as +we get Turffes in. There is no wood at all. To be briefe there is nothing +fit or profitable for the vse of man, which that Countrey with roote +yeeldeth or bringeth forth: Howbeit there is great quantity of Deere, whose +skins are like vnto Asses, there heads or hornes doe farre exceede, as well +in length as also in breadth, any in these our parts or Countreys: their +feete likewise are as great as our oxens, which we measured to be seuen or +eight ynches in breadth. There are also hares, wolues, fishing beares, and +sea foule of sundry sorts. + +As the Countrey is barren and vnfertile, so are they rude and of no +capacitie to culture the same to any perfection; but are contented by their +hunting, fishing, and fouling, with raw flesh and warme blood to satisfie +their greedy panches, which is their only glory. + +[Sidenote: A signe of Earthquakes or thunder.] There is great likelihood of +Earthquakes or thunder: for that there are huge and monstrous mountaines, +whose greatest substance are stones, and those stones so shaken with some +extraordinarie meanes that one is separated from another, which is +discordant from all other Quarries. + +[Sidenote: No riuers, but such as the Sunne doth cause to come of Snow.] +There are no riuers or running springs, but such as through the heate of +the Sunne, with such water as decendeth from the mountaines and hilles, +whereon great drifts of snow do lie, are engendred. + +[Sidenote: A probability that there should be neither spring or riuer in +the ground.] It argueth also that there should be none: for that the earth, +which with the extremitie of the Winter is so frosen within, that that +water which should haue recourse within the same to maintaine springs, hath +not his motion, whereof great waters haue their originall, as by experience +is seene otherwhere. Such valleis as are capable to receiue the water, that +in the Summer time by the operation of the Sunne decendeth from great +abundance of snowe, which continually lyeth on the mountaines and hath no +passage, sinketh into the earth and so vanisheth away, without any runnell +aboue the earth, by which occasion or continuall standing of the said +water, the earth is opened, and the great frost yeeldeth to the force +thereof, which in other places foure or fiue fathomes within the ground for +lacke of the said moisture, the earth (euen in the very summer time) is +frosen, and so combineth the stones together, that scarcely instruments +with great force can vnknit them. + +Also where the water in those valleis can haue no such passage away, by the +continuance of time in such order as is before rehearsed, the yeerely +descent from the mountaines filleth them full, that at the lowest banke of +the same, they fall into the valley, and so continue as fishing Ponds or +Stagnes in Summer time full of water, and in the Winter hard frosen: as by +skarres that remaine thereof in Summer may easily be perceiued: so that the +heat of Summer is nothing comparable or of force to dissolue the extremitie +of cold that commeth in Winter. + +[Sidenote: Springs nourish gold.] Neuerthelesse I am assured that below the +force of the frost within the earth, the waters haue recourse, and emptie +themselues out of sight into the Sea, which through the extremitie of the +frost are constrained to doe the same: by which occasion the earth within +is kept the warmer, and springs haue their recourse, which is the only +nutriment of golde and Minerals within the same. + +There is much to be sayd of the commodities of these Countreys, which are +couched within the bowels of the earth, which I let passe till more perfect +triall be made thereof. + +The 24. of August after we had satisfied our minds with fraight sufficient +for our vessels, though not our couetous desires with such knowledge of the +Countrey people, and other commodities as are before rehearsed, we departed +therehence. [Sidenote: Our departure from those Countreys.] The 17. of +September we fell with the lands end of England, and so sailed to Milford +Hauen, from whence our Generall rode to the Court for order, to what Port +or Hauen to conduct the ship. + +[Sidenote: How and when we lost our 2. Barks which God neuerthelesse +restored.] We lost our two Barkes in the way homeward, the one the 29. of +August, the other the 21. of the same moneth, by occasion of great tempest +and fogge. Howbeit God restored the one to Bristowe, and the other made his +course by Scotland to Yermouth. In this voyage we lost two men, one in the +way by Gods visitation, and the other homeward cast ouer borde with a surge +of the Sea. + +[Sidenote: The conclusion.] I could declare vnto the Readers, the latitude +and longitude of such places and regions as we haue bene at, but not +altogether so perfectly as our masters and others, with many circumstances +of tempests and other accidents incident to Sea-faring men, which seeme not +altogether strange, but I let them passe to their reports as men most apt +to set forth and declare the same. I haue also left the names of the +Countreys on both the shores vntouched, for lacke of vnderstanding the +peoples language: as also for sundry respects, not needfull as yet to be +declared. + +Countreys new discovered where commoditie is to be looked for, doe better +accord with a new name giuen by the discouerers, then an vncertaine name by +a doubtfull Authour. + +Our generall named sundry Islands, Mountaines, Capes, and Harboroughs after +the names of diuers Noble men and other gentlemen his friends, as wel on +the one shore as also on the other. + + * * * * * + +The third and last voyage vnto Meta Incognita, made by M. Martin Frobisher, + in the yeere 1578. Written by Thomas Ellis. + +These are to let you know, that vpon the 25. of May, the Thomas Allen being +Viceadmirall whose Captaine was M. Yorke, M. Gibbes Master, Christopher +Hall Pilot, accompanied with the Reareadmiral named the Hopewel, whose +Captaine was M. Henrie Carewe, the M. Andrewe Dier, and certaine other +ships came to Grauesend, where wee ankered and abode the comming of our +Fleete which were not yet come. + +The 27. of the same moneth our Fleete being nowe come together, and all +things prest in a readinesse, the wind fauouring, and tide seruing, we +being of sailes in number eight, waied ankers and hoised our sailes toward +Harwich to meete with our Admirall, and the residue which then and there +abode arriuall: where we safely arriued the 28. thereof, finding there our +Admirall, whom we with the discharge of certaine pieces saluted, acording +to order and duety, and were welcommed with the like courtesie: which being +finished we landed; where our Generall continued mustering his souldiers +and Miners, and setting things in order appertaining to the voyage vntill +the last of the said moneth of May, which day we hoised our sailes, and +committing ourselues to the conducting of Almightie God, we set forward +toward the west Countrey in such luckie wise and good successe, that by the +fift of Iune we passed the Dursies, being the vtmost part of Ireland to the +Westward. + +And here it were not much amisse nor farre from our purpose, if I should a +little discourse and speake of our aduentures and chances by the way, as +our landing at Plimmouth, as also the meeting certaine poore men, which +were robbed and spoyled of all that they had by Pirates and Rouers: amongst +whom was a man of Bristow, on whom our Generall vsed his liberality, and +sent him away with letters into England. + +But because such things are impertinent to the matter, I will returne +(without any more mentioning of the same) to that from the which I haue +digressed and swarued, I meane our ships now sailing on the surging seas, +sometime passing at pleasure with a wished Easterne wind, sometimes +hindered of our course againe by the Westerne blasts, vntill the 20. day of +the foresayd moneth of Iune, on which day in the morning we fell with +Frizeland, which is a very hie and cragged land and was almost cleane +couered with snow, so that we might see nought but craggie rockes and the +topes of high and huge hilles, sometimes (and for the most part) all +couered with foggie mists. There might we also perceiue the great Isles of +yce lying on the seas, like mountaines, some small, some big, of sundry +kinds of shapes, and such a number of them, that wee could not come neere +the shore for them. + +Thus sailing alongst the coast, at the last we saw a place somewhat voyd of +yce, where our Generall (accompanied with certaine other) went a shore, +where they sawe certaine tents made of beasts skinnes; and boates much the +like vnto theirs of Meta Incognita. The tents were furnished with flesh, +fish, skins, and other trifles: amonst the which was found a boxe of +nailes: whereby we did coniecture, that they had either Artificers amongst +them, or els a traffike with some other nation. The men ran away, so that +wee coulde haue no conference or communication with them. [Sidenote: The +curtesie of our Generall.] Our Generall (because hee would haue them no +more to flee, but rather incouraged to stay through his courteous dealing) +gaue commaundement that his men should take nothing away with them, sauing +onely a couple of white dogs, for the which he left pinnes, poynts, kniues, +and other trifling things, and departed without taking or hurting any +thing, and so came abord, and hoysed sailes, and passed forwards. + +But being scarce out of the sight thereof, there fell such a foggy and +hidious mist that we could not see one another: whereupon we stroke our +drums, and sounded our trumpets, to the ende we might keepe together: and +so continued all that day and night till the next day that the mist brake +vp: so that we might easily perceiue all the ships thus sailing together +all that day, vntil the next day, being the 22. of the same: on which day +wee sawe an infinite number of yce, from the which we cast about to shun +the danger thereof. + +But one of our small Barkes named the Michael, whose Captaine was Master +Kinderslie, the master Bartholomew Bull, lost our company, insomuch that we +could not obteine the sight of her many dayes after, of whom I meane to +speak further anon when occassion shall be ministred, and opportunitie +serue. Thus we continued in our course vntill the second of Iuly, on which +day we fell with the Queenes foreland, where we saw so much yce, that we +thought it vnpossible to get into the Straights; yet at the last we gaue +the aduenture and entred the yce. + +[Sidenote: The Michael. The Iudith. M. Fenton. Charles Iackman.] Being +amongst it wee sawe the Michael, of whom I spake before, accompanied with +the Iudith, whose Captaine was Master Fenton, the Master Charles Iackman, +bearing into the foresayd yce, farre distant from vs, who in a storme that +fell that present night, (whereof I will at large God willing, discourse +hereafter) were seuered from vs, and being in, wandred vp and downe the +Straights amongst the yce many dayes in great perill, till at the last, by +the prouidence of God, they came safely to harbor in their wished Port in +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, the 20. of Iuly aforesayd, tenne dayes +before any of the other shippes: [Sidenote: The Countesse of Warwicks +sound.] who going on shore found where the people of the Countrey had bene, +and had hid their provision in great heapes of stones being both of flesh +and fish, which they had killed; whereof wee also found great store in +other places after our arriual. They found also diuers engins, as bowes, +slings, and darts. They found likewise certaine pieces of the Pinnesse +which our Generall left there the yeere before, which Pinnesse he had +sunke, minding to haue it againe the next yeere. + +Now seeing I haue entreated so much of the Iudith and the Michael: I will +returne to the rest of the other ships, and will speake a little of the +storme which fell, with the mishaps that we had, the night that we put into +the yce: whereof I made mention before. + +[Sidenote: Our entrance and passage &c.] At the first entring into the yce +in the mouth of the Straights, our passage was very narrow, and difficult +but being once gotten in, we had a faire open place without any yce for the +most part, being a league in compasse, the yce being round about vs and +inclosing vs, as it were, within the pales of a parke. In which place, +(because it was almost night) we minded to take in our sailes, and lie a +hull all that night. But the storme so increased, and the waues began to +mount aloft, which brought the yce so neere vs, and comming on so fast vpon +vs, that we were faine to beare in and out, where we might espie an open +place. Thus the yce comming on vs so fast, we were in great danger, looking +euery houre for death. And thus passed we on in that great danger, seeing +both our selues and the rest of our ships so troubled and tossed amongst +the yce, that it would make the strongest heart to relent. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dionyse.] At the last the Barke Dionyse being but a weake +ship, and bruised afore amongst the yce, being so leake that no longer she +could tarry aboue the water, sanke without sauing any of the goods which +were within her: which sight so abashed the whole Fleete, that we thought +verily we should haue tasted of the same sauce. But neuerthelesse we seeing +them in such danger, manned our boates and saued all men in such wise, that +not one perished: God be thanked. + +[Sidenote: Narow shifts for safetie.] The storme still increased and the +yce inclosed vs, so that we were faine to take downe top and top mastes: +for the yce had so inuironed vs, that we could see neither land nor sea, as +farre as we could kenne: so that we were faine to cut our cables to hang +ouer boord for fenders, somewhat to ease the ships sides from the great and +driry strokes of the yce: some with Capstan barres, some fending off with +oares, some with plancks of two ynches thicke, which were broken immediatly +with the force of the yce, some going out vpon the yce to beare it off with +their shoulders from the ship. But the rigorousnes of the tempest was such, +and the force of the yce so great, that not onely they burst and spoyled +the foresaid prouision, but likewise so raised the sides of the ships, that +it was pitifull to behold, and caused the hearts of many to faint. + +[Sidenote: Gods prouidence.] Thus we continued all that dismall and +lamentable night plunged in this perplexity, looking for instant death: but +our God (who neuer leaueth them destitute which call vpon him, although he +often punisheth for amendements sake) in the morning caused the winds to +cease, and the fogge which all that night lay on the face of the water to +cleare: so that we might perceiue about a mile from vs, a certaine place +cleare from any yce, to the which with an easie breath of wind which our +God sent vs, we bent our selues. And furthermore, hee prouided better for +vs then we deserued or hoped for: for when we were in the foresaid cleare +place, he sent vs a fresh gale at West or at West Southwest, which set vs +cleare without all the yce. And further he added more: for he sent vs so +pleasant a day as the like we had not of a long time before, as after +punishment consolation. + +Thus we ioyfull wights being at libertie, tooke in all our sailes and lay a +hull, praysing God for our deliuerance, and stayed to gather together our +Fleete: which once being done, we seeing that none of them had any great +hurt, neither any of them wanted, sauing onely they of whom I spake before +and the ship which was lost, then at the last we hoised our sailes, and lay +bulting off and on, till such time as it would please God to take away the +yce that wee might get into the Straights. + +[Sidenote: A mountaine of yce appearing in sundry figures.] And as we thus +lay off and on we came by a marueilous huge mountaine of yce, which +surpassed all the rest that euer we saw: for we iudged it to be neere +fourescore fathomes aboue water, and we thought it to be a ground for any +thing that we could perceiue, being there nine score fathoms deepe, and of +compasse about halfe a mile. + +[Sidenote: A fog of long continuance.] Also the fift of Iuly there fell a +hidious fogge and mist, that continued till the nineteenth of the same: so +that one shippe could not see another. [Sidenote: A current to the +Northwest.] Therefore we were faine to beare a small sayle and to obserue +the time: but there ran such a current of a tide, that it set vs to the +Northwest of the Queenes foreland the backside of all the Straights: where +(through the contagious fogge hauing no sight either of Sunne or Starre) we +scarce knew where we were. In this fogge the tenth of Iuly we lost the +company of the Viceadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Busse of Bridgewater, +and the Francis of Foy. + +[Sidenote: The Gabriel. The people offer to traffike with vs.] The 16. day +one of our small Barkes named The Gabriel was sent by our Generall to beare +in with the land to descrie it, where being on land, they met with the +people of the Countrey, which seemed very humane and ciuill, and offered to +traffike with our men, profering them foules and skins for kniues, and +other trifles: whose courtesie caused vs to thinke, that they had small +conuersation with other of the Straights. + +Then we bare backe againe to goe with the Queenes foreland: and the +eighteenth day wee came by two Islands whereon we went on shore, and found +where the people had bene: but we saw none of them. This day we were againe +in the yce, and like to be in as great perill as we were at the first. For +through the darknesse and obscuritie of the fogie mist, we were almost run +on rocks and Islands before we saw them: But God (euen miraculously) +prouided for vs, opening the fogges that we might see clearely, both where +and in what danger we presently were, and also the way to escape: or els +without faile we had ruinously runne vpon the rocks. + +When we knew perfectly our instant case, wee cast about to get againe on +Sea bord, which (God be thanked) by night we obtained and praised God. The +cleare continued scarce an houre, but the fogge fell againe as thicke as +euer it was. + +[Sidenote: Warning pieces of safe passage discharged.] Then the +Rearadmirall and the Beare got themselues cleare without danger of yce and +rocks, strooke their sailes and lay a hull, staying to haue the rest of the +Fleet come forth: which as yet had not found the right way to cleare +themselues from the danger of rockes and yce, vntill the next morning, at +what time the Rearadmirall discharged certaine warning pieces to giue +notice that she had escaped, and that the rest (by following of her) might +set themselues free, which they did that day. + +Then hauing gathered our selues togither we proceeded on our purposed +voyage, bearing off, and keeping our selues distant from the coast till the +19. day of Iuly; at which time the fogges brake vp and dispersed, so that +we might plainely and clearly behold the pleasant ayre, which so long had +bene taken from vs, by the obscuritie of the foggie mists: and after that +time we were not much incumbred therewith vntill we had left the confines +of the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: A faire sound betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound.] +Then we espying a fayre sound, supposed it to goe into the Straights +betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound, which proued as we +imagined. For our Generall sent forth againe the Gabriel to discouer it, +who passed through with much difficulty: for there ran such an extreme +current of a tide, with such a horrible gulfe, that with a fresh gale of +wind they were scarce able to stemme it: yet at length with great trauaile +they passed it, and came to the Straights, where they met with the Thomas +Allen, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Busse of Bridgewater: who altogether +aduentured to beare into the yce againe, to see if they could obtaine their +wished Port. But they were so incombred that with much difficultie they +were able to get out againe, yet at the last they escaping, the Thomas +Allen, and the Gabriel bare in with the Westerne shore, where they found +harbour, and there moared their ships vntill the fourth of August, at which +time they came to vs in the Countesse of Warwicks sound. The Thomas of +Ipswich caught a great leake which caused her to cast againe to Seabord and +so was mended. + +We sailed along still by the coast vntill we came to the Queenes foreland, +at the point whereof we met with part of the gulfe aforesaid, which place +or gulfe (as some of our Masters doe credibly report) doeth flow nine +houres, and ebs but three. At that point wee discouered certaine lands +Southward, which neither time nor opportunitie would serue to search. Then +being come to the mouth of the Straights, we met with the Anne Francis, who +had laine bulting vp and downe euer since her departure alone, neuer +finding any of her company. We met then also the Francis of Foy, with whom +againe we intended to venture and get in: but the yce was yet so thicke, +that we were compelled againe to retyre and get vs on Sea bord. + +[Sidenote: An horrible snowe fell in Iuly.] There fell also the same day +being the 26. of Iuly, such an horrible snow, that it lay a foot thick vpon +the hatches which frose as it fell. + +We had also at other times diuers cruell stormes both of snow and haile, +which manifestly declared the distemperature of the Countrey: yet for all +that wee were so many times repulsed and put backe from our purpose, +knowing that lingering delay was not profitable for vs, but hurtfull to our +voyage, we mutually consented to our valiant Generall once againe to giue +the onset. + +The 28. day therefore of the same Iuly we assayed, and with little trouble +(God be praysed) we passed the dangers by day light. [Sidenote: The time of +our setting forward, &c.] Then night falling on the face of the earth, wee +hulled in the cleare, til the chearefull light of the day had chased away +the noysome darkenesse of the night: at which time we set forward towards +our wished Port: by the 30. day wee obteined our expected desire, where we +found the Iudith, and the Michael: which brought no smal ioy vnto the +General, and great consolation to the heauie hearts of those wearied +wights. + +The 30. day of Iuly we brought our ships into the Countesse of Warwicks +sound, and moared them, namely these ships, The Admirall, the Rearadmirall, +the Francis of Foy, the Beare Armenel, the Salomon, and the Busse of +Bridgewater: which being done, our Generall commaunded vs all to come a +shore vpon the Countesses Iland, where he set his Miners to worke vpon the +Mine, giuing charge with expedition to dispatch with their lading. + +Our Generall himselfe, accompanied with his Gentlemen, diuers times made +rodes into sundry partes of the Countrey, as well to finde new Mines, as +also to finde out and see the people of the Countrey. [Sidenote: The +Countesse of Sussex Iland.] He found out one Mine vpon an Island by Beares +sound, and named it the Countesse of Sussex Island. [Sidenote: Winters +Fornace.] One other was found in Winters Fornace, with diuers others, to +which the ships were sent sunderly to be laden. [Sidenote: Dauids Sound.] +In the same rodes he mette with diuers of the people of the Countrey at +sundry times, as once at a place called Dauids sound: who shot at our men, +and very desperately gaue them the onset, being not aboue three or foure in +number, there being of our Countrey men aboue a dozen: but seeing +themselues not able to preuaile, they tooke themselues to flight; whom our +men pursued, but being not vsed to such craggie cliffes, they soone lost +the sight of them, and so in vaine returned. + +[Sidenote: The policie of the people for the safetie of themselues.] We +also saw of them at Beares sound, both by Sea and land in great companies: +but they would at all times keepe the water betweene them and vs. And if +any of our ships chanced to be in the sound (as they came diuers times, +because the Harbor was not very good) the ship laded, and departed againe: +then so long as any ships were in sight, the people would not be seene. But +when as they perceiued the ships to be gone, they would not only shew +themselues standing vpon high cliffes, and call vs to come ouer vnto them: +but also would come in their Botes very neere to vs, as it were to brag at +vs: whereof our Generall hauing aduertisement, sent for the Captaines and +Gentlemen of the ships, to accompany and attend vpon him, with the Captaine +also of the Anne Francis, who was but the night before come vnto vs. For +they, and the Fleebote hauing lost vs the 26. day in the great snow, put +into an harbour in the Queenes foreland, where they found good Oare, +wherewith they laded themselues, and came to seeke the Generall: so that +now we had all our Shippes, sauing one Barke, which was lost, and the +Thomas of Ipswich, who (compelled by what furie I knowe not) forsooke our +company, and returned home without lading. + +[Sidenote: Their speedie flight at our Generalls arriual.] Our Generall +accompanied with his Gentlemen, (of whom I spake) came altogether to the +Countesse of Sussex Island, neere to Beares sound: where he manned out +certaine Pinasses, and went ouer to the people: who perceiuing his +arriuall, fledde away with all speede, and in haste left certaine dartes +and other engines behinde them, which we found: but the people we could not +finde. + +The next morning our Generall perceiuing certaine of them in botes vpon the +Sea gaue chase to them in a Pinnesse vnder saile, with a fresh gale of +winde, but could by no meanes come neere vnto them: for the longer he +sailed, the further off he was from them: which well shewed their cunning +and actiuitie. Thus time wearing away, and the day of our departure +approching, our Generall commaunded vs to lade with all expedition, that we +might be againe on Seaboard with our ships: for whilest we were in the +Countrey, we were in continual danger of freesing in: for often snowe and +haile often falling, the water was so much frosen and congealed in the +night, that in the morning we could scarce rowe our botes or Pinnesses, +especially in Diers sound, which is a calme and still water: which caused +our Generall to make the more haste, so that by the 30. day of August we +were all laden, and made all things ready to depart. + +[Sidenote: Gentlemen should haue inhabited the Countrey.] But before I +proceede any further herein, to shew what fortune befell at our departure, +I will turne my penne a litle to M. Captaine Fenton, and those Gentlemen +which should haue inhabited all the yeere in those Countries, whose valiant +mindes were much to be commended: For doubtlesse they had done as they +intended if lucke had not withstoode their willingnesse. + +For the Barke Dionyse which was lost, had in her much of their house which +was prepared and should haue bene builded for them, with many other +implements. Also the Thomas of Ipswich which had most of their prouision in +her, came not into the Streights at all: neither did we see her since the +day we were separated in the great snow, of which I spake before. For these +causes, hauing not their house, nor yet prouision, they were disappointed +of their pretence to tarie, and therefore laded their ships, and so came +away with vs. + +[Sidenote: An house tricked and garnished with diuers trinkets.] But before +we tooke shipping, we builded a litle house in the Countesse of Warwicks +Island, and garnished it with many kinds of trifles, as Pinnes, Points, +Laces, Glasses, Kombes, Babes on horsebacke and on foote, with innumerable +other such fansies and toyes: thereby to allure and entice the people to +some familiaritie against other yeeres. + +Thus hauing finished all things we departed the Countrey, as I sayd before: +but because the Busse had not lading enough in her, she put into Beares +sound to take in a little more. In the meane while the Admirall, and the +rest without at Sea stayed for her. And that night fell such an outragious +tempest, beating on our shipps with such vehement rigor, that anchor and +cable auailed nought: for we were driuen on rockes and Islands of yce, +insomuch that (had not the great goodnesse of God bene miraculously shewed +to vs) we had bene cast away euery man. This danger was more doubtfull and +terrible, then any that preceded or went before: for there was not any one +shippe (I thinke) that escaped without damage. Some lost anchor and also +cables, some botes, some Pinnesses: some anchor, cables, boates, and +Pinnisses. + +This boystrous storme so seuered vs from one another, that one shippe knewe +not what was become of another. The Admirall knewe not where to finde the +Viceadmirall or Rearadmirall, or any other ship of our company. Our +Generall being on land in Beares sound could not come to his shippe, but +was compelled to goe aboord the Gabriel where he continued all the way +homeward: for the boystrous blasts continued so extreamely and so long a +time, that they sent vs homewarde (which was Gods fauour towardes vs) will +we, nill we, in such haste as not any one of vs were able to keepe in +company with other, but were separated. And if by chance any one Shippe did +ouertake other, by swiftnesse of sayle, or mette, as they often did: yet +was the rigour of the wind so hidious, that they could not continue company +together the space of one whole night. + +[Sidenote: Our entring the coastes dangerous.] Thus our iourney outward was +not so pleasant, but our comming thither, entering the coasts and countrey, +by narrow Streights, perillous yce, and swift tides, our times of aboade +there in snowe and stormes, and our departure from thence the 31. of August +with dangerous blustering windes and tempests, which that night arose, was +as vncomfortable: separating vs so as we sayled, that not any of vs mette +together, vntill the 28. of September, which day we fell on the English +coastes, betweene Sylley and the landes ende, and passed the channell, +vntill our arriuall in the riuer of Thames. + + * * * * * + +The report of Thomas Wiars passenger in the Emanuel, otherwise called the + Busse of Bridgewater, wherein Iames Leech was Master, one of the ships in + the last Voyage of Master Martin Frobisher 1578. concerning the + discouerie of a great Island in their way homeward the 12. of September. + +The Busse of Bridgewater was left in Beares sound at Meta incognita, the +second day of September behinde the Fleete in some distresse, through much +winde, ryding neere the Lee shoare, and forced there to ride it out vpon +the hazard of her cables and anchors, which were all aground but two. The +third of September being fayre weather, and the winds North northwest she +set sayle, and departed thence, and fell with Frisland on the 8. day of +September at sixe of the clocke at night, and then they set off from the +Southwest point of Frisland, the wind being at East, and East Southeast, +but that night the winde veared Southerly, and shifted oftentimes that +night: but on the tenth day in the morning, the wind at West northwest +faire weather, they steered Southeast, and by south, and continued that +course vntil the 12. day of September, when about 11. a clocke before +noone, they descryed a lande, which was from them about fiue leagues, and +the Southermost part of it was Southeast by East from them, and the +Northermost next, North Northeast, or Northeast. The master accompted that +the Southeast poynt of Frisland was from him at that instant when hee first +descryed this new Islande, Northwest by North, 50. leagues. [Sidenote: The +Island in length 25 leagues. This Iland is in the latitude of 57. degrees +and 1 second part.] They account this Island to be 25. leagues long, and +the longest way of it Southeast, and Northwest. The Southerne part of it is +in the latitude of 57. degrees and 1 second part or there about. They +continued in sight of it, from the 12. day at a 11. of the clocke, till the +13. day three of the clocke in the afternoone, when they left it: and the +last part they saw of it, bare from them Northwest by North. [Sidenote: Two +harboroughs in this Island.] There appeared two Harboroughs vpon that +coast: the greatest of them seuen leagues to the Northwards of the +Southermost poynt, the other but foure leagues. There was very much yce +neere the same land, and also twenty or thirty leagues from it, for they +were not cleare of yce, till the 15. day of September after noone. They +plyed their Voyage homewards, and fell with the West part of Ireland about +Galway, and had first sight of it on the 25. day of September. + + * * * * * + +Notes framed by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Esquire, giuen to + certaine Gentlemen that went with M. Frobisher in his Northwest + discouerie, for their directions: And not vnfit to be committed to print, + considering the same may stirre vp considerations of these and of such + other things, not vnmeete in such new voyages as may be attempted + hereafter. + +That the first Seate be chosen on the seaside, so as (if it may be) you may +haue your owne Nauie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your Seate safe from +the enemie: and so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in open rode abroade +without, to be dispersed with all windes and tempests that shall arise. +Thus seated you shall be least subiect to annoy of the enemie, so may you +by your Nauie within passe out to all parts of the world, and so may the +Shippes of England haue accesse to you to supply all wants, so may your +commodities be caryed away also. This seat is to be chosen in a temperate +Climat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood, +seacoles or turfe, with fish, flesh, graine, fruites, herbes, and rootes, +or so many of those as may suffice every necessitie for the life of such as +shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer, +copper, quicksiluer, or of any such precious thing, the wants of those +needful things may be supplyed from some other place by sea, &c. + +Stone to make Lyme of; Slate stone to tyle withall, or such clay as maketh +tyle; Stone to wall withall, if Brycke may not bee made; Timber for +buylding easely to be conueied to the place; Reede to couer houses or such +like, if tyle or slate be not--are to be looked for as things without which +no Citie may be made nor people in ciuil sort be kept together. + +The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without +traffique, or by traffique and by trade of marchandise. If they shall liue +without sea traffique, at the first they become naked by want of linnen and +woollen, and very miserable by infinite wants that will otherwise ensue, +and so will they be forced of themselues to depart, or else easely they +will be consumed by the Spanyards, by the Frenchmen, or by the naturall +inhabitants of the countrey, and so the enterprise becomes reprochfull to +our Nation, and a let to many other good purposes that may be taken in +hand. + +And by trade of marchandise they can not liue, except the Sea or the Land +there may yeelde comoditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall +regard of that poynt, and so to plant, that the naturall commodities of the +place and seate may draw to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that +by your owne Nauigation you may cary the same out, and fetch home the +supply of the wants of the seate. + +Such Nauigation so to be employed shall, besides the supply of wants, be +able to encounter with forreine force. + +And for that in the ample vent of such things as are brought to you out of +England by Sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that +all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland +people be vsed: so shall you haue firme amitie with your neighbours, so +shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique, and so +shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers and seuerall commodities of +the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands, without the +ayde of some portable or Nauigable riuer, or ample lake, and therefore to +haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite: And so is it of effect for +the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands. + +Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity. +For so may you best discouer all the natural commodities of their countrey, +and also all their wants, al their strengths, all their weaknesse, and with +whom they are in warre, and with whom confederate in peace and amitie, &c. +which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence. + +And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be +matters that are to be respected. For if it be so that you may let in the +salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flats, where the sunne is of +the heate that it is at Rochel, in the Bay of Portugal, or in Spaine, then +may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie +for the fishing, and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt. + +Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as +that at Burdeaux, as that in Portugal, or as that about Siuil in Spaine, or +that in the Islands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a workeman to +put in execution to make Wines, and to dresse Resigns[56] of the sunne and +other, &c. + +Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or +Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe; Then you may be +assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme, considering that our great +trade of clothing doeth require oyle, and weying how deere of late it is +become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if +you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed. + +Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles, +or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a +notable thing fitte for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall +in the West Indies on that firme. + +Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether, &c. It will be a +marchandize right good, and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether +after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne manner. + +Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges, Almonds, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges, +Lemonds, Potatoes, &c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs, +Almonds, Sugar, Marmelade, Sucket, &c. + +Or if great woods be found, if they be of Cypres, chests may be made, if +they be of some kinde of trees, Pitch and Tarre may be made, if they be of +some other, then they may yeeld Rosin, Turpentine, &c. and all for trade +and traffique, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made, likewise, ships +and houses, &c. + +And because traffique is a thing so materiall, I wish that great +obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally, in what +commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour, and to +send vs notice home, that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be +thought of to raise trades. + +Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole +country or any more than the scope of a citie, yet if we might enioy +traffique, and be assured of the same, we might be much inriched, our Nauie +might be increased, and a place of safetie might there be found, if change +of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme, which are things +of great benefit. But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle, we +might so vse the matter, as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles, +sacks, resignes, orenges, lemonds, Spanish skins, &c. Nor vpon France for +woad, baysalt, and Gascoyne wines, nor on Eastland for flaxe, pitch, tarre, +mastes, &c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly +inrich our doubtfull friends, as we doe, but should purchase the +commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe: and +should by our owne industries and the benefities of the soyle there cheaply +purchase oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes, +boords, fish, golde, siluer, copper, tallow, hides and many commodies: +besides if there be no flatts to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood +you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there. + +If you can keepe a safe Hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the +neere neighbours, yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or +other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present. + +If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable +riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first winter, to be +seasoned for ships, barks, boates, and houses. + +And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing +mill may be placed, it would doe great seruice, and therefore consideration +would be had of such places. + +And if such port and chosen place of settling were in possession and after +fortified by arte, although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in, +and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours, nor any +victuals: yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue every +necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next +neighbours, and so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue +victual, or by meanes hereupon to be vsed, to force the next neighbours to +amitie. And keeping a nauy at the settling place, they should find out +along the tract of the land to haue traffique, and at diuers Islands also. +And so this first seat might in time become a stapling place of the +commodities of many countreys and territories, and in time this place might +become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernor. And if the place +first chosen should not so well please our people, as some other more +lately found out: There might be an easie remoue, and that might be raised, +or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour. + +If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be +found marshie and boggie, then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed +thither. For arte may worke wonderful effects therein, and make the soyle +rich for many vses. + +To plant vpon an Island in the mouth of some notable riuer, or vpon the +point of the land entring into the riuer, if no such Island be, were to +great end. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the +land, then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles, and +traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer, or on both, or the +linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for +dominion. + +Such riuers found, both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage +of such as shall pierce the same. These are to be couered with doubles of +course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the +sauage from the rower. + +Since euery soile of the worlde by arte may be made to yeeld things to +feede and to clothe man, bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile +without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same, +and to draw it to more perfection. And if you finde not fruites in your +planting place to your liking, we shall in fiue drifats[57] furnish you +with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your +planting, as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite, +and the yeere next following, as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as +Calice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of +strong durable good sider to drinke, and these trees shall be able to +encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to +beare, as may suffice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first +setling may stand you in great stead, if the soile haue not the commoditie +of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt +after things that yeeld present reliefe, without trouble of carriage +thither, therefor I make mention of these thus specially, to the end you +may haue it specially in minde. + + * * * * * + +A true discourse of the three Voyages of discouerie, for the finding of a + passage to Cathaya, by the Northwest, vnder the conduct of Martin + Frobisher Generall: Before which as a necessary Preface is prefixed a + twofolde discourse, conteining certaine reasons to proue all partes of + the World habitable. Penned by Master George Best, a Gentleman employed + in the same voyages. + +What commodities and instructions may be reaped by diligent reading this +Discourse. + +1 First, by example may be gathered, how a Discouerer of new Countries is +to proceede in his first attempt of any Discouerie. + +2 Item, how he should be prouided of shipping, victuals, munition, and +choice of men. + +3 How to proceede and deale with strange people, be they neuer so +barbarous, cruell and fierce, either by lenitie or otherwise. + +4 How trade of Merchandize may be made without money. + +5 How a Pilot may deale, being inuironed with mountaines of yce in the +frozen sea. + +6 How length of dayes, change of seasons, Summers and Winters doe differ in +sundry regions. + +7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for the length of +the voyage, or the ignorance of the language, the want of Interpreters, new +and vnaccustomed Elements and ayres, strange and vnsauoury meates, danger +of theeues and robbers, fiercenesse of wilde beastes and fishes, hugenesse +of woods, dangerousnesse of Seas, dread of tempestes, feare of hidden +rockes, steepnesse of mountaines, darknesse of sudden falling fogges, +continuall paines taking without any rest, and infinite others. + +8. How pleasant and profitable it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for +the sundry sights and shapes of strange beastes and fishes, the wonderfull +workes of nature, the different maners and fashions of diuers nations, the +sundry sortes of gouernment, the sight of strange trees, fruite, foules, +and beasts, the infinite treasure of Pearle, Golde and Siluer, the newes of +newe found landes, the sundry positions of the Sphere, and many others. + +9. How valiant Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie, and otherwise. + +10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue. + +11 Also here may bee seene a good example to be obserued of any priuate +person, in taking notes, and making obseruations of all such things as are +requisite for a Discouerer of newe Countries. + +12 Lastly, the Reader here may see a good paterne of a well gouerned +seruice, sundry instructions of matters of Cosmographie, Geographie, and +Nauigation, as in reading more at large may be seene. + + +Experiences and reasons of the Sphere, to prooue all partes of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones. + +[Sidenote: Experience to proue that Torrida Zone is habitable.] First, it +may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen in Anno 1553. For Captaine +Windam made a Voyage with Merchandise to Guinea, and entred so farre within +the Torrida Zona, that he was within three or foure degrees of the +Equinoctiall, and his company abiding there certaine Moneths, returned, +with gaine. + +Also the Englishmen made another Voyage very prosperous and gainefull, An. +1554. to the coasts of Guinea, within 3. degrees of the Equinoctiall. And +yet it is reported of a trueth, that all the tract from Cape de las Palmas +trending by C. de tres puntas alongst by Benin, vnto the Ile of S. Thomas +(which is perpendiculer under the Equinoctial)[58] all that whole Bay is +more subiect to many blooming and smoothering heates, with infectious and +contagious ayres, then any other place in all Torrida Zona: and the cause +thereof is some accidents in the land. For it is most certaine, that +mountains, Seas, woods and lakes, &c, may cause through their sundry kinde +of situation, sundry strange and extraordinary effects, which the reason of +the clyme otherwise would not giue. I mention these Voyages of our +Englishmen, not so much to prooue that Torrida Zona may bee, and is +inhabited, as to shew their readinesse in attempting long and dangerous +Nauigations. Wee also among vs in England, haue blacke Moores, Æthiopians, +out of all partes of Torrida Zona, which after a small continuance, can +well endure the colde of our Countrey, and why should not we as well abide +the heate of their Countrey? But what should I name any more experiences, +seeing that all the coastes of Guinea and Benin are inhabited of Portugals, +Spanyardes, French, and some Englishmen, who there haue built Castles and +Townes. [Sidenote: Marochus more hote then about the Equinoctiall.] Onely +this I will say to the Merchants of London, that trade yeerely to Marochus, +it is very certaine, that the greatest part of the burning Zone is farre +more temperate and coole in Iune, then the Countrey of Marochus, as shall +appeare by these reasons and experiences following. For let vs first +consider the bignesse of this burning Zone (which as euery man knoweth, is +47. degrees) each Tropicke, which are the bounders thereof, being 28. +degrees and a halfe distant from the Equinoctiall. Imagine againe two other +Parallels, on each side the Equinoctiall about 20. degrees, which Paralels +may be described either of them twice a yeere by the Sunne, being in the +first degrees of Gemini the 11. of May, and in Leo the 13. of Iuly, hauing +North Latitude. And againe, the Sunne being in the first degrees of +Sagittarius, the 12. of Nouember, and in Aquarius the 9. of Ianuary, hauing +South latitude, I am to prooue by experience and reason that all that +distance included betweene these two Paralels last named (conteyning 40. +degrees in latitude, going round about the earth, according to longitude) +is not onely habitable, but the same most fruitfull and delectable, and +that if any extremitie of heate bee, the same not to be within the space of +twenty degrees of the Equinoctiall on either side, but onely vnder and +about the two Tropickes, and so proportionally the nearer you doe approch +to eyther Tropicke, the more you are subiect to extremitie of heate (if any +such be) and so Marochus being situate but sixe or seuen degrees from the +Tropicke of Cancer, shall be more subiect to heate, then any place vnder or +neere the Equinoctiall line.[59] + +[Sidenote: Marueilous fruitfull soile vnder the Equinoctiall.] And first by +the experience of sundry men, yea thousands, Trauailers and Merchants, to +the East and West Indies in many places, both directly vnder, and hard by +the Equinoctiall, they with one consent affirme, that it aboundeth in the +middest of Torrida Zona with all manner of Graine, Hearbes, grasse, fruite, +wood and cattell, that we haue heere, and thousandes other sortes, farre +more wholesome, delectable and precious, then any wee haue in these +Northerne climates, as very well shall appeare to him that will reade the +Histories and Nauigations of such as haue traueiled Arabia, India intra and +extra Gangem, the Islands Moluccæ, America, &c. which all lye about the +middle of the burning Zone, where it is truely reported, that the great +hearbes, as are Radish, Lettuce, Colewortes, Borage, and such like, doe +waxe ripe, greater, more sauourie and delectable in taste then ours, within +sixteene dayes after the seede is sowen. Wheate being sowed the first of +Februarie, was found ripe the first of May, and generally, where it is +lesse fruitfull, the wheate will be ripe the fourth moneth after the seed +is sowne, and in some places will bring foorth an eare as bigge as the +wrist of a mans arme containing 1000. graines; Beanes, peace, &c. are there +ripe twice a yeere. Also grasse being cut downe, will grow vp in sixe dayes +aboue one foote high. If our cattell be transported thither, within a small +time their young ones become of bigger stature, and more fat than euer they +would haue bene in these countreys. [Sidenote: Great trees.] There are +found in euery wood in great numbers, such timber trees as twelue men +holding handes together are not able to fathome. [Sidenote: Commodities and +pleasures vnder the Equinoctiall.] And to be short, all they that haue bene +there with one consent affirme, that there are the goodliest greene medowes +and plaines, the fairest mountaines couered with all sorts of trees and +fruites, the fairest valleys, the goodliest pleasant fresh riuers, stored +with infinite kinde of fishes, the thickest woods, green and bearing fruite +all the whole yeere, that are in all the world. And as for gold, siluer, +and all other kinde of Metals, all kinde of spices and delectable fruites, +both for delicacie and health, are there in such abundance, as hitherto +they haue bene thought to haue beene bred no where else but there. And in +conclusion, it is nowe thought that no where else but vnder the +Equinoctiall, or not farre from thence, is the earthly Paradise, and the +onely place of perfection in this worlde. And that these things may seeme +the lesse strange, because it hath bene accompted of the olde Philosophers, +that there coulde nothing prosper for the extreme heat of the Sunne +continually going ouer their heades in the Zodiacke, I thought good here to +alleadge such naturall causes as to me seeme very substantiall and sure +reasons. + +[Sidenote: Heat is caused by two meanes that is by his maner of Angle and +by his continuance.] First you are to vnderstand that the Sunne doeth worke +his more or lesse heat in these lower parts by two meanes, the one is by +the kinde of Angle that the Sunne beames doe make with the earth, as in all +Torrida Zona it maketh perpendicularly right Angles in some place or other +at noone, and towards the two Poles very oblique and vneuen Angles. And the +other meane is the longer or shorter continuance of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon. So that wheresoeuer these two causes do most concurre, there is +most excesse of heat: and when the one is wanting, the rigor of the heat is +lesse. For though the Sunne beames do beat perpendicularly vpon any region +subiect vnto it, if it hath no continuance or abode aboue the Horizon, to +worke his operation in, there can no hote effect proceed. For nothing can +be done in a moment. [Sidenote: Note this reason.] And this second cause +mora Solis supra Horizontem, the time of the sunnes abiding aboue the +Horizon, the old Philosophers neuer remembred, but regarded onely the maner +of Angles that the Sunne beames made with the Horizon, which if they were +equall and right, the heat was the greater, as in Torrida Zona: if they +were vnequall and oblique, the heat was the lesse, as towards both Poles, +which reason is very good and substantiall: for the perpendicular beames +reflect and reuerberate in themselues, so that the heat is doubled, euery +beame striking twice, and by vniting are multiplied, and continue strong in +forme of a Columne. But in our latitude of 50. and 60. degrees, the Sunne +beames descend oblique and slanting wise, and so strike but once and +depart, and therefore our heat is the lesse for any effect that the Angle +of the Sunne beames make. Yet because wee haue a longer continuance of the +Sunnes presence aboue our Horizon then they haue vnder the Equinoctial; by +this continuance the heat is increased, for it shineth to vs 16. or 18. +houres sometime, when it continueth with them but twelue houres alwayes. + +And againe, our night is very short, wherein cold vapours vse to abound, +being but sixe or eight houres long, whereas theirs is alwayes twelue +houres long, by which two aduantages of long, dayes and short nights, +though we want the equalitie of Angle, it commeth to passe that in Sommer +our heat here is as great as theirs is there, as hath bene proued by +experience, and is nothing dissonant from good reason. Therefore whosoeuer +will rightly way the force of colde and heat in any region, must not onely +consider the Angle that the Sunne beames make, but also the continuance of +the same aboue the Horizon. As first to them vnder the Equinoctiall the +Sunne is twice a yeere at noone in their Zenith perpendicular ouer their +heads, and therefore during the two houres of those two dayes the heat is +very vrgent, and so perhaps it will be in foure or fiue dayes more an houre +euery day, vntill the Sunne in his proper motion haue crossed the +Equinoctiall; so that this extreme heat caused by the perpendicular Angle +of the Sunne beames, endureth but two houres of two dayes in a yeere. But +if any man say the Sunne may scalde a good while before and after it come +to the Meridian, so farre foorth as reason leadeth, I am content to allow +it, and therefore I will measure and proportion the Sunnes heat, by +comparing the Angles there, with the Angles made here in England, because +this temperature is best knowen vnto vs. As for example, the 11. day of +March, when vnder the Equinoctiall it is halfe houre past eight of the +clocke in the morning, the Sunne will he in the East about 38. degrees +aboue the Horizon, because there it riseth alwayes at six of the clocke, +and moueth euery houre 15. degrees, and so high very neere will it be with +vs at London the said eleuenth day of March at noone. And therefore looke +what force the Sunne hath with vs at noone, the eleventh of March, the same +force it seemeth to haue vnder the Equinoctial at half an houre past eight +in the morning, or rather lesse force vnder the Equinoctiall, For with vs +the Sunne had bene already sixe houres aboue the horizon, and so had +purified and clensed all the vapours, and thereby his force encreased at +noone; but vnder the Equinoctiall, the Sunne hauing bene vp but two houres +and an halfe, had sufficient to doe, to purge and consume the cold and +moyst vapours of the long night past, and as yet had wrought no effect of +heate. And therefore I may boldly pronounce, that there is much lesse heate +at halfe an houre past eight vnder the Equinoctiall, then is with vs at +noone: à fortiori. But in March we are not onely contented to haue the +Sunne shining, but we greatly desire the same. Likewise the 11. of Iune, +the Sunne in our Meridian is 62 degrees high at London: and vnder the +Equinoctiall it is so high after 10 of the clocke, and seeing then it is +beneficial with vs; à fortiori it is beneficiall to them after 10 of the +clocke. + +And thus haue wee measured the force of the Sunnes greatest heate, the +hottest dayes in the yeere, vnder the Equinoctiall, that is in March and +September, from sixe till after tenne of the clocke in the morning, and +from two vntill Sunne set. And this is concluded, by respecting onely the +first cause of heate, which is the consideration of the Angle of the Sunne +beames, by a certaine similitude, that whereas the Sunne shineth neuer +aboue twelue houres, more then eight of them would bee coole and pleasant +euen to vs, much more to them that are acquainted alwayes with such warme +places. So there remaineth lesse then foure houres of excessiue heate, and +that onely in the two Sommer dayes of the yeere, that is the eleueuth day +of March, and the fourteenth of September: for vnder the Equinoctiall they +haue two Sommers, the one in March, and the other in September, which are +our Spring and Autumne: and likewise two Winters, in Iune and December, +which are our Sommer and Winter, as may well appeare to him that hath onely +tasted the principles of the Sphere. But if the Sunne bee in either +Tropicke, or approaching neere thereunto, then may wee more easily measure +the force of his Meridian altitude, that it striketh vpon the Equinoctiall. +As for example, the twelfth of Iune the Sunne will be in the first degree +of Cancer. Then look what force the heate of the Sunne hath vnder the +Equinoctiall, the same force and greater it hath in all that Parallel, +where the Pole is eleuated betweene fourtie and seuen, and fourtie and +eight degrees. [Sidenote: Paris in France is as hote as vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune.] And therefore Paris in France the twelfth day of +Iune sustaineth more heate of the Sunne, then Saint Thomas Iland lying +neere the same Meridian doeth likewise at noone, or the Ilands Traprobana, +Molluccæ, or the firme lande of Peru in America, which all lye vnderneath +the Equinoctiall. For vpon the twelfth day of Iune aforesaide, the Sunne +beames at noone doe make an Isoscheles Triangle, whose Vertex is the Center +of the Sunne, the Basis a line extended from Saint Thomas Iland vnder the +Equinoctiall, vnto Paris in France neere the same Meridian: therefore the +two Angles of the Base must needs be equal per 5. primi,[60] Ergo the force +of the heat equal, if there were no other cause then the reason of the +Angle, as the olde Philosophers haue appointed. [Sidenote: In Iune is +greater heat at Paris then vnder the Equinoctiall.] But because at Paris +the Sunne riseth two houres before it riseth to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, and setteth likewise two houres after them, by meanes of the +obliquitie of the Horizon, in which time of the Sunnes presence foure +houres in one place more then the other, it worketh some effect more in one +place then in the other, and being of equall height at noone, it must then +needs follow to be more hote in the Parallel of Paris, then it is vnder the +Equinoctiall. + +[Sidenote: The twilights are shorter, and the nights darker vnder the +Equinoctiall then at Paris.] Also this is an other reason, that when the +Sunne setteth to them vnder the Equinoctiall, it goeth very deepe and lowe +vnder their Horizon, almost euen to their Antipodes, whereby their +twilights are very short, and their nights are made very extreeme darke and +long, and so the moysture and coldnesse of the long nights wonderfully +encreaseth, so that at length the Sunne rising can hardly in many houres +consume and driue away the colde humours and moyst vapours of the night +past, which is cleane contrary in the Parallel of Paris: for the Sunne +goeth vnder their Horizon but very little, after a sloping sort, whereby +their nights, are not very darke, but lightsome, as looking into the North +in a cleare night without cloudes it doeth manifestly appeare, their +twilights are long: for the Parallel of Cancer cutteth not the Horizon of +Paris at right Angles, but at Angles very vneuen, and vnlike as it doeth +the Horizon of the Equinoctiall. Also the Sommer day at Paris is sixteene +houres long, and the night but eight: where contrarywise vnder the +Equinoctiall the day is but twelue houres long, and so long is also the +night, in whatsoeuer Parallel the Sunne be: and therefore looke what oddes +and difference of proportion there is betweene the Sunnes abode aboue the +Horizon in Paris, and the abode it hath vnder the Equinoctiall, (it being +in Cancer) the same proportion would seeme to be betweene the heate of the +one place, and heate of the other: for other things (as the Angle of the +whole arke of the Sunnes progresse that day in both places) are equall. + +But vnder the Equinoctiall the presence and abode of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon is equall to his absence, and abode vnder the Horizon, eche being +twelue houres. And at Paris the continuance and abode of the Sunne is aboue +the Horizon sixteene houres long, and but eight houres absence, which +proportion is double, from which if the proportion of the equalitie be +subtracted to finde the difference, there will remaine still a double +proportion, whereby it seemeth to follow, that in Iune the heate of Paris +were double to the heate vnder the equinoctiall. For (as I haue said) the +Angles of the Sunne beames are in all points equall, and the cause of +difference is, Mora Solis supra Horizontem, the stay of the Sunne in the +one Horizon more then in the other. [Sidenote: In what proportion the Angle +of the Sun beames heateth.] Therefore, whosoeuer could finde out in what +proportion the Angle of the Sunne beames heateth, and what encrease the +Sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto, it might expresly be set downe, +what force of heat and cold is in all regions. + +Thus you partly see by comparing a Climate to vs well knowen and familiarly +acquainted by like height of the Sunne in both places, that vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heat, but a temperate aire rather +tendering to cold. [Sidenote: They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the +Equinoctiall.] For as they haue there for the most part a continuall +moderate heat, so yet sometime they are a little pinched with colde, and +vse the benefite of fire as well as we, especially in the euening when they +goe to bed, for as they lye in hanging beds tied fast in the vpper part of +the house, so will they haue fires made on both sides their bed, of which +two fires, the one they deuise superstitiously to driue away spirits, and +the other to keepe away from them the coldnesse of the nights. + +[Sidenote: Colde intermingled with heate vnder the Equinoctiall.] Also in +many places of Torrida Zona, especially in the higher landes somewhat +mountainous, the people a little shrincke at the colde, and are often +forced to prouide themselues clothing, so that the Spaniards haue found in +the West Indies many people clothed, especially in Winter, whereby +appeareth, that with their heat there is colde intermingled, else would +they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing, which to them is rather a +griefe and trouble then otherwise. For when they goe to warres, they will +put off all their apparel, thinking it to be cumbersome, and will alwayes +goe naked, that they thereby might be more nimble in their fight. + +Some there be that thinke the middle Zone extremely hot, because the people +of the countrey can, and doe liue without clothing, wherein they childishly +are deceiued: for our Clime rather tendeth to extremitie of colde, because +wee cannot liue without clothing: for this our double lining, furring, and +wearing so many clothes, is a remedy against extremetie, and argueth not +the goodnesse of the habitation, but inconuenience and iniury of colde: and +that is rather the moderate, temperate, and delectable habitation, where +none of these troublesome things are required, but that we may liue naked +and bare, as nature bringeth vs foorth. + +[Sidenote: Ethiopians blacke, with curled haire.] Others againe imagine the +middle Zone to be extreme hot, because the people of Africa, especially the +Ethiopians, are so cole blacke, and their haire like wooll curled short, +which blacknesse and curled haire they suppose to come onely by the +parching heat of the Sunne, which how it should be possible I cannot see: +for euen vnder the Equinoctiall in America, and in the East Indies; and in +the Ilands Moluccæ the people are not blacke, but tauney and white, with +long haire vncurled as wee haue, so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came +by the heate of the Sunne, why should not those Americans and Indians also +be as blacke as they, seeing the Sunne is equally distant from them both, +they abiding in one Parallel: for the concaue and conuexe Superficies of +the Orb of the Sunne is concentrike, and equidistant to the earth; except +any man should imagine somewhat of Aux Solis, and Oppositum, which +indifferently may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other. +[Sidenote: The Sunne heateth not by his neerenesse, but onely by +reflection.] But the Sunne is thought to giue no otherwise heat, but by way +of Angle in reflection, and not by his neerenesse to the earth: for +throughout all Africa, yea in the middest of the middle Zone, and in all +other places vpon the tops of mountaines there lyeth continuall snow, which +is nearer to the Orbe of the sunne, then the people are in the valley, by +so much as the height of these moantaines amount vnto, and yet the Sunne +notwithstanding his neerenesse, can not the melt snow for want of +conuenient place of reflections. Also the middle region of the aire where +all the haile, frost, and snow is engendred, is neerer vnto the Sunne then +the earth is, and yet there continueth perpetuall cold, because there is +nothing that the Sunne beames may reflect against, whereby appeareth that +the neerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing. + +[Sidenote: A blacke Moores sonne borne in England.] Therefore to returne +againe to the blacke Moores. I myself haue seen an Ethiopian as blacke as a +cole brought into England, who taking a faire English woman to wife, begat +a sonne in all respects as blacke as the father was, although England were +his natiue countrey; and an English woman his mother: whereby it seemeth +this blacknes proceedeth rather of some natural infection of that man which +was so strong, that neither the nature of the Clime, neither the good +complexion of the mother concurring, coulde any thing alter, and therefore +wee cannot impute it to the natureof the Clime. [Sidenote: The colour of +the people in Meta Incognita. The complexion of the people of Meta +incognita.] And for a more fresh example, our people of Meta Incognita (of +whom and for whom this discourse is taken in hande) that were brought this +last yeere into England, were all generally of the same colour that many +nations be, lying in the middest of the middle Zone. And this their colour +was not onely in the face which was subiect to Sunne and aire, but also in +their bodies, which were still couered with garments as ours are, yea the +very sucking childe of twelue moneths age had his sonne of the very same +colour that most haue vnder the equinoctiall, which thing cannot proceed by +reason of the Clime, for that they are at least ten degrees more towardes +the North then wee in England are, No, the Sunne neuer commeth neere their +Zenith by fourtie degrees: for in effect, they are within three or foure +degrees of that which they call the frozen Zone, and as I saide, fourtie +degrees from the burning Zone, whereby it followeth, that there is some +other cause then the Climate or the Sonnes perpendicular reflexion, that +should cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse. And the most probable cause +to my judgement is, that this blackenesse proceedeth of some naturall +infection of the first inhabitants of that Countrey, and so all the whole +progenie of them descended, are still polluted with the same blot of +infection. Therefore it shall not bee farre from our purpose, to examine +the first originall of these blacke men, and howe by a lineall discent they +haue hitherto continued thus blacke. + +[Sidenote: The cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse.] It manifestly and +plainely appeareth by Holy Scripture, that after the generall inundation +and ouerflowing of the earth, there remained no moe men aliue but Noe his +three sonnes, Sem, Cham, and Iaphet, who onely were left to possesse and +inhabite the whole face of the earth: therefore all the sundry discents +that vntil this day haue inhabited the whole earth, must needes come of the +off-spring either of Sem, Cham, or Iaphet, as the onely sonnes of Noe, who +all three being white, and their wiues also, by course of nature should +haue begotten and brought foorth white children. But the enuie of our great +and continuall enemie the wicked Spirite is such, that as hee coulde not +suffer our olde father Adam to liue in the felicite and Angelike state +wherein hee was first created, but tempting him sought and procured his +ruine and fall: so againe, finding at this flood none but a father and +three sonnes liuing, hee so caused one of them to transgresse and disobey +his fathers commaundement, that after him all his posterity shoulde bee +accursed. [Sidenote: The Arke of Noe.] The fact of disobedience was this: +When Noe at the commandement of God had made the Arke and entred therein, +and the floud-gates of heauen were opened, so that the whole face of the +earth, euery tree and mountaine was couered with abundance or water, hee +straitely commaunded his sonnes and their wiues, that they should with +reuerence and feare beholde the iustice and mighty power of God, and that +during the time of the flood while they remained in the Arke, they should +vse continencie, and abstaine from carnall copulation with their wines: and +many other precepts bee gaue vnto them, and admonitions touching the +iustice of God, in renenging sinne, and his mercie in deliuering them, who +nothing deserued it. Which good instructions and exhortations +notwithstanding his wicked sonne Cham disobeyed, and being perswaded that +the first childe borne after the flood (by right and Lawe of nature) should +inherite and possesse all the dominions of the earth, hee contrary to his +fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke, vsed company with his +wife, and craftily went about thereby to dis-inherite the off-spring of his +other two brethren: for the which wicked and detestable fact, as an example +for contempt of Almightie God, and disobedience of parents, God would a +sonne should bee borne whose name was Chus, who not [Sidenote: Chus the +sonne of Cham accursed.] onely it selfe, but all his posteritie after him +should bee so blacke and lothsome, that it might remaine a spectacle of +disobedience to all the worlde. And of this blacke and cursed Chus came all +these blacke Moores which are in Africa, for after the water was vanished +from off the face of the earth, and that the lande was dry, Sem chose that +part of the land to inhabite in, which nowe is called Asia, and Iaphet had +that which now is called Europa, wherein wee dwell, and Africa remained for +Cham and his blacke sonne [Sidenote: Africa was called Chamesis.] Chus, and +was called Chamesis after the fathers name, being perhaps a cursed, dry, +sandy, and vnfruitfull ground, fit for such a generation to inhabite in. + +Thus you see, that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and +naturall infection of blood, and not the distemperature of the Climate; +Which also may bee prooued by this example, that these blacke men are found +in all parts of Africa, as well without the Tropickes, as within, euen vnto +Capo de buona Speranza Southward, where, by reason of the Sphere, should be +the same temperature that is in Sicilia, Morea and Candie, where al be of +very good complexions. Wherefore I conclude, that the blacknesse proceedeth +not of the hotenesse of the Clime, but as I saide, of the infection of +blood, and therefore this their argument gathered of the Africans +blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone. Wee +may therefore very well bee assertained, that vnder the Equinoctiall is the +most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in; where +although the Sunne for two houres in a yeere be direct ouer their heades, +and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force, yet [Sidenote: +Greatest temperature vnder the Equinoctial] because it commeth so seldome, +and continueth so small a time, when it commeth, it is not to bee wayed, +but rather the moderate heate of other times in all the yeere to be +remembred. And if the heate at any time should in the short day waxe +somewhat vrgent, the coldnesse of the long night there would easily refresh +it, according as Henterus sayeth, speaking of the temperature vnder the +Equinoctiall. + + Quodque die solis violento incanduit æstu, + Humida nox reficit, paribusque refrigerat horis. + +If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing, the +moysture of the night doeth coole and refresh the same againe, the Sunne +being as long absent in the night, as it was present in the day. + +Also our Aucthour of the Sphere, Johannes de Sacro Bosco, in the Chapter of +the Zodiacke, deriueth the Etymologie of Zodiacus, of the Greeke word Zoe, +which in Latine signifieth Vita, life; for out of Aristotle hee alleadgeth, +that Secundum accessum et recessum solis in Zodiaco, fiunt generationes et +corruptiones in rebus inferioribus: according to the Sunnes going to and +fro in the Zodiake, the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation +and corruption. [Sidenote: Vnder the Equinoctiall is greatest generation.] +Then it followeth, that where there is most going to and fro, there is most +generation and corruption: which must needes be betweene the two Tropikes; +for there the Sunne goeth to and fro most, and no where else but there. +Therefore betweene the two Tropikes, that is, in the middle Zone, is +greatest increase, multiplication, generation, and corruption of things, +which also wee finde by experience; for there is Sommer twice in the yeere, +and twice Winter, so that they haue two Haruests in the yeere, and +continuall Spring. Seeing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate, it +resteth to declare where the hottest part of the world should bee, for we +finde some places more hote then others. + +To answere this doubt, reason perswadeth, the hotest place in[61] the world +to bee vnder and about the two Tropikes; for there more then in any other +place doe both the [Sidenote: Greatest heate vnder the Tropicks.] causes of +heate concurre, that is, the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames, at +right angles, and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horizon, the +Pole there being eleuated three or foure and twentie degrees. And as before +I concluded, that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, yet because the same continued but a small time (their dayes +being short, and their nights long) and the speedie departure of the Sunne +from their Zenith, because of the suddeine crossing of the Zodiake with the +Equinoctiall, and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and +colde, the temperature grew moderate, and very well able to bee endured: so +nowe to them vnder the two Tropikes, the Sunne hauing once by his proper +motion declined twentie degrees from the Equinoctial, beginneth to drawe +neere their Zenith, which may bee (as before) about the eleuenth day of +May, and then beginneth to sende his beames almost at right Angles, about +which time the Sunne entreth into the first degree of Gemini, and with this +almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it bee past +Cancer, that is, the space of two moneths euery day at noone, almost +perpendicular ouer their heades, being then the time of Solstitium +Aestiuale: which so long continuance of the Sunne about their Zenith may +cause an extreeme heate (if any be in the world) but of necessitie farre +more heate then can bee vnder the Equinoctiall, where the Sunne hath no +such long abode in the Zenith, but passeth away there hence very quickly. +Also vnder the Tropikes, the day is longer by an houre and a halfe, then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall; wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer +time of operation, must needes be encreased, especially seeing the night +wherein colde and moysture doe abound vnder the Tropickes, is lesse then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall. Therefore I gather, that vnder the Tropickes is +the hotest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, but of any other part of the +world, especially because there both causes of heate doe concurre, that is, +the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes together, and +the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison. And by this +meanes more at large is prooued, that Marochus in Summer is farre more +hote, then at any time vnder the Enoctiall, because it is situate so neere +the Tropick of Cancer, and also for the length of their dayes. Neither yet +doe I thinke, that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks are not +habitable, for they are found to be very fruitfull also; although Marochus +and some other parts of Afrike neere the Tropike for the drinesse of the +natiue sandie soile, and some accidents may seeme to some to be intemperate +for ouer much heat. For Ferdinandus Ouiedus[62] speaking of Cuba and +Hispaniola, Ilands of America, lying hard vnder, or by the Tropike of +Cancer, saith, that these Ilands haue as good pasture for cattell, as any +other countrey in the world. + +Also, they haue most holesome and cleare water, and temperate aire, by +reason whereof the heards of beastes are much bigger, fatter, and of better +taste, then any in Spaine, because of the ranke pasture, whose moysture is +better digested in the hearbe or grasse, by continuall and temperate heate +of the Sunne, whereby being made more fat and vnctious, it is of better and +more stedfast nourishment: For continuall and temperate heate doeth not +onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nourishment of such +things as growe, and are engendred in that Clime, but doeth also by +moderation preserue the same from putrifying, digesting also, and +condensating or thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gumme and +vnctious substance, whereby appeareth also, that vnder the Tropikes is both +holesome, fruitefull, and pleasant habitation, whereby lastly it followeth, +that all the [Sidenote: Vnder the Tropickes is moderate temperature.] +middle Zone, which vntill of late dayes hath bene compted and called the +burning, broyling, and parched Zone, is now found to be the most delicate, +temperate, commodious, pleasant and delectable part of the world, and +especially vnder the Equinoctiall. + +Hauing now sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle +Zone, it remaineth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall +heate in colde Regions, as well in the night as in the day all the Sommer +long, and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitants of the +same, contrary to the opinion of the olde writers. + + +Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long, and also how in + Winter the same is habitable, especially to the inhabitants thereof. + +The colde Regions of the world are those, which tending toward the Poles +Arctike, and Antarctike, are without the circuite or boundes of the seuen +Climates: which assertion agreeable to the opinion of the olde Writers, is +found and set out in our authour of the Sphere, Iohannes de Sacrobosco, +where hee plainely saith, that without the seuenth Climate, which is +bounded by a Parallel passing at fiftie degrees in Latitude, all the +habitation beyonde is discommodious and intolerable. [Sidenote: Nine +Climates.] But Gemma Frisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to +be without the compasse of those Climates, wherein hee knewe to bee very +temperate and good habitation, added thereunto two other Climates, the +vttermost Parallel whereof passeth by 56. degrees in Latitude, and therein +comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation, England, Scotland, +Denmarke, Moscouia, &c which all are rich and mightie kingdomes. + +[Sidenote: A comparison betweene Marochus and England.] The olde writers +perswaded by bare conjecture, went about to determine of those places, by +comparing them to their owne complexions, because they felt them to bee +hardly tolerable to themselues, and so took thereby an argument of the +whole habitable earth; as if a man borne in Marochus, or some other part of +Barbarie, should at the latter end of Sommer vpon the suddeine, either +naked, or with his thinne vesture, bee brought into England, hee would +judge this Region presently not to bee habitable, because hee being brought +vp in so warme a Countrey, is not able here to liue, for so suddeine an +alteration of the colde aire: but if the same man had come at the beginning +of Sommer, and so afterward by little and little by certaine degrees, had +felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of Autumne, it would haue +seemed by degrees to harden him, and so to make it farre more tollerable, +and by vse after one yeere or two, the aire would seeme to him more +temperate. It was compted a great matter in the olde time, that there was a +brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Pontus, which after was +brought and shewed in Delphis, in token of a miraculous colde region and +winter, and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo. + +This effect being wrought in the Parallel of fouretie three degrees in +Latitude, it was presently counted a place very hardly and vneasily to be +inhabited for the great colde. And how then can such men define vpon other +Regions very farre without that Parallel, whether they were inhabited or +not, seeing that in so neere a place they so grossely mistooke the matter, +and others their followers being contented with the inuentions of the olde +Authors, haue persisted willingly in the same opinion, with more confidence +then consideration of the cause: so lightly was that opinion receiued, as +touching the vnhabitable Clime neere and vnder the Poles. + +[Sidenote: All the North regions are habitable.] Therefore I am at this +present to proue, that all the land lying betweene the last climate euen +vnto the point directly vnder either poles, is or may be inhabited, +especially of such creatures as are ingendred and bred therein. For indeed +it is to be confessed, that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in +euery particular place or region, especially with the same ioy and +felicitie, as it did where it was first bred, for the certeine agreement of +nature that is betweene the place and the thing bred in that place; as +appeareth by the Elephant, which being translated and brought out of the +second or third climat, though they may liue, yet will they neuer ingender +or bring forth yong.[63] Also we see the like in many kinds of plants and +herbs; for example, the Orange trees, although in Naples they bring forth +fruit abundantly, in Rome and Florence they will beare onely faire greene +leaues, but not any fruit: and translated into England, they will hardly +beare either flowers, fruit, or leaues, but are the next Winter pinched and +withered with cold: yet it followeth not for this, that England, Rome, and +Florence should not be habitable. + +[Sidenote: Two causes of heat.] In the prouing of these colde regions +habitable, I shalbe very short, because the same reasons serve for this +purpose which were alleged before in the proouing the middle Zone to be +temperate, especially seeing all heat and colde proceed from the Sunne, by +the meanes either of the Angle which his beames do make with the Horizon, +or els by the long or short continuance of the Suns presence aboue ground: +so that if the Sunnes beames do beat perpendicularly at right Angles, then +there is one cause of heat, and if the Sunne do also long continue aboue +the Horizon, then the heat thereby is much increased by accesse of this +other cause, and so groweth to a kinde of extremitie. And these two causes, +as I sayd before, do most concurre vnder the two Tropicks, and therefore +there is the greatest heat of the world. And likewise, where both these +causes are most absent, there is greatest want of heat, and increase of +colde (seeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heate) +and if one cause be wanting, and the other present the effect will grow +indifferent. Therefore this is to be vnderstood, that the neerer any region +is to the Equinoctiall, the higher the Sunne doth rise ouer their heads at +noone, and so maketh either right or neere right Angles, but the Sunne +tarieth with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter dayes, with +longer and colder nights, to restore the domage of the day past, by reason +of the moisture consumed by vapour. But in such regions, ouer the which the +Sunne riseth lower (as in regions extended towards either pole) it maketh +there vnequall Angles, but the Sunne continueth longer, and maketh longer +dayes, and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights, as retaining warme +vapours of the day past. For there are found by experience Summer nights in +Scotland and Gothland very hot, when vnder the Equinoctiall they are found +very cold. [Sidenote: Hote nights nere the pole. Colde nights vnder the +Equinoctiall.] This benefit of the Sunnes long continuance and increase of +the day, doth argument so much the more in colde regions as they are nerer +the poles, and ceaseth not increasing vntill it come directly vnder the +point of the pole Arcticke, where the Sunne continueth aboue ground the +space of sixe moneths or halfe a yere together, and so the day is halfe a +yere long, that is the time of the Sunnes being in the North signes, from +the first degree of Aries vntill the last of Virgo, that is all the time +from our 10 day of March vntill the 14 of September. [Sidenote: One day of +sixe moneths.] The Sunne therefore during the time of these sixe moneth +without any offence or hinderance of the night, giueth his influence vpon +those lands with heat that neuer ceaseth during that time, which maketh to +the great increase of Summer, by reason of the Sunnes continuance. +[Sidenote: Moderate heat vnder the poles.] Therefore it followeth, that +though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads, to cause right +angle beames, and to giue great heat, yet the Sun being there sometimes +about 24 degrees high doth cast a conuenient and meane heate, which there +continueth without hindrance of the night the space of sixe moneths (as is +before sayd) during which time there followeth to be a conuenient, moderate +and temperate heat: or els rather it is to be suspected the heat there to +be very great, both for continuance, and also, Quia virtus vnita crescit, +the vertue and strength of heat vnited in one increaseth. If then there be +such a moderate heate vnder the poles, and the same to continue so long +time; what should mooue the olde writers to say there cannot be place for +habitation. And that the certainty of this temperate heat vnder both the +poles might more manifestly appeare, let vs consider the position and +quality of the sphere, the length of the day, and so gather the height of +the Sunne at all times, and by consequent the quality of his angle, and so +lastly the strength of his heat. + +Those lands and regions lying vnder the pole, and hauing the pole for their +Zenith, must needs haue the Equinoctiall circle for their Horizon: +therefore the Sun entring into the North signes, and describing euery 24 +houres a parallel to the Equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum +mobile, the same parallels must needs be wholly aboue the Horizon: +[Sidenote: The Sunne neuer setteth in 182 dayes.] and so looke how many +degrees there are from the first of Aries to the last of Virgo, so many +whole reuolutions there are aboue their Horizon that dwell vnder the pole, +which amount to 182, and so many of our dayes the Sunne continueth with +them. During which time they haue there continuall day and light, without +any hindrance of moist nights. [Sidenote: Horizon and Equinoctiall all one +vnder the pole.] Yet it is to be noted, that the Sunne being in the first +degree of Aries, and last degree of Virgo, maketh his reuolution in the +very horizon, so that in these 24 houres halfe the body of the Sunne is +aboue the horizon, and the other halfe is vnder his only center, describing +both the horizon and the equinoctiall circle. + +And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the Sunne is almost 24 +degrees, it followeth, his greatest height in those countries to be almost +24 degrees. [Sidenote: London.] And so high is the Sun at noone to vs in +London about the 29 of October, being in the 15 degree of Scorpio, and +likewise the 21 of Ianuary being in the 15 of Aquarius. Therefore looke +what force the Sun at noone hath in London the 29 of October, the same +force of heat it hath, to them that dwell vnder the pole, the space almost +of two moneths, during the time of the Summer solstitium, and that without +intermingling of any colde night; so that if the heat of the Sunne at noone +could be well measured in London (which is very hard to do because of the +long nights which ingender great moisture and cold) then would manifestly +appeare by expresse numbers the maner of the heat vnder the poles, which +certainly must needs be to the inhabitants very commodious and profitable, +if it incline not to ouermuch heat, and if moisture do not want. + +For as in October in England we finde temperate aire, and haue in our +gardens hearbs and floures notwithstanding our cold nights, how much more +should they haue the same good aire, being continuall without night. This +heat of ours continueth but one houre, while the Sun is in that meridian, +but theirs continueth a long time in one height. This our heat is weake, +and by the coolnesse of the night vanisheth, that heat is strong, and by +continuall accesse is still increased and strengthened. [Sidenote: +Comodious dwelling vnder the poles.] And thus by a similitude of the equal +height of the Sun in both places appeareth the commodious and moderate heat +of the regions vnder the poles. + +And surely I cannot thinke that the diuine prouidence hath made any thing +vncommunicable, but to haue giuen such order to all things, that one way or +other the same should be imployed, and that euery thing and place should be +tollerable to the next: but especially all things in this lower world be +giuen to man to haue dominion and vse thereof. Therefore we need no longer +to doubt of the temperate and commodious habitation vnder the poles during +the time of Summer. + +[Sidenote: The night vnder the poles.] But all the controuersie consisteth +in the Winter, for then the Sunne leaueth those regions, and is no more +seene for the space of other sixe moneths, in the which time all the Sunnes +course is vnder their horizon for the space of halfe a yere, and then those +regions (say some) must needs be deformed with horrible darknesse, and +continuall night, which may be the cause that beasts can not seeke their +food, and that also the colde should then be intollerable. By which double +euils all liuing creatures should be constrained to die, and were not able +to indure the extremity and iniury of Winter, and famine insuing thereof, +but that all things should perish before the Summer following, when they +should bring foorth their brood and yoong, and that for these causes the +sayd Clime about the pole should be desolate and not habitable. To all +which objections may be answered in this maner: First, that though the +Sunne be absent from them those six moneths, yet it followeth not that +there should be such extreme darknesse; for as the Sunne is departed vnder +their horizon, so is it not farre from them: and not so soone as the Sunne +falleth so suddenly commeth the darke night; but the euening doth +substitute and prolong the day a good while after by twilight. After which +time the residue of the night receiueth light of the Moone and Starres, +vntill the breake of the day, which giueth also a certaine light before the +Sunnes rising; so that by these meanes the nights are seldome darke; which +is verified in all parts of the world, but least in the middle Zone vnder +the Equinoctiall, where the twilights are short, and the nights darker then +in any other place, because the Sunne goeth vnder their horizon so deepe, +even to their antipodes. We see in England in the Summer nights when the +Sunne goeth not farre vnder the horizon, that by the light of the Moone and +Starres we may trauell all night, and if occasion were, do some other +labour also. And there is no man that doubteth whether our cattell can see +to feed in the nights, seeing we are so well certified thereof by our +experience: and by reason of the sphere our nights should be darker then +any time vnder the poles. + +The Astronomers consent that the Sunne descending from our vpper hemisphere +at the 18 parallel vnder the horizon maketh an end of twilight, so that at +length the darke night insueth, and that afterward in the morning the Sun +approching againe within as many parallels, doth driue away the night by +accesse of the twilight. Againe, by the position of the sphere vnder the +pole, the horizon, and the equinoctiall are all one. These reuolutions +therefore that are parallel to the equinoctiall are also parallel to the +horizon, so that the Sunne descending vnder that horizon, and there +describing certaine parallels not farre distant, doth not bring darke +nights to those regions vntill it come to the parallels distant 18 degrees +from the equinoctiall, that is, about the 21 degree of Scorpio, which will +be about the 4 day of our Nouember, and after the Winter solstitium, the +Sunne returning backe againe to the 9 degree of Aquarius, which will be +about the 19 of January; [Sidenote: The regions vnder the poles want +twilights but sixe weeks.] during which time onely, that is, from the 4 day +of Nouember vntill the 19 day of Ianuary, which is about six weeks space, +these regions do want the commodity of twilights: therefore, during the +time of these sayd six moneths of darknesse vnder the poles, the night is +destitute of the benefit of the Sunne and the sayd twilights onely for the +space of six weeks or thereabout. And yet neither this time of six weeks is +without remedy from heauen; for the Moone with her increased light hath +accesse at that time, and illuminateth the moneths lacking light euery one +of themselues seuerally halfe the course of that moneth, by whose benefit +it commeth to passe that the night named extreame darke possesseth those +regions no longer then one moneth, neither that continually, or all at one +time, but this also diuided into two sorts of shorter nights, of the which +either of them indureth for the space of 15 dayes, and are illuminate of +the Moone accordingly. [Sidenote: Winter nights vnder the pole tolerable to +liuing creatures.] And this reason is gathered out of the sphere, whereby +we may testifie that the Summers are warme and fruitfull, and the Winters +nights vnder the pole are tolerable to liuing creatures. And if it be so +that the Winter and time of darknesse there be very colde, yet hath not +nature left them vnprouided therefore: for there the beastes are couered +with haire so much the thicker in how much the vehemency of colde is +greater; by reason whereof the best and richest furres are brought out of +the coldest regions. Also the fowles of these colde countreys haue thicker +skinnes, thicker feathers; and more stored of downe then in other hot +places. Our English men that trauell to S. Nicholas, and go a fishing to +Wardhouse, enter farre within the circle Artike, and so are in the frozen +Zone, and yet there, aswell as in Island and all along those Northern Seas, +they finde the greatest store of the greatest fishes that are; as Whales, +&c. and also abundance of meane fishes; as Herrings, Cods, Haddocks, Brets, +&c. which argueth that the sea as well as the land may be and is well +frequented and inhabited in the colde countreys. + +[Sidenote: An obiection of Meta incognita.] But some perhaps will maruell +there should be such temperate places in the regions about the poles, when +at vnder 62 degrees in latitude our captaine Frobisher and his company were +troubled with so many and so great mountaines of fleeting ice, with so +great stormes of colde, with such continuall snow on tops of mountaines, +and with such barren soile, there being neither wood nor trees, but low +shrubs, and such like. To all which obiections may be answered thus: First, +those infinite Islands of ice were ingendred and congealed in time of +Winter, and now by the great heat of Summer were thawed, and then by ebs, +flouds, winds, and currents, were driuen to and fro, and troubled the +fleet; so that this is an argument to proue the heat in Summer there to be +great, that was able to thaw so monstrous mountaines of ice. As for +continuall snow on tops of mountaines, it is there no otherwise then is in +the hotest part of the middle Zone, where also lieth great snow all the +Summer long vpon tops of mountaines, because there is no sufficient space +for the Sunnes reflexion, whereby the snow should be molten. Touching the +colde stormy winds and the barrennesse of the country, it is there as it is +in Cornwall and Deuonsbire in England, which parts though we know to be +fruitfull and fertile, yet on the North side thereof all alongst the coast +within seuen or eight miles off the sea there can neither hedge nor tree +grow, although they be diligently by arte husbanded and seene vnto: and the +cause thereof are the Northerne driuing winds, which comming from the sea +are so bitter and sharpe that they kill all the yoong and tender plants, +and suffer scarse any thing to grow; and so it is in the Islands of Meta +incognita, which are subiect most to East and Northeastern winds, which the +last yere choaked vp the passage so with ice that the fleet could hardly +lecouer their port. [Sidenote: Meta Incognita inhabited.] Yet +notwithstanding all the obiections that may be, the countrey is habitable; +for there are men, women, children, and sundry kind of beasts in great +plenty, as beares, deere, hares, foxes and dogs: all kinde of flying +fowles, as ducks, seamewes, wilmots, partridges, larks, crowes, hawks, and +such like, as in the third booke you shall vnderstand more at large. Then +it appeareth that not onely the middle Zone but also the Zones about the +poles are habitable. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobishers first voyage.] Which thing being well +considered, and familiarly knowen to our Generall captaine Frobisher, +aswell for that he is thorowly furnished of the knowledge of the sphere and +all other skilles appertaining to the arte of nauigation, as also for the +confirmation he hath of the same by many yeres experience both by sea and +land, and being persuaded of a new and nerer passage to Cataya then by Capo +de buona Sperança, which the Portugals yerely vse: he began first with +himselfe to deuise, and then with his friends to conferre, and layed a +plaine plat vnto them that that voyage was not onely possible by the +Northwest, but also he could proue easie to be performed. And farther, he +determined and resolued with himselfe to go make full proofe thereof, and +to accomplish or bring true certificate of the truth, or els neuer to +returne againe, knowing this to be the only thing of the world that was +left yet vndone, whereby a notable minde might be made famous and +fortunate. But although his will were great to performe this notable +voyage, whereof he had concerned in his minde a great hope by sundry sure +reasons and secret intelligence, which here for sundry causes I leaue +vntouched, yet he wanted altogether meanes and ability to set forward, and +performe the same. Long time he conferred with his priuate friends of these +secrets; and made also many offers for the performing of the same in effect +vnto sundry merchants of our countrey aboue 15 yeres before he attempted +the same, as by good witnesse shall well appeare (albeit some euill willers +which challenge to themselues the fruits of other mens labours haue greatly +iniured him in the reports of the same, saying that they haue bene the +first authours of that action, and that they haue learned him the way, +which themselues as yet haue neuer gone) but perceiuing that hardly he was +hearkened vnto of the merchants, which neuer regard, vertue without sure, +certaine, and present gaines, he repaired to the Court (from whence, as +from the fountaine of our Common wealth, all good causes haue their chiefe +increase and maintenance) and there layed open to many great estates and +learned men the plot and summe of his deuice. And amongst many honourable +minds which fauoured his honest and commendable enterprise, he was +specially bound and beholding to the right honourable Ambrose Dudley earle +of Warwicke, whose fauourable minde and good disposition hath alwayes bene +ready to countenance and aduance all honest actions with the authours and +executors of the same: and so by meanes of my lord his honourable +countenance he receiued some comfort of his cause, and by litle and litle, +with no small expense and paine brought his cause to some perfection and +had drawen together so many aduenturers and such summes of money as might +well defray a reasonable charge to furnish himselfe to sea withall. + +He prepared two small barks of twenty and fiue and twenty tunne a piece, +wherein he intended to accomplish his pretended voyage. Wherefore, being +furnished with the foresayd two barks, and one small pinnesse of ten tun +burthen, hauing therein victuals and other necessaries for twelue moneths +prouision, he departed vpon the sayd voyage from Blacke-wall the 15 of Iune +anno Domini 1576. + +One of the barks wherein he went was named the Gabriel, and the other The +Michael; and sailing Northwest from England vpon the II of Iuly he had +sight of an high and ragged land, which he iudged to be Frisland (whereof +some authors haue made mention) but durst not approch the same by reason of +the great store of ice that lay alongst the coast, and the great mists that +troubled them not a litle. Not farre from thence he lost company of his +small pinnesse, which by meanes of the great storme he supposed to be +swallowed vp of the Sea, wherein he lost onely foure men. + +[Sidenote: The Michael returned home.] Also the other barke named The +Michael mistrusting the matter, conueyed themselues priuily away from him, +and returned home, with great report that he was cast away. + +The worthy captaine notwithstanding these discomforts, although his mast +was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen ouerboord with extreame foule +weather, continued his course towards the Northwest, knowing that the sea +at length must needs haue an ending, and that some land should haue a +beginning that way; and determined therefore at the least to bring true +proofe what land and sea the same might be so farre to the Northwestwards, +beyond any man that hath heretofore discouered. And the twentieth of Iuly +he had sight of an high land, which he called Queene Elizabeths Forland, +after her Maiesties name. And sailing more Northerly alongst that coast, he +descried another forland with a great gut, bay, or passage, diuided as it +were two maine lands or continents asunder. There be met with store of +exceeding great ice all this coast along, and coueting still to continue +his course to the Northwards, was alwayes by contrary winde deteined +ouerthwart these straights, and could not get beyond. [Sidenote: Frobishers +first entrance within the streights.] Within few dayes after he perceived +the ice to be well consumed and gone, either there ingulfed in by some +swift currents or indrafts, carried more to the Southwards of the same +straights, or els conueyed some other way: wherefore he determined to make +proofe of this place, to see how farre that gut had continuance, and +whether he might carry himselfe thorow the same into some open sea on the +backe side, whereof he conceiued no small hope, and so entred the same the +one and twentieth of Iuly, and passed aboue fifty leagues therein, as he +reported, hauing vpon either hand a great maine or continent. And that land +vpon his right hand as he sailed Westward he iudged to be the continent of +Asia, and there to be diuided from the firme of America, which lieth vpon +the left hand ouer against the same. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers streights.] This place he named after his name, +Frobishers streights, like as Magellanus at the Southwest end of the world, +hauing discouered the passage to the South sea (where America is diuided +from the continent of that land, which lieth vnder the South pole) and +called the same straights, Magellanes straits. + +After he had passed 60 leagues into this foresayd straight, he went ashore, +and found signes where fire had bene made. + +He saw mighty deere that seemed to be mankinde, which ranne at him, and +hardly he escaped with his life in a narrow way, where he was faine to vse +defence and policy to saue his life. + +In this place he saw and perceiued sundry tokens of the peoples resorting +thither. [Sidenote: The first sight of the Sauages.] And being ashore vpon +the top of a hill, he perceiued a number of small things fleeting in the +sea afarre off, which he supposed to be porposes or seales, or some kinde +of strange fish; but comming neerer, he discouered them to be men in small +boats made of leather. And before he could descend downe from the hill, +certaine of those people had almost cut off his boat from him, hauing +stollen secretly behinde the rocks for that purpose, where he speedily +hasted to his boat, and bent himselfe to his halberd, and narrowly escaped +the danger, and saued his boat. Afterwards he had sundry conferences with +them, and they came aboord his ship, and brought him salmon and raw flesh +and fish, and greedily deuoured the same before our mens faces. And to shew +their agility, they tried many masteries vpon the ropes of the ship after +our mariners fashion, and appeared to be very strong of their armes, and +nimble of their bodies. They exchanged coats of scales, and beares skinnes, +and such like with our men; and receiued belles, looking glasses, and other +toyes, in recompense thereof againe. [Sidenote: Fiue Englishmen intercepted +and taken.] After great curtesie, and many meetings, our mariners, contrary +to their captaines direction, began more easily to trust them; and fiue of +our men going ashore were by them intercepted with their boat, and were +neuer since heard of to this day againe: so that the captaine being +destitute of boat, barke, and all company, had scarsely sufficient number +to conduct backe his barke againe. He could neither conuey himselfe ashore +to rescue his men (if he had bene able) for want of a boat; and againe the +subtile traitours were so wary, as they would after that neuer come within +our mens danger. The captaine notwithstanding desirous to bring some token +from thence of his being there, was greatly discontented that he had not +before apprehended some of them: and therefore to deceiue the deceiuers he +wrought a pretty policy; for knowing wel how they greatly delighted in our +toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a pretty lowbell, making signes +that he would giue him the same that would come and fetch it. [Sidenote: +Taking of the first Sauage.] And because they would not come within his +danger for feare, he flung one bell vnto them, which of purpose he threw +short, that it might fall into the sea and be lost, And to make them more +greedy of the matter he rang a louder bell, so that in the end one of them +came nere the ship side to receiue the bel; which when he thought to take +at the captaines hand, he was thereby taken himselfe: for the captaine +being readily prouided let the bell fall, and caught the man fast, and +plucked him with maine force boat and all into his barke out of the sea. +Whereupon when he found himselfe in captiuity, for very choler and disdaine +he bit his tongue in twaine within his mouth: notwithstanding, he died not +thereof, but liued vntill he came in England, and then he died of cold +which he had taken at sea. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers returne.] Now with this new pray (which was a +sufficient witnesse of the captaines farre and tedious trauell towards the +vnknowen parts of the world, as did well appeare by this strange infidell, +whose like was neuer seene, read, nor heard of before, and whose language +was neither knowen nor vnderstood of any) the sayd captaine Frobisher +returned homeward, and arriued in England in Harwich the 2 of October +following, and thence came to London 1576, where he was highly commended of +all men for his great and notable attempt, but specially famous for the +great hope he brought of the passage to Cataya. + +And it is especially to be remembred that at their first arriuall in those +parts there lay so great store of ice all the coast along so thicke +together, that hardly his boate could passe vnto the shore. [Sidenote: The +taking possession of Meta incognita.] At length, after diuers attempts he +commanded his company, if by any possible meanes they could get ashore, to +bring him whatsoeuer thing they could first finde, whether it were liuing +or dead, stocke or stone, in token of Christian possession, which thereby +he tooke in behalfe of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty, thinking that +thereby he might iustify the hauing and inioying of the same things that +grew in these vnknowen parts. + +[Sidenote: How the ore was found by chance.] Some of his company brought +floures, some greene grasse; and one brought a piece of blacke stone much +like to a sea cole in colour, which by the waight seemed to be some kinde +of mettall or minerall. This was a thing of no account in the iudgment of +the captaine at first sight; and yet for nouelty it was kept in respect of +the place from whence it came. + +After his arriuall in London, being demanded of sundry his friends what +thing he had brought them home out of that countrey, he had nothing left to +present them withall but a piece of this blacke stone. And it fortuned a +gentlewoman one of the aduenturers wiues to haue a piece thereof, which by +chance she threw and burned in the fire, so long, that at the length being +taken forth, and quenched in a little vinegar, it glistened with a bright +marquesset of golde. Whereupon the matter being called in some question, it +was brought to certaine Goldfiners in London to make assay thereof, who +gaue out that it held golde, and that very richly for the quantity. +[Sidenote: Many aduenturers.] Afterwards, the same Goldfiners promised +great matters thereof if there were any store to be found, and offered +themselues to aduenture for the searching of those parts from whence the +same was brought. Some that had great hope of the matter sought secretly to +haue a lease at her Maiesties hands of those places, whereby to inioy the +masse of so great a publike profit vnto their owne priuate gaines. + +In conclusion, the hope of more of the same golde ore to be found kindled a +great opinion in the hearts of many to aduance the voyage againe. +[Sidenote: In the second voyage commission was giuen onely for the bringing +of ore.] Whereupon preparation was made for a new voyage against the yere +folowing, and the captaine more specially directed by commission for the +searching more of this golde ore then for the searching any further +discouery of the passage. And being well accompanied with diuers resolute +and forward gentlemen, her Maiesty then lying at the right honourable the +lord of Warwicks house in Essex, he came to take his leaue, and kissing her +hignesse hands, with gracious countenance and comfortable words departed +toward his charge. + + +A true report of such things as happened in the second voyage of captaine + Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of a new passage to Cataya, China + and the East India, by the Northwest. Ann. Dom. 1577. + +Being furnished with one tall ship of her Maiesties, named The Ayde, of two +hundred tunne, and two other small barks, the one named The Gabriel, the +other The Michael, about thirty tun a piece, being fitly appointed with +men, munition, victuals, and all things necessary for the voyage, the sayd +captaine Frobisher, with the rest of his company came aboord his ships +riding at Blackwall, intending (with Gods helpe) to take the first winde +and tide seruing him, the 25 day of May, in the yere of our Lord God 1577. + +The names of such gentlemen as attempted this discouery, and the number of +souldiers and mariners in ech ship, as followeth. + +Aboord the Ayd being Admirall were the number of 100 men of all sorts, +whereof 30 or moe were Gentlemen and Souldiers, the rest sufficient and +tall Sailers. + +Aboord the Gabriel being Viceadmirall, were in all 18 persons, whereof sixe +were Souldiers, the rest Mariners. + +Aboord the Michael were 16 persons, whereof fiue were Souldiers, the rest +Mariners. + +Aboord the Ayde was: + +Generall of the whole company for her Maiestie: Martin Frobisher. + +His Lieutenant George Best. +His Ensigne Richard Philpot. +Corporall of the shot Francis Forfar. + +The rest of the gentlemen: Henry Carew. + Edmund Stafford. + John Lee. + M. Haruie. + Mathew Kinersley. + Abraham Lins. + Robert Kinersley. + Francis Brakenbury. + William Armshow. + +The Master Christopher Hall. +The Mate Charles Iackman. +The Pilot Andrew Dier. +The Master gunner Richard Cox. + +Aboord the Gabriell was: + +Captaine Edward Fenton +One Gentleman William Tamfield. +The Maister William Smyth. + +Aboord the Michaell was: + +Captaine Gilbert Yorke. +One Gentleman Thomas Chamberlaine. +The Maister Iames Beare. + +On Whitsunday being the 26 of May, Anno 1577, early in the morning, we +weighed anker at Blackwall, and fell that tyde downe to Grauesend, where we +remained vntill Monday, at night. + +[Sidenote: They receiued the communion.] On Monday morning the 27 of May, +aboord the Ayde we receiued all the Communion by the Minister of Grauesend, +and prepared vs as good Christians towards God, and resolute men for all +fortunes: and towards night we departed to Tilbery Hope. + +[Sidenote: The number of men in this voyage.] Tuesday the eight and twenty +of May, about nine of the clocke at night, we arriued at Harwitch in Essex +and there stayed for the taking in of certaine victuals, vntill Friday +being the thirtieth of May, during which time came letters from the Lordes +of the Councell, straightly commanding our General, not to exceede his +complement and number appointed him, which was, one hundred and twentie +persons: whereupon he discharged many proper men which with vnwilling +mindes departed. + +[Sidenote: The condemned men discharged.] He also dismissed all his +condemned men, which he thought for some purposes very needefull for the +voyage, and towards night vpon Friday the one and thirtieth of May we set +saile, and put to the Seas againe. [Sidenote: The first arriuall after our +departing from England.] And sailing Northward alongst the East coasts of +England and Scotland, the seuenth day of Iune we arriued in Saint Magnus +sound in Orkney Ilands, called in Latine Orcades, and came to ancker on the +South side of the Bay, and this place is reckoned from Blackwall where we +set saile first leagues.[64] + +Here our companie going on lande, the Inhabitants of these Ilandes beganne +to flee as from the enemie, whereupon the Lieutenant willed euery man to +stay togither, and went himselfe vnto their houses, to declare what we were +and the cause of our comming thither, which being vnderstood after their +poore maner they friendly entreated vs, and brought vs for our money such +things as they had. [Sidenote: A Mine of siluer found in Orkney.] And here +our gold finders found a Mine of siluer. + +Orkney is the principall of the Isles of the Orcades, and standeth in the +latitude of fiftie nine degrees and a halfe. The countrey is much subiect +to colde, answerable for such a climate, and yet yeeldeth some fruites, and +sufficient maintenance for the people contented so poorely to liue. + +There is plentie ynough of Poultrey, store of egges, fish, and foule. + +For their bread they haue Oaten Cakes, and their drinke is Ewes milke, and +in some partes Ale. + +Their houses are but poore without and sluttish ynough within, and the +people in nature thereunto agreeable. + +For their fire they burne heath and turffe, the Countrey in most parts +being voide of wood. + +They haue great want of Leather, and desire our old Shoes, apparell, and +old ropes (before money) for their victuals, and yet are they not ignorant +of the value of our coine. [Sidenote: Kyrway the chiefe towne of Orkney.] +The chiefe towne is called Kyrway.[65] + +[Sidenote: S. Magnus sound why so called.] In this Island hath bene +sometime an Abbey or a religious house called Saint Magnus, being on the +West side of the Ile, whereof this sound beareth name, through which we +passed. Their Gouernour chiefe Lord is called the Lord Robert Steward, who +at our being there, as we understood, was in durance at Edenburgh, by the +Regents commandement of Scotland. + +After we had prouided vs here of matter sufficient for our voyage the eight +of Iune wee set sayle againe, and passing through Saint Magnus sound hauing +a merrie winde by night, came cleare and lost sight of all the land, and +keeping our course West Northwest by the space of two dayes, the winde +shifted vpon vs so that we lay in trauerse on the Seas, with contrary +windes, making good (as neere as we could) our course to the westward, and +sometime to the Northward, as the winde shifted. And hereabout we met with +3 saile of English fishermen from Iseland, bound homeward, by whom we wrote +our letters vnto our friends in England. [Sidenote: Great bodies of trees +driuing in the seas.] We trauersed these Seas by the space of 26 dayes +without sight of any land, and met with much drift wood, and whole bodies +of trees. [Sidenote: Monstrous fish and strange foule liuing onely by the +Sea.] We sawe many monsterous fishes and strange foules, which seemed to +live onely by the Sea, being there so farre distant from any land. At +length God fauoured vs with more prosperous windes, and after wee had +sayled foure dayes with good winde in the Poop, the fourth of Iuly the +Michael being foremost a head shot off a peece of Ordinance, and stroke all +her sayles, supposing that they had descryed land which by reason of the +thicke mistes they could not make perfit: [Sidenote: Water being blacke and +smooth signifieth land to be neere.] howbeit, as well our account as also +the great alteration of the water, which became more blacke and smooth, did +plainely declare we were not farre off the coast. [Sidenote: Ilands of +yce.] Our Generall sent his Master aboord the Michaell (who had beene with +him the yeere before) to beare in with the place to make proofe thereof, +who descryed not the land perfect, but sawe sundry huge Ilands of yce, +which we deemed to be not past twelue leagues from the shore, [Sidenote: +The first sight of Frisland the 4. of Iuly.] for about tenne of the clocke +at night being the fourth of Iuly, the weather being more cleare, we made +the land perfect and knew it to be Frislande. And the heigth being taken +here, we found ourselues to be in the latitude of 60 degrees and a halfe, +and were fallen with the Southermost part of this land. Betweene Orkney and +Frisland are reckoned leagues.[66] + +[Sidenote: Frisland described.] This Frislande sheweth a ragged and high +lande, hauing the mountaines almost couered ouer with snow alongst the +coast full of drift yce, and seemeth almost inaccessable, and is thought to +be an Iland in bignesse not inferiour to England, and is called of some +Authors, West Frislande, I thinke because it lyeth more West then any part +of Europe. It extendeth in latitude to the Northward very farre as seemed +to vs, and appeareth by a description set out by two brethren Venetians, +Nicholaus and Antonius Zeni, who being driuen off from Ireland with a +violent tempest made shipwracke here, and were the first knowen Christians +that discouered this land about two hundred yeares sithence, and they haue +in their Sea cardes set out euery part thereof and described the condition +of the inhabitants, declaring them to be as ciuill and religous people as +we. And for so much of this land as we haue sayled alongst, comparing their +Carde with the coast, we finde it very agreeable. [Sidenote: An easie kind +of Fishing.] This coast seemeth to haue good fishing, for we lying becalmed +let falle a hooke without any bayte and presently caught a great fish +called a Hollibut, who serued the whole companie for a dayes meate, and is +dangerous meate for surfetting. [Sidenote: White Corrall got by sounding.] +And sounding about fiue leagues off from the shore, our leade brought vp in +the tallow a kinde of Corrall almost white, and small stones as bright as +Christall: and it is not to be doubted but that this land may be found very +rich and beneficial if it were thoroughly discovered, although we sawe no +creature there but little birdes. [Sidenote: Monstrous Isles of yce, in +taste fresh, wherehence they are supposed to come.] It is a maruellous +thing to behold of what great bignesse and depth some Ilands of yce be +here, some seuentie, some eightie fadome vnder water, besides that which is +aboue, seeming Ilands more then halfe a mile in circuit. All these yce are +in tast fresh, and seeme to be bredde in the sounds thereabouts, or in some +lande neere the pole, and with the winde and tides are driuen alongst the +coastes. [Sidenote: The opinion of the frozen seas is destroyed by +experience.] We found none of these Ilands of yce salt in taste, whereby it +appeareth that they were not congealed of the Ocean Sea water which is +alwayes salt, but of some standing or little moouing lakes or great fresh +waters neere the shore, caused eyther by melted snowe from tops of +mountaines, or by continuall accesse of fresh riuers from the land, and +intermingling with the Sea water, bearing yet the dominion (by the force of +extreame frost) may cause some part of salt water to freese so with it, and +so seeme a little brackish, but otherwise the maine Sea freeseth not, and +therefore there is no Mare Glaciale or frosen Sea, as the opinion hitherto +hath bene. Our Generall prooued landing here twice, but by the suddaine +fall of mistes (whereunto this coast is much subiect) he was like to loose +sight of his ships, and being greatly endangered with the driuing yce +alongst the coast, was forced aboord and faine to surcease his pretence +till a better opportunitie might serue: and hauing spent foure dayes and +nights sayling alongst this land, finding the coast subiect to such bitter +colde and continuall mistes he determined to spend no more time therein, +but to beare out his course towards the streights called Frobishers +streights after the Generals name, who being the first that euer passed +beyond 58 degrees to the Northwardes, for any thing that hath beene yet +knowen of certaintie of New found land, otherwise called the continent or +firme land of America, discouered the saide straights this last yere 1576. + +[Sidenote: The Stirrage of the Michaell broken by tempest.] Betweene +Frisland and the Straights we had one great storme, wherein the Michaell +was somewhat in danger, hauing her Stirrage broken, and her toppe Mastes +blowen ouer boord, and being not past 50 leagues short of the Straights by +our account, we stroke sayle and lay a hull, fearing the continuance of the +storme, the winde being at the Northeast, and hauing lost companie of the +Barkes in that flaw of winde, we happily met againe the seuenteenth day of +Iuly, hauing the euening before seene diuers Ilands of fleeting yce, which +gaue an argument that we were not farre from land. [Sidenote: The first +entrance of the Straights.] Our Generall in the morning from the maine top +(the weather being reasonable cleare) descried land, but to better assured +he sent the two Barkes two contrarie courses, whereby they might discry +either the South or North foreland, the Ayde lying off and on at Sea, with +a small sayle by an Iland of yce, which was the marke for vs to meet +together againe. [Sidenote: Halles Iland.] And about noone, the weather +being more cleare, we made the North foreland perfite, which otherwise is +called Halles Iland, and also the small Iland bearing the name of the sayd +Hall whence the Ore was taken vp which was brought into England this last +yeere 1576 the said Hall being present at the finding and taking vp +thereof, who was then Maister in the Gabriell with Captaine Frobisher. At +our arriuall here all the Seas about this coast were so couered ouer with +huge quantitie of great yce, that we thought these places might onely +deserue the name of Mare Glaciale, and be called the Isie Sea. + +[Sidenote: The description of the straights.] This North forland is thought +to be deuided from the continent of the Northerland, by a little sound +called Halles sound, which maketh it an Iland, and is thought little lesse +then the Ile of Wight, and is the first entrance of the Straights vpon the +Norther side, and standeth in the latitude of sixtie two degrees and fiftie +minutes, and is reckoned from Frisland leagues.[67] God hauing blessed vs +with so happie a land-fall, we bare into the Straights which runne in next +hand, and somewhat further vp to the Northwarde, and came as neere the +shore as wee might for the yce, and vpon the eighteenth day [Sidenote: No +more gold Ore found in the first Iland.] of Iuly our Generall taking the +Goldfiners with him, attempted to goe on shore with a small rowing +Pinnesse, vpon the small Islande where the Ore was taken vp, to prooue +whether there were any store thereof to be found, but he could not get in +all that Iland a peece so bigge as a Walnut, where the first was found. But +our men which sought the other Ilands thereabouts found them all to haue +good store of the Ore, whereupon our Generall with these good tidings +returned aboord about tenne of the clocke at night, and was ioyfully +welcommed of the company with a volie of shot. [Sidenote: Egs and foules of +Meta incognita. Snares set to catch birds withall.] He brought egges, +foules, and a young Seale aboord, which the companie had killed ashore, and +hauing found vpon those Ilands ginnes set to catch fowle, and stickes newe +cut, with other things, he well perceiued that not long before some of the +countrey people had resorted thither. + +Hauing therefore found those tokens of the peoples accesse in those parts, +and being in his first voyage well acquainted with their subtill and cruell +disposition, hee prouided well for his better safetie, and on Friday the +nineteenth of Iuly in the morning early, with his best companie of +Gentlemen and souldiers to the number of fortie persons, went on shore, +aswell to discouer the Inland and habitation of the people, as also to +finde out some fit harborowe for our shippes. And passing towardes the +shoare with no small difficultie by reason of the abundance of yce which +lay alongst the coast so thicke togither that hardly any passage through +them might be discouered, we arriued at length vpon the maine of Halles +greater Iland, and found there also aswell as in the other small Ilands +good store of the Ore. [Sidenote: The building of a Columne, called Mount +Warwicke.] And leauiug his boates here with sufficient guarde we passed vp +into the countrey about two English miles, and recouered the toppe of a +high hill, on the top whereof our men made a Columne or Crosse of stones +heaped vp of a good heigth togither in good sort, and solemnly sounded a +Trumpet, and saide certaine prayers kneeling about the Ensigne, and +honoured the place by the name of Mount Warwicke, in remembrance of the +Right Honorable the Lord Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke, whose noble mind +and good countenance in this, as in all other good actions, gaue great +encouragement and good furtherance. This done, we retyred our companies not +seeing any thing here worth further discouerie, the countrey seeming barren +and full of ragged mountaines and in most parts couered with snow. + +[Sidenote: The first sight of countrie people, wafting with a flagge.] And +thus marching towards our botes, we espied certaine countrey people on the +top of Mount Warwick with a flag wafting vs backe againe and making great +noise with cries like the mowing of Buls seeming greatly desirous of +conference with vs: whereupon the Generall being therewith better +acquainted, answered them againe with the like cries, whereat and with the +noise of our trumpets they seemed greatly to reioice, skipping, laughing, +and dancing for ioy. And hereupon we made signes vnto them, holding vp two +fingers, commanding two of our men to go apart from our companies, whereby +they might do the like. [Sidenote: The meeting apart of two Englishmen with +two of that countrey.] So that forthwith two of our men and two of theirs +met together a good space from company, neither partie hauing their weapons +about them. Our men gaue them pins and points and such trifles as they had. +And they likewise bestowed on our men two bow cases and such things as they +had. They earnestly desired our men to goe vp into their countrey, and our +men offered them like kindnesse aboord our ships, but neither part (as it +seemed) admitted or trusted the others courtesie. [Sidenote: The order of +their traffique.] Their maner of traffique is thus, they doe vse to lay +downe of their marchandise vpon the ground, so much as they meane to part +withal, and so looking that the other partie with whom they make trade +should do the like, they themselues doe depart, and then if they doe like +of their Mart they come againe, and take in exchange the others +marchandise, otherwise if they like not, they take their owne and depart. +The day being thus well neere spent, in haste wee retired our companies +into our boates againe, minding foorthwith to search alongst the coast for +some harborow fit for our shippes, for the present necessitie thereof was +much, considering that all this while they lay off and on betweene the two +landes, being continually subiect aswell to great danger of fleeting yce, +which enuironed them, as to the sodaine flawes which the coast seemeth much +subiect vnto. But when the people perceiued our departure, with great +tokens of affection they earnestly called vs backe againe, following vs +almost to our boates: whereupon our Generall taking his Master with him, +who was best acquainted with their maners, went apart vnto two of them, +meaning, if they could lay sure hold vpon them, forcibly to bring them +aboord, with intent to bestow certaine toyes and apparell vpon the one, and +so to dismisse him with all arguments of curtesie, and retaine the other +for an Interpreter. [Sidenote: Another meeting of two of our men with two +of theirs.] The Generall and his Maister being met with their two +companions togither, after they had exchanged certaine things the one with +the other, one of the Saluages for lacke of better marchandise, cut off the +tayle of his coat (which is a chiefe ornament among them) and gaue it vnto +our Generall for a present. But he presently vpon a watchword giuen with +his Maister sodainely laid hold vpon the two Saluages. But the ground +vnderfoot being slipperie with the snow on the side of the hill, their +handfast fayled and their prey escaping ranne away and lightly recouered +their bow and arrowes, which they had hid not farre from them behind the +rockes. [Sidenote: The Englishmen chased to their boates.] And being onely +two Saluages in sight, they so fiercely, desperately, and with such fury +assaulted and pursued our Generall and his Master, being altogether +vnarmed, and not mistrusting their subtiltie that they chased them to their +boates, and hurt the Generall in the buttocke with an arrow, who the rather +speedily fled backe, becasuse they suspected a greater number behind the +rockes. Our souldiers (which were commanded before to keepe their boates) +perceiuing the danger, and hearing our men calling for shot came speedily +to rescue, thinking there had bene a greater number. But when the Saluages +heard the shot of one of our caliuers (and yet hauing first bestowed their +arrowes) they ranne away, our men speedily following them. [Sidenote: One +of that Countreymen taken.] But a seruant of my Lorde of Warwick, called +Nicholas Conger a good footman, and vncumbred with any furniture hauing +only a dagger at his backe ouertooke one of them, and being a Cornishman +and a good wrastler, shewed his companion such a Cornish tricke, that he +made his sides ake against the ground for a moneth after. And so being +stayed, he was taken aliue and brought away, but the other escaped. Thus +with their strange and new prey our men repaired to their boates, and +passed from the maine to a small Iland of a mile compasse, where they +resolued to tarrie all night; for euen now a sodaine storme was growen so +great at sea, that by no meanes they could recouer their ships. And here +euery man refreshed himselfe with a small portion of victuals which was +laide into the boates for their dinners, hauing neither eate nor drunke all +the day before. But because they knewe not how long the storme might last, +nor how farre off the shippes might be put to sea, nor whether they should +euer recouer them againe or not, they made great spare of their victuals, +as it greatly behoued them: For they knew full well that the best cheare +the countrey could yeeld them, was rockes and stones, a hard food to liue +withall, and the people more readie to eate them then to giue them +wherewithall to eate. And thus keeping verie good watch and warde, they lay +there all night vpon hard cliffes of snow and yce both wet, cold, and +comfortlesse. + +These things thus hapning with the company on land, the danger of the ships +at Sea was no lesse perilous. [Sidenote: The Ayde set on fire.] For within +one houre after the Generals departing in the morning by negligence of the +Cooke in ouer-heating, and the workman in making the chimney, the Ayde was +set on fire, and had bene the confusion of the whole if by chance a boy +espying it, it had not bene speedily with great labour and Gods helpe well +extinguished, + +[Sidenote: The great danger of these rockes of yce.] This day also were +diuerse stormes and flawes, and by nine of the clocke at night the storme +was growen so great, and continued such vntill the morning, that it put our +ships at sea in no small perill: for hauing mountaines of fleeting yce on +euery side, we went roomer for one, and loofed for another, some scraped +vs, and some happily escaped vs, that the least of a M. were as dangerous +to strike as any rocke, and able to haue split asunder the strongest ship +of the world. We had a scope of cleare without yce, (as God would) wherein +we turned, being otherwise compassed on euery side about: but so much was +the winde and so litle was our sea roome, that being able to beare onely +our forecourse we cast so oft about, that we made fourteene bordes in eight +glasses running, being but foure houres: [Sidenote: Night without darknes +in that countrey.] but God being our best Steresman, and by the industry of +Charles Iackman and Andrew Dyer then masters mates, both very expert +Mariners and Richard Cox the maister Gunner, with other very carefull +sailers, then within bord, and also by the helpe of the cleare nights which +are without darknesse, we did happily auoide those present dangers, whereat +since wee haue more maruelled then in the present danger feared, for that +euery man within borde, both better and worse had ynough to doe with his +hands to hale ropes, and with his eyes to looke out for danger. But the +next morning being the 20 of Iuly, as God would, the storme ceased, and the +Generall espying the ships with his new Captiue and whole company, came +happily abord, and reported what had passed a shoare, whereupon altogither +vpon our knees we gaue God humble and hartie thankes, for that it had +pleased him, from so speedy peril to send vs such speedy deliuerance, and +so from this Northerne shore we stroke ouer towards the Southerland. + +[Sidenote: Our first comming on the Southerland of the sayd straights.] The +one and twentieth of Iuly, we discovered a bay which ranne into the land, +that seemed a likely harborow for our ships, wherefore our Generall rowed +thither with his boats, to make proofe thereof, and with his goldfiners to +search for Ore, hauing neuer assayed any thing on the South shore as yet, +and the first small Island which we landed vpon. [Sidenote: A Mine of +Blacke-lead.] Here all the sands and clifts did so glister and had so +bright a marquesite, that it seemed all to be gold, but vpon tryall made it +prooued no better then black-lead, and verified the prouerb. All is not +gold that glistereth. + +Vpon the two and twentieth of Iuly we bare into the sayde sound, and came +to ancker a reasonable bredth off the shore, where thinking our selues in +good securitie, we were greatly endangered with a peece of drift yce, which +the Ebbe brought forth of the sounds and came thwart vs ere we were aware. +But the gentlemen and souldiers within bord taking great paines at this +pinch at the Capstone, overcame the most danger thereof, and yet for all +that might be done, it stroke on our sterne such a blow, that we feared +least it had striken away our rudder, and being forced to cut our Cable in +the hawse, we were faine to set our fore saile to runne further vp within, +and if our stirrage had not bene stronger then in the present time we +feared, we had runne the ship vpon the rockes, hauing a very narrow +Channell to turne in, but as God would, all came well to passe. [Iackmans +sound.] And this was named Iackmans sound, after the name of the Masters +mate, who had first liking vnto the place. + +[Sidenote: Smiths Iland.] Vpon a small Iland, within this sound called +Smithes Iland (because he first set vp his forge there) was found a Mine of +siluer, but was not wonne out of the rockes without great labour. Here our +goldfiners made say of such Ore as they found vpon the Northerland, and +found foure sortes thereof to holde golde in good quantitie. Vpon another +small Iland here was also found a great dead fish, which as it should +seeme, had bene embayed with yce, and was in proportion round like to a +Porpose, being about twelue foote long, and in bignesse answerable, hauing +a horne of two yards long growing out of the snoute or nostrels. [Sidenote: +The finding of an Vnicornes horne.] This horne is wreathed and straite, +like in fashion to a Taper made of waxe, and may truely be thought to be +the sea Vnicorne.[68] This home is to be seene and reserued as a Iewell by +the Queenes Maiesties commandement, in her Wardrope of Robes. + +Tuesday the three and twentieth of Iuly, our Generall with his best company +of gentlemen, souldiers and saylers, to the number of seuentie persons in +all, marched with ensigne displayde, vpon the continent of the Southerland +(the supposed continent of America) where, commanding a Trumpet to sound a +call for euery man to repaire to the ensigne, he declared to the whole +company how much the cause imported for the seruice of her Maiestie, our +countrey, our credits, and the safetie of our owne liues, and therefore +required euery man to be conformable to order, and to be directed by those +he should assigne. And he appointed for leaders, Captaine Fenton, Captaine +Yorke, and his Lieutenant George Beste: which done, we cast our selues into +a ring, and altogether vpon our knees, gaue God humble thanks for that it +had pleased him of his great goodnesse to preserue vs from such imminent +dangers, beseeching likewise the assistance of his holy spirite, so to +deliuer vs in safetie into our Countrey, whereby the light and truth of +these secrets being knowen, it might redound to the more honour of his holy +name, and consequently to the aduancement of our common wealth. And so, in +as good sort as the place suffered, we marched towards the tops of the +mountaines, which were no lesse painfull in climbing then dangerous in +descending, by reason of their steepenesse and yce. And hauing passed about +fiue miles, by such vnwieldie wayes, we returned vnto our ships without +sight of any people, or likelihood of habitation. Here diuerse of the +Gentlemen desired our Generall to suffer them to the number of twentie or +thirtie persones to march vp thirtie or fortie leagues in the countrey, to +the end they might discouer the Inland, and doe some acceptable seruice for +their countrey. But he not contented with the matter he sought for, and +well considering the short time he had in hand, and the greedie desire our +countrey hath to a present sauor and returne of gaine, bent his whole +indeuour only to find a Mine to fraight his ships, and to leave the rest +(by Gods helpe) hereafter to be well accomplished. And therefore the +twentie sixe of Iuly he departed ouer to the Northland, with the two +barkes, leauing the Ayde ryding in Iackmans sound; and ment (after hee had +found conuenient harborow, and fraight there for his ships) to discouer +further for the passage. The Barkes came the same night to ancker in a +sound vpon the Northerland, where the tydes did runne so swift, and the +place was so subiect to indrafts of yce; that by reason thereof they were +greatly endangered, and hauing found a very rich Myne, as they supposed, +and got almost twentie tunne of Ore together, vpon the 28 of Iuly the yce +came driuing into the sound where the Barkes rode, in such sort, that they +were therewith greatly distressed. And the Gabriell riding asterne the +Michael, had her Cable gauld asunder in the hawse with a peece of driuing +yce, and lost another ancker, and hauing but one cable and ancker left, for +she had lost two before, and the yce still driuing vpon her, she was (by +Gods helpe) well fenced from the danger of the rest, by one great Iland of +yce, which came a ground hard a head of her, which if it had not so +chanced, I thinke surely shee had bene cast vpon the rockes with the yce. +The Michael mored ancker vpon this great yce, and roade vnder the lee +thereof: but about midnight, by the weight of it selfe, and the setting of +the Tydes, the yce brake within halfe the Barkes length, and made vnto the +companie within boord a sodaine and fearefull noyse. [Sidenote: Beares +sound. Lecesters Iland.] The next flood toward the morning we weyed ancker, +and went further vp the straights, and leauing our Ore behind vs which we +had digged, for hast left the place by the name of Beares sound after the +masters name of the Michaell, and named the Iland Lecesters Iland. +[Sidenote: A tombe with a dead mans bones in it.] In one of the small +Ilands here we founde a Tombe, wherein the bones of a dead man lay +together, and our Sauage Captiue being with vs, and being demanded by +signes whether his countreymen had not slaine this man and eat his flesh so +from the bones, he made signes to the contrary, and that he was slaine with +Wolues and wild beasts. Here also was found hid vnder stones good store of +fish, and [Sidenote: Bridles, kniues, and other instruments found hid among +the rockes.] sundry other things of the inhabitants; as sleddes, bridles, +kettels of fish-skinnes, kniues of bone, and such other like. And our +Sauage declared vnto vs the vse of all those things. [Sidenote: They vse +great dogs to draw sleds, and little dogs for their meat.] And taking in +his hand one of those countrey bridles, he caught one of our dogges and +hampred him handsomely therein, as we doe our horses, and with a whip in +his hand, he taught the dogge to drawe in a sled as we doe horses in a +coach, setting himselfe thereupon like a guide: so that we might see they +vse dogges for that purpose that we do our horses. And we found since by +experience, that the lesser sort of dogges they feede fatte, and keepe them +as domesticall cattell in their tents for their eating, and the greater +sort serue for the vse of drawing their sleds. + +The twentie ninth of Iuly, about fiue leagues from Beares sound, we +discouered a Bay which being fenced on ech side with smal Ilands lying off +the maine, which breake the force of the tides, and make the place free +from any indrafts of yce, did prooue a very fit harborow for our ships, +where we came to ancker vnder a small Ilande, which now together with the +sound is called by the name of that right Honourable and vertuous Ladie, +Anne Countesse of Warwicke. [Sidenote: Thirty leagues discouered within the +straites.] And this is the furthest place that this yeere we haue entred vp +within the streits, and is reckoned from the Cape of the Queenes foreland, +which is the entrance of the streites not aboue 30 leagues. Vpon this Iland +was found good store of Ore, which in the washing helde golde to our +thinking plainly to be seene: whereupon it was thought best rather to load +here, where there was store and indifferent good, then to seeke further for +better, and spend time with ieoperdie. [Sidenote: A good president of a +good Captain shewed by Captain Frobisher.] And therefore our Generall +setting the Myners to worke, and shewing first a good president of a +painefull labourer and a goode Captaine in himselfe, gaue good examples for +other to follow him: whereupon euery man both better and worse, with their +best endeuours willingly layde to their helping hands. And the next day, +being the thirtieth of Iuly, the Michaell was sent ouer to Iackmans sound, +for the Ayde and the whole companie to come thither. [Sidenote: The maner +of their houses in this country.] Vpon the maine land ouer against the +Countesses Iland we discouered and behelde to our greate maruell the poore +caues and houses of those countrey people, which serue them (as it should +seeme) for their winter dwellings, and are made two fadome vnder grounde, +in compasse round, like to an Ouen, being ioyned fast one by another, +hauing holes like to a Foxe or Conny berry, to keepe and come togither. +They vndertrenched these places with gutters so, that the water falling +from the hilles aboue them, may slide away without their annoyance: and are +seated commonly in the foote of a hill, to shield them better from the cold +windes, hauing their doore and entrance euer open towards the South. +[Sidenote: Whales bones vsed in stead of timber.] From the ground vpward +they builde with whales bones, for lacke of timber, which bending one ouer +another, are handsomely compacted in the top together, and are couered ouer +with Seales skinnes, which in stead of tiles, fence them from the raine. In +which house they haue only one roome, hauing the one halfe of the floure +raised with broad stones a foot higher than the other, whereon strawing +Mosse, they make their nests to sleep in. [Sidenote: The sluttishness of +these people.] They defile these dennes most filthily with their beastly +feeding, and dwell so long in a place (as we thinke) vntill their +sluttishnes lothing them, they are forced to seeke a sweeter ayre, and a +new seate, and are (no doubt) a dispersed and wandring nation, as the +Tartarians, and liue in hords and troupes, without any certaine abode, as +may appeare by sundry circumstances of our experience. + +[Sidenote: A signe set vp by the sauage captiue, and the meaning thereof.] +Here our captiue being ashore with vs, to declare the vse of such things as +we saw, stayd himselfe alone behind the company, and did set vp fiue small +stickes round in a circle one by another, with one smal bone placed iust in +the middest of all: which thing when one of our men perceiued, he called vs +backe to behold the matter, thinking that hee had meant some charme or +witchcraft therein. But the best coniecture we could make thereof was, that +hee would thereby his countreymen should vnderstand, that for our fiue men +which they betrayed the last yeere (whom he signified by the fiue stickes) +he was taken and kept prisoner, which he signified by the bone in the +midst. [Sidenote: The sauage captiue amazed at his countreimans picture.] +For afterwards when we shewed him the picture of his countreman, which the +last yeere was brought into England (whose counterfeit we had drawen with +boate and other furniture, both as he was in his own, and also in English +apparel) he was vpon the sudden much amazed thereat, and beholding +aduisedly the same with silence a good while, as though he would streine +courtesie whether should begin the speech (for he thought him no doubt a +liuely creature) at length began to question with him, as with his +companion, and finding him dumb and mute, seemed to suspect him, as one +disdeinfull, and would with a little helpe haue growen into choller at the +matter, vntill at last by feeling and handling, hee found him but a +deceiuing picture. And then with great noise and cryes, ceased not +wondring, thinking that we could make men liue or die at our pleasure. + +And thereupon calling the matter to his remembrance, he gaue vs plainely to +vnderstand by signes, that he had knowledge of the taking of our fiue men +the last yeere, and confessing the maner of ech thing, numbred the fiue men +vpon his fiue fingers, and pointed vnto a boat in our ship, which was like +vnto that wherein our men were betrayed: And when we made him signes, that +they were slaine and eaten, he earnestly denied, and made signes to the +contrary. + +[Sidenote: Another shew of twenty persons of that countrey in one boate.] +The last of Iuly the Michael returned with the Aide to vs from the +Southerland, and came to anker by vs in the Countesse of Watwicks sound, +and reported that since we departed from Iackmans sound there happened +nothing among them there greatly worth the remembrance, vntill the +thirtieth of Iuly, when certaine of our company being a shoare vpon a small +Island within the sayd Iackmans sound, neere the place where the Aide rode, +did espie a long boat with diuers of the countrey people therein, to the +number of eighteene or twenty persons, whom so soone as our men perceiued, +they returned speedily aboord, to giue notice thereof vnto our company. +They might perceiue these people climbing vp to the top of a hill, where +with a flagge, they wafted vnto our ship, and made great out cries and +noyses, like so many Buls. Hereupon our men did presently man foorth a +small skiffe, hauing not aboue sixe or seuen persons therein, which rowed +neere the place where those people were, to prooue if they could haue any +conference with them. But after this small boate was sent a greater, being +wel appointed for their rescue, if need required. + +As soone as they espied our company comming neere them, they tooke their +boates and hasted away, either for feare, or else for pollicie, to draw our +men from rescue further within their danger: wherefore our men construing +that their comming thither was but to seeke aduantage, followed speedily +after them, but they rowed so swiftly away, that our men could come nothing +neere them. Howbeit they failed not of their best indeuour in rowing, and +hauing chased them aboue two miles into the sea, returned into their ships +againe. + +[Sidenote: Yorkes sound.] The morning following being the first of August, +Captaine Yorke with the Michael came into Iackmans sound, and declared vnto +the company there, that the last night past he came to anker in a certaine +baye (which sithens was named Yorkes sound) about foure leagues distant +from Iackmans sound, being put to leeward of that place for lacke of winde, +where he discouered certaine tents of the countrey people, where going with +his company ashore, he entred into them, but found the people departed, as +it should seeme, for feare of their comming. But amongst sundry strange +things which in these tents they found, there was rawe and new killed flesh +of vnknowen sorts, with dead carcases and bones of dogs, and I know not +what. [Sidenote: The apparel found againe of our English men which the yere +before were taken.] They also beheld (to their greatest marueile) a dublet +of Canuas made after the English fashion, a shirt, a girdle, three shoes +for contrary feete, and of vnequall bignesse, which they well coniectured +to be the apparell of our fiue poore countreymen, which were intercepted +the last yeere by these Countrey people, about fiftie leagues from this +place, further within the Straights. [Sidenote: A good deuise of Captaine +Yorke.] Whereupon our men being in good hope, that some of them might be +here, and yet liuing: the Captaine deuising for the best left his mind +behind him in writing, with pen, yncke, and paper also, whereby our poore +captiue countrymen, if it might come to their hands, might know their +friends minds, and of their arriuall, and likewise returne their answere. +And so without taking any thing away in their tents, leauing there also +looking glasses, points, and other of our toyes (the better to allure them +by such friendly meanes) departed aboord his Barker, with intent to make +haste to the Aide, to giue notice vnto the company of all such things as he +had there discouered: and so meant to returne to these tents againe, hoping +that he might by force or policie intrappe or intice the people to some +friendly conference. Which things when he had deliuered to the whole +company there, they determined forthwith to go in hand with the matter. +Hereupon Captaine Yorke with the master of the Aide and his mate (who the +night before had bene at the tents, and came ouer from the other side in +the Michael with him) being accompanied with the Gentlemen and souldiors to +the number of thirty or forty persons in two small rowing Pinnasses made +towards the place, where the night before they discovered the tents of +those people, and setting Charles Iackman, being the Masters mate, ashore +with a convenient number, for that he could best guide them to the place, +they marched ouer land, meaning to compasse them on the one side, whilest +the Captaine with his boates might entrap them on the other side. But +landing at last at the place where the night before they left them, they +found them with their tents remoued. Notwithstanding, our men which marched +vp into the countrey, passing ouer two or three mountaines, by chance +espied certaine tents in a valley vnderneath them neere vnto a creeke by +the Sea side, which because it was not the place where the guide had bene +the night before, they iudged them to be another company, and be setting +them about, determined to take them if they could. [Sidenote: The Sauages +haue boats of sundry bignes.] But they having quickly descried our +companie, launched one great and another smal boat, being about 16 or 18 +persons, and very narrowly escaping, put themselues to sea. [Sidenote: The +Englishmen pursue those people of that countrey. The swift rowing of those +people.] Whereupon our souldiers discharged their Caliuers, and followed +them, thinking the noise therof being heard to our boats at sea, our men +there would make what speede they might to that place. [Sidenote: The +bloody point. Yorkes sound.] And thereupon indeede our men which were in +the boates (crossing vpon them in the mouth of the sound whereby their +passage was let from getting sea roome, wherein it had bene impossible for +vs to ouertake them by rowing) forced them to put themselues ashore vpon a +point of land within the sayd sound (which vpon the occasion of the +slaughter there, was since named The bloody point) whereunto our men so +speedily followed, that they had little leisure left them to make any +escape. But so soone as they landed each of them brake his Oare, thinking +by that meanes to preuent vs, in carrying away their boates for want of +Oares. [Sidenote: A hot skirmish betweene the English and them of that +countrey.] And desperately returning vpon our men, resisted them manfully +in their landing, so long as their arrowes and dartes lasted, and after +gathering vp those arrowes which our men shot at them, yea, and plucking +our arrowes out of their bodies incountred fresh againe, and maintained +their cause vntill both weapons and life fayled them. [Sidenote: The +desperate nature of those people.] And when they found they were mortally +wounded, being ignorant what mercy meaneth, with deadly fury they cast +themselues headlong from off the rockes into the sea, least perhaps their +enemies should receiue glory or prey of their dead carcaises, for they +supposed vs belike to be Canibals or eaters of mans flesh. [Sidenote: The +taking of the woman and her child.] In this conflict one of our men was +dangerously hurt in the belly with one of their arrowes, and of them were +slaine fiue or sixe, the rest by flight escaping among the rockes, sauing +two women, whereof the one being old and vgly, our men thought shee had +bene a deuill or some witch, and therefore let her goe: the other being +yong, and cumbred with a sucking childe at her backe, hiding her selfe +behind the rockes, was espied by one of our men, who supposing she had bene +a man, shot through the haire of her head, and pierced through the childs +arme, whereupon she cried out, and our Surgeon meaning to heale her childes +arme, applyed salues thereunto. [Sidenote: A prety kind of surgery which +nature teacheth.] But she not acquainted with such kind of surgery, plucked +those salues away, and by continuall licking with her owne tongue, not much +vnlike our dogs, healed vp the childes arme. And because the day was +welneere spent our men made haste vnto the rest of our company which on the +other side of the water remained at the tents, where they found by the +apparell, letter, and other English furniture, that they were the same +company which Captaine Yorke discouered the night before, hauing remoued +themselues from the place where he left them. + +And now considering their sudden flying from our men, and their desperate +maner of fighting, we began to suspect that we had heard the last newes of +our men which the last yere were betrayed of these people. And considering +also their rauenous and bloody disposition in eating any kind of raw flesh +or carrion howsoeuer stinking, it is to bee thought that they had slaine +and deuoured our men: For the dublet which was found in their tents had +many holes therein being made with their arrowes and darts. + +But now the night being at hand, our men with their captiues and such poore +stuffe as they found in their tents, returned towards their ships, when +being at sea, there arose a sudden flaw of winde, which was not a little +dangerous for their small boates: but as God would they came all safely +aboord. And with these good newes they returned (as before mentioned) into +the Countesse of Warwicks sound vnto vs. [Sidenote: The narrowest place of +the Straites is 9. leagues ouer.] And betweene Iackmans sound, from whence +they came, and the Countesse of Warwicks sound betweene land, and land, +being thought the narrowest place of the Straights were iudged nine leagues +ouer at the least: [Sidenote: The Queenes Cape.] and Iackmans sound being +vpon the Southerland, lyeth directly almost ouer against the Countesses +sound, as is reckoned scarce thirty leagues within the Straights from the +Queenes Cape, which is the entrance of the Streits of the Southerland. This +Cape being named Queene Elizabeths Cape, standeth in the latitude of 62 +degrees and a halfe to the Northwards of New found land, and vpon the same +continent, for any thing that is yet knowen to the contrary. [Sidenote: The +maner of the meeting of the two captiues, and their entertainment.] Hauing +now got a woman captiue for the comfort of our man, we brought them both +together, and euery man with silence desired to behold the maner of their +meeting and entertainment, the which was more worth the beholding than can +be well expressed by writing. At their first encountring they beheld each +the other very wistly a good space, without speech or word vttered, with +great change of colour and countenance, as though it seemed the griefe and +disdeine of their captiuity had taken away the vse of their tongues and +vtterance: the woman at the first very suddenly, as though she disdeined or +regarded not the man, turned away, and began to sing as though she minded +another matter: but being againe brought together, the man brake vp the +silence first, and with sterne and stayed countenance, began to tell a long +solemne tale to the woman, whereunto she gaue good hearing, and interrupted +him nothing, till he had finished, and afterwards, being growen into more +familiar acquaintance by speech, they were turned together, so that (I +thinke) the one would hardly haue liued without the comfort of the other. +And for so much as we could perceiue, albeit they liued continually +together, yet they did neuer vse as man and wife, though the woman spared +not to doe all necessary things that appertained to a good housewife +indifferently for them both, as in making cleane their Cabin, and euery +other thing that appertained to his ease: for when he was seasicke, she +would make him cleane, she would kill and flea the dogs for their eating, +and dresse his meate. [Sidenote: The shamefastess and chastity of those +Sauage captiues.] Only I think it worth the noting, the continencie of them +both: for the man would neuer shift hemselfe, except he had first caused +the woman to depart out of his cabin, and they both were most shamefast, +least any of their priue parts should be discouered, either of themselues, +or any other body. + +[Sidenote: Another appearance of the countrey people.] On Munday the sixth +of August, the Lieutenant with all the Souldiers, for the better garde of +the Myners and other things a shore, pitched their tents in the Countesses +Island, and fortifyed the place for their better defence as well as they +could, and were to the number of forty persons, when being all at labour, +they might perceiue vpon the top of a hill ouer against them a number of +the countrey people wafting with a flag, and making great outcries vnto +them, and were of the same companie, which had encountred lately our men +vpon the other shore, being come to complaine their late losses, and to +entreate (as it seemed) for restriction of the woman and child, which our +men in the late conflict had taken and brought away; whereupon, the +Generall taking the sauage captiue with him, and setting the woman where +they might best perceiue her in the highest place in the Island, went ouer +to talke with them. This captiue at his first encounter of his friends fell +so out into teares that he could not speake a word in a great space, but +after a while, ouercomming his kindnesse, he talked at full with his +companions, and bestowed friendly vpon them such toyes and trifles as we +had giuen him, whereby we noted, that they are very kind one to another, +and greatly sorrowfull for the losse of their friends. Our Generall by +signes required his fiue men which they tooke captiue the last yeere, and +promised them, not only to release those which he had taken, but also to +reward them with great gifts and friendship. [Sidenote: Those people know +the vse of writing.] Our Sauage made signes in answere from them that our +men should be deliuered vs, and were yet liuing, and made signes likewise +vnto vs that we should write our letters vnto them, for they knew very well +the vse we haue of writing, and receiued knowledge thereof, either of our +poore captiue countreymen which they betrayed, or else by this our new +captiue who hath seene vs dayly write and repeate againe such words of his +language as we desired to learne: but they for this night, because it was +late, departed without any letter, although they called earnestly in hast +for the same. [Sidenote: A letter sent vnto the fiue English captiues.] And +the next morning early being the seuenth of August, they called againe for +the letter, which being deliuered vnto them, they speedily departed, making +signes with three fingers, and pointing to the Sunne, that they meant to +returne within 3 dayes, vntill which time we heard no more of them, and +about the time appointed they returned, in such sort as you shal afterwards +heare. + +This night because the people were very neere vnto vs, the Lieutenant +caused the Trumpet to sound a call, and euery man in the Island repayring +to the Ensigne, he put them in minde of the place so farre from their +countrey wherein they liued, and the danger of a great multitude which they +were subiect vnto, if good watch and warde were not kept, for at euery low +water the enimie might come almost dryfoot from the mayne vnto vs, +wherefore he willed euery man to prepare him in good readinesse vpon all +sudden occasions, and so giuing the watch their charge, the company +departed to rest. + +I thought the Captaines letter well worth the remembring, not for the +circumstance of curious enditing, but for the substance and good meaning +therein contained, and therefore haue repeated here the same, as by +himselfe it was hastily written. + + +The forme of M. Martin Frobishers letter to the English captiues. + +In the name of God, in whom we all beleeue, who (I trust) hath preserued +your bodies and soules amongst these infidels, I commend me vnto you. I +will be glad to seeke by al meanes you can deuise for your deliuerance, +either with force, or with any commodities within my ships, which I will +not spare for your sakes, or any thing else I can doe for you. I haue +aboord, of theirs, a man, a woman, and a child, which I am contented to +deliuer for you, but the man which I caried away from hence the last yeere +is dead in England. Moreouer you may declare vnto them, that if they +deliuer you not, I will not leaue a man aliue in their countrey. And thus, +if one of you can come to speake with mee, they shall haue either the man, +woman, or childe in pawne for yon. And thus vnto God whom I trust you doe +serue, in hast I leaue you, and to him wee will dayly pray for you. This +Tuesday morning the seuenth of August. Anno 1577. + +Yours to the vttermost of my power, + +MARTIN FROBISHER. + +[Sidenote: Postscript.] I haue sent you by these bearers, penne, ynke and +paper to write backe vnto me againe, if personally you cannot come to +certifie me of your estate. + +[Sidenote: The cause why M. Frobisher entred no further within the streits +this yere.] Now had the Generall altered his determination for going any +further into the Streites at this time for any further discouery of the +passage, hauing taken a man and a woman of that countrey, which he thought +sufficient for the vse of the language: and hauing also met with these +people here, which intercepted his men the last yere, (as the apparell and +English furniture which was found in their tents, very well declared) he +knew it was but a labour lost to seeke further off, when he had found them +there at hand. And considering also the short time he had in hand, he +thought it best to bend his whole endeuour for the getting of Myne, and to +leaue the passage further to be discouered hereafter. For his commission +directed him in this voyage, onely for the searching of the Ore, and to +deferre the further discouery of the passage vntill another time. + +[Sidenote: Bests bulwarke.] On Thursday the ninth of August we began to +make a small Fort for our defence in the Countesse Island, and entrenched a +corner of a cliffe, which on three parts like a wall of good height was +compassed and well fenced with the sea, and we finished the rest with +caskes of the earth, to good purpose, and this was called Bests bulwarke, +after the Lieutenants name, who first deuised the same. This was done for +that wee suspected more lest the desperate men might oppresse vs with +multitude, then any feare we had of their force, weapons, or policie of +battel; but as wisdome would vs in such place (so farre from home) not to +be of our selues altogether carelesse: [Sidenote: Their King called +Catchoe.] so the signes which our captiue made vnto vs, of the comming +downe of his Gouernour or Prince, which he called Catchoe, gaue vs occasion +to foresee what might ensue thereof, for he shewed by signes that this +Catchoe was a man of higher stature farre then any of our nation is, +[Sidenote: How he is honoured.] and he is accustomed to be caried vpon mens +shoulders. + +About midnight the Lieutenant caused a false Alarme to be giuen in the +Island, to proue as well the readines of the company there ashore, as also +what helpe might be hoped for vpon the sudden from the ships if need so +required, and euery part was found in good readines vpon such a sudden. + +Saturday the eleuenth of August the people shewed themselues againe, and +called vnto vs from the side of a hil ouer against vs. The General (with +good hope to heare of his men, and to haue answere of his letter) went ouer +vnto them, where they presented themselues not aboue three in sight, but +were hidden indeede in greater numbers behinde the rockes, and making +signes of delay with vs to entrappe some of vs to redeeme their owne, did +onely seek aduantage to traine our boat aboue a point of land from sight of +our companie: [Sidenote: A bladder changed for a looking glasse.] whereupon +our men iustly suspecting them, kept aloofe without their danger, and yet +set one of our company ashore which tooke vp a great bladder which one of +them offered vs, and leauing a looking glasse in the place, came into the +boate againe. [Sidenote: No newes of the English captives.] In the meane +while our men which stood in the Countesses Island to beholde, who might +better discerne them, then those of the boate, by reason they were on +higher ground, made a great outcrie vnto our men in the boate, for that +they saw diuers of the Sauages creeping behind the rockes towards our men, +wherupon the Generall presently returned without tidings of his men. + +[Sidenote: To what end the bladder was delivered.] Concerning this bladder +which we receiued, our Captiue made signes that it was giuen him to keepe +water and drinke in, but we suspected rather it was giuen him to swimme and +shift away withall, for he and the woman sought diuers times to escape, +hauing loosed our boates from asterne our ships, and we neuer a boate left +to pursue them withall, and had preuailed very farre, had they not bene +very timely espied and preuented therein. + +[Sidenote: Those people dancing vpon the hil toppes.] After our Generals +comming away from them they mustred themselues in our sight, vpon the top +of a hill, to the number of twenty in a rancke, all holding hands ouer +their heads, and dancing with great noise and songs together: we supposed +they made this dance and shew for vs to vnderstand that we might take view +of their whole companies and forced, meaning belike that we should doe the +same. And thus they continued vpon the hill tops vntill night, when hearing +a piece of our great Ordinance, which thundred in the hollownesse of the +high hilles, it made vnto them so fearefull a noise, that they had no great +will to tarie long after. And this was done more to make them know our +force then to doe them any hurt at all. + +[Sidenote: A skirmish shewed to those people.] On Sunday the 12 of August, +Captaine Fenton trained the company, and made the souldiers maintaine a +skirmish among themselues, as well for their exercise, as for the countrey +people to behold in what readines our men were alwaies to be found, for it +was to be thought, that they lay hid in the hilles thereabout, and obserued +all the maner of our proceedings. + +[Sidenote: Their flags made of bladders.] On Wednesday the fourteenth of +August, our Generall with two small boates well appointed, for that hee +suspected the countrey people to lie lurking thereabout, went vp a certaine +Bay within the Countesses sound, to search for Ore, and met againe with the +countrey people, who so soone as they saw our men made great outcries, and +with a white flag made of bladders sewed together with the guts and sinewes +of beasts, wafted vs amaine vnto them, but shewed not aboue three of their +company. But when wee came neere them, wee might perceiue a great multitude +creeping behinde the rockes, which gaue vs good cause to suspect their +traiterous meaning: whereupon we made them signes, that if they would lay +their weapons aside, and come foorth, we would deale friendly with them, +although their intent was manifested vnto vs: but for all the signes of +friendship we could make them they came still creeping towards vs behind +the rocks to get more aduantage of vs, as though we had no eyes to see +them, thinking belike that our single wits could not discouer so bare +deuises and simple drifts of theirs. Their spokesman earnestly perswaded vs +with many intising shewes, to come eate and sleepe ashore, with great +arguments of courtesie, and clapping his bare hands ouer his head in token +of peace and innocencie, willed vs to doe the like. [Sidenote: Great +offers.] But the better to allure our hungry stomackes, he brought vs a +trimme baite of raw flesh, which for fashion sake with a boat-hooke wee +caught into our boate: but when the cunning Cater perceiued his first cold +morsell could nothing sharpen our stomacks, he cast about for a new traine +of warme flesh to procure our appetites, wherefore be caused one of his +fellowes in halting maner, to come foorth as a lame man from behind the +rockes, and the better to declare his kindnes in caruing, he hoised him +vpon his shoulders, and bringing him hard to the water side where we were, +left him there limping as an easie prey to be taken of vs. His hope was +that we would bite at this baite, and speedily leape ashore within their +danger, wherby they might haue apprehended some of vs, to ransome their +friends home againe, which before we had taken. The gentlemen and souldiers +had great will to encounter them ashore, but the Generall more carefull by +processe of time to winne them, then wilfully at the first to spoile them, +would in no wise admit that any man should put himselfe in hazard ashore, +considering the matter he now intended was for the Ore, and not for the +Conquest: notwithstanding to prooue this cripples footemanship, he gaue +liberty for one to shoote: whereupon the cripple hauing a parting blow, +lightly recouered a rocke and went away a true and no fained cripple, and +hath learned his lesson for euer halting afore such cripples againe. But +his fellowes which lay hid before, full quickly then appeared in their +likenesse, and maintained the skirmish with their slings, bowes and arrowes +very fiercely, and came as neere as the water suffred them: and with as +desperate minde as hath bene seene in any men, without feare of shotte or +any thing, followed vs all along the coast, but all their shot fell short +of vs, and are of little danger. [Sidenote: An hundreth Sauages.] They had +belayed all the coast along for vs, and being dispersed so, were not well +to be numbred, but wee might discerne of them aboue an hundreth persons, +and had cause to suspect a greater number. And thus without losse or hurt +we returned to our ships againe. + +Now our worke growing to an end, and hauing, onely with fiue poore Miners, +and the helpe of a few gentlemen and souldiers, brought aboord almost two +hundreth tunne of Ore in the space of twenty dayes, euery man therewithall +well comforted, determined lustily to worke a fresh for a bone[69] voyage, +to bring our labour to a speedy and happy ende. + +And vpon Wednesday at night, being the one and twentieth of August, we +fully finished the whole worke. And it was now good time to leaue, for as +the men were well wearied, so their shooes and clothes were well worne, +their baskets bottoms torne out, their tooles broken, and the ships +reasonably well filled. Some with ouer-straining themselues receiued hurts +not a little dangerous, some hauing their bellies broken, and others their +legs made lame. And about this time the yce began to congeale and freeze +about our ships sides a night, which gaue vs a good argument of the Sunnes +declining Southward, and put vs in mind to make more haste homeward. + +It is not a little worth the memorie, to the commendation of the gentlemen +and souldiers herein, who leauing all reputation apart, with so great +willingnesse and with couragious stomackes, haue themselues almost ouercome +in so short a time the difficultie of this so great a labour. And this to +be true, the matter, if it bee well weyed without further proofe, now +brought home doth well witnesse. + +Thursday the 22 of August, we plucked downe our tents, and euery man hasted +homeward, and making bonefires vpon the top of the highest Mount of the +Island, and marching with Ensigne displayed round about the Island, wee +gaue a vollie of shotte for a farewell, in honour of the right honourable +Lady Anne, Countesse of Warwicke, whose name it beareth: and so departed +aboord. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 23 of August hawing the wind large at West, +we set saile from out of the Countesses sound homeward, but the wind +calming we came to anker within the point of the same sound againe. + +The 24 of August about three of the clocke in the morning, hauing the wind +large at West, we set saile againe, and by nine of the clocke at night, wee +left the Queenes Foreland asterne of vs, and being cleere of the Streites, +we bare further into the maine Ocean, keeping our course more Southerly, to +bring our selues the sooner vnder the latitude of our owne climate. + +[Sidenote: Snow halfe a foote deepe in August.] The wind was very great at +sea, so that we lay a hull all night, and had snow halfe a foote deepe on +the hatches. + +From the 24 vntil the 28 we had very much wind, but large, keeping our +course Southsoutheast, and had like to haue lost the Barkes, but by good +hap we met againe. The height being taken, we were in [70]degrees and a +halfe. + +The 29 of August the wind blew much at Northeast, so that we could beare +but onely a bunt of our foresaile, and the Barkes were not able to cary any +sayle at all. + +The Michael lost company of vs and shaped her course towards Orkney because +that way was better knowne vnto them, and arriued at Yermouth. + +[Sidenote: The Master of the Gabriell strooken ouerboord.] The 30 of August +with the force of the wind, and a surge of the sea, the Master of the +Gabriel and the boatswain were striken both ouerboord, and hardly was the +boatswain recouered, hauing hold on a roape hanging ouerboord in the sea, +and yet the barke was laced fore and after with ropes a breast high within +boorde. + +This Master was called William Smith, being but a yong man and a very +sufficient mariner, who being all the morning before exceeding pleasant, +told his Captaine he dreamed that he was cast ouerboord, and that the +Boatswain had him by the hand, and could not saue him, and so immediately +vpon the end of his tale, his dreame came right euilly to passe, and indeed +the Boatswain in like sort held him by one hand, hauing hold on a rope with +the other, vntill his force fayled, and the Master drowned. The height +being taken we found ourselues to be in the latitude of [71] degrees and a +halfe, and reckoned our selues from the Queenes Cape homeward about two +hundreth leagues. + +The last of August about midnight, we had two or three great and sudden +flawes or stormes. + +The first of September the storme was growen very great, and continued +almost the whole day and night, and lying a hull to tarrie for the Barkes +our ship was much beaten with the seas, euery sea almost ouertaking our +poope, so that we were constrained with a bunt of our saile to trie it out, +and ease the rolling of our ship. And so the Gabriel not able to beare any +sayle to keepe company with vs, and our ship being higher in the poope, and +a tall ship, whereon the winde had more force to driue, went so fast away +that we lost sight of them, and left them to God and their good fortune of +Sea. [Sidenote: The Rudder of the Aide torne in twain.] The second day of +September in the morning, it pleased God of his goodnesse to send vs a +calme, whereby we perceiued the Rudder of our ship torne in twaine, and +almost ready to fall away. Wherefore taking the benefite of the time, we +flung half a dozen couple of our best men ouer boord, who taking great +paines vnder water, driuing plankes, and binding with ropes, did well +strengthen and mend the matter, who returned the most part more then halfe +dead out of the water, and as Gods pleasure was, the sea was calme vntill +the worke was finished. The fift of September, the height of the Sunne +being taken, we found our selues to be in the latitude of [72] degrees +and a halfe. [Sidenote: How the latitudes were alwayes taken in this voyage +rather with the Staffe then Astrolabe.] In this voyage commonly wee tooke +the latitude of the place by the height of the sunne, because the long day +taketh away the light not onely of the Polar, but also of all other fixed +Starres. And here the North Starre is so much eleuated aboue the Horizon, +that with the staffe it is hardly to bee well obserued, and the degrees in +the Astrolabe are too small to obserue minutes: Therefore wee alwaies vsed +the Staffe and the sunne as fittest instruments for this vse. + +Hauing spent foure or fiue dayes in trauerse of the seas with contrary +winde, making our Souther way good as neere as we could, to raise our +degrees to bring ourselues with the latitude of Sylley, wee tooke the +height the tenth of September, and found our selues in the latitude +of [73] degrees and ten minutes. The eleuenth of September about sixe a +clocke at night the winde came good Southwest, we vered sheat and set our +course Southeast. + +And vpon Thursday, the twelfth of September, taking the height, we were in +the latitude of [74] and a halfe, and reckoned our selues not past one +hundred and fifty leagues short of Sylley, the weather faire, the winde +large at Westsouthwest, we kept our course Southeast. + +The thirteenth day the height being taken, wee found our selues to be in +the latitude of [75] degrees, the wind Westsouthwest, then being in the +height of Sylley, and we kept our course East, to run in with the sleeue or +chanel so called, being our narrow seas, and reckoned vs short of Sylley +twelue leagues. + +Sonday, the 15 of September about foure of the clocke, we began to sound +with our lead, and had ground at 61 fadome depth, white small sandy ground, +and reckoned vs vpon the backe of Sylley, and set our course East and by +North, Eastnortheast, and Northeast among. + +The sixteenth of September, about eight of the clocke in the morning +sounding, we had 65. fadome osey[76] sand, and thought our selues thwart of +S. Georges channell a little within the banks. And bearing a small saile +all night, we made many soundings, which were about fortie fadome, and so +shallow, that we could not well tell where we were. + +The seuenteenth of September we sounded, and had forty fadome, and were not +farre off the lands end, finding branded sand with small wormes and Cockle +shells, and were shotte betweene Sylley and the lands ende, and being +within the bay, we were not able to double the pointe with a South and by +East way, but were faine to make another boord, the wind being at Southwest +and by West, and yet could not double the point to come cleere of the lands +end, to beare along the channell: and the weather cleered vp when we were +hard aboord the shore, and we made the lands end perfit, and so put vp +along Saint Georges channel. [Sidenote: The arriual of the Aide at Padstow +in Cornewall.] And the weather being very foule at sea, we coueted some +harborough, because our steerage was broken, and so came to ancor in +Padstow road in Cornewall. But riding there a very dangerous roade, we were +aduised by the Countrey, to put to Sea againe, and of the two euils, to +chose the lesse, for there was nothing but present perill where we rode: +[Sidenote: Our comming to Milford Hauen.] whereupon we plyed along the +channell to get to Londy, from whence we were againe driuen, being but an +open roade, where our anker came home, and with force of weather put to +Seas againe, and about the three and twentieth of September, arriued at +Milford Hauen in Wales, which being a very good harborough, made vs happy +men, that we had receiued such long desired safetie. + +About one moneth after our arriuall here, by order from the Lords of the +Counsell, the ship came up to Bristow, where the Ore was committed to +keeping in the Castel there. [Sidenote: The arriuall of the Gabriel at +Bristow.] Here we found the Gabriel one of the Barkes, arriued in good +safetie, who hauing neuer a man within boord very sufficient to bring home +the ship, after the Master was lost, by good fortune, when she came vpon +the coast, met with a ship of Bristow at sea, who conducted her in safety +thither. + +[Sidenote: The Michael arriued in the North parts. Only one man died the +voyage.] Here we heard good tidings also of the arriuall of the other Barke +called the Michael, in the North parts, which was not a little ioyful vnto +vs, that it pleased God so to bring vs to a safe meeting againe, and wee +lost in all that voyage only one man, besides one that dyed at sea, which +was sicke before he came aboord, and was so desirous to follow this +enterprise, that he rather chose to dye therein, then not to be one to +attempt so notable a voyage. + + +The third voyage of Captaine Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of + Cataia, by Meta Incognita, Anno Do, 1578. + +The Generall being returned from the second voyage, immediately after his +arriuall in England repaired with all hast to the Court being then at +Windsore, to aduertise her Majestie of his prosperous proceeding, and good +successe in this last voyage, and of the plenty of gold Ore, with other +matters of importance which he had in those Septentrionall parts +discouered. [Sidenote: M. Frobisher commended of her Maiestie.] He was +courteously enterteyned, and heartily welcommed of many noble men, but +especially for his great aduenture, commended of her Maiestie, at whose +hands he receiued great thankes, and most gracious countenance, according +to his deserts. [Sidenote: The Gentlemen commended.] Her Highnesse also +greatly commended the rest of the Gentlemen in this seruice, for their +great forwardnes in this so dangerous an attempt: but especially she +reioyced very much, that among them there was so good order of gouernment, +so good agreement, euery man so ready in his calling, to do whatsoeuer the +Generall should command, which due commendation gratiously of her Maiestie +remembred, gaue so great encouragement to all the Captaines and Gentlemen, +that they to continue her Highnesse so good and honourable opinion of them, +haue since neither spared labour, limme, nor life, to bring this matter (so +well begun) to a happie and prosperous ende. [Sidenote: Commissioners +appointed to examine the goodnesse of the Ore.] And finding that the matter +of the golde Ore had appearance and made shew of great riches and profit, +and the hope of the passage to Cataya, by this last voyage greatly +increased, her Maiestie appointed speciall Commissioners chosen for this +purpose, gentlemen of great iudgement, art, and skill, to looke thorowly +into the cause, for the true triall and due examination thereof, and for +the full handling of all matters thereunto appertaining. [Sidenote: A name +giuen to the place new discouered.] And because that place and countrey +hath neuer heretofore bene discouered, and therefore had no speciall name, +by which it might be called and knowen, her Maiestie named it very properly +Meta Incognita, as a marke and bound vtterly hitherto vnknowen. The +commissioners after sufficient triall and proofe made of the Ore, and +hauing vnderstood by sundrie reasons, and substantiall grounds, the +possibilitie and likelyhood of the passage, aduertised her highnesse, that +the cause was of importance, and the voyage greatly worthy to be aduanced +againe. Wherevpon preparation was made of ships and all other things +necessary, with such expedition, as the time of the yeere then required. +And because it was assuredly made accompt of, that the commoditie of Mines, +there already discouered, would at the least counteruaille in all respects +the aduenturers charge, and giue further hope and likelyhood of greater +matters to follow: [Sidenote: The hope of the passage to Cataya.] it was +thought needfull, both for the better guard of those parts already found, +and for further discouery of the Inland and secrets of those countreys, and +also for further search of the passage to Cataya (whereof the hope +continually more and more increaseth) that certaine numbers of chosen +souldiers and discreet men for those purposes should be assigned to +inhabite there. [Sidenote: A forte to be built in Meta Incognita.] +Wherevpon there was a strong fort or house of timber, artificially framed, +and cunningly deuised by a notable learned man here at home, in ships to be +caried thither, wherby those men that were appointed to winter and stay +there the whole yere, might as well bee defended from the danger of snow +and colde ayre, as also fortified from the force or offence of those +countrey people, which perhaps otherwise with too great multitudes might +oppresse them. And to this great aduenture and notable exploit many well +minded and forward yong Gentlemen of our countrey willingly haue offered +themselues. And first Captaine Fenton Lieutenant generall for Captaine +Frobisher, and in charge of the company with him there, Captaine Best, and +Captaine Filpot, vnto whose good discretions the gouernment of that seruice +was chiefly commended, who, as men not regarding peril in respect of the +profit and common wealth of their countrey, were willing to abide the first +brunt and aduenture of those dangers among a sauage and brutish kinde of +people, in a place hitherto euer thought for extreme cold not habitable. +[Sidenote: A hundreth men appointed to inhabite there.] The whole number of +men which had offered, and were appointed to inhabite Meta Incognita all +the yeere, were one hundreth persons, whereof 40 should be mariners for the +vse of ships, 30 Miners for gathering the gold Ore together for the next +yere, and 30 souldiers for the better guard of the rest, within which last +number are included the Gentlemen, Goldfiners, Bakers, Carpenters, and all +necessary persons. To each of the Captaines was assigned one ship, as wel +for the further searching of the coast and countrey there, as for to +returne and bring backe their companies againe, if the necessity of the +place so vrged, or by miscarying of the fleet the next yere, they might be +disappointed of their further prouision. Being therefore thus furnished +with al necessaries, there were ready to depart vpon the said voyage 15 +saile of good ships, whereof the whole number was to returne again with +their loding of gold Ore in the end of the sommer, except those 3 ships, +which should be left for the vse of those Captains which should inhabite +there the whole yere. And being in so good readinesse, the Generall with +all the Captaines came to the Court, then lying at Greenwich, to take their +leaue of her Maiestie, at whose hands they all receiued great +encouragement, and gracious countenance. [Sidenote: A chaine of gold giuen +to M. Frobisher.] Her highnesse besides other good gifts, and greater +promises, bestowed on the Generall a faire chaine of golde, and the rest of +the Captaines kissed her hand, tooke their leaue, and departed euery man +towards their charge. + + +The names of the Ships with their seuerall Captaines. + +1 In the Aide being Admirall, was the Generall Captaine Frobisher. + +2 In the Thomas Allen Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke. + +3 In the Iudith Lieutenant generall Captaine Fenton. + +4 In the Anne Francis Captaine Best. + +5 In the Hopewell Captaine Carew. + +6 In the Beare Captaine Filpot. + +7 In the Thomas of Ipswich Captaine Tanfield. + +8 In the Emmanuel of Exceter Captaine Courtney. + +9 In the Francis of Foy Captaine Moyles. + +10 In the Moone Captaine Vpcot. + +11 In the Emmanuel of Bridgewater Captaine Newton. + +12 In the Salomon of Weymouth Captaine Randal. + +13 In the Barke Dennis Captaine Kendal. + +14 In the Gabriel Captaine Haruey. + +15 In the Michael Captaine Kinnersly. + +The sayd fifteene saile of ships arriued and met together at Harwich, the +seuen and twentieth day of May Anno 1578, where the Generall and the other +Captaines made view, and mustred their companies. And euery seuerall +Captaine receiued from the Generall certaine Articles of direction, for the +better keeping of order and company together in the way, which Articles are +as followeth. + + +Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete, set downe by Captaine + Frobisher Generall, and deliuered in writing to euery Captaine, as well + for keeping company, as for the course, the 31 of May. + +1 In primis, to banish swearing, dice, and card-playing, and filthy +communication, and to serue God twice a day, with the ordinary seruice +vsuall in Churches of England, and to cleare the glasse, according to the +old order of England. + +2 The Admirall shall carie the light, and after his light be once put out, +no man to goe a head of him, but euery man to fit his sailes to follow as +neere as they may, without endangering one another. + +3 That no man shall by day or by night depart further from the Admirall +then the distance of one English mile, and as neere as they may, without +danger one of another. + +4 If it chance to grow thicke, and the wind contrary, either by day or by +night, that the Admirall be forced to cast about, before her casting about +shee shall giue warning, by shooting off a peece, and to her shall answere +the Viceadmirall and the Rereadmirall each of them with a piece, if it bee +by night, or in a fogge; and that the Viceadmirall shall answere first, and +the Rereadmirall last. + +5 That no man in the fleete descrying any sayle or sayles, giue vpon any +occasion any chace before he haue spoken with the Admirall. + +6 That euery euening all the Fleete come vp and speake with the Admirall, +at seuen of the Clocke or betweene that and eight and if the weather will +not serue them all to speake with the Admirall, then some shall come to the +Viceadmirall, and receiue the order of their course of Master Hall chiefe +Pilot of the Fleete, as he shall direct them. + +7 If to any man in the Fleete there happen any mischance, they shall +presently shoote off two peeces by day, and if it be by night, two peeces, +and shew two lights. + +8 If any man in the fleete come vp in the night, and hale his fellow, +knowing him not, he shall giue him this watch-word, Before the world was +God. The other shal answere him (if he be one of our Fleete) After God came +Christ his Sonne. So that if any be found amongst vs, not of our owne +company, he that first descrieth any such sayle or sayles, shall giue +warning to the Admirall by himselfe or any other, that he can speake to, +that sailes better then he, being neerest vnto him. + +9 That every ship in the fleete in the time of fogs, which continually +happen with little winds, and most part calmes, shal keepe a reasonable +noise with trumpet, drumme, or otherwise, to keepe themselues cleere one of +another. + +10 If it fall out so thicke or mistie that we lay it to hull, the Admirall +shall giue warning with a piece, and putting out three lights one ouer +another, to the end that euery man may take in his sailes, and at his +setting of sayles againe doe the like if it be not cleere. + +11 If any man discover land by night, that he giue the like warning, that +he doth for mischances, two lights, and two pieces, if it be by day one +piece, and put out his flagge, and strike all his sailes he hath aboord. + +12 If any ship shall happen to lose company by force of weather, then any +such ship or ships shall get her into the latitude of [77] and so keepe +that latitude vntill they get Frisland. And after they be past the West +parts of Frisland, they shall get them into the latitude of [78] and +[79] and not to the Northward of [80] and being once entred within the +Streites, al such ships shal euery watch shoote off a good piece, and looke +out well for smoke and fire, which those that get in first shall make euery +night, vntill all the fleete be come together. + +13 That vpon the sight of an ensigne in the mast of the Admirall (a piece +being shot off) the whole fleete shall repaire to the Admirall, to +vnderstand such conference as the Generall is to haue with them. + +14 If we chance to meete with any enemies, that foure ships shall attend +vpon the Admirall, viz. the Francis of Foy, the Moone, the Barke Dennis, +and the Gabriel: and foure vpon my Lieutenant generall in the Iudith, viz. +the Hopewel, the Armenal, the Beare, and the Salomon: and the other foure +vpon the Vizadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, the +Emmanuel, and the Michael. + +15 If there happen any disordred person in the Fleete, that he be taken and +kept in safe custodie vntill he may conueniently be brought aboord the +Admirall, and there to receiue such punishment as his or their offences +shall deserue. + +By me Martin Frobisher. + + +Our departure from England. + +Hauing receiued these articles of direction we departed from Harwich the +one and thirtieth of May. [Sidenote: Cape Cleare the sixt of Iune.] And +sayling along the South part of England Westward, we at length came by the +coast of Ireland at Cape Cleare the sixth of Iune, and gaue chase there to +a small barke which was supposed to be a Pyrat, or Rouer on the Seas, but +it fell out indeede that they were poore men of Bristow, who had met with +such company of Frenshmen as had spoiled and slaine many of them, and left +the rest so sore wounded that they were like to perish in the sea, hauing +neither hand nor foote hole to helpe themselues with, nor victuals to +sustaine their hungry bodies. [Sidenote: A charitable deede.] Our Generall, +who well vnderstood the office of a Souldier and an Englishman, and knew +well what the necessitie of the Sea meaneth, pitying much the miserie of +the poore men, relieved them with Surgerie and Salues to heale their +hurtes, and with meate and drinke to comfort their pining hearts: some of +them hauing neither eaten nor dronke more then oliues and stinking water in +many dayes before, as they reported. And after this good deede done, hauing +a large wind, we kept our course vpon our sayd voyage without staying for +the taking in of fresh water, or any other prouision, whereof many of the +fleete were not throughly furnished: [Sidenote: Marke this current.] and +sayling towards the Northwest parts from Ireland, we mette with a great +current from out of the Southwest, which caried vs (by our reckoning) one +point to the Northeastwards of our sayd course, which current seemed to vs +to continue it selfe towards Norway, and other the Northeast parts of the +world, whereby we may be induced to beleeue, that this is the same which +the Portugals meete at Capo de buona Speranza,[81] where striking ouer from +thence to the Streites of Magellan, and finding no passage there for the +narrownesse of the sayde Streites, runneth along into the great Bay of +Mexico, where also hauing a let of land, it is forced to strike backe +againe towards the Northeast,[82] as we not onely here, but in another +place also, further to the Northwards, by good experience this yeere haue +found, as shalbe hereafter in his place more at large declared. + +Now had we sayled about fourteene dayes, without sight of any land, or any +other liuing thing, except certaine foules, as Wilmots, Nodies, Gulles, &c. +which there seeme onely to liue by sea. + +[Sidenote: West England.] The twentieth of Iune, at two of the clocke in +the morning, the Generall descried land, and found it to be West Frisland, +now named west England. Here the Generall, and other Gentlemen went ashore, +being the first knowen Christians that we haue true notice of, that euer +set foot vpon that ground: and therefore the Generall took possession +thereof to the vse of our Soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie, and +discouered here a goodly harborough for the ships, where were also certaine +little boates of that countrey. And being there landed, they espied +certaine tents and people of that countrey, which were (as they iudge) in +all sorts, very like those of Meta Incognita, as by their apparell, and +other things which we found in their tents, appeared. + +The Sauage and simple people so soone as they perceiued our men comming +towards them (supposing there had bene no other world but theirs) fled +fearefully away, as men much amazed at so strange a sight, and creatures of +humane shape, so farre in apparell, complexion, and other things different +from themselues. They left in their tents all their furniture for haste +behind them, where amongst other things were found a boxe of small nailes, +and certaine red Herrings, boords of Firre tree well cut, with diuers other +things artificially wrought: whereby it appeareth, that they haue trade +with some ciuill people, or else are indeede themselues artificiall +workmen. + +Our men brought away with them onely two of their dogs, leauing in +recompense belles, looking-glasses, and diuers of our countrey toyes +behinde them. + +This countrey, no doubt, promiseth good hope of great commoditie and +riches, if it may be well discouered. The description whereof you shall +finde more at large in the second voyage. + +[Sidenote: Frisland supposed to be continent with Greenland.] Some are of +opinion, that this West England is firme land with the Northeast partes of +Meta Incognita, or else with Groenland. And their reason is, because the +people, apparel, boates, and other things are so like to theirs: and +another reason is, the multitude of Islands of yce, which lay betweene it +and Meta Incognita, doth argue, that on the North side there is a bay, +which cannot be but by conioyning of the two lands together. + +[Sidenote: The 23rd of Iune.] And hauing a faire and large winde we +departed from thence towards Frobishers Streites, the three and twentieth +of Iune. [Sidenote: Charing Crosse.] But first wee gaue name to a high +cliffe in West England, the last that was in our sight, and for a certaine +sinulitude we called it Charing crosse. Then wee bare Southerly towards the +Sea, because to the Northwardes of this coast we met with much driuing yce, +which by reason of the thicke mistes and weather might haue bene some +trouble vnto vs. + +On Munday the last of Iune, wee met with many great Whales, as they had +bene Porposes. + +[Sidenote: A Whale strooke a ship.] The same day the Salamander being vnder +both her corses and bonets, happened to strike a great Whale with her full +stemme, with such a blow that the ship stoode still, and stirred neither +forward or backward. The Whale thereat made a great and vgly noyse, and +cast vp his body and taile, and sowent vnder water, and within two dayes +after, there was found a great Whale dead swimming aboue water, which wee +supposed was that which the Salamander strooke. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers Streites choked vp with yce.] The second day of Iuly +early in the morning we had sight of the Queenes Foreland, and bare in with +the land all the day, and passing thorow great quantity of yce, by night +were entred somewhat within the Streites, perceiuing no way to passe +further in, the whole place being frozen ouer from the one side to the +other, and as it were with many walles, mountaines, and bulwarks of yce, +choked vp the passage, and denied vs entrance. And yet doe I not thinke +that this passage or Sea hereabouts is frozen ouer at any time of the yere: +albeit it seemed so vnto vs by the abundance of yce gathered together, +which occupied the whole place. But I doe rather suppose these yce to bee +bred in the hollow soundes and freshets thereabouts: which by the heate of +the Summers Sunne, being loosed, doe emptie themselues with the ebbes into +the sea, and so gather in great abundance there together. + +And to speake somewhat here of the ancient opinion of the frozen sea in +these parts: I doe thinke it to be rather a bare coniecture of men, then +that euer any man hath made experience of any such Sea. And that which they +speake of Mare glaciale, may be truely thought to be spoken of these parts: +[Sidenote: Salt water cannot freeze.] for this may well be called indeede +the ycie sea, but not the frozen sea, for no sea consisting of salt water +can be frozen, as I haue more at large herein shewed my opinion in my +second voyage, for it seemeth impossible for any sea to bee frozen, which +hath his course of ebbing and flowing, especially in those places where the +tides doe ebbe and flowe aboue ten fadome. And also all these aforesayd +yce, which we sometime met a hundredth mile from lande, being gathered out +of the salt Sea, are in taste fresh, and being dissolued, become sweete and +holesome water.[83] + +And the cause why this yere we haue bene more combred with yce then at +other times before, may be by reason of the Easterly and Southerly winds, +which brought vs more timely thither now then we looked for. Which blowing +from the sea directly vponn the place of our Streites, hath kept in the +yce, and not suffered them to be caried out by the ebbe to the maine sea, +where they would in more short time have bene dissolued. And all these +fleeting yce are not only so dangerous in that they wind and gather so +neere together, that a man may passe sometimes tenne or twelue miles as it +were vpon one firme Island of yce: but also for that they open and shut +together againe in such sort with the tides and sea-gate, that whilst one +ship followeth the other with full sayles, the yce which was open vnto the +foremost will ioyne and close together before the latter can come to follow +the first, whereby many times our shippes were brought into great danger, +as being not able so sodainely to take in our sayles or stay the swift way +of our ships. + +We were forced many times to stemme and strike great rockes of yce, and so +as it were make way through mighty mountaines. By which meanes some of the +fleete, where they found the yce to open, entred in, and passed so farre +within the danger thereof, with continuall desire to recouer their port, +that it was the greatest wonder of the world that they euer escaped safe, +or were euer heard of againe. For euen at this present we missed two of the +fleete, that is, the Iudith, wherein was the Lieutenant Generall Captaine +Fenton; and the Michael, whom both we supposed had bene vtterly lost, +hauing not heard any tidings of them in moe then 20 dayes before. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dennis sunke.] And one of our fleete named the Barke +Dennis, being of an hundreth tunne burden, seeking way in amongst these +yce, receiued such a blow with a rocke of yce that she sunke downe +therewith in the sight of the whole fleete. Howbeit hauing signified her +danger by shooting off a peece of great Ordinance, new succour of other +ships came so readily vnto them, that the men were all saued with boats. + +[Sidenote: Part of the house lost.] Within this ship that was drowned there +was parcell of our house which was to bee erected for them that should stay +all the Winter in Meta Incognita. + +This was a more fearefull spectacle for the Fleete to beholde, for that the +outragious storme which presently followed, threatned them the like fortune +and danger. For the Fleete being thus compassed (as aforesayd) on euery +side with yce, having left much behinde them, thorow which they passed, and +finding more before them, thorow which it was not possible to passe, there +arose a sudden terrible tempest at the Southeast, which blowing from the +maine sea, directly vpon the place of the Streites, brought together all +the yce a sea-boorde of vs vpon our backes, and thereby debard vs of +turning backe to recouer sea-roome againe: so that being thus compassed +with danger on euery side, sundry men with sundry deuises sought the best +way to saue themselues. Some of the ships, where they could find a place +more cleare of yce, and get a little birth of sea roome, did take in their +sayles, and there lay a drift. Other some fastened and mored Anker vpon a +great Island of yce, and roade vnder the Lee thereof, supposing to be +better guarded thereby from the outragious winds, and the danger of the +lesser fleeting yce. And againe some were so fast shut vp, and compassed in +amongst an infinite number of great countreys and Islands of yce, that they +were faine to submit themselues and their ships to the mercy of the +vnmerciful yce, and strengthened the sides of their shipps with iuncks of +cables, beds, Mastes, plankes and such like, which being hanged ouerboard +on the sides of their ships, might the better defend them from the +outragious sway and strokes of the said yce. But as in greatest distresse, +men of best valor are best to be discerned, so it is greatly worthy +commendation and noting with what inuincible minde euery Captaine +encouraged his company, and with what incredible labour the painefull +Mariners and poore Miners (vnacquainted with such extremities) to the +euerlasting renowne of our nation, did ouercome the brunt of these so great +and extreme dangers: for some, even without boord vpon the yce, and some +within boord vpon the sides of their ships, hauing poles, pikes, pieces of +timber, and Ores in their handes, stoode almost day and night without any +rest, bearing off the force, and breaking the sway of the yce with such +incredible paine and perill, that it was wonderfull to beholde, which +otherwise no doubt had striken quite through and through the sides of their +ships, notwithstanding our former prouision: for plankes of timber more +then three inches thicke, and other things of greater force and bignesse, +by the surging of the sea and billowe, with the yce were shiuered and cut +in sunder, at the sides of our ships, so that it will seeme more then +credible to be reported of. And yet (that which is more) it is faithfully +and plainely to bee prooued, and that by many substantiall witnesses, that +our ships, euen those of greatest burdens, with the meeting of contrary +waues of the sea, were heaued vp betweene Islands of yce, a foote welneere +out of the sea aboue their watermarke, hauing their knees and timbers +within boord both bowed and broken therewith. + +And amidst these extremes, whilest some laboured for defence of the ships, +and sought to saue their bodies, other some of more milder spirit sought to +saue the soule by deuout prayer and meditation to the Almightie, thinking +indeede by no other meanes possible then by a diuine Miracle to haue their +deliuerance: so that there was none that were either idle, or not well +occupied, and he that helde himselfe in best securitie had (God knoweth) +but onely bare hope remayning for his best safetie. + +Thus all the gallant Fleete and miserable men without hope of euer getting +foorth againe, distressed with these extremities remayned here all the +whole night and part of the next day, excepting foure ships, that is the +Annie Francis, the Moone, the Francis of Foy, and the Gabriell, which being +somewhat a Seaboord of the Fleete, and being fast ships by a winde, hauing +a more scope of cleare, tryed it out all the time of the storme vnder +sayle, being hardly able to beare a coast of each. + +And albeit, by reason of the fleeting yce, which were dispersed here almost +the whole sea ouer, they were brought many times to the extreamest point of +perill, mountaines of yce tenne thousand times scaping them scarce one +ynch, which to have striken had bene their present destruction, considering +the swift course and way of the ships, and the unwieldinesse of them to +stay and turne as a man would wish: yet they esteemed it their better +safetie, with such perill to seeke Sea-roome, then without hope of euer +getting libertie to lie striuing against the streame, and beating against +the Isie mountaines, whose hugenesse and monstrous greatnesse was such, +that no man would credite, but such as to their paines sawe and felt it. +And these foure shippes by the next day at noone got out to Sea, and were +first cleare of the yce, who now enioying their owne libertie, beganne a +new to sorrow and feare for their fellowes safeties. And deuoutly kneeling +about their maine Mast, they gaue vnto God humble thankes, not only for +themselues, but besought him likewise highly for their friendes +deliuerance. And euen now whilst amiddest these extremities this gallant +Fleete and valiant men were altogither ouerlaboured and forewatched, with +the long and fearefull continuance of the foresayd dangers, it pleased God +with his eyes of mercie to looke downe from heauen to sende them helpe in +good time, giuing them the next day a more favourable winde at the West +Northwest, which did not onely disperse and driue foorth the yce before +them, but also gaue them libertie of more scope and Sea-roome, and they +were by night of the same day following perceiued of the other foure +shippes, where (to their greatest comfort) they enioyed againe the +fellowship one of another. Some in mending the sides of their ships, some +in setting vp their top Mastes, and mending their sayles and tacklings; +Againe, some complayning of their false Stemme borne away, some in stopping +their leakes, some in recounting their dangers past, spent no small time +and labour. So that I dare well auouch, there were neuer men more +dangerously distressed, nor more mercifully by Gods prouidence deliuered. +And hereof both the torne ships, and the forwearied bodies of the men +arriued doe beare most euident marke and witnesse. And now the whole Fleete +plyed off to Seaward, resoluing there to abide vntill the Sunne might +consume, or the force of winde disperse these yce from the place of their +passage; and being a good birth off the shore, they tooke in their sailes, +and lay adrift. + +[Sidenote: Another assault.] The seuenth of Iuly as men nothing yet +dismayed, we cast about towards the inward, and had sight of land, which +rose in forme like the Northerland of the straights, which some of the +Fleete, and those not the worst Marriners, iudged to be the North Foreland: +howbeit other some were of contrary opinion. [Sidenote: Fogge, snow, and +mistes hinder the Mariners markes.] But the matter was not well to be +discerned by reason of the thicke fogge which a long time hung vpon the +coast, and the new falling snow which yeerely altereth the shape of the +land, and taketh away oftentimes the Mariners markes. And by reason of the +darke mists which continued by the space of twentie dayes togither, this +doubt grewe the greater and the longer perilous. [Sidenote: A swift current +from the Northeast.] For whereas indeede we thought ourselues to be vpon +the Northeast side of Frobishers straights, we were now caried to the +Southwestwards of the Queenes Foreland, and being deceiued by a swift +current comming from the Northeast, were brought to the Southwestwards of +our said course many miles more then we did thinke possible could come to +passe. The cause whereof we haue since found, and it shall be at large +hereafter declared. + +[Sidenote: A current.] Here we made a point of land which some mistooke for +a place in the straightes called Mount Warwicke: but how we should be so +farre shot vp so suddainely within the said straights the expertest +Mariners began to maruell, thinking it a thing impossible that they could +be so farre ouertaken in their accounts, or that any current could deceiue +them here which they had not by former experience prooued and found out. +Howbeit many confessed that they found a swifter course of flood then +before time they had obserued. And truely it was wonderfull to heare and +see the rushing and noise that the tides do make in this place with so +violent a force that our ships lying a hull were turned sometimes round +about euen in a moment, after the maner of a whirlepoole, and the noyse of +the streame no lesse to be heard afarre off, then the waterfall of London +Bridge. + +[Sidenote: Iames Beare a good Mariner.] But whilst the Fleete lay thus +doubtfull amongst great store of yce in a place they knew not without sight +of Sunne, whereby to take the height, and so to know the true eleuation of +the pole, and without any cleere of light to make perfite the coast, the +Generall with the Captaines and Masters of his ships, began doubtfully to +question of the matter, and sent his Pinnesse aboord to heare each man's +opinion, and specially of Iames Beare, Master of the Anne Francis, who was +knowen to be a sufficient and skillfull Mariner, and hauing bene there the +yere before, had wel obserued the place, and drawen out Cardes of the +coast. [Sidenote: Christopher Hall chiefe Pylot.] But the rather this +matter grew the more doubtfull, for that Christopher Hall chiefe Pilot of +the voyage, deliuered a plaine and publique opinion in the hearing of the +whole Fleete, that hee had neuer seene the foresayd coast before, and that +he not could make it for any place of Frobishers Streits, as some of the +Fleete supposed, and yet the landes doe lie and trend so like, that the +best Mariners therein may bee deceiued. + +The tenth of Iuly, the weather still continuing thicke and darke, some of +the ships in the fogge lost sight of the Admirall and the rest of the +fleete, and wandering to and fro, with doubtfull opinion whether it were +best to seeke backe againe to seaward through great store of yce, or to +follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea, Bay, or Streites they knew not, or +along a coast, whereof by reason of the darke mistes they could not +discerne the dangers, if by chance any rocke or broken ground should lie of +the place, as commonly in these parts it doth. + +The Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the +Pylot Hall, who was with him in the Thomas Allen, hauing lost sight of the +Fleete, turned backe to sea againe hauing two other ships in company with +him. + +Also the Captain of the Anne Francis hauing likewise lost companie of the +Fleete, and being all alone, held it for best to turne it out to sea +againe, vntill they might haue cleere weather to take the Sunnes altitude, +and with incredible paine and perill got out of the doubtfull place, into +the open Sea againe, being so narrowly distressed by the way, by meanes of +continuall fogge and yce, that they were many times ready to leapt vpon an +Island of yce to auoide the present danger, and so hoping to prolong life +awhile meant rather to die a pining death. + +[Sidenote: Hard shifts to saue mens liues.] Some hoped to saue themselues +on chestes, and some determined to tie the Hatches of the ships togither, +and to binde themselues with their furniture fast thereunto, and so to be +towed with the ship bote ashore, which otherwise could not receiue halfe of +the companie, by which meanes if happily they had arriued they should +eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate, or else should themselues +haue beene eaten of those rauenous, bloodie, and Men-eating people. + +The rest of the Fleete following the course of the Generall which led them +the way, passing vp aboue sixtie leagues [Sidenote: The coast along the +Southside of Gronland 60 leagues.] within the saide doubtfull and supposed +straights, hauing alwayes a faire continent vpon their starreboorde side, +and a continuance still of an open Sea before them. + +[Sidenote: Mistaken straights which indeed are no straights.] The Generall +albeit with the first perchance he found out the error, and that this was +not the olde straights, yet he perswaded the Fleete alwayes that they were +in their right course, and knowen straights. Howbeit I suppose he rather +dissembled his opinion therein then otherwise, meaning by that policie +(being himselfe led with an honourable desire of further discouerie) to +induce the Fleete to follow him, to see a further proofe of that place. +[Sidenote: Frobisher could haue passed to Cataia.] And as some of the +companie reported, he hath since confessed that if it had not bene for the +charge and care he had of the Fleete and fraughted ships, he both would and +could haue gone through to the South Sea, called Mar del Sur, and dissolued +the long doubt of the passage which we seeke to find to the rich countrey +of Cataya. + +1 Of which mistaken straights, considering the circumstance, we haue great +cause to confirme our opinion, to like and hope well of the passage in this +place. [Sidenote: Faire open way.] For the foresaid Bay or Sea, the further +we sayled therein, the wider we found it, with great likelihood of endlesse +continuance. [Sidenote: Reasons to prooue a passage here.] And where in +other places we were much troubled with yce, as in the entrance of the +same, so after we had sayled fiftie or sixtie leagues therein we had no let +of yce or other thing at all, as in other places we found. + +[Sidenote: Great indrafts.] 2 Also this place seemeth to haue a maruellous +great indraft, and draweth vnto it most of the drift yce, and other things +which doe fleete in the Sea, either to the North or Eastwards of the same, +as by good experience we haue found. + +[Sidenote: A current to the West.] 3 For here also we met with boordes, +lathes, and diuers other things driuing in the Sea, which was of the wracke +of the ship called the Barke Dennis, which perished amongst the yce as +beforesaid, being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the +Queenes forelande in the mouth of Frobishers straights, which could by no +meanes haue bene so brought thither, neither by winde nor tyde, being lost +so many leagues off, if by force of the said current the same had not bene +violently brought. For if the same had bene brought thither by tide of +flood, looke how farre the said flood had carried it, the ebbe would haue +recarried it as farre backe againe, and by the winde it could not so come +to passe, because it was then sometime calme, and most times contrarie. + +[Sidenote: Nine houres flood to three houres ebbe.] And some Mariners doe +affirme that they haue diligently obserued, that there runneth in this +place nine houres flood to three ebbe, which may thus come to passe by +force of the sayd current: for whereas the Sea in most places of the world, +doth more or lesse ordinarily ebbe and flow once euery twelue houres with +sixe houres ebbe, and sixe houres flood, so also would it doe there, were +it not for the violence of this hastening current, which forceth the flood +to make appearance to beginne before his ordinary time one houre and a +halfe, and also to continue longer than his naturall course by an other +houre and a halfe, vntill the force of the ebbe be so great that it will no +longer be resisted: according to the saying, Naturam expellas furca licet, +vsque recurret. Although nature and naturall courses be forced and resisted +neuer so much, yet at last they will haue their owne sway againe. + +4 [Unnumbered in original--KTH] Moreouer it is not possible that so great +course of floods and current, so high swelling tides with continuance of so +deepe waters, can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some +open Sea beyond this place, which argueth the more likelihood of the +passage to be hereabouts. Also we suppose these great indrafts doe grow and +are made by the reuerberation and reflection of that same currant, which at +our comming by Ireland, met and crossed vs, of which in the first part of +this discourse I spake, which comming from the bay of Mexico, passing by +and washing the Southwest parts of Ireland, reboundeth ouer to the +Northeast parts of the world, as Norway, Island, &c. where not finding any +passage to an open Sea, but rather being there encreased by a new accesse, +and another current meeting with it from the Scythian Sea, passing the bay +of Saint Nicholas Westward, it doth once againe rebound backe, by the +coastes of Groenland, and from thence vpon Frobishers straights being to +the Southwestwardes of the same. + +[Sidenote: The Sea moueth continually from East to West.] 5 And if that +principle of Philosophie be true, that Inferiora corpora reguntur à +superioribus, that is, if inferior bodies be gouerned, ruled, and carried +after the maner and course of the superiors, then the water being an +inferior Element, must needes be gouerned after the superior heauen, and so +follow the course of Primum from East to West.[84] + +[Sidenote: Authoritie.] 6 But euery man that hath written or considered any +thing of this passage, hath more doubted the returne by the same way by +reason of a great downefall of water, which they imagine to be thereabouts +(which we also by experience partly find) than any mistrust they haue of +the same passage at all. [Sidenote: Hard but yet possible turning backe +again.] For we find (as it were) a great downefall in this place, but yet +not such but that we may returne, although with much adoe. For we were +easier carried in one houre then we could get forth againe in three. Also +by another experience at another time, we found this current to deceiue vs +in this sort: That wheras we supposed it to be 15 leagues off, and lying a +hull, we were brought within two leagues of the shore contrarie to all +expectation. + +Our men that sayled furthest in the same mistaken straights (hauing the +maine land vpon their starboord side) affirme that they met with the outlet +or passage of water which commeth thorow Frobishers straights, and +followeth as all one into this passage. + +Some of our companie also affirme that they had sight of a continent vpon +their larboord side being 60 leagues within the supposed straights: howbeit +except certaine Ilands in the entrance hereof we could make no part perfect +thereof. All the foresaid tract of land seemeth to be more fruitfull and +better stored of Grasse, Deere, Wilde foule, as Partridges, Larkes, +Seamewes, Guls, Wilmots, Falcons and Tassel gentils, Rauens, Beares, Hares, +Foxes, and other things, than any other part we haue yet discouered, and is +more populous. [Sidenote: Traffique.] And here Luke Ward, a Gentleman of +the companie, traded marchandise, and did exchange kniues, bels, looking +glasses, &c. with those countrey people, who brought him foule, fish, +beares skinnes, and such like, as their countrey yeeldeth for the same. +Here also they saw of those greater boats of the countrey, with twentie +persons in a peece. + +Now after the Generall had bestowed these many dayes here, not without many +dangers, he returned backs againe. And by the way sayling alongst this +coast (being the backeside of the supposed continent of America) and the +Queenes Foreland, he perceiued a great sound to goe thorow into Frobishers +straights. [Sidenote: Returne out of the mistaken straights.] Whereupon he +sent the Gabriel the one and twentieth of Iuly, to prooue whether they +might goe thorow and meete againe with him in the straights, which they +did: and as wee imagined before, so the Queenes foreland prooued an Iland, +as I thinke most of these supposed continents will. And so he departed +towardes the straights, thinking it were high time now to recouer his Port, +and to prouide the Fleete of their lading, whereof he was not a little +carefull, as shall by the processe and his resolute attempts appeare. And +in his returne with the rest of the fleete he was so entangled by reason of +the darke fogge amongst a number of Ilands and broken ground that lye off +this coast, that many of the shippes came ouer the top of rockes, which +presently after they might perceiue to lie dry, hauing not halfe a foote +water more then some of their ships did draw. And by reason they could not +with a smal gale of wind stemme the force of the flood, whereby to goe +cleare off the rockes, they were faine to let an anker fall with two bent +of Cable togither, at an hundred and odde fadome depth, where otherwise +they had bene by the force of the tides caried vpon the rockes againe, and +perished: [Sidenote: Great dangers.] so that if God in these fortunes (as a +mercifull guide, beyond the expectation of man) had not carried vs thorow, +we had surely perished amidst these dangers. For being many times driuen +hard aboord the shore without any sight of land, vntill we were ready to +make shipwracke thereon, being forced commonly with our boats to sound +before our ships, least we might light thereon before we could discerne the +same; it pleased God to giue vs a cleare of Sunne and light for a short +time to see and auoyde thereby the danger, hauing bene continually darke +before, and presently after. Manie times also by meanes of fogge and +currents being driuen neere vpon the coast, God lent vs euen at the very +pinch one prosperous breath of winde or other, whereby to double the land, +and auoid the perill, and when that we were all without hope of helpe, +euery man recommending himselfe to death, and crying out, Lord now helpe or +neuer, now Lord looke downe from heauen and saue vs sinners, or else our +safetie commeth too late: euen then the mightie maker of heauen, and our +mercifull God did deliuer vs: so that they who haue bene partakers of these +dangers doe euen in their soules confesse, that God euen by miracle hath +sought to saue them, whose name be praysed euermore. + +Long time now the Anne Francis had layne beating off and on all alone +before the Queenes foreland, not being able to recouer their Port for yce, +albeit many times they dangerously attempted it, for yet the yce choaked vp +the passage, and would not suffer them to enter. [Sidenote: Anne Francis +met with some of the fleete.] And hauing neuer seene any of the fleete +since twenty dayes past, when by reason of the thicke mistes they were +seuered in the mistaken straights, they did now this present 23 of Iuly +ouerthwart a place in the straights called Hattons Hedland, where they met +with seuen ships of the Fleete againe, which good hap did not onely reioyce +them for themselues, in respect of the comfort which they receiued by such +good companie, but especially that by this meanes they were put out of +doubt of their deare friends, whose safeties long time they did not a +little suspect, and feare. + +At their meeting they haled the Admirall after the maner of the Sea, and +with great ioy welcommed one another with a thundring volly of shot. And +now euery man declared at large the fortunes and dangers which they had +passed. + +[Sidenote: Francis of Foy.] The foure and twentieth of Iuly we met with the +Francis of Foy, who with much adoe sought way backe againe, through the yce +from out of the mistaken straights, where (to their great perill) they +prooued to recouer their Port. [Sidenote: Bridgwater ship.] They brought +the first newes of the Vizadmirall Captaine Yorke, who many dayes with +themselues, and the Busse of Bridgewater was missing. They reported that +they left the Vizeadmirall reasonably cleare of the yce, but the other ship +they greatly feared, whom they could not come to helpe, being themselues so +hardly distressed as neuer men more. Also they told vs of the Gabriel, who +hauing got thorow from the backside, and Western point of the Queenes +foreland, into Frobishers straights, fell into their company about the cape +of Good hope. + +And vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iuly, the ship of Bridgewater got out +of the yce and met with the Fleete which lay off and on vnder Hattons +Hedland. They reported of their maruellous accidents and dangers, declaring +their ship to be so leake that they must of necessitie seeke harborow, +hauing their stem so beaten within their huddings, that they had much adoe +to keepe themselues aboue water. They had (as they say) fiue hundreth +strokes at the pump in lesse then halfe a watch, being scarce two houres; +their men being so ouerwearied therewith, and with the former dangers that +they desired helpe of men from the other ships. [Sidenote: The Streits +frozen ouer.] Moreouer they declared that there was nothing but yce and +danger where they had bene, and that the straights within were frozen vp, +and that it was the most impossible thing of the world, to passe vp vnto +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, which was the place of our Port. + +The report of these dangers by these ships thus published amongst the +fleete, with the remembrance of the perils past, and those present before +their face, brought no small feare and terror into the hearts of many +considerate men. So that some beganne priuily to murmure against the +Generall for this wilfull manner of proceeding. Some desired to discouer +some harborow therebouts to refresh themselues and reform their broken +vessels for a while, vntill the North and Northwest windes might disperse +the yce, and make the place more free to passe. Other some forgetting +themselues, spake more vndutifully in this behalfe, saying: that they had +as leeue be hanged when they came home, as without hope of safetie to seeke +to passe, and so to perish amongst the yce. + +[Sidenote: A valiant mind of M. Frobisher.] The Generall not opening his +eares to the peeuish passion of any priuate person, but chiefly respecting +the accomplishment of the cause he had vndertaken (wherein the chiefe +reputation and fame of a Generall and Captaine consisteth) and calling to +his remembrance the short time he had in hand to prouide so great number of +ships their loading, determined with this resolution to passe and recouer +his Port, or else there to burie himselfe with his attempt. + +Notwithstanding somewhat to appease the feeble passions of the fearefuller +sort, and the better to entertaine time for a season, whilest the yce might +the better be dissolued, he haled on the Fleete with beleefe that he would +put them in harborow: thereupon whilest the shippes lay off and on under +Hattons Hedland, he sought to goe in with his Pinnesses amongst the Ilandes +there, as though hee meant to search for harborowe, where indeede he meant +nothing lesse, but rather sought if any Ore might be found in that place, +as by the sequele appeared. + +In the mean time whilest the Fleete lay thus doubtfull without any certaine +resolution what to do, being hard aboord the lee-shore, there arose a +sodaine and terrible tempest at the Southsoutheast, whereby the yce began +maruellously to gather about vs. + +Whereupon euery man, as in such case of extremitie he thought best, sought +the wisest way for his owne safety. The most part of the Fleete which were +further shot vp within the straights, and so farre to the leeward, as that +they could not double the land following the course of the Generall, who +led them the way, tooke in their Sayles, and layde it a hull amongst the +yce, and so passed ouer the storme, and had no extremitie at all, but for a +short time in the same place. + +Howbeit the other ships which plyed out to Seaward, had an extreme storme +for a long season. And the nature of the place is such, that it is subiect +diuersely to diuers windes, according to the sundry situation of the great +Alps and mountaines there, euery mountaine causing a seuerall blast, and +parrie, after the maner of a Leuant. + +[Sidenote: Snow in Iuly.] In this storme being the sixe and twentieth of +Iuly, there fell so much snow, with such bitter cold aire, that we could +not scarse see one another for the same, nor open our eyes to handle, our +ropes and sayles, the snow being aboue halfe a foote deepe vpon the hatches +of our ship, which did so wet thorow our poore Mariners clothes, that hee +that had fiue or sixe shifts of apparell had scarce one drie threed to his +backe, which kinde of wet and coldnesse, together with the ouerlabouring of +the poore men amiddest the yce, bred no small sicknesse amongst the fleete, +[Sidenote: Extreme winter.] which somewhat discouraged some of the poore +men, who had not experience of the like before, euery man perswading +himselfe that the winter there must needes be extreme, where they found so +vnseasonable a Sommer. + +[Sidenote: Great heat in Meta Incognita.] And yet notwithstanding this cold +aire, the Sunne many times hath a maruellous force of heate amongst those +mountaines; [Sidenote: Vnconstant weather.] insomuch that when there is no +breth of winde to bring the colde aire from the dispersed yce vpon vs, we +shall be wearie of the blooming heate and then sodainely with a perry[85] +of winde which commeth downe from the hollownesse of the hilles, we shall +haue such a breth of heate brought vpon our faces as though we were entred +within some bathstoue or hote-house, and when the first of the pirry and +blast is past, we shall haue the winde sodainely a new blow cold againe. + +In this storme the Anne Francis, the Moone, and the Thomas of Ipswich, who +found themselues able to hold it vp with a saile, and could double about +the Cape of the Queenes foreland, plyed out to the Seaward, holding it for +better policie and safetie to seeke Sea roome, then to hazard the +continuance of the storme, the danger of the yce, and the leeshore. + +And being vncertaine at this time of the Generals priuate determinations, +the weather being so darke that they could not discerne one another, nor +perceiue which way he wrought, betooke themselues to this course for best +and safest. + +[Sidenote: The Generall recouereth his port.] The Generall, notwithstanding +the great storme, following his own former resolution, sought by all meanes +possible, by a shorter way to recouer his Port, and where he saw the yce +neuer so little open, he gate in at one gappe and out at another, and so +himselfe valiantly led the way thorow before to induce the Fleete to follow +after, and with incredible paine and perill at length gat through the yce, +and vpon the one and thirtieth of Iuly recouered his long wished Port after +many attempts and sundry times being put backe, and came to anker in the +Countesse of Warwicks sound, in the entrance whereof, when he thought all +perill past, he encountred a great Iland of yce which gaue the Ayde such a +blow, hauing a little before wayed her anker a cocke bill, that it stroke +the anker fluke through the ships bowes vnder the water, which caused so +great a leake, that with much adoe they preserued the ship from sinking. + +At their arriuall here they perceiued two ships at anker within the +harborough, whereat they began much to maruell and greatly to reioyce, for +those they knew to be the Michael, wherein was the Lieutenant generall +Captaine Fenton, and the small Barke called the Gabriel, who so long time +were missing, and neuer heard of before, whom euery man made the last +reckoning, neuer to heare of againe. + +[Sidenote: Master Wolfall Preacher.] Here euery man greatly reioyced of +their happie meeting, and welcommed one another, after the Sea manner with +their great Ordinance, and when each partie had ripped vp their sundry +fortunes and perils past, they highly praysed God, and altogither vpon +their knees gaue him due, humble and heartie thankes, and Maister Wolfall a +learned man, appointed by her Maiesties Councell to be their Minister and +Preacher made vnto them a godly sermon, exhorting them especially to be +thankfull to God for their strange and miraculous deliuerance in those so +dangerous places, and putting them in mind of the vncertaintie of mans +life, willed them to make themselues alwayes readie as resolute men to +enioy and accept thankefully whatsoeuer aduenture his diuine Prouidence +should appoint. This maister Wolfall being well seated and settled at home +in his owne Countrey, with a good and large liuing, hauing a good honest +woman to wife and very towardly children, being of good reputation among +the best, refused not to take in hand this painefull voyage, for the onely +care he had to saue soules, and to reforme those Infidels if it were +possible to Christiantie: and also partly for the great desire he had that +this notable voyage so well begunne, might be brought to perfection: and +therefore he was contented to stay there the whole yeare if occasion had +serued, being in euery necessary action as forward as the resolutest men of +all. Wherefore in this behalfe he may rightly be called a true Pastor and +minister of God's word, which for the profite of his flocke spared not to +venture his owne life. + +[Sidenote: The aduentures of Captain Fenton and his companie.] But to +returne againe to Captaine Fentons company, and to speake somewhat of their +dangers (albeit they be more then by writing can be expressed) they +reported that from the night of the first storme which was about the first +day of Iuly vntill seuen dayes before the Generals arriuall, which was the +sixe and twentith of the same, they neuer saw any one day or houre, wherin +they were not troubled with continuall danger and feare of death, and were +twentie dayes almost togither fast amongst the yce. They had their ship +stricken through and through on both sides, their false stemme borne quite +away, and could goe from their ships in some places vpon the yce very many +miles, and might easily haue passed from one Iland of yce to another euen +to the shore, [Sidenote: Extremitie causeth men to deuise new arts and +remedies.] and if God had not wonderfully prouided for them and their +necessitie, and time had not made them more cunning and wise to seeke +strange remedies for strange kindes of dangers, it had bene impossible for +them euer to haue escaped: for among other deuises, wheresoeuer they found +any Iland of yce of greater bignesse then the rest (as there be some of +more then halfe a mile compasse about, and almost forty fadome high) they +commonly coueted to recouer the same, and thereof to make a bulwarke for +their defence, whereon hauing mored anker, they road vnder the lee therof +for a time, being therby garded from the danger of the lesser driuing yce. +[Sidenote: Hard shifts.] But when they must needes forgoe this new found +fort by meanes of other yce, which at length would vndermine and compasse +them round about, and when that by heauing of the billow they were +therewith like to be brused in peeces, they vsed to make fast the shippe +vnto the most firme and broad peece of yce they could find, and binding her +nose fast thereunto, would fill all their sayles whereon the winde hauing +great power, would force forward the ship, and so the shippe bearing before +her the yce, and so one yce driuing forward another, should at length get +scope and searoome. And hauing by this meanes at length put their enemies +to flight, they occupyed the cleare place for a prettie season among sundry +mountaines and Alpes of yce. One there was found by measure to be 65 fadome +aboue water, which for a kind of similitude, was called Solomons porch. +Some thinke those Ilands eight times so much vnder water as they are aboue, +because of their monstrous weight. [Sidenote: Strange wonders.] But now I +remember I saw very strange wonders, men walking, running, leaping and +shooting vpon the mayne seas 40. myles from any land, without any Shippe or +other vessel vnder them. Also I saw fresh Riuers running amidst the salt +Sea a hundred myle from land, which if any man will not belieue let him +know that many of our company leapt out of their Shippe vpon Ilandes of +yce, and running there vp and downe, did shoote at Buts vpon the yce, and +with their Caliuers did kill great Seales, which vse to lye and sleepe vpon +the yce, and this yce melting aboue at the toppe by reflection of the +Sunne, came downe in sundry streames, which vniting together, made a pretie +Brooke able to driue a Mill. + +The sayde Captaine Fenton recouered his Port tenne dayes before any man, +and spent good tyme in searching for Mine, and hee found good store +thereof. He also discouered about tenne Miles vp into the Countrey, where +he perceiued neither Towne, Village, nor likelihoode of habitation, but it +seemeth (as he sayeth) barren, as the other parts, which as yet we haue +entred vpon: but their victuals and prouision went so scant with them, that +they had determined to returne homeward within seuen dayes after, if the +Fleete had not then arriued. + +The Generall after his arriual in the Countesses sound, spent no time in +vaine, but immediately at his first landing called the chiefe Captaines of +his Councell together, and consulted with them for the speedier execution +of such things as then they had in hand. As first, for searching and +finding out good Minerall for the Miners to be occupyed on. Then to giue +good Orders to bee obserued of the whole company on shore. And lastly, to +consider for the erecting vp of the Fort and House for the vse of them +which were to abide there the whole yeere. For the better handling of +these, and all other like important causes in this seruice, it was ordeined +from her Maiestie and the Councell, that the Generall should call vnto him +certaine of the chiefe Captaines and Gentlemen in Councell, to conferre, +consult and determine of all occurrents in this seruice, whose names are as +here they follow. + + Captaine Fenton. + Captaine Yorke. + Captaine Best. + Captaine Carew. + Captaine Philpot. + +And in Sea causes to haue as assistants, Christopher Hall and Charles +Iackman, being both very good Pilots, and sufficient Mariners, whereof the +one was chiefe Pilot of the Voyage, and the other for the discouerie. From +the place of our habitation Westward, Master Selman was appointed Notarie, +to register the whole maner of proceeding in these affaires, that true +relation thereof might be made, if it pleased her Maiestie to require it. + +The first of August euery Captaine by order, from the Generall and his +councell, was commanded to bring ashoare vnto the Countesses iland all such +Gentlemen, souldiers, and Myners, as were vnder their charge, with such +prouision as they had of victuals, tents, and things necessary for the +speedy getting together of Mine, and fraight for the shippes. + +The Muster of the men being taken, and the victuals with all other things +viewed and considered, euery man was set to his charge, as his place and +office required. The Myners were appointed where to worke, and the Mariners +discharged their shippes. + +Vpon the second of August were published and proclaymed vpon the Countesse +of Warwickes Iland with sound of Trumpet, certaine Orders by the Generall +and his councell, appoynted to be obserued of the company during the time +of their abiding there. + +In the meane time, whilst the Mariners plyed their worke, the Captaines +sought out new Mynes, the Goldfiners made tryall of the Ore, the Mariners +discharged their shippes, the Gentlemen for example sake laboured heartily, +and honestly encouraged the inferior sort to worke. So that the small time +of that little leisure that was left to tarrie, was spent in vaine. + +The second of August the Gabriel arriued, who came from the Vizeadmirall, +and beeing distressed sore with Yce, put into Harborough neere vnto Mount +Oxford. And now was the whole Fleete arriued safely at their Port, +excepting foure, besides the Shippe that was lost: that is, the Thomas +Allen, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Moone, whose +absence was some lette unto the workes and other proceedings, aswell for +that these Shippes were furnished with the better sorte of Myners, as with +other prouision for the habitation. + +[Sidenote: Consultation for inhabiting Meta incognita.] The ninth of August +the Generall with the Captaynes of his counsell assembled together, and +began to consider and take order for the erecting vp of the house or Fort +for them that were to inhabite there the whole yeere, and that presently +the Masons and Carpenters might goe in hande therewith. First therefore +they perused the Bils of lading, what euery man receiued into his Shippe, +and found that there was arriued only the Eastside, and the Southside of +the house, and yet not that perfect and entier: for many pieces thereof +were vsed for fenders in many Shippes, and so broken in pieces whilest they +were distressed in the yce. [Sidenote: An hundred men appointed to +inhabite.] Also after due examination had, and true account taken, there +was found want of drinke and fuel to serue one hundreth men, which was the +number appoynted first to inhabite there, because their greatest store was +in the Shippes which were not yet arriued. Then Captaine Fenton seeing the +scarcitie of the necessary things aforesayd, was contented, and offred +himselfe to inhabite there with sixtie men. Whereupon they caused the +Carpenters and Masons to come before them, and demanded in what time they +would take vpon them to erect vp a lesse house for sixtie men. They +required eight or nine weekes, if there were Tymber sufficient, whereas now +they had but sixe and twentie dayes in all to remayne in that Countrey. +[Sidenote: No habitation this yeere.] Wherefore it was fully agreed vpon, +and resolued by the Generall and his counsell, that no habitation should be +there this yeere. And therefore they willed Master Selman the Register to +set downe this decree with all their consents, for the better satisfying of +her Maiestie, the Lords of the Counsell, and the Aduenturers. + +The Anne Francis, since she was parted from the Fleete, in the last storme +before spoken of, could neuer recouer above fiue leagues within the +streights, the winde being sometime contrary, and most times the Yce +compassing them round about. And from that time, being about the seuen and +twentieth of Iuly, they could neither heare nor have sight of any of the +Fleete, vntill the 3. of August, when they descryed a sayle neere vnto +Mount Oxford, with whom when they had spoken, they could vnderstand no +newes of any of the Fleete at all. And this was the Thomas of Ipswich, who +had layne beating off and on at Sea with very fowle weather, and contrary +windes euer since that foresayd storme, without sight of any man. They kept +company not long together, but were forced to loose one another againe, the +Moone being consort always with the Anne Francis, and keeping very good +company plyed vp together into the streights, with great desire to recouer +their long wished Port: and they attempted as often, and passed as farre as +possible the winde, weather, and yce gaue them leaue, which commonly they +found very contrary. For when the weather was cleare and without fogge, +then commonly the winde was contrary. And when it was eyther Easterly or +Southerly, which would serue their turnes, then had they so great a fogge +and darke miste therewith, that eyther they could not discerne way thorow +the yce, or els the yce lay so thicke together, that it was impossible for +them to passe. And on the other side, when it was calme, the Tydes had +force to bring the yce so suddenly about them, that commonly then they were +most therewith distressed, hauing no Winde to carry them from the danger +thereof. + +And by the sixt of August being with much adoe got vp as high as Leicester +point, they had good hope to finde the Souther shore cleare, and so to +passe vp towardes their Port. But being there becalmed and lying a hull +openly vpon the great Bay which commeth out of the mistaken streights +before spoken of, they were so suddenly compassed with yce round about by +meanes of the swift Tydes which ran in that place, that they were neuer +afore so hardly beset as now. And in seeking to auoyde these dangers in the +darke weather, the Anne Francis lost sight of the other two Ships, who +being likewise hardly distressed, signified their danger, as they since +reported, by shooting off their ordinance, which the other could not heare, +nor if they had heard, could haue giuen them any remedie, being so busily +occupied to winde themselues out of their owne troubles. + +[Sidenote: The Moone.] The Fleeboate called the Moone, was here heaued +aboue the water with the force of the yce, and receiued a great leake +thereby. Likewise the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Anne Francis were sore +bruised at that instant, hauing their false stemmes borne away, and their +ship sides stroken quite through. + +Now considering the continuall dangers and contraries, and the little +leasure that they had left to tarie in these partes, besides that euery +night the ropes of their Shippes were so frozen, that a man could not +handle them without cutting his handes, together with the great doubt they +had of the Fleetes safety, thinking it an impossibilitie for them to passe +vnto their Port, as well for that they saw themselues, as for that they +heard by the former report of the Shippes which had prooued before, who +affirmed that the streights were all frozen ouer within: They thought it +now very hie time to consider of their estates and safeties that were yet +left together. [Sidenote: The Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich and the +Moone consult.] And hereupon the Captaines and masters of these Shippes, +desired the Captaine of the Anne Francis to enter into consideration with +them of these matters. Wherefore Captaine Tanfield of the Thomas of +Ipswich, with his Pilot Richard Cox, and Captaine Vpcote of the Moone, with +his master Iohn Lakes came aboorde the Anne Francis the eight of August to +consult of these causes. And being assembled together in the Captaines +Cabin, sundry doubts were there alledged. For the fearefuller sort of +Mariners being ouertyred with the continuall labour of the former dangers, +coueted to returne homeward, saying that they would not againe tempt God so +much, who had giuen them so many warnings, and deliuered them from so +wonderfull dangers: that they rather desired to lose wages, fraight, and +all, then to continue and follow such desperate fortunes. Againe, their +Ships were so leake, and the men so wearie, that to amend the one, and +refresh the other, they must of necessitie seeke into harborough. + +But on the other side it was argued againe to the contrary, that to seeke +into harborough thereabouts, was but to subject themselues to double +dangers: if happily they escaped the dangers of Rockes in their entring, +yet being in, they were neuerthelesse subiect there to the danger of the +Ice, which with the swift tydes and currents is caryed in and out in most +harboroughs thereabouts, and may thereby gaule their Cables asunder, driue +them vpon the shoare, and bring them to much trouble. Also the coast is so +much subiect to broken ground and rockes, especially in the mouth and +entrance of euery Harborough, that albeit the Channell be sounded ouer and +ouer againe, yet are you neuer the neerer to discerne the dangers. For the +bottome of the Sea holding like shape and forme as the land, being full of +hils, dales, and ragged Rockes, suffreth you not by your soundings to knowe +and keepe a true gesse of the depth. For you shall sound vpon the side or +hollownesse of one Hill or Rocke vnder water, and haue a hundreth, fiftie, +or fourtie fadome depth: and before the next cast, yer[86] you shall be +able to heaue your lead againe, you shall be vpon the toppe thereof, and +come aground to your vtter confusion. + +Another reason against going to harborough was, that the colde ayre did +threaten a sudden freezing vp of the sounds, seeing that euery night there +was new congealed yce, euen of that water which remayned within their +shippes. And therefore it should seeme to be more safe to lye off and on at +Sea, then for lacke of winde to bring them foorth of harborough, to hazard +by sudden frosts to be shut vp the whole yeere. + +After many such dangers and reasons alleged, and large debating of these +causes on both sides, the Captaine of the Anne Francis deliuered his +opinion vnto the company to this effect. [Sidenote: Captain Bests +resolution.] First concerning the question of returning home, hee thought +it so much dishonorable, as not to grow in any farther question: and againe +to returne home at length (as at length they must needes) and not to be +able to bring a certaine report of the Fleete, whether they were liuing or +lost, or whether any of them had recouered their Port or not, in the +Countesses sound, (as it was to bee thought the most part would if they +were liuing) hee sayde that it would be so great an argument eyther of want +of courage or discretion in them, as hee resolued rather to fall into any +danger, then so shamefully to consent to returne home, protesting that it +should neuer bee spoken of him, that hee would euer returne without doing +his endeuour to finde the Fleete, and knowe the certaintie of the Generals +safetie. [Sidenote: A Pinnesse for the inhabiters.] Hee put his company in +remembrance of a Pinnesse of fiue tunne burthen, which hee had within his +Shippe, which was caryed in pieces, and vnmade vp for the vse of those +which should inhabite there the whole yeere, the which, if they could finde +meanes to ioyne together, hee offered himselfe to prooue before therewith, +whether it were possible for any Boate to passe for yce, whereby the Shippe +might bee brought in after, and might also thereby giue true notice, if any +of the Fleete were arriued at their Port or not. + +But notwithstanding, for that he well perceiued that the most part of his +company were addicted to put into harborough, hee was willing the rather +for these causes somewhat to encline thereunto. As first, to search alongst +the same coast, and the soundes thereabouts, hee thought it to be to good +purpose, for that it was likely to finde some of the Fleete there, which +being leake, and sore brused with the yce, were the rather thought likely +to be put into an yll harborough, being distressed with foule weather in +the last storme, then to hazard their vncertaine safeties amongst the yce: +for about this place they lost them, and left the Fleete then doubtfully +questioning of harborough. + +It was likely also, that they might finde some fitte harborough +thereabouts, which might bee behoouefull for them against another time. It +was not likewise impossible to finde some Ore or Mine thereabouts +wherewithall to fraight their Shippes, which would bee more commodious in +this place, for the neerenesse to Seaward, and for a better outlet, then +farther within the streights, being likely heere alwayes to loade in a +shorter time, howsoeuer the streight should be pestered with yce within, so +that if it might come to passe that thereby they might eyther finde the +Fleete, Mine, or conuenient harborough, any of these three would serue +their present turnes, and giue some hope and comfort vnto their companies, +which now were altogether comfortlesse. But if that all fortune should fall +out so contrary, that they could neyther recouer their Port, nor any of +these aforesayde helpes, that yet they would not depart the Coast, as long +as it was possible for them to tary there, but would lye off and on at Sea +athwart the place. Therefore his finall conclusion was set downe thus, +First, that the Thomas of Ipswich and the Moone should consort and keepe +company together carefully with the Anne Francis, as neere as they could, +and as true Englishmen and faithfull friends, should supply one anothers +want in all fortunes and dangers. In the morning following, euery Shippe to +send off his Boate with a sufficient Pylot, to search out and sound the +harborougbs for the safe bringing in of their Shippes. And beeing arriued +in harborough, where they might finde conuenient place for the purpose, +they resolued foorthwith to ioyne and sette together the Pinnesse, +wherewithall the Captaine of the Anne Francis might, according to his +former determination, discouer vp into the streights. + +After these determinations thus set downe, the Thomas of Ipswich the night +following lost company of the other Shippes, and afterward shaped a +contrary course homeward, which fell out as it manifestly appeared, very +much against their Captaine Master Tanfields minde, as by due examination +before the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell it hath +since bene prooued, to the great discredite of the Pilot Cox, who specially +persuaded his company against the opinion of his sayd Captaine, to returne +home. + +And as the Captaine of the Anne Francis doeth witnesse, euen at their +conference togither, Captaine Tanfield tolde him, that he did not a little +suspect the sayd Pilot Cox, saying that he had opinion in the man neither +of honest duetie, manhoode, nor constancie. Notwithstanding the sayde +Shippes departure, the Captaine of the Anne Francis being desirous to put +in execution his former resolutions, went with his Shippe boate (being +accompanied also with the Moones Skiffe) to prooue amongst the Ilands which +lye vnder Hattons Hedland, if any conuenient harborough, or any knowledge +of the Fleete, or any good Ore were there to be found. The Shippes lying +off and on at Sea the while vnder Sayle, searching through many sounds, +they sawe them all full of many dangers and broken ground: yet one there +was, which seemed an indifferent place to harborough in, and which they did +very diligently sound ouer, and searched againe. + +Here the sayde Captaine found a great blacke Island, whereunto hee had good +liking, and certifying the company thereof, they were somewhat comforted, +and with the good hope of his wordes rowed cheerefully vnto the place: +where when they arriued, they found such plentie of blacke Ore of the same +sort which was brought into England this last yeere, that if the goodnesse +might answere the great plentie thereof, it was to be thought that it might +reasonably suffice all the golde-gluttons of the worlde. [Sidenote: Bestes +blessing.] This Iland the Captaine for cause of his good hap, called after +his own name, Bestes blessing, and with these good tydings returning abord +his Ship the ninth of August about tenne of the clocke at night, hee was +ioyfully welcommed of his company, who before were discomforted, and +greatly expected some better fortune at his handes. + +The next day being the tenth of August, the weather reasonably fayre, they +put into the foresayde Harborough, hauing their Boate for the better +securitie sounding before their Shippe. [Sidenote: Anne Francis in danger.] +But for all the care and diligence that could bee taken in sounding the +Channell ouer and ouer againe, the Anne Francis came aground vpon a suncken +Rocke within the Harborough, and lay thereon more then halfe drye vntill +the next flood, when by Gods Almighty prouidence, contrary almost to all +expectation, they came afloat againe, being forced all that time to +vndersette their Shippe with their mayne Yarde, which otherwise was likely +to ouerset and put thereby in danger the whole company. They had aboue two +thousand strokes together at the Pumpe, before they could make their Shippe +free of the water againe, so sore shee was in brused by lying vpon the +Rockes. [Sidenote: The Moone in harborough.] The Moone came safely, and +roade at anchor by the Anne Francis, whose helpe in their necessitie they +could not well haue missed. + +Now whilest the Mariners were romaging their Shippes, and mending that +which was amisse, the Miners followed their labour for getting together of +sufficient quantitie of Ore, and the Carpenters indeuoured to doe their +best for the making vp of the Boate or Pinnesse: which to bring to passe, +they wanted two speciall and most necessarie things, that is, certaine +principall tymbers that are called knees, which are the chiefest strength +of any Boate and also nayles, wherewithall to ioyne the plancks together. +Whereupon hauing by chance a Smyth amongst them, (and yet vnfurnished of +his necessary tooles to worke and make nayles withall) they were faine of a +gunne chamber to make an Anuile to worke vpon, and to vse a pickaxe in +stead of a sledge to beate withall, and also to occupy two small bellowes +in steade of one payre of greater Smiths bellowes. And for lacke of small +Yron for the easier making of the nayles, they were forced to breake their +tongs, grydiron, and fireshouell in pieces. + +[Sidenote: Hattons Hedland.] The eleuenth of August the Captaine of the +Anne Francis taking the Master of his Shippe with him, went vp to the top +of Hattons Hedland, which is the highest land of all the straights, to the +ende to descry the situation of the Countrey vnderneath, and to take a true +plotte of the place, whereby also to see what store of Yce was yet left in +the straights, as also to search what Mineral matter or fruite that soyle +might yeeld: And the rather for the honour the said Captaine doeth owe to +that Honourable name[87] which himselfe gaue thereunto the last yeere, in +the highest part of this Hedland he caused his company to make a Columne or +Crosse of stone, in token of Christian possession. [Sidenote: Pretie +stones.] In this place there is plentie of Blacke Ore, and diuers pretie +stones. + +[Sidenote: A mightie white Beare.] The seuenteenth of August the Captaines +with their companies chased and killed a great white Beare, which +aduentured and gaue a fierce assault vpon twentie men being weaponed. And +he serued them for good meate many dayes. + +[Sidenote: A Pinnesse there built.] The eighteenth of August the Pinnesse +with much adoe being set together, the sayd Captaine Best determined to +depart vp the straights, to prooue and make tryall, as before was +pretended, some of his companie greatly persuading him to the contrary, and +specially the Carpenter that set the same together, who sayde that hee +would not aduenture himselfe therein for fiue hundreth pounds, for that the +boate hung together but onely by the strength of the nayles, and lacked +some of her principall knees and tymbers. + +These wordes some what discouraged some of the company which should haue +gone therein. Whereupon the Captaine, as one not altogether addicted to his +owne selfe-will, but somewhat foreseeing how it might be afterwards spoken, +if contrary fortune should happen him (Lo he hath followed his owne opinion +and desperate resolutions, and so thereafter it is befallen him) calling +the Master and Mariners of best iudgement together, declared vnto them how +much the cause imported him to his credite to seeke out the Generall, as +well to conferre with him of some causes of weight, as otherwise to make +due examination and tryall of the Goodnesse of the Ore, whereof they had no +assurance but by gesse of the eye, and it was well like the other: which so +to cary home, not knowing the goodnesse thereof, might be as much as if +they should bring so many stones. And therefore hee desired them to deliuer +their plaine and honest opinion, whether the Pinnesse were sufficient for +him so to aduenture in or no. It was answered, that by careful heede taking +thereunto amongst the yce, and the foule weather, the Pinnesse might +suffice. And hereupon the Masters mate of the Anne Francis called Iohn +Gray, manfully and honestly offering himselfe vnto his Captaine in this +aduenture and seruice, gaue cause to others of his Mariners to follow the +attempt. + +[Sidenote: They aduenture by the streights in a weake Pinnesse.] And vpon +the nineteenth of August the sayd Captaine being accompanied with Captaine +Vpcote of the Moone, and eighteene persons in the small Pinnesse, hauing +conuenient portions of victuals and things necessary, departed upon the +sayd pretended Voyage, leauing their shippe at anchor in a good readinesse +for the taking in of their fraight. And hauing little winde to sayle +withall, they plyed alongst the Souther shore, and passed aboue 30. +leagues, hauing the onely helpe of mans labour with Oares, and so intending +to keepe that shore aboord vntil they were got vp to the farthest and +narrowest of the streights, minded there to crosse ouer and to search +likewise alongst the Northerland vnto the Countesses sound, and from thence +to passe all that coast along, whereby if any of the Fleete had bene +distressed by wrecke of rocke or yce, by that meanes they might be +perceiued of them, and so they thereby to giue them such helpe and reliefe +as they could. They did greatly feare, and euer suspect that some of the +Fleete were surely cast away, and driuen to seeke sowre sallets amongst the +colde cliffes. + +[Sidenote: 40 leagues within the streights.] And being shotte vp about +fortie leagues within the Streights, they put ouer towardes the Norther +shore, which was not a little dangerous for their small boates. [Sidenote: +Gabriels Ilands.] And by meanes of a sudden flawe were dryuen, and faine to +seeke harborough in the night amongst all the rockes and broken ground of +Gabriels Ilands, a place so named within the streights aboue the Countesse +of Warwicks sound: And by the way where they landed, they did finde +certaine great stones set vp by the Countrey people as it seemed for +markes, where they also made many Crosses of stone, in token that +Christians had been there. The 22. of August they had sight of the +Countesses sound, and made the place perfect from the toppe of a hill, and +keeping along the Norther shore, perceiued the smoke of a fire vnder a hils +side: whereof they diuersely deemed. When they came neere the place, they +perceiued people which wafted vnto them, as it seemed, with a flagge or +ensigne. And because the Countrey people had vsed to do the like, when they +perceiued any of our boats to passe by, they suspected them to be the same. +And comming somewhat neerer, they might perceiue certaine tents, and +discerne this ensigne to be of mingled colours, blacke and white, after the +English Fashion. But because they could see no Shippe, nor likelihood of +harborough within fiue or sixe leagues about, and knewe that none of our +men were woont to frequent those partes, they could not tell what to iudge +thereof, but imagined that some of the ships being carried so high with the +storme and mistes, had made shipwracke amongst the yce or the broken +Islands there, and were spoyled by the countrey people, who might vse the +sundry coloured flagge for a policie, to bring them likewise within their +danger. Whereupon the sayd Captaine with his companies, resolued to recouer +the same ensigne, if it were so, from those base people, or els to lose +their liues and all together. In the ende they discerned them to be their +countreymen, and then they deemed them to haue lost their Ships, and so to +be gathered together for their better strength. On the other side, the +companie ashoare feared that the Captaine hauing lost his Shippe, came to +seeke forth the Fleete for his reliefe in his poore Pinnesse, so that their +extremities caused eche part to suspect the worst. + +[Sidenote: Proximus sum egomet mihi.] The Captaine now with his Pinnisse +being come neere the shoare, commanded his Boate carefully to be kept +aflote, lest in their necessitie they might winne the same from him, and +seeke first to saue themselues: for euery man in that case is next +himselfe. They haled one another according to the manner of the Sea, and +demaunded what cheere? and either partie answered the other, that all was +well: whereupon there was a sudden and ioyful outshoote, with great +flinging vp of caps, and a braue voly of shotte to welcome one another. And +truely it was a most strange case to see how ioyfull and gladde euery +partie was to see themselues meete in safetie againe, after so strange and +incredible dangers: Yet to be short, as their dangers were great, so their +God was greater. + +[Sidenote: Captain York arriued.] And here the company were working vpon +new Mines, which Captaine York being here arriued not long before, had +found out in this place, and it is named the Countesse of Sussex Mine. + +After some conference with our friends here, the captaine of the Anne +Francis departed towards the Countesse of Warwicks sound, to speake with +the Generall, and to haue tryall made of such mettall as he had brought +thither, by the Goldfiners. And so he determined to dispatch againe towards +his ship. And hauing spoken with the General, he receiued order for all +causes, direction as well for the bringing vp of the Shippe to the +Countesses sound, as also to fraight his Ship with the same Oare which he +himselfe had found, which vpon triall made, was supposed to be very good. + +The 23. of August, the sayde Captaine mette together with the other +Captaines (Commissioners in counsell with the Generall) aboorde the Ayde, +where they considered and consulted of sundry causes, which being +particularly registred by the Notarie, were appoynted where and how to be +done against another yeere. + +The 24. of August, the Generall with two Pinnesses and good numbers of men +went to Beares sound, commanding the sayde Captaine with his Pinnesse to +attend the seruice, to see if he could encounter or apprehend any of the +people: for sundry times they shewed themselues busie thereabouts, +sometimes with seuen or eyght Boates in one company, as though they minded +to encounter with our company which were working there at the Mines, in no +great numbers. [Sidenote: None of the people will be taken.] But when they +perceiued any of our Shippes to ryde in that roade (being belike more +amazed at the countenance of a Shippe, and a more number of men) they did +neuer shewe themselues againe there at all. Wherefore our men sought with +their Pinnesses to compasse about the Iland where they did vse, supposing +there suddenly to intercept some of them. But before our men could come +neere, hauing belike some watch in the toppe of the mountaines, they +conueyed themselues priuilly away, and left (as it should seeme) one of +their great dartes behinde them for haste, which we found neere to a place +of their caues and housing. Therefore, though our Generall were very +desirous to haue taken some of them to haue brought into England, they +being now growen more wary by their former losses, would not at any time +come within our dangers. About midnight of the same day, the captaine of +the Anne Francis departed thence and set his course ouer the straights +towards Hattons Hedland, being about 15. leagues ouer, and returned aboord +his Shippe the 25. of August to the great comfort of his company, who long +expected his comming, where hee found his Shippes ready rigged and loden. +Wherefore he departed from thence againe the next morning towards the +Countesses sound, where he arriued the 28. of the same. By the way he set +his Miners ashore at Beares sound, for the better dispatch and gathering +the Ore togither; for that some of the ships were behind hand with their +fraight, the time of the yeere passing suddenly away. + +The thirtieth of August the Anne Francis was brought aground, and had 8. +great leakes mended which she had receiued by meanes of the rockes and yce. +[Sidenote: A house builded and left there.] This day the Masons finished a +house which Captaine Fenton caused to be made of lyme and stone vpon the +Countesse of Warwickes Island, to the ende we might proue against the next +yeere, whither the snow could ouerwhelme it, the frost brake it vp, or the +people dismember the same. And the better to allure those brutish and +vnciuill people to courtesie against other times of our comming, we left +therein diuers of our Countrey toyes, as belles, and kniues, wherein they +specially delight, one for the necessary vse, and the other for the great +pleasure thereof. Also pictures of men and women in lead, men on +horsebacke, looking glasses, whistles, and pipes. Also in the house was +made an Ouen, and bread left baked therein for them to see and taste. + +We buried the timber of our pretended fort. Also here we sowed pease, +corne, and other graine, to proue the fruitfulnesse of the soyle against +the next yeere. + +[Sidenote: M. Wolfall a godly preacher.] Master Wolfall on Winters Fornace +preached a godly sermon, which being ended, he celebrated also a Communion +vpon the land, at the partaking whereof was the Captaine of the Anne +Francis, and many other Gentlemen and Souldiers, Mariners, and Miners with +him. The celebration of the diuine mystery was the first signe, seale, and +confirmation of Christs name, death, and passion euer knowen in these +quarters. The said M. Wolfall made sermons, and celebrated the Communion at +sundry other times, in seuerall and sundry ships, because the whole company +could neuer meet together at any one place. [Sidenote: Consultation for a +further discouery.] The Fleet now being in some good readinesse for their +lading, the Generall calling together the Gentlemen and Captaines to +consult, told them that he was very desirous that some further discouery +should be attempted, and that he would not onely by Gods helpe bring home +his ships laden with Ore, but also meant to bring some certificate of a +further discouery of the Countrey, which thing to bring to passe (hauing +sometime therein consulted) they found very hard, and almost inuincible. +And considering that already they had spent sometime in searching out the +trending and fashion of the mistaken straites, therefore it could not be +sayd, but that by this voyage they haue notice of a further discouery, and +that the hope of the passage thereby is much furthered and encreased, as +appeared before in the discourse thereof. Yet notwithstanding if any meanes +might be further deuised, the Captaines were contented and willing, as the +Generall shoulde appoynt and commaund, to take any enterprise in hand. +Which after long debating was found a thing very impossible, and that +rather consultation was to be had of returning homeward, especially for +these causes following. First the darke foggy mists, the continuall falling +snowe and stormy weather which they commonly were vexed with, and now daily +euer more and more increased, haue no small argument of the Winters drawing +neere. And also the frost euery night was so hard congealed within the +sound, that if by euill hap they should bee long kept in with contrary +winds, it was greatly to be feared, that they should be shut vp there fast +the whole yeere, which being vtterly vnprouided, would be their vtter +destruction. Againe, drinke was so scant throughout all the Fleet by meanes +of the great leakage, that not onely the prouision which was layd in for +the habitation was wanting and wasted, but also each shippes seuerall +prouision spent and lost, which many of our company to their great griefe +found in their returne since, for all the way homewards they dranke nothing +but water. And the great cause of this leakage and wasting was, for that +the great timber and seacole, which lay so weighty vpon the barrels, brake, +bruised, and rotted the hoopes insunder. [Sidenote: Broken Ilands in maner +of an Archipelagus.] Yet notwithstanding these reasons alleaged the +Generall himselfe (willing the rest of the Gentlemen and Captaines euery +man to looke to his seuerall charge and lading, that against a day +appointed, they should be all in a readinesse to set homeward) went in a +Pinnesse and discouered further Northward in the straights, and found that +by Beares sound and Halles Island, the land was not firme, as it was first +supposed, but all broken Islands in maner of an Archipelagus, and so with +other secret intelligence to himselfe, he returned to the Fleet. Where +presently vpon his arriuall at the Countesses sound, he began to take order +for their returning homeward, and first caused certaine Articles to be +proclaimed, for the better keeping of orders and courses in their returne, +which Articles were deliuered to euery Captaine. + + +The Fleetes returning homeward. + +[Sidenote: Returne homeward.] Hauing now receiued articles and directions +for our returne homewards, all other things being in forwardnesse and in +good order, the last day of August the whole Fleete departed from the +Countesses sound, excepting the Iudith, and the Anne Francis, who stayed +for the taking in of fresh water and came the next day and mette the Fleete +off and on, athwart Beares sound, who stayed for the Generall, which then +was gone ashore to despatch the two Barkes and the Busse of Bridgewater, +for their loading, whereby to get the companies and other things aboord. +The Captaine of the Anne Francis hauing most part of his company ashore, +the first of September went also to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch +his men aboord, but the wind grewe so great immediatly vpon their landing, +that the shippes at sea were in great danger, and some of them forcibly put +from their ankers, and greatly feared to be vtterly lost, as the Hopewell, +wherein was Captaine Carew and others, who could not tell on which side +their danger was most: for hauing mightie rockes threatening on the one +side, and driuing Islands of cutting yce on the other side, they greatly +feared to make shipwracke, the yce driuing so neere them that it touched +their bolt-sprit. And by meanes of the Sea that was growne so hie, they +were not able to put to sea with their small Pinnesses to recouer their +shippes. And againe, the shippes were not able to tarie or lie athwart for +them, by meanes of the outragious windes and swelling seas. The Generall +willed the Captaine of the Anne Francis with his company, for that night to +lodge aboord the Busse of Bridgewater, and went himselfe with the rest of +his men aboord the Barkes. But their numbers were so great, and the +prouision of the Barkes so scant, that they pestered one another +exceedingly. They had great hope that the next morning the weather would be +faire whereby they might recouer their shippes. But in the morning +following it was much worse, for the storme continued greater, the Sea +being more swollen, and the Fleete gone quite out of sight. So that now +their doubts began to grow great: for the ship of Bridgewater which was of +greatest receit, and whereof they had best hope and made most account, +roade so farre to leeward of the harborowes mouth, that they were not able +for the rockes (that lay betweene the wind and them) to lead it out to Sea +with a saile. And the Barks were already so pestered with men, and so +slenderly furnished with prouision, that they had scarce meat for sixe +dayes for such numbers. + +The Generall in the morning departed to Sea in the Gabriel to seeke the +Fleete, leauing the Busse of Bridgewater, and the Michael behind in Beares +sound. The Busse set sayle, and thought by turning in the narrow channell +within the harborow to get to windward: but being put to leeward more, by +that meanes was faine to come to anker for her better safetie, amongst a +number of rockes, and there left in great danger of euer getting forth +againe. The Michael set sayle to follow the Generall, and could giue the +Busse no reliefe, although they earnestly desired the same. And the +Captaine of the Anne Francis was left in hard election of two euils: eyther +to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater, which was doubtfull of +euer getting forth, or else to bee towed in his small Pinnesse at the +sterne of the Michael thorow the raging Seas, for that the Barke was not +able to receiue or relieue halfe his company, wherein his danger was not a +little perillous. + +So after hee resolued to commit himselfe with all his company vnto that +fortune of God and Sea, and was dangerously towed at the sterne of the +Barke for many miles, vntill at length they espyed the Anne Francis vnder +sayle, hard vnder their Lee, which was no small comfort vnto them. For no +doubt, both those and a great number more had perished for lacke of +victuals, and conuenient roome in the Barks without the helpe of the said +Ship. But the honest care that the Master of the Anne Francis had of his +Captaine, and the good regarde of duetie towardes his Generall, suffered +him not to depart, but honestly abode to hazard a dangerous roade all the +night long, notwithstanding all the stormy weather, when all the Fleete +besides departed. And the Pinnesse came no sooner aboord the shippe, and +the men entred, but shee presently shiuered and fell to pieces and sunke at +the ships sterne, with all the poore mens furniture: so weake was the boat +with towing, and so forcible was the sea to bruise her in pieces, But (as +God would) the men were all saued. + +At this present in this storme many of the Fleete were dangerously +distressed, and were seuered almost all asunder. Yet, thanks be to God, all +the Fleete arriued safely in England about the first of October, some in +one place and some in another. [Sidenote: An vnknowen channell into the +Northeast discouered by the Busse of Bridgewater.] But amongst other, it +was most maruellous how the Busse of Bridgewater got away, who being left +behind the Fleete in great danger of neuer getting forth, was forced to +seeke a way Northward thorow an vnknowen channell full of rocks, vpon the +backe side of Beares sound, and there by good hap found out a way into the +North sea, a very dangerous attempt; save that necessitie, which hath no +law, forced them to trie masteries. This aforesayd North sea is the same +which lyeth vpon the backe side of Frobishers straits, where first the +Generall himselfe in his Pinnesses, and after some other of our company +haue discouered (as they affirme) a great foreland, where they would also +haue a great likelihood of the greatest passage towards the South sea, or +Mar del Sur. + +[Sidenote: A fruitful new Island discouered.] The Busse of Bridgewater, as +she came homeward, to the Southeastward of Friseland, discouered a great +Island in the latitude of 57 degrees and an halfe, which was neuer yet +found before, and sailed three dayes alongst the coast, the land seeming to +be fruitfull, full of woods, and a champion[88] countrey. + +There died in the whole Fleete in all this voyage not aboue forty persons, +which number is not great, considering how many ships were in the Fleet, +and how strange fortunes we passed. + + +A generall and briefe description of the Countrey, and condition of the + people, which are found in Meta Incognita. + +Hauing now sufficiently and truly set forth the whole circumstance, and +particuler handling of euery occurrent in the 3. voyages of our worthy +Generall, Captaine Frobisher, it shal not be from the purpose to speake +somewhat in generall of the nature of this Countrey called Meta Incognita, +and the condition of the sauages there inhabiting. + +[Sidenote: A Topographical description of Meta Incognita.] First therefore +touching the Topographical description of the place. It is now found in the +last voyage, that Queene Elizabeths Cape being situate in latitude at 61. +degrees and a halfe, which before was supposed to be part of the firme land +of America, and also al the rest of the South side of Frobishers straites, +are all seuerall Islands and broken land, and like wise so will all the +North side of the said straites fall out to be as I thinke. And some of our +company being entred aboue 60. leagues within the mistaken straites in the +third voyage mentioned, thought certainely that they had discryed the firme +land of America towards the South, which I thinke will fall out so to be. + +These broken lands and Islands being very many in number, do seeme to make +there an Archipelagus, which as they all differ in greatnesse, forme, and +fashion one from another; so are they in goodnesse, colour, and soyle much +vnlike. They all are very high lands, mountaines, and in most parts couered +with snow euen all the Sommer long. The Norther lands haue lesse store of +snow, more grasse, and are more plaine Countreys: the cause whereof may be, +for that the Souther Ilands receiue all the snow, that the cold winds and +piercing ayre bring out of the North. And contrarily, the North parts +receiue more warme blasts of milder ayre from the South, whereupon may grow +the cause why the people couet to inhabit more vpon the North parts then +the South, as farre as we yet by our experience perceiue they doe. +[Sidenote: The people of Meta Incognita like vnto Samoeds.] These people I +iudge to be a kind of Tartar, or rather a kind of Samoed, of the same sort +and condition of life that the Samoeds bee to the Northeastwards beyond +Moscouy, who are called Samoeds, which is as much to say in the Moscouy +tongue as eaters of themselues, and so the Russians their borderers doe +name them. And by late conference with a friend of mine (with whom I did +sometime trauell in the parts of Moscouy) who had great experience of those +Samoeds and people of the Northeast, I find that in all their maner of +liuing, those people of the Northeast, and those of the Northwest are like. +[Sidenote: Their natiue colour.] They are of the colour of a ripe Oliue, +which how it may come to passe, being borne in so cold a climate I referre +to the iudgement of others, for they are naturally borne children of the +same colour and complexion that all the Americans are, which dwell vnder +the Equinoctiall line. + +They are men very actiue and nimble. They are a strong people and very +warlike, for in our sight vpon the toppes of the hilles they would often +muster themselues, and after the maner of a skirmish trace their ground +very nimbly, and mannage their bowes and dartes with great dexterity. +[Sidenote: Their apparel.] They go clad in coates made of the skinnes of +beasts, as of Seales, Deere, Beares, Foxes, and Hares. They haue also some +garments of feathers, being made of the cases of Foules, finely sowed and +compact togither. Of all which sorts wee brought home some with vs into +England, which we found in their tents. In Sommer they vse to weare the +hairie side of their coates outward, and sometime goe naked for too much +heate. And in Winter (as by signes they haue declared) they weare foure or +fiue folde vpon their bodies with the haire (for warmth) turned inward. +Hereby it appeareth, that the ayre there is not indifferent, but either it +is feruent hote, or els extreme cold, and farre more excessiue in both +qualities, then the reason of the climate should yeeld. For there it is +colder, being vnder 62 degrees in latitude, then it is at Wardhouse in the +voyage to Saint Nicholas in Moscouie, being at about aboue 72. degrees in +latitude. [Sidenote: The accidental cause of cold ayre at Meta Incognita.] +The reason hereof may be, that this Meta Incognita is much frequented and +vexed with Easterne and Northeastern winds, which from the sea and yce +bringeth often an intollerable cold ayre, which was also the cause that +this yeere our straits were so long shut vp with so great store of yce. But +there is great hope and likelihood, that further within the Straights it +will bee more constant and temperate weather. + +These people are in nature very subtill and sharpe witted, ready to +conceiue our meaning by signes, and to make answere well to be vnderstood +againe. And if they haue not seene the thing whereof you aske them, they +will wincke, or couer their eyes with their hands, as who would say, it +hath bene hid from their sight. If they vnderstand you not whereof you +should aske them, they wil stop their eares. They will teach vs the names +of each thing in their language which wee desire to learne, and are apt to +learne any thing of vs. [Sidenote: The sauages delight in Musicke.] They +delight in Musicke aboue measure, and will keepe time and stroke to any +tune which you shall sing, both with their voyce, head, hand and feete, and +will sing the same tune aptly after you. They will row with our Ores in our +boates, and keepe a true stroke with our Mariners, and seeme to take great +delight therein. [Sidenote: Hard kind of Living.] They liue in Caues of the +earth, and hunt for their dinners or praye, euen as the beare or other wild +beastes do. They eat raw flesh and fish, and refuse no meat howsoeuer it be +stinking. They are desperate in their fight, sullen of nature, and rauenous +in their maner of feeding. + +Their sullen and desperate nature doth herein manifestly appeare, that a +company of them being enuironed by our men on the top of a hie cliffe, so +that they could by no meanes escape our hands, finding themselues in this +case distressed, chose rather to cast themselues headlong down the rocks +into the sea, and so be bruised and drowned, rather than to yeeld +themselues to our mens mercies. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons.] For their weapons to offend their enemies or +kill their prey withall, they haue darts, slings, bowes, and arrowes headed +with sharpe stones, bones, and some with yron. They are exceeding friendly +and kind hearted one to the other, and mourne greatly at the losse or harme +of their fellowes, and expresse their griefe of mind, when they part one +from another with a mourneful song, and Dirges. + +[Sidenote: Their chastity.] They are very shamefast in betraying the +secrets of nature, and very chaste in the maner of their liuing: for when +the man, which wee brought from thence into England the last voyage, should +put off his coat or discouer his whole body for change, he would not suffer +the woman to bee present, but put her forth of his Cabin. And in all the +space of two or three moneths, while the man liued in company of the woman, +there was neuer any thing seene or perceiued betweene them, more then ought +haue passed betweene brother and sister: but the woman was in all things +very seruiceable for the man, attending him carefully when he was sicke, +and he likewise in all the meates which they did eate together, woulde +carue vnto her of the sweetest, fattest, and best morsels they had. They +wondred much at all our things, and were afraid of our horses and other +beasts out of measure. They began to grow more ciuill, familiar, pleasant, +and docible amongst vs in very short time. + +[Sidenote: Their boates.] They haue boates made of leather, and couered +cleane ouer sauing one place in the middle to sit in, planked within with +timber, and they vse to row therein with one Ore, more swiftly a great +deale, then we in our boates can doe with twentie. They haue one sort of +greater boates wherein they can carrie aboue twentie persons, and haue a +Mast with a saile thereon, which saile is made of thinne skinnes or +bladders, sowed togither with the sinewes of fishes. + +They are good Fishermen, and in their small Boates being disguised with +their coates of Seales skinnes, they deceiue the fish, who take them rather +for their fellow Seales, then for deceiuing men. + +They are good marke-men. With their dart or arrow they will commonly kill a +Ducke, or any other foule in the head, and commonly in the eye. + +When they shoote at a great fish with any of their darts, they vse to tye a +bladder thereunto, whereby they may the better find them againe, and the +fish not able to cary it so easily away (for that the bladder doth boy the +dart) will at length be wearie, and dye therewith. + +[Sidenote: Traffique with some other nation vnknowen.] They vse to traffike +and exchange their commodities with some other people, of whom they haue +such things as their miserable Countrey, and ignorance of Art to make, +denieth them to haue, as barres of yron, heads of yron for their darts, +needles made foure square, certaine buttons of copper, which they vse to +weare vpon their forehads for ornament, as our Ladies in the Court of +England doe vse great pearle. + +[Sidenote: Gold.] Also they haue made signes vnto vs, that they haue seene +gold, and such bright plates of mettals, which are vsed for ornaments +amongst some people with whom they haue conference. + +We found also in their tents a Guiny Beane of redde colour, the which doth +vsually grow in the hote Countreys: whereby it appeareth they trade with +other nations which dwell farre off, or else themselues are great +trauellers. + +[Sidenote: Their fewell.] They haue nothing in vse among them to maker fire +withall, sauing a kinde of Heath and Mosse which groweth there. + +[Sidenote: How they make fire.] And they kindle their fire with continuall +rubbing and fretting one sticke against another, as we doe with flints. +They drawe with dogges in sleads vpon the yce, and remooue their tents +therewithall wherein they dwell in Sommer, when they goe a hunting for +their praye and prouision against Winter. [Sidenote: Their kettles and +pannes.] They doe sometime parboyle their meat a little and seeth the same +in kettles made of beast skins; they haue also pannes cut and made of +stones very artificially; they vse prety ginnes wherewith they take foule. +The women carry their sucking children at their backes, and doe feede them +with raw flesh, which first they do a little chaw in their owne mouths. The +women haue their faces marked or painted ouer with small blewe spots: they +haue blacke and long haire on their heads, and trimme the same in a decent +order. The men haue but little haire on their faces, and very thinne +beards. For their common drinke, they eate yce to quench their thirst +withall. [Sidenote: The people eate grasse and shrubs.] Their earth +yeeldeth no graine or fruit of sustenance for man, or almost for beast to +liue vpon: and the people will eate grasse and shrubs of the ground, euen +as our kine doe. They haue no wood growing in their Countrey thereabouts, +and yet wee finde they haue some timber among them, which we thinke doth +growe farre off to the Southwards of this place, about Canada, or some +other part of New found land: for there belike, the trees standing on the +cliffes of the sea side, by the waight of yce and snow in Winter +ouercharging them with waight, when the Sommers thaw commeth aboue, and the +Sea vnderfretting beneath, which winneth dayly of the land, they are +vndermined and fall downe from those cliffes into the Sea, and with the +tydes and currents are driuen to and fro vpon the coastes further off, and +by conjecture are taken vp here by these Countrey people, to serue them to +planke and strengthen their boates withall, and to make dartes, bowes, and +arrowes, and such other things necessarie for their vse. And of this kind +of drift wood we find all the Seas ouer great store, which being cut or +sawed asunder, by reason of long driuing in the Sea is eaten of wormes, and +full of holes, of which sort theirs is found to be. + +[Sidenote: A strange kind of gnat.] We haue not yet found any venomous +Serpent or other hurtfull thing in these parts, but there is a kind of +small flie or gnat that stingeth and offendeth sorely, leauing many red +spots in the face, and other places where she stingeth. They haue snow and +haile in the best time of their Sommer, and the ground frosen three fadome +deepe. + +[Sidenote: Inchanters.] These people are great inchanters, and vse many +charmes of witchcraft: for when their heads doe ake, they tye a great stone +with a string vnto a sticke, and with certaine prayers and wordes done to +the sticke, they lift vp the stone from ground, which sometimes with all a +mans force they cannot stirre, and sometime againe they lift as easily as a +fether, and hope thereby with certaine ceremonious wordes to haue ease and +helpe. And they made vs by signes to vnderstand, lying groueling with their +faces vpon the ground, and making a noise downeward, that they worship the +deuill vnder them. + +[Sidenote: The beasts and foules of the Countrey.] They have great store of +Deere, Beares, Hares, Foxes, and innumerable numbers of sundry sorts of +wild foule, as Seamewes, Gulles, Wilmotes, Ducks, &c. whereof our men +killed in one day fifteene hundred. They haue also store of haukes, as +Falkons, Tassels, &c. whereof two alighted vpon one of our ships at their +returne, and were brought into England, which some thinke wil proue very +good. + +There are also great store of rauens, larkes, and partriges, whereof the +countrey people feed. + +All these foules are farre thicker clothed with downe and fethers, and haue +thicker skinnes then any in England haue: for as that countrey is colder, +so nature hath provided a remedie thereunto. + +Our men haue eaten of the Beares, Hares, Patriges, Larkes, and of their +wild foule, and find them reasonable good meat, but not so delectable as +ours. + +Their wild foule must be all fleine, their skins are so thicke: and they +tast best fryed in pannes. + +The Countrey seemeth to be much subiect to Earthquakes. + +The ayre is very subtile, piercing and searching, so that if any corrupted +or infected body, especially with the disease called Morbus Gallicus come +there, it will presently breake forth and shew it selfe, and cannot there +by any kind of salue or medicine be cured. + +Their longest Sommers day is of great length, without any darke night, so +that in Iuly al the night long, we might perfitly and easily write and +reade whatsoeuer had pleased vs, which lightsome nights were very +beneficiall vnto vs, being so distressed with abundance of yce as we were. + +[Sidenote: The length of their day.] The Sunne setteth to them in the +Euening at a quarter of an houre after tenne of the clocke, and riseth +againe in the morning, at three quarters of an houre after one of the +clocke, so that in Sommer their Sunne shineth to them twenty houres and a +halfe, and in the night is absent three houres and a halfe. And although +the Sunne bee absent these 3. houres and a halfe, yet it is not darke that +time, for that the Sunne is neuer aboue three or foure degrees vnder the +edge of their Horizon; the cause is that the Tropicke of Cancer doth cut +their Horizon at very vneuen and oblique Angles. + +[Sidenote: A full reuolution of the Moone aboue their Horizon.] But the +Moone at anytime of the yeere being in Cancer, hauing North latitude; doth +make a full revolution aboue their Horizon, so that sometime they see the +Moone about 24. houres togither. Some of our company of the more ignorant +sort, thought we might continually haue seene the Sunne and the Moone, had +it not bene for two or three high mountaines. + +The people are now become so warie, and so circumspect, by reason of their +former losses, that by no meines we can apprehend any of them, although wee +attempted often in this last voyage. But to say trueth wee could not bestow +any great time in pursuing them, because of our great businesse in lading, +and other things. + + * * * * * + +The Letters patents of the Queenes Maiestie, granted to Master Adrian + Gylbert and others, for the search and discouery of the Northwest Passage + to China. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland Queene, +defender of the faith, &c. To all, to whome these presents shall come, +greeting: Forasmuch as our trustie and welbeloued subiect Adrian Gylbert of +Sandridge in the Countie of Deuon, Gentleman, to his great costes and +charges, hath greatly and earnestly trauelled and sought, and yet doth +trauell and seeke, and by diuers meanes indeuoureth and laboureth, that the +Passage vnto China and the Iles of the Moluccas, by the Northwestward, +Northeastward, or Northward, vnto which part of the world, none of our +loyall Subiects haue hitherto had any traffique or trade, may be +discouered, knowen, and frequented by the Subiects of this our Realme: +Knowe yee therefore that for the considerations aforesayd and for diuers +other good considerations vs thereunto specially moouing. We of our grace +especiall, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, haue giuen and granted, +and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe giue and grant +free libertie, power, and full authoritie to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +to any other person by him or his heires to be assigned, and to those his +associates and assistants, whose names are written in a Scedule hereunto +annexed, and to their heires, and to one assigne of each of them, and each +of their heires at all times, and at any time or times after the date of +these presents, vnder our Banners and Ensignes freely, without let, +interruption, or restraint, of vs, our heires or successors, any law, +statute proclamation, patent charter, or prouiso to the contrary +notwithstanding, to saile, make voyage, and by any maner of meanes to passe +and to depart out of this our Realme of England, or any our Realmes, +Dominions, or Territories into all or any Isles, Countreys, Regions, +Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, Creekes, armes of the +Sea, and all Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer, that by the +sayde Northwestward, Northeastward, or Northward, is to be by him, his +associates or assignes discouered, and for and in the sayd sayling, voyage, +and passage, to haue and vse so many shippes, Barkes, Pinnesses, or any +vessels of any qualitie or burthen, with all the furniture, of men, +victuals, and all maner of necessary prouision, armour, weopons, +ordinance, targets, and appurtinances, whatsoeuer, as to such a voyage +shall or may be requisite, conuenient or commodious, any lawe, statute, +ordinance or prouiso to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And also we +doe giue and grant to the sayde Adrian Gylbert, and his sayde associates, +and to such assignee of him, and his heires, and to the heires and one +assignee of euery of his sayde associates for euer, full power and absolute +authoritie to trade and make their residance in any of the sayde Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, +and Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer with all commodities, +profites, and emoluments in the sayde places or any of them, growing and +arising, with all maner of priuiledges, prerogatives, iurisdictions and +royalties both by sea and land whatsoeuer, yeelding and paying therefore +vnto vs, our heires and successors, the tenth part of all such golde and +siluer oare, pearles, iewels, and precious stones, or the value thereof, as +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd associates, their heires and assignes, +servants, factors, or workemen, and euery or any of them shall finde, the +sayd tenth to bee deliuered duely to our Customer, or other officers by vs, +our heires or successors thereunto assigned, in the Fortes of London, +Dartmouth, or Plimmouth, at which three places onely the sayde Adrian +Gylbert and his sayde associates, their sayde heires and assignes, shall +lade, charge, arriue, and discharge all maner of wares, goods, and +merchandizes whatsoeuer to the sayde voyage, and newe trade belonging or +appertaining. And moreouer, wee haue giuen, granted, and authorized, and by +these presents for vs, our heires and successors, of our grace especiall, +certaine knowledge, and meere motion, doe giue, graunt, and authorize the +said Adrian Gilbert, and his said associats for euer, their heires and +their said assignes and euery of them, that if the aforesayd Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, Bayes, or +Hauens, or any other of the premises by the sayd Adrian Gylbert or his +associates, their heires and their said assignes or any of them, to be +found by them, discouered and traffiqued vnto by any trade as aforesayd, +shall be by any other our subiects visited, frequented, haunted, traded +vnto or inhabited by the wayes aforesayd, without the special licence in +writing of the said Adrian Gylbert and his associats, and their heires and +assignes for euer, or by the most part of them, so that the sayd Adrian +Gilbert, his heires or assignes be one of them, that then aswell their +ship, or ships in any such voyage or voyages be vsed, as all and singuler +their goods, wares, and marchandizes, or any other things whatsoeuer, from +or to any of the places aforesayd transported, that so shall presume to +visit, frequent, haunt, trade vnto, or inhabite, shall be forfaited and +confiscated, ipso facto, the one halfe of the same goods and marchandizes, +or other things whatsoeuer, or the value thereof to be to the vse of vs, +our heires or successours, and the other moytie thereof to be to the vse of +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his said associats their heires and assignes +for euer: [Sidenote: The colleagues of the fellowship for the discouery the +Northwest passage.] and vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd +associats, their heires and assignes wee impose, giue, assigne, create and +confirme this, name peculiar to be named by, to sue and to be sued by, that +is to wit, by the name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, and them for vs, our heires and +successours by that name doe incorporate, and doe erect and create as one +body corporate to haue continuance for euer. Moreouer vnto the sayd Adrian +Gylbert, and his said associats, and vnto their heires and their sayd +assignes for euer, by name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, we haue giuen, granted, and confirmed, +and doe by these presents giue, grant, and confirme full power and +authoritie from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to make order, +decree and enact, constitute and ordeine, and appoynt all such ordinances, +orders, decrees, lawes, and actes, as the sayd new corporation or body +politique, Colleagues of the fellowship for the discouerie of the Northwest +passage, shall thinke meete, necessary, and conuenient, so that they or any +of them be not contrary to the lawes of this realme, and of this our +present graunt. + +And we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of our authority, of our +grace especiall, certaine knowledge and meere motion, do establish, +confirme and ratifie all such ordinances, orders, decrees, lawes and acts +to be in so full and great power and authority, as we, our heires or +successours may or can in any such case graunt, confirme, or ratifie. And +further for the better incouragement of our louing subiects in this +discouerie, we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of authority for vs, +our heires and successours, doe giue, graunt, establish, confirme, ordeine, +ratifie and allow by these presents, to the sayd Adrian Gylbert and to his +associates, and to the heires and assignes of them and euery of them for +euer, and to all other person or persons of our louing subiects whatsoeuer +that shall hereafter trauaile, sayle, discouer, or make voyage as aforesayd +to any of the Iles, Mainelands, Countreys or Teritories whatsoeuer, by +vertue of this our graunt to be discouered; [Sidenote: Free Denization +granted.] that the heires and assignes of them and euery of them being +borne within any of the Iles, Mainelands and Countreys, or Territories +whatsoeuer before mentioned, shall haue and enioy all the privileges of +free Denizens, as persons natiue borne within this our Realme of England, +or within our allegiance for euer, in such like ample maner and forme, as +if they were or had bene borne and personally resiant within our sayd +Realme, any law, statute, proclamation, custome or vsage to the contrary +hereof in any wise notwithstanding. + +Moreouer, for the consideration aforesayd by vertue hereof, we giue and +graunt vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert, his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie, licence and priuilege, [Sidenote: This Patent remained in force +fiue yeeres.] that during the space of fiue yeeres next and immediately +ensuing the date hereof, it shall not be lawfull for any person or persons +whatsoeuer, to visit, haunt, frequent, trade, or make voyage to any Iles, +Mainlands, Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, +Bayes, and Hauens, nor to any other Hauens or places whatsoeuer hitherto +not yet discouered by any of our subiects by vertue of this graunt to be +traded vnto, without the special consent and good liking of the said Adrian +Gylbert, his heires or assignes first had in writing. And if any person or +persons of the associats of the sayd Adrian, his heires or assignes or any +other person or persons whatsoeuer, free of this discouery, shall do any +act or acts contrary to the tenour and true meaning hereof, during the +space of the sayd fiue yeeres, that then the partie and parties so +offending, they and their heires for euer shall loose (ipso facto) the +benefite and priuilege of this our graunt, and shall stand and remaine to +all intents and purposes as persons exempted out of this graunt. + +[Sidenote: Authoritie to proceede at Sea against mutiners.] And further by +vertue hereof wee giue and graunt, for vs, our heires and successours at +all times during the space of fiue yeers next ensuing the date hereof, +libertie and licence, and full authority to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +his heires and assignes, that if it shall happen any one or moe in any ship +or ships sayling on their sayd voyage, to become mutinous, seditious, +disordered, or any way vnruly to the preiudice or hinderance of the hope +for the successe in the attempt or prosecuting of this discouerie or trade +intended, to vse or execute vpon him or them so offending, such punishment, +correction, or execution, as the cause shall be found in iustice to require +by the verdict of twelue of the companie sworne thereunto, as in such a +case apperteineth: That expresse mention of the certaintie of the +premisses, or of other gifts or graunts by vs to the sayd Adrian Gylbert +and his associats before this time made is not mentioned in these presents, +or any other lawe, act, statute, prouiso, graunt, or proclamation +heretofore made or hereafter to be made to the contrary hereof in any wise +notwithstanding. [Sidenote: 1583.] In witnesse whereof we haue made these +our Letters to bee made patents: Witnesse our selfe at Westminster, the +sixt day of Februarie, in the sixe and twenty yeere of our reigne. + + * * * * * + +The first voyage of M. Iohn Davis, undertaken in June 1585. for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage, Written by M. Iohn Ianes Marchant, + sometimes seruant to the worshipfull Master William Sanderson. + +Certaine Honourable personages, and worthy Gentlemen of the Court and +Countrey, with diuers worshipful Marchants of London and of the West +Countrey, mooued with desire to aduance Gods glory and to seeke the good of +their natiue Countrey, consulting together of the likelyhood of the +Discouerie of the Northwest passage, which heretofore had bene attempted, +but vnhappily giuen ouer by accidents vnlooked for, which turned the +enterprisers from their principall purpose, resolued after good +deliberation, to put downe their aduentures to prouide for necessarie +shipping, and a fit man to be chiefe Conductor of this so hard an +enterprise. The setting forth of this action was committed by the +aduenturers, especially to the care of M. William Sanderson Marchant of +London, who was so forward therein, that besides his trauaile which was not +small, he became the greatest aduenturer with his purse, and commended vnto +the rest of the companie one M. Iohn Davis, a man very well grounded in the +principles of the Arte of Nauigation, for Captaine and chiefe Pilot of this +exployt. + +Thus therefore all things being put in a readines, wee departed from +Dartmouth the seuenth of Iune, towards the discouerie of the aforesayd +Northwest passage, with two Barkes, the one being of 50. tunnes, named the +Sunneshine of London, and the other being 35. tunnes, named the Mooneshine +of Dartmouth. In the Sunneshine we had 23. persons, whose names are these +following, M. Iohn Dauis Captaine, William Eston Master, Richard Pope +masters mate, Iohn Iane Marchant, Henry Dauie gunner, William Crosse +boatswayne, Iohn Bagge, Walter Arthur, Luke Adams, Robert Coxworthie, Iohn +Ellis, Iohn Kelley, Edward Helman, William Dicke, Andrew Maddocke, Thomas +Hill, Robert Wats Carpenter, William Russel, Christopher Gorney boy: +[Sidenote: Musitians.] Iames Cole, Francis Ridley, John Russell, Robert +Cornish Musicians. + +The Mooneshine had l9. persons, William Bruton Captaine Iohn Ellis Master, +the rest Mariners. + +The 7. of Iune the Captaine and the Master drewe out a proportion for the +continuance of our victuals. + +The 8. day the wind being at Southwest and West Southwest, we put in for +Falmouth, where we remained vntill the 13. + +The 13. the wind blew at North, and being faire weather we departed. + +The 14. with contrary wind we were forced to put into Silley. + +The 15. wee departed thence, hauing the wind North and by East moderate and +faire weather. + +The 16. wee were driuen backe againe, and were constrained to arriue at +newe Grymsby in Silley: here the winde remained contrary 12. dayes, and in +that space the Captaine, the Master and I went about all the Ilands, and +the Captaine did plat out and describe the situation of all the Ilands, +rocks and harboroughs to the exact vse of Nauigation, with lines and scale +thereunto conuenient. + +[Sidenote: They depart from Silley.] The 28. in Gods name we departed the +wind being Easterly but calme. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The first of Iuly wee sawe great store of Porposes; The +Master called for an harping yron, and shot twise or thrise: sometimes he +missed, and at last shot one and strooke him in the side, and wound him +into the ship: when we had him aboord, the Master sayd it was a Darlie +head. + +The 2. we had some of the fish sodden, and it did eat as sweete as any +mutton. + +The 3. wee had more in sight, and the Master went to shoote at them, but +they were so great, that they burst our yrons, and we lost both fish, +yrons, pastime and all: yet neuerthelesse the Master shot at them with a +pike, and had welnigh gotten one, but he was so strong that he burst off +the barres of the pike and went away: then he tooke the boate-hook, and hit +one with that, but all would not preuaile, so at length we let them alone. + +The 6. we saw a very great Whale, and euery day we saw whales continually. + +[Sidenote: Great store of whales.] The 16. and 17. we saw great store of +Whales. + +The 19. of Iuly we fell into a great whirling and brustling of a tyde, +setting to the Northwards: and sayling about halfe a league wee came into a +very calme Sea, which bent to the Southsouthwest. Here we heard a mighty +great roaring of the Sea, as if it had bene the breach of some shoare, the +ayre being so fogie and fulle of thicke mist, that we could not see the one +ship from the other, being a very small distance asunder: so the Captaine +and the Master being in distrust how the tyde might set them, caused the +Mooneshine to hoyse out her boate and to sound, but they could not finde +ground in 300 fathoms and better. Then the Captaine, Master, and I went +towards the breach, to see what it should be, giuing the charge to our +gunners that at euery glasse they should shoote off a musket shot, to the +intent we might keepe ourselues from loosing them. [Sidenote: The rouling +of the yce together made a great roaring.] Then coming nere to the breach, +we met many Ilands of yce floting, which had quickly compassed vs about: +then we went vpon some of them, and did perceiue that all the roaring which +we heard, was caused onely by the rowling of this yce together: [Sidenote: +Yce turned into water.] Our companie seeing vs not to returne according to +our appoyntment, left off shooting muskets, and began to shoote falkonets, +for they feared some mishap had befallen vs, but before night we came +aboord againe with our boat laden with yce, which made very good fresh +water. Then wee bent our course toward the North, hoping by that meanes to +double the land. + +[Sidenote: The land of Desolation.] The 20. as we sayled along the coast +the fogge broke, and we discouered the land, which was the most deformed +rockie and mountainous land that euer we saw: The first sight whereof did +shew as if it had bene in forme of a sugar-loafe, standing to our sight +aboue the cloudes, for that it did shew ouer the fogge like a white liste +in the skie, the tops altogether covered with snow, and the shoare beset +with yce a league off into the Sea, making such yrkesome noyse as that it +seemed to be the true patterne of desolation, and after the same our +Captaine named it, The land of Desolation. + +The 21. the winde came Northerly and ouerblew, so that we were constrained +to bend our course South againe, for we perceiued that we were runne into a +very deepe Bay, where wee were almost compassed with yce, for we saw very +much toward the Northnortheast, West, and Southwest: and this day and this +night wee cleared our selues of the yce, running Southsouthwest along the +shoare. + +Vpon Thursday being the 22. of this moneth, about three of the clocke in +the morning, wee hoysed out our boate, and the Captaine with sixe sayles +went towards the shore, thinking to find a landing place, for the night +before we did perceiue the coast to be voyde of yce to our iudgement, and +the same night wee were all perswaded that we had seene a Canoa rowing +along the shoare, but afterwards we fell in some doubt of it, but we had no +great reason so to doe. The Captaine rowing towards the shoare, willed the +Master to beare in with the land after him, and before he came neere the +shoare by the space of a league, or about two miles, hee found so much yce, +that hee could not get to land by any meanes. Here our mariners put to +their lines to see if they could get any fish, because there were so many +seales vpon the coast, and the birds did beate vpon the water, but all was +in vaine: [Sidenote: Very blacke water.] The water about this place was +very blacke and thicke like to a filthy standing poole, we sounded and had +ground in 120. fathoms. [Sidenote: Floting wood.] While the Captaine was +rowing to the shoare, our men sawe woods vpon the rocks like to the rocks +of Newfoundland, but I could not discerne them, yet it might be so very +well, for we had wood floting vpon the coast euery day, and the Moone-shine +tooke vp a tree at Sea not farre from the coast being sixtie foote of +length and fourteene handfuls about, hauing the roote vpon it: After this +the Captaine came aboord, the weather being very calme and faire we bent +our course toward the South, with intent to double the land. + +The 23. we coasted the land which did lie Eastnortheast and Westsouthwest. + +The 24. the winde being very faire at East, we coasted the land which did +lie East and West, not being able to come neere the shoare by reason of the +great quantitie of yce. [Sidenote: Colde by reason of yce.] At this place, +because the weather was somewhat colde by reason of the yce, and the better +to encourage our men, their allowance was increased: the captaine and the +master tooke order that euery messe, being fiue persons, should haue halfe +a pound of bread and a kan of beere euery morning to breakfast. The weather +was not very colde, but the aire was moderate like to our April-weather in +England: when the winde came from the land, or the ice, it was somewhat +colde, but when it came off the sea it was very hote. + +[Sidenote: They saile Northwestward aboue foure dayes.] The 25. of this +moneth we departed from sight of this land at sixe of the clocke in the +morning, directing our course to the Northwestward, hoping in Gods mercy to +finde our desired passage, and so continued aboue foure dayes. + +[Sidenote: Land in 64 degrees 15 min.] The 29. of Iuly we discouered land +in 64 degrees 15 minutes of latitude, bearing Northeast from vs. The winde +being contrary to goe to the Northwestwards, we bare in with this land to +take some view of it, being vtterly void of the pester yce and very +temperate. Comming neere the coast, we found many faire sounds and good +roads for shipping, and many great inlets into the land, whereby we iudged +this land to be a great number of Islands standing together. Heere hauing +mored our barke in good order, we went on shoare vpon a small Island to +seeke for water and wood. [Sidenote: The sound where our ships did ride was +called Gilberts Sound.] Vpon this Island we did perceiue that there had +bene people: or we found a small shoo and pieces of leather sowed with +sinewes, and a piece of furre, and wooll like to Beuer. Then we went vpon +another Island on the other side of our shippes: and the Captaine, the +master, and I, being got vp to the top of an high rocke, the people of the +countrey hauing espied vs, made a lamentable noise, as we thought, with +great outcries and skreechings: we hearing them, thought it had bene the +howling of wolues. At last I hallowed againe, and they likewise cried. Then +we perceiuing where they stood, some on the shoare, and one rowing in a +Canoa about a small Island fast by them, we made a great noise, partly to +allure them to vs, and partly to warne our company of them. [Sidenote: +Musicians.] Whereupon M. Bruton and the Master of his shippe, with others +of their company, made great haste towards vs, and brought our Musicians +with them from our shippe, purposing either by force to rescue vs, if need +should so require, or with courtesie to allure the people. When they came +vnto vs, we caused our Musicians to play, our selues dancing, and making +many signes of friendship. [Sidenote: The people of the countrey came and +conferred with our men.] At length there came tenne Canoas from the other +Islands, and two of them came so neere the shoare where we were, that they +talked with vs, the other being in their boats a prety way off. Their +pronunciation was very hollow thorow the throat, and their speech such as +we could not vnderstand: onely we allured them by friendly imbracings and +signes of courtesie. At length one of them pointing vp to the Sunne with +his hand, would presently strike his breast so hard that we might heare the +blow. This hee did many times before hee would any way trust vs. Then Iohn +Ellis the Master of the Mooneshine was appointed to vse his best policie to +gaine their friendship; who strooke his breast, and pointed to the Sunne +after their order: which when he had diuers time done, they beganne to +trust him, and one of them came on shoare, to whom we threw our cappes, +stockings, and gloues, and such other things as then we had about vs, +playing with our musicke, and making signes of ioy, and dauncing. So the +night comming, we bade them farewell, and went aboord our barks. + +[Sidenote: Thirty seuen Canoas. Their musicke.] The next morning being the +30. of Iuly there came 37 Canoas rowing by our ships, calling to vs to come +on shoare: we not making any great haste vnto them, one of them went vp to +the toppe of the rocke, and leapt and daunced as they had done the day +before, shewing vs a seales skinne, and another thing made like a timbrell, +which he did beat vpon with a sticke, making a noise like a small drumme. +Whereupon we manned our boats and came to them, they all staying in their +Canoas: we come to the water side where they were: and after we had sworne +by the Sunne after their fashion, they did trust vs. [Sidenote: Great +familiarity with the Sauages.] So I shooke hands with one of them, and he +kissed my hand, and we were very familiar with them. We were in so great +credit with them vpon this single acquaintance, that we could haue any +thing they had. We bought fiue Canoas of them: we bought their clothes from +their backs, which were all made of seales skinnes and birds skinnes; their +buskins, their hose, their gloues, all being commonly sowed and well +dressed: so that we were fully perswaded that they haue diuers artificers +among them. We had a paire of buskins of them full of fine wool like beuer. +Their apparell for heat was made of birds skinnes with their feathers on +them. We saw among them leather dressed like Glouers leather, and thicke +thongs like white leather of a good length. We had of their darts and +oares, and found in them that they would by no meanes displease vs, but +would giue vs whatsoeuer we asked of them, and would be satisfied with +whatsoeuer we gaue them. They tooke great care of one another: for when we +had bought their boats, then two other would come and cary him away +betweene them that had solde vs his. They are very tractable people, void +of craft or double dealing, and easie to be brought to any civility or good +order: but we iudge them to be idolaters and to worship the Sunne. + +[Sidenote: Diuers sorts of wood.] During the time of our abode among these +Islands we found reasonable quantitie of wood, both firre, spruse and +iuniper; which whether it came floating any great distance to these places +where we found it, or whether it grew in some great Islands neere the same +place by vs not yet discouered, we know not; but we iudge that it groweth +there further into the land then we were, because the people had great +store of darts and oares which they made none account of, but gaue them to +vs for small trifles, as points and pieces of paper. [Sidenote: They may +make much traine, if they had meanes how to vse it.] We saw about this +coast marueilous great abundance of seales skulling together like skuls of +small fish. We found no fresh water among these Islands, but onely snow +water, whereof we found great pooles. The cliffes were all of such oare as +M. Frobisher brought from Meta incognita. [Sidenote: Moscouie glasse.] We +had diuers shewes of Study or Muscouy glasse shining not altogether vnlike +to Christall. [Sidenote: A fruit like corinths.] We found an herbe growing +vpon the rocks whose fruit was sweet, full of red iuice, and the ripe ones +were like corinths. We found also birch and willow growing like shrubbes +low to the ground. These people haue great store of furres as we iudge. +They made shewes vnto vs the 30 of this present, which was the second time +of our being with them, after they perceiued we would haue skinnes and +furres, that they would go into the countrey and come againe the next day +with such things as they had: but this night the winde comming faire, the +captaine and the master would by no meanes detract the purpose of our +discouery. And so the last of this moneth about foure of the clocke in the +morning in God's name we set saile, and were all that day becalmed vpon the +coast. + +[Sidenote: August.] The first of August we had a faire winde, and so +proceeded towards the Northwest for our discouery. + +[Sidenote: Land in 66 degrees 40 min.] The sixt of August we discouered +land in 66 degrees 40 minuts of latitude, altogether void from the pester +of ice: we ankered in a very faire rode vnder a braue mount, the cliffes +whereof were as orient as golde. This Mount was named Mount Raleigh. The +rode where our ships lay at anker was called Totnes rode. The sound which +did compasse the mount was named Exeter sound. The foreland towards the +North was called Diers cape. The foreland towards the South was named Cape +Walsingham. [Sidenote: Foure white beares.] So soone as we were come to an +anker in Totnes rode vnder Mount Raleigh, we espied foure white beares at +the foot of the mount: we supposing them to be goats or wolues, manned our +boats and went towards them: but when we came neere the shore, we found +them to be white beares of a monstrous bignesse: we being desirous of fresh +victuall and the sport, began to assault them, and I being on land, one of +them came downe the hill right against me: my piece was charged with +hailshot and a bullet: I discharged my piece and shot him in the necke; he +roared a litle, and tooke the water straight, making small account of his +hurt. Then we followed him with our boat, and killed him with +boare-speares, and two more that night. We found nothing in their mawes: +but we iudged by their dung that they fed vpon grasse, because it appeared +in all respects like the dung of an horse, wherein we might very plainly +see the very strawes. + +The 7 we went on shore to another beare which lay all night vpon the top of +an Island vnder Mount Raleigh, and when we came vp to him he lay fast +asleep. [Sidenote: A large white beare.] I leuelled at his head, and the +stone of my piece gaue no fire: with that he looked vp, and layed downe his +head againe: then I shot being charged with two bullets, and strooke him in +the head: he being but amazed fell backwards: wherevpon we ran all vpon him +with boare-speares, and thrust him in the body: yet for that he gript away +our boare-speares, and went towards the water; and as he was going downe, +he came backe againe. Then our Master shot his boare-spear, and strooke him +in the head, and made him to take the water, and swimme into a coue fast +by, where we killed him, and brought him aboord. The breadth of his +forefoot from one side to the other was fourteene inches ouer. They were +very fat, so as we were constrained to cast the fat away. We saw a rauen +vpon Mount Raleigh. We found withies also growing like low shrubs and +flowers like Primroses in the sayd place. The coast is very mountainous, +altogether without wood, grasse, or earth, and is onely huge mountaines of +stone; but the brauest stone that euer we saw. The aire was very moderate +in this countrey. + +The 8 we departed from Mount Raleigh, coasting along the shoare, which +lieth Southsouthwest, and Eastnortheast. + +The 9 our men fell in dislike of their allowance, because it was too small +as they thought: whereupon we made a new proportion; euery messe being fiue +to a messe should haue foure pound of bread a day, twelue wine quarts of +beere, six Newland fishes; and the flesh dayes a gill of pease more: so we +restrained them from their butter and cheese. + +The 11 we came to the most Southerly cape of this land, which we named The +Cape of Gods mercy, as being the place of our first entrance for the +discouery. The weather being very foggy we coasted this North land; at +length when it brake vp, we perceiued that we were shot into a very faire +entrance or passage, being in some places twenty leagues broad, and in some +thirty, altogether void of any pester of ice, the weather very tolerable, +and the water of the very colour, nature and quality of the maine ocean, +which gaue vs the greater hope of our passage. Hauing sailed Northwest +sixty leagues in this entrance we discouered certaine Islands standing in +the midst thereof, hauing open passage on both sides. Wherupon our ships +diuided themselues, the one sailing on the North side, the other on the +South side of the sayd Isles, where we stayed fiue dayes, hauing the winde +at Southeast, very foggy and foule weather. + +The 14 we went on shoare and found signes of people, for we found stones +layed vp together like a wall, and saw the skull of a man or a woman. + +The 15 we heard dogs houle on the shoare, which we thought had bene wolues, +and therefore we went on shoare to kill them. When we came on land the +dogges came presently to our boat very gently, yet we thought they came to +pray vpon vs, and therefore we shot at them, and killed two: and about the +necke of one of them we found a leatherne coller, whereupon we thought them +to be tame dogs. There were twenty dogs like mastiues with prickt eares and +long bush tailes: we found a bone in the pizels of their dogs. [Sidenote: +Timber sawen.] Then we went farther, and found two sleads made like ours in +England: the one was made of firre, spruse and oken boords sawen like inch +boords: the other was made all of whale bone, and there hung on the tops of +the sleads three heads of beasts which they had killed. [Sidenote: Fowle.] +We saw here larks, rauens, and partridges. + +[Sidenote: An image.] The 17 we went on shoare, and in a little thing made +like an ouen with stones I found many small trifles, as a small canoa made +of wood, a piece of wood made like an image, a bird made of bone, beads +hauing small holes in one end of them to hang about their necks, and other +small things. The coast was very barren without wood or grasse: the rocks +were very faire like marble, full of vaines of divers colours. We found a +seale which was killed not long before, being fleane, and hid vnder stones. + +[Sidenote: Probabilities for the passage.] Our Captaine and Master searched +for probabilities of the passage, and first found, that this place was all +Islands, with great sounds passing betweene them. + +[Sidenote: Wee neuer came into any bay before or after, but the waters +colour was altered very blackish.] Secondly the water remained of one +colour with the maine ocean without altering. + +Thirdly we saw to the West of those Isles three or foure whales in a skull, +which they iudged to come from a Westerly sea, because to the Eastward we +saw not any whale. + +Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying Southwest, from whence +these whales came, vpon the sudden there came a violent counter-checke of a +tide from the Southwest against the flood which we came with, not knowing +from whence it was mainteined. + +Fiftly, in sailing twenty leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had +sounding in 90 fadoms, faire grey osie sand, and the further we ran into +the Westwards the deeper was the water; so that hard aboord the shoare +among these Isles we could not haue ground in 330 fadoms. + +Lastly, it did ebbe and flow sixe or seuen fadome vp and downe, the flood +comming from diuers parts, so as we could not perceiue the chiefe +maintenance thereof. + +The 18 and 19 our Captaine and Master determined what was best to doe, both +for the safegard of their credits, and satisfying of the aduenturers, and +resolued, if the weather brake vp, to make further search. + +The 20 the winde came directly against vs: so they altered their purpose, +and reasoned both for proceeding and returning. + +The 21 the winde being Northwest, we departed from these Islands; and as we +coasted the South shoare we saw many faire sounds, whereby we were +perswaded that it was no firme land but Islands. + +The 23 of this moneth the wind came Southeast, with very stormy and foule +weather: so we were constrained to seeke harborow vpon the South coast of +this entrance, where we fell into a very faire sound, and ankered in 25 +fadoms greene osie sand. [Sidenote: Faulcons.] Here we went on shore, where +we had manifest signes of people where they had made their fire, and layed +stone like a wall. In this place we saw foure very faire faulcons; and M. +Bruton tooke from one of them his prey, which we iudged by the wings and +legs to be a snite, for the head was eaten off. + +The 24 in the afternoone, the winde comming somewhat faire, we departed +from this road, purposing by Gods grace to returne for England. + +[Sidenote: Their returne.] The 26 we departed from sight of the North land +of this entrance, directing our course homewards vntill the tenth of the +next moneth. + +[Sidenote: September.] The 10. of September wee fell with The land of +desolation, thinking to goe on shoare, but we could get neuer a good +harborough. That night wee put to sea againe, thinking to search it the +next day: but this night arose a very great storme, and separated our +ships, so that we lost the sight of the Mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: They saile from The land of desolation to England in 14. dayes.] +The 13. about noone (hauing tried all the night before with a goose wing) +we set saile, and within two houres after we had sight of the Mooneshine +againe: this day we departed from this land. + +The 27. of this moneth we fell with sight of England. This night we had a +marueilous storme and lost the Mooneshine. + +The 30. of September wee came into Dartmouth, where wee found the +Mooneshine being come in not two houres before.[89] + + * * * * * + +The second voyage attempted by M. Iohn Dauis with others, for the Discouery + of the Northwest passage, in Anno 1586. + +The 7. day of May, I departed from the port of Dartmouth for the discouery +of the Northwest passage, with a ship of an hundred and twentie tunnes +named the Mermayd, a barke of 60. tunnes named the Sunneshine, a barke of +35. tunnes named the Mooneshine, and a pinnesse of tenne tunnes named the +North starre. + +[Sidenote: Land discouered in 60. degrees.] And the 15. of Iune I +discouered land in the latitude of 60. degrees, and in longitude from the +Meridian of London Westward 47. degrees, mightily pestered with yce and +snow, so that there was no hope of landing; the yce lay in some places +tenne leagues, in some 20. and in some 50. leagues off the shore, so that +wee were constrained to beare into 57. degrees to double the same, and to +recouer a free Sea, which through Gods fauourable mercy we at length +obtained. + +The 29. of Iune after many tempestuous storms we againe discouered land, in +longitude from the Meridian of London 58. degr. 30. min. and in latitude +64. being East from vs: into which course sith it please God by contrary +winds to force vs, I thought it very necessary to beare in with it, and +there to set vp our pinnesse, prouided in the Mermayd to be our scout for +this discouery, and so much the rather because the yere before I had bene +in the same place, and found it very conuenient for such a purpose, wel +stored with flote wood, and possessed by a people of tractable +conversation: so that the 29. of this moneth we arriued within the Isles +which lay before this land, lying North northwest, and South southeast, we +knew not how farre. This land is very high and mountainous, hauing before +it on the West side a mighty company of Isles full of faire sounds, and +harboroughs. This land was very little troubled with snow, and the sea +altogether voyd of yce. + +[Sidenote: Gentle and louing Sauages.] The ships being within the sounds +wee sent our boates to search for shole water, where wee might anker, which +in this place is very hard to finde: and as the boat went sounding and +searching, the people of the countrey hauing espied them, came in their +Canoas towards them with many shoutes and cries: but after they had espied +in the boat some of our company that were the yeere before here with vs, +they presently rowed to the boate, and tooke hold on the oare, and hung +about the boate with such comfortable ioy, as would require a long +discourse to be uttered: they came with the boates to our ships, making +signes that they knewe all those that the yeere before had bene with them. +After I perceiued their ioy and small feare of vs, myselfe with the +Merchants and others of the company went a shoare, bearing with me twentie +kniues: I had no sooner landed, but they lept out of their Canoas and came +running to mee and the rest, and embraced vs with many signes of heartie +welcome: at this present there were eighteene of them, and to eche of them +I gaue a knife: they offered skinnes to me for reward, but I made signes +that they were not solde, but giuen them of courtesie: and so dismissed +them for that time, with signes that they should returne againe after +certaine houres. + +[Sidenote: An 100 Canoas with diuers commodities.] The next day with all +possible speed the pinnesse was landed vpon an Isle there to be finished to +serue our purpose for the discouerie, which Isle was so conuenient for that +purpose, as that we were very wel able to defend ourselues against many +enemies. During the time that the pinesse was there setting vp, the people +came continually vnto vs sometime an hundred Canoas at a time, sometime +fortie, fiftie, more and lesse, as occasion serued. They brought with them +seale skinnes, stagge skinnes, white hares, Seale fish, salmon peale, smal +cod, dry caplin, with other fish, and birds such as the countrey did yeeld. + +My selfe still desirous to haue a further search of this place, sent one of +the shipboates to one part of the land, and my selfe went to another part +to search for the habitation of this people, with straight commandement +that there should be no iniurie offered to any of the people, neither any +gunne shot. + +[Sidenote: Images, trane oyle, and Seale skins in tan tubs.] The boates +that went from me found the tents of the people made with seale skinnes set +vp vpon timber, wherein they found great store of dried Caplin, being a +little fish no bigger than a pilchard: they found bags of Trane oyle, many +litle images cut in wood, Seale skinnes in tan-tubs, with many other such +trifles, whereof they diminished nothing. + +[Sidenote: A plaine champion countrey. A goodly riuer.] They also found +tenne miles within the snowy mountaines a plaine champion countrey, with +earth and grasse, such our moory and waste grounds of England are: they +went vp into a riuer (which in the narrowest place is two leagues broad) +about ten leagues, finding it still to continue they knewe not howe farre: +but I with my company tooke another riuer, which although at the first it +offered a large inlet, yet it proued but a deepe bay, the ende whereof in +foure houres I attained, and there leauing the boat well manned, went with +the rest of my company three or foure miles into the countrey, but found +nothing, nor saw any thing; saue onely gripes, rauens, and small birds, as +larkes and linnets. + +The third of Iuly I manned my boat, and went with fifty Canoas attending +vpon me vp into another sound where the people by signes willed mee to goe, +hoping to finde their habitation: at length they made signes that I should +goe into warme place to sleepe, at which place I went on shore, and +ascended the toppe of an high hill to see into the countrey, but perceiuing +my labour vaine, I returned againe to my boate, the people still following +me, and my company very diligent to attend vs, and to helpe vs vp the +rockes, and likewise downe: at length I was desirous to haue our men leape +with them, which was done, but our men did ouerleape them: from leaping +they went to wrestling, we found them strong and nimble, and to haue skil +in wrestling, for they cast some of our men that were good wrestlers. + +The fourth of Iuly we lanched our pinnesse, and had fortie of the people to +help vs, which they did very willingly: at this time our men againe +wrestled with them, and found them as before, strong and skillfull. +[Sidenote: A graue with a crosse layd ouer. The Tartars and people of Iapon +are also smal eyed.] The fourth of Iuly the Master of the Mermayd went to +certaine Ilands to store himselfe with wood, where he found a graue with +diuers buried in it, only couered with seale skinnes, hauing a crosse laid +ouer them, The people are of good stature, wel in body proportioned, with +small slender hands and feet, with broad visages, and smal eyes, wide +mouthes, the most part vnbearded, great lips, and close toothed. Their +custome is as often as they go from vs, still at their returne to make a +new truce, in this sort, holding his hand vp to the Sun with a lowd voice +he crieth Ylyaoute, and striketh his brest with like signes, being promised +safety, he giueth credit. These people are much giuen to bleed, and +therefore stop their noses with deeres haire, or haire of an elan. They are +idolaters and haue images great store, which they weare about them, and in +their boats, which we suppose they worship. They are witches, and haue many +kinds of inchantments, which they often vsed, but to small purpose, thankes +be to God. + +[Sidenote: Their maner of kindling fire like to theirs in America.] Being +among them at shore the fourth of Iuly, one of them making a long oration, +beganne to kindle a fire in this maner: he tooke a piece of a board wherein +was a hole halfe thorow: into that hole he puts the end of a round stick +like vnto a bedstaffe, wetting the end thereof in Trane, and in fashion of +a turner with a piece of lether, by his violent motion doeth very speedily +produce fire: [Sidenote: A fire made of turfes.] which done, with turfes he +made a fire, into which with many words and strange gestures, he put +diuerse things, which wee supposed to be a sacrifice: my selfe and diuers +of my company standing by, they were desirous to haue me go into the smoke, +I willed them likewise to stand in the smoke, which they by no meanes would +do. I then tooke one of them, and thrust him into the smoke, and willed one +of my company to tread out the fire, and to spurne it into the sea, which +was done to shew them that we did contemne their sorcery. [Sidenote: Great +theeues.] These people are very simple in all their conuersation, but +marueillous theeuish, especially for iron, which they haue in great +account. They began through our lenitie to shew their vile nature: they +began to cut our cables: they cut away the Moonelights boat from her +sterne, they cut our cloth where it lay to aire, though we did carefully +looke vnto it, they stole our oares, a caliuer, a boare speare, a sword, +with diuers other things, whereat the company and Masters being grieued, +for our better securitie, desired me to dissolue this new friendship, and +to leaue the company of these theeuish miscreants: whereupon there was a +caliuer shot among them, and immediatly vpon the same a faulcon, which +strange noice did sore amaze them, so that with speed they departed: +notwithstanding their simplicitie is such, that within ten hours after they +came againe to vs to entreat peace: which being promised, we againe fell +into a great league. They brought vs Seale skinnes, and sammon peale, but +seeing iron, they could in no wise forbeare stealing: which when I +perceiued, it did but minister vnto mee an occasion of laughter, to see +their simplicitie, and I willed that, in no case they should bee any more +hardly used, but that our owne company should be the more vigilant to keepe +their things, supposing it to be very hard in so short time to make them +know their euils. [Sidenote: Their rude diet.] They eate all their meat +raw, they liue most vpon fish, they drinke salt water, and eate grasse and +ice with delight: they are neuer out of the water, but liue in the nature +of fishes, saue only when dead sleepe taketh them, and then vnder a warme +rocke laying his boat vpon the land, hee lyeth downe to sleepe. [Sidenote: +Their weapons.] Their weapons are all darts, but some of them haue bow and +arrowes and slings. [Sidenote: Strange nets.] They make nets to take their +fish of the finne of a whale: they do their things very artificially: +[Sidenote: These Islanders warre with the people of the maine.] and it +should seeme that these simple theeuish Islanders haue warre with those of +the maine, for many of them are sore wounded, which wounds they receiued +vpon the maine land, as by signes they gaue vs to vnderstand. We had among +them copper oare, blacke copper, and red copper: [Sidenote: Copper oare.] +they pronounce their language very hollow, and deepe in the throat: these +words following we learned from them. + +[Sidenote: Their language.] + +Kesinyoh, Eate some. +Madlycoyte, Musicke. +Aginyoh, go fetch. +Yliaoute, I meane no harme. +Ponameg, A boat. +Paaotyck, An oare. +Asanock, A dart. +Sawygmeg, A knife. +Vderah, A nose. +Aoh, Iron. +Blete, An eye. +Vnuicke, Giue it. +Tuckloak, A stagge or ellan. +Panygmah, A neddle. +Aob, The Sea. +Mysacoah, Wash it. +Lethicksaneg, A seale skinne. +Canyglow, Kiss me. +Vgnera, My sonne. +Acu, Shot. +Conah, Leape. +Maatuke, Fish. +Sambah, Below. +Maconmeg, Will you haue this. +Cooah, Go to him. +Aba, fallen downe. +Icune, Come hither. +Awennye, Yonder. +Nugo, No. +Tucktodo, A fogge. +Lechiksa, A skinne. +Maccoah, A dart. +Sugnacoon, A coat. +Gounah, Come downe. +Sasobneg, A bracelet. +Vgnake, A tongue. +Ataneg, A seale. +Macuah, A beard. +Pignagogah, A threed. +Quoysah, Giue it to me. + +The 7. of Iuly being very desirous to search the habitation of this +countrey, I went myselfe with our new pinnesse into the body of the land, +thinking it to be a firme continent, and passing vp a very large riuer, a +great flaw of winde tooke me, whereby wee were constrained to seeke succour +for that night, which being had, I landed with the most part of my company, +and went to the top of a high mountaine, hoping from thence to see into the +countrey: but the mountaines were so many and so mighty as that my purpose +preuailed not: [Sidenote: Muscles.] [Sidenote: A strange whirlwind.] +whereupon I againe returned to my pinnesse, and willing diuers of my +company to gather muscles for my supper, whereof in this place there was +great store, myselfe hauing espied a very strange sight, especially to me +that neuer before saw the like, which was a mighty whirlewinde taking vp +the water in very great quantitie, furiously mounting it into the aire, +which whirlewinde, was not for a puffe or blast, but continual, for the +space of three houres, with very little intermission, which sith it was in +the course that I should passe, we were constrained that night to take vp +our lodging vnder the rocks. + +[Sidenote: Great Ilands.] The next morning the storme being broken vp, we +went forward in our attempt, and sailed into a mighty great riuer directly +into the body of the land, and in briefe, found it to be no firme land, but +huge waste, and desert Isles with mighty sounds, and inlets passing +betweene Sea and Sea. Whereupon we returned towards our shippes, and +landing to stoppe a floud, we found the burial of these miscreants; we +found of their fish in bagges, plaices, and calpin dried, of which wee +tooke onely one bagge and departed. The ninth of this moneth we came to our +ships, where we found the people desirous in their fashion, of friendship +and barter: [Sidenote: Slings.] our Mariners complained heauily against the +people, and said that my lenitie and friendly vsing of them gaue them +stomacke to mischiefe: for they haue stollen an anker from vs, they haue +cut our cable very dangerously, they haue cut our boats from our sterne, +and now since your departure, with slings they spare vs not with stones of +halfe a pound weight: and wil you stil indure these iniuries? It is a shame +to beare them. I desired them to be content, and said, I doubted not but +all should be wel. The 10. of this moneth I went to the shore, the people +following mee in their Canoas: I tolled them on shoare, and vsed them with +much courtesie, and then departed aboord, they following me, and my +company. I gaue some of them bracelets, and caused seuen or eight of them +to come aboord, which they did willingly, and some of them went into the +top of the ship: and thus curteously vsing them, I let them depart: the +Sunne was no sooner downe, but they began to practice they deuilish nature, +and with slings threw stones very fiercely into the Mooneshine, and strake +one of her men then boatswaine, that he ouerthrew withall: whereat being +moued, I changed my curtesie, and grew to hatred, my self in my owne boate +well manned with shot, and the barks boat likewise pursued them, and gaue +them diuers shot, but to small purpose, by reason of their swift rowing: so +smally content we returned. + +The 11. of this moneth there came fiue of them to make a new truce: the +master of the Admiral came to me to shew me of their comming, and desired +to haue them taken and kept as prisoners vntill we had his anker againe: +but when he sawe that the chiefe ringleader and master of mischiefe was one +of the fiue, he then was vehement to execute his purpose, so it was +determined to take him: he came crying Iliaout, and striking his brest +offered a paire of gloues to sell, the master offered him a knife for them: +so two of them came to vs, the one was not touched, but the other was soone +captiue among vs: then we pointed to him and his fellowes for our anker, +which being had, we made signes that he should be set at libertie: +[Sidenote: One of the people taken which after dyed.] within one houre +after he came aboord the winde came faire, wherevpon we weyed and set +saile, and so brought the fellow with vs: one of his fellowes still +following our ship close aboord, talked with him and made a kind of +lamentation, we still vsing him wel with Yliaout, which was the common +course of curtesie. At length this fellow aboord vs spake foure or fiue +words vnto the other and clapped his two hands vpon his face, whereupon the +other doing the like, departed as we suppose with heauie chere. We iudged +the couering of his face with his hands and bowing of his body downe, +signified his death. At length he became a pleasant companion among vs. I +gaue him a new sute of frize after the English fashion, because I saw he +could not indure the colde, of which he was very ioyful, he trimmed vp his +darts, and all his fishing tooles, and would make okam, and set his hand to +a ropes end vpon occasion. He liued with the dry Caplin that I tooke when I +was searching in the pinnis, and did eate dry Newfoundland fish. + +All this while, God be thanked, our people were in very good health, onely +one young man excepted, who dyed at sea the fourteenth of this moneth, and +the fifteenth, according to the order of the sea, with praise giuen to God +by seruice, was cast ouerboord. + +[Sidenote: A huge quantitie of yce in 63. degrees of latitude.] The 17 of +this moneth being in the latitude of 63. degrees 8. minuts, we fell vpon a +most mighty and strange quantitie of yce in one entire masse, so bigge as +that we knew not the limits thereof, and being withall so high in forme of +a land, with bayes and capes and like high cliffe land, as that we supposed +it to be land, and therefore sent our pinnesse off to discouer it: but at +her returne we were certainely informed that it was onely yce, which bred +great admiration to vs all considering the huge quantitie thereof, +incredible to be reported in trueth as it was, and therefore I omit to +speake any further thereof. This onely I thinke, that the like before was +neuer seene: and in this place we had very stickle and strong currents. + +[Sidenote: The nature of fogges.] We coasted this mightie masse of yce +vntill the 30 of Iuly, finding it a mighty barre to our purpose: the ayre +in this time was so contagious and the sea so pestered with yce, as that +all hope was banished of proceeding: for the 24 of Iuly all our shrowds, +ropes and sailes were so frosen, and compassed with yce, onely by a grosse +fogge, as seemed to me more then strange, sith the last yeere I found this +sea free and nauigable, without impediments. + +Our men through this extremity began to grow sicke and feeble, and withall +hopelesse of good successe: whereupon very orderly, with good discretion +they intreated me to regard the state of this business, and withall aduised +me, that in conscience I ought to regard the saftie of mine owne life with +the preseruation of theirs, and that I should not through my ouer-boldnes +leaue their widowes and fatherlesse children to giue me bitter curses. This +matter in conscience did greatly moue me to regard their estates: yet +considering the excellencie of the business if it might be attained, the +great hope of certaintie by the last yeeres discouery, and that there was +yet a third way not put in practice, I thought it would growe to my great +disgrace if this action by my negligence should grow into discredite: +whereupon seeking helpe from God, the fountaine of all mercies, it pleased +his diuine maiestie to moue my heart to prosecute that which I hope shall +be to his glory, and to the contentation of euery Christian minde. +Whereupon falling into consideration that the Mermaid, albeit a very strong +and sufficient ship, yet by reason of her burthen was not so conuenient and +nimble as a smaller bark, especially in such desperate hazzards; further +hauing in account her great charge to the aduenturers being at 100. li. the +moneth, and that at doubtfull seruice: all the premisses considered with +diuers other things, I determined to furnish the Moonelight with +reuictualling and sufficient men, and to proceede in this action as God +should direct me. Whereupon I altered our course from the yce, and bare +Eastsoutheast to recouer the next shore where this thing might be +performed: so with fauourable winde it pleased God that the first of August +we discouered the land in Latitude 66. degrees, 33. min. and in longitude +from the Meridian of London 70. degrees voyd of trouble without snow or +ice. + +The second of August we harboured our selues in a very excellent good road, +where with all speed we graued the Moonelight, and reuictualled her: wee +searched this countrey with our pinnesse while the bark was trimming, which +William Eston did: he found all this land to be onely Ilands, with a Sea on +the East, a Sea on the West, and a Sea on the North. [Sidenote: Great +heat.] In this place wee found it very hot and wee were very much troubled +with a flie which is called Muskyto, for they did sting grieuiously. The +people of this place at our first comming in caught a Seale and with +bladders fast tied to him sent him vnto vs with the floud, so as hee came +right with our shippes, which we took as a friendly present from them. + +The fift of August I went with the two Masters and others to the toppe of a +hill, and by the way William Eston espied three Canoas lying vnder a rocke, +and went vnto them: there were in them skinnes, darts, with diuers +superstitious toyes, whereof wee diminished nothing, but left vpon euery +boat a silke point, a bullet of lead, and a pinne. The next day being the +sixt of August, the people came vnto vs without feare and did barter with +vs for skinnes, as the other people did: they differ not from the other, +neither in their Canoas nor apparel, yet is their pronuntiation more plaine +then the others, and nothing hollow in the throat. Our Sauage aboord vs +kept himselfe close, and made shew that he would faine haue another +companion. Thus being prouided, I departed from this lande the twelft of +August at sixe. [Sidenote: 66. degrees 19. minutes.] of the clocke in the +morning, where I left the mermayd at an anker: the fourteenth sailing West +about fiftie leagues, we discouered land, being in latitude 66. degrees 19 +minuts: this land is 70. leagues from the other from whence we came. This +fourteenth day from nine a clocke at night till three a clocke in the +morning, wee ankered by an Island of yce, twelue leagues off the shore, +being mored to the yce. + +The fifteenth day at three a clocke in the morning we departed from this +land to the South, and the eighteenth of August we discouered land +Northwest from vs in the morning, being a very faire promontory, in +latitude 65. degrees, hauing no land on the South. [Sidenote: Great hope of +a passage.] Here wee had great hope of a through passage. + +This day at three a clocke in the afternoone wee againe discouered lande +Southwest and by South from vs, where at night wee were becalmed. +[Sidenote: 64. degr. 20. min.] The nineteenth of this moneth at noone, by +obseruation, we were in 64. degrees 20 minuts. [Sidenote: A great current +to the West.] From the eighteenth day at noone vnto the nineteenth at +noone, by precise ordinary care, wee had sailed 15. leagues South and by +West, yet by art and more exact obseruation, we found our course to be +Southwest, so that we plainely perceiued a great current striking to the +West. + +This land is nothing in sight but Isles, which increaseth our hope. This +nineteenth of August at sixe a clocke in the afternoone, it began to snow, +and so continued all night with foule weather, and much winde, so that we +were constrained to lie at hull all night fiue leagues off the shore: In +the morning being the twentieth of August, the fogge and storme breaking +vp, we bare in with the lande, and at nine a clocke in the morning wee +ankered in a very faire and safe road and lockt for all weathers. +[Sidenote: Ilands.] At tenne of the clocke I went on shore to the toppe of +a very high hill, where I perceiued that this land was Islands: at foure of +the clocke in the afternoone wee weyed anker, hauing a faire North +northeast winde, with very faire weather; at six of the clocke we were +cleare without the land, and so shaped our course to the South, to discouer +the coast, where by the passage may be through Gods mercy found. + +We coasted this land till the eight and twentieth of August [Sidenote: They +runne 8 dayes Southward from 67 to 57. degrees vpon the coast.] finding it +still to continue towards the South, from the latitude of 67. to 57. +degrees: we found marueilous great store of birds, guls and mewes, +incredible to be reported, whereupon being calme weather, we lay one glasse +vpon the lee, to proue for fish, in which space we caught 100. of cod, +although we were but badly prouided for fishing, not being our purpose. +[Sidenote: A harborough in 56. degrees.] This eight and twentieth hauing +great distrust of the weather, we arriued in a very faire harbour in the +latitude of 56. degrees, and sailed 10. leagues into the same, being two +leagues broad, with very faire woods on both sides: in this place wee +continued vntil the first of September, in which time we had two very great +stormes. [Sidenote: Faire woods.] I landed, and went sixe miles by ghesse +into the countrey, and found that the woods were firre, pineaple, alder, +yew, withy, and birch: here we saw a blacke beare: this place yeeldeth +great store of birds, as fezant, partridge, Barbary hennes or the like, +wilde geese, ducks, black birdes, ieyes, thrushes, with other kinds of +small birds. [Sidenote: Store of cod.] Of the partridge and fezant we +killed great store with bow and arrowes: in this place at the harborough +mouth we found great store of cod. + +The first of September at ten a clocke wee set saile, and coasted the shore +with very faire weather. The thirde day being calme, at noone we strooke +saile, and let fall a cadge anker, to proue whether we could take any fish, +being in latitude 54. degrees 30. minuts, in which place we found great +abundance of cod, so that the hooke was no sonner ouerboord, but presently +a fish was taken. It was the largest and the best fed fish that euer I +sawe, and diuers fisher men that were with me sayd that they neuer saw a +more suaule or better skull of fish in their liues: yet had they seene +great abundance. + +The fourth of September at fiue a clocke in the afternoone we ankered in a +very good road among great store of Isles, the countrey low land, pleasant +and very full of fayre woods. [Sidenote: A perfect hope of the passage +about 54. degrees and an halfe.] To the North of this place eight leagues, +we had a perfect hope of the passage, finding a mightie great sea passing +betweene two lands West. The Southland to our iudgement being nothing but +Isles: we greatly desired to goe into the sea, but the winde was directly +against vs. We ankered in foure fathome fine sand. In this place is foule +and fish mightie store. + +The sixt of September having a faire Northnorthwest winde hauing trimmed +our Barke we proposed to depart, and sent fiue of our sailers yong men a +shore to an Island, to fetch certaine fish which we purposed to weather, +and therefore left it al night couered vpon the Isle: the brutish people of +this countrey lay secretly lurking in the wood, and vpon the sudden +assaulted our men; which when we perceiued, we presently let slip our +cables vpon the halse, and vnder our foresaile bare into the shoare, and +with all expedition discharged a double musket vpon them twise, at the +noyse whereof they fled: [Sidenote: Two of our men slaine by the Sauages.] +notwithstanding to our very great griefe, two of our men were slaine with +their arrowes, and two grieuously wounded, of whom at this present we stand +in very great doubt, onely one escaped by swimming, with an arow shot +thorow his arme. These wicked miscreants neuer offered parly or speech, but +presently executed their cursed fury. + +This present euening it pleased God further to increase our sorrowes with a +mighty tempestuous storme, the winde being Northnortheast, which lasted +vnto the tenth of this moneth very extreme. We vnrigged our ship, and +purposed to cut downe our masts, the cable of our shutanker brake, so that +we onely expected to be driuen on shoare among these Canibals for their +pray. Yet in this deepe distresse the mightie mercie of God, when hope was +past, gaue vs succour, and sent vs a faire lee, so as we recouered our +anker againe, and newe mored our ship: where we saw that God manifestly +deliuered vs: for the straines of one of our cables were broken, and we +only roade by an olde iunke. Thus being freshly mored a new storme arose, +the winde being Westnorthwest, very forcible, which lasted vnto the tenth +day at night. + +The eleuenth day with a faire Westnorthwest winde we departed with trust in +Gods mercie, shaping our course for England, and arriued in the West +countrey in the beginning of October. + + * * * * * + +Master Dauis being arriued, wrote his letter to M. William Sanderson of + London, concerning his voyage, as followeth. + +Sir, the Sunneshine came into Dartmouth the fourth of this moneth: she hath +bene at Island, and from thence to Groenland, and so to Estotiland, from +thence to Desolation, and to our Marchants, where she made trade with the +people, staying in the countrey twentie dayes. They haue brought home fiue +hundred seales skinnes, and an hundred and fortie halfe skinnes and pieces +of skinnes. I stand in great doubt of the pinnesse, God be mercifull vnto +the poore men, and preserue them, if it be his blessed will. + +I haue now experience of much of the Northwest part of the world, and haue +brought the passage to that likelihood, as that I am assured it must bee in +one of the foure places, or els not at all. And further I can assure you +vpon the perill of my life, that this voyage may be performed without +further charge, nay with certaine profite to the aduenturers, if I may haue +but your fauour in the action. I hope I shall finde fauour with you to see +your Card. I pray God it be so true as the Card shal be which I will bring +you: and I hope in God, that your skill in Nauigation shall be gaineful +vnto you, although at the first it hath not proued so. And thus with my +humble commendations I commit you to God, desiring no longer to liue, then +I shall be yours most faithfully to command. Exon this fourteenth of +October. 1586. + +Yours to command + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +The relation of the course which the Sunshine a barke of fiftie tunnes, and + the Northstarre a small pinnesse, being two vessels of the fleete of M. + Iohn Dauis, helde after hee had sent them from him to discouer the + passage betweene Groenland and Island, written by Henry Morgan seruant to + M. William Sanderson of London. + +[Sidenote: May.] The seuenth day of May 1586. wee departed out of Dartmouth +hauen foure sailes, to wit, the Mermaid, the Sunshine, the Mooneshine, and +the Northstarre. In the Sunshine were sixteene men, whose names were these: +Richard Pope Master, Marke Carter Masters mate, Henry Morgan Purser, George +Draward, Iohn Mandie, Hugh Broken, Philip Iane, Hugh Hempson, Richard +Borden, Iohn Philpe, Andrew Madock, William Wolcome, Robert Wag carpenter, +Iohn Bruskome, William Ashe, Simon Ellis. + +Our course was Westnorthwest the seuenth and eight dayes: and the ninth day +in the morning we were on head of the Tarrose of Silley. Thus coasting +along the South part of Ireland the 11. day, we were on head of the Dorses: +and our coarse was Southsouthwest vntill sixe of the clocke the 12. day. +The 13. day our course was Northwest. [M. Dauis in the latitude of 60. deg. +diuideth his fleete into 2. parts.] We remained in the company of the +Mermaid and the Mooneshine vntill we came to the latitude of 60. degrees: +and there it seemed best to our Generall M. Dauis to diuide his fleete, +himself sayling to the Northwest, and to direct the Sunshine, wherein I +was, and the pinnesse called the Northstarre, to seeke a passage Northward +between Groenland and Island to the latitude of 80. degrees, if land did +not let vs. [Sidenote: The 7. of Iune.] So the Seuenth day of Iune wee +departed from them: and the ninth of the same we came to a firme land of +yce, which we coasted along the ninth, the tenth, and the eleuenth dayes of +Iune: [Sidenote: Island descryed.] and the eleuenth day at sixe of the +clocke at night we saw land which was very high, which afterward we knew to +be a Island: and the twelft day we harboured there, and found many people: +[Sidenote: 66. degrees.] the land lyeth East and by North in 66. degrees. + +[Sidenote: Their commodities.] Their commodities were greene fish, and +Island lings, and stockfish, and a fish which is called Scatefish: of all +which they had great store. They had also kine, sheep and horses, and hay +for their cattell, and for their horses. Wee saw also their dogs. +[Sidenote: Their dwellings.] Their dwelling houses were made on both sides +with stones, and wood layd crosse ouer them, which was couered ouer with +turfes of earth, and they are flat on the tops, and many of these stood +hard by the shore. [Sidenote: Their boats.] Their boates were made with +wood and yron all along the keele like our English boates: and they had +nayles for to naile them withall, and fish-hookes and other things for to +catch fish as we haue here in England. They had also brasen kettles, and +girdles and purses made of leather, and knoppes on them of copper, and +hatchets, and other small tooles as necessary as we haue. They drie their +fish in the Sun, and when they are dry, they packe them vp in the top of +their houses. If we would goe thither to fishing more then we doe, we +should make it a very good voyage: for wee got an hundreth greene fish in +one morning. Wee found heere two English men with a shippe, which came out +of England about Easter day of this present yeere 1586, and one of them +came aboord of vs, and brought vs two lambs. [Sidenote: M. Iohn Roydon of +Ipswich.] The English mans name was M. Iohn Roydon of Ipswich marchant: hee +was bound for London with his ship. And this is the summe of that which I +obserued in Island. [Sidenote: They departed from Island Northwest.] We +departed from Island the sixteenth day of Iune in the morning, and our +course was Northwest, and we saw on the coast two small barkes going to an +harborough: we went not to them, but saw them a farre off. Thus we +continued our course vnto the end of this moneth. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The third day of Iuly we were in betweene two firme lands +of yce, and passed in betweene them all that day vntill it was night: and +then the Master turned backe againe, and so away we went towards Groenland. +[Sidenote: Groneland discouered.] And the seuenth day of Iuly we did see +Groenland, and it was very high, and it looked very blew: we could not come +to harborough into the land, because we were hindered by a firme land as it +were of yce, which was along the shoares side: but we were within three +leagues of the land, coasting the same diuers dayes together. [Sidenote: +The land of Desolation.] The seuenteenth day of Iuly wee saw the place +which our Captaine M. Iohn Dauis the yeere before had named The land of +Desolation, where we could not goe on shore for yce. The eighteenth day we +were likewise troubled with yce, and went in amongst it at three of the +clocke in the morning. [Sidenote: Groenland coasted from the 7. till the +last of Iuly.] After wee had cleared our selues thereof, wee ranged all +along the coast of Desolation vntill the ende of the aforesayd moneth. + +[Sidenote: August.] The third day of August we came in sight of Gilberts +sound in the latitude of 64. deg. 15. min which was the place where we were +appoynted to meete our Generall and the rest of our Fleete. Here we came to +an harborough at 6. of the clocke at night. + +The 4. day in the morning the Master went on shore with 10. of his men, and +they brought vs foure of the people rowing in their boats aboord of the +ship. And in the afternoone I went on shore with 6. of our men, and there +came to vs seuen of them when we were on land. We found on shore three dead +people, and two of them had their staues lying by them, and their olde +skinnes wrapped about them and the other had nothing lying by, wherefore we +thought it was a woman. [Sidenote: The houses of Gronland.] We also saw +their houses neere the Sea side, which were made with pieces of wood on +both sides, and crossed ouer with poles and then couered ouer with earth: +we found Foxes running vpon the hilles: as for the place it is broken land +all the way that we went, and full of broken Islands. + +The 21. of August the Master sent the boate on shore for wood with sixe of +his men, and there were one and thirtie of the people of the countrey which +went on shore to them, and they went about to kill them as we thought, for +they shot their dartes towards them, and we that were aboord the ship, did +see them goe on shore to our men: whereupon the Master sent the pinnesse +after them, and when they saw the pinnesse comming towards them, they +turned backe, and the Master of the pinnesse did shoote off a caliuer to +them the same time, but hurt none of them, for his meaning was onely to put +them in feare. [Sidenote: Our men play at footeball with the Sauages.] +Diuers times they did waue vs on shore to play with them at the football, +and some of our company went on shore to play with them, and our men did +cast them downe as soone as they did come to strike the ball. And thus much +of that which we did see and do in that harborough where we arriued first. + +The 23. day wee departed from the Merchants Isle, where wee had beene +first, and our course from thence was South and by West, and the wind was +Northeast, and we ran that day and night about 5. or 6. leagues, vntill we +came to another harborough. + +The 24. about eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone wee entred into the +aforesayd new harborow, and as wee came in, we did see dogs running vpon +the Islands. When we were come in, there came to vs foure of the people +which were with vs before in the other harborough, and where we rode, we +had sandie ground. [Sidenote: Sweete wood found.] We saw no wood growing, +but found small pieces of wood vpon the Islands, and some small pieces of +sweete wood among the same. We found great Harts hornes, but could see none +of the Stagges where we went, but we found their footings. As for the bones +which we receiued of the Sauages I cannot tell of what beasts they be. + +The stones that we found in the countrey were black, and some white, as I +think they be of no value, neuerthelesse I haue brought examples of them to +you. + +The 30. of August we departed from this harborough towards England, and the +wind tooke vs contrary, so that we were faine to go to another harborough +the same day at 11. of the clocke. And there came to vs 39. of the people, +and brought vs 13. Seale skins, and after we receiued these skins of them, +the Master sent the carpenter to change one of our boates which wee had +bought of them before, and they would haue taken the boate from him +perforce, and when they sawe they could not take it from vs, they shot with +their dartes at vs, and stroke one of our men with one of their dartes, and +Iohn Philpe shot one of them into the brest with an arrow. [Sidenote: A +skirmish between the Sauages and our men.] And they came to vs againe, and +foure of our men went into the shipboate, and they shot with their dartes +at our men: but our men tooke one of their people in his boate into the +shipboate, and he hurt one of them with his knife, but we killed three of +them in their boates: two of them were hurt with arrowes in the brests, and +he that was aboord our boat, was shot in with an arrow, and hurt with a +sword, and beaten with staues, whome our men cast ouerboord, but the people +caught him and carried him on shore vpon their boates, and the other two +also, and so departed from vs. And three of them went on shore hard by vs, +where they had their dogs, and those three came away from their dogs, and +presently one of their dogs came swimming towards vs hard aboord the ship, +whereupon our Master caused the Gunner to shoote off one of the great +pieces towards the people, and so the dog turned backe to land and within +an noure after there came of the people hard aboord the ship, but they +would not come to vs as they did come before. + +The 31. of August we departed from Gylberts sound for England, and when we +came out of the harborough there came after vs 17. of the people looking +which way we went. + +The 2. of September we lost sight of the land at 12. of the clocke at +noone. + +[Sidenote: The pinnesse neuer returned home.] The third day at Night we +lost sight of the Northstarre our pinnesse in a very great storme, and lay +a hull tarying for them the 4. day, but could heare no more of them. Thus +we shaped our course the 5. day Southsoutheast, and sayling vntill the 27. +of the sayd moneth, we came in sight of Cape Clere in Ireland. + +The 30. day we entred our owne chanell. + +The 2. of October we had sight of the Isle of Wight. + +The 3. we coasted all along the shore, and the 4. and 5. + +The 6. of the said moneth of October wee came into the riuer of Thames as +high as Ratcliffe in safetie God be thanked. + + * * * * * + +The third voyage Northwestward, made by M. Iohn Dauis Gentleman, as chiefe + captaine and Pilot generall, for the discouery of a passage to the Isles + of the Moluccas, or the coast of China, in the yeere 1587. Written by M. + Iohn Ianes. + +May. + +The 19. of this present moneth about midnight wee weyed our ankers, set +sayle, and departed from Dartmouth with two Barkes and a Clincher, the one +named the Elizabeth of Dartmouth, the other the Sunneshine of London, and +the Clincher called the Helene of London: thus in Gods name we set forwards +with the wind at Northeast a good fresh gale. About 3. houres after our +departure, the night being somewhat thicke with darknesse, we had lost the +pinnesse: the Captaine imagining that the men had runne away with her, +willed the Master of the Sunshine to stand to Seawards, and see if we could +descry them, we bearing in with the shore for Plimmouth. At length we +descried her, bare with her, and demanded what the cause was: they answered +that the tiller of their helme was burst. So shaping our course +Westsouthwest, we went forward, hoping that a hard beginning would make a +good ending, yet some of vs were doubtfull of it, falling in reckoning that +she was a Clincher; neuerthelesse we put our trust in God. + +The 21. we met with the Red Lion of London, which came from the coast of +Spaine, which was afrayd that we had bene men of warre, but we hailed them, +and after a little conference, we desired the Master to carie our Letters +for London directed to my vncle Sanderson, who promised vs a safe +deliuerie. And after wee had heaued them a lead and a line, wherevnto wee +had made fast our letters, before they could get them into the ship, they +fell into the Sea, and so all our labour and theirs also was lost; +notwithstanding they promised to certifie our departure at London, and so +we departed, and the same day we had sight of Silley. The 22. the wind was +at Northeast by East with faire weather, and so the 23. and 24. the like. +The 25. we layd our ships on the Lee for the Sunneshine, who was a romaging +for a leake, they had 500. strokes at the pumpe in a watch, the wind at +Northwest. + +The 26. and 27. wee had faire weather, but this 27. the Pinnesses foremast +was blowen ouerboord. The 28. the Elizabeth towed the pinnesse, which was +so much bragged of by the owners report before we came out of England, but +at Sea she was like a cart drawen with oxen. Sometimes we towed her because +she could not saile for scant wind. + +The 31. day our Captaine asked if the pinnesse were stanch, Peerson +answered that she was as sound and stanch as a cup. This made vs something +glad, when we sawe she would brooke the Sea, and was not leake. + + +Iune. + +The first 6. dayes wee had faire weather: after that for 5 dayes wee had +fogge and raine, the winde being South. The 12. wee had cleare weather. The +Mariners in the Sunneshine and the Master could not agree: the Mariners +would goe on their voyage a fishing, because the yeere began to waste: the +Master would not depart till hee had the companie of the Elizabeth, +whereupon the Master told our Captaine that hee was afrayd his men would +shape some contrary course while he was asleepe, and so he should lose vs. +At length after much talke and many threatnings, they were content to bring +vs to the land which we looked for daily. + +[Sidenote: Land descried.] The 14. day we discouered land at fiue of the +clocke in the morning, being very great and high mountaines, the tops of +the hils being couered with snow. Here the wind was variable, sometimes +Northeast, Eastnortheast, and East by North: but we imagined ourselues to +be 16. or 17. leagues off from the shore. + +The 16. we came to an anker about 4. or 5. of the clocke afternoone, the +people came presently to vs after the old maner, with crying Ilyaoute, and +shewing vs Scales skinnes. The 17. we began to set vp the pinnesse that +Peerson framed at Dartmouth, with the boords which hee brought from London. + +The 18. Peerson and the Carpenters of the ships began to set on the +plankes. [Sidenote: Salt kerned on the rockes.] The 19. as we went about an +Island, were found blacke Pumise stones, and salt kerned on the rockes very +white and glistering. This day also the Master of the Sunneshine tooke of +the people a very strong lusty yoong fellow. + +The 20. about two of the clocke in the morning, the Sauages came to the +Island where our pinnace was built readie to bee launched, and tore the two +vpper strakes, and carried them away onely for the loue of the yron in the +boords. While they were about this practise, we manned the Elizabeths boate +to goe a shore to them: our men being either afrayd or amazed, were so long +before they came to shore, that our Captaine willed them to stay, and made +the Gunner giue fire to a Saker, and layd the piece leuell with the boate +which the Sauages had turned on the one side because wee should not hurt +them with our arrowes, and made the boate their bulwarke against the +arrowes which we shot at them. Our Gunner hauing made all things readie, +gaue fire to the piece, and fearing to hurt any of the people, and +regarding the owners profite, thought belike hee would saue a Sakers shot, +doubting wee should haue occasion to fight with men of warre, and so shot +off the Saker without a bullet: we looking stil when the Sauages that were +hurt should run away without legs, at length wee could perceiue neuer a man +hurt, but all hauing their legges could carie away their bodies: wee had no +sooner shot off the piece, but the Master of the Sunneshine manned his +boate, and came rowing toward the Island, the very sight of whom made each +of them take that hee had gotten, and flee away as fast as they could to +another Island about two miles off, where they tooke the nayles out of the +timber, and left the wood on the Isle. When we came on shore, and sawe how +they had spoiled the boat, after much debating of the matter, we agreed +that the Elizabeth should haue her to fish withall: whereupon she was +presently caryed aboord, and stowed. + +Now after this trouble, being resolued to depart with the first wind, there +fell out another matter worse then all the rest, and that was in this +maner. Iohn Churchyard one whom our Captaine had appoynted as Pilot in the +pinnace, came to our Captaine, and Master Brutton, and told them that the +good ship which we must all hazard our liues in, had three hundred strokes +at one time as she rode in the harbour: This disquieted vs all greatly, and +many doubted to goe in her. At length our Captaine by whom we were all to +be gouerned, determined rather to end his life with credite, then to +returne with infamie and disgrace, and so being all agreed, wee purposed to +liue and die together, and committed our selues to the ship. [Sidenote: +Isles in 64 degrees.] Now to 21. hauing brought all our things aboord, +about 11. or 12. of the clocke at night, we set saile and departed from +those Isles, which lie in 64. degrees of latitude, our ships being now all +at Sea, and wee shaping our course to goe, coasting the land to the +Northwards vpon the Easterne shore, which we called the shore of our +Merchants, because there we met with people which traffiqued with vs, but +here wee were not without doubt of our ship. + +[Sidenote: Store of Whales in 67. degrees.] The 24. being in 67. degrees, +and 40. minutes, wee had great store of Whales, and a kinde of sea birds +which the Mariners call Cortinous. This day about sixe of the clocke at +night, we espied two of the countrey people at Sea, thinking at the first +they had bene two great Seales, vntill wee sawe their oares glistering with +the Sunne: they came rowing towardes vs, as fast as they could, and when +they came within hearing, they held vp their oares, and cryed Ilyaoute, +making many signes: and at last they came to vs, giuing vs birdes for +bracelets, and of them I had a darte with a bone in it, or a piece of +Vnicorns horne, as I did iudge. This dart he made store of, but when he saw +a knife, he let it go, being more desirous of the knife then of his dart: +these people continued rowing after our ship the space of 3. houres. + +The 25. in the morning at 7. of the clocke we descried 30. Sauages rowing +after vs, being by iudgement 10. leagues off from the shore: they brought +vs Salmon Peales, Birdes, and Caplin, and we gaue them pinnes, needles, +bracelets, nailes, kniues, bels, looking glasses, and other small trifles, +and for a knife, a naile or a bracelet, which they call Ponigmah, they +would sell their boate, coates, or any thing they had, although they were +farre from the shore. Wee had but few skinnes of them, about 20. but they +made signes to vs that if wee would goe to the shore, wee should haue more +store of Chichsanege: they stayed with vs till 11. of the clocke, at which +time wee went to prayer, and they departed from vs. + +[Sidenote: 72 deg. and 12 min. Betweene Gronland and the North of America +aboue 40. leagues.] The 28. and 29. were foggie with cloudes, the 30. day +wee tooke the heigth, and found our selues in 72. degrees and 12 minutes of +latitude both at noone and at night, the Sunne being 5. degrees aboue the +Horizon. [Sidenote: The Great variation of the compasse.] At midnight the +compasse set to the variation of 28. degrees to the Westward. [Sidenote: +London coast.] Now hauing coasted the land, which wee called London coast, +from the 21. of this present, till the 30. the Sea open all to the +Westwards and Northwards, the land on starboard side East from vs, the +winde shifted to the North, whereupon we left that shore, naming the same +Hope Sanderson, and shaped our course West, and ranne 40. leagues and +better without the sight of any land. + +Iuly. + +[Sidenote: A mightie banke of yce lying North and South.] The second of +Iuly wee fell with a mightie banke of yce West from vs, lying North and +South, which banke wee would gladly haue doubled out to the Northwards, but +the winde would not suffer vs, so that we were faine to coast it to the +Southwards, hoping to double it out, that wee might haue ran so farre West +till wee had found land, or els to haue beene thorowly resolued of our +pretended purpose. + +The 3. wee fell with the yce againe, and putting off from it, we sought to +the Northwards, but the wind crossed vs. + +The 4. was foggie: so was the 5. also with much wind at the North. + +The 6. being very cleare, we put our barke with oares through a gap in the +yce, seeing the Sea free on the West side, as we thought, which falling out +otherwise, caused vs to returne after we had stayed there betweene the yce. +The 7. and 8. about midnight, by Gods helpe we recouered the open Sea, the +weather being faire and calme, and so was the 9. The 10. we coasted the +yce. The 11. was foggie, but calme. + +The 12. we coasted againe the yce, hauing the wind at Northnorthwest. +[Sidenote: Extreme heate of the Sunne.] The 13, bearing off from the yce, +we determined to goe with the shoare and come to an anker, and to stay 5. +or 6. dayes for the dissoluing of the yce, hoping that the Sea continually +beating it, and the Sunne with the extreme force of heat which it had +alwayes shining vpon it, would make a quicke dispatch, that we might haue a +further search vpon the Westerne shore. Now when we were come to the +Easterne coast, the water something deepe, and some of our companie +fearefull withall, we durst not come to an anker, but bare off into the Sea +againe. The poore people seeing vs goe away againe, came rowing after vs +into the Sea, the waues being somewhat loftie. We truckt with them for a +few skinnes and dartes, and gaue them beads, nailes, pinnes, needles and +cardes, they poynting to the shore, as though they would shew vs some great +friendship: but we little regarding their curtesie, gaue them the gentle +farewell, and so departed. + +[Sidenote: They were driuen West sixe points out of their course in 67. +degrees, 45. minutes.] The 14. wee had the wind at South. The 15. there was +some fault either in the barke, or the set of some current, for wee were +driuen sixe points beyond our course West. The 16. wee fell with the banke +of yce West from vs. The 17. and 18. were foggie. [Sidenote: Mount +Raleigh.] The 19.at one a clocke after noone, wee had sight of the land +which we called Mount Raleigh, and at 12. of the clocke at night, we were +thwart the streights which we discouered the first yeere. The 20. wee +trauersed in the mouth of the streight, the wind being at West, with faire +and cleare weather. The 21. and 22. wee coasted the Northerne coast of the +streights. [Sidenote: The Earle of Cumberlands Isles.] The 23. hauing +sayled threescore leagues Northwest into the streights, at two a clocke +after noone wee ankered among many Isles in the bottome of the gulfe, +naming the same The Earle of Cumberlands Isles, where riding at anker, a +Whale passed by our ship and went West among the Isles. [Sidenote: The +variation of the compasse 30. deg. Westward.] Heere the compasse set at +thirtie degrees Westward variation. The 23. wee departed, shaping our +course Southeast to recouer the Sea. The 25. wee were becalmed in the +bottome of the gulfe, the ayre being extreme hot. Master Bruton and some of +the Mariners went on shoare to course dogs, where they found many Graues +and Trane split on the ground, the dogs being so fat that they were scant +able to run. + +The 26. wee had a prety storme, the winde being at Southeast. The 27. and +28. were faire. The 29. we were cleare out of the streights, hauing coasted +the South shore, and this day at noone we were in 62. degrees of latitude. +[Sidenote: The land trendeth from this place Southwest and by South. My +Lord Lumleys Inlet.] The 30. in the afternoone wee coasted a banke of yce, +which lay on the shore, and passed by a great banke or Inlet, which lay +between 63. and 62. degrees of latitude, which we called Lumlies Inlet. We +had oftentimes, as we sailed alongst the coast, great ruttes, the water as +it were whirling and ouerfalling, as if it were the fall of some great +water through a bridge. + +[Sidenote: Warwicks Forland.] The 31. as we sayled by a Headland, which we +named Warwicks Foreland, we fell into one of these ouerfals with a fresh +gale of wind, and bearing all our sailes, wee looking vpon an Island of yce +betweene vs and the shoare, had thought that our barke did make no way, +which caused vs to take markes on the shoare: [Sidenote: A very forcible +current Westward.] at length wee perceiued our selues to goe very fast, and +the Island of yce which we saw before, was carried very forcibly with the +set of the current faster then our ship went. This day and night we passed +by a very great gulfe the water whirling and roaring as it were the +meetings of tydes. + + +August + +[Sidenote: Chidleys cape.] The first of August hauing coasted a banke of +ice which was driuen out at the mouth of this gulfe, we fell with the +Southernmost cape of the gulfe, which we named Chidleis cape, which lay in +61 degrees and 10 minutes of latitude. The 2 and 3 were calme and foggie, +so were the 4, 5, and 6. The 7 was faire and calme: so was the 8, with a +litle gale in the morning. The 9 was faire, and we had a little gale at +night. The 10 we had a frisking gale at Westnorthwest. The 11. faire. +[Sidenote: The lord Darcies Island.] The 12 we saw fiue deere on the top of +an Island, called by vs Darcies Island. And we hoised out our boat, and +went ashore to them, thinking to haue killed some of them. But when we came +on shore, and had coursed them twise about the Island, they tooke the sea +and swamme towards Islands distant from that three leagues. When we +perceiued that they had taken the sea we gaue them ouer because our boat +was so small that it could not carrie vs, and rowe after them, they swamme +so fast: but one of them was as bigge as a good prety Cow, and very fat, +their feet as bigge as Oxe feet. Here vpon this Island I killed with my +piece a gray hare. + +The 13 in the morning we saw three or foure white beares, but durst not go +on shore to them for lacke of a good boat This day we stroke a rocke +seeking for an harborow, and receiued a leake: and this day we were in 54. +degrees of latitude. + +The 14 we stopt our leake in a storme not very outragious, at noone. + +[Sidenote: The fishing place betweene 54 and 55 degrees of latitude.] The +15 being almost in 52 degrees of latitude, and not finding our ships, nor +(according to their promise) any kinde of marke, token, or beacon, which we +willed them to set vp, and they protested to do so vpon euery head land, +Island or cape, within twenty leagues euery way off from their fishing +place, which our captaine appointed to be betweene 54 and 55 degrees: This +15 I say we shaped our course homewards for England, hauing in our ship but +litle wood, and halfe a hogshead of fresh water. Our men were very willing +to depart, and no man more forward then Peerson, for he feared to be put +out of his office of stewardship: but because euery man was so willing to +depart, we consented to returne for our owne countrey: and so we had the 16 +faire weather, with the winde at Southwest. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of whales in 52 degrees.] The 17 we met a ship at sea, +and as farre as we could iudge it was a Biskaine: we thought she went a +fishing for whales; for in 52 degrees or thereabout we saw very many. + +The 18 was faire, with a good gale at West. + +The 19 faire also, with much winde at West and by South. + +[They arrive at Dartmouth the 15 of September.] And thus after much +variable weather and change of winds we arriued the 15 of September in +Dartmouth anno 1587, giuing thanks to God for our safe arriuall. + + * * * * * + +A letter of the sayd M. Iohn Dauis written to M. Sanderson of London + concerning his forewritten voyage. + +Good M. Sanderson, with Gods great mercy I haue made my safe returne in +health, with all my company, and haue sailed threescore leagues further +then my determination at my departure. I haue bene in 73 degrees, finding +the sea all open, and forty leagues betweene land and land. The passage is +most probable, the execution easie, as at my comming you shall fully know. + +Yesterday the 15 of September I landed all weary; therefore I pray you +pardon my shortnesse. + +Sandridge this 16 of September anno 1587. + +Yours equall as mine owne, which by triall you shall best know, + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +A Traverse-Booke made by M. Iohn Davis in his third voyage for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage. Anno 1587. + +[In the following chart, the final column, THE DISCOVRSE, is moved to the +line after which it is aligned in the original--KTH] + + +Moneth D H Course. L Eleva- The winde. THE DISCOVRSE + a o e tion + y u a of the + e r g pole. + s. e u D M + s. e e i + s. g. n. +May + 19 w.s.w. 50 30 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we departed from Dartmouth at two of the clocke at night. + 20 + 21 35 w.s.w. 50 50 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we descried Silly N. W. by W. from vs. + 22 15 w.n.w. 14 n.e. by e. + This day at noone we departed from Silly. + 22 6 w.n.w. 6 n.e. by e. + 22 3 w.n.w. 2 + 23 15 n.w. by w. 18 n.e. + 23 39 w.n.w. 36 50 40 + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 6 n.w. by w. 5 n.e. by n. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 12 w.n.w. 12 n.e. +Noone the 24 24 w.n.w. 25 51 16. + Northerly. + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2-1/2 n. by e. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 2 s. 1/2 n. + Now we lay vpon the lee for the Sunshine, which had taken a leake of 500 + strokes a watch. +Noone the 25 24 w. by n. 20 51 30 + The true course, distance and latitude. +Noone the 25 3 w. 3 n.n.w. + 3 w.s.w. 2 n.w. + 1 s.w. 1 w.n.w. + 2 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 Calme + 4 w.n.w. 4 s.s.e. + 5 w. 6 s.s.e. +Noone the 26 24 w by n. 23 51 40 + The true course, distance, &c. + Westerly. + 11 w. 16 s.s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 2 s.s.e. + We lay at hull with winde, raine, and fog. + 7 w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 24 w. northerly 23 + The common course supposed. +Noone the 28 24 w. 20 52 13 e.s.e. + We towed the pinnesse 18 houres of this day. +Noone the 28 28 w. by n. 43 52 13 + Northerly. + The true course, distance, &c. +Noone the 29 24 n.w. 30 s. by e. + 6 n.w. 10 s. + 3 n. by w. 2 w. by n. + 3 w. by w. 3 w. by s. + 12 n. w. 12 s.s.w +Noone the 30 48 n.w. by n. 65 54 50 + The true course, &c. + 9 n.w. 12 s.w. + 9 n.w. by w. 12 s.s.w. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. +Noone the 30 3 w. by n. 4 n. + 30 24 w. n. w. 27 55 30 + Northerly. + The true course, &c. +Iune 1 12 w. 10 n.n.w. + 9 n.w. 8 e.n.e. + 3 n.w. 2-1/2 e.n.e. + 1 24 w.n.w. 17 55 45 + Westerly. + The true course, &c. + 12 n.w. 16 e.s.e. + 6 n.w. 7 s. + 6 n.w. 8 s.s.w. +Noone the 2 24 n.w. 32 56 55 + Northerly + The true course, &c. +Noone the 5 72 w. by s. 45 56 20 + Southerly + The true course &c., drawen from diurs trauerses. +Noone the 6 24 s.w. 16 w.n.w. + 7 s.w. by w. 6 w. by n. + 5 Calme. + 3 w.n.w. 1 s. +Noone the 7 9 w.n.w. 12 s. + 12 w.n.w 20 s. + 3 w.n.w. 4 s. +Noone the 8 9 w.n.w. 7 s. + 12 w.n.w. 5 s. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w. 13 s.e. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w 86 57 30 + Northerly + The true course, distance, and latitude for 96 houres. +Noone the 9 3 w.n.w. 4 s.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2 s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 1 Calme +Noone the 10 12 w.n.w. 16-1/2 e. + 7 w.n.w. 12 e. + 2 n.w. 2 e. +Noone the 11 15 n.w. 18 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 12 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 13 e. by s. +Noone the 12 72 n.w. by w. 78 59 50 + Northerly + The true course, &c. for 72 houres. +Noone the 13 24 n.n.w. 26 60 58 e. by n. + Westerly +Noone the 14 24 n.n.w. 32 62 30 n.e. + 9 w.n.w. 7 n. + 3 n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 3 n.w. by n. 2 n.e. by n. + This day in the morning at fiue of the clocke we discouered land being + distant from vs at the neerest place sixteene leagues, This land in + generall lay Northwest and to the Westwards, being very mountainous. The + winde was this day variable, and the aire sometime foggie, and sometime + cleere. The foresayd land bare from vs (so neere as we could iudge) + North, Northwest, and Southeast. + 15 9 n.n.w. 8 n.e. +Noone the 15 24 n.w. + Northerly 22 63 20 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 16 24 n.n.e. 14 64 + Easterly + The true course, &c. This 16 of Iune at 5 of the clocke in the + afternoone, being in the latitude of 64 degrees, through Gods helpe we + came to an anker among many low islands which lay before the high land. +Noone the 17 + This 17 of Iune we set vp our pinnesse. + 20 + The 20 she was spoiled by Sauages. At midnight the 21 of Iune wee + departed from this coast, our two barks for their fishing voyage, and + myself in the pinnesse for the discouery. From midnight the 21 we shaped + our course as followeth. + +At mid- +night the 21 8 w.n.w 7 s.e. +Noone the 22 4 n.w. 6 s.e. + 13 n.w. 18 s.e. + 11 n. 13 s.e. + At this time we saw great store of whales. +Noone the 23 36 n.w. by n. 42 65 40 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 24 24 n. by e. 41 67 40 s.s.e. + northerly + 2 + The true course &c. Here the weather was very hot. This 24 of Iune at 6 + of the clocke at night we met two sauages at sea in their small canoas, + vnto whom we gaue bracelets, and nailes, for skins and birds. At 9 of the + clocke they departed from vs. +Noone the 26 48 n. s. + 3 n.w. 2 s.w. + The next day at 7 of the clocke in the morning, there came vnto vs 30 + sauages 20 leagues off the shore, intreating vs to goe to the shore. We + had of them fish, birds, skinnes, darts, and their coats from their + backs, for bracelets, nailes, kniues, &c. They remained with vs foure + houres, and departed. + 7 n.n.e. 10 s. + 6 n. 8 s.w. + 8 w.n.w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 72 n. + westerly 52 70 4 + The true course for, &c. 72 houres. +Noone the 29 72 n. 43 72 12 + 30 + The true course, &c. Since the 21 of this moneth I haue continually + coasted the shore of Gronland, hauing the sea all open towards the West, + and the land on the starboord side East from me. For these last 4 dayes + the weather hath bene extreame hot and very calme, the Sunne being 5 + degrees aboue the horison at midnight. The compasse in this place varieth + 28 degrees toward the West. + +Iuly 1 30 w. by s. 44 71 36 n.w. by n. + westerley + The true course, &c. this day at noone we coasted a mighty banke of ice + West from vs. + 2 24 s.e. 12 71 9 +Noone the 3 8 n.n.w. 11 71 40 n. + This day we fell againe with the ice, seeking to double it out by the + North. +Noone the 5 48 s.s.e. 36 70 n. + The true course, &c. + 6 24 s.s.w. 22 69 variable. + 7 + 8 + The true course, &c. This 6 of Iuly we put our barke thorow the ice, + seeing the sea free on the West side: and hauing sailed 5 leagues West, + we fell with another mighty barre, which we could not passe: and + therefore returning againe, we freed our selues the 8 of this moneth at + midnight, and so recouered the sea through Gods fauour, by faire winds, + the weather being very calme. +Noone the 9 72 e.s.e. 7 68 50 calme. + The true course, &c. + 10 24 s.e. by s. 8 68 30 calme. + The true course, &c. This day we coasted the ice. + 11 24 e.n.e. 11-1/2 68 45 variable. + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.s.e. 16 68 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 13 24 e. by s. 20 s. + This day the people came to vs off the shore, and bartered with vs. Being + within the Isle, and not finding good ankorage, we bare off again into + the sea. + 14 24 w. by n. 11 67 50 s. + The true course, &c. + 15 24 w.s.w. 5 67 45 e. + The true course, &c. This day a great current set vs West 6 points from + our course. + 16 24 s.w. by w. 23 67 10 s. + westerly + The true course, &c. This day we fell with a mighty banke of ice West of + vs. +Noone the 18 48 s. by w. 30 65 33 n. fog. + The true course, &c. Collected by diuers experiments. + 19 24 w. 13 65 30 s. fog. + southerly + The true course, &c. This 19 of Iuly at one a clocke in the afternoone we + had sight of the land of Mount Ralegh, and by 12 of the clocke at night + wee were thwart the Streights which (by Gods helpe) I discouered the + first yere. + 20 + The 20 day wee trauersed in the mouth of the sayd Streights with a + contrary winde, being West and faire weather. + 23 + This 23 day at 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, hauing sailed 60 + leagues Northwest, we ankered among an huge number of Isles lying in the + bottome of the sayd supposed passage, at which place the water riseth 4 + fadome vpright. Here as we rode at anker, a great whale passed by vs, and + swam West in amongst the isles. In this place a S. W. by W. moone maketh + a full sea. Here the compasse varied 30 degrees. + 24 + The 24 day at 5 of the clocke in the morning we set saile, departing from + this place, and shaping our course S.E. to recouer the maine Ocean + againe. + 25 + This 25 we were becalmed almost in the bottome of the Streights, and had + the weather maruellous extreme hot. + 26 s.e. + This day being in the Streights, we had a very quicke storme. + 27 s. + Being still in the Streight, we had this day faire weather. +Noone the 29 64 + At this present we got cleere of the Streights, hauing coasted the South + shore, the land trending from hence S. W. by S. +Noone the 30 s.s.w. 22 63 + This day we coasted the shore, a banke of ice lying thereupon. Also this + 30 of Iuly in the afternoone we crossed ouer the entrance or mouth of a + great inlet or passage, being 20 leagues broad, and situate betweene 62 + and 63 degrees. In which place we had 8 or 9 great rases, currents or + ouerfals, lothsomly crying like the rage of the waters vnder London + bridge, and bending their course into the sayd gulfe. +Noone the 31 24 s. by w. 27 62 n.w. + This 31 at noone, comming close by a foreland or great cape, we fell into + a mighty rase, where an island of ice was carried by the force of the + current as fast as our barke could saile with lum wind, all sailes + bearing. This cape as it was the most Southerly limit of the gulfe which + we passed ouer the 30 day of this moneth, so was it the North promontory + or first beginning of another very great inlet, whose South limit at this + present wee saw not. Which inlet or gulfe this afternoone, and in the + night, we passed ouer: where to our great admiration we saw the sea + falling down into the gulfe with a mighty ouerfal, and roring, and with + diuers circular motions like whirlepooles, in such sort as forcible + streames passe thorow the arches of bridges. + +August +Noone the 1 24 s.e. by s. 16 61 10 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. This first of August we fell with the promuntory of + the sayd gulfe or second passage, hauing coasted by diuers courses for + our sauegard, a great banke of the ice driuen out of that gulfe. +Noone the 3 48 s.s.e. 16 60 26 variable. +Noone the 6 72 s.e. 22 59 35 variable + southerly with calme. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 s.s.e. 22 58 40 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 s.e. 13 58 12 w. fog. + variable. + The true course, &c. + 9 24 s. by w. 13 57 30 variable + and calme. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 10 24 s.s.e. 17 56 40 s.w. by w. + The true course, &c. + 11 24 s.e. 40 55 13 w.n.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.e. 20 54 32 w.s.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 13 24 w.s.w. 4 54 n.w. + This day seeking for our ships that went to fish, we stroke on a rocke, + being among many iles, and had a great leake. +Noone the 14 24 s.s.e. 28 52 40 n.w. + This day we stopped our leake in a storme. The 15 of August at noon, + being in the latitude of 52 degrees 12 min. and 16 leagues from the + shore, we shaped our course for England, in Gods name, as followeth. +Noone the 15 52 12 s.s.w. + The true latitude. + 16 20 e.s.e. 50 51 s.w. + halfe + point s. + The true course, &c. + 17 24 e. by s. 30 50 40 s. + The true course, &c. This day upon the banke we met a Biscaine bound for + the Grand Bay or for the passage. He chased vs. + 18 24 e. by n. 49 51 18 w. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 19 24 s. halfe 51 51 35 variable + point north. w. & s. + The true course, &c. + 20 24 e.s.e. 31 50 50 s.w. + The true course, &c. + 22 48 e. by n. 68 51 30 s.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 23 24 e. by n. 33 51 52 s. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 24 24 e. by n. 31 52 10 variable. + The true course, &c. This 24 of August obseruing the variation, I found + the compass to vary towards the East from the true Meridian, one degree. +Noone the 27 72 e. 40 52 22 variable + northerly & calme. + The true coruse, &c for 72 houres. +Noone the 29 48 e.s.e. 47 51 28 variable w. & n. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 31 48 s.e. by e. 14 51 9 variable. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 2 48 e. 65 51 n.w. + southerly. + The true course, &c. + 3 24 e. by s. 24 50 50 w.n.w. + easterly. + The true course, &c. + 4 24 s.e. by e. 20 50 21 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. + 5 24 s.e. by e. 18 49 48 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. Now we supposed our selues to be 55 leagues from + Sillie. + 6 24 e. by s. 15 49 40 n. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 e.s.e. 20 49 15 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 n.e. 18 49 40 + 9 24 w.s.w. 7 49 42 + 10 24 s.e. by e. 8-1/2 49 28 variable. + 11 24 n.e. by e. 10 49 45 variable. + 12 24 n.w. by w. 6 50 n.e. + 13 24 e. by s. 15 49 47 n.e. + southerly + 15 + This 15 of September 1587 we arriued at Dartmouth. + +Vnder the title of the houres, where any number exceedeth 24, it is the +summe or casting vp of so many other dayes and partes of dayes going next +before, as conteine the foresayd summe. + + * * * * * + +A report of Master Iohn Dauis of his three Voyages made for the discouerie + of the Northwest passage, taken out of a Treatise of his. Intituled the + worlds Hydrographicall description. + +Now there onely resteth the North parts of America, vpon which coast my +selfe haue had most experience of any in our age: for thrise I was that way +imployed for the discouery of this notable passage, by the honourable care +and some charge of Syr Francis Walsingham knight, principall secretary to +her Maiestie, with whom diuer noble men and worshipfull marchants of London +ioyned in purse and willingnesse for the furtherance of that attempt, but +when his honour dyed the voyage was friendlesse, and mens mindes alienated +from aduenturing therein. + +[Sidenote: The 1. voyage.] In my first voyage not experienced of the nature +of those climates, and hauing no direction either by Chart, Globe, or other +certaine relation in what altitude that passage was to be searched, I +shaped a Northerly course and so sought the same toward the South, and in +that my Northerly course I fell vpon the shore which in ancient time was +called Groenland, fiue hundred leagues distant from the Durseys +Westnorthwest Northerly, the land being very high and full of mightie +mountaines all couered with snowe, no viewe of wood, grasse or earth to be +seene, and the shore two leagues off into the sea so full of yce as that no +shipping could by any meanes come neere the same. The lothsome view of the +shore, and irksome noyse of the yce was such, as that it bred strange +conceits among vs, so that we supposed the place to be wast and voyd of any +sensible or vegitable creatures, whereupon I called the same Desolation: so +coasting this shore towards the South in the latitude of sixtie degrees, I +found it to trend towards the West, I still followed the leading thereof in +the same height, and after fifty or sixtie leagues it fayled and lay +directly North, which I still followed, and in thirtie leagues sayling vpon +the West side of this coast by me named desolation, we were past al the yce +and found many greene and pleasant Iles bordering vpon the shore, but the +maine were still couered with great quantities of snow, I brought my ship +among those Isles and there moored to refresh our selues in our weary +trauell, in the latitude of sixtie foure degrees or thereabout. The people +of the countrey hauing espied our shippes came downe vnto vs in their +Canoas, and holding vp their right hand to the Sunne and crying Yliaout, +would strike their breasts: we doing the like the people came aboard our +shippes, men of good stature, vnbearded, small eyed and of tractable +conditions, by whome as signes would permit, we vnderstood that towards the +North and West, there was a great sea, and vsing the people with kindeness +in giuing them nayles and kniues which of all things they most desired, we +departed, and finding the sea free from yce supposing our selves to be past +al daunger we shaped our course Westnorthwest thinking thereby to passe for +China, but in the latitude of sixtie sixe degrees we fell with another +shore, and there found another passage of twenty leagues broad directly +West into the same, which we supposed to be our hoped straight, we entred +into the same thirtie or fortie leagues, finding it neither to wyden nor +streighten, then considering that the yeere was spent (for this was the +fiue of August) not knowing the length of the straight and dangers thereof, +we tooke it our best course to returne with notice of our good successe for +this small time of search. And so returning in a sharpe fret of Westerly +windes the 19 of September we arriued at Dartmouth. [Sidenote: The 2. +voyage.] And acquainting Master Secretary Walsingham with the rest of the +honourable and worshipfull aduenturers of all our proceedings, I was +appointed againe the second yere to search the bottome of this straight, +because by all likelihood it was the place and passage by vs laboured for. +In this second attempt the marchants of Exeter, and other places of the +West became aduenturers in the action, so that being sufficiently furnished +for sixe moneths, and hauing direction to search these straights, vntill we +found the same to fall into another sea vpon the West side of this part of +America, we should againe returne: for then it was not to be doubted, but +shipping with trade might safely be conueied to China, and the parts of +Asia. We departed from Dartmouth, and arriuing vpon the South part of the +coast of Desolation coasted the same vpon his West shore to the latitude of +sixtie six degrees, and there anchored among the Isles bordering vpon the +same, where we refreshed our selues, the people of this place came likewise +vnto vs, by whom I vnderstood through their signes that towards the North +the sea was large. At this place the chiefe ship whereupon I trusted, +called the Mermayd of Dartmouth, found many occasions of discontentment, +and being vnwilling to proceed shee there forsook me. Then considering how +I had giuen my faith and most constant promise to my worshipfull good +friend Master William Sanderson, who of all men was the greatest aduenturer +in that action, and tooke such care for the performance thereof, that he +hath to my knowledge at one time disbursed as much money as any fiue others +whatsoever, out of his purse, when some of the companie haue bene slacke in +giuing in their aduenture: And also knowing that I should loose the fauour +of M. Secretary Walsingham, if I should shrink from his direction; in one +small barke of 30 Tonnes, whereof M. Sanderson was owner, alone without +farther company I proceeded on my voyage, and arriuing at these straights +followed the same 80 leagues, vntill I came among many Islands, where the +water did ebbe and flow sixe fadome vpright, and where there had bene great +trade of people to make traine. [Sidenote: The North Parts of America all +Islands.] But by such things as there we found, wee knew that they were not +Christians of Europe that had vsed that trade: in fine by searching with +our boat, we found small hope to passe any farther that way, and therefore +recouered the sea and coasted the shore towards the South, and in so doing +(for it was too late to search towards the North) we found another great +inlet neere 40 leagues broad, where the water entred in with violent +swiftnesse, this we also thought might be a passage; for no doubt the North +partes of America are all Islands by ought that I could perceiue therein: +but because I was alone in a small barke of thirtie tunnes, and the yeere +spent, I entred not into the same, for it was now the seuenth of September, +but coasting the shore towards the South wee saw an incredible number of +birds: hauing diuers fishermen aboord our Barke they all concluded that +there was a great skull of fish, we being vnprouided of fishing furniture +with a long spike nayle made a hooke, and fastened the same to one of our +sounding lines, before the baite was changed we tooke more then fortie +great Cods, the fish swimming so abundantly thicke about our barke as is +incredible to bee reported, of which with a small portion of salt that we +had we preserved some thirtie couple, or thereaboutes, and so returned for +England. And hauing reported to M. Secretarie Walsingham the whole successe +of this attempt, he commanded me to present vnto the most honourable Lord +high Treasurour of England, some part of that fish: which when his Lordship +saw, and heard at large the relation of this second attempt, I receiued +fauourable countenance from his honour, aduising me to prosecute the +action, of which his Lordship conceiued a very good opinion. The next yere, +although diuers of the aduenturers fell from the Action, as all the +Westerne marchants, and most of those in London: yet some of the +aduenturers both honourable and worshipfull continued their willing fauour +and charge, so that by this meanes the next yere two shippes were appointed +for the fishing and one pinnesse for the discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The 3. voyage.] Departing from Dartmouth, thorough Gods +mercifull fauour, I arriued at the place of fishing, and there according to +my direction I left the two ships to follow that busines, taking their +faithful promise not to depart vntill my returne vnto them, which should be +in the fine of August, and so in the barke I proceeded for this discouerie: +but after my departure, in sixeteene dayes the two shippes had finished +their voyage, and so presently departed for England, without regard of +their promise: my selfe not distrusting any such hard measure proceeded for +the discouerie, and followed my course in the free and open sea betweene +North and Northwest to the latitude of 67 degrees, and there I might see +America West from me, and Gronland, which I called Desolation, East: then +when I saw the land of both sides I began to distrust it would prooue but a +gulfe: notwithstanding desirous to know the full certainty I proceeded, and +in 68 degrees the passage enlarged, so that I could not see the Westerne +shore: thus I continued to the Latitude of 73 degrees in a great sea, free +from yce, coasting the Westerne shoure of Desolation: the people came +continually rowing out vnto me in their Canoas, twenty, forty, and one +hundred at a time, and would giue me fishes dryed, Salmon, Salmon peale, +Cod, Caplin, Lumpe, Stone-base and such like, besides diuers kinds of +birds, as Partrige, Fesant, Guls, Sea birds, and other kinds of flesh: I +still laboured by signes to know from them what they knew of any sea toward +the North, they still made signes of a great sea as we vnderstood them, +then I departed from that coast, thinking to discouer the North parts of +America: and after I had sailed towards the West 40 leagues, I fel vpon a +great banke of yce: the winde being North and blew much, I was constrained +to coast the same toward the South, not seeing any shore West from me, +neither was there any yce towards the North, but a great sea, free, large, +very salt and blew, and of an vnsearchable depth: So coasting towards the +South I came to the place where I left the ships to fish, but found them +not. Then being forsaken and left in this distresse referring my self to +the mercifull prouidence of God, I shaped my course for England, and +vnhoped for of any, God alone releeuing me, I arriued at Dartmouth. By this +last discouery it seemed most manifest that the passage was free and +without impediment toward the North: but by reason of the Spanish Fleete +and vnfortunate time of M. Secretaries death, the voyage was omitted and +never sithens attempted. The cause why I vse this particular relation of +all my proceedings for this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath +not Dauis discouered this passage being thrise that wayes imploied? How far +I proceeded and in what forme this discouery lieth, doth appeare vpon the +Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published, for the +which he deserueth great fauor and commendations.[90] + + * * * * * + +The discouerie of the Isles of Frisland, Iseland, Engroneland, Estotiland, + Drogeo and Icaria: made by two brethren, namely M. Nicholas Zeno, and M. + Antonio his brother: Gathered out of their letters by M. Francisco + Marcolino. + +In the yere of our Lord 1200 there was in the Citie of Venice a famous +Gentleman, named Messer Marino Zeno, who for his great vertue and singular +wisdome, was called and elected gouernour in certaine common wealths of +Italy: in the administration whereof he bore himselfe so discretly, that he +was beloued of all men, and his name greatly reuerenced of those that neuer +knew or saw his person. And amongst sundry his worthy workes, this is +recorded of him, that he pacified certaine grieuous ciuile dissentions that +arose among the citizens of Verona: whereas otherwise, if by his graue +aduise and great diligence they had not bene preuented, the matter was +likely to broke out into hot broyles of warre. He was the first Podesta, or +Ruler, that the Common wealth of Venice appointed in Constantinople in the +yeere 1205 when our state had rule thereof with the French Barons. This +Gentleman had a sonne named Messer Pietro, who was the father of the Duke +Rinieri, which Duke dying without issue, made his heire M. Andrea, the +sonne of M. Marco his brother. This M. Andrea was Captaine Generall and +Procurator, a man of great reputation for many rare partes, that were in +him. He had a sonne M. Rinieri, a worthy Senatour and prudent Counsellour: +of whom descended M. Pietro Captaine Generall of the league of the +Christians against the Turkes, who was called Dragon, for that in his +shield, in stead of a Manfrone which was his armes at the first, he bare a +Dragon. He was father to M. Carlo Il grande the famous Procurator and +Captaine generall against the Genowayes in those cruell warres, when as +almost all the chiefe Princes of Europe did oppugne and seeke to ouerthrow +our Empire and libertie, wherein by his great valiantie and prowesse, as +Furius Camillus deliuered Rome, so he deliuered his countrey from the +present perill it was in, being ready to become a pray and spoile vnto the +enemie: wherefore he was afterward surnamed the Lyon, and for an eternall +remembrance of his fortitude and valiant exploits he gaue the Lyon in his +armes. M. Carlo had two brethren, M. Nicolo, the knight and M. Antonio, the +father of M. Dragon, of whom issued M. Caterino, the father M. Pietro da i +Grocecchieri. This M. Pietro had sonnes M. Caterino, that died the last +yere, being brother vnto M. Francisco, M. Carlo, M. Battista, and M. +Vincenzo: Which M. Caterino was father to M. Nicola, that is yet liuing. + +Now M. Nicolo, the knight being a man of great courage, after this +aforesaid Genouan warre of Chioggia, that troubled so our predecessours, +entred into a great desire and fansie to see the fashions of the worlde and +to trauell and acquaint himselfe with the maners of sundry nations, and +learne their languages, whereby afterwards vpon occasions he might be the +better able to doe seruice to his countrey, and purchase to himselfe +credite and honour. Wherefore he caused a ship to be made, and hauing +furnished her at his proper charges (as he was very wealthy) he departed +out of our seas and passing the straites of Gibraltar, he sailed for +certaine dayes vpon the Ocean, keeping his course still to the Northwards, +with intent to see England and Flanders. [Sidenote: The ship of M. N. Zeno +cast away vpon Frisland in Anno 1380.] Where being assailed in those Seas +by a terrible tempest, he was so tossed for the space of many dayes with +the sea and winde, that he knew not where he was, till at length he +discouered land, and not being able any longer to susteine the violence of +the tempest the ship was cast away vpon the Isle of Friseland. The men were +saued and most part of the goods that were in the ship. And this was in the +yere 1380. The inhabitants of the Island came running in great multitudes +with weapons to set vpon M. Nicolo and his men, who being sore +weather-beaten and ouer-laboured at sea and not knowing in what part of the +world they were, were not able to make any resistance at all, much lesse to +defend themselues couragiously, as it behooued them in such a dangerous +case. [Sidenote: A forraine prince hapning to be in Frisland with armed +men, when M. Zeno suffered shipwracked there came vnto him and spake +Latine.] And they should haue bene doubtlesse very discourteously intreated +and cruelly handled, if by good hap there had not beene hard by the place a +prince with armed people. Who vnderstanding that there was euen at that +present a great ship cast away vpon the Island, came running at the noyse +and outcryes that they made against our poore Mariners, and dryuing away +the inhabitants, spake in Latine and asked them what they were and from +whence they came, and perceiuing that they came from Italy and that they +were men of the sayd Countrey, he was surprised with maruelous great ioy. +Wherefore promising them all, that they should receiue no discourtesie, and +that they were come into a place where they should be well vsed and very +welcome, he tooke them into his protection vpon his faith. [Sidenote: +Zichmni prince of Porland or Duke of Zorani.] This was a great Lord, and +possessed certaine Islands called Porland, lying on the South side of +Frisland, being the richest and most populous of all those parts, his name +was Zichmni: and beside the said little Islands, he was Duke of Sorani, +lying ouer against Scotland.[91] + +Of these North parts I thought good to draw the copie of a Sea carde, which +amongst other antiquities I haue in my house, which although it be rotten +through many yeres, yet it falleth out indifferent well: and to those that +are delighted in these things, it may serue for some light to the +vnderstanding of that, which without it cannot so easily be conceiued. +Zichmni being Lord of those Sygnories (as is said) was a very warlike and +valiant man and aboue all things famous in Sea causes. [Sidenote: Frisland +the king of Norwayes.] And hauing the yere before giuen the ouerthrow to +the king of Norway, who was Lord of the Island, being desirous to winne +fame by feates of armes, hee was come on land with his men to giue the +attempt for the winning of Frisland, which is an Island much bigger then +Ireland. Wherefore seeing that M. Nicolo was a man of iudgement and +discretion, and very expert both in sea matters and martiall affaires, hee +gaue him commission to goe aboord his Nauy with all his men, charging the +captaine to honor him and in all things to use his counsaile. + +This Nauy of Zichmni was of thirteene vessels, whereof two onely were rowed +with oares, the rest small barkes and one ship, with the which they sayled +to the Westwards and with little paines wonne Ledouo and Ilofe and diuers +other small Islands: and turning into a bay called Sudero, in the hauen of +the towne named Sanestol, they tooke certaine small barks laden with fish. +And here they found Zichmni, who came by land with his armie conquering all +the countrey as he went: they stayed here but a while, and led on their +course to the Westwards till they came to the other Cape of the gulfe or +bay, then turning againe, they found certaine Islandes and broken lands +which they reduced al vnto the Signorie and possession of Zichmni. These +seas for as much as they sailed, were in maner nothing but sholds and +rocks, in so much that if M. Nicolo and the Venetian mariners had not bene +their Pilots, the whole fleete in iudgement of all that were in it, had +bene cast away, so small was the skill of Zichmnis men, in respect of ours, +who had bene trained vp in the arte and practise of Nauigation all the +dayes of their life. Now the fleete hauing done such things as are +declared, the Captaine, by the counsaile of M. Nicolo, determined to goe a +land, at a towne called Bondendon, to vnderstand what successe Zichmni had +in his warres: where they heard to their great content, that he had fought +a great battell and put to flight the armie of his enemie: by reason of +which victory, they sent Embassadours from all parts of the Island to yeeld +the countrey vp into his handes, taking downe their ensignes in euery towne +and castle: they thought good to stay in that place for his comming, it +being reported for certaine that hee would be there very shortly. At his +comming there was great congratulation and many signes of gladnesse shewed, +as well for the victory by land, as for that by sea: for the which the +Venetians were honoured and extolled of all men, in such sort that there +was no talke but of them, and of the great valour of M. Nicolo. Wherefore +the prince, who was a great fauourer of valiant men and especially of those +that could behaue themselues well at sea, caused M. Nicolo to be brought +before him, and after hauing commended him with many honourable speeches, +and praysed his great industrie and dexteritie of wit, by the which two +things he acknowledged himselfe to haue receiued an inestimable benefite, +as the sauing of his fleet and the winning of many places without any great +trouble, he made him knight, and rewarded his men with many rich and +bountiful gifts. Then departing from thence they went in tryumphing maner +toward Frisland, the chiefe citie of that Island. In this gulf or bay there +is such great abundance of fish taken, that many ships are laden therewith +to serue Flanders, Britain, England, Scotland, Norway, and Denmarke, and by +this trade they gather great wealth. + +And thus much is taken out of a letter, that M. Nicolo sent to M. Antonio +his brother, requesting that he would seeke some meanes to come to him. +Wherefore he who had as great desire to trauaile as his brother, bought a +ship, and directed his course that way: and after he had sailed a great +while and escaped many dangers, he arriued at length in safetie with M. +Nicolo, who receiued him very ioyfully, for that he was his brother not +onely in flesh and blood, but also in valour and good qualities. M. Antonio +remained in Frisland and dwelt there for the space of 14 yeres, 4 yeeres +with M. Nicolo, and 10 yeres alone. Where they came in such grace and +fauour with the Prince, that he made M. Nicolo Captaine of his Nauy, and +with great preparation of warre they were sent forth for the enterprise of +Estland, which lyeth vpon the coast betweene Frisland and Norway, where +they did many dammages, but hearing that the king of Norway was coming +towardes them with a great fleet, they departed with such a terrible flaw +of winde, that they were driuen vpon certaine sholds: were a great part of +their ships were cast away, the rest were saued vpon Grisland, a great +Island but dishabited. The king of Norway his fleete being taken with the +same storme, did vtterly perish in those seas: Whereof Zichmni hauing +notice, by a ship of his enemies that was cast by chance vpon Grisland, +hauing repayred his fleet, and perceiuing himself Northerly neere vnto the +Islands, determined, to set vpon Island, which together with the rest, was +subiect to the king of Norway: but he found the countrey so well fortified +and defended, that his fleete being so small, and very ill appointed both +of weapons and men, he was glad to retire. And so he left that enterprise +without performing any thing at all: and in the chanels, he assaulted the +other Isles called Islande, which are seuen, Talas, Broas, Iscant, Trans, +Mimant, Dambere, and Bres: and hauing spoyled them all, hee built a fort in +Bres, where he left M. Nicolo with certaine small barkes and men and +munition. And now thinking he had done wel for this voyage, with those few +ships which were left he returned safe into Frisland. [Sidenote: +Engroneland.] M. Nicolo remaining nowe in Bres, determined in the spring to +go forth and discouer land: wherefore arming out three small barkes in the +moneth of Iuly, he sayled to the Northwards, and arriued in Engroneland. +[Sidenote: Preaching fryers of Saint Thomas.] Where he found a Monasterie +of Friers, of the order of the Predicators, and a Church dedicated to Saint +Thomas, hard by a hill that casteth forth fire, like Vesuuius and Etna. + +There is a fountaine of hot burning water with the which they heate the +Church of the Monastery and the Fryers chambers, it commeth also into the +kitchin so boyling hot, that they vse no other fire to dresse their meate: +and putting their breade into brasse pots without any water, it doth bake +as it were in an hot ouen. They haue also smal gardens couered ouer in the +winter time, which being watered with this water, are defended from the +force of the snow and colde, which in those partes being situate farre +vnder the pole, is very extreme, and by this meanes they produce flowers +and fruites and herbes of sundry sorts, euen as in other temperate +countries in their seasons, in such sort that the rude and sauage people of +those partes seeing these supernaturall effects, doe take those Fryers for +Gods, and bring them many presents, as chickens, flesh, and diuers other +things, they haue them all in great reuerence as Lords. When the frost and +snowe is great, they heate their houses in maner before said, and wil by +letting in the water or opening the windowes, at an instant, temper the +heate and cold at their pleasure. In the buildings of the Monasterie they +vse no other matter but that which is ministred vnto them by the fire: for +they take the burning stones that are cast out as it were sparkles or +cinders at the fierie mouth of the hill, and when they are most enflamed, +cast water vpon them, whereby they are dissolued and become excellent white +lime and so tough that being contriued in building it lasteth for euer. And +the very sparkles after the fire is out of them doe serue in stead of +stones to make walles and vautes: for being once colde they will neuer +dissolue or breake, except they be cut with some iron toole, and the vautes +that are made of them are so light that they need no sustentacle, or prop +to holde them vp, and they will endure continually very faire and whole. By +reason of these great commodities, the Fryers haue made there so many +buildings and walles that it is a wonder to see. The couerts or roofes of +their houses for the most part are made in maner following: first they +rayse vp the wall vp to his full height, then they make it enclinining or +bowing in by little and litle in fourme of a vaut. [Sidenote: Winter of 9 +moneths.] But they are not greatly troubled with raine in those partes, +because the climate (as I haue saide) is extreme colde: for the first snow +being fallen, it thaweth no more for the space of nine moneths, for so long +dureth their winter. They feede of the flesh of wilde foule and of fish: +for wheras the warme water falleth into the sea, there is a large and wide +hauen, which by reason of the heate of the water, doeth neuer freeze all +the winter, by meanes whereof there is such concourse and flocks of sea +foule and such abundance of fish, that they take thereof infinite +multitudes, whereby they maintaine a great number of people round about, +which they kepe in continuall worke, both in building and taking of foules +and fish, and in a thousand other necessarie affaires and busines about the +Monasterie. + +Their houses are built about the hill on euery side, in forme round, and 25 +foote broad, and in mounting vpwards they goe narower and narower, leauing +at the top a litle hole, whereat the aire commeth in to giue light to the +house, and the flore of the house is so hot, that being within they feele +no cold at all. Hither in the Summer time come many barkes from the Islands +there about, and from the cape aboue Norway, and from Trondon, and bring to +the Friers al maner of things that may be desired, taking in change thereof +fish, which they dry in the sunne or in the cold, and skins of diuers +kindes of beasts. [Sidenote: Trade in summer time from Trondon to S. Thomas +Friers in Groneland. Resort of Fryers from Norway and Sueden, to the +Monastery in Engroneland, called S. Tho.] For the which they haue wood to +burne and timber very artificially carued, and corne, and cloth to make +them apparell. For in change of the two aforesaid commodities all the +nations bordering round about them couet to trafficke with them, and so +they without any trauell or expences haue that which they desire. To this +Monasterie resort Fryers of Norway, of Suetia and of other countreys, but +the most part are of Islande. There are continually in that part many +barks, which are kept in there by reason of the sea being frozen, waiting +for the spring of the yere to dissolue the yce. The fishers boates are made +like into a weauers shuttle: taking the skins of fishes, they fashion them +with the bones of the same fishes, and sowing them together in many doubles +they make so sure and substanciall, that it is miraculous to see, howe in +tempests they will shut themselues close within and let the sea and winde +cary them they care not whether, without any feare either of breaking or +drowning. [Marginal note: M. Frobisher brought these kinde of boats from +these parts into England.] And if they chance to be driuen vpon any rocks, +they remaine sound without the least bruse in the world: and they haue as +it were a sleeue in the bottome, which is tyed fast in the middle, and when +there commeth any water into the boat, they put it into the one halfe of +the sleeue, then fastening the ende thereo with two pieces of wood and +loosing the band beneath, they conuey the water forth of the boats: and +this they doe as often as they haue occasion, without any perill or +impediment at all. + +Moreouer, the water of the Monastery, being of sulphurious or brimstonie +nature, is conueyed into the lodgings of the principall Friers by certaine +vesselles of brass, tinne, or stone, so hot that it heateth the place as it +were a stone, nor carying with it any stinke or other noysome smell. + +Besides this they haue another conueyance to bring hot water with a wall +vnder the ground, to the end it should not freeze, vnto the middle of the +court, where it falleth into a great vessel of brasse that standeth in the +middle of a boyling fountaine, and this is to heat their water to drinke +and to water their gardens, and thus they haue from the hill the greatest +commodities that may be wished: and so these Fryers employ all their +trauaile and studie for the most in trimming their gardens and in making +faire and beautifull buildings, but especially handsome and commodious: +neyther are they destitute of ingenious and paineful artificers for the +purpose; for they giue very large payment, and to them that bring them +fruits and seedes they are very bountifull, and giue they care not what. So +that there is great resort of workemen and masters in diuers faculties, by +reason of the good gaines and large allowance that is there. + +[Sidenote: In the Monastery of Saint Thomas most of them spake the Latine +tongue.] The most of them speake the Latine tongue, and specially the +superiours and principals of the Monastery. And this is as much as is +knowen of Engroneland, which is all by the relation of M. Nicolo, who +maketh also particular description of a riuer that he discouered, as is to +be seene in the carde that I drew. And in the end M. Nicolo, not being vsed +and acquainted with these cruell coldes, fel sicke, and a litle while after +returned into Frisland, where he dyed. [Sidenote: The end of the 2. +letter.] He left behind him in Venice, two sonnes, M. Giouanni and M. Toma, +who had two sonnes, M. Nicolo the father of the famous Cardinal Zeno, and +M. Pietro of whom descended the other Zenos, that are liuing at this day. + +[Sidenote: M. Zeno dyed in Frisland.] Now M. Nicolo being dead, M. Antonio +succeeded him both in his goods, and in his dignities and honour and albeit +he attempted diuers wayes, and made great supplication, he could neuer +obtaine licence to returne into his countrey. For Zichmni, being a man of +great courage and valour, had determined to make himself Lord of the sea. +Wherefore vsing alwayes the counsaile and seruice of M. Antonio, he +determined to send him with certaine barks to the Westwards, for that +towards those parts, some of his fishermen had discouered certaine Islands +very rich and populous: which discovery M. Antonio, in a letter to his +brother M. Carlo, recounteth from point to point in this maner, sauing that +we haue changed some old words, leauing the matter entire as it was. + +Sixe and twentie yeeres agoe there departed foure fisher boats, the which, +a mightie tempest arising, were tossed for the space of many dayes very +desperately ypon the Sea, when at length, the tempest ceasing, and the +wether waxing faire, they discouered an Island called Estotiland, lying to +the Westwards aboue 1000 Miles from Frisland, vpon the which one of the +boats was cast away, and sixe men that were in it were taken of the +inhabitants and brought into a faire and populous citie, where the king of +the place sent for many interpreters, but there was none could be found +that vnderstood the language of the fishermen, except one that spake +Latine, who was also cast by chance vpon the same Island, who in behalfe of +the king asked them what countreymen they were: [Sidenote: Sixe were fiue +yeeres in Estotiland.] and so vnderstanding their case, rehearsed it vnto +the king, who willed that they should tary in the countrey: wherefore they +obeying his commandement, for that they could not otherwise doe, dwelt fiue +yeres in the Island, and learned the language, and one of them was in +diuers partes of the Island, and reporteth that it is a very rich countrey, +abounding with all the commodities of the world, and that it is litle lesse +then Island, but farre more fruitfull, hauing in the middle thereof a very +high mountaine, from the which there spring foure riuers that passe through +the whole countrey. + +The inhabitants are very wittie people, and haue all artes and faculties, +as we haue: and it is credible that in time past they haue had trafficke +with our men, for he said, that he saw Latin bookes in the kings Librarie, +which they at this present do not understand: they haue a peculiar +language, and letters or caracters to themselues. They haue mines of all +maner of mettals, but especial they abound with gold. They haue their trade +in Engroneland, from whence they bring furres, brimstone and pitch and he +saith, that to the Southwards, there is a great populous countrey very rich +of gold. [Sidenote: Many cities and castles.] They sow corne, and make +beere and ale, which is a kinde of drinke that North people do vse as we do +wine. They haue mighty great woods, they make their buildings with wals, +and there are many cities and castles. They build small barks and haue +sayling, but they haue not the load stone, nor know not the vse of the +compasse. [Sidenote: A countrey called Drogio.] Wherefore these fishers +were had in great estimation, insomuch that the king sent them with twelue +barks to the Southwards to a countrey which they call Drogio: but in their +voyage they had such contrary weather, that they thought to haue perished +in the sea: but escaping that cruell death, they fell into another more +cruell: for they were taken in the countrey and the most part of them eaten +by the Sauage people, which fed vpon mans flesh, as the sweetest meat in +their iudgements that is. + +[Sidenote: The 6 fishermen of Frisland onely saved, by shewing the maner to +take fish.] But that fisher with his fellowes shewing them the maner of +taking fish with nets, saued their liues: and would goe euery day a fishing +to the sea and in fresh riuers, and take great abundance of fish and giue +it to the chiefe men of the countrey, whereby he gate himselfe so great +fauour, that he was very well beloued and honoured of euery one. + +The fame of this man being spread abroad in the countrey, there was a Lord +there by, that was very desirous to haue him with him, and to see how he +vsed his miraculous arte of catching fish, in so much that he made warre +with the other Lord with whom he was before, and in the end preuailing, for +that he was more mightie and a better warriour, the fisherman was sent vnto +him with the rest of his company. [Sidenote: In the space of 13 yeeres he +serued 25 lords of Drogio.] And for the space of thirteene yeres that he +dwelt in those parts, he saith, that he was sent in this order to more than +25 Lords, for they had continuall war amongst themselues, this Lord with +that Lord, and he with another, onely to haue him to dwell with them: so +that wandring vp and downe the countrey without any certaine abode in one +place, he knew almost all those parts. He saith, that it is a very great +countrey and as it were a new world: the people are very rude and voide of +all goodnesse, they go all naked so that they are miserably vexed with +colde, neither haue they the wit to couer their bodyes with beasts skins +which they take in hunting, they haue no kinde of mettal, they liue by +hunting, they carry certaine lances of wood made sharpe at the point, they +haue bowes, the strings whereof are made of beasts skins: they are very +fierce people, they make cruell warres one with another, and eate one +another, they haue gouernours and certaine lawes very diuers among +themselues. But the farther to the Southwestwards, the more ciuilitie there +is, the ayre being somewhat temperate, so that there they haue cities and +temples to idols, wherein they sacrifice men and afterwards eate them, they +haue there some knowledge and vse of gold and siluer. + +Now this fisherman hauing dwelt so many yeeres in those countreys purposed, +if it were possible, to returne home into his countrey, but his companions +despairing euer to see it againe, let him goe in Gods name, and they kept +themselues where they were. Wherefore he bidding them farwell, fled through +the woods towards Drogio, and was very well receiued of the Lord that dwelt +next to that place; who knew him and was a great enemie of the other Lord: +and so running from one Lord to another, being those by whom he had passed +before, after long time and many trauels he came at length to Drogio, where +he dwelt three yeres. When as by good fortune he heard by the inhabitants, +that there were certaine boates arriued vpon the coast: wherefore entring +into good hope to accomplish his intent, he went to the sea side, and +asking them of what countrey they were; they answered of Estotiland, +whereat he was exceeding glad, and requested that they would take him in to +them, which they did very willingly, and for that he had the language of +the countrey, and there was none that could speake it, they vsed him for +their interpreter. + +[Sidenote: He returned from Estotiland to Frisland.] And afterward he +frequented that trade with them in such sort, that he became very rich, and +so furnishing out a barke of his owne, he returned into Frislande, where he +made reporte vnto this Lord of that wealthy countrey. + +And he is throughly credited because of the mariners, who approue many +strange things, that he reporteth to be true. [Sidenote: Zichmni minded to +send M. Antonio Zeno with a fleete towards those parts of Estotiland.] +Wherefore this Lord is resolued to send me forth with a fleet towards those +parts, and there are so many that desire to go in the voyage, for the +noueltie and strangenesse of the thing, that I thinke we shall be very +strongly appointed, without any publike expence at all. And this is the +tenour of the letter before mentioned, which I haue here set downe to giue +intelligence of another voyage that M. Antonio made, being set out with +many barkes, and men, notwithstanding he was not captaine, as he had +thought at the first he should: for Zichmni went in his owne person: and +concerning that matter I haue a letter in forme following. + +[Sidenote: The 4. letter.] [Sidenote: The fisherman dyed that should haue +bene interpreter. Certaine mariners taken in his steede, which came with +him from Estotiland.] One great preparation for the voyage of Estotiland +was begun in an vnlucky houre: for three dayes before our departure the +fisherman died that should haue bene our guide: notwithstanding this Lord +would not giue ouer the enterprize, but instead of the fisherman tooke +certaine mariners that returned out of the Island with him: and so making +our Nauigation to the Westwards, we discouered certaine Islands subiect to +Frisland, and hauing passed certaine shelues we stayed at Leduo for the +space of 7 daies to refresh our selues, and to furnish the fleet with +necessarie prouision. [Sidenote: Isle Ilof.] Departing from thence we +arriued the first of Iuly at the Isle of Ilofe: and for that the wind made +for vs, we stayed not there, but passed forth, and being vpon the maine +sea, there arose immediately a cruel tempest, wherewith for eight dayes +space we were miserably vexed, not knowing where we were: and a great part +of the barks were cast away, afterward the weather waxing faire, we +gathered vp the broken peices of the barkes that were lost, and sayling +with a prosperous winde we discovered land at West. [Sidenote: Zichmni his +discouerie of the Island Iscaria.] Wherefore keeping our course directly +vpon it, we arriued in a good and safe harborough, where we saw an infinit +companie of people ready in armes, come running very furiously to the water +side, as it were for defence of the Iland. [Sidenote: An Island man in +Icaria.] Wherefore Zichmni causing his men to make signes of peace vnto +them, they sent 10 men vnto vs that coulde speake ten languages, but we +could vnderstand none of them, except one that was of Island. [Sidenote: +The kings of Icaria called Icaria after the name of the first king of that +place, who as they report, was sonne to Dedalus the king of the Scots.] He +being brought before our prince and asked, what was the name of the Island, +and what people inhabited it, and who gouerned it, answered that the Island +was called Icaria, and that all the kings that reigned there, were called +Icari, after the name of the first king of that place, which as they say +was the sonne of Dedalus king of Scotland, who conquered that Island, left +his sonne there for king, and left them those lawes that they retaine to +this present, and after this, he desiring to sayle further, in a great +tempest that arose, was drowned, wherefore for a memoriall of his death, +they call those seas yet, the Icarian Sea, and the kings of the Island +Icari, and for that they were contented with that state, which God had +giuen them, neither would they alter one iote of their lawes and customes, +they would not receiue any stranger: wherefore they requested our prince, +that hee would not seeke to violate their lawes, which they had receiued +from that king of worthy memory and obserued very duly to that present: +which if he did attempt, it would redound to his manifest destruction, they +being all resolutely bent rather to leaue their life, then to loose in any +respect the vse of their lawes. [Sidenote: The people of Icaria desirous of +the Italian tongue.] Notwithstanding, that we should not thinke they did +altogether refuse conuersation and traffick with other men, they tolde vs +for conclusion that they would willingly receiue one of our men, and +preferre him to be one of the chiefe amongst them, onely to learne my +language the Italian tongue, and to be informed of our manners and +customes, as they had already receiued those other ten oftensundry +nations, that came into their Island. [Sidenote: Infinite multitudes of +armed men in Icaria.] To these things our Prince answered nothing at all, +but causing his men to seke some good harborough, he made signes as though +he would depart, and sayling round about the Island, he espied at length a +harborough on the East side of the Island, where hee put in with all his +Fleet: the mariners went on land to take in wood and water, which they did +with as great speede as they could, doubting least they should be assaulted +by the inhabitants, as it fell out in deed, for those that dwelt +thereabouts, making signes vnto the other with fire and smoke, put +themselues presently in armes and the other comming to them, they came all +running downe to the sea side vpon our men, with bowes and arrowes, and +other weapons, so that many were slaine and diuers sore wounded. And we +made signes of peace vnto them, but it was to no purpose, for their rage +increased more and more, as though they had fought for land and liuing. +[Sidenote: Zichmni departed from Icaria Westwards.] Wherefore we were +forced to depart, and to sayle along in a great circuite about the Islande, +being alwayes accompanyed vpon the hil tops and the sea coastes with an +infinite number of armed men: and so doubling the Cape of the Island +towards the North, we found many great sholdes, amongst the which for the +space of ten dayes we were in continuall danger of loosing our whole fleet, +but that it pleased God all that while to send vs faire weather. Wherefore +proceeding on till we came to the East cape, we saw the inhabitants still +on the hill tops and by the sea coast keepe with vs, and in making great +outcryes and shooting at vs a farre off, they vttered their old spitefull +affection towards vs. Wherefore wee determined to stay in some safe +harborough, and see if wee might speake once againe with the Islander, but +our determination was frustrate: for the people more like vnto beasts then +men, stood continually in armes with intent to beat vs back, if we should +come on land. Wherefore Zichmni seeing he could not preuaile, and thinking +if he should haue perseuered and followed obstinately his purpose, their +victuals would haue failed them, he departed with a fayre wind and sailed +sixe daies to the Westwards, but the winde changing to the Southwest, and +the sea waxing rough, wee sayling 4 dayes with the wind the powp, and at +length discouering land, were afraid to approch nere vnto it, the sea being +growen, and we not knowing what land it was: but God so prouided for vs, +that the wind ceasing there came a great calme. Wherefore some of our +company rowing to land with oares, returned and brought vs newes to our +great comfort, that they had found a very good countrey and a better +harborough: [Sidenote: 100 men sent to discrie the countrey.] vpon which +newes we towed our ships and smal barks to land, and being entred into the +harborough, we saw a farre off a great mountain, that cast forth smoke, +which gaue vs good hope that we should finde some inhabitants in the +Island, neither would Zichmni rest, although it were a great way off, but +sent 100 souldiers to search the countrey and bring report what people they +were that inhabited it, and in the meane time they tooke in wood and water +for the prouision of the fleete, and catcht great store of fish and sea +foule and found such abundance of birds egges that our men that were halfe +famished, were filled therewithall. Whiles we were riding here, began the +moneth of Iune, at which time the aire in the Island was so temperate and +pleasant, as is impossible to express; but when we could see no people at +al, we suspected greatly that this pleasant place was desolate and +dishabited; We gaue name to the hauen calling it Trin, and the point that +stretched out into the sea, we called Capo de Trin. [Sidenote: The 100 +souldiers returned which had bene through the Island, report what they saw +and found.] The 100 souldiers that were sent forth, 8 dayes after returned, +and brought word that they had bene through the Island and at the +mountaine, and that the smoke was a naturall thing proceeding from a great +fire that was in the bottome of the hill, and that there was a spring from +which issued a certaine water like pitch which ran into the sea, and that +thereabouts dwelt great multitudes of people halfe wilde, hiding themselues +in caues of the ground, of small stature, and very fearefull: for as soone +as they saw them they fled into their holes, and that there was a great +riuer and a very good and safe harborough. Zichmni being thus informed, and +seeing that it had a holesome and pure aire, and a very fruitfull soyle and +faire riuers, with sundry commodities, fell into such liking of the place, +that he determined to inhabite it, and built there a citie. But his people +being weary and faint with long and tedious trauell began to murmure, +saying that they would returne into their countrey, for that the winter was +at hand, and if they entred into the harborough, they should not be able to +come out againe before the next Summer. Wherefore he retaining onely the +barks with Oares and such as were willing to stay with him, sent all the +rest with the shippes backe againe, [Sidenote: M. Antonio Zeno, made chiefe +captaine of those ships which went back to Frisland.] and willed that I +(though vnwilling) should be their captaine. I therefore departing, because +I could not otherwise chuse, sayled for the space of twenty dayes to the +Eastwards without sight of any land: then turning my course towards the +Souteast, in 5. dayes I discouered land, and found my selfe vpon the Isle +of Neome, and knowing the countrey, I perceiued I was past Island: +wherefore taking in some fresh victuals of the inhabitants being subiect to +Zichmni, I sayled with a faire winde in three dayes to Frisland, where the +people, who thought they had lost their prince, because of his long +absence, in this our voyage receiued vs very ioyfully. + +What followed after this letter I know not but by coniecture, which I +gather out of a peice of another letter, which I will set down here +vnderneath: That Zichmni built a towne in the port of the Iland that he +discouered, and that he searched the countrey very diligently and +discouered it all, and also the riuers on both sides of Engroneland, for +that I see it particularly described in the sea card, but the discourse or +narration is lost. The beginning of the letter is thus. + +[Sidenote: The 5 letter.] Concerning those things that you desire to know +of me, as of the men and their maners and customes, of the beasts, and of +the countries adioyning, I haue made therof a particuler booke, which by +Gods help I will bring with me: wherein I haue decribed the countrey, the +monstrous fishes, the customes and lawes of Frisland, Island, Estland, the +kingdome of Norway, Estotiland, Drogio, and in the end the life of M. +Nicolo, the knight our brother, with the discouery which he made, and the +state of Groneland. I haue also written the life and acts of Zichmni, a +prince as worthy of immortall memory, as euer liued, for his great +valiancie and singular humanitie, wherein I haue described the discouery of +Engroneland on both sides, and the citie that he builded. Therefore I will +speake no further hereof in this letter, hoping to be with you very +shortly, and to satisfie you in sundry other things by word of mouth. + +All these letters were written by M. Antonio to Messer Carlo his brother: +and it grieueth me, that the booke and diuers other writings concerning +these purposes, are miserably lost: for being but a child when they came to +my hands, and not knowing what they were, (as the maner of children is) I +tore them, and rent them in pieces, which now I cannot cal to remembrance +but to my exceeding great griefe. Notwithstanding, that the memory of so +many good things should not bee lost: whatsoeuer I could get of this +matter, I haue disposed and put in order in the former discourse, to the +ende that this age might be partly satisfied, to the which we are more +beholding for the great discoueries made in those partes, then to any other +of the time past, being most studious of the newe relations and discoueries +of strange countries, made by the great mindes, and industrie of our +ancestours. + +For the more credite and confirmation of the former Historie of Messer +Nicolas and Messer Antonio Zeni (which for some fewe respects may perhaps +bee called in question) I haue heere annexed the iudgement of that famous +Cosmographer Abraham Ortelius, or rather the yealding and submitting of his +iudgement thereunto: who in his Theatrum Orbis, fol. 6. next before the map +of Mar del Zur, boroweth proofe and authoritie out of this relation, to +shew that the Northeast parte of America called Estotiland, and in the +original alwayes affirmed to bee an Islande, was about the yeere 1390 +discouered by the aforesayd Venetian Gentleman Messer Antonio Zeno, aboue +100 yeeres before euer Christopher Columbus set saile for those Westerne +Regions; and that the Northren Seas were euen then sayled by our Europæan +Pilots through the helpe of the loadstone: with diuers other particulars +concerning the customes, religion and wealth of the Southern Americans, +which are most euidently confirmed by all the late and moderne Spanish +Histories of Nueua Espanna and Peru. + +And here I shall not (as I suppose) commit any great inconuenience, or +absurditie, in adding vnto this History of the new world, certaine +particulars as touching the first discouery thereof, not commonly known. +Which discouerie al the writers of our time ascribe (and that not +vnworthily) vnto Christopher Columbus. For by him it was in a maner first +discouered, made knowen, and profitably communicated vnto the Christian +world, in the yeere of our Lord 1492. [Sidenote: Estotiland first +discouered.] [Sidenote: The second discouerie thereof.] Howbeit I finde +that the North part thereof called Estotiland, (which most of all extendeth +toward our Europe and the Ilands of the same, namely, Groneland, Island, +and Frisland) was long ago found out by certaine fishers of the Isle of +Frisland, driuen by tempest vpon the shore thereof: and was afterward about +the yeere 1390 discouered a new by one Antonio Zeno a gentleman of Venice; +which sayled thither vnder the conduct of Zichmni king of the saide Isle of +Frisland, a prince in those parts of great valour, and renowned for his +martiall exploits and victories. Of which expedition of Zichmni there are +extant in Italian certaine collections or abridgements gathered by +Francisco Marcolino out of the letters of M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two +gentlemen of Venice which liued in those partes. Out of which collections I +doe adde concerning the description of Estotiland aforesaid these +particulars following. + +Estotiland (saith he) aboundeth with all things necessary for mankinde. In +the mids thereof standeth an exceeding high mountaine, from which issue +foure riuers that moisten all the countrie. The inhabitants are wittie and +most expert in Mechanicall arts. They haue a kinde of peculiar language and +letters. Howbeit in this Kings Librarie are preserued certaine Latine +bookes which they vnderstand not, being perhaps left there many yeeres +before by some Europeans, which traffiqued thither. They haue all kinde of +mettals; but especially golde, wherewith they mightily abound. They +trafficke with the people of Groneland: from whence they fetch skinnes, +pitch and brimstone. The inhabitants report that towardes the South, there +are regions abounding with gold, and very populous: they haue many and huge +woods, from whence they take timber for the building of ships and cities, +whereof and of castles there are great store. The vse of the loadstone for +Navigation is vnknowen vnto them. [Sidenote: Drogio.] They make relation +also of a certaine region toward the South, called Drogio, which is +inhabited by Canibals, vnto whom mans flesh is delicate meat: wherof being +destitute they liue by fishing, which they vse very much. Beyond this are +large regions, and as it were a newe world: but the people are barbarous +and goe naked: howbeit against the colde they cloth themselues in beastes +skinnes. These haue no kinde of metall: and they liue by hunting. Their +weapons are certaine long staues with sharpe points, and bowes. They wage +warres one against another. They haue gouernours, and obey certaine lawes. +But from hence more towardes the South the climate is much more temperate: +and there are cities, and temples of idoles, vnto whom they sacrifice +liuing men, whose flesh they afterwards deuoure. These nations haue the vse +of siluer and gold. + +This much of this tract of landes out of the aforesaide collections and +abridgements. Wherein this also is worthy the obseruation, that euen then +our Europæan Pilots sayled those seas by the helpe of the loadstone. For +concerning the vse thereof in Nauigation, I suppose there is not to be +found a more ancient testimonie. And these things I haue annexed the rather +vnto this table of Mar del Zur; considering that none of those Authours +which haue written the Histories of the Newe world, haue in any part of +their writings, mentioned one word thereof. Hitherto Ortelius. + + + + +THE NAUIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES, + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION, + +TO NEWFOVNDLAND, TO THE ISLES OF RAMEA AND THE ISLES OF ASSUMPTION +OTHERWISE CALLED NATISCOTEC. + +SITUATE AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER OF CANADA, AND TO THE COASTES OF CAPE +BRITON, AND ARAMBEC, CORRUPTLY CALLED NORUMBEGA, + +WITH THE PATENTS, LETTERS, AND ADUERTISEMENTS THEREUNTO BELONGING. + + +The voyage of the two ships, whereof the one was called the Dominus + vobiscum, set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the + eight, and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the the discouerie of + the North partes. + +Master Robert Thorne of Bristoll, a notable member and ornament of his +country, as wel for his learning, as great charity to the poore, in a +letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh, +his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour, (which both are to be seene almost +in the beginning of the first volume of this my work) exhorted the +aforesayd king with very waighty and substantial reasons, to set forth a +discouery euen to the North Pole. And that it may be knowne that this his +motion tooke present effect, I thought it good herewithall to put downe the +testimonies of two of our Chroniclers, M. Hall, and M. Grafton, who both +write in this sort. This same moneth (say they) king Henry the 8 sent 2 +faire ships wel manned and victualled, hauing in them diuers cunning men to +seeke strange regions, and so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day +of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne, which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. + +And whereas master Hal, and master Grafton say, that in those ships there +were diuers cunning men, I haue made great enquirie of such as by their +yeeres and delight in Nauigation, might giue me any light to know who those +cunning men should be, which were the directors in the aforesaid voyage. +And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher, and M. Richard Allen, a +knight of the Sepulchre, that a Canon of Saint Paul in London, which was a +great Mathematician, and a man indued with wealth, did much aduance the +action, and went therein himselfe in person, but what his name was I cannot +learne of any. And further they told me that one of the ships was called +the Dominus vobiscum, which is a name likely to be giuen by a religious man +of those dayes: and that sayling very farre Northwestward, one of the ships +was cast away as it entred into a dangerous gulph, about the great opening, +betweene the North parts of Newfoundland, and the countrey lately called by +her Maiestie, Meta Incognita. Whereupon the other ship shaping her course +towards Cape Briton, and the coastes of Arambec, and oftentimes putting +their men on land to search the state of these vnknowen regions, returned +home about the beginning of October, of the yere aforesayd. And this much +(by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times, who +should haue vsed more care in preseruing of the memories of the worthy +actes of our nation,) is all that hitherto I can learne, or finde out of +this voyage. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen, to Newfoundland, and Cape + Briton, in the year 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8. + +One master Hore of London, a man of goodly stature and of great courage, +and giuen to the studie of Cosmographie, in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 +and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged diuers Gentlemen and others, +being assisted by the kings fauor and good countenance, to accompany him in +a voyage of discouerie vpon the Northwest parts of America: wherein his +perswaions tooke such effect, that within short space many gentlemen of the +Innes of court, and of the Chancerie, and diuers others of good worship, +desirous to see the strange things of the world, very willingly entered +into the action with him, some of whose names were as followeth: M. Weekes +a gentleman of the West countrey of fiue hundred markes by the yeere +liuing. M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent. M. Tuckfield. M Thomas Buts the sonne +of Sir William Buts knight, of Norfolke, which was lately liuing, and from +whose mouth I wrote most of this relation. M. Hardie, M. Biron, M. Carter, +M. Wright, M. Rastall Serieant Rastals brother, M. Ridley, and diuers +other, which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie, a ship of seuen +score tunnes, wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbarked. [Sidenote: M. Armigil +Wade.] In the other ship whose name was the Minion, went a very learned and +vertuous gentleman one M. Armigil Wade, Afterwards Clerke of the Counsailes +of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth, father to the worshipfull M. +William Wade now Clerke of the priuie Counsell, M. Oliuer Dawbeney marchant +of London, M. Ioy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappell, with diuers +other of good account. The whole number that went in the two tall ships +aforesaid to wit, the Trinitie and the Minion, were about six score +persons, whereof thirty were gentlemen, which all were mustered in warlike +maner at Grauesend, and after the receiuing of the Sacrament, they embarked +themselues in the ende of Aprill. 1526. + +[Sidenote: Cape Briton. The Island of Penguin standeth about the latitude +of 30 degrees.] From the time of their setting out from Grauesend, they +were very long at sea, to witte, aboue two moneths, and neuer touched any +land vntill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton, shaping +their course thence Northeastwardes, vntill they came to the Island of +Penguin, which is very full of rockes and stones, whereon they went and +found it full of great foules white and gray, as big as geese, and they saw +infinite numbers of their egges. They draue a great number of the foules +into their boates vpon their sayles, and tooke vp many of their egges, the +foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of +holes being flead off: they dressed and eate them and found them to be very +good and nourishing meat. They saw also store of beares both blacke and +white, of whome they killed some, and tooke them for no bad foode. + +[Sidenote: M. Dawbneys report to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Temple.] M. +Oliuer Dawbeny, which (as it is before mentioned) was in this voyage, and +in the Minion, told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things +following: to wit, [Sidenote: They behold the Sauages of Newfoundland.] +That after their arriuall in Newfoundland, and hauing bene there certaine +dayes at ancre, and not hauing yet seene any of the naturall people of the +countrey, the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches, spied a boate +with Sauages of those parts, rowing down the Bay toward them, to gaze vpon +the ship, and our people, and taking viewe of their comming aloofe, hee +called to such as were vnder the hatches, and willed them to come vp if +they would see the natural people of the countrey, that they had so long +and so much desired to see: whereupon they came vp, and tooke viewe of the +Sauages rowing toward them and their ship, and vpon the viewe they manned +out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them. But they spying our +ship-boat making towards them, returned with maine force and fled into an +Island that lay vp in the Bay or riuer there, and our men pursued them into +the Island, and the Sauages fledde and escaped: but our men found a fire, +and the side of a beare on a wooden spit left at the same by the Sauages +that were fled. + +There in the same place they found a boote of leather garnished on the +outward side of the calfe with certaine braue trailes, as it were of rawe +silke, and also found a certaine great warme mitten: And these caryed with +them, they returned to their shippe, not finding the Sauages, nor seeing +any thing else besides the soyle, and the things growing in the same, which +chiefely were store of firre and pine trees. + +And further, the said M. Dawbeny told him, that lying there they grew into +great want of victuals, and that there they found small reliefe, more then +that they had from the nest of an Osprey, that brought hourely to her yong +great plentie of diuers sorts of fishes. [Sidenote: Extreme famine.] But +such was the famine that increased amongst them from day to day, that they +were forced to seeke to relieue themselues of raw herbes and rootes that +they sought on the maine: but the famine increasing, and the reliefe of +herbes being to little purpose to satisfie their insatiable hunger, in the +fieldes and desertes here and there, the fellowe killed his mate while he +stooped to take vp a roote for his reliefe, and cutting out pieces of his +bodie whom he had murthered, broyled the same on the coles and greedily +deuoured them. + +By this meane the company decreased, and the officers knew not what was +become of them; And it fortuned that one of the company driuen with hunger +to seeke abroade for reliefe found [Sidenote: Our men eate one another for +famine.] out in the fieldes the sauour of broyled flesh, and fell out with +one for that he would suffer him and his fellowes to sterue, enioying +plentie as he thought: and this matter growing to cruell speaches, he that +had the broyled meate, burst out into these wordes: If thou wouldest needes +know, the broyled meate that I had was a piece of such a mans buttocke. The +report of this brought to the ship, the Captaine found what became of those +that were missing and was perswaded that some of them were neither deuoured +with wilde beastes, nor yet destroyed by Sauages: [Sidenote: The Captaines +Oration.] And hereupon hee stood vp and made a notable Oration, containing, +Howe much these dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched the Scriptures +from first to last, what God had in cases of distresse done for them that +called vpon them, and told them that the power of the Almighty was then no +lesse, then in al former time it had bene. And added, that if it had not +pleased God to haue holpen them in that distresse, that it had bene better +to haue perished in body, and to haue liued euerlastingly, then to haue +relieued for a poore time their mortal bodyes, and to bee condemned +euerlastingly, both body and soule to the vnquenchable fire of hell. And +thus hauing ended to that effect, be began to exhort to repentance, and +besought all the company to pray, that it might please God to looke vpon +their miserable present state and for his owne mercie to relieue the same. +The famine increasing, and the inconuenience of the men that were missing +being found, they agreed amongst themselues rather then all should perish, +to cast lots who should be killed: [Sidenote: The English surprise a French +ship, wherein they returned home.] And such was the mercie of God, that the +same night there arriued a French ship in that port, well furnished with +vittaile, and such was the policie of the English, that they became masters +of the same, and changing ships and vittailing them, they set sayle to come +into England. + +[Sidenote: Haukes and other foules.] In their iourney they were so ferre +Northwards, that they sawe mighty Islands of yce in the sommer season, on +which were haukes and other foules to rest themselues being weary of flying +ouer farre from the maine. [Sidenote: Foules supposed to be Storkes.] They +sawe also certaine great white foules with red bils and red legs, some what +bigger then Herons, which they supposed to be Storkes. They arriued at S. +Iues in Cornewall about the ende of October. From thence they departed vnto +a certairie castle belonging to sir Iohn Luttrel, where M. Thomas Buts, and +M. Rastall and other Gentlemen of the voyaye were very friendly +entertained: after that they came to the Earle of Bathe at Bathe, and +thence to Bristoll, so to London. M. Buts was so changed in the voyage with +hunger and miserie, that sir William his father and my Lady his mother knew +him not to be their sonne, vntill they found a secret marke which was a +wart vpon one of his knees, as hee told me Richard Hakluyt of Oxford +himselfe, to whom I rode 200. miles onely to learne the whole trueth of +this voyage from his own mouth, as being the onely man now aliue that was +in this discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The French royally recompenced by king Henry the 8.] Certaine +moneths after, those Frenchmen came into England, and made complaint to +king Henry the 8: the king causing the matter to be examined, and finding +the great distresse of his subiects, and the causes of the dealing so with +the French, was so mooued with pitie, that he punished not his subiects, +but of his owne purse made full and royall recompence vnto the French. + +In this distresse of famine, the English did somewhat relieue their vitall +spirits, by drinking at the springs the fresh water out of certaine wooden +cups, out of which they had drunke their Aqua composita before. + + * * * * * + +An act against the exaction of money or any other thing by any officer for + licence to traffique into Iseland and Newfoundland, made in An 2. Edwardi + sexti. + +Forasmuch as within these few yeeres now last past, there haue bene leuied, +perceiued and taken by certaine of the officers of the Admiraltie, of such +Marchants, and fishermen as haue vsed and practised the aduentures and +iourneys into Iseland, Newfoundland, Ireland, and other places commodious +for fishing, and the getting of fish, in and vpon the Seas or otherwise, by +way of Marchants in those parties, diuers great exactions, as summes of +money, doles or shares of fish, and such other like things, to the great +discouragement and hinderance of the same Marchants and fishermen, and to +no little dammage of the whole common wealth, and thereof also great +complaints haue bene made, and informations also yeerely to the kings +Maiesties most honourable councell: for reformation whereof, and to the +intent also that the sayd Marchants and fishermen may haue occasion the +rather to practise and vse the same trade of marchandizing, and fishing +freely without any such charges and exactions, as are before limited, +whereby it is to be thought that more plentie of fish shall come into this +Realme, and thereby to haue the same at more reasonable prices: Be it +therefore enacted by the king our soueraigne Lord, and the lords and +commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authoritie of the +same, that neither the Admiral, nor any officer, or minister, officers or +ministers of the Admiraltie for the time being, shall in any wise hereafter +exact, receiue, or take by himselfe, his seruant, deputie, seruants, or +deputies of any such Marchant or fisherman, any summe or summes of money, +doles or shares of fish, or any other reward, benefit or aduantage +whatsoeuer it be, for any licence to passe this Realme to the sayd voyages +or any of them, nor vpon any respect concerning the said voyages, nor any +of them, vpon paine to forfeit for the first offence treble the summe, or +treble the value of the reward, benefite or aduantage, that any such +officer or minister shall hereafter haue or take of any such Marchants or +fishermen. For the which forfeiture the party grieued, and euery other +person or persons whatsoeuer he or they be, shall and may sue for the same +by information, bill, plaint, or action of debt in any of the kings courts +of recorde: The king to haue the one moitie, and the party complaining the +other moitie: in which suite no essoigne, protection, or wager of law shall +be allowed. And for the second offence the party so offending not only to +lose and forfeite his or their office or offices in the Admiraltie, but +also to make fine and ransome at the kings will and pleasure. + +By this acte it appeareth, that the trade out of England to Newfound land +was common and frequented about the beginning of the raigne of Edward the +6. namely in the yeere 1548. and it is much to be marueiled, that by +negligence of our men, the countrey in all this time hath bene no better +searched. + + * * * * * + +A letter to M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple, conteining a report of + the true state and commodities of Newfoundland, by M. Anthonie Parkhurst + Gentleman, 1578. + +Master Hakluyt, after most heartie commendations, with like thankes for +your manifold kindnesse to me shewed, not for any merits that hitherto haue +been mine, but wholly proceeding, I must needs confesse, of your owne good +nature, which is so ready prest to benefit your countrey and all such poore +men as haue any sparke in them of good desires, that you do not onely +become their friend, but also humble your selfe as seruant in their +affaires: for which I would to God I were once in place where I might cause +your burning zeale to bee knowen to those that haue authoritie, power, and +abilitie to recompense your trauelling mind and pen, wherewith you cease +not day nor night to labour and trauell to bring your good and godly +desires to some passe, though not possibly to that happy ende that you most +thirst for: for such is the malice of wicked men the deuils instruments in +this our age, that they cannot suffer any thing (or at least few) to +proceed and prosper that tendeth to the setting forth of Gods glory, and +the amplifying of the Christian faith, wherein hitherto princes haue not +bene so diligent as their calling required. Alas, the labourers as yet are +few, the haruest great, I trust God hath made you an instrument to increase +the number, and to mooue men of power, to redeeme the people of +Newfoundland and those parts from out of the captiuitie of that spirituall +Pharao, the deuil. + +Now to answer some part of your letter touching the sundrie nauies that +come to Newfoundland, or Terra noua, for fish: you shal vnderstand that +some fish not neere the other by 200. leagues, and therefore the certaintie +is not knowen; and some yeres come many more then other some, as I see the +like among vs: who since my first trauell being but 4. yeeres, are +increased from 30. sayle to 50 which commeth to passe chiefly by the +imagination of the Westerne men, who thinke their neighbours haue had +greater gaines then in very deed they haue, for that they see me to take +such paines yeerely to go in proper person: they also suppose that I find +some secret commoditie by reason that I doe search the harbors, creekes and +hauens, and also the land much more then euer any Englishman hath done. +Surely I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soener it springeth. But to +let this passe, you shall vnderstand that I am informed that there are +aboue 100. saile of Spaniards that come to take Cod (who make all wet, and +do drie it when they come home) besides 20. or 30. more that come from +Biskaie to kill Whale for Traine. These be better appoynted for shipping +and furniture of munition then any nation sauing the Englishmen, who +commonly are lords of the harbors where they fish, and doe vse all +strangers helpe in fishing if need require, according to an old custome of +the countrey, which thing they do willingly, so that you take nothing from +them more then a boate or twaine of salte, in respect of your protection of +them from rouers or other violent intruders, who do often put them from +good harbor, &c. As touching their tunnage, I thinke it may be neere fiue +or sixe thousand tunne. But of Portugals there are not lightly aboue 50 +saile, and they make all wet in like sorte, whose tunnage may amount to +three thousand tuns, and not vpwarde. Of the French nation and Britons, are +about one hundred and fiftie sailes, the most of their shipping is very +small, not past fortie tonnes, among which some are great and reasonably +well appointed, better then the Portugals, and not so well as the +Spaniards, and the burden of them may be some 7000. tunne. Their shipping +is from all parts of France and Britaine, and the Spaniards from most parts +of Spaine, the Portugals from Auiero[92] And Viana[93] and from 2. or 3. +ports more. The trade that our nation hath to Island maketh, that the +English are not there in such numbers as other nations. [Sidenote: The +fertility of Newfoundland.] Now to certifie you of the fertilitie and +goodnesse of the countrey, you shall vnderstand that I haue in sundry +places sowen Wheate, Barlie, Rie, Oates, Beanes, Pease and seedes of +herbes, kernels, Plumstones, nuts, all which haue prospered as in England. +The countrey yeeldeth many good trees of fruit, as Filberds in some places, +but in all places Cherie trees, and a kind of Pearetree meet to graffe on. +As for roses, they are as common as brambles here: Strawberies, Dewberies, +and Raspis, as common as grasse. The timber is most Firre, yet plentie of +Pineapple trees: fewe of these two kinds meete to maste a ship of +threescore and ten: But neere Cape Briton, and to the Southward, big and +sufficient for any ship. There be also Okes and thornes, there is in all +the countrey plentie of Birch and Alder, which be the meetest wood for +cold, and also willow, which will serue for many other purposes. [Sidenote: +Seueral sortes of fish.] As touching the kindes of Fish beside Cod, there +are Herrings, Salmons, Thornebacke, Plase, or rather wee should call them +Flounders, Dog fish, and another most excellent of taste called of vs a +Cat, Oisters, and Muskles, in which I haue found pearles aboue 40. in one +Muskle, and generally all haue some, great or small. I heard of a Portugall +that found one woorth 300. duckets: There are also [Sidenote: Called by +Spaniards Anchouas, and by the Portugals Capelinas.] other kinds of +Shel-fish, as limpets, cockles, wilkes, lobsters, and crabs: also a fish +like a Smelt which commeth on shore, and another that hath like propertie, +called a Squid: there be the fishes, which (when I please to bee merie with +my olde companions) I say doe come on shore when I commaund them in the +name of the 5 ports, and coniure them by such like words: These also bee +the fishes which I may sweepe with broomes on a heape, and neuer wet my +foote, onely two or three wordes whatsoeuer they be appointed by any man, +so they heare my voyce: the vertue of the wordes be small, but the nature +of the fish great and strange. For the Squid, whose nature is to come by +night as by day, I tell them, I set him a candle to see his way, with which +he is much delighted, or els commeth to wonder at it as doth our fresh +water fish, the other commeth also in the night, but chiefly in the day, +being forced by the Cod that would deuoure him, and therefore for feare +comming so neare the shore, is driuen drie by the surge of the sea on the +pibble and sands. Of these being as good as a Smelt you may take vp with a +shoue net as plentifully as you do Wheat in a shouell, sufficient in three +or four houres for a whole Citie. There be also other fishes which I tell +those that are desirous of stange newes, that I take as fast as one would +gather vp stones, and them I take with a long pole and hooke. Yea marrie +say they, wee beleeue so, and that you catch all the rest you bring home in +that sort, from Portugals and Frenchmen. No surely, but thus I doe: with +three hookes stretched foorth in the ende of a pole, I make as it were an +Eele speare, with which I pricke these Flounders as fast as you would take +vp fritters with a sharpe pointed sticke, and with that toole I may take vp +in lesse then halfe a day Lobsters sufficient to finde three hundred men +for a dayes meate. This pastime ended, I shewe them that for my pleasure I +take a great Mastiue I haue, and say no more then thus: Goe fetch me this +rebellious fish that obeyeth not this Gentleman that commeth from Kent and +Christendome, bringing them to the high water marke, and when hee doubteth +that any of those great Cods by reason of sheluing ground bee like to +tumble into the Sea againe, hee will warily take heede and carrie him vp +backe to the heape of his feilowes. This doeth cause my friendes to wonder, +and at the first hearing to iudge them notorious lies, but they laugh and +are merrie when they heare the meanes howe each tale is true. + +I told you once I doe remember how in my trauaile into Africa and America, +I found trees that bare Oisters which was strange to you, till I tolde you +that their boughes hung in the water, on which both Oisters and Muskies did +sticke fast, as their propertie is, to stakes and timber.[94] + +Nowe to let these merrie tales passe, and to come to earnest matters +againe, you shall vnderstand, that Newfoundland is in a temperate Climate, +and not so colde as foolish Mariners doe say, who finde it colde sometimes +when plentie of Isles of yce lie neere the shore: but vp in the land they +shall finde it hotter then in England in many parts of the countrey toward +the South. This colde commeth by an accidental meanes, as by the yce that +commeth fleeting from the North partes of the worlde, and not by the +situation of the countrey, or nature of the Climate. The countrey is full +of little small riuers all the yeere long proceeding from the mountains, +ingendred both of snow and raine: few springs that euer I could finde or +heare of, except it bee towards the South: in some places or rather in most +places great lakes with plentie of fish, the countrey most couered with +woods of firre, yet in many places indifferent good grasse, and plentie of +Beares euery where, so that you may kill of them as oft as you list: their +flesh is as good as yong beefe, and hardly you may know the one from the +other if it be poudred but two dayes. Of Otters we may take like store. +There are Sea Guls, Murres, Duckes, wild Geese, and many other kind of +birdes store, too long to write, especially at one Island named Penguin, +where wee may driue them on a planke into our ship as many as shall lade +her. These birdes are also called Penguins, and cannot flie, there is more +meate in one of these then in a goose: the Frenchmen that fish neere the +grand baie, doe bring small store of flesh with them, but victuall +themselues alwayes with these birdes. Nowe againe, for Venison plentie, +especially to the North about the grand baie, and in the South neere Cape +Race, and Pleasance: there are many other kinds of beasts, as Luzarnes and +other mighty beastes like to Camels in great likenesse, and their feete +were clouen, I did see them farre off not able to discerne them perfectly, +but their steps shewed that their feete were clouen, and bigger then the +feete of Camels, I suppose them to bee a kind off Buffes which I read to +bee in the countreyes adiacent, and very many in the firme land. There bee +also to the Northwards, Hares, and Foxes in all parts so plentifully, that +at noone dayes they take away our flesh before our faces within lesse then +halfe a paire of buts length, where foure and twentie persons were turning +of drie fish, and two dogs in sight, yet stoode they not in feare till wee +gaue shot and set the dogs vpon them: the Beares also be as bold, which +will not spare at midnight to take your fish before your face, and I +beleeue assuredly would not hurt any bodie vnlesse they be forced. + +Nowe to showe you my fancie what places I suppose meetest to inhabite in +those parts discouered of late by our nation: There is neere about the +mouth of the grand Bay, an excellent harbour called of the Frenchmen +Chasteaux,[95] and one Island in the very entrie of the streight called +Bell Isle,[96] which places if they be peopled and well fortified (as there +are stones and things meete for it throughout all Newfoundland) wee shall +bee lordes of the whole fishing in small time, if it doe so please the +Queenes Maiestie, and from thence send wood and cole with all necessaries +to Labrador lately discouered: but I am of opinion, and doe most stedfastly +beleeue that we shall finde as rich Mines in more temperate places and +Climates, and more profitable for fishing then any yet we haue vsed, where +wee shall haue not farre from thence plentie of salt made vndoubtedly, and +very likely by the heate of the Sunne, by reason I find salt kerned on the +rockes in nine and fortie and better: these places may bee found for salte +in three and fortie. I know more touching these two commodities last +remembred then any man of our nation doeth; for that I haue some knowledge +in such matters, and haue most desired the finding of them by painefull +trauaile, and most diligent inquirie. Now to be short, for I haue bene ouer +long by Master Butlers means, who cryed on mee to write at large, and of as +many things as I call to minde woorthy of rembrance: wherefore this one +thing more. I could wish the Island in the mouth of the riuer of Canada[97] +should be inhabited, and the riuer searched, for that there are many things +which may rise thereof as I will shew you hereafter. I could find in my +heart to make proofe whether it be true or no that I haue read and heard of +Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that riuer, and about Cape Briton. I had +almost forgot to speake of the plentie of wolues, and to shew you that +there be foxes, blacke, white and gray: other beasts I know none saue those +before remembered. I found also certain Mines of yron and copper in S. +Iohns, and in the Island of Yron, which might turne to our great benefite, +if our men had desire to plant thereabout, for proofe whereof I haue +brought home some of the oare of both sortes. And thus I ende, assuring you +on my faith, that if I had not beene deceiued by the vile Portugals +descending of the Iewes and Iudas kinde, I had not failed to haue searched +this riuer, and all the coast of Cape Briton, what might haue bene found to +haue benefited our countrey: but they breaking their bands, and falsifying +their faith and promise, disappointed me of the salte they should haue +brought me in part of recompence of my good seruice in defending them two +yeeres against French Rouers, that had spoyled them, if I had not defended +them. + +By meanes whereof they made me lose not onely the searching of the +countrey, but also forced mee to come home with great losse aboue 600. li. +For recompence whereof I haue sent my man into Portugall to demand iustice +at the Kings hand, if not, I must put vp my supplication to the Queenes +Maiesty and her honourable councell, to grant me leaue to stay here so much +of their goods as they haue damnified mee, or else that I may take of them +in Newfound land, as much fish as shall be woorth 600. li. or as much as +the salte might haue made. I pray you aduertise mee what way I were best to +take, and what hope there will bee of a recompence if I follow the suite: +many there are that doe comfort me, and doe bid me proceede, for that her +Maiestie and the councell doe tender poore fisher men, who with me haue +susteined three hundred pound losse in that voyage. And to conclude, if you +and your friend shall thinke me a man sufficient and of credite, to seeke +the Isle of S. Iohn, or the riuer of Canada, with any part of the firme +land of Cape Briton, I shall giue my diligence for the true and perfect +discouerie, and leaue some part of mine owne businesse to further the same: +and thus I end, committing you to God. From Bristow the 13. of Nouember, +1578. + +Yours to vse and command, + +ANTHONY PARCKHVRST. + + * * * * * + +The Letters Patents graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Humfrey Gilbert, + knight, for the inhabiting and planting of our people in America. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, &c. To all people to whom +these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that of our especiall grace, +certaine science and meere motion, we haue giuen and granted, and by these +presents for vs, our heires and successours, doe giue and graunt to our +trustie and welbeloued seruant Sir Humfrey Gilbert of Compton, in our +Countie of Deuonshire knight, and to his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie and licence from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter, +to discouer, finde, search out, and view such remote, heathen and barbarous +lands, countreys and territories not actually possessed of any Christian +prince or people, as to him, his heirs and assignes, and to euery or any of +them, shall seeme good: and the same to haue, hold, occupie and enioy to +him, his heires and assignes for euer, with all commodities, iurisdictions +and royalties both by sea and land: and the sayd sir Humfrey and all such +as from time to time by licence of vs, our heires and successours, shall +goe and trauell thither, to inhabite or remaine there, to build and +fortifie at the discretion of the sayde sir Humfrey, and of his heires and +assignes, the statutes or actes of Parliament made against Fugitiues, or +against such as shall depart, remaine, or continue out of our Realme of +England without licence, or any other acte, statute, lawe, or matter +whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And wee doe +likewise by these presents, for vs, our heires and successours, giue full +authoritie and power to the saide Sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and +euery of them, that hoe and they, and euery, or any of them, shall and may +at all and euery time and times hereafter, haue, take, and lead in the same +voyages, to trauell thitherward, and to inhabite there with him, and euery +or any of them, such and so many of our subiects as shall willingly +accompany him and them, and euery or any of them, with sufficient shipping, +and furniture for their transportations, so that none of the same persons, +nor any of them be such as hereafter shall be specially restrained by vs, +our heires and successors. And further, that he, the said Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them shall haue, hold, occupy and +enioy to him, his heires, or assignes, and euery of them for euer, all the +soyle of all such lands, countries, and territories so to be discouered or +possessed as aforesaid, and of all Cities, Townes and Villages, and places, +in the same, with the rites, royalties and iurisdictions, as well marine as +other, within the sayd lands or countreys of the seas thereunto adioining, +to be had or vsed with ful power to dispose thereof; and of euery part +thereof in fee simple or otherwise, according to the order of the laws of +England, as nere as the same conueniently may be, at his, and their will +and pleasure, to any person then being, or that shall remaine within the +allegiance of vs, our heires and successours, paying vuto vs, for all +seruices, dueties and demaunds, the fift part of all the oare of gold and +siluer, that from time to time, and at all times after such discouerie, +subduing and possessing shall be there gotten: all which lands, countreys, +and territories, shall for euer bee holden by the sayd Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes of vs, our heires and successours by homage, and by the +sayd payment of the sayd fift part before reserued onely for all seruices. + +And moreouer, we doe by those presents for vs, our heires and successours, +giue and graunt licence to the sayde Sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or +assignes, and to euery of them, that hee and they, and euery or any of them +shall, and may from time to time and all times for euer hereafter, for his +and their defence, encounter, expulse, repell, and resist, as well by Sea, +as by land, and by all other wayes whatsoeuer, all, and euery such person +and persons whatsoever, as without the speciall licence and liking of the +sayd Sir Humfrey, and of his heires and assignes, shall attempt to inhabite +within the sayd countreys, or any of them, or within the space of two +hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such countreys as +aforesayd, if they shall not be before planted or inhabited within the +limites aforesayd, with the subiects of any Christian prince, being in +amitie with her Maiesty, where the said sir Humfirey, his heires or +assignes, or any of them or his or their, or any of their associates or +companies, shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing, make their dwellings and +abidings, or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter +vnlawfully to annoy either by Sea or land, the said sir Humfrey, his heires +and assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or any of their companies: +giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the +sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and euery of them from time to +time, and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner +of meanes whatsoeuer, all and euery person and persons, with their shippes, +vessels, and other goods and furniture, which without the licence of the +said sir Humfrey, or his heires or assignes as aforesayd, shall bee found +traffiquing into any harborough or harboroughs, creeke or creekes within +the limites aforesayde, (the subiects of our Realmes and dominions, and all +other persons in amitie with vs, being driuen by force of tempest or +shipwracke onely excepted) and those persons and euery of them with their +ships, vessels, goods, and furniture, to detaine and possesse, as of good +and lawfull prize, according to the discretion of him, the sayd sir +Hnmfrey, his heires and assignes, and of euery or any of them. And for +vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such countreys, landes and +territories so to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayde, with our +Realmes of England and Ireland, and for the better encouragement of men to +this enterprise: we doe by these presents graunt, and declare, that all +such countreys so hereafter to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd, +from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of vs, our heires and +successours. And wee doe gaunt to the sayd sir Humfrey, his heirs and +assignes, and to all and euery of them, and to all and euery other person +and persons, being of our allegiance, whose names shall be noted or entred +in some of our courts of Record, within this our Realme of England, and +that with the assent of the said sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, shall +nowe in this iourney for discouerie, or in the second iourney for conquest +hereafter, trauel to such lands, countries and territories as aforesaid, +and to their and euery of their heires: that they and euery or any of them +being either borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland, or within +any other place within our allegiance, and which hereafter shall be +inhabiting within any the lands, countreys and territories, with such +licence as aforesayd, shall, and may haue, and enioy all priuileges of free +denizens and persons natine of England, and within our allegiance: any law, +custome, or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding. + +And forasmuch, as vpon the finding out, discouering and inhabiting of such +remote lands, countreys and territories, as aforesayd, it shall be +necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in +those iourneys or voiages, to determine to liue together in Christian peace +and ciuill quietnesse each with other, whereby euery one may with more +pleasure and profit, enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great +paine and perill: wee for vs, our heires and successors are likewise +pleased and contented, and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the +sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer, that he and they, +and euery or any of them, shall and may from time to time for euer +hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys, and in the +way by the Seas thither, and from thence, haue full and meere power and +authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, gouerne and rule by their, and euery +or any of their good discretions and pollicies, as well in causes capitall +or criminall, as ciuill, both marine and other, all such our subiects and +others, as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the +sayd iourneys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue, or that shall at any +time hereafter inhabite any such lands, countreys or territories as +aforesayd, or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd +place or places, where the sayd sir Humrrey or his heires, or assignes, or +any of them, or any of his or their associats or companies, shall inhabite +within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such +statutes, lawes and ordinances, as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, or euery, or any of them deuised or established +for the better gouernment of the said people as aforesayd: so alwayes that +the sayd statutes, lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conueniently +may, agreeable to the forme of the lawes and pollicy of England: and also, +that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed +in the church of England, nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects +or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs, our heires or +successours, as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God. And further we doe +by these presents for vs, our heires and successours, giue and graunt full +power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller, sir William +Cecill knight, lord Burleigh, our high treasurer of England, and to the +lord treasurer of England of vs, for the time being, and to the priuie +counsell of vs, our heires and successours, or any foure of them for the +time being, that he, they, or any foore of them, shall, and may from time +to time and at all times hereafter, vnder his or their handes or seales by +vertue of these presents, authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them by him and themselues, or by +their or any of their sufficient atturneys, deputies, officers, ministers, +factors and seruants, to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of +England and Ireland, all, or any of his goods, and all or any the goods of +his or their associates and companies, and euery or any of them, with such +other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes, as to the said lord +treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs, our heires, or successours +for the time being, as aforesayd, shall be from time to time by his or +their wisedoms or discretions thought meete and conuenient for the better +reliefe and supportation of him the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and +assignes, and euery or any of them, and his and their, and euery or any of +their said associates and companies, any act, statute, lawe, or other thing +to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. + +Prouided alwayes, and our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby declare +to all Christian Kings, princes and states, that if the said Sir Humfrey +his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence or +appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter robbe or spoile by Sea or +by land, or doe any act of vniust and vnlawfull hostilitie to any of the +Subiects of vs, our heires, or successours, or any of the Subiects of any +King, prince, ruler, gouernour or state being then in perfect league and +amitie with vs, our heires or successours: and that vpon such iniurie, or +vpon iust complaint of any such prince, ruler, gouernour or state, or their +subiects, wee, our heires or successours shall make open proclamation +within any the portes of our Realme of England commodious, that the said +Sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, or any other to whom those Letters +patents may extend, shall within the terme to be limited by such +proclamations, make full restitution and satisfaction of all such iniuries +done, so that both we and the saide Princes, or others so complayning, may +holde vs and themselues fully contended: And that if the saide Sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, shall not make or cause to bee made satisfaction +accordingly, within such time so to be limited: that then it shall bee +lawfull to vs, our heires and successours, to put the said Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and adherents, and all the inhabitants of the said +places to be discouered as is aforesaid, or any of them out of our +allegiance and protection, and that from and after such time of putting out +of our protection the saide Sir Humfrey, and his heires, assignes, +adherents and others so to be put out, and the said places within their +habitation, possession and rule, shal be out of our protection and +allegiance, and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostilitie +as being not our Subiects, nor by vs any way to bee aduowed, maintained or +defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor to our protection, dominion +or allegiance any way belonging, for that expresse mention &c. In witness +whereof, &c. Witnesse ourselfe at Westminster the 11. day of Iune, the +twentieth yeere of our raigne. Anno Dom. 1578. + +Per ipsam Reginam, &c. + + * * * * * + +De Nauigatione Illustris et Magnanimi Equiris aurati Humfredi Gilberti, ad + deducendam in nomun Orbem coloniam susceptâ, Carmen hepizatikou Stephani + Parmenii Bvdeii. + +Ad eundem illustrem equitem autoris præfatio. + +Reddenda est, quà m fieri potest breuissime, in hoc vestibulo, ratio facti +mei, et cur ita homo nouus et exterus, in tanta literatissimorum hominum +copia, quibus Anglia beat est, versandum in hoc argumento mihi putanerim: +ita enim tu, fortissime Gilberte, foetum hunc nostrom in lucem exire +voluisti. In seruitute et barbarie Turcica, Christianis tamen, magno +immortalis Dei beneficio, parentibus natus, aliquam etiam ætatis partem +educatus; postquam doctissimorum hominum opera, quibus tum Pannoniæ nostræ, +tum imprimis saluæ adhuc earum reliquiæ florescunt, in literis adoleuissem, +more nostrorum hominum, ad inuisendas Christiani orbis Academias ablegatus +fui. Qua in peregrinatione, non solùm complura Musarum hospitia, sed multas +etiam sapienter institutas respublicas, multarum Ecclesiarum probatissimas +administrationes introspeximus, iam fermè triennio ea in re posito. Fuerat +hæc nostra, profectio ita à nobis comparata, vt non tantùm mores et vrbes +gentium videndum, sed in familiaritatem, aut saltem notitiam illustriorum +hominum introeundum nobis putaremus, Cæterum, vt hoc à nobis sine inuidia +dici possit, (certè enim taceri absque malicia nullo modo protest) non +locus, non natio, non respublica vlla nobis æquè ac tua Britannia +complacuit, quamcunque in partem euentum consilij mei considerem. Accedit, +quòd præter omnem expectationem meam ab omnibus tuis ciuibus, quibus +comaliqua consuetudo mihi contigit, tanta passìm humanitate acceptus essem, +vt iam (sit hoc saluo pietate à me dictum) suauissimæ Anglorum amicitiæ +fermè aboleuerint desiderium et Pannoniarum et Budæ meæ, quibus patriæ +nomen debeo. Quas ab caussas cùm sæpenumero animus fuisset significationem +aliquam nostræ huius voluntatis et existimationis edendi; accidit vtique +secundùm sententiam, vt dum salutandis et cognoscendis excellentibus viris +Londini operam do, ornatissimus ac doctissimus amicas meus Richardus +Hakluytus ad te me deduxerit, explicato mihi præclarissimo tuo de ducenda +propediem colonia in nouum orbem instituto. Quæ dum aguntu, agnoscere +portui ego illud corpus et animum tuum sempiterna posteritatis +commemoratione dignum, et agnoui profectò, eaque tali ac tanta obseruantia +prosequi coepi; vt cum paulò post plura de tuis virtutibus, et rebus gestis +passim audissem, tempus longè accommodatissimum existimarem esse, quo +aliqua parte officij studijque nostri, ergà te et tuam gentem perfungerer. +Hoc est primum ouum, vnde nostrum [Greek: hepizatikon] originem ducit. +Reliquum est, vt eas et redeas quà m prosperrimè, vir nobilissime, et +beneuolentia tua, autoritate, ac nomine, tueare studium nostrum. Vale +pridie Kalen. Aprilis 1583. + +Ad Thamesin. + + Amnis, inoffensa qui tà m requiete beatus + Antipodum quæris iam tibi in orbe locum: + Nunc tibi principium meritæ, pro tempore, laudis + Fecimus, et raucæ carmina prima tubæ. + Tum cum reddideris, modo quam dimittimus, Argo, + Ornatu perages gaudia festa nouo. + + Quæ noua tà m subitò mutati gratia coeli? + Vnde graues nimbi vitreas tenuantur in auras? + Duffugiunt nebulæ, puroque nitentior ortu + Illustrat terras, clementiaque æquora Titan? + Nimirum posuere Noti, meliorque resurgit + Evrys, et in ventos soluuntur vela secundos, + Vela quibus gentis decus immortale Brittanniæ + Tendit ad ignotum nostris maioribus orbem + Vix notis Gilebertvs aquis. Ecquando licebit + Ordiri heroas laudes, et fecta nepotum + Attonitis memoranda animis? Si coepta silendum est + Illa, quibus nostri priscis ætatibus audent + Conferri, et certare dies: quibus obuia plano + Iamdudum Fortvna solo, quibus omne per vndas + Nereidvm genus exultat, faustoque tridenti + Ipse pater Netevs placabile temperat æquor. + Et passim Oceano curui Delphines ab imo + In summos saliunt fluctus, quasi terga pararent + In quibus euectæ sulcent freta prospera puppes, + Et quasi diluuium, tempestatesque minatur + Follibus inflatis inimica in uela physeter. + Et fauet AEGAEON, et qui Neptvnia PROTEVS + Armenta, ac turpes alit imo in gurgite phocas. + Atque idem modò ab antiqua virtute celebtat + Sceptra Chaledonidvm: seclis modò fata futuris + Pandit, et ad seros canit euentura minores. + Vt pacis bellique bonis notissima vasto + Insula in Oceano, magni decus Anglia mundi; + Postquam opibus diues, populo numerosa frequenti, + Tot celebris factis, toto caput extulit orbe; + Non incauta sui, ne quando immensa potestas + Pondere sit ruitura suo, noua moenia natis + Quærat, et in longum extendat sua regna recessum: + Non aliter, quà m cùm ventis sublimibus aptæ + In nidis creuere grues, proficiscitur ingens + De nostra ad tepidum tellure colonia Nilvm. + Euge, sacrum pectus, tibi, per tot secula, soli + Seruata est regio nullis regnata Monarchis. + Et triplici quondam mundi natura notata + Margine, et audacim quarto dignata Colvmbvm; + Iam quintâ lustranda plagâ tibi, iamque regenda + Imperio superest. Evropam Asiamqve relinque, + Et fortunatam nimiùm, nisi sole propinquo + Arderet, Libyen: illis sua facta viasque + Terminet Alcides: abs te illustranda quietscit + Parte alis telus, quam non Babylonia sceptra, + Non Macedvm inuictæ vires, non Persica virtus + Attigit, aut vnquam Latiæ feriere secures. + Non illo soboles Mahometi mugijt orbe: + Non vafer Hispanvs, coelo, superisque relictis, + Sacra Papæ humano crudelia sanguine fecit. + Illic mortales hominumque iguota propago; + Siue illi nostræ veniant ab origine gentis, + Seu tandem à prisca Favnorvm stirpe supersint + Antiqua geniti terra, sine legibus vrbes + Syluasque et pingues habitant ciuilibus agros: + Et priscos referunt mores, vitamque sequuntur + Italiæ antiquæ, et primi rude temporis æuum: + Cum genitor nati fugiens Satvrus ob iram + In Latio posuit sedem, rudibusque regendos + In tenues vicos homines collegit ab agris. + Aurea in hoc primùm populo coepisse feruntur + Secula, sicque homines vitam duxisse beati; + Vt simul argenti percurrens tempora, et æris, + Degener in durum chalybem vilesceret ætas; + Rursus in antiquum, de quo descenderat, aurum + (Sic perhibent vales) æuo vertente rediret. + Fallor an est tempus, reuolutoque orbe videntur + Aurea pacificæ transmittere secula gentes? + Fallor enim, si quassatas tot cladibus vrbes + Respicio, et passim lacerantes regna tyrannos: + Si Mahometigenis Asiam Libyamqve cruento + Marte premi, domitaque iugum ceruice subire: + Iamque per Evropæ fines immane tribunal + Barbari adorari domini, Dacisqve, Pelasgisqve + Æmathiisqve, omnique solo quod diuidit Hebrvs, + Et quondam bello inuictis, nunc Marte sinistro + Angustos fines, paruamque tuentibus oram + Pannoniæ populis, et prisca in gente Libvrnis. + Tum verò in superos pugnas sine fine cieri + Patribus Avsoniis; ardere in bella, necesque + Sarmaticas gentes: et adhuc à cæde recenti + Hispanvm sancto Gallvmqve madere cruore. + Non sunt hæc auri, non sunt documenta, sed atrox + Ingenio referunt ferrum, et si dicere ferro + Deteriora mihi licet, intractabile saxum. + At verò ad niueos alia si parte Britannos + Verto oculos animumque, quot, ô pulcherrima tellus + Testibus antiquo vitam traducis in auro? + Namque quòd hoc summum colitur tibi numen honore + Quo superi, atque omnis geniorum casta iuuentus + Ilius ad sacra iussa vices obit, arguit aurum. + Quòd tà m chara Deo tua sceptra gubernat Amazon, + Quà m Dea, cum nondum coelis Astræa petitis + Inter mortales regina erat, arguit aurum. + Quòd colit haud vllis indusas moenibus vrbes + Aurea libertas, et nescia ferre tyrannum + Securam ætatem tellus agit, arguit aurum. + Quòd regio nullis iniuria gentibus, arma + Arma licet ferruginea rubicunda quiete, + Finitimis metuenda gerit tamen, arguit aurum. + Quòd gladij, quòd mucrones, quòd pila, quòd hastæ + In rastros abiere, et bello assueta iuuentus + Pacem et amicitias dulces colit, arguit aurum. + Denique si fas est auro connectere laudes + Æris, et in pacis venerari tempore fortes; + Quot natos bello heroas, quot ahænea nutris + Pectora? Sint testes procerum tot millia, testes + Mille duces, interque duces notissima mille + Illa cui assurgunt Mvsæ, quam conscia Pallas + Lætior exaudit, Gileberti gloria nostri. + Illius auxillum, et socialia prælia amici + Mirantur Belgæ, et quamuis iniustus Ibervs + Commemorat iustas acies, domitasque per oras + Martia victrices formidat Hibernia turmas. + Illum oppugnatæ quassatis turribus arces, + Ilium expugnatæ perruptis moenibus vrbes, + Fluminaque et portus capti, hostilique notatum + Sanguine submersæ meminere sub æquore classes. + Hic vbi per medios proiectus Seqvana Celtas + Labitur, et nomen max amissurus, et vndas. + Omnia si desint, quantum est ingentibus ausis + Humani generis pro pace bonoque pacisci + Tà m varies casus, freta tanta, pericula tanta? + Linquere adhuc teneram prolem, et dulcissima sacri + Oscula coniugij, numerantemque ordine longo + Avcheriam digitis in mollibus, æquora mille + Formidanda modis, atque inter pauca relatos + Avcherios exempla suos, fratremque patremque; + Qui dum pro patria laudem et virtute sequuntur, + Obsessi in muris soli portisque Caleti, + Præposuere mori, quà m cum prodentibus vrbem, + Et decus Albionvm, turpi superesse salute. + Quòd si parua loquor, nec adhuc fortasse fatenda est + Aurea in hoc iterum nostro gens viuere mundo, + Quid vetat ignotis vt possit surgere terris? + Auguror, et faueat dictis Devs, auguror annos, + In quibus haud illo secus olim principe in vrbes + Barbara plebs coeat, quà m cùm noua saxa vocaret + Amphion Thebas, Troiana ad moenia Phoebvs. + Atque vbi sic vltrò iunctas sociauerit ædes, + Deinde dabit leges custodituras easdem; + In quibus ignari ciues fraudumque, dolique, + A solida assuescant potius virtute beari; + Quà m genio et molli liquentia corpora vita + In Venerem ignauam, pinguemque immergere luxum: + Quà m nummos, quam lucra sequi, quam propter honores + Viuere ad arbitrium stolidæ mutabile plebis. + Non illic generi virtus, opibusue premetur + Libertas populi, non contrà in deside vulgo + Oppugnabit opes ciuis sub nomine pauper: + Quisque suo partem foelix in iure capesset. + Tum sua magna parens ingenti foenore tellus + Exiguo sudore dabit bona: cura iuuentam + Nulla adiget senio, nec sic labor ocia tollet, + Quo minus è virtute petant sua commoda ciues. + O mihi foelicem si fas conscendere puppim: + Et tecum patria (pietas ignosce) relicta + Longinquum penetrare fretum, penetrare sorores + Mecum vnà Aonias, illic exordia gentis + Prima nouæ ad seros transmittere posse nepotes! + Sed me fata vetant, memoraturumque canora + Inclyta facta tuba, ad clades miserabilis Istri + Inuitum retrahunt. His his me fata reseruent: + Non deerit vates, illo qui cantet in orbe + Aut veteres populos, aut nostro incognita coelo + Munera naturæ; dum spreto Helicone manebit + Ilia Aganippæis sacrata Oxonia Musis. + Dum loquor in viridi festinant gramine Nymphæ, + Impediuntque comas lauro, et florentis oliuæ + Frondibus armantur, dominatricemque frequentes + Oceani immensi longè venerantur Elisam. + Illa autem ad gelidum celsis de turribus amnem + Prospicit, et iamiam Tamesino in patre tuetur + Paulatim obliquis Gilebertum albescere velis. + Sic dea Peliaco spectasse è vertice Pallas + Fertur Iasonios comites, ad Phasidos vndas + Vix benè dum notis committere carbasa ventis. + Diva faue, nutuque tuo suscepta parari + Vela iuua; Si sola geris dignissima totum + Talibus auspicijs proferri sceptra per orbem. + Proptereà quia sola tuos ita pace beasti + Tranquilla populos, vt iam te principe possint + Augere imperij fines. Quia sola videris + Quo niueae Charites, quo corpore Delia virgo + Pingitur, et iusto si sit pro teste vetustas. + Talibus audimus quondam de matribus ortos + Semideos homines: tali est de sanguine magnus + Siue Hector genitus, siue Hectore maior Achilles: + Duntaxat sine fraude vlla, sine crimine possint + Vila tibi veterum conferri nomina matrum, + Quæ sexum factis superas, quæ patribus audes, + Nympha, dijs dignas laudes æquare Latinis. + Mentior infoelix, nisi sic in corpore virtus + Lucet formoso, ceu quæ preciosior auro est + Gemma, tamen pariter placituro clauditur auro. + Mentior, et taceo, nisi sola audiris vbique + Induperatorum timor aut amor, inter et omnes + Securam requiem peragis tutissima casus: + Dum reliqui reges duro quasi carcere clausi + Sollicitis lethi dapibus, plenoque fruuntur + Terrificis monstris furtiua per ocia somno. + Mentior et taceo, solam nisi viuere ciues + Æternùm cupiunt: quando nec verbere toruo, + Nec cædis poenæue thronum formtdine firmas: + Sed tibi tot meritis maiestas parta, et inermis + Ad patulos residet custos clementia postes: + Vt quot penè rei iustum meruere tribunal, + Tot veniam grato narrent sermone clientes. + Nec tamen admittis, nisi quod iustumque piumque + Agnoscit probitas, et quæ potes omnia, solis + Legibus vsurpas cautas sanctissima vires. + Nec mala formidas: si quidem quasi fune ligatur + Consilio fortuna tibi: Nullum impia terret + In castris Bellona tuis: Quin pronus adorat + Gradivvs tua iussa pater, sequiturque vocantem + Quacunque ingrederis grato victoria plausu. + Dumque fores alijs, vitamque et regna tuetur + Ianitor externus, cingunt tua limina ciues: + Dumque alijs sordet sapientia regibus, almo + Pegasidvm tu fonte satur, tot Appollinis artes + Aurea vaticina fundis quasi flumina lingua. + Nil nostri inuenere dies, nil prisca vetustas + Prodidit, in linguis peragunt commercia nullis + Christiadvm gentes, quas te, diuina virago, + Iustius Aoniæ possint iactare sorores. + Audijt hæc inundus, cunctisque in finibus ardet + Imperio parere tuo: et quæ fortè recusat + Miratur vires regio tamen. Hinc tua sceptra + Incurua Mahometigenæ ceruice salutant: + Hinc tua pugnaces properant ad foedera Galli: + Dumque sibi metuit toties tibi victus Ibervs, + Nescia Romano Germania Marte domari + Quærit amicitias Britonvm: procul oscula mittit + Virgineis pedibus Lativm, longéque remoti + Pannones in tutos optant coalescere fines. + Quinetiam quæ submisso diademate nuper + Obtulit inuictis fascesque fidemque Britannis.[A] + Nonne vides passis vt crinibus horrida dudum + Porrigit ingentem lugubris America dextram? + Et numquid lacrymas, inquit, soror Anglia, nostras + Respicis, et dura nobiscum in sorte gemiscis? + An verò nescisse potes, quæ tempora quantis + Cladibus egerimus? postquam insatiabilis auri, + Nam certè non vllus amor virtutis Iberos + In nostrum migrare soluum, pietasue coegit. + Ex illo, quæ sacra prius væsana litabam + Manibus infernis, sperans meliora tuumque + Discere posse Devm, iubeor mortalibus aras + Erigere, et mutas statuas truncosque precata + Nescio quod demens Romanvm numen adoro. + Cur trahor in terras? si mens est lucida, puris + Cur Devs in coelis rectà non quæritur? aut si + A nobis coelum petitur, cur sæpe videmus + Igne, fame, ferro subigi, quocunque reatu + Oenotriæ sedis maiestas læsa labascit? + Non sic relligio, non sic me iudice gaudet + Defendi sua regna Devs, quod si optimus ille est; + Quòd si cuncta potest, et nullis indiget armis. + Mitto queri cædes, exhaustaque moenia bello: + Mitto queri in viles tot libera corpora seruos + Abiecta, immanique iugum Busiride dignum. + Te tantum fortuna animet tua, te tua virtus: + Si tibi tam plenis habitantur moenibus vrbes, + Vt nisi in excelsum crescant, coeloque minentur + Ædes aeriæ; quanquam latissima, desit + Terra tamen populo: Si tot tua flumina nigrant + Turrigeras arces imitatæ mole carinæ, + Quot non illa natant eadem tua flumina cygni. + Si tibi iam sub sole iacens penetratus vtroque est + Mundus, vtroque iacens peragrata est terra sub axe. + Ni frustrà gelidam vectus Wilobeivs [B] ad arcton + Illa in gente iacet, cui dum Sol circinat vmbras, + Dimidio totus vix forsitan occidit anno. + Ni frustrà quæsiuit iter, duraque bipenni + Illo Frobiservs [C] reditum sibi in æquore fecit, + Horridum vbi semper pelagus, glacieque perenni + Frigora natiuos simulant immitia montes. + Ni frustrà per Cimmerios, syluisque propinqua + Flumina Riphæis eoa profectus ad vsque est + Moenia Iencisonvs, [D] Persasqve et proxima Persis + Bactra, et Bactrorvm confines regibus Indos. + Ni frustrà , quod mortali tot secla negarant, + Hac tuus immensum nuper Dracvs [E] ambijt orbem, + Quà patri Oceano clausas circumdare terras + Concessit natura viam, mediaque meare + Tellure, et duplici secludere littore mundos. + Iam si fortuna, iam si virtute sequare + Digna tua; sunt monstra mihi, sunt vasta gigantum + Corpora, quæ magno cecidisse sub Hercvle non sit + Dedecus, Ogigivs non quæ aspernetur Iaccvs. + Quæ si indigna putas, tantaque in pace beata + Auersare meos multo vt tibi sanguine fines + Inuidiosa petas: est nobis terra propinqua, + Et tantum bimari capiens discrimen in Isthmo. + Hanc tibi iamdudum primi inuenere Brittanni, + Tum cum magnanimus nostra in regione Cabotvs [F] + Proximus à magno ostendit sua vela Colvmbo. + Hæc neque vicina nimiùm frigescit ab arcto, + Sole nec immodico in steriles torretur arenas: + Frigus et æstatem iusto moderamine seruat, + Siue leues auras, grati spiracula coeli, + Seu diæ telluris opes, et munera curas. + Pone age te digno tua sceptra in honore, meoque + Iunge salutarem propius cum littore dextram. + Sit mihi fas aliquam per te sperare quietem, + Vicinoque bono lætum illucescere Solem. + Quòd si consilijs superum, fatisque negatum est + Durare immensum magna infortunia tempus: + Quòd si de immerita iustum est ceruice reuelli + Ignarum imperij dominum, populique regendi; + Quòd si nulla vnquam potuit superesse potestas, + Ni pia flexilibus pareret clementia frenis + Obsequium. A mita quæsita potentia Cyro + Amissa est sæuæ soboli. Parcendo subegit + Tot reges Macedvm virtus, tot postera sensim + Abscidit a parto tandem inclementia regno. + Et quod Romvleis creuit sub patribus olim + Imperium, diri semper minuêre Nerones. + +[Sidenote A: Noua Albion.] +[Sidenote B: Hugo Willobeius eques auratus.] +[Sidenote C: Martinus Frobisherus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote D: Antonius Ienkinsonus.] +[Sidenote E: Franciscus Dracus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote F: Sebastianus Cabotus.] + + * * * * * + +A report of the voyage and successe thereof, attempted in the yeere of our + Lord 1583 by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, with other gentlemen assisting + him in that action, intended to discouer and to plant Christian + inhabitants in place conuenient, vpon those large and ample countreys + extended Northward from the cape of Florida, lying vnder very temperate + Climes, esteemed fertile and rich in Minerals, yet not in the actuall + possession of any Christian prince, written by M. Edward Haies gentleman, + and principall actour in the same voyage, who alone continued vnto the + end, and by Gods speciall assistance returned home with his retinue safe + and entire. + +Many voyages haue bene pretended, yet hitherto neuer any thorowly +accomplished by our nation of exact discouery into the bowels of those +maine, ample and vast countreys, extended infinitely into the North from 30 +degrees, or rather from 25 degrees of Septentrionall latitude, neither hath +a right way bene taken of planting a Christian habitation and regiment vpon +the same, as well may appeare both by the little we yet do actually +possesse therein, and by our ignorance of the riches and secrets within +those lands, which vnto this day we know chiefly by the trauell and report +of other nations, and most of the French, who albeit they can not challenge +such right and interest vnto the sayd countreys as we, neither these many +yeeres haue had opportunity nor meanes so great to discouer and to plant +(being vexed with the calamnities of intestine warres) as we haue had by +the inestimable benefit of our long and happy peace: yet haue they both +waies performed more, and had long since attained a sure possession and +settled gouernment of many prouinces in those Northerly parts of America, +if their many attempts into those forren and remote lands had not bene +impeached by their garboils at home. + +[Sidenote: The coasts from Florida Northward first discouered by the +English nation.] The first discouery of these coasts (neuer heard of +before) was well begun by Iohn Cabot the father, and Sebastian his sonne, +an Englishman borne, who were the first finders out of all that great tract +of land stretching from the cape of Florida vnto those Islands which we now +call the Newfoundland: all which they brought and annexed vnto the crowne +of England. Since when, if with like diligence the search of inland +countreys had bene followed, as the discouery vpon the coast, and out-parts +therof was performed by those two men: no doubt her Maiesties territories +and reuenue had bene mightily inlarged and aduanced by this day. And which +is more: the seed of Christian religion had bene sowed amongst those +pagans, which by this time might haue brought foorth a most plentifull +haruest and copious congregation of Christians; which must be the chiefe +intent of such as shall make any attempt that way: or els whatsoeuer is +builded vpon other foundation shall neuer obtaine happy successe nor +continuance. + +And although we can not precisely iudge (which onely belongeth to God) what +haue bene the humours of men stirred vp to great attempts of discouering +and planting in those remote countreys, yet the euents do shew that either +Gods cause hath not bene chiefly preferred by them, or els God hath not +permitted so abundant grace as the light of his word and knowledge of him +to be yet reuealed vnto those infidels before the appointed time. + +But most assuredly, the only cause of religion hitherto hath kept backe, +and will also bring forward at the time assigned by God, an effectuall and +compleat discouery and possession by Christians, both of those ample +countreys and the riches within them hitherto concealed: whereof +notwithstanding God in his wisdome hath permitted to be reuealed from time +to time a certaine obscure and misty knowledge, by little and little to +allure the mindes of men that way (which els will be dull enough in the +zeale of his cause) and thereby to prepare vs vnto a readinesse for the +execution of his will against the due time ordeined, of calling those +pagans vnto Christianity. + +[Sidenote: A fit consideration.] In the meane while, it behooueth euery man +of great calling, in whom is any instinct of inclination vnto this attempt, +to examine his owne motions: which if the same proceed of ambition or +auarice, he may assure himselfe it commeth not of God, and therefore can +not haue confidence of Gods protection and assistance against the violence +(els irresistable) both of sea, and infinite perils vpon the land; whom God +yet may vse an instrument to further his cause and glory some way, but not +to build vpon so bad a foundation. + +Otherwise, if his motiues be deriued from a vertuous and heroycall minde, +preferring chiefly the honour of God, compassion of poore infidels captiued +by the deuill, tyrannizing in most woonderfull and dreadfull maner ouer +their bodies and soules; aduancement of his honest and well disposed +countreymen, willing to accompany him in such honourable actions: reliefe +of sundry people within this realme distressed: all these be honourable +purposes, imitating the nature of the munificent God, wherewith he is well +pleased, who will assist such an actour beyond expectation of man. +[Sidenote: Probable coniectures that these lands North of Florida, are +reserued for the English nation to possesse.] And the same, who feeleth +this inclination in himselfe, by all likelihood may hope, or rather +confidently repose in the preordinance of God, that in this last age of the +world (or likely neuer) the time is compleat of receiuing also these +Gentiles into his mercy, and that God will raise him an instrument to +effect the same: it seeming probable by euent or precedent attempts made by +the Spanyards and French sundry times, that the countreys lying North of +Florida, God hath reserued the same to be reduced vnto Christian ciuility +by the English nation. For not long after that Christopher Columbus had +discouered the Islands and continent of the West Indies for Spayne, Iohn +and Sebastian Cabot made discouery also of the rest from Florida Northwards +to the behoofe of England. + +[Sidenote: The Spanyards prosperous in the Southerne discoueries, yet +vnhappy in the Northerne.] And whensoeuer afterwards the Spanyards (very +prosperous in all their Southerne discoueries) did attempt any thing into +Florida and those regions inclining towards the North they proued most +vnhappy, and were at length discouraged vtterly by the hard and lamentable +successe of many both religous and valiant in armes, endeauouring to bring +those Northerly regions also vnder the Spanish iurisdiction; as if God had +prescribed limits vnto the Spanish nation which they might not exceed; as +by their owne gests recorded may be aptly gathered. + +[Sidenote: The French are but vsurpers vpon our right.] The French, as they +can pretend lesse title vnto these Northerne parts then the Spanyard, by +how much the Spanyard made the first discouery of the same continent so far +Northward as vnto Florida, and the French did but reuiew that before +discouered by the English nation, vsurping vpon our right, and imposing +names vpon countreys, riuers, bayes, capes, or head lands, as if they had +bene the first finders of those coasts: [Sidenote: The French also +infortunate in those North parts of America.] which iniury we offered not +vnto the Spaniards, but left off to discouer when we approached the Spanish +limits: euen so God hath not hitherto permitted them to establish a +possession permanent vpon anothers right, notwithstanding their manifolde +attempts, in which the issue hath bene no lesse tragicall then that of the +Spanyards, as by their owne reports is extant. + +[Sidenote: A good incouragement for the English nation, to proceed in the +conquests of the North America.] Then seeing the English nation onely hath +right vnto these countreys of America from the cape of Florida Northward by +the priuilege of first discouery, vnto which Cabot was authorised by regall +authority, and set forth by the expense of our late famous king Henry the +seuenth: which right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalfe by the +powerfull hand of almighty God, withstanding the enterprises of other +nations: it may greatly incourage vs vpon so iust ground, as is our right, +and vpon so sacred an intent, as to plant religion (our right and intent +being meet foundations for the same) to prosecute effectually the full +possession of those so ample and pleasant countreys apperteining vnto the +crowne of England: [Sidenote: The due time approcheth by all likelihood of +calling these heathens vnto Christianity.] the same (as is to be +coniectured by infallible arguments of the worlds end approching) being now +arriued vnto the time by God prescribed of their vocation, if euer their +calling vnto the knowledge of God may be expected. [Sidenote: The word of +God moueth circularly.] Which also is very probable by the reuolution and +course of Gods word and religion, which from the beginning hath moued from +the East, towards, and at last vnto the West, where it is like to end, +vnlesse the same begin againe where it did in the East, which we were to +expect a like world againe. But we are assured of the contrary by the +prophesie of Christ, whereby we gather, that after his word preached +thorowout the world shalbe the end. And as the Gospel when it descended +Westward began in the South, and afterward spread into the North of Europe: +euen so, as the same hath begunne in the South countreys of America, no +lesse hope may be gathered that it will also spread into the North. + +These considerations may helpe to suppresse all dreads rising of hard +eueuts in attempts made this way by other nations, as also of the heauy +successe and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentleman our +countryman sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, who was the first of our nation that +caried people to erect an habitation and gouernment in those Northerly +countreys of America. About which, albeit he had consumed much substance, +and lost his life at last, his people also perishing for the most part: yet +the mystery thereof we must leaue vnto God, and iudge charitably both of +the cause (which was iust in all pretence) and of the person, who was very +zealous in prosecuting the same, deseruing honourable remembrance for his +good minde, and expense of life in so vertuous an enterprise. Whereby +neuerthelesse, least any man should be dismayd by example of other folks +calamity, and misdeeme that God doth resist all attempts intended that way: +I thought good, so farre as my selfe was an eye witnesse, to deliuer the +circumstance and maner of our proceedings in that action: in which the +gentleman was so incumbred with wants, and woorse matched with many ill +disposed people, that his rare iudgement and regiment premeditated for +these affaires, was subiected to tolerate abuses, and in sundry extremities +to holde on a course, more to vpholde credite, then likely in his owne +conceit happily to succeed. + +[Sidenote: The planting of Gods word must be handled with reuerence.] The +issue of such actions, being alwayes miserable, not guided by God, who +abhorreth confusion and disorder, hath left this for admonition (being the +first attempt by our nation to plant) vnto such as shall take the same +cause in hand hereafter not to be discouraged from it: but to make men well +aduised how they handle his so high and excellent matters, as the carriage +of his word into those very mighty and vast countreys. [Sidenote: Ill +actions coloured by pretence of planting vpon remote lands.] An action +doubtlesse not to be intermedled with base purposes; as many haue made the +same but a colour to shadow actions otherwise scarse iustifiable: which +doth excite Gods heauy iudgements in the end, to the terrifying of weake +mindes from the cause, without pondering his iust proceedings: and doth +also incense forren princes against our attempts how iust soeuer, who can +not but deeme the sequele very dangerous vnto their state (if in those +parts we should grow to strength) seeing the very beginnings are entred +with spoile. + +And with this admonition denounced vpon zeale towards Gods cause, also +towards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable vnto this action of +planting Christian people and religion in those remote and barbarous +nations of America (vnto whom I wish all happinesse) I will now proceed to +make relation briefly, yet particularly, of our voyage vndertaken with sir +Humfrey Gilbert, begun, continued, and ended aduersly. + +[Sidenote: The first and great preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] When +first sir Humfrey Gilbert vndertooke the Westerne discouery of America, and +had procured from her Maiesty a very large commission to inhabit and +possesse at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in the actuall +possession of any Christian prince, the same commission exemplified with +many priuileges, such as in his discretion he might demand, very many +gentlemen of good estimation drew vnto him, to associate him in so +commendable an enterprise, so that the preparation was expected to grow +vnto a puissant fleet, able to encounter a kings power by sea: +neuerthelesse, amongst a multitude of voluntary men, their dispositions +were diuers, which bred a iarre, and made a diuision in the end, to the +confusion of that attempt euen before the same was begun. And when the +shipping was in a maner prepared, and men ready vpon the coast to go +aboord: at that time some brake consort, and followed courses degenerating +from the voyage before pretended: Others failed of their promises +contracted, and the greater number were dispersed, leauing the Generall +with few of his assured friends, with whom he aduentured to sea: where +hauing tasted of no lesse misfortune, he was shortly driuen to retire home +with the losse of a tall ship, and (more to his griefe) of a valiant +gentleman Miles Morgan.[98] + +[Sidenote: A constant resolution of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Hauing buried +onely in a preparation a great masse of substance, wherby his estate was +impaired, his minde yet not dismaid he continued his former designment and +purpose to reuiue this enterprise, good occasion seruing. Vpon which +determination standing long, without meanes to satisfy his desire; at last +he granted certaine assignments out of his commission to sundry persons of +meane ability, desiring the priuilege of his rank, to plant and fortifie in +the North parts of America about the riuer of Canada, to whom if God gaue +good successe in the North parts (where then no matter of moment was +expected) the same (he thought) would greatly aduance the hope of the +South, and be a furtherance vnto his determination that way. And the worst +that might happen in that course might be excused without prejudice vnto +him by the former supposition, that those North regions were of no regard: +but chiefly a possession taken in any parcell of those heathen countreys, +by vertue of his grant, did inuest him of territories extending euery way +two hundred leagues: which induced sir Humfry Gilbert to make those +assignments, desiring greatly their expedition, because his commission did +expire after six yeres, if in that space he had not gotten actuall +possession. + +[Sidenote: A second preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Time went away +without any thing done by his assignes: insomuch that at last he must +resolue himselfe to take a voyage in person, for more assurance to keepe +his patent in force, which then almost was expired, or within two yeres. + +In furtherance of his determination, amongst others, sir George Peckam +knight shewed himselfe very zealous to the action, greatly aiding him both +by his aduice and in the charge. Other gentlemen to their ability ioyned +vnto him, resoluing to aduenture their substance and liues in the same +cause. Who beginning their preparation from that time, both of shipping, +munition, victual, men, and things requisit, some of them continued the +charge two yeeres compleat without intermission. Such were the difficulties +and crosse accidents opposing these proceedings, which tooke not end in +lesse then two yeres: many of which circumstances I will omit. + +The last place of our assembly, before we left the coast of England, was in +Causet bay neere vnto Plimmouth: then resolued to put vnto the sea with +shipping and prouision, such as we had, before our store yet remaining, but +chiefly the time and season of the yeere, were too farre spent. +Neuerthelesse it seemed first very doubtfull by what way to shape our +course, and to begin our intended discouery, either from the South +Northward, or from the North Southward. + +[Sidenote: Consultation about our course.] The first, that is, beginning +South, without all controuersie was the likeliest, wherein we were assured +to haue commodity of the current, which from the cape of Florida setteth +Northward, and would haue furthered greatly our nauigation, discouering +from the foresayd cape along towards cape Briton, and all those lands lying +to the North. + +[Sidenote: Commodities in discouering from South Northward.] Also the yere +being farre spent, and arriued to the moneth of Iune, we were not to spend +time in Northerly courses, where we should be surprised with timely Winter, +but to couet the South, which we had space enough then to haue attained: +and there might with lesse detriment haue wintred that season, being more +milde and short in the South then in the North where winter is both long +and rigorous. + +These and other like reasons alleged in fauour of the Southerne course +first to be taken, to the contrary was inferred: that foras much as both +our victuals, and many other needfull prouisions were diminished and left +insufficient for so long a voyage, and for the wintering of so many men, we +ought to shape a course most likely to minister supply; and that was to +take the Newfoundland in our way, which was but seuen hundred leagues from +our English coast. Where being vsually at that time of the yere, and vntill +the fiue of August, a multitude of ships repairing thither for fish, we +should be relieued abundantly with many necessaries, which after the +fishing ended, they might well spare, and freely impart vnto vs. + +Not staying long vpon that Newland coast, we might proceed Southward, and +follow still the Sunne, vntill we arriued at places more temperate to our +content. + +By which reasons we were the rather induced to follow this [Sidenote: Cause +why we began our discouery from the North.] Northerly course, obeying vnto +necessity, which must be supplied. [Sidenote: Incommodities in beginning +North.] Otherwise, we doubted that sudden approch of Winter, bringing with +it continuall fogge, and thicke mists, tempest and rage of weather; also +contrariety of currents descending from the cape of Florida vnto cape +Briton and cape Rase, would fall out to be great and irresistable +impediments vnto our further proceeding for that yeere, and compell vs to +Winter in those North and colde regions. + +Wherefore suppressing all obiections to the contrary, we resolued to begin +our course Northward, and to follow directly as we might, the trade way +vnto Newfoundland: from whence after our refreshing and reparation of +wants, we intended without delay (by Gods permission) to proceed into the +South, not omitting any riuer or bay which in all that large tract of land +appeared to our view worthy of search. Immediatly we agreed vpon the maner +of our course and orders to be obserued in our voyage; which were deliuered +in writing vnto the captaines and masters of euery ship a copy in maner +following. + +Euery shippe had deliuered two bullets or scrowles, the one sealed vp in +waxe, the other left open: in both which were included seuerall +watch-words. That open, seruing vpon our owne coast or the coast of +Ireland: the other sealed was promised on all hands not to be broken vp +vntill we should be cleere of the Irish coast; which from thencefoorth did +serue vntill we arriued and met altogether in such harbors of the +Newfoundland as were agreed for our Rendez vouz. The sayd watch-words being +requisite to know our consorts whensoeuer by night, either by fortune of +weather, our fleet dispersed should come together againe: or one should +hale another; or if by ill watch and steerage one ship should chance to +fall aboord of another in the darke. + +The reason of the bullet sealed was to keepe secret that watch-word while +we were vpon our owne coast, lest any of the company stealing from the +fleet might bewray the same: which knowen to an enemy, he might boord vs by +night without mistrust, hauing our owne watch-word. + +Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters to be obserued by the fleet +of Sir Humfrey Gilbert. + +First the Admirall to cary his flag by day, and his light by night. + +2 Item, if the Admirall shall shorten his saile by night, then to shew two +lights vntill he be answered againe by euery ship shewing one light for a +short time. + +3 Item, if the Admirall after his shortening of saile, as aforesayd, shall +make more saile againe: then he to shew three lights one aboue another. + +4 Item, if the Admirall shall happen to hull in the night, then to make a +wauering light ouer his other light, wauering the light vpon a pole. + +5 Item, if the fleet should happen to be scattered by weather, or other +mishap, then so soone as one shall descry another to hoise sailes twise, if +the weather will serue, and to strike them twise againe; but if the weather +serue not, then to hoise the maine top saile twise, and forthwith to strike +it twise againe. + +6 Item, if it shall happen a great fogge to fall, then presently euery +shippe to beare vp with the admirall, if there be winde: but if it be a +calme, then euery ship to hull, and so to lie at hull till it be cleere. +And if the fogge do continue long, then the Admirall to shoot off two +pieces euery euening, and euery ship to answere it with one shot: and euery +man bearing to the ship, that is to leeward so neere as he may. + +7 Item, euery master to giue charge vnto the watch to looke out well, for +laying aboord one of another in the night, and in fogges. + +8 Item, euery euening euery ship to haile the admirall, and so to fall +asterne him sailing thorow the Ocean: and being on the coast, euery ship to +haile him both morning and euening. + +9 Item, if any ship be in danger any way, by leake or otherwise, then she +to shoot off a piece, and presently to hang out one light, whereupon euery +man to beare towards her, answering her with one light for a short time, +and so to put it out againe; thereby to giue knowledge that they haue seene +her token. + +10 Item, whensoeuer the Admirall shall hang out her ensigne in the maine +shrowds, then euery man to come aboord her, as a token of counsell. + +11 Item, if there happen any storme or contrary winde to the fleet after +the discouery, whereby they are separated: then euery ship to repaire vnto +their last good port, there to meete againe. + +Our course agreed vpon. + +The course first to be taken for the discouery is to beare directly to Cape +Rase, the most Southerly cape of Newfound land; and there to harbour +ourselues either in Rogneux or Fermous, being the first places appointed +for our Rendez vous, and the next harbours vnto the Northward of cape Rase: +and therefore euery ship separated from the fleete to repaire to that place +so fast as God shall permit, whether you shall fall to the Southward or to +the Northward of it, and there to stay for the meeting of the whole fleet +the space of ten dayes: and when you shall depart, to leaue marks. + +A direction of our course vnto the Newfound land. + +Beginning our course from Silley, the neerest is by Westsouthwest (if the +winde serue) vntill such time as we haue brought our selues in the latitude +of 43 or 44 degrees, because the Ocean is subiect much to Southerly windes +in Iune and Iuly. Then to take trauerse from 45 to 47 degrees of latitude, +if we be inforced by contrary windes: and not to go to the Northward of the +height of 47 degrees of Septentrionall latitude by no meanes; if God shall +not inforce the contrary; but to do your indeuour to keepe in the height of +46 degrees, so nere as you can possibly, because cape Rase lieth about that +height. + +Notes. + +If by contrary windes we be driuen backe vpon the coast of England, then to +repaire vnto Silley for a place of our assembly or meeting. + +If we be driuen backe by contrary winds that we can not passe the coast of +Ireland, then the place of our assembly to be at Beare hauen or Baltimore +hauen. + +If we shall not happen to meete at cape Rase, then the place of Rendez vous +to be at cape Briton, or the neerest harbour vnto the Westward of cape +Briton. + +If by meanes of other shipping we may not safely stay there, then to rest +at the very next safe port to the Westward; euery ship leauing their marks +behinde them for the more certainty of the after commers to know where to +finde them. + +The marks that euery man ought to leaue in such a case, were of the +Generals priuate deuice written by himselfe, sealed also in close waxe, and +deliuered vnto euery shippe one scroule, which was not to be opened vntill +occasion required, whereby euery man was certified what to leaue for +instruction of after commers: that euery of vs comming into any harbour or +riuer might know who had bene there, or whether any were still there vp +higher into the riuer, or departed, and which way. + +[Sidenote: Beginning of the voyage.] Orders thus determined, and promises +mutually giuen to be obserued, euery man withdrew himselfe vnto his charge, +the ankers being already weyed, and our shippes vnder saile, hauing a soft +gale of winde, we began our voyage vpon Tuesday the eleuenth day of Iune, +in the yere of our Lord 1585, hauing in our fleet (at our departure from +Causet[99] Bay) these shippes, whose names and burthens, with the names of +the captaines and masters of them, I haue also inserted, as followeth: + +1 The Delight alià s The George, of burthen 120 tunnes, was Admirall: in +which went the Generall, and William Winter captaine in her and part owner, +and Richard Clearke master. + +2 The Barke Raleigh set forth by M. Walter Raleigh, of the burthen of 200 +tunnes, was then Vice-admirall: in which went M. Butler captaine, and +Robert Dauis of Bristoll master. + +3 The Golden hinde, of burthen 40 tunnes, was then Reare-admirall: in which +went Edward Hayes captaine and owner, and William Cox of Limehouse master. + +4 The Swallow, of burthen 40 tunnes: in her was captaine Maurice Browne. + +5 The Squirrill, of burthen 10 tunnes: in which went captaine William +Andrewes, and one Cade master. + +[Sidenote: Our fleet consisted of fiue sailes, in which we had about 260 +men. Prouisions fit for such discoueries.] We were in number in all about +260 men: among whom we had of euery faculty good choice, as Shipwrights, +Masons, Carpenters, Smithes, and such like, requisite to such an action: +also Minerall men and Refiners. Besides, for solace of our people, and +allurement of the Sauages, we were prouided of Musike in good variety: not +omitting the least toyes, as Morris dancers, Hobby horsse, and Maylike +conceits to delight the Sauage people, whom we intended to winne by all +faire meanes possible. And to that end we were indifferently furnished of +all petty haberdasherie wares to barter with those people. + +In this maner we set forward, departing (as hath bene said) out of Causon +bay the eleuenth day of Iune being Tuesday, the weather and winde faire and +good all day, but a great storme of thunder and winde fell the same night. + +[Sidenote: Obserue.] Thursday following, when we hailed one another in the +euening according (to the order before specified) they signified vnto vs +out of the Vizadmirall that both the Captaine, and very many of the men +were fallen sicke, And about midnight the Vizeadmirall forsooke vs, +notwithstanding we had the winde East, faire and good. But it was after +credibly reported, that they were infected with a contagious sicknesse, and +arriued greatly distressed at Plimmoth: the reason I could neuer +vnderstand. Sure I am, no cost was spared by their owner Master Raleigh in +setting them forth: Therfore I leaue it vnto God. + +By this time we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not a little grieued with +the losse of the most puissant ship in our fleete: after whose departure, +the Golden Hind succeeded in the place of Vizadmirall, and remooued her +flagge from the mizon vnto the foretop. + +From Saturday the 15 of Iune vntill the 28, which was vpon a Friday, we +neuer had faire day without fogge or raine, and windes bad, much to the +West northwest, whereby we were driuen Southward vnto 41 degrees scarse. + +About this time of the yere the winds are commonly West towards the +Newfound land, keeping ordinarily within two points of West to the South or +to the North, whereby the course thither falleth out to be long and tedious +after Iune, which in March, Apriell and May, hath bene performed out of +England in 22 dayes and lesse. We had winde alwayes so scant from West +northwest, and from West southwest againe, that our trauerse was great, +running South vnto 41 degrees almost, and afterward North into 51 degrees. + +[Sidenote: Great fogges vpon the Ocean sea Northward.] Also we were +incombred with much fogge and mists in maner palpable, in which we could +not keepe so well together, but were disseuered, losing the company of the +Swallow and the Squirrill vpon the 20. day of Iuly, whom we met againe at +seuerall places vpon the Newfound land coast the third of August, as shalbe +declared in place conuenient. + +Saturday the 27 of Iuly, we might descry not farre from vs, as it were +mountaines of yce driuen vpon the sea, being then in 50 degrees, which were +caried Southward to the weather of vs: whereby may be coniectured that some +current doth set that way from the North. + +Before we come to Newfound land about 50 leagues on this side, we passe the +banke, [Marginal note: The banke in length vnknowen, stretcheth from North +into South, in bredth 10. leagues, in depth of water vpon it 30. fadome.] +which are high grounds rising within the sea and vnder water, yet deepe +enough and without danger, being commonly not lesse then 25 and 30 fadome +water vpon them: the same (as it were some vaine of mountaines within the +sea) doe runne along, and from the Newfound land, beginning Northward about +52 or 53 degrees of latitude, and do extend into the South infinitly. The +bredth of this banke is somewhere more, and somewhere lesse: but we found +the same about 10 leagues ouer, hauing sounded both on this side thereof, +and the other toward Newfound land, but found no ground with almost 200 +fadome of line, both before and after we had passed the banke.[100] +[Sidenote: A great fishing vpon the banke.] The Portugals, and French +chiefly, haue a notable trade of fishing vpon this banke, where are +sometimes an hundred or more sailes of ships: who commonly beginne the +fishing in Apriell, and haue ended by Iuly. That fish is large, alwayes +wet, hauing no land neere to drie, and is called Corre fish. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of foules.] During the time of fishing, a man shall +know without sounding when he is vpon the banke, by the incredible +multitude of sea foule houering ouer the same, to prey vpon the offalles +and garbish of fish throwen out by fishermen, and floting vpon the sea. + +[Sidenote: First sight of land.] Vpon Tuesday the 11 of Iune, we forsooke +the coast of England. So againe Tuesday the 30 of Iuly (seuen weekes after) +we got sight of land, being immediatly embayed in the Grand bay, or some +other great bay: the certainty whereof we could not iudge, so great hase +and fogge did hang vpon the coast, as neither we might discerne the land +well, nor take the sunnes height. But by our best computation we were then +in the 51 degrees of latitude. + +Forsaking this bay and vncomfortable coast (nothing appearing vnto vs but +hideous rockes and mountaines, bare of trees, and voide of any greene +herbe) we followed the coast to the South, with weather faire and cleare. + +[Sidenote: Iland and a foule named Penguin.] We had sight of an Iland named +Penguin, of a foule there breeding in abundance, almost incredible, which +cannot flie, their wings not able to carry their body, being very large +(not much lesse then a goose) and exceeding fat: which the French men vse +to take without difficulty vpon that Iland, and to barrell them vp with +salt. But for lingering of time we had made vs there the like prouision. + +[Sidenote: An Iland called Baccaloas, of the fish taken there.] Trending +this coast, we came to the Iland called Baccalaos, being not past two +leagues from the maine: to the South thereof lieth Cape S. Francis, 5. +leagues distant from Baccalaos, between which goeth in a great bay by the +vulgar sort called the bay of Conception. Here we met with the Swallow +againe, whom we had lost in the fogge, and all her men altered into other +apparell: whereof it seemed their store was so amended, that for ioy and +congratulation of our meeting, they spared not to cast vp into the aire and +ouerboord, their caps and hats in good plenty. The Captaine albeit himselfe +was very honest and religious, yet was he not appointed of men to his humor +and desert: who for the most part were such as had bene by vs surprised +vpon the narrow seas of England, being pirats and had taken at that instant +certaine Frenchmen laden, one barke with wines, and another with salt. Both +which we rescued, and tooke the man of warre with all her men, which was +the same ship now called the Swallow, following still their kind so oft, as +(being separated from the Generall) they found opportunitie to robbe and +spoile. And because Gods iustice did follow the same company, euen to +destruction, and to the ouerthrow also of the Captaine (though not +consenting to their misdemeanor) I will not conceale any thing that maketh +to the manifestation and approbation of his iudgements, for examples of +others, perswaded that God more sharpely tooke reuenge vpon them, and hath +tolerated longer as great outrage in others: by how much these went vnder +protection of his cause and religion, which was then pretended. + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanor of them in the Swallow.] Therefore vpon further +enquiry it was knowen, how this company met with a barke returning home +after the fishing with his fraight: and because the men in the Swallow were +very neere scanted of victuall, and chiefly of apparell, doubtful withall +where or when to find and meete with their Admiral, they besought the +captaine they might go aboord this Newlander, only to borrow what might be +spared, the rather because the same was bound homeward. Leaue giuen, not +without charge to deale fauourably, they came aboord the fisherman, whom +they rifled of tackle, sailes, cables, victuals, and the men of their +apparell: not sparing by torture (winding cords about their heads) to draw +out else what they thought good. This done with expedition (like men +skilfull in such mischiefe) as they tooke their cocke boate to go aboord +their own ship, it was ouerwhelmed in the sea, and certaine of these men +were drowned: the rest were preserued euen by those silly soules whom they +had before spoyled, who saued and deliuered them aboord the Swallow. What +became afterward of the poore Newlander, perhaps destitute of sayles and +furniture sufficient to carry them home (whither they had not lesse to +runne then 700 leagues) God alone knoweth, who tooke vengeance not long +after of the rest that escaped at this instant: to reueale the fact, and +iustifie to the world Gods iudgements inflicted vpon them, as shal be +declared in place conuenient. + +Thus after we had met with the Swallow, we held on our course Southward, +vntill we came against the harbor called S. Iohn, about 5 leagues from the +former Cape of S. Francis: where before the entrance into the harbor, we +found also the Frigate or Squirrill lying at anker. Whom the English +marchants (that were and alwaies be Admirals [Marginal note: English ships +are the strongest and Admirals of other fleetes, fishing vpon the South +parts of Newfound land.] by turnes interchangeably ouer the fleetes of +fisherman within the same harbor) would not permit to enter into the +harbor. Glad of so happy meeting both of the Swallow and Frigate in one day +(being Saturday the 3. of August) we made readie our fights, and prepared +to enter the harbor, any resistance to the contrarie notwithstanding, there +being within of all nations, to the number of 36 sailes. But first the +Generall dispatched a boat to giue them knowledge of his comming for no ill +intent, hauing Commission from her Maiestie for his voiage he had in hand. +And immediatly we followed with a slacke gale, and in the very entrance +(which is but narrow, not aboue 2 buts length) the Admirall fell vpon a +rocke on the larboard side by great ouersight, in that the weather was +faire, the rocke much aboue water fast by the shore, where neither went any +sea gate. But we found such readinesse in the English Marchants to helpe vs +in that danger, that without delay there were brought a number of boates, +which towed off the ship, and cleared her of danger. + +Hauing taken place conuenient in the road, we let fall ankers, the +Captaines and Masters repairing aboord our Admirall: whither also came +immediatly the Masters and owners of the fishing fleete of Englishmen to +vnderstand the Generals intent and cause of our arriuall there. They were +all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission, and purpose to +take possession of those lands to the behalfe of the crowne of England, and +the aduancement of Christian religion in those Paganish regions, requiring +but their lawfull ayde for repayring of his fleete, and supply of some +necessaries, so farre as might conueniently be afforded him, both out of +that and other harbors adioyning. In lieu whereof, he made offer to +gratifie them, with any fauour and priueledge, which vpon their better +aduise they should demand, the like being not to be obteyned hereafter for +greater price. So crauing expedition of his demand, minding to proceede +further South without long detention in those partes, he dismissed them, +after promise giuen of their best indeuour to satisfie speedily his so +reasonable request. The marchants with their Masters departed, they caused +forthwith to be discharged all the great Ordinance of their fleete in token +of our welcome. + +[Sidenote: Good order taken by English marchants for our supply in Newfound +land.] It was further determined that euery ship of our fleete should +deliuer vnto the marchants and Masters of that harbour a note of all their +wants: which done, the ships aswell English as strangers, were taxed at an +easie rate to make supply. And besides, Commissioners were appointed, part +of our owne companie and part of theirs, to go into other harbours +adioyning (for our English marchants command all there) to leauie our +prouision: whereunto the Portugals (aboue other nations) did most willingly +and liberally contribute. Insomuch as we were presented (aboue our +allowance) with wines, marmalads, most fine ruske or bisket, sweet oyles +and sundry delicacies. Also we wanted not of fresh salmons, trouts, +lobsters and other fresh fish brought daily vnto vs. Moreouer as the maner +is in their fishing, euery weeke to choose their Admirall a new, or rather +they succeede in orderly course, and haue weekely their Admirals feast +solemnized: [Sidenote: Good entertainment in Newfound land.] euen so the +General, Captaines and masters of our fleete were continually inuited and +feasted. [Sidenote: No Sauages in the South part of Newfound land.] To grow +short, in our abundance at home, the intertainment had bene delightfull, +but after our wants and tedious passage through the Ocean, it seemed more +acceptable and of greater contentation, by how much the same was vnexpected +in that desolate corner of the world: where at other times of the yeare, +wilde beasts and birds haue only the fruition of all those countries, which +now seemed a place very populous and much frequented. + +The next morning being Sunday and the 4 of August, the Generall and his +company were brought on land by English marchants, who shewed vnto vs their +accustomed walks vnto a place they call the Garden. But nothing appeared +more then Nature it selfe without art: who confusedly hath brought forth +roses abundantly, wilde, but odoriferous, and to sense very comfortable. +Also the like plentie of raspis berries, which doe grow in euery place. + +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Monday following, the Generall had his tent +set vp, who being accompanied with his own followers, summoned the +marchants and masters, both English and strangers to be present at his +taking possession of those Countries. Before whom openly was read and +interpreted vnto the strangers his Commission: by vertue whereof he tooke +possession in the same harbour of S. Iohn, and 200 leagues euery way, +inuested the Queenes Maiestie with the title and dignitie thereof, had +deliuered vnto him (after the custome of England) a rod and a turffe of the +same soile, entring possession also for him, his heires and assignes for +euer: And signified vnto al men, that from that time forward, they should +take the same land as a territorie appertaining to the Queene of England, +and himselfe authorised vuder her Maiestie to possesse and enioy it, And to +ordaine lawes for the gouernement thereof, agreeable (so neere as +conueniently might be) vnto the lawes of England: vnder which all people +coming thither hereafter, either to inhabite, or by way of traffique, +should be subiected and gouerned. [Sidenote: Three Lawes.] And especially +at the same time for a beginning, he proposed and deliuered three lawes to +be in force immediatly. That is to say: the first for Religion, which in +publique exercise should be according to the Church of England. The 2. for +maintenance of her Maiesties right and possession of those territories, +against which if any thing were attempted preiudiciall the partie or +parties offending should be adiudged and executed as in case of high +treason, according to the lawes of England. The 3. if any person should +vtter words sounding to the dishonour of her Maiestie, he should loose his +eares, and haue his ship and goods confiscate. + +These contents published, obedience was promised by generall voyce and +consent of the multitude aswell of Englishmen as strangers, praying for +continuance of this possession and gouernement begun. After this, the +assembly was dismissed. And afterward were erected not farre from that +place the Armes of England ingrauen in lead, and infixed vpon a pillar of +wood. [Sidenote: Actuall possession maintained in Newfound land.] Yet +further and actually to establish this possession taken in the right of her +Maiestie, and to the behoofe of Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, his heires and +assignes for euer: the Generall granted in fee farme diuers parcels of land +lying by the water side, both in this harbor of S. Iohn, and elsewhere, +which was to the owners a great commoditie, being thereby assured (by their +proper inheritance) of grounds conuenient to dresse and to drie their fish, +whereof many times before they did faile, being preuented by them that came +first into the harbor. For which grounds they did couenant to pay a +certaine rent and seruice vnto sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or assignes +for euer, and yeerely to maintaine possession of the same, by themselues or +their assignes. + +Now remained only to take in prouision granted, according as euery shippe +was taxed, which did fish vpon the coast adioyning. [Sidenote: Men +appointed to make search.] In the meane while, the Generall appointed men +vnto their charge: some to repaire and trim the ships, others to attend in +gathering togither our supply and prouisions: others to search the +commodities and singularities of the countrey, to be found by sea or land, +and to make relation vnto the Generall what eyther themselues could knowe +by their owne trauaile and experience, or by good intelligence of English +men or strangers, who had longest frequented the same coast. Also some +obserued the eleuation of the pole, and drewe plats of the country exactly +graded. And by that I could gather by each mans seuerall relation, I haue +drawen a briefe description of the Newfoundland, with the commodities by +sea or lande alreadie made, and such also as are in possibilitie and great +likelihood to be made: Neuerthelesse the Cardes and plats that were +drawing, with the due gradation of the harbors, bayes, and capes, did +perish with the Admirall: wherefore in the description following, I must +omit the particulars of such things. + + +A briefe relation of the Newfound lande, and the commodities thereof. + +[Sidenote: New found land is al Islands or broken lands.] That which we doe +call the Newfound land, and the Frenchmen Bacalaos, is an Iland, or rather +(after the opinion of some) it consisteth of sundry Ilands and broken +lands, situate in the North regions of America, vpon the gulfe and entrance +of the great riuer called S. Laurence in Canada. Into the which, nauigation +may be made both on the South and North side of this Iland. The land lyeth +South and North, containing in length betweene three and 400 miles, +accounting from cape Race (which is 46 degrees 25 minuts) vnto the Grand +bay in 52 degrees of Septentrionall latitude. [Sidenote: Goodly roads and +harbours.] The Iland round about hath very many goodly bayes and harbors, +safe roads for ships, the like not to be found in any part of the knowen +world. + +[Sidenote: New found land is inhabitable.] The common opinion that is had +of intemperature and extreme cold that should be in this countrey, as of +some part it may be verified, namely the North, where I grant it is more +colde then in countries of Europe, which are vnder the same eleuation: euen +so it cannot stand with reason and nature of the clime, that the South +parts should be so intemperate as the brute hath gone. For as the same doe +lie vnder the climats of Briton, Aniou, Poictou in France, betweene 46 and +49 degrees, so can they not so much differ from the temperature of those +countries: vnlesse vpon the outcast lying open vnto the Ocean and sharper +windes, it must in deede be subiect to more colde, then further within the +land, where the mountaines are interposed, as walles and bulwarkes, to +defend and to resist the asperitie and rigor of the sea weather. Some hold +opinion, that the Newfound land might be the more subiect to cold, by how +much it lyeth high and neere vnto the middle region. I grant that not in +Newfound land alone, but in Germany Italy and Afrike, euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line, the mountaines are extreme cold, and seldome vncouered +of snow, in their culme and highest tops, which commeth to passe by the +same reason that they are extended towards the middle region: yet in the +countries lying beneth them, it is found quite contrary. [Sidenote: Cold by +accidentall meanes.] Euen so all hils hauing their discents, the valleis +also and low grounds must be likewise hot or temperate, as the clime doeth +giue in Newfound land: though I am of opinion that the Sunnes reflection is +much cooled, and cannot be so forcible in the Newfound land, nor generally +throughout America, as in Europe or Afrike: by how much the Sunne in his +diurnal course from East to West passeth ouer (for the most part) dry land +and sandy countries, before he arriueth at the West of Europe or Afrike, +whereby his motion increaseth heate, with little or no qualification by +moyst vapours. Where, on the contrary he passeth from Europe and Afrike +vnto America ouer the Ocean, from whence it draweth and carieth with him +abundance of moyst vapours, which doe qualifie and infeeble greatly the +Sunnes reuerberation vpon this countrey chiefly of Newfound land, being so +much to the Northward. Neuerthelesse (as I sayd before) the cold cannot be +so intollerable vnder the latitude of 46 47 and 48 (especiall within land) +that it should be vnhabitable, as some do suppose, seeing also there are +very many people more to the North by a great deale. And in these South +parts there be certaine beastes, Ounces or Leopards, and birdes in like +maner which in the Sommer we haue seene, not heard of in countries of +extreme and vehement coldnesse. Besides, as in the monethes of Iune, Iuly, +August and September, the heate is somewhat more then in England at those +seasons: so men remaining vpon the South parts neere vnto Cape Race, vntill +after Hollandtide, haue not found the cold so extreme, nor much differing +from the temperature of England. Those which haue arriued there after +November and December, haue found the snow exceeding deepe, whereat no +maruaile, considering the ground vpon the coast, is rough and uneuen, and +the snow is driuen into the places most declyning as the like is to be +seene with vs. The like depth of snow happily shall not be found within +land vpon the playner countries, which also are defended by the mountaines, +breaking off the violence of winds and weather. But admitting extraordinary +cold in those South parts, aboue that with vs here: it can not be as great +as in Sweedland, much lesse in Moscouia or Russia: [Sidenote: Commodities.] +yet are the same countries very populous, and the rigor and cold is +dispensed with by the commoditie of Stoues, warme clothing, meats and +drinkes: all which neede not be wanting in the Newfound land, if we had +intent there to inhabite.[101] + +In the South parts we found no inhabitants, which by all likelihood haue +abandoned those coastes, the same being so much frequented by Christians: +But in the North are sauages altogether harmelesse. Touching the +commodities of this countrie, seruing either for sustentation of +inhabitants, or for maintenance of traffique, there are and may be made +diuers: so that it seemeth Nature hath recompenced that only defect and +incommodities of some sharpe cold, by many benefits: [Sidenote: Fish of sea +and fresh water.] viz. With incredible quantitie, and no lesse varietie of +kindes of fish in the sea and fresh waters, as Trouts, Salmons, and other +fish to vs vnknowen: Also Cod, which alone draweth many nations thither, +and is become the most famous fishing of the world. Abundance of Whales, +for which also is a very great trade in the bayes of Placentia and the +Grand bay, where is made Traine oiles of the Whale: Herring the largest +that haue bene heard of, and exceeding the Malstrond[102] herring of +Norway: but hitherto was neuer benefit taken of the herring fishing: There +are sundry other fish very delicate, namely the Bonito, Lobsters, Turbut, +with others infinite not sought after: Oysters hauing peare but not orient +in colour: I tooke it by reason they were not gathered in season. + +Concerning the inland commodities, aswel to be drawen from this land, as +from the exceeding large countries adioyning: there is nothing which our +East and Northerly countries of Europe doe yeelde, but the like also may be +made in them as plentifully by time and Industrie: Namely rosen, pitch, +tarre, sopeashes, dealboord, mastes for ships, hides, furres, flaxe, hempe, +corne, cordage, linnen-cloth, mettals and many more. All which the +countries will aford, and the soyle is apt to yeelde. + +The trees for the most in those South parts are Firre trees Pine and +Cypresse, all yeelding Gumme and Turpentine. + +Cherrie trees bearing fruit no bigger than a small pease. Also peare trees +but fruitlesse. Other trees of some sorts to vs vnknowen. + +The soyle along the coast is not deepe of earth, bringing forth abundantly +peason small, yet good feeding for cattell. Roses passing sweet, like vnto +our muske roses in forme, raspases, a berry which we call Hurts, good and +holesome to eat. The grasse and herbe doth fat sheepe in very short space, +proued by English marchants which haue caried sheepe thither for fresh +victuall and had them raised exceeding fat in lesse then three weekes. +Peason which our countreymen haue sowen in the time of May, haue come vp +faire, and bene gathered in the beginning of August, of which our Generall +had a present acceptable for the rarenesse, being the first fruits comming +vp by art and industrie in that desolate and dishabited land. + +Lakes or pooles of fresh water, both on the tops of mountaines and in the +valies. In which are said to be muskles not vnlike to haue pearle, which I +had put in triall, if by mischance falling vnto me, I had not bene letted +from that and other good experiments I was minded to make. + +Foule both of water and land in great plentie and diuersitie. All kind of +greene foule: Others as bigge as Bustards, yet not the same. A great white +foule called by some a Gaunt. + +Vpon the land diuers sorts of haukes as Faulcons, and others by report: +Partridges most plentifull larger than ours, gray and white of colour, and +rough footed like doues, which our men after one flight did kill with +cudgels, they were so fat and vnable to flie. Birds some like blackbirds, +linnets, Canary birds, and other very small. Beasts of sundry kindes, red +deare, buffles or a beast, as it seemeth by the tract and foote very large +in maner of an oxe. Beares, ounces or leopards, some greater and some +lesser, wolues, Foxes, which to the Northward a little further are black, +whose furre is esteemed in some Countries of Europe very rich. Otters, +beuers, and marternes: And in the opinion of most men that saw it, the +Generall had brought vnto him a Sable aliue, which he sent vnto his brother +sir John Gilbert knight of Deuonshire: but it was neuer deliuered, as after +I vnderstood. [Sidenote: Newfound land doth minister commodities abundantly +for art and industrie.] We could not obserue the hundreth part of creatures +in those vnhabited lands: but these mentioned may induce vs to glorifie the +magnificent God, who hath superabundantly replenished the earth with +creatures seruing for the vse of man, though man hath not vsed a fifth part +of the same, which the more doth aggrauate the fault and foolish slouth in +many of our nation, chusing rather to liue indirectly, and very miserably +to liue and die within this realme pestered with inhabitants, then to +aduenture as becommeth men, to obtaine an habitation in those remote lands, +in which Nature very prodigally doth minister vnto mens endeuours, and for +art to worke vpon. + +For besides these alreadie recounted and infinite moe, the mountaines +generally make shew of minerall substance: Iron very common, lead, and +somewhere copper. I will not auerre of richer mettals: albeit by the +circumstances following, more then hope may be conceiued thereof. + +For amongst other charges giuen to inquire but the singularities of this +countrey, the Generall was most curious in the search of mettals, +commanding the minerall man and refiner, especially to be diligent. The +same was a Saxon borne, honest and religious, named Daniel. Who after +search brought at first some sort of Ore, seeming rather to be yron then +other mettal. [Sidenote: Siluer Ore brought vnto the Generall.] The next +time he found Ore, which with no small shew of contentment he deliuered +vnto the General, vsing prostestation, that if siluer were the thing which +might satisfie the Generall and his followers, there it was, aduising him +to seeke no further: the perill whereof he vndertooke vpon his life (as +deare vnto him as the Crowne of England vnto her Maiestie, that I may vse +his owne words) if it fell not out accordingly. + +My selfe at this instant liker to die then to liue, by a mischance, could +not follow this confident opinion of our refiner to my owne satisfaction: +but afterward demanding our Generals opinion therein, and to haue some part +of the Ore, he replied: Content your selfe, I haue seene ynough, and were +it but to satisfie my priuate humor, I would proceede no further. +[Sidenote: Reasons why no further search was made for the siluer mine.] The +promise vnto my friends, and necessitie to bring also the South countries +within compasse of my Patent neere expired, as we haue alreadie done these +North parts, do only perswade me further. And touching the Ore, I haue sent +it aboord, whereof I would haue no speech to be made so long as we remaine +within harbor: here being both Portugals, Biscains, and Frenchmen not farre +off, from whom must be kept any bruit or muttering of such matter. When we +are at sea proofe shalbe made: if it be to our desire, we may returne the +sooner hither againe. Whose answere I iudged reasonable, and contenting me +well: wherewith will I conclude this narration and description of the +Newfound land, and proceede to the rest of our voyage, which ended +tragically.[103] + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanour in our companie.] While the better sort of vs were +seriously occupied in repairing our wants, and continuing of matters for +the commoditie of our voyage: others of another sort and disposition were +plotting of mischiefe. Some casting to steale away our shipping by night, +watching opportunitie by the Generals and Captaines lying on the shore: +whose conspiracies discouered, they were preuented. Others drew togither in +company, and carried away out of the harbors adioyning, a ship laden with +fish, setting the poore men on shore. A great many more of our people stole +into the woods to hide themselues, attending time and meanes to returne +home by such shipping as daily departed from the coast. Some were sicke of +fluxes, and many dead: and in briefe, by one meanes or other our company +was diminished, and many by the Generall licenced to returne home. Insomuch +as after we had reuiewed our people, resolued to see an end of our voyage, +we grewe scant of men to furnish all our shipping: it seemed good therefore +vnto the Generall to leaue the Swallowe with such provision as might be +spared for transporting home the sicke people. + +[Sidenote: God brought togither these men into the ship ordained to perish, +who before had committed such outrage.] The Captaine of the Delight or +Admirall returned into England, in whose stead was appointed Captaine +Maurice Browne, before Captaine of the Swallow: who also brought with him +into the Delight all his men of the Swallow, which before haue bene noted +of outrage perpetrated and committed vpon fishermen there met at sea. + +[Sidenote: Why sir Humf. Gilbert went in the Frigate.] The Generall made +choise to goe in his frigate the Squirrell (whereof the Captaine also was +amongst them that returned into England) the same Frigate being most +conuenient to discouer vpon the coast, and to search into euery harbor or +creeke, which a great ship could not doe. Therefore the Frigate was +prepared with her nettings and fights, and ouercharged with bases and such +small Ordinance, more to giue a shew, then with iudgement to foresee vnto +the safetie of her and the men, which afterward was an occasion also of +their ouerthrow. + +[Sidenote: Liberalitie of the Portugals.] Now hauing made readie our +shipping, that is to say, the Delight, the golden Hinde, and the Squirrell, +and put aboord our prouision, which was wines, bread or ruske, fish wette +and drie, sweete oiles: besides many other, as marmalades, figs, lymmons +barrelled, and such like: Also we had other necessary prouision for +trimming our ships, nets and lines to fish withall, boates or pinnesses fit +for discouery. In briefe, we were supplied of our wants commodiously, as if +we had bene in a Countrey or some Citie populous and plentifull of all +things. + +[Sidenote: S. Iohns in 47 deg. 40 min.] We departed from this harbor of S. +Iohns vpon Tuesday the twentieth of August, which we found by exact +obseruation to be in 47 degrees 40 miuutes. And the next day by night we +were at Cape Race, 25 leagues from the same harborough. + +This Cape lyeth South Southwest from S. Iohns: it is a low land, being off +from the Cape about halfe a league: within the sea riseth vp a rocke +against the point of the Cape, which thereby is easily knowen. [Sidenote: +Cape Race in 46 degrees 25 minutes.] It is in latitude 46 degrees 25 +minutes. + +[Sidenote: Fish large and plentifull.] Vnder this cape we were becalmed a +small time, during which we layd out hookes and lines to take Codde, and +drew in lesse then two houres, fish so large and in such abundance, that +many dayes after we fed vpon no other prouision. + +From hence we shaped our course vnto the Island of Sablon, if conueniently +it would so fall out, also directly to Cape Briton. + +[Sidenote: Cattell in the Isle of Sablon.] Sablon lieth to the sea-ward of +Cape Briton about 25 leagues, whither we were determined to goe vpon +intelligence we had of a Portugal, (during our abode in S. Iohns) who was +himselfe present, when the Portugals (aboue thirty yeeres past) did put +into the same Island both Neat and Swine to breede, which were since +exceedingly multiplied. This seemed vnto vs very happy tidings, to haue in +an Island lying so neere vnto the maine, which we intended to plant vpon, +such store of cattell, whereby we might at all times conueniently be +relieued of victuall, and serued of store for breed. + +In this course we trended along the coast, which from Cape Race stretcheth +into the Northwest, making a bay which some called Trepassa. Then it goeth +out againe toward the West, and maketh a point, which with Cape Race lieth +in maner East and West. But this point inclineth to the North: to the West +of which goeth in the bay of Placentia. [Sidenote: Good soile.] We sent men +on land to take view of the soyle along this coast, whereof they made good +report, and some of them had wil to be planted there. They saw Pease +growing in great abundance euery where. + +The distance betweene Cape Race and Cape Briton is 87 leagues. In which +Nauigation we spent 8 dayes, hauing many times the wind indifferent good; +yet could we neuer attaine sight of any land all that time, seeing we were +hindred by the current. At last we fell into such flats and dangers, that +hardly any of vs escaped: where neuerthelesse we lost our Admiral with al +the men and prouision, not knowing certainly the place. Yet for inducing +men of skill to make coniecture, by our course and way we held from Cape +Race thither (that thereby the flats and dangers may be inserted in sea +Cards, for warning to others that may follow the same course hereafter) I +haue set downe the best reckonings that were kept by expert men, William +Cox Master of the Hind, and Iohn Paul his mate, both of Limehouse. + + +Reckonings kept in our course from Cape Race towards Cape Briton, and the + Island of Sablon, to the time and place where we lost our Admirall. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + {West and by South, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 9. + {Southsouthwest, 10. + {Southwest, 12. + {Southsouthwest, 10. +August 29. {Westnorthwest, 12. Here we lost our Admiral. + + Summe of these leagues, 117. + + +The reckoning of Iohn Paul masters mate from Cape Race. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + 23 {Northwest and by West, 9. + 24 {Southwest and by South, 5. + 25 {West and by South, 40. + 26 {West and by North, 7. + 27 {Southwest, 3. + 28 {Southwest, 9. + {Southwest, 7. + {Westsouthwest, 7. + 29 {Northwest and by West, 20. Here we lost our Admirall. + +Summe of all these leagues, 121. + +Our course we held in clearing vs of these flats was Eastsoutheast, and +Southeast, and South 14 leagues with a marueilous scant winde. + + +The maner how our Admirall was lost. + +[Sidenote: August 27.] Vpon Tewsday the 27 of August, toward the euening, +our Generall caused them in his frigat to sound, who found white sande at +35. fadome, being then in latitude about 44 degrees. + +Wednesday toward night the wind came South, and wee bare with the land all +that night, Westnorthwest, contrary to the mind of master Cox: +neuerthelesse wee followed the Admirall, depriued of power to preuent a +mischiefe, which by no contradiction could be brought to hold other course, +alleaging they could not make the ship to worke better, nor to lie +otherwaies. + +[Sidenote: Predictions before the wracke.] The euening was faire and +pleasant, yet not without token of storme to ensue, and most part of this +Wednesday night, like the Swanne that singeth before her death, they in the +Admiral, or Delight, continued in sounding of Trumpets, with Drummes, and +Fifes: also winding the Cornets, Haught boyes: and in the end of their +iolitie, left with the battell and ringing of doleful knels. + +Towards the euening also we caught in the Golden Hinde a very mighty +Porpose, with a harping yron, hauing first striken diuers of them, and +brought away part of their flesh, sticking vpon the yron, but could recouer +onely that one. These also passing through the Ocean, in heardes, did +portend storme. I omit to recite friuolous reportes by them in the Frigat, +of strange voyces, the same night, which scarred some from the helme. + +Thursday the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew vehemently at South and +by East, bringing withal raine, and thicke mist, so that we could not see a +cable length before vs. [Sidenote: Losse of our Admirall.] And betimes in +the morning we were altogether runne and folded in amongst flats and sands, +amongst which we found shoale and deepe in euery three or foure shippes +length, after wee began to sound: but first we were vpon them vnawares, +vntill master Cox looking out, discerned (in his iudgement) white cliffes, +crying (land) withal, though we could not afterward descrie any land, it +being very likely the breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white +cliffes, through the haze and thicke weather. + +Immediatly tokens were giuen vnto the Delight, to cast about to seaward, +which, being the greater ship, and of burden 120 tunnes, was yet formost +vpon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not the danger before +he felt the same, to late to recouer it: for presently the Admirall strooke +a ground, and had soone after her sterne and hinder partes beaten in +pieces: whereupon the rest (that is to say, the Frigat in which was the +Generall and the Golden Hinde) cast about Eastsoutheast, bearing to the +South, euen for our liues into the windes eye, because that way caried vs +to the seaward. Making out from this danger, wee sounded one while seuen +fadome, then fiue fadome, then foure fadome and lesse, againe deeper, +immediatly foure fadome, then but three fadome, the sea going mightily and +high. At last we recouered (God be thanked) in some despaire, to sea roome +enough. + +In this distresse, wee had vigilant eye vnto the Admirall, whom we sawe +cast away, without power to giue the men succour, neither could we espie +any of the men that leaped ouerboord to saue themselues, either in the same +Pinnesse or Cocke, or vpon rafters, and such like meanes, presenting +themselues to men in those extremities: for we desired to saue the men by +euery possible meanes. But all in vaine, sith God had determined their +ruine: yet all that day, and part of the next, we beat vp and downe as +neere vnto the wracke as was possible for vs, looking out, if by good hap +we might espie any of them. + +This was a heavy and grieuous euent, to lose at one blow our chiefe shippe +freighted with great prouision, gathered together with much trauell, care, +long time, and difficultie. But more was the losse of our men, which +perished to the number almost of a hundreth soules. [Sidenote: Stephanus +Parmenius a learned Hungarian.] Amongst whom was drowned a learned man, an +Hungarian, borne in the citie of Buda, called hereof Budæus, who of pietie +and zeale to good attempts, aduentured in this action, minding to record in +the Latine tongue, the gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in +this discouerie, to the honour of our nation, the same being adorned with +the eloquent stile of this Orator, and rare Poet of our time. + +[Sidenote: Daniel a refiner of metal.] Here also perished our Saxon Refiner +and discouerer of inestimable riches, as it was left amongst some of vs in +vndoubted hope. + +No lesse heauy was the losse of the Captaine Maurice Browne, a vertuous, +honest, and discreete Gentleman, ouerseene onely in liberty giuen late +before to men, that ought to haue bene restrained, who shewed himselfe a +man resolued, and neuer vnprepared for death, as by his last act of this +tragedie appeared, by report of them that escaped this wracke miraculously, +as shall bee hereafter declared. For when all hope was past of recouering +the ship, and that men began to giue ouer, and to saue themselues, the +Captaine was aduised before to ship also for his life, by the Pinnesse at +the sterne of the ship: but refusing that counsell, he would not giue +example with the first to leaue the shippe, but vsed all meanes to exhort +his people not to despaire, nor so to leaue off their labour, choosing +rather to die, then to incurre infamie, by forsaking his charge, which then +might be thought to haue perished through his default, shewing an ill +president vnto his men, by leauing the ship first himselfe. With this mind +hee mounted vpon the highest decke, where hee attended imminent death, and +vnauoidable; how long, I leaue it to God, who withdraweth not his comfort +from his seruants at such times. + +[Sidenote: A wonderfull scape and deliuerance. A great distresse. A +desperate resolution.] In the meane season, certaine, to the number of +fourteene persons, leaped into a small Pinnesse (the bignes of a Thames +barge, which was made in the New found land) cut off the rope wherewith it +was towed, and committed themselues to Gods mercy, amiddest the storme, and +rage of sea and windes, destitute of foode, not so much as a droppe of +fresh water. + +The boate seeming ouercharged in foule weather with company, Edward Headly +a valiant souldier, and well reputed of his companie, preferring the +greater to the lesser, thought better that some of them perished then all, +made this motion to cast lots, and them to bee throwen ouerboord vpon whom +the lots fell, thereby to lighten the boate, which otherwayes seemed +impossible to liue, offred himselfe with the first, content to take his +aduenture gladly: which neuerthelesse Richard Clarke, that was Master of +the Admirall, and one of this number, refused, aduising to abide Gods +pleasure, who was able to saue all, as well as a few. + +[Sidenote: Two men famished.] The boate was caried before the wind, +continuing sixe dayes and nights in the Ocean, and arriued at last with the +men (aliue but weake) vpon the New found land, sauing that the foresayd +Headly, (who had bene late sicke) and another called of vs Brasile, of his +trauell into those Countries, died by the way, famished and lesse able to +holde out, then those of better health. For such was these poore mens +extremitie, in cold and wet, to haue no better sustenance then their own +vrine, for sixe dayes together. + +Thus whom God deliuered from drowning, hee appointed to bee famished, who +doth giue limits to mans times, and ordaineth the manner and circumstance +of dying: whom againe he will preserue, neither Sea nor famine can +confound. For those that arriued vpon the Newe found land, were brought +into France by certaine French men, then being vpon that coast. + +After this heauie chance, wee continued in beating the sea vp and downe, +expecting when the weadier would cleere vp, that we might yet beare in with +the land, which we iudged not farre off, either the continent or some +Island. For we many times, and in sundry places found ground at 50, 45, 40 +fadomes, and lesse. The ground comming vpon our lead, being sometimes oazie +sand, and otherwhile a broad shell, with a little sand about it. + +[Sidenote: Causes inforcing vs to returne home againe.] Our people lost +courage dayly after this ill successe, the weather continuing thicke and +blustering, with increase of cold, Winter drawing on, which tooke from them +all hope of amendment, setling an assurance of worse weather to growe vpon +vs euery day. The Leeside of vs lay full of flats and dangers ineuitable, +if the wind blew hard at South. Some againe doubted we were ingulphed in +the Bay of S. Laurence, the coast full of dangers, and vnto vs vnknowen. +But aboue all, prouision waxed scant, and hope of supply was gone, with +losse of our Admirall. + +Those in the Frigat were already pinched with spare allowance, and want of +clothes chiefly: Whereupon they besought the Generall to returne for +England, before they all perished. And to them of the Golden Hinde, they +made signes of their distresse, pointing to their mouthes, and to their +clothes thinne and ragged: then immediately they also of the Golden Hinde, +grew to be of the same opinion and desire to returne home. + +The former reasons hauing also moued the Generall to haue compassion of his +poore men, in whom he saw no want of good will, but of meanes fit to +performe the action they came for, resolued vpon retire: and calling the +Captaine and Master of the Hinde, he yeelded them many reasons, inforcing +this vnexpected returne, withall protesting himselfe greatly satisfied with +that hee had seene, and knew already. + +Reiterating these words. Be content, we haue seene enough, and take no care +of expence past: I will set you foorth royally the next Spring, if God send +vs safe home. Therefore I pray you let vs no longer striue here, where we +fight against the elements. + +Omitting circumstance, how vnwillingly the Captaine and Master of the Hinde +condescended to this motion, his owne company can testifie: yet comforted +with the Generals promises of a speedie returne at Spring, and induced by +other apparent reasons, prouing an impossibilitie, to accomplish the action +at that time, it was concluded on all hands to retire. + +[Sidenote: August 31.] So vpon Saturday in the afternoone the 31 of August, +we changed our course, and returned backe for England, [Sidenote: A monster +of the sea.] at which very instant, euen in winding about, there passed +along betweene vs and towards the land which we now forsooke a very lion to +our seeming, in shape, hair and colour, not swimming after the maner of a +beast by moouing of his feete, but rather sliding vpon the water with his +whole body (excepting the legs) in sight, neither yet diuing vnder, and +againe rising aboue the water, as the maner is, of Whales, Dolphins, +Tunise, Torposes, and all other fish: but confidently shewing himselfe +aboue water without hiding: Notwithstanding, we presented our selues in +open view and gesture to amase him, as all creatures will be commonly at a +sudden gaze and sight of men. Thus he passed along turning his head to and +fro, yawning and gaping wide, with ougly demonstration of long teeth, and +glaring eies, and to bidde vs a farewell (comming right against the Hinde) +he sent forth a horrible voyce, roaring or bellowing as doeth a lion, which +spectacle wee all beheld so farre as we were able to discerne the same, as +men prone to wonder at euery strange thing, as this doubtlesse was, to see +a lion in the Ocean sea, or fish in shape of a lion. What opinion others +had thereof, and chiefly the Generall himselfe, I forbeare to deliuer: But +he tooke it for Bonum Omen, reioycing that he was to warre against such an +enemie, if it were the deuill. + +The wind was large for England at our returne, but very high, and the sea +rough, insomuch as the Frigat wherein the Generall went was almost swalowed +vp. + +[Sidenote: September 2.] Munday in the afternoone we passed in the sight of +Cape Race, hauing made as much way in little more then two dayes and nights +backe againe, as before wee had done in eight dayes from Cape Race, vnto +the place where our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed +back againe, is to be imputed vnto the swift current, as well as to the +winds, which we had more large in our returne. + +This Munday the Generall came aboord the Hind to haue the Surgeon of the +Hind to dresse his foote, which he hurt by treading vpon a naile: At what +time we comforted ech other with hope of hard successe to be all past, and +of the good to come. So agreeing to cary out lights alwayes by night, that +we might keepe together, he departed into his Frigat, being by no meanes to +be intreated to tarie in the Hind, which had bene more for his security. +Immediatly after followed a sharpe storme, which we ouerpassed for that +time. Praysed be God. + +[Sidenote: Our last conference with our Generall.] The weather faire, the +Generall came aboord the Hind againe, to make merrie together with the +Captaine, Master and company which was the last meeting, and continued +there from morning untill night. During which time there passed sundry +discourses, touching affaires past, and to come, lamenting greatly the +losse of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all of his bookes and +notes, and what els I know not, for which hee was out of measure grieued, +the same doubtles being some matter of more importance then his bookes, +which I could not draw from him: yet by circumstance I gathered, the same +to be the Ore which Daniel the Saxon had brought vnto him in the New found +land. [Sidenote: Circumstances to be well obserued in our Generall, +importing the Ore to be of a Siluer mine.] Whatsoeuer it was, the +remembrance touched him so deepe, as not able to containe himselfe, he beat +his boy in great rage, euen at the same time, so long after the miscarrying +of the great ship, because vpon a faire day, when wee were becalmed vpon +the coast of the New found land, neere vnto Cape Race, he sent his boy +aboord the Admirall, to fetch certaine things: amongst which, this being +chiefe, was yet forgotten and left behind. After which time he could neuer +conueniently send againe aboord the great ship, much lesse hee doubted her +ruine so neere at hand. + +Herein my opinion was better confirmed diursely, and by sundry coniectures, +which maketh me haue the greater hope of this rich Mine. For where as the +Generall had neuer before good conceit of these North parts of the world: +now his mind was wholly fixed vpon the New found land. And as before he +refused not to grant assignements liberally to them that required the same +into these North parts, now he became contrarily affected, refusing to make +any so large grants, especially of S. Iohns, which certaine English +merchants made suite for, offering to imploy their money and trauell vpon +the same: yet neither by their owne suite, nor of others of his owne +company, whom he seemed willing to pleasure, it could be obtained. + +Also laying downe his determination in the Spring following, for disposing +of his voyage then to be reattempted: he assigned the Captaine and Master +of the Golden Hind, vnto the South discouery, and reserued vnto himselfe +the North, affirming that this voyage had wonne his heart from the South, +and that he was now become a Northerne man altogether. + +Last, being demanded what means he had at his arriuall in England, to +compasse the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the +next Spring: hauing determined vpon two fleetes, one for the South, another +for the North: Leaue that to mee (hee replied) I will aske a pennie of no +man. I will bring good tidings vnto her Maiesty, who wil be so gracious, to +lend me 10000 pounds, willing vs therefore to be of good cheere: for he did +thanke God (he sayd) with al his heart, for that he had seene, the same +being enough for vs all, and that we needed not to seeke any further. And +these last words he would often repeate, with demonstration of great +feruencie of mind, being himselfe very confident, and setled in beliefe of +inestimable good by his voyage: which the greater number of his followers +neuertheles mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those +secrets, which the Generall kept vnto himselfe. Yet all of them that are +liuing, may be witnesses of his words and protestations, which sparingly I +have deliuered. + +Leauing the issue of this good hope vnto God, who knoweth the trueth only, +and can at his good pleasure bring the same to light: I will hasten to the +end of this tragedie, which must be knit vp in the person of our Generall. +[Sidenote: Wilfulnes in the Generall.] And as it was Gods ordinance vpon +him, euen so the vehement perswasion and intreatie of his friends could +nothing auaile, to diuert him from a wilfull resolution of going through in +his Frigat, which was ouercharged vpon their deckes, with fights, nettings, +and small artillerie, too cumbersome for so small a boate, that was to +passe through the Ocean sea at that season of the yere, when by course we +might expect much storme of foule weather, whereof indeed we had enough. + +[Sidenote: A token of a good mind.] But when he was intreated by the +Captaine, Master, and other his well willers of the Hinde, not to venture +in the Frigat, this was his answere: I will not forsake my little company +going homeward, with whom I haue passed so many stormes and perils. And in +very trueth, hee was vrged to be so ouer hard, by hard reports giuen of +him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was rather rashnes, then +aduised resolution, to preferre the wind of a vaine report to the weight of +his owne life. + +Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had prouision out of the Hinde, such +as was wanting aboord his Frigat. And so we committed him to Gods +protection, and set him aboord his Pinnesse, we being more then 300 leagues +onward of our way home. + +By that time we had brought the Islands of Açores South of vs, yet wee then +keeping much to the North, vntill we had got into the height and eleuation +of England: we met with very foule weather, and terrible seas, breaking +short and high Pyramid wise. The reason whereof seemed to proceede either +of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, (as we see hilles and dales +vpon the land) vpon which the seas doe mount and fall: or else the cause +proceedeth of diuersitie of winds, shifting often in sundry points: al +which hauing power to moue the great Ocean, which againe is not presently +setled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had bene diuersitie of +windes. Howsoeuer it commeth to passe, men which all their life time had +occupied the Sea, neuer saw more outragious Seas. We had also vpon our +maine yard, an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen doe call +Castor and Pollux. But we had onely one, which they take an euill signe of +more tempest: the same is vsuall in stormes. + +[Sidenote: A resolute and Christianlike saying in a distresse.] Munday the +ninth of September, in the afternoone, the Frigat was neere cast away, +oppressed by waues, yet at that time recouered: and giuing foorth signes of +ioy, the Generall sitting abaft with a booke in his hand, cried out vnto vs +in the Hind (so oft as we did approch within hearing) We are as neere to +heauen by sea as by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a +souldier, resolute in Iesus Christ, as I can testifie he was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned.] The same Monday night, about +twelue of the clocke, or not long after, the Frigat being ahead of vs in +the Golden Hinde, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as it were in a +moment, we lost the sight, and withall our watch cryed, the Generall was +cast away, which was so true. For in that moment, the Frigat was deuoured +and swallowed vp of the Sea. Yet still we looked out all that night, and +euer after, vntill wee arriued vpon the coast of England: Omitting no small +saile at sea, vnto which we gaue not the tokens betweene vs, agreed vpon, +to haue perfect knowledge of each other, if we should at any time be +separated. + +[Sidenote: Arriuall in England of the Golden Hinde.] In great torment of +weather, and perill of drowning, it pleased God to send safe home the +Golden Hinde, which arriued in Falmouth, the 22 day of September, being +Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flaw, comming from the +Southeast, with such thicke mist, that we could not discerne land, to put +in right with the Hauen. + +From Falmouth we went to Dartmouth, and lay there at anker before the +Range, while the captaine went aland, to enquire if there had bene any +newes of the Frigat, while sayling well, might happily haue bene there +before vs. [Sidenote: A fit motion of the Captain vnto Sir Humfrey +Gilbert.] Also to certifie Sir Iohn Gilbert, brother vnto the Generall of +our hard successe, whom the Captaine desired (while his men were yet aboord +him, and were witnesses of all occurents in that voyage,) It might please +him to take the examination of euery person particularly, in discharge of +his and their faithfull endeauour. Sir Iohn Gilbert refused so to doe, +holding himselfe satisfied with report made by the Captaine: and not +altogether dispairing of his brothers safetie, offered friendship and +curtesie to the Captaine and his company, requiring to haue his barke +brought into the harbour: in furtherance whereof, a boate was sent to helpe +to tow her in. + +Neuerthelesse, when the Captaine returned aboord his ship, he found his men +bent to depart, euery man to his home: and then the winde seruing to +proceede higher vpon the coast: they demanded monie to carie them home, +some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, (if the barke should be +caried into Dartmouth, and they discharged, so farre from home) or else to +take benefite of the wind, then seruing to draw neerer home, which should +be a lesse charge vnto the Captaine, and great ease vnto the men, hauing +els farre to goe. + +Reason accompanied with necessitie perswaded the Captaine, who sent his +lawfull excuse and cause of his sudden departure vnto Sir Iohn Gilbert, by +the boate at Dartmouth, and from thence the Golden Hind departed, and tooke +harbour at Waimouth. [Sidenote: An ill recompense.] Al the men tired with +the tediousnes of so vnprofitable a voyage to their seeming: in which their +long expence of time, much toyle and labour, hard diet and continuall +hazard of life was vnrecompensed: their Captaine neuerthelesse by his great +charges, impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in the goodnes of God, and +his vndoubted prouidence following him in all that voyage, as it doth +alwaies those at other times, whosoeuer haue confidence in him alone. Yet +haue we more neere feeling and perseuerance of his powerfull hand and +protection, when God doth bring vs together with others into one same +peril, in which he leaueth them, and deliuereth vs, making vs thereby the +beholders, but not partakers of their ruine. + +Euen so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, +conspiracies, sicknesses, mortalitie, spoylings, and wracks by sea, which +were afflictions, more then in so small a Fleete, or so short a time may be +supposed, albeit true in euery particularitie, as partly by the former +relation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for their +sakes liuing, it pleased God to support this company, (of which onely one +man died of a maladie inueterate, and long infested): the rest kept +together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and +ending the voyage, which none els did accomplish, either not pleased with +the action, or impatient of wants, or preuented by death. + +[Sidenote: Constancie in sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Thus haue I deliuered the +contents of the enterprise and last action of sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, +faithfully, for so much as I thought meete to be published: wherein may +alwaies appeare, (though he be extinguished) some sparkes of his vertues, +he remaining firme and resolute in a purpose by all pretence honest and +godly, as was this, to discouer, possesse, and to reduce vnto the seruice +of God, and Christian pietie, those remote and heathen Countreys of +America, not actually possessed by Christians, and most rightly +appertaining vnto the Crowne of England: vnto the which, as his zeale +deserueth high commendation: euen so, he may iustly be taxed of temeritie +and presumption (rather) in two respects. + +[Sidenote: His temeritie and presumption.] First, when yet there was onely +probabilitie, not a certaine and determinate place of habitation selected, +neither any demonstration of commoditie there in esse, to induce his +followers: neuertheles, he both was too prodigall of his owne patrimony, +and too careles of other mens expences, to imploy both his and their +substance vpon a ground imagined good. The which falling, very like his +associates were promised, and made it their best reckoning to bee salued +some other way, which pleased not God to prosper in his first and great +preparation. + +Secondly, when by his former preparation he was enfeebled of abilitie and +credit, to performe his designements, as it were impatient to abide in +expectation better opportunitie and meanes, which God might raise, he +thrust himselfe againe into the action, for which he was not fit, presuming +the cause pretended on Gods behalfe, would carie him to the desired ende. +Into which, hauing thus made reentrie, he could not yeeld againe to +withdraw though hee sawe no encouragement to proceed, lest his credite, +foyled in his first attempt, in a second should vtterly be disgraced. +Betweene extremities, hee made a right aduenture, putting all to God and +good fortune, and which was worst refused not to entertaine euery person +and meanes whatsoeuer, to furnish out this expedition, the successe whereof +hath bene declared. + +But such is the infinite bountie of God, who from euery euill deriueth +good. [Sidenote: Afflictions needfull in the children of God.] For besides +that fruite may growe in time of our trauelling into those Northwest lands, +the crosses, turmoiles, and afflictions, both in the preparation and +execution of this voyage, did correct the intemperate humors, which before +we noted to bee in this Gentleman, and made vnsauorie, and lesse delightful +his other manifold vertues. + +Then as he was refined, and made neerer drawing vnto the image of God: so +it pleased the diuine will to resume him vnto himselfe, whither both his, +and euery other high and noble minde, haue alwayes aspired. + + * * * * * + +Ornatissimo viro, Magistro Richard Hakluyto Oxonij in Collegio ædis + Christi, Artium et Philosophiæ Magistro, amico, et fratri suo. + +S. Non statueram ad te scribere, cùm in mentem veniret promissum literarum +tuarum. Putabas te superiore iam Iunio nos subsecuturum. Itaque de meo +statu ex doctore Humfredo certiorem te fieri iusseram. Verùm sic tibi non +esset satisfactum. Itaque scribam ad te ijsdem ferè verbis, quia noua +meditari et [Greek: sunonumixein] mihi hoc tempore non vacat. Vndecimo +Iunij ex Anglia reuera tandem et seriò soluimus, portu et terra apud +Plemuthum simul relictis. Classis quinque nauibus constabat: maxima, quam +[Marginal note: Dominus Ralegh.] frater Amiralij accommodauerat, ignotum +quo comsilio, statim tertio die à nobis se subduxit. Reliqui perpetuò +coniunctim nauigauimus ad. 23. Iulij, quo tempore magnis nebulis intercepto +aspectu alij aliam viam tenuimus: nobis seorsim prima terra apparuit ad +Calendas Augusti, ad gradum circiter 50. cùm vltrà 41. paucis ante diebus +descendissemus spe Australium ventorum, qui tamen nobis suo tempore nunquam +spirauêre. [Sidenote: Insula penguin.] Insula est ea, quam vestri Penguin +vocant, ab auium eiusdem nominis multitudine. Nos tamen nec aues vidimus, +nec insulam accessimus, ventis aliò vocantibus. Cæterùm conuenimus omnes in +eundum locum paulò ante portum in quem communi consilio omnibus veniendum +erat, idqúe intra duas horas, magna Dei benignitate et nostro gaudio. Locus +situs est in Newfoundlandia, inter 47. et 48. gradum, Diuum Ioannem vocant. +Ipse Admiralius proter multitudinem hominum et angustiam nauis paulò +afflictiorem comitatum habuit et iam duos dysentericis fioloribus amisit: +de cæteris bona spes est. Ex nostris (nam ego me Mauricio Browno verè +generoso iuueni me coniunxeram) duo etiam casu quodam submersi sunt. Cæteri +salui et longè firmiores. Ego nunquam sanior. In hunc locum tertio Augusti +appulimus: quinto autem ipse Admiralius has regiones in suam et regni +Angliæ possessionem potestatemque vendicauit, latis quibusdam legibus de +religione et obsequio Reginæ Angliæ. Reficimur hoc tempore paulò hilariùs +et lautiùs. Certè enim et qualibus ventis vsi simus, et quà m fessi esse +potuerimus tam longi temporis ratio docuerit, proinde nihil nobis deerit. +Nam extra Anglos, 20 circiter naues Lusitanicas et Hispanicas nacti in hoc +loco sumus: eæ nobis impares non patientur nas esurire. Angli etsi satis +firmi, et à nobis tuli, authoritate regij diplomatis omni obsequio et +humanitate prosequuntur. Nunc narrandi erant mores, regiones, et populi. +Cæterùm quid narrem mi Hakluyte, quando præter solitudinem nihil video? +Piscium inexhausta copia: inde huc commeantibus magnus quæstus. Vix hamus +fumdum attigit, illicò insigni aliquo onustus est. Terra vniuersa [Marginal +note: In the south side of Newefoundland, there is store of plaine and +champion Countrey, as Richard Clarke found.] montana et syluestris: arbores +vt plurimùm pinus: ex partim consenuêre, partim nunc adolescunt: magna pars +vetustate collapsa, et aspectum terræ, et iter euntium ita impedit, vt +nusquam progredi liceat. Herbæ omnes proceræ: sed rarò à nostris diuersæ. +Natura videtur velle niti etiam ad generandum frumentum. Inueni enim +gramina, et spicas in similitudinem secales: et facilè cultura et satione +in vsum humanum assuefieri posse videntur. Rubi in syluis vel potiùs fraga +arborescentia magna suauitate. Vrsi circa tuguria nonnunquam apparent, et +conficiuntur: sed albi sunt, vt mihi ex peliibus coniicere licuit, et +minores quà m nostri. Populus an vllus sit in hac regione incertum est: Nec +vllum vidi qui testari posset. Et quis quæso posset, cùm ad longum progredi +non liceat? Nee minùs ignotum est an aliquid metalli sub sit montibus. +Causa eadem est, etsi aspectus eorum mineras latentes præ se ferat. Nos +Admiralio authores fuimus syluas incendere, quo ad inspiciendam regionem +spacium pateret: nec displicebat illi consilium, si non magnum incommodum +allaturum videretur. [Sidenote: The great heate of the sunne in summer.] +Confirmatum est enim ab idoneis hominibus, cum casu quopiam in alia nescio +qua statione id accidisset, septennium totum pisces non comparuisse, ex +acerbata maris vnda ex terebynthina, quæ conflagrantibus arboribus per +riuulos defluebat. Coelum hoc anni tempore ita feruidum est, vt nisi +pisces, qui arefiunt ad solem, assidui inuertantur, ab adustione defendi +non possint. Hyeme quà m frigidum sit, magnæ moles glaciei in medio mari nos +docuere. Relatum est à comitibus mense Maio sexdecim totos dies interdum se +inter tantam glaciem hæsisse, vt 60. orgyas altæ essent insulæ: quarum +latera soli apposita cum liquescerent, liberatione quadam vniuersam molem +ita inuersam, vt quòd ante pronum erat, supinum euaderet, magno præsentium +discrimine, vt consentaneum est. Aer in terra mediocriter clarus est: ad +orientem supra mare perpetuæ nebulæ: Et in ipso mari circa Bancum (sic +vocant locum vbi quadraginta leucis à terra fundus attingitur, et pisces +capi incipiunt) nullus ferme dies absque pluuia. Expeditis nostris +necessitatibus in hoc loco, in Austrum (Deo iuuante) progrediemur, tantò +indies maiori spe, quò plura de iis quas petimus regionibus commemorantur. +Hæc de nostris. Cupio de vobis scire: sed metuo ne incassum. Imprimis autem +quomodo Vntonus meus absentiam meam ferat, præter modum intelligere velim: +Habebit nostrum obsequium et officium paratum, quandiu vixerimus. Reuera +autem spero, hanc nostram peregrinationem ipsius instituo vsui futuram. +Nunc restat, vt me tuum putes, et quidem ita tuum, vt neminem magis. Iuuet +dei filius labores nostros eatenus, vt tu quoque participare possis. Vale +amicissime, suauissime, onrnatissime Hakluyle, et nos ama. In Newfundlandia +apud portum Sancti Iohannis 6. Augusti 1583. + +STEPHANVS PARMENIVS +Budeius, tuus. + + +The same in English. + +To the worshipfull, Master Richard Hakluit at Oxford in Christchurch Master + of Arts, and Philosophie, his friend and brother. + +I had not purposed to write vnto you, when the promise of your letters came +to my mind: You thought in Iune last to haue followed vs your selfe, and +therefore I had left order that you should be aduertised of my state, by +Master Doctor Humfrey: but so you would not be satisfied: I will write +therefore to you almost in the same words, because I haue no leasure at +this time, to meditate new matters, and to vary or multiply words. + +The 11. of Iune we set saile at length from England in good earnest, and +departed leauing the hauen and land behind vs at Plimmouth: our Fleete +consisted of fiue shippes: the greatest, which the Admirals brother had +lent vs, withdrew her selfe from vs the third day, wee know not vpon what +occassion: with the rest we sailed still together till the 23 of Iuly: at +which time our view of one another being intercepted by the great mists, +some of vs sailed one way, and some another: to vs alone the first land +appeared, the first of August, about the latitude of 50. degrees, when as +before we had descended beyond 41 degrees in hope of some Southerly windes, +which notwithstanding neuer blew to vs at any fit time. + +It is an Island which your men call Penguin, because of the multitude of +birdes of the same name. Yet wee neither sawe any birds, nor drew neere to +the land, the winds seruing for our course directed to another place, but +wee mette altogether at that place a little before the Hauen, whereunto by +common Councell we had determined to come, and that within the space of two +houres by the great goodnesse of God, and to our great ioy. The place is +situate in Newfound land, betweene 47. and 48. degres called by the name of +Saint Iohns: the Admirall himselfe by reason of the multitude of the men, +and the smalnesse of his ship, had his company somewhat sickly, and had +already lost two of the same company, which died of the Flixe: of the rest +we conceiue good hope. Of our company (for I ioyned my selfe with Maurice +Browne, a very proper Gentleman) two persons by a mischance were drowned, +the rest are in safetie, and strong; for mine owne part I was neuer more +healthy. Wee arriued at this place the third of August: and the fift the +Admirall tooke possession of the Countrey, for himselfe and the kingdome of +England: hauing made and published certaine Lawes, concerning religion, and +obedience to the Queene of England: at this time our fare is somewhat +better, and dantier, then it was before: for in good sooth, the experience +of so long time hath taught vs what contrary winds wee haue found, and what +great trauell wee may endure hereafter: and therefore wee will take such +order, that wee will want nothing: for we found in this place about twenty +Portugall and Spanish shippes, besides the shippes of the English: which +being not able to match vs, suffer vs not to bee hunger starued: the +English although they were of themselues strong ynough, and safe from our +force, yet seeing our authoritie, by the Queenes letters patents, they +shewed vs all maner of duety and humanitie. + +The maner of this Countrey and people remaine now to be spoken of. But what +shall I say, my good Hakluyt, when I see nothing but a very wildernesse: Of +fish here is incredible abundance, whereby great gaine growes to them, that +trauell to these parts: the hooke is no sooner throwne out, but it is +eftsoones drawne vp with some goodly fish: the whole land is full of hilles +and woods. The trees for the most part are Pynes and of them some are very +olde, and some yong: a great part of them being fallen by reason of their +age, doth so hinder the sight of the land, and stoppe the ways of those +that seeke to trauell, that they can goe no whither: all the grasse here is +long, and tall, and little differeth from ours. It seemeth also that the +nature of this soyle is fit for corne: for I found certaine blades and +eares in a manner bearded, so that it appeareth that by manuring and +sowing, they may easily be framed for the vse of man: here are in the +woodes bush berries, or rather straw berries growing vp like trees, of +great sweetnesse. Beares also appeare about the fishers stages of the +Countrey, and are sometimes killed, but they seeme to bee white, as I +conjectured by their skinnes, and somewhat lesse then ours. Whether there +bee any people in the Countrey I knowe not, neither haue I seene any to +witnesse it. And to say trueth, who can, when as it is not possible to +passe any whither: In like sort it is vnknowne, whither any mettals lye +vnder the hilles: the cause is all one, although the very colour and hue of +the hilles seeme to haue some Mynes in them: we mooued the Admirall to set +the woods a fire, that so wee might haue space, and entrance to take view +of the Countrey, which motion did nothing displease him, were it not for +feare of great inconuenience that might thereof insue: for it was reported +and confirmed by very credible persons, that when the like happened by +chance in another Port, the fish neuer came to the place about it, for the +space of 7. whole yeeres after, by reason of the waters made bitter by the +Turpentine, and Rosen of the trees, which ranne into the riuers vpon the +firing of them. The weather is so hote this time of the yeere, that except +the very fish, which is layd out to be dryed by the sunne, be euery day +turned, it cannot possibly bee preserued from burning; but how cold it is +in the winter, the great heapes, and mountaines of yce, in the middest of +the Sea haue taught vs: some of our company report, that in May, they were +sometimes kept in, with such huge yce, for 16. whole dayes together, as +that the Islands thereof were threescore fathoms thicke, the sides whereof +which were toward the Sunne, when they were melted, the whole masse or +heape was so inuened and turned in maner of balancing, that that part which +was before downeward rose vpward, to the great perill of those that are +neere them, as by reason wee may gather. The ayre vpon land is indifferent +cleare, but at Sea towards the East there is nothing els but perpetuall +mists, and in the Sea it selfe, about the Banke (for so they call the place +where they find ground fourty leagues distant from the shore, and where +they beginne to fish) there is no day without raine. When we haue serued, +and supplied our necessitie in this place, we purpose by the helpe of God +to passe towards the South, with so much the more hope every day, by how +much the greater the things are, that are reported of those Countreys, +which we go to discouer. Thus much touching our estate. + +Now I desire to know somewhat concerning you, but I feare in vaine, but +specially I desire out of measure to know how my Patrone master Henry +Vmptom doth take my absence: my obedience, and duetie shall alwayes bee +ready toward him as long as I liue: but in deede I hope, that this iourney +of ours shalbe profitable to his intentions. It remaineth that you thinke +me to be still yours, and so yours as no mans more. The sonne of God blesse +all our labors, so farre, as that you your selfe may be partaker of our +blessing. Adieu, my most friendly, most sweete, most vertuous Hakluyt: In +Newfound land, at Saint Iohns Port, the 6. of August, 1583. + +STEVEN PARMENIVS of +Buda, yours. + + * * * * * + +A relation of Richard Clarke of Weymouth, master of the ship called the + Delight, going for the discouery of Norembega, with Sir Humfrey Gilbert + 1583. Written in excuse of that fault of casting away the ship and men, + imputed to his ouersight. + +Departing out of Saint Iohns Harborough in the Newfound land the 20. of +August vnto Cape Raz, from thence we directed our course vnto the Ile of +Sablon or the Isle of Sand, which the Generall Sir Humfrey Gilbert would +willingly haue seene. [Sidenote: 20 Leagues from the Isle of Sablon.] But +when we came within twentie leagues of the Isle of Sablon, we fell to +controuersie of our course. The Generall came vp in his Frigot and demanded +of mee Richard Clarke master of the Admirall what course was best to keepe: +I said that Westsoutwest was best: because the wind was at South and night +at hand and vnknowen sands lay off a great way from the land. The Generall +commanded me to go Westnorthwest. [Sidenote: 15 Leagues from the Isle of +Sablon.] I told him againe that the Isle of Salon was Westnorthwest and but +15. leagues off; and that he should be vpon the Island before day, if hee +went that course. The Generall sayd, my reckoning was vntrue, and charged +me in her Maiesties name, and as I would shewe myselfe in her Countrey to +follow him that night. [Sidenote: Herin Clarke vntruely chargeth sir +Humfrey Gilbert.] I fearing his threatenings, because he presented her +Maiesties person, did follow his commaundement, and about seuen of the +clocke in the morning the ship stroke on ground, where shee was cast away. +Then the Generall went off to Sea, the course that I would haue had them +gone before, and saw the ship cast away men and all, and was not able to +saue a man, for there was not water vpon the sand for either of them much +lesse the Admirall, that drew fourteene foote. [Sidenote: The ship cast +away on Thursday being the 29 of August 1583.] Now as God would the day +before it was very calme, and a Souldier of the ship had killed some foule +with his piece, and some of the company desired me that they might hoyse +out the boat to recouer the foule, which I granted them: and when they came +aboord they did not hoyse it in againe that night. And when the ship was +cast away the boate was a sterne being in burthen one tunne and an halfe: +there was left in the boate one oare and nothing els. Some of the company +could swimme, and recouered the boate and did hale in out of the water as +many men as they coulde: among the rest they had a care to watch for the +Captaine or the Master: They happened on my selfe being the master, but +could neuer see the Captaine: [Sidenote: Sixteene gate into the shipboate.] +Then they halled into the boate as many men as they could in number 16. +whose names hereafter I will rehearse. And when the 16. were in the boate, +some had small remembrance, and some had none: for they did not make +account to liue, but to prolong their liues as long as it pleased God, and +looked euery moment of an houre when the Sea would eate them vp, the boate +being so little and so many men in her, and so foule weather, that it was +not possible for a shippe to brooke halfe a course of sayle. Thus while wee +remayned two dayes and two nights, and that wee saw it pleased God our +boate liued in the Sea (although we had nothing to helpe vs withall but one +oare, which we kept vp the boate withall vpon the Sea, and so went euen as +the Sea would driue vs) there was in our company one Master Hedly that put +foorth this question to me the Master. [Sidenote: Master Hedlyes vngodly +proposition.] I doe see that it doth please God, that our boate lyueth in +the Sea, and it may please God that some of vs may come to the land if our +boate were not ouerladen. Let vs make sixteene lots, and those foure that +haue the foure shortest lots we will cast ouerboord preseruing the Master +among vs all. I replied vnto him, saying, no we will liue and die together. +Master Hedley asked me if my remembrance were good: I answered I gaue God +prayse it was good, and knewe how farre I was off the land, and was in hope +to come to the land within two or three dayes, and sayde they were but +threescore leagues from the lande, (when they were seuentie) all to put +them in comfort. Thus we continued the third and fourth day without any +sustenance, saue onely the weedes that swamme in the Sea, and salt water to +drinke. The fifth day Hedly dyed and another moreouer: then wee desired all +to die: for in all these fiue dayes and fiue nights we saw the Sunne but +once and the Starre but one night, it was so foule weather. Thus we did +remaine the sixt day: then we were very weake and wished all to die sauing +only my selfe which did comfort them and promised they should come soone to +lande by the helpe of God: but the company were very importunate, and were +in doubt they should neuer come to land, but that I promised them that the +seuenth day they should come to shore, or els they should cast me ouer +boord: [Sidenote: They came on land the 7 day after their shipwracke.] +which did happen true the seuenth day, for at eleuen of the clocke wee had +sight of the land, and at 3. of the clocke at afternoone we came on land. +All these seuen dayes and seuen nights, the wind kept continually South. If +the wind had in the meanetime shifted vpon any other point, wee had neuer +come to land: we were no sooner come to the land, but the wind came cleane +contrary at North within halfe an houre after our arriuall. But we were so +weake that one could scarcely helpe another of vs out of the boate, yet +with much adoe being come all on shore we kneeled downe ypon our knees and +gaue God praise that he had dealt so mercifully with vs. Afterwards those +which were strongest holpe their fellowes vnto a fresh brooke, where we +satisfied our selues with water and berries very well. [Sidenote: The +fruitfulnesse of the south part of Newfound land.] There were of al sorts +of berries plentie, and as goodly a Countrey as euer I saw: we found a very +faire plaine Champion ground that a man might see very farre euery way: by +the Sea side was here and there a little wood with goodly trees as good as +euer I saw any in Norway, able to mast any shippe, of pyne trees, spruse +trees, firre, and very great birch trees. Where we came on land we made a +little house with boughes, where we rested all that night. In the morning I +deuided the company three and three to goe euery way to see what foode they +could find to sustaine thenselues, and appointed them to meete there all +againe at noone with such foode as they could get. As we went aboord we +found great store of peason as good as any wee haue in England: a man would +thinke they had bene sowed there. We rested there three dayes and three +nights and liued very well with pease and berries, wee named the place +Saint Laurence, because it was a very goodly riuer like the riuer of S. +Laurence in Canada, and we found it very full of Salmons. When wee had +rested our selues wee rowed our boate along the shore, thinking to haue +gone to the Grande Bay to haue come home with some Spanyards which are +yeerely there to kill the Whale: And when we were hungry or a thirst we put +our boate on land and gathered pease and berries. Thus wee rowed our boate +along the shore fiue dayes: about which time we came to a very goodly riuer +that ranne farre vp into the Countrey and saw very goodly growen trees of +all sortes. [Sidenote: Foureteen of our men brought out of Newfound land in +a ship of S. Iohn de Luz.] There we happened vpon a ship of Saint Iohn de +Luz, which ship brought vs into Biskay to an Harborough called The Passage. +The Master of the shippe was our great friend, or else we had bene put to +death if he had not kept our counsayle. For when the visitors came aboord, +as it is the order in Spaine, they demanding what we were, he sayd we were +poore fishermen that had cast away our ship in Newfound land and so the +visitors inquired no more of the matter at that time. Assoone as night was +come he put vs on land and bad vs shift for our selues. Then had wee but +tenne or twelue miles into France, which we went that night, and then cared +not for the Spanyard. And so shortly after we came into England toward the +end of the yeere 1583. + + * * * * * + +A true report of the late discoueries, and possession taken in the right of + the Crowne of England of the Newfound lands, By that valiant and worthy + Gentlemen, Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight. + +Wherein is also briefly set downe, her highnesse lawfull Title thereunto, + and the great and manifold commodities, that are likely to grow therby, + to the whole Realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular: + Together with the easinesse and shortness of the Voyage. + +Written by Sir George Peckham Knight, the chiefe aduenturer and furtherer + of Sir Humfrey Gilberts voyage to Newfound Land. + +The first Part, wherein the Argument of the Booke is contained. + +[Sidenote: Master Edward Hays.] It was my fortune (good Reader) not many +dayes past, to meete with a right honest and discreete Gentleman, who +accompanied that valiant and worthy Knight Sir Humfrey Gilbert, in this +last iourney for the Westerne discoueries, and is owner and Captaine of the +onely vessell which is as yet returned from thence. + +By him I vnderstand that Sir Humfrey departed the coast of England the +eleuenth of Iune last past, with fiue sayle of Shippes, from Caushen bay +neere Plimmouth, whereof one of the best forsooke his company, the +thirteenth day of the same moneth, and returned into England. + +The other foure (through the assistance of Almighty God) did arriue at +Saint Iohns Hauen, in Newfoundland, the 3. of August last. [Sidenote: Sir +Humfrey Gilbert did arriue at Saint Iohn's Hauen in Newfound land, the 3. +of August, Anno 1583.] Vpon whose arriuall all the Masters and chiefe +Mariners of the English Fleet, which were in the said Hauen, before +endeuouring to fraight themselues with fish, repaired vnto Sir Humfrey, +whom he made acquainted with the effect of his Commission: which being +done, he promised to intreat them and their goods well and honourably as +did become her Maiesties Lieutenant. They did all welcome him in the best +sort that they could, and shewed him and his all such courtesies as the +place could affoord or yeelde. + +Then he went to view the Countrey, being well accompanied with most of his +Captaines and souldiers. [Sidenote: Among these there was found the tract +of a beast of 7. ynches and 2 halfe ouer.]They found the same very +temperate, but somewhat warmer then England at that season of the yeere, +replenished with Beasts and great store of Foule of diuers kinds: And Fish +of sundry sortes, both in the salt water, and in the fresh, in so great +plentie as might suffice to victuall an Armie, and they are very easily +taken. What sundry other commodities for this Realme right neccssarie, the +same doeth yeelde, you shall vnderstand in this treatise hereafter, in +place more conuenient. + +On Munday being the fifth of August, the Generall caused his tent to be set +vpon the side of an hill, in the vieweof all the Fleete of English men and +strangers, which were in number betweene thirtie and fourtie sayle: then +being accompanied with all his Captaines, Masters, Gentlemen and other +souldiers, he caused all the Masters, and principall Officers of the ships, +aswell Englishmen as Spanyards, Portugales, and of other nations, to +repayre vnto his tent: [Sidenote: Sir Humfrey tooke possession of the +Newfound land in right of the Crowne of England.] And then and there, in +the presence of them all, he did cause his Commission vnder the great scale +of England to bee openly and solemnely read vnto them, whereby were granted +vnto him, his heires, and assignes, by the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, +many great and large royalties, liberties, and priueledges. The effect +whereof being signified vnto the strangers by an Interpreter, hee tooke +possession of the sayde land in the right of the Crowne of England by +digging of a Turffe and receiuing the same with an Hassell wand, deliuered +vnto him, after the maner of the law and custome of England. + +Then he signified vnto the company both strangers and others, that from +thencefoorth, they were to liue in that land, as the Territories +appertayning to the Crowne of England, and to be gouerned by such lawes as +by good aduise should be set downe, which in all points (so neere as might +be) should be agreeable to the Lawes of England: And for to put the same in +execution, presently be ordained and established three Lawes. + +[Sidenote: Three lawes established there by Sir Humfrey.] First, that +Religion publiquely exercised, should be such, and none other, then is vsed +in the Church of England. The second, that if any person should bee +lawfully conuicted of any practise against her Maiestie, her Crowne and +dignitie, to be adiudged as traitors according to the lawes of England. + +The third, if any should speake dishonourably of her Maiestie, the partie +so offending, to loose his eares, his ship and goods, to be confiscate to +the vse of the Generall. + +All men did very willingly submit themselues to these lawes. Then he caused +the Queenes Majesties Armes to be ingraued, set vp, and erected with great +solemnitie. [Sidenote: Sundry persons became Tenants to Sir Humfrey and doe +mainteine possession for him in diuers places there.] After this, diuers +Englishmen made sute vnto Sir Humfrey to haue of him by inheritance, their +accustomed stages, standings, and drying places, in sundry places of that +land for their fish, as a thing they doe make great accompt of, which he +granted vnto them in fee farme. And by this meanes he hath possession +maintained for him, in many parts of that Countrey. To be briefe, he did +let, set, giue and dispose of many things, as absolute Gouernour there, by +vertue of her Maiesties letters patents. + +And after their ships were repaired, whereof one he was driuen to leaue +behind, both for want of men sufficient to furnish her, as also to carrie +home such sicke persons as were not able to proceede any further: He +departed from thence the 20 of August, with the other three, namely, the +Delight, wherein was appointed Captaine in M. William Winters place, (that +thence returned immediatly for England) M. Maurice Browne: the Golden +Hinde, in which was Captaine and owner, M. Edward Hays: and the little +Frigat where the Generall himselfe did goe seeming to him most fit to +discouer and approch the shore. + +The 21 day they came to Cape Race, toward the South partes whereof, lying a +while becalmed, they tooke Cod in largness and quantitie, exceeding the +other parts of Newfound land, where any of them had bene. And from thence, +trending the coast West toward the Bay of Placentia, the Generall sent +certaine men a shore, to view the Countrey, which to them as they sayled +along, seemed pleasant. Whereof his men at their returne gaue great +commendation, liking so well of the place, as they would willingly haue +stayed and wintred there. But hauing the wind faire and good, they +proceeded on their course towards the firme of America, which by reason of +continuall fogs, at that time of the yeere especially, they could neuer +see, till Cox Master of the Golden Hinde did discerne land, and presently +lost sight thereof againe, at what time they were all vpon a breach in a +great and outragious storme, hauing vnder 3. fathome water. But God +deliuered the Frigat and the Golden Hind, from this great danger. And the +Delight in the presence of them all was lost, to their vnspeakable griefe, +with all their chiefe victuall, munition, and other necessary prouisions, +and other things of value not fit here to be named. Whereupon, by reason +also that Winter was come vpon them, and foule weather increased with fogs +and mists that so couered the land, as without danger of perishing they +could not approch it: Sir Humfrey Gilbert and M. Hays were compelled much +against their willes to retyre homewards: And being 300. leagues on their +way, were after by tempestuous weather separated the one from the other, +the ninth of September last, since which time M. Hays with his Barke is +safely arriued, but of Sir Humfrey as yet they heare no certaine newes. + +[Sidenote: Plutarch.] Vpon this report (together with my former intent to +write some briefe discourse in the commendation of this so noble and worthy +an enterprise) I did call to my remembrance, the Historie of Themystocles +the Grecian, who (being a right noble and valiant Captaine) signified vnto +his Countreymen the Citizens of Athens, that he had inuented a deuise for +their common wealth very profitable: but it was of such importance and +secrecie, that it ought not to be reuealed, before priuate conference had +with some particular prudent person of their choyse. + +The Athenians knowing Aristides the Philosopher, to be a man indued with +singular wisedome and vertue, made choyse of him to haue conference with +Themystocles, and thereupon to yeelde his opinion to the Citizens +concerning the said deuise: which was, that they might set on fire the +Nauie of their enemies, with great facilitie, as he had layde the plot: +Aristides made relation to the Citizens, that the stratageme deuised by +Themystocles was a profitable practise for the common wealth but it was +dishonest. The Athenians (without further demaund what the same was) did by +common consent reiect and condemne it, preferring honest and vpright +dealing before profite. + +By occasion of this Historie, I drewe my selfe into a more deepe +consideration of this late vndertaken Voyage, whether it were as well +pleasing to almightie God, as profitable to men; as lawfull, as it seemed +honourable: as well gratefull to the Sauages as gainefull to the +Christians. And vpon mature deliberation I found the action to be honest +and profitable, and therefore allowable by the opinion of Aristides if he +were now aliue: which being by me herein sufficiently prooued, (as by Gods +grace I purpose to doe) I doubt not but that all good mindes will endeauour +themselues to be assistants to this so commendable an enterprise, by the +valiant and worthy Gentlemen our Countrey men already attempted and +vndertaken. + +Now whereas I doe vnderstand that Sir Himfrey Gilbert his adherents, +associates and friends doe meane with a conuenient supply (with as much +speede as may be) to maintaine, pursue and follow this intended voyage +already in part perfourmed, and (by the assistance of almightie God) to +plant themselues and their people in the continent of the hither part of +America, betweene the degrees of 30. and 60. of septentrionall latitude: +Within which degrees by computation Astronomicall and Cosmographicall are +doubtlesse to bee found all things that be necessarie, profitable, or +delectable for mans life: The clymate milde and temperate, neyther too hote +nor too colde, so that vnder the cope of heauen there is not any where to +be found a more conuenient place to plant and inhabite in: which many +notable Gentlemen, both [Marginal note: Englishmen, Msster Iohn Hawkins; +Sir Francis Drake; M. Willliam Winter; M. Iohn Chester; M. Martin +Frobisher; Anhony Parkhurst; William Battes; Iohn Louel; Dauid Ingram. +Strangers, French, Iohn Ribault; Iaques Cartier; Andrew Theuet; Monsieur +Gourgues: Monsieur Laudonniere. Italians, Christopher Columbus; Ioha +Verazanus.] of our owne nation and strangers, (who haue bene trauailers) +can testifie: and that those Countries are at this day inhabited with +Sauages (who haue no knowledge of God:) Is it not therefore (I say) to be +lamented, that these poore Pagans, so long liuing in ignorance and +idolatry, and in sort thirsting after Christianitie, (as may appeare by the +relation of such as haue trauailed in those partes) that our heartes are so +hardened, that fewe or none can be found which will put to their helping +hands, and apply themselues to the relieuing of the miserable and wretched +estate of these sillie soules? + +Whose Countrey doeth (as it were with armes aduanced) aboue the climates +both of Spaine and France, stretch out it selfe towards England only: In +maner praying our ayde and helpe, as it is not not onely set forth in +Mercators generall Mappe, but it is also found to be true by the discouerie +of our nation, and other strangers, who haue oftentimes trauailed vpon the +same coasts. + +[Sidenote: God doth not alwayes begin his greatest workes by the greatest +persons.] Christopher Columbus of famous memorie, the first instrument to +manifest the great glory and mercy of Almightie God in planting the +Christian faith, in those so long vnknowen regions, hauing in purpose to +acquaint (as he did) that renoumed Prince, the Queenes Majesties +grandfather King Henry the seuenth, with his intended voyage for the +Westerne discoueries, was not onely derided and mocked generally even here +in England, but afterward became a laughing stocke to the Spaniards +themselues, who at this day (of all other people) are most bounden to laude +and prayse God, who first stirred vp the man to that enterprise. + +And while he was attending there to acquaint the King of Castile (that then +was) with his intended purpose, by how many wayes and meanes was he +derided? [Sidenote: His custome was to bowe himselfe very lowe in making of +courtesie.] Some scorned the wildnesse of his garments, some tooke occasion +to iest at his simple and silly lookes, others asked if this were he that +lowts so lowe,[104] which did take vpon him to bring men into a Countrey +that aboundeth with Golde, Pearle, and Precious stones? If hee were any +such man (sayd they) he would cary another matter of countenance with him, +and looke somewhat loftier. Thus some iudged him by his garments, and +others by his looke and countenance, but none entred into the consideration +of the inward man. + +[Sidenote: Hernando Cortes. Francisco Pizarro.] In the ende, what successe +his Voyage had, who list to reade the Decades, the Historie of the West +Indies, the conquest of Hernando Cortes about Mexico, and those of +Francisco Pizarro in Peru about Casamalcha and Cusco may know more +particularly. All which their discoueries, trauailes and conquests are +extant to be had in the English tongue. This deuise was then accounted a +fantasticall imagination, and a drowsie dreame. + +But the sequele thereof hath since awaked out of dreames thousands of +soules to knowe their Creator, being thereof before that time altogether +ignorant: And hath since made sufficient proofe, neither to be fantasticke +nor vainely imagined. + +Withall, how mightily it hath enlarged the dominions of the Crowne of +Spaine, and greatly inriched the subiects of the same, let all men +consider. Besides, it is well knowen, that sithence the time of Columbus +his first discouerie, through the planting, possessing, and inhabiting +those partes, there hath bene transported and brought home into Europe +greater store of Golde, Siluer, Pearle, and Precious stones, then +heretofore hath bene in all ages since the creation of the worlde. + +I doe therefore heartily wish, that seeing it hath pleased almightie God of +his infinite mercy, at the length to awake some of our worthy Countrey men +out of that drowsie dreame, wherein we haue so long slumbered: + +That wee may now not suffer that to quaile for want of maintenance, which +by these valiant Gentlemen our Countreymen is so nobly begun and +enterprised. For which purpose, I haue taken vpon me to write this simple +short Treatise, hoping that it shall be able to perswade such as haue bene, +and yet doe continue detractors and hinderers of this iourney, (by reason +perhaps that they haue not deliberately and aduisedly entred into the +iudgement of the matter) that yet now vpon better consideration they will +become fauourable furtherers of the same. And that such as are already well +affected thereunto will continue their good disposition: [Sidenote: A +reasonable request.] And withall, I most humbly pray all such as are no +nigards of their purses in buying of costly and rich apparel, and liberall +Contributors in setting forth of games, pastimes, feastings and banquets, +(whereof the charge being past, there is no hope of publique profile, or +commoditie) that henceforth they will bestowe and employ their liberality +(heretofore that way expended) to the furtherance of these so commendable +purposed proceedings. + +And to this ende haue I taken pen in my hand, as in conscience thereunto +mooued, desiring much rather, that of the great multitude which this Realme +doth nourish, farre better able to handle this matter then I my selfe am, +it would haue pleased some one of them to haue vndertaken the same. But +seeing they are silent, and that it falleth to my lotte to put pen to the +paper, I will endeuour my selfe, and doe stand in good hope (though my +skill and knowledge bee simple, yet through the assistence of almightie +God) to probue that the [Sidenote: The argument of the booke.] Voyage +lately enterprised, for trade, traffique, and planting in America, is an +action tending to the lawfull enlargement of her Maiesties Dominions, +commodious to the whole Realme in general, profitable to the aduenturers in +particular, benefciall to the Sauages, and a matter to be atteined without +any great danger or difficultie. + +And lastly, (which is most of all) A thing likewise tending to the honour +and glory of Almightie God. And for that the lawfulnesse to plant in those +Countreys in some mens iudgements seemeth very doubtfull, I will beginne +the proofe of the lawfulnesse of trade, traffique, and planting. + + +END OF VOL XII. + + + + +APPENDICES. + +Appendices. + +I. Greenland. + +Greenland is an extensive country, the greater part of which belongs to +Denmark, situated between Iceland and the continent of America. Its +southern extremity, Cape Farewell, is situated in 59 deg. 49 min. N. lat, +and 43 deg. 54 min. W. lon. The British Arctic expedition of 1876 traced; +tee northern shores as far as Cape Britannia, in lat. 82 deg. 54 min. The +German Arctic expedition of 1870 pursued the east coast as high as 77 deg. +N., so that between Koldeway's furthest in 1870 and Beaumont's farthest in +1876 there remains an interval of more than 500 miles of the Greenland +coast yet unexplored. The estimated area of the whole country is about +340,000 square miles. The outline forming the sea-coast of Greenland is in +general high, rugged, and barren; close to the water's edge it rises into +tremendous precipices and lofty mountains, covered with inaccessible +cliffs, which may be seen from the sea at a distance of more than 60 miles. + +The vast extent of Greenland, together with its peculiar position between +Europe and America, secures for it a very special interest. From its most +northern discovered point, Cape Britannia, it stretches southward, in a +triangular form, for a distance of 1500 miles. Its interior is nearly a +closed book to us, but the coast has been thoroughly explored and examined +on the western side from Cape Farewell to Upernavik, a distance of about +800 miles, as well as along the western shores of the channels leading from +Smith's Sound; and from Cape Farewell to the Danebrog Islands and Cape +Bismarck on the east side. These belts of coast line consist of the most +glorious mountain scenery--lofty peaks, profound ravines, long valleys, +precipices and cliffs, vast glaciers, winding fiords often running 100 +miles into the interior, and innumerable islands. + +Greenland was discovered in 981 or 983 by an Icelander or Norwegian named +Gunbiorn, and was soon afterwards colonized by a number of families from +Iceland, of whom all historical traces soon disappeared; they appear to +have formed their settlement on the western coast. The country was called +Greenland because its southern extremity was first seen in spring-time, and +presented a pleasing appearance, but it was speedily found to be little +better than an icebound region. Davis rediscovered Greenland in his voyage, +1585-87; and in the beginning of the seventeenth century the Dutch +government fined out several expeditions to re-establish a communication +with the lost colony. + + +II. Nenewfoundland. + +Newfoundland is, as it were, a stepping-stone between the Old World and the +New. At its south-western extremity it approaches within 50 miles of the +island of Cape Breton, while its most eastern projection is but 1640 miles +distant from Ireland. Its population in 1881 was 161,384, and its area was +estimated at 42,006 square miles; but, strange as it seems, up to the +present time the interior is almost unknown, while the mere existence of +certain splendid fertile valleys in portions of the island has only been +discovered in quite recent times. The appearance of the coast is rocky and +forbidding, but there are a great number of deep bays and fiords, +containing magnificent harbours, and piercing the land for 80 or 100 miles, +while the sides present varied scenes of beauty, such as are rarely +surpassed in the world's most favoured lands. The effect of these inlets is +to give the island the enormous coast line, compared to its area, of more +than 2000 miles. The loftiest range of mountains, the Long Range, has a few +summits of more than 2000 feet, but the elevations of the island rarely +exceed 1500 feet. Lakes are very numerous. The mines are very valuable, and +Newfoundland now ranks as the sixth copper-producing country in the world. +Lead mines have also been discovered and worked. There is good reason for +believing that gold and coal will yet be found. + + +III. Polar Ice + +It is believed on good grounds of inference, but absolutely without +positive evidence, that the south pole is covered with a great cap of ice, +and some physiographers have gone so far as to assert its thickness as +possibly six miles at the centre. But as to the ice of the north pole, +thanks to the efforts to discover a north-west passage which showed us the +breach in the wall of the polar fortress, we know very much more. + +Sir Edward Belcher encountered ice 106 feet thick drifting into and +grounding on the shores of Wellington Channel. It was in Banks Strait that +Sir Edward Parry was finally stopped by the great undulating floes, +reaching 102 feet in thickness, that he tells us he had never seen in +Baffin's Sea or in the land-locked channels the had left behind him, but +which filled the whole sea before him. Such floes are the edge of a pack +which we may conjecture extends uninterruptedly from shore to shore of the +Polar Sea. + + +IV. Icebergs + +Icebergs are masses of ice rising to a great height above the level of the +sea, presenting a singular variety in form and appearance. They are masses +broken off from glaciers, or from barrier lines of ice-cliff, and owe their +origin to the circumstance of glaciers being in a continual state of +progress. Glaciers reach the sea shore in many places in the Arctic +regions. When pushed forward into deep water, vast masses are lifted up by +their inherent buoyancy, and, broken off at the landward end, are borne +away by the winds, or on tides and currents, to parts of the sea far +removed from their place of formation. Owing to the expansion of water when +freezing, and the difference in density between salt and fresh water, the +usual relative density of sea water to an iceberg is as 1 to 91674, and +hence the volume of ice below water is about nine times that above the +surface. The largest icebergs are met with in the Southern Ocean; several +have been ascertained to be from 800 to 1000 feet in height, and the +largest are nearly three miles long. One was met with 20 deg. south of the +Cape of Good Hope, between Marion and Bouvet Isles, which was 960 feet +high, and therefore more than 9000 feet, or 1-3/4 mile in thickness. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +VOL. XII. + +Dedication to Sir Robert Cecil + +I. The most ancient voyage and discouery of the West Indies performed by + Madoc, Anno 1170. taken out of the history of Wales, &c. + +II. The verses of Meredith the sonne of Rhesus making mention of Madoc + +III. The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christoper Columbus + to K. Henry the 7. February the 13. Anno 1488; with the Kings + acceptance of the said offer + +IV. Another testimony concerning the foresaid offer made by Bartholomew + Columbus to K. Henry the seuenth, on the behalfe of his brother + Christopher Columbus + +V. The letters patents of K. Henry the 7. granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his + 3. sonnes, Anno 1495 + +VI. The signed bill of K. Henry the 7. on the behalfe of Iohn Cabot + +VII. The voyage of Sebastian Cabota to the North part of America, for the + discouery of a Northwest passage, as farre as 58. degrees of + latitude, confirmed by 6. testimonies + +VIII. A briefe extract concerning the discouery of Newfoundland + +IX. The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabota, Anno + 1549 + +X. A discourse written by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, to prooue a passage + by the Northwest to Cataya, and the East Indies + +XI. The first voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the Northwest for the + search of a passage to China, anno 1576 + +XII. The second voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the West and Northwest + regions, in the yeere 1577 + +XIII. The third and last voyage of M. Martin Frobisher for the discouery of + a Northwest passage, in the yere 1578 + +XIV. Notes by Richard Hakluyt + +XV. Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to prooue all parts of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones + +XVI. A letter of M. Martin Frobisher to certaine Englishmen, which were + trecherously taken by the Saluages of Meta incognita in his first + voyageo + +XVII. Articles and orders prescribed by M. Martin Frobisher to the + Captaines and company of euery ship, which accompanied him in his + last Northwestern voyage + +XVIII. A generall and briefe description of the country and condition of + the people, which are founde in Meta incognita + +XIX. The letters patents of her Maiesty graunted to M. Adrian Gilbert and + others for the search and discouery of a Northwest passage to China + +XX. The first voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of a Northwest + passage, 1585 + +XXI. The second voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of the Northwest + pass. 1586 + +XXII. A letter of M. I. Dauis to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning, + his second voyage + +XXIII. The voyage and course which the Sunshine and the Northstarre held, + after M. I. Davis had sent them from him to discouer a passage + betweene Greenland and Ise-land, 1587 + +XXIV. The third voyage of M. Iohn Dauis, 1587 + +XXV. A letter of M. Iohn Dams to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning + his 3. voyage + +XXVI. A trauerse booke of M. Iohn Dauis + +XXVII. A report of M. Iohn Dauis concerning his three voyages made for the + discouery of the Northwest passage, taken out of a treatise of his + intituled The worlds hydrographical description + +XXVIII. The voyage of M. Nicolas Zeno and M. Anthony his brother, to the + yles of Frisland, etc., begun in the yeere 1380 + +XXIX. The voyage of two ships, for the discouery of the North parts + +XXX. The voyage of M. Hore, in the yere 1536 + +XXI. An act against the exaction of money, etc. made Anno 2. Edwardi sexti. + +XXXII. A letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Midle Temple, by M. + Antony Parkhurst, 1578 + +XXXIII. The letters patents granted by her Maiestie to sir Humfrey Gilbert + knight, for inhabiting some part of America 1578 + +XXXIV. A Poeme written in Latine, concerning the voyage of sir Humfrey + Gilbert + +XXXV. The voyage of Sir Humfrey Gilbert to Newfoundland, An. 1583 + +XXXVI. Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters, to bee obserued by + the fleete of sir Humfrey Gilbert + +XXXVII. A briefe relation of Newfound-land, and the commodities thereof + +XXXVIII. A letter of the learned Hungarian Stephanus Parmenius Budeius to + master Richard Hakluyt the collectour of these voyages + +XXXIX. A relation Of Richard Clarke of Weymouth master of the ship called + the Delight. Part I. + +XL. Appendices + +Table of Contents + + +FOOTNOTES: + +1. Son of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, minister of Elizabeth, and himself + minister to the same queen and to James I. A clever but unscrupulous + man, he was never popular, and his share in the fate of Essex and + Raleigh has obscured his fame. He was created Earl of Salisbury. His + secret correspondence is to be found in Goldsmid's Collectanea + Adamantaea. Born 1565. Died 1612. + +2. Hakluyt here merely condenses the researches of Grotius, who had + published, in 1542, his famous but rare Tract "On the Origin of the + Native American Races," a translation of which the present Editor issued + in his "Bibliotheca Curiosa," Edinburgh, 1884. Hakluyt was evidently + ignorant of Gunnbjorn's glimpse of a Western land in 876, of Eric the + Red's discovery of Greenland about 985, of Bjarni's and Leif's + discoveries, or indeed of any of the traditions of the Voyages of the + Northmen, or he would certainly have included them in his Collection. + Those who are interested in these matters should consult Wheaton's + History of the Northmen, London, 1831; Antiquitates Americanæ, edited by + the Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians, Hafniæ, 1837; The Discovery + of America by the Northmen, by N. L. Beamish, London, 1841; Historia + Vinlandiæ Antiquæ, by Thermodus Torfoeus, Hafniæ, 1705; and the edition + of the Flateyan MSS., lately published at Copenhagen. + +3. I have, to the best of my ability, in Vols. I. to XI. of this edition, + arranged the contents of Hakluyt's first two volumes in the order he + would have desired, had he not "lacked sufficient store." + +4. The History of Wales, written by Caradoc of Llancarvan, Glamorganshire, + in the British Language, translated into English by Humphrey Llwyd, and + edited by Dr. David Powel in 1584, is the book here quoted. It is very + rare. + +5. If Madoc ever existed, it seems more probable that the land he + discovered was Madeira or the Azores. Such at least is the view taken by + Robertson, and also by Jeremiah Belknap (American Biography, 8vo, + Boston, 1774). Southey founded one of his poems on this tradition. + +6. In Welsh, Meridith ap Rhees. + +7. Marginal note.--These verses I receiued of my learned friend M. William + Camden. + +8. The most interesting life of Columbus is that by Lamartine, a + translation of which appeared in the "Bibliotheca Curiosa." + +9. Nothing is known of Cabot's early years. In the Archives of Venice is + the record of his naturalization, dated 28 March 1476, which shows he + had lived there fifteen years. (Archives of Venice: Senato Terra, + 1473-1477. Vol vii p. 109.) + +10. This patent was granted in reply to the following application by John + Cabot: + + "To the Kyng our Souvereigne lord, + + "Please it your highnes of your moste noble and haboundant grace to + graunt vnto Iohn Cabotto, citezen of Venes, Lewes, Sebestyan and Sancto + his sonneys your gracious lettres patentes vnder youir grete seale in + due forme to be made accordying to the tenour hereafter ensuying. And + they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous + continuance of your moste noble and royale astate long to enduer." + (Public Records, Bill number 51.) Consult also Rymer's Foedera; + London, 1727, folios 595-6. + +11. Armed with this authority, John Cabot sailed from Bristol in the spring + of 1497, with two ships, one being called the Matthew. (The History and + Antiquities of the city of Bristol, by William Barrett, 1789). + +12. In the National Library, Paris, is a large map of the world on the + margin of which is written: + + "Sebastian Caboto capitan, y piloto mayor de la S. c c. m. del + Imperador don Carlos quinto deste nombre, y rey nuestro sennor hizo + esta figura extensa en plano, anno del nasciem de nro saluador Jesu + Christo de m.d. xliii. annos, tirada por grados de latitud y longitud + con sus uientos como carta de marear, imitando en parte al Ptolomeo, y + en parte alos modernos descobridores, asi Espannoles como Portugueses, + y parte por su padre, y por el descubierto." + + I give a facsmile of part of this map. As will be seen the words "Prima + tierra vista" are opposite a cape about the 48th parallel, which would + be Cape Breton. In a letter written to the Duke of Milan by Raimondo di + Soncino, his minister in London, and dated the 18th Dec. 1497, a very + interesting account is given of Cabot's voyage. Archives of Milan. + Annuario scientifico, Milan, 1866 p 700. + +13. Query, July. + +14. J. B. Ramusio compiled in Italian a celebrated collection of maritime + voyages. The most complete edition is formed by joining vol. I. of 1574 + to vol. II. of 1555 and vol. III. of 1554. He died 1557, aged 72. + +15. Ramosius has evidently mixed up the two voyages of John Cabot with + those of his son. John's second and last voyage was in 1498, with five + ships; though little is known of the result, that little has been + collected by Mr. Weise in his "Discoveries of America." + +16. A celebrated Icelandic astronomer, a disciple of Tycho-Brahe. The + opinion here quoted appears in his _Specimen Historicorum Islandiæ et + magnâ ex parte chorographicum_; Amsterdam, 1643. When aged 91, he is + said to have married a young girl. Born 1545; died 1640. + +17. An error for John Cabot + +18. His _Chronicle of England and France_, by a London tradesman, was first + printed in 1516. + +19. This celebrated Antiquary was born in 1525. Originally a tailor, his + tastes procured him the encouragement of Archbishop Parker and the Earl + of Leicester. His principal works are _Flores Historiarum_ (1600) and + his _Survey of London_, first published in 1598. Died a beggar in 1605. + +20. If Cabot's discoveries extended from 38° to 58°, he cannot have gone + south of Cape Hatteras, in North Carolina. + +21. Gilbert was half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh. This "discourse" was + published in 1576, and two years later be himself sailed on a voyage of + discovery to Newfoundland, but on the return journey his ship foundered + with all on board. + +22. Luke Marinæus, chaplain to Charles V. author of _Obra de las cosas + memorabiles de Espana_, Alcala, 1543; folio, the work here referred to. + +23. Ficinus, (born 1433, died 1499); a protégé of the Medici, translated + Plato and Plotinus. These translations will be found in his collected + works, published at Bâle in 1591, 2 vols. folio. Herein he tries to + prove Plato a Christian, as he also does in his _Thelogia Platonica_; + Florence, 148; folio. The original editions of his works are extremely + rare. + +24. Crantor's opinion is only known to us by Cicero's refetence, his works + being all lost. He flourished about 315 B.C. + +25. Born in 412, at Constantinople. Studied at Alexandria and Athens, and + succeeded Syrianus in the Neo Platonic School. Died 485, Several of his + works are extant. + +26. Philo of Alexandria was well versed in the philosophy of Plato, and + tried to show its harmony with the books of Moses. A fine edition of + his works was published in 1742, in 2 vols. folio, edited by Mangey. + +27. Amerigo Vespucci, born at Florence, 1451, was sent by his father to + Spain. Fired by the example of Columbus, he became a navigator, and + made three voyages to the New World, which ultimately was named after + him, though the honour should belong to Columbus. Died at Seville 1512. + +28. It has also been supposed by many ancient writers that Atlantis was + situated between the 20th and 30th degrees of north latitude, and the + 40th and 60th degrees of west longitude, in that part of the Atlantic + known as the Sargasso sea. + +29. Born 1493; died 1541. He was the first to publish the Almagestes of + Ptolemy in Greek at Bâle, 1538, folio. He was the friend of Luther and + Melancthon. + +30. The first Edition of his chronological tables is that of Berne, 1540. + Little is known of him except that he was born at Rotweil in Germany + and was a councillor of the city of Berne, in the library of which town + is a unique copy of his History of Berne, 3 vols. folio, in German. + +31. Guicciardini, the author of the celebrated _History of the events + between_ 1494 _and_ 1532. + +32. FRISIUS was born at Dorkum in Frisia, his real name being John Gemma. + His map of the world was published in 1540. Died at Louvain in 1555. + GASTALDUS was a Genoese and wrote many tracts on Geography. He was the + father of Jerome Gastaldus, the author of a celebrated work on the + Plague. TRAMASINUS was a celebrated Venetian printer of the 16th + Century. ANDREAS VAVASOR is probably an error for Francis Vavasor, the + Jesuit. + + MUNSTER, APPIANUS, PUTEANUS, PETER MARTYR, and ORTELIUS are well known, + but HUNTERUS, DEMONGENITUS, and TRAMONTANUS are unknown to me. + +33. Octher's voyage will be found in Vol. I., p. 51, of this Edition of + Hakluyt. + +34. See Vol. I. of this Edition of Halkluyt. + +35. See Vol. II. p. 60 (note) of this Edition + +36. Giovanni Verrzzani is evidently meant. A Florentine by birth, he + entered the service of Francis I., and in 1524 discovered New France. + An account of his travels and tragic death is to be found in Ramusius. + In the Strozzi library, at Florence, a manuscript of Verazzani's is + preserved. + +37. Born at St Malo. Discovered part of Canada in 1534. His _Brief récit de + la Navigation faite ès îles de Canada, Hochelage, Saguenay et autres_, + was published at Paris in 1546, 8vo. + +38. BAROS, who had been appointed treasurer of the Indies, wrote a _History + of Asia and of India_ in 4 decades which were published between the + years 1552 and 1602. It has been translated from Portuguese into + Spanish, and considering that it contains many facts not to be found + elsewhere, it is surprising that there should have been neither a + French nor English Edition. Baros was born in 1496 and died in 1570. + +39. This is probably an error for Peter Nonnius, professor of Mathematics + at the University of Coimbra who published two books _De Arte + Navigandi_ in 1573. + +40. Little is known of this writer. He appears to have been the son of + Jerome Fracastor, a Veronese who obtained a certain celebrity as a poet + at the beginning of the 16th Century. + +41. In a former passage it is stated that Cabot did not get beyond the 58th + degree of latitude. + +42. It is now well known that the diminished saltness of the sea off the + Siberian coast is due to the immense masses of fresh water poured into + it by the Ob, the Lena, and other Siberian rivers. + +43. Either Salvaterra or the Frier must have possessed a vivid imagination. + The former at any rate thoroughly took in Sir Humphrey Gilbert. + +44. It seems very strange to us after the Northwest passage has been + discovered by M'Clure in 1852 and the North East passage by + Nordenskiold in 1879 to read the arguments by which each of the + upholders of the two routes sought to prove that his opponent's + contention was impossible. Of the two disputants we must confess that + Jenkinson's views now appear the likeliest to be realised, for M'Clure + only made his way from Behring Straits to Melville island by abandoning + his ship and travelling across the ice, while Nordenskiold carried the + Vega past the North of Europe and Siberia, returning by Behring's + straits and the Pacific. + +45. Cape Chudley. + +46. Born near Doncaster. He made several attempts to find the Northwest + passage. (See post.) In 1585 he accompanied Drake to the West Indies; + assisted in defeating the Spanish Armada, and was mortally wounded in + 1594 at the attack on Fort Croyzan, near Brest. Some relics of his + Arctic expedition were discovered by Captain F. C. Hall in 1860-62, and + described in his delightful book, "Life with the Esquimaux." + +47. Midway between Orkney and Shetland. + +48. Foula, the most westerly of the Shetlands, round in form, is 12 miles + in circuit. + +49. Esquimaux. + +50. Far from coming from Newfoundland, this drift-wood is carried into the + Arctic Ocean by the Yenisei and other large rivers of Siberia. + +51. Contrary to the opinion of Mr. Weise, who insists that Friseland is + Iceland, I am inclined to believe that the East coast of Greenland is + meant. + +52. Lieutenant Nansen's expedition across Greenland negatives this + supposition, but the West coast is more habitable than the East. + +53. Frobisher Bay: it is not a strait. Hall's _Island_ is Hall's Peninsula. + +54. twisted + +55. Long. From Saxon _sid_. (See BEN JONSON, _New Inn_, v. 1.) + +56. Raisins. + +57. In a very short time. Sometimes written _giffats_ + +58. It is almost in the exact latitude of Gaboon Bay. + +59. Our author is wrong. Morocco lies between the _annual_ Isothermal lines + of 68º Fahr. (or 20 Cent.), whilst the mean temperature at the Equator + was considered by Humboldt to be 81.4° Fahr. and by Atkinson (Memoirs + of the Royal Astronomical Society) 84.5°. + +60. Our author means the _fifth_ proposition of the _first_ book of Euclid, + the celebrated _Pons Asinorum_. + +61. John Holywood, so named after the place of his birth near York, after + studying at Oxford, settled in Paris where he became famous. He died in + 1256, leaving two works of rare power considering the century they were + written in, viz, _de Spheri Mundi_, and _de Computo Ecclesiastico_. + They are to be found in one volume 8vo, Paris, 1560. + +62. John Gonzalvo d'Oviedo, born 1478. Was Governor of the New World, and + wrote a _Summario de la Historia general y natural de las Indias + Occidentales_. Best edition, _Salamanca_ 1535, and _Toledo_, 1536, + folio. This is the work here quoted. + +63. This is not the case. + +64. Blank in original. + +65. Kirkwall. + +66. Blank in original. + +67. Blank in original. + +68. Probably a Narwal. + +69. Good. + +70. Blank in the original. + +71. Blank in original. + +72. Blank in original. + +73. Blank in original. + +74. Blank in original. + +75. Blank in original. + +76. Muddy. + +77. Blank in original. + +78. Blank in original. + +79. Blank in original. + +80. Blank in original. + +81. South Equatorial Current. + +82. Gulf Stream. + +83. The elimination of salt from sea-water by cold was evidently unknown to + the writer. + +84. The writer was evidently not a convert to the System of Copernicus, but + agreed with Ptolemy that the Heavens were solid and moved round the + earth, which was the centre of the Universe. + +85. _Pirrie_, a sudden storm at sea. According to Jamieson, _Pirr_, in + Scotch, means a gentle breeze. + + "A pirrie came, and set my ship on sands." + _Mirror for Magistrates_, p. 194. + +86. _Yer_ = ere. + +87. Sir Christopher Hatton. + +88. Flat. + +89. Thus the only result of Davis's Voyage was the discovery of the broad + piece of water since known as Davis's Straits, extending between + Greenland on the East and Cumberland Island on the West. It connects + the Atlantic with Baffin's Bay. In the next voyage, Davis seems to have + crossed the mouth of Hudson's Straits, without entering them. + +90. The full text of Davis's account is given in Vol. vi., p. 250 of this + Edition. + +91. It seems probable that either Zeno was wrecked on one of the Shetlands, + and that by _Sorani_ is meant Orkney, or that Iceland is the true + Frisland. + +92. Aveiro, province of Beira, 31 miles N.W. of Coimbra. + +93. Viana do Castello, province of Minho, 40 miles N. of Oporto. + +94. See Vol ix., p. 143 of this Edition. + +95. (?) Chateau-Richer on the St. Lawrence, 15 miles below Quebec. + +96. Near Cape Charles. + +97. The St. Lawrence. + +98. This refers to Gilbert's first voyage in 1578. + +99. Causand. + +100. The Newfoundland Banks are rather a submarine Plateau than banks in + the ordinary sense. The bottom is rocky, and generally reached at 25 + to 95 fathoms: length and breadth about 300 miles: the only shallow + region in the Atlantic. + +101. The cold on the coast is partly due to the quantities of ice + descending from Baffin's Bay. + +102. Maëlstrom. + +103. Silver, and even gold, has been found in Newfoundland. + +104. Bends. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I., by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13605 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Release Date: October 5, 2004 [EBook #13605] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y'e = the; y't = that; w't = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques + +AND + +Discoveries + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER. + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. XII. + +AMERICA. PART I. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ROBERT CECIL[1] KNIGHT. + +Principall Secretarie to her Maiestie, Master of the Court of Wards and + Liueries, and one of her Maiesties most honourable Priuie Councell. + +Right honourable, your fauourable acceptance of my second volume of the +English voyages offred vnto you the last yere, your perusing of the same at +your conuenient leasure, your good testimony of my selfe and of my +trauailes therein, together with the infallible signes of your earnest +desire to doe mee good, which very lately, when I thought least thereof, +brake forth into most bountiful and acceptable effects: these +considerations haue throughly animated and encouraged me to present vnto +your prudent censure this my third and last volume also. The subiect and +matter herein contained is the fourth part of the world, which more +commonly then properly is called America: but by the chiefest Authors The +new world. New, in regard of the new and late discouery thereof made by +Christopher Colon, aliàs Columbus, a Genouois by nation, in the yere of +grace 1492. And world, in respect of the huge extension thereof, which to +this day is not throughly discouered, neither within the Inland nor in the +coast, especially toward the North and Northwest, although on the either +side it be knowen vnto vs for the space of fiue thousand leagues at the +least, compting and considering the trending of the land, and for 3000. +more on the backeside in the South Sea from the Streight of Magellan to +Cape Mendoçino and Noua Albion. So that it seemeth very fitly to be called +A newe worlde. Howbeit it cannot be denied but that Antiquitie had some +kinde of dimme glimse, and vnperfect notice thereof. Which may appeare by +the relation of Plato in his two worthy dialogues of Timæus and Critias +vnder the discourse of that mighty large yland called by him Atlantis, +lying in the Ocean sea without the Streight of Hercules, now called the +Straight of Gibraltar, being (as he there reporteth) bigger then Africa and +Asia: And by that of Aristotle in his booke De admirandis auditionibus of +the long nauigation of certaine Carthaginians, who sayling forth of the +aforesaid Streight of Gibraltar into the maine Ocean for the space of many +dayes, in the ende found a mighty and fruitfull yland, which they would +haue inhabited, but were forbidden by their Senate and chiefe gouernours. +Moreouer, aboue 300. yeeres after these wee haue the testimony of Diodorus +Siculus lib. 5 cap. 7. of the like mighty yland discouered in the Westerne +Ocean by the Tyrrheni, who were forbidden for certaine causes to inhabite +the same by the foresaid Carthaginians. And Senecca in his tragedie +intituled Medea foretold aboue 1500. yeeres past, that in the later ages +the Ocean would discouer new worlds, and that the yle of Thule would no +more be the vttermost limite of the earth. For whereas Virgile had said to +Augustus Caesar, Tibi seruiat vltima Thule, alluding thereunto he +contradicteth the same, and saith, Nec sit terris vltima Thule. Yea +Tertullian, one of our most ancient and learned diuines, in the beginning +of his treatise de Pallio alludeth vnto Plato his Westerne Atlantis, which +there by another name he calleth Aeon, saying Aeon in Atlantico nunc +quæritur. And in his 40. chapter de Apologetico he reporteth the same to be +bigger then all Africa and Asia.[2] Of this new world and euery speciall +part thereof in this my third volume I haue brought to light the best and +most perfect relations of such as were chiefe actours in the particular +discoueries and serches of the same, giuing vnto euery man his right, and +leauing euery one to mainteine his owne credit. The order obserued in this +worke is farre more exact, then heretofore I could attaine vnto: for +whereas in my two former volumes I was enforced for lacke of sufficient +store, in diuers places to vse the methode of time onely (which many worthy +authors on the like occasion are enforced vnto) being now more plentifully +furnished with matter, I alwayes follow the double order of time and place. +Wherefore proposing vnto my selfe the right situation of this New world, I +begin at the extreme Northerne limite, and put downe successiuely in one +ranke or classis, according to the order aforesaide, all such voyages as +haue bene made to the said part: which comming all together, and following +orderly one vpon another, doe much more lighten the readers vnderstanding, +and confirme his iudgment, then if they had bene scattered in sundry +corners of the worke. Which methode I obserue from the highest North to the +lowest South.[3] Now where any country hath bene but seldome hanted, or any +extraordinary or chiefe action occureth, if I finde one voyage well written +by two seuerall persons, sometimes I make no difficultie to set downe both +those iournals, as finding diuers things of good moment obserued in the +one, which are quite omitted in the other. For commonly a souldier +obserueth one thing, and a mariner another, and as your honour knoweth, +Plus vident oculi, quàm oculus. But this course I take very seldome and +sparingly. And albeit my worke do cary the title of The English voyages, +aswell in regard that the greatest part are theirs, and that my trauaile +was chiefly vndertaken for preseruation of their memorable actions, yet +where our owne mens experience is defectiue, there I haue bene careful to +supply the same with the best and chiefest relations of strangers. As in +the discouery of the Grand Bay, of the mighty riuer of S. Laurence, of the +countries of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay, of Florida, and the Inland of +Cibola, Tiguex, Cicuic, and Quiuira, of The gulfe of California, and the +North westerne sea-coast to Cabo Mendoçino and Sierra Neuada: as also of +the late and rich discouery of 15. prouinces on the backside of Florida and +Virginia, the chiefest whereof is called the kingdome of New Mexico, for +the wealth, ciuil gouernment, and populousnesse of the same. Moreouer +because since our warres with Spaine, by the taking of their ships, and +sacking of their townes and cities, most of all their secrets of the West +Indies, and euery part thereof are fallen into our peoples hands (which in +former time were for the most part vnknowen vnto vs,) I haue vsed the +vttermost of my best endeuour, to get, and hauing gotten, to translate out +of Spanish, and here in this present volume to publish such secrets of +theirs, as may any way auaile vs or annoy them, if they driue and vrge vs +by their sullen insolencies, to continue our courses of hostilitie against +them, and shall cease to seeke a good and Christian peace vpon indifferent +and equal conditions. What these things be, and of how great importance +your honour in part may vnderstand, if it please you to vouchsafe to reade +the Catalogues conteyning the 14 principal heads of this worke. Whereby +your honor may farther perceiue that there is no chiefe riuer, no port, no +towne, no citie, no prouince of any reckoning in the West Indies, that hath +not here some good description thereof, aswell for the inland as the +sea-coast. And for the knowledge of the true breadth of the Sea betweene +Noua Albion on the Northwest part of America, and the yle of Iapan lying +ouer against the kingdomes of Coray and China, which vntil these foure +yeeres was neuer reueiled vnto vs, being a point of exceeding great +consequence, I haue here inserted the voyage of one Francis Gualle a +Spaniard made from Acapulco an hauen on the South sea on the coast of New +Spaine, first to the Philippinas, and then to the citie of Macao in China, +and homeward from Macao by the yles of Iapan, and thence to the back of the +West Indies in the Northerly latitude of 37. degrees 1/2. In which course +betweene the said ylands and the maine he found a wide and spacious open +Ocean of 900. leagues broad, which a little more to the Northward hath bene +set out as a Streight, and called in most mappes The Streight of Anian. In +which relation to the viceroy hee constantly affirmeth three seuerall +times, that there is a passage that way vnto the North parts of Asia. +Moreouer, because I perceiue by a letter directed by her Maiestie to the +Emperour of China (and sent in the last Fleet intended for those parts by +The South Sea vnder the charge of Beniamin Wood, chiefly set out at the +charges of sir Robert Duddeley, a gentleman of excellent parts) that she +vseth her princely mediation for obtaining of freedome of traffique for her +marchants in his dominions, for the better instruction of our people in the +state of those countries, I haue brought to light certaine new +aduertisements of the late alteration of the mightie monarchie of the +confronting yle of Iapan, and of the new conquest of the kingdome of Coray, +not long since tributarie to the king of China, by Quabacondono the monarch +of all the yles and princedomes of Iapan; as also of the Tartars called +Iezi, adioyning on the East and Northeast parts of Coray, where I thinke +the best vtterance of our natural and chiefe commoditie of cloth is like to +be, if it please God hereafter to reueile vnto vs the passage thither by +the Northwest. The most exact and true information of the North parts of +China I finde in a history of Tamerlan, which I haue in French, set out +within these sixe yeeres by the abbat of Mortimer, dedicated to the French +king that now reigneth, who confesseth that it was long since written in +the Arabian tongue by one Alhacen a wise and valiant Captaine, employed by +the said mighty prince in all his conquests of the foresaid kingdome. Which +history I would not haue failed to haue translated into English, if I had +not found it learnedly done vnto my hand. + +And for an appendix vnto the ende of my worke, I haue thought it not +impertinent, to exhibite to the graue and discreet iudgements of those +which haue the chiefe places in the Admiraltie and marine causes of +England, Certaine briefe extracts of the orders of the Contractation house +of Siuil in Spaine, touching their gouernment in sea-matters: together with +The streight and seuere examination of Pilots and Masters before they be +admitted to take charge of ships, aswell by the Pilot mayor, and +brotherhood of ancient Masters, as by the Kings reader of The lecture of +the art of Nauigation, with the time that they be enioyned to bee his +auditors, and some part of the questions that they are to answere vnto. +Which if they finde good and beneficial for our seamen, I hope they wil +gladly imbrace and imitate, or finding out some fitter course of their +owne, will seeke to bring such as are of that calling vnto better +gouernment and more perfection in that most laudable and needfull vocation. +To leaue this point, I was once minded to haue added to the end of these my +labours a short treatise, which I haue lying by me in writing, touching The +curing of hot diseases incident to traueilers in long and Southerne +voyages, which treatise was written in English, no doubt of a very honest +mind, by one M. George Wateson, and dedicated vnto her sacred Maiestie. But +being carefull to do nothing herein rashly, I shewed it to my worshipfull +friend M. doctour Gilbert, a gentleman no lesse excellent in the chiefest +secrets of the Mathematicks (as that rare iewel lately set foorth by him in +Latine doeth euidently declare) then in his owne profession of physicke: +who assured me, after hee had perused the said treatise, that it was very +defectiue and vnperfect, and that if hee might haue leasure, which that +argument would require, he would either write something thereof more +aduisedly himselfe, or would conferre with the whole Colledge of the +Physicions, and set downe some order by common consent for the preseruation +of her Maiesties subjects. Now as the foresaid treatise touched the cure of +diseases growing in hot regions, so being requested thereunto by some in +authoritie they may adde their iudgments for the cure of diseases incident +unto men employed in cold regions, which to good purpose may serue our +peoples turnes, if they chance to prosecute the intermitted discouery by +the Northwest, whereunto I finde diuers worshipfull citizens at this +present much inclined. Now because long since I did foresee, that my +profession of diuinitie, the care of my family, and other occasions might +call and diuert me from these kinde of endeuours, I haue for these 3 yeeres +last pasts encouraged and furthered in these studies of Cosmographie and +forren histories, my very honest, industrious, and learned friend M. IOHN +PORY, one of speciall skill and extraordinary hope to performe great +matters in the same, and beneficial for the common wealth. + +Thus Sir I haue portrayed out in rude lineaments my Westerne Atlantis or +America: assuring you, that if I had bene able, I would haue limned her and +set her out with farre more liuely and exquisite colours: yet, as she is, I +humbly desire you to receiue her with your wonted and accustomed fauour at +my handes, who alwayes wil remaine most ready and deuoted to do your honour +any poore seruice that I may; and in the meane season will not faile +vnfainedly to beseech the Almighty to powre vpon you the best of his +temporall blessings in this world, and after this life ended with true and +much honour, to make you partaker of his joyes eternall. From London the +first of September, the yeere of our Lord God 1600. + +Your Honours most humble to +be commanded, + +RICHARD HAKLVYT, Preacher. + + + + +Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION IN AMERICA. + + * * * * * + +The most ancient Discovery of the West Indies by Madoc the sonne of Owen + Guyneth Prince of North-wales, in the yeere 1170: taken out of the + history of Wales, lately published by M. Dauid Powel Doctor of + Diuinity.[4] + +After the death of Owen Guyneth, his sonnes fell at debate who should +inherit after him: for the eldest sonne borne in matrimony, Edward or +Iorweth Drwydion, was counted vnmeet to gouerne, because of the maime upon +his face: and Howell that tooke vpon him all the rule was a base sonne, +begotten upon an Irish woman. Therefore Dauid gathered all the power he +could, and came against Howel, and fighting with him, slew him; and +afterwards inioyed quietly the whole land of Northwales, vntil his brother +Iorwerths sonne came to age. [Sidenote: Madoc the son of Owen Guyneth.] +Madoc another of Owen Guyneth his sonnes left the land in contention +betwixt his brethren, and prepared certaine ships, with men and munition, +and sought aduentures by Seas, sailing West, and leauing the coast of +Ireland so farre North, that he came vnto a land vnknowen, where he saw +many strange things. + +[Sidenote: Humf. Llyod.] This land most needs be some part of that Countrey +of which the Spanyards affirme themselues to be the first finders since +Hannos time. Whereupon it is manifest that that countrey was by Britaines +discouered, long before Columbus led any Spanyards thither. + +Of the voyage and returne of this Madoc there be many fables feined, as the +common people doe vse in distance of place and length of time rather to +augment then to diminish: but sure it is there he was. [Sidenote: The +second voyage of Madoc the sonne of Owen Guyneth.] And after he had +returned home, and declared the pleasant and fruitfull countreys that he +had seen without inhabitants, and vpon the contrary part, for what barren +and wild ground his brethren and nephews did murther one another, he +prepared a number of ships, and got with him such men and women as were +desirous to liue in quietness: and taking leaue of his friends, tooke his +journey thitherward againe. [Sidenote: Gomara. lib. 2. cap. 16.] Therefore +it is to be supposed that he and his people inhabited part of those +countreys: for it appeareth by Francis Lopez de Gomara, that in Acuzamil +and other places the people honored the crosse. Wherby it may be gathered +that Christians had bene there before the comming of the Spanyards. But +because this people were not many, they followed the maners of the land +which they came vnto, and vsed the language they found there. + +[Sidenote: M. Powels addition. Gutyn Owen.] This Madoc arriuing in that +Westerne countrey, vnto the which he came in the yere 1170, left most of +his people there, and returning backe for more of his owne nation, +acquaintance and friends to inhabit that faire and large countrey, went +thither againe with ten sailes, as I find noted by Gutyn Owen. I am of +opinion that the land whereunto he came was some part of the West +Indies.[5] + + * * * * * + +Carmina Meredith filij Rhesi[6] mentionem facientia de Madoco filio Oweni + Guynedd, et de sua nauigatione in terras incognitas. Vixit hic Meredith + circiter annum Domini 1477. + + Madoc wyf, mwyedic wedd, + Iawn genau, Owyn Guynedd: + Ni fynnum dir, fy enaid oedd + Na da mawr, ond y moroedd.[7] + +The same in English. + + + Madoc I am the sonne of Owen Gwynedd + With stature large, and comely grace adorned: + No lands at home nor store of wealth me please, + My minde was whole to search the Ocean seas. + + * * * * * + +The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus to + king Henry the seuenth in the yeere 1488 the 13 of February: with the + kings acceptation of the offer, and the cause whereupon hee was depriued + of the same: recorded in the thirteenth chapter of the history of Don + Fernand Columbus of the life and deeds of his father Christopher + Columbus.[8] + +Christophero Colon temendo, se parimente i Re di Castiglia non assentissero +alla sua impresa, non gli bisognasse proporla di nuouo à qualche alto +principe, e cosi in cio passasse lungo tempo; mando in Inghilterra vn suo +fratello, che haueua appresso di se, chiantato Bartholomeo Colon: il qual, +quantunque non hauesse lettere Latine, erà però huomo prattico, e +giudicioso nelle cose del mare, e sapea molto bene far carte da nauigare, e +sphere, et altri instrumenti di quella professione, come dal suo fratello +era instrutto. Partito adunque Bartholomeo Colon per Inghilterra, volle la +sua sorte, che desse in man di cor sali, i quali lo spogliarono insieme con +gli altri delta sua naue. Per la qual cosa, e per la sua pouertà et +infirmità, che in cosi diuerse terre lo assalirono crudelmente, prolungo +per gran tempo la sua ambasciata, fin che, aquistata vn poco di faculia con +le carte, ch' ei fabricana, cominciò a far pratiche co' il Re Enrico +settimo padre de Enrico ottauo, che al presente regna: a cui appresentò vn +mappamondo, nel quale erano scritti questi versi, che frá le sue scriture +lo trouai, e da me saranno qui posti piu rosto per l'antichità, che per la +loro elganza. + + Terraram quicunque cupis foeliciter oras + Noscere, cuncta decens doctè pictura docebit, + Quam Strabo affirmat, Ptolomæus, Plinius, atque + Isidorus: non vno tamen sententia cuique. + Pingitur hîc etiam nuper sulcata carinis + Hispanis Zona illa, priùs incognita genti + Torrida, quæ tandem nunc est notissima multis. + +Et piu di sotto diceua + +Pro Authore siue Pictore. + + Ianua cui patriæ est nomen, cui Bartholomæus + Columbus de Terra Rubra, opus edidit istud, + Londonijis anno Domini 1480 atque insuper anno + Octauo, decimaque die cum tertia mensis + Februarij. Laudes Christo cantentur abundè. + +Et, percioche auuertirà alcuno, che dice Columbus de Terra Rubra, dico +medesimamente Io viddi alcune sotto scritioni dell'Ammiraglio, primo che +acquistasse lo stato, ou' egli si sotto scriueua, Columbus de Terra Rubra. +Ma, tornando al Re d'Inghilterra, dico, che, da lui il mappamondo veduto, +et cio che i'Ammiraglio gli offeriua, con allegro volto accettò la sua +offerta, e mandolo a chiamare. Ma, percioche Dio Phaueua per Cas. tiglia +serbata, gia l'Ammiraglio in quel tempo era andato, e tornato con la +vittoria della sua impresa, secondo che per ordine si racconterà. Lasciarò +hora di raccontar ciò, che Bartolomeo Colon hauena negociato in +Inghilterra, e tornarò all'Ammiraglio, etc. + + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus fearing least if the king of Castile in like manner +(as the king of Portugall had done) should not condescend vnto his +enterprise, he should be inforced to offer the same againe to some other +prince, and so much time should be spent therein, sent into England a +certaine brother of his which he had with him, whose name was Bartholomew +Columbus, who, albeit he had not the Latine tongue, yet neuerthelesse was a +man of experience and skilfull in Sea causes, and could very wel make sea +cards and globes, and other instruments belonging to that profession, as he +was instructed by his brother. Wherefore after that Bartholomew Columbus +was departed for England, his lucke was to fall into the hands of pirats, +which spoiled him with the rest of them which were in the ship which he +went in. [Sidenote: The occasion why the West Indies were not discouered +for England.] Vpon which occasion, and by reason of his pouerty and +sicknesse which cruelly assaulted him in a countrey so farre distant from +his friends, he deferred his embassage for a long while, until such time as +he had gotten somewhat handsome about him with making of Sea Cards. At +length he began to deale with King Henry the seuenth the father of Henry +the eight, which reigneth at this present: vnto whom he presented a mappe +of the world, wherein these verses were written, which I found among his +papers: and I will here set them downe, rather for their antiquity then for +their goodnesse. + + Thou which desireth easily the coasts of lands to know, + This comely mappe right learnedly the same to thee will shew: + Which Strabo, Plinie, Ptolomew and Isodore maintaine: + Yet for all that they do not all in one accord remaine. + Here also is set downe the late discouered burning Zone + By Portingals, vnto the world which whilom was vnknowen. + Whereof the knowledge now at length thorow all the world is blowen. + +And a little vnder he added: + +For the Author or the Drawer. + + He, whose deare natiue soile hight stately Genua. + Euen he whose name is Bartholomew Colon de Terra Rubra, + The yeere of Grace a thousand and foure hundred and fourescore + And eight, and on the thirteenth day of February more, + In London published this worke. To Christ all laud therefore. + +And because some peraduenture may obserue that he calleth himselfe Columbus +de Terra Rubra, I say, that in like maner I haue seene some subscriptions +of my father Christopher Columbus, before he had the degree of Admirall, +wherein be signed his name thus, Columbus de Terra Rubra. [Sidenote: King +Henry the seuenth his acceptation of Columbus offer.] But to returne to the +king of England, I say, that after he had seene the map, and that which my +father Christopher Columbus offered vnto him, he accepted the offer with +ioyfull countenance, and sent to call him into England. But because God had +reserued the said offer for Castile, Columbus was gone in the meane space, +and also returned with the performance of his enterprise, as hereafter in +order shall be rehearsed. Now will I leaue off from making any farther +mention of that which Bartholomew Colon had negotiated in England, and I +will returne vnto the Admirall, &c. + + * * * * * + +Another testimony taken out of the 60 chapter of the foresayd history of + Ferdinando Columbus concerning the offer that Bartholomew Columbus made + to king Henry the seuenth on the behalfe of his brother Christopher. + +Tornato adunque l'Ammiraglio dallo scoprimento di Cuba and di Giamaica, +tornò nella Spagnuola Bartolomeo Colon suo fratello, quello, che era già +andato a trattare accordo col Re d'Inghilterra sopra lo scoprimento delle +Indie, come di sopra habiam detto. Questo poi, ritornando sene verso +Castiglia con capitoli conceduti, haueua inteso a Parigi dal re Carlo di +Francia, l'Ammiraglio suo fratello hauer gia scorperte l'Indie: per che gli +souenne per poter far il Viaggio di cento scudi. Et, Auenga che per cotal +nuoua egli si fosse molto affrettato, per arriuar l'Ammiraglio in Spagna, +quando non dimeno giunse a Siuiglia, egli era gia tornato alle Indie co' 17 +nauigli. Perche, per asseguir quanto ei gli haueba lasciato, di subito al +principio dell' anno del 1494 sen' andò a i Re Catholici, menando seco Don +Diego Colon, mio fratello, e me ancora, accioche seruissimo di paggi al +serenissimo principe Don Giouanni, il qual viua in gloria, si come hauea +commandata la Catholica Reina donna Isabella, che alhora era in +Vagliadolid. Tosto adunque che noi giungemmo, i Re chiamarono Don +Bartolomeo, et mandaronlo alia Spagnuola centre naui, &c. + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus the Admirall being returned from the discouery of Cuba +and Iamayca, found in Hispaniola his brother Bartholomew Columbus, who +before had beene sent to intreat of an agreement with the king of England +for the discouery of the Indies, as we haue sayd before. This Bartholomew +therefore returning vnto Castile, with the capitulations granted by the +king of England to his brother, vnderstood at Paris by Charles the king of +France that the Admirall his brother had already performed that discouery: +whereupon the French king gaue vnto the sayd Bartholomew an hundred French +crownes to beare his charges into Spaine. And albeit he made great haste +vpon this good newes to meet with the Admirall in Spaine, yet at his +comming to Siuil his brother was already returned to the Indies with +seuenteene saile of shipps. Wherefore to fulfill that which he had left him +in charge in the beginning of the yeere 1494 he repaired to the Catholike +princes, taking with him Diego Colon my brother and me also, which were to +be preferred as Pages to the most excellent Prince Don Iohn, who now is +with God, according to the commandement of the Catholic Queene Lady +Isabell, which was then in Validolid. Assoone therefore as we came to the +Court, the princes called for Don Bartholomew, and sent him to Hispaniola +with three ships, &c. + + * * * * * + +THE ENGLISH VOYAGES, NAVIGATIONS, AND DISCOUERIES. + +_(Intended for the finding of a northwest passage) to the north parts of + America, to meta incogita, and the backeside of Gronland, as farre as 72 + degrees and 12 minuts: performed first by Sebastian Cabota, and since by + Sir Martin Frobisher, and M. John Dauis, with the patents, discourses, + and aduertisements thereto belonging._ + +The Letters patents of King Henry the seuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and + his three sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius for the discouerie of new + and vnknowen lands. + +Henricus Dei gratia rex Angliæ, et Franciæ, et Dominus Hiberniæ, omnibus, +ad quos præsentes literæ nostræ peruenerint, salutem. + +Notum sit et manifestum, quòd dedimus et concessimus, ac per præsentes +damus et concedimus pro nobis et hæredibus nostris, dilectis nobis Ioanni +Caboto ciui Venetiarum, Lodouico, Sebastiano, et Sancio, filijs dicti +Ioannis, et eorum ac cuiuslibet eorum hæredibus et deputatis, plenam ac +liberam authoritatem, facultatem, et potestatem nauigandi ad omnes partes, +regiones, et sinus maris orientalis, occidentalis, et septentrionalis, sub +banneris, vexillis, et insignijs nostris, cum quinque nauibus siue +nauigijs, cuiuscúnque portituræ et qualitatis existant, et cum tot et +tantis nautis et hominibus, quot et quantos in dictis nauibus secum ducere +voluerint, suis et eorum proprijs sumptibus et expensis, ad inueniendum, +discooperiendum, et inuestigandum quascunque insulas, patrias, regiones +siue prouincias gentilium et infidelium quorumcunque, in quacunque parte +mundi positas, quæ Christianis omnibus ante hæc tempora fuerint incognitæ. +Concessimus etiam eisdem et eorum cuilibet, eorumque et cuiuslibet eorum +hæredibus et deputatis, ac licentiam dedimus ad affigendum prædictas +banneras nostras et insignia in quacunque villa, oppido, castro, insula seu +terra firma à se nouiter inuentis. Et quòd prænominatus Ioannes, et filij +eiusdem, seu hæredes et eorum deputati, quascunque huiusmodi villas, +castra, oppida, et insulas à se inuentas, quæ subiugari, occupari, +possideri possint, subiugare, occupare, possidere valeant tanquam vasalli +nostri, et gubernatores, locatenentes, et deputati eorundem, dominium, +titulum et iurisdictionem earundem villarum, castrorum, oppidorum, +insularum, ac terræ firmæ sic inuentorum nobis acquirendo. Ita tamen, vt ex +omnibus fructibus, proficuis, emolumentis, commodis, lucris, et +obuintionibus ex huiusmodi nauigatione prouenientibus, præfatus Iohannes, +et filij ac hæredes, et eorum deputati, teneanter et sint obligati nobis +pro omni viagio suo, toties quoties ad portum nostrum Bristolliæ +applicuerint (ad quem omnino applicare teneantur et sint astricti) deductis +omnibus sumptibus et impensis necessarijs per eosdem factis, quintam partem +capitalis lucri facti, siue in mercibus, siue in pecunijs persoluere: +Dantes nos et concedentes eisdem suisque hæredibus et deputatis, vt ab omni +solutione custumarum omnium et singulorum honorum et mercium, quas secum +reportarint ab illis locis sic nouiter inuentis, liberi sint et immunes. Et +insuper dedimus et concessimus eisdem ac suis hæredibus et deputatis, quod +terræ omnes firmæ, insulæ, villæ, oppida, castra, et loca quæcunque a se +inuenta, quotquot ab eis inueniri contigerit, non possint ab alijs +quibusuis nostris subditis frequentari seu visitari, absque licentia +prædictorum Ioannis et eius filiorum, suorumque deputatoram, sub poena +amissionis tam nauium quàm bonorum omnium quorumcunque ad ea loca sic +inuenta nauigare præsumentium. Volentes et strictissimè mandantes omnibus +et singulis nostris subditis, tam in terra quàm in mari constitutis, vt +præfato Ioanni et eius filijs ac deputatis, bonam assistentiam faciant, et +tam in armandis nauibus seu nauigijs, quàm in prouisione commeatus et +victualium pro sua pecunia emendorum, atque aliarum omnium rerum sibi +prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauore set auxilia +impertiant. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus +patentes. [Sidenote: Ann. Dom. 1495.] Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium +quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo. + +The same in English. + +Henry by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, +to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. + +Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue +and grant for vs and our heires, to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of +Venice,[9] to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the said Iohn, and +to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free +authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of +the East, of the West, and of the North, under our banners and ensignes, +with fiue ships of what burthen or quality soeuer they be, and as many +mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their +owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoeuer +isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels +whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which +before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians; we haue granted to +them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and their deputies, +and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery +village, towne, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. And that +the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignes may subdue, +occupy and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles of them +found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our vassals, and +lieutenants, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and iurisdiction of the same +villages, townes, castles, and firme land so found. [Sidenote: Bristol +thought the meetest port for Westerne discoueries.] Yet so that the +aforesayd Iohn, and his sonnes and heires, and their deputies, be holden +and bounden of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and commodities growing of +such nauigation, for euery their voyage, as often as they shall arriue at +our port of Bristoll (at the which port they shall be bound and holden +onely to arriue) all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made, +being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the +capitall gaine so gotten. [Sidenote: Freedome from custome.] We giuing and +granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies, that they shall be +free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as +they shall bring with them from those places so newly found. And moreouer, +we haue giuen and granted to them, their heires and deputies, that all the +firme lands, isles, villages, townes, castles and places whatsoeuer they be +that they shall chance to finde, may not of any other of our subiects be +frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his +sonnes, and their deputies, vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their +shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to +saile to those places so found. Willing, and most straightly commanding all +and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea, to giue good assistance +to the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in +arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in prouision of food, and +in buying of victuals for their money, and all other things by them to be +prouided necessary for the sayd nauigation, they do giue them all their +helpe and fauour. In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our +Letters patents. Witnesse our selfe at Westminister the fift day of March, +in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne.[10] + + * * * * * + +Billa signata anno 13 Henrici septimi. + +[Sidenote: A record of the rolls touching the voyage of Iohn Cabot and +Sebastian his sonne.] Rex tertio die Februarij, anno 13, licentiam dedit +Ioanni Caboto, quod ipse capere possit sex naues Anglicanas, in aliquo +portu, siue portibus regni Angliæ, ita quod sint de portagio 200. doliorum, +vel subtus, cum apparatu requisito, et quod recipere possint in dictas +naues omnes tales magistros, marinarios, et subditos regis, qui cum eo +exire voluerint, &c. + + +The same in English. + +The king vpon the third day of February, in the 13 yeere of his reigne, +gaue licence to Iohn Cabot to take sixe English ships in any hauen or +hauens of the realme of England, being of the burden of 200 tunnes, or +vnder, with all necessary furniture, and to take also into the said ships +all such masters, mariners, and subjects of the king as willingly will go +with him, &c.[11] + + * * * * * + +An extract taken out of the map[12] of Sebastian Cabot, cut by Clement + Adams, concerning his discouery of the West Indies, which is to be seene + in her Maiesties priuie gallerie at Westminster, and in many other + ancient merchants houses. + +Anno Domini 1497 Ioannes Cabotus Venetus, et Sebastianus illius filius eam +terram fecerunt peruiam, quam nullus priùs adire ausus fuit, die 24 Junij, +circiter horam quintam bene manè. Hanc autem appellauit Terram primùm +visam, credo quod ex mari in eam partem primùm oculos iniecerat. Nam quæ ex +aduerso sita est insula eam appellauit insulam Diui Ioannis, hac opinor +ratione, quòd aperta fuit eo die qui est sacer Diuo Ioanni Baptistæ: Huius +incolæ pelles animalium, exuuiasque ferarum pro indumentis habent, easque +tanti faciunt, quanti nos vestes preciosissimas. Cùm bellum gerunt, vtuntur +arcu, sagittis, hastis, spiculis, clauis ligneis et fundis. Tellus sterilis +est, neque vllos fructus affert, ex quo fit, vt vrsis albo colore, et +ceruis inusitatæ apud nos magnitudinis referta sit: piscibus abundat, +ijsque sane magnis, quales sunt lupi marini, et quos salmones vulgus +appellat; soleæ autem reperiuntur tam longæ, vt vlnæ mensuram excedant. +Imprimis autem magna est copia eorum piscium, quos vulgari sermone vocant +Bacallaos. Gignuntur in ea insula accipitres ita nigri, vt coruorum +similitudinem mirum in modum exprimant, perdices autem et aquilæ sunt nigri +coloris. + + +The same in English. + +In the yeere of our Lord 1497 Iohn Cabot a Venetian, and his sonne +Sebastian (with an English fleet set out from Bristoll) discouered that +land which no man before that time had attempted, on the 24 of Iune,[13] +about fiue of the clocke early in the morning. This land he called Prima +vista, that is to say, First seene, because as I suppose it was that part +whereof they had the first sight from sea. That Island which lieth out +before the land, he called the Island of S. Iohn vpon this occasion, as I +thinke, because it was discouered vpon the day of Iohn the Baptist. The +inhabitants of this Island vse to weare beasts skinnes, and haue them in as +great estimation as we haue our finest garments. In their warres they vse +bowes, arrowes, pikes, darts, woodden clubs, and slings. The soile is +barren in some places, and yeeldeth litle fruit, but it is full of white +beares, and stagges farre greater then ours. It yeeldeth plenty of fish, +and those very great, as seales, and those which commonly we call salmons: +there are soles also aboue a yard in length: but especially there is great +abundance of that kinde of fish which the Sauages call baccalaos. In the +same Island also there breed hauks, but they are so blacke that they are +very like to rauens, as also their partridges, and egles, which are in like +sort blacke. + + * * * * * + +A discourse of Sebastian Cabot touching his discouery of part of the West + India out of England in the time of king Henry the seuenth, vsed to + Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine, and reported by the + sayd Legate in this sort. + +[Sidenote: This discourse is taken out of the second volume of the voyages +of Baptista Ramusius.[14]] Doe you not vnderstand sayd he (speaking to +certaine Gentlemen of Venice) how to passe to India toward the Northwest, +as did of late a citizen of Venice, so valiant a man, and so well practised +in all things pertaining to nauigations, and the science of Cosmographie, +that at this present he hath not his like in Spaine, insomuch that for his +virtues he is preferred aboue all other pilots that saile to the West +Indies, who may not passe thither without his licence, and is therefore +called Piloto mayor, that is, the grand Pilot. [Sidenote: Sebastian Cabota +Pilot mayor of Spaine.] And when we sayd that we knew him not, he +proceeded, saying, that being certaine yeres in the city of Siuil, and +desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyards, it was +tolde him that there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian borne named +Sebastian Cabot, who had the charge of those things, being an expert man in +that science, and one that coulde make Cardes for the Sea, with his owne +hand, and by this report, seeking his acquaintance, hee found him a very +gentle person, who intertained him friendly, and shewed him many things, +and among other a large Mappe of the world, with certaine particular +Nauigations, as well of the Portugals, as of the Spaniards, and that he +spake further vnto him to this effect. + +When my father departed from Venice many yeeres since to dwell in England, +to follow the trade of marchandises, hee tooke mee with him to the citie of +London, while I was very yong, yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of +letters of humanitie, and of the Sphere. And when my father died in that +time when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had +discouered the coasts of India, whereof was great talke in all the Court of +king Henry the 7, who then raigned, insomuch that all men with great +admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane, to saile by +the West into the East where spices growe, by a way that was neuer knowen +before, by this fame and report there increased in my heart a great flame +of desire to attempt some notable thing. And vnderstanding by reason of the +Sphere, that if I should saile by way of the Northwest, I should by a +shorter tract come into India, I thereupon caused the King to be aduertised +of my deuise, who immediatly commanded two Caruels to bee furnished with +all things appertayning to the voyage, which was as farre as I remember in +the yeere 1496. in the beginning of Sommer. I began therefore to saile +toward the Northwest, not thinking to finde any other land then that of +Cathay, and from thence to turne toward India, but after certaine dayes I +found that the land ranne towards the North, which was to mee a great +displeasure. Neuerthelesse, sayling along by the coast to see if I could +finde any gulfe that turned, I found the lande still continent to the 56. +degree vnder our Pole. And seeing that there the coast turned toward the +East, despairing to finde the passage, I turned backe againe, and sailed +downe by the coast of that land toward the Equinoctiall (euer with intent +to finde the saide passage to India) and came to that part of this firme +lande which is nowe called Florida, where my victuals failing, I departed +from thence and returned into England, where I found great tumults among +the people, and preparation for wanes in Scotland; by reason whereof there +was no more consideration had to this voyage. + +[Sidenote: The second voyage of Cabot to the land of Brazil, and Rio de +Plata.] Whereupon I went into Spaine to the Catholique king, and Queene +Elizabeth, which being aduertised what I had done, intertained me, and at +their charges furnished certaine ships, wherewith they caused me to saile +to discouer the coastes of Brazile, where I found an exceeding great and +large riuer named at this present Rio de la plata, that is, the riuer of +siluer, into the which I sailed and followed it into the firme land, more +then sixe score leagues, finding it euery where very faire, and inhabited +with infinite people, which with admiration came running dayly to our +ships. Into this Riuer runne so many other riuers, that it is in maner +incredible. + +[Sidenote: The office of Pilote maior.] After this I made many other +voyages, which I nowe pretermit, and waxing olde, I giue myselfe to rest +from such trauels, because there are nowe many yong and lustie Pilots and +Mariners of good experience, by whose forwardnesse I doe reioyce in the +fruit of my labours, and rest with the charge of this office, as you +see.[15] + + * * * * * + +The foresaide Baptista Ramusius in his preface to the thirde volume of the + Nauigations writeth thus of Sebastian Cabot. + +In the latter part of this volume are put certaine relations of Iohn de +Vararzana, Florentine, and of a great captaine a Frenchman, and the two +voyages of Iaques Cartier a Briton, who sailed vnto the land situate in 50. +degrees of latitude to the North, which is called New France, which landes +hitherto are not throughly knowen, whether they doe ioyne with the firme +lande of Florida and Noua Hispania, or whether they bee separated and +diuided all by the Sea as Ilands: and whether that by that way one may goe +by Sea vnto the countrey of Cathaia. [Sidenote: The great probabilitie of +this North-west passage.] As many yeeres past it was written vnto mee by +Sebastian Cabota our Countrey man a Venetian, a man of great experience, +and very rare in the art of Nauigation, and the knowledge of Cosmographie, +who sailed along and beyond this land of New France, at the charge of King +Henry the seuenth king of England: and he aduertised mee, that hauing +sailed a long time West and by North, beyond those Ilands vnto the Latitude +of 67. degrees and an halfe, vnder the North pole, and at the 11. day of +Iune finding still the open Sea without any manner of impediment, he +thought verily by that way to haue passed on still the way to Cathaia, +which is in the East, and would haue done it, if the mutinie of the +ship-master and Mariners had not hindered him and made him to returne +homewards from that place. But it seemeth that God doeth yet still reserue +this great enterprise for some great prince to discouer this voyage of +Cathaia by this way, which for the bringing of the Spiceries from India +into Europe, were the most easy and shortest of all other wayes hitherto +found out. And surely this enterprise would be the most glorious, and of +most importance of all other that can be imagined to make his name great, +and fame immortall, to all ages to come, farre more then can be done by any +of all these great troubles and warres which dayly are used in Europe among +the miserable Christian people. + + * * * * * + +Another testunonie of the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to the West and + Northwest, taken out of the sixt Chapter of the third Decade of Peter + Martyr of Angleria. + +Scrutatus est oras glaciales Sebastianus quidam Cabotus genere Venetus, sed +à parentibus in Britanniam insulam tendentibus (vti moris est Venetorum, +qui commercij causa terrarum omnium sunt hospites) transportatus penè +infans. Duo is sibi nauigia, propria pecunia in Britannia ipsa instruxit, +et primò tentens cum hominibus tercentum ad Septentrionem donec etiam Iulio +mense vastas repererit glaciates moles pelago natantes, et lucem ferè +perpetuam, tellure tamen libera, gelu liquefacto: quare coactus fuit, vti +ait, vela vertere et occidentem sequi: tetenditque tantum ad meridiem +littore sese incuruante, vt Herculei freti latitudinis fere gradus æquarit: +ad occidentémque profectus tantum est vt Cubam Insulam à Iæua, longitudine +graduum penè parem, habuerit. Is ea littora percurrens, quæ Baccalaos +appelauit, eosdem se reperisse aquarum, sed lenes delapsus ad Occidentem +ait, quos Castellani, meridionales suas regiones adnauigantes, inuenient. +Ergò non modò verisimilius, sed necessario concludendum est, vastos inter +vtramque ignotam hactenus tellurem iacere hiatus, qui viam præbeant aquis +ab oriente cadentibus in Occidentem. Quas arbitror impulsu coelorum +circulariter agi in gyrum circa terræ globum, non autem Demogorgone +anhelante vomi, absorberique vt nonnulli senserunt, quod influxu, et +refluxu forsan assentire daretur. Baccalaos, Cabotus ipse terras illas +appellauit, eò quod in earum pelago tantam reperierit magnorum quorundam +piscium, tynnos æmulantium, sic vocatorum ab indigenis, multitudinem, vt +etiam illi interdum nauigia detardarent. Earum Regionum homines pellibus +tantum coopertos reperiebat, rationis haudquaquam expertes. Vrsorum inesse +regionibus copiam ingentem refert, qui et ipsi piscibus vescantur. Inter +densa namque piscium illorum agmina sese immergunt vrsi, et singulos +singuli complexos, vnguibusque inter squammas immissis in terram raptant et +comedunt. Proptereà minimè noxios hominibus visos esse ait Orichalcum in +plerisque locis se vidisse apud incolas prædicat. Familiarem habeo domi +Cabotum ipsum, et contubernalem interdum. Vocatus namque ex Britannia à +Rege nostro Catholico, post Henrici Maioris Britanniæ Regis mortem, +concurialis noster est, expectatque indies, vt nauigia sibi parentur, +quibus arcanum hoc naturæ latens iam tandem detegatur. + + +The same in English. + +These North Seas haue bene searched by one Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian +borne, whom being yet but in maner an infant, his parents carried with them +into England, hauing occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandise, +as in the maner of the Venetians to leaue no part of the world vnsearched +to obtaine riches. Hee therefore furnished two ships in England at his owne +charges, and first with 300 men directed his course so farre towards the +North pole, that euen in the moneth of Iuly he found monstrous heapes of +ice swimming on the sea, and in maner continuall day light, yet saw he the +land in that tract free from ice, which had bene molten by the heat of the +Sunne. Thus seeing such heapes of yce before him, hee was enforced to turne +his sailes and follow the West, so coasting still by the shore, that hee +was thereby brought so farre into the South, by reason of the land bending +so much Southwards, that it was there almost equal in latitude, with the +sea Fretum Hercoleum, hauing the Northpole eleuate in maner in the same +degree. He sailed likewise in this tract so farre towards the West, that +hee had the Island of Cuba on his left hand, in maner in the same degree of +longitude. [Sidenote: A current toward the West.] As hee traueiled by the +coastes of this great land, (which he named Baccalaos) he saith that hee +found the like course of the waters toward the West, but the same to runne +more softly and gently then the swift waters which the Spaniards found in +their Nauigations Southwards. Wherefore it is not onely more like to be +true, but ought also of necessitie to be concluded that betweene both the +lands hitherto vnknown, there should be certaine great open places whereby +the waters should thus continually passe from the East vnto the West: +[Sidenote: The people of Island say the Sea and yce setteth also West. +(Ionas Arngrimus.)[16]] which waters I suppose to be driuen about the globe +of the earth by the uncessant mouing and impulsion of the heauens, and not +to bee swallowed vp and cast vp againe by the breathing of Demogorgon, as +some haue imagined, because they see the seas by increase and decrease to +ebbe and flowe. Sebastian Cabot himselfe named those lands Baccalaos, +because that in the Seas thereabout hee found so great multitudes of +certaine bigge fishes much like vnto Tunies, (which the inhabitants called +Baccalaos) that they sometimes stayed his shippes. He found also the people +of those regions couered with beastes skinnes, yet not without the vse of +reason. He also saieth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions +which vse to eate fish: for plunging themselues into the water, where they +perceiue a multitude of these fishes to lie, they fasten their clawes in +their scales, and so draw them to land and eate them, so (as he saith) the +Beares being thus satisfied with fish, are not noisome to men. [Sidenote: +Copper found in many places by Cabote.] Hee declareth further, that in many +places of these Regions he saw great plentie of Copper among the +inhabitants. Cabot is my very friend, whom I vse familiarly, and delight to +haue sometimes keepe mee company in mine owne house. For being called out +of England by the commandement of the Catholique King of Castile, after the +death of King Henry the seuenth of that name king of England, he was made +one of our council and Assistants, as touching the affaires of the new +Indies, looking for ships dayly to be furnished for him to discouer this +hid secret of Nature. + + * * * * * + +The testimonie of Francis Lopez de Gomara a Spaniard, in the fourth Chapter + of the second Booke of his generall history of the West Indies concerning + the first discouerie of a great part of the West Indies, to wit, from 58. + to 38. degrees of latitude, by Sebastian Cabota out of England. + +He which brought most certaine newes of the countrey and people of +Baccalaos, saith Gomara, was Sebastian Cabote a Venetian, which rigged vp +two ships at the cost of K. Henry the 7. of England, hauing great desire to +traffique for the spices as the Portingalls did. He carried with him 300. +men, and tooke the way towards Island from beyond the Cape of Labrador, +vntill he found himselfe in 58. degrees and better. He made relation that +in the moneth of Iuly it was so cold, and the ice so great, that hee durst +not passe any further: that the dayes were long, in a maner without any +night, and for that short night that they had, it was very cleare. Cabot +feeling the cold, turned towards the West, refreshing himselfe at +Baccalaos: and afterwards he sayled along the coast vnto 38. degrees, and +from thence he shaped his course to returne into England. + + * * * * * + +A note of Sebastian Cabots[17] first discouerie of part of the Indies taken + out of the latter part of Robert Fabians Chronicle[18] not hitherto + printed, which is in the custodie of M. Iohn Stow[19] a diligent + preseruer of Antiquities. + +[Sidenote: Cabots voyage (from Bristol) wherein he discouered Newfound land +and the Northerne parts of that land, and from thence almost as farre as +Florida.[20]] In the 13. yeere of K. Henry the 7. (by meanes of one Iohn +Cabot a Venetian which made himselfe very expert and cunning in knowledge +of the circuit of the world and Ilands of the same, as by a Sea card and +other demonstrations reasonable he shewed) the King caused to man and +victuall a ship at Bristow, to search for an Island, which he said hee knew +well was rich, and replenished with great commodities: Which shippe thus +manned and victualled at the kings cost, diuers Merchants of London +ventured in her small stocks, being in her as chiefe patron the said +Venetian. And in the company of the said ship, sailed also out of Bristow +three or foure small ships fraught with sleight and grosse marchandizes, as +course cloth, caps, laces, points and other trifles. And so departed from +Bristow in the beginning of May, of whom in this Maiors time returned no +tidings. + + +Of three Sauages which Cabot brought home and presented vnto the King in + the foureteenth yere of his raigne, mentioned by the foresaid Robert + Fabian. + +This yeere also were brought vnto the king three men taken in the Newfound +Island that before I spake of, in William Purchas time being Maior: These +were clothed in beasts skins, and did eate raw flesh, and spake such speach +that no man could vnderstand them, and in their demeanour like to bruite +beastes, whom the King kept a time after. Of the which vpon two yeeres +after, I saw two apparelled after the maner of Englishmen in Westminster +pallace, which that time I could not discerne from Englishmen, til I was +learned what they were, but as for speach, I heard none of them vtter one +word. + + * * * * * + +A briefe extract concerning the discouene of Newfound-land, taken out of + the booke of M. Robert Thorne, to Doctor Leigh, &c. + +I Reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarie, so this inclination or +desire of this discouerie I inherited from my father, which with another +marchant of Bristol named Hugh Eliot, were the discouerours of the +Newfound-lands; of the which there is no doubt (as nowe plainely appeareth) +if the mariners would then haue bene ruled, and followed their Pilots +minde, but the lands of the West Indies, from whence all the golde cometh, +had bene ours; for all is one coast as by the Card appeareth, and is +aforesaid. + + * * * * * + +The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabot, + constituting him grand Pilot of England. + +Edwardus sextus Dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ rex, omnibus +Christi fidelibus ad quos præsentes hæ literæ nostræ peruenerint, salutem. +Sciatis quod nos in consideratione boni et acceptabilis seruitij, nobis per +dilectum seruientem nostrum Sebastianum Cabotam impensi atque impendendi, +de gratia nostra speciali, ac ex certa scientia, et mero motu nostro, nec +non de aduisamento, et consensu præclarissimi auunculi nostri Edwardi Ducis +Somerseti personæ nostræ Gubernatoris, ac Regnorum, dominiorum, +subditorumque nostrorum protectoris, et cæterorum consiliariorum nostrorum, +dedimus et concessimus, ac per præsentes damus, et concedimus eidem +Sebastiano Cabotæ, quandam annuitatem siue annualem reditum, centum +sexaginta et sex librarum, tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum +sterlingorum, habendam, gandendam, et annuatìm percipiendam prædictam +annuitatem, siue annalem reditum eidem Sebastiano Cabotæ, durante vita sua +naturali, de thesauro nostro ad receptum scacarij nostri Westmonasterij per +manus thesaurariorum, et Camerariorum nostrorum, ibidem pro tempore +existentium, ad festa annuntiationis beatæ Mariæ Virginis, natiuitatis +sancti Ioannis Baptistæ, Sancti Michaelis Archangeli, et Natalis Domini per +æquales portiones soluendam. Et vlteriùs de vberiori gratia nostra, ac de +aduisamento, et consensu prædictis damus, et per præsentes concedimus +præfato Sebastiano Cabotæ, tot et tantas Denariorum summas, ad quot et +quantas dicta annuitas siue annalis reditus centum sexaginta sex librarum, +tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum, à festo sancti Michaelis +Archangeli vltimô præterito hue vsque se extendit, et attingit, habendas et +recipiendas præfato Sebastiano Cabotæ et assignatis suis de thesauro nostro +prædicto per manus prædictoram Thesaurariorum, et Camerarioram nostrorum de +dono nostro absque computo, seu aliquo alio nobis, hæredibus, vel +successoribus nostris proinde reddendo, soluendo, vel faciendo: eo quòd +expressa mentio, &c. In cuius rei testimonium, &c. [Sidenote: Anno D. 1549] +Teste Rege, apud Westmonasterium 6. die Ianuarij, Anno 2. Regis Edwardi +sexti. + + +The same in English. + +Edward the sixt by the grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, +defender of the faith, to all Christian people to whom these presents shall +come, sendeth greeting. Know yee that we, in consideration of the good and +acceptable seruice done, and to be done, vnto vs by our beloued seruant +Sebastian Cabota, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, meere motion, +and by the aduice and counsel of our most honourable vncle Edward duke of +Somerset gouernour of our person, and Protector of our kingdomes, +dominions, and subiects, and of the rest of our Counsaile, haue giuen and +granted, and by these presents do giue and graunt to the said Sebastian +Cabota, a certaine annuitie, or yerely reuenue of one hundreth, three-score +and sixe pounds, thirteene shillings foure pence sterling, to haue, enioy, +and yerely receiue the foresaid annuitie, or yerely reuenue, to the +foresaid Sebastian Cabota during his natural life, out of our Treasurie at +the receit of our Exchequer at Westminster, at the hands of our Treasurers +and paymasters, there remayning for the time being, at the feasts of the +Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist, +S. Michael the Archangel, and the Natiuitie of our Lord, to be paid by +equal portions. + +And further, of our more speciall grace, and by the aduise and consent +aforesaide wee doe giue, and by these presents do graunt vnto the +aforesaide Sebastian Cabota, so many, and so great summes of money as the +saide annuitie or yeerely reuenue of an hundreth, three-score and sixe +pounds, thirteene shillings 4. pence, doeth amount and rise vnto from the +feast of S. Michael the Archangel last past vnto this present time, to be +had and receiued by the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota, and his assignes out of +our aforesaid Treasurie, at the handes of our aforesaide Treasurers, and +officers of our Exchequer of our free gift without accompt, or any thing +else therefore to be yeelded, payed, or made, to vs, our heires or +successours, forasmuch as herein expresse mention is made to the contrary. + +In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our Letters to be made patents: +Witnesse the King at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuarie, in the second +yeere of his raigne. The yeere of our Lord 1548. + + * * * * * + +A discourse written by Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight,[21] to proue a passage + by the Northwest to Cathaia, and the East Indies. + +¶ The Table of the matters in euery Chapter of this discourse. + +Capitulo 1. + +To prone by anthoritie a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe +to Cataia, China, and to the East India. + +Capitulo 2. + +To prone by reason a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe to +Cataia, Moluccæ, &c. + +Capitulo 3. + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauailes the opening of this +Northwest passage, whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Capitulo 4. + +To proue by circumstance, that the Northwest passage hath bene sailed +throughout. + +Capitulo 5. + +To proue that such Indians as haue bene driuen vpon the coastes of Germanie +came not thither by the Southeast, and Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America. + +Capitulo 6. + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed came not by the Northeast, and that +there is no thorow passage nauigable that way. + +Capitulo 7. + +To proue that these Indians came by the Northwest, which induceth a +certaintie of this passage by experience. + +Capitulo 8. + +What seuerall reasons were alleaged before the Queenes Maiestie, and +certaine Lords of her Highnesse priuie Council, by M. Anth. Ienkinson a +Gentleman of great trauaile and experience, to proue this passage by the +Northeast, with my seuerall answers then alleaged to the same. + +Capitulo 9. + +How that this passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffike, +then the other by the Northeast, if there were any such. + +Capitulo 10. + +What commodities would ensue, this passage being once discouered. + +To proue by authoritie a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe +to Cathaia, and the East India. + + +Chapter 1. + +When I gaue my selfe to the studie of Geographie, after I had perused and +diligently scanned the descriptions of Europe, Asia, and Afrike, and +conferred them with the Mappes and Globes both Antique and Moderne: I came +in fine to the fourth part of the world, commonly called America, which by +all descriptions I found to bee an Iland enuironed round about with Sea, +hauing on the Southside of it the frete or straight of Magellan, on the +West side Mar del Sur, which Sea runneth towards the North, separating it +from the East parts of Asia, where the Dominions of the Cathaians are: On +the East part our West Ocean, and on the North side the sea that seuereth +it from Groneland, thorow which Northern Seas the Passage lyeth, which I +take now in hand to discouer. + +Plato in Timæo, and in the Dialogue called Critias, discourseth of an +incomparable great Iland then called Atlantis, being greater then all +Afrike and Asia, which lay Westward from the Straights of Gibraltar, +nauigable round about: affirming also that the Princes of Atlantis did as +well enioy the gouernance of all Affrike, and the most part of Europe, as +of Atlantis it selfe. + +Also to proue Platos opinion of this Iland, and the inhabiting of it in +ancient time by them of Europe, to be of the more credite; Marinæus +Siculus[22] in his Chronicle of Spaine, reporteth that there haue bene +found by the Spaniards in the gold Mines of America, certaine pieces of +Money ingraued with the Image of Augustus Cæsar: which pieces were sent to +the Pope for a testimonie of the matter, by Iohn Rufus Archbishop of +Consentinum. + +[Sidenote: Prodns pag. 24.] Moreouer, this was not only thought of Plato, +but by Marsilius Ficinus,[23] an excellent Florentine Philosopher, Crantor +the Græcian,[24] and Proclus,[25] and Philo[26] the famous Iew (as +appeareth in his booke De Mundo, and in the Commentaries vpon Plato,) to be +ouerflowen and swallowed vp with water, by reason of a mightie earthquake, +and streaming downe of the heauenly Fludgates. [Sidenote: Iustine Lib. 4.] +The like whereof happened vnto some part of Italy, when by the forciblenes +of the Sea, called Superum, it cut off Sicilia from the Continent of +Calabria, as appeareth in Iustine, in the beginning of his fourth booke. +Also there chanced the like in Zeland a part of Flanders. + +[Sidenote: Plinie.] And also the Cities of Pyrrha and Antissa, about Meotis +palus: and also the Citie Burys, in the Corynthian bosome, commonly called +Sinus Corinthiacus, haue bene swallowed vp with the Sea, and are not at +this day to be discerned: By which accident America grew to be ['be be' in +original--KTH] vnknowen of long time, vnto vs of the later ages, and was +lately discouered againe by Americus Vespucius,[27] in the yeere of our +Lord 1497. which some say to haue bene first discouered by Christophorus +Columbus a Genuois, Anno 1492. + +The same calamitie happened vnto this Isle of Atlantis 600. and odde yeres +before Plato his time, which some of the people of the Southeast parts of +the world accompted as 9000. yeeres: for the maner then was to reckon the +Moone her Period of the Zodiak for a yeere, which is our vsual moneth, +depending à Luminari minori. + +So that in these our dayes there can no other mayne or Islande be found or +iudged to bee parcell of this Atlantis, then those Westerne Islands, which +beare now the name of America: counteruailing thereby the name of Atlantis, +in the knowledge of our age.[28] + +[Sidenote: A minore ad maius.] Then, if when no part of the sayd Atlantis, +was oppressed by water, and earthquake, the coast round about the same were +nauigable: a farre greater hope now remaineth of the same by the Northwest, +seeing the most part of it was (since that time) swallowed vp with water, +which could not vtterly take away the olde deeps and chanels, but rather be +an occasion of the inlarging of the olde, and also an inforcing of a great +many new: why then should we now doubt of our Northwest passage and +nauigation from England to India? &c. seeing that Atlantis now called +America, was euer knowen to be an Island, and in those dayes nauigable +round about, which by accesse of more water could not be diminished. + +Also Aristotle in his booke De Mundo, and the learned Germaine Simon +Gryneus[29] in his annotations vpon the same, saith that the whole earth +(meaning thereby, as manifestly doth appeare, Asia, Africk and Europe, +being all the countreys then knowen) is but one Island, compassed about +with the reach of the sea Atlantine: which likewise prooueth America to be +an Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia, or the rest. + +[Sidenote: Strabo lib. 15] Also many ancient writers, as Strabo and others, +called both the Ocean Sea, (which lieth East of India) Atlanticum pelagus, +and that sea also on the West coasts of Spaine and Africk, Mare Atlanticum: +the distance betweene the two coasts is almost halfe the compasse of the +earth. + +[Sidenote: Valerius Anselmus[30] in Catalogo annorum et principum. fol. 6. +Gen. 9. 10.] So that it is incredible, as by Plato appeareth manifestly, +that the East Indian Sea had the name Atlanticum pelagus of the mountaine +Atlas in Africk, or yet the sea adioining to Africk, had the name Oceanus +Atlanticus of the same mountaine: but that those seas and the mountaine +Atlas were so called of this great Island Atlantis, and that the one and +the other had their names for a memorial of the mighty prince Atlas, +sometimes king thereof, who was Iaphet yongest sonne to Noah, in whose time +the whole earth was diuided between the three brethren, Sem, Cam, and +Iaphet. + +Wherefore I am of opinion that America by the Northwest will be found +fauourable to this our enterprise, and am the rather imboldened to beleeue +the same, for that I finde it not onely confirmed by Plato, Aristotle, and +other ancient Phylosophers: but also by all the best moderne Geographers, +as Gemma Frisius, Munsterus, Appianus, Hunterus, Gastaldus, +Guyccardinus,[31] Michael Tramasinus, Franciscus Demongenitus, Bernardus +Puteanus, Andreas Vauasor, Tramontanus, Petrus Martyr, and also +Ortelius,[32] who doth coast out in his generall Mappe set out Anno 1569, +all the countreys and Capes, on the Northwest side of America, from +Hochalega to Cape de Paramantia: describing likewise the sea coastes of +Cataia and Gronland, towards any part of America, making both Gronland and +America, Islands disioyned by a great Sea, from any part of Asia. + +All which learned men and paineful trauellers haue affirmed with one +consent and voice, that America was an Island: and that there lyeth a great +Sea betweene it, Cataia, and Grondland, by which any man of our countrey, +that will giue the attempt, may with small danger passe to Cataia, the +Molluccæ, India, and all other places in the East, in much shorter time, +than either the Spaniard, or Portugal doeth, or may doe, from the neerest +parte, of any of their countreys within Europe. + +What moued these learned men to affirme thus much, I know not, or to what +ende so many and sundry trauellers of both ages haue allowed the same: +[Marginal note: We ought by reasons right to haue a reuerent opinion of +worthy men.] But I coniecture that they would neuer haue so constantly +affirmed, or notified their opinions therein to the world, if they had not +had great good cause, and many probable reasons, to haue lead them +therevnto. + +[Sidenote: A Nauigation of one Ochther made in king Alfreds time.] Now +least you should make small accompt of ancient writers or of their +experiences which trauelled long before our times, reckoning their +authority amongst fables of no importance: I haue for the better assurance +of those proofes, set downe some part of a discourse, written in the Saxon +tongue and translated into English by M. Nowel seruant to Sir William +Cecil, lord Burleigh, and lord high treasurer of England, wherein there is +described a Nauigation which one Ochther made, in the time of king Alfred, +king of Westsaxe Anno 871. the words of which discourse were these: +[Sidenote: A perfect description of our Moscouie voyage.] Hee sailed right +North, hauing alwaies the desert land on the Starborde, and on the Larbord +the maine sea, continuing his course, vntill hee perceiued that the coast +bowed directly towards the East, or else the Sea opened into the land he +could not tell how farre, where he was compelled to stay vntil he had a +westerne winde, or somewhat upon the North, and sayled thence directly East +alongst the coast, so farre as hee was able in foure dayes, where he was +againe inforced to tary vntill hee had a North winde, because the coast +there bowed directly towards the South, or at least opened he knew not howe +farre into the land, so that he sayled thence along the coast continually +full South, so farre as he could trauell in the space of fiue dayes, where +hee discouered a mighty riuer, which opened farre into the land, and in the +entrie of this riuer he turned backe againe.[33] + +[Sidenote: By Sir Hugh Willoughbie knight, Chancellor and Borough.[34]] +Whereby it appeareth that he went the very same way, that we now doe yerely +trade by S. Nicholas into Moscouia, which no man in our age knew for +certaintie to be by sea, vntil it was since discouered by our English men, +in the time of King Edward the sixt; but thought before that time that +Groneland had ioyned to Normoria, Byarmia, &c. and therefore was accompted +a new discouery, being nothing so indeede, as by this discourse of Ochther +it appeareth. + +Neuerthelesse if any man should haue taken this voyage in hand by the +encouragement of this onely author, he should haue bene thought but simple: +considering that this Nauigation was written so many yeres past, in so +barbarous a tongue by one onely obscure author, and yet we in these our +dayes finde by our owne experiences his former reports to be true. + +How much more then ought we to beleeue this passage to Cataia to bee, being +verified by the opinions of all the best, both Antique, and Moderne +Geographers, and plainely set out in the best and most allowed Mappes, +Charts, Globes, Cosmographical tables and discourses of this our age, and +by the rest not denied but left as a matter doubtfull. + + +To prooue by reason, a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe to + Cataia, &c. + +Chap. 2. [3 in original--KTH] + +[Sidenote: Experimented by our English fishers.] First, all seas are +maintained by the abundance of water, so that the neerer the end any Riuer, +Bay, or Hauen is, the shallower it waxeth, (although by some accidentall +barre, it is sometime found otherwise) But the farther you sayle West from +Island towards the place, where this fret is thought to be, the more deepe +are the seas: which giueth vs good hope of continuance of the same Sea with +Mar del Sur, by some fret that lyeth betweene America, Groneland and +Cataia. + +2 Also if that America were not an Island, but a part of the continent +adioyning to Asia, either the people which inhabite Mangia, Anian, and +Quinsay, &c. being borderers vpon it, would before this time haue made some +road into it hoping to haue found some like commodities to their owne. + +[Sidenote: Neede makes the old wife to trotte.] 3 Or els the Scythians and +Tartarians (which often times heretofore haue sought farre and neere for +new seats, driuen therevnto through the necessitie of their cold and +miserable countreys) would in all this time haue found the way to America, +and entred the same, had the passages bene neuer so straite or difficult; +the countrey being so temperate pleasant and fruitfull, in comparison of +their owne. But there was neuer any such people found there by any of the +Spaniards, Portugals, or Frenchmen, who first discouered the Inland of that +countrey: which Spaniards or Frenchmen must then of necessitie haue seene +some one ciuil man in America, considering how full of ciuill people Asia +is; But they neuer saw so much as one token or signe, that euer any man of +the knowen part of the world had bene there. + +4 Furthermore it is to be thought, that if by reason of mountaines, or +other craggy places, the people neither of Cataia or Tartarie could enter +the countrey of America, or they of America haue entred Asia, if it were so +ioyned: yet some one sauage or wandring beast would in so many yeres haue +passed into it: but there hath not any time bene found any of the beasts +proper to Cataia, or Tartarie &c. in America: nor of those proper to +America, in Tartarie, Cataia, &c. or any part of Asia. Which thing proueth +America, not onely to be one Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia: But +also that the people of those Countreys, haue not had any traffique with +each other. + +5 Moreouer at the least some one of those paineful trauellers, which of +purpose haue passed the confines of both countreys, with intent only to +discouer, would as it is most likely haue gone from the one to the other: +if there had bene any piece of land, or Isthmos, to haue ioyned them +together, or els haue declared some cause to the contrary. + +6 But neither Paulus Venetus,[35] who liued and dwelt a long time in +Cataia, euer came into America, and yet was at the sea coastes of Mangia, +ouer against it where he was embarked, and performed a great Nauigation +along those seas: Neither yet Verarzanus,[36] or Franciscus Vasques de +Coronado, who trauelled the North part of America by land, euer found entry +from thence by land to Cataia, or any part of Asia. + +7 Also it appeareth to be an Island, insomuch as the Sea [Marginal note: +The Sea hath three motions. 1 Motum ab oriente in occidentem. 2 Motum +fluxus et refluxus. 3 Motum circularem. Ad cæli motum elementa omnia +(excepta terra) mouentur.] runneth by nature circularly from the East to +the West, following the diurnal motion of Primum Mobile, which carieth with +it all inferiour bodies moueable, aswel celestiall as elemental; which +motion of the waters is most euidently seene in the Sea, which lieth on the +Southside of Afrike where the current that runneth from the East to the +West is so strong (by reason of such motion) that the Portugals in their +voyages Eastward to Calicut, in passing by Cap. de buona Sperança are +enforced to make diuers courses, the current there being so swift as it +striketh from thence all along Westward vpon the fret of Magellan, being +distant from thence, neere the fourth part of the longitude of the earth; +and not hauing free passage and entrance thorow, the fret towards the West, +by reason of the narrownesse of the sayd Straite of Magelian [sic--KTH], it +runneth to salue this wrong, (Nature not yeelding to accidentall +restraints) all along the Easterne coastes of America, Northwards so far as +Cape Fredo, being the farthest knowne place of the same continent towards +the North: which is about 4800 leagues, reckoning therewithall the trending +of the land. + +[Sidenote: Posita causa ponitur effectus.] 8 So that this current being +continually maintained with such force, as Iaques Cartier[37] affirmeth it +to be, who met with the same being at Baccalaos, as he sayled along the +coastes of America, then either it must be of necessitie haue way to passe +from Cape Fredo, thorow this fret, Westward towards Cataia, being knowen to +come so farre, onely to salue his former wrongs, by the authority before +named: or els it must needes strike ouer, vpon the coast of Island, Norway, +Finmarke, and Lappia, (which are East from the sayd place about 360 +leagues) with greater force then it did from Cape de buona Sperança, vpon +the fret of Magellan, or from the fret of Magellan to Cape Fredo, vpon +which coastes Iaques Cartier met with the same, considering the shortnesse +of the Cut from the sayd Cape Fredo, to Island, Lappia, &c. And so the +cause Efficient remaining, it would haue continually followed along our +coasts, through the narrow seas, which it doth not, but is digested about +the North of Labrador, by some through passage there thorow this fret. + +[Sidenote: Conterenus.] The like course of the water in some respect +happeneth in the Mediterrane sea, (as affirmeth Conterenus) whereas the +current which cometh from Tanais, and Pontus Euxinus, running along all the +coasts of Greece, Italy, France, and Spaine, and not finding sufficient way +out through Gibraltar, by meanes of the straitnesse of the fret it runneth +backe againe along the coastes of Barbary, by Alexandria, Natolia, &c. + +[Sidenote: An objection answered.] It may (peraduenture) bee thought that +this course of the sea doth sometime surcease, and thereby impugne this +principle, because it is not discerned all along the coast of America, in +such sort as Iaques Cartier found it: Wherevnto I answere this: that +albeit, in euery part of the Coast of America, or elswhere this current is +not sensibly perceuied, yet it hath euermore such like motion, either in +the vppermost or nethermost part of the sea; as it may be proued true, if +ye sinke a sayle by a couple of ropes, neere the ground, fastening to the +nethermost corners two gunne chambers or other weights: by the driuing +whereof you shall plainely perceiue, the course of the water, and current +running with such course in the bottome. [Marginal note: The sea doth +euermore performe this circular motion, either in Suprema, or concaua +superficie aquæ.] + +By the like experiment, you may finde the ordinary motion of the sea, in +the Ocean: howe farre soeuer you be off the land. + +9 Also there commeth another current from out the Northeast from the +Scythian Sea (as M. Ienkinson a man of rare vertue, great trauail and +experience, told me) which runneth Westward towardes Labrador, [Marginal +note: The yce set westward euery yeere from Island. Auth. Iona Arngriimo.] +as the other did, which commeth from the South: so that both these +currents, must haue way thorow this our fret, or else encounter together +and runne contrarie courses; in one line, but no such conflicts of +streames, or contrary courses are found about any part of Labrador, or +Terra noua, as witnesse our yeerely fishers, and other saylers that way, +but is there disgested, as aforesayd, and found by experience of Barnard de +la Torre, to fall into Mar del Sur. + +10 Furthermore, the current in the great Ocean, could not haue beene +maintained to runne continually one way, from the beginning of the world +vnto this day, had there not beene some thorow passage by the fret +aforesayd, and so by circular motion bee brought againe to maintaine it +selfe: For the Tides and courses of the sea are maintayned by their +interchangeable motions: as fresh riuers are by springs, by ebbing and +flowing, by rarefaction and condensation. + +So that it resteth not possible (so farre as my simple reason can +comprehend) that this perpetuall current can by any meanes be maintained, +but onely by continuall reaccesse of the same water, which passeth thorow +the fret, and is brought about thither againe, by such circular motion as +aforesayd. [Marginal note: The flowing is occasioned by reason that the +heate of the moone boyleth, and maketh the water thinne by way of +rarefaction.] And the certaine falling thereof by this fret into Mar del +Sur [Marginal note: An experience to prooue the falling of this current +into Mar del Sur.] is prooued by the testimonie and experience of Bernard +de la Torre, who was sent from P. de la Natiuidad to the Moluccæ, Anno +domini 1542. by commandement of Anthony Mendoza, then Viceroy of Noua +Hispania, which Bernard sayled 750. Leagues, on the Northside of the +Aequator, and there met with a current, which came from the Northeast, the +which droue him backe againe to Tidore. + +Wherfore, this current being proued to come from C. de buona Sperança to +the fret of Magellan, and wanting sufficient entrance there, by narrownes +of the straite, is by the necessitie of natures force, brought to Terra de +Labrador, where Iaques Cartier met the same, and thence certainly knowen, +not to strike ouer vpon Island, Lappia, &c. and found by Bernard de la +Torre in Mar del Sur, on the backeside of America: therefore this current +(hauing none other passage) must of necessity fall out thorow this our fret +into Mar del Sur, and so trending by the Moluccæ, China, and C. de buona +Sperança, maintaineth it selfe, by circular motion, which is all one in +nature, with Motus ab Oriente in Occidentem. + +So that it seemeth, we haue now more occasion to doubt of our returne, then +whether there be a passage that way, yea or no: which doubt, hereafter +shall be sufficiently remooued. Wherefore, in mine opinion, reason it self, +grounded vpon experience, assureth vs of this passage, if there were +nothing els to put vs in hope thereof. But least these might not suffice, I +haue added in this chapter following, some further proofe hereof, by the +experience of such as haue passed some part of this discouerie: and in the +next adioining to that the authority of those, which haue sailed wholy, +thorow euery part thereof. + + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauels, the opening of some part of + this Northwest passage: whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Chap. 3. + +Paulus Venetus, who dwelt many yeres in Cataia, affirmed that hee sayled +1500 miles vpon the coastes of Mangia, and Anian, towards the Northeast: +alwayes finding the Seas open before him, not onely as farre as he went, +but also as farre as he could discerne. + +[Sidenote: Alcatrarzi be Pelicanes.] 2 Also Franciscus Vasques de Coronado +passing from Mexico by Ceuola, through the country of Quiuira, to Siera +Neuada, found there a great sea, where were certaine ships laden with +Merchandise, carrying on their prowes the pictures of certaine birds called +Alcatrarzi, part whereof were made of golde, and part of siluer, who +signified by signes, that they were thirty dayes comming thither: which +likewise proueth America by experience to be disioyned from Cataia: on that +part by a great Sea, because they could not come from any part of America, +as Natiues thereof: for that so farre as is discouered, there hath not bene +found there any one Shippe of that countrey. + +[Sidenote: Baros lib. 9. Of his first Decas cap 1.] 3. In like maner, Iohn +Baros[38] testifieth that the Cosmographers of China (where he himselfe had +bene) affirme that the Sea coast trendeth from thence Northeast, to 50 +degrees of Septentrional latitude, being the furthest part that way which +the Portugals had then knowledge of: And that the said Cosmographers knew +no cause to the contrary, but that it might continue further. + +By whose experiences America is prooued to be separate from those parts of +Asia, directly against the same. And not contented with the iudgements of +these learned men only, I haue searched what might be further sayd for the +confirmation hereof. + +4 And I found that Franciscus Lopez de Gomara affirmeth America to be an +Island, and likewise Gronland: and that Gronland is distant from Lappia 40 +leagues, and from Terra de Labrador, 50. + +5 Moreouer, Aluaros Nunnius[39] a Spaniard, and learned Cosmographer, and +Iacobus Cartier, who made two voyages into those parts, and sayled 900 +miles upon the Northeast coastes of America doe in part confirme the same. + +6 Likewise Hieronymus Fracastorius,[40] a learned Italian, and trauailer in +the North parts of the same land. + +7 Also Iaques Cartier hauing done the like, heard say at Hochelaga in Noua +Francia, how that there was a great Sea at Saguinay, whereof the end was +not knowen: which they presupposed to be the passage to Cataia. + +[Sidenote: Written in the discourses of Nauigation.] Furthermore, Sebastian +Cabota by his personal experience and trauel hath set foorth, and described +this passage in his Charts, which are yet to be seene in the Queens +Maiesties priuie Gallerie at Whitehall, who was sent to make this discouery +by king Henrie the seuenth, and entred the same fret: affirming that he +sayled very farre Westward, with a quarter of the North, on the Northside +of Terra de Labrador the eleuenth of Iune, vntill he came to the +Septentrionall latitude of 67 degrees and a halfe,[41]and finding the Seas +still open, sayd, that he might, and would haue gone to Cataia, if the +mutinie of the Master and Mariners had not bene. + +Now as these mens experience hath proued some part of this passage: so the +chapter following shal put you in full assurance of the rest, by their +experiences which haue passed through euery part thereof. + + +To prooue by circumstance that the Northwest passage hath bene sayled + throughout. + +Chap. 4. + +The diuersitie betwene bruite beastes and men, or betweene the wise and the +simple is, that the one iudgeth by sense onely, [Marginal note: Quinque +sensus. 1 Visus. 2 Auditus. 3 Olfactus. 4 Gustus. 5 Tactus. Singularia +sensu, vniuersalia verò mente percipiuntur.] and gathereth no surety of any +thing that he hath not seene, felt, heard, tasted, or smelled: And the +other not so onely, but also findeth the certaintie of things by reason, +before they happen to be tryed. Wherefore I haue added proofes of both +sorts, that the one and the other might thereby be satisfied. + +1 First, as Gemma Frisius reciteth, there went from Europe three brethren +through this passage: whereof it tooke the name of Fretum trium fratrum. + +3 Also Plinie affirmeth out of Cornelius Nepos, (who wrote 57 yeeres before +Christ) that there were certaine Indians driuen by tempest, vpon the coast +of Germanie which were presented by the king of Sueuia, vnto Quintus +Metellus Celer, the Proconsull of France. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. cap. 66.] 3 And Plinie vpon the same sayth, that it is +no maruel though there be Sea by the North, where there is such abundance +of moisture: which argueth that hee doubted not of a nauigable passage that +way, through which those Indians came. + +[Sidenote: Pag. 590.] 4 And for the better proofe that the same authoritie +of Cornelius Nepos is not by me wrested, to proue my opinion of the +Northwest passage: you shall finde the same affirmed more plainly in that +behalfe, by the excellent Geographer Dominicus Marius Niger, who sheweth +how many wayes the Indian sea stretcheth it selfe, making in that place +recital of certaine Indians, that were likewise driuen through the North +Seas from India, vpon the coastes of Germany, by great tempest, as they +were sayling in trade of marchandize. + +5 Also while Frederic Barbarossa reigned Emperour, Anno Do. 1160. there +came certaine other Indians vpon the coast of Germanie. [Marginal note: +Auouched by Franciscus Lopes de Gomara in his historie of India, lib. I. +cap. 10.] + +6 Likewise Othon in the storie of the Gothes affirmeth, that in the time of +the Germane Emperours there were also certaine Indians cast by force of +weather, vpon the coast of the sayd countrey, which foresaid Indians could +not possibly haue come by the Southeast, Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America, nor yet by the Northeast: therefore they came of +necessitie by this our Northwest passage. + + +To prooue that these Indians aforenamed came not by the Southeast, + Southwest, nor from any other part of Afrike, or America. + +Cap. 5. + +First, they could not come from the Southeast by the Cape de bona Sperança, +because the roughnes of the Seas there is such (occasioned by the currents +and great winds in that part) that the greatest armadas the king of +Portugal hath, cannot without great difficulty passe that way, much lesse +then a Canoa of India could liue in those outragious seas without +shipwracke (being a vessel of very small burden) and haue conducted +themselues to the place aforesayd, being men vnexpert in the Arte of +nauigation. + +2 Also, it appeareth plainely that they were not able to come from alongst +the coast of Afrike aforesayd, to those parts of Europe, because the winds +doe (for the most part) blow there Easterly off from the shore, and the +current running that way in like sort, should haue driuen them Westward +vpon some part of America: for such winds and tides could neuer haue led +them from thence to the said place where they were found, nor yet could +they haue come from any of the countries aforesayd, keeping the seas +alwayes, without skilful mariners to haue conducted them such like courses +as were necessary to performe such a voiage. + +3 Presupposing also, if they had bene driuen to the West (as they must haue +bene, comming that way) then they should haue perished, wanting supplie of +victuals, not hauing any place (once leauing the coast of Afrike) vntill +they came to America, nor from America vntill they arriued vpon some part +of Europe, or the Islands adioyning to it, to haue refreshed themselues. + +4 Also, if (notwithstanding such impossibilities) they might haue recouered +Germanie by comming from India by the Southeast, yet must they without all +doubt haue stricken vpon some other part of Europe before their arriuall +there, as the Isles of the Açores, Portugal, Spaine, France, England, +Ireland, &c. which if they had done, it is not credible that they should or +would haue departed vndiscovered of the inhabitants: but there was neuer +found in those dayes any such ship or men but only vpon the coasts of +Germanie, where they haue bene sundry times and in sundry ages cast aland: +neither is it like that they would haue committed themselues againe to sea, +if they had so arriued, not knowing where they were, nor whither to haue +gone. + +[Sidenote: This fifth reason by later experience is proued vtterly vntrue.] +5 And by the Southwest it is vnpossible, because the current aforesayd +which commeth from the East, striketh with such force vpon the fret of +Magellan, and falleth with such swiftnesse and furie into Mar del Zur, that +hardly any ship (but not possibly a Canoa, with such vnskilfull mariners) +can come into our Westerne Ocean through that fret, from the West seas of +America, as Magellans experience hath partly taught vs. + +[Sidenote: That the Indians could not be natiues either of Africa, or of +America.] 6 And further, to prooue that these people so arriuing vpon the +coast of Germany, were Indians, and not inhabiters of any part either of +Africa or America, it is manifest, because the natiues both of Africa and +America neither had, or haue at this day (as is reported) other kind of +boates then such as do beare neither mastes nor sailes, (except onely vpon +the coasts of Barbarie and the Turkes ships) but do carie themselues from +place to place neere the shore by the ore onely. + + +To prooue that those Indians came not by the Northeast, and that there is + no thorow nauigable passage that way. + +Cap. 6. + +It is likely that there should be no thorow passage by the Northeast, +whereby to goe round about the world, because all Seas (as aforesayd) are +maintained by the abundance of water, waxing more shallow and shelffie +towards the ende, as we find it doeth by experience in Mare Glaciali, +towards the East, which breedeth small hope of any great continuance of +that sea, to be nauigable towards the East, sufficient to saile thereby +round about the world. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid naturali loco priuatur, quam citisimè corrumpitur.] +[Sidenote: Qualis causa, talis effectus.] 2 Also, it standeth scarcely with +reason, that the Indians dwelling vnder Torrida Zone, could endure the +iniurie of the cold ayre, about the Septentrional latitude of 80. degrees, +vnder which eleuation the passage by the Northeast cannot bee (as the often +experience had of all the South parts of it sheweth) seeing that some of +the inhabiants of this cold climate (whose Summer is to them an extreme +Winter) haue bene stroken to death with the cold damps of the aire about 72 +degrees, by an accidental mishap, and yet the aire in such like Eleuation +is alwaies cold, and too cold for such as the Indians are. + +3 Furthermore, the piercing cold of the grosse thicke aire so neere the +Pole wil so stiffen and furre the sailes and ship tackling, that no mariner +can either hoise or strike them (as our experience farre neerer the South, +then this passage is presupposed to be, hath taught vs) without the vse +whereof no voiage can be performed. + +4 Also the aire is so darkened with continuall mists and fogs so neere the +Pole, that no man can well see, either to guide his ship, or direct his +course. + +5 Also the compasse at such eleuation doth very suddenly vary, which things +must of force haue bene their destructions, although they had bene men of +much more skill then the Indians are. + +[Sidenote: Similium similis est ratio.] 6 Moreouer, all baies, gulfes, and +riuers doe receiue their increase vpon the flood, sensibly to be discerned +on the one side of the shore or the other, as many waies as they be open to +any main sea, as Mare Mediterraneum, Mare Rubrum, Sinus Persicus, Sinus +Bodicus, Thamesis, and all other knowen hauens or riuers in any part of the +world, and each of them opening but on one part to the maine sea, doe +likewise receiue their increase vpon the flood the same way, and none +other, which Mare Glaciale doeth, onely by the West, as M. Ienkinson +affirmed vnto me: and therefore it followeth that this Northeast sea, +receiuing increase but onely from the West, cannot possibly open to the +maine Ocean by the East. + +7 Moreouer, the farther you passe into any sea towards the end of it, on +that part which is shut vp from the maine sea (as in all those aboue +mentioned) the lesse and lesse the tides rise and fall. The like whereof +also happeneth in Mare Glaciale, which proueth but small continuance of +that sea toward the East. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid corrumpitur à contrario corrumpítur.] 8 Also, the +further yee goe toward the East in Mare Glaciale, the lesse salt the water +is: which could not happen, if it were open to the salt Sea towards the +East, as it is to the West only, seeing Euery thing naturally ingendreth +his like: and then must it be like salt throughout, as all the seas are, in +such like climate and eleuation.[42] + +[Sidenote: Omne simile giguit sui simile.] And therefore it seemeth that +this Northeast sea is maintained by the riuer Ob, and such like freshets, +as Mare Goticum, and Mare Mediterraneum, in the vppermost parts thereof by +the riuers Nilus, Danubius, Neper, Tanais, &c. + +9 Furthermore, if there were any such sea at that eleuation, of like it +should be alwaies frozen throughout (there being no tides to hinder it) +because the extreme coldnes of the aire being in the vppermost part, and +the extreme coldnesse of the earth in the bottome, the sea there being but +of small depth, whereby the one accidentall coldnesse doth meet with the +other, and the Sunne not hauing his reflection so neere the Pole, but at +very blunt angels, it can neuer be dissolued after it is frozen, +notwithstanding the great length of their day: for that the sunne hath no +heate at all in his light or beames, but proceeding onely by an accidentall +reflection, which there wanteth in effect. + +10 And yet if the Sunne were of sufficient force in that eleuation, to +preuaile against this ice, yet must it be broken before it can be +dissolued, which cannot be but through the long continuance of the sunne +aboue their Horizon, and by that time the Sommer would be so farre spent, +and so great darkenes and cold ensue, that no man could be able to endure +so cold, darke, and discomfortable a nauigation, if it were possible for +him then, and there to liue. + +11 Further, the ice being once broken, it must of force so driue with the +windes and tides, that no ship can saile in those seas, seeing our Fishers +of Island, and the New found land, are subiect to danger through the great +Islands of Ice which fleete in the Seas (to the sailers great danger) farre +to the South of that presupposed passage. + +And it cannot be that this Northeast passage should be any neerer the +South, then before recited, for then it should cut off Ciremissi, and Turbi +Tartari, with Vzesucani, Chisani, and others from the Continent of Asia, +which are knowen to be adioyning to Scythia, Tartaria, &c. with the other +part of the same Continent. + +And if there were any thorowe passage by the Northeast, yet were it to +small ende and purpose for our traffique, because no shippe of great burden +can Nauigate in so shallow a Sea: and ships of small burden are very vnfit +and vnprofitable, especially towards the blustering North to performe such +a voyage. + + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed, came only by the Northwest, which + induceth a certaintie of our passage by experience. + +Cap. 7. + +It is as likely that they came by the Northwest, as it is vnlikely that +they should come, either by the Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, or from +any other part of Africa or America, and therefore this Northwest passage +hauing bene alreadie so many wayes prooued, by disproouing of the others, +&c. I shall the lesse neede in this place, to vse many words otherwise then +to conclude in this sort, That they came onely by the Northwest from +England, hauing these many reasons to leade me thereunto. + +1 First, the one halfe of the windes of the compasse might bring them by +the Northwest, bearing alwayes betweene two sheats, with which kind of +sayling the Indians are onely acquainted, not hauing any vse of a bow line, +or quarter winde, without the which no ship can possibly come either by the +Southeast, Southwest or Northeast, having so many sundry Capes to double, +whereunto are required such change and shift of windes. + +2 And it seemeth likely that they should come by the Northwest, [Marginal +note: True both in ventis obliquè flantibus, as also in ventis ex diamentro +spitantibus.] because the coast whereon they were driuen, lay East from +this our passage, And all windes doe naturally driue a ship to an opposite +point from whence it bloweth, not being otherwise guided by Arte, which the +Indians do vtterly want, and therefore it seemeth that they came directly +through this our fret, which they might doe with one wind. + +3 For if they had come by the Cape de buona Sperança, then must they (as +aforesaid) haue fallen vpon the South parts of America. + +4 And if by the fret of Magellan, then vpon the coasts of Afrike, Spaine, +Portugall, France, Ireland or England. + +5 And if by the Northeast, then vpon the coasts of Cerremissi, Tartarji, +Lappia, Island, Terra de Labrador, &c. and vpon these coasts (as aforesaid) +they haue neuer bene found. + +So that by all likelihood they could neuer haue come without shipwracke +vpon the coastes of Germanie, if they had first striken vpon the coastes of +so many countries, wanting both Arte and shipping to make orderly +discouery, and altogether ignorant both in the Arte of Nauigation, and also +of the Rockes, Flats, Sands or Hauens of those parts of the world, which in +most of these places are plentifull. + +6 And further it seemeth very likely, that the inhabitants of the most part +of those countries, by which they must haue come any other way besides by +the Northwest, being for the most part Anthropophagi, or men eaters, would +haue deuoured them, slaine them, or (at the least wise) kept them as +wonders for the gaze. + +So that it plainely appeareth that those Indians (which as you haue heard +in sundry ages were driuen by tempest vpon the shore of Germanie) came +onely through our Northwest passage. + +7 Moreouer, the passage is certainely prooued by a Nauigation that a +Portugall made, who passed through this fret, giuing name to a promontorie +farre within the same, calling it after his owne name, Promontorium +Corterialis, neere adioyning vnto Polisacus fluuius. + +8 Also one Scolmus a Dane entred and passed a great part thereof. + +9 Also there was one Saluaterra, a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine, that +came by chance out of the West Indias into Ireland, Anno 1568. who affirmed +the Northwest passage from vs to Cataia, constantly to be beleeued in +America nauigable. And further said in the presence of sir Henry Sidney +(then lord Deputie of Ireland) in my hearing, that a Frier of Mexico, +called Andrew Vrdaneta, more then eight yeeres before his then comming into +Ireland, told him there, that he came from Mar del Sur into Germany through +this Northwest passage, and shewed Saluaterra (at that time being then with +him in Mexico) a Sea Card made by his owne experience and trauell in that +voyage, wherein was plainly set downe and described this Northwest passage, +agreeing in all points with Ortelius mappe. + +And further, this Frier tolde the king of Portugall (as he returned by that +countrey homeward) that there was (of certainty) such a passage Northwest +from England, and that he meant to publish the same: which done, the king +most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the passage +knowen to any nation: [Marginal note: The words of the king of Portugall to +Andro Vrdaneta a Frier, touching the concealing of this Northwest passage +from England to Cataia.] For that (said the King) if England had knowledge +and experience thereof, it would greatly hinder both the king of Spaine and +me. This Frier (as Saluaterra reported) was the greatest Discouerer by sea, +that hath bene in our age. Also Saluaterra being perswaded of this passage +by the frier Vrdaneta, and by the common opinion of the Spaniards +inhabiting America, offered most willingly to accompanie me in this +Discouery, which of like he would not haue done if he had stood in doubt +thereof. [43] + +[Sidenote: An obiection.] And now as these moderne experiences cannot be +impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of +ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to +prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India +were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise: +[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle +(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who +liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in +the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which +ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before +Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of +Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in +his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had +the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that +both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes. + +These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues +of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to +come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of +diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named, +the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c. + +And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of +this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons +with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following. + + +Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast, + before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by + Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same. + +Cap. 8. + +Because you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me, as +what doth serue for my purpose, I haue here added the reasons of Master +Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman, and a great traueller, who conceiued +a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs, to be by the Northeast, +then by the Northwest. + +[Sidenote: The Northwest passage assented vnto.] He first said that he +thought not to the contrary, but that there was a passage by the Northwest +according to mine opinion: but assured he was, that there might be found a +nauigable passage by the Northeast from England, to goe to all the East +parts of the world, which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes. + +[Sidenote: The first reason.] The first was that he heard a Fisherman of +Tartaria say in hunting the Morce, that he sayled very farre towards the +Southeast, finding no end of the Sea: whereby he hoped a thorow passage to +be that way. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that the +Tartarians were a barbarous people, and vtterly ignorant in the Arte of +Nauigation, not knowing the vse of the Sea Card, Compasse or Starre, which +he confessed to be true: and therefore they could not (said I) certainly +know the Southeast from the Northeast, in a wide sea, and a place vnknowen +from the sight of the land. + +Or if he sailed any thing neere the shore, yet he (being ignorant) might be +deceiued by the doubling of many points and Capes, and by the trending of +the land, albeit he kept continually alongst the shore. + +[Sidenote: Visus nonnunquam fallitur in suo obíecto.] And further, it might +be that the poore Fishermen through simplicitie thought that there was +nothing that way but sea, because he saw no land: which proofe (vnder +correction) giueth small assurance of a Nauigable sea by the Northeast, to +goe round about the world, For that be iudged by the eye onely, seeing we +in this our cleare aire doe account twentie miles a ken at Sea. + +[Sidenote: The second reason or allegation.] His second reason is, that +there was an Vnicornes horne found vpon the coast of Tartaria, which could +not come (said he) thither by any other meanes then with the tides, through +some fret in the Northeast of Mare Glaciale, there being no Vnicorne in any +part of Asia, sauing in India and Cataia: which reason (in my simple +iudgement) forceth as litle. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] First, it is doubtfull whether those +barbarous Tartarians do know an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no: and if it were +one, yet it is not credible that the Sea could haue driuen it so farre, +being of such nature that it will not swimme. + +Also the tides running too and fro, would haue driuen it as farre backe +with the ebbe, as it brought it forward with the flood. + +There is also a beast called Asinus Indicus (whose horne most like it was) +which hath but one horne like an Vnicorne in his forehead, whereof there is +great plenty in all the North parts thereunto adioyning, as in Lappia, +Noruegia, Finmarke, &c. as Iacobus Zieglerus writeth in his historie of +Scondia. + +And as Albertus saieth, there is a fish which hath but one horne in his +forehead like to an Vnicorne, and therefore it seemeth very doubtfull both +from whence it came, and whether it were an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no. + +[Sidenote: The third and last reason or assertion.] His third and last +reason was, that there came a continuall streame or currant through Mare +Glaciale, of such swiftnesse (as a Colmax told him) that if you cast any +thing therein, it would presently be carried out of sight towards the West. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that there doth +the like from Mæotis Palus, by Pontus Euxinus, Sinus Bosphorus, and along +the coast of Græcia, &c. As it is affirmed by Contarenus, and diuers others +that haue had experience of the same: and yet that Sea lieth not open to +any maine Sea that way, but is maintained by freshets as by Tanais, +Danubius, &c. + +In like maner is this current in Mare Glaciale increased and maintained by +the Dwina, the riuer Ob, &c. + +Now as I haue here briefly recited the reasons alleaged, to prooue a +passage to Cataia by the Northeast, with my seuerall answeres thereunto: so +will I leaue it to your iudgement, to hope or despaire of either at your +pleasure.[44] + + +How that the passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffique, + then the other by the East, if there were any such. + +Cap. 9. + +First, by the Northeast (if your windes doe not giue you a maruelous +speedie and luckie passage) you are in danger (being so neere the Pole) to +be benighted almost the one halfe of the yeere, and what danger that were, +to liue so long comfortlesse, voide of light, (if the cold killed you not) +each man of reason or vnderstanding may iudge. + +[Sidenote: Some doubt of this.] 2 Also Mangia, Quinzai, and the Moluccæ are +neerer vnto vs by the Northwest, then by the Northeast, more then two fiue +parts, which is almost by the halfe. + +3 Also we may haue by the West a yeerely returne, it being at all times +nauigable, whereas you haue but 4. moneths in the whole yeere to goe by the +Northeast: the passage being at such eleuation as it is formerly expressed, +for it cannot be any neerer the South. + +4 Furthermore, it cannot be finished without diuers wintrings by the way, +hauing no hauens in any temperate climate to harbour in there: for it is as +much as we can well saile from hence to S. Nicholas, in the trade of +Moscouia, and returne in the nauigable season of the yeere, and from S. +Nicholas to Cerimissi Tartari, which stande at 80 degrees of the +Septentrional latitude, it is at the least 400 leagues, which amounteth +scarce to the third part of the way, to the end of your voyage by the +Northeast. + +5 And yet after you haue doubled this Cape, if then there might be found a +nauigable Sea to carie you Southeast according to your desire, yet can you +not winter conueniently, vntil you come to 60 degrees, and to take vp one +degree running Southeast, you must saile 24 leagues and three foure parts, +which amounteth to 495 leagues. + +6 Furthermore, you may by the Northwest saile thither with all Easterly +windes, and returne with any Westerly windes, whereas you must haue by the +Northeast sundry windes, and those proper, according to the lying of the +coast and Capes, you shalbe inforced to double, which windes are not +alwaies to be had, when they are looked for: whereby your iourney should be +greatly prolonged, and hardly endured so neere the Pole. As we are taught +by sir Hugh Willoughbie, who was frozen to death farre neerer the South. + +7. Moreouer, it is very doubtfull, whether we should long inioy that trade +by the Northeast, if there were any such passage that way, the commodities +thereof once knowen to the Moscouite, what priuilege so euer hee hath +granted, seeing pollicy with the masse of excessiue gaine, to the inriching +(so greatly) of himselfe and all his dominions would perswade him to +presume the same, hauing so great opportunitie to vtter the commodities of +those countries by the Narue. + +But by the Northwest, we may safely trade without danger or annoyance of +any prince liuing, Christian or Heathen, it being out of all their trades. + +8 Also the Queenes Maiesties dominions are neerer the Northwest passage +then any other great princes that might passe that way, and both in their +going and returne, they must of necessitie succour themselues and their +ships vpon some part of the same, if any tempestuous weather should happen. + +Further, no princes nauie of the world is able to incounter the Queenes +Maiesties nauie, as it is at this present: and yet it should be greatly +increased by the traffike insuing vpon this discouerie, for it is the long +voyages that increase and maintaine great shipping. + +Now it seemeth necessarie to declare what commodities would growe thereby, +if all these things were, as we haue heretofore presupposed, and thought +them to be: which next adioyning are briefly declared. + + +What commodities would ensue, this passage once discouered. + +Cap. 10. + +First, it were the onely way for our princes, to possesse the wealth of all +the East parts (as they terme them) of the world, which is infinite: as +appeareth by the experience of Alexander the great, in the time of his +conquest of India, and other the East parts of the world, alleaged by +Quintus Curtius, which would be a great aduancement to our countrey, a +wonderfull inriching to our prince, and an vnspeakable commoditie to all +the inhabitants of Europe. + +2 For through the shortnesse of the voyage, we should be able to sell all +maner of merchandize, brought from thence, farre better cheape then either +the Portugall or Spaniard doth or may do. And further, we should share with +the Portugall in the East, and the Spaniard in the West, by trading to any +part of America, thorow Mar del Sur, where they can no maner of way offend +vs. + +3 Also we might sayle to diuers very rich countreys, both ciuill and +others, out of both their iurisdictions, trades and traffikes, where there +is to be found great abundance of golde, siluer, precious stones, cloth of +gold, silkes, all maner of spices, grocery wares, and other kinds of +merchandize of an inestimable price, which both the Spaniard and Portugall, +through the length of their iournies, cannot well attaine vnto. + +4 Also we might inhabite some part of those countreyes, and settle there +such needy people of our countrey, which now trouble the common wealth, and +through want here at home are inforced to commit outragious offences, +whereby they are dayly consumed with the gallowes. + +5 Moreouer, we might from all the aforesaid places haue a yeerely returne, +inhabiting for our staple some conuenient place of America, about Sierra +Neuada, or some other part, whereas it shal seeme best for the shortning of +the voyage. + +6 Beside vttering of our countrey commodities, which the Indians, &c. much +esteeme: as appeareth in Hester, where the pompe is expressed of the great +king of India, Assuerus, who matched the coloured clothes, wherewith his +houses and tents were apparelled, with gold and siluer, as part of his +greatest treasure: not mentioning either veluets, silkes, cloth of gold, +cloth of siluer, or such like, being in those countreyes most plentifull: +whereby it plainly appeareth in what great estimation they would haue the +clothes of this our countrey, so that there would be found a farre better +vent for them by this meanes, then yet this realme euer had: and that +without depending either vpon France, Spaine, Flanders, Portugall, +Hamborow, Emden, or any other part of Europe. + +7 Also, here we shall increase both our ships and mariners, without +burthening of the state. + +8 And also haue occasion to set poore mens children to learne handie +craftes, and thereby to make trifles and such like, which the Indians and +those people do much esteeme: by reason whereof, there should be none +occasion to haue our countrey combred with loiterers, vagabonds, and such +like idle persons. + +All these commodities would grow by following this our discouery, without +iniury done to any Christian prince, by crossing them in any of their vsed +trades, whereby they might take any iust occasion of offence. + +Thus haue I briefly shewed you some part of the grounds of mine opinion, +trusting that you will no longer iudge me fantasticke in this matter: +seeing I haue conceiued no vaine hope of this voyage, but am perswaded +thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed +both by reason and certaine experiences. + +Also this discouery hath bene diuers times heretofore by others both +offered, attempted and performed. + +It hath bene offered by Stephen Gomes vnto Carolus the fift Emperour, in +the yeere of our Lord God 1527, as Alphonso Vllua testifieth in the story +of Carolus life: who would haue set him forth in it (as the story +mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long warres had +not caused him to surcease the same. + +[Sidenote: This discouery offered.] And the king of Portugall fearing least +the Emperour would haue perseuered in this his enterprise, gaue him to +leaue the matter vnattempted, the summe of 350000 crownes: and it is to be +thought that the king of Portugall would not haue giuen to the Emperour +such summes of money for egges in mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: This discovery attempted.] It hath bene attempted by Sebastian +Cabota in the time of king Henry the seuenth, by Corterialis the Portugall, +and Scolmus the Dane. + +[Sidenote: This discouery performed.] And it hath bene performed by three +brethren, the Indians aforesaid, and by Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico. + +Also diuers haue offered the like vnto the French king, who hath sent two +or three times to haue discouered the same: The discouerers spending and +consuming their victuals in searching the gulfes and bayes betweene Florida +and Terra de Labrador, whereby the yce is broken to the after commers. + +So that the right way may now easily be found out in short time: and that +with little ieopardie and lesse expences. + +For America is discouered so farre towards the North as Cape Frio,[45] +which is 62 degrees, and that part of Grondland next adioyning is knowen to +stand but at 72 degrees. [Sidenote: The labour of this discouerie shortned +by other mens trauell.] So that wee haue but 10 degrees to saile North and +South, to put the world out of doubt hereof: [Sidenote: Why the kings of +Spaine and Portugal would not perseuer in this discovery.] and it is likely +that the king of Spaine, and the king of Portugall would not haue sit out +all this while, but that they are sure to possesse to themselues all that +trade they now vse, and feare to deale in this discouery, least the Queenes +Maiestie hauing so good opportunitie, and finding the commoditie which +thereby might ensue to the common wealth, would cut them off, and enioy the +whole traffique to herselfe, and thereby the Spaniards and Portugals, with +their great charges, should beate the bush, and other men catch the birds: +which thing they foreseing, haue commanded that no pilot of theirs vpon +paine of death, should seeke to discouer to the Northwest, or plat out in +any Sea card any thorow passage that way by the Northwest. + +Now, and if you will indifferently compare the hope that remaineth, to +animate me to this enterprise, with those likelihoods which Columbus +alleaged before Ferdinando the king of Castilia, to prooue that there were +such Islands in the West Ocean, as were after by him and others discouered +to the great commodity of Spaine and all the world: you will thinke then +this Northwest passage to be most worthy trauell therein. + +For Columbus had none of the West Islands set foorth vnto him, either in +globe or card, neither yet once mentioned of any writer (Plato excepted, +and the commentaries vpon the same) from 942 yeeres before Christ, vntill +that day. + +Moreouer, Columbus himselfe had neither seene America nor any other of the +Islands about it, neither, vnderstood he of them by the report of any other +that had seene them, but only comforted himselfe with this hope, that the +land had a beginning where the Sea had an ending: for as touching that +which the Spaniards doe write of a Biscaine, which should haue taught him +the way thither, it is thought to be imagined of them, to depriue Columbus +of his honour, being none of their countrey man, but a stranger borne. + +And if it were true of the Biscaine, yet did he but roue at the matter, or +(at the least) gathered the knowledge of it, by coniectures onely. + +And albeit myselfe haue not seene this passage nor any part thereof, but am +ignorant of it as touching experience (as Columbus was before his attempt +made) yet haue I both the report, relation, and authoritie of diuers most +credible men, which haue both seene and passed through some and euery part +of this discouery, besides sundry reasons for my assurance thereof: all +which Columbus wanted. + +These things considered, and indifferently weighed togither, with the +wonderfull commodities which this discouery may bring, especially to this +realme of England: I must needes conclude with learned Baptista Ramusius, +and diuers other learned men, who said, that this discouery hath bene +reserued for some noble prince or worthie man, thereby to make himselfe +rich, and the world happie: desiring you to accept in good part this briefe +and simple discourse, written in haste, which if I may perceiue that it +shall not sufficiently satisfie you in this behalfe, I will then impart +vnto you a large discourse, which I haue written onely of this discouery. + +And further, because it sufficeth not only to know that such a thing there +is, without abilitie to performe the same, I wil at at leasure make you +partaker of another simple discourse of nauigation, wherein I haue not a +little trauelled, to make my selfe as sufficient to bring these things to +effect, as I haue bene readie to offer my selfe therein. + +And therein I haue deuised to amend the errors of vsuall sea cards, whose +common fault is to make the degrees of longitude in euery latitude of one +like bignesse. + +And haue also deuised therein a Spherical instrument, with a compasse of +variation for the perfect knowing of the longitude. + +And a precise order to pricke the sea card, together with certaine +infallible rules for the shortning of any discouery, to know at the first +entring of any fret whether it lie open to the Ocean more wayes then one, +how farre soeuer the sea stretcheth itself into the land. + +Desiring you hereafter neuer to mislike with me, for the taking in hande of +any laudable and honest enterprise: for if through pleasure or idlenesse we +purchase shame, the pleasure vanisheth, but the shame remaineth for euer. + +[Sidenote: Pereas qui vmbras times.] And therefore to giue me leaue without +offence, alwayes to liue and die in this mind, That he is not worthy to +liue at all, that for feare, or danger of death, shunneth his countreys +seruice, and his owne honour: seeing death is inevitable, and the fame of +vertue immortall. Wherefore in this behalfe, Mutare vel timere sperno. + + * * * * * + +Certaine other reasons, or arguments to prooue a passage by the Northwest, + learnedly written by M. Richard Willes, Gentleman. + +Foure famous wayes there be spoken of to those fruitfull and wealthie +Islands, which wee doe vsually call Moluccaes, continually haunted for +gaine, and dayly trauelled for riches therein growing. These Islands, +although they stand East from the Meridian, distant almost halfe the length +of the worlde, in extreame heate, vnder the Equinoctiall line, possessed of +Infidels and Barbarians: yet by our neighbours great abundance of wealth +there is painefully sought in respect of the voyage deerely bought, and +from thence dangerously brought home vnto vs. Our neighbours I call the +Portugalls in comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse vnto vs, for +like situation Westward as we haue, for their vsuall trade with vs, for +that the farre Southeasterlings doe knowe this part of Europe by no other +name then Portugall, not greatly acquainted as yet with the other Nations +thereof. [Sidenote: 1 By the Southeast.] Their voyage is very well +vnderstood of all men, and the Southeasterne way round about Afrike by the +Cape of Good hope more spoken of, better knowen and trauelled, then that it +may seeme needefull to discourse thereof any further. + +[Sidenote: 2 By the Southwest.] The second way lyeth Southwest, betweene +the West India or South America, and the South continent, through that +narrow straight where Magellan first of all men that euer we doe read of, +passed these latter yeeres, leauing therevnto therefore his name. +[Sidenote: This is an errour.] This way no doubt the Spaniardes would +commodiously take, for that it lyeth neere vnto their dominions there, +could the Easterne current and leuant windes as easily suffer them to +returne, as speedily therwith they may be carried thither: for the which +difficultie, or rather impossibility of striuing against the force both of +winde and streame, this passage is litle or nothing vsed, although it be +very well knowen. + +[Sidenote: 3 By the Northeast.] The third way by the Northeast, beyond all +Europe and Asia, that worthy and renowmed knight sir Hugh Willoughbie +sought to his perill, enforced there to ende his life for colde, congealed +and frozen to death. And truely this way consisteth rather in the +imagination of Geographers, then allowable either in reason, or approued by +[Sidenote: Ortel. tab. Asiæ 3.] experience, as well it may appeare by the +dangerous trending of the Scythish Cape set by Ortelius vnder the 80 degree +North, by the vnlikely sailing in that Northerne sea alwayes clad with yce +and snow, or at the least continually pestred therewith, if happily it be +at any time dissolued: besides bayes and shelfes, the water waxing more +shallow toward the East, that we say nothing of the foule mists and darke +fogs in the cold clime, of the litle power of the Sunne to cleare the aire, +of the vncomfortable nights, so neere the Pole, fiue moneths long. + +[Sidenote: 4 By the Northwest.] A fourth way to go vnto these aforesaid +happy Islands Moluccæ sir Humphrey Gilbert a learned and valiant knight +discourseth of at large in his new passage to Cathayo. The enterprise of +itselfe being vertuous, the fact must doubtlesse deserue high praise, and +whensoeuer it shal be finished, the fruits thereof cannot be smal: where +vertue is guide, there is fame a follower, and fortune a companion. But the +way is dangerous, the passage doubtfull, the voiage not throughly knowen, +and therefore gainesaid by many, after this maner. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 1.] First, who can assure vs of any passage rather by the +Northwest then by the Northeast? do not both waves lye in equall distance +from the North Pole? Stand not the North Capes of eyther continent vnder +like eleuation? Is not the Ocean sea beyond America farther distant from +our Meridian by 30. or 40. degrees West, then the extreame poyntes of +Cathayo Eastward, if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true: +[Sidenote: In Theatro.] In the Northeast that noble Knight Syr Hugh +Willoughbie perished for colde: and can you then promise a passenger any +better happe by the Northwest? Who hath gone for triall sake at any time +this way out of Europe to Cathayo? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 2.] If you seeke the aduise herein of such as make +profession in Cosmographie, Ptolome the father of Geographie, and his +eldest children, will answere by their mappes with a negatiue, concluding +most of the Sea within the land, and making an end of the world Northward, +neere the 63. degree. The same opinion, when learning chiefly florished, +was receiued in the Romanes time, as by their Poets writings it may +appeare: tibi seruiat vltima Thyle, said Virgil, being of opinion, that +Island was the extreme part of the world habitable toward the North. Ioseph +Moletius an Italian, and Mercator a Germaine, for knowledge men able to be +compared with the best Geographers of our time, the one in his halfe +Spheres of the whole world, the other in some of his great globes, haue +continued the West Indies land, euen to the North Pole, and consequently, +cut off all passage by sea that way. + +The same doctors, Mercator in other of his globes and mappes, Moletius in +his sea Carde, neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former +continent, haue opened a gulfe betwixt the West Indies and the extreame +Northerne land: but such a one, that either is not to be trauelled for the +causes in the first obiection alledged, or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe +by Groenland: the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme land with +America, the North part continent with Lappeland and Norway. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 3.] Thirdly, the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not +denie, but that if any such passage be, it lieth subiect vnto yce and snow +for the most part of the yeere, whereas it standeth in the edge of the +frostie Zone. Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre, and dissolued the yce, +eche one well knoweth that there can be no sailing: the yce once broken +through the continuall abode the sunne maketh a certaine season in those +parts, how shall it be possible for so weake a vessel as a shippe is, to +holde out amid whole Ilands, as it were of yce continually beating on eche +side, and at the mouth of that gulfe, issuing downe furiously from the +north, and safely to passe, when whole mountaines of yce and snow shall be +tumbled downe vpon her? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 4.] Well, graunt the West Indies not to continue continent +vnto the Pole, grant there be a passage betweene these two lands, let the +gulfe lie neerer vs then commonly in cardes we finde it set, namely, +betweene the 61. and 64. degrees north, as Gemma Frisius in his mappes and +globes imagineth it, and so left by our countryman Sebastian Cabot in his +table which the Earle of Bedford hath at Cheinies: Let the way be voyde of +all difficulties, yet doeth it not follow that wee haue free passage to +Cathayo. For examples sake: You may trend all Norway, Finmarke, and +Lappeland, and then bowe Southward to Saint Nicholas in Moscouia: you may +likewise in the Mediterranean Sea fetch Constantinople, and the mouth of +Tanais: yet is there no passage by Sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine, +now called Mare Maggiore. Againe, in the aforesaid Mediterranean sea, we +saile to Alexandria in Egypt, the Barbarians bring their pearle and spices +from the Moluccaes vp the Red sea or Arabian gulph to Sues, scarcely three +dayes iourney from the aforesayd hauen: yet haue wee no way by sea from +Alexandria to the Moluccaes, for that Isthmos or litle straight of land +betweene the two seas. In like maner although the Northerne passage be free +at 61 degrees of latitude, and the West Ocean beyond America, vsually +called Mar del Zur, knowen to be open at 40. degrees eleuation from the +Island Iapan, yea, three hundred leagues Northerly aboue Iapan: yet may +there be land to hinder the thorow passage that way by Sea, as in the +examples aforesaid it falleth out, Asia and America there being ioyned +together in one continent. Ne can this opinion seeme altogether friuolous +vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doings. Iosephus +Moletius is of that minde, not onely in his plaine Hemispheres of the +world, but also in his Sea card. The French Geographers in like maner be of +the same opinion, as by their Mappe cut out in forme of a Hart you may +perceiue: as though the West Indies were part of Asia. Which sentence well +agreeth with that old conclusion in the Schooles. Quicquid præter Africam +et Europam est, Asia est, Whatsoeuer land doeth neither apperteine vnto +Afrike nor to Europe, is part of Asia. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 5.] Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long, so +painefull, so doubtfull a voyage by such a new found way, if in Cathayo you +should neither bee suffered to land for silkes and siluer, nor able to +fetch the Molucca spices and pearle for piracie in those Seas. Of a law +denying all Aliens to enter into China, and forbidding all the inhabiters +vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into those countreys, shall +you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other +Portugals: as also in the Iaponish letters, how for that cause the worthy +traueller Xauierus bargained with a Barbarian Merchant for a great summe of +pepper to be brought into Canton, a port in China. The great and dangerous +piracie vsed in those Seas no man can be ignorant of, that listeth to reade +the Iaponish and East Indian historie. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 6.] Finally, all this great labour would be lost, all these +charges spent in vaine, if in the ende our trauellers might not be able to +returne againe, and bring safely home into their owne natiue countrey that +wealth and riches, which they in forrein regions with aduenture of goods, +and danger of their liues haue sought for. By the Northeast there is no +way, the Southeast passage the Portugals doe hold as the Lords of those +Seas. At the Southwest Magellans experience hath partly taught vs, and +partly we are persuaded by reason, how the Easterne current striketh so +furiously on that straight, and falleth with such force into that narrow +gulph, that hardly any ship can returne that way into our West Ocean out of +Mar del Zur. The which if it be true, as truly it is, then wee may say that +the aforesayd Easterne current or leuant course of waters continually +following after the heauenly motions, loseth not altogether his force, but +is doubled rather by an other current from out the Northeast, in the +passage betweene America and the North land, whither it is of necessity +caryed: hauing none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion, and +consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the straight of +Anian, where it striketh South into Mar del Zur, beyond America (if any +such straight of Sea there be) then in Magellans fret, both straights being +of like bredth: as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France, and in Don +Diego Hermano de Toledo his Card for nauigation in that region we doe finde +precisely set downe. + +Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest +from out of Europe, we haue experience, namely of three brethren that went +that iourney, as Gemma Frisius recordeth, and left a name vnto that +straight, whereby now it is called Fretum trium fratrum. We doe reade +againe of a Portugall that passed this straight, of whom Master Frobisher +speaketh, that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lisbone, to verifie +the olde Spanish prouerbe, I suffer for doing well. Likewise Andrew +Vrdaneta a Fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del Zur this way into Germanie: +his Carde (for he was a great discouerer) made by his owne experience and +trauell in that voyage, hath bene seene by Gentlemen of good credite. + +[Sidenote: Cic. 1. de orat. Arist, pri. Metaph.] Now if the obseruation and +remembrance of things breedeth experience, and of experience proceedeth +arte, and the certaine knowledge we haue in all faculties, as the best +Philosophers that euer were doe affirme: truely the voyage of these +aforesayd trauellers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del Zur, and +returned thence at the Northwest, do most euidently conclude that way to be +nauigable, and that passage free. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] So much +the more we are so to thinke for that the first principle and chiefe ground +in all Geographie, as Ptolome saith, is the history of trauell, that is, +reports made by trauellers skilful in Geometrie and Astronomie, of all such +things in their iourney as to Geographie doe belong. It onely then +remaineth, that we now answere to those arguments that seemed to make +against this former conclusion. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 1.] The first obiection is of no force, that generall table +of the world set forth by Ortelius or Mercator, for it greatly skilleth +not, being vnskilfully drawen for that point: as manifestly it may appeare +vnto any one that conferreth the same with Gemma Frisius his vniuersall +Mappe, with his round quartered carde, with his globe, with Sebastian +Cabota his table, and Ortelius his generall mappe alone, worthily preferred +in this case before all Mercator and Ortelius other doings: for that Cabota +was not onely a skilful Sea man, but a long traueller, and such a one as +entred personally that straight, sent by king Henry the seuenth to make +this aforesayd Discouerie, as in his owne discourse of nauigation you may +reade in his carde drawen with his owne hand, that the mouth of the +Northwesterne straight lyeth neere the 318. Meridian, betweene 61. and 64. +degrees in the eleuation, continuing the same bredth about 10 degrees West, +where it openeth Southerly more and more, vntill it come vnder the tropicke +of Cancer, and so runneth into Mar del Zur, at the least 18 degrees more in +bredth there, then it was where it first began: otherwise I could as well +imagine this passage to be more vnlikely then the voyage to Moscouia, and +more impossible then it for the farre situation and continuance thereof in +the frostie clime: as now I can affirme it to be very possible and most +likely in comparison thereof, for that it neither coasteth so farre North +as the Moscouian passage doeth, neither is this straight so long as that, +before it bow downe Southerly towardes the Sunne againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 2.] The second argument concludeth nothing. Ptolome knew +not what was aboue sixteene degrees South beyond the Equinoctiall line, he +was ignorant of all passages Northward from the eleuation of 63. degrees: +he knewe no Ocean sea beyond Asia, yet haue the Portugals trended the Cape +of Good hope at the South point of Afrike, and trauelled to Iapan an Island +in the East Ocean, betweene Asia and America: our merchants in the time of +king Edward the sixt discouered the Moscouian passage farther North than +Thyle, and shewed Groenland not to be continent with Lappeland and Norway: +the like our Northwesterne trauellers haue done, declaring by their +nauigation that way, the ignorance of all Cosmographers that either doe +ioyne Groenland with America, or continue the West Indies with that frosty +region vnder the north pole. As for Virgil he sang according to the +knowledge of men in his time, as an other poet did of the hot Zone. + +[Sidenote: Ouid. 1. Meta.] Quarum quæ media est, non est habitabilis æstu. +Imagining, as most men then did, Zonam torridam, the hot Zone to be +altogether dishabited for heat, though presently wee know many famous and +worthy kingdomes and cities in that part of the earth, and the Island of S. +Thomas neere Æthiopia, and the wealthy Islands for the which chiefly all +these voyages are taken in hand, to be inhabited euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 3.] To answere the third obiection, besides Cabota and all +other trauellers nauigations, the onely credit of M. Frobisher[46] may +suffice, who lately through all these Islands of ice, and mountaines of +snow, passed that way, euen beyond the gulfe that tumbleth downe from the +North, and in some places though he drewe one inch thicke ice, as he +returning in August did, yet came he home safely againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 4.] The fourth argument is altogether friuolous and vaine, +for neither is there any isthmos or strait of land betweene America and +Asia, ne can these two landes ioyntly be one continent. [Sidenote: Lib. +Geog.] The first part of my answere is manifestly allowed of by Homer, whom +that excellent Geographer Strabo followeth, yeelding him in this facultie +the price. The author of that booke likewise [Greek: perì kosmou] to +Alexander, attributed vnto Aristotle, is of the same opinion that Homer and +Strabo be of, in two or three places. Dionisius in [Greek: oikoumenaes +periaegaesi] hath this verse [Greek: otos hokeanos peridedrome gaian +hapasan.] So doth the Ocean Sea runne round about the worlde: speaking +onely of Europe, Afrike and Asia, as then Asia was trauelled and knowen. +[Sidenote: Note.] With these Doctours may you ioyne Pomponius Mela. cap. 2. +lib 1. Plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. and Pius 2. cap 2. in his description of +Asia. [Sidenote: Richard Eden.] All the which writers doe no lesse confirme +the whole Easterne side of Asia to be compassed about with the sea, then +Plato doeth affirme in Timæo, vnder the name Atlantis, the West indies to +be an Island, as in a special discoure thereof R. Eden writeth, agreeable +vnto the sentence of Proclus, Marsilius Ficinus, and others. Out of Plato +it is gathered that America is an island. Homer, Strabo, Aristotle, +Dionysius, Mela, Plinie, Pius 2. affirme the continent of Asia, Afrike, and +Europe to be enuironed with the Ocean. I may therefore boldly say (though +later intelligences thereof had we none at all) that Asia and the West +Indies be not tied together by any Isthmos or straight of land, contrary to +the opinion of some new Cosmographers, by whom doubtfully this matter hath +bin brought in controuersie. And thus much for the first part of my answere +vnto the fourth obiection. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. Meteor. cap 1.] The second part, namely that America and +Asia cannot be one continent, may thus be prooued, [Greek: kata taen taes +gaes koilotaeta rhei kai ton potamon to plaethos.] The most Riuers take +downe that way their course, where the earth is most hollow and deepe, +writeth Aristotle: and the Sea (sayeth he in the same place) as it goeth +further, so it is found deeper. Into what gulfe doe the Moscouian riuers +Onega, Duina, Ob, powre out their streames Northward out of Moscouia into +the sea? Which way doeth that sea strike: The South is maine land, the +Easterne coast waxeth more and more shalow: from the North, either +naturally, because that part of the earth is higher Aristot. 2. Met. cap. +1. or of necessitie, for that the forcible influence of some Northerne +starres causeth the earth there to shake off the Sea, as some Philosophers +doe thinke: or finally for the great store of waters engendered in that +frostie and colde climate, that the bankes are not able to holde them. +Alber, in 2. Meteor. cap. 6. From the North, I say, continually falleth +downe great abundance of water. So that this Northeasterne currant must at +the length abruptly bow towards vs South on the West side of Finmarke and +Norway: or else strike downe Southwest aboue Groneland and Iseland, into +the Northwest straight we speake of, as of congruence it doeth, if you +marke the situation of that Region, and by the report of M. Frobisher +experience teacheth vs. And M. Frobisher the further he trauailed in the +former passage, as he tolde me, the deeper always he found the Sea. Lay you +now the summe hereof together. The riuers runne where the chanels are most +hollow, the Sea in taking his course waxeth deeper, the Sea waters fall +continually from the North Southward, the Northeasterne current striketh +downe into the straight we speak of, and is there augmented with whole +mointaines of yce and snowe falling downe furiously out from the land vnder +the North pole. [Sidenote: Plin. lib. 2. cap. 67] Where store of water is, +there is it a thing impossible to want Sea, where Sea not onely doeth not +want, but waxeth deeper, there can be discouered no land, finally, whence I +pray you came the contrary tide, that M. Frobisher mette withall after he +had sailed no small way in that passage, if there be any Isthmos or +straight of land betwixt the aforesayd Northwesterne gulfe, and Mar del +Zur, to ioyne Asia and America together? That conclusion frequented in +scholes Quicquid præter, &c. was meant of the partes of the world then +knowen, and so it is of right to be vnderstood. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 5.] The fift obiection requireth for answere wisdome and +policie in the trauailer to winne the Barbarians fauour by some good +meanes: and so to arme and strengthen himselfe, that when he shal haue the +repulse in one coast, he may safely trauaile to an other, commodiously +taking his conuenient times, and discreetely making choise of them with +whom hee will throughly deale. To force a violent entry, would for vs +Englishmen be very hard, considering the strength and valour of so great a +Nation, farre distant from vs, and the attempt thereof might be most +perilous vnto the doers, vnlesse their part were very good. + +Touching their lawes against strangers, you shall reade neuerthelesse in +the same relations of Galeotto Perera, that the Cathaian king is woont to +graunt free accesse vnto all foreiners that trade into his Countrey for +Marchandise, and a place of libertie for them to remaine in: as the Moores +had, vntill such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieutenant of that +coast to be a circumcised Saracene: wherefore some of them were put to the +sword, the rest were scattered abroad: at Fuquien a great citie in China, +certaine of them are yet this day to be seene. As for the Iapans they be +most desirous to be acquainted with strangers. The Portingals though they +were straitly handled there at the first, yet in the ende they found great +fauor at the Prince his hands, insomuch that the Loutea or president that +misused them was therefore put to death. The rude Indian Canoa halleth +those seas, the Portingals, the Saracens, and Moores trauaile continually +vp and downe that reach from Iapan to China, from China to Malacca, from +Malacca to the Moluccaes: and shall an Englishman, better appointed then +any of them all (that I say no more of our Nauie) feare to saile in that +ocean? What seas at all doe want piracie? what Nauigation is there voyde of +perill? + +[Sidenote: Sol. 6.] To the last argument. Our trauailers neede not to seeke +their returne by the Northeast, neither shall they be constrained, except +they list, either to attempt Magellans straight at the Southwest, or to be +in danger of the Portingals for the Southeast: they may returne by the +Northwest, that same way they doe goe foorth, as experience hath shewed. + +The reason alleadged for proofe of the contrary may be disproued after this +maner. And first it may be called in controuersie, whether any current +continually be forced by the motion of Primum mobile, round about the +world, or no: For learned men doe diuersly handle that question. [Sidenote: +Luc. lib. 1. Pharsal.] The naturall course of all waters is downeward, +wherefore of congruence they fall that way where they finde the earth most +lowe and deepe: in respect whereof, it was erst sayd, the seas doe strike +from the Northern landes Southerly. Violently the seas are tossed and +troubled diuers wayes with the windes, encreased and diminished by the +course of the Moone, hoised vp and downe through the sundry operations of +the Sunne and the starres: finally, some be of opinion, that the seas be +carried in part violently about the world, after the dayly motion of the +highest moueable heauen, in like maner as the elements of ayre and fire, +with the rest of the heauenly spheres, are from the East vnto the West. +[Sidenote: What the Easterne current is.] And this they doe call their +Easterne current, or leuant stream. Some such current may not be denied to +be of great force in the hot Zone, for the neerenesse thereof vnto the +centre of the Sunne, and blustering Easterne windes violently driuing the +seas Westwards: howbeit, in the temperate climes, the Sunne being further +off, and the windes more diuers, blowing as much from the North, the West +and South, as from the East, this rule doeth not effectually withholde vs +from trauailing Eastward, neither be we kept euer backe by the aforesaid +Leuant windes and streame. But in the Magellans streight wee are violently +driuen backe West: Ergo, through the Northwesterne straight or Annian +frette shall we not be able to returne Eastward? It followeth not. The +first, for that the northwesterne straight hath more sea roome at the least +by one hundreth English myles, than Magellans frette hath, the onely want +whereof causeth all narrow passages generally to be most violent. So would +I say in the Anian gulfe, if it were so narrow as Don Diego and Zalterius +haue painted it out, any returne that way to bee full of difficulties, in +respect of such streightnesse thereof, not for the neerenesse of the Sunne, +or Easterne windes violently forcing that way any leuant streame: But in +that place there is more sea roome by many degrees, if the Cardes of +Cabota, and Gemma Frisius, and that which Tramezine imprinted be true. + +And hitherto reason see I none at all, but that I may as well giue credite +vnto their doings, as to any of the rest. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] +It must be Peregrinationis historia, that is, true reportes of skilfull +trauailers, as Ptolome writeth, that in such controuersies of Geographie +must put vs out of doubt. Ortelius in his vniuersall tables, in his +particular Mappes of the West Indies, of all Asia, of the Northern +kingdomes, of the East Indies, Mercator in some of his globes, and generall +Mappes of the world, Moletius in his vniuersall table of the Globe diuided, +in his sea Carde, and particuler tables of the East Indies, Zalterius, and +Don Diego, with Ferdinando Bertely, and others, doe so much differ from +Gemma Frisius and Cabota, among themselues, and in diuers places from +themselues, concerning the diuers situation and sundry limits of America, +that one may not so rashly, as timely surmise, these men either to be +ignorant in those points touching the aforesaid region, or that the Mappes +they haue giuen out vnto the world, were collected onely by them, and neuer +of their owne drawing. + + * * * * * + +The first Voyage of M. Martine Frobisher, to the Northwest, for the search + of the straight or passage to China, written by Christopher Hall, Master + in the Gabriel, and made in the yeere of our Lord 1576. + +The 7. of Iune being Thursday, the two Barks, viz. the Gabriel, and the +Michael [Marginal note: M. Matthew Kinderslye was Captaine of the Michael.] +and our Pinnesse set saile at Ratcliffe, and bare down to Detford, and +there we ancred: the cause was that our Pinnesse burst her boulsprit, and +foremast aboard of a ship that rode at Detford, else wee meant to haue past +that day by the Court then at Grenewich. + +The 8. day being Friday, about 12 of the clocke we wayed at Detford, and +set saile all three of vs, and bare downe by the Court, where we shotte off +our ordinance and made the best shew we could: Her Maiestie beholding the +same, commended it, and bade vs farewell, with shaking her hand at vs out +of the window. Afterward shee sent a Gentleman aboord of vs, who declared +that her Maiestie had good liking of our doings, and thanked vs for it, and +also willed our Captaine to come the next day to the Court to take his +leaue of her. + +The same day towards night M. Secretarie Woolly came aboorde of vs, and +declared to the company, that her Maiestie had appointed him to giue them +charge to be obedient, and diligent to their Captaine, and gouernours in +all things, and wished vs happie successe. + +The 12. day being ouer against Grauesend, by the castle or blockehouse, we +obserued the latitude, which was 51. degrees 33. min. And in that place the +variation of the Compasse is 11. degrees and a halfe. + +[Sidenote: Faire Island.] The 24. day at 2. of the clocke after noone, I +had sight of Faire yle,[47] being from vs 6. leagues North and by East, and +when I brought it Northwest and by North, it did rise at the Southermost +ende with a litle hommocke, and swampe in the middes. + +[Sidenote: Shotland.] The 25. day from 4. to 8. a clocke in the forenoone, +the winde at Northwest and by North a fresh gale, I cast about to the +Westward, the Southermost head of Shotland called Swinborne head +Northnorthwest from me, and the land of Faire yle, West Southwest from me. +I sailed directly to the North head of that said land, sounding as I ranne +in, hauing 60. 50. and 40. fathoms, and gray redde shels: and within halfe +a mile of that Island, there are 36. fathoms, for I sailed to that Island +to see whether there were any roadesteede for a Northwest winde, and I +found by my sounding hard rockes, and foule ground, and deepe water, within +two cables length of the shoare, 28. fathome, and so did not ancre but +plied to and fro with my foresaile, and mizen till it was a high water +vnder the Island. The tide setteth there Northwest and Southeast: the flood +setteth Southeast, and the ebbe Northwest. + +The 26. day hauing the winde at South a faire gale, sayling from Faire yle +to Swinborne head, I did obserue the latitude, the Island of Fowlay being +West Northwest from me 6. leagues, and Swinborne head East southeast from +me, I found my eleuation [Marginal note: By eleuation he meaneth the +distance of the sunne from the zenith.] to be 37. degr and my declination +22. degr. 46 min. So that my latitude was 59. degr. 46. min. [Sidenote: S. +Tronions.] At that present being neere to Swinborne head, hauing a leake +which did trouble vs, as also to take in fresh water, I plyed roome with a +sound, which is called S. Tronions, and there did ancre in seuen fathoms +water, and faire sande. You haue comming in the sounds mouth in the entring +17. 15. 12. 10. 9. 8. and 7. fathoms, and the sound lyeth in North +northwest, and there we roade to a West sunne, and stopped our leake, and +hauing refreshed our selues with water, at a North northwest sunne, I set +saile from S. Tronions the winde at South Southest, and turned out till wee +were cleare of the sound, and so sailed West to go cleare of the Island of +Fowlay. [Sidenote: Fowlay Island.] And running off toward Fowlay,[48] I +sounded, hauing fiftie fathome, and streamie ground, and also I sounded +Fowlay being North from mee one league off that Islande, hauing fiftie +fathome at the South head, and streamie ground, like broken otmell, and one +shell being redde and white like mackerell. + +[Sidenote: Latitude 59. deg. 59. min. Here they begin to saile West and by +North.] The 27. day at a South sunne I did obserue the latitude, the Island +of Fowlay being from me two leagues East Northeast: I found my selfe to be +in latitude 59. degrees, 59. min truly obserued, the winde at South +Southwest: I sailed West and by North. + +From 12. to foure a clocke afternoone, the wind at South, a faire gale the +shippe sailed West and by North 6. leagues, and at the ende of this watch, +I sounded hauing 60. fathome, with little stones and shels, the Island from +vs 8. leagues East. + +[Sidenote: July the first.] The first of Iuly, from 4. to 8. a clocke, wee +sailed West 4. glasses 4. leagues, and at that present we had so much winde +that we spooned afore the sea Southwest 2. leagues. + +The 3. day we found our Compasse to bee varied one point to Westwards: this +day from 4. to 8. a clocke we sailed West and by North 6 leagues. + +From 8. to 12. a clocke at noone West and by North 4. leagues. [Sidenote: +The Compasse varying Westwards one point.] At that present I found our +compasse to be varied 11 deg. and one 4. part to the Westwards, which is +one point. + +[Sidenote: The Island of Friseland.] The 11. day at a Southeast sunne we +had sight of the land of Friseland bearing from vs West northwest 16. +leagues, and rising like pinacles of steeples, and all couered with snowe. +I found my selfe in 61. degr. of latitude. Wee sailed to the shoare and +could finde no ground at 150. fathoms, we hoised out our boate, and the +Captaine with 4. men rowed to the shoare to get on land, but the land lying +full of yce, they could not get on land, and so they came aboord againe: We +had much adoe to get cleare of the yce by reason of the fogge. Yet from +Thursday 8. a clocke in the morning to Friday at noone we sailed Southwest +20. leagues. + +The 18. day at a Southwest sunne I found the sunne to be eleuated 33. deg. +And at a Southsoutheast sunne 40. deg. So I obserued it till I found it at +the highest, and then it was eleuated 52. deg. [Sidenote: The variation of +the needle two points and a halfe to the West.] I iudged the variation of +the Compasse to be 2. points and a halfe to the Westward. + +[Sidenote: A great drift of yce.] The 21. day we had sight of a great drift +of yce, seeming a firme land, and we cast Westward to be cleare of it. + +[Sidenote: The latitude of 62. degrees 2. min.] The 26. we had sight of a +land of yce: the latitude was 62. degrees, and two minutes. + +[Sidenote: Sight of land supposed to haue been Labrador.] The 28. day in +the morning was very foggie: but at the clearing vp of the fogge, we had +sight of lande, which I supposed to be Labrador, with great store of yce +about the land: I ranne in towards it, and sownded, but could get no ground +at 100. fathom, and the yce being so thicke, I could not get to the shoare, +and so lay off, and came cleare of the yce. Upon Munday we came within a +mile of the shoare, and sought a harborowe: all the sownd was full of yce, +and our boate rowing a shoare, could get no ground at 100. fathom, within a +Cables length of the shoare: then we sailed Eastnortheast along the shoare, +for so the lande lyeth, and the currant is there great, setting Northeast, +and Southwest: and if we could haue gotten anker ground, wee would haue +seene with what force it had runne, but I iudge a ship may driue a league +and a halfe, in one houre, with that tide. + +This day at 4. of the clocke in the morning, being faire and cleere, we had +sight of a head land, as we iudged, bearing from vs north, and by East, and +we sailed Northeast, and by North to that land, and when we came thither, +wee could not get to the lande for yce: for the yce stretched along the +coast, so that we could not come to the land, by fiue leagues. + +[Sidenote: August.] Wednesday the first of August it calmed, and in the +after noone I caused my boate to be hoysed out, being hard by a great +Island of yce, and I and foure men rowed to that yce, and sounded within +two Cables length of it, and had sixteene fathome, and little stones, and +after that sownded againe within a Minion shot, and had ground at an +hundreth fathome, and faire sand: we sownded the next day a quarter of a +myle from it, and had sixtie fathome rough ground, and at that present +being aboord, that great Island of yce fell one part from another, making a +noyse as if a great cliffe had fallen into the Sea. And at foure of the +clocke I sownded againe, and had 90. fathome, and small blacke stones, and +little white stones like pearles. The tide here did set to the shoare. + +The tenth I tooke foure men, and my selfe, and rowed to +shoare to an Island one league from the maine, and there the +flood setteth Southwest alongest the shoare, and it floweth as +neere as I could iudge so too, I could not tarry to prooue it, +because the ship was a great way from me, and I feared a fogge: +but when I came a shoare, it was a low water. I went to the top +of the Island, and before I came backe, it was hied a foote water, +and so without tarrying I came aboord. + +[Sidenote: They enter the Streit in the latitude of 63. deg. and 8. min.] +The 11. we found our latitude to be 63. degr. and eight minutes, and this +day we entred the streight. + +The 12. wee set saile towardes an Island, called the Gabriels Island, which +was 10 leagues then from vs. + +We espied a sound, and bare with it, and came to a Sandie Baye, where we +came to an anker, the land being East southeast off vs, and there we rode +al night in 8. fathome water. It floweth there at a Southeast Moone. We +called it Priors sownd, being from the Gabriels Island, tenne leagues. + +The 14, we waied, and ranne into another sownde, where wee ankered in 8. +fathome water, faire sand, and black oaze, and there calked our ship, being +weake from the wales vpward, and tooke in fresh water. + +The 15. day we waied, and sailed to Priors Bay, being a mile from thence. + +The 16. day was calme, and we rode still, without yce, but presently within +two houres it was frozen round about the ship, a quarter of an ynch thicke, +and that day very faire, and calme. + +The 17. day we waied, and came to Thomas Williams Island. + +The 18. day we sailed North northwest, and ankered againe in +23. fathome, and tough oaze, vnder Burchers Island, which is from +the former Island, ten leagues. + +[Sidenote: Sight of the Countrey people.] The 19. day in the morning, being +calme, and no winde, the Captaine and I tooke our boat, with eight men in +her, to rowe vs a shoare, to see if there were any people, or no, and going +to the toppe of the Island, we had sight of seuen boates, which came rowing +from the East side, toward that Island: whereupon we returned aboord +againe: at length we sent our boate with fiue men in her, to see whither +they rowed, and so with a white cloth brought one of their boates with +their men along the shoare, rowing after our boate, till such time as they +sawe our ship, and then they rowed a shoare: then I went on shore my selfe, +and gaue euery of them a threadden point, and brought one of them aboord of +me, where hee did eate and drinke, and then carried him on shoare againe. +Whereupon all the rest came aboord with their boates, being nineteene +persons, and they spake, but we vnderstoode them not. [Sidenote: The +description of the people.[49]] They bee like to Tartars, with long blacke +haire, broad faces, and flatte noses, and tawnie in colour, wearing Seale +skinnes, and so doe the women, not differing in the fashion, but the women +are marked in the face with blewe streekes downe the cheekes, and round +about the eyes. Their boates are made all of Seales skinnes, with a keele +of wood within the skin: the proportion of them is like a Spanish shallop, +saue only they be flat in the bottome, and sharpe at both ends. + +The twentieth day wee wayed, and went to the Eastside of this island, and I +and the Captaine, with foure men more went on shoare, and there we sawe +their houses, and the people espying vs, came rowing towards our boate: +whereupon we plied toward our boate: and wee being in our boate and they +ashoare, they called to vs, and we rowed to them, and one of their company +came into our boate, and we carried him a boord, and gaue him a Bell, and a +knife: [Sidenote: 5 of our men taken by the people.] so the Captaine and I +willed fiue of our men to set him a shoare at a rocke, and not among the +company, which they come from, but their wilfulnesse was such, that they +would goe to them, and so were taken themselues, and our boate lost. + +The next day in the morning, we stoode in neere the shoare, and shotte off +a fauconet, and sounded our trumpet, but we could hear nothing nothing of +our men: this sound wee called the fiue mens sound, and plyed out of it, +but ankered againe in thirtie fathome, and ooze: and riding there all +night, in the morning, the snow lay a foote thicke vpon our hatches. + +The 22. day in the morning we wayed, and went againe to the place we lost +our men, and our boate. We had sight of foureteene boates, and some came +neere to vs, but wee could learne nothing of our men: among the rest, we +intised one boate to our ships side, with a Bell, and in giuing him the +Bell, we tooke him, and his boate, and so kept him, and so rowed downe to +Thomas Williams Island, and there ankered all night. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 26. day we waied, to come homeward, and by +12. of the clocke at noone, we were thwart of Trumpets Island. + +The next day we came thwart of Gabriels Island, and at 8. of the clocke at +night, we had the Cape Labrador as we supposed West from vs, ten leagues. + +The 28. day we went our course Southeast. + +We sailed Southeast, and by East, 22. leagues. + +The first day of September in the morning we had sight of the land of +Friseland being eight leagues from vs but we could not come neerer it, for +the monstrous yce that lay about it. From this day, till the sixth of this +Moneth, we ranne along Island, and had the South part of it at eight of the +clocke, East from vs ten leagues. + +The seuenth day of this moneth we had a very terrible storme, by force +whereof, one of our men was blowen into the sea out of our waste, but he +caught hold of the foresaile sheate, and there held till the Captaine +pluckt him againe into the ship. + +The 25 day of this moneth we had sight of the Island of Orkney, which was +then East from vs. + +[Sidenote: The Sheld.] The first day of October we had sight of the Sheld, +and so sailed about the coast, and ankered at Yarmouth, and the next day we +came into Harwich. + +The language of the people of Meta incognita. + +Argoteyt, a hand. +Cangnawe, a nose. +Arered, an eye. +Keiotot, a tooth. +Mutchatet, the head. +Chewat, an eare. +Comagaye, a legge. +Atoniagay, a foote. +Callagay, a paire of breeches. +Attegay, a coate. +Polleuetagay, a knife. +Accaskay, a shippe. +Coblone, a thumbe. +Teckkere, the foremost finger. +Ketteckle, the middle finger. +Mekellacane, the fourth finger. +Yacketrone, the little finger. + + * * * * * + +The second voyage of Master Martin Frobisher, made to the West and + Northwest Regions, in the yeere 1577. with a description of the Countrey, + and people: Written by Master Dionise Settle. + +On Whitsunday, being the sixe and twentieth of May, in the yeere of our +Lord God 1577. Captaine Frobisher departed from Blacke Wall, with one of +the Queenes Maiesties ships, called The Aide, of nine score tunnes, or +thereabouts: and two other Little Barkes likewise, the one called The +Gabriel, whereof Master Fenton, a Gentleman of my Lord of Warwikes, was +Captaine: accompanied with seuen score Gentlemen, souldiers, and sailers, +well furnished with victuals, and other prouision necessarie for one halfe +yeere, on this his second voyage, for the further discouering of the +passage to Cathay, and other Countreys, thereunto adiacent, by West and +Northwest nauigations: which passage or way, is supposed to bee on the +North and Northwest part of America: and the said America to be an Island +inuironed with the sea, where through our Merchants may haue course and +recourse with their merchandize, from these our Northernmost parts of +Europe, to those Orientall coasts of Asia, in much shorter time, and with +greater benefite then any others, to their no little commoditie and profite +that do or shall frequent the same. Our said Captaine and General of this +present voyage and company hauing the yeere before, with two little +pinnesses, to his great danger, and no small commendations, giuen a worthy +attempt towards the performance thereof, is also prest, when occasion shall +be ministred (to the benefite of his Prince, and natiue Countrey) to +aduenture himelfe further therein. As for the second voyage, it seemeth +sufficient that he hath better explored and searched the commodities of +those people and Countreys, which in his first voyage the yeere before he +had found out. + +[Sidenote: The Islands Orcades, or Orkney.] Vpon which considerations, the +day and yeere before expressed, we departed from Blacke Wall to Harwich, +where making an accomplishment of things necessary, the last of May we +hoised vp sailes, and with a merrie winde the 7. of Iune we arriued at the +Islands called Orcades, or vulgarly Orkney, being in number 30. subiect and +adiacent to Scotland where we made prouision of fresh water; in the doing +wherof our Generall licensed the Gentlemen and souldiers for their +recreation to go on shore. [Sidenote: The Orcadians upon smal occasion flee +their home.] At our landing, the people fled from their poore cottages, +with shrikes and alarms, to warne their neighbours of enemies, but by +gentle perswasions we reclamed them to their houses. It seemeth they are +often frighted with Pirats, or some other enemies, that mooue them to such +sudden feare. Their houses are very simply builded with Pibble stone, +without any chimneis, the fire being made in the middest thereof. The good +man, wife, children, and other of their family eate and sleepe on the one +side of the house, and the cattell on the other, very beastly and rudely, +in respect of ciuilitie. [Sidenote: No wood in Orkney.] They are destitute +of wood, their fire is turffes, and Cowshards. They haue corne, bigge, and +oates, with which they pay their Kings rent, to the maintenance of his +house. They take great quantitie of fish, which they dry in the wind and +Sunne. They dresse their meat very filthily, and eate it without salt. +Their apparell is after the rudest sort of Scotland. Their money is all +base. Their Church and religion is reformed according to the Scots. +[Sidenote: Fisher men of England haue daily traffique to Orkney.] The +fisher men of England can better declare the dispositions of those people +then I: wherefore I remit other their vsages to their reports, as yeerely +repaires thither, in their course to and from Island for fish. + +[Sidenote: In Iune and Iuly no night in those West and Northwest regions.] +We departed herehence the 8. of Iune, and followed our course betweene West +and Northwest, vntill the 4. of Iuly: all which time we had no night, but +that easily, and without any impediment we had when we were so disposed, +the fruition of our bookes, and other pleasures to passe away the time: a +thing of no small moment, to such as wander in vnknowen seas, and long +nauigations, especially, when both the winds and raging surges do passe +their common and wonted course. This benefite endureth in those parts not +6. weekes, while the sunne is neere the Tropike of Cancer: but where the +pole is raised to 70. or 80. degrees, it continueth much longer. + +[Sidenote: Great abundance of Firre trees floting in the sea.] All along +these seas, after we were sixe dayes sailing from Orkney, we met floting in +the sea, great Firre trees, which as we iudged, were with the furie of +great floods rooted vp, and so driuen into the sea. Island hath almost no +other wood nor fuell, but such as they take vp vpon their coastes. +[Sidenote: Inquire further of this current.] It seemeth, that these trees +are driuen from some part of the New found land, with the current that +setteth from the West to the East.[50] + +The 4. of Iuly we came within the making of Frisland.[51] From this shoare +10. or 12. leagues, we met great Islands of yce, of halfe a mile, some +more, some lesse in compasse, shewing aboue the sea, 30. or 40. fathoms, +and as we supposed fast on ground, where with our lead we could scarse +sound the bottome for depth. + +[Sidenote: Yce, snow, and haile in Iune and Iuly.] Here, in place of +odoriferous and fragrant smels of sweete gums, and pleasant notes of +musicall birdes, which other Countreys in more temperate Zones do yeeld, +wee tasted the most boisterous Boreal blasts mixt with snow and haile, in +the moneths of Iune and Iuly, nothing inferior to our vntemperate winter: a +sudden alteration, and especially in a place or Paralelle, where the Pole +is not eleuate aboue 61. degrees: at which height other Countreys more to +the North, yea vnto 70. degrees, shew themselues more temperate then this +doth. + +All along this coast yce lieth, as a continuall bulwarke, and so defendeth +the countrey, that those that would land there, incur great danger. Our +Generall 3. dayes together attempted with the ship boate to haue gone on +shoare, which for that without great danger he could not accomplish, he +deferred it vntill a more conuenient time. All along the coast lie very +high mountains covered with snow, except in such places, where through the +steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall. Foure dayes +coasting along this land, we found no signe of habitation. [Sidenote: +Friseland subiect to fogge.] Little birds, whiche we iudged to haue lost +the shore, by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect +vnto, came flying into our ships, which causeth vs to suppose, that the +Countrey is both more tollerable, and also habitable within, then the +outward shore maketh shew or signification.[52] + +From hence we departed the eight of Iuly: and the 16. of the same, we came +with the making of land, which land our Generall the yeere before had named +The Queenes foreland, being an Island as we iudge, lying neere the supposed +continent with America: and on the other side, opposite to the same, one +other Island called Halles Isle, after the name of the Master of the ship, +neere adiacent to the firme land, supposed continent with Asia. [Sidenote: +Frobishers streight.] Betweene the which two Islands there is a large +entrance or streight, called Frobishers streight,[53] after the name of our +Generall, the firste finder thereof. This said streight is supposed to haue +passage into the sea of Sur, which I leaue vnknowen as yet. + +It seemeth that either here, or not farre hence, the sea should haue more +large entrance, then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone: +and that some contrary tide, either from the East or West, with maine force +casteth out that great quantity of yce, which commeth floting from this +coast, euen vnto Friseland, causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate +then others, much more Northerly then the same. + +I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole, the time of the Sunnes +Northerne declination being halfe a yere together, and one whole day, +(considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30. +minuts) can haue power to [Sidenote: Islands of yce comparable to +mountaines.] dissolue such monstrous and huge yce, comparable to great +mountaines, except by some other force, as by swift currents and tides, +with the hope of the said day of halfe a yeere. + +Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes, in +so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter, if the length of +the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobisher his speciall care and diligence for the +benefite of his Prince and Countrey.] At our first comming, the straights +seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce, which gaue no litle cause of +discomfort vnto vs all: but our Generall, (to whose diligence imminent +dangers, and difficult attempts seemed nothing, in respect of his willing +mind, for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey,) with two little +Pinnesses prepared of purpose, passed twise thorow them to the East shore, +and the Ilands thereunto adiacent: and the ship, with the two Barks lay off +and on something further into the sea, from the danger of the yce. + +[Sidenote: The order of the people appearing on shoare.] Whilest he was +searching the Countrey neere the shoare, some of the people of the Countrey +shewed themselues leaping and dauncing, with strange shrikes and cries, +which gaue no little admiration to our men. Our Generall desirous to allure +them vnto him by faire meanes, caused kniues, and other things to be +profered vnto them, which they would not take at our hands: but being laid +on the ground, and the party going away, they came and tooke vp, leauing +some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same. [Sidenote: Fierce and bold +people.] At the length two of them leauing their weapons, came downe to our +Generall and Master, who did the like to them, commanding the company to +stay, and went vnto them: who after certaine dumbe signes, and mute +congratulations, began to lay handes vpon them, but they deliuerly escaped, +and ranne to their bowes and arrowes, and came fiercely vpon them, (not +respecting the rest of our companie which were readie for their defence,) +but with their arrowes hurt diuers of them: [Sidenote: One taken.] we tooke +the one, and the other escaped. + +Whilest our Generall was busied in searching the Countrey, and those +Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare, the ship and barkes hauing great care, +not to put farre into the sea from him, for that he had small store of +victuals, were forced to abide in a cruell tempest, chancing in the night, +amongst and in the thickest of the yce, which was so monstrous, that euen +the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient, to haue shiuered our +ship and barks into small portions, if God (who in all necessities, hath +care vpon the infirmitie of man) had not prouided for this our extremitie a +sufficient remedie through the light of the night, whereby we might well +discerne to flee from such imminent dangers, which we auoyded with 14. +Bourdes in one watch the space of 4 houres. [Sidenote: Richard Cox, Master +gunner. Master Iackman. Andrew Dier.] If we had not incurred this danger +amongst those monstrous Islands of yce, we should haue lost our Generall +and Master, and the most of our best sailers, which were on shoare +destitute of victuals: but by the valure of our Master Gunner, Master +Iackman, and Andrew Dier, the Masters Mates, men expert both in nauigation, +and other good qualities, wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore +rehearsed, before we would with our owne safetie, runne into the seas, to +the destruction of our sayd Generall, and his company. + +The day following, being the 19. of Iulie, our captaine returned to the +ship, with report of supposed riches, which shewed it selfe in the bowels +of those barren mountaines, wherewith wee were all satisfied. + +[Sidenote: Iackmans sound.] Within foure daies after we had bene at the +entrance of the streights, the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce +into the sea, and made vs a large entrance into the streights, so that +without any impediment, on the 19. of Iulie we entred them, and the 20. +thereof, our Generall and Master with great diligence, sought out and +sounded the West shoare, and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and +barkes to ride in, and named it after our Masters mate, Iackmans sound, and +brought the ship, barkes and all their company to safe anker, except one +man, which died by Gods visitation. + +At our first arriuall, after the ship rode at anker, our generall, with +such company as could well be spared from the ships, in marching order +entred the lande, hauing speciall care by exhortations, that at our +entrance thereinto, wee should all with one voyce, kneeling vpon our knees, +chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall: secondly beseech him, that it +would please his diuine Maiestie, long to continue our Queene, for whom he, +and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Countrey: and thirdly, that by our Christian +studie and endeuour, those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme, and +infidelitie, might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion, and to the +hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer. With other words very apt to +signifie his willing mind, and affection toward his Prince and Countrey: +whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect, may credibly be iudged to +be vtterly exempted from his mind. All the rest of the Gentlemen and other +deserue worthily herein their due praise and commendation. + +These things in this order accomplished, our Generall commanded all the +company to be obedient in things needfull for our owne safegard, to Master +Fenton, Master Yorke, and Master Beast his Lieutenant, while he was +occupied in other necessarie affaires, concerning our comming thither. + +After this order we marched through the Countrey, with Ensigne displaied, +so farre as was thought needfull, and now and then heaped vp stones on high +mountaines, and other places in token of possession, as likewise to +signifie vnto such as hereafter may chance to arriue there, that possession +is taken in the behalfe of some other Prince, by those who first found out +the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Yce needfull to be regarded of sea faring men.] Who so maketh +nauigations to those Countreys, hath not onely extreme winds, and furious +sea to encounter withall, but also many monstrous and great Islands of yce; +a thing both rare, wonderfull, and greatly to be regarded. + +We were forced sundry times, while the ship did ride here at anker, to haue +continuall watch, with boats and men ready with halsers to knit fast vnto +such yce, as with the ebbe and flood were tossed to and fro in the +harborough, and with force of oares to hale them away, for endangering the +ship. + +Our Generall certaine dayes searched this supposed continent with America, +and not finding the commodity to answere his expectation, after he had made +triall thereof he departed thence with two little barks, and men sufficient +to the East shore being the supposed continent of Asia, and left the ship +with most of the Gentlemen, souldier, and sailers, vntill such time as he +either thought good to send or come for them. + +[Sidenote: Stones glister with sparkles like gold.] The stones of this +supposed continent with America be altogether sparkled, and glister in the +Sunne like gold: [Sidenote: A common prouerb.] so likewise doth the sand in +the bright water, yet they verifie the old Prouerb: All is not gold that +glistereth. + +[Sidenote: The sea Vnicorne.] On this West shore we found a dead fish +floating, which had in his nose a horne streight and torquet,[54] of length +two yards lacking two ynches, being broken in the top, where we might +perceiue it hollow, into the which some of our sailers putting spiders they +presently died. I saw not the triall hereof, but it was reported vnto me of +a trueth: by the verture whereof we supposed it to be the sea Vnicorne. + +After our Generall had found out good harborough for the ship and barks to +anker in, and also such store of supposed gold ore as he thought himselfe +satisfied withall, he returned to the Michael, whereof Master Yorke +aforesaid was Captaine, accompanied with our master and his Mate: who +coasting along the West shore not farre from whence the ship rode, they +perceived a faire harborough, and willing to sound the same, at the +entrance thereof they espied two tents of Seale skins, vnto which the +Captaine, our said Master, and other company resorted. [Sidenote: The +people fled at the sight of our men.] At the sight of our men the people +fled into the mountaines: neuerthelesse they went to their tents, where +leauing certaine trifles of ours, as glasses, bels, kniues, and such like +things they departed, not taking any thing of theirs, except one dogge. +They did in like maner leaue behind them a letter, pen, yncke, and paper, +whereby our men whom the Captaine lost the yere before, and in that peoples +custody, might (if any of them were aliue) be advertised of our presence +and being there. + +[Sidenote: Master Philpot. Master Beast.] On the same day after +consultation had, all the Gentlemen, and others likewise that could be +spared from the ship, vnder the conduct and leading of Master Philpot, +(vnto whom in our Generall his absence, and his Lieutenant Master Beast, al +the rest were obedient) went a shore, determining to see, if by faire means +we could either allure them to familiarity, or otherwise take some of them, +and so attaine to some knowledge of those men whom our Generall lost the +yeere before. + +At our comming backe againe to the place where their tents were before, +they had remooued their tents further into the said Bay or Sound, where +they might if they were driuen from the land, flee with their boates into +the sea. We parting our selues into two companies, and compassing a +mountaine came suddenly vpon them by land, who espying vs, without any +tarrying fled to their boates, leauing the most part of their oares behind +them for haste, and rowed downe the bay, where our two Pinesses met them +and droue them to shore: but if they had had all their oares, so swift are +they in rowing, it had bene lost time to haue chased them. + +[Sidenote: A fierce assault of a few.] When they were landed they fiercely +assaulted our men with their bowes and arrowes, who wounded three of them +with our arrowes; and perceiuing themselues thus hurt, they desperatly +leapt off the Rocks into the Sea, and drowned themselues: which if they had +not done, but had submitted themselues, or if by any meanes we could haue +taken them aliue (being their enemies as they iudged) we would both haue +saued them, and also haue sought remedy to cure their wounds receiued at +our hands. But they altogether voyd of humanity, and ignorant what mercy +meaneth, in extremities looke for no other then death: and perceiuing they +should fall into our hands, thus miserably by drowning rather desired death +then otherwise to be saued by vs: the rest perceiuing their fellowes in +this distresse, fled into the high mountaines. Two women not being so apt +to escape as the men were, the one for her age, and the other being +incombred with a yong child, we tooke. The old wretch, whom diuers of our +Saylers supposed to be eyther a deuill, or a witch, had her buskins plucked +off, to see if she were clouen footed, and for her ougly hew and deformity +we let her go: the yong woman and the child we brought away. We named the +place where they were slaine, Bloodie point: and the Bay or Harborough, +Yorks sound, after the name of one of the Captaines of the two Barks. + +[Sidenote: Faire meanes not able to allure them to familiarity.] Having +this knowledge both of their fiercenesse and cruelty, and perceiuing that +faire meanes as yet is not able to allure them to familiarity, we disposed +our selues, contrary to our inclination, something to be cruel, returned to +their tents and made a spoyle of the same: where we found an old shirt, a +doublet, a girdle, and also shoes of our men, whom we lost the yeere +before: on nothing else vnto them belonging could we set our eyes. + +[Sidenote: Boates of skinnes.] Their riches are not gold, siluer or +precious Drapery, but their tents and boates, made of the skins of red +Deare and Seale skins; also dogges like vnto woolues, but for the most part +black, with other trifles, more to be wondred at for their strangenesse, +then for any other commoditie needefull for our vse. + +[Sidenote: Our departure from the West shoare.] Thus returning to our ship +the 3. August, we departed from the West shore supposed firme with America, +after we had ankered there 13. dayes: and so the 4. thereof we came to our +Generall on the East shore and ankered in a faire Harborough name Anne +Warwickes sound, vnto which is annexed an Island both named after the +Countesse of Warwicke, Anne Warwickes sound and Isle. + +In this Isle our Generall thought good for this voyage, to fraight both the +ship and barkes, with such stone or supposed gold minerall, as he iudged to +counteruaile the charges of his first, and this his second nauigation to +these Countreys. + +[Sidenote: The countrey people shew themselues vnto vs.] In the meane time +of our abode here some of the countrey people came to shew themselues vnto +vs, sundry times on the maine shore, neere adiacent to the saide Isle. Our +Generall desirous to haue some newes of his men, whom he lost the yeere +before, with some company with him repaired with the ship boat to common, +or signe with them for familiaritie, whereunto he is perswaded to bring +them. They at the first shew made tokens, that three of his fiue men were +aliue, and desired penne, ynck, and paper, and that within three or foure +dayes they would returne, and (as we iudged) bring those of our men which +were liuing, with them. + +They also made signes or tokens of their king, whom they called Cacough, +and how he was carried on mens shoulders, and a man farre surmounting any +of our company, in bignesse and stature. + +[Sidenote: Their vsage in traffique or exchange.] With these tokens and +signes of writing, penne, yncke, and paper was deliuered them, which they +would not take at our hands, but being laid vpon the shore, and the partie +gone away, they tooke vp: which likewise they do when they desire any thing +for change of theirs, laying for that which is left so much as they thinke +will counteruaile the same, and not coming neere together. It seemeth they +haue been vsed to this trade or traffique, with some other people +adioining, or not farre distant from their Countrey. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues the third time.] After 4. dayes some +of them shewed themselues vpon the firme land, but not where they were +before. Our General very glad thereof, supposing to heare of our men, went +from the Island, with the boat, and sufficient company with him. They +seemed very glad, and allured him about a certaine point of the land: +behind which they might perceiue a company of the crafty villaines to lye +lurking, whom our Generall would not deale withall, for that he knew not +what company they were, and so with few signes dismissed them and returned +to his company. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues againe on firme land.] An other time +as our said Generall was coasting the Countrey with two little Pinnesses, +whereby at our returne he might make the better relation thereof, three of +the crafty villans, with a white skin allured vs to them. [Sidenote: Their +first meanes to allure vs to shore.] Once again, our Generall, for that he +hoped to heare of his men, went towards them: at our comming neere the +shore whereon they were, we might perceiue a number of them lie hidden +behind great stones, and those 3. in sight labouring by all meanes possible +that some would come on land: and perceiuing we made no hast by words nor +friendly signes, which they vsed by clapping of their hands, and being +without weapon, and but 3. in sight, they sought further meanes to prouoke +vs therevnto. [Sidenote: Their second meanes.] One alone laid flesh on the +shore, which we tooke vp with the Boate hooke, as necessary victuals for +the relieuing of the man, woman, and child, whom we had taken: for that as +yet they could not digest our meat: whereby they perceiued themselues +deceiued of their expectation, for all their crafty allurements. [Sidenote: +Their third and craftiest allurement.] Yet once againe to make (as it were) +a full shew of their craftie natures, and subtile sleights, to the intent +thereby to haue intrapped and taken some of our men, one of them +counterfeited himselfe impotent and lame of his legs, who seemed to descend +to the water side, with great difficulty: and to couer his craft the more, +one of his fellowes came downe with him, and in such places where he seemed +vnable to passe, he tooke him on his shoulders, set him by the water side, +and departed from him, leauing him (as it should seeme) all alone, who +playing his counterfeit pageant very well, thought thereby to prouoke some +of vs to come on shore, not fearing, but that one of vs might make our +party good with a lame man. + +[Sidenote: Compassion to cure a crafty lame man.] Our Generall hauing +compassion of his impotency, thought good (if it were possible) to cure him +thereof: wherefore he caused a souldier to shoote at him with his Caleeuer, +which grased before his face. The counterfeit villeine deliuerly fled, +without any impediment at all, and got him to his bow and arrowes, and the +rest from their lurking holes, with their weapons, bowes, arrowes, slings, +and darts. Our Generall caused some caleeuers to be shot off at them, +whereby some being hurt, they might hereafter stand in more feare of vs. + +This was all the answere for this time we could haue of our men, or of our +Generals letter. Their crafty dealing at these three seuerall times being +thus manifest vnto vs, may plainely shew their disposition in other things +to be correspondent. We iudged that they vsed these stratagemes, thereby to +haue caught some of vs, for the deliuering of the man, woman and child whom +we had taken. + +They are men of a large corporature, and good proportion: their colour is +not much vnlike the Sunne burnt Countrey man, who laboureth daily in the +Sunne for his liuing. + +They weare their haire something long, and cut before either with stone or +knife, very disorderly. Their women weare their haire long and knit vp with +two loupes, shewing forth on either side of their faces, and the rest +foltred vpon a knot. Also some of their women race their faces +proportionally, as chinne, cheekes, and forehead, and the wrists of their +hands, wherevpon they lay a colour which continueth darke azurine. + +They eate their meat all raw, both flesh, fish, and foule, or something per +boyled with blood and a little water which they drinke. For lacke of water +they will eate yce, that is hard frosen, as pleasantly as we will do Sugar +Candie, or other Sugar. + +If they for necessities sake stand in need of the premisses, such grasse as +the countrey yeeldeth they plucke vp and eate, not deintily, or salletwise +to allure their stomacks to appetite: but for necessities sake without +either salt, oiles or washing, like brute beasts deuouring the same. They +neither vse table, stoole, or table cloth for comlines; but when they are +imbrued with blood knuckle deepe, and their kniues in like sort, they vse +their tongues as apt instruments to lick them cleane: in doing whereof they +are assured to loose none of their victuals. + +[Sidenote: Dogges like vnto wolues.] They frank or keepe certaine dogs not +much vnlike Wolues, which they yoke togither, as we do oxen and horses, to +a sled or traile: and so carry their necessaries ouer the yce and snow from +place to place: as the captiue, whom we haue, made perfect signes. +[Sidenote: They eate dogs flesh.] And when these dogs are not apt for the +same vse: or when with hunger they are constrained for lacke of other +victuals, they eate them: so that they are as needfull for them in respect +of their bignesse, as our oxen are for vs. + +They apparell themselues in the skins of such beasts as they kill, sewed +together with the sinewes of them. All the foule which they kill, they +skin, and make thereof one kind of garment or other to defend them from the +cold. + +[Sidenote: Hoods and tailes to their apparell.] They make their apparel +with hoods and tailes, which tailes they giue when they thinke to gratifie +any friendship shewed vnto them: a great signe of friendship with them. The +men haue them not so side[55] as the women. + +The men and women weare their hose close to their legges, from the wast to +the knee without any open before, as well the one kind as the other. Vpon +their legges they weare hose of leather, with the furre side inward two or +three paire on at once, and especially the women. In those hose they put +their kniues, needles, and other thing needfull to beare about. They put a +bone within their hose, which reacheth from the foote to the knee, +whereupon they draw the said hose, and so in place of garters they are +holden from falling downe about their feete. + +They dresse their skinnes very soft and souple with the haire on. In cold +weather or Winter they weare the furre side inward: and Summer outward. +Other apparell they haue none but the said skinnes. + +Those beasts, fishes, and foules, which they kill, are their meat, drinke, +apparell, houses, bedding, hose, shooes, threed, and sailes for their +boates, with many other necessaries whereof they stand in need, and almost +all their riches. + +[Sidenote: Their houses of Seale skins and firre.] Their houses are tents +made of Seale skins, pitched vp with 4. Firre quarters foure square meeting +at the top, and the skins sewed together with sinews, and laid thereupon: +they are so pitched vp, that the entrance into them is alwayes South or +against the Sunne. + +They haue other sorts of houses which we found not to be inhabited, which +are raised with stones and Whale bones, and a skinne layd ouer them, to +with stand the raine, or other weather: the entrance of them being not much +vnlike an Ouens mouth, whereto I thinke they resort for a time to fish, +hunt, and foule, and so leaue them vntil the next time they come thither +again. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons of defence.] Their weapons are bowes, arrowes, +darts, and slings. Their bowes are of wood of a yard long, sinewed at the +back with strong sinews, not glued too, but fast girded and tyed on. Their +bow strings are likewise sinewes. Their arrowes are three pieces nocked +with bone, and ended with bone, with those two ends, and the wood in the +midst, they passe not in length halfe a yard or little more. They are +fethered with two fethers the penne end being cut away, and the fethers +layd vpon the arrow with the broad side to the wood; insomuch that they +seeme when they are tyed on, to haue foure fethers. [Sidenote: Three sorts +of heads to their arrowes.] They haue also three sorts of heads to those +arrowes: one sort of stone or yron, proportioned like to a heart: the +second sort of bone, much like vnto a stopt head, with a hooke on the same: +the third sort of bone likewise made sharpe at both sides, and sharpe +pointed. They are not made very fast but lightly tyed to, or else set in a +nocke, that vpon small occasion the arrowes leaue these heads behind them: +and they are of small force, except they be very neere when they shoote. + +[Sidenote: two sorts of darts.] Their Darts are made of two sorts: the one +with many forkes of bones in the fore end and likewise in the midst: their +proportions are not much vnlike our toasting yrons, but longer: these they +cast out of an instrument of wood, very readily. The other sort is greater +then the first aforesayd, with a long bone made sharpe on both sides not +much vnlike a Rapier, which I take to bee their most hurtfull weapon. + +[Sidenote: Two sortes of boates made of leather.] They haue two sorts of +boats made of leather, set out on the inner side with quarters of wood, +artificially tyed with thongs of the same: the greater sort are not much +vnlike our wherries, wherein sixteene or twenty men may sit: they haue for +a sayle drest the guts of such beasts as they kill very fine and thinne, +which they sew together: the other boate is but for one man to sit and row +in with one oare. + +[Sidenote: They vse to foule, fish, and hunt.] Their order of fishing, +hunting, and fouling are with these said weapons; but in what sort, or how +they vse them we haue no perfect knowledge as yet. + +[Sidenote: It is to be supposed that their inhabiting is elsewhere.] I can +suppose their abode or habitation not to be here, for that neither their +houses or apparell, are of such force to withstand the extremity of cold, +that the Countrey seemeth to be infected with all: neither do I see any +signe likely to performe the same. + +Those houses or rather dennes which stand there, haue no signe of footway, +or any thing else troden, which is one of the chiefest tokens of +habitation. And those tents which they bring with them, when they haue +sufficiently hunted and fished, they remoue to other places: and when they +haue sufficiently stored them of such victuals, as the Countrey yeeldeth or +bringeth forth, they returne to their winter stations or habitations. This +coniecture do I make, for the infertility which I coniecture to be in that +Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Their vse of yron.] They haue some yron whereof they make arrow +heads, kniues, and other little instruments, to worke their boates, bowes, +arrowes, and darts withall, which are very vnapt to doe any thing withall +but with great labour. + +It seemeth that they haue conuersation with some other people, of whom for +exchange they should receiue the same. They are greatly delighted with any +thing that is bright, or giueth a sound. + +[Sidenote: Anthropophagi.] What knowledge they haue of God, or what Idoll +they adore, we haue no perfect intelligence, I thinke them rather +Anthropophagi, or deuourers of mans flesh then otherwise: for that there is +no flesh or fish which they find dead (smell it neuer so filthily) but they +will eate it, as they finde it without any other dressing. A loathsome +thing, either to the beholders or hearers. + +There is no maner of creeping beast hurtfull, except some Spiders (which as +many affirme, are signes of great store of gold) and also certaine stinging +Gnattes, which bite so fiercely, that the place where they bite shortly +after swelleth, and itcheth very sore. + +They make signes of certaine people that weare bright plates of gold in +their foreheads, and other places of their bodies. + +[Sidenote: Description of the Countreis.] The Countreys on both sides the +streights lye very high with rough stony mountaines, and great quantitie of +snow thereon. There is very little plaine ground and no grasse, except a +little which is much like vnto mosse that groweth on soft ground, such as +we get Turffes in. There is no wood at all. To be briefe there is nothing +fit or profitable for the vse of man, which that Countrey with roote +yeeldeth or bringeth forth: Howbeit there is great quantity of Deere, whose +skins are like vnto Asses, there heads or hornes doe farre exceede, as well +in length as also in breadth, any in these our parts or Countreys: their +feete likewise are as great as our oxens, which we measured to be seuen or +eight ynches in breadth. There are also hares, wolues, fishing beares, and +sea foule of sundry sorts. + +As the Countrey is barren and vnfertile, so are they rude and of no +capacitie to culture the same to any perfection; but are contented by their +hunting, fishing, and fouling, with raw flesh and warme blood to satisfie +their greedy panches, which is their only glory. + +[Sidenote: A signe of Earthquakes or thunder.] There is great likelihood of +Earthquakes or thunder: for that there are huge and monstrous mountaines, +whose greatest substance are stones, and those stones so shaken with some +extraordinarie meanes that one is separated from another, which is +discordant from all other Quarries. + +[Sidenote: No riuers, but such as the Sunne doth cause to come of Snow.] +There are no riuers or running springs, but such as through the heate of +the Sunne, with such water as decendeth from the mountaines and hilles, +whereon great drifts of snow do lie, are engendred. + +[Sidenote: A probability that there should be neither spring or riuer in +the ground.] It argueth also that there should be none: for that the earth, +which with the extremitie of the Winter is so frosen within, that that +water which should haue recourse within the same to maintaine springs, hath +not his motion, whereof great waters haue their originall, as by experience +is seene otherwhere. Such valleis as are capable to receiue the water, that +in the Summer time by the operation of the Sunne decendeth from great +abundance of snowe, which continually lyeth on the mountaines and hath no +passage, sinketh into the earth and so vanisheth away, without any runnell +aboue the earth, by which occasion or continuall standing of the said +water, the earth is opened, and the great frost yeeldeth to the force +thereof, which in other places foure or fiue fathomes within the ground for +lacke of the said moisture, the earth (euen in the very summer time) is +frosen, and so combineth the stones together, that scarcely instruments +with great force can vnknit them. + +Also where the water in those valleis can haue no such passage away, by the +continuance of time in such order as is before rehearsed, the yeerely +descent from the mountaines filleth them full, that at the lowest banke of +the same, they fall into the valley, and so continue as fishing Ponds or +Stagnes in Summer time full of water, and in the Winter hard frosen: as by +skarres that remaine thereof in Summer may easily be perceiued: so that the +heat of Summer is nothing comparable or of force to dissolue the extremitie +of cold that commeth in Winter. + +[Sidenote: Springs nourish gold.] Neuerthelesse I am assured that below the +force of the frost within the earth, the waters haue recourse, and emptie +themselues out of sight into the Sea, which through the extremitie of the +frost are constrained to doe the same: by which occasion the earth within +is kept the warmer, and springs haue their recourse, which is the only +nutriment of golde and Minerals within the same. + +There is much to be sayd of the commodities of these Countreys, which are +couched within the bowels of the earth, which I let passe till more perfect +triall be made thereof. + +The 24. of August after we had satisfied our minds with fraight sufficient +for our vessels, though not our couetous desires with such knowledge of the +Countrey people, and other commodities as are before rehearsed, we departed +therehence. [Sidenote: Our departure from those Countreys.] The 17. of +September we fell with the lands end of England, and so sailed to Milford +Hauen, from whence our Generall rode to the Court for order, to what Port +or Hauen to conduct the ship. + +[Sidenote: How and when we lost our 2. Barks which God neuerthelesse +restored.] We lost our two Barkes in the way homeward, the one the 29. of +August, the other the 21. of the same moneth, by occasion of great tempest +and fogge. Howbeit God restored the one to Bristowe, and the other made his +course by Scotland to Yermouth. In this voyage we lost two men, one in the +way by Gods visitation, and the other homeward cast ouer borde with a surge +of the Sea. + +[Sidenote: The conclusion.] I could declare vnto the Readers, the latitude +and longitude of such places and regions as we haue bene at, but not +altogether so perfectly as our masters and others, with many circumstances +of tempests and other accidents incident to Sea-faring men, which seeme not +altogether strange, but I let them passe to their reports as men most apt +to set forth and declare the same. I haue also left the names of the +Countreys on both the shores vntouched, for lacke of vnderstanding the +peoples language: as also for sundry respects, not needfull as yet to be +declared. + +Countreys new discovered where commoditie is to be looked for, doe better +accord with a new name giuen by the discouerers, then an vncertaine name by +a doubtfull Authour. + +Our generall named sundry Islands, Mountaines, Capes, and Harboroughs after +the names of diuers Noble men and other gentlemen his friends, as wel on +the one shore as also on the other. + + * * * * * + +The third and last voyage vnto Meta Incognita, made by M. Martin Frobisher, + in the yeere 1578. Written by Thomas Ellis. + +These are to let you know, that vpon the 25. of May, the Thomas Allen being +Viceadmirall whose Captaine was M. Yorke, M. Gibbes Master, Christopher +Hall Pilot, accompanied with the Reareadmiral named the Hopewel, whose +Captaine was M. Henrie Carewe, the M. Andrewe Dier, and certaine other +ships came to Grauesend, where wee ankered and abode the comming of our +Fleete which were not yet come. + +The 27. of the same moneth our Fleete being nowe come together, and all +things prest in a readinesse, the wind fauouring, and tide seruing, we +being of sailes in number eight, waied ankers and hoised our sailes toward +Harwich to meete with our Admirall, and the residue which then and there +abode arriuall: where we safely arriued the 28. thereof, finding there our +Admirall, whom we with the discharge of certaine pieces saluted, acording +to order and duety, and were welcommed with the like courtesie: which being +finished we landed; where our Generall continued mustering his souldiers +and Miners, and setting things in order appertaining to the voyage vntill +the last of the said moneth of May, which day we hoised our sailes, and +committing ourselues to the conducting of Almightie God, we set forward +toward the west Countrey in such luckie wise and good successe, that by the +fift of Iune we passed the Dursies, being the vtmost part of Ireland to the +Westward. + +And here it were not much amisse nor farre from our purpose, if I should a +little discourse and speake of our aduentures and chances by the way, as +our landing at Plimmouth, as also the meeting certaine poore men, which +were robbed and spoyled of all that they had by Pirates and Rouers: amongst +whom was a man of Bristow, on whom our Generall vsed his liberality, and +sent him away with letters into England. + +But because such things are impertinent to the matter, I will returne +(without any more mentioning of the same) to that from the which I haue +digressed and swarued, I meane our ships now sailing on the surging seas, +sometime passing at pleasure with a wished Easterne wind, sometimes +hindered of our course againe by the Westerne blasts, vntill the 20. day of +the foresayd moneth of Iune, on which day in the morning we fell with +Frizeland, which is a very hie and cragged land and was almost cleane +couered with snow, so that we might see nought but craggie rockes and the +topes of high and huge hilles, sometimes (and for the most part) all +couered with foggie mists. There might we also perceiue the great Isles of +yce lying on the seas, like mountaines, some small, some big, of sundry +kinds of shapes, and such a number of them, that wee could not come neere +the shore for them. + +Thus sailing alongst the coast, at the last we saw a place somewhat voyd of +yce, where our Generall (accompanied with certaine other) went a shore, +where they sawe certaine tents made of beasts skinnes; and boates much the +like vnto theirs of Meta Incognita. The tents were furnished with flesh, +fish, skins, and other trifles: amonst the which was found a boxe of +nailes: whereby we did coniecture, that they had either Artificers amongst +them, or els a traffike with some other nation. The men ran away, so that +wee coulde haue no conference or communication with them. [Sidenote: The +curtesie of our Generall.] Our Generall (because hee would haue them no +more to flee, but rather incouraged to stay through his courteous dealing) +gaue commaundement that his men should take nothing away with them, sauing +onely a couple of white dogs, for the which he left pinnes, poynts, kniues, +and other trifling things, and departed without taking or hurting any +thing, and so came abord, and hoysed sailes, and passed forwards. + +But being scarce out of the sight thereof, there fell such a foggy and +hidious mist that we could not see one another: whereupon we stroke our +drums, and sounded our trumpets, to the ende we might keepe together: and +so continued all that day and night till the next day that the mist brake +vp: so that we might easily perceiue all the ships thus sailing together +all that day, vntil the next day, being the 22. of the same: on which day +wee sawe an infinite number of yce, from the which we cast about to shun +the danger thereof. + +But one of our small Barkes named the Michael, whose Captaine was Master +Kinderslie, the master Bartholomew Bull, lost our company, insomuch that we +could not obteine the sight of her many dayes after, of whom I meane to +speak further anon when occassion shall be ministred, and opportunitie +serue. Thus we continued in our course vntill the second of Iuly, on which +day we fell with the Queenes foreland, where we saw so much yce, that we +thought it vnpossible to get into the Straights; yet at the last we gaue +the aduenture and entred the yce. + +[Sidenote: The Michael. The Iudith. M. Fenton. Charles Iackman.] Being +amongst it wee sawe the Michael, of whom I spake before, accompanied with +the Iudith, whose Captaine was Master Fenton, the Master Charles Iackman, +bearing into the foresayd yce, farre distant from vs, who in a storme that +fell that present night, (whereof I will at large God willing, discourse +hereafter) were seuered from vs, and being in, wandred vp and downe the +Straights amongst the yce many dayes in great perill, till at the last, by +the prouidence of God, they came safely to harbor in their wished Port in +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, the 20. of Iuly aforesayd, tenne dayes +before any of the other shippes: [Sidenote: The Countesse of Warwicks +sound.] who going on shore found where the people of the Countrey had bene, +and had hid their provision in great heapes of stones being both of flesh +and fish, which they had killed; whereof wee also found great store in +other places after our arriual. They found also diuers engins, as bowes, +slings, and darts. They found likewise certaine pieces of the Pinnesse +which our Generall left there the yeere before, which Pinnesse he had +sunke, minding to haue it againe the next yeere. + +Now seeing I haue entreated so much of the Iudith and the Michael: I will +returne to the rest of the other ships, and will speake a little of the +storme which fell, with the mishaps that we had, the night that we put into +the yce: whereof I made mention before. + +[Sidenote: Our entrance and passage &c.] At the first entring into the yce +in the mouth of the Straights, our passage was very narrow, and difficult +but being once gotten in, we had a faire open place without any yce for the +most part, being a league in compasse, the yce being round about vs and +inclosing vs, as it were, within the pales of a parke. In which place, +(because it was almost night) we minded to take in our sailes, and lie a +hull all that night. But the storme so increased, and the waues began to +mount aloft, which brought the yce so neere vs, and comming on so fast vpon +vs, that we were faine to beare in and out, where we might espie an open +place. Thus the yce comming on vs so fast, we were in great danger, looking +euery houre for death. And thus passed we on in that great danger, seeing +both our selues and the rest of our ships so troubled and tossed amongst +the yce, that it would make the strongest heart to relent. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dionyse.] At the last the Barke Dionyse being but a weake +ship, and bruised afore amongst the yce, being so leake that no longer she +could tarry aboue the water, sanke without sauing any of the goods which +were within her: which sight so abashed the whole Fleete, that we thought +verily we should haue tasted of the same sauce. But neuerthelesse we seeing +them in such danger, manned our boates and saued all men in such wise, that +not one perished: God be thanked. + +[Sidenote: Narow shifts for safetie.] The storme still increased and the +yce inclosed vs, so that we were faine to take downe top and top mastes: +for the yce had so inuironed vs, that we could see neither land nor sea, as +farre as we could kenne: so that we were faine to cut our cables to hang +ouer boord for fenders, somewhat to ease the ships sides from the great and +driry strokes of the yce: some with Capstan barres, some fending off with +oares, some with plancks of two ynches thicke, which were broken immediatly +with the force of the yce, some going out vpon the yce to beare it off with +their shoulders from the ship. But the rigorousnes of the tempest was such, +and the force of the yce so great, that not onely they burst and spoyled +the foresaid prouision, but likewise so raised the sides of the ships, that +it was pitifull to behold, and caused the hearts of many to faint. + +[Sidenote: Gods prouidence.] Thus we continued all that dismall and +lamentable night plunged in this perplexity, looking for instant death: but +our God (who neuer leaueth them destitute which call vpon him, although he +often punisheth for amendements sake) in the morning caused the winds to +cease, and the fogge which all that night lay on the face of the water to +cleare: so that we might perceiue about a mile from vs, a certaine place +cleare from any yce, to the which with an easie breath of wind which our +God sent vs, we bent our selues. And furthermore, hee prouided better for +vs then we deserued or hoped for: for when we were in the foresaid cleare +place, he sent vs a fresh gale at West or at West Southwest, which set vs +cleare without all the yce. And further he added more: for he sent vs so +pleasant a day as the like we had not of a long time before, as after +punishment consolation. + +Thus we ioyfull wights being at libertie, tooke in all our sailes and lay a +hull, praysing God for our deliuerance, and stayed to gather together our +Fleete: which once being done, we seeing that none of them had any great +hurt, neither any of them wanted, sauing onely they of whom I spake before +and the ship which was lost, then at the last we hoised our sailes, and lay +bulting off and on, till such time as it would please God to take away the +yce that wee might get into the Straights. + +[Sidenote: A mountaine of yce appearing in sundry figures.] And as we thus +lay off and on we came by a marueilous huge mountaine of yce, which +surpassed all the rest that euer we saw: for we iudged it to be neere +fourescore fathomes aboue water, and we thought it to be a ground for any +thing that we could perceiue, being there nine score fathoms deepe, and of +compasse about halfe a mile. + +[Sidenote: A fog of long continuance.] Also the fift of Iuly there fell a +hidious fogge and mist, that continued till the nineteenth of the same: so +that one shippe could not see another. [Sidenote: A current to the +Northwest.] Therefore we were faine to beare a small sayle and to obserue +the time: but there ran such a current of a tide, that it set vs to the +Northwest of the Queenes foreland the backside of all the Straights: where +(through the contagious fogge hauing no sight either of Sunne or Starre) we +scarce knew where we were. In this fogge the tenth of Iuly we lost the +company of the Viceadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Busse of Bridgewater, +and the Francis of Foy. + +[Sidenote: The Gabriel. The people offer to traffike with vs.] The 16. day +one of our small Barkes named The Gabriel was sent by our Generall to beare +in with the land to descrie it, where being on land, they met with the +people of the Countrey, which seemed very humane and ciuill, and offered to +traffike with our men, profering them foules and skins for kniues, and +other trifles: whose courtesie caused vs to thinke, that they had small +conuersation with other of the Straights. + +Then we bare backe againe to goe with the Queenes foreland: and the +eighteenth day wee came by two Islands whereon we went on shore, and found +where the people had bene: but we saw none of them. This day we were againe +in the yce, and like to be in as great perill as we were at the first. For +through the darknesse and obscuritie of the fogie mist, we were almost run +on rocks and Islands before we saw them: But God (euen miraculously) +prouided for vs, opening the fogges that we might see clearely, both where +and in what danger we presently were, and also the way to escape: or els +without faile we had ruinously runne vpon the rocks. + +When we knew perfectly our instant case, wee cast about to get againe on +Sea bord, which (God be thanked) by night we obtained and praised God. The +cleare continued scarce an houre, but the fogge fell againe as thicke as +euer it was. + +[Sidenote: Warning pieces of safe passage discharged.] Then the +Rearadmirall and the Beare got themselues cleare without danger of yce and +rocks, strooke their sailes and lay a hull, staying to haue the rest of the +Fleet come forth: which as yet had not found the right way to cleare +themselues from the danger of rockes and yce, vntill the next morning, at +what time the Rearadmirall discharged certaine warning pieces to giue +notice that she had escaped, and that the rest (by following of her) might +set themselues free, which they did that day. + +Then hauing gathered our selues togither we proceeded on our purposed +voyage, bearing off, and keeping our selues distant from the coast till the +19. day of Iuly; at which time the fogges brake vp and dispersed, so that +we might plainely and clearly behold the pleasant ayre, which so long had +bene taken from vs, by the obscuritie of the foggie mists: and after that +time we were not much incumbred therewith vntill we had left the confines +of the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: A faire sound betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound.] +Then we espying a fayre sound, supposed it to goe into the Straights +betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound, which proued as we +imagined. For our Generall sent forth againe the Gabriel to discouer it, +who passed through with much difficulty: for there ran such an extreme +current of a tide, with such a horrible gulfe, that with a fresh gale of +wind they were scarce able to stemme it: yet at length with great trauaile +they passed it, and came to the Straights, where they met with the Thomas +Allen, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Busse of Bridgewater: who altogether +aduentured to beare into the yce againe, to see if they could obtaine their +wished Port. But they were so incombred that with much difficultie they +were able to get out againe, yet at the last they escaping, the Thomas +Allen, and the Gabriel bare in with the Westerne shore, where they found +harbour, and there moared their ships vntill the fourth of August, at which +time they came to vs in the Countesse of Warwicks sound. The Thomas of +Ipswich caught a great leake which caused her to cast againe to Seabord and +so was mended. + +We sailed along still by the coast vntill we came to the Queenes foreland, +at the point whereof we met with part of the gulfe aforesaid, which place +or gulfe (as some of our Masters doe credibly report) doeth flow nine +houres, and ebs but three. At that point wee discouered certaine lands +Southward, which neither time nor opportunitie would serue to search. Then +being come to the mouth of the Straights, we met with the Anne Francis, who +had laine bulting vp and downe euer since her departure alone, neuer +finding any of her company. We met then also the Francis of Foy, with whom +againe we intended to venture and get in: but the yce was yet so thicke, +that we were compelled againe to retyre and get vs on Sea bord. + +[Sidenote: An horrible snowe fell in Iuly.] There fell also the same day +being the 26. of Iuly, such an horrible snow, that it lay a foot thick vpon +the hatches which frose as it fell. + +We had also at other times diuers cruell stormes both of snow and haile, +which manifestly declared the distemperature of the Countrey: yet for all +that wee were so many times repulsed and put backe from our purpose, +knowing that lingering delay was not profitable for vs, but hurtfull to our +voyage, we mutually consented to our valiant Generall once againe to giue +the onset. + +The 28. day therefore of the same Iuly we assayed, and with little trouble +(God be praysed) we passed the dangers by day light. [Sidenote: The time of +our setting forward, &c.] Then night falling on the face of the earth, wee +hulled in the cleare, til the chearefull light of the day had chased away +the noysome darkenesse of the night: at which time we set forward towards +our wished Port: by the 30. day wee obteined our expected desire, where we +found the Iudith, and the Michael: which brought no smal ioy vnto the +General, and great consolation to the heauie hearts of those wearied +wights. + +The 30. day of Iuly we brought our ships into the Countesse of Warwicks +sound, and moared them, namely these ships, The Admirall, the Rearadmirall, +the Francis of Foy, the Beare Armenel, the Salomon, and the Busse of +Bridgewater: which being done, our Generall commaunded vs all to come a +shore vpon the Countesses Iland, where he set his Miners to worke vpon the +Mine, giuing charge with expedition to dispatch with their lading. + +Our Generall himselfe, accompanied with his Gentlemen, diuers times made +rodes into sundry partes of the Countrey, as well to finde new Mines, as +also to finde out and see the people of the Countrey. [Sidenote: The +Countesse of Sussex Iland.] He found out one Mine vpon an Island by Beares +sound, and named it the Countesse of Sussex Island. [Sidenote: Winters +Fornace.] One other was found in Winters Fornace, with diuers others, to +which the ships were sent sunderly to be laden. [Sidenote: Dauids Sound.] +In the same rodes he mette with diuers of the people of the Countrey at +sundry times, as once at a place called Dauids sound: who shot at our men, +and very desperately gaue them the onset, being not aboue three or foure in +number, there being of our Countrey men aboue a dozen: but seeing +themselues not able to preuaile, they tooke themselues to flight; whom our +men pursued, but being not vsed to such craggie cliffes, they soone lost +the sight of them, and so in vaine returned. + +[Sidenote: The policie of the people for the safetie of themselues.] We +also saw of them at Beares sound, both by Sea and land in great companies: +but they would at all times keepe the water betweene them and vs. And if +any of our ships chanced to be in the sound (as they came diuers times, +because the Harbor was not very good) the ship laded, and departed againe: +then so long as any ships were in sight, the people would not be seene. But +when as they perceiued the ships to be gone, they would not only shew +themselues standing vpon high cliffes, and call vs to come ouer vnto them: +but also would come in their Botes very neere to vs, as it were to brag at +vs: whereof our Generall hauing aduertisement, sent for the Captaines and +Gentlemen of the ships, to accompany and attend vpon him, with the Captaine +also of the Anne Francis, who was but the night before come vnto vs. For +they, and the Fleebote hauing lost vs the 26. day in the great snow, put +into an harbour in the Queenes foreland, where they found good Oare, +wherewith they laded themselues, and came to seeke the Generall: so that +now we had all our Shippes, sauing one Barke, which was lost, and the +Thomas of Ipswich, who (compelled by what furie I knowe not) forsooke our +company, and returned home without lading. + +[Sidenote: Their speedie flight at our Generalls arriual.] Our Generall +accompanied with his Gentlemen, (of whom I spake) came altogether to the +Countesse of Sussex Island, neere to Beares sound: where he manned out +certaine Pinasses, and went ouer to the people: who perceiuing his +arriuall, fledde away with all speede, and in haste left certaine dartes +and other engines behinde them, which we found: but the people we could not +finde. + +The next morning our Generall perceiuing certaine of them in botes vpon the +Sea gaue chase to them in a Pinnesse vnder saile, with a fresh gale of +winde, but could by no meanes come neere vnto them: for the longer he +sailed, the further off he was from them: which well shewed their cunning +and actiuitie. Thus time wearing away, and the day of our departure +approching, our Generall commaunded vs to lade with all expedition, that we +might be againe on Seaboard with our ships: for whilest we were in the +Countrey, we were in continual danger of freesing in: for often snowe and +haile often falling, the water was so much frosen and congealed in the +night, that in the morning we could scarce rowe our botes or Pinnesses, +especially in Diers sound, which is a calme and still water: which caused +our Generall to make the more haste, so that by the 30. day of August we +were all laden, and made all things ready to depart. + +[Sidenote: Gentlemen should haue inhabited the Countrey.] But before I +proceede any further herein, to shew what fortune befell at our departure, +I will turne my penne a litle to M. Captaine Fenton, and those Gentlemen +which should haue inhabited all the yeere in those Countries, whose valiant +mindes were much to be commended: For doubtlesse they had done as they +intended if lucke had not withstoode their willingnesse. + +For the Barke Dionyse which was lost, had in her much of their house which +was prepared and should haue bene builded for them, with many other +implements. Also the Thomas of Ipswich which had most of their prouision in +her, came not into the Streights at all: neither did we see her since the +day we were separated in the great snow, of which I spake before. For these +causes, hauing not their house, nor yet prouision, they were disappointed +of their pretence to tarie, and therefore laded their ships, and so came +away with vs. + +[Sidenote: An house tricked and garnished with diuers trinkets.] But before +we tooke shipping, we builded a litle house in the Countesse of Warwicks +Island, and garnished it with many kinds of trifles, as Pinnes, Points, +Laces, Glasses, Kombes, Babes on horsebacke and on foote, with innumerable +other such fansies and toyes: thereby to allure and entice the people to +some familiaritie against other yeeres. + +Thus hauing finished all things we departed the Countrey, as I sayd before: +but because the Busse had not lading enough in her, she put into Beares +sound to take in a little more. In the meane while the Admirall, and the +rest without at Sea stayed for her. And that night fell such an outragious +tempest, beating on our shipps with such vehement rigor, that anchor and +cable auailed nought: for we were driuen on rockes and Islands of yce, +insomuch that (had not the great goodnesse of God bene miraculously shewed +to vs) we had bene cast away euery man. This danger was more doubtfull and +terrible, then any that preceded or went before: for there was not any one +shippe (I thinke) that escaped without damage. Some lost anchor and also +cables, some botes, some Pinnesses: some anchor, cables, boates, and +Pinnisses. + +This boystrous storme so seuered vs from one another, that one shippe knewe +not what was become of another. The Admirall knewe not where to finde the +Viceadmirall or Rearadmirall, or any other ship of our company. Our +Generall being on land in Beares sound could not come to his shippe, but +was compelled to goe aboord the Gabriel where he continued all the way +homeward: for the boystrous blasts continued so extreamely and so long a +time, that they sent vs homewarde (which was Gods fauour towardes vs) will +we, nill we, in such haste as not any one of vs were able to keepe in +company with other, but were separated. And if by chance any one Shippe did +ouertake other, by swiftnesse of sayle, or mette, as they often did: yet +was the rigour of the wind so hidious, that they could not continue company +together the space of one whole night. + +[Sidenote: Our entring the coastes dangerous.] Thus our iourney outward was +not so pleasant, but our comming thither, entering the coasts and countrey, +by narrow Streights, perillous yce, and swift tides, our times of aboade +there in snowe and stormes, and our departure from thence the 31. of August +with dangerous blustering windes and tempests, which that night arose, was +as vncomfortable: separating vs so as we sayled, that not any of vs mette +together, vntill the 28. of September, which day we fell on the English +coastes, betweene Sylley and the landes ende, and passed the channell, +vntill our arriuall in the riuer of Thames. + + * * * * * + +The report of Thomas Wiars passenger in the Emanuel, otherwise called the + Busse of Bridgewater, wherein Iames Leech was Master, one of the ships in + the last Voyage of Master Martin Frobisher 1578. concerning the + discouerie of a great Island in their way homeward the 12. of September. + +The Busse of Bridgewater was left in Beares sound at Meta incognita, the +second day of September behinde the Fleete in some distresse, through much +winde, ryding neere the Lee shoare, and forced there to ride it out vpon +the hazard of her cables and anchors, which were all aground but two. The +third of September being fayre weather, and the winds North northwest she +set sayle, and departed thence, and fell with Frisland on the 8. day of +September at sixe of the clocke at night, and then they set off from the +Southwest point of Frisland, the wind being at East, and East Southeast, +but that night the winde veared Southerly, and shifted oftentimes that +night: but on the tenth day in the morning, the wind at West northwest +faire weather, they steered Southeast, and by south, and continued that +course vntil the 12. day of September, when about 11. a clocke before +noone, they descryed a lande, which was from them about fiue leagues, and +the Southermost part of it was Southeast by East from them, and the +Northermost next, North Northeast, or Northeast. The master accompted that +the Southeast poynt of Frisland was from him at that instant when hee first +descryed this new Islande, Northwest by North, 50. leagues. [Sidenote: The +Island in length 25 leagues. This Iland is in the latitude of 57. degrees +and 1 second part.] They account this Island to be 25. leagues long, and +the longest way of it Southeast, and Northwest. The Southerne part of it is +in the latitude of 57. degrees and 1 second part or there about. They +continued in sight of it, from the 12. day at a 11. of the clocke, till the +13. day three of the clocke in the afternoone, when they left it: and the +last part they saw of it, bare from them Northwest by North. [Sidenote: Two +harboroughs in this Island.] There appeared two Harboroughs vpon that +coast: the greatest of them seuen leagues to the Northwards of the +Southermost poynt, the other but foure leagues. There was very much yce +neere the same land, and also twenty or thirty leagues from it, for they +were not cleare of yce, till the 15. day of September after noone. They +plyed their Voyage homewards, and fell with the West part of Ireland about +Galway, and had first sight of it on the 25. day of September. + + * * * * * + +Notes framed by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Esquire, giuen to + certaine Gentlemen that went with M. Frobisher in his Northwest + discouerie, for their directions: And not vnfit to be committed to print, + considering the same may stirre vp considerations of these and of such + other things, not vnmeete in such new voyages as may be attempted + hereafter. + +That the first Seate be chosen on the seaside, so as (if it may be) you may +haue your owne Nauie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your Seate safe from +the enemie: and so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in open rode abroade +without, to be dispersed with all windes and tempests that shall arise. +Thus seated you shall be least subiect to annoy of the enemie, so may you +by your Nauie within passe out to all parts of the world, and so may the +Shippes of England haue accesse to you to supply all wants, so may your +commodities be caryed away also. This seat is to be chosen in a temperate +Climat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood, +seacoles or turfe, with fish, flesh, graine, fruites, herbes, and rootes, +or so many of those as may suffice every necessitie for the life of such as +shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer, +copper, quicksiluer, or of any such precious thing, the wants of those +needful things may be supplyed from some other place by sea, &c. + +Stone to make Lyme of; Slate stone to tyle withall, or such clay as maketh +tyle; Stone to wall withall, if Brycke may not bee made; Timber for +buylding easely to be conueied to the place; Reede to couer houses or such +like, if tyle or slate be not--are to be looked for as things without which +no Citie may be made nor people in ciuil sort be kept together. + +The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without +traffique, or by traffique and by trade of marchandise. If they shall liue +without sea traffique, at the first they become naked by want of linnen and +woollen, and very miserable by infinite wants that will otherwise ensue, +and so will they be forced of themselues to depart, or else easely they +will be consumed by the Spanyards, by the Frenchmen, or by the naturall +inhabitants of the countrey, and so the enterprise becomes reprochfull to +our Nation, and a let to many other good purposes that may be taken in +hand. + +And by trade of marchandise they can not liue, except the Sea or the Land +there may yeelde comoditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall +regard of that poynt, and so to plant, that the naturall commodities of the +place and seate may draw to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that +by your owne Nauigation you may cary the same out, and fetch home the +supply of the wants of the seate. + +Such Nauigation so to be employed shall, besides the supply of wants, be +able to encounter with forreine force. + +And for that in the ample vent of such things as are brought to you out of +England by Sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that +all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland +people be vsed: so shall you haue firme amitie with your neighbours, so +shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique, and so +shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers and seuerall commodities of +the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands, without the +ayde of some portable or Nauigable riuer, or ample lake, and therefore to +haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite: And so is it of effect for +the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands. + +Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity. +For so may you best discouer all the natural commodities of their countrey, +and also all their wants, al their strengths, all their weaknesse, and with +whom they are in warre, and with whom confederate in peace and amitie, &c. +which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence. + +And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be +matters that are to be respected. For if it be so that you may let in the +salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flats, where the sunne is of +the heate that it is at Rochel, in the Bay of Portugal, or in Spaine, then +may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie +for the fishing, and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt. + +Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as +that at Burdeaux, as that in Portugal, or as that about Siuil in Spaine, or +that in the Islands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a workeman to +put in execution to make Wines, and to dresse Resigns[56] of the sunne and +other, &c. + +Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or +Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe; Then you may be +assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme, considering that our great +trade of clothing doeth require oyle, and weying how deere of late it is +become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if +you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed. + +Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles, +or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a +notable thing fitte for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall +in the West Indies on that firme. + +Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether, &c. It will be a +marchandize right good, and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether +after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne manner. + +Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges, Almonds, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges, +Lemonds, Potatoes, &c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs, +Almonds, Sugar, Marmelade, Sucket, &c. + +Or if great woods be found, if they be of Cypres, chests may be made, if +they be of some kinde of trees, Pitch and Tarre may be made, if they be of +some other, then they may yeeld Rosin, Turpentine, &c. and all for trade +and traffique, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made, likewise, ships +and houses, &c. + +And because traffique is a thing so materiall, I wish that great +obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally, in what +commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour, and to +send vs notice home, that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be +thought of to raise trades. + +Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole +country or any more than the scope of a citie, yet if we might enioy +traffique, and be assured of the same, we might be much inriched, our Nauie +might be increased, and a place of safetie might there be found, if change +of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme, which are things +of great benefit. But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle, we +might so vse the matter, as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles, +sacks, resignes, orenges, lemonds, Spanish skins, &c. Nor vpon France for +woad, baysalt, and Gascoyne wines, nor on Eastland for flaxe, pitch, tarre, +mastes, &c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly +inrich our doubtfull friends, as we doe, but should purchase the +commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe: and +should by our owne industries and the benefities of the soyle there cheaply +purchase oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes, +boords, fish, golde, siluer, copper, tallow, hides and many commodies: +besides if there be no flatts to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood +you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there. + +If you can keepe a safe Hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the +neere neighbours, yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or +other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present. + +If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable +riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first winter, to be +seasoned for ships, barks, boates, and houses. + +And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing +mill may be placed, it would doe great seruice, and therefore consideration +would be had of such places. + +And if such port and chosen place of settling were in possession and after +fortified by arte, although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in, +and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours, nor any +victuals: yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue every +necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next +neighbours, and so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue +victual, or by meanes hereupon to be vsed, to force the next neighbours to +amitie. And keeping a nauy at the settling place, they should find out +along the tract of the land to haue traffique, and at diuers Islands also. +And so this first seat might in time become a stapling place of the +commodities of many countreys and territories, and in time this place might +become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernor. And if the place +first chosen should not so well please our people, as some other more +lately found out: There might be an easie remoue, and that might be raised, +or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour. + +If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be +found marshie and boggie, then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed +thither. For arte may worke wonderful effects therein, and make the soyle +rich for many vses. + +To plant vpon an Island in the mouth of some notable riuer, or vpon the +point of the land entring into the riuer, if no such Island be, were to +great end. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the +land, then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles, and +traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer, or on both, or the +linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for +dominion. + +Such riuers found, both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage +of such as shall pierce the same. These are to be couered with doubles of +course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the +sauage from the rower. + +Since euery soile of the worlde by arte may be made to yeeld things to +feede and to clothe man, bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile +without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same, +and to draw it to more perfection. And if you finde not fruites in your +planting place to your liking, we shall in fiue drifats[57] furnish you +with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your +planting, as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite, +and the yeere next following, as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as +Calice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of +strong durable good sider to drinke, and these trees shall be able to +encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to +beare, as may suffice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first +setling may stand you in great stead, if the soile haue not the commoditie +of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt +after things that yeeld present reliefe, without trouble of carriage +thither, therefor I make mention of these thus specially, to the end you +may haue it specially in minde. + + * * * * * + +A true discourse of the three Voyages of discouerie, for the finding of a + passage to Cathaya, by the Northwest, vnder the conduct of Martin + Frobisher Generall: Before which as a necessary Preface is prefixed a + twofolde discourse, conteining certaine reasons to proue all partes of + the World habitable. Penned by Master George Best, a Gentleman employed + in the same voyages. + +What commodities and instructions may be reaped by diligent reading this +Discourse. + +1 First, by example may be gathered, how a Discouerer of new Countries is +to proceede in his first attempt of any Discouerie. + +2 Item, how he should be prouided of shipping, victuals, munition, and +choice of men. + +3 How to proceede and deale with strange people, be they neuer so +barbarous, cruell and fierce, either by lenitie or otherwise. + +4 How trade of Merchandize may be made without money. + +5 How a Pilot may deale, being inuironed with mountaines of yce in the +frozen sea. + +6 How length of dayes, change of seasons, Summers and Winters doe differ in +sundry regions. + +7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for the length of +the voyage, or the ignorance of the language, the want of Interpreters, new +and vnaccustomed Elements and ayres, strange and vnsauoury meates, danger +of theeues and robbers, fiercenesse of wilde beastes and fishes, hugenesse +of woods, dangerousnesse of Seas, dread of tempestes, feare of hidden +rockes, steepnesse of mountaines, darknesse of sudden falling fogges, +continuall paines taking without any rest, and infinite others. + +8. How pleasant and profitable it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for +the sundry sights and shapes of strange beastes and fishes, the wonderfull +workes of nature, the different maners and fashions of diuers nations, the +sundry sortes of gouernment, the sight of strange trees, fruite, foules, +and beasts, the infinite treasure of Pearle, Golde and Siluer, the newes of +newe found landes, the sundry positions of the Sphere, and many others. + +9. How valiant Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie, and otherwise. + +10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue. + +11 Also here may bee seene a good example to be obserued of any priuate +person, in taking notes, and making obseruations of all such things as are +requisite for a Discouerer of newe Countries. + +12 Lastly, the Reader here may see a good paterne of a well gouerned +seruice, sundry instructions of matters of Cosmographie, Geographie, and +Nauigation, as in reading more at large may be seene. + + +Experiences and reasons of the Sphere, to prooue all partes of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones. + +[Sidenote: Experience to proue that Torrida Zone is habitable.] First, it +may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen in Anno 1553. For Captaine +Windam made a Voyage with Merchandise to Guinea, and entred so farre within +the Torrida Zona, that he was within three or foure degrees of the +Equinoctiall, and his company abiding there certaine Moneths, returned, +with gaine. + +Also the Englishmen made another Voyage very prosperous and gainefull, An. +1554. to the coasts of Guinea, within 3. degrees of the Equinoctiall. And +yet it is reported of a trueth, that all the tract from Cape de las Palmas +trending by C. de tres puntas alongst by Benin, vnto the Ile of S. Thomas +(which is perpendiculer under the Equinoctial)[58] all that whole Bay is +more subiect to many blooming and smoothering heates, with infectious and +contagious ayres, then any other place in all Torrida Zona: and the cause +thereof is some accidents in the land. For it is most certaine, that +mountains, Seas, woods and lakes, &c, may cause through their sundry kinde +of situation, sundry strange and extraordinary effects, which the reason of +the clyme otherwise would not giue. I mention these Voyages of our +Englishmen, not so much to prooue that Torrida Zona may bee, and is +inhabited, as to shew their readinesse in attempting long and dangerous +Nauigations. Wee also among vs in England, haue blacke Moores, Æthiopians, +out of all partes of Torrida Zona, which after a small continuance, can +well endure the colde of our Countrey, and why should not we as well abide +the heate of their Countrey? But what should I name any more experiences, +seeing that all the coastes of Guinea and Benin are inhabited of Portugals, +Spanyardes, French, and some Englishmen, who there haue built Castles and +Townes. [Sidenote: Marochus more hote then about the Equinoctiall.] Onely +this I will say to the Merchants of London, that trade yeerely to Marochus, +it is very certaine, that the greatest part of the burning Zone is farre +more temperate and coole in Iune, then the Countrey of Marochus, as shall +appeare by these reasons and experiences following. For let vs first +consider the bignesse of this burning Zone (which as euery man knoweth, is +47. degrees) each Tropicke, which are the bounders thereof, being 28. +degrees and a halfe distant from the Equinoctiall. Imagine againe two other +Parallels, on each side the Equinoctiall about 20. degrees, which Paralels +may be described either of them twice a yeere by the Sunne, being in the +first degrees of Gemini the 11. of May, and in Leo the 13. of Iuly, hauing +North Latitude. And againe, the Sunne being in the first degrees of +Sagittarius, the 12. of Nouember, and in Aquarius the 9. of Ianuary, hauing +South latitude, I am to prooue by experience and reason that all that +distance included betweene these two Paralels last named (conteyning 40. +degrees in latitude, going round about the earth, according to longitude) +is not onely habitable, but the same most fruitfull and delectable, and +that if any extremitie of heate bee, the same not to be within the space of +twenty degrees of the Equinoctiall on either side, but onely vnder and +about the two Tropickes, and so proportionally the nearer you doe approch +to eyther Tropicke, the more you are subiect to extremitie of heate (if any +such be) and so Marochus being situate but sixe or seuen degrees from the +Tropicke of Cancer, shall be more subiect to heate, then any place vnder or +neere the Equinoctiall line.[59] + +[Sidenote: Marueilous fruitfull soile vnder the Equinoctiall.] And first by +the experience of sundry men, yea thousands, Trauailers and Merchants, to +the East and West Indies in many places, both directly vnder, and hard by +the Equinoctiall, they with one consent affirme, that it aboundeth in the +middest of Torrida Zona with all manner of Graine, Hearbes, grasse, fruite, +wood and cattell, that we haue heere, and thousandes other sortes, farre +more wholesome, delectable and precious, then any wee haue in these +Northerne climates, as very well shall appeare to him that will reade the +Histories and Nauigations of such as haue traueiled Arabia, India intra and +extra Gangem, the Islands Moluccæ, America, &c. which all lye about the +middle of the burning Zone, where it is truely reported, that the great +hearbes, as are Radish, Lettuce, Colewortes, Borage, and such like, doe +waxe ripe, greater, more sauourie and delectable in taste then ours, within +sixteene dayes after the seede is sowen. Wheate being sowed the first of +Februarie, was found ripe the first of May, and generally, where it is +lesse fruitfull, the wheate will be ripe the fourth moneth after the seed +is sowne, and in some places will bring foorth an eare as bigge as the +wrist of a mans arme containing 1000. graines; Beanes, peace, &c. are there +ripe twice a yeere. Also grasse being cut downe, will grow vp in sixe dayes +aboue one foote high. If our cattell be transported thither, within a small +time their young ones become of bigger stature, and more fat than euer they +would haue bene in these countreys. [Sidenote: Great trees.] There are +found in euery wood in great numbers, such timber trees as twelue men +holding handes together are not able to fathome. [Sidenote: Commodities and +pleasures vnder the Equinoctiall.] And to be short, all they that haue bene +there with one consent affirme, that there are the goodliest greene medowes +and plaines, the fairest mountaines couered with all sorts of trees and +fruites, the fairest valleys, the goodliest pleasant fresh riuers, stored +with infinite kinde of fishes, the thickest woods, green and bearing fruite +all the whole yeere, that are in all the world. And as for gold, siluer, +and all other kinde of Metals, all kinde of spices and delectable fruites, +both for delicacie and health, are there in such abundance, as hitherto +they haue bene thought to haue beene bred no where else but there. And in +conclusion, it is nowe thought that no where else but vnder the +Equinoctiall, or not farre from thence, is the earthly Paradise, and the +onely place of perfection in this worlde. And that these things may seeme +the lesse strange, because it hath bene accompted of the olde Philosophers, +that there coulde nothing prosper for the extreme heat of the Sunne +continually going ouer their heades in the Zodiacke, I thought good here to +alleadge such naturall causes as to me seeme very substantiall and sure +reasons. + +[Sidenote: Heat is caused by two meanes that is by his maner of Angle and +by his continuance.] First you are to vnderstand that the Sunne doeth worke +his more or lesse heat in these lower parts by two meanes, the one is by +the kinde of Angle that the Sunne beames doe make with the earth, as in all +Torrida Zona it maketh perpendicularly right Angles in some place or other +at noone, and towards the two Poles very oblique and vneuen Angles. And the +other meane is the longer or shorter continuance of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon. So that wheresoeuer these two causes do most concurre, there is +most excesse of heat: and when the one is wanting, the rigor of the heat is +lesse. For though the Sunne beames do beat perpendicularly vpon any region +subiect vnto it, if it hath no continuance or abode aboue the Horizon, to +worke his operation in, there can no hote effect proceed. For nothing can +be done in a moment. [Sidenote: Note this reason.] And this second cause +mora Solis supra Horizontem, the time of the sunnes abiding aboue the +Horizon, the old Philosophers neuer remembred, but regarded onely the maner +of Angles that the Sunne beames made with the Horizon, which if they were +equall and right, the heat was the greater, as in Torrida Zona: if they +were vnequall and oblique, the heat was the lesse, as towards both Poles, +which reason is very good and substantiall: for the perpendicular beames +reflect and reuerberate in themselues, so that the heat is doubled, euery +beame striking twice, and by vniting are multiplied, and continue strong in +forme of a Columne. But in our latitude of 50. and 60. degrees, the Sunne +beames descend oblique and slanting wise, and so strike but once and +depart, and therefore our heat is the lesse for any effect that the Angle +of the Sunne beames make. Yet because wee haue a longer continuance of the +Sunnes presence aboue our Horizon then they haue vnder the Equinoctial; by +this continuance the heat is increased, for it shineth to vs 16. or 18. +houres sometime, when it continueth with them but twelue houres alwayes. + +And againe, our night is very short, wherein cold vapours vse to abound, +being but sixe or eight houres long, whereas theirs is alwayes twelue +houres long, by which two aduantages of long, dayes and short nights, +though we want the equalitie of Angle, it commeth to passe that in Sommer +our heat here is as great as theirs is there, as hath bene proued by +experience, and is nothing dissonant from good reason. Therefore whosoeuer +will rightly way the force of colde and heat in any region, must not onely +consider the Angle that the Sunne beames make, but also the continuance of +the same aboue the Horizon. As first to them vnder the Equinoctiall the +Sunne is twice a yeere at noone in their Zenith perpendicular ouer their +heads, and therefore during the two houres of those two dayes the heat is +very vrgent, and so perhaps it will be in foure or fiue dayes more an houre +euery day, vntill the Sunne in his proper motion haue crossed the +Equinoctiall; so that this extreme heat caused by the perpendicular Angle +of the Sunne beames, endureth but two houres of two dayes in a yeere. But +if any man say the Sunne may scalde a good while before and after it come +to the Meridian, so farre foorth as reason leadeth, I am content to allow +it, and therefore I will measure and proportion the Sunnes heat, by +comparing the Angles there, with the Angles made here in England, because +this temperature is best knowen vnto vs. As for example, the 11. day of +March, when vnder the Equinoctiall it is halfe houre past eight of the +clocke in the morning, the Sunne will he in the East about 38. degrees +aboue the Horizon, because there it riseth alwayes at six of the clocke, +and moueth euery houre 15. degrees, and so high very neere will it be with +vs at London the said eleuenth day of March at noone. And therefore looke +what force the Sunne hath with vs at noone, the eleventh of March, the same +force it seemeth to haue vnder the Equinoctial at half an houre past eight +in the morning, or rather lesse force vnder the Equinoctiall, For with vs +the Sunne had bene already sixe houres aboue the horizon, and so had +purified and clensed all the vapours, and thereby his force encreased at +noone; but vnder the Equinoctiall, the Sunne hauing bene vp but two houres +and an halfe, had sufficient to doe, to purge and consume the cold and +moyst vapours of the long night past, and as yet had wrought no effect of +heate. And therefore I may boldly pronounce, that there is much lesse heate +at halfe an houre past eight vnder the Equinoctiall, then is with vs at +noone: à fortiori. But in March we are not onely contented to haue the +Sunne shining, but we greatly desire the same. Likewise the 11. of Iune, +the Sunne in our Meridian is 62 degrees high at London: and vnder the +Equinoctiall it is so high after 10 of the clocke, and seeing then it is +beneficial with vs; à fortiori it is beneficiall to them after 10 of the +clocke. + +And thus haue wee measured the force of the Sunnes greatest heate, the +hottest dayes in the yeere, vnder the Equinoctiall, that is in March and +September, from sixe till after tenne of the clocke in the morning, and +from two vntill Sunne set. And this is concluded, by respecting onely the +first cause of heate, which is the consideration of the Angle of the Sunne +beames, by a certaine similitude, that whereas the Sunne shineth neuer +aboue twelue houres, more then eight of them would bee coole and pleasant +euen to vs, much more to them that are acquainted alwayes with such warme +places. So there remaineth lesse then foure houres of excessiue heate, and +that onely in the two Sommer dayes of the yeere, that is the eleueuth day +of March, and the fourteenth of September: for vnder the Equinoctiall they +haue two Sommers, the one in March, and the other in September, which are +our Spring and Autumne: and likewise two Winters, in Iune and December, +which are our Sommer and Winter, as may well appeare to him that hath onely +tasted the principles of the Sphere. But if the Sunne bee in either +Tropicke, or approaching neere thereunto, then may wee more easily measure +the force of his Meridian altitude, that it striketh vpon the Equinoctiall. +As for example, the twelfth of Iune the Sunne will be in the first degree +of Cancer. Then look what force the heate of the Sunne hath vnder the +Equinoctiall, the same force and greater it hath in all that Parallel, +where the Pole is eleuated betweene fourtie and seuen, and fourtie and +eight degrees. [Sidenote: Paris in France is as hote as vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune.] And therefore Paris in France the twelfth day of +Iune sustaineth more heate of the Sunne, then Saint Thomas Iland lying +neere the same Meridian doeth likewise at noone, or the Ilands Traprobana, +Molluccæ, or the firme lande of Peru in America, which all lye vnderneath +the Equinoctiall. For vpon the twelfth day of Iune aforesaide, the Sunne +beames at noone doe make an Isoscheles Triangle, whose Vertex is the Center +of the Sunne, the Basis a line extended from Saint Thomas Iland vnder the +Equinoctiall, vnto Paris in France neere the same Meridian: therefore the +two Angles of the Base must needs be equal per 5. primi,[60] Ergo the force +of the heat equal, if there were no other cause then the reason of the +Angle, as the olde Philosophers haue appointed. [Sidenote: In Iune is +greater heat at Paris then vnder the Equinoctiall.] But because at Paris +the Sunne riseth two houres before it riseth to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, and setteth likewise two houres after them, by meanes of the +obliquitie of the Horizon, in which time of the Sunnes presence foure +houres in one place more then the other, it worketh some effect more in one +place then in the other, and being of equall height at noone, it must then +needs follow to be more hote in the Parallel of Paris, then it is vnder the +Equinoctiall. + +[Sidenote: The twilights are shorter, and the nights darker vnder the +Equinoctiall then at Paris.] Also this is an other reason, that when the +Sunne setteth to them vnder the Equinoctiall, it goeth very deepe and lowe +vnder their Horizon, almost euen to their Antipodes, whereby their +twilights are very short, and their nights are made very extreeme darke and +long, and so the moysture and coldnesse of the long nights wonderfully +encreaseth, so that at length the Sunne rising can hardly in many houres +consume and driue away the colde humours and moyst vapours of the night +past, which is cleane contrary in the Parallel of Paris: for the Sunne +goeth vnder their Horizon but very little, after a sloping sort, whereby +their nights, are not very darke, but lightsome, as looking into the North +in a cleare night without cloudes it doeth manifestly appeare, their +twilights are long: for the Parallel of Cancer cutteth not the Horizon of +Paris at right Angles, but at Angles very vneuen, and vnlike as it doeth +the Horizon of the Equinoctiall. Also the Sommer day at Paris is sixteene +houres long, and the night but eight: where contrarywise vnder the +Equinoctiall the day is but twelue houres long, and so long is also the +night, in whatsoeuer Parallel the Sunne be: and therefore looke what oddes +and difference of proportion there is betweene the Sunnes abode aboue the +Horizon in Paris, and the abode it hath vnder the Equinoctiall, (it being +in Cancer) the same proportion would seeme to be betweene the heate of the +one place, and heate of the other: for other things (as the Angle of the +whole arke of the Sunnes progresse that day in both places) are equall. + +But vnder the Equinoctiall the presence and abode of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon is equall to his absence, and abode vnder the Horizon, eche being +twelue houres. And at Paris the continuance and abode of the Sunne is aboue +the Horizon sixteene houres long, and but eight houres absence, which +proportion is double, from which if the proportion of the equalitie be +subtracted to finde the difference, there will remaine still a double +proportion, whereby it seemeth to follow, that in Iune the heate of Paris +were double to the heate vnder the equinoctiall. For (as I haue said) the +Angles of the Sunne beames are in all points equall, and the cause of +difference is, Mora Solis supra Horizontem, the stay of the Sunne in the +one Horizon more then in the other. [Sidenote: In what proportion the Angle +of the Sun beames heateth.] Therefore, whosoeuer could finde out in what +proportion the Angle of the Sunne beames heateth, and what encrease the +Sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto, it might expresly be set downe, +what force of heat and cold is in all regions. + +Thus you partly see by comparing a Climate to vs well knowen and familiarly +acquainted by like height of the Sunne in both places, that vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heat, but a temperate aire rather +tendering to cold. [Sidenote: They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the +Equinoctiall.] For as they haue there for the most part a continuall +moderate heat, so yet sometime they are a little pinched with colde, and +vse the benefite of fire as well as we, especially in the euening when they +goe to bed, for as they lye in hanging beds tied fast in the vpper part of +the house, so will they haue fires made on both sides their bed, of which +two fires, the one they deuise superstitiously to driue away spirits, and +the other to keepe away from them the coldnesse of the nights. + +[Sidenote: Colde intermingled with heate vnder the Equinoctiall.] Also in +many places of Torrida Zona, especially in the higher landes somewhat +mountainous, the people a little shrincke at the colde, and are often +forced to prouide themselues clothing, so that the Spaniards haue found in +the West Indies many people clothed, especially in Winter, whereby +appeareth, that with their heat there is colde intermingled, else would +they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing, which to them is rather a +griefe and trouble then otherwise. For when they goe to warres, they will +put off all their apparel, thinking it to be cumbersome, and will alwayes +goe naked, that they thereby might be more nimble in their fight. + +Some there be that thinke the middle Zone extremely hot, because the people +of the countrey can, and doe liue without clothing, wherein they childishly +are deceiued: for our Clime rather tendeth to extremitie of colde, because +wee cannot liue without clothing: for this our double lining, furring, and +wearing so many clothes, is a remedy against extremetie, and argueth not +the goodnesse of the habitation, but inconuenience and iniury of colde: and +that is rather the moderate, temperate, and delectable habitation, where +none of these troublesome things are required, but that we may liue naked +and bare, as nature bringeth vs foorth. + +[Sidenote: Ethiopians blacke, with curled haire.] Others againe imagine the +middle Zone to be extreme hot, because the people of Africa, especially the +Ethiopians, are so cole blacke, and their haire like wooll curled short, +which blacknesse and curled haire they suppose to come onely by the +parching heat of the Sunne, which how it should be possible I cannot see: +for euen vnder the Equinoctiall in America, and in the East Indies; and in +the Ilands Moluccæ the people are not blacke, but tauney and white, with +long haire vncurled as wee haue, so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came +by the heate of the Sunne, why should not those Americans and Indians also +be as blacke as they, seeing the Sunne is equally distant from them both, +they abiding in one Parallel: for the concaue and conuexe Superficies of +the Orb of the Sunne is concentrike, and equidistant to the earth; except +any man should imagine somewhat of Aux Solis, and Oppositum, which +indifferently may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other. +[Sidenote: The Sunne heateth not by his neerenesse, but onely by +reflection.] But the Sunne is thought to giue no otherwise heat, but by way +of Angle in reflection, and not by his neerenesse to the earth: for +throughout all Africa, yea in the middest of the middle Zone, and in all +other places vpon the tops of mountaines there lyeth continuall snow, which +is nearer to the Orbe of the sunne, then the people are in the valley, by +so much as the height of these moantaines amount vnto, and yet the Sunne +notwithstanding his neerenesse, can not the melt snow for want of +conuenient place of reflections. Also the middle region of the aire where +all the haile, frost, and snow is engendred, is neerer vnto the Sunne then +the earth is, and yet there continueth perpetuall cold, because there is +nothing that the Sunne beames may reflect against, whereby appeareth that +the neerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing. + +[Sidenote: A blacke Moores sonne borne in England.] Therefore to returne +againe to the blacke Moores. I myself haue seen an Ethiopian as blacke as a +cole brought into England, who taking a faire English woman to wife, begat +a sonne in all respects as blacke as the father was, although England were +his natiue countrey; and an English woman his mother: whereby it seemeth +this blacknes proceedeth rather of some natural infection of that man which +was so strong, that neither the nature of the Clime, neither the good +complexion of the mother concurring, coulde any thing alter, and therefore +wee cannot impute it to the natureof the Clime. [Sidenote: The colour of +the people in Meta Incognita. The complexion of the people of Meta +incognita.] And for a more fresh example, our people of Meta Incognita (of +whom and for whom this discourse is taken in hande) that were brought this +last yeere into England, were all generally of the same colour that many +nations be, lying in the middest of the middle Zone. And this their colour +was not onely in the face which was subiect to Sunne and aire, but also in +their bodies, which were still couered with garments as ours are, yea the +very sucking childe of twelue moneths age had his sonne of the very same +colour that most haue vnder the equinoctiall, which thing cannot proceed by +reason of the Clime, for that they are at least ten degrees more towardes +the North then wee in England are, No, the Sunne neuer commeth neere their +Zenith by fourtie degrees: for in effect, they are within three or foure +degrees of that which they call the frozen Zone, and as I saide, fourtie +degrees from the burning Zone, whereby it followeth, that there is some +other cause then the Climate or the Sonnes perpendicular reflexion, that +should cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse. And the most probable cause +to my judgement is, that this blackenesse proceedeth of some naturall +infection of the first inhabitants of that Countrey, and so all the whole +progenie of them descended, are still polluted with the same blot of +infection. Therefore it shall not bee farre from our purpose, to examine +the first originall of these blacke men, and howe by a lineall discent they +haue hitherto continued thus blacke. + +[Sidenote: The cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse.] It manifestly and +plainely appeareth by Holy Scripture, that after the generall inundation +and ouerflowing of the earth, there remained no moe men aliue but Noe his +three sonnes, Sem, Cham, and Iaphet, who onely were left to possesse and +inhabite the whole face of the earth: therefore all the sundry discents +that vntil this day haue inhabited the whole earth, must needes come of the +off-spring either of Sem, Cham, or Iaphet, as the onely sonnes of Noe, who +all three being white, and their wiues also, by course of nature should +haue begotten and brought foorth white children. But the enuie of our great +and continuall enemie the wicked Spirite is such, that as hee coulde not +suffer our olde father Adam to liue in the felicite and Angelike state +wherein hee was first created, but tempting him sought and procured his +ruine and fall: so againe, finding at this flood none but a father and +three sonnes liuing, hee so caused one of them to transgresse and disobey +his fathers commaundement, that after him all his posterity shoulde bee +accursed. [Sidenote: The Arke of Noe.] The fact of disobedience was this: +When Noe at the commandement of God had made the Arke and entred therein, +and the floud-gates of heauen were opened, so that the whole face of the +earth, euery tree and mountaine was couered with abundance or water, hee +straitely commaunded his sonnes and their wiues, that they should with +reuerence and feare beholde the iustice and mighty power of God, and that +during the time of the flood while they remained in the Arke, they should +vse continencie, and abstaine from carnall copulation with their wines: and +many other precepts bee gaue vnto them, and admonitions touching the +iustice of God, in renenging sinne, and his mercie in deliuering them, who +nothing deserued it. Which good instructions and exhortations +notwithstanding his wicked sonne Cham disobeyed, and being perswaded that +the first childe borne after the flood (by right and Lawe of nature) should +inherite and possesse all the dominions of the earth, hee contrary to his +fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke, vsed company with his +wife, and craftily went about thereby to dis-inherite the off-spring of his +other two brethren: for the which wicked and detestable fact, as an example +for contempt of Almightie God, and disobedience of parents, God would a +sonne should bee borne whose name was Chus, who not [Sidenote: Chus the +sonne of Cham accursed.] onely it selfe, but all his posteritie after him +should bee so blacke and lothsome, that it might remaine a spectacle of +disobedience to all the worlde. And of this blacke and cursed Chus came all +these blacke Moores which are in Africa, for after the water was vanished +from off the face of the earth, and that the lande was dry, Sem chose that +part of the land to inhabite in, which nowe is called Asia, and Iaphet had +that which now is called Europa, wherein wee dwell, and Africa remained for +Cham and his blacke sonne [Sidenote: Africa was called Chamesis.] Chus, and +was called Chamesis after the fathers name, being perhaps a cursed, dry, +sandy, and vnfruitfull ground, fit for such a generation to inhabite in. + +Thus you see, that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and +naturall infection of blood, and not the distemperature of the Climate; +Which also may bee prooued by this example, that these blacke men are found +in all parts of Africa, as well without the Tropickes, as within, euen vnto +Capo de buona Speranza Southward, where, by reason of the Sphere, should be +the same temperature that is in Sicilia, Morea and Candie, where al be of +very good complexions. Wherefore I conclude, that the blacknesse proceedeth +not of the hotenesse of the Clime, but as I saide, of the infection of +blood, and therefore this their argument gathered of the Africans +blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone. Wee +may therefore very well bee assertained, that vnder the Equinoctiall is the +most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in; where +although the Sunne for two houres in a yeere be direct ouer their heades, +and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force, yet [Sidenote: +Greatest temperature vnder the Equinoctial] because it commeth so seldome, +and continueth so small a time, when it commeth, it is not to bee wayed, +but rather the moderate heate of other times in all the yeere to be +remembred. And if the heate at any time should in the short day waxe +somewhat vrgent, the coldnesse of the long night there would easily refresh +it, according as Henterus sayeth, speaking of the temperature vnder the +Equinoctiall. + + Quodque die solis violento incanduit æstu, + Humida nox reficit, paribusque refrigerat horis. + +If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing, the +moysture of the night doeth coole and refresh the same againe, the Sunne +being as long absent in the night, as it was present in the day. + +Also our Aucthour of the Sphere, Johannes de Sacro Bosco, in the Chapter of +the Zodiacke, deriueth the Etymologie of Zodiacus, of the Greeke word Zoe, +which in Latine signifieth Vita, life; for out of Aristotle hee alleadgeth, +that Secundum accessum et recessum solis in Zodiaco, fiunt generationes et +corruptiones in rebus inferioribus: according to the Sunnes going to and +fro in the Zodiake, the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation +and corruption. [Sidenote: Vnder the Equinoctiall is greatest generation.] +Then it followeth, that where there is most going to and fro, there is most +generation and corruption: which must needes be betweene the two Tropikes; +for there the Sunne goeth to and fro most, and no where else but there. +Therefore betweene the two Tropikes, that is, in the middle Zone, is +greatest increase, multiplication, generation, and corruption of things, +which also wee finde by experience; for there is Sommer twice in the yeere, +and twice Winter, so that they haue two Haruests in the yeere, and +continuall Spring. Seeing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate, it +resteth to declare where the hottest part of the world should bee, for we +finde some places more hote then others. + +To answere this doubt, reason perswadeth, the hotest place in[61] the world +to bee vnder and about the two Tropikes; for there more then in any other +place doe both the [Sidenote: Greatest heate vnder the Tropicks.] causes of +heate concurre, that is, the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames, at +right angles, and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horizon, the +Pole there being eleuated three or foure and twentie degrees. And as before +I concluded, that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, yet because the same continued but a small time (their dayes +being short, and their nights long) and the speedie departure of the Sunne +from their Zenith, because of the suddeine crossing of the Zodiake with the +Equinoctiall, and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and +colde, the temperature grew moderate, and very well able to bee endured: so +nowe to them vnder the two Tropikes, the Sunne hauing once by his proper +motion declined twentie degrees from the Equinoctial, beginneth to drawe +neere their Zenith, which may bee (as before) about the eleuenth day of +May, and then beginneth to sende his beames almost at right Angles, about +which time the Sunne entreth into the first degree of Gemini, and with this +almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it bee past +Cancer, that is, the space of two moneths euery day at noone, almost +perpendicular ouer their heades, being then the time of Solstitium +Aestiuale: which so long continuance of the Sunne about their Zenith may +cause an extreeme heate (if any be in the world) but of necessitie farre +more heate then can bee vnder the Equinoctiall, where the Sunne hath no +such long abode in the Zenith, but passeth away there hence very quickly. +Also vnder the Tropikes, the day is longer by an houre and a halfe, then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall; wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer +time of operation, must needes be encreased, especially seeing the night +wherein colde and moysture doe abound vnder the Tropickes, is lesse then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall. Therefore I gather, that vnder the Tropickes is +the hotest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, but of any other part of the +world, especially because there both causes of heate doe concurre, that is, +the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes together, and +the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison. And by this +meanes more at large is prooued, that Marochus in Summer is farre more +hote, then at any time vnder the Enoctiall, because it is situate so neere +the Tropick of Cancer, and also for the length of their dayes. Neither yet +doe I thinke, that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks are not +habitable, for they are found to be very fruitfull also; although Marochus +and some other parts of Afrike neere the Tropike for the drinesse of the +natiue sandie soile, and some accidents may seeme to some to be intemperate +for ouer much heat. For Ferdinandus Ouiedus[62] speaking of Cuba and +Hispaniola, Ilands of America, lying hard vnder, or by the Tropike of +Cancer, saith, that these Ilands haue as good pasture for cattell, as any +other countrey in the world. + +Also, they haue most holesome and cleare water, and temperate aire, by +reason whereof the heards of beastes are much bigger, fatter, and of better +taste, then any in Spaine, because of the ranke pasture, whose moysture is +better digested in the hearbe or grasse, by continuall and temperate heate +of the Sunne, whereby being made more fat and vnctious, it is of better and +more stedfast nourishment: For continuall and temperate heate doeth not +onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nourishment of such +things as growe, and are engendred in that Clime, but doeth also by +moderation preserue the same from putrifying, digesting also, and +condensating or thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gumme and +vnctious substance, whereby appeareth also, that vnder the Tropikes is both +holesome, fruitefull, and pleasant habitation, whereby lastly it followeth, +that all the [Sidenote: Vnder the Tropickes is moderate temperature.] +middle Zone, which vntill of late dayes hath bene compted and called the +burning, broyling, and parched Zone, is now found to be the most delicate, +temperate, commodious, pleasant and delectable part of the world, and +especially vnder the Equinoctiall. + +Hauing now sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle +Zone, it remaineth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall +heate in colde Regions, as well in the night as in the day all the Sommer +long, and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitants of the +same, contrary to the opinion of the olde writers. + + +Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long, and also how in + Winter the same is habitable, especially to the inhabitants thereof. + +The colde Regions of the world are those, which tending toward the Poles +Arctike, and Antarctike, are without the circuite or boundes of the seuen +Climates: which assertion agreeable to the opinion of the olde Writers, is +found and set out in our authour of the Sphere, Iohannes de Sacrobosco, +where hee plainely saith, that without the seuenth Climate, which is +bounded by a Parallel passing at fiftie degrees in Latitude, all the +habitation beyonde is discommodious and intolerable. [Sidenote: Nine +Climates.] But Gemma Frisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to +be without the compasse of those Climates, wherein hee knewe to bee very +temperate and good habitation, added thereunto two other Climates, the +vttermost Parallel whereof passeth by 56. degrees in Latitude, and therein +comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation, England, Scotland, +Denmarke, Moscouia, &c which all are rich and mightie kingdomes. + +[Sidenote: A comparison betweene Marochus and England.] The olde writers +perswaded by bare conjecture, went about to determine of those places, by +comparing them to their owne complexions, because they felt them to bee +hardly tolerable to themselues, and so took thereby an argument of the +whole habitable earth; as if a man borne in Marochus, or some other part of +Barbarie, should at the latter end of Sommer vpon the suddeine, either +naked, or with his thinne vesture, bee brought into England, hee would +judge this Region presently not to bee habitable, because hee being brought +vp in so warme a Countrey, is not able here to liue, for so suddeine an +alteration of the colde aire: but if the same man had come at the beginning +of Sommer, and so afterward by little and little by certaine degrees, had +felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of Autumne, it would haue +seemed by degrees to harden him, and so to make it farre more tollerable, +and by vse after one yeere or two, the aire would seeme to him more +temperate. It was compted a great matter in the olde time, that there was a +brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Pontus, which after was +brought and shewed in Delphis, in token of a miraculous colde region and +winter, and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo. + +This effect being wrought in the Parallel of fouretie three degrees in +Latitude, it was presently counted a place very hardly and vneasily to be +inhabited for the great colde. And how then can such men define vpon other +Regions very farre without that Parallel, whether they were inhabited or +not, seeing that in so neere a place they so grossely mistooke the matter, +and others their followers being contented with the inuentions of the olde +Authors, haue persisted willingly in the same opinion, with more confidence +then consideration of the cause: so lightly was that opinion receiued, as +touching the vnhabitable Clime neere and vnder the Poles. + +[Sidenote: All the North regions are habitable.] Therefore I am at this +present to proue, that all the land lying betweene the last climate euen +vnto the point directly vnder either poles, is or may be inhabited, +especially of such creatures as are ingendred and bred therein. For indeed +it is to be confessed, that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in +euery particular place or region, especially with the same ioy and +felicitie, as it did where it was first bred, for the certeine agreement of +nature that is betweene the place and the thing bred in that place; as +appeareth by the Elephant, which being translated and brought out of the +second or third climat, though they may liue, yet will they neuer ingender +or bring forth yong.[63] Also we see the like in many kinds of plants and +herbs; for example, the Orange trees, although in Naples they bring forth +fruit abundantly, in Rome and Florence they will beare onely faire greene +leaues, but not any fruit: and translated into England, they will hardly +beare either flowers, fruit, or leaues, but are the next Winter pinched and +withered with cold: yet it followeth not for this, that England, Rome, and +Florence should not be habitable. + +[Sidenote: Two causes of heat.] In the prouing of these colde regions +habitable, I shalbe very short, because the same reasons serve for this +purpose which were alleged before in the proouing the middle Zone to be +temperate, especially seeing all heat and colde proceed from the Sunne, by +the meanes either of the Angle which his beames do make with the Horizon, +or els by the long or short continuance of the Suns presence aboue ground: +so that if the Sunnes beames do beat perpendicularly at right Angles, then +there is one cause of heat, and if the Sunne do also long continue aboue +the Horizon, then the heat thereby is much increased by accesse of this +other cause, and so groweth to a kinde of extremitie. And these two causes, +as I sayd before, do most concurre vnder the two Tropicks, and therefore +there is the greatest heat of the world. And likewise, where both these +causes are most absent, there is greatest want of heat, and increase of +colde (seeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heate) +and if one cause be wanting, and the other present the effect will grow +indifferent. Therefore this is to be vnderstood, that the neerer any region +is to the Equinoctiall, the higher the Sunne doth rise ouer their heads at +noone, and so maketh either right or neere right Angles, but the Sunne +tarieth with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter dayes, with +longer and colder nights, to restore the domage of the day past, by reason +of the moisture consumed by vapour. But in such regions, ouer the which the +Sunne riseth lower (as in regions extended towards either pole) it maketh +there vnequall Angles, but the Sunne continueth longer, and maketh longer +dayes, and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights, as retaining warme +vapours of the day past. For there are found by experience Summer nights in +Scotland and Gothland very hot, when vnder the Equinoctiall they are found +very cold. [Sidenote: Hote nights nere the pole. Colde nights vnder the +Equinoctiall.] This benefit of the Sunnes long continuance and increase of +the day, doth argument so much the more in colde regions as they are nerer +the poles, and ceaseth not increasing vntill it come directly vnder the +point of the pole Arcticke, where the Sunne continueth aboue ground the +space of sixe moneths or halfe a yere together, and so the day is halfe a +yere long, that is the time of the Sunnes being in the North signes, from +the first degree of Aries vntill the last of Virgo, that is all the time +from our 10 day of March vntill the 14 of September. [Sidenote: One day of +sixe moneths.] The Sunne therefore during the time of these sixe moneth +without any offence or hinderance of the night, giueth his influence vpon +those lands with heat that neuer ceaseth during that time, which maketh to +the great increase of Summer, by reason of the Sunnes continuance. +[Sidenote: Moderate heat vnder the poles.] Therefore it followeth, that +though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads, to cause right +angle beames, and to giue great heat, yet the Sun being there sometimes +about 24 degrees high doth cast a conuenient and meane heate, which there +continueth without hindrance of the night the space of sixe moneths (as is +before sayd) during which time there followeth to be a conuenient, moderate +and temperate heat: or els rather it is to be suspected the heat there to +be very great, both for continuance, and also, Quia virtus vnita crescit, +the vertue and strength of heat vnited in one increaseth. If then there be +such a moderate heate vnder the poles, and the same to continue so long +time; what should mooue the olde writers to say there cannot be place for +habitation. And that the certainty of this temperate heat vnder both the +poles might more manifestly appeare, let vs consider the position and +quality of the sphere, the length of the day, and so gather the height of +the Sunne at all times, and by consequent the quality of his angle, and so +lastly the strength of his heat. + +Those lands and regions lying vnder the pole, and hauing the pole for their +Zenith, must needs haue the Equinoctiall circle for their Horizon: +therefore the Sun entring into the North signes, and describing euery 24 +houres a parallel to the Equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum +mobile, the same parallels must needs be wholly aboue the Horizon: +[Sidenote: The Sunne neuer setteth in 182 dayes.] and so looke how many +degrees there are from the first of Aries to the last of Virgo, so many +whole reuolutions there are aboue their Horizon that dwell vnder the pole, +which amount to 182, and so many of our dayes the Sunne continueth with +them. During which time they haue there continuall day and light, without +any hindrance of moist nights. [Sidenote: Horizon and Equinoctiall all one +vnder the pole.] Yet it is to be noted, that the Sunne being in the first +degree of Aries, and last degree of Virgo, maketh his reuolution in the +very horizon, so that in these 24 houres halfe the body of the Sunne is +aboue the horizon, and the other halfe is vnder his only center, describing +both the horizon and the equinoctiall circle. + +And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the Sunne is almost 24 +degrees, it followeth, his greatest height in those countries to be almost +24 degrees. [Sidenote: London.] And so high is the Sun at noone to vs in +London about the 29 of October, being in the 15 degree of Scorpio, and +likewise the 21 of Ianuary being in the 15 of Aquarius. Therefore looke +what force the Sun at noone hath in London the 29 of October, the same +force of heat it hath, to them that dwell vnder the pole, the space almost +of two moneths, during the time of the Summer solstitium, and that without +intermingling of any colde night; so that if the heat of the Sunne at noone +could be well measured in London (which is very hard to do because of the +long nights which ingender great moisture and cold) then would manifestly +appeare by expresse numbers the maner of the heat vnder the poles, which +certainly must needs be to the inhabitants very commodious and profitable, +if it incline not to ouermuch heat, and if moisture do not want. + +For as in October in England we finde temperate aire, and haue in our +gardens hearbs and floures notwithstanding our cold nights, how much more +should they haue the same good aire, being continuall without night. This +heat of ours continueth but one houre, while the Sun is in that meridian, +but theirs continueth a long time in one height. This our heat is weake, +and by the coolnesse of the night vanisheth, that heat is strong, and by +continuall accesse is still increased and strengthened. [Sidenote: +Comodious dwelling vnder the poles.] And thus by a similitude of the equal +height of the Sun in both places appeareth the commodious and moderate heat +of the regions vnder the poles. + +And surely I cannot thinke that the diuine prouidence hath made any thing +vncommunicable, but to haue giuen such order to all things, that one way or +other the same should be imployed, and that euery thing and place should be +tollerable to the next: but especially all things in this lower world be +giuen to man to haue dominion and vse thereof. Therefore we need no longer +to doubt of the temperate and commodious habitation vnder the poles during +the time of Summer. + +[Sidenote: The night vnder the poles.] But all the controuersie consisteth +in the Winter, for then the Sunne leaueth those regions, and is no more +seene for the space of other sixe moneths, in the which time all the Sunnes +course is vnder their horizon for the space of halfe a yere, and then those +regions (say some) must needs be deformed with horrible darknesse, and +continuall night, which may be the cause that beasts can not seeke their +food, and that also the colde should then be intollerable. By which double +euils all liuing creatures should be constrained to die, and were not able +to indure the extremity and iniury of Winter, and famine insuing thereof, +but that all things should perish before the Summer following, when they +should bring foorth their brood and yoong, and that for these causes the +sayd Clime about the pole should be desolate and not habitable. To all +which objections may be answered in this maner: First, that though the +Sunne be absent from them those six moneths, yet it followeth not that +there should be such extreme darknesse; for as the Sunne is departed vnder +their horizon, so is it not farre from them: and not so soone as the Sunne +falleth so suddenly commeth the darke night; but the euening doth +substitute and prolong the day a good while after by twilight. After which +time the residue of the night receiueth light of the Moone and Starres, +vntill the breake of the day, which giueth also a certaine light before the +Sunnes rising; so that by these meanes the nights are seldome darke; which +is verified in all parts of the world, but least in the middle Zone vnder +the Equinoctiall, where the twilights are short, and the nights darker then +in any other place, because the Sunne goeth vnder their horizon so deepe, +even to their antipodes. We see in England in the Summer nights when the +Sunne goeth not farre vnder the horizon, that by the light of the Moone and +Starres we may trauell all night, and if occasion were, do some other +labour also. And there is no man that doubteth whether our cattell can see +to feed in the nights, seeing we are so well certified thereof by our +experience: and by reason of the sphere our nights should be darker then +any time vnder the poles. + +The Astronomers consent that the Sunne descending from our vpper hemisphere +at the 18 parallel vnder the horizon maketh an end of twilight, so that at +length the darke night insueth, and that afterward in the morning the Sun +approching againe within as many parallels, doth driue away the night by +accesse of the twilight. Againe, by the position of the sphere vnder the +pole, the horizon, and the equinoctiall are all one. These reuolutions +therefore that are parallel to the equinoctiall are also parallel to the +horizon, so that the Sunne descending vnder that horizon, and there +describing certaine parallels not farre distant, doth not bring darke +nights to those regions vntill it come to the parallels distant 18 degrees +from the equinoctiall, that is, about the 21 degree of Scorpio, which will +be about the 4 day of our Nouember, and after the Winter solstitium, the +Sunne returning backe againe to the 9 degree of Aquarius, which will be +about the 19 of January; [Sidenote: The regions vnder the poles want +twilights but sixe weeks.] during which time onely, that is, from the 4 day +of Nouember vntill the 19 day of Ianuary, which is about six weeks space, +these regions do want the commodity of twilights: therefore, during the +time of these sayd six moneths of darknesse vnder the poles, the night is +destitute of the benefit of the Sunne and the sayd twilights onely for the +space of six weeks or thereabout. And yet neither this time of six weeks is +without remedy from heauen; for the Moone with her increased light hath +accesse at that time, and illuminateth the moneths lacking light euery one +of themselues seuerally halfe the course of that moneth, by whose benefit +it commeth to passe that the night named extreame darke possesseth those +regions no longer then one moneth, neither that continually, or all at one +time, but this also diuided into two sorts of shorter nights, of the which +either of them indureth for the space of 15 dayes, and are illuminate of +the Moone accordingly. [Sidenote: Winter nights vnder the pole tolerable to +liuing creatures.] And this reason is gathered out of the sphere, whereby +we may testifie that the Summers are warme and fruitfull, and the Winters +nights vnder the pole are tolerable to liuing creatures. And if it be so +that the Winter and time of darknesse there be very colde, yet hath not +nature left them vnprouided therefore: for there the beastes are couered +with haire so much the thicker in how much the vehemency of colde is +greater; by reason whereof the best and richest furres are brought out of +the coldest regions. Also the fowles of these colde countreys haue thicker +skinnes, thicker feathers; and more stored of downe then in other hot +places. Our English men that trauell to S. Nicholas, and go a fishing to +Wardhouse, enter farre within the circle Artike, and so are in the frozen +Zone, and yet there, aswell as in Island and all along those Northern Seas, +they finde the greatest store of the greatest fishes that are; as Whales, +&c. and also abundance of meane fishes; as Herrings, Cods, Haddocks, Brets, +&c. which argueth that the sea as well as the land may be and is well +frequented and inhabited in the colde countreys. + +[Sidenote: An obiection of Meta incognita.] But some perhaps will maruell +there should be such temperate places in the regions about the poles, when +at vnder 62 degrees in latitude our captaine Frobisher and his company were +troubled with so many and so great mountaines of fleeting ice, with so +great stormes of colde, with such continuall snow on tops of mountaines, +and with such barren soile, there being neither wood nor trees, but low +shrubs, and such like. To all which obiections may be answered thus: First, +those infinite Islands of ice were ingendred and congealed in time of +Winter, and now by the great heat of Summer were thawed, and then by ebs, +flouds, winds, and currents, were driuen to and fro, and troubled the +fleet; so that this is an argument to proue the heat in Summer there to be +great, that was able to thaw so monstrous mountaines of ice. As for +continuall snow on tops of mountaines, it is there no otherwise then is in +the hotest part of the middle Zone, where also lieth great snow all the +Summer long vpon tops of mountaines, because there is no sufficient space +for the Sunnes reflexion, whereby the snow should be molten. Touching the +colde stormy winds and the barrennesse of the country, it is there as it is +in Cornwall and Deuonsbire in England, which parts though we know to be +fruitfull and fertile, yet on the North side thereof all alongst the coast +within seuen or eight miles off the sea there can neither hedge nor tree +grow, although they be diligently by arte husbanded and seene vnto: and the +cause thereof are the Northerne driuing winds, which comming from the sea +are so bitter and sharpe that they kill all the yoong and tender plants, +and suffer scarse any thing to grow; and so it is in the Islands of Meta +incognita, which are subiect most to East and Northeastern winds, which the +last yere choaked vp the passage so with ice that the fleet could hardly +lecouer their port. [Sidenote: Meta Incognita inhabited.] Yet +notwithstanding all the obiections that may be, the countrey is habitable; +for there are men, women, children, and sundry kind of beasts in great +plenty, as beares, deere, hares, foxes and dogs: all kinde of flying +fowles, as ducks, seamewes, wilmots, partridges, larks, crowes, hawks, and +such like, as in the third booke you shall vnderstand more at large. Then +it appeareth that not onely the middle Zone but also the Zones about the +poles are habitable. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobishers first voyage.] Which thing being well +considered, and familiarly knowen to our Generall captaine Frobisher, +aswell for that he is thorowly furnished of the knowledge of the sphere and +all other skilles appertaining to the arte of nauigation, as also for the +confirmation he hath of the same by many yeres experience both by sea and +land, and being persuaded of a new and nerer passage to Cataya then by Capo +de buona Sperança, which the Portugals yerely vse: he began first with +himselfe to deuise, and then with his friends to conferre, and layed a +plaine plat vnto them that that voyage was not onely possible by the +Northwest, but also he could proue easie to be performed. And farther, he +determined and resolued with himselfe to go make full proofe thereof, and +to accomplish or bring true certificate of the truth, or els neuer to +returne againe, knowing this to be the only thing of the world that was +left yet vndone, whereby a notable minde might be made famous and +fortunate. But although his will were great to performe this notable +voyage, whereof he had concerned in his minde a great hope by sundry sure +reasons and secret intelligence, which here for sundry causes I leaue +vntouched, yet he wanted altogether meanes and ability to set forward, and +performe the same. Long time he conferred with his priuate friends of these +secrets; and made also many offers for the performing of the same in effect +vnto sundry merchants of our countrey aboue 15 yeres before he attempted +the same, as by good witnesse shall well appeare (albeit some euill willers +which challenge to themselues the fruits of other mens labours haue greatly +iniured him in the reports of the same, saying that they haue bene the +first authours of that action, and that they haue learned him the way, +which themselues as yet haue neuer gone) but perceiuing that hardly he was +hearkened vnto of the merchants, which neuer regard, vertue without sure, +certaine, and present gaines, he repaired to the Court (from whence, as +from the fountaine of our Common wealth, all good causes haue their chiefe +increase and maintenance) and there layed open to many great estates and +learned men the plot and summe of his deuice. And amongst many honourable +minds which fauoured his honest and commendable enterprise, he was +specially bound and beholding to the right honourable Ambrose Dudley earle +of Warwicke, whose fauourable minde and good disposition hath alwayes bene +ready to countenance and aduance all honest actions with the authours and +executors of the same: and so by meanes of my lord his honourable +countenance he receiued some comfort of his cause, and by litle and litle, +with no small expense and paine brought his cause to some perfection and +had drawen together so many aduenturers and such summes of money as might +well defray a reasonable charge to furnish himselfe to sea withall. + +He prepared two small barks of twenty and fiue and twenty tunne a piece, +wherein he intended to accomplish his pretended voyage. Wherefore, being +furnished with the foresayd two barks, and one small pinnesse of ten tun +burthen, hauing therein victuals and other necessaries for twelue moneths +prouision, he departed vpon the sayd voyage from Blacke-wall the 15 of Iune +anno Domini 1576. + +One of the barks wherein he went was named the Gabriel, and the other The +Michael; and sailing Northwest from England vpon the II of Iuly he had +sight of an high and ragged land, which he iudged to be Frisland (whereof +some authors haue made mention) but durst not approch the same by reason of +the great store of ice that lay alongst the coast, and the great mists that +troubled them not a litle. Not farre from thence he lost company of his +small pinnesse, which by meanes of the great storme he supposed to be +swallowed vp of the Sea, wherein he lost onely foure men. + +[Sidenote: The Michael returned home.] Also the other barke named The +Michael mistrusting the matter, conueyed themselues priuily away from him, +and returned home, with great report that he was cast away. + +The worthy captaine notwithstanding these discomforts, although his mast +was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen ouerboord with extreame foule +weather, continued his course towards the Northwest, knowing that the sea +at length must needs haue an ending, and that some land should haue a +beginning that way; and determined therefore at the least to bring true +proofe what land and sea the same might be so farre to the Northwestwards, +beyond any man that hath heretofore discouered. And the twentieth of Iuly +he had sight of an high land, which he called Queene Elizabeths Forland, +after her Maiesties name. And sailing more Northerly alongst that coast, he +descried another forland with a great gut, bay, or passage, diuided as it +were two maine lands or continents asunder. There be met with store of +exceeding great ice all this coast along, and coueting still to continue +his course to the Northwards, was alwayes by contrary winde deteined +ouerthwart these straights, and could not get beyond. [Sidenote: Frobishers +first entrance within the streights.] Within few dayes after he perceived +the ice to be well consumed and gone, either there ingulfed in by some +swift currents or indrafts, carried more to the Southwards of the same +straights, or els conueyed some other way: wherefore he determined to make +proofe of this place, to see how farre that gut had continuance, and +whether he might carry himselfe thorow the same into some open sea on the +backe side, whereof he conceiued no small hope, and so entred the same the +one and twentieth of Iuly, and passed aboue fifty leagues therein, as he +reported, hauing vpon either hand a great maine or continent. And that land +vpon his right hand as he sailed Westward he iudged to be the continent of +Asia, and there to be diuided from the firme of America, which lieth vpon +the left hand ouer against the same. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers streights.] This place he named after his name, +Frobishers streights, like as Magellanus at the Southwest end of the world, +hauing discouered the passage to the South sea (where America is diuided +from the continent of that land, which lieth vnder the South pole) and +called the same straights, Magellanes straits. + +After he had passed 60 leagues into this foresayd straight, he went ashore, +and found signes where fire had bene made. + +He saw mighty deere that seemed to be mankinde, which ranne at him, and +hardly he escaped with his life in a narrow way, where he was faine to vse +defence and policy to saue his life. + +In this place he saw and perceiued sundry tokens of the peoples resorting +thither. [Sidenote: The first sight of the Sauages.] And being ashore vpon +the top of a hill, he perceiued a number of small things fleeting in the +sea afarre off, which he supposed to be porposes or seales, or some kinde +of strange fish; but comming neerer, he discouered them to be men in small +boats made of leather. And before he could descend downe from the hill, +certaine of those people had almost cut off his boat from him, hauing +stollen secretly behinde the rocks for that purpose, where he speedily +hasted to his boat, and bent himselfe to his halberd, and narrowly escaped +the danger, and saued his boat. Afterwards he had sundry conferences with +them, and they came aboord his ship, and brought him salmon and raw flesh +and fish, and greedily deuoured the same before our mens faces. And to shew +their agility, they tried many masteries vpon the ropes of the ship after +our mariners fashion, and appeared to be very strong of their armes, and +nimble of their bodies. They exchanged coats of scales, and beares skinnes, +and such like with our men; and receiued belles, looking glasses, and other +toyes, in recompense thereof againe. [Sidenote: Fiue Englishmen intercepted +and taken.] After great curtesie, and many meetings, our mariners, contrary +to their captaines direction, began more easily to trust them; and fiue of +our men going ashore were by them intercepted with their boat, and were +neuer since heard of to this day againe: so that the captaine being +destitute of boat, barke, and all company, had scarsely sufficient number +to conduct backe his barke againe. He could neither conuey himselfe ashore +to rescue his men (if he had bene able) for want of a boat; and againe the +subtile traitours were so wary, as they would after that neuer come within +our mens danger. The captaine notwithstanding desirous to bring some token +from thence of his being there, was greatly discontented that he had not +before apprehended some of them: and therefore to deceiue the deceiuers he +wrought a pretty policy; for knowing wel how they greatly delighted in our +toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a pretty lowbell, making signes +that he would giue him the same that would come and fetch it. [Sidenote: +Taking of the first Sauage.] And because they would not come within his +danger for feare, he flung one bell vnto them, which of purpose he threw +short, that it might fall into the sea and be lost, And to make them more +greedy of the matter he rang a louder bell, so that in the end one of them +came nere the ship side to receiue the bel; which when he thought to take +at the captaines hand, he was thereby taken himselfe: for the captaine +being readily prouided let the bell fall, and caught the man fast, and +plucked him with maine force boat and all into his barke out of the sea. +Whereupon when he found himselfe in captiuity, for very choler and disdaine +he bit his tongue in twaine within his mouth: notwithstanding, he died not +thereof, but liued vntill he came in England, and then he died of cold +which he had taken at sea. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers returne.] Now with this new pray (which was a +sufficient witnesse of the captaines farre and tedious trauell towards the +vnknowen parts of the world, as did well appeare by this strange infidell, +whose like was neuer seene, read, nor heard of before, and whose language +was neither knowen nor vnderstood of any) the sayd captaine Frobisher +returned homeward, and arriued in England in Harwich the 2 of October +following, and thence came to London 1576, where he was highly commended of +all men for his great and notable attempt, but specially famous for the +great hope he brought of the passage to Cataya. + +And it is especially to be remembred that at their first arriuall in those +parts there lay so great store of ice all the coast along so thicke +together, that hardly his boate could passe vnto the shore. [Sidenote: The +taking possession of Meta incognita.] At length, after diuers attempts he +commanded his company, if by any possible meanes they could get ashore, to +bring him whatsoeuer thing they could first finde, whether it were liuing +or dead, stocke or stone, in token of Christian possession, which thereby +he tooke in behalfe of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty, thinking that +thereby he might iustify the hauing and inioying of the same things that +grew in these vnknowen parts. + +[Sidenote: How the ore was found by chance.] Some of his company brought +floures, some greene grasse; and one brought a piece of blacke stone much +like to a sea cole in colour, which by the waight seemed to be some kinde +of mettall or minerall. This was a thing of no account in the iudgment of +the captaine at first sight; and yet for nouelty it was kept in respect of +the place from whence it came. + +After his arriuall in London, being demanded of sundry his friends what +thing he had brought them home out of that countrey, he had nothing left to +present them withall but a piece of this blacke stone. And it fortuned a +gentlewoman one of the aduenturers wiues to haue a piece thereof, which by +chance she threw and burned in the fire, so long, that at the length being +taken forth, and quenched in a little vinegar, it glistened with a bright +marquesset of golde. Whereupon the matter being called in some question, it +was brought to certaine Goldfiners in London to make assay thereof, who +gaue out that it held golde, and that very richly for the quantity. +[Sidenote: Many aduenturers.] Afterwards, the same Goldfiners promised +great matters thereof if there were any store to be found, and offered +themselues to aduenture for the searching of those parts from whence the +same was brought. Some that had great hope of the matter sought secretly to +haue a lease at her Maiesties hands of those places, whereby to inioy the +masse of so great a publike profit vnto their owne priuate gaines. + +In conclusion, the hope of more of the same golde ore to be found kindled a +great opinion in the hearts of many to aduance the voyage againe. +[Sidenote: In the second voyage commission was giuen onely for the bringing +of ore.] Whereupon preparation was made for a new voyage against the yere +folowing, and the captaine more specially directed by commission for the +searching more of this golde ore then for the searching any further +discouery of the passage. And being well accompanied with diuers resolute +and forward gentlemen, her Maiesty then lying at the right honourable the +lord of Warwicks house in Essex, he came to take his leaue, and kissing her +hignesse hands, with gracious countenance and comfortable words departed +toward his charge. + + +A true report of such things as happened in the second voyage of captaine + Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of a new passage to Cataya, China + and the East India, by the Northwest. Ann. Dom. 1577. + +Being furnished with one tall ship of her Maiesties, named The Ayde, of two +hundred tunne, and two other small barks, the one named The Gabriel, the +other The Michael, about thirty tun a piece, being fitly appointed with +men, munition, victuals, and all things necessary for the voyage, the sayd +captaine Frobisher, with the rest of his company came aboord his ships +riding at Blackwall, intending (with Gods helpe) to take the first winde +and tide seruing him, the 25 day of May, in the yere of our Lord God 1577. + +The names of such gentlemen as attempted this discouery, and the number of +souldiers and mariners in ech ship, as followeth. + +Aboord the Ayd being Admirall were the number of 100 men of all sorts, +whereof 30 or moe were Gentlemen and Souldiers, the rest sufficient and +tall Sailers. + +Aboord the Gabriel being Viceadmirall, were in all 18 persons, whereof sixe +were Souldiers, the rest Mariners. + +Aboord the Michael were 16 persons, whereof fiue were Souldiers, the rest +Mariners. + +Aboord the Ayde was: + +Generall of the whole company for her Maiestie: Martin Frobisher. + +His Lieutenant George Best. +His Ensigne Richard Philpot. +Corporall of the shot Francis Forfar. + +The rest of the gentlemen: Henry Carew. + Edmund Stafford. + John Lee. + M. Haruie. + Mathew Kinersley. + Abraham Lins. + Robert Kinersley. + Francis Brakenbury. + William Armshow. + +The Master Christopher Hall. +The Mate Charles Iackman. +The Pilot Andrew Dier. +The Master gunner Richard Cox. + +Aboord the Gabriell was: + +Captaine Edward Fenton +One Gentleman William Tamfield. +The Maister William Smyth. + +Aboord the Michaell was: + +Captaine Gilbert Yorke. +One Gentleman Thomas Chamberlaine. +The Maister Iames Beare. + +On Whitsunday being the 26 of May, Anno 1577, early in the morning, we +weighed anker at Blackwall, and fell that tyde downe to Grauesend, where we +remained vntill Monday, at night. + +[Sidenote: They receiued the communion.] On Monday morning the 27 of May, +aboord the Ayde we receiued all the Communion by the Minister of Grauesend, +and prepared vs as good Christians towards God, and resolute men for all +fortunes: and towards night we departed to Tilbery Hope. + +[Sidenote: The number of men in this voyage.] Tuesday the eight and twenty +of May, about nine of the clocke at night, we arriued at Harwitch in Essex +and there stayed for the taking in of certaine victuals, vntill Friday +being the thirtieth of May, during which time came letters from the Lordes +of the Councell, straightly commanding our General, not to exceede his +complement and number appointed him, which was, one hundred and twentie +persons: whereupon he discharged many proper men which with vnwilling +mindes departed. + +[Sidenote: The condemned men discharged.] He also dismissed all his +condemned men, which he thought for some purposes very needefull for the +voyage, and towards night vpon Friday the one and thirtieth of May we set +saile, and put to the Seas againe. [Sidenote: The first arriuall after our +departing from England.] And sailing Northward alongst the East coasts of +England and Scotland, the seuenth day of Iune we arriued in Saint Magnus +sound in Orkney Ilands, called in Latine Orcades, and came to ancker on the +South side of the Bay, and this place is reckoned from Blackwall where we +set saile first leagues.[64] + +Here our companie going on lande, the Inhabitants of these Ilandes beganne +to flee as from the enemie, whereupon the Lieutenant willed euery man to +stay togither, and went himselfe vnto their houses, to declare what we were +and the cause of our comming thither, which being vnderstood after their +poore maner they friendly entreated vs, and brought vs for our money such +things as they had. [Sidenote: A Mine of siluer found in Orkney.] And here +our gold finders found a Mine of siluer. + +Orkney is the principall of the Isles of the Orcades, and standeth in the +latitude of fiftie nine degrees and a halfe. The countrey is much subiect +to colde, answerable for such a climate, and yet yeeldeth some fruites, and +sufficient maintenance for the people contented so poorely to liue. + +There is plentie ynough of Poultrey, store of egges, fish, and foule. + +For their bread they haue Oaten Cakes, and their drinke is Ewes milke, and +in some partes Ale. + +Their houses are but poore without and sluttish ynough within, and the +people in nature thereunto agreeable. + +For their fire they burne heath and turffe, the Countrey in most parts +being voide of wood. + +They haue great want of Leather, and desire our old Shoes, apparell, and +old ropes (before money) for their victuals, and yet are they not ignorant +of the value of our coine. [Sidenote: Kyrway the chiefe towne of Orkney.] +The chiefe towne is called Kyrway.[65] + +[Sidenote: S. Magnus sound why so called.] In this Island hath bene +sometime an Abbey or a religious house called Saint Magnus, being on the +West side of the Ile, whereof this sound beareth name, through which we +passed. Their Gouernour chiefe Lord is called the Lord Robert Steward, who +at our being there, as we understood, was in durance at Edenburgh, by the +Regents commandement of Scotland. + +After we had prouided vs here of matter sufficient for our voyage the eight +of Iune wee set sayle againe, and passing through Saint Magnus sound hauing +a merrie winde by night, came cleare and lost sight of all the land, and +keeping our course West Northwest by the space of two dayes, the winde +shifted vpon vs so that we lay in trauerse on the Seas, with contrary +windes, making good (as neere as we could) our course to the westward, and +sometime to the Northward, as the winde shifted. And hereabout we met with +3 saile of English fishermen from Iseland, bound homeward, by whom we wrote +our letters vnto our friends in England. [Sidenote: Great bodies of trees +driuing in the seas.] We trauersed these Seas by the space of 26 dayes +without sight of any land, and met with much drift wood, and whole bodies +of trees. [Sidenote: Monstrous fish and strange foule liuing onely by the +Sea.] We sawe many monsterous fishes and strange foules, which seemed to +live onely by the Sea, being there so farre distant from any land. At +length God fauoured vs with more prosperous windes, and after wee had +sayled foure dayes with good winde in the Poop, the fourth of Iuly the +Michael being foremost a head shot off a peece of Ordinance, and stroke all +her sayles, supposing that they had descryed land which by reason of the +thicke mistes they could not make perfit: [Sidenote: Water being blacke and +smooth signifieth land to be neere.] howbeit, as well our account as also +the great alteration of the water, which became more blacke and smooth, did +plainely declare we were not farre off the coast. [Sidenote: Ilands of +yce.] Our Generall sent his Master aboord the Michaell (who had beene with +him the yeere before) to beare in with the place to make proofe thereof, +who descryed not the land perfect, but sawe sundry huge Ilands of yce, +which we deemed to be not past twelue leagues from the shore, [Sidenote: +The first sight of Frisland the 4. of Iuly.] for about tenne of the clocke +at night being the fourth of Iuly, the weather being more cleare, we made +the land perfect and knew it to be Frislande. And the heigth being taken +here, we found ourselues to be in the latitude of 60 degrees and a halfe, +and were fallen with the Southermost part of this land. Betweene Orkney and +Frisland are reckoned leagues.[66] + +[Sidenote: Frisland described.] This Frislande sheweth a ragged and high +lande, hauing the mountaines almost couered ouer with snow alongst the +coast full of drift yce, and seemeth almost inaccessable, and is thought to +be an Iland in bignesse not inferiour to England, and is called of some +Authors, West Frislande, I thinke because it lyeth more West then any part +of Europe. It extendeth in latitude to the Northward very farre as seemed +to vs, and appeareth by a description set out by two brethren Venetians, +Nicholaus and Antonius Zeni, who being driuen off from Ireland with a +violent tempest made shipwracke here, and were the first knowen Christians +that discouered this land about two hundred yeares sithence, and they haue +in their Sea cardes set out euery part thereof and described the condition +of the inhabitants, declaring them to be as ciuill and religous people as +we. And for so much of this land as we haue sayled alongst, comparing their +Carde with the coast, we finde it very agreeable. [Sidenote: An easie kind +of Fishing.] This coast seemeth to haue good fishing, for we lying becalmed +let falle a hooke without any bayte and presently caught a great fish +called a Hollibut, who serued the whole companie for a dayes meate, and is +dangerous meate for surfetting. [Sidenote: White Corrall got by sounding.] +And sounding about fiue leagues off from the shore, our leade brought vp in +the tallow a kinde of Corrall almost white, and small stones as bright as +Christall: and it is not to be doubted but that this land may be found very +rich and beneficial if it were thoroughly discovered, although we sawe no +creature there but little birdes. [Sidenote: Monstrous Isles of yce, in +taste fresh, wherehence they are supposed to come.] It is a maruellous +thing to behold of what great bignesse and depth some Ilands of yce be +here, some seuentie, some eightie fadome vnder water, besides that which is +aboue, seeming Ilands more then halfe a mile in circuit. All these yce are +in tast fresh, and seeme to be bredde in the sounds thereabouts, or in some +lande neere the pole, and with the winde and tides are driuen alongst the +coastes. [Sidenote: The opinion of the frozen seas is destroyed by +experience.] We found none of these Ilands of yce salt in taste, whereby it +appeareth that they were not congealed of the Ocean Sea water which is +alwayes salt, but of some standing or little moouing lakes or great fresh +waters neere the shore, caused eyther by melted snowe from tops of +mountaines, or by continuall accesse of fresh riuers from the land, and +intermingling with the Sea water, bearing yet the dominion (by the force of +extreame frost) may cause some part of salt water to freese so with it, and +so seeme a little brackish, but otherwise the maine Sea freeseth not, and +therefore there is no Mare Glaciale or frosen Sea, as the opinion hitherto +hath bene. Our Generall prooued landing here twice, but by the suddaine +fall of mistes (whereunto this coast is much subiect) he was like to loose +sight of his ships, and being greatly endangered with the driuing yce +alongst the coast, was forced aboord and faine to surcease his pretence +till a better opportunitie might serue: and hauing spent foure dayes and +nights sayling alongst this land, finding the coast subiect to such bitter +colde and continuall mistes he determined to spend no more time therein, +but to beare out his course towards the streights called Frobishers +streights after the Generals name, who being the first that euer passed +beyond 58 degrees to the Northwardes, for any thing that hath beene yet +knowen of certaintie of New found land, otherwise called the continent or +firme land of America, discouered the saide straights this last yere 1576. + +[Sidenote: The Stirrage of the Michaell broken by tempest.] Betweene +Frisland and the Straights we had one great storme, wherein the Michaell +was somewhat in danger, hauing her Stirrage broken, and her toppe Mastes +blowen ouer boord, and being not past 50 leagues short of the Straights by +our account, we stroke sayle and lay a hull, fearing the continuance of the +storme, the winde being at the Northeast, and hauing lost companie of the +Barkes in that flaw of winde, we happily met againe the seuenteenth day of +Iuly, hauing the euening before seene diuers Ilands of fleeting yce, which +gaue an argument that we were not farre from land. [Sidenote: The first +entrance of the Straights.] Our Generall in the morning from the maine top +(the weather being reasonable cleare) descried land, but to better assured +he sent the two Barkes two contrarie courses, whereby they might discry +either the South or North foreland, the Ayde lying off and on at Sea, with +a small sayle by an Iland of yce, which was the marke for vs to meet +together againe. [Sidenote: Halles Iland.] And about noone, the weather +being more cleare, we made the North foreland perfite, which otherwise is +called Halles Iland, and also the small Iland bearing the name of the sayd +Hall whence the Ore was taken vp which was brought into England this last +yeere 1576 the said Hall being present at the finding and taking vp +thereof, who was then Maister in the Gabriell with Captaine Frobisher. At +our arriuall here all the Seas about this coast were so couered ouer with +huge quantitie of great yce, that we thought these places might onely +deserue the name of Mare Glaciale, and be called the Isie Sea. + +[Sidenote: The description of the straights.] This North forland is thought +to be deuided from the continent of the Northerland, by a little sound +called Halles sound, which maketh it an Iland, and is thought little lesse +then the Ile of Wight, and is the first entrance of the Straights vpon the +Norther side, and standeth in the latitude of sixtie two degrees and fiftie +minutes, and is reckoned from Frisland leagues.[67] God hauing blessed vs +with so happie a land-fall, we bare into the Straights which runne in next +hand, and somewhat further vp to the Northwarde, and came as neere the +shore as wee might for the yce, and vpon the eighteenth day [Sidenote: No +more gold Ore found in the first Iland.] of Iuly our Generall taking the +Goldfiners with him, attempted to goe on shore with a small rowing +Pinnesse, vpon the small Islande where the Ore was taken vp, to prooue +whether there were any store thereof to be found, but he could not get in +all that Iland a peece so bigge as a Walnut, where the first was found. But +our men which sought the other Ilands thereabouts found them all to haue +good store of the Ore, whereupon our Generall with these good tidings +returned aboord about tenne of the clocke at night, and was ioyfully +welcommed of the company with a volie of shot. [Sidenote: Egs and foules of +Meta incognita. Snares set to catch birds withall.] He brought egges, +foules, and a young Seale aboord, which the companie had killed ashore, and +hauing found vpon those Ilands ginnes set to catch fowle, and stickes newe +cut, with other things, he well perceiued that not long before some of the +countrey people had resorted thither. + +Hauing therefore found those tokens of the peoples accesse in those parts, +and being in his first voyage well acquainted with their subtill and cruell +disposition, hee prouided well for his better safetie, and on Friday the +nineteenth of Iuly in the morning early, with his best companie of +Gentlemen and souldiers to the number of fortie persons, went on shore, +aswell to discouer the Inland and habitation of the people, as also to +finde out some fit harborowe for our shippes. And passing towardes the +shoare with no small difficultie by reason of the abundance of yce which +lay alongst the coast so thicke togither that hardly any passage through +them might be discouered, we arriued at length vpon the maine of Halles +greater Iland, and found there also aswell as in the other small Ilands +good store of the Ore. [Sidenote: The building of a Columne, called Mount +Warwicke.] And leauiug his boates here with sufficient guarde we passed vp +into the countrey about two English miles, and recouered the toppe of a +high hill, on the top whereof our men made a Columne or Crosse of stones +heaped vp of a good heigth togither in good sort, and solemnly sounded a +Trumpet, and saide certaine prayers kneeling about the Ensigne, and +honoured the place by the name of Mount Warwicke, in remembrance of the +Right Honorable the Lord Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke, whose noble mind +and good countenance in this, as in all other good actions, gaue great +encouragement and good furtherance. This done, we retyred our companies not +seeing any thing here worth further discouerie, the countrey seeming barren +and full of ragged mountaines and in most parts couered with snow. + +[Sidenote: The first sight of countrie people, wafting with a flagge.] And +thus marching towards our botes, we espied certaine countrey people on the +top of Mount Warwick with a flag wafting vs backe againe and making great +noise with cries like the mowing of Buls seeming greatly desirous of +conference with vs: whereupon the Generall being therewith better +acquainted, answered them againe with the like cries, whereat and with the +noise of our trumpets they seemed greatly to reioice, skipping, laughing, +and dancing for ioy. And hereupon we made signes vnto them, holding vp two +fingers, commanding two of our men to go apart from our companies, whereby +they might do the like. [Sidenote: The meeting apart of two Englishmen with +two of that countrey.] So that forthwith two of our men and two of theirs +met together a good space from company, neither partie hauing their weapons +about them. Our men gaue them pins and points and such trifles as they had. +And they likewise bestowed on our men two bow cases and such things as they +had. They earnestly desired our men to goe vp into their countrey, and our +men offered them like kindnesse aboord our ships, but neither part (as it +seemed) admitted or trusted the others courtesie. [Sidenote: The order of +their traffique.] Their maner of traffique is thus, they doe vse to lay +downe of their marchandise vpon the ground, so much as they meane to part +withal, and so looking that the other partie with whom they make trade +should do the like, they themselues doe depart, and then if they doe like +of their Mart they come againe, and take in exchange the others +marchandise, otherwise if they like not, they take their owne and depart. +The day being thus well neere spent, in haste wee retired our companies +into our boates againe, minding foorthwith to search alongst the coast for +some harborow fit for our shippes, for the present necessitie thereof was +much, considering that all this while they lay off and on betweene the two +landes, being continually subiect aswell to great danger of fleeting yce, +which enuironed them, as to the sodaine flawes which the coast seemeth much +subiect vnto. But when the people perceiued our departure, with great +tokens of affection they earnestly called vs backe againe, following vs +almost to our boates: whereupon our Generall taking his Master with him, +who was best acquainted with their maners, went apart vnto two of them, +meaning, if they could lay sure hold vpon them, forcibly to bring them +aboord, with intent to bestow certaine toyes and apparell vpon the one, and +so to dismisse him with all arguments of curtesie, and retaine the other +for an Interpreter. [Sidenote: Another meeting of two of our men with two +of theirs.] The Generall and his Maister being met with their two +companions togither, after they had exchanged certaine things the one with +the other, one of the Saluages for lacke of better marchandise, cut off the +tayle of his coat (which is a chiefe ornament among them) and gaue it vnto +our Generall for a present. But he presently vpon a watchword giuen with +his Maister sodainely laid hold vpon the two Saluages. But the ground +vnderfoot being slipperie with the snow on the side of the hill, their +handfast fayled and their prey escaping ranne away and lightly recouered +their bow and arrowes, which they had hid not farre from them behind the +rockes. [Sidenote: The Englishmen chased to their boates.] And being onely +two Saluages in sight, they so fiercely, desperately, and with such fury +assaulted and pursued our Generall and his Master, being altogether +vnarmed, and not mistrusting their subtiltie that they chased them to their +boates, and hurt the Generall in the buttocke with an arrow, who the rather +speedily fled backe, becasuse they suspected a greater number behind the +rockes. Our souldiers (which were commanded before to keepe their boates) +perceiuing the danger, and hearing our men calling for shot came speedily +to rescue, thinking there had bene a greater number. But when the Saluages +heard the shot of one of our caliuers (and yet hauing first bestowed their +arrowes) they ranne away, our men speedily following them. [Sidenote: One +of that Countreymen taken.] But a seruant of my Lorde of Warwick, called +Nicholas Conger a good footman, and vncumbred with any furniture hauing +only a dagger at his backe ouertooke one of them, and being a Cornishman +and a good wrastler, shewed his companion such a Cornish tricke, that he +made his sides ake against the ground for a moneth after. And so being +stayed, he was taken aliue and brought away, but the other escaped. Thus +with their strange and new prey our men repaired to their boates, and +passed from the maine to a small Iland of a mile compasse, where they +resolued to tarrie all night; for euen now a sodaine storme was growen so +great at sea, that by no meanes they could recouer their ships. And here +euery man refreshed himselfe with a small portion of victuals which was +laide into the boates for their dinners, hauing neither eate nor drunke all +the day before. But because they knewe not how long the storme might last, +nor how farre off the shippes might be put to sea, nor whether they should +euer recouer them againe or not, they made great spare of their victuals, +as it greatly behoued them: For they knew full well that the best cheare +the countrey could yeeld them, was rockes and stones, a hard food to liue +withall, and the people more readie to eate them then to giue them +wherewithall to eate. And thus keeping verie good watch and warde, they lay +there all night vpon hard cliffes of snow and yce both wet, cold, and +comfortlesse. + +These things thus hapning with the company on land, the danger of the ships +at Sea was no lesse perilous. [Sidenote: The Ayde set on fire.] For within +one houre after the Generals departing in the morning by negligence of the +Cooke in ouer-heating, and the workman in making the chimney, the Ayde was +set on fire, and had bene the confusion of the whole if by chance a boy +espying it, it had not bene speedily with great labour and Gods helpe well +extinguished, + +[Sidenote: The great danger of these rockes of yce.] This day also were +diuerse stormes and flawes, and by nine of the clocke at night the storme +was growen so great, and continued such vntill the morning, that it put our +ships at sea in no small perill: for hauing mountaines of fleeting yce on +euery side, we went roomer for one, and loofed for another, some scraped +vs, and some happily escaped vs, that the least of a M. were as dangerous +to strike as any rocke, and able to haue split asunder the strongest ship +of the world. We had a scope of cleare without yce, (as God would) wherein +we turned, being otherwise compassed on euery side about: but so much was +the winde and so litle was our sea roome, that being able to beare onely +our forecourse we cast so oft about, that we made fourteene bordes in eight +glasses running, being but foure houres: [Sidenote: Night without darknes +in that countrey.] but God being our best Steresman, and by the industry of +Charles Iackman and Andrew Dyer then masters mates, both very expert +Mariners and Richard Cox the maister Gunner, with other very carefull +sailers, then within bord, and also by the helpe of the cleare nights which +are without darknesse, we did happily auoide those present dangers, whereat +since wee haue more maruelled then in the present danger feared, for that +euery man within borde, both better and worse had ynough to doe with his +hands to hale ropes, and with his eyes to looke out for danger. But the +next morning being the 20 of Iuly, as God would, the storme ceased, and the +Generall espying the ships with his new Captiue and whole company, came +happily abord, and reported what had passed a shoare, whereupon altogither +vpon our knees we gaue God humble and hartie thankes, for that it had +pleased him, from so speedy peril to send vs such speedy deliuerance, and +so from this Northerne shore we stroke ouer towards the Southerland. + +[Sidenote: Our first comming on the Southerland of the sayd straights.] The +one and twentieth of Iuly, we discovered a bay which ranne into the land, +that seemed a likely harborow for our ships, wherefore our Generall rowed +thither with his boats, to make proofe thereof, and with his goldfiners to +search for Ore, hauing neuer assayed any thing on the South shore as yet, +and the first small Island which we landed vpon. [Sidenote: A Mine of +Blacke-lead.] Here all the sands and clifts did so glister and had so +bright a marquesite, that it seemed all to be gold, but vpon tryall made it +prooued no better then black-lead, and verified the prouerb. All is not +gold that glistereth. + +Vpon the two and twentieth of Iuly we bare into the sayde sound, and came +to ancker a reasonable bredth off the shore, where thinking our selues in +good securitie, we were greatly endangered with a peece of drift yce, which +the Ebbe brought forth of the sounds and came thwart vs ere we were aware. +But the gentlemen and souldiers within bord taking great paines at this +pinch at the Capstone, overcame the most danger thereof, and yet for all +that might be done, it stroke on our sterne such a blow, that we feared +least it had striken away our rudder, and being forced to cut our Cable in +the hawse, we were faine to set our fore saile to runne further vp within, +and if our stirrage had not bene stronger then in the present time we +feared, we had runne the ship vpon the rockes, hauing a very narrow +Channell to turne in, but as God would, all came well to passe. [Iackmans +sound.] And this was named Iackmans sound, after the name of the Masters +mate, who had first liking vnto the place. + +[Sidenote: Smiths Iland.] Vpon a small Iland, within this sound called +Smithes Iland (because he first set vp his forge there) was found a Mine of +siluer, but was not wonne out of the rockes without great labour. Here our +goldfiners made say of such Ore as they found vpon the Northerland, and +found foure sortes thereof to holde golde in good quantitie. Vpon another +small Iland here was also found a great dead fish, which as it should +seeme, had bene embayed with yce, and was in proportion round like to a +Porpose, being about twelue foote long, and in bignesse answerable, hauing +a horne of two yards long growing out of the snoute or nostrels. [Sidenote: +The finding of an Vnicornes horne.] This horne is wreathed and straite, +like in fashion to a Taper made of waxe, and may truely be thought to be +the sea Vnicorne.[68] This home is to be seene and reserued as a Iewell by +the Queenes Maiesties commandement, in her Wardrope of Robes. + +Tuesday the three and twentieth of Iuly, our Generall with his best company +of gentlemen, souldiers and saylers, to the number of seuentie persons in +all, marched with ensigne displayde, vpon the continent of the Southerland +(the supposed continent of America) where, commanding a Trumpet to sound a +call for euery man to repaire to the ensigne, he declared to the whole +company how much the cause imported for the seruice of her Maiestie, our +countrey, our credits, and the safetie of our owne liues, and therefore +required euery man to be conformable to order, and to be directed by those +he should assigne. And he appointed for leaders, Captaine Fenton, Captaine +Yorke, and his Lieutenant George Beste: which done, we cast our selues into +a ring, and altogether vpon our knees, gaue God humble thanks for that it +had pleased him of his great goodnesse to preserue vs from such imminent +dangers, beseeching likewise the assistance of his holy spirite, so to +deliuer vs in safetie into our Countrey, whereby the light and truth of +these secrets being knowen, it might redound to the more honour of his holy +name, and consequently to the aduancement of our common wealth. And so, in +as good sort as the place suffered, we marched towards the tops of the +mountaines, which were no lesse painfull in climbing then dangerous in +descending, by reason of their steepenesse and yce. And hauing passed about +fiue miles, by such vnwieldie wayes, we returned vnto our ships without +sight of any people, or likelihood of habitation. Here diuerse of the +Gentlemen desired our Generall to suffer them to the number of twentie or +thirtie persones to march vp thirtie or fortie leagues in the countrey, to +the end they might discouer the Inland, and doe some acceptable seruice for +their countrey. But he not contented with the matter he sought for, and +well considering the short time he had in hand, and the greedie desire our +countrey hath to a present sauor and returne of gaine, bent his whole +indeuour only to find a Mine to fraight his ships, and to leave the rest +(by Gods helpe) hereafter to be well accomplished. And therefore the +twentie sixe of Iuly he departed ouer to the Northland, with the two +barkes, leauing the Ayde ryding in Iackmans sound; and ment (after hee had +found conuenient harborow, and fraight there for his ships) to discouer +further for the passage. The Barkes came the same night to ancker in a +sound vpon the Northerland, where the tydes did runne so swift, and the +place was so subiect to indrafts of yce; that by reason thereof they were +greatly endangered, and hauing found a very rich Myne, as they supposed, +and got almost twentie tunne of Ore together, vpon the 28 of Iuly the yce +came driuing into the sound where the Barkes rode, in such sort, that they +were therewith greatly distressed. And the Gabriell riding asterne the +Michael, had her Cable gauld asunder in the hawse with a peece of driuing +yce, and lost another ancker, and hauing but one cable and ancker left, for +she had lost two before, and the yce still driuing vpon her, she was (by +Gods helpe) well fenced from the danger of the rest, by one great Iland of +yce, which came a ground hard a head of her, which if it had not so +chanced, I thinke surely shee had bene cast vpon the rockes with the yce. +The Michael mored ancker vpon this great yce, and roade vnder the lee +thereof: but about midnight, by the weight of it selfe, and the setting of +the Tydes, the yce brake within halfe the Barkes length, and made vnto the +companie within boord a sodaine and fearefull noyse. [Sidenote: Beares +sound. Lecesters Iland.] The next flood toward the morning we weyed ancker, +and went further vp the straights, and leauing our Ore behind vs which we +had digged, for hast left the place by the name of Beares sound after the +masters name of the Michaell, and named the Iland Lecesters Iland. +[Sidenote: A tombe with a dead mans bones in it.] In one of the small +Ilands here we founde a Tombe, wherein the bones of a dead man lay +together, and our Sauage Captiue being with vs, and being demanded by +signes whether his countreymen had not slaine this man and eat his flesh so +from the bones, he made signes to the contrary, and that he was slaine with +Wolues and wild beasts. Here also was found hid vnder stones good store of +fish, and [Sidenote: Bridles, kniues, and other instruments found hid among +the rockes.] sundry other things of the inhabitants; as sleddes, bridles, +kettels of fish-skinnes, kniues of bone, and such other like. And our +Sauage declared vnto vs the vse of all those things. [Sidenote: They vse +great dogs to draw sleds, and little dogs for their meat.] And taking in +his hand one of those countrey bridles, he caught one of our dogges and +hampred him handsomely therein, as we doe our horses, and with a whip in +his hand, he taught the dogge to drawe in a sled as we doe horses in a +coach, setting himselfe thereupon like a guide: so that we might see they +vse dogges for that purpose that we do our horses. And we found since by +experience, that the lesser sort of dogges they feede fatte, and keepe them +as domesticall cattell in their tents for their eating, and the greater +sort serue for the vse of drawing their sleds. + +The twentie ninth of Iuly, about fiue leagues from Beares sound, we +discouered a Bay which being fenced on ech side with smal Ilands lying off +the maine, which breake the force of the tides, and make the place free +from any indrafts of yce, did prooue a very fit harborow for our ships, +where we came to ancker vnder a small Ilande, which now together with the +sound is called by the name of that right Honourable and vertuous Ladie, +Anne Countesse of Warwicke. [Sidenote: Thirty leagues discouered within the +straites.] And this is the furthest place that this yeere we haue entred vp +within the streits, and is reckoned from the Cape of the Queenes foreland, +which is the entrance of the streites not aboue 30 leagues. Vpon this Iland +was found good store of Ore, which in the washing helde golde to our +thinking plainly to be seene: whereupon it was thought best rather to load +here, where there was store and indifferent good, then to seeke further for +better, and spend time with ieoperdie. [Sidenote: A good president of a +good Captain shewed by Captain Frobisher.] And therefore our Generall +setting the Myners to worke, and shewing first a good president of a +painefull labourer and a goode Captaine in himselfe, gaue good examples for +other to follow him: whereupon euery man both better and worse, with their +best endeuours willingly layde to their helping hands. And the next day, +being the thirtieth of Iuly, the Michaell was sent ouer to Iackmans sound, +for the Ayde and the whole companie to come thither. [Sidenote: The maner +of their houses in this country.] Vpon the maine land ouer against the +Countesses Iland we discouered and behelde to our greate maruell the poore +caues and houses of those countrey people, which serue them (as it should +seeme) for their winter dwellings, and are made two fadome vnder grounde, +in compasse round, like to an Ouen, being ioyned fast one by another, +hauing holes like to a Foxe or Conny berry, to keepe and come togither. +They vndertrenched these places with gutters so, that the water falling +from the hilles aboue them, may slide away without their annoyance: and are +seated commonly in the foote of a hill, to shield them better from the cold +windes, hauing their doore and entrance euer open towards the South. +[Sidenote: Whales bones vsed in stead of timber.] From the ground vpward +they builde with whales bones, for lacke of timber, which bending one ouer +another, are handsomely compacted in the top together, and are couered ouer +with Seales skinnes, which in stead of tiles, fence them from the raine. In +which house they haue only one roome, hauing the one halfe of the floure +raised with broad stones a foot higher than the other, whereon strawing +Mosse, they make their nests to sleep in. [Sidenote: The sluttishness of +these people.] They defile these dennes most filthily with their beastly +feeding, and dwell so long in a place (as we thinke) vntill their +sluttishnes lothing them, they are forced to seeke a sweeter ayre, and a +new seate, and are (no doubt) a dispersed and wandring nation, as the +Tartarians, and liue in hords and troupes, without any certaine abode, as +may appeare by sundry circumstances of our experience. + +[Sidenote: A signe set vp by the sauage captiue, and the meaning thereof.] +Here our captiue being ashore with vs, to declare the vse of such things as +we saw, stayd himselfe alone behind the company, and did set vp fiue small +stickes round in a circle one by another, with one smal bone placed iust in +the middest of all: which thing when one of our men perceiued, he called vs +backe to behold the matter, thinking that hee had meant some charme or +witchcraft therein. But the best coniecture we could make thereof was, that +hee would thereby his countreymen should vnderstand, that for our fiue men +which they betrayed the last yeere (whom he signified by the fiue stickes) +he was taken and kept prisoner, which he signified by the bone in the +midst. [Sidenote: The sauage captiue amazed at his countreimans picture.] +For afterwards when we shewed him the picture of his countreman, which the +last yeere was brought into England (whose counterfeit we had drawen with +boate and other furniture, both as he was in his own, and also in English +apparel) he was vpon the sudden much amazed thereat, and beholding +aduisedly the same with silence a good while, as though he would streine +courtesie whether should begin the speech (for he thought him no doubt a +liuely creature) at length began to question with him, as with his +companion, and finding him dumb and mute, seemed to suspect him, as one +disdeinfull, and would with a little helpe haue growen into choller at the +matter, vntill at last by feeling and handling, hee found him but a +deceiuing picture. And then with great noise and cryes, ceased not +wondring, thinking that we could make men liue or die at our pleasure. + +And thereupon calling the matter to his remembrance, he gaue vs plainely to +vnderstand by signes, that he had knowledge of the taking of our fiue men +the last yeere, and confessing the maner of ech thing, numbred the fiue men +vpon his fiue fingers, and pointed vnto a boat in our ship, which was like +vnto that wherein our men were betrayed: And when we made him signes, that +they were slaine and eaten, he earnestly denied, and made signes to the +contrary. + +[Sidenote: Another shew of twenty persons of that countrey in one boate.] +The last of Iuly the Michael returned with the Aide to vs from the +Southerland, and came to anker by vs in the Countesse of Watwicks sound, +and reported that since we departed from Iackmans sound there happened +nothing among them there greatly worth the remembrance, vntill the +thirtieth of Iuly, when certaine of our company being a shoare vpon a small +Island within the sayd Iackmans sound, neere the place where the Aide rode, +did espie a long boat with diuers of the countrey people therein, to the +number of eighteene or twenty persons, whom so soone as our men perceiued, +they returned speedily aboord, to giue notice thereof vnto our company. +They might perceiue these people climbing vp to the top of a hill, where +with a flagge, they wafted vnto our ship, and made great out cries and +noyses, like so many Buls. Hereupon our men did presently man foorth a +small skiffe, hauing not aboue sixe or seuen persons therein, which rowed +neere the place where those people were, to prooue if they could haue any +conference with them. But after this small boate was sent a greater, being +wel appointed for their rescue, if need required. + +As soone as they espied our company comming neere them, they tooke their +boates and hasted away, either for feare, or else for pollicie, to draw our +men from rescue further within their danger: wherefore our men construing +that their comming thither was but to seeke aduantage, followed speedily +after them, but they rowed so swiftly away, that our men could come nothing +neere them. Howbeit they failed not of their best indeuour in rowing, and +hauing chased them aboue two miles into the sea, returned into their ships +againe. + +[Sidenote: Yorkes sound.] The morning following being the first of August, +Captaine Yorke with the Michael came into Iackmans sound, and declared vnto +the company there, that the last night past he came to anker in a certaine +baye (which sithens was named Yorkes sound) about foure leagues distant +from Iackmans sound, being put to leeward of that place for lacke of winde, +where he discouered certaine tents of the countrey people, where going with +his company ashore, he entred into them, but found the people departed, as +it should seeme, for feare of their comming. But amongst sundry strange +things which in these tents they found, there was rawe and new killed flesh +of vnknowen sorts, with dead carcases and bones of dogs, and I know not +what. [Sidenote: The apparel found againe of our English men which the yere +before were taken.] They also beheld (to their greatest marueile) a dublet +of Canuas made after the English fashion, a shirt, a girdle, three shoes +for contrary feete, and of vnequall bignesse, which they well coniectured +to be the apparell of our fiue poore countreymen, which were intercepted +the last yeere by these Countrey people, about fiftie leagues from this +place, further within the Straights. [Sidenote: A good deuise of Captaine +Yorke.] Whereupon our men being in good hope, that some of them might be +here, and yet liuing: the Captaine deuising for the best left his mind +behind him in writing, with pen, yncke, and paper also, whereby our poore +captiue countrymen, if it might come to their hands, might know their +friends minds, and of their arriuall, and likewise returne their answere. +And so without taking any thing away in their tents, leauing there also +looking glasses, points, and other of our toyes (the better to allure them +by such friendly meanes) departed aboord his Barker, with intent to make +haste to the Aide, to giue notice vnto the company of all such things as he +had there discouered: and so meant to returne to these tents againe, hoping +that he might by force or policie intrappe or intice the people to some +friendly conference. Which things when he had deliuered to the whole +company there, they determined forthwith to go in hand with the matter. +Hereupon Captaine Yorke with the master of the Aide and his mate (who the +night before had bene at the tents, and came ouer from the other side in +the Michael with him) being accompanied with the Gentlemen and souldiors to +the number of thirty or forty persons in two small rowing Pinnasses made +towards the place, where the night before they discovered the tents of +those people, and setting Charles Iackman, being the Masters mate, ashore +with a convenient number, for that he could best guide them to the place, +they marched ouer land, meaning to compasse them on the one side, whilest +the Captaine with his boates might entrap them on the other side. But +landing at last at the place where the night before they left them, they +found them with their tents remoued. Notwithstanding, our men which marched +vp into the countrey, passing ouer two or three mountaines, by chance +espied certaine tents in a valley vnderneath them neere vnto a creeke by +the Sea side, which because it was not the place where the guide had bene +the night before, they iudged them to be another company, and be setting +them about, determined to take them if they could. [Sidenote: The Sauages +haue boats of sundry bignes.] But they having quickly descried our +companie, launched one great and another smal boat, being about 16 or 18 +persons, and very narrowly escaping, put themselues to sea. [Sidenote: The +Englishmen pursue those people of that countrey. The swift rowing of those +people.] Whereupon our souldiers discharged their Caliuers, and followed +them, thinking the noise therof being heard to our boats at sea, our men +there would make what speede they might to that place. [Sidenote: The +bloody point. Yorkes sound.] And thereupon indeede our men which were in +the boates (crossing vpon them in the mouth of the sound whereby their +passage was let from getting sea roome, wherein it had bene impossible for +vs to ouertake them by rowing) forced them to put themselues ashore vpon a +point of land within the sayd sound (which vpon the occasion of the +slaughter there, was since named The bloody point) whereunto our men so +speedily followed, that they had little leisure left them to make any +escape. But so soone as they landed each of them brake his Oare, thinking +by that meanes to preuent vs, in carrying away their boates for want of +Oares. [Sidenote: A hot skirmish betweene the English and them of that +countrey.] And desperately returning vpon our men, resisted them manfully +in their landing, so long as their arrowes and dartes lasted, and after +gathering vp those arrowes which our men shot at them, yea, and plucking +our arrowes out of their bodies incountred fresh againe, and maintained +their cause vntill both weapons and life fayled them. [Sidenote: The +desperate nature of those people.] And when they found they were mortally +wounded, being ignorant what mercy meaneth, with deadly fury they cast +themselues headlong from off the rockes into the sea, least perhaps their +enemies should receiue glory or prey of their dead carcaises, for they +supposed vs belike to be Canibals or eaters of mans flesh. [Sidenote: The +taking of the woman and her child.] In this conflict one of our men was +dangerously hurt in the belly with one of their arrowes, and of them were +slaine fiue or sixe, the rest by flight escaping among the rockes, sauing +two women, whereof the one being old and vgly, our men thought shee had +bene a deuill or some witch, and therefore let her goe: the other being +yong, and cumbred with a sucking childe at her backe, hiding her selfe +behind the rockes, was espied by one of our men, who supposing she had bene +a man, shot through the haire of her head, and pierced through the childs +arme, whereupon she cried out, and our Surgeon meaning to heale her childes +arme, applyed salues thereunto. [Sidenote: A prety kind of surgery which +nature teacheth.] But she not acquainted with such kind of surgery, plucked +those salues away, and by continuall licking with her owne tongue, not much +vnlike our dogs, healed vp the childes arme. And because the day was +welneere spent our men made haste vnto the rest of our company which on the +other side of the water remained at the tents, where they found by the +apparell, letter, and other English furniture, that they were the same +company which Captaine Yorke discouered the night before, hauing remoued +themselues from the place where he left them. + +And now considering their sudden flying from our men, and their desperate +maner of fighting, we began to suspect that we had heard the last newes of +our men which the last yere were betrayed of these people. And considering +also their rauenous and bloody disposition in eating any kind of raw flesh +or carrion howsoeuer stinking, it is to bee thought that they had slaine +and deuoured our men: For the dublet which was found in their tents had +many holes therein being made with their arrowes and darts. + +But now the night being at hand, our men with their captiues and such poore +stuffe as they found in their tents, returned towards their ships, when +being at sea, there arose a sudden flaw of winde, which was not a little +dangerous for their small boates: but as God would they came all safely +aboord. And with these good newes they returned (as before mentioned) into +the Countesse of Warwicks sound vnto vs. [Sidenote: The narrowest place of +the Straites is 9. leagues ouer.] And betweene Iackmans sound, from whence +they came, and the Countesse of Warwicks sound betweene land, and land, +being thought the narrowest place of the Straights were iudged nine leagues +ouer at the least: [Sidenote: The Queenes Cape.] and Iackmans sound being +vpon the Southerland, lyeth directly almost ouer against the Countesses +sound, as is reckoned scarce thirty leagues within the Straights from the +Queenes Cape, which is the entrance of the Streits of the Southerland. This +Cape being named Queene Elizabeths Cape, standeth in the latitude of 62 +degrees and a halfe to the Northwards of New found land, and vpon the same +continent, for any thing that is yet knowen to the contrary. [Sidenote: The +maner of the meeting of the two captiues, and their entertainment.] Hauing +now got a woman captiue for the comfort of our man, we brought them both +together, and euery man with silence desired to behold the maner of their +meeting and entertainment, the which was more worth the beholding than can +be well expressed by writing. At their first encountring they beheld each +the other very wistly a good space, without speech or word vttered, with +great change of colour and countenance, as though it seemed the griefe and +disdeine of their captiuity had taken away the vse of their tongues and +vtterance: the woman at the first very suddenly, as though she disdeined or +regarded not the man, turned away, and began to sing as though she minded +another matter: but being againe brought together, the man brake vp the +silence first, and with sterne and stayed countenance, began to tell a long +solemne tale to the woman, whereunto she gaue good hearing, and interrupted +him nothing, till he had finished, and afterwards, being growen into more +familiar acquaintance by speech, they were turned together, so that (I +thinke) the one would hardly haue liued without the comfort of the other. +And for so much as we could perceiue, albeit they liued continually +together, yet they did neuer vse as man and wife, though the woman spared +not to doe all necessary things that appertained to a good housewife +indifferently for them both, as in making cleane their Cabin, and euery +other thing that appertained to his ease: for when he was seasicke, she +would make him cleane, she would kill and flea the dogs for their eating, +and dresse his meate. [Sidenote: The shamefastess and chastity of those +Sauage captiues.] Only I think it worth the noting, the continencie of them +both: for the man would neuer shift hemselfe, except he had first caused +the woman to depart out of his cabin, and they both were most shamefast, +least any of their priue parts should be discouered, either of themselues, +or any other body. + +[Sidenote: Another appearance of the countrey people.] On Munday the sixth +of August, the Lieutenant with all the Souldiers, for the better garde of +the Myners and other things a shore, pitched their tents in the Countesses +Island, and fortifyed the place for their better defence as well as they +could, and were to the number of forty persons, when being all at labour, +they might perceiue vpon the top of a hill ouer against them a number of +the countrey people wafting with a flag, and making great outcries vnto +them, and were of the same companie, which had encountred lately our men +vpon the other shore, being come to complaine their late losses, and to +entreate (as it seemed) for restriction of the woman and child, which our +men in the late conflict had taken and brought away; whereupon, the +Generall taking the sauage captiue with him, and setting the woman where +they might best perceiue her in the highest place in the Island, went ouer +to talke with them. This captiue at his first encounter of his friends fell +so out into teares that he could not speake a word in a great space, but +after a while, ouercomming his kindnesse, he talked at full with his +companions, and bestowed friendly vpon them such toyes and trifles as we +had giuen him, whereby we noted, that they are very kind one to another, +and greatly sorrowfull for the losse of their friends. Our Generall by +signes required his fiue men which they tooke captiue the last yeere, and +promised them, not only to release those which he had taken, but also to +reward them with great gifts and friendship. [Sidenote: Those people know +the vse of writing.] Our Sauage made signes in answere from them that our +men should be deliuered vs, and were yet liuing, and made signes likewise +vnto vs that we should write our letters vnto them, for they knew very well +the vse we haue of writing, and receiued knowledge thereof, either of our +poore captiue countreymen which they betrayed, or else by this our new +captiue who hath seene vs dayly write and repeate againe such words of his +language as we desired to learne: but they for this night, because it was +late, departed without any letter, although they called earnestly in hast +for the same. [Sidenote: A letter sent vnto the fiue English captiues.] And +the next morning early being the seuenth of August, they called againe for +the letter, which being deliuered vnto them, they speedily departed, making +signes with three fingers, and pointing to the Sunne, that they meant to +returne within 3 dayes, vntill which time we heard no more of them, and +about the time appointed they returned, in such sort as you shal afterwards +heare. + +This night because the people were very neere vnto vs, the Lieutenant +caused the Trumpet to sound a call, and euery man in the Island repayring +to the Ensigne, he put them in minde of the place so farre from their +countrey wherein they liued, and the danger of a great multitude which they +were subiect vnto, if good watch and warde were not kept, for at euery low +water the enimie might come almost dryfoot from the mayne vnto vs, +wherefore he willed euery man to prepare him in good readinesse vpon all +sudden occasions, and so giuing the watch their charge, the company +departed to rest. + +I thought the Captaines letter well worth the remembring, not for the +circumstance of curious enditing, but for the substance and good meaning +therein contained, and therefore haue repeated here the same, as by +himselfe it was hastily written. + + +The forme of M. Martin Frobishers letter to the English captiues. + +In the name of God, in whom we all beleeue, who (I trust) hath preserued +your bodies and soules amongst these infidels, I commend me vnto you. I +will be glad to seeke by al meanes you can deuise for your deliuerance, +either with force, or with any commodities within my ships, which I will +not spare for your sakes, or any thing else I can doe for you. I haue +aboord, of theirs, a man, a woman, and a child, which I am contented to +deliuer for you, but the man which I caried away from hence the last yeere +is dead in England. Moreouer you may declare vnto them, that if they +deliuer you not, I will not leaue a man aliue in their countrey. And thus, +if one of you can come to speake with mee, they shall haue either the man, +woman, or childe in pawne for yon. And thus vnto God whom I trust you doe +serue, in hast I leaue you, and to him wee will dayly pray for you. This +Tuesday morning the seuenth of August. Anno 1577. + +Yours to the vttermost of my power, + +MARTIN FROBISHER. + +[Sidenote: Postscript.] I haue sent you by these bearers, penne, ynke and +paper to write backe vnto me againe, if personally you cannot come to +certifie me of your estate. + +[Sidenote: The cause why M. Frobisher entred no further within the streits +this yere.] Now had the Generall altered his determination for going any +further into the Streites at this time for any further discouery of the +passage, hauing taken a man and a woman of that countrey, which he thought +sufficient for the vse of the language: and hauing also met with these +people here, which intercepted his men the last yere, (as the apparell and +English furniture which was found in their tents, very well declared) he +knew it was but a labour lost to seeke further off, when he had found them +there at hand. And considering also the short time he had in hand, he +thought it best to bend his whole endeuour for the getting of Myne, and to +leaue the passage further to be discouered hereafter. For his commission +directed him in this voyage, onely for the searching of the Ore, and to +deferre the further discouery of the passage vntill another time. + +[Sidenote: Bests bulwarke.] On Thursday the ninth of August we began to +make a small Fort for our defence in the Countesse Island, and entrenched a +corner of a cliffe, which on three parts like a wall of good height was +compassed and well fenced with the sea, and we finished the rest with +caskes of the earth, to good purpose, and this was called Bests bulwarke, +after the Lieutenants name, who first deuised the same. This was done for +that wee suspected more lest the desperate men might oppresse vs with +multitude, then any feare we had of their force, weapons, or policie of +battel; but as wisdome would vs in such place (so farre from home) not to +be of our selues altogether carelesse: [Sidenote: Their King called +Catchoe.] so the signes which our captiue made vnto vs, of the comming +downe of his Gouernour or Prince, which he called Catchoe, gaue vs occasion +to foresee what might ensue thereof, for he shewed by signes that this +Catchoe was a man of higher stature farre then any of our nation is, +[Sidenote: How he is honoured.] and he is accustomed to be caried vpon mens +shoulders. + +About midnight the Lieutenant caused a false Alarme to be giuen in the +Island, to proue as well the readines of the company there ashore, as also +what helpe might be hoped for vpon the sudden from the ships if need so +required, and euery part was found in good readines vpon such a sudden. + +Saturday the eleuenth of August the people shewed themselues againe, and +called vnto vs from the side of a hil ouer against vs. The General (with +good hope to heare of his men, and to haue answere of his letter) went ouer +vnto them, where they presented themselues not aboue three in sight, but +were hidden indeede in greater numbers behinde the rockes, and making +signes of delay with vs to entrappe some of vs to redeeme their owne, did +onely seek aduantage to traine our boat aboue a point of land from sight of +our companie: [Sidenote: A bladder changed for a looking glasse.] whereupon +our men iustly suspecting them, kept aloofe without their danger, and yet +set one of our company ashore which tooke vp a great bladder which one of +them offered vs, and leauing a looking glasse in the place, came into the +boate againe. [Sidenote: No newes of the English captives.] In the meane +while our men which stood in the Countesses Island to beholde, who might +better discerne them, then those of the boate, by reason they were on +higher ground, made a great outcrie vnto our men in the boate, for that +they saw diuers of the Sauages creeping behind the rockes towards our men, +wherupon the Generall presently returned without tidings of his men. + +[Sidenote: To what end the bladder was delivered.] Concerning this bladder +which we receiued, our Captiue made signes that it was giuen him to keepe +water and drinke in, but we suspected rather it was giuen him to swimme and +shift away withall, for he and the woman sought diuers times to escape, +hauing loosed our boates from asterne our ships, and we neuer a boate left +to pursue them withall, and had preuailed very farre, had they not bene +very timely espied and preuented therein. + +[Sidenote: Those people dancing vpon the hil toppes.] After our Generals +comming away from them they mustred themselues in our sight, vpon the top +of a hill, to the number of twenty in a rancke, all holding hands ouer +their heads, and dancing with great noise and songs together: we supposed +they made this dance and shew for vs to vnderstand that we might take view +of their whole companies and forced, meaning belike that we should doe the +same. And thus they continued vpon the hill tops vntill night, when hearing +a piece of our great Ordinance, which thundred in the hollownesse of the +high hilles, it made vnto them so fearefull a noise, that they had no great +will to tarie long after. And this was done more to make them know our +force then to doe them any hurt at all. + +[Sidenote: A skirmish shewed to those people.] On Sunday the 12 of August, +Captaine Fenton trained the company, and made the souldiers maintaine a +skirmish among themselues, as well for their exercise, as for the countrey +people to behold in what readines our men were alwaies to be found, for it +was to be thought, that they lay hid in the hilles thereabout, and obserued +all the maner of our proceedings. + +[Sidenote: Their flags made of bladders.] On Wednesday the fourteenth of +August, our Generall with two small boates well appointed, for that hee +suspected the countrey people to lie lurking thereabout, went vp a certaine +Bay within the Countesses sound, to search for Ore, and met againe with the +countrey people, who so soone as they saw our men made great outcries, and +with a white flag made of bladders sewed together with the guts and sinewes +of beasts, wafted vs amaine vnto them, but shewed not aboue three of their +company. But when wee came neere them, wee might perceiue a great multitude +creeping behinde the rockes, which gaue vs good cause to suspect their +traiterous meaning: whereupon we made them signes, that if they would lay +their weapons aside, and come foorth, we would deale friendly with them, +although their intent was manifested vnto vs: but for all the signes of +friendship we could make them they came still creeping towards vs behind +the rocks to get more aduantage of vs, as though we had no eyes to see +them, thinking belike that our single wits could not discouer so bare +deuises and simple drifts of theirs. Their spokesman earnestly perswaded vs +with many intising shewes, to come eate and sleepe ashore, with great +arguments of courtesie, and clapping his bare hands ouer his head in token +of peace and innocencie, willed vs to doe the like. [Sidenote: Great +offers.] But the better to allure our hungry stomackes, he brought vs a +trimme baite of raw flesh, which for fashion sake with a boat-hooke wee +caught into our boate: but when the cunning Cater perceiued his first cold +morsell could nothing sharpen our stomacks, he cast about for a new traine +of warme flesh to procure our appetites, wherefore be caused one of his +fellowes in halting maner, to come foorth as a lame man from behind the +rockes, and the better to declare his kindnes in caruing, he hoised him +vpon his shoulders, and bringing him hard to the water side where we were, +left him there limping as an easie prey to be taken of vs. His hope was +that we would bite at this baite, and speedily leape ashore within their +danger, wherby they might haue apprehended some of vs, to ransome their +friends home againe, which before we had taken. The gentlemen and souldiers +had great will to encounter them ashore, but the Generall more carefull by +processe of time to winne them, then wilfully at the first to spoile them, +would in no wise admit that any man should put himselfe in hazard ashore, +considering the matter he now intended was for the Ore, and not for the +Conquest: notwithstanding to prooue this cripples footemanship, he gaue +liberty for one to shoote: whereupon the cripple hauing a parting blow, +lightly recouered a rocke and went away a true and no fained cripple, and +hath learned his lesson for euer halting afore such cripples againe. But +his fellowes which lay hid before, full quickly then appeared in their +likenesse, and maintained the skirmish with their slings, bowes and arrowes +very fiercely, and came as neere as the water suffred them: and with as +desperate minde as hath bene seene in any men, without feare of shotte or +any thing, followed vs all along the coast, but all their shot fell short +of vs, and are of little danger. [Sidenote: An hundreth Sauages.] They had +belayed all the coast along for vs, and being dispersed so, were not well +to be numbred, but wee might discerne of them aboue an hundreth persons, +and had cause to suspect a greater number. And thus without losse or hurt +we returned to our ships againe. + +Now our worke growing to an end, and hauing, onely with fiue poore Miners, +and the helpe of a few gentlemen and souldiers, brought aboord almost two +hundreth tunne of Ore in the space of twenty dayes, euery man therewithall +well comforted, determined lustily to worke a fresh for a bone[69] voyage, +to bring our labour to a speedy and happy ende. + +And vpon Wednesday at night, being the one and twentieth of August, we +fully finished the whole worke. And it was now good time to leaue, for as +the men were well wearied, so their shooes and clothes were well worne, +their baskets bottoms torne out, their tooles broken, and the ships +reasonably well filled. Some with ouer-straining themselues receiued hurts +not a little dangerous, some hauing their bellies broken, and others their +legs made lame. And about this time the yce began to congeale and freeze +about our ships sides a night, which gaue vs a good argument of the Sunnes +declining Southward, and put vs in mind to make more haste homeward. + +It is not a little worth the memorie, to the commendation of the gentlemen +and souldiers herein, who leauing all reputation apart, with so great +willingnesse and with couragious stomackes, haue themselues almost ouercome +in so short a time the difficultie of this so great a labour. And this to +be true, the matter, if it bee well weyed without further proofe, now +brought home doth well witnesse. + +Thursday the 22 of August, we plucked downe our tents, and euery man hasted +homeward, and making bonefires vpon the top of the highest Mount of the +Island, and marching with Ensigne displayed round about the Island, wee +gaue a vollie of shotte for a farewell, in honour of the right honourable +Lady Anne, Countesse of Warwicke, whose name it beareth: and so departed +aboord. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 23 of August hawing the wind large at West, +we set saile from out of the Countesses sound homeward, but the wind +calming we came to anker within the point of the same sound againe. + +The 24 of August about three of the clocke in the morning, hauing the wind +large at West, we set saile againe, and by nine of the clocke at night, wee +left the Queenes Foreland asterne of vs, and being cleere of the Streites, +we bare further into the maine Ocean, keeping our course more Southerly, to +bring our selues the sooner vnder the latitude of our owne climate. + +[Sidenote: Snow halfe a foote deepe in August.] The wind was very great at +sea, so that we lay a hull all night, and had snow halfe a foote deepe on +the hatches. + +From the 24 vntil the 28 we had very much wind, but large, keeping our +course Southsoutheast, and had like to haue lost the Barkes, but by good +hap we met againe. The height being taken, we were in [70]degrees and a +halfe. + +The 29 of August the wind blew much at Northeast, so that we could beare +but onely a bunt of our foresaile, and the Barkes were not able to cary any +sayle at all. + +The Michael lost company of vs and shaped her course towards Orkney because +that way was better knowne vnto them, and arriued at Yermouth. + +[Sidenote: The Master of the Gabriell strooken ouerboord.] The 30 of August +with the force of the wind, and a surge of the sea, the Master of the +Gabriel and the boatswain were striken both ouerboord, and hardly was the +boatswain recouered, hauing hold on a roape hanging ouerboord in the sea, +and yet the barke was laced fore and after with ropes a breast high within +boorde. + +This Master was called William Smith, being but a yong man and a very +sufficient mariner, who being all the morning before exceeding pleasant, +told his Captaine he dreamed that he was cast ouerboord, and that the +Boatswain had him by the hand, and could not saue him, and so immediately +vpon the end of his tale, his dreame came right euilly to passe, and indeed +the Boatswain in like sort held him by one hand, hauing hold on a rope with +the other, vntill his force fayled, and the Master drowned. The height +being taken we found ourselues to be in the latitude of [71] degrees and a +halfe, and reckoned our selues from the Queenes Cape homeward about two +hundreth leagues. + +The last of August about midnight, we had two or three great and sudden +flawes or stormes. + +The first of September the storme was growen very great, and continued +almost the whole day and night, and lying a hull to tarrie for the Barkes +our ship was much beaten with the seas, euery sea almost ouertaking our +poope, so that we were constrained with a bunt of our saile to trie it out, +and ease the rolling of our ship. And so the Gabriel not able to beare any +sayle to keepe company with vs, and our ship being higher in the poope, and +a tall ship, whereon the winde had more force to driue, went so fast away +that we lost sight of them, and left them to God and their good fortune of +Sea. [Sidenote: The Rudder of the Aide torne in twain.] The second day of +September in the morning, it pleased God of his goodnesse to send vs a +calme, whereby we perceiued the Rudder of our ship torne in twaine, and +almost ready to fall away. Wherefore taking the benefite of the time, we +flung half a dozen couple of our best men ouer boord, who taking great +paines vnder water, driuing plankes, and binding with ropes, did well +strengthen and mend the matter, who returned the most part more then halfe +dead out of the water, and as Gods pleasure was, the sea was calme vntill +the worke was finished. The fift of September, the height of the Sunne +being taken, we found our selues to be in the latitude of [72] degrees +and a halfe. [Sidenote: How the latitudes were alwayes taken in this voyage +rather with the Staffe then Astrolabe.] In this voyage commonly wee tooke +the latitude of the place by the height of the sunne, because the long day +taketh away the light not onely of the Polar, but also of all other fixed +Starres. And here the North Starre is so much eleuated aboue the Horizon, +that with the staffe it is hardly to bee well obserued, and the degrees in +the Astrolabe are too small to obserue minutes: Therefore wee alwaies vsed +the Staffe and the sunne as fittest instruments for this vse. + +Hauing spent foure or fiue dayes in trauerse of the seas with contrary +winde, making our Souther way good as neere as we could, to raise our +degrees to bring ourselues with the latitude of Sylley, wee tooke the +height the tenth of September, and found our selues in the latitude +of [73] degrees and ten minutes. The eleuenth of September about sixe a +clocke at night the winde came good Southwest, we vered sheat and set our +course Southeast. + +And vpon Thursday, the twelfth of September, taking the height, we were in +the latitude of [74] and a halfe, and reckoned our selues not past one +hundred and fifty leagues short of Sylley, the weather faire, the winde +large at Westsouthwest, we kept our course Southeast. + +The thirteenth day the height being taken, wee found our selues to be in +the latitude of [75] degrees, the wind Westsouthwest, then being in the +height of Sylley, and we kept our course East, to run in with the sleeue or +chanel so called, being our narrow seas, and reckoned vs short of Sylley +twelue leagues. + +Sonday, the 15 of September about foure of the clocke, we began to sound +with our lead, and had ground at 61 fadome depth, white small sandy ground, +and reckoned vs vpon the backe of Sylley, and set our course East and by +North, Eastnortheast, and Northeast among. + +The sixteenth of September, about eight of the clocke in the morning +sounding, we had 65. fadome osey[76] sand, and thought our selues thwart of +S. Georges channell a little within the banks. And bearing a small saile +all night, we made many soundings, which were about fortie fadome, and so +shallow, that we could not well tell where we were. + +The seuenteenth of September we sounded, and had forty fadome, and were not +farre off the lands end, finding branded sand with small wormes and Cockle +shells, and were shotte betweene Sylley and the lands ende, and being +within the bay, we were not able to double the pointe with a South and by +East way, but were faine to make another boord, the wind being at Southwest +and by West, and yet could not double the point to come cleere of the lands +end, to beare along the channell: and the weather cleered vp when we were +hard aboord the shore, and we made the lands end perfit, and so put vp +along Saint Georges channel. [Sidenote: The arriual of the Aide at Padstow +in Cornewall.] And the weather being very foule at sea, we coueted some +harborough, because our steerage was broken, and so came to ancor in +Padstow road in Cornewall. But riding there a very dangerous roade, we were +aduised by the Countrey, to put to Sea againe, and of the two euils, to +chose the lesse, for there was nothing but present perill where we rode: +[Sidenote: Our comming to Milford Hauen.] whereupon we plyed along the +channell to get to Londy, from whence we were againe driuen, being but an +open roade, where our anker came home, and with force of weather put to +Seas againe, and about the three and twentieth of September, arriued at +Milford Hauen in Wales, which being a very good harborough, made vs happy +men, that we had receiued such long desired safetie. + +About one moneth after our arriuall here, by order from the Lords of the +Counsell, the ship came up to Bristow, where the Ore was committed to +keeping in the Castel there. [Sidenote: The arriuall of the Gabriel at +Bristow.] Here we found the Gabriel one of the Barkes, arriued in good +safetie, who hauing neuer a man within boord very sufficient to bring home +the ship, after the Master was lost, by good fortune, when she came vpon +the coast, met with a ship of Bristow at sea, who conducted her in safety +thither. + +[Sidenote: The Michael arriued in the North parts. Only one man died the +voyage.] Here we heard good tidings also of the arriuall of the other Barke +called the Michael, in the North parts, which was not a little ioyful vnto +vs, that it pleased God so to bring vs to a safe meeting againe, and wee +lost in all that voyage only one man, besides one that dyed at sea, which +was sicke before he came aboord, and was so desirous to follow this +enterprise, that he rather chose to dye therein, then not to be one to +attempt so notable a voyage. + + +The third voyage of Captaine Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of + Cataia, by Meta Incognita, Anno Do, 1578. + +The Generall being returned from the second voyage, immediately after his +arriuall in England repaired with all hast to the Court being then at +Windsore, to aduertise her Majestie of his prosperous proceeding, and good +successe in this last voyage, and of the plenty of gold Ore, with other +matters of importance which he had in those Septentrionall parts +discouered. [Sidenote: M. Frobisher commended of her Maiestie.] He was +courteously enterteyned, and heartily welcommed of many noble men, but +especially for his great aduenture, commended of her Maiestie, at whose +hands he receiued great thankes, and most gracious countenance, according +to his deserts. [Sidenote: The Gentlemen commended.] Her Highnesse also +greatly commended the rest of the Gentlemen in this seruice, for their +great forwardnes in this so dangerous an attempt: but especially she +reioyced very much, that among them there was so good order of gouernment, +so good agreement, euery man so ready in his calling, to do whatsoeuer the +Generall should command, which due commendation gratiously of her Maiestie +remembred, gaue so great encouragement to all the Captaines and Gentlemen, +that they to continue her Highnesse so good and honourable opinion of them, +haue since neither spared labour, limme, nor life, to bring this matter (so +well begun) to a happie and prosperous ende. [Sidenote: Commissioners +appointed to examine the goodnesse of the Ore.] And finding that the matter +of the golde Ore had appearance and made shew of great riches and profit, +and the hope of the passage to Cataya, by this last voyage greatly +increased, her Maiestie appointed speciall Commissioners chosen for this +purpose, gentlemen of great iudgement, art, and skill, to looke thorowly +into the cause, for the true triall and due examination thereof, and for +the full handling of all matters thereunto appertaining. [Sidenote: A name +giuen to the place new discouered.] And because that place and countrey +hath neuer heretofore bene discouered, and therefore had no speciall name, +by which it might be called and knowen, her Maiestie named it very properly +Meta Incognita, as a marke and bound vtterly hitherto vnknowen. The +commissioners after sufficient triall and proofe made of the Ore, and +hauing vnderstood by sundrie reasons, and substantiall grounds, the +possibilitie and likelyhood of the passage, aduertised her highnesse, that +the cause was of importance, and the voyage greatly worthy to be aduanced +againe. Wherevpon preparation was made of ships and all other things +necessary, with such expedition, as the time of the yeere then required. +And because it was assuredly made accompt of, that the commoditie of Mines, +there already discouered, would at the least counteruaille in all respects +the aduenturers charge, and giue further hope and likelyhood of greater +matters to follow: [Sidenote: The hope of the passage to Cataya.] it was +thought needfull, both for the better guard of those parts already found, +and for further discouery of the Inland and secrets of those countreys, and +also for further search of the passage to Cataya (whereof the hope +continually more and more increaseth) that certaine numbers of chosen +souldiers and discreet men for those purposes should be assigned to +inhabite there. [Sidenote: A forte to be built in Meta Incognita.] +Wherevpon there was a strong fort or house of timber, artificially framed, +and cunningly deuised by a notable learned man here at home, in ships to be +caried thither, wherby those men that were appointed to winter and stay +there the whole yere, might as well bee defended from the danger of snow +and colde ayre, as also fortified from the force or offence of those +countrey people, which perhaps otherwise with too great multitudes might +oppresse them. And to this great aduenture and notable exploit many well +minded and forward yong Gentlemen of our countrey willingly haue offered +themselues. And first Captaine Fenton Lieutenant generall for Captaine +Frobisher, and in charge of the company with him there, Captaine Best, and +Captaine Filpot, vnto whose good discretions the gouernment of that seruice +was chiefly commended, who, as men not regarding peril in respect of the +profit and common wealth of their countrey, were willing to abide the first +brunt and aduenture of those dangers among a sauage and brutish kinde of +people, in a place hitherto euer thought for extreme cold not habitable. +[Sidenote: A hundreth men appointed to inhabite there.] The whole number of +men which had offered, and were appointed to inhabite Meta Incognita all +the yeere, were one hundreth persons, whereof 40 should be mariners for the +vse of ships, 30 Miners for gathering the gold Ore together for the next +yere, and 30 souldiers for the better guard of the rest, within which last +number are included the Gentlemen, Goldfiners, Bakers, Carpenters, and all +necessary persons. To each of the Captaines was assigned one ship, as wel +for the further searching of the coast and countrey there, as for to +returne and bring backe their companies againe, if the necessity of the +place so vrged, or by miscarying of the fleet the next yere, they might be +disappointed of their further prouision. Being therefore thus furnished +with al necessaries, there were ready to depart vpon the said voyage 15 +saile of good ships, whereof the whole number was to returne again with +their loding of gold Ore in the end of the sommer, except those 3 ships, +which should be left for the vse of those Captains which should inhabite +there the whole yere. And being in so good readinesse, the Generall with +all the Captaines came to the Court, then lying at Greenwich, to take their +leaue of her Maiestie, at whose hands they all receiued great +encouragement, and gracious countenance. [Sidenote: A chaine of gold giuen +to M. Frobisher.] Her highnesse besides other good gifts, and greater +promises, bestowed on the Generall a faire chaine of golde, and the rest of +the Captaines kissed her hand, tooke their leaue, and departed euery man +towards their charge. + + +The names of the Ships with their seuerall Captaines. + +1 In the Aide being Admirall, was the Generall Captaine Frobisher. + +2 In the Thomas Allen Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke. + +3 In the Iudith Lieutenant generall Captaine Fenton. + +4 In the Anne Francis Captaine Best. + +5 In the Hopewell Captaine Carew. + +6 In the Beare Captaine Filpot. + +7 In the Thomas of Ipswich Captaine Tanfield. + +8 In the Emmanuel of Exceter Captaine Courtney. + +9 In the Francis of Foy Captaine Moyles. + +10 In the Moone Captaine Vpcot. + +11 In the Emmanuel of Bridgewater Captaine Newton. + +12 In the Salomon of Weymouth Captaine Randal. + +13 In the Barke Dennis Captaine Kendal. + +14 In the Gabriel Captaine Haruey. + +15 In the Michael Captaine Kinnersly. + +The sayd fifteene saile of ships arriued and met together at Harwich, the +seuen and twentieth day of May Anno 1578, where the Generall and the other +Captaines made view, and mustred their companies. And euery seuerall +Captaine receiued from the Generall certaine Articles of direction, for the +better keeping of order and company together in the way, which Articles are +as followeth. + + +Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete, set downe by Captaine + Frobisher Generall, and deliuered in writing to euery Captaine, as well + for keeping company, as for the course, the 31 of May. + +1 In primis, to banish swearing, dice, and card-playing, and filthy +communication, and to serue God twice a day, with the ordinary seruice +vsuall in Churches of England, and to cleare the glasse, according to the +old order of England. + +2 The Admirall shall carie the light, and after his light be once put out, +no man to goe a head of him, but euery man to fit his sailes to follow as +neere as they may, without endangering one another. + +3 That no man shall by day or by night depart further from the Admirall +then the distance of one English mile, and as neere as they may, without +danger one of another. + +4 If it chance to grow thicke, and the wind contrary, either by day or by +night, that the Admirall be forced to cast about, before her casting about +shee shall giue warning, by shooting off a peece, and to her shall answere +the Viceadmirall and the Rereadmirall each of them with a piece, if it bee +by night, or in a fogge; and that the Viceadmirall shall answere first, and +the Rereadmirall last. + +5 That no man in the fleete descrying any sayle or sayles, giue vpon any +occasion any chace before he haue spoken with the Admirall. + +6 That euery euening all the Fleete come vp and speake with the Admirall, +at seuen of the Clocke or betweene that and eight and if the weather will +not serue them all to speake with the Admirall, then some shall come to the +Viceadmirall, and receiue the order of their course of Master Hall chiefe +Pilot of the Fleete, as he shall direct them. + +7 If to any man in the Fleete there happen any mischance, they shall +presently shoote off two peeces by day, and if it be by night, two peeces, +and shew two lights. + +8 If any man in the fleete come vp in the night, and hale his fellow, +knowing him not, he shall giue him this watch-word, Before the world was +God. The other shal answere him (if he be one of our Fleete) After God came +Christ his Sonne. So that if any be found amongst vs, not of our owne +company, he that first descrieth any such sayle or sayles, shall giue +warning to the Admirall by himselfe or any other, that he can speake to, +that sailes better then he, being neerest vnto him. + +9 That every ship in the fleete in the time of fogs, which continually +happen with little winds, and most part calmes, shal keepe a reasonable +noise with trumpet, drumme, or otherwise, to keepe themselues cleere one of +another. + +10 If it fall out so thicke or mistie that we lay it to hull, the Admirall +shall giue warning with a piece, and putting out three lights one ouer +another, to the end that euery man may take in his sailes, and at his +setting of sayles againe doe the like if it be not cleere. + +11 If any man discover land by night, that he giue the like warning, that +he doth for mischances, two lights, and two pieces, if it be by day one +piece, and put out his flagge, and strike all his sailes he hath aboord. + +12 If any ship shall happen to lose company by force of weather, then any +such ship or ships shall get her into the latitude of [77] and so keepe +that latitude vntill they get Frisland. And after they be past the West +parts of Frisland, they shall get them into the latitude of [78] and +[79] and not to the Northward of [80] and being once entred within the +Streites, al such ships shal euery watch shoote off a good piece, and looke +out well for smoke and fire, which those that get in first shall make euery +night, vntill all the fleete be come together. + +13 That vpon the sight of an ensigne in the mast of the Admirall (a piece +being shot off) the whole fleete shall repaire to the Admirall, to +vnderstand such conference as the Generall is to haue with them. + +14 If we chance to meete with any enemies, that foure ships shall attend +vpon the Admirall, viz. the Francis of Foy, the Moone, the Barke Dennis, +and the Gabriel: and foure vpon my Lieutenant generall in the Iudith, viz. +the Hopewel, the Armenal, the Beare, and the Salomon: and the other foure +vpon the Vizadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, the +Emmanuel, and the Michael. + +15 If there happen any disordred person in the Fleete, that he be taken and +kept in safe custodie vntill he may conueniently be brought aboord the +Admirall, and there to receiue such punishment as his or their offences +shall deserue. + +By me Martin Frobisher. + + +Our departure from England. + +Hauing receiued these articles of direction we departed from Harwich the +one and thirtieth of May. [Sidenote: Cape Cleare the sixt of Iune.] And +sayling along the South part of England Westward, we at length came by the +coast of Ireland at Cape Cleare the sixth of Iune, and gaue chase there to +a small barke which was supposed to be a Pyrat, or Rouer on the Seas, but +it fell out indeede that they were poore men of Bristow, who had met with +such company of Frenshmen as had spoiled and slaine many of them, and left +the rest so sore wounded that they were like to perish in the sea, hauing +neither hand nor foote hole to helpe themselues with, nor victuals to +sustaine their hungry bodies. [Sidenote: A charitable deede.] Our Generall, +who well vnderstood the office of a Souldier and an Englishman, and knew +well what the necessitie of the Sea meaneth, pitying much the miserie of +the poore men, relieved them with Surgerie and Salues to heale their +hurtes, and with meate and drinke to comfort their pining hearts: some of +them hauing neither eaten nor dronke more then oliues and stinking water in +many dayes before, as they reported. And after this good deede done, hauing +a large wind, we kept our course vpon our sayd voyage without staying for +the taking in of fresh water, or any other prouision, whereof many of the +fleete were not throughly furnished: [Sidenote: Marke this current.] and +sayling towards the Northwest parts from Ireland, we mette with a great +current from out of the Southwest, which caried vs (by our reckoning) one +point to the Northeastwards of our sayd course, which current seemed to vs +to continue it selfe towards Norway, and other the Northeast parts of the +world, whereby we may be induced to beleeue, that this is the same which +the Portugals meete at Capo de buona Speranza,[81] where striking ouer from +thence to the Streites of Magellan, and finding no passage there for the +narrownesse of the sayde Streites, runneth along into the great Bay of +Mexico, where also hauing a let of land, it is forced to strike backe +againe towards the Northeast,[82] as we not onely here, but in another +place also, further to the Northwards, by good experience this yeere haue +found, as shalbe hereafter in his place more at large declared. + +Now had we sayled about fourteene dayes, without sight of any land, or any +other liuing thing, except certaine foules, as Wilmots, Nodies, Gulles, &c. +which there seeme onely to liue by sea. + +[Sidenote: West England.] The twentieth of Iune, at two of the clocke in +the morning, the Generall descried land, and found it to be West Frisland, +now named west England. Here the Generall, and other Gentlemen went ashore, +being the first knowen Christians that we haue true notice of, that euer +set foot vpon that ground: and therefore the Generall took possession +thereof to the vse of our Soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie, and +discouered here a goodly harborough for the ships, where were also certaine +little boates of that countrey. And being there landed, they espied +certaine tents and people of that countrey, which were (as they iudge) in +all sorts, very like those of Meta Incognita, as by their apparell, and +other things which we found in their tents, appeared. + +The Sauage and simple people so soone as they perceiued our men comming +towards them (supposing there had bene no other world but theirs) fled +fearefully away, as men much amazed at so strange a sight, and creatures of +humane shape, so farre in apparell, complexion, and other things different +from themselues. They left in their tents all their furniture for haste +behind them, where amongst other things were found a boxe of small nailes, +and certaine red Herrings, boords of Firre tree well cut, with diuers other +things artificially wrought: whereby it appeareth, that they haue trade +with some ciuill people, or else are indeede themselues artificiall +workmen. + +Our men brought away with them onely two of their dogs, leauing in +recompense belles, looking-glasses, and diuers of our countrey toyes +behinde them. + +This countrey, no doubt, promiseth good hope of great commoditie and +riches, if it may be well discouered. The description whereof you shall +finde more at large in the second voyage. + +[Sidenote: Frisland supposed to be continent with Greenland.] Some are of +opinion, that this West England is firme land with the Northeast partes of +Meta Incognita, or else with Groenland. And their reason is, because the +people, apparel, boates, and other things are so like to theirs: and +another reason is, the multitude of Islands of yce, which lay betweene it +and Meta Incognita, doth argue, that on the North side there is a bay, +which cannot be but by conioyning of the two lands together. + +[Sidenote: The 23rd of Iune.] And hauing a faire and large winde we +departed from thence towards Frobishers Streites, the three and twentieth +of Iune. [Sidenote: Charing Crosse.] But first wee gaue name to a high +cliffe in West England, the last that was in our sight, and for a certaine +sinulitude we called it Charing crosse. Then wee bare Southerly towards the +Sea, because to the Northwardes of this coast we met with much driuing yce, +which by reason of the thicke mistes and weather might haue bene some +trouble vnto vs. + +On Munday the last of Iune, wee met with many great Whales, as they had +bene Porposes. + +[Sidenote: A Whale strooke a ship.] The same day the Salamander being vnder +both her corses and bonets, happened to strike a great Whale with her full +stemme, with such a blow that the ship stoode still, and stirred neither +forward or backward. The Whale thereat made a great and vgly noyse, and +cast vp his body and taile, and sowent vnder water, and within two dayes +after, there was found a great Whale dead swimming aboue water, which wee +supposed was that which the Salamander strooke. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers Streites choked vp with yce.] The second day of Iuly +early in the morning we had sight of the Queenes Foreland, and bare in with +the land all the day, and passing thorow great quantity of yce, by night +were entred somewhat within the Streites, perceiuing no way to passe +further in, the whole place being frozen ouer from the one side to the +other, and as it were with many walles, mountaines, and bulwarks of yce, +choked vp the passage, and denied vs entrance. And yet doe I not thinke +that this passage or Sea hereabouts is frozen ouer at any time of the yere: +albeit it seemed so vnto vs by the abundance of yce gathered together, +which occupied the whole place. But I doe rather suppose these yce to bee +bred in the hollow soundes and freshets thereabouts: which by the heate of +the Summers Sunne, being loosed, doe emptie themselues with the ebbes into +the sea, and so gather in great abundance there together. + +And to speake somewhat here of the ancient opinion of the frozen sea in +these parts: I doe thinke it to be rather a bare coniecture of men, then +that euer any man hath made experience of any such Sea. And that which they +speake of Mare glaciale, may be truely thought to be spoken of these parts: +[Sidenote: Salt water cannot freeze.] for this may well be called indeede +the ycie sea, but not the frozen sea, for no sea consisting of salt water +can be frozen, as I haue more at large herein shewed my opinion in my +second voyage, for it seemeth impossible for any sea to bee frozen, which +hath his course of ebbing and flowing, especially in those places where the +tides doe ebbe and flowe aboue ten fadome. And also all these aforesayd +yce, which we sometime met a hundredth mile from lande, being gathered out +of the salt Sea, are in taste fresh, and being dissolued, become sweete and +holesome water.[83] + +And the cause why this yere we haue bene more combred with yce then at +other times before, may be by reason of the Easterly and Southerly winds, +which brought vs more timely thither now then we looked for. Which blowing +from the sea directly vponn the place of our Streites, hath kept in the +yce, and not suffered them to be caried out by the ebbe to the maine sea, +where they would in more short time have bene dissolued. And all these +fleeting yce are not only so dangerous in that they wind and gather so +neere together, that a man may passe sometimes tenne or twelue miles as it +were vpon one firme Island of yce: but also for that they open and shut +together againe in such sort with the tides and sea-gate, that whilst one +ship followeth the other with full sayles, the yce which was open vnto the +foremost will ioyne and close together before the latter can come to follow +the first, whereby many times our shippes were brought into great danger, +as being not able so sodainely to take in our sayles or stay the swift way +of our ships. + +We were forced many times to stemme and strike great rockes of yce, and so +as it were make way through mighty mountaines. By which meanes some of the +fleete, where they found the yce to open, entred in, and passed so farre +within the danger thereof, with continuall desire to recouer their port, +that it was the greatest wonder of the world that they euer escaped safe, +or were euer heard of againe. For euen at this present we missed two of the +fleete, that is, the Iudith, wherein was the Lieutenant Generall Captaine +Fenton; and the Michael, whom both we supposed had bene vtterly lost, +hauing not heard any tidings of them in moe then 20 dayes before. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dennis sunke.] And one of our fleete named the Barke +Dennis, being of an hundreth tunne burden, seeking way in amongst these +yce, receiued such a blow with a rocke of yce that she sunke downe +therewith in the sight of the whole fleete. Howbeit hauing signified her +danger by shooting off a peece of great Ordinance, new succour of other +ships came so readily vnto them, that the men were all saued with boats. + +[Sidenote: Part of the house lost.] Within this ship that was drowned there +was parcell of our house which was to bee erected for them that should stay +all the Winter in Meta Incognita. + +This was a more fearefull spectacle for the Fleete to beholde, for that the +outragious storme which presently followed, threatned them the like fortune +and danger. For the Fleete being thus compassed (as aforesayd) on euery +side with yce, having left much behinde them, thorow which they passed, and +finding more before them, thorow which it was not possible to passe, there +arose a sudden terrible tempest at the Southeast, which blowing from the +maine sea, directly vpon the place of the Streites, brought together all +the yce a sea-boorde of vs vpon our backes, and thereby debard vs of +turning backe to recouer sea-roome againe: so that being thus compassed +with danger on euery side, sundry men with sundry deuises sought the best +way to saue themselues. Some of the ships, where they could find a place +more cleare of yce, and get a little birth of sea roome, did take in their +sayles, and there lay a drift. Other some fastened and mored Anker vpon a +great Island of yce, and roade vnder the Lee thereof, supposing to be +better guarded thereby from the outragious winds, and the danger of the +lesser fleeting yce. And againe some were so fast shut vp, and compassed in +amongst an infinite number of great countreys and Islands of yce, that they +were faine to submit themselues and their ships to the mercy of the +vnmerciful yce, and strengthened the sides of their shipps with iuncks of +cables, beds, Mastes, plankes and such like, which being hanged ouerboard +on the sides of their ships, might the better defend them from the +outragious sway and strokes of the said yce. But as in greatest distresse, +men of best valor are best to be discerned, so it is greatly worthy +commendation and noting with what inuincible minde euery Captaine +encouraged his company, and with what incredible labour the painefull +Mariners and poore Miners (vnacquainted with such extremities) to the +euerlasting renowne of our nation, did ouercome the brunt of these so great +and extreme dangers: for some, even without boord vpon the yce, and some +within boord vpon the sides of their ships, hauing poles, pikes, pieces of +timber, and Ores in their handes, stoode almost day and night without any +rest, bearing off the force, and breaking the sway of the yce with such +incredible paine and perill, that it was wonderfull to beholde, which +otherwise no doubt had striken quite through and through the sides of their +ships, notwithstanding our former prouision: for plankes of timber more +then three inches thicke, and other things of greater force and bignesse, +by the surging of the sea and billowe, with the yce were shiuered and cut +in sunder, at the sides of our ships, so that it will seeme more then +credible to be reported of. And yet (that which is more) it is faithfully +and plainely to bee prooued, and that by many substantiall witnesses, that +our ships, euen those of greatest burdens, with the meeting of contrary +waues of the sea, were heaued vp betweene Islands of yce, a foote welneere +out of the sea aboue their watermarke, hauing their knees and timbers +within boord both bowed and broken therewith. + +And amidst these extremes, whilest some laboured for defence of the ships, +and sought to saue their bodies, other some of more milder spirit sought to +saue the soule by deuout prayer and meditation to the Almightie, thinking +indeede by no other meanes possible then by a diuine Miracle to haue their +deliuerance: so that there was none that were either idle, or not well +occupied, and he that helde himselfe in best securitie had (God knoweth) +but onely bare hope remayning for his best safetie. + +Thus all the gallant Fleete and miserable men without hope of euer getting +foorth againe, distressed with these extremities remayned here all the +whole night and part of the next day, excepting foure ships, that is the +Annie Francis, the Moone, the Francis of Foy, and the Gabriell, which being +somewhat a Seaboord of the Fleete, and being fast ships by a winde, hauing +a more scope of cleare, tryed it out all the time of the storme vnder +sayle, being hardly able to beare a coast of each. + +And albeit, by reason of the fleeting yce, which were dispersed here almost +the whole sea ouer, they were brought many times to the extreamest point of +perill, mountaines of yce tenne thousand times scaping them scarce one +ynch, which to have striken had bene their present destruction, considering +the swift course and way of the ships, and the unwieldinesse of them to +stay and turne as a man would wish: yet they esteemed it their better +safetie, with such perill to seeke Sea-roome, then without hope of euer +getting libertie to lie striuing against the streame, and beating against +the Isie mountaines, whose hugenesse and monstrous greatnesse was such, +that no man would credite, but such as to their paines sawe and felt it. +And these foure shippes by the next day at noone got out to Sea, and were +first cleare of the yce, who now enioying their owne libertie, beganne a +new to sorrow and feare for their fellowes safeties. And deuoutly kneeling +about their maine Mast, they gaue vnto God humble thankes, not only for +themselues, but besought him likewise highly for their friendes +deliuerance. And euen now whilst amiddest these extremities this gallant +Fleete and valiant men were altogither ouerlaboured and forewatched, with +the long and fearefull continuance of the foresayd dangers, it pleased God +with his eyes of mercie to looke downe from heauen to sende them helpe in +good time, giuing them the next day a more favourable winde at the West +Northwest, which did not onely disperse and driue foorth the yce before +them, but also gaue them libertie of more scope and Sea-roome, and they +were by night of the same day following perceiued of the other foure +shippes, where (to their greatest comfort) they enioyed againe the +fellowship one of another. Some in mending the sides of their ships, some +in setting vp their top Mastes, and mending their sayles and tacklings; +Againe, some complayning of their false Stemme borne away, some in stopping +their leakes, some in recounting their dangers past, spent no small time +and labour. So that I dare well auouch, there were neuer men more +dangerously distressed, nor more mercifully by Gods prouidence deliuered. +And hereof both the torne ships, and the forwearied bodies of the men +arriued doe beare most euident marke and witnesse. And now the whole Fleete +plyed off to Seaward, resoluing there to abide vntill the Sunne might +consume, or the force of winde disperse these yce from the place of their +passage; and being a good birth off the shore, they tooke in their sailes, +and lay adrift. + +[Sidenote: Another assault.] The seuenth of Iuly as men nothing yet +dismayed, we cast about towards the inward, and had sight of land, which +rose in forme like the Northerland of the straights, which some of the +Fleete, and those not the worst Marriners, iudged to be the North Foreland: +howbeit other some were of contrary opinion. [Sidenote: Fogge, snow, and +mistes hinder the Mariners markes.] But the matter was not well to be +discerned by reason of the thicke fogge which a long time hung vpon the +coast, and the new falling snow which yeerely altereth the shape of the +land, and taketh away oftentimes the Mariners markes. And by reason of the +darke mists which continued by the space of twentie dayes togither, this +doubt grewe the greater and the longer perilous. [Sidenote: A swift current +from the Northeast.] For whereas indeede we thought ourselues to be vpon +the Northeast side of Frobishers straights, we were now caried to the +Southwestwards of the Queenes Foreland, and being deceiued by a swift +current comming from the Northeast, were brought to the Southwestwards of +our said course many miles more then we did thinke possible could come to +passe. The cause whereof we haue since found, and it shall be at large +hereafter declared. + +[Sidenote: A current.] Here we made a point of land which some mistooke for +a place in the straightes called Mount Warwicke: but how we should be so +farre shot vp so suddainely within the said straights the expertest +Mariners began to maruell, thinking it a thing impossible that they could +be so farre ouertaken in their accounts, or that any current could deceiue +them here which they had not by former experience prooued and found out. +Howbeit many confessed that they found a swifter course of flood then +before time they had obserued. And truely it was wonderfull to heare and +see the rushing and noise that the tides do make in this place with so +violent a force that our ships lying a hull were turned sometimes round +about euen in a moment, after the maner of a whirlepoole, and the noyse of +the streame no lesse to be heard afarre off, then the waterfall of London +Bridge. + +[Sidenote: Iames Beare a good Mariner.] But whilst the Fleete lay thus +doubtfull amongst great store of yce in a place they knew not without sight +of Sunne, whereby to take the height, and so to know the true eleuation of +the pole, and without any cleere of light to make perfite the coast, the +Generall with the Captaines and Masters of his ships, began doubtfully to +question of the matter, and sent his Pinnesse aboord to heare each man's +opinion, and specially of Iames Beare, Master of the Anne Francis, who was +knowen to be a sufficient and skillfull Mariner, and hauing bene there the +yere before, had wel obserued the place, and drawen out Cardes of the +coast. [Sidenote: Christopher Hall chiefe Pylot.] But the rather this +matter grew the more doubtfull, for that Christopher Hall chiefe Pilot of +the voyage, deliuered a plaine and publique opinion in the hearing of the +whole Fleete, that hee had neuer seene the foresayd coast before, and that +he not could make it for any place of Frobishers Streits, as some of the +Fleete supposed, and yet the landes doe lie and trend so like, that the +best Mariners therein may bee deceiued. + +The tenth of Iuly, the weather still continuing thicke and darke, some of +the ships in the fogge lost sight of the Admirall and the rest of the +fleete, and wandering to and fro, with doubtfull opinion whether it were +best to seeke backe againe to seaward through great store of yce, or to +follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea, Bay, or Streites they knew not, or +along a coast, whereof by reason of the darke mistes they could not +discerne the dangers, if by chance any rocke or broken ground should lie of +the place, as commonly in these parts it doth. + +The Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the +Pylot Hall, who was with him in the Thomas Allen, hauing lost sight of the +Fleete, turned backe to sea againe hauing two other ships in company with +him. + +Also the Captain of the Anne Francis hauing likewise lost companie of the +Fleete, and being all alone, held it for best to turne it out to sea +againe, vntill they might haue cleere weather to take the Sunnes altitude, +and with incredible paine and perill got out of the doubtfull place, into +the open Sea againe, being so narrowly distressed by the way, by meanes of +continuall fogge and yce, that they were many times ready to leapt vpon an +Island of yce to auoide the present danger, and so hoping to prolong life +awhile meant rather to die a pining death. + +[Sidenote: Hard shifts to saue mens liues.] Some hoped to saue themselues +on chestes, and some determined to tie the Hatches of the ships togither, +and to binde themselues with their furniture fast thereunto, and so to be +towed with the ship bote ashore, which otherwise could not receiue halfe of +the companie, by which meanes if happily they had arriued they should +eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate, or else should themselues +haue beene eaten of those rauenous, bloodie, and Men-eating people. + +The rest of the Fleete following the course of the Generall which led them +the way, passing vp aboue sixtie leagues [Sidenote: The coast along the +Southside of Gronland 60 leagues.] within the saide doubtfull and supposed +straights, hauing alwayes a faire continent vpon their starreboorde side, +and a continuance still of an open Sea before them. + +[Sidenote: Mistaken straights which indeed are no straights.] The Generall +albeit with the first perchance he found out the error, and that this was +not the olde straights, yet he perswaded the Fleete alwayes that they were +in their right course, and knowen straights. Howbeit I suppose he rather +dissembled his opinion therein then otherwise, meaning by that policie +(being himselfe led with an honourable desire of further discouerie) to +induce the Fleete to follow him, to see a further proofe of that place. +[Sidenote: Frobisher could haue passed to Cataia.] And as some of the +companie reported, he hath since confessed that if it had not bene for the +charge and care he had of the Fleete and fraughted ships, he both would and +could haue gone through to the South Sea, called Mar del Sur, and dissolued +the long doubt of the passage which we seeke to find to the rich countrey +of Cataya. + +1 Of which mistaken straights, considering the circumstance, we haue great +cause to confirme our opinion, to like and hope well of the passage in this +place. [Sidenote: Faire open way.] For the foresaid Bay or Sea, the further +we sayled therein, the wider we found it, with great likelihood of endlesse +continuance. [Sidenote: Reasons to prooue a passage here.] And where in +other places we were much troubled with yce, as in the entrance of the +same, so after we had sayled fiftie or sixtie leagues therein we had no let +of yce or other thing at all, as in other places we found. + +[Sidenote: Great indrafts.] 2 Also this place seemeth to haue a maruellous +great indraft, and draweth vnto it most of the drift yce, and other things +which doe fleete in the Sea, either to the North or Eastwards of the same, +as by good experience we haue found. + +[Sidenote: A current to the West.] 3 For here also we met with boordes, +lathes, and diuers other things driuing in the Sea, which was of the wracke +of the ship called the Barke Dennis, which perished amongst the yce as +beforesaid, being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the +Queenes forelande in the mouth of Frobishers straights, which could by no +meanes haue bene so brought thither, neither by winde nor tyde, being lost +so many leagues off, if by force of the said current the same had not bene +violently brought. For if the same had bene brought thither by tide of +flood, looke how farre the said flood had carried it, the ebbe would haue +recarried it as farre backe againe, and by the winde it could not so come +to passe, because it was then sometime calme, and most times contrarie. + +[Sidenote: Nine houres flood to three houres ebbe.] And some Mariners doe +affirme that they haue diligently obserued, that there runneth in this +place nine houres flood to three ebbe, which may thus come to passe by +force of the sayd current: for whereas the Sea in most places of the world, +doth more or lesse ordinarily ebbe and flow once euery twelue houres with +sixe houres ebbe, and sixe houres flood, so also would it doe there, were +it not for the violence of this hastening current, which forceth the flood +to make appearance to beginne before his ordinary time one houre and a +halfe, and also to continue longer than his naturall course by an other +houre and a halfe, vntill the force of the ebbe be so great that it will no +longer be resisted: according to the saying, Naturam expellas furca licet, +vsque recurret. Although nature and naturall courses be forced and resisted +neuer so much, yet at last they will haue their owne sway againe. + +4 [Unnumbered in original--KTH] Moreouer it is not possible that so great +course of floods and current, so high swelling tides with continuance of so +deepe waters, can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some +open Sea beyond this place, which argueth the more likelihood of the +passage to be hereabouts. Also we suppose these great indrafts doe grow and +are made by the reuerberation and reflection of that same currant, which at +our comming by Ireland, met and crossed vs, of which in the first part of +this discourse I spake, which comming from the bay of Mexico, passing by +and washing the Southwest parts of Ireland, reboundeth ouer to the +Northeast parts of the world, as Norway, Island, &c. where not finding any +passage to an open Sea, but rather being there encreased by a new accesse, +and another current meeting with it from the Scythian Sea, passing the bay +of Saint Nicholas Westward, it doth once againe rebound backe, by the +coastes of Groenland, and from thence vpon Frobishers straights being to +the Southwestwardes of the same. + +[Sidenote: The Sea moueth continually from East to West.] 5 And if that +principle of Philosophie be true, that Inferiora corpora reguntur à +superioribus, that is, if inferior bodies be gouerned, ruled, and carried +after the maner and course of the superiors, then the water being an +inferior Element, must needes be gouerned after the superior heauen, and so +follow the course of Primum from East to West.[84] + +[Sidenote: Authoritie.] 6 But euery man that hath written or considered any +thing of this passage, hath more doubted the returne by the same way by +reason of a great downefall of water, which they imagine to be thereabouts +(which we also by experience partly find) than any mistrust they haue of +the same passage at all. [Sidenote: Hard but yet possible turning backe +again.] For we find (as it were) a great downefall in this place, but yet +not such but that we may returne, although with much adoe. For we were +easier carried in one houre then we could get forth againe in three. Also +by another experience at another time, we found this current to deceiue vs +in this sort: That wheras we supposed it to be 15 leagues off, and lying a +hull, we were brought within two leagues of the shore contrarie to all +expectation. + +Our men that sayled furthest in the same mistaken straights (hauing the +maine land vpon their starboord side) affirme that they met with the outlet +or passage of water which commeth thorow Frobishers straights, and +followeth as all one into this passage. + +Some of our companie also affirme that they had sight of a continent vpon +their larboord side being 60 leagues within the supposed straights: howbeit +except certaine Ilands in the entrance hereof we could make no part perfect +thereof. All the foresaid tract of land seemeth to be more fruitfull and +better stored of Grasse, Deere, Wilde foule, as Partridges, Larkes, +Seamewes, Guls, Wilmots, Falcons and Tassel gentils, Rauens, Beares, Hares, +Foxes, and other things, than any other part we haue yet discouered, and is +more populous. [Sidenote: Traffique.] And here Luke Ward, a Gentleman of +the companie, traded marchandise, and did exchange kniues, bels, looking +glasses, &c. with those countrey people, who brought him foule, fish, +beares skinnes, and such like, as their countrey yeeldeth for the same. +Here also they saw of those greater boats of the countrey, with twentie +persons in a peece. + +Now after the Generall had bestowed these many dayes here, not without many +dangers, he returned backs againe. And by the way sayling alongst this +coast (being the backeside of the supposed continent of America) and the +Queenes Foreland, he perceiued a great sound to goe thorow into Frobishers +straights. [Sidenote: Returne out of the mistaken straights.] Whereupon he +sent the Gabriel the one and twentieth of Iuly, to prooue whether they +might goe thorow and meete againe with him in the straights, which they +did: and as wee imagined before, so the Queenes foreland prooued an Iland, +as I thinke most of these supposed continents will. And so he departed +towardes the straights, thinking it were high time now to recouer his Port, +and to prouide the Fleete of their lading, whereof he was not a little +carefull, as shall by the processe and his resolute attempts appeare. And +in his returne with the rest of the fleete he was so entangled by reason of +the darke fogge amongst a number of Ilands and broken ground that lye off +this coast, that many of the shippes came ouer the top of rockes, which +presently after they might perceiue to lie dry, hauing not halfe a foote +water more then some of their ships did draw. And by reason they could not +with a smal gale of wind stemme the force of the flood, whereby to goe +cleare off the rockes, they were faine to let an anker fall with two bent +of Cable togither, at an hundred and odde fadome depth, where otherwise +they had bene by the force of the tides caried vpon the rockes againe, and +perished: [Sidenote: Great dangers.] so that if God in these fortunes (as a +mercifull guide, beyond the expectation of man) had not carried vs thorow, +we had surely perished amidst these dangers. For being many times driuen +hard aboord the shore without any sight of land, vntill we were ready to +make shipwracke thereon, being forced commonly with our boats to sound +before our ships, least we might light thereon before we could discerne the +same; it pleased God to giue vs a cleare of Sunne and light for a short +time to see and auoyde thereby the danger, hauing bene continually darke +before, and presently after. Manie times also by meanes of fogge and +currents being driuen neere vpon the coast, God lent vs euen at the very +pinch one prosperous breath of winde or other, whereby to double the land, +and auoid the perill, and when that we were all without hope of helpe, +euery man recommending himselfe to death, and crying out, Lord now helpe or +neuer, now Lord looke downe from heauen and saue vs sinners, or else our +safetie commeth too late: euen then the mightie maker of heauen, and our +mercifull God did deliuer vs: so that they who haue bene partakers of these +dangers doe euen in their soules confesse, that God euen by miracle hath +sought to saue them, whose name be praysed euermore. + +Long time now the Anne Francis had layne beating off and on all alone +before the Queenes foreland, not being able to recouer their Port for yce, +albeit many times they dangerously attempted it, for yet the yce choaked vp +the passage, and would not suffer them to enter. [Sidenote: Anne Francis +met with some of the fleete.] And hauing neuer seene any of the fleete +since twenty dayes past, when by reason of the thicke mistes they were +seuered in the mistaken straights, they did now this present 23 of Iuly +ouerthwart a place in the straights called Hattons Hedland, where they met +with seuen ships of the Fleete againe, which good hap did not onely reioyce +them for themselues, in respect of the comfort which they receiued by such +good companie, but especially that by this meanes they were put out of +doubt of their deare friends, whose safeties long time they did not a +little suspect, and feare. + +At their meeting they haled the Admirall after the maner of the Sea, and +with great ioy welcommed one another with a thundring volly of shot. And +now euery man declared at large the fortunes and dangers which they had +passed. + +[Sidenote: Francis of Foy.] The foure and twentieth of Iuly we met with the +Francis of Foy, who with much adoe sought way backe againe, through the yce +from out of the mistaken straights, where (to their great perill) they +prooued to recouer their Port. [Sidenote: Bridgwater ship.] They brought +the first newes of the Vizadmirall Captaine Yorke, who many dayes with +themselues, and the Busse of Bridgewater was missing. They reported that +they left the Vizeadmirall reasonably cleare of the yce, but the other ship +they greatly feared, whom they could not come to helpe, being themselues so +hardly distressed as neuer men more. Also they told vs of the Gabriel, who +hauing got thorow from the backside, and Western point of the Queenes +foreland, into Frobishers straights, fell into their company about the cape +of Good hope. + +And vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iuly, the ship of Bridgewater got out +of the yce and met with the Fleete which lay off and on vnder Hattons +Hedland. They reported of their maruellous accidents and dangers, declaring +their ship to be so leake that they must of necessitie seeke harborow, +hauing their stem so beaten within their huddings, that they had much adoe +to keepe themselues aboue water. They had (as they say) fiue hundreth +strokes at the pump in lesse then halfe a watch, being scarce two houres; +their men being so ouerwearied therewith, and with the former dangers that +they desired helpe of men from the other ships. [Sidenote: The Streits +frozen ouer.] Moreouer they declared that there was nothing but yce and +danger where they had bene, and that the straights within were frozen vp, +and that it was the most impossible thing of the world, to passe vp vnto +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, which was the place of our Port. + +The report of these dangers by these ships thus published amongst the +fleete, with the remembrance of the perils past, and those present before +their face, brought no small feare and terror into the hearts of many +considerate men. So that some beganne priuily to murmure against the +Generall for this wilfull manner of proceeding. Some desired to discouer +some harborow therebouts to refresh themselues and reform their broken +vessels for a while, vntill the North and Northwest windes might disperse +the yce, and make the place more free to passe. Other some forgetting +themselues, spake more vndutifully in this behalfe, saying: that they had +as leeue be hanged when they came home, as without hope of safetie to seeke +to passe, and so to perish amongst the yce. + +[Sidenote: A valiant mind of M. Frobisher.] The Generall not opening his +eares to the peeuish passion of any priuate person, but chiefly respecting +the accomplishment of the cause he had vndertaken (wherein the chiefe +reputation and fame of a Generall and Captaine consisteth) and calling to +his remembrance the short time he had in hand to prouide so great number of +ships their loading, determined with this resolution to passe and recouer +his Port, or else there to burie himselfe with his attempt. + +Notwithstanding somewhat to appease the feeble passions of the fearefuller +sort, and the better to entertaine time for a season, whilest the yce might +the better be dissolued, he haled on the Fleete with beleefe that he would +put them in harborow: thereupon whilest the shippes lay off and on under +Hattons Hedland, he sought to goe in with his Pinnesses amongst the Ilandes +there, as though hee meant to search for harborowe, where indeede he meant +nothing lesse, but rather sought if any Ore might be found in that place, +as by the sequele appeared. + +In the mean time whilest the Fleete lay thus doubtfull without any certaine +resolution what to do, being hard aboord the lee-shore, there arose a +sodaine and terrible tempest at the Southsoutheast, whereby the yce began +maruellously to gather about vs. + +Whereupon euery man, as in such case of extremitie he thought best, sought +the wisest way for his owne safety. The most part of the Fleete which were +further shot vp within the straights, and so farre to the leeward, as that +they could not double the land following the course of the Generall, who +led them the way, tooke in their Sayles, and layde it a hull amongst the +yce, and so passed ouer the storme, and had no extremitie at all, but for a +short time in the same place. + +Howbeit the other ships which plyed out to Seaward, had an extreme storme +for a long season. And the nature of the place is such, that it is subiect +diuersely to diuers windes, according to the sundry situation of the great +Alps and mountaines there, euery mountaine causing a seuerall blast, and +parrie, after the maner of a Leuant. + +[Sidenote: Snow in Iuly.] In this storme being the sixe and twentieth of +Iuly, there fell so much snow, with such bitter cold aire, that we could +not scarse see one another for the same, nor open our eyes to handle, our +ropes and sayles, the snow being aboue halfe a foote deepe vpon the hatches +of our ship, which did so wet thorow our poore Mariners clothes, that hee +that had fiue or sixe shifts of apparell had scarce one drie threed to his +backe, which kinde of wet and coldnesse, together with the ouerlabouring of +the poore men amiddest the yce, bred no small sicknesse amongst the fleete, +[Sidenote: Extreme winter.] which somewhat discouraged some of the poore +men, who had not experience of the like before, euery man perswading +himselfe that the winter there must needes be extreme, where they found so +vnseasonable a Sommer. + +[Sidenote: Great heat in Meta Incognita.] And yet notwithstanding this cold +aire, the Sunne many times hath a maruellous force of heate amongst those +mountaines; [Sidenote: Vnconstant weather.] insomuch that when there is no +breth of winde to bring the colde aire from the dispersed yce vpon vs, we +shall be wearie of the blooming heate and then sodainely with a perry[85] +of winde which commeth downe from the hollownesse of the hilles, we shall +haue such a breth of heate brought vpon our faces as though we were entred +within some bathstoue or hote-house, and when the first of the pirry and +blast is past, we shall haue the winde sodainely a new blow cold againe. + +In this storme the Anne Francis, the Moone, and the Thomas of Ipswich, who +found themselues able to hold it vp with a saile, and could double about +the Cape of the Queenes foreland, plyed out to the Seaward, holding it for +better policie and safetie to seeke Sea roome, then to hazard the +continuance of the storme, the danger of the yce, and the leeshore. + +And being vncertaine at this time of the Generals priuate determinations, +the weather being so darke that they could not discerne one another, nor +perceiue which way he wrought, betooke themselues to this course for best +and safest. + +[Sidenote: The Generall recouereth his port.] The Generall, notwithstanding +the great storme, following his own former resolution, sought by all meanes +possible, by a shorter way to recouer his Port, and where he saw the yce +neuer so little open, he gate in at one gappe and out at another, and so +himselfe valiantly led the way thorow before to induce the Fleete to follow +after, and with incredible paine and perill at length gat through the yce, +and vpon the one and thirtieth of Iuly recouered his long wished Port after +many attempts and sundry times being put backe, and came to anker in the +Countesse of Warwicks sound, in the entrance whereof, when he thought all +perill past, he encountred a great Iland of yce which gaue the Ayde such a +blow, hauing a little before wayed her anker a cocke bill, that it stroke +the anker fluke through the ships bowes vnder the water, which caused so +great a leake, that with much adoe they preserued the ship from sinking. + +At their arriuall here they perceiued two ships at anker within the +harborough, whereat they began much to maruell and greatly to reioyce, for +those they knew to be the Michael, wherein was the Lieutenant generall +Captaine Fenton, and the small Barke called the Gabriel, who so long time +were missing, and neuer heard of before, whom euery man made the last +reckoning, neuer to heare of againe. + +[Sidenote: Master Wolfall Preacher.] Here euery man greatly reioyced of +their happie meeting, and welcommed one another, after the Sea manner with +their great Ordinance, and when each partie had ripped vp their sundry +fortunes and perils past, they highly praysed God, and altogither vpon +their knees gaue him due, humble and heartie thankes, and Maister Wolfall a +learned man, appointed by her Maiesties Councell to be their Minister and +Preacher made vnto them a godly sermon, exhorting them especially to be +thankfull to God for their strange and miraculous deliuerance in those so +dangerous places, and putting them in mind of the vncertaintie of mans +life, willed them to make themselues alwayes readie as resolute men to +enioy and accept thankefully whatsoeuer aduenture his diuine Prouidence +should appoint. This maister Wolfall being well seated and settled at home +in his owne Countrey, with a good and large liuing, hauing a good honest +woman to wife and very towardly children, being of good reputation among +the best, refused not to take in hand this painefull voyage, for the onely +care he had to saue soules, and to reforme those Infidels if it were +possible to Christiantie: and also partly for the great desire he had that +this notable voyage so well begunne, might be brought to perfection: and +therefore he was contented to stay there the whole yeare if occasion had +serued, being in euery necessary action as forward as the resolutest men of +all. Wherefore in this behalfe he may rightly be called a true Pastor and +minister of God's word, which for the profite of his flocke spared not to +venture his owne life. + +[Sidenote: The aduentures of Captain Fenton and his companie.] But to +returne againe to Captaine Fentons company, and to speake somewhat of their +dangers (albeit they be more then by writing can be expressed) they +reported that from the night of the first storme which was about the first +day of Iuly vntill seuen dayes before the Generals arriuall, which was the +sixe and twentith of the same, they neuer saw any one day or houre, wherin +they were not troubled with continuall danger and feare of death, and were +twentie dayes almost togither fast amongst the yce. They had their ship +stricken through and through on both sides, their false stemme borne quite +away, and could goe from their ships in some places vpon the yce very many +miles, and might easily haue passed from one Iland of yce to another euen +to the shore, [Sidenote: Extremitie causeth men to deuise new arts and +remedies.] and if God had not wonderfully prouided for them and their +necessitie, and time had not made them more cunning and wise to seeke +strange remedies for strange kindes of dangers, it had bene impossible for +them euer to haue escaped: for among other deuises, wheresoeuer they found +any Iland of yce of greater bignesse then the rest (as there be some of +more then halfe a mile compasse about, and almost forty fadome high) they +commonly coueted to recouer the same, and thereof to make a bulwarke for +their defence, whereon hauing mored anker, they road vnder the lee therof +for a time, being therby garded from the danger of the lesser driuing yce. +[Sidenote: Hard shifts.] But when they must needes forgoe this new found +fort by meanes of other yce, which at length would vndermine and compasse +them round about, and when that by heauing of the billow they were +therewith like to be brused in peeces, they vsed to make fast the shippe +vnto the most firme and broad peece of yce they could find, and binding her +nose fast thereunto, would fill all their sayles whereon the winde hauing +great power, would force forward the ship, and so the shippe bearing before +her the yce, and so one yce driuing forward another, should at length get +scope and searoome. And hauing by this meanes at length put their enemies +to flight, they occupyed the cleare place for a prettie season among sundry +mountaines and Alpes of yce. One there was found by measure to be 65 fadome +aboue water, which for a kind of similitude, was called Solomons porch. +Some thinke those Ilands eight times so much vnder water as they are aboue, +because of their monstrous weight. [Sidenote: Strange wonders.] But now I +remember I saw very strange wonders, men walking, running, leaping and +shooting vpon the mayne seas 40. myles from any land, without any Shippe or +other vessel vnder them. Also I saw fresh Riuers running amidst the salt +Sea a hundred myle from land, which if any man will not belieue let him +know that many of our company leapt out of their Shippe vpon Ilandes of +yce, and running there vp and downe, did shoote at Buts vpon the yce, and +with their Caliuers did kill great Seales, which vse to lye and sleepe vpon +the yce, and this yce melting aboue at the toppe by reflection of the +Sunne, came downe in sundry streames, which vniting together, made a pretie +Brooke able to driue a Mill. + +The sayde Captaine Fenton recouered his Port tenne dayes before any man, +and spent good tyme in searching for Mine, and hee found good store +thereof. He also discouered about tenne Miles vp into the Countrey, where +he perceiued neither Towne, Village, nor likelihoode of habitation, but it +seemeth (as he sayeth) barren, as the other parts, which as yet we haue +entred vpon: but their victuals and prouision went so scant with them, that +they had determined to returne homeward within seuen dayes after, if the +Fleete had not then arriued. + +The Generall after his arriual in the Countesses sound, spent no time in +vaine, but immediately at his first landing called the chiefe Captaines of +his Councell together, and consulted with them for the speedier execution +of such things as then they had in hand. As first, for searching and +finding out good Minerall for the Miners to be occupyed on. Then to giue +good Orders to bee obserued of the whole company on shore. And lastly, to +consider for the erecting vp of the Fort and House for the vse of them +which were to abide there the whole yeere. For the better handling of +these, and all other like important causes in this seruice, it was ordeined +from her Maiestie and the Councell, that the Generall should call vnto him +certaine of the chiefe Captaines and Gentlemen in Councell, to conferre, +consult and determine of all occurrents in this seruice, whose names are as +here they follow. + + Captaine Fenton. + Captaine Yorke. + Captaine Best. + Captaine Carew. + Captaine Philpot. + +And in Sea causes to haue as assistants, Christopher Hall and Charles +Iackman, being both very good Pilots, and sufficient Mariners, whereof the +one was chiefe Pilot of the Voyage, and the other for the discouerie. From +the place of our habitation Westward, Master Selman was appointed Notarie, +to register the whole maner of proceeding in these affaires, that true +relation thereof might be made, if it pleased her Maiestie to require it. + +The first of August euery Captaine by order, from the Generall and his +councell, was commanded to bring ashoare vnto the Countesses iland all such +Gentlemen, souldiers, and Myners, as were vnder their charge, with such +prouision as they had of victuals, tents, and things necessary for the +speedy getting together of Mine, and fraight for the shippes. + +The Muster of the men being taken, and the victuals with all other things +viewed and considered, euery man was set to his charge, as his place and +office required. The Myners were appointed where to worke, and the Mariners +discharged their shippes. + +Vpon the second of August were published and proclaymed vpon the Countesse +of Warwickes Iland with sound of Trumpet, certaine Orders by the Generall +and his councell, appoynted to be obserued of the company during the time +of their abiding there. + +In the meane time, whilst the Mariners plyed their worke, the Captaines +sought out new Mynes, the Goldfiners made tryall of the Ore, the Mariners +discharged their shippes, the Gentlemen for example sake laboured heartily, +and honestly encouraged the inferior sort to worke. So that the small time +of that little leisure that was left to tarrie, was spent in vaine. + +The second of August the Gabriel arriued, who came from the Vizeadmirall, +and beeing distressed sore with Yce, put into Harborough neere vnto Mount +Oxford. And now was the whole Fleete arriued safely at their Port, +excepting foure, besides the Shippe that was lost: that is, the Thomas +Allen, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Moone, whose +absence was some lette unto the workes and other proceedings, aswell for +that these Shippes were furnished with the better sorte of Myners, as with +other prouision for the habitation. + +[Sidenote: Consultation for inhabiting Meta incognita.] The ninth of August +the Generall with the Captaynes of his counsell assembled together, and +began to consider and take order for the erecting vp of the house or Fort +for them that were to inhabite there the whole yeere, and that presently +the Masons and Carpenters might goe in hande therewith. First therefore +they perused the Bils of lading, what euery man receiued into his Shippe, +and found that there was arriued only the Eastside, and the Southside of +the house, and yet not that perfect and entier: for many pieces thereof +were vsed for fenders in many Shippes, and so broken in pieces whilest they +were distressed in the yce. [Sidenote: An hundred men appointed to +inhabite.] Also after due examination had, and true account taken, there +was found want of drinke and fuel to serue one hundreth men, which was the +number appoynted first to inhabite there, because their greatest store was +in the Shippes which were not yet arriued. Then Captaine Fenton seeing the +scarcitie of the necessary things aforesayd, was contented, and offred +himselfe to inhabite there with sixtie men. Whereupon they caused the +Carpenters and Masons to come before them, and demanded in what time they +would take vpon them to erect vp a lesse house for sixtie men. They +required eight or nine weekes, if there were Tymber sufficient, whereas now +they had but sixe and twentie dayes in all to remayne in that Countrey. +[Sidenote: No habitation this yeere.] Wherefore it was fully agreed vpon, +and resolued by the Generall and his counsell, that no habitation should be +there this yeere. And therefore they willed Master Selman the Register to +set downe this decree with all their consents, for the better satisfying of +her Maiestie, the Lords of the Counsell, and the Aduenturers. + +The Anne Francis, since she was parted from the Fleete, in the last storme +before spoken of, could neuer recouer above fiue leagues within the +streights, the winde being sometime contrary, and most times the Yce +compassing them round about. And from that time, being about the seuen and +twentieth of Iuly, they could neither heare nor have sight of any of the +Fleete, vntill the 3. of August, when they descryed a sayle neere vnto +Mount Oxford, with whom when they had spoken, they could vnderstand no +newes of any of the Fleete at all. And this was the Thomas of Ipswich, who +had layne beating off and on at Sea with very fowle weather, and contrary +windes euer since that foresayd storme, without sight of any man. They kept +company not long together, but were forced to loose one another againe, the +Moone being consort always with the Anne Francis, and keeping very good +company plyed vp together into the streights, with great desire to recouer +their long wished Port: and they attempted as often, and passed as farre as +possible the winde, weather, and yce gaue them leaue, which commonly they +found very contrary. For when the weather was cleare and without fogge, +then commonly the winde was contrary. And when it was eyther Easterly or +Southerly, which would serue their turnes, then had they so great a fogge +and darke miste therewith, that eyther they could not discerne way thorow +the yce, or els the yce lay so thicke together, that it was impossible for +them to passe. And on the other side, when it was calme, the Tydes had +force to bring the yce so suddenly about them, that commonly then they were +most therewith distressed, hauing no Winde to carry them from the danger +thereof. + +And by the sixt of August being with much adoe got vp as high as Leicester +point, they had good hope to finde the Souther shore cleare, and so to +passe vp towardes their Port. But being there becalmed and lying a hull +openly vpon the great Bay which commeth out of the mistaken streights +before spoken of, they were so suddenly compassed with yce round about by +meanes of the swift Tydes which ran in that place, that they were neuer +afore so hardly beset as now. And in seeking to auoyde these dangers in the +darke weather, the Anne Francis lost sight of the other two Ships, who +being likewise hardly distressed, signified their danger, as they since +reported, by shooting off their ordinance, which the other could not heare, +nor if they had heard, could haue giuen them any remedie, being so busily +occupied to winde themselues out of their owne troubles. + +[Sidenote: The Moone.] The Fleeboate called the Moone, was here heaued +aboue the water with the force of the yce, and receiued a great leake +thereby. Likewise the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Anne Francis were sore +bruised at that instant, hauing their false stemmes borne away, and their +ship sides stroken quite through. + +Now considering the continuall dangers and contraries, and the little +leasure that they had left to tarie in these partes, besides that euery +night the ropes of their Shippes were so frozen, that a man could not +handle them without cutting his handes, together with the great doubt they +had of the Fleetes safety, thinking it an impossibilitie for them to passe +vnto their Port, as well for that they saw themselues, as for that they +heard by the former report of the Shippes which had prooued before, who +affirmed that the streights were all frozen ouer within: They thought it +now very hie time to consider of their estates and safeties that were yet +left together. [Sidenote: The Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich and the +Moone consult.] And hereupon the Captaines and masters of these Shippes, +desired the Captaine of the Anne Francis to enter into consideration with +them of these matters. Wherefore Captaine Tanfield of the Thomas of +Ipswich, with his Pilot Richard Cox, and Captaine Vpcote of the Moone, with +his master Iohn Lakes came aboorde the Anne Francis the eight of August to +consult of these causes. And being assembled together in the Captaines +Cabin, sundry doubts were there alledged. For the fearefuller sort of +Mariners being ouertyred with the continuall labour of the former dangers, +coueted to returne homeward, saying that they would not againe tempt God so +much, who had giuen them so many warnings, and deliuered them from so +wonderfull dangers: that they rather desired to lose wages, fraight, and +all, then to continue and follow such desperate fortunes. Againe, their +Ships were so leake, and the men so wearie, that to amend the one, and +refresh the other, they must of necessitie seeke into harborough. + +But on the other side it was argued againe to the contrary, that to seeke +into harborough thereabouts, was but to subject themselues to double +dangers: if happily they escaped the dangers of Rockes in their entring, +yet being in, they were neuerthelesse subiect there to the danger of the +Ice, which with the swift tydes and currents is caryed in and out in most +harboroughs thereabouts, and may thereby gaule their Cables asunder, driue +them vpon the shoare, and bring them to much trouble. Also the coast is so +much subiect to broken ground and rockes, especially in the mouth and +entrance of euery Harborough, that albeit the Channell be sounded ouer and +ouer againe, yet are you neuer the neerer to discerne the dangers. For the +bottome of the Sea holding like shape and forme as the land, being full of +hils, dales, and ragged Rockes, suffreth you not by your soundings to knowe +and keepe a true gesse of the depth. For you shall sound vpon the side or +hollownesse of one Hill or Rocke vnder water, and haue a hundreth, fiftie, +or fourtie fadome depth: and before the next cast, yer[86] you shall be +able to heaue your lead againe, you shall be vpon the toppe thereof, and +come aground to your vtter confusion. + +Another reason against going to harborough was, that the colde ayre did +threaten a sudden freezing vp of the sounds, seeing that euery night there +was new congealed yce, euen of that water which remayned within their +shippes. And therefore it should seeme to be more safe to lye off and on at +Sea, then for lacke of winde to bring them foorth of harborough, to hazard +by sudden frosts to be shut vp the whole yeere. + +After many such dangers and reasons alleged, and large debating of these +causes on both sides, the Captaine of the Anne Francis deliuered his +opinion vnto the company to this effect. [Sidenote: Captain Bests +resolution.] First concerning the question of returning home, hee thought +it so much dishonorable, as not to grow in any farther question: and againe +to returne home at length (as at length they must needes) and not to be +able to bring a certaine report of the Fleete, whether they were liuing or +lost, or whether any of them had recouered their Port or not, in the +Countesses sound, (as it was to bee thought the most part would if they +were liuing) hee sayde that it would be so great an argument eyther of want +of courage or discretion in them, as hee resolued rather to fall into any +danger, then so shamefully to consent to returne home, protesting that it +should neuer bee spoken of him, that hee would euer returne without doing +his endeuour to finde the Fleete, and knowe the certaintie of the Generals +safetie. [Sidenote: A Pinnesse for the inhabiters.] Hee put his company in +remembrance of a Pinnesse of fiue tunne burthen, which hee had within his +Shippe, which was caryed in pieces, and vnmade vp for the vse of those +which should inhabite there the whole yeere, the which, if they could finde +meanes to ioyne together, hee offered himselfe to prooue before therewith, +whether it were possible for any Boate to passe for yce, whereby the Shippe +might bee brought in after, and might also thereby giue true notice, if any +of the Fleete were arriued at their Port or not. + +But notwithstanding, for that he well perceiued that the most part of his +company were addicted to put into harborough, hee was willing the rather +for these causes somewhat to encline thereunto. As first, to search alongst +the same coast, and the soundes thereabouts, hee thought it to be to good +purpose, for that it was likely to finde some of the Fleete there, which +being leake, and sore brused with the yce, were the rather thought likely +to be put into an yll harborough, being distressed with foule weather in +the last storme, then to hazard their vncertaine safeties amongst the yce: +for about this place they lost them, and left the Fleete then doubtfully +questioning of harborough. + +It was likely also, that they might finde some fitte harborough +thereabouts, which might bee behoouefull for them against another time. It +was not likewise impossible to finde some Ore or Mine thereabouts +wherewithall to fraight their Shippes, which would bee more commodious in +this place, for the neerenesse to Seaward, and for a better outlet, then +farther within the streights, being likely heere alwayes to loade in a +shorter time, howsoeuer the streight should be pestered with yce within, so +that if it might come to passe that thereby they might eyther finde the +Fleete, Mine, or conuenient harborough, any of these three would serue +their present turnes, and giue some hope and comfort vnto their companies, +which now were altogether comfortlesse. But if that all fortune should fall +out so contrary, that they could neyther recouer their Port, nor any of +these aforesayde helpes, that yet they would not depart the Coast, as long +as it was possible for them to tary there, but would lye off and on at Sea +athwart the place. Therefore his finall conclusion was set downe thus, +First, that the Thomas of Ipswich and the Moone should consort and keepe +company together carefully with the Anne Francis, as neere as they could, +and as true Englishmen and faithfull friends, should supply one anothers +want in all fortunes and dangers. In the morning following, euery Shippe to +send off his Boate with a sufficient Pylot, to search out and sound the +harborougbs for the safe bringing in of their Shippes. And beeing arriued +in harborough, where they might finde conuenient place for the purpose, +they resolued foorthwith to ioyne and sette together the Pinnesse, +wherewithall the Captaine of the Anne Francis might, according to his +former determination, discouer vp into the streights. + +After these determinations thus set downe, the Thomas of Ipswich the night +following lost company of the other Shippes, and afterward shaped a +contrary course homeward, which fell out as it manifestly appeared, very +much against their Captaine Master Tanfields minde, as by due examination +before the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell it hath +since bene prooued, to the great discredite of the Pilot Cox, who specially +persuaded his company against the opinion of his sayd Captaine, to returne +home. + +And as the Captaine of the Anne Francis doeth witnesse, euen at their +conference togither, Captaine Tanfield tolde him, that he did not a little +suspect the sayd Pilot Cox, saying that he had opinion in the man neither +of honest duetie, manhoode, nor constancie. Notwithstanding the sayde +Shippes departure, the Captaine of the Anne Francis being desirous to put +in execution his former resolutions, went with his Shippe boate (being +accompanied also with the Moones Skiffe) to prooue amongst the Ilands which +lye vnder Hattons Hedland, if any conuenient harborough, or any knowledge +of the Fleete, or any good Ore were there to be found. The Shippes lying +off and on at Sea the while vnder Sayle, searching through many sounds, +they sawe them all full of many dangers and broken ground: yet one there +was, which seemed an indifferent place to harborough in, and which they did +very diligently sound ouer, and searched againe. + +Here the sayde Captaine found a great blacke Island, whereunto hee had good +liking, and certifying the company thereof, they were somewhat comforted, +and with the good hope of his wordes rowed cheerefully vnto the place: +where when they arriued, they found such plentie of blacke Ore of the same +sort which was brought into England this last yeere, that if the goodnesse +might answere the great plentie thereof, it was to be thought that it might +reasonably suffice all the golde-gluttons of the worlde. [Sidenote: Bestes +blessing.] This Iland the Captaine for cause of his good hap, called after +his own name, Bestes blessing, and with these good tydings returning abord +his Ship the ninth of August about tenne of the clocke at night, hee was +ioyfully welcommed of his company, who before were discomforted, and +greatly expected some better fortune at his handes. + +The next day being the tenth of August, the weather reasonably fayre, they +put into the foresayde Harborough, hauing their Boate for the better +securitie sounding before their Shippe. [Sidenote: Anne Francis in danger.] +But for all the care and diligence that could bee taken in sounding the +Channell ouer and ouer againe, the Anne Francis came aground vpon a suncken +Rocke within the Harborough, and lay thereon more then halfe drye vntill +the next flood, when by Gods Almighty prouidence, contrary almost to all +expectation, they came afloat againe, being forced all that time to +vndersette their Shippe with their mayne Yarde, which otherwise was likely +to ouerset and put thereby in danger the whole company. They had aboue two +thousand strokes together at the Pumpe, before they could make their Shippe +free of the water againe, so sore shee was in brused by lying vpon the +Rockes. [Sidenote: The Moone in harborough.] The Moone came safely, and +roade at anchor by the Anne Francis, whose helpe in their necessitie they +could not well haue missed. + +Now whilest the Mariners were romaging their Shippes, and mending that +which was amisse, the Miners followed their labour for getting together of +sufficient quantitie of Ore, and the Carpenters indeuoured to doe their +best for the making vp of the Boate or Pinnesse: which to bring to passe, +they wanted two speciall and most necessarie things, that is, certaine +principall tymbers that are called knees, which are the chiefest strength +of any Boate and also nayles, wherewithall to ioyne the plancks together. +Whereupon hauing by chance a Smyth amongst them, (and yet vnfurnished of +his necessary tooles to worke and make nayles withall) they were faine of a +gunne chamber to make an Anuile to worke vpon, and to vse a pickaxe in +stead of a sledge to beate withall, and also to occupy two small bellowes +in steade of one payre of greater Smiths bellowes. And for lacke of small +Yron for the easier making of the nayles, they were forced to breake their +tongs, grydiron, and fireshouell in pieces. + +[Sidenote: Hattons Hedland.] The eleuenth of August the Captaine of the +Anne Francis taking the Master of his Shippe with him, went vp to the top +of Hattons Hedland, which is the highest land of all the straights, to the +ende to descry the situation of the Countrey vnderneath, and to take a true +plotte of the place, whereby also to see what store of Yce was yet left in +the straights, as also to search what Mineral matter or fruite that soyle +might yeeld: And the rather for the honour the said Captaine doeth owe to +that Honourable name[87] which himselfe gaue thereunto the last yeere, in +the highest part of this Hedland he caused his company to make a Columne or +Crosse of stone, in token of Christian possession. [Sidenote: Pretie +stones.] In this place there is plentie of Blacke Ore, and diuers pretie +stones. + +[Sidenote: A mightie white Beare.] The seuenteenth of August the Captaines +with their companies chased and killed a great white Beare, which +aduentured and gaue a fierce assault vpon twentie men being weaponed. And +he serued them for good meate many dayes. + +[Sidenote: A Pinnesse there built.] The eighteenth of August the Pinnesse +with much adoe being set together, the sayd Captaine Best determined to +depart vp the straights, to prooue and make tryall, as before was +pretended, some of his companie greatly persuading him to the contrary, and +specially the Carpenter that set the same together, who sayde that hee +would not aduenture himselfe therein for fiue hundreth pounds, for that the +boate hung together but onely by the strength of the nayles, and lacked +some of her principall knees and tymbers. + +These wordes some what discouraged some of the company which should haue +gone therein. Whereupon the Captaine, as one not altogether addicted to his +owne selfe-will, but somewhat foreseeing how it might be afterwards spoken, +if contrary fortune should happen him (Lo he hath followed his owne opinion +and desperate resolutions, and so thereafter it is befallen him) calling +the Master and Mariners of best iudgement together, declared vnto them how +much the cause imported him to his credite to seeke out the Generall, as +well to conferre with him of some causes of weight, as otherwise to make +due examination and tryall of the Goodnesse of the Ore, whereof they had no +assurance but by gesse of the eye, and it was well like the other: which so +to cary home, not knowing the goodnesse thereof, might be as much as if +they should bring so many stones. And therefore hee desired them to deliuer +their plaine and honest opinion, whether the Pinnesse were sufficient for +him so to aduenture in or no. It was answered, that by careful heede taking +thereunto amongst the yce, and the foule weather, the Pinnesse might +suffice. And hereupon the Masters mate of the Anne Francis called Iohn +Gray, manfully and honestly offering himselfe vnto his Captaine in this +aduenture and seruice, gaue cause to others of his Mariners to follow the +attempt. + +[Sidenote: They aduenture by the streights in a weake Pinnesse.] And vpon +the nineteenth of August the sayd Captaine being accompanied with Captaine +Vpcote of the Moone, and eighteene persons in the small Pinnesse, hauing +conuenient portions of victuals and things necessary, departed upon the +sayd pretended Voyage, leauing their shippe at anchor in a good readinesse +for the taking in of their fraight. And hauing little winde to sayle +withall, they plyed alongst the Souther shore, and passed aboue 30. +leagues, hauing the onely helpe of mans labour with Oares, and so intending +to keepe that shore aboord vntil they were got vp to the farthest and +narrowest of the streights, minded there to crosse ouer and to search +likewise alongst the Northerland vnto the Countesses sound, and from thence +to passe all that coast along, whereby if any of the Fleete had bene +distressed by wrecke of rocke or yce, by that meanes they might be +perceiued of them, and so they thereby to giue them such helpe and reliefe +as they could. They did greatly feare, and euer suspect that some of the +Fleete were surely cast away, and driuen to seeke sowre sallets amongst the +colde cliffes. + +[Sidenote: 40 leagues within the streights.] And being shotte vp about +fortie leagues within the Streights, they put ouer towardes the Norther +shore, which was not a little dangerous for their small boates. [Sidenote: +Gabriels Ilands.] And by meanes of a sudden flawe were dryuen, and faine to +seeke harborough in the night amongst all the rockes and broken ground of +Gabriels Ilands, a place so named within the streights aboue the Countesse +of Warwicks sound: And by the way where they landed, they did finde +certaine great stones set vp by the Countrey people as it seemed for +markes, where they also made many Crosses of stone, in token that +Christians had been there. The 22. of August they had sight of the +Countesses sound, and made the place perfect from the toppe of a hill, and +keeping along the Norther shore, perceiued the smoke of a fire vnder a hils +side: whereof they diuersely deemed. When they came neere the place, they +perceiued people which wafted vnto them, as it seemed, with a flagge or +ensigne. And because the Countrey people had vsed to do the like, when they +perceiued any of our boats to passe by, they suspected them to be the same. +And comming somewhat neerer, they might perceiue certaine tents, and +discerne this ensigne to be of mingled colours, blacke and white, after the +English Fashion. But because they could see no Shippe, nor likelihood of +harborough within fiue or sixe leagues about, and knewe that none of our +men were woont to frequent those partes, they could not tell what to iudge +thereof, but imagined that some of the ships being carried so high with the +storme and mistes, had made shipwracke amongst the yce or the broken +Islands there, and were spoyled by the countrey people, who might vse the +sundry coloured flagge for a policie, to bring them likewise within their +danger. Whereupon the sayd Captaine with his companies, resolued to recouer +the same ensigne, if it were so, from those base people, or els to lose +their liues and all together. In the ende they discerned them to be their +countreymen, and then they deemed them to haue lost their Ships, and so to +be gathered together for their better strength. On the other side, the +companie ashoare feared that the Captaine hauing lost his Shippe, came to +seeke forth the Fleete for his reliefe in his poore Pinnesse, so that their +extremities caused eche part to suspect the worst. + +[Sidenote: Proximus sum egomet mihi.] The Captaine now with his Pinnisse +being come neere the shoare, commanded his Boate carefully to be kept +aflote, lest in their necessitie they might winne the same from him, and +seeke first to saue themselues: for euery man in that case is next +himselfe. They haled one another according to the manner of the Sea, and +demaunded what cheere? and either partie answered the other, that all was +well: whereupon there was a sudden and ioyful outshoote, with great +flinging vp of caps, and a braue voly of shotte to welcome one another. And +truely it was a most strange case to see how ioyfull and gladde euery +partie was to see themselues meete in safetie againe, after so strange and +incredible dangers: Yet to be short, as their dangers were great, so their +God was greater. + +[Sidenote: Captain York arriued.] And here the company were working vpon +new Mines, which Captaine York being here arriued not long before, had +found out in this place, and it is named the Countesse of Sussex Mine. + +After some conference with our friends here, the captaine of the Anne +Francis departed towards the Countesse of Warwicks sound, to speake with +the Generall, and to haue tryall made of such mettall as he had brought +thither, by the Goldfiners. And so he determined to dispatch againe towards +his ship. And hauing spoken with the General, he receiued order for all +causes, direction as well for the bringing vp of the Shippe to the +Countesses sound, as also to fraight his Ship with the same Oare which he +himselfe had found, which vpon triall made, was supposed to be very good. + +The 23. of August, the sayde Captaine mette together with the other +Captaines (Commissioners in counsell with the Generall) aboorde the Ayde, +where they considered and consulted of sundry causes, which being +particularly registred by the Notarie, were appoynted where and how to be +done against another yeere. + +The 24. of August, the Generall with two Pinnesses and good numbers of men +went to Beares sound, commanding the sayde Captaine with his Pinnesse to +attend the seruice, to see if he could encounter or apprehend any of the +people: for sundry times they shewed themselues busie thereabouts, +sometimes with seuen or eyght Boates in one company, as though they minded +to encounter with our company which were working there at the Mines, in no +great numbers. [Sidenote: None of the people will be taken.] But when they +perceiued any of our Shippes to ryde in that roade (being belike more +amazed at the countenance of a Shippe, and a more number of men) they did +neuer shewe themselues againe there at all. Wherefore our men sought with +their Pinnesses to compasse about the Iland where they did vse, supposing +there suddenly to intercept some of them. But before our men could come +neere, hauing belike some watch in the toppe of the mountaines, they +conueyed themselues priuilly away, and left (as it should seeme) one of +their great dartes behinde them for haste, which we found neere to a place +of their caues and housing. Therefore, though our Generall were very +desirous to haue taken some of them to haue brought into England, they +being now growen more wary by their former losses, would not at any time +come within our dangers. About midnight of the same day, the captaine of +the Anne Francis departed thence and set his course ouer the straights +towards Hattons Hedland, being about 15. leagues ouer, and returned aboord +his Shippe the 25. of August to the great comfort of his company, who long +expected his comming, where hee found his Shippes ready rigged and loden. +Wherefore he departed from thence againe the next morning towards the +Countesses sound, where he arriued the 28. of the same. By the way he set +his Miners ashore at Beares sound, for the better dispatch and gathering +the Ore togither; for that some of the ships were behind hand with their +fraight, the time of the yeere passing suddenly away. + +The thirtieth of August the Anne Francis was brought aground, and had 8. +great leakes mended which she had receiued by meanes of the rockes and yce. +[Sidenote: A house builded and left there.] This day the Masons finished a +house which Captaine Fenton caused to be made of lyme and stone vpon the +Countesse of Warwickes Island, to the ende we might proue against the next +yeere, whither the snow could ouerwhelme it, the frost brake it vp, or the +people dismember the same. And the better to allure those brutish and +vnciuill people to courtesie against other times of our comming, we left +therein diuers of our Countrey toyes, as belles, and kniues, wherein they +specially delight, one for the necessary vse, and the other for the great +pleasure thereof. Also pictures of men and women in lead, men on +horsebacke, looking glasses, whistles, and pipes. Also in the house was +made an Ouen, and bread left baked therein for them to see and taste. + +We buried the timber of our pretended fort. Also here we sowed pease, +corne, and other graine, to proue the fruitfulnesse of the soyle against +the next yeere. + +[Sidenote: M. Wolfall a godly preacher.] Master Wolfall on Winters Fornace +preached a godly sermon, which being ended, he celebrated also a Communion +vpon the land, at the partaking whereof was the Captaine of the Anne +Francis, and many other Gentlemen and Souldiers, Mariners, and Miners with +him. The celebration of the diuine mystery was the first signe, seale, and +confirmation of Christs name, death, and passion euer knowen in these +quarters. The said M. Wolfall made sermons, and celebrated the Communion at +sundry other times, in seuerall and sundry ships, because the whole company +could neuer meet together at any one place. [Sidenote: Consultation for a +further discouery.] The Fleet now being in some good readinesse for their +lading, the Generall calling together the Gentlemen and Captaines to +consult, told them that he was very desirous that some further discouery +should be attempted, and that he would not onely by Gods helpe bring home +his ships laden with Ore, but also meant to bring some certificate of a +further discouery of the Countrey, which thing to bring to passe (hauing +sometime therein consulted) they found very hard, and almost inuincible. +And considering that already they had spent sometime in searching out the +trending and fashion of the mistaken straites, therefore it could not be +sayd, but that by this voyage they haue notice of a further discouery, and +that the hope of the passage thereby is much furthered and encreased, as +appeared before in the discourse thereof. Yet notwithstanding if any meanes +might be further deuised, the Captaines were contented and willing, as the +Generall shoulde appoynt and commaund, to take any enterprise in hand. +Which after long debating was found a thing very impossible, and that +rather consultation was to be had of returning homeward, especially for +these causes following. First the darke foggy mists, the continuall falling +snowe and stormy weather which they commonly were vexed with, and now daily +euer more and more increased, haue no small argument of the Winters drawing +neere. And also the frost euery night was so hard congealed within the +sound, that if by euill hap they should bee long kept in with contrary +winds, it was greatly to be feared, that they should be shut vp there fast +the whole yeere, which being vtterly vnprouided, would be their vtter +destruction. Againe, drinke was so scant throughout all the Fleet by meanes +of the great leakage, that not onely the prouision which was layd in for +the habitation was wanting and wasted, but also each shippes seuerall +prouision spent and lost, which many of our company to their great griefe +found in their returne since, for all the way homewards they dranke nothing +but water. And the great cause of this leakage and wasting was, for that +the great timber and seacole, which lay so weighty vpon the barrels, brake, +bruised, and rotted the hoopes insunder. [Sidenote: Broken Ilands in maner +of an Archipelagus.] Yet notwithstanding these reasons alleaged the +Generall himselfe (willing the rest of the Gentlemen and Captaines euery +man to looke to his seuerall charge and lading, that against a day +appointed, they should be all in a readinesse to set homeward) went in a +Pinnesse and discouered further Northward in the straights, and found that +by Beares sound and Halles Island, the land was not firme, as it was first +supposed, but all broken Islands in maner of an Archipelagus, and so with +other secret intelligence to himselfe, he returned to the Fleet. Where +presently vpon his arriuall at the Countesses sound, he began to take order +for their returning homeward, and first caused certaine Articles to be +proclaimed, for the better keeping of orders and courses in their returne, +which Articles were deliuered to euery Captaine. + + +The Fleetes returning homeward. + +[Sidenote: Returne homeward.] Hauing now receiued articles and directions +for our returne homewards, all other things being in forwardnesse and in +good order, the last day of August the whole Fleete departed from the +Countesses sound, excepting the Iudith, and the Anne Francis, who stayed +for the taking in of fresh water and came the next day and mette the Fleete +off and on, athwart Beares sound, who stayed for the Generall, which then +was gone ashore to despatch the two Barkes and the Busse of Bridgewater, +for their loading, whereby to get the companies and other things aboord. +The Captaine of the Anne Francis hauing most part of his company ashore, +the first of September went also to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch +his men aboord, but the wind grewe so great immediatly vpon their landing, +that the shippes at sea were in great danger, and some of them forcibly put +from their ankers, and greatly feared to be vtterly lost, as the Hopewell, +wherein was Captaine Carew and others, who could not tell on which side +their danger was most: for hauing mightie rockes threatening on the one +side, and driuing Islands of cutting yce on the other side, they greatly +feared to make shipwracke, the yce driuing so neere them that it touched +their bolt-sprit. And by meanes of the Sea that was growne so hie, they +were not able to put to sea with their small Pinnesses to recouer their +shippes. And againe, the shippes were not able to tarie or lie athwart for +them, by meanes of the outragious windes and swelling seas. The Generall +willed the Captaine of the Anne Francis with his company, for that night to +lodge aboord the Busse of Bridgewater, and went himselfe with the rest of +his men aboord the Barkes. But their numbers were so great, and the +prouision of the Barkes so scant, that they pestered one another +exceedingly. They had great hope that the next morning the weather would be +faire whereby they might recouer their shippes. But in the morning +following it was much worse, for the storme continued greater, the Sea +being more swollen, and the Fleete gone quite out of sight. So that now +their doubts began to grow great: for the ship of Bridgewater which was of +greatest receit, and whereof they had best hope and made most account, +roade so farre to leeward of the harborowes mouth, that they were not able +for the rockes (that lay betweene the wind and them) to lead it out to Sea +with a saile. And the Barks were already so pestered with men, and so +slenderly furnished with prouision, that they had scarce meat for sixe +dayes for such numbers. + +The Generall in the morning departed to Sea in the Gabriel to seeke the +Fleete, leauing the Busse of Bridgewater, and the Michael behind in Beares +sound. The Busse set sayle, and thought by turning in the narrow channell +within the harborow to get to windward: but being put to leeward more, by +that meanes was faine to come to anker for her better safetie, amongst a +number of rockes, and there left in great danger of euer getting forth +againe. The Michael set sayle to follow the Generall, and could giue the +Busse no reliefe, although they earnestly desired the same. And the +Captaine of the Anne Francis was left in hard election of two euils: eyther +to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater, which was doubtfull of +euer getting forth, or else to bee towed in his small Pinnesse at the +sterne of the Michael thorow the raging Seas, for that the Barke was not +able to receiue or relieue halfe his company, wherein his danger was not a +little perillous. + +So after hee resolued to commit himselfe with all his company vnto that +fortune of God and Sea, and was dangerously towed at the sterne of the +Barke for many miles, vntill at length they espyed the Anne Francis vnder +sayle, hard vnder their Lee, which was no small comfort vnto them. For no +doubt, both those and a great number more had perished for lacke of +victuals, and conuenient roome in the Barks without the helpe of the said +Ship. But the honest care that the Master of the Anne Francis had of his +Captaine, and the good regarde of duetie towardes his Generall, suffered +him not to depart, but honestly abode to hazard a dangerous roade all the +night long, notwithstanding all the stormy weather, when all the Fleete +besides departed. And the Pinnesse came no sooner aboord the shippe, and +the men entred, but shee presently shiuered and fell to pieces and sunke at +the ships sterne, with all the poore mens furniture: so weake was the boat +with towing, and so forcible was the sea to bruise her in pieces, But (as +God would) the men were all saued. + +At this present in this storme many of the Fleete were dangerously +distressed, and were seuered almost all asunder. Yet, thanks be to God, all +the Fleete arriued safely in England about the first of October, some in +one place and some in another. [Sidenote: An vnknowen channell into the +Northeast discouered by the Busse of Bridgewater.] But amongst other, it +was most maruellous how the Busse of Bridgewater got away, who being left +behind the Fleete in great danger of neuer getting forth, was forced to +seeke a way Northward thorow an vnknowen channell full of rocks, vpon the +backe side of Beares sound, and there by good hap found out a way into the +North sea, a very dangerous attempt; save that necessitie, which hath no +law, forced them to trie masteries. This aforesayd North sea is the same +which lyeth vpon the backe side of Frobishers straits, where first the +Generall himselfe in his Pinnesses, and after some other of our company +haue discouered (as they affirme) a great foreland, where they would also +haue a great likelihood of the greatest passage towards the South sea, or +Mar del Sur. + +[Sidenote: A fruitful new Island discouered.] The Busse of Bridgewater, as +she came homeward, to the Southeastward of Friseland, discouered a great +Island in the latitude of 57 degrees and an halfe, which was neuer yet +found before, and sailed three dayes alongst the coast, the land seeming to +be fruitfull, full of woods, and a champion[88] countrey. + +There died in the whole Fleete in all this voyage not aboue forty persons, +which number is not great, considering how many ships were in the Fleet, +and how strange fortunes we passed. + + +A generall and briefe description of the Countrey, and condition of the + people, which are found in Meta Incognita. + +Hauing now sufficiently and truly set forth the whole circumstance, and +particuler handling of euery occurrent in the 3. voyages of our worthy +Generall, Captaine Frobisher, it shal not be from the purpose to speake +somewhat in generall of the nature of this Countrey called Meta Incognita, +and the condition of the sauages there inhabiting. + +[Sidenote: A Topographical description of Meta Incognita.] First therefore +touching the Topographical description of the place. It is now found in the +last voyage, that Queene Elizabeths Cape being situate in latitude at 61. +degrees and a halfe, which before was supposed to be part of the firme land +of America, and also al the rest of the South side of Frobishers straites, +are all seuerall Islands and broken land, and like wise so will all the +North side of the said straites fall out to be as I thinke. And some of our +company being entred aboue 60. leagues within the mistaken straites in the +third voyage mentioned, thought certainely that they had discryed the firme +land of America towards the South, which I thinke will fall out so to be. + +These broken lands and Islands being very many in number, do seeme to make +there an Archipelagus, which as they all differ in greatnesse, forme, and +fashion one from another; so are they in goodnesse, colour, and soyle much +vnlike. They all are very high lands, mountaines, and in most parts couered +with snow euen all the Sommer long. The Norther lands haue lesse store of +snow, more grasse, and are more plaine Countreys: the cause whereof may be, +for that the Souther Ilands receiue all the snow, that the cold winds and +piercing ayre bring out of the North. And contrarily, the North parts +receiue more warme blasts of milder ayre from the South, whereupon may grow +the cause why the people couet to inhabit more vpon the North parts then +the South, as farre as we yet by our experience perceiue they doe. +[Sidenote: The people of Meta Incognita like vnto Samoeds.] These people I +iudge to be a kind of Tartar, or rather a kind of Samoed, of the same sort +and condition of life that the Samoeds bee to the Northeastwards beyond +Moscouy, who are called Samoeds, which is as much to say in the Moscouy +tongue as eaters of themselues, and so the Russians their borderers doe +name them. And by late conference with a friend of mine (with whom I did +sometime trauell in the parts of Moscouy) who had great experience of those +Samoeds and people of the Northeast, I find that in all their maner of +liuing, those people of the Northeast, and those of the Northwest are like. +[Sidenote: Their natiue colour.] They are of the colour of a ripe Oliue, +which how it may come to passe, being borne in so cold a climate I referre +to the iudgement of others, for they are naturally borne children of the +same colour and complexion that all the Americans are, which dwell vnder +the Equinoctiall line. + +They are men very actiue and nimble. They are a strong people and very +warlike, for in our sight vpon the toppes of the hilles they would often +muster themselues, and after the maner of a skirmish trace their ground +very nimbly, and mannage their bowes and dartes with great dexterity. +[Sidenote: Their apparel.] They go clad in coates made of the skinnes of +beasts, as of Seales, Deere, Beares, Foxes, and Hares. They haue also some +garments of feathers, being made of the cases of Foules, finely sowed and +compact togither. Of all which sorts wee brought home some with vs into +England, which we found in their tents. In Sommer they vse to weare the +hairie side of their coates outward, and sometime goe naked for too much +heate. And in Winter (as by signes they haue declared) they weare foure or +fiue folde vpon their bodies with the haire (for warmth) turned inward. +Hereby it appeareth, that the ayre there is not indifferent, but either it +is feruent hote, or els extreme cold, and farre more excessiue in both +qualities, then the reason of the climate should yeeld. For there it is +colder, being vnder 62 degrees in latitude, then it is at Wardhouse in the +voyage to Saint Nicholas in Moscouie, being at about aboue 72. degrees in +latitude. [Sidenote: The accidental cause of cold ayre at Meta Incognita.] +The reason hereof may be, that this Meta Incognita is much frequented and +vexed with Easterne and Northeastern winds, which from the sea and yce +bringeth often an intollerable cold ayre, which was also the cause that +this yeere our straits were so long shut vp with so great store of yce. But +there is great hope and likelihood, that further within the Straights it +will bee more constant and temperate weather. + +These people are in nature very subtill and sharpe witted, ready to +conceiue our meaning by signes, and to make answere well to be vnderstood +againe. And if they haue not seene the thing whereof you aske them, they +will wincke, or couer their eyes with their hands, as who would say, it +hath bene hid from their sight. If they vnderstand you not whereof you +should aske them, they wil stop their eares. They will teach vs the names +of each thing in their language which wee desire to learne, and are apt to +learne any thing of vs. [Sidenote: The sauages delight in Musicke.] They +delight in Musicke aboue measure, and will keepe time and stroke to any +tune which you shall sing, both with their voyce, head, hand and feete, and +will sing the same tune aptly after you. They will row with our Ores in our +boates, and keepe a true stroke with our Mariners, and seeme to take great +delight therein. [Sidenote: Hard kind of Living.] They liue in Caues of the +earth, and hunt for their dinners or praye, euen as the beare or other wild +beastes do. They eat raw flesh and fish, and refuse no meat howsoeuer it be +stinking. They are desperate in their fight, sullen of nature, and rauenous +in their maner of feeding. + +Their sullen and desperate nature doth herein manifestly appeare, that a +company of them being enuironed by our men on the top of a hie cliffe, so +that they could by no meanes escape our hands, finding themselues in this +case distressed, chose rather to cast themselues headlong down the rocks +into the sea, and so be bruised and drowned, rather than to yeeld +themselues to our mens mercies. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons.] For their weapons to offend their enemies or +kill their prey withall, they haue darts, slings, bowes, and arrowes headed +with sharpe stones, bones, and some with yron. They are exceeding friendly +and kind hearted one to the other, and mourne greatly at the losse or harme +of their fellowes, and expresse their griefe of mind, when they part one +from another with a mourneful song, and Dirges. + +[Sidenote: Their chastity.] They are very shamefast in betraying the +secrets of nature, and very chaste in the maner of their liuing: for when +the man, which wee brought from thence into England the last voyage, should +put off his coat or discouer his whole body for change, he would not suffer +the woman to bee present, but put her forth of his Cabin. And in all the +space of two or three moneths, while the man liued in company of the woman, +there was neuer any thing seene or perceiued betweene them, more then ought +haue passed betweene brother and sister: but the woman was in all things +very seruiceable for the man, attending him carefully when he was sicke, +and he likewise in all the meates which they did eate together, woulde +carue vnto her of the sweetest, fattest, and best morsels they had. They +wondred much at all our things, and were afraid of our horses and other +beasts out of measure. They began to grow more ciuill, familiar, pleasant, +and docible amongst vs in very short time. + +[Sidenote: Their boates.] They haue boates made of leather, and couered +cleane ouer sauing one place in the middle to sit in, planked within with +timber, and they vse to row therein with one Ore, more swiftly a great +deale, then we in our boates can doe with twentie. They haue one sort of +greater boates wherein they can carrie aboue twentie persons, and haue a +Mast with a saile thereon, which saile is made of thinne skinnes or +bladders, sowed togither with the sinewes of fishes. + +They are good Fishermen, and in their small Boates being disguised with +their coates of Seales skinnes, they deceiue the fish, who take them rather +for their fellow Seales, then for deceiuing men. + +They are good marke-men. With their dart or arrow they will commonly kill a +Ducke, or any other foule in the head, and commonly in the eye. + +When they shoote at a great fish with any of their darts, they vse to tye a +bladder thereunto, whereby they may the better find them againe, and the +fish not able to cary it so easily away (for that the bladder doth boy the +dart) will at length be wearie, and dye therewith. + +[Sidenote: Traffique with some other nation vnknowen.] They vse to traffike +and exchange their commodities with some other people, of whom they haue +such things as their miserable Countrey, and ignorance of Art to make, +denieth them to haue, as barres of yron, heads of yron for their darts, +needles made foure square, certaine buttons of copper, which they vse to +weare vpon their forehads for ornament, as our Ladies in the Court of +England doe vse great pearle. + +[Sidenote: Gold.] Also they haue made signes vnto vs, that they haue seene +gold, and such bright plates of mettals, which are vsed for ornaments +amongst some people with whom they haue conference. + +We found also in their tents a Guiny Beane of redde colour, the which doth +vsually grow in the hote Countreys: whereby it appeareth they trade with +other nations which dwell farre off, or else themselues are great +trauellers. + +[Sidenote: Their fewell.] They haue nothing in vse among them to maker fire +withall, sauing a kinde of Heath and Mosse which groweth there. + +[Sidenote: How they make fire.] And they kindle their fire with continuall +rubbing and fretting one sticke against another, as we doe with flints. +They drawe with dogges in sleads vpon the yce, and remooue their tents +therewithall wherein they dwell in Sommer, when they goe a hunting for +their praye and prouision against Winter. [Sidenote: Their kettles and +pannes.] They doe sometime parboyle their meat a little and seeth the same +in kettles made of beast skins; they haue also pannes cut and made of +stones very artificially; they vse prety ginnes wherewith they take foule. +The women carry their sucking children at their backes, and doe feede them +with raw flesh, which first they do a little chaw in their owne mouths. The +women haue their faces marked or painted ouer with small blewe spots: they +haue blacke and long haire on their heads, and trimme the same in a decent +order. The men haue but little haire on their faces, and very thinne +beards. For their common drinke, they eate yce to quench their thirst +withall. [Sidenote: The people eate grasse and shrubs.] Their earth +yeeldeth no graine or fruit of sustenance for man, or almost for beast to +liue vpon: and the people will eate grasse and shrubs of the ground, euen +as our kine doe. They haue no wood growing in their Countrey thereabouts, +and yet wee finde they haue some timber among them, which we thinke doth +growe farre off to the Southwards of this place, about Canada, or some +other part of New found land: for there belike, the trees standing on the +cliffes of the sea side, by the waight of yce and snow in Winter +ouercharging them with waight, when the Sommers thaw commeth aboue, and the +Sea vnderfretting beneath, which winneth dayly of the land, they are +vndermined and fall downe from those cliffes into the Sea, and with the +tydes and currents are driuen to and fro vpon the coastes further off, and +by conjecture are taken vp here by these Countrey people, to serue them to +planke and strengthen their boates withall, and to make dartes, bowes, and +arrowes, and such other things necessarie for their vse. And of this kind +of drift wood we find all the Seas ouer great store, which being cut or +sawed asunder, by reason of long driuing in the Sea is eaten of wormes, and +full of holes, of which sort theirs is found to be. + +[Sidenote: A strange kind of gnat.] We haue not yet found any venomous +Serpent or other hurtfull thing in these parts, but there is a kind of +small flie or gnat that stingeth and offendeth sorely, leauing many red +spots in the face, and other places where she stingeth. They haue snow and +haile in the best time of their Sommer, and the ground frosen three fadome +deepe. + +[Sidenote: Inchanters.] These people are great inchanters, and vse many +charmes of witchcraft: for when their heads doe ake, they tye a great stone +with a string vnto a sticke, and with certaine prayers and wordes done to +the sticke, they lift vp the stone from ground, which sometimes with all a +mans force they cannot stirre, and sometime againe they lift as easily as a +fether, and hope thereby with certaine ceremonious wordes to haue ease and +helpe. And they made vs by signes to vnderstand, lying groueling with their +faces vpon the ground, and making a noise downeward, that they worship the +deuill vnder them. + +[Sidenote: The beasts and foules of the Countrey.] They have great store of +Deere, Beares, Hares, Foxes, and innumerable numbers of sundry sorts of +wild foule, as Seamewes, Gulles, Wilmotes, Ducks, &c. whereof our men +killed in one day fifteene hundred. They haue also store of haukes, as +Falkons, Tassels, &c. whereof two alighted vpon one of our ships at their +returne, and were brought into England, which some thinke wil proue very +good. + +There are also great store of rauens, larkes, and partriges, whereof the +countrey people feed. + +All these foules are farre thicker clothed with downe and fethers, and haue +thicker skinnes then any in England haue: for as that countrey is colder, +so nature hath provided a remedie thereunto. + +Our men haue eaten of the Beares, Hares, Patriges, Larkes, and of their +wild foule, and find them reasonable good meat, but not so delectable as +ours. + +Their wild foule must be all fleine, their skins are so thicke: and they +tast best fryed in pannes. + +The Countrey seemeth to be much subiect to Earthquakes. + +The ayre is very subtile, piercing and searching, so that if any corrupted +or infected body, especially with the disease called Morbus Gallicus come +there, it will presently breake forth and shew it selfe, and cannot there +by any kind of salue or medicine be cured. + +Their longest Sommers day is of great length, without any darke night, so +that in Iuly al the night long, we might perfitly and easily write and +reade whatsoeuer had pleased vs, which lightsome nights were very +beneficiall vnto vs, being so distressed with abundance of yce as we were. + +[Sidenote: The length of their day.] The Sunne setteth to them in the +Euening at a quarter of an houre after tenne of the clocke, and riseth +againe in the morning, at three quarters of an houre after one of the +clocke, so that in Sommer their Sunne shineth to them twenty houres and a +halfe, and in the night is absent three houres and a halfe. And although +the Sunne bee absent these 3. houres and a halfe, yet it is not darke that +time, for that the Sunne is neuer aboue three or foure degrees vnder the +edge of their Horizon; the cause is that the Tropicke of Cancer doth cut +their Horizon at very vneuen and oblique Angles. + +[Sidenote: A full reuolution of the Moone aboue their Horizon.] But the +Moone at anytime of the yeere being in Cancer, hauing North latitude; doth +make a full revolution aboue their Horizon, so that sometime they see the +Moone about 24. houres togither. Some of our company of the more ignorant +sort, thought we might continually haue seene the Sunne and the Moone, had +it not bene for two or three high mountaines. + +The people are now become so warie, and so circumspect, by reason of their +former losses, that by no meines we can apprehend any of them, although wee +attempted often in this last voyage. But to say trueth wee could not bestow +any great time in pursuing them, because of our great businesse in lading, +and other things. + + * * * * * + +The Letters patents of the Queenes Maiestie, granted to Master Adrian + Gylbert and others, for the search and discouery of the Northwest Passage + to China. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland Queene, +defender of the faith, &c. To all, to whome these presents shall come, +greeting: Forasmuch as our trustie and welbeloued subiect Adrian Gylbert of +Sandridge in the Countie of Deuon, Gentleman, to his great costes and +charges, hath greatly and earnestly trauelled and sought, and yet doth +trauell and seeke, and by diuers meanes indeuoureth and laboureth, that the +Passage vnto China and the Iles of the Moluccas, by the Northwestward, +Northeastward, or Northward, vnto which part of the world, none of our +loyall Subiects haue hitherto had any traffique or trade, may be +discouered, knowen, and frequented by the Subiects of this our Realme: +Knowe yee therefore that for the considerations aforesayd and for diuers +other good considerations vs thereunto specially moouing. We of our grace +especiall, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, haue giuen and granted, +and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe giue and grant +free libertie, power, and full authoritie to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +to any other person by him or his heires to be assigned, and to those his +associates and assistants, whose names are written in a Scedule hereunto +annexed, and to their heires, and to one assigne of each of them, and each +of their heires at all times, and at any time or times after the date of +these presents, vnder our Banners and Ensignes freely, without let, +interruption, or restraint, of vs, our heires or successors, any law, +statute proclamation, patent charter, or prouiso to the contrary +notwithstanding, to saile, make voyage, and by any maner of meanes to passe +and to depart out of this our Realme of England, or any our Realmes, +Dominions, or Territories into all or any Isles, Countreys, Regions, +Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, Creekes, armes of the +Sea, and all Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer, that by the +sayde Northwestward, Northeastward, or Northward, is to be by him, his +associates or assignes discouered, and for and in the sayd sayling, voyage, +and passage, to haue and vse so many shippes, Barkes, Pinnesses, or any +vessels of any qualitie or burthen, with all the furniture, of men, +victuals, and all maner of necessary prouision, armour, weopons, +ordinance, targets, and appurtinances, whatsoeuer, as to such a voyage +shall or may be requisite, conuenient or commodious, any lawe, statute, +ordinance or prouiso to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And also we +doe giue and grant to the sayde Adrian Gylbert, and his sayde associates, +and to such assignee of him, and his heires, and to the heires and one +assignee of euery of his sayde associates for euer, full power and absolute +authoritie to trade and make their residance in any of the sayde Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, +and Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer with all commodities, +profites, and emoluments in the sayde places or any of them, growing and +arising, with all maner of priuiledges, prerogatives, iurisdictions and +royalties both by sea and land whatsoeuer, yeelding and paying therefore +vnto vs, our heires and successors, the tenth part of all such golde and +siluer oare, pearles, iewels, and precious stones, or the value thereof, as +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd associates, their heires and assignes, +servants, factors, or workemen, and euery or any of them shall finde, the +sayd tenth to bee deliuered duely to our Customer, or other officers by vs, +our heires or successors thereunto assigned, in the Fortes of London, +Dartmouth, or Plimmouth, at which three places onely the sayde Adrian +Gylbert and his sayde associates, their sayde heires and assignes, shall +lade, charge, arriue, and discharge all maner of wares, goods, and +merchandizes whatsoeuer to the sayde voyage, and newe trade belonging or +appertaining. And moreouer, wee haue giuen, granted, and authorized, and by +these presents for vs, our heires and successors, of our grace especiall, +certaine knowledge, and meere motion, doe giue, graunt, and authorize the +said Adrian Gilbert, and his said associats for euer, their heires and +their said assignes and euery of them, that if the aforesayd Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, Bayes, or +Hauens, or any other of the premises by the sayd Adrian Gylbert or his +associates, their heires and their said assignes or any of them, to be +found by them, discouered and traffiqued vnto by any trade as aforesayd, +shall be by any other our subiects visited, frequented, haunted, traded +vnto or inhabited by the wayes aforesayd, without the special licence in +writing of the said Adrian Gylbert and his associats, and their heires and +assignes for euer, or by the most part of them, so that the sayd Adrian +Gilbert, his heires or assignes be one of them, that then aswell their +ship, or ships in any such voyage or voyages be vsed, as all and singuler +their goods, wares, and marchandizes, or any other things whatsoeuer, from +or to any of the places aforesayd transported, that so shall presume to +visit, frequent, haunt, trade vnto, or inhabite, shall be forfaited and +confiscated, ipso facto, the one halfe of the same goods and marchandizes, +or other things whatsoeuer, or the value thereof to be to the vse of vs, +our heires or successours, and the other moytie thereof to be to the vse of +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his said associats their heires and assignes +for euer: [Sidenote: The colleagues of the fellowship for the discouery the +Northwest passage.] and vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd +associats, their heires and assignes wee impose, giue, assigne, create and +confirme this, name peculiar to be named by, to sue and to be sued by, that +is to wit, by the name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, and them for vs, our heires and +successours by that name doe incorporate, and doe erect and create as one +body corporate to haue continuance for euer. Moreouer vnto the sayd Adrian +Gylbert, and his said associats, and vnto their heires and their sayd +assignes for euer, by name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, we haue giuen, granted, and confirmed, +and doe by these presents giue, grant, and confirme full power and +authoritie from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to make order, +decree and enact, constitute and ordeine, and appoynt all such ordinances, +orders, decrees, lawes, and actes, as the sayd new corporation or body +politique, Colleagues of the fellowship for the discouerie of the Northwest +passage, shall thinke meete, necessary, and conuenient, so that they or any +of them be not contrary to the lawes of this realme, and of this our +present graunt. + +And we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of our authority, of our +grace especiall, certaine knowledge and meere motion, do establish, +confirme and ratifie all such ordinances, orders, decrees, lawes and acts +to be in so full and great power and authority, as we, our heires or +successours may or can in any such case graunt, confirme, or ratifie. And +further for the better incouragement of our louing subiects in this +discouerie, we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of authority for vs, +our heires and successours, doe giue, graunt, establish, confirme, ordeine, +ratifie and allow by these presents, to the sayd Adrian Gylbert and to his +associates, and to the heires and assignes of them and euery of them for +euer, and to all other person or persons of our louing subiects whatsoeuer +that shall hereafter trauaile, sayle, discouer, or make voyage as aforesayd +to any of the Iles, Mainelands, Countreys or Teritories whatsoeuer, by +vertue of this our graunt to be discouered; [Sidenote: Free Denization +granted.] that the heires and assignes of them and euery of them being +borne within any of the Iles, Mainelands and Countreys, or Territories +whatsoeuer before mentioned, shall haue and enioy all the privileges of +free Denizens, as persons natiue borne within this our Realme of England, +or within our allegiance for euer, in such like ample maner and forme, as +if they were or had bene borne and personally resiant within our sayd +Realme, any law, statute, proclamation, custome or vsage to the contrary +hereof in any wise notwithstanding. + +Moreouer, for the consideration aforesayd by vertue hereof, we giue and +graunt vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert, his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie, licence and priuilege, [Sidenote: This Patent remained in force +fiue yeeres.] that during the space of fiue yeeres next and immediately +ensuing the date hereof, it shall not be lawfull for any person or persons +whatsoeuer, to visit, haunt, frequent, trade, or make voyage to any Iles, +Mainlands, Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, +Bayes, and Hauens, nor to any other Hauens or places whatsoeuer hitherto +not yet discouered by any of our subiects by vertue of this graunt to be +traded vnto, without the special consent and good liking of the said Adrian +Gylbert, his heires or assignes first had in writing. And if any person or +persons of the associats of the sayd Adrian, his heires or assignes or any +other person or persons whatsoeuer, free of this discouery, shall do any +act or acts contrary to the tenour and true meaning hereof, during the +space of the sayd fiue yeeres, that then the partie and parties so +offending, they and their heires for euer shall loose (ipso facto) the +benefite and priuilege of this our graunt, and shall stand and remaine to +all intents and purposes as persons exempted out of this graunt. + +[Sidenote: Authoritie to proceede at Sea against mutiners.] And further by +vertue hereof wee giue and graunt, for vs, our heires and successours at +all times during the space of fiue yeers next ensuing the date hereof, +libertie and licence, and full authority to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +his heires and assignes, that if it shall happen any one or moe in any ship +or ships sayling on their sayd voyage, to become mutinous, seditious, +disordered, or any way vnruly to the preiudice or hinderance of the hope +for the successe in the attempt or prosecuting of this discouerie or trade +intended, to vse or execute vpon him or them so offending, such punishment, +correction, or execution, as the cause shall be found in iustice to require +by the verdict of twelue of the companie sworne thereunto, as in such a +case apperteineth: That expresse mention of the certaintie of the +premisses, or of other gifts or graunts by vs to the sayd Adrian Gylbert +and his associats before this time made is not mentioned in these presents, +or any other lawe, act, statute, prouiso, graunt, or proclamation +heretofore made or hereafter to be made to the contrary hereof in any wise +notwithstanding. [Sidenote: 1583.] In witnesse whereof we haue made these +our Letters to bee made patents: Witnesse our selfe at Westminster, the +sixt day of Februarie, in the sixe and twenty yeere of our reigne. + + * * * * * + +The first voyage of M. Iohn Davis, undertaken in June 1585. for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage, Written by M. Iohn Ianes Marchant, + sometimes seruant to the worshipfull Master William Sanderson. + +Certaine Honourable personages, and worthy Gentlemen of the Court and +Countrey, with diuers worshipful Marchants of London and of the West +Countrey, mooued with desire to aduance Gods glory and to seeke the good of +their natiue Countrey, consulting together of the likelyhood of the +Discouerie of the Northwest passage, which heretofore had bene attempted, +but vnhappily giuen ouer by accidents vnlooked for, which turned the +enterprisers from their principall purpose, resolued after good +deliberation, to put downe their aduentures to prouide for necessarie +shipping, and a fit man to be chiefe Conductor of this so hard an +enterprise. The setting forth of this action was committed by the +aduenturers, especially to the care of M. William Sanderson Marchant of +London, who was so forward therein, that besides his trauaile which was not +small, he became the greatest aduenturer with his purse, and commended vnto +the rest of the companie one M. Iohn Davis, a man very well grounded in the +principles of the Arte of Nauigation, for Captaine and chiefe Pilot of this +exployt. + +Thus therefore all things being put in a readines, wee departed from +Dartmouth the seuenth of Iune, towards the discouerie of the aforesayd +Northwest passage, with two Barkes, the one being of 50. tunnes, named the +Sunneshine of London, and the other being 35. tunnes, named the Mooneshine +of Dartmouth. In the Sunneshine we had 23. persons, whose names are these +following, M. Iohn Dauis Captaine, William Eston Master, Richard Pope +masters mate, Iohn Iane Marchant, Henry Dauie gunner, William Crosse +boatswayne, Iohn Bagge, Walter Arthur, Luke Adams, Robert Coxworthie, Iohn +Ellis, Iohn Kelley, Edward Helman, William Dicke, Andrew Maddocke, Thomas +Hill, Robert Wats Carpenter, William Russel, Christopher Gorney boy: +[Sidenote: Musitians.] Iames Cole, Francis Ridley, John Russell, Robert +Cornish Musicians. + +The Mooneshine had l9. persons, William Bruton Captaine Iohn Ellis Master, +the rest Mariners. + +The 7. of Iune the Captaine and the Master drewe out a proportion for the +continuance of our victuals. + +The 8. day the wind being at Southwest and West Southwest, we put in for +Falmouth, where we remained vntill the 13. + +The 13. the wind blew at North, and being faire weather we departed. + +The 14. with contrary wind we were forced to put into Silley. + +The 15. wee departed thence, hauing the wind North and by East moderate and +faire weather. + +The 16. wee were driuen backe againe, and were constrained to arriue at +newe Grymsby in Silley: here the winde remained contrary 12. dayes, and in +that space the Captaine, the Master and I went about all the Ilands, and +the Captaine did plat out and describe the situation of all the Ilands, +rocks and harboroughs to the exact vse of Nauigation, with lines and scale +thereunto conuenient. + +[Sidenote: They depart from Silley.] The 28. in Gods name we departed the +wind being Easterly but calme. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The first of Iuly wee sawe great store of Porposes; The +Master called for an harping yron, and shot twise or thrise: sometimes he +missed, and at last shot one and strooke him in the side, and wound him +into the ship: when we had him aboord, the Master sayd it was a Darlie +head. + +The 2. we had some of the fish sodden, and it did eat as sweete as any +mutton. + +The 3. wee had more in sight, and the Master went to shoote at them, but +they were so great, that they burst our yrons, and we lost both fish, +yrons, pastime and all: yet neuerthelesse the Master shot at them with a +pike, and had welnigh gotten one, but he was so strong that he burst off +the barres of the pike and went away: then he tooke the boate-hook, and hit +one with that, but all would not preuaile, so at length we let them alone. + +The 6. we saw a very great Whale, and euery day we saw whales continually. + +[Sidenote: Great store of whales.] The 16. and 17. we saw great store of +Whales. + +The 19. of Iuly we fell into a great whirling and brustling of a tyde, +setting to the Northwards: and sayling about halfe a league wee came into a +very calme Sea, which bent to the Southsouthwest. Here we heard a mighty +great roaring of the Sea, as if it had bene the breach of some shoare, the +ayre being so fogie and fulle of thicke mist, that we could not see the one +ship from the other, being a very small distance asunder: so the Captaine +and the Master being in distrust how the tyde might set them, caused the +Mooneshine to hoyse out her boate and to sound, but they could not finde +ground in 300 fathoms and better. Then the Captaine, Master, and I went +towards the breach, to see what it should be, giuing the charge to our +gunners that at euery glasse they should shoote off a musket shot, to the +intent we might keepe ourselues from loosing them. [Sidenote: The rouling +of the yce together made a great roaring.] Then coming nere to the breach, +we met many Ilands of yce floting, which had quickly compassed vs about: +then we went vpon some of them, and did perceiue that all the roaring which +we heard, was caused onely by the rowling of this yce together: [Sidenote: +Yce turned into water.] Our companie seeing vs not to returne according to +our appoyntment, left off shooting muskets, and began to shoote falkonets, +for they feared some mishap had befallen vs, but before night we came +aboord againe with our boat laden with yce, which made very good fresh +water. Then wee bent our course toward the North, hoping by that meanes to +double the land. + +[Sidenote: The land of Desolation.] The 20. as we sayled along the coast +the fogge broke, and we discouered the land, which was the most deformed +rockie and mountainous land that euer we saw: The first sight whereof did +shew as if it had bene in forme of a sugar-loafe, standing to our sight +aboue the cloudes, for that it did shew ouer the fogge like a white liste +in the skie, the tops altogether covered with snow, and the shoare beset +with yce a league off into the Sea, making such yrkesome noyse as that it +seemed to be the true patterne of desolation, and after the same our +Captaine named it, The land of Desolation. + +The 21. the winde came Northerly and ouerblew, so that we were constrained +to bend our course South againe, for we perceiued that we were runne into a +very deepe Bay, where wee were almost compassed with yce, for we saw very +much toward the Northnortheast, West, and Southwest: and this day and this +night wee cleared our selues of the yce, running Southsouthwest along the +shoare. + +Vpon Thursday being the 22. of this moneth, about three of the clocke in +the morning, wee hoysed out our boate, and the Captaine with sixe sayles +went towards the shore, thinking to find a landing place, for the night +before we did perceiue the coast to be voyde of yce to our iudgement, and +the same night wee were all perswaded that we had seene a Canoa rowing +along the shoare, but afterwards we fell in some doubt of it, but we had no +great reason so to doe. The Captaine rowing towards the shoare, willed the +Master to beare in with the land after him, and before he came neere the +shoare by the space of a league, or about two miles, hee found so much yce, +that hee could not get to land by any meanes. Here our mariners put to +their lines to see if they could get any fish, because there were so many +seales vpon the coast, and the birds did beate vpon the water, but all was +in vaine: [Sidenote: Very blacke water.] The water about this place was +very blacke and thicke like to a filthy standing poole, we sounded and had +ground in 120. fathoms. [Sidenote: Floting wood.] While the Captaine was +rowing to the shoare, our men sawe woods vpon the rocks like to the rocks +of Newfoundland, but I could not discerne them, yet it might be so very +well, for we had wood floting vpon the coast euery day, and the Moone-shine +tooke vp a tree at Sea not farre from the coast being sixtie foote of +length and fourteene handfuls about, hauing the roote vpon it: After this +the Captaine came aboord, the weather being very calme and faire we bent +our course toward the South, with intent to double the land. + +The 23. we coasted the land which did lie Eastnortheast and Westsouthwest. + +The 24. the winde being very faire at East, we coasted the land which did +lie East and West, not being able to come neere the shoare by reason of the +great quantitie of yce. [Sidenote: Colde by reason of yce.] At this place, +because the weather was somewhat colde by reason of the yce, and the better +to encourage our men, their allowance was increased: the captaine and the +master tooke order that euery messe, being fiue persons, should haue halfe +a pound of bread and a kan of beere euery morning to breakfast. The weather +was not very colde, but the aire was moderate like to our April-weather in +England: when the winde came from the land, or the ice, it was somewhat +colde, but when it came off the sea it was very hote. + +[Sidenote: They saile Northwestward aboue foure dayes.] The 25. of this +moneth we departed from sight of this land at sixe of the clocke in the +morning, directing our course to the Northwestward, hoping in Gods mercy to +finde our desired passage, and so continued aboue foure dayes. + +[Sidenote: Land in 64 degrees 15 min.] The 29. of Iuly we discouered land +in 64 degrees 15 minutes of latitude, bearing Northeast from vs. The winde +being contrary to goe to the Northwestwards, we bare in with this land to +take some view of it, being vtterly void of the pester yce and very +temperate. Comming neere the coast, we found many faire sounds and good +roads for shipping, and many great inlets into the land, whereby we iudged +this land to be a great number of Islands standing together. Heere hauing +mored our barke in good order, we went on shoare vpon a small Island to +seeke for water and wood. [Sidenote: The sound where our ships did ride was +called Gilberts Sound.] Vpon this Island we did perceiue that there had +bene people: or we found a small shoo and pieces of leather sowed with +sinewes, and a piece of furre, and wooll like to Beuer. Then we went vpon +another Island on the other side of our shippes: and the Captaine, the +master, and I, being got vp to the top of an high rocke, the people of the +countrey hauing espied vs, made a lamentable noise, as we thought, with +great outcries and skreechings: we hearing them, thought it had bene the +howling of wolues. At last I hallowed againe, and they likewise cried. Then +we perceiuing where they stood, some on the shoare, and one rowing in a +Canoa about a small Island fast by them, we made a great noise, partly to +allure them to vs, and partly to warne our company of them. [Sidenote: +Musicians.] Whereupon M. Bruton and the Master of his shippe, with others +of their company, made great haste towards vs, and brought our Musicians +with them from our shippe, purposing either by force to rescue vs, if need +should so require, or with courtesie to allure the people. When they came +vnto vs, we caused our Musicians to play, our selues dancing, and making +many signes of friendship. [Sidenote: The people of the countrey came and +conferred with our men.] At length there came tenne Canoas from the other +Islands, and two of them came so neere the shoare where we were, that they +talked with vs, the other being in their boats a prety way off. Their +pronunciation was very hollow thorow the throat, and their speech such as +we could not vnderstand: onely we allured them by friendly imbracings and +signes of courtesie. At length one of them pointing vp to the Sunne with +his hand, would presently strike his breast so hard that we might heare the +blow. This hee did many times before hee would any way trust vs. Then Iohn +Ellis the Master of the Mooneshine was appointed to vse his best policie to +gaine their friendship; who strooke his breast, and pointed to the Sunne +after their order: which when he had diuers time done, they beganne to +trust him, and one of them came on shoare, to whom we threw our cappes, +stockings, and gloues, and such other things as then we had about vs, +playing with our musicke, and making signes of ioy, and dauncing. So the +night comming, we bade them farewell, and went aboord our barks. + +[Sidenote: Thirty seuen Canoas. Their musicke.] The next morning being the +30. of Iuly there came 37 Canoas rowing by our ships, calling to vs to come +on shoare: we not making any great haste vnto them, one of them went vp to +the toppe of the rocke, and leapt and daunced as they had done the day +before, shewing vs a seales skinne, and another thing made like a timbrell, +which he did beat vpon with a sticke, making a noise like a small drumme. +Whereupon we manned our boats and came to them, they all staying in their +Canoas: we come to the water side where they were: and after we had sworne +by the Sunne after their fashion, they did trust vs. [Sidenote: Great +familiarity with the Sauages.] So I shooke hands with one of them, and he +kissed my hand, and we were very familiar with them. We were in so great +credit with them vpon this single acquaintance, that we could haue any +thing they had. We bought fiue Canoas of them: we bought their clothes from +their backs, which were all made of seales skinnes and birds skinnes; their +buskins, their hose, their gloues, all being commonly sowed and well +dressed: so that we were fully perswaded that they haue diuers artificers +among them. We had a paire of buskins of them full of fine wool like beuer. +Their apparell for heat was made of birds skinnes with their feathers on +them. We saw among them leather dressed like Glouers leather, and thicke +thongs like white leather of a good length. We had of their darts and +oares, and found in them that they would by no meanes displease vs, but +would giue vs whatsoeuer we asked of them, and would be satisfied with +whatsoeuer we gaue them. They tooke great care of one another: for when we +had bought their boats, then two other would come and cary him away +betweene them that had solde vs his. They are very tractable people, void +of craft or double dealing, and easie to be brought to any civility or good +order: but we iudge them to be idolaters and to worship the Sunne. + +[Sidenote: Diuers sorts of wood.] During the time of our abode among these +Islands we found reasonable quantitie of wood, both firre, spruse and +iuniper; which whether it came floating any great distance to these places +where we found it, or whether it grew in some great Islands neere the same +place by vs not yet discouered, we know not; but we iudge that it groweth +there further into the land then we were, because the people had great +store of darts and oares which they made none account of, but gaue them to +vs for small trifles, as points and pieces of paper. [Sidenote: They may +make much traine, if they had meanes how to vse it.] We saw about this +coast marueilous great abundance of seales skulling together like skuls of +small fish. We found no fresh water among these Islands, but onely snow +water, whereof we found great pooles. The cliffes were all of such oare as +M. Frobisher brought from Meta incognita. [Sidenote: Moscouie glasse.] We +had diuers shewes of Study or Muscouy glasse shining not altogether vnlike +to Christall. [Sidenote: A fruit like corinths.] We found an herbe growing +vpon the rocks whose fruit was sweet, full of red iuice, and the ripe ones +were like corinths. We found also birch and willow growing like shrubbes +low to the ground. These people haue great store of furres as we iudge. +They made shewes vnto vs the 30 of this present, which was the second time +of our being with them, after they perceiued we would haue skinnes and +furres, that they would go into the countrey and come againe the next day +with such things as they had: but this night the winde comming faire, the +captaine and the master would by no meanes detract the purpose of our +discouery. And so the last of this moneth about foure of the clocke in the +morning in God's name we set saile, and were all that day becalmed vpon the +coast. + +[Sidenote: August.] The first of August we had a faire winde, and so +proceeded towards the Northwest for our discouery. + +[Sidenote: Land in 66 degrees 40 min.] The sixt of August we discouered +land in 66 degrees 40 minuts of latitude, altogether void from the pester +of ice: we ankered in a very faire rode vnder a braue mount, the cliffes +whereof were as orient as golde. This Mount was named Mount Raleigh. The +rode where our ships lay at anker was called Totnes rode. The sound which +did compasse the mount was named Exeter sound. The foreland towards the +North was called Diers cape. The foreland towards the South was named Cape +Walsingham. [Sidenote: Foure white beares.] So soone as we were come to an +anker in Totnes rode vnder Mount Raleigh, we espied foure white beares at +the foot of the mount: we supposing them to be goats or wolues, manned our +boats and went towards them: but when we came neere the shore, we found +them to be white beares of a monstrous bignesse: we being desirous of fresh +victuall and the sport, began to assault them, and I being on land, one of +them came downe the hill right against me: my piece was charged with +hailshot and a bullet: I discharged my piece and shot him in the necke; he +roared a litle, and tooke the water straight, making small account of his +hurt. Then we followed him with our boat, and killed him with +boare-speares, and two more that night. We found nothing in their mawes: +but we iudged by their dung that they fed vpon grasse, because it appeared +in all respects like the dung of an horse, wherein we might very plainly +see the very strawes. + +The 7 we went on shore to another beare which lay all night vpon the top of +an Island vnder Mount Raleigh, and when we came vp to him he lay fast +asleep. [Sidenote: A large white beare.] I leuelled at his head, and the +stone of my piece gaue no fire: with that he looked vp, and layed downe his +head againe: then I shot being charged with two bullets, and strooke him in +the head: he being but amazed fell backwards: wherevpon we ran all vpon him +with boare-speares, and thrust him in the body: yet for that he gript away +our boare-speares, and went towards the water; and as he was going downe, +he came backe againe. Then our Master shot his boare-spear, and strooke him +in the head, and made him to take the water, and swimme into a coue fast +by, where we killed him, and brought him aboord. The breadth of his +forefoot from one side to the other was fourteene inches ouer. They were +very fat, so as we were constrained to cast the fat away. We saw a rauen +vpon Mount Raleigh. We found withies also growing like low shrubs and +flowers like Primroses in the sayd place. The coast is very mountainous, +altogether without wood, grasse, or earth, and is onely huge mountaines of +stone; but the brauest stone that euer we saw. The aire was very moderate +in this countrey. + +The 8 we departed from Mount Raleigh, coasting along the shoare, which +lieth Southsouthwest, and Eastnortheast. + +The 9 our men fell in dislike of their allowance, because it was too small +as they thought: whereupon we made a new proportion; euery messe being fiue +to a messe should haue foure pound of bread a day, twelue wine quarts of +beere, six Newland fishes; and the flesh dayes a gill of pease more: so we +restrained them from their butter and cheese. + +The 11 we came to the most Southerly cape of this land, which we named The +Cape of Gods mercy, as being the place of our first entrance for the +discouery. The weather being very foggy we coasted this North land; at +length when it brake vp, we perceiued that we were shot into a very faire +entrance or passage, being in some places twenty leagues broad, and in some +thirty, altogether void of any pester of ice, the weather very tolerable, +and the water of the very colour, nature and quality of the maine ocean, +which gaue vs the greater hope of our passage. Hauing sailed Northwest +sixty leagues in this entrance we discouered certaine Islands standing in +the midst thereof, hauing open passage on both sides. Wherupon our ships +diuided themselues, the one sailing on the North side, the other on the +South side of the sayd Isles, where we stayed fiue dayes, hauing the winde +at Southeast, very foggy and foule weather. + +The 14 we went on shoare and found signes of people, for we found stones +layed vp together like a wall, and saw the skull of a man or a woman. + +The 15 we heard dogs houle on the shoare, which we thought had bene wolues, +and therefore we went on shoare to kill them. When we came on land the +dogges came presently to our boat very gently, yet we thought they came to +pray vpon vs, and therefore we shot at them, and killed two: and about the +necke of one of them we found a leatherne coller, whereupon we thought them +to be tame dogs. There were twenty dogs like mastiues with prickt eares and +long bush tailes: we found a bone in the pizels of their dogs. [Sidenote: +Timber sawen.] Then we went farther, and found two sleads made like ours in +England: the one was made of firre, spruse and oken boords sawen like inch +boords: the other was made all of whale bone, and there hung on the tops of +the sleads three heads of beasts which they had killed. [Sidenote: Fowle.] +We saw here larks, rauens, and partridges. + +[Sidenote: An image.] The 17 we went on shoare, and in a little thing made +like an ouen with stones I found many small trifles, as a small canoa made +of wood, a piece of wood made like an image, a bird made of bone, beads +hauing small holes in one end of them to hang about their necks, and other +small things. The coast was very barren without wood or grasse: the rocks +were very faire like marble, full of vaines of divers colours. We found a +seale which was killed not long before, being fleane, and hid vnder stones. + +[Sidenote: Probabilities for the passage.] Our Captaine and Master searched +for probabilities of the passage, and first found, that this place was all +Islands, with great sounds passing betweene them. + +[Sidenote: Wee neuer came into any bay before or after, but the waters +colour was altered very blackish.] Secondly the water remained of one +colour with the maine ocean without altering. + +Thirdly we saw to the West of those Isles three or foure whales in a skull, +which they iudged to come from a Westerly sea, because to the Eastward we +saw not any whale. + +Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying Southwest, from whence +these whales came, vpon the sudden there came a violent counter-checke of a +tide from the Southwest against the flood which we came with, not knowing +from whence it was mainteined. + +Fiftly, in sailing twenty leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had +sounding in 90 fadoms, faire grey osie sand, and the further we ran into +the Westwards the deeper was the water; so that hard aboord the shoare +among these Isles we could not haue ground in 330 fadoms. + +Lastly, it did ebbe and flow sixe or seuen fadome vp and downe, the flood +comming from diuers parts, so as we could not perceiue the chiefe +maintenance thereof. + +The 18 and 19 our Captaine and Master determined what was best to doe, both +for the safegard of their credits, and satisfying of the aduenturers, and +resolued, if the weather brake vp, to make further search. + +The 20 the winde came directly against vs: so they altered their purpose, +and reasoned both for proceeding and returning. + +The 21 the winde being Northwest, we departed from these Islands; and as we +coasted the South shoare we saw many faire sounds, whereby we were +perswaded that it was no firme land but Islands. + +The 23 of this moneth the wind came Southeast, with very stormy and foule +weather: so we were constrained to seeke harborow vpon the South coast of +this entrance, where we fell into a very faire sound, and ankered in 25 +fadoms greene osie sand. [Sidenote: Faulcons.] Here we went on shore, where +we had manifest signes of people where they had made their fire, and layed +stone like a wall. In this place we saw foure very faire faulcons; and M. +Bruton tooke from one of them his prey, which we iudged by the wings and +legs to be a snite, for the head was eaten off. + +The 24 in the afternoone, the winde comming somewhat faire, we departed +from this road, purposing by Gods grace to returne for England. + +[Sidenote: Their returne.] The 26 we departed from sight of the North land +of this entrance, directing our course homewards vntill the tenth of the +next moneth. + +[Sidenote: September.] The 10. of September wee fell with The land of +desolation, thinking to goe on shoare, but we could get neuer a good +harborough. That night wee put to sea againe, thinking to search it the +next day: but this night arose a very great storme, and separated our +ships, so that we lost the sight of the Mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: They saile from The land of desolation to England in 14. dayes.] +The 13. about noone (hauing tried all the night before with a goose wing) +we set saile, and within two houres after we had sight of the Mooneshine +againe: this day we departed from this land. + +The 27. of this moneth we fell with sight of England. This night we had a +marueilous storme and lost the Mooneshine. + +The 30. of September wee came into Dartmouth, where wee found the +Mooneshine being come in not two houres before.[89] + + * * * * * + +The second voyage attempted by M. Iohn Dauis with others, for the Discouery + of the Northwest passage, in Anno 1586. + +The 7. day of May, I departed from the port of Dartmouth for the discouery +of the Northwest passage, with a ship of an hundred and twentie tunnes +named the Mermayd, a barke of 60. tunnes named the Sunneshine, a barke of +35. tunnes named the Mooneshine, and a pinnesse of tenne tunnes named the +North starre. + +[Sidenote: Land discouered in 60. degrees.] And the 15. of Iune I +discouered land in the latitude of 60. degrees, and in longitude from the +Meridian of London Westward 47. degrees, mightily pestered with yce and +snow, so that there was no hope of landing; the yce lay in some places +tenne leagues, in some 20. and in some 50. leagues off the shore, so that +wee were constrained to beare into 57. degrees to double the same, and to +recouer a free Sea, which through Gods fauourable mercy we at length +obtained. + +The 29. of Iune after many tempestuous storms we againe discouered land, in +longitude from the Meridian of London 58. degr. 30. min. and in latitude +64. being East from vs: into which course sith it please God by contrary +winds to force vs, I thought it very necessary to beare in with it, and +there to set vp our pinnesse, prouided in the Mermayd to be our scout for +this discouery, and so much the rather because the yere before I had bene +in the same place, and found it very conuenient for such a purpose, wel +stored with flote wood, and possessed by a people of tractable +conversation: so that the 29. of this moneth we arriued within the Isles +which lay before this land, lying North northwest, and South southeast, we +knew not how farre. This land is very high and mountainous, hauing before +it on the West side a mighty company of Isles full of faire sounds, and +harboroughs. This land was very little troubled with snow, and the sea +altogether voyd of yce. + +[Sidenote: Gentle and louing Sauages.] The ships being within the sounds +wee sent our boates to search for shole water, where wee might anker, which +in this place is very hard to finde: and as the boat went sounding and +searching, the people of the countrey hauing espied them, came in their +Canoas towards them with many shoutes and cries: but after they had espied +in the boat some of our company that were the yeere before here with vs, +they presently rowed to the boate, and tooke hold on the oare, and hung +about the boate with such comfortable ioy, as would require a long +discourse to be uttered: they came with the boates to our ships, making +signes that they knewe all those that the yeere before had bene with them. +After I perceiued their ioy and small feare of vs, myselfe with the +Merchants and others of the company went a shoare, bearing with me twentie +kniues: I had no sooner landed, but they lept out of their Canoas and came +running to mee and the rest, and embraced vs with many signes of heartie +welcome: at this present there were eighteene of them, and to eche of them +I gaue a knife: they offered skinnes to me for reward, but I made signes +that they were not solde, but giuen them of courtesie: and so dismissed +them for that time, with signes that they should returne againe after +certaine houres. + +[Sidenote: An 100 Canoas with diuers commodities.] The next day with all +possible speed the pinnesse was landed vpon an Isle there to be finished to +serue our purpose for the discouerie, which Isle was so conuenient for that +purpose, as that we were very wel able to defend ourselues against many +enemies. During the time that the pinesse was there setting vp, the people +came continually vnto vs sometime an hundred Canoas at a time, sometime +fortie, fiftie, more and lesse, as occasion serued. They brought with them +seale skinnes, stagge skinnes, white hares, Seale fish, salmon peale, smal +cod, dry caplin, with other fish, and birds such as the countrey did yeeld. + +My selfe still desirous to haue a further search of this place, sent one of +the shipboates to one part of the land, and my selfe went to another part +to search for the habitation of this people, with straight commandement +that there should be no iniurie offered to any of the people, neither any +gunne shot. + +[Sidenote: Images, trane oyle, and Seale skins in tan tubs.] The boates +that went from me found the tents of the people made with seale skinnes set +vp vpon timber, wherein they found great store of dried Caplin, being a +little fish no bigger than a pilchard: they found bags of Trane oyle, many +litle images cut in wood, Seale skinnes in tan-tubs, with many other such +trifles, whereof they diminished nothing. + +[Sidenote: A plaine champion countrey. A goodly riuer.] They also found +tenne miles within the snowy mountaines a plaine champion countrey, with +earth and grasse, such our moory and waste grounds of England are: they +went vp into a riuer (which in the narrowest place is two leagues broad) +about ten leagues, finding it still to continue they knewe not howe farre: +but I with my company tooke another riuer, which although at the first it +offered a large inlet, yet it proued but a deepe bay, the ende whereof in +foure houres I attained, and there leauing the boat well manned, went with +the rest of my company three or foure miles into the countrey, but found +nothing, nor saw any thing; saue onely gripes, rauens, and small birds, as +larkes and linnets. + +The third of Iuly I manned my boat, and went with fifty Canoas attending +vpon me vp into another sound where the people by signes willed mee to goe, +hoping to finde their habitation: at length they made signes that I should +goe into warme place to sleepe, at which place I went on shore, and +ascended the toppe of an high hill to see into the countrey, but perceiuing +my labour vaine, I returned againe to my boate, the people still following +me, and my company very diligent to attend vs, and to helpe vs vp the +rockes, and likewise downe: at length I was desirous to haue our men leape +with them, which was done, but our men did ouerleape them: from leaping +they went to wrestling, we found them strong and nimble, and to haue skil +in wrestling, for they cast some of our men that were good wrestlers. + +The fourth of Iuly we lanched our pinnesse, and had fortie of the people to +help vs, which they did very willingly: at this time our men againe +wrestled with them, and found them as before, strong and skillfull. +[Sidenote: A graue with a crosse layd ouer. The Tartars and people of Iapon +are also smal eyed.] The fourth of Iuly the Master of the Mermayd went to +certaine Ilands to store himselfe with wood, where he found a graue with +diuers buried in it, only couered with seale skinnes, hauing a crosse laid +ouer them, The people are of good stature, wel in body proportioned, with +small slender hands and feet, with broad visages, and smal eyes, wide +mouthes, the most part vnbearded, great lips, and close toothed. Their +custome is as often as they go from vs, still at their returne to make a +new truce, in this sort, holding his hand vp to the Sun with a lowd voice +he crieth Ylyaoute, and striketh his brest with like signes, being promised +safety, he giueth credit. These people are much giuen to bleed, and +therefore stop their noses with deeres haire, or haire of an elan. They are +idolaters and haue images great store, which they weare about them, and in +their boats, which we suppose they worship. They are witches, and haue many +kinds of inchantments, which they often vsed, but to small purpose, thankes +be to God. + +[Sidenote: Their maner of kindling fire like to theirs in America.] Being +among them at shore the fourth of Iuly, one of them making a long oration, +beganne to kindle a fire in this maner: he tooke a piece of a board wherein +was a hole halfe thorow: into that hole he puts the end of a round stick +like vnto a bedstaffe, wetting the end thereof in Trane, and in fashion of +a turner with a piece of lether, by his violent motion doeth very speedily +produce fire: [Sidenote: A fire made of turfes.] which done, with turfes he +made a fire, into which with many words and strange gestures, he put +diuerse things, which wee supposed to be a sacrifice: my selfe and diuers +of my company standing by, they were desirous to haue me go into the smoke, +I willed them likewise to stand in the smoke, which they by no meanes would +do. I then tooke one of them, and thrust him into the smoke, and willed one +of my company to tread out the fire, and to spurne it into the sea, which +was done to shew them that we did contemne their sorcery. [Sidenote: Great +theeues.] These people are very simple in all their conuersation, but +marueillous theeuish, especially for iron, which they haue in great +account. They began through our lenitie to shew their vile nature: they +began to cut our cables: they cut away the Moonelights boat from her +sterne, they cut our cloth where it lay to aire, though we did carefully +looke vnto it, they stole our oares, a caliuer, a boare speare, a sword, +with diuers other things, whereat the company and Masters being grieued, +for our better securitie, desired me to dissolue this new friendship, and +to leaue the company of these theeuish miscreants: whereupon there was a +caliuer shot among them, and immediatly vpon the same a faulcon, which +strange noice did sore amaze them, so that with speed they departed: +notwithstanding their simplicitie is such, that within ten hours after they +came againe to vs to entreat peace: which being promised, we againe fell +into a great league. They brought vs Seale skinnes, and sammon peale, but +seeing iron, they could in no wise forbeare stealing: which when I +perceiued, it did but minister vnto mee an occasion of laughter, to see +their simplicitie, and I willed that, in no case they should bee any more +hardly used, but that our owne company should be the more vigilant to keepe +their things, supposing it to be very hard in so short time to make them +know their euils. [Sidenote: Their rude diet.] They eate all their meat +raw, they liue most vpon fish, they drinke salt water, and eate grasse and +ice with delight: they are neuer out of the water, but liue in the nature +of fishes, saue only when dead sleepe taketh them, and then vnder a warme +rocke laying his boat vpon the land, hee lyeth downe to sleepe. [Sidenote: +Their weapons.] Their weapons are all darts, but some of them haue bow and +arrowes and slings. [Sidenote: Strange nets.] They make nets to take their +fish of the finne of a whale: they do their things very artificially: +[Sidenote: These Islanders warre with the people of the maine.] and it +should seeme that these simple theeuish Islanders haue warre with those of +the maine, for many of them are sore wounded, which wounds they receiued +vpon the maine land, as by signes they gaue vs to vnderstand. We had among +them copper oare, blacke copper, and red copper: [Sidenote: Copper oare.] +they pronounce their language very hollow, and deepe in the throat: these +words following we learned from them. + +[Sidenote: Their language.] + +Kesinyoh, Eate some. +Madlycoyte, Musicke. +Aginyoh, go fetch. +Yliaoute, I meane no harme. +Ponameg, A boat. +Paaotyck, An oare. +Asanock, A dart. +Sawygmeg, A knife. +Vderah, A nose. +Aoh, Iron. +Blete, An eye. +Vnuicke, Giue it. +Tuckloak, A stagge or ellan. +Panygmah, A neddle. +Aob, The Sea. +Mysacoah, Wash it. +Lethicksaneg, A seale skinne. +Canyglow, Kiss me. +Vgnera, My sonne. +Acu, Shot. +Conah, Leape. +Maatuke, Fish. +Sambah, Below. +Maconmeg, Will you haue this. +Cooah, Go to him. +Aba, fallen downe. +Icune, Come hither. +Awennye, Yonder. +Nugo, No. +Tucktodo, A fogge. +Lechiksa, A skinne. +Maccoah, A dart. +Sugnacoon, A coat. +Gounah, Come downe. +Sasobneg, A bracelet. +Vgnake, A tongue. +Ataneg, A seale. +Macuah, A beard. +Pignagogah, A threed. +Quoysah, Giue it to me. + +The 7. of Iuly being very desirous to search the habitation of this +countrey, I went myselfe with our new pinnesse into the body of the land, +thinking it to be a firme continent, and passing vp a very large riuer, a +great flaw of winde tooke me, whereby wee were constrained to seeke succour +for that night, which being had, I landed with the most part of my company, +and went to the top of a high mountaine, hoping from thence to see into the +countrey: but the mountaines were so many and so mighty as that my purpose +preuailed not: [Sidenote: Muscles.] [Sidenote: A strange whirlwind.] +whereupon I againe returned to my pinnesse, and willing diuers of my +company to gather muscles for my supper, whereof in this place there was +great store, myselfe hauing espied a very strange sight, especially to me +that neuer before saw the like, which was a mighty whirlewinde taking vp +the water in very great quantitie, furiously mounting it into the aire, +which whirlewinde, was not for a puffe or blast, but continual, for the +space of three houres, with very little intermission, which sith it was in +the course that I should passe, we were constrained that night to take vp +our lodging vnder the rocks. + +[Sidenote: Great Ilands.] The next morning the storme being broken vp, we +went forward in our attempt, and sailed into a mighty great riuer directly +into the body of the land, and in briefe, found it to be no firme land, but +huge waste, and desert Isles with mighty sounds, and inlets passing +betweene Sea and Sea. Whereupon we returned towards our shippes, and +landing to stoppe a floud, we found the burial of these miscreants; we +found of their fish in bagges, plaices, and calpin dried, of which wee +tooke onely one bagge and departed. The ninth of this moneth we came to our +ships, where we found the people desirous in their fashion, of friendship +and barter: [Sidenote: Slings.] our Mariners complained heauily against the +people, and said that my lenitie and friendly vsing of them gaue them +stomacke to mischiefe: for they haue stollen an anker from vs, they haue +cut our cable very dangerously, they haue cut our boats from our sterne, +and now since your departure, with slings they spare vs not with stones of +halfe a pound weight: and wil you stil indure these iniuries? It is a shame +to beare them. I desired them to be content, and said, I doubted not but +all should be wel. The 10. of this moneth I went to the shore, the people +following mee in their Canoas: I tolled them on shoare, and vsed them with +much courtesie, and then departed aboord, they following me, and my +company. I gaue some of them bracelets, and caused seuen or eight of them +to come aboord, which they did willingly, and some of them went into the +top of the ship: and thus curteously vsing them, I let them depart: the +Sunne was no sooner downe, but they began to practice they deuilish nature, +and with slings threw stones very fiercely into the Mooneshine, and strake +one of her men then boatswaine, that he ouerthrew withall: whereat being +moued, I changed my curtesie, and grew to hatred, my self in my owne boate +well manned with shot, and the barks boat likewise pursued them, and gaue +them diuers shot, but to small purpose, by reason of their swift rowing: so +smally content we returned. + +The 11. of this moneth there came fiue of them to make a new truce: the +master of the Admiral came to me to shew me of their comming, and desired +to haue them taken and kept as prisoners vntill we had his anker againe: +but when he sawe that the chiefe ringleader and master of mischiefe was one +of the fiue, he then was vehement to execute his purpose, so it was +determined to take him: he came crying Iliaout, and striking his brest +offered a paire of gloues to sell, the master offered him a knife for them: +so two of them came to vs, the one was not touched, but the other was soone +captiue among vs: then we pointed to him and his fellowes for our anker, +which being had, we made signes that he should be set at libertie: +[Sidenote: One of the people taken which after dyed.] within one houre +after he came aboord the winde came faire, wherevpon we weyed and set +saile, and so brought the fellow with vs: one of his fellowes still +following our ship close aboord, talked with him and made a kind of +lamentation, we still vsing him wel with Yliaout, which was the common +course of curtesie. At length this fellow aboord vs spake foure or fiue +words vnto the other and clapped his two hands vpon his face, whereupon the +other doing the like, departed as we suppose with heauie chere. We iudged +the couering of his face with his hands and bowing of his body downe, +signified his death. At length he became a pleasant companion among vs. I +gaue him a new sute of frize after the English fashion, because I saw he +could not indure the colde, of which he was very ioyful, he trimmed vp his +darts, and all his fishing tooles, and would make okam, and set his hand to +a ropes end vpon occasion. He liued with the dry Caplin that I tooke when I +was searching in the pinnis, and did eate dry Newfoundland fish. + +All this while, God be thanked, our people were in very good health, onely +one young man excepted, who dyed at sea the fourteenth of this moneth, and +the fifteenth, according to the order of the sea, with praise giuen to God +by seruice, was cast ouerboord. + +[Sidenote: A huge quantitie of yce in 63. degrees of latitude.] The 17 of +this moneth being in the latitude of 63. degrees 8. minuts, we fell vpon a +most mighty and strange quantitie of yce in one entire masse, so bigge as +that we knew not the limits thereof, and being withall so high in forme of +a land, with bayes and capes and like high cliffe land, as that we supposed +it to be land, and therefore sent our pinnesse off to discouer it: but at +her returne we were certainely informed that it was onely yce, which bred +great admiration to vs all considering the huge quantitie thereof, +incredible to be reported in trueth as it was, and therefore I omit to +speake any further thereof. This onely I thinke, that the like before was +neuer seene: and in this place we had very stickle and strong currents. + +[Sidenote: The nature of fogges.] We coasted this mightie masse of yce +vntill the 30 of Iuly, finding it a mighty barre to our purpose: the ayre +in this time was so contagious and the sea so pestered with yce, as that +all hope was banished of proceeding: for the 24 of Iuly all our shrowds, +ropes and sailes were so frosen, and compassed with yce, onely by a grosse +fogge, as seemed to me more then strange, sith the last yeere I found this +sea free and nauigable, without impediments. + +Our men through this extremity began to grow sicke and feeble, and withall +hopelesse of good successe: whereupon very orderly, with good discretion +they intreated me to regard the state of this business, and withall aduised +me, that in conscience I ought to regard the saftie of mine owne life with +the preseruation of theirs, and that I should not through my ouer-boldnes +leaue their widowes and fatherlesse children to giue me bitter curses. This +matter in conscience did greatly moue me to regard their estates: yet +considering the excellencie of the business if it might be attained, the +great hope of certaintie by the last yeeres discouery, and that there was +yet a third way not put in practice, I thought it would growe to my great +disgrace if this action by my negligence should grow into discredite: +whereupon seeking helpe from God, the fountaine of all mercies, it pleased +his diuine maiestie to moue my heart to prosecute that which I hope shall +be to his glory, and to the contentation of euery Christian minde. +Whereupon falling into consideration that the Mermaid, albeit a very strong +and sufficient ship, yet by reason of her burthen was not so conuenient and +nimble as a smaller bark, especially in such desperate hazzards; further +hauing in account her great charge to the aduenturers being at 100. li. the +moneth, and that at doubtfull seruice: all the premisses considered with +diuers other things, I determined to furnish the Moonelight with +reuictualling and sufficient men, and to proceede in this action as God +should direct me. Whereupon I altered our course from the yce, and bare +Eastsoutheast to recouer the next shore where this thing might be +performed: so with fauourable winde it pleased God that the first of August +we discouered the land in Latitude 66. degrees, 33. min. and in longitude +from the Meridian of London 70. degrees voyd of trouble without snow or +ice. + +The second of August we harboured our selues in a very excellent good road, +where with all speed we graued the Moonelight, and reuictualled her: wee +searched this countrey with our pinnesse while the bark was trimming, which +William Eston did: he found all this land to be onely Ilands, with a Sea on +the East, a Sea on the West, and a Sea on the North. [Sidenote: Great +heat.] In this place wee found it very hot and wee were very much troubled +with a flie which is called Muskyto, for they did sting grieuiously. The +people of this place at our first comming in caught a Seale and with +bladders fast tied to him sent him vnto vs with the floud, so as hee came +right with our shippes, which we took as a friendly present from them. + +The fift of August I went with the two Masters and others to the toppe of a +hill, and by the way William Eston espied three Canoas lying vnder a rocke, +and went vnto them: there were in them skinnes, darts, with diuers +superstitious toyes, whereof wee diminished nothing, but left vpon euery +boat a silke point, a bullet of lead, and a pinne. The next day being the +sixt of August, the people came vnto vs without feare and did barter with +vs for skinnes, as the other people did: they differ not from the other, +neither in their Canoas nor apparel, yet is their pronuntiation more plaine +then the others, and nothing hollow in the throat. Our Sauage aboord vs +kept himselfe close, and made shew that he would faine haue another +companion. Thus being prouided, I departed from this lande the twelft of +August at sixe. [Sidenote: 66. degrees 19. minutes.] of the clocke in the +morning, where I left the mermayd at an anker: the fourteenth sailing West +about fiftie leagues, we discouered land, being in latitude 66. degrees 19 +minuts: this land is 70. leagues from the other from whence we came. This +fourteenth day from nine a clocke at night till three a clocke in the +morning, wee ankered by an Island of yce, twelue leagues off the shore, +being mored to the yce. + +The fifteenth day at three a clocke in the morning we departed from this +land to the South, and the eighteenth of August we discouered land +Northwest from vs in the morning, being a very faire promontory, in +latitude 65. degrees, hauing no land on the South. [Sidenote: Great hope of +a passage.] Here wee had great hope of a through passage. + +This day at three a clocke in the afternoone wee againe discouered lande +Southwest and by South from vs, where at night wee were becalmed. +[Sidenote: 64. degr. 20. min.] The nineteenth of this moneth at noone, by +obseruation, we were in 64. degrees 20 minuts. [Sidenote: A great current +to the West.] From the eighteenth day at noone vnto the nineteenth at +noone, by precise ordinary care, wee had sailed 15. leagues South and by +West, yet by art and more exact obseruation, we found our course to be +Southwest, so that we plainely perceiued a great current striking to the +West. + +This land is nothing in sight but Isles, which increaseth our hope. This +nineteenth of August at sixe a clocke in the afternoone, it began to snow, +and so continued all night with foule weather, and much winde, so that we +were constrained to lie at hull all night fiue leagues off the shore: In +the morning being the twentieth of August, the fogge and storme breaking +vp, we bare in with the lande, and at nine a clocke in the morning wee +ankered in a very faire and safe road and lockt for all weathers. +[Sidenote: Ilands.] At tenne of the clocke I went on shore to the toppe of +a very high hill, where I perceiued that this land was Islands: at foure of +the clocke in the afternoone wee weyed anker, hauing a faire North +northeast winde, with very faire weather; at six of the clocke we were +cleare without the land, and so shaped our course to the South, to discouer +the coast, where by the passage may be through Gods mercy found. + +We coasted this land till the eight and twentieth of August [Sidenote: They +runne 8 dayes Southward from 67 to 57. degrees vpon the coast.] finding it +still to continue towards the South, from the latitude of 67. to 57. +degrees: we found marueilous great store of birds, guls and mewes, +incredible to be reported, whereupon being calme weather, we lay one glasse +vpon the lee, to proue for fish, in which space we caught 100. of cod, +although we were but badly prouided for fishing, not being our purpose. +[Sidenote: A harborough in 56. degrees.] This eight and twentieth hauing +great distrust of the weather, we arriued in a very faire harbour in the +latitude of 56. degrees, and sailed 10. leagues into the same, being two +leagues broad, with very faire woods on both sides: in this place wee +continued vntil the first of September, in which time we had two very great +stormes. [Sidenote: Faire woods.] I landed, and went sixe miles by ghesse +into the countrey, and found that the woods were firre, pineaple, alder, +yew, withy, and birch: here we saw a blacke beare: this place yeeldeth +great store of birds, as fezant, partridge, Barbary hennes or the like, +wilde geese, ducks, black birdes, ieyes, thrushes, with other kinds of +small birds. [Sidenote: Store of cod.] Of the partridge and fezant we +killed great store with bow and arrowes: in this place at the harborough +mouth we found great store of cod. + +The first of September at ten a clocke wee set saile, and coasted the shore +with very faire weather. The thirde day being calme, at noone we strooke +saile, and let fall a cadge anker, to proue whether we could take any fish, +being in latitude 54. degrees 30. minuts, in which place we found great +abundance of cod, so that the hooke was no sonner ouerboord, but presently +a fish was taken. It was the largest and the best fed fish that euer I +sawe, and diuers fisher men that were with me sayd that they neuer saw a +more suaule or better skull of fish in their liues: yet had they seene +great abundance. + +The fourth of September at fiue a clocke in the afternoone we ankered in a +very good road among great store of Isles, the countrey low land, pleasant +and very full of fayre woods. [Sidenote: A perfect hope of the passage +about 54. degrees and an halfe.] To the North of this place eight leagues, +we had a perfect hope of the passage, finding a mightie great sea passing +betweene two lands West. The Southland to our iudgement being nothing but +Isles: we greatly desired to goe into the sea, but the winde was directly +against vs. We ankered in foure fathome fine sand. In this place is foule +and fish mightie store. + +The sixt of September having a faire Northnorthwest winde hauing trimmed +our Barke we proposed to depart, and sent fiue of our sailers yong men a +shore to an Island, to fetch certaine fish which we purposed to weather, +and therefore left it al night couered vpon the Isle: the brutish people of +this countrey lay secretly lurking in the wood, and vpon the sudden +assaulted our men; which when we perceiued, we presently let slip our +cables vpon the halse, and vnder our foresaile bare into the shoare, and +with all expedition discharged a double musket vpon them twise, at the +noyse whereof they fled: [Sidenote: Two of our men slaine by the Sauages.] +notwithstanding to our very great griefe, two of our men were slaine with +their arrowes, and two grieuously wounded, of whom at this present we stand +in very great doubt, onely one escaped by swimming, with an arow shot +thorow his arme. These wicked miscreants neuer offered parly or speech, but +presently executed their cursed fury. + +This present euening it pleased God further to increase our sorrowes with a +mighty tempestuous storme, the winde being Northnortheast, which lasted +vnto the tenth of this moneth very extreme. We vnrigged our ship, and +purposed to cut downe our masts, the cable of our shutanker brake, so that +we onely expected to be driuen on shoare among these Canibals for their +pray. Yet in this deepe distresse the mightie mercie of God, when hope was +past, gaue vs succour, and sent vs a faire lee, so as we recouered our +anker againe, and newe mored our ship: where we saw that God manifestly +deliuered vs: for the straines of one of our cables were broken, and we +only roade by an olde iunke. Thus being freshly mored a new storme arose, +the winde being Westnorthwest, very forcible, which lasted vnto the tenth +day at night. + +The eleuenth day with a faire Westnorthwest winde we departed with trust in +Gods mercie, shaping our course for England, and arriued in the West +countrey in the beginning of October. + + * * * * * + +Master Dauis being arriued, wrote his letter to M. William Sanderson of + London, concerning his voyage, as followeth. + +Sir, the Sunneshine came into Dartmouth the fourth of this moneth: she hath +bene at Island, and from thence to Groenland, and so to Estotiland, from +thence to Desolation, and to our Marchants, where she made trade with the +people, staying in the countrey twentie dayes. They haue brought home fiue +hundred seales skinnes, and an hundred and fortie halfe skinnes and pieces +of skinnes. I stand in great doubt of the pinnesse, God be mercifull vnto +the poore men, and preserue them, if it be his blessed will. + +I haue now experience of much of the Northwest part of the world, and haue +brought the passage to that likelihood, as that I am assured it must bee in +one of the foure places, or els not at all. And further I can assure you +vpon the perill of my life, that this voyage may be performed without +further charge, nay with certaine profite to the aduenturers, if I may haue +but your fauour in the action. I hope I shall finde fauour with you to see +your Card. I pray God it be so true as the Card shal be which I will bring +you: and I hope in God, that your skill in Nauigation shall be gaineful +vnto you, although at the first it hath not proued so. And thus with my +humble commendations I commit you to God, desiring no longer to liue, then +I shall be yours most faithfully to command. Exon this fourteenth of +October. 1586. + +Yours to command + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +The relation of the course which the Sunshine a barke of fiftie tunnes, and + the Northstarre a small pinnesse, being two vessels of the fleete of M. + Iohn Dauis, helde after hee had sent them from him to discouer the + passage betweene Groenland and Island, written by Henry Morgan seruant to + M. William Sanderson of London. + +[Sidenote: May.] The seuenth day of May 1586. wee departed out of Dartmouth +hauen foure sailes, to wit, the Mermaid, the Sunshine, the Mooneshine, and +the Northstarre. In the Sunshine were sixteene men, whose names were these: +Richard Pope Master, Marke Carter Masters mate, Henry Morgan Purser, George +Draward, Iohn Mandie, Hugh Broken, Philip Iane, Hugh Hempson, Richard +Borden, Iohn Philpe, Andrew Madock, William Wolcome, Robert Wag carpenter, +Iohn Bruskome, William Ashe, Simon Ellis. + +Our course was Westnorthwest the seuenth and eight dayes: and the ninth day +in the morning we were on head of the Tarrose of Silley. Thus coasting +along the South part of Ireland the 11. day, we were on head of the Dorses: +and our coarse was Southsouthwest vntill sixe of the clocke the 12. day. +The 13. day our course was Northwest. [M. Dauis in the latitude of 60. deg. +diuideth his fleete into 2. parts.] We remained in the company of the +Mermaid and the Mooneshine vntill we came to the latitude of 60. degrees: +and there it seemed best to our Generall M. Dauis to diuide his fleete, +himself sayling to the Northwest, and to direct the Sunshine, wherein I +was, and the pinnesse called the Northstarre, to seeke a passage Northward +between Groenland and Island to the latitude of 80. degrees, if land did +not let vs. [Sidenote: The 7. of Iune.] So the Seuenth day of Iune wee +departed from them: and the ninth of the same we came to a firme land of +yce, which we coasted along the ninth, the tenth, and the eleuenth dayes of +Iune: [Sidenote: Island descryed.] and the eleuenth day at sixe of the +clocke at night we saw land which was very high, which afterward we knew to +be a Island: and the twelft day we harboured there, and found many people: +[Sidenote: 66. degrees.] the land lyeth East and by North in 66. degrees. + +[Sidenote: Their commodities.] Their commodities were greene fish, and +Island lings, and stockfish, and a fish which is called Scatefish: of all +which they had great store. They had also kine, sheep and horses, and hay +for their cattell, and for their horses. Wee saw also their dogs. +[Sidenote: Their dwellings.] Their dwelling houses were made on both sides +with stones, and wood layd crosse ouer them, which was couered ouer with +turfes of earth, and they are flat on the tops, and many of these stood +hard by the shore. [Sidenote: Their boats.] Their boates were made with +wood and yron all along the keele like our English boates: and they had +nayles for to naile them withall, and fish-hookes and other things for to +catch fish as we haue here in England. They had also brasen kettles, and +girdles and purses made of leather, and knoppes on them of copper, and +hatchets, and other small tooles as necessary as we haue. They drie their +fish in the Sun, and when they are dry, they packe them vp in the top of +their houses. If we would goe thither to fishing more then we doe, we +should make it a very good voyage: for wee got an hundreth greene fish in +one morning. Wee found heere two English men with a shippe, which came out +of England about Easter day of this present yeere 1586, and one of them +came aboord of vs, and brought vs two lambs. [Sidenote: M. Iohn Roydon of +Ipswich.] The English mans name was M. Iohn Roydon of Ipswich marchant: hee +was bound for London with his ship. And this is the summe of that which I +obserued in Island. [Sidenote: They departed from Island Northwest.] We +departed from Island the sixteenth day of Iune in the morning, and our +course was Northwest, and we saw on the coast two small barkes going to an +harborough: we went not to them, but saw them a farre off. Thus we +continued our course vnto the end of this moneth. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The third day of Iuly we were in betweene two firme lands +of yce, and passed in betweene them all that day vntill it was night: and +then the Master turned backe againe, and so away we went towards Groenland. +[Sidenote: Groneland discouered.] And the seuenth day of Iuly we did see +Groenland, and it was very high, and it looked very blew: we could not come +to harborough into the land, because we were hindered by a firme land as it +were of yce, which was along the shoares side: but we were within three +leagues of the land, coasting the same diuers dayes together. [Sidenote: +The land of Desolation.] The seuenteenth day of Iuly wee saw the place +which our Captaine M. Iohn Dauis the yeere before had named The land of +Desolation, where we could not goe on shore for yce. The eighteenth day we +were likewise troubled with yce, and went in amongst it at three of the +clocke in the morning. [Sidenote: Groenland coasted from the 7. till the +last of Iuly.] After wee had cleared our selues thereof, wee ranged all +along the coast of Desolation vntill the ende of the aforesayd moneth. + +[Sidenote: August.] The third day of August we came in sight of Gilberts +sound in the latitude of 64. deg. 15. min which was the place where we were +appoynted to meete our Generall and the rest of our Fleete. Here we came to +an harborough at 6. of the clocke at night. + +The 4. day in the morning the Master went on shore with 10. of his men, and +they brought vs foure of the people rowing in their boats aboord of the +ship. And in the afternoone I went on shore with 6. of our men, and there +came to vs seuen of them when we were on land. We found on shore three dead +people, and two of them had their staues lying by them, and their olde +skinnes wrapped about them and the other had nothing lying by, wherefore we +thought it was a woman. [Sidenote: The houses of Gronland.] We also saw +their houses neere the Sea side, which were made with pieces of wood on +both sides, and crossed ouer with poles and then couered ouer with earth: +we found Foxes running vpon the hilles: as for the place it is broken land +all the way that we went, and full of broken Islands. + +The 21. of August the Master sent the boate on shore for wood with sixe of +his men, and there were one and thirtie of the people of the countrey which +went on shore to them, and they went about to kill them as we thought, for +they shot their dartes towards them, and we that were aboord the ship, did +see them goe on shore to our men: whereupon the Master sent the pinnesse +after them, and when they saw the pinnesse comming towards them, they +turned backe, and the Master of the pinnesse did shoote off a caliuer to +them the same time, but hurt none of them, for his meaning was onely to put +them in feare. [Sidenote: Our men play at footeball with the Sauages.] +Diuers times they did waue vs on shore to play with them at the football, +and some of our company went on shore to play with them, and our men did +cast them downe as soone as they did come to strike the ball. And thus much +of that which we did see and do in that harborough where we arriued first. + +The 23. day wee departed from the Merchants Isle, where wee had beene +first, and our course from thence was South and by West, and the wind was +Northeast, and we ran that day and night about 5. or 6. leagues, vntill we +came to another harborough. + +The 24. about eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone wee entred into the +aforesayd new harborow, and as wee came in, we did see dogs running vpon +the Islands. When we were come in, there came to vs foure of the people +which were with vs before in the other harborough, and where we rode, we +had sandie ground. [Sidenote: Sweete wood found.] We saw no wood growing, +but found small pieces of wood vpon the Islands, and some small pieces of +sweete wood among the same. We found great Harts hornes, but could see none +of the Stagges where we went, but we found their footings. As for the bones +which we receiued of the Sauages I cannot tell of what beasts they be. + +The stones that we found in the countrey were black, and some white, as I +think they be of no value, neuerthelesse I haue brought examples of them to +you. + +The 30. of August we departed from this harborough towards England, and the +wind tooke vs contrary, so that we were faine to go to another harborough +the same day at 11. of the clocke. And there came to vs 39. of the people, +and brought vs 13. Seale skins, and after we receiued these skins of them, +the Master sent the carpenter to change one of our boates which wee had +bought of them before, and they would haue taken the boate from him +perforce, and when they sawe they could not take it from vs, they shot with +their dartes at vs, and stroke one of our men with one of their dartes, and +Iohn Philpe shot one of them into the brest with an arrow. [Sidenote: A +skirmish between the Sauages and our men.] And they came to vs againe, and +foure of our men went into the shipboate, and they shot with their dartes +at our men: but our men tooke one of their people in his boate into the +shipboate, and he hurt one of them with his knife, but we killed three of +them in their boates: two of them were hurt with arrowes in the brests, and +he that was aboord our boat, was shot in with an arrow, and hurt with a +sword, and beaten with staues, whome our men cast ouerboord, but the people +caught him and carried him on shore vpon their boates, and the other two +also, and so departed from vs. And three of them went on shore hard by vs, +where they had their dogs, and those three came away from their dogs, and +presently one of their dogs came swimming towards vs hard aboord the ship, +whereupon our Master caused the Gunner to shoote off one of the great +pieces towards the people, and so the dog turned backe to land and within +an noure after there came of the people hard aboord the ship, but they +would not come to vs as they did come before. + +The 31. of August we departed from Gylberts sound for England, and when we +came out of the harborough there came after vs 17. of the people looking +which way we went. + +The 2. of September we lost sight of the land at 12. of the clocke at +noone. + +[Sidenote: The pinnesse neuer returned home.] The third day at Night we +lost sight of the Northstarre our pinnesse in a very great storme, and lay +a hull tarying for them the 4. day, but could heare no more of them. Thus +we shaped our course the 5. day Southsoutheast, and sayling vntill the 27. +of the sayd moneth, we came in sight of Cape Clere in Ireland. + +The 30. day we entred our owne chanell. + +The 2. of October we had sight of the Isle of Wight. + +The 3. we coasted all along the shore, and the 4. and 5. + +The 6. of the said moneth of October wee came into the riuer of Thames as +high as Ratcliffe in safetie God be thanked. + + * * * * * + +The third voyage Northwestward, made by M. Iohn Dauis Gentleman, as chiefe + captaine and Pilot generall, for the discouery of a passage to the Isles + of the Moluccas, or the coast of China, in the yeere 1587. Written by M. + Iohn Ianes. + +May. + +The 19. of this present moneth about midnight wee weyed our ankers, set +sayle, and departed from Dartmouth with two Barkes and a Clincher, the one +named the Elizabeth of Dartmouth, the other the Sunneshine of London, and +the Clincher called the Helene of London: thus in Gods name we set forwards +with the wind at Northeast a good fresh gale. About 3. houres after our +departure, the night being somewhat thicke with darknesse, we had lost the +pinnesse: the Captaine imagining that the men had runne away with her, +willed the Master of the Sunshine to stand to Seawards, and see if we could +descry them, we bearing in with the shore for Plimmouth. At length we +descried her, bare with her, and demanded what the cause was: they answered +that the tiller of their helme was burst. So shaping our course +Westsouthwest, we went forward, hoping that a hard beginning would make a +good ending, yet some of vs were doubtfull of it, falling in reckoning that +she was a Clincher; neuerthelesse we put our trust in God. + +The 21. we met with the Red Lion of London, which came from the coast of +Spaine, which was afrayd that we had bene men of warre, but we hailed them, +and after a little conference, we desired the Master to carie our Letters +for London directed to my vncle Sanderson, who promised vs a safe +deliuerie. And after wee had heaued them a lead and a line, wherevnto wee +had made fast our letters, before they could get them into the ship, they +fell into the Sea, and so all our labour and theirs also was lost; +notwithstanding they promised to certifie our departure at London, and so +we departed, and the same day we had sight of Silley. The 22. the wind was +at Northeast by East with faire weather, and so the 23. and 24. the like. +The 25. we layd our ships on the Lee for the Sunneshine, who was a romaging +for a leake, they had 500. strokes at the pumpe in a watch, the wind at +Northwest. + +The 26. and 27. wee had faire weather, but this 27. the Pinnesses foremast +was blowen ouerboord. The 28. the Elizabeth towed the pinnesse, which was +so much bragged of by the owners report before we came out of England, but +at Sea she was like a cart drawen with oxen. Sometimes we towed her because +she could not saile for scant wind. + +The 31. day our Captaine asked if the pinnesse were stanch, Peerson +answered that she was as sound and stanch as a cup. This made vs something +glad, when we sawe she would brooke the Sea, and was not leake. + + +Iune. + +The first 6. dayes wee had faire weather: after that for 5 dayes wee had +fogge and raine, the winde being South. The 12. wee had cleare weather. The +Mariners in the Sunneshine and the Master could not agree: the Mariners +would goe on their voyage a fishing, because the yeere began to waste: the +Master would not depart till hee had the companie of the Elizabeth, +whereupon the Master told our Captaine that hee was afrayd his men would +shape some contrary course while he was asleepe, and so he should lose vs. +At length after much talke and many threatnings, they were content to bring +vs to the land which we looked for daily. + +[Sidenote: Land descried.] The 14. day we discouered land at fiue of the +clocke in the morning, being very great and high mountaines, the tops of +the hils being couered with snow. Here the wind was variable, sometimes +Northeast, Eastnortheast, and East by North: but we imagined ourselues to +be 16. or 17. leagues off from the shore. + +The 16. we came to an anker about 4. or 5. of the clocke afternoone, the +people came presently to vs after the old maner, with crying Ilyaoute, and +shewing vs Scales skinnes. The 17. we began to set vp the pinnesse that +Peerson framed at Dartmouth, with the boords which hee brought from London. + +The 18. Peerson and the Carpenters of the ships began to set on the +plankes. [Sidenote: Salt kerned on the rockes.] The 19. as we went about an +Island, were found blacke Pumise stones, and salt kerned on the rockes very +white and glistering. This day also the Master of the Sunneshine tooke of +the people a very strong lusty yoong fellow. + +The 20. about two of the clocke in the morning, the Sauages came to the +Island where our pinnace was built readie to bee launched, and tore the two +vpper strakes, and carried them away onely for the loue of the yron in the +boords. While they were about this practise, we manned the Elizabeths boate +to goe a shore to them: our men being either afrayd or amazed, were so long +before they came to shore, that our Captaine willed them to stay, and made +the Gunner giue fire to a Saker, and layd the piece leuell with the boate +which the Sauages had turned on the one side because wee should not hurt +them with our arrowes, and made the boate their bulwarke against the +arrowes which we shot at them. Our Gunner hauing made all things readie, +gaue fire to the piece, and fearing to hurt any of the people, and +regarding the owners profite, thought belike hee would saue a Sakers shot, +doubting wee should haue occasion to fight with men of warre, and so shot +off the Saker without a bullet: we looking stil when the Sauages that were +hurt should run away without legs, at length wee could perceiue neuer a man +hurt, but all hauing their legges could carie away their bodies: wee had no +sooner shot off the piece, but the Master of the Sunneshine manned his +boate, and came rowing toward the Island, the very sight of whom made each +of them take that hee had gotten, and flee away as fast as they could to +another Island about two miles off, where they tooke the nayles out of the +timber, and left the wood on the Isle. When we came on shore, and sawe how +they had spoiled the boat, after much debating of the matter, we agreed +that the Elizabeth should haue her to fish withall: whereupon she was +presently caryed aboord, and stowed. + +Now after this trouble, being resolued to depart with the first wind, there +fell out another matter worse then all the rest, and that was in this +maner. Iohn Churchyard one whom our Captaine had appoynted as Pilot in the +pinnace, came to our Captaine, and Master Brutton, and told them that the +good ship which we must all hazard our liues in, had three hundred strokes +at one time as she rode in the harbour: This disquieted vs all greatly, and +many doubted to goe in her. At length our Captaine by whom we were all to +be gouerned, determined rather to end his life with credite, then to +returne with infamie and disgrace, and so being all agreed, wee purposed to +liue and die together, and committed our selues to the ship. [Sidenote: +Isles in 64 degrees.] Now to 21. hauing brought all our things aboord, +about 11. or 12. of the clocke at night, we set saile and departed from +those Isles, which lie in 64. degrees of latitude, our ships being now all +at Sea, and wee shaping our course to goe, coasting the land to the +Northwards vpon the Easterne shore, which we called the shore of our +Merchants, because there we met with people which traffiqued with vs, but +here wee were not without doubt of our ship. + +[Sidenote: Store of Whales in 67. degrees.] The 24. being in 67. degrees, +and 40. minutes, wee had great store of Whales, and a kinde of sea birds +which the Mariners call Cortinous. This day about sixe of the clocke at +night, we espied two of the countrey people at Sea, thinking at the first +they had bene two great Seales, vntill wee sawe their oares glistering with +the Sunne: they came rowing towardes vs, as fast as they could, and when +they came within hearing, they held vp their oares, and cryed Ilyaoute, +making many signes: and at last they came to vs, giuing vs birdes for +bracelets, and of them I had a darte with a bone in it, or a piece of +Vnicorns horne, as I did iudge. This dart he made store of, but when he saw +a knife, he let it go, being more desirous of the knife then of his dart: +these people continued rowing after our ship the space of 3. houres. + +The 25. in the morning at 7. of the clocke we descried 30. Sauages rowing +after vs, being by iudgement 10. leagues off from the shore: they brought +vs Salmon Peales, Birdes, and Caplin, and we gaue them pinnes, needles, +bracelets, nailes, kniues, bels, looking glasses, and other small trifles, +and for a knife, a naile or a bracelet, which they call Ponigmah, they +would sell their boate, coates, or any thing they had, although they were +farre from the shore. Wee had but few skinnes of them, about 20. but they +made signes to vs that if wee would goe to the shore, wee should haue more +store of Chichsanege: they stayed with vs till 11. of the clocke, at which +time wee went to prayer, and they departed from vs. + +[Sidenote: 72 deg. and 12 min. Betweene Gronland and the North of America +aboue 40. leagues.] The 28. and 29. were foggie with cloudes, the 30. day +wee tooke the heigth, and found our selues in 72. degrees and 12 minutes of +latitude both at noone and at night, the Sunne being 5. degrees aboue the +Horizon. [Sidenote: The Great variation of the compasse.] At midnight the +compasse set to the variation of 28. degrees to the Westward. [Sidenote: +London coast.] Now hauing coasted the land, which wee called London coast, +from the 21. of this present, till the 30. the Sea open all to the +Westwards and Northwards, the land on starboard side East from vs, the +winde shifted to the North, whereupon we left that shore, naming the same +Hope Sanderson, and shaped our course West, and ranne 40. leagues and +better without the sight of any land. + +Iuly. + +[Sidenote: A mightie banke of yce lying North and South.] The second of +Iuly wee fell with a mightie banke of yce West from vs, lying North and +South, which banke wee would gladly haue doubled out to the Northwards, but +the winde would not suffer vs, so that we were faine to coast it to the +Southwards, hoping to double it out, that wee might haue ran so farre West +till wee had found land, or els to haue beene thorowly resolued of our +pretended purpose. + +The 3. wee fell with the yce againe, and putting off from it, we sought to +the Northwards, but the wind crossed vs. + +The 4. was foggie: so was the 5. also with much wind at the North. + +The 6. being very cleare, we put our barke with oares through a gap in the +yce, seeing the Sea free on the West side, as we thought, which falling out +otherwise, caused vs to returne after we had stayed there betweene the yce. +The 7. and 8. about midnight, by Gods helpe we recouered the open Sea, the +weather being faire and calme, and so was the 9. The 10. we coasted the +yce. The 11. was foggie, but calme. + +The 12. we coasted againe the yce, hauing the wind at Northnorthwest. +[Sidenote: Extreme heate of the Sunne.] The 13, bearing off from the yce, +we determined to goe with the shoare and come to an anker, and to stay 5. +or 6. dayes for the dissoluing of the yce, hoping that the Sea continually +beating it, and the Sunne with the extreme force of heat which it had +alwayes shining vpon it, would make a quicke dispatch, that we might haue a +further search vpon the Westerne shore. Now when we were come to the +Easterne coast, the water something deepe, and some of our companie +fearefull withall, we durst not come to an anker, but bare off into the Sea +againe. The poore people seeing vs goe away againe, came rowing after vs +into the Sea, the waues being somewhat loftie. We truckt with them for a +few skinnes and dartes, and gaue them beads, nailes, pinnes, needles and +cardes, they poynting to the shore, as though they would shew vs some great +friendship: but we little regarding their curtesie, gaue them the gentle +farewell, and so departed. + +[Sidenote: They were driuen West sixe points out of their course in 67. +degrees, 45. minutes.] The 14. wee had the wind at South. The 15. there was +some fault either in the barke, or the set of some current, for wee were +driuen sixe points beyond our course West. The 16. wee fell with the banke +of yce West from vs. The 17. and 18. were foggie. [Sidenote: Mount +Raleigh.] The 19.at one a clocke after noone, wee had sight of the land +which we called Mount Raleigh, and at 12. of the clocke at night, we were +thwart the streights which we discouered the first yeere. The 20. wee +trauersed in the mouth of the streight, the wind being at West, with faire +and cleare weather. The 21. and 22. wee coasted the Northerne coast of the +streights. [Sidenote: The Earle of Cumberlands Isles.] The 23. hauing +sayled threescore leagues Northwest into the streights, at two a clocke +after noone wee ankered among many Isles in the bottome of the gulfe, +naming the same The Earle of Cumberlands Isles, where riding at anker, a +Whale passed by our ship and went West among the Isles. [Sidenote: The +variation of the compasse 30. deg. Westward.] Heere the compasse set at +thirtie degrees Westward variation. The 23. wee departed, shaping our +course Southeast to recouer the Sea. The 25. wee were becalmed in the +bottome of the gulfe, the ayre being extreme hot. Master Bruton and some of +the Mariners went on shoare to course dogs, where they found many Graues +and Trane split on the ground, the dogs being so fat that they were scant +able to run. + +The 26. wee had a prety storme, the winde being at Southeast. The 27. and +28. were faire. The 29. we were cleare out of the streights, hauing coasted +the South shore, and this day at noone we were in 62. degrees of latitude. +[Sidenote: The land trendeth from this place Southwest and by South. My +Lord Lumleys Inlet.] The 30. in the afternoone wee coasted a banke of yce, +which lay on the shore, and passed by a great banke or Inlet, which lay +between 63. and 62. degrees of latitude, which we called Lumlies Inlet. We +had oftentimes, as we sailed alongst the coast, great ruttes, the water as +it were whirling and ouerfalling, as if it were the fall of some great +water through a bridge. + +[Sidenote: Warwicks Forland.] The 31. as we sayled by a Headland, which we +named Warwicks Foreland, we fell into one of these ouerfals with a fresh +gale of wind, and bearing all our sailes, wee looking vpon an Island of yce +betweene vs and the shoare, had thought that our barke did make no way, +which caused vs to take markes on the shoare: [Sidenote: A very forcible +current Westward.] at length wee perceiued our selues to goe very fast, and +the Island of yce which we saw before, was carried very forcibly with the +set of the current faster then our ship went. This day and night we passed +by a very great gulfe the water whirling and roaring as it were the +meetings of tydes. + + +August + +[Sidenote: Chidleys cape.] The first of August hauing coasted a banke of +ice which was driuen out at the mouth of this gulfe, we fell with the +Southernmost cape of the gulfe, which we named Chidleis cape, which lay in +61 degrees and 10 minutes of latitude. The 2 and 3 were calme and foggie, +so were the 4, 5, and 6. The 7 was faire and calme: so was the 8, with a +litle gale in the morning. The 9 was faire, and we had a little gale at +night. The 10 we had a frisking gale at Westnorthwest. The 11. faire. +[Sidenote: The lord Darcies Island.] The 12 we saw fiue deere on the top of +an Island, called by vs Darcies Island. And we hoised out our boat, and +went ashore to them, thinking to haue killed some of them. But when we came +on shore, and had coursed them twise about the Island, they tooke the sea +and swamme towards Islands distant from that three leagues. When we +perceiued that they had taken the sea we gaue them ouer because our boat +was so small that it could not carrie vs, and rowe after them, they swamme +so fast: but one of them was as bigge as a good prety Cow, and very fat, +their feet as bigge as Oxe feet. Here vpon this Island I killed with my +piece a gray hare. + +The 13 in the morning we saw three or foure white beares, but durst not go +on shore to them for lacke of a good boat This day we stroke a rocke +seeking for an harborow, and receiued a leake: and this day we were in 54. +degrees of latitude. + +The 14 we stopt our leake in a storme not very outragious, at noone. + +[Sidenote: The fishing place betweene 54 and 55 degrees of latitude.] The +15 being almost in 52 degrees of latitude, and not finding our ships, nor +(according to their promise) any kinde of marke, token, or beacon, which we +willed them to set vp, and they protested to do so vpon euery head land, +Island or cape, within twenty leagues euery way off from their fishing +place, which our captaine appointed to be betweene 54 and 55 degrees: This +15 I say we shaped our course homewards for England, hauing in our ship but +litle wood, and halfe a hogshead of fresh water. Our men were very willing +to depart, and no man more forward then Peerson, for he feared to be put +out of his office of stewardship: but because euery man was so willing to +depart, we consented to returne for our owne countrey: and so we had the 16 +faire weather, with the winde at Southwest. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of whales in 52 degrees.] The 17 we met a ship at sea, +and as farre as we could iudge it was a Biskaine: we thought she went a +fishing for whales; for in 52 degrees or thereabout we saw very many. + +The 18 was faire, with a good gale at West. + +The 19 faire also, with much winde at West and by South. + +[They arrive at Dartmouth the 15 of September.] And thus after much +variable weather and change of winds we arriued the 15 of September in +Dartmouth anno 1587, giuing thanks to God for our safe arriuall. + + * * * * * + +A letter of the sayd M. Iohn Dauis written to M. Sanderson of London + concerning his forewritten voyage. + +Good M. Sanderson, with Gods great mercy I haue made my safe returne in +health, with all my company, and haue sailed threescore leagues further +then my determination at my departure. I haue bene in 73 degrees, finding +the sea all open, and forty leagues betweene land and land. The passage is +most probable, the execution easie, as at my comming you shall fully know. + +Yesterday the 15 of September I landed all weary; therefore I pray you +pardon my shortnesse. + +Sandridge this 16 of September anno 1587. + +Yours equall as mine owne, which by triall you shall best know, + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +A Traverse-Booke made by M. Iohn Davis in his third voyage for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage. Anno 1587. + +[In the following chart, the final column, THE DISCOVRSE, is moved to the +line after which it is aligned in the original--KTH] + + +Moneth D H Course. L Eleva- The winde. THE DISCOVRSE + a o e tion + y u a of the + e r g pole. + s. e u D M + s. e e i + s. g. n. +May + 19 w.s.w. 50 30 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we departed from Dartmouth at two of the clocke at night. + 20 + 21 35 w.s.w. 50 50 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we descried Silly N. W. by W. from vs. + 22 15 w.n.w. 14 n.e. by e. + This day at noone we departed from Silly. + 22 6 w.n.w. 6 n.e. by e. + 22 3 w.n.w. 2 + 23 15 n.w. by w. 18 n.e. + 23 39 w.n.w. 36 50 40 + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 6 n.w. by w. 5 n.e. by n. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 12 w.n.w. 12 n.e. +Noone the 24 24 w.n.w. 25 51 16. + Northerly. + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2-1/2 n. by e. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 2 s. 1/2 n. + Now we lay vpon the lee for the Sunshine, which had taken a leake of 500 + strokes a watch. +Noone the 25 24 w. by n. 20 51 30 + The true course, distance and latitude. +Noone the 25 3 w. 3 n.n.w. + 3 w.s.w. 2 n.w. + 1 s.w. 1 w.n.w. + 2 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 Calme + 4 w.n.w. 4 s.s.e. + 5 w. 6 s.s.e. +Noone the 26 24 w by n. 23 51 40 + The true course, distance, &c. + Westerly. + 11 w. 16 s.s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 2 s.s.e. + We lay at hull with winde, raine, and fog. + 7 w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 24 w. northerly 23 + The common course supposed. +Noone the 28 24 w. 20 52 13 e.s.e. + We towed the pinnesse 18 houres of this day. +Noone the 28 28 w. by n. 43 52 13 + Northerly. + The true course, distance, &c. +Noone the 29 24 n.w. 30 s. by e. + 6 n.w. 10 s. + 3 n. by w. 2 w. by n. + 3 w. by w. 3 w. by s. + 12 n. w. 12 s.s.w +Noone the 30 48 n.w. by n. 65 54 50 + The true course, &c. + 9 n.w. 12 s.w. + 9 n.w. by w. 12 s.s.w. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. +Noone the 30 3 w. by n. 4 n. + 30 24 w. n. w. 27 55 30 + Northerly. + The true course, &c. +Iune 1 12 w. 10 n.n.w. + 9 n.w. 8 e.n.e. + 3 n.w. 2-1/2 e.n.e. + 1 24 w.n.w. 17 55 45 + Westerly. + The true course, &c. + 12 n.w. 16 e.s.e. + 6 n.w. 7 s. + 6 n.w. 8 s.s.w. +Noone the 2 24 n.w. 32 56 55 + Northerly + The true course, &c. +Noone the 5 72 w. by s. 45 56 20 + Southerly + The true course &c., drawen from diurs trauerses. +Noone the 6 24 s.w. 16 w.n.w. + 7 s.w. by w. 6 w. by n. + 5 Calme. + 3 w.n.w. 1 s. +Noone the 7 9 w.n.w. 12 s. + 12 w.n.w 20 s. + 3 w.n.w. 4 s. +Noone the 8 9 w.n.w. 7 s. + 12 w.n.w. 5 s. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w. 13 s.e. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w 86 57 30 + Northerly + The true course, distance, and latitude for 96 houres. +Noone the 9 3 w.n.w. 4 s.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2 s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 1 Calme +Noone the 10 12 w.n.w. 16-1/2 e. + 7 w.n.w. 12 e. + 2 n.w. 2 e. +Noone the 11 15 n.w. 18 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 12 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 13 e. by s. +Noone the 12 72 n.w. by w. 78 59 50 + Northerly + The true course, &c. for 72 houres. +Noone the 13 24 n.n.w. 26 60 58 e. by n. + Westerly +Noone the 14 24 n.n.w. 32 62 30 n.e. + 9 w.n.w. 7 n. + 3 n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 3 n.w. by n. 2 n.e. by n. + This day in the morning at fiue of the clocke we discouered land being + distant from vs at the neerest place sixteene leagues, This land in + generall lay Northwest and to the Westwards, being very mountainous. The + winde was this day variable, and the aire sometime foggie, and sometime + cleere. The foresayd land bare from vs (so neere as we could iudge) + North, Northwest, and Southeast. + 15 9 n.n.w. 8 n.e. +Noone the 15 24 n.w. + Northerly 22 63 20 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 16 24 n.n.e. 14 64 + Easterly + The true course, &c. This 16 of Iune at 5 of the clocke in the + afternoone, being in the latitude of 64 degrees, through Gods helpe we + came to an anker among many low islands which lay before the high land. +Noone the 17 + This 17 of Iune we set vp our pinnesse. + 20 + The 20 she was spoiled by Sauages. At midnight the 21 of Iune wee + departed from this coast, our two barks for their fishing voyage, and + myself in the pinnesse for the discouery. From midnight the 21 we shaped + our course as followeth. + +At mid- +night the 21 8 w.n.w 7 s.e. +Noone the 22 4 n.w. 6 s.e. + 13 n.w. 18 s.e. + 11 n. 13 s.e. + At this time we saw great store of whales. +Noone the 23 36 n.w. by n. 42 65 40 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 24 24 n. by e. 41 67 40 s.s.e. + northerly + 2 + The true course &c. Here the weather was very hot. This 24 of Iune at 6 + of the clocke at night we met two sauages at sea in their small canoas, + vnto whom we gaue bracelets, and nailes, for skins and birds. At 9 of the + clocke they departed from vs. +Noone the 26 48 n. s. + 3 n.w. 2 s.w. + The next day at 7 of the clocke in the morning, there came vnto vs 30 + sauages 20 leagues off the shore, intreating vs to goe to the shore. We + had of them fish, birds, skinnes, darts, and their coats from their + backs, for bracelets, nailes, kniues, &c. They remained with vs foure + houres, and departed. + 7 n.n.e. 10 s. + 6 n. 8 s.w. + 8 w.n.w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 72 n. + westerly 52 70 4 + The true course for, &c. 72 houres. +Noone the 29 72 n. 43 72 12 + 30 + The true course, &c. Since the 21 of this moneth I haue continually + coasted the shore of Gronland, hauing the sea all open towards the West, + and the land on the starboord side East from me. For these last 4 dayes + the weather hath bene extreame hot and very calme, the Sunne being 5 + degrees aboue the horison at midnight. The compasse in this place varieth + 28 degrees toward the West. + +Iuly 1 30 w. by s. 44 71 36 n.w. by n. + westerley + The true course, &c. this day at noone we coasted a mighty banke of ice + West from vs. + 2 24 s.e. 12 71 9 +Noone the 3 8 n.n.w. 11 71 40 n. + This day we fell againe with the ice, seeking to double it out by the + North. +Noone the 5 48 s.s.e. 36 70 n. + The true course, &c. + 6 24 s.s.w. 22 69 variable. + 7 + 8 + The true course, &c. This 6 of Iuly we put our barke thorow the ice, + seeing the sea free on the West side: and hauing sailed 5 leagues West, + we fell with another mighty barre, which we could not passe: and + therefore returning againe, we freed our selues the 8 of this moneth at + midnight, and so recouered the sea through Gods fauour, by faire winds, + the weather being very calme. +Noone the 9 72 e.s.e. 7 68 50 calme. + The true course, &c. + 10 24 s.e. by s. 8 68 30 calme. + The true course, &c. This day we coasted the ice. + 11 24 e.n.e. 11-1/2 68 45 variable. + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.s.e. 16 68 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 13 24 e. by s. 20 s. + This day the people came to vs off the shore, and bartered with vs. Being + within the Isle, and not finding good ankorage, we bare off again into + the sea. + 14 24 w. by n. 11 67 50 s. + The true course, &c. + 15 24 w.s.w. 5 67 45 e. + The true course, &c. This day a great current set vs West 6 points from + our course. + 16 24 s.w. by w. 23 67 10 s. + westerly + The true course, &c. This day we fell with a mighty banke of ice West of + vs. +Noone the 18 48 s. by w. 30 65 33 n. fog. + The true course, &c. Collected by diuers experiments. + 19 24 w. 13 65 30 s. fog. + southerly + The true course, &c. This 19 of Iuly at one a clocke in the afternoone we + had sight of the land of Mount Ralegh, and by 12 of the clocke at night + wee were thwart the Streights which (by Gods helpe) I discouered the + first yere. + 20 + The 20 day wee trauersed in the mouth of the sayd Streights with a + contrary winde, being West and faire weather. + 23 + This 23 day at 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, hauing sailed 60 + leagues Northwest, we ankered among an huge number of Isles lying in the + bottome of the sayd supposed passage, at which place the water riseth 4 + fadome vpright. Here as we rode at anker, a great whale passed by vs, and + swam West in amongst the isles. In this place a S. W. by W. moone maketh + a full sea. Here the compasse varied 30 degrees. + 24 + The 24 day at 5 of the clocke in the morning we set saile, departing from + this place, and shaping our course S.E. to recouer the maine Ocean + againe. + 25 + This 25 we were becalmed almost in the bottome of the Streights, and had + the weather maruellous extreme hot. + 26 s.e. + This day being in the Streights, we had a very quicke storme. + 27 s. + Being still in the Streight, we had this day faire weather. +Noone the 29 64 + At this present we got cleere of the Streights, hauing coasted the South + shore, the land trending from hence S. W. by S. +Noone the 30 s.s.w. 22 63 + This day we coasted the shore, a banke of ice lying thereupon. Also this + 30 of Iuly in the afternoone we crossed ouer the entrance or mouth of a + great inlet or passage, being 20 leagues broad, and situate betweene 62 + and 63 degrees. In which place we had 8 or 9 great rases, currents or + ouerfals, lothsomly crying like the rage of the waters vnder London + bridge, and bending their course into the sayd gulfe. +Noone the 31 24 s. by w. 27 62 n.w. + This 31 at noone, comming close by a foreland or great cape, we fell into + a mighty rase, where an island of ice was carried by the force of the + current as fast as our barke could saile with lum wind, all sailes + bearing. This cape as it was the most Southerly limit of the gulfe which + we passed ouer the 30 day of this moneth, so was it the North promontory + or first beginning of another very great inlet, whose South limit at this + present wee saw not. Which inlet or gulfe this afternoone, and in the + night, we passed ouer: where to our great admiration we saw the sea + falling down into the gulfe with a mighty ouerfal, and roring, and with + diuers circular motions like whirlepooles, in such sort as forcible + streames passe thorow the arches of bridges. + +August +Noone the 1 24 s.e. by s. 16 61 10 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. This first of August we fell with the promuntory of + the sayd gulfe or second passage, hauing coasted by diuers courses for + our sauegard, a great banke of the ice driuen out of that gulfe. +Noone the 3 48 s.s.e. 16 60 26 variable. +Noone the 6 72 s.e. 22 59 35 variable + southerly with calme. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 s.s.e. 22 58 40 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 s.e. 13 58 12 w. fog. + variable. + The true course, &c. + 9 24 s. by w. 13 57 30 variable + and calme. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 10 24 s.s.e. 17 56 40 s.w. by w. + The true course, &c. + 11 24 s.e. 40 55 13 w.n.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.e. 20 54 32 w.s.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 13 24 w.s.w. 4 54 n.w. + This day seeking for our ships that went to fish, we stroke on a rocke, + being among many iles, and had a great leake. +Noone the 14 24 s.s.e. 28 52 40 n.w. + This day we stopped our leake in a storme. The 15 of August at noon, + being in the latitude of 52 degrees 12 min. and 16 leagues from the + shore, we shaped our course for England, in Gods name, as followeth. +Noone the 15 52 12 s.s.w. + The true latitude. + 16 20 e.s.e. 50 51 s.w. + halfe + point s. + The true course, &c. + 17 24 e. by s. 30 50 40 s. + The true course, &c. This day upon the banke we met a Biscaine bound for + the Grand Bay or for the passage. He chased vs. + 18 24 e. by n. 49 51 18 w. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 19 24 s. halfe 51 51 35 variable + point north. w. & s. + The true course, &c. + 20 24 e.s.e. 31 50 50 s.w. + The true course, &c. + 22 48 e. by n. 68 51 30 s.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 23 24 e. by n. 33 51 52 s. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 24 24 e. by n. 31 52 10 variable. + The true course, &c. This 24 of August obseruing the variation, I found + the compass to vary towards the East from the true Meridian, one degree. +Noone the 27 72 e. 40 52 22 variable + northerly & calme. + The true coruse, &c for 72 houres. +Noone the 29 48 e.s.e. 47 51 28 variable w. & n. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 31 48 s.e. by e. 14 51 9 variable. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 2 48 e. 65 51 n.w. + southerly. + The true course, &c. + 3 24 e. by s. 24 50 50 w.n.w. + easterly. + The true course, &c. + 4 24 s.e. by e. 20 50 21 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. + 5 24 s.e. by e. 18 49 48 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. Now we supposed our selues to be 55 leagues from + Sillie. + 6 24 e. by s. 15 49 40 n. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 e.s.e. 20 49 15 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 n.e. 18 49 40 + 9 24 w.s.w. 7 49 42 + 10 24 s.e. by e. 8-1/2 49 28 variable. + 11 24 n.e. by e. 10 49 45 variable. + 12 24 n.w. by w. 6 50 n.e. + 13 24 e. by s. 15 49 47 n.e. + southerly + 15 + This 15 of September 1587 we arriued at Dartmouth. + +Vnder the title of the houres, where any number exceedeth 24, it is the +summe or casting vp of so many other dayes and partes of dayes going next +before, as conteine the foresayd summe. + + * * * * * + +A report of Master Iohn Dauis of his three Voyages made for the discouerie + of the Northwest passage, taken out of a Treatise of his. Intituled the + worlds Hydrographicall description. + +Now there onely resteth the North parts of America, vpon which coast my +selfe haue had most experience of any in our age: for thrise I was that way +imployed for the discouery of this notable passage, by the honourable care +and some charge of Syr Francis Walsingham knight, principall secretary to +her Maiestie, with whom diuer noble men and worshipfull marchants of London +ioyned in purse and willingnesse for the furtherance of that attempt, but +when his honour dyed the voyage was friendlesse, and mens mindes alienated +from aduenturing therein. + +[Sidenote: The 1. voyage.] In my first voyage not experienced of the nature +of those climates, and hauing no direction either by Chart, Globe, or other +certaine relation in what altitude that passage was to be searched, I +shaped a Northerly course and so sought the same toward the South, and in +that my Northerly course I fell vpon the shore which in ancient time was +called Groenland, fiue hundred leagues distant from the Durseys +Westnorthwest Northerly, the land being very high and full of mightie +mountaines all couered with snowe, no viewe of wood, grasse or earth to be +seene, and the shore two leagues off into the sea so full of yce as that no +shipping could by any meanes come neere the same. The lothsome view of the +shore, and irksome noyse of the yce was such, as that it bred strange +conceits among vs, so that we supposed the place to be wast and voyd of any +sensible or vegitable creatures, whereupon I called the same Desolation: so +coasting this shore towards the South in the latitude of sixtie degrees, I +found it to trend towards the West, I still followed the leading thereof in +the same height, and after fifty or sixtie leagues it fayled and lay +directly North, which I still followed, and in thirtie leagues sayling vpon +the West side of this coast by me named desolation, we were past al the yce +and found many greene and pleasant Iles bordering vpon the shore, but the +maine were still couered with great quantities of snow, I brought my ship +among those Isles and there moored to refresh our selues in our weary +trauell, in the latitude of sixtie foure degrees or thereabout. The people +of the countrey hauing espied our shippes came downe vnto vs in their +Canoas, and holding vp their right hand to the Sunne and crying Yliaout, +would strike their breasts: we doing the like the people came aboard our +shippes, men of good stature, vnbearded, small eyed and of tractable +conditions, by whome as signes would permit, we vnderstood that towards the +North and West, there was a great sea, and vsing the people with kindeness +in giuing them nayles and kniues which of all things they most desired, we +departed, and finding the sea free from yce supposing our selves to be past +al daunger we shaped our course Westnorthwest thinking thereby to passe for +China, but in the latitude of sixtie sixe degrees we fell with another +shore, and there found another passage of twenty leagues broad directly +West into the same, which we supposed to be our hoped straight, we entred +into the same thirtie or fortie leagues, finding it neither to wyden nor +streighten, then considering that the yeere was spent (for this was the +fiue of August) not knowing the length of the straight and dangers thereof, +we tooke it our best course to returne with notice of our good successe for +this small time of search. And so returning in a sharpe fret of Westerly +windes the 19 of September we arriued at Dartmouth. [Sidenote: The 2. +voyage.] And acquainting Master Secretary Walsingham with the rest of the +honourable and worshipfull aduenturers of all our proceedings, I was +appointed againe the second yere to search the bottome of this straight, +because by all likelihood it was the place and passage by vs laboured for. +In this second attempt the marchants of Exeter, and other places of the +West became aduenturers in the action, so that being sufficiently furnished +for sixe moneths, and hauing direction to search these straights, vntill we +found the same to fall into another sea vpon the West side of this part of +America, we should againe returne: for then it was not to be doubted, but +shipping with trade might safely be conueied to China, and the parts of +Asia. We departed from Dartmouth, and arriuing vpon the South part of the +coast of Desolation coasted the same vpon his West shore to the latitude of +sixtie six degrees, and there anchored among the Isles bordering vpon the +same, where we refreshed our selues, the people of this place came likewise +vnto vs, by whom I vnderstood through their signes that towards the North +the sea was large. At this place the chiefe ship whereupon I trusted, +called the Mermayd of Dartmouth, found many occasions of discontentment, +and being vnwilling to proceed shee there forsook me. Then considering how +I had giuen my faith and most constant promise to my worshipfull good +friend Master William Sanderson, who of all men was the greatest aduenturer +in that action, and tooke such care for the performance thereof, that he +hath to my knowledge at one time disbursed as much money as any fiue others +whatsoever, out of his purse, when some of the companie haue bene slacke in +giuing in their aduenture: And also knowing that I should loose the fauour +of M. Secretary Walsingham, if I should shrink from his direction; in one +small barke of 30 Tonnes, whereof M. Sanderson was owner, alone without +farther company I proceeded on my voyage, and arriuing at these straights +followed the same 80 leagues, vntill I came among many Islands, where the +water did ebbe and flow sixe fadome vpright, and where there had bene great +trade of people to make traine. [Sidenote: The North Parts of America all +Islands.] But by such things as there we found, wee knew that they were not +Christians of Europe that had vsed that trade: in fine by searching with +our boat, we found small hope to passe any farther that way, and therefore +recouered the sea and coasted the shore towards the South, and in so doing +(for it was too late to search towards the North) we found another great +inlet neere 40 leagues broad, where the water entred in with violent +swiftnesse, this we also thought might be a passage; for no doubt the North +partes of America are all Islands by ought that I could perceiue therein: +but because I was alone in a small barke of thirtie tunnes, and the yeere +spent, I entred not into the same, for it was now the seuenth of September, +but coasting the shore towards the South wee saw an incredible number of +birds: hauing diuers fishermen aboord our Barke they all concluded that +there was a great skull of fish, we being vnprouided of fishing furniture +with a long spike nayle made a hooke, and fastened the same to one of our +sounding lines, before the baite was changed we tooke more then fortie +great Cods, the fish swimming so abundantly thicke about our barke as is +incredible to bee reported, of which with a small portion of salt that we +had we preserved some thirtie couple, or thereaboutes, and so returned for +England. And hauing reported to M. Secretarie Walsingham the whole successe +of this attempt, he commanded me to present vnto the most honourable Lord +high Treasurour of England, some part of that fish: which when his Lordship +saw, and heard at large the relation of this second attempt, I receiued +fauourable countenance from his honour, aduising me to prosecute the +action, of which his Lordship conceiued a very good opinion. The next yere, +although diuers of the aduenturers fell from the Action, as all the +Westerne marchants, and most of those in London: yet some of the +aduenturers both honourable and worshipfull continued their willing fauour +and charge, so that by this meanes the next yere two shippes were appointed +for the fishing and one pinnesse for the discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The 3. voyage.] Departing from Dartmouth, thorough Gods +mercifull fauour, I arriued at the place of fishing, and there according to +my direction I left the two ships to follow that busines, taking their +faithful promise not to depart vntill my returne vnto them, which should be +in the fine of August, and so in the barke I proceeded for this discouerie: +but after my departure, in sixeteene dayes the two shippes had finished +their voyage, and so presently departed for England, without regard of +their promise: my selfe not distrusting any such hard measure proceeded for +the discouerie, and followed my course in the free and open sea betweene +North and Northwest to the latitude of 67 degrees, and there I might see +America West from me, and Gronland, which I called Desolation, East: then +when I saw the land of both sides I began to distrust it would prooue but a +gulfe: notwithstanding desirous to know the full certainty I proceeded, and +in 68 degrees the passage enlarged, so that I could not see the Westerne +shore: thus I continued to the Latitude of 73 degrees in a great sea, free +from yce, coasting the Westerne shoure of Desolation: the people came +continually rowing out vnto me in their Canoas, twenty, forty, and one +hundred at a time, and would giue me fishes dryed, Salmon, Salmon peale, +Cod, Caplin, Lumpe, Stone-base and such like, besides diuers kinds of +birds, as Partrige, Fesant, Guls, Sea birds, and other kinds of flesh: I +still laboured by signes to know from them what they knew of any sea toward +the North, they still made signes of a great sea as we vnderstood them, +then I departed from that coast, thinking to discouer the North parts of +America: and after I had sailed towards the West 40 leagues, I fel vpon a +great banke of yce: the winde being North and blew much, I was constrained +to coast the same toward the South, not seeing any shore West from me, +neither was there any yce towards the North, but a great sea, free, large, +very salt and blew, and of an vnsearchable depth: So coasting towards the +South I came to the place where I left the ships to fish, but found them +not. Then being forsaken and left in this distresse referring my self to +the mercifull prouidence of God, I shaped my course for England, and +vnhoped for of any, God alone releeuing me, I arriued at Dartmouth. By this +last discouery it seemed most manifest that the passage was free and +without impediment toward the North: but by reason of the Spanish Fleete +and vnfortunate time of M. Secretaries death, the voyage was omitted and +never sithens attempted. The cause why I vse this particular relation of +all my proceedings for this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath +not Dauis discouered this passage being thrise that wayes imploied? How far +I proceeded and in what forme this discouery lieth, doth appeare vpon the +Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published, for the +which he deserueth great fauor and commendations.[90] + + * * * * * + +The discouerie of the Isles of Frisland, Iseland, Engroneland, Estotiland, + Drogeo and Icaria: made by two brethren, namely M. Nicholas Zeno, and M. + Antonio his brother: Gathered out of their letters by M. Francisco + Marcolino. + +In the yere of our Lord 1200 there was in the Citie of Venice a famous +Gentleman, named Messer Marino Zeno, who for his great vertue and singular +wisdome, was called and elected gouernour in certaine common wealths of +Italy: in the administration whereof he bore himselfe so discretly, that he +was beloued of all men, and his name greatly reuerenced of those that neuer +knew or saw his person. And amongst sundry his worthy workes, this is +recorded of him, that he pacified certaine grieuous ciuile dissentions that +arose among the citizens of Verona: whereas otherwise, if by his graue +aduise and great diligence they had not bene preuented, the matter was +likely to broke out into hot broyles of warre. He was the first Podesta, or +Ruler, that the Common wealth of Venice appointed in Constantinople in the +yeere 1205 when our state had rule thereof with the French Barons. This +Gentleman had a sonne named Messer Pietro, who was the father of the Duke +Rinieri, which Duke dying without issue, made his heire M. Andrea, the +sonne of M. Marco his brother. This M. Andrea was Captaine Generall and +Procurator, a man of great reputation for many rare partes, that were in +him. He had a sonne M. Rinieri, a worthy Senatour and prudent Counsellour: +of whom descended M. Pietro Captaine Generall of the league of the +Christians against the Turkes, who was called Dragon, for that in his +shield, in stead of a Manfrone which was his armes at the first, he bare a +Dragon. He was father to M. Carlo Il grande the famous Procurator and +Captaine generall against the Genowayes in those cruell warres, when as +almost all the chiefe Princes of Europe did oppugne and seeke to ouerthrow +our Empire and libertie, wherein by his great valiantie and prowesse, as +Furius Camillus deliuered Rome, so he deliuered his countrey from the +present perill it was in, being ready to become a pray and spoile vnto the +enemie: wherefore he was afterward surnamed the Lyon, and for an eternall +remembrance of his fortitude and valiant exploits he gaue the Lyon in his +armes. M. Carlo had two brethren, M. Nicolo, the knight and M. Antonio, the +father of M. Dragon, of whom issued M. Caterino, the father M. Pietro da i +Grocecchieri. This M. Pietro had sonnes M. Caterino, that died the last +yere, being brother vnto M. Francisco, M. Carlo, M. Battista, and M. +Vincenzo: Which M. Caterino was father to M. Nicola, that is yet liuing. + +Now M. Nicolo, the knight being a man of great courage, after this +aforesaid Genouan warre of Chioggia, that troubled so our predecessours, +entred into a great desire and fansie to see the fashions of the worlde and +to trauell and acquaint himselfe with the maners of sundry nations, and +learne their languages, whereby afterwards vpon occasions he might be the +better able to doe seruice to his countrey, and purchase to himselfe +credite and honour. Wherefore he caused a ship to be made, and hauing +furnished her at his proper charges (as he was very wealthy) he departed +out of our seas and passing the straites of Gibraltar, he sailed for +certaine dayes vpon the Ocean, keeping his course still to the Northwards, +with intent to see England and Flanders. [Sidenote: The ship of M. N. Zeno +cast away vpon Frisland in Anno 1380.] Where being assailed in those Seas +by a terrible tempest, he was so tossed for the space of many dayes with +the sea and winde, that he knew not where he was, till at length he +discouered land, and not being able any longer to susteine the violence of +the tempest the ship was cast away vpon the Isle of Friseland. The men were +saued and most part of the goods that were in the ship. And this was in the +yere 1380. The inhabitants of the Island came running in great multitudes +with weapons to set vpon M. Nicolo and his men, who being sore +weather-beaten and ouer-laboured at sea and not knowing in what part of the +world they were, were not able to make any resistance at all, much lesse to +defend themselues couragiously, as it behooued them in such a dangerous +case. [Sidenote: A forraine prince hapning to be in Frisland with armed +men, when M. Zeno suffered shipwracked there came vnto him and spake +Latine.] And they should haue bene doubtlesse very discourteously intreated +and cruelly handled, if by good hap there had not beene hard by the place a +prince with armed people. Who vnderstanding that there was euen at that +present a great ship cast away vpon the Island, came running at the noyse +and outcryes that they made against our poore Mariners, and dryuing away +the inhabitants, spake in Latine and asked them what they were and from +whence they came, and perceiuing that they came from Italy and that they +were men of the sayd Countrey, he was surprised with maruelous great ioy. +Wherefore promising them all, that they should receiue no discourtesie, and +that they were come into a place where they should be well vsed and very +welcome, he tooke them into his protection vpon his faith. [Sidenote: +Zichmni prince of Porland or Duke of Zorani.] This was a great Lord, and +possessed certaine Islands called Porland, lying on the South side of +Frisland, being the richest and most populous of all those parts, his name +was Zichmni: and beside the said little Islands, he was Duke of Sorani, +lying ouer against Scotland.[91] + +Of these North parts I thought good to draw the copie of a Sea carde, which +amongst other antiquities I haue in my house, which although it be rotten +through many yeres, yet it falleth out indifferent well: and to those that +are delighted in these things, it may serue for some light to the +vnderstanding of that, which without it cannot so easily be conceiued. +Zichmni being Lord of those Sygnories (as is said) was a very warlike and +valiant man and aboue all things famous in Sea causes. [Sidenote: Frisland +the king of Norwayes.] And hauing the yere before giuen the ouerthrow to +the king of Norway, who was Lord of the Island, being desirous to winne +fame by feates of armes, hee was come on land with his men to giue the +attempt for the winning of Frisland, which is an Island much bigger then +Ireland. Wherefore seeing that M. Nicolo was a man of iudgement and +discretion, and very expert both in sea matters and martiall affaires, hee +gaue him commission to goe aboord his Nauy with all his men, charging the +captaine to honor him and in all things to use his counsaile. + +This Nauy of Zichmni was of thirteene vessels, whereof two onely were rowed +with oares, the rest small barkes and one ship, with the which they sayled +to the Westwards and with little paines wonne Ledouo and Ilofe and diuers +other small Islands: and turning into a bay called Sudero, in the hauen of +the towne named Sanestol, they tooke certaine small barks laden with fish. +And here they found Zichmni, who came by land with his armie conquering all +the countrey as he went: they stayed here but a while, and led on their +course to the Westwards till they came to the other Cape of the gulfe or +bay, then turning againe, they found certaine Islandes and broken lands +which they reduced al vnto the Signorie and possession of Zichmni. These +seas for as much as they sailed, were in maner nothing but sholds and +rocks, in so much that if M. Nicolo and the Venetian mariners had not bene +their Pilots, the whole fleete in iudgement of all that were in it, had +bene cast away, so small was the skill of Zichmnis men, in respect of ours, +who had bene trained vp in the arte and practise of Nauigation all the +dayes of their life. Now the fleete hauing done such things as are +declared, the Captaine, by the counsaile of M. Nicolo, determined to goe a +land, at a towne called Bondendon, to vnderstand what successe Zichmni had +in his warres: where they heard to their great content, that he had fought +a great battell and put to flight the armie of his enemie: by reason of +which victory, they sent Embassadours from all parts of the Island to yeeld +the countrey vp into his handes, taking downe their ensignes in euery towne +and castle: they thought good to stay in that place for his comming, it +being reported for certaine that hee would be there very shortly. At his +comming there was great congratulation and many signes of gladnesse shewed, +as well for the victory by land, as for that by sea: for the which the +Venetians were honoured and extolled of all men, in such sort that there +was no talke but of them, and of the great valour of M. Nicolo. Wherefore +the prince, who was a great fauourer of valiant men and especially of those +that could behaue themselues well at sea, caused M. Nicolo to be brought +before him, and after hauing commended him with many honourable speeches, +and praysed his great industrie and dexteritie of wit, by the which two +things he acknowledged himselfe to haue receiued an inestimable benefite, +as the sauing of his fleet and the winning of many places without any great +trouble, he made him knight, and rewarded his men with many rich and +bountiful gifts. Then departing from thence they went in tryumphing maner +toward Frisland, the chiefe citie of that Island. In this gulf or bay there +is such great abundance of fish taken, that many ships are laden therewith +to serue Flanders, Britain, England, Scotland, Norway, and Denmarke, and by +this trade they gather great wealth. + +And thus much is taken out of a letter, that M. Nicolo sent to M. Antonio +his brother, requesting that he would seeke some meanes to come to him. +Wherefore he who had as great desire to trauaile as his brother, bought a +ship, and directed his course that way: and after he had sailed a great +while and escaped many dangers, he arriued at length in safetie with M. +Nicolo, who receiued him very ioyfully, for that he was his brother not +onely in flesh and blood, but also in valour and good qualities. M. Antonio +remained in Frisland and dwelt there for the space of 14 yeres, 4 yeeres +with M. Nicolo, and 10 yeres alone. Where they came in such grace and +fauour with the Prince, that he made M. Nicolo Captaine of his Nauy, and +with great preparation of warre they were sent forth for the enterprise of +Estland, which lyeth vpon the coast betweene Frisland and Norway, where +they did many dammages, but hearing that the king of Norway was coming +towardes them with a great fleet, they departed with such a terrible flaw +of winde, that they were driuen vpon certaine sholds: were a great part of +their ships were cast away, the rest were saued vpon Grisland, a great +Island but dishabited. The king of Norway his fleete being taken with the +same storme, did vtterly perish in those seas: Whereof Zichmni hauing +notice, by a ship of his enemies that was cast by chance vpon Grisland, +hauing repayred his fleet, and perceiuing himself Northerly neere vnto the +Islands, determined, to set vpon Island, which together with the rest, was +subiect to the king of Norway: but he found the countrey so well fortified +and defended, that his fleete being so small, and very ill appointed both +of weapons and men, he was glad to retire. And so he left that enterprise +without performing any thing at all: and in the chanels, he assaulted the +other Isles called Islande, which are seuen, Talas, Broas, Iscant, Trans, +Mimant, Dambere, and Bres: and hauing spoyled them all, hee built a fort in +Bres, where he left M. Nicolo with certaine small barkes and men and +munition. And now thinking he had done wel for this voyage, with those few +ships which were left he returned safe into Frisland. [Sidenote: +Engroneland.] M. Nicolo remaining nowe in Bres, determined in the spring to +go forth and discouer land: wherefore arming out three small barkes in the +moneth of Iuly, he sayled to the Northwards, and arriued in Engroneland. +[Sidenote: Preaching fryers of Saint Thomas.] Where he found a Monasterie +of Friers, of the order of the Predicators, and a Church dedicated to Saint +Thomas, hard by a hill that casteth forth fire, like Vesuuius and Etna. + +There is a fountaine of hot burning water with the which they heate the +Church of the Monastery and the Fryers chambers, it commeth also into the +kitchin so boyling hot, that they vse no other fire to dresse their meate: +and putting their breade into brasse pots without any water, it doth bake +as it were in an hot ouen. They haue also smal gardens couered ouer in the +winter time, which being watered with this water, are defended from the +force of the snow and colde, which in those partes being situate farre +vnder the pole, is very extreme, and by this meanes they produce flowers +and fruites and herbes of sundry sorts, euen as in other temperate +countries in their seasons, in such sort that the rude and sauage people of +those partes seeing these supernaturall effects, doe take those Fryers for +Gods, and bring them many presents, as chickens, flesh, and diuers other +things, they haue them all in great reuerence as Lords. When the frost and +snowe is great, they heate their houses in maner before said, and wil by +letting in the water or opening the windowes, at an instant, temper the +heate and cold at their pleasure. In the buildings of the Monasterie they +vse no other matter but that which is ministred vnto them by the fire: for +they take the burning stones that are cast out as it were sparkles or +cinders at the fierie mouth of the hill, and when they are most enflamed, +cast water vpon them, whereby they are dissolued and become excellent white +lime and so tough that being contriued in building it lasteth for euer. And +the very sparkles after the fire is out of them doe serue in stead of +stones to make walles and vautes: for being once colde they will neuer +dissolue or breake, except they be cut with some iron toole, and the vautes +that are made of them are so light that they need no sustentacle, or prop +to holde them vp, and they will endure continually very faire and whole. By +reason of these great commodities, the Fryers haue made there so many +buildings and walles that it is a wonder to see. The couerts or roofes of +their houses for the most part are made in maner following: first they +rayse vp the wall vp to his full height, then they make it enclinining or +bowing in by little and litle in fourme of a vaut. [Sidenote: Winter of 9 +moneths.] But they are not greatly troubled with raine in those partes, +because the climate (as I haue saide) is extreme colde: for the first snow +being fallen, it thaweth no more for the space of nine moneths, for so long +dureth their winter. They feede of the flesh of wilde foule and of fish: +for wheras the warme water falleth into the sea, there is a large and wide +hauen, which by reason of the heate of the water, doeth neuer freeze all +the winter, by meanes whereof there is such concourse and flocks of sea +foule and such abundance of fish, that they take thereof infinite +multitudes, whereby they maintaine a great number of people round about, +which they kepe in continuall worke, both in building and taking of foules +and fish, and in a thousand other necessarie affaires and busines about the +Monasterie. + +Their houses are built about the hill on euery side, in forme round, and 25 +foote broad, and in mounting vpwards they goe narower and narower, leauing +at the top a litle hole, whereat the aire commeth in to giue light to the +house, and the flore of the house is so hot, that being within they feele +no cold at all. Hither in the Summer time come many barkes from the Islands +there about, and from the cape aboue Norway, and from Trondon, and bring to +the Friers al maner of things that may be desired, taking in change thereof +fish, which they dry in the sunne or in the cold, and skins of diuers +kindes of beasts. [Sidenote: Trade in summer time from Trondon to S. Thomas +Friers in Groneland. Resort of Fryers from Norway and Sueden, to the +Monastery in Engroneland, called S. Tho.] For the which they haue wood to +burne and timber very artificially carued, and corne, and cloth to make +them apparell. For in change of the two aforesaid commodities all the +nations bordering round about them couet to trafficke with them, and so +they without any trauell or expences haue that which they desire. To this +Monasterie resort Fryers of Norway, of Suetia and of other countreys, but +the most part are of Islande. There are continually in that part many +barks, which are kept in there by reason of the sea being frozen, waiting +for the spring of the yere to dissolue the yce. The fishers boates are made +like into a weauers shuttle: taking the skins of fishes, they fashion them +with the bones of the same fishes, and sowing them together in many doubles +they make so sure and substanciall, that it is miraculous to see, howe in +tempests they will shut themselues close within and let the sea and winde +cary them they care not whether, without any feare either of breaking or +drowning. [Marginal note: M. Frobisher brought these kinde of boats from +these parts into England.] And if they chance to be driuen vpon any rocks, +they remaine sound without the least bruse in the world: and they haue as +it were a sleeue in the bottome, which is tyed fast in the middle, and when +there commeth any water into the boat, they put it into the one halfe of +the sleeue, then fastening the ende thereo with two pieces of wood and +loosing the band beneath, they conuey the water forth of the boats: and +this they doe as often as they haue occasion, without any perill or +impediment at all. + +Moreouer, the water of the Monastery, being of sulphurious or brimstonie +nature, is conueyed into the lodgings of the principall Friers by certaine +vesselles of brass, tinne, or stone, so hot that it heateth the place as it +were a stone, nor carying with it any stinke or other noysome smell. + +Besides this they haue another conueyance to bring hot water with a wall +vnder the ground, to the end it should not freeze, vnto the middle of the +court, where it falleth into a great vessel of brasse that standeth in the +middle of a boyling fountaine, and this is to heat their water to drinke +and to water their gardens, and thus they haue from the hill the greatest +commodities that may be wished: and so these Fryers employ all their +trauaile and studie for the most in trimming their gardens and in making +faire and beautifull buildings, but especially handsome and commodious: +neyther are they destitute of ingenious and paineful artificers for the +purpose; for they giue very large payment, and to them that bring them +fruits and seedes they are very bountifull, and giue they care not what. So +that there is great resort of workemen and masters in diuers faculties, by +reason of the good gaines and large allowance that is there. + +[Sidenote: In the Monastery of Saint Thomas most of them spake the Latine +tongue.] The most of them speake the Latine tongue, and specially the +superiours and principals of the Monastery. And this is as much as is +knowen of Engroneland, which is all by the relation of M. Nicolo, who +maketh also particular description of a riuer that he discouered, as is to +be seene in the carde that I drew. And in the end M. Nicolo, not being vsed +and acquainted with these cruell coldes, fel sicke, and a litle while after +returned into Frisland, where he dyed. [Sidenote: The end of the 2. +letter.] He left behind him in Venice, two sonnes, M. Giouanni and M. Toma, +who had two sonnes, M. Nicolo the father of the famous Cardinal Zeno, and +M. Pietro of whom descended the other Zenos, that are liuing at this day. + +[Sidenote: M. Zeno dyed in Frisland.] Now M. Nicolo being dead, M. Antonio +succeeded him both in his goods, and in his dignities and honour and albeit +he attempted diuers wayes, and made great supplication, he could neuer +obtaine licence to returne into his countrey. For Zichmni, being a man of +great courage and valour, had determined to make himself Lord of the sea. +Wherefore vsing alwayes the counsaile and seruice of M. Antonio, he +determined to send him with certaine barks to the Westwards, for that +towards those parts, some of his fishermen had discouered certaine Islands +very rich and populous: which discovery M. Antonio, in a letter to his +brother M. Carlo, recounteth from point to point in this maner, sauing that +we haue changed some old words, leauing the matter entire as it was. + +Sixe and twentie yeeres agoe there departed foure fisher boats, the which, +a mightie tempest arising, were tossed for the space of many dayes very +desperately ypon the Sea, when at length, the tempest ceasing, and the +wether waxing faire, they discouered an Island called Estotiland, lying to +the Westwards aboue 1000 Miles from Frisland, vpon the which one of the +boats was cast away, and sixe men that were in it were taken of the +inhabitants and brought into a faire and populous citie, where the king of +the place sent for many interpreters, but there was none could be found +that vnderstood the language of the fishermen, except one that spake +Latine, who was also cast by chance vpon the same Island, who in behalfe of +the king asked them what countreymen they were: [Sidenote: Sixe were fiue +yeeres in Estotiland.] and so vnderstanding their case, rehearsed it vnto +the king, who willed that they should tary in the countrey: wherefore they +obeying his commandement, for that they could not otherwise doe, dwelt fiue +yeres in the Island, and learned the language, and one of them was in +diuers partes of the Island, and reporteth that it is a very rich countrey, +abounding with all the commodities of the world, and that it is litle lesse +then Island, but farre more fruitfull, hauing in the middle thereof a very +high mountaine, from the which there spring foure riuers that passe through +the whole countrey. + +The inhabitants are very wittie people, and haue all artes and faculties, +as we haue: and it is credible that in time past they haue had trafficke +with our men, for he said, that he saw Latin bookes in the kings Librarie, +which they at this present do not understand: they haue a peculiar +language, and letters or caracters to themselues. They haue mines of all +maner of mettals, but especial they abound with gold. They haue their trade +in Engroneland, from whence they bring furres, brimstone and pitch and he +saith, that to the Southwards, there is a great populous countrey very rich +of gold. [Sidenote: Many cities and castles.] They sow corne, and make +beere and ale, which is a kinde of drinke that North people do vse as we do +wine. They haue mighty great woods, they make their buildings with wals, +and there are many cities and castles. They build small barks and haue +sayling, but they haue not the load stone, nor know not the vse of the +compasse. [Sidenote: A countrey called Drogio.] Wherefore these fishers +were had in great estimation, insomuch that the king sent them with twelue +barks to the Southwards to a countrey which they call Drogio: but in their +voyage they had such contrary weather, that they thought to haue perished +in the sea: but escaping that cruell death, they fell into another more +cruell: for they were taken in the countrey and the most part of them eaten +by the Sauage people, which fed vpon mans flesh, as the sweetest meat in +their iudgements that is. + +[Sidenote: The 6 fishermen of Frisland onely saved, by shewing the maner to +take fish.] But that fisher with his fellowes shewing them the maner of +taking fish with nets, saued their liues: and would goe euery day a fishing +to the sea and in fresh riuers, and take great abundance of fish and giue +it to the chiefe men of the countrey, whereby he gate himselfe so great +fauour, that he was very well beloued and honoured of euery one. + +The fame of this man being spread abroad in the countrey, there was a Lord +there by, that was very desirous to haue him with him, and to see how he +vsed his miraculous arte of catching fish, in so much that he made warre +with the other Lord with whom he was before, and in the end preuailing, for +that he was more mightie and a better warriour, the fisherman was sent vnto +him with the rest of his company. [Sidenote: In the space of 13 yeeres he +serued 25 lords of Drogio.] And for the space of thirteene yeres that he +dwelt in those parts, he saith, that he was sent in this order to more than +25 Lords, for they had continuall war amongst themselues, this Lord with +that Lord, and he with another, onely to haue him to dwell with them: so +that wandring vp and downe the countrey without any certaine abode in one +place, he knew almost all those parts. He saith, that it is a very great +countrey and as it were a new world: the people are very rude and voide of +all goodnesse, they go all naked so that they are miserably vexed with +colde, neither haue they the wit to couer their bodyes with beasts skins +which they take in hunting, they haue no kinde of mettal, they liue by +hunting, they carry certaine lances of wood made sharpe at the point, they +haue bowes, the strings whereof are made of beasts skins: they are very +fierce people, they make cruell warres one with another, and eate one +another, they haue gouernours and certaine lawes very diuers among +themselues. But the farther to the Southwestwards, the more ciuilitie there +is, the ayre being somewhat temperate, so that there they haue cities and +temples to idols, wherein they sacrifice men and afterwards eate them, they +haue there some knowledge and vse of gold and siluer. + +Now this fisherman hauing dwelt so many yeeres in those countreys purposed, +if it were possible, to returne home into his countrey, but his companions +despairing euer to see it againe, let him goe in Gods name, and they kept +themselues where they were. Wherefore he bidding them farwell, fled through +the woods towards Drogio, and was very well receiued of the Lord that dwelt +next to that place; who knew him and was a great enemie of the other Lord: +and so running from one Lord to another, being those by whom he had passed +before, after long time and many trauels he came at length to Drogio, where +he dwelt three yeres. When as by good fortune he heard by the inhabitants, +that there were certaine boates arriued vpon the coast: wherefore entring +into good hope to accomplish his intent, he went to the sea side, and +asking them of what countrey they were; they answered of Estotiland, +whereat he was exceeding glad, and requested that they would take him in to +them, which they did very willingly, and for that he had the language of +the countrey, and there was none that could speake it, they vsed him for +their interpreter. + +[Sidenote: He returned from Estotiland to Frisland.] And afterward he +frequented that trade with them in such sort, that he became very rich, and +so furnishing out a barke of his owne, he returned into Frislande, where he +made reporte vnto this Lord of that wealthy countrey. + +And he is throughly credited because of the mariners, who approue many +strange things, that he reporteth to be true. [Sidenote: Zichmni minded to +send M. Antonio Zeno with a fleete towards those parts of Estotiland.] +Wherefore this Lord is resolued to send me forth with a fleet towards those +parts, and there are so many that desire to go in the voyage, for the +noueltie and strangenesse of the thing, that I thinke we shall be very +strongly appointed, without any publike expence at all. And this is the +tenour of the letter before mentioned, which I haue here set downe to giue +intelligence of another voyage that M. Antonio made, being set out with +many barkes, and men, notwithstanding he was not captaine, as he had +thought at the first he should: for Zichmni went in his owne person: and +concerning that matter I haue a letter in forme following. + +[Sidenote: The 4. letter.] [Sidenote: The fisherman dyed that should haue +bene interpreter. Certaine mariners taken in his steede, which came with +him from Estotiland.] One great preparation for the voyage of Estotiland +was begun in an vnlucky houre: for three dayes before our departure the +fisherman died that should haue bene our guide: notwithstanding this Lord +would not giue ouer the enterprize, but instead of the fisherman tooke +certaine mariners that returned out of the Island with him: and so making +our Nauigation to the Westwards, we discouered certaine Islands subiect to +Frisland, and hauing passed certaine shelues we stayed at Leduo for the +space of 7 daies to refresh our selues, and to furnish the fleet with +necessarie prouision. [Sidenote: Isle Ilof.] Departing from thence we +arriued the first of Iuly at the Isle of Ilofe: and for that the wind made +for vs, we stayed not there, but passed forth, and being vpon the maine +sea, there arose immediately a cruel tempest, wherewith for eight dayes +space we were miserably vexed, not knowing where we were: and a great part +of the barks were cast away, afterward the weather waxing faire, we +gathered vp the broken peices of the barkes that were lost, and sayling +with a prosperous winde we discovered land at West. [Sidenote: Zichmni his +discouerie of the Island Iscaria.] Wherefore keeping our course directly +vpon it, we arriued in a good and safe harborough, where we saw an infinit +companie of people ready in armes, come running very furiously to the water +side, as it were for defence of the Iland. [Sidenote: An Island man in +Icaria.] Wherefore Zichmni causing his men to make signes of peace vnto +them, they sent 10 men vnto vs that coulde speake ten languages, but we +could vnderstand none of them, except one that was of Island. [Sidenote: +The kings of Icaria called Icaria after the name of the first king of that +place, who as they report, was sonne to Dedalus the king of the Scots.] He +being brought before our prince and asked, what was the name of the Island, +and what people inhabited it, and who gouerned it, answered that the Island +was called Icaria, and that all the kings that reigned there, were called +Icari, after the name of the first king of that place, which as they say +was the sonne of Dedalus king of Scotland, who conquered that Island, left +his sonne there for king, and left them those lawes that they retaine to +this present, and after this, he desiring to sayle further, in a great +tempest that arose, was drowned, wherefore for a memoriall of his death, +they call those seas yet, the Icarian Sea, and the kings of the Island +Icari, and for that they were contented with that state, which God had +giuen them, neither would they alter one iote of their lawes and customes, +they would not receiue any stranger: wherefore they requested our prince, +that hee would not seeke to violate their lawes, which they had receiued +from that king of worthy memory and obserued very duly to that present: +which if he did attempt, it would redound to his manifest destruction, they +being all resolutely bent rather to leaue their life, then to loose in any +respect the vse of their lawes. [Sidenote: The people of Icaria desirous of +the Italian tongue.] Notwithstanding, that we should not thinke they did +altogether refuse conuersation and traffick with other men, they tolde vs +for conclusion that they would willingly receiue one of our men, and +preferre him to be one of the chiefe amongst them, onely to learne my +language the Italian tongue, and to be informed of our manners and +customes, as they had already receiued those other ten oftensundry +nations, that came into their Island. [Sidenote: Infinite multitudes of +armed men in Icaria.] To these things our Prince answered nothing at all, +but causing his men to seke some good harborough, he made signes as though +he would depart, and sayling round about the Island, he espied at length a +harborough on the East side of the Island, where hee put in with all his +Fleet: the mariners went on land to take in wood and water, which they did +with as great speede as they could, doubting least they should be assaulted +by the inhabitants, as it fell out in deed, for those that dwelt +thereabouts, making signes vnto the other with fire and smoke, put +themselues presently in armes and the other comming to them, they came all +running downe to the sea side vpon our men, with bowes and arrowes, and +other weapons, so that many were slaine and diuers sore wounded. And we +made signes of peace vnto them, but it was to no purpose, for their rage +increased more and more, as though they had fought for land and liuing. +[Sidenote: Zichmni departed from Icaria Westwards.] Wherefore we were +forced to depart, and to sayle along in a great circuite about the Islande, +being alwayes accompanyed vpon the hil tops and the sea coastes with an +infinite number of armed men: and so doubling the Cape of the Island +towards the North, we found many great sholdes, amongst the which for the +space of ten dayes we were in continuall danger of loosing our whole fleet, +but that it pleased God all that while to send vs faire weather. Wherefore +proceeding on till we came to the East cape, we saw the inhabitants still +on the hill tops and by the sea coast keepe with vs, and in making great +outcryes and shooting at vs a farre off, they vttered their old spitefull +affection towards vs. Wherefore wee determined to stay in some safe +harborough, and see if wee might speake once againe with the Islander, but +our determination was frustrate: for the people more like vnto beasts then +men, stood continually in armes with intent to beat vs back, if we should +come on land. Wherefore Zichmni seeing he could not preuaile, and thinking +if he should haue perseuered and followed obstinately his purpose, their +victuals would haue failed them, he departed with a fayre wind and sailed +sixe daies to the Westwards, but the winde changing to the Southwest, and +the sea waxing rough, wee sayling 4 dayes with the wind the powp, and at +length discouering land, were afraid to approch nere vnto it, the sea being +growen, and we not knowing what land it was: but God so prouided for vs, +that the wind ceasing there came a great calme. Wherefore some of our +company rowing to land with oares, returned and brought vs newes to our +great comfort, that they had found a very good countrey and a better +harborough: [Sidenote: 100 men sent to discrie the countrey.] vpon which +newes we towed our ships and smal barks to land, and being entred into the +harborough, we saw a farre off a great mountain, that cast forth smoke, +which gaue vs good hope that we should finde some inhabitants in the +Island, neither would Zichmni rest, although it were a great way off, but +sent 100 souldiers to search the countrey and bring report what people they +were that inhabited it, and in the meane time they tooke in wood and water +for the prouision of the fleete, and catcht great store of fish and sea +foule and found such abundance of birds egges that our men that were halfe +famished, were filled therewithall. Whiles we were riding here, began the +moneth of Iune, at which time the aire in the Island was so temperate and +pleasant, as is impossible to express; but when we could see no people at +al, we suspected greatly that this pleasant place was desolate and +dishabited; We gaue name to the hauen calling it Trin, and the point that +stretched out into the sea, we called Capo de Trin. [Sidenote: The 100 +souldiers returned which had bene through the Island, report what they saw +and found.] The 100 souldiers that were sent forth, 8 dayes after returned, +and brought word that they had bene through the Island and at the +mountaine, and that the smoke was a naturall thing proceeding from a great +fire that was in the bottome of the hill, and that there was a spring from +which issued a certaine water like pitch which ran into the sea, and that +thereabouts dwelt great multitudes of people halfe wilde, hiding themselues +in caues of the ground, of small stature, and very fearefull: for as soone +as they saw them they fled into their holes, and that there was a great +riuer and a very good and safe harborough. Zichmni being thus informed, and +seeing that it had a holesome and pure aire, and a very fruitfull soyle and +faire riuers, with sundry commodities, fell into such liking of the place, +that he determined to inhabite it, and built there a citie. But his people +being weary and faint with long and tedious trauell began to murmure, +saying that they would returne into their countrey, for that the winter was +at hand, and if they entred into the harborough, they should not be able to +come out againe before the next Summer. Wherefore he retaining onely the +barks with Oares and such as were willing to stay with him, sent all the +rest with the shippes backe againe, [Sidenote: M. Antonio Zeno, made chiefe +captaine of those ships which went back to Frisland.] and willed that I +(though vnwilling) should be their captaine. I therefore departing, because +I could not otherwise chuse, sayled for the space of twenty dayes to the +Eastwards without sight of any land: then turning my course towards the +Souteast, in 5. dayes I discouered land, and found my selfe vpon the Isle +of Neome, and knowing the countrey, I perceiued I was past Island: +wherefore taking in some fresh victuals of the inhabitants being subiect to +Zichmni, I sayled with a faire winde in three dayes to Frisland, where the +people, who thought they had lost their prince, because of his long +absence, in this our voyage receiued vs very ioyfully. + +What followed after this letter I know not but by coniecture, which I +gather out of a peice of another letter, which I will set down here +vnderneath: That Zichmni built a towne in the port of the Iland that he +discouered, and that he searched the countrey very diligently and +discouered it all, and also the riuers on both sides of Engroneland, for +that I see it particularly described in the sea card, but the discourse or +narration is lost. The beginning of the letter is thus. + +[Sidenote: The 5 letter.] Concerning those things that you desire to know +of me, as of the men and their maners and customes, of the beasts, and of +the countries adioyning, I haue made therof a particuler booke, which by +Gods help I will bring with me: wherein I haue decribed the countrey, the +monstrous fishes, the customes and lawes of Frisland, Island, Estland, the +kingdome of Norway, Estotiland, Drogio, and in the end the life of M. +Nicolo, the knight our brother, with the discouery which he made, and the +state of Groneland. I haue also written the life and acts of Zichmni, a +prince as worthy of immortall memory, as euer liued, for his great +valiancie and singular humanitie, wherein I haue described the discouery of +Engroneland on both sides, and the citie that he builded. Therefore I will +speake no further hereof in this letter, hoping to be with you very +shortly, and to satisfie you in sundry other things by word of mouth. + +All these letters were written by M. Antonio to Messer Carlo his brother: +and it grieueth me, that the booke and diuers other writings concerning +these purposes, are miserably lost: for being but a child when they came to +my hands, and not knowing what they were, (as the maner of children is) I +tore them, and rent them in pieces, which now I cannot cal to remembrance +but to my exceeding great griefe. Notwithstanding, that the memory of so +many good things should not bee lost: whatsoeuer I could get of this +matter, I haue disposed and put in order in the former discourse, to the +ende that this age might be partly satisfied, to the which we are more +beholding for the great discoueries made in those partes, then to any other +of the time past, being most studious of the newe relations and discoueries +of strange countries, made by the great mindes, and industrie of our +ancestours. + +For the more credite and confirmation of the former Historie of Messer +Nicolas and Messer Antonio Zeni (which for some fewe respects may perhaps +bee called in question) I haue heere annexed the iudgement of that famous +Cosmographer Abraham Ortelius, or rather the yealding and submitting of his +iudgement thereunto: who in his Theatrum Orbis, fol. 6. next before the map +of Mar del Zur, boroweth proofe and authoritie out of this relation, to +shew that the Northeast parte of America called Estotiland, and in the +original alwayes affirmed to bee an Islande, was about the yeere 1390 +discouered by the aforesayd Venetian Gentleman Messer Antonio Zeno, aboue +100 yeeres before euer Christopher Columbus set saile for those Westerne +Regions; and that the Northren Seas were euen then sayled by our Europæan +Pilots through the helpe of the loadstone: with diuers other particulars +concerning the customes, religion and wealth of the Southern Americans, +which are most euidently confirmed by all the late and moderne Spanish +Histories of Nueua Espanna and Peru. + +And here I shall not (as I suppose) commit any great inconuenience, or +absurditie, in adding vnto this History of the new world, certaine +particulars as touching the first discouery thereof, not commonly known. +Which discouerie al the writers of our time ascribe (and that not +vnworthily) vnto Christopher Columbus. For by him it was in a maner first +discouered, made knowen, and profitably communicated vnto the Christian +world, in the yeere of our Lord 1492. [Sidenote: Estotiland first +discouered.] [Sidenote: The second discouerie thereof.] Howbeit I finde +that the North part thereof called Estotiland, (which most of all extendeth +toward our Europe and the Ilands of the same, namely, Groneland, Island, +and Frisland) was long ago found out by certaine fishers of the Isle of +Frisland, driuen by tempest vpon the shore thereof: and was afterward about +the yeere 1390 discouered a new by one Antonio Zeno a gentleman of Venice; +which sayled thither vnder the conduct of Zichmni king of the saide Isle of +Frisland, a prince in those parts of great valour, and renowned for his +martiall exploits and victories. Of which expedition of Zichmni there are +extant in Italian certaine collections or abridgements gathered by +Francisco Marcolino out of the letters of M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two +gentlemen of Venice which liued in those partes. Out of which collections I +doe adde concerning the description of Estotiland aforesaid these +particulars following. + +Estotiland (saith he) aboundeth with all things necessary for mankinde. In +the mids thereof standeth an exceeding high mountaine, from which issue +foure riuers that moisten all the countrie. The inhabitants are wittie and +most expert in Mechanicall arts. They haue a kinde of peculiar language and +letters. Howbeit in this Kings Librarie are preserued certaine Latine +bookes which they vnderstand not, being perhaps left there many yeeres +before by some Europeans, which traffiqued thither. They haue all kinde of +mettals; but especially golde, wherewith they mightily abound. They +trafficke with the people of Groneland: from whence they fetch skinnes, +pitch and brimstone. The inhabitants report that towardes the South, there +are regions abounding with gold, and very populous: they haue many and huge +woods, from whence they take timber for the building of ships and cities, +whereof and of castles there are great store. The vse of the loadstone for +Navigation is vnknowen vnto them. [Sidenote: Drogio.] They make relation +also of a certaine region toward the South, called Drogio, which is +inhabited by Canibals, vnto whom mans flesh is delicate meat: wherof being +destitute they liue by fishing, which they vse very much. Beyond this are +large regions, and as it were a newe world: but the people are barbarous +and goe naked: howbeit against the colde they cloth themselues in beastes +skinnes. These haue no kinde of metall: and they liue by hunting. Their +weapons are certaine long staues with sharpe points, and bowes. They wage +warres one against another. They haue gouernours, and obey certaine lawes. +But from hence more towardes the South the climate is much more temperate: +and there are cities, and temples of idoles, vnto whom they sacrifice +liuing men, whose flesh they afterwards deuoure. These nations haue the vse +of siluer and gold. + +This much of this tract of landes out of the aforesaide collections and +abridgements. Wherein this also is worthy the obseruation, that euen then +our Europæan Pilots sayled those seas by the helpe of the loadstone. For +concerning the vse thereof in Nauigation, I suppose there is not to be +found a more ancient testimonie. And these things I haue annexed the rather +vnto this table of Mar del Zur; considering that none of those Authours +which haue written the Histories of the Newe world, haue in any part of +their writings, mentioned one word thereof. Hitherto Ortelius. + + + + +THE NAUIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES, + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION, + +TO NEWFOVNDLAND, TO THE ISLES OF RAMEA AND THE ISLES OF ASSUMPTION +OTHERWISE CALLED NATISCOTEC. + +SITUATE AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER OF CANADA, AND TO THE COASTES OF CAPE +BRITON, AND ARAMBEC, CORRUPTLY CALLED NORUMBEGA, + +WITH THE PATENTS, LETTERS, AND ADUERTISEMENTS THEREUNTO BELONGING. + + +The voyage of the two ships, whereof the one was called the Dominus + vobiscum, set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the + eight, and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the the discouerie of + the North partes. + +Master Robert Thorne of Bristoll, a notable member and ornament of his +country, as wel for his learning, as great charity to the poore, in a +letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh, +his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour, (which both are to be seene almost +in the beginning of the first volume of this my work) exhorted the +aforesayd king with very waighty and substantial reasons, to set forth a +discouery euen to the North Pole. And that it may be knowne that this his +motion tooke present effect, I thought it good herewithall to put downe the +testimonies of two of our Chroniclers, M. Hall, and M. Grafton, who both +write in this sort. This same moneth (say they) king Henry the 8 sent 2 +faire ships wel manned and victualled, hauing in them diuers cunning men to +seeke strange regions, and so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day +of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne, which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. + +And whereas master Hal, and master Grafton say, that in those ships there +were diuers cunning men, I haue made great enquirie of such as by their +yeeres and delight in Nauigation, might giue me any light to know who those +cunning men should be, which were the directors in the aforesaid voyage. +And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher, and M. Richard Allen, a +knight of the Sepulchre, that a Canon of Saint Paul in London, which was a +great Mathematician, and a man indued with wealth, did much aduance the +action, and went therein himselfe in person, but what his name was I cannot +learne of any. And further they told me that one of the ships was called +the Dominus vobiscum, which is a name likely to be giuen by a religious man +of those dayes: and that sayling very farre Northwestward, one of the ships +was cast away as it entred into a dangerous gulph, about the great opening, +betweene the North parts of Newfoundland, and the countrey lately called by +her Maiestie, Meta Incognita. Whereupon the other ship shaping her course +towards Cape Briton, and the coastes of Arambec, and oftentimes putting +their men on land to search the state of these vnknowen regions, returned +home about the beginning of October, of the yere aforesayd. And this much +(by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times, who +should haue vsed more care in preseruing of the memories of the worthy +actes of our nation,) is all that hitherto I can learne, or finde out of +this voyage. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen, to Newfoundland, and Cape + Briton, in the year 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8. + +One master Hore of London, a man of goodly stature and of great courage, +and giuen to the studie of Cosmographie, in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 +and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged diuers Gentlemen and others, +being assisted by the kings fauor and good countenance, to accompany him in +a voyage of discouerie vpon the Northwest parts of America: wherein his +perswaions tooke such effect, that within short space many gentlemen of the +Innes of court, and of the Chancerie, and diuers others of good worship, +desirous to see the strange things of the world, very willingly entered +into the action with him, some of whose names were as followeth: M. Weekes +a gentleman of the West countrey of fiue hundred markes by the yeere +liuing. M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent. M. Tuckfield. M Thomas Buts the sonne +of Sir William Buts knight, of Norfolke, which was lately liuing, and from +whose mouth I wrote most of this relation. M. Hardie, M. Biron, M. Carter, +M. Wright, M. Rastall Serieant Rastals brother, M. Ridley, and diuers +other, which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie, a ship of seuen +score tunnes, wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbarked. [Sidenote: M. Armigil +Wade.] In the other ship whose name was the Minion, went a very learned and +vertuous gentleman one M. Armigil Wade, Afterwards Clerke of the Counsailes +of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth, father to the worshipfull M. +William Wade now Clerke of the priuie Counsell, M. Oliuer Dawbeney marchant +of London, M. Ioy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappell, with diuers +other of good account. The whole number that went in the two tall ships +aforesaid to wit, the Trinitie and the Minion, were about six score +persons, whereof thirty were gentlemen, which all were mustered in warlike +maner at Grauesend, and after the receiuing of the Sacrament, they embarked +themselues in the ende of Aprill. 1526. + +[Sidenote: Cape Briton. The Island of Penguin standeth about the latitude +of 30 degrees.] From the time of their setting out from Grauesend, they +were very long at sea, to witte, aboue two moneths, and neuer touched any +land vntill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton, shaping +their course thence Northeastwardes, vntill they came to the Island of +Penguin, which is very full of rockes and stones, whereon they went and +found it full of great foules white and gray, as big as geese, and they saw +infinite numbers of their egges. They draue a great number of the foules +into their boates vpon their sayles, and tooke vp many of their egges, the +foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of +holes being flead off: they dressed and eate them and found them to be very +good and nourishing meat. They saw also store of beares both blacke and +white, of whome they killed some, and tooke them for no bad foode. + +[Sidenote: M. Dawbneys report to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Temple.] M. +Oliuer Dawbeny, which (as it is before mentioned) was in this voyage, and +in the Minion, told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things +following: to wit, [Sidenote: They behold the Sauages of Newfoundland.] +That after their arriuall in Newfoundland, and hauing bene there certaine +dayes at ancre, and not hauing yet seene any of the naturall people of the +countrey, the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches, spied a boate +with Sauages of those parts, rowing down the Bay toward them, to gaze vpon +the ship, and our people, and taking viewe of their comming aloofe, hee +called to such as were vnder the hatches, and willed them to come vp if +they would see the natural people of the countrey, that they had so long +and so much desired to see: whereupon they came vp, and tooke viewe of the +Sauages rowing toward them and their ship, and vpon the viewe they manned +out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them. But they spying our +ship-boat making towards them, returned with maine force and fled into an +Island that lay vp in the Bay or riuer there, and our men pursued them into +the Island, and the Sauages fledde and escaped: but our men found a fire, +and the side of a beare on a wooden spit left at the same by the Sauages +that were fled. + +There in the same place they found a boote of leather garnished on the +outward side of the calfe with certaine braue trailes, as it were of rawe +silke, and also found a certaine great warme mitten: And these caryed with +them, they returned to their shippe, not finding the Sauages, nor seeing +any thing else besides the soyle, and the things growing in the same, which +chiefely were store of firre and pine trees. + +And further, the said M. Dawbeny told him, that lying there they grew into +great want of victuals, and that there they found small reliefe, more then +that they had from the nest of an Osprey, that brought hourely to her yong +great plentie of diuers sorts of fishes. [Sidenote: Extreme famine.] But +such was the famine that increased amongst them from day to day, that they +were forced to seeke to relieue themselues of raw herbes and rootes that +they sought on the maine: but the famine increasing, and the reliefe of +herbes being to little purpose to satisfie their insatiable hunger, in the +fieldes and desertes here and there, the fellowe killed his mate while he +stooped to take vp a roote for his reliefe, and cutting out pieces of his +bodie whom he had murthered, broyled the same on the coles and greedily +deuoured them. + +By this meane the company decreased, and the officers knew not what was +become of them; And it fortuned that one of the company driuen with hunger +to seeke abroade for reliefe found [Sidenote: Our men eate one another for +famine.] out in the fieldes the sauour of broyled flesh, and fell out with +one for that he would suffer him and his fellowes to sterue, enioying +plentie as he thought: and this matter growing to cruell speaches, he that +had the broyled meate, burst out into these wordes: If thou wouldest needes +know, the broyled meate that I had was a piece of such a mans buttocke. The +report of this brought to the ship, the Captaine found what became of those +that were missing and was perswaded that some of them were neither deuoured +with wilde beastes, nor yet destroyed by Sauages: [Sidenote: The Captaines +Oration.] And hereupon hee stood vp and made a notable Oration, containing, +Howe much these dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched the Scriptures +from first to last, what God had in cases of distresse done for them that +called vpon them, and told them that the power of the Almighty was then no +lesse, then in al former time it had bene. And added, that if it had not +pleased God to haue holpen them in that distresse, that it had bene better +to haue perished in body, and to haue liued euerlastingly, then to haue +relieued for a poore time their mortal bodyes, and to bee condemned +euerlastingly, both body and soule to the vnquenchable fire of hell. And +thus hauing ended to that effect, be began to exhort to repentance, and +besought all the company to pray, that it might please God to looke vpon +their miserable present state and for his owne mercie to relieue the same. +The famine increasing, and the inconuenience of the men that were missing +being found, they agreed amongst themselues rather then all should perish, +to cast lots who should be killed: [Sidenote: The English surprise a French +ship, wherein they returned home.] And such was the mercie of God, that the +same night there arriued a French ship in that port, well furnished with +vittaile, and such was the policie of the English, that they became masters +of the same, and changing ships and vittailing them, they set sayle to come +into England. + +[Sidenote: Haukes and other foules.] In their iourney they were so ferre +Northwards, that they sawe mighty Islands of yce in the sommer season, on +which were haukes and other foules to rest themselues being weary of flying +ouer farre from the maine. [Sidenote: Foules supposed to be Storkes.] They +sawe also certaine great white foules with red bils and red legs, some what +bigger then Herons, which they supposed to be Storkes. They arriued at S. +Iues in Cornewall about the ende of October. From thence they departed vnto +a certairie castle belonging to sir Iohn Luttrel, where M. Thomas Buts, and +M. Rastall and other Gentlemen of the voyaye were very friendly +entertained: after that they came to the Earle of Bathe at Bathe, and +thence to Bristoll, so to London. M. Buts was so changed in the voyage with +hunger and miserie, that sir William his father and my Lady his mother knew +him not to be their sonne, vntill they found a secret marke which was a +wart vpon one of his knees, as hee told me Richard Hakluyt of Oxford +himselfe, to whom I rode 200. miles onely to learne the whole trueth of +this voyage from his own mouth, as being the onely man now aliue that was +in this discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The French royally recompenced by king Henry the 8.] Certaine +moneths after, those Frenchmen came into England, and made complaint to +king Henry the 8: the king causing the matter to be examined, and finding +the great distresse of his subiects, and the causes of the dealing so with +the French, was so mooued with pitie, that he punished not his subiects, +but of his owne purse made full and royall recompence vnto the French. + +In this distresse of famine, the English did somewhat relieue their vitall +spirits, by drinking at the springs the fresh water out of certaine wooden +cups, out of which they had drunke their Aqua composita before. + + * * * * * + +An act against the exaction of money or any other thing by any officer for + licence to traffique into Iseland and Newfoundland, made in An 2. Edwardi + sexti. + +Forasmuch as within these few yeeres now last past, there haue bene leuied, +perceiued and taken by certaine of the officers of the Admiraltie, of such +Marchants, and fishermen as haue vsed and practised the aduentures and +iourneys into Iseland, Newfoundland, Ireland, and other places commodious +for fishing, and the getting of fish, in and vpon the Seas or otherwise, by +way of Marchants in those parties, diuers great exactions, as summes of +money, doles or shares of fish, and such other like things, to the great +discouragement and hinderance of the same Marchants and fishermen, and to +no little dammage of the whole common wealth, and thereof also great +complaints haue bene made, and informations also yeerely to the kings +Maiesties most honourable councell: for reformation whereof, and to the +intent also that the sayd Marchants and fishermen may haue occasion the +rather to practise and vse the same trade of marchandizing, and fishing +freely without any such charges and exactions, as are before limited, +whereby it is to be thought that more plentie of fish shall come into this +Realme, and thereby to haue the same at more reasonable prices: Be it +therefore enacted by the king our soueraigne Lord, and the lords and +commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authoritie of the +same, that neither the Admiral, nor any officer, or minister, officers or +ministers of the Admiraltie for the time being, shall in any wise hereafter +exact, receiue, or take by himselfe, his seruant, deputie, seruants, or +deputies of any such Marchant or fisherman, any summe or summes of money, +doles or shares of fish, or any other reward, benefit or aduantage +whatsoeuer it be, for any licence to passe this Realme to the sayd voyages +or any of them, nor vpon any respect concerning the said voyages, nor any +of them, vpon paine to forfeit for the first offence treble the summe, or +treble the value of the reward, benefite or aduantage, that any such +officer or minister shall hereafter haue or take of any such Marchants or +fishermen. For the which forfeiture the party grieued, and euery other +person or persons whatsoeuer he or they be, shall and may sue for the same +by information, bill, plaint, or action of debt in any of the kings courts +of recorde: The king to haue the one moitie, and the party complaining the +other moitie: in which suite no essoigne, protection, or wager of law shall +be allowed. And for the second offence the party so offending not only to +lose and forfeite his or their office or offices in the Admiraltie, but +also to make fine and ransome at the kings will and pleasure. + +By this acte it appeareth, that the trade out of England to Newfound land +was common and frequented about the beginning of the raigne of Edward the +6. namely in the yeere 1548. and it is much to be marueiled, that by +negligence of our men, the countrey in all this time hath bene no better +searched. + + * * * * * + +A letter to M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple, conteining a report of + the true state and commodities of Newfoundland, by M. Anthonie Parkhurst + Gentleman, 1578. + +Master Hakluyt, after most heartie commendations, with like thankes for +your manifold kindnesse to me shewed, not for any merits that hitherto haue +been mine, but wholly proceeding, I must needs confesse, of your owne good +nature, which is so ready prest to benefit your countrey and all such poore +men as haue any sparke in them of good desires, that you do not onely +become their friend, but also humble your selfe as seruant in their +affaires: for which I would to God I were once in place where I might cause +your burning zeale to bee knowen to those that haue authoritie, power, and +abilitie to recompense your trauelling mind and pen, wherewith you cease +not day nor night to labour and trauell to bring your good and godly +desires to some passe, though not possibly to that happy ende that you most +thirst for: for such is the malice of wicked men the deuils instruments in +this our age, that they cannot suffer any thing (or at least few) to +proceed and prosper that tendeth to the setting forth of Gods glory, and +the amplifying of the Christian faith, wherein hitherto princes haue not +bene so diligent as their calling required. Alas, the labourers as yet are +few, the haruest great, I trust God hath made you an instrument to increase +the number, and to mooue men of power, to redeeme the people of +Newfoundland and those parts from out of the captiuitie of that spirituall +Pharao, the deuil. + +Now to answer some part of your letter touching the sundrie nauies that +come to Newfoundland, or Terra noua, for fish: you shal vnderstand that +some fish not neere the other by 200. leagues, and therefore the certaintie +is not knowen; and some yeres come many more then other some, as I see the +like among vs: who since my first trauell being but 4. yeeres, are +increased from 30. sayle to 50 which commeth to passe chiefly by the +imagination of the Westerne men, who thinke their neighbours haue had +greater gaines then in very deed they haue, for that they see me to take +such paines yeerely to go in proper person: they also suppose that I find +some secret commoditie by reason that I doe search the harbors, creekes and +hauens, and also the land much more then euer any Englishman hath done. +Surely I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soener it springeth. But to +let this passe, you shall vnderstand that I am informed that there are +aboue 100. saile of Spaniards that come to take Cod (who make all wet, and +do drie it when they come home) besides 20. or 30. more that come from +Biskaie to kill Whale for Traine. These be better appoynted for shipping +and furniture of munition then any nation sauing the Englishmen, who +commonly are lords of the harbors where they fish, and doe vse all +strangers helpe in fishing if need require, according to an old custome of +the countrey, which thing they do willingly, so that you take nothing from +them more then a boate or twaine of salte, in respect of your protection of +them from rouers or other violent intruders, who do often put them from +good harbor, &c. As touching their tunnage, I thinke it may be neere fiue +or sixe thousand tunne. But of Portugals there are not lightly aboue 50 +saile, and they make all wet in like sorte, whose tunnage may amount to +three thousand tuns, and not vpwarde. Of the French nation and Britons, are +about one hundred and fiftie sailes, the most of their shipping is very +small, not past fortie tonnes, among which some are great and reasonably +well appointed, better then the Portugals, and not so well as the +Spaniards, and the burden of them may be some 7000. tunne. Their shipping +is from all parts of France and Britaine, and the Spaniards from most parts +of Spaine, the Portugals from Auiero[92] And Viana[93] and from 2. or 3. +ports more. The trade that our nation hath to Island maketh, that the +English are not there in such numbers as other nations. [Sidenote: The +fertility of Newfoundland.] Now to certifie you of the fertilitie and +goodnesse of the countrey, you shall vnderstand that I haue in sundry +places sowen Wheate, Barlie, Rie, Oates, Beanes, Pease and seedes of +herbes, kernels, Plumstones, nuts, all which haue prospered as in England. +The countrey yeeldeth many good trees of fruit, as Filberds in some places, +but in all places Cherie trees, and a kind of Pearetree meet to graffe on. +As for roses, they are as common as brambles here: Strawberies, Dewberies, +and Raspis, as common as grasse. The timber is most Firre, yet plentie of +Pineapple trees: fewe of these two kinds meete to maste a ship of +threescore and ten: But neere Cape Briton, and to the Southward, big and +sufficient for any ship. There be also Okes and thornes, there is in all +the countrey plentie of Birch and Alder, which be the meetest wood for +cold, and also willow, which will serue for many other purposes. [Sidenote: +Seueral sortes of fish.] As touching the kindes of Fish beside Cod, there +are Herrings, Salmons, Thornebacke, Plase, or rather wee should call them +Flounders, Dog fish, and another most excellent of taste called of vs a +Cat, Oisters, and Muskles, in which I haue found pearles aboue 40. in one +Muskle, and generally all haue some, great or small. I heard of a Portugall +that found one woorth 300. duckets: There are also [Sidenote: Called by +Spaniards Anchouas, and by the Portugals Capelinas.] other kinds of +Shel-fish, as limpets, cockles, wilkes, lobsters, and crabs: also a fish +like a Smelt which commeth on shore, and another that hath like propertie, +called a Squid: there be the fishes, which (when I please to bee merie with +my olde companions) I say doe come on shore when I commaund them in the +name of the 5 ports, and coniure them by such like words: These also bee +the fishes which I may sweepe with broomes on a heape, and neuer wet my +foote, onely two or three wordes whatsoeuer they be appointed by any man, +so they heare my voyce: the vertue of the wordes be small, but the nature +of the fish great and strange. For the Squid, whose nature is to come by +night as by day, I tell them, I set him a candle to see his way, with which +he is much delighted, or els commeth to wonder at it as doth our fresh +water fish, the other commeth also in the night, but chiefly in the day, +being forced by the Cod that would deuoure him, and therefore for feare +comming so neare the shore, is driuen drie by the surge of the sea on the +pibble and sands. Of these being as good as a Smelt you may take vp with a +shoue net as plentifully as you do Wheat in a shouell, sufficient in three +or four houres for a whole Citie. There be also other fishes which I tell +those that are desirous of stange newes, that I take as fast as one would +gather vp stones, and them I take with a long pole and hooke. Yea marrie +say they, wee beleeue so, and that you catch all the rest you bring home in +that sort, from Portugals and Frenchmen. No surely, but thus I doe: with +three hookes stretched foorth in the ende of a pole, I make as it were an +Eele speare, with which I pricke these Flounders as fast as you would take +vp fritters with a sharpe pointed sticke, and with that toole I may take vp +in lesse then halfe a day Lobsters sufficient to finde three hundred men +for a dayes meate. This pastime ended, I shewe them that for my pleasure I +take a great Mastiue I haue, and say no more then thus: Goe fetch me this +rebellious fish that obeyeth not this Gentleman that commeth from Kent and +Christendome, bringing them to the high water marke, and when hee doubteth +that any of those great Cods by reason of sheluing ground bee like to +tumble into the Sea againe, hee will warily take heede and carrie him vp +backe to the heape of his feilowes. This doeth cause my friendes to wonder, +and at the first hearing to iudge them notorious lies, but they laugh and +are merrie when they heare the meanes howe each tale is true. + +I told you once I doe remember how in my trauaile into Africa and America, +I found trees that bare Oisters which was strange to you, till I tolde you +that their boughes hung in the water, on which both Oisters and Muskies did +sticke fast, as their propertie is, to stakes and timber.[94] + +Nowe to let these merrie tales passe, and to come to earnest matters +againe, you shall vnderstand, that Newfoundland is in a temperate Climate, +and not so colde as foolish Mariners doe say, who finde it colde sometimes +when plentie of Isles of yce lie neere the shore: but vp in the land they +shall finde it hotter then in England in many parts of the countrey toward +the South. This colde commeth by an accidental meanes, as by the yce that +commeth fleeting from the North partes of the worlde, and not by the +situation of the countrey, or nature of the Climate. The countrey is full +of little small riuers all the yeere long proceeding from the mountains, +ingendred both of snow and raine: few springs that euer I could finde or +heare of, except it bee towards the South: in some places or rather in most +places great lakes with plentie of fish, the countrey most couered with +woods of firre, yet in many places indifferent good grasse, and plentie of +Beares euery where, so that you may kill of them as oft as you list: their +flesh is as good as yong beefe, and hardly you may know the one from the +other if it be poudred but two dayes. Of Otters we may take like store. +There are Sea Guls, Murres, Duckes, wild Geese, and many other kind of +birdes store, too long to write, especially at one Island named Penguin, +where wee may driue them on a planke into our ship as many as shall lade +her. These birdes are also called Penguins, and cannot flie, there is more +meate in one of these then in a goose: the Frenchmen that fish neere the +grand baie, doe bring small store of flesh with them, but victuall +themselues alwayes with these birdes. Nowe againe, for Venison plentie, +especially to the North about the grand baie, and in the South neere Cape +Race, and Pleasance: there are many other kinds of beasts, as Luzarnes and +other mighty beastes like to Camels in great likenesse, and their feete +were clouen, I did see them farre off not able to discerne them perfectly, +but their steps shewed that their feete were clouen, and bigger then the +feete of Camels, I suppose them to bee a kind off Buffes which I read to +bee in the countreyes adiacent, and very many in the firme land. There bee +also to the Northwards, Hares, and Foxes in all parts so plentifully, that +at noone dayes they take away our flesh before our faces within lesse then +halfe a paire of buts length, where foure and twentie persons were turning +of drie fish, and two dogs in sight, yet stoode they not in feare till wee +gaue shot and set the dogs vpon them: the Beares also be as bold, which +will not spare at midnight to take your fish before your face, and I +beleeue assuredly would not hurt any bodie vnlesse they be forced. + +Nowe to showe you my fancie what places I suppose meetest to inhabite in +those parts discouered of late by our nation: There is neere about the +mouth of the grand Bay, an excellent harbour called of the Frenchmen +Chasteaux,[95] and one Island in the very entrie of the streight called +Bell Isle,[96] which places if they be peopled and well fortified (as there +are stones and things meete for it throughout all Newfoundland) wee shall +bee lordes of the whole fishing in small time, if it doe so please the +Queenes Maiestie, and from thence send wood and cole with all necessaries +to Labrador lately discouered: but I am of opinion, and doe most stedfastly +beleeue that we shall finde as rich Mines in more temperate places and +Climates, and more profitable for fishing then any yet we haue vsed, where +wee shall haue not farre from thence plentie of salt made vndoubtedly, and +very likely by the heate of the Sunne, by reason I find salt kerned on the +rockes in nine and fortie and better: these places may bee found for salte +in three and fortie. I know more touching these two commodities last +remembred then any man of our nation doeth; for that I haue some knowledge +in such matters, and haue most desired the finding of them by painefull +trauaile, and most diligent inquirie. Now to be short, for I haue bene ouer +long by Master Butlers means, who cryed on mee to write at large, and of as +many things as I call to minde woorthy of rembrance: wherefore this one +thing more. I could wish the Island in the mouth of the riuer of Canada[97] +should be inhabited, and the riuer searched, for that there are many things +which may rise thereof as I will shew you hereafter. I could find in my +heart to make proofe whether it be true or no that I haue read and heard of +Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that riuer, and about Cape Briton. I had +almost forgot to speake of the plentie of wolues, and to shew you that +there be foxes, blacke, white and gray: other beasts I know none saue those +before remembered. I found also certain Mines of yron and copper in S. +Iohns, and in the Island of Yron, which might turne to our great benefite, +if our men had desire to plant thereabout, for proofe whereof I haue +brought home some of the oare of both sortes. And thus I ende, assuring you +on my faith, that if I had not beene deceiued by the vile Portugals +descending of the Iewes and Iudas kinde, I had not failed to haue searched +this riuer, and all the coast of Cape Briton, what might haue bene found to +haue benefited our countrey: but they breaking their bands, and falsifying +their faith and promise, disappointed me of the salte they should haue +brought me in part of recompence of my good seruice in defending them two +yeeres against French Rouers, that had spoyled them, if I had not defended +them. + +By meanes whereof they made me lose not onely the searching of the +countrey, but also forced mee to come home with great losse aboue 600. li. +For recompence whereof I haue sent my man into Portugall to demand iustice +at the Kings hand, if not, I must put vp my supplication to the Queenes +Maiesty and her honourable councell, to grant me leaue to stay here so much +of their goods as they haue damnified mee, or else that I may take of them +in Newfound land, as much fish as shall be woorth 600. li. or as much as +the salte might haue made. I pray you aduertise mee what way I were best to +take, and what hope there will bee of a recompence if I follow the suite: +many there are that doe comfort me, and doe bid me proceede, for that her +Maiestie and the councell doe tender poore fisher men, who with me haue +susteined three hundred pound losse in that voyage. And to conclude, if you +and your friend shall thinke me a man sufficient and of credite, to seeke +the Isle of S. Iohn, or the riuer of Canada, with any part of the firme +land of Cape Briton, I shall giue my diligence for the true and perfect +discouerie, and leaue some part of mine owne businesse to further the same: +and thus I end, committing you to God. From Bristow the 13. of Nouember, +1578. + +Yours to vse and command, + +ANTHONY PARCKHVRST. + + * * * * * + +The Letters Patents graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Humfrey Gilbert, + knight, for the inhabiting and planting of our people in America. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, &c. To all people to whom +these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that of our especiall grace, +certaine science and meere motion, we haue giuen and granted, and by these +presents for vs, our heires and successours, doe giue and graunt to our +trustie and welbeloued seruant Sir Humfrey Gilbert of Compton, in our +Countie of Deuonshire knight, and to his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie and licence from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter, +to discouer, finde, search out, and view such remote, heathen and barbarous +lands, countreys and territories not actually possessed of any Christian +prince or people, as to him, his heirs and assignes, and to euery or any of +them, shall seeme good: and the same to haue, hold, occupie and enioy to +him, his heires and assignes for euer, with all commodities, iurisdictions +and royalties both by sea and land: and the sayd sir Humfrey and all such +as from time to time by licence of vs, our heires and successours, shall +goe and trauell thither, to inhabite or remaine there, to build and +fortifie at the discretion of the sayde sir Humfrey, and of his heires and +assignes, the statutes or actes of Parliament made against Fugitiues, or +against such as shall depart, remaine, or continue out of our Realme of +England without licence, or any other acte, statute, lawe, or matter +whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And wee doe +likewise by these presents, for vs, our heires and successours, giue full +authoritie and power to the saide Sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and +euery of them, that hoe and they, and euery, or any of them, shall and may +at all and euery time and times hereafter, haue, take, and lead in the same +voyages, to trauell thitherward, and to inhabite there with him, and euery +or any of them, such and so many of our subiects as shall willingly +accompany him and them, and euery or any of them, with sufficient shipping, +and furniture for their transportations, so that none of the same persons, +nor any of them be such as hereafter shall be specially restrained by vs, +our heires and successors. And further, that he, the said Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them shall haue, hold, occupy and +enioy to him, his heires, or assignes, and euery of them for euer, all the +soyle of all such lands, countries, and territories so to be discouered or +possessed as aforesaid, and of all Cities, Townes and Villages, and places, +in the same, with the rites, royalties and iurisdictions, as well marine as +other, within the sayd lands or countreys of the seas thereunto adioining, +to be had or vsed with ful power to dispose thereof; and of euery part +thereof in fee simple or otherwise, according to the order of the laws of +England, as nere as the same conueniently may be, at his, and their will +and pleasure, to any person then being, or that shall remaine within the +allegiance of vs, our heires and successours, paying vuto vs, for all +seruices, dueties and demaunds, the fift part of all the oare of gold and +siluer, that from time to time, and at all times after such discouerie, +subduing and possessing shall be there gotten: all which lands, countreys, +and territories, shall for euer bee holden by the sayd Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes of vs, our heires and successours by homage, and by the +sayd payment of the sayd fift part before reserued onely for all seruices. + +And moreouer, we doe by those presents for vs, our heires and successours, +giue and graunt licence to the sayde Sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or +assignes, and to euery of them, that hee and they, and euery or any of them +shall, and may from time to time and all times for euer hereafter, for his +and their defence, encounter, expulse, repell, and resist, as well by Sea, +as by land, and by all other wayes whatsoeuer, all, and euery such person +and persons whatsoever, as without the speciall licence and liking of the +sayd Sir Humfrey, and of his heires and assignes, shall attempt to inhabite +within the sayd countreys, or any of them, or within the space of two +hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such countreys as +aforesayd, if they shall not be before planted or inhabited within the +limites aforesayd, with the subiects of any Christian prince, being in +amitie with her Maiesty, where the said sir Humfirey, his heires or +assignes, or any of them or his or their, or any of their associates or +companies, shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing, make their dwellings and +abidings, or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter +vnlawfully to annoy either by Sea or land, the said sir Humfrey, his heires +and assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or any of their companies: +giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the +sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and euery of them from time to +time, and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner +of meanes whatsoeuer, all and euery person and persons, with their shippes, +vessels, and other goods and furniture, which without the licence of the +said sir Humfrey, or his heires or assignes as aforesayd, shall bee found +traffiquing into any harborough or harboroughs, creeke or creekes within +the limites aforesayde, (the subiects of our Realmes and dominions, and all +other persons in amitie with vs, being driuen by force of tempest or +shipwracke onely excepted) and those persons and euery of them with their +ships, vessels, goods, and furniture, to detaine and possesse, as of good +and lawfull prize, according to the discretion of him, the sayd sir +Hnmfrey, his heires and assignes, and of euery or any of them. And for +vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such countreys, landes and +territories so to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayde, with our +Realmes of England and Ireland, and for the better encouragement of men to +this enterprise: we doe by these presents graunt, and declare, that all +such countreys so hereafter to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd, +from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of vs, our heires and +successours. And wee doe gaunt to the sayd sir Humfrey, his heirs and +assignes, and to all and euery of them, and to all and euery other person +and persons, being of our allegiance, whose names shall be noted or entred +in some of our courts of Record, within this our Realme of England, and +that with the assent of the said sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, shall +nowe in this iourney for discouerie, or in the second iourney for conquest +hereafter, trauel to such lands, countries and territories as aforesaid, +and to their and euery of their heires: that they and euery or any of them +being either borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland, or within +any other place within our allegiance, and which hereafter shall be +inhabiting within any the lands, countreys and territories, with such +licence as aforesayd, shall, and may haue, and enioy all priuileges of free +denizens and persons natine of England, and within our allegiance: any law, +custome, or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding. + +And forasmuch, as vpon the finding out, discouering and inhabiting of such +remote lands, countreys and territories, as aforesayd, it shall be +necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in +those iourneys or voiages, to determine to liue together in Christian peace +and ciuill quietnesse each with other, whereby euery one may with more +pleasure and profit, enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great +paine and perill: wee for vs, our heires and successors are likewise +pleased and contented, and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the +sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer, that he and they, +and euery or any of them, shall and may from time to time for euer +hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys, and in the +way by the Seas thither, and from thence, haue full and meere power and +authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, gouerne and rule by their, and euery +or any of their good discretions and pollicies, as well in causes capitall +or criminall, as ciuill, both marine and other, all such our subiects and +others, as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the +sayd iourneys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue, or that shall at any +time hereafter inhabite any such lands, countreys or territories as +aforesayd, or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd +place or places, where the sayd sir Humrrey or his heires, or assignes, or +any of them, or any of his or their associats or companies, shall inhabite +within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such +statutes, lawes and ordinances, as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, or euery, or any of them deuised or established +for the better gouernment of the said people as aforesayd: so alwayes that +the sayd statutes, lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conueniently +may, agreeable to the forme of the lawes and pollicy of England: and also, +that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed +in the church of England, nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects +or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs, our heires or +successours, as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God. And further we doe +by these presents for vs, our heires and successours, giue and graunt full +power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller, sir William +Cecill knight, lord Burleigh, our high treasurer of England, and to the +lord treasurer of England of vs, for the time being, and to the priuie +counsell of vs, our heires and successours, or any foure of them for the +time being, that he, they, or any foore of them, shall, and may from time +to time and at all times hereafter, vnder his or their handes or seales by +vertue of these presents, authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them by him and themselues, or by +their or any of their sufficient atturneys, deputies, officers, ministers, +factors and seruants, to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of +England and Ireland, all, or any of his goods, and all or any the goods of +his or their associates and companies, and euery or any of them, with such +other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes, as to the said lord +treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs, our heires, or successours +for the time being, as aforesayd, shall be from time to time by his or +their wisedoms or discretions thought meete and conuenient for the better +reliefe and supportation of him the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and +assignes, and euery or any of them, and his and their, and euery or any of +their said associates and companies, any act, statute, lawe, or other thing +to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. + +Prouided alwayes, and our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby declare +to all Christian Kings, princes and states, that if the said Sir Humfrey +his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence or +appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter robbe or spoile by Sea or +by land, or doe any act of vniust and vnlawfull hostilitie to any of the +Subiects of vs, our heires, or successours, or any of the Subiects of any +King, prince, ruler, gouernour or state being then in perfect league and +amitie with vs, our heires or successours: and that vpon such iniurie, or +vpon iust complaint of any such prince, ruler, gouernour or state, or their +subiects, wee, our heires or successours shall make open proclamation +within any the portes of our Realme of England commodious, that the said +Sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, or any other to whom those Letters +patents may extend, shall within the terme to be limited by such +proclamations, make full restitution and satisfaction of all such iniuries +done, so that both we and the saide Princes, or others so complayning, may +holde vs and themselues fully contended: And that if the saide Sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, shall not make or cause to bee made satisfaction +accordingly, within such time so to be limited: that then it shall bee +lawfull to vs, our heires and successours, to put the said Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and adherents, and all the inhabitants of the said +places to be discouered as is aforesaid, or any of them out of our +allegiance and protection, and that from and after such time of putting out +of our protection the saide Sir Humfrey, and his heires, assignes, +adherents and others so to be put out, and the said places within their +habitation, possession and rule, shal be out of our protection and +allegiance, and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostilitie +as being not our Subiects, nor by vs any way to bee aduowed, maintained or +defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor to our protection, dominion +or allegiance any way belonging, for that expresse mention &c. In witness +whereof, &c. Witnesse ourselfe at Westminster the 11. day of Iune, the +twentieth yeere of our raigne. Anno Dom. 1578. + +Per ipsam Reginam, &c. + + * * * * * + +De Nauigatione Illustris et Magnanimi Equiris aurati Humfredi Gilberti, ad + deducendam in nomun Orbem coloniam susceptâ, Carmen hepizatikou Stephani + Parmenii Bvdeii. + +Ad eundem illustrem equitem autoris præfatio. + +Reddenda est, quàm fieri potest breuissime, in hoc vestibulo, ratio facti +mei, et cur ita homo nouus et exterus, in tanta literatissimorum hominum +copia, quibus Anglia beat est, versandum in hoc argumento mihi putanerim: +ita enim tu, fortissime Gilberte, foetum hunc nostrom in lucem exire +voluisti. In seruitute et barbarie Turcica, Christianis tamen, magno +immortalis Dei beneficio, parentibus natus, aliquam etiam ætatis partem +educatus; postquam doctissimorum hominum opera, quibus tum Pannoniæ nostræ, +tum imprimis saluæ adhuc earum reliquiæ florescunt, in literis adoleuissem, +more nostrorum hominum, ad inuisendas Christiani orbis Academias ablegatus +fui. Qua in peregrinatione, non solùm complura Musarum hospitia, sed multas +etiam sapienter institutas respublicas, multarum Ecclesiarum probatissimas +administrationes introspeximus, iam fermè triennio ea in re posito. Fuerat +hæc nostra, profectio ita à nobis comparata, vt non tantùm mores et vrbes +gentium videndum, sed in familiaritatem, aut saltem notitiam illustriorum +hominum introeundum nobis putaremus, Cæterum, vt hoc à nobis sine inuidia +dici possit, (certè enim taceri absque malicia nullo modo protest) non +locus, non natio, non respublica vlla nobis æquè ac tua Britannia +complacuit, quamcunque in partem euentum consilij mei considerem. Accedit, +quòd præter omnem expectationem meam ab omnibus tuis ciuibus, quibus +comaliqua consuetudo mihi contigit, tanta passìm humanitate acceptus essem, +vt iam (sit hoc saluo pietate à me dictum) suauissimæ Anglorum amicitiæ +fermè aboleuerint desiderium et Pannoniarum et Budæ meæ, quibus patriæ +nomen debeo. Quas ab caussas cùm sæpenumero animus fuisset significationem +aliquam nostræ huius voluntatis et existimationis edendi; accidit vtique +secundùm sententiam, vt dum salutandis et cognoscendis excellentibus viris +Londini operam do, ornatissimus ac doctissimus amicas meus Richardus +Hakluytus ad te me deduxerit, explicato mihi præclarissimo tuo de ducenda +propediem colonia in nouum orbem instituto. Quæ dum aguntu, agnoscere +portui ego illud corpus et animum tuum sempiterna posteritatis +commemoratione dignum, et agnoui profectò, eaque tali ac tanta obseruantia +prosequi coepi; vt cum paulò post plura de tuis virtutibus, et rebus gestis +passim audissem, tempus longè accommodatissimum existimarem esse, quo +aliqua parte officij studijque nostri, ergà te et tuam gentem perfungerer. +Hoc est primum ouum, vnde nostrum [Greek: hepizatikon] originem ducit. +Reliquum est, vt eas et redeas quàm prosperrimè, vir nobilissime, et +beneuolentia tua, autoritate, ac nomine, tueare studium nostrum. Vale +pridie Kalen. Aprilis 1583. + +Ad Thamesin. + + Amnis, inoffensa qui tàm requiete beatus + Antipodum quæris iam tibi in orbe locum: + Nunc tibi principium meritæ, pro tempore, laudis + Fecimus, et raucæ carmina prima tubæ. + Tum cum reddideris, modo quam dimittimus, Argo, + Ornatu perages gaudia festa nouo. + + Quæ noua tàm subitò mutati gratia coeli? + Vnde graues nimbi vitreas tenuantur in auras? + Duffugiunt nebulæ, puroque nitentior ortu + Illustrat terras, clementiaque æquora Titan? + Nimirum posuere Noti, meliorque resurgit + Evrys, et in ventos soluuntur vela secundos, + Vela quibus gentis decus immortale Brittanniæ + Tendit ad ignotum nostris maioribus orbem + Vix notis Gilebertvs aquis. Ecquando licebit + Ordiri heroas laudes, et fecta nepotum + Attonitis memoranda animis? Si coepta silendum est + Illa, quibus nostri priscis ætatibus audent + Conferri, et certare dies: quibus obuia plano + Iamdudum Fortvna solo, quibus omne per vndas + Nereidvm genus exultat, faustoque tridenti + Ipse pater Netevs placabile temperat æquor. + Et passim Oceano curui Delphines ab imo + In summos saliunt fluctus, quasi terga pararent + In quibus euectæ sulcent freta prospera puppes, + Et quasi diluuium, tempestatesque minatur + Follibus inflatis inimica in uela physeter. + Et fauet AEGAEON, et qui Neptvnia PROTEVS + Armenta, ac turpes alit imo in gurgite phocas. + Atque idem modò ab antiqua virtute celebtat + Sceptra Chaledonidvm: seclis modò fata futuris + Pandit, et ad seros canit euentura minores. + Vt pacis bellique bonis notissima vasto + Insula in Oceano, magni decus Anglia mundi; + Postquam opibus diues, populo numerosa frequenti, + Tot celebris factis, toto caput extulit orbe; + Non incauta sui, ne quando immensa potestas + Pondere sit ruitura suo, noua moenia natis + Quærat, et in longum extendat sua regna recessum: + Non aliter, quàm cùm ventis sublimibus aptæ + In nidis creuere grues, proficiscitur ingens + De nostra ad tepidum tellure colonia Nilvm. + Euge, sacrum pectus, tibi, per tot secula, soli + Seruata est regio nullis regnata Monarchis. + Et triplici quondam mundi natura notata + Margine, et audacim quarto dignata Colvmbvm; + Iam quintâ lustranda plagâ tibi, iamque regenda + Imperio superest. Evropam Asiamqve relinque, + Et fortunatam nimiùm, nisi sole propinquo + Arderet, Libyen: illis sua facta viasque + Terminet Alcides: abs te illustranda quietscit + Parte alis telus, quam non Babylonia sceptra, + Non Macedvm inuictæ vires, non Persica virtus + Attigit, aut vnquam Latiæ feriere secures. + Non illo soboles Mahometi mugijt orbe: + Non vafer Hispanvs, coelo, superisque relictis, + Sacra Papæ humano crudelia sanguine fecit. + Illic mortales hominumque iguota propago; + Siue illi nostræ veniant ab origine gentis, + Seu tandem à prisca Favnorvm stirpe supersint + Antiqua geniti terra, sine legibus vrbes + Syluasque et pingues habitant ciuilibus agros: + Et priscos referunt mores, vitamque sequuntur + Italiæ antiquæ, et primi rude temporis æuum: + Cum genitor nati fugiens Satvrus ob iram + In Latio posuit sedem, rudibusque regendos + In tenues vicos homines collegit ab agris. + Aurea in hoc primùm populo coepisse feruntur + Secula, sicque homines vitam duxisse beati; + Vt simul argenti percurrens tempora, et æris, + Degener in durum chalybem vilesceret ætas; + Rursus in antiquum, de quo descenderat, aurum + (Sic perhibent vales) æuo vertente rediret. + Fallor an est tempus, reuolutoque orbe videntur + Aurea pacificæ transmittere secula gentes? + Fallor enim, si quassatas tot cladibus vrbes + Respicio, et passim lacerantes regna tyrannos: + Si Mahometigenis Asiam Libyamqve cruento + Marte premi, domitaque iugum ceruice subire: + Iamque per Evropæ fines immane tribunal + Barbari adorari domini, Dacisqve, Pelasgisqve + Æmathiisqve, omnique solo quod diuidit Hebrvs, + Et quondam bello inuictis, nunc Marte sinistro + Angustos fines, paruamque tuentibus oram + Pannoniæ populis, et prisca in gente Libvrnis. + Tum verò in superos pugnas sine fine cieri + Patribus Avsoniis; ardere in bella, necesque + Sarmaticas gentes: et adhuc à cæde recenti + Hispanvm sancto Gallvmqve madere cruore. + Non sunt hæc auri, non sunt documenta, sed atrox + Ingenio referunt ferrum, et si dicere ferro + Deteriora mihi licet, intractabile saxum. + At verò ad niueos alia si parte Britannos + Verto oculos animumque, quot, ô pulcherrima tellus + Testibus antiquo vitam traducis in auro? + Namque quòd hoc summum colitur tibi numen honore + Quo superi, atque omnis geniorum casta iuuentus + Ilius ad sacra iussa vices obit, arguit aurum. + Quòd tàm chara Deo tua sceptra gubernat Amazon, + Quàm Dea, cum nondum coelis Astræa petitis + Inter mortales regina erat, arguit aurum. + Quòd colit haud vllis indusas moenibus vrbes + Aurea libertas, et nescia ferre tyrannum + Securam ætatem tellus agit, arguit aurum. + Quòd regio nullis iniuria gentibus, arma + Arma licet ferruginea rubicunda quiete, + Finitimis metuenda gerit tamen, arguit aurum. + Quòd gladij, quòd mucrones, quòd pila, quòd hastæ + In rastros abiere, et bello assueta iuuentus + Pacem et amicitias dulces colit, arguit aurum. + Denique si fas est auro connectere laudes + Æris, et in pacis venerari tempore fortes; + Quot natos bello heroas, quot ahænea nutris + Pectora? Sint testes procerum tot millia, testes + Mille duces, interque duces notissima mille + Illa cui assurgunt Mvsæ, quam conscia Pallas + Lætior exaudit, Gileberti gloria nostri. + Illius auxillum, et socialia prælia amici + Mirantur Belgæ, et quamuis iniustus Ibervs + Commemorat iustas acies, domitasque per oras + Martia victrices formidat Hibernia turmas. + Illum oppugnatæ quassatis turribus arces, + Ilium expugnatæ perruptis moenibus vrbes, + Fluminaque et portus capti, hostilique notatum + Sanguine submersæ meminere sub æquore classes. + Hic vbi per medios proiectus Seqvana Celtas + Labitur, et nomen max amissurus, et vndas. + Omnia si desint, quantum est ingentibus ausis + Humani generis pro pace bonoque pacisci + Tàm varies casus, freta tanta, pericula tanta? + Linquere adhuc teneram prolem, et dulcissima sacri + Oscula coniugij, numerantemque ordine longo + Avcheriam digitis in mollibus, æquora mille + Formidanda modis, atque inter pauca relatos + Avcherios exempla suos, fratremque patremque; + Qui dum pro patria laudem et virtute sequuntur, + Obsessi in muris soli portisque Caleti, + Præposuere mori, quàm cum prodentibus vrbem, + Et decus Albionvm, turpi superesse salute. + Quòd si parua loquor, nec adhuc fortasse fatenda est + Aurea in hoc iterum nostro gens viuere mundo, + Quid vetat ignotis vt possit surgere terris? + Auguror, et faueat dictis Devs, auguror annos, + In quibus haud illo secus olim principe in vrbes + Barbara plebs coeat, quàm cùm noua saxa vocaret + Amphion Thebas, Troiana ad moenia Phoebvs. + Atque vbi sic vltrò iunctas sociauerit ædes, + Deinde dabit leges custodituras easdem; + In quibus ignari ciues fraudumque, dolique, + A solida assuescant potius virtute beari; + Quàm genio et molli liquentia corpora vita + In Venerem ignauam, pinguemque immergere luxum: + Quàm nummos, quam lucra sequi, quam propter honores + Viuere ad arbitrium stolidæ mutabile plebis. + Non illic generi virtus, opibusue premetur + Libertas populi, non contrà in deside vulgo + Oppugnabit opes ciuis sub nomine pauper: + Quisque suo partem foelix in iure capesset. + Tum sua magna parens ingenti foenore tellus + Exiguo sudore dabit bona: cura iuuentam + Nulla adiget senio, nec sic labor ocia tollet, + Quo minus è virtute petant sua commoda ciues. + O mihi foelicem si fas conscendere puppim: + Et tecum patria (pietas ignosce) relicta + Longinquum penetrare fretum, penetrare sorores + Mecum vnà Aonias, illic exordia gentis + Prima nouæ ad seros transmittere posse nepotes! + Sed me fata vetant, memoraturumque canora + Inclyta facta tuba, ad clades miserabilis Istri + Inuitum retrahunt. His his me fata reseruent: + Non deerit vates, illo qui cantet in orbe + Aut veteres populos, aut nostro incognita coelo + Munera naturæ; dum spreto Helicone manebit + Ilia Aganippæis sacrata Oxonia Musis. + Dum loquor in viridi festinant gramine Nymphæ, + Impediuntque comas lauro, et florentis oliuæ + Frondibus armantur, dominatricemque frequentes + Oceani immensi longè venerantur Elisam. + Illa autem ad gelidum celsis de turribus amnem + Prospicit, et iamiam Tamesino in patre tuetur + Paulatim obliquis Gilebertum albescere velis. + Sic dea Peliaco spectasse è vertice Pallas + Fertur Iasonios comites, ad Phasidos vndas + Vix benè dum notis committere carbasa ventis. + Diva faue, nutuque tuo suscepta parari + Vela iuua; Si sola geris dignissima totum + Talibus auspicijs proferri sceptra per orbem. + Proptereà quia sola tuos ita pace beasti + Tranquilla populos, vt iam te principe possint + Augere imperij fines. Quia sola videris + Quo niueae Charites, quo corpore Delia virgo + Pingitur, et iusto si sit pro teste vetustas. + Talibus audimus quondam de matribus ortos + Semideos homines: tali est de sanguine magnus + Siue Hector genitus, siue Hectore maior Achilles: + Duntaxat sine fraude vlla, sine crimine possint + Vila tibi veterum conferri nomina matrum, + Quæ sexum factis superas, quæ patribus audes, + Nympha, dijs dignas laudes æquare Latinis. + Mentior infoelix, nisi sic in corpore virtus + Lucet formoso, ceu quæ preciosior auro est + Gemma, tamen pariter placituro clauditur auro. + Mentior, et taceo, nisi sola audiris vbique + Induperatorum timor aut amor, inter et omnes + Securam requiem peragis tutissima casus: + Dum reliqui reges duro quasi carcere clausi + Sollicitis lethi dapibus, plenoque fruuntur + Terrificis monstris furtiua per ocia somno. + Mentior et taceo, solam nisi viuere ciues + Æternùm cupiunt: quando nec verbere toruo, + Nec cædis poenæue thronum formtdine firmas: + Sed tibi tot meritis maiestas parta, et inermis + Ad patulos residet custos clementia postes: + Vt quot penè rei iustum meruere tribunal, + Tot veniam grato narrent sermone clientes. + Nec tamen admittis, nisi quod iustumque piumque + Agnoscit probitas, et quæ potes omnia, solis + Legibus vsurpas cautas sanctissima vires. + Nec mala formidas: si quidem quasi fune ligatur + Consilio fortuna tibi: Nullum impia terret + In castris Bellona tuis: Quin pronus adorat + Gradivvs tua iussa pater, sequiturque vocantem + Quacunque ingrederis grato victoria plausu. + Dumque fores alijs, vitamque et regna tuetur + Ianitor externus, cingunt tua limina ciues: + Dumque alijs sordet sapientia regibus, almo + Pegasidvm tu fonte satur, tot Appollinis artes + Aurea vaticina fundis quasi flumina lingua. + Nil nostri inuenere dies, nil prisca vetustas + Prodidit, in linguis peragunt commercia nullis + Christiadvm gentes, quas te, diuina virago, + Iustius Aoniæ possint iactare sorores. + Audijt hæc inundus, cunctisque in finibus ardet + Imperio parere tuo: et quæ fortè recusat + Miratur vires regio tamen. Hinc tua sceptra + Incurua Mahometigenæ ceruice salutant: + Hinc tua pugnaces properant ad foedera Galli: + Dumque sibi metuit toties tibi victus Ibervs, + Nescia Romano Germania Marte domari + Quærit amicitias Britonvm: procul oscula mittit + Virgineis pedibus Lativm, longéque remoti + Pannones in tutos optant coalescere fines. + Quinetiam quæ submisso diademate nuper + Obtulit inuictis fascesque fidemque Britannis.[A] + Nonne vides passis vt crinibus horrida dudum + Porrigit ingentem lugubris America dextram? + Et numquid lacrymas, inquit, soror Anglia, nostras + Respicis, et dura nobiscum in sorte gemiscis? + An verò nescisse potes, quæ tempora quantis + Cladibus egerimus? postquam insatiabilis auri, + Nam certè non vllus amor virtutis Iberos + In nostrum migrare soluum, pietasue coegit. + Ex illo, quæ sacra prius væsana litabam + Manibus infernis, sperans meliora tuumque + Discere posse Devm, iubeor mortalibus aras + Erigere, et mutas statuas truncosque precata + Nescio quod demens Romanvm numen adoro. + Cur trahor in terras? si mens est lucida, puris + Cur Devs in coelis rectà non quæritur? aut si + A nobis coelum petitur, cur sæpe videmus + Igne, fame, ferro subigi, quocunque reatu + Oenotriæ sedis maiestas læsa labascit? + Non sic relligio, non sic me iudice gaudet + Defendi sua regna Devs, quod si optimus ille est; + Quòd si cuncta potest, et nullis indiget armis. + Mitto queri cædes, exhaustaque moenia bello: + Mitto queri in viles tot libera corpora seruos + Abiecta, immanique iugum Busiride dignum. + Te tantum fortuna animet tua, te tua virtus: + Si tibi tam plenis habitantur moenibus vrbes, + Vt nisi in excelsum crescant, coeloque minentur + Ædes aeriæ; quanquam latissima, desit + Terra tamen populo: Si tot tua flumina nigrant + Turrigeras arces imitatæ mole carinæ, + Quot non illa natant eadem tua flumina cygni. + Si tibi iam sub sole iacens penetratus vtroque est + Mundus, vtroque iacens peragrata est terra sub axe. + Ni frustrà gelidam vectus Wilobeivs [B] ad arcton + Illa in gente iacet, cui dum Sol circinat vmbras, + Dimidio totus vix forsitan occidit anno. + Ni frustrà quæsiuit iter, duraque bipenni + Illo Frobiservs [C] reditum sibi in æquore fecit, + Horridum vbi semper pelagus, glacieque perenni + Frigora natiuos simulant immitia montes. + Ni frustrà per Cimmerios, syluisque propinqua + Flumina Riphæis eoa profectus ad vsque est + Moenia Iencisonvs, [D] Persasqve et proxima Persis + Bactra, et Bactrorvm confines regibus Indos. + Ni frustrà, quod mortali tot secla negarant, + Hac tuus immensum nuper Dracvs [E] ambijt orbem, + Quà patri Oceano clausas circumdare terras + Concessit natura viam, mediaque meare + Tellure, et duplici secludere littore mundos. + Iam si fortuna, iam si virtute sequare + Digna tua; sunt monstra mihi, sunt vasta gigantum + Corpora, quæ magno cecidisse sub Hercvle non sit + Dedecus, Ogigivs non quæ aspernetur Iaccvs. + Quæ si indigna putas, tantaque in pace beata + Auersare meos multo vt tibi sanguine fines + Inuidiosa petas: est nobis terra propinqua, + Et tantum bimari capiens discrimen in Isthmo. + Hanc tibi iamdudum primi inuenere Brittanni, + Tum cum magnanimus nostra in regione Cabotvs [F] + Proximus à magno ostendit sua vela Colvmbo. + Hæc neque vicina nimiùm frigescit ab arcto, + Sole nec immodico in steriles torretur arenas: + Frigus et æstatem iusto moderamine seruat, + Siue leues auras, grati spiracula coeli, + Seu diæ telluris opes, et munera curas. + Pone age te digno tua sceptra in honore, meoque + Iunge salutarem propius cum littore dextram. + Sit mihi fas aliquam per te sperare quietem, + Vicinoque bono lætum illucescere Solem. + Quòd si consilijs superum, fatisque negatum est + Durare immensum magna infortunia tempus: + Quòd si de immerita iustum est ceruice reuelli + Ignarum imperij dominum, populique regendi; + Quòd si nulla vnquam potuit superesse potestas, + Ni pia flexilibus pareret clementia frenis + Obsequium. A mita quæsita potentia Cyro + Amissa est sæuæ soboli. Parcendo subegit + Tot reges Macedvm virtus, tot postera sensim + Abscidit a parto tandem inclementia regno. + Et quod Romvleis creuit sub patribus olim + Imperium, diri semper minuêre Nerones. + +[Sidenote A: Noua Albion.] +[Sidenote B: Hugo Willobeius eques auratus.] +[Sidenote C: Martinus Frobisherus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote D: Antonius Ienkinsonus.] +[Sidenote E: Franciscus Dracus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote F: Sebastianus Cabotus.] + + * * * * * + +A report of the voyage and successe thereof, attempted in the yeere of our + Lord 1583 by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, with other gentlemen assisting + him in that action, intended to discouer and to plant Christian + inhabitants in place conuenient, vpon those large and ample countreys + extended Northward from the cape of Florida, lying vnder very temperate + Climes, esteemed fertile and rich in Minerals, yet not in the actuall + possession of any Christian prince, written by M. Edward Haies gentleman, + and principall actour in the same voyage, who alone continued vnto the + end, and by Gods speciall assistance returned home with his retinue safe + and entire. + +Many voyages haue bene pretended, yet hitherto neuer any thorowly +accomplished by our nation of exact discouery into the bowels of those +maine, ample and vast countreys, extended infinitely into the North from 30 +degrees, or rather from 25 degrees of Septentrionall latitude, neither hath +a right way bene taken of planting a Christian habitation and regiment vpon +the same, as well may appeare both by the little we yet do actually +possesse therein, and by our ignorance of the riches and secrets within +those lands, which vnto this day we know chiefly by the trauell and report +of other nations, and most of the French, who albeit they can not challenge +such right and interest vnto the sayd countreys as we, neither these many +yeeres haue had opportunity nor meanes so great to discouer and to plant +(being vexed with the calamnities of intestine warres) as we haue had by +the inestimable benefit of our long and happy peace: yet haue they both +waies performed more, and had long since attained a sure possession and +settled gouernment of many prouinces in those Northerly parts of America, +if their many attempts into those forren and remote lands had not bene +impeached by their garboils at home. + +[Sidenote: The coasts from Florida Northward first discouered by the +English nation.] The first discouery of these coasts (neuer heard of +before) was well begun by Iohn Cabot the father, and Sebastian his sonne, +an Englishman borne, who were the first finders out of all that great tract +of land stretching from the cape of Florida vnto those Islands which we now +call the Newfoundland: all which they brought and annexed vnto the crowne +of England. Since when, if with like diligence the search of inland +countreys had bene followed, as the discouery vpon the coast, and out-parts +therof was performed by those two men: no doubt her Maiesties territories +and reuenue had bene mightily inlarged and aduanced by this day. And which +is more: the seed of Christian religion had bene sowed amongst those +pagans, which by this time might haue brought foorth a most plentifull +haruest and copious congregation of Christians; which must be the chiefe +intent of such as shall make any attempt that way: or els whatsoeuer is +builded vpon other foundation shall neuer obtaine happy successe nor +continuance. + +And although we can not precisely iudge (which onely belongeth to God) what +haue bene the humours of men stirred vp to great attempts of discouering +and planting in those remote countreys, yet the euents do shew that either +Gods cause hath not bene chiefly preferred by them, or els God hath not +permitted so abundant grace as the light of his word and knowledge of him +to be yet reuealed vnto those infidels before the appointed time. + +But most assuredly, the only cause of religion hitherto hath kept backe, +and will also bring forward at the time assigned by God, an effectuall and +compleat discouery and possession by Christians, both of those ample +countreys and the riches within them hitherto concealed: whereof +notwithstanding God in his wisdome hath permitted to be reuealed from time +to time a certaine obscure and misty knowledge, by little and little to +allure the mindes of men that way (which els will be dull enough in the +zeale of his cause) and thereby to prepare vs vnto a readinesse for the +execution of his will against the due time ordeined, of calling those +pagans vnto Christianity. + +[Sidenote: A fit consideration.] In the meane while, it behooueth euery man +of great calling, in whom is any instinct of inclination vnto this attempt, +to examine his owne motions: which if the same proceed of ambition or +auarice, he may assure himselfe it commeth not of God, and therefore can +not haue confidence of Gods protection and assistance against the violence +(els irresistable) both of sea, and infinite perils vpon the land; whom God +yet may vse an instrument to further his cause and glory some way, but not +to build vpon so bad a foundation. + +Otherwise, if his motiues be deriued from a vertuous and heroycall minde, +preferring chiefly the honour of God, compassion of poore infidels captiued +by the deuill, tyrannizing in most woonderfull and dreadfull maner ouer +their bodies and soules; aduancement of his honest and well disposed +countreymen, willing to accompany him in such honourable actions: reliefe +of sundry people within this realme distressed: all these be honourable +purposes, imitating the nature of the munificent God, wherewith he is well +pleased, who will assist such an actour beyond expectation of man. +[Sidenote: Probable coniectures that these lands North of Florida, are +reserued for the English nation to possesse.] And the same, who feeleth +this inclination in himselfe, by all likelihood may hope, or rather +confidently repose in the preordinance of God, that in this last age of the +world (or likely neuer) the time is compleat of receiuing also these +Gentiles into his mercy, and that God will raise him an instrument to +effect the same: it seeming probable by euent or precedent attempts made by +the Spanyards and French sundry times, that the countreys lying North of +Florida, God hath reserued the same to be reduced vnto Christian ciuility +by the English nation. For not long after that Christopher Columbus had +discouered the Islands and continent of the West Indies for Spayne, Iohn +and Sebastian Cabot made discouery also of the rest from Florida Northwards +to the behoofe of England. + +[Sidenote: The Spanyards prosperous in the Southerne discoueries, yet +vnhappy in the Northerne.] And whensoeuer afterwards the Spanyards (very +prosperous in all their Southerne discoueries) did attempt any thing into +Florida and those regions inclining towards the North they proued most +vnhappy, and were at length discouraged vtterly by the hard and lamentable +successe of many both religous and valiant in armes, endeauouring to bring +those Northerly regions also vnder the Spanish iurisdiction; as if God had +prescribed limits vnto the Spanish nation which they might not exceed; as +by their owne gests recorded may be aptly gathered. + +[Sidenote: The French are but vsurpers vpon our right.] The French, as they +can pretend lesse title vnto these Northerne parts then the Spanyard, by +how much the Spanyard made the first discouery of the same continent so far +Northward as vnto Florida, and the French did but reuiew that before +discouered by the English nation, vsurping vpon our right, and imposing +names vpon countreys, riuers, bayes, capes, or head lands, as if they had +bene the first finders of those coasts: [Sidenote: The French also +infortunate in those North parts of America.] which iniury we offered not +vnto the Spaniards, but left off to discouer when we approached the Spanish +limits: euen so God hath not hitherto permitted them to establish a +possession permanent vpon anothers right, notwithstanding their manifolde +attempts, in which the issue hath bene no lesse tragicall then that of the +Spanyards, as by their owne reports is extant. + +[Sidenote: A good incouragement for the English nation, to proceed in the +conquests of the North America.] Then seeing the English nation onely hath +right vnto these countreys of America from the cape of Florida Northward by +the priuilege of first discouery, vnto which Cabot was authorised by regall +authority, and set forth by the expense of our late famous king Henry the +seuenth: which right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalfe by the +powerfull hand of almighty God, withstanding the enterprises of other +nations: it may greatly incourage vs vpon so iust ground, as is our right, +and vpon so sacred an intent, as to plant religion (our right and intent +being meet foundations for the same) to prosecute effectually the full +possession of those so ample and pleasant countreys apperteining vnto the +crowne of England: [Sidenote: The due time approcheth by all likelihood of +calling these heathens vnto Christianity.] the same (as is to be +coniectured by infallible arguments of the worlds end approching) being now +arriued vnto the time by God prescribed of their vocation, if euer their +calling vnto the knowledge of God may be expected. [Sidenote: The word of +God moueth circularly.] Which also is very probable by the reuolution and +course of Gods word and religion, which from the beginning hath moued from +the East, towards, and at last vnto the West, where it is like to end, +vnlesse the same begin againe where it did in the East, which we were to +expect a like world againe. But we are assured of the contrary by the +prophesie of Christ, whereby we gather, that after his word preached +thorowout the world shalbe the end. And as the Gospel when it descended +Westward began in the South, and afterward spread into the North of Europe: +euen so, as the same hath begunne in the South countreys of America, no +lesse hope may be gathered that it will also spread into the North. + +These considerations may helpe to suppresse all dreads rising of hard +eueuts in attempts made this way by other nations, as also of the heauy +successe and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentleman our +countryman sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, who was the first of our nation that +caried people to erect an habitation and gouernment in those Northerly +countreys of America. About which, albeit he had consumed much substance, +and lost his life at last, his people also perishing for the most part: yet +the mystery thereof we must leaue vnto God, and iudge charitably both of +the cause (which was iust in all pretence) and of the person, who was very +zealous in prosecuting the same, deseruing honourable remembrance for his +good minde, and expense of life in so vertuous an enterprise. Whereby +neuerthelesse, least any man should be dismayd by example of other folks +calamity, and misdeeme that God doth resist all attempts intended that way: +I thought good, so farre as my selfe was an eye witnesse, to deliuer the +circumstance and maner of our proceedings in that action: in which the +gentleman was so incumbred with wants, and woorse matched with many ill +disposed people, that his rare iudgement and regiment premeditated for +these affaires, was subiected to tolerate abuses, and in sundry extremities +to holde on a course, more to vpholde credite, then likely in his owne +conceit happily to succeed. + +[Sidenote: The planting of Gods word must be handled with reuerence.] The +issue of such actions, being alwayes miserable, not guided by God, who +abhorreth confusion and disorder, hath left this for admonition (being the +first attempt by our nation to plant) vnto such as shall take the same +cause in hand hereafter not to be discouraged from it: but to make men well +aduised how they handle his so high and excellent matters, as the carriage +of his word into those very mighty and vast countreys. [Sidenote: Ill +actions coloured by pretence of planting vpon remote lands.] An action +doubtlesse not to be intermedled with base purposes; as many haue made the +same but a colour to shadow actions otherwise scarse iustifiable: which +doth excite Gods heauy iudgements in the end, to the terrifying of weake +mindes from the cause, without pondering his iust proceedings: and doth +also incense forren princes against our attempts how iust soeuer, who can +not but deeme the sequele very dangerous vnto their state (if in those +parts we should grow to strength) seeing the very beginnings are entred +with spoile. + +And with this admonition denounced vpon zeale towards Gods cause, also +towards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable vnto this action of +planting Christian people and religion in those remote and barbarous +nations of America (vnto whom I wish all happinesse) I will now proceed to +make relation briefly, yet particularly, of our voyage vndertaken with sir +Humfrey Gilbert, begun, continued, and ended aduersly. + +[Sidenote: The first and great preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] When +first sir Humfrey Gilbert vndertooke the Westerne discouery of America, and +had procured from her Maiesty a very large commission to inhabit and +possesse at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in the actuall +possession of any Christian prince, the same commission exemplified with +many priuileges, such as in his discretion he might demand, very many +gentlemen of good estimation drew vnto him, to associate him in so +commendable an enterprise, so that the preparation was expected to grow +vnto a puissant fleet, able to encounter a kings power by sea: +neuerthelesse, amongst a multitude of voluntary men, their dispositions +were diuers, which bred a iarre, and made a diuision in the end, to the +confusion of that attempt euen before the same was begun. And when the +shipping was in a maner prepared, and men ready vpon the coast to go +aboord: at that time some brake consort, and followed courses degenerating +from the voyage before pretended: Others failed of their promises +contracted, and the greater number were dispersed, leauing the Generall +with few of his assured friends, with whom he aduentured to sea: where +hauing tasted of no lesse misfortune, he was shortly driuen to retire home +with the losse of a tall ship, and (more to his griefe) of a valiant +gentleman Miles Morgan.[98] + +[Sidenote: A constant resolution of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Hauing buried +onely in a preparation a great masse of substance, wherby his estate was +impaired, his minde yet not dismaid he continued his former designment and +purpose to reuiue this enterprise, good occasion seruing. Vpon which +determination standing long, without meanes to satisfy his desire; at last +he granted certaine assignments out of his commission to sundry persons of +meane ability, desiring the priuilege of his rank, to plant and fortifie in +the North parts of America about the riuer of Canada, to whom if God gaue +good successe in the North parts (where then no matter of moment was +expected) the same (he thought) would greatly aduance the hope of the +South, and be a furtherance vnto his determination that way. And the worst +that might happen in that course might be excused without prejudice vnto +him by the former supposition, that those North regions were of no regard: +but chiefly a possession taken in any parcell of those heathen countreys, +by vertue of his grant, did inuest him of territories extending euery way +two hundred leagues: which induced sir Humfry Gilbert to make those +assignments, desiring greatly their expedition, because his commission did +expire after six yeres, if in that space he had not gotten actuall +possession. + +[Sidenote: A second preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Time went away +without any thing done by his assignes: insomuch that at last he must +resolue himselfe to take a voyage in person, for more assurance to keepe +his patent in force, which then almost was expired, or within two yeres. + +In furtherance of his determination, amongst others, sir George Peckam +knight shewed himselfe very zealous to the action, greatly aiding him both +by his aduice and in the charge. Other gentlemen to their ability ioyned +vnto him, resoluing to aduenture their substance and liues in the same +cause. Who beginning their preparation from that time, both of shipping, +munition, victual, men, and things requisit, some of them continued the +charge two yeeres compleat without intermission. Such were the difficulties +and crosse accidents opposing these proceedings, which tooke not end in +lesse then two yeres: many of which circumstances I will omit. + +The last place of our assembly, before we left the coast of England, was in +Causet bay neere vnto Plimmouth: then resolued to put vnto the sea with +shipping and prouision, such as we had, before our store yet remaining, but +chiefly the time and season of the yeere, were too farre spent. +Neuerthelesse it seemed first very doubtfull by what way to shape our +course, and to begin our intended discouery, either from the South +Northward, or from the North Southward. + +[Sidenote: Consultation about our course.] The first, that is, beginning +South, without all controuersie was the likeliest, wherein we were assured +to haue commodity of the current, which from the cape of Florida setteth +Northward, and would haue furthered greatly our nauigation, discouering +from the foresayd cape along towards cape Briton, and all those lands lying +to the North. + +[Sidenote: Commodities in discouering from South Northward.] Also the yere +being farre spent, and arriued to the moneth of Iune, we were not to spend +time in Northerly courses, where we should be surprised with timely Winter, +but to couet the South, which we had space enough then to haue attained: +and there might with lesse detriment haue wintred that season, being more +milde and short in the South then in the North where winter is both long +and rigorous. + +These and other like reasons alleged in fauour of the Southerne course +first to be taken, to the contrary was inferred: that foras much as both +our victuals, and many other needfull prouisions were diminished and left +insufficient for so long a voyage, and for the wintering of so many men, we +ought to shape a course most likely to minister supply; and that was to +take the Newfoundland in our way, which was but seuen hundred leagues from +our English coast. Where being vsually at that time of the yere, and vntill +the fiue of August, a multitude of ships repairing thither for fish, we +should be relieued abundantly with many necessaries, which after the +fishing ended, they might well spare, and freely impart vnto vs. + +Not staying long vpon that Newland coast, we might proceed Southward, and +follow still the Sunne, vntill we arriued at places more temperate to our +content. + +By which reasons we were the rather induced to follow this [Sidenote: Cause +why we began our discouery from the North.] Northerly course, obeying vnto +necessity, which must be supplied. [Sidenote: Incommodities in beginning +North.] Otherwise, we doubted that sudden approch of Winter, bringing with +it continuall fogge, and thicke mists, tempest and rage of weather; also +contrariety of currents descending from the cape of Florida vnto cape +Briton and cape Rase, would fall out to be great and irresistable +impediments vnto our further proceeding for that yeere, and compell vs to +Winter in those North and colde regions. + +Wherefore suppressing all obiections to the contrary, we resolued to begin +our course Northward, and to follow directly as we might, the trade way +vnto Newfoundland: from whence after our refreshing and reparation of +wants, we intended without delay (by Gods permission) to proceed into the +South, not omitting any riuer or bay which in all that large tract of land +appeared to our view worthy of search. Immediatly we agreed vpon the maner +of our course and orders to be obserued in our voyage; which were deliuered +in writing vnto the captaines and masters of euery ship a copy in maner +following. + +Euery shippe had deliuered two bullets or scrowles, the one sealed vp in +waxe, the other left open: in both which were included seuerall +watch-words. That open, seruing vpon our owne coast or the coast of +Ireland: the other sealed was promised on all hands not to be broken vp +vntill we should be cleere of the Irish coast; which from thencefoorth did +serue vntill we arriued and met altogether in such harbors of the +Newfoundland as were agreed for our Rendez vouz. The sayd watch-words being +requisite to know our consorts whensoeuer by night, either by fortune of +weather, our fleet dispersed should come together againe: or one should +hale another; or if by ill watch and steerage one ship should chance to +fall aboord of another in the darke. + +The reason of the bullet sealed was to keepe secret that watch-word while +we were vpon our owne coast, lest any of the company stealing from the +fleet might bewray the same: which knowen to an enemy, he might boord vs by +night without mistrust, hauing our owne watch-word. + +Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters to be obserued by the fleet +of Sir Humfrey Gilbert. + +First the Admirall to cary his flag by day, and his light by night. + +2 Item, if the Admirall shall shorten his saile by night, then to shew two +lights vntill he be answered againe by euery ship shewing one light for a +short time. + +3 Item, if the Admirall after his shortening of saile, as aforesayd, shall +make more saile againe: then he to shew three lights one aboue another. + +4 Item, if the Admirall shall happen to hull in the night, then to make a +wauering light ouer his other light, wauering the light vpon a pole. + +5 Item, if the fleet should happen to be scattered by weather, or other +mishap, then so soone as one shall descry another to hoise sailes twise, if +the weather will serue, and to strike them twise againe; but if the weather +serue not, then to hoise the maine top saile twise, and forthwith to strike +it twise againe. + +6 Item, if it shall happen a great fogge to fall, then presently euery +shippe to beare vp with the admirall, if there be winde: but if it be a +calme, then euery ship to hull, and so to lie at hull till it be cleere. +And if the fogge do continue long, then the Admirall to shoot off two +pieces euery euening, and euery ship to answere it with one shot: and euery +man bearing to the ship, that is to leeward so neere as he may. + +7 Item, euery master to giue charge vnto the watch to looke out well, for +laying aboord one of another in the night, and in fogges. + +8 Item, euery euening euery ship to haile the admirall, and so to fall +asterne him sailing thorow the Ocean: and being on the coast, euery ship to +haile him both morning and euening. + +9 Item, if any ship be in danger any way, by leake or otherwise, then she +to shoot off a piece, and presently to hang out one light, whereupon euery +man to beare towards her, answering her with one light for a short time, +and so to put it out againe; thereby to giue knowledge that they haue seene +her token. + +10 Item, whensoeuer the Admirall shall hang out her ensigne in the maine +shrowds, then euery man to come aboord her, as a token of counsell. + +11 Item, if there happen any storme or contrary winde to the fleet after +the discouery, whereby they are separated: then euery ship to repaire vnto +their last good port, there to meete againe. + +Our course agreed vpon. + +The course first to be taken for the discouery is to beare directly to Cape +Rase, the most Southerly cape of Newfound land; and there to harbour +ourselues either in Rogneux or Fermous, being the first places appointed +for our Rendez vous, and the next harbours vnto the Northward of cape Rase: +and therefore euery ship separated from the fleete to repaire to that place +so fast as God shall permit, whether you shall fall to the Southward or to +the Northward of it, and there to stay for the meeting of the whole fleet +the space of ten dayes: and when you shall depart, to leaue marks. + +A direction of our course vnto the Newfound land. + +Beginning our course from Silley, the neerest is by Westsouthwest (if the +winde serue) vntill such time as we haue brought our selues in the latitude +of 43 or 44 degrees, because the Ocean is subiect much to Southerly windes +in Iune and Iuly. Then to take trauerse from 45 to 47 degrees of latitude, +if we be inforced by contrary windes: and not to go to the Northward of the +height of 47 degrees of Septentrionall latitude by no meanes; if God shall +not inforce the contrary; but to do your indeuour to keepe in the height of +46 degrees, so nere as you can possibly, because cape Rase lieth about that +height. + +Notes. + +If by contrary windes we be driuen backe vpon the coast of England, then to +repaire vnto Silley for a place of our assembly or meeting. + +If we be driuen backe by contrary winds that we can not passe the coast of +Ireland, then the place of our assembly to be at Beare hauen or Baltimore +hauen. + +If we shall not happen to meete at cape Rase, then the place of Rendez vous +to be at cape Briton, or the neerest harbour vnto the Westward of cape +Briton. + +If by meanes of other shipping we may not safely stay there, then to rest +at the very next safe port to the Westward; euery ship leauing their marks +behinde them for the more certainty of the after commers to know where to +finde them. + +The marks that euery man ought to leaue in such a case, were of the +Generals priuate deuice written by himselfe, sealed also in close waxe, and +deliuered vnto euery shippe one scroule, which was not to be opened vntill +occasion required, whereby euery man was certified what to leaue for +instruction of after commers: that euery of vs comming into any harbour or +riuer might know who had bene there, or whether any were still there vp +higher into the riuer, or departed, and which way. + +[Sidenote: Beginning of the voyage.] Orders thus determined, and promises +mutually giuen to be obserued, euery man withdrew himselfe vnto his charge, +the ankers being already weyed, and our shippes vnder saile, hauing a soft +gale of winde, we began our voyage vpon Tuesday the eleuenth day of Iune, +in the yere of our Lord 1585, hauing in our fleet (at our departure from +Causet[99] Bay) these shippes, whose names and burthens, with the names of +the captaines and masters of them, I haue also inserted, as followeth: + +1 The Delight aliàs The George, of burthen 120 tunnes, was Admirall: in +which went the Generall, and William Winter captaine in her and part owner, +and Richard Clearke master. + +2 The Barke Raleigh set forth by M. Walter Raleigh, of the burthen of 200 +tunnes, was then Vice-admirall: in which went M. Butler captaine, and +Robert Dauis of Bristoll master. + +3 The Golden hinde, of burthen 40 tunnes, was then Reare-admirall: in which +went Edward Hayes captaine and owner, and William Cox of Limehouse master. + +4 The Swallow, of burthen 40 tunnes: in her was captaine Maurice Browne. + +5 The Squirrill, of burthen 10 tunnes: in which went captaine William +Andrewes, and one Cade master. + +[Sidenote: Our fleet consisted of fiue sailes, in which we had about 260 +men. Prouisions fit for such discoueries.] We were in number in all about +260 men: among whom we had of euery faculty good choice, as Shipwrights, +Masons, Carpenters, Smithes, and such like, requisite to such an action: +also Minerall men and Refiners. Besides, for solace of our people, and +allurement of the Sauages, we were prouided of Musike in good variety: not +omitting the least toyes, as Morris dancers, Hobby horsse, and Maylike +conceits to delight the Sauage people, whom we intended to winne by all +faire meanes possible. And to that end we were indifferently furnished of +all petty haberdasherie wares to barter with those people. + +In this maner we set forward, departing (as hath bene said) out of Causon +bay the eleuenth day of Iune being Tuesday, the weather and winde faire and +good all day, but a great storme of thunder and winde fell the same night. + +[Sidenote: Obserue.] Thursday following, when we hailed one another in the +euening according (to the order before specified) they signified vnto vs +out of the Vizadmirall that both the Captaine, and very many of the men +were fallen sicke, And about midnight the Vizeadmirall forsooke vs, +notwithstanding we had the winde East, faire and good. But it was after +credibly reported, that they were infected with a contagious sicknesse, and +arriued greatly distressed at Plimmoth: the reason I could neuer +vnderstand. Sure I am, no cost was spared by their owner Master Raleigh in +setting them forth: Therfore I leaue it vnto God. + +By this time we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not a little grieued with +the losse of the most puissant ship in our fleete: after whose departure, +the Golden Hind succeeded in the place of Vizadmirall, and remooued her +flagge from the mizon vnto the foretop. + +From Saturday the 15 of Iune vntill the 28, which was vpon a Friday, we +neuer had faire day without fogge or raine, and windes bad, much to the +West northwest, whereby we were driuen Southward vnto 41 degrees scarse. + +About this time of the yere the winds are commonly West towards the +Newfound land, keeping ordinarily within two points of West to the South or +to the North, whereby the course thither falleth out to be long and tedious +after Iune, which in March, Apriell and May, hath bene performed out of +England in 22 dayes and lesse. We had winde alwayes so scant from West +northwest, and from West southwest againe, that our trauerse was great, +running South vnto 41 degrees almost, and afterward North into 51 degrees. + +[Sidenote: Great fogges vpon the Ocean sea Northward.] Also we were +incombred with much fogge and mists in maner palpable, in which we could +not keepe so well together, but were disseuered, losing the company of the +Swallow and the Squirrill vpon the 20. day of Iuly, whom we met againe at +seuerall places vpon the Newfound land coast the third of August, as shalbe +declared in place conuenient. + +Saturday the 27 of Iuly, we might descry not farre from vs, as it were +mountaines of yce driuen vpon the sea, being then in 50 degrees, which were +caried Southward to the weather of vs: whereby may be coniectured that some +current doth set that way from the North. + +Before we come to Newfound land about 50 leagues on this side, we passe the +banke, [Marginal note: The banke in length vnknowen, stretcheth from North +into South, in bredth 10. leagues, in depth of water vpon it 30. fadome.] +which are high grounds rising within the sea and vnder water, yet deepe +enough and without danger, being commonly not lesse then 25 and 30 fadome +water vpon them: the same (as it were some vaine of mountaines within the +sea) doe runne along, and from the Newfound land, beginning Northward about +52 or 53 degrees of latitude, and do extend into the South infinitly. The +bredth of this banke is somewhere more, and somewhere lesse: but we found +the same about 10 leagues ouer, hauing sounded both on this side thereof, +and the other toward Newfound land, but found no ground with almost 200 +fadome of line, both before and after we had passed the banke.[100] +[Sidenote: A great fishing vpon the banke.] The Portugals, and French +chiefly, haue a notable trade of fishing vpon this banke, where are +sometimes an hundred or more sailes of ships: who commonly beginne the +fishing in Apriell, and haue ended by Iuly. That fish is large, alwayes +wet, hauing no land neere to drie, and is called Corre fish. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of foules.] During the time of fishing, a man shall +know without sounding when he is vpon the banke, by the incredible +multitude of sea foule houering ouer the same, to prey vpon the offalles +and garbish of fish throwen out by fishermen, and floting vpon the sea. + +[Sidenote: First sight of land.] Vpon Tuesday the 11 of Iune, we forsooke +the coast of England. So againe Tuesday the 30 of Iuly (seuen weekes after) +we got sight of land, being immediatly embayed in the Grand bay, or some +other great bay: the certainty whereof we could not iudge, so great hase +and fogge did hang vpon the coast, as neither we might discerne the land +well, nor take the sunnes height. But by our best computation we were then +in the 51 degrees of latitude. + +Forsaking this bay and vncomfortable coast (nothing appearing vnto vs but +hideous rockes and mountaines, bare of trees, and voide of any greene +herbe) we followed the coast to the South, with weather faire and cleare. + +[Sidenote: Iland and a foule named Penguin.] We had sight of an Iland named +Penguin, of a foule there breeding in abundance, almost incredible, which +cannot flie, their wings not able to carry their body, being very large +(not much lesse then a goose) and exceeding fat: which the French men vse +to take without difficulty vpon that Iland, and to barrell them vp with +salt. But for lingering of time we had made vs there the like prouision. + +[Sidenote: An Iland called Baccaloas, of the fish taken there.] Trending +this coast, we came to the Iland called Baccalaos, being not past two +leagues from the maine: to the South thereof lieth Cape S. Francis, 5. +leagues distant from Baccalaos, between which goeth in a great bay by the +vulgar sort called the bay of Conception. Here we met with the Swallow +againe, whom we had lost in the fogge, and all her men altered into other +apparell: whereof it seemed their store was so amended, that for ioy and +congratulation of our meeting, they spared not to cast vp into the aire and +ouerboord, their caps and hats in good plenty. The Captaine albeit himselfe +was very honest and religious, yet was he not appointed of men to his humor +and desert: who for the most part were such as had bene by vs surprised +vpon the narrow seas of England, being pirats and had taken at that instant +certaine Frenchmen laden, one barke with wines, and another with salt. Both +which we rescued, and tooke the man of warre with all her men, which was +the same ship now called the Swallow, following still their kind so oft, as +(being separated from the Generall) they found opportunitie to robbe and +spoile. And because Gods iustice did follow the same company, euen to +destruction, and to the ouerthrow also of the Captaine (though not +consenting to their misdemeanor) I will not conceale any thing that maketh +to the manifestation and approbation of his iudgements, for examples of +others, perswaded that God more sharpely tooke reuenge vpon them, and hath +tolerated longer as great outrage in others: by how much these went vnder +protection of his cause and religion, which was then pretended. + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanor of them in the Swallow.] Therefore vpon further +enquiry it was knowen, how this company met with a barke returning home +after the fishing with his fraight: and because the men in the Swallow were +very neere scanted of victuall, and chiefly of apparell, doubtful withall +where or when to find and meete with their Admiral, they besought the +captaine they might go aboord this Newlander, only to borrow what might be +spared, the rather because the same was bound homeward. Leaue giuen, not +without charge to deale fauourably, they came aboord the fisherman, whom +they rifled of tackle, sailes, cables, victuals, and the men of their +apparell: not sparing by torture (winding cords about their heads) to draw +out else what they thought good. This done with expedition (like men +skilfull in such mischiefe) as they tooke their cocke boate to go aboord +their own ship, it was ouerwhelmed in the sea, and certaine of these men +were drowned: the rest were preserued euen by those silly soules whom they +had before spoyled, who saued and deliuered them aboord the Swallow. What +became afterward of the poore Newlander, perhaps destitute of sayles and +furniture sufficient to carry them home (whither they had not lesse to +runne then 700 leagues) God alone knoweth, who tooke vengeance not long +after of the rest that escaped at this instant: to reueale the fact, and +iustifie to the world Gods iudgements inflicted vpon them, as shal be +declared in place conuenient. + +Thus after we had met with the Swallow, we held on our course Southward, +vntill we came against the harbor called S. Iohn, about 5 leagues from the +former Cape of S. Francis: where before the entrance into the harbor, we +found also the Frigate or Squirrill lying at anker. Whom the English +marchants (that were and alwaies be Admirals [Marginal note: English ships +are the strongest and Admirals of other fleetes, fishing vpon the South +parts of Newfound land.] by turnes interchangeably ouer the fleetes of +fisherman within the same harbor) would not permit to enter into the +harbor. Glad of so happy meeting both of the Swallow and Frigate in one day +(being Saturday the 3. of August) we made readie our fights, and prepared +to enter the harbor, any resistance to the contrarie notwithstanding, there +being within of all nations, to the number of 36 sailes. But first the +Generall dispatched a boat to giue them knowledge of his comming for no ill +intent, hauing Commission from her Maiestie for his voiage he had in hand. +And immediatly we followed with a slacke gale, and in the very entrance +(which is but narrow, not aboue 2 buts length) the Admirall fell vpon a +rocke on the larboard side by great ouersight, in that the weather was +faire, the rocke much aboue water fast by the shore, where neither went any +sea gate. But we found such readinesse in the English Marchants to helpe vs +in that danger, that without delay there were brought a number of boates, +which towed off the ship, and cleared her of danger. + +Hauing taken place conuenient in the road, we let fall ankers, the +Captaines and Masters repairing aboord our Admirall: whither also came +immediatly the Masters and owners of the fishing fleete of Englishmen to +vnderstand the Generals intent and cause of our arriuall there. They were +all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission, and purpose to +take possession of those lands to the behalfe of the crowne of England, and +the aduancement of Christian religion in those Paganish regions, requiring +but their lawfull ayde for repayring of his fleete, and supply of some +necessaries, so farre as might conueniently be afforded him, both out of +that and other harbors adioyning. In lieu whereof, he made offer to +gratifie them, with any fauour and priueledge, which vpon their better +aduise they should demand, the like being not to be obteyned hereafter for +greater price. So crauing expedition of his demand, minding to proceede +further South without long detention in those partes, he dismissed them, +after promise giuen of their best indeuour to satisfie speedily his so +reasonable request. The marchants with their Masters departed, they caused +forthwith to be discharged all the great Ordinance of their fleete in token +of our welcome. + +[Sidenote: Good order taken by English marchants for our supply in Newfound +land.] It was further determined that euery ship of our fleete should +deliuer vnto the marchants and Masters of that harbour a note of all their +wants: which done, the ships aswell English as strangers, were taxed at an +easie rate to make supply. And besides, Commissioners were appointed, part +of our owne companie and part of theirs, to go into other harbours +adioyning (for our English marchants command all there) to leauie our +prouision: whereunto the Portugals (aboue other nations) did most willingly +and liberally contribute. Insomuch as we were presented (aboue our +allowance) with wines, marmalads, most fine ruske or bisket, sweet oyles +and sundry delicacies. Also we wanted not of fresh salmons, trouts, +lobsters and other fresh fish brought daily vnto vs. Moreouer as the maner +is in their fishing, euery weeke to choose their Admirall a new, or rather +they succeede in orderly course, and haue weekely their Admirals feast +solemnized: [Sidenote: Good entertainment in Newfound land.] euen so the +General, Captaines and masters of our fleete were continually inuited and +feasted. [Sidenote: No Sauages in the South part of Newfound land.] To grow +short, in our abundance at home, the intertainment had bene delightfull, +but after our wants and tedious passage through the Ocean, it seemed more +acceptable and of greater contentation, by how much the same was vnexpected +in that desolate corner of the world: where at other times of the yeare, +wilde beasts and birds haue only the fruition of all those countries, which +now seemed a place very populous and much frequented. + +The next morning being Sunday and the 4 of August, the Generall and his +company were brought on land by English marchants, who shewed vnto vs their +accustomed walks vnto a place they call the Garden. But nothing appeared +more then Nature it selfe without art: who confusedly hath brought forth +roses abundantly, wilde, but odoriferous, and to sense very comfortable. +Also the like plentie of raspis berries, which doe grow in euery place. + +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Monday following, the Generall had his tent +set vp, who being accompanied with his own followers, summoned the +marchants and masters, both English and strangers to be present at his +taking possession of those Countries. Before whom openly was read and +interpreted vnto the strangers his Commission: by vertue whereof he tooke +possession in the same harbour of S. Iohn, and 200 leagues euery way, +inuested the Queenes Maiestie with the title and dignitie thereof, had +deliuered vnto him (after the custome of England) a rod and a turffe of the +same soile, entring possession also for him, his heires and assignes for +euer: And signified vnto al men, that from that time forward, they should +take the same land as a territorie appertaining to the Queene of England, +and himselfe authorised vuder her Maiestie to possesse and enioy it, And to +ordaine lawes for the gouernement thereof, agreeable (so neere as +conueniently might be) vnto the lawes of England: vnder which all people +coming thither hereafter, either to inhabite, or by way of traffique, +should be subiected and gouerned. [Sidenote: Three Lawes.] And especially +at the same time for a beginning, he proposed and deliuered three lawes to +be in force immediatly. That is to say: the first for Religion, which in +publique exercise should be according to the Church of England. The 2. for +maintenance of her Maiesties right and possession of those territories, +against which if any thing were attempted preiudiciall the partie or +parties offending should be adiudged and executed as in case of high +treason, according to the lawes of England. The 3. if any person should +vtter words sounding to the dishonour of her Maiestie, he should loose his +eares, and haue his ship and goods confiscate. + +These contents published, obedience was promised by generall voyce and +consent of the multitude aswell of Englishmen as strangers, praying for +continuance of this possession and gouernement begun. After this, the +assembly was dismissed. And afterward were erected not farre from that +place the Armes of England ingrauen in lead, and infixed vpon a pillar of +wood. [Sidenote: Actuall possession maintained in Newfound land.] Yet +further and actually to establish this possession taken in the right of her +Maiestie, and to the behoofe of Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, his heires and +assignes for euer: the Generall granted in fee farme diuers parcels of land +lying by the water side, both in this harbor of S. Iohn, and elsewhere, +which was to the owners a great commoditie, being thereby assured (by their +proper inheritance) of grounds conuenient to dresse and to drie their fish, +whereof many times before they did faile, being preuented by them that came +first into the harbor. For which grounds they did couenant to pay a +certaine rent and seruice vnto sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or assignes +for euer, and yeerely to maintaine possession of the same, by themselues or +their assignes. + +Now remained only to take in prouision granted, according as euery shippe +was taxed, which did fish vpon the coast adioyning. [Sidenote: Men +appointed to make search.] In the meane while, the Generall appointed men +vnto their charge: some to repaire and trim the ships, others to attend in +gathering togither our supply and prouisions: others to search the +commodities and singularities of the countrey, to be found by sea or land, +and to make relation vnto the Generall what eyther themselues could knowe +by their owne trauaile and experience, or by good intelligence of English +men or strangers, who had longest frequented the same coast. Also some +obserued the eleuation of the pole, and drewe plats of the country exactly +graded. And by that I could gather by each mans seuerall relation, I haue +drawen a briefe description of the Newfoundland, with the commodities by +sea or lande alreadie made, and such also as are in possibilitie and great +likelihood to be made: Neuerthelesse the Cardes and plats that were +drawing, with the due gradation of the harbors, bayes, and capes, did +perish with the Admirall: wherefore in the description following, I must +omit the particulars of such things. + + +A briefe relation of the Newfound lande, and the commodities thereof. + +[Sidenote: New found land is al Islands or broken lands.] That which we doe +call the Newfound land, and the Frenchmen Bacalaos, is an Iland, or rather +(after the opinion of some) it consisteth of sundry Ilands and broken +lands, situate in the North regions of America, vpon the gulfe and entrance +of the great riuer called S. Laurence in Canada. Into the which, nauigation +may be made both on the South and North side of this Iland. The land lyeth +South and North, containing in length betweene three and 400 miles, +accounting from cape Race (which is 46 degrees 25 minuts) vnto the Grand +bay in 52 degrees of Septentrionall latitude. [Sidenote: Goodly roads and +harbours.] The Iland round about hath very many goodly bayes and harbors, +safe roads for ships, the like not to be found in any part of the knowen +world. + +[Sidenote: New found land is inhabitable.] The common opinion that is had +of intemperature and extreme cold that should be in this countrey, as of +some part it may be verified, namely the North, where I grant it is more +colde then in countries of Europe, which are vnder the same eleuation: euen +so it cannot stand with reason and nature of the clime, that the South +parts should be so intemperate as the brute hath gone. For as the same doe +lie vnder the climats of Briton, Aniou, Poictou in France, betweene 46 and +49 degrees, so can they not so much differ from the temperature of those +countries: vnlesse vpon the outcast lying open vnto the Ocean and sharper +windes, it must in deede be subiect to more colde, then further within the +land, where the mountaines are interposed, as walles and bulwarkes, to +defend and to resist the asperitie and rigor of the sea weather. Some hold +opinion, that the Newfound land might be the more subiect to cold, by how +much it lyeth high and neere vnto the middle region. I grant that not in +Newfound land alone, but in Germany Italy and Afrike, euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line, the mountaines are extreme cold, and seldome vncouered +of snow, in their culme and highest tops, which commeth to passe by the +same reason that they are extended towards the middle region: yet in the +countries lying beneth them, it is found quite contrary. [Sidenote: Cold by +accidentall meanes.] Euen so all hils hauing their discents, the valleis +also and low grounds must be likewise hot or temperate, as the clime doeth +giue in Newfound land: though I am of opinion that the Sunnes reflection is +much cooled, and cannot be so forcible in the Newfound land, nor generally +throughout America, as in Europe or Afrike: by how much the Sunne in his +diurnal course from East to West passeth ouer (for the most part) dry land +and sandy countries, before he arriueth at the West of Europe or Afrike, +whereby his motion increaseth heate, with little or no qualification by +moyst vapours. Where, on the contrary he passeth from Europe and Afrike +vnto America ouer the Ocean, from whence it draweth and carieth with him +abundance of moyst vapours, which doe qualifie and infeeble greatly the +Sunnes reuerberation vpon this countrey chiefly of Newfound land, being so +much to the Northward. Neuerthelesse (as I sayd before) the cold cannot be +so intollerable vnder the latitude of 46 47 and 48 (especiall within land) +that it should be vnhabitable, as some do suppose, seeing also there are +very many people more to the North by a great deale. And in these South +parts there be certaine beastes, Ounces or Leopards, and birdes in like +maner which in the Sommer we haue seene, not heard of in countries of +extreme and vehement coldnesse. Besides, as in the monethes of Iune, Iuly, +August and September, the heate is somewhat more then in England at those +seasons: so men remaining vpon the South parts neere vnto Cape Race, vntill +after Hollandtide, haue not found the cold so extreme, nor much differing +from the temperature of England. Those which haue arriued there after +November and December, haue found the snow exceeding deepe, whereat no +maruaile, considering the ground vpon the coast, is rough and uneuen, and +the snow is driuen into the places most declyning as the like is to be +seene with vs. The like depth of snow happily shall not be found within +land vpon the playner countries, which also are defended by the mountaines, +breaking off the violence of winds and weather. But admitting extraordinary +cold in those South parts, aboue that with vs here: it can not be as great +as in Sweedland, much lesse in Moscouia or Russia: [Sidenote: Commodities.] +yet are the same countries very populous, and the rigor and cold is +dispensed with by the commoditie of Stoues, warme clothing, meats and +drinkes: all which neede not be wanting in the Newfound land, if we had +intent there to inhabite.[101] + +In the South parts we found no inhabitants, which by all likelihood haue +abandoned those coastes, the same being so much frequented by Christians: +But in the North are sauages altogether harmelesse. Touching the +commodities of this countrie, seruing either for sustentation of +inhabitants, or for maintenance of traffique, there are and may be made +diuers: so that it seemeth Nature hath recompenced that only defect and +incommodities of some sharpe cold, by many benefits: [Sidenote: Fish of sea +and fresh water.] viz. With incredible quantitie, and no lesse varietie of +kindes of fish in the sea and fresh waters, as Trouts, Salmons, and other +fish to vs vnknowen: Also Cod, which alone draweth many nations thither, +and is become the most famous fishing of the world. Abundance of Whales, +for which also is a very great trade in the bayes of Placentia and the +Grand bay, where is made Traine oiles of the Whale: Herring the largest +that haue bene heard of, and exceeding the Malstrond[102] herring of +Norway: but hitherto was neuer benefit taken of the herring fishing: There +are sundry other fish very delicate, namely the Bonito, Lobsters, Turbut, +with others infinite not sought after: Oysters hauing peare but not orient +in colour: I tooke it by reason they were not gathered in season. + +Concerning the inland commodities, aswel to be drawen from this land, as +from the exceeding large countries adioyning: there is nothing which our +East and Northerly countries of Europe doe yeelde, but the like also may be +made in them as plentifully by time and Industrie: Namely rosen, pitch, +tarre, sopeashes, dealboord, mastes for ships, hides, furres, flaxe, hempe, +corne, cordage, linnen-cloth, mettals and many more. All which the +countries will aford, and the soyle is apt to yeelde. + +The trees for the most in those South parts are Firre trees Pine and +Cypresse, all yeelding Gumme and Turpentine. + +Cherrie trees bearing fruit no bigger than a small pease. Also peare trees +but fruitlesse. Other trees of some sorts to vs vnknowen. + +The soyle along the coast is not deepe of earth, bringing forth abundantly +peason small, yet good feeding for cattell. Roses passing sweet, like vnto +our muske roses in forme, raspases, a berry which we call Hurts, good and +holesome to eat. The grasse and herbe doth fat sheepe in very short space, +proued by English marchants which haue caried sheepe thither for fresh +victuall and had them raised exceeding fat in lesse then three weekes. +Peason which our countreymen haue sowen in the time of May, haue come vp +faire, and bene gathered in the beginning of August, of which our Generall +had a present acceptable for the rarenesse, being the first fruits comming +vp by art and industrie in that desolate and dishabited land. + +Lakes or pooles of fresh water, both on the tops of mountaines and in the +valies. In which are said to be muskles not vnlike to haue pearle, which I +had put in triall, if by mischance falling vnto me, I had not bene letted +from that and other good experiments I was minded to make. + +Foule both of water and land in great plentie and diuersitie. All kind of +greene foule: Others as bigge as Bustards, yet not the same. A great white +foule called by some a Gaunt. + +Vpon the land diuers sorts of haukes as Faulcons, and others by report: +Partridges most plentifull larger than ours, gray and white of colour, and +rough footed like doues, which our men after one flight did kill with +cudgels, they were so fat and vnable to flie. Birds some like blackbirds, +linnets, Canary birds, and other very small. Beasts of sundry kindes, red +deare, buffles or a beast, as it seemeth by the tract and foote very large +in maner of an oxe. Beares, ounces or leopards, some greater and some +lesser, wolues, Foxes, which to the Northward a little further are black, +whose furre is esteemed in some Countries of Europe very rich. Otters, +beuers, and marternes: And in the opinion of most men that saw it, the +Generall had brought vnto him a Sable aliue, which he sent vnto his brother +sir John Gilbert knight of Deuonshire: but it was neuer deliuered, as after +I vnderstood. [Sidenote: Newfound land doth minister commodities abundantly +for art and industrie.] We could not obserue the hundreth part of creatures +in those vnhabited lands: but these mentioned may induce vs to glorifie the +magnificent God, who hath superabundantly replenished the earth with +creatures seruing for the vse of man, though man hath not vsed a fifth part +of the same, which the more doth aggrauate the fault and foolish slouth in +many of our nation, chusing rather to liue indirectly, and very miserably +to liue and die within this realme pestered with inhabitants, then to +aduenture as becommeth men, to obtaine an habitation in those remote lands, +in which Nature very prodigally doth minister vnto mens endeuours, and for +art to worke vpon. + +For besides these alreadie recounted and infinite moe, the mountaines +generally make shew of minerall substance: Iron very common, lead, and +somewhere copper. I will not auerre of richer mettals: albeit by the +circumstances following, more then hope may be conceiued thereof. + +For amongst other charges giuen to inquire but the singularities of this +countrey, the Generall was most curious in the search of mettals, +commanding the minerall man and refiner, especially to be diligent. The +same was a Saxon borne, honest and religious, named Daniel. Who after +search brought at first some sort of Ore, seeming rather to be yron then +other mettal. [Sidenote: Siluer Ore brought vnto the Generall.] The next +time he found Ore, which with no small shew of contentment he deliuered +vnto the General, vsing prostestation, that if siluer were the thing which +might satisfie the Generall and his followers, there it was, aduising him +to seeke no further: the perill whereof he vndertooke vpon his life (as +deare vnto him as the Crowne of England vnto her Maiestie, that I may vse +his owne words) if it fell not out accordingly. + +My selfe at this instant liker to die then to liue, by a mischance, could +not follow this confident opinion of our refiner to my owne satisfaction: +but afterward demanding our Generals opinion therein, and to haue some part +of the Ore, he replied: Content your selfe, I haue seene ynough, and were +it but to satisfie my priuate humor, I would proceede no further. +[Sidenote: Reasons why no further search was made for the siluer mine.] The +promise vnto my friends, and necessitie to bring also the South countries +within compasse of my Patent neere expired, as we haue alreadie done these +North parts, do only perswade me further. And touching the Ore, I haue sent +it aboord, whereof I would haue no speech to be made so long as we remaine +within harbor: here being both Portugals, Biscains, and Frenchmen not farre +off, from whom must be kept any bruit or muttering of such matter. When we +are at sea proofe shalbe made: if it be to our desire, we may returne the +sooner hither againe. Whose answere I iudged reasonable, and contenting me +well: wherewith will I conclude this narration and description of the +Newfound land, and proceede to the rest of our voyage, which ended +tragically.[103] + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanour in our companie.] While the better sort of vs were +seriously occupied in repairing our wants, and continuing of matters for +the commoditie of our voyage: others of another sort and disposition were +plotting of mischiefe. Some casting to steale away our shipping by night, +watching opportunitie by the Generals and Captaines lying on the shore: +whose conspiracies discouered, they were preuented. Others drew togither in +company, and carried away out of the harbors adioyning, a ship laden with +fish, setting the poore men on shore. A great many more of our people stole +into the woods to hide themselues, attending time and meanes to returne +home by such shipping as daily departed from the coast. Some were sicke of +fluxes, and many dead: and in briefe, by one meanes or other our company +was diminished, and many by the Generall licenced to returne home. Insomuch +as after we had reuiewed our people, resolued to see an end of our voyage, +we grewe scant of men to furnish all our shipping: it seemed good therefore +vnto the Generall to leaue the Swallowe with such provision as might be +spared for transporting home the sicke people. + +[Sidenote: God brought togither these men into the ship ordained to perish, +who before had committed such outrage.] The Captaine of the Delight or +Admirall returned into England, in whose stead was appointed Captaine +Maurice Browne, before Captaine of the Swallow: who also brought with him +into the Delight all his men of the Swallow, which before haue bene noted +of outrage perpetrated and committed vpon fishermen there met at sea. + +[Sidenote: Why sir Humf. Gilbert went in the Frigate.] The Generall made +choise to goe in his frigate the Squirrell (whereof the Captaine also was +amongst them that returned into England) the same Frigate being most +conuenient to discouer vpon the coast, and to search into euery harbor or +creeke, which a great ship could not doe. Therefore the Frigate was +prepared with her nettings and fights, and ouercharged with bases and such +small Ordinance, more to giue a shew, then with iudgement to foresee vnto +the safetie of her and the men, which afterward was an occasion also of +their ouerthrow. + +[Sidenote: Liberalitie of the Portugals.] Now hauing made readie our +shipping, that is to say, the Delight, the golden Hinde, and the Squirrell, +and put aboord our prouision, which was wines, bread or ruske, fish wette +and drie, sweete oiles: besides many other, as marmalades, figs, lymmons +barrelled, and such like: Also we had other necessary prouision for +trimming our ships, nets and lines to fish withall, boates or pinnesses fit +for discouery. In briefe, we were supplied of our wants commodiously, as if +we had bene in a Countrey or some Citie populous and plentifull of all +things. + +[Sidenote: S. Iohns in 47 deg. 40 min.] We departed from this harbor of S. +Iohns vpon Tuesday the twentieth of August, which we found by exact +obseruation to be in 47 degrees 40 miuutes. And the next day by night we +were at Cape Race, 25 leagues from the same harborough. + +This Cape lyeth South Southwest from S. Iohns: it is a low land, being off +from the Cape about halfe a league: within the sea riseth vp a rocke +against the point of the Cape, which thereby is easily knowen. [Sidenote: +Cape Race in 46 degrees 25 minutes.] It is in latitude 46 degrees 25 +minutes. + +[Sidenote: Fish large and plentifull.] Vnder this cape we were becalmed a +small time, during which we layd out hookes and lines to take Codde, and +drew in lesse then two houres, fish so large and in such abundance, that +many dayes after we fed vpon no other prouision. + +From hence we shaped our course vnto the Island of Sablon, if conueniently +it would so fall out, also directly to Cape Briton. + +[Sidenote: Cattell in the Isle of Sablon.] Sablon lieth to the sea-ward of +Cape Briton about 25 leagues, whither we were determined to goe vpon +intelligence we had of a Portugal, (during our abode in S. Iohns) who was +himselfe present, when the Portugals (aboue thirty yeeres past) did put +into the same Island both Neat and Swine to breede, which were since +exceedingly multiplied. This seemed vnto vs very happy tidings, to haue in +an Island lying so neere vnto the maine, which we intended to plant vpon, +such store of cattell, whereby we might at all times conueniently be +relieued of victuall, and serued of store for breed. + +In this course we trended along the coast, which from Cape Race stretcheth +into the Northwest, making a bay which some called Trepassa. Then it goeth +out againe toward the West, and maketh a point, which with Cape Race lieth +in maner East and West. But this point inclineth to the North: to the West +of which goeth in the bay of Placentia. [Sidenote: Good soile.] We sent men +on land to take view of the soyle along this coast, whereof they made good +report, and some of them had wil to be planted there. They saw Pease +growing in great abundance euery where. + +The distance betweene Cape Race and Cape Briton is 87 leagues. In which +Nauigation we spent 8 dayes, hauing many times the wind indifferent good; +yet could we neuer attaine sight of any land all that time, seeing we were +hindred by the current. At last we fell into such flats and dangers, that +hardly any of vs escaped: where neuerthelesse we lost our Admiral with al +the men and prouision, not knowing certainly the place. Yet for inducing +men of skill to make coniecture, by our course and way we held from Cape +Race thither (that thereby the flats and dangers may be inserted in sea +Cards, for warning to others that may follow the same course hereafter) I +haue set downe the best reckonings that were kept by expert men, William +Cox Master of the Hind, and Iohn Paul his mate, both of Limehouse. + + +Reckonings kept in our course from Cape Race towards Cape Briton, and the + Island of Sablon, to the time and place where we lost our Admirall. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + {West and by South, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 9. + {Southsouthwest, 10. + {Southwest, 12. + {Southsouthwest, 10. +August 29. {Westnorthwest, 12. Here we lost our Admiral. + + Summe of these leagues, 117. + + +The reckoning of Iohn Paul masters mate from Cape Race. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + 23 {Northwest and by West, 9. + 24 {Southwest and by South, 5. + 25 {West and by South, 40. + 26 {West and by North, 7. + 27 {Southwest, 3. + 28 {Southwest, 9. + {Southwest, 7. + {Westsouthwest, 7. + 29 {Northwest and by West, 20. Here we lost our Admirall. + +Summe of all these leagues, 121. + +Our course we held in clearing vs of these flats was Eastsoutheast, and +Southeast, and South 14 leagues with a marueilous scant winde. + + +The maner how our Admirall was lost. + +[Sidenote: August 27.] Vpon Tewsday the 27 of August, toward the euening, +our Generall caused them in his frigat to sound, who found white sande at +35. fadome, being then in latitude about 44 degrees. + +Wednesday toward night the wind came South, and wee bare with the land all +that night, Westnorthwest, contrary to the mind of master Cox: +neuerthelesse wee followed the Admirall, depriued of power to preuent a +mischiefe, which by no contradiction could be brought to hold other course, +alleaging they could not make the ship to worke better, nor to lie +otherwaies. + +[Sidenote: Predictions before the wracke.] The euening was faire and +pleasant, yet not without token of storme to ensue, and most part of this +Wednesday night, like the Swanne that singeth before her death, they in the +Admiral, or Delight, continued in sounding of Trumpets, with Drummes, and +Fifes: also winding the Cornets, Haught boyes: and in the end of their +iolitie, left with the battell and ringing of doleful knels. + +Towards the euening also we caught in the Golden Hinde a very mighty +Porpose, with a harping yron, hauing first striken diuers of them, and +brought away part of their flesh, sticking vpon the yron, but could recouer +onely that one. These also passing through the Ocean, in heardes, did +portend storme. I omit to recite friuolous reportes by them in the Frigat, +of strange voyces, the same night, which scarred some from the helme. + +Thursday the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew vehemently at South and +by East, bringing withal raine, and thicke mist, so that we could not see a +cable length before vs. [Sidenote: Losse of our Admirall.] And betimes in +the morning we were altogether runne and folded in amongst flats and sands, +amongst which we found shoale and deepe in euery three or foure shippes +length, after wee began to sound: but first we were vpon them vnawares, +vntill master Cox looking out, discerned (in his iudgement) white cliffes, +crying (land) withal, though we could not afterward descrie any land, it +being very likely the breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white +cliffes, through the haze and thicke weather. + +Immediatly tokens were giuen vnto the Delight, to cast about to seaward, +which, being the greater ship, and of burden 120 tunnes, was yet formost +vpon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not the danger before +he felt the same, to late to recouer it: for presently the Admirall strooke +a ground, and had soone after her sterne and hinder partes beaten in +pieces: whereupon the rest (that is to say, the Frigat in which was the +Generall and the Golden Hinde) cast about Eastsoutheast, bearing to the +South, euen for our liues into the windes eye, because that way caried vs +to the seaward. Making out from this danger, wee sounded one while seuen +fadome, then fiue fadome, then foure fadome and lesse, againe deeper, +immediatly foure fadome, then but three fadome, the sea going mightily and +high. At last we recouered (God be thanked) in some despaire, to sea roome +enough. + +In this distresse, wee had vigilant eye vnto the Admirall, whom we sawe +cast away, without power to giue the men succour, neither could we espie +any of the men that leaped ouerboord to saue themselues, either in the same +Pinnesse or Cocke, or vpon rafters, and such like meanes, presenting +themselues to men in those extremities: for we desired to saue the men by +euery possible meanes. But all in vaine, sith God had determined their +ruine: yet all that day, and part of the next, we beat vp and downe as +neere vnto the wracke as was possible for vs, looking out, if by good hap +we might espie any of them. + +This was a heavy and grieuous euent, to lose at one blow our chiefe shippe +freighted with great prouision, gathered together with much trauell, care, +long time, and difficultie. But more was the losse of our men, which +perished to the number almost of a hundreth soules. [Sidenote: Stephanus +Parmenius a learned Hungarian.] Amongst whom was drowned a learned man, an +Hungarian, borne in the citie of Buda, called hereof Budæus, who of pietie +and zeale to good attempts, aduentured in this action, minding to record in +the Latine tongue, the gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in +this discouerie, to the honour of our nation, the same being adorned with +the eloquent stile of this Orator, and rare Poet of our time. + +[Sidenote: Daniel a refiner of metal.] Here also perished our Saxon Refiner +and discouerer of inestimable riches, as it was left amongst some of vs in +vndoubted hope. + +No lesse heauy was the losse of the Captaine Maurice Browne, a vertuous, +honest, and discreete Gentleman, ouerseene onely in liberty giuen late +before to men, that ought to haue bene restrained, who shewed himselfe a +man resolued, and neuer vnprepared for death, as by his last act of this +tragedie appeared, by report of them that escaped this wracke miraculously, +as shall bee hereafter declared. For when all hope was past of recouering +the ship, and that men began to giue ouer, and to saue themselues, the +Captaine was aduised before to ship also for his life, by the Pinnesse at +the sterne of the ship: but refusing that counsell, he would not giue +example with the first to leaue the shippe, but vsed all meanes to exhort +his people not to despaire, nor so to leaue off their labour, choosing +rather to die, then to incurre infamie, by forsaking his charge, which then +might be thought to haue perished through his default, shewing an ill +president vnto his men, by leauing the ship first himselfe. With this mind +hee mounted vpon the highest decke, where hee attended imminent death, and +vnauoidable; how long, I leaue it to God, who withdraweth not his comfort +from his seruants at such times. + +[Sidenote: A wonderfull scape and deliuerance. A great distresse. A +desperate resolution.] In the meane season, certaine, to the number of +fourteene persons, leaped into a small Pinnesse (the bignes of a Thames +barge, which was made in the New found land) cut off the rope wherewith it +was towed, and committed themselues to Gods mercy, amiddest the storme, and +rage of sea and windes, destitute of foode, not so much as a droppe of +fresh water. + +The boate seeming ouercharged in foule weather with company, Edward Headly +a valiant souldier, and well reputed of his companie, preferring the +greater to the lesser, thought better that some of them perished then all, +made this motion to cast lots, and them to bee throwen ouerboord vpon whom +the lots fell, thereby to lighten the boate, which otherwayes seemed +impossible to liue, offred himselfe with the first, content to take his +aduenture gladly: which neuerthelesse Richard Clarke, that was Master of +the Admirall, and one of this number, refused, aduising to abide Gods +pleasure, who was able to saue all, as well as a few. + +[Sidenote: Two men famished.] The boate was caried before the wind, +continuing sixe dayes and nights in the Ocean, and arriued at last with the +men (aliue but weake) vpon the New found land, sauing that the foresayd +Headly, (who had bene late sicke) and another called of vs Brasile, of his +trauell into those Countries, died by the way, famished and lesse able to +holde out, then those of better health. For such was these poore mens +extremitie, in cold and wet, to haue no better sustenance then their own +vrine, for sixe dayes together. + +Thus whom God deliuered from drowning, hee appointed to bee famished, who +doth giue limits to mans times, and ordaineth the manner and circumstance +of dying: whom againe he will preserue, neither Sea nor famine can +confound. For those that arriued vpon the Newe found land, were brought +into France by certaine French men, then being vpon that coast. + +After this heauie chance, wee continued in beating the sea vp and downe, +expecting when the weadier would cleere vp, that we might yet beare in with +the land, which we iudged not farre off, either the continent or some +Island. For we many times, and in sundry places found ground at 50, 45, 40 +fadomes, and lesse. The ground comming vpon our lead, being sometimes oazie +sand, and otherwhile a broad shell, with a little sand about it. + +[Sidenote: Causes inforcing vs to returne home againe.] Our people lost +courage dayly after this ill successe, the weather continuing thicke and +blustering, with increase of cold, Winter drawing on, which tooke from them +all hope of amendment, setling an assurance of worse weather to growe vpon +vs euery day. The Leeside of vs lay full of flats and dangers ineuitable, +if the wind blew hard at South. Some againe doubted we were ingulphed in +the Bay of S. Laurence, the coast full of dangers, and vnto vs vnknowen. +But aboue all, prouision waxed scant, and hope of supply was gone, with +losse of our Admirall. + +Those in the Frigat were already pinched with spare allowance, and want of +clothes chiefly: Whereupon they besought the Generall to returne for +England, before they all perished. And to them of the Golden Hinde, they +made signes of their distresse, pointing to their mouthes, and to their +clothes thinne and ragged: then immediately they also of the Golden Hinde, +grew to be of the same opinion and desire to returne home. + +The former reasons hauing also moued the Generall to haue compassion of his +poore men, in whom he saw no want of good will, but of meanes fit to +performe the action they came for, resolued vpon retire: and calling the +Captaine and Master of the Hinde, he yeelded them many reasons, inforcing +this vnexpected returne, withall protesting himselfe greatly satisfied with +that hee had seene, and knew already. + +Reiterating these words. Be content, we haue seene enough, and take no care +of expence past: I will set you foorth royally the next Spring, if God send +vs safe home. Therefore I pray you let vs no longer striue here, where we +fight against the elements. + +Omitting circumstance, how vnwillingly the Captaine and Master of the Hinde +condescended to this motion, his owne company can testifie: yet comforted +with the Generals promises of a speedie returne at Spring, and induced by +other apparent reasons, prouing an impossibilitie, to accomplish the action +at that time, it was concluded on all hands to retire. + +[Sidenote: August 31.] So vpon Saturday in the afternoone the 31 of August, +we changed our course, and returned backe for England, [Sidenote: A monster +of the sea.] at which very instant, euen in winding about, there passed +along betweene vs and towards the land which we now forsooke a very lion to +our seeming, in shape, hair and colour, not swimming after the maner of a +beast by moouing of his feete, but rather sliding vpon the water with his +whole body (excepting the legs) in sight, neither yet diuing vnder, and +againe rising aboue the water, as the maner is, of Whales, Dolphins, +Tunise, Torposes, and all other fish: but confidently shewing himselfe +aboue water without hiding: Notwithstanding, we presented our selues in +open view and gesture to amase him, as all creatures will be commonly at a +sudden gaze and sight of men. Thus he passed along turning his head to and +fro, yawning and gaping wide, with ougly demonstration of long teeth, and +glaring eies, and to bidde vs a farewell (comming right against the Hinde) +he sent forth a horrible voyce, roaring or bellowing as doeth a lion, which +spectacle wee all beheld so farre as we were able to discerne the same, as +men prone to wonder at euery strange thing, as this doubtlesse was, to see +a lion in the Ocean sea, or fish in shape of a lion. What opinion others +had thereof, and chiefly the Generall himselfe, I forbeare to deliuer: But +he tooke it for Bonum Omen, reioycing that he was to warre against such an +enemie, if it were the deuill. + +The wind was large for England at our returne, but very high, and the sea +rough, insomuch as the Frigat wherein the Generall went was almost swalowed +vp. + +[Sidenote: September 2.] Munday in the afternoone we passed in the sight of +Cape Race, hauing made as much way in little more then two dayes and nights +backe againe, as before wee had done in eight dayes from Cape Race, vnto +the place where our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed +back againe, is to be imputed vnto the swift current, as well as to the +winds, which we had more large in our returne. + +This Munday the Generall came aboord the Hind to haue the Surgeon of the +Hind to dresse his foote, which he hurt by treading vpon a naile: At what +time we comforted ech other with hope of hard successe to be all past, and +of the good to come. So agreeing to cary out lights alwayes by night, that +we might keepe together, he departed into his Frigat, being by no meanes to +be intreated to tarie in the Hind, which had bene more for his security. +Immediatly after followed a sharpe storme, which we ouerpassed for that +time. Praysed be God. + +[Sidenote: Our last conference with our Generall.] The weather faire, the +Generall came aboord the Hind againe, to make merrie together with the +Captaine, Master and company which was the last meeting, and continued +there from morning untill night. During which time there passed sundry +discourses, touching affaires past, and to come, lamenting greatly the +losse of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all of his bookes and +notes, and what els I know not, for which hee was out of measure grieued, +the same doubtles being some matter of more importance then his bookes, +which I could not draw from him: yet by circumstance I gathered, the same +to be the Ore which Daniel the Saxon had brought vnto him in the New found +land. [Sidenote: Circumstances to be well obserued in our Generall, +importing the Ore to be of a Siluer mine.] Whatsoeuer it was, the +remembrance touched him so deepe, as not able to containe himselfe, he beat +his boy in great rage, euen at the same time, so long after the miscarrying +of the great ship, because vpon a faire day, when wee were becalmed vpon +the coast of the New found land, neere vnto Cape Race, he sent his boy +aboord the Admirall, to fetch certaine things: amongst which, this being +chiefe, was yet forgotten and left behind. After which time he could neuer +conueniently send againe aboord the great ship, much lesse hee doubted her +ruine so neere at hand. + +Herein my opinion was better confirmed diursely, and by sundry coniectures, +which maketh me haue the greater hope of this rich Mine. For where as the +Generall had neuer before good conceit of these North parts of the world: +now his mind was wholly fixed vpon the New found land. And as before he +refused not to grant assignements liberally to them that required the same +into these North parts, now he became contrarily affected, refusing to make +any so large grants, especially of S. Iohns, which certaine English +merchants made suite for, offering to imploy their money and trauell vpon +the same: yet neither by their owne suite, nor of others of his owne +company, whom he seemed willing to pleasure, it could be obtained. + +Also laying downe his determination in the Spring following, for disposing +of his voyage then to be reattempted: he assigned the Captaine and Master +of the Golden Hind, vnto the South discouery, and reserued vnto himselfe +the North, affirming that this voyage had wonne his heart from the South, +and that he was now become a Northerne man altogether. + +Last, being demanded what means he had at his arriuall in England, to +compasse the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the +next Spring: hauing determined vpon two fleetes, one for the South, another +for the North: Leaue that to mee (hee replied) I will aske a pennie of no +man. I will bring good tidings vnto her Maiesty, who wil be so gracious, to +lend me 10000 pounds, willing vs therefore to be of good cheere: for he did +thanke God (he sayd) with al his heart, for that he had seene, the same +being enough for vs all, and that we needed not to seeke any further. And +these last words he would often repeate, with demonstration of great +feruencie of mind, being himselfe very confident, and setled in beliefe of +inestimable good by his voyage: which the greater number of his followers +neuertheles mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those +secrets, which the Generall kept vnto himselfe. Yet all of them that are +liuing, may be witnesses of his words and protestations, which sparingly I +have deliuered. + +Leauing the issue of this good hope vnto God, who knoweth the trueth only, +and can at his good pleasure bring the same to light: I will hasten to the +end of this tragedie, which must be knit vp in the person of our Generall. +[Sidenote: Wilfulnes in the Generall.] And as it was Gods ordinance vpon +him, euen so the vehement perswasion and intreatie of his friends could +nothing auaile, to diuert him from a wilfull resolution of going through in +his Frigat, which was ouercharged vpon their deckes, with fights, nettings, +and small artillerie, too cumbersome for so small a boate, that was to +passe through the Ocean sea at that season of the yere, when by course we +might expect much storme of foule weather, whereof indeed we had enough. + +[Sidenote: A token of a good mind.] But when he was intreated by the +Captaine, Master, and other his well willers of the Hinde, not to venture +in the Frigat, this was his answere: I will not forsake my little company +going homeward, with whom I haue passed so many stormes and perils. And in +very trueth, hee was vrged to be so ouer hard, by hard reports giuen of +him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was rather rashnes, then +aduised resolution, to preferre the wind of a vaine report to the weight of +his owne life. + +Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had prouision out of the Hinde, such +as was wanting aboord his Frigat. And so we committed him to Gods +protection, and set him aboord his Pinnesse, we being more then 300 leagues +onward of our way home. + +By that time we had brought the Islands of Açores South of vs, yet wee then +keeping much to the North, vntill we had got into the height and eleuation +of England: we met with very foule weather, and terrible seas, breaking +short and high Pyramid wise. The reason whereof seemed to proceede either +of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, (as we see hilles and dales +vpon the land) vpon which the seas doe mount and fall: or else the cause +proceedeth of diuersitie of winds, shifting often in sundry points: al +which hauing power to moue the great Ocean, which againe is not presently +setled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had bene diuersitie of +windes. Howsoeuer it commeth to passe, men which all their life time had +occupied the Sea, neuer saw more outragious Seas. We had also vpon our +maine yard, an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen doe call +Castor and Pollux. But we had onely one, which they take an euill signe of +more tempest: the same is vsuall in stormes. + +[Sidenote: A resolute and Christianlike saying in a distresse.] Munday the +ninth of September, in the afternoone, the Frigat was neere cast away, +oppressed by waues, yet at that time recouered: and giuing foorth signes of +ioy, the Generall sitting abaft with a booke in his hand, cried out vnto vs +in the Hind (so oft as we did approch within hearing) We are as neere to +heauen by sea as by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a +souldier, resolute in Iesus Christ, as I can testifie he was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned.] The same Monday night, about +twelue of the clocke, or not long after, the Frigat being ahead of vs in +the Golden Hinde, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as it were in a +moment, we lost the sight, and withall our watch cryed, the Generall was +cast away, which was so true. For in that moment, the Frigat was deuoured +and swallowed vp of the Sea. Yet still we looked out all that night, and +euer after, vntill wee arriued vpon the coast of England: Omitting no small +saile at sea, vnto which we gaue not the tokens betweene vs, agreed vpon, +to haue perfect knowledge of each other, if we should at any time be +separated. + +[Sidenote: Arriuall in England of the Golden Hinde.] In great torment of +weather, and perill of drowning, it pleased God to send safe home the +Golden Hinde, which arriued in Falmouth, the 22 day of September, being +Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flaw, comming from the +Southeast, with such thicke mist, that we could not discerne land, to put +in right with the Hauen. + +From Falmouth we went to Dartmouth, and lay there at anker before the +Range, while the captaine went aland, to enquire if there had bene any +newes of the Frigat, while sayling well, might happily haue bene there +before vs. [Sidenote: A fit motion of the Captain vnto Sir Humfrey +Gilbert.] Also to certifie Sir Iohn Gilbert, brother vnto the Generall of +our hard successe, whom the Captaine desired (while his men were yet aboord +him, and were witnesses of all occurents in that voyage,) It might please +him to take the examination of euery person particularly, in discharge of +his and their faithfull endeauour. Sir Iohn Gilbert refused so to doe, +holding himselfe satisfied with report made by the Captaine: and not +altogether dispairing of his brothers safetie, offered friendship and +curtesie to the Captaine and his company, requiring to haue his barke +brought into the harbour: in furtherance whereof, a boate was sent to helpe +to tow her in. + +Neuerthelesse, when the Captaine returned aboord his ship, he found his men +bent to depart, euery man to his home: and then the winde seruing to +proceede higher vpon the coast: they demanded monie to carie them home, +some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, (if the barke should be +caried into Dartmouth, and they discharged, so farre from home) or else to +take benefite of the wind, then seruing to draw neerer home, which should +be a lesse charge vnto the Captaine, and great ease vnto the men, hauing +els farre to goe. + +Reason accompanied with necessitie perswaded the Captaine, who sent his +lawfull excuse and cause of his sudden departure vnto Sir Iohn Gilbert, by +the boate at Dartmouth, and from thence the Golden Hind departed, and tooke +harbour at Waimouth. [Sidenote: An ill recompense.] Al the men tired with +the tediousnes of so vnprofitable a voyage to their seeming: in which their +long expence of time, much toyle and labour, hard diet and continuall +hazard of life was vnrecompensed: their Captaine neuerthelesse by his great +charges, impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in the goodnes of God, and +his vndoubted prouidence following him in all that voyage, as it doth +alwaies those at other times, whosoeuer haue confidence in him alone. Yet +haue we more neere feeling and perseuerance of his powerfull hand and +protection, when God doth bring vs together with others into one same +peril, in which he leaueth them, and deliuereth vs, making vs thereby the +beholders, but not partakers of their ruine. + +Euen so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, +conspiracies, sicknesses, mortalitie, spoylings, and wracks by sea, which +were afflictions, more then in so small a Fleete, or so short a time may be +supposed, albeit true in euery particularitie, as partly by the former +relation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for their +sakes liuing, it pleased God to support this company, (of which onely one +man died of a maladie inueterate, and long infested): the rest kept +together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and +ending the voyage, which none els did accomplish, either not pleased with +the action, or impatient of wants, or preuented by death. + +[Sidenote: Constancie in sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Thus haue I deliuered the +contents of the enterprise and last action of sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, +faithfully, for so much as I thought meete to be published: wherein may +alwaies appeare, (though he be extinguished) some sparkes of his vertues, +he remaining firme and resolute in a purpose by all pretence honest and +godly, as was this, to discouer, possesse, and to reduce vnto the seruice +of God, and Christian pietie, those remote and heathen Countreys of +America, not actually possessed by Christians, and most rightly +appertaining vnto the Crowne of England: vnto the which, as his zeale +deserueth high commendation: euen so, he may iustly be taxed of temeritie +and presumption (rather) in two respects. + +[Sidenote: His temeritie and presumption.] First, when yet there was onely +probabilitie, not a certaine and determinate place of habitation selected, +neither any demonstration of commoditie there in esse, to induce his +followers: neuertheles, he both was too prodigall of his owne patrimony, +and too careles of other mens expences, to imploy both his and their +substance vpon a ground imagined good. The which falling, very like his +associates were promised, and made it their best reckoning to bee salued +some other way, which pleased not God to prosper in his first and great +preparation. + +Secondly, when by his former preparation he was enfeebled of abilitie and +credit, to performe his designements, as it were impatient to abide in +expectation better opportunitie and meanes, which God might raise, he +thrust himselfe againe into the action, for which he was not fit, presuming +the cause pretended on Gods behalfe, would carie him to the desired ende. +Into which, hauing thus made reentrie, he could not yeeld againe to +withdraw though hee sawe no encouragement to proceed, lest his credite, +foyled in his first attempt, in a second should vtterly be disgraced. +Betweene extremities, hee made a right aduenture, putting all to God and +good fortune, and which was worst refused not to entertaine euery person +and meanes whatsoeuer, to furnish out this expedition, the successe whereof +hath bene declared. + +But such is the infinite bountie of God, who from euery euill deriueth +good. [Sidenote: Afflictions needfull in the children of God.] For besides +that fruite may growe in time of our trauelling into those Northwest lands, +the crosses, turmoiles, and afflictions, both in the preparation and +execution of this voyage, did correct the intemperate humors, which before +we noted to bee in this Gentleman, and made vnsauorie, and lesse delightful +his other manifold vertues. + +Then as he was refined, and made neerer drawing vnto the image of God: so +it pleased the diuine will to resume him vnto himselfe, whither both his, +and euery other high and noble minde, haue alwayes aspired. + + * * * * * + +Ornatissimo viro, Magistro Richard Hakluyto Oxonij in Collegio ædis + Christi, Artium et Philosophiæ Magistro, amico, et fratri suo. + +S. Non statueram ad te scribere, cùm in mentem veniret promissum literarum +tuarum. Putabas te superiore iam Iunio nos subsecuturum. Itaque de meo +statu ex doctore Humfredo certiorem te fieri iusseram. Verùm sic tibi non +esset satisfactum. Itaque scribam ad te ijsdem ferè verbis, quia noua +meditari et [Greek: sunonumixein] mihi hoc tempore non vacat. Vndecimo +Iunij ex Anglia reuera tandem et seriò soluimus, portu et terra apud +Plemuthum simul relictis. Classis quinque nauibus constabat: maxima, quam +[Marginal note: Dominus Ralegh.] frater Amiralij accommodauerat, ignotum +quo comsilio, statim tertio die à nobis se subduxit. Reliqui perpetuò +coniunctim nauigauimus ad. 23. Iulij, quo tempore magnis nebulis intercepto +aspectu alij aliam viam tenuimus: nobis seorsim prima terra apparuit ad +Calendas Augusti, ad gradum circiter 50. cùm vltrà 41. paucis ante diebus +descendissemus spe Australium ventorum, qui tamen nobis suo tempore nunquam +spirauêre. [Sidenote: Insula penguin.] Insula est ea, quam vestri Penguin +vocant, ab auium eiusdem nominis multitudine. Nos tamen nec aues vidimus, +nec insulam accessimus, ventis aliò vocantibus. Cæterùm conuenimus omnes in +eundum locum paulò ante portum in quem communi consilio omnibus veniendum +erat, idqúe intra duas horas, magna Dei benignitate et nostro gaudio. Locus +situs est in Newfoundlandia, inter 47. et 48. gradum, Diuum Ioannem vocant. +Ipse Admiralius proter multitudinem hominum et angustiam nauis paulò +afflictiorem comitatum habuit et iam duos dysentericis fioloribus amisit: +de cæteris bona spes est. Ex nostris (nam ego me Mauricio Browno verè +generoso iuueni me coniunxeram) duo etiam casu quodam submersi sunt. Cæteri +salui et longè firmiores. Ego nunquam sanior. In hunc locum tertio Augusti +appulimus: quinto autem ipse Admiralius has regiones in suam et regni +Angliæ possessionem potestatemque vendicauit, latis quibusdam legibus de +religione et obsequio Reginæ Angliæ. Reficimur hoc tempore paulò hilariùs +et lautiùs. Certè enim et qualibus ventis vsi simus, et quàm fessi esse +potuerimus tam longi temporis ratio docuerit, proinde nihil nobis deerit. +Nam extra Anglos, 20 circiter naues Lusitanicas et Hispanicas nacti in hoc +loco sumus: eæ nobis impares non patientur nas esurire. Angli etsi satis +firmi, et à nobis tuli, authoritate regij diplomatis omni obsequio et +humanitate prosequuntur. Nunc narrandi erant mores, regiones, et populi. +Cæterùm quid narrem mi Hakluyte, quando præter solitudinem nihil video? +Piscium inexhausta copia: inde huc commeantibus magnus quæstus. Vix hamus +fumdum attigit, illicò insigni aliquo onustus est. Terra vniuersa [Marginal +note: In the south side of Newefoundland, there is store of plaine and +champion Countrey, as Richard Clarke found.] montana et syluestris: arbores +vt plurimùm pinus: ex partim consenuêre, partim nunc adolescunt: magna pars +vetustate collapsa, et aspectum terræ, et iter euntium ita impedit, vt +nusquam progredi liceat. Herbæ omnes proceræ: sed rarò à nostris diuersæ. +Natura videtur velle niti etiam ad generandum frumentum. Inueni enim +gramina, et spicas in similitudinem secales: et facilè cultura et satione +in vsum humanum assuefieri posse videntur. Rubi in syluis vel potiùs fraga +arborescentia magna suauitate. Vrsi circa tuguria nonnunquam apparent, et +conficiuntur: sed albi sunt, vt mihi ex peliibus coniicere licuit, et +minores quàm nostri. Populus an vllus sit in hac regione incertum est: Nec +vllum vidi qui testari posset. Et quis quæso posset, cùm ad longum progredi +non liceat? Nee minùs ignotum est an aliquid metalli sub sit montibus. +Causa eadem est, etsi aspectus eorum mineras latentes præ se ferat. Nos +Admiralio authores fuimus syluas incendere, quo ad inspiciendam regionem +spacium pateret: nec displicebat illi consilium, si non magnum incommodum +allaturum videretur. [Sidenote: The great heate of the sunne in summer.] +Confirmatum est enim ab idoneis hominibus, cum casu quopiam in alia nescio +qua statione id accidisset, septennium totum pisces non comparuisse, ex +acerbata maris vnda ex terebynthina, quæ conflagrantibus arboribus per +riuulos defluebat. Coelum hoc anni tempore ita feruidum est, vt nisi +pisces, qui arefiunt ad solem, assidui inuertantur, ab adustione defendi +non possint. Hyeme quàm frigidum sit, magnæ moles glaciei in medio mari nos +docuere. Relatum est à comitibus mense Maio sexdecim totos dies interdum se +inter tantam glaciem hæsisse, vt 60. orgyas altæ essent insulæ: quarum +latera soli apposita cum liquescerent, liberatione quadam vniuersam molem +ita inuersam, vt quòd ante pronum erat, supinum euaderet, magno præsentium +discrimine, vt consentaneum est. Aer in terra mediocriter clarus est: ad +orientem supra mare perpetuæ nebulæ: Et in ipso mari circa Bancum (sic +vocant locum vbi quadraginta leucis à terra fundus attingitur, et pisces +capi incipiunt) nullus ferme dies absque pluuia. Expeditis nostris +necessitatibus in hoc loco, in Austrum (Deo iuuante) progrediemur, tantò +indies maiori spe, quò plura de iis quas petimus regionibus commemorantur. +Hæc de nostris. Cupio de vobis scire: sed metuo ne incassum. Imprimis autem +quomodo Vntonus meus absentiam meam ferat, præter modum intelligere velim: +Habebit nostrum obsequium et officium paratum, quandiu vixerimus. Reuera +autem spero, hanc nostram peregrinationem ipsius instituo vsui futuram. +Nunc restat, vt me tuum putes, et quidem ita tuum, vt neminem magis. Iuuet +dei filius labores nostros eatenus, vt tu quoque participare possis. Vale +amicissime, suauissime, onrnatissime Hakluyle, et nos ama. In Newfundlandia +apud portum Sancti Iohannis 6. Augusti 1583. + +STEPHANVS PARMENIVS +Budeius, tuus. + + +The same in English. + +To the worshipfull, Master Richard Hakluit at Oxford in Christchurch Master + of Arts, and Philosophie, his friend and brother. + +I had not purposed to write vnto you, when the promise of your letters came +to my mind: You thought in Iune last to haue followed vs your selfe, and +therefore I had left order that you should be aduertised of my state, by +Master Doctor Humfrey: but so you would not be satisfied: I will write +therefore to you almost in the same words, because I haue no leasure at +this time, to meditate new matters, and to vary or multiply words. + +The 11. of Iune we set saile at length from England in good earnest, and +departed leauing the hauen and land behind vs at Plimmouth: our Fleete +consisted of fiue shippes: the greatest, which the Admirals brother had +lent vs, withdrew her selfe from vs the third day, wee know not vpon what +occassion: with the rest we sailed still together till the 23 of Iuly: at +which time our view of one another being intercepted by the great mists, +some of vs sailed one way, and some another: to vs alone the first land +appeared, the first of August, about the latitude of 50. degrees, when as +before we had descended beyond 41 degrees in hope of some Southerly windes, +which notwithstanding neuer blew to vs at any fit time. + +It is an Island which your men call Penguin, because of the multitude of +birdes of the same name. Yet wee neither sawe any birds, nor drew neere to +the land, the winds seruing for our course directed to another place, but +wee mette altogether at that place a little before the Hauen, whereunto by +common Councell we had determined to come, and that within the space of two +houres by the great goodnesse of God, and to our great ioy. The place is +situate in Newfound land, betweene 47. and 48. degres called by the name of +Saint Iohns: the Admirall himselfe by reason of the multitude of the men, +and the smalnesse of his ship, had his company somewhat sickly, and had +already lost two of the same company, which died of the Flixe: of the rest +we conceiue good hope. Of our company (for I ioyned my selfe with Maurice +Browne, a very proper Gentleman) two persons by a mischance were drowned, +the rest are in safetie, and strong; for mine owne part I was neuer more +healthy. Wee arriued at this place the third of August: and the fift the +Admirall tooke possession of the Countrey, for himselfe and the kingdome of +England: hauing made and published certaine Lawes, concerning religion, and +obedience to the Queene of England: at this time our fare is somewhat +better, and dantier, then it was before: for in good sooth, the experience +of so long time hath taught vs what contrary winds wee haue found, and what +great trauell wee may endure hereafter: and therefore wee will take such +order, that wee will want nothing: for we found in this place about twenty +Portugall and Spanish shippes, besides the shippes of the English: which +being not able to match vs, suffer vs not to bee hunger starued: the +English although they were of themselues strong ynough, and safe from our +force, yet seeing our authoritie, by the Queenes letters patents, they +shewed vs all maner of duety and humanitie. + +The maner of this Countrey and people remaine now to be spoken of. But what +shall I say, my good Hakluyt, when I see nothing but a very wildernesse: Of +fish here is incredible abundance, whereby great gaine growes to them, that +trauell to these parts: the hooke is no sooner throwne out, but it is +eftsoones drawne vp with some goodly fish: the whole land is full of hilles +and woods. The trees for the most part are Pynes and of them some are very +olde, and some yong: a great part of them being fallen by reason of their +age, doth so hinder the sight of the land, and stoppe the ways of those +that seeke to trauell, that they can goe no whither: all the grasse here is +long, and tall, and little differeth from ours. It seemeth also that the +nature of this soyle is fit for corne: for I found certaine blades and +eares in a manner bearded, so that it appeareth that by manuring and +sowing, they may easily be framed for the vse of man: here are in the +woodes bush berries, or rather straw berries growing vp like trees, of +great sweetnesse. Beares also appeare about the fishers stages of the +Countrey, and are sometimes killed, but they seeme to bee white, as I +conjectured by their skinnes, and somewhat lesse then ours. Whether there +bee any people in the Countrey I knowe not, neither haue I seene any to +witnesse it. And to say trueth, who can, when as it is not possible to +passe any whither: In like sort it is vnknowne, whither any mettals lye +vnder the hilles: the cause is all one, although the very colour and hue of +the hilles seeme to haue some Mynes in them: we mooued the Admirall to set +the woods a fire, that so wee might haue space, and entrance to take view +of the Countrey, which motion did nothing displease him, were it not for +feare of great inconuenience that might thereof insue: for it was reported +and confirmed by very credible persons, that when the like happened by +chance in another Port, the fish neuer came to the place about it, for the +space of 7. whole yeeres after, by reason of the waters made bitter by the +Turpentine, and Rosen of the trees, which ranne into the riuers vpon the +firing of them. The weather is so hote this time of the yeere, that except +the very fish, which is layd out to be dryed by the sunne, be euery day +turned, it cannot possibly bee preserued from burning; but how cold it is +in the winter, the great heapes, and mountaines of yce, in the middest of +the Sea haue taught vs: some of our company report, that in May, they were +sometimes kept in, with such huge yce, for 16. whole dayes together, as +that the Islands thereof were threescore fathoms thicke, the sides whereof +which were toward the Sunne, when they were melted, the whole masse or +heape was so inuened and turned in maner of balancing, that that part which +was before downeward rose vpward, to the great perill of those that are +neere them, as by reason wee may gather. The ayre vpon land is indifferent +cleare, but at Sea towards the East there is nothing els but perpetuall +mists, and in the Sea it selfe, about the Banke (for so they call the place +where they find ground fourty leagues distant from the shore, and where +they beginne to fish) there is no day without raine. When we haue serued, +and supplied our necessitie in this place, we purpose by the helpe of God +to passe towards the South, with so much the more hope every day, by how +much the greater the things are, that are reported of those Countreys, +which we go to discouer. Thus much touching our estate. + +Now I desire to know somewhat concerning you, but I feare in vaine, but +specially I desire out of measure to know how my Patrone master Henry +Vmptom doth take my absence: my obedience, and duetie shall alwayes bee +ready toward him as long as I liue: but in deede I hope, that this iourney +of ours shalbe profitable to his intentions. It remaineth that you thinke +me to be still yours, and so yours as no mans more. The sonne of God blesse +all our labors, so farre, as that you your selfe may be partaker of our +blessing. Adieu, my most friendly, most sweete, most vertuous Hakluyt: In +Newfound land, at Saint Iohns Port, the 6. of August, 1583. + +STEVEN PARMENIVS of +Buda, yours. + + * * * * * + +A relation of Richard Clarke of Weymouth, master of the ship called the + Delight, going for the discouery of Norembega, with Sir Humfrey Gilbert + 1583. Written in excuse of that fault of casting away the ship and men, + imputed to his ouersight. + +Departing out of Saint Iohns Harborough in the Newfound land the 20. of +August vnto Cape Raz, from thence we directed our course vnto the Ile of +Sablon or the Isle of Sand, which the Generall Sir Humfrey Gilbert would +willingly haue seene. [Sidenote: 20 Leagues from the Isle of Sablon.] But +when we came within twentie leagues of the Isle of Sablon, we fell to +controuersie of our course. The Generall came vp in his Frigot and demanded +of mee Richard Clarke master of the Admirall what course was best to keepe: +I said that Westsoutwest was best: because the wind was at South and night +at hand and vnknowen sands lay off a great way from the land. The Generall +commanded me to go Westnorthwest. [Sidenote: 15 Leagues from the Isle of +Sablon.] I told him againe that the Isle of Salon was Westnorthwest and but +15. leagues off; and that he should be vpon the Island before day, if hee +went that course. The Generall sayd, my reckoning was vntrue, and charged +me in her Maiesties name, and as I would shewe myselfe in her Countrey to +follow him that night. [Sidenote: Herin Clarke vntruely chargeth sir +Humfrey Gilbert.] I fearing his threatenings, because he presented her +Maiesties person, did follow his commaundement, and about seuen of the +clocke in the morning the ship stroke on ground, where shee was cast away. +Then the Generall went off to Sea, the course that I would haue had them +gone before, and saw the ship cast away men and all, and was not able to +saue a man, for there was not water vpon the sand for either of them much +lesse the Admirall, that drew fourteene foote. [Sidenote: The ship cast +away on Thursday being the 29 of August 1583.] Now as God would the day +before it was very calme, and a Souldier of the ship had killed some foule +with his piece, and some of the company desired me that they might hoyse +out the boat to recouer the foule, which I granted them: and when they came +aboord they did not hoyse it in againe that night. And when the ship was +cast away the boate was a sterne being in burthen one tunne and an halfe: +there was left in the boate one oare and nothing els. Some of the company +could swimme, and recouered the boate and did hale in out of the water as +many men as they coulde: among the rest they had a care to watch for the +Captaine or the Master: They happened on my selfe being the master, but +could neuer see the Captaine: [Sidenote: Sixteene gate into the shipboate.] +Then they halled into the boate as many men as they could in number 16. +whose names hereafter I will rehearse. And when the 16. were in the boate, +some had small remembrance, and some had none: for they did not make +account to liue, but to prolong their liues as long as it pleased God, and +looked euery moment of an houre when the Sea would eate them vp, the boate +being so little and so many men in her, and so foule weather, that it was +not possible for a shippe to brooke halfe a course of sayle. Thus while wee +remayned two dayes and two nights, and that wee saw it pleased God our +boate liued in the Sea (although we had nothing to helpe vs withall but one +oare, which we kept vp the boate withall vpon the Sea, and so went euen as +the Sea would driue vs) there was in our company one Master Hedly that put +foorth this question to me the Master. [Sidenote: Master Hedlyes vngodly +proposition.] I doe see that it doth please God, that our boate lyueth in +the Sea, and it may please God that some of vs may come to the land if our +boate were not ouerladen. Let vs make sixteene lots, and those foure that +haue the foure shortest lots we will cast ouerboord preseruing the Master +among vs all. I replied vnto him, saying, no we will liue and die together. +Master Hedley asked me if my remembrance were good: I answered I gaue God +prayse it was good, and knewe how farre I was off the land, and was in hope +to come to the land within two or three dayes, and sayde they were but +threescore leagues from the lande, (when they were seuentie) all to put +them in comfort. Thus we continued the third and fourth day without any +sustenance, saue onely the weedes that swamme in the Sea, and salt water to +drinke. The fifth day Hedly dyed and another moreouer: then wee desired all +to die: for in all these fiue dayes and fiue nights we saw the Sunne but +once and the Starre but one night, it was so foule weather. Thus we did +remaine the sixt day: then we were very weake and wished all to die sauing +only my selfe which did comfort them and promised they should come soone to +lande by the helpe of God: but the company were very importunate, and were +in doubt they should neuer come to land, but that I promised them that the +seuenth day they should come to shore, or els they should cast me ouer +boord: [Sidenote: They came on land the 7 day after their shipwracke.] +which did happen true the seuenth day, for at eleuen of the clocke wee had +sight of the land, and at 3. of the clocke at afternoone we came on land. +All these seuen dayes and seuen nights, the wind kept continually South. If +the wind had in the meanetime shifted vpon any other point, wee had neuer +come to land: we were no sooner come to the land, but the wind came cleane +contrary at North within halfe an houre after our arriuall. But we were so +weake that one could scarcely helpe another of vs out of the boate, yet +with much adoe being come all on shore we kneeled downe ypon our knees and +gaue God praise that he had dealt so mercifully with vs. Afterwards those +which were strongest holpe their fellowes vnto a fresh brooke, where we +satisfied our selues with water and berries very well. [Sidenote: The +fruitfulnesse of the south part of Newfound land.] There were of al sorts +of berries plentie, and as goodly a Countrey as euer I saw: we found a very +faire plaine Champion ground that a man might see very farre euery way: by +the Sea side was here and there a little wood with goodly trees as good as +euer I saw any in Norway, able to mast any shippe, of pyne trees, spruse +trees, firre, and very great birch trees. Where we came on land we made a +little house with boughes, where we rested all that night. In the morning I +deuided the company three and three to goe euery way to see what foode they +could find to sustaine thenselues, and appointed them to meete there all +againe at noone with such foode as they could get. As we went aboord we +found great store of peason as good as any wee haue in England: a man would +thinke they had bene sowed there. We rested there three dayes and three +nights and liued very well with pease and berries, wee named the place +Saint Laurence, because it was a very goodly riuer like the riuer of S. +Laurence in Canada, and we found it very full of Salmons. When wee had +rested our selues wee rowed our boate along the shore, thinking to haue +gone to the Grande Bay to haue come home with some Spanyards which are +yeerely there to kill the Whale: And when we were hungry or a thirst we put +our boate on land and gathered pease and berries. Thus wee rowed our boate +along the shore fiue dayes: about which time we came to a very goodly riuer +that ranne farre vp into the Countrey and saw very goodly growen trees of +all sortes. [Sidenote: Foureteen of our men brought out of Newfound land in +a ship of S. Iohn de Luz.] There we happened vpon a ship of Saint Iohn de +Luz, which ship brought vs into Biskay to an Harborough called The Passage. +The Master of the shippe was our great friend, or else we had bene put to +death if he had not kept our counsayle. For when the visitors came aboord, +as it is the order in Spaine, they demanding what we were, he sayd we were +poore fishermen that had cast away our ship in Newfound land and so the +visitors inquired no more of the matter at that time. Assoone as night was +come he put vs on land and bad vs shift for our selues. Then had wee but +tenne or twelue miles into France, which we went that night, and then cared +not for the Spanyard. And so shortly after we came into England toward the +end of the yeere 1583. + + * * * * * + +A true report of the late discoueries, and possession taken in the right of + the Crowne of England of the Newfound lands, By that valiant and worthy + Gentlemen, Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight. + +Wherein is also briefly set downe, her highnesse lawfull Title thereunto, + and the great and manifold commodities, that are likely to grow therby, + to the whole Realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular: + Together with the easinesse and shortness of the Voyage. + +Written by Sir George Peckham Knight, the chiefe aduenturer and furtherer + of Sir Humfrey Gilberts voyage to Newfound Land. + +The first Part, wherein the Argument of the Booke is contained. + +[Sidenote: Master Edward Hays.] It was my fortune (good Reader) not many +dayes past, to meete with a right honest and discreete Gentleman, who +accompanied that valiant and worthy Knight Sir Humfrey Gilbert, in this +last iourney for the Westerne discoueries, and is owner and Captaine of the +onely vessell which is as yet returned from thence. + +By him I vnderstand that Sir Humfrey departed the coast of England the +eleuenth of Iune last past, with fiue sayle of Shippes, from Caushen bay +neere Plimmouth, whereof one of the best forsooke his company, the +thirteenth day of the same moneth, and returned into England. + +The other foure (through the assistance of Almighty God) did arriue at +Saint Iohns Hauen, in Newfoundland, the 3. of August last. [Sidenote: Sir +Humfrey Gilbert did arriue at Saint Iohn's Hauen in Newfound land, the 3. +of August, Anno 1583.] Vpon whose arriuall all the Masters and chiefe +Mariners of the English Fleet, which were in the said Hauen, before +endeuouring to fraight themselues with fish, repaired vnto Sir Humfrey, +whom he made acquainted with the effect of his Commission: which being +done, he promised to intreat them and their goods well and honourably as +did become her Maiesties Lieutenant. They did all welcome him in the best +sort that they could, and shewed him and his all such courtesies as the +place could affoord or yeelde. + +Then he went to view the Countrey, being well accompanied with most of his +Captaines and souldiers. [Sidenote: Among these there was found the tract +of a beast of 7. ynches and 2 halfe ouer.]They found the same very +temperate, but somewhat warmer then England at that season of the yeere, +replenished with Beasts and great store of Foule of diuers kinds: And Fish +of sundry sortes, both in the salt water, and in the fresh, in so great +plentie as might suffice to victuall an Armie, and they are very easily +taken. What sundry other commodities for this Realme right neccssarie, the +same doeth yeelde, you shall vnderstand in this treatise hereafter, in +place more conuenient. + +On Munday being the fifth of August, the Generall caused his tent to be set +vpon the side of an hill, in the vieweof all the Fleete of English men and +strangers, which were in number betweene thirtie and fourtie sayle: then +being accompanied with all his Captaines, Masters, Gentlemen and other +souldiers, he caused all the Masters, and principall Officers of the ships, +aswell Englishmen as Spanyards, Portugales, and of other nations, to +repayre vnto his tent: [Sidenote: Sir Humfrey tooke possession of the +Newfound land in right of the Crowne of England.] And then and there, in +the presence of them all, he did cause his Commission vnder the great scale +of England to bee openly and solemnely read vnto them, whereby were granted +vnto him, his heires, and assignes, by the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, +many great and large royalties, liberties, and priueledges. The effect +whereof being signified vnto the strangers by an Interpreter, hee tooke +possession of the sayde land in the right of the Crowne of England by +digging of a Turffe and receiuing the same with an Hassell wand, deliuered +vnto him, after the maner of the law and custome of England. + +Then he signified vnto the company both strangers and others, that from +thencefoorth, they were to liue in that land, as the Territories +appertayning to the Crowne of England, and to be gouerned by such lawes as +by good aduise should be set downe, which in all points (so neere as might +be) should be agreeable to the Lawes of England: And for to put the same in +execution, presently be ordained and established three Lawes. + +[Sidenote: Three lawes established there by Sir Humfrey.] First, that +Religion publiquely exercised, should be such, and none other, then is vsed +in the Church of England. The second, that if any person should bee +lawfully conuicted of any practise against her Maiestie, her Crowne and +dignitie, to be adiudged as traitors according to the lawes of England. + +The third, if any should speake dishonourably of her Maiestie, the partie +so offending, to loose his eares, his ship and goods, to be confiscate to +the vse of the Generall. + +All men did very willingly submit themselues to these lawes. Then he caused +the Queenes Majesties Armes to be ingraued, set vp, and erected with great +solemnitie. [Sidenote: Sundry persons became Tenants to Sir Humfrey and doe +mainteine possession for him in diuers places there.] After this, diuers +Englishmen made sute vnto Sir Humfrey to haue of him by inheritance, their +accustomed stages, standings, and drying places, in sundry places of that +land for their fish, as a thing they doe make great accompt of, which he +granted vnto them in fee farme. And by this meanes he hath possession +maintained for him, in many parts of that Countrey. To be briefe, he did +let, set, giue and dispose of many things, as absolute Gouernour there, by +vertue of her Maiesties letters patents. + +And after their ships were repaired, whereof one he was driuen to leaue +behind, both for want of men sufficient to furnish her, as also to carrie +home such sicke persons as were not able to proceede any further: He +departed from thence the 20 of August, with the other three, namely, the +Delight, wherein was appointed Captaine in M. William Winters place, (that +thence returned immediatly for England) M. Maurice Browne: the Golden +Hinde, in which was Captaine and owner, M. Edward Hays: and the little +Frigat where the Generall himselfe did goe seeming to him most fit to +discouer and approch the shore. + +The 21 day they came to Cape Race, toward the South partes whereof, lying a +while becalmed, they tooke Cod in largness and quantitie, exceeding the +other parts of Newfound land, where any of them had bene. And from thence, +trending the coast West toward the Bay of Placentia, the Generall sent +certaine men a shore, to view the Countrey, which to them as they sayled +along, seemed pleasant. Whereof his men at their returne gaue great +commendation, liking so well of the place, as they would willingly haue +stayed and wintred there. But hauing the wind faire and good, they +proceeded on their course towards the firme of America, which by reason of +continuall fogs, at that time of the yeere especially, they could neuer +see, till Cox Master of the Golden Hinde did discerne land, and presently +lost sight thereof againe, at what time they were all vpon a breach in a +great and outragious storme, hauing vnder 3. fathome water. But God +deliuered the Frigat and the Golden Hind, from this great danger. And the +Delight in the presence of them all was lost, to their vnspeakable griefe, +with all their chiefe victuall, munition, and other necessary prouisions, +and other things of value not fit here to be named. Whereupon, by reason +also that Winter was come vpon them, and foule weather increased with fogs +and mists that so couered the land, as without danger of perishing they +could not approch it: Sir Humfrey Gilbert and M. Hays were compelled much +against their willes to retyre homewards: And being 300. leagues on their +way, were after by tempestuous weather separated the one from the other, +the ninth of September last, since which time M. Hays with his Barke is +safely arriued, but of Sir Humfrey as yet they heare no certaine newes. + +[Sidenote: Plutarch.] Vpon this report (together with my former intent to +write some briefe discourse in the commendation of this so noble and worthy +an enterprise) I did call to my remembrance, the Historie of Themystocles +the Grecian, who (being a right noble and valiant Captaine) signified vnto +his Countreymen the Citizens of Athens, that he had inuented a deuise for +their common wealth very profitable: but it was of such importance and +secrecie, that it ought not to be reuealed, before priuate conference had +with some particular prudent person of their choyse. + +The Athenians knowing Aristides the Philosopher, to be a man indued with +singular wisedome and vertue, made choyse of him to haue conference with +Themystocles, and thereupon to yeelde his opinion to the Citizens +concerning the said deuise: which was, that they might set on fire the +Nauie of their enemies, with great facilitie, as he had layde the plot: +Aristides made relation to the Citizens, that the stratageme deuised by +Themystocles was a profitable practise for the common wealth but it was +dishonest. The Athenians (without further demaund what the same was) did by +common consent reiect and condemne it, preferring honest and vpright +dealing before profite. + +By occasion of this Historie, I drewe my selfe into a more deepe +consideration of this late vndertaken Voyage, whether it were as well +pleasing to almightie God, as profitable to men; as lawfull, as it seemed +honourable: as well gratefull to the Sauages as gainefull to the +Christians. And vpon mature deliberation I found the action to be honest +and profitable, and therefore allowable by the opinion of Aristides if he +were now aliue: which being by me herein sufficiently prooued, (as by Gods +grace I purpose to doe) I doubt not but that all good mindes will endeauour +themselues to be assistants to this so commendable an enterprise, by the +valiant and worthy Gentlemen our Countrey men already attempted and +vndertaken. + +Now whereas I doe vnderstand that Sir Himfrey Gilbert his adherents, +associates and friends doe meane with a conuenient supply (with as much +speede as may be) to maintaine, pursue and follow this intended voyage +already in part perfourmed, and (by the assistance of almightie God) to +plant themselues and their people in the continent of the hither part of +America, betweene the degrees of 30. and 60. of septentrionall latitude: +Within which degrees by computation Astronomicall and Cosmographicall are +doubtlesse to bee found all things that be necessarie, profitable, or +delectable for mans life: The clymate milde and temperate, neyther too hote +nor too colde, so that vnder the cope of heauen there is not any where to +be found a more conuenient place to plant and inhabite in: which many +notable Gentlemen, both [Marginal note: Englishmen, Msster Iohn Hawkins; +Sir Francis Drake; M. Willliam Winter; M. Iohn Chester; M. Martin +Frobisher; Anhony Parkhurst; William Battes; Iohn Louel; Dauid Ingram. +Strangers, French, Iohn Ribault; Iaques Cartier; Andrew Theuet; Monsieur +Gourgues: Monsieur Laudonniere. Italians, Christopher Columbus; Ioha +Verazanus.] of our owne nation and strangers, (who haue bene trauailers) +can testifie: and that those Countries are at this day inhabited with +Sauages (who haue no knowledge of God:) Is it not therefore (I say) to be +lamented, that these poore Pagans, so long liuing in ignorance and +idolatry, and in sort thirsting after Christianitie, (as may appeare by the +relation of such as haue trauailed in those partes) that our heartes are so +hardened, that fewe or none can be found which will put to their helping +hands, and apply themselues to the relieuing of the miserable and wretched +estate of these sillie soules? + +Whose Countrey doeth (as it were with armes aduanced) aboue the climates +both of Spaine and France, stretch out it selfe towards England only: In +maner praying our ayde and helpe, as it is not not onely set forth in +Mercators generall Mappe, but it is also found to be true by the discouerie +of our nation, and other strangers, who haue oftentimes trauailed vpon the +same coasts. + +[Sidenote: God doth not alwayes begin his greatest workes by the greatest +persons.] Christopher Columbus of famous memorie, the first instrument to +manifest the great glory and mercy of Almightie God in planting the +Christian faith, in those so long vnknowen regions, hauing in purpose to +acquaint (as he did) that renoumed Prince, the Queenes Majesties +grandfather King Henry the seuenth, with his intended voyage for the +Westerne discoueries, was not onely derided and mocked generally even here +in England, but afterward became a laughing stocke to the Spaniards +themselues, who at this day (of all other people) are most bounden to laude +and prayse God, who first stirred vp the man to that enterprise. + +And while he was attending there to acquaint the King of Castile (that then +was) with his intended purpose, by how many wayes and meanes was he +derided? [Sidenote: His custome was to bowe himselfe very lowe in making of +courtesie.] Some scorned the wildnesse of his garments, some tooke occasion +to iest at his simple and silly lookes, others asked if this were he that +lowts so lowe,[104] which did take vpon him to bring men into a Countrey +that aboundeth with Golde, Pearle, and Precious stones? If hee were any +such man (sayd they) he would cary another matter of countenance with him, +and looke somewhat loftier. Thus some iudged him by his garments, and +others by his looke and countenance, but none entred into the consideration +of the inward man. + +[Sidenote: Hernando Cortes. Francisco Pizarro.] In the ende, what successe +his Voyage had, who list to reade the Decades, the Historie of the West +Indies, the conquest of Hernando Cortes about Mexico, and those of +Francisco Pizarro in Peru about Casamalcha and Cusco may know more +particularly. All which their discoueries, trauailes and conquests are +extant to be had in the English tongue. This deuise was then accounted a +fantasticall imagination, and a drowsie dreame. + +But the sequele thereof hath since awaked out of dreames thousands of +soules to knowe their Creator, being thereof before that time altogether +ignorant: And hath since made sufficient proofe, neither to be fantasticke +nor vainely imagined. + +Withall, how mightily it hath enlarged the dominions of the Crowne of +Spaine, and greatly inriched the subiects of the same, let all men +consider. Besides, it is well knowen, that sithence the time of Columbus +his first discouerie, through the planting, possessing, and inhabiting +those partes, there hath bene transported and brought home into Europe +greater store of Golde, Siluer, Pearle, and Precious stones, then +heretofore hath bene in all ages since the creation of the worlde. + +I doe therefore heartily wish, that seeing it hath pleased almightie God of +his infinite mercy, at the length to awake some of our worthy Countrey men +out of that drowsie dreame, wherein we haue so long slumbered: + +That wee may now not suffer that to quaile for want of maintenance, which +by these valiant Gentlemen our Countreymen is so nobly begun and +enterprised. For which purpose, I haue taken vpon me to write this simple +short Treatise, hoping that it shall be able to perswade such as haue bene, +and yet doe continue detractors and hinderers of this iourney, (by reason +perhaps that they haue not deliberately and aduisedly entred into the +iudgement of the matter) that yet now vpon better consideration they will +become fauourable furtherers of the same. And that such as are already well +affected thereunto will continue their good disposition: [Sidenote: A +reasonable request.] And withall, I most humbly pray all such as are no +nigards of their purses in buying of costly and rich apparel, and liberall +Contributors in setting forth of games, pastimes, feastings and banquets, +(whereof the charge being past, there is no hope of publique profile, or +commoditie) that henceforth they will bestowe and employ their liberality +(heretofore that way expended) to the furtherance of these so commendable +purposed proceedings. + +And to this ende haue I taken pen in my hand, as in conscience thereunto +mooued, desiring much rather, that of the great multitude which this Realme +doth nourish, farre better able to handle this matter then I my selfe am, +it would haue pleased some one of them to haue vndertaken the same. But +seeing they are silent, and that it falleth to my lotte to put pen to the +paper, I will endeuour my selfe, and doe stand in good hope (though my +skill and knowledge bee simple, yet through the assistence of almightie +God) to probue that the [Sidenote: The argument of the booke.] Voyage +lately enterprised, for trade, traffique, and planting in America, is an +action tending to the lawfull enlargement of her Maiesties Dominions, +commodious to the whole Realme in general, profitable to the aduenturers in +particular, benefciall to the Sauages, and a matter to be atteined without +any great danger or difficultie. + +And lastly, (which is most of all) A thing likewise tending to the honour +and glory of Almightie God. And for that the lawfulnesse to plant in those +Countreys in some mens iudgements seemeth very doubtfull, I will beginne +the proofe of the lawfulnesse of trade, traffique, and planting. + + +END OF VOL XII. + + + + +APPENDICES. + +Appendices. + +I. Greenland. + +Greenland is an extensive country, the greater part of which belongs to +Denmark, situated between Iceland and the continent of America. Its +southern extremity, Cape Farewell, is situated in 59 deg. 49 min. N. lat, +and 43 deg. 54 min. W. lon. The British Arctic expedition of 1876 traced; +tee northern shores as far as Cape Britannia, in lat. 82 deg. 54 min. The +German Arctic expedition of 1870 pursued the east coast as high as 77 deg. +N., so that between Koldeway's furthest in 1870 and Beaumont's farthest in +1876 there remains an interval of more than 500 miles of the Greenland +coast yet unexplored. The estimated area of the whole country is about +340,000 square miles. The outline forming the sea-coast of Greenland is in +general high, rugged, and barren; close to the water's edge it rises into +tremendous precipices and lofty mountains, covered with inaccessible +cliffs, which may be seen from the sea at a distance of more than 60 miles. + +The vast extent of Greenland, together with its peculiar position between +Europe and America, secures for it a very special interest. From its most +northern discovered point, Cape Britannia, it stretches southward, in a +triangular form, for a distance of 1500 miles. Its interior is nearly a +closed book to us, but the coast has been thoroughly explored and examined +on the western side from Cape Farewell to Upernavik, a distance of about +800 miles, as well as along the western shores of the channels leading from +Smith's Sound; and from Cape Farewell to the Danebrog Islands and Cape +Bismarck on the east side. These belts of coast line consist of the most +glorious mountain scenery--lofty peaks, profound ravines, long valleys, +precipices and cliffs, vast glaciers, winding fiords often running 100 +miles into the interior, and innumerable islands. + +Greenland was discovered in 981 or 983 by an Icelander or Norwegian named +Gunbiorn, and was soon afterwards colonized by a number of families from +Iceland, of whom all historical traces soon disappeared; they appear to +have formed their settlement on the western coast. The country was called +Greenland because its southern extremity was first seen in spring-time, and +presented a pleasing appearance, but it was speedily found to be little +better than an icebound region. Davis rediscovered Greenland in his voyage, +1585-87; and in the beginning of the seventeenth century the Dutch +government fined out several expeditions to re-establish a communication +with the lost colony. + + +II. Nenewfoundland. + +Newfoundland is, as it were, a stepping-stone between the Old World and the +New. At its south-western extremity it approaches within 50 miles of the +island of Cape Breton, while its most eastern projection is but 1640 miles +distant from Ireland. Its population in 1881 was 161,384, and its area was +estimated at 42,006 square miles; but, strange as it seems, up to the +present time the interior is almost unknown, while the mere existence of +certain splendid fertile valleys in portions of the island has only been +discovered in quite recent times. The appearance of the coast is rocky and +forbidding, but there are a great number of deep bays and fiords, +containing magnificent harbours, and piercing the land for 80 or 100 miles, +while the sides present varied scenes of beauty, such as are rarely +surpassed in the world's most favoured lands. The effect of these inlets is +to give the island the enormous coast line, compared to its area, of more +than 2000 miles. The loftiest range of mountains, the Long Range, has a few +summits of more than 2000 feet, but the elevations of the island rarely +exceed 1500 feet. Lakes are very numerous. The mines are very valuable, and +Newfoundland now ranks as the sixth copper-producing country in the world. +Lead mines have also been discovered and worked. There is good reason for +believing that gold and coal will yet be found. + + +III. Polar Ice + +It is believed on good grounds of inference, but absolutely without +positive evidence, that the south pole is covered with a great cap of ice, +and some physiographers have gone so far as to assert its thickness as +possibly six miles at the centre. But as to the ice of the north pole, +thanks to the efforts to discover a north-west passage which showed us the +breach in the wall of the polar fortress, we know very much more. + +Sir Edward Belcher encountered ice 106 feet thick drifting into and +grounding on the shores of Wellington Channel. It was in Banks Strait that +Sir Edward Parry was finally stopped by the great undulating floes, +reaching 102 feet in thickness, that he tells us he had never seen in +Baffin's Sea or in the land-locked channels the had left behind him, but +which filled the whole sea before him. Such floes are the edge of a pack +which we may conjecture extends uninterruptedly from shore to shore of the +Polar Sea. + + +IV. Icebergs + +Icebergs are masses of ice rising to a great height above the level of the +sea, presenting a singular variety in form and appearance. They are masses +broken off from glaciers, or from barrier lines of ice-cliff, and owe their +origin to the circumstance of glaciers being in a continual state of +progress. Glaciers reach the sea shore in many places in the Arctic +regions. When pushed forward into deep water, vast masses are lifted up by +their inherent buoyancy, and, broken off at the landward end, are borne +away by the winds, or on tides and currents, to parts of the sea far +removed from their place of formation. Owing to the expansion of water when +freezing, and the difference in density between salt and fresh water, the +usual relative density of sea water to an iceberg is as 1 to 91674, and +hence the volume of ice below water is about nine times that above the +surface. The largest icebergs are met with in the Southern Ocean; several +have been ascertained to be from 800 to 1000 feet in height, and the +largest are nearly three miles long. One was met with 20 deg. south of the +Cape of Good Hope, between Marion and Bouvet Isles, which was 960 feet +high, and therefore more than 9000 feet, or 1-3/4 mile in thickness. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +VOL. XII. + +Dedication to Sir Robert Cecil + +I. The most ancient voyage and discouery of the West Indies performed by + Madoc, Anno 1170. taken out of the history of Wales, &c. + +II. The verses of Meredith the sonne of Rhesus making mention of Madoc + +III. The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christoper Columbus + to K. Henry the 7. February the 13. Anno 1488; with the Kings + acceptance of the said offer + +IV. Another testimony concerning the foresaid offer made by Bartholomew + Columbus to K. Henry the seuenth, on the behalfe of his brother + Christopher Columbus + +V. The letters patents of K. Henry the 7. granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his + 3. sonnes, Anno 1495 + +VI. The signed bill of K. Henry the 7. on the behalfe of Iohn Cabot + +VII. The voyage of Sebastian Cabota to the North part of America, for the + discouery of a Northwest passage, as farre as 58. degrees of + latitude, confirmed by 6. testimonies + +VIII. A briefe extract concerning the discouery of Newfoundland + +IX. The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabota, Anno + 1549 + +X. A discourse written by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, to prooue a passage + by the Northwest to Cataya, and the East Indies + +XI. The first voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the Northwest for the + search of a passage to China, anno 1576 + +XII. The second voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the West and Northwest + regions, in the yeere 1577 + +XIII. The third and last voyage of M. Martin Frobisher for the discouery of + a Northwest passage, in the yere 1578 + +XIV. Notes by Richard Hakluyt + +XV. Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to prooue all parts of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones + +XVI. A letter of M. Martin Frobisher to certaine Englishmen, which were + trecherously taken by the Saluages of Meta incognita in his first + voyageo + +XVII. Articles and orders prescribed by M. Martin Frobisher to the + Captaines and company of euery ship, which accompanied him in his + last Northwestern voyage + +XVIII. A generall and briefe description of the country and condition of + the people, which are founde in Meta incognita + +XIX. The letters patents of her Maiesty graunted to M. Adrian Gilbert and + others for the search and discouery of a Northwest passage to China + +XX. The first voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of a Northwest + passage, 1585 + +XXI. The second voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of the Northwest + pass. 1586 + +XXII. A letter of M. I. Dauis to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning, + his second voyage + +XXIII. The voyage and course which the Sunshine and the Northstarre held, + after M. I. Davis had sent them from him to discouer a passage + betweene Greenland and Ise-land, 1587 + +XXIV. The third voyage of M. Iohn Dauis, 1587 + +XXV. A letter of M. Iohn Dams to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning + his 3. voyage + +XXVI. A trauerse booke of M. Iohn Dauis + +XXVII. A report of M. Iohn Dauis concerning his three voyages made for the + discouery of the Northwest passage, taken out of a treatise of his + intituled The worlds hydrographical description + +XXVIII. The voyage of M. Nicolas Zeno and M. Anthony his brother, to the + yles of Frisland, etc., begun in the yeere 1380 + +XXIX. The voyage of two ships, for the discouery of the North parts + +XXX. The voyage of M. Hore, in the yere 1536 + +XXI. An act against the exaction of money, etc. made Anno 2. Edwardi sexti. + +XXXII. A letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Midle Temple, by M. + Antony Parkhurst, 1578 + +XXXIII. The letters patents granted by her Maiestie to sir Humfrey Gilbert + knight, for inhabiting some part of America 1578 + +XXXIV. A Poeme written in Latine, concerning the voyage of sir Humfrey + Gilbert + +XXXV. The voyage of Sir Humfrey Gilbert to Newfoundland, An. 1583 + +XXXVI. Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters, to bee obserued by + the fleete of sir Humfrey Gilbert + +XXXVII. A briefe relation of Newfound-land, and the commodities thereof + +XXXVIII. A letter of the learned Hungarian Stephanus Parmenius Budeius to + master Richard Hakluyt the collectour of these voyages + +XXXIX. A relation Of Richard Clarke of Weymouth master of the ship called + the Delight. Part I. + +XL. Appendices + +Table of Contents + + +FOOTNOTES: + +1. Son of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, minister of Elizabeth, and himself + minister to the same queen and to James I. A clever but unscrupulous + man, he was never popular, and his share in the fate of Essex and + Raleigh has obscured his fame. He was created Earl of Salisbury. His + secret correspondence is to be found in Goldsmid's Collectanea + Adamantaea. Born 1565. Died 1612. + +2. Hakluyt here merely condenses the researches of Grotius, who had + published, in 1542, his famous but rare Tract "On the Origin of the + Native American Races," a translation of which the present Editor issued + in his "Bibliotheca Curiosa," Edinburgh, 1884. Hakluyt was evidently + ignorant of Gunnbjorn's glimpse of a Western land in 876, of Eric the + Red's discovery of Greenland about 985, of Bjarni's and Leif's + discoveries, or indeed of any of the traditions of the Voyages of the + Northmen, or he would certainly have included them in his Collection. + Those who are interested in these matters should consult Wheaton's + History of the Northmen, London, 1831; Antiquitates Americanæ, edited by + the Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians, Hafniæ, 1837; The Discovery + of America by the Northmen, by N. L. Beamish, London, 1841; Historia + Vinlandiæ Antiquæ, by Thermodus Torfoeus, Hafniæ, 1705; and the edition + of the Flateyan MSS., lately published at Copenhagen. + +3. I have, to the best of my ability, in Vols. I. to XI. of this edition, + arranged the contents of Hakluyt's first two volumes in the order he + would have desired, had he not "lacked sufficient store." + +4. The History of Wales, written by Caradoc of Llancarvan, Glamorganshire, + in the British Language, translated into English by Humphrey Llwyd, and + edited by Dr. David Powel in 1584, is the book here quoted. It is very + rare. + +5. If Madoc ever existed, it seems more probable that the land he + discovered was Madeira or the Azores. Such at least is the view taken by + Robertson, and also by Jeremiah Belknap (American Biography, 8vo, + Boston, 1774). Southey founded one of his poems on this tradition. + +6. In Welsh, Meridith ap Rhees. + +7. Marginal note.--These verses I receiued of my learned friend M. William + Camden. + +8. The most interesting life of Columbus is that by Lamartine, a + translation of which appeared in the "Bibliotheca Curiosa." + +9. Nothing is known of Cabot's early years. In the Archives of Venice is + the record of his naturalization, dated 28 March 1476, which shows he + had lived there fifteen years. (Archives of Venice: Senato Terra, + 1473-1477. Vol vii p. 109.) + +10. This patent was granted in reply to the following application by John + Cabot: + + "To the Kyng our Souvereigne lord, + + "Please it your highnes of your moste noble and haboundant grace to + graunt vnto Iohn Cabotto, citezen of Venes, Lewes, Sebestyan and Sancto + his sonneys your gracious lettres patentes vnder youir grete seale in + due forme to be made accordying to the tenour hereafter ensuying. And + they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous + continuance of your moste noble and royale astate long to enduer." + (Public Records, Bill number 51.) Consult also Rymer's Foedera; + London, 1727, folios 595-6. + +11. Armed with this authority, John Cabot sailed from Bristol in the spring + of 1497, with two ships, one being called the Matthew. (The History and + Antiquities of the city of Bristol, by William Barrett, 1789). + +12. In the National Library, Paris, is a large map of the world on the + margin of which is written: + + "Sebastian Caboto capitan, y piloto mayor de la S. c c. m. del + Imperador don Carlos quinto deste nombre, y rey nuestro sennor hizo + esta figura extensa en plano, anno del nasciem de nro saluador Jesu + Christo de m.d. xliii. annos, tirada por grados de latitud y longitud + con sus uientos como carta de marear, imitando en parte al Ptolomeo, y + en parte alos modernos descobridores, asi Espannoles como Portugueses, + y parte por su padre, y por el descubierto." + + I give a facsmile of part of this map. As will be seen the words "Prima + tierra vista" are opposite a cape about the 48th parallel, which would + be Cape Breton. In a letter written to the Duke of Milan by Raimondo di + Soncino, his minister in London, and dated the 18th Dec. 1497, a very + interesting account is given of Cabot's voyage. Archives of Milan. + Annuario scientifico, Milan, 1866 p 700. + +13. Query, July. + +14. J. B. Ramusio compiled in Italian a celebrated collection of maritime + voyages. The most complete edition is formed by joining vol. I. of 1574 + to vol. II. of 1555 and vol. III. of 1554. He died 1557, aged 72. + +15. Ramosius has evidently mixed up the two voyages of John Cabot with + those of his son. John's second and last voyage was in 1498, with five + ships; though little is known of the result, that little has been + collected by Mr. Weise in his "Discoveries of America." + +16. A celebrated Icelandic astronomer, a disciple of Tycho-Brahe. The + opinion here quoted appears in his _Specimen Historicorum Islandiæ et + magnâ ex parte chorographicum_; Amsterdam, 1643. When aged 91, he is + said to have married a young girl. Born 1545; died 1640. + +17. An error for John Cabot + +18. His _Chronicle of England and France_, by a London tradesman, was first + printed in 1516. + +19. This celebrated Antiquary was born in 1525. Originally a tailor, his + tastes procured him the encouragement of Archbishop Parker and the Earl + of Leicester. His principal works are _Flores Historiarum_ (1600) and + his _Survey of London_, first published in 1598. Died a beggar in 1605. + +20. If Cabot's discoveries extended from 38° to 58°, he cannot have gone + south of Cape Hatteras, in North Carolina. + +21. Gilbert was half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh. This "discourse" was + published in 1576, and two years later be himself sailed on a voyage of + discovery to Newfoundland, but on the return journey his ship foundered + with all on board. + +22. Luke Marinæus, chaplain to Charles V. author of _Obra de las cosas + memorabiles de Espana_, Alcala, 1543; folio, the work here referred to. + +23. Ficinus, (born 1433, died 1499); a protégé of the Medici, translated + Plato and Plotinus. These translations will be found in his collected + works, published at Bâle in 1591, 2 vols. folio. Herein he tries to + prove Plato a Christian, as he also does in his _Thelogia Platonica_; + Florence, 148; folio. The original editions of his works are extremely + rare. + +24. Crantor's opinion is only known to us by Cicero's refetence, his works + being all lost. He flourished about 315 B.C. + +25. Born in 412, at Constantinople. Studied at Alexandria and Athens, and + succeeded Syrianus in the Neo Platonic School. Died 485, Several of his + works are extant. + +26. Philo of Alexandria was well versed in the philosophy of Plato, and + tried to show its harmony with the books of Moses. A fine edition of + his works was published in 1742, in 2 vols. folio, edited by Mangey. + +27. Amerigo Vespucci, born at Florence, 1451, was sent by his father to + Spain. Fired by the example of Columbus, he became a navigator, and + made three voyages to the New World, which ultimately was named after + him, though the honour should belong to Columbus. Died at Seville 1512. + +28. It has also been supposed by many ancient writers that Atlantis was + situated between the 20th and 30th degrees of north latitude, and the + 40th and 60th degrees of west longitude, in that part of the Atlantic + known as the Sargasso sea. + +29. Born 1493; died 1541. He was the first to publish the Almagestes of + Ptolemy in Greek at Bâle, 1538, folio. He was the friend of Luther and + Melancthon. + +30. The first Edition of his chronological tables is that of Berne, 1540. + Little is known of him except that he was born at Rotweil in Germany + and was a councillor of the city of Berne, in the library of which town + is a unique copy of his History of Berne, 3 vols. folio, in German. + +31. Guicciardini, the author of the celebrated _History of the events + between_ 1494 _and_ 1532. + +32. FRISIUS was born at Dorkum in Frisia, his real name being John Gemma. + His map of the world was published in 1540. Died at Louvain in 1555. + GASTALDUS was a Genoese and wrote many tracts on Geography. He was the + father of Jerome Gastaldus, the author of a celebrated work on the + Plague. TRAMASINUS was a celebrated Venetian printer of the 16th + Century. ANDREAS VAVASOR is probably an error for Francis Vavasor, the + Jesuit. + + MUNSTER, APPIANUS, PUTEANUS, PETER MARTYR, and ORTELIUS are well known, + but HUNTERUS, DEMONGENITUS, and TRAMONTANUS are unknown to me. + +33. Octher's voyage will be found in Vol. I., p. 51, of this Edition of + Hakluyt. + +34. See Vol. I. of this Edition of Halkluyt. + +35. See Vol. II. p. 60 (note) of this Edition + +36. Giovanni Verrzzani is evidently meant. A Florentine by birth, he + entered the service of Francis I., and in 1524 discovered New France. + An account of his travels and tragic death is to be found in Ramusius. + In the Strozzi library, at Florence, a manuscript of Verazzani's is + preserved. + +37. Born at St Malo. Discovered part of Canada in 1534. His _Brief récit de + la Navigation faite ès îles de Canada, Hochelage, Saguenay et autres_, + was published at Paris in 1546, 8vo. + +38. BAROS, who had been appointed treasurer of the Indies, wrote a _History + of Asia and of India_ in 4 decades which were published between the + years 1552 and 1602. It has been translated from Portuguese into + Spanish, and considering that it contains many facts not to be found + elsewhere, it is surprising that there should have been neither a + French nor English Edition. Baros was born in 1496 and died in 1570. + +39. This is probably an error for Peter Nonnius, professor of Mathematics + at the University of Coimbra who published two books _De Arte + Navigandi_ in 1573. + +40. Little is known of this writer. He appears to have been the son of + Jerome Fracastor, a Veronese who obtained a certain celebrity as a poet + at the beginning of the 16th Century. + +41. In a former passage it is stated that Cabot did not get beyond the 58th + degree of latitude. + +42. It is now well known that the diminished saltness of the sea off the + Siberian coast is due to the immense masses of fresh water poured into + it by the Ob, the Lena, and other Siberian rivers. + +43. Either Salvaterra or the Frier must have possessed a vivid imagination. + The former at any rate thoroughly took in Sir Humphrey Gilbert. + +44. It seems very strange to us after the Northwest passage has been + discovered by M'Clure in 1852 and the North East passage by + Nordenskiold in 1879 to read the arguments by which each of the + upholders of the two routes sought to prove that his opponent's + contention was impossible. Of the two disputants we must confess that + Jenkinson's views now appear the likeliest to be realised, for M'Clure + only made his way from Behring Straits to Melville island by abandoning + his ship and travelling across the ice, while Nordenskiold carried the + Vega past the North of Europe and Siberia, returning by Behring's + straits and the Pacific. + +45. Cape Chudley. + +46. Born near Doncaster. He made several attempts to find the Northwest + passage. (See post.) In 1585 he accompanied Drake to the West Indies; + assisted in defeating the Spanish Armada, and was mortally wounded in + 1594 at the attack on Fort Croyzan, near Brest. Some relics of his + Arctic expedition were discovered by Captain F. C. Hall in 1860-62, and + described in his delightful book, "Life with the Esquimaux." + +47. Midway between Orkney and Shetland. + +48. Foula, the most westerly of the Shetlands, round in form, is 12 miles + in circuit. + +49. Esquimaux. + +50. Far from coming from Newfoundland, this drift-wood is carried into the + Arctic Ocean by the Yenisei and other large rivers of Siberia. + +51. Contrary to the opinion of Mr. Weise, who insists that Friseland is + Iceland, I am inclined to believe that the East coast of Greenland is + meant. + +52. Lieutenant Nansen's expedition across Greenland negatives this + supposition, but the West coast is more habitable than the East. + +53. Frobisher Bay: it is not a strait. Hall's _Island_ is Hall's Peninsula. + +54. twisted + +55. Long. From Saxon _sid_. (See BEN JONSON, _New Inn_, v. 1.) + +56. Raisins. + +57. In a very short time. Sometimes written _giffats_ + +58. It is almost in the exact latitude of Gaboon Bay. + +59. Our author is wrong. Morocco lies between the _annual_ Isothermal lines + of 68º Fahr. (or 20 Cent.), whilst the mean temperature at the Equator + was considered by Humboldt to be 81.4° Fahr. and by Atkinson (Memoirs + of the Royal Astronomical Society) 84.5°. + +60. Our author means the _fifth_ proposition of the _first_ book of Euclid, + the celebrated _Pons Asinorum_. + +61. John Holywood, so named after the place of his birth near York, after + studying at Oxford, settled in Paris where he became famous. He died in + 1256, leaving two works of rare power considering the century they were + written in, viz, _de Spheri Mundi_, and _de Computo Ecclesiastico_. + They are to be found in one volume 8vo, Paris, 1560. + +62. John Gonzalvo d'Oviedo, born 1478. Was Governor of the New World, and + wrote a _Summario de la Historia general y natural de las Indias + Occidentales_. Best edition, _Salamanca_ 1535, and _Toledo_, 1536, + folio. This is the work here quoted. + +63. This is not the case. + +64. Blank in original. + +65. Kirkwall. + +66. Blank in original. + +67. Blank in original. + +68. Probably a Narwal. + +69. Good. + +70. Blank in the original. + +71. Blank in original. + +72. Blank in original. + +73. Blank in original. + +74. Blank in original. + +75. Blank in original. + +76. Muddy. + +77. Blank in original. + +78. Blank in original. + +79. Blank in original. + +80. Blank in original. + +81. South Equatorial Current. + +82. Gulf Stream. + +83. The elimination of salt from sea-water by cold was evidently unknown to + the writer. + +84. The writer was evidently not a convert to the System of Copernicus, but + agreed with Ptolemy that the Heavens were solid and moved round the + earth, which was the centre of the Universe. + +85. _Pirrie_, a sudden storm at sea. According to Jamieson, _Pirr_, in + Scotch, means a gentle breeze. + + "A pirrie came, and set my ship on sands." + _Mirror for Magistrates_, p. 194. + +86. _Yer_ = ere. + +87. Sir Christopher Hatton. + +88. Flat. + +89. Thus the only result of Davis's Voyage was the discovery of the broad + piece of water since known as Davis's Straits, extending between + Greenland on the East and Cumberland Island on the West. It connects + the Atlantic with Baffin's Bay. In the next voyage, Davis seems to have + crossed the mouth of Hudson's Straits, without entering them. + +90. The full text of Davis's account is given in Vol. vi., p. 250 of this + Edition. + +91. It seems probable that either Zeno was wrecked on one of the Shetlands, + and that by _Sorani_ is meant Orkney, or that Iceland is the true + Frisland. + +92. Aveiro, province of Beira, 31 miles N.W. of Coimbra. + +93. Viana do Castello, province of Minho, 40 miles N. of Oporto. + +94. See Vol ix., p. 143 of this Edition. + +95. (?) Chateau-Richer on the St. Lawrence, 15 miles below Quebec. + +96. Near Cape Charles. + +97. The St. Lawrence. + +98. This refers to Gilbert's first voyage in 1578. + +99. Causand. + +100. The Newfoundland Banks are rather a submarine Plateau than banks in + the ordinary sense. The bottom is rocky, and generally reached at 25 + to 95 fathoms: length and breadth about 300 miles: the only shallow + region in the Atlantic. + +101. The cold on the coast is partly due to the quantities of ice + descending from Baffin's Bay. + +102. Maëlstrom. + +103. Silver, and even gold, has been found in Newfoundland. + +104. Bends. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I., by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, *** + +***** This file should be named 13605-8.txt or 13605-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/6/0/13605/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/13605-8.zip b/old/13605-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d094242 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13605-8.zip diff --git a/old/13605.txt b/old/13605.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbf2bf7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13605.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15050 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I., by Richard Hakluyt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I. + +Author: Richard Hakluyt + +Release Date: October 5, 2004 [EBook #13605] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, *** + + + + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +** Transcriber's Notes ** + +The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the +spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this +version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript +abbreviations have been silently expanded: + +- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm' +- q; = -que (in the Latin) +- y'e = the; y't = that; w't = with + +This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes +are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling +conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always +systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's +own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the +sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are +labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in +poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on +corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH' + +** End Transcriber's Notes ** + + +THE PRINCIPAL + +Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques + +AND + +Discoveries + +OF + +THE ENGLISH NATION. + +Collected by + +RICHARD HAKLUYT, PREACHER. + +AND + +Edited by + +EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. + +VOL. XII. + +AMERICA. PART I. + + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ROBERT CECIL[1] KNIGHT. + +Principall Secretarie to her Maiestie, Master of the Court of Wards and + Liueries, and one of her Maiesties most honourable Priuie Councell. + +Right honourable, your fauourable acceptance of my second volume of the +English voyages offred vnto you the last yere, your perusing of the same at +your conuenient leasure, your good testimony of my selfe and of my +trauailes therein, together with the infallible signes of your earnest +desire to doe mee good, which very lately, when I thought least thereof, +brake forth into most bountiful and acceptable effects: these +considerations haue throughly animated and encouraged me to present vnto +your prudent censure this my third and last volume also. The subiect and +matter herein contained is the fourth part of the world, which more +commonly then properly is called America: but by the chiefest Authors The +new world. New, in regard of the new and late discouery thereof made by +Christopher Colon, alias Columbus, a Genouois by nation, in the yere of +grace 1492. And world, in respect of the huge extension thereof, which to +this day is not throughly discouered, neither within the Inland nor in the +coast, especially toward the North and Northwest, although on the either +side it be knowen vnto vs for the space of fiue thousand leagues at the +least, compting and considering the trending of the land, and for 3000. +more on the backeside in the South Sea from the Streight of Magellan to +Cape Mendocino and Noua Albion. So that it seemeth very fitly to be called +A newe worlde. Howbeit it cannot be denied but that Antiquitie had some +kinde of dimme glimse, and vnperfect notice thereof. Which may appeare by +the relation of Plato in his two worthy dialogues of Timaeus and Critias +vnder the discourse of that mighty large yland called by him Atlantis, +lying in the Ocean sea without the Streight of Hercules, now called the +Straight of Gibraltar, being (as he there reporteth) bigger then Africa and +Asia: And by that of Aristotle in his booke De admirandis auditionibus of +the long nauigation of certaine Carthaginians, who sayling forth of the +aforesaid Streight of Gibraltar into the maine Ocean for the space of many +dayes, in the ende found a mighty and fruitfull yland, which they would +haue inhabited, but were forbidden by their Senate and chiefe gouernours. +Moreouer, aboue 300. yeeres after these wee haue the testimony of Diodorus +Siculus lib. 5 cap. 7. of the like mighty yland discouered in the Westerne +Ocean by the Tyrrheni, who were forbidden for certaine causes to inhabite +the same by the foresaid Carthaginians. And Senecca in his tragedie +intituled Medea foretold aboue 1500. yeeres past, that in the later ages +the Ocean would discouer new worlds, and that the yle of Thule would no +more be the vttermost limite of the earth. For whereas Virgile had said to +Augustus Caesar, Tibi seruiat vltima Thule, alluding thereunto he +contradicteth the same, and saith, Nec sit terris vltima Thule. Yea +Tertullian, one of our most ancient and learned diuines, in the beginning +of his treatise de Pallio alludeth vnto Plato his Westerne Atlantis, which +there by another name he calleth Aeon, saying Aeon in Atlantico nunc +quaeritur. And in his 40. chapter de Apologetico he reporteth the same to be +bigger then all Africa and Asia.[2] Of this new world and euery speciall +part thereof in this my third volume I haue brought to light the best and +most perfect relations of such as were chiefe actours in the particular +discoueries and serches of the same, giuing vnto euery man his right, and +leauing euery one to mainteine his owne credit. The order obserued in this +worke is farre more exact, then heretofore I could attaine vnto: for +whereas in my two former volumes I was enforced for lacke of sufficient +store, in diuers places to vse the methode of time onely (which many worthy +authors on the like occasion are enforced vnto) being now more plentifully +furnished with matter, I alwayes follow the double order of time and place. +Wherefore proposing vnto my selfe the right situation of this New world, I +begin at the extreme Northerne limite, and put downe successiuely in one +ranke or classis, according to the order aforesaide, all such voyages as +haue bene made to the said part: which comming all together, and following +orderly one vpon another, doe much more lighten the readers vnderstanding, +and confirme his iudgment, then if they had bene scattered in sundry +corners of the worke. Which methode I obserue from the highest North to the +lowest South.[3] Now where any country hath bene but seldome hanted, or any +extraordinary or chiefe action occureth, if I finde one voyage well written +by two seuerall persons, sometimes I make no difficultie to set downe both +those iournals, as finding diuers things of good moment obserued in the +one, which are quite omitted in the other. For commonly a souldier +obserueth one thing, and a mariner another, and as your honour knoweth, +Plus vident oculi, quam oculus. But this course I take very seldome and +sparingly. And albeit my worke do cary the title of The English voyages, +aswell in regard that the greatest part are theirs, and that my trauaile +was chiefly vndertaken for preseruation of their memorable actions, yet +where our owne mens experience is defectiue, there I haue bene careful to +supply the same with the best and chiefest relations of strangers. As in +the discouery of the Grand Bay, of the mighty riuer of S. Laurence, of the +countries of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay, of Florida, and the Inland of +Cibola, Tiguex, Cicuic, and Quiuira, of The gulfe of California, and the +North westerne sea-coast to Cabo Mendocino and Sierra Neuada: as also of +the late and rich discouery of 15. prouinces on the backside of Florida and +Virginia, the chiefest whereof is called the kingdome of New Mexico, for +the wealth, ciuil gouernment, and populousnesse of the same. Moreouer +because since our warres with Spaine, by the taking of their ships, and +sacking of their townes and cities, most of all their secrets of the West +Indies, and euery part thereof are fallen into our peoples hands (which in +former time were for the most part vnknowen vnto vs,) I haue vsed the +vttermost of my best endeuour, to get, and hauing gotten, to translate out +of Spanish, and here in this present volume to publish such secrets of +theirs, as may any way auaile vs or annoy them, if they driue and vrge vs +by their sullen insolencies, to continue our courses of hostilitie against +them, and shall cease to seeke a good and Christian peace vpon indifferent +and equal conditions. What these things be, and of how great importance +your honour in part may vnderstand, if it please you to vouchsafe to reade +the Catalogues conteyning the 14 principal heads of this worke. Whereby +your honor may farther perceiue that there is no chiefe riuer, no port, no +towne, no citie, no prouince of any reckoning in the West Indies, that hath +not here some good description thereof, aswell for the inland as the +sea-coast. And for the knowledge of the true breadth of the Sea betweene +Noua Albion on the Northwest part of America, and the yle of Iapan lying +ouer against the kingdomes of Coray and China, which vntil these foure +yeeres was neuer reueiled vnto vs, being a point of exceeding great +consequence, I haue here inserted the voyage of one Francis Gualle a +Spaniard made from Acapulco an hauen on the South sea on the coast of New +Spaine, first to the Philippinas, and then to the citie of Macao in China, +and homeward from Macao by the yles of Iapan, and thence to the back of the +West Indies in the Northerly latitude of 37. degrees 1/2. In which course +betweene the said ylands and the maine he found a wide and spacious open +Ocean of 900. leagues broad, which a little more to the Northward hath bene +set out as a Streight, and called in most mappes The Streight of Anian. In +which relation to the viceroy hee constantly affirmeth three seuerall +times, that there is a passage that way vnto the North parts of Asia. +Moreouer, because I perceiue by a letter directed by her Maiestie to the +Emperour of China (and sent in the last Fleet intended for those parts by +The South Sea vnder the charge of Beniamin Wood, chiefly set out at the +charges of sir Robert Duddeley, a gentleman of excellent parts) that she +vseth her princely mediation for obtaining of freedome of traffique for her +marchants in his dominions, for the better instruction of our people in the +state of those countries, I haue brought to light certaine new +aduertisements of the late alteration of the mightie monarchie of the +confronting yle of Iapan, and of the new conquest of the kingdome of Coray, +not long since tributarie to the king of China, by Quabacondono the monarch +of all the yles and princedomes of Iapan; as also of the Tartars called +Iezi, adioyning on the East and Northeast parts of Coray, where I thinke +the best vtterance of our natural and chiefe commoditie of cloth is like to +be, if it please God hereafter to reueile vnto vs the passage thither by +the Northwest. The most exact and true information of the North parts of +China I finde in a history of Tamerlan, which I haue in French, set out +within these sixe yeeres by the abbat of Mortimer, dedicated to the French +king that now reigneth, who confesseth that it was long since written in +the Arabian tongue by one Alhacen a wise and valiant Captaine, employed by +the said mighty prince in all his conquests of the foresaid kingdome. Which +history I would not haue failed to haue translated into English, if I had +not found it learnedly done vnto my hand. + +And for an appendix vnto the ende of my worke, I haue thought it not +impertinent, to exhibite to the graue and discreet iudgements of those +which haue the chiefe places in the Admiraltie and marine causes of +England, Certaine briefe extracts of the orders of the Contractation house +of Siuil in Spaine, touching their gouernment in sea-matters: together with +The streight and seuere examination of Pilots and Masters before they be +admitted to take charge of ships, aswell by the Pilot mayor, and +brotherhood of ancient Masters, as by the Kings reader of The lecture of +the art of Nauigation, with the time that they be enioyned to bee his +auditors, and some part of the questions that they are to answere vnto. +Which if they finde good and beneficial for our seamen, I hope they wil +gladly imbrace and imitate, or finding out some fitter course of their +owne, will seeke to bring such as are of that calling vnto better +gouernment and more perfection in that most laudable and needfull vocation. +To leaue this point, I was once minded to haue added to the end of these my +labours a short treatise, which I haue lying by me in writing, touching The +curing of hot diseases incident to traueilers in long and Southerne +voyages, which treatise was written in English, no doubt of a very honest +mind, by one M. George Wateson, and dedicated vnto her sacred Maiestie. But +being carefull to do nothing herein rashly, I shewed it to my worshipfull +friend M. doctour Gilbert, a gentleman no lesse excellent in the chiefest +secrets of the Mathematicks (as that rare iewel lately set foorth by him in +Latine doeth euidently declare) then in his owne profession of physicke: +who assured me, after hee had perused the said treatise, that it was very +defectiue and vnperfect, and that if hee might haue leasure, which that +argument would require, he would either write something thereof more +aduisedly himselfe, or would conferre with the whole Colledge of the +Physicions, and set downe some order by common consent for the preseruation +of her Maiesties subjects. Now as the foresaid treatise touched the cure of +diseases growing in hot regions, so being requested thereunto by some in +authoritie they may adde their iudgments for the cure of diseases incident +unto men employed in cold regions, which to good purpose may serue our +peoples turnes, if they chance to prosecute the intermitted discouery by +the Northwest, whereunto I finde diuers worshipfull citizens at this +present much inclined. Now because long since I did foresee, that my +profession of diuinitie, the care of my family, and other occasions might +call and diuert me from these kinde of endeuours, I haue for these 3 yeeres +last pasts encouraged and furthered in these studies of Cosmographie and +forren histories, my very honest, industrious, and learned friend M. IOHN +PORY, one of speciall skill and extraordinary hope to performe great +matters in the same, and beneficial for the common wealth. + +Thus Sir I haue portrayed out in rude lineaments my Westerne Atlantis or +America: assuring you, that if I had bene able, I would haue limned her and +set her out with farre more liuely and exquisite colours: yet, as she is, I +humbly desire you to receiue her with your wonted and accustomed fauour at +my handes, who alwayes wil remaine most ready and deuoted to do your honour +any poore seruice that I may; and in the meane season will not faile +vnfainedly to beseech the Almighty to powre vpon you the best of his +temporall blessings in this world, and after this life ended with true and +much honour, to make you partaker of his joyes eternall. From London the +first of September, the yeere of our Lord God 1600. + +Your Honours most humble to +be commanded, + +RICHARD HAKLVYT, Preacher. + + + + +Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoueries + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION IN AMERICA. + + * * * * * + +The most ancient Discovery of the West Indies by Madoc the sonne of Owen + Guyneth Prince of North-wales, in the yeere 1170: taken out of the + history of Wales, lately published by M. Dauid Powel Doctor of + Diuinity.[4] + +After the death of Owen Guyneth, his sonnes fell at debate who should +inherit after him: for the eldest sonne borne in matrimony, Edward or +Iorweth Drwydion, was counted vnmeet to gouerne, because of the maime upon +his face: and Howell that tooke vpon him all the rule was a base sonne, +begotten upon an Irish woman. Therefore Dauid gathered all the power he +could, and came against Howel, and fighting with him, slew him; and +afterwards inioyed quietly the whole land of Northwales, vntil his brother +Iorwerths sonne came to age. [Sidenote: Madoc the son of Owen Guyneth.] +Madoc another of Owen Guyneth his sonnes left the land in contention +betwixt his brethren, and prepared certaine ships, with men and munition, +and sought aduentures by Seas, sailing West, and leauing the coast of +Ireland so farre North, that he came vnto a land vnknowen, where he saw +many strange things. + +[Sidenote: Humf. Llyod.] This land most needs be some part of that Countrey +of which the Spanyards affirme themselues to be the first finders since +Hannos time. Whereupon it is manifest that that countrey was by Britaines +discouered, long before Columbus led any Spanyards thither. + +Of the voyage and returne of this Madoc there be many fables feined, as the +common people doe vse in distance of place and length of time rather to +augment then to diminish: but sure it is there he was. [Sidenote: The +second voyage of Madoc the sonne of Owen Guyneth.] And after he had +returned home, and declared the pleasant and fruitfull countreys that he +had seen without inhabitants, and vpon the contrary part, for what barren +and wild ground his brethren and nephews did murther one another, he +prepared a number of ships, and got with him such men and women as were +desirous to liue in quietness: and taking leaue of his friends, tooke his +journey thitherward againe. [Sidenote: Gomara. lib. 2. cap. 16.] Therefore +it is to be supposed that he and his people inhabited part of those +countreys: for it appeareth by Francis Lopez de Gomara, that in Acuzamil +and other places the people honored the crosse. Wherby it may be gathered +that Christians had bene there before the comming of the Spanyards. But +because this people were not many, they followed the maners of the land +which they came vnto, and vsed the language they found there. + +[Sidenote: M. Powels addition. Gutyn Owen.] This Madoc arriuing in that +Westerne countrey, vnto the which he came in the yere 1170, left most of +his people there, and returning backe for more of his owne nation, +acquaintance and friends to inhabit that faire and large countrey, went +thither againe with ten sailes, as I find noted by Gutyn Owen. I am of +opinion that the land whereunto he came was some part of the West +Indies.[5] + + * * * * * + +Carmina Meredith filij Rhesi[6] mentionem facientia de Madoco filio Oweni + Guynedd, et de sua nauigatione in terras incognitas. Vixit hic Meredith + circiter annum Domini 1477. + + Madoc wyf, mwyedic wedd, + Iawn genau, Owyn Guynedd: + Ni fynnum dir, fy enaid oedd + Na da mawr, ond y moroedd.[7] + +The same in English. + + + Madoc I am the sonne of Owen Gwynedd + With stature large, and comely grace adorned: + No lands at home nor store of wealth me please, + My minde was whole to search the Ocean seas. + + * * * * * + +The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus to + king Henry the seuenth in the yeere 1488 the 13 of February: with the + kings acceptation of the offer, and the cause whereupon hee was depriued + of the same: recorded in the thirteenth chapter of the history of Don + Fernand Columbus of the life and deeds of his father Christopher + Columbus.[8] + +Christophero Colon temendo, se parimente i Re di Castiglia non assentissero +alla sua impresa, non gli bisognasse proporla di nuouo a qualche alto +principe, e cosi in cio passasse lungo tempo; mando in Inghilterra vn suo +fratello, che haueua appresso di se, chiantato Bartholomeo Colon: il qual, +quantunque non hauesse lettere Latine, era pero huomo prattico, e +giudicioso nelle cose del mare, e sapea molto bene far carte da nauigare, e +sphere, et altri instrumenti di quella professione, come dal suo fratello +era instrutto. Partito adunque Bartholomeo Colon per Inghilterra, volle la +sua sorte, che desse in man di cor sali, i quali lo spogliarono insieme con +gli altri delta sua naue. Per la qual cosa, e per la sua pouerta et +infirmita, che in cosi diuerse terre lo assalirono crudelmente, prolungo +per gran tempo la sua ambasciata, fin che, aquistata vn poco di faculia con +le carte, ch' ei fabricana, comincio a far pratiche co' il Re Enrico +settimo padre de Enrico ottauo, che al presente regna: a cui appresento vn +mappamondo, nel quale erano scritti questi versi, che fra le sue scriture +lo trouai, e da me saranno qui posti piu rosto per l'antichita, che per la +loro elganza. + + Terraram quicunque cupis foeliciter oras + Noscere, cuncta decens docte pictura docebit, + Quam Strabo affirmat, Ptolomaeus, Plinius, atque + Isidorus: non vno tamen sententia cuique. + Pingitur hic etiam nuper sulcata carinis + Hispanis Zona illa, prius incognita genti + Torrida, quae tandem nunc est notissima multis. + +Et piu di sotto diceua + +Pro Authore siue Pictore. + + Ianua cui patriae est nomen, cui Bartholomaeus + Columbus de Terra Rubra, opus edidit istud, + Londonijis anno Domini 1480 atque insuper anno + Octauo, decimaque die cum tertia mensis + Februarij. Laudes Christo cantentur abunde. + +Et, percioche auuertira alcuno, che dice Columbus de Terra Rubra, dico +medesimamente Io viddi alcune sotto scritioni dell'Ammiraglio, primo che +acquistasse lo stato, ou' egli si sotto scriueua, Columbus de Terra Rubra. +Ma, tornando al Re d'Inghilterra, dico, che, da lui il mappamondo veduto, +et cio che i'Ammiraglio gli offeriua, con allegro volto accetto la sua +offerta, e mandolo a chiamare. Ma, percioche Dio Phaueua per Cas. tiglia +serbata, gia l'Ammiraglio in quel tempo era andato, e tornato con la +vittoria della sua impresa, secondo che per ordine si raccontera. Lasciaro +hora di raccontar cio, che Bartolomeo Colon hauena negociato in +Inghilterra, e tornaro all'Ammiraglio, etc. + + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus fearing least if the king of Castile in like manner +(as the king of Portugall had done) should not condescend vnto his +enterprise, he should be inforced to offer the same againe to some other +prince, and so much time should be spent therein, sent into England a +certaine brother of his which he had with him, whose name was Bartholomew +Columbus, who, albeit he had not the Latine tongue, yet neuerthelesse was a +man of experience and skilfull in Sea causes, and could very wel make sea +cards and globes, and other instruments belonging to that profession, as he +was instructed by his brother. Wherefore after that Bartholomew Columbus +was departed for England, his lucke was to fall into the hands of pirats, +which spoiled him with the rest of them which were in the ship which he +went in. [Sidenote: The occasion why the West Indies were not discouered +for England.] Vpon which occasion, and by reason of his pouerty and +sicknesse which cruelly assaulted him in a countrey so farre distant from +his friends, he deferred his embassage for a long while, until such time as +he had gotten somewhat handsome about him with making of Sea Cards. At +length he began to deale with King Henry the seuenth the father of Henry +the eight, which reigneth at this present: vnto whom he presented a mappe +of the world, wherein these verses were written, which I found among his +papers: and I will here set them downe, rather for their antiquity then for +their goodnesse. + + Thou which desireth easily the coasts of lands to know, + This comely mappe right learnedly the same to thee will shew: + Which Strabo, Plinie, Ptolomew and Isodore maintaine: + Yet for all that they do not all in one accord remaine. + Here also is set downe the late discouered burning Zone + By Portingals, vnto the world which whilom was vnknowen. + Whereof the knowledge now at length thorow all the world is blowen. + +And a little vnder he added: + +For the Author or the Drawer. + + He, whose deare natiue soile hight stately Genua. + Euen he whose name is Bartholomew Colon de Terra Rubra, + The yeere of Grace a thousand and foure hundred and fourescore + And eight, and on the thirteenth day of February more, + In London published this worke. To Christ all laud therefore. + +And because some peraduenture may obserue that he calleth himselfe Columbus +de Terra Rubra, I say, that in like maner I haue seene some subscriptions +of my father Christopher Columbus, before he had the degree of Admirall, +wherein be signed his name thus, Columbus de Terra Rubra. [Sidenote: King +Henry the seuenth his acceptation of Columbus offer.] But to returne to the +king of England, I say, that after he had seene the map, and that which my +father Christopher Columbus offered vnto him, he accepted the offer with +ioyfull countenance, and sent to call him into England. But because God had +reserued the said offer for Castile, Columbus was gone in the meane space, +and also returned with the performance of his enterprise, as hereafter in +order shall be rehearsed. Now will I leaue off from making any farther +mention of that which Bartholomew Colon had negotiated in England, and I +will returne vnto the Admirall, &c. + + * * * * * + +Another testimony taken out of the 60 chapter of the foresayd history of + Ferdinando Columbus concerning the offer that Bartholomew Columbus made + to king Henry the seuenth on the behalfe of his brother Christopher. + +Tornato adunque l'Ammiraglio dallo scoprimento di Cuba and di Giamaica, +torno nella Spagnuola Bartolomeo Colon suo fratello, quello, che era gia +andato a trattare accordo col Re d'Inghilterra sopra lo scoprimento delle +Indie, come di sopra habiam detto. Questo poi, ritornando sene verso +Castiglia con capitoli conceduti, haueua inteso a Parigi dal re Carlo di +Francia, l'Ammiraglio suo fratello hauer gia scorperte l'Indie: per che gli +souenne per poter far il Viaggio di cento scudi. Et, Auenga che per cotal +nuoua egli si fosse molto affrettato, per arriuar l'Ammiraglio in Spagna, +quando non dimeno giunse a Siuiglia, egli era gia tornato alle Indie co' 17 +nauigli. Perche, per asseguir quanto ei gli haueba lasciato, di subito al +principio dell' anno del 1494 sen' ando a i Re Catholici, menando seco Don +Diego Colon, mio fratello, e me ancora, accioche seruissimo di paggi al +serenissimo principe Don Giouanni, il qual viua in gloria, si come hauea +commandata la Catholica Reina donna Isabella, che alhora era in +Vagliadolid. Tosto adunque che noi giungemmo, i Re chiamarono Don +Bartolomeo, et mandaronlo alia Spagnuola centre naui, &c. + +The same in English. + +Christopher Columbus the Admirall being returned from the discouery of Cuba +and Iamayca, found in Hispaniola his brother Bartholomew Columbus, who +before had beene sent to intreat of an agreement with the king of England +for the discouery of the Indies, as we haue sayd before. This Bartholomew +therefore returning vnto Castile, with the capitulations granted by the +king of England to his brother, vnderstood at Paris by Charles the king of +France that the Admirall his brother had already performed that discouery: +whereupon the French king gaue vnto the sayd Bartholomew an hundred French +crownes to beare his charges into Spaine. And albeit he made great haste +vpon this good newes to meet with the Admirall in Spaine, yet at his +comming to Siuil his brother was already returned to the Indies with +seuenteene saile of shipps. Wherefore to fulfill that which he had left him +in charge in the beginning of the yeere 1494 he repaired to the Catholike +princes, taking with him Diego Colon my brother and me also, which were to +be preferred as Pages to the most excellent Prince Don Iohn, who now is +with God, according to the commandement of the Catholic Queene Lady +Isabell, which was then in Validolid. Assoone therefore as we came to the +Court, the princes called for Don Bartholomew, and sent him to Hispaniola +with three ships, &c. + + * * * * * + +THE ENGLISH VOYAGES, NAVIGATIONS, AND DISCOUERIES. + +_(Intended for the finding of a northwest passage) to the north parts of + America, to meta incogita, and the backeside of Gronland, as farre as 72 + degrees and 12 minuts: performed first by Sebastian Cabota, and since by + Sir Martin Frobisher, and M. John Dauis, with the patents, discourses, + and aduertisements thereto belonging._ + +The Letters patents of King Henry the seuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and + his three sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius for the discouerie of new + and vnknowen lands. + +Henricus Dei gratia rex Angliae, et Franciae, et Dominus Hiberniae, omnibus, +ad quos praesentes literae nostrae peruenerint, salutem. + +Notum sit et manifestum, quod dedimus et concessimus, ac per praesentes +damus et concedimus pro nobis et haeredibus nostris, dilectis nobis Ioanni +Caboto ciui Venetiarum, Lodouico, Sebastiano, et Sancio, filijs dicti +Ioannis, et eorum ac cuiuslibet eorum haeredibus et deputatis, plenam ac +liberam authoritatem, facultatem, et potestatem nauigandi ad omnes partes, +regiones, et sinus maris orientalis, occidentalis, et septentrionalis, sub +banneris, vexillis, et insignijs nostris, cum quinque nauibus siue +nauigijs, cuiuscunque portiturae et qualitatis existant, et cum tot et +tantis nautis et hominibus, quot et quantos in dictis nauibus secum ducere +voluerint, suis et eorum proprijs sumptibus et expensis, ad inueniendum, +discooperiendum, et inuestigandum quascunque insulas, patrias, regiones +siue prouincias gentilium et infidelium quorumcunque, in quacunque parte +mundi positas, quae Christianis omnibus ante haec tempora fuerint incognitae. +Concessimus etiam eisdem et eorum cuilibet, eorumque et cuiuslibet eorum +haeredibus et deputatis, ac licentiam dedimus ad affigendum praedictas +banneras nostras et insignia in quacunque villa, oppido, castro, insula seu +terra firma a se nouiter inuentis. Et quod praenominatus Ioannes, et filij +eiusdem, seu haeredes et eorum deputati, quascunque huiusmodi villas, +castra, oppida, et insulas a se inuentas, quae subiugari, occupari, +possideri possint, subiugare, occupare, possidere valeant tanquam vasalli +nostri, et gubernatores, locatenentes, et deputati eorundem, dominium, +titulum et iurisdictionem earundem villarum, castrorum, oppidorum, +insularum, ac terrae firmae sic inuentorum nobis acquirendo. Ita tamen, vt ex +omnibus fructibus, proficuis, emolumentis, commodis, lucris, et +obuintionibus ex huiusmodi nauigatione prouenientibus, praefatus Iohannes, +et filij ac haeredes, et eorum deputati, teneanter et sint obligati nobis +pro omni viagio suo, toties quoties ad portum nostrum Bristolliae +applicuerint (ad quem omnino applicare teneantur et sint astricti) deductis +omnibus sumptibus et impensis necessarijs per eosdem factis, quintam partem +capitalis lucri facti, siue in mercibus, siue in pecunijs persoluere: +Dantes nos et concedentes eisdem suisque haeredibus et deputatis, vt ab omni +solutione custumarum omnium et singulorum honorum et mercium, quas secum +reportarint ab illis locis sic nouiter inuentis, liberi sint et immunes. Et +insuper dedimus et concessimus eisdem ac suis haeredibus et deputatis, quod +terrae omnes firmae, insulae, villae, oppida, castra, et loca quaecunque a se +inuenta, quotquot ab eis inueniri contigerit, non possint ab alijs +quibusuis nostris subditis frequentari seu visitari, absque licentia +praedictorum Ioannis et eius filiorum, suorumque deputatoram, sub poena +amissionis tam nauium quam bonorum omnium quorumcunque ad ea loca sic +inuenta nauigare praesumentium. Volentes et strictissime mandantes omnibus +et singulis nostris subditis, tam in terra quam in mari constitutis, vt +praefato Ioanni et eius filijs ac deputatis, bonam assistentiam faciant, et +tam in armandis nauibus seu nauigijs, quam in prouisione commeatus et +victualium pro sua pecunia emendorum, atque aliarum omnium rerum sibi +prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauore set auxilia +impertiant. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus +patentes. [Sidenote: Ann. Dom. 1495.] Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium +quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo. + +The same in English. + +Henry by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, +to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. + +Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue +and grant for vs and our heires, to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of +Venice,[9] to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the said Iohn, and +to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free +authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of +the East, of the West, and of the North, under our banners and ensignes, +with fiue ships of what burthen or quality soeuer they be, and as many +mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their +owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoeuer +isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels +whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which +before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians; we haue granted to +them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and their deputies, +and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery +village, towne, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. And that +the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignes may subdue, +occupy and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles of them +found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our vassals, and +lieutenants, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and iurisdiction of the same +villages, townes, castles, and firme land so found. [Sidenote: Bristol +thought the meetest port for Westerne discoueries.] Yet so that the +aforesayd Iohn, and his sonnes and heires, and their deputies, be holden +and bounden of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and commodities growing of +such nauigation, for euery their voyage, as often as they shall arriue at +our port of Bristoll (at the which port they shall be bound and holden +onely to arriue) all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made, +being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the +capitall gaine so gotten. [Sidenote: Freedome from custome.] We giuing and +granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies, that they shall be +free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as +they shall bring with them from those places so newly found. And moreouer, +we haue giuen and granted to them, their heires and deputies, that all the +firme lands, isles, villages, townes, castles and places whatsoeuer they be +that they shall chance to finde, may not of any other of our subiects be +frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his +sonnes, and their deputies, vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their +shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to +saile to those places so found. Willing, and most straightly commanding all +and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea, to giue good assistance +to the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in +arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in prouision of food, and +in buying of victuals for their money, and all other things by them to be +prouided necessary for the sayd nauigation, they do giue them all their +helpe and fauour. In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our +Letters patents. Witnesse our selfe at Westminister the fift day of March, +in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne.[10] + + * * * * * + +Billa signata anno 13 Henrici septimi. + +[Sidenote: A record of the rolls touching the voyage of Iohn Cabot and +Sebastian his sonne.] Rex tertio die Februarij, anno 13, licentiam dedit +Ioanni Caboto, quod ipse capere possit sex naues Anglicanas, in aliquo +portu, siue portibus regni Angliae, ita quod sint de portagio 200. doliorum, +vel subtus, cum apparatu requisito, et quod recipere possint in dictas +naues omnes tales magistros, marinarios, et subditos regis, qui cum eo +exire voluerint, &c. + + +The same in English. + +The king vpon the third day of February, in the 13 yeere of his reigne, +gaue licence to Iohn Cabot to take sixe English ships in any hauen or +hauens of the realme of England, being of the burden of 200 tunnes, or +vnder, with all necessary furniture, and to take also into the said ships +all such masters, mariners, and subjects of the king as willingly will go +with him, &c.[11] + + * * * * * + +An extract taken out of the map[12] of Sebastian Cabot, cut by Clement + Adams, concerning his discouery of the West Indies, which is to be seene + in her Maiesties priuie gallerie at Westminster, and in many other + ancient merchants houses. + +Anno Domini 1497 Ioannes Cabotus Venetus, et Sebastianus illius filius eam +terram fecerunt peruiam, quam nullus prius adire ausus fuit, die 24 Junij, +circiter horam quintam bene mane. Hanc autem appellauit Terram primum +visam, credo quod ex mari in eam partem primum oculos iniecerat. Nam quae ex +aduerso sita est insula eam appellauit insulam Diui Ioannis, hac opinor +ratione, quod aperta fuit eo die qui est sacer Diuo Ioanni Baptistae: Huius +incolae pelles animalium, exuuiasque ferarum pro indumentis habent, easque +tanti faciunt, quanti nos vestes preciosissimas. Cum bellum gerunt, vtuntur +arcu, sagittis, hastis, spiculis, clauis ligneis et fundis. Tellus sterilis +est, neque vllos fructus affert, ex quo fit, vt vrsis albo colore, et +ceruis inusitatae apud nos magnitudinis referta sit: piscibus abundat, +ijsque sane magnis, quales sunt lupi marini, et quos salmones vulgus +appellat; soleae autem reperiuntur tam longae, vt vlnae mensuram excedant. +Imprimis autem magna est copia eorum piscium, quos vulgari sermone vocant +Bacallaos. Gignuntur in ea insula accipitres ita nigri, vt coruorum +similitudinem mirum in modum exprimant, perdices autem et aquilae sunt nigri +coloris. + + +The same in English. + +In the yeere of our Lord 1497 Iohn Cabot a Venetian, and his sonne +Sebastian (with an English fleet set out from Bristoll) discouered that +land which no man before that time had attempted, on the 24 of Iune,[13] +about fiue of the clocke early in the morning. This land he called Prima +vista, that is to say, First seene, because as I suppose it was that part +whereof they had the first sight from sea. That Island which lieth out +before the land, he called the Island of S. Iohn vpon this occasion, as I +thinke, because it was discouered vpon the day of Iohn the Baptist. The +inhabitants of this Island vse to weare beasts skinnes, and haue them in as +great estimation as we haue our finest garments. In their warres they vse +bowes, arrowes, pikes, darts, woodden clubs, and slings. The soile is +barren in some places, and yeeldeth litle fruit, but it is full of white +beares, and stagges farre greater then ours. It yeeldeth plenty of fish, +and those very great, as seales, and those which commonly we call salmons: +there are soles also aboue a yard in length: but especially there is great +abundance of that kinde of fish which the Sauages call baccalaos. In the +same Island also there breed hauks, but they are so blacke that they are +very like to rauens, as also their partridges, and egles, which are in like +sort blacke. + + * * * * * + +A discourse of Sebastian Cabot touching his discouery of part of the West + India out of England in the time of king Henry the seuenth, vsed to + Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine, and reported by the + sayd Legate in this sort. + +[Sidenote: This discourse is taken out of the second volume of the voyages +of Baptista Ramusius.[14]] Doe you not vnderstand sayd he (speaking to +certaine Gentlemen of Venice) how to passe to India toward the Northwest, +as did of late a citizen of Venice, so valiant a man, and so well practised +in all things pertaining to nauigations, and the science of Cosmographie, +that at this present he hath not his like in Spaine, insomuch that for his +virtues he is preferred aboue all other pilots that saile to the West +Indies, who may not passe thither without his licence, and is therefore +called Piloto mayor, that is, the grand Pilot. [Sidenote: Sebastian Cabota +Pilot mayor of Spaine.] And when we sayd that we knew him not, he +proceeded, saying, that being certaine yeres in the city of Siuil, and +desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyards, it was +tolde him that there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian borne named +Sebastian Cabot, who had the charge of those things, being an expert man in +that science, and one that coulde make Cardes for the Sea, with his owne +hand, and by this report, seeking his acquaintance, hee found him a very +gentle person, who intertained him friendly, and shewed him many things, +and among other a large Mappe of the world, with certaine particular +Nauigations, as well of the Portugals, as of the Spaniards, and that he +spake further vnto him to this effect. + +When my father departed from Venice many yeeres since to dwell in England, +to follow the trade of marchandises, hee tooke mee with him to the citie of +London, while I was very yong, yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of +letters of humanitie, and of the Sphere. And when my father died in that +time when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had +discouered the coasts of India, whereof was great talke in all the Court of +king Henry the 7, who then raigned, insomuch that all men with great +admiration affirmed it to be a thing more diuine then humane, to saile by +the West into the East where spices growe, by a way that was neuer knowen +before, by this fame and report there increased in my heart a great flame +of desire to attempt some notable thing. And vnderstanding by reason of the +Sphere, that if I should saile by way of the Northwest, I should by a +shorter tract come into India, I thereupon caused the King to be aduertised +of my deuise, who immediatly commanded two Caruels to bee furnished with +all things appertayning to the voyage, which was as farre as I remember in +the yeere 1496. in the beginning of Sommer. I began therefore to saile +toward the Northwest, not thinking to finde any other land then that of +Cathay, and from thence to turne toward India, but after certaine dayes I +found that the land ranne towards the North, which was to mee a great +displeasure. Neuerthelesse, sayling along by the coast to see if I could +finde any gulfe that turned, I found the lande still continent to the 56. +degree vnder our Pole. And seeing that there the coast turned toward the +East, despairing to finde the passage, I turned backe againe, and sailed +downe by the coast of that land toward the Equinoctiall (euer with intent +to finde the saide passage to India) and came to that part of this firme +lande which is nowe called Florida, where my victuals failing, I departed +from thence and returned into England, where I found great tumults among +the people, and preparation for wanes in Scotland; by reason whereof there +was no more consideration had to this voyage. + +[Sidenote: The second voyage of Cabot to the land of Brazil, and Rio de +Plata.] Whereupon I went into Spaine to the Catholique king, and Queene +Elizabeth, which being aduertised what I had done, intertained me, and at +their charges furnished certaine ships, wherewith they caused me to saile +to discouer the coastes of Brazile, where I found an exceeding great and +large riuer named at this present Rio de la plata, that is, the riuer of +siluer, into the which I sailed and followed it into the firme land, more +then sixe score leagues, finding it euery where very faire, and inhabited +with infinite people, which with admiration came running dayly to our +ships. Into this Riuer runne so many other riuers, that it is in maner +incredible. + +[Sidenote: The office of Pilote maior.] After this I made many other +voyages, which I nowe pretermit, and waxing olde, I giue myselfe to rest +from such trauels, because there are nowe many yong and lustie Pilots and +Mariners of good experience, by whose forwardnesse I doe reioyce in the +fruit of my labours, and rest with the charge of this office, as you +see.[15] + + * * * * * + +The foresaide Baptista Ramusius in his preface to the thirde volume of the + Nauigations writeth thus of Sebastian Cabot. + +In the latter part of this volume are put certaine relations of Iohn de +Vararzana, Florentine, and of a great captaine a Frenchman, and the two +voyages of Iaques Cartier a Briton, who sailed vnto the land situate in 50. +degrees of latitude to the North, which is called New France, which landes +hitherto are not throughly knowen, whether they doe ioyne with the firme +lande of Florida and Noua Hispania, or whether they bee separated and +diuided all by the Sea as Ilands: and whether that by that way one may goe +by Sea vnto the countrey of Cathaia. [Sidenote: The great probabilitie of +this North-west passage.] As many yeeres past it was written vnto mee by +Sebastian Cabota our Countrey man a Venetian, a man of great experience, +and very rare in the art of Nauigation, and the knowledge of Cosmographie, +who sailed along and beyond this land of New France, at the charge of King +Henry the seuenth king of England: and he aduertised mee, that hauing +sailed a long time West and by North, beyond those Ilands vnto the Latitude +of 67. degrees and an halfe, vnder the North pole, and at the 11. day of +Iune finding still the open Sea without any manner of impediment, he +thought verily by that way to haue passed on still the way to Cathaia, +which is in the East, and would haue done it, if the mutinie of the +ship-master and Mariners had not hindered him and made him to returne +homewards from that place. But it seemeth that God doeth yet still reserue +this great enterprise for some great prince to discouer this voyage of +Cathaia by this way, which for the bringing of the Spiceries from India +into Europe, were the most easy and shortest of all other wayes hitherto +found out. And surely this enterprise would be the most glorious, and of +most importance of all other that can be imagined to make his name great, +and fame immortall, to all ages to come, farre more then can be done by any +of all these great troubles and warres which dayly are used in Europe among +the miserable Christian people. + + * * * * * + +Another testunonie of the voyage of Sebastian Cabot to the West and + Northwest, taken out of the sixt Chapter of the third Decade of Peter + Martyr of Angleria. + +Scrutatus est oras glaciales Sebastianus quidam Cabotus genere Venetus, sed +a parentibus in Britanniam insulam tendentibus (vti moris est Venetorum, +qui commercij causa terrarum omnium sunt hospites) transportatus pene +infans. Duo is sibi nauigia, propria pecunia in Britannia ipsa instruxit, +et primo tentens cum hominibus tercentum ad Septentrionem donec etiam Iulio +mense vastas repererit glaciates moles pelago natantes, et lucem fere +perpetuam, tellure tamen libera, gelu liquefacto: quare coactus fuit, vti +ait, vela vertere et occidentem sequi: tetenditque tantum ad meridiem +littore sese incuruante, vt Herculei freti latitudinis fere gradus aequarit: +ad occidentemque profectus tantum est vt Cubam Insulam a Iaeua, longitudine +graduum pene parem, habuerit. Is ea littora percurrens, quae Baccalaos +appelauit, eosdem se reperisse aquarum, sed lenes delapsus ad Occidentem +ait, quos Castellani, meridionales suas regiones adnauigantes, inuenient. +Ergo non modo verisimilius, sed necessario concludendum est, vastos inter +vtramque ignotam hactenus tellurem iacere hiatus, qui viam praebeant aquis +ab oriente cadentibus in Occidentem. Quas arbitror impulsu coelorum +circulariter agi in gyrum circa terrae globum, non autem Demogorgone +anhelante vomi, absorberique vt nonnulli senserunt, quod influxu, et +refluxu forsan assentire daretur. Baccalaos, Cabotus ipse terras illas +appellauit, eo quod in earum pelago tantam reperierit magnorum quorundam +piscium, tynnos aemulantium, sic vocatorum ab indigenis, multitudinem, vt +etiam illi interdum nauigia detardarent. Earum Regionum homines pellibus +tantum coopertos reperiebat, rationis haudquaquam expertes. Vrsorum inesse +regionibus copiam ingentem refert, qui et ipsi piscibus vescantur. Inter +densa namque piscium illorum agmina sese immergunt vrsi, et singulos +singuli complexos, vnguibusque inter squammas immissis in terram raptant et +comedunt. Propterea minime noxios hominibus visos esse ait Orichalcum in +plerisque locis se vidisse apud incolas praedicat. Familiarem habeo domi +Cabotum ipsum, et contubernalem interdum. Vocatus namque ex Britannia a +Rege nostro Catholico, post Henrici Maioris Britanniae Regis mortem, +concurialis noster est, expectatque indies, vt nauigia sibi parentur, +quibus arcanum hoc naturae latens iam tandem detegatur. + + +The same in English. + +These North Seas haue bene searched by one Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian +borne, whom being yet but in maner an infant, his parents carried with them +into England, hauing occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandise, +as in the maner of the Venetians to leaue no part of the world vnsearched +to obtaine riches. Hee therefore furnished two ships in England at his owne +charges, and first with 300 men directed his course so farre towards the +North pole, that euen in the moneth of Iuly he found monstrous heapes of +ice swimming on the sea, and in maner continuall day light, yet saw he the +land in that tract free from ice, which had bene molten by the heat of the +Sunne. Thus seeing such heapes of yce before him, hee was enforced to turne +his sailes and follow the West, so coasting still by the shore, that hee +was thereby brought so farre into the South, by reason of the land bending +so much Southwards, that it was there almost equal in latitude, with the +sea Fretum Hercoleum, hauing the Northpole eleuate in maner in the same +degree. He sailed likewise in this tract so farre towards the West, that +hee had the Island of Cuba on his left hand, in maner in the same degree of +longitude. [Sidenote: A current toward the West.] As hee traueiled by the +coastes of this great land, (which he named Baccalaos) he saith that hee +found the like course of the waters toward the West, but the same to runne +more softly and gently then the swift waters which the Spaniards found in +their Nauigations Southwards. Wherefore it is not onely more like to be +true, but ought also of necessitie to be concluded that betweene both the +lands hitherto vnknown, there should be certaine great open places whereby +the waters should thus continually passe from the East vnto the West: +[Sidenote: The people of Island say the Sea and yce setteth also West. +(Ionas Arngrimus.)[16]] which waters I suppose to be driuen about the globe +of the earth by the uncessant mouing and impulsion of the heauens, and not +to bee swallowed vp and cast vp againe by the breathing of Demogorgon, as +some haue imagined, because they see the seas by increase and decrease to +ebbe and flowe. Sebastian Cabot himselfe named those lands Baccalaos, +because that in the Seas thereabout hee found so great multitudes of +certaine bigge fishes much like vnto Tunies, (which the inhabitants called +Baccalaos) that they sometimes stayed his shippes. He found also the people +of those regions couered with beastes skinnes, yet not without the vse of +reason. He also saieth there is great plentie of Beares in those regions +which vse to eate fish: for plunging themselues into the water, where they +perceiue a multitude of these fishes to lie, they fasten their clawes in +their scales, and so draw them to land and eate them, so (as he saith) the +Beares being thus satisfied with fish, are not noisome to men. [Sidenote: +Copper found in many places by Cabote.] Hee declareth further, that in many +places of these Regions he saw great plentie of Copper among the +inhabitants. Cabot is my very friend, whom I vse familiarly, and delight to +haue sometimes keepe mee company in mine owne house. For being called out +of England by the commandement of the Catholique King of Castile, after the +death of King Henry the seuenth of that name king of England, he was made +one of our council and Assistants, as touching the affaires of the new +Indies, looking for ships dayly to be furnished for him to discouer this +hid secret of Nature. + + * * * * * + +The testimonie of Francis Lopez de Gomara a Spaniard, in the fourth Chapter + of the second Booke of his generall history of the West Indies concerning + the first discouerie of a great part of the West Indies, to wit, from 58. + to 38. degrees of latitude, by Sebastian Cabota out of England. + +He which brought most certaine newes of the countrey and people of +Baccalaos, saith Gomara, was Sebastian Cabote a Venetian, which rigged vp +two ships at the cost of K. Henry the 7. of England, hauing great desire to +traffique for the spices as the Portingalls did. He carried with him 300. +men, and tooke the way towards Island from beyond the Cape of Labrador, +vntill he found himselfe in 58. degrees and better. He made relation that +in the moneth of Iuly it was so cold, and the ice so great, that hee durst +not passe any further: that the dayes were long, in a maner without any +night, and for that short night that they had, it was very cleare. Cabot +feeling the cold, turned towards the West, refreshing himselfe at +Baccalaos: and afterwards he sayled along the coast vnto 38. degrees, and +from thence he shaped his course to returne into England. + + * * * * * + +A note of Sebastian Cabots[17] first discouerie of part of the Indies taken + out of the latter part of Robert Fabians Chronicle[18] not hitherto + printed, which is in the custodie of M. Iohn Stow[19] a diligent + preseruer of Antiquities. + +[Sidenote: Cabots voyage (from Bristol) wherein he discouered Newfound land +and the Northerne parts of that land, and from thence almost as farre as +Florida.[20]] In the 13. yeere of K. Henry the 7. (by meanes of one Iohn +Cabot a Venetian which made himselfe very expert and cunning in knowledge +of the circuit of the world and Ilands of the same, as by a Sea card and +other demonstrations reasonable he shewed) the King caused to man and +victuall a ship at Bristow, to search for an Island, which he said hee knew +well was rich, and replenished with great commodities: Which shippe thus +manned and victualled at the kings cost, diuers Merchants of London +ventured in her small stocks, being in her as chiefe patron the said +Venetian. And in the company of the said ship, sailed also out of Bristow +three or foure small ships fraught with sleight and grosse marchandizes, as +course cloth, caps, laces, points and other trifles. And so departed from +Bristow in the beginning of May, of whom in this Maiors time returned no +tidings. + + +Of three Sauages which Cabot brought home and presented vnto the King in + the foureteenth yere of his raigne, mentioned by the foresaid Robert + Fabian. + +This yeere also were brought vnto the king three men taken in the Newfound +Island that before I spake of, in William Purchas time being Maior: These +were clothed in beasts skins, and did eate raw flesh, and spake such speach +that no man could vnderstand them, and in their demeanour like to bruite +beastes, whom the King kept a time after. Of the which vpon two yeeres +after, I saw two apparelled after the maner of Englishmen in Westminster +pallace, which that time I could not discerne from Englishmen, til I was +learned what they were, but as for speach, I heard none of them vtter one +word. + + * * * * * + +A briefe extract concerning the discouene of Newfound-land, taken out of + the booke of M. Robert Thorne, to Doctor Leigh, &c. + +I Reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarie, so this inclination or +desire of this discouerie I inherited from my father, which with another +marchant of Bristol named Hugh Eliot, were the discouerours of the +Newfound-lands; of the which there is no doubt (as nowe plainely appeareth) +if the mariners would then haue bene ruled, and followed their Pilots +minde, but the lands of the West Indies, from whence all the golde cometh, +had bene ours; for all is one coast as by the Card appeareth, and is +aforesaid. + + * * * * * + +The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabot, + constituting him grand Pilot of England. + +Edwardus sextus Dei gratia Angliae, Franciae, et Hiberniae rex, omnibus +Christi fidelibus ad quos praesentes hae literae nostrae peruenerint, salutem. +Sciatis quod nos in consideratione boni et acceptabilis seruitij, nobis per +dilectum seruientem nostrum Sebastianum Cabotam impensi atque impendendi, +de gratia nostra speciali, ac ex certa scientia, et mero motu nostro, nec +non de aduisamento, et consensu praeclarissimi auunculi nostri Edwardi Ducis +Somerseti personae nostrae Gubernatoris, ac Regnorum, dominiorum, +subditorumque nostrorum protectoris, et caeterorum consiliariorum nostrorum, +dedimus et concessimus, ac per praesentes damus, et concedimus eidem +Sebastiano Cabotae, quandam annuitatem siue annualem reditum, centum +sexaginta et sex librarum, tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum +sterlingorum, habendam, gandendam, et annuatim percipiendam praedictam +annuitatem, siue annalem reditum eidem Sebastiano Cabotae, durante vita sua +naturali, de thesauro nostro ad receptum scacarij nostri Westmonasterij per +manus thesaurariorum, et Camerariorum nostrorum, ibidem pro tempore +existentium, ad festa annuntiationis beatae Mariae Virginis, natiuitatis +sancti Ioannis Baptistae, Sancti Michaelis Archangeli, et Natalis Domini per +aequales portiones soluendam. Et vlterius de vberiori gratia nostra, ac de +aduisamento, et consensu praedictis damus, et per praesentes concedimus +praefato Sebastiano Cabotae, tot et tantas Denariorum summas, ad quot et +quantas dicta annuitas siue annalis reditus centum sexaginta sex librarum, +tresdecim solidorum, et quatuor denariorum, a festo sancti Michaelis +Archangeli vltimo praeterito hue vsque se extendit, et attingit, habendas et +recipiendas praefato Sebastiano Cabotae et assignatis suis de thesauro nostro +praedicto per manus praedictoram Thesaurariorum, et Camerarioram nostrorum de +dono nostro absque computo, seu aliquo alio nobis, haeredibus, vel +successoribus nostris proinde reddendo, soluendo, vel faciendo: eo quod +expressa mentio, &c. In cuius rei testimonium, &c. [Sidenote: Anno D. 1549] +Teste Rege, apud Westmonasterium 6. die Ianuarij, Anno 2. Regis Edwardi +sexti. + + +The same in English. + +Edward the sixt by the grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, +defender of the faith, to all Christian people to whom these presents shall +come, sendeth greeting. Know yee that we, in consideration of the good and +acceptable seruice done, and to be done, vnto vs by our beloued seruant +Sebastian Cabota, of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, meere motion, +and by the aduice and counsel of our most honourable vncle Edward duke of +Somerset gouernour of our person, and Protector of our kingdomes, +dominions, and subiects, and of the rest of our Counsaile, haue giuen and +granted, and by these presents do giue and graunt to the said Sebastian +Cabota, a certaine annuitie, or yerely reuenue of one hundreth, three-score +and sixe pounds, thirteene shillings foure pence sterling, to haue, enioy, +and yerely receiue the foresaid annuitie, or yerely reuenue, to the +foresaid Sebastian Cabota during his natural life, out of our Treasurie at +the receit of our Exchequer at Westminster, at the hands of our Treasurers +and paymasters, there remayning for the time being, at the feasts of the +Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist, +S. Michael the Archangel, and the Natiuitie of our Lord, to be paid by +equal portions. + +And further, of our more speciall grace, and by the aduise and consent +aforesaide wee doe giue, and by these presents do graunt vnto the +aforesaide Sebastian Cabota, so many, and so great summes of money as the +saide annuitie or yeerely reuenue of an hundreth, three-score and sixe +pounds, thirteene shillings 4. pence, doeth amount and rise vnto from the +feast of S. Michael the Archangel last past vnto this present time, to be +had and receiued by the aforesaid Sebastian Cabota, and his assignes out of +our aforesaid Treasurie, at the handes of our aforesaide Treasurers, and +officers of our Exchequer of our free gift without accompt, or any thing +else therefore to be yeelded, payed, or made, to vs, our heires or +successours, forasmuch as herein expresse mention is made to the contrary. + +In witnesse whereof we haue caused these our Letters to be made patents: +Witnesse the King at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuarie, in the second +yeere of his raigne. The yeere of our Lord 1548. + + * * * * * + +A discourse written by Sir Humphrey Gilbert Knight,[21] to proue a passage + by the Northwest to Cathaia, and the East Indies. + +¶ The Table of the matters in euery Chapter of this discourse. + +Capitulo 1. + +To prone by anthoritie a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe +to Cataia, China, and to the East India. + +Capitulo 2. + +To prone by reason a passage to be on the North side of America, to goe to +Cataia, Moluccae, &c. + +Capitulo 3. + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauailes the opening of this +Northwest passage, whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Capitulo 4. + +To proue by circumstance, that the Northwest passage hath bene sailed +throughout. + +Capitulo 5. + +To proue that such Indians as haue bene driuen vpon the coastes of Germanie +came not thither by the Southeast, and Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America. + +Capitulo 6. + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed came not by the Northeast, and that +there is no thorow passage nauigable that way. + +Capitulo 7. + +To proue that these Indians came by the Northwest, which induceth a +certaintie of this passage by experience. + +Capitulo 8. + +What seuerall reasons were alleaged before the Queenes Maiestie, and +certaine Lords of her Highnesse priuie Council, by M. Anth. Ienkinson a +Gentleman of great trauaile and experience, to proue this passage by the +Northeast, with my seuerall answers then alleaged to the same. + +Capitulo 9. + +How that this passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffike, +then the other by the Northeast, if there were any such. + +Capitulo 10. + +What commodities would ensue, this passage being once discouered. + +To proue by authoritie a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe +to Cathaia, and the East India. + + +Chapter 1. + +When I gaue my selfe to the studie of Geographie, after I had perused and +diligently scanned the descriptions of Europe, Asia, and Afrike, and +conferred them with the Mappes and Globes both Antique and Moderne: I came +in fine to the fourth part of the world, commonly called America, which by +all descriptions I found to bee an Iland enuironed round about with Sea, +hauing on the Southside of it the frete or straight of Magellan, on the +West side Mar del Sur, which Sea runneth towards the North, separating it +from the East parts of Asia, where the Dominions of the Cathaians are: On +the East part our West Ocean, and on the North side the sea that seuereth +it from Groneland, thorow which Northern Seas the Passage lyeth, which I +take now in hand to discouer. + +Plato in Timaeo, and in the Dialogue called Critias, discourseth of an +incomparable great Iland then called Atlantis, being greater then all +Afrike and Asia, which lay Westward from the Straights of Gibraltar, +nauigable round about: affirming also that the Princes of Atlantis did as +well enioy the gouernance of all Affrike, and the most part of Europe, as +of Atlantis it selfe. + +Also to proue Platos opinion of this Iland, and the inhabiting of it in +ancient time by them of Europe, to be of the more credite; Marinaeus +Siculus[22] in his Chronicle of Spaine, reporteth that there haue bene +found by the Spaniards in the gold Mines of America, certaine pieces of +Money ingraued with the Image of Augustus Caesar: which pieces were sent to +the Pope for a testimonie of the matter, by Iohn Rufus Archbishop of +Consentinum. + +[Sidenote: Prodns pag. 24.] Moreouer, this was not only thought of Plato, +but by Marsilius Ficinus,[23] an excellent Florentine Philosopher, Crantor +the Graecian,[24] and Proclus,[25] and Philo[26] the famous Iew (as +appeareth in his booke De Mundo, and in the Commentaries vpon Plato,) to be +ouerflowen and swallowed vp with water, by reason of a mightie earthquake, +and streaming downe of the heauenly Fludgates. [Sidenote: Iustine Lib. 4.] +The like whereof happened vnto some part of Italy, when by the forciblenes +of the Sea, called Superum, it cut off Sicilia from the Continent of +Calabria, as appeareth in Iustine, in the beginning of his fourth booke. +Also there chanced the like in Zeland a part of Flanders. + +[Sidenote: Plinie.] And also the Cities of Pyrrha and Antissa, about Meotis +palus: and also the Citie Burys, in the Corynthian bosome, commonly called +Sinus Corinthiacus, haue bene swallowed vp with the Sea, and are not at +this day to be discerned: By which accident America grew to be ['be be' in +original--KTH] vnknowen of long time, vnto vs of the later ages, and was +lately discouered againe by Americus Vespucius,[27] in the yeere of our +Lord 1497. which some say to haue bene first discouered by Christophorus +Columbus a Genuois, Anno 1492. + +The same calamitie happened vnto this Isle of Atlantis 600. and odde yeres +before Plato his time, which some of the people of the Southeast parts of +the world accompted as 9000. yeeres: for the maner then was to reckon the +Moone her Period of the Zodiak for a yeere, which is our vsual moneth, +depending a Luminari minori. + +So that in these our dayes there can no other mayne or Islande be found or +iudged to bee parcell of this Atlantis, then those Westerne Islands, which +beare now the name of America: counteruailing thereby the name of Atlantis, +in the knowledge of our age.[28] + +[Sidenote: A minore ad maius.] Then, if when no part of the sayd Atlantis, +was oppressed by water, and earthquake, the coast round about the same were +nauigable: a farre greater hope now remaineth of the same by the Northwest, +seeing the most part of it was (since that time) swallowed vp with water, +which could not vtterly take away the olde deeps and chanels, but rather be +an occasion of the inlarging of the olde, and also an inforcing of a great +many new: why then should we now doubt of our Northwest passage and +nauigation from England to India? &c. seeing that Atlantis now called +America, was euer knowen to be an Island, and in those dayes nauigable +round about, which by accesse of more water could not be diminished. + +Also Aristotle in his booke De Mundo, and the learned Germaine Simon +Gryneus[29] in his annotations vpon the same, saith that the whole earth +(meaning thereby, as manifestly doth appeare, Asia, Africk and Europe, +being all the countreys then knowen) is but one Island, compassed about +with the reach of the sea Atlantine: which likewise prooueth America to be +an Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia, or the rest. + +[Sidenote: Strabo lib. 15] Also many ancient writers, as Strabo and others, +called both the Ocean Sea, (which lieth East of India) Atlanticum pelagus, +and that sea also on the West coasts of Spaine and Africk, Mare Atlanticum: +the distance betweene the two coasts is almost halfe the compasse of the +earth. + +[Sidenote: Valerius Anselmus[30] in Catalogo annorum et principum. fol. 6. +Gen. 9. 10.] So that it is incredible, as by Plato appeareth manifestly, +that the East Indian Sea had the name Atlanticum pelagus of the mountaine +Atlas in Africk, or yet the sea adioining to Africk, had the name Oceanus +Atlanticus of the same mountaine: but that those seas and the mountaine +Atlas were so called of this great Island Atlantis, and that the one and +the other had their names for a memorial of the mighty prince Atlas, +sometimes king thereof, who was Iaphet yongest sonne to Noah, in whose time +the whole earth was diuided between the three brethren, Sem, Cam, and +Iaphet. + +Wherefore I am of opinion that America by the Northwest will be found +fauourable to this our enterprise, and am the rather imboldened to beleeue +the same, for that I finde it not onely confirmed by Plato, Aristotle, and +other ancient Phylosophers: but also by all the best moderne Geographers, +as Gemma Frisius, Munsterus, Appianus, Hunterus, Gastaldus, +Guyccardinus,[31] Michael Tramasinus, Franciscus Demongenitus, Bernardus +Puteanus, Andreas Vauasor, Tramontanus, Petrus Martyr, and also +Ortelius,[32] who doth coast out in his generall Mappe set out Anno 1569, +all the countreys and Capes, on the Northwest side of America, from +Hochalega to Cape de Paramantia: describing likewise the sea coastes of +Cataia and Gronland, towards any part of America, making both Gronland and +America, Islands disioyned by a great Sea, from any part of Asia. + +All which learned men and paineful trauellers haue affirmed with one +consent and voice, that America was an Island: and that there lyeth a great +Sea betweene it, Cataia, and Grondland, by which any man of our countrey, +that will giue the attempt, may with small danger passe to Cataia, the +Molluccae, India, and all other places in the East, in much shorter time, +than either the Spaniard, or Portugal doeth, or may doe, from the neerest +parte, of any of their countreys within Europe. + +What moued these learned men to affirme thus much, I know not, or to what +ende so many and sundry trauellers of both ages haue allowed the same: +[Marginal note: We ought by reasons right to haue a reuerent opinion of +worthy men.] But I coniecture that they would neuer haue so constantly +affirmed, or notified their opinions therein to the world, if they had not +had great good cause, and many probable reasons, to haue lead them +therevnto. + +[Sidenote: A Nauigation of one Ochther made in king Alfreds time.] Now +least you should make small accompt of ancient writers or of their +experiences which trauelled long before our times, reckoning their +authority amongst fables of no importance: I haue for the better assurance +of those proofes, set downe some part of a discourse, written in the Saxon +tongue and translated into English by M. Nowel seruant to Sir William +Cecil, lord Burleigh, and lord high treasurer of England, wherein there is +described a Nauigation which one Ochther made, in the time of king Alfred, +king of Westsaxe Anno 871. the words of which discourse were these: +[Sidenote: A perfect description of our Moscouie voyage.] Hee sailed right +North, hauing alwaies the desert land on the Starborde, and on the Larbord +the maine sea, continuing his course, vntill hee perceiued that the coast +bowed directly towards the East, or else the Sea opened into the land he +could not tell how farre, where he was compelled to stay vntil he had a +westerne winde, or somewhat upon the North, and sayled thence directly East +alongst the coast, so farre as hee was able in foure dayes, where he was +againe inforced to tary vntill hee had a North winde, because the coast +there bowed directly towards the South, or at least opened he knew not howe +farre into the land, so that he sayled thence along the coast continually +full South, so farre as he could trauell in the space of fiue dayes, where +hee discouered a mighty riuer, which opened farre into the land, and in the +entrie of this riuer he turned backe againe.[33] + +[Sidenote: By Sir Hugh Willoughbie knight, Chancellor and Borough.[34]] +Whereby it appeareth that he went the very same way, that we now doe yerely +trade by S. Nicholas into Moscouia, which no man in our age knew for +certaintie to be by sea, vntil it was since discouered by our English men, +in the time of King Edward the sixt; but thought before that time that +Groneland had ioyned to Normoria, Byarmia, &c. and therefore was accompted +a new discouery, being nothing so indeede, as by this discourse of Ochther +it appeareth. + +Neuerthelesse if any man should haue taken this voyage in hand by the +encouragement of this onely author, he should haue bene thought but simple: +considering that this Nauigation was written so many yeres past, in so +barbarous a tongue by one onely obscure author, and yet we in these our +dayes finde by our owne experiences his former reports to be true. + +How much more then ought we to beleeue this passage to Cataia to bee, being +verified by the opinions of all the best, both Antique, and Moderne +Geographers, and plainely set out in the best and most allowed Mappes, +Charts, Globes, Cosmographical tables and discourses of this our age, and +by the rest not denied but left as a matter doubtfull. + + +To prooue by reason, a passage to be on the Northside of America, to goe to + Cataia, &c. + +Chap. 2. [3 in original--KTH] + +[Sidenote: Experimented by our English fishers.] First, all seas are +maintained by the abundance of water, so that the neerer the end any Riuer, +Bay, or Hauen is, the shallower it waxeth, (although by some accidentall +barre, it is sometime found otherwise) But the farther you sayle West from +Island towards the place, where this fret is thought to be, the more deepe +are the seas: which giueth vs good hope of continuance of the same Sea with +Mar del Sur, by some fret that lyeth betweene America, Groneland and +Cataia. + +2 Also if that America were not an Island, but a part of the continent +adioyning to Asia, either the people which inhabite Mangia, Anian, and +Quinsay, &c. being borderers vpon it, would before this time haue made some +road into it hoping to haue found some like commodities to their owne. + +[Sidenote: Neede makes the old wife to trotte.] 3 Or els the Scythians and +Tartarians (which often times heretofore haue sought farre and neere for +new seats, driuen therevnto through the necessitie of their cold and +miserable countreys) would in all this time haue found the way to America, +and entred the same, had the passages bene neuer so straite or difficult; +the countrey being so temperate pleasant and fruitfull, in comparison of +their owne. But there was neuer any such people found there by any of the +Spaniards, Portugals, or Frenchmen, who first discouered the Inland of that +countrey: which Spaniards or Frenchmen must then of necessitie haue seene +some one ciuil man in America, considering how full of ciuill people Asia +is; But they neuer saw so much as one token or signe, that euer any man of +the knowen part of the world had bene there. + +4 Furthermore it is to be thought, that if by reason of mountaines, or +other craggy places, the people neither of Cataia or Tartarie could enter +the countrey of America, or they of America haue entred Asia, if it were so +ioyned: yet some one sauage or wandring beast would in so many yeres haue +passed into it: but there hath not any time bene found any of the beasts +proper to Cataia, or Tartarie &c. in America: nor of those proper to +America, in Tartarie, Cataia, &c. or any part of Asia. Which thing proueth +America, not onely to be one Island, and in no part adioyning to Asia: But +also that the people of those Countreys, haue not had any traffique with +each other. + +5 Moreouer at the least some one of those paineful trauellers, which of +purpose haue passed the confines of both countreys, with intent only to +discouer, would as it is most likely haue gone from the one to the other: +if there had bene any piece of land, or Isthmos, to haue ioyned them +together, or els haue declared some cause to the contrary. + +6 But neither Paulus Venetus,[35] who liued and dwelt a long time in +Cataia, euer came into America, and yet was at the sea coastes of Mangia, +ouer against it where he was embarked, and performed a great Nauigation +along those seas: Neither yet Verarzanus,[36] or Franciscus Vasques de +Coronado, who trauelled the North part of America by land, euer found entry +from thence by land to Cataia, or any part of Asia. + +7 Also it appeareth to be an Island, insomuch as the Sea [Marginal note: +The Sea hath three motions. 1 Motum ab oriente in occidentem. 2 Motum +fluxus et refluxus. 3 Motum circularem. Ad caeli motum elementa omnia +(excepta terra) mouentur.] runneth by nature circularly from the East to +the West, following the diurnal motion of Primum Mobile, which carieth with +it all inferiour bodies moueable, aswel celestiall as elemental; which +motion of the waters is most euidently seene in the Sea, which lieth on the +Southside of Afrike where the current that runneth from the East to the +West is so strong (by reason of such motion) that the Portugals in their +voyages Eastward to Calicut, in passing by Cap. de buona Speranca are +enforced to make diuers courses, the current there being so swift as it +striketh from thence all along Westward vpon the fret of Magellan, being +distant from thence, neere the fourth part of the longitude of the earth; +and not hauing free passage and entrance thorow, the fret towards the West, +by reason of the narrownesse of the sayd Straite of Magelian [sic--KTH], it +runneth to salue this wrong, (Nature not yeelding to accidentall +restraints) all along the Easterne coastes of America, Northwards so far as +Cape Fredo, being the farthest knowne place of the same continent towards +the North: which is about 4800 leagues, reckoning therewithall the trending +of the land. + +[Sidenote: Posita causa ponitur effectus.] 8 So that this current being +continually maintained with such force, as Iaques Cartier[37] affirmeth it +to be, who met with the same being at Baccalaos, as he sayled along the +coastes of America, then either it must be of necessitie haue way to passe +from Cape Fredo, thorow this fret, Westward towards Cataia, being knowen to +come so farre, onely to salue his former wrongs, by the authority before +named: or els it must needes strike ouer, vpon the coast of Island, Norway, +Finmarke, and Lappia, (which are East from the sayd place about 360 +leagues) with greater force then it did from Cape de buona Speranca, vpon +the fret of Magellan, or from the fret of Magellan to Cape Fredo, vpon +which coastes Iaques Cartier met with the same, considering the shortnesse +of the Cut from the sayd Cape Fredo, to Island, Lappia, &c. And so the +cause Efficient remaining, it would haue continually followed along our +coasts, through the narrow seas, which it doth not, but is digested about +the North of Labrador, by some through passage there thorow this fret. + +[Sidenote: Conterenus.] The like course of the water in some respect +happeneth in the Mediterrane sea, (as affirmeth Conterenus) whereas the +current which cometh from Tanais, and Pontus Euxinus, running along all the +coasts of Greece, Italy, France, and Spaine, and not finding sufficient way +out through Gibraltar, by meanes of the straitnesse of the fret it runneth +backe againe along the coastes of Barbary, by Alexandria, Natolia, &c. + +[Sidenote: An objection answered.] It may (peraduenture) bee thought that +this course of the sea doth sometime surcease, and thereby impugne this +principle, because it is not discerned all along the coast of America, in +such sort as Iaques Cartier found it: Wherevnto I answere this: that +albeit, in euery part of the Coast of America, or elswhere this current is +not sensibly perceuied, yet it hath euermore such like motion, either in +the vppermost or nethermost part of the sea; as it may be proued true, if +ye sinke a sayle by a couple of ropes, neere the ground, fastening to the +nethermost corners two gunne chambers or other weights: by the driuing +whereof you shall plainely perceiue, the course of the water, and current +running with such course in the bottome. [Marginal note: The sea doth +euermore performe this circular motion, either in Suprema, or concaua +superficie aquae.] + +By the like experiment, you may finde the ordinary motion of the sea, in +the Ocean: howe farre soeuer you be off the land. + +9 Also there commeth another current from out the Northeast from the +Scythian Sea (as M. Ienkinson a man of rare vertue, great trauail and +experience, told me) which runneth Westward towardes Labrador, [Marginal +note: The yce set westward euery yeere from Island. Auth. Iona Arngriimo.] +as the other did, which commeth from the South: so that both these +currents, must haue way thorow this our fret, or else encounter together +and runne contrarie courses; in one line, but no such conflicts of +streames, or contrary courses are found about any part of Labrador, or +Terra noua, as witnesse our yeerely fishers, and other saylers that way, +but is there disgested, as aforesayd, and found by experience of Barnard de +la Torre, to fall into Mar del Sur. + +10 Furthermore, the current in the great Ocean, could not haue beene +maintained to runne continually one way, from the beginning of the world +vnto this day, had there not beene some thorow passage by the fret +aforesayd, and so by circular motion bee brought againe to maintaine it +selfe: For the Tides and courses of the sea are maintayned by their +interchangeable motions: as fresh riuers are by springs, by ebbing and +flowing, by rarefaction and condensation. + +So that it resteth not possible (so farre as my simple reason can +comprehend) that this perpetuall current can by any meanes be maintained, +but onely by continuall reaccesse of the same water, which passeth thorow +the fret, and is brought about thither againe, by such circular motion as +aforesayd. [Marginal note: The flowing is occasioned by reason that the +heate of the moone boyleth, and maketh the water thinne by way of +rarefaction.] And the certaine falling thereof by this fret into Mar del +Sur [Marginal note: An experience to prooue the falling of this current +into Mar del Sur.] is prooued by the testimonie and experience of Bernard +de la Torre, who was sent from P. de la Natiuidad to the Moluccae, Anno +domini 1542. by commandement of Anthony Mendoza, then Viceroy of Noua +Hispania, which Bernard sayled 750. Leagues, on the Northside of the +Aequator, and there met with a current, which came from the Northeast, the +which droue him backe againe to Tidore. + +Wherfore, this current being proued to come from C. de buona Speranca to +the fret of Magellan, and wanting sufficient entrance there, by narrownes +of the straite, is by the necessitie of natures force, brought to Terra de +Labrador, where Iaques Cartier met the same, and thence certainly knowen, +not to strike ouer vpon Island, Lappia, &c. and found by Bernard de la +Torre in Mar del Sur, on the backeside of America: therefore this current +(hauing none other passage) must of necessity fall out thorow this our fret +into Mar del Sur, and so trending by the Moluccae, China, and C. de buona +Speranca, maintaineth it selfe, by circular motion, which is all one in +nature, with Motus ab Oriente in Occidentem. + +So that it seemeth, we haue now more occasion to doubt of our returne, then +whether there be a passage that way, yea or no: which doubt, hereafter +shall be sufficiently remooued. Wherefore, in mine opinion, reason it self, +grounded vpon experience, assureth vs of this passage, if there were +nothing els to put vs in hope thereof. But least these might not suffice, I +haue added in this chapter following, some further proofe hereof, by the +experience of such as haue passed some part of this discouerie: and in the +next adioining to that the authority of those, which haue sailed wholy, +thorow euery part thereof. + + +To proue by experience of sundry mens trauels, the opening of some part of + this Northwest passage: whereby good hope remaineth of the rest. + +Chap. 3. + +Paulus Venetus, who dwelt many yeres in Cataia, affirmed that hee sayled +1500 miles vpon the coastes of Mangia, and Anian, towards the Northeast: +alwayes finding the Seas open before him, not onely as farre as he went, +but also as farre as he could discerne. + +[Sidenote: Alcatrarzi be Pelicanes.] 2 Also Franciscus Vasques de Coronado +passing from Mexico by Ceuola, through the country of Quiuira, to Siera +Neuada, found there a great sea, where were certaine ships laden with +Merchandise, carrying on their prowes the pictures of certaine birds called +Alcatrarzi, part whereof were made of golde, and part of siluer, who +signified by signes, that they were thirty dayes comming thither: which +likewise proueth America by experience to be disioyned from Cataia: on that +part by a great Sea, because they could not come from any part of America, +as Natiues thereof: for that so farre as is discouered, there hath not bene +found there any one Shippe of that countrey. + +[Sidenote: Baros lib. 9. Of his first Decas cap 1.] 3. In like maner, Iohn +Baros[38] testifieth that the Cosmographers of China (where he himselfe had +bene) affirme that the Sea coast trendeth from thence Northeast, to 50 +degrees of Septentrional latitude, being the furthest part that way which +the Portugals had then knowledge of: And that the said Cosmographers knew +no cause to the contrary, but that it might continue further. + +By whose experiences America is prooued to be separate from those parts of +Asia, directly against the same. And not contented with the iudgements of +these learned men only, I haue searched what might be further sayd for the +confirmation hereof. + +4 And I found that Franciscus Lopez de Gomara affirmeth America to be an +Island, and likewise Gronland: and that Gronland is distant from Lappia 40 +leagues, and from Terra de Labrador, 50. + +5 Moreouer, Aluaros Nunnius[39] a Spaniard, and learned Cosmographer, and +Iacobus Cartier, who made two voyages into those parts, and sayled 900 +miles upon the Northeast coastes of America doe in part confirme the same. + +6 Likewise Hieronymus Fracastorius,[40] a learned Italian, and trauailer in +the North parts of the same land. + +7 Also Iaques Cartier hauing done the like, heard say at Hochelaga in Noua +Francia, how that there was a great Sea at Saguinay, whereof the end was +not knowen: which they presupposed to be the passage to Cataia. + +[Sidenote: Written in the discourses of Nauigation.] Furthermore, Sebastian +Cabota by his personal experience and trauel hath set foorth, and described +this passage in his Charts, which are yet to be seene in the Queens +Maiesties priuie Gallerie at Whitehall, who was sent to make this discouery +by king Henrie the seuenth, and entred the same fret: affirming that he +sayled very farre Westward, with a quarter of the North, on the Northside +of Terra de Labrador the eleuenth of Iune, vntill he came to the +Septentrionall latitude of 67 degrees and a halfe,[41]and finding the Seas +still open, sayd, that he might, and would haue gone to Cataia, if the +mutinie of the Master and Mariners had not bene. + +Now as these mens experience hath proued some part of this passage: so the +chapter following shal put you in full assurance of the rest, by their +experiences which haue passed through euery part thereof. + + +To prooue by circumstance that the Northwest passage hath bene sayled + throughout. + +Chap. 4. + +The diuersitie betwene bruite beastes and men, or betweene the wise and the +simple is, that the one iudgeth by sense onely, [Marginal note: Quinque +sensus. 1 Visus. 2 Auditus. 3 Olfactus. 4 Gustus. 5 Tactus. Singularia +sensu, vniuersalia vero mente percipiuntur.] and gathereth no surety of any +thing that he hath not seene, felt, heard, tasted, or smelled: And the +other not so onely, but also findeth the certaintie of things by reason, +before they happen to be tryed. Wherefore I haue added proofes of both +sorts, that the one and the other might thereby be satisfied. + +1 First, as Gemma Frisius reciteth, there went from Europe three brethren +through this passage: whereof it tooke the name of Fretum trium fratrum. + +3 Also Plinie affirmeth out of Cornelius Nepos, (who wrote 57 yeeres before +Christ) that there were certaine Indians driuen by tempest, vpon the coast +of Germanie which were presented by the king of Sueuia, vnto Quintus +Metellus Celer, the Proconsull of France. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. cap. 66.] 3 And Plinie vpon the same sayth, that it is +no maruel though there be Sea by the North, where there is such abundance +of moisture: which argueth that hee doubted not of a nauigable passage that +way, through which those Indians came. + +[Sidenote: Pag. 590.] 4 And for the better proofe that the same authoritie +of Cornelius Nepos is not by me wrested, to proue my opinion of the +Northwest passage: you shall finde the same affirmed more plainly in that +behalfe, by the excellent Geographer Dominicus Marius Niger, who sheweth +how many wayes the Indian sea stretcheth it selfe, making in that place +recital of certaine Indians, that were likewise driuen through the North +Seas from India, vpon the coastes of Germany, by great tempest, as they +were sayling in trade of marchandize. + +5 Also while Frederic Barbarossa reigned Emperour, Anno Do. 1160. there +came certaine other Indians vpon the coast of Germanie. [Marginal note: +Auouched by Franciscus Lopes de Gomara in his historie of India, lib. I. +cap. 10.] + +6 Likewise Othon in the storie of the Gothes affirmeth, that in the time of +the Germane Emperours there were also certaine Indians cast by force of +weather, vpon the coast of the sayd countrey, which foresaid Indians could +not possibly haue come by the Southeast, Southwest, nor from any part of +Afrike or America, nor yet by the Northeast: therefore they came of +necessitie by this our Northwest passage. + + +To prooue that these Indians aforenamed came not by the Southeast, + Southwest, nor from any other part of Afrike, or America. + +Cap. 5. + +First, they could not come from the Southeast by the Cape de bona Speranca, +because the roughnes of the Seas there is such (occasioned by the currents +and great winds in that part) that the greatest armadas the king of +Portugal hath, cannot without great difficulty passe that way, much lesse +then a Canoa of India could liue in those outragious seas without +shipwracke (being a vessel of very small burden) and haue conducted +themselues to the place aforesayd, being men vnexpert in the Arte of +nauigation. + +2 Also, it appeareth plainely that they were not able to come from alongst +the coast of Afrike aforesayd, to those parts of Europe, because the winds +doe (for the most part) blow there Easterly off from the shore, and the +current running that way in like sort, should haue driuen them Westward +vpon some part of America: for such winds and tides could neuer haue led +them from thence to the said place where they were found, nor yet could +they haue come from any of the countries aforesayd, keeping the seas +alwayes, without skilful mariners to haue conducted them such like courses +as were necessary to performe such a voiage. + +3 Presupposing also, if they had bene driuen to the West (as they must haue +bene, comming that way) then they should haue perished, wanting supplie of +victuals, not hauing any place (once leauing the coast of Afrike) vntill +they came to America, nor from America vntill they arriued vpon some part +of Europe, or the Islands adioyning to it, to haue refreshed themselues. + +4 Also, if (notwithstanding such impossibilities) they might haue recouered +Germanie by comming from India by the Southeast, yet must they without all +doubt haue stricken vpon some other part of Europe before their arriuall +there, as the Isles of the Acores, Portugal, Spaine, France, England, +Ireland, &c. which if they had done, it is not credible that they should or +would haue departed vndiscovered of the inhabitants: but there was neuer +found in those dayes any such ship or men but only vpon the coasts of +Germanie, where they haue bene sundry times and in sundry ages cast aland: +neither is it like that they would haue committed themselues againe to sea, +if they had so arriued, not knowing where they were, nor whither to haue +gone. + +[Sidenote: This fifth reason by later experience is proued vtterly vntrue.] +5 And by the Southwest it is vnpossible, because the current aforesayd +which commeth from the East, striketh with such force vpon the fret of +Magellan, and falleth with such swiftnesse and furie into Mar del Zur, that +hardly any ship (but not possibly a Canoa, with such vnskilfull mariners) +can come into our Westerne Ocean through that fret, from the West seas of +America, as Magellans experience hath partly taught vs. + +[Sidenote: That the Indians could not be natiues either of Africa, or of +America.] 6 And further, to prooue that these people so arriuing vpon the +coast of Germany, were Indians, and not inhabiters of any part either of +Africa or America, it is manifest, because the natiues both of Africa and +America neither had, or haue at this day (as is reported) other kind of +boates then such as do beare neither mastes nor sailes, (except onely vpon +the coasts of Barbarie and the Turkes ships) but do carie themselues from +place to place neere the shore by the ore onely. + + +To prooue that those Indians came not by the Northeast, and that there is + no thorow nauigable passage that way. + +Cap. 6. + +It is likely that there should be no thorow passage by the Northeast, +whereby to goe round about the world, because all Seas (as aforesayd) are +maintained by the abundance of water, waxing more shallow and shelffie +towards the ende, as we find it doeth by experience in Mare Glaciali, +towards the East, which breedeth small hope of any great continuance of +that sea, to be nauigable towards the East, sufficient to saile thereby +round about the world. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid naturali loco priuatur, quam citisime corrumpitur.] +[Sidenote: Qualis causa, talis effectus.] 2 Also, it standeth scarcely with +reason, that the Indians dwelling vnder Torrida Zone, could endure the +iniurie of the cold ayre, about the Septentrional latitude of 80. degrees, +vnder which eleuation the passage by the Northeast cannot bee (as the often +experience had of all the South parts of it sheweth) seeing that some of +the inhabiants of this cold climate (whose Summer is to them an extreme +Winter) haue bene stroken to death with the cold damps of the aire about 72 +degrees, by an accidental mishap, and yet the aire in such like Eleuation +is alwaies cold, and too cold for such as the Indians are. + +3 Furthermore, the piercing cold of the grosse thicke aire so neere the +Pole wil so stiffen and furre the sailes and ship tackling, that no mariner +can either hoise or strike them (as our experience farre neerer the South, +then this passage is presupposed to be, hath taught vs) without the vse +whereof no voiage can be performed. + +4 Also the aire is so darkened with continuall mists and fogs so neere the +Pole, that no man can well see, either to guide his ship, or direct his +course. + +5 Also the compasse at such eleuation doth very suddenly vary, which things +must of force haue bene their destructions, although they had bene men of +much more skill then the Indians are. + +[Sidenote: Similium similis est ratio.] 6 Moreouer, all baies, gulfes, and +riuers doe receiue their increase vpon the flood, sensibly to be discerned +on the one side of the shore or the other, as many waies as they be open to +any main sea, as Mare Mediterraneum, Mare Rubrum, Sinus Persicus, Sinus +Bodicus, Thamesis, and all other knowen hauens or riuers in any part of the +world, and each of them opening but on one part to the maine sea, doe +likewise receiue their increase vpon the flood the same way, and none +other, which Mare Glaciale doeth, onely by the West, as M. Ienkinson +affirmed vnto me: and therefore it followeth that this Northeast sea, +receiuing increase but onely from the West, cannot possibly open to the +maine Ocean by the East. + +7 Moreouer, the farther you passe into any sea towards the end of it, on +that part which is shut vp from the maine sea (as in all those aboue +mentioned) the lesse and lesse the tides rise and fall. The like whereof +also happeneth in Mare Glaciale, which proueth but small continuance of +that sea toward the East. + +[Sidenote: Quicquid corrumpitur a contrario corrumpitur.] 8 Also, the +further yee goe toward the East in Mare Glaciale, the lesse salt the water +is: which could not happen, if it were open to the salt Sea towards the +East, as it is to the West only, seeing Euery thing naturally ingendreth +his like: and then must it be like salt throughout, as all the seas are, in +such like climate and eleuation.[42] + +[Sidenote: Omne simile giguit sui simile.] And therefore it seemeth that +this Northeast sea is maintained by the riuer Ob, and such like freshets, +as Mare Goticum, and Mare Mediterraneum, in the vppermost parts thereof by +the riuers Nilus, Danubius, Neper, Tanais, &c. + +9 Furthermore, if there were any such sea at that eleuation, of like it +should be alwaies frozen throughout (there being no tides to hinder it) +because the extreme coldnes of the aire being in the vppermost part, and +the extreme coldnesse of the earth in the bottome, the sea there being but +of small depth, whereby the one accidentall coldnesse doth meet with the +other, and the Sunne not hauing his reflection so neere the Pole, but at +very blunt angels, it can neuer be dissolued after it is frozen, +notwithstanding the great length of their day: for that the sunne hath no +heate at all in his light or beames, but proceeding onely by an accidentall +reflection, which there wanteth in effect. + +10 And yet if the Sunne were of sufficient force in that eleuation, to +preuaile against this ice, yet must it be broken before it can be +dissolued, which cannot be but through the long continuance of the sunne +aboue their Horizon, and by that time the Sommer would be so farre spent, +and so great darkenes and cold ensue, that no man could be able to endure +so cold, darke, and discomfortable a nauigation, if it were possible for +him then, and there to liue. + +11 Further, the ice being once broken, it must of force so driue with the +windes and tides, that no ship can saile in those seas, seeing our Fishers +of Island, and the New found land, are subiect to danger through the great +Islands of Ice which fleete in the Seas (to the sailers great danger) farre +to the South of that presupposed passage. + +And it cannot be that this Northeast passage should be any neerer the +South, then before recited, for then it should cut off Ciremissi, and Turbi +Tartari, with Vzesucani, Chisani, and others from the Continent of Asia, +which are knowen to be adioyning to Scythia, Tartaria, &c. with the other +part of the same Continent. + +And if there were any thorowe passage by the Northeast, yet were it to +small ende and purpose for our traffique, because no shippe of great burden +can Nauigate in so shallow a Sea: and ships of small burden are very vnfit +and vnprofitable, especially towards the blustering North to performe such +a voyage. + + +To prooue that the Indians aforenamed, came only by the Northwest, which + induceth a certaintie of our passage by experience. + +Cap. 7. + +It is as likely that they came by the Northwest, as it is vnlikely that +they should come, either by the Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, or from +any other part of Africa or America, and therefore this Northwest passage +hauing bene alreadie so many wayes prooued, by disproouing of the others, +&c. I shall the lesse neede in this place, to vse many words otherwise then +to conclude in this sort, That they came onely by the Northwest from +England, hauing these many reasons to leade me thereunto. + +1 First, the one halfe of the windes of the compasse might bring them by +the Northwest, bearing alwayes betweene two sheats, with which kind of +sayling the Indians are onely acquainted, not hauing any vse of a bow line, +or quarter winde, without the which no ship can possibly come either by the +Southeast, Southwest or Northeast, having so many sundry Capes to double, +whereunto are required such change and shift of windes. + +2 And it seemeth likely that they should come by the Northwest, [Marginal +note: True both in ventis oblique flantibus, as also in ventis ex diamentro +spitantibus.] because the coast whereon they were driuen, lay East from +this our passage, And all windes doe naturally driue a ship to an opposite +point from whence it bloweth, not being otherwise guided by Arte, which the +Indians do vtterly want, and therefore it seemeth that they came directly +through this our fret, which they might doe with one wind. + +3 For if they had come by the Cape de buona Speranca, then must they (as +aforesaid) haue fallen vpon the South parts of America. + +4 And if by the fret of Magellan, then vpon the coasts of Afrike, Spaine, +Portugall, France, Ireland or England. + +5 And if by the Northeast, then vpon the coasts of Cerremissi, Tartarji, +Lappia, Island, Terra de Labrador, &c. and vpon these coasts (as aforesaid) +they haue neuer bene found. + +So that by all likelihood they could neuer haue come without shipwracke +vpon the coastes of Germanie, if they had first striken vpon the coastes of +so many countries, wanting both Arte and shipping to make orderly +discouery, and altogether ignorant both in the Arte of Nauigation, and also +of the Rockes, Flats, Sands or Hauens of those parts of the world, which in +most of these places are plentifull. + +6 And further it seemeth very likely, that the inhabitants of the most part +of those countries, by which they must haue come any other way besides by +the Northwest, being for the most part Anthropophagi, or men eaters, would +haue deuoured them, slaine them, or (at the least wise) kept them as +wonders for the gaze. + +So that it plainely appeareth that those Indians (which as you haue heard +in sundry ages were driuen by tempest vpon the shore of Germanie) came +onely through our Northwest passage. + +7 Moreouer, the passage is certainely prooued by a Nauigation that a +Portugall made, who passed through this fret, giuing name to a promontorie +farre within the same, calling it after his owne name, Promontorium +Corterialis, neere adioyning vnto Polisacus fluuius. + +8 Also one Scolmus a Dane entred and passed a great part thereof. + +9 Also there was one Saluaterra, a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine, that +came by chance out of the West Indias into Ireland, Anno 1568. who affirmed +the Northwest passage from vs to Cataia, constantly to be beleeued in +America nauigable. And further said in the presence of sir Henry Sidney +(then lord Deputie of Ireland) in my hearing, that a Frier of Mexico, +called Andrew Vrdaneta, more then eight yeeres before his then comming into +Ireland, told him there, that he came from Mar del Sur into Germany through +this Northwest passage, and shewed Saluaterra (at that time being then with +him in Mexico) a Sea Card made by his owne experience and trauell in that +voyage, wherein was plainly set downe and described this Northwest passage, +agreeing in all points with Ortelius mappe. + +And further, this Frier tolde the king of Portugall (as he returned by that +countrey homeward) that there was (of certainty) such a passage Northwest +from England, and that he meant to publish the same: which done, the king +most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the passage +knowen to any nation: [Marginal note: The words of the king of Portugall to +Andro Vrdaneta a Frier, touching the concealing of this Northwest passage +from England to Cataia.] For that (said the King) if England had knowledge +and experience thereof, it would greatly hinder both the king of Spaine and +me. This Frier (as Saluaterra reported) was the greatest Discouerer by sea, +that hath bene in our age. Also Saluaterra being perswaded of this passage +by the frier Vrdaneta, and by the common opinion of the Spaniards +inhabiting America, offered most willingly to accompanie me in this +Discouery, which of like he would not haue done if he had stood in doubt +thereof. [43] + +[Sidenote: An obiection.] And now as these moderne experiences cannot be +impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of +ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to +prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India +were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise: +[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle +(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who +liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in +the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which +ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before +Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of +Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in +his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had +the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that +both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes. + +These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues +of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to +come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of +diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named, +the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c. + +And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of +this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons +with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following. + + +Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast, + before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by + Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same. + +Cap. 8. + +Because you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me, as +what doth serue for my purpose, I haue here added the reasons of Master +Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman, and a great traueller, who conceiued +a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs, to be by the Northeast, +then by the Northwest. + +[Sidenote: The Northwest passage assented vnto.] He first said that he +thought not to the contrary, but that there was a passage by the Northwest +according to mine opinion: but assured he was, that there might be found a +nauigable passage by the Northeast from England, to goe to all the East +parts of the world, which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes. + +[Sidenote: The first reason.] The first was that he heard a Fisherman of +Tartaria say in hunting the Morce, that he sayled very farre towards the +Southeast, finding no end of the Sea: whereby he hoped a thorow passage to +be that way. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that the +Tartarians were a barbarous people, and vtterly ignorant in the Arte of +Nauigation, not knowing the vse of the Sea Card, Compasse or Starre, which +he confessed to be true: and therefore they could not (said I) certainly +know the Southeast from the Northeast, in a wide sea, and a place vnknowen +from the sight of the land. + +Or if he sailed any thing neere the shore, yet he (being ignorant) might be +deceiued by the doubling of many points and Capes, and by the trending of +the land, albeit he kept continually alongst the shore. + +[Sidenote: Visus nonnunquam fallitur in suo obiecto.] And further, it might +be that the poore Fishermen through simplicitie thought that there was +nothing that way but sea, because he saw no land: which proofe (vnder +correction) giueth small assurance of a Nauigable sea by the Northeast, to +goe round about the world, For that be iudged by the eye onely, seeing we +in this our cleare aire doe account twentie miles a ken at Sea. + +[Sidenote: The second reason or allegation.] His second reason is, that +there was an Vnicornes horne found vpon the coast of Tartaria, which could +not come (said he) thither by any other meanes then with the tides, through +some fret in the Northeast of Mare Glaciale, there being no Vnicorne in any +part of Asia, sauing in India and Cataia: which reason (in my simple +iudgement) forceth as litle. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] First, it is doubtfull whether those +barbarous Tartarians do know an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no: and if it were +one, yet it is not credible that the Sea could haue driuen it so farre, +being of such nature that it will not swimme. + +Also the tides running too and fro, would haue driuen it as farre backe +with the ebbe, as it brought it forward with the flood. + +There is also a beast called Asinus Indicus (whose horne most like it was) +which hath but one horne like an Vnicorne in his forehead, whereof there is +great plenty in all the North parts thereunto adioyning, as in Lappia, +Noruegia, Finmarke, &c. as Iacobus Zieglerus writeth in his historie of +Scondia. + +And as Albertus saieth, there is a fish which hath but one horne in his +forehead like to an Vnicorne, and therefore it seemeth very doubtfull both +from whence it came, and whether it were an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no. + +[Sidenote: The third and last reason or assertion.] His third and last +reason was, that there came a continuall streame or currant through Mare +Glaciale, of such swiftnesse (as a Colmax told him) that if you cast any +thing therein, it would presently be carried out of sight towards the West. + +[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that there doth +the like from Maeotis Palus, by Pontus Euxinus, Sinus Bosphorus, and along +the coast of Graecia, &c. As it is affirmed by Contarenus, and diuers others +that haue had experience of the same: and yet that Sea lieth not open to +any maine Sea that way, but is maintained by freshets as by Tanais, +Danubius, &c. + +In like maner is this current in Mare Glaciale increased and maintained by +the Dwina, the riuer Ob, &c. + +Now as I haue here briefly recited the reasons alleaged, to prooue a +passage to Cataia by the Northeast, with my seuerall answeres thereunto: so +will I leaue it to your iudgement, to hope or despaire of either at your +pleasure.[44] + + +How that the passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffique, + then the other by the East, if there were any such. + +Cap. 9. + +First, by the Northeast (if your windes doe not giue you a maruelous +speedie and luckie passage) you are in danger (being so neere the Pole) to +be benighted almost the one halfe of the yeere, and what danger that were, +to liue so long comfortlesse, voide of light, (if the cold killed you not) +each man of reason or vnderstanding may iudge. + +[Sidenote: Some doubt of this.] 2 Also Mangia, Quinzai, and the Moluccae are +neerer vnto vs by the Northwest, then by the Northeast, more then two fiue +parts, which is almost by the halfe. + +3 Also we may haue by the West a yeerely returne, it being at all times +nauigable, whereas you haue but 4. moneths in the whole yeere to goe by the +Northeast: the passage being at such eleuation as it is formerly expressed, +for it cannot be any neerer the South. + +4 Furthermore, it cannot be finished without diuers wintrings by the way, +hauing no hauens in any temperate climate to harbour in there: for it is as +much as we can well saile from hence to S. Nicholas, in the trade of +Moscouia, and returne in the nauigable season of the yeere, and from S. +Nicholas to Cerimissi Tartari, which stande at 80 degrees of the +Septentrional latitude, it is at the least 400 leagues, which amounteth +scarce to the third part of the way, to the end of your voyage by the +Northeast. + +5 And yet after you haue doubled this Cape, if then there might be found a +nauigable Sea to carie you Southeast according to your desire, yet can you +not winter conueniently, vntil you come to 60 degrees, and to take vp one +degree running Southeast, you must saile 24 leagues and three foure parts, +which amounteth to 495 leagues. + +6 Furthermore, you may by the Northwest saile thither with all Easterly +windes, and returne with any Westerly windes, whereas you must haue by the +Northeast sundry windes, and those proper, according to the lying of the +coast and Capes, you shalbe inforced to double, which windes are not +alwaies to be had, when they are looked for: whereby your iourney should be +greatly prolonged, and hardly endured so neere the Pole. As we are taught +by sir Hugh Willoughbie, who was frozen to death farre neerer the South. + +7. Moreouer, it is very doubtfull, whether we should long inioy that trade +by the Northeast, if there were any such passage that way, the commodities +thereof once knowen to the Moscouite, what priuilege so euer hee hath +granted, seeing pollicy with the masse of excessiue gaine, to the inriching +(so greatly) of himselfe and all his dominions would perswade him to +presume the same, hauing so great opportunitie to vtter the commodities of +those countries by the Narue. + +But by the Northwest, we may safely trade without danger or annoyance of +any prince liuing, Christian or Heathen, it being out of all their trades. + +8 Also the Queenes Maiesties dominions are neerer the Northwest passage +then any other great princes that might passe that way, and both in their +going and returne, they must of necessitie succour themselues and their +ships vpon some part of the same, if any tempestuous weather should happen. + +Further, no princes nauie of the world is able to incounter the Queenes +Maiesties nauie, as it is at this present: and yet it should be greatly +increased by the traffike insuing vpon this discouerie, for it is the long +voyages that increase and maintaine great shipping. + +Now it seemeth necessarie to declare what commodities would growe thereby, +if all these things were, as we haue heretofore presupposed, and thought +them to be: which next adioyning are briefly declared. + + +What commodities would ensue, this passage once discouered. + +Cap. 10. + +First, it were the onely way for our princes, to possesse the wealth of all +the East parts (as they terme them) of the world, which is infinite: as +appeareth by the experience of Alexander the great, in the time of his +conquest of India, and other the East parts of the world, alleaged by +Quintus Curtius, which would be a great aduancement to our countrey, a +wonderfull inriching to our prince, and an vnspeakable commoditie to all +the inhabitants of Europe. + +2 For through the shortnesse of the voyage, we should be able to sell all +maner of merchandize, brought from thence, farre better cheape then either +the Portugall or Spaniard doth or may do. And further, we should share with +the Portugall in the East, and the Spaniard in the West, by trading to any +part of America, thorow Mar del Sur, where they can no maner of way offend +vs. + +3 Also we might sayle to diuers very rich countreys, both ciuill and +others, out of both their iurisdictions, trades and traffikes, where there +is to be found great abundance of golde, siluer, precious stones, cloth of +gold, silkes, all maner of spices, grocery wares, and other kinds of +merchandize of an inestimable price, which both the Spaniard and Portugall, +through the length of their iournies, cannot well attaine vnto. + +4 Also we might inhabite some part of those countreyes, and settle there +such needy people of our countrey, which now trouble the common wealth, and +through want here at home are inforced to commit outragious offences, +whereby they are dayly consumed with the gallowes. + +5 Moreouer, we might from all the aforesaid places haue a yeerely returne, +inhabiting for our staple some conuenient place of America, about Sierra +Neuada, or some other part, whereas it shal seeme best for the shortning of +the voyage. + +6 Beside vttering of our countrey commodities, which the Indians, &c. much +esteeme: as appeareth in Hester, where the pompe is expressed of the great +king of India, Assuerus, who matched the coloured clothes, wherewith his +houses and tents were apparelled, with gold and siluer, as part of his +greatest treasure: not mentioning either veluets, silkes, cloth of gold, +cloth of siluer, or such like, being in those countreyes most plentifull: +whereby it plainly appeareth in what great estimation they would haue the +clothes of this our countrey, so that there would be found a farre better +vent for them by this meanes, then yet this realme euer had: and that +without depending either vpon France, Spaine, Flanders, Portugall, +Hamborow, Emden, or any other part of Europe. + +7 Also, here we shall increase both our ships and mariners, without +burthening of the state. + +8 And also haue occasion to set poore mens children to learne handie +craftes, and thereby to make trifles and such like, which the Indians and +those people do much esteeme: by reason whereof, there should be none +occasion to haue our countrey combred with loiterers, vagabonds, and such +like idle persons. + +All these commodities would grow by following this our discouery, without +iniury done to any Christian prince, by crossing them in any of their vsed +trades, whereby they might take any iust occasion of offence. + +Thus haue I briefly shewed you some part of the grounds of mine opinion, +trusting that you will no longer iudge me fantasticke in this matter: +seeing I haue conceiued no vaine hope of this voyage, but am perswaded +thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed +both by reason and certaine experiences. + +Also this discouery hath bene diuers times heretofore by others both +offered, attempted and performed. + +It hath bene offered by Stephen Gomes vnto Carolus the fift Emperour, in +the yeere of our Lord God 1527, as Alphonso Vllua testifieth in the story +of Carolus life: who would haue set him forth in it (as the story +mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long warres had +not caused him to surcease the same. + +[Sidenote: This discouery offered.] And the king of Portugall fearing least +the Emperour would haue perseuered in this his enterprise, gaue him to +leaue the matter vnattempted, the summe of 350000 crownes: and it is to be +thought that the king of Portugall would not haue giuen to the Emperour +such summes of money for egges in mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: This discovery attempted.] It hath bene attempted by Sebastian +Cabota in the time of king Henry the seuenth, by Corterialis the Portugall, +and Scolmus the Dane. + +[Sidenote: This discouery performed.] And it hath bene performed by three +brethren, the Indians aforesaid, and by Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico. + +Also diuers haue offered the like vnto the French king, who hath sent two +or three times to haue discouered the same: The discouerers spending and +consuming their victuals in searching the gulfes and bayes betweene Florida +and Terra de Labrador, whereby the yce is broken to the after commers. + +So that the right way may now easily be found out in short time: and that +with little ieopardie and lesse expences. + +For America is discouered so farre towards the North as Cape Frio,[45] +which is 62 degrees, and that part of Grondland next adioyning is knowen to +stand but at 72 degrees. [Sidenote: The labour of this discouerie shortned +by other mens trauell.] So that wee haue but 10 degrees to saile North and +South, to put the world out of doubt hereof: [Sidenote: Why the kings of +Spaine and Portugal would not perseuer in this discovery.] and it is likely +that the king of Spaine, and the king of Portugall would not haue sit out +all this while, but that they are sure to possesse to themselues all that +trade they now vse, and feare to deale in this discouery, least the Queenes +Maiestie hauing so good opportunitie, and finding the commoditie which +thereby might ensue to the common wealth, would cut them off, and enioy the +whole traffique to herselfe, and thereby the Spaniards and Portugals, with +their great charges, should beate the bush, and other men catch the birds: +which thing they foreseing, haue commanded that no pilot of theirs vpon +paine of death, should seeke to discouer to the Northwest, or plat out in +any Sea card any thorow passage that way by the Northwest. + +Now, and if you will indifferently compare the hope that remaineth, to +animate me to this enterprise, with those likelihoods which Columbus +alleaged before Ferdinando the king of Castilia, to prooue that there were +such Islands in the West Ocean, as were after by him and others discouered +to the great commodity of Spaine and all the world: you will thinke then +this Northwest passage to be most worthy trauell therein. + +For Columbus had none of the West Islands set foorth vnto him, either in +globe or card, neither yet once mentioned of any writer (Plato excepted, +and the commentaries vpon the same) from 942 yeeres before Christ, vntill +that day. + +Moreouer, Columbus himselfe had neither seene America nor any other of the +Islands about it, neither, vnderstood he of them by the report of any other +that had seene them, but only comforted himselfe with this hope, that the +land had a beginning where the Sea had an ending: for as touching that +which the Spaniards doe write of a Biscaine, which should haue taught him +the way thither, it is thought to be imagined of them, to depriue Columbus +of his honour, being none of their countrey man, but a stranger borne. + +And if it were true of the Biscaine, yet did he but roue at the matter, or +(at the least) gathered the knowledge of it, by coniectures onely. + +And albeit myselfe haue not seene this passage nor any part thereof, but am +ignorant of it as touching experience (as Columbus was before his attempt +made) yet haue I both the report, relation, and authoritie of diuers most +credible men, which haue both seene and passed through some and euery part +of this discouery, besides sundry reasons for my assurance thereof: all +which Columbus wanted. + +These things considered, and indifferently weighed togither, with the +wonderfull commodities which this discouery may bring, especially to this +realme of England: I must needes conclude with learned Baptista Ramusius, +and diuers other learned men, who said, that this discouery hath bene +reserued for some noble prince or worthie man, thereby to make himselfe +rich, and the world happie: desiring you to accept in good part this briefe +and simple discourse, written in haste, which if I may perceiue that it +shall not sufficiently satisfie you in this behalfe, I will then impart +vnto you a large discourse, which I haue written onely of this discouery. + +And further, because it sufficeth not only to know that such a thing there +is, without abilitie to performe the same, I wil at at leasure make you +partaker of another simple discourse of nauigation, wherein I haue not a +little trauelled, to make my selfe as sufficient to bring these things to +effect, as I haue bene readie to offer my selfe therein. + +And therein I haue deuised to amend the errors of vsuall sea cards, whose +common fault is to make the degrees of longitude in euery latitude of one +like bignesse. + +And haue also deuised therein a Spherical instrument, with a compasse of +variation for the perfect knowing of the longitude. + +And a precise order to pricke the sea card, together with certaine +infallible rules for the shortning of any discouery, to know at the first +entring of any fret whether it lie open to the Ocean more wayes then one, +how farre soeuer the sea stretcheth itself into the land. + +Desiring you hereafter neuer to mislike with me, for the taking in hande of +any laudable and honest enterprise: for if through pleasure or idlenesse we +purchase shame, the pleasure vanisheth, but the shame remaineth for euer. + +[Sidenote: Pereas qui vmbras times.] And therefore to giue me leaue without +offence, alwayes to liue and die in this mind, That he is not worthy to +liue at all, that for feare, or danger of death, shunneth his countreys +seruice, and his owne honour: seeing death is inevitable, and the fame of +vertue immortall. Wherefore in this behalfe, Mutare vel timere sperno. + + * * * * * + +Certaine other reasons, or arguments to prooue a passage by the Northwest, + learnedly written by M. Richard Willes, Gentleman. + +Foure famous wayes there be spoken of to those fruitfull and wealthie +Islands, which wee doe vsually call Moluccaes, continually haunted for +gaine, and dayly trauelled for riches therein growing. These Islands, +although they stand East from the Meridian, distant almost halfe the length +of the worlde, in extreame heate, vnder the Equinoctiall line, possessed of +Infidels and Barbarians: yet by our neighbours great abundance of wealth +there is painefully sought in respect of the voyage deerely bought, and +from thence dangerously brought home vnto vs. Our neighbours I call the +Portugalls in comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse vnto vs, for +like situation Westward as we haue, for their vsuall trade with vs, for +that the farre Southeasterlings doe knowe this part of Europe by no other +name then Portugall, not greatly acquainted as yet with the other Nations +thereof. [Sidenote: 1 By the Southeast.] Their voyage is very well +vnderstood of all men, and the Southeasterne way round about Afrike by the +Cape of Good hope more spoken of, better knowen and trauelled, then that it +may seeme needefull to discourse thereof any further. + +[Sidenote: 2 By the Southwest.] The second way lyeth Southwest, betweene +the West India or South America, and the South continent, through that +narrow straight where Magellan first of all men that euer we doe read of, +passed these latter yeeres, leauing therevnto therefore his name. +[Sidenote: This is an errour.] This way no doubt the Spaniardes would +commodiously take, for that it lyeth neere vnto their dominions there, +could the Easterne current and leuant windes as easily suffer them to +returne, as speedily therwith they may be carried thither: for the which +difficultie, or rather impossibility of striuing against the force both of +winde and streame, this passage is litle or nothing vsed, although it be +very well knowen. + +[Sidenote: 3 By the Northeast.] The third way by the Northeast, beyond all +Europe and Asia, that worthy and renowmed knight sir Hugh Willoughbie +sought to his perill, enforced there to ende his life for colde, congealed +and frozen to death. And truely this way consisteth rather in the +imagination of Geographers, then allowable either in reason, or approued by +[Sidenote: Ortel. tab. Asiae 3.] experience, as well it may appeare by the +dangerous trending of the Scythish Cape set by Ortelius vnder the 80 degree +North, by the vnlikely sailing in that Northerne sea alwayes clad with yce +and snow, or at the least continually pestred therewith, if happily it be +at any time dissolued: besides bayes and shelfes, the water waxing more +shallow toward the East, that we say nothing of the foule mists and darke +fogs in the cold clime, of the litle power of the Sunne to cleare the aire, +of the vncomfortable nights, so neere the Pole, fiue moneths long. + +[Sidenote: 4 By the Northwest.] A fourth way to go vnto these aforesaid +happy Islands Moluccae sir Humphrey Gilbert a learned and valiant knight +discourseth of at large in his new passage to Cathayo. The enterprise of +itselfe being vertuous, the fact must doubtlesse deserue high praise, and +whensoeuer it shal be finished, the fruits thereof cannot be smal: where +vertue is guide, there is fame a follower, and fortune a companion. But the +way is dangerous, the passage doubtfull, the voiage not throughly knowen, +and therefore gainesaid by many, after this maner. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 1.] First, who can assure vs of any passage rather by the +Northwest then by the Northeast? do not both waves lye in equall distance +from the North Pole? Stand not the North Capes of eyther continent vnder +like eleuation? Is not the Ocean sea beyond America farther distant from +our Meridian by 30. or 40. degrees West, then the extreame poyntes of +Cathayo Eastward, if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true: +[Sidenote: In Theatro.] In the Northeast that noble Knight Syr Hugh +Willoughbie perished for colde: and can you then promise a passenger any +better happe by the Northwest? Who hath gone for triall sake at any time +this way out of Europe to Cathayo? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 2.] If you seeke the aduise herein of such as make +profession in Cosmographie, Ptolome the father of Geographie, and his +eldest children, will answere by their mappes with a negatiue, concluding +most of the Sea within the land, and making an end of the world Northward, +neere the 63. degree. The same opinion, when learning chiefly florished, +was receiued in the Romanes time, as by their Poets writings it may +appeare: tibi seruiat vltima Thyle, said Virgil, being of opinion, that +Island was the extreme part of the world habitable toward the North. Ioseph +Moletius an Italian, and Mercator a Germaine, for knowledge men able to be +compared with the best Geographers of our time, the one in his halfe +Spheres of the whole world, the other in some of his great globes, haue +continued the West Indies land, euen to the North Pole, and consequently, +cut off all passage by sea that way. + +The same doctors, Mercator in other of his globes and mappes, Moletius in +his sea Carde, neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former +continent, haue opened a gulfe betwixt the West Indies and the extreame +Northerne land: but such a one, that either is not to be trauelled for the +causes in the first obiection alledged, or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe +by Groenland: the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme land with +America, the North part continent with Lappeland and Norway. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 3.] Thirdly, the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not +denie, but that if any such passage be, it lieth subiect vnto yce and snow +for the most part of the yeere, whereas it standeth in the edge of the +frostie Zone. Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre, and dissolued the yce, +eche one well knoweth that there can be no sailing: the yce once broken +through the continuall abode the sunne maketh a certaine season in those +parts, how shall it be possible for so weake a vessel as a shippe is, to +holde out amid whole Ilands, as it were of yce continually beating on eche +side, and at the mouth of that gulfe, issuing downe furiously from the +north, and safely to passe, when whole mountaines of yce and snow shall be +tumbled downe vpon her? + +[Sidenote: Ob. 4.] Well, graunt the West Indies not to continue continent +vnto the Pole, grant there be a passage betweene these two lands, let the +gulfe lie neerer vs then commonly in cardes we finde it set, namely, +betweene the 61. and 64. degrees north, as Gemma Frisius in his mappes and +globes imagineth it, and so left by our countryman Sebastian Cabot in his +table which the Earle of Bedford hath at Cheinies: Let the way be voyde of +all difficulties, yet doeth it not follow that wee haue free passage to +Cathayo. For examples sake: You may trend all Norway, Finmarke, and +Lappeland, and then bowe Southward to Saint Nicholas in Moscouia: you may +likewise in the Mediterranean Sea fetch Constantinople, and the mouth of +Tanais: yet is there no passage by Sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine, +now called Mare Maggiore. Againe, in the aforesaid Mediterranean sea, we +saile to Alexandria in Egypt, the Barbarians bring their pearle and spices +from the Moluccaes vp the Red sea or Arabian gulph to Sues, scarcely three +dayes iourney from the aforesayd hauen: yet haue wee no way by sea from +Alexandria to the Moluccaes, for that Isthmos or litle straight of land +betweene the two seas. In like maner although the Northerne passage be free +at 61 degrees of latitude, and the West Ocean beyond America, vsually +called Mar del Zur, knowen to be open at 40. degrees eleuation from the +Island Iapan, yea, three hundred leagues Northerly aboue Iapan: yet may +there be land to hinder the thorow passage that way by Sea, as in the +examples aforesaid it falleth out, Asia and America there being ioyned +together in one continent. Ne can this opinion seeme altogether friuolous +vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doings. Iosephus +Moletius is of that minde, not onely in his plaine Hemispheres of the +world, but also in his Sea card. The French Geographers in like maner be of +the same opinion, as by their Mappe cut out in forme of a Hart you may +perceiue: as though the West Indies were part of Asia. Which sentence well +agreeth with that old conclusion in the Schooles. Quicquid praeter Africam +et Europam est, Asia est, Whatsoeuer land doeth neither apperteine vnto +Afrike nor to Europe, is part of Asia. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 5.] Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long, so +painefull, so doubtfull a voyage by such a new found way, if in Cathayo you +should neither bee suffered to land for silkes and siluer, nor able to +fetch the Molucca spices and pearle for piracie in those Seas. Of a law +denying all Aliens to enter into China, and forbidding all the inhabiters +vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into those countreys, shall +you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other +Portugals: as also in the Iaponish letters, how for that cause the worthy +traueller Xauierus bargained with a Barbarian Merchant for a great summe of +pepper to be brought into Canton, a port in China. The great and dangerous +piracie vsed in those Seas no man can be ignorant of, that listeth to reade +the Iaponish and East Indian historie. + +[Sidenote: Ob. 6.] Finally, all this great labour would be lost, all these +charges spent in vaine, if in the ende our trauellers might not be able to +returne againe, and bring safely home into their owne natiue countrey that +wealth and riches, which they in forrein regions with aduenture of goods, +and danger of their liues haue sought for. By the Northeast there is no +way, the Southeast passage the Portugals doe hold as the Lords of those +Seas. At the Southwest Magellans experience hath partly taught vs, and +partly we are persuaded by reason, how the Easterne current striketh so +furiously on that straight, and falleth with such force into that narrow +gulph, that hardly any ship can returne that way into our West Ocean out of +Mar del Zur. The which if it be true, as truly it is, then wee may say that +the aforesayd Easterne current or leuant course of waters continually +following after the heauenly motions, loseth not altogether his force, but +is doubled rather by an other current from out the Northeast, in the +passage betweene America and the North land, whither it is of necessity +caryed: hauing none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion, and +consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the straight of +Anian, where it striketh South into Mar del Zur, beyond America (if any +such straight of Sea there be) then in Magellans fret, both straights being +of like bredth: as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France, and in Don +Diego Hermano de Toledo his Card for nauigation in that region we doe finde +precisely set downe. + +Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest +from out of Europe, we haue experience, namely of three brethren that went +that iourney, as Gemma Frisius recordeth, and left a name vnto that +straight, whereby now it is called Fretum trium fratrum. We doe reade +againe of a Portugall that passed this straight, of whom Master Frobisher +speaketh, that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lisbone, to verifie +the olde Spanish prouerbe, I suffer for doing well. Likewise Andrew +Vrdaneta a Fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del Zur this way into Germanie: +his Carde (for he was a great discouerer) made by his owne experience and +trauell in that voyage, hath bene seene by Gentlemen of good credite. + +[Sidenote: Cic. 1. de orat. Arist, pri. Metaph.] Now if the obseruation and +remembrance of things breedeth experience, and of experience proceedeth +arte, and the certaine knowledge we haue in all faculties, as the best +Philosophers that euer were doe affirme: truely the voyage of these +aforesayd trauellers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del Zur, and +returned thence at the Northwest, do most euidently conclude that way to be +nauigable, and that passage free. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] So much +the more we are so to thinke for that the first principle and chiefe ground +in all Geographie, as Ptolome saith, is the history of trauell, that is, +reports made by trauellers skilful in Geometrie and Astronomie, of all such +things in their iourney as to Geographie doe belong. It onely then +remaineth, that we now answere to those arguments that seemed to make +against this former conclusion. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 1.] The first obiection is of no force, that generall table +of the world set forth by Ortelius or Mercator, for it greatly skilleth +not, being vnskilfully drawen for that point: as manifestly it may appeare +vnto any one that conferreth the same with Gemma Frisius his vniuersall +Mappe, with his round quartered carde, with his globe, with Sebastian +Cabota his table, and Ortelius his generall mappe alone, worthily preferred +in this case before all Mercator and Ortelius other doings: for that Cabota +was not onely a skilful Sea man, but a long traueller, and such a one as +entred personally that straight, sent by king Henry the seuenth to make +this aforesayd Discouerie, as in his owne discourse of nauigation you may +reade in his carde drawen with his owne hand, that the mouth of the +Northwesterne straight lyeth neere the 318. Meridian, betweene 61. and 64. +degrees in the eleuation, continuing the same bredth about 10 degrees West, +where it openeth Southerly more and more, vntill it come vnder the tropicke +of Cancer, and so runneth into Mar del Zur, at the least 18 degrees more in +bredth there, then it was where it first began: otherwise I could as well +imagine this passage to be more vnlikely then the voyage to Moscouia, and +more impossible then it for the farre situation and continuance thereof in +the frostie clime: as now I can affirme it to be very possible and most +likely in comparison thereof, for that it neither coasteth so farre North +as the Moscouian passage doeth, neither is this straight so long as that, +before it bow downe Southerly towardes the Sunne againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 2.] The second argument concludeth nothing. Ptolome knew +not what was aboue sixteene degrees South beyond the Equinoctiall line, he +was ignorant of all passages Northward from the eleuation of 63. degrees: +he knewe no Ocean sea beyond Asia, yet haue the Portugals trended the Cape +of Good hope at the South point of Afrike, and trauelled to Iapan an Island +in the East Ocean, betweene Asia and America: our merchants in the time of +king Edward the sixt discouered the Moscouian passage farther North than +Thyle, and shewed Groenland not to be continent with Lappeland and Norway: +the like our Northwesterne trauellers haue done, declaring by their +nauigation that way, the ignorance of all Cosmographers that either doe +ioyne Groenland with America, or continue the West Indies with that frosty +region vnder the north pole. As for Virgil he sang according to the +knowledge of men in his time, as an other poet did of the hot Zone. + +[Sidenote: Ouid. 1. Meta.] Quarum quae media est, non est habitabilis aestu. +Imagining, as most men then did, Zonam torridam, the hot Zone to be +altogether dishabited for heat, though presently wee know many famous and +worthy kingdomes and cities in that part of the earth, and the Island of S. +Thomas neere AEthiopia, and the wealthy Islands for the which chiefly all +these voyages are taken in hand, to be inhabited euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 3.] To answere the third obiection, besides Cabota and all +other trauellers nauigations, the onely credit of M. Frobisher[46] may +suffice, who lately through all these Islands of ice, and mountaines of +snow, passed that way, euen beyond the gulfe that tumbleth downe from the +North, and in some places though he drewe one inch thicke ice, as he +returning in August did, yet came he home safely againe. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 4.] The fourth argument is altogether friuolous and vaine, +for neither is there any isthmos or strait of land betweene America and +Asia, ne can these two landes ioyntly be one continent. [Sidenote: Lib. +Geog.] The first part of my answere is manifestly allowed of by Homer, whom +that excellent Geographer Strabo followeth, yeelding him in this facultie +the price. The author of that booke likewise [Greek: peri kosmou] to +Alexander, attributed vnto Aristotle, is of the same opinion that Homer and +Strabo be of, in two or three places. Dionisius in [Greek: oikoumenaes +periaegaesi] hath this verse [Greek: otos hokeanos peridedrome gaian +hapasan.] So doth the Ocean Sea runne round about the worlde: speaking +onely of Europe, Afrike and Asia, as then Asia was trauelled and knowen. +[Sidenote: Note.] With these Doctours may you ioyne Pomponius Mela. cap. 2. +lib 1. Plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. and Pius 2. cap 2. in his description of +Asia. [Sidenote: Richard Eden.] All the which writers doe no lesse confirme +the whole Easterne side of Asia to be compassed about with the sea, then +Plato doeth affirme in Timaeo, vnder the name Atlantis, the West indies to +be an Island, as in a special discoure thereof R. Eden writeth, agreeable +vnto the sentence of Proclus, Marsilius Ficinus, and others. Out of Plato +it is gathered that America is an island. Homer, Strabo, Aristotle, +Dionysius, Mela, Plinie, Pius 2. affirme the continent of Asia, Afrike, and +Europe to be enuironed with the Ocean. I may therefore boldly say (though +later intelligences thereof had we none at all) that Asia and the West +Indies be not tied together by any Isthmos or straight of land, contrary to +the opinion of some new Cosmographers, by whom doubtfully this matter hath +bin brought in controuersie. And thus much for the first part of my answere +vnto the fourth obiection. + +[Sidenote: Lib. 2. Meteor. cap 1.] The second part, namely that America and +Asia cannot be one continent, may thus be prooued, [Greek: kata taen taes +gaes koilotaeta rhei kai ton potamon to plaethos.] The most Riuers take +downe that way their course, where the earth is most hollow and deepe, +writeth Aristotle: and the Sea (sayeth he in the same place) as it goeth +further, so it is found deeper. Into what gulfe doe the Moscouian riuers +Onega, Duina, Ob, powre out their streames Northward out of Moscouia into +the sea? Which way doeth that sea strike: The South is maine land, the +Easterne coast waxeth more and more shalow: from the North, either +naturally, because that part of the earth is higher Aristot. 2. Met. cap. +1. or of necessitie, for that the forcible influence of some Northerne +starres causeth the earth there to shake off the Sea, as some Philosophers +doe thinke: or finally for the great store of waters engendered in that +frostie and colde climate, that the bankes are not able to holde them. +Alber, in 2. Meteor. cap. 6. From the North, I say, continually falleth +downe great abundance of water. So that this Northeasterne currant must at +the length abruptly bow towards vs South on the West side of Finmarke and +Norway: or else strike downe Southwest aboue Groneland and Iseland, into +the Northwest straight we speake of, as of congruence it doeth, if you +marke the situation of that Region, and by the report of M. Frobisher +experience teacheth vs. And M. Frobisher the further he trauailed in the +former passage, as he tolde me, the deeper always he found the Sea. Lay you +now the summe hereof together. The riuers runne where the chanels are most +hollow, the Sea in taking his course waxeth deeper, the Sea waters fall +continually from the North Southward, the Northeasterne current striketh +downe into the straight we speak of, and is there augmented with whole +mointaines of yce and snowe falling downe furiously out from the land vnder +the North pole. [Sidenote: Plin. lib. 2. cap. 67] Where store of water is, +there is it a thing impossible to want Sea, where Sea not onely doeth not +want, but waxeth deeper, there can be discouered no land, finally, whence I +pray you came the contrary tide, that M. Frobisher mette withall after he +had sailed no small way in that passage, if there be any Isthmos or +straight of land betwixt the aforesayd Northwesterne gulfe, and Mar del +Zur, to ioyne Asia and America together? That conclusion frequented in +scholes Quicquid praeter, &c. was meant of the partes of the world then +knowen, and so it is of right to be vnderstood. + +[Sidenote: Sol. 5.] The fift obiection requireth for answere wisdome and +policie in the trauailer to winne the Barbarians fauour by some good +meanes: and so to arme and strengthen himselfe, that when he shal haue the +repulse in one coast, he may safely trauaile to an other, commodiously +taking his conuenient times, and discreetely making choise of them with +whom hee will throughly deale. To force a violent entry, would for vs +Englishmen be very hard, considering the strength and valour of so great a +Nation, farre distant from vs, and the attempt thereof might be most +perilous vnto the doers, vnlesse their part were very good. + +Touching their lawes against strangers, you shall reade neuerthelesse in +the same relations of Galeotto Perera, that the Cathaian king is woont to +graunt free accesse vnto all foreiners that trade into his Countrey for +Marchandise, and a place of libertie for them to remaine in: as the Moores +had, vntill such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieutenant of that +coast to be a circumcised Saracene: wherefore some of them were put to the +sword, the rest were scattered abroad: at Fuquien a great citie in China, +certaine of them are yet this day to be seene. As for the Iapans they be +most desirous to be acquainted with strangers. The Portingals though they +were straitly handled there at the first, yet in the ende they found great +fauor at the Prince his hands, insomuch that the Loutea or president that +misused them was therefore put to death. The rude Indian Canoa halleth +those seas, the Portingals, the Saracens, and Moores trauaile continually +vp and downe that reach from Iapan to China, from China to Malacca, from +Malacca to the Moluccaes: and shall an Englishman, better appointed then +any of them all (that I say no more of our Nauie) feare to saile in that +ocean? What seas at all doe want piracie? what Nauigation is there voyde of +perill? + +[Sidenote: Sol. 6.] To the last argument. Our trauailers neede not to seeke +their returne by the Northeast, neither shall they be constrained, except +they list, either to attempt Magellans straight at the Southwest, or to be +in danger of the Portingals for the Southeast: they may returne by the +Northwest, that same way they doe goe foorth, as experience hath shewed. + +The reason alleadged for proofe of the contrary may be disproued after this +maner. And first it may be called in controuersie, whether any current +continually be forced by the motion of Primum mobile, round about the +world, or no: For learned men doe diuersly handle that question. [Sidenote: +Luc. lib. 1. Pharsal.] The naturall course of all waters is downeward, +wherefore of congruence they fall that way where they finde the earth most +lowe and deepe: in respect whereof, it was erst sayd, the seas doe strike +from the Northern landes Southerly. Violently the seas are tossed and +troubled diuers wayes with the windes, encreased and diminished by the +course of the Moone, hoised vp and downe through the sundry operations of +the Sunne and the starres: finally, some be of opinion, that the seas be +carried in part violently about the world, after the dayly motion of the +highest moueable heauen, in like maner as the elements of ayre and fire, +with the rest of the heauenly spheres, are from the East vnto the West. +[Sidenote: What the Easterne current is.] And this they doe call their +Easterne current, or leuant stream. Some such current may not be denied to +be of great force in the hot Zone, for the neerenesse thereof vnto the +centre of the Sunne, and blustering Easterne windes violently driuing the +seas Westwards: howbeit, in the temperate climes, the Sunne being further +off, and the windes more diuers, blowing as much from the North, the West +and South, as from the East, this rule doeth not effectually withholde vs +from trauailing Eastward, neither be we kept euer backe by the aforesaid +Leuant windes and streame. But in the Magellans streight wee are violently +driuen backe West: Ergo, through the Northwesterne straight or Annian +frette shall we not be able to returne Eastward? It followeth not. The +first, for that the northwesterne straight hath more sea roome at the least +by one hundreth English myles, than Magellans frette hath, the onely want +whereof causeth all narrow passages generally to be most violent. So would +I say in the Anian gulfe, if it were so narrow as Don Diego and Zalterius +haue painted it out, any returne that way to bee full of difficulties, in +respect of such streightnesse thereof, not for the neerenesse of the Sunne, +or Easterne windes violently forcing that way any leuant streame: But in +that place there is more sea roome by many degrees, if the Cardes of +Cabota, and Gemma Frisius, and that which Tramezine imprinted be true. + +And hitherto reason see I none at all, but that I may as well giue credite +vnto their doings, as to any of the rest. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] +It must be Peregrinationis historia, that is, true reportes of skilfull +trauailers, as Ptolome writeth, that in such controuersies of Geographie +must put vs out of doubt. Ortelius in his vniuersall tables, in his +particular Mappes of the West Indies, of all Asia, of the Northern +kingdomes, of the East Indies, Mercator in some of his globes, and generall +Mappes of the world, Moletius in his vniuersall table of the Globe diuided, +in his sea Carde, and particuler tables of the East Indies, Zalterius, and +Don Diego, with Ferdinando Bertely, and others, doe so much differ from +Gemma Frisius and Cabota, among themselues, and in diuers places from +themselues, concerning the diuers situation and sundry limits of America, +that one may not so rashly, as timely surmise, these men either to be +ignorant in those points touching the aforesaid region, or that the Mappes +they haue giuen out vnto the world, were collected onely by them, and neuer +of their owne drawing. + + * * * * * + +The first Voyage of M. Martine Frobisher, to the Northwest, for the search + of the straight or passage to China, written by Christopher Hall, Master + in the Gabriel, and made in the yeere of our Lord 1576. + +The 7. of Iune being Thursday, the two Barks, viz. the Gabriel, and the +Michael [Marginal note: M. Matthew Kinderslye was Captaine of the Michael.] +and our Pinnesse set saile at Ratcliffe, and bare down to Detford, and +there we ancred: the cause was that our Pinnesse burst her boulsprit, and +foremast aboard of a ship that rode at Detford, else wee meant to haue past +that day by the Court then at Grenewich. + +The 8. day being Friday, about 12 of the clocke we wayed at Detford, and +set saile all three of vs, and bare downe by the Court, where we shotte off +our ordinance and made the best shew we could: Her Maiestie beholding the +same, commended it, and bade vs farewell, with shaking her hand at vs out +of the window. Afterward shee sent a Gentleman aboord of vs, who declared +that her Maiestie had good liking of our doings, and thanked vs for it, and +also willed our Captaine to come the next day to the Court to take his +leaue of her. + +The same day towards night M. Secretarie Woolly came aboorde of vs, and +declared to the company, that her Maiestie had appointed him to giue them +charge to be obedient, and diligent to their Captaine, and gouernours in +all things, and wished vs happie successe. + +The 12. day being ouer against Grauesend, by the castle or blockehouse, we +obserued the latitude, which was 51. degrees 33. min. And in that place the +variation of the Compasse is 11. degrees and a halfe. + +[Sidenote: Faire Island.] The 24. day at 2. of the clocke after noone, I +had sight of Faire yle,[47] being from vs 6. leagues North and by East, and +when I brought it Northwest and by North, it did rise at the Southermost +ende with a litle hommocke, and swampe in the middes. + +[Sidenote: Shotland.] The 25. day from 4. to 8. a clocke in the forenoone, +the winde at Northwest and by North a fresh gale, I cast about to the +Westward, the Southermost head of Shotland called Swinborne head +Northnorthwest from me, and the land of Faire yle, West Southwest from me. +I sailed directly to the North head of that said land, sounding as I ranne +in, hauing 60. 50. and 40. fathoms, and gray redde shels: and within halfe +a mile of that Island, there are 36. fathoms, for I sailed to that Island +to see whether there were any roadesteede for a Northwest winde, and I +found by my sounding hard rockes, and foule ground, and deepe water, within +two cables length of the shoare, 28. fathome, and so did not ancre but +plied to and fro with my foresaile, and mizen till it was a high water +vnder the Island. The tide setteth there Northwest and Southeast: the flood +setteth Southeast, and the ebbe Northwest. + +The 26. day hauing the winde at South a faire gale, sayling from Faire yle +to Swinborne head, I did obserue the latitude, the Island of Fowlay being +West Northwest from me 6. leagues, and Swinborne head East southeast from +me, I found my eleuation [Marginal note: By eleuation he meaneth the +distance of the sunne from the zenith.] to be 37. degr and my declination +22. degr. 46 min. So that my latitude was 59. degr. 46. min. [Sidenote: S. +Tronions.] At that present being neere to Swinborne head, hauing a leake +which did trouble vs, as also to take in fresh water, I plyed roome with a +sound, which is called S. Tronions, and there did ancre in seuen fathoms +water, and faire sande. You haue comming in the sounds mouth in the entring +17. 15. 12. 10. 9. 8. and 7. fathoms, and the sound lyeth in North +northwest, and there we roade to a West sunne, and stopped our leake, and +hauing refreshed our selues with water, at a North northwest sunne, I set +saile from S. Tronions the winde at South Southest, and turned out till wee +were cleare of the sound, and so sailed West to go cleare of the Island of +Fowlay. [Sidenote: Fowlay Island.] And running off toward Fowlay,[48] I +sounded, hauing fiftie fathome, and streamie ground, and also I sounded +Fowlay being North from mee one league off that Islande, hauing fiftie +fathome at the South head, and streamie ground, like broken otmell, and one +shell being redde and white like mackerell. + +[Sidenote: Latitude 59. deg. 59. min. Here they begin to saile West and by +North.] The 27. day at a South sunne I did obserue the latitude, the Island +of Fowlay being from me two leagues East Northeast: I found my selfe to be +in latitude 59. degrees, 59. min truly obserued, the winde at South +Southwest: I sailed West and by North. + +From 12. to foure a clocke afternoone, the wind at South, a faire gale the +shippe sailed West and by North 6. leagues, and at the ende of this watch, +I sounded hauing 60. fathome, with little stones and shels, the Island from +vs 8. leagues East. + +[Sidenote: July the first.] The first of Iuly, from 4. to 8. a clocke, wee +sailed West 4. glasses 4. leagues, and at that present we had so much winde +that we spooned afore the sea Southwest 2. leagues. + +The 3. day we found our Compasse to bee varied one point to Westwards: this +day from 4. to 8. a clocke we sailed West and by North 6 leagues. + +From 8. to 12. a clocke at noone West and by North 4. leagues. [Sidenote: +The Compasse varying Westwards one point.] At that present I found our +compasse to be varied 11 deg. and one 4. part to the Westwards, which is +one point. + +[Sidenote: The Island of Friseland.] The 11. day at a Southeast sunne we +had sight of the land of Friseland bearing from vs West northwest 16. +leagues, and rising like pinacles of steeples, and all couered with snowe. +I found my selfe in 61. degr. of latitude. Wee sailed to the shoare and +could finde no ground at 150. fathoms, we hoised out our boate, and the +Captaine with 4. men rowed to the shoare to get on land, but the land lying +full of yce, they could not get on land, and so they came aboord againe: We +had much adoe to get cleare of the yce by reason of the fogge. Yet from +Thursday 8. a clocke in the morning to Friday at noone we sailed Southwest +20. leagues. + +The 18. day at a Southwest sunne I found the sunne to be eleuated 33. deg. +And at a Southsoutheast sunne 40. deg. So I obserued it till I found it at +the highest, and then it was eleuated 52. deg. [Sidenote: The variation of +the needle two points and a halfe to the West.] I iudged the variation of +the Compasse to be 2. points and a halfe to the Westward. + +[Sidenote: A great drift of yce.] The 21. day we had sight of a great drift +of yce, seeming a firme land, and we cast Westward to be cleare of it. + +[Sidenote: The latitude of 62. degrees 2. min.] The 26. we had sight of a +land of yce: the latitude was 62. degrees, and two minutes. + +[Sidenote: Sight of land supposed to haue been Labrador.] The 28. day in +the morning was very foggie: but at the clearing vp of the fogge, we had +sight of lande, which I supposed to be Labrador, with great store of yce +about the land: I ranne in towards it, and sownded, but could get no ground +at 100. fathom, and the yce being so thicke, I could not get to the shoare, +and so lay off, and came cleare of the yce. Upon Munday we came within a +mile of the shoare, and sought a harborowe: all the sownd was full of yce, +and our boate rowing a shoare, could get no ground at 100. fathom, within a +Cables length of the shoare: then we sailed Eastnortheast along the shoare, +for so the lande lyeth, and the currant is there great, setting Northeast, +and Southwest: and if we could haue gotten anker ground, wee would haue +seene with what force it had runne, but I iudge a ship may driue a league +and a halfe, in one houre, with that tide. + +This day at 4. of the clocke in the morning, being faire and cleere, we had +sight of a head land, as we iudged, bearing from vs north, and by East, and +we sailed Northeast, and by North to that land, and when we came thither, +wee could not get to the lande for yce: for the yce stretched along the +coast, so that we could not come to the land, by fiue leagues. + +[Sidenote: August.] Wednesday the first of August it calmed, and in the +after noone I caused my boate to be hoysed out, being hard by a great +Island of yce, and I and foure men rowed to that yce, and sounded within +two Cables length of it, and had sixteene fathome, and little stones, and +after that sownded againe within a Minion shot, and had ground at an +hundreth fathome, and faire sand: we sownded the next day a quarter of a +myle from it, and had sixtie fathome rough ground, and at that present +being aboord, that great Island of yce fell one part from another, making a +noyse as if a great cliffe had fallen into the Sea. And at foure of the +clocke I sownded againe, and had 90. fathome, and small blacke stones, and +little white stones like pearles. The tide here did set to the shoare. + +The tenth I tooke foure men, and my selfe, and rowed to +shoare to an Island one league from the maine, and there the +flood setteth Southwest alongest the shoare, and it floweth as +neere as I could iudge so too, I could not tarry to prooue it, +because the ship was a great way from me, and I feared a fogge: +but when I came a shoare, it was a low water. I went to the top +of the Island, and before I came backe, it was hied a foote water, +and so without tarrying I came aboord. + +[Sidenote: They enter the Streit in the latitude of 63. deg. and 8. min.] +The 11. we found our latitude to be 63. degr. and eight minutes, and this +day we entred the streight. + +The 12. wee set saile towardes an Island, called the Gabriels Island, which +was 10 leagues then from vs. + +We espied a sound, and bare with it, and came to a Sandie Baye, where we +came to an anker, the land being East southeast off vs, and there we rode +al night in 8. fathome water. It floweth there at a Southeast Moone. We +called it Priors sownd, being from the Gabriels Island, tenne leagues. + +The 14, we waied, and ranne into another sownde, where wee ankered in 8. +fathome water, faire sand, and black oaze, and there calked our ship, being +weake from the wales vpward, and tooke in fresh water. + +The 15. day we waied, and sailed to Priors Bay, being a mile from thence. + +The 16. day was calme, and we rode still, without yce, but presently within +two houres it was frozen round about the ship, a quarter of an ynch thicke, +and that day very faire, and calme. + +The 17. day we waied, and came to Thomas Williams Island. + +The 18. day we sailed North northwest, and ankered againe in +23. fathome, and tough oaze, vnder Burchers Island, which is from +the former Island, ten leagues. + +[Sidenote: Sight of the Countrey people.] The 19. day in the morning, being +calme, and no winde, the Captaine and I tooke our boat, with eight men in +her, to rowe vs a shoare, to see if there were any people, or no, and going +to the toppe of the Island, we had sight of seuen boates, which came rowing +from the East side, toward that Island: whereupon we returned aboord +againe: at length we sent our boate with fiue men in her, to see whither +they rowed, and so with a white cloth brought one of their boates with +their men along the shoare, rowing after our boate, till such time as they +sawe our ship, and then they rowed a shoare: then I went on shore my selfe, +and gaue euery of them a threadden point, and brought one of them aboord of +me, where hee did eate and drinke, and then carried him on shoare againe. +Whereupon all the rest came aboord with their boates, being nineteene +persons, and they spake, but we vnderstoode them not. [Sidenote: The +description of the people.[49]] They bee like to Tartars, with long blacke +haire, broad faces, and flatte noses, and tawnie in colour, wearing Seale +skinnes, and so doe the women, not differing in the fashion, but the women +are marked in the face with blewe streekes downe the cheekes, and round +about the eyes. Their boates are made all of Seales skinnes, with a keele +of wood within the skin: the proportion of them is like a Spanish shallop, +saue only they be flat in the bottome, and sharpe at both ends. + +The twentieth day wee wayed, and went to the Eastside of this island, and I +and the Captaine, with foure men more went on shoare, and there we sawe +their houses, and the people espying vs, came rowing towards our boate: +whereupon we plied toward our boate: and wee being in our boate and they +ashoare, they called to vs, and we rowed to them, and one of their company +came into our boate, and we carried him a boord, and gaue him a Bell, and a +knife: [Sidenote: 5 of our men taken by the people.] so the Captaine and I +willed fiue of our men to set him a shoare at a rocke, and not among the +company, which they come from, but their wilfulnesse was such, that they +would goe to them, and so were taken themselues, and our boate lost. + +The next day in the morning, we stoode in neere the shoare, and shotte off +a fauconet, and sounded our trumpet, but we could hear nothing nothing of +our men: this sound wee called the fiue mens sound, and plyed out of it, +but ankered againe in thirtie fathome, and ooze: and riding there all +night, in the morning, the snow lay a foote thicke vpon our hatches. + +The 22. day in the morning we wayed, and went againe to the place we lost +our men, and our boate. We had sight of foureteene boates, and some came +neere to vs, but wee could learne nothing of our men: among the rest, we +intised one boate to our ships side, with a Bell, and in giuing him the +Bell, we tooke him, and his boate, and so kept him, and so rowed downe to +Thomas Williams Island, and there ankered all night. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 26. day we waied, to come homeward, and by +12. of the clocke at noone, we were thwart of Trumpets Island. + +The next day we came thwart of Gabriels Island, and at 8. of the clocke at +night, we had the Cape Labrador as we supposed West from vs, ten leagues. + +The 28. day we went our course Southeast. + +We sailed Southeast, and by East, 22. leagues. + +The first day of September in the morning we had sight of the land of +Friseland being eight leagues from vs but we could not come neerer it, for +the monstrous yce that lay about it. From this day, till the sixth of this +Moneth, we ranne along Island, and had the South part of it at eight of the +clocke, East from vs ten leagues. + +The seuenth day of this moneth we had a very terrible storme, by force +whereof, one of our men was blowen into the sea out of our waste, but he +caught hold of the foresaile sheate, and there held till the Captaine +pluckt him againe into the ship. + +The 25 day of this moneth we had sight of the Island of Orkney, which was +then East from vs. + +[Sidenote: The Sheld.] The first day of October we had sight of the Sheld, +and so sailed about the coast, and ankered at Yarmouth, and the next day we +came into Harwich. + +The language of the people of Meta incognita. + +Argoteyt, a hand. +Cangnawe, a nose. +Arered, an eye. +Keiotot, a tooth. +Mutchatet, the head. +Chewat, an eare. +Comagaye, a legge. +Atoniagay, a foote. +Callagay, a paire of breeches. +Attegay, a coate. +Polleuetagay, a knife. +Accaskay, a shippe. +Coblone, a thumbe. +Teckkere, the foremost finger. +Ketteckle, the middle finger. +Mekellacane, the fourth finger. +Yacketrone, the little finger. + + * * * * * + +The second voyage of Master Martin Frobisher, made to the West and + Northwest Regions, in the yeere 1577. with a description of the Countrey, + and people: Written by Master Dionise Settle. + +On Whitsunday, being the sixe and twentieth of May, in the yeere of our +Lord God 1577. Captaine Frobisher departed from Blacke Wall, with one of +the Queenes Maiesties ships, called The Aide, of nine score tunnes, or +thereabouts: and two other Little Barkes likewise, the one called The +Gabriel, whereof Master Fenton, a Gentleman of my Lord of Warwikes, was +Captaine: accompanied with seuen score Gentlemen, souldiers, and sailers, +well furnished with victuals, and other prouision necessarie for one halfe +yeere, on this his second voyage, for the further discouering of the +passage to Cathay, and other Countreys, thereunto adiacent, by West and +Northwest nauigations: which passage or way, is supposed to bee on the +North and Northwest part of America: and the said America to be an Island +inuironed with the sea, where through our Merchants may haue course and +recourse with their merchandize, from these our Northernmost parts of +Europe, to those Orientall coasts of Asia, in much shorter time, and with +greater benefite then any others, to their no little commoditie and profite +that do or shall frequent the same. Our said Captaine and General of this +present voyage and company hauing the yeere before, with two little +pinnesses, to his great danger, and no small commendations, giuen a worthy +attempt towards the performance thereof, is also prest, when occasion shall +be ministred (to the benefite of his Prince, and natiue Countrey) to +aduenture himelfe further therein. As for the second voyage, it seemeth +sufficient that he hath better explored and searched the commodities of +those people and Countreys, which in his first voyage the yeere before he +had found out. + +[Sidenote: The Islands Orcades, or Orkney.] Vpon which considerations, the +day and yeere before expressed, we departed from Blacke Wall to Harwich, +where making an accomplishment of things necessary, the last of May we +hoised vp sailes, and with a merrie winde the 7. of Iune we arriued at the +Islands called Orcades, or vulgarly Orkney, being in number 30. subiect and +adiacent to Scotland where we made prouision of fresh water; in the doing +wherof our Generall licensed the Gentlemen and souldiers for their +recreation to go on shore. [Sidenote: The Orcadians upon smal occasion flee +their home.] At our landing, the people fled from their poore cottages, +with shrikes and alarms, to warne their neighbours of enemies, but by +gentle perswasions we reclamed them to their houses. It seemeth they are +often frighted with Pirats, or some other enemies, that mooue them to such +sudden feare. Their houses are very simply builded with Pibble stone, +without any chimneis, the fire being made in the middest thereof. The good +man, wife, children, and other of their family eate and sleepe on the one +side of the house, and the cattell on the other, very beastly and rudely, +in respect of ciuilitie. [Sidenote: No wood in Orkney.] They are destitute +of wood, their fire is turffes, and Cowshards. They haue corne, bigge, and +oates, with which they pay their Kings rent, to the maintenance of his +house. They take great quantitie of fish, which they dry in the wind and +Sunne. They dresse their meat very filthily, and eate it without salt. +Their apparell is after the rudest sort of Scotland. Their money is all +base. Their Church and religion is reformed according to the Scots. +[Sidenote: Fisher men of England haue daily traffique to Orkney.] The +fisher men of England can better declare the dispositions of those people +then I: wherefore I remit other their vsages to their reports, as yeerely +repaires thither, in their course to and from Island for fish. + +[Sidenote: In Iune and Iuly no night in those West and Northwest regions.] +We departed herehence the 8. of Iune, and followed our course betweene West +and Northwest, vntill the 4. of Iuly: all which time we had no night, but +that easily, and without any impediment we had when we were so disposed, +the fruition of our bookes, and other pleasures to passe away the time: a +thing of no small moment, to such as wander in vnknowen seas, and long +nauigations, especially, when both the winds and raging surges do passe +their common and wonted course. This benefite endureth in those parts not +6. weekes, while the sunne is neere the Tropike of Cancer: but where the +pole is raised to 70. or 80. degrees, it continueth much longer. + +[Sidenote: Great abundance of Firre trees floting in the sea.] All along +these seas, after we were sixe dayes sailing from Orkney, we met floting in +the sea, great Firre trees, which as we iudged, were with the furie of +great floods rooted vp, and so driuen into the sea. Island hath almost no +other wood nor fuell, but such as they take vp vpon their coastes. +[Sidenote: Inquire further of this current.] It seemeth, that these trees +are driuen from some part of the New found land, with the current that +setteth from the West to the East.[50] + +The 4. of Iuly we came within the making of Frisland.[51] From this shoare +10. or 12. leagues, we met great Islands of yce, of halfe a mile, some +more, some lesse in compasse, shewing aboue the sea, 30. or 40. fathoms, +and as we supposed fast on ground, where with our lead we could scarse +sound the bottome for depth. + +[Sidenote: Yce, snow, and haile in Iune and Iuly.] Here, in place of +odoriferous and fragrant smels of sweete gums, and pleasant notes of +musicall birdes, which other Countreys in more temperate Zones do yeeld, +wee tasted the most boisterous Boreal blasts mixt with snow and haile, in +the moneths of Iune and Iuly, nothing inferior to our vntemperate winter: a +sudden alteration, and especially in a place or Paralelle, where the Pole +is not eleuate aboue 61. degrees: at which height other Countreys more to +the North, yea vnto 70. degrees, shew themselues more temperate then this +doth. + +All along this coast yce lieth, as a continuall bulwarke, and so defendeth +the countrey, that those that would land there, incur great danger. Our +Generall 3. dayes together attempted with the ship boate to haue gone on +shoare, which for that without great danger he could not accomplish, he +deferred it vntill a more conuenient time. All along the coast lie very +high mountains covered with snow, except in such places, where through the +steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall. Foure dayes +coasting along this land, we found no signe of habitation. [Sidenote: +Friseland subiect to fogge.] Little birds, whiche we iudged to haue lost +the shore, by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect +vnto, came flying into our ships, which causeth vs to suppose, that the +Countrey is both more tollerable, and also habitable within, then the +outward shore maketh shew or signification.[52] + +From hence we departed the eight of Iuly: and the 16. of the same, we came +with the making of land, which land our Generall the yeere before had named +The Queenes foreland, being an Island as we iudge, lying neere the supposed +continent with America: and on the other side, opposite to the same, one +other Island called Halles Isle, after the name of the Master of the ship, +neere adiacent to the firme land, supposed continent with Asia. [Sidenote: +Frobishers streight.] Betweene the which two Islands there is a large +entrance or streight, called Frobishers streight,[53] after the name of our +Generall, the firste finder thereof. This said streight is supposed to haue +passage into the sea of Sur, which I leaue vnknowen as yet. + +It seemeth that either here, or not farre hence, the sea should haue more +large entrance, then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone: +and that some contrary tide, either from the East or West, with maine force +casteth out that great quantity of yce, which commeth floting from this +coast, euen vnto Friseland, causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate +then others, much more Northerly then the same. + +I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole, the time of the Sunnes +Northerne declination being halfe a yere together, and one whole day, +(considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30. +minuts) can haue power to [Sidenote: Islands of yce comparable to +mountaines.] dissolue such monstrous and huge yce, comparable to great +mountaines, except by some other force, as by swift currents and tides, +with the hope of the said day of halfe a yeere. + +Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes, in +so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter, if the length of +the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobisher his speciall care and diligence for the +benefite of his Prince and Countrey.] At our first comming, the straights +seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce, which gaue no litle cause of +discomfort vnto vs all: but our Generall, (to whose diligence imminent +dangers, and difficult attempts seemed nothing, in respect of his willing +mind, for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey,) with two little +Pinnesses prepared of purpose, passed twise thorow them to the East shore, +and the Ilands thereunto adiacent: and the ship, with the two Barks lay off +and on something further into the sea, from the danger of the yce. + +[Sidenote: The order of the people appearing on shoare.] Whilest he was +searching the Countrey neere the shoare, some of the people of the Countrey +shewed themselues leaping and dauncing, with strange shrikes and cries, +which gaue no little admiration to our men. Our Generall desirous to allure +them vnto him by faire meanes, caused kniues, and other things to be +profered vnto them, which they would not take at our hands: but being laid +on the ground, and the party going away, they came and tooke vp, leauing +some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same. [Sidenote: Fierce and bold +people.] At the length two of them leauing their weapons, came downe to our +Generall and Master, who did the like to them, commanding the company to +stay, and went vnto them: who after certaine dumbe signes, and mute +congratulations, began to lay handes vpon them, but they deliuerly escaped, +and ranne to their bowes and arrowes, and came fiercely vpon them, (not +respecting the rest of our companie which were readie for their defence,) +but with their arrowes hurt diuers of them: [Sidenote: One taken.] we tooke +the one, and the other escaped. + +Whilest our Generall was busied in searching the Countrey, and those +Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare, the ship and barkes hauing great care, +not to put farre into the sea from him, for that he had small store of +victuals, were forced to abide in a cruell tempest, chancing in the night, +amongst and in the thickest of the yce, which was so monstrous, that euen +the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient, to haue shiuered our +ship and barks into small portions, if God (who in all necessities, hath +care vpon the infirmitie of man) had not prouided for this our extremitie a +sufficient remedie through the light of the night, whereby we might well +discerne to flee from such imminent dangers, which we auoyded with 14. +Bourdes in one watch the space of 4 houres. [Sidenote: Richard Cox, Master +gunner. Master Iackman. Andrew Dier.] If we had not incurred this danger +amongst those monstrous Islands of yce, we should haue lost our Generall +and Master, and the most of our best sailers, which were on shoare +destitute of victuals: but by the valure of our Master Gunner, Master +Iackman, and Andrew Dier, the Masters Mates, men expert both in nauigation, +and other good qualities, wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore +rehearsed, before we would with our owne safetie, runne into the seas, to +the destruction of our sayd Generall, and his company. + +The day following, being the 19. of Iulie, our captaine returned to the +ship, with report of supposed riches, which shewed it selfe in the bowels +of those barren mountaines, wherewith wee were all satisfied. + +[Sidenote: Iackmans sound.] Within foure daies after we had bene at the +entrance of the streights, the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce +into the sea, and made vs a large entrance into the streights, so that +without any impediment, on the 19. of Iulie we entred them, and the 20. +thereof, our Generall and Master with great diligence, sought out and +sounded the West shoare, and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and +barkes to ride in, and named it after our Masters mate, Iackmans sound, and +brought the ship, barkes and all their company to safe anker, except one +man, which died by Gods visitation. + +At our first arriuall, after the ship rode at anker, our generall, with +such company as could well be spared from the ships, in marching order +entred the lande, hauing speciall care by exhortations, that at our +entrance thereinto, wee should all with one voyce, kneeling vpon our knees, +chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall: secondly beseech him, that it +would please his diuine Maiestie, long to continue our Queene, for whom he, +and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Countrey: and thirdly, that by our Christian +studie and endeuour, those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme, and +infidelitie, might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion, and to the +hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer. With other words very apt to +signifie his willing mind, and affection toward his Prince and Countrey: +whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect, may credibly be iudged to +be vtterly exempted from his mind. All the rest of the Gentlemen and other +deserue worthily herein their due praise and commendation. + +These things in this order accomplished, our Generall commanded all the +company to be obedient in things needfull for our owne safegard, to Master +Fenton, Master Yorke, and Master Beast his Lieutenant, while he was +occupied in other necessarie affaires, concerning our comming thither. + +After this order we marched through the Countrey, with Ensigne displaied, +so farre as was thought needfull, and now and then heaped vp stones on high +mountaines, and other places in token of possession, as likewise to +signifie vnto such as hereafter may chance to arriue there, that possession +is taken in the behalfe of some other Prince, by those who first found out +the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Yce needfull to be regarded of sea faring men.] Who so maketh +nauigations to those Countreys, hath not onely extreme winds, and furious +sea to encounter withall, but also many monstrous and great Islands of yce; +a thing both rare, wonderfull, and greatly to be regarded. + +We were forced sundry times, while the ship did ride here at anker, to haue +continuall watch, with boats and men ready with halsers to knit fast vnto +such yce, as with the ebbe and flood were tossed to and fro in the +harborough, and with force of oares to hale them away, for endangering the +ship. + +Our Generall certaine dayes searched this supposed continent with America, +and not finding the commodity to answere his expectation, after he had made +triall thereof he departed thence with two little barks, and men sufficient +to the East shore being the supposed continent of Asia, and left the ship +with most of the Gentlemen, souldier, and sailers, vntill such time as he +either thought good to send or come for them. + +[Sidenote: Stones glister with sparkles like gold.] The stones of this +supposed continent with America be altogether sparkled, and glister in the +Sunne like gold: [Sidenote: A common prouerb.] so likewise doth the sand in +the bright water, yet they verifie the old Prouerb: All is not gold that +glistereth. + +[Sidenote: The sea Vnicorne.] On this West shore we found a dead fish +floating, which had in his nose a horne streight and torquet,[54] of length +two yards lacking two ynches, being broken in the top, where we might +perceiue it hollow, into the which some of our sailers putting spiders they +presently died. I saw not the triall hereof, but it was reported vnto me of +a trueth: by the verture whereof we supposed it to be the sea Vnicorne. + +After our Generall had found out good harborough for the ship and barks to +anker in, and also such store of supposed gold ore as he thought himselfe +satisfied withall, he returned to the Michael, whereof Master Yorke +aforesaid was Captaine, accompanied with our master and his Mate: who +coasting along the West shore not farre from whence the ship rode, they +perceived a faire harborough, and willing to sound the same, at the +entrance thereof they espied two tents of Seale skins, vnto which the +Captaine, our said Master, and other company resorted. [Sidenote: The +people fled at the sight of our men.] At the sight of our men the people +fled into the mountaines: neuerthelesse they went to their tents, where +leauing certaine trifles of ours, as glasses, bels, kniues, and such like +things they departed, not taking any thing of theirs, except one dogge. +They did in like maner leaue behind them a letter, pen, yncke, and paper, +whereby our men whom the Captaine lost the yere before, and in that peoples +custody, might (if any of them were aliue) be advertised of our presence +and being there. + +[Sidenote: Master Philpot. Master Beast.] On the same day after +consultation had, all the Gentlemen, and others likewise that could be +spared from the ship, vnder the conduct and leading of Master Philpot, +(vnto whom in our Generall his absence, and his Lieutenant Master Beast, al +the rest were obedient) went a shore, determining to see, if by faire means +we could either allure them to familiarity, or otherwise take some of them, +and so attaine to some knowledge of those men whom our Generall lost the +yeere before. + +At our comming backe againe to the place where their tents were before, +they had remooued their tents further into the said Bay or Sound, where +they might if they were driuen from the land, flee with their boates into +the sea. We parting our selues into two companies, and compassing a +mountaine came suddenly vpon them by land, who espying vs, without any +tarrying fled to their boates, leauing the most part of their oares behind +them for haste, and rowed downe the bay, where our two Pinesses met them +and droue them to shore: but if they had had all their oares, so swift are +they in rowing, it had bene lost time to haue chased them. + +[Sidenote: A fierce assault of a few.] When they were landed they fiercely +assaulted our men with their bowes and arrowes, who wounded three of them +with our arrowes; and perceiuing themselues thus hurt, they desperatly +leapt off the Rocks into the Sea, and drowned themselues: which if they had +not done, but had submitted themselues, or if by any meanes we could haue +taken them aliue (being their enemies as they iudged) we would both haue +saued them, and also haue sought remedy to cure their wounds receiued at +our hands. But they altogether voyd of humanity, and ignorant what mercy +meaneth, in extremities looke for no other then death: and perceiuing they +should fall into our hands, thus miserably by drowning rather desired death +then otherwise to be saued by vs: the rest perceiuing their fellowes in +this distresse, fled into the high mountaines. Two women not being so apt +to escape as the men were, the one for her age, and the other being +incombred with a yong child, we tooke. The old wretch, whom diuers of our +Saylers supposed to be eyther a deuill, or a witch, had her buskins plucked +off, to see if she were clouen footed, and for her ougly hew and deformity +we let her go: the yong woman and the child we brought away. We named the +place where they were slaine, Bloodie point: and the Bay or Harborough, +Yorks sound, after the name of one of the Captaines of the two Barks. + +[Sidenote: Faire meanes not able to allure them to familiarity.] Having +this knowledge both of their fiercenesse and cruelty, and perceiuing that +faire meanes as yet is not able to allure them to familiarity, we disposed +our selues, contrary to our inclination, something to be cruel, returned to +their tents and made a spoyle of the same: where we found an old shirt, a +doublet, a girdle, and also shoes of our men, whom we lost the yeere +before: on nothing else vnto them belonging could we set our eyes. + +[Sidenote: Boates of skinnes.] Their riches are not gold, siluer or +precious Drapery, but their tents and boates, made of the skins of red +Deare and Seale skins; also dogges like vnto woolues, but for the most part +black, with other trifles, more to be wondred at for their strangenesse, +then for any other commoditie needefull for our vse. + +[Sidenote: Our departure from the West shoare.] Thus returning to our ship +the 3. August, we departed from the West shore supposed firme with America, +after we had ankered there 13. dayes: and so the 4. thereof we came to our +Generall on the East shore and ankered in a faire Harborough name Anne +Warwickes sound, vnto which is annexed an Island both named after the +Countesse of Warwicke, Anne Warwickes sound and Isle. + +In this Isle our Generall thought good for this voyage, to fraight both the +ship and barkes, with such stone or supposed gold minerall, as he iudged to +counteruaile the charges of his first, and this his second nauigation to +these Countreys. + +[Sidenote: The countrey people shew themselues vnto vs.] In the meane time +of our abode here some of the countrey people came to shew themselues vnto +vs, sundry times on the maine shore, neere adiacent to the saide Isle. Our +Generall desirous to haue some newes of his men, whom he lost the yeere +before, with some company with him repaired with the ship boat to common, +or signe with them for familiaritie, whereunto he is perswaded to bring +them. They at the first shew made tokens, that three of his fiue men were +aliue, and desired penne, ynck, and paper, and that within three or foure +dayes they would returne, and (as we iudged) bring those of our men which +were liuing, with them. + +They also made signes or tokens of their king, whom they called Cacough, +and how he was carried on mens shoulders, and a man farre surmounting any +of our company, in bignesse and stature. + +[Sidenote: Their vsage in traffique or exchange.] With these tokens and +signes of writing, penne, yncke, and paper was deliuered them, which they +would not take at our hands, but being laid vpon the shore, and the partie +gone away, they tooke vp: which likewise they do when they desire any thing +for change of theirs, laying for that which is left so much as they thinke +will counteruaile the same, and not coming neere together. It seemeth they +haue been vsed to this trade or traffique, with some other people +adioining, or not farre distant from their Countrey. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues the third time.] After 4. dayes some +of them shewed themselues vpon the firme land, but not where they were +before. Our General very glad thereof, supposing to heare of our men, went +from the Island, with the boat, and sufficient company with him. They +seemed very glad, and allured him about a certaine point of the land: +behind which they might perceiue a company of the crafty villaines to lye +lurking, whom our Generall would not deale withall, for that he knew not +what company they were, and so with few signes dismissed them and returned +to his company. + +[Sidenote: The people shew themselues againe on firme land.] An other time +as our said Generall was coasting the Countrey with two little Pinnesses, +whereby at our returne he might make the better relation thereof, three of +the crafty villans, with a white skin allured vs to them. [Sidenote: Their +first meanes to allure vs to shore.] Once again, our Generall, for that he +hoped to heare of his men, went towards them: at our comming neere the +shore whereon they were, we might perceiue a number of them lie hidden +behind great stones, and those 3. in sight labouring by all meanes possible +that some would come on land: and perceiuing we made no hast by words nor +friendly signes, which they vsed by clapping of their hands, and being +without weapon, and but 3. in sight, they sought further meanes to prouoke +vs therevnto. [Sidenote: Their second meanes.] One alone laid flesh on the +shore, which we tooke vp with the Boate hooke, as necessary victuals for +the relieuing of the man, woman, and child, whom we had taken: for that as +yet they could not digest our meat: whereby they perceiued themselues +deceiued of their expectation, for all their crafty allurements. [Sidenote: +Their third and craftiest allurement.] Yet once againe to make (as it were) +a full shew of their craftie natures, and subtile sleights, to the intent +thereby to haue intrapped and taken some of our men, one of them +counterfeited himselfe impotent and lame of his legs, who seemed to descend +to the water side, with great difficulty: and to couer his craft the more, +one of his fellowes came downe with him, and in such places where he seemed +vnable to passe, he tooke him on his shoulders, set him by the water side, +and departed from him, leauing him (as it should seeme) all alone, who +playing his counterfeit pageant very well, thought thereby to prouoke some +of vs to come on shore, not fearing, but that one of vs might make our +party good with a lame man. + +[Sidenote: Compassion to cure a crafty lame man.] Our Generall hauing +compassion of his impotency, thought good (if it were possible) to cure him +thereof: wherefore he caused a souldier to shoote at him with his Caleeuer, +which grased before his face. The counterfeit villeine deliuerly fled, +without any impediment at all, and got him to his bow and arrowes, and the +rest from their lurking holes, with their weapons, bowes, arrowes, slings, +and darts. Our Generall caused some caleeuers to be shot off at them, +whereby some being hurt, they might hereafter stand in more feare of vs. + +This was all the answere for this time we could haue of our men, or of our +Generals letter. Their crafty dealing at these three seuerall times being +thus manifest vnto vs, may plainely shew their disposition in other things +to be correspondent. We iudged that they vsed these stratagemes, thereby to +haue caught some of vs, for the deliuering of the man, woman and child whom +we had taken. + +They are men of a large corporature, and good proportion: their colour is +not much vnlike the Sunne burnt Countrey man, who laboureth daily in the +Sunne for his liuing. + +They weare their haire something long, and cut before either with stone or +knife, very disorderly. Their women weare their haire long and knit vp with +two loupes, shewing forth on either side of their faces, and the rest +foltred vpon a knot. Also some of their women race their faces +proportionally, as chinne, cheekes, and forehead, and the wrists of their +hands, wherevpon they lay a colour which continueth darke azurine. + +They eate their meat all raw, both flesh, fish, and foule, or something per +boyled with blood and a little water which they drinke. For lacke of water +they will eate yce, that is hard frosen, as pleasantly as we will do Sugar +Candie, or other Sugar. + +If they for necessities sake stand in need of the premisses, such grasse as +the countrey yeeldeth they plucke vp and eate, not deintily, or salletwise +to allure their stomacks to appetite: but for necessities sake without +either salt, oiles or washing, like brute beasts deuouring the same. They +neither vse table, stoole, or table cloth for comlines; but when they are +imbrued with blood knuckle deepe, and their kniues in like sort, they vse +their tongues as apt instruments to lick them cleane: in doing whereof they +are assured to loose none of their victuals. + +[Sidenote: Dogges like vnto wolues.] They frank or keepe certaine dogs not +much vnlike Wolues, which they yoke togither, as we do oxen and horses, to +a sled or traile: and so carry their necessaries ouer the yce and snow from +place to place: as the captiue, whom we haue, made perfect signes. +[Sidenote: They eate dogs flesh.] And when these dogs are not apt for the +same vse: or when with hunger they are constrained for lacke of other +victuals, they eate them: so that they are as needfull for them in respect +of their bignesse, as our oxen are for vs. + +They apparell themselues in the skins of such beasts as they kill, sewed +together with the sinewes of them. All the foule which they kill, they +skin, and make thereof one kind of garment or other to defend them from the +cold. + +[Sidenote: Hoods and tailes to their apparell.] They make their apparel +with hoods and tailes, which tailes they giue when they thinke to gratifie +any friendship shewed vnto them: a great signe of friendship with them. The +men haue them not so side[55] as the women. + +The men and women weare their hose close to their legges, from the wast to +the knee without any open before, as well the one kind as the other. Vpon +their legges they weare hose of leather, with the furre side inward two or +three paire on at once, and especially the women. In those hose they put +their kniues, needles, and other thing needfull to beare about. They put a +bone within their hose, which reacheth from the foote to the knee, +whereupon they draw the said hose, and so in place of garters they are +holden from falling downe about their feete. + +They dresse their skinnes very soft and souple with the haire on. In cold +weather or Winter they weare the furre side inward: and Summer outward. +Other apparell they haue none but the said skinnes. + +Those beasts, fishes, and foules, which they kill, are their meat, drinke, +apparell, houses, bedding, hose, shooes, threed, and sailes for their +boates, with many other necessaries whereof they stand in need, and almost +all their riches. + +[Sidenote: Their houses of Seale skins and firre.] Their houses are tents +made of Seale skins, pitched vp with 4. Firre quarters foure square meeting +at the top, and the skins sewed together with sinews, and laid thereupon: +they are so pitched vp, that the entrance into them is alwayes South or +against the Sunne. + +They haue other sorts of houses which we found not to be inhabited, which +are raised with stones and Whale bones, and a skinne layd ouer them, to +with stand the raine, or other weather: the entrance of them being not much +vnlike an Ouens mouth, whereto I thinke they resort for a time to fish, +hunt, and foule, and so leaue them vntil the next time they come thither +again. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons of defence.] Their weapons are bowes, arrowes, +darts, and slings. Their bowes are of wood of a yard long, sinewed at the +back with strong sinews, not glued too, but fast girded and tyed on. Their +bow strings are likewise sinewes. Their arrowes are three pieces nocked +with bone, and ended with bone, with those two ends, and the wood in the +midst, they passe not in length halfe a yard or little more. They are +fethered with two fethers the penne end being cut away, and the fethers +layd vpon the arrow with the broad side to the wood; insomuch that they +seeme when they are tyed on, to haue foure fethers. [Sidenote: Three sorts +of heads to their arrowes.] They haue also three sorts of heads to those +arrowes: one sort of stone or yron, proportioned like to a heart: the +second sort of bone, much like vnto a stopt head, with a hooke on the same: +the third sort of bone likewise made sharpe at both sides, and sharpe +pointed. They are not made very fast but lightly tyed to, or else set in a +nocke, that vpon small occasion the arrowes leaue these heads behind them: +and they are of small force, except they be very neere when they shoote. + +[Sidenote: two sorts of darts.] Their Darts are made of two sorts: the one +with many forkes of bones in the fore end and likewise in the midst: their +proportions are not much vnlike our toasting yrons, but longer: these they +cast out of an instrument of wood, very readily. The other sort is greater +then the first aforesayd, with a long bone made sharpe on both sides not +much vnlike a Rapier, which I take to bee their most hurtfull weapon. + +[Sidenote: Two sortes of boates made of leather.] They haue two sorts of +boats made of leather, set out on the inner side with quarters of wood, +artificially tyed with thongs of the same: the greater sort are not much +vnlike our wherries, wherein sixteene or twenty men may sit: they haue for +a sayle drest the guts of such beasts as they kill very fine and thinne, +which they sew together: the other boate is but for one man to sit and row +in with one oare. + +[Sidenote: They vse to foule, fish, and hunt.] Their order of fishing, +hunting, and fouling are with these said weapons; but in what sort, or how +they vse them we haue no perfect knowledge as yet. + +[Sidenote: It is to be supposed that their inhabiting is elsewhere.] I can +suppose their abode or habitation not to be here, for that neither their +houses or apparell, are of such force to withstand the extremity of cold, +that the Countrey seemeth to be infected with all: neither do I see any +signe likely to performe the same. + +Those houses or rather dennes which stand there, haue no signe of footway, +or any thing else troden, which is one of the chiefest tokens of +habitation. And those tents which they bring with them, when they haue +sufficiently hunted and fished, they remoue to other places: and when they +haue sufficiently stored them of such victuals, as the Countrey yeeldeth or +bringeth forth, they returne to their winter stations or habitations. This +coniecture do I make, for the infertility which I coniecture to be in that +Countrey. + +[Sidenote: Their vse of yron.] They haue some yron whereof they make arrow +heads, kniues, and other little instruments, to worke their boates, bowes, +arrowes, and darts withall, which are very vnapt to doe any thing withall +but with great labour. + +It seemeth that they haue conuersation with some other people, of whom for +exchange they should receiue the same. They are greatly delighted with any +thing that is bright, or giueth a sound. + +[Sidenote: Anthropophagi.] What knowledge they haue of God, or what Idoll +they adore, we haue no perfect intelligence, I thinke them rather +Anthropophagi, or deuourers of mans flesh then otherwise: for that there is +no flesh or fish which they find dead (smell it neuer so filthily) but they +will eate it, as they finde it without any other dressing. A loathsome +thing, either to the beholders or hearers. + +There is no maner of creeping beast hurtfull, except some Spiders (which as +many affirme, are signes of great store of gold) and also certaine stinging +Gnattes, which bite so fiercely, that the place where they bite shortly +after swelleth, and itcheth very sore. + +They make signes of certaine people that weare bright plates of gold in +their foreheads, and other places of their bodies. + +[Sidenote: Description of the Countreis.] The Countreys on both sides the +streights lye very high with rough stony mountaines, and great quantitie of +snow thereon. There is very little plaine ground and no grasse, except a +little which is much like vnto mosse that groweth on soft ground, such as +we get Turffes in. There is no wood at all. To be briefe there is nothing +fit or profitable for the vse of man, which that Countrey with roote +yeeldeth or bringeth forth: Howbeit there is great quantity of Deere, whose +skins are like vnto Asses, there heads or hornes doe farre exceede, as well +in length as also in breadth, any in these our parts or Countreys: their +feete likewise are as great as our oxens, which we measured to be seuen or +eight ynches in breadth. There are also hares, wolues, fishing beares, and +sea foule of sundry sorts. + +As the Countrey is barren and vnfertile, so are they rude and of no +capacitie to culture the same to any perfection; but are contented by their +hunting, fishing, and fouling, with raw flesh and warme blood to satisfie +their greedy panches, which is their only glory. + +[Sidenote: A signe of Earthquakes or thunder.] There is great likelihood of +Earthquakes or thunder: for that there are huge and monstrous mountaines, +whose greatest substance are stones, and those stones so shaken with some +extraordinarie meanes that one is separated from another, which is +discordant from all other Quarries. + +[Sidenote: No riuers, but such as the Sunne doth cause to come of Snow.] +There are no riuers or running springs, but such as through the heate of +the Sunne, with such water as decendeth from the mountaines and hilles, +whereon great drifts of snow do lie, are engendred. + +[Sidenote: A probability that there should be neither spring or riuer in +the ground.] It argueth also that there should be none: for that the earth, +which with the extremitie of the Winter is so frosen within, that that +water which should haue recourse within the same to maintaine springs, hath +not his motion, whereof great waters haue their originall, as by experience +is seene otherwhere. Such valleis as are capable to receiue the water, that +in the Summer time by the operation of the Sunne decendeth from great +abundance of snowe, which continually lyeth on the mountaines and hath no +passage, sinketh into the earth and so vanisheth away, without any runnell +aboue the earth, by which occasion or continuall standing of the said +water, the earth is opened, and the great frost yeeldeth to the force +thereof, which in other places foure or fiue fathomes within the ground for +lacke of the said moisture, the earth (euen in the very summer time) is +frosen, and so combineth the stones together, that scarcely instruments +with great force can vnknit them. + +Also where the water in those valleis can haue no such passage away, by the +continuance of time in such order as is before rehearsed, the yeerely +descent from the mountaines filleth them full, that at the lowest banke of +the same, they fall into the valley, and so continue as fishing Ponds or +Stagnes in Summer time full of water, and in the Winter hard frosen: as by +skarres that remaine thereof in Summer may easily be perceiued: so that the +heat of Summer is nothing comparable or of force to dissolue the extremitie +of cold that commeth in Winter. + +[Sidenote: Springs nourish gold.] Neuerthelesse I am assured that below the +force of the frost within the earth, the waters haue recourse, and emptie +themselues out of sight into the Sea, which through the extremitie of the +frost are constrained to doe the same: by which occasion the earth within +is kept the warmer, and springs haue their recourse, which is the only +nutriment of golde and Minerals within the same. + +There is much to be sayd of the commodities of these Countreys, which are +couched within the bowels of the earth, which I let passe till more perfect +triall be made thereof. + +The 24. of August after we had satisfied our minds with fraight sufficient +for our vessels, though not our couetous desires with such knowledge of the +Countrey people, and other commodities as are before rehearsed, we departed +therehence. [Sidenote: Our departure from those Countreys.] The 17. of +September we fell with the lands end of England, and so sailed to Milford +Hauen, from whence our Generall rode to the Court for order, to what Port +or Hauen to conduct the ship. + +[Sidenote: How and when we lost our 2. Barks which God neuerthelesse +restored.] We lost our two Barkes in the way homeward, the one the 29. of +August, the other the 21. of the same moneth, by occasion of great tempest +and fogge. Howbeit God restored the one to Bristowe, and the other made his +course by Scotland to Yermouth. In this voyage we lost two men, one in the +way by Gods visitation, and the other homeward cast ouer borde with a surge +of the Sea. + +[Sidenote: The conclusion.] I could declare vnto the Readers, the latitude +and longitude of such places and regions as we haue bene at, but not +altogether so perfectly as our masters and others, with many circumstances +of tempests and other accidents incident to Sea-faring men, which seeme not +altogether strange, but I let them passe to their reports as men most apt +to set forth and declare the same. I haue also left the names of the +Countreys on both the shores vntouched, for lacke of vnderstanding the +peoples language: as also for sundry respects, not needfull as yet to be +declared. + +Countreys new discovered where commoditie is to be looked for, doe better +accord with a new name giuen by the discouerers, then an vncertaine name by +a doubtfull Authour. + +Our generall named sundry Islands, Mountaines, Capes, and Harboroughs after +the names of diuers Noble men and other gentlemen his friends, as wel on +the one shore as also on the other. + + * * * * * + +The third and last voyage vnto Meta Incognita, made by M. Martin Frobisher, + in the yeere 1578. Written by Thomas Ellis. + +These are to let you know, that vpon the 25. of May, the Thomas Allen being +Viceadmirall whose Captaine was M. Yorke, M. Gibbes Master, Christopher +Hall Pilot, accompanied with the Reareadmiral named the Hopewel, whose +Captaine was M. Henrie Carewe, the M. Andrewe Dier, and certaine other +ships came to Grauesend, where wee ankered and abode the comming of our +Fleete which were not yet come. + +The 27. of the same moneth our Fleete being nowe come together, and all +things prest in a readinesse, the wind fauouring, and tide seruing, we +being of sailes in number eight, waied ankers and hoised our sailes toward +Harwich to meete with our Admirall, and the residue which then and there +abode arriuall: where we safely arriued the 28. thereof, finding there our +Admirall, whom we with the discharge of certaine pieces saluted, acording +to order and duety, and were welcommed with the like courtesie: which being +finished we landed; where our Generall continued mustering his souldiers +and Miners, and setting things in order appertaining to the voyage vntill +the last of the said moneth of May, which day we hoised our sailes, and +committing ourselues to the conducting of Almightie God, we set forward +toward the west Countrey in such luckie wise and good successe, that by the +fift of Iune we passed the Dursies, being the vtmost part of Ireland to the +Westward. + +And here it were not much amisse nor farre from our purpose, if I should a +little discourse and speake of our aduentures and chances by the way, as +our landing at Plimmouth, as also the meeting certaine poore men, which +were robbed and spoyled of all that they had by Pirates and Rouers: amongst +whom was a man of Bristow, on whom our Generall vsed his liberality, and +sent him away with letters into England. + +But because such things are impertinent to the matter, I will returne +(without any more mentioning of the same) to that from the which I haue +digressed and swarued, I meane our ships now sailing on the surging seas, +sometime passing at pleasure with a wished Easterne wind, sometimes +hindered of our course againe by the Westerne blasts, vntill the 20. day of +the foresayd moneth of Iune, on which day in the morning we fell with +Frizeland, which is a very hie and cragged land and was almost cleane +couered with snow, so that we might see nought but craggie rockes and the +topes of high and huge hilles, sometimes (and for the most part) all +couered with foggie mists. There might we also perceiue the great Isles of +yce lying on the seas, like mountaines, some small, some big, of sundry +kinds of shapes, and such a number of them, that wee could not come neere +the shore for them. + +Thus sailing alongst the coast, at the last we saw a place somewhat voyd of +yce, where our Generall (accompanied with certaine other) went a shore, +where they sawe certaine tents made of beasts skinnes; and boates much the +like vnto theirs of Meta Incognita. The tents were furnished with flesh, +fish, skins, and other trifles: amonst the which was found a boxe of +nailes: whereby we did coniecture, that they had either Artificers amongst +them, or els a traffike with some other nation. The men ran away, so that +wee coulde haue no conference or communication with them. [Sidenote: The +curtesie of our Generall.] Our Generall (because hee would haue them no +more to flee, but rather incouraged to stay through his courteous dealing) +gaue commaundement that his men should take nothing away with them, sauing +onely a couple of white dogs, for the which he left pinnes, poynts, kniues, +and other trifling things, and departed without taking or hurting any +thing, and so came abord, and hoysed sailes, and passed forwards. + +But being scarce out of the sight thereof, there fell such a foggy and +hidious mist that we could not see one another: whereupon we stroke our +drums, and sounded our trumpets, to the ende we might keepe together: and +so continued all that day and night till the next day that the mist brake +vp: so that we might easily perceiue all the ships thus sailing together +all that day, vntil the next day, being the 22. of the same: on which day +wee sawe an infinite number of yce, from the which we cast about to shun +the danger thereof. + +But one of our small Barkes named the Michael, whose Captaine was Master +Kinderslie, the master Bartholomew Bull, lost our company, insomuch that we +could not obteine the sight of her many dayes after, of whom I meane to +speak further anon when occassion shall be ministred, and opportunitie +serue. Thus we continued in our course vntill the second of Iuly, on which +day we fell with the Queenes foreland, where we saw so much yce, that we +thought it vnpossible to get into the Straights; yet at the last we gaue +the aduenture and entred the yce. + +[Sidenote: The Michael. The Iudith. M. Fenton. Charles Iackman.] Being +amongst it wee sawe the Michael, of whom I spake before, accompanied with +the Iudith, whose Captaine was Master Fenton, the Master Charles Iackman, +bearing into the foresayd yce, farre distant from vs, who in a storme that +fell that present night, (whereof I will at large God willing, discourse +hereafter) were seuered from vs, and being in, wandred vp and downe the +Straights amongst the yce many dayes in great perill, till at the last, by +the prouidence of God, they came safely to harbor in their wished Port in +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, the 20. of Iuly aforesayd, tenne dayes +before any of the other shippes: [Sidenote: The Countesse of Warwicks +sound.] who going on shore found where the people of the Countrey had bene, +and had hid their provision in great heapes of stones being both of flesh +and fish, which they had killed; whereof wee also found great store in +other places after our arriual. They found also diuers engins, as bowes, +slings, and darts. They found likewise certaine pieces of the Pinnesse +which our Generall left there the yeere before, which Pinnesse he had +sunke, minding to haue it againe the next yeere. + +Now seeing I haue entreated so much of the Iudith and the Michael: I will +returne to the rest of the other ships, and will speake a little of the +storme which fell, with the mishaps that we had, the night that we put into +the yce: whereof I made mention before. + +[Sidenote: Our entrance and passage &c.] At the first entring into the yce +in the mouth of the Straights, our passage was very narrow, and difficult +but being once gotten in, we had a faire open place without any yce for the +most part, being a league in compasse, the yce being round about vs and +inclosing vs, as it were, within the pales of a parke. In which place, +(because it was almost night) we minded to take in our sailes, and lie a +hull all that night. But the storme so increased, and the waues began to +mount aloft, which brought the yce so neere vs, and comming on so fast vpon +vs, that we were faine to beare in and out, where we might espie an open +place. Thus the yce comming on vs so fast, we were in great danger, looking +euery houre for death. And thus passed we on in that great danger, seeing +both our selues and the rest of our ships so troubled and tossed amongst +the yce, that it would make the strongest heart to relent. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dionyse.] At the last the Barke Dionyse being but a weake +ship, and bruised afore amongst the yce, being so leake that no longer she +could tarry aboue the water, sanke without sauing any of the goods which +were within her: which sight so abashed the whole Fleete, that we thought +verily we should haue tasted of the same sauce. But neuerthelesse we seeing +them in such danger, manned our boates and saued all men in such wise, that +not one perished: God be thanked. + +[Sidenote: Narow shifts for safetie.] The storme still increased and the +yce inclosed vs, so that we were faine to take downe top and top mastes: +for the yce had so inuironed vs, that we could see neither land nor sea, as +farre as we could kenne: so that we were faine to cut our cables to hang +ouer boord for fenders, somewhat to ease the ships sides from the great and +driry strokes of the yce: some with Capstan barres, some fending off with +oares, some with plancks of two ynches thicke, which were broken immediatly +with the force of the yce, some going out vpon the yce to beare it off with +their shoulders from the ship. But the rigorousnes of the tempest was such, +and the force of the yce so great, that not onely they burst and spoyled +the foresaid prouision, but likewise so raised the sides of the ships, that +it was pitifull to behold, and caused the hearts of many to faint. + +[Sidenote: Gods prouidence.] Thus we continued all that dismall and +lamentable night plunged in this perplexity, looking for instant death: but +our God (who neuer leaueth them destitute which call vpon him, although he +often punisheth for amendements sake) in the morning caused the winds to +cease, and the fogge which all that night lay on the face of the water to +cleare: so that we might perceiue about a mile from vs, a certaine place +cleare from any yce, to the which with an easie breath of wind which our +God sent vs, we bent our selues. And furthermore, hee prouided better for +vs then we deserued or hoped for: for when we were in the foresaid cleare +place, he sent vs a fresh gale at West or at West Southwest, which set vs +cleare without all the yce. And further he added more: for he sent vs so +pleasant a day as the like we had not of a long time before, as after +punishment consolation. + +Thus we ioyfull wights being at libertie, tooke in all our sailes and lay a +hull, praysing God for our deliuerance, and stayed to gather together our +Fleete: which once being done, we seeing that none of them had any great +hurt, neither any of them wanted, sauing onely they of whom I spake before +and the ship which was lost, then at the last we hoised our sailes, and lay +bulting off and on, till such time as it would please God to take away the +yce that wee might get into the Straights. + +[Sidenote: A mountaine of yce appearing in sundry figures.] And as we thus +lay off and on we came by a marueilous huge mountaine of yce, which +surpassed all the rest that euer we saw: for we iudged it to be neere +fourescore fathomes aboue water, and we thought it to be a ground for any +thing that we could perceiue, being there nine score fathoms deepe, and of +compasse about halfe a mile. + +[Sidenote: A fog of long continuance.] Also the fift of Iuly there fell a +hidious fogge and mist, that continued till the nineteenth of the same: so +that one shippe could not see another. [Sidenote: A current to the +Northwest.] Therefore we were faine to beare a small sayle and to obserue +the time: but there ran such a current of a tide, that it set vs to the +Northwest of the Queenes foreland the backside of all the Straights: where +(through the contagious fogge hauing no sight either of Sunne or Starre) we +scarce knew where we were. In this fogge the tenth of Iuly we lost the +company of the Viceadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Busse of Bridgewater, +and the Francis of Foy. + +[Sidenote: The Gabriel. The people offer to traffike with vs.] The 16. day +one of our small Barkes named The Gabriel was sent by our Generall to beare +in with the land to descrie it, where being on land, they met with the +people of the Countrey, which seemed very humane and ciuill, and offered to +traffike with our men, profering them foules and skins for kniues, and +other trifles: whose courtesie caused vs to thinke, that they had small +conuersation with other of the Straights. + +Then we bare backe againe to goe with the Queenes foreland: and the +eighteenth day wee came by two Islands whereon we went on shore, and found +where the people had bene: but we saw none of them. This day we were againe +in the yce, and like to be in as great perill as we were at the first. For +through the darknesse and obscuritie of the fogie mist, we were almost run +on rocks and Islands before we saw them: But God (euen miraculously) +prouided for vs, opening the fogges that we might see clearely, both where +and in what danger we presently were, and also the way to escape: or els +without faile we had ruinously runne vpon the rocks. + +When we knew perfectly our instant case, wee cast about to get againe on +Sea bord, which (God be thanked) by night we obtained and praised God. The +cleare continued scarce an houre, but the fogge fell againe as thicke as +euer it was. + +[Sidenote: Warning pieces of safe passage discharged.] Then the +Rearadmirall and the Beare got themselues cleare without danger of yce and +rocks, strooke their sailes and lay a hull, staying to haue the rest of the +Fleet come forth: which as yet had not found the right way to cleare +themselues from the danger of rockes and yce, vntill the next morning, at +what time the Rearadmirall discharged certaine warning pieces to giue +notice that she had escaped, and that the rest (by following of her) might +set themselues free, which they did that day. + +Then hauing gathered our selues togither we proceeded on our purposed +voyage, bearing off, and keeping our selues distant from the coast till the +19. day of Iuly; at which time the fogges brake vp and dispersed, so that +we might plainely and clearly behold the pleasant ayre, which so long had +bene taken from vs, by the obscuritie of the foggie mists: and after that +time we were not much incumbred therewith vntill we had left the confines +of the Countrey. + +[Sidenote: A faire sound betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound.] +Then we espying a fayre sound, supposed it to goe into the Straights +betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound, which proued as we +imagined. For our Generall sent forth againe the Gabriel to discouer it, +who passed through with much difficulty: for there ran such an extreme +current of a tide, with such a horrible gulfe, that with a fresh gale of +wind they were scarce able to stemme it: yet at length with great trauaile +they passed it, and came to the Straights, where they met with the Thomas +Allen, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Busse of Bridgewater: who altogether +aduentured to beare into the yce againe, to see if they could obtaine their +wished Port. But they were so incombred that with much difficultie they +were able to get out againe, yet at the last they escaping, the Thomas +Allen, and the Gabriel bare in with the Westerne shore, where they found +harbour, and there moared their ships vntill the fourth of August, at which +time they came to vs in the Countesse of Warwicks sound. The Thomas of +Ipswich caught a great leake which caused her to cast againe to Seabord and +so was mended. + +We sailed along still by the coast vntill we came to the Queenes foreland, +at the point whereof we met with part of the gulfe aforesaid, which place +or gulfe (as some of our Masters doe credibly report) doeth flow nine +houres, and ebs but three. At that point wee discouered certaine lands +Southward, which neither time nor opportunitie would serue to search. Then +being come to the mouth of the Straights, we met with the Anne Francis, who +had laine bulting vp and downe euer since her departure alone, neuer +finding any of her company. We met then also the Francis of Foy, with whom +againe we intended to venture and get in: but the yce was yet so thicke, +that we were compelled againe to retyre and get vs on Sea bord. + +[Sidenote: An horrible snowe fell in Iuly.] There fell also the same day +being the 26. of Iuly, such an horrible snow, that it lay a foot thick vpon +the hatches which frose as it fell. + +We had also at other times diuers cruell stormes both of snow and haile, +which manifestly declared the distemperature of the Countrey: yet for all +that wee were so many times repulsed and put backe from our purpose, +knowing that lingering delay was not profitable for vs, but hurtfull to our +voyage, we mutually consented to our valiant Generall once againe to giue +the onset. + +The 28. day therefore of the same Iuly we assayed, and with little trouble +(God be praysed) we passed the dangers by day light. [Sidenote: The time of +our setting forward, &c.] Then night falling on the face of the earth, wee +hulled in the cleare, til the chearefull light of the day had chased away +the noysome darkenesse of the night: at which time we set forward towards +our wished Port: by the 30. day wee obteined our expected desire, where we +found the Iudith, and the Michael: which brought no smal ioy vnto the +General, and great consolation to the heauie hearts of those wearied +wights. + +The 30. day of Iuly we brought our ships into the Countesse of Warwicks +sound, and moared them, namely these ships, The Admirall, the Rearadmirall, +the Francis of Foy, the Beare Armenel, the Salomon, and the Busse of +Bridgewater: which being done, our Generall commaunded vs all to come a +shore vpon the Countesses Iland, where he set his Miners to worke vpon the +Mine, giuing charge with expedition to dispatch with their lading. + +Our Generall himselfe, accompanied with his Gentlemen, diuers times made +rodes into sundry partes of the Countrey, as well to finde new Mines, as +also to finde out and see the people of the Countrey. [Sidenote: The +Countesse of Sussex Iland.] He found out one Mine vpon an Island by Beares +sound, and named it the Countesse of Sussex Island. [Sidenote: Winters +Fornace.] One other was found in Winters Fornace, with diuers others, to +which the ships were sent sunderly to be laden. [Sidenote: Dauids Sound.] +In the same rodes he mette with diuers of the people of the Countrey at +sundry times, as once at a place called Dauids sound: who shot at our men, +and very desperately gaue them the onset, being not aboue three or foure in +number, there being of our Countrey men aboue a dozen: but seeing +themselues not able to preuaile, they tooke themselues to flight; whom our +men pursued, but being not vsed to such craggie cliffes, they soone lost +the sight of them, and so in vaine returned. + +[Sidenote: The policie of the people for the safetie of themselues.] We +also saw of them at Beares sound, both by Sea and land in great companies: +but they would at all times keepe the water betweene them and vs. And if +any of our ships chanced to be in the sound (as they came diuers times, +because the Harbor was not very good) the ship laded, and departed againe: +then so long as any ships were in sight, the people would not be seene. But +when as they perceiued the ships to be gone, they would not only shew +themselues standing vpon high cliffes, and call vs to come ouer vnto them: +but also would come in their Botes very neere to vs, as it were to brag at +vs: whereof our Generall hauing aduertisement, sent for the Captaines and +Gentlemen of the ships, to accompany and attend vpon him, with the Captaine +also of the Anne Francis, who was but the night before come vnto vs. For +they, and the Fleebote hauing lost vs the 26. day in the great snow, put +into an harbour in the Queenes foreland, where they found good Oare, +wherewith they laded themselues, and came to seeke the Generall: so that +now we had all our Shippes, sauing one Barke, which was lost, and the +Thomas of Ipswich, who (compelled by what furie I knowe not) forsooke our +company, and returned home without lading. + +[Sidenote: Their speedie flight at our Generalls arriual.] Our Generall +accompanied with his Gentlemen, (of whom I spake) came altogether to the +Countesse of Sussex Island, neere to Beares sound: where he manned out +certaine Pinasses, and went ouer to the people: who perceiuing his +arriuall, fledde away with all speede, and in haste left certaine dartes +and other engines behinde them, which we found: but the people we could not +finde. + +The next morning our Generall perceiuing certaine of them in botes vpon the +Sea gaue chase to them in a Pinnesse vnder saile, with a fresh gale of +winde, but could by no meanes come neere vnto them: for the longer he +sailed, the further off he was from them: which well shewed their cunning +and actiuitie. Thus time wearing away, and the day of our departure +approching, our Generall commaunded vs to lade with all expedition, that we +might be againe on Seaboard with our ships: for whilest we were in the +Countrey, we were in continual danger of freesing in: for often snowe and +haile often falling, the water was so much frosen and congealed in the +night, that in the morning we could scarce rowe our botes or Pinnesses, +especially in Diers sound, which is a calme and still water: which caused +our Generall to make the more haste, so that by the 30. day of August we +were all laden, and made all things ready to depart. + +[Sidenote: Gentlemen should haue inhabited the Countrey.] But before I +proceede any further herein, to shew what fortune befell at our departure, +I will turne my penne a litle to M. Captaine Fenton, and those Gentlemen +which should haue inhabited all the yeere in those Countries, whose valiant +mindes were much to be commended: For doubtlesse they had done as they +intended if lucke had not withstoode their willingnesse. + +For the Barke Dionyse which was lost, had in her much of their house which +was prepared and should haue bene builded for them, with many other +implements. Also the Thomas of Ipswich which had most of their prouision in +her, came not into the Streights at all: neither did we see her since the +day we were separated in the great snow, of which I spake before. For these +causes, hauing not their house, nor yet prouision, they were disappointed +of their pretence to tarie, and therefore laded their ships, and so came +away with vs. + +[Sidenote: An house tricked and garnished with diuers trinkets.] But before +we tooke shipping, we builded a litle house in the Countesse of Warwicks +Island, and garnished it with many kinds of trifles, as Pinnes, Points, +Laces, Glasses, Kombes, Babes on horsebacke and on foote, with innumerable +other such fansies and toyes: thereby to allure and entice the people to +some familiaritie against other yeeres. + +Thus hauing finished all things we departed the Countrey, as I sayd before: +but because the Busse had not lading enough in her, she put into Beares +sound to take in a little more. In the meane while the Admirall, and the +rest without at Sea stayed for her. And that night fell such an outragious +tempest, beating on our shipps with such vehement rigor, that anchor and +cable auailed nought: for we were driuen on rockes and Islands of yce, +insomuch that (had not the great goodnesse of God bene miraculously shewed +to vs) we had bene cast away euery man. This danger was more doubtfull and +terrible, then any that preceded or went before: for there was not any one +shippe (I thinke) that escaped without damage. Some lost anchor and also +cables, some botes, some Pinnesses: some anchor, cables, boates, and +Pinnisses. + +This boystrous storme so seuered vs from one another, that one shippe knewe +not what was become of another. The Admirall knewe not where to finde the +Viceadmirall or Rearadmirall, or any other ship of our company. Our +Generall being on land in Beares sound could not come to his shippe, but +was compelled to goe aboord the Gabriel where he continued all the way +homeward: for the boystrous blasts continued so extreamely and so long a +time, that they sent vs homewarde (which was Gods fauour towardes vs) will +we, nill we, in such haste as not any one of vs were able to keepe in +company with other, but were separated. And if by chance any one Shippe did +ouertake other, by swiftnesse of sayle, or mette, as they often did: yet +was the rigour of the wind so hidious, that they could not continue company +together the space of one whole night. + +[Sidenote: Our entring the coastes dangerous.] Thus our iourney outward was +not so pleasant, but our comming thither, entering the coasts and countrey, +by narrow Streights, perillous yce, and swift tides, our times of aboade +there in snowe and stormes, and our departure from thence the 31. of August +with dangerous blustering windes and tempests, which that night arose, was +as vncomfortable: separating vs so as we sayled, that not any of vs mette +together, vntill the 28. of September, which day we fell on the English +coastes, betweene Sylley and the landes ende, and passed the channell, +vntill our arriuall in the riuer of Thames. + + * * * * * + +The report of Thomas Wiars passenger in the Emanuel, otherwise called the + Busse of Bridgewater, wherein Iames Leech was Master, one of the ships in + the last Voyage of Master Martin Frobisher 1578. concerning the + discouerie of a great Island in their way homeward the 12. of September. + +The Busse of Bridgewater was left in Beares sound at Meta incognita, the +second day of September behinde the Fleete in some distresse, through much +winde, ryding neere the Lee shoare, and forced there to ride it out vpon +the hazard of her cables and anchors, which were all aground but two. The +third of September being fayre weather, and the winds North northwest she +set sayle, and departed thence, and fell with Frisland on the 8. day of +September at sixe of the clocke at night, and then they set off from the +Southwest point of Frisland, the wind being at East, and East Southeast, +but that night the winde veared Southerly, and shifted oftentimes that +night: but on the tenth day in the morning, the wind at West northwest +faire weather, they steered Southeast, and by south, and continued that +course vntil the 12. day of September, when about 11. a clocke before +noone, they descryed a lande, which was from them about fiue leagues, and +the Southermost part of it was Southeast by East from them, and the +Northermost next, North Northeast, or Northeast. The master accompted that +the Southeast poynt of Frisland was from him at that instant when hee first +descryed this new Islande, Northwest by North, 50. leagues. [Sidenote: The +Island in length 25 leagues. This Iland is in the latitude of 57. degrees +and 1 second part.] They account this Island to be 25. leagues long, and +the longest way of it Southeast, and Northwest. The Southerne part of it is +in the latitude of 57. degrees and 1 second part or there about. They +continued in sight of it, from the 12. day at a 11. of the clocke, till the +13. day three of the clocke in the afternoone, when they left it: and the +last part they saw of it, bare from them Northwest by North. [Sidenote: Two +harboroughs in this Island.] There appeared two Harboroughs vpon that +coast: the greatest of them seuen leagues to the Northwards of the +Southermost poynt, the other but foure leagues. There was very much yce +neere the same land, and also twenty or thirty leagues from it, for they +were not cleare of yce, till the 15. day of September after noone. They +plyed their Voyage homewards, and fell with the West part of Ireland about +Galway, and had first sight of it on the 25. day of September. + + * * * * * + +Notes framed by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Esquire, giuen to + certaine Gentlemen that went with M. Frobisher in his Northwest + discouerie, for their directions: And not vnfit to be committed to print, + considering the same may stirre vp considerations of these and of such + other things, not vnmeete in such new voyages as may be attempted + hereafter. + +That the first Seate be chosen on the seaside, so as (if it may be) you may +haue your owne Nauie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your Seate safe from +the enemie: and so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in open rode abroade +without, to be dispersed with all windes and tempests that shall arise. +Thus seated you shall be least subiect to annoy of the enemie, so may you +by your Nauie within passe out to all parts of the world, and so may the +Shippes of England haue accesse to you to supply all wants, so may your +commodities be caryed away also. This seat is to be chosen in a temperate +Climat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood, +seacoles or turfe, with fish, flesh, graine, fruites, herbes, and rootes, +or so many of those as may suffice every necessitie for the life of such as +shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer, +copper, quicksiluer, or of any such precious thing, the wants of those +needful things may be supplyed from some other place by sea, &c. + +Stone to make Lyme of; Slate stone to tyle withall, or such clay as maketh +tyle; Stone to wall withall, if Brycke may not bee made; Timber for +buylding easely to be conueied to the place; Reede to couer houses or such +like, if tyle or slate be not--are to be looked for as things without which +no Citie may be made nor people in ciuil sort be kept together. + +The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without +traffique, or by traffique and by trade of marchandise. If they shall liue +without sea traffique, at the first they become naked by want of linnen and +woollen, and very miserable by infinite wants that will otherwise ensue, +and so will they be forced of themselues to depart, or else easely they +will be consumed by the Spanyards, by the Frenchmen, or by the naturall +inhabitants of the countrey, and so the enterprise becomes reprochfull to +our Nation, and a let to many other good purposes that may be taken in +hand. + +And by trade of marchandise they can not liue, except the Sea or the Land +there may yeelde comoditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall +regard of that poynt, and so to plant, that the naturall commodities of the +place and seate may draw to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that +by your owne Nauigation you may cary the same out, and fetch home the +supply of the wants of the seate. + +Such Nauigation so to be employed shall, besides the supply of wants, be +able to encounter with forreine force. + +And for that in the ample vent of such things as are brought to you out of +England by Sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that +all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland +people be vsed: so shall you haue firme amitie with your neighbours, so +shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique, and so +shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers and seuerall commodities of +the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands, without the +ayde of some portable or Nauigable riuer, or ample lake, and therefore to +haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite: And so is it of effect for +the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands. + +Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity. +For so may you best discouer all the natural commodities of their countrey, +and also all their wants, al their strengths, all their weaknesse, and with +whom they are in warre, and with whom confederate in peace and amitie, &c. +which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence. + +And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be +matters that are to be respected. For if it be so that you may let in the +salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flats, where the sunne is of +the heate that it is at Rochel, in the Bay of Portugal, or in Spaine, then +may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie +for the fishing, and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt. + +Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as +that at Burdeaux, as that in Portugal, or as that about Siuil in Spaine, or +that in the Islands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a workeman to +put in execution to make Wines, and to dresse Resigns[56] of the sunne and +other, &c. + +Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or +Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe; Then you may be +assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme, considering that our great +trade of clothing doeth require oyle, and weying how deere of late it is +become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if +you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed. + +Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles, +or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a +notable thing fitte for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall +in the West Indies on that firme. + +Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether, &c. It will be a +marchandize right good, and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether +after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne manner. + +Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges, Almonds, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges, +Lemonds, Potatoes, &c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs, +Almonds, Sugar, Marmelade, Sucket, &c. + +Or if great woods be found, if they be of Cypres, chests may be made, if +they be of some kinde of trees, Pitch and Tarre may be made, if they be of +some other, then they may yeeld Rosin, Turpentine, &c. and all for trade +and traffique, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made, likewise, ships +and houses, &c. + +And because traffique is a thing so materiall, I wish that great +obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally, in what +commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour, and to +send vs notice home, that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be +thought of to raise trades. + +Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole +country or any more than the scope of a citie, yet if we might enioy +traffique, and be assured of the same, we might be much inriched, our Nauie +might be increased, and a place of safetie might there be found, if change +of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme, which are things +of great benefit. But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle, we +might so vse the matter, as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles, +sacks, resignes, orenges, lemonds, Spanish skins, &c. Nor vpon France for +woad, baysalt, and Gascoyne wines, nor on Eastland for flaxe, pitch, tarre, +mastes, &c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly +inrich our doubtfull friends, as we doe, but should purchase the +commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe: and +should by our owne industries and the benefities of the soyle there cheaply +purchase oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes, +boords, fish, golde, siluer, copper, tallow, hides and many commodies: +besides if there be no flatts to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood +you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there. + +If you can keepe a safe Hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the +neere neighbours, yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or +other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present. + +If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable +riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first winter, to be +seasoned for ships, barks, boates, and houses. + +And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing +mill may be placed, it would doe great seruice, and therefore consideration +would be had of such places. + +And if such port and chosen place of settling were in possession and after +fortified by arte, although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in, +and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours, nor any +victuals: yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue every +necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next +neighbours, and so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue +victual, or by meanes hereupon to be vsed, to force the next neighbours to +amitie. And keeping a nauy at the settling place, they should find out +along the tract of the land to haue traffique, and at diuers Islands also. +And so this first seat might in time become a stapling place of the +commodities of many countreys and territories, and in time this place might +become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernor. And if the place +first chosen should not so well please our people, as some other more +lately found out: There might be an easie remoue, and that might be raised, +or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour. + +If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be +found marshie and boggie, then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed +thither. For arte may worke wonderful effects therein, and make the soyle +rich for many vses. + +To plant vpon an Island in the mouth of some notable riuer, or vpon the +point of the land entring into the riuer, if no such Island be, were to +great end. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the +land, then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles, and +traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer, or on both, or the +linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for +dominion. + +Such riuers found, both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage +of such as shall pierce the same. These are to be couered with doubles of +course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the +sauage from the rower. + +Since euery soile of the worlde by arte may be made to yeeld things to +feede and to clothe man, bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile +without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same, +and to draw it to more perfection. And if you finde not fruites in your +planting place to your liking, we shall in fiue drifats[57] furnish you +with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your +planting, as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite, +and the yeere next following, as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as +Calice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of +strong durable good sider to drinke, and these trees shall be able to +encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to +beare, as may suffice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first +setling may stand you in great stead, if the soile haue not the commoditie +of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt +after things that yeeld present reliefe, without trouble of carriage +thither, therefor I make mention of these thus specially, to the end you +may haue it specially in minde. + + * * * * * + +A true discourse of the three Voyages of discouerie, for the finding of a + passage to Cathaya, by the Northwest, vnder the conduct of Martin + Frobisher Generall: Before which as a necessary Preface is prefixed a + twofolde discourse, conteining certaine reasons to proue all partes of + the World habitable. Penned by Master George Best, a Gentleman employed + in the same voyages. + +What commodities and instructions may be reaped by diligent reading this +Discourse. + +1 First, by example may be gathered, how a Discouerer of new Countries is +to proceede in his first attempt of any Discouerie. + +2 Item, how he should be prouided of shipping, victuals, munition, and +choice of men. + +3 How to proceede and deale with strange people, be they neuer so +barbarous, cruell and fierce, either by lenitie or otherwise. + +4 How trade of Merchandize may be made without money. + +5 How a Pilot may deale, being inuironed with mountaines of yce in the +frozen sea. + +6 How length of dayes, change of seasons, Summers and Winters doe differ in +sundry regions. + +7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for the length of +the voyage, or the ignorance of the language, the want of Interpreters, new +and vnaccustomed Elements and ayres, strange and vnsauoury meates, danger +of theeues and robbers, fiercenesse of wilde beastes and fishes, hugenesse +of woods, dangerousnesse of Seas, dread of tempestes, feare of hidden +rockes, steepnesse of mountaines, darknesse of sudden falling fogges, +continuall paines taking without any rest, and infinite others. + +8. How pleasant and profitable it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for +the sundry sights and shapes of strange beastes and fishes, the wonderfull +workes of nature, the different maners and fashions of diuers nations, the +sundry sortes of gouernment, the sight of strange trees, fruite, foules, +and beasts, the infinite treasure of Pearle, Golde and Siluer, the newes of +newe found landes, the sundry positions of the Sphere, and many others. + +9. How valiant Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie, and otherwise. + +10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue. + +11 Also here may bee seene a good example to be obserued of any priuate +person, in taking notes, and making obseruations of all such things as are +requisite for a Discouerer of newe Countries. + +12 Lastly, the Reader here may see a good paterne of a well gouerned +seruice, sundry instructions of matters of Cosmographie, Geographie, and +Nauigation, as in reading more at large may be seene. + + +Experiences and reasons of the Sphere, to prooue all partes of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones. + +[Sidenote: Experience to proue that Torrida Zone is habitable.] First, it +may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen in Anno 1553. For Captaine +Windam made a Voyage with Merchandise to Guinea, and entred so farre within +the Torrida Zona, that he was within three or foure degrees of the +Equinoctiall, and his company abiding there certaine Moneths, returned, +with gaine. + +Also the Englishmen made another Voyage very prosperous and gainefull, An. +1554. to the coasts of Guinea, within 3. degrees of the Equinoctiall. And +yet it is reported of a trueth, that all the tract from Cape de las Palmas +trending by C. de tres puntas alongst by Benin, vnto the Ile of S. Thomas +(which is perpendiculer under the Equinoctial)[58] all that whole Bay is +more subiect to many blooming and smoothering heates, with infectious and +contagious ayres, then any other place in all Torrida Zona: and the cause +thereof is some accidents in the land. For it is most certaine, that +mountains, Seas, woods and lakes, &c, may cause through their sundry kinde +of situation, sundry strange and extraordinary effects, which the reason of +the clyme otherwise would not giue. I mention these Voyages of our +Englishmen, not so much to prooue that Torrida Zona may bee, and is +inhabited, as to shew their readinesse in attempting long and dangerous +Nauigations. Wee also among vs in England, haue blacke Moores, AEthiopians, +out of all partes of Torrida Zona, which after a small continuance, can +well endure the colde of our Countrey, and why should not we as well abide +the heate of their Countrey? But what should I name any more experiences, +seeing that all the coastes of Guinea and Benin are inhabited of Portugals, +Spanyardes, French, and some Englishmen, who there haue built Castles and +Townes. [Sidenote: Marochus more hote then about the Equinoctiall.] Onely +this I will say to the Merchants of London, that trade yeerely to Marochus, +it is very certaine, that the greatest part of the burning Zone is farre +more temperate and coole in Iune, then the Countrey of Marochus, as shall +appeare by these reasons and experiences following. For let vs first +consider the bignesse of this burning Zone (which as euery man knoweth, is +47. degrees) each Tropicke, which are the bounders thereof, being 28. +degrees and a halfe distant from the Equinoctiall. Imagine againe two other +Parallels, on each side the Equinoctiall about 20. degrees, which Paralels +may be described either of them twice a yeere by the Sunne, being in the +first degrees of Gemini the 11. of May, and in Leo the 13. of Iuly, hauing +North Latitude. And againe, the Sunne being in the first degrees of +Sagittarius, the 12. of Nouember, and in Aquarius the 9. of Ianuary, hauing +South latitude, I am to prooue by experience and reason that all that +distance included betweene these two Paralels last named (conteyning 40. +degrees in latitude, going round about the earth, according to longitude) +is not onely habitable, but the same most fruitfull and delectable, and +that if any extremitie of heate bee, the same not to be within the space of +twenty degrees of the Equinoctiall on either side, but onely vnder and +about the two Tropickes, and so proportionally the nearer you doe approch +to eyther Tropicke, the more you are subiect to extremitie of heate (if any +such be) and so Marochus being situate but sixe or seuen degrees from the +Tropicke of Cancer, shall be more subiect to heate, then any place vnder or +neere the Equinoctiall line.[59] + +[Sidenote: Marueilous fruitfull soile vnder the Equinoctiall.] And first by +the experience of sundry men, yea thousands, Trauailers and Merchants, to +the East and West Indies in many places, both directly vnder, and hard by +the Equinoctiall, they with one consent affirme, that it aboundeth in the +middest of Torrida Zona with all manner of Graine, Hearbes, grasse, fruite, +wood and cattell, that we haue heere, and thousandes other sortes, farre +more wholesome, delectable and precious, then any wee haue in these +Northerne climates, as very well shall appeare to him that will reade the +Histories and Nauigations of such as haue traueiled Arabia, India intra and +extra Gangem, the Islands Moluccae, America, &c. which all lye about the +middle of the burning Zone, where it is truely reported, that the great +hearbes, as are Radish, Lettuce, Colewortes, Borage, and such like, doe +waxe ripe, greater, more sauourie and delectable in taste then ours, within +sixteene dayes after the seede is sowen. Wheate being sowed the first of +Februarie, was found ripe the first of May, and generally, where it is +lesse fruitfull, the wheate will be ripe the fourth moneth after the seed +is sowne, and in some places will bring foorth an eare as bigge as the +wrist of a mans arme containing 1000. graines; Beanes, peace, &c. are there +ripe twice a yeere. Also grasse being cut downe, will grow vp in sixe dayes +aboue one foote high. If our cattell be transported thither, within a small +time their young ones become of bigger stature, and more fat than euer they +would haue bene in these countreys. [Sidenote: Great trees.] There are +found in euery wood in great numbers, such timber trees as twelue men +holding handes together are not able to fathome. [Sidenote: Commodities and +pleasures vnder the Equinoctiall.] And to be short, all they that haue bene +there with one consent affirme, that there are the goodliest greene medowes +and plaines, the fairest mountaines couered with all sorts of trees and +fruites, the fairest valleys, the goodliest pleasant fresh riuers, stored +with infinite kinde of fishes, the thickest woods, green and bearing fruite +all the whole yeere, that are in all the world. And as for gold, siluer, +and all other kinde of Metals, all kinde of spices and delectable fruites, +both for delicacie and health, are there in such abundance, as hitherto +they haue bene thought to haue beene bred no where else but there. And in +conclusion, it is nowe thought that no where else but vnder the +Equinoctiall, or not farre from thence, is the earthly Paradise, and the +onely place of perfection in this worlde. And that these things may seeme +the lesse strange, because it hath bene accompted of the olde Philosophers, +that there coulde nothing prosper for the extreme heat of the Sunne +continually going ouer their heades in the Zodiacke, I thought good here to +alleadge such naturall causes as to me seeme very substantiall and sure +reasons. + +[Sidenote: Heat is caused by two meanes that is by his maner of Angle and +by his continuance.] First you are to vnderstand that the Sunne doeth worke +his more or lesse heat in these lower parts by two meanes, the one is by +the kinde of Angle that the Sunne beames doe make with the earth, as in all +Torrida Zona it maketh perpendicularly right Angles in some place or other +at noone, and towards the two Poles very oblique and vneuen Angles. And the +other meane is the longer or shorter continuance of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon. So that wheresoeuer these two causes do most concurre, there is +most excesse of heat: and when the one is wanting, the rigor of the heat is +lesse. For though the Sunne beames do beat perpendicularly vpon any region +subiect vnto it, if it hath no continuance or abode aboue the Horizon, to +worke his operation in, there can no hote effect proceed. For nothing can +be done in a moment. [Sidenote: Note this reason.] And this second cause +mora Solis supra Horizontem, the time of the sunnes abiding aboue the +Horizon, the old Philosophers neuer remembred, but regarded onely the maner +of Angles that the Sunne beames made with the Horizon, which if they were +equall and right, the heat was the greater, as in Torrida Zona: if they +were vnequall and oblique, the heat was the lesse, as towards both Poles, +which reason is very good and substantiall: for the perpendicular beames +reflect and reuerberate in themselues, so that the heat is doubled, euery +beame striking twice, and by vniting are multiplied, and continue strong in +forme of a Columne. But in our latitude of 50. and 60. degrees, the Sunne +beames descend oblique and slanting wise, and so strike but once and +depart, and therefore our heat is the lesse for any effect that the Angle +of the Sunne beames make. Yet because wee haue a longer continuance of the +Sunnes presence aboue our Horizon then they haue vnder the Equinoctial; by +this continuance the heat is increased, for it shineth to vs 16. or 18. +houres sometime, when it continueth with them but twelue houres alwayes. + +And againe, our night is very short, wherein cold vapours vse to abound, +being but sixe or eight houres long, whereas theirs is alwayes twelue +houres long, by which two aduantages of long, dayes and short nights, +though we want the equalitie of Angle, it commeth to passe that in Sommer +our heat here is as great as theirs is there, as hath bene proued by +experience, and is nothing dissonant from good reason. Therefore whosoeuer +will rightly way the force of colde and heat in any region, must not onely +consider the Angle that the Sunne beames make, but also the continuance of +the same aboue the Horizon. As first to them vnder the Equinoctiall the +Sunne is twice a yeere at noone in their Zenith perpendicular ouer their +heads, and therefore during the two houres of those two dayes the heat is +very vrgent, and so perhaps it will be in foure or fiue dayes more an houre +euery day, vntill the Sunne in his proper motion haue crossed the +Equinoctiall; so that this extreme heat caused by the perpendicular Angle +of the Sunne beames, endureth but two houres of two dayes in a yeere. But +if any man say the Sunne may scalde a good while before and after it come +to the Meridian, so farre foorth as reason leadeth, I am content to allow +it, and therefore I will measure and proportion the Sunnes heat, by +comparing the Angles there, with the Angles made here in England, because +this temperature is best knowen vnto vs. As for example, the 11. day of +March, when vnder the Equinoctiall it is halfe houre past eight of the +clocke in the morning, the Sunne will he in the East about 38. degrees +aboue the Horizon, because there it riseth alwayes at six of the clocke, +and moueth euery houre 15. degrees, and so high very neere will it be with +vs at London the said eleuenth day of March at noone. And therefore looke +what force the Sunne hath with vs at noone, the eleventh of March, the same +force it seemeth to haue vnder the Equinoctial at half an houre past eight +in the morning, or rather lesse force vnder the Equinoctiall, For with vs +the Sunne had bene already sixe houres aboue the horizon, and so had +purified and clensed all the vapours, and thereby his force encreased at +noone; but vnder the Equinoctiall, the Sunne hauing bene vp but two houres +and an halfe, had sufficient to doe, to purge and consume the cold and +moyst vapours of the long night past, and as yet had wrought no effect of +heate. And therefore I may boldly pronounce, that there is much lesse heate +at halfe an houre past eight vnder the Equinoctiall, then is with vs at +noone: a fortiori. But in March we are not onely contented to haue the +Sunne shining, but we greatly desire the same. Likewise the 11. of Iune, +the Sunne in our Meridian is 62 degrees high at London: and vnder the +Equinoctiall it is so high after 10 of the clocke, and seeing then it is +beneficial with vs; a fortiori it is beneficiall to them after 10 of the +clocke. + +And thus haue wee measured the force of the Sunnes greatest heate, the +hottest dayes in the yeere, vnder the Equinoctiall, that is in March and +September, from sixe till after tenne of the clocke in the morning, and +from two vntill Sunne set. And this is concluded, by respecting onely the +first cause of heate, which is the consideration of the Angle of the Sunne +beames, by a certaine similitude, that whereas the Sunne shineth neuer +aboue twelue houres, more then eight of them would bee coole and pleasant +euen to vs, much more to them that are acquainted alwayes with such warme +places. So there remaineth lesse then foure houres of excessiue heate, and +that onely in the two Sommer dayes of the yeere, that is the eleueuth day +of March, and the fourteenth of September: for vnder the Equinoctiall they +haue two Sommers, the one in March, and the other in September, which are +our Spring and Autumne: and likewise two Winters, in Iune and December, +which are our Sommer and Winter, as may well appeare to him that hath onely +tasted the principles of the Sphere. But if the Sunne bee in either +Tropicke, or approaching neere thereunto, then may wee more easily measure +the force of his Meridian altitude, that it striketh vpon the Equinoctiall. +As for example, the twelfth of Iune the Sunne will be in the first degree +of Cancer. Then look what force the heate of the Sunne hath vnder the +Equinoctiall, the same force and greater it hath in all that Parallel, +where the Pole is eleuated betweene fourtie and seuen, and fourtie and +eight degrees. [Sidenote: Paris in France is as hote as vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune.] And therefore Paris in France the twelfth day of +Iune sustaineth more heate of the Sunne, then Saint Thomas Iland lying +neere the same Meridian doeth likewise at noone, or the Ilands Traprobana, +Molluccae, or the firme lande of Peru in America, which all lye vnderneath +the Equinoctiall. For vpon the twelfth day of Iune aforesaide, the Sunne +beames at noone doe make an Isoscheles Triangle, whose Vertex is the Center +of the Sunne, the Basis a line extended from Saint Thomas Iland vnder the +Equinoctiall, vnto Paris in France neere the same Meridian: therefore the +two Angles of the Base must needs be equal per 5. primi,[60] Ergo the force +of the heat equal, if there were no other cause then the reason of the +Angle, as the olde Philosophers haue appointed. [Sidenote: In Iune is +greater heat at Paris then vnder the Equinoctiall.] But because at Paris +the Sunne riseth two houres before it riseth to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, and setteth likewise two houres after them, by meanes of the +obliquitie of the Horizon, in which time of the Sunnes presence foure +houres in one place more then the other, it worketh some effect more in one +place then in the other, and being of equall height at noone, it must then +needs follow to be more hote in the Parallel of Paris, then it is vnder the +Equinoctiall. + +[Sidenote: The twilights are shorter, and the nights darker vnder the +Equinoctiall then at Paris.] Also this is an other reason, that when the +Sunne setteth to them vnder the Equinoctiall, it goeth very deepe and lowe +vnder their Horizon, almost euen to their Antipodes, whereby their +twilights are very short, and their nights are made very extreeme darke and +long, and so the moysture and coldnesse of the long nights wonderfully +encreaseth, so that at length the Sunne rising can hardly in many houres +consume and driue away the colde humours and moyst vapours of the night +past, which is cleane contrary in the Parallel of Paris: for the Sunne +goeth vnder their Horizon but very little, after a sloping sort, whereby +their nights, are not very darke, but lightsome, as looking into the North +in a cleare night without cloudes it doeth manifestly appeare, their +twilights are long: for the Parallel of Cancer cutteth not the Horizon of +Paris at right Angles, but at Angles very vneuen, and vnlike as it doeth +the Horizon of the Equinoctiall. Also the Sommer day at Paris is sixteene +houres long, and the night but eight: where contrarywise vnder the +Equinoctiall the day is but twelue houres long, and so long is also the +night, in whatsoeuer Parallel the Sunne be: and therefore looke what oddes +and difference of proportion there is betweene the Sunnes abode aboue the +Horizon in Paris, and the abode it hath vnder the Equinoctiall, (it being +in Cancer) the same proportion would seeme to be betweene the heate of the +one place, and heate of the other: for other things (as the Angle of the +whole arke of the Sunnes progresse that day in both places) are equall. + +But vnder the Equinoctiall the presence and abode of the Sunne aboue the +Horizon is equall to his absence, and abode vnder the Horizon, eche being +twelue houres. And at Paris the continuance and abode of the Sunne is aboue +the Horizon sixteene houres long, and but eight houres absence, which +proportion is double, from which if the proportion of the equalitie be +subtracted to finde the difference, there will remaine still a double +proportion, whereby it seemeth to follow, that in Iune the heate of Paris +were double to the heate vnder the equinoctiall. For (as I haue said) the +Angles of the Sunne beames are in all points equall, and the cause of +difference is, Mora Solis supra Horizontem, the stay of the Sunne in the +one Horizon more then in the other. [Sidenote: In what proportion the Angle +of the Sun beames heateth.] Therefore, whosoeuer could finde out in what +proportion the Angle of the Sunne beames heateth, and what encrease the +Sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto, it might expresly be set downe, +what force of heat and cold is in all regions. + +Thus you partly see by comparing a Climate to vs well knowen and familiarly +acquainted by like height of the Sunne in both places, that vnder the +Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heat, but a temperate aire rather +tendering to cold. [Sidenote: They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the +Equinoctiall.] For as they haue there for the most part a continuall +moderate heat, so yet sometime they are a little pinched with colde, and +vse the benefite of fire as well as we, especially in the euening when they +goe to bed, for as they lye in hanging beds tied fast in the vpper part of +the house, so will they haue fires made on both sides their bed, of which +two fires, the one they deuise superstitiously to driue away spirits, and +the other to keepe away from them the coldnesse of the nights. + +[Sidenote: Colde intermingled with heate vnder the Equinoctiall.] Also in +many places of Torrida Zona, especially in the higher landes somewhat +mountainous, the people a little shrincke at the colde, and are often +forced to prouide themselues clothing, so that the Spaniards haue found in +the West Indies many people clothed, especially in Winter, whereby +appeareth, that with their heat there is colde intermingled, else would +they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing, which to them is rather a +griefe and trouble then otherwise. For when they goe to warres, they will +put off all their apparel, thinking it to be cumbersome, and will alwayes +goe naked, that they thereby might be more nimble in their fight. + +Some there be that thinke the middle Zone extremely hot, because the people +of the countrey can, and doe liue without clothing, wherein they childishly +are deceiued: for our Clime rather tendeth to extremitie of colde, because +wee cannot liue without clothing: for this our double lining, furring, and +wearing so many clothes, is a remedy against extremetie, and argueth not +the goodnesse of the habitation, but inconuenience and iniury of colde: and +that is rather the moderate, temperate, and delectable habitation, where +none of these troublesome things are required, but that we may liue naked +and bare, as nature bringeth vs foorth. + +[Sidenote: Ethiopians blacke, with curled haire.] Others againe imagine the +middle Zone to be extreme hot, because the people of Africa, especially the +Ethiopians, are so cole blacke, and their haire like wooll curled short, +which blacknesse and curled haire they suppose to come onely by the +parching heat of the Sunne, which how it should be possible I cannot see: +for euen vnder the Equinoctiall in America, and in the East Indies; and in +the Ilands Moluccae the people are not blacke, but tauney and white, with +long haire vncurled as wee haue, so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came +by the heate of the Sunne, why should not those Americans and Indians also +be as blacke as they, seeing the Sunne is equally distant from them both, +they abiding in one Parallel: for the concaue and conuexe Superficies of +the Orb of the Sunne is concentrike, and equidistant to the earth; except +any man should imagine somewhat of Aux Solis, and Oppositum, which +indifferently may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other. +[Sidenote: The Sunne heateth not by his neerenesse, but onely by +reflection.] But the Sunne is thought to giue no otherwise heat, but by way +of Angle in reflection, and not by his neerenesse to the earth: for +throughout all Africa, yea in the middest of the middle Zone, and in all +other places vpon the tops of mountaines there lyeth continuall snow, which +is nearer to the Orbe of the sunne, then the people are in the valley, by +so much as the height of these moantaines amount vnto, and yet the Sunne +notwithstanding his neerenesse, can not the melt snow for want of +conuenient place of reflections. Also the middle region of the aire where +all the haile, frost, and snow is engendred, is neerer vnto the Sunne then +the earth is, and yet there continueth perpetuall cold, because there is +nothing that the Sunne beames may reflect against, whereby appeareth that +the neerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing. + +[Sidenote: A blacke Moores sonne borne in England.] Therefore to returne +againe to the blacke Moores. I myself haue seen an Ethiopian as blacke as a +cole brought into England, who taking a faire English woman to wife, begat +a sonne in all respects as blacke as the father was, although England were +his natiue countrey; and an English woman his mother: whereby it seemeth +this blacknes proceedeth rather of some natural infection of that man which +was so strong, that neither the nature of the Clime, neither the good +complexion of the mother concurring, coulde any thing alter, and therefore +wee cannot impute it to the natureof the Clime. [Sidenote: The colour of +the people in Meta Incognita. The complexion of the people of Meta +incognita.] And for a more fresh example, our people of Meta Incognita (of +whom and for whom this discourse is taken in hande) that were brought this +last yeere into England, were all generally of the same colour that many +nations be, lying in the middest of the middle Zone. And this their colour +was not onely in the face which was subiect to Sunne and aire, but also in +their bodies, which were still couered with garments as ours are, yea the +very sucking childe of twelue moneths age had his sonne of the very same +colour that most haue vnder the equinoctiall, which thing cannot proceed by +reason of the Clime, for that they are at least ten degrees more towardes +the North then wee in England are, No, the Sunne neuer commeth neere their +Zenith by fourtie degrees: for in effect, they are within three or foure +degrees of that which they call the frozen Zone, and as I saide, fourtie +degrees from the burning Zone, whereby it followeth, that there is some +other cause then the Climate or the Sonnes perpendicular reflexion, that +should cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse. And the most probable cause +to my judgement is, that this blackenesse proceedeth of some naturall +infection of the first inhabitants of that Countrey, and so all the whole +progenie of them descended, are still polluted with the same blot of +infection. Therefore it shall not bee farre from our purpose, to examine +the first originall of these blacke men, and howe by a lineall discent they +haue hitherto continued thus blacke. + +[Sidenote: The cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse.] It manifestly and +plainely appeareth by Holy Scripture, that after the generall inundation +and ouerflowing of the earth, there remained no moe men aliue but Noe his +three sonnes, Sem, Cham, and Iaphet, who onely were left to possesse and +inhabite the whole face of the earth: therefore all the sundry discents +that vntil this day haue inhabited the whole earth, must needes come of the +off-spring either of Sem, Cham, or Iaphet, as the onely sonnes of Noe, who +all three being white, and their wiues also, by course of nature should +haue begotten and brought foorth white children. But the enuie of our great +and continuall enemie the wicked Spirite is such, that as hee coulde not +suffer our olde father Adam to liue in the felicite and Angelike state +wherein hee was first created, but tempting him sought and procured his +ruine and fall: so againe, finding at this flood none but a father and +three sonnes liuing, hee so caused one of them to transgresse and disobey +his fathers commaundement, that after him all his posterity shoulde bee +accursed. [Sidenote: The Arke of Noe.] The fact of disobedience was this: +When Noe at the commandement of God had made the Arke and entred therein, +and the floud-gates of heauen were opened, so that the whole face of the +earth, euery tree and mountaine was couered with abundance or water, hee +straitely commaunded his sonnes and their wiues, that they should with +reuerence and feare beholde the iustice and mighty power of God, and that +during the time of the flood while they remained in the Arke, they should +vse continencie, and abstaine from carnall copulation with their wines: and +many other precepts bee gaue vnto them, and admonitions touching the +iustice of God, in renenging sinne, and his mercie in deliuering them, who +nothing deserued it. Which good instructions and exhortations +notwithstanding his wicked sonne Cham disobeyed, and being perswaded that +the first childe borne after the flood (by right and Lawe of nature) should +inherite and possesse all the dominions of the earth, hee contrary to his +fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke, vsed company with his +wife, and craftily went about thereby to dis-inherite the off-spring of his +other two brethren: for the which wicked and detestable fact, as an example +for contempt of Almightie God, and disobedience of parents, God would a +sonne should bee borne whose name was Chus, who not [Sidenote: Chus the +sonne of Cham accursed.] onely it selfe, but all his posteritie after him +should bee so blacke and lothsome, that it might remaine a spectacle of +disobedience to all the worlde. And of this blacke and cursed Chus came all +these blacke Moores which are in Africa, for after the water was vanished +from off the face of the earth, and that the lande was dry, Sem chose that +part of the land to inhabite in, which nowe is called Asia, and Iaphet had +that which now is called Europa, wherein wee dwell, and Africa remained for +Cham and his blacke sonne [Sidenote: Africa was called Chamesis.] Chus, and +was called Chamesis after the fathers name, being perhaps a cursed, dry, +sandy, and vnfruitfull ground, fit for such a generation to inhabite in. + +Thus you see, that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and +naturall infection of blood, and not the distemperature of the Climate; +Which also may bee prooued by this example, that these blacke men are found +in all parts of Africa, as well without the Tropickes, as within, euen vnto +Capo de buona Speranza Southward, where, by reason of the Sphere, should be +the same temperature that is in Sicilia, Morea and Candie, where al be of +very good complexions. Wherefore I conclude, that the blacknesse proceedeth +not of the hotenesse of the Clime, but as I saide, of the infection of +blood, and therefore this their argument gathered of the Africans +blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone. Wee +may therefore very well bee assertained, that vnder the Equinoctiall is the +most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in; where +although the Sunne for two houres in a yeere be direct ouer their heades, +and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force, yet [Sidenote: +Greatest temperature vnder the Equinoctial] because it commeth so seldome, +and continueth so small a time, when it commeth, it is not to bee wayed, +but rather the moderate heate of other times in all the yeere to be +remembred. And if the heate at any time should in the short day waxe +somewhat vrgent, the coldnesse of the long night there would easily refresh +it, according as Henterus sayeth, speaking of the temperature vnder the +Equinoctiall. + + Quodque die solis violento incanduit aestu, + Humida nox reficit, paribusque refrigerat horis. + +If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing, the +moysture of the night doeth coole and refresh the same againe, the Sunne +being as long absent in the night, as it was present in the day. + +Also our Aucthour of the Sphere, Johannes de Sacro Bosco, in the Chapter of +the Zodiacke, deriueth the Etymologie of Zodiacus, of the Greeke word Zoe, +which in Latine signifieth Vita, life; for out of Aristotle hee alleadgeth, +that Secundum accessum et recessum solis in Zodiaco, fiunt generationes et +corruptiones in rebus inferioribus: according to the Sunnes going to and +fro in the Zodiake, the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation +and corruption. [Sidenote: Vnder the Equinoctiall is greatest generation.] +Then it followeth, that where there is most going to and fro, there is most +generation and corruption: which must needes be betweene the two Tropikes; +for there the Sunne goeth to and fro most, and no where else but there. +Therefore betweene the two Tropikes, that is, in the middle Zone, is +greatest increase, multiplication, generation, and corruption of things, +which also wee finde by experience; for there is Sommer twice in the yeere, +and twice Winter, so that they haue two Haruests in the yeere, and +continuall Spring. Seeing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate, it +resteth to declare where the hottest part of the world should bee, for we +finde some places more hote then others. + +To answere this doubt, reason perswadeth, the hotest place in[61] the world +to bee vnder and about the two Tropikes; for there more then in any other +place doe both the [Sidenote: Greatest heate vnder the Tropicks.] causes of +heate concurre, that is, the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames, at +right angles, and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horizon, the +Pole there being eleuated three or foure and twentie degrees. And as before +I concluded, that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the +Equinoctiall, yet because the same continued but a small time (their dayes +being short, and their nights long) and the speedie departure of the Sunne +from their Zenith, because of the suddeine crossing of the Zodiake with the +Equinoctiall, and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and +colde, the temperature grew moderate, and very well able to bee endured: so +nowe to them vnder the two Tropikes, the Sunne hauing once by his proper +motion declined twentie degrees from the Equinoctial, beginneth to drawe +neere their Zenith, which may bee (as before) about the eleuenth day of +May, and then beginneth to sende his beames almost at right Angles, about +which time the Sunne entreth into the first degree of Gemini, and with this +almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it bee past +Cancer, that is, the space of two moneths euery day at noone, almost +perpendicular ouer their heades, being then the time of Solstitium +Aestiuale: which so long continuance of the Sunne about their Zenith may +cause an extreeme heate (if any be in the world) but of necessitie farre +more heate then can bee vnder the Equinoctiall, where the Sunne hath no +such long abode in the Zenith, but passeth away there hence very quickly. +Also vnder the Tropikes, the day is longer by an houre and a halfe, then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall; wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer +time of operation, must needes be encreased, especially seeing the night +wherein colde and moysture doe abound vnder the Tropickes, is lesse then it +is vnder the Equinoctiall. Therefore I gather, that vnder the Tropickes is +the hotest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, but of any other part of the +world, especially because there both causes of heate doe concurre, that is, +the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes together, and +the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison. And by this +meanes more at large is prooued, that Marochus in Summer is farre more +hote, then at any time vnder the Enoctiall, because it is situate so neere +the Tropick of Cancer, and also for the length of their dayes. Neither yet +doe I thinke, that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks are not +habitable, for they are found to be very fruitfull also; although Marochus +and some other parts of Afrike neere the Tropike for the drinesse of the +natiue sandie soile, and some accidents may seeme to some to be intemperate +for ouer much heat. For Ferdinandus Ouiedus[62] speaking of Cuba and +Hispaniola, Ilands of America, lying hard vnder, or by the Tropike of +Cancer, saith, that these Ilands haue as good pasture for cattell, as any +other countrey in the world. + +Also, they haue most holesome and cleare water, and temperate aire, by +reason whereof the heards of beastes are much bigger, fatter, and of better +taste, then any in Spaine, because of the ranke pasture, whose moysture is +better digested in the hearbe or grasse, by continuall and temperate heate +of the Sunne, whereby being made more fat and vnctious, it is of better and +more stedfast nourishment: For continuall and temperate heate doeth not +onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nourishment of such +things as growe, and are engendred in that Clime, but doeth also by +moderation preserue the same from putrifying, digesting also, and +condensating or thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gumme and +vnctious substance, whereby appeareth also, that vnder the Tropikes is both +holesome, fruitefull, and pleasant habitation, whereby lastly it followeth, +that all the [Sidenote: Vnder the Tropickes is moderate temperature.] +middle Zone, which vntill of late dayes hath bene compted and called the +burning, broyling, and parched Zone, is now found to be the most delicate, +temperate, commodious, pleasant and delectable part of the world, and +especially vnder the Equinoctiall. + +Hauing now sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle +Zone, it remaineth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall +heate in colde Regions, as well in the night as in the day all the Sommer +long, and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitants of the +same, contrary to the opinion of the olde writers. + + +Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long, and also how in + Winter the same is habitable, especially to the inhabitants thereof. + +The colde Regions of the world are those, which tending toward the Poles +Arctike, and Antarctike, are without the circuite or boundes of the seuen +Climates: which assertion agreeable to the opinion of the olde Writers, is +found and set out in our authour of the Sphere, Iohannes de Sacrobosco, +where hee plainely saith, that without the seuenth Climate, which is +bounded by a Parallel passing at fiftie degrees in Latitude, all the +habitation beyonde is discommodious and intolerable. [Sidenote: Nine +Climates.] But Gemma Frisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to +be without the compasse of those Climates, wherein hee knewe to bee very +temperate and good habitation, added thereunto two other Climates, the +vttermost Parallel whereof passeth by 56. degrees in Latitude, and therein +comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation, England, Scotland, +Denmarke, Moscouia, &c which all are rich and mightie kingdomes. + +[Sidenote: A comparison betweene Marochus and England.] The olde writers +perswaded by bare conjecture, went about to determine of those places, by +comparing them to their owne complexions, because they felt them to bee +hardly tolerable to themselues, and so took thereby an argument of the +whole habitable earth; as if a man borne in Marochus, or some other part of +Barbarie, should at the latter end of Sommer vpon the suddeine, either +naked, or with his thinne vesture, bee brought into England, hee would +judge this Region presently not to bee habitable, because hee being brought +vp in so warme a Countrey, is not able here to liue, for so suddeine an +alteration of the colde aire: but if the same man had come at the beginning +of Sommer, and so afterward by little and little by certaine degrees, had +felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of Autumne, it would haue +seemed by degrees to harden him, and so to make it farre more tollerable, +and by vse after one yeere or two, the aire would seeme to him more +temperate. It was compted a great matter in the olde time, that there was a +brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Pontus, which after was +brought and shewed in Delphis, in token of a miraculous colde region and +winter, and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo. + +This effect being wrought in the Parallel of fouretie three degrees in +Latitude, it was presently counted a place very hardly and vneasily to be +inhabited for the great colde. And how then can such men define vpon other +Regions very farre without that Parallel, whether they were inhabited or +not, seeing that in so neere a place they so grossely mistooke the matter, +and others their followers being contented with the inuentions of the olde +Authors, haue persisted willingly in the same opinion, with more confidence +then consideration of the cause: so lightly was that opinion receiued, as +touching the vnhabitable Clime neere and vnder the Poles. + +[Sidenote: All the North regions are habitable.] Therefore I am at this +present to proue, that all the land lying betweene the last climate euen +vnto the point directly vnder either poles, is or may be inhabited, +especially of such creatures as are ingendred and bred therein. For indeed +it is to be confessed, that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in +euery particular place or region, especially with the same ioy and +felicitie, as it did where it was first bred, for the certeine agreement of +nature that is betweene the place and the thing bred in that place; as +appeareth by the Elephant, which being translated and brought out of the +second or third climat, though they may liue, yet will they neuer ingender +or bring forth yong.[63] Also we see the like in many kinds of plants and +herbs; for example, the Orange trees, although in Naples they bring forth +fruit abundantly, in Rome and Florence they will beare onely faire greene +leaues, but not any fruit: and translated into England, they will hardly +beare either flowers, fruit, or leaues, but are the next Winter pinched and +withered with cold: yet it followeth not for this, that England, Rome, and +Florence should not be habitable. + +[Sidenote: Two causes of heat.] In the prouing of these colde regions +habitable, I shalbe very short, because the same reasons serve for this +purpose which were alleged before in the proouing the middle Zone to be +temperate, especially seeing all heat and colde proceed from the Sunne, by +the meanes either of the Angle which his beames do make with the Horizon, +or els by the long or short continuance of the Suns presence aboue ground: +so that if the Sunnes beames do beat perpendicularly at right Angles, then +there is one cause of heat, and if the Sunne do also long continue aboue +the Horizon, then the heat thereby is much increased by accesse of this +other cause, and so groweth to a kinde of extremitie. And these two causes, +as I sayd before, do most concurre vnder the two Tropicks, and therefore +there is the greatest heat of the world. And likewise, where both these +causes are most absent, there is greatest want of heat, and increase of +colde (seeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heate) +and if one cause be wanting, and the other present the effect will grow +indifferent. Therefore this is to be vnderstood, that the neerer any region +is to the Equinoctiall, the higher the Sunne doth rise ouer their heads at +noone, and so maketh either right or neere right Angles, but the Sunne +tarieth with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter dayes, with +longer and colder nights, to restore the domage of the day past, by reason +of the moisture consumed by vapour. But in such regions, ouer the which the +Sunne riseth lower (as in regions extended towards either pole) it maketh +there vnequall Angles, but the Sunne continueth longer, and maketh longer +dayes, and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights, as retaining warme +vapours of the day past. For there are found by experience Summer nights in +Scotland and Gothland very hot, when vnder the Equinoctiall they are found +very cold. [Sidenote: Hote nights nere the pole. Colde nights vnder the +Equinoctiall.] This benefit of the Sunnes long continuance and increase of +the day, doth argument so much the more in colde regions as they are nerer +the poles, and ceaseth not increasing vntill it come directly vnder the +point of the pole Arcticke, where the Sunne continueth aboue ground the +space of sixe moneths or halfe a yere together, and so the day is halfe a +yere long, that is the time of the Sunnes being in the North signes, from +the first degree of Aries vntill the last of Virgo, that is all the time +from our 10 day of March vntill the 14 of September. [Sidenote: One day of +sixe moneths.] The Sunne therefore during the time of these sixe moneth +without any offence or hinderance of the night, giueth his influence vpon +those lands with heat that neuer ceaseth during that time, which maketh to +the great increase of Summer, by reason of the Sunnes continuance. +[Sidenote: Moderate heat vnder the poles.] Therefore it followeth, that +though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads, to cause right +angle beames, and to giue great heat, yet the Sun being there sometimes +about 24 degrees high doth cast a conuenient and meane heate, which there +continueth without hindrance of the night the space of sixe moneths (as is +before sayd) during which time there followeth to be a conuenient, moderate +and temperate heat: or els rather it is to be suspected the heat there to +be very great, both for continuance, and also, Quia virtus vnita crescit, +the vertue and strength of heat vnited in one increaseth. If then there be +such a moderate heate vnder the poles, and the same to continue so long +time; what should mooue the olde writers to say there cannot be place for +habitation. And that the certainty of this temperate heat vnder both the +poles might more manifestly appeare, let vs consider the position and +quality of the sphere, the length of the day, and so gather the height of +the Sunne at all times, and by consequent the quality of his angle, and so +lastly the strength of his heat. + +Those lands and regions lying vnder the pole, and hauing the pole for their +Zenith, must needs haue the Equinoctiall circle for their Horizon: +therefore the Sun entring into the North signes, and describing euery 24 +houres a parallel to the Equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum +mobile, the same parallels must needs be wholly aboue the Horizon: +[Sidenote: The Sunne neuer setteth in 182 dayes.] and so looke how many +degrees there are from the first of Aries to the last of Virgo, so many +whole reuolutions there are aboue their Horizon that dwell vnder the pole, +which amount to 182, and so many of our dayes the Sunne continueth with +them. During which time they haue there continuall day and light, without +any hindrance of moist nights. [Sidenote: Horizon and Equinoctiall all one +vnder the pole.] Yet it is to be noted, that the Sunne being in the first +degree of Aries, and last degree of Virgo, maketh his reuolution in the +very horizon, so that in these 24 houres halfe the body of the Sunne is +aboue the horizon, and the other halfe is vnder his only center, describing +both the horizon and the equinoctiall circle. + +And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the Sunne is almost 24 +degrees, it followeth, his greatest height in those countries to be almost +24 degrees. [Sidenote: London.] And so high is the Sun at noone to vs in +London about the 29 of October, being in the 15 degree of Scorpio, and +likewise the 21 of Ianuary being in the 15 of Aquarius. Therefore looke +what force the Sun at noone hath in London the 29 of October, the same +force of heat it hath, to them that dwell vnder the pole, the space almost +of two moneths, during the time of the Summer solstitium, and that without +intermingling of any colde night; so that if the heat of the Sunne at noone +could be well measured in London (which is very hard to do because of the +long nights which ingender great moisture and cold) then would manifestly +appeare by expresse numbers the maner of the heat vnder the poles, which +certainly must needs be to the inhabitants very commodious and profitable, +if it incline not to ouermuch heat, and if moisture do not want. + +For as in October in England we finde temperate aire, and haue in our +gardens hearbs and floures notwithstanding our cold nights, how much more +should they haue the same good aire, being continuall without night. This +heat of ours continueth but one houre, while the Sun is in that meridian, +but theirs continueth a long time in one height. This our heat is weake, +and by the coolnesse of the night vanisheth, that heat is strong, and by +continuall accesse is still increased and strengthened. [Sidenote: +Comodious dwelling vnder the poles.] And thus by a similitude of the equal +height of the Sun in both places appeareth the commodious and moderate heat +of the regions vnder the poles. + +And surely I cannot thinke that the diuine prouidence hath made any thing +vncommunicable, but to haue giuen such order to all things, that one way or +other the same should be imployed, and that euery thing and place should be +tollerable to the next: but especially all things in this lower world be +giuen to man to haue dominion and vse thereof. Therefore we need no longer +to doubt of the temperate and commodious habitation vnder the poles during +the time of Summer. + +[Sidenote: The night vnder the poles.] But all the controuersie consisteth +in the Winter, for then the Sunne leaueth those regions, and is no more +seene for the space of other sixe moneths, in the which time all the Sunnes +course is vnder their horizon for the space of halfe a yere, and then those +regions (say some) must needs be deformed with horrible darknesse, and +continuall night, which may be the cause that beasts can not seeke their +food, and that also the colde should then be intollerable. By which double +euils all liuing creatures should be constrained to die, and were not able +to indure the extremity and iniury of Winter, and famine insuing thereof, +but that all things should perish before the Summer following, when they +should bring foorth their brood and yoong, and that for these causes the +sayd Clime about the pole should be desolate and not habitable. To all +which objections may be answered in this maner: First, that though the +Sunne be absent from them those six moneths, yet it followeth not that +there should be such extreme darknesse; for as the Sunne is departed vnder +their horizon, so is it not farre from them: and not so soone as the Sunne +falleth so suddenly commeth the darke night; but the euening doth +substitute and prolong the day a good while after by twilight. After which +time the residue of the night receiueth light of the Moone and Starres, +vntill the breake of the day, which giueth also a certaine light before the +Sunnes rising; so that by these meanes the nights are seldome darke; which +is verified in all parts of the world, but least in the middle Zone vnder +the Equinoctiall, where the twilights are short, and the nights darker then +in any other place, because the Sunne goeth vnder their horizon so deepe, +even to their antipodes. We see in England in the Summer nights when the +Sunne goeth not farre vnder the horizon, that by the light of the Moone and +Starres we may trauell all night, and if occasion were, do some other +labour also. And there is no man that doubteth whether our cattell can see +to feed in the nights, seeing we are so well certified thereof by our +experience: and by reason of the sphere our nights should be darker then +any time vnder the poles. + +The Astronomers consent that the Sunne descending from our vpper hemisphere +at the 18 parallel vnder the horizon maketh an end of twilight, so that at +length the darke night insueth, and that afterward in the morning the Sun +approching againe within as many parallels, doth driue away the night by +accesse of the twilight. Againe, by the position of the sphere vnder the +pole, the horizon, and the equinoctiall are all one. These reuolutions +therefore that are parallel to the equinoctiall are also parallel to the +horizon, so that the Sunne descending vnder that horizon, and there +describing certaine parallels not farre distant, doth not bring darke +nights to those regions vntill it come to the parallels distant 18 degrees +from the equinoctiall, that is, about the 21 degree of Scorpio, which will +be about the 4 day of our Nouember, and after the Winter solstitium, the +Sunne returning backe againe to the 9 degree of Aquarius, which will be +about the 19 of January; [Sidenote: The regions vnder the poles want +twilights but sixe weeks.] during which time onely, that is, from the 4 day +of Nouember vntill the 19 day of Ianuary, which is about six weeks space, +these regions do want the commodity of twilights: therefore, during the +time of these sayd six moneths of darknesse vnder the poles, the night is +destitute of the benefit of the Sunne and the sayd twilights onely for the +space of six weeks or thereabout. And yet neither this time of six weeks is +without remedy from heauen; for the Moone with her increased light hath +accesse at that time, and illuminateth the moneths lacking light euery one +of themselues seuerally halfe the course of that moneth, by whose benefit +it commeth to passe that the night named extreame darke possesseth those +regions no longer then one moneth, neither that continually, or all at one +time, but this also diuided into two sorts of shorter nights, of the which +either of them indureth for the space of 15 dayes, and are illuminate of +the Moone accordingly. [Sidenote: Winter nights vnder the pole tolerable to +liuing creatures.] And this reason is gathered out of the sphere, whereby +we may testifie that the Summers are warme and fruitfull, and the Winters +nights vnder the pole are tolerable to liuing creatures. And if it be so +that the Winter and time of darknesse there be very colde, yet hath not +nature left them vnprouided therefore: for there the beastes are couered +with haire so much the thicker in how much the vehemency of colde is +greater; by reason whereof the best and richest furres are brought out of +the coldest regions. Also the fowles of these colde countreys haue thicker +skinnes, thicker feathers; and more stored of downe then in other hot +places. Our English men that trauell to S. Nicholas, and go a fishing to +Wardhouse, enter farre within the circle Artike, and so are in the frozen +Zone, and yet there, aswell as in Island and all along those Northern Seas, +they finde the greatest store of the greatest fishes that are; as Whales, +&c. and also abundance of meane fishes; as Herrings, Cods, Haddocks, Brets, +&c. which argueth that the sea as well as the land may be and is well +frequented and inhabited in the colde countreys. + +[Sidenote: An obiection of Meta incognita.] But some perhaps will maruell +there should be such temperate places in the regions about the poles, when +at vnder 62 degrees in latitude our captaine Frobisher and his company were +troubled with so many and so great mountaines of fleeting ice, with so +great stormes of colde, with such continuall snow on tops of mountaines, +and with such barren soile, there being neither wood nor trees, but low +shrubs, and such like. To all which obiections may be answered thus: First, +those infinite Islands of ice were ingendred and congealed in time of +Winter, and now by the great heat of Summer were thawed, and then by ebs, +flouds, winds, and currents, were driuen to and fro, and troubled the +fleet; so that this is an argument to proue the heat in Summer there to be +great, that was able to thaw so monstrous mountaines of ice. As for +continuall snow on tops of mountaines, it is there no otherwise then is in +the hotest part of the middle Zone, where also lieth great snow all the +Summer long vpon tops of mountaines, because there is no sufficient space +for the Sunnes reflexion, whereby the snow should be molten. Touching the +colde stormy winds and the barrennesse of the country, it is there as it is +in Cornwall and Deuonsbire in England, which parts though we know to be +fruitfull and fertile, yet on the North side thereof all alongst the coast +within seuen or eight miles off the sea there can neither hedge nor tree +grow, although they be diligently by arte husbanded and seene vnto: and the +cause thereof are the Northerne driuing winds, which comming from the sea +are so bitter and sharpe that they kill all the yoong and tender plants, +and suffer scarse any thing to grow; and so it is in the Islands of Meta +incognita, which are subiect most to East and Northeastern winds, which the +last yere choaked vp the passage so with ice that the fleet could hardly +lecouer their port. [Sidenote: Meta Incognita inhabited.] Yet +notwithstanding all the obiections that may be, the countrey is habitable; +for there are men, women, children, and sundry kind of beasts in great +plenty, as beares, deere, hares, foxes and dogs: all kinde of flying +fowles, as ducks, seamewes, wilmots, partridges, larks, crowes, hawks, and +such like, as in the third booke you shall vnderstand more at large. Then +it appeareth that not onely the middle Zone but also the Zones about the +poles are habitable. + +[Sidenote: Captaine Frobishers first voyage.] Which thing being well +considered, and familiarly knowen to our Generall captaine Frobisher, +aswell for that he is thorowly furnished of the knowledge of the sphere and +all other skilles appertaining to the arte of nauigation, as also for the +confirmation he hath of the same by many yeres experience both by sea and +land, and being persuaded of a new and nerer passage to Cataya then by Capo +de buona Speranca, which the Portugals yerely vse: he began first with +himselfe to deuise, and then with his friends to conferre, and layed a +plaine plat vnto them that that voyage was not onely possible by the +Northwest, but also he could proue easie to be performed. And farther, he +determined and resolued with himselfe to go make full proofe thereof, and +to accomplish or bring true certificate of the truth, or els neuer to +returne againe, knowing this to be the only thing of the world that was +left yet vndone, whereby a notable minde might be made famous and +fortunate. But although his will were great to performe this notable +voyage, whereof he had concerned in his minde a great hope by sundry sure +reasons and secret intelligence, which here for sundry causes I leaue +vntouched, yet he wanted altogether meanes and ability to set forward, and +performe the same. Long time he conferred with his priuate friends of these +secrets; and made also many offers for the performing of the same in effect +vnto sundry merchants of our countrey aboue 15 yeres before he attempted +the same, as by good witnesse shall well appeare (albeit some euill willers +which challenge to themselues the fruits of other mens labours haue greatly +iniured him in the reports of the same, saying that they haue bene the +first authours of that action, and that they haue learned him the way, +which themselues as yet haue neuer gone) but perceiuing that hardly he was +hearkened vnto of the merchants, which neuer regard, vertue without sure, +certaine, and present gaines, he repaired to the Court (from whence, as +from the fountaine of our Common wealth, all good causes haue their chiefe +increase and maintenance) and there layed open to many great estates and +learned men the plot and summe of his deuice. And amongst many honourable +minds which fauoured his honest and commendable enterprise, he was +specially bound and beholding to the right honourable Ambrose Dudley earle +of Warwicke, whose fauourable minde and good disposition hath alwayes bene +ready to countenance and aduance all honest actions with the authours and +executors of the same: and so by meanes of my lord his honourable +countenance he receiued some comfort of his cause, and by litle and litle, +with no small expense and paine brought his cause to some perfection and +had drawen together so many aduenturers and such summes of money as might +well defray a reasonable charge to furnish himselfe to sea withall. + +He prepared two small barks of twenty and fiue and twenty tunne a piece, +wherein he intended to accomplish his pretended voyage. Wherefore, being +furnished with the foresayd two barks, and one small pinnesse of ten tun +burthen, hauing therein victuals and other necessaries for twelue moneths +prouision, he departed vpon the sayd voyage from Blacke-wall the 15 of Iune +anno Domini 1576. + +One of the barks wherein he went was named the Gabriel, and the other The +Michael; and sailing Northwest from England vpon the II of Iuly he had +sight of an high and ragged land, which he iudged to be Frisland (whereof +some authors haue made mention) but durst not approch the same by reason of +the great store of ice that lay alongst the coast, and the great mists that +troubled them not a litle. Not farre from thence he lost company of his +small pinnesse, which by meanes of the great storme he supposed to be +swallowed vp of the Sea, wherein he lost onely foure men. + +[Sidenote: The Michael returned home.] Also the other barke named The +Michael mistrusting the matter, conueyed themselues priuily away from him, +and returned home, with great report that he was cast away. + +The worthy captaine notwithstanding these discomforts, although his mast +was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen ouerboord with extreame foule +weather, continued his course towards the Northwest, knowing that the sea +at length must needs haue an ending, and that some land should haue a +beginning that way; and determined therefore at the least to bring true +proofe what land and sea the same might be so farre to the Northwestwards, +beyond any man that hath heretofore discouered. And the twentieth of Iuly +he had sight of an high land, which he called Queene Elizabeths Forland, +after her Maiesties name. And sailing more Northerly alongst that coast, he +descried another forland with a great gut, bay, or passage, diuided as it +were two maine lands or continents asunder. There be met with store of +exceeding great ice all this coast along, and coueting still to continue +his course to the Northwards, was alwayes by contrary winde deteined +ouerthwart these straights, and could not get beyond. [Sidenote: Frobishers +first entrance within the streights.] Within few dayes after he perceived +the ice to be well consumed and gone, either there ingulfed in by some +swift currents or indrafts, carried more to the Southwards of the same +straights, or els conueyed some other way: wherefore he determined to make +proofe of this place, to see how farre that gut had continuance, and +whether he might carry himselfe thorow the same into some open sea on the +backe side, whereof he conceiued no small hope, and so entred the same the +one and twentieth of Iuly, and passed aboue fifty leagues therein, as he +reported, hauing vpon either hand a great maine or continent. And that land +vpon his right hand as he sailed Westward he iudged to be the continent of +Asia, and there to be diuided from the firme of America, which lieth vpon +the left hand ouer against the same. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers streights.] This place he named after his name, +Frobishers streights, like as Magellanus at the Southwest end of the world, +hauing discouered the passage to the South sea (where America is diuided +from the continent of that land, which lieth vnder the South pole) and +called the same straights, Magellanes straits. + +After he had passed 60 leagues into this foresayd straight, he went ashore, +and found signes where fire had bene made. + +He saw mighty deere that seemed to be mankinde, which ranne at him, and +hardly he escaped with his life in a narrow way, where he was faine to vse +defence and policy to saue his life. + +In this place he saw and perceiued sundry tokens of the peoples resorting +thither. [Sidenote: The first sight of the Sauages.] And being ashore vpon +the top of a hill, he perceiued a number of small things fleeting in the +sea afarre off, which he supposed to be porposes or seales, or some kinde +of strange fish; but comming neerer, he discouered them to be men in small +boats made of leather. And before he could descend downe from the hill, +certaine of those people had almost cut off his boat from him, hauing +stollen secretly behinde the rocks for that purpose, where he speedily +hasted to his boat, and bent himselfe to his halberd, and narrowly escaped +the danger, and saued his boat. Afterwards he had sundry conferences with +them, and they came aboord his ship, and brought him salmon and raw flesh +and fish, and greedily deuoured the same before our mens faces. And to shew +their agility, they tried many masteries vpon the ropes of the ship after +our mariners fashion, and appeared to be very strong of their armes, and +nimble of their bodies. They exchanged coats of scales, and beares skinnes, +and such like with our men; and receiued belles, looking glasses, and other +toyes, in recompense thereof againe. [Sidenote: Fiue Englishmen intercepted +and taken.] After great curtesie, and many meetings, our mariners, contrary +to their captaines direction, began more easily to trust them; and fiue of +our men going ashore were by them intercepted with their boat, and were +neuer since heard of to this day againe: so that the captaine being +destitute of boat, barke, and all company, had scarsely sufficient number +to conduct backe his barke againe. He could neither conuey himselfe ashore +to rescue his men (if he had bene able) for want of a boat; and againe the +subtile traitours were so wary, as they would after that neuer come within +our mens danger. The captaine notwithstanding desirous to bring some token +from thence of his being there, was greatly discontented that he had not +before apprehended some of them: and therefore to deceiue the deceiuers he +wrought a pretty policy; for knowing wel how they greatly delighted in our +toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a pretty lowbell, making signes +that he would giue him the same that would come and fetch it. [Sidenote: +Taking of the first Sauage.] And because they would not come within his +danger for feare, he flung one bell vnto them, which of purpose he threw +short, that it might fall into the sea and be lost, And to make them more +greedy of the matter he rang a louder bell, so that in the end one of them +came nere the ship side to receiue the bel; which when he thought to take +at the captaines hand, he was thereby taken himselfe: for the captaine +being readily prouided let the bell fall, and caught the man fast, and +plucked him with maine force boat and all into his barke out of the sea. +Whereupon when he found himselfe in captiuity, for very choler and disdaine +he bit his tongue in twaine within his mouth: notwithstanding, he died not +thereof, but liued vntill he came in England, and then he died of cold +which he had taken at sea. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers returne.] Now with this new pray (which was a +sufficient witnesse of the captaines farre and tedious trauell towards the +vnknowen parts of the world, as did well appeare by this strange infidell, +whose like was neuer seene, read, nor heard of before, and whose language +was neither knowen nor vnderstood of any) the sayd captaine Frobisher +returned homeward, and arriued in England in Harwich the 2 of October +following, and thence came to London 1576, where he was highly commended of +all men for his great and notable attempt, but specially famous for the +great hope he brought of the passage to Cataya. + +And it is especially to be remembred that at their first arriuall in those +parts there lay so great store of ice all the coast along so thicke +together, that hardly his boate could passe vnto the shore. [Sidenote: The +taking possession of Meta incognita.] At length, after diuers attempts he +commanded his company, if by any possible meanes they could get ashore, to +bring him whatsoeuer thing they could first finde, whether it were liuing +or dead, stocke or stone, in token of Christian possession, which thereby +he tooke in behalfe of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty, thinking that +thereby he might iustify the hauing and inioying of the same things that +grew in these vnknowen parts. + +[Sidenote: How the ore was found by chance.] Some of his company brought +floures, some greene grasse; and one brought a piece of blacke stone much +like to a sea cole in colour, which by the waight seemed to be some kinde +of mettall or minerall. This was a thing of no account in the iudgment of +the captaine at first sight; and yet for nouelty it was kept in respect of +the place from whence it came. + +After his arriuall in London, being demanded of sundry his friends what +thing he had brought them home out of that countrey, he had nothing left to +present them withall but a piece of this blacke stone. And it fortuned a +gentlewoman one of the aduenturers wiues to haue a piece thereof, which by +chance she threw and burned in the fire, so long, that at the length being +taken forth, and quenched in a little vinegar, it glistened with a bright +marquesset of golde. Whereupon the matter being called in some question, it +was brought to certaine Goldfiners in London to make assay thereof, who +gaue out that it held golde, and that very richly for the quantity. +[Sidenote: Many aduenturers.] Afterwards, the same Goldfiners promised +great matters thereof if there were any store to be found, and offered +themselues to aduenture for the searching of those parts from whence the +same was brought. Some that had great hope of the matter sought secretly to +haue a lease at her Maiesties hands of those places, whereby to inioy the +masse of so great a publike profit vnto their owne priuate gaines. + +In conclusion, the hope of more of the same golde ore to be found kindled a +great opinion in the hearts of many to aduance the voyage againe. +[Sidenote: In the second voyage commission was giuen onely for the bringing +of ore.] Whereupon preparation was made for a new voyage against the yere +folowing, and the captaine more specially directed by commission for the +searching more of this golde ore then for the searching any further +discouery of the passage. And being well accompanied with diuers resolute +and forward gentlemen, her Maiesty then lying at the right honourable the +lord of Warwicks house in Essex, he came to take his leaue, and kissing her +hignesse hands, with gracious countenance and comfortable words departed +toward his charge. + + +A true report of such things as happened in the second voyage of captaine + Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of a new passage to Cataya, China + and the East India, by the Northwest. Ann. Dom. 1577. + +Being furnished with one tall ship of her Maiesties, named The Ayde, of two +hundred tunne, and two other small barks, the one named The Gabriel, the +other The Michael, about thirty tun a piece, being fitly appointed with +men, munition, victuals, and all things necessary for the voyage, the sayd +captaine Frobisher, with the rest of his company came aboord his ships +riding at Blackwall, intending (with Gods helpe) to take the first winde +and tide seruing him, the 25 day of May, in the yere of our Lord God 1577. + +The names of such gentlemen as attempted this discouery, and the number of +souldiers and mariners in ech ship, as followeth. + +Aboord the Ayd being Admirall were the number of 100 men of all sorts, +whereof 30 or moe were Gentlemen and Souldiers, the rest sufficient and +tall Sailers. + +Aboord the Gabriel being Viceadmirall, were in all 18 persons, whereof sixe +were Souldiers, the rest Mariners. + +Aboord the Michael were 16 persons, whereof fiue were Souldiers, the rest +Mariners. + +Aboord the Ayde was: + +Generall of the whole company for her Maiestie: Martin Frobisher. + +His Lieutenant George Best. +His Ensigne Richard Philpot. +Corporall of the shot Francis Forfar. + +The rest of the gentlemen: Henry Carew. + Edmund Stafford. + John Lee. + M. Haruie. + Mathew Kinersley. + Abraham Lins. + Robert Kinersley. + Francis Brakenbury. + William Armshow. + +The Master Christopher Hall. +The Mate Charles Iackman. +The Pilot Andrew Dier. +The Master gunner Richard Cox. + +Aboord the Gabriell was: + +Captaine Edward Fenton +One Gentleman William Tamfield. +The Maister William Smyth. + +Aboord the Michaell was: + +Captaine Gilbert Yorke. +One Gentleman Thomas Chamberlaine. +The Maister Iames Beare. + +On Whitsunday being the 26 of May, Anno 1577, early in the morning, we +weighed anker at Blackwall, and fell that tyde downe to Grauesend, where we +remained vntill Monday, at night. + +[Sidenote: They receiued the communion.] On Monday morning the 27 of May, +aboord the Ayde we receiued all the Communion by the Minister of Grauesend, +and prepared vs as good Christians towards God, and resolute men for all +fortunes: and towards night we departed to Tilbery Hope. + +[Sidenote: The number of men in this voyage.] Tuesday the eight and twenty +of May, about nine of the clocke at night, we arriued at Harwitch in Essex +and there stayed for the taking in of certaine victuals, vntill Friday +being the thirtieth of May, during which time came letters from the Lordes +of the Councell, straightly commanding our General, not to exceede his +complement and number appointed him, which was, one hundred and twentie +persons: whereupon he discharged many proper men which with vnwilling +mindes departed. + +[Sidenote: The condemned men discharged.] He also dismissed all his +condemned men, which he thought for some purposes very needefull for the +voyage, and towards night vpon Friday the one and thirtieth of May we set +saile, and put to the Seas againe. [Sidenote: The first arriuall after our +departing from England.] And sailing Northward alongst the East coasts of +England and Scotland, the seuenth day of Iune we arriued in Saint Magnus +sound in Orkney Ilands, called in Latine Orcades, and came to ancker on the +South side of the Bay, and this place is reckoned from Blackwall where we +set saile first leagues.[64] + +Here our companie going on lande, the Inhabitants of these Ilandes beganne +to flee as from the enemie, whereupon the Lieutenant willed euery man to +stay togither, and went himselfe vnto their houses, to declare what we were +and the cause of our comming thither, which being vnderstood after their +poore maner they friendly entreated vs, and brought vs for our money such +things as they had. [Sidenote: A Mine of siluer found in Orkney.] And here +our gold finders found a Mine of siluer. + +Orkney is the principall of the Isles of the Orcades, and standeth in the +latitude of fiftie nine degrees and a halfe. The countrey is much subiect +to colde, answerable for such a climate, and yet yeeldeth some fruites, and +sufficient maintenance for the people contented so poorely to liue. + +There is plentie ynough of Poultrey, store of egges, fish, and foule. + +For their bread they haue Oaten Cakes, and their drinke is Ewes milke, and +in some partes Ale. + +Their houses are but poore without and sluttish ynough within, and the +people in nature thereunto agreeable. + +For their fire they burne heath and turffe, the Countrey in most parts +being voide of wood. + +They haue great want of Leather, and desire our old Shoes, apparell, and +old ropes (before money) for their victuals, and yet are they not ignorant +of the value of our coine. [Sidenote: Kyrway the chiefe towne of Orkney.] +The chiefe towne is called Kyrway.[65] + +[Sidenote: S. Magnus sound why so called.] In this Island hath bene +sometime an Abbey or a religious house called Saint Magnus, being on the +West side of the Ile, whereof this sound beareth name, through which we +passed. Their Gouernour chiefe Lord is called the Lord Robert Steward, who +at our being there, as we understood, was in durance at Edenburgh, by the +Regents commandement of Scotland. + +After we had prouided vs here of matter sufficient for our voyage the eight +of Iune wee set sayle againe, and passing through Saint Magnus sound hauing +a merrie winde by night, came cleare and lost sight of all the land, and +keeping our course West Northwest by the space of two dayes, the winde +shifted vpon vs so that we lay in trauerse on the Seas, with contrary +windes, making good (as neere as we could) our course to the westward, and +sometime to the Northward, as the winde shifted. And hereabout we met with +3 saile of English fishermen from Iseland, bound homeward, by whom we wrote +our letters vnto our friends in England. [Sidenote: Great bodies of trees +driuing in the seas.] We trauersed these Seas by the space of 26 dayes +without sight of any land, and met with much drift wood, and whole bodies +of trees. [Sidenote: Monstrous fish and strange foule liuing onely by the +Sea.] We sawe many monsterous fishes and strange foules, which seemed to +live onely by the Sea, being there so farre distant from any land. At +length God fauoured vs with more prosperous windes, and after wee had +sayled foure dayes with good winde in the Poop, the fourth of Iuly the +Michael being foremost a head shot off a peece of Ordinance, and stroke all +her sayles, supposing that they had descryed land which by reason of the +thicke mistes they could not make perfit: [Sidenote: Water being blacke and +smooth signifieth land to be neere.] howbeit, as well our account as also +the great alteration of the water, which became more blacke and smooth, did +plainely declare we were not farre off the coast. [Sidenote: Ilands of +yce.] Our Generall sent his Master aboord the Michaell (who had beene with +him the yeere before) to beare in with the place to make proofe thereof, +who descryed not the land perfect, but sawe sundry huge Ilands of yce, +which we deemed to be not past twelue leagues from the shore, [Sidenote: +The first sight of Frisland the 4. of Iuly.] for about tenne of the clocke +at night being the fourth of Iuly, the weather being more cleare, we made +the land perfect and knew it to be Frislande. And the heigth being taken +here, we found ourselues to be in the latitude of 60 degrees and a halfe, +and were fallen with the Southermost part of this land. Betweene Orkney and +Frisland are reckoned leagues.[66] + +[Sidenote: Frisland described.] This Frislande sheweth a ragged and high +lande, hauing the mountaines almost couered ouer with snow alongst the +coast full of drift yce, and seemeth almost inaccessable, and is thought to +be an Iland in bignesse not inferiour to England, and is called of some +Authors, West Frislande, I thinke because it lyeth more West then any part +of Europe. It extendeth in latitude to the Northward very farre as seemed +to vs, and appeareth by a description set out by two brethren Venetians, +Nicholaus and Antonius Zeni, who being driuen off from Ireland with a +violent tempest made shipwracke here, and were the first knowen Christians +that discouered this land about two hundred yeares sithence, and they haue +in their Sea cardes set out euery part thereof and described the condition +of the inhabitants, declaring them to be as ciuill and religous people as +we. And for so much of this land as we haue sayled alongst, comparing their +Carde with the coast, we finde it very agreeable. [Sidenote: An easie kind +of Fishing.] This coast seemeth to haue good fishing, for we lying becalmed +let falle a hooke without any bayte and presently caught a great fish +called a Hollibut, who serued the whole companie for a dayes meate, and is +dangerous meate for surfetting. [Sidenote: White Corrall got by sounding.] +And sounding about fiue leagues off from the shore, our leade brought vp in +the tallow a kinde of Corrall almost white, and small stones as bright as +Christall: and it is not to be doubted but that this land may be found very +rich and beneficial if it were thoroughly discovered, although we sawe no +creature there but little birdes. [Sidenote: Monstrous Isles of yce, in +taste fresh, wherehence they are supposed to come.] It is a maruellous +thing to behold of what great bignesse and depth some Ilands of yce be +here, some seuentie, some eightie fadome vnder water, besides that which is +aboue, seeming Ilands more then halfe a mile in circuit. All these yce are +in tast fresh, and seeme to be bredde in the sounds thereabouts, or in some +lande neere the pole, and with the winde and tides are driuen alongst the +coastes. [Sidenote: The opinion of the frozen seas is destroyed by +experience.] We found none of these Ilands of yce salt in taste, whereby it +appeareth that they were not congealed of the Ocean Sea water which is +alwayes salt, but of some standing or little moouing lakes or great fresh +waters neere the shore, caused eyther by melted snowe from tops of +mountaines, or by continuall accesse of fresh riuers from the land, and +intermingling with the Sea water, bearing yet the dominion (by the force of +extreame frost) may cause some part of salt water to freese so with it, and +so seeme a little brackish, but otherwise the maine Sea freeseth not, and +therefore there is no Mare Glaciale or frosen Sea, as the opinion hitherto +hath bene. Our Generall prooued landing here twice, but by the suddaine +fall of mistes (whereunto this coast is much subiect) he was like to loose +sight of his ships, and being greatly endangered with the driuing yce +alongst the coast, was forced aboord and faine to surcease his pretence +till a better opportunitie might serue: and hauing spent foure dayes and +nights sayling alongst this land, finding the coast subiect to such bitter +colde and continuall mistes he determined to spend no more time therein, +but to beare out his course towards the streights called Frobishers +streights after the Generals name, who being the first that euer passed +beyond 58 degrees to the Northwardes, for any thing that hath beene yet +knowen of certaintie of New found land, otherwise called the continent or +firme land of America, discouered the saide straights this last yere 1576. + +[Sidenote: The Stirrage of the Michaell broken by tempest.] Betweene +Frisland and the Straights we had one great storme, wherein the Michaell +was somewhat in danger, hauing her Stirrage broken, and her toppe Mastes +blowen ouer boord, and being not past 50 leagues short of the Straights by +our account, we stroke sayle and lay a hull, fearing the continuance of the +storme, the winde being at the Northeast, and hauing lost companie of the +Barkes in that flaw of winde, we happily met againe the seuenteenth day of +Iuly, hauing the euening before seene diuers Ilands of fleeting yce, which +gaue an argument that we were not farre from land. [Sidenote: The first +entrance of the Straights.] Our Generall in the morning from the maine top +(the weather being reasonable cleare) descried land, but to better assured +he sent the two Barkes two contrarie courses, whereby they might discry +either the South or North foreland, the Ayde lying off and on at Sea, with +a small sayle by an Iland of yce, which was the marke for vs to meet +together againe. [Sidenote: Halles Iland.] And about noone, the weather +being more cleare, we made the North foreland perfite, which otherwise is +called Halles Iland, and also the small Iland bearing the name of the sayd +Hall whence the Ore was taken vp which was brought into England this last +yeere 1576 the said Hall being present at the finding and taking vp +thereof, who was then Maister in the Gabriell with Captaine Frobisher. At +our arriuall here all the Seas about this coast were so couered ouer with +huge quantitie of great yce, that we thought these places might onely +deserue the name of Mare Glaciale, and be called the Isie Sea. + +[Sidenote: The description of the straights.] This North forland is thought +to be deuided from the continent of the Northerland, by a little sound +called Halles sound, which maketh it an Iland, and is thought little lesse +then the Ile of Wight, and is the first entrance of the Straights vpon the +Norther side, and standeth in the latitude of sixtie two degrees and fiftie +minutes, and is reckoned from Frisland leagues.[67] God hauing blessed vs +with so happie a land-fall, we bare into the Straights which runne in next +hand, and somewhat further vp to the Northwarde, and came as neere the +shore as wee might for the yce, and vpon the eighteenth day [Sidenote: No +more gold Ore found in the first Iland.] of Iuly our Generall taking the +Goldfiners with him, attempted to goe on shore with a small rowing +Pinnesse, vpon the small Islande where the Ore was taken vp, to prooue +whether there were any store thereof to be found, but he could not get in +all that Iland a peece so bigge as a Walnut, where the first was found. But +our men which sought the other Ilands thereabouts found them all to haue +good store of the Ore, whereupon our Generall with these good tidings +returned aboord about tenne of the clocke at night, and was ioyfully +welcommed of the company with a volie of shot. [Sidenote: Egs and foules of +Meta incognita. Snares set to catch birds withall.] He brought egges, +foules, and a young Seale aboord, which the companie had killed ashore, and +hauing found vpon those Ilands ginnes set to catch fowle, and stickes newe +cut, with other things, he well perceiued that not long before some of the +countrey people had resorted thither. + +Hauing therefore found those tokens of the peoples accesse in those parts, +and being in his first voyage well acquainted with their subtill and cruell +disposition, hee prouided well for his better safetie, and on Friday the +nineteenth of Iuly in the morning early, with his best companie of +Gentlemen and souldiers to the number of fortie persons, went on shore, +aswell to discouer the Inland and habitation of the people, as also to +finde out some fit harborowe for our shippes. And passing towardes the +shoare with no small difficultie by reason of the abundance of yce which +lay alongst the coast so thicke togither that hardly any passage through +them might be discouered, we arriued at length vpon the maine of Halles +greater Iland, and found there also aswell as in the other small Ilands +good store of the Ore. [Sidenote: The building of a Columne, called Mount +Warwicke.] And leauiug his boates here with sufficient guarde we passed vp +into the countrey about two English miles, and recouered the toppe of a +high hill, on the top whereof our men made a Columne or Crosse of stones +heaped vp of a good heigth togither in good sort, and solemnly sounded a +Trumpet, and saide certaine prayers kneeling about the Ensigne, and +honoured the place by the name of Mount Warwicke, in remembrance of the +Right Honorable the Lord Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwicke, whose noble mind +and good countenance in this, as in all other good actions, gaue great +encouragement and good furtherance. This done, we retyred our companies not +seeing any thing here worth further discouerie, the countrey seeming barren +and full of ragged mountaines and in most parts couered with snow. + +[Sidenote: The first sight of countrie people, wafting with a flagge.] And +thus marching towards our botes, we espied certaine countrey people on the +top of Mount Warwick with a flag wafting vs backe againe and making great +noise with cries like the mowing of Buls seeming greatly desirous of +conference with vs: whereupon the Generall being therewith better +acquainted, answered them againe with the like cries, whereat and with the +noise of our trumpets they seemed greatly to reioice, skipping, laughing, +and dancing for ioy. And hereupon we made signes vnto them, holding vp two +fingers, commanding two of our men to go apart from our companies, whereby +they might do the like. [Sidenote: The meeting apart of two Englishmen with +two of that countrey.] So that forthwith two of our men and two of theirs +met together a good space from company, neither partie hauing their weapons +about them. Our men gaue them pins and points and such trifles as they had. +And they likewise bestowed on our men two bow cases and such things as they +had. They earnestly desired our men to goe vp into their countrey, and our +men offered them like kindnesse aboord our ships, but neither part (as it +seemed) admitted or trusted the others courtesie. [Sidenote: The order of +their traffique.] Their maner of traffique is thus, they doe vse to lay +downe of their marchandise vpon the ground, so much as they meane to part +withal, and so looking that the other partie with whom they make trade +should do the like, they themselues doe depart, and then if they doe like +of their Mart they come againe, and take in exchange the others +marchandise, otherwise if they like not, they take their owne and depart. +The day being thus well neere spent, in haste wee retired our companies +into our boates againe, minding foorthwith to search alongst the coast for +some harborow fit for our shippes, for the present necessitie thereof was +much, considering that all this while they lay off and on betweene the two +landes, being continually subiect aswell to great danger of fleeting yce, +which enuironed them, as to the sodaine flawes which the coast seemeth much +subiect vnto. But when the people perceiued our departure, with great +tokens of affection they earnestly called vs backe againe, following vs +almost to our boates: whereupon our Generall taking his Master with him, +who was best acquainted with their maners, went apart vnto two of them, +meaning, if they could lay sure hold vpon them, forcibly to bring them +aboord, with intent to bestow certaine toyes and apparell vpon the one, and +so to dismisse him with all arguments of curtesie, and retaine the other +for an Interpreter. [Sidenote: Another meeting of two of our men with two +of theirs.] The Generall and his Maister being met with their two +companions togither, after they had exchanged certaine things the one with +the other, one of the Saluages for lacke of better marchandise, cut off the +tayle of his coat (which is a chiefe ornament among them) and gaue it vnto +our Generall for a present. But he presently vpon a watchword giuen with +his Maister sodainely laid hold vpon the two Saluages. But the ground +vnderfoot being slipperie with the snow on the side of the hill, their +handfast fayled and their prey escaping ranne away and lightly recouered +their bow and arrowes, which they had hid not farre from them behind the +rockes. [Sidenote: The Englishmen chased to their boates.] And being onely +two Saluages in sight, they so fiercely, desperately, and with such fury +assaulted and pursued our Generall and his Master, being altogether +vnarmed, and not mistrusting their subtiltie that they chased them to their +boates, and hurt the Generall in the buttocke with an arrow, who the rather +speedily fled backe, becasuse they suspected a greater number behind the +rockes. Our souldiers (which were commanded before to keepe their boates) +perceiuing the danger, and hearing our men calling for shot came speedily +to rescue, thinking there had bene a greater number. But when the Saluages +heard the shot of one of our caliuers (and yet hauing first bestowed their +arrowes) they ranne away, our men speedily following them. [Sidenote: One +of that Countreymen taken.] But a seruant of my Lorde of Warwick, called +Nicholas Conger a good footman, and vncumbred with any furniture hauing +only a dagger at his backe ouertooke one of them, and being a Cornishman +and a good wrastler, shewed his companion such a Cornish tricke, that he +made his sides ake against the ground for a moneth after. And so being +stayed, he was taken aliue and brought away, but the other escaped. Thus +with their strange and new prey our men repaired to their boates, and +passed from the maine to a small Iland of a mile compasse, where they +resolued to tarrie all night; for euen now a sodaine storme was growen so +great at sea, that by no meanes they could recouer their ships. And here +euery man refreshed himselfe with a small portion of victuals which was +laide into the boates for their dinners, hauing neither eate nor drunke all +the day before. But because they knewe not how long the storme might last, +nor how farre off the shippes might be put to sea, nor whether they should +euer recouer them againe or not, they made great spare of their victuals, +as it greatly behoued them: For they knew full well that the best cheare +the countrey could yeeld them, was rockes and stones, a hard food to liue +withall, and the people more readie to eate them then to giue them +wherewithall to eate. And thus keeping verie good watch and warde, they lay +there all night vpon hard cliffes of snow and yce both wet, cold, and +comfortlesse. + +These things thus hapning with the company on land, the danger of the ships +at Sea was no lesse perilous. [Sidenote: The Ayde set on fire.] For within +one houre after the Generals departing in the morning by negligence of the +Cooke in ouer-heating, and the workman in making the chimney, the Ayde was +set on fire, and had bene the confusion of the whole if by chance a boy +espying it, it had not bene speedily with great labour and Gods helpe well +extinguished, + +[Sidenote: The great danger of these rockes of yce.] This day also were +diuerse stormes and flawes, and by nine of the clocke at night the storme +was growen so great, and continued such vntill the morning, that it put our +ships at sea in no small perill: for hauing mountaines of fleeting yce on +euery side, we went roomer for one, and loofed for another, some scraped +vs, and some happily escaped vs, that the least of a M. were as dangerous +to strike as any rocke, and able to haue split asunder the strongest ship +of the world. We had a scope of cleare without yce, (as God would) wherein +we turned, being otherwise compassed on euery side about: but so much was +the winde and so litle was our sea roome, that being able to beare onely +our forecourse we cast so oft about, that we made fourteene bordes in eight +glasses running, being but foure houres: [Sidenote: Night without darknes +in that countrey.] but God being our best Steresman, and by the industry of +Charles Iackman and Andrew Dyer then masters mates, both very expert +Mariners and Richard Cox the maister Gunner, with other very carefull +sailers, then within bord, and also by the helpe of the cleare nights which +are without darknesse, we did happily auoide those present dangers, whereat +since wee haue more maruelled then in the present danger feared, for that +euery man within borde, both better and worse had ynough to doe with his +hands to hale ropes, and with his eyes to looke out for danger. But the +next morning being the 20 of Iuly, as God would, the storme ceased, and the +Generall espying the ships with his new Captiue and whole company, came +happily abord, and reported what had passed a shoare, whereupon altogither +vpon our knees we gaue God humble and hartie thankes, for that it had +pleased him, from so speedy peril to send vs such speedy deliuerance, and +so from this Northerne shore we stroke ouer towards the Southerland. + +[Sidenote: Our first comming on the Southerland of the sayd straights.] The +one and twentieth of Iuly, we discovered a bay which ranne into the land, +that seemed a likely harborow for our ships, wherefore our Generall rowed +thither with his boats, to make proofe thereof, and with his goldfiners to +search for Ore, hauing neuer assayed any thing on the South shore as yet, +and the first small Island which we landed vpon. [Sidenote: A Mine of +Blacke-lead.] Here all the sands and clifts did so glister and had so +bright a marquesite, that it seemed all to be gold, but vpon tryall made it +prooued no better then black-lead, and verified the prouerb. All is not +gold that glistereth. + +Vpon the two and twentieth of Iuly we bare into the sayde sound, and came +to ancker a reasonable bredth off the shore, where thinking our selues in +good securitie, we were greatly endangered with a peece of drift yce, which +the Ebbe brought forth of the sounds and came thwart vs ere we were aware. +But the gentlemen and souldiers within bord taking great paines at this +pinch at the Capstone, overcame the most danger thereof, and yet for all +that might be done, it stroke on our sterne such a blow, that we feared +least it had striken away our rudder, and being forced to cut our Cable in +the hawse, we were faine to set our fore saile to runne further vp within, +and if our stirrage had not bene stronger then in the present time we +feared, we had runne the ship vpon the rockes, hauing a very narrow +Channell to turne in, but as God would, all came well to passe. [Iackmans +sound.] And this was named Iackmans sound, after the name of the Masters +mate, who had first liking vnto the place. + +[Sidenote: Smiths Iland.] Vpon a small Iland, within this sound called +Smithes Iland (because he first set vp his forge there) was found a Mine of +siluer, but was not wonne out of the rockes without great labour. Here our +goldfiners made say of such Ore as they found vpon the Northerland, and +found foure sortes thereof to holde golde in good quantitie. Vpon another +small Iland here was also found a great dead fish, which as it should +seeme, had bene embayed with yce, and was in proportion round like to a +Porpose, being about twelue foote long, and in bignesse answerable, hauing +a horne of two yards long growing out of the snoute or nostrels. [Sidenote: +The finding of an Vnicornes horne.] This horne is wreathed and straite, +like in fashion to a Taper made of waxe, and may truely be thought to be +the sea Vnicorne.[68] This home is to be seene and reserued as a Iewell by +the Queenes Maiesties commandement, in her Wardrope of Robes. + +Tuesday the three and twentieth of Iuly, our Generall with his best company +of gentlemen, souldiers and saylers, to the number of seuentie persons in +all, marched with ensigne displayde, vpon the continent of the Southerland +(the supposed continent of America) where, commanding a Trumpet to sound a +call for euery man to repaire to the ensigne, he declared to the whole +company how much the cause imported for the seruice of her Maiestie, our +countrey, our credits, and the safetie of our owne liues, and therefore +required euery man to be conformable to order, and to be directed by those +he should assigne. And he appointed for leaders, Captaine Fenton, Captaine +Yorke, and his Lieutenant George Beste: which done, we cast our selues into +a ring, and altogether vpon our knees, gaue God humble thanks for that it +had pleased him of his great goodnesse to preserue vs from such imminent +dangers, beseeching likewise the assistance of his holy spirite, so to +deliuer vs in safetie into our Countrey, whereby the light and truth of +these secrets being knowen, it might redound to the more honour of his holy +name, and consequently to the aduancement of our common wealth. And so, in +as good sort as the place suffered, we marched towards the tops of the +mountaines, which were no lesse painfull in climbing then dangerous in +descending, by reason of their steepenesse and yce. And hauing passed about +fiue miles, by such vnwieldie wayes, we returned vnto our ships without +sight of any people, or likelihood of habitation. Here diuerse of the +Gentlemen desired our Generall to suffer them to the number of twentie or +thirtie persones to march vp thirtie or fortie leagues in the countrey, to +the end they might discouer the Inland, and doe some acceptable seruice for +their countrey. But he not contented with the matter he sought for, and +well considering the short time he had in hand, and the greedie desire our +countrey hath to a present sauor and returne of gaine, bent his whole +indeuour only to find a Mine to fraight his ships, and to leave the rest +(by Gods helpe) hereafter to be well accomplished. And therefore the +twentie sixe of Iuly he departed ouer to the Northland, with the two +barkes, leauing the Ayde ryding in Iackmans sound; and ment (after hee had +found conuenient harborow, and fraight there for his ships) to discouer +further for the passage. The Barkes came the same night to ancker in a +sound vpon the Northerland, where the tydes did runne so swift, and the +place was so subiect to indrafts of yce; that by reason thereof they were +greatly endangered, and hauing found a very rich Myne, as they supposed, +and got almost twentie tunne of Ore together, vpon the 28 of Iuly the yce +came driuing into the sound where the Barkes rode, in such sort, that they +were therewith greatly distressed. And the Gabriell riding asterne the +Michael, had her Cable gauld asunder in the hawse with a peece of driuing +yce, and lost another ancker, and hauing but one cable and ancker left, for +she had lost two before, and the yce still driuing vpon her, she was (by +Gods helpe) well fenced from the danger of the rest, by one great Iland of +yce, which came a ground hard a head of her, which if it had not so +chanced, I thinke surely shee had bene cast vpon the rockes with the yce. +The Michael mored ancker vpon this great yce, and roade vnder the lee +thereof: but about midnight, by the weight of it selfe, and the setting of +the Tydes, the yce brake within halfe the Barkes length, and made vnto the +companie within boord a sodaine and fearefull noyse. [Sidenote: Beares +sound. Lecesters Iland.] The next flood toward the morning we weyed ancker, +and went further vp the straights, and leauing our Ore behind vs which we +had digged, for hast left the place by the name of Beares sound after the +masters name of the Michaell, and named the Iland Lecesters Iland. +[Sidenote: A tombe with a dead mans bones in it.] In one of the small +Ilands here we founde a Tombe, wherein the bones of a dead man lay +together, and our Sauage Captiue being with vs, and being demanded by +signes whether his countreymen had not slaine this man and eat his flesh so +from the bones, he made signes to the contrary, and that he was slaine with +Wolues and wild beasts. Here also was found hid vnder stones good store of +fish, and [Sidenote: Bridles, kniues, and other instruments found hid among +the rockes.] sundry other things of the inhabitants; as sleddes, bridles, +kettels of fish-skinnes, kniues of bone, and such other like. And our +Sauage declared vnto vs the vse of all those things. [Sidenote: They vse +great dogs to draw sleds, and little dogs for their meat.] And taking in +his hand one of those countrey bridles, he caught one of our dogges and +hampred him handsomely therein, as we doe our horses, and with a whip in +his hand, he taught the dogge to drawe in a sled as we doe horses in a +coach, setting himselfe thereupon like a guide: so that we might see they +vse dogges for that purpose that we do our horses. And we found since by +experience, that the lesser sort of dogges they feede fatte, and keepe them +as domesticall cattell in their tents for their eating, and the greater +sort serue for the vse of drawing their sleds. + +The twentie ninth of Iuly, about fiue leagues from Beares sound, we +discouered a Bay which being fenced on ech side with smal Ilands lying off +the maine, which breake the force of the tides, and make the place free +from any indrafts of yce, did prooue a very fit harborow for our ships, +where we came to ancker vnder a small Ilande, which now together with the +sound is called by the name of that right Honourable and vertuous Ladie, +Anne Countesse of Warwicke. [Sidenote: Thirty leagues discouered within the +straites.] And this is the furthest place that this yeere we haue entred vp +within the streits, and is reckoned from the Cape of the Queenes foreland, +which is the entrance of the streites not aboue 30 leagues. Vpon this Iland +was found good store of Ore, which in the washing helde golde to our +thinking plainly to be seene: whereupon it was thought best rather to load +here, where there was store and indifferent good, then to seeke further for +better, and spend time with ieoperdie. [Sidenote: A good president of a +good Captain shewed by Captain Frobisher.] And therefore our Generall +setting the Myners to worke, and shewing first a good president of a +painefull labourer and a goode Captaine in himselfe, gaue good examples for +other to follow him: whereupon euery man both better and worse, with their +best endeuours willingly layde to their helping hands. And the next day, +being the thirtieth of Iuly, the Michaell was sent ouer to Iackmans sound, +for the Ayde and the whole companie to come thither. [Sidenote: The maner +of their houses in this country.] Vpon the maine land ouer against the +Countesses Iland we discouered and behelde to our greate maruell the poore +caues and houses of those countrey people, which serue them (as it should +seeme) for their winter dwellings, and are made two fadome vnder grounde, +in compasse round, like to an Ouen, being ioyned fast one by another, +hauing holes like to a Foxe or Conny berry, to keepe and come togither. +They vndertrenched these places with gutters so, that the water falling +from the hilles aboue them, may slide away without their annoyance: and are +seated commonly in the foote of a hill, to shield them better from the cold +windes, hauing their doore and entrance euer open towards the South. +[Sidenote: Whales bones vsed in stead of timber.] From the ground vpward +they builde with whales bones, for lacke of timber, which bending one ouer +another, are handsomely compacted in the top together, and are couered ouer +with Seales skinnes, which in stead of tiles, fence them from the raine. In +which house they haue only one roome, hauing the one halfe of the floure +raised with broad stones a foot higher than the other, whereon strawing +Mosse, they make their nests to sleep in. [Sidenote: The sluttishness of +these people.] They defile these dennes most filthily with their beastly +feeding, and dwell so long in a place (as we thinke) vntill their +sluttishnes lothing them, they are forced to seeke a sweeter ayre, and a +new seate, and are (no doubt) a dispersed and wandring nation, as the +Tartarians, and liue in hords and troupes, without any certaine abode, as +may appeare by sundry circumstances of our experience. + +[Sidenote: A signe set vp by the sauage captiue, and the meaning thereof.] +Here our captiue being ashore with vs, to declare the vse of such things as +we saw, stayd himselfe alone behind the company, and did set vp fiue small +stickes round in a circle one by another, with one smal bone placed iust in +the middest of all: which thing when one of our men perceiued, he called vs +backe to behold the matter, thinking that hee had meant some charme or +witchcraft therein. But the best coniecture we could make thereof was, that +hee would thereby his countreymen should vnderstand, that for our fiue men +which they betrayed the last yeere (whom he signified by the fiue stickes) +he was taken and kept prisoner, which he signified by the bone in the +midst. [Sidenote: The sauage captiue amazed at his countreimans picture.] +For afterwards when we shewed him the picture of his countreman, which the +last yeere was brought into England (whose counterfeit we had drawen with +boate and other furniture, both as he was in his own, and also in English +apparel) he was vpon the sudden much amazed thereat, and beholding +aduisedly the same with silence a good while, as though he would streine +courtesie whether should begin the speech (for he thought him no doubt a +liuely creature) at length began to question with him, as with his +companion, and finding him dumb and mute, seemed to suspect him, as one +disdeinfull, and would with a little helpe haue growen into choller at the +matter, vntill at last by feeling and handling, hee found him but a +deceiuing picture. And then with great noise and cryes, ceased not +wondring, thinking that we could make men liue or die at our pleasure. + +And thereupon calling the matter to his remembrance, he gaue vs plainely to +vnderstand by signes, that he had knowledge of the taking of our fiue men +the last yeere, and confessing the maner of ech thing, numbred the fiue men +vpon his fiue fingers, and pointed vnto a boat in our ship, which was like +vnto that wherein our men were betrayed: And when we made him signes, that +they were slaine and eaten, he earnestly denied, and made signes to the +contrary. + +[Sidenote: Another shew of twenty persons of that countrey in one boate.] +The last of Iuly the Michael returned with the Aide to vs from the +Southerland, and came to anker by vs in the Countesse of Watwicks sound, +and reported that since we departed from Iackmans sound there happened +nothing among them there greatly worth the remembrance, vntill the +thirtieth of Iuly, when certaine of our company being a shoare vpon a small +Island within the sayd Iackmans sound, neere the place where the Aide rode, +did espie a long boat with diuers of the countrey people therein, to the +number of eighteene or twenty persons, whom so soone as our men perceiued, +they returned speedily aboord, to giue notice thereof vnto our company. +They might perceiue these people climbing vp to the top of a hill, where +with a flagge, they wafted vnto our ship, and made great out cries and +noyses, like so many Buls. Hereupon our men did presently man foorth a +small skiffe, hauing not aboue sixe or seuen persons therein, which rowed +neere the place where those people were, to prooue if they could haue any +conference with them. But after this small boate was sent a greater, being +wel appointed for their rescue, if need required. + +As soone as they espied our company comming neere them, they tooke their +boates and hasted away, either for feare, or else for pollicie, to draw our +men from rescue further within their danger: wherefore our men construing +that their comming thither was but to seeke aduantage, followed speedily +after them, but they rowed so swiftly away, that our men could come nothing +neere them. Howbeit they failed not of their best indeuour in rowing, and +hauing chased them aboue two miles into the sea, returned into their ships +againe. + +[Sidenote: Yorkes sound.] The morning following being the first of August, +Captaine Yorke with the Michael came into Iackmans sound, and declared vnto +the company there, that the last night past he came to anker in a certaine +baye (which sithens was named Yorkes sound) about foure leagues distant +from Iackmans sound, being put to leeward of that place for lacke of winde, +where he discouered certaine tents of the countrey people, where going with +his company ashore, he entred into them, but found the people departed, as +it should seeme, for feare of their comming. But amongst sundry strange +things which in these tents they found, there was rawe and new killed flesh +of vnknowen sorts, with dead carcases and bones of dogs, and I know not +what. [Sidenote: The apparel found againe of our English men which the yere +before were taken.] They also beheld (to their greatest marueile) a dublet +of Canuas made after the English fashion, a shirt, a girdle, three shoes +for contrary feete, and of vnequall bignesse, which they well coniectured +to be the apparell of our fiue poore countreymen, which were intercepted +the last yeere by these Countrey people, about fiftie leagues from this +place, further within the Straights. [Sidenote: A good deuise of Captaine +Yorke.] Whereupon our men being in good hope, that some of them might be +here, and yet liuing: the Captaine deuising for the best left his mind +behind him in writing, with pen, yncke, and paper also, whereby our poore +captiue countrymen, if it might come to their hands, might know their +friends minds, and of their arriuall, and likewise returne their answere. +And so without taking any thing away in their tents, leauing there also +looking glasses, points, and other of our toyes (the better to allure them +by such friendly meanes) departed aboord his Barker, with intent to make +haste to the Aide, to giue notice vnto the company of all such things as he +had there discouered: and so meant to returne to these tents againe, hoping +that he might by force or policie intrappe or intice the people to some +friendly conference. Which things when he had deliuered to the whole +company there, they determined forthwith to go in hand with the matter. +Hereupon Captaine Yorke with the master of the Aide and his mate (who the +night before had bene at the tents, and came ouer from the other side in +the Michael with him) being accompanied with the Gentlemen and souldiors to +the number of thirty or forty persons in two small rowing Pinnasses made +towards the place, where the night before they discovered the tents of +those people, and setting Charles Iackman, being the Masters mate, ashore +with a convenient number, for that he could best guide them to the place, +they marched ouer land, meaning to compasse them on the one side, whilest +the Captaine with his boates might entrap them on the other side. But +landing at last at the place where the night before they left them, they +found them with their tents remoued. Notwithstanding, our men which marched +vp into the countrey, passing ouer two or three mountaines, by chance +espied certaine tents in a valley vnderneath them neere vnto a creeke by +the Sea side, which because it was not the place where the guide had bene +the night before, they iudged them to be another company, and be setting +them about, determined to take them if they could. [Sidenote: The Sauages +haue boats of sundry bignes.] But they having quickly descried our +companie, launched one great and another smal boat, being about 16 or 18 +persons, and very narrowly escaping, put themselues to sea. [Sidenote: The +Englishmen pursue those people of that countrey. The swift rowing of those +people.] Whereupon our souldiers discharged their Caliuers, and followed +them, thinking the noise therof being heard to our boats at sea, our men +there would make what speede they might to that place. [Sidenote: The +bloody point. Yorkes sound.] And thereupon indeede our men which were in +the boates (crossing vpon them in the mouth of the sound whereby their +passage was let from getting sea roome, wherein it had bene impossible for +vs to ouertake them by rowing) forced them to put themselues ashore vpon a +point of land within the sayd sound (which vpon the occasion of the +slaughter there, was since named The bloody point) whereunto our men so +speedily followed, that they had little leisure left them to make any +escape. But so soone as they landed each of them brake his Oare, thinking +by that meanes to preuent vs, in carrying away their boates for want of +Oares. [Sidenote: A hot skirmish betweene the English and them of that +countrey.] And desperately returning vpon our men, resisted them manfully +in their landing, so long as their arrowes and dartes lasted, and after +gathering vp those arrowes which our men shot at them, yea, and plucking +our arrowes out of their bodies incountred fresh againe, and maintained +their cause vntill both weapons and life fayled them. [Sidenote: The +desperate nature of those people.] And when they found they were mortally +wounded, being ignorant what mercy meaneth, with deadly fury they cast +themselues headlong from off the rockes into the sea, least perhaps their +enemies should receiue glory or prey of their dead carcaises, for they +supposed vs belike to be Canibals or eaters of mans flesh. [Sidenote: The +taking of the woman and her child.] In this conflict one of our men was +dangerously hurt in the belly with one of their arrowes, and of them were +slaine fiue or sixe, the rest by flight escaping among the rockes, sauing +two women, whereof the one being old and vgly, our men thought shee had +bene a deuill or some witch, and therefore let her goe: the other being +yong, and cumbred with a sucking childe at her backe, hiding her selfe +behind the rockes, was espied by one of our men, who supposing she had bene +a man, shot through the haire of her head, and pierced through the childs +arme, whereupon she cried out, and our Surgeon meaning to heale her childes +arme, applyed salues thereunto. [Sidenote: A prety kind of surgery which +nature teacheth.] But she not acquainted with such kind of surgery, plucked +those salues away, and by continuall licking with her owne tongue, not much +vnlike our dogs, healed vp the childes arme. And because the day was +welneere spent our men made haste vnto the rest of our company which on the +other side of the water remained at the tents, where they found by the +apparell, letter, and other English furniture, that they were the same +company which Captaine Yorke discouered the night before, hauing remoued +themselues from the place where he left them. + +And now considering their sudden flying from our men, and their desperate +maner of fighting, we began to suspect that we had heard the last newes of +our men which the last yere were betrayed of these people. And considering +also their rauenous and bloody disposition in eating any kind of raw flesh +or carrion howsoeuer stinking, it is to bee thought that they had slaine +and deuoured our men: For the dublet which was found in their tents had +many holes therein being made with their arrowes and darts. + +But now the night being at hand, our men with their captiues and such poore +stuffe as they found in their tents, returned towards their ships, when +being at sea, there arose a sudden flaw of winde, which was not a little +dangerous for their small boates: but as God would they came all safely +aboord. And with these good newes they returned (as before mentioned) into +the Countesse of Warwicks sound vnto vs. [Sidenote: The narrowest place of +the Straites is 9. leagues ouer.] And betweene Iackmans sound, from whence +they came, and the Countesse of Warwicks sound betweene land, and land, +being thought the narrowest place of the Straights were iudged nine leagues +ouer at the least: [Sidenote: The Queenes Cape.] and Iackmans sound being +vpon the Southerland, lyeth directly almost ouer against the Countesses +sound, as is reckoned scarce thirty leagues within the Straights from the +Queenes Cape, which is the entrance of the Streits of the Southerland. This +Cape being named Queene Elizabeths Cape, standeth in the latitude of 62 +degrees and a halfe to the Northwards of New found land, and vpon the same +continent, for any thing that is yet knowen to the contrary. [Sidenote: The +maner of the meeting of the two captiues, and their entertainment.] Hauing +now got a woman captiue for the comfort of our man, we brought them both +together, and euery man with silence desired to behold the maner of their +meeting and entertainment, the which was more worth the beholding than can +be well expressed by writing. At their first encountring they beheld each +the other very wistly a good space, without speech or word vttered, with +great change of colour and countenance, as though it seemed the griefe and +disdeine of their captiuity had taken away the vse of their tongues and +vtterance: the woman at the first very suddenly, as though she disdeined or +regarded not the man, turned away, and began to sing as though she minded +another matter: but being againe brought together, the man brake vp the +silence first, and with sterne and stayed countenance, began to tell a long +solemne tale to the woman, whereunto she gaue good hearing, and interrupted +him nothing, till he had finished, and afterwards, being growen into more +familiar acquaintance by speech, they were turned together, so that (I +thinke) the one would hardly haue liued without the comfort of the other. +And for so much as we could perceiue, albeit they liued continually +together, yet they did neuer vse as man and wife, though the woman spared +not to doe all necessary things that appertained to a good housewife +indifferently for them both, as in making cleane their Cabin, and euery +other thing that appertained to his ease: for when he was seasicke, she +would make him cleane, she would kill and flea the dogs for their eating, +and dresse his meate. [Sidenote: The shamefastess and chastity of those +Sauage captiues.] Only I think it worth the noting, the continencie of them +both: for the man would neuer shift hemselfe, except he had first caused +the woman to depart out of his cabin, and they both were most shamefast, +least any of their priue parts should be discouered, either of themselues, +or any other body. + +[Sidenote: Another appearance of the countrey people.] On Munday the sixth +of August, the Lieutenant with all the Souldiers, for the better garde of +the Myners and other things a shore, pitched their tents in the Countesses +Island, and fortifyed the place for their better defence as well as they +could, and were to the number of forty persons, when being all at labour, +they might perceiue vpon the top of a hill ouer against them a number of +the countrey people wafting with a flag, and making great outcries vnto +them, and were of the same companie, which had encountred lately our men +vpon the other shore, being come to complaine their late losses, and to +entreate (as it seemed) for restriction of the woman and child, which our +men in the late conflict had taken and brought away; whereupon, the +Generall taking the sauage captiue with him, and setting the woman where +they might best perceiue her in the highest place in the Island, went ouer +to talke with them. This captiue at his first encounter of his friends fell +so out into teares that he could not speake a word in a great space, but +after a while, ouercomming his kindnesse, he talked at full with his +companions, and bestowed friendly vpon them such toyes and trifles as we +had giuen him, whereby we noted, that they are very kind one to another, +and greatly sorrowfull for the losse of their friends. Our Generall by +signes required his fiue men which they tooke captiue the last yeere, and +promised them, not only to release those which he had taken, but also to +reward them with great gifts and friendship. [Sidenote: Those people know +the vse of writing.] Our Sauage made signes in answere from them that our +men should be deliuered vs, and were yet liuing, and made signes likewise +vnto vs that we should write our letters vnto them, for they knew very well +the vse we haue of writing, and receiued knowledge thereof, either of our +poore captiue countreymen which they betrayed, or else by this our new +captiue who hath seene vs dayly write and repeate againe such words of his +language as we desired to learne: but they for this night, because it was +late, departed without any letter, although they called earnestly in hast +for the same. [Sidenote: A letter sent vnto the fiue English captiues.] And +the next morning early being the seuenth of August, they called againe for +the letter, which being deliuered vnto them, they speedily departed, making +signes with three fingers, and pointing to the Sunne, that they meant to +returne within 3 dayes, vntill which time we heard no more of them, and +about the time appointed they returned, in such sort as you shal afterwards +heare. + +This night because the people were very neere vnto vs, the Lieutenant +caused the Trumpet to sound a call, and euery man in the Island repayring +to the Ensigne, he put them in minde of the place so farre from their +countrey wherein they liued, and the danger of a great multitude which they +were subiect vnto, if good watch and warde were not kept, for at euery low +water the enimie might come almost dryfoot from the mayne vnto vs, +wherefore he willed euery man to prepare him in good readinesse vpon all +sudden occasions, and so giuing the watch their charge, the company +departed to rest. + +I thought the Captaines letter well worth the remembring, not for the +circumstance of curious enditing, but for the substance and good meaning +therein contained, and therefore haue repeated here the same, as by +himselfe it was hastily written. + + +The forme of M. Martin Frobishers letter to the English captiues. + +In the name of God, in whom we all beleeue, who (I trust) hath preserued +your bodies and soules amongst these infidels, I commend me vnto you. I +will be glad to seeke by al meanes you can deuise for your deliuerance, +either with force, or with any commodities within my ships, which I will +not spare for your sakes, or any thing else I can doe for you. I haue +aboord, of theirs, a man, a woman, and a child, which I am contented to +deliuer for you, but the man which I caried away from hence the last yeere +is dead in England. Moreouer you may declare vnto them, that if they +deliuer you not, I will not leaue a man aliue in their countrey. And thus, +if one of you can come to speake with mee, they shall haue either the man, +woman, or childe in pawne for yon. And thus vnto God whom I trust you doe +serue, in hast I leaue you, and to him wee will dayly pray for you. This +Tuesday morning the seuenth of August. Anno 1577. + +Yours to the vttermost of my power, + +MARTIN FROBISHER. + +[Sidenote: Postscript.] I haue sent you by these bearers, penne, ynke and +paper to write backe vnto me againe, if personally you cannot come to +certifie me of your estate. + +[Sidenote: The cause why M. Frobisher entred no further within the streits +this yere.] Now had the Generall altered his determination for going any +further into the Streites at this time for any further discouery of the +passage, hauing taken a man and a woman of that countrey, which he thought +sufficient for the vse of the language: and hauing also met with these +people here, which intercepted his men the last yere, (as the apparell and +English furniture which was found in their tents, very well declared) he +knew it was but a labour lost to seeke further off, when he had found them +there at hand. And considering also the short time he had in hand, he +thought it best to bend his whole endeuour for the getting of Myne, and to +leaue the passage further to be discouered hereafter. For his commission +directed him in this voyage, onely for the searching of the Ore, and to +deferre the further discouery of the passage vntill another time. + +[Sidenote: Bests bulwarke.] On Thursday the ninth of August we began to +make a small Fort for our defence in the Countesse Island, and entrenched a +corner of a cliffe, which on three parts like a wall of good height was +compassed and well fenced with the sea, and we finished the rest with +caskes of the earth, to good purpose, and this was called Bests bulwarke, +after the Lieutenants name, who first deuised the same. This was done for +that wee suspected more lest the desperate men might oppresse vs with +multitude, then any feare we had of their force, weapons, or policie of +battel; but as wisdome would vs in such place (so farre from home) not to +be of our selues altogether carelesse: [Sidenote: Their King called +Catchoe.] so the signes which our captiue made vnto vs, of the comming +downe of his Gouernour or Prince, which he called Catchoe, gaue vs occasion +to foresee what might ensue thereof, for he shewed by signes that this +Catchoe was a man of higher stature farre then any of our nation is, +[Sidenote: How he is honoured.] and he is accustomed to be caried vpon mens +shoulders. + +About midnight the Lieutenant caused a false Alarme to be giuen in the +Island, to proue as well the readines of the company there ashore, as also +what helpe might be hoped for vpon the sudden from the ships if need so +required, and euery part was found in good readines vpon such a sudden. + +Saturday the eleuenth of August the people shewed themselues againe, and +called vnto vs from the side of a hil ouer against vs. The General (with +good hope to heare of his men, and to haue answere of his letter) went ouer +vnto them, where they presented themselues not aboue three in sight, but +were hidden indeede in greater numbers behinde the rockes, and making +signes of delay with vs to entrappe some of vs to redeeme their owne, did +onely seek aduantage to traine our boat aboue a point of land from sight of +our companie: [Sidenote: A bladder changed for a looking glasse.] whereupon +our men iustly suspecting them, kept aloofe without their danger, and yet +set one of our company ashore which tooke vp a great bladder which one of +them offered vs, and leauing a looking glasse in the place, came into the +boate againe. [Sidenote: No newes of the English captives.] In the meane +while our men which stood in the Countesses Island to beholde, who might +better discerne them, then those of the boate, by reason they were on +higher ground, made a great outcrie vnto our men in the boate, for that +they saw diuers of the Sauages creeping behind the rockes towards our men, +wherupon the Generall presently returned without tidings of his men. + +[Sidenote: To what end the bladder was delivered.] Concerning this bladder +which we receiued, our Captiue made signes that it was giuen him to keepe +water and drinke in, but we suspected rather it was giuen him to swimme and +shift away withall, for he and the woman sought diuers times to escape, +hauing loosed our boates from asterne our ships, and we neuer a boate left +to pursue them withall, and had preuailed very farre, had they not bene +very timely espied and preuented therein. + +[Sidenote: Those people dancing vpon the hil toppes.] After our Generals +comming away from them they mustred themselues in our sight, vpon the top +of a hill, to the number of twenty in a rancke, all holding hands ouer +their heads, and dancing with great noise and songs together: we supposed +they made this dance and shew for vs to vnderstand that we might take view +of their whole companies and forced, meaning belike that we should doe the +same. And thus they continued vpon the hill tops vntill night, when hearing +a piece of our great Ordinance, which thundred in the hollownesse of the +high hilles, it made vnto them so fearefull a noise, that they had no great +will to tarie long after. And this was done more to make them know our +force then to doe them any hurt at all. + +[Sidenote: A skirmish shewed to those people.] On Sunday the 12 of August, +Captaine Fenton trained the company, and made the souldiers maintaine a +skirmish among themselues, as well for their exercise, as for the countrey +people to behold in what readines our men were alwaies to be found, for it +was to be thought, that they lay hid in the hilles thereabout, and obserued +all the maner of our proceedings. + +[Sidenote: Their flags made of bladders.] On Wednesday the fourteenth of +August, our Generall with two small boates well appointed, for that hee +suspected the countrey people to lie lurking thereabout, went vp a certaine +Bay within the Countesses sound, to search for Ore, and met againe with the +countrey people, who so soone as they saw our men made great outcries, and +with a white flag made of bladders sewed together with the guts and sinewes +of beasts, wafted vs amaine vnto them, but shewed not aboue three of their +company. But when wee came neere them, wee might perceiue a great multitude +creeping behinde the rockes, which gaue vs good cause to suspect their +traiterous meaning: whereupon we made them signes, that if they would lay +their weapons aside, and come foorth, we would deale friendly with them, +although their intent was manifested vnto vs: but for all the signes of +friendship we could make them they came still creeping towards vs behind +the rocks to get more aduantage of vs, as though we had no eyes to see +them, thinking belike that our single wits could not discouer so bare +deuises and simple drifts of theirs. Their spokesman earnestly perswaded vs +with many intising shewes, to come eate and sleepe ashore, with great +arguments of courtesie, and clapping his bare hands ouer his head in token +of peace and innocencie, willed vs to doe the like. [Sidenote: Great +offers.] But the better to allure our hungry stomackes, he brought vs a +trimme baite of raw flesh, which for fashion sake with a boat-hooke wee +caught into our boate: but when the cunning Cater perceiued his first cold +morsell could nothing sharpen our stomacks, he cast about for a new traine +of warme flesh to procure our appetites, wherefore be caused one of his +fellowes in halting maner, to come foorth as a lame man from behind the +rockes, and the better to declare his kindnes in caruing, he hoised him +vpon his shoulders, and bringing him hard to the water side where we were, +left him there limping as an easie prey to be taken of vs. His hope was +that we would bite at this baite, and speedily leape ashore within their +danger, wherby they might haue apprehended some of vs, to ransome their +friends home againe, which before we had taken. The gentlemen and souldiers +had great will to encounter them ashore, but the Generall more carefull by +processe of time to winne them, then wilfully at the first to spoile them, +would in no wise admit that any man should put himselfe in hazard ashore, +considering the matter he now intended was for the Ore, and not for the +Conquest: notwithstanding to prooue this cripples footemanship, he gaue +liberty for one to shoote: whereupon the cripple hauing a parting blow, +lightly recouered a rocke and went away a true and no fained cripple, and +hath learned his lesson for euer halting afore such cripples againe. But +his fellowes which lay hid before, full quickly then appeared in their +likenesse, and maintained the skirmish with their slings, bowes and arrowes +very fiercely, and came as neere as the water suffred them: and with as +desperate minde as hath bene seene in any men, without feare of shotte or +any thing, followed vs all along the coast, but all their shot fell short +of vs, and are of little danger. [Sidenote: An hundreth Sauages.] They had +belayed all the coast along for vs, and being dispersed so, were not well +to be numbred, but wee might discerne of them aboue an hundreth persons, +and had cause to suspect a greater number. And thus without losse or hurt +we returned to our ships againe. + +Now our worke growing to an end, and hauing, onely with fiue poore Miners, +and the helpe of a few gentlemen and souldiers, brought aboord almost two +hundreth tunne of Ore in the space of twenty dayes, euery man therewithall +well comforted, determined lustily to worke a fresh for a bone[69] voyage, +to bring our labour to a speedy and happy ende. + +And vpon Wednesday at night, being the one and twentieth of August, we +fully finished the whole worke. And it was now good time to leaue, for as +the men were well wearied, so their shooes and clothes were well worne, +their baskets bottoms torne out, their tooles broken, and the ships +reasonably well filled. Some with ouer-straining themselues receiued hurts +not a little dangerous, some hauing their bellies broken, and others their +legs made lame. And about this time the yce began to congeale and freeze +about our ships sides a night, which gaue vs a good argument of the Sunnes +declining Southward, and put vs in mind to make more haste homeward. + +It is not a little worth the memorie, to the commendation of the gentlemen +and souldiers herein, who leauing all reputation apart, with so great +willingnesse and with couragious stomackes, haue themselues almost ouercome +in so short a time the difficultie of this so great a labour. And this to +be true, the matter, if it bee well weyed without further proofe, now +brought home doth well witnesse. + +Thursday the 22 of August, we plucked downe our tents, and euery man hasted +homeward, and making bonefires vpon the top of the highest Mount of the +Island, and marching with Ensigne displayed round about the Island, wee +gaue a vollie of shotte for a farewell, in honour of the right honourable +Lady Anne, Countesse of Warwicke, whose name it beareth: and so departed +aboord. + +[Sidenote: They returne.] The 23 of August hawing the wind large at West, +we set saile from out of the Countesses sound homeward, but the wind +calming we came to anker within the point of the same sound againe. + +The 24 of August about three of the clocke in the morning, hauing the wind +large at West, we set saile againe, and by nine of the clocke at night, wee +left the Queenes Foreland asterne of vs, and being cleere of the Streites, +we bare further into the maine Ocean, keeping our course more Southerly, to +bring our selues the sooner vnder the latitude of our owne climate. + +[Sidenote: Snow halfe a foote deepe in August.] The wind was very great at +sea, so that we lay a hull all night, and had snow halfe a foote deepe on +the hatches. + +From the 24 vntil the 28 we had very much wind, but large, keeping our +course Southsoutheast, and had like to haue lost the Barkes, but by good +hap we met againe. The height being taken, we were in [70]degrees and a +halfe. + +The 29 of August the wind blew much at Northeast, so that we could beare +but onely a bunt of our foresaile, and the Barkes were not able to cary any +sayle at all. + +The Michael lost company of vs and shaped her course towards Orkney because +that way was better knowne vnto them, and arriued at Yermouth. + +[Sidenote: The Master of the Gabriell strooken ouerboord.] The 30 of August +with the force of the wind, and a surge of the sea, the Master of the +Gabriel and the boatswain were striken both ouerboord, and hardly was the +boatswain recouered, hauing hold on a roape hanging ouerboord in the sea, +and yet the barke was laced fore and after with ropes a breast high within +boorde. + +This Master was called William Smith, being but a yong man and a very +sufficient mariner, who being all the morning before exceeding pleasant, +told his Captaine he dreamed that he was cast ouerboord, and that the +Boatswain had him by the hand, and could not saue him, and so immediately +vpon the end of his tale, his dreame came right euilly to passe, and indeed +the Boatswain in like sort held him by one hand, hauing hold on a rope with +the other, vntill his force fayled, and the Master drowned. The height +being taken we found ourselues to be in the latitude of [71] degrees and a +halfe, and reckoned our selues from the Queenes Cape homeward about two +hundreth leagues. + +The last of August about midnight, we had two or three great and sudden +flawes or stormes. + +The first of September the storme was growen very great, and continued +almost the whole day and night, and lying a hull to tarrie for the Barkes +our ship was much beaten with the seas, euery sea almost ouertaking our +poope, so that we were constrained with a bunt of our saile to trie it out, +and ease the rolling of our ship. And so the Gabriel not able to beare any +sayle to keepe company with vs, and our ship being higher in the poope, and +a tall ship, whereon the winde had more force to driue, went so fast away +that we lost sight of them, and left them to God and their good fortune of +Sea. [Sidenote: The Rudder of the Aide torne in twain.] The second day of +September in the morning, it pleased God of his goodnesse to send vs a +calme, whereby we perceiued the Rudder of our ship torne in twaine, and +almost ready to fall away. Wherefore taking the benefite of the time, we +flung half a dozen couple of our best men ouer boord, who taking great +paines vnder water, driuing plankes, and binding with ropes, did well +strengthen and mend the matter, who returned the most part more then halfe +dead out of the water, and as Gods pleasure was, the sea was calme vntill +the worke was finished. The fift of September, the height of the Sunne +being taken, we found our selues to be in the latitude of [72] degrees +and a halfe. [Sidenote: How the latitudes were alwayes taken in this voyage +rather with the Staffe then Astrolabe.] In this voyage commonly wee tooke +the latitude of the place by the height of the sunne, because the long day +taketh away the light not onely of the Polar, but also of all other fixed +Starres. And here the North Starre is so much eleuated aboue the Horizon, +that with the staffe it is hardly to bee well obserued, and the degrees in +the Astrolabe are too small to obserue minutes: Therefore wee alwaies vsed +the Staffe and the sunne as fittest instruments for this vse. + +Hauing spent foure or fiue dayes in trauerse of the seas with contrary +winde, making our Souther way good as neere as we could, to raise our +degrees to bring ourselues with the latitude of Sylley, wee tooke the +height the tenth of September, and found our selues in the latitude +of [73] degrees and ten minutes. The eleuenth of September about sixe a +clocke at night the winde came good Southwest, we vered sheat and set our +course Southeast. + +And vpon Thursday, the twelfth of September, taking the height, we were in +the latitude of [74] and a halfe, and reckoned our selues not past one +hundred and fifty leagues short of Sylley, the weather faire, the winde +large at Westsouthwest, we kept our course Southeast. + +The thirteenth day the height being taken, wee found our selues to be in +the latitude of [75] degrees, the wind Westsouthwest, then being in the +height of Sylley, and we kept our course East, to run in with the sleeue or +chanel so called, being our narrow seas, and reckoned vs short of Sylley +twelue leagues. + +Sonday, the 15 of September about foure of the clocke, we began to sound +with our lead, and had ground at 61 fadome depth, white small sandy ground, +and reckoned vs vpon the backe of Sylley, and set our course East and by +North, Eastnortheast, and Northeast among. + +The sixteenth of September, about eight of the clocke in the morning +sounding, we had 65. fadome osey[76] sand, and thought our selues thwart of +S. Georges channell a little within the banks. And bearing a small saile +all night, we made many soundings, which were about fortie fadome, and so +shallow, that we could not well tell where we were. + +The seuenteenth of September we sounded, and had forty fadome, and were not +farre off the lands end, finding branded sand with small wormes and Cockle +shells, and were shotte betweene Sylley and the lands ende, and being +within the bay, we were not able to double the pointe with a South and by +East way, but were faine to make another boord, the wind being at Southwest +and by West, and yet could not double the point to come cleere of the lands +end, to beare along the channell: and the weather cleered vp when we were +hard aboord the shore, and we made the lands end perfit, and so put vp +along Saint Georges channel. [Sidenote: The arriual of the Aide at Padstow +in Cornewall.] And the weather being very foule at sea, we coueted some +harborough, because our steerage was broken, and so came to ancor in +Padstow road in Cornewall. But riding there a very dangerous roade, we were +aduised by the Countrey, to put to Sea againe, and of the two euils, to +chose the lesse, for there was nothing but present perill where we rode: +[Sidenote: Our comming to Milford Hauen.] whereupon we plyed along the +channell to get to Londy, from whence we were againe driuen, being but an +open roade, where our anker came home, and with force of weather put to +Seas againe, and about the three and twentieth of September, arriued at +Milford Hauen in Wales, which being a very good harborough, made vs happy +men, that we had receiued such long desired safetie. + +About one moneth after our arriuall here, by order from the Lords of the +Counsell, the ship came up to Bristow, where the Ore was committed to +keeping in the Castel there. [Sidenote: The arriuall of the Gabriel at +Bristow.] Here we found the Gabriel one of the Barkes, arriued in good +safetie, who hauing neuer a man within boord very sufficient to bring home +the ship, after the Master was lost, by good fortune, when she came vpon +the coast, met with a ship of Bristow at sea, who conducted her in safety +thither. + +[Sidenote: The Michael arriued in the North parts. Only one man died the +voyage.] Here we heard good tidings also of the arriuall of the other Barke +called the Michael, in the North parts, which was not a little ioyful vnto +vs, that it pleased God so to bring vs to a safe meeting againe, and wee +lost in all that voyage only one man, besides one that dyed at sea, which +was sicke before he came aboord, and was so desirous to follow this +enterprise, that he rather chose to dye therein, then not to be one to +attempt so notable a voyage. + + +The third voyage of Captaine Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of + Cataia, by Meta Incognita, Anno Do, 1578. + +The Generall being returned from the second voyage, immediately after his +arriuall in England repaired with all hast to the Court being then at +Windsore, to aduertise her Majestie of his prosperous proceeding, and good +successe in this last voyage, and of the plenty of gold Ore, with other +matters of importance which he had in those Septentrionall parts +discouered. [Sidenote: M. Frobisher commended of her Maiestie.] He was +courteously enterteyned, and heartily welcommed of many noble men, but +especially for his great aduenture, commended of her Maiestie, at whose +hands he receiued great thankes, and most gracious countenance, according +to his deserts. [Sidenote: The Gentlemen commended.] Her Highnesse also +greatly commended the rest of the Gentlemen in this seruice, for their +great forwardnes in this so dangerous an attempt: but especially she +reioyced very much, that among them there was so good order of gouernment, +so good agreement, euery man so ready in his calling, to do whatsoeuer the +Generall should command, which due commendation gratiously of her Maiestie +remembred, gaue so great encouragement to all the Captaines and Gentlemen, +that they to continue her Highnesse so good and honourable opinion of them, +haue since neither spared labour, limme, nor life, to bring this matter (so +well begun) to a happie and prosperous ende. [Sidenote: Commissioners +appointed to examine the goodnesse of the Ore.] And finding that the matter +of the golde Ore had appearance and made shew of great riches and profit, +and the hope of the passage to Cataya, by this last voyage greatly +increased, her Maiestie appointed speciall Commissioners chosen for this +purpose, gentlemen of great iudgement, art, and skill, to looke thorowly +into the cause, for the true triall and due examination thereof, and for +the full handling of all matters thereunto appertaining. [Sidenote: A name +giuen to the place new discouered.] And because that place and countrey +hath neuer heretofore bene discouered, and therefore had no speciall name, +by which it might be called and knowen, her Maiestie named it very properly +Meta Incognita, as a marke and bound vtterly hitherto vnknowen. The +commissioners after sufficient triall and proofe made of the Ore, and +hauing vnderstood by sundrie reasons, and substantiall grounds, the +possibilitie and likelyhood of the passage, aduertised her highnesse, that +the cause was of importance, and the voyage greatly worthy to be aduanced +againe. Wherevpon preparation was made of ships and all other things +necessary, with such expedition, as the time of the yeere then required. +And because it was assuredly made accompt of, that the commoditie of Mines, +there already discouered, would at the least counteruaille in all respects +the aduenturers charge, and giue further hope and likelyhood of greater +matters to follow: [Sidenote: The hope of the passage to Cataya.] it was +thought needfull, both for the better guard of those parts already found, +and for further discouery of the Inland and secrets of those countreys, and +also for further search of the passage to Cataya (whereof the hope +continually more and more increaseth) that certaine numbers of chosen +souldiers and discreet men for those purposes should be assigned to +inhabite there. [Sidenote: A forte to be built in Meta Incognita.] +Wherevpon there was a strong fort or house of timber, artificially framed, +and cunningly deuised by a notable learned man here at home, in ships to be +caried thither, wherby those men that were appointed to winter and stay +there the whole yere, might as well bee defended from the danger of snow +and colde ayre, as also fortified from the force or offence of those +countrey people, which perhaps otherwise with too great multitudes might +oppresse them. And to this great aduenture and notable exploit many well +minded and forward yong Gentlemen of our countrey willingly haue offered +themselues. And first Captaine Fenton Lieutenant generall for Captaine +Frobisher, and in charge of the company with him there, Captaine Best, and +Captaine Filpot, vnto whose good discretions the gouernment of that seruice +was chiefly commended, who, as men not regarding peril in respect of the +profit and common wealth of their countrey, were willing to abide the first +brunt and aduenture of those dangers among a sauage and brutish kinde of +people, in a place hitherto euer thought for extreme cold not habitable. +[Sidenote: A hundreth men appointed to inhabite there.] The whole number of +men which had offered, and were appointed to inhabite Meta Incognita all +the yeere, were one hundreth persons, whereof 40 should be mariners for the +vse of ships, 30 Miners for gathering the gold Ore together for the next +yere, and 30 souldiers for the better guard of the rest, within which last +number are included the Gentlemen, Goldfiners, Bakers, Carpenters, and all +necessary persons. To each of the Captaines was assigned one ship, as wel +for the further searching of the coast and countrey there, as for to +returne and bring backe their companies againe, if the necessity of the +place so vrged, or by miscarying of the fleet the next yere, they might be +disappointed of their further prouision. Being therefore thus furnished +with al necessaries, there were ready to depart vpon the said voyage 15 +saile of good ships, whereof the whole number was to returne again with +their loding of gold Ore in the end of the sommer, except those 3 ships, +which should be left for the vse of those Captains which should inhabite +there the whole yere. And being in so good readinesse, the Generall with +all the Captaines came to the Court, then lying at Greenwich, to take their +leaue of her Maiestie, at whose hands they all receiued great +encouragement, and gracious countenance. [Sidenote: A chaine of gold giuen +to M. Frobisher.] Her highnesse besides other good gifts, and greater +promises, bestowed on the Generall a faire chaine of golde, and the rest of +the Captaines kissed her hand, tooke their leaue, and departed euery man +towards their charge. + + +The names of the Ships with their seuerall Captaines. + +1 In the Aide being Admirall, was the Generall Captaine Frobisher. + +2 In the Thomas Allen Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke. + +3 In the Iudith Lieutenant generall Captaine Fenton. + +4 In the Anne Francis Captaine Best. + +5 In the Hopewell Captaine Carew. + +6 In the Beare Captaine Filpot. + +7 In the Thomas of Ipswich Captaine Tanfield. + +8 In the Emmanuel of Exceter Captaine Courtney. + +9 In the Francis of Foy Captaine Moyles. + +10 In the Moone Captaine Vpcot. + +11 In the Emmanuel of Bridgewater Captaine Newton. + +12 In the Salomon of Weymouth Captaine Randal. + +13 In the Barke Dennis Captaine Kendal. + +14 In the Gabriel Captaine Haruey. + +15 In the Michael Captaine Kinnersly. + +The sayd fifteene saile of ships arriued and met together at Harwich, the +seuen and twentieth day of May Anno 1578, where the Generall and the other +Captaines made view, and mustred their companies. And euery seuerall +Captaine receiued from the Generall certaine Articles of direction, for the +better keeping of order and company together in the way, which Articles are +as followeth. + + +Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete, set downe by Captaine + Frobisher Generall, and deliuered in writing to euery Captaine, as well + for keeping company, as for the course, the 31 of May. + +1 In primis, to banish swearing, dice, and card-playing, and filthy +communication, and to serue God twice a day, with the ordinary seruice +vsuall in Churches of England, and to cleare the glasse, according to the +old order of England. + +2 The Admirall shall carie the light, and after his light be once put out, +no man to goe a head of him, but euery man to fit his sailes to follow as +neere as they may, without endangering one another. + +3 That no man shall by day or by night depart further from the Admirall +then the distance of one English mile, and as neere as they may, without +danger one of another. + +4 If it chance to grow thicke, and the wind contrary, either by day or by +night, that the Admirall be forced to cast about, before her casting about +shee shall giue warning, by shooting off a peece, and to her shall answere +the Viceadmirall and the Rereadmirall each of them with a piece, if it bee +by night, or in a fogge; and that the Viceadmirall shall answere first, and +the Rereadmirall last. + +5 That no man in the fleete descrying any sayle or sayles, giue vpon any +occasion any chace before he haue spoken with the Admirall. + +6 That euery euening all the Fleete come vp and speake with the Admirall, +at seuen of the Clocke or betweene that and eight and if the weather will +not serue them all to speake with the Admirall, then some shall come to the +Viceadmirall, and receiue the order of their course of Master Hall chiefe +Pilot of the Fleete, as he shall direct them. + +7 If to any man in the Fleete there happen any mischance, they shall +presently shoote off two peeces by day, and if it be by night, two peeces, +and shew two lights. + +8 If any man in the fleete come vp in the night, and hale his fellow, +knowing him not, he shall giue him this watch-word, Before the world was +God. The other shal answere him (if he be one of our Fleete) After God came +Christ his Sonne. So that if any be found amongst vs, not of our owne +company, he that first descrieth any such sayle or sayles, shall giue +warning to the Admirall by himselfe or any other, that he can speake to, +that sailes better then he, being neerest vnto him. + +9 That every ship in the fleete in the time of fogs, which continually +happen with little winds, and most part calmes, shal keepe a reasonable +noise with trumpet, drumme, or otherwise, to keepe themselues cleere one of +another. + +10 If it fall out so thicke or mistie that we lay it to hull, the Admirall +shall giue warning with a piece, and putting out three lights one ouer +another, to the end that euery man may take in his sailes, and at his +setting of sayles againe doe the like if it be not cleere. + +11 If any man discover land by night, that he giue the like warning, that +he doth for mischances, two lights, and two pieces, if it be by day one +piece, and put out his flagge, and strike all his sailes he hath aboord. + +12 If any ship shall happen to lose company by force of weather, then any +such ship or ships shall get her into the latitude of [77] and so keepe +that latitude vntill they get Frisland. And after they be past the West +parts of Frisland, they shall get them into the latitude of [78] and +[79] and not to the Northward of [80] and being once entred within the +Streites, al such ships shal euery watch shoote off a good piece, and looke +out well for smoke and fire, which those that get in first shall make euery +night, vntill all the fleete be come together. + +13 That vpon the sight of an ensigne in the mast of the Admirall (a piece +being shot off) the whole fleete shall repaire to the Admirall, to +vnderstand such conference as the Generall is to haue with them. + +14 If we chance to meete with any enemies, that foure ships shall attend +vpon the Admirall, viz. the Francis of Foy, the Moone, the Barke Dennis, +and the Gabriel: and foure vpon my Lieutenant generall in the Iudith, viz. +the Hopewel, the Armenal, the Beare, and the Salomon: and the other foure +vpon the Vizadmirall, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, the +Emmanuel, and the Michael. + +15 If there happen any disordred person in the Fleete, that he be taken and +kept in safe custodie vntill he may conueniently be brought aboord the +Admirall, and there to receiue such punishment as his or their offences +shall deserue. + +By me Martin Frobisher. + + +Our departure from England. + +Hauing receiued these articles of direction we departed from Harwich the +one and thirtieth of May. [Sidenote: Cape Cleare the sixt of Iune.] And +sayling along the South part of England Westward, we at length came by the +coast of Ireland at Cape Cleare the sixth of Iune, and gaue chase there to +a small barke which was supposed to be a Pyrat, or Rouer on the Seas, but +it fell out indeede that they were poore men of Bristow, who had met with +such company of Frenshmen as had spoiled and slaine many of them, and left +the rest so sore wounded that they were like to perish in the sea, hauing +neither hand nor foote hole to helpe themselues with, nor victuals to +sustaine their hungry bodies. [Sidenote: A charitable deede.] Our Generall, +who well vnderstood the office of a Souldier and an Englishman, and knew +well what the necessitie of the Sea meaneth, pitying much the miserie of +the poore men, relieved them with Surgerie and Salues to heale their +hurtes, and with meate and drinke to comfort their pining hearts: some of +them hauing neither eaten nor dronke more then oliues and stinking water in +many dayes before, as they reported. And after this good deede done, hauing +a large wind, we kept our course vpon our sayd voyage without staying for +the taking in of fresh water, or any other prouision, whereof many of the +fleete were not throughly furnished: [Sidenote: Marke this current.] and +sayling towards the Northwest parts from Ireland, we mette with a great +current from out of the Southwest, which caried vs (by our reckoning) one +point to the Northeastwards of our sayd course, which current seemed to vs +to continue it selfe towards Norway, and other the Northeast parts of the +world, whereby we may be induced to beleeue, that this is the same which +the Portugals meete at Capo de buona Speranza,[81] where striking ouer from +thence to the Streites of Magellan, and finding no passage there for the +narrownesse of the sayde Streites, runneth along into the great Bay of +Mexico, where also hauing a let of land, it is forced to strike backe +againe towards the Northeast,[82] as we not onely here, but in another +place also, further to the Northwards, by good experience this yeere haue +found, as shalbe hereafter in his place more at large declared. + +Now had we sayled about fourteene dayes, without sight of any land, or any +other liuing thing, except certaine foules, as Wilmots, Nodies, Gulles, &c. +which there seeme onely to liue by sea. + +[Sidenote: West England.] The twentieth of Iune, at two of the clocke in +the morning, the Generall descried land, and found it to be West Frisland, +now named west England. Here the Generall, and other Gentlemen went ashore, +being the first knowen Christians that we haue true notice of, that euer +set foot vpon that ground: and therefore the Generall took possession +thereof to the vse of our Soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie, and +discouered here a goodly harborough for the ships, where were also certaine +little boates of that countrey. And being there landed, they espied +certaine tents and people of that countrey, which were (as they iudge) in +all sorts, very like those of Meta Incognita, as by their apparell, and +other things which we found in their tents, appeared. + +The Sauage and simple people so soone as they perceiued our men comming +towards them (supposing there had bene no other world but theirs) fled +fearefully away, as men much amazed at so strange a sight, and creatures of +humane shape, so farre in apparell, complexion, and other things different +from themselues. They left in their tents all their furniture for haste +behind them, where amongst other things were found a boxe of small nailes, +and certaine red Herrings, boords of Firre tree well cut, with diuers other +things artificially wrought: whereby it appeareth, that they haue trade +with some ciuill people, or else are indeede themselues artificiall +workmen. + +Our men brought away with them onely two of their dogs, leauing in +recompense belles, looking-glasses, and diuers of our countrey toyes +behinde them. + +This countrey, no doubt, promiseth good hope of great commoditie and +riches, if it may be well discouered. The description whereof you shall +finde more at large in the second voyage. + +[Sidenote: Frisland supposed to be continent with Greenland.] Some are of +opinion, that this West England is firme land with the Northeast partes of +Meta Incognita, or else with Groenland. And their reason is, because the +people, apparel, boates, and other things are so like to theirs: and +another reason is, the multitude of Islands of yce, which lay betweene it +and Meta Incognita, doth argue, that on the North side there is a bay, +which cannot be but by conioyning of the two lands together. + +[Sidenote: The 23rd of Iune.] And hauing a faire and large winde we +departed from thence towards Frobishers Streites, the three and twentieth +of Iune. [Sidenote: Charing Crosse.] But first wee gaue name to a high +cliffe in West England, the last that was in our sight, and for a certaine +sinulitude we called it Charing crosse. Then wee bare Southerly towards the +Sea, because to the Northwardes of this coast we met with much driuing yce, +which by reason of the thicke mistes and weather might haue bene some +trouble vnto vs. + +On Munday the last of Iune, wee met with many great Whales, as they had +bene Porposes. + +[Sidenote: A Whale strooke a ship.] The same day the Salamander being vnder +both her corses and bonets, happened to strike a great Whale with her full +stemme, with such a blow that the ship stoode still, and stirred neither +forward or backward. The Whale thereat made a great and vgly noyse, and +cast vp his body and taile, and sowent vnder water, and within two dayes +after, there was found a great Whale dead swimming aboue water, which wee +supposed was that which the Salamander strooke. + +[Sidenote: Frobishers Streites choked vp with yce.] The second day of Iuly +early in the morning we had sight of the Queenes Foreland, and bare in with +the land all the day, and passing thorow great quantity of yce, by night +were entred somewhat within the Streites, perceiuing no way to passe +further in, the whole place being frozen ouer from the one side to the +other, and as it were with many walles, mountaines, and bulwarks of yce, +choked vp the passage, and denied vs entrance. And yet doe I not thinke +that this passage or Sea hereabouts is frozen ouer at any time of the yere: +albeit it seemed so vnto vs by the abundance of yce gathered together, +which occupied the whole place. But I doe rather suppose these yce to bee +bred in the hollow soundes and freshets thereabouts: which by the heate of +the Summers Sunne, being loosed, doe emptie themselues with the ebbes into +the sea, and so gather in great abundance there together. + +And to speake somewhat here of the ancient opinion of the frozen sea in +these parts: I doe thinke it to be rather a bare coniecture of men, then +that euer any man hath made experience of any such Sea. And that which they +speake of Mare glaciale, may be truely thought to be spoken of these parts: +[Sidenote: Salt water cannot freeze.] for this may well be called indeede +the ycie sea, but not the frozen sea, for no sea consisting of salt water +can be frozen, as I haue more at large herein shewed my opinion in my +second voyage, for it seemeth impossible for any sea to bee frozen, which +hath his course of ebbing and flowing, especially in those places where the +tides doe ebbe and flowe aboue ten fadome. And also all these aforesayd +yce, which we sometime met a hundredth mile from lande, being gathered out +of the salt Sea, are in taste fresh, and being dissolued, become sweete and +holesome water.[83] + +And the cause why this yere we haue bene more combred with yce then at +other times before, may be by reason of the Easterly and Southerly winds, +which brought vs more timely thither now then we looked for. Which blowing +from the sea directly vponn the place of our Streites, hath kept in the +yce, and not suffered them to be caried out by the ebbe to the maine sea, +where they would in more short time have bene dissolued. And all these +fleeting yce are not only so dangerous in that they wind and gather so +neere together, that a man may passe sometimes tenne or twelue miles as it +were vpon one firme Island of yce: but also for that they open and shut +together againe in such sort with the tides and sea-gate, that whilst one +ship followeth the other with full sayles, the yce which was open vnto the +foremost will ioyne and close together before the latter can come to follow +the first, whereby many times our shippes were brought into great danger, +as being not able so sodainely to take in our sayles or stay the swift way +of our ships. + +We were forced many times to stemme and strike great rockes of yce, and so +as it were make way through mighty mountaines. By which meanes some of the +fleete, where they found the yce to open, entred in, and passed so farre +within the danger thereof, with continuall desire to recouer their port, +that it was the greatest wonder of the world that they euer escaped safe, +or were euer heard of againe. For euen at this present we missed two of the +fleete, that is, the Iudith, wherein was the Lieutenant Generall Captaine +Fenton; and the Michael, whom both we supposed had bene vtterly lost, +hauing not heard any tidings of them in moe then 20 dayes before. + +[Sidenote: Barke Dennis sunke.] And one of our fleete named the Barke +Dennis, being of an hundreth tunne burden, seeking way in amongst these +yce, receiued such a blow with a rocke of yce that she sunke downe +therewith in the sight of the whole fleete. Howbeit hauing signified her +danger by shooting off a peece of great Ordinance, new succour of other +ships came so readily vnto them, that the men were all saued with boats. + +[Sidenote: Part of the house lost.] Within this ship that was drowned there +was parcell of our house which was to bee erected for them that should stay +all the Winter in Meta Incognita. + +This was a more fearefull spectacle for the Fleete to beholde, for that the +outragious storme which presently followed, threatned them the like fortune +and danger. For the Fleete being thus compassed (as aforesayd) on euery +side with yce, having left much behinde them, thorow which they passed, and +finding more before them, thorow which it was not possible to passe, there +arose a sudden terrible tempest at the Southeast, which blowing from the +maine sea, directly vpon the place of the Streites, brought together all +the yce a sea-boorde of vs vpon our backes, and thereby debard vs of +turning backe to recouer sea-roome againe: so that being thus compassed +with danger on euery side, sundry men with sundry deuises sought the best +way to saue themselues. Some of the ships, where they could find a place +more cleare of yce, and get a little birth of sea roome, did take in their +sayles, and there lay a drift. Other some fastened and mored Anker vpon a +great Island of yce, and roade vnder the Lee thereof, supposing to be +better guarded thereby from the outragious winds, and the danger of the +lesser fleeting yce. And againe some were so fast shut vp, and compassed in +amongst an infinite number of great countreys and Islands of yce, that they +were faine to submit themselues and their ships to the mercy of the +vnmerciful yce, and strengthened the sides of their shipps with iuncks of +cables, beds, Mastes, plankes and such like, which being hanged ouerboard +on the sides of their ships, might the better defend them from the +outragious sway and strokes of the said yce. But as in greatest distresse, +men of best valor are best to be discerned, so it is greatly worthy +commendation and noting with what inuincible minde euery Captaine +encouraged his company, and with what incredible labour the painefull +Mariners and poore Miners (vnacquainted with such extremities) to the +euerlasting renowne of our nation, did ouercome the brunt of these so great +and extreme dangers: for some, even without boord vpon the yce, and some +within boord vpon the sides of their ships, hauing poles, pikes, pieces of +timber, and Ores in their handes, stoode almost day and night without any +rest, bearing off the force, and breaking the sway of the yce with such +incredible paine and perill, that it was wonderfull to beholde, which +otherwise no doubt had striken quite through and through the sides of their +ships, notwithstanding our former prouision: for plankes of timber more +then three inches thicke, and other things of greater force and bignesse, +by the surging of the sea and billowe, with the yce were shiuered and cut +in sunder, at the sides of our ships, so that it will seeme more then +credible to be reported of. And yet (that which is more) it is faithfully +and plainely to bee prooued, and that by many substantiall witnesses, that +our ships, euen those of greatest burdens, with the meeting of contrary +waues of the sea, were heaued vp betweene Islands of yce, a foote welneere +out of the sea aboue their watermarke, hauing their knees and timbers +within boord both bowed and broken therewith. + +And amidst these extremes, whilest some laboured for defence of the ships, +and sought to saue their bodies, other some of more milder spirit sought to +saue the soule by deuout prayer and meditation to the Almightie, thinking +indeede by no other meanes possible then by a diuine Miracle to haue their +deliuerance: so that there was none that were either idle, or not well +occupied, and he that helde himselfe in best securitie had (God knoweth) +but onely bare hope remayning for his best safetie. + +Thus all the gallant Fleete and miserable men without hope of euer getting +foorth againe, distressed with these extremities remayned here all the +whole night and part of the next day, excepting foure ships, that is the +Annie Francis, the Moone, the Francis of Foy, and the Gabriell, which being +somewhat a Seaboord of the Fleete, and being fast ships by a winde, hauing +a more scope of cleare, tryed it out all the time of the storme vnder +sayle, being hardly able to beare a coast of each. + +And albeit, by reason of the fleeting yce, which were dispersed here almost +the whole sea ouer, they were brought many times to the extreamest point of +perill, mountaines of yce tenne thousand times scaping them scarce one +ynch, which to have striken had bene their present destruction, considering +the swift course and way of the ships, and the unwieldinesse of them to +stay and turne as a man would wish: yet they esteemed it their better +safetie, with such perill to seeke Sea-roome, then without hope of euer +getting libertie to lie striuing against the streame, and beating against +the Isie mountaines, whose hugenesse and monstrous greatnesse was such, +that no man would credite, but such as to their paines sawe and felt it. +And these foure shippes by the next day at noone got out to Sea, and were +first cleare of the yce, who now enioying their owne libertie, beganne a +new to sorrow and feare for their fellowes safeties. And deuoutly kneeling +about their maine Mast, they gaue vnto God humble thankes, not only for +themselues, but besought him likewise highly for their friendes +deliuerance. And euen now whilst amiddest these extremities this gallant +Fleete and valiant men were altogither ouerlaboured and forewatched, with +the long and fearefull continuance of the foresayd dangers, it pleased God +with his eyes of mercie to looke downe from heauen to sende them helpe in +good time, giuing them the next day a more favourable winde at the West +Northwest, which did not onely disperse and driue foorth the yce before +them, but also gaue them libertie of more scope and Sea-roome, and they +were by night of the same day following perceiued of the other foure +shippes, where (to their greatest comfort) they enioyed againe the +fellowship one of another. Some in mending the sides of their ships, some +in setting vp their top Mastes, and mending their sayles and tacklings; +Againe, some complayning of their false Stemme borne away, some in stopping +their leakes, some in recounting their dangers past, spent no small time +and labour. So that I dare well auouch, there were neuer men more +dangerously distressed, nor more mercifully by Gods prouidence deliuered. +And hereof both the torne ships, and the forwearied bodies of the men +arriued doe beare most euident marke and witnesse. And now the whole Fleete +plyed off to Seaward, resoluing there to abide vntill the Sunne might +consume, or the force of winde disperse these yce from the place of their +passage; and being a good birth off the shore, they tooke in their sailes, +and lay adrift. + +[Sidenote: Another assault.] The seuenth of Iuly as men nothing yet +dismayed, we cast about towards the inward, and had sight of land, which +rose in forme like the Northerland of the straights, which some of the +Fleete, and those not the worst Marriners, iudged to be the North Foreland: +howbeit other some were of contrary opinion. [Sidenote: Fogge, snow, and +mistes hinder the Mariners markes.] But the matter was not well to be +discerned by reason of the thicke fogge which a long time hung vpon the +coast, and the new falling snow which yeerely altereth the shape of the +land, and taketh away oftentimes the Mariners markes. And by reason of the +darke mists which continued by the space of twentie dayes togither, this +doubt grewe the greater and the longer perilous. [Sidenote: A swift current +from the Northeast.] For whereas indeede we thought ourselues to be vpon +the Northeast side of Frobishers straights, we were now caried to the +Southwestwards of the Queenes Foreland, and being deceiued by a swift +current comming from the Northeast, were brought to the Southwestwards of +our said course many miles more then we did thinke possible could come to +passe. The cause whereof we haue since found, and it shall be at large +hereafter declared. + +[Sidenote: A current.] Here we made a point of land which some mistooke for +a place in the straightes called Mount Warwicke: but how we should be so +farre shot vp so suddainely within the said straights the expertest +Mariners began to maruell, thinking it a thing impossible that they could +be so farre ouertaken in their accounts, or that any current could deceiue +them here which they had not by former experience prooued and found out. +Howbeit many confessed that they found a swifter course of flood then +before time they had obserued. And truely it was wonderfull to heare and +see the rushing and noise that the tides do make in this place with so +violent a force that our ships lying a hull were turned sometimes round +about euen in a moment, after the maner of a whirlepoole, and the noyse of +the streame no lesse to be heard afarre off, then the waterfall of London +Bridge. + +[Sidenote: Iames Beare a good Mariner.] But whilst the Fleete lay thus +doubtfull amongst great store of yce in a place they knew not without sight +of Sunne, whereby to take the height, and so to know the true eleuation of +the pole, and without any cleere of light to make perfite the coast, the +Generall with the Captaines and Masters of his ships, began doubtfully to +question of the matter, and sent his Pinnesse aboord to heare each man's +opinion, and specially of Iames Beare, Master of the Anne Francis, who was +knowen to be a sufficient and skillfull Mariner, and hauing bene there the +yere before, had wel obserued the place, and drawen out Cardes of the +coast. [Sidenote: Christopher Hall chiefe Pylot.] But the rather this +matter grew the more doubtfull, for that Christopher Hall chiefe Pilot of +the voyage, deliuered a plaine and publique opinion in the hearing of the +whole Fleete, that hee had neuer seene the foresayd coast before, and that +he not could make it for any place of Frobishers Streits, as some of the +Fleete supposed, and yet the landes doe lie and trend so like, that the +best Mariners therein may bee deceiued. + +The tenth of Iuly, the weather still continuing thicke and darke, some of +the ships in the fogge lost sight of the Admirall and the rest of the +fleete, and wandering to and fro, with doubtfull opinion whether it were +best to seeke backe againe to seaward through great store of yce, or to +follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea, Bay, or Streites they knew not, or +along a coast, whereof by reason of the darke mistes they could not +discerne the dangers, if by chance any rocke or broken ground should lie of +the place, as commonly in these parts it doth. + +The Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the +Pylot Hall, who was with him in the Thomas Allen, hauing lost sight of the +Fleete, turned backe to sea againe hauing two other ships in company with +him. + +Also the Captain of the Anne Francis hauing likewise lost companie of the +Fleete, and being all alone, held it for best to turne it out to sea +againe, vntill they might haue cleere weather to take the Sunnes altitude, +and with incredible paine and perill got out of the doubtfull place, into +the open Sea againe, being so narrowly distressed by the way, by meanes of +continuall fogge and yce, that they were many times ready to leapt vpon an +Island of yce to auoide the present danger, and so hoping to prolong life +awhile meant rather to die a pining death. + +[Sidenote: Hard shifts to saue mens liues.] Some hoped to saue themselues +on chestes, and some determined to tie the Hatches of the ships togither, +and to binde themselues with their furniture fast thereunto, and so to be +towed with the ship bote ashore, which otherwise could not receiue halfe of +the companie, by which meanes if happily they had arriued they should +eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate, or else should themselues +haue beene eaten of those rauenous, bloodie, and Men-eating people. + +The rest of the Fleete following the course of the Generall which led them +the way, passing vp aboue sixtie leagues [Sidenote: The coast along the +Southside of Gronland 60 leagues.] within the saide doubtfull and supposed +straights, hauing alwayes a faire continent vpon their starreboorde side, +and a continuance still of an open Sea before them. + +[Sidenote: Mistaken straights which indeed are no straights.] The Generall +albeit with the first perchance he found out the error, and that this was +not the olde straights, yet he perswaded the Fleete alwayes that they were +in their right course, and knowen straights. Howbeit I suppose he rather +dissembled his opinion therein then otherwise, meaning by that policie +(being himselfe led with an honourable desire of further discouerie) to +induce the Fleete to follow him, to see a further proofe of that place. +[Sidenote: Frobisher could haue passed to Cataia.] And as some of the +companie reported, he hath since confessed that if it had not bene for the +charge and care he had of the Fleete and fraughted ships, he both would and +could haue gone through to the South Sea, called Mar del Sur, and dissolued +the long doubt of the passage which we seeke to find to the rich countrey +of Cataya. + +1 Of which mistaken straights, considering the circumstance, we haue great +cause to confirme our opinion, to like and hope well of the passage in this +place. [Sidenote: Faire open way.] For the foresaid Bay or Sea, the further +we sayled therein, the wider we found it, with great likelihood of endlesse +continuance. [Sidenote: Reasons to prooue a passage here.] And where in +other places we were much troubled with yce, as in the entrance of the +same, so after we had sayled fiftie or sixtie leagues therein we had no let +of yce or other thing at all, as in other places we found. + +[Sidenote: Great indrafts.] 2 Also this place seemeth to haue a maruellous +great indraft, and draweth vnto it most of the drift yce, and other things +which doe fleete in the Sea, either to the North or Eastwards of the same, +as by good experience we haue found. + +[Sidenote: A current to the West.] 3 For here also we met with boordes, +lathes, and diuers other things driuing in the Sea, which was of the wracke +of the ship called the Barke Dennis, which perished amongst the yce as +beforesaid, being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the +Queenes forelande in the mouth of Frobishers straights, which could by no +meanes haue bene so brought thither, neither by winde nor tyde, being lost +so many leagues off, if by force of the said current the same had not bene +violently brought. For if the same had bene brought thither by tide of +flood, looke how farre the said flood had carried it, the ebbe would haue +recarried it as farre backe againe, and by the winde it could not so come +to passe, because it was then sometime calme, and most times contrarie. + +[Sidenote: Nine houres flood to three houres ebbe.] And some Mariners doe +affirme that they haue diligently obserued, that there runneth in this +place nine houres flood to three ebbe, which may thus come to passe by +force of the sayd current: for whereas the Sea in most places of the world, +doth more or lesse ordinarily ebbe and flow once euery twelue houres with +sixe houres ebbe, and sixe houres flood, so also would it doe there, were +it not for the violence of this hastening current, which forceth the flood +to make appearance to beginne before his ordinary time one houre and a +halfe, and also to continue longer than his naturall course by an other +houre and a halfe, vntill the force of the ebbe be so great that it will no +longer be resisted: according to the saying, Naturam expellas furca licet, +vsque recurret. Although nature and naturall courses be forced and resisted +neuer so much, yet at last they will haue their owne sway againe. + +4 [Unnumbered in original--KTH] Moreouer it is not possible that so great +course of floods and current, so high swelling tides with continuance of so +deepe waters, can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some +open Sea beyond this place, which argueth the more likelihood of the +passage to be hereabouts. Also we suppose these great indrafts doe grow and +are made by the reuerberation and reflection of that same currant, which at +our comming by Ireland, met and crossed vs, of which in the first part of +this discourse I spake, which comming from the bay of Mexico, passing by +and washing the Southwest parts of Ireland, reboundeth ouer to the +Northeast parts of the world, as Norway, Island, &c. where not finding any +passage to an open Sea, but rather being there encreased by a new accesse, +and another current meeting with it from the Scythian Sea, passing the bay +of Saint Nicholas Westward, it doth once againe rebound backe, by the +coastes of Groenland, and from thence vpon Frobishers straights being to +the Southwestwardes of the same. + +[Sidenote: The Sea moueth continually from East to West.] 5 And if that +principle of Philosophie be true, that Inferiora corpora reguntur a +superioribus, that is, if inferior bodies be gouerned, ruled, and carried +after the maner and course of the superiors, then the water being an +inferior Element, must needes be gouerned after the superior heauen, and so +follow the course of Primum from East to West.[84] + +[Sidenote: Authoritie.] 6 But euery man that hath written or considered any +thing of this passage, hath more doubted the returne by the same way by +reason of a great downefall of water, which they imagine to be thereabouts +(which we also by experience partly find) than any mistrust they haue of +the same passage at all. [Sidenote: Hard but yet possible turning backe +again.] For we find (as it were) a great downefall in this place, but yet +not such but that we may returne, although with much adoe. For we were +easier carried in one houre then we could get forth againe in three. Also +by another experience at another time, we found this current to deceiue vs +in this sort: That wheras we supposed it to be 15 leagues off, and lying a +hull, we were brought within two leagues of the shore contrarie to all +expectation. + +Our men that sayled furthest in the same mistaken straights (hauing the +maine land vpon their starboord side) affirme that they met with the outlet +or passage of water which commeth thorow Frobishers straights, and +followeth as all one into this passage. + +Some of our companie also affirme that they had sight of a continent vpon +their larboord side being 60 leagues within the supposed straights: howbeit +except certaine Ilands in the entrance hereof we could make no part perfect +thereof. All the foresaid tract of land seemeth to be more fruitfull and +better stored of Grasse, Deere, Wilde foule, as Partridges, Larkes, +Seamewes, Guls, Wilmots, Falcons and Tassel gentils, Rauens, Beares, Hares, +Foxes, and other things, than any other part we haue yet discouered, and is +more populous. [Sidenote: Traffique.] And here Luke Ward, a Gentleman of +the companie, traded marchandise, and did exchange kniues, bels, looking +glasses, &c. with those countrey people, who brought him foule, fish, +beares skinnes, and such like, as their countrey yeeldeth for the same. +Here also they saw of those greater boats of the countrey, with twentie +persons in a peece. + +Now after the Generall had bestowed these many dayes here, not without many +dangers, he returned backs againe. And by the way sayling alongst this +coast (being the backeside of the supposed continent of America) and the +Queenes Foreland, he perceiued a great sound to goe thorow into Frobishers +straights. [Sidenote: Returne out of the mistaken straights.] Whereupon he +sent the Gabriel the one and twentieth of Iuly, to prooue whether they +might goe thorow and meete againe with him in the straights, which they +did: and as wee imagined before, so the Queenes foreland prooued an Iland, +as I thinke most of these supposed continents will. And so he departed +towardes the straights, thinking it were high time now to recouer his Port, +and to prouide the Fleete of their lading, whereof he was not a little +carefull, as shall by the processe and his resolute attempts appeare. And +in his returne with the rest of the fleete he was so entangled by reason of +the darke fogge amongst a number of Ilands and broken ground that lye off +this coast, that many of the shippes came ouer the top of rockes, which +presently after they might perceiue to lie dry, hauing not halfe a foote +water more then some of their ships did draw. And by reason they could not +with a smal gale of wind stemme the force of the flood, whereby to goe +cleare off the rockes, they were faine to let an anker fall with two bent +of Cable togither, at an hundred and odde fadome depth, where otherwise +they had bene by the force of the tides caried vpon the rockes againe, and +perished: [Sidenote: Great dangers.] so that if God in these fortunes (as a +mercifull guide, beyond the expectation of man) had not carried vs thorow, +we had surely perished amidst these dangers. For being many times driuen +hard aboord the shore without any sight of land, vntill we were ready to +make shipwracke thereon, being forced commonly with our boats to sound +before our ships, least we might light thereon before we could discerne the +same; it pleased God to giue vs a cleare of Sunne and light for a short +time to see and auoyde thereby the danger, hauing bene continually darke +before, and presently after. Manie times also by meanes of fogge and +currents being driuen neere vpon the coast, God lent vs euen at the very +pinch one prosperous breath of winde or other, whereby to double the land, +and auoid the perill, and when that we were all without hope of helpe, +euery man recommending himselfe to death, and crying out, Lord now helpe or +neuer, now Lord looke downe from heauen and saue vs sinners, or else our +safetie commeth too late: euen then the mightie maker of heauen, and our +mercifull God did deliuer vs: so that they who haue bene partakers of these +dangers doe euen in their soules confesse, that God euen by miracle hath +sought to saue them, whose name be praysed euermore. + +Long time now the Anne Francis had layne beating off and on all alone +before the Queenes foreland, not being able to recouer their Port for yce, +albeit many times they dangerously attempted it, for yet the yce choaked vp +the passage, and would not suffer them to enter. [Sidenote: Anne Francis +met with some of the fleete.] And hauing neuer seene any of the fleete +since twenty dayes past, when by reason of the thicke mistes they were +seuered in the mistaken straights, they did now this present 23 of Iuly +ouerthwart a place in the straights called Hattons Hedland, where they met +with seuen ships of the Fleete againe, which good hap did not onely reioyce +them for themselues, in respect of the comfort which they receiued by such +good companie, but especially that by this meanes they were put out of +doubt of their deare friends, whose safeties long time they did not a +little suspect, and feare. + +At their meeting they haled the Admirall after the maner of the Sea, and +with great ioy welcommed one another with a thundring volly of shot. And +now euery man declared at large the fortunes and dangers which they had +passed. + +[Sidenote: Francis of Foy.] The foure and twentieth of Iuly we met with the +Francis of Foy, who with much adoe sought way backe againe, through the yce +from out of the mistaken straights, where (to their great perill) they +prooued to recouer their Port. [Sidenote: Bridgwater ship.] They brought +the first newes of the Vizadmirall Captaine Yorke, who many dayes with +themselues, and the Busse of Bridgewater was missing. They reported that +they left the Vizeadmirall reasonably cleare of the yce, but the other ship +they greatly feared, whom they could not come to helpe, being themselues so +hardly distressed as neuer men more. Also they told vs of the Gabriel, who +hauing got thorow from the backside, and Western point of the Queenes +foreland, into Frobishers straights, fell into their company about the cape +of Good hope. + +And vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iuly, the ship of Bridgewater got out +of the yce and met with the Fleete which lay off and on vnder Hattons +Hedland. They reported of their maruellous accidents and dangers, declaring +their ship to be so leake that they must of necessitie seeke harborow, +hauing their stem so beaten within their huddings, that they had much adoe +to keepe themselues aboue water. They had (as they say) fiue hundreth +strokes at the pump in lesse then halfe a watch, being scarce two houres; +their men being so ouerwearied therewith, and with the former dangers that +they desired helpe of men from the other ships. [Sidenote: The Streits +frozen ouer.] Moreouer they declared that there was nothing but yce and +danger where they had bene, and that the straights within were frozen vp, +and that it was the most impossible thing of the world, to passe vp vnto +the Countesse of Warwicks sound, which was the place of our Port. + +The report of these dangers by these ships thus published amongst the +fleete, with the remembrance of the perils past, and those present before +their face, brought no small feare and terror into the hearts of many +considerate men. So that some beganne priuily to murmure against the +Generall for this wilfull manner of proceeding. Some desired to discouer +some harborow therebouts to refresh themselues and reform their broken +vessels for a while, vntill the North and Northwest windes might disperse +the yce, and make the place more free to passe. Other some forgetting +themselues, spake more vndutifully in this behalfe, saying: that they had +as leeue be hanged when they came home, as without hope of safetie to seeke +to passe, and so to perish amongst the yce. + +[Sidenote: A valiant mind of M. Frobisher.] The Generall not opening his +eares to the peeuish passion of any priuate person, but chiefly respecting +the accomplishment of the cause he had vndertaken (wherein the chiefe +reputation and fame of a Generall and Captaine consisteth) and calling to +his remembrance the short time he had in hand to prouide so great number of +ships their loading, determined with this resolution to passe and recouer +his Port, or else there to burie himselfe with his attempt. + +Notwithstanding somewhat to appease the feeble passions of the fearefuller +sort, and the better to entertaine time for a season, whilest the yce might +the better be dissolued, he haled on the Fleete with beleefe that he would +put them in harborow: thereupon whilest the shippes lay off and on under +Hattons Hedland, he sought to goe in with his Pinnesses amongst the Ilandes +there, as though hee meant to search for harborowe, where indeede he meant +nothing lesse, but rather sought if any Ore might be found in that place, +as by the sequele appeared. + +In the mean time whilest the Fleete lay thus doubtfull without any certaine +resolution what to do, being hard aboord the lee-shore, there arose a +sodaine and terrible tempest at the Southsoutheast, whereby the yce began +maruellously to gather about vs. + +Whereupon euery man, as in such case of extremitie he thought best, sought +the wisest way for his owne safety. The most part of the Fleete which were +further shot vp within the straights, and so farre to the leeward, as that +they could not double the land following the course of the Generall, who +led them the way, tooke in their Sayles, and layde it a hull amongst the +yce, and so passed ouer the storme, and had no extremitie at all, but for a +short time in the same place. + +Howbeit the other ships which plyed out to Seaward, had an extreme storme +for a long season. And the nature of the place is such, that it is subiect +diuersely to diuers windes, according to the sundry situation of the great +Alps and mountaines there, euery mountaine causing a seuerall blast, and +parrie, after the maner of a Leuant. + +[Sidenote: Snow in Iuly.] In this storme being the sixe and twentieth of +Iuly, there fell so much snow, with such bitter cold aire, that we could +not scarse see one another for the same, nor open our eyes to handle, our +ropes and sayles, the snow being aboue halfe a foote deepe vpon the hatches +of our ship, which did so wet thorow our poore Mariners clothes, that hee +that had fiue or sixe shifts of apparell had scarce one drie threed to his +backe, which kinde of wet and coldnesse, together with the ouerlabouring of +the poore men amiddest the yce, bred no small sicknesse amongst the fleete, +[Sidenote: Extreme winter.] which somewhat discouraged some of the poore +men, who had not experience of the like before, euery man perswading +himselfe that the winter there must needes be extreme, where they found so +vnseasonable a Sommer. + +[Sidenote: Great heat in Meta Incognita.] And yet notwithstanding this cold +aire, the Sunne many times hath a maruellous force of heate amongst those +mountaines; [Sidenote: Vnconstant weather.] insomuch that when there is no +breth of winde to bring the colde aire from the dispersed yce vpon vs, we +shall be wearie of the blooming heate and then sodainely with a perry[85] +of winde which commeth downe from the hollownesse of the hilles, we shall +haue such a breth of heate brought vpon our faces as though we were entred +within some bathstoue or hote-house, and when the first of the pirry and +blast is past, we shall haue the winde sodainely a new blow cold againe. + +In this storme the Anne Francis, the Moone, and the Thomas of Ipswich, who +found themselues able to hold it vp with a saile, and could double about +the Cape of the Queenes foreland, plyed out to the Seaward, holding it for +better policie and safetie to seeke Sea roome, then to hazard the +continuance of the storme, the danger of the yce, and the leeshore. + +And being vncertaine at this time of the Generals priuate determinations, +the weather being so darke that they could not discerne one another, nor +perceiue which way he wrought, betooke themselues to this course for best +and safest. + +[Sidenote: The Generall recouereth his port.] The Generall, notwithstanding +the great storme, following his own former resolution, sought by all meanes +possible, by a shorter way to recouer his Port, and where he saw the yce +neuer so little open, he gate in at one gappe and out at another, and so +himselfe valiantly led the way thorow before to induce the Fleete to follow +after, and with incredible paine and perill at length gat through the yce, +and vpon the one and thirtieth of Iuly recouered his long wished Port after +many attempts and sundry times being put backe, and came to anker in the +Countesse of Warwicks sound, in the entrance whereof, when he thought all +perill past, he encountred a great Iland of yce which gaue the Ayde such a +blow, hauing a little before wayed her anker a cocke bill, that it stroke +the anker fluke through the ships bowes vnder the water, which caused so +great a leake, that with much adoe they preserued the ship from sinking. + +At their arriuall here they perceiued two ships at anker within the +harborough, whereat they began much to maruell and greatly to reioyce, for +those they knew to be the Michael, wherein was the Lieutenant generall +Captaine Fenton, and the small Barke called the Gabriel, who so long time +were missing, and neuer heard of before, whom euery man made the last +reckoning, neuer to heare of againe. + +[Sidenote: Master Wolfall Preacher.] Here euery man greatly reioyced of +their happie meeting, and welcommed one another, after the Sea manner with +their great Ordinance, and when each partie had ripped vp their sundry +fortunes and perils past, they highly praysed God, and altogither vpon +their knees gaue him due, humble and heartie thankes, and Maister Wolfall a +learned man, appointed by her Maiesties Councell to be their Minister and +Preacher made vnto them a godly sermon, exhorting them especially to be +thankfull to God for their strange and miraculous deliuerance in those so +dangerous places, and putting them in mind of the vncertaintie of mans +life, willed them to make themselues alwayes readie as resolute men to +enioy and accept thankefully whatsoeuer aduenture his diuine Prouidence +should appoint. This maister Wolfall being well seated and settled at home +in his owne Countrey, with a good and large liuing, hauing a good honest +woman to wife and very towardly children, being of good reputation among +the best, refused not to take in hand this painefull voyage, for the onely +care he had to saue soules, and to reforme those Infidels if it were +possible to Christiantie: and also partly for the great desire he had that +this notable voyage so well begunne, might be brought to perfection: and +therefore he was contented to stay there the whole yeare if occasion had +serued, being in euery necessary action as forward as the resolutest men of +all. Wherefore in this behalfe he may rightly be called a true Pastor and +minister of God's word, which for the profite of his flocke spared not to +venture his owne life. + +[Sidenote: The aduentures of Captain Fenton and his companie.] But to +returne againe to Captaine Fentons company, and to speake somewhat of their +dangers (albeit they be more then by writing can be expressed) they +reported that from the night of the first storme which was about the first +day of Iuly vntill seuen dayes before the Generals arriuall, which was the +sixe and twentith of the same, they neuer saw any one day or houre, wherin +they were not troubled with continuall danger and feare of death, and were +twentie dayes almost togither fast amongst the yce. They had their ship +stricken through and through on both sides, their false stemme borne quite +away, and could goe from their ships in some places vpon the yce very many +miles, and might easily haue passed from one Iland of yce to another euen +to the shore, [Sidenote: Extremitie causeth men to deuise new arts and +remedies.] and if God had not wonderfully prouided for them and their +necessitie, and time had not made them more cunning and wise to seeke +strange remedies for strange kindes of dangers, it had bene impossible for +them euer to haue escaped: for among other deuises, wheresoeuer they found +any Iland of yce of greater bignesse then the rest (as there be some of +more then halfe a mile compasse about, and almost forty fadome high) they +commonly coueted to recouer the same, and thereof to make a bulwarke for +their defence, whereon hauing mored anker, they road vnder the lee therof +for a time, being therby garded from the danger of the lesser driuing yce. +[Sidenote: Hard shifts.] But when they must needes forgoe this new found +fort by meanes of other yce, which at length would vndermine and compasse +them round about, and when that by heauing of the billow they were +therewith like to be brused in peeces, they vsed to make fast the shippe +vnto the most firme and broad peece of yce they could find, and binding her +nose fast thereunto, would fill all their sayles whereon the winde hauing +great power, would force forward the ship, and so the shippe bearing before +her the yce, and so one yce driuing forward another, should at length get +scope and searoome. And hauing by this meanes at length put their enemies +to flight, they occupyed the cleare place for a prettie season among sundry +mountaines and Alpes of yce. One there was found by measure to be 65 fadome +aboue water, which for a kind of similitude, was called Solomons porch. +Some thinke those Ilands eight times so much vnder water as they are aboue, +because of their monstrous weight. [Sidenote: Strange wonders.] But now I +remember I saw very strange wonders, men walking, running, leaping and +shooting vpon the mayne seas 40. myles from any land, without any Shippe or +other vessel vnder them. Also I saw fresh Riuers running amidst the salt +Sea a hundred myle from land, which if any man will not belieue let him +know that many of our company leapt out of their Shippe vpon Ilandes of +yce, and running there vp and downe, did shoote at Buts vpon the yce, and +with their Caliuers did kill great Seales, which vse to lye and sleepe vpon +the yce, and this yce melting aboue at the toppe by reflection of the +Sunne, came downe in sundry streames, which vniting together, made a pretie +Brooke able to driue a Mill. + +The sayde Captaine Fenton recouered his Port tenne dayes before any man, +and spent good tyme in searching for Mine, and hee found good store +thereof. He also discouered about tenne Miles vp into the Countrey, where +he perceiued neither Towne, Village, nor likelihoode of habitation, but it +seemeth (as he sayeth) barren, as the other parts, which as yet we haue +entred vpon: but their victuals and prouision went so scant with them, that +they had determined to returne homeward within seuen dayes after, if the +Fleete had not then arriued. + +The Generall after his arriual in the Countesses sound, spent no time in +vaine, but immediately at his first landing called the chiefe Captaines of +his Councell together, and consulted with them for the speedier execution +of such things as then they had in hand. As first, for searching and +finding out good Minerall for the Miners to be occupyed on. Then to giue +good Orders to bee obserued of the whole company on shore. And lastly, to +consider for the erecting vp of the Fort and House for the vse of them +which were to abide there the whole yeere. For the better handling of +these, and all other like important causes in this seruice, it was ordeined +from her Maiestie and the Councell, that the Generall should call vnto him +certaine of the chiefe Captaines and Gentlemen in Councell, to conferre, +consult and determine of all occurrents in this seruice, whose names are as +here they follow. + + Captaine Fenton. + Captaine Yorke. + Captaine Best. + Captaine Carew. + Captaine Philpot. + +And in Sea causes to haue as assistants, Christopher Hall and Charles +Iackman, being both very good Pilots, and sufficient Mariners, whereof the +one was chiefe Pilot of the Voyage, and the other for the discouerie. From +the place of our habitation Westward, Master Selman was appointed Notarie, +to register the whole maner of proceeding in these affaires, that true +relation thereof might be made, if it pleased her Maiestie to require it. + +The first of August euery Captaine by order, from the Generall and his +councell, was commanded to bring ashoare vnto the Countesses iland all such +Gentlemen, souldiers, and Myners, as were vnder their charge, with such +prouision as they had of victuals, tents, and things necessary for the +speedy getting together of Mine, and fraight for the shippes. + +The Muster of the men being taken, and the victuals with all other things +viewed and considered, euery man was set to his charge, as his place and +office required. The Myners were appointed where to worke, and the Mariners +discharged their shippes. + +Vpon the second of August were published and proclaymed vpon the Countesse +of Warwickes Iland with sound of Trumpet, certaine Orders by the Generall +and his councell, appoynted to be obserued of the company during the time +of their abiding there. + +In the meane time, whilst the Mariners plyed their worke, the Captaines +sought out new Mynes, the Goldfiners made tryall of the Ore, the Mariners +discharged their shippes, the Gentlemen for example sake laboured heartily, +and honestly encouraged the inferior sort to worke. So that the small time +of that little leisure that was left to tarrie, was spent in vaine. + +The second of August the Gabriel arriued, who came from the Vizeadmirall, +and beeing distressed sore with Yce, put into Harborough neere vnto Mount +Oxford. And now was the whole Fleete arriued safely at their Port, +excepting foure, besides the Shippe that was lost: that is, the Thomas +Allen, the Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Moone, whose +absence was some lette unto the workes and other proceedings, aswell for +that these Shippes were furnished with the better sorte of Myners, as with +other prouision for the habitation. + +[Sidenote: Consultation for inhabiting Meta incognita.] The ninth of August +the Generall with the Captaynes of his counsell assembled together, and +began to consider and take order for the erecting vp of the house or Fort +for them that were to inhabite there the whole yeere, and that presently +the Masons and Carpenters might goe in hande therewith. First therefore +they perused the Bils of lading, what euery man receiued into his Shippe, +and found that there was arriued only the Eastside, and the Southside of +the house, and yet not that perfect and entier: for many pieces thereof +were vsed for fenders in many Shippes, and so broken in pieces whilest they +were distressed in the yce. [Sidenote: An hundred men appointed to +inhabite.] Also after due examination had, and true account taken, there +was found want of drinke and fuel to serue one hundreth men, which was the +number appoynted first to inhabite there, because their greatest store was +in the Shippes which were not yet arriued. Then Captaine Fenton seeing the +scarcitie of the necessary things aforesayd, was contented, and offred +himselfe to inhabite there with sixtie men. Whereupon they caused the +Carpenters and Masons to come before them, and demanded in what time they +would take vpon them to erect vp a lesse house for sixtie men. They +required eight or nine weekes, if there were Tymber sufficient, whereas now +they had but sixe and twentie dayes in all to remayne in that Countrey. +[Sidenote: No habitation this yeere.] Wherefore it was fully agreed vpon, +and resolued by the Generall and his counsell, that no habitation should be +there this yeere. And therefore they willed Master Selman the Register to +set downe this decree with all their consents, for the better satisfying of +her Maiestie, the Lords of the Counsell, and the Aduenturers. + +The Anne Francis, since she was parted from the Fleete, in the last storme +before spoken of, could neuer recouer above fiue leagues within the +streights, the winde being sometime contrary, and most times the Yce +compassing them round about. And from that time, being about the seuen and +twentieth of Iuly, they could neither heare nor have sight of any of the +Fleete, vntill the 3. of August, when they descryed a sayle neere vnto +Mount Oxford, with whom when they had spoken, they could vnderstand no +newes of any of the Fleete at all. And this was the Thomas of Ipswich, who +had layne beating off and on at Sea with very fowle weather, and contrary +windes euer since that foresayd storme, without sight of any man. They kept +company not long together, but were forced to loose one another againe, the +Moone being consort always with the Anne Francis, and keeping very good +company plyed vp together into the streights, with great desire to recouer +their long wished Port: and they attempted as often, and passed as farre as +possible the winde, weather, and yce gaue them leaue, which commonly they +found very contrary. For when the weather was cleare and without fogge, +then commonly the winde was contrary. And when it was eyther Easterly or +Southerly, which would serue their turnes, then had they so great a fogge +and darke miste therewith, that eyther they could not discerne way thorow +the yce, or els the yce lay so thicke together, that it was impossible for +them to passe. And on the other side, when it was calme, the Tydes had +force to bring the yce so suddenly about them, that commonly then they were +most therewith distressed, hauing no Winde to carry them from the danger +thereof. + +And by the sixt of August being with much adoe got vp as high as Leicester +point, they had good hope to finde the Souther shore cleare, and so to +passe vp towardes their Port. But being there becalmed and lying a hull +openly vpon the great Bay which commeth out of the mistaken streights +before spoken of, they were so suddenly compassed with yce round about by +meanes of the swift Tydes which ran in that place, that they were neuer +afore so hardly beset as now. And in seeking to auoyde these dangers in the +darke weather, the Anne Francis lost sight of the other two Ships, who +being likewise hardly distressed, signified their danger, as they since +reported, by shooting off their ordinance, which the other could not heare, +nor if they had heard, could haue giuen them any remedie, being so busily +occupied to winde themselues out of their owne troubles. + +[Sidenote: The Moone.] The Fleeboate called the Moone, was here heaued +aboue the water with the force of the yce, and receiued a great leake +thereby. Likewise the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Anne Francis were sore +bruised at that instant, hauing their false stemmes borne away, and their +ship sides stroken quite through. + +Now considering the continuall dangers and contraries, and the little +leasure that they had left to tarie in these partes, besides that euery +night the ropes of their Shippes were so frozen, that a man could not +handle them without cutting his handes, together with the great doubt they +had of the Fleetes safety, thinking it an impossibilitie for them to passe +vnto their Port, as well for that they saw themselues, as for that they +heard by the former report of the Shippes which had prooued before, who +affirmed that the streights were all frozen ouer within: They thought it +now very hie time to consider of their estates and safeties that were yet +left together. [Sidenote: The Anne Francis, the Thomas of Ipswich and the +Moone consult.] And hereupon the Captaines and masters of these Shippes, +desired the Captaine of the Anne Francis to enter into consideration with +them of these matters. Wherefore Captaine Tanfield of the Thomas of +Ipswich, with his Pilot Richard Cox, and Captaine Vpcote of the Moone, with +his master Iohn Lakes came aboorde the Anne Francis the eight of August to +consult of these causes. And being assembled together in the Captaines +Cabin, sundry doubts were there alledged. For the fearefuller sort of +Mariners being ouertyred with the continuall labour of the former dangers, +coueted to returne homeward, saying that they would not againe tempt God so +much, who had giuen them so many warnings, and deliuered them from so +wonderfull dangers: that they rather desired to lose wages, fraight, and +all, then to continue and follow such desperate fortunes. Againe, their +Ships were so leake, and the men so wearie, that to amend the one, and +refresh the other, they must of necessitie seeke into harborough. + +But on the other side it was argued againe to the contrary, that to seeke +into harborough thereabouts, was but to subject themselues to double +dangers: if happily they escaped the dangers of Rockes in their entring, +yet being in, they were neuerthelesse subiect there to the danger of the +Ice, which with the swift tydes and currents is caryed in and out in most +harboroughs thereabouts, and may thereby gaule their Cables asunder, driue +them vpon the shoare, and bring them to much trouble. Also the coast is so +much subiect to broken ground and rockes, especially in the mouth and +entrance of euery Harborough, that albeit the Channell be sounded ouer and +ouer againe, yet are you neuer the neerer to discerne the dangers. For the +bottome of the Sea holding like shape and forme as the land, being full of +hils, dales, and ragged Rockes, suffreth you not by your soundings to knowe +and keepe a true gesse of the depth. For you shall sound vpon the side or +hollownesse of one Hill or Rocke vnder water, and haue a hundreth, fiftie, +or fourtie fadome depth: and before the next cast, yer[86] you shall be +able to heaue your lead againe, you shall be vpon the toppe thereof, and +come aground to your vtter confusion. + +Another reason against going to harborough was, that the colde ayre did +threaten a sudden freezing vp of the sounds, seeing that euery night there +was new congealed yce, euen of that water which remayned within their +shippes. And therefore it should seeme to be more safe to lye off and on at +Sea, then for lacke of winde to bring them foorth of harborough, to hazard +by sudden frosts to be shut vp the whole yeere. + +After many such dangers and reasons alleged, and large debating of these +causes on both sides, the Captaine of the Anne Francis deliuered his +opinion vnto the company to this effect. [Sidenote: Captain Bests +resolution.] First concerning the question of returning home, hee thought +it so much dishonorable, as not to grow in any farther question: and againe +to returne home at length (as at length they must needes) and not to be +able to bring a certaine report of the Fleete, whether they were liuing or +lost, or whether any of them had recouered their Port or not, in the +Countesses sound, (as it was to bee thought the most part would if they +were liuing) hee sayde that it would be so great an argument eyther of want +of courage or discretion in them, as hee resolued rather to fall into any +danger, then so shamefully to consent to returne home, protesting that it +should neuer bee spoken of him, that hee would euer returne without doing +his endeuour to finde the Fleete, and knowe the certaintie of the Generals +safetie. [Sidenote: A Pinnesse for the inhabiters.] Hee put his company in +remembrance of a Pinnesse of fiue tunne burthen, which hee had within his +Shippe, which was caryed in pieces, and vnmade vp for the vse of those +which should inhabite there the whole yeere, the which, if they could finde +meanes to ioyne together, hee offered himselfe to prooue before therewith, +whether it were possible for any Boate to passe for yce, whereby the Shippe +might bee brought in after, and might also thereby giue true notice, if any +of the Fleete were arriued at their Port or not. + +But notwithstanding, for that he well perceiued that the most part of his +company were addicted to put into harborough, hee was willing the rather +for these causes somewhat to encline thereunto. As first, to search alongst +the same coast, and the soundes thereabouts, hee thought it to be to good +purpose, for that it was likely to finde some of the Fleete there, which +being leake, and sore brused with the yce, were the rather thought likely +to be put into an yll harborough, being distressed with foule weather in +the last storme, then to hazard their vncertaine safeties amongst the yce: +for about this place they lost them, and left the Fleete then doubtfully +questioning of harborough. + +It was likely also, that they might finde some fitte harborough +thereabouts, which might bee behoouefull for them against another time. It +was not likewise impossible to finde some Ore or Mine thereabouts +wherewithall to fraight their Shippes, which would bee more commodious in +this place, for the neerenesse to Seaward, and for a better outlet, then +farther within the streights, being likely heere alwayes to loade in a +shorter time, howsoeuer the streight should be pestered with yce within, so +that if it might come to passe that thereby they might eyther finde the +Fleete, Mine, or conuenient harborough, any of these three would serue +their present turnes, and giue some hope and comfort vnto their companies, +which now were altogether comfortlesse. But if that all fortune should fall +out so contrary, that they could neyther recouer their Port, nor any of +these aforesayde helpes, that yet they would not depart the Coast, as long +as it was possible for them to tary there, but would lye off and on at Sea +athwart the place. Therefore his finall conclusion was set downe thus, +First, that the Thomas of Ipswich and the Moone should consort and keepe +company together carefully with the Anne Francis, as neere as they could, +and as true Englishmen and faithfull friends, should supply one anothers +want in all fortunes and dangers. In the morning following, euery Shippe to +send off his Boate with a sufficient Pylot, to search out and sound the +harborougbs for the safe bringing in of their Shippes. And beeing arriued +in harborough, where they might finde conuenient place for the purpose, +they resolued foorthwith to ioyne and sette together the Pinnesse, +wherewithall the Captaine of the Anne Francis might, according to his +former determination, discouer vp into the streights. + +After these determinations thus set downe, the Thomas of Ipswich the night +following lost company of the other Shippes, and afterward shaped a +contrary course homeward, which fell out as it manifestly appeared, very +much against their Captaine Master Tanfields minde, as by due examination +before the Lordes of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell it hath +since bene prooued, to the great discredite of the Pilot Cox, who specially +persuaded his company against the opinion of his sayd Captaine, to returne +home. + +And as the Captaine of the Anne Francis doeth witnesse, euen at their +conference togither, Captaine Tanfield tolde him, that he did not a little +suspect the sayd Pilot Cox, saying that he had opinion in the man neither +of honest duetie, manhoode, nor constancie. Notwithstanding the sayde +Shippes departure, the Captaine of the Anne Francis being desirous to put +in execution his former resolutions, went with his Shippe boate (being +accompanied also with the Moones Skiffe) to prooue amongst the Ilands which +lye vnder Hattons Hedland, if any conuenient harborough, or any knowledge +of the Fleete, or any good Ore were there to be found. The Shippes lying +off and on at Sea the while vnder Sayle, searching through many sounds, +they sawe them all full of many dangers and broken ground: yet one there +was, which seemed an indifferent place to harborough in, and which they did +very diligently sound ouer, and searched againe. + +Here the sayde Captaine found a great blacke Island, whereunto hee had good +liking, and certifying the company thereof, they were somewhat comforted, +and with the good hope of his wordes rowed cheerefully vnto the place: +where when they arriued, they found such plentie of blacke Ore of the same +sort which was brought into England this last yeere, that if the goodnesse +might answere the great plentie thereof, it was to be thought that it might +reasonably suffice all the golde-gluttons of the worlde. [Sidenote: Bestes +blessing.] This Iland the Captaine for cause of his good hap, called after +his own name, Bestes blessing, and with these good tydings returning abord +his Ship the ninth of August about tenne of the clocke at night, hee was +ioyfully welcommed of his company, who before were discomforted, and +greatly expected some better fortune at his handes. + +The next day being the tenth of August, the weather reasonably fayre, they +put into the foresayde Harborough, hauing their Boate for the better +securitie sounding before their Shippe. [Sidenote: Anne Francis in danger.] +But for all the care and diligence that could bee taken in sounding the +Channell ouer and ouer againe, the Anne Francis came aground vpon a suncken +Rocke within the Harborough, and lay thereon more then halfe drye vntill +the next flood, when by Gods Almighty prouidence, contrary almost to all +expectation, they came afloat againe, being forced all that time to +vndersette their Shippe with their mayne Yarde, which otherwise was likely +to ouerset and put thereby in danger the whole company. They had aboue two +thousand strokes together at the Pumpe, before they could make their Shippe +free of the water againe, so sore shee was in brused by lying vpon the +Rockes. [Sidenote: The Moone in harborough.] The Moone came safely, and +roade at anchor by the Anne Francis, whose helpe in their necessitie they +could not well haue missed. + +Now whilest the Mariners were romaging their Shippes, and mending that +which was amisse, the Miners followed their labour for getting together of +sufficient quantitie of Ore, and the Carpenters indeuoured to doe their +best for the making vp of the Boate or Pinnesse: which to bring to passe, +they wanted two speciall and most necessarie things, that is, certaine +principall tymbers that are called knees, which are the chiefest strength +of any Boate and also nayles, wherewithall to ioyne the plancks together. +Whereupon hauing by chance a Smyth amongst them, (and yet vnfurnished of +his necessary tooles to worke and make nayles withall) they were faine of a +gunne chamber to make an Anuile to worke vpon, and to vse a pickaxe in +stead of a sledge to beate withall, and also to occupy two small bellowes +in steade of one payre of greater Smiths bellowes. And for lacke of small +Yron for the easier making of the nayles, they were forced to breake their +tongs, grydiron, and fireshouell in pieces. + +[Sidenote: Hattons Hedland.] The eleuenth of August the Captaine of the +Anne Francis taking the Master of his Shippe with him, went vp to the top +of Hattons Hedland, which is the highest land of all the straights, to the +ende to descry the situation of the Countrey vnderneath, and to take a true +plotte of the place, whereby also to see what store of Yce was yet left in +the straights, as also to search what Mineral matter or fruite that soyle +might yeeld: And the rather for the honour the said Captaine doeth owe to +that Honourable name[87] which himselfe gaue thereunto the last yeere, in +the highest part of this Hedland he caused his company to make a Columne or +Crosse of stone, in token of Christian possession. [Sidenote: Pretie +stones.] In this place there is plentie of Blacke Ore, and diuers pretie +stones. + +[Sidenote: A mightie white Beare.] The seuenteenth of August the Captaines +with their companies chased and killed a great white Beare, which +aduentured and gaue a fierce assault vpon twentie men being weaponed. And +he serued them for good meate many dayes. + +[Sidenote: A Pinnesse there built.] The eighteenth of August the Pinnesse +with much adoe being set together, the sayd Captaine Best determined to +depart vp the straights, to prooue and make tryall, as before was +pretended, some of his companie greatly persuading him to the contrary, and +specially the Carpenter that set the same together, who sayde that hee +would not aduenture himselfe therein for fiue hundreth pounds, for that the +boate hung together but onely by the strength of the nayles, and lacked +some of her principall knees and tymbers. + +These wordes some what discouraged some of the company which should haue +gone therein. Whereupon the Captaine, as one not altogether addicted to his +owne selfe-will, but somewhat foreseeing how it might be afterwards spoken, +if contrary fortune should happen him (Lo he hath followed his owne opinion +and desperate resolutions, and so thereafter it is befallen him) calling +the Master and Mariners of best iudgement together, declared vnto them how +much the cause imported him to his credite to seeke out the Generall, as +well to conferre with him of some causes of weight, as otherwise to make +due examination and tryall of the Goodnesse of the Ore, whereof they had no +assurance but by gesse of the eye, and it was well like the other: which so +to cary home, not knowing the goodnesse thereof, might be as much as if +they should bring so many stones. And therefore hee desired them to deliuer +their plaine and honest opinion, whether the Pinnesse were sufficient for +him so to aduenture in or no. It was answered, that by careful heede taking +thereunto amongst the yce, and the foule weather, the Pinnesse might +suffice. And hereupon the Masters mate of the Anne Francis called Iohn +Gray, manfully and honestly offering himselfe vnto his Captaine in this +aduenture and seruice, gaue cause to others of his Mariners to follow the +attempt. + +[Sidenote: They aduenture by the streights in a weake Pinnesse.] And vpon +the nineteenth of August the sayd Captaine being accompanied with Captaine +Vpcote of the Moone, and eighteene persons in the small Pinnesse, hauing +conuenient portions of victuals and things necessary, departed upon the +sayd pretended Voyage, leauing their shippe at anchor in a good readinesse +for the taking in of their fraight. And hauing little winde to sayle +withall, they plyed alongst the Souther shore, and passed aboue 30. +leagues, hauing the onely helpe of mans labour with Oares, and so intending +to keepe that shore aboord vntil they were got vp to the farthest and +narrowest of the streights, minded there to crosse ouer and to search +likewise alongst the Northerland vnto the Countesses sound, and from thence +to passe all that coast along, whereby if any of the Fleete had bene +distressed by wrecke of rocke or yce, by that meanes they might be +perceiued of them, and so they thereby to giue them such helpe and reliefe +as they could. They did greatly feare, and euer suspect that some of the +Fleete were surely cast away, and driuen to seeke sowre sallets amongst the +colde cliffes. + +[Sidenote: 40 leagues within the streights.] And being shotte vp about +fortie leagues within the Streights, they put ouer towardes the Norther +shore, which was not a little dangerous for their small boates. [Sidenote: +Gabriels Ilands.] And by meanes of a sudden flawe were dryuen, and faine to +seeke harborough in the night amongst all the rockes and broken ground of +Gabriels Ilands, a place so named within the streights aboue the Countesse +of Warwicks sound: And by the way where they landed, they did finde +certaine great stones set vp by the Countrey people as it seemed for +markes, where they also made many Crosses of stone, in token that +Christians had been there. The 22. of August they had sight of the +Countesses sound, and made the place perfect from the toppe of a hill, and +keeping along the Norther shore, perceiued the smoke of a fire vnder a hils +side: whereof they diuersely deemed. When they came neere the place, they +perceiued people which wafted vnto them, as it seemed, with a flagge or +ensigne. And because the Countrey people had vsed to do the like, when they +perceiued any of our boats to passe by, they suspected them to be the same. +And comming somewhat neerer, they might perceiue certaine tents, and +discerne this ensigne to be of mingled colours, blacke and white, after the +English Fashion. But because they could see no Shippe, nor likelihood of +harborough within fiue or sixe leagues about, and knewe that none of our +men were woont to frequent those partes, they could not tell what to iudge +thereof, but imagined that some of the ships being carried so high with the +storme and mistes, had made shipwracke amongst the yce or the broken +Islands there, and were spoyled by the countrey people, who might vse the +sundry coloured flagge for a policie, to bring them likewise within their +danger. Whereupon the sayd Captaine with his companies, resolued to recouer +the same ensigne, if it were so, from those base people, or els to lose +their liues and all together. In the ende they discerned them to be their +countreymen, and then they deemed them to haue lost their Ships, and so to +be gathered together for their better strength. On the other side, the +companie ashoare feared that the Captaine hauing lost his Shippe, came to +seeke forth the Fleete for his reliefe in his poore Pinnesse, so that their +extremities caused eche part to suspect the worst. + +[Sidenote: Proximus sum egomet mihi.] The Captaine now with his Pinnisse +being come neere the shoare, commanded his Boate carefully to be kept +aflote, lest in their necessitie they might winne the same from him, and +seeke first to saue themselues: for euery man in that case is next +himselfe. They haled one another according to the manner of the Sea, and +demaunded what cheere? and either partie answered the other, that all was +well: whereupon there was a sudden and ioyful outshoote, with great +flinging vp of caps, and a braue voly of shotte to welcome one another. And +truely it was a most strange case to see how ioyfull and gladde euery +partie was to see themselues meete in safetie againe, after so strange and +incredible dangers: Yet to be short, as their dangers were great, so their +God was greater. + +[Sidenote: Captain York arriued.] And here the company were working vpon +new Mines, which Captaine York being here arriued not long before, had +found out in this place, and it is named the Countesse of Sussex Mine. + +After some conference with our friends here, the captaine of the Anne +Francis departed towards the Countesse of Warwicks sound, to speake with +the Generall, and to haue tryall made of such mettall as he had brought +thither, by the Goldfiners. And so he determined to dispatch againe towards +his ship. And hauing spoken with the General, he receiued order for all +causes, direction as well for the bringing vp of the Shippe to the +Countesses sound, as also to fraight his Ship with the same Oare which he +himselfe had found, which vpon triall made, was supposed to be very good. + +The 23. of August, the sayde Captaine mette together with the other +Captaines (Commissioners in counsell with the Generall) aboorde the Ayde, +where they considered and consulted of sundry causes, which being +particularly registred by the Notarie, were appoynted where and how to be +done against another yeere. + +The 24. of August, the Generall with two Pinnesses and good numbers of men +went to Beares sound, commanding the sayde Captaine with his Pinnesse to +attend the seruice, to see if he could encounter or apprehend any of the +people: for sundry times they shewed themselues busie thereabouts, +sometimes with seuen or eyght Boates in one company, as though they minded +to encounter with our company which were working there at the Mines, in no +great numbers. [Sidenote: None of the people will be taken.] But when they +perceiued any of our Shippes to ryde in that roade (being belike more +amazed at the countenance of a Shippe, and a more number of men) they did +neuer shewe themselues againe there at all. Wherefore our men sought with +their Pinnesses to compasse about the Iland where they did vse, supposing +there suddenly to intercept some of them. But before our men could come +neere, hauing belike some watch in the toppe of the mountaines, they +conueyed themselues priuilly away, and left (as it should seeme) one of +their great dartes behinde them for haste, which we found neere to a place +of their caues and housing. Therefore, though our Generall were very +desirous to haue taken some of them to haue brought into England, they +being now growen more wary by their former losses, would not at any time +come within our dangers. About midnight of the same day, the captaine of +the Anne Francis departed thence and set his course ouer the straights +towards Hattons Hedland, being about 15. leagues ouer, and returned aboord +his Shippe the 25. of August to the great comfort of his company, who long +expected his comming, where hee found his Shippes ready rigged and loden. +Wherefore he departed from thence againe the next morning towards the +Countesses sound, where he arriued the 28. of the same. By the way he set +his Miners ashore at Beares sound, for the better dispatch and gathering +the Ore togither; for that some of the ships were behind hand with their +fraight, the time of the yeere passing suddenly away. + +The thirtieth of August the Anne Francis was brought aground, and had 8. +great leakes mended which she had receiued by meanes of the rockes and yce. +[Sidenote: A house builded and left there.] This day the Masons finished a +house which Captaine Fenton caused to be made of lyme and stone vpon the +Countesse of Warwickes Island, to the ende we might proue against the next +yeere, whither the snow could ouerwhelme it, the frost brake it vp, or the +people dismember the same. And the better to allure those brutish and +vnciuill people to courtesie against other times of our comming, we left +therein diuers of our Countrey toyes, as belles, and kniues, wherein they +specially delight, one for the necessary vse, and the other for the great +pleasure thereof. Also pictures of men and women in lead, men on +horsebacke, looking glasses, whistles, and pipes. Also in the house was +made an Ouen, and bread left baked therein for them to see and taste. + +We buried the timber of our pretended fort. Also here we sowed pease, +corne, and other graine, to proue the fruitfulnesse of the soyle against +the next yeere. + +[Sidenote: M. Wolfall a godly preacher.] Master Wolfall on Winters Fornace +preached a godly sermon, which being ended, he celebrated also a Communion +vpon the land, at the partaking whereof was the Captaine of the Anne +Francis, and many other Gentlemen and Souldiers, Mariners, and Miners with +him. The celebration of the diuine mystery was the first signe, seale, and +confirmation of Christs name, death, and passion euer knowen in these +quarters. The said M. Wolfall made sermons, and celebrated the Communion at +sundry other times, in seuerall and sundry ships, because the whole company +could neuer meet together at any one place. [Sidenote: Consultation for a +further discouery.] The Fleet now being in some good readinesse for their +lading, the Generall calling together the Gentlemen and Captaines to +consult, told them that he was very desirous that some further discouery +should be attempted, and that he would not onely by Gods helpe bring home +his ships laden with Ore, but also meant to bring some certificate of a +further discouery of the Countrey, which thing to bring to passe (hauing +sometime therein consulted) they found very hard, and almost inuincible. +And considering that already they had spent sometime in searching out the +trending and fashion of the mistaken straites, therefore it could not be +sayd, but that by this voyage they haue notice of a further discouery, and +that the hope of the passage thereby is much furthered and encreased, as +appeared before in the discourse thereof. Yet notwithstanding if any meanes +might be further deuised, the Captaines were contented and willing, as the +Generall shoulde appoynt and commaund, to take any enterprise in hand. +Which after long debating was found a thing very impossible, and that +rather consultation was to be had of returning homeward, especially for +these causes following. First the darke foggy mists, the continuall falling +snowe and stormy weather which they commonly were vexed with, and now daily +euer more and more increased, haue no small argument of the Winters drawing +neere. And also the frost euery night was so hard congealed within the +sound, that if by euill hap they should bee long kept in with contrary +winds, it was greatly to be feared, that they should be shut vp there fast +the whole yeere, which being vtterly vnprouided, would be their vtter +destruction. Againe, drinke was so scant throughout all the Fleet by meanes +of the great leakage, that not onely the prouision which was layd in for +the habitation was wanting and wasted, but also each shippes seuerall +prouision spent and lost, which many of our company to their great griefe +found in their returne since, for all the way homewards they dranke nothing +but water. And the great cause of this leakage and wasting was, for that +the great timber and seacole, which lay so weighty vpon the barrels, brake, +bruised, and rotted the hoopes insunder. [Sidenote: Broken Ilands in maner +of an Archipelagus.] Yet notwithstanding these reasons alleaged the +Generall himselfe (willing the rest of the Gentlemen and Captaines euery +man to looke to his seuerall charge and lading, that against a day +appointed, they should be all in a readinesse to set homeward) went in a +Pinnesse and discouered further Northward in the straights, and found that +by Beares sound and Halles Island, the land was not firme, as it was first +supposed, but all broken Islands in maner of an Archipelagus, and so with +other secret intelligence to himselfe, he returned to the Fleet. Where +presently vpon his arriuall at the Countesses sound, he began to take order +for their returning homeward, and first caused certaine Articles to be +proclaimed, for the better keeping of orders and courses in their returne, +which Articles were deliuered to euery Captaine. + + +The Fleetes returning homeward. + +[Sidenote: Returne homeward.] Hauing now receiued articles and directions +for our returne homewards, all other things being in forwardnesse and in +good order, the last day of August the whole Fleete departed from the +Countesses sound, excepting the Iudith, and the Anne Francis, who stayed +for the taking in of fresh water and came the next day and mette the Fleete +off and on, athwart Beares sound, who stayed for the Generall, which then +was gone ashore to despatch the two Barkes and the Busse of Bridgewater, +for their loading, whereby to get the companies and other things aboord. +The Captaine of the Anne Francis hauing most part of his company ashore, +the first of September went also to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch +his men aboord, but the wind grewe so great immediatly vpon their landing, +that the shippes at sea were in great danger, and some of them forcibly put +from their ankers, and greatly feared to be vtterly lost, as the Hopewell, +wherein was Captaine Carew and others, who could not tell on which side +their danger was most: for hauing mightie rockes threatening on the one +side, and driuing Islands of cutting yce on the other side, they greatly +feared to make shipwracke, the yce driuing so neere them that it touched +their bolt-sprit. And by meanes of the Sea that was growne so hie, they +were not able to put to sea with their small Pinnesses to recouer their +shippes. And againe, the shippes were not able to tarie or lie athwart for +them, by meanes of the outragious windes and swelling seas. The Generall +willed the Captaine of the Anne Francis with his company, for that night to +lodge aboord the Busse of Bridgewater, and went himselfe with the rest of +his men aboord the Barkes. But their numbers were so great, and the +prouision of the Barkes so scant, that they pestered one another +exceedingly. They had great hope that the next morning the weather would be +faire whereby they might recouer their shippes. But in the morning +following it was much worse, for the storme continued greater, the Sea +being more swollen, and the Fleete gone quite out of sight. So that now +their doubts began to grow great: for the ship of Bridgewater which was of +greatest receit, and whereof they had best hope and made most account, +roade so farre to leeward of the harborowes mouth, that they were not able +for the rockes (that lay betweene the wind and them) to lead it out to Sea +with a saile. And the Barks were already so pestered with men, and so +slenderly furnished with prouision, that they had scarce meat for sixe +dayes for such numbers. + +The Generall in the morning departed to Sea in the Gabriel to seeke the +Fleete, leauing the Busse of Bridgewater, and the Michael behind in Beares +sound. The Busse set sayle, and thought by turning in the narrow channell +within the harborow to get to windward: but being put to leeward more, by +that meanes was faine to come to anker for her better safetie, amongst a +number of rockes, and there left in great danger of euer getting forth +againe. The Michael set sayle to follow the Generall, and could giue the +Busse no reliefe, although they earnestly desired the same. And the +Captaine of the Anne Francis was left in hard election of two euils: eyther +to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater, which was doubtfull of +euer getting forth, or else to bee towed in his small Pinnesse at the +sterne of the Michael thorow the raging Seas, for that the Barke was not +able to receiue or relieue halfe his company, wherein his danger was not a +little perillous. + +So after hee resolued to commit himselfe with all his company vnto that +fortune of God and Sea, and was dangerously towed at the sterne of the +Barke for many miles, vntill at length they espyed the Anne Francis vnder +sayle, hard vnder their Lee, which was no small comfort vnto them. For no +doubt, both those and a great number more had perished for lacke of +victuals, and conuenient roome in the Barks without the helpe of the said +Ship. But the honest care that the Master of the Anne Francis had of his +Captaine, and the good regarde of duetie towardes his Generall, suffered +him not to depart, but honestly abode to hazard a dangerous roade all the +night long, notwithstanding all the stormy weather, when all the Fleete +besides departed. And the Pinnesse came no sooner aboord the shippe, and +the men entred, but shee presently shiuered and fell to pieces and sunke at +the ships sterne, with all the poore mens furniture: so weake was the boat +with towing, and so forcible was the sea to bruise her in pieces, But (as +God would) the men were all saued. + +At this present in this storme many of the Fleete were dangerously +distressed, and were seuered almost all asunder. Yet, thanks be to God, all +the Fleete arriued safely in England about the first of October, some in +one place and some in another. [Sidenote: An vnknowen channell into the +Northeast discouered by the Busse of Bridgewater.] But amongst other, it +was most maruellous how the Busse of Bridgewater got away, who being left +behind the Fleete in great danger of neuer getting forth, was forced to +seeke a way Northward thorow an vnknowen channell full of rocks, vpon the +backe side of Beares sound, and there by good hap found out a way into the +North sea, a very dangerous attempt; save that necessitie, which hath no +law, forced them to trie masteries. This aforesayd North sea is the same +which lyeth vpon the backe side of Frobishers straits, where first the +Generall himselfe in his Pinnesses, and after some other of our company +haue discouered (as they affirme) a great foreland, where they would also +haue a great likelihood of the greatest passage towards the South sea, or +Mar del Sur. + +[Sidenote: A fruitful new Island discouered.] The Busse of Bridgewater, as +she came homeward, to the Southeastward of Friseland, discouered a great +Island in the latitude of 57 degrees and an halfe, which was neuer yet +found before, and sailed three dayes alongst the coast, the land seeming to +be fruitfull, full of woods, and a champion[88] countrey. + +There died in the whole Fleete in all this voyage not aboue forty persons, +which number is not great, considering how many ships were in the Fleet, +and how strange fortunes we passed. + + +A generall and briefe description of the Countrey, and condition of the + people, which are found in Meta Incognita. + +Hauing now sufficiently and truly set forth the whole circumstance, and +particuler handling of euery occurrent in the 3. voyages of our worthy +Generall, Captaine Frobisher, it shal not be from the purpose to speake +somewhat in generall of the nature of this Countrey called Meta Incognita, +and the condition of the sauages there inhabiting. + +[Sidenote: A Topographical description of Meta Incognita.] First therefore +touching the Topographical description of the place. It is now found in the +last voyage, that Queene Elizabeths Cape being situate in latitude at 61. +degrees and a halfe, which before was supposed to be part of the firme land +of America, and also al the rest of the South side of Frobishers straites, +are all seuerall Islands and broken land, and like wise so will all the +North side of the said straites fall out to be as I thinke. And some of our +company being entred aboue 60. leagues within the mistaken straites in the +third voyage mentioned, thought certainely that they had discryed the firme +land of America towards the South, which I thinke will fall out so to be. + +These broken lands and Islands being very many in number, do seeme to make +there an Archipelagus, which as they all differ in greatnesse, forme, and +fashion one from another; so are they in goodnesse, colour, and soyle much +vnlike. They all are very high lands, mountaines, and in most parts couered +with snow euen all the Sommer long. The Norther lands haue lesse store of +snow, more grasse, and are more plaine Countreys: the cause whereof may be, +for that the Souther Ilands receiue all the snow, that the cold winds and +piercing ayre bring out of the North. And contrarily, the North parts +receiue more warme blasts of milder ayre from the South, whereupon may grow +the cause why the people couet to inhabit more vpon the North parts then +the South, as farre as we yet by our experience perceiue they doe. +[Sidenote: The people of Meta Incognita like vnto Samoeds.] These people I +iudge to be a kind of Tartar, or rather a kind of Samoed, of the same sort +and condition of life that the Samoeds bee to the Northeastwards beyond +Moscouy, who are called Samoeds, which is as much to say in the Moscouy +tongue as eaters of themselues, and so the Russians their borderers doe +name them. And by late conference with a friend of mine (with whom I did +sometime trauell in the parts of Moscouy) who had great experience of those +Samoeds and people of the Northeast, I find that in all their maner of +liuing, those people of the Northeast, and those of the Northwest are like. +[Sidenote: Their natiue colour.] They are of the colour of a ripe Oliue, +which how it may come to passe, being borne in so cold a climate I referre +to the iudgement of others, for they are naturally borne children of the +same colour and complexion that all the Americans are, which dwell vnder +the Equinoctiall line. + +They are men very actiue and nimble. They are a strong people and very +warlike, for in our sight vpon the toppes of the hilles they would often +muster themselues, and after the maner of a skirmish trace their ground +very nimbly, and mannage their bowes and dartes with great dexterity. +[Sidenote: Their apparel.] They go clad in coates made of the skinnes of +beasts, as of Seales, Deere, Beares, Foxes, and Hares. They haue also some +garments of feathers, being made of the cases of Foules, finely sowed and +compact togither. Of all which sorts wee brought home some with vs into +England, which we found in their tents. In Sommer they vse to weare the +hairie side of their coates outward, and sometime goe naked for too much +heate. And in Winter (as by signes they haue declared) they weare foure or +fiue folde vpon their bodies with the haire (for warmth) turned inward. +Hereby it appeareth, that the ayre there is not indifferent, but either it +is feruent hote, or els extreme cold, and farre more excessiue in both +qualities, then the reason of the climate should yeeld. For there it is +colder, being vnder 62 degrees in latitude, then it is at Wardhouse in the +voyage to Saint Nicholas in Moscouie, being at about aboue 72. degrees in +latitude. [Sidenote: The accidental cause of cold ayre at Meta Incognita.] +The reason hereof may be, that this Meta Incognita is much frequented and +vexed with Easterne and Northeastern winds, which from the sea and yce +bringeth often an intollerable cold ayre, which was also the cause that +this yeere our straits were so long shut vp with so great store of yce. But +there is great hope and likelihood, that further within the Straights it +will bee more constant and temperate weather. + +These people are in nature very subtill and sharpe witted, ready to +conceiue our meaning by signes, and to make answere well to be vnderstood +againe. And if they haue not seene the thing whereof you aske them, they +will wincke, or couer their eyes with their hands, as who would say, it +hath bene hid from their sight. If they vnderstand you not whereof you +should aske them, they wil stop their eares. They will teach vs the names +of each thing in their language which wee desire to learne, and are apt to +learne any thing of vs. [Sidenote: The sauages delight in Musicke.] They +delight in Musicke aboue measure, and will keepe time and stroke to any +tune which you shall sing, both with their voyce, head, hand and feete, and +will sing the same tune aptly after you. They will row with our Ores in our +boates, and keepe a true stroke with our Mariners, and seeme to take great +delight therein. [Sidenote: Hard kind of Living.] They liue in Caues of the +earth, and hunt for their dinners or praye, euen as the beare or other wild +beastes do. They eat raw flesh and fish, and refuse no meat howsoeuer it be +stinking. They are desperate in their fight, sullen of nature, and rauenous +in their maner of feeding. + +Their sullen and desperate nature doth herein manifestly appeare, that a +company of them being enuironed by our men on the top of a hie cliffe, so +that they could by no meanes escape our hands, finding themselues in this +case distressed, chose rather to cast themselues headlong down the rocks +into the sea, and so be bruised and drowned, rather than to yeeld +themselues to our mens mercies. + +[Sidenote: Their weapons.] For their weapons to offend their enemies or +kill their prey withall, they haue darts, slings, bowes, and arrowes headed +with sharpe stones, bones, and some with yron. They are exceeding friendly +and kind hearted one to the other, and mourne greatly at the losse or harme +of their fellowes, and expresse their griefe of mind, when they part one +from another with a mourneful song, and Dirges. + +[Sidenote: Their chastity.] They are very shamefast in betraying the +secrets of nature, and very chaste in the maner of their liuing: for when +the man, which wee brought from thence into England the last voyage, should +put off his coat or discouer his whole body for change, he would not suffer +the woman to bee present, but put her forth of his Cabin. And in all the +space of two or three moneths, while the man liued in company of the woman, +there was neuer any thing seene or perceiued betweene them, more then ought +haue passed betweene brother and sister: but the woman was in all things +very seruiceable for the man, attending him carefully when he was sicke, +and he likewise in all the meates which they did eate together, woulde +carue vnto her of the sweetest, fattest, and best morsels they had. They +wondred much at all our things, and were afraid of our horses and other +beasts out of measure. They began to grow more ciuill, familiar, pleasant, +and docible amongst vs in very short time. + +[Sidenote: Their boates.] They haue boates made of leather, and couered +cleane ouer sauing one place in the middle to sit in, planked within with +timber, and they vse to row therein with one Ore, more swiftly a great +deale, then we in our boates can doe with twentie. They haue one sort of +greater boates wherein they can carrie aboue twentie persons, and haue a +Mast with a saile thereon, which saile is made of thinne skinnes or +bladders, sowed togither with the sinewes of fishes. + +They are good Fishermen, and in their small Boates being disguised with +their coates of Seales skinnes, they deceiue the fish, who take them rather +for their fellow Seales, then for deceiuing men. + +They are good marke-men. With their dart or arrow they will commonly kill a +Ducke, or any other foule in the head, and commonly in the eye. + +When they shoote at a great fish with any of their darts, they vse to tye a +bladder thereunto, whereby they may the better find them againe, and the +fish not able to cary it so easily away (for that the bladder doth boy the +dart) will at length be wearie, and dye therewith. + +[Sidenote: Traffique with some other nation vnknowen.] They vse to traffike +and exchange their commodities with some other people, of whom they haue +such things as their miserable Countrey, and ignorance of Art to make, +denieth them to haue, as barres of yron, heads of yron for their darts, +needles made foure square, certaine buttons of copper, which they vse to +weare vpon their forehads for ornament, as our Ladies in the Court of +England doe vse great pearle. + +[Sidenote: Gold.] Also they haue made signes vnto vs, that they haue seene +gold, and such bright plates of mettals, which are vsed for ornaments +amongst some people with whom they haue conference. + +We found also in their tents a Guiny Beane of redde colour, the which doth +vsually grow in the hote Countreys: whereby it appeareth they trade with +other nations which dwell farre off, or else themselues are great +trauellers. + +[Sidenote: Their fewell.] They haue nothing in vse among them to maker fire +withall, sauing a kinde of Heath and Mosse which groweth there. + +[Sidenote: How they make fire.] And they kindle their fire with continuall +rubbing and fretting one sticke against another, as we doe with flints. +They drawe with dogges in sleads vpon the yce, and remooue their tents +therewithall wherein they dwell in Sommer, when they goe a hunting for +their praye and prouision against Winter. [Sidenote: Their kettles and +pannes.] They doe sometime parboyle their meat a little and seeth the same +in kettles made of beast skins; they haue also pannes cut and made of +stones very artificially; they vse prety ginnes wherewith they take foule. +The women carry their sucking children at their backes, and doe feede them +with raw flesh, which first they do a little chaw in their owne mouths. The +women haue their faces marked or painted ouer with small blewe spots: they +haue blacke and long haire on their heads, and trimme the same in a decent +order. The men haue but little haire on their faces, and very thinne +beards. For their common drinke, they eate yce to quench their thirst +withall. [Sidenote: The people eate grasse and shrubs.] Their earth +yeeldeth no graine or fruit of sustenance for man, or almost for beast to +liue vpon: and the people will eate grasse and shrubs of the ground, euen +as our kine doe. They haue no wood growing in their Countrey thereabouts, +and yet wee finde they haue some timber among them, which we thinke doth +growe farre off to the Southwards of this place, about Canada, or some +other part of New found land: for there belike, the trees standing on the +cliffes of the sea side, by the waight of yce and snow in Winter +ouercharging them with waight, when the Sommers thaw commeth aboue, and the +Sea vnderfretting beneath, which winneth dayly of the land, they are +vndermined and fall downe from those cliffes into the Sea, and with the +tydes and currents are driuen to and fro vpon the coastes further off, and +by conjecture are taken vp here by these Countrey people, to serue them to +planke and strengthen their boates withall, and to make dartes, bowes, and +arrowes, and such other things necessarie for their vse. And of this kind +of drift wood we find all the Seas ouer great store, which being cut or +sawed asunder, by reason of long driuing in the Sea is eaten of wormes, and +full of holes, of which sort theirs is found to be. + +[Sidenote: A strange kind of gnat.] We haue not yet found any venomous +Serpent or other hurtfull thing in these parts, but there is a kind of +small flie or gnat that stingeth and offendeth sorely, leauing many red +spots in the face, and other places where she stingeth. They haue snow and +haile in the best time of their Sommer, and the ground frosen three fadome +deepe. + +[Sidenote: Inchanters.] These people are great inchanters, and vse many +charmes of witchcraft: for when their heads doe ake, they tye a great stone +with a string vnto a sticke, and with certaine prayers and wordes done to +the sticke, they lift vp the stone from ground, which sometimes with all a +mans force they cannot stirre, and sometime againe they lift as easily as a +fether, and hope thereby with certaine ceremonious wordes to haue ease and +helpe. And they made vs by signes to vnderstand, lying groueling with their +faces vpon the ground, and making a noise downeward, that they worship the +deuill vnder them. + +[Sidenote: The beasts and foules of the Countrey.] They have great store of +Deere, Beares, Hares, Foxes, and innumerable numbers of sundry sorts of +wild foule, as Seamewes, Gulles, Wilmotes, Ducks, &c. whereof our men +killed in one day fifteene hundred. They haue also store of haukes, as +Falkons, Tassels, &c. whereof two alighted vpon one of our ships at their +returne, and were brought into England, which some thinke wil proue very +good. + +There are also great store of rauens, larkes, and partriges, whereof the +countrey people feed. + +All these foules are farre thicker clothed with downe and fethers, and haue +thicker skinnes then any in England haue: for as that countrey is colder, +so nature hath provided a remedie thereunto. + +Our men haue eaten of the Beares, Hares, Patriges, Larkes, and of their +wild foule, and find them reasonable good meat, but not so delectable as +ours. + +Their wild foule must be all fleine, their skins are so thicke: and they +tast best fryed in pannes. + +The Countrey seemeth to be much subiect to Earthquakes. + +The ayre is very subtile, piercing and searching, so that if any corrupted +or infected body, especially with the disease called Morbus Gallicus come +there, it will presently breake forth and shew it selfe, and cannot there +by any kind of salue or medicine be cured. + +Their longest Sommers day is of great length, without any darke night, so +that in Iuly al the night long, we might perfitly and easily write and +reade whatsoeuer had pleased vs, which lightsome nights were very +beneficiall vnto vs, being so distressed with abundance of yce as we were. + +[Sidenote: The length of their day.] The Sunne setteth to them in the +Euening at a quarter of an houre after tenne of the clocke, and riseth +againe in the morning, at three quarters of an houre after one of the +clocke, so that in Sommer their Sunne shineth to them twenty houres and a +halfe, and in the night is absent three houres and a halfe. And although +the Sunne bee absent these 3. houres and a halfe, yet it is not darke that +time, for that the Sunne is neuer aboue three or foure degrees vnder the +edge of their Horizon; the cause is that the Tropicke of Cancer doth cut +their Horizon at very vneuen and oblique Angles. + +[Sidenote: A full reuolution of the Moone aboue their Horizon.] But the +Moone at anytime of the yeere being in Cancer, hauing North latitude; doth +make a full revolution aboue their Horizon, so that sometime they see the +Moone about 24. houres togither. Some of our company of the more ignorant +sort, thought we might continually haue seene the Sunne and the Moone, had +it not bene for two or three high mountaines. + +The people are now become so warie, and so circumspect, by reason of their +former losses, that by no meines we can apprehend any of them, although wee +attempted often in this last voyage. But to say trueth wee could not bestow +any great time in pursuing them, because of our great businesse in lading, +and other things. + + * * * * * + +The Letters patents of the Queenes Maiestie, granted to Master Adrian + Gylbert and others, for the search and discouery of the Northwest Passage + to China. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France, and Ireland Queene, +defender of the faith, &c. To all, to whome these presents shall come, +greeting: Forasmuch as our trustie and welbeloued subiect Adrian Gylbert of +Sandridge in the Countie of Deuon, Gentleman, to his great costes and +charges, hath greatly and earnestly trauelled and sought, and yet doth +trauell and seeke, and by diuers meanes indeuoureth and laboureth, that the +Passage vnto China and the Iles of the Moluccas, by the Northwestward, +Northeastward, or Northward, vnto which part of the world, none of our +loyall Subiects haue hitherto had any traffique or trade, may be +discouered, knowen, and frequented by the Subiects of this our Realme: +Knowe yee therefore that for the considerations aforesayd and for diuers +other good considerations vs thereunto specially moouing. We of our grace +especiall, certaine knowledge, and meere motion, haue giuen and granted, +and by these presents for vs, our heires and successors, doe giue and grant +free libertie, power, and full authoritie to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +to any other person by him or his heires to be assigned, and to those his +associates and assistants, whose names are written in a Scedule hereunto +annexed, and to their heires, and to one assigne of each of them, and each +of their heires at all times, and at any time or times after the date of +these presents, vnder our Banners and Ensignes freely, without let, +interruption, or restraint, of vs, our heires or successors, any law, +statute proclamation, patent charter, or prouiso to the contrary +notwithstanding, to saile, make voyage, and by any maner of meanes to passe +and to depart out of this our Realme of England, or any our Realmes, +Dominions, or Territories into all or any Isles, Countreys, Regions, +Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, Creekes, armes of the +Sea, and all Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer, that by the +sayde Northwestward, Northeastward, or Northward, is to be by him, his +associates or assignes discouered, and for and in the sayd sayling, voyage, +and passage, to haue and vse so many shippes, Barkes, Pinnesses, or any +vessels of any qualitie or burthen, with all the furniture, of men, +victuals, and all maner of necessary prouision, armour, weopons, +ordinance, targets, and appurtinances, whatsoeuer, as to such a voyage +shall or may be requisite, conuenient or commodious, any lawe, statute, +ordinance or prouiso to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And also we +doe giue and grant to the sayde Adrian Gylbert, and his sayde associates, +and to such assignee of him, and his heires, and to the heires and one +assignee of euery of his sayde associates for euer, full power and absolute +authoritie to trade and make their residance in any of the sayde Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Portes, Bayes, +and Hauens, and all maner of other places whatsoeuer with all commodities, +profites, and emoluments in the sayde places or any of them, growing and +arising, with all maner of priuiledges, prerogatives, iurisdictions and +royalties both by sea and land whatsoeuer, yeelding and paying therefore +vnto vs, our heires and successors, the tenth part of all such golde and +siluer oare, pearles, iewels, and precious stones, or the value thereof, as +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd associates, their heires and assignes, +servants, factors, or workemen, and euery or any of them shall finde, the +sayd tenth to bee deliuered duely to our Customer, or other officers by vs, +our heires or successors thereunto assigned, in the Fortes of London, +Dartmouth, or Plimmouth, at which three places onely the sayde Adrian +Gylbert and his sayde associates, their sayde heires and assignes, shall +lade, charge, arriue, and discharge all maner of wares, goods, and +merchandizes whatsoeuer to the sayde voyage, and newe trade belonging or +appertaining. And moreouer, wee haue giuen, granted, and authorized, and by +these presents for vs, our heires and successors, of our grace especiall, +certaine knowledge, and meere motion, doe giue, graunt, and authorize the +said Adrian Gilbert, and his said associats for euer, their heires and +their said assignes and euery of them, that if the aforesayd Isles, +Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, Bayes, or +Hauens, or any other of the premises by the sayd Adrian Gylbert or his +associates, their heires and their said assignes or any of them, to be +found by them, discouered and traffiqued vnto by any trade as aforesayd, +shall be by any other our subiects visited, frequented, haunted, traded +vnto or inhabited by the wayes aforesayd, without the special licence in +writing of the said Adrian Gylbert and his associats, and their heires and +assignes for euer, or by the most part of them, so that the sayd Adrian +Gilbert, his heires or assignes be one of them, that then aswell their +ship, or ships in any such voyage or voyages be vsed, as all and singuler +their goods, wares, and marchandizes, or any other things whatsoeuer, from +or to any of the places aforesayd transported, that so shall presume to +visit, frequent, haunt, trade vnto, or inhabite, shall be forfaited and +confiscated, ipso facto, the one halfe of the same goods and marchandizes, +or other things whatsoeuer, or the value thereof to be to the vse of vs, +our heires or successours, and the other moytie thereof to be to the vse of +the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his said associats their heires and assignes +for euer: [Sidenote: The colleagues of the fellowship for the discouery the +Northwest passage.] and vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert and his sayd +associats, their heires and assignes wee impose, giue, assigne, create and +confirme this, name peculiar to be named by, to sue and to be sued by, that +is to wit, by the name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, and them for vs, our heires and +successours by that name doe incorporate, and doe erect and create as one +body corporate to haue continuance for euer. Moreouer vnto the sayd Adrian +Gylbert, and his said associats, and vnto their heires and their sayd +assignes for euer, by name of the Colleagues of the fellowship for the +discouerie of the Northwest passage, we haue giuen, granted, and confirmed, +and doe by these presents giue, grant, and confirme full power and +authoritie from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to make order, +decree and enact, constitute and ordeine, and appoynt all such ordinances, +orders, decrees, lawes, and actes, as the sayd new corporation or body +politique, Colleagues of the fellowship for the discouerie of the Northwest +passage, shall thinke meete, necessary, and conuenient, so that they or any +of them be not contrary to the lawes of this realme, and of this our +present graunt. + +And we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of our authority, of our +grace especiall, certaine knowledge and meere motion, do establish, +confirme and ratifie all such ordinances, orders, decrees, lawes and acts +to be in so full and great power and authority, as we, our heires or +successours may or can in any such case graunt, confirme, or ratifie. And +further for the better incouragement of our louing subiects in this +discouerie, we by our Royall prerogatiue, and fulnesse of authority for vs, +our heires and successours, doe giue, graunt, establish, confirme, ordeine, +ratifie and allow by these presents, to the sayd Adrian Gylbert and to his +associates, and to the heires and assignes of them and euery of them for +euer, and to all other person or persons of our louing subiects whatsoeuer +that shall hereafter trauaile, sayle, discouer, or make voyage as aforesayd +to any of the Iles, Mainelands, Countreys or Teritories whatsoeuer, by +vertue of this our graunt to be discouered; [Sidenote: Free Denization +granted.] that the heires and assignes of them and euery of them being +borne within any of the Iles, Mainelands and Countreys, or Territories +whatsoeuer before mentioned, shall haue and enioy all the privileges of +free Denizens, as persons natiue borne within this our Realme of England, +or within our allegiance for euer, in such like ample maner and forme, as +if they were or had bene borne and personally resiant within our sayd +Realme, any law, statute, proclamation, custome or vsage to the contrary +hereof in any wise notwithstanding. + +Moreouer, for the consideration aforesayd by vertue hereof, we giue and +graunt vnto the sayd Adrian Gylbert, his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie, licence and priuilege, [Sidenote: This Patent remained in force +fiue yeeres.] that during the space of fiue yeeres next and immediately +ensuing the date hereof, it shall not be lawfull for any person or persons +whatsoeuer, to visit, haunt, frequent, trade, or make voyage to any Iles, +Mainlands, Countreys, Regions, Prouinces, Territories, Seas, Riuers, Ports, +Bayes, and Hauens, nor to any other Hauens or places whatsoeuer hitherto +not yet discouered by any of our subiects by vertue of this graunt to be +traded vnto, without the special consent and good liking of the said Adrian +Gylbert, his heires or assignes first had in writing. And if any person or +persons of the associats of the sayd Adrian, his heires or assignes or any +other person or persons whatsoeuer, free of this discouery, shall do any +act or acts contrary to the tenour and true meaning hereof, during the +space of the sayd fiue yeeres, that then the partie and parties so +offending, they and their heires for euer shall loose (ipso facto) the +benefite and priuilege of this our graunt, and shall stand and remaine to +all intents and purposes as persons exempted out of this graunt. + +[Sidenote: Authoritie to proceede at Sea against mutiners.] And further by +vertue hereof wee giue and graunt, for vs, our heires and successours at +all times during the space of fiue yeers next ensuing the date hereof, +libertie and licence, and full authority to the sayd Adrian Gylbert, and +his heires and assignes, that if it shall happen any one or moe in any ship +or ships sayling on their sayd voyage, to become mutinous, seditious, +disordered, or any way vnruly to the preiudice or hinderance of the hope +for the successe in the attempt or prosecuting of this discouerie or trade +intended, to vse or execute vpon him or them so offending, such punishment, +correction, or execution, as the cause shall be found in iustice to require +by the verdict of twelue of the companie sworne thereunto, as in such a +case apperteineth: That expresse mention of the certaintie of the +premisses, or of other gifts or graunts by vs to the sayd Adrian Gylbert +and his associats before this time made is not mentioned in these presents, +or any other lawe, act, statute, prouiso, graunt, or proclamation +heretofore made or hereafter to be made to the contrary hereof in any wise +notwithstanding. [Sidenote: 1583.] In witnesse whereof we haue made these +our Letters to bee made patents: Witnesse our selfe at Westminster, the +sixt day of Februarie, in the sixe and twenty yeere of our reigne. + + * * * * * + +The first voyage of M. Iohn Davis, undertaken in June 1585. for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage, Written by M. Iohn Ianes Marchant, + sometimes seruant to the worshipfull Master William Sanderson. + +Certaine Honourable personages, and worthy Gentlemen of the Court and +Countrey, with diuers worshipful Marchants of London and of the West +Countrey, mooued with desire to aduance Gods glory and to seeke the good of +their natiue Countrey, consulting together of the likelyhood of the +Discouerie of the Northwest passage, which heretofore had bene attempted, +but vnhappily giuen ouer by accidents vnlooked for, which turned the +enterprisers from their principall purpose, resolued after good +deliberation, to put downe their aduentures to prouide for necessarie +shipping, and a fit man to be chiefe Conductor of this so hard an +enterprise. The setting forth of this action was committed by the +aduenturers, especially to the care of M. William Sanderson Marchant of +London, who was so forward therein, that besides his trauaile which was not +small, he became the greatest aduenturer with his purse, and commended vnto +the rest of the companie one M. Iohn Davis, a man very well grounded in the +principles of the Arte of Nauigation, for Captaine and chiefe Pilot of this +exployt. + +Thus therefore all things being put in a readines, wee departed from +Dartmouth the seuenth of Iune, towards the discouerie of the aforesayd +Northwest passage, with two Barkes, the one being of 50. tunnes, named the +Sunneshine of London, and the other being 35. tunnes, named the Mooneshine +of Dartmouth. In the Sunneshine we had 23. persons, whose names are these +following, M. Iohn Dauis Captaine, William Eston Master, Richard Pope +masters mate, Iohn Iane Marchant, Henry Dauie gunner, William Crosse +boatswayne, Iohn Bagge, Walter Arthur, Luke Adams, Robert Coxworthie, Iohn +Ellis, Iohn Kelley, Edward Helman, William Dicke, Andrew Maddocke, Thomas +Hill, Robert Wats Carpenter, William Russel, Christopher Gorney boy: +[Sidenote: Musitians.] Iames Cole, Francis Ridley, John Russell, Robert +Cornish Musicians. + +The Mooneshine had l9. persons, William Bruton Captaine Iohn Ellis Master, +the rest Mariners. + +The 7. of Iune the Captaine and the Master drewe out a proportion for the +continuance of our victuals. + +The 8. day the wind being at Southwest and West Southwest, we put in for +Falmouth, where we remained vntill the 13. + +The 13. the wind blew at North, and being faire weather we departed. + +The 14. with contrary wind we were forced to put into Silley. + +The 15. wee departed thence, hauing the wind North and by East moderate and +faire weather. + +The 16. wee were driuen backe againe, and were constrained to arriue at +newe Grymsby in Silley: here the winde remained contrary 12. dayes, and in +that space the Captaine, the Master and I went about all the Ilands, and +the Captaine did plat out and describe the situation of all the Ilands, +rocks and harboroughs to the exact vse of Nauigation, with lines and scale +thereunto conuenient. + +[Sidenote: They depart from Silley.] The 28. in Gods name we departed the +wind being Easterly but calme. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The first of Iuly wee sawe great store of Porposes; The +Master called for an harping yron, and shot twise or thrise: sometimes he +missed, and at last shot one and strooke him in the side, and wound him +into the ship: when we had him aboord, the Master sayd it was a Darlie +head. + +The 2. we had some of the fish sodden, and it did eat as sweete as any +mutton. + +The 3. wee had more in sight, and the Master went to shoote at them, but +they were so great, that they burst our yrons, and we lost both fish, +yrons, pastime and all: yet neuerthelesse the Master shot at them with a +pike, and had welnigh gotten one, but he was so strong that he burst off +the barres of the pike and went away: then he tooke the boate-hook, and hit +one with that, but all would not preuaile, so at length we let them alone. + +The 6. we saw a very great Whale, and euery day we saw whales continually. + +[Sidenote: Great store of whales.] The 16. and 17. we saw great store of +Whales. + +The 19. of Iuly we fell into a great whirling and brustling of a tyde, +setting to the Northwards: and sayling about halfe a league wee came into a +very calme Sea, which bent to the Southsouthwest. Here we heard a mighty +great roaring of the Sea, as if it had bene the breach of some shoare, the +ayre being so fogie and fulle of thicke mist, that we could not see the one +ship from the other, being a very small distance asunder: so the Captaine +and the Master being in distrust how the tyde might set them, caused the +Mooneshine to hoyse out her boate and to sound, but they could not finde +ground in 300 fathoms and better. Then the Captaine, Master, and I went +towards the breach, to see what it should be, giuing the charge to our +gunners that at euery glasse they should shoote off a musket shot, to the +intent we might keepe ourselues from loosing them. [Sidenote: The rouling +of the yce together made a great roaring.] Then coming nere to the breach, +we met many Ilands of yce floting, which had quickly compassed vs about: +then we went vpon some of them, and did perceiue that all the roaring which +we heard, was caused onely by the rowling of this yce together: [Sidenote: +Yce turned into water.] Our companie seeing vs not to returne according to +our appoyntment, left off shooting muskets, and began to shoote falkonets, +for they feared some mishap had befallen vs, but before night we came +aboord againe with our boat laden with yce, which made very good fresh +water. Then wee bent our course toward the North, hoping by that meanes to +double the land. + +[Sidenote: The land of Desolation.] The 20. as we sayled along the coast +the fogge broke, and we discouered the land, which was the most deformed +rockie and mountainous land that euer we saw: The first sight whereof did +shew as if it had bene in forme of a sugar-loafe, standing to our sight +aboue the cloudes, for that it did shew ouer the fogge like a white liste +in the skie, the tops altogether covered with snow, and the shoare beset +with yce a league off into the Sea, making such yrkesome noyse as that it +seemed to be the true patterne of desolation, and after the same our +Captaine named it, The land of Desolation. + +The 21. the winde came Northerly and ouerblew, so that we were constrained +to bend our course South againe, for we perceiued that we were runne into a +very deepe Bay, where wee were almost compassed with yce, for we saw very +much toward the Northnortheast, West, and Southwest: and this day and this +night wee cleared our selues of the yce, running Southsouthwest along the +shoare. + +Vpon Thursday being the 22. of this moneth, about three of the clocke in +the morning, wee hoysed out our boate, and the Captaine with sixe sayles +went towards the shore, thinking to find a landing place, for the night +before we did perceiue the coast to be voyde of yce to our iudgement, and +the same night wee were all perswaded that we had seene a Canoa rowing +along the shoare, but afterwards we fell in some doubt of it, but we had no +great reason so to doe. The Captaine rowing towards the shoare, willed the +Master to beare in with the land after him, and before he came neere the +shoare by the space of a league, or about two miles, hee found so much yce, +that hee could not get to land by any meanes. Here our mariners put to +their lines to see if they could get any fish, because there were so many +seales vpon the coast, and the birds did beate vpon the water, but all was +in vaine: [Sidenote: Very blacke water.] The water about this place was +very blacke and thicke like to a filthy standing poole, we sounded and had +ground in 120. fathoms. [Sidenote: Floting wood.] While the Captaine was +rowing to the shoare, our men sawe woods vpon the rocks like to the rocks +of Newfoundland, but I could not discerne them, yet it might be so very +well, for we had wood floting vpon the coast euery day, and the Moone-shine +tooke vp a tree at Sea not farre from the coast being sixtie foote of +length and fourteene handfuls about, hauing the roote vpon it: After this +the Captaine came aboord, the weather being very calme and faire we bent +our course toward the South, with intent to double the land. + +The 23. we coasted the land which did lie Eastnortheast and Westsouthwest. + +The 24. the winde being very faire at East, we coasted the land which did +lie East and West, not being able to come neere the shoare by reason of the +great quantitie of yce. [Sidenote: Colde by reason of yce.] At this place, +because the weather was somewhat colde by reason of the yce, and the better +to encourage our men, their allowance was increased: the captaine and the +master tooke order that euery messe, being fiue persons, should haue halfe +a pound of bread and a kan of beere euery morning to breakfast. The weather +was not very colde, but the aire was moderate like to our April-weather in +England: when the winde came from the land, or the ice, it was somewhat +colde, but when it came off the sea it was very hote. + +[Sidenote: They saile Northwestward aboue foure dayes.] The 25. of this +moneth we departed from sight of this land at sixe of the clocke in the +morning, directing our course to the Northwestward, hoping in Gods mercy to +finde our desired passage, and so continued aboue foure dayes. + +[Sidenote: Land in 64 degrees 15 min.] The 29. of Iuly we discouered land +in 64 degrees 15 minutes of latitude, bearing Northeast from vs. The winde +being contrary to goe to the Northwestwards, we bare in with this land to +take some view of it, being vtterly void of the pester yce and very +temperate. Comming neere the coast, we found many faire sounds and good +roads for shipping, and many great inlets into the land, whereby we iudged +this land to be a great number of Islands standing together. Heere hauing +mored our barke in good order, we went on shoare vpon a small Island to +seeke for water and wood. [Sidenote: The sound where our ships did ride was +called Gilberts Sound.] Vpon this Island we did perceiue that there had +bene people: or we found a small shoo and pieces of leather sowed with +sinewes, and a piece of furre, and wooll like to Beuer. Then we went vpon +another Island on the other side of our shippes: and the Captaine, the +master, and I, being got vp to the top of an high rocke, the people of the +countrey hauing espied vs, made a lamentable noise, as we thought, with +great outcries and skreechings: we hearing them, thought it had bene the +howling of wolues. At last I hallowed againe, and they likewise cried. Then +we perceiuing where they stood, some on the shoare, and one rowing in a +Canoa about a small Island fast by them, we made a great noise, partly to +allure them to vs, and partly to warne our company of them. [Sidenote: +Musicians.] Whereupon M. Bruton and the Master of his shippe, with others +of their company, made great haste towards vs, and brought our Musicians +with them from our shippe, purposing either by force to rescue vs, if need +should so require, or with courtesie to allure the people. When they came +vnto vs, we caused our Musicians to play, our selues dancing, and making +many signes of friendship. [Sidenote: The people of the countrey came and +conferred with our men.] At length there came tenne Canoas from the other +Islands, and two of them came so neere the shoare where we were, that they +talked with vs, the other being in their boats a prety way off. Their +pronunciation was very hollow thorow the throat, and their speech such as +we could not vnderstand: onely we allured them by friendly imbracings and +signes of courtesie. At length one of them pointing vp to the Sunne with +his hand, would presently strike his breast so hard that we might heare the +blow. This hee did many times before hee would any way trust vs. Then Iohn +Ellis the Master of the Mooneshine was appointed to vse his best policie to +gaine their friendship; who strooke his breast, and pointed to the Sunne +after their order: which when he had diuers time done, they beganne to +trust him, and one of them came on shoare, to whom we threw our cappes, +stockings, and gloues, and such other things as then we had about vs, +playing with our musicke, and making signes of ioy, and dauncing. So the +night comming, we bade them farewell, and went aboord our barks. + +[Sidenote: Thirty seuen Canoas. Their musicke.] The next morning being the +30. of Iuly there came 37 Canoas rowing by our ships, calling to vs to come +on shoare: we not making any great haste vnto them, one of them went vp to +the toppe of the rocke, and leapt and daunced as they had done the day +before, shewing vs a seales skinne, and another thing made like a timbrell, +which he did beat vpon with a sticke, making a noise like a small drumme. +Whereupon we manned our boats and came to them, they all staying in their +Canoas: we come to the water side where they were: and after we had sworne +by the Sunne after their fashion, they did trust vs. [Sidenote: Great +familiarity with the Sauages.] So I shooke hands with one of them, and he +kissed my hand, and we were very familiar with them. We were in so great +credit with them vpon this single acquaintance, that we could haue any +thing they had. We bought fiue Canoas of them: we bought their clothes from +their backs, which were all made of seales skinnes and birds skinnes; their +buskins, their hose, their gloues, all being commonly sowed and well +dressed: so that we were fully perswaded that they haue diuers artificers +among them. We had a paire of buskins of them full of fine wool like beuer. +Their apparell for heat was made of birds skinnes with their feathers on +them. We saw among them leather dressed like Glouers leather, and thicke +thongs like white leather of a good length. We had of their darts and +oares, and found in them that they would by no meanes displease vs, but +would giue vs whatsoeuer we asked of them, and would be satisfied with +whatsoeuer we gaue them. They tooke great care of one another: for when we +had bought their boats, then two other would come and cary him away +betweene them that had solde vs his. They are very tractable people, void +of craft or double dealing, and easie to be brought to any civility or good +order: but we iudge them to be idolaters and to worship the Sunne. + +[Sidenote: Diuers sorts of wood.] During the time of our abode among these +Islands we found reasonable quantitie of wood, both firre, spruse and +iuniper; which whether it came floating any great distance to these places +where we found it, or whether it grew in some great Islands neere the same +place by vs not yet discouered, we know not; but we iudge that it groweth +there further into the land then we were, because the people had great +store of darts and oares which they made none account of, but gaue them to +vs for small trifles, as points and pieces of paper. [Sidenote: They may +make much traine, if they had meanes how to vse it.] We saw about this +coast marueilous great abundance of seales skulling together like skuls of +small fish. We found no fresh water among these Islands, but onely snow +water, whereof we found great pooles. The cliffes were all of such oare as +M. Frobisher brought from Meta incognita. [Sidenote: Moscouie glasse.] We +had diuers shewes of Study or Muscouy glasse shining not altogether vnlike +to Christall. [Sidenote: A fruit like corinths.] We found an herbe growing +vpon the rocks whose fruit was sweet, full of red iuice, and the ripe ones +were like corinths. We found also birch and willow growing like shrubbes +low to the ground. These people haue great store of furres as we iudge. +They made shewes vnto vs the 30 of this present, which was the second time +of our being with them, after they perceiued we would haue skinnes and +furres, that they would go into the countrey and come againe the next day +with such things as they had: but this night the winde comming faire, the +captaine and the master would by no meanes detract the purpose of our +discouery. And so the last of this moneth about foure of the clocke in the +morning in God's name we set saile, and were all that day becalmed vpon the +coast. + +[Sidenote: August.] The first of August we had a faire winde, and so +proceeded towards the Northwest for our discouery. + +[Sidenote: Land in 66 degrees 40 min.] The sixt of August we discouered +land in 66 degrees 40 minuts of latitude, altogether void from the pester +of ice: we ankered in a very faire rode vnder a braue mount, the cliffes +whereof were as orient as golde. This Mount was named Mount Raleigh. The +rode where our ships lay at anker was called Totnes rode. The sound which +did compasse the mount was named Exeter sound. The foreland towards the +North was called Diers cape. The foreland towards the South was named Cape +Walsingham. [Sidenote: Foure white beares.] So soone as we were come to an +anker in Totnes rode vnder Mount Raleigh, we espied foure white beares at +the foot of the mount: we supposing them to be goats or wolues, manned our +boats and went towards them: but when we came neere the shore, we found +them to be white beares of a monstrous bignesse: we being desirous of fresh +victuall and the sport, began to assault them, and I being on land, one of +them came downe the hill right against me: my piece was charged with +hailshot and a bullet: I discharged my piece and shot him in the necke; he +roared a litle, and tooke the water straight, making small account of his +hurt. Then we followed him with our boat, and killed him with +boare-speares, and two more that night. We found nothing in their mawes: +but we iudged by their dung that they fed vpon grasse, because it appeared +in all respects like the dung of an horse, wherein we might very plainly +see the very strawes. + +The 7 we went on shore to another beare which lay all night vpon the top of +an Island vnder Mount Raleigh, and when we came vp to him he lay fast +asleep. [Sidenote: A large white beare.] I leuelled at his head, and the +stone of my piece gaue no fire: with that he looked vp, and layed downe his +head againe: then I shot being charged with two bullets, and strooke him in +the head: he being but amazed fell backwards: wherevpon we ran all vpon him +with boare-speares, and thrust him in the body: yet for that he gript away +our boare-speares, and went towards the water; and as he was going downe, +he came backe againe. Then our Master shot his boare-spear, and strooke him +in the head, and made him to take the water, and swimme into a coue fast +by, where we killed him, and brought him aboord. The breadth of his +forefoot from one side to the other was fourteene inches ouer. They were +very fat, so as we were constrained to cast the fat away. We saw a rauen +vpon Mount Raleigh. We found withies also growing like low shrubs and +flowers like Primroses in the sayd place. The coast is very mountainous, +altogether without wood, grasse, or earth, and is onely huge mountaines of +stone; but the brauest stone that euer we saw. The aire was very moderate +in this countrey. + +The 8 we departed from Mount Raleigh, coasting along the shoare, which +lieth Southsouthwest, and Eastnortheast. + +The 9 our men fell in dislike of their allowance, because it was too small +as they thought: whereupon we made a new proportion; euery messe being fiue +to a messe should haue foure pound of bread a day, twelue wine quarts of +beere, six Newland fishes; and the flesh dayes a gill of pease more: so we +restrained them from their butter and cheese. + +The 11 we came to the most Southerly cape of this land, which we named The +Cape of Gods mercy, as being the place of our first entrance for the +discouery. The weather being very foggy we coasted this North land; at +length when it brake vp, we perceiued that we were shot into a very faire +entrance or passage, being in some places twenty leagues broad, and in some +thirty, altogether void of any pester of ice, the weather very tolerable, +and the water of the very colour, nature and quality of the maine ocean, +which gaue vs the greater hope of our passage. Hauing sailed Northwest +sixty leagues in this entrance we discouered certaine Islands standing in +the midst thereof, hauing open passage on both sides. Wherupon our ships +diuided themselues, the one sailing on the North side, the other on the +South side of the sayd Isles, where we stayed fiue dayes, hauing the winde +at Southeast, very foggy and foule weather. + +The 14 we went on shoare and found signes of people, for we found stones +layed vp together like a wall, and saw the skull of a man or a woman. + +The 15 we heard dogs houle on the shoare, which we thought had bene wolues, +and therefore we went on shoare to kill them. When we came on land the +dogges came presently to our boat very gently, yet we thought they came to +pray vpon vs, and therefore we shot at them, and killed two: and about the +necke of one of them we found a leatherne coller, whereupon we thought them +to be tame dogs. There were twenty dogs like mastiues with prickt eares and +long bush tailes: we found a bone in the pizels of their dogs. [Sidenote: +Timber sawen.] Then we went farther, and found two sleads made like ours in +England: the one was made of firre, spruse and oken boords sawen like inch +boords: the other was made all of whale bone, and there hung on the tops of +the sleads three heads of beasts which they had killed. [Sidenote: Fowle.] +We saw here larks, rauens, and partridges. + +[Sidenote: An image.] The 17 we went on shoare, and in a little thing made +like an ouen with stones I found many small trifles, as a small canoa made +of wood, a piece of wood made like an image, a bird made of bone, beads +hauing small holes in one end of them to hang about their necks, and other +small things. The coast was very barren without wood or grasse: the rocks +were very faire like marble, full of vaines of divers colours. We found a +seale which was killed not long before, being fleane, and hid vnder stones. + +[Sidenote: Probabilities for the passage.] Our Captaine and Master searched +for probabilities of the passage, and first found, that this place was all +Islands, with great sounds passing betweene them. + +[Sidenote: Wee neuer came into any bay before or after, but the waters +colour was altered very blackish.] Secondly the water remained of one +colour with the maine ocean without altering. + +Thirdly we saw to the West of those Isles three or foure whales in a skull, +which they iudged to come from a Westerly sea, because to the Eastward we +saw not any whale. + +Also as we were rowing into a very great sound lying Southwest, from whence +these whales came, vpon the sudden there came a violent counter-checke of a +tide from the Southwest against the flood which we came with, not knowing +from whence it was mainteined. + +Fiftly, in sailing twenty leagues within the mouth of this entrance we had +sounding in 90 fadoms, faire grey osie sand, and the further we ran into +the Westwards the deeper was the water; so that hard aboord the shoare +among these Isles we could not haue ground in 330 fadoms. + +Lastly, it did ebbe and flow sixe or seuen fadome vp and downe, the flood +comming from diuers parts, so as we could not perceiue the chiefe +maintenance thereof. + +The 18 and 19 our Captaine and Master determined what was best to doe, both +for the safegard of their credits, and satisfying of the aduenturers, and +resolued, if the weather brake vp, to make further search. + +The 20 the winde came directly against vs: so they altered their purpose, +and reasoned both for proceeding and returning. + +The 21 the winde being Northwest, we departed from these Islands; and as we +coasted the South shoare we saw many faire sounds, whereby we were +perswaded that it was no firme land but Islands. + +The 23 of this moneth the wind came Southeast, with very stormy and foule +weather: so we were constrained to seeke harborow vpon the South coast of +this entrance, where we fell into a very faire sound, and ankered in 25 +fadoms greene osie sand. [Sidenote: Faulcons.] Here we went on shore, where +we had manifest signes of people where they had made their fire, and layed +stone like a wall. In this place we saw foure very faire faulcons; and M. +Bruton tooke from one of them his prey, which we iudged by the wings and +legs to be a snite, for the head was eaten off. + +The 24 in the afternoone, the winde comming somewhat faire, we departed +from this road, purposing by Gods grace to returne for England. + +[Sidenote: Their returne.] The 26 we departed from sight of the North land +of this entrance, directing our course homewards vntill the tenth of the +next moneth. + +[Sidenote: September.] The 10. of September wee fell with The land of +desolation, thinking to goe on shoare, but we could get neuer a good +harborough. That night wee put to sea againe, thinking to search it the +next day: but this night arose a very great storme, and separated our +ships, so that we lost the sight of the Mooneshine. + +[Sidenote: They saile from The land of desolation to England in 14. dayes.] +The 13. about noone (hauing tried all the night before with a goose wing) +we set saile, and within two houres after we had sight of the Mooneshine +againe: this day we departed from this land. + +The 27. of this moneth we fell with sight of England. This night we had a +marueilous storme and lost the Mooneshine. + +The 30. of September wee came into Dartmouth, where wee found the +Mooneshine being come in not two houres before.[89] + + * * * * * + +The second voyage attempted by M. Iohn Dauis with others, for the Discouery + of the Northwest passage, in Anno 1586. + +The 7. day of May, I departed from the port of Dartmouth for the discouery +of the Northwest passage, with a ship of an hundred and twentie tunnes +named the Mermayd, a barke of 60. tunnes named the Sunneshine, a barke of +35. tunnes named the Mooneshine, and a pinnesse of tenne tunnes named the +North starre. + +[Sidenote: Land discouered in 60. degrees.] And the 15. of Iune I +discouered land in the latitude of 60. degrees, and in longitude from the +Meridian of London Westward 47. degrees, mightily pestered with yce and +snow, so that there was no hope of landing; the yce lay in some places +tenne leagues, in some 20. and in some 50. leagues off the shore, so that +wee were constrained to beare into 57. degrees to double the same, and to +recouer a free Sea, which through Gods fauourable mercy we at length +obtained. + +The 29. of Iune after many tempestuous storms we againe discouered land, in +longitude from the Meridian of London 58. degr. 30. min. and in latitude +64. being East from vs: into which course sith it please God by contrary +winds to force vs, I thought it very necessary to beare in with it, and +there to set vp our pinnesse, prouided in the Mermayd to be our scout for +this discouery, and so much the rather because the yere before I had bene +in the same place, and found it very conuenient for such a purpose, wel +stored with flote wood, and possessed by a people of tractable +conversation: so that the 29. of this moneth we arriued within the Isles +which lay before this land, lying North northwest, and South southeast, we +knew not how farre. This land is very high and mountainous, hauing before +it on the West side a mighty company of Isles full of faire sounds, and +harboroughs. This land was very little troubled with snow, and the sea +altogether voyd of yce. + +[Sidenote: Gentle and louing Sauages.] The ships being within the sounds +wee sent our boates to search for shole water, where wee might anker, which +in this place is very hard to finde: and as the boat went sounding and +searching, the people of the countrey hauing espied them, came in their +Canoas towards them with many shoutes and cries: but after they had espied +in the boat some of our company that were the yeere before here with vs, +they presently rowed to the boate, and tooke hold on the oare, and hung +about the boate with such comfortable ioy, as would require a long +discourse to be uttered: they came with the boates to our ships, making +signes that they knewe all those that the yeere before had bene with them. +After I perceiued their ioy and small feare of vs, myselfe with the +Merchants and others of the company went a shoare, bearing with me twentie +kniues: I had no sooner landed, but they lept out of their Canoas and came +running to mee and the rest, and embraced vs with many signes of heartie +welcome: at this present there were eighteene of them, and to eche of them +I gaue a knife: they offered skinnes to me for reward, but I made signes +that they were not solde, but giuen them of courtesie: and so dismissed +them for that time, with signes that they should returne againe after +certaine houres. + +[Sidenote: An 100 Canoas with diuers commodities.] The next day with all +possible speed the pinnesse was landed vpon an Isle there to be finished to +serue our purpose for the discouerie, which Isle was so conuenient for that +purpose, as that we were very wel able to defend ourselues against many +enemies. During the time that the pinesse was there setting vp, the people +came continually vnto vs sometime an hundred Canoas at a time, sometime +fortie, fiftie, more and lesse, as occasion serued. They brought with them +seale skinnes, stagge skinnes, white hares, Seale fish, salmon peale, smal +cod, dry caplin, with other fish, and birds such as the countrey did yeeld. + +My selfe still desirous to haue a further search of this place, sent one of +the shipboates to one part of the land, and my selfe went to another part +to search for the habitation of this people, with straight commandement +that there should be no iniurie offered to any of the people, neither any +gunne shot. + +[Sidenote: Images, trane oyle, and Seale skins in tan tubs.] The boates +that went from me found the tents of the people made with seale skinnes set +vp vpon timber, wherein they found great store of dried Caplin, being a +little fish no bigger than a pilchard: they found bags of Trane oyle, many +litle images cut in wood, Seale skinnes in tan-tubs, with many other such +trifles, whereof they diminished nothing. + +[Sidenote: A plaine champion countrey. A goodly riuer.] They also found +tenne miles within the snowy mountaines a plaine champion countrey, with +earth and grasse, such our moory and waste grounds of England are: they +went vp into a riuer (which in the narrowest place is two leagues broad) +about ten leagues, finding it still to continue they knewe not howe farre: +but I with my company tooke another riuer, which although at the first it +offered a large inlet, yet it proued but a deepe bay, the ende whereof in +foure houres I attained, and there leauing the boat well manned, went with +the rest of my company three or foure miles into the countrey, but found +nothing, nor saw any thing; saue onely gripes, rauens, and small birds, as +larkes and linnets. + +The third of Iuly I manned my boat, and went with fifty Canoas attending +vpon me vp into another sound where the people by signes willed mee to goe, +hoping to finde their habitation: at length they made signes that I should +goe into warme place to sleepe, at which place I went on shore, and +ascended the toppe of an high hill to see into the countrey, but perceiuing +my labour vaine, I returned againe to my boate, the people still following +me, and my company very diligent to attend vs, and to helpe vs vp the +rockes, and likewise downe: at length I was desirous to haue our men leape +with them, which was done, but our men did ouerleape them: from leaping +they went to wrestling, we found them strong and nimble, and to haue skil +in wrestling, for they cast some of our men that were good wrestlers. + +The fourth of Iuly we lanched our pinnesse, and had fortie of the people to +help vs, which they did very willingly: at this time our men againe +wrestled with them, and found them as before, strong and skillfull. +[Sidenote: A graue with a crosse layd ouer. The Tartars and people of Iapon +are also smal eyed.] The fourth of Iuly the Master of the Mermayd went to +certaine Ilands to store himselfe with wood, where he found a graue with +diuers buried in it, only couered with seale skinnes, hauing a crosse laid +ouer them, The people are of good stature, wel in body proportioned, with +small slender hands and feet, with broad visages, and smal eyes, wide +mouthes, the most part vnbearded, great lips, and close toothed. Their +custome is as often as they go from vs, still at their returne to make a +new truce, in this sort, holding his hand vp to the Sun with a lowd voice +he crieth Ylyaoute, and striketh his brest with like signes, being promised +safety, he giueth credit. These people are much giuen to bleed, and +therefore stop their noses with deeres haire, or haire of an elan. They are +idolaters and haue images great store, which they weare about them, and in +their boats, which we suppose they worship. They are witches, and haue many +kinds of inchantments, which they often vsed, but to small purpose, thankes +be to God. + +[Sidenote: Their maner of kindling fire like to theirs in America.] Being +among them at shore the fourth of Iuly, one of them making a long oration, +beganne to kindle a fire in this maner: he tooke a piece of a board wherein +was a hole halfe thorow: into that hole he puts the end of a round stick +like vnto a bedstaffe, wetting the end thereof in Trane, and in fashion of +a turner with a piece of lether, by his violent motion doeth very speedily +produce fire: [Sidenote: A fire made of turfes.] which done, with turfes he +made a fire, into which with many words and strange gestures, he put +diuerse things, which wee supposed to be a sacrifice: my selfe and diuers +of my company standing by, they were desirous to haue me go into the smoke, +I willed them likewise to stand in the smoke, which they by no meanes would +do. I then tooke one of them, and thrust him into the smoke, and willed one +of my company to tread out the fire, and to spurne it into the sea, which +was done to shew them that we did contemne their sorcery. [Sidenote: Great +theeues.] These people are very simple in all their conuersation, but +marueillous theeuish, especially for iron, which they haue in great +account. They began through our lenitie to shew their vile nature: they +began to cut our cables: they cut away the Moonelights boat from her +sterne, they cut our cloth where it lay to aire, though we did carefully +looke vnto it, they stole our oares, a caliuer, a boare speare, a sword, +with diuers other things, whereat the company and Masters being grieued, +for our better securitie, desired me to dissolue this new friendship, and +to leaue the company of these theeuish miscreants: whereupon there was a +caliuer shot among them, and immediatly vpon the same a faulcon, which +strange noice did sore amaze them, so that with speed they departed: +notwithstanding their simplicitie is such, that within ten hours after they +came againe to vs to entreat peace: which being promised, we againe fell +into a great league. They brought vs Seale skinnes, and sammon peale, but +seeing iron, they could in no wise forbeare stealing: which when I +perceiued, it did but minister vnto mee an occasion of laughter, to see +their simplicitie, and I willed that, in no case they should bee any more +hardly used, but that our owne company should be the more vigilant to keepe +their things, supposing it to be very hard in so short time to make them +know their euils. [Sidenote: Their rude diet.] They eate all their meat +raw, they liue most vpon fish, they drinke salt water, and eate grasse and +ice with delight: they are neuer out of the water, but liue in the nature +of fishes, saue only when dead sleepe taketh them, and then vnder a warme +rocke laying his boat vpon the land, hee lyeth downe to sleepe. [Sidenote: +Their weapons.] Their weapons are all darts, but some of them haue bow and +arrowes and slings. [Sidenote: Strange nets.] They make nets to take their +fish of the finne of a whale: they do their things very artificially: +[Sidenote: These Islanders warre with the people of the maine.] and it +should seeme that these simple theeuish Islanders haue warre with those of +the maine, for many of them are sore wounded, which wounds they receiued +vpon the maine land, as by signes they gaue vs to vnderstand. We had among +them copper oare, blacke copper, and red copper: [Sidenote: Copper oare.] +they pronounce their language very hollow, and deepe in the throat: these +words following we learned from them. + +[Sidenote: Their language.] + +Kesinyoh, Eate some. +Madlycoyte, Musicke. +Aginyoh, go fetch. +Yliaoute, I meane no harme. +Ponameg, A boat. +Paaotyck, An oare. +Asanock, A dart. +Sawygmeg, A knife. +Vderah, A nose. +Aoh, Iron. +Blete, An eye. +Vnuicke, Giue it. +Tuckloak, A stagge or ellan. +Panygmah, A neddle. +Aob, The Sea. +Mysacoah, Wash it. +Lethicksaneg, A seale skinne. +Canyglow, Kiss me. +Vgnera, My sonne. +Acu, Shot. +Conah, Leape. +Maatuke, Fish. +Sambah, Below. +Maconmeg, Will you haue this. +Cooah, Go to him. +Aba, fallen downe. +Icune, Come hither. +Awennye, Yonder. +Nugo, No. +Tucktodo, A fogge. +Lechiksa, A skinne. +Maccoah, A dart. +Sugnacoon, A coat. +Gounah, Come downe. +Sasobneg, A bracelet. +Vgnake, A tongue. +Ataneg, A seale. +Macuah, A beard. +Pignagogah, A threed. +Quoysah, Giue it to me. + +The 7. of Iuly being very desirous to search the habitation of this +countrey, I went myselfe with our new pinnesse into the body of the land, +thinking it to be a firme continent, and passing vp a very large riuer, a +great flaw of winde tooke me, whereby wee were constrained to seeke succour +for that night, which being had, I landed with the most part of my company, +and went to the top of a high mountaine, hoping from thence to see into the +countrey: but the mountaines were so many and so mighty as that my purpose +preuailed not: [Sidenote: Muscles.] [Sidenote: A strange whirlwind.] +whereupon I againe returned to my pinnesse, and willing diuers of my +company to gather muscles for my supper, whereof in this place there was +great store, myselfe hauing espied a very strange sight, especially to me +that neuer before saw the like, which was a mighty whirlewinde taking vp +the water in very great quantitie, furiously mounting it into the aire, +which whirlewinde, was not for a puffe or blast, but continual, for the +space of three houres, with very little intermission, which sith it was in +the course that I should passe, we were constrained that night to take vp +our lodging vnder the rocks. + +[Sidenote: Great Ilands.] The next morning the storme being broken vp, we +went forward in our attempt, and sailed into a mighty great riuer directly +into the body of the land, and in briefe, found it to be no firme land, but +huge waste, and desert Isles with mighty sounds, and inlets passing +betweene Sea and Sea. Whereupon we returned towards our shippes, and +landing to stoppe a floud, we found the burial of these miscreants; we +found of their fish in bagges, plaices, and calpin dried, of which wee +tooke onely one bagge and departed. The ninth of this moneth we came to our +ships, where we found the people desirous in their fashion, of friendship +and barter: [Sidenote: Slings.] our Mariners complained heauily against the +people, and said that my lenitie and friendly vsing of them gaue them +stomacke to mischiefe: for they haue stollen an anker from vs, they haue +cut our cable very dangerously, they haue cut our boats from our sterne, +and now since your departure, with slings they spare vs not with stones of +halfe a pound weight: and wil you stil indure these iniuries? It is a shame +to beare them. I desired them to be content, and said, I doubted not but +all should be wel. The 10. of this moneth I went to the shore, the people +following mee in their Canoas: I tolled them on shoare, and vsed them with +much courtesie, and then departed aboord, they following me, and my +company. I gaue some of them bracelets, and caused seuen or eight of them +to come aboord, which they did willingly, and some of them went into the +top of the ship: and thus curteously vsing them, I let them depart: the +Sunne was no sooner downe, but they began to practice they deuilish nature, +and with slings threw stones very fiercely into the Mooneshine, and strake +one of her men then boatswaine, that he ouerthrew withall: whereat being +moued, I changed my curtesie, and grew to hatred, my self in my owne boate +well manned with shot, and the barks boat likewise pursued them, and gaue +them diuers shot, but to small purpose, by reason of their swift rowing: so +smally content we returned. + +The 11. of this moneth there came fiue of them to make a new truce: the +master of the Admiral came to me to shew me of their comming, and desired +to haue them taken and kept as prisoners vntill we had his anker againe: +but when he sawe that the chiefe ringleader and master of mischiefe was one +of the fiue, he then was vehement to execute his purpose, so it was +determined to take him: he came crying Iliaout, and striking his brest +offered a paire of gloues to sell, the master offered him a knife for them: +so two of them came to vs, the one was not touched, but the other was soone +captiue among vs: then we pointed to him and his fellowes for our anker, +which being had, we made signes that he should be set at libertie: +[Sidenote: One of the people taken which after dyed.] within one houre +after he came aboord the winde came faire, wherevpon we weyed and set +saile, and so brought the fellow with vs: one of his fellowes still +following our ship close aboord, talked with him and made a kind of +lamentation, we still vsing him wel with Yliaout, which was the common +course of curtesie. At length this fellow aboord vs spake foure or fiue +words vnto the other and clapped his two hands vpon his face, whereupon the +other doing the like, departed as we suppose with heauie chere. We iudged +the couering of his face with his hands and bowing of his body downe, +signified his death. At length he became a pleasant companion among vs. I +gaue him a new sute of frize after the English fashion, because I saw he +could not indure the colde, of which he was very ioyful, he trimmed vp his +darts, and all his fishing tooles, and would make okam, and set his hand to +a ropes end vpon occasion. He liued with the dry Caplin that I tooke when I +was searching in the pinnis, and did eate dry Newfoundland fish. + +All this while, God be thanked, our people were in very good health, onely +one young man excepted, who dyed at sea the fourteenth of this moneth, and +the fifteenth, according to the order of the sea, with praise giuen to God +by seruice, was cast ouerboord. + +[Sidenote: A huge quantitie of yce in 63. degrees of latitude.] The 17 of +this moneth being in the latitude of 63. degrees 8. minuts, we fell vpon a +most mighty and strange quantitie of yce in one entire masse, so bigge as +that we knew not the limits thereof, and being withall so high in forme of +a land, with bayes and capes and like high cliffe land, as that we supposed +it to be land, and therefore sent our pinnesse off to discouer it: but at +her returne we were certainely informed that it was onely yce, which bred +great admiration to vs all considering the huge quantitie thereof, +incredible to be reported in trueth as it was, and therefore I omit to +speake any further thereof. This onely I thinke, that the like before was +neuer seene: and in this place we had very stickle and strong currents. + +[Sidenote: The nature of fogges.] We coasted this mightie masse of yce +vntill the 30 of Iuly, finding it a mighty barre to our purpose: the ayre +in this time was so contagious and the sea so pestered with yce, as that +all hope was banished of proceeding: for the 24 of Iuly all our shrowds, +ropes and sailes were so frosen, and compassed with yce, onely by a grosse +fogge, as seemed to me more then strange, sith the last yeere I found this +sea free and nauigable, without impediments. + +Our men through this extremity began to grow sicke and feeble, and withall +hopelesse of good successe: whereupon very orderly, with good discretion +they intreated me to regard the state of this business, and withall aduised +me, that in conscience I ought to regard the saftie of mine owne life with +the preseruation of theirs, and that I should not through my ouer-boldnes +leaue their widowes and fatherlesse children to giue me bitter curses. This +matter in conscience did greatly moue me to regard their estates: yet +considering the excellencie of the business if it might be attained, the +great hope of certaintie by the last yeeres discouery, and that there was +yet a third way not put in practice, I thought it would growe to my great +disgrace if this action by my negligence should grow into discredite: +whereupon seeking helpe from God, the fountaine of all mercies, it pleased +his diuine maiestie to moue my heart to prosecute that which I hope shall +be to his glory, and to the contentation of euery Christian minde. +Whereupon falling into consideration that the Mermaid, albeit a very strong +and sufficient ship, yet by reason of her burthen was not so conuenient and +nimble as a smaller bark, especially in such desperate hazzards; further +hauing in account her great charge to the aduenturers being at 100. li. the +moneth, and that at doubtfull seruice: all the premisses considered with +diuers other things, I determined to furnish the Moonelight with +reuictualling and sufficient men, and to proceede in this action as God +should direct me. Whereupon I altered our course from the yce, and bare +Eastsoutheast to recouer the next shore where this thing might be +performed: so with fauourable winde it pleased God that the first of August +we discouered the land in Latitude 66. degrees, 33. min. and in longitude +from the Meridian of London 70. degrees voyd of trouble without snow or +ice. + +The second of August we harboured our selues in a very excellent good road, +where with all speed we graued the Moonelight, and reuictualled her: wee +searched this countrey with our pinnesse while the bark was trimming, which +William Eston did: he found all this land to be onely Ilands, with a Sea on +the East, a Sea on the West, and a Sea on the North. [Sidenote: Great +heat.] In this place wee found it very hot and wee were very much troubled +with a flie which is called Muskyto, for they did sting grieuiously. The +people of this place at our first comming in caught a Seale and with +bladders fast tied to him sent him vnto vs with the floud, so as hee came +right with our shippes, which we took as a friendly present from them. + +The fift of August I went with the two Masters and others to the toppe of a +hill, and by the way William Eston espied three Canoas lying vnder a rocke, +and went vnto them: there were in them skinnes, darts, with diuers +superstitious toyes, whereof wee diminished nothing, but left vpon euery +boat a silke point, a bullet of lead, and a pinne. The next day being the +sixt of August, the people came vnto vs without feare and did barter with +vs for skinnes, as the other people did: they differ not from the other, +neither in their Canoas nor apparel, yet is their pronuntiation more plaine +then the others, and nothing hollow in the throat. Our Sauage aboord vs +kept himselfe close, and made shew that he would faine haue another +companion. Thus being prouided, I departed from this lande the twelft of +August at sixe. [Sidenote: 66. degrees 19. minutes.] of the clocke in the +morning, where I left the mermayd at an anker: the fourteenth sailing West +about fiftie leagues, we discouered land, being in latitude 66. degrees 19 +minuts: this land is 70. leagues from the other from whence we came. This +fourteenth day from nine a clocke at night till three a clocke in the +morning, wee ankered by an Island of yce, twelue leagues off the shore, +being mored to the yce. + +The fifteenth day at three a clocke in the morning we departed from this +land to the South, and the eighteenth of August we discouered land +Northwest from vs in the morning, being a very faire promontory, in +latitude 65. degrees, hauing no land on the South. [Sidenote: Great hope of +a passage.] Here wee had great hope of a through passage. + +This day at three a clocke in the afternoone wee againe discouered lande +Southwest and by South from vs, where at night wee were becalmed. +[Sidenote: 64. degr. 20. min.] The nineteenth of this moneth at noone, by +obseruation, we were in 64. degrees 20 minuts. [Sidenote: A great current +to the West.] From the eighteenth day at noone vnto the nineteenth at +noone, by precise ordinary care, wee had sailed 15. leagues South and by +West, yet by art and more exact obseruation, we found our course to be +Southwest, so that we plainely perceiued a great current striking to the +West. + +This land is nothing in sight but Isles, which increaseth our hope. This +nineteenth of August at sixe a clocke in the afternoone, it began to snow, +and so continued all night with foule weather, and much winde, so that we +were constrained to lie at hull all night fiue leagues off the shore: In +the morning being the twentieth of August, the fogge and storme breaking +vp, we bare in with the lande, and at nine a clocke in the morning wee +ankered in a very faire and safe road and lockt for all weathers. +[Sidenote: Ilands.] At tenne of the clocke I went on shore to the toppe of +a very high hill, where I perceiued that this land was Islands: at foure of +the clocke in the afternoone wee weyed anker, hauing a faire North +northeast winde, with very faire weather; at six of the clocke we were +cleare without the land, and so shaped our course to the South, to discouer +the coast, where by the passage may be through Gods mercy found. + +We coasted this land till the eight and twentieth of August [Sidenote: They +runne 8 dayes Southward from 67 to 57. degrees vpon the coast.] finding it +still to continue towards the South, from the latitude of 67. to 57. +degrees: we found marueilous great store of birds, guls and mewes, +incredible to be reported, whereupon being calme weather, we lay one glasse +vpon the lee, to proue for fish, in which space we caught 100. of cod, +although we were but badly prouided for fishing, not being our purpose. +[Sidenote: A harborough in 56. degrees.] This eight and twentieth hauing +great distrust of the weather, we arriued in a very faire harbour in the +latitude of 56. degrees, and sailed 10. leagues into the same, being two +leagues broad, with very faire woods on both sides: in this place wee +continued vntil the first of September, in which time we had two very great +stormes. [Sidenote: Faire woods.] I landed, and went sixe miles by ghesse +into the countrey, and found that the woods were firre, pineaple, alder, +yew, withy, and birch: here we saw a blacke beare: this place yeeldeth +great store of birds, as fezant, partridge, Barbary hennes or the like, +wilde geese, ducks, black birdes, ieyes, thrushes, with other kinds of +small birds. [Sidenote: Store of cod.] Of the partridge and fezant we +killed great store with bow and arrowes: in this place at the harborough +mouth we found great store of cod. + +The first of September at ten a clocke wee set saile, and coasted the shore +with very faire weather. The thirde day being calme, at noone we strooke +saile, and let fall a cadge anker, to proue whether we could take any fish, +being in latitude 54. degrees 30. minuts, in which place we found great +abundance of cod, so that the hooke was no sonner ouerboord, but presently +a fish was taken. It was the largest and the best fed fish that euer I +sawe, and diuers fisher men that were with me sayd that they neuer saw a +more suaule or better skull of fish in their liues: yet had they seene +great abundance. + +The fourth of September at fiue a clocke in the afternoone we ankered in a +very good road among great store of Isles, the countrey low land, pleasant +and very full of fayre woods. [Sidenote: A perfect hope of the passage +about 54. degrees and an halfe.] To the North of this place eight leagues, +we had a perfect hope of the passage, finding a mightie great sea passing +betweene two lands West. The Southland to our iudgement being nothing but +Isles: we greatly desired to goe into the sea, but the winde was directly +against vs. We ankered in foure fathome fine sand. In this place is foule +and fish mightie store. + +The sixt of September having a faire Northnorthwest winde hauing trimmed +our Barke we proposed to depart, and sent fiue of our sailers yong men a +shore to an Island, to fetch certaine fish which we purposed to weather, +and therefore left it al night couered vpon the Isle: the brutish people of +this countrey lay secretly lurking in the wood, and vpon the sudden +assaulted our men; which when we perceiued, we presently let slip our +cables vpon the halse, and vnder our foresaile bare into the shoare, and +with all expedition discharged a double musket vpon them twise, at the +noyse whereof they fled: [Sidenote: Two of our men slaine by the Sauages.] +notwithstanding to our very great griefe, two of our men were slaine with +their arrowes, and two grieuously wounded, of whom at this present we stand +in very great doubt, onely one escaped by swimming, with an arow shot +thorow his arme. These wicked miscreants neuer offered parly or speech, but +presently executed their cursed fury. + +This present euening it pleased God further to increase our sorrowes with a +mighty tempestuous storme, the winde being Northnortheast, which lasted +vnto the tenth of this moneth very extreme. We vnrigged our ship, and +purposed to cut downe our masts, the cable of our shutanker brake, so that +we onely expected to be driuen on shoare among these Canibals for their +pray. Yet in this deepe distresse the mightie mercie of God, when hope was +past, gaue vs succour, and sent vs a faire lee, so as we recouered our +anker againe, and newe mored our ship: where we saw that God manifestly +deliuered vs: for the straines of one of our cables were broken, and we +only roade by an olde iunke. Thus being freshly mored a new storme arose, +the winde being Westnorthwest, very forcible, which lasted vnto the tenth +day at night. + +The eleuenth day with a faire Westnorthwest winde we departed with trust in +Gods mercie, shaping our course for England, and arriued in the West +countrey in the beginning of October. + + * * * * * + +Master Dauis being arriued, wrote his letter to M. William Sanderson of + London, concerning his voyage, as followeth. + +Sir, the Sunneshine came into Dartmouth the fourth of this moneth: she hath +bene at Island, and from thence to Groenland, and so to Estotiland, from +thence to Desolation, and to our Marchants, where she made trade with the +people, staying in the countrey twentie dayes. They haue brought home fiue +hundred seales skinnes, and an hundred and fortie halfe skinnes and pieces +of skinnes. I stand in great doubt of the pinnesse, God be mercifull vnto +the poore men, and preserue them, if it be his blessed will. + +I haue now experience of much of the Northwest part of the world, and haue +brought the passage to that likelihood, as that I am assured it must bee in +one of the foure places, or els not at all. And further I can assure you +vpon the perill of my life, that this voyage may be performed without +further charge, nay with certaine profite to the aduenturers, if I may haue +but your fauour in the action. I hope I shall finde fauour with you to see +your Card. I pray God it be so true as the Card shal be which I will bring +you: and I hope in God, that your skill in Nauigation shall be gaineful +vnto you, although at the first it hath not proued so. And thus with my +humble commendations I commit you to God, desiring no longer to liue, then +I shall be yours most faithfully to command. Exon this fourteenth of +October. 1586. + +Yours to command + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +The relation of the course which the Sunshine a barke of fiftie tunnes, and + the Northstarre a small pinnesse, being two vessels of the fleete of M. + Iohn Dauis, helde after hee had sent them from him to discouer the + passage betweene Groenland and Island, written by Henry Morgan seruant to + M. William Sanderson of London. + +[Sidenote: May.] The seuenth day of May 1586. wee departed out of Dartmouth +hauen foure sailes, to wit, the Mermaid, the Sunshine, the Mooneshine, and +the Northstarre. In the Sunshine were sixteene men, whose names were these: +Richard Pope Master, Marke Carter Masters mate, Henry Morgan Purser, George +Draward, Iohn Mandie, Hugh Broken, Philip Iane, Hugh Hempson, Richard +Borden, Iohn Philpe, Andrew Madock, William Wolcome, Robert Wag carpenter, +Iohn Bruskome, William Ashe, Simon Ellis. + +Our course was Westnorthwest the seuenth and eight dayes: and the ninth day +in the morning we were on head of the Tarrose of Silley. Thus coasting +along the South part of Ireland the 11. day, we were on head of the Dorses: +and our coarse was Southsouthwest vntill sixe of the clocke the 12. day. +The 13. day our course was Northwest. [M. Dauis in the latitude of 60. deg. +diuideth his fleete into 2. parts.] We remained in the company of the +Mermaid and the Mooneshine vntill we came to the latitude of 60. degrees: +and there it seemed best to our Generall M. Dauis to diuide his fleete, +himself sayling to the Northwest, and to direct the Sunshine, wherein I +was, and the pinnesse called the Northstarre, to seeke a passage Northward +between Groenland and Island to the latitude of 80. degrees, if land did +not let vs. [Sidenote: The 7. of Iune.] So the Seuenth day of Iune wee +departed from them: and the ninth of the same we came to a firme land of +yce, which we coasted along the ninth, the tenth, and the eleuenth dayes of +Iune: [Sidenote: Island descryed.] and the eleuenth day at sixe of the +clocke at night we saw land which was very high, which afterward we knew to +be a Island: and the twelft day we harboured there, and found many people: +[Sidenote: 66. degrees.] the land lyeth East and by North in 66. degrees. + +[Sidenote: Their commodities.] Their commodities were greene fish, and +Island lings, and stockfish, and a fish which is called Scatefish: of all +which they had great store. They had also kine, sheep and horses, and hay +for their cattell, and for their horses. Wee saw also their dogs. +[Sidenote: Their dwellings.] Their dwelling houses were made on both sides +with stones, and wood layd crosse ouer them, which was couered ouer with +turfes of earth, and they are flat on the tops, and many of these stood +hard by the shore. [Sidenote: Their boats.] Their boates were made with +wood and yron all along the keele like our English boates: and they had +nayles for to naile them withall, and fish-hookes and other things for to +catch fish as we haue here in England. They had also brasen kettles, and +girdles and purses made of leather, and knoppes on them of copper, and +hatchets, and other small tooles as necessary as we haue. They drie their +fish in the Sun, and when they are dry, they packe them vp in the top of +their houses. If we would goe thither to fishing more then we doe, we +should make it a very good voyage: for wee got an hundreth greene fish in +one morning. Wee found heere two English men with a shippe, which came out +of England about Easter day of this present yeere 1586, and one of them +came aboord of vs, and brought vs two lambs. [Sidenote: M. Iohn Roydon of +Ipswich.] The English mans name was M. Iohn Roydon of Ipswich marchant: hee +was bound for London with his ship. And this is the summe of that which I +obserued in Island. [Sidenote: They departed from Island Northwest.] We +departed from Island the sixteenth day of Iune in the morning, and our +course was Northwest, and we saw on the coast two small barkes going to an +harborough: we went not to them, but saw them a farre off. Thus we +continued our course vnto the end of this moneth. + +[Sidenote: Iuly.] The third day of Iuly we were in betweene two firme lands +of yce, and passed in betweene them all that day vntill it was night: and +then the Master turned backe againe, and so away we went towards Groenland. +[Sidenote: Groneland discouered.] And the seuenth day of Iuly we did see +Groenland, and it was very high, and it looked very blew: we could not come +to harborough into the land, because we were hindered by a firme land as it +were of yce, which was along the shoares side: but we were within three +leagues of the land, coasting the same diuers dayes together. [Sidenote: +The land of Desolation.] The seuenteenth day of Iuly wee saw the place +which our Captaine M. Iohn Dauis the yeere before had named The land of +Desolation, where we could not goe on shore for yce. The eighteenth day we +were likewise troubled with yce, and went in amongst it at three of the +clocke in the morning. [Sidenote: Groenland coasted from the 7. till the +last of Iuly.] After wee had cleared our selues thereof, wee ranged all +along the coast of Desolation vntill the ende of the aforesayd moneth. + +[Sidenote: August.] The third day of August we came in sight of Gilberts +sound in the latitude of 64. deg. 15. min which was the place where we were +appoynted to meete our Generall and the rest of our Fleete. Here we came to +an harborough at 6. of the clocke at night. + +The 4. day in the morning the Master went on shore with 10. of his men, and +they brought vs foure of the people rowing in their boats aboord of the +ship. And in the afternoone I went on shore with 6. of our men, and there +came to vs seuen of them when we were on land. We found on shore three dead +people, and two of them had their staues lying by them, and their olde +skinnes wrapped about them and the other had nothing lying by, wherefore we +thought it was a woman. [Sidenote: The houses of Gronland.] We also saw +their houses neere the Sea side, which were made with pieces of wood on +both sides, and crossed ouer with poles and then couered ouer with earth: +we found Foxes running vpon the hilles: as for the place it is broken land +all the way that we went, and full of broken Islands. + +The 21. of August the Master sent the boate on shore for wood with sixe of +his men, and there were one and thirtie of the people of the countrey which +went on shore to them, and they went about to kill them as we thought, for +they shot their dartes towards them, and we that were aboord the ship, did +see them goe on shore to our men: whereupon the Master sent the pinnesse +after them, and when they saw the pinnesse comming towards them, they +turned backe, and the Master of the pinnesse did shoote off a caliuer to +them the same time, but hurt none of them, for his meaning was onely to put +them in feare. [Sidenote: Our men play at footeball with the Sauages.] +Diuers times they did waue vs on shore to play with them at the football, +and some of our company went on shore to play with them, and our men did +cast them downe as soone as they did come to strike the ball. And thus much +of that which we did see and do in that harborough where we arriued first. + +The 23. day wee departed from the Merchants Isle, where wee had beene +first, and our course from thence was South and by West, and the wind was +Northeast, and we ran that day and night about 5. or 6. leagues, vntill we +came to another harborough. + +The 24. about eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone wee entred into the +aforesayd new harborow, and as wee came in, we did see dogs running vpon +the Islands. When we were come in, there came to vs foure of the people +which were with vs before in the other harborough, and where we rode, we +had sandie ground. [Sidenote: Sweete wood found.] We saw no wood growing, +but found small pieces of wood vpon the Islands, and some small pieces of +sweete wood among the same. We found great Harts hornes, but could see none +of the Stagges where we went, but we found their footings. As for the bones +which we receiued of the Sauages I cannot tell of what beasts they be. + +The stones that we found in the countrey were black, and some white, as I +think they be of no value, neuerthelesse I haue brought examples of them to +you. + +The 30. of August we departed from this harborough towards England, and the +wind tooke vs contrary, so that we were faine to go to another harborough +the same day at 11. of the clocke. And there came to vs 39. of the people, +and brought vs 13. Seale skins, and after we receiued these skins of them, +the Master sent the carpenter to change one of our boates which wee had +bought of them before, and they would haue taken the boate from him +perforce, and when they sawe they could not take it from vs, they shot with +their dartes at vs, and stroke one of our men with one of their dartes, and +Iohn Philpe shot one of them into the brest with an arrow. [Sidenote: A +skirmish between the Sauages and our men.] And they came to vs againe, and +foure of our men went into the shipboate, and they shot with their dartes +at our men: but our men tooke one of their people in his boate into the +shipboate, and he hurt one of them with his knife, but we killed three of +them in their boates: two of them were hurt with arrowes in the brests, and +he that was aboord our boat, was shot in with an arrow, and hurt with a +sword, and beaten with staues, whome our men cast ouerboord, but the people +caught him and carried him on shore vpon their boates, and the other two +also, and so departed from vs. And three of them went on shore hard by vs, +where they had their dogs, and those three came away from their dogs, and +presently one of their dogs came swimming towards vs hard aboord the ship, +whereupon our Master caused the Gunner to shoote off one of the great +pieces towards the people, and so the dog turned backe to land and within +an noure after there came of the people hard aboord the ship, but they +would not come to vs as they did come before. + +The 31. of August we departed from Gylberts sound for England, and when we +came out of the harborough there came after vs 17. of the people looking +which way we went. + +The 2. of September we lost sight of the land at 12. of the clocke at +noone. + +[Sidenote: The pinnesse neuer returned home.] The third day at Night we +lost sight of the Northstarre our pinnesse in a very great storme, and lay +a hull tarying for them the 4. day, but could heare no more of them. Thus +we shaped our course the 5. day Southsoutheast, and sayling vntill the 27. +of the sayd moneth, we came in sight of Cape Clere in Ireland. + +The 30. day we entred our owne chanell. + +The 2. of October we had sight of the Isle of Wight. + +The 3. we coasted all along the shore, and the 4. and 5. + +The 6. of the said moneth of October wee came into the riuer of Thames as +high as Ratcliffe in safetie God be thanked. + + * * * * * + +The third voyage Northwestward, made by M. Iohn Dauis Gentleman, as chiefe + captaine and Pilot generall, for the discouery of a passage to the Isles + of the Moluccas, or the coast of China, in the yeere 1587. Written by M. + Iohn Ianes. + +May. + +The 19. of this present moneth about midnight wee weyed our ankers, set +sayle, and departed from Dartmouth with two Barkes and a Clincher, the one +named the Elizabeth of Dartmouth, the other the Sunneshine of London, and +the Clincher called the Helene of London: thus in Gods name we set forwards +with the wind at Northeast a good fresh gale. About 3. houres after our +departure, the night being somewhat thicke with darknesse, we had lost the +pinnesse: the Captaine imagining that the men had runne away with her, +willed the Master of the Sunshine to stand to Seawards, and see if we could +descry them, we bearing in with the shore for Plimmouth. At length we +descried her, bare with her, and demanded what the cause was: they answered +that the tiller of their helme was burst. So shaping our course +Westsouthwest, we went forward, hoping that a hard beginning would make a +good ending, yet some of vs were doubtfull of it, falling in reckoning that +she was a Clincher; neuerthelesse we put our trust in God. + +The 21. we met with the Red Lion of London, which came from the coast of +Spaine, which was afrayd that we had bene men of warre, but we hailed them, +and after a little conference, we desired the Master to carie our Letters +for London directed to my vncle Sanderson, who promised vs a safe +deliuerie. And after wee had heaued them a lead and a line, wherevnto wee +had made fast our letters, before they could get them into the ship, they +fell into the Sea, and so all our labour and theirs also was lost; +notwithstanding they promised to certifie our departure at London, and so +we departed, and the same day we had sight of Silley. The 22. the wind was +at Northeast by East with faire weather, and so the 23. and 24. the like. +The 25. we layd our ships on the Lee for the Sunneshine, who was a romaging +for a leake, they had 500. strokes at the pumpe in a watch, the wind at +Northwest. + +The 26. and 27. wee had faire weather, but this 27. the Pinnesses foremast +was blowen ouerboord. The 28. the Elizabeth towed the pinnesse, which was +so much bragged of by the owners report before we came out of England, but +at Sea she was like a cart drawen with oxen. Sometimes we towed her because +she could not saile for scant wind. + +The 31. day our Captaine asked if the pinnesse were stanch, Peerson +answered that she was as sound and stanch as a cup. This made vs something +glad, when we sawe she would brooke the Sea, and was not leake. + + +Iune. + +The first 6. dayes wee had faire weather: after that for 5 dayes wee had +fogge and raine, the winde being South. The 12. wee had cleare weather. The +Mariners in the Sunneshine and the Master could not agree: the Mariners +would goe on their voyage a fishing, because the yeere began to waste: the +Master would not depart till hee had the companie of the Elizabeth, +whereupon the Master told our Captaine that hee was afrayd his men would +shape some contrary course while he was asleepe, and so he should lose vs. +At length after much talke and many threatnings, they were content to bring +vs to the land which we looked for daily. + +[Sidenote: Land descried.] The 14. day we discouered land at fiue of the +clocke in the morning, being very great and high mountaines, the tops of +the hils being couered with snow. Here the wind was variable, sometimes +Northeast, Eastnortheast, and East by North: but we imagined ourselues to +be 16. or 17. leagues off from the shore. + +The 16. we came to an anker about 4. or 5. of the clocke afternoone, the +people came presently to vs after the old maner, with crying Ilyaoute, and +shewing vs Scales skinnes. The 17. we began to set vp the pinnesse that +Peerson framed at Dartmouth, with the boords which hee brought from London. + +The 18. Peerson and the Carpenters of the ships began to set on the +plankes. [Sidenote: Salt kerned on the rockes.] The 19. as we went about an +Island, were found blacke Pumise stones, and salt kerned on the rockes very +white and glistering. This day also the Master of the Sunneshine tooke of +the people a very strong lusty yoong fellow. + +The 20. about two of the clocke in the morning, the Sauages came to the +Island where our pinnace was built readie to bee launched, and tore the two +vpper strakes, and carried them away onely for the loue of the yron in the +boords. While they were about this practise, we manned the Elizabeths boate +to goe a shore to them: our men being either afrayd or amazed, were so long +before they came to shore, that our Captaine willed them to stay, and made +the Gunner giue fire to a Saker, and layd the piece leuell with the boate +which the Sauages had turned on the one side because wee should not hurt +them with our arrowes, and made the boate their bulwarke against the +arrowes which we shot at them. Our Gunner hauing made all things readie, +gaue fire to the piece, and fearing to hurt any of the people, and +regarding the owners profite, thought belike hee would saue a Sakers shot, +doubting wee should haue occasion to fight with men of warre, and so shot +off the Saker without a bullet: we looking stil when the Sauages that were +hurt should run away without legs, at length wee could perceiue neuer a man +hurt, but all hauing their legges could carie away their bodies: wee had no +sooner shot off the piece, but the Master of the Sunneshine manned his +boate, and came rowing toward the Island, the very sight of whom made each +of them take that hee had gotten, and flee away as fast as they could to +another Island about two miles off, where they tooke the nayles out of the +timber, and left the wood on the Isle. When we came on shore, and sawe how +they had spoiled the boat, after much debating of the matter, we agreed +that the Elizabeth should haue her to fish withall: whereupon she was +presently caryed aboord, and stowed. + +Now after this trouble, being resolued to depart with the first wind, there +fell out another matter worse then all the rest, and that was in this +maner. Iohn Churchyard one whom our Captaine had appoynted as Pilot in the +pinnace, came to our Captaine, and Master Brutton, and told them that the +good ship which we must all hazard our liues in, had three hundred strokes +at one time as she rode in the harbour: This disquieted vs all greatly, and +many doubted to goe in her. At length our Captaine by whom we were all to +be gouerned, determined rather to end his life with credite, then to +returne with infamie and disgrace, and so being all agreed, wee purposed to +liue and die together, and committed our selues to the ship. [Sidenote: +Isles in 64 degrees.] Now to 21. hauing brought all our things aboord, +about 11. or 12. of the clocke at night, we set saile and departed from +those Isles, which lie in 64. degrees of latitude, our ships being now all +at Sea, and wee shaping our course to goe, coasting the land to the +Northwards vpon the Easterne shore, which we called the shore of our +Merchants, because there we met with people which traffiqued with vs, but +here wee were not without doubt of our ship. + +[Sidenote: Store of Whales in 67. degrees.] The 24. being in 67. degrees, +and 40. minutes, wee had great store of Whales, and a kinde of sea birds +which the Mariners call Cortinous. This day about sixe of the clocke at +night, we espied two of the countrey people at Sea, thinking at the first +they had bene two great Seales, vntill wee sawe their oares glistering with +the Sunne: they came rowing towardes vs, as fast as they could, and when +they came within hearing, they held vp their oares, and cryed Ilyaoute, +making many signes: and at last they came to vs, giuing vs birdes for +bracelets, and of them I had a darte with a bone in it, or a piece of +Vnicorns horne, as I did iudge. This dart he made store of, but when he saw +a knife, he let it go, being more desirous of the knife then of his dart: +these people continued rowing after our ship the space of 3. houres. + +The 25. in the morning at 7. of the clocke we descried 30. Sauages rowing +after vs, being by iudgement 10. leagues off from the shore: they brought +vs Salmon Peales, Birdes, and Caplin, and we gaue them pinnes, needles, +bracelets, nailes, kniues, bels, looking glasses, and other small trifles, +and for a knife, a naile or a bracelet, which they call Ponigmah, they +would sell their boate, coates, or any thing they had, although they were +farre from the shore. Wee had but few skinnes of them, about 20. but they +made signes to vs that if wee would goe to the shore, wee should haue more +store of Chichsanege: they stayed with vs till 11. of the clocke, at which +time wee went to prayer, and they departed from vs. + +[Sidenote: 72 deg. and 12 min. Betweene Gronland and the North of America +aboue 40. leagues.] The 28. and 29. were foggie with cloudes, the 30. day +wee tooke the heigth, and found our selues in 72. degrees and 12 minutes of +latitude both at noone and at night, the Sunne being 5. degrees aboue the +Horizon. [Sidenote: The Great variation of the compasse.] At midnight the +compasse set to the variation of 28. degrees to the Westward. [Sidenote: +London coast.] Now hauing coasted the land, which wee called London coast, +from the 21. of this present, till the 30. the Sea open all to the +Westwards and Northwards, the land on starboard side East from vs, the +winde shifted to the North, whereupon we left that shore, naming the same +Hope Sanderson, and shaped our course West, and ranne 40. leagues and +better without the sight of any land. + +Iuly. + +[Sidenote: A mightie banke of yce lying North and South.] The second of +Iuly wee fell with a mightie banke of yce West from vs, lying North and +South, which banke wee would gladly haue doubled out to the Northwards, but +the winde would not suffer vs, so that we were faine to coast it to the +Southwards, hoping to double it out, that wee might haue ran so farre West +till wee had found land, or els to haue beene thorowly resolued of our +pretended purpose. + +The 3. wee fell with the yce againe, and putting off from it, we sought to +the Northwards, but the wind crossed vs. + +The 4. was foggie: so was the 5. also with much wind at the North. + +The 6. being very cleare, we put our barke with oares through a gap in the +yce, seeing the Sea free on the West side, as we thought, which falling out +otherwise, caused vs to returne after we had stayed there betweene the yce. +The 7. and 8. about midnight, by Gods helpe we recouered the open Sea, the +weather being faire and calme, and so was the 9. The 10. we coasted the +yce. The 11. was foggie, but calme. + +The 12. we coasted againe the yce, hauing the wind at Northnorthwest. +[Sidenote: Extreme heate of the Sunne.] The 13, bearing off from the yce, +we determined to goe with the shoare and come to an anker, and to stay 5. +or 6. dayes for the dissoluing of the yce, hoping that the Sea continually +beating it, and the Sunne with the extreme force of heat which it had +alwayes shining vpon it, would make a quicke dispatch, that we might haue a +further search vpon the Westerne shore. Now when we were come to the +Easterne coast, the water something deepe, and some of our companie +fearefull withall, we durst not come to an anker, but bare off into the Sea +againe. The poore people seeing vs goe away againe, came rowing after vs +into the Sea, the waues being somewhat loftie. We truckt with them for a +few skinnes and dartes, and gaue them beads, nailes, pinnes, needles and +cardes, they poynting to the shore, as though they would shew vs some great +friendship: but we little regarding their curtesie, gaue them the gentle +farewell, and so departed. + +[Sidenote: They were driuen West sixe points out of their course in 67. +degrees, 45. minutes.] The 14. wee had the wind at South. The 15. there was +some fault either in the barke, or the set of some current, for wee were +driuen sixe points beyond our course West. The 16. wee fell with the banke +of yce West from vs. The 17. and 18. were foggie. [Sidenote: Mount +Raleigh.] The 19.at one a clocke after noone, wee had sight of the land +which we called Mount Raleigh, and at 12. of the clocke at night, we were +thwart the streights which we discouered the first yeere. The 20. wee +trauersed in the mouth of the streight, the wind being at West, with faire +and cleare weather. The 21. and 22. wee coasted the Northerne coast of the +streights. [Sidenote: The Earle of Cumberlands Isles.] The 23. hauing +sayled threescore leagues Northwest into the streights, at two a clocke +after noone wee ankered among many Isles in the bottome of the gulfe, +naming the same The Earle of Cumberlands Isles, where riding at anker, a +Whale passed by our ship and went West among the Isles. [Sidenote: The +variation of the compasse 30. deg. Westward.] Heere the compasse set at +thirtie degrees Westward variation. The 23. wee departed, shaping our +course Southeast to recouer the Sea. The 25. wee were becalmed in the +bottome of the gulfe, the ayre being extreme hot. Master Bruton and some of +the Mariners went on shoare to course dogs, where they found many Graues +and Trane split on the ground, the dogs being so fat that they were scant +able to run. + +The 26. wee had a prety storme, the winde being at Southeast. The 27. and +28. were faire. The 29. we were cleare out of the streights, hauing coasted +the South shore, and this day at noone we were in 62. degrees of latitude. +[Sidenote: The land trendeth from this place Southwest and by South. My +Lord Lumleys Inlet.] The 30. in the afternoone wee coasted a banke of yce, +which lay on the shore, and passed by a great banke or Inlet, which lay +between 63. and 62. degrees of latitude, which we called Lumlies Inlet. We +had oftentimes, as we sailed alongst the coast, great ruttes, the water as +it were whirling and ouerfalling, as if it were the fall of some great +water through a bridge. + +[Sidenote: Warwicks Forland.] The 31. as we sayled by a Headland, which we +named Warwicks Foreland, we fell into one of these ouerfals with a fresh +gale of wind, and bearing all our sailes, wee looking vpon an Island of yce +betweene vs and the shoare, had thought that our barke did make no way, +which caused vs to take markes on the shoare: [Sidenote: A very forcible +current Westward.] at length wee perceiued our selues to goe very fast, and +the Island of yce which we saw before, was carried very forcibly with the +set of the current faster then our ship went. This day and night we passed +by a very great gulfe the water whirling and roaring as it were the +meetings of tydes. + + +August + +[Sidenote: Chidleys cape.] The first of August hauing coasted a banke of +ice which was driuen out at the mouth of this gulfe, we fell with the +Southernmost cape of the gulfe, which we named Chidleis cape, which lay in +61 degrees and 10 minutes of latitude. The 2 and 3 were calme and foggie, +so were the 4, 5, and 6. The 7 was faire and calme: so was the 8, with a +litle gale in the morning. The 9 was faire, and we had a little gale at +night. The 10 we had a frisking gale at Westnorthwest. The 11. faire. +[Sidenote: The lord Darcies Island.] The 12 we saw fiue deere on the top of +an Island, called by vs Darcies Island. And we hoised out our boat, and +went ashore to them, thinking to haue killed some of them. But when we came +on shore, and had coursed them twise about the Island, they tooke the sea +and swamme towards Islands distant from that three leagues. When we +perceiued that they had taken the sea we gaue them ouer because our boat +was so small that it could not carrie vs, and rowe after them, they swamme +so fast: but one of them was as bigge as a good prety Cow, and very fat, +their feet as bigge as Oxe feet. Here vpon this Island I killed with my +piece a gray hare. + +The 13 in the morning we saw three or foure white beares, but durst not go +on shore to them for lacke of a good boat This day we stroke a rocke +seeking for an harborow, and receiued a leake: and this day we were in 54. +degrees of latitude. + +The 14 we stopt our leake in a storme not very outragious, at noone. + +[Sidenote: The fishing place betweene 54 and 55 degrees of latitude.] The +15 being almost in 52 degrees of latitude, and not finding our ships, nor +(according to their promise) any kinde of marke, token, or beacon, which we +willed them to set vp, and they protested to do so vpon euery head land, +Island or cape, within twenty leagues euery way off from their fishing +place, which our captaine appointed to be betweene 54 and 55 degrees: This +15 I say we shaped our course homewards for England, hauing in our ship but +litle wood, and halfe a hogshead of fresh water. Our men were very willing +to depart, and no man more forward then Peerson, for he feared to be put +out of his office of stewardship: but because euery man was so willing to +depart, we consented to returne for our owne countrey: and so we had the 16 +faire weather, with the winde at Southwest. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of whales in 52 degrees.] The 17 we met a ship at sea, +and as farre as we could iudge it was a Biskaine: we thought she went a +fishing for whales; for in 52 degrees or thereabout we saw very many. + +The 18 was faire, with a good gale at West. + +The 19 faire also, with much winde at West and by South. + +[They arrive at Dartmouth the 15 of September.] And thus after much +variable weather and change of winds we arriued the 15 of September in +Dartmouth anno 1587, giuing thanks to God for our safe arriuall. + + * * * * * + +A letter of the sayd M. Iohn Dauis written to M. Sanderson of London + concerning his forewritten voyage. + +Good M. Sanderson, with Gods great mercy I haue made my safe returne in +health, with all my company, and haue sailed threescore leagues further +then my determination at my departure. I haue bene in 73 degrees, finding +the sea all open, and forty leagues betweene land and land. The passage is +most probable, the execution easie, as at my comming you shall fully know. + +Yesterday the 15 of September I landed all weary; therefore I pray you +pardon my shortnesse. + +Sandridge this 16 of September anno 1587. + +Yours equall as mine owne, which by triall you shall best know, + +IOHN DAVIS. + + * * * * * + +A Traverse-Booke made by M. Iohn Davis in his third voyage for the + discouerie of the Northwest passage. Anno 1587. + +[In the following chart, the final column, THE DISCOVRSE, is moved to the +line after which it is aligned in the original--KTH] + + +Moneth D H Course. L Eleva- The winde. THE DISCOVRSE + a o e tion + y u a of the + e r g pole. + s. e u D M + s. e e i + s. g. n. +May + 19 w.s.w. 50 30 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we departed from Dartmouth at two of the clocke at night. + 20 + 21 35 w.s.w. 50 50 n.e. + Westerly. + This day we descried Silly N. W. by W. from vs. + 22 15 w.n.w. 14 n.e. by e. + This day at noone we departed from Silly. + 22 6 w.n.w. 6 n.e. by e. + 22 3 w.n.w. 2 + 23 15 n.w. by w. 18 n.e. + 23 39 w.n.w. 36 50 40 + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 6 n.w. by w. 5 n.e. by n. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 12 w.n.w. 12 n.e. +Noone the 24 24 w.n.w. 25 51 16. + Northerly. + The true course, distance and latitude. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2-1/2 n. by e. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 6 w. by n. 5 n. + 2 s. 1/2 n. + Now we lay vpon the lee for the Sunshine, which had taken a leake of 500 + strokes a watch. +Noone the 25 24 w. by n. 20 51 30 + The true course, distance and latitude. +Noone the 25 3 w. 3 n.n.w. + 3 w.s.w. 2 n.w. + 1 s.w. 1 w.n.w. + 2 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n. + 3 Calme + 4 w.n.w. 4 s.s.e. + 5 w. 6 s.s.e. +Noone the 26 24 w by n. 23 51 40 + The true course, distance, &c. + Westerly. + 11 w. 16 s.s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 2 s.s.e. + We lay at hull with winde, raine, and fog. + 7 w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 24 w. northerly 23 + The common course supposed. +Noone the 28 24 w. 20 52 13 e.s.e. + We towed the pinnesse 18 houres of this day. +Noone the 28 28 w. by n. 43 52 13 + Northerly. + The true course, distance, &c. +Noone the 29 24 n.w. 30 s. by e. + 6 n.w. 10 s. + 3 n. by w. 2 w. by n. + 3 w. by w. 3 w. by s. + 12 n. w. 12 s.s.w +Noone the 30 48 n.w. by n. 65 54 50 + The true course, &c. + 9 n.w. 12 s.w. + 9 n.w. by w. 12 s.s.w. + 3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e. +Noone the 30 3 w. by n. 4 n. + 30 24 w. n. w. 27 55 30 + Northerly. + The true course, &c. +Iune 1 12 w. 10 n.n.w. + 9 n.w. 8 e.n.e. + 3 n.w. 2-1/2 e.n.e. + 1 24 w.n.w. 17 55 45 + Westerly. + The true course, &c. + 12 n.w. 16 e.s.e. + 6 n.w. 7 s. + 6 n.w. 8 s.s.w. +Noone the 2 24 n.w. 32 56 55 + Northerly + The true course, &c. +Noone the 5 72 w. by s. 45 56 20 + Southerly + The true course &c., drawen from diurs trauerses. +Noone the 6 24 s.w. 16 w.n.w. + 7 s.w. by w. 6 w. by n. + 5 Calme. + 3 w.n.w. 1 s. +Noone the 7 9 w.n.w. 12 s. + 12 w.n.w 20 s. + 3 w.n.w. 4 s. +Noone the 8 9 w.n.w. 7 s. + 12 w.n.w. 5 s. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w. 13 s.e. +Noone the 9 12 w.n.w 86 57 30 + Northerly + The true course, distance, and latitude for 96 houres. +Noone the 9 3 w.n.w. 4 s.e. + 3 w.n.w. 2 s.e. + 6 w.n.w. 1 Calme +Noone the 10 12 w.n.w. 16-1/2 e. + 7 w.n.w. 12 e. + 2 n.w. 2 e. +Noone the 11 15 n.w. 18 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 12 e.n.e. + 12 n.w. 13 e. by s. +Noone the 12 72 n.w. by w. 78 59 50 + Northerly + The true course, &c. for 72 houres. +Noone the 13 24 n.n.w. 26 60 58 e. by n. + Westerly +Noone the 14 24 n.n.w. 32 62 30 n.e. + 9 w.n.w. 7 n. + 3 n.w. 2 n.n.e. + 3 n.w. by n. 2 n.e. by n. + This day in the morning at fiue of the clocke we discouered land being + distant from vs at the neerest place sixteene leagues, This land in + generall lay Northwest and to the Westwards, being very mountainous. The + winde was this day variable, and the aire sometime foggie, and sometime + cleere. The foresayd land bare from vs (so neere as we could iudge) + North, Northwest, and Southeast. + 15 9 n.n.w. 8 n.e. +Noone the 15 24 n.w. + Northerly 22 63 20 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 16 24 n.n.e. 14 64 + Easterly + The true course, &c. This 16 of Iune at 5 of the clocke in the + afternoone, being in the latitude of 64 degrees, through Gods helpe we + came to an anker among many low islands which lay before the high land. +Noone the 17 + This 17 of Iune we set vp our pinnesse. + 20 + The 20 she was spoiled by Sauages. At midnight the 21 of Iune wee + departed from this coast, our two barks for their fishing voyage, and + myself in the pinnesse for the discouery. From midnight the 21 we shaped + our course as followeth. + +At mid- +night the 21 8 w.n.w 7 s.e. +Noone the 22 4 n.w. 6 s.e. + 13 n.w. 18 s.e. + 11 n. 13 s.e. + At this time we saw great store of whales. +Noone the 23 36 n.w. by n. 42 65 40 + The true course, &c. +Noone the 24 24 n. by e. 41 67 40 s.s.e. + northerly + 2 + The true course &c. Here the weather was very hot. This 24 of Iune at 6 + of the clocke at night we met two sauages at sea in their small canoas, + vnto whom we gaue bracelets, and nailes, for skins and birds. At 9 of the + clocke they departed from vs. +Noone the 26 48 n. s. + 3 n.w. 2 s.w. + The next day at 7 of the clocke in the morning, there came vnto vs 30 + sauages 20 leagues off the shore, intreating vs to goe to the shore. We + had of them fish, birds, skinnes, darts, and their coats from their + backs, for bracelets, nailes, kniues, &c. They remained with vs foure + houres, and departed. + 7 n.n.e. 10 s. + 6 n. 8 s.w. + 8 w.n.w. 5 s.e. +Noone the 27 72 n. + westerly 52 70 4 + The true course for, &c. 72 houres. +Noone the 29 72 n. 43 72 12 + 30 + The true course, &c. Since the 21 of this moneth I haue continually + coasted the shore of Gronland, hauing the sea all open towards the West, + and the land on the starboord side East from me. For these last 4 dayes + the weather hath bene extreame hot and very calme, the Sunne being 5 + degrees aboue the horison at midnight. The compasse in this place varieth + 28 degrees toward the West. + +Iuly 1 30 w. by s. 44 71 36 n.w. by n. + westerley + The true course, &c. this day at noone we coasted a mighty banke of ice + West from vs. + 2 24 s.e. 12 71 9 +Noone the 3 8 n.n.w. 11 71 40 n. + This day we fell againe with the ice, seeking to double it out by the + North. +Noone the 5 48 s.s.e. 36 70 n. + The true course, &c. + 6 24 s.s.w. 22 69 variable. + 7 + 8 + The true course, &c. This 6 of Iuly we put our barke thorow the ice, + seeing the sea free on the West side: and hauing sailed 5 leagues West, + we fell with another mighty barre, which we could not passe: and + therefore returning againe, we freed our selues the 8 of this moneth at + midnight, and so recouered the sea through Gods fauour, by faire winds, + the weather being very calme. +Noone the 9 72 e.s.e. 7 68 50 calme. + The true course, &c. + 10 24 s.e. by s. 8 68 30 calme. + The true course, &c. This day we coasted the ice. + 11 24 e.n.e. 11-1/2 68 45 variable. + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.s.e. 16 68 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 13 24 e. by s. 20 s. + This day the people came to vs off the shore, and bartered with vs. Being + within the Isle, and not finding good ankorage, we bare off again into + the sea. + 14 24 w. by n. 11 67 50 s. + The true course, &c. + 15 24 w.s.w. 5 67 45 e. + The true course, &c. This day a great current set vs West 6 points from + our course. + 16 24 s.w. by w. 23 67 10 s. + westerly + The true course, &c. This day we fell with a mighty banke of ice West of + vs. +Noone the 18 48 s. by w. 30 65 33 n. fog. + The true course, &c. Collected by diuers experiments. + 19 24 w. 13 65 30 s. fog. + southerly + The true course, &c. This 19 of Iuly at one a clocke in the afternoone we + had sight of the land of Mount Ralegh, and by 12 of the clocke at night + wee were thwart the Streights which (by Gods helpe) I discouered the + first yere. + 20 + The 20 day wee trauersed in the mouth of the sayd Streights with a + contrary winde, being West and faire weather. + 23 + This 23 day at 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, hauing sailed 60 + leagues Northwest, we ankered among an huge number of Isles lying in the + bottome of the sayd supposed passage, at which place the water riseth 4 + fadome vpright. Here as we rode at anker, a great whale passed by vs, and + swam West in amongst the isles. In this place a S. W. by W. moone maketh + a full sea. Here the compasse varied 30 degrees. + 24 + The 24 day at 5 of the clocke in the morning we set saile, departing from + this place, and shaping our course S.E. to recouer the maine Ocean + againe. + 25 + This 25 we were becalmed almost in the bottome of the Streights, and had + the weather maruellous extreme hot. + 26 s.e. + This day being in the Streights, we had a very quicke storme. + 27 s. + Being still in the Streight, we had this day faire weather. +Noone the 29 64 + At this present we got cleere of the Streights, hauing coasted the South + shore, the land trending from hence S. W. by S. +Noone the 30 s.s.w. 22 63 + This day we coasted the shore, a banke of ice lying thereupon. Also this + 30 of Iuly in the afternoone we crossed ouer the entrance or mouth of a + great inlet or passage, being 20 leagues broad, and situate betweene 62 + and 63 degrees. In which place we had 8 or 9 great rases, currents or + ouerfals, lothsomly crying like the rage of the waters vnder London + bridge, and bending their course into the sayd gulfe. +Noone the 31 24 s. by w. 27 62 n.w. + This 31 at noone, comming close by a foreland or great cape, we fell into + a mighty rase, where an island of ice was carried by the force of the + current as fast as our barke could saile with lum wind, all sailes + bearing. This cape as it was the most Southerly limit of the gulfe which + we passed ouer the 30 day of this moneth, so was it the North promontory + or first beginning of another very great inlet, whose South limit at this + present wee saw not. Which inlet or gulfe this afternoone, and in the + night, we passed ouer: where to our great admiration we saw the sea + falling down into the gulfe with a mighty ouerfal, and roring, and with + diuers circular motions like whirlepooles, in such sort as forcible + streames passe thorow the arches of bridges. + +August +Noone the 1 24 s.e. by s. 16 61 10 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. This first of August we fell with the promuntory of + the sayd gulfe or second passage, hauing coasted by diuers courses for + our sauegard, a great banke of the ice driuen out of that gulfe. +Noone the 3 48 s.s.e. 16 60 26 variable. +Noone the 6 72 s.e. 22 59 35 variable + southerly with calme. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 s.s.e. 22 58 40 w.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 s.e. 13 58 12 w. fog. + variable. + The true course, &c. + 9 24 s. by w. 13 57 30 variable + and calme. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 10 24 s.s.e. 17 56 40 s.w. by w. + The true course, &c. + 11 24 s.e. 40 55 13 w.n.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 12 24 s.e. 20 54 32 w.s.w. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 13 24 w.s.w. 4 54 n.w. + This day seeking for our ships that went to fish, we stroke on a rocke, + being among many iles, and had a great leake. +Noone the 14 24 s.s.e. 28 52 40 n.w. + This day we stopped our leake in a storme. The 15 of August at noon, + being in the latitude of 52 degrees 12 min. and 16 leagues from the + shore, we shaped our course for England, in Gods name, as followeth. +Noone the 15 52 12 s.s.w. + The true latitude. + 16 20 e.s.e. 50 51 s.w. + halfe + point s. + The true course, &c. + 17 24 e. by s. 30 50 40 s. + The true course, &c. This day upon the banke we met a Biscaine bound for + the Grand Bay or for the passage. He chased vs. + 18 24 e. by n. 49 51 18 w. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 19 24 s. halfe 51 51 35 variable + point north. w. & s. + The true course, &c. + 20 24 e.s.e. 31 50 50 s.w. + The true course, &c. + 22 48 e. by n. 68 51 30 s.s.w. + The true course, &c. + 23 24 e. by n. 33 51 52 s. + northerly. + The true course, &c. + 24 24 e. by n. 31 52 10 variable. + The true course, &c. This 24 of August obseruing the variation, I found + the compass to vary towards the East from the true Meridian, one degree. +Noone the 27 72 e. 40 52 22 variable + northerly & calme. + The true coruse, &c for 72 houres. +Noone the 29 48 e.s.e. 47 51 28 variable w. & n. + The true course, &c. +Noone the 31 48 s.e. by e. 14 51 9 variable. + easterly + The true course, &c. + 2 48 e. 65 51 n.w. + southerly. + The true course, &c. + 3 24 e. by s. 24 50 50 w.n.w. + easterly. + The true course, &c. + 4 24 s.e. by e. 20 50 21 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. + 5 24 s.e. by e. 18 49 48 n.n.e. + The true course, &c. Now we supposed our selues to be 55 leagues from + Sillie. + 6 24 e. by s. 15 49 40 n. + The true course, &c. + 7 24 e.s.e. 20 49 15 n.n.w. + The true course, &c. + 8 24 n.e. 18 49 40 + 9 24 w.s.w. 7 49 42 + 10 24 s.e. by e. 8-1/2 49 28 variable. + 11 24 n.e. by e. 10 49 45 variable. + 12 24 n.w. by w. 6 50 n.e. + 13 24 e. by s. 15 49 47 n.e. + southerly + 15 + This 15 of September 1587 we arriued at Dartmouth. + +Vnder the title of the houres, where any number exceedeth 24, it is the +summe or casting vp of so many other dayes and partes of dayes going next +before, as conteine the foresayd summe. + + * * * * * + +A report of Master Iohn Dauis of his three Voyages made for the discouerie + of the Northwest passage, taken out of a Treatise of his. Intituled the + worlds Hydrographicall description. + +Now there onely resteth the North parts of America, vpon which coast my +selfe haue had most experience of any in our age: for thrise I was that way +imployed for the discouery of this notable passage, by the honourable care +and some charge of Syr Francis Walsingham knight, principall secretary to +her Maiestie, with whom diuer noble men and worshipfull marchants of London +ioyned in purse and willingnesse for the furtherance of that attempt, but +when his honour dyed the voyage was friendlesse, and mens mindes alienated +from aduenturing therein. + +[Sidenote: The 1. voyage.] In my first voyage not experienced of the nature +of those climates, and hauing no direction either by Chart, Globe, or other +certaine relation in what altitude that passage was to be searched, I +shaped a Northerly course and so sought the same toward the South, and in +that my Northerly course I fell vpon the shore which in ancient time was +called Groenland, fiue hundred leagues distant from the Durseys +Westnorthwest Northerly, the land being very high and full of mightie +mountaines all couered with snowe, no viewe of wood, grasse or earth to be +seene, and the shore two leagues off into the sea so full of yce as that no +shipping could by any meanes come neere the same. The lothsome view of the +shore, and irksome noyse of the yce was such, as that it bred strange +conceits among vs, so that we supposed the place to be wast and voyd of any +sensible or vegitable creatures, whereupon I called the same Desolation: so +coasting this shore towards the South in the latitude of sixtie degrees, I +found it to trend towards the West, I still followed the leading thereof in +the same height, and after fifty or sixtie leagues it fayled and lay +directly North, which I still followed, and in thirtie leagues sayling vpon +the West side of this coast by me named desolation, we were past al the yce +and found many greene and pleasant Iles bordering vpon the shore, but the +maine were still couered with great quantities of snow, I brought my ship +among those Isles and there moored to refresh our selues in our weary +trauell, in the latitude of sixtie foure degrees or thereabout. The people +of the countrey hauing espied our shippes came downe vnto vs in their +Canoas, and holding vp their right hand to the Sunne and crying Yliaout, +would strike their breasts: we doing the like the people came aboard our +shippes, men of good stature, vnbearded, small eyed and of tractable +conditions, by whome as signes would permit, we vnderstood that towards the +North and West, there was a great sea, and vsing the people with kindeness +in giuing them nayles and kniues which of all things they most desired, we +departed, and finding the sea free from yce supposing our selves to be past +al daunger we shaped our course Westnorthwest thinking thereby to passe for +China, but in the latitude of sixtie sixe degrees we fell with another +shore, and there found another passage of twenty leagues broad directly +West into the same, which we supposed to be our hoped straight, we entred +into the same thirtie or fortie leagues, finding it neither to wyden nor +streighten, then considering that the yeere was spent (for this was the +fiue of August) not knowing the length of the straight and dangers thereof, +we tooke it our best course to returne with notice of our good successe for +this small time of search. And so returning in a sharpe fret of Westerly +windes the 19 of September we arriued at Dartmouth. [Sidenote: The 2. +voyage.] And acquainting Master Secretary Walsingham with the rest of the +honourable and worshipfull aduenturers of all our proceedings, I was +appointed againe the second yere to search the bottome of this straight, +because by all likelihood it was the place and passage by vs laboured for. +In this second attempt the marchants of Exeter, and other places of the +West became aduenturers in the action, so that being sufficiently furnished +for sixe moneths, and hauing direction to search these straights, vntill we +found the same to fall into another sea vpon the West side of this part of +America, we should againe returne: for then it was not to be doubted, but +shipping with trade might safely be conueied to China, and the parts of +Asia. We departed from Dartmouth, and arriuing vpon the South part of the +coast of Desolation coasted the same vpon his West shore to the latitude of +sixtie six degrees, and there anchored among the Isles bordering vpon the +same, where we refreshed our selues, the people of this place came likewise +vnto vs, by whom I vnderstood through their signes that towards the North +the sea was large. At this place the chiefe ship whereupon I trusted, +called the Mermayd of Dartmouth, found many occasions of discontentment, +and being vnwilling to proceed shee there forsook me. Then considering how +I had giuen my faith and most constant promise to my worshipfull good +friend Master William Sanderson, who of all men was the greatest aduenturer +in that action, and tooke such care for the performance thereof, that he +hath to my knowledge at one time disbursed as much money as any fiue others +whatsoever, out of his purse, when some of the companie haue bene slacke in +giuing in their aduenture: And also knowing that I should loose the fauour +of M. Secretary Walsingham, if I should shrink from his direction; in one +small barke of 30 Tonnes, whereof M. Sanderson was owner, alone without +farther company I proceeded on my voyage, and arriuing at these straights +followed the same 80 leagues, vntill I came among many Islands, where the +water did ebbe and flow sixe fadome vpright, and where there had bene great +trade of people to make traine. [Sidenote: The North Parts of America all +Islands.] But by such things as there we found, wee knew that they were not +Christians of Europe that had vsed that trade: in fine by searching with +our boat, we found small hope to passe any farther that way, and therefore +recouered the sea and coasted the shore towards the South, and in so doing +(for it was too late to search towards the North) we found another great +inlet neere 40 leagues broad, where the water entred in with violent +swiftnesse, this we also thought might be a passage; for no doubt the North +partes of America are all Islands by ought that I could perceiue therein: +but because I was alone in a small barke of thirtie tunnes, and the yeere +spent, I entred not into the same, for it was now the seuenth of September, +but coasting the shore towards the South wee saw an incredible number of +birds: hauing diuers fishermen aboord our Barke they all concluded that +there was a great skull of fish, we being vnprouided of fishing furniture +with a long spike nayle made a hooke, and fastened the same to one of our +sounding lines, before the baite was changed we tooke more then fortie +great Cods, the fish swimming so abundantly thicke about our barke as is +incredible to bee reported, of which with a small portion of salt that we +had we preserved some thirtie couple, or thereaboutes, and so returned for +England. And hauing reported to M. Secretarie Walsingham the whole successe +of this attempt, he commanded me to present vnto the most honourable Lord +high Treasurour of England, some part of that fish: which when his Lordship +saw, and heard at large the relation of this second attempt, I receiued +fauourable countenance from his honour, aduising me to prosecute the +action, of which his Lordship conceiued a very good opinion. The next yere, +although diuers of the aduenturers fell from the Action, as all the +Westerne marchants, and most of those in London: yet some of the +aduenturers both honourable and worshipfull continued their willing fauour +and charge, so that by this meanes the next yere two shippes were appointed +for the fishing and one pinnesse for the discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The 3. voyage.] Departing from Dartmouth, thorough Gods +mercifull fauour, I arriued at the place of fishing, and there according to +my direction I left the two ships to follow that busines, taking their +faithful promise not to depart vntill my returne vnto them, which should be +in the fine of August, and so in the barke I proceeded for this discouerie: +but after my departure, in sixeteene dayes the two shippes had finished +their voyage, and so presently departed for England, without regard of +their promise: my selfe not distrusting any such hard measure proceeded for +the discouerie, and followed my course in the free and open sea betweene +North and Northwest to the latitude of 67 degrees, and there I might see +America West from me, and Gronland, which I called Desolation, East: then +when I saw the land of both sides I began to distrust it would prooue but a +gulfe: notwithstanding desirous to know the full certainty I proceeded, and +in 68 degrees the passage enlarged, so that I could not see the Westerne +shore: thus I continued to the Latitude of 73 degrees in a great sea, free +from yce, coasting the Westerne shoure of Desolation: the people came +continually rowing out vnto me in their Canoas, twenty, forty, and one +hundred at a time, and would giue me fishes dryed, Salmon, Salmon peale, +Cod, Caplin, Lumpe, Stone-base and such like, besides diuers kinds of +birds, as Partrige, Fesant, Guls, Sea birds, and other kinds of flesh: I +still laboured by signes to know from them what they knew of any sea toward +the North, they still made signes of a great sea as we vnderstood them, +then I departed from that coast, thinking to discouer the North parts of +America: and after I had sailed towards the West 40 leagues, I fel vpon a +great banke of yce: the winde being North and blew much, I was constrained +to coast the same toward the South, not seeing any shore West from me, +neither was there any yce towards the North, but a great sea, free, large, +very salt and blew, and of an vnsearchable depth: So coasting towards the +South I came to the place where I left the ships to fish, but found them +not. Then being forsaken and left in this distresse referring my self to +the mercifull prouidence of God, I shaped my course for England, and +vnhoped for of any, God alone releeuing me, I arriued at Dartmouth. By this +last discouery it seemed most manifest that the passage was free and +without impediment toward the North: but by reason of the Spanish Fleete +and vnfortunate time of M. Secretaries death, the voyage was omitted and +never sithens attempted. The cause why I vse this particular relation of +all my proceedings for this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath +not Dauis discouered this passage being thrise that wayes imploied? How far +I proceeded and in what forme this discouery lieth, doth appeare vpon the +Globe which M. Sanderson to his very great charge hath published, for the +which he deserueth great fauor and commendations.[90] + + * * * * * + +The discouerie of the Isles of Frisland, Iseland, Engroneland, Estotiland, + Drogeo and Icaria: made by two brethren, namely M. Nicholas Zeno, and M. + Antonio his brother: Gathered out of their letters by M. Francisco + Marcolino. + +In the yere of our Lord 1200 there was in the Citie of Venice a famous +Gentleman, named Messer Marino Zeno, who for his great vertue and singular +wisdome, was called and elected gouernour in certaine common wealths of +Italy: in the administration whereof he bore himselfe so discretly, that he +was beloued of all men, and his name greatly reuerenced of those that neuer +knew or saw his person. And amongst sundry his worthy workes, this is +recorded of him, that he pacified certaine grieuous ciuile dissentions that +arose among the citizens of Verona: whereas otherwise, if by his graue +aduise and great diligence they had not bene preuented, the matter was +likely to broke out into hot broyles of warre. He was the first Podesta, or +Ruler, that the Common wealth of Venice appointed in Constantinople in the +yeere 1205 when our state had rule thereof with the French Barons. This +Gentleman had a sonne named Messer Pietro, who was the father of the Duke +Rinieri, which Duke dying without issue, made his heire M. Andrea, the +sonne of M. Marco his brother. This M. Andrea was Captaine Generall and +Procurator, a man of great reputation for many rare partes, that were in +him. He had a sonne M. Rinieri, a worthy Senatour and prudent Counsellour: +of whom descended M. Pietro Captaine Generall of the league of the +Christians against the Turkes, who was called Dragon, for that in his +shield, in stead of a Manfrone which was his armes at the first, he bare a +Dragon. He was father to M. Carlo Il grande the famous Procurator and +Captaine generall against the Genowayes in those cruell warres, when as +almost all the chiefe Princes of Europe did oppugne and seeke to ouerthrow +our Empire and libertie, wherein by his great valiantie and prowesse, as +Furius Camillus deliuered Rome, so he deliuered his countrey from the +present perill it was in, being ready to become a pray and spoile vnto the +enemie: wherefore he was afterward surnamed the Lyon, and for an eternall +remembrance of his fortitude and valiant exploits he gaue the Lyon in his +armes. M. Carlo had two brethren, M. Nicolo, the knight and M. Antonio, the +father of M. Dragon, of whom issued M. Caterino, the father M. Pietro da i +Grocecchieri. This M. Pietro had sonnes M. Caterino, that died the last +yere, being brother vnto M. Francisco, M. Carlo, M. Battista, and M. +Vincenzo: Which M. Caterino was father to M. Nicola, that is yet liuing. + +Now M. Nicolo, the knight being a man of great courage, after this +aforesaid Genouan warre of Chioggia, that troubled so our predecessours, +entred into a great desire and fansie to see the fashions of the worlde and +to trauell and acquaint himselfe with the maners of sundry nations, and +learne their languages, whereby afterwards vpon occasions he might be the +better able to doe seruice to his countrey, and purchase to himselfe +credite and honour. Wherefore he caused a ship to be made, and hauing +furnished her at his proper charges (as he was very wealthy) he departed +out of our seas and passing the straites of Gibraltar, he sailed for +certaine dayes vpon the Ocean, keeping his course still to the Northwards, +with intent to see England and Flanders. [Sidenote: The ship of M. N. Zeno +cast away vpon Frisland in Anno 1380.] Where being assailed in those Seas +by a terrible tempest, he was so tossed for the space of many dayes with +the sea and winde, that he knew not where he was, till at length he +discouered land, and not being able any longer to susteine the violence of +the tempest the ship was cast away vpon the Isle of Friseland. The men were +saued and most part of the goods that were in the ship. And this was in the +yere 1380. The inhabitants of the Island came running in great multitudes +with weapons to set vpon M. Nicolo and his men, who being sore +weather-beaten and ouer-laboured at sea and not knowing in what part of the +world they were, were not able to make any resistance at all, much lesse to +defend themselues couragiously, as it behooued them in such a dangerous +case. [Sidenote: A forraine prince hapning to be in Frisland with armed +men, when M. Zeno suffered shipwracked there came vnto him and spake +Latine.] And they should haue bene doubtlesse very discourteously intreated +and cruelly handled, if by good hap there had not beene hard by the place a +prince with armed people. Who vnderstanding that there was euen at that +present a great ship cast away vpon the Island, came running at the noyse +and outcryes that they made against our poore Mariners, and dryuing away +the inhabitants, spake in Latine and asked them what they were and from +whence they came, and perceiuing that they came from Italy and that they +were men of the sayd Countrey, he was surprised with maruelous great ioy. +Wherefore promising them all, that they should receiue no discourtesie, and +that they were come into a place where they should be well vsed and very +welcome, he tooke them into his protection vpon his faith. [Sidenote: +Zichmni prince of Porland or Duke of Zorani.] This was a great Lord, and +possessed certaine Islands called Porland, lying on the South side of +Frisland, being the richest and most populous of all those parts, his name +was Zichmni: and beside the said little Islands, he was Duke of Sorani, +lying ouer against Scotland.[91] + +Of these North parts I thought good to draw the copie of a Sea carde, which +amongst other antiquities I haue in my house, which although it be rotten +through many yeres, yet it falleth out indifferent well: and to those that +are delighted in these things, it may serue for some light to the +vnderstanding of that, which without it cannot so easily be conceiued. +Zichmni being Lord of those Sygnories (as is said) was a very warlike and +valiant man and aboue all things famous in Sea causes. [Sidenote: Frisland +the king of Norwayes.] And hauing the yere before giuen the ouerthrow to +the king of Norway, who was Lord of the Island, being desirous to winne +fame by feates of armes, hee was come on land with his men to giue the +attempt for the winning of Frisland, which is an Island much bigger then +Ireland. Wherefore seeing that M. Nicolo was a man of iudgement and +discretion, and very expert both in sea matters and martiall affaires, hee +gaue him commission to goe aboord his Nauy with all his men, charging the +captaine to honor him and in all things to use his counsaile. + +This Nauy of Zichmni was of thirteene vessels, whereof two onely were rowed +with oares, the rest small barkes and one ship, with the which they sayled +to the Westwards and with little paines wonne Ledouo and Ilofe and diuers +other small Islands: and turning into a bay called Sudero, in the hauen of +the towne named Sanestol, they tooke certaine small barks laden with fish. +And here they found Zichmni, who came by land with his armie conquering all +the countrey as he went: they stayed here but a while, and led on their +course to the Westwards till they came to the other Cape of the gulfe or +bay, then turning againe, they found certaine Islandes and broken lands +which they reduced al vnto the Signorie and possession of Zichmni. These +seas for as much as they sailed, were in maner nothing but sholds and +rocks, in so much that if M. Nicolo and the Venetian mariners had not bene +their Pilots, the whole fleete in iudgement of all that were in it, had +bene cast away, so small was the skill of Zichmnis men, in respect of ours, +who had bene trained vp in the arte and practise of Nauigation all the +dayes of their life. Now the fleete hauing done such things as are +declared, the Captaine, by the counsaile of M. Nicolo, determined to goe a +land, at a towne called Bondendon, to vnderstand what successe Zichmni had +in his warres: where they heard to their great content, that he had fought +a great battell and put to flight the armie of his enemie: by reason of +which victory, they sent Embassadours from all parts of the Island to yeeld +the countrey vp into his handes, taking downe their ensignes in euery towne +and castle: they thought good to stay in that place for his comming, it +being reported for certaine that hee would be there very shortly. At his +comming there was great congratulation and many signes of gladnesse shewed, +as well for the victory by land, as for that by sea: for the which the +Venetians were honoured and extolled of all men, in such sort that there +was no talke but of them, and of the great valour of M. Nicolo. Wherefore +the prince, who was a great fauourer of valiant men and especially of those +that could behaue themselues well at sea, caused M. Nicolo to be brought +before him, and after hauing commended him with many honourable speeches, +and praysed his great industrie and dexteritie of wit, by the which two +things he acknowledged himselfe to haue receiued an inestimable benefite, +as the sauing of his fleet and the winning of many places without any great +trouble, he made him knight, and rewarded his men with many rich and +bountiful gifts. Then departing from thence they went in tryumphing maner +toward Frisland, the chiefe citie of that Island. In this gulf or bay there +is such great abundance of fish taken, that many ships are laden therewith +to serue Flanders, Britain, England, Scotland, Norway, and Denmarke, and by +this trade they gather great wealth. + +And thus much is taken out of a letter, that M. Nicolo sent to M. Antonio +his brother, requesting that he would seeke some meanes to come to him. +Wherefore he who had as great desire to trauaile as his brother, bought a +ship, and directed his course that way: and after he had sailed a great +while and escaped many dangers, he arriued at length in safetie with M. +Nicolo, who receiued him very ioyfully, for that he was his brother not +onely in flesh and blood, but also in valour and good qualities. M. Antonio +remained in Frisland and dwelt there for the space of 14 yeres, 4 yeeres +with M. Nicolo, and 10 yeres alone. Where they came in such grace and +fauour with the Prince, that he made M. Nicolo Captaine of his Nauy, and +with great preparation of warre they were sent forth for the enterprise of +Estland, which lyeth vpon the coast betweene Frisland and Norway, where +they did many dammages, but hearing that the king of Norway was coming +towardes them with a great fleet, they departed with such a terrible flaw +of winde, that they were driuen vpon certaine sholds: were a great part of +their ships were cast away, the rest were saued vpon Grisland, a great +Island but dishabited. The king of Norway his fleete being taken with the +same storme, did vtterly perish in those seas: Whereof Zichmni hauing +notice, by a ship of his enemies that was cast by chance vpon Grisland, +hauing repayred his fleet, and perceiuing himself Northerly neere vnto the +Islands, determined, to set vpon Island, which together with the rest, was +subiect to the king of Norway: but he found the countrey so well fortified +and defended, that his fleete being so small, and very ill appointed both +of weapons and men, he was glad to retire. And so he left that enterprise +without performing any thing at all: and in the chanels, he assaulted the +other Isles called Islande, which are seuen, Talas, Broas, Iscant, Trans, +Mimant, Dambere, and Bres: and hauing spoyled them all, hee built a fort in +Bres, where he left M. Nicolo with certaine small barkes and men and +munition. And now thinking he had done wel for this voyage, with those few +ships which were left he returned safe into Frisland. [Sidenote: +Engroneland.] M. Nicolo remaining nowe in Bres, determined in the spring to +go forth and discouer land: wherefore arming out three small barkes in the +moneth of Iuly, he sayled to the Northwards, and arriued in Engroneland. +[Sidenote: Preaching fryers of Saint Thomas.] Where he found a Monasterie +of Friers, of the order of the Predicators, and a Church dedicated to Saint +Thomas, hard by a hill that casteth forth fire, like Vesuuius and Etna. + +There is a fountaine of hot burning water with the which they heate the +Church of the Monastery and the Fryers chambers, it commeth also into the +kitchin so boyling hot, that they vse no other fire to dresse their meate: +and putting their breade into brasse pots without any water, it doth bake +as it were in an hot ouen. They haue also smal gardens couered ouer in the +winter time, which being watered with this water, are defended from the +force of the snow and colde, which in those partes being situate farre +vnder the pole, is very extreme, and by this meanes they produce flowers +and fruites and herbes of sundry sorts, euen as in other temperate +countries in their seasons, in such sort that the rude and sauage people of +those partes seeing these supernaturall effects, doe take those Fryers for +Gods, and bring them many presents, as chickens, flesh, and diuers other +things, they haue them all in great reuerence as Lords. When the frost and +snowe is great, they heate their houses in maner before said, and wil by +letting in the water or opening the windowes, at an instant, temper the +heate and cold at their pleasure. In the buildings of the Monasterie they +vse no other matter but that which is ministred vnto them by the fire: for +they take the burning stones that are cast out as it were sparkles or +cinders at the fierie mouth of the hill, and when they are most enflamed, +cast water vpon them, whereby they are dissolued and become excellent white +lime and so tough that being contriued in building it lasteth for euer. And +the very sparkles after the fire is out of them doe serue in stead of +stones to make walles and vautes: for being once colde they will neuer +dissolue or breake, except they be cut with some iron toole, and the vautes +that are made of them are so light that they need no sustentacle, or prop +to holde them vp, and they will endure continually very faire and whole. By +reason of these great commodities, the Fryers haue made there so many +buildings and walles that it is a wonder to see. The couerts or roofes of +their houses for the most part are made in maner following: first they +rayse vp the wall vp to his full height, then they make it enclinining or +bowing in by little and litle in fourme of a vaut. [Sidenote: Winter of 9 +moneths.] But they are not greatly troubled with raine in those partes, +because the climate (as I haue saide) is extreme colde: for the first snow +being fallen, it thaweth no more for the space of nine moneths, for so long +dureth their winter. They feede of the flesh of wilde foule and of fish: +for wheras the warme water falleth into the sea, there is a large and wide +hauen, which by reason of the heate of the water, doeth neuer freeze all +the winter, by meanes whereof there is such concourse and flocks of sea +foule and such abundance of fish, that they take thereof infinite +multitudes, whereby they maintaine a great number of people round about, +which they kepe in continuall worke, both in building and taking of foules +and fish, and in a thousand other necessarie affaires and busines about the +Monasterie. + +Their houses are built about the hill on euery side, in forme round, and 25 +foote broad, and in mounting vpwards they goe narower and narower, leauing +at the top a litle hole, whereat the aire commeth in to giue light to the +house, and the flore of the house is so hot, that being within they feele +no cold at all. Hither in the Summer time come many barkes from the Islands +there about, and from the cape aboue Norway, and from Trondon, and bring to +the Friers al maner of things that may be desired, taking in change thereof +fish, which they dry in the sunne or in the cold, and skins of diuers +kindes of beasts. [Sidenote: Trade in summer time from Trondon to S. Thomas +Friers in Groneland. Resort of Fryers from Norway and Sueden, to the +Monastery in Engroneland, called S. Tho.] For the which they haue wood to +burne and timber very artificially carued, and corne, and cloth to make +them apparell. For in change of the two aforesaid commodities all the +nations bordering round about them couet to trafficke with them, and so +they without any trauell or expences haue that which they desire. To this +Monasterie resort Fryers of Norway, of Suetia and of other countreys, but +the most part are of Islande. There are continually in that part many +barks, which are kept in there by reason of the sea being frozen, waiting +for the spring of the yere to dissolue the yce. The fishers boates are made +like into a weauers shuttle: taking the skins of fishes, they fashion them +with the bones of the same fishes, and sowing them together in many doubles +they make so sure and substanciall, that it is miraculous to see, howe in +tempests they will shut themselues close within and let the sea and winde +cary them they care not whether, without any feare either of breaking or +drowning. [Marginal note: M. Frobisher brought these kinde of boats from +these parts into England.] And if they chance to be driuen vpon any rocks, +they remaine sound without the least bruse in the world: and they haue as +it were a sleeue in the bottome, which is tyed fast in the middle, and when +there commeth any water into the boat, they put it into the one halfe of +the sleeue, then fastening the ende thereo with two pieces of wood and +loosing the band beneath, they conuey the water forth of the boats: and +this they doe as often as they haue occasion, without any perill or +impediment at all. + +Moreouer, the water of the Monastery, being of sulphurious or brimstonie +nature, is conueyed into the lodgings of the principall Friers by certaine +vesselles of brass, tinne, or stone, so hot that it heateth the place as it +were a stone, nor carying with it any stinke or other noysome smell. + +Besides this they haue another conueyance to bring hot water with a wall +vnder the ground, to the end it should not freeze, vnto the middle of the +court, where it falleth into a great vessel of brasse that standeth in the +middle of a boyling fountaine, and this is to heat their water to drinke +and to water their gardens, and thus they haue from the hill the greatest +commodities that may be wished: and so these Fryers employ all their +trauaile and studie for the most in trimming their gardens and in making +faire and beautifull buildings, but especially handsome and commodious: +neyther are they destitute of ingenious and paineful artificers for the +purpose; for they giue very large payment, and to them that bring them +fruits and seedes they are very bountifull, and giue they care not what. So +that there is great resort of workemen and masters in diuers faculties, by +reason of the good gaines and large allowance that is there. + +[Sidenote: In the Monastery of Saint Thomas most of them spake the Latine +tongue.] The most of them speake the Latine tongue, and specially the +superiours and principals of the Monastery. And this is as much as is +knowen of Engroneland, which is all by the relation of M. Nicolo, who +maketh also particular description of a riuer that he discouered, as is to +be seene in the carde that I drew. And in the end M. Nicolo, not being vsed +and acquainted with these cruell coldes, fel sicke, and a litle while after +returned into Frisland, where he dyed. [Sidenote: The end of the 2. +letter.] He left behind him in Venice, two sonnes, M. Giouanni and M. Toma, +who had two sonnes, M. Nicolo the father of the famous Cardinal Zeno, and +M. Pietro of whom descended the other Zenos, that are liuing at this day. + +[Sidenote: M. Zeno dyed in Frisland.] Now M. Nicolo being dead, M. Antonio +succeeded him both in his goods, and in his dignities and honour and albeit +he attempted diuers wayes, and made great supplication, he could neuer +obtaine licence to returne into his countrey. For Zichmni, being a man of +great courage and valour, had determined to make himself Lord of the sea. +Wherefore vsing alwayes the counsaile and seruice of M. Antonio, he +determined to send him with certaine barks to the Westwards, for that +towards those parts, some of his fishermen had discouered certaine Islands +very rich and populous: which discovery M. Antonio, in a letter to his +brother M. Carlo, recounteth from point to point in this maner, sauing that +we haue changed some old words, leauing the matter entire as it was. + +Sixe and twentie yeeres agoe there departed foure fisher boats, the which, +a mightie tempest arising, were tossed for the space of many dayes very +desperately ypon the Sea, when at length, the tempest ceasing, and the +wether waxing faire, they discouered an Island called Estotiland, lying to +the Westwards aboue 1000 Miles from Frisland, vpon the which one of the +boats was cast away, and sixe men that were in it were taken of the +inhabitants and brought into a faire and populous citie, where the king of +the place sent for many interpreters, but there was none could be found +that vnderstood the language of the fishermen, except one that spake +Latine, who was also cast by chance vpon the same Island, who in behalfe of +the king asked them what countreymen they were: [Sidenote: Sixe were fiue +yeeres in Estotiland.] and so vnderstanding their case, rehearsed it vnto +the king, who willed that they should tary in the countrey: wherefore they +obeying his commandement, for that they could not otherwise doe, dwelt fiue +yeres in the Island, and learned the language, and one of them was in +diuers partes of the Island, and reporteth that it is a very rich countrey, +abounding with all the commodities of the world, and that it is litle lesse +then Island, but farre more fruitfull, hauing in the middle thereof a very +high mountaine, from the which there spring foure riuers that passe through +the whole countrey. + +The inhabitants are very wittie people, and haue all artes and faculties, +as we haue: and it is credible that in time past they haue had trafficke +with our men, for he said, that he saw Latin bookes in the kings Librarie, +which they at this present do not understand: they haue a peculiar +language, and letters or caracters to themselues. They haue mines of all +maner of mettals, but especial they abound with gold. They haue their trade +in Engroneland, from whence they bring furres, brimstone and pitch and he +saith, that to the Southwards, there is a great populous countrey very rich +of gold. [Sidenote: Many cities and castles.] They sow corne, and make +beere and ale, which is a kinde of drinke that North people do vse as we do +wine. They haue mighty great woods, they make their buildings with wals, +and there are many cities and castles. They build small barks and haue +sayling, but they haue not the load stone, nor know not the vse of the +compasse. [Sidenote: A countrey called Drogio.] Wherefore these fishers +were had in great estimation, insomuch that the king sent them with twelue +barks to the Southwards to a countrey which they call Drogio: but in their +voyage they had such contrary weather, that they thought to haue perished +in the sea: but escaping that cruell death, they fell into another more +cruell: for they were taken in the countrey and the most part of them eaten +by the Sauage people, which fed vpon mans flesh, as the sweetest meat in +their iudgements that is. + +[Sidenote: The 6 fishermen of Frisland onely saved, by shewing the maner to +take fish.] But that fisher with his fellowes shewing them the maner of +taking fish with nets, saued their liues: and would goe euery day a fishing +to the sea and in fresh riuers, and take great abundance of fish and giue +it to the chiefe men of the countrey, whereby he gate himselfe so great +fauour, that he was very well beloued and honoured of euery one. + +The fame of this man being spread abroad in the countrey, there was a Lord +there by, that was very desirous to haue him with him, and to see how he +vsed his miraculous arte of catching fish, in so much that he made warre +with the other Lord with whom he was before, and in the end preuailing, for +that he was more mightie and a better warriour, the fisherman was sent vnto +him with the rest of his company. [Sidenote: In the space of 13 yeeres he +serued 25 lords of Drogio.] And for the space of thirteene yeres that he +dwelt in those parts, he saith, that he was sent in this order to more than +25 Lords, for they had continuall war amongst themselues, this Lord with +that Lord, and he with another, onely to haue him to dwell with them: so +that wandring vp and downe the countrey without any certaine abode in one +place, he knew almost all those parts. He saith, that it is a very great +countrey and as it were a new world: the people are very rude and voide of +all goodnesse, they go all naked so that they are miserably vexed with +colde, neither haue they the wit to couer their bodyes with beasts skins +which they take in hunting, they haue no kinde of mettal, they liue by +hunting, they carry certaine lances of wood made sharpe at the point, they +haue bowes, the strings whereof are made of beasts skins: they are very +fierce people, they make cruell warres one with another, and eate one +another, they haue gouernours and certaine lawes very diuers among +themselues. But the farther to the Southwestwards, the more ciuilitie there +is, the ayre being somewhat temperate, so that there they haue cities and +temples to idols, wherein they sacrifice men and afterwards eate them, they +haue there some knowledge and vse of gold and siluer. + +Now this fisherman hauing dwelt so many yeeres in those countreys purposed, +if it were possible, to returne home into his countrey, but his companions +despairing euer to see it againe, let him goe in Gods name, and they kept +themselues where they were. Wherefore he bidding them farwell, fled through +the woods towards Drogio, and was very well receiued of the Lord that dwelt +next to that place; who knew him and was a great enemie of the other Lord: +and so running from one Lord to another, being those by whom he had passed +before, after long time and many trauels he came at length to Drogio, where +he dwelt three yeres. When as by good fortune he heard by the inhabitants, +that there were certaine boates arriued vpon the coast: wherefore entring +into good hope to accomplish his intent, he went to the sea side, and +asking them of what countrey they were; they answered of Estotiland, +whereat he was exceeding glad, and requested that they would take him in to +them, which they did very willingly, and for that he had the language of +the countrey, and there was none that could speake it, they vsed him for +their interpreter. + +[Sidenote: He returned from Estotiland to Frisland.] And afterward he +frequented that trade with them in such sort, that he became very rich, and +so furnishing out a barke of his owne, he returned into Frislande, where he +made reporte vnto this Lord of that wealthy countrey. + +And he is throughly credited because of the mariners, who approue many +strange things, that he reporteth to be true. [Sidenote: Zichmni minded to +send M. Antonio Zeno with a fleete towards those parts of Estotiland.] +Wherefore this Lord is resolued to send me forth with a fleet towards those +parts, and there are so many that desire to go in the voyage, for the +noueltie and strangenesse of the thing, that I thinke we shall be very +strongly appointed, without any publike expence at all. And this is the +tenour of the letter before mentioned, which I haue here set downe to giue +intelligence of another voyage that M. Antonio made, being set out with +many barkes, and men, notwithstanding he was not captaine, as he had +thought at the first he should: for Zichmni went in his owne person: and +concerning that matter I haue a letter in forme following. + +[Sidenote: The 4. letter.] [Sidenote: The fisherman dyed that should haue +bene interpreter. Certaine mariners taken in his steede, which came with +him from Estotiland.] One great preparation for the voyage of Estotiland +was begun in an vnlucky houre: for three dayes before our departure the +fisherman died that should haue bene our guide: notwithstanding this Lord +would not giue ouer the enterprize, but instead of the fisherman tooke +certaine mariners that returned out of the Island with him: and so making +our Nauigation to the Westwards, we discouered certaine Islands subiect to +Frisland, and hauing passed certaine shelues we stayed at Leduo for the +space of 7 daies to refresh our selues, and to furnish the fleet with +necessarie prouision. [Sidenote: Isle Ilof.] Departing from thence we +arriued the first of Iuly at the Isle of Ilofe: and for that the wind made +for vs, we stayed not there, but passed forth, and being vpon the maine +sea, there arose immediately a cruel tempest, wherewith for eight dayes +space we were miserably vexed, not knowing where we were: and a great part +of the barks were cast away, afterward the weather waxing faire, we +gathered vp the broken peices of the barkes that were lost, and sayling +with a prosperous winde we discovered land at West. [Sidenote: Zichmni his +discouerie of the Island Iscaria.] Wherefore keeping our course directly +vpon it, we arriued in a good and safe harborough, where we saw an infinit +companie of people ready in armes, come running very furiously to the water +side, as it were for defence of the Iland. [Sidenote: An Island man in +Icaria.] Wherefore Zichmni causing his men to make signes of peace vnto +them, they sent 10 men vnto vs that coulde speake ten languages, but we +could vnderstand none of them, except one that was of Island. [Sidenote: +The kings of Icaria called Icaria after the name of the first king of that +place, who as they report, was sonne to Dedalus the king of the Scots.] He +being brought before our prince and asked, what was the name of the Island, +and what people inhabited it, and who gouerned it, answered that the Island +was called Icaria, and that all the kings that reigned there, were called +Icari, after the name of the first king of that place, which as they say +was the sonne of Dedalus king of Scotland, who conquered that Island, left +his sonne there for king, and left them those lawes that they retaine to +this present, and after this, he desiring to sayle further, in a great +tempest that arose, was drowned, wherefore for a memoriall of his death, +they call those seas yet, the Icarian Sea, and the kings of the Island +Icari, and for that they were contented with that state, which God had +giuen them, neither would they alter one iote of their lawes and customes, +they would not receiue any stranger: wherefore they requested our prince, +that hee would not seeke to violate their lawes, which they had receiued +from that king of worthy memory and obserued very duly to that present: +which if he did attempt, it would redound to his manifest destruction, they +being all resolutely bent rather to leaue their life, then to loose in any +respect the vse of their lawes. [Sidenote: The people of Icaria desirous of +the Italian tongue.] Notwithstanding, that we should not thinke they did +altogether refuse conuersation and traffick with other men, they tolde vs +for conclusion that they would willingly receiue one of our men, and +preferre him to be one of the chiefe amongst them, onely to learne my +language the Italian tongue, and to be informed of our manners and +customes, as they had already receiued those other ten oftensundry +nations, that came into their Island. [Sidenote: Infinite multitudes of +armed men in Icaria.] To these things our Prince answered nothing at all, +but causing his men to seke some good harborough, he made signes as though +he would depart, and sayling round about the Island, he espied at length a +harborough on the East side of the Island, where hee put in with all his +Fleet: the mariners went on land to take in wood and water, which they did +with as great speede as they could, doubting least they should be assaulted +by the inhabitants, as it fell out in deed, for those that dwelt +thereabouts, making signes vnto the other with fire and smoke, put +themselues presently in armes and the other comming to them, they came all +running downe to the sea side vpon our men, with bowes and arrowes, and +other weapons, so that many were slaine and diuers sore wounded. And we +made signes of peace vnto them, but it was to no purpose, for their rage +increased more and more, as though they had fought for land and liuing. +[Sidenote: Zichmni departed from Icaria Westwards.] Wherefore we were +forced to depart, and to sayle along in a great circuite about the Islande, +being alwayes accompanyed vpon the hil tops and the sea coastes with an +infinite number of armed men: and so doubling the Cape of the Island +towards the North, we found many great sholdes, amongst the which for the +space of ten dayes we were in continuall danger of loosing our whole fleet, +but that it pleased God all that while to send vs faire weather. Wherefore +proceeding on till we came to the East cape, we saw the inhabitants still +on the hill tops and by the sea coast keepe with vs, and in making great +outcryes and shooting at vs a farre off, they vttered their old spitefull +affection towards vs. Wherefore wee determined to stay in some safe +harborough, and see if wee might speake once againe with the Islander, but +our determination was frustrate: for the people more like vnto beasts then +men, stood continually in armes with intent to beat vs back, if we should +come on land. Wherefore Zichmni seeing he could not preuaile, and thinking +if he should haue perseuered and followed obstinately his purpose, their +victuals would haue failed them, he departed with a fayre wind and sailed +sixe daies to the Westwards, but the winde changing to the Southwest, and +the sea waxing rough, wee sayling 4 dayes with the wind the powp, and at +length discouering land, were afraid to approch nere vnto it, the sea being +growen, and we not knowing what land it was: but God so prouided for vs, +that the wind ceasing there came a great calme. Wherefore some of our +company rowing to land with oares, returned and brought vs newes to our +great comfort, that they had found a very good countrey and a better +harborough: [Sidenote: 100 men sent to discrie the countrey.] vpon which +newes we towed our ships and smal barks to land, and being entred into the +harborough, we saw a farre off a great mountain, that cast forth smoke, +which gaue vs good hope that we should finde some inhabitants in the +Island, neither would Zichmni rest, although it were a great way off, but +sent 100 souldiers to search the countrey and bring report what people they +were that inhabited it, and in the meane time they tooke in wood and water +for the prouision of the fleete, and catcht great store of fish and sea +foule and found such abundance of birds egges that our men that were halfe +famished, were filled therewithall. Whiles we were riding here, began the +moneth of Iune, at which time the aire in the Island was so temperate and +pleasant, as is impossible to express; but when we could see no people at +al, we suspected greatly that this pleasant place was desolate and +dishabited; We gaue name to the hauen calling it Trin, and the point that +stretched out into the sea, we called Capo de Trin. [Sidenote: The 100 +souldiers returned which had bene through the Island, report what they saw +and found.] The 100 souldiers that were sent forth, 8 dayes after returned, +and brought word that they had bene through the Island and at the +mountaine, and that the smoke was a naturall thing proceeding from a great +fire that was in the bottome of the hill, and that there was a spring from +which issued a certaine water like pitch which ran into the sea, and that +thereabouts dwelt great multitudes of people halfe wilde, hiding themselues +in caues of the ground, of small stature, and very fearefull: for as soone +as they saw them they fled into their holes, and that there was a great +riuer and a very good and safe harborough. Zichmni being thus informed, and +seeing that it had a holesome and pure aire, and a very fruitfull soyle and +faire riuers, with sundry commodities, fell into such liking of the place, +that he determined to inhabite it, and built there a citie. But his people +being weary and faint with long and tedious trauell began to murmure, +saying that they would returne into their countrey, for that the winter was +at hand, and if they entred into the harborough, they should not be able to +come out againe before the next Summer. Wherefore he retaining onely the +barks with Oares and such as were willing to stay with him, sent all the +rest with the shippes backe againe, [Sidenote: M. Antonio Zeno, made chiefe +captaine of those ships which went back to Frisland.] and willed that I +(though vnwilling) should be their captaine. I therefore departing, because +I could not otherwise chuse, sayled for the space of twenty dayes to the +Eastwards without sight of any land: then turning my course towards the +Souteast, in 5. dayes I discouered land, and found my selfe vpon the Isle +of Neome, and knowing the countrey, I perceiued I was past Island: +wherefore taking in some fresh victuals of the inhabitants being subiect to +Zichmni, I sayled with a faire winde in three dayes to Frisland, where the +people, who thought they had lost their prince, because of his long +absence, in this our voyage receiued vs very ioyfully. + +What followed after this letter I know not but by coniecture, which I +gather out of a peice of another letter, which I will set down here +vnderneath: That Zichmni built a towne in the port of the Iland that he +discouered, and that he searched the countrey very diligently and +discouered it all, and also the riuers on both sides of Engroneland, for +that I see it particularly described in the sea card, but the discourse or +narration is lost. The beginning of the letter is thus. + +[Sidenote: The 5 letter.] Concerning those things that you desire to know +of me, as of the men and their maners and customes, of the beasts, and of +the countries adioyning, I haue made therof a particuler booke, which by +Gods help I will bring with me: wherein I haue decribed the countrey, the +monstrous fishes, the customes and lawes of Frisland, Island, Estland, the +kingdome of Norway, Estotiland, Drogio, and in the end the life of M. +Nicolo, the knight our brother, with the discouery which he made, and the +state of Groneland. I haue also written the life and acts of Zichmni, a +prince as worthy of immortall memory, as euer liued, for his great +valiancie and singular humanitie, wherein I haue described the discouery of +Engroneland on both sides, and the citie that he builded. Therefore I will +speake no further hereof in this letter, hoping to be with you very +shortly, and to satisfie you in sundry other things by word of mouth. + +All these letters were written by M. Antonio to Messer Carlo his brother: +and it grieueth me, that the booke and diuers other writings concerning +these purposes, are miserably lost: for being but a child when they came to +my hands, and not knowing what they were, (as the maner of children is) I +tore them, and rent them in pieces, which now I cannot cal to remembrance +but to my exceeding great griefe. Notwithstanding, that the memory of so +many good things should not bee lost: whatsoeuer I could get of this +matter, I haue disposed and put in order in the former discourse, to the +ende that this age might be partly satisfied, to the which we are more +beholding for the great discoueries made in those partes, then to any other +of the time past, being most studious of the newe relations and discoueries +of strange countries, made by the great mindes, and industrie of our +ancestours. + +For the more credite and confirmation of the former Historie of Messer +Nicolas and Messer Antonio Zeni (which for some fewe respects may perhaps +bee called in question) I haue heere annexed the iudgement of that famous +Cosmographer Abraham Ortelius, or rather the yealding and submitting of his +iudgement thereunto: who in his Theatrum Orbis, fol. 6. next before the map +of Mar del Zur, boroweth proofe and authoritie out of this relation, to +shew that the Northeast parte of America called Estotiland, and in the +original alwayes affirmed to bee an Islande, was about the yeere 1390 +discouered by the aforesayd Venetian Gentleman Messer Antonio Zeno, aboue +100 yeeres before euer Christopher Columbus set saile for those Westerne +Regions; and that the Northren Seas were euen then sayled by our Europaean +Pilots through the helpe of the loadstone: with diuers other particulars +concerning the customes, religion and wealth of the Southern Americans, +which are most euidently confirmed by all the late and moderne Spanish +Histories of Nueua Espanna and Peru. + +And here I shall not (as I suppose) commit any great inconuenience, or +absurditie, in adding vnto this History of the new world, certaine +particulars as touching the first discouery thereof, not commonly known. +Which discouerie al the writers of our time ascribe (and that not +vnworthily) vnto Christopher Columbus. For by him it was in a maner first +discouered, made knowen, and profitably communicated vnto the Christian +world, in the yeere of our Lord 1492. [Sidenote: Estotiland first +discouered.] [Sidenote: The second discouerie thereof.] Howbeit I finde +that the North part thereof called Estotiland, (which most of all extendeth +toward our Europe and the Ilands of the same, namely, Groneland, Island, +and Frisland) was long ago found out by certaine fishers of the Isle of +Frisland, driuen by tempest vpon the shore thereof: and was afterward about +the yeere 1390 discouered a new by one Antonio Zeno a gentleman of Venice; +which sayled thither vnder the conduct of Zichmni king of the saide Isle of +Frisland, a prince in those parts of great valour, and renowned for his +martiall exploits and victories. Of which expedition of Zichmni there are +extant in Italian certaine collections or abridgements gathered by +Francisco Marcolino out of the letters of M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two +gentlemen of Venice which liued in those partes. Out of which collections I +doe adde concerning the description of Estotiland aforesaid these +particulars following. + +Estotiland (saith he) aboundeth with all things necessary for mankinde. In +the mids thereof standeth an exceeding high mountaine, from which issue +foure riuers that moisten all the countrie. The inhabitants are wittie and +most expert in Mechanicall arts. They haue a kinde of peculiar language and +letters. Howbeit in this Kings Librarie are preserued certaine Latine +bookes which they vnderstand not, being perhaps left there many yeeres +before by some Europeans, which traffiqued thither. They haue all kinde of +mettals; but especially golde, wherewith they mightily abound. They +trafficke with the people of Groneland: from whence they fetch skinnes, +pitch and brimstone. The inhabitants report that towardes the South, there +are regions abounding with gold, and very populous: they haue many and huge +woods, from whence they take timber for the building of ships and cities, +whereof and of castles there are great store. The vse of the loadstone for +Navigation is vnknowen vnto them. [Sidenote: Drogio.] They make relation +also of a certaine region toward the South, called Drogio, which is +inhabited by Canibals, vnto whom mans flesh is delicate meat: wherof being +destitute they liue by fishing, which they vse very much. Beyond this are +large regions, and as it were a newe world: but the people are barbarous +and goe naked: howbeit against the colde they cloth themselues in beastes +skinnes. These haue no kinde of metall: and they liue by hunting. Their +weapons are certaine long staues with sharpe points, and bowes. They wage +warres one against another. They haue gouernours, and obey certaine lawes. +But from hence more towardes the South the climate is much more temperate: +and there are cities, and temples of idoles, vnto whom they sacrifice +liuing men, whose flesh they afterwards deuoure. These nations haue the vse +of siluer and gold. + +This much of this tract of landes out of the aforesaide collections and +abridgements. Wherein this also is worthy the obseruation, that euen then +our Europaean Pilots sayled those seas by the helpe of the loadstone. For +concerning the vse thereof in Nauigation, I suppose there is not to be +found a more ancient testimonie. And these things I haue annexed the rather +vnto this table of Mar del Zur; considering that none of those Authours +which haue written the Histories of the Newe world, haue in any part of +their writings, mentioned one word thereof. Hitherto Ortelius. + + + + +THE NAUIGATIONS, VOYAGES, TRAFFIQUES, AND DISCOUERIES, + +OF THE + +ENGLISH NATION, + +TO NEWFOVNDLAND, TO THE ISLES OF RAMEA AND THE ISLES OF ASSUMPTION +OTHERWISE CALLED NATISCOTEC. + +SITUATE AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER OF CANADA, AND TO THE COASTES OF CAPE +BRITON, AND ARAMBEC, CORRUPTLY CALLED NORUMBEGA, + +WITH THE PATENTS, LETTERS, AND ADUERTISEMENTS THEREUNTO BELONGING. + + +The voyage of the two ships, whereof the one was called the Dominus + vobiscum, set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the + eight, and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the the discouerie of + the North partes. + +Master Robert Thorne of Bristoll, a notable member and ornament of his +country, as wel for his learning, as great charity to the poore, in a +letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh, +his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour, (which both are to be seene almost +in the beginning of the first volume of this my work) exhorted the +aforesayd king with very waighty and substantial reasons, to set forth a +discouery euen to the North Pole. And that it may be knowne that this his +motion tooke present effect, I thought it good herewithall to put downe the +testimonies of two of our Chroniclers, M. Hall, and M. Grafton, who both +write in this sort. This same moneth (say they) king Henry the 8 sent 2 +faire ships wel manned and victualled, hauing in them diuers cunning men to +seeke strange regions, and so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day +of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne, which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. + +And whereas master Hal, and master Grafton say, that in those ships there +were diuers cunning men, I haue made great enquirie of such as by their +yeeres and delight in Nauigation, might giue me any light to know who those +cunning men should be, which were the directors in the aforesaid voyage. +And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher, and M. Richard Allen, a +knight of the Sepulchre, that a Canon of Saint Paul in London, which was a +great Mathematician, and a man indued with wealth, did much aduance the +action, and went therein himselfe in person, but what his name was I cannot +learne of any. And further they told me that one of the ships was called +the Dominus vobiscum, which is a name likely to be giuen by a religious man +of those dayes: and that sayling very farre Northwestward, one of the ships +was cast away as it entred into a dangerous gulph, about the great opening, +betweene the North parts of Newfoundland, and the countrey lately called by +her Maiestie, Meta Incognita. Whereupon the other ship shaping her course +towards Cape Briton, and the coastes of Arambec, and oftentimes putting +their men on land to search the state of these vnknowen regions, returned +home about the beginning of October, of the yere aforesayd. And this much +(by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times, who +should haue vsed more care in preseruing of the memories of the worthy +actes of our nation,) is all that hitherto I can learne, or finde out of +this voyage. + + * * * * * + +The voyage of M. Hore and diuers other gentlemen, to Newfoundland, and Cape + Briton, in the year 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8. + +One master Hore of London, a man of goodly stature and of great courage, +and giuen to the studie of Cosmographie, in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 +and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged diuers Gentlemen and others, +being assisted by the kings fauor and good countenance, to accompany him in +a voyage of discouerie vpon the Northwest parts of America: wherein his +perswaions tooke such effect, that within short space many gentlemen of the +Innes of court, and of the Chancerie, and diuers others of good worship, +desirous to see the strange things of the world, very willingly entered +into the action with him, some of whose names were as followeth: M. Weekes +a gentleman of the West countrey of fiue hundred markes by the yeere +liuing. M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent. M. Tuckfield. M Thomas Buts the sonne +of Sir William Buts knight, of Norfolke, which was lately liuing, and from +whose mouth I wrote most of this relation. M. Hardie, M. Biron, M. Carter, +M. Wright, M. Rastall Serieant Rastals brother, M. Ridley, and diuers +other, which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie, a ship of seuen +score tunnes, wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbarked. [Sidenote: M. Armigil +Wade.] In the other ship whose name was the Minion, went a very learned and +vertuous gentleman one M. Armigil Wade, Afterwards Clerke of the Counsailes +of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth, father to the worshipfull M. +William Wade now Clerke of the priuie Counsell, M. Oliuer Dawbeney marchant +of London, M. Ioy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappell, with diuers +other of good account. The whole number that went in the two tall ships +aforesaid to wit, the Trinitie and the Minion, were about six score +persons, whereof thirty were gentlemen, which all were mustered in warlike +maner at Grauesend, and after the receiuing of the Sacrament, they embarked +themselues in the ende of Aprill. 1526. + +[Sidenote: Cape Briton. The Island of Penguin standeth about the latitude +of 30 degrees.] From the time of their setting out from Grauesend, they +were very long at sea, to witte, aboue two moneths, and neuer touched any +land vntill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton, shaping +their course thence Northeastwardes, vntill they came to the Island of +Penguin, which is very full of rockes and stones, whereon they went and +found it full of great foules white and gray, as big as geese, and they saw +infinite numbers of their egges. They draue a great number of the foules +into their boates vpon their sayles, and tooke vp many of their egges, the +foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of +holes being flead off: they dressed and eate them and found them to be very +good and nourishing meat. They saw also store of beares both blacke and +white, of whome they killed some, and tooke them for no bad foode. + +[Sidenote: M. Dawbneys report to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Temple.] M. +Oliuer Dawbeny, which (as it is before mentioned) was in this voyage, and +in the Minion, told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things +following: to wit, [Sidenote: They behold the Sauages of Newfoundland.] +That after their arriuall in Newfoundland, and hauing bene there certaine +dayes at ancre, and not hauing yet seene any of the naturall people of the +countrey, the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches, spied a boate +with Sauages of those parts, rowing down the Bay toward them, to gaze vpon +the ship, and our people, and taking viewe of their comming aloofe, hee +called to such as were vnder the hatches, and willed them to come vp if +they would see the natural people of the countrey, that they had so long +and so much desired to see: whereupon they came vp, and tooke viewe of the +Sauages rowing toward them and their ship, and vpon the viewe they manned +out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them. But they spying our +ship-boat making towards them, returned with maine force and fled into an +Island that lay vp in the Bay or riuer there, and our men pursued them into +the Island, and the Sauages fledde and escaped: but our men found a fire, +and the side of a beare on a wooden spit left at the same by the Sauages +that were fled. + +There in the same place they found a boote of leather garnished on the +outward side of the calfe with certaine braue trailes, as it were of rawe +silke, and also found a certaine great warme mitten: And these caryed with +them, they returned to their shippe, not finding the Sauages, nor seeing +any thing else besides the soyle, and the things growing in the same, which +chiefely were store of firre and pine trees. + +And further, the said M. Dawbeny told him, that lying there they grew into +great want of victuals, and that there they found small reliefe, more then +that they had from the nest of an Osprey, that brought hourely to her yong +great plentie of diuers sorts of fishes. [Sidenote: Extreme famine.] But +such was the famine that increased amongst them from day to day, that they +were forced to seeke to relieue themselues of raw herbes and rootes that +they sought on the maine: but the famine increasing, and the reliefe of +herbes being to little purpose to satisfie their insatiable hunger, in the +fieldes and desertes here and there, the fellowe killed his mate while he +stooped to take vp a roote for his reliefe, and cutting out pieces of his +bodie whom he had murthered, broyled the same on the coles and greedily +deuoured them. + +By this meane the company decreased, and the officers knew not what was +become of them; And it fortuned that one of the company driuen with hunger +to seeke abroade for reliefe found [Sidenote: Our men eate one another for +famine.] out in the fieldes the sauour of broyled flesh, and fell out with +one for that he would suffer him and his fellowes to sterue, enioying +plentie as he thought: and this matter growing to cruell speaches, he that +had the broyled meate, burst out into these wordes: If thou wouldest needes +know, the broyled meate that I had was a piece of such a mans buttocke. The +report of this brought to the ship, the Captaine found what became of those +that were missing and was perswaded that some of them were neither deuoured +with wilde beastes, nor yet destroyed by Sauages: [Sidenote: The Captaines +Oration.] And hereupon hee stood vp and made a notable Oration, containing, +Howe much these dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched the Scriptures +from first to last, what God had in cases of distresse done for them that +called vpon them, and told them that the power of the Almighty was then no +lesse, then in al former time it had bene. And added, that if it had not +pleased God to haue holpen them in that distresse, that it had bene better +to haue perished in body, and to haue liued euerlastingly, then to haue +relieued for a poore time their mortal bodyes, and to bee condemned +euerlastingly, both body and soule to the vnquenchable fire of hell. And +thus hauing ended to that effect, be began to exhort to repentance, and +besought all the company to pray, that it might please God to looke vpon +their miserable present state and for his owne mercie to relieue the same. +The famine increasing, and the inconuenience of the men that were missing +being found, they agreed amongst themselues rather then all should perish, +to cast lots who should be killed: [Sidenote: The English surprise a French +ship, wherein they returned home.] And such was the mercie of God, that the +same night there arriued a French ship in that port, well furnished with +vittaile, and such was the policie of the English, that they became masters +of the same, and changing ships and vittailing them, they set sayle to come +into England. + +[Sidenote: Haukes and other foules.] In their iourney they were so ferre +Northwards, that they sawe mighty Islands of yce in the sommer season, on +which were haukes and other foules to rest themselues being weary of flying +ouer farre from the maine. [Sidenote: Foules supposed to be Storkes.] They +sawe also certaine great white foules with red bils and red legs, some what +bigger then Herons, which they supposed to be Storkes. They arriued at S. +Iues in Cornewall about the ende of October. From thence they departed vnto +a certairie castle belonging to sir Iohn Luttrel, where M. Thomas Buts, and +M. Rastall and other Gentlemen of the voyaye were very friendly +entertained: after that they came to the Earle of Bathe at Bathe, and +thence to Bristoll, so to London. M. Buts was so changed in the voyage with +hunger and miserie, that sir William his father and my Lady his mother knew +him not to be their sonne, vntill they found a secret marke which was a +wart vpon one of his knees, as hee told me Richard Hakluyt of Oxford +himselfe, to whom I rode 200. miles onely to learne the whole trueth of +this voyage from his own mouth, as being the onely man now aliue that was +in this discouerie. + +[Sidenote: The French royally recompenced by king Henry the 8.] Certaine +moneths after, those Frenchmen came into England, and made complaint to +king Henry the 8: the king causing the matter to be examined, and finding +the great distresse of his subiects, and the causes of the dealing so with +the French, was so mooued with pitie, that he punished not his subiects, +but of his owne purse made full and royall recompence vnto the French. + +In this distresse of famine, the English did somewhat relieue their vitall +spirits, by drinking at the springs the fresh water out of certaine wooden +cups, out of which they had drunke their Aqua composita before. + + * * * * * + +An act against the exaction of money or any other thing by any officer for + licence to traffique into Iseland and Newfoundland, made in An 2. Edwardi + sexti. + +Forasmuch as within these few yeeres now last past, there haue bene leuied, +perceiued and taken by certaine of the officers of the Admiraltie, of such +Marchants, and fishermen as haue vsed and practised the aduentures and +iourneys into Iseland, Newfoundland, Ireland, and other places commodious +for fishing, and the getting of fish, in and vpon the Seas or otherwise, by +way of Marchants in those parties, diuers great exactions, as summes of +money, doles or shares of fish, and such other like things, to the great +discouragement and hinderance of the same Marchants and fishermen, and to +no little dammage of the whole common wealth, and thereof also great +complaints haue bene made, and informations also yeerely to the kings +Maiesties most honourable councell: for reformation whereof, and to the +intent also that the sayd Marchants and fishermen may haue occasion the +rather to practise and vse the same trade of marchandizing, and fishing +freely without any such charges and exactions, as are before limited, +whereby it is to be thought that more plentie of fish shall come into this +Realme, and thereby to haue the same at more reasonable prices: Be it +therefore enacted by the king our soueraigne Lord, and the lords and +commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authoritie of the +same, that neither the Admiral, nor any officer, or minister, officers or +ministers of the Admiraltie for the time being, shall in any wise hereafter +exact, receiue, or take by himselfe, his seruant, deputie, seruants, or +deputies of any such Marchant or fisherman, any summe or summes of money, +doles or shares of fish, or any other reward, benefit or aduantage +whatsoeuer it be, for any licence to passe this Realme to the sayd voyages +or any of them, nor vpon any respect concerning the said voyages, nor any +of them, vpon paine to forfeit for the first offence treble the summe, or +treble the value of the reward, benefite or aduantage, that any such +officer or minister shall hereafter haue or take of any such Marchants or +fishermen. For the which forfeiture the party grieued, and euery other +person or persons whatsoeuer he or they be, shall and may sue for the same +by information, bill, plaint, or action of debt in any of the kings courts +of recorde: The king to haue the one moitie, and the party complaining the +other moitie: in which suite no essoigne, protection, or wager of law shall +be allowed. And for the second offence the party so offending not only to +lose and forfeite his or their office or offices in the Admiraltie, but +also to make fine and ransome at the kings will and pleasure. + +By this acte it appeareth, that the trade out of England to Newfound land +was common and frequented about the beginning of the raigne of Edward the +6. namely in the yeere 1548. and it is much to be marueiled, that by +negligence of our men, the countrey in all this time hath bene no better +searched. + + * * * * * + +A letter to M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple, conteining a report of + the true state and commodities of Newfoundland, by M. Anthonie Parkhurst + Gentleman, 1578. + +Master Hakluyt, after most heartie commendations, with like thankes for +your manifold kindnesse to me shewed, not for any merits that hitherto haue +been mine, but wholly proceeding, I must needs confesse, of your owne good +nature, which is so ready prest to benefit your countrey and all such poore +men as haue any sparke in them of good desires, that you do not onely +become their friend, but also humble your selfe as seruant in their +affaires: for which I would to God I were once in place where I might cause +your burning zeale to bee knowen to those that haue authoritie, power, and +abilitie to recompense your trauelling mind and pen, wherewith you cease +not day nor night to labour and trauell to bring your good and godly +desires to some passe, though not possibly to that happy ende that you most +thirst for: for such is the malice of wicked men the deuils instruments in +this our age, that they cannot suffer any thing (or at least few) to +proceed and prosper that tendeth to the setting forth of Gods glory, and +the amplifying of the Christian faith, wherein hitherto princes haue not +bene so diligent as their calling required. Alas, the labourers as yet are +few, the haruest great, I trust God hath made you an instrument to increase +the number, and to mooue men of power, to redeeme the people of +Newfoundland and those parts from out of the captiuitie of that spirituall +Pharao, the deuil. + +Now to answer some part of your letter touching the sundrie nauies that +come to Newfoundland, or Terra noua, for fish: you shal vnderstand that +some fish not neere the other by 200. leagues, and therefore the certaintie +is not knowen; and some yeres come many more then other some, as I see the +like among vs: who since my first trauell being but 4. yeeres, are +increased from 30. sayle to 50 which commeth to passe chiefly by the +imagination of the Westerne men, who thinke their neighbours haue had +greater gaines then in very deed they haue, for that they see me to take +such paines yeerely to go in proper person: they also suppose that I find +some secret commoditie by reason that I doe search the harbors, creekes and +hauens, and also the land much more then euer any Englishman hath done. +Surely I am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soener it springeth. But to +let this passe, you shall vnderstand that I am informed that there are +aboue 100. saile of Spaniards that come to take Cod (who make all wet, and +do drie it when they come home) besides 20. or 30. more that come from +Biskaie to kill Whale for Traine. These be better appoynted for shipping +and furniture of munition then any nation sauing the Englishmen, who +commonly are lords of the harbors where they fish, and doe vse all +strangers helpe in fishing if need require, according to an old custome of +the countrey, which thing they do willingly, so that you take nothing from +them more then a boate or twaine of salte, in respect of your protection of +them from rouers or other violent intruders, who do often put them from +good harbor, &c. As touching their tunnage, I thinke it may be neere fiue +or sixe thousand tunne. But of Portugals there are not lightly aboue 50 +saile, and they make all wet in like sorte, whose tunnage may amount to +three thousand tuns, and not vpwarde. Of the French nation and Britons, are +about one hundred and fiftie sailes, the most of their shipping is very +small, not past fortie tonnes, among which some are great and reasonably +well appointed, better then the Portugals, and not so well as the +Spaniards, and the burden of them may be some 7000. tunne. Their shipping +is from all parts of France and Britaine, and the Spaniards from most parts +of Spaine, the Portugals from Auiero[92] And Viana[93] and from 2. or 3. +ports more. The trade that our nation hath to Island maketh, that the +English are not there in such numbers as other nations. [Sidenote: The +fertility of Newfoundland.] Now to certifie you of the fertilitie and +goodnesse of the countrey, you shall vnderstand that I haue in sundry +places sowen Wheate, Barlie, Rie, Oates, Beanes, Pease and seedes of +herbes, kernels, Plumstones, nuts, all which haue prospered as in England. +The countrey yeeldeth many good trees of fruit, as Filberds in some places, +but in all places Cherie trees, and a kind of Pearetree meet to graffe on. +As for roses, they are as common as brambles here: Strawberies, Dewberies, +and Raspis, as common as grasse. The timber is most Firre, yet plentie of +Pineapple trees: fewe of these two kinds meete to maste a ship of +threescore and ten: But neere Cape Briton, and to the Southward, big and +sufficient for any ship. There be also Okes and thornes, there is in all +the countrey plentie of Birch and Alder, which be the meetest wood for +cold, and also willow, which will serue for many other purposes. [Sidenote: +Seueral sortes of fish.] As touching the kindes of Fish beside Cod, there +are Herrings, Salmons, Thornebacke, Plase, or rather wee should call them +Flounders, Dog fish, and another most excellent of taste called of vs a +Cat, Oisters, and Muskles, in which I haue found pearles aboue 40. in one +Muskle, and generally all haue some, great or small. I heard of a Portugall +that found one woorth 300. duckets: There are also [Sidenote: Called by +Spaniards Anchouas, and by the Portugals Capelinas.] other kinds of +Shel-fish, as limpets, cockles, wilkes, lobsters, and crabs: also a fish +like a Smelt which commeth on shore, and another that hath like propertie, +called a Squid: there be the fishes, which (when I please to bee merie with +my olde companions) I say doe come on shore when I commaund them in the +name of the 5 ports, and coniure them by such like words: These also bee +the fishes which I may sweepe with broomes on a heape, and neuer wet my +foote, onely two or three wordes whatsoeuer they be appointed by any man, +so they heare my voyce: the vertue of the wordes be small, but the nature +of the fish great and strange. For the Squid, whose nature is to come by +night as by day, I tell them, I set him a candle to see his way, with which +he is much delighted, or els commeth to wonder at it as doth our fresh +water fish, the other commeth also in the night, but chiefly in the day, +being forced by the Cod that would deuoure him, and therefore for feare +comming so neare the shore, is driuen drie by the surge of the sea on the +pibble and sands. Of these being as good as a Smelt you may take vp with a +shoue net as plentifully as you do Wheat in a shouell, sufficient in three +or four houres for a whole Citie. There be also other fishes which I tell +those that are desirous of stange newes, that I take as fast as one would +gather vp stones, and them I take with a long pole and hooke. Yea marrie +say they, wee beleeue so, and that you catch all the rest you bring home in +that sort, from Portugals and Frenchmen. No surely, but thus I doe: with +three hookes stretched foorth in the ende of a pole, I make as it were an +Eele speare, with which I pricke these Flounders as fast as you would take +vp fritters with a sharpe pointed sticke, and with that toole I may take vp +in lesse then halfe a day Lobsters sufficient to finde three hundred men +for a dayes meate. This pastime ended, I shewe them that for my pleasure I +take a great Mastiue I haue, and say no more then thus: Goe fetch me this +rebellious fish that obeyeth not this Gentleman that commeth from Kent and +Christendome, bringing them to the high water marke, and when hee doubteth +that any of those great Cods by reason of sheluing ground bee like to +tumble into the Sea againe, hee will warily take heede and carrie him vp +backe to the heape of his feilowes. This doeth cause my friendes to wonder, +and at the first hearing to iudge them notorious lies, but they laugh and +are merrie when they heare the meanes howe each tale is true. + +I told you once I doe remember how in my trauaile into Africa and America, +I found trees that bare Oisters which was strange to you, till I tolde you +that their boughes hung in the water, on which both Oisters and Muskies did +sticke fast, as their propertie is, to stakes and timber.[94] + +Nowe to let these merrie tales passe, and to come to earnest matters +againe, you shall vnderstand, that Newfoundland is in a temperate Climate, +and not so colde as foolish Mariners doe say, who finde it colde sometimes +when plentie of Isles of yce lie neere the shore: but vp in the land they +shall finde it hotter then in England in many parts of the countrey toward +the South. This colde commeth by an accidental meanes, as by the yce that +commeth fleeting from the North partes of the worlde, and not by the +situation of the countrey, or nature of the Climate. The countrey is full +of little small riuers all the yeere long proceeding from the mountains, +ingendred both of snow and raine: few springs that euer I could finde or +heare of, except it bee towards the South: in some places or rather in most +places great lakes with plentie of fish, the countrey most couered with +woods of firre, yet in many places indifferent good grasse, and plentie of +Beares euery where, so that you may kill of them as oft as you list: their +flesh is as good as yong beefe, and hardly you may know the one from the +other if it be poudred but two dayes. Of Otters we may take like store. +There are Sea Guls, Murres, Duckes, wild Geese, and many other kind of +birdes store, too long to write, especially at one Island named Penguin, +where wee may driue them on a planke into our ship as many as shall lade +her. These birdes are also called Penguins, and cannot flie, there is more +meate in one of these then in a goose: the Frenchmen that fish neere the +grand baie, doe bring small store of flesh with them, but victuall +themselues alwayes with these birdes. Nowe againe, for Venison plentie, +especially to the North about the grand baie, and in the South neere Cape +Race, and Pleasance: there are many other kinds of beasts, as Luzarnes and +other mighty beastes like to Camels in great likenesse, and their feete +were clouen, I did see them farre off not able to discerne them perfectly, +but their steps shewed that their feete were clouen, and bigger then the +feete of Camels, I suppose them to bee a kind off Buffes which I read to +bee in the countreyes adiacent, and very many in the firme land. There bee +also to the Northwards, Hares, and Foxes in all parts so plentifully, that +at noone dayes they take away our flesh before our faces within lesse then +halfe a paire of buts length, where foure and twentie persons were turning +of drie fish, and two dogs in sight, yet stoode they not in feare till wee +gaue shot and set the dogs vpon them: the Beares also be as bold, which +will not spare at midnight to take your fish before your face, and I +beleeue assuredly would not hurt any bodie vnlesse they be forced. + +Nowe to showe you my fancie what places I suppose meetest to inhabite in +those parts discouered of late by our nation: There is neere about the +mouth of the grand Bay, an excellent harbour called of the Frenchmen +Chasteaux,[95] and one Island in the very entrie of the streight called +Bell Isle,[96] which places if they be peopled and well fortified (as there +are stones and things meete for it throughout all Newfoundland) wee shall +bee lordes of the whole fishing in small time, if it doe so please the +Queenes Maiestie, and from thence send wood and cole with all necessaries +to Labrador lately discouered: but I am of opinion, and doe most stedfastly +beleeue that we shall finde as rich Mines in more temperate places and +Climates, and more profitable for fishing then any yet we haue vsed, where +wee shall haue not farre from thence plentie of salt made vndoubtedly, and +very likely by the heate of the Sunne, by reason I find salt kerned on the +rockes in nine and fortie and better: these places may bee found for salte +in three and fortie. I know more touching these two commodities last +remembred then any man of our nation doeth; for that I haue some knowledge +in such matters, and haue most desired the finding of them by painefull +trauaile, and most diligent inquirie. Now to be short, for I haue bene ouer +long by Master Butlers means, who cryed on mee to write at large, and of as +many things as I call to minde woorthy of rembrance: wherefore this one +thing more. I could wish the Island in the mouth of the riuer of Canada[97] +should be inhabited, and the riuer searched, for that there are many things +which may rise thereof as I will shew you hereafter. I could find in my +heart to make proofe whether it be true or no that I haue read and heard of +Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that riuer, and about Cape Briton. I had +almost forgot to speake of the plentie of wolues, and to shew you that +there be foxes, blacke, white and gray: other beasts I know none saue those +before remembered. I found also certain Mines of yron and copper in S. +Iohns, and in the Island of Yron, which might turne to our great benefite, +if our men had desire to plant thereabout, for proofe whereof I haue +brought home some of the oare of both sortes. And thus I ende, assuring you +on my faith, that if I had not beene deceiued by the vile Portugals +descending of the Iewes and Iudas kinde, I had not failed to haue searched +this riuer, and all the coast of Cape Briton, what might haue bene found to +haue benefited our countrey: but they breaking their bands, and falsifying +their faith and promise, disappointed me of the salte they should haue +brought me in part of recompence of my good seruice in defending them two +yeeres against French Rouers, that had spoyled them, if I had not defended +them. + +By meanes whereof they made me lose not onely the searching of the +countrey, but also forced mee to come home with great losse aboue 600. li. +For recompence whereof I haue sent my man into Portugall to demand iustice +at the Kings hand, if not, I must put vp my supplication to the Queenes +Maiesty and her honourable councell, to grant me leaue to stay here so much +of their goods as they haue damnified mee, or else that I may take of them +in Newfound land, as much fish as shall be woorth 600. li. or as much as +the salte might haue made. I pray you aduertise mee what way I were best to +take, and what hope there will bee of a recompence if I follow the suite: +many there are that doe comfort me, and doe bid me proceede, for that her +Maiestie and the councell doe tender poore fisher men, who with me haue +susteined three hundred pound losse in that voyage. And to conclude, if you +and your friend shall thinke me a man sufficient and of credite, to seeke +the Isle of S. Iohn, or the riuer of Canada, with any part of the firme +land of Cape Briton, I shall giue my diligence for the true and perfect +discouerie, and leaue some part of mine owne businesse to further the same: +and thus I end, committing you to God. From Bristow the 13. of Nouember, +1578. + +Yours to vse and command, + +ANTHONY PARCKHVRST. + + * * * * * + +The Letters Patents graunted by her Maiestie to Sir Humfrey Gilbert, + knight, for the inhabiting and planting of our people in America. + +Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, &c. To all people to whom +these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that of our especiall grace, +certaine science and meere motion, we haue giuen and granted, and by these +presents for vs, our heires and successours, doe giue and graunt to our +trustie and welbeloued seruant Sir Humfrey Gilbert of Compton, in our +Countie of Deuonshire knight, and to his heires and assignes for euer, free +libertie and licence from time to time and at all times for euer hereafter, +to discouer, finde, search out, and view such remote, heathen and barbarous +lands, countreys and territories not actually possessed of any Christian +prince or people, as to him, his heirs and assignes, and to euery or any of +them, shall seeme good: and the same to haue, hold, occupie and enioy to +him, his heires and assignes for euer, with all commodities, iurisdictions +and royalties both by sea and land: and the sayd sir Humfrey and all such +as from time to time by licence of vs, our heires and successours, shall +goe and trauell thither, to inhabite or remaine there, to build and +fortifie at the discretion of the sayde sir Humfrey, and of his heires and +assignes, the statutes or actes of Parliament made against Fugitiues, or +against such as shall depart, remaine, or continue out of our Realme of +England without licence, or any other acte, statute, lawe, or matter +whatsoeuer to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And wee doe +likewise by these presents, for vs, our heires and successours, giue full +authoritie and power to the saide Sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and +euery of them, that hoe and they, and euery, or any of them, shall and may +at all and euery time and times hereafter, haue, take, and lead in the same +voyages, to trauell thitherward, and to inhabite there with him, and euery +or any of them, such and so many of our subiects as shall willingly +accompany him and them, and euery or any of them, with sufficient shipping, +and furniture for their transportations, so that none of the same persons, +nor any of them be such as hereafter shall be specially restrained by vs, +our heires and successors. And further, that he, the said Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them shall haue, hold, occupy and +enioy to him, his heires, or assignes, and euery of them for euer, all the +soyle of all such lands, countries, and territories so to be discouered or +possessed as aforesaid, and of all Cities, Townes and Villages, and places, +in the same, with the rites, royalties and iurisdictions, as well marine as +other, within the sayd lands or countreys of the seas thereunto adioining, +to be had or vsed with ful power to dispose thereof; and of euery part +thereof in fee simple or otherwise, according to the order of the laws of +England, as nere as the same conueniently may be, at his, and their will +and pleasure, to any person then being, or that shall remaine within the +allegiance of vs, our heires and successours, paying vuto vs, for all +seruices, dueties and demaunds, the fift part of all the oare of gold and +siluer, that from time to time, and at all times after such discouerie, +subduing and possessing shall be there gotten: all which lands, countreys, +and territories, shall for euer bee holden by the sayd Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes of vs, our heires and successours by homage, and by the +sayd payment of the sayd fift part before reserued onely for all seruices. + +And moreouer, we doe by those presents for vs, our heires and successours, +giue and graunt licence to the sayde Sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or +assignes, and to euery of them, that hee and they, and euery or any of them +shall, and may from time to time and all times for euer hereafter, for his +and their defence, encounter, expulse, repell, and resist, as well by Sea, +as by land, and by all other wayes whatsoeuer, all, and euery such person +and persons whatsoever, as without the speciall licence and liking of the +sayd Sir Humfrey, and of his heires and assignes, shall attempt to inhabite +within the sayd countreys, or any of them, or within the space of two +hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such countreys as +aforesayd, if they shall not be before planted or inhabited within the +limites aforesayd, with the subiects of any Christian prince, being in +amitie with her Maiesty, where the said sir Humfirey, his heires or +assignes, or any of them or his or their, or any of their associates or +companies, shall within sixe yeeres next ensuing, make their dwellings and +abidings, or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter +vnlawfully to annoy either by Sea or land, the said sir Humfrey, his heires +and assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or any of their companies: +giuing and graunting by these presents further power and authoritie to the +sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and euery of them from time to +time, and at all times for euer hereafter to take and surprise by all maner +of meanes whatsoeuer, all and euery person and persons, with their shippes, +vessels, and other goods and furniture, which without the licence of the +said sir Humfrey, or his heires or assignes as aforesayd, shall bee found +traffiquing into any harborough or harboroughs, creeke or creekes within +the limites aforesayde, (the subiects of our Realmes and dominions, and all +other persons in amitie with vs, being driuen by force of tempest or +shipwracke onely excepted) and those persons and euery of them with their +ships, vessels, goods, and furniture, to detaine and possesse, as of good +and lawfull prize, according to the discretion of him, the sayd sir +Hnmfrey, his heires and assignes, and of euery or any of them. And for +vniting in more perfect league and amitie of such countreys, landes and +territories so to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayde, with our +Realmes of England and Ireland, and for the better encouragement of men to +this enterprise: we doe by these presents graunt, and declare, that all +such countreys so hereafter to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd, +from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of vs, our heires and +successours. And wee doe gaunt to the sayd sir Humfrey, his heirs and +assignes, and to all and euery of them, and to all and euery other person +and persons, being of our allegiance, whose names shall be noted or entred +in some of our courts of Record, within this our Realme of England, and +that with the assent of the said sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, shall +nowe in this iourney for discouerie, or in the second iourney for conquest +hereafter, trauel to such lands, countries and territories as aforesaid, +and to their and euery of their heires: that they and euery or any of them +being either borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland, or within +any other place within our allegiance, and which hereafter shall be +inhabiting within any the lands, countreys and territories, with such +licence as aforesayd, shall, and may haue, and enioy all priuileges of free +denizens and persons natine of England, and within our allegiance: any law, +custome, or vsage to the contrary notwithstanding. + +And forasmuch, as vpon the finding out, discouering and inhabiting of such +remote lands, countreys and territories, as aforesayd, it shall be +necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in +those iourneys or voiages, to determine to liue together in Christian peace +and ciuill quietnesse each with other, whereby euery one may with more +pleasure and profit, enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great +paine and perill: wee for vs, our heires and successors are likewise +pleased and contented, and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the +sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer, that he and they, +and euery or any of them, shall and may from time to time for euer +hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys, and in the +way by the Seas thither, and from thence, haue full and meere power and +authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, gouerne and rule by their, and euery +or any of their good discretions and pollicies, as well in causes capitall +or criminall, as ciuill, both marine and other, all such our subiects and +others, as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the +sayd iourneys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue, or that shall at any +time hereafter inhabite any such lands, countreys or territories as +aforesayd, or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd +place or places, where the sayd sir Humrrey or his heires, or assignes, or +any of them, or any of his or their associats or companies, shall inhabite +within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such +statutes, lawes and ordinances, as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, or euery, or any of them deuised or established +for the better gouernment of the said people as aforesayd: so alwayes that +the sayd statutes, lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conueniently +may, agreeable to the forme of the lawes and pollicy of England: and also, +that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed +in the church of England, nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects +or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs, our heires or +successours, as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God. And further we doe +by these presents for vs, our heires and successours, giue and graunt full +power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller, sir William +Cecill knight, lord Burleigh, our high treasurer of England, and to the +lord treasurer of England of vs, for the time being, and to the priuie +counsell of vs, our heires and successours, or any foure of them for the +time being, that he, they, or any foore of them, shall, and may from time +to time and at all times hereafter, vnder his or their handes or seales by +vertue of these presents, authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and euery or any of them by him and themselues, or by +their or any of their sufficient atturneys, deputies, officers, ministers, +factors and seruants, to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of +England and Ireland, all, or any of his goods, and all or any the goods of +his or their associates and companies, and euery or any of them, with such +other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes, as to the said lord +treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs, our heires, or successours +for the time being, as aforesayd, shall be from time to time by his or +their wisedoms or discretions thought meete and conuenient for the better +reliefe and supportation of him the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and +assignes, and euery or any of them, and his and their, and euery or any of +their said associates and companies, any act, statute, lawe, or other thing +to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. + +Prouided alwayes, and our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby declare +to all Christian Kings, princes and states, that if the said Sir Humfrey +his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence or +appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter robbe or spoile by Sea or +by land, or doe any act of vniust and vnlawfull hostilitie to any of the +Subiects of vs, our heires, or successours, or any of the Subiects of any +King, prince, ruler, gouernour or state being then in perfect league and +amitie with vs, our heires or successours: and that vpon such iniurie, or +vpon iust complaint of any such prince, ruler, gouernour or state, or their +subiects, wee, our heires or successours shall make open proclamation +within any the portes of our Realme of England commodious, that the said +Sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, or any other to whom those Letters +patents may extend, shall within the terme to be limited by such +proclamations, make full restitution and satisfaction of all such iniuries +done, so that both we and the saide Princes, or others so complayning, may +holde vs and themselues fully contended: And that if the saide Sir Humfrey, +his heires and assignes, shall not make or cause to bee made satisfaction +accordingly, within such time so to be limited: that then it shall bee +lawfull to vs, our heires and successours, to put the said Sir Humfrey, his +heires and assignes, and adherents, and all the inhabitants of the said +places to be discouered as is aforesaid, or any of them out of our +allegiance and protection, and that from and after such time of putting out +of our protection the saide Sir Humfrey, and his heires, assignes, +adherents and others so to be put out, and the said places within their +habitation, possession and rule, shal be out of our protection and +allegiance, and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostilitie +as being not our Subiects, nor by vs any way to bee aduowed, maintained or +defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor to our protection, dominion +or allegiance any way belonging, for that expresse mention &c. In witness +whereof, &c. Witnesse ourselfe at Westminster the 11. day of Iune, the +twentieth yeere of our raigne. Anno Dom. 1578. + +Per ipsam Reginam, &c. + + * * * * * + +De Nauigatione Illustris et Magnanimi Equiris aurati Humfredi Gilberti, ad + deducendam in nomun Orbem coloniam suscepta, Carmen hepizatikou Stephani + Parmenii Bvdeii. + +Ad eundem illustrem equitem autoris praefatio. + +Reddenda est, quam fieri potest breuissime, in hoc vestibulo, ratio facti +mei, et cur ita homo nouus et exterus, in tanta literatissimorum hominum +copia, quibus Anglia beat est, versandum in hoc argumento mihi putanerim: +ita enim tu, fortissime Gilberte, foetum hunc nostrom in lucem exire +voluisti. In seruitute et barbarie Turcica, Christianis tamen, magno +immortalis Dei beneficio, parentibus natus, aliquam etiam aetatis partem +educatus; postquam doctissimorum hominum opera, quibus tum Pannoniae nostrae, +tum imprimis saluae adhuc earum reliquiae florescunt, in literis adoleuissem, +more nostrorum hominum, ad inuisendas Christiani orbis Academias ablegatus +fui. Qua in peregrinatione, non solum complura Musarum hospitia, sed multas +etiam sapienter institutas respublicas, multarum Ecclesiarum probatissimas +administrationes introspeximus, iam ferme triennio ea in re posito. Fuerat +haec nostra, profectio ita a nobis comparata, vt non tantum mores et vrbes +gentium videndum, sed in familiaritatem, aut saltem notitiam illustriorum +hominum introeundum nobis putaremus, Caeterum, vt hoc a nobis sine inuidia +dici possit, (certe enim taceri absque malicia nullo modo protest) non +locus, non natio, non respublica vlla nobis aeque ac tua Britannia +complacuit, quamcunque in partem euentum consilij mei considerem. Accedit, +quod praeter omnem expectationem meam ab omnibus tuis ciuibus, quibus +comaliqua consuetudo mihi contigit, tanta passim humanitate acceptus essem, +vt iam (sit hoc saluo pietate a me dictum) suauissimae Anglorum amicitiae +ferme aboleuerint desiderium et Pannoniarum et Budae meae, quibus patriae +nomen debeo. Quas ab caussas cum saepenumero animus fuisset significationem +aliquam nostrae huius voluntatis et existimationis edendi; accidit vtique +secundum sententiam, vt dum salutandis et cognoscendis excellentibus viris +Londini operam do, ornatissimus ac doctissimus amicas meus Richardus +Hakluytus ad te me deduxerit, explicato mihi praeclarissimo tuo de ducenda +propediem colonia in nouum orbem instituto. Quae dum aguntu, agnoscere +portui ego illud corpus et animum tuum sempiterna posteritatis +commemoratione dignum, et agnoui profecto, eaque tali ac tanta obseruantia +prosequi coepi; vt cum paulo post plura de tuis virtutibus, et rebus gestis +passim audissem, tempus longe accommodatissimum existimarem esse, quo +aliqua parte officij studijque nostri, erga te et tuam gentem perfungerer. +Hoc est primum ouum, vnde nostrum [Greek: hepizatikon] originem ducit. +Reliquum est, vt eas et redeas quam prosperrime, vir nobilissime, et +beneuolentia tua, autoritate, ac nomine, tueare studium nostrum. Vale +pridie Kalen. Aprilis 1583. + +Ad Thamesin. + + Amnis, inoffensa qui tam requiete beatus + Antipodum quaeris iam tibi in orbe locum: + Nunc tibi principium meritae, pro tempore, laudis + Fecimus, et raucae carmina prima tubae. + Tum cum reddideris, modo quam dimittimus, Argo, + Ornatu perages gaudia festa nouo. + + Quae noua tam subito mutati gratia coeli? + Vnde graues nimbi vitreas tenuantur in auras? + Duffugiunt nebulae, puroque nitentior ortu + Illustrat terras, clementiaque aequora Titan? + Nimirum posuere Noti, meliorque resurgit + Evrys, et in ventos soluuntur vela secundos, + Vela quibus gentis decus immortale Brittanniae + Tendit ad ignotum nostris maioribus orbem + Vix notis Gilebertvs aquis. Ecquando licebit + Ordiri heroas laudes, et fecta nepotum + Attonitis memoranda animis? Si coepta silendum est + Illa, quibus nostri priscis aetatibus audent + Conferri, et certare dies: quibus obuia plano + Iamdudum Fortvna solo, quibus omne per vndas + Nereidvm genus exultat, faustoque tridenti + Ipse pater Netevs placabile temperat aequor. + Et passim Oceano curui Delphines ab imo + In summos saliunt fluctus, quasi terga pararent + In quibus euectae sulcent freta prospera puppes, + Et quasi diluuium, tempestatesque minatur + Follibus inflatis inimica in uela physeter. + Et fauet AEGAEON, et qui Neptvnia PROTEVS + Armenta, ac turpes alit imo in gurgite phocas. + Atque idem modo ab antiqua virtute celebtat + Sceptra Chaledonidvm: seclis modo fata futuris + Pandit, et ad seros canit euentura minores. + Vt pacis bellique bonis notissima vasto + Insula in Oceano, magni decus Anglia mundi; + Postquam opibus diues, populo numerosa frequenti, + Tot celebris factis, toto caput extulit orbe; + Non incauta sui, ne quando immensa potestas + Pondere sit ruitura suo, noua moenia natis + Quaerat, et in longum extendat sua regna recessum: + Non aliter, quam cum ventis sublimibus aptae + In nidis creuere grues, proficiscitur ingens + De nostra ad tepidum tellure colonia Nilvm. + Euge, sacrum pectus, tibi, per tot secula, soli + Seruata est regio nullis regnata Monarchis. + Et triplici quondam mundi natura notata + Margine, et audacim quarto dignata Colvmbvm; + Iam quinta lustranda plaga tibi, iamque regenda + Imperio superest. Evropam Asiamqve relinque, + Et fortunatam nimium, nisi sole propinquo + Arderet, Libyen: illis sua facta viasque + Terminet Alcides: abs te illustranda quietscit + Parte alis telus, quam non Babylonia sceptra, + Non Macedvm inuictae vires, non Persica virtus + Attigit, aut vnquam Latiae feriere secures. + Non illo soboles Mahometi mugijt orbe: + Non vafer Hispanvs, coelo, superisque relictis, + Sacra Papae humano crudelia sanguine fecit. + Illic mortales hominumque iguota propago; + Siue illi nostrae veniant ab origine gentis, + Seu tandem a prisca Favnorvm stirpe supersint + Antiqua geniti terra, sine legibus vrbes + Syluasque et pingues habitant ciuilibus agros: + Et priscos referunt mores, vitamque sequuntur + Italiae antiquae, et primi rude temporis aeuum: + Cum genitor nati fugiens Satvrus ob iram + In Latio posuit sedem, rudibusque regendos + In tenues vicos homines collegit ab agris. + Aurea in hoc primum populo coepisse feruntur + Secula, sicque homines vitam duxisse beati; + Vt simul argenti percurrens tempora, et aeris, + Degener in durum chalybem vilesceret aetas; + Rursus in antiquum, de quo descenderat, aurum + (Sic perhibent vales) aeuo vertente rediret. + Fallor an est tempus, reuolutoque orbe videntur + Aurea pacificae transmittere secula gentes? + Fallor enim, si quassatas tot cladibus vrbes + Respicio, et passim lacerantes regna tyrannos: + Si Mahometigenis Asiam Libyamqve cruento + Marte premi, domitaque iugum ceruice subire: + Iamque per Evropae fines immane tribunal + Barbari adorari domini, Dacisqve, Pelasgisqve + AEmathiisqve, omnique solo quod diuidit Hebrvs, + Et quondam bello inuictis, nunc Marte sinistro + Angustos fines, paruamque tuentibus oram + Pannoniae populis, et prisca in gente Libvrnis. + Tum vero in superos pugnas sine fine cieri + Patribus Avsoniis; ardere in bella, necesque + Sarmaticas gentes: et adhuc a caede recenti + Hispanvm sancto Gallvmqve madere cruore. + Non sunt haec auri, non sunt documenta, sed atrox + Ingenio referunt ferrum, et si dicere ferro + Deteriora mihi licet, intractabile saxum. + At vero ad niueos alia si parte Britannos + Verto oculos animumque, quot, o pulcherrima tellus + Testibus antiquo vitam traducis in auro? + Namque quod hoc summum colitur tibi numen honore + Quo superi, atque omnis geniorum casta iuuentus + Ilius ad sacra iussa vices obit, arguit aurum. + Quod tam chara Deo tua sceptra gubernat Amazon, + Quam Dea, cum nondum coelis Astraea petitis + Inter mortales regina erat, arguit aurum. + Quod colit haud vllis indusas moenibus vrbes + Aurea libertas, et nescia ferre tyrannum + Securam aetatem tellus agit, arguit aurum. + Quod regio nullis iniuria gentibus, arma + Arma licet ferruginea rubicunda quiete, + Finitimis metuenda gerit tamen, arguit aurum. + Quod gladij, quod mucrones, quod pila, quod hastae + In rastros abiere, et bello assueta iuuentus + Pacem et amicitias dulces colit, arguit aurum. + Denique si fas est auro connectere laudes + AEris, et in pacis venerari tempore fortes; + Quot natos bello heroas, quot ahaenea nutris + Pectora? Sint testes procerum tot millia, testes + Mille duces, interque duces notissima mille + Illa cui assurgunt Mvsae, quam conscia Pallas + Laetior exaudit, Gileberti gloria nostri. + Illius auxillum, et socialia praelia amici + Mirantur Belgae, et quamuis iniustus Ibervs + Commemorat iustas acies, domitasque per oras + Martia victrices formidat Hibernia turmas. + Illum oppugnatae quassatis turribus arces, + Ilium expugnatae perruptis moenibus vrbes, + Fluminaque et portus capti, hostilique notatum + Sanguine submersae meminere sub aequore classes. + Hic vbi per medios proiectus Seqvana Celtas + Labitur, et nomen max amissurus, et vndas. + Omnia si desint, quantum est ingentibus ausis + Humani generis pro pace bonoque pacisci + Tam varies casus, freta tanta, pericula tanta? + Linquere adhuc teneram prolem, et dulcissima sacri + Oscula coniugij, numerantemque ordine longo + Avcheriam digitis in mollibus, aequora mille + Formidanda modis, atque inter pauca relatos + Avcherios exempla suos, fratremque patremque; + Qui dum pro patria laudem et virtute sequuntur, + Obsessi in muris soli portisque Caleti, + Praeposuere mori, quam cum prodentibus vrbem, + Et decus Albionvm, turpi superesse salute. + Quod si parua loquor, nec adhuc fortasse fatenda est + Aurea in hoc iterum nostro gens viuere mundo, + Quid vetat ignotis vt possit surgere terris? + Auguror, et faueat dictis Devs, auguror annos, + In quibus haud illo secus olim principe in vrbes + Barbara plebs coeat, quam cum noua saxa vocaret + Amphion Thebas, Troiana ad moenia Phoebvs. + Atque vbi sic vltro iunctas sociauerit aedes, + Deinde dabit leges custodituras easdem; + In quibus ignari ciues fraudumque, dolique, + A solida assuescant potius virtute beari; + Quam genio et molli liquentia corpora vita + In Venerem ignauam, pinguemque immergere luxum: + Quam nummos, quam lucra sequi, quam propter honores + Viuere ad arbitrium stolidae mutabile plebis. + Non illic generi virtus, opibusue premetur + Libertas populi, non contra in deside vulgo + Oppugnabit opes ciuis sub nomine pauper: + Quisque suo partem foelix in iure capesset. + Tum sua magna parens ingenti foenore tellus + Exiguo sudore dabit bona: cura iuuentam + Nulla adiget senio, nec sic labor ocia tollet, + Quo minus e virtute petant sua commoda ciues. + O mihi foelicem si fas conscendere puppim: + Et tecum patria (pietas ignosce) relicta + Longinquum penetrare fretum, penetrare sorores + Mecum vna Aonias, illic exordia gentis + Prima nouae ad seros transmittere posse nepotes! + Sed me fata vetant, memoraturumque canora + Inclyta facta tuba, ad clades miserabilis Istri + Inuitum retrahunt. His his me fata reseruent: + Non deerit vates, illo qui cantet in orbe + Aut veteres populos, aut nostro incognita coelo + Munera naturae; dum spreto Helicone manebit + Ilia Aganippaeis sacrata Oxonia Musis. + Dum loquor in viridi festinant gramine Nymphae, + Impediuntque comas lauro, et florentis oliuae + Frondibus armantur, dominatricemque frequentes + Oceani immensi longe venerantur Elisam. + Illa autem ad gelidum celsis de turribus amnem + Prospicit, et iamiam Tamesino in patre tuetur + Paulatim obliquis Gilebertum albescere velis. + Sic dea Peliaco spectasse e vertice Pallas + Fertur Iasonios comites, ad Phasidos vndas + Vix bene dum notis committere carbasa ventis. + Diva faue, nutuque tuo suscepta parari + Vela iuua; Si sola geris dignissima totum + Talibus auspicijs proferri sceptra per orbem. + Propterea quia sola tuos ita pace beasti + Tranquilla populos, vt iam te principe possint + Augere imperij fines. Quia sola videris + Quo niueae Charites, quo corpore Delia virgo + Pingitur, et iusto si sit pro teste vetustas. + Talibus audimus quondam de matribus ortos + Semideos homines: tali est de sanguine magnus + Siue Hector genitus, siue Hectore maior Achilles: + Duntaxat sine fraude vlla, sine crimine possint + Vila tibi veterum conferri nomina matrum, + Quae sexum factis superas, quae patribus audes, + Nympha, dijs dignas laudes aequare Latinis. + Mentior infoelix, nisi sic in corpore virtus + Lucet formoso, ceu quae preciosior auro est + Gemma, tamen pariter placituro clauditur auro. + Mentior, et taceo, nisi sola audiris vbique + Induperatorum timor aut amor, inter et omnes + Securam requiem peragis tutissima casus: + Dum reliqui reges duro quasi carcere clausi + Sollicitis lethi dapibus, plenoque fruuntur + Terrificis monstris furtiua per ocia somno. + Mentior et taceo, solam nisi viuere ciues + AEternum cupiunt: quando nec verbere toruo, + Nec caedis poenaeue thronum formtdine firmas: + Sed tibi tot meritis maiestas parta, et inermis + Ad patulos residet custos clementia postes: + Vt quot pene rei iustum meruere tribunal, + Tot veniam grato narrent sermone clientes. + Nec tamen admittis, nisi quod iustumque piumque + Agnoscit probitas, et quae potes omnia, solis + Legibus vsurpas cautas sanctissima vires. + Nec mala formidas: si quidem quasi fune ligatur + Consilio fortuna tibi: Nullum impia terret + In castris Bellona tuis: Quin pronus adorat + Gradivvs tua iussa pater, sequiturque vocantem + Quacunque ingrederis grato victoria plausu. + Dumque fores alijs, vitamque et regna tuetur + Ianitor externus, cingunt tua limina ciues: + Dumque alijs sordet sapientia regibus, almo + Pegasidvm tu fonte satur, tot Appollinis artes + Aurea vaticina fundis quasi flumina lingua. + Nil nostri inuenere dies, nil prisca vetustas + Prodidit, in linguis peragunt commercia nullis + Christiadvm gentes, quas te, diuina virago, + Iustius Aoniae possint iactare sorores. + Audijt haec inundus, cunctisque in finibus ardet + Imperio parere tuo: et quae forte recusat + Miratur vires regio tamen. Hinc tua sceptra + Incurua Mahometigenae ceruice salutant: + Hinc tua pugnaces properant ad foedera Galli: + Dumque sibi metuit toties tibi victus Ibervs, + Nescia Romano Germania Marte domari + Quaerit amicitias Britonvm: procul oscula mittit + Virgineis pedibus Lativm, longeque remoti + Pannones in tutos optant coalescere fines. + Quinetiam quae submisso diademate nuper + Obtulit inuictis fascesque fidemque Britannis.[A] + Nonne vides passis vt crinibus horrida dudum + Porrigit ingentem lugubris America dextram? + Et numquid lacrymas, inquit, soror Anglia, nostras + Respicis, et dura nobiscum in sorte gemiscis? + An vero nescisse potes, quae tempora quantis + Cladibus egerimus? postquam insatiabilis auri, + Nam certe non vllus amor virtutis Iberos + In nostrum migrare soluum, pietasue coegit. + Ex illo, quae sacra prius vaesana litabam + Manibus infernis, sperans meliora tuumque + Discere posse Devm, iubeor mortalibus aras + Erigere, et mutas statuas truncosque precata + Nescio quod demens Romanvm numen adoro. + Cur trahor in terras? si mens est lucida, puris + Cur Devs in coelis recta non quaeritur? aut si + A nobis coelum petitur, cur saepe videmus + Igne, fame, ferro subigi, quocunque reatu + Oenotriae sedis maiestas laesa labascit? + Non sic relligio, non sic me iudice gaudet + Defendi sua regna Devs, quod si optimus ille est; + Quod si cuncta potest, et nullis indiget armis. + Mitto queri caedes, exhaustaque moenia bello: + Mitto queri in viles tot libera corpora seruos + Abiecta, immanique iugum Busiride dignum. + Te tantum fortuna animet tua, te tua virtus: + Si tibi tam plenis habitantur moenibus vrbes, + Vt nisi in excelsum crescant, coeloque minentur + AEdes aeriae; quanquam latissima, desit + Terra tamen populo: Si tot tua flumina nigrant + Turrigeras arces imitatae mole carinae, + Quot non illa natant eadem tua flumina cygni. + Si tibi iam sub sole iacens penetratus vtroque est + Mundus, vtroque iacens peragrata est terra sub axe. + Ni frustra gelidam vectus Wilobeivs [B] ad arcton + Illa in gente iacet, cui dum Sol circinat vmbras, + Dimidio totus vix forsitan occidit anno. + Ni frustra quaesiuit iter, duraque bipenni + Illo Frobiservs [C] reditum sibi in aequore fecit, + Horridum vbi semper pelagus, glacieque perenni + Frigora natiuos simulant immitia montes. + Ni frustra per Cimmerios, syluisque propinqua + Flumina Riphaeis eoa profectus ad vsque est + Moenia Iencisonvs, [D] Persasqve et proxima Persis + Bactra, et Bactrorvm confines regibus Indos. + Ni frustra, quod mortali tot secla negarant, + Hac tuus immensum nuper Dracvs [E] ambijt orbem, + Qua patri Oceano clausas circumdare terras + Concessit natura viam, mediaque meare + Tellure, et duplici secludere littore mundos. + Iam si fortuna, iam si virtute sequare + Digna tua; sunt monstra mihi, sunt vasta gigantum + Corpora, quae magno cecidisse sub Hercvle non sit + Dedecus, Ogigivs non quae aspernetur Iaccvs. + Quae si indigna putas, tantaque in pace beata + Auersare meos multo vt tibi sanguine fines + Inuidiosa petas: est nobis terra propinqua, + Et tantum bimari capiens discrimen in Isthmo. + Hanc tibi iamdudum primi inuenere Brittanni, + Tum cum magnanimus nostra in regione Cabotvs [F] + Proximus a magno ostendit sua vela Colvmbo. + Haec neque vicina nimium frigescit ab arcto, + Sole nec immodico in steriles torretur arenas: + Frigus et aestatem iusto moderamine seruat, + Siue leues auras, grati spiracula coeli, + Seu diae telluris opes, et munera curas. + Pone age te digno tua sceptra in honore, meoque + Iunge salutarem propius cum littore dextram. + Sit mihi fas aliquam per te sperare quietem, + Vicinoque bono laetum illucescere Solem. + Quod si consilijs superum, fatisque negatum est + Durare immensum magna infortunia tempus: + Quod si de immerita iustum est ceruice reuelli + Ignarum imperij dominum, populique regendi; + Quod si nulla vnquam potuit superesse potestas, + Ni pia flexilibus pareret clementia frenis + Obsequium. A mita quaesita potentia Cyro + Amissa est saeuae soboli. Parcendo subegit + Tot reges Macedvm virtus, tot postera sensim + Abscidit a parto tandem inclementia regno. + Et quod Romvleis creuit sub patribus olim + Imperium, diri semper minuere Nerones. + +[Sidenote A: Noua Albion.] +[Sidenote B: Hugo Willobeius eques auratus.] +[Sidenote C: Martinus Frobisherus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote D: Antonius Ienkinsonus.] +[Sidenote E: Franciscus Dracus eques auratus.] +[Sidenote F: Sebastianus Cabotus.] + + * * * * * + +A report of the voyage and successe thereof, attempted in the yeere of our + Lord 1583 by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, with other gentlemen assisting + him in that action, intended to discouer and to plant Christian + inhabitants in place conuenient, vpon those large and ample countreys + extended Northward from the cape of Florida, lying vnder very temperate + Climes, esteemed fertile and rich in Minerals, yet not in the actuall + possession of any Christian prince, written by M. Edward Haies gentleman, + and principall actour in the same voyage, who alone continued vnto the + end, and by Gods speciall assistance returned home with his retinue safe + and entire. + +Many voyages haue bene pretended, yet hitherto neuer any thorowly +accomplished by our nation of exact discouery into the bowels of those +maine, ample and vast countreys, extended infinitely into the North from 30 +degrees, or rather from 25 degrees of Septentrionall latitude, neither hath +a right way bene taken of planting a Christian habitation and regiment vpon +the same, as well may appeare both by the little we yet do actually +possesse therein, and by our ignorance of the riches and secrets within +those lands, which vnto this day we know chiefly by the trauell and report +of other nations, and most of the French, who albeit they can not challenge +such right and interest vnto the sayd countreys as we, neither these many +yeeres haue had opportunity nor meanes so great to discouer and to plant +(being vexed with the calamnities of intestine warres) as we haue had by +the inestimable benefit of our long and happy peace: yet haue they both +waies performed more, and had long since attained a sure possession and +settled gouernment of many prouinces in those Northerly parts of America, +if their many attempts into those forren and remote lands had not bene +impeached by their garboils at home. + +[Sidenote: The coasts from Florida Northward first discouered by the +English nation.] The first discouery of these coasts (neuer heard of +before) was well begun by Iohn Cabot the father, and Sebastian his sonne, +an Englishman borne, who were the first finders out of all that great tract +of land stretching from the cape of Florida vnto those Islands which we now +call the Newfoundland: all which they brought and annexed vnto the crowne +of England. Since when, if with like diligence the search of inland +countreys had bene followed, as the discouery vpon the coast, and out-parts +therof was performed by those two men: no doubt her Maiesties territories +and reuenue had bene mightily inlarged and aduanced by this day. And which +is more: the seed of Christian religion had bene sowed amongst those +pagans, which by this time might haue brought foorth a most plentifull +haruest and copious congregation of Christians; which must be the chiefe +intent of such as shall make any attempt that way: or els whatsoeuer is +builded vpon other foundation shall neuer obtaine happy successe nor +continuance. + +And although we can not precisely iudge (which onely belongeth to God) what +haue bene the humours of men stirred vp to great attempts of discouering +and planting in those remote countreys, yet the euents do shew that either +Gods cause hath not bene chiefly preferred by them, or els God hath not +permitted so abundant grace as the light of his word and knowledge of him +to be yet reuealed vnto those infidels before the appointed time. + +But most assuredly, the only cause of religion hitherto hath kept backe, +and will also bring forward at the time assigned by God, an effectuall and +compleat discouery and possession by Christians, both of those ample +countreys and the riches within them hitherto concealed: whereof +notwithstanding God in his wisdome hath permitted to be reuealed from time +to time a certaine obscure and misty knowledge, by little and little to +allure the mindes of men that way (which els will be dull enough in the +zeale of his cause) and thereby to prepare vs vnto a readinesse for the +execution of his will against the due time ordeined, of calling those +pagans vnto Christianity. + +[Sidenote: A fit consideration.] In the meane while, it behooueth euery man +of great calling, in whom is any instinct of inclination vnto this attempt, +to examine his owne motions: which if the same proceed of ambition or +auarice, he may assure himselfe it commeth not of God, and therefore can +not haue confidence of Gods protection and assistance against the violence +(els irresistable) both of sea, and infinite perils vpon the land; whom God +yet may vse an instrument to further his cause and glory some way, but not +to build vpon so bad a foundation. + +Otherwise, if his motiues be deriued from a vertuous and heroycall minde, +preferring chiefly the honour of God, compassion of poore infidels captiued +by the deuill, tyrannizing in most woonderfull and dreadfull maner ouer +their bodies and soules; aduancement of his honest and well disposed +countreymen, willing to accompany him in such honourable actions: reliefe +of sundry people within this realme distressed: all these be honourable +purposes, imitating the nature of the munificent God, wherewith he is well +pleased, who will assist such an actour beyond expectation of man. +[Sidenote: Probable coniectures that these lands North of Florida, are +reserued for the English nation to possesse.] And the same, who feeleth +this inclination in himselfe, by all likelihood may hope, or rather +confidently repose in the preordinance of God, that in this last age of the +world (or likely neuer) the time is compleat of receiuing also these +Gentiles into his mercy, and that God will raise him an instrument to +effect the same: it seeming probable by euent or precedent attempts made by +the Spanyards and French sundry times, that the countreys lying North of +Florida, God hath reserued the same to be reduced vnto Christian ciuility +by the English nation. For not long after that Christopher Columbus had +discouered the Islands and continent of the West Indies for Spayne, Iohn +and Sebastian Cabot made discouery also of the rest from Florida Northwards +to the behoofe of England. + +[Sidenote: The Spanyards prosperous in the Southerne discoueries, yet +vnhappy in the Northerne.] And whensoeuer afterwards the Spanyards (very +prosperous in all their Southerne discoueries) did attempt any thing into +Florida and those regions inclining towards the North they proued most +vnhappy, and were at length discouraged vtterly by the hard and lamentable +successe of many both religous and valiant in armes, endeauouring to bring +those Northerly regions also vnder the Spanish iurisdiction; as if God had +prescribed limits vnto the Spanish nation which they might not exceed; as +by their owne gests recorded may be aptly gathered. + +[Sidenote: The French are but vsurpers vpon our right.] The French, as they +can pretend lesse title vnto these Northerne parts then the Spanyard, by +how much the Spanyard made the first discouery of the same continent so far +Northward as vnto Florida, and the French did but reuiew that before +discouered by the English nation, vsurping vpon our right, and imposing +names vpon countreys, riuers, bayes, capes, or head lands, as if they had +bene the first finders of those coasts: [Sidenote: The French also +infortunate in those North parts of America.] which iniury we offered not +vnto the Spaniards, but left off to discouer when we approached the Spanish +limits: euen so God hath not hitherto permitted them to establish a +possession permanent vpon anothers right, notwithstanding their manifolde +attempts, in which the issue hath bene no lesse tragicall then that of the +Spanyards, as by their owne reports is extant. + +[Sidenote: A good incouragement for the English nation, to proceed in the +conquests of the North America.] Then seeing the English nation onely hath +right vnto these countreys of America from the cape of Florida Northward by +the priuilege of first discouery, vnto which Cabot was authorised by regall +authority, and set forth by the expense of our late famous king Henry the +seuenth: which right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalfe by the +powerfull hand of almighty God, withstanding the enterprises of other +nations: it may greatly incourage vs vpon so iust ground, as is our right, +and vpon so sacred an intent, as to plant religion (our right and intent +being meet foundations for the same) to prosecute effectually the full +possession of those so ample and pleasant countreys apperteining vnto the +crowne of England: [Sidenote: The due time approcheth by all likelihood of +calling these heathens vnto Christianity.] the same (as is to be +coniectured by infallible arguments of the worlds end approching) being now +arriued vnto the time by God prescribed of their vocation, if euer their +calling vnto the knowledge of God may be expected. [Sidenote: The word of +God moueth circularly.] Which also is very probable by the reuolution and +course of Gods word and religion, which from the beginning hath moued from +the East, towards, and at last vnto the West, where it is like to end, +vnlesse the same begin againe where it did in the East, which we were to +expect a like world againe. But we are assured of the contrary by the +prophesie of Christ, whereby we gather, that after his word preached +thorowout the world shalbe the end. And as the Gospel when it descended +Westward began in the South, and afterward spread into the North of Europe: +euen so, as the same hath begunne in the South countreys of America, no +lesse hope may be gathered that it will also spread into the North. + +These considerations may helpe to suppresse all dreads rising of hard +eueuts in attempts made this way by other nations, as also of the heauy +successe and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentleman our +countryman sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, who was the first of our nation that +caried people to erect an habitation and gouernment in those Northerly +countreys of America. About which, albeit he had consumed much substance, +and lost his life at last, his people also perishing for the most part: yet +the mystery thereof we must leaue vnto God, and iudge charitably both of +the cause (which was iust in all pretence) and of the person, who was very +zealous in prosecuting the same, deseruing honourable remembrance for his +good minde, and expense of life in so vertuous an enterprise. Whereby +neuerthelesse, least any man should be dismayd by example of other folks +calamity, and misdeeme that God doth resist all attempts intended that way: +I thought good, so farre as my selfe was an eye witnesse, to deliuer the +circumstance and maner of our proceedings in that action: in which the +gentleman was so incumbred with wants, and woorse matched with many ill +disposed people, that his rare iudgement and regiment premeditated for +these affaires, was subiected to tolerate abuses, and in sundry extremities +to holde on a course, more to vpholde credite, then likely in his owne +conceit happily to succeed. + +[Sidenote: The planting of Gods word must be handled with reuerence.] The +issue of such actions, being alwayes miserable, not guided by God, who +abhorreth confusion and disorder, hath left this for admonition (being the +first attempt by our nation to plant) vnto such as shall take the same +cause in hand hereafter not to be discouraged from it: but to make men well +aduised how they handle his so high and excellent matters, as the carriage +of his word into those very mighty and vast countreys. [Sidenote: Ill +actions coloured by pretence of planting vpon remote lands.] An action +doubtlesse not to be intermedled with base purposes; as many haue made the +same but a colour to shadow actions otherwise scarse iustifiable: which +doth excite Gods heauy iudgements in the end, to the terrifying of weake +mindes from the cause, without pondering his iust proceedings: and doth +also incense forren princes against our attempts how iust soeuer, who can +not but deeme the sequele very dangerous vnto their state (if in those +parts we should grow to strength) seeing the very beginnings are entred +with spoile. + +And with this admonition denounced vpon zeale towards Gods cause, also +towards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable vnto this action of +planting Christian people and religion in those remote and barbarous +nations of America (vnto whom I wish all happinesse) I will now proceed to +make relation briefly, yet particularly, of our voyage vndertaken with sir +Humfrey Gilbert, begun, continued, and ended aduersly. + +[Sidenote: The first and great preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] When +first sir Humfrey Gilbert vndertooke the Westerne discouery of America, and +had procured from her Maiesty a very large commission to inhabit and +possesse at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in the actuall +possession of any Christian prince, the same commission exemplified with +many priuileges, such as in his discretion he might demand, very many +gentlemen of good estimation drew vnto him, to associate him in so +commendable an enterprise, so that the preparation was expected to grow +vnto a puissant fleet, able to encounter a kings power by sea: +neuerthelesse, amongst a multitude of voluntary men, their dispositions +were diuers, which bred a iarre, and made a diuision in the end, to the +confusion of that attempt euen before the same was begun. And when the +shipping was in a maner prepared, and men ready vpon the coast to go +aboord: at that time some brake consort, and followed courses degenerating +from the voyage before pretended: Others failed of their promises +contracted, and the greater number were dispersed, leauing the Generall +with few of his assured friends, with whom he aduentured to sea: where +hauing tasted of no lesse misfortune, he was shortly driuen to retire home +with the losse of a tall ship, and (more to his griefe) of a valiant +gentleman Miles Morgan.[98] + +[Sidenote: A constant resolution of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Hauing buried +onely in a preparation a great masse of substance, wherby his estate was +impaired, his minde yet not dismaid he continued his former designment and +purpose to reuiue this enterprise, good occasion seruing. Vpon which +determination standing long, without meanes to satisfy his desire; at last +he granted certaine assignments out of his commission to sundry persons of +meane ability, desiring the priuilege of his rank, to plant and fortifie in +the North parts of America about the riuer of Canada, to whom if God gaue +good successe in the North parts (where then no matter of moment was +expected) the same (he thought) would greatly aduance the hope of the +South, and be a furtherance vnto his determination that way. And the worst +that might happen in that course might be excused without prejudice vnto +him by the former supposition, that those North regions were of no regard: +but chiefly a possession taken in any parcell of those heathen countreys, +by vertue of his grant, did inuest him of territories extending euery way +two hundred leagues: which induced sir Humfry Gilbert to make those +assignments, desiring greatly their expedition, because his commission did +expire after six yeres, if in that space he had not gotten actuall +possession. + +[Sidenote: A second preparation of sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Time went away +without any thing done by his assignes: insomuch that at last he must +resolue himselfe to take a voyage in person, for more assurance to keepe +his patent in force, which then almost was expired, or within two yeres. + +In furtherance of his determination, amongst others, sir George Peckam +knight shewed himselfe very zealous to the action, greatly aiding him both +by his aduice and in the charge. Other gentlemen to their ability ioyned +vnto him, resoluing to aduenture their substance and liues in the same +cause. Who beginning their preparation from that time, both of shipping, +munition, victual, men, and things requisit, some of them continued the +charge two yeeres compleat without intermission. Such were the difficulties +and crosse accidents opposing these proceedings, which tooke not end in +lesse then two yeres: many of which circumstances I will omit. + +The last place of our assembly, before we left the coast of England, was in +Causet bay neere vnto Plimmouth: then resolued to put vnto the sea with +shipping and prouision, such as we had, before our store yet remaining, but +chiefly the time and season of the yeere, were too farre spent. +Neuerthelesse it seemed first very doubtfull by what way to shape our +course, and to begin our intended discouery, either from the South +Northward, or from the North Southward. + +[Sidenote: Consultation about our course.] The first, that is, beginning +South, without all controuersie was the likeliest, wherein we were assured +to haue commodity of the current, which from the cape of Florida setteth +Northward, and would haue furthered greatly our nauigation, discouering +from the foresayd cape along towards cape Briton, and all those lands lying +to the North. + +[Sidenote: Commodities in discouering from South Northward.] Also the yere +being farre spent, and arriued to the moneth of Iune, we were not to spend +time in Northerly courses, where we should be surprised with timely Winter, +but to couet the South, which we had space enough then to haue attained: +and there might with lesse detriment haue wintred that season, being more +milde and short in the South then in the North where winter is both long +and rigorous. + +These and other like reasons alleged in fauour of the Southerne course +first to be taken, to the contrary was inferred: that foras much as both +our victuals, and many other needfull prouisions were diminished and left +insufficient for so long a voyage, and for the wintering of so many men, we +ought to shape a course most likely to minister supply; and that was to +take the Newfoundland in our way, which was but seuen hundred leagues from +our English coast. Where being vsually at that time of the yere, and vntill +the fiue of August, a multitude of ships repairing thither for fish, we +should be relieued abundantly with many necessaries, which after the +fishing ended, they might well spare, and freely impart vnto vs. + +Not staying long vpon that Newland coast, we might proceed Southward, and +follow still the Sunne, vntill we arriued at places more temperate to our +content. + +By which reasons we were the rather induced to follow this [Sidenote: Cause +why we began our discouery from the North.] Northerly course, obeying vnto +necessity, which must be supplied. [Sidenote: Incommodities in beginning +North.] Otherwise, we doubted that sudden approch of Winter, bringing with +it continuall fogge, and thicke mists, tempest and rage of weather; also +contrariety of currents descending from the cape of Florida vnto cape +Briton and cape Rase, would fall out to be great and irresistable +impediments vnto our further proceeding for that yeere, and compell vs to +Winter in those North and colde regions. + +Wherefore suppressing all obiections to the contrary, we resolued to begin +our course Northward, and to follow directly as we might, the trade way +vnto Newfoundland: from whence after our refreshing and reparation of +wants, we intended without delay (by Gods permission) to proceed into the +South, not omitting any riuer or bay which in all that large tract of land +appeared to our view worthy of search. Immediatly we agreed vpon the maner +of our course and orders to be obserued in our voyage; which were deliuered +in writing vnto the captaines and masters of euery ship a copy in maner +following. + +Euery shippe had deliuered two bullets or scrowles, the one sealed vp in +waxe, the other left open: in both which were included seuerall +watch-words. That open, seruing vpon our owne coast or the coast of +Ireland: the other sealed was promised on all hands not to be broken vp +vntill we should be cleere of the Irish coast; which from thencefoorth did +serue vntill we arriued and met altogether in such harbors of the +Newfoundland as were agreed for our Rendez vouz. The sayd watch-words being +requisite to know our consorts whensoeuer by night, either by fortune of +weather, our fleet dispersed should come together againe: or one should +hale another; or if by ill watch and steerage one ship should chance to +fall aboord of another in the darke. + +The reason of the bullet sealed was to keepe secret that watch-word while +we were vpon our owne coast, lest any of the company stealing from the +fleet might bewray the same: which knowen to an enemy, he might boord vs by +night without mistrust, hauing our owne watch-word. + +Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters to be obserued by the fleet +of Sir Humfrey Gilbert. + +First the Admirall to cary his flag by day, and his light by night. + +2 Item, if the Admirall shall shorten his saile by night, then to shew two +lights vntill he be answered againe by euery ship shewing one light for a +short time. + +3 Item, if the Admirall after his shortening of saile, as aforesayd, shall +make more saile againe: then he to shew three lights one aboue another. + +4 Item, if the Admirall shall happen to hull in the night, then to make a +wauering light ouer his other light, wauering the light vpon a pole. + +5 Item, if the fleet should happen to be scattered by weather, or other +mishap, then so soone as one shall descry another to hoise sailes twise, if +the weather will serue, and to strike them twise againe; but if the weather +serue not, then to hoise the maine top saile twise, and forthwith to strike +it twise againe. + +6 Item, if it shall happen a great fogge to fall, then presently euery +shippe to beare vp with the admirall, if there be winde: but if it be a +calme, then euery ship to hull, and so to lie at hull till it be cleere. +And if the fogge do continue long, then the Admirall to shoot off two +pieces euery euening, and euery ship to answere it with one shot: and euery +man bearing to the ship, that is to leeward so neere as he may. + +7 Item, euery master to giue charge vnto the watch to looke out well, for +laying aboord one of another in the night, and in fogges. + +8 Item, euery euening euery ship to haile the admirall, and so to fall +asterne him sailing thorow the Ocean: and being on the coast, euery ship to +haile him both morning and euening. + +9 Item, if any ship be in danger any way, by leake or otherwise, then she +to shoot off a piece, and presently to hang out one light, whereupon euery +man to beare towards her, answering her with one light for a short time, +and so to put it out againe; thereby to giue knowledge that they haue seene +her token. + +10 Item, whensoeuer the Admirall shall hang out her ensigne in the maine +shrowds, then euery man to come aboord her, as a token of counsell. + +11 Item, if there happen any storme or contrary winde to the fleet after +the discouery, whereby they are separated: then euery ship to repaire vnto +their last good port, there to meete againe. + +Our course agreed vpon. + +The course first to be taken for the discouery is to beare directly to Cape +Rase, the most Southerly cape of Newfound land; and there to harbour +ourselues either in Rogneux or Fermous, being the first places appointed +for our Rendez vous, and the next harbours vnto the Northward of cape Rase: +and therefore euery ship separated from the fleete to repaire to that place +so fast as God shall permit, whether you shall fall to the Southward or to +the Northward of it, and there to stay for the meeting of the whole fleet +the space of ten dayes: and when you shall depart, to leaue marks. + +A direction of our course vnto the Newfound land. + +Beginning our course from Silley, the neerest is by Westsouthwest (if the +winde serue) vntill such time as we haue brought our selues in the latitude +of 43 or 44 degrees, because the Ocean is subiect much to Southerly windes +in Iune and Iuly. Then to take trauerse from 45 to 47 degrees of latitude, +if we be inforced by contrary windes: and not to go to the Northward of the +height of 47 degrees of Septentrionall latitude by no meanes; if God shall +not inforce the contrary; but to do your indeuour to keepe in the height of +46 degrees, so nere as you can possibly, because cape Rase lieth about that +height. + +Notes. + +If by contrary windes we be driuen backe vpon the coast of England, then to +repaire vnto Silley for a place of our assembly or meeting. + +If we be driuen backe by contrary winds that we can not passe the coast of +Ireland, then the place of our assembly to be at Beare hauen or Baltimore +hauen. + +If we shall not happen to meete at cape Rase, then the place of Rendez vous +to be at cape Briton, or the neerest harbour vnto the Westward of cape +Briton. + +If by meanes of other shipping we may not safely stay there, then to rest +at the very next safe port to the Westward; euery ship leauing their marks +behinde them for the more certainty of the after commers to know where to +finde them. + +The marks that euery man ought to leaue in such a case, were of the +Generals priuate deuice written by himselfe, sealed also in close waxe, and +deliuered vnto euery shippe one scroule, which was not to be opened vntill +occasion required, whereby euery man was certified what to leaue for +instruction of after commers: that euery of vs comming into any harbour or +riuer might know who had bene there, or whether any were still there vp +higher into the riuer, or departed, and which way. + +[Sidenote: Beginning of the voyage.] Orders thus determined, and promises +mutually giuen to be obserued, euery man withdrew himselfe vnto his charge, +the ankers being already weyed, and our shippes vnder saile, hauing a soft +gale of winde, we began our voyage vpon Tuesday the eleuenth day of Iune, +in the yere of our Lord 1585, hauing in our fleet (at our departure from +Causet[99] Bay) these shippes, whose names and burthens, with the names of +the captaines and masters of them, I haue also inserted, as followeth: + +1 The Delight alias The George, of burthen 120 tunnes, was Admirall: in +which went the Generall, and William Winter captaine in her and part owner, +and Richard Clearke master. + +2 The Barke Raleigh set forth by M. Walter Raleigh, of the burthen of 200 +tunnes, was then Vice-admirall: in which went M. Butler captaine, and +Robert Dauis of Bristoll master. + +3 The Golden hinde, of burthen 40 tunnes, was then Reare-admirall: in which +went Edward Hayes captaine and owner, and William Cox of Limehouse master. + +4 The Swallow, of burthen 40 tunnes: in her was captaine Maurice Browne. + +5 The Squirrill, of burthen 10 tunnes: in which went captaine William +Andrewes, and one Cade master. + +[Sidenote: Our fleet consisted of fiue sailes, in which we had about 260 +men. Prouisions fit for such discoueries.] We were in number in all about +260 men: among whom we had of euery faculty good choice, as Shipwrights, +Masons, Carpenters, Smithes, and such like, requisite to such an action: +also Minerall men and Refiners. Besides, for solace of our people, and +allurement of the Sauages, we were prouided of Musike in good variety: not +omitting the least toyes, as Morris dancers, Hobby horsse, and Maylike +conceits to delight the Sauage people, whom we intended to winne by all +faire meanes possible. And to that end we were indifferently furnished of +all petty haberdasherie wares to barter with those people. + +In this maner we set forward, departing (as hath bene said) out of Causon +bay the eleuenth day of Iune being Tuesday, the weather and winde faire and +good all day, but a great storme of thunder and winde fell the same night. + +[Sidenote: Obserue.] Thursday following, when we hailed one another in the +euening according (to the order before specified) they signified vnto vs +out of the Vizadmirall that both the Captaine, and very many of the men +were fallen sicke, And about midnight the Vizeadmirall forsooke vs, +notwithstanding we had the winde East, faire and good. But it was after +credibly reported, that they were infected with a contagious sicknesse, and +arriued greatly distressed at Plimmoth: the reason I could neuer +vnderstand. Sure I am, no cost was spared by their owner Master Raleigh in +setting them forth: Therfore I leaue it vnto God. + +By this time we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not a little grieued with +the losse of the most puissant ship in our fleete: after whose departure, +the Golden Hind succeeded in the place of Vizadmirall, and remooued her +flagge from the mizon vnto the foretop. + +From Saturday the 15 of Iune vntill the 28, which was vpon a Friday, we +neuer had faire day without fogge or raine, and windes bad, much to the +West northwest, whereby we were driuen Southward vnto 41 degrees scarse. + +About this time of the yere the winds are commonly West towards the +Newfound land, keeping ordinarily within two points of West to the South or +to the North, whereby the course thither falleth out to be long and tedious +after Iune, which in March, Apriell and May, hath bene performed out of +England in 22 dayes and lesse. We had winde alwayes so scant from West +northwest, and from West southwest againe, that our trauerse was great, +running South vnto 41 degrees almost, and afterward North into 51 degrees. + +[Sidenote: Great fogges vpon the Ocean sea Northward.] Also we were +incombred with much fogge and mists in maner palpable, in which we could +not keepe so well together, but were disseuered, losing the company of the +Swallow and the Squirrill vpon the 20. day of Iuly, whom we met againe at +seuerall places vpon the Newfound land coast the third of August, as shalbe +declared in place conuenient. + +Saturday the 27 of Iuly, we might descry not farre from vs, as it were +mountaines of yce driuen vpon the sea, being then in 50 degrees, which were +caried Southward to the weather of vs: whereby may be coniectured that some +current doth set that way from the North. + +Before we come to Newfound land about 50 leagues on this side, we passe the +banke, [Marginal note: The banke in length vnknowen, stretcheth from North +into South, in bredth 10. leagues, in depth of water vpon it 30. fadome.] +which are high grounds rising within the sea and vnder water, yet deepe +enough and without danger, being commonly not lesse then 25 and 30 fadome +water vpon them: the same (as it were some vaine of mountaines within the +sea) doe runne along, and from the Newfound land, beginning Northward about +52 or 53 degrees of latitude, and do extend into the South infinitly. The +bredth of this banke is somewhere more, and somewhere lesse: but we found +the same about 10 leagues ouer, hauing sounded both on this side thereof, +and the other toward Newfound land, but found no ground with almost 200 +fadome of line, both before and after we had passed the banke.[100] +[Sidenote: A great fishing vpon the banke.] The Portugals, and French +chiefly, haue a notable trade of fishing vpon this banke, where are +sometimes an hundred or more sailes of ships: who commonly beginne the +fishing in Apriell, and haue ended by Iuly. That fish is large, alwayes +wet, hauing no land neere to drie, and is called Corre fish. + +[Sidenote: Abundance of foules.] During the time of fishing, a man shall +know without sounding when he is vpon the banke, by the incredible +multitude of sea foule houering ouer the same, to prey vpon the offalles +and garbish of fish throwen out by fishermen, and floting vpon the sea. + +[Sidenote: First sight of land.] Vpon Tuesday the 11 of Iune, we forsooke +the coast of England. So againe Tuesday the 30 of Iuly (seuen weekes after) +we got sight of land, being immediatly embayed in the Grand bay, or some +other great bay: the certainty whereof we could not iudge, so great hase +and fogge did hang vpon the coast, as neither we might discerne the land +well, nor take the sunnes height. But by our best computation we were then +in the 51 degrees of latitude. + +Forsaking this bay and vncomfortable coast (nothing appearing vnto vs but +hideous rockes and mountaines, bare of trees, and voide of any greene +herbe) we followed the coast to the South, with weather faire and cleare. + +[Sidenote: Iland and a foule named Penguin.] We had sight of an Iland named +Penguin, of a foule there breeding in abundance, almost incredible, which +cannot flie, their wings not able to carry their body, being very large +(not much lesse then a goose) and exceeding fat: which the French men vse +to take without difficulty vpon that Iland, and to barrell them vp with +salt. But for lingering of time we had made vs there the like prouision. + +[Sidenote: An Iland called Baccaloas, of the fish taken there.] Trending +this coast, we came to the Iland called Baccalaos, being not past two +leagues from the maine: to the South thereof lieth Cape S. Francis, 5. +leagues distant from Baccalaos, between which goeth in a great bay by the +vulgar sort called the bay of Conception. Here we met with the Swallow +againe, whom we had lost in the fogge, and all her men altered into other +apparell: whereof it seemed their store was so amended, that for ioy and +congratulation of our meeting, they spared not to cast vp into the aire and +ouerboord, their caps and hats in good plenty. The Captaine albeit himselfe +was very honest and religious, yet was he not appointed of men to his humor +and desert: who for the most part were such as had bene by vs surprised +vpon the narrow seas of England, being pirats and had taken at that instant +certaine Frenchmen laden, one barke with wines, and another with salt. Both +which we rescued, and tooke the man of warre with all her men, which was +the same ship now called the Swallow, following still their kind so oft, as +(being separated from the Generall) they found opportunitie to robbe and +spoile. And because Gods iustice did follow the same company, euen to +destruction, and to the ouerthrow also of the Captaine (though not +consenting to their misdemeanor) I will not conceale any thing that maketh +to the manifestation and approbation of his iudgements, for examples of +others, perswaded that God more sharpely tooke reuenge vpon them, and hath +tolerated longer as great outrage in others: by how much these went vnder +protection of his cause and religion, which was then pretended. + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanor of them in the Swallow.] Therefore vpon further +enquiry it was knowen, how this company met with a barke returning home +after the fishing with his fraight: and because the men in the Swallow were +very neere scanted of victuall, and chiefly of apparell, doubtful withall +where or when to find and meete with their Admiral, they besought the +captaine they might go aboord this Newlander, only to borrow what might be +spared, the rather because the same was bound homeward. Leaue giuen, not +without charge to deale fauourably, they came aboord the fisherman, whom +they rifled of tackle, sailes, cables, victuals, and the men of their +apparell: not sparing by torture (winding cords about their heads) to draw +out else what they thought good. This done with expedition (like men +skilfull in such mischiefe) as they tooke their cocke boate to go aboord +their own ship, it was ouerwhelmed in the sea, and certaine of these men +were drowned: the rest were preserued euen by those silly soules whom they +had before spoyled, who saued and deliuered them aboord the Swallow. What +became afterward of the poore Newlander, perhaps destitute of sayles and +furniture sufficient to carry them home (whither they had not lesse to +runne then 700 leagues) God alone knoweth, who tooke vengeance not long +after of the rest that escaped at this instant: to reueale the fact, and +iustifie to the world Gods iudgements inflicted vpon them, as shal be +declared in place conuenient. + +Thus after we had met with the Swallow, we held on our course Southward, +vntill we came against the harbor called S. Iohn, about 5 leagues from the +former Cape of S. Francis: where before the entrance into the harbor, we +found also the Frigate or Squirrill lying at anker. Whom the English +marchants (that were and alwaies be Admirals [Marginal note: English ships +are the strongest and Admirals of other fleetes, fishing vpon the South +parts of Newfound land.] by turnes interchangeably ouer the fleetes of +fisherman within the same harbor) would not permit to enter into the +harbor. Glad of so happy meeting both of the Swallow and Frigate in one day +(being Saturday the 3. of August) we made readie our fights, and prepared +to enter the harbor, any resistance to the contrarie notwithstanding, there +being within of all nations, to the number of 36 sailes. But first the +Generall dispatched a boat to giue them knowledge of his comming for no ill +intent, hauing Commission from her Maiestie for his voiage he had in hand. +And immediatly we followed with a slacke gale, and in the very entrance +(which is but narrow, not aboue 2 buts length) the Admirall fell vpon a +rocke on the larboard side by great ouersight, in that the weather was +faire, the rocke much aboue water fast by the shore, where neither went any +sea gate. But we found such readinesse in the English Marchants to helpe vs +in that danger, that without delay there were brought a number of boates, +which towed off the ship, and cleared her of danger. + +Hauing taken place conuenient in the road, we let fall ankers, the +Captaines and Masters repairing aboord our Admirall: whither also came +immediatly the Masters and owners of the fishing fleete of Englishmen to +vnderstand the Generals intent and cause of our arriuall there. They were +all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission, and purpose to +take possession of those lands to the behalfe of the crowne of England, and +the aduancement of Christian religion in those Paganish regions, requiring +but their lawfull ayde for repayring of his fleete, and supply of some +necessaries, so farre as might conueniently be afforded him, both out of +that and other harbors adioyning. In lieu whereof, he made offer to +gratifie them, with any fauour and priueledge, which vpon their better +aduise they should demand, the like being not to be obteyned hereafter for +greater price. So crauing expedition of his demand, minding to proceede +further South without long detention in those partes, he dismissed them, +after promise giuen of their best indeuour to satisfie speedily his so +reasonable request. The marchants with their Masters departed, they caused +forthwith to be discharged all the great Ordinance of their fleete in token +of our welcome. + +[Sidenote: Good order taken by English marchants for our supply in Newfound +land.] It was further determined that euery ship of our fleete should +deliuer vnto the marchants and Masters of that harbour a note of all their +wants: which done, the ships aswell English as strangers, were taxed at an +easie rate to make supply. And besides, Commissioners were appointed, part +of our owne companie and part of theirs, to go into other harbours +adioyning (for our English marchants command all there) to leauie our +prouision: whereunto the Portugals (aboue other nations) did most willingly +and liberally contribute. Insomuch as we were presented (aboue our +allowance) with wines, marmalads, most fine ruske or bisket, sweet oyles +and sundry delicacies. Also we wanted not of fresh salmons, trouts, +lobsters and other fresh fish brought daily vnto vs. Moreouer as the maner +is in their fishing, euery weeke to choose their Admirall a new, or rather +they succeede in orderly course, and haue weekely their Admirals feast +solemnized: [Sidenote: Good entertainment in Newfound land.] euen so the +General, Captaines and masters of our fleete were continually inuited and +feasted. [Sidenote: No Sauages in the South part of Newfound land.] To grow +short, in our abundance at home, the intertainment had bene delightfull, +but after our wants and tedious passage through the Ocean, it seemed more +acceptable and of greater contentation, by how much the same was vnexpected +in that desolate corner of the world: where at other times of the yeare, +wilde beasts and birds haue only the fruition of all those countries, which +now seemed a place very populous and much frequented. + +The next morning being Sunday and the 4 of August, the Generall and his +company were brought on land by English marchants, who shewed vnto vs their +accustomed walks vnto a place they call the Garden. But nothing appeared +more then Nature it selfe without art: who confusedly hath brought forth +roses abundantly, wilde, but odoriferous, and to sense very comfortable. +Also the like plentie of raspis berries, which doe grow in euery place. + +[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Monday following, the Generall had his tent +set vp, who being accompanied with his own followers, summoned the +marchants and masters, both English and strangers to be present at his +taking possession of those Countries. Before whom openly was read and +interpreted vnto the strangers his Commission: by vertue whereof he tooke +possession in the same harbour of S. Iohn, and 200 leagues euery way, +inuested the Queenes Maiestie with the title and dignitie thereof, had +deliuered vnto him (after the custome of England) a rod and a turffe of the +same soile, entring possession also for him, his heires and assignes for +euer: And signified vnto al men, that from that time forward, they should +take the same land as a territorie appertaining to the Queene of England, +and himselfe authorised vuder her Maiestie to possesse and enioy it, And to +ordaine lawes for the gouernement thereof, agreeable (so neere as +conueniently might be) vnto the lawes of England: vnder which all people +coming thither hereafter, either to inhabite, or by way of traffique, +should be subiected and gouerned. [Sidenote: Three Lawes.] And especially +at the same time for a beginning, he proposed and deliuered three lawes to +be in force immediatly. That is to say: the first for Religion, which in +publique exercise should be according to the Church of England. The 2. for +maintenance of her Maiesties right and possession of those territories, +against which if any thing were attempted preiudiciall the partie or +parties offending should be adiudged and executed as in case of high +treason, according to the lawes of England. The 3. if any person should +vtter words sounding to the dishonour of her Maiestie, he should loose his +eares, and haue his ship and goods confiscate. + +These contents published, obedience was promised by generall voyce and +consent of the multitude aswell of Englishmen as strangers, praying for +continuance of this possession and gouernement begun. After this, the +assembly was dismissed. And afterward were erected not farre from that +place the Armes of England ingrauen in lead, and infixed vpon a pillar of +wood. [Sidenote: Actuall possession maintained in Newfound land.] Yet +further and actually to establish this possession taken in the right of her +Maiestie, and to the behoofe of Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, his heires and +assignes for euer: the Generall granted in fee farme diuers parcels of land +lying by the water side, both in this harbor of S. Iohn, and elsewhere, +which was to the owners a great commoditie, being thereby assured (by their +proper inheritance) of grounds conuenient to dresse and to drie their fish, +whereof many times before they did faile, being preuented by them that came +first into the harbor. For which grounds they did couenant to pay a +certaine rent and seruice vnto sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or assignes +for euer, and yeerely to maintaine possession of the same, by themselues or +their assignes. + +Now remained only to take in prouision granted, according as euery shippe +was taxed, which did fish vpon the coast adioyning. [Sidenote: Men +appointed to make search.] In the meane while, the Generall appointed men +vnto their charge: some to repaire and trim the ships, others to attend in +gathering togither our supply and prouisions: others to search the +commodities and singularities of the countrey, to be found by sea or land, +and to make relation vnto the Generall what eyther themselues could knowe +by their owne trauaile and experience, or by good intelligence of English +men or strangers, who had longest frequented the same coast. Also some +obserued the eleuation of the pole, and drewe plats of the country exactly +graded. And by that I could gather by each mans seuerall relation, I haue +drawen a briefe description of the Newfoundland, with the commodities by +sea or lande alreadie made, and such also as are in possibilitie and great +likelihood to be made: Neuerthelesse the Cardes and plats that were +drawing, with the due gradation of the harbors, bayes, and capes, did +perish with the Admirall: wherefore in the description following, I must +omit the particulars of such things. + + +A briefe relation of the Newfound lande, and the commodities thereof. + +[Sidenote: New found land is al Islands or broken lands.] That which we doe +call the Newfound land, and the Frenchmen Bacalaos, is an Iland, or rather +(after the opinion of some) it consisteth of sundry Ilands and broken +lands, situate in the North regions of America, vpon the gulfe and entrance +of the great riuer called S. Laurence in Canada. Into the which, nauigation +may be made both on the South and North side of this Iland. The land lyeth +South and North, containing in length betweene three and 400 miles, +accounting from cape Race (which is 46 degrees 25 minuts) vnto the Grand +bay in 52 degrees of Septentrionall latitude. [Sidenote: Goodly roads and +harbours.] The Iland round about hath very many goodly bayes and harbors, +safe roads for ships, the like not to be found in any part of the knowen +world. + +[Sidenote: New found land is inhabitable.] The common opinion that is had +of intemperature and extreme cold that should be in this countrey, as of +some part it may be verified, namely the North, where I grant it is more +colde then in countries of Europe, which are vnder the same eleuation: euen +so it cannot stand with reason and nature of the clime, that the South +parts should be so intemperate as the brute hath gone. For as the same doe +lie vnder the climats of Briton, Aniou, Poictou in France, betweene 46 and +49 degrees, so can they not so much differ from the temperature of those +countries: vnlesse vpon the outcast lying open vnto the Ocean and sharper +windes, it must in deede be subiect to more colde, then further within the +land, where the mountaines are interposed, as walles and bulwarkes, to +defend and to resist the asperitie and rigor of the sea weather. Some hold +opinion, that the Newfound land might be the more subiect to cold, by how +much it lyeth high and neere vnto the middle region. I grant that not in +Newfound land alone, but in Germany Italy and Afrike, euen vnder the +Equinoctiall line, the mountaines are extreme cold, and seldome vncouered +of snow, in their culme and highest tops, which commeth to passe by the +same reason that they are extended towards the middle region: yet in the +countries lying beneth them, it is found quite contrary. [Sidenote: Cold by +accidentall meanes.] Euen so all hils hauing their discents, the valleis +also and low grounds must be likewise hot or temperate, as the clime doeth +giue in Newfound land: though I am of opinion that the Sunnes reflection is +much cooled, and cannot be so forcible in the Newfound land, nor generally +throughout America, as in Europe or Afrike: by how much the Sunne in his +diurnal course from East to West passeth ouer (for the most part) dry land +and sandy countries, before he arriueth at the West of Europe or Afrike, +whereby his motion increaseth heate, with little or no qualification by +moyst vapours. Where, on the contrary he passeth from Europe and Afrike +vnto America ouer the Ocean, from whence it draweth and carieth with him +abundance of moyst vapours, which doe qualifie and infeeble greatly the +Sunnes reuerberation vpon this countrey chiefly of Newfound land, being so +much to the Northward. Neuerthelesse (as I sayd before) the cold cannot be +so intollerable vnder the latitude of 46 47 and 48 (especiall within land) +that it should be vnhabitable, as some do suppose, seeing also there are +very many people more to the North by a great deale. And in these South +parts there be certaine beastes, Ounces or Leopards, and birdes in like +maner which in the Sommer we haue seene, not heard of in countries of +extreme and vehement coldnesse. Besides, as in the monethes of Iune, Iuly, +August and September, the heate is somewhat more then in England at those +seasons: so men remaining vpon the South parts neere vnto Cape Race, vntill +after Hollandtide, haue not found the cold so extreme, nor much differing +from the temperature of England. Those which haue arriued there after +November and December, haue found the snow exceeding deepe, whereat no +maruaile, considering the ground vpon the coast, is rough and uneuen, and +the snow is driuen into the places most declyning as the like is to be +seene with vs. The like depth of snow happily shall not be found within +land vpon the playner countries, which also are defended by the mountaines, +breaking off the violence of winds and weather. But admitting extraordinary +cold in those South parts, aboue that with vs here: it can not be as great +as in Sweedland, much lesse in Moscouia or Russia: [Sidenote: Commodities.] +yet are the same countries very populous, and the rigor and cold is +dispensed with by the commoditie of Stoues, warme clothing, meats and +drinkes: all which neede not be wanting in the Newfound land, if we had +intent there to inhabite.[101] + +In the South parts we found no inhabitants, which by all likelihood haue +abandoned those coastes, the same being so much frequented by Christians: +But in the North are sauages altogether harmelesse. Touching the +commodities of this countrie, seruing either for sustentation of +inhabitants, or for maintenance of traffique, there are and may be made +diuers: so that it seemeth Nature hath recompenced that only defect and +incommodities of some sharpe cold, by many benefits: [Sidenote: Fish of sea +and fresh water.] viz. With incredible quantitie, and no lesse varietie of +kindes of fish in the sea and fresh waters, as Trouts, Salmons, and other +fish to vs vnknowen: Also Cod, which alone draweth many nations thither, +and is become the most famous fishing of the world. Abundance of Whales, +for which also is a very great trade in the bayes of Placentia and the +Grand bay, where is made Traine oiles of the Whale: Herring the largest +that haue bene heard of, and exceeding the Malstrond[102] herring of +Norway: but hitherto was neuer benefit taken of the herring fishing: There +are sundry other fish very delicate, namely the Bonito, Lobsters, Turbut, +with others infinite not sought after: Oysters hauing peare but not orient +in colour: I tooke it by reason they were not gathered in season. + +Concerning the inland commodities, aswel to be drawen from this land, as +from the exceeding large countries adioyning: there is nothing which our +East and Northerly countries of Europe doe yeelde, but the like also may be +made in them as plentifully by time and Industrie: Namely rosen, pitch, +tarre, sopeashes, dealboord, mastes for ships, hides, furres, flaxe, hempe, +corne, cordage, linnen-cloth, mettals and many more. All which the +countries will aford, and the soyle is apt to yeelde. + +The trees for the most in those South parts are Firre trees Pine and +Cypresse, all yeelding Gumme and Turpentine. + +Cherrie trees bearing fruit no bigger than a small pease. Also peare trees +but fruitlesse. Other trees of some sorts to vs vnknowen. + +The soyle along the coast is not deepe of earth, bringing forth abundantly +peason small, yet good feeding for cattell. Roses passing sweet, like vnto +our muske roses in forme, raspases, a berry which we call Hurts, good and +holesome to eat. The grasse and herbe doth fat sheepe in very short space, +proued by English marchants which haue caried sheepe thither for fresh +victuall and had them raised exceeding fat in lesse then three weekes. +Peason which our countreymen haue sowen in the time of May, haue come vp +faire, and bene gathered in the beginning of August, of which our Generall +had a present acceptable for the rarenesse, being the first fruits comming +vp by art and industrie in that desolate and dishabited land. + +Lakes or pooles of fresh water, both on the tops of mountaines and in the +valies. In which are said to be muskles not vnlike to haue pearle, which I +had put in triall, if by mischance falling vnto me, I had not bene letted +from that and other good experiments I was minded to make. + +Foule both of water and land in great plentie and diuersitie. All kind of +greene foule: Others as bigge as Bustards, yet not the same. A great white +foule called by some a Gaunt. + +Vpon the land diuers sorts of haukes as Faulcons, and others by report: +Partridges most plentifull larger than ours, gray and white of colour, and +rough footed like doues, which our men after one flight did kill with +cudgels, they were so fat and vnable to flie. Birds some like blackbirds, +linnets, Canary birds, and other very small. Beasts of sundry kindes, red +deare, buffles or a beast, as it seemeth by the tract and foote very large +in maner of an oxe. Beares, ounces or leopards, some greater and some +lesser, wolues, Foxes, which to the Northward a little further are black, +whose furre is esteemed in some Countries of Europe very rich. Otters, +beuers, and marternes: And in the opinion of most men that saw it, the +Generall had brought vnto him a Sable aliue, which he sent vnto his brother +sir John Gilbert knight of Deuonshire: but it was neuer deliuered, as after +I vnderstood. [Sidenote: Newfound land doth minister commodities abundantly +for art and industrie.] We could not obserue the hundreth part of creatures +in those vnhabited lands: but these mentioned may induce vs to glorifie the +magnificent God, who hath superabundantly replenished the earth with +creatures seruing for the vse of man, though man hath not vsed a fifth part +of the same, which the more doth aggrauate the fault and foolish slouth in +many of our nation, chusing rather to liue indirectly, and very miserably +to liue and die within this realme pestered with inhabitants, then to +aduenture as becommeth men, to obtaine an habitation in those remote lands, +in which Nature very prodigally doth minister vnto mens endeuours, and for +art to worke vpon. + +For besides these alreadie recounted and infinite moe, the mountaines +generally make shew of minerall substance: Iron very common, lead, and +somewhere copper. I will not auerre of richer mettals: albeit by the +circumstances following, more then hope may be conceiued thereof. + +For amongst other charges giuen to inquire but the singularities of this +countrey, the Generall was most curious in the search of mettals, +commanding the minerall man and refiner, especially to be diligent. The +same was a Saxon borne, honest and religious, named Daniel. Who after +search brought at first some sort of Ore, seeming rather to be yron then +other mettal. [Sidenote: Siluer Ore brought vnto the Generall.] The next +time he found Ore, which with no small shew of contentment he deliuered +vnto the General, vsing prostestation, that if siluer were the thing which +might satisfie the Generall and his followers, there it was, aduising him +to seeke no further: the perill whereof he vndertooke vpon his life (as +deare vnto him as the Crowne of England vnto her Maiestie, that I may vse +his owne words) if it fell not out accordingly. + +My selfe at this instant liker to die then to liue, by a mischance, could +not follow this confident opinion of our refiner to my owne satisfaction: +but afterward demanding our Generals opinion therein, and to haue some part +of the Ore, he replied: Content your selfe, I haue seene ynough, and were +it but to satisfie my priuate humor, I would proceede no further. +[Sidenote: Reasons why no further search was made for the siluer mine.] The +promise vnto my friends, and necessitie to bring also the South countries +within compasse of my Patent neere expired, as we haue alreadie done these +North parts, do only perswade me further. And touching the Ore, I haue sent +it aboord, whereof I would haue no speech to be made so long as we remaine +within harbor: here being both Portugals, Biscains, and Frenchmen not farre +off, from whom must be kept any bruit or muttering of such matter. When we +are at sea proofe shalbe made: if it be to our desire, we may returne the +sooner hither againe. Whose answere I iudged reasonable, and contenting me +well: wherewith will I conclude this narration and description of the +Newfound land, and proceede to the rest of our voyage, which ended +tragically.[103] + +[Sidenote: Misdemeanour in our companie.] While the better sort of vs were +seriously occupied in repairing our wants, and continuing of matters for +the commoditie of our voyage: others of another sort and disposition were +plotting of mischiefe. Some casting to steale away our shipping by night, +watching opportunitie by the Generals and Captaines lying on the shore: +whose conspiracies discouered, they were preuented. Others drew togither in +company, and carried away out of the harbors adioyning, a ship laden with +fish, setting the poore men on shore. A great many more of our people stole +into the woods to hide themselues, attending time and meanes to returne +home by such shipping as daily departed from the coast. Some were sicke of +fluxes, and many dead: and in briefe, by one meanes or other our company +was diminished, and many by the Generall licenced to returne home. Insomuch +as after we had reuiewed our people, resolued to see an end of our voyage, +we grewe scant of men to furnish all our shipping: it seemed good therefore +vnto the Generall to leaue the Swallowe with such provision as might be +spared for transporting home the sicke people. + +[Sidenote: God brought togither these men into the ship ordained to perish, +who before had committed such outrage.] The Captaine of the Delight or +Admirall returned into England, in whose stead was appointed Captaine +Maurice Browne, before Captaine of the Swallow: who also brought with him +into the Delight all his men of the Swallow, which before haue bene noted +of outrage perpetrated and committed vpon fishermen there met at sea. + +[Sidenote: Why sir Humf. Gilbert went in the Frigate.] The Generall made +choise to goe in his frigate the Squirrell (whereof the Captaine also was +amongst them that returned into England) the same Frigate being most +conuenient to discouer vpon the coast, and to search into euery harbor or +creeke, which a great ship could not doe. Therefore the Frigate was +prepared with her nettings and fights, and ouercharged with bases and such +small Ordinance, more to giue a shew, then with iudgement to foresee vnto +the safetie of her and the men, which afterward was an occasion also of +their ouerthrow. + +[Sidenote: Liberalitie of the Portugals.] Now hauing made readie our +shipping, that is to say, the Delight, the golden Hinde, and the Squirrell, +and put aboord our prouision, which was wines, bread or ruske, fish wette +and drie, sweete oiles: besides many other, as marmalades, figs, lymmons +barrelled, and such like: Also we had other necessary prouision for +trimming our ships, nets and lines to fish withall, boates or pinnesses fit +for discouery. In briefe, we were supplied of our wants commodiously, as if +we had bene in a Countrey or some Citie populous and plentifull of all +things. + +[Sidenote: S. Iohns in 47 deg. 40 min.] We departed from this harbor of S. +Iohns vpon Tuesday the twentieth of August, which we found by exact +obseruation to be in 47 degrees 40 miuutes. And the next day by night we +were at Cape Race, 25 leagues from the same harborough. + +This Cape lyeth South Southwest from S. Iohns: it is a low land, being off +from the Cape about halfe a league: within the sea riseth vp a rocke +against the point of the Cape, which thereby is easily knowen. [Sidenote: +Cape Race in 46 degrees 25 minutes.] It is in latitude 46 degrees 25 +minutes. + +[Sidenote: Fish large and plentifull.] Vnder this cape we were becalmed a +small time, during which we layd out hookes and lines to take Codde, and +drew in lesse then two houres, fish so large and in such abundance, that +many dayes after we fed vpon no other prouision. + +From hence we shaped our course vnto the Island of Sablon, if conueniently +it would so fall out, also directly to Cape Briton. + +[Sidenote: Cattell in the Isle of Sablon.] Sablon lieth to the sea-ward of +Cape Briton about 25 leagues, whither we were determined to goe vpon +intelligence we had of a Portugal, (during our abode in S. Iohns) who was +himselfe present, when the Portugals (aboue thirty yeeres past) did put +into the same Island both Neat and Swine to breede, which were since +exceedingly multiplied. This seemed vnto vs very happy tidings, to haue in +an Island lying so neere vnto the maine, which we intended to plant vpon, +such store of cattell, whereby we might at all times conueniently be +relieued of victuall, and serued of store for breed. + +In this course we trended along the coast, which from Cape Race stretcheth +into the Northwest, making a bay which some called Trepassa. Then it goeth +out againe toward the West, and maketh a point, which with Cape Race lieth +in maner East and West. But this point inclineth to the North: to the West +of which goeth in the bay of Placentia. [Sidenote: Good soile.] We sent men +on land to take view of the soyle along this coast, whereof they made good +report, and some of them had wil to be planted there. They saw Pease +growing in great abundance euery where. + +The distance betweene Cape Race and Cape Briton is 87 leagues. In which +Nauigation we spent 8 dayes, hauing many times the wind indifferent good; +yet could we neuer attaine sight of any land all that time, seeing we were +hindred by the current. At last we fell into such flats and dangers, that +hardly any of vs escaped: where neuerthelesse we lost our Admiral with al +the men and prouision, not knowing certainly the place. Yet for inducing +men of skill to make coniecture, by our course and way we held from Cape +Race thither (that thereby the flats and dangers may be inserted in sea +Cards, for warning to others that may follow the same course hereafter) I +haue set downe the best reckonings that were kept by expert men, William +Cox Master of the Hind, and Iohn Paul his mate, both of Limehouse. + + +Reckonings kept in our course from Cape Race towards Cape Briton, and the + Island of Sablon, to the time and place where we lost our Admirall. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + {West and by South, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 25. + {Westnorthwest, 9. + {Southsouthwest, 10. + {Southwest, 12. + {Southsouthwest, 10. +August 29. {Westnorthwest, 12. Here we lost our Admiral. + + Summe of these leagues, 117. + + +The reckoning of Iohn Paul masters mate from Cape Race. + +August 22. {West, 14. leagues. + 23 {Northwest and by West, 9. + 24 {Southwest and by South, 5. + 25 {West and by South, 40. + 26 {West and by North, 7. + 27 {Southwest, 3. + 28 {Southwest, 9. + {Southwest, 7. + {Westsouthwest, 7. + 29 {Northwest and by West, 20. Here we lost our Admirall. + +Summe of all these leagues, 121. + +Our course we held in clearing vs of these flats was Eastsoutheast, and +Southeast, and South 14 leagues with a marueilous scant winde. + + +The maner how our Admirall was lost. + +[Sidenote: August 27.] Vpon Tewsday the 27 of August, toward the euening, +our Generall caused them in his frigat to sound, who found white sande at +35. fadome, being then in latitude about 44 degrees. + +Wednesday toward night the wind came South, and wee bare with the land all +that night, Westnorthwest, contrary to the mind of master Cox: +neuerthelesse wee followed the Admirall, depriued of power to preuent a +mischiefe, which by no contradiction could be brought to hold other course, +alleaging they could not make the ship to worke better, nor to lie +otherwaies. + +[Sidenote: Predictions before the wracke.] The euening was faire and +pleasant, yet not without token of storme to ensue, and most part of this +Wednesday night, like the Swanne that singeth before her death, they in the +Admiral, or Delight, continued in sounding of Trumpets, with Drummes, and +Fifes: also winding the Cornets, Haught boyes: and in the end of their +iolitie, left with the battell and ringing of doleful knels. + +Towards the euening also we caught in the Golden Hinde a very mighty +Porpose, with a harping yron, hauing first striken diuers of them, and +brought away part of their flesh, sticking vpon the yron, but could recouer +onely that one. These also passing through the Ocean, in heardes, did +portend storme. I omit to recite friuolous reportes by them in the Frigat, +of strange voyces, the same night, which scarred some from the helme. + +Thursday the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew vehemently at South and +by East, bringing withal raine, and thicke mist, so that we could not see a +cable length before vs. [Sidenote: Losse of our Admirall.] And betimes in +the morning we were altogether runne and folded in amongst flats and sands, +amongst which we found shoale and deepe in euery three or foure shippes +length, after wee began to sound: but first we were vpon them vnawares, +vntill master Cox looking out, discerned (in his iudgement) white cliffes, +crying (land) withal, though we could not afterward descrie any land, it +being very likely the breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white +cliffes, through the haze and thicke weather. + +Immediatly tokens were giuen vnto the Delight, to cast about to seaward, +which, being the greater ship, and of burden 120 tunnes, was yet formost +vpon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not the danger before +he felt the same, to late to recouer it: for presently the Admirall strooke +a ground, and had soone after her sterne and hinder partes beaten in +pieces: whereupon the rest (that is to say, the Frigat in which was the +Generall and the Golden Hinde) cast about Eastsoutheast, bearing to the +South, euen for our liues into the windes eye, because that way caried vs +to the seaward. Making out from this danger, wee sounded one while seuen +fadome, then fiue fadome, then foure fadome and lesse, againe deeper, +immediatly foure fadome, then but three fadome, the sea going mightily and +high. At last we recouered (God be thanked) in some despaire, to sea roome +enough. + +In this distresse, wee had vigilant eye vnto the Admirall, whom we sawe +cast away, without power to giue the men succour, neither could we espie +any of the men that leaped ouerboord to saue themselues, either in the same +Pinnesse or Cocke, or vpon rafters, and such like meanes, presenting +themselues to men in those extremities: for we desired to saue the men by +euery possible meanes. But all in vaine, sith God had determined their +ruine: yet all that day, and part of the next, we beat vp and downe as +neere vnto the wracke as was possible for vs, looking out, if by good hap +we might espie any of them. + +This was a heavy and grieuous euent, to lose at one blow our chiefe shippe +freighted with great prouision, gathered together with much trauell, care, +long time, and difficultie. But more was the losse of our men, which +perished to the number almost of a hundreth soules. [Sidenote: Stephanus +Parmenius a learned Hungarian.] Amongst whom was drowned a learned man, an +Hungarian, borne in the citie of Buda, called hereof Budaeus, who of pietie +and zeale to good attempts, aduentured in this action, minding to record in +the Latine tongue, the gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in +this discouerie, to the honour of our nation, the same being adorned with +the eloquent stile of this Orator, and rare Poet of our time. + +[Sidenote: Daniel a refiner of metal.] Here also perished our Saxon Refiner +and discouerer of inestimable riches, as it was left amongst some of vs in +vndoubted hope. + +No lesse heauy was the losse of the Captaine Maurice Browne, a vertuous, +honest, and discreete Gentleman, ouerseene onely in liberty giuen late +before to men, that ought to haue bene restrained, who shewed himselfe a +man resolued, and neuer vnprepared for death, as by his last act of this +tragedie appeared, by report of them that escaped this wracke miraculously, +as shall bee hereafter declared. For when all hope was past of recouering +the ship, and that men began to giue ouer, and to saue themselues, the +Captaine was aduised before to ship also for his life, by the Pinnesse at +the sterne of the ship: but refusing that counsell, he would not giue +example with the first to leaue the shippe, but vsed all meanes to exhort +his people not to despaire, nor so to leaue off their labour, choosing +rather to die, then to incurre infamie, by forsaking his charge, which then +might be thought to haue perished through his default, shewing an ill +president vnto his men, by leauing the ship first himselfe. With this mind +hee mounted vpon the highest decke, where hee attended imminent death, and +vnauoidable; how long, I leaue it to God, who withdraweth not his comfort +from his seruants at such times. + +[Sidenote: A wonderfull scape and deliuerance. A great distresse. A +desperate resolution.] In the meane season, certaine, to the number of +fourteene persons, leaped into a small Pinnesse (the bignes of a Thames +barge, which was made in the New found land) cut off the rope wherewith it +was towed, and committed themselues to Gods mercy, amiddest the storme, and +rage of sea and windes, destitute of foode, not so much as a droppe of +fresh water. + +The boate seeming ouercharged in foule weather with company, Edward Headly +a valiant souldier, and well reputed of his companie, preferring the +greater to the lesser, thought better that some of them perished then all, +made this motion to cast lots, and them to bee throwen ouerboord vpon whom +the lots fell, thereby to lighten the boate, which otherwayes seemed +impossible to liue, offred himselfe with the first, content to take his +aduenture gladly: which neuerthelesse Richard Clarke, that was Master of +the Admirall, and one of this number, refused, aduising to abide Gods +pleasure, who was able to saue all, as well as a few. + +[Sidenote: Two men famished.] The boate was caried before the wind, +continuing sixe dayes and nights in the Ocean, and arriued at last with the +men (aliue but weake) vpon the New found land, sauing that the foresayd +Headly, (who had bene late sicke) and another called of vs Brasile, of his +trauell into those Countries, died by the way, famished and lesse able to +holde out, then those of better health. For such was these poore mens +extremitie, in cold and wet, to haue no better sustenance then their own +vrine, for sixe dayes together. + +Thus whom God deliuered from drowning, hee appointed to bee famished, who +doth giue limits to mans times, and ordaineth the manner and circumstance +of dying: whom againe he will preserue, neither Sea nor famine can +confound. For those that arriued vpon the Newe found land, were brought +into France by certaine French men, then being vpon that coast. + +After this heauie chance, wee continued in beating the sea vp and downe, +expecting when the weadier would cleere vp, that we might yet beare in with +the land, which we iudged not farre off, either the continent or some +Island. For we many times, and in sundry places found ground at 50, 45, 40 +fadomes, and lesse. The ground comming vpon our lead, being sometimes oazie +sand, and otherwhile a broad shell, with a little sand about it. + +[Sidenote: Causes inforcing vs to returne home againe.] Our people lost +courage dayly after this ill successe, the weather continuing thicke and +blustering, with increase of cold, Winter drawing on, which tooke from them +all hope of amendment, setling an assurance of worse weather to growe vpon +vs euery day. The Leeside of vs lay full of flats and dangers ineuitable, +if the wind blew hard at South. Some againe doubted we were ingulphed in +the Bay of S. Laurence, the coast full of dangers, and vnto vs vnknowen. +But aboue all, prouision waxed scant, and hope of supply was gone, with +losse of our Admirall. + +Those in the Frigat were already pinched with spare allowance, and want of +clothes chiefly: Whereupon they besought the Generall to returne for +England, before they all perished. And to them of the Golden Hinde, they +made signes of their distresse, pointing to their mouthes, and to their +clothes thinne and ragged: then immediately they also of the Golden Hinde, +grew to be of the same opinion and desire to returne home. + +The former reasons hauing also moued the Generall to haue compassion of his +poore men, in whom he saw no want of good will, but of meanes fit to +performe the action they came for, resolued vpon retire: and calling the +Captaine and Master of the Hinde, he yeelded them many reasons, inforcing +this vnexpected returne, withall protesting himselfe greatly satisfied with +that hee had seene, and knew already. + +Reiterating these words. Be content, we haue seene enough, and take no care +of expence past: I will set you foorth royally the next Spring, if God send +vs safe home. Therefore I pray you let vs no longer striue here, where we +fight against the elements. + +Omitting circumstance, how vnwillingly the Captaine and Master of the Hinde +condescended to this motion, his owne company can testifie: yet comforted +with the Generals promises of a speedie returne at Spring, and induced by +other apparent reasons, prouing an impossibilitie, to accomplish the action +at that time, it was concluded on all hands to retire. + +[Sidenote: August 31.] So vpon Saturday in the afternoone the 31 of August, +we changed our course, and returned backe for England, [Sidenote: A monster +of the sea.] at which very instant, euen in winding about, there passed +along betweene vs and towards the land which we now forsooke a very lion to +our seeming, in shape, hair and colour, not swimming after the maner of a +beast by moouing of his feete, but rather sliding vpon the water with his +whole body (excepting the legs) in sight, neither yet diuing vnder, and +againe rising aboue the water, as the maner is, of Whales, Dolphins, +Tunise, Torposes, and all other fish: but confidently shewing himselfe +aboue water without hiding: Notwithstanding, we presented our selues in +open view and gesture to amase him, as all creatures will be commonly at a +sudden gaze and sight of men. Thus he passed along turning his head to and +fro, yawning and gaping wide, with ougly demonstration of long teeth, and +glaring eies, and to bidde vs a farewell (comming right against the Hinde) +he sent forth a horrible voyce, roaring or bellowing as doeth a lion, which +spectacle wee all beheld so farre as we were able to discerne the same, as +men prone to wonder at euery strange thing, as this doubtlesse was, to see +a lion in the Ocean sea, or fish in shape of a lion. What opinion others +had thereof, and chiefly the Generall himselfe, I forbeare to deliuer: But +he tooke it for Bonum Omen, reioycing that he was to warre against such an +enemie, if it were the deuill. + +The wind was large for England at our returne, but very high, and the sea +rough, insomuch as the Frigat wherein the Generall went was almost swalowed +vp. + +[Sidenote: September 2.] Munday in the afternoone we passed in the sight of +Cape Race, hauing made as much way in little more then two dayes and nights +backe againe, as before wee had done in eight dayes from Cape Race, vnto +the place where our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed +back againe, is to be imputed vnto the swift current, as well as to the +winds, which we had more large in our returne. + +This Munday the Generall came aboord the Hind to haue the Surgeon of the +Hind to dresse his foote, which he hurt by treading vpon a naile: At what +time we comforted ech other with hope of hard successe to be all past, and +of the good to come. So agreeing to cary out lights alwayes by night, that +we might keepe together, he departed into his Frigat, being by no meanes to +be intreated to tarie in the Hind, which had bene more for his security. +Immediatly after followed a sharpe storme, which we ouerpassed for that +time. Praysed be God. + +[Sidenote: Our last conference with our Generall.] The weather faire, the +Generall came aboord the Hind againe, to make merrie together with the +Captaine, Master and company which was the last meeting, and continued +there from morning untill night. During which time there passed sundry +discourses, touching affaires past, and to come, lamenting greatly the +losse of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all of his bookes and +notes, and what els I know not, for which hee was out of measure grieued, +the same doubtles being some matter of more importance then his bookes, +which I could not draw from him: yet by circumstance I gathered, the same +to be the Ore which Daniel the Saxon had brought vnto him in the New found +land. [Sidenote: Circumstances to be well obserued in our Generall, +importing the Ore to be of a Siluer mine.] Whatsoeuer it was, the +remembrance touched him so deepe, as not able to containe himselfe, he beat +his boy in great rage, euen at the same time, so long after the miscarrying +of the great ship, because vpon a faire day, when wee were becalmed vpon +the coast of the New found land, neere vnto Cape Race, he sent his boy +aboord the Admirall, to fetch certaine things: amongst which, this being +chiefe, was yet forgotten and left behind. After which time he could neuer +conueniently send againe aboord the great ship, much lesse hee doubted her +ruine so neere at hand. + +Herein my opinion was better confirmed diursely, and by sundry coniectures, +which maketh me haue the greater hope of this rich Mine. For where as the +Generall had neuer before good conceit of these North parts of the world: +now his mind was wholly fixed vpon the New found land. And as before he +refused not to grant assignements liberally to them that required the same +into these North parts, now he became contrarily affected, refusing to make +any so large grants, especially of S. Iohns, which certaine English +merchants made suite for, offering to imploy their money and trauell vpon +the same: yet neither by their owne suite, nor of others of his owne +company, whom he seemed willing to pleasure, it could be obtained. + +Also laying downe his determination in the Spring following, for disposing +of his voyage then to be reattempted: he assigned the Captaine and Master +of the Golden Hind, vnto the South discouery, and reserued vnto himselfe +the North, affirming that this voyage had wonne his heart from the South, +and that he was now become a Northerne man altogether. + +Last, being demanded what means he had at his arriuall in England, to +compasse the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the +next Spring: hauing determined vpon two fleetes, one for the South, another +for the North: Leaue that to mee (hee replied) I will aske a pennie of no +man. I will bring good tidings vnto her Maiesty, who wil be so gracious, to +lend me 10000 pounds, willing vs therefore to be of good cheere: for he did +thanke God (he sayd) with al his heart, for that he had seene, the same +being enough for vs all, and that we needed not to seeke any further. And +these last words he would often repeate, with demonstration of great +feruencie of mind, being himselfe very confident, and setled in beliefe of +inestimable good by his voyage: which the greater number of his followers +neuertheles mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those +secrets, which the Generall kept vnto himselfe. Yet all of them that are +liuing, may be witnesses of his words and protestations, which sparingly I +have deliuered. + +Leauing the issue of this good hope vnto God, who knoweth the trueth only, +and can at his good pleasure bring the same to light: I will hasten to the +end of this tragedie, which must be knit vp in the person of our Generall. +[Sidenote: Wilfulnes in the Generall.] And as it was Gods ordinance vpon +him, euen so the vehement perswasion and intreatie of his friends could +nothing auaile, to diuert him from a wilfull resolution of going through in +his Frigat, which was ouercharged vpon their deckes, with fights, nettings, +and small artillerie, too cumbersome for so small a boate, that was to +passe through the Ocean sea at that season of the yere, when by course we +might expect much storme of foule weather, whereof indeed we had enough. + +[Sidenote: A token of a good mind.] But when he was intreated by the +Captaine, Master, and other his well willers of the Hinde, not to venture +in the Frigat, this was his answere: I will not forsake my little company +going homeward, with whom I haue passed so many stormes and perils. And in +very trueth, hee was vrged to be so ouer hard, by hard reports giuen of +him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was rather rashnes, then +aduised resolution, to preferre the wind of a vaine report to the weight of +his owne life. + +Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had prouision out of the Hinde, such +as was wanting aboord his Frigat. And so we committed him to Gods +protection, and set him aboord his Pinnesse, we being more then 300 leagues +onward of our way home. + +By that time we had brought the Islands of Acores South of vs, yet wee then +keeping much to the North, vntill we had got into the height and eleuation +of England: we met with very foule weather, and terrible seas, breaking +short and high Pyramid wise. The reason whereof seemed to proceede either +of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, (as we see hilles and dales +vpon the land) vpon which the seas doe mount and fall: or else the cause +proceedeth of diuersitie of winds, shifting often in sundry points: al +which hauing power to moue the great Ocean, which againe is not presently +setled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had bene diuersitie of +windes. Howsoeuer it commeth to passe, men which all their life time had +occupied the Sea, neuer saw more outragious Seas. We had also vpon our +maine yard, an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen doe call +Castor and Pollux. But we had onely one, which they take an euill signe of +more tempest: the same is vsuall in stormes. + +[Sidenote: A resolute and Christianlike saying in a distresse.] Munday the +ninth of September, in the afternoone, the Frigat was neere cast away, +oppressed by waues, yet at that time recouered: and giuing foorth signes of +ioy, the Generall sitting abaft with a booke in his hand, cried out vnto vs +in the Hind (so oft as we did approch within hearing) We are as neere to +heauen by sea as by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a +souldier, resolute in Iesus Christ, as I can testifie he was. + +[Sidenote: Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned.] The same Monday night, about +twelue of the clocke, or not long after, the Frigat being ahead of vs in +the Golden Hinde, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as it were in a +moment, we lost the sight, and withall our watch cryed, the Generall was +cast away, which was so true. For in that moment, the Frigat was deuoured +and swallowed vp of the Sea. Yet still we looked out all that night, and +euer after, vntill wee arriued vpon the coast of England: Omitting no small +saile at sea, vnto which we gaue not the tokens betweene vs, agreed vpon, +to haue perfect knowledge of each other, if we should at any time be +separated. + +[Sidenote: Arriuall in England of the Golden Hinde.] In great torment of +weather, and perill of drowning, it pleased God to send safe home the +Golden Hinde, which arriued in Falmouth, the 22 day of September, being +Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flaw, comming from the +Southeast, with such thicke mist, that we could not discerne land, to put +in right with the Hauen. + +From Falmouth we went to Dartmouth, and lay there at anker before the +Range, while the captaine went aland, to enquire if there had bene any +newes of the Frigat, while sayling well, might happily haue bene there +before vs. [Sidenote: A fit motion of the Captain vnto Sir Humfrey +Gilbert.] Also to certifie Sir Iohn Gilbert, brother vnto the Generall of +our hard successe, whom the Captaine desired (while his men were yet aboord +him, and were witnesses of all occurents in that voyage,) It might please +him to take the examination of euery person particularly, in discharge of +his and their faithfull endeauour. Sir Iohn Gilbert refused so to doe, +holding himselfe satisfied with report made by the Captaine: and not +altogether dispairing of his brothers safetie, offered friendship and +curtesie to the Captaine and his company, requiring to haue his barke +brought into the harbour: in furtherance whereof, a boate was sent to helpe +to tow her in. + +Neuerthelesse, when the Captaine returned aboord his ship, he found his men +bent to depart, euery man to his home: and then the winde seruing to +proceede higher vpon the coast: they demanded monie to carie them home, +some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, (if the barke should be +caried into Dartmouth, and they discharged, so farre from home) or else to +take benefite of the wind, then seruing to draw neerer home, which should +be a lesse charge vnto the Captaine, and great ease vnto the men, hauing +els farre to goe. + +Reason accompanied with necessitie perswaded the Captaine, who sent his +lawfull excuse and cause of his sudden departure vnto Sir Iohn Gilbert, by +the boate at Dartmouth, and from thence the Golden Hind departed, and tooke +harbour at Waimouth. [Sidenote: An ill recompense.] Al the men tired with +the tediousnes of so vnprofitable a voyage to their seeming: in which their +long expence of time, much toyle and labour, hard diet and continuall +hazard of life was vnrecompensed: their Captaine neuerthelesse by his great +charges, impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in the goodnes of God, and +his vndoubted prouidence following him in all that voyage, as it doth +alwaies those at other times, whosoeuer haue confidence in him alone. Yet +haue we more neere feeling and perseuerance of his powerfull hand and +protection, when God doth bring vs together with others into one same +peril, in which he leaueth them, and deliuereth vs, making vs thereby the +beholders, but not partakers of their ruine. + +Euen so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, +conspiracies, sicknesses, mortalitie, spoylings, and wracks by sea, which +were afflictions, more then in so small a Fleete, or so short a time may be +supposed, albeit true in euery particularitie, as partly by the former +relation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for their +sakes liuing, it pleased God to support this company, (of which onely one +man died of a maladie inueterate, and long infested): the rest kept +together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and +ending the voyage, which none els did accomplish, either not pleased with +the action, or impatient of wants, or preuented by death. + +[Sidenote: Constancie in sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Thus haue I deliuered the +contents of the enterprise and last action of sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, +faithfully, for so much as I thought meete to be published: wherein may +alwaies appeare, (though he be extinguished) some sparkes of his vertues, +he remaining firme and resolute in a purpose by all pretence honest and +godly, as was this, to discouer, possesse, and to reduce vnto the seruice +of God, and Christian pietie, those remote and heathen Countreys of +America, not actually possessed by Christians, and most rightly +appertaining vnto the Crowne of England: vnto the which, as his zeale +deserueth high commendation: euen so, he may iustly be taxed of temeritie +and presumption (rather) in two respects. + +[Sidenote: His temeritie and presumption.] First, when yet there was onely +probabilitie, not a certaine and determinate place of habitation selected, +neither any demonstration of commoditie there in esse, to induce his +followers: neuertheles, he both was too prodigall of his owne patrimony, +and too careles of other mens expences, to imploy both his and their +substance vpon a ground imagined good. The which falling, very like his +associates were promised, and made it their best reckoning to bee salued +some other way, which pleased not God to prosper in his first and great +preparation. + +Secondly, when by his former preparation he was enfeebled of abilitie and +credit, to performe his designements, as it were impatient to abide in +expectation better opportunitie and meanes, which God might raise, he +thrust himselfe againe into the action, for which he was not fit, presuming +the cause pretended on Gods behalfe, would carie him to the desired ende. +Into which, hauing thus made reentrie, he could not yeeld againe to +withdraw though hee sawe no encouragement to proceed, lest his credite, +foyled in his first attempt, in a second should vtterly be disgraced. +Betweene extremities, hee made a right aduenture, putting all to God and +good fortune, and which was worst refused not to entertaine euery person +and meanes whatsoeuer, to furnish out this expedition, the successe whereof +hath bene declared. + +But such is the infinite bountie of God, who from euery euill deriueth +good. [Sidenote: Afflictions needfull in the children of God.] For besides +that fruite may growe in time of our trauelling into those Northwest lands, +the crosses, turmoiles, and afflictions, both in the preparation and +execution of this voyage, did correct the intemperate humors, which before +we noted to bee in this Gentleman, and made vnsauorie, and lesse delightful +his other manifold vertues. + +Then as he was refined, and made neerer drawing vnto the image of God: so +it pleased the diuine will to resume him vnto himselfe, whither both his, +and euery other high and noble minde, haue alwayes aspired. + + * * * * * + +Ornatissimo viro, Magistro Richard Hakluyto Oxonij in Collegio aedis + Christi, Artium et Philosophiae Magistro, amico, et fratri suo. + +S. Non statueram ad te scribere, cum in mentem veniret promissum literarum +tuarum. Putabas te superiore iam Iunio nos subsecuturum. Itaque de meo +statu ex doctore Humfredo certiorem te fieri iusseram. Verum sic tibi non +esset satisfactum. Itaque scribam ad te ijsdem fere verbis, quia noua +meditari et [Greek: sunonumixein] mihi hoc tempore non vacat. Vndecimo +Iunij ex Anglia reuera tandem et serio soluimus, portu et terra apud +Plemuthum simul relictis. Classis quinque nauibus constabat: maxima, quam +[Marginal note: Dominus Ralegh.] frater Amiralij accommodauerat, ignotum +quo comsilio, statim tertio die a nobis se subduxit. Reliqui perpetuo +coniunctim nauigauimus ad. 23. Iulij, quo tempore magnis nebulis intercepto +aspectu alij aliam viam tenuimus: nobis seorsim prima terra apparuit ad +Calendas Augusti, ad gradum circiter 50. cum vltra 41. paucis ante diebus +descendissemus spe Australium ventorum, qui tamen nobis suo tempore nunquam +spirauere. [Sidenote: Insula penguin.] Insula est ea, quam vestri Penguin +vocant, ab auium eiusdem nominis multitudine. Nos tamen nec aues vidimus, +nec insulam accessimus, ventis alio vocantibus. Caeterum conuenimus omnes in +eundum locum paulo ante portum in quem communi consilio omnibus veniendum +erat, idque intra duas horas, magna Dei benignitate et nostro gaudio. Locus +situs est in Newfoundlandia, inter 47. et 48. gradum, Diuum Ioannem vocant. +Ipse Admiralius proter multitudinem hominum et angustiam nauis paulo +afflictiorem comitatum habuit et iam duos dysentericis fioloribus amisit: +de caeteris bona spes est. Ex nostris (nam ego me Mauricio Browno vere +generoso iuueni me coniunxeram) duo etiam casu quodam submersi sunt. Caeteri +salui et longe firmiores. Ego nunquam sanior. In hunc locum tertio Augusti +appulimus: quinto autem ipse Admiralius has regiones in suam et regni +Angliae possessionem potestatemque vendicauit, latis quibusdam legibus de +religione et obsequio Reginae Angliae. Reficimur hoc tempore paulo hilarius +et lautius. Certe enim et qualibus ventis vsi simus, et quam fessi esse +potuerimus tam longi temporis ratio docuerit, proinde nihil nobis deerit. +Nam extra Anglos, 20 circiter naues Lusitanicas et Hispanicas nacti in hoc +loco sumus: eae nobis impares non patientur nas esurire. Angli etsi satis +firmi, et a nobis tuli, authoritate regij diplomatis omni obsequio et +humanitate prosequuntur. Nunc narrandi erant mores, regiones, et populi. +Caeterum quid narrem mi Hakluyte, quando praeter solitudinem nihil video? +Piscium inexhausta copia: inde huc commeantibus magnus quaestus. Vix hamus +fumdum attigit, illico insigni aliquo onustus est. Terra vniuersa [Marginal +note: In the south side of Newefoundland, there is store of plaine and +champion Countrey, as Richard Clarke found.] montana et syluestris: arbores +vt plurimum pinus: ex partim consenuere, partim nunc adolescunt: magna pars +vetustate collapsa, et aspectum terrae, et iter euntium ita impedit, vt +nusquam progredi liceat. Herbae omnes procerae: sed raro a nostris diuersae. +Natura videtur velle niti etiam ad generandum frumentum. Inueni enim +gramina, et spicas in similitudinem secales: et facile cultura et satione +in vsum humanum assuefieri posse videntur. Rubi in syluis vel potius fraga +arborescentia magna suauitate. Vrsi circa tuguria nonnunquam apparent, et +conficiuntur: sed albi sunt, vt mihi ex peliibus coniicere licuit, et +minores quam nostri. Populus an vllus sit in hac regione incertum est: Nec +vllum vidi qui testari posset. Et quis quaeso posset, cum ad longum progredi +non liceat? Nee minus ignotum est an aliquid metalli sub sit montibus. +Causa eadem est, etsi aspectus eorum mineras latentes prae se ferat. Nos +Admiralio authores fuimus syluas incendere, quo ad inspiciendam regionem +spacium pateret: nec displicebat illi consilium, si non magnum incommodum +allaturum videretur. [Sidenote: The great heate of the sunne in summer.] +Confirmatum est enim ab idoneis hominibus, cum casu quopiam in alia nescio +qua statione id accidisset, septennium totum pisces non comparuisse, ex +acerbata maris vnda ex terebynthina, quae conflagrantibus arboribus per +riuulos defluebat. Coelum hoc anni tempore ita feruidum est, vt nisi +pisces, qui arefiunt ad solem, assidui inuertantur, ab adustione defendi +non possint. Hyeme quam frigidum sit, magnae moles glaciei in medio mari nos +docuere. Relatum est a comitibus mense Maio sexdecim totos dies interdum se +inter tantam glaciem haesisse, vt 60. orgyas altae essent insulae: quarum +latera soli apposita cum liquescerent, liberatione quadam vniuersam molem +ita inuersam, vt quod ante pronum erat, supinum euaderet, magno praesentium +discrimine, vt consentaneum est. Aer in terra mediocriter clarus est: ad +orientem supra mare perpetuae nebulae: Et in ipso mari circa Bancum (sic +vocant locum vbi quadraginta leucis a terra fundus attingitur, et pisces +capi incipiunt) nullus ferme dies absque pluuia. Expeditis nostris +necessitatibus in hoc loco, in Austrum (Deo iuuante) progrediemur, tanto +indies maiori spe, quo plura de iis quas petimus regionibus commemorantur. +Haec de nostris. Cupio de vobis scire: sed metuo ne incassum. Imprimis autem +quomodo Vntonus meus absentiam meam ferat, praeter modum intelligere velim: +Habebit nostrum obsequium et officium paratum, quandiu vixerimus. Reuera +autem spero, hanc nostram peregrinationem ipsius instituo vsui futuram. +Nunc restat, vt me tuum putes, et quidem ita tuum, vt neminem magis. Iuuet +dei filius labores nostros eatenus, vt tu quoque participare possis. Vale +amicissime, suauissime, onrnatissime Hakluyle, et nos ama. In Newfundlandia +apud portum Sancti Iohannis 6. Augusti 1583. + +STEPHANVS PARMENIVS +Budeius, tuus. + + +The same in English. + +To the worshipfull, Master Richard Hakluit at Oxford in Christchurch Master + of Arts, and Philosophie, his friend and brother. + +I had not purposed to write vnto you, when the promise of your letters came +to my mind: You thought in Iune last to haue followed vs your selfe, and +therefore I had left order that you should be aduertised of my state, by +Master Doctor Humfrey: but so you would not be satisfied: I will write +therefore to you almost in the same words, because I haue no leasure at +this time, to meditate new matters, and to vary or multiply words. + +The 11. of Iune we set saile at length from England in good earnest, and +departed leauing the hauen and land behind vs at Plimmouth: our Fleete +consisted of fiue shippes: the greatest, which the Admirals brother had +lent vs, withdrew her selfe from vs the third day, wee know not vpon what +occassion: with the rest we sailed still together till the 23 of Iuly: at +which time our view of one another being intercepted by the great mists, +some of vs sailed one way, and some another: to vs alone the first land +appeared, the first of August, about the latitude of 50. degrees, when as +before we had descended beyond 41 degrees in hope of some Southerly windes, +which notwithstanding neuer blew to vs at any fit time. + +It is an Island which your men call Penguin, because of the multitude of +birdes of the same name. Yet wee neither sawe any birds, nor drew neere to +the land, the winds seruing for our course directed to another place, but +wee mette altogether at that place a little before the Hauen, whereunto by +common Councell we had determined to come, and that within the space of two +houres by the great goodnesse of God, and to our great ioy. The place is +situate in Newfound land, betweene 47. and 48. degres called by the name of +Saint Iohns: the Admirall himselfe by reason of the multitude of the men, +and the smalnesse of his ship, had his company somewhat sickly, and had +already lost two of the same company, which died of the Flixe: of the rest +we conceiue good hope. Of our company (for I ioyned my selfe with Maurice +Browne, a very proper Gentleman) two persons by a mischance were drowned, +the rest are in safetie, and strong; for mine owne part I was neuer more +healthy. Wee arriued at this place the third of August: and the fift the +Admirall tooke possession of the Countrey, for himselfe and the kingdome of +England: hauing made and published certaine Lawes, concerning religion, and +obedience to the Queene of England: at this time our fare is somewhat +better, and dantier, then it was before: for in good sooth, the experience +of so long time hath taught vs what contrary winds wee haue found, and what +great trauell wee may endure hereafter: and therefore wee will take such +order, that wee will want nothing: for we found in this place about twenty +Portugall and Spanish shippes, besides the shippes of the English: which +being not able to match vs, suffer vs not to bee hunger starued: the +English although they were of themselues strong ynough, and safe from our +force, yet seeing our authoritie, by the Queenes letters patents, they +shewed vs all maner of duety and humanitie. + +The maner of this Countrey and people remaine now to be spoken of. But what +shall I say, my good Hakluyt, when I see nothing but a very wildernesse: Of +fish here is incredible abundance, whereby great gaine growes to them, that +trauell to these parts: the hooke is no sooner throwne out, but it is +eftsoones drawne vp with some goodly fish: the whole land is full of hilles +and woods. The trees for the most part are Pynes and of them some are very +olde, and some yong: a great part of them being fallen by reason of their +age, doth so hinder the sight of the land, and stoppe the ways of those +that seeke to trauell, that they can goe no whither: all the grasse here is +long, and tall, and little differeth from ours. It seemeth also that the +nature of this soyle is fit for corne: for I found certaine blades and +eares in a manner bearded, so that it appeareth that by manuring and +sowing, they may easily be framed for the vse of man: here are in the +woodes bush berries, or rather straw berries growing vp like trees, of +great sweetnesse. Beares also appeare about the fishers stages of the +Countrey, and are sometimes killed, but they seeme to bee white, as I +conjectured by their skinnes, and somewhat lesse then ours. Whether there +bee any people in the Countrey I knowe not, neither haue I seene any to +witnesse it. And to say trueth, who can, when as it is not possible to +passe any whither: In like sort it is vnknowne, whither any mettals lye +vnder the hilles: the cause is all one, although the very colour and hue of +the hilles seeme to haue some Mynes in them: we mooued the Admirall to set +the woods a fire, that so wee might haue space, and entrance to take view +of the Countrey, which motion did nothing displease him, were it not for +feare of great inconuenience that might thereof insue: for it was reported +and confirmed by very credible persons, that when the like happened by +chance in another Port, the fish neuer came to the place about it, for the +space of 7. whole yeeres after, by reason of the waters made bitter by the +Turpentine, and Rosen of the trees, which ranne into the riuers vpon the +firing of them. The weather is so hote this time of the yeere, that except +the very fish, which is layd out to be dryed by the sunne, be euery day +turned, it cannot possibly bee preserued from burning; but how cold it is +in the winter, the great heapes, and mountaines of yce, in the middest of +the Sea haue taught vs: some of our company report, that in May, they were +sometimes kept in, with such huge yce, for 16. whole dayes together, as +that the Islands thereof were threescore fathoms thicke, the sides whereof +which were toward the Sunne, when they were melted, the whole masse or +heape was so inuened and turned in maner of balancing, that that part which +was before downeward rose vpward, to the great perill of those that are +neere them, as by reason wee may gather. The ayre vpon land is indifferent +cleare, but at Sea towards the East there is nothing els but perpetuall +mists, and in the Sea it selfe, about the Banke (for so they call the place +where they find ground fourty leagues distant from the shore, and where +they beginne to fish) there is no day without raine. When we haue serued, +and supplied our necessitie in this place, we purpose by the helpe of God +to passe towards the South, with so much the more hope every day, by how +much the greater the things are, that are reported of those Countreys, +which we go to discouer. Thus much touching our estate. + +Now I desire to know somewhat concerning you, but I feare in vaine, but +specially I desire out of measure to know how my Patrone master Henry +Vmptom doth take my absence: my obedience, and duetie shall alwayes bee +ready toward him as long as I liue: but in deede I hope, that this iourney +of ours shalbe profitable to his intentions. It remaineth that you thinke +me to be still yours, and so yours as no mans more. The sonne of God blesse +all our labors, so farre, as that you your selfe may be partaker of our +blessing. Adieu, my most friendly, most sweete, most vertuous Hakluyt: In +Newfound land, at Saint Iohns Port, the 6. of August, 1583. + +STEVEN PARMENIVS of +Buda, yours. + + * * * * * + +A relation of Richard Clarke of Weymouth, master of the ship called the + Delight, going for the discouery of Norembega, with Sir Humfrey Gilbert + 1583. Written in excuse of that fault of casting away the ship and men, + imputed to his ouersight. + +Departing out of Saint Iohns Harborough in the Newfound land the 20. of +August vnto Cape Raz, from thence we directed our course vnto the Ile of +Sablon or the Isle of Sand, which the Generall Sir Humfrey Gilbert would +willingly haue seene. [Sidenote: 20 Leagues from the Isle of Sablon.] But +when we came within twentie leagues of the Isle of Sablon, we fell to +controuersie of our course. The Generall came vp in his Frigot and demanded +of mee Richard Clarke master of the Admirall what course was best to keepe: +I said that Westsoutwest was best: because the wind was at South and night +at hand and vnknowen sands lay off a great way from the land. The Generall +commanded me to go Westnorthwest. [Sidenote: 15 Leagues from the Isle of +Sablon.] I told him againe that the Isle of Salon was Westnorthwest and but +15. leagues off; and that he should be vpon the Island before day, if hee +went that course. The Generall sayd, my reckoning was vntrue, and charged +me in her Maiesties name, and as I would shewe myselfe in her Countrey to +follow him that night. [Sidenote: Herin Clarke vntruely chargeth sir +Humfrey Gilbert.] I fearing his threatenings, because he presented her +Maiesties person, did follow his commaundement, and about seuen of the +clocke in the morning the ship stroke on ground, where shee was cast away. +Then the Generall went off to Sea, the course that I would haue had them +gone before, and saw the ship cast away men and all, and was not able to +saue a man, for there was not water vpon the sand for either of them much +lesse the Admirall, that drew fourteene foote. [Sidenote: The ship cast +away on Thursday being the 29 of August 1583.] Now as God would the day +before it was very calme, and a Souldier of the ship had killed some foule +with his piece, and some of the company desired me that they might hoyse +out the boat to recouer the foule, which I granted them: and when they came +aboord they did not hoyse it in againe that night. And when the ship was +cast away the boate was a sterne being in burthen one tunne and an halfe: +there was left in the boate one oare and nothing els. Some of the company +could swimme, and recouered the boate and did hale in out of the water as +many men as they coulde: among the rest they had a care to watch for the +Captaine or the Master: They happened on my selfe being the master, but +could neuer see the Captaine: [Sidenote: Sixteene gate into the shipboate.] +Then they halled into the boate as many men as they could in number 16. +whose names hereafter I will rehearse. And when the 16. were in the boate, +some had small remembrance, and some had none: for they did not make +account to liue, but to prolong their liues as long as it pleased God, and +looked euery moment of an houre when the Sea would eate them vp, the boate +being so little and so many men in her, and so foule weather, that it was +not possible for a shippe to brooke halfe a course of sayle. Thus while wee +remayned two dayes and two nights, and that wee saw it pleased God our +boate liued in the Sea (although we had nothing to helpe vs withall but one +oare, which we kept vp the boate withall vpon the Sea, and so went euen as +the Sea would driue vs) there was in our company one Master Hedly that put +foorth this question to me the Master. [Sidenote: Master Hedlyes vngodly +proposition.] I doe see that it doth please God, that our boate lyueth in +the Sea, and it may please God that some of vs may come to the land if our +boate were not ouerladen. Let vs make sixteene lots, and those foure that +haue the foure shortest lots we will cast ouerboord preseruing the Master +among vs all. I replied vnto him, saying, no we will liue and die together. +Master Hedley asked me if my remembrance were good: I answered I gaue God +prayse it was good, and knewe how farre I was off the land, and was in hope +to come to the land within two or three dayes, and sayde they were but +threescore leagues from the lande, (when they were seuentie) all to put +them in comfort. Thus we continued the third and fourth day without any +sustenance, saue onely the weedes that swamme in the Sea, and salt water to +drinke. The fifth day Hedly dyed and another moreouer: then wee desired all +to die: for in all these fiue dayes and fiue nights we saw the Sunne but +once and the Starre but one night, it was so foule weather. Thus we did +remaine the sixt day: then we were very weake and wished all to die sauing +only my selfe which did comfort them and promised they should come soone to +lande by the helpe of God: but the company were very importunate, and were +in doubt they should neuer come to land, but that I promised them that the +seuenth day they should come to shore, or els they should cast me ouer +boord: [Sidenote: They came on land the 7 day after their shipwracke.] +which did happen true the seuenth day, for at eleuen of the clocke wee had +sight of the land, and at 3. of the clocke at afternoone we came on land. +All these seuen dayes and seuen nights, the wind kept continually South. If +the wind had in the meanetime shifted vpon any other point, wee had neuer +come to land: we were no sooner come to the land, but the wind came cleane +contrary at North within halfe an houre after our arriuall. But we were so +weake that one could scarcely helpe another of vs out of the boate, yet +with much adoe being come all on shore we kneeled downe ypon our knees and +gaue God praise that he had dealt so mercifully with vs. Afterwards those +which were strongest holpe their fellowes vnto a fresh brooke, where we +satisfied our selues with water and berries very well. [Sidenote: The +fruitfulnesse of the south part of Newfound land.] There were of al sorts +of berries plentie, and as goodly a Countrey as euer I saw: we found a very +faire plaine Champion ground that a man might see very farre euery way: by +the Sea side was here and there a little wood with goodly trees as good as +euer I saw any in Norway, able to mast any shippe, of pyne trees, spruse +trees, firre, and very great birch trees. Where we came on land we made a +little house with boughes, where we rested all that night. In the morning I +deuided the company three and three to goe euery way to see what foode they +could find to sustaine thenselues, and appointed them to meete there all +againe at noone with such foode as they could get. As we went aboord we +found great store of peason as good as any wee haue in England: a man would +thinke they had bene sowed there. We rested there three dayes and three +nights and liued very well with pease and berries, wee named the place +Saint Laurence, because it was a very goodly riuer like the riuer of S. +Laurence in Canada, and we found it very full of Salmons. When wee had +rested our selues wee rowed our boate along the shore, thinking to haue +gone to the Grande Bay to haue come home with some Spanyards which are +yeerely there to kill the Whale: And when we were hungry or a thirst we put +our boate on land and gathered pease and berries. Thus wee rowed our boate +along the shore fiue dayes: about which time we came to a very goodly riuer +that ranne farre vp into the Countrey and saw very goodly growen trees of +all sortes. [Sidenote: Foureteen of our men brought out of Newfound land in +a ship of S. Iohn de Luz.] There we happened vpon a ship of Saint Iohn de +Luz, which ship brought vs into Biskay to an Harborough called The Passage. +The Master of the shippe was our great friend, or else we had bene put to +death if he had not kept our counsayle. For when the visitors came aboord, +as it is the order in Spaine, they demanding what we were, he sayd we were +poore fishermen that had cast away our ship in Newfound land and so the +visitors inquired no more of the matter at that time. Assoone as night was +come he put vs on land and bad vs shift for our selues. Then had wee but +tenne or twelue miles into France, which we went that night, and then cared +not for the Spanyard. And so shortly after we came into England toward the +end of the yeere 1583. + + * * * * * + +A true report of the late discoueries, and possession taken in the right of + the Crowne of England of the Newfound lands, By that valiant and worthy + Gentlemen, Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight. + +Wherein is also briefly set downe, her highnesse lawfull Title thereunto, + and the great and manifold commodities, that are likely to grow therby, + to the whole Realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular: + Together with the easinesse and shortness of the Voyage. + +Written by Sir George Peckham Knight, the chiefe aduenturer and furtherer + of Sir Humfrey Gilberts voyage to Newfound Land. + +The first Part, wherein the Argument of the Booke is contained. + +[Sidenote: Master Edward Hays.] It was my fortune (good Reader) not many +dayes past, to meete with a right honest and discreete Gentleman, who +accompanied that valiant and worthy Knight Sir Humfrey Gilbert, in this +last iourney for the Westerne discoueries, and is owner and Captaine of the +onely vessell which is as yet returned from thence. + +By him I vnderstand that Sir Humfrey departed the coast of England the +eleuenth of Iune last past, with fiue sayle of Shippes, from Caushen bay +neere Plimmouth, whereof one of the best forsooke his company, the +thirteenth day of the same moneth, and returned into England. + +The other foure (through the assistance of Almighty God) did arriue at +Saint Iohns Hauen, in Newfoundland, the 3. of August last. [Sidenote: Sir +Humfrey Gilbert did arriue at Saint Iohn's Hauen in Newfound land, the 3. +of August, Anno 1583.] Vpon whose arriuall all the Masters and chiefe +Mariners of the English Fleet, which were in the said Hauen, before +endeuouring to fraight themselues with fish, repaired vnto Sir Humfrey, +whom he made acquainted with the effect of his Commission: which being +done, he promised to intreat them and their goods well and honourably as +did become her Maiesties Lieutenant. They did all welcome him in the best +sort that they could, and shewed him and his all such courtesies as the +place could affoord or yeelde. + +Then he went to view the Countrey, being well accompanied with most of his +Captaines and souldiers. [Sidenote: Among these there was found the tract +of a beast of 7. ynches and 2 halfe ouer.]They found the same very +temperate, but somewhat warmer then England at that season of the yeere, +replenished with Beasts and great store of Foule of diuers kinds: And Fish +of sundry sortes, both in the salt water, and in the fresh, in so great +plentie as might suffice to victuall an Armie, and they are very easily +taken. What sundry other commodities for this Realme right neccssarie, the +same doeth yeelde, you shall vnderstand in this treatise hereafter, in +place more conuenient. + +On Munday being the fifth of August, the Generall caused his tent to be set +vpon the side of an hill, in the vieweof all the Fleete of English men and +strangers, which were in number betweene thirtie and fourtie sayle: then +being accompanied with all his Captaines, Masters, Gentlemen and other +souldiers, he caused all the Masters, and principall Officers of the ships, +aswell Englishmen as Spanyards, Portugales, and of other nations, to +repayre vnto his tent: [Sidenote: Sir Humfrey tooke possession of the +Newfound land in right of the Crowne of England.] And then and there, in +the presence of them all, he did cause his Commission vnder the great scale +of England to bee openly and solemnely read vnto them, whereby were granted +vnto him, his heires, and assignes, by the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, +many great and large royalties, liberties, and priueledges. The effect +whereof being signified vnto the strangers by an Interpreter, hee tooke +possession of the sayde land in the right of the Crowne of England by +digging of a Turffe and receiuing the same with an Hassell wand, deliuered +vnto him, after the maner of the law and custome of England. + +Then he signified vnto the company both strangers and others, that from +thencefoorth, they were to liue in that land, as the Territories +appertayning to the Crowne of England, and to be gouerned by such lawes as +by good aduise should be set downe, which in all points (so neere as might +be) should be agreeable to the Lawes of England: And for to put the same in +execution, presently be ordained and established three Lawes. + +[Sidenote: Three lawes established there by Sir Humfrey.] First, that +Religion publiquely exercised, should be such, and none other, then is vsed +in the Church of England. The second, that if any person should bee +lawfully conuicted of any practise against her Maiestie, her Crowne and +dignitie, to be adiudged as traitors according to the lawes of England. + +The third, if any should speake dishonourably of her Maiestie, the partie +so offending, to loose his eares, his ship and goods, to be confiscate to +the vse of the Generall. + +All men did very willingly submit themselues to these lawes. Then he caused +the Queenes Majesties Armes to be ingraued, set vp, and erected with great +solemnitie. [Sidenote: Sundry persons became Tenants to Sir Humfrey and doe +mainteine possession for him in diuers places there.] After this, diuers +Englishmen made sute vnto Sir Humfrey to haue of him by inheritance, their +accustomed stages, standings, and drying places, in sundry places of that +land for their fish, as a thing they doe make great accompt of, which he +granted vnto them in fee farme. And by this meanes he hath possession +maintained for him, in many parts of that Countrey. To be briefe, he did +let, set, giue and dispose of many things, as absolute Gouernour there, by +vertue of her Maiesties letters patents. + +And after their ships were repaired, whereof one he was driuen to leaue +behind, both for want of men sufficient to furnish her, as also to carrie +home such sicke persons as were not able to proceede any further: He +departed from thence the 20 of August, with the other three, namely, the +Delight, wherein was appointed Captaine in M. William Winters place, (that +thence returned immediatly for England) M. Maurice Browne: the Golden +Hinde, in which was Captaine and owner, M. Edward Hays: and the little +Frigat where the Generall himselfe did goe seeming to him most fit to +discouer and approch the shore. + +The 21 day they came to Cape Race, toward the South partes whereof, lying a +while becalmed, they tooke Cod in largness and quantitie, exceeding the +other parts of Newfound land, where any of them had bene. And from thence, +trending the coast West toward the Bay of Placentia, the Generall sent +certaine men a shore, to view the Countrey, which to them as they sayled +along, seemed pleasant. Whereof his men at their returne gaue great +commendation, liking so well of the place, as they would willingly haue +stayed and wintred there. But hauing the wind faire and good, they +proceeded on their course towards the firme of America, which by reason of +continuall fogs, at that time of the yeere especially, they could neuer +see, till Cox Master of the Golden Hinde did discerne land, and presently +lost sight thereof againe, at what time they were all vpon a breach in a +great and outragious storme, hauing vnder 3. fathome water. But God +deliuered the Frigat and the Golden Hind, from this great danger. And the +Delight in the presence of them all was lost, to their vnspeakable griefe, +with all their chiefe victuall, munition, and other necessary prouisions, +and other things of value not fit here to be named. Whereupon, by reason +also that Winter was come vpon them, and foule weather increased with fogs +and mists that so couered the land, as without danger of perishing they +could not approch it: Sir Humfrey Gilbert and M. Hays were compelled much +against their willes to retyre homewards: And being 300. leagues on their +way, were after by tempestuous weather separated the one from the other, +the ninth of September last, since which time M. Hays with his Barke is +safely arriued, but of Sir Humfrey as yet they heare no certaine newes. + +[Sidenote: Plutarch.] Vpon this report (together with my former intent to +write some briefe discourse in the commendation of this so noble and worthy +an enterprise) I did call to my remembrance, the Historie of Themystocles +the Grecian, who (being a right noble and valiant Captaine) signified vnto +his Countreymen the Citizens of Athens, that he had inuented a deuise for +their common wealth very profitable: but it was of such importance and +secrecie, that it ought not to be reuealed, before priuate conference had +with some particular prudent person of their choyse. + +The Athenians knowing Aristides the Philosopher, to be a man indued with +singular wisedome and vertue, made choyse of him to haue conference with +Themystocles, and thereupon to yeelde his opinion to the Citizens +concerning the said deuise: which was, that they might set on fire the +Nauie of their enemies, with great facilitie, as he had layde the plot: +Aristides made relation to the Citizens, that the stratageme deuised by +Themystocles was a profitable practise for the common wealth but it was +dishonest. The Athenians (without further demaund what the same was) did by +common consent reiect and condemne it, preferring honest and vpright +dealing before profite. + +By occasion of this Historie, I drewe my selfe into a more deepe +consideration of this late vndertaken Voyage, whether it were as well +pleasing to almightie God, as profitable to men; as lawfull, as it seemed +honourable: as well gratefull to the Sauages as gainefull to the +Christians. And vpon mature deliberation I found the action to be honest +and profitable, and therefore allowable by the opinion of Aristides if he +were now aliue: which being by me herein sufficiently prooued, (as by Gods +grace I purpose to doe) I doubt not but that all good mindes will endeauour +themselues to be assistants to this so commendable an enterprise, by the +valiant and worthy Gentlemen our Countrey men already attempted and +vndertaken. + +Now whereas I doe vnderstand that Sir Himfrey Gilbert his adherents, +associates and friends doe meane with a conuenient supply (with as much +speede as may be) to maintaine, pursue and follow this intended voyage +already in part perfourmed, and (by the assistance of almightie God) to +plant themselues and their people in the continent of the hither part of +America, betweene the degrees of 30. and 60. of septentrionall latitude: +Within which degrees by computation Astronomicall and Cosmographicall are +doubtlesse to bee found all things that be necessarie, profitable, or +delectable for mans life: The clymate milde and temperate, neyther too hote +nor too colde, so that vnder the cope of heauen there is not any where to +be found a more conuenient place to plant and inhabite in: which many +notable Gentlemen, both [Marginal note: Englishmen, Msster Iohn Hawkins; +Sir Francis Drake; M. Willliam Winter; M. Iohn Chester; M. Martin +Frobisher; Anhony Parkhurst; William Battes; Iohn Louel; Dauid Ingram. +Strangers, French, Iohn Ribault; Iaques Cartier; Andrew Theuet; Monsieur +Gourgues: Monsieur Laudonniere. Italians, Christopher Columbus; Ioha +Verazanus.] of our owne nation and strangers, (who haue bene trauailers) +can testifie: and that those Countries are at this day inhabited with +Sauages (who haue no knowledge of God:) Is it not therefore (I say) to be +lamented, that these poore Pagans, so long liuing in ignorance and +idolatry, and in sort thirsting after Christianitie, (as may appeare by the +relation of such as haue trauailed in those partes) that our heartes are so +hardened, that fewe or none can be found which will put to their helping +hands, and apply themselues to the relieuing of the miserable and wretched +estate of these sillie soules? + +Whose Countrey doeth (as it were with armes aduanced) aboue the climates +both of Spaine and France, stretch out it selfe towards England only: In +maner praying our ayde and helpe, as it is not not onely set forth in +Mercators generall Mappe, but it is also found to be true by the discouerie +of our nation, and other strangers, who haue oftentimes trauailed vpon the +same coasts. + +[Sidenote: God doth not alwayes begin his greatest workes by the greatest +persons.] Christopher Columbus of famous memorie, the first instrument to +manifest the great glory and mercy of Almightie God in planting the +Christian faith, in those so long vnknowen regions, hauing in purpose to +acquaint (as he did) that renoumed Prince, the Queenes Majesties +grandfather King Henry the seuenth, with his intended voyage for the +Westerne discoueries, was not onely derided and mocked generally even here +in England, but afterward became a laughing stocke to the Spaniards +themselues, who at this day (of all other people) are most bounden to laude +and prayse God, who first stirred vp the man to that enterprise. + +And while he was attending there to acquaint the King of Castile (that then +was) with his intended purpose, by how many wayes and meanes was he +derided? [Sidenote: His custome was to bowe himselfe very lowe in making of +courtesie.] Some scorned the wildnesse of his garments, some tooke occasion +to iest at his simple and silly lookes, others asked if this were he that +lowts so lowe,[104] which did take vpon him to bring men into a Countrey +that aboundeth with Golde, Pearle, and Precious stones? If hee were any +such man (sayd they) he would cary another matter of countenance with him, +and looke somewhat loftier. Thus some iudged him by his garments, and +others by his looke and countenance, but none entred into the consideration +of the inward man. + +[Sidenote: Hernando Cortes. Francisco Pizarro.] In the ende, what successe +his Voyage had, who list to reade the Decades, the Historie of the West +Indies, the conquest of Hernando Cortes about Mexico, and those of +Francisco Pizarro in Peru about Casamalcha and Cusco may know more +particularly. All which their discoueries, trauailes and conquests are +extant to be had in the English tongue. This deuise was then accounted a +fantasticall imagination, and a drowsie dreame. + +But the sequele thereof hath since awaked out of dreames thousands of +soules to knowe their Creator, being thereof before that time altogether +ignorant: And hath since made sufficient proofe, neither to be fantasticke +nor vainely imagined. + +Withall, how mightily it hath enlarged the dominions of the Crowne of +Spaine, and greatly inriched the subiects of the same, let all men +consider. Besides, it is well knowen, that sithence the time of Columbus +his first discouerie, through the planting, possessing, and inhabiting +those partes, there hath bene transported and brought home into Europe +greater store of Golde, Siluer, Pearle, and Precious stones, then +heretofore hath bene in all ages since the creation of the worlde. + +I doe therefore heartily wish, that seeing it hath pleased almightie God of +his infinite mercy, at the length to awake some of our worthy Countrey men +out of that drowsie dreame, wherein we haue so long slumbered: + +That wee may now not suffer that to quaile for want of maintenance, which +by these valiant Gentlemen our Countreymen is so nobly begun and +enterprised. For which purpose, I haue taken vpon me to write this simple +short Treatise, hoping that it shall be able to perswade such as haue bene, +and yet doe continue detractors and hinderers of this iourney, (by reason +perhaps that they haue not deliberately and aduisedly entred into the +iudgement of the matter) that yet now vpon better consideration they will +become fauourable furtherers of the same. And that such as are already well +affected thereunto will continue their good disposition: [Sidenote: A +reasonable request.] And withall, I most humbly pray all such as are no +nigards of their purses in buying of costly and rich apparel, and liberall +Contributors in setting forth of games, pastimes, feastings and banquets, +(whereof the charge being past, there is no hope of publique profile, or +commoditie) that henceforth they will bestowe and employ their liberality +(heretofore that way expended) to the furtherance of these so commendable +purposed proceedings. + +And to this ende haue I taken pen in my hand, as in conscience thereunto +mooued, desiring much rather, that of the great multitude which this Realme +doth nourish, farre better able to handle this matter then I my selfe am, +it would haue pleased some one of them to haue vndertaken the same. But +seeing they are silent, and that it falleth to my lotte to put pen to the +paper, I will endeuour my selfe, and doe stand in good hope (though my +skill and knowledge bee simple, yet through the assistence of almightie +God) to probue that the [Sidenote: The argument of the booke.] Voyage +lately enterprised, for trade, traffique, and planting in America, is an +action tending to the lawfull enlargement of her Maiesties Dominions, +commodious to the whole Realme in general, profitable to the aduenturers in +particular, benefciall to the Sauages, and a matter to be atteined without +any great danger or difficultie. + +And lastly, (which is most of all) A thing likewise tending to the honour +and glory of Almightie God. And for that the lawfulnesse to plant in those +Countreys in some mens iudgements seemeth very doubtfull, I will beginne +the proofe of the lawfulnesse of trade, traffique, and planting. + + +END OF VOL XII. + + + + +APPENDICES. + +Appendices. + +I. Greenland. + +Greenland is an extensive country, the greater part of which belongs to +Denmark, situated between Iceland and the continent of America. Its +southern extremity, Cape Farewell, is situated in 59 deg. 49 min. N. lat, +and 43 deg. 54 min. W. lon. The British Arctic expedition of 1876 traced; +tee northern shores as far as Cape Britannia, in lat. 82 deg. 54 min. The +German Arctic expedition of 1870 pursued the east coast as high as 77 deg. +N., so that between Koldeway's furthest in 1870 and Beaumont's farthest in +1876 there remains an interval of more than 500 miles of the Greenland +coast yet unexplored. The estimated area of the whole country is about +340,000 square miles. The outline forming the sea-coast of Greenland is in +general high, rugged, and barren; close to the water's edge it rises into +tremendous precipices and lofty mountains, covered with inaccessible +cliffs, which may be seen from the sea at a distance of more than 60 miles. + +The vast extent of Greenland, together with its peculiar position between +Europe and America, secures for it a very special interest. From its most +northern discovered point, Cape Britannia, it stretches southward, in a +triangular form, for a distance of 1500 miles. Its interior is nearly a +closed book to us, but the coast has been thoroughly explored and examined +on the western side from Cape Farewell to Upernavik, a distance of about +800 miles, as well as along the western shores of the channels leading from +Smith's Sound; and from Cape Farewell to the Danebrog Islands and Cape +Bismarck on the east side. These belts of coast line consist of the most +glorious mountain scenery--lofty peaks, profound ravines, long valleys, +precipices and cliffs, vast glaciers, winding fiords often running 100 +miles into the interior, and innumerable islands. + +Greenland was discovered in 981 or 983 by an Icelander or Norwegian named +Gunbiorn, and was soon afterwards colonized by a number of families from +Iceland, of whom all historical traces soon disappeared; they appear to +have formed their settlement on the western coast. The country was called +Greenland because its southern extremity was first seen in spring-time, and +presented a pleasing appearance, but it was speedily found to be little +better than an icebound region. Davis rediscovered Greenland in his voyage, +1585-87; and in the beginning of the seventeenth century the Dutch +government fined out several expeditions to re-establish a communication +with the lost colony. + + +II. Nenewfoundland. + +Newfoundland is, as it were, a stepping-stone between the Old World and the +New. At its south-western extremity it approaches within 50 miles of the +island of Cape Breton, while its most eastern projection is but 1640 miles +distant from Ireland. Its population in 1881 was 161,384, and its area was +estimated at 42,006 square miles; but, strange as it seems, up to the +present time the interior is almost unknown, while the mere existence of +certain splendid fertile valleys in portions of the island has only been +discovered in quite recent times. The appearance of the coast is rocky and +forbidding, but there are a great number of deep bays and fiords, +containing magnificent harbours, and piercing the land for 80 or 100 miles, +while the sides present varied scenes of beauty, such as are rarely +surpassed in the world's most favoured lands. The effect of these inlets is +to give the island the enormous coast line, compared to its area, of more +than 2000 miles. The loftiest range of mountains, the Long Range, has a few +summits of more than 2000 feet, but the elevations of the island rarely +exceed 1500 feet. Lakes are very numerous. The mines are very valuable, and +Newfoundland now ranks as the sixth copper-producing country in the world. +Lead mines have also been discovered and worked. There is good reason for +believing that gold and coal will yet be found. + + +III. Polar Ice + +It is believed on good grounds of inference, but absolutely without +positive evidence, that the south pole is covered with a great cap of ice, +and some physiographers have gone so far as to assert its thickness as +possibly six miles at the centre. But as to the ice of the north pole, +thanks to the efforts to discover a north-west passage which showed us the +breach in the wall of the polar fortress, we know very much more. + +Sir Edward Belcher encountered ice 106 feet thick drifting into and +grounding on the shores of Wellington Channel. It was in Banks Strait that +Sir Edward Parry was finally stopped by the great undulating floes, +reaching 102 feet in thickness, that he tells us he had never seen in +Baffin's Sea or in the land-locked channels the had left behind him, but +which filled the whole sea before him. Such floes are the edge of a pack +which we may conjecture extends uninterruptedly from shore to shore of the +Polar Sea. + + +IV. Icebergs + +Icebergs are masses of ice rising to a great height above the level of the +sea, presenting a singular variety in form and appearance. They are masses +broken off from glaciers, or from barrier lines of ice-cliff, and owe their +origin to the circumstance of glaciers being in a continual state of +progress. Glaciers reach the sea shore in many places in the Arctic +regions. When pushed forward into deep water, vast masses are lifted up by +their inherent buoyancy, and, broken off at the landward end, are borne +away by the winds, or on tides and currents, to parts of the sea far +removed from their place of formation. Owing to the expansion of water when +freezing, and the difference in density between salt and fresh water, the +usual relative density of sea water to an iceberg is as 1 to 91674, and +hence the volume of ice below water is about nine times that above the +surface. The largest icebergs are met with in the Southern Ocean; several +have been ascertained to be from 800 to 1000 feet in height, and the +largest are nearly three miles long. One was met with 20 deg. south of the +Cape of Good Hope, between Marion and Bouvet Isles, which was 960 feet +high, and therefore more than 9000 feet, or 1-3/4 mile in thickness. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +VOL. XII. + +Dedication to Sir Robert Cecil + +I. The most ancient voyage and discouery of the West Indies performed by + Madoc, Anno 1170. taken out of the history of Wales, &c. + +II. The verses of Meredith the sonne of Rhesus making mention of Madoc + +III. The offer of the discouery of the West Indies by Christoper Columbus + to K. Henry the 7. February the 13. Anno 1488; with the Kings + acceptance of the said offer + +IV. Another testimony concerning the foresaid offer made by Bartholomew + Columbus to K. Henry the seuenth, on the behalfe of his brother + Christopher Columbus + +V. The letters patents of K. Henry the 7. granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his + 3. sonnes, Anno 1495 + +VI. The signed bill of K. Henry the 7. on the behalfe of Iohn Cabot + +VII. The voyage of Sebastian Cabota to the North part of America, for the + discouery of a Northwest passage, as farre as 58. degrees of + latitude, confirmed by 6. testimonies + +VIII. A briefe extract concerning the discouery of Newfoundland + +IX. The large pension granted by K. Edward the 6. to Sebastian Cabota, Anno + 1549 + +X. A discourse written by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, to prooue a passage + by the Northwest to Cataya, and the East Indies + +XI. The first voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the Northwest for the + search of a passage to China, anno 1576 + +XII. The second voyage of M. Martin Frobisher to the West and Northwest + regions, in the yeere 1577 + +XIII. The third and last voyage of M. Martin Frobisher for the discouery of + a Northwest passage, in the yere 1578 + +XIV. Notes by Richard Hakluyt + +XV. Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to prooue all parts of the worlde + habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones + +XVI. A letter of M. Martin Frobisher to certaine Englishmen, which were + trecherously taken by the Saluages of Meta incognita in his first + voyageo + +XVII. Articles and orders prescribed by M. Martin Frobisher to the + Captaines and company of euery ship, which accompanied him in his + last Northwestern voyage + +XVIII. A generall and briefe description of the country and condition of + the people, which are founde in Meta incognita + +XIX. The letters patents of her Maiesty graunted to M. Adrian Gilbert and + others for the search and discouery of a Northwest passage to China + +XX. The first voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of a Northwest + passage, 1585 + +XXI. The second voyage of M. Iohn Dauis for the discouery of the Northwest + pass. 1586 + +XXII. A letter of M. I. Dauis to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning, + his second voyage + +XXIII. The voyage and course which the Sunshine and the Northstarre held, + after M. I. Davis had sent them from him to discouer a passage + betweene Greenland and Ise-land, 1587 + +XXIV. The third voyage of M. Iohn Dauis, 1587 + +XXV. A letter of M. Iohn Dams to M. Wil. Sanderson of London, concerning + his 3. voyage + +XXVI. A trauerse booke of M. Iohn Dauis + +XXVII. A report of M. Iohn Dauis concerning his three voyages made for the + discouery of the Northwest passage, taken out of a treatise of his + intituled The worlds hydrographical description + +XXVIII. The voyage of M. Nicolas Zeno and M. Anthony his brother, to the + yles of Frisland, etc., begun in the yeere 1380 + +XXIX. The voyage of two ships, for the discouery of the North parts + +XXX. The voyage of M. Hore, in the yere 1536 + +XXI. An act against the exaction of money, etc. made Anno 2. Edwardi sexti. + +XXXII. A letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt of the Midle Temple, by M. + Antony Parkhurst, 1578 + +XXXIII. The letters patents granted by her Maiestie to sir Humfrey Gilbert + knight, for inhabiting some part of America 1578 + +XXXIV. A Poeme written in Latine, concerning the voyage of sir Humfrey + Gilbert + +XXXV. The voyage of Sir Humfrey Gilbert to Newfoundland, An. 1583 + +XXXVI. Orders agreed vpon by the Captaines and Masters, to bee obserued by + the fleete of sir Humfrey Gilbert + +XXXVII. A briefe relation of Newfound-land, and the commodities thereof + +XXXVIII. A letter of the learned Hungarian Stephanus Parmenius Budeius to + master Richard Hakluyt the collectour of these voyages + +XXXIX. A relation Of Richard Clarke of Weymouth master of the ship called + the Delight. Part I. + +XL. Appendices + +Table of Contents + + +FOOTNOTES: + +1. Son of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, minister of Elizabeth, and himself + minister to the same queen and to James I. A clever but unscrupulous + man, he was never popular, and his share in the fate of Essex and + Raleigh has obscured his fame. He was created Earl of Salisbury. His + secret correspondence is to be found in Goldsmid's Collectanea + Adamantaea. Born 1565. Died 1612. + +2. Hakluyt here merely condenses the researches of Grotius, who had + published, in 1542, his famous but rare Tract "On the Origin of the + Native American Races," a translation of which the present Editor issued + in his "Bibliotheca Curiosa," Edinburgh, 1884. Hakluyt was evidently + ignorant of Gunnbjorn's glimpse of a Western land in 876, of Eric the + Red's discovery of Greenland about 985, of Bjarni's and Leif's + discoveries, or indeed of any of the traditions of the Voyages of the + Northmen, or he would certainly have included them in his Collection. + Those who are interested in these matters should consult Wheaton's + History of the Northmen, London, 1831; Antiquitates Americanae, edited by + the Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians, Hafniae, 1837; The Discovery + of America by the Northmen, by N. L. Beamish, London, 1841; Historia + Vinlandiae Antiquae, by Thermodus Torfoeus, Hafniae, 1705; and the edition + of the Flateyan MSS., lately published at Copenhagen. + +3. I have, to the best of my ability, in Vols. I. to XI. of this edition, + arranged the contents of Hakluyt's first two volumes in the order he + would have desired, had he not "lacked sufficient store." + +4. The History of Wales, written by Caradoc of Llancarvan, Glamorganshire, + in the British Language, translated into English by Humphrey Llwyd, and + edited by Dr. David Powel in 1584, is the book here quoted. It is very + rare. + +5. If Madoc ever existed, it seems more probable that the land he + discovered was Madeira or the Azores. Such at least is the view taken by + Robertson, and also by Jeremiah Belknap (American Biography, 8vo, + Boston, 1774). Southey founded one of his poems on this tradition. + +6. In Welsh, Meridith ap Rhees. + +7. Marginal note.--These verses I receiued of my learned friend M. William + Camden. + +8. The most interesting life of Columbus is that by Lamartine, a + translation of which appeared in the "Bibliotheca Curiosa." + +9. Nothing is known of Cabot's early years. In the Archives of Venice is + the record of his naturalization, dated 28 March 1476, which shows he + had lived there fifteen years. (Archives of Venice: Senato Terra, + 1473-1477. Vol vii p. 109.) + +10. This patent was granted in reply to the following application by John + Cabot: + + "To the Kyng our Souvereigne lord, + + "Please it your highnes of your moste noble and haboundant grace to + graunt vnto Iohn Cabotto, citezen of Venes, Lewes, Sebestyan and Sancto + his sonneys your gracious lettres patentes vnder youir grete seale in + due forme to be made accordying to the tenour hereafter ensuying. And + they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous + continuance of your moste noble and royale astate long to enduer." + (Public Records, Bill number 51.) Consult also Rymer's Foedera; + London, 1727, folios 595-6. + +11. Armed with this authority, John Cabot sailed from Bristol in the spring + of 1497, with two ships, one being called the Matthew. (The History and + Antiquities of the city of Bristol, by William Barrett, 1789). + +12. In the National Library, Paris, is a large map of the world on the + margin of which is written: + + "Sebastian Caboto capitan, y piloto mayor de la S. c c. m. del + Imperador don Carlos quinto deste nombre, y rey nuestro sennor hizo + esta figura extensa en plano, anno del nasciem de nro saluador Jesu + Christo de m.d. xliii. annos, tirada por grados de latitud y longitud + con sus uientos como carta de marear, imitando en parte al Ptolomeo, y + en parte alos modernos descobridores, asi Espannoles como Portugueses, + y parte por su padre, y por el descubierto." + + I give a facsmile of part of this map. As will be seen the words "Prima + tierra vista" are opposite a cape about the 48th parallel, which would + be Cape Breton. In a letter written to the Duke of Milan by Raimondo di + Soncino, his minister in London, and dated the 18th Dec. 1497, a very + interesting account is given of Cabot's voyage. Archives of Milan. + Annuario scientifico, Milan, 1866 p 700. + +13. Query, July. + +14. J. B. Ramusio compiled in Italian a celebrated collection of maritime + voyages. The most complete edition is formed by joining vol. I. of 1574 + to vol. II. of 1555 and vol. III. of 1554. He died 1557, aged 72. + +15. Ramosius has evidently mixed up the two voyages of John Cabot with + those of his son. John's second and last voyage was in 1498, with five + ships; though little is known of the result, that little has been + collected by Mr. Weise in his "Discoveries of America." + +16. A celebrated Icelandic astronomer, a disciple of Tycho-Brahe. The + opinion here quoted appears in his _Specimen Historicorum Islandiae et + magna ex parte chorographicum_; Amsterdam, 1643. When aged 91, he is + said to have married a young girl. Born 1545; died 1640. + +17. An error for John Cabot + +18. His _Chronicle of England and France_, by a London tradesman, was first + printed in 1516. + +19. This celebrated Antiquary was born in 1525. Originally a tailor, his + tastes procured him the encouragement of Archbishop Parker and the Earl + of Leicester. His principal works are _Flores Historiarum_ (1600) and + his _Survey of London_, first published in 1598. Died a beggar in 1605. + +20. If Cabot's discoveries extended from 38 deg. to 58 deg., he cannot have gone + south of Cape Hatteras, in North Carolina. + +21. Gilbert was half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh. This "discourse" was + published in 1576, and two years later be himself sailed on a voyage of + discovery to Newfoundland, but on the return journey his ship foundered + with all on board. + +22. Luke Marinaeus, chaplain to Charles V. author of _Obra de las cosas + memorabiles de Espana_, Alcala, 1543; folio, the work here referred to. + +23. Ficinus, (born 1433, died 1499); a protege of the Medici, translated + Plato and Plotinus. These translations will be found in his collected + works, published at Bale in 1591, 2 vols. folio. Herein he tries to + prove Plato a Christian, as he also does in his _Thelogia Platonica_; + Florence, 148; folio. The original editions of his works are extremely + rare. + +24. Crantor's opinion is only known to us by Cicero's refetence, his works + being all lost. He flourished about 315 B.C. + +25. Born in 412, at Constantinople. Studied at Alexandria and Athens, and + succeeded Syrianus in the Neo Platonic School. Died 485, Several of his + works are extant. + +26. Philo of Alexandria was well versed in the philosophy of Plato, and + tried to show its harmony with the books of Moses. A fine edition of + his works was published in 1742, in 2 vols. folio, edited by Mangey. + +27. Amerigo Vespucci, born at Florence, 1451, was sent by his father to + Spain. Fired by the example of Columbus, he became a navigator, and + made three voyages to the New World, which ultimately was named after + him, though the honour should belong to Columbus. Died at Seville 1512. + +28. It has also been supposed by many ancient writers that Atlantis was + situated between the 20th and 30th degrees of north latitude, and the + 40th and 60th degrees of west longitude, in that part of the Atlantic + known as the Sargasso sea. + +29. Born 1493; died 1541. He was the first to publish the Almagestes of + Ptolemy in Greek at Bale, 1538, folio. He was the friend of Luther and + Melancthon. + +30. The first Edition of his chronological tables is that of Berne, 1540. + Little is known of him except that he was born at Rotweil in Germany + and was a councillor of the city of Berne, in the library of which town + is a unique copy of his History of Berne, 3 vols. folio, in German. + +31. Guicciardini, the author of the celebrated _History of the events + between_ 1494 _and_ 1532. + +32. FRISIUS was born at Dorkum in Frisia, his real name being John Gemma. + His map of the world was published in 1540. Died at Louvain in 1555. + GASTALDUS was a Genoese and wrote many tracts on Geography. He was the + father of Jerome Gastaldus, the author of a celebrated work on the + Plague. TRAMASINUS was a celebrated Venetian printer of the 16th + Century. ANDREAS VAVASOR is probably an error for Francis Vavasor, the + Jesuit. + + MUNSTER, APPIANUS, PUTEANUS, PETER MARTYR, and ORTELIUS are well known, + but HUNTERUS, DEMONGENITUS, and TRAMONTANUS are unknown to me. + +33. Octher's voyage will be found in Vol. I., p. 51, of this Edition of + Hakluyt. + +34. See Vol. I. of this Edition of Halkluyt. + +35. See Vol. II. p. 60 (note) of this Edition + +36. Giovanni Verrzzani is evidently meant. A Florentine by birth, he + entered the service of Francis I., and in 1524 discovered New France. + An account of his travels and tragic death is to be found in Ramusius. + In the Strozzi library, at Florence, a manuscript of Verazzani's is + preserved. + +37. Born at St Malo. Discovered part of Canada in 1534. His _Brief recit de + la Navigation faite es iles de Canada, Hochelage, Saguenay et autres_, + was published at Paris in 1546, 8vo. + +38. BAROS, who had been appointed treasurer of the Indies, wrote a _History + of Asia and of India_ in 4 decades which were published between the + years 1552 and 1602. It has been translated from Portuguese into + Spanish, and considering that it contains many facts not to be found + elsewhere, it is surprising that there should have been neither a + French nor English Edition. Baros was born in 1496 and died in 1570. + +39. This is probably an error for Peter Nonnius, professor of Mathematics + at the University of Coimbra who published two books _De Arte + Navigandi_ in 1573. + +40. Little is known of this writer. He appears to have been the son of + Jerome Fracastor, a Veronese who obtained a certain celebrity as a poet + at the beginning of the 16th Century. + +41. In a former passage it is stated that Cabot did not get beyond the 58th + degree of latitude. + +42. It is now well known that the diminished saltness of the sea off the + Siberian coast is due to the immense masses of fresh water poured into + it by the Ob, the Lena, and other Siberian rivers. + +43. Either Salvaterra or the Frier must have possessed a vivid imagination. + The former at any rate thoroughly took in Sir Humphrey Gilbert. + +44. It seems very strange to us after the Northwest passage has been + discovered by M'Clure in 1852 and the North East passage by + Nordenskiold in 1879 to read the arguments by which each of the + upholders of the two routes sought to prove that his opponent's + contention was impossible. Of the two disputants we must confess that + Jenkinson's views now appear the likeliest to be realised, for M'Clure + only made his way from Behring Straits to Melville island by abandoning + his ship and travelling across the ice, while Nordenskiold carried the + Vega past the North of Europe and Siberia, returning by Behring's + straits and the Pacific. + +45. Cape Chudley. + +46. Born near Doncaster. He made several attempts to find the Northwest + passage. (See post.) In 1585 he accompanied Drake to the West Indies; + assisted in defeating the Spanish Armada, and was mortally wounded in + 1594 at the attack on Fort Croyzan, near Brest. Some relics of his + Arctic expedition were discovered by Captain F. C. Hall in 1860-62, and + described in his delightful book, "Life with the Esquimaux." + +47. Midway between Orkney and Shetland. + +48. Foula, the most westerly of the Shetlands, round in form, is 12 miles + in circuit. + +49. Esquimaux. + +50. Far from coming from Newfoundland, this drift-wood is carried into the + Arctic Ocean by the Yenisei and other large rivers of Siberia. + +51. Contrary to the opinion of Mr. Weise, who insists that Friseland is + Iceland, I am inclined to believe that the East coast of Greenland is + meant. + +52. Lieutenant Nansen's expedition across Greenland negatives this + supposition, but the West coast is more habitable than the East. + +53. Frobisher Bay: it is not a strait. Hall's _Island_ is Hall's Peninsula. + +54. twisted + +55. Long. From Saxon _sid_. (See BEN JONSON, _New Inn_, v. 1.) + +56. Raisins. + +57. In a very short time. Sometimes written _giffats_ + +58. It is almost in the exact latitude of Gaboon Bay. + +59. Our author is wrong. Morocco lies between the _annual_ Isothermal lines + of 68º Fahr. (or 20 Cent.), whilst the mean temperature at the Equator + was considered by Humboldt to be 81.4 deg. Fahr. and by Atkinson (Memoirs + of the Royal Astronomical Society) 84.5 deg.. + +60. Our author means the _fifth_ proposition of the _first_ book of Euclid, + the celebrated _Pons Asinorum_. + +61. John Holywood, so named after the place of his birth near York, after + studying at Oxford, settled in Paris where he became famous. He died in + 1256, leaving two works of rare power considering the century they were + written in, viz, _de Spheri Mundi_, and _de Computo Ecclesiastico_. + They are to be found in one volume 8vo, Paris, 1560. + +62. John Gonzalvo d'Oviedo, born 1478. Was Governor of the New World, and + wrote a _Summario de la Historia general y natural de las Indias + Occidentales_. Best edition, _Salamanca_ 1535, and _Toledo_, 1536, + folio. This is the work here quoted. + +63. This is not the case. + +64. Blank in original. + +65. Kirkwall. + +66. Blank in original. + +67. Blank in original. + +68. Probably a Narwal. + +69. Good. + +70. Blank in the original. + +71. Blank in original. + +72. Blank in original. + +73. Blank in original. + +74. Blank in original. + +75. Blank in original. + +76. Muddy. + +77. Blank in original. + +78. Blank in original. + +79. Blank in original. + +80. Blank in original. + +81. South Equatorial Current. + +82. Gulf Stream. + +83. The elimination of salt from sea-water by cold was evidently unknown to + the writer. + +84. The writer was evidently not a convert to the System of Copernicus, but + agreed with Ptolemy that the Heavens were solid and moved round the + earth, which was the centre of the Universe. + +85. _Pirrie_, a sudden storm at sea. According to Jamieson, _Pirr_, in + Scotch, means a gentle breeze. + + "A pirrie came, and set my ship on sands." + _Mirror for Magistrates_, p. 194. + +86. _Yer_ = ere. + +87. Sir Christopher Hatton. + +88. Flat. + +89. Thus the only result of Davis's Voyage was the discovery of the broad + piece of water since known as Davis's Straits, extending between + Greenland on the East and Cumberland Island on the West. It connects + the Atlantic with Baffin's Bay. In the next voyage, Davis seems to have + crossed the mouth of Hudson's Straits, without entering them. + +90. The full text of Davis's account is given in Vol. vi., p. 250 of this + Edition. + +91. It seems probable that either Zeno was wrecked on one of the Shetlands, + and that by _Sorani_ is meant Orkney, or that Iceland is the true + Frisland. + +92. Aveiro, province of Beira, 31 miles N.W. of Coimbra. + +93. Viana do Castello, province of Minho, 40 miles N. of Oporto. + +94. See Vol ix., p. 143 of this Edition. + +95. (?) Chateau-Richer on the St. Lawrence, 15 miles below Quebec. + +96. Near Cape Charles. + +97. The St. Lawrence. + +98. This refers to Gilbert's first voyage in 1578. + +99. Causand. + +100. The Newfoundland Banks are rather a submarine Plateau than banks in + the ordinary sense. The bottom is rocky, and generally reached at 25 + to 95 fathoms: length and breadth about 300 miles: the only shallow + region in the Atlantic. + +101. The cold on the coast is partly due to the quantities of ice + descending from Baffin's Bay. + +102. Maelstrom. + +103. Silver, and even gold, has been found in Newfoundland. + +104. Bends. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, +Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I., by Richard Hakluyt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCIPAL NAVIGATIONS, *** + +***** This file should be named 13605.txt or 13605.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/6/0/13605/ + +Produced by Karl Hagen and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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