forward the Ship and so the Ship bearing before hir the yse so one yse driuing forward another should at leÌ„gth get scope searoome And hauing by this meanes at length put their enimies to slight occupyed the cléere place for a prettie season among sundry Mountaynes and Alpes of Ise. One there was founde by measure to be .65 fadome aboue water which for a kind of similitude was called Salomons porch Some thinke those Ilands eight times so muche vnder water as they are aboue bycause of their moÌ„strous weight But now I remeÌ„ber I saw very strange wonders men walking running leaping shoting vpon the maine seas .40 miles from any land without any Shippe or other vessell vnder them Also I saw fresh Riuers running amidst the salt Sea a hundred myle from land which if any man will not beléeue let him know that mâ—ny of our company lept out of their Shippe vppon Ilandes of Ise and running there vppe and downe did shoote at buttes vppon the Ise and with their Caliuers did kill greate Ceales whicâ—e vâ—e to lye and sléepe vpon the Ise and thâ—s Ise melting aboue at the toppe by reâ—lection of the Sunne came downe in sundrye streames whyche vniting togither made a prettie brooke able to driue a Mill. The sayd Captayne Fenton recouered his Porte tenne dayes before any man and spente good time in searchyng for mine and found good store thereof which bycause it proued good was after called Fentons Fortune He also discouered aboute tenne Miles vp into the Countrey where he perceyued neyther Towne Uillage nor likelyhode of habitatiâ—n but séemeth as he sayth barrennous as the other parts which as yet we haue entred vpon but their victuals and prouision went so scante with them that they had determined to returne homeward within seauen dayes after if the Fléete had not then arriued The Generall after his arriual in the CouÌ„tesses sound spent no time in vayne but immediately at his first laÌ„ding called the chiefe Captaynes of his Councell togither and consulted with them for the spéedier executioÌ„ 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 be obserued of the whole company on shore And lastly to consider for the erecting vp the Forte and House for the vse of them whiche were to abide there the whole yeare For the better handling of these and all other like important causes in this seruice it was ordeined from hir Maiestie and the Councell that the Generall should call vnto him certayne of the chiefe Captaynes and GentlemeÌ„ in councell to coÌ„ferre consult and determine of al occurreÌ„ts in this seruice whose names are here as folow Captayne Fenton Captayne Yorke Captayne Best Captayne Carew Captayne Philpot. And in Sea causes â—o haue as assistants Christopher Hâ—l and Câ—arles IackmaÌ„ â—eing both very gooâ— Pyloâ—s 〈…〉 ficient Mariners wheâ—eof â—he one was chiâ—fâ— Pylot of â—he voyage and the other for the discouerie From the place oâ— our habitation weastward Maister Selmâ—n was appointed Notarie to register the whole manner of procéeding â—n these affaires that true relation thereof might be made iâ— it pleased hir Maiâ—stie to require it The first of August euery Captaine by order from the General his counsell was commaunded to bring ashore vnto the Counâ—esses Iland al such gâ—ntlemen soulâ—iouâ—s and Myners as were vnder their charge with suchâ— prouision as they had of victuals tents and things necessarye for the spéedie getting togither of Mine and fraught for the shippes The Muster of the men being taken and the victuals with all other things viewed and considered euery maÌ„ was set to his charge as his place and office required The Myners were appointed where to worke and the Mariners discharged their shippes Uppon the seconde of August was published and proclaymed vppon the Countesse of Warwickes Iland with sound of Trumpet certain orders by the general and hys counsel appointed to be obserued of the companye during the time of their abiding there The copie whereof here followeth Orders set down by M. Frobisher Esquire Captaine Generall for the voyage to Cataya to be obserued of the companie during the timâ— of thâ—ir abode in Meta Incognitâ— Pâ—blâ—shed the second day of August Anno .1578 1 IN primis the Generall in hir Maiesties name straightly chargeth and commaundeth that no person or persons with Boate nor Pinnesse shall go ashoare for any cause but to the Countesse of Warwickes Ilande and Winters Fornace without licence of the general or his deputies And if they fortune at anye time hauing licence to méete with any of the Countrey people that they shall not enter into any conference or armes wyth them vntyl they haue giuen intelligence thereof to the Generall or hys Lieutenaunt 2 Item that no person of what calling soeuer he bée shal make an assay of any maner of mettal matter or Ore in the partes nowe called Meta Incognita but only suche as shal be appointed by the General or in his absence by his Lieutenaunt to doe the same nor that anye person shall take vp and kepe to his priuate vse anye parte or parcel of Ore pretious stone or other matter of commoditie to be had or founde in that lande but he the sayde person so seased of such Ore stone or other matter of commoditie shall with al spéede as soone as he can detect the same and make deliuerie thereof to the Generall or his Lieuetenaunt Generall vppon paine to forfaite for euerye suche ounce thereof the value treble of anye wages he is to receiue after the daye of such offence committed And further to receyue suche punishmente as to hyr Maiestie shall séeme good 3 Item that no shippe or shippes shall take vppon them to loade any manner of Ore without licence of the General or he that shal be appointed deputie for him for the view of the same 4 Item that all the Maisters of euerye shippe or shippes within the Fleete shal vpon Mundaye next comming by foure of the clocke in the morning wyth all the moste parte of theyr companies make theyr repayre to the Countesses Ilande aforesayde there to viewe and make suche places for loading and vnloading of Ore and other thyngs as shall be moste commodious and méete for that purpose 5 Item that no person or persons within this seruice by sea or lâ—nde shall vse anye discouered spéeches swearyng brauling or cursing vppon payne of imprysonmente 6 Item that no person or persons eyther by Sea or lande shal drawe his or theyr weapons in quarrellyng manner to the intente to offende or disturbe the quiete of anye person or persons wythin thys seruice vppon paine that being so taken he or they whatsoeuer immediately to loose his right hande 7 Item that no person or persons shall washe their handes or anye other things in the Spring vppon the Countesses Ilande where the water is vsed and preserued for the dressing
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
gotte by sounding Monstrous Isles of Ise in â—ast freshe wherehence they are supposed to come The opinion of the frosen Seas is destroyed by experience Fâ—obishers streighâ—es The Steerage of the Michaâ—ll broken by Tempest The first entrance of the straightes Halles IlaÌ„d The description of the streyghtes No more gold ore fouÌ„d in the fyrste Ilande Eâ—ges and Fowles of Meta Incognita Snares sette to catche birds withal The building of a Columne called Mount warwicke The firste sight of the countrie people wafting with a Flag â—he meting apart of two Englishmen with two of that Countr The order of theiâ— trâ—fâ—icke Another meeâ—ing of two of our men with two of theâ—â— The Englishemen chesed to their boates One of that Countâ—uâ—en taken The Aâ—de set on fire The great daunger of those rockes Ise. Night without darknes in that countrey Our first commyng on the Southerland of the sayde straâ—ghtes A Myne of Blacklead Iackmans sounde â—mâ—thâ— Iland The fyndyng of an Unicornes horne Thirtie leagues discouered within the straytes A good president of a good Captaine shewed bâ— Captayne Fâ—obiâ—her The maner 〈…〉 houâ—â—â— in 〈◊〉 Coâ—nâ—rey Whâ—lâ—s bones â—sed in 〈◊〉 of timber 〈…〉 people A signe seâ— vp by the sauage Capâ—iâ—e and the meaning thereof The sauage captiue amazed of his Countrey-mans picture Yâ—â—â—â—â— souÌ„de The apparell â—ound againe of oâ—â—e Enâ—lisâ—mâ—n whâ—â—che the â—eare before were taken captiue A good deâ—icâ— of caâ—tâ—ine Yorke A good deâ—â—â—â— of Capâ—â—â—â—â— Yorkâ— Tâ—â— Sauages haue Boâ—â—es of â—undry bigâ—â—â—â—â— The English men pâ—rsue â—hose people of that countrey The swift roâ—ing of those people The bloudy poynt A bote skirmish betwene the Englishe and them of that countrey The desperat nature of those people The taking of the woman and hir child A prettie kind of Surgerie â—â—yche nature teacheth The narrowest place of the â—â—raigâ—ts is .9 leagues ouer The Queneâ— Cape The manner of the meeting o◠〈◊〉 Captiues and their entertaynement The shame fastnesse and chastitie of those sauage Captiues Another appearance of that Countrey people These people know the vse of writing â— Letter sent vnto â—he fyue English Capâ—tiues The cause why Fâ—obisheâ— entred no further within the straights this yeare Bestes Bulwarke Their King called Catchoe How he is honoured A bladder changed for a â—oâ—ing glasse No newes of the Englishe Capâ—iues To what end the blather was deliuered Those people daunsing vpon the hill toppesâ— A skirmishe shewed to thâ—se people Their Flags made of bâ—atheâ—s Great offers Snow haâ—fâ— a foote deepe in â—ugust The Mayster of the Gabriell stricken ouerboorde The Rudder of the Ayâ—e torne in twaine How the Latitudes were alwayes takeÌ„ in this voyage rather wyth the Staffe than astrolobe The arriuall of the Ayde at Padstow in Cornewall Our comming to Milford Hauen The arriuall of the Gabriell at Bristow The Michael arriued in the North parts Only one man dyed in this voyage 〈◊〉 coÌ„mâ—nded of hir Maiâ—sâ—ie The Gentlemen câ—meÌ„ded Commissioners appointed â—o 〈◊〉 the goodnesse of â—he Ore. A name giueÌ„ to the place newe discouerâ—d The hope of the pasâ—age to Cataya 〈…〉 A hundreth men appointed to inhabâ—tn there Fifteene Sayleâ— A cheyne of gold â—iuen to â—robisheâ— A charitable deede Markâ— thys Currant Weast Englande Charing Crosse. A Whale moâ—e a ship Frobishers straites choaked vp wyth Ise. Salte water cannot freese Barâ— Denâ—is sunke Part of the house lost Another assaultâ— Fogge snow and miâ—â—es hinder the Marriners markes A Currantâ— Iames Beare a good Mariner Christopher Hall chiefe Pylot Hard shiftes to saue mens liues Mistaken straytes Prâ—bisher could â—aue passed to Cataya Faire open way Reasons to prooue a passage heere Great indraftes Currant Nine houres 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 hoâ—res ebâ—eâ— The sea moueth from East to Oest continuallye Authoritie Harde but yet possible turning back againe Trafficke Returne out of tâ—â— mistaken sâ—raites Great daungers Anne Fâ—aunâ—â—eâ— met â—ith some of â—he â—â—eeâ—eâ— Fraunces of Foy. Briâ—gewater Shippe Straightes fâ—osen ouer A valiaunt mynde of Fâ—obâ—sher Snowe in Iâ—ly Eâ—â—reame 〈◊〉 Gâ—â—at heate in 〈…〉 Unconstant weather The Generall recouereth his port Mayster Wolfall Preacher The aduentures of captayne Fenton and his company Extremitie causeth men to deuise new arâ—â—s and remedies Hard shiftes Strange wonders 〈…〉 The Moonâ— The Anne Fâ—ances the Tâ—omas of Ipswich and the Moone consult Caâ—â—aâ—ne 〈◊〉 resolâ—â—iâ—n Bestes blessing Anne Frances in daunger The Moone in harborough Hattons Hedlande A Pinnesse there builte Gabriels IlaÌ„dâ— Proximus â—â—m â—gomeâ— mihi Captaine York arriueâ— None of the people wil be â—aken â— house builded and lefâ—e there Consultation for a further discouerie Returne homeward 〈…〉 discoueâ—ed A 〈…〉 Mâ—tâ— Inâ—ognita Their Kettls and Pannes Frost and Snow Inchanters Store of wild Fowle The qualitie of theyr The length of their dayâ—â— AT LONDON Printed by Henry Bynnyman Anno Domini 1578. Decembris 10.