yet for diuersitie of motion may be compted two that is Primum Mobile mouing onelye vppon the poles Articke and Antarticke and all the reste of Orbes and Planets mouing vppon the poales of the Zodiacke are by this difference of motion imagined two wherby ariseth the number of sixe substanciall partes of the world that is the foure Elements and the two varietiâ—s of Orbes So likewise the inferiour world I meane the Superficies of the Earth is also diuided into sixe partes that is Europa Affrica Asia Terra Septentrionalis America Terra Austrialis whose bounders bycause this diuision séemeth somewhat strange I thought good for the more particularitie here briefly to repeate The chiefe bounders of the principall parts of the vvorld EVropa is bounded on the Weast side with oure Weaste Ocean on the South side wyth Mare Mediterâ—aneum on the East with Mare Aegeum Pontus Euxinus and the riuer Tanais folowing the Meridian thereof Northwarde On the North side it was thoughte sometime to be bounded with Ilandes Hebrides Orcades and Hyperboreâ— montes in Sarmatia of Europe But nowe by the nauigation of the Englishemen the boundes are extended vnto that Sea whiche compasseth Norway Laplande and Moscouia Affrica is bounded Westwarde with the Sea Atlanticum Southward with the South Ocean passing by Cape d'buona Speranza Eastwarde with the red Sea and Northwarde by the Sea Mediterraneum Asia is bounded on the South side with the South Ocean on the Easte side with Mare Eoum and the straighte Anian on the North side with the Scithian Sea on the Weaste side with the Meridian of the riuer Tanaâ—â— paâ—te of the Sea Mediterraeneum as Pontus Euxinus Mare Egeum Sinus Issicus and the red Sea. Terra Septentrionalis is diuided from Asia by the Scythian Sea from Europe by the North Sea aboute Iseland called in times past Mare Congelaâ—um the frosen Sea and froÌ„ America is deuided by Frobishers straits It lyeth rounde about the Pole Artike is included by a Paralell passing aboute .70 degrées in North latitude as it is also more at large described in Mercators and Ortelius vniuersall Mappes This parte of the world hath béene most or onely made knowen by the Englishmens industrie For as Mercator mentioneth out of a probable Author there was a Frier of Oxforde a greate Mathmatician who himselfe went verâ—â— farre North aboue .200 yeares agoe and with an Astrolabe described almoste all the lande aboute the Pole fâ—â—ding it diuided into foure partes or Ilandes by foure gâ—eate gutters indrafts or channels running violently aâ—d deliuering themselues into a mostrous receptacle and swallowing sincke with suche a violent force and currant that a Shippe beyng entred neuer so little within one of tâ—ese foure indraftes câ—nnot be holden backe by the force of any great winde but runneth in headlong by that déepe swâ—llâ—wing sincke into the bowels of the earth Hée reportâ—th that thâ— Southweast parte of that lande is a fruitfull and a holesome soyle The Northeast part in respect of England is inhabited with a people called Pygmaei whyche are not at the vttermoste aboue foure foote highe One of these foure greate monstrous gulfes wyâ—h hys violent raging course followeth the Meridiâ—n of the fortunate Ilandes aâ—d receiueth the Ocean with thâ—ée mouths and is frosen oâ—er thrée moneths in the yeare and is .37 leagues in bâ—â—adth the neâ—te Eastwarde beyonde the Ilande Vagâ—ts is 〈…〉 degrees in longitude and receyueth the East Ocean wâ—th â—â—ue months and being narrowe and swifte is neuer frosen The third is at 19â— degrées in longitude â—â—ceiuâ—th the East OceaÌ„ with ninetéen receits The fourth is at â—â—â— degrées in longitude Al these indraftes raging channels runne directly towards a point vnder the Pole where is also said to be a monstrous gret Mountain of woÌ„derful gret height about .35 leagues in coÌ„passe at the foot Guiâ—â—elmus Postellus saith that here vnder and aboute the Pole is beste habitation for man and that they euer haue continuall daye and know not what night or darkenesse meaneth But this séemeth contrary to the principles of the Sphere whyche alloweth well that they shoulde sée the Sunne halfe a yeare togither without any night During the time of his being in the North signes from the one Equinoctium tâ— the other yet that in the other halfe they shold haue continuall night without any day But I thinke Postellus being a good Astronomer doubted nothâ—ng of y reason of the sphere but meaneth that for their great twilighâ—s the high swelling of the erth the high mouÌ„taine vnder the Pole they haue continuall light but hereof you shal heare more â—t large hereafter in this treatise wheÌ„ I speake of the â—epâ—rature of the North Regions This so particular a description of the land countries lying about the Pole argueth that this Oxford Frier tooke great pains therâ—in and â—ndurâ—th greâ—t probabilitie likelihood of the tâ—uth therof bicauâ—â— he obâ—â—â—ued so diligently by measure the bredth of the inâ—rafâ—â— wâ—â—t time and how long they coâ—tâ—nued frosen with how â—anâ—e mouths or receipts euery one of them receiued the Ocean UpoÌ„ the bounds descriptioÌ„ of this part of the erth I haue the loÌ„ger staid bicause I find it discouered only by the English nation And although the greatest part herof was maâ—e knowen .200 odde yeres past yet some bounders thereof were described set out by the trauel of S. Hugh Wiâ—â—oby â—night an Englishman who ventured lost his life in the cause so died an honorable death with him Ric. Chancelor chiefe Pilot in that voyage in An. 1554. who discouered founde out the Norway Lapland c. conioyned not to Groneland or any part of the Northern regions as one firme continent but that by sea a man might trauel to the country of Mâ—scâ—uâ—a a gret way more Estward as far as the gret riuer Obby â—lso oure worthy General Ca. Frobisher in his .3 last voiages wâ—er of we are briefly to entreat in these .3 books hath discouered described a gret part of the Southwest bouÌ„ds therof meneth God willing not only to describe the one halfe therof in going to Cataia by the Northwest but also to put in triaâ—â— whether he may return into EnglaÌ„d by the Northeast so also to discrybe the other paâ—t which to do is one of the waightiest matters of the world a thing that wil cause other Princes to admire the fortunate state the gret valor of the English natioÌ„ But to retourne againe to the bounding of the other parts of the worlde America an Ilande is included on the East side with the Sea Antartique On the Weast side with Mare del Sur or Mare Pâ—cificum On the South side it is bounded wyth the straight of Mâ—gellanus and on the North with Frobishers straights Terra Aâ—straliâ— séemeth to be a great firme land lying vnder and aboute the South pole being in many
theyr Captayne Mayster Tanfieldes mynde as by due examination before the Lordes of hir Maiesties most Honorable priâ—te Counsell it hathe since bin proued to the greate discredite of the Pilot Coxe who specially persuaded his company againste the opinion of hys sayde Captayne to returne home And as the Captayne of the Anne Frances dothe witnesse euen at theyr conference togither Captaâ—ne Tâ—nfield tolde hym that hee did not alittle suspect the sayde Pylot Coxe saying that he had neyther opinion in the man of honest duetie manhoode or constancie Notwythstanding the sayde Shippes departure the Captayne of the Anne Frances béeyng desirous to putte in execution hys former resolutions went with hys Shyppeboate béeyng accompanyed also wyth the Moones Skyffe to proue amongst the Ilandes whiche lye vnder Hâ—ttons headland if anye conueniente harborough or any knowledge of the Fléete or anye good Ore was there to bée founde The Shyppes lying off and on at Sea the whyle vnder Sayle and searching through manye soundes they saw them all full of manye dangers and broken grounde yet one there was which séemed an indifferent place to harborough in and whiche they did very diligently sounde ouer and searched agayne Héere the sayde Captayne founde a great blacke Iland whervnto he had good liking certifying the coÌ„pany therof they wer somewhat coÌ„forted with the good hope of his words rowed chéerefully vnto the place where when they arriued they found such plentie of blacke Ore of the same sorte whiche was broughte into Englande thys last yeare that if the goodnesse myghte aunswere the greate plentye thereof it was to be thoughte that it might reasonably suffise all the golde gluttons of the worlde Thys Ilande the Captayne for cause of his good happe called after his owne name Bestes blessing and wyth these good tydings returning aboorde hys Shyppe the ninth of August about tenne of the Clocke at nighte he was ioyfully welcomed of hys companye who before were discomforted and greatelie expected some better fortune at hys handes The nexte daye béeyng the tenth of August the weather reasonably fayre they put into the foresayde harborough hauing their Boate for theyr better securitie sounding before theyr Ship. But for all the care and diligence that coulde be taken in soundyng the Channell ouer and ouer agayne the Anne Frances came agrounde vppon a a suncken Rocke within the Harborough and lay thereon more than halfe drye vntill the nexte floud when by Gods Almighty prouidence contrarye almost to all expectation they came afloate agayne béeyng forced all that tyme to vndersette theyr Shyppe wyth their mayne yarde whyche otherwyse was lykely to ouersette and putte thereby in dâ—unger the whole companye They hadde aboue two thousande strokes togyther at the Pumpe before they coulde make theyr Shyppe frée of the water agayne so sore shée was brused by lying vppon the Rockes The Moone came safely and roade at Ancker by the Anne Fraunces whose helpe in theyr necessitie they coulde not well haue missed Nowe whilest the Marriners were romaging theyr Shyppes mending that whiche was amisse the Miners followed their laboure for getting togither of sufficient quantitie of Ore and the Carpenters endeuouâ—ed to doe theyr beste for the making vppe of the boate or pinnesse whiche to bring to passe they wanted two speciall and moste necessary things that is certaine principal timbers that are called Knées whiche are the chiefest strength of any boate also nayles wherwithal to ioyne the plancks togither Wherevpon hauing by chance a Smyth amongest them and yet vnfurnished of his necessarie tooles to worke and make nayles withall they were faine of a gunnne chamber to make an aâ—â—ile to worke vppon and to vse a pickare in stéede of a sledge to beate withall and also to occupy two small bellowes in stéede of one payre of greater Smiths bellowes And for lacke of small Iron for the easier making of the nayles were forced to breake their tongs grydiern and fiershouell in péeces The eleauenth of August the Captaine of the Anne Fraunces taking the Maister of hys Ship with hym went vp to the toppe of Hattons Hedland whych is the highest lande of all the straites to the ende to descry the situation of the Country vnderneath and to take a true plot of the place whereby also to sée what store of Ise was yâ—t â—â—fte in the straites as also to searche what Mine matter or fruite that soyle might yéelde And the rather for the honor the said Captaine doth owe to that Honorable name which himselfe gaue therevnto the laste yeare in the highest parte of this Hedlande he caused his companye to make a Columne or Crosse of stone in token of Christian possession In this place there is plentie of blacke Ore and diuers preatie stones The seauentéenth of Auguste the Capitaines wyth their companies chaced and killed a greate white Beare whiche aduentured and gaue a fierce assaulte vpon twentie men being weapned And he serued them for good meat many dayes after The eightéenth of August the Pinnesse with muche adoe being set togyther the saide Captaine Beste determined to departe vppe the straites to proue and make trial as before was pretended some of his companye greatlye persuading him to the contrarie and specially the CarpeÌ„ter that set the same togither who saide that he would not aduenture himselfe therein for fiue hundreth poundes for that the boate hung togither but onelye by the strength of the nayles and lacked some of hir principall knées tymbers These wordes somewhat discouraged some of the company which should haue gone therin WherevpoÌ„ the Captaine as one not altogither addicted to his own selfe-wil but somewhat foreséeing how it might be afterwards spoken if contrarye fortune shoulde happen him Lo he hathe followed his own opinion and desperate resolutions and so thereafter it is befallen him calling the Maister Marriners of beste iudgement togyther declared vnto them howe muche the cause imported him in his credite to séeke out the Generall as wel to conferre with him of some causes of waight as otherwise to make due examination and triall of the goodnesse of the Ore wherof they had no assuraunce but by gesse of the eie and was wel like the other whiche so to cary home not knowing the goodnesse thereof might be asmuch as if they should bring so many stones And therefore hée desired them to delyuer their plaine and honest opinion whether the Pinnesse were sufficient for him so to aduenture in or no. It was aunswered that by carefull héede taking therevnto amongest the Ise and the foule weather the Pinnesse might suffise And herevppon the Maisters mate of the Anne Frances called Iohn Gray manfully and honestly offering himselfe vnto his Captain in this aduenture and seruice gaue cause to others of hys Marriners to follow the attempt And vpon the nintéenth of August the said Captain being accompanied with Captayne Vpcote of the Moone xviij persons in the small Pinnesse hauing conuenient portion of
some of the Fléete and those not the worst Marriners iudged to be the North forlande howbeit othersome were of contrary opinion But the matter was not well to be discerned by reason of the thicke fogge whiche a long time hung vppon the coast and the newe falling Snowe which yearely altereth the shape of the land and taketh away oftentimes the Marriners markes And by reason of the darke mistes whiche continued by the space of twenty dayes togither this doubt grew the greater and the longer perillous For wheras indéede we thought our selues to be vpon the Northeast side of Frobishers straytes we were now carried to the Southweastwards of the Queenes forlande and being deceyued by a swift Currant comming from the Northeast were broughte to the Southweastwardes of oure sayd course many miles more than we dyd thinke possible could come to passe The cause whereof we haue since found and shall be at large héereafter declared Héere we made a poynt of land which some mistooke for a place in the straytes called Mount Warwicke but howe we shoulde be so farre shotte vp so suddaynely within the sayde straytes the expertest Mariners began to maruell thinking it a thing impossible that they coulde be so farre ouertaken in their accomptes or that any Currant coulde so deceyue them héere whiche they had not by former experience proued and found out Howbeit many confessed that they founde a swifter course of floud than before time they had obserued And truly it was wonderfull to heare and sée the rushling and noyse that the tydes do make in thys place with so violente a force that oure Shippes lying a-hull were turned sometimes rounde aboute euen in a momente after the manner of a whirlepoole and the noyse of the streame no lesse to be hearde a farre off than the waterfall of London Bridge But whilest the Fléete lay thus doubtfull amoÌ„gst great store of Ise in a place they knewe not withoute sighte of sunne whereby to take the height and so to know the true eleuation of the pole and withoute any cleare of lighte to make perfite the coast the Generall with the Captaynes and Maysters of his Shippes beganne doubtfully to question of the matter and sent his Pinnesse aboorde to heare each mans opinion and specially of Iames Beare Mayster of the Anne Frances who was knowen to be a sufficiente and skilful Mariner and hauing bin there the yeare before had well obserued the place and drawne out Cardes of the coast But the rather this matter grew the more doubtful for that Christopher Hâ—ll chiefe Pylot of the voyage deliuered a playne and publike opinion in the hearing of the whole Fléete that he had neuer séene the foresayde coast before and that he could not make it for any place of Frobishers straytes as some of the Fléete supposed and yet the lands do lye and trend so like that the best Mariners therin may be deceyued The tenth of Iuly the weather still continuing thicke and darke some of the Shippes in the fogge lost sighte of the Admirall and the rest of the Fléete and wandering too and fro with doubtfull opinion whether it were best to séeke backe againe to seaward through great store of Ise or to follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea bay or straytes they knew not or alongst a coast whereof by reason of the darke mistes they coulde not discerne the daungers if by chance any Rocke or brokeÌ„ ground should lye of the place as commonly in these partes it doth The Uizeadmirall Captayne Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the Pylot Hall who was with him in the Thomas Allen hauing lost sight of the Fléete turned backe to Sea agayne hauing two other Shippes in company with him Also the Captaine of the Anne Fraunces hauing likewise lost companye of the Fléete and being all alone helde it for best to turne it out to Sea agayne vntyll they mighte haue cléere weather to take the Sunnes Altitude and with incredible payne and perill got out of the doubtfull place into the open Sea agayne being so narrowly distressed by the way by meanes of continuall fogge and Ise that they were many times ready to leape vpon an Ilande of Ise to auoyde the present daunger and so hopyng to prolong life a while meante rather to dye a pining death Some hoped to saue themselues on chestes and some determined to tye the Hatches of the Shippes fast togyther and to bynde themselues wyth theyr furniture fast therevnto and so to bée towed with the Shippeboate ashore whyche otherwise coulde not receyue halfe of the companye by whyche meanes if happilie they hadde arriued they shoulde eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate or else shoulde themselues haue bene eaten of those rauenous bloudye and Man eating people The rest of the Fléete following the course of the Generall whyche ledde them the way passed vp aboue .60 Leagues within the sayd doubtfull and supposed straytes hauyng alwayes a fayre continente vppon their starreboorde syde and a continuance still of an open Sea before them The Generall albeit with the fyrste perchance he found out the error and that this was not the old straytes yet he persuaded the Fléete alwayes that they were in theyr righte course and knowne straytes Howbeit I suppose he rather dissembled hys opinion therein than otherwyse meaning by that policie being hymself ledde with an honorable desire of further discouerie to enduce the fléete to follow him to sée a further proofe of that place And as some of the company reported he hath since confessed that if it had not bin for the charge and care he had of the Fléete and fraughted Shippes he both would and could haue gone through to the South Sea called Mare del Sur and dissolued the long doubt of the passage which we séeke to find to the ritch Countrey of Cataya 1 Of which mistaken straytes considering the circumstance we haue greate cause to confirme oure opinion to like and hope well of the passage in this place For the foresaide bay or Sea the further we sayled therein the wyder we found it with great likelyhoode of endlesse continuance And where in other places we were muche troubled wyth Ise as in the entrance of the same so after we had sayled 50. or .60 leagues therein we had no lette of Ise or other thing at all as in other places we found 2 Also this place séemeth to haue a maruellous greate indraft and draweth vnto it most of the drift yse and other things which do fléete in the Sea eyther to the North or Eastwardes of the same as by good experience we haue founde 3 For héere also we mette with boordes latthes and diuers other things driuing in the Sea which was of the wracke of the shippe called the Barke Dennys which perished amongst the Ise as beforesaid being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the Quéens foreland
togither for that some of the ships were behinde hande with their fraighte the time of the yeare passyng spéedily away The thirtith of August the Anne FraÌ„ces was brought a ground had .viij. great leakes mended whiche she had receiued by meanes of the rockes and Ise. This daye the Masons finished a house whiche Captaine Fenton caused to be made of lyme and stone vpon the Countesse of Warwickes Ilande to the ende we mighte proue againste the nexte yere whether the snowe coulde ouerwhelme it the frosts breake vppe or the people dismeÌ„ber the same And the better to allure those brutish vnciuill people to courtesie againste other times of oure comming we left therein dyuers of oure countrie toyes as belles and kniues wherein they specially delight one for the necessarie vse and the other for the great pleasure thereof Also pictures of men women in lead men a horsebacke looking lasses whistles and pipes Also in the house was made an ouen and breade lâ—stâ— baked therein for them to sée and taste We buryed the timber of our pretended forte with manye barrels of meale pease griste and sundrie other good things which was of the prouision of those whych should inhabite if occasion serued And instéede therof we fraight oure ships full of Ore whiche we holde of farre greater price Also here we sowed pease corne and other graine to proue the fruitfulnesse of the soyle against the next yeare Maister Wolfall on Winters Fornace preached a godly Sermon whiche being ended he celebrated also a Communion vpon the lande at the pertaking whereof was the Capitaine of the Anne Fraunces and manye other Gentlemen Soldiors Marriners Miners wyth hym The celebration of diuine mistery was the first signe seale confirmatioÌ„ of Christes name death passion euer knowen in all these quarters The said M. Wolfall made sermons celebrated the CoÌ„munion at sundrie other times in seuerall and sundrie Ships bicause the whole company could neuer méet togither at any one place The fléet now being in some good readinesse for their lading the General calling togither the GeÌ„tlemen Captains to consult told them that he was very desirous that some further discouery should be attempted that he woulde not only by Gods help bring home his Shippes laden with golde Ore but also meant to bring some certificat of a further discouerie of the Countrie which thing to bring to passe hauing sometime therein consulted they founde verye harde and almost inuincible And considering that alreadie they hadde spente some time in searching out the trending and fashion of the mistaken straites and hadde entred verye farre therein therefore it coulde not be saide but that by thys voyage they haue notice of a further discouery and that the hope of the passage thereby is muche furthered and encreased as appeared before in the discourse thereof Yet notwithstandyng if anye meanes mighte be further deuised the Capitaynes were contented and willing as the Generall shoulde appointe and commaunde to take anye enterprise in hande Whiche after long debating was found a thing verye impossible that rather consultation was to bée had of returning homewarde especiallye for these causes followyng First the darke foggy mistes the continuall fallyng Snowe and stormy weather which they commonly were vexed with and nowe daylye euer more and more increased haue no small argument of the Winters drawing neare And also the froste euerye nighte was so harde congealed within the sounde that if by euill happe they shoulde be long kepte in wyth contrarye windes it was greatlye to be feared that they should be shutte vppe there faste the whole yeare whyche being vtterly vnprouided woulde be their vtter destruction Againe drincke was so scant throughout al the Fléete by meanes of the greate leakage that not onely the prouision whiche was layde in for the habitation was wanting and wasted but also eache Shippes seuerall prouision spent and lost which many of oure companye to their greate griefe founde in their returne since for al the way homewards they dranke nothing but water And the great cause of this lekage and wasting was for that the great timber seacole which lay so waighty vpoÌ„ the barrels brake brused rotted the hoopes in â—uÌ„der Yet notwithstaÌ„ding these reasons alledged the Generall himselfe willing the rest of the GeÌ„tlemeÌ„ Captains euery man to looke to his seuerall charge and laâ—ing that against a day appoynted they shoulde be all in a readinesse to sette homeward himselfe went in his Pinnesse and discouered further Northward in the straytes and found that by Beares sound and Halles Iland the land was not firme as it was first supposed but all broken Ilandes in manner of an Archipelagus and so with other secret intelligence to himselfe he returned to the Fléete Where presentlye vpon his arriuall at the Countesses sound he began to take order for their returning homeward and first caused certayne Articles to be proclaymed for the better kéeping orders and courses in their returne which Articles were deliuered to euery Captayne and are these that follow ¶ Articles sette downe by Martin Frobisher Esquier Captayne Generall of the whole Fleete appoynted for the Northweast discoueries of Cataya published and made knowen to the Fleete for the better obseruing certayne orders and course in their returne homevvarde 1 FIrste and principallie he doth straytely charge and commaunde by vertue of hir Maiesties commission which he hath and in hir Maiesties name that euery Captayne and Captaynes Mayster and Maysters of the sayde Fléete do vigilently and carefully kéepe company with the Admirall and by no maner of meanes breake companye willingly now in our returne homewards vppon peyne of forfeture his or their whole frayte that shall be found culpable therein and further to receyue suche punishment as to hir Maiestie shal séeme good therein and also to answere all suche damages or losses as may happen or growe by dispersing and breaking from the Fléete And therefore for the better kéeping of companye the Generall straytely chargeth and commaundeth all the Maysters of these Shippes and euery of them that they repayre to speake with the Admirall once euery day if he or they may conuenientlye doe it vppon payne of forfeting of one tunne fraighte to hir Maiestie for euery daye neglecting the same 2 Item that euery Mayster in the sayde Fléete obserue and kéepe orderly and vigilantly all such Articles as were outwardes bounde drawen and published by the Generall in hyr Maiesties name whereof there was delyuered to euery Shippe a copie 3 Item that all Captaynes and Maysters of euerye Ship and Shippes doe proclayme and make it knowen to their company that no person or persons within the sayde Fléete of what condition soeuer doe take or kéepe to theyr vse or vses any Ore or stones of what quantitie so euer it be but forthwith vpon publication hereof to delyuer them and yéelde them to the custodie of the Captayne to deliuer vnto the Generall his officers
S r Martin Frobisher Knight The noble flames that glowd in his stout brest Could ne're be quencht nor by that â—â—â— opprest Of Northerne Seas His praise let him not â—rant Whose worth deserves a print of Adamant That he may still guide ships whose fame let grow So long as sea shall haue an Ebbe and flow A. H. A TRVE DISCOVRSE of the late voyages of discouerie for the finding of a passage to Cathaya by the Northvveast vnder the conduct of Martin Frobisher Generall Deuided into three Bookes In the first wherof is shewed his first voyage Wherein also by the vvay is sette out a Geographicall description of the Worlde and what partes thereof haue bin discouered by the Nauigations of the Englishmen Also there are annexed certayne reasons to proue all partes of the Worlde habitable with a generall Mappe adioyned In the second is set out his second voyage vvith the aduentures and accidents thereof In the thirde is declared the strange fortunes which hapned in the third voyage with a seuerall description of the Countrey and the people there inhabiting VVith a particular Card therevnto adioyned of Meta Incognita so farre forth as the secretes of the voyage may permit AT LONDON Imprinted by Henry Bynnyman seruant to the right Honourable Sir CHRISTOPHER HATTON Vizchamberlaine Anno Domini 1578. What commodities and instructions may be â—eaped by diligent reading this Discourse 1 FIrst by example may be gathered how a Discouerer of new Countries is to procéede in his first attempt of any Discouerie 2 Item how he shoulde be prouided of shipping victuals munition and choice of men 3 Howe to procéede and deale with straunge people be theâ— neuer so barbarous cruell and fierce eyther by lenitie or otherwise 4 Howe trade of Marchandize maye be made withoute money 5 How a Pilot may deale being enuironed wyth mountaines of Ise in the frosen Sea. 6 How lengths of dayes chaunge of seasons Sommers and Winters do differ in sundry regions 7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries either for the length of the voyage or the ignoraunce of the language the want of Interpretors newe and vnaccustomed Elementes and ayres straunge and vnsauery meats daunger of théeues and robbers fiercenesse of wilde beasts and fishes hugenesse of wooddes daungerousnesse of Seas dreade of tempestes feare of hidden rockes stéepenesse of mountaines darkenesse of sodaine falling fogges continuall paines taking withoute anye reste and infinite others 8 How pleasaunt and profitable it is to attempt newe Discoueries either for the sundry sights shapes of straÌ„ge beastes and fishes the wonderful workes of nature the different manners and fashions of diuâ—rse nations the sundyâ— sortes of gouernemente the sight of straunge trées fruite foules and beastes the infinite treasure of Pearle Gold and Siluer the newes of new found landes the sundrie positions of the Sphere and many others 9 How valiaunt Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie and otherwise 10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue 11 Also here may be seene a good exaÌ„ple to be obserued of any priuate person in taking notes and making obseruations of al such things as are requisite for a Discouerer of new Countries 12 Lastly the Reader here maye sée a good paterne of a well gouerned seruice sundrye instructions of matters of Cosmographie Geographie and Nauigation as in reading more at large may be séene ¶ TO THE RIGHT HOnorable my singular good Mayster Sir Christopher HattoÌ„ Knight Capitaine of the Queenes Maiesties Garde Vizchamberlaine to hir Highnesse and one of hir Maiesties moste honourable priuie Counsayle RIGHT honorable when I first entended the voyage of Discouerie wyth Mr. Frobisher for the finding of the passage to Cataya beyng a matter in oure age aboue all other notable I applyed my selfe wholy to the scieÌ„ce of Cosmographie secâ—ets of Nauigation to the ende I mighte enable my sâ—lfâ— the better for the seruice of my Countrie not onely to vnderstande what I read and hearde others speake but also to execute in effect and practise with my owne hands the dutie and office appertayning to a Marriner and so thereby be better able to make a true reporte of all occurrents in the same voyage And for that now the common reporte therof is so vaine and vncertaine bycause some men rather contendyng what they are able to say than considering what in truth they should and ought to say whereby by sundrie mens fantasies sundry vntruths are spred abroad to the gret slaunder of this so honest and honorable an action I haue thought good to lay open to your honourable iudgement the plain truth and ful discourse of the whole seruice which I haue taken vpon me though altogither vnable to write and to dedicate vnto your Honor especiâ—lly for these speciall causes following Firste the world doth witnesse and I my selfe by good proofe haue tasted fouÌ„d being a maÌ„ by your Honorable goodnesse and good couÌ„tenance specially supported and euen as it were the handy worke of youre owne hands how honorable a regard you beare to Vertue howe readye to countenaunce the meanest man that truely serueth his Countrie howe willing to giue vnto suche both grace and opinion with hir Maiestie howe ready to procure rewarde there for those that shall iustlye merite the same And therewithall considering the sounde iudgement you haue to discern as wel in this as in al other causes of waight And knowing wel what place you hold with hir highnesse who for the faithfull seruice you dayly doe hir as well in Courte as common Weale whyche nowe by the true tuchstone of time and long experience shee hath founde and therefore confirmeth a faste and sure opinion in you wyth the chiefest I haue specially thoughte it necessarye besides my dutie whiche aboue all the worlde my alleageaunce reserued I owe you moste for these respects to make relation of this seruice vnto your Honoure aboue others And for that this action both for the worthinesse of the attempt for the good and quiet gouernment for the greate and maruellous daungers for the straunge and vnknowne accidents of the vnknowne corners of the worlde aboue all others may appeare moste notable and famous I haue bene the rather desirous to take some paine therein and what I haue aship-boorde rudely and vnorderly framed or obserued to commend to youre Honourable construction the same being willing rather to hazarde mine own shame by shewing my selfe an insufficient writer whiche perchaunce maye sâ—eme somewhat besides my profession than that so honest and worthy attemptes of our owne nation wiâ—h the example of so well a gouerned seruice should ly hidden from your Honours sight And for that I wil be iniurious to no man whiche in this action hath borne place and well discharged the same and that those men with the maner of their dayly proceedings there by name maye be knowne vnto you I haue in their place remembred them in order as becommeth and haue not onely named each principall but euerye priuate
person if by any speciall seruice hee hath merited the same to the ende that the well deseruing man receiuing the due commendation of his deserte maye bee encouraged to continue and take pleasure in well dooyng after and others being animated by like example maye for hope of lyke rewarde also desire to deserue well By this Discourse it may please your Honour to behold the greate industrie of oure present age and the inuincible mindes of oure Englishe nation who haue neuer lefte anye worthy thing vnattempted nor anye parte almoste of the whole worlde vnsearched whome lately neither stormes of Seas by long and tedious voyages daunger of darke fogs and hidden rockes in vnknowne coastes congealed and frosen Seas with mountaines of fleeting Ise nor yet presente death dayly before their face coulde anye whit dismaye or cause to desiste from intended enterpises but rather preferring an honourable death beefore a shamefull retourne haue notwithstanding the former daungers after manye perillous repulses recouered their desired Porte So that if nowe the passage to CATAYA thereby be made open vnto vs which only matter hitherto hath occupied the finest heades of the worlde and promiseth vs a more riches by a nearer way than either Spaine or Portugale possesseth whereof the hope by the good industrie and greate attemptes of these men is greatelye augmented or if the Golde Ore in these new Discoueries founde oute doe in goodnesse as in great plentie aunswere expectation and the successe do folow as good as the proofe thereof hitherto made is great wee may truely inferre that the Englishman in these our dayes in his discoueries to the Spaniarde and Portingale is nothing inferior and for his hard aduentures and valiant resolutions greatly superior For what hath the Spaniarde or Portingale done by the Southeast and Southweast that the Englishman by the Northeast and Northweaste hath not counteruailed the same And albeit I confesse that the Englishe haue not hytherto had so ful successe of profit and commoditie of pleasaunt place considering that the former nations haue happily chanced to trauel by more temperate clymates where they had not onlye good meates and drinkes but all other things necessarie for the vse of man all whiche things the English trauelling by more intēperate places as it were with mayne force making waye thorowe seas of Ise haue wāted which notwithstanding argueth a more resolution for Difficiliora pulchriora that is the aduēture the more hard the more honorable yet concerning the perfecter knowledge of the world and Geographicall description wherin the present age and posteritie also by a more vniuersal vnderstāding is much furthered as appeareth by my vniuersall Mappe with pricked boundes here annexed herein the Englishman deserueth chiefe honor aboue any other For neyther Spaniard nor Portugale nor anye other besides the English haue bin found by so great daungers of Ise so neare the Pole to aduenture any discouerie wherby the obscure and vnknowen partes of the world which otherwise had laine hid haue bin made knowen vnto vs. So that it may appeare that by oure Englishmens industries and these late voyages the world is grown to a more fulnesse and perfection many vnknowen lands and Ilands not so much as thought vpon before made knowen vnto vs Christs name spred the Gospell preached Infidels like to be conuerted to Christianitie in places where before the name of God hath not once bin hearde of Shipping and Seafaring mē haue ben employed nauigation and the Nauie which is the chief strength of our Realm maintayned and Gentlemen in the Sea seruice for the better seruice of their Country wel experienced Al whiche things are no doubt of so gret importāce as being wel wayed may seeme to counteruayle the aduentures charges although the passage to CATAYA were not found out neither yet the golde ore proue good wher of both the hope is good gret But notwithstanding all these euen in this if no otherwise hyr most excellent Maiestie hath reaped no small profit that she may now stand assured to haue many more tried able sufficient men against time of need that are which with out vaūt may be spoken of valour gret for any great aduēture of gouernemēt good for any good place of seruice For this may truly be spoken of these men that there hath not bin seene in any nation being so many in nūber so far frō home more ciuill order better gouernement or agreement For euen from the beginning of the seruice hitherto there hath neither passed mutinie quarrel or notorious fact either to the slaunder of the men or daunger of the voyage although the Gentlemen Souldiors and Marriners whiche seldome can agree were by companies matched togither But I may perchaunce right Honourable seeme to discourse somewhat too largely especially in a cause that as a partie somewhat concerneth my selfe which I doe not for that I doubt of your Honorable opinion already conceiued of the men but for that I knowe the ignorant multitude is rather ready to slaunder than to giue good encouragement by due commendation to good causes who respecting nothing but a present gaine and being more than needefully suspitious of the matter do therwithall condemne the men and that without any further respect either of their honest intents either of their wel performing the matter they dyd vndertake whiche according to their direction was specicially to bring home Ore either else of their painful trauel whiche for their Prince and the publike profite of their Countries cause they haue sustained But by the way it is not vnknown to the world that this our natiue country of England in al ages hath bred vp and specially at this present aboūdeth with many forward and valiāt minds fit to take in hād any notable enterprise wher by appeareth that if the Englishman had bin in times paste as fortunate and foreseeing to accept occasion offered as he hath bin alwayes forwarde in executing anye cause once taken in hand he had bin worthily preferred before all nations of the worlde and the Weast Indies had now bin in the possession of the Englishe For Columbus the firste Discouerer of the Weaste Indies made firste offer thereof with his seruice to King Henry the seauenth then Kyng of Englande and was not accepted Wherevppon for want of entertainement here hee was forced to go into Spaine and offred there as before the same to Ferdinando Kyng of Castyle who presently acceptyng the occasion did first himselfe and now his successors enioy the benefite thereof Also Sebastian Cabota being an Englishman and borne in Bristowe after he had discouered sundrie parts of new found lande and attempted the passage to CATAYA by the Northweast for the King of England for lacke of entertainment here notwithstanding his good desert was forced to seeke to the Kyng of Spaine to whose vse hee discouered all that tract of Brasile aboute the famous riuer Rio de la Plata and for the same and other good seruices
reason that when the Sun setteth to them vnder the Equinoctiall it goeth very déep lowe vnder their Horizon almost euen to their Antipodes whereby their twylights are very shorte and their nightes are made verye extreame darke and long and so the moysture and coldenesse of the long nightes wonderfully encreaseth so that at length the Sun rising can hardly in many houres consume and driue away the colde humoures and moyst vapours of the nighte paste which is cleane contrarye in the Paralel of Paris For the Sun goeth vnder their Horizon but verye little after a sloping forte whereby their nights are not verye darke but lightsome as looking into the North in a cleare night withoute cloudes it doeth manifestlye appeare their twilightes are long for the Paralel Cancer cutteth not the Horizon of Paris at right angles but at angles very vneuen and vnlike as it doth the Horizon of the Equinoctiall Also the Sommer day at Paris is sixtéene houres long and the nighte but eight where contrariwise vnder the Equinoctial the day is but twelue houres long and so long is also the nighte in what soeuer Paralell the Sunbe and therefore looke what oddes and difference of proportion there is betwéene the Sunnes abode aboue the Horizon in Paris and the abode it hath vnder the Equinoctiall it being in Cancer the same proportion woulde séeme to be betwéen the heate of the one place and heate of the other for other things as the angle of the whole acke 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 eache being twelue houres And at Paris the continuaunce and abode of the Sunne is aboue the Horizon sixteene houres long and but eight hours absence whiche proportion is double from whiche if the proportion of the equalitie be subtrahed to find the difference there will remaine stil a double proportion whereby it séemeth to followe that in Iune the heate at Paris were double to the heate vnder the Equinoctiall For as I haue saide the angle of the Sunne beames are in all pointes equall and the cause of difference is Mora Solis supra Horizontem the staye of the Sunne in the one Horizon more than in the other Therefore whosoeuer coulde finde out in what proportion the angle of the Sunne beames heateth and what encrease the Sunnes continuaunce doeth adde therevnto it might expresly be sette downe what force of heate and colde is in all regions Thus you partely sée by comparing a Clymate to vs well knowne and familiarlye acquainted by lyke height of the Sunne in bothe places that vnder the Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heate but a temperate ayre rather tending to colde For as they haue there for the moste parte a continuall moderate heate so yet sometime they are a little pintched wyth colde and vse the benefite of Fyre as well as wée especiallye in the euenyng when they goe to bedde for as they lye in hanging beddes tyed faste in the vpper parte of the house so wyll they haue fyres made on both sides their bed of whych two fires that one they deuise superstitiouslye to driue awaye Spyrites and the other to kéep away from them the coldenesse of the nights Alâ—o in manye 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 heate there is colde intermingled else would they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing which to them is rather a griefe trouble than otherwise For when they go to warres they wil putte off al their apparell thinking it to be combersome and will alwayes goe naked that they thereby mighte bée more nymble in their fight Some there be that thinke the middle Zone extreme hote bycause the people of that Countrie can liue withoute clothing wherein they childishly are deceiued for oure clime rather tendeth to extreamitie of colde bicause we cannot liue without clothing for this our dubble lining furring wearing so many cloths is a remedy against extremitie argueth not the goodnesse of that habitation but incouenieÌ„ce iniury of cold that is rather the moderate teÌ„perate delectable habitation where none of these troublesome things are required but that we may liue naked bare as nature bringeth vs forth Others again imagine the midle Zone to be extreme hote bycause the people of Affrica especially the Ethiopians are so cole blacke their haire like wooll â—urled shor twhich blacknesse crooked haire they suppose to come only by the parching heate of the Sun which how it should be possible I cannot sée For eueÌ„ vnder the Equinoctiall in America in the East Indies in the IlaÌ„ds Moluccae that people are not blacke but white with loÌ„g haire vncurled as we haue so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came by the heate of the Sun why should not those Americans and Indians also bée as blacke as they séeyng the Sunne is equally distant froÌ„ them both they abiding in one paralel for the concaue and coÌ„uexs Superficies of the Orbe of the Sun is concentrike and equidistant to the earth except any man should imagine somwhat of Aux Solis Oppositum whiche indiffâ—râ—ntly may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other But y same is thought to giue no otherwise heate but by way of angle in reflection not by his néerenesse for throughout all Africa yea in the middest of the middle and in al othâ—r places vpon the tops of MouÌ„tains there lyeth coÌ„tinuall Snow which is neerer to the Orbe of the Sunne than the people are in the valley by so muche as the height of these Mountaynes amount vnto and yet the Sunne notwithstanding his nerenesse can not melt the Snow for want of conuenient place of reflections Also the middle region of the Ayre where all the Hayle Frost and Snowe is engendred is néerer vnto the Sunne than the earth is and yet there continueth perpetuall colde bycause there is nothing that the Sunnes beames may reflect against whereby appeareth the néerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing Therfore to returne again to the blacke Moores I my selfe haue séene an Ethiopian as blacke as a cole broughte into Englande who taking a faire Englishe woman to Wife begatte a Sonne in all respectes as blacke as the Father was although England were his natiue Countrey an English woman his Mother whereby it séemeth this blacknesse procéedeth rather of some naturall infection of that man whiche was so strong that neyther the nature of the Clime neyther the good complexion of the Mother concurring coulde any thing alter and therefore we can not impute it to the nature of the Clime And
fro most and no where else but there Therefore betwéene the two Tropikes that is in the midle Zone is greatest increase multiplication generation and corruption of things which also we find by experience for there is Sommer twice in the yeare and twice Winter so that they haue two Haruests in the yeare and continuall spring Seing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate it resteth to declare where the hotest part of the World should be for we fynde some places more hote than others To answere this doubt reason persuadeth the hotest place in the Worlde to be vnder and about the two Tropickes for there more than in anye other place doe both the causes of heate concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames at righte Angles and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horison the Pole there being eleuated thrée or foure and twentie degrées And as before I concluded that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the Equinoctiall yet bycause the same continued but a small tyme theyr dayes being short and theyr nightes long and theyr spéedie departure of the Sunne from their Zenith bycause of the suddayne crossing of the Zodiake with the Equinoctiall and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and cold the temperature grew moderate So now to theÌ„ vnder the two Tropikes the Sun hauing once by his proper permotioÌ„ declined .20 degrées from the Equinoctial beginneth to draw néere theyr Zenith which may bée as before aboute the eleuenth day of May and then beginneth to send his beames almost at right Angles about which tyme the Sunne entreth into the first degrée of Gemini and with this almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it be past Cancer that is the space of two Monethes euery day at noone almost perpendicular ouer their heads being then the time of Soâ—stitium Aestiuale whiche so long continuance of the Sun aboute their Zenith maye cause an extreame heate if anye be in the world but of necessitie farre more heate than can bée vnder the Equinoctiall where the Sunne hathe no suche long abode in the Zenith but passeth away therehence very quickly Also vnder the Tropikes the day is longer by an houre and a halfe than it is vnder the Equinoctiall wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer tyme of operation must néedes be encreased especially séeing the nighte wherein colde and moysture doe abounde vnder the Tropikes is lesse than it is vnder the Equinoctiall Therefore I gather that vnder the Tropikes is the hotest place not onely of Torrida Zona but of any other parte of the Worlde especially bycause there both causes of heate doe concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two Monethes togyther and the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison And by this meanes more at large is proued that Marochus in Sommer is farre more hote than at any tyme vnder the Equinoctiall bycause it is scituate so néere the Tropike Cancer and also for the length of their dayes Neyther yet doe I thynke that the Regions scituate vnder the Tropikes are not habitable for they are founde to be verye frutefull also although Marochus and some other partes of Africa néere the Tropike for the drynesse of the natiue sandie soyle and some accidentes maye séeme to some to be intemperate for ouermuch heate For Ferdinandus Ouiedus speaking of Cuba and Hispaniola Ilands of America lying hard vnder or by the Tropike Cancer sayeth that these Ilandes haue as good pasture for Cattell as anye other Countrey in the world Also they haue most holesome and cléere water and temperate ayre by reason whereof the heards of Beasâ—es are muche bigger fatter and of better tast then any in Spayne bycause of the rancke pasture whose moysture is better digested in the hearbe or grasse by continuall and temperate heate of the Sunne whereby being made more fatte and vnctious it is of better and more stedfast nourishment For continuall and temperate heate dothe not only draw much moysture out of the earth to the nourishmente of suche things as growe and are engendred in that Clime but dothe also by moderation preserue the same from putrifying digesting also and condensating or thickning the sayd moyst nourishmente into a gummie and vnctious substance whereby appeareth also that vnder the Tropikes is both holesome frutefull and pleasant habitation whereby lastly it followeth that al the middle Zone whiche vntyll of late dayes hathe bin compted and called the burning broyling and parched Zone is now found to bée the most delicate temperate commodious pleasaunte and delectable part of the World and especially vnder the Equinoctiall Hauyng nowe sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle Zone it remayneth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall heate in colde Regions as well in the nighte as in the day all the Sommer long and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitantes of the same contrarie to the opinion of the olde writers Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long and also hovve in Winter the same is habitable especially to the inhabitants thereof THe colde Regions of the Worlde are those whiche tending towarde the Pole Artike and Antartike are without the circuit or bounds of the seauen Climates which agréeable to the opinion of the old Writers is founde and sette out in oure Authour of the Sphere Iohannes de Sacrobosco where hée playnely sayeth that without the seauenth Climate which is bounded by a Paralell passing at fiftie degrées in Latitude all the habitation beyonde that to be discommodious and intollerable but Gemma Phrisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to be withoute the compasse of those climates wherein he knew to be very temperate and good habitation added therevnto two other Climates the vttermost Paralell whereof passeth by .56 degrées in Latitude and therein comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation England Scotland Denmarke Moscouia c. which all are rich and mightie Kingdomes The old writers perswaded by bare coniecture wente aboute to determine of those places by comparing them to their owne complexions bycause they felt them to be hardlie tolerable to themselues and so toke thereby an argument of the whole habitable earth as if a Man borne in Morochus or other part of Barbarie should at the later end of Sommer vpon the suddayne eyther naked or with hys thinne vesture be broughte into England he woulde iudge this Region presently not to be habitable bycause he being broughte vp in so warme a Countrey is not able héere to liue for so sodaine an alteration of the colde ayre but if the same man hadde come at the beginning of Sommer and so afterwarde by little and little by certaine degrées had felt acquainted himselfe with the Frost of Autumne it would haue séemed by degrées to harden him and so to make it far more tollerable and by
hast to the Court â—éeing theÌ„ at Windsore to aduertise hir Maiesty of his properous procâ—eding and good successe in this last voyage and of the pleÌ„ty of gold Ore with other matters of importance which he hadde in these Septentrionall partes disâ—ouered He was courtâ—ously enterteyned and hartily wâ—lcomed of many noble men but especially for his great aduenture commended of hir Maiestie at whose hands he receyued great thankes and most gratious countenance according to his deserts Hir Highnesse also greatly commended the rest of the Gentlemen in this seruice for their great forwardnes in this so daÌ„gerous toyling and painefull attempte but especiallye shée praysed and reioiced that among them there was so good order of gouernement so good agreement euerye man so readye in his calling to doe whatsoeuer the General should commaunde which due commendation gratiously of hir Maiestie remembred gaue so greate encouragement to al the Captaines Gentlemen that they to continue hir highnesse so good and honorable opinion of them haue since neâ—ther spared laboure limme nor life to bring this matter so well begon to a happie and prosperous ende And finding that the matter of the gold ore had appearaunce mâ—de shew of great riches profite and the hope of the passage to CATAYA by this last voâ—age greatly encreased hir Maiestie appointed speciâ—l Commissioners chosen for this purposeâ— Gentlemen of great iudgement art skill to looke thorowly into the cause for the true trial due examination therof for the full handling of al matters therevnto appertaining And bicause that place country hathe neuer heretofore bin disâ—ouered and therefore had no speciall name by which it might be called known hir Maiestie named it very properly Meta Incognita as a marke and bouÌ„ds vtterly hitherto vnknown The coÌ„missioners after sufficieÌ„t triall proofe made of the Ore hauing vnderstood by sundrie reasons substanciall grouÌ„ds the possibilitie likelihoode of the passage aduertised hir highnes that the cause was of importance the voyage gretly worthy to be aduaÌ„ced again Wherevpon preparatioÌ„ was made of ships al other things necessary with such eâ—pedition as the time of the yere theÌ„ required And bycause it was assuredly made accompt of that the coÌ„moditie of Mines there already discouered wold at that least counteruaâ—â—e in all respects the adueÌ„turers charge giue further hope likelihood of greter matters to follow it was thought néedful both for the better guard of those parts alredy fouÌ„d for further discouery of the Inland secreats of those countries also for further search of the passage to Cataya whâ—rof the hope continually more more encreaseâ—h that certain numbers of chose â—oâ—diers discréete men for those purposes should be asâ—igâ—â—d to inhabite there Whervpon theâ—e wâ—s a sâ—râ—ng â—orâ—â— or house of timber artificially frâ—med â—â—â—ingly deuised by a notable learned man here at home iâ— ships to be carryed thither wherby â—hose meÌ„ that were apointed there to winter make their abode the whole yeare might aswel be defeÌ„ded from the danger of the falling snow and colde ayre as also be fortified from the force or offenâ—e of those Countrie people which perhaps otherwise with too greate coÌ„panâ—es multitudes might oppresse them And so this greate aueÌ„ture notable exploit many wel minded and â—orward yoÌ„g Gentlemen of our countrey willingly hâ—ue offered tâ—emselues And firste Captaine Fenton Lieuâ—â—â—â—â—t Gâ—â—â—rall for Captaine Frobysher and in charge of the â—oÌ„pany with him there Capitaine Beâ—t Captaiâ—e 〈◊〉 vnto whose good discretions the gouernment of 〈◊〉 was chiefly commended who as men not regaâ—ding pâ—rill in respect of the profite and common wealth of their Counâ—rie were willing to abide the fâ—â—sâ—e brâ—â—nt aduâ—nture oâ— those daungers among a sauâ—ge and brutishe kinde of people in a place hitherto euer thoght â—or eâ—treme cold not habitable The whole number of men whiche had offered were appointed to inhabite Meta Incâ—gnita al the yeare were one hundreth persons wherof â—l shoulde be Marriners for the vse of ships .30 Miners for gathering the golde Ore togyther for the next yeare 3â— souldiers for the better guarde of the rest within which last nuÌ„ber are included the gentlemen Goldâ—iners Bâ—kers CarpeÌ„ters al other necessary persons To othe of the Captaines was assigned one ship as wel for the further searching of the coast countrie there as for to returne bring backe their companies againe if the necessitie of the place so vrged or bâ— miscarying oâ— the fléete in the yeare following they mighte be disappointed of their further prouision Being therefore thus furnished with all necessaries there were ready to depart vpon the said voyageâ— xv Sayle of good Shippes whereof the whole number was to returne agayne with their loading of gold Ore in the end of the Sommer except those thrée Shippes which should bée left for the vse of those Captaynes whiche should inhabite there the whole yeare And being in so good readynesse the Generall with all the Captaynes came to the Court then lying at Greenewich to take their leaue of hir Maiestie at whose hands they all receyued great encouragemente and gracious countenance Hir Highnesse besides other good giftes and greater promises bestowed on the Generall a faire Cheyne of Gold and the rest of the Captaynes kissed hir hande tooke their leaue and departed euery man towardes their charge The names of the Shippes with their seuerall Captaynes 1 In the Ayde being Admirall vvas the Generall Captayne Frobisher 2 In the Tho. Allen Viceadmirall Ca. Yorke 3 In the Iudith LieutenaÌ„t General Ca. FeÌ„ton 4 In the Anne Frances Capâ—ayne Best 5 In the Hopevvell Captayne Carevv 6 In the Beare Captayne Filpot 7 In the Thomas of Ipsvvich Cap. Tanfield 8 In the Emanuell of Exceter Ca. Courtney 9 In the Frances of Foy Captayne Moyles 10 In the Moone Captayne Vpcot 11 In the Ema of Bridgevvater Ca. Nevvton 12 In the SalamoÌ„ of VVeymouth Ca. Randal 13 In the Barke Dennis Captayne Kendall 14 In â—he Gabriell Captayne Haruey 15 In the Michaell Captayne Kinnersley The sayd .xv. Sayle of Shippes arriued and mette togyther at Harwitch the seauen and twentith day of May Anno .1578 where the Generall and the other Captayne 's made view and mustered theyr companyes And euery seuerall Captayne receyued from the Generall certayne Articles of direction for the better kéeping of order and company togither in the way which Articles are as followeth ¶ Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete set dovvne by Captayne Frobisher Generall and deliuered in writing to euery Captayne as well for keeping company as for the course the 31. of May. 1 IN primis to banishe swearing dice and cardplaying and filthy communication and to serue God twice a day with the ordinarie seruice vsually in Churches of England and to cleare the glasse according to the old order of England 2 The Admirall
victualles things necessary departed vpon the said pretended voyage leauing their shippe at ancker in a good readinesse for the taking in of their fraight And hauing little winde to saile withall they plyed alongest the Souther shoare and passed aboue .30 leagues hauing the onely helpe of mans labour with Ores and so entendyng to kéepe that shoare aboorde vntill they were gote vp to the farthest narrowest of the straites minded there to crosse ouer to search likewise alongest the Northerland vnto the Countessss sound from thence to passe all that coaste along where by if any of the Fléete hadde béen distressed by wracke of rocke or Ise 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 suspecte that some of the Fléete were surely caste awaye driuen to séeke sowre sallets amongest the colde cliffes And being shot vp about .40 leagues within the straites they put ouer towards the Norther shore whiche was not a little daungerous for theyr small boates And by meanes of a sodaine flawe were driuen and faine to séeke harboroughe in the night amongest all the rockes and broken grounde of Gabiels Ilandes a place so named within the straites aboue the Countesse of Warwickes sounde And by the way where they landed they did find certaiue great stones sette vppe by the Countrie people as it séemed for markes where they also made manye Crosses of stone in token that Christians had hin there The .xxij. of August they hadde sighte of the Countesses sounde and made the place perfecte from the toppe of a hill and kéepyng along the Norther shoare perceiued the smoake of a fyre vnder a hylles side whereof they diuerslye déemed wheÌ„ they came nearer the place they perceyued people whiche wafted vnto them as it séemed with a flagge or auntient And bycause the Caniballes and countrie people had vsed to doe the like when they perceiued any of our boats to passe by they suspected them to be the same And comming somewhat nearer they might perceyue certaine teÌ„ts and discerne this auntâ—ent to be of mingled coloures black and white after the Englishe fashion But bycause they coulde sée no shippe nor likelihoode of harborowe within fiue or sixe leagues aboute and knowe that none of oure men were wonte to frequent those partes they coulde not tell what to iudge thereof but imagined that some of the Shyppes being carried so highe wyth the storme and mistes had made shipwracke amongest the Ise or the broken Ilandes there and were spoyled by the Countrey people who might vse the sundrye coloured flagge for a policie to bring them likewise within their daunger Whervpon the saide Captaine wyth his companies resolued to recouer the same Auntient if it were so from those base cruell and man eating people or else to lose their liues all togither One promised hymselfe a payre of garters an other a scarffe the third a lace to tye hys Whistle withal of the same In the ende they discerned them to be theyr Countreymen and then they déemed them to haue loste theyr Shyppes and so to be gathered togyther for theyr better strength On the other side the companye a shoare feared that the Capitayne hauing loste his shippe came to séeke forth the Fléet for his reliefe in hys poore pinnesse so that their extremities caused eache parte to suspecte the worste The Captaine nowe with his pinnesse being come néere the shoare commaunded his Boate carefully to be kepte asâ—ote least in their necessitie they might winne the same from hym and séeke firste to saue themselues for euerye manne in that case is nexte himselfe They haled one another according to the manner of the Sea and demaunded what cheare either partie answered the other that all was well wherevppon there was a sodaine and ioyfull outeshoote with greate flinging vp of cappes and a braue voly of shotte to welcome one an other And truelye it was a moste straunge case to sée howe ioyfull and gladde euerye partie was to sée themselues méete in safetie againe after so straunge and incredible daungers Yet to be shorte as their daungers were greate so their God was greater And here the companye were workyng vppon newe Mines whych Captayn Yorke being here arriued not loÌ„g before hadde founde out in this place and it is named the Countesse of Sussex Mine After some conference wyth oure friends here the Captaine of the Anne Fraunces departed towardes the Countesse of Warwickes sounde to speake with the Generall to haue triall made of suche mettall as he hadde broughte thither by the Goldfiners And so determined to dispatche againe towardes his shippe And hauing spoken wyth the Generall hée receiued order for all causes and direction as well for the bringing vppe of his Shippe to the Countesses sounde as also to fraight his Shippe with the same Ore he himselfe hadde found which vpon triall made proued to be very good The thirtéenth of Auguste the saide Capitaine mette togither with the other Capitaines Commissioners in counsell with the Generall aboorde the Ayde where they considered and consulted of sundrie causes whiche particularly registred by the Notarie were appointed where and howe to be done againste an other yeare The fourtéenth of August the Generall with two Pinnesses and good numbers of men wente to Beares sounde commaunding the saide Capitaine with his Pinnesse to attend the seruice to sée if he could encouÌ„ter or appreheÌ„d any of the Caniballes for sundry tymes they shewed theÌ„selues busy thereaboutes sometimes with .7 or .8 boates in one company as though they minded to encouÌ„ter with oure company whiche were working there at the mines in no greate numbers But when they perceiued anye of oure shippes to ride in that roade being belike more amazed at the countenaunce of a shippe and a more number of men didde neuer shewe themselues againe there at all Wherfore oure men soughte with their Pinnesses to compasse aboute the Iland where they did vse supposing there sodainely to intercept some of them But before oure men coulde come neare hauing belike some watch in the toppe of the mountaines they conueyed theÌ„selues priuily awayâ— and lefte as it shoulde séeme one of their great dartes behinde them for haste whiche we founde neare to a place of their caues and housing Therefore though our Generall were very desirous to haue taken some of theâ—â—â—o haue brought into Englande they being nowe 〈◊〉 more wary by their former losses woulde not at 〈…〉 â—ome within our daungers About 〈…〉 Captaine of the Anne Fraunces 〈…〉 course ouer the 〈…〉 about fiftéene 〈…〉 ouer the fiue 〈…〉 to the great 〈◊〉 of his 〈…〉 â—â—pected hys comming where 〈…〉 rigged and loaden Wherfore 〈…〉 agayne the next morning towards the 〈…〉 â—ounde where he arriued the eight and 〈…〉 same By the waye he sette hys Miners ashoare aâ— Beares sounde for the better dispatche and gathering the Ore
that shall be appoynted to call for them vpon payne or losse of his or their wages and treble the value of them or him that shall be founde giltie the one halfe thereof to be giuen vnto him that shal apprehend any suche person and the other halfe at hir Maiesties appoyntmeÌ„t and the partie found guiltie therein to be apprehended as a fellon 4 Item that no person or persoos conuey or carrie out of any Ship or Shippes any Ore or stone or other commoditie whatsoeuer were had or found in the land called Meta Incognita before they come in the place appoynted which is against Dartford créeke in the Riuer of Thames and then and there to deliuer none to anye person or persons but such as shall be appoynted by hir Highnesse most honorable priuie Counsell vpon the payne and danger abouesayd 5 Item forasmuche as in my voyage hither bounde I landed vpon Freeseland and diuers other of the said Fléete which land I named West England from which laÌ„d some brought stones Ore and other coÌ„modities whereby hereafter they might vse coulorable meanes to conuey as well Ore stones and other things found in the abouesayd land I do therefore charge euery person and persons in the sayd Fléete to deliuer or cause to be deliuered al maner of Ore stones and other commodities founde as well there as héere to the Captaynes of euery Shippe or Shippes to be redeliuered by him or them to the Generall vpon payne and danger abouesayd 6 Item that if any Shippe or Shippes by force of weather shall be separated from the Admirall and afterwards happen to fall or shall be in danger to fall into the handes of their enimies that then all and euery suche Shippe or Shippes shall haue speciall regard before his falling into theyr handes to conuey away and cast into the Seas all soche plattes or Cardes as shall be in any suche Shippe or Shippes of the abouesayde discouered lande and all other kâ—â—wleâ—â—es thereof 7 Item that if any such Shippe or Shippes by force of weather shall be separated from the Fléete or Admirall and shall afterwardes arriue at any Port in England that then in suche case he shall not depart from that Porte but shall giue order and aduertisemente to Michaell Locke Treasourer of the companye by whome hée or they shall haue order from the Lordes of the priuie Councell what they shall do 8 Item forasmuch as sundry of the Fléetes companies haue had lent theÌ„ Crowes of Iron â—ledges pikeares shouels spades hatchets aâ—es and diuers other instrumentes for Mines and mining vsâ—d And also dyuers of the sayde kind of instruments aboue named was lefte at the Countesse of Suâ—lex Mine by the Aydes companye and are yet kept from their knowledge by such as wrought at the sayd Mâ—ne which instruments do apperteyne to the righte honorable and worshipfull company of the abouesayde discouerie I do therefore charge all Captaynes and Maysters of euery Shippe or Shippes to make it knowen to his or their companyes to the end that all such instrumentes as well those lente as those that are otherwise deteyned and kept away may be agayne restored and broughte aboord the Admirall vpon payne and danger expressed in the third Article By me Martin Frobisher The Fleetes returning homevvard HAuing nowe receyued Articles and direction for oure returne homewardes all other things being in forwardnesse and in good order the last day of August the whole Fléete departed from the Countesses sound excepting the Iudith and the Anne Frances who stayed for the taking in of fresh water and came forth the next daye and mette the Fléete lying off and on athwart Beares sounde who stayed for the Generall which then was gone ashore to dispatch the two Barkes and the Busse of Bridewater for their loading whereby to get the companyes and other things aboorde The Captayne of the Anne Frances hauing most part of his company ashore the first of September went also to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch hys men aboorde but the winde grew so great immediately vppon their landing that the Shippes at Sea were in great danger and some of them hardly put from their Anckers and greately feared to be vtterly lost as the Hopewell wherein was Captayne Carew and others who could not tell on which side their danger was most for hauing mightie Rockes threatning on the one side and driuing Ilands of cutting Ise on the otherside they greatly feared to make shipwrack the Ise driuing so neare theÌ„ that it touched their borde sprete And by meanes of the sea that was growne so hie they were not able to put to seas with their smal Pynnesses to recouer their shippes And againe the ships were not able to tarrie or lye athwarte for them by meanes of the outrageous windes swelling seas The General willed the Captaine of the Anne France with his companye for that nighte to lodge aboorde the Busse of Bridgewater went himself with the rest of his men aborde the barkes But their numbers were so great and the prouision of the Barkes so scant that they pestered one another excéedingly They had good hope that the nexte morning the weather woulde be fayre wherby they might recouer their shippes But in the morning following it was farre worse for the storme continâ—ed greater the sea being more swollen the Fléete gone quite out of sighte So that now their doubts beganne to growe great for the ship of Bridgewater which was of greatest receit and wherof they had best hope and made most accompt roade so far to leewarde of the harborow mouth that they were not able for the rockes that lay betwéene the winde and them to leade it out to sea with a sayle And the Barkes were so alreadie pestered with meÌ„ and so slenderly furnished of prouision that they had scarce meate for sixe dayes for such numbers The Generall in the morning departed to sea in the Gabriel to seke for the Fléete leauing the Busse of Bridgewater and the Michael behinde in Beâ—res sound The Busse set sayle and thought by turning in the narrowe channell within the harborow to get to windewarde but bâ—ing put to léewarde more by that meanes was fayne to come to Ancker for hir better safetie amongst a number of rockes and there left in great danger of euer getting forth againe The Michaell 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 Frances was leâ—â—e in haâ—de election of two euils either to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater which was doubtfull of euer getting forthe or else to be towed in his smal Pinnesse at the sâ—â—rne of the Michael thorow the raging seas for that the Barke was not able to receiue or releeue halfe his company wherin his daunger was not a little perillous So after resolued to committe himselfe withall his company vnto that fortune of God and sea hée was