see it by reason of fogge 31 He meetes Ice which he marvailes at being that the South-most part of Groynland described in the Marine Chart is in the Latit of 60 deg he being then in 59 deg 10 min. Desolation bearing W N W. halfe N 64 leag off and Cape Christianus the next knowne part of Groynland N W by W. Westerly 38 leag he holds an E S E. Course and sees Land the same day being very high lying along E S E. 16. leag the W. part seemed to fall away E by N. the land was very high and covered with snow he was not certaine whether it was the Maine or an Iland he named it Frost Iland I cannot conceive but that by his Latit it must be the same he had formerly named Cape Christianus 1 He comes homewards the 8 day and is in 58. d. 36 m. variation 2 d. 45 m. W. The 10. day he was in 59 deg 10. min. variation 1 deg 4 min. 18 He espies the Iland of Farrey Latit 62 d. 3 m. the streame sets vnder the Iles next hand E and W. He arrived at Copeman Haven his conclusion is that Bredarenses Foord is the most Northerly Coninghams Foord is next in 67. d. and odde m. the Foord where they see the Towne is 2 leag to S of Coninghams the towne stands 10 leag vp the Foord the Kings Foord is in 66 d. â— â— but he did not find the Siluer Myne Master Iames Hall was imployed in a third Voyage from Denmarke 1607. but after that he had made the Land the Danes mutined and in fine forced the ships backe againe for Iseland there being then nothing done towards the edifying of this worke it is needlesse to make any further search after the same The 4th and last Voyage of Master Iames Hall from Kingstone vpon Hull with 2 Ships viz. the Patience and the Hearts-Ease written by William Baffin HE saith that in the Morning perceiving the Sunne and Moone to shine very cleare he purposed to find out the Longitude and this day he spent in finding out the true Meridian Line vpon an Iland by hanging at the extreames thereof â— plummets in threed instead of an Index or sight 9 He observed the Moone iust vpon the Meridian at which very instant the Sunnes almicanter was 8 deg 53 min. N. the Poles elevation 65 deg 20 min. by which working according to the doctrine of Sphaericall triangles having 3 sides given to wit the Complement of the Poles elevation the Complement of the Almicanter and the complement of the Sunnes declination to find out the quantity of the Angle at the Poâ—e by which working he findes the time to be clocke 4 17 min. and 24 sec he findes likewise by the Ephemerides that the Moone came to the Meridian of London at 4 a clocke 25 m. 34 sec which 17 m. and 24 sec substracted leaveth 8 min. 10 sec of time for the difference of the Moones passing betwixt both the Meridians the Moones motion that day was 12 degrees seaven minutes which converted into Minutes of time were 48 minutes 29 sec this wrought by the rule of proportion is thus if 48 min. 29 sec the time that the Moone commeth sooner to the Meridian then she did the day before give 360 deg the Earths Circumference what shall 8 min. 10 sec to wit 60 deg 30. min. the difference betwixt the Meridian of London and Cockings Sound in Groenland This he affirmeth to be without any great error the rules truely observed and Ephemerides exact for that no instrument can be exact enough to find out the true Houre Minute and second the losse of one Minute being the losse of 7 deg in Longitude 22 Master Hall was slaine with a Dart throwne into his body by one of the Groenlanders before whose death and since the ninth day little was done worthy note but the supposed Myne sought for and in that search many brave Rivers and Harbours were found with the footing of some great Deere or Elke as bigge as an Oxe â—t may be supposed that the cause of this Blow was for the losse of the Brother or other the Friends of the Momicide which might be some of those five the Danes carried away the last yeare and but one before for that in all trading both before and after his Death they did never offer any violence vnto any of the Company but before would oftentimes be pointing and ayming as it were at him calling him Captaine one to another They search further for the Myne and find many places where the Danes had digged with stone of Orient couler but when it was refined it proved drosse having no mettall at all therein but was like to Muscovia sludde they also found a pleasant Vallie They find not the Myne as also the people forbeare to trade with them as before they made way againe out of this River to come to their Admirall in which way in many Ilands they find where many of their winter houses had bin some of their Tents were but lately carried away in which place they also found of their long Boates made of Wood and bound together with skinnes of Whale-fyn and covered with Seale skinnes being 33 foote long and 5 broad having in them 10 thoughts or Seates this day they depart Rumells Foord in 67 degrees Latitude and 24 degrees 16 minutes variation it being one of the fairest Rivers he see in that Country it lyeth in East and E by South and that Night hee came to the Admirall then in the Kings Foord 26 They consult about comming home for the Captain was slaine and the people refuse to trade with them as they were wont I thinke for feare for the same Voyage one Iames Pullie was also slaine by a Salvage for offering to take one of their people out of his Boate by violence They depart homewards Master Andrew Barker of Hull in the Admirall William Huntris Master in the Pinnace 18 HE is in 58 deg 50 min. he findes the variation to be 13 deg 22 min. contrary to observation of other men in this place and because this was the first Sea-Voyage of this young Arts-man I will trace his owne words the 18. the Sunnes declination saith he was 9 d. 58 min. for the Meridian of London but being almost 4 houres of time to the West-wards there is 1 â— to be abated from the rest for his declination was 9 deg 55 min. his altitude 24 deg 40. min. in Latitude 59 deg his distance from the South by the Compasse 81 deg Latitude 57 deg variation 11 deg 10 m. 6 Nothing of note but one storme vntill this day the latitude was 61 deg 18 min. the variation 6 deg East the deepe 68 Fathomes 8 He came to the I le of Orkney where anchoring the people came and gave them Hennes geese and sheepe for old cloathes or shooes 11 He came to Kingstone upon Hull
this hot weather doth fast dissolve them This night clocke 2 came a small Iland of Ice brought up with the latter flood and by his draught being deeper in the Tydes way then the flact or masht Ice had a greater motion continued by the undertyde then that which had inclosed us of which we were fast unto one of the biggest content to wit 3 Acres this Iland did drive right with us and but that some few masht Ice interposed thereby diverting the course thereof some 2 or 3 ships length it had drove directly upon us and had crusht us mainely if not to peeces it being â— or 10 fathomes above water and if it had boarded us being undermined by the waters continuall working the outside thereof by that shake might have fallen into the ship and have sunke her this was the greatest danger we were in since I came into Fretum Hudson the fault being in the watch who did not call that we might have set the ship the one way or the other about the peece we were fast unto before we were so ingaged as I could doe neither about one houre after the said Iland tooke his recourse backe againe to the East with the ebbe faster then the other ice could doe This morning 8 the Sunne was up before we saw it Da 1 Moneths July the day was warme and close but calme so as I could not stirre for want of wind the straight doth cleere and this N. land that hath continued with us since we departed with Resolution it now bearing from E. and by S. to N. by E. if Baffinn writ truely that Resolution is an Iland separate from this then is this another though formerly taken for the N. Maine and longer as shall be showne at my returne homeward the tyde doth set as the land doth lie South-East and Northwest This night 7 it was an Ayre farre better then a younger brother the ice well thinn'd I caused the ship to be loosed and by that time the Master with the boat was come from killing of Fowle I stood to the N. about foure miles this fayre day being at an end I made fast set the watch and went to Cabbin This morning 2 an easie gale breathed from the E. by South which caused mee to send to the boatswaine to call up the Company where a chiefe one amongst us being too suddenly awaked speaking something peevishly I told the rest that the matter was not great for the children did so when they were awaked out of their sleep I began now to find the want of a Shallop which at home I did so earnestly desire for my Cocke boat would nor Rowe noâ— Sayle to any purpose so as I durst hardly send her from me for when it was any billow she was not to be rowed and with saile to windward shee would doe nothing although I had caused a large Lee board to be made to helpe her This Meridianall observation the wind came West and I was in 61 d. 57. m. and stood in close to this inremarkeable shore so all the land within this straight may be called for it is all shoring or descending from the highest mountaine to the Sea Whereon the Snow falling by degrees doth presse Da 2 and burthen it selfe making the masse more solid which at the Spring time when it loosneth from the earth it s own weight doth force downward into the Sea being all composed of Moneths July fresh water it may be conceived that the most Ice we meete in this passage in thus ingendred in the Vallies betwixt the Mountaines is some Snow undesolved We are now cleere of chattered Ice yet in sight are some Islands about which wee can compasse as we please here lyeth many small Ilands close by the Mayne and there doth appeare to be fayre sounds into the land upon the Sea this calme time that hath beene doth swimme a kind of corrupt slime one may thinke it may come by generation of great fishes for it feeles soft and unctious but put it into the fire it will not burne I doe thinke that all this time of our imprisonment this North shore hath beene free as I could espie it at Hiperions going downe which valed with a blacke Skreene of moyst Fogge wet through our Coates before we see it againe this fayre dayes Westwind blew cold and uncouth from out the passage wee are all upon kinde tearmes drinking one to another God hold it This morning the Sunne lickt up the Fogges dew as soone Da 3 as hee began to rise and made a shining day of it I cannot say hot it being counter-checkt by a coole Top-sayle Gale from West North-West which made our Noses runne the cleare day emboldened me to stand within two leagues of land to the deepe of 32 fathomes the ground white sand and gray with shels the water was falling the houre 11 before noone the Sunne and Moone in opposition a good Tyde set along the shoare to the Northwards the Sunne set cleare it was faire weathen and calme the ship drove along the shore this night to the Westward This morning at clocke one I called to lanche the Boate to send to shore to try the Tyde and against that time that I could send to land I had drawne those instructions following and giving them to Iohn Coatesworth whom I appointed alway to goe in the boate at whose returne I expected an account These are the Instructions First You shall take with you into the boate one halfe houre glasse one halfe minute glasse one logge and line cleane Paper one Pensill of blacke Leade and one Compasse with Moneths July some peeces of Iron Secondly One quarter Saw two Axes three Carbins Guns with Powder and Shot two or three Lances two Swords two Pikeaxes and every man his one day bread Thirdly At your departure from the ship turne the halfe houre and when it is neere out set your Logge to goe by the halfe minute that thereby you may estimate the distance betweene the ship and land as also what the boate can rowe an houre Fourthly When you shall approch neere the shore in the Tydes way I meane cleare of Bay-point or Rocke Anchor the Boat sound the deepe and marke the Tyde how it doth set and by your Logge what it doth passe in the halfe minute having rode there for halfe a Glasse weigh your Anchor and goe to land and duely observe what quantity of water it doth flow or fall perpendiculer in one Glasse whether the heightening or lessening be equall in every Glasse while yee stay or noe Fifthly Being thus on land with your Compasse set all Lands or Islands in sight draw the forme with your Paper and Pensill and estimate their distance Sixtly Remember I give you no libertie to goe within the land yet if for recreation goe no further then the full Sea marke and armed leaving two to keepe the Glasse and Boat looke for stones of Orient colour or of weight
being in despaire thereof never offered to attempt their freedome and therefore stayed there whereupon he travailed through the woods towards Dorgio the next Lord knew him and he was conveyed from one to another untill at length he came to Dorgio where he stayed three yeares and hearing of divers Boates that were arrived there he went to the sea side and asking of whence they were they said of Estotiland he being glad requested to be entertained by them and carried to their country which they gladly granted and used him for their Interpretor After that he frequented that trading with them and became very rich wherewith he furnished a barke returned into Friezeland and to his Lord made this report of that wealthy Country He is credited here for that the Mariners doe affirme his reports to be true wherefore this Lord is resolved to send me forth with a fleete toward these parts but it was not so for Zâ—chmni went himselfe and concerning their proceedings I have a Letter in forme following OVr preparation for Estotiland was begun in an unluckie houre for three dayes before our departure the Fisherman dyed that should have beene our guide notwithstanding this Lord would not give over the enterprise taking the Marriners that returned with him making our navigation to the Westward we discovered Ilands subject to Friesland and having passed certaine shelves we stayed at Ledovo 7. dayes The first of Iuly we arrived at Ilofe we stayed not there but had a veâ—ing storme at Sea for 8. dayes not knowing where we were a great part of their barkes were cast away the weather being faire they gathered up the pieces of broken barkes sayling on with prosperous wind they discovered land at W. They tooke harbour and an infinite company of armed men came to defend their Iland Zichmni makes signes of peace sends 10. men of ten severall languages but they could understand none but one that was of Iseland who informed them that the Ilands name was Icâ—ria named after the name of the first King of that place whom they say was sonne to Dedalus King of Scotland who conquered that Iland and left his sonne there for King and they called this Sea the Icarion Sea in remembrance of that King in further search was drowned there They would not suffer us to land but onely they would receive one man to learne the Jtalian tongue as they had received the other tenne He espying a harbour on the East side put therein for wood and water but the inhabitants assaults slew and maimed many of them enforcing them away and sayling about the Cape of the Iland towards the North we found many shoalds amongst the which we were ten dayes continually in danger of losing our whole fleete Zichmni seeing he could not prevaile against the force of the Ilands sailed 6. dayes towards the West but the wind changing into S. W. he sayled 4. dayes with wind a poope with a growne sea he discovers land not knowing what land and rowing to it with Oares they finde a good harbour and see farre off a Mountaine that cast forth smoake Zichmni sent forth an hundred Souldiers to search what people inhabited it the whiles he takes in wood and water catches great store of fish and Sea fowle with such aboundance of Egges that his men halfe famished were filled therewith this was in Iune the ayre so temperate pleasant as impossible to expresse They finde no people they name the haven Trine the Souldiers returning backe had bin through the Iland finds the fire naturall that the hils bottome produced and that there was a Spring which issued water like pitch and run into the Sea and that there dwelt a multitude of people of small stature hiding themselves in caves in the ground Zichmni taking liking to the soyle stayes there with such as were willing the rest he sent away in the ships wherein unwilling I was Captaine Anthonie sayles 20. dayes East without sight of any Land altering his course S. E. in 5. dayes he discovered Neome he knowing the Country had sailed past an Iland as he found he victuailed here the Iland being subiect to Zichmni And in 3. dayes he sailes to Friesland What followed after this Letter he knew not but by coniecture that Zich built a City and discovered on both sides of Engroneland and that he see it particularly described in the Sea carde but the narration is lost The beginning of his letter is thus COncerning these things that you desire to know of me as of their Manners and Customes of the Beasts and Countryes adioyning I haue made thereof a particular Booke which by Gods helpe I will bring with me wherein I have described the Country the monstrous Fishes the Lawes and Customes of Friesland Iseland Eastland the Kingdome of Norway Estotiland Dorgio an the end of the life of Mr. Nicolo with his discoverie and the state of Engroneland I have also written the Life and Acts of Zichmni a Prince as worthy of Immortall memory as any that ever lived for his great vigilancy and singular humanity Wherein I have described the discovery of Engroneland on both sides and the Citty he builded and further I hope to be with you very shortly to satisfie you by word of mouth All these Letters were written by Mr. Anthonie to Mr. Carlo his brother FOr the more credit and confirmation of the former History of Mr. Nichcolo and Mr. Anthonie which for some few respects may be called in question I have hereunto annexed the judgement of that Famous Cosmographer Abraham Ortelius or rather the yeilding or submitting of his judgment thereunto who in his Theatrum Ortis Fol. 6. next after the Mappe of Mar del Zur borroweth proofe and authority out of this Relation to shew that the N. E. part of America called Estotiland is in the Originall alwaies affirmed to be an Iland was about the yeere 1390. discovered by the foresaid Venetians and aboue 100. yeares before Columbus set sayle for these Westerne Regions and that the Northerne Seas were even then sailed by our Europian Pilates This writer acknowledging that Originall copies of the Zenijs Letters were by him careleslly torne in peeecâ— in his youth which losse he now grieued at I doubt in this he was enforced in many things to patch vp as his memorie would serve so as there may be some likelyhood of vntruths howsoever I doe beleeue the first Copies were true though this is subiect to mistakings To continue antiquity may be to some purpose seeing there may be some vse thereof by the painfull Seamen otherwise it may something satisfie the never satisfied Curious who enquire after the beginning of things and herein Mr. Hakeluits paines doth deserve great commendations who recordeth in his English Voyages That Madoc soone of Oween Guyneth Prince of North Wales left the Land in contention betweene his Brethren and prepared certaine ships with Men and Munition and sought adventures by Sea sailing West leaving the coast of
Ireland so farre North that he came to a Land vnknowne where he saw many strange things This must needes be some part of this Countrey of which the Spaniards affirme themselves to be the first founders since Dannos time wherevpon it is manifest that this Country was by Brittanies discovered long before Columbus Of Madoâ—s returne there be many fables but he did returne and declared of the fruitfull Countryes he had seene with out Inhabitants and on the contrary what barren and wild ground his Brethren and Nephewes did kill and murder one another for He prepared a Navie of ships got with him such Men and Women as were desirous to live in quiet and taking leave of his friends tooke his journey thither againe Therefore it is to be supposed that he and his people inhabited part of this Country for it appeareth by Francis Lopez de Gomara that in Acuzamill and other places the people honored the Crosse whereby it may be gathered that Christians had beene there before the comming of the Spaniards This Madoc arriving againe in that West Countrey vnto the which he came 1170. left most of his people there and returned backe for more of his owne Nation acquaintance and friends to inhabite that faire and large Countrey went thither againe with 10. saile as I find noted by Guyten Owen I am of opinion that the Land wherevnto he came was some part of the West Indies As concerning Sebastian Cabot I cannot find that he was any further Northward then the 58. Degree and so returned along the Land of America to the S. but for more certainty heare his owne Relation to Galâ—acius Buâ—rigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine Vnderstanding saith he by reason of the Spheare that if I should saile by the way of North-west I should by a shorter tract come to India I caused the King to be advertised of my device who immediately caused two Caravels to be furnished with all things needfull which was as neere as I can remember in the yeare 1496. In the beginning of Summer I begun to saile North-west not thinking to find any other Land then that of Cataia and from thence to come into India But after certaine dayes I found the Land run to the North which was to me a great displeasure neverthelesse sailing along the Coast to see if I could finde any Gulfe that turned I found the Land still to continue continent to the 56. Degree vnder the Pole and seeing that there the Coast turned toward the East dispairing to find the passage I turned backe againe and sailed downe by the Coast of that Land toward the Equinoctiall Thus much from himselfe But heare how Baptistie Ramusius his Country man how he flattereth him thus It 's many yeares since it was written vnto me by Sebastian Cabota our Countryman a Venetian a Man of great experience and very rare in the Art of Navigation and the knowledge of Cosmographie who sailed along and beyond this Coast of new France at the charges of Henry the 7. King of England and he advertised me that having sailed along time West by North beyond those Ilands into the Latit of 67. Deg. and ½ vnder the North Pole and on the 11. day of Iune finding still the open Sea without any impediment he thought verily by that way to have passed on still to Cataia which is in the East and would have done it if the Mutinie of the shipmasters and Marriners had not hindered and made him returne home from that place Out of Robert Fabians Chronicle THere is also mention made of Iohn Cabota Sebastians Father by his meanes in the 13. yeare of Henry the Seauenth at the same Kings charge one ship was victuailed from Bristow wherein divers Marchants of London adventured sma stockes to search for an Iland he said was very Rich and replenished with great Commodities In his company went from Bristow 3. or 4. small Barkes laden with coarse Cloth Caps Laces Points and other trifles they departed the beginning of May but were not heard of in that Maiors time Out of the same Chronicle VVIlliam Purchase being Maior three Saluages were taken in New found Land and brought to the King they were cloathed in Beasts skinnes and eate raw flesh and spake such speech that no man could vnderstand them and in their demeanor much like to bruite Beasts of which two yeares after I saw two apparrelled after the manner of Englishmen in Westminster Parish I could not discerne them from English vntill I had learned what they were An Extract taken out of the Mappe of Sebastian Cabota cut by Clement Adams IN the yeare of Grace 1497. John Cabot a Venetian and Sebastian his Sonne with an English Fleete set from Bristow discovered that Iland which before that time no man had attempted on the 24. day of June this Land he called Prima Vesta that is to say first seene that Iland lying out before the Land he called the I le of St. John Because he discovered it vpon that day of St. John Baptist The inhabitants of this I le vse to weare Beasts skinnes in their Warres they vse Bowes Arrowes Pikes Darts Wooden-clubs and slings The soile is Barren in some places and yeeldeth little fruit but is full of white Beares and Stagges farre greater then ours it yeildeth plenty of Fish and these very great as Seales and Sammons there are Soales of a yard in length but especially there is great plenty of that kind of Fish which the Salvages call Baccalaos there are also bred Hawkes and Eagles Another Testimony of the Voyage of Sebastian Caboc taken out of the third Decade of Peter Martyr of Angleria THe North seas have bin searched by one Sâ—bastiaâ— Cabot a Venetian borne he furnished 2. Ships at his owne charge and first with 300. men directed his course towards the N. Pole that even in the Moneth of July he found monstrous heapes of Ice swimming on the Sea and in a manner continuall day light Thus seeing these heapes of Ice before him he was enforced to turne his sailes and follow the W. coasting the shore he was thereby brought so farre into the South by reason of the land stretching Southward that it was there almost equall in latitude with Fretum Herculeum As he travelled by the coasts of this great Land which he named Bacculaos he saith hee found the like course of waters toward the West but the same running more soft and gently then the swift waters which the Spaniards found in their Navigation South-ward wherefore it is not onely moâ—e like to be true but ought also of necessity to be concluded that betweene both the Lands hitherto vnknowne there should be certaine great open places whereby the waters continually passe from the East to the West Which waters I suppose to be driven about the Globe of the Earth by the incessant Motion and impulsion of the Heavens and not to be swallowed and cast vp againe by the breathing of Demogorgon as some
but he had no ground at 100. Fath. a Cables length off shore And a great Current sets S. W. and N. E. 1. League â— â— in the houre The tide sets to the shore and thenone great peece of Ice breaking made a noyse as if the Cliffe had fallen into the Sea 10. The floud sets S. W. along the Land And it flowes so 11. Latitude here 63. â— â— This day they enter the Streights and set saile for Gabriels Iland then distant 10. Leagues 13. They enter within a Sound in a Sandy Bay the Land beares E. S. E. depth 8. Fatham a S. E. Moone full Sea they name this Sound Priors sound distant from Grabriels 10. leag 16. Calme and faire in 2. houres the Ice was froze about the Ship a quarter of an inch thicke The 19. the Captaine and he went on shore vpon an Iland with 8. men and from the top thereof they had sight of 7. Boates which came rowing from the East side to the Iland then they returned on shipboard and sent their Boate with 5. men to see which way they tooke and so with a white Cloth or waffe brought one of their Boates with their men in her along the shore rowing after the Boate vntill they see the ship and then they rowed on shore and he followed and gave every one of them a threed Point and brought one of them aboard where he did Eate and Drinke and then carried him ashore againe wherevpon the rest being 19. Persons came on boord but he could not vnderstand their Language they be like Tartars with long blacke haire broad faced flat nosed and tawny Coloured wearing Seale skinnes and so doe the women nothing differing but the women in the Face hath blue stroakes downe the Cheekes and about the eyes their Boates are made of Seale skinnes with a wooden keele within them much like vnto a Spanish shalop save onely they be flat bottomed and sharpe ended 20. They went on Land vpon the East side of the Iland with 4. men more in the Boate where they see their houses the people came to them calling and rowing one of them came into their Boate they carried him on board gave him a Bell a knife the Captaine commanded 5. men to set him on shore in an Iland not amongst their Company but they not regarding went to them who surprised their Boat and themselves never as yet heard of 21. The next day they shot off a Falken-gun and sounded a trumpet to heare from their men but were not answered this morning the Snow was on Foote thicke vpon the haâ—tches 22. They went to the place where their men were lost and had sight of 14. Boates and some came neare them but they could heare nothing of their men 26. Returnes homeward at 8. a clocke in the night was thwart of Gabriels Ile and had Cape Labradore as he supposed W. 10. Leagues off 1. Had sight of Friesland 8. leag off from this day to the 6. they run along Iseland 25. Sight of Orkney 1. Anchor at Yarmouth Sir Martin Frobrisher his 2. Voyage 1577. DEparted from Blackwall the 26. of May with 3. ships to wit the Aide of the Queenes burthen 180. Tonnes the Michaell and the Gabriell accompanied with 140. Gentlemen Soldiers and Saylers victualed for halfe a yeare He went by the North the 7. of June arrived at Orkney in the Iles of Scotland 8. He departs from thence sailes betwixt W. and N. W. vntill the 4. of July 26. dayes saile from thence they meete with much Drift-wood as they suppose from New found Land And driven over with the Current which they say sets from the W. to the East The 4. of Iuly they had sight of Friesland 10. or 12. leagues off and great store of Ice 30. or 40. Fatham aboue water they supposed on ground though they could scarce sound the bottome for depth The Generall attempteth to goe on Land but cannot they coast it 4. dayes sees no signe of habitation Yet by Birds which in Fogs had lost the land came to the Ships they suppose the Country to be more habitable within then outward shoare maketh shew or signification The 8. they depart from thence 16. He comes to the making of the Land named the yeare before by him the Queenes Forland being as they judge it an Iland lying neere the supposed continent of America Another Iland lying upon the Asian side called Halls Iland betwixt which two Ilands goeth in Frobrishers straights or the unknowne passage into the Sea of Sur. He doth suppose that the Ice of this Coast is carried by some contrary E. or W. tyde or current upon the Coast of Freezland causing that Country to be farre more intemperate than other countries farre more North. At their first entrance they found the Straight mured with Ice the Captaine with his Pinnace past twice through before he durst hazzard in the great Ships They goe on land the people seemed to be joyfull thereof they embrace and the Captaine laid hands on them but they escape through nimblenesse and defends themselves with their bowes and Arrowes he tooke one all the rest escaped They put their Ships into the Straights all full of Ice they made 14. bourds in one watch to refraine the Ice the lightnesse of the night did them much comfort and helpe for sight and this hazard they made for safegard of their Captaine and Master who were on land 17. Being the day following the Capt. came on board with report of great riches hid in the bowels of that Continent Within 3. or 4. dayes after they had been in the Streights the W. and N. W. winds dispierst the Ice The 19. they enter without impediment The 20. they found a good harbour and names it Iackmans Sound anchoring the Ships there The Generall marches up into the land takes possession in the Queenes name and imployes his men about the businesse they came thither for Whilest they continued in this harbour they kept watch continually with boates and roapes ready to hale and towe away the Ice which otherwise might have driven thwart the Ships with Ebbe and flood The Generall findes not commodity answerable to his Expectation in the supposed America leaves the Ships coasts on to the supposed Asia the stones on land and Sand in Sea sparkle like Gold on both sides if all be Gold that glysters upon the West shore they found a dead Fish floating it proved by the horne to be a Sea Vnicorne the Spiders put therein dyed The Generall in further search findes Gold oare as he supposed with a good harbour and returnes to the Ships by the way he espies a Tent covered with Seale skins the people was fled he leaves glasses bels and knives therein onely tooke one Dog and nothing else leaves a letter with pen inke and paper for his men to write which was tooke from him the last
leather well dressed and artificially sowed They had one paire of Buskins full of wooll like Beaver they are very tractable voide of subtilty and easie to be brought to civility he thinkes they worship the Sunne During their stay here they found a reasonable quantity of wood as Furre Spruce and Iunupir which had floated thither They saw aboundance of Seales in Shoales as it had all beene fish the cliffes was such as Sir Martin Frobrisher brought from Meta Incognita There was divers slowers Slud or Muscovia-glasse they found an hearbe growing upon the Rockes whose fruite was sweete full of red luyce the ripe ones were like Currans they iudge the people to have store of Furres they make shew after they see he would have skins and furrs that they would goe into the Country and fetch such things as they had but the winde comming faire he came away The first of August they proceeded N. N. W. for the discoverie The 6. he descried land in 66. 40. min. voyde of Ice he anchors in a bay neare a faire Mount the Cliffes thereof as orient as Gold He names it Mount Raleigh the road Totnes-road the Sound encompassing the road Exeâ—ers Sound the N. Forland Dyers Cape the S. For-land or cheekes of the Sound Cape Walsingham He espies 4. white Beares and kills one first and two afterwards The next day they kill a Beare the sore-paw was 14. inches over this Coast was Mountainous without wood or any thing growing thereon the aire was very temperare The 8. he sets saile from Mount Raleigh and Coasts along S. S. W. The 9. his men complained their allowance was too small it was augmented to 5. men 4. l. of bread a day 12. quarts of beere 6. New-land fishes and on the flesh day one gill of Pease more but Butter and Cheese was restrained from them The 11. he comes to the South-most Cape of this Land he named it the Cape of Gods mercy the weather foggie he Coasts the N. side and at the fogges vp-breaking he was entered into a faire passage in some places 20. leag broad tolerable weather voyde of Ice the Sea of the nature colour and quality of the maine Ocean Heare he hath great hope of a passage sailes 60. leag N. N. W. discovers certaine Ilands in the midst but passage on both sides he devides both the ships the one sailes on the N. side the other on the S. where they stayed 5. daies with S. E. winde fogge and foule weather 14. They goe on Land find signes of people and tame doggs with collers about their neckes a bone in their Pizels and are vsed to traile sleddes which they found like ours one made of Furre spruce and oken boards the other of Whale-bone They had hung vpon the top of these sleds the heads of 3. Beasts they had killed They found other trifles nothing worth but onely to show that the people had lately been there but they find this place all Ilands with great Sounds passing betwixt them And here they found whales comming from the Westerne Sea and to the East-ward they had not seene one As they were rowing into a Sound lying S. W. soddenly there came a violent Counter-checke of a tide from S. W. against the flood which they came with but sounding they could have no ground heere at 300. fathoms It flowed uppe and downe 6. or 7. fathoms and they could not perceive from whence it was maintayned If care had beene taken at their entrance into this Streight they might easily have resolved themselves The 21. they coast the S. shore they see many Sounds The 23. they enter into a faire Sound at the S. entrance of this Streight in 25. fathom greene Ose The 26. they depart from the sight of the N. land of this entrance directing their course homewards The 10 he had sight of Desolation 13 Hee departs from sight thereof the 27 he had sight of England and the 30 he came into Dartmouth The Observation He set forth from England Iune 28 his furthest was 66 d. 40. N. latitude he sayles then N W. into a passage 60. leag upon the America side as was then supposed and found no hinderance yet he returnes homewards the 21. of August Hee was the first wee know of that ever was on the West-side of Groenland or sayled so farre West in that paralell He discovered upon Groenland-side from Desolation to 64. 15 min. and on the West-side from 66. 40. to the South-side of his new Entrance and returned home safely Captaine Iohn Davis his second Voyage 1587. HE departed from Dartmouth with 4. ships viz. The Mermayd 100. Tonnes the Sunshine 60. tonnes the Moone-shine 35. tonnes the North-starre 10. tonnes The 15. discovers land in 60. deg and in longitude from the Meridian of London 47. mightily pestered with Ice and snow from land the Ice lay in some places 10. 20. 50. leagues hee was constrained to beare backe into 57. deg to acquit the Ice The 29. he meets land in 64. and in longitude from London Meridian 58. 30. for divers reasons he beares into this known harbor and to set up his Pinnace he findes many goodly harbors with high land little troubled with snow and sea altogether voyd of Ice he sends his Boats to search before the ships for shoale-water to anchor in The Countrey people come to them with cries and shouts but after they espied some of the Company whom they knew before they came to their boates and hung vpon them with great joy The Captaine with divers others goeth on Land The people come to him with dauncing and leaping and made signes they knew all those that had beene there the yeare before At this present there were 18. of them to whom he gaue to every one a knife they offered him skinnes but he shewed them that he bestowed them in curtesie and so dismist them with signes that they should returne in 4. houres The people repaire to him the next day and brought with them the skinnes of Seales Stagges white Hares Seale-fish Salmon-peale small Codde dry Caplin with other fish and Birds He sent to search their habitation with command that no hurt should be offered they find Tents framed vpon wood covered with Seale skinnes they find therein dry Caplin bags of Traine oyle and Seale skins in tan-tubbs He mans his Boate attended with 50. Cannoes intending to view the Country the people very carefully helpe him up and downe the steepe Rockes In leaping our men outstript them in wrastling they cast our best wrastler that had both skill and strength In a certaine Iland they found a grave wherin men lay buried covered over with Seale skins and a Crosse laid over them they be people of good stature broad-faced every time they come they make new truce by pointing to the Sunne and crying Eleoâ—t striking vpon their brest He takes them to be Idolaters and witches They
she was exceeding leake and the shallop also and which was worse they had never a Rudder to steere withall yet they rowed all night amongst Ice 1 and 2. They rowed up and down amongst the driving Ice with little hopes to recover their Countrey 3 The wind at N. they had a great current set to Southward they make fast to a peece of Ice and went to worke to stow their things snug close downe within board to make her stiffe for they had no ballast the Carpenter makes what shift he could to hang their Rudder having nothing to make Gudgions nor Pintels they were faine to breake open the Masters Chest to take the Iron bands to make fast 2 pickaxes for 2 pintels this Night they hang the Rudder with 2 pintels and a Cable through the middle of it to keepe it too with two tackes now were they in good hopes to get cleare for before their ship being Leake with her stem sore beaten with Ice and Rockes themselves with pumping and rowing were both sore and wearie 4 This day the wind came W N W. and was faire weather they got cleere out of the Bay the Noone-watch and was the first they had of long time before being all glad to watch to conduct the Ship cleare from the Ice their ship was so leake that if she stood vnpumped but halfe an houre they could not dry her with 1000 stroakes therefore they were inforced to Rumige and found many leakes but not that which caused them to pumpe so sore at last they find it close abaft the fore-foote where the keele was split in 2 or 3 places they could not come to stop it for it was vnder a timber in at which the Sea came so fast as it was not possible to keepe her free with both pumpes then did they take their maine bonnet and basted it with Okum and put it over-board right against their leake which eased them 4 or 500. stroakes in an houre they all this day consult to shape their course for New-found-land hoping to meete with some English or French and to mend their Ship at this time one of their men was very sicke another had his hand splinted and most of them all were so sore with rowing and pumping as they were not able to stirre but that they must perforce 5 They shape their Course for New-found-land 21 They fall with land being nothing but Ilands Latit 49 degrees 30 minutes 22 Faire weather they stand in among Ilands and a great Current set from Iland to Iland no ground at a 100 Fathoms they keepe too and fro all this night in great danger being among broken Rockes with thicke weather 23 They espie a dozen shallops fishing they make towards them they tooke harbour and remained in this Bay o Fogo untill the 22 of August repairing their ship and refreshing themselves the 24 of September they arrive a Dartmouth This journall from the death of Master Iohn Knight wa writ by Oliver Browne one of the Company An Abstract of the Voyage of Master Henry Hudson to the Northwest begun the 17 of Aprill 1610. and ended with his life being treacherously exposed by some of his Company 22 IN the Road of Lee in the River of Thames he caused Master Coolbrand to be set in a Pinke to bee carried backe againe to London This Coolbrand was every way held to be a better man than himselfe being put in by the Adventurers as his assistant who envying the same he having the command in his owne hands devised this course to send himselfe the same way though in a farre worse place as hereafter followeth 5 He came to the Isles of Orkney and here he set the N. end of the Needle and the North end of the Fly all one 6 He was in latitude 59 d. 23 m. and there he perceived that the N. end of Scotland Orkney and Shotland for hee visited them all as he saith are not so Northerly as is commonly set downe in the Charts 8 He saw Farre Ilands in Lat. 62. 24 m. but he staid not there 11 He fell with the E. part of Iseland then plyed up along the S. part of the land and came to the Westmost and the 15. he still plyed up untill the last of May and got some fowles of divers sorts 1 He put to Sea out of a harbour in the Westmost part of Iseland and according as hee writeth plyed to the Westward in Latit 66d 34 m. 2 He was in Latit 65 d. 57 m. small wind Easterly 4 He saw Greenland perfectly over the Ice this night Sun set at N. and rise N N E. The 5. he plyed in 65 d. still incom bred with Ice which hang upon the câ—â—st of Greenland 9 He was off Frebrishers sâ—raâ—â—s and pâ—ide Southward untill the 15. and then he was in Latit â—9 d. 27 m and had sight of Desolation and finds the errour of the former lying downe of the land running to the Northward as he saith untill this day in 60 d. 42 m. he saw much Ice many riplings and overfallings and a strong streame setting West Northwest 23 In sight of much Ice wind variable and in latitude 62. degrees 19. minutes 25 About midnight he saw the land North but was suddenly lost yet he runne still Westward in 6â— deg 19 min. and he plyed upon the South side seeking the shore he was troubled with much Ice in latitude 52 deg 16. min. 8 Hee plyed off the shore againe untill this day the Polâ—s elevation 60 d. 0 m. he saw the land from N W. by W. ½ N. unto the S W by W. covered with snow a Champion land and cals it Desire provoked 11 He plyed still to Westward and fearing a storme he anchored by 3 ragged Ilands in uncertaine deepes betweene 8. and 9 fathomes he findes the harbour unsufficient by reason of sunken rockes one of the which was the next morning 2. fathomes above water which he had gone over hee calls them the Isles of Gods mercy it floweth here better than 4 fathomes the stood came from North flowing 8 a Clock the Change day the latitude in this place is 62 d. 9 min. 16 Plying to Southward untill this day he was in 58 deg 50 min. there he was Imbayed with land and had much Ice 19 Vntill this day he plyed Westward and found his latitude 61 deg 24 min. where he see a Bay in the South land which he named Hold with hâ—pe 21 Hence he plies to the Northward had variable winds and findes the Sea more growne then he had any time since he left England 23 The Poles height was 61 deg 33. min. 25 He saw the Southland and named it Magna Britania 26 He was in latitude 62 deg 44 min. 28 He plied Southward off the Westward and was in 63. deg 10 min. 31 Plying Southerly he found himselfe in 62 d. 2â— min. 1 He had sight of the North
Westmost they found nothing on land but Cockle grasse he saith he found that before they came to this place that he was kept in the Ship against Henry Greenes minde because he did not favour their proceeding better then he did for he drave him to take upon him to search for such things as himselfe had stolne and accused him of a matter no lesse then treason amongst themselves for that he had deceived the company of 30 bread cakes now they began to talk that England was no safe place for them and Henry Greene swore that the ship should not come in any place but keepe the Sea still untill he had the Kings hand and seale to show for his safety they had many devises but Henry Greene was their Captaine and so they called him from those Ilands he stood to the N. having the Easterne land in sight and raised these Ilands the Master had called Romnâ—ys Ilands between which Ilands and the shallow ground to the E. off them the Mr. stood downe into the first great bay this was going outward in the Masters time they kept the East side â—â—iâ—lâ—in sight and comming thwaâ—t of low land strooke once upon a Rock that lay under water but without any harme that they saw they continue their course and raise Lanâ— on head which stretâ—hed to the North there they said pâ—â—iâ—â—lâ— that Robert Bilot by his Northernâ— course had lâ—â—â— thâ—â—â—â—â—s to the South and that in time they must sâ—â—ke thâ—t way for reliefe having but small store left Buâ— Bilot would still follow the land to the North saying that â—â—â—â—â—pâ—d in good time to finde what would relieve us that way as soone as to the South This Writer faith that hee told them that this Land was the Maiâ—â— of Wostenholme Cape and that the shallow Rockey ground was the same that the Master ran down by when he went intâ— the great Bay Robert Iveâ— and all said it was not possible unlesse the Master had brought the Ship over land and willed them to looke into the Masters Card how well their course and it did agree they stood to the East and left the Maine land to the North by many small Ilands into a narrow gut betweene two Lands and anchored they went on the West side and found a great Horne and cockle grasse on the East side this Grasse was great reliefe to them for without it they could not have recovered the Capes for want of Victuall When they weighed Anchor theâ— doubled the Cape to the North which is high land even to the Capes which is North and South some 25. or 30. leagues then they stand to the North they saw of those Fowles which breed at the Capes and killed some at which time with great joy they raised the Capes and bearing for them came to the Ilands that lay in the mouth of the Streights but bearing in they ran upon a Rock and stood fast for 8. or 9. houres it was ebbe when they grounded but the next flood floated them off againe It was faire weather the ebbe came from the East and the flood from the West being afloate they stood to the Eastward and anchored This day he sent the Boat on land to kill Fowle they in the Ship had warning to stand as neere as they could but the winde being contrary they could not fetch the place where the Fowle breed but they found great store of Gulls upon the Cliffes but hard to come by but with their peeces they killed 30. and towards night returned on shipboard then they brought their Ship neerer the Mouth of the Streights and anchored in 18. Fathoin upon a Riffe or Shelfe but when they had wayed and stood to the place where the Fowle breed they were faine to stand to and againe in the Streights mouth under Sayle because they could not finde ground to Anchor in the water was so deepe The Boat went to Diggs Cape and made directly for the place where the Fowle breed where they see 7. Boats came about the Easterne point towards them but when the Salvages saw their Boat they draw their lesser Boats into their bigger and when they had done they came rowing to their Boat and made signes to the rest our men made ready for all essayes the Saluages came to them and they grew familiar one with another so as ours tooke one of theirs into their Boate and they tooke one of ours into theirs then they carried our Men to a Cove where their Tents stood to the Westward of the place where the Fowle breed so they carryed our Man into their Tents where he remained untill our men returned theirs In our Boat went their man to the place where the Fowle breed and wee being desirous to know how the Salvages killed their Fowle hee shewed them the manner how which was thus They tooke a long Pole with a snare at the end which they put about the Fowles neck and so pluck them downe When our men knew that we had a better way and so shewed the Salvages the use of our Peeces which at one shot would kill 7. or 8. To bee short they returned to the Cove to receive our man and to deliver heirs When they came they made great joy with dancing leaping and striking of their breasts they offered divers things to our Men but they onely tooke some Mores teeth which they gave them for a knife and two glasse Buttons so receiving our Man they came abroad rejoycing at this chance as if they had met with the most simple people of the World And Henry Greene more then the rest was so confident that by no meanes we should take care to stand upon our guarde God blinded him so that where he thought to receive great matters from this people he received more then hee looked for and that suddenly by being made an example for all men that make no conscience of doing evill and that wee take heed how wee trust the Salvage people how simple soever they seeme to be They made haste to be on shore and because the Ship rid farre off they weighed and stood as neere the place where the Fowle breed as they could and because he this Writer was lame he was to goe into Boat to carry such things as he had in the Cabbine of every thing some what And so with more hast then good speed and not without swearing away he went as Henry Greene William Wilson John Thomas Michael Pierce Andrew Motter and himselfe When they came neere the shore the people were on the hills dancing and leaping to the Cove we came where they had drawn up their Boats Wee brought our Boat to the East side of the Cove close to the Rocks on land they goe and make fast the Boat to a great stone on the shore the people came and every one had something in his hand to barter but Henry Greene swore that they should have nothing untill he had Veâ—ison
morning 4. all this day he past by many beds of Ice having great quantity to the N. of him and having run about 21. Leagues upon a true W. course 27. This 27. was close foggie weather with much snow freezing his shroude and tackling but at Clock 4. it cleared and he saw Land it being the I le Resolution bearing W. about 13. or 14. Leagues off he stands to to fro as Ice would suffer him when night came with W. wind he made fast to a peece of Ice 28. Faire weather all this day hee being fast to a peece of Ice with W. wind and hee could well perceive that hee â—et faster into the straights with the flood then the ebbe could take him back againe 29. This day the weather was faire and wind variable hee sets sayle and tacks to and fro along the Iland the nâ—xt morning 2. the wind came to S. S E. but he was so postured with Ice that with faire wind he could doe little good the wind continued a stiffe gaile all day and night for it was not darke and so was set within the point of the Iland so as now hee was within the straights This day was faire weather the wind N. W. hee saw Buttons Iles beare S. by compasse but S. S. E. with variation allowed which was 24. degrees some snow in the morning but very faire the afternoone the wind at W. N. W. hee perceiving the Ice to open close to the shore made way to get into anchor and by Clock 7. he was in good harbour on the W. side of Resolution where an E. S. E. Moone makes a full Sea or halke an hower past 7. On the change day the water doth rise and fall neere 4. Fathome the compasse doth vary 24. d. 6. m. and his Longitude from London 66. d. 35. m. the breadth of the S. channell is 16. Leagues and the breadth of the N. or Lumleys Julet is 8. Miles wide in the narrowest place He found here no signe of inhabitants but the tracte of Beares and Foxes Rocks and stony ground hardly any thing growing thereon it is indifferent high Land to the N. having one hill or summoke to the N. E. but to the South it falleth away very low This morning the wind came to the E. S. E. with much snow and foule weather at noone he wayed anchor and stood about by the Iland side as well as the Ice would give him leave to get to the N. shore with much variable wind and weather but stood fast in continuance amongst Ice untill the 8. day the wind fell contrary and being somewhat neere a point of a Land or rather a company of Ilands which hee called Savage Ilands having a great Sound or Indrust betweene the N. shore and them at Clock 6. hee came to Anchor neere one of them being the E. most save one but whiles he was forling this saile hee heard and saw a great company of Dogs howling and barking that it seeming very strange after he had mored his Ship hee sent his boare neare shore to see if they could discerne any people who returned said there were Tents and Canons and Doggs but for people they saw none this writer being fitted after Prayers and supper went on Land to their Tents with 7. others where finding no people they marched up to the top of a hill being about a flight shot where they saw a great Canon which had about 14. men therein being on the N. W. part of the Iland and about a Musket shot from them so called to them in Groenlandish speech making signes of friendship they did the like to them but being fearefull and he not trusting them also made signes of a knife and other trifles which he left upon the top of a hill and returned to these Tents againe where he found to the number of 30. or 40. Whale finnes with a few Seale skins which hee tooke with him leaving for them knifes beades and counters hee found a little Bay where were the Images of men and one the Image of a woman with a child at her back which he brought with him Amongst these Tents being 5. in number all covered with Seales skins were running 35. or 40. Dogs the most of them muzled there were of a Mungrills Mastiffe being of a brinded black colour looking almost like Wolves those Dogs they use in stead of Horses or as the Laplanders doe their Deere to draw their Steedes which are shot or lyned with bones of great fishes to keepe them from wearing their Dogs have collers and furniture very fitting Their apparell Boates and Tents with other necessaries are much like to those of Greneland but not so neate and artificiall they seeme to bee more rude and uncivill travelling up and downe as their fishing is in season for in most places where they were on Land they see where people had beene but where their habitation or winter aboad is they know not nor cannot conjecture This Iland lyeth in 62. degrees 32. minutes and in longitude West from London 72. degrees or neere there about being 60. Leagues from the entrance of the straights the compasse doth vary 27. degrees 30. minutes and South East Moone 4. degrees East maketh full Sea it floweth almost as much water as at Resolution the Tyde commeth from the Eastwards This day morning 6. he set sayle with North winde which continued not but was variable till noone it came to North West hee having sayled along the shore some 7½ leagues North North West the Ice lying so thick in the Offing that he could not well get out of it He perceived a good Harbor betweene two small Ilands and the maine and went in wherre he moord and stayd untill the twelfe day in the evening In this place a South East Moone make a full Sea Latitude 62. degrees 40. m. the tyde doth come from South East every point hath his set and eddy in this place hee could perceive of no people Lying still in the Ice the weather close and hazy as it had beene for 6. dayes being neere a great company of Ilands the winde West North West he stood in amongst them and at evening morne to one of them in a small Cove the better to defend her from the Ice here hee stood all the 17. day the 18. being almost calme he set sayle the better to get forth Here was a great company of Ilands each whereof hath his severall sets and eddyes which drive the Ice to and againe with such violence that hee was in greater danger here then if he had beene further off the Latitude of this I le he lay at was 63. d. 26. m. longitude neere 72. d. 15. m. from London Variation 27. d. 46. m. ½ past 9. the change day maketh full Sea this evening and morning he had a false gale at South East and he stood along by the land it being all
26. Leagues distant from Mill I le North West by West true course being first amongst the Ice hee perceived a great Tyde to set to and fro and had 120. Fathome ozie ground at 80. Fathomes the wind comming to the North and setting him somwhat Southward had 110. Fathomes thus seeing great aboundance of Ice in this place and the more he got to the North Westward the shoalder it was the Ice being foule and durty as not bred far from shades hee determined to stand to the Estward to be better informed of the Tyde 6. The morning standing to the Eastward hee brooke a planck and two timbers in his ships bow which after hee had mended he proceeded to the East along the North shore which Land stretcheth along from Resolution within the streights and is the West side thereof 7. This day he saw the Land it being but low and the Sea shoald in respect of other places having 10. or 12. Fathome about a League from shore and some 30. or 35 Fathomes 5. or 6. Leagues from shore having very good channell ground some 18. or 20. Leagues off as small stones and shells but the farther of the more ozie Also here runneth a very great Tyde to the Northward with this evening hee found to be the Tyde of ebbe For comming neere the shore about Clock 7. hee went on Land with his Boate and found it so he stayed on Land about an houre and an halfe in which time the water fell about 3. foote and a halfe and a South South East Moone maketh a full Sea They saw no signe of people to have beene here this yeare but other yeares before they could well see by divers places where their Tents had stood and perhaps their time of fishing was not yet come there being such great abundance of Ice as yet 8. This day the wind was West 9. This day was almost calme and he reckoned to be neere the shore 10. This day hee entermined to stand to I le Notingham to trye the Tyde there the wind South West so as hee turned it up untill night the wind came to North North West 150. Fathome deepe so as hee stood away to the West ward and left the stateth of Notinghams Ile having a great swelling Sea out of the West with the wind that had blowne which put him in some hopes 11. This morning hee saw Land West from him and had no ground at 130 standing along by the Land which then lay North West and by West the next morning hee was thwart of a Bay then standing over to a faire Cape or Head land hee saw in the afternoone it was almost calme being about a League from Land hee sent his Boate to try the Tyde and they stayed about 3. houres going at 5 and returning at 8. and brought word that it was falliâ—g water and that whilst they were on shore it had ebbe two foote also they affirmed that the flood came from the N. in this place whâ—ch he perceived by the Ship shee setting a pace to the N. although it was no wind also they might see by the Rocks that the water was â—aâ—â— this made him doubtfull of a passage that way Master Bylot named this Cape Comfort for the reasons before and not a league from Land is 140. Fathome water here a S E. Moone makes a full Sea the Latitude is 65 and 86. d. 10. W. from London But this suddaine comfort was soone quailed as hee saith for the next day having doubted the Cape and proceeded not above 10. or 13. Leagues but hee saw the Land Trent from the Cape to the Westward untill it bare from him N. E. and by E. and very thick pestered with Ice And the further he proceeded N. ward he found shoalder water and more Ice and small show of any Tyde at 6. he had 130. Fathom soft ozie and at noone had 150. Fad This was the furthest of this voyage being in Latitude 65. 25. and Longitude from London 86. 10. for seeing the Land so farre to the E. of him 9. or 10. Leagues off and the Ice hee was fully perswaded this was but a Bay and so turned the ship homeward without any further search 14. The wind at S. E. that he could make but small way back againe the next morning it was foule weather and hee Anchored in a small Iulet neere Cape Comfort on the N. when here he found a S. and by E. Moone to make a full Sea but could not discerne from whence the flood came for it was bad weather at Sea 16. The afternoon the wind came N. W. stiffe gale and hazie he wayed and stood along the shore by the 16. at noon he went with a great quantity of Ice lying within the point of Land amongst this Ice hee saw a great number of Sea Moâ—s not seing any in all the streights but in this place and those very fearefull not suffering any Ship or Boate to come neere them by Clock 8. he was come to this S. shore point which he called Sea horses Pointe where he came to Anchor in open Sea the better to try the Tyde where he and all his company apparantly found that in this place the Tyde came from S. E. and the Ebbe from N. W. he wayed after hee had found this and stood over with a stiffe gale of wind which continued all day and at night it was very foule weather and sowre stormes By Clock 2. he was come to Anchor on the N W side of Notinghams Iland where 2. or 3. small Iles lye off from the greater which makes very good sounds and harbour about this I le he had store of Ice but nothing as in other places he staid here untill the 27. day with much foule weather many storms often fogg and uncertaine winds many times he wayed Anchor to goe to that side of the I and where the Ship rod when Cap. Button was in her finding in other places of this â—le the Tyde of flood came from the S. E. ward and the time of high water upon the change of day to bee at 10. and halfe an houre past and not after as they supposed before in 10. dayes he stayed about this I le he fitted his Ships with ballast and other necessaries 26. This day being indifferent faire weather hee pâ—ssâ—d betweene Salisbury and Notinghams Iles at the S. point thereof where lie many small lone Iles without the which to have Anchored had beene a fit place to have found out the true set of the Tyde but the Mr. being desirous to have come to the same place where he had rod before stood along by this I le to the W. ward and came to an Anchor in the Eddie of this broken grounds where the Ship rod at no cetainety of the Tyde 27. This morning was soule weather with much raine and wind that the Reager Anchor would not hold at 8. Fathomes scope but was driven into deeper water
and enforced to set saile the wind at E. and came about to N. E. with fowle weather he stood away towards Sea Horse Point he was perswaded that there might be a passage betweene that Land and the Land they called Swan Iland so this afternoone hee saw both Sea Horse Point and I le Notingham the distance betwixt both is not above 15. or 16. Leagues they lye one from another S. E and N. W. 28. In the morning he saw Sea Horse Point and the Land to stretch away W. S. W. so far as he saw and with Ice wherefore he tackt about and stood away S. E. and by S. 29. This day 11. he came to anchor at Diggs his Iland having yery foule weather at this place where he rod it lyeth open to the W. having 2. of the greatest Iles to breake off the fore of the flood Tyde for after the water was risen an houre and a halfe by the shore then would the Ships ride truly on the tide of flood all the Tyde after now the time of high water on the change is at ½ past 10. or thereabouts This day was faire weather he wayed stood close by Diggs his Iland where presently he perswaded the Salvages to bee close upon the Rocks but when they saw he had espied them divers of them came running down to the water side calling to him to come to anchor which he would have done if hee could but in this place the water was so deep an it is hard to find a place to ride in which seeing he lay to and againe with the ship whilst some of his men with the Boat killed about 70. Fowles for in this place is the greatest store of those fowles which we call Willicks that in few places else is not to be seen for if need were he might have killed many thousand almost incredible to those that have not seene it here he had sufficient proofe of other tyde but when his Boate returned he set sayle homewards The Observation He set forth the 18. of April he saw the land of Groynland the 6. of May he made Resolution the 27. whereon the N. side he found a good Harbor where it flowes an E. S. E. moone and neere 4. fatho he found people at Salvage Isles he was much troubled but especially at Mill Isle he made Cape Comfort and found a tyde but knew not from whence it come The land to the N. treads about him to N. E. by E. the water the farther Northward was but more shallow dirty he returnes homewards the 10. of Iuly his greatest deep at 180. fathoms In his returne at Sea-horse Point he and al his people saw that plainly the tyde came from S. E. as also at Isle Nottingham he broke in a planck and timber of his ship amongst Ice he might have killed thousands of Fowle at Diggs his Island his greatest Variation was 27. d. 46. m. his greatest Lat. was 65. d. 25. m. he saw many Sea Mors at Cape Comfort his Longitude from London was 86. d. 10. m. This day he was forced to anchor 30. leagues within Resolution upon the N. shore the next day he weighed and the 5. day he passed by Resolution but see it not He had sight of Cape Cleere in Ireland He came into Plimouth all his men alive but 3. sick which presently recovered The next yeere being againe imployed in discovery amongst other Instruments he received this For your course you must make all possible hast to Cape Desolation from thence your William Baffyn as Pilot keep along the Coast of Greenland and Fretum Davis untill you come towards the height of 80. if the land will give you leave then for feare of imbaying by keeping off to Northerly a course shape your course W. and Southerly so far as you shall thinke it convenient untill you come to the Lat. of 60. then direct your course to fall with the land of Yed 30. about that height leaving your further sayling Southward to your owne discretion according to the time of the yeere and the winds will give you leave although your desire be if the Voyage be so prosperous that you may have the yeere before you that you goe so far Southerly as that you may touch the N. part of Iapon from whence as from Yedzo if you can see to passe it without danger wee would have you to bring home one of the men of the Country and so God blessing you with all expedition to make you returne home againe Master Baffyne his Letter to the right Worshipfull Sir Iohn Wolitenholme one of the chiefe Adventurers for the discovery of a passage to the North west VVOrthy Sir there needs no filling a Iournall or short Discourse with Preamble circumstance or complement and therefore I will onely tell I am proud of my remembrance when I expresse your worth to my capacity and galâ— of any good fortune when I can avoyde the imputation of ingratitude by acknowledgeing your many favours and seeing it is not unknowne to your Worship in what estate the businesse concerning the North West hath beene heretofore and how the onely hope was in searching Fretum Davis which if your selfe had not beene the more forward the Action had wel-nigh beene left of Now it remaineth for your Worship to know what hath beene performed this yeare wherefore I intreat you to admit of my custome and pardon me if I take the plaine high-way in relating the particulars without using any refined Phrases or eloquent speeches Therefore briefly thus and as it were in the Fore-front I entred to shew the whole proceeding of the Voyage in a word as namely there is no Passage nor hope of Passage in the North of Davis Straight Wee having coasted all or neere all the Circumference thereof and finde it to be no other then a great Bay as the Voyage doth truely show therefore I cannot but much admire the worke of the Almighty when I consider how vaine the best and chiefest hopes of men are in things uncertaine and to speake of no other matter than the hopefull passage to the North West How many of the best sort of men have set their whole endeavours to proove a passage that way not onely in their Conference but also in writing and publishing the Worke Yea what great summes of money having beene spent about the Action as your Worship hath costly experience of Nâ—ither would the Vaine-glorious Spaniard have scattered abroad so many false Mappes and Iournals if they had not beene confident of a passage this way that if it had pleased GOD a passage had beene found they might have eclipsed the worthy prayse of the Adventurers and true Discoverers And for mine owne part I would hardly have beleeved the contrary untill my eyes became witnesses of that I desired not to have found still taking occasion of hope on very likelihood till such time as wee had coasted almost all the Circumference of
3 leag and being faire weather the water shoalding to 30 fath he anchored againe still finding a pretty soaking current setting most an end N W. and S E. This morning clock 8 he anchored againe having but new weighed because of the Fog This morning clocke 4 he weighed and stood away W N W. with S E. wind true course 5 leag and was in 63 d. 50 m. having a swelling Sea out of the Westerboard the water waxed deepe from 30 to 50 fath and the ground was hard channell ground from 12 to 4. he sailed N W. by N. 6 leagues but found no ground and supposed he saw the W. land bore N N W. from him From 4 untill 8 he stood away N. and by E. 5 leag at 8 he sets tacks aboard and stood N E by S. in a deep gut this day he had 45 fath at clocke 4. at 5 he had 8 fath and at 8 he had 65 the land bearing N N W. and N W. This day at the dawning the land bore N W. and he stood along it N E. true course he had sounding 25 and 30 fath and anchored at clocke 8 and weighed againe presently the land bore E. and had sounding all day the further N. ward the deeper water this writer saith he iudged it to be Salibury I le he sailed N E the forenoone some 7 leag in the afternoone N N E. for so the land did lye towards the bottome of the Bay the latit was 64 d. 30 m. variat 23 d. 10 m. the part of this land bore from him N N E. fine low plaine land The 8 in the morning he was perswaded it was a bay but that he will not say he was this day calming and did thinke that there was no tide here but sending his boate on shoare found 20 foot ebbing and flowing and sport enough for them all for in â— houres space he saw in conscience as good as 300 Deare as fat as butter but caught none for his intent was to travell as good as 2 miles hoping to have seene the Sea on the other side but could not 9 This day clock 8. to 12. he run 6 leag W N W. from 12 he steered away as the land would give him leave W S W. and W a fine shoalding coast and dainety sounding shelly ground from 10 to 16 fathomes heere he had a little current set W N W. this as he iudged is all broken land latit 63 deg 40 min. variat 23 d. 30 m. 10 The wind was at S E and by E. the farther to the Westward the shoalder water they iudge themselves to be shot so farre to the W. ward as Sea Horse Poynt because of the coast trenching to Southerly his boate rid with her Grapnet and found a pretty streame 11 This day he was in 63 d. 40 min. latit the land bearing from him S W. and trenching along to the S. being in this lat they thought themselves farre shot to the Westwards within Sea Horse poynt and so returned backe againe for the Bay where they were in almost 65 deg to the N. wards but he altered his mind and stood for Diggs his Iland to try the tyde N E by N. Northerly from thence where he turned out of the Bay of Sea Horse 24 leag 12 This day the wind was E. and by S thick weather 13 From the last day to this day noone he was becalm'd in thicke weather 14 From the last day noone till this he made way 9 leag E S E. and 2 leag N W. 14 He tryed the tyde and found as strong a streame at this time as you have here in the Thames it set S E. and N W. he followed it to see whether it would carry him at clocke 8 at night he anchored and wayed againe at 8 next morning and to 12. he run 4 leag N W by N. from 12 to night 10 leag and he had souâ—â—â—â—g 60 and 70 fath but anchored in 30. 16 This morning 4. he wayed and stood to the N. ward but thought he was stopt by land and therefore bore up the helme for England not oâ— that he was out of hope of a passage for that he will never say 17 From the last day untill this S. W. 8 leag he tackt to the N. ward this morning he was in sounding 70 60 59 fath 18 From the last noone to this he drove N E. 6 leag both these last dayes were thick weather 19 To this day noone 20 knots S E. and 10 knots S W. 20 To this day noone 20 leag S E. the wind W. and foggy 21 To this day noone he run 20 leag S E. thicke weather and he was in 61 d. 15 m. latit and sounding he had 86 fath 22 To this day noone 15 leag E by S. at noone it was cleare weather and he was in 6â— d. 40 m. latit and he saw land to the N. off him and had sounding from 45 40 36 fath 23 This day he was in latit 62 d. 00 m. in the morning the land bore S. off him and they judge it to be the N. shore or Cape he had sounding 9 and 19 fath and had run from last day 22 leag E by N. and 6 leag S he had sounding along the land 17 or 18 fath fine beach land and stiffe a gale at N W. 24 From the last day to this 23 leag S E. and 9 leag E by S. and this morning he fell with land which he tooke to be the Kings Forland it bore S E. 9 leag off and latit 61 d. 30 m. this day the Pinnace stole from them as they thinke upon puroose 25 From this day at noone N N W. 8 leag and N E by N. 9 leag sounding was 40 and 45 fath 26 This day at noone they saw the same breach that they parted from and was by observation in latit 62 deg 10 min. variat 26 deg the wind was at S E. and they thought themselves on the W. side of Mansfield Ile 2 leagues off and had deepe 16 or 18 fath 27 From last noone to this he run 27 leag true course N by E. and were in latit of 60 d. the wind at E S E. this night at clock 10 the fogge came the next morning it cleered but he had no ground at 100 fath he tackt about to the S. ward till next morning and then to the N. ward but at noone could have no observation 28 This morning 8 he tackt to the S for he saw a firme land of Ice from last day to this N E. 12 leag and 7 leag S E because of the Ice at clocke 10 he had 80 fath 29 From last day to this 10 leag S E. and 3 leagues N E and sounding had no ground 30 From last day to this was fog they got but little to the E. ward and sounding had no ground and latit 62 d. 40 min. 31 From the last to this 10
force still to the Westward Da 11 this last was the coldest night that I felt since I came into this melancholly path and wee had fewer Seafowle than before we had no ground at 320 fathome the wind came to the Northeast This longest day came in with wet and blew so as since Da 12 the last noone-tyde the ship made way 44 leagues to the Westward I am now in fore-course and bonnet with Sprit-sayle this evening I came by two pieces of Ice and now I reckoned my selfe not farre from sight of Cape Farewell The wind Veered to the Northward I set all sayles and Da 13 stood to the Westward in latitude 58 d. 30 m. this evening the Article for the watch to be diligent and to looke well foorth for Ice or other accidents was againe read over to the Company and a man constantly to sit all night in the foretop the Ayre was hazie to the landward otherwise wee should have seene Cape Farewell if I suppose not amisse Close weather the wind contrary we in traverse some Da 14 drisling mists but many Grampusses came in a shole following their Leader comming close by me made me remember Mr. William Browne in his Britaines Pastorals where hee writes the Tritons wafted Thetis along the British shores this afternoone the Polesaltitude being 58 d. 10 m. the variation by Azimuth and Almicanter was 18 deg From hence I haled up in N W. by N. for sight of Desolation This day was faire close weather with dispersing fogges Da 15 which I doe perceive to be incident to those Seas Poles elevation was 58 d. 50 min. the Sea is here almost continually smooth the water blacke but not so thicke as is formerly writ of and small store of fowle to be seene This day and last night hath been thicke weather but so as Da 16 we might discerne 3 miles betwixt one Fog-drift another I had steered some Watches W and by N. which for some reason of a reported Current I altered to the N W. by N. againe although after the variation thwart Cape Farewell was found and allowed in my running over betwixt the same and the West Maine or the West side of Fretum Hudson I found my reckoning to agree without any interruption furtherance or hinderance of Current therefore what instruction shall as yet be laid down in this way without good judgement in the practitioner and libertie withall is but as it were to teach a blind man to see by demonstration This last night came by us one Whale this day another the Moneths Iune Da 17 waters colour is all one and but few fowle this Meridian I did reckon to be in 60 d. 50 m. and that I had neere two points of variation the weather thicke with wet fogge Faire weather but foggy this noone tyde I did reckon to be Da 18 of the 60 parallel 590 leagues from the place in Orkney of my departure the account is but 600 from thence to Resolution I could not observe since the 15 day yet I am neere in 61 d. 30 m. This day we met with overfalls and Races of Tide or Current at clock 4 thick weather and reckoning to be not farre from land I tooke in all sayles and laid to Hull at 6 wee were no sooner rise from prayers but we were close by a mountain of Ice hard to Leewards of us and wee had much to doe to cleere the same by flatting the ship to the S. wards the most of this evening and night I spent in standing to and againe This day at noone I had a little cleare and stood in to the Da 19 S W. ward when it fogged againe I lay to Hull two times this day we see the Sunne but to no use it was so hazie This last night I laid in Maine saile untill midnight reckoning Da 20 by all accounts that I must be in neere 62 d. and thought it fit to hale in W. true course especially now it was cleare weather but it thickned againe and blew to both topsailes in the wind Veering to the W S W. which had been betwixt E. and S. with thickefoggy or hazie weather ever since the 14 day thereupon with cleere weather I stood to the N. W. close haled amongst Islands and peeces of Ice for the Sea beating continually upon them doth undermine them so as they fall in pieces forced by their own waight to the Lee of every Iland is of those little peeces but are easily to be shunned This day 11 clocke I had sight of land almost buried in snow being two Islands making a Bay betwixt them and the North maine whereon stood two high hills bearing Northwest covered with snow the Bay was full of mash'd Ice which it seemed the S E. wind had inforced herein by dead reckoning I was at that instant in 62 d. 17 m. where presently haveing a good observatioÌ„ at that instant I was in 62 d. 25. m. the difference being but 8 m. that to the W. ward it doth not shew that there is any current continually to set out of Fretum Davis to the S. as is generally reported for from the lat 58 d. 30 m. crossing Fretum Davis 220 leag or therabouts to the W side in 62 d. 27 m. and having but 8 min. difference betwixt dead reckoning and the observation and that to the Northward whether doth there any current appeare to come from the N. out of Fretum Davis or no. Having thus met with the land I stood to the Southward untill midnight with the waide at W. hopeing to ply up into the passage Seeing now that it hath pleased God to send me thus happily neere to the land being the N side of Lumleys inlet so named after the right honourable the Lord Lumley an especiall furtherer to Davis in his voyages as to many other Lordly designes as that never to be forgotten act of his in building up the peere of that distressed poore fisher towne and corporation of Hartlepâ—ole in the Bishoprick of Durham at his owne proper cost and charge to the value of at least 2000 pounds at my first comming thither I demanded at whose charge the said Peere towne was builded an old man answered marrye at my good Lord Lumleys whose Soule was in Heaven before his bones were cold Some may inquire why I should not have incerted herein my traverse course distance with all my observation for latit to which I answer first it were needlesse seeing that few doe looke or search after the Voyage and many before mee have wrote thereof besides it lying neare upon the same parallell there is no neede secondly if I had knowne any that would have taken so much paines to have protracted mee I would have prepared them satisfaction thirdly I feare me I should be thought to be too tedious although I am but newly entered yet I do purpose to bestow some time of those needy ones concerning this matter A Discourse for
Seamors teeth Vnicornes horne or Whale Finne Plants Herbes or any thing Spungy fleet out of the Sea if you finde Scurvie grasse Orpin or Sorrill bring them all on board to me Seventhly If you will goe above the full Sea marke looke for scoting of wilde Beasts by that or their dung you may imagine what they are if Deere doe not chase them into the land for feare of being betrayed for the people in those parts are all treacherous how faire soever they intreat you remember also that the losse of you or the boate is the utter overthrow of the whole Voyage Eightly If you finde of their Tents and they fled doe no harme to any of their buildings but bring with you the most things of marke leaving in the same place a peece of Iron Moneths Iuly bigger or lesser as you estimate the same to be of worth unto us and so neare as you can chuse a beach or sandy Bay to land in for there you shall espie most likelihood of Inhabitants Ninthly leave one Carbine one Lance and one short Sword to defend the boat with whose tow keepers you shall give charge that if either they shall espie any token from the ship as striking the maine Topsaile Mison and Spritsaile Gunshot or Firesmoke or be assaulted by any the Inhabitants that then they shall discharge the said Carbine To the first intent that you repaire with speed on board to the second for their rescue and your own saftie when you come cleerein the tydes way try it as before in the 4 article the rest is referred to your own discretion so I pray God for your safe returne This morning at clocke 6. the wind came faire the weather Da 4 like to be thicke and raine I beckoned them to come on board but they saw me not at their departing the dawning being cleare the Ayre calme and it was within an houre of Sun-rising the Sea smooth the ship nearer the shoare then at any time before since we came into the passage and the whole day towards I would not loose this opportunity to send to land the boat after 5 houres they returned and gave account that it was flood-tide about clocke 5. and that they thinke it flowed halfe an houre the land lay N N W. in this time with the ship we drive by an Iland of Ice a ground in 50 fathome they found where people had been of old their Tent walls were of stones laid one upon another square built found one knife haft three severall sorts of herbes but my Chirurgion knew not what they were one peece of drift wood they found the dung and footing of Deere lately made and if they may be beleeved they affirme that in ¼ of an houre it did flow above 4 foot water and that it had above 5 fathomes upright to flow to the full Sea marke which they could easily perceive by the beach they being forced to rowe and saile 4 miles before they could come to a place to land at this E S E. wind blew on with stiffe gale and durt at noone it fell thicke raine and continued untill 4 next day morning in which time wee made way neare 30 leagues in cleare Sea and then had like to have beene imbayed which Ices lyeth thick off Prince Henries Foreland the South land bearing round from W N W. ½ Westerly to 108 degrees Southwards to cleere which wee were Moneths July glad to put tackes a board and turne it â—orth to the Northwards whereit was cleare of Ice This morning the Sun was vailed with drisling raine I stood Da 5 over for the N. shoare the Master would have perswaded me to stand over for the S. saying the Capes on the S. which wee had seene were Savage Ilands so named by Bylot this being after wee had an observation of 62 deg 40 min. we had some circumstance about it but he went away well satisfied and it proved as I tolde him for at night wee had Savage Ilands N but noe land Northward in sight This evening the Sunne set with a weather gall opposite and Zephyrus blewe on a pretty gale at the same instant the lead was wet in 150. fathomes the line having 20. fath straie to the E. and I thought the Tyde set W. the most of this day I stood away N W. but was glad sometime to alter course to the N. for Ice for the S. land lay all full this day hath bin very hot Before this S. wind came Da 6 I did thinke the wind had blowne either right up or right downe the passage viz. E. or W. as for the most part it doth the W. is cleare faire and hot Sun-shine but the aire is cold when it Veereth about as once in 3. dayes and by the S. it is either thick raine soft sleet or warme fog the wind E. or thereabout these done he changeth to the W. againe bringing the weather faire as before I did thinke that this day the Tide set forth this morning we saw Cape Charles 12 leag off S S East The Sunne did rise cleare at clocke 8 came on a Fogge and Da 7 continued unto one wee had store of ice to the S. off us then it cleared and we were come to the Westward amongst much ice and had sight of a high Iland bearing W. about 6 or 7. leag off wee saw also the high land of the N. maine 12 leag off The Sun set valed and we had no ground at 150 fath it fell to raine and I tooke in both topsailes and stood to and againe among the Ice This morning was cold with some snow and the W. wind Da 8 blew hard we made the ship fast to a great peece of yce which she plowed through the rest by force of the Gale although we had made her as snug as we could at Noone we were in 63 deg 31 min. now the wind calmed and I made loose and stood to the N. and at Sun setting I had sight of the N. Maine Moneths Iuly againe the Sun ser cleare this evening This mornings Sun raise cleare and I stood to the N close Da 10 to an Iland nere the Maire which Iland at my returne I named Ile Nicholas from which with a S W. wind I stood over to the Southward and stood with the Iland I saw the 7th day before I hoped it would prove Salisbury this day ended wee made fast againe for all this North Channell was thick with ice upon which we silled 2 hoggsheads with fresh water I loosed againe and with a small gale came within 4 miles of Salisburies Iland for it can be no other it is high land but not clifled I caused to make fast againe for that nere the land and the middle Channell was all full of ice and no ground at 120 fath and untill 6. the tide set Westward and then it returned what tide it was I could not discerne although I came so nere the land
setting more strongly into Fretum Hudson then the ebbe doth set forth doth haile in those mountaines bred in the W. side of Fretum Davis into Fretum Hudson as they are passing by to the South As also this may be noted that here and especially nere within the mouth of this strait the Compasse doth almost loose his sensitive part not regarding his magneticall Azimuth without much stirring the smooth water may be some cause the Ship wanting her active motion but I should strange that the cold should benum it as it doth us Nay I should rather thinke that the sharpenesse of the ayre interposed betwixt the needle and his attractive point may dull the power of his determination or here may be some mountaines of the one side or the other whose Minerals may detaine the nimblenesse of the needles mooving to his respective poynt but this I leave to Phylosophie By this time the kind E N E. breese hath brought me nere the Iland of Nottingham and I am making ready to send the boate on land within 2 miles to try the tyde having cast the lead amongst shels and stones 35 fathomes deepe Sir Dudly Diggs his Iland bare from mee W S W. the E. part of Nottingham E S E. the Pole elevated 63 d. 12 m. and comming betwixt Cape Wolstenholme and the E. end of Nottingham at noon I met the ebbe comming from the N W. as I could perceive by the overfalls I towed my boate into 19. fathomes and sent her on land driving along the Iland untill her returne These Iles as Resolution Salisbury and Nottingham are Da 15 high at the East end and low at the West this Iland was also named by Master Hudson in due bequest to that most honourable Lord Charles Hawvrd Earle of Nottingham then Lord high Admirall of England a small remembrance for the charge countenance and instruction given to the Search of the enterprise and though smaller yet being by his Lordship Moneths July accepted neither time nor fame ought to suffer oblivion to burie for whensoever it shall please God to ripen those seedes and make them readie for his sickle whom he hath appoynted to be the happie reaper of this crop must remember to acknowledge that those honourable and worthy personages were the first Advancers The boate went at clocke 5 in the afternoone they were away 5 glasses it was flood and in one houre it flowed 10 inches they said that it had 2 houres to slow and had about 2 foot to high they brought a little fire-wood and 3 stint birds they found the foundation of an old Tent at their comming on board the W. end of the land bore N and by E. the S E. end S by E. I edged off untill I brought the N W end N E. the E. end E by S. there I caused the boate to anckor in 60 fathomes the tide came from S E. 2 leag a watch We see great store of Sea Mors playing by the Ilands side from thence I directed the course S W. with carrying away with stiffe gale from S E with both top sailes a trip all the night being twi-light clear some few Ice was in the way but by the helpe of the same thankes be to God wee shunned them This morning clocke 8. I had sight of Mansils Ile for I fell right with the North end thereof it is lowe land but the highest is to the East at that instant I had also sight of Sir Dudly Diggs his Iland and I was not certaine whether I saw the East Mayne or no for a fogge came on presently Master Hudson also named this Iland of Sir Dudlie Diggs a gentleman who hath planted many of the best Vines in this Vineyard succeeding his father and Grandfather in the Mathematicks whose learned knowledge together with his purse added no small proportion to this building to whom my selfe and many others of my quallity shall be still beholden while times age continues This afternoone was 2 fogges 2 cleares the 3 was wet fog at clocke 7. I thought I see Cape Pembrooke upon N. Mayne at clocke 4. before I had 90. fath this afternoone wee see many Sea-Mors and had store of Ice W from this Iland of Sir Robert Mansils I thinke so named by Sir Thomas Button as also Cape Pembrooke Southampton and Carie Swans nest the last most eminent of the 3. I stood as ice would give leave S W. and to the Westward at clocke 8. wee clewd up Moneths July all sailes and drive 2 leag in 18 houres The next morning 4. wee had 120 fath owsie grownd at 7. before the deepe was but 96. here we see Sea-Mors had one sight of the Sunne in the afternoone and all this day we heard the Sea beate upon the ice to windward of us Wee stood 2 glasses to the North with wind at East to get Da 18 cleare off the ice wee drive in all this last night and had those depths at 55. 55. 54. the lead brought up a little white Corrall I set saile this day at clocke 4. and thought then that I see land at N. it was hazie and at clock 12 I thought I had got as much as I lost the day before I pusled all this day amongst the ice and at night was glad to make fast to a peece whereon was a white Beare the ice here is not so dirty as it hath been and I iudge my selfe now not farre from Carie Swans nest Was foggie and calme the wind all over the afternoone Da 19 began to cleare the Beare came againe and wee pursued him from ice to ice he swimming and diving at length the Master kild him with a lance and wee made about 12 gallons of oyle of him although he was but young some of it wee eate boyld without any taste at all but like beefe but being roasted it tasted oylie and rammish This night was cleare above head but fog bankes about the Horizon at clocke 12 there was Pettiedancers or henbanes as some write them North in the firmament betokening a storme to follow within 24 houres there was many Starres also in appearance as those of note Charles-Wayne Auriga Botes and Antonius I could have no observation for ice and fogge dimmed the horizon I thought I see land againe at clocke 8. and had deepe 70 fathomes The Master cald to make loose this morning and all those Da 20 3 or 4 dayes wee have beene fast I cold not observe any thing of the tydes set yet I doe account wee are not far from Carie Swans Nest Wee steered as ice would suffer betweene W N W. and W S W. and did iudge wee made way about 4. leagues and one mile easie winde and reasonable cleare at clocke 9. wee make fast to the ice a reasonable Moneths Iuly distance from a low Iland as I seemed for it thought I could see both ends Vpon sight hereof I caused the Boate to be anchored betweene the ship
and Iland in 30 fathomes the tyde went E. 2 knots the land lay E and West but I could not fully say it was an Iland for it lay like a Ridge or to Simily it like to the Retyres in the mouth of the River of Saine in Normandie I do hold that all those peeces of ice here are ingendered about those low Capes and Bayes as Mansils also is where easie tides goe they are soone frose over the Snow falling there on thickneth them so that by degrees they increases the Pettiedancere brought nor sent us any storme this night ended in raine and it was easie wind from the E N E. Wee made from the Ice this morning to stand to the land Da 21 we see last night it was ebbe tyde and set to the E. and I plide alongst it to find a fit place for the boate to land in it was iust at low water for they were glad to stay the setting of their glasse untill the tyde began to flowe And after that time clock 10. they staied untill it began to fall viz. 4 houres and so I accounted on shipboard riding upon 6 fath nere shoare the water so transparent as you might easily see the bottome the ice comming upon us we weyed Anchor the wind came gently from the N. we stood it upon the tyde to and againe along the land loofing and wareing from ice which came driving with the flood At their comming on board their accompt was this that the tyde did flowe but 4. howres and that it heightned but 6. foote and this was 2 dayes after the Coniunction of the Sunne and Moone so that the flood began at ½ past 10. and ended at ½ past 2. by this a South and by W. Moon makes a full Sea and the tydes motion ends with the flowing assuredly this was Carie Swans nest for both from East and West ends it stretcheth to the North our men chast Swans on shoare but got none they say there is earth strange Mosse Quag-myres and water plashes at clocke 4. I tocke leave and stood along from 6. fathomes into 30 loosing sight thereof and from thence I stood to the Westward◠with North-West wind close haled leaving both th◠Cape and the Ice behinde mee for the Sea Mors to sleepe upon there being good store thereabout Moneths July From the Cape or Swannes Nest this noone-tyde I was Da 22 16 leagues and one mile no ground at 70 fathomes for I was loth to stay the ship at any time me thought sayling had been uncouth but at 4 this morning I had 90 fathomes owzy ground thicke weather the wind easie and shifting betwixt N and N W. my way was to Southward of West This Meridian I was in 61 deg 37 min. at 8 the last day I Da 23 tooke the ship about and made way untill this day 12 11 leagues 2 miles N W. ½ W. it hath beene a faire cleare day easie winds the ayre warme and no Ice since I came into this Sea I did but thinke I saw land at N E. by E. This smooth Sea hath a small set from the West with lippering rising and falling as other Shallow Seas use to have the deepe last night was 115 fathomes I made way to this day 12 N W. by W. ½ W. 13 leagues This close morning hid the Sunne untill noone we being Da 24 in 120 fathomes the afternoone was cleare and gently breathed from W N W. I have not tryed for fish in this Sea as I did in Fretum Hudson where I got none I thanke God here we have not the like leisure here are some Seales but few Fowles the latitude of noone was 62 deg 20 min. here appeares to be more Riplins of Tyde the variation by Azimuth and Almicanter was 26 deg 31. min. at most the Sunne went cleare to bed and at midnight we had 60 fathomes deepe This morning Amplitude was 5 deg the Refraction is Da 25 great here and the Horizons thicke which begets uncertainties besides the Needle yet is very slow in comming to his respective point I now hope for warmer weather and clearer Sea than heretofore at noone I had 55 fathomes in latitude to 62 deg 36 min. since last day I made way N by E. 18 leagues faire weather the Sunne went downe cleare Ioy to our Antipodes the Henban flashing all night was a Da 26 hot day in as England in the morning I had 58 fathomes and white Corall the latitude 63 deg 20 min. the way since last day was N. 4 deg East 18 leagues since clocke 4 wee lay Larbord Tack N. W. it was a few drops of raine this Evening yet the Sunne set cleare and wee had deepe 65 fathomes at midnight and then was in the Ayre many Pettie-dancers The last night was so hot as it dryed up 15 fathomes water Moneths Iuly Da 27 for this morning we had but 50 the wind was betweene W and N N W. here was great store of Rockeweed and Tangle In the Ripline of a Tide I caused the boat to be lanched in 31 fathomes the Tyde came from N. by W. ½ a mile in an houre All this day the fog banks hath deceived mee but now I am sure I see land both the maine and Ilands of which there are many lying about 2 leagues into the Sea all ragged and broken rocks within this land bore from N. E. by E. to W. by S. here are great store of fish leaping and fairer weather cannot be I have sent the boat to land and to my comfort three things I could espie by the shore that it was flood Tyde and that it came from the Southward and that it doth flow and fall very much water before we came neere the Iland wee came over a banke of 8 fathomes and neerer the Iland we fell into 15. there seeming upon the land to be Poles erected and buildings of stone and other hillocks like Haycocks The boat went on land at clocke 6. and stayed 3 glasses or one houre and ½ in which time it flowed neere sixe foot it was flood before they went for while they were rowing to shore I did observe it had flowed at least 3 foot by certain rocks that were dry at our first approach they say that it had about 9 foot to flow at clocke 8. the tide returned and set to S. W. ward which sheweth that it runs halfe tide or else the Main beyond it is an Iland about which the tyde may have an uncontrary course as in some of the Sounds of the Iland of Selly at Englands W. end this Iland doth lie in 64 d. 10. m. of latitude and I took this place to be the N. E. side of Sir Thomas Buttons ut ultra I could see to the N. E. ward of this at least 10 leagues but no land at E. or S. E. it being as cleare an evening as could be imagined the land to be seene was from the N N. E. to the
West Southward The newes from land was that this Iland was a Sepulchre for that the Salvages had laid their dead I cannot say interred for it is all stone as they cannot dig therein but lay the Corpes upon the stones and wall them about with the same Coâ—â—ining them also by laying the sides of old sleddes above which have been artificially made the boards are some 9 or 10 foot long 4 inches thicke in what manner the tree they have bin made out on was cloven or sawen it was so smooth as we could not discerne the burials had been so old and as in Da 12 Moneths Iuly other places of those countries they bury all their Vtensels as bowes arrowes strings darts lances and other implements carved in bone the longest Corpes was not above 4 foot long with their heads laid to the West it may be that they travell as the Tartars and the Samoides For if they had remained here there would have been some newer burials there was one place walled 4 square and seated within with earth each side was 4 or five yards in length in the middle was 3 stones laid one above another mans height we tooke this to be some place of Ceremony at the buriall of the dead neare the same place was one station laid stone upon stone as though they would have something remarkeable there was fowle but so skadle as they would not abide them to come neere them and Ravens bigger then ours we rob'd their graves to build our fires and brought a whole boates loading of fire-wood on board their Corpes were wrapped in Deare skinnes their Darts were many of them headed with Iron and nailes the heads beaten broad wayes in one of their Darts was a head of Copper artificially made which I tooke to be the work of some Christian and that they have come by it by the way of Canada from those that Trade with the English and French Our men found stinking oyle in a fish gut and some small Whale Finnes this Iland I named Sir Thomas Rowes Welcome I stood off into 33 fathomes that night untill clocke 2 the wind West for I was directed by the letter of my instruction to set the course from Carie Swannes Nest N W by N. So as I might fall with the Westside in 63 d. and from thence Southward to search the passage diligently all the Bay about untill I came to Hudsons Bay I was in latitude 63 d. 37 m. plying up with S W. winds Da 28 very faire and cleare weather I saw as it were a headland to the South and petty Islands and broken ground of the Maine here was great store of fish leaping and many Seales I saw one Whale this day the land lyeth S. W. and by S. along I stood W. about the headland the last day shewed me in 7 Da 29 and 8 fathomes untill I raised another white Iland bearing S. W. and betwixt that Iland the Maine which I had now brought N. W. on me there was as it had been a Caw see or ridge of stone but bearing with the E. thereof I fell into 35 and 40 fathomes the tide runne W. by S. one mile â— 7 in one Moneths July houre After this it fell to be easie wind I sent the boate to the land and plyed with the ship thereunto for that wind which was blew from thence and comming neere it after Sunne-set we could see 2 or three huge Whales playing close by the land side in shoale water for we without them in the ship had but 12 fathomes I stood to the S W. end of the Island and there stayed for my boat which came at clocke 11 in the night she had been 14 Glasses from the ship which was thus imployed Item in Rowing to the land 4. one in chasing of Duckes in the next the water fell 9 Inches and for 3 more in the one it fell 3 Inches in the other it flowed 3 Inches and in the 2 last it flowed 2 foot ½ so as it flowed about 10 foot but I doe trust to this In their comming on board they Anchored in 8 fathomes at the Iland point and that was 2 Glasses after those formerly accounted the Tide came from N E. and by E. at 3 miles ½ one houre this point of the Iland made the Tyde goe sharpe by this it may be gathered that it was full Sea at ½ past 12. it cannot be otherwise computated but that it floweth here S W. it being 3 dayes before the full Moone But I am not fully acertained of this Tyde as yet for those Ilands have their severall indrafts and sets betwixt one another for at clock 1. it set W by S. and now it hath neere the same set continuing from 1 unto 10 of clocke more then 9 houres it seemeth strange unto me being a Tyde and no Current to be better satisfied I cannot for the best will runne at their pleasure when they are on land to seeke for such things as the shoare may afford them the worst worst able to give account must keep the boat therefore this account cannot hold with truth nor doth it I named this Iland Brooke Cobham thinking then of the many furtherances this Voyage received from that Honourable Knight Sir Iohn Brooke whom together with Master Henry Brigges that famous Mathematicall Professor were the first that countenanc'd me in this undertaking This Noble Knight graced me in the delivering of my Petition to his Majestie and afterwards brought me to his Royall Presence there to shew the hopefull possibility of the attempt And after this persisting in his kindnesse invited mee to his owne Table where I had my dyet continually assisting Moneths July me with monies towards my expence as also paying for the charge of the Privie Seale and for the ships bringing about from Chatham to London and in some with Master Brigges was at all the charge hereof while the Voyage was put off untill the next yeere when that yong Sir John Wolstenholme was appointed Treasurer Now for this Iland it is all of a white Marble of indifferent height with many water Ponds therein and great store of Fowle especially water fowle they brought on board two goodly Swannes and a young Tall Fowle alive it was long headed long neckt and a body almost answerable for it was but pen-feathered I could not discerne whether it was an Estridge or no within 3 or 4 dayes the legges by mischance were broken and it dyed Our dog being on land hounded himselfe at a Stagge or Reine Deere and brought him to obey Peter Neshfield one of the Quarter-Masters followed the chase and having neither Gun nor Lance let him goe it may be he tooke compassion when he saw the Deere shed teares the dog having hurt his feet very sore upon the hard stones was not able to pursue him and so they parted with blood-shed but it came from the Deere and Dogs feet they did imagine that
must by those burials be great store of people for it is not to be thought that they will bring or carry their dead farre to buriall and it cannot be thought also but that we were seene by them although they were not seene by any of us for we stayed not but in the night all day wee made as much way as sailes would drive forward so as if they would have come to us wee were gone before they could make ready and although they might see us whether they durst come or no I know not having as I suppose never seene ship in their lives before as Hudson who sought after them in his Bay though far distant from hence they set theirwoods on fire hard by him and yet would not come to him although he was but in his Shallop But to proceed I stood along the land and had deep from 20 to 3 fath this morning was gray overcast the Sun rose thinly valed but visible there was a Rainebow in the firmament and some drops of raine fell standing along whiles this land trented E and W. we see the entrance of a large river but all full of scaupes shelves and shoale water which comming forth changeth the Sea to be more white at the S. entrance of this River was a Cliffe like unto Balsea cliffe nere Harwich and on the S. again another great Bay whose bottome was easie to be seen I was nere the entrance thereof and found it was all full of shoales and ridges at this was Capt. James on ground as I found by his speeches afterward the S. part of this Bay lyeth E and W. and at the E. end thereof lyeth an Iland S and N. about 3 miles long I stood from the mouth of this River and Bay to go to the N. of the said Iland and came into 7. 6. 5 fath easie wind the ebbe came 2 miles an houre along the E side of the Iland I stood along in 3 fath the ground to be seen under water at night the flood tyde came we were got above the S head of the Iland went along in 7 fath well harrowed â—d even ground At clocke 10. we anchored and could not perceive by out lead that tyde did flowe and fall above 12 foote the tyde set Moneths August S. and by N. and here we see white Whales this afternoone was one of the hottest that ever I have felt at noone I was in 58 deg 46 minutes This beautifull day was promised at Sun rising it hath blown Da 7 to course and bonnet all day the wind going downe with Sol and in the night up againe we have run along the land all day with W N W. wind Sometimes loosing too sometimes wareing off as the water did deepe or shoale from 7 fath into 2 ½ upon the shoare the land lyes S. we think we saw some peeces of ice in the ofâ—ine we runne this day 16 leagues untill clocke 8. when we anchored the land faire in sight but lowe with aboundance of wood growing theron at this anchoring we can make no certainty of the tydes but that it still commeth N. running easilier and flowing lesse water This faire day we blesse God for and have plide it up for Da 8 Port Nelson the wind Veering to S S E. Latit 57 d. 48 m. the shoalding wee plide in was betweene 7 and 2 ½ and we could see many shelves and high stones lye upon the N. side of the Rivers mouth appearing as it were trees on land 3 times bigger then they be and that is through the vapours which the Sun exhaleth haveing plide all day in shoale water at night we anchored in 6 fathomes In the mouth of Port Nelson at first comming of the tyde it came with a Shuft or Boare at clocke 10. for one houre and floured upon the Ships Bowe and it flowed 9 foote water the tyde runne not above 5 houres and 2 knots was the speede it made yet I could perceive the under tyde to Roome an houre before the ship came up the land faire to see both on S and N. side here were many white Whales the running of the tyde was caused by the out-set of the River upon the Coast-tyde there was a ledge dry at lowe water hard by me when I anchored This day we consulted and consented to goe into Port Da 9 Nelson for these reasons following 1 Considering what hazzard wee had vndergone for want of our Pinnace she being made ready for setting vp yet for the losse of time we were content to hazard it having â—iâ— so faire weather as I was loath but to make good vse thereof 2 The wind was contrary to go Southwards and like to be bad weather Moneths July 3 The Pinnace could not be set up in the Ship as I desired 4 I hoped to have some intelligence by the Salvages and to search the head of the River of which I did know nothing from Sir Tho. Button 5 I was in great hope to get a Maine yard amongst so many trees as also some refreshing fresh water and fire wood and to rummidge the Ship and to see her on ground and to make her cleane or to repaire what else she wanted as Ballast or else what Thinking now it was good to provide for winter for what is formerly done is so exact as no discovery was more painefully followed nor with greater hazard and lesse helpe but God alone besides the knowledge of this harbour might more embolden my men in staying the longer forth to follow the Search Now betweene Port Nelson and Hudsons W. Bay all yet for a great distance not lookd upon by any Christian wee were to discover which having done the perfect knowledge of this River might cause us to repaire hither for refuge when the winter took us from our other labours if in the meane time wee should not discover a better or passage This Raynie morning with S. wind I stood in lowe sailes Da 9 with bonnets along the S. side which I take to be the plainer and evener ground of the two And bearing in upon 3 fath â— â— I espied an overfall on head it was stood tyde and I caused to beare up it blâ—w much wind and more then at any time since I came into this Sea in the channels edge of this overfall I fel into 10 fath being now come within the lippes hereof the wind shrinking I anchored at about ½ flood for that if it had beene a channell well knowne unto me yet I could not have handled my sayles to have turned in wee thought wee saw tokens on land of Inhabitants at 3 houres flood in the night with much adoe I wayed anchor and making 2 or 3 boards I up got a leag farther before day for I was loath to loose any time but with fearefull sounding as 5 fathomes at most and it would shoalden 2 fathome at once and as I found afterwards that channell was full of high Rockes
in the best of it This night I had many gusts of Winde with showres of Raine Moneths August I plide up a mile with flood and thought to have gone beyond Da 10 a point about 2 miles higher where I might have ridde land lockt but the river being full of stones I grounded in the tides way there being deepe now 5 fathomes then 6 foote â—on 7 fathomes so that espying a Wally in the clay cliffe on the North side I sought and found a place of 5 fathomes to Anchor the Ship safely in and intended in the Vallie to set up my Pinnace This river is on both sides full of small woods the North side is a clay cliffe like of that to the Nase in Essex but not so high the ship being moored I went on land and found the Nallie very convenient to set up a Tent and to build the Pinnace in and here wee found some store of Hogsheads and Pipestanes which had beene yron bound one Maine top a top gallant Mast diverse blocks and the sides of stared chests with divers reliques of some English Vessell which I tooke to have perished or beene left not farre from hence and indeed I did assure my selfe it must be that of Sir Thomas Buttons but as yet I have not found a tree will make a Mayne yard This morning earely I cald to rommage for the percels Da 11 of the Pinnace to be had on land which being put into the boate on land wee goe the Carpenter at Sea had provided himselfe of things necessarie against this occasion haveing all materials in readinesse which to further with his mate I caused Peter Nesfeild quarter Master the Cooper the Gunner Expofer Russell and my selfe to assist him and this day wee set up the keele and made a false keele to it thinking thereby to make her hold a better wind brought on all the ground timbers and 3 strokes on each side while the Mr. and others went to looke for refreshing The wind being come about to the N N. I sent the Master word that it was fit to bring the ship to ground while it blew from land as he determined before our comming in and for that I would not have any thing to doe that might stay mee after the Pinnace was set up that such things as was needfull should be taken in hand and brought to passe with all expedition This morning I was glad to bring the ship to land my selfe upon a fine smooth sand against the Valley where wee strengthened Da 12 Moneths August on the Cutwater and tooke away the bolt which stucke out and made smooth the Shipside for any harme else our Anchors had done more to the sheathing then the yce in this river we had set on side a peece of our false keele which we helped And now I sent Samuell Blades and the Chirurgion to the E. to search the shoare and to looke for a Mayne yard who returning told me that for a Mayne yard there was not a tree to be had of that squarenesse but that by a little creeke about a mile off they had found on shoare certaine broken Anchors and cable rope with other small ropes also one broken Gun with many round and crossebarre shot of lead and yron one Grapnet and store of firewood pilde up with one Tent covered with old sailes and a Crosse which had beene set up but was puld or fallen downe with the inscription raced out This night was very hot with much lightning and some drops of raine here are comming in with the floode and goeing out with the ebbe innumerable company of white Whales a fish as big as Porke fishes with us and much alike in shape I went with the Cherurgion to the creeke and found the Da 13 same as they had told mee leaveing the Carpenters and others at worke and thinkeing to send for those things at the next leisure after the Shippe was Rummadgt this Tyde did flowe nine foote to floate the Shippe off ground This being the Lords day wee rested and served God Da 14 the afternoone our men walked abroad to recreate themselves and looke out for fresh releife this night did the Ship fleete off and wee moord her againe in 3 fathomes at lowe water This fayre hot day some wrought at the Shallop others Da 15 fetcht ballast other romisht others fild water and strooke downe the Gunnes it ioyed mee thus to see all hands at worke the Pinnace was almost finished but wee were hindered by one houre of as much rayne in the time as ever I was in with thunder from the South-East In this day the most of our labours were brought to end concerning the ships readinesse Moneths August Da 16 The wind blowing E S E. stiffe Gale so as I could not Da 17 come forth of this River to follow my discovery the Master and I went with the ships boate up the river where about the turne of a point 6 miles above the ship lay 2 Ilands in the middle the tide did not runne above 5 miles from the ship nor flow above eight miles the river strucke W N W. up so farre and above the Ilands as we could see it was Clay clift on both sides and of reasonable height but the fresh came down with great force or else you might wade it over it is also thicke as can stand of Firre and Spruce-trees but small ones for there is no ground for the wood to take roote upon for the thicknesse of Mosse so as they cannot roote in the earth but grow up and fall downe and rot Ilanded on both sides Peter Nesfield whoÌ„ I had set out of the boat with the Master other for lightning her that I might have sayled up the higher but could not the water was so shallow and came downe so fiercely told me hee had seene the footing of a man but he could not bring me to it again so I stood over to the S. side the boat still grounding as I went where wee landed me thought the vallies was good grasse store of wood and here we gathered black-berries as we found in other places with straw berries goose-berries and Vetches with severall sorts of small shrubs trees upon the shore we found the broad footing of Deere and hard by them the frame of a Tent standing which had lately been made with the studdle of the fire the haire of Deere and bones of fowle left heere I tooke leave of the S. side and named the farthest and head therof Ramsdens Hall after an Alderman of that Corporation but the Master and his man travelled by land to thwart of the ship we have seene no Salvage since I came although I caused fires to burne night and day but the woods are so thicke as cannot be seene 12 score yards so that none could come to us but by water This day the Pinnace was brought on boord God grant that with her helpe my hopes may be accomplished which heretofore
way 32 leagues nere Da 26 the S E by East the land of this North side meeting us bore from the E by N. to the N N West and is the Mayne or Iland betwixt the Iles of Gods Mercy and Salvage Iles all upon the North side of Fretum Hudson and nere those bearings of land my Latitude was 62 degrees 40 minutes From the last Meridian unto this I made way 13 leagues Da 27 E by S. and had I le Sackveile N E. by E 2 â— E. 7 leagues off at this present I had sight of the land from Resolution and it bore from me from the N N E. to the E. about 9 or more leag This day and night was fayre weather the one by sight of the Sun the other by the Moone although the wind came against our wils to the S E. by S. with a frostie fog turning up to the North land it was cleare but at Sea it was thicke and thus plying up to the Eastward came within 4 leagues of this land which lay from East to N N E. and was the same wee drived along immured amongst the Ice at our entrance inwards wee got little by plying with contrary winds and yet I durst not put into a Sound for harbour of which wee might perceive some as also Roade-steeds made by Ilands lying nere the Mayne our weather side was froze as also all our ropes were a quarter of an inch thicke about The wind continued contrary and I stood off into the Da 28 Channell and on againe with frostie fogge and very cold but the wind blew not to above Course and Bonnet this day Moneths September I appointed 4 beefe dayes in the weeke With wind contrary I plyed it to the Eastwards the Aire was both thicke and cleare as I was neere or farre off the North Maine sometime it blew to both topsailes and sometime was eafie winde The evening 8. I stood to the S. ward being S. W. from the E. point of the N. land stretching toward Resolution 4 leagues I stood over untill this day clocke Da 30 one S. S. E. wreck and variation allowed 28 leag at what time we thought we had sight of the S. Maine about S. W. by S. 5. leagues off very high land This night was hazie and blew to Course and Bonnet comming betweene 2 Ilands of ice the Sea had beate much from off the weathermost which lay floting betwixt it and that to Leeward so as I loosed for one and bore up for another for the space of the 60 part of one houre and this was all the trouble the ice put me unto homeward bound This first day it blew lesse wind but all the morning was Da 1 Moneths October Snow the Lord for his mercy sake looke upon us for we are all in weake case dispairing more since this last frost and contrary winds that hath bin within these 5 dayes although the frost hath not beene uncouth to us then for the same weather we had for 3 weekes before and yet our allowance is enlarged to so much as we cannot eate with Sacke Aquavita Beere as well Oatemeale Meale Rice Pease and Beefe for salt fish our men can eate none nor doe I hold it fit they should These 2 dayes were spent in plying to the E. sometimes in Da 2 the sight of the N. land or Maine whereof lay 2 small Ilands Da 3 which we drive by as I drive inwards being then fast amongst the ice at 12 this day I tacked to the S. wards and at this instant the said land-bore from N W. by W. to the E. the Iland at the N. end by estimation was one league distant from the Maine that at the E. was 2 off This day hath been faire and cleere and it cleereth with bright Horizons at N. E. God send the wind from thence to take us out of those dilatory sufferings which we have more through lingring doubt of what wee shall feele then as yet we doe feele and expecting our freedome if wee were freed out of Fretum Hudson which upon a sodaine change wee may happely expect From last day noon unto this day 12 I stood upon a bowling Moneths October Da 4 making a S. E. way 31 leagues the wind Veering meâ—e Northerly I stood E. S. E. so neare as I could lie 20 leagues more and at midnight I had the Cape Chidly since called Buttons Ilands E. 4 leagues from me whereupon I stood to the North because I could not carry it about the Cape untill this day 5 in the morning and then tackt to the E. the Da 5 wind larging about to the Northward I doubled the Cape at clocke 12 weathering the same about 2 leagues having as at all headlands with Sea winds and cold weather a great Sea with an inset into Fretum Hudson against me that the shippe strucke in the Spritsaile yard and bowlspright under water I much fearing that the springing of our yards or Maâ—ts setled the topsailes so to ease them that I thought I did but double the Cape with much adoe it was high land consisting of diveâ—s ilands seeming as they were to bee sayled betwixt these were covered with Snow as also Resolution whose Cape Warwicke I see bearing N. and by W. at that instant after I had brought this Cape or Iles of Chidly W S. W. either the Tyde or Current did set me fast to the S. ward this day it froze so sore with the ships dipping in the Sea that our head and wet tackling were Canded over with Icesicles and many Snowie showres in earnest were sent from Boreas his frozen forge And for the haire of our faces to be of his hoary colour had been no noveltie to us these 4. weekes I stood from the Cape bearing S. E. ½ Southerly variation Da 6 and wreake allowed 51 leagues and 2 mile untill this noone time From thence untill this 12 E. by S. 54 leagues at what time Da 7 motion was made to come home in lesse sayle but answer was that I was not discharged as yet and therefore I would runne the ship out of victuall and pay for as yet I never durst carry sayle to see how fast I could drive Charles his Waine to the best advantage fearing that if I had sprung any of my Masts yards or tackling or wrong the ship it might have beene supposed I had done it upon purpose that then if I had stood need of excuse for feare or neglect I might have used that false colour blessed be the Almighty who never faileth those that depend on him truely this warmeth we find in the open Moneths October Ocean doth much revive us for truely if this extremity of the frost and snow had continued on with the Easterne winds we had within Fretum Hudson wee had beene constrained backe to have wintered in Hudsons Bay or else-where for the most of us were ready to fall downe with the rest that were downe already After I was