and presently at another casting of the Lead they had but six fathome and presently after that againe ten eleuen and twelue fathome the streame running hard against the Flats From the east-East-end of the Admirals Iland to Cape Negro that is the Blacke point they sayled about fiue or six miles East North-east and a mile without the Blacke point it iâ— seuenty fathome deepe the ground slimy as vpon Pamphius right East-ward of the Blacke point there are two sharpe pointed Hils in the Creeke that are easie to be knowne The sixt of Iuly the Sunne being North they come right before the Blacke point with faire weather this Blacke point lyeth vnder 75. degrees and 20. minutes From the Blacke point to Williams Iland they sayled seuen or eight miles East North-east and betweene them both about halfe a mile there lay a small Iland The seuenth of Iuly they sayled from Williams Iland and then William Barents tooke the height of the Sunne with his Crosse-staffe and found it to be eleuated aboue the Horizon in the South-west and by South 53. degrees and 6. minutes his declination being 22. degrees and 49. minutes which being added to 53. degrees and 6. minutes make 75. degrees and 55. minutes This is the right height of the Pole of the said Iland In this Iland they found great store of Driftwood and many Sea-horses being a kind of fish that keepeth in the Sea hauing very great teeth which at this day are vsed in stead of Iuory or Elephants Teeth there also is a good Road for ships at twelue and thirteene fathome deepe against all winds except it bee West South-west and West-winds and there they found a piece of a Russia ship and that day they had the wind East North-east mistie weather The ninth of Iuly they entred into Beeren-fort vpon the Road vnder Williams Iland and there they found a white Beare which they perceiuing presently entred into their Boat and shot her into the bodie with a Musket but the Beare shewed most wonderfull strength which almost is not to be found in any beast for no man euer heard the like to bee done by any Lion or cruell beast whatsoeuer for notwithstanding that she was shot into the bodie yet she leapt vp and swamme in the water the men that were in the Boat rowing after her cast a Rope about her necke and by that meanes drew her at the sterne of the Boat for that not hauing seene the like Beare before they thought to haue carryed her aliue in the ship and to haue shewed her for a strange wonder in Holland but she vsed such force that they were glad that they were rid of her and contented themselues with her skinne only for shee made such a noyse and stroue in such sort that it was admirable wherewith they let her rest and gaue her more scope with the Rope that they held her by and so drew her in that sort after them by that meanes to wearie her meane-time William Barents made neerer to her but the Beare swamme to the Boat and with her fore-feet got hold of the sterne thereof which William Barents perceiuing said she will there rest her selfe but she had another meaning for she vsed such force that at last she had gotten halfe her body into the Boat wherewith the men were so abashed that they ranne into the further end of the Boat and thought verily to haue beene spoyled by her but by a strange meanes they were deliuered from her for that the Rope that was about her necke caught hold vpon the hooke of the Ruther whereby the Beare could get no further but so was held backe and hanging in that manner one of the men boldly stept forth from the end of the Scute and thrust her into the bodie with a halfe-pike and therewith shee fell downe into the water and so they rowed forward with her to the shippe drawing her after them till shee was in a manner dead wherewith they killed her out-right and hauing slayed her brought the skin to Amsterdam The twentieth of Iuly they sayled out of Beeren-fort from Williams Iland and the same day in the morning got to the Iland of Crosses and there went on Land with their Pinnasse and found the Iland to be barren and full of Cliffes and Rocks in it there was a small Hauen whereinto they rowed with their Boat This Iland is about halfe a mile long and reacheth East and West on the West end it hath a banke about a third part of a mile long and at the East end also another banke vpon this Iland there standeth two great Crosses the Iland lyeth about two long miles from the firme Land and vnder the east-East-end thereof there is a good Road at sixe and twentie fathome soft ground and somewhat closer to the Iland on the Strand at nine fathome sandie ground From the Iland of Crosses to the point of Cape Nassaw they sayled East and East and by North about eight miles it is a long flat point which you must be carefull to shunne for thereabouts at seuen fathome there were flats or shoales very farre from the Land it lyeth almost vnder 76. degrees and a halfe From the West end of Williams Iland to the Iland with the Crosses is three miles the course North. From Nassaw point they sayled East and by South and East South-east fiue miles and then they thought that they saw Land in North-east and by East and sayled towards it fiue miles North-east to descrie it thinking it to bee another Land that lay Northward from Noua Zembla but it began to blow so hard out of the West that they were forced to take in their Marsaile and yet the wind rose in such manner that they were forced to take in all their Sayles and the Sea went so hollow that they were constrayned to driue sixteene houres together without sayle eight or nine miles East North-east The eleuenth of Iuly their Boat was by a great waue of the Sea sunke to the ground and by that meanes they lost it and after that they draue without sayles fiue miles East and by South at last the Sunne being almost South-east the wind came about to the North-west and then the weather began somewhat to cleere vp but yet it was very mistie Then they hoysed vp their sayles againe and sayled foure miles till night that the Sunne was North and by East and there they had sixtie fathome deepe muddie ground and then they saw certayne flakes of Ice at which time vpon the twelfth of Iuly they woond West and held North-west and sayled about a mile with mistie weather and a North-west wind and sayled vp and downe West South-west three or foure miles to see if they could find their Boat againe after that they woond againe with the wind and sayled foure miles South-east till the Sunne was South-west and then they were close by the Land of Noua Zembla that lay East and
but were forced to lie still but not long after the Ice opened againe like to a sluce and we past through it and set sayle againe and so sayled along by the Land but were presently enclosed with Ice but being in hope of opening againe meane time wee eate somewhat for the Ice went not away as it did before after that wee vsed all the meanes wee could to breake it but all in vayne and yet a good while after the Ice opened againe and we got out and sayled along by the Land West and by South with a South vvind The three and twentieth wee sayled still forward West and by South till the Sunne was South-east and got to the Trust-point which is distant from the Ice-point fiue and twentie miles and then could goe no furtheer because the Ice lay so hard and so close together and yet it was faire weather the same day we tooke the height of the Sunne with the Astrolabium and also with our Astronomicall Ring and found his height to be 37. degrees and his Declination 23. degrees and 30. minutes which taken from the height aforesayd there rested 13. degrees and 30. minutes which substracted out of 90. degrees the height of the Pole was 76. degrees and 30. minutes and it was faire Sun-shine weather and yet it was not so strong as to melt the Snow that we might haue water to drinke so that wee set all our Tinne platters and other things full of Snow to melt and so molt it and put snow in our mouthes to melt it downe into our throates but all was not enough so that we were compelled to endure great thirst FRom the Low-land to the Streame Bay the course East and West foure miles From the Streame Bay to the Ice-hauen point the course East and by North foure miles From the Ice-hauen point to the Ilands point the course East North-east fiue miles From the Ilands point to the Flushingers point the course North-east and by East three miles From the Flushingers point to the Head point the course North east foure miles From the Head point to the point of Desire the course South and North sixe miles From the point of Desire to the Iland of Orange North-west eight miles From the Ilands of Orange to the Ice point the course West and West and by South fiue miles From the Ice point to the point of Trust the course West and by South fiue and twentie miles From the point of Trust to Nassawes point the course West and West and by North ten miles From the Nassaw point to the East end of the Crosse Iland the course West and by North eight miles From the East end of the Crosse Iland to Williams Iland the course West and by South three miles From Williams Iland to the Blacke point the course West South-west sixe miles From the Blacke point to the East end of the Admirable Iland the course West South-west seuen miles From the East to the West point of the Admirable Iland the course West South-west fiue miles From the West point of the Admirable Iland to Cape Planto the course South-west and by West ten miles From Cape de Planto to Lombs-bay the course West South-west eight miles From Lombs-bay to the Staues point the course West South-west ten miles From the Staues point to Langenesse the course South-west and by South fourteene miles From Langenesse to Cape de Cant the course South-west and by South sixe miles From Cape de Cant to the point with the Blacke clifts the course South and by West foure miles From the point with the Blacke clifts to the Blacke Hand the course South South-east three miles From the Blacke Iland to Constint-sarke the course East and West two miles From Constint-sarke to the Crosse point the course South South-east fiue miles From Crosse point to Saint Laurence Bay the course South South-east sixe miles From Saint Laurence Bay to Mel-hauen the course South-east sixe miles From Mel-hauen to the two Ilands the course South South-east sixe miles From the two Ilands where we crost ouer to the Russia Coast to the Ilands of Matfloe and Delgoy the course South-west thirtie miles From Matfloe and Delgoy to the Creeke where we sayled the compasse round about and came to the same place againe two and twentie miles From that Creeke to Colgoy the course West North-west eighteene miles From Colgoy to the East point of Camdenas the course West North-west twentie miles From the East point of Camdenas to the West side of the White Sea the course West North-west fortie miles From the West point of the White Sea to the seuen Ilands the course North-west foureteene miles From the seuen Ilands to the VVest end of Kilduin the course North-west twentie miles From the VVest end of Kilduin to the place where Iohn Cornelis came vnto vs the course North-west and by VVest seuen miles From thence to Cola the course VVest Southerly eighteene miles So that wee sayled in the two open Scutes sometimes in the Ice then ouer the Ice and through the Sea three hundred and eightie one miles Flemish which is one thousand one hundred fortie and three miles English The foure and twentieth of Iune the Sunne being Easterly we rowed heere and there in the Ice to see where we might best goe out but wee saw no opening but when the Sunne was South we got into the Sea for the which we thanked God most heartily that hee had sent vs an vnexpected opening and then we sayled with an East winde and went lustily forward so that we made our account to get aboue the point of Nassawes close by the land and wee could easily see the point of Nassawes and made our account to bee about three miles from it The sixe and twentieth it still blew hard out of the South and broke the Ice whereunto we were fast in pieces and we thereby draue into the Sea and could get no more to the fast Ice whereby we were in a thousand dangers to bee all cast away and driuing in that sort in the Sea wee rowed as much as we could but we could not get neere vnto the Land therefore we hoysed vp our Focke and so made vp with our sayle but our Fock-mast brake twice in peeces and then it was worse for vs then before and notwithstanding that there blew a great gale of Wind yet we were forced to hoyse vp our great Sayle but the winde blew so hard into it that if wee had not presently taken it in againe we had sunke in the Sea or else our Boate would haue been filled with water for the water began to leape ouer-boord and wee were a good way in the Sea at which time the waues went so hollow that it was most fearefull and wee thereby saw nothing but death before our eyes and euery twinckling of an eye looked when wee should sinke But God that had deliuered vs out of so many dangers of Death
abroad in the Towne it was also carryed to the Princes Court in the Hage at which time the Lord Chancellour of Denmarke Ambassadour for the sayd King was then at Dinner with Prince Maurice for the which cause we were presently fetcht thither by the Scout and two of the Burgers of the Towne and there in the presence of those Ambassadours and the Burger-masters wee made rehearsall of our Iourney both forwards and backwards I thought good to adde hither for Barents or Barentsons sake certaine Notes which I haue found the one Translated the other Written by him amongst Master Hakluyts Paper This was Written by William Barentson in a loose Paper which was lent mee by the Reuerend Peter Plantius in Amsterdam March the seuen and twentieth 1609. THe foure and twentieth of August Stilo nouo 1595. wee spake with the Samoieds and asked them how the Land and Sea did lye to the East of Way-gates They sayd after fiue dayes iourney going North-east wee should come to a great Sea going South-east This Sea to the East of Way-gates they sayd was called Marmoria that is to say A calme Sea And they of Ward-house haue told vs the same I asked them if at any time of the yeere it was frozen ouer They sayd it was And that sometimes they passed it with Sleds And the first of September 1595. Stilo nouo the Russes of the Lodie or Barke affirmed the same saying that the Sea is sometimes so Frozen that the Lodies or Barkes going sometimes to Gielhsidi from Pechora are forced there to Winter which Gielhsidi was wonne from the Tartars three yeeres past For the Ebbe and Flood there I can finde none but with the Winde so runneth the streame The third of September Stilo nouo the winde was South-west and then I found the water higher then with the winde at North or North-east Mine opinion is grounded on Experience That if there bee a passage it is small or else the Sea could not rise with a Southerly Winde And for the better proofe to know if there were a Flood and Ebbe the ninth of September Stilo nouo I went on shoare on the South end of the States Iland where the Crosse standeth and layd a Stone on the brinke of the Water to proue whether there were a Tide and went round about the Iland to shoote at a Hare and returning I found the Stone as I left it and the Water neither higher nor lower which prooueth as afore that there is no Flood nor Ebbe CHAP. VI. A Treatise of IVER BOTY a Gronlander translated out of the Norsh Language into High Dutch in the yeere 1560. And after out of High Dutch into Low Dutch by WILLIAM BARENTSON of Amsterdam who was chiefe Pilot aforesaid The same Copie in High Dutch is in the hands of IODOCVS HONDIVS which I haue seene And this was translated out of Low Dutch by Master WILLIAM STERE Marchant in the yeere 1608. for the vse of me HENRIE HVDSON WILLIAM BARENTSONS Booke is in the hands of Master PETER PLANTIVS who lent the same vnto me INprimis it is reported by men of Wisedome and Vnderstanding borne in Gronland That from Stad in Norway to the East part of Island called Horn-nesse is seuen dayes sayling right West Item men shall know that betweene Island and Gronland lyeth a Riffe called Gombornse-skare There were they wont to haue there passage for Gronland But as they report there is Ice vpon the same Riffe come out of the long North Bottome so that we cannot vse the same old Passage as they thinke Item from Long-nesse on the East side of Island to the abouesaid Horn-nesse is two dayes sayle to the Brimstone Mount Item if you goe from Bergen in Norway the course is right West till you bee South of Rokenesse in Island and distant from it thirteene miles or leagues And with this course you shall come vnder that high Land that lyeth in the East part of Groneland and is called Swafster A day before you come there you shall haue sight of a high Mount called Huit-sarke and betweene Whitsarke and Groneland lyeth a Head-land called Hernoldus Hooke and thereby lyeth an Hauen where the Norway Merchants Ships were wont to come and it is called Sound Hauen Item if a man will sayle from Island to Gronland hee shall set his course to Snofnesse which is by West Rokenesse thirteene miles or leagues right West one day and nights sayling and after South-west to shun the Ice that lyeth on Gombornse-skare and after that one day and night North-west So shall hee with this course fall right with the abouesayd Swafster which is high Land vnder which lyeth the aforesayd Head-land called Hornoldus Hooke and the Sound Hauen Item the Easter Dorpe of Groneland lyeth East from Hernoldus hooke but neere it and is called Skagen Ford and is a great Village Item from Skagen Ford East lyeth a Hauen called Beare Ford it is not dwelt in Iâ— the mouth thereof lyeth a Riffe so that great Ships cannot harbour in it Item there ir great abundance of Whales and there is a great Fishing for the killing of them there but not without the Bishops consent which keepeth the same for the benefit of the Cathedrall Church In the Hauen is a great Swalth and when the Tide doth runne out all the Whales doe runne into the sayd Swalth Item East of Beare Ford lyeth another Hauen câ—lled Allabong Sound and it is at the mouth narrow but farther in very wide The length whereof is such that the end thereof is not yet knowne There runneth no Streame It lyeth full of little Iles. Fowle and Oxen are there common and it is playne Land on both sides growne ouer with greene Grasse Item East from the Icie Mountayne lyeth an Hauen called Fendebother so named because in Saint Olafes time there was a Ship cast away as the speach hath beene in Groneland In which Ship was drowned one of Saint Olafes men with others and those that were saued did burie those that were drowned and on their Graues did set great stone Crosses which wee see at this day Item somwhat more East toward the Icie Mountayne lyeth a high Land called Corse Hought vpon which they Hunt white Beares but not wiâ—hout the Bishops leaue for it belongeth to the Cathedrall Church And from thence more Easterly men see nothing but Ice and Snow both by land and water Now wee shall returne againe to Hernoldus Hooke where we first began to come to the first Towne that lyeth on the East side of Hernoldus Hooke called Skagen Ford and so we will write the Names of all that lye on the West-side of the Ford or Sound Item West from Hernoldus Hooke lyeth a Dorpe called Kodosford and it is well built and as you sayle into the Sound you shall see on the right hand a great Sea and a Marsh and into this Sea runneth
the times of the Genoes it was a wealthy and populous Citie But after it was taken from the Genoes by the Turkes aboue a hundred yeeres since the Italian Christianâ— were brought into such a straight that there are but a very few and obscure remaines of them left The Citie hath in a manner lost her pristine splendour The Romish Churches of Christians are demolished the Houses cast downe the Walls and Towers wherein are seene many tokens of honour of the Genoes and Latine inscriptions are fallen Onely two Catholicke Temples and two Armenian remayne whole in which it is granted them of the Turke after their owne custome to maintaine their proper Priests and to bee present at their publike deuotions It is replenished with Turkes Armenians Iewes but very few Italian and Greeke Christian inhabitants Now also it is famous ouer all that part of Taurica for Nauigation and the Hauen It hath almost innumerable Vineyards Orchards and Gardens Men sayle often to Capha from all the bordering and remote Ilands of Greece but oftner from the Citie Constantinople for with a prosperous winde they come thither by Ship in the space of two dayes or little more The Petigoren Prouince or Colchis is inlarged as farre as the Caspian or Hircan Sea and is much subiect to Mountaines and very large Woods which are now seene in these Confines It is a very free people and hath many braue Commanders to whom all the Nations and Families obey Moreouer they professe themselues Christians and it is manifest in the time of the Genoes very many of them were Christians but now wanting Priests and Churches they onely retayne the opinion of Religion Most and the greatest part of them are Idolaters amongst themselues rapacious and cruell but to Strangers hospitall and free-hearted The Parents although they bee of the more Noble or of the Rustickes sell their owne Children their Sonnes for Slaues their Daughters for Wiues to the Turkes and Tartars also to many Christians and those which they are wont to steale secretly among themselues they sell closely beyond the Sea to barbarous strangers after a more then barbarous manner Betweene Perecopia Cremum and Customa are Townes on the North. Taurica or the Peninsula is exceeding plaine not very hilly and altogether champaine It hath a very fertile soyle in great part stonie but great scarcitie of good water Yet there are found in diuers places very many extraordinarie deepe Fountaynes or Wells of a wonderfull profunditie and difficultie in times past digged and made by the elder Greekes or those great and antique Nations who inhabited the Peninsula before the Greekes From Perecopia the space of a mile there is a great Lake congealed naturally of admirable Salt from whence the purest and best Salt is continually gathered as if it were frozen it hath many other Salt lakes In certayne commodious and in very many places in Mountaynes and Groues are found in great number ancient huge Grecian ruines of Castles Cities Temples and Monasteries which while they haue many ages beene destitute of inhabitants by reason of their antiquitie haue lost their names All Taurica or that Peninsula from the West and North is plaine and champaine and hath few Townes many Villages extends in length the summe of fiftie miles But from the South and East it is mountaynous and wooddie and hath euery where maruellous high large stony Mountaynes In which betweene Cremum and Capha it is reported that veynes of Gold and Siluer and the best Iron were whilom found by the Inhabitants It hath a very fruitfull ground Floods delightsome Riuers Fishes Meadowes Pastures abundance of wilde Beasts Harts Goates Boares Beares Vineyards Orchards Territories Champaines Townes Villages Hamlets many and large Granges Taurica or the Peninsula is spread in Latitude after a sort into a circle in some places the distance of one or two dayes journey but in most places about the quantitie of one The Castles and Sea-cities and the rest of all the Peninsula which are described in their order with many Villages and Hamlets of Greeke Christians except the Holds and Sea-townes and many lesse suspected walled Townes in Perecopia and Casâ—louia and a few Villages of Greeke Christians are subiect to the Turkish Emperour and all obey his behests and are kept with a sure Garrison The Peninsula which lyes in the middle from the East and South against Perecopia hath a milde winter and temperate ayre For in the end of December is the beginning of winter but in the midst of Februarie the sharpenesse of winter which is more snowie then cold or subiect to Ice neither yet doth that endure aboue three dayes together neither continues it any longer then to the beginning of March Therefore about the beginning of the Spring and alway in a hot Autumne the ayre is very contagious In Bratislauia the Sauranen Oczacouien and Bialodogroden Plaines are situate betweene Hipanis or Bogus Tyra or Nester From the North toward Neper or Boristhenes and Bogas are somewhat plaine and champion grounds but from the West towardes the Riuer Nester and Pruth or Hierasus more wooddie and hilly Podolia Camenecia and Moldauia betweene the streames Nester and Pruth euery where border on the middle Tachuia and Bialogrod which is by the Lake Vidouo or Obidouo and the Euxine Sea on the West confine on the Plaines and on the Euxine Sea on the South Bralogrod Kibia and the Riuer Danubius Oczacouia hath on the North Boristhenes into which Bogus there dischargeth it selfe and spatious Plaines on the South the Euxine Sea and the ouerflowing Salt meere Berezania from the West the adioyning Riuer Nester Further that Continent which is betweene Oczacouia and Boristhenes in the fashion of an I le hath into the West Boristhenes as though it were betweene Boristhenes the Fen Meotis and the Euxine Sea on the North the Riuers Tanais or Donum on the South the Euxine Sea and that Isthmus or Continent but beyond Oczacouia and Boristhenes as far as Perecopia that Continent is verie narrow in many places but beyond Perecopia to the Castle Ossonum a ranke soyle and all champion and plaine For in that neck of Land almost all the Perecopian and Ossouen Tartars feed their Flockes and Cattle and liue there all Summer and Autumne That Continent or Isthmus from Oczacouia as farre as Ossonum for there it is limitted is stretched out in Longitude as is manifest out of the Tartars Diaries more then a hundred miles but in Latitude not after an equall manner For it is larger as well beyond Perecopia as toward Oczacouia or Boristhenes The Taurican or Chersonesen Tartars who are now called Perecopen or Crims doe certainely seeme by the ancient Writers of the Schythians to haue been the Iauolgenses and to haue had their originall and appellation from Rha or the Riuer Volga Moreouer between the famous deepe and great Riuers of the North Tanais or Don and Boristhenes it manifestly appeare that they passed by little and
Southwards and to see what Commodities I could find that way At nine of the clocke I was neere the Ice-sound where I met with much Ice which put mee from the Land and I was enforced to 〈◊〉 South-west and by South to shunne it the winde at North-west which blew hard with fogges The wind increased I stood towards Cherrie Iland if possible I could attayne it for fogges and Ice The thirtieth day at foure of the clocke in the morning I saw no Ice hauing kept to certayne course by reason of the Ice which I had past the winde at North and by West cold foggie weather with raine From the time aboue-said till twelue of the clocke at noone I sayled South South-east and ranne fifteene leagues the same wind and weather at which time I sounded had eightie fathoms greene oze like Kowes dung I sounded at two of the clocke and at foure of the clock the first eightie eight the second eightie two fathomes and sayled sixe leagues the formes course wind and weather At which time I heard a breach which proued Ice then I steered West to eschew it the fogges being so thicke that I could not see one Cables length The last of Iuly at noone I had sayled South and by East halfe a point Southerly eight leagues hauing little wind and sounded and found one hundred and fortie fathomes thicke foggie weather and in haling vp the Lead a fish followed it to the top of the water then I tryed to take fish but could not At foure of the clocke in the afternoone the winde came Southerly and I stood to the Westward by reason the Ice lay both to the South and East of vs at a North 〈◊〉 it was cleere weather and I saw the Ice round about vs cold weather with frost The first of August we beat in the Ice till noone but could finde no end thereof because it was so foggie and the Ice packed very close yet after many intricate courses I got to the Westward◠of it at mid-night the same day the winde at South-east cold weather with raine and fogges And after I had seene so much Ice that I could not come neere Cherry Iland to prosecute the rest of my Voyage I determined to stand for England as God would giue me leaue From mid-night the first day till eight of the clocke the second day before noone I sayled South-west and by South fiue leagues the wind at East South-east thicke fogges with raine From the second day at eight of the clocke till the third day at twelue of the clock at noone I sayled West South-west fifteene leagues the wind at South and by East wet foggie weather From noone abouesaid till twelue at noone the fourth day I sayled foure leagues South the winde variable and the most part of that time calme and so continued till eight of the clocke at night at which time the wind came to the South and by East and blew very hard from the fourth day at noon till the fift day at noone I sayled South-west Westerly seuen leagues The sixt day the winde was at South-east cleere weather at noone I found the shippe in 73. degrees the North Cape bearing by my computation East South-east Easterly The seuenth day at noone I found the ship in 72. degrees 22. minutes indifferent faire weather And from the seuenth day at noone till the eight day at noone I sayled foure and twentie leagues the course South South-west the wind at South-east and by East at which time it beganne to be very foggie and the winde came to the South but immediatly it was calme and continued so till mid-night Then the wind came to the North little wind and at a South Sunne the ninth day I had sayled South seuen leagues From the ninth day at noone till the tenth day at that time I sayled South and ranne seuen leagues South it being calme most part of the day with much rayne and fogges From twelue the tenth day till noone the eleuenth day I sayled South and by West and ranne seuenteene leagues the wind Northerly And from the eleuenth day at noone till the twelfth at that time I sayled South and by West eighteene leagues the winde at North North-west faire weather From noone the twelfth day vntill twelue at noone the thirteenth day I sayled South and by West fortie eight leagues the wind betweene the North and the West North-west gustie weather From the thirteenth at noone till the fourteenth at noone I sayled South and by West fortie fiue leagues the wind betwixt the West North-west and the West South-west gustie weather latitude 64. degrees 21. minutes From the fourteenth day at noone till the fifteenth day at that time I sayled South and by West nine and twentie leagues at which time I obserued and found the ship in 62. degrees 53. minutes faire weather the wind at North. At foure of the clocke the same day I saw Skutsnesse in Norway seuenteene leagues off and bearing South-east from whence I hold it superfluous to write it being a place well knowne The last of August I arriued at London Blessed be God for euer and euer Amen A briefe note what Beasts Fowles and Fishes were seene in this Land BEasts Buckes and Does white Beares and Foxes of colour dunne and grey Fowles white Partridges a small land Bird like a Sparrow partly white and partly browne a Fowle with a combe and a tayle like a Cock a redde Fowle of the bignesse of a Pidgeon a white Fowle with a greene bill the top of the bill of it and the eyes were redde with blacke feet Wild Geese Coluidines Gulls Sea-mewes Willockes Noddies Ice-birds Reeks and Sea-pidgeons Fishes great store of Whales Gramposes Mohorses the white fish I spake of the seuenth of Iune a small fish like Cuplen likewise I saw the bones of Cods or Haddocks but could take no fish I often looked for Shel-fish but could take none diuers of my company did see two Beauers CHAP. II. A Commission for IONAS POOLE our Seruant appointed Master of a small Barke called the Elizabeth of fiftie tunnes burthen for Discouerie to the Northward of Greenland giuen the last day of March 1610. IN as much as it hath pleased Almightie God through the industry of your selfe and others to discouer vnto our Nation a Land lying in eightie degrees toward the North-pole We are desirous not only to discouer farther to the Northward along the said Land to find whether the same be an Iland or a Mayne and which way the same doth trend either to the Eastward or to the Westward of the Pole as also whether the same be inhabited by any people or whether there be an open Sea farther Northward then hath beene alreadie discouered For accomplishing of all which our desires we haue made choice of you and to that end haue entertayned you into our seruice for certayne yeares vpon a stipend certayne not doubting but you will so
from the North-west that wee were forced back againe to seek Harbour and came to an anchor the nineteenth of Iune in Crosse-road Here we stayed two dayes much wind blowing at the North North-east till the one and twentieth of Iune and then in the after-noone the wind came to the East and by South and the weather was faire therefore at a North North-west Sunne we weighed and set sayle againe and so did the Thomas Bonauenture that came to an anchor by vs this morning beeing also bound for Faire Hauen This next day in the afternoone we were thwart of Maudlen Sound and the weather being faire and calme we sent a shallop to the Northward to see what alteration there was amongst the Ice and to seeke out some good Harbour for a ship and also to set vp the Kings Armes at Hackluyts Head-land or some other conuenient place When Master Baffin was gone from the ship in the foresaid shallop I went presently into the other shallop into Maudlen Sound there to set vp the Kings Armes and also to see if there were any Morses come ashoare when I was within the Sound I found no Beeches bare for Morses to come vpon for Ice and snow lay yet vndissolued from the shoare side but I went to the Harbour and there caused a Crosse to be set vp and the Kings Armes to bee nayled thereon vnder which also I nayled a piece of sheet Lead whereon I set the Moscouie Companies Marke with the day of the moneth and yeere of our Lord. Then cutting vp a piece of Earth which afterward I carried aboard our ship I tooke it into my hand and said in the hearing of the men there present to this effect I take this piece of Earth as a signe of lawfull possession of this Countrey of King Iames his New-land and of this particular place which I name Trinitie Harbour taken on the behalfe of the Company of Merchants called the Merchants of New Trades and Discoueries for the vse of our Souereigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of great Brittaine France and Ireland whose Royall Armes are here set vp to the end that all people who shall here arriue may take notice of his Maiesties Right and Title to this Countrey and to euery part thereof God saue King Iames. This is a good safe harbour and is vnder the latitude of 79 degrees 34. minutes as I haue found by good obseruation and haue of Westerly variation 25. degrees When I had here set vp the Kings armes I returned toward our ship which was come to an anchor at the entrance of Faire hauen staying till the floud came because that at the Tide of Ebbe there runnes a great current out of the Sound so at the next floud we came into Faire hauen and anchored by the Gamaliel and the Thomas Bonauenture the three and twentieth day of Iune Then Iohn Mason Master of the Gamaliel came aboord of our ship and I asked him if he had any worke for our men for I would cause them to come a shore he told me that hitherto he had not seene a Whale come in but his Furnaces and Coppers were already set vp and therefore as yet he had no neede of helpe but when occasion serued he would imploy them This day about eleauen a clocke Master Baffin returned in the Shallop from the Northwards he said that he had beene at Cape Barren which is the point of an Iland three or foure leagues from Hackluits headland but further then that he could not passe for Ice which lay close to the shore and he had not set vp the Kings armes in any place On Munday the seuen and twentieth day of Iune I went forth againe in the Shallop to the Northward partly to see what alteration there might be in the Ice with the Easterly windes which had blowne hard since the Shallop last returned but chiefely to set vp the Kings armes in some place conuenient because there was none set vp to the Northwards of Maudlen sound We rowed to Cape Barren where formerly Master Baffin had bin and finding the Ice there gone from the shore we proceeded further to an Iland which now we call the Saddle in respect of the forme thereof more then a league distant from Cape Barren In our way thither it began to snow and grew to be a great and vehement storme from the West North-west therefore we hasted and got to the lee side of the aforesaid Iland and there made fast our Shallop with a grapnell laid vpon the Icie shore vsing the best meanes we could with our shallops saile to keepe vs from the extremitie of so cold an harbour we staid here eight houres and the storme continued driuing the Ice still Eastward in great abundance and with wonderfull swiftnesse when the weather began to cleere I caused the men to rowe to Leewards to another Iland a league distant which seemed then to be a Cape of the maine land purposing there to set vp the Kings armes but afterwards wee found it to be an Iland and to the maine wee could not come for broken Ice This stormie weather continued from Munday night till Friday morning during which time we had beene but eleauen leagues at the furthest from our ship yet went we so farre as we could haue gone had the weather beene neuer so faire for at foure leagues distance from Cape Barren the Ice lay firme and vnbroken two or three miles from the shore and close againe to it lay the shattered Ice thronged together with this present storme On Friday morning we came backe againe to Hackluits headland and there I set the Kings armes in the like manner as at Trinitie Harbour from thence we rowed towards our ship and as we entred into Faire-hauen there came a Whale that accompanied vs into the harbour leaping and aduancing himselfe almost quite out of the water falling headlong downe againe with great noise we hasted aboord our ship and I sent forth both our Shallops to strike this Whale if they could and told Master Mason of her comming in who also went forth in his Shallop but it seemes the Whale past vnder the Ice which lay yet vnbroken betwixt the North harbour and the South harbour for they could not see her againe The next day there came more Whales in and Robert Hambleton our Masters mate strucke two which vnluckily escaped the first for want of helpe the Gamaliels Shallop being in chase of another Whale and our owne little Shallop not able to row against a head-sea to assist the other so that at length the Whale hauing towed the Shallop forth to Sea the harping iron came out the second was also strucken within the sound and ranne vnder the Ice which lay yet vnbroken at the East end of the Sound and drew the Shallop vpon it cleare out of the water by which meanes the Harpingiron came forth Here we
to the dangerous Passage of twentie there were two which had Habergions And I demanded whence they had them They said they had gotten them of the Alani aforesaid who are good Worke-men for such things and excellent Smiths Whereupon I thinke they haue small store of Armour but Quiuers and Bowes and Leather Iackes I saw them presented with Iron Plates and Iron Sculls capillos out of Persia. And saw two also who presented themselues to Mangu armed with Coats made of Hogs skins bent inward of rough Leather which were very vnfit and vnwildy Before we came to Porta ferrea we found one Castle of the Alani which was Mangu Chans for hee had subdued that Countrey There we first found Vineyards and drunke Wine The day following wee came to Porta ferrea which Alexander the Macedonian King made And it is a Citie whose East end is vpon the Sea shoare and there is a little Plaine betweene the Sea and the Mountaines through which the Citie is stretched forth in length vnto the top of the Mountaine which bordereth vpon it on the West so that there is no way aboue for the roughnesse of the Mountaines nor below for the Sea but forth-right through the middest of the Citie ouerthwart where there is an Iron gate from whence the Citie hath the name And the Citie is more then a mile long and in the top of the Hill a strong Castle and it is as much in bredth as a great stones cast it hath very strong walls without Trenches and Turrets of great polished stones But the Tartars haue destroyed the tops of the Turrets and the Bulwarkes of the Walls laying the Turrets euen with the Wall Beneath that Citie the Countrey was wont to bee like a Paradise Two dayes iourney hence we found another Citie called Samaron wherein there were many Iewes And when we past it we saw walles descending from the Mountaines to the Sea And leauing the way by the Sea by those walles because it bent towards the East wee went vp into the high Countries towards the South On the morrow wee passed through a certaine Valley wherein the foundations of walles appeared from one mountaine to another and there was no way through the tops of the Mountaines These were sometimes the Inclosures or walles of Alexander restraining the fierce Nations to wit the Shepheards of the Wildernes that they could not inuade the inhabited Countries and Cities There are other walles or Inclosures where Iewes are The next day we came vnto a certaine great Citie called Samag And after this we entred into a great Plaine called Moan through which the Riuer Cur floweth of the which the Curgi haue their name whom we call Georgians And it runneth through the middle of Tiflis which is the Metropolis of the Curgines and in comes directly from the West running to the East to the foresaid Caspian Sea and it hath excellent Salmons In that plaine wee â—ound Tartars againe Also by that plaine comes the Riuer Araxes which commeth from the greater Armenia from betwixt the South and West of which it is called the Land Araxat which is Armenia it selfe Whereupon in the booke of the Kings it is said of the Sonnes of Sennacherib that hauing slaine their Father they fled into the Land of the Armenians And in Esay it is said that they fled into the Land of Ararat To the West then of that most beautifull Plaine is Curgia In that Plaine the Crosmini were wont to be And there is a great Citie in the entrance of the Mountaines called Ganges which was their Metropolis stopping the Georgians that they could not come downe into the Plaine Then wee came to the Bridge of Ships which were fastened together with a great Yron chaine stretched forth crosse the Riuer where Cur and Araxes meet together But Cur loseth his name there AFter that wee went alwayes vpward by Araxes whereof it is said Pontem dedignatur Araxis Araxes disdaines a Bridge Leauing Persia and the Caspian mountaines on the left hand towards the South on the right hand Curgia and the great Sea toward the West going Southwest betweene the South and the West We passed through the meadows of Bacchu who is Generall of that Armie which is there within Araxis And hee hath made the Curgi and Turkes and Persians subiect to him There is another Gouernour in Persia at Taurinum ouer the Tribute called Argon Both which Mangu Chan hath called home to giue place to his Brother comming into those Countries That Countrey which I haue described to you is not properly Persia but was sometimes called Hyrcania I was in Bacchues house and hee gaue vs Wine to drinke and he himselfe dranke Cosmos which I would willingly haue drunke if he had giuen it me yet it was the best new Wine but Cosmos is more wholsome for an hunger-staruen man Wee went vp therefore by the Riuer Araxes from the Feast of Saint Clement vnto the second Sunday in Lent till we came to the head of the Riuer And beyond that Mountaine where it riseth there is a goodly Citie called Arserum which belongeth to the Soldan of Turkie And neare thereabout Euphrates ariseth towards the North at the foot of the Mountaines of Curgia to whose Spring I had gone but the Snow was so great that no man could goe out of the trodden path on the other side of the Mountaines of Caucasus towards the South ariseth Tigris When we departed from Bacchu my Guide went to Taurinum to speake with Argon carrying my Interpreter with him But Bacchu caused me to bee brought to a certaine Citie called Naxnan which sometimes was the head of a certaine great Kingdome and the greatest and fairest Citie but the Tartars haue made it a Wildernes And there were sometimes Eight hundred Churches of the Armenians there now there are but two little ones for the Saracens haue destroyed them In one of the which I held the feast of Christmas as I could with our Clerke And the next day following the Priest of that Church dyed to whose buriall came a certaine Bishop with twelue Monkes of the high Countries For all the Bishops of the Armenians are Monkes and of the Greekes likewise for the greater part That Bishop told me that there was a Church neere that where Saint Bartholmew and likewise Saint Iudas Thaddaeus were martyred but there was no way open for Snow He told me also that they haue two Prophets The first or chiefe is Methodius the Martyr who was of their Country and plainely Prophesied of the Ismaelites Which Prophesie is fulfilled in the Saracens The other Prophet is called Acacron who when hee dyed Prophesied of a Nation of Archers that should come from the North saying That they should Conquer all the Countries of the East and should spare the Kingdome of the East that he might giue them the Kingdome of the West But he saith our Friers the Frankes being Catholikes beleeue them not
are sold into India There are also very goodly and excellent Asses sold dearer then the Horses for that they eat little carrie much and farre They haue Camels but not so swift These are necessary in those Countries which sometime in a long way yeeld no grasse The people in those Countries are very wicked contentious Theeues and Murtherers professing the faith of Mahumet Merchants are euery where slaine by those Theeues vnlesse they trauell in troupes Yet are there excellent Artificers in the Cities who make wonderfull things in gold silke and Embroyderie They abound with Silke-wormes Wheat Barley Milium and other kindes of Corne and haue also plenty of Wine and fruits And though their Law forbid wine yet they haue a glosse to correct or corrupt the text that if they boyle it then it changeth the taste and therefore the name also of Wine Iasdi is a great Citie in the confines of Persia where much Trading is exercised It hath also cunning Artificers who labour in Silke Chierman is a Kingdome in the confines of Persia to the East subiect to the Tartars In the veines of the Mountaines the stones are found commonly called Turchisses veines also of Azzaio and Andanico There are also made all Armes and munition for warre and by the Women excellent needle-workes in Silkes with the portraitures of all sorts of Creatures verie admirable There are the best Falcons in the world verie swift of flight red brested and vnder the trayne lesse then those of other Countries Proceeding further you goe through a great Plaine and hauing ended eight dayes iourney you come vnto a certaine descent In the Plaine many Partridges are found and also Castles and Townes But in that steepe descent are many trees and those fruitfull but no habitation is there but of Shepheards This Countrey in the winter time hath intollerable cold After this you come vnto a certaine great Plaine where a certaine Citie is seated named Camandu which in times past was great but is now destroyed by the Tartars and the Countrey is called Reobarle There grow Pomgranats Quinces Adams-apples and diuers others fruits which grow not in our cold Countries It hath also very great Oxen and all white thin hayred with thicke blunt short hornes with a Camels bunch on the backe accustomed to beare great burthens And when the packe-saddles are set vpon the bunch they bow the knee like Camels and hauing receiued the burthen rise againe being so taught by men The Sheepe of that Countrey are no lesser then Asses bearing so long and broad a tayle that they weigh thirty pound weight They are very faire and fat and good meat Moreouer in the plaine of this Countrey are many Cities and Townes with high walls of Mud to defend them from the Caraunas that is Mestizos or mingled people of Indian women and Tartars ten thousand of which bee conducted by one Nugodar the nephew of Zagathai who ruled in the greater Turkie This Nugodâ—r hearing of the Malabars subiect to Soldan Asidin without his Vncles knowledge went and tooke Dely with other Cities and erected a new Seignorie and mixing with the Indian women procreated these Caraunas which goe vp and downe to rob and spoyle in Reobarle and other Countries There they learned magicall and diabolicall Arts by which the ayre is so darkned in the day time for a long space that none may see them or preuent them M. Marco one time thorow such darknesse did almost fall into their hands but made shift to escape to a Castle called Cousalmi but many of his company were taken or slaine That Plaine whereof I now speake is fiue daies iourney extended towards the South But at the end therof the way beginneth by litle and litle to descend for twenty miles together the way it selfe is very bad and not without danger by reason of Theeues At length you come to very goodly Plaines which extend themselues two dayes iourney in length and the place it selfe is called Ormus That Countrey aboundeth with Riuers of water and Palme trees There is also plenty of diuers Fowles especially of Poppin-jayes which are not like to ours From hence you come vnto the Ocean where on an Iland is seated a Citie called Ormus whereto many Merchants resort bringing Spices Pearles precious Stones cloath of Gold and Silkes and Elephants teeth and all other precious things from India That Citie is a great Mart hauing Cities and Castles vnder it and is head of the Kingdome Chermain the King is called Ruchmedin Achomach who yeelds obedience to the King of Chermain He makes himselfe heyre if any Merchant dyes there In Summer they by reason of the heat betake themselues to their Garden houses built on waters And from nine till noone there blowes a winde with such extreame heat from the sands that it swallowes vp a mans breath and stifleth him which makes them lye in the water The King of Chermain sent an Armie of sixteene hundred Horse and fiue thousand Foot against the Lord of Ormus for not paying his tribute which were all surprised and stifled with that winde The Inhabitants of the place eate no Bread made of Corne and flesh but feed vpon Dates salt Fish and Onions They haue not very sound Ships for they fasten them not with yron nayles by reason that the wood is brittle and would cleaue but with woodden pins with certaine threds made of the shels of Indian Nuts These shels are dressed after the manner of Leather out of the which threds are cut and of the thrids exceeding strong cordes are made which are able to indure the force and violence of the water and are not easily corrupted thereby Those Ships haue one Mast one sayle one beame and are couered but with one decke They are not chalked with Pitch but with the Trane of Fishes And when they crosse the Sea to India carrying Horses and other fraight with them they lose many Ships beeause that Sea is very tempestuous and the Ships are not strengthened with yron The Inhabitants of that Countrey are blacke and addicted to the Law of Mahumet It is the custome of this Countrey when any Master of a family dyeth that the wife left behind him should mourne for him foure weekes once a day They haue women which professe the practise of mourning and are thereto hired to mourne daily for their dead Returning from Ormus to Chermain is a fertile Plaine but the bread made there cannot bee eaten of them who are not accustomed thereunto it is so bitter by reason of the bitter water put therein whereof are store of hot Bathes good against diseases Going from Chermain in three dayes riding you come to a Desart which continued till you come to Cobinam seuen dayes Iourney which is extended In the first three dayes you shall haue no water saue a very few and those salt and bitter of a greene colour in shew as if it were the
thirtie Prouinces which haue a faire Palace in Cambalu in which is for euery Prouince a Iudge many Notaries These haue power to choose Gouernours of the said Prouinces and present their names to the Can which confirmes them These also haue the charge of the Treasure to exact and dispense the same Their office is called Singh that is The second Court subiect to none but the Can yet reputed lesse noble then the former that being a martiall State §. VI. The Cans prouisions for Embassadors and for Posts against Dearth for High-wayes for the Poore in Cambalu for Astrologers Tartars Wine Fuell Religion Opinions Behauiour Court-neatnesse POLOS proceeding from Cambalu Westward Of Pulisangan Gouza Tainfu Pianfu Thaigin Cacianfu Quenzanfu Sindinfu Thebeth Caindu Caraian Carachan Cardandan and Vociam WIthout the Citie of Cambalu many publike wayes conduct to the neighbouring Prouinces and in euery one of them alway at the end of fiue and twentie or thirtie miles are Lodgings or Innes built called Lamb that is Post-horses with great and faire Palaces Chambers furnished with Beds and other Prouisions meete to entertaine great Men yea to lodge a King the prouisions laid in from the next adioyning places where about foure hundred Horses are in readinesse for Messengers and Embassadors which there leaue their ridden Horses and take fresh And in mountaynous places where are no Villages he sends People to inhabite ten thousand at a place where these Lamb are built which till the ground for their prouisions and this continueth vnto the furthest limits of the Empire so that in the publique wayes throughout the whole Empire about ten thousand of the Kings Innes are to bee found And the number of the Horses appointed for the seruice of the Messengers in those Innes are more then two hundreth thousand a thing almost incredible to tell so that in a little while with change of Men and Horse intelligence might flie to the Court. And if any wonder how so many men and beasts should be prouided for hee must consider that the Moores and Gentiles haue many women and store of children some hauing thirtie sonnes which follow them armed and for victuall they sow three seeds Rice Panike and Mill which yeeld an hundred fold they make not bread but boile these with Milke or Flesh. Wheat will not so encrease with them nor suffer they any ground which will beare to lye vntilled And their Cattell alway increase that each of them carries with him six eight or more Horses into the field for his owne person These Horses also take turnes that of the foure hundred aforesaid two hundred are in the stables readie the other two hundred at grasse by monethly courses Their Cities adioyning to Riuers or Lakes are appointed also to haue ferry Boats in readinesse for the Posts And Cities adioyning to Desarts are sessed at Horses and prouisions thorow those Desarts but haue contribution from the Can. In cases of great import the Poste rides with a Gerfalcon Table and is trussed so that he will ride two hundred miles in a day or two hundred and fiftie sometimes also they ride the night Foot-posts running by with lights if the Moone shine not They winde a Horne that the fresh Horses may be brought forth for them to mount presently and hauing their bellies and heads girded runne as fast as the horse can and those which are able to endure this excessiue riding are of great reputation There are also betweene the said Innes other habitations three or foure miles distant one from another where there are a few houses wherein Foot-posts dwell hauing all girdels full of shrill sounding bells These are alwayes readie and as often as the Kings Letters are sent vnto them conuey them speedily to the next habitation who hearing the sound of the Foot-post comming afarre off expect him and receiuing his Letters presently carrie them to the next watch and so the Letters passing through diuers hands are conueyed without any delay vnto that place whither they ought to come And it commeth often to passe that the King vnderstandeth newes or receiueth new fruits from a place ten dayes iourney distant in two dayes as fruits growing at Cambalu in the morning the next day at night at Xandu But all the mentioned Postes are free from all exaction of Tribute and receiue a good recompence of their labours from the Kings Rent gatherers besides Some also are appointed to examine these Posts monethly and to punish their faults He sends yeerly vnto diuers Prouinces subiect to his Empire to inquire whether any harme be done to the Corne by Tempests Locusts Wormes or any other plâ—gue And when he hath notice giuen him that any Prouince or Citie hath sustained any damage he remitteth Tributes to that people for that yeere and sendeth Graine for victuâ—ll and for Seede out of his owne Garners For in the time of great plentie the King buyeth abundant store of Corne and keepeth it with great care of Officers three or foure yeeres in Garners that when there shall be scarcitie of Corne in one Countrey that defect may bee supplied out of the Kings Store-houses Hee selleth his graine for the fourth part of other mens price and alway prouideth that his store-houses be stored Likewise when any muâ—ren lighteth among Cattell hee sends them other Cattell which he hath for Tenths in other Prouinces And if a thunder-bolt hath stricken any beast of any Herd or Flock he will haue no Tribute thereof for three yeeres be the Herd neuer so great nor custome of a Thunder-stricken ship thinking God is angrie with them which are so stricken Likewise that Trauellers may find the way in all places capable to beare Trees He hath caused Trees to be planted a little distance one from another neare vnto the principall wayes and in Sandie and desart places he hath caused to set Stones and Pillars for that purpose and Officers are appointed to looke to these things Hee plants Trees the rather because his Astrologers tell him that planting Trees lengthens the life They make excellent drinke in the Prouince of Cathai of Rice and diuers Spices which in the taste thereof excelleth the sweetnesse euen of Wine And they who drinke more greedily therof then reason iudgeth to be fit or the nature of the drinker requireth sooner become drunke then if they had drunke Wine Throughout the whole Prouince of Cathai certaine blacke stones are digged out of the Mountaines which put into the fire burne like wood and being kindled preserue fire a long time as if they be kindled in the Euening they keepe quicke fire all the night And many vse those stones because that though they haue store of wood yet is there such frequent vse of Stoues and Bathes thrise euery weeke that the wood would not serue It is not amisse also hauing spoken of his Prouisions abroad to mention his care for the poore of Cambalu When he heares of any honourable
Familie decayed by disaduentures or of any which cannot worke and haue no meanes he causeth to giue to such Families the whole yeares expenses each of such Families going to the Officers for that purpose and shewing their Bill of allowance receiue prouisions accordingly There is a Palace deputed for those Officers They are prouided also of garments for Winter and for Summer the Can hauing the Tenths of all Wool and Silke and Hempe which he causeth to bee made into Clothes in a house thereto appointed for all Trades are bound one day in the weeke to worke for him He prouides also apparell for his Armies and in euery Citie causeth Cloth to be made of his tithe wooll You must vnderstand that â—he Tartars ancient customes knew no almes but rather vpbraided such as were in necessitie as hated of God But the Idolaters especially these Bachsi haue propounded it as a good worke acceptable to God and haue taught him to be thus bountifull so that in his Court bread is neuer denyed to any which aske and there is no day in which is not giuen away twentie thousand Crownes in Rice Millet and Panike whereby he is esteemed as a God There are also in Cambalu of Christians Saracens and Catayans about fiue thousand Astrologers and Diuiners which the Great Can prouideth yeerly of foode and rayment as those poore abouesaid These haue an Astrolabe in which are marked the signes of the Planets the houres and points of all the yeere Herein all these Astrologers each Religion apart view the course of the yeere according to euery Moone obseruing the disposition of the weather referring alway to God to doe more or lesse after his owne pleasure They write also vpon certaine squares they call them Tacuini the things which are to come that yeere which they sell to those that will buy them and such as speake most truth are most honored If any intend any great worke or to goe a farre iourney and will know the euent before-hand he makes recourse to these Astrologers to see it with their eyes in the Heauens which they doe comparing the present Constellation with that of his Birth which they demand of him so foretelling him the good or euill The Tartars reckon the computation of their yeeres by twelues the first signified by a Lion the second by an Oxe the third by a Dragon the fourth by a Dogge and so thorow the whole twelue so that if a man be demanded when he was borne he will answer such a point of such an houre of such a day in the yeere Lion this their fathers exactly set downe in a booke and when the twelue is complete they goe ouer the same againe Of their Religion we haue said that they are Idolaters and for their Gods haue a Table set aloft in the wall of their Chamber on which is written a Name representing the High God of Heauen and there euery day with a Censer of incense they adore it in this manner They lift vp their hands aloft and strike their teeth thrice praying it to giue them a good vnderstanding and health and desire thereof nothing else Besides on the ground they haue another statue called Natigai The God of earthly things with his Wife and Children as before is said whom likewise they worship with incense striking or gnashing the teeth and lifting vp the hands and desire thereof temperature of the aire fruits of the earth children and the like They hold the Soule to be immortal and that when a man dies it enters into another bodie better or worse according to the merits in the former life as of a poore man to become a Gentleman and after of a Prince or Lord and so higher till it be assumpted in God or if it hath ill deserued to be a poorer man after a Dogge alway descending to the lowest ranke of basenesse They haue a comely speech salute cheerfully and honestly haue a gracefull carriage and feed cleanly They beare great reuerence to their Parents and if any be vndutifull or helplesse to their necessitie there is a publike Office designed to this particular to punish vngratefull or disobedient children Prisoners are released at three yeeres end and marked in the cheeke to be knowne Malefactors The Barons and People which goe to the Grand Can obserue these Rites First within halfe a mile of the place where the Can is all is husht and quiet without noyse or cryes or any loud speech and euery Baron carries continually a little faire vessell to spit in after which hee couers it none daring to spit on the Hall They haue Furre buskins of white leather which they put on when they enter the Hall putting off the former and giuing them to the seruants lest they should foule the faire artificiall Carpets TEn miles off Cambalu is a certayne great Riuer named Pulisangan emptying it selfe into the Ocean by which many ships with much merchandise ascend And in that place there is a very faire Bridge all of Serpentine stone curiously wrought contayning three hundred paces in length and eight in breadth that ten men may ride abrest On each side it is fairely mounted with a wall of marble and Pillars set on a rew and in the height of the ascent is a great and high Pillar at the foote whereof is a great Lion and on the top another And so quite thorow the Bridge one pace and halfe distant are Pillars with Lions on the top and a faire well-wrought marble worke betwixt to keepe men from falling Hauing passed ouer the Riuer and Bridge proceeding thirtie miles westward in which Palaces are continually seene with Vineyards and fertile Fields you come to the Citie Gouza both faire and great hauing many Monasteries of Idols Cloth of gold and silkes are made there and the purest and finest Cambricks or Launes and many common Innes for Strangers and Trauailers are found in that Citie The Citizens are Artificers and Merchants A mile without this Citie the way parteth one leading West the other South-east that to the West leadeth through the Prouince of Cathay but the other towards the Countrey of Maugi From the Citie of Gouza to the Kingdome of Tainfu you ride ten dayes thorow Cataio alway finding many faire Cities and Castles well traded with Vineyards and tilled Fields from whence Wine is carried to Cataio where it wants There are many Mulberrie trees for Silke-workes the People ciuill and Cities very frequent Tainfu is the name of the Kingdome and of the chiefe Citie which is great and faire hath much trading with store of munition fit for the Cans Armies The Wine about this Citie serueth the whole Prouince Seuen dayes further westward is a goodly Countrey beautified with many Castles and Cities in which also great trade of merchandise is vsed After which you come to a Citie very great named Pianfu in which there is great abundance of Silke and Trading Westward from Pianfu
Necks Hands Bellies and Legs making the Images of Lions Dragons and Birds and so firmely imprint them that they cannot easily bee put out and the more such Images any one hath by so much is hee esteemed the more gallant And there be Professors of this foolish Art of flesh embroiderie which vse no other Trade but this Needle-worke and dying of Fooles-skinnes Amu is an Easterly Prouince subiect to Great Can whose Inhabitants worship Idols and haue a peculiar language They abound with Herds of Cattell and haue plentie of Victuals and many Horses and those excellent which Merchants bring into India They haue also many Buffes and Oxen because there are delicate Pastures there As well Men as Women weare bracelets of gold and siluer of great value on their armes also the like on their legs but those of the Women are of most value From Amu to Cangigu are fiue and twentie dayes iourney The Prouince Tholoman is eight dayes iourney distant to the East from Amu subiect vnto Great Can hauing a peculiar language and worshipping Idols The Men and Women thereof are tall and goodly of a browne colour The Countrey is very well inhabited hauing many and strong Castles and Cities The men are exercised in Armes and accustomed to warre They burne the bodies of their dead and inclosing the Reliques of their bones in a Chest hide them in the Caues of the Mountaines that they cannot bee touched either of man or beast Gold is in great plentie there and in stead of money they vse Porcelanes brought from India as also in Cangigu and Amu. From the Prouince Tholoman the way leadeth towards the East on a Riuer by which are many Cities and Castles and at the end of twelue dayes you come to the great Citie Cintigui The Countrey is subiect to Great Can and the Inhabitants thereof are addicted to Idolatrie Excellent Clothes are made in this Countrey of the barkes of Trees wherewith they are clothed in the Summer Very many Lions are there so that for feare of them none dare sleepe without doores by night The ships which goe vp and downe the Riuer for feare of the Lions are not fastned to the banke There are great Dogs in the same Countrey so hardie and strong that they feare not to aduenture on the Lion And it often hapneth that two Dogs and one Archer kill a Lion for the Dogs set on by the man giue the onset and the Lions nature is presently to seeke shelter from some Tree that the Dogs may not come behind him neither yet will his great heart suffer him to runne from the Dogs lest he should seeme afraid but he holds his stately pace the man mean-while shooting and the Dogs fastning on his hinder parts but with such quicknesse that when the Lion turnes on them they are gone And then doth this magnanimous Beast hold on his way againe to seeke such Tree succour that with Bitings and Arrowes he sometimes comes short and with expense of bloud dyeth by the way This Countrey aboundeth with Silke which by Merchants is carried to diuers Prouinces by the Riuer They liue on Merchandise their money is Paper They are valiant in Armes At the end of ten dayes is the Citie Sidinfu and twentie dayes from thence is Gingui and foure dayes thence is Pazanfu towards the South and is in Cataio returning by the other side of the Prouince The people are Idolaters and burne their dead There are also certaine Christians which haue a Church all vnder the Can and vse Paper money They make Clothes of Gold and Silke and Launes very fine By this Citie which hath many Cities vnder it goes a great Riuer which carries store of merchandise to Cambalu made by many Channels to passe thither But wee will passe hence and proceeding three dayes iourney speake of Cianglu Cianglu is a great Citie toward the South of the Prouince of Cataio subiect to the Can the Inhabitants are Idolaters and burne their dead Their money is the Mulberie Paper coine of the Can. In this Citie and the Territories they make store of Salt for that Earth is very salt and out of it they get Salt after this manner They heape vp Earth in manner of an Hill and powre water vpon it which drawes the saltnesse of the Earth vnto it and then runnes into certaine Conduits and is boyled in Pannes till it be congealed to Salt faire and white to the Cans and their great gaine being carried into other Countries to sell. There are great Peaches very good which weigh two pounds a piece Fiue dayes iourney beyond the Citie Cianglu in Cataio Southward standeth another Citie named Ciangli in which way are many Cities and Castles all subiect to the Can through the middest whereof runneth a great Riuer very conuenient for shipping laden with merchandises Six dayes iourney thence to the South all which way hath great Cities and Castles of Idolaters is the noble Kingdome and great Citie Tudinfu which had his proper King before it was subdued to Great Can Anno 1272. and hath eleuen Royall Cities famous for traffick subiect to the iurisdiction thereof It is very delectable for Gardens and Fruits rich in Silkes The Can sent to the gouernment hereof one of his Barons named Lucansor with eightie thousand Horse who rebelled against his Lord but was slaine by a power of one hundred thousand vnder two other Barons sent against him and the Countrey reduced to obedience Seuen dayes off riding by many Cities and Castles of Idolaters plentifull of all things towards the South is the famous Citie named Singuimatu vnto the which on the South a certaine great Riuer runneth which being diuided by the Inhabitants of the place into two Riuers floweth partly to the East towards Cataio and partly to the West towards Mangi By these Riuers innumerable Vessels for multitude and incredible for their greatnesse and wealth bring necessaries to both Prouinces If you goe sixteene dayes iourney towards the South from Singuimatu you still meet with Cities and Townes where much trading is exercised The Inhabitants of these Countries are Idolaters subiect to Great Can. After that sixteene dayes you come vnto a great Riuer named Caramoran which is said to flow out of the Kingdome of Vincan or Presbyter Iohn of the North. It is very deepe and carrieth Ships of great burthen it is also stored with Fish Within one dayes iourney of the Sea there are in this Riuer fifteene thousand Saile each of which carrieth fifteene Horses and twentie Men besides Victualls and the Mariners This is the Cans Fleet kept there in readinesse to carrie an Armie to any of the Ilands in the Sea if they should rebell or to any remote Region Neere the banke of the Riuer where these Ships are kept is Coiganzu and ouer against it Quanzu one a great Citie the other small After you are past that Riuer you enter into the
away all the filth of the Citie and so runneth into that Lake thence continuing his course to the Ocean which causeth a good ayre and commodious passage both by land and by these channels There may goe both Carts and Barkes to carrie necessaries and the report is that there are twelue thousand Bridges great and small and those on the chiefe channels are so high that a ship without her Mast may passe vnder and aboue Chariots and Horses On the other side the Citie is a Ditch about fortie miles long which encloseth it on that side large and full of water from the Riuer made by the antient Kings of that Prouince both to receiue the ouerflowings of the water and to fortifie the Citie the earth which was taken out being layd within as a banke or hill encompassing There are ten chiefe Market-places besides infinite others along the streets which are square halfe a mile in each square And from the forepart of them is a principall street fortie paces wide running right from one end of the Citie to the other with many Bridges trauersing it And euery foure miles is found such a Market-place two miles as is said in compasse There is also one large channell which runnes against the said street behind the Market-places on the next banke whereof are erected great Store-houses of stone where the Merchants from India and other parts lay vp their Merchandise at hand and commodious to the Market-places In each of these Market-places is a concourse three dayes in the weeke of persons betwixt fortie and fiftie thousand which bring thither all things that can be desired for mans life of all beasts of game and fowles that Lake yeelding such commodiousnesse to bring them vp that for a Venetian groat you may haue two Geese and foure Duckes for as much Then follow the Butcher-rowes of Veale Beefe Kid and Lambe which the great and rich men eat for the poore eat vncleane meats without respect There are all sorts of herbs and fruits continually and amongst the rest huge Peares weighing ten pounds a piece white within like paste and very fragrant Peaches yellow and white very delicate Grapes grow not there but are brought from other places dried very good and Wine also but not so esteemed in those parts that of Rice and Spices contenting them Euery day from the Ocean is brought vp the Riuer which is the space of fiue and twentie miles great quantitie of fish besides that of the Lake so much as a man would thinke would neuer be bought and yet in a few houres is gone All those Market-places are encompassed with high houses and vnderneath are shops of Artificers and all sort of Merchandises Spiceries Iewels Pearles and in some onely Rice-wine Many streets answere one another in the said Market-places In some of them are many Baths of cold waters accommodated with attendants of both sexes a thing which from children they vse themselues vnto There are chambers also in the said Baths with hot waters for strangers which are not accustomed to the cold waters They wash euery day neither doe they eat before they haue washed In other streets are mercenarie Prostitutes in such number that I dare not report it and not onely neere the Market-places where they haue their places appointed but thorow all the Citie they stand very pompously with great odours many seruants and their houses adorned These are very practike in making sports and daliances and sweetest pleasures rauishing fooles forth of themselues In other streets are the Physicians the Astrologers they which teach to reade and write and infinite other Trades At each end of euery Market-place is a Palace where Lords and Gouernours are appointed by the King to deternine difficulties which happen betwixt Merchants or others as also to looke to the Guards on the Bridges punishing the negligent Alongst the principall Street whereof wee spake on both sides are great Palaces with Gardens and neere them houses of Artificers and such multitudes of people continually going to and fro that a man would wonder whence such multitudes should bee prouided of victuals And Master Marco learned of an officer of the Custome-house in Quinsai that by reckonings appeared the daily expence of Pepper in Quinsai to be three and fortie Some and euery Soma is two hundred twentie three pounds Hence may be ghessed the quantitie of Victuals Flesh Wine Spiceries were there spent The Inhabitants are Idolaters spend Paper money are white and faire complexion apparelled for the most part in Silke which growes in all that Territorie abundantly besides that which is brought from other places There are twelue principall mysteries each of which haue one thousand shops and in each shop or standing are ten men fifteene or twentie at worke and in some fortie vnder one Master The rich Masters doe no worke with their hands but stand ciuilly adorned or rather pompously especially their wiues with Iewels inualuable And although the antient Kings ordayned that the child should bee of the fathers Trade yet the rich are permitted not to worke but to keepe shop and men working in the same Trade Their Houses are well ordered and wrought richly adorned with Pictures and other stupendious costs The Natiues are peaceable know not to manage Armes nor keepe them in their Houses nor is there strife and debate amongst them They make their workes with great sinceritie They loue in such amitie that one Street seemes as one House without jealousies of their Wiues which they hold in great respect and it would be reputed great disgrace to speake a dishonest word to a married Woman They entertayne Merchant-strangers kindly both in their houses and with best aduice for their affaires But they are loth to see Souldiers and the Guards of the Grand Can as by whom they are bereft of their naturall Lords and Kings About the Lake are built faire Buildings and great Palaces of the chiefe men and Temples of their Idols with Monasteries of many Monkes In the midst of the Lake are two Ilands vpon each of which is a Palace with incredible numbers of Roomes whither they resort vpon occasions of Marriages or other Feasts where Prouisions of Vessels Naperie and other things are maintayned in common for such purposes one hundred sometime accommodated at once in seuerall Roomes In the Lake also are Boates and Barges for pleasure adorned with faire Seates and Tables and other prouisions for Bankets couered aboue and plaine vpon which men stand with Poles to make the Boat goe the Lake being but shallow Within they are painted without are windowes to open and shut at pleasure Nor can any thing in the World seeme more pleasant then in this Lake to haue such an obiect the Citie so fully presenting it selfe to the eye with so many Temples Monasteries Palaces Gardens with high Trees on the Waters Barges People for their custome is to worke one part of the day and to dispense
When Haloon vnderstood how the Soldan of Egypt had inuaded Syria and driuen thence his people he gathered his Armie and sent to the King of Armenia and to the King of Georgia and the other Christians of the East to prepare themselues against the Soldan of Egypt and the Saracens and when his Armie was in readinesse a sicknesse seized him of which he languished the space of a fortnight and then dyed by whose death the enterprize of the Holy Land had an end Abaga his Sonne held the Dominion of his Father who intreated the Emperour Cobila Can being his Vncle to confirme him therein to which he willingly accorded So he was called Abaga Can and began to reigne in the yeare of our Lord 1264. 32. Abaga was wise and gouerned prosperously in all things two only excepted one that he would not be a Christian as his Father had beene but worshipped Idols beleeuing the Idolatrous Priests The other that he was alwayes in warres with his Neighbours by reason wherof the Soldan was long in quiet and the power of the Saracens much increased Those Tartars or rather Turks which could escape from out the Dominion of the Tartars fled vnto the Soldan seeking to auoid the heauie burthens which the Tartars imposed on them And the Soldan dealt politikely for he sent Messengers by Sea to the Tartars in the Kingdomes of Cumania and Russia and made composition and agreement with them that whensoeuer Abaga should mooue warre against the Land of Egypt then they should inuade his Countrey for which he promised them great gifts by meanes whereof Abaga could not well inuade the Land of Egypt but the Soldan could easily without resistance inuade the Christians in the parts of Syria insomuch that the Christians lost the Citie of Antioch and diuers other places of strength which they held in that Kingdome 33. Moreouer Bendecar the Soldan of Egypt was so fortunate that he much abased the Kingdome of Armenia For it hapned that the King of Armenia with many of his men was gone to the Tartars which the Soldan hearing sent a Captayne of his to inuade the Kingdome of Armenia The Sonnes of the King of Armenia gathering together all that could beare Armes encountred the Egyptians in the Confines of their Kingdome and resisted them couragiously but the Armie of the Armenians being ouerthrowne one of the Kings Sonnes was taken and the other was slaine in battaile So that the Saracens thereby wasted and spoyled all the Kingdome of Armenia and carryed infinite riches thence to the great damage of the Christians whereby the Enemies power was much encreased and the Kingdome of Armenia wondrously weakned The King whose endeauour was wholly bent about the destruction of the Infidels hauing heard this most vnhappie newes of his owne Countrey busied his thoughts night and day how to afflict the Saracens and oft-times very earnestly dealt with Abaga and his Tartars to attempt the ouerthrow of faithlesse Mahomet and the reliefe of the Christians But Abaga excused himselfe by reason of the warres in which he was daily entangled with his Neighbours The King of Armenia seeing that hee could not haue any present ayde of the Tartarians sent and made truce by his Messengers with the Soldan of Egypt that he might redeeme his Sonne which was Prisoner The Soldan also promised him that if he restored him a friend of his called Angoldscar whom the Tartars held captiue and yeelded vp the Castle Tempsach and some holds of the Citie of Halappi which he had gotten in the time of Haoloon hee would set his Sonne at libertie Whereupon the Soldan hauing receiued his friend and the Castle of Tempsacke beeing yeelded and two other Castles throwne downe at his appointment deliuered his Sonne out of Prison and restored him accordingly Then afterwards King Haython of famous memorie hauing reigned fortie fiue yeares and done much good to the Christians yeelded vp his Kingdome and Dominion to his Sonne Liuon whom he had deliuered out of captiuitie and renouncing this Kingdom of the World became professed in Religion and was called Macharius changing his name according to the custome of the Armenians when they enter into Religion and in short time after dyed in peace in the yeare of our Lord 1270. 34. This King of Armenia Liuone was wise and gouerned his Kingdom prouidently and being much beloued by his owne People and by the Tartars he laboured earnestly to destroy the Saracens so that in his time Abaga made peace with al his neighbors who of long time had been his enemies Then the Soldan of Egypt entred the Kingdome of Turkie and slue many of the Tartars and draue them out of many Townes For a Saracen called Paruana being Captaine ouer the Tartars that were in Turkie rebelled against Abaga and sought the destruction of the Tartarians Abaga hearing thereof posted thither so speedily that in fifteene dayes hee rode fortie dayes iourney The Soldan hearing of his comming departed suddenly not daring to make any longer abode Yet could not so speedily withdraw himselfe but that the Tartars following swiftly ouertooke the rereward of his Armie in the entrie of the Kingdome of Egypt in a place called Pasblanke There the Tartarians rushing on them tooke two thousand Horsemen of the Saracens beside much riches and fiue thousand of the Cordines which liued in that Countrie Abaga being come to the Confines of Egypt was perswaded to goe no farther for heat for that Land is very hote and his Tartars and their beasts hauing come speedily from farre could hardly haue indured it by reason whereof hee returned into Turkie and spoiled and wasted all the Countries that had rebelled and yeelded to the Soldan But he caused the Traytor Paruana with his partakers to be cut asunder in the midst after the Tartarian manner and part of his flesh to be serued in all his meats whereof he and his Captaines did eat Such was the reuenge of King Abaga on the Traitor Paruana 35. Abaga hauing effected his desires in Turkie and enriched his Tartars with the spoyles of the rebellious Saracens he called to him the King of Armenia and offered him the kingdome of Turkie in regard that his father and hee had beene euer faithfull to the Tartarians But the King of Armenia being discreet and wise rendred great thankes to Abaga for so great a Present but excused himselfe from the accepting thereof as vnable to gouerne two Kingdomes For the Soldan of Egypt was in his full strength and earnestly bent against the Kingdome of Armenia so that hee had enough to doe to prouide for the defence thereof Yet aduised him to settle and dispose the Kingdome of Turkie in such sort ere his departure that there might bee no feare of Rebellion afterwards and in any case to permit no Saracen to command there Which aduice Abaga accepted of and neuer after suffered any Saracen to beare rule in that Countrey The king of Armenia then
Corasine Isti quoque regno iungitur in Occidente versus partes nostras regnum Commanorum quod similiter longum est latum sed in paucis sui locis inhabitatum Nam in quibusdam est frigus nimium in alijs nimius calor in nonnullis nimia muscarum multitudo Sunt autem in Persia duae regiones vna altae Persiae quae à regno Turquescen descendens iungitur ad Occidentem sui fluuio Pyson In ista habentur renominatae ciuitates quarum meliores duae dicuntur Bocura Seonargant quam aliqui appellant Samarkand Et altera Regio Baslae Persiae descendens à flumine Pyson qui ad sui Occidentem iungitur regno Mediae terrae minoris Armeniae ad Aquilonem mari Caspio ad Austrum terrae minoris Indiae In hac bassa Persia tres principaliores ciuitates sunt Aessabor Saphaon Sarmasaule c. A finibus regni Bachariae supradicti vbi contiguatur Imperio Indiae eundo per multas diaetas intratur in regnum Pentoxyriae quod est magnae latitudinis abundantiae in multis bonis huius nominatior ciuitas dicitur Nyse in ea habet Imperator palatium Imperiale in quo residet dum sibi placet Imperator iste semper vocitatus est Presbyter Ioannes cuius nominis causam audieram quandoque non veram sed in iâ—lis partibus accepâ— rationem indubitatam quam breuiter hic enarro Circa annum ab Incarnatione Domini Octingentessimum Dux Ogerus de Danemarchia cum quindecim cognationis suae Baronibus armatis viginti milibus transiuit mare Greciae fauente sibi Deo conquisiuit Christianitati per multa prâ—lia penè omnes Terras Regiones Insulas quas esse de potestate Grand Can praedixi nec non omnes quae sunt de potestate Imperij huius Imperatoris Indiae Eratque inter Barones vnus denominatus Ioannes filius Goudebucf Regis Frisonum qui dictus Ioannes Deo deuotus fuit dum licuit Ecclesiarum limina iniuit vnde Barones ei dabant quasi per iocum Presbyter Ioannes vocabulum Dum ergo Ogerus dictas regiones expugnatas dâ—uideret in hus quindecim suis cognatis quemlibet eorum in suo loco constitueret Regem quatenus Christiana religio in illa Orbis superficie semper stabilis permaneret tradidit isti Presbytero Ioanni superiorem Indiam cum 4000. Insulis Regionibus ipsum praefecit Imperatorem super reliquos cognatos vt ei certa tributa impenderent in omnibus obedirent atque ex nunc omnes successores Indiae sunt vocati Presbyter Ioannes vsque in hodiernum tempus boni manserunt Christiani Religionis aemulatores c. CHAP. VII The Voyage of NICOLO di CONTI a Venetian to the Indies Mangi Cambalu and Quinsai with some Obseruations of those places NIcolo di Conti a Venetian hauing trauelled quite thorow India after fiue and twentie yeeres returned home and because to saue his life he had made denyall of his Faith hee went to the Pope then Eugenius the Fourth An. 1444. being at Florence to obtayne absolution who enioyned him in way of penance truly to make Narration of his Voyage and whole Peregrination to his Secretarie Poggius who writ it in the Latine tongue Ramusio sought for it in Venice and other Cities of Italie in vaine and at last heard that it was translated into Portugall by the care of King Emanuel An. 1500. a Copy whereof he procured from Lisbon but so corrupt that he doubted to publish it which yet for want of better he did and we out of him these Obseruations Nicolo di Conti a Venetian being a young man then at Damasco and hauing learned the Arabike Language went with his merchandise in a Carauan of six hundred Merchants with whom he trauelled into Arabia Petraea and thence into Chaldaea till he came to Eufrates In the Desarts of Arabia once about midnight they heard a great noyse which they thought were the wilde Arabs comming to rob them but saw a great multitude passe by neere their Tents without hurting them which some of the Merchants said were Deuils which hanted these Desarts From Baldac is eight dayes iourney to Balsera and thence foure dayes to the Persian Gulfe where the Sea ebbeth and floweth After fiue dayes sayling therein he came to Calcum and after to Ormuz thence to Calatia a Port of Persia of great traffick where he remayned to learne the Persian tongue Afterwards clothed in the habit of the Countrey which hee vsed to doe in all his iourney he went with certaine Moores and Persians hauing sworne to be faithfull to each other and sayled to Cambaia and after to Pacamuria and Dely where store of Ginger growes Thence they went farre into Sea and came to Bisinagar sixtie miles about at the foot of a high Mountayne in which are one hundred thousand men fit for armes they marry as many wiues as they will which are burned with them when they die The King is the mightiest King in India and hath twelue thousand Women foure thousand of which attend him on foot whither soeuer he goeth and are busied in the seruice of his Kitchin foure thousand others ride on Horses or are carried in Litters two thousand are to burne with him which is holden a great honor Pelagonga is subiect to him eight dayes iourney thence and ten miles in circuit from whence in twentie dayes by Land hee came to Pudifetania leauing in the way Odeschiria and Cenderghisia where red Sanders grow and thence went to Malepur where Saint Thomas is buried in a great and faire Church The Inhabitants are Nestorians which are Christians dispersed thorow all India as Iewes amongst vs. And all this Prouince is called Malabar At the end of that Country is Zeilam a famous Iland two thousand miles about where are Rubies Saphires Cats-eye stones and store of good Cinamon the Tree like a Willow but thicker the boughs growing more in breadth then height the leaues like those of the Bay Tree but greater the Barke of the boughs is best that of the Trunke is not good the fruit like Bay-berries of which they make good Oile to anoint them There is a Lake in which is a Citie of three miles circuit gouerned by Bramines which spend their liues in the studies of Philosophie and are much giuen to Astrologie After that is a great Iland called Sumatra which the Ancients called Taprobana where hee stayed a yeere There growes the best Pepper the Tree like to Iay. In a part of the Iland called Batech they eate mans flesh Thence he sayled to Ternassari and thence to the mouth of Ganges and vp the streame which is very great to Cernouem and to Maarazia whence crossing ouer Land he came to Racha and thence in seuenteene dayes to Aua fifteene miles about where they are much giuen to spend the Time in drinking and
their true intent and the ships prouided of necessaries set forth on the tenth of May 1553. for the discouerie of Cathay and diuers other Regions Dominions Ilands and places vnknowne The fourteenth of Iuly they discouered Land Eastward and went on shoare with their Pinnace and found thirty little houses the Inhabitants fled The Land was full of little Ilands called as they after learned Aegeland and Halgeland in 66. degrees The distance betweene Orfordnesse and Aegeland two hundred and fifty leagues Then we sayled from thence twelue leagues North-west and found many other Ilands and there came to anchor the nineteenth day and manned our Pinnace and went on shoare to the Ilands and found people mowing and making of Hay which came to the shoare and welcommed vs. In which place were an innumerable sort of Ilands which were called the Iles of Rost being vnder the Dominion of the King of Denmarke which place was in latitude 66. degrees and 30. minutes The winde being contrarie we remayned there three dayes and there was an innumerable sort of Fowles of diuers kindes of which we tooke very many The two and twentieth day the winde comming faire wee departed from Rost sayling North North-east keeping the Sea vntill the seuen and twentieth day and then we drew neere vnto the Land which was still East off vs then went forth our Pinnace to seeke harbour and found many good harbours of the which we entred into one with our ships which was called Stanfew and the Land being Ilands were called Lewfoot or Lofoot which were plentifully inhabited and very gentle people being also vnder the King of Denmarke but wee could not learne how farre it was from the mayne Land and we remayned there vntill the thirtieth day being in latitude 68. degrees and from the foresaid Rost about thirtie leagues North North-east The thirtieth day of Iuly about noone wee weighed our anchors and went into the Seas and sayled along these Ilands North North-east keeping the Land still in sight vntill the second of August then hailing in close aboord the Land to the intent to know what Land it was there came a Skiffe of the Iland aboord of vs of whom wee asked many questions who shewed vnto vs that the Iland was called Seynam which is the latitude of seuenty degrees and from Stanfew thirty leagues being also vnder the King of Denmark that there was no merchandise there but only dried fish and Trane-oile Then we being purposed to goe vnto Finmarke enquired of him if we might haue a Pilot to bring vs to Finmarke and he said that if we could beare in we should haue a good Harbour and on the next day a Pilot to bring vs to Finmarke vnto the Wardhouse which is the strongest Hold in Finmark most resorted to by report But when he would haue entred into an Harbour the Land being very high on euery side there came such flawes of wind and terrible whirle-winds that we were not able to beare in but by violence were constrained to take the sea againe our Pinnace being vnshipt we sailed North and by East the wind encreasing so sore that we were not able to beare any sayle but tooke them in and lay adrift to the end to let the storme ouer-passe And that night by violence of winde and thicknesse of mists we were not able to keepe together within sight and then about midnight wee lost our Pinnace which was a discomfort vnto vs. As soone as it was day and the fogge ouer-past we looked about and at the last wee descried one of our ships to lee-ward off vs then wee spred an hullocke of our fore-sayle and bare roome with her which was the Confidence but the Edward we could not see Then the flaw something abating wee and the Confidence hoysed vp our sayles the fourth day sayling north-North-east and by North to the end to fall with the Ward-house as we did consult to doe before in case we should part companie Thus running North-east and by North and North-east fifty leagues then wee founded and had one hundred and sixty fathoms whereby we thought to be farre from Land and perceiued that the Land lay not as the Globe made mention Wherefore we changed our course the sixth day and sayled South-east and by South eight and forty leagues thinking thereby to finde the Ward-house The eighth day much winde rising at the West North-west we not knowing how the coast lay strooke our sayles and lay adrift where sounded and found one hundred and sixty fathoms as before The ninth day the winde bearing to the South South-east we sayled North-east fiue and twenty leagues The tenth day we sounded and could get no ground neither yet could see any Land whereat we wondered then the winde comming at the North-east we ran South-east about eight and forty leagues The eleuenth day the winde being at South wee sounded and found forty fathoms and faire sand The twelfth day the winde being at South and by East we lay with our sayle East and East and by North thirty leagues The fourteenth day early in the morning wee descried Land which Land wee bare withall hoysing out our Boat to discouer what land it might be but the Boat could not come to Land the water was so shallow where was very much Ice also but there was no similitude of habitation and this Land lieth from Seynam East and by North one hundred and sixty leagues being in latitude 72. degrees Then we plyed to the Northward the fifteenth sixteenth and seuenteenth dayes The eighteenth day the winde comming at the North-east and the Confidence being troubled with bilge water and stocked wee thought it good to seeke harbour for her redresse then wee bare roome the eighteenth day South South-east about seventy leagues The one and twentieth day wee sounded and found ten fathoms after that wee sounded againe and found but seuen fathoms so shallower and shallower water and yet could see no Land whereat we maruelled greatly to auoide this danger we bare roomer into the Sea all that night North-west and by West The next day we sounded and had twenty fathoms then shaped our course and ranne West South-west vntill the three and twentieth day then we descried lowe Land vnto which wee bare as nigh as we could and it appeared vnto vs vnhabitable Then we plyed Westward along by that Land which lieth West South-west and East North-east and much winde blowing at the West we haled into the Sea North and by East thirtie leagues Then the winde comming about at the North-east wee sayled West North-west after that the winde bearing to the North-west wee lay with our sayles West South-west about fourteene leagues and then descried Land and bare in with it being the eight and twentieth day finding shallow water and bare in till we came to three fathom then perceiuing it to be shallow water and also seeing drie sands we haled out againe North-east along that Land vntill
forth in May 1555. and Master George Killingworth was made their first Agent the particulars whereof are found at large in Master Hakluyts first Tome of Voyages as also other things touching that Trade then setled which heere I omit and come to Master Ienkinsons Voyage to Mosco and thence to Tartaria §. II. The first Voyage made by Master ANTHONIE IENKINSON from the Citie of London toward the Land of Russia begunne the twelfth of May in the yeare 1557. FIrst by the grace of God the day and yeare aboue mentioned I departed from the said Citie and the same day at Grauesend embarked my selfe in a good ship named the Primrose being appointed although vnworthy chiefe Captaine of the same and also of the other three good ships to say the Iohn Euangelist the Anne and the Trinitie hauing also the conduct of the Emperour of Russia his Ambassadour named Osep Nopea Gregoriwich who passed with his company in the said Primrose And thus our foure tall ships being well appointed as well for men as victuals as other necessary furniture the said twelfth day of the moneth of May we weighed our Anchors and departed from the said Grauesend in the after-noone and plying downe the Thames the wind being Easterly and faire weather the thirteenth day we came a ground with the Primrose vpon a sand called the blacke tayle where wee sate fast vntill the fourteenth day in the morning and then God bee praysed shee came off and that day we plyed downe as farre as our Ladie of Holland and there came to an Anchor the winde being Easterly and there remayned vntill the twentieth day then wee weyed and went out at Goldmore gate and from thence in at Balsey slade and so into Orwell wands where we came to an Anchor but as we came out at the said Goldemore gate the Trinitie came on ground on certayne Rockes that lye to the North-ward of the said gate and was like to be bilged and lost But by the ayde of God at the last she came off againe being very leake and the one and twentieth day the Primrose remaining at an Anchor in the wands the other three ships bare into Orwell Hauen where I caused the said Trinitie to be grounded searched and repayred So we remayned in the said Hauen vntill the eight and twentieth day and then the wind being Westerly the three ships that were in the Hauen weighed and came forth and in comming forth the Iohn Euangelist came on ground vpon a Sand called the Andros where she remayned one tyde and the next full Sea she came off againe without any great hurt God be praysed The nine and twentieth day in the morning all foure ships weighed in the Wands and that tyde went as farre as Orfordnesse where we came to an Anchor because the wind was Northerly And about sixe of the clocke at night the wind vered to the South-west and we weighed Anchor and bare cleere of the Nesse and then set our course North-east and by North vntill mid-night being then cleare of Yarmouth sands Then wee winded North and by West and North North-west vntill the first of Iune at noone then it waxed calme and continued so vntill the second day at noone then the wind came at North-west with a tempest and much raine and we lay close by and caped North North-east and North-east and by North as the wind shifted and so continued vntill the third day at noone then the winde vered Westerly againe and we went North our right course and so continued our way vntill the fourth day at three of the clocke in the after-noone at which time the winde vered to the North-west againe and blew a fresh gale and so continued vntill the seuenth day in the morning wee lying with all our ships close by and caping to the Northwards and then the winde vering more Northerly we were forced to put roomer with the Coast of England againe and fell ouerthwart New-castle but went not into the Hauen and so plyed vpon the Coast the eight day and the ninth The tenth day the wind came to the North North-west and wee were forced to beare roomer with Flamborow head where we came to an Anchor and there remayned vntill the seuenteenth day Then the wind came faire and we weighed set our course North and by East time and so continued the same with a merry wind vntill the one and twentieth at noone at which we took the Sunne and had the latitude in sixtie degrees Then we shifted our course and went North North-east North-east and by North vntill the fiue and twentieth day Then we discouered certain Ilands called Heilick Ilands lying from vs Northeast being in the latitude of sixty sixe degrees fortie minutes Then we went North and by West because we would not come too nigh the Land and running that course foure houres we discouered and had sight of Rost Ilands joyning to the mayne Land of Finmarke Thus continuing our course along the Coast of Norway and Finmarke the seuen and twentieth day we tooke the Sunne being as farre shot as Lofoot and had the latitude in sixtie nine degrees And the same day in the afternoone appeared ouer our heads a Rain-bow like a Semicircle with both ends vpward Note that there is betweene the said Rost Ilands and Lofoot a Whirle-poole called Malestrand which from halfe ebbe vntill halfe floâ—d maketh such a terrible noyse that it shaketh the Rings in the doores of the Inhabitants Houses of the said Ilands ten miles off Also if there commeth any Whale within the current of the same they make a pittifull cry Moreouer if great Trees be carryed into it by force of streames and after with the ebbe be cast out againe the ends and boughes of them haue beene so beaten that they are like the stalkes of Hempe that is bruized Note that all the Coast of Finmarke is high Mountaynes and Hils being couered all the yeare with Snow And hard aboard the shoare of this Coast there is one hundred or one hundred and fiftie fathomes of water in depth Thus proceeding and sayling forward we fell with an Iland called Zenam being in the latitude of seuentie degrees About this Iland wee saw many Whales very monstrous about our ships some by estimation of sixtie foote long and being the ingendring time they roared and cryed terribly From thence we fell with an Iland called Kettlewicke This Coast from Rost vnto Lofoot lyeth North and South and from Lofoot to Zenam North-east and South-west and from Zenam to Kettelwicke East North-east and West South-west From the said Kettelwicke we sayled East and by North ten leagues and fell with a Land called Inger sound where we fished being becalmed and tooke great plentie of Cods Thus plying along the Coast we fell with a Cape called the North Cape which is the Northermost Land that we passe in our Voyage to Saint Nicholas and is in the latitude of seuentie one
memorie who called the place Meta incognita he brought home some of the Natiues and left some of his men there In the yeere 1580. the Companie sent out a second Voyage for the discouerie of the Riuer Obb and thence to goe on to Cathay furnishing forth two ships vnder the command of Arthur Pet and Charles Iackman who following their instructions arriued at Vaigats passed those Streights with a particular obseruation of those Ilands and places therein plyed along the East part of Nouazembla and the North of Russia and the Samoeds Countrey so farre as the Ice would giue them leaue and finding no possibilitie of passage by reason of the Ice returned backe in the latter end of the yeere By this time the Voyage of Saint Nicolas was knowne and become a beaten trade And the Companie sent out yeerely thither ten or twelue ships which returned fraighted with the commodities of that Countrey In the yeere 1583. by the leaue and admittance of the Moscouia Companie Sir Humfrey Gilbert went out for the discouerie of the North part of Terra Florida came into the great Riuer called Saint Laurence in Canada tooke possession of the Countrey setled the gouernment of the fishing there which is so well knowne in these times In the yeere 1585. Master Iohn Dauis was furnished out at Dartmouth with two Barkes for the discouerie of the North-west came into the height of 66. plyed along the coast obserued the probabilitie of a passage and in the end of the yeere returned In the yeere following being 1586. hee went on againe in the further discouerie thereof found a great Inlet betweene 55. and 56. of latitude which gaue him great hope of a passage traded with the people there and so returned In the yeere 1587. hee made a third Voyage to those places followed his course to the North and North-west to the Latitude of 67. degrees hauing the Continent which hee called America on the West side and Groineland which hee named Desolation on the East and going on the height of 86. degrees the passage enlarged so that hee could not see the Westerne shoare Thus he continued in the Latitude of 73. degrees in a great Sea free from Ice of an vnmeasurable depth but by the occasion of the departure of two Ships which were in company with him which hee left Fishing at a place he returned home This passage continueth the Name and memorie of the first Discouerer and is called Fretum Dauis And thus the Discouerie of the Northern Seas proceeded on from time to time by the endeauour and charge of the Muscouia Companie vntill they had particularly discouered the Lands Coasts Ilands Straights Hauens Bayes Riuers and other places therein and measured euery part thereof by their often tracing to and fro Together also with the obseruation of the Commodities and Aduantages arising from euery part of the same continuing euen vnto these times to haunt and frequent the parts which they had formerly found out As by their yeerely Reportaries and Iournals may appeare and that either without emulation or competition of any other Nation that euer came into those parts or enterprised any Discouerie there vntill of late yeeres as appeares by this that followeth When Richard Chancelor had setled a trade with Iohn Vasilowich then Emperour of Russia and his Ambassadours had beene heere in England to accomplish matters requisite for maintenance of the Amitie and Entercourse made and agreed vpon betweene these two Crownes King Philip Queene Marie Dukes also at that time of Burgundie and Soueraignes of all the Netherlands made a grant of Priuiledge vnto the Muscouia Merchants for the sole Trade of those Seas prohibiting all others to haunt and frequent the same without speciall Licence and consent of the sayd Companie which grant of Priuiledge was accordingly enioyed without disturbance or interloping of the Hollanders who out of obedience either to the Prohibition made by their Soueraigne or for that they durst not aduenture into these Seas did not any way attempt to bee seene or appeare there either for Discouerie or trade of Merchandize for the space of fiue and twentie yeeres after the Port of Saint Nicholas was first Discouered and found out by the English For the Company hauing as is aboue mentioned made their first Discouerie in the yeere 1553. there was neuer heard of any Netherlander that frequented those Seas vntill the yeere 1578. At which time they first began to come to Cola and within a yeere or two after one Iohn de Whale a Netherlander came to the Bay of Saint Nicholaâ— being drawne thither by the perswasion of some English for their better meane of Interloping which was the first man of that Nation that euer was seene there And this as is formerly noted was fiue and twentie yeeres after it was Discouered by the Muscouia Merchants Afterwards the Hollanders crept in more and more and in the yeere 1594. they made out foure Ships for Discouerie of the North-east passage to China the Master Pylot whereof was William Barrents these came vpon the Coast of Nouazembla to the Latitude of 77. degrees drew backe againe towards the Straights of Vaigats and then returned giuing Names vnto some places and Promontories vpon that Land In the yeere 1595. They sent out a second Voyage tracing the way through the Straights of Vaigats in the same steps as Pet and Iackman had formerly passed and so returned In the yeere 1596. They set out a third Voyage with two Ships the one of which shaped her course from the Cape of Norway to an Iland in the Latitude of 74. degrees which wee call Cherie Iland and they call Beare Iland and from thence to Greenland where Sir Hugh Willoughbie had beene two and fortie yeeres before for so long time there is betweene the first Discouerie thereof and the yeere 1596. And from thence to the North-east part of Nouazembla in the Latitude of 76. degrees where they Wintred and lost their Ship and came home with much difficultie In the yeere 1603. Stephen Bennet was imployed by the Companie in a Ship called the Grace to those parts Northwards of the Cape and was at Cherie Iland and killed some Sea-horses and brought home Lead Oare from thence In the yeere 1608. the said fellowship set foorth a Ship called the Hope-well whereof William Hudson was Master to discouer to the Pole where it appeareth by his Iournall that hee came to the height of 81. degrees where he gaue Names to certayne places vpon the Continent of Greenland formerly discouered which continue to this day namely Whale Bay and Hackluit Head-land and being hindred with Ice returned home without any further vse made of the Countrey and in ranging homewards hee discouered an Iland lying in 71. degrees which hee named Hudsons Tutches Heere it is to bee vnderstood that the Companie hauing by often resort and imployment to
South and South and by East to another small point three miles on which point there stood a Crosse and therefore they called it the Crosse-point there also was a flat Bay and low water fiue six or seuen fadome deepe soft ground From Crosse-point they sayled along by the land South South-east foure miles and then came to another small point which behind it had a great Crâ—eke that reached Eastward This point they called the fifth point or Saint Laurence point From the fifth point they sayled to the Sconce point three miles South South-east and there lay a long blacke Rocke close by the land whereon there stood a Crosse then they entred into the Ice againe and put inward to the Sea because of the Ice Their intent was to sayle along the coast of Noua Zembla to the Wey-gates but by reason that the Ice met them they woond Westward and from the ninth of August in the Eeuening till the tenth of August in the Morning sayled West and by North eleuen miles and after that foure miles West North-west and North-west and by West the winde being North in the Morning they woond Eastward againe and sayled vntill Eeuening ten miles East and East and by South after that East and East and by North foure miles and there they saw land and were against a great Creeke where with their Boate they went on land and there found a faire Hauen fiue fathome deepe sandie ground This Creeke on the North side hath three blacke points and about the three points lyeth the road but you must keepe somewhat from the third point for it is stonie and betweene the second and third point there is another faire Bay for North-west North and North-east windes blacke sandie ground This Bay they called Saint Laurence Bay and there they tooke the height of the Sunne which was 70. degrees and â— 4. From Saint Laurence Bay South South-east two miles to Sconce point there lay along blacke Rocke close by the land whereon there stood a Crosse there they went on Land with their Boat and perceiued that some men had beene there and that they were fled to saue themselues for there they found sixe Sackes with Rye-meale buried in the ground and a heape of stones by the Crosse and a Bullet for a great Piece and thereabouts also there stood another Crosse with three Houses made of wood after the North Countrey manner and in the houses they found many barrels of Pike-stanes whereby they conjectured that there they vsed to take Salmons and by them stood fiue or six Coffins by Graues with dead mens bones the Coffins standing vpon the ground all filled vp with stones there also lay a broken Russia ship the Keele thereof being fortie foure foot long but they could see no man on the Land it is a faire Hauen for all winder which they called the Meale-hauen because of the Meale that they found there From the blacke Rocke or Cliffe with the Crosse two miles South South-east there lay a low Iland a little into the Sea from whence they sayled nine or ten miles South South-east there the height of the Sunne was 70. degrees and 50. minutes when it was South South-west From that Iland they sayled along by the Land foure miles South-east and by South there they came to two Ilands whereof the vttermost lay a mile from the Land those Ilands they called Saint Clara. Then they entred into the Ice againe and woond inward to the Sea in the wind and sayled from the Iland vntill Eeuening West South-west foure miles the wind being North-west that Eeuening it was very mistie and then they had eightie fathome deepe Then againe they sayled South-west and by West and West South-west three miles there they had seuentie fathome deepe and so sayled till the thirteenth of August in the morning South-west and by West foure miles two houres before they had ground at fiftie sixe fathome and in the morning at fortie fiue fathome soft muddie ground Then they woond from the land and sayled North and North and by East foure miles from thence they woond to land againe and sayled till the fourteene of August fiue or sixe miles South-west sayling close by the land which as they ghesse was the Iland of Colgoyen August the fifteenth the Sun being South-west William Barents tooke the height thereof and found it to bee eleuated aboue the Horizon 35. degrees his Declination being 14. degrees and ¼ so that as there wanted 55. degrees of 90. which 55. and 14. degrees ¼ being both added together made 69. Degrees 15. Minutes which was the height of the Pole in that place the wind being North-west then they sayled two miles more Eastward and came to the Ilands called Matfloe and Delgoy and there in the morning they met with the other Ships of their companie being of Zelandt and Enck-huysen that came out of Wey-gates the same day there they shewed each other where they had beene and how farre each of them had sayled and discouered The Ship of Enck-huysen had past the Straights of Wey-gates and said that at the end of Wey-gates hee had found a large Sea and that they had sayled fiftie or sixtie miles further Eastward and were of opinion that they had beene about the Riuer Obi that commeth out of Tartaria and that the Land of Tartaria reacheth North-eastward againe from thence whereby they thought that they were not farre from Cape Tabin which is the point of Tartaria that reacheth towards the Kingdome of Cathai North-east and then Southward and so thinking that they had Discouered enough for that time and that it was too late in the yeere to sayle any further as also that their Commission was to discouer the scituation and to come home againe before Winter they turned againe towards the Wey-gates and came to an Iland about fiue miles great lying South-east from Wey-gates on the Tartarian side and called it the States Iland there they found many Stones that were of Christall Mountayne being a kind of Diamond When they were met together as I sayd before they made signes of joy discharging some of their Ordnance and were merrie the other Ships thinking that William Barents had sayled round about Noua Zembla and had come backe againe through the Wey-gates and after they had shewed each other what they had done and made signes of joy for their meeting they set their course to turne backe againe for Holland and vpon the sixteenth of August they went vnder the Ilands of Matfloe and Delgoy and put into the road because the wind was North-west and lay till the eighteenth of August Then they set sayle and came to the Texel the sixteenth of September CHAP. IIII. A briefe Declaration of BARENTS his second Nauigation made in Anno 1595. behinde Norway Muscouia and Tartaria written by GERAT DE VEER THe foure Ships aforesaid being returned home about Haruest-time in Anno 1594. they were in good hope
at the least the three that went forward in that sort were Cornelius Iacobson Master of William Barents ship William Gysen Pylot of the Pinnasse and Hans van Nuflen William Barents Purser and after that the sayd Master and Pylot had shot three times and mist the Purser stepping somewhat further forward and seeing the Beare to be within the length of a shot presently leuelled his Piece and discharging it at the Beare shot her into the head betweene both the eyes and yet she held the man still fast by the necke and lifted vp her head with the man in her mouth but shee began somwhat to stagger wherewith the Purser and a Scottish-man drew out their Curtelaxes and strooke at her so hard that their Curtelaxes burst and yet she would not leaue the man at last William Geysen went to them and with all his might strooke the Beare vpon the snout with his Piece at which time the Beare fell to the ground making a great noyse and William Geysen leaping vpon her cut her throat The seuenth of September wee buried the dead bodies of our men in the States Iland and hauing stayed the Beare carryed her Skin to Amsterdam The ninth of September we set sayle from the States Iland but the Ice came in so thicke and with such force that we could not get through so that at Eeuening we came backe againe to the States Iland the winde being Westerly There the Admirall and the Pinnasse of Rotterdam fell on ground by certayne Rockes but got off againe without any hurt The tenth of September we sayled againe from the States Iland towards the Wey-gates and sent two Boates into the Sea to certifie vs what store of Ice was abroad and that Eeuening wee came all together into Wey-gates and Anchored by the Twist-point The eleuenth of September in the Morning we sayled againe into the Tartarian Sea but we fell into great store of Ice so that we sayled backe againe to the Wey-gates and Anchored by the Crosse-point and about midnight we saw a Russian Lodgie that sayled from the Bâ—â—lt-point towards the Samuters Land The thirteenth of September the Sunne being South there began a great storme to blow out of the South South-west the weather being mistie melancholy and snowie and the storme increasing more and more we draue through The fourteenth of September the weather began to bee somewhat clearer the winde being North-west and the storme blowing stiffe out of the Tartarian Sea but at Eeuening it was faire weather and then the wind blew North-east the same day our men went on the other side of Wey-gates on the firme land to take the depth of the Channell and entred into the Bough behind the Ilands where there stood a little House made of wood and a great fall of water into the land The same Morning we hoysed vp our Anchor thinking once againe to try what wee could doe to further our Voyage but our Admirall being of another minde lay still till the fifteenth of September The same day in the Morning the winde draue in from the east-East-end of the Wey-gates whereby we were forced presently to hoyse Anchors and the same day sayled out from the west-West-end of the Wey-gates with all our Fleet and made homewards againe and that day past by the Ilands called Matfloe and Delgoy and that night we sayled twelue miles North-west and by West till Saturday in the morning and then the winde fell North-east and it began to Snow We saw the point of Candyâ—aes lying South-east from vs and then wee had seuen and twentie fathom deepe red sand with blacke shels The nine and twentieth of September in the Eeuening entred into Ward-house and there we stayed till the tenth of October And that day we set sayle out of Ward-house and vpon the eighteenth of Nouember we arriued in the Maes CHAP. V. The third Voyage Northward to the Kingdomes of Cathaia and China in Anno 1596. Written by GERAT DE VEER §. I. What happened to them at Sea before they came to build their House AFter that the seuen Ships as I said before were returned backe againe from their North Voyage with lesse benefit then was expected the Generall States of the Vnited Prouinces consulted together to send certayne Ships thither againe a third time to see if they might bring the said Voyage to a good end if it were possible to bee done but after much Consultation had they could not agree thereon yet they were content to cause a Proclamation to be made that if any either Townes or Merchants were disposed to venture to make further search that way at their owne charges if the Voyage were accomplished and that thereby it might be made apparant that the sayd passage was to be sayled they were content to giue them a good reward in the Countries behalfe naming a certayne summe of money Whereupon in the beginning of this yeere there was two Ships rigged and set forth by the Towne of Amsterdam to sayle that Voyage the men therein being taken vp vpon two Conditions viz. What they should haue if the Voyage were not accomplished and what they should haue if they got through and brought the Voyage to an end promising them a good reward if they could effect it thereby to encourage the men taking vp as many vnmarried men as they could that they might not bee disswaded by meanes of their Wiues and Children to leaue off the Voyage Vpon these Conditions those two Ships were ready to set sayle in the beginning of May. In the one Iacob Heemskerke Hendrickson was Master and Factor for the Wares and Merchandizes and William Barents chiefe Pylot In the other Iohn Cornelison Rijp was both Master and Factor for the goods that the Merchants had laden in her The fifth of May all the men in both the Ships were Mustered and vpon the tenth of May they sayled from Amsterdam and the thirteenth of May got to the Vlie The thirtieth of May we had a good winde and sayled North-east and wee tooke the height of the Sunne with our Crosse-staffe and found that it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 47. degrees and 42. minutes his Declination was 21. degrees and 42. minutes so that the height of the Pole was 69. degrees and 24. minutes The first of Iune we had no night and the second of Iune we had the winde contrarie but vpon the fourth of Iune we had a good winde out of the West North-west and sayled North-east And when the Sunne was about South South-east wee saw a strange sight in the Element for on each side of the Sunne there was another Sunne and two Raine-bowes that past cleane thorow the three Sunnes and then two Raine-bowes more the one compassing round about the Sunnes and the other crosse thorow the great rundle the great rundle standing with the vttermost point eleuated aboue the Horizon 28. degrees at noone the Sunne being at the highest the height thereof was measured and
a terce full of salt there which wee left in that place the eleuenth of May. The fifteenth day when wee had ended our businesse and eaten some of our Beares flesh and set vp an Ensigne in token of our possession of the Iland wee prepared to be gone and about an East North-east Sunne the wind came Westerly which made me thinke as it proued that the Ship would be on the South-east side of the Iland and when wee were comming and almost at the North-east point we saw nine men presently I knew them to bee the men of Hull Along I came to the East side where we tooke in drift wood and a broad stone to make a fire vpon in our Boat While wee were there wee espied our ship vnder her Fore-topsayle and her Misen We made all the haste we could and came to the Coue where wee made our voyage the Summer last past There likewise I set vp a Pike with a white cloth vpon it and a letter signifying our possession for the right worshipfull Company trading to Moscouie When I had done I espied the Hull mans Boat rowing into the Coue and a Tent set vp in the bottom of the Bay I went thither and told him we had taken possession there the eight of May last He answered That if the beasts came on shoare he would kill them if he could and that there were as good men which ventured in that Ship as the Company I told him he durst not answer these words in England and so departed and got some Fowle About a South-west Sunne wee stood toward our Ship hauing the wind at West South-west and the Ship bearing from vs South-east about foure leagues I had not sailed ten miles but the Ice was so close and firme that I could not get aboord nor backe againe for it closed with such force that it made the Shallops sides cracke as though they would haue met together Wee laboured very sore to saue our Boat because it did concerne our liues and got her into a place where shee lay betweene two pieces of Ice After this sort we draue with the Ice till we had lost sight of our Ship which was about a North sun and still wee draue being not able otherwise to moue till we were aboue eight leagues from the Iland The sixteenth day at an East South-east Sun the Ice began to open Then although my Company were in despaire and said it was impossible to get out to worke wee went and by cutting off Ice and remouing of it one piece from another we made way through toward the Land The neerer to the Land wee got wee found the more open Sea and by a North Sunne wee got on shoare After wee had giuen God thankes for our deliuerance out of such extreame danger wee eate some Fowle and Beares flesh which wee sod vnder a Cliffe There wee found nine young Foxes and killed the old one There also we slept vpon the cold Sand which was not past three inches thicke and vnderneath Ice and staied here till a South-east Sunne the seuenteenth day The seuenteenth we went from this place to the Coue where we found the Hull mans Boat I made a tilt of the Shallops sayle and sod some Beares flesh and Fowle and stayed about the Coue all that day And vpon an Iland commonly called Gull-Iland I found three Mynes of Lead Vre but hauing no fit tooles to breake the Rocks and also because it was in the view of the Hull mans Tent I was forced to let it rest till the Ships could get into the Coue. The eighteenth day wee went to the North side of the Iland and in our way wee found good Sea-coales to burne some wee tooke with vs to try them and found them good And on the North side I slew two Beares Then wee shared the bread that was left and wee had but two cakes to a man for some of my Company while I was asleepe or killing of the Beares had broken open the chest wherein the bread was and had conueyed some away Our beere was spent before this time and we were faine to drinke snow water The nineteenth wee went to the Coue the wind being Westerly to see if wee could espy our Ship but wee could not neither could shee come neere the Iland for Ice for all the Sea as farre as I could see from the top of an high Hill was couered with Ice sauing that within a quarter of a mile off the shoare it was cleere round about once in a tyde The twentieth day I went to the North side againe and slew a Beare Thus wee spent the time sometimes on one side sometimes on the other neuer staying aboue one day in one place till the Ship came in vvhich vvas the seuen and twentieth of Iune on vvhich day I slew another Beare I slew seuen in all vvhose flesh vve eate full sauerly forgetting the oyly ranknesse of it for hunger is a sauourie sawce The seuen and twentieth our ship came to an anchor on the North side where we then were assoone as vve saw her we needed no bidding to go aboord When we were come to the ship side they bad vs vvelcome but vvhereas vve thought to haue releeued our selues vvee found it farre otherwise because the Ship had a knocke vvith a piece of Ice in the Sterne vvhich brake in the corner of a Planke vnder the vvater so that our bread-roome vvas full of vvater and all our bread spoyled sauing about one hundred vveight vvhich vvas but a small quantitie for three and forty men This day a Ship called the Matthew came to an anchor by vs. Then Master Welden and I vvent on shoare vvhere vve found one Iohn Skinner Masters mate of the Matthew vvith eleuen men by him We set vp our Tent and told him there vvas no voyage for him to make but our necessitie vvas such that vve vvere faine to take foure hundred of bread of them vpon some condition vvhich I vvill not speake of here The same day vvee thought to haue taken a Copper aboord vvhich I digged out of the snow but by negligence it vvas let fall into the Sea yet afterward taken vp againe and carried aboord The same day another Ship called the Mary Margarite came into the said Coue on the South side The eighteenth I vvent to the Coue vvith the Shallop and sixe men vvhere I found the Marie Margarite there passed no great kindnesse betweene them and me I slew three Morses there two vvere lost the others head I brought aboord The next day I came aboord our Ship and vve rid on that side looking still vvhen any beasts vvould come on shoare till the second of Iuly Then vve vveighed and stood to the East side of the Iland because the vvind vvas at West North-west and great store of Ice came from those parts We had not rid one houre to an end but vve saw a
shape our course from thence North-west Heere is to bee noted that although we ranne along neere the shoare we found no great cold which made vs thinke that if we had beene on shoare the place is temperate Holding this North-west course about ten of the clocke at night we saw great store of Ice on head off vs bearing Wester off vs which we could not goe cleere off with the foresayd course Then we tact about and stood away betweene the South and the South-east as much desirous to leaue this Land as we were to see it The eight and twentieth was a hard gale of wind all the fore-noone betweene the South and the South-west We shaped our course we did it to bee farther from the Ice and Land It pleased God that about twelue of the clocke this night it cleered vp and we found that we were betweene the Land and the Ice Vogel Hooke then bearing nearest hand East off vs. Then we tacked about and stood in for the shoare hauing Sea-roome between the Ice and the Land The nine and twentieth at foure in the morning the wind at North-east a pretie gale we thought best to shorten our way so we tacked about and stood North North-west the wind a little increasing About twelue at noone we saw Ice a head off vs we cast about again and stood away East South-east with very much wind so that we shortned our sayles for the space of two Watches Then about eight this Eeuening we strucke a Hull and it proued the hardest storme that we had in this Voyage The thirtieth in the morning was stormie about noone it ceased at seuen in the Eeuening it proued almost calme The first of Iuly all the fore-noone the wind was at South-east we stood North-east for the shoare hoping to finde an open Sea betweene the shoare and the Ice About noone wee were embayed with Ice lying betweene the Land and vs. By our obseruation we were in 78. degrees 42. minutes whereby we accounted we were thwart of The great Indraught And to free our selues of the Ice we steered betweene the South-east and South and to the Westward as we could haue sea And about six this Eeuening it pleased God to giue vs cleere weather and we found we were shot farre into the Inlet being almost a Bay and enuironed with very high Mountaynes with low Land lying betweene them wee had no ground in this Bay at an hundred fathoms Then being sure where we were we steered away West the wind at South-east and calme and found all our Ice on the Norther shoare and a cleare Sea to the Southward The second it pleased God to giue vs the wind at North-east a faire gale with cleere weather the Ice being to the Northward off vs and the weather shoare and an open Sea to the South-wards vnder our Lee. We held on our course North-west till twelue of the clocke hauing sayled in that course 10. leagues and finding the Ice to fall from vs to the we gaue thankes to God who maruellously preserued vs from so many dangers amongst so huge a quantitie of Ice and Fogge. We steered away North-west hoping to be free from Ice we had obseruation 78. degrees 56. minutes we fell with Ice againe and trended it as it lay betweene the West and South South-east The third we had obseruation 78. degrees 33. minutes This day wee had our shrouds frozen it was searching cold we also trended the Ice not knowing whether we were cleare or not the wind being at North. The fourth was very cold and our shroudes and sayles frozen we found we were farre in the Inlet The wind being at North we beare vp and stood South South-east and South and South-west by West till ten this night The fift was very much wind at North Easterly at twelue we strooke a Hull hauing brought our selues neare the mouth of the Inlet The sixth in the morning the wind was as before and the Sea growne This morning we came into a very Greene Sea we had our obseruation 77. degrees 30. minutes This after-noone the wind and Sea asswaged About foure of the clocke we set sayle and steered North-west and by West the wind being at North North-east This day proued the clearest day we had long before The seuenth at foure in the morning was very cleare weather and the fairest Morning that we saw in three weekes before we steered as afore being by our account in 78. degrees nearest hand and out of the Sacke We found we were compassed in with Land and Ice and were againe entred into a Blacke Sea which by proofe we found to be an open passage Now hauing the wind at North North-east we steered away South by East with purpose to fall with the Southermost part of this Land which we saw hoping by this meane either to defray the charge of the Voyage or else if it pleased God in time to giue vs a faire wind to the North-east to satisfie expectation All this day and night afterward proued calme The eight all the fore-noone proued calme and very thicke fogge This morning we saw many peeces of Drift-wood driue by vs we heaued out our Boate to stop a leake and mended our riggings This day wee saw many Seales and two Fishes which we iudged to bee Sea-horses or Morses At twelue this night we had the winde at East and by South wee stood away North-east The ninth all the fore-noone was little wind at South-east with thicke fogge This day we were in amongst Ilands of Ice where we saw many Seales The tenth in the morning was foggie afterward it proued cleere we found we were compassed with Ice euery way about vs wee tacked about and stood South and by West and South South-west one Watch fiue leagues hoping to get more Sea-roome and to stand for the North-east we had the wind at North-west The eleuenth very cleere weather with the winde at South South-east we were come out of the Blue Sea into our Greene Sea againe where we saw Whales Now hauing a fresh gale of wind at South South-east it behooued mee to change my course and to sayle to the north-North-east by the Souther end of Newland But being come into a Greene Sea praying God to direct mee I steered away North ten leagues After that we saw Ice on our Larboord we steered away East and by North three leagues and left the Ice behind vs. Then we steered away North till noone This day wee had the Sunne on the Meridian South and by West Westerly his greatest height was 37. degrees 20. minutes By this obseruation we were in 79. degrees 17. minutes we had a fresh gale of wind and a smooth sea by meanes whereof our ship had out-runne vs. At ten this Eeuening cleere weather and then we had the company of our troublesome neighbours Ice with fogge The wind was at South South-west Heere we saw plentie of Seales
and we supposed Beares had beene heere by their footing and dung vpon the Ice This day many of my Companie were sicke with eating of Beares flesh the day before vnsalted The twelfth for the most part was thicke fogge we steered betweene South and by East and South South-east 2. 1 ◠leagues to cleere vs of the Ice Then we had the wind at South we steered till noone North-east fiue leagues This morning we had our shrouds frozen At noone by our accompt we were in 80. degrees being little wind at West South-west almost calme with thicke fogge This after-noone we steered away North and sometimes North-east Then we saw Ice a head off vs we cast about and stood South-east with little wind and fogge Before we cast about by meanes of the thicke fogge we were very neere Ice being calme and the Sea setting on to the Ice which was very dangerous It pleased God at the very instant to giue vs a small gale which was the meanes of our deliuerance to him be praise therefore At twelue this night it cleered vp and out of the top William Collins our Boat-swaine saw the Land called Newland by the Hollanders bearing South South-west twelue leagues from vs. The thirteenth in the Morning the wind at South and by East a good gale we cast about and stood North-east and by East and by obseruation we were in 80. degrees 23. minutes This day we saw many Whales This fore-noone proued cleere weather and we could not see any signe of Ice out of the top Betweene noone and three of the clocke we steered away North-east and by East fiue leagues then we saw Ice on head off vs we steered East two Glasses one league and could not be cleare of the Ice with that course Then we steered away South-east two leagues ½ after we sayled East and by North and East foure leagues till eight the next morning The foureteenth in the morning was calme with fogge At nine the wind at East a small gale with thicke fogge we steered South-east and by East and running this course we found our Greene Sea againe which by proofe we found to be freest from Ice and our Azure Blue Sea to be our Icie Sea At this time we had more Birds then we vsually found At noone being a thicke fogge we found our selues neere Land bearing East off vs and running farther we found a Bay open to the West and by North Northerly the bottome and sides thereof being to our sight very high and ragged Land The Norther side of this Bayes mouth being high land is a small Iland the which we called Collins Cape by the name of our Boat-swaine who first saw it In this Bay we saw many Whales and one of our company hauing a Hooke and Line ouer-boord to trie for Fish a Whale came vnder the Keele of our ship and made her held yet by Gods mercie we had no harme but the losse of the hooke and three parts of the line At a South-west Sunne from the North-west and by North a flood set into the Bay At the mouth of this Bay we had sounding thirtie fathoms and after sixe and twentie fathoms but being farther in we had no ground at an hundred fathoms and therefore judged it rather a Sound then a Bay Betweene this high ragged in the swampes and vallies lay much snow Heere wee found it hot On the Souther side of this Bay lye three or foure small Ilands or Rockes In the bottome of this Bay Iohn Colman my Mate and William Collins my Boat-swaine with two others of our company went on shoare and there they found and brought aboord a payre of Morses teeth in the jaw they likewise found Whales bones and some dosen or more of Deeres Hornes they saw the footings of Beasts of other sorts they also saw Rote-geese they saw much drift Wood on the shoare and found a streame or two of Fresh water Here they found it hot on the shoare and dranke water to coole their thirst which they also commended Here we found the want of a better Ship-boate As they certified me they were not on the shoare past halfe an houre and among other things brought aboord a Stone of the Countrey When they went from vs it was calme but presently after we had a gale of wind at North-east which came with the Flood with fogge We plyed too and againe in the Bay waiting their comming but after they came aboord we had the wind at East and by South a fine gale we minding our Voyage and the time to performe it steered away North-east and North North-east This night proued cleere and we had the Sunne on the Meridian on the North and by East part of the Compasse from the vpper edge of the Horizon with the Crosse-staffe we found his height 10. degrees 40. minutes without allowing any thing for the Semidiameter of the Sunne or the distance of the end of the staffe from the Center in the Eye From a North Sunne to an East Sunne we sayled betweene North and North North-east eight leagues The fifteenth in the morning was very cleere vveather the Sunne shining vvarme but little vvind at East Southerly By a South-east Sunne vve had brought Collins Cape to beare off vs South-east and we saw the high Land of Newland that part by vs Discouered on our starboord eight or ten leagues from vs trending North-east and by East and South-west and by West eighteene or twentie leagues from vs to the North-east being a very high Mountaynous land like ragged Rockes vvith snow betweene them By mine account the Norther part of this Land which now vve saw stretched into 81. degrees All this day proued cleere vveather little Wind and reasonable vvarme The sixteenth in the morning warme and cleere weather the vvind at North. This morning we saw that vve vvere compassed in with Ice in abundance lying to the North to the North-vvest the East and South-east and being runne toward the farthest part of the Land by vs discouered which for the most part trendeth nearest hand North-east and South-west vvee saw more Land ioyning to the same trending North in our sight by meanes of the cleernesse of the vveather stretching farre into 82. degrees and by the bowing or shewing of the skie much farther Which when I first saw I hoped to haue had a free Sea betweene the Land and the Ice and meant to haue compassed this Land by the North. But now finding by proofe it vvas vnpossible by means of the abundance of Ice compassing vs about by the North and ioyning to the land and seeing God did blesse vs with a faire wind to sayle by the South of this Land to the North-east vve returned bearing vp the Helme minding to hold that part of the Land vvhich the Hollanders had discouered in our fight and if contrary vvindes should take vs to Harbour there and to trie what vve could finde to the charge of
all night At noone I found the height 43. degrees 6. minutes The variation one point VVest The thirtieth faire sun-shining weather the winde at South-west and by VVest we steered North-west and by VVest And made our way so by reason of the variation of the Compasse At noone I found the height to bee 43. degrees 18. minutes wee continued our course all night and made our way North-west and by VVest halfe a point VVesterly fiue and twentie leagues The first of Iuly close mystie and thicke weather but a faire gale of wind at South-west and South-west by South We steered away North-west and by West Westerly and made our way so by reason of the variation of the Compasse At eight of the clocke at night wee sounded for the Banke of New-found Land but could get no ground The second thicke mystie weather but little wind and that at West and West and by South At eight of the clocke in the morning we cast about to the Southward and when our ship was on stayes we sounded for the Banke and had ground in thirtie fathoms white sand and shells and presently it cleered and we had sight of a sayle but spake not with her In the night we had much Rayne Thunder and Lightning and wind shifting The third faire Sun-shining weather with a faire gale of wind at East North-east and wee steered away West South-west by our Compasse which varyed 17. degrees Westward This morning we were among a great Fleet of French-men which lay Fishing on the Banke but we spake with none of them At noone wee found our heighth to bee 43. degrees 41. minutes And we sounded at ten of the clocke and had thirtie fathoms gray sand At two of the clocke wee sounded and had fiue and thirtie fathoms gray sand At eight of the clocke at night we sounded againe and had eight and thirtie fathoms gray sand as before The fourth at the fore-part of the day cleere with a faire gale of wind but variable betweene the East North-east and South and by East wee held on our course as before The after-noone was mystie the wind shifting betweene the South and the West till foure of the clocke Then we tooke in our top-sayle and sprit-sayle and sounded and had no ground in seuentie fathoms The winde shifted still vntill eight of the clocke then it came to the North North-east and North-east and by North and we steered away West North-west by our varyed Compasse which made a West way halfe point North. The Compasse varyed 15. degrees from the North to the West The fift faire sun-shining weather the wind at North-east and by North we steered away West North-west which was West halfe a point North. At noone we found our heighth to be 44. degrees 10. minutes and sounded and had no ground in one hundred fathoms The after-noone proued calme sometimes and somtimes little wind vntill nine of the clocke in the night Then the wind came to the East and we held on our course At mid-night I obserued and found the height to bee 44. degrees 10. minutes by the North Starre and the Scorpions heart The Compasse varyed 13. degrees The sixth the fore-part of the day faire weather and a stiffe gale of wind betweene South South-east and South-west wee steered West and by North and West North-west The after-part of the day from two of the clocke was all foggie and thicke weather the wind a hard gale varying betweene South-west and by South and West and by North we made our way North-west halfe a point Northerly nineteene leagues vpon many points foure Watches At night at eight of the clocke we sounded and had no ground at one hundred fathoms The seuenth faire sun-shining weather the wind varying betweene West and by North and West and by South At foure of the clocke in the morning we cast about to the Southward and stood so till one in the after-noone At noone we found our height to be 44. degrees 26. minutes At seuen of the clocke we tackt to the Northward At eight at night we tackt to the Southward and sounded and had nine and fiftie fathoms white sand The eight in the fore-noone faire weather but the morning foggie till seuen of the clocke At foure of the clocke in the morning we sounded and had fiue fortie fathoms fine white sand and we had runne fiue leagues South and by West Then wee stood along one Glasse and went one league as before Then we stood one Glasse and sounded and had sixtie fathoms Then wee ta kt and stood backe to the Banke and had fiue and twentie fathoms and tryed for Fish and it fell calme and we caught one hundred and eighteene great Coddes from eight a clocke till one and after Dinner wee tooke twelue and saw many great Scoales of Herrings Then wee had a gale of wind at South and it shifted to the West North-west and we stood three Glasses and sounded and had sixtie fathomes and stood two Glasses and had two and fortie fathoms red stones and shells So wee sounded euery Glasse and had seuerall soundings 35.33.30.31.32.33 and 34. fathoms The ninth faire calme weather we lay becalmed all day and caught some Fish but not much because we had small store of salt At three of the clocke in the after-noone wee had a gale at South-east and South South-east and we steered away Westerly our Compasse was West and by South halfe a point South At foure of the clocke we sounded and had but fifteene seuenteene and nineteene fathoms on a fishing Banke and we founded euery Glasse Then we could get no ground in fiue and twentie fathoms and had sight of a sayle on head off vs. At noone our height was 44. degrees 27. minutes We stood to the Westward all night and spake with a French-man which lay Fishing on the Banke of Sablen in thirtie fathoms and we saw two or three more The tenth very mystie and thicke weather the wind at South-west a faire gale We stood to the South-ward and made our way South-east and by East At twelue of the clocke we sounded and had eight and fortie fathoms againe at two we sounded and had fiftie fathoms And at sixe of the clocke we sounded and had eight and fortie fathoms on the end of the Banke Againe at eight of the clocke at night wee sounded and had no ground in eightie fathomes and were ouer the Banke So wee stood along till mid-night The Compasse varyed 17. degrees to the Westward The eleuenth very thicke and mystie weather At twelue of the clocke at night we cast about to the Westward and stood so all day and made our way West North-west We sounded at twelue of the clocke but had no ground so we stood to the Westward all the fore-part of the night and sounded but could get no ground in fiftie or sixtie fathoms till mid-night Then I sounded and had ground at fifteene fathoms white
passed by them till we came to the South side of the Hill we went vnto them and there found more and being nigh them I turned off the vppermost stone and found them hollow within and full of Fowles hanged by their neckes Then Greene and I went to fetch the Boat to the South side while Robert Billet and hee got downe a Valley to the Sea side where wee tooke them in Our Master in this time came in betweene the two Lands and shot off some Peeces to call vs aboord for it was a fogge Wee came aboord and told him what we had seene and perswaded him to stay a day or two in this place telling him what refreshing might there bee had but by no meanes would he stay who was not pleased with the motion So we left the Fowle and lost our way downe to the South-west before they went in sight of the Land which now beares to the East from vs being the same mayne Land that wee had all this while followed Now we had lost the sight of it because it falleth away to the East after some fiue and twenty or thirty leagues Now we came to the shallow water wherewith wee were not acquainted since we came from Island now we came into broken ground and Rockes through which we passed downe to the South In this our course we had a storme and the water did shoald apace Our Master came to an anchor in fifteene fathoms water Wee weighed and stood to the South-east because the Land in this place did lie so When we came to the point of the West Land for we now had Land on both sides of vs we came to an anchor Our Master sent the Boat ashoare to see what that Land was and whether there were any way through They soone returned and shewed that beyond the point of Land to the South there was a large Sea This Land on the West side was a very narrow Point Wee weighed from hence and stood in for this Sea betweene the two Lands which in this place is not two leagues broad downe to the South for a great way in sight of the East shoare In the end we lost sight thereof and saw it not till we came to the bottome of the Bay into sixe or seuen fathomes water Hence we stood vp to the North by the West shoare till wee came to an Iland in 53. where we tooke in water and ballast From hence wee passed towards the North but some two or three dayes after reasoning concerning our comming into this Bay and going out our Master tooke occasion to reuiue old matters and to displace Robert Iuet from being his Mate and the Boat-swaine from his place for words spoken in the first great Bay of Ice Then hee made Robert Billet his Mate and William Wilson our Boat-swaine Vp to the North wee stood till we raised Land then downe to the South and vp to the North then downe againe to the South and on Michaelmasse day came in and went out of certaine Lands which our Master sets downe by the name of Michaelmasse Bay because we came in and went out on that day From hence wee stood to the North and came into shoald water and the weather being thicke and foule wee came to an anchor in seuen or eight fathome water and there lay eight dayes in all which time wee could not get one houre to weigh our anchor But the eight day the wind beginning to cease our Master would haue the anchor vp against the mind of all who knew what belonged thereunto Well to it we went and when we had brought it to a peake a Sea tooke her and cast vs all off from the Capstone and hurt diuers of vs. Here wee lost our Anchor and if the Carpenter had not beene we had lost our Cable too but he fearing such a matter was ready with his Axe and so cut it From hence we stood to the South and to the South-west through a cleere Sea of diuers sounding and came to a Sea of two colours one blacke and the other white sixteene or seuenteene fathome water betweene which we went foure or fiue leagues But the â—â—ght comming we tooke in our Top-sayles and stood afore the wind with our Maine-sayle and Fore-sayle and came into fiue or sixe fathomes and saw no Land for it was darke Then we stood to the East and had deepe water againe then to the South and Southwest and so came to our Westermost Bay of all and came to an anchor neerest to the North shorae Out went our Boat to the Land that was next vs when they came neere it our Boat could not flote to the shoare it was so shallow yet ashoare they got Here our men saw the footing of a man and a Ducke in the snowy Rockes and Wood good store whereof they tooke some and returned aboord Being at anchor in this place we saw a ledge of Rockes to the South of vs some league of length It lay North and South couered at a full Sea for a strong tide setteth in here At mid-night wee weighed and stood to goe out as we came in and had not gone long but the Carpenâ—er came and told the Master that if he kept that course he would be vpon the Rockes the Master conceiued that he was past them when presently wee ranne on them and there stucke fast twelue houres but by the mercy of God we got off vnhurt though not vnscarred Wee stood vp to the East and raysed three Hills lying North and South wee went to the furthermost and left it to the North of vs and so into a Bay where wee came to an anchor Here our Master sent out our Boat with my selfe and the Carpenter to seeke a place to winter in and it was time for the nights were long and cold and the earth couered with Snow Hauing spent three moneths in a Labyrinth without end being now the last of October we went downe to the East to the bottome of the Bay but returned without speeding of that we went for The next day we went to the South and the South-west and found a place whereunto we brought our ship and haled her aground and this was the first of Nouember By the tenth thereof we were frozen in but now we were in it behooued vs to haue care of what we had for that we were sure of but what we had not was vncertaine Wee were victualled for sixe moneths in good proportion and of that which was good if our Master would haue had more he might haue had it at home and in other places Here we were now and therefore it behoued vs so to spend that wee might haue when time came to bring vs to the Capes where the Fowle bred for that was all the hope wee had to bring vs home Wherefore our Master tooke order first for the spending of that wee had and then to increase it by propounding
and lame men were called vpon to get them out of their Cabbins into the Shallop The Master called to me who came out of my Cabbin as well as I could to the Hatch way to speake with him where on my knees I besought them for the loue of God to remember themselues and to doe as they would be done vnto They bad me keepe my selfe well and get me into my Cabbin not suffering the Master to speake with me But when I came into my Cabbin againe hee called to me at the Horne which gaue light into my Cabbin and told mee that Iuet would ouerthrow vs all nay said I it is that villaine Henrie Greene and I spake it not softly Now was the Carpenter at libertie who asked them if they would bee hanged when they came home and as for himselfe hee said hee would not stay in the Ship vnlesse they would force him they bad him goe then for they would not stay him I will said hee so I may haue my chest with mee and all that is in it they said hee should and presently they put it into the Shallop Then hee came downe to mee to take his leaue of mee who perswaded him to stay which if he did he might so worke that all should bee well hee said hee did not thinke but they would be glad to take them in againe For he was so perswaded by the Master that there was not one in all the ship that could tell how to carrie her home but saith he if we must part which wee will not willingly doe for they would follow the ship hee prayed me if wee came to the Capes before them that I would leaue some token that wee had beene there neere to the place where the Fowles bred and hee would doe the like for vs and so with teares we parted Now were the sicke men driuen out of their Cabbins into the Shallop but Iohn Thomas was Francis Clements friend and Bennet was the Coopers so as there were words betweene them and Henrie Greene one saying that they should goe and the other swearing that they should not goe but such as were in the shallop should returne When Henrie Greene heard that he was compelled to giue place and to put out Arnold Lodlo and Michael Bute which with much adoe they did In the meane time there were some of them that plyed their worke as if the Ship had beene entred by force and they had free leaue to pillage breaking vp Chests and rifling all places One of them came by me who asked me what they should doe I answered hee should make an end of what hee had begun for I saw him doe nothing but sharke vp and downe Now were all the poore men in the Shallop whose names are as followeth Henrie Hudson Iohn Hudson Arnold Lodlo Sidrack Faner Phillip Staffe Thomas Woodhouse or Wydhouse Adam Moore Henrie King Michael Bute The Carpenter got of them a Peece and Powder and Shot and some Pikes an Iron Pot with some meale and other things They stood out of the Ice the Shallop being fast to the Sterne of the Shippe and so when they were nigh out for I cannot say they were cleane out they cut her head fast from the Sterne of our Ship then out with their Top-sayles and towards the East they stood in a cleere Sea In the end they tooke in their Top-sayles righted their Helme and lay vnder their Fore-sayle till they had ransacked and searched all places in the Ship In the Hold they found one of the vessels of meale whole and the other halfe spent for wee had but two wee found also two firkins of Butter some twentie seuen piece of Porke halfe a bushell of Pease but in the Masters Cabbin we found two hundred of bisket Cakes a pecke of Meale of Beere to the quantitie of a Butt one with another Now it was said that the Shallop was come within sight they let fall the Main-sayle and out with their Top-sayles and flye as from an Enemy Then I prayed them yet to remember themselues but William Wilson more then the rest would heare of no such matter Comming nigh the East shoare they cast about and stood to the West and came to an Iland and anchored in sixteene or seuenteene fathome water So they sent the Boat and the Net ashoare to see if they could haue a Draught but could not for Rocks and great stones Michael Perse killed two Fowle and heere they found good store of that Weede which we called Cockle-grasse in our wintering place whereof they gathered store and came aboard againe Heere we lay that night and the best part of the next day in all which time we saw not the shallop or euer after Now Henrie Greene came to me and told mee that it was the Companies will that I should come vp into the Masters Cabbin and take charge thereof I told him it was more fit for Robert Iuet he said he should not come in it nor meddle with the Masters Card or Iournals So vp I came and Henrie Greene gaue me the Key of the Masters Chest and told me then that he had laid the Masters best things together which hee would vse himselfe when time did serue the bread was also deliuered me by tale The wind seruing we stood to the North-east and this was Robert Billets course contrarie to Robert Iuet who would haue gone to the North-west We had the Easterne shoare still in sight and in the night had a stout gale of wind and stood afore it till wee met with Ice into the which we ranne from thâ—ne to thicke till we could goe no further for Ice which lay so thicke ahead of vs and the wind brought it after vs asterne that wee could not stirre backward nor forward but so lay imbayed fourteene daies in worse Ice then euer wee met to deale withall for we had beene where there was greater store but it was not so broad vpon the water as this for this floting Ice contained miles and halfe miles in compasse where we had a deepe Sea and a Tide of flood and ebbe which set North-west and South-east Heere Robert Iuet would haue gone to the North-west but Robert Billet was confident to go through to the North-east which he did At last being cleere of this Ice he continued his course in sight of the Easterne shoare till he raised foure Ilands which lay North and South but we passed them sixe or seuen leagues the wind tooke vs so short Then wee stood backe to them againe and came to an Anchor betweene two of the most Northermost We sent the Boat ashoare to see if there were any thing there to be had but found nothing but cockle Grasse whereof they gathered store and so returned aboard Before we came to this place I might well see that I was kept in the ship against Henry Greenes minde because I did not fauour their proceedings better then I did Then hee began very
in and found some in an hundred and odde fathomes of water The next day we weighed and stood to the East but before wee came heere we had put our selues to hard allowance as halfe a foule a day with the pottage for yet we had some meale left and nothing else Then they beganne to make triall of all whatsoeuer wee had â—layed our Fowle for they wil not pull and Robert Iuet was the first that made vse of the skins by burning of the Feathers so they became a great dish of meate and as for the garbidge it was not throwne away After we were cleere of these Ilands which lie out with two points one to the South-east and the other to the North making a Bay to the sight as if there were no way through we continued our course East South-east and South and by East to raise the Desolations from thence to shape our course for Ireland Thus we continued diuers dayes but the wind comming against vs made vs to alter our course and by the meanes of Robert Iuet who perswaded the company that they should find great reliefe in Newfound Land if our Country-men were there and if they were gone before we came yet should we find great store of bread and fish left ashoare by them but how true I giue God thankes we did not trie Yet we stood to the South-west and to the West almost to fiftie seuen degrees when by the will of God the winde came vp at South-west Then the Master asked me if he should take the benefit of this wind and shape his course for Ireland I said it was best to goe where we knew Corne grew and not to seeke it where it was cast away and not to be found Towards Ireland now wee stood with prosperous winds for many dayes together then was all our Meale spent and our Fowle restie and dry but being no remedie we were content with the Salt broth for Dinner and the halfe Fowle for Supper Now went our Candles to wracke and Bennet our Cooke made a messe of meate of the bones of the Fowle frying them with Candle-grease till they were crispe and with Vineger put to them made a good dish of meate Our Vineger was shared and to euery man a pound of Candles deliuered for a weeke as a great daintie Now Robert Iuet by his reckoning saith wee were within sixtie or seuentie leagues of Ireland when wee had two hundred thither And sure our course was so much the longer through our euill steeredge for our men became so weake that they could not stand at the Helme but were faine to sit Then Robert Iuet dyed for meere want and all our men were in despaire and said wee were past Ireland and our last Fowle were in the steep-tub So our men cared not which end went forward insomuch as our Master was driuen to looke to their labour as well as his owne for some of them would sit and see the fore-sayle or mayne-sayle flie vp to the tops the sheetes being either flowne or broken and would not helpe it themselues nor call to others for helpe which much grieued the Master Now in this extremitie it pleased God to giue vs sight of Land not farre from the place our Master said he would fall withal which was the Bay of Galloway and we fell to the West of the Derses and so stood along by the coast to the South-west In the end there was a joyful cry a sayle a sayle towards which they stood then they saw more but to the neerest we stood and called to him his Barke was of Fowy and was at anchor a Fishing he came to vs and brought vs into Bere Hauen Here we stayed a few dayes and delt with the Irish to supply our wants but found no reliefe for in this place there was neither Bread Drinke nor mony to be had amongst them Wherfore they aduised vs to deale with our Country-men who were there a fishing which we did but found them so cold in kindnesse that they would doe nothing without present money whereof we had none in the Ship In the end we procured one Iohn Waymouth Master of the Barke that brought vs into this Harbour to furnish vs with money which hee did and receiued our best Cable and Anchor in pawne for the fame With this money our Master with the helpe of Iohn Waymouth bought Bread Beere and Beefe Now as wee were beholding to Waymouth for his money so were wee to one Captaine Taylor for making of our contracts with Waymouth by whose meanes hee tooke a Bill for our Cable and Anchor and for the mens Wages who would not goe with vs vnlesse Waymouth wold passe his word for the same for they made shew that they were not willing to goe with vs for any wages Whereupon Captaine Taylor swore hee would presse them and then if they would not goe hee would hang them In conclusion wee agreed for three pound ten shillings a man to bring our Ship to Plimouth or Dartmouth and to giue the Pilot fiue pound but if the winde did not serue but that they were driuen to put into Bristow they were to haue foure pound ten shillings a man and the Pilot sixe pound Omitting therefore further circumstances from Bere Hauen wee came to Plimouth and so to an anchor before the Castle and from Plimouth with faire winde and weather without stop or stay wee came to the Downes from thence to Grauesend where most of our men went a shoare and from thence came on this side Erith and there stopped where our Master Robert Billet came aboord and so had mee vp to London with him and so wee came to Sir Thomas Smiths together Forasmuch as this report of Pricket may happely bee suspected by some as not so friendly to Hudson who returned with that Companie which had so cruelly exposed Hudson and his and therefore may seeme to lay heauier imputation and rip vp occasions further then they will beleeue I haue also added the report of Thomas Widhouse one of the exposed Companie who ascribeth those occasions of discord to Iuet I take not on mee to sentence no not to examine I haue presented the Euidence iust as I had it let the Bench censure hearing with both eares that which with both eyes they may see in those and these notes to which I haue first prefixed his Letter to Master Samuel Macham MAster Macham I heartily commend meâ— vnto you c. I can write vnto you no newes though I haue seene much but such as euery English Fisherman haunting these Coasts can report better then my selfe Wee kept our Whit sunday in the north-North-east end of Island and I thinke I neuer fared better in England then wee feasted there They of the Countrey are very poore and liue miserably yet we found therein store of fresh Fish and daintie Fowle I my selfe in an after-noone killed so much Fowle as feasted all our Companie being
Snow wee cast into the Caldron and when wee thought it was boyled wee eate it Nor could wee satisfie our selues therewith and thus wee liued for thirteene dayes together with small charitie amongst vs by reason of the great scarcitie of all thinges and extreame famine leading rather a brutish life then the life of men Continuing in this rude and homely kinde of life it happened that through the intollerable wants foure of our companions of the greater retiring place failed euen where the afflicted Master was with those remedies and slender comforts for their soules and bodies so that you may thinke their bodies remayning neere vnto vs who being very weake had lost all our strength wee were not able to remooue them two yardes out of sight and yet I will say more that wee had no sooner taken the frozen or warme water in our mouthes but presently Nature of it selfe cast it vp againe wee not beeing able to abstaine from it nor almost to stand on our feete The cold season of the yeere had brought vs to such necessitie that to warme vs wee stood close thronged in such sort that wee seemed as it were to bee sewed together Wherefore I entred vnder the sayles which couered both our Cottages round about downe to the ground the smoake not being able to issue foorth which proceeded as I thinke from the Pitch which was within certaine peeces of the Pinnasse which we burned so that our eyes were swolne that wee could not see neuerthelesse wee indured all that wee might bee warme And our garments which wee neuer put off were full of vermine and the Lice swarmed in such number that taking them from our backes wee cast them by whole handfuls into the fire and they had entred into the flesh in such manner through the skinne euen to the bones that finally they brought a young man of our company that was a Notarie euen vnto death so that hee was neuer able to defend himselfe from so loathsome a litle vermine A thing of most manifest example to abase and abate our pride and haughtinesse of minde Now concord sayling among vs euery one vsed his owne proper aduise whereupon part of our companie wandring through the Sauage and vn-inhabited place came to the knowledge of a solitarie and ancient retiring place made by the Shepherds heretofore for the time of their abode and it was seated on the highest part of the Coast of the sayd Iland towards the West distant from ours about a mile and a halfe Vnto the which sixe of the companie of the number of those eight which were found in that first and greater retiring place determined to remooue themselues to that new-found solitarie habitation for their lesse inconuenience leauing the other two their other companions alone in an abandoned and forsaken place as well because they were not able to trauell as also for that wee were altogether vnable to conduct them It came to passe that those sixe through the gracious goodnesse and gift of God found an exceeding great Fish to the which I know not what name to giue whether Whale or Por pisse of the Sea which wee are to thinke was sent from the Diuine and excellent bountie to feed vs. And considering that wee saw it cast vp by the Sea vpon the shoare dead fresh good and great and at the time of our so great necessitie wee rendred thankes vnto our most gracious Lord God who at that time would sustayne our so weake and diseased bodies with that foode appeased peraduenture through the prayers of some vigilant and deuout soule With this Fish wee fedde our selues for nine dayes sufficiently And as it happened those very nine dayes were so tempestuous with windes rayne and snow that by no meanes the cruell storme would haue suffered vs to goe one pace out of our Cottage The miraculous Fish being spent the furious tempest was somewhat asswaged wherefore not hauing wherewith to maintayne life like Wolues that oppressed with famine goe to seeke out other places of abode wee arose out of the Cottage and went wandring through the desert Rockes to finde any succour to sustayne our life with Perewinckles of the Sea and Barnacles with the which wee were of necessitie to bee contented although they were very little thinges and so wee maintayned our selues vntill the last of Ianuary 1431. and therefore wee were leane pale afflicted and but halfe aliue In which time finding certayne dung of Oxen scorched and dryed with the cold and winde whereof wee gathered euery day to make a fire wee certainely knew that place to bee frequented by Oxen which thing gaue vs assured hope of some good end and through this perswasion wee indured part of our grieuous cares and sorrowes In the end the houre came wherein our benigne Creator and most gracious Lord purposed to conduct his little flocke so much afflicted into the Hauen of their safetie and it was in this manner Two young Heifers of a Fisher-man neere vnto this Iland within fiue miles beeing strayed the former yeere from the place where hee vsed to dwell and neuer vnderstanding any newes of them within the yeere nor hauing any hope to finde them againe on the very first day of February 1431. at night one of the Sonnes of the said Fisher-man of Rustene for so the said Iland was called being of the age of sixteene yeeres dreamed that certainly the two Heifers were escaped and gone vp to the Iland of Saints distant from them where wee were lodged at the point of the West part vpon the which no man durst euer goe at the low water Whereupon the Sonne who had such a vision or dreame prayed the Father and an elder Brother of his that they would accompany him to goe to seeke them And so all three in a Fisher-boate tooke their way towards the sayd Iland and came to the point where wee were and the sayd young men landing there left their Father to looke to the Boate and hauing ascended a little vpon the Cliffe they saw a smoake arise in the ayre from their retiring place which they had formerly vsed Whereupon through feare and astonishment they maruelled and that not a little how whence and by what meanes it might come to passe Wherefore they stood a long time much amazed And desiring to know the cause they began to talke one with another And although wee perceiued the noyse and heard the voyce yet wee could not conceiue whence it should bee but rather iudged it to bee the crying of Crowes then the voyce of men And wee were the rather induced thereunto because some few dayes before wee had seene vpon the miserable Carkasses of our eight companions cast to the winde multitudes of Crowes that rent the ayre with their croking feeding themselues vpon them whereupon wee thought it could bee no other But continuing from good to better the voyces of the children of God sent to saue vs wee cleerely perceiued
not maintaine a fore-course and draue vs backe to the altitude 63. degrees 56. minutes The storme continued so exceeding violent that I was faine to spoone before it fortie eight houres and the same wind and weather continued till the twentie one day and in that time wee were driuen as farre to the Southwards as Shottland And being faire by the Land and seeing no likelihood of faire weather I got a Fisher-man to conduct mee to a good Harbour called Hamersound not so much to eschew the stormy weather as to stop some leakes and to amend our rackling I tarryed in Shottland till the twelfth of April 1610. at which time the wind was Southerly The former wind came to the North at midnight with great store of Snow which froze as fast as it fell which wind continued till the fourteenth at noone At two of the clocke it came to the East north-east and I stood to the Northwards after many stormes much cold Snow and extreame Frosts I had sight of the North-cape the second day of May. Then I stood towards Chery Iland the winde being at West North-west The third day at noone the Cape bare South South-east seauenteene leagues off we had much Snow with Frost The fourth day it was thicke weather with great store of Snow and Frost the winde at North-west and by North. The fift day it was faire weather the winde at North North-east The sixt day at two of the clocke in the morning I met with some Ice but not very thicke so that I held my course toward Chery Iland the winde being at South at fiue of the clocke I saw the Ice so thicke that I could not possibly get through it Then I stood to the West wards with a short sayle and sounded but had no ground at a hundred fathome thicke foggie weather at eight of the clocke it began to cleere vp and I stoode into the Ice finding it scattered in some places and at twelue at noone I found the Pole eleuated aboue the horizon 74. degrees 7. minutes and sounded but had no ground at one hundred and seauentie fathomes From twelue till foure I ran North North-west two leagues and sounded and had a hundred and sixtie fathomes Then Chery Island did beare as I iudged North North-west about fifteene leagues off or more from foure till eight it was calme at eight of the clocke the winde came Southerly and I stood towards the Iland and found the Ice so thicke that the Ship had no roome to wend and withall such a fogge that I could not see one Cables length in which time the Ship had many a knocke but thankes be to God no harme was done By twelue of the clocke the seauenth day I got out of the Ice and lay a hull till the North Sunne at which time it began to be cleere weather then I set saile and stood to the Eastwards cold frosty weather The eight day it was very foggie the winde at North and by East with Snow and Frost I stood to the Eastwards in hope to get the Easter end of the Ice and so to Chery Island and I ranne into a Channell betweene two firme bankes of Ice and could finde no way through but lay in the Ice till the ninth day at a South Sunne Then I obserued and found the Ship in the altitude 74. degrees and 17. minutes the winde being at North North-west very faire weather but frostie I sailed in the abouesaid Ice one while one way and another while another in hope to finde some opening towards the Iland but which way soeuer I stood I saw all the Sea couered with Ice At a South Sunne the tenth day I obserued both with my Astrolabe and Crossestaffe and found the Poles height 74. degrees and 15. minutes and the variation 13. degrees and 30. minutes the North point Westerly by a North Sunne I got out of the Ice into the open Sea and to write each course way and winde with all other accidents would be too tedious but the thirteenth day of May at midnight I sounded being in very thicke Ice and had a hundred thirtie eight fadoms there presently I espied the Lionesse standing into the Ice I kept her company till eight of the clocke at night and then I steered as followeth from eight aboue said till twelue at noone The foureteenth day I sailed North-west and by North twelue leagues the winde at South South-east thicke foggie weather from twelue till foure at night I sailed seauen leagues North the same winde and weather with raine And by the fifteenth day at foure of the clocke in the morning I had sailed North twentie seauen leagues the same winde and weather at what time I supposed that I was not farre from land because I see great store of Sea-Foule about the Ship at eight of the clocke I sounded but had no ground at a hundred and fortie fathome very foggy weather likewise I sounded at twelue of the clocke at noone no ground at a hundred thirtie fiue fathomes where I met with Ice and grear store of Fowle as before winde at South and foggie weather I stood through the Ice till eight of the clocke at night holding no course by reason of it at which time I sounded and had nintie fiue fathom greene oze the weather being all one and very much Ice from eight till ten of the clocke I sayled North one legaue and a halfe and had seuentie fiue fathoms rockie ground From ten till twelue at midnight I sayled North one league and a halfe and sounded and had thirtie seuen fathoms the wind being at South with great store of raine and fogs and abundance of Ice round about but something broken Then I stood off West and by South and tooke in all the Sayles except the fore-saile and maine top-saile and at one of the clocke the sixteenth day sounded and had fortie fathomes oze likewise I sounded at two of the clocke and had fiftie two fathomes I could neither perceiue Current nor Tide in all this time and it did raine as fast as I haue commonly seene in England then I stood to the East wards and at three of the clocke sounded and had fortie fathomes oze and thus I sailed among the Ice East and East and by South and East North-east keeping no certaine course by reason of the Ice and had these depths following 30.20.19.16 and fifteene fathomes and then I saw the Land within two leagues and lesse of me bearing betweene the South and by East and the North-west then I stood in East and by South supposing to haue found a harborough within a ledge of rocks that lay off a low point which seemed like an Iland and standing in I found depths 10.9.8.7.6.7.4 and three fathomes standing in it a shoald bay and full of rockes Then I steered a way North-west and by West and had six seuen eight and ten fathome foule ground this
to the shore with our Shallops and went on land but seeing in all places great abundance of broken Ice we lay close to the shoare and doubting that although perhaps with much adoe we might get about the point of the Beach yet should we still be pestered with Ice from proceeding any further we resolued to walke ouer land to the other side of the Beach where we saw a hill about foure miles distant from which we thought we should be satisfied how much further it was possible for vs to proceede so thither we trauailed where when we came wee saw a very faire Sound on the East side of the Beach which was open within but there lay very much Ice at the entrance of it which although it was extended more then halfe ouer Sound yet we doubted not but if we could get our Shallops about the Beach we should finde either one way or other to passe ouer the said Sound from the high land on the other side we should receiue very good satisfaction if the weather continued faire and cleare as now it was therefore we intended to make triall what we might do but before we returned we went down to the point of the Beach at the entrance of the Sound and there set vp a Crosse and nailed a sixe pence thereon with the Kings Armes This being done we returned to our Shallops and according to our late determination we rowed about the point of Red-beach and with many crooked windings amongst the Ice at length we got ouer Wiches Sound for so it is now named As soone as we were ouer on the other side about two leagues from Red-beach Master Baffin and I clambred vp a very high hill from whence we saw a point of land bearing East north-North-east by the ordinary Compasse eighteene or twentie leagues distant as I supposed Wee likewise saw another faire Sound to the Southwards of vs which was much pestered with Ice but we could not see the end of it Here vpon the mountaine wee set vp a Warelocke and then came downe againe with lesse labour but more danger then we had in getting vp by reason of the steepinesse thereof then we walked to the shoare side and there found many beach Finnes whereby I coniectured that Master Marmadukes men in his first discouery made in Anno 1612. had not beene vpon this land to search the Beaches for in all other places where we had beene heretofore we could finde nothing at all Now therefore we resolued to make further search alongst this shoare and to proceede with our Shallops so farre as we possibly could whereupon wee returned to our men againe whom we left with our Shallops where we first landed Hauing stayed here a while and obserued the latitude which I found to be 79. degrees 54. minutes we saw a Shallop come rowing towards the extreamest point of this shoare therefore we hastned towards them to see who were therein and found them to be Master Marmadukes men lately come from their ship the Harts-ease which they said they left at Sea amongst the Ice about a league from Red Beach here they were setting vp a Crosse which they said that they found there fallen downe and had beene formerly set vp in the time of Master Marmadukes first discouery by one Laurence Prestwood whose name I saw thereon engrauen with two or three names more and it had the date of the seuenteenth of August 1612. Vpon this Crosse they nailed the Kings Armes Here we parted from them and according to our former determination we proceeded some in the Shallops amongst the Ice and others on shoare till wee went about foure leagues further in which space we found many more Finnes and one paire of Morses teeth but now we found the Ice so close packt together that wee could not proceede any further with our Shallops wherefore Master Baffin and I intended to walke ouer land vntill we should be better satisfied how farre this Sound went in for wee could as yet see no end of it and it seemed to make a separation of the land so leauing our men here with the Shallops wee trauailed almost a league further till we came to the point of a sandie beach that shot into the Sound which was wonderfully stored with drift Wood in great abundance From this point we receiued such satisfaction as we looked for because we saw the end of the Sound which lies South in about ten leagues It hath in it a good harbour that is landlockt and doubtlesse it is a good place for the Whale-killing if it be not euery yeare as now it is pestered with Ice Here I saw a more naturall earth and clay then any that I haue seene in all the Countr but nothing growing thereupon more then in other places This Sound is that which formerly had and still retaineth the name of Sir Thomas Smiths Inlet Being thus satisfied we came backe againe to our Shallops and seeing no way but one we returned towards our Ship but before we could get to Red-beach there arose a very great storme from the East North-east after we had entered amongst the Ice in Wiches Sound so that we were separated the one Shallop from the other whereby our danger was the greater for whiles wee were both in company together the one might haue beene helpefull to the other when neede required and more easie it seemed to saue them both then being separated to keepe either of them from wracke but God who in his wonted mercie is euer ready to relieue the faithfull distressed did not onely so prouide that we met together againe and indeede were helpefull the one to the other otherwise I doubt the one Shallop had miscarried for she was in great danger but also deliuered vs safely out from amongst these perillous rockes of Ice which it was very hard to shuâ— and at the length brought vs into an open Sea where with as scant a saile as we could make we past swiftly before the winde the Sea comming diuers times ouer the sternes of our Shallops which wet our skinnes that had scarse any dry cloathes on before to keepe them warme by reason of a drizeling Snow which fell with the storme then we went aboord our Ship into the South harbour of Faire hauen the fift of August with one hundred and fiftie Beach finnes and one paire of Morses teeth giuing thanks to God for his blessing and mercifull deliuerance The ninth of August two ships of the Hollanders that were appointed for Northerne Discouery were seene thwart of Faire Hauen sayling to the Southwards The eleuenth of August we set sayle forth of Faire Hauen the winde at South South-west intending to make tryall if yet the Ice would admit vs to haue passage to the Northwards or the North-eastwards We held our course from Cape Barren North-east and by East till seuen a clocke at night at which time hauing runne eight leagues
from the shoare wee met with the Ice which lay East and by South and West and by North and bore vp alongst it to the Eastwards for the winde was now come to the North North-west then wee tackt about to the Westwards and plyed off and on close by the Ice till the thirteenth day at mid-night still expecting a change of the weathâ—â— that we might haue made some aduenture amongst the shatterd Ice for both on the twelfth and thirteenth day the winde blew hard at North and the weather was cold thicke and very winter-like with fall of snow this winde being so contrarie droue both the Ice and our ship to leewards towards the shoare so that wee were forced to put into Harbour againe and came to an Anchor the fourteenth day in the North Harbour of Faire Hauen where the Fleet of Hollanders lately rid at which time the Hartsease was there at an Anchor Now was the Land both Mountaynes and Plaines wholly couered with snow so that almost all mens mindes were possessed with a desire of returning for England But to preuent a sudden resolution for a homeward Voyage without further satisfaction I made motion that once againe we might goe forth with our shallops to see what alteration there might bee found alongst the shoare It fell out that I was to goe in one shallop for this purpose so I tooke with me eight men and went from our ship the fifteenth day of August We rowed to Red-cliffe Sound where we passed through much Ice that was newly congealed being thicker then an halfe Crowne piece of siluer notwithstanding we broke way through it and being ouer the Sound we had a cleere Sea againe then we proceeded to Red-beach where finding the shoare cleere of Ice which at my last being there was wonderfully pestered I conceiued good hope to finde passage to the furthest Land from thence in sight bearing East halfe a point Southerly nine or ten leagues distant to this end we put off from the shoare of Red-beach and rowed a league and more in an open Sea and then met with Ice which lay dispersed abroad and was no hinderance to our proceeding so that we continued rowing the space of sixe houres in which time we had gotten more then halfe way ouer but then we found the Ice to lye very thicke thronged together so that it caused vs much to alter our course sometimes Southward and sometimes Northwards and euen in this time when we thought wee stood in most need of cleere weather it pleased God to send vs the contrary for it beganne to snow very fast which made the Ayre so thick that we could not see to make choice of the most likely way for vs to passe therefore I thought good to stay here awhile hoping that ere long the weather would bee more agreeable to our purpose so a Grapnell being laid forth vpon an Iland off to hold fast our shallop a Tent was made of the shallops sayle to keepe the weather from vs and we remayned here fiue houres but finding no alteration in the constant weather I willed the men to take downe the Tent and with faire tearmes perswaded them that notwithstanding the wet weather it were good to be doing something to get ouer to the desired shoare where we might refresh our selues and haue fire to dry our wet clothes they seemed well content with this motion and so we rowed the space of foure houres more the Ice still causing vs to hold a South and South South-east course which carried vs further into Sir Thomas Smiths Inlet and put vs from the place where we wished to be The thicke snowie weather continued all this time which was very vncomfortable to vs all but especially to the men that rowed and as the snow was noysome to their bodies so did it also begin to astonish their mindes as I well perceiued by their speeches which proceeded vpon this occasion The snow hauing continued thus long and falling vpon the smooth water lay in some places an inch thicke being alreadie in the nature of an Ice compact though not congealed and hindred sometimes our shallops way this I say caused some of them not altogether without reason to say that if it should now freeze as it did that night when we came ouer Red-cliffe Sound we should be in danger here to be frozen vp Howsoeuer this search might bee a meanes to discourage the rest that considered not of such a thing till they had heard it spoken of yet true it is that I saw no likelihood by reason of the Ice how to attayne my desire at this time and therefore I bade them row toward the shoare of Red-beach againe where I intended to stay till the weather might happily be more conuenient So holding a West North-west course so neere as the Ice would suffer vs wee came to the East-side of Red-beach hauing beene eighteene houres amongst the Ice during all which time the snow fell and as yet ceased not When we had been here about an houre it began to cleere vp and the wind to blow hard at East which rather packt the Ice close together in this place then disperst it so that I was now out of hope to get any further then I had beene alreadie wherefore I returned toward our ship intending as I went to make a more particular Discouerie of Broad-bay and Red-cliffe Sound hoping that one place or other would afford some thing worthy of the time and labour When we were come to the West side of Red-beach it began to blow much wind where withall the Sea growing to be great all men aduised to passe ouer Broad-bay whilst the winde and weather would serue vs to sayle for they said it was like to be very foule weather so seeing that it was no conuenient time for coasting we came ouer the Bay to Point Welcome which I so named because it is a place where wee oftentimes rested when wee went forth in our shallops it is about foure leagues distant from the North end of Red beach At this point the Hollanders had set vp Prince Maurice his Armes neere vnto a Crosse which I had caused to bee set vp aboue a moneth before and had nayled a sixe pence thereon with the Kings Armes but the men that were with me went without any such direction from mee and pulled downe the said Princes Armes whilst I was gone vp a Mountayne to looke into the Sea if I could see any Ice and when I came downe againe they told me that the six pence was taken from the Crosse that I had set vp and there was another post set by it with the Hollanders Armes made fast thereon which they had pulled downe so because the six pence was taken away I caused one to nayle the Kings Armes cast in Lead vpon the Crosse which being done we rowed to the bottome of Red-cliffe Sound and as we coasted alongst the
wood But before the men had laid into her the little quantitie that she was able to carrie they came aboard againe for the wind began to blow hard and the Sea to goe loftie so that here was no place for vs to abide any longer otherwise I was purposed to haue searched further alongst the shoare but this gale of winde comming Northerly I stood from hence to the Westwards being desirous to see more Land or finde a more open Sea And hauing sayled about fifteene or sixteene leagues I met with Ice again in latitude 71. degrees and coasted it eight or nine leagues further Westward and South-westward as it lay but then the wind came to the South-west and we stood close by it a while to the Southwards but finding the gale to increase and considering that it was the most contrary winde which could blow against my further proceeding for the Ice as we found did â—â—end neerest South-west and besides if there had beene any high Land within twentie leagues of vs wee might perfectly haue made it the weather was so faire and cleere In these respects and for the Reasons following I tooke the benefit of this wind to returne to the North-eastwards againe being now about two hundred leagues from King Iames his New Land in latitude 71. degrees First I purposed to sayle alongst the South-east side of the Land that I had discouered to bee better satisfied what Harbours there were and what likelihood of profit to ensue and from thence to proceed to the place where I first fell with Ice in latitude 73. degrees when I was driuen to the South-eastwards with a Westerly storme for I am yet verily perswaded that being there we were not farre from Land although wee could not see it by reason of thicke foggie weather Then my further intent was if I found no good occasion to spend my time there for to coast the Ice or try the open Sea to the Northwards betwixt 73. and 76. degrees where formerly I had not receiued desired satisfaction by reason of a storme that draue me off and then I purposed if time might seeme conuenient to proceed to the North Coast of King Iames his New Land to haue seene what hope was there to be had for passage Northward or for compassing of the Land which is most like to be an Iland I stood away East and by South and being neere the foresaid Iland the winde came to the West and blew a very hard gale wherewith I passed alongst the South-east side of the Iland vnder a paire of coarses but without that satisfaction which I expected for the winde blowing so stormie and the Sea growne very great I was forced to stand further from the shoare then willingly I would haue done and besides there was a thicke fogge vpon the Land whereby I could not be satisfied what Harbours or Roads were about it yet might we see three or foure Capes or Head-lands as if there went in Bayes betwixt them I sayled about it and then stood to the Northward againe and being now assured that it was an Iland I named it Sir Thomas Smiths Iland This Iland is about ten leagues in length and stretcheth north-North-east and South-west it is high Land and at the North end of it there is a Mountayne of a wonderfull height and bignesse all couered with Snow which I called Mount Hackluyt the base or foot of it on the East side is almost foure leagues long it hath three such sides at the base lying out to the Sea and from the fourth side doth the rest of the Iland extend it selfe towards the South-west which is also as it were a place fortified with Castles and Bulwarkes for on each side there bee three or foure high Rockes which stand out from the Land appearing like Towres and Forts It lyes in the parallel of 71. degrees where the Needle varieth from the true Meridian Westwards eight degrees The Land is generally so farre as I haue seene Rockie and very barren and worse then the Land that I haue seene in King Iames his New Land vnder eightie degrees for there is no grasse but mosse and where I first landed vpon low ground all the stones were like vnto a Smiths finders both in colour and forme the sand is generally mixed with a corne like Amber the Beaches are abundantly stored with drift wood and many stones light like Pumis which will swimme on the water I saw many traces of Foxes and the footing of Beares but not any signe of Deere or other liuing creatures and very small store of Fowle From hence I stood to the Northward according to my former purpose but was crossed with a contrarie storme from the North-west which put me off to the Eastward but as the wind shifted I made my way to the North-westwards all I could and came againe to the Ice in latitude 75. degrees from whence I proceeded towards King Iames his New Land and had sight of the Land the eighteenth of August being in latitude 77. degrees 30. minutes and hauing a hard gale of wind then at North-west I stood close by it vnder a paire of coarses but could not weather Prince Charles Iland and therefore I bore vp intending to goe into Nicks Coue which is on the North side of Ice-sound there to attend a faire winde and in the meane time to get ballast aboard the Pinnasse and all other things necessary But comming to enter into the Harbour I thought it not a place conuenient because I could hardly haue gotten out againe with a Southerly wind which would carrie me to the Northwards and therefore I stood ouer for Green-harbor where I anchored at one a clocke in the morning the nineteenth of August Here I caused my men to launch a shallop and to get ballast and water aboard the Pinnasse and before nine a clocke at night I was readie to proceed Northward with the first faire winde I stayed here fiue dayes during which time it blew hard for the most part at North and North-west and on the foure and twentieth of August the winde came to the East North-east as wee supposed till we were out of the Harbour so I set sayle to proceed Northward and had the wind Easterly out of Ice-sound wherewith I stood North-west towards Cape Cold but being cleere of the high Land we found the wind to bee at North North-east therefore I resolued of another course which was this Hauing perused Hudsons Iournall written by his owne hand in that Voyage wherein hee had sight of certayne Land which he named Hold-with-hope I found that by his owne reckoning it should not be more then one hundred leagues distant from King Iames his New Land and in the latitude of 72. degrees 30. minutes or thereabouts therefore seeing I could not proceed Northward I purposed to goe to the South-westwards to haue sight of this Land and discouer it if wind and weather would permit So I stood away
neerer the Land so that wee iudged our selues three leagues off Here we sounded againe and had but eightie fathoms The variation of the Compasse we found to be 22. degrees and 10. minutes Westward At fiue of the clocke there sprung vp a fine gale of winde at East South-east and being so neere night wee stood to the Southward thinking the next day to seeke some harbour But it pleased God the next day being the twelfth to send vs a storme of foule weather the winde being at East and by South with fogge so that we could by no meanes get the shoare Thus wee were forced to beate vp and downe at Sea vntill it should please God to send vs better weather The foureteenth I thought good to stand to the Westward to search an Inlet in the latitude of 56. degrees I haue good hope of a passage that way by many great and probable reasons The fifteenth the winde continued at the South with exceeding faire weather and our course was West We were this day at noone in the latitude of 55. degrees and 31. 〈…〉 I found the variation to be 17. degrees and 1â— minutes to the Westward And about seuen of the clocke at night we descried the Land againe being tenne leagues to the Eastward of this Inlet This Land did beare from vs South-west some eight leagues off and about nine of the clocke the same night the winde came to the West which blew right against vs for our entring into this Inlet The sixteenth the winde was at West North-west and was very faire weather and our course South-west about nine of the clocke in the forenoone we came by a great Iland of Ice and by this Iland we found some peeces of Ice broken off from the said Iland And being in great want of fresh water wee hoysed out our Boates of both Shippes and loaded them twice with Ice which made vs very good fresh water This day at noone wee found our selues to be in the latitude of 55. degrees and twentie minutes when we had taken in our Ice and Boates the weather being very faire and cleare and the winde at West North-west we bent our course for the Land and about three of the clocke in the afternoone we were within three leagues of the shoare It is a very pleasant low Land but all Ilands and goodly sounds going betweene them toward the South-west This Land doth stand in the latitude of 55. degrees and I found the variation to be to the West â—8 degrees and 12. minutes This coast is voide of Ice vnlesse it be some great Ilands of Ice that come from the North and so by windes may be â—riuen vpon this chast Also we did finde the ayre in this place to be very temperite Truely there is in three seuerall places great hope of a passage betweene the latitude of 62. and 54. degrees if the fogge doe not hinder it which is all the feare I haue At sixe of the clocke wee being becalmed by the shoare there appeared vnto vs a great ledge of roâ—kes betweene vs and the shoare as though the Sea did flye ouer it with a great height As we all beheld it within one houre vpon a sudden it vanished cleanâ— away which seemed very strange vnto vs all And to the Eastward of vs some two leagues we saw a great Rocke lying some three leagues off the Land we then supposing it to be shoald water by this broken ground sounded but could get no ground in one hundred and sixtie fathoms About seuen of the clocke there sprung vp a gale of windâ— by the South South-east which was a very good winde to coast this Land But the seuenteenth in the morning the winde being at the South it began to blow so extreamely that we durst not stay by the shoare for it was like to be a great storme then our course was East North-east to get vs Sea roome This storme still increasing our slye-boates did receiue in much water for they wanted a Sparre-decke which wee found very dangerous for the Sea About twelue of the clocke at noone this day there rose vp a great showre in the West and presently the winde came out of this quarter with a whirle and taking vp the Sea into the ayre and blew so extreamely that we were forced alwayes to runne before the Sea howsoeuer the winde did blow And within twelue houres after this storme beganne the Sea was so much growen that we thought our flye Boates would not haue beene able to haue endured it The eighteenth the winde was at North-west and the storme increased more extreame and lasted vntill eight of the clocke in the morning of the nineteenth day so furious that to my remembrance I neuer felt a greater yet when we were in our greatest extremities the Lord deliuered vs his vnworthy seruants And if the winde with so great a storme had bin either Northerly or Southerly or Easterly but one day we had all perished against the Rocks or the Ice for wee were entred thirty leagues within a Head-land of an Inlet in the latitude of 56. degrees But it pleased God to send vs the winde so faire as we could desire both to cleare our selues of the Land and Ice Which opportunitie caused vs for this time to take our leaues of the coast of America and to shape our course for England The fourth in the morning wee descried the Iland of Silly north-North-east and by East some foure leagues off vs. Then wee directed our course East and by North and at tenne of the clocke in the forenoone wee descried the Lands end and next day were forced to put into Dartmouth CHAP. XIV IAMES HALL his Voyage forth of Denmarke for the discouery of Greeneland in the yeare 1605. abbreuiated IN the name of God Amen we set sayle from Copeman-hauen in Denmarke the second day of May in the yeare of our redemption 1605. with two Shippes and a Pinnace The Admirall called the Frâ—st a shippe of the burthen of thirty or fortie lasts wherein was Captaine and chiefe commander of the whole Fleet Captaine Iohn Cunningham a Scottish Gentleman seruant vnto the Kings Maiestie of Denmarke my selfe being principall Pilot. The Lyon Viceadmirall being about the foresaid burthen wherein was Captaine one Godscâ—â—â— Lindenose a Danish Gentleman and Steereman of the same one Peter Kilsâ—n of Copeman-hauen The Pinnace a Barke of the burthen of twelue Lasts or thereabouts wherein was Steereman or commander one Iohn Knight my Countrie-man So setting sayle from Copeman-hauen with a faire gale of winde Easterly wee came vnto Elsonure where we anchored to take in our water The third day we tooke in our water at which time the Captaines my selfe with the Lieutenants and the other Steeremen did thinke it conuenient to set downe certaine Articles for the better keeping of company one with another to which Articles or couenants wee were all seuerally sworne setting thereunto our
great shelfe of fifteene leagues the middest of it in twentie degrees and among these Ilands are many little ones without name The Ilands that are from the Iland of Saint Iohn of Porte-Rico to the East of it toward the coast of Terra firmâ— were called the Canibals by the many Caribes eaters of humaine flesh that were in them and in their language Canibal is to say Valiant man for they were held for such of the other Indians All these Ilands are dangerous for shelues and the nearest to Saint Iohn are Sancta Cruz to the South-west from it in 16. degrees and a halfe of sixteene leagues and Saba las Virgines two little illets compassed with shelues and other eight or ten Ilands the greatest of ten leagues Virgen gorda and the Blancos or White Ilands Westward from Virgen gorda Lâ— Ane gada of seuen leagues in length in 18. degrees and a halfe compassed with shelues as Sambrero is a little Iland neere vnto it and these Ilands which are called the Weather Ilands or Barlouento the first Admirall discouered and in particular the men of Sancta Cruz and others had a custome to goe and hunt for men to the Iland of Saint Iohn for to eate and at this day they of Dominica doe it They did eate no women but kept them for slaues Now they say that within this little while they of Dominica did eate a Fryer and that all they which did eate his flesh had such a fluxe that some dyed and that therefore they haue left eating humane flesh and it may be because instead of men with lesse danger they steale Kine and Mares for the great quantitie there is of them and with this they satisfie their raging appetite Anguilla hath ten leagues of length it standeth in 18. degrees Saint Martin in 17. degrees and a halfe it is of sixteene leagues compassed with little Illets and neere vnto it Saint Eustace Saint Bartholomew and Saint Christopher euery one of tenne leagues The Barbada in 17. degrees and a halfe compassed with shelues neere to the Redoâ—da and the Snowes or Nieues and of Monserrate of fiue leagues euery one in 15. degrees and a halfe The Antigua Guadalupe and Todos Santos from 14. to 15. degrees The Desseada to the East of Guadalupe about sixe leagues the first which the Admirall Don Christopher discouered in the second Voyage that he made to the Indies in 14. degrees and a halfe for which the fleete goe alwayes from the Canaries Marigalante the name of the Shippe the Admirall had fiue leagues to the South-west from the Desired and from the Dominica in 13. degrees twelue leagues in length where the Fleetes take in water and wood for it hath good roades although with danger of the Canibals Neere vnto Dominica to the South stands Matinino Sancta Lucie and the Barbudos the which because they fall on the left hand of the Fleetes when they goe they call them already of the Ilands of the Leeward de Sotauento which appertaine to the coast of Terra firme and of them the greatest the first and the most Orientall is the Trinidad neere two hundred leagues from Hispaniola North and South with the Dominica about sixtie leagues from it It hath fiftie leagues in leangth East and West and almost thirty in breadth The Admirall discouered it the yeare 1498. the third Voyage that he made to the Indies and called it the Trinitie because hauing great trouble in the Voyage he had promised to God to giue such a name to the first Land that he should finde and presently the Mariner that was in the top saw three points of Land whereby the name fitted euery way to his vowe then hee discouered also the mouthes of the Dragon and of the Serpent the gulfe of Paria and all the firme Land vnto Cumana which iniustly Americus Vesputio claimes to himselfe whose name vnworthily is giuen to the port which they call Peninsula Australis or Indies of the South This Iland of Trinidad is knowne that it is no good Countrie though it hath many Indians it hath thirtie fiue leagues of longitude and others say more and twentie fiue of latitude it stands in 8. degrees the most orientall part of it is a point on the North side which is called de la Galera and to the North of it a small Iland compassed with little Iles which they call Tabago and in the South coast a Cape which they call the Round Point at the East the point of Anguilla at the West in the gulfe of Paria which is that that is from the Iland to Terra firme which may be eight leagues of distance because the firme Land maketh an oblique semicircle as a Diadem and in the entrance of the East is the distance recited in the entrance of the West the straightnes is much and with great depth and two little Ilands at the end of the North coast by the West which is called the Dragons mouth and to the North S. Vincent and Granada other two little Ilands The Iland of Margarita so named by Christopher Colon the first Admirall as also all the rest a most sufficient proofe of the Finder to the confusion of those which depriued him of the glory of the discouerie of the firme Land attributing it to themselues although changing the times it is twentie leagues from Trinidad Westward and one hundred and seuenty from Hispaniola it hath sixteen leagues in length East and West and yet some say twenty and the halfe in breadth it hath no store of water although it is very plentifull of Pastures for Cattle There is in it two Townes one neare the Sea which reacheth to a fortresse where the Gouernour is resident and another two leagues within the Land which is called the Valley of Sancta Lucie there is in his coast a good port and a nooke and many beds of Pearles whither the fishing of them is remoued which before was in Cubagua and they say it went away from thence for the rumour of the ordnance of the many Shippes that resorted to this Iland to the trafficke of the Pearles which was very great Cubagua stands one league from Margarita to the East there is no water in it and yet the new Cadiz was built there and they carried their water seuen leagues from the Riuer of Cumana To the East of Cubagua are foure little Illets close by the shoare which the first Admirall called Los Frayles and to the East betweene them and Granada other foure or fiue which he called Los Testigos the Witnesses and to the West after Cubagua another little Iland which he named Tortuga the Tortoyse neere to the point of Araya and from hence the discouery being made from below Paria he went to Hispaniola with a purpose to finish the discouery of Terra firme and as here after shall be seene hee went after to discouer and found the Ilands of the Guanaios and from before Veragua
FLORIDA In all the rest of the Coast that is betweene the point of Sancta Helena by New found Land and the Bacallaos vnto the Land of Labrador which reacheth and passeth the height of England there is no Towne nor Gouernment of Spaniards although by diuers times and Nations it hath beene discouered and Nauigated and it is knowne there is aboue one thousand leagues iourney of Land without gold and the more in height the worse and lesse habitable There be many Riuers and Ports that because they are not well knowne nor frequented there is no mention made but of the Riuer of the Stagges by another name of Sancta Marie which is a very great and maine Riuer almost in the midst of the Coast betweene the Baccallaos from whence the great Riuer Ochelago entreth within the Land toward the West which diuers times the strangers haue nauigated beleeuing to haue found that way passage to new Spaine And in the Coast of Florida which looketh to the West are the Tortoyses seuen or eight Ilands together and to the North of the point of los Martyâ—eâ— the Muspa in terra firme And thirteene leagues to the North the Bay of Charles by another name of Iohn Ponce of Lyon and as much more forward the Bay of Tampa thirtie three leagues from the Bay of Tocobaga by another name of the Holy Ghost or de Meruelo in twentie nine degrees and an halfe of height where beginneth that which properly is called Florida Many haue thought that by this side of Florida toward the land of Labrador there might a streit be found to communicate the North the South Seas together saying that as it had beene found to the South there should be one to the North but experience doth shew that the South passage is no streight at the least it is alreadie in doubt and by the North vntill now though it hath beene much sought for it hath not beene found and hee that went neerest to it was the President Peter Melendez by some conjectures All the Coast on the West side vnto the Gouernment of Panuco which is aboue 300. leagues is called The Gulfe of New Spaine wherein is no Towne of Spaniards though it was giuen for a gouernment to Pamphilo of Naruaez and to Hernando of Soto and first to Francisco de Garay and of his people in particular The Country is very poore of victuals and the people miserable and although in it are many Riuers and Ports no mention is made of them because they are not well knowne This Gulfe hath two entrances by the one the currents doe enter furiously betweene Yucatan and Cuba and goe out with a greater force betweene the same Iland of Cuba and the point of Florida and running doe make the channell of Bahama which taketh his name of the Iland rehearsed THe second Audience which was setled in the Indies is that of New Spaine and Nunyo de Guzonau Cauallero de Guadalaiara was the first President till a Gouernour were prouided and because he gaue no satisfaction there was another new Councell quickly sent and for President of it Don Sebastian Ramirez of Fuenleal which of a Iudge of the Chancerie of Granada went for President of the Councell of Saint Dominicke and Bishop of the Citie of the Conception of the Valley a person of great Learning Vertue and Valour Hee had the charge of the Gouernment Iustice and disposition of the goods Royall the Warre remayning at the charge of the Marquesse of the Valley with order to communicate with the President that which appertayned thereto and betweene them was alwayes great conformitie The bounds of this Councell on the one side doth not comprehend that which commonly is called New Spaine and on the other it comprehendeth more because the new Gallicia which is a Councell by it selfe is part of New Spaine The Prouince of Yucatan falleth within the bounds of it which as now it is may haue in length about foure hundred leagues from the furthest East of Yucatan vnto where it parteth bounds with the Councell of new Gallozia and North and South about two hundred from the end of the Gouernment of Panuco vnto the South Sea his bounds remayning open on the North side whose principall Prouinces are the Archbishopricke of Mexico the Bishoprickes of Mechoacan and that of los Angelos or Tlascala and of Guaxaca and of Chiapa and the Gouernments of Panuco and Yucatan with that of Tobosco and for circuit or commerce the Ilands Phillipinas and the dispatch of the Nauigation of China New Spaine is one of the best Prouinces of the new World and the most habitable in a good temper hauing abundance and plentie of Corne Millet and Cattle and all other necessaries for humane life except Oyle and Wine and although in many places of it there is Gold Siluer is most generall whereof there are many good Mynes HONDIVS his Map of New Spaine HISPANIA NOVA There are in Mexico Monasteries of Dominican Franciscan and Austine Friers the company of Iesus El Carmen la Merced the Bare-foot and Trinitarie Friers ten Monasteries of Nunnes one Colledge of Indian children and another of Arrepentidas the Repentantes and Recogidas or Retyred and the Vniuersitie where curious and learnedly the Sciences are read with other Colledges and Hospitals And the Spaniards which inhabit the bordering Townes of the Indians and Granges are about three thousand and there are reckoned about two hundred and fiftie Townes of Indians in which the chiefe places of Doctrine are one hundred and fiue and in them and thereabouts are six thousand Granges more then fiue hundred thousand tributarie Indians and more then one hundred and fiftie Monasteries of Franciscan Dominican and Austine Friers And the Doctrines or Schooles of Priests and Friers to teach the Faith Catholike to the Indians are without number besides the Fathers of the Company and Mercenarie Friers there is also Resident in Mexico the holy Office of the Inquisition whereof we will intreat hereafter In the Coast bounding on this Archbishopricke towards the South Sea and the Prouince of Acapulco is the good Port of Acapulco in seuenteene degrees height sixe leagues from the Riuer Yopes whereby the Archbishopricke is joyned with the Bishopricke of Tlascala And other eight more to the West the Riuer of Citaâ—a and other foure the Riuer of Mitla In the Coast of the North it hath that which falleth in the Gouernment of Tanuco In the limits of this Councell are the Mynes of Puchuca fourteene leagues from Mexico and the Mynes of Tasco twentie two those of Ysmiquilpo which are of Lead twentie two the Mynes of 〈◊〉 twentie foure the Mynes oâ— Tâ—â—azcaltepeque eighteene those of Cultepâ—quâ— 22. those of Zacualpa twentie 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 40. those of Guanaxato sixtie those of Commaia seuen From Guanaxuator those of Acâ—â—chica eighteene from the Citie of los Angelos and those of Gaâ—la or Zumatlan and Saint Lewes of the Peace
the Officers of the Kings Rents and treasurie Royall the Tribunall of the holy and generall Inquisition which was founded when the Inquisition of New Spaine was The Inquisitor generall in these Kingdomes was then the Cardinall Don Iames of Espinosa Bishop of Siguença it hauing proceeded with mature deliberation for the augmenting of our holy Catholike Faith and Christian Religion There is also in this Citie an Vniuersitie where very learnedly the Sciences are read and Schooles of diuers languages of the Indians in the which the Fathers of the Companie of Iesus are very diligent to reape fruit in the preaching of the Gospell In this Citie is the Archepiscopall resident whose Suffraganes are the Bishops of Chile Charcas Cuzco Quito Panama Nicaragua and the Riuer of Plate There are three Parishes and fiue Monasteries of the foure Orders and of the Companie of Iesus and two of Nunnes Callao which is her Port is two leagues from it great capable and very good where are store of houses one of Iustice a custome House one Church and one Monasterie of Dominicke Friars here hath beene seeene the Wine and the Water set to coole in the Sea in flaggons whence it is inferred that the Ocean hath the vertue to temper and refresh the ouer-much heate Many doe affirme that in this Citie are twelue thousand Women of all Nations and twentie thousand blacke Moores The Village of Arnedo in the Valley of Chancai is ten leagues from The Kings and halfe a league from the Sea with a Monasterie of Dominicke Friars rich of Vines the Earle of Nieua built it The Village of the Parrilla or Santa is by the Valley where it stands fiftie fiue leagues from The Kings and fifteene from Truxillo neere the Sea neere to a great and faire Riuer with a good Hauen in nine degrees where the ships that saile by the coast of Piru doe touch The Citie of Truxillo is in the Valley of Chimo which Don Iames of Almagro plotted first and afterward the Marqâ—es Don Franciscus Piçarro built it in the yeere 1533. It hath many Vines and fruits of Castile and Wheat it is all watered ground and a wholesome Countrie and there bee great Orchards of Oranges and breeding of Poultrie It stands in seuen degrees and a halfe eightie leagues from Lima neere the Sea with Monasteries of Saint Dominicke Saint Francis and Saint Augustine and another of the Mercenaries and Officers Royall prouided by the Vice-roy and in her bounds about fiftie thousand tributarie Indians in two and fortie repartitions The Port is two leagues off in an open Bay euill and of little securitie The Village of Miraflores is in the Valley of Zana ninetie fiue leagues from the Citie of The Kings to the North side and neere to the Sea The Citie of Chachapoyas or Saint Iohn of the Frontier is about one hundred and twentie leagues from the Citie of The Kings to the north-North-east it hath one Monasterie of the Mercenaries and another of the Franciscans in her bounds are Wheat Millet and Flaxe many Mynes of gold and more then twentie thousand tributarie Indians which held out valorously a long time against the Ingas but in the end they were ouer-come and for greater quietnesse of the Countrie they carried many of them vnto Cuzco and they inhabited in a Hill which is called Carmenga These are the whitest and best fauoured Indians of all the Indies and the Women very faire The Marshall Alfonsus of Aluarado entred in this Prouince the yeere 1536. by order of the Marques Don Francisco Piçarro and pacified it and built the said Citie in a strong situation called Leuanto and afterward he passed to the Prouince of the Guancas The Citie of Saint Iames of the Valleys or Moyobamba more then one hundred leagues from The Kings North-eastward and fiue and twentie from Saint Iohn of the Frontier stands in a very raynie soile and plentifull of Cattell The Citie of Lion of the Guanuco fiftie leagues from the Citie of The Kings to the North neere the high-way of the Ingas somwhat distant towards the East hath Monasteries of Dominicans Franciscans and Mercenaries and in her bounds thirtie thousand tributarie Indians Anno 1539. for the warre that the Tyrant Yllotopa made to this Prouince the Marques Don Franciscus Piçarro sent Captaine Gomez of Aluarado which built it and afterward it was disinhabited and Peter Barroso reedified it and after the battell of Chupas the Licentiate Vaca de Castro sent Captaine Pedro de Puelles to make an end of the plantation It stands in a good and wholesome situation abundant of victuals and Cattell it hath Mynes of siluer and the people is of good capacitie They reape much Wheat for the Indians haue learned to be good husbandmen for as before in these Indies there was no Wheat nor Barley nor Millet nor Panick nor any seede of the bread of Castile of Europe and they knew other kindes of Graine and Rootes only of the which Mayz or Millet was the principall being found in all the Indies the Countrimen haue since delighted much in it and haue receiued it well in those places where it is gathered because the Mayz is not so strong nor of so much substance as the Wheat it is fatter and hot and engendreth bloud it groweth in Canes and beareth one or two bunches and some Spaniards doe eate it where they haue no other shift The Citie of Guamanga or Saint Iuan of the Victorie sixtie leagues from Lima to the South-east in the way of the Ingas Bishoprick of Cuzco hath Monasteries of Dominicans Franciscans and Mercenaries and one of Nunnes and in her bounds more then thirtie thousand tributarie Indians it is plentifull of Wheate and Wine and rich of siluer Mynes The Marques Don Franciscus Piçarro built this Citie 1539. and placed it the first time in a towne of Indians called Guamanga neere to the great Row of the Andes and left for his Lieftenant the Captaine Francisco de Cardenyas Afterward it was remoued to the Playne where now it is neere to certaine small Hills on the South side and nigh to a Brooke of good water In this Citie are the best houses in Piru of stone and bricke the seate is healthfull without offence of the Sunne the Aire the Deaw or the Moisture or the Heate There are found in her borders certaine great buildings which the Indians say certaine white men with beards which came thither before the Ingas did build much differing from the building of the Ingas the most of the Countrimen of this Countrie are Mitimaes which is to say Transplanted for the Ingas did vse for the greater securitie of the Empire to take from one Prouince the people they did not trust and send them to liue in another Guamanga is sixtie leagues from Cuzco and in the way are the Hills and Playne of Chupas where Vaca de Castro and Don Iames de Almagro
Margarites Diamonds and other stones all of glasse Mutezuma receiued it thankfully and went before with one of the Princes his Nephewes and commanded the other to leade Cortes by the hand next after him in the midst of the street and proceeding forward in this order then came the Gentlemen in the richest Liuery to welcome him one by one touching the ground with their hands and after returned to their standing And if the Citizens had come as they requested all that day would not haue serued for salutations The coller of glasse pleased well Mutezuma and because hee would not take without giuing a better thing as a great Prince hee commanded to be brought two collers of red Prawnes which are there much esteemed and at euery one of them hanged eight Shrimps of gold of excellent workmanship and of a finger length euery one he put these collers with his owne hands about Cortes his necke the which was esteemed a most great fauour yea and the Indians maruelled at it At this time they were come to the street end which was almost a mile long broad streight and very faire and full of houses on each side in whose doores windowes and tops was such a multitude of Indians to behold the strangers that I know not who wondred most our men to see such a number of them or else they to see our men their Ordnance and Horses a thing so strange vnto them They were brought vnto a great Court or house of Idols which was the Lodging Axaiaca at the doore whereof Mutezuma tooke Cortes by the hand and brought him into a faire hall and placed him vpon a rich Carpet saying vnto him Sir now are you in your owne house eate and take your rest and pleasure for I will shortly come and visit you againe Such as you heare was the receiuing of Hernando Cortes by Mutezuma a most mightie King into his great and famous Citie of Mexico the eight day of Nouember 1519. The house where the Spaniards were lodged was great and large with many faire chambers sufficient for them all it was neate cleane matted and hanged with Cloth of Cotton and Feathers of many colours pleasant to behold When Mutezuma was departed from Cortes hee beganne to set his house in order and placed the Ordnance at his doore and hauing all his things in good sort he went to a sumptuous Dinner that was prepared for him Assoone as Mutezuma had made an end of his Dinner hearing that the Strangers were risen from the Table and reposed a while then came hee to Cortes saluting him and sate downe by him He gaue vnto him diuers Iewels of Gold Plate Feathers and many Garments of Cotton both rich well wouen and wrought of strange colours a thing comely that did manifest his greatnesse and also confirme their imagination This gift was deliuered honourably and then beganne his talke as followeth Lords and Gentlemen I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as yee are for to vse you with courtesie and intreate you with honour according to your desert and my estate And where heretofore I desired that you should not come hither the onely cause was my people had a great feare to see you for your gesture and grimme beards did terrifie them yea they reported that yee had such beasts as swallowed men and that your comming was from Heauen bringing with you Lightning Thunder and Thunder-bolts wherewith you made the Earth to tremble and to shake and that yee slue therewith whom yee pleased But now I doe see and know that you are mortall men and that yee are quiet and hurt no man also I haue seene your Horses which are but your Seruants and your Gunnes like vnto shooting Trunkes I doe now hold all for Fables and Lyes which haue beene reported of you and I doe also accept you for my meere Kinsman My Father told mee that hee had heard his forefathers say of whom I doe discend that they held opinion how they were not Naturals of this Land but come hither by chance in companie of a mightie Lord who after a while that hee had abode here they returned to their naturall soyle After many yeeres expired they camâ— againe for those whom they had left heere behind them but they would not goe with them because they had here inhabited and had Wiues and Children and great gouernment in the Land Now these mightie Lords seeing that they were so stubborne and would not returne with them departed from them sore displeased saying that hee would send his Children that should both rule and gouerne them in Iustice Peace and ancient Religion And for this consideration wee haue alwayes suspected and beleeued that such a people should come to rule and gouerne vs and considering from whence you come I doe thinke that you are they whom wee looked for and the notice which the great Emperour Charles had for vs who hath now sent you hither Therefore Lord and Captaine bee well assured that wee will obey you if there bee no feyned or deceitfull matter in your dealings and will also diuide with you and yours all that we haue And although this which I haue said were not onely for your vertue fame and deeds of valiant Gentlemen I would yet doe it for your worthinesse in the battailes of Tauasco Teocazinco and Chollolla being so few to ouercome so many Now againe if yee imagine that I am a God and the walls and rooffes of my houses and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure Gold as the men of Zempoallan Tlaxcallan and Huexozinco haue informed you it is not so and I iudge you to bee so wise that you giue no credit to such Fables You shall also note that through your comming hither many of my subiects haue rebelled and are become my mortall enemies but yet I purpose to breake their wings Come feele you my bodie I am of flesh and bone a mortall man as other are and no God although as a King I doe esteeme my selfe of greater dignitie and preheminence then others My houses you doe also see which are of timber and earth and the principallest of Masons worke therefore now you doe both know and see what odious lyers those Tale-bearers were But troth it is that Gold Plate Feathers Armour Iewels and other Riches I haue in the Treasury of my Forefathers a long time preserued as the vse of Kings is all the which you and yours shall enioy at all times And now it may please you to take your rest for I know that you are weary of your iourney Cortes with ioyfull countenance humbled himselfe seeing some teares fall from Mutezuma his eyes saying vnto him vpon the trust I haue had in your clemencie I insisted to come both to see and talke with your Highnesse and now I know that all are lyes which hath beene told mee The like your Highnesse hath heard reported of vs assure your selfe that the Emperour King of
Varieties of their tempers and tasts 932.50 Lambri a Kingdome of Iaua 104.1 Lamps before Tombes in China 265 266.1 Land in 73. degrees Noâ—th not mentioned in any Sea Card 568.40 Called Hold with Hope ibid. A temperate land ibid. The Sun is long together aboue the Horizon there 569.20 Lands set apart for sacred vses in Peru 1056.60 Lands in Pâ—ru how the profits are distributed according to each mans necessity 1057.30 Langa and Solanga a Tartarian people 23.20 Their habits ibid. Langenes in Noua Zembla 474 30. 513 1 Land-lords Iudges ouer their Tenants 216.40 Language of China discoursed vpon 384 Language and writing the same through all China 101.50 Language of Island is the pure old Goâ—ish or Nâ—rwegian 658.1 Languages forty seuerall ones spoken in so many Castles in Kersoua 2 Languages diuers in Persian Prouinces 74 Language of Russia different from the Polish 761.30 Laos Siones Maons a great Kingdome where 168.20 Hath Muâ—ke and Gold ibid. Their complexion and habit ibid. A mighty Riuer amongst them a wonder of that 169.1 10 Lipland the length and breadth 443.50 It hath two sorts of people ibid. To whom subiect Their poore liuing some are wild and the greatest witches in the world 444. Excellent Bowmen and Gunners their Commodities and Faires 444.1.10.223.20 Laplanders their miserable liuing 516.1 Their swiftnesse 517.30 Laque a Perfume in China 196.1 Latitudes which the Spanish Fleets obserue in going and comming to the West Indies 924. See Courses and Nauigations Laua Riuer in Russia his mouth and fall into the Lake Lodiga 794 40 Laulo the Iland 307.50 Lautimey in China fired by the Tartars 278.40 Law of Nature the Iesuits hope that the Chinois were saued by it 396.60 Law altogether studied in China 185.20 Lawes made by Kings in China 387.40 Law-sutes in China most about their Buriall places 368.50 Lawes of Island some rehearsed 666.667 c. Lawes in Russia 435.20 None written but all speaking Lawes ibid. 216. 217 Lawes of the Tartars 443.1 Lawyer none may plead in the West Indies where his Kinsman is Iudge 913 Lawyers bribes taken and giuen to honest men 276 Lawyers forbidden to goe to the Spanish Indies and why 998.30 Lawing of the Russes the order 433.40 Their seuerall Courts and Iudges ibid. Lawing vnknowne to the Tartars 639.1 Saint Lawrence in Canada discouered 463 Saint Lawrence Bay 477.20 The latitude ibid. Lâ—uzu a China Sect 398.40 Their Legends and Fooleries their Paradice ibid. Lay-Commissaries to Bishops in Russia appointed by the Emperour 446 40. They ouer-rule the Clergie ibid. Lead Myne in Cherry Iland 558 50. 564 Leafe in India that heales a broken Arme prâ—sently 986.40 Learning only giues Wealth Honour and Nobility in China 367.40 Learning feared by Tyrants 447 30 Leaue-rites in Curland 628.10 Lechias a rare Fruit in China 178 50 Left-hand most honourable where 373.20 Left-hand noâ— vsed to touch their meate with it where 105.1 Legends and Prophesies the effects of them 1021 Legend of Huiunsuns killing the Dragon and flying into Heauen 337.20 Legend of Leus 398.40 Legges Armes heads c. Offered by sicke Men to their Idols 271.1 Lent-time to the people of the East 34 20 Lent the Armenians and Nestorians eate no fish in Lent 35 20 Lents foure in a yeare 217.60 227. They begin on Munday the endings of all foure 218.1 No flesh nor White-meates eaten in Lent 218 Lents foure in Russia and when and how 456 Leopards vsed like Hounds 80.50 Leprous people are Toll-gatherers in Tartary 10.50 Lequios Ilands by Iapan and China rich in Gold c. 906.50 See Lucaios Lesgi a Tartarian people 12.50 Their border 16 10 Letany of the Tartars for their Prince 85.10 Letters of the Islanders 646.30 Letters of Demetrius of Russia to the Nobility 752. Of him to the English Agent 758.20 Letters of Mexico their manner 1135.10 Letters of Almeida to Eâ— Sand 330.40 Of Longobard and Taiso 343.40.344 Of Pantoia to Luys de Guzman 350 Letters of the Visitor of Concheo in China to the Gouernour of the Philippinaes 309. The answere to them 310. Of Ierome Xauiere 310.50 Letters of the Russian Emperour 221 Letter of the Duke of Brabant concerning the Tartars 60.50 And of the Emperour to the King of England 61.30 Letters of the Tartarians to the French King 45.50 To the Pope 59.30 Of one Tartarian Prince to another 59.50 Letters the West Indians ignorance of them they thought the Spaniards Packets of Letters could speake 994.50 Letters about businesse of Greenland fishing 731.732.733.734.735.736.737 Letters vnknowne to the West Indies 1051.40 Letter of Sir Humphrey Gilbert from New-found-land 808.50 Of Iohn Rut a Mariner to King Henry the Eighth 809. Of Albert de Prato to Cardinall Wolsey 809. Of William Baffin to Master Wostenholme 843 Letters of Master Locke to a Greeke Pilot and their answers 851 Letters of Suiskey Emperour of Russia to our King Iames 765 Of English Merchants concerning Russian troubles 780. Of Doctor Hall 781 Letters of Xauier the Iesuite 318.10 Of the King of Bungo to the Pope 322.30 Of the King of Arima to the Pope 323.20 Of the Iaponian Tyrant to the Spanish Viceroy 324 Lettow is Lithuania 624.50 Leuca Iland where 633.10 Leuconia where 53.40 Lewfoot Ilands 212.10 222.50 Lewis in Orkney 827.40 Lezards are Crocodiles Liampeo where 190.50 Liampoo a Portugall Towne in China raced by the Chinois 259.50 Libanus inhabited by Christians 122.20 Lice sold for meate in Mexico 1133.10 Lice eating men to the bones 614.40 Lice forsake Saylers and finde them againe comming to the same place 975 Licence written on a board 292.20.299.20 Licotice where described 233.1 Liefland how diuided betwixt the Russe the Sweden and the Pole 627.60 Light-Dogge of the Indies his strange heauinesse described 966.50 Sings musically 978.50.60 Lignum Aloes where it growes 102.60 103.10 Lignum Guacum or Sanctum the vse and where it growes 938.10 Lignum Sanctum better for the French Poxe then Guyacum 998.30 Lignum vitae or Guayac whence brought 959.60 See Guacum Life much studied in China 369.20 Lying in China is prudence 339.10 Lima Citie in Peru. See Los Reyes Limahon a Chinese Pirate 286.50 His Storie 287. A mighty Fleete made out against him ibid. How hee came to the Philippinaes ibid. Goes to surprise the Spaniards there ibid. Comes before Manilla 288.1 Burnes the Citie ibid. Seates himselfe on the Riuer Pangasinan and erects a Fort ibid. 40. The Spaniards ioyne against him ibid. They set vpon him at two seuerall places 289. Heâ— flees to his Fort they besiege him three Moneths ibid. His fiue Stratagem to escape 289.30 308.30 Omoncon the Chinese comes with Commission to take him ibid. Lime and Stone built withall in China 292.10 Lincin in China 352.60 Linna or the Frier of Linne his Story 624 Linnen and â—â—perie of the Cotton-tree 1132.40 Lions taught to Hunt like Hounds 85.20 And Leopards and Wolues ibid. The maâ—er of it ibid. Lions how slaine 94 40.50 Lions
Siluer Myne in Groneland 824 20. 520.40 Nothing worth 833.10 Siluer made in Brickes 801.50 The Chinois studie to make it 369.20 Siluer Images standing abroad vntoucht 411.1 Siluer why the second of Metals 943. Found in Mountaines in pieces or veines Manner of refinings with Aire Bellowes or Quickesiluer the chiefe Siluer Mynes of the Indies 944. How the richnesse of the Vre is discerned by the colour 947.20 Manner of refining it and working it into barres the triall and allay the Engines to doe it 951 Sindinfu the Countrey and Citie 90 10 Sindicin the City 80.30 Singhan the Mother City of Sciansi 316.1 Singui is the City of the Earth the hugenesse of it 97.50 Sio or Chio the Patriarchaâ—e of Constanstinople remooued thither 444.40 And from Sio to Moâ—câ—o 445.30 Siras iâ— Persia 70.50 Sirrope very sweet made of the sap of a tree 957.20 Synopolis a Prouince in the Sea of Pontus 1.60 Vnder the Turks ibid. The distance from Constantinople c. 2 Synopolis and Soldaia are 300. miles asunder 53.30 Syrian tongue vsed by the Nestorians in Cathaya 24.1 Syrnames few in China c. 394 10 Syrnames not aboue 300. in all China 367.40 All of one sillable ibid. None marries any of his owne Syrname 367.50 Skerlengers dispeople Groneland 520.30 Skialfanda a Bay in North Island 654.30 Skins of three men come off by eating the Liuer of a Beare 506 30 Skuls of the Indians extreme thicke and hard 993.1 994.10 Skuls sold in China and why 271 10 Skumme of the water eaten for meate in Mexico 1133.10 Skutsnesse in Norway 707.20 The Latitude Variation and Declination there 716.10 20. How the land lyeth about it c. 720 40 Slaues to the Tartars their miserie 641. The Tartars earnestnesse to redeeme his owne subiects 642 10 Slaues of Scythia rebelling terrified with the sight of their Masters Whips 419.10 Slaues the Indians are no longer to the Spaniards 914.60 Slaues of Peru pleased with their owne seruitudes 1056.50 Slauery in Russia to Creditors 434 30 Slauery in China how it comes 182 50. Those that are taken in Warre weare red Caps 183.10 194.40 Sleds much vsed in Russia 219.50 They carry Corne 1000. miles 214.10 They go post 220. Their speed 226.10 Their furniture ibid. Not vsed in Summer 230 30. Called Telegas 242.50 Sleds in Russia a great honour to be taken vp into a Noblemans 523.20 Some drawne by Dogs 524.1 Sleda an easie and commodious trauell 751.20 Slobatia a Towne in Mezen 547 40. The eleuation ibid. The trade there 548.30 Sliding vpon the Ice with bones like Spurres 33.50 Sluttery a Fast-breaker 516.20 Smiths Bay 465.10 Smolensko in Russia taken in by the Poles 780.10 Burnt to the ground 780.60 Snakes worshipped in Lithuania a story of that 629.46 Snaefelsnesse Promontory in East Island 654 Snaelandia a name of Island 654 30 Snow extreme 49.30 Snow higher then the House 498 10 Snowes fall in the end of Aprill in Tartary 27.10 Snow in August in Greenland 727.30 250.30 Snow hastens the Spring 415.10 Snow preserues from putrefaction 647.20 Snorting in their sleepe offensiue to the Tartars 82.60 Sodome in Russia 243.40 Sogomamber-Can the God of the Tartarian Idols 82.20 The first Idol-founder 106.1 Sogâ—r a beast in Tartary 6.10 Soâ—â—a the Riuer 525.40 Solanga a Tartarian people 23 20 Soldaia the Citie where 2. Greeke spoken there 9.50 It is Christian 15.40 Soldan of Aegypt ouerthrowne by Christians and Tartars 119 40 Soldan of Turkey his Countrey 50 40 Soldini Christians in Corasme of the Greeke Church 109.40 Solinas the Riuer in the West Indies the distance from the Equinoctiall 891.40 Soma a measure in China 98.50 Soncara in Persia 70.50 Sonne of the Sun the King of Chinaes stile 254.50 256.1 Sonne sacrificed for the Fathers health 1037.20 1042.20 Soothsayers in Tartary their Magicall trickes 81.1 Their Man-eating and Sacrifices to their Idols 81.10 Their Monasteries Shauings Abstinence Habits and other Customes 81.10 20 30 Sope of traine Oyle 417.10 Sorcery of foure Swords in Tartaria 33.10 Sorcery of the Iewes a story of it 630 Sorceries of the West Indians 1043.60 Things done farre off reuealed by them ibid. And things lost and to come 1044 Sorcerer of Mexico turnes himselfe into strange shapes the Story of him 1017.40 And so in Peru 1043.60 Saint Sorâ—is the greatest Armenian Saint 31.1 Sortassus a Tartarian Village 635 10 Souldiers all Gentlemen in Russia 435.20 And their Children also ibid. Lands allotted them The inconuenience of that ibid. How kept from Rebellion 436.1 Souldiers little respected in China 369.40 Souldiers of Mexico their Prayer â—047 1 South Pole hath no fixed Starre to marke it as the North hath 918 30 South Sea which 858.1 The seuerall courses of Nauigation in it ibid. How to bee nauigated 860.1 South Sea the ebbing and flowing there the distance from the North Sea 989.30 Soule the Chinois opinion of it 201 50. The Tartars opinion of it 88 50 Soules immortality the Chinois opinion of it 397 Soule of the World ibid. Soules immortality acknowledged by the Indians 1029.10 Soules immortality and transmigration 277.1 Soyles of the West Indies the varieties 935. Where the best are 936.1.937.10 Spaan in Persia 70.50 Spaniards kill 30000. Chinois 309 40. And makes Galley-slaues of the rest ibid. They offer a league to the Chinois 310.40 Spaniards hated in the Philippinaes 283 Spaniards bragges and their false Sea Cards 843.20.848 60 Spaniards in Peru esteemed as men sent from God called Viracochas 1061.50 Spaniards perfidiously cruell in Mexico 1023. They are admitted into the City they selfe on the King are besieged by the Indians in the Castle 1023. Driuen out and slaine 1024. Their foolish beliefe of being assisted by Miracles ibid. Their dealings with the Indians 1025.1 Their helpes and hinderances in winning and coâ—â—erting the Indians 1025 1026.10 Diuers of them sacrificed in Mexico 1039.50 Of their conquest of Mexico see pag. 1121. 1126. c. Spanish Siluer carried to China 310.30 Spanish shippes trading to Greeneland forbidden by the English 466.40 Spanish plants thriue better in India and the Indian worse in Spaine 960.961 Spanish Chroniclers curiouâ— rather to set downe the Names of their owne Nation Aduenturers in the Indies then of the Beasts Birds c. of the Country 856 Spanish reports of a Vision 283 50 Spawnes of Fishes taken and bred in Cisternes in China 179.10 Speake a man did after his heart was out 1039.60 Spelling by Strings Knots and Colour in Peru as we do by Letters 1053.30 Sperma Ceti 710.20 Sperma Caeti or Permasitie where gotten 471. It lyes in the Whales head ibid. Sphere in China 346.20 Spices of China 382.40 Spice the sorts and store in the Moluccas and Philippina's 903 904.905 c. The best way to bring them from the Moluccas into Spaine 900.10 Spiders as bigge as a Sparrow full of their Cobweb Lawne 976.10 Spirits set ouer diuers things in China 340.50 Spitsbergen is Greenland 463 10 Spodio and Tutia
noone I found the height to bee 43. degrees 56. minutes This Eeuening being very faire weather wee obserued the variation of our Compasse at the Sunnes going downe and found it to bee 10. degrees from the North to the VVestward The seuen and twentieth faire sun-shining weather the winde shifting betweene the South-west and West and by North a stiffe gale we stood to the Southward all day and made our way South and by West seuen and twentie leagues At noone our height was 42. degrees 50. minuts At foure of the clocke in the after-noone wee cast about to the Northward At eight of the clocke we tooke in our top-sayles and our fore-bonnet and went with a short sayle all night The eight and twentieth very thicke and mystie and a stiffe gale of wind varying betweene South South-west and South-west and by VVest we made our way North-west and by VVest seuen and twentie leagues wee sounded many times and could get no ground At fiue of the clocke we cast about to the Southward the wind at South-west and by VVest At which time we sounded and had ground at seuentie fiue fathoms At eight wee had sixtie fiue fathoms At ten sixtie At twelue of the clocke at mid-night fiftie sixe fathoms gray sand The Compasse varyed 6. degrees the North point to the VVest The nine and twentieth faire weather we stood to the Southward and made our way South and by VVest a point South eighteene leagues At noone we found our height to bee 42. degrees 56. minutes wee sounded oft and had these 60.64.65.67.65.65.70 and 75. fathoms At night wee tryed the variation of our Compasse by the setting of the Sunne and found that it went downe 37. degrees to the North-ward of the VVest and should haue gone downe but 31. degrees The Compasse varyed 5. 1 â— degrees The thirtieth very hot all the fore-part of the day calme the wind at South South-east wee steered away VVest South-west and sounded many times and could find no ground at one hundred and seuentie fathomes VVe found a great current and many ouer-falls Our current had deceiued vs. For at noone we found our height to be 41. degrees 34. minutes And the current had heaued vs to the Southward fourteene leagues At eight of the clocke at night I sounded and had ground in fiftie two fathomes In the end of the mid-night watch wee had fiftie three fathomes This last obseruation is not to be trusted The one and thirtieth very thicke and mystie all day vntill tenne of the clocke At night the wind came to the South and South-west and South We made our way West North-west nineteene leagues Wee sounded many times and had difference of soundings sometimes little stones and sometimes grosse gray sand fiftie six fiftie foure fortie eight fortie seuen fortie foure fortie six fiftie fathomes and at eight of the clocke at night it fell calme and we had fiftie fathomes And at ten of the clocke we heard a great Rut like the Rut of the shoare Then I sounded and found the former Depths and mistrusting a current seeing it so still that the ship made no way I let the lead lie on the ground and found a tide set to the South-west and South-west by West so fast that I could hardly vere the Line so fast and presently came an hurling current or tyde with ouer-fals which cast our ship round and the Lead was so fast in the ground that I feared the Lines breaking and we had no more but that At mid-night I sounded againe and we had seuentie fiue fathomes and the strong streame had left vs. The first of August all the fore-part of the day was mystie and at noone it cleered vp We found that our height was 41. degrees 45. minutes and we had gone nineteene leagues The after-noon was reasonable cleere We found a rustling tide or current with many ouer-fals to continue still and our water to change colour and our sea to bee very deepe for wee found no ground in one hundred fathomes The night was cleere and the winde came to the North and North North-east we steered West The second very faire weather and hot from the morning till noone we had a gale of wind but in the after-noone little wind At noone I sounded and had one hundred and ten fathomes and our height was 41. degrees 56. minutes And wee had runne foure and twentie leagues and an halfe At the Sun-setting we obserued the variation of the Compasse and found that it was come to his true place At eight of the clocke the gale increased so wee ranne sixe leagues that watch and had a very faire and cleere night The third very hot weather In the morning we had sight of the Land and steered in with it thinking to goe to the North-ward of it So we sent our shallop with fiue men to found in by the shore and they found it deepe fiue fathomes within a Bow-shot of the shoare and they went on Land and found goodly Grapes and Rose trees and brought them aboord with them at fiue of the clocke in the Eeuening We had seuen and twentie fathomes within two miles of the shoare and we found a floud come from the South-east and an ebbe from the North-west with a very strong streame and a great hurling and noyses At eight of the clocke at night the wind began to blow a fresh gale and continued all night but variable Our sounding that wee had to the Land was one hundred eightie seuentie foure fiftie two fortie sixe twentie nine twentie seuen twentie foure nineteene seuenteene sometimes Oze and sometimes gray sand The fourth was very hot we stood to the North-west two watches and one South in for the Land and came to an Anchor at the Norther end of the Headland and heard the voyce of men call Then we sent our Boat on shoare thinking they had beene some Christians left on the Land but wee found them to bee Sauages which seemed very glad of our comming So wee brought one aboord with vs and gaue him meate and he did eate and drinke with vs. Our Master gaue him three or foure glasse Buttons and sent him on Land with our shallop againe And at our Boats comming from the shoare he leapt and danced and held vp his hands and pointed vs to a riuer on the other side for we had made signes that we came to fish there The bodie of this Headland lyeth in 41. degrees 45. minutes We set sayle againe after dinner thinking to haue got to the Westward of this Headland but could not so we beare vp to the Southward of it made a South-east way and the Souther point did beare West at eight of the clocke at night Our soundings about the Easter and Norther part of this Headland a league from the shoare are these at the Easterside thirtie twentie seuen twentie seuen twentie foure twentie fiue twentie The north-North-east point 17. degrees
18. minutes and so deeper The north-North-end of this Headland hard by the shoare thirtie fathomes and three leagues off North North-west one hundred fathomes At the South-east part a league off fifteene sixteene and seuenteene fathomes The people haue greene Tabacco and pipes the boles whereof are made of Earth and the pipes of red Copper The Land is very sweet The fift all mystie At eight of the clocke in the morning wee tact about to the Westward and stood in till foure of the clocke in the after-noone at which time it cleered and wee had sight of the Head-land againe fiue leagues from vs. The Souther point of it did beare West off vs and we sounded many times and had no ground And at foure of the clocke we cast about and at our staying wee had seuentie fathomes Wee steered away South and South by East all night and could get no ground at seuentie and eightie fathomes For wee feared a great Riffe that lyeth off the Land and steered away South and by East The sixth faire weather but many times mysting Wee steered away South South-east till eight of the clocke in the morning Then it cleered a little and wee cast about to the Westward Then we sounded and had thirtie fathomes grosse sand and were come to the Riffe Then wee kept our Lead and had quicke shoalding from thirtie twentie nine twentie seuen twentie foure twentie two twentie and an halfe twentie twentie nineteene nineteene nineteene eighteene eighteene seuenteene and so deeping againe as proportionally as it shoalded For we steered South and South-east till we came to twentie sixe fathomes Then we steered South-west for so the tyde doth set By and by it being calme we tryed by our Lead for you shall haue sixteene or seuenteene fathomes and the next cast but seuen or six fathomes And farther to the Westward you shall haue foure and fiue foot water and see Rockes vnder you and you shall see the Land in the top Vpon this Riffe we had an obseruation and found that it lyeth in 40. degrees 10. minutes And this is that Headland which Captaine Bartholomew Gosnold discouered in the yeere 1602. and called Cape Cod because of the store of Cod-fish that hee found thereabout So we steered South-west three leagues and had twentie and twentie foure fathomes Then we steered West two Glasses halfe a league and came to fifteene fathomes Then we steered off South-east foure Glasses but could not get deepe water for there the tyde of ebbe laid vs on and the streame did hurle so that it laid vs so neere the breach of a shoald that wee were forced to Anchor So at seuen of the clocke at night wee were at an Anchor in tenne fathomes And I giue God most heartie thankes the least water wee had was seuen fathomes and an halfe We rode still all night and at a still water I sounded so farre round about our ship as we could see a light and had no lesse then eight nine ten and eleuen fathomes The myst continued being very thicke The seuenth faire weather and hot but mystie Wee rode still hoping it would cleere but on the floud it fell calme and thicke So we rode still all day and all night The floud commeth from the South-west and riseth not aboue one fathome and an halfe in nepe streames Toward night it cleered and I went with our shallop and sounded and found no lesse water then eight fathomes to the South-east off vs but we saw to the North-west off vs great Breaches The eight faire and cleere weather In the morning by sixe of the clocke at flake water wee weighed the wind at North-east and set our fore-sayle and mayne top-sayle and got a mile ouer the Flats Then the tyde of ebbe came so we anchored againe till the floud came Then wee set sayle againe and by the great mercie of God wee got cleere off them by one of the clocke this after-noone And wee had sight of the Land from the West North-west to the North North-west So we steered away South South-east all night and had ground vntill the middle of the third watch Then we had fortie fiue fathomes white sand and little stones So all our soundings are twentie twentie twentie two twentie seuen thirtie two fortie three fortie three fortie fiue Then no ground in seuentie fathomes The ninth very faire and hot weather the wind a very stiffe gale In the morning at foure of the clocke our shallop came running vp against our sterne and split in all her stemme So we were faine to cut her away Then wee tooke in our mayne sayle and lay atrie vnder our fore-sayle vntill twelue of the clocke at mid-day Then the wind ceased to a faire gale so wee stood away South-west Then we lay close by on many courses a South by West way fifteene leagues and three watches South-east by East ten leagues At eight of the clocke at night wee tooke in our top-sayles and went with a low sayle because we were in an vnknowne sea At noone we obserued and found our heigth to be 38. degrees 39. minutes The tenth in the morning some raine and cloudie weather the winde at South-west wee made our way South-east by East ten leagues At noone wee obserued and found our heigth to bee 38. degrees 39. minutes Then wee tackt about to the Westward the wind being at South and by East little wind At foure of the clocke it fell calme and we had two Dolphines about our ship and many small fishes At eight of the clocke at night wee had a small lingring gale All night we had a great Sea out of the South-west and another great Sea out of the North-east The eleuenth all the fore-part of the day faire weather and very hot VVee stood to the VVest South-west till noone Then the wind shorted and we could lye but South-west and by South At noone wee found our heigth to bee 39. degrees 11. minutes And that the current had laid vs to the Northward thirtie two minutes contrary to our expectation At foure of the clocke in the after-noone there came a myst which endured two houres But wee had it faire and cleere all night after The Compasse varied the North point to the VVest one whole point The twelfth faire weather the wind variable betweene the South-west and by South and the North little wind In the morning we killed an extraordinary fish and stood to the Westward all day and all night At noone we found our heigth to be 38. degrees 13. minutes And the obseruation the day before was not good This noone we found the Compasse to vary from the North to the West ten degrees The thirteenth faire weather and hot the wind at North-east Wee steered away West and by our Compasse two and twentie leagues At noone wee found our height to bee 37. degrees 45. minutes and that our way from noone to noone was West South-west halfe a point Southerly The Compasse was