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-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
7. degrees and a halfe variation from the North point to the West The fourteenth faire weather but cloudie and a stiffe gale of wind variable betweene North-east and South-west wee steered away West by South a point South all day vntill nine of the clocke at night then it began to Thunder and Lighten whereupon we tooke in all our sayles and layd it a hull and hulled away North till mid-night a league and a halfe The fifteenth very faire and hot weather the winde at North by East At foure of the clocke in the morning we set sayle and stood on our course to the Westward At noone wee found our height to bee 37. degrees 25. minutes The after-noone proued little wind At eight of the clocke at night the winde came to the North and wee steered West by North and West North-west and made our way West The Compasse varyed 7. degrees from the North to the West The sixteenth faire-shining weather and very hot the wind variable betweene the North and the West wee steered away West by North. At noone wee found our height to bee 37. degrees 6. minutes This morning we sounded and had ground in ninetie fathomes and in sixe Glasses running it shoalded to fiftie fathoms and so to eight and twentie fathoms at foure of the clocke in the after-noone Then wee came to an Anchor and rode till eight of the clocke at night the wind being at South and Moone-light we resolued to goe to the Northward to finde deeper water So we weighed and stood to the Northward and found the water to shoald and deepe from eight and twentie to twentie fathomes The seuenteenth faire and cleere Sun-shining weather the winde at South by West wee steered to the Northward till foure of the clocke in the morning then wee came to eighteene fathomes So we Anchored vntill the Sunne arose to looke abroad for Land for wee iudged there could not but be Land neere vs but we could see none Then we weighed and stood to the Westward till noone And at eleuen of the clocke wee had sight of a low Land with a white sandie shoare By twelue of the clocke we were come into fiue fathomes and Anchored and the Land was foure leagues from vs and wee had sight of it from the West to the North-west by North. Our height was 37. degrees 26. minutes Then the wind blew so stiffe a gale and such a Sea went that we could not weigh so we rode there all night an hard rode The eighteenth in the morning faire weather and little winde at North North-east and North-east At foure of the clocke in the morning we weighed and stood into the shoare to see the deeping or shoalding of it and finding it too deepe we stood in to get a rode for wee saw as it were three Ilands So wee turned to windward to get into a Bay as it shewed to vs to the Westward of an Iland For the three Ilands did beare North off vs. But toward noone the wind blew Northerly with gusts of wind and rayne So we stood off into the Sea againe all night and running off we found a Channell wherein we had no lesse then eight nine ten eleuen and twelue fathomes water For in comming ouer the Barre wee had fiue and foure fathomes and a halfe and it lyeth fiue leagues from the shoare and it is the Barre of Virginia At the North end of it it is ten leagues broad and South and North but deepe water from ninetie fathoms to fiue and foure and a halfe The Land lyeth South and North. This is the entrance into the Kings Riuer in Virginia where our English-men are The North side of it lyeth in 37. degrees 26. minutes you shall know when you come to shoald water or sounding for the water will looke Greene or thicke you shall haue ninetie and eightie fathomes and shoalding a pace till you come to ten eleuen nine eight seuen ten and nine fathomes and so to fiue and foure fathomes and a halfe The nineteenth faire weather but an hard gale of winde at the North-east wee stood off till noone and made our way South-east by East two and twentie leagues At noone wee cast about to the Westward and stood till sixe of the clocke in the after-noone and went fiue leagues and a halfe North-west by North. Then wee cast about againe to the Eastward and stood that way till foure the next morning The twentieth faire and cleere weather the winde variable betweene East North-east and North-east At foure of the clocke in the morning wee cast about to the Westward and stood till noone at which time I sounded and had two and thirtie fathomes Then we take to the Eastward againe wee found our height to bee 37. degrees 22. minutes We stood to the Eastward all night and had very much wind At eight of the clocke at night we tooke off our Bonnets and stood with small sayle The one and twentieth was a sore storme of winde and rayne all day and all night wherefore wee stood to the Eastward with a small sayle till one of the clocke in the after-noone Then a great Sea brake into our fore-corse and split it so we were forced to take it from the yard and mend it wee lay a trie with our mayne-corse all night This night our Cat ranne crying from one side of the ship to the other looking ouer-boord which made vs to wonder but we saw nothing The two and twentieth stormy weather with gusts of rayne and wind In the morning at eight of the clocke we set our fore-corse and stood to the Eastward vnder our fore-sayle mayne-sayle and misen and from noone to noone we made our way East South-east fourteene leagues The night reasonable drie but cloudie the winde variable all day and night Our Compasse was varyed 4. degrees Westward The three and twentieth very faire weather but some Thunder in the morning the winde variable betweene East by North. At noone wee tackt about to the Northward the winde at East by North. The after-noone very faire the wind variable and continued so all night Our way we made East South-east till noone the next day The foure and twentieth faire and hot weather with the wind variable betweene the North and the East The after-noone variable winde But at foure of the clocke the wind came to the East and South-east so wee steered away North by West and in three Watches wee went thirteene leagues At noone our height was 35. degrees 41. minutes being farre off at Sea from the Land The fiue and twentieth faire weather and very hot All the morning was very calme vntill eleuen of the clocke the wind came to South-east and South South-east so wee steered away North-west by North two Watches and a halfe and one Watch North-west by West and went eighteene leagues At noone I found our height to bee 36. degrees 20. minutes being without sight of Land The sixe and
the great mercie of God we came to an Anchor cleere of it and close by it our Master named them the Iles of Gods Mercie This is an Harbour for need but there must be care had how they come in Heere our Master sent me and others with me to discouer to the North and North-west and in going from one place to another we sprung a Couey of Partridges which were young at the which Thomas Woodhouse shot but killed only the old one This Iland is a most barren place hauing nothing on it but plashes of water and riuen Rockes as if it were subiect to Earthquakes To the North there is a great Bay or Sea for I know not what it will proue where I saw a great Iland of Ice aground betweene the two Lands which with the Spring-tide was set afloat and carried into this Bay or Sea to the North-westward but came not backe againe nor within sight Here wee tooke in some Drift wood that we found ashoare From hence we stood to the South-west to double the Land to the West of vs through much floting Ice In the end wee found a cleere Sea and continued therein till wee raysed Land to the North-west Then our Master made his course more to the South then before but it was not long ere we met with Ice which lay ahead of vs. Our Master would haue doubled this Ice to the North but could not and in the end put into it downe to the South-west through much Ice and then to the South where we were embayed againe Our Master stroue to get the shoare but could not for the great store of Ice that was on the coast From out of this Bay we stood to the North and were soone out of the Ice then downe to the South-west and so to the West where we were enclosed to our fight with Land and Ice For wee had Land from the South to the North-west on one side and from the East to the West on the other but the Land that was to the North of vs and lay by East and West was but an Iland On we went till we could goe no further for Ice so we made our ship fast to the Ice which the tide brought vpon vs but when the ebbe came the Ice did open and made way so as in seuen or eight houres we were cleere from the Ice till we came to weather but onely some of the great Ilands that were carried along with vs to the North-west Hauing a cleere Sea our Master stood to the West along by the South shoare and raysed three Capes or Head-lands lying one aboue another The middlemost is an Iland and maketh a Bay or Harbour which I take will proue a good one Our Master named them Prince Henries Cape or Fore-land When we had layd this we raised another which was the extreme point of the Land looking towards the North vpon it are two Hills but one aboue the rest like an Hay-cocke which our Master named King Iames his Cape To the North of this lie certaine Ilands which our Master named Queene Annes Cape or Fore-land Wee followed the North shoare still Beyond the Kings Cape there is a Sound or Bay that hath some Ilands in it and this is not to be forgotten if need be Beyond this lieth some broken Land close to the Mayne but what it is I know not because we passed by it in the night Wee stood to the North to double this Land and after to the West againe till wee fell with Land that stretched from the Mayne like a shewer from the South to the North and from the North to the West and then downe to the South againe Being short of this Land a storme tooke vs the wind at West we stood to the North and raised Land which when our Master saw he stood to the South againe for he was loath at any time that wee should see the North shoare The storme continuing and comming to the South shoare againe our Master found himselfe shot to the West a great way which made him muse considering his Leeward way To the South-west of this Land on the Mayne there is an high Hill which our Master named Mount Charles To the North and beyond this lieth an Iland that to the East hath a faire head and beyond it to the West other broken Land which maketh a Bay within and a good Road may be found there for ships Our Master named the first Cape Salsburie When we had left this to the North-east we fell into a Rippling or Ouer-fall of a Current which at the first we tooke to bee a Shoald but the Lead being cast wee had no ground On we passed still in sight of the South shoare till we raised Land lying from the Mayne some two leagues Our Master tooke this to bee a part of the Mayne of the North Land but it is an Iland the North side stretching out to the West more then the South This Iland hath a faire Head to the East and very high Land which our Master named Deepes Cape and the Land on the South side now falling away to the South makes another Cape or Head-land which our Master named Worsenhams Cape When wee were nigh the North or Iland Cape our Master sent the Boat ashoare with my selfe who had the charge and the Carpenter and diuers others to discouer to the West and North-west and to the South-west but we had further to it then we thought for the Land is very high and we were ouer-taken with a storme of Raine Thunder and Lightning But to it we came on the North-east side and vp we got from one Rocke to another till we came to the highest of that part Here we found some plaine ground and saw some Deere as first foure or fiue and after a dozen or sixteene in an Herd but could not come nigh them with a Musket shot Thus going from one place to another wee saw to the West of vs an high Hill aboue all the rest it being nigh vs but it proued further off then we made account for when wee came to it the Land was so steepe on the East and North-east parts that wee could not get vnto it To the South-west we saw that wee might and towards that part wee went along by the side of a great Pond of water which lieth vnder the East side of this Hill and there runneth out of it a streame of water as much as would driue an ouer-shot Mill which falleth downe from an high Cliffe into the Sea on the South side In this place great store of Fowle breed and there is the best Grasse that I had seene since we came from England Here wee found Sorell and that which wee call Scuruy-grasse in great abundance Passing along wee saw some round Hills of stone like to Grasse cockes which at the first I tooke to be the worke of some Christian. Wee
standing to the Northwards I saw the Sea couered with Ice which lay close to the Land which made me stand to the Southwards again I obserued at Gurnerds-nose and found the Poles height 79. degrees 50. minutes At a North-west Sun the same day I sent the skiffe on Land to search the Coast to the Southwards of Knottie-point where I sounded and had twenty foure fathomes Foule-ground and in the Fayre-way I sounded hauing these depths 30.35.45 and 48. fathomes all Rocky-ground By the seuenteenth day I was in the entrance of Close-coue at a South Sun at which time the Skiffe came aboord and brought a Beares skin and a Buck and a good quantite of Whales Fins and an Vnicornes horne which was fiue foot and seuen inches long and in the biggest part of it it was seuen inches and a halfe about The eighteenth day at a South Sun I came into the Road where I rid all that day hauing very much wind and raine that wee could doe nothing At a North Sunne I sent my Mate with the Skiffe and sixe men to seeke for more Fins c. The ninteenth day at a North Sun they came aboord hauing slaine ten Beares three of their skins and fat they brought aboord and a good quantitie of Fins and six paire of teeth The twentieth day in the morning I sent both the Boat and Skiffe to slay the other seuen Beares the wind being at North faire weather But they were no sooner gone but it blew very hard at North which brought abundance of Ice out of the bottome of the Sound but did the Ship no hurt At a West South West Sunne the Boats came aboord with the Beares skins the wind abouesaid set so much Ice out of the sound vpon the Ship that it inforced mee to set sayle The one and twentieth day at a North Sun I stood towardes Fayer-forland and sent out the skiffe The two and twentieth day at a South-east sunne they came aboord with the skiffe laden with Fins and killed fiue Deere Then I went on Land to search what I could find and I slew a Beare and tooke a young one aliue and at three of the clocke in the afternoone I came aboord with the skiffe laden with Fins The three twentieth day at a South-east sun the Boat came aboord and brought a good quantitie of Finnes and a Beares skinne Then I stood toward Cape-cold and the same day at a South sunne I sent the skiffe on Land to the Northwards of the Cape where they found sixteene Mohorses on a rocke which they slue and at a North-east sun the foure and twentieth day they had brought all the teeth and blubber of them aboord at which time the wind came to the North-west and blew verie hard then I stood towardes the Ice-sound to seeke what commodities it would yeeld At a North sunne I was neere Black-point which hath a great many sunken Rockes lying on the southermost end of it therefore you must come no neerer that shoare then twentie fiue fathomes The fiue and twentieth day till a South sun it was calme and the tyde droue the ship so farre from the Land that I could not send the boat on shoare The sixe and twentieth day at a South South-west Sunne I came aboord more laden with trauell then commodities at which time I slue a Buck. Then I stood toward Ice-sound and at a Point which parteth Foule-sound and Ice-sound I had thirtie fathomes oze so to ten fathomes Rockes then I steered East along the shoare and had betwixt thirtie and fifteene fathomes oze and sand In fifteen fathomes I anchored hauing the wind at North North-west faire weather at a North-west sun at a North sun I sent the skiffe to the shoare to search for commodities The seuen and twentieth day of Iune at an East North-east sun they came aboord and brought a good parcell of fins At six of the clock I sent the Skiffe to the Land againe and set sayle with the ship but it being calme and the tide setting the Ship towards a ledge of rocks made mee to anchor againe At a South South-east Sun they came aboord againe and brought a good quantitie of fins at a South Sunne I sent the Skiffe towardes the mouth of Ice-sound and in the entrance thereof I found a Coue in the which was twentie fathomes and so to thirteene but by reason of the tyde and edy-winds I could not get into it here the Skiffe came aboord and brought a few finnes Then I steered to another Sound in the Southside of Ice-sound where I anchored in twentie fathomes oze the same day at a North Sun The eight and twentieth day I stayed at the place abouesaid and tried the Beares grease to bring it into oyle and when we were all busied a Beare came swimming ouer the Bay towards the ship which I slew and split my Peece the wind being at West The nine and twentieth day at a South-east Sunne I sent the skiffe to search the Coast to the Westwards of this Bay the wind at North-west The last of Iune the skiffe came aboord at a South-east Sunne and brought a few Finnes and a Bucke the wind at North. The first of Iuly being Sunday I rid at the place abouesaid in hope to haue more Moon Land I obserued heere and found this place in 78. degrees 24. minutes and the variation Westwards seuenteene degrees Then I sent the skiffe to see if any more beasts were on Land The wind at Northwest faire weather The second day at a North North-east Sunne they came aboord and brought two Deere The third wee slew a few Morses whose teeth and blubber wee brought aboord at a North-west Sunne at which time I slew a Pricket this place I named the Green-hauen Immediately I sent the skiffe to take the teeth and fat of seuen beasts which lay slaine in another place The wind at West thicke foggie weather It floweth here on the Change day South and by West and hyeth sixe foot water and runneth halfe tyde halfe quarter The fourth day wee rid still at the South-west with fogges and raine and very much wind at the same time I saw great store of Ice in Ice sound The fifth day at a North-east Sunne I wayed the wind at West thicke weather and in standing out wee slew a she Beare and tooke her two young ones Indifferent faire weather we lay becalmed all this day The sixth day I was off Lownesse at a South Sunne the wind being at East blew so hard with raine and thicke weather that I was enforced to take in all the sayles saue a Mayne course which storme continued till eight at night at which time I set more sayle and stood to the Southwardes hoping to get some goods that way The seuenth day at noone the wind came to the North-east and then it began to bee cleere weather at what time I saw the Land of Bel-sound whither
entred me thought I was come into a new World Whose Life and manners I will descrbe vnto your Highnesse as well as I can THey haue in no place any setled Citie to abide in neither know they of the Celestiall Citie to come They haue diuided all Scythia among themselues which stretcheth from the Riuer Danubius euen vnto the rising of the Sunne And euery of their Captaines according to the great or small number of his people knoweth the bounds of his Pastures and where hee ought to feed his Cattell Winter and Summer Spring and Autumne For in the Winter they descend vnto the warme Regions South-ward And in the Summer they ascend vnto the cold Regions North-ward In Winter when Snow lyeth vpon the ground they feed their Cattell vpon Pastures without water because then they vse Snow in stead of water Their houses wherein they sleepe they ground vpon a round foundation of Wickers artificially wrought and compacted together the Roofe whereof consisteth in like sort of Wickers meeting aboue into one little Roundell out of which Roundell ascendeth vpward a necke like vnto a Chimney which they couer with white Felt and oftentimes they lay Morter or white Earth vpon the said Felt with the powder of bones that it may shine white And sometimes also they couer it with blacke Felt. The said Felt on the necke of their house they doe garnish ouer with beautifull varietie of Pictures Before the doore likewise they hang a Felt curiously painted ouer For they spend all their coloured Felt in painting Vines Trees Birds and Beasts thereupon The said houses they make so large that they contayne thirtie foot in breadth For measuring once the breadth betweene the wheele-ruts of one of their Carts I found it to bee twentie feet ouer and when the house was vpon the Cart it stretched ouer the wheeles on each side fiue feet at the least I told two and twentie Oxen in one Teame drawing an house vpon a Cart eleuen in one order according to the breadth of the Cart and eleuen more before them the Axle-tree of the Cart was of an huge bignesse like vnto the Mast of a Ship And a fâ—llow stood in the doore of the house vpon the fore-stall of the Cart driuing forth the Oxen. Moreouer they make certayne foure square Baskets of small slender Wickers as bigge as great Chests and afterward from one side to another they frame an hollow lidde or couer of such like Wickers and make a doore in the fore-side thereof And then they couer the said Chest or little House with black Felt ubbed ouer with Tallow or Sheeps Milke to keep the rain from soking through which they deck likewise with painting or with feathers And in such Chests they put their whole Houshold-stuffe and Treasure Also the same Chests they doe strongly binde vpon other Carts which are drawne with Camels to the end they may wade through Riuers Neither doe they at any time take downe the said Chests from off their Carts When they take downe their dwelling houses they turne the doores alwayes to the South and next of all they place the Carts laden with their Chests here and there within halfe a stones cast of the House insomuch that the House standeth betweene two rankes of Carts as it were betweene two Walles The Matrones make for themselues most beautifull Carts which I am not able to describe vnto your Maiesty but by Pictures only for I would right willingly haue painted all things for you had my Skill beene ought in that Art One rich Moal or Tartar hath two hundred or one hundred such Carts with Chests Duke Baatu hath sixteene Wiues euery one of which hath one great house besides other little houses which they place behind the great one being as it were Chambers for their Maidens to dwell in And vnto euery of the said houses doe belong two hundred Carts When they take their houses from off the Carts the principall Wife placeth her Court on the West Frontier and so all the rest in their order so that the last Wife dwelleth vpon the East Frontier and one of the said Ladies Courts is distant from another about a stones cast Whereupon the Court of one rich Moal or Tartar will appeare like vnto a great Village very few men abiding in the same One woman will guide twenty or thirty Carts at once for their Countries are very plaine and they binde the Carts with Camels or Oxen one behind another And there sits a Wench in the fore-most Cart driuing the Oxen and all the residue follow on a like pace When they chance to come at any bad passage they let them loose and guide them ouer one by one for they goe a slow pace as fast as a Lambe or an Oxe can walke HAuing taken downe their houses from off their Carts and turning the doores South-ward they place the bed of the Master of the house at the North part thereof The womens place is alwayes on the East-side namely on the left hand of the good man of the house sitting vpon his bed with his face South-wards but the mens place is vpon the West-side namely at the right hand of their Master Men when they enter into the house will not in any case hang their Qâ—iuers on the womens side Ouer the Masters head there is alwayes an Image like a Puppet made of Fealt which they call the Masters Brother and another ouer the head of the good Wife or Mistris which they call her Brother being fastened to the wall and aboue betweene both of them there is a little leane one which is as it were the keeper of the whole house The good Wife or Mistris of the house placeth aloft at her beds feet on the right hand the Skinne of a Kid stuffed with Wooll or some other matter and neere vnto that a little Image or Puppet looking towards the Maidens and women Next vnto the doore also on the womens side there is another Image with a Cowes Vdder for the women that milke the Kine For it is the dutie of their women to milke Kine On the other side of the doore next vnto the men there is another Image with the Vdder of a Mare for the men which milke Mares And when they come together to drinke and make merrie they sprinkle part of their Drinke vpon the Image which is aboue the Masters head afterward vpon other Images in order then goeth a Seruant out of the house with a cup full of Drinke sprinkling it thrise towards the South and bowing his knee at euery time and this is done for the honour of the Fire Then performeth he the like Superstitious Idolatry towards the East for the honour of the Ayre and then to the West for the honour of the water and lastly to the North in the behalfe of the Dead When the Master holdeth a cup in his hand to drinke before hee tasteth thereof hee powreth his part vpon the ground
If he drinketh sitting on Horse-backe he powreth out part thereof vpon the necke or mane of his Horse before he himselfe drinketh After the Seruant aforesaid hath so discharged his cups to the foure quarters of the World hee returneth into the house and two other Seruants stand ready with two cups and two basons to carrie Drinke vnto their Master and his Wife sitting together vpon a bed And if hee hath more Wiues then one shee with whom he slept the night before sitteth by his side the day following and all his other Wiues must that day resort vnto the same house to drinke and there is the Court holden for that day the gifts also which are presented that day are layd vp in the Chests of the said Wife And vpon a bench stands a Vessell of Milke or of other Drinke and drinking cups IN Winter time they make excellent drinke of Rice of Mill and of Honey being well and high coloured like Wine Also they haue Wine brought vnto them from farre Countries In Summer time they care not for any drinke but Cosmos And it standeth alwayes within the entrance of his doore and next vnto it stands a Minstrell with his Fiddle I saw there no such Citernes and Vials as ours commonly bee but many other Musicall Instruments which are not vsed among vs. And when the Master of the house begins to drinke one of his seruants crieth out with a loude voyce Ha and the Minstrell playes vpon his Fiddle And when they make any great solemne feast they all of them clap their hands and dance to the noyse of Musicke the men before their Master and the women before their Mistris And when the Master hath drunke then cryes out his seruant as before and the Minstrell stayeth his Musicke Then drinke they all round both men and women and sometimes they carowse for the victorie very filthily and drunkenly Also when they will prouoke any man they pull him by the Eares to the drinke and so lug and draw him strongly to stretch out his throat clapping their hands and dancing before him Moreouer when some of them will make great feasting and reioycing one of the companie takes a full Cup and two other stand one on his right hand and another on his left and so they three come singing to the man who is to haue the Cup reached vnto him still singing and dancing before him and when he stretcheth forth his hand to receiue the Cup they leape suddenly backe returning againe as they did before and so hauing deluded him thrice or foure times by drawing backe the Cup vntill he be merrie and hath gotten a good appetite then they giue him the Cup singing and dancing and stamping with their feet vntill he hath done drinking COncerning their food and victuals be it knowne vnto your Highnesse that they doe without all difference or conception eate all their dead Carions And amongst so many droues it cannot be but some Cattell must needs die Howbeit in Summer so long as their Cosmos that is their Mares milke lasteth they care not for any food And if they chance to haue an Oxe or an Horse die they drie and flesh thereof for cutting it into thinne slices and hanging it vp against the Sunne and the wind it is presently dried without Salt and also without stench or corruption They make better Puddings of their Horses then of their Hogs which they eate being new made the rest of the flesh they reserue vntill Winter They make of their Oxe skins great bladders or bags which they doe wonderfully drie in the smoake Of the hinder part of their Horsehides they make very fine Sandals and Pantofles They giue vnto fiftie of an hundred men the flesh of one Ramme to eate For they mince it in a bowle with Salt and Water other Sauce they haue none and then with the poynt of a Knife or a little Forke which they make for the same purpose such as we vse to take roasted Peares and Apples out of Wine withall they reach vnto euery one of the companie a morsell or twaine according to the multitude of Guests The Master of the house before the Rams flesh be distributed first of all himselfe taketh thereof what he pleaseth Also if he giueth vnto any of the companie a speciall part the receiuer thereof must eate it alone and must not impart ought thereof vnto any other Not being able to eate it vp all hee carries it with him and deliuers it vnto his boy if hee be present to keepe it if not hee puts it vp into his Saptargat that is to say his foure square Budget which they vse to carrie about with them for the sauing of all such prouision wherein they lay vp their bones when they haue not time to gnaw them throughly that they may burnish them afterward to the end that no whit of their food may come to nought THeir drinke called Cosmos which is Mares milke is prepared after this manner They fasten a long line vnto two posts standing firmly in the ground and vnto the same line they tye the young Foales of those Mares which they meane to milke Then come the Dammes to stand by their Foales gently suffering themselues to be milked And if any of them be too vnruly then one takes her Foale and puts it vnder her letting it sucke a while and presently carrying it away againe there comes another man to milke the said Mare And hauing gotten a good quantitie of this Milke together being as sweet as Cowes milke while it is new they powre into a great bladder or bag and they beat the said bag with a piece of wood made for the purpose hauing a Club at the lower end like a mans head which is hollow within and so soone as they beat vpon it it begins to boyle like new Wine and to be sowre and sharpe of taste and they beate it in that manner till Butter come thereof Then taste they thereof and being indifferently sharpe they drinke it for it biteth a mans tongue like the Wine of Raspes when it is drunke After a man hath taken a draught thereof it leaueth behind it a taste like the taste of Almond-milke and goeth downe very pleasantly intoxicating weake braynes also it causeth vrine to be auoyded in great measure Likewise Caracosmos that is to say Blacke Cosmos for great Lords to drinke they make on this manner First they beat the said Milke so long till the thickest part thereof descend right downe to the bottome like the lees of white Wine and that which is thinne and pure remayneth aboue being like vnto Whay or white Must. The said lees and dregs being very white are giuen to seruants and will cause them to sleepe exceedingly That which is thinne and cleere their Masters drinke and in very deede it is maruellous sweet and wholsome liquor Duke Baatu hath thirtie Cottages or Granges within a dayes iourney of
yeare after Also whosoeuer is present at the house where any one growne to mans estate lyeth dead he must not enter into the Court of Mangu-Can till one whole yeare be expired If it were a child deceased hee must not enter into the said Court till the next moneth after Neere vnto the graue of the partie deceased they alwaies leaue one Cottage If any of their Nobles being of the stocke of Chingis who was their first Lord and Father deceaseth his Sepulchre is vnknowne And alwaies about those places where they interre their Nobles there is one house of men to keepe the Sepulchres I could not learne that they vse to hide Treasures in the graues of their dead The Comanians build a great Toombe ouer their dead and erect the Image of the dead partie thereupon with his face towards the East holding a drinking Cup in his hand before his Nauell They erect also vpon the Monuments of rich men Pyramides that is to say little sharpe houses or pinacles and in some places I saw mightie Towers made of Bricke in other places Pyramides made of stones albeit there are no stones to be found thereabout I saw one newly buried in whose behalfe they hanged vp sixteene Horse-hides vnto each quarter of the world foure betweene certaine high posts and they set besides his Graue Cosmos for him to drinke and flesh to eate and yet they said that he was baptized I beheld other kinds of Sepulchres also towards the East namely large floores or pauements made of stone some round and some square and then foure long stones pitched vpright about the said pauement towards the foure Regions of the world When any man is sicke he lyeth in his bed and causeth a signe to be set vpon his house to signifie that there lyeth a sicke person there to the end that no man may enter into the said house whereupon none at all visit any sicke partie but his seruant onely Moreouer when any one is sicke in their great Courts they appoint Watch-men to stand round about the said Court who will not suffer any person to enter within the Precincts thereof For they feare least euill spirits or winds should come together with the parties that enter in They esteeme of Soothsayers as of their Priests ANd being come amongst those barbarous people me thought as I said before that I was entred into a new world for they came flocking about vs on horse-backe after they had made vs a long time to awaite for them sitting in the shadow vnder their blacke carts The first question which they demanded was whether we had euer beene with them heretofore or no And giuing them answere that we had not they began impudently to beg our victuals from vs. And we gaue them some of our Bisket and Wine which wee had brought with vs from the Towne of Soldaia And hauing drunke off one Flagon of our Wine they demanded another saying That a man goeth not into the house with one foote Howbeit we gaue them no more excusing our selues that we had but a little Then they asked vs whence we came and whither we were bound I answered them with the words aboue mentioned that wee had heard concerning Duke Sartach that hee was become a Christian and that vnto him our determination was to trauell hauing your Maiesties Letters to deliuer vnto him They were very inquisitiue to know whether I came of mine owne accord or whither I were sent I answered that no man compelled me to come neither had I come vnlesse I my selfe had beene willing and that therefore I was come according to mine owne will and to the will of my Superior I tooke diligent heed neuer to say that I was your Maiesties Embassadour Then they asked what I had in my Carts whether it were Gold or Siluer or rich Garments to carrie vnto Sartach I answered that Sartach should see what we had brought when we were once come vnto him and that they had nothing to doe to aske such questions but rather ought to conduct me vnto their Captaine and that he if he thought good should cause me to be directed vnto Sartach if not that I would returne For there was in the same Prouince one of Baatu his Kinsmen called Scacati vnto whom my Lord the Emperour of Constantinople had written Letters of request to suffer me to passe through his Territorie With this answere of ours they were satisfied giuing vs Horses and Oxen and two men to conduct vs. Howbeit before they would allow vs the foresaid necessaries for our iourney they made vs to awaite a long while begging our bread for their young Brats wondring at all things which they saw about our Seruants as their Kniues Gloues Purses and Points and desiring to haue them I excused my selfe that wee had a long way to trauell and that we must in no wise so soone depriue our selues of things necessary to finish so long a iourney Then they said that I was a very varlet True it is that they tooke nothing by force from me howbeit they will beg that which they see very importunatly and shamelesly And if a man bestow ought vpon them it is but cost lost for they are thanklesse wretches They esteeme themselues Lords and thinke that nothing should be denyed them by any man If a man giues them nought and afterwards stands in need of their seruice they will do right nought for him They gaue vs of their Cowes Milke to drink after the Butter was churned out of it being very sowre which they call Apram And so we departed from them And in very deed it seemed to me that we were escaped out of the hands of Diuels On the morrow we were come vnto the Captaine From the time wherein we departed from Soldaia till wee arriued at the Court of Sartach which was the space of two moneths we neuer lay in House or Tent but alwaies vnder the starry Canopie and in the open Aire or vnder our Carts Neither yet saw we any Village nor any mention of building where a Village had beene but the graues of the Comanians in great abundance The same euening our guide which had conducted vs gaue vs some Cosmos After I had drunke thereof I sweat most extreamely for the noueltie and strangenesse because I neuer dranke of it before Notwithstanding me thought it was very sauory as indeed it was ON the morrow after we met with the Carts of Scacatai laden with houses and me thought that a mightie Citie came to meete me I wondred also at the great multitude of huge Droues of Oxen and Horses and at the Flockes of Sheepe I could see but a few men that guided all these matters whereupon I inquired how many men hee had vnder him and they told me that he had not aboue fiue hundred in all the one halfe of which number we were come past as they lay in another Lodging Then the Seruant which was our
they were more mightie then the Tartars as yet are And vnto them the Blacians the Bulgarians and the Vandals ioyned themselues For out of Bulgaria the greater came those Bulgarians Moreouer they which inhabite beyond Danubius neere vnto Constantinople and not farre from Pascatir are called Ilac which sauing the pronunciation is all one with Blac for the Tartars cannot pronounce the Letter B from whom also discended the people which inhabite the Land of Assani For they are both of them called Ilac both these and the other in the languages of the Russians the Polonians and the Bohemians The Sclauonians speake all one language with the Vandals all which banded themselues with the Hunnes and now for the most part they vnite themselues vnto the Tartars whom God hath raised vp froÌ„ the vtmost parts of the earth according to that which the Lord saith I will prouoke them to enuy namely such as keepe not his Law by a people which is no people and by a foolish Nation will I anger them This prophecy is fulfilled according to the literall sense thereof vpon all Nationâ— which obserue not the Law of God All this which I haue written concerning the Land of Pascatir was told me by certaine Friers Pradicants which trauelled thither before euer the Tartars came abroad And from that time they were subdued vnto their neighbours the Bulgarians being Saracens whereupon many of them proued Saracens also Other matters concerning this people may be knowne out of Chronicles For it is manifest that those Prouinces beyond Constantinople which are now called Bulgaria Valachia and Sclauonia were of old time Prouinces belonging to the Greekes Also Hungaria was heretofore called Pannonia And wee were riding ouer the Land of Cangle from the feast of Holy-rood vntill the feast of All-Saints trauelling almost euery day according to mine estimation as farre as from Paris to Orleans and somtimes farther as we were prouided of Post-horses for some daies we had change of horses twice or thrice in a day Sometimes we trauelled two or three daies together not finding any people and then we were constrained not to ride so fast Of twentie or thirtie Horses we had alwaies the worst because we were Strangers For euery one tooke their choice of the best Horses before vs. They prouided me alwaies of a strong Horse because I was very corpulent and heauy but whether he ambled a gentle pase or no I durst not make any question Neither yet durst I complaine although he trotted full sore But euery man must bee contented with his lot as it fell Whereupon we were exceedingly troubled for oftentimes our Horses were tyred before we could come at any people And then we were constrained to beate and whip on our Horses and to lay our Garments vpon other emptie Horses yea and sometimes two of vs to ride vpon one Horse OF hunger and thirst cold and wearinesse there was no end For they gaue vs no victuals but onely in the euening In the morning they vsed to giue vs a little drinke or some sodden Millet to sup off In the euening they bestowed flesh vpon vs as namely a shoulder and breast of Râ—ms Mutton and euery man a measured quantitie of broath to drinke When wee had sufficient of the flesh-broath we were maruellously well refreshed And it seemed to mee most pleasant and most nourishing drinke Euery Saturday I remained fasting vntill night without eating or drinking of ought And when night came I was constrained to my great griefe and sorrow to eate flesh Sometimes we were faine to eate flesh halfe sodden or almost raw and all for want of Fewell to seethe it withall especially when we lay in the fields or were benighted before we came at our iourneys end because we could not then conueniently gather together the dung of Horses or Oxen for other fewell we found but seldome except perhaps a few thornes in some places Likewise vpon the banckes of some Riuers there are woods growing here and there Howbeit they are very rare In the beginning our guide highly disdained vs and it was tedious vnto him to conduct such base fellowes Afterward when he began to know vs somewhat better he directed vs on our way by the Courts of rich Moals and we were requested to pray for them Wherefore had I carried a good Interpreter with me I should haue had opportunitie to haue done much good The foresaid Chingis who was the first great Can or Emperour of the Tartars had foure Sonnes of whom proceeded by naturall discent many children euery one of which doeth at this day enioy great possessions and they are daily multiplyed and dispersed ouer that huge and vast Desart which is in dimensions like vnto the Ocean Sea Our guide therefore directed vs as we were going on our iourney vnto many of their habitations And they maruelled exceedingly that wee would receiue neither Gold nor Siluer nor precious and costly garments at their hands They inquired also concerning the great Pope whether he was of so lasting an age as they had heard For there had gone a report among them that hee was fiue hundred yeares old They inquired likewise of our Countries whether there were abundance of Sheepe Oxen and Horses or no Concerning the Ocean Sea they could not conceiue of it because it was without limits or bankes Vpon the Euen of the feast of All-Saints wee forsooke the way leading towards the East because the people were now descended very much South and wee went on our iourney by certaine Alpes or Mountaines directly South-ward for the space of eight daies together In the foresaid Desart I saw many Asâ—es which they call Colan being rather like vnto Mules these did our guide and his companions chase very eagerly howbeit they did but lose their labour for the beasts were two swift for them Vpon the seuenth day there appeared to the South of vs huge high Mountaynes and we entred into a place which was well watered and fresh as a Garden and found Land tilled and manured The eight day after the feast of All-Saints wee arriued at a certaine Towne of the Saracens named Kenchat the Gouernour whereof met our Guide at the Townes end with Ale and Cups For it is their manner at all Townes and Villages subiect vnto them to meete the messengers of Baatu and Mangu-Can with meate and drinke At the same time of the yeere they went vpon the Ice in that Countrey And before the feast of Saint Michael we had frost in the Desart I enquired the name of that Prouince but being now in a strange Territorie they could not tell mee the name thereof but onely the name of a very small Citie in the same Prouince And there descended a great Riuer downe from the Mountaynes which watered the whole Region acccording as the Inhabitants would giue it passage by making diuers Chanels and Sluces neither did this Riuer exonerate it selfe into any Sea but was swallowed vp
Archdeacon of the rest and his friends sent for a certayne Saracen which was a Sooth-sayer Who said vnto them A certayne leane man who neyther eateth nor drinketh nor sleepes in a Bed is angry with him if hee can obtayne his blessing hee may recouer Then they vnderstood it was the Monke And about mid-night the Priests Wife his Sister and his Sonne came intreating that hee would come and blesse him They also raised vs vp to intreate the Monke Then he said vnto vs intreating him Let him alone because hee with three others who likewise tooke euill courses consulted to goe vnto the Court to procure Mangu Chan that I and you should bee expelled from these parts For there arose a contention among them because Mangu and his Wiues sent foure Iascots and certayne Silkes vpon Easter Eeuen to the Monke and Priests to distribute among them And the Monke had kept vnto himselfe one Iascot for his part and of the other three one was counterfeit for it was Copper Whereupon it seemed to the Priests that the Monke had kept too great a portion to himselfe Whence it might bee that they had some words among themselues which were reported to the Monke When day came I went vnto the Priest hauing an extreme griefe in his side and spitting bloud whereupon I thought it was an Impostume Then I counselled him if he had any thing that was an others to restore it He said hee had nothing I spoke vnto him also of the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction Who answered we haue no such custome neither doe our Priests know how to doe it I intreat you that you would doe it for mee as you know best to bee done I aduised him also concerning Confession which they frequent not hee spake shortly in the Eare of a certayne Priest one of his fellowes After this hee beganne to bee better and hee intreated mee to goe for the Monke So I went but the Monke would not come at the first yet when hee heard hee was some-what better hee went with his Crosse. And I also went and carryed in a Boxe of Master Williams the bodie of Christ which I had reserued vpon Easter Day at the intreatie of Master William Then the Monke beganne to kicke him with his feet and hee most humbly imbraced his feet Then I said vnto him It is the custome of the Church of Rome that the sicke should receiue the Bodie of Christ as it were prouision for their iourney and a defence against all the Deceits of the Enemie Behold the Bodie of Christ which I consecrated on Easter Day You must bee confessed and desire it Then said hee with a great Faith I desire it with all my heart Which when I had discouered hee with great affection said I beleeue that this is my Creatour and my Sauiour who gaue mee life and will restore it againe vnto mee after death in the generall Resurrection and so tooke the Bodie of Christ from my hand made after the manner of the Church of Rome Then the Monke abode with him and gaue him in my absence I know not what Potions On the morrow hee beganne to haue the pangs of death vpon him Then taking their Oyle which they said was holy I anointed him according to the manner of the Church of Rome as they intreated mee I had none of our Oyle because the Priests of Sartach kept all And when wee should sing a Dirge and I would haue beene present at his end the Monke sent vnto mee willing me to depart because if I should bee present I could not come into the house of Mangu Chan for one whole yeare Which when I had told his friends they said it was true and requested me to depart lest I might be hindered in that good which I might promote Assoone as hee was dead the Monke said vnto mee care not I haue killed him with my Prayers This fellow only was Learned and opposed himselfe against vs the rest know nothing Henceforth Mangu Chan himselfe and they all will crouch at our feete Then hee declared vnto me the foresaid Answere of the Sooth-sayer Which not beleeuing it I inquired of the Priests who were friends of the dead whether it were true or no. Who said it was But whether he were pre-instructed or not that they knew not Afterwards I found that the Monke called the foresaid Sooth-sayer and his Wife into his Chappell and caused dust to bee sifted and to diuine vnto him For hee had a certayne Rutenian Deacon who diuined to him Which when I vnderstood I was astonied at his foolishnesse and said vnto him Brother a man full of the Holy Ghost which teacheth all things should not demand Answeres or Counsell from Sooth-sayers seeing all such things are forbidden and they excommunicated who follow such things Then hee beganne to excuse himselfe that it was not true that hee sought after such things But I could not depart from him because I was placed there by the commandement of Chan himselfe nor could I remooue my selfe without his speciall command COncerning the Citie of Caracarum know this that excluding the Palace of Chan himselfe it is not so good as the Castle of Saint Denis and the Monasterie of Saint Denis is tenne times more worth then that Palace and more too There are two streets there one of the Saracens where the Faires are kept and many Merchants haue recourse thither by reason of the Court which is alwayes neere and for the multitude of Messengers There is another street of the Cataians who are all Artificers Without those streets there are great Palaces which are the Courts of the Secretaries There are there twelue kindes of Idolatries of diuers Nations Two Churches of Mahomet where the Law of Mahomet is proclaimed one Church of the Christians at the end of the Towne The Towne is inclosed with a mudde Wall and hath foure Gates On the East part Millet and other Graine is sold which yet is seldome brought thither On the West Sheepe and Goates On the South Oxen and Waggons are sold. At the North Horses are sold. Following the Court before the Ascension wee came thither the Sunday before the Ascension The next day after we were called before Bulgai who is a Iustice and chiefe Secretarie both the Monke and all his Family and wee and all the Messengers and Strangers which frequented the house of the Monke And wee were called before Bulgai seuerally first the Monke and after wee and they beganne diligently to inquire whence wee were and for what purpose wee came and what our errand was And this inquirie was made because it was told Mangu Chan that foure hundred Hassasines or secret Murtherers were gone forth in diuers Habits to kill him About that time the foresaid Ladie was restored to health and shee sent for the Monke and hee not willing to goe answered shee hath sent for Idolaters about her let them cure her if they can I will goe no more Vpon Ascension
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
and all very good and it neuer wanteth in the markets there be many Crabs and Oysters and other shell-fish and all is very good and of all these things the markets are full The Markets are commonly at the gates of the Cities and vnder the triumphant Arches which are in the large and principall streets as we said before and along the Portals of the same streets but not to sell here flesh or fish for there be particular streets excepting quicke flesh which is sold euery where There are many Garden-herbes sc. Turneps Radish Cabage and all smelling Herbs Garleeke Onions and other herbes in great abundance There are also many fruits scil Peaches Damsons and another manner of Plummes which wee haue not with long round and sharpe stones at both ends and of these they make Prunes There are many Nuts and very good and many Chesnuts both small and great There is a kinde of Apples that in the colour and rinde are like gray Peares but in smell and taste better then they There is a fruit whereof there are many Orchards it groweth on great and large boughed trees it is a fruit as bigge as a Plumme round and a little bigger they cast the huske and it is very singular and rare fruit none can haue his fill of it for alwaies it leaueth a desire of more though they eate neuer so much and doth no hurt Of this fruit there is another kinde smaller but the biggest is the best they are called Lechias There are Oranges Figs and many other fruits which were to long to recite And though there be particular streets of Victualling houses yet there is through all the Citie almost in euery street of these houses In these Victualling houses is great store of meate dressed Many Geese Hennes and Duckes roasted and sod and store of other flesh and fish dressed I saw at one doore hanging a whole Hog roasted and let one aske where he will for all is very cleanly dressed the showe of all the meate that is dressed is at the doore almost inciting them that passe At the doore is a vessell full of Rice well coloured and dressed and because the matters of Iustice are commonly almost from ten of the clocke forward and many haue their houses farre because the Citie is very great or because they which come from out of Towne with businesse as well Inhabitants as Strangers doe eate in these houses When any man meeteth any acquaintance of his that commeth from abroad or that he hath not seene him a long time saluting one another he asketh him presently if he hath dined and if he answereth no he carrieth him to one of these houses and there they eate and drinke priuily for there is great store of Wine and better then in any place of India which they make of confections if he answereth that he hath dined alreadie he carrieth him where they haue onely Wine and Shell-fish wherewith they drinke of which houses there are also many and there he doth feast him There is also in Cantan along the wall on the outside a street of Victualling houses in the which they sell Dogs cut in quarters roasted boiled and raw with the heads pulled and their eares for they scald them all like Pigs it is a meate which the base people doe eate and they sell them aliue about the Citie in Cages through euery street they sell flesh fish herbes fruit and all things necessarie crying that which they sell. In the end of Februarie in March and part of Aprill when the great flowings are there commeth great store of fish from the Sea to spawne in the mouthes of the Riuers along the Sea whereby there breedeth infinite small fish of many sorts in the pooles of the Riuers Of these spawnes in these times all the Fishers along the Sea coast doe meet in their boats and there meet so many that they couer the Sea and lie neere the pooles And these Fishers doe take great quantitie of this small fish and cast it in Cisternes which they haue made with stakes and a very thicke Net made of wyer where they doe feed them to the end of the fishing time and at this time there are wont to come a great number of Barkes from all places of China within the Land for I said alreadie that all China is sailed by Riuers for it is all cut and watered with great Riuers and these Barkes doe bring a great many baskets within and without which are all lined with oyled paper that it may hold water and euery one of these Barkes doe buy the fish they haue need of Then they carrie this fish in these baskets through all the Countrie inward changing euery day the water and all men of any possibilitie within their grounds and inclosures haue great store of fish in ponds for the which they buy the baskets they haue need they feed this fish in the ponds in a very short time with Cow dung and Buffes dung wherewith it groweth very fast In all the ditches of the Cities likewise they breed great store of fish in the same sort of which the Rulers are serued In all the Cities which I said alreadie are built along the Riuers The King hath many Sea Crowes in Coopes in which they breed with the which they make Royall fishings many times all the Barkes that are bound to goe a fishing with these Cormorants doe meet and set round in the Riuer those that haue charge of the birds doe tye them about the crops that they cannot swallow them and they cast them to fish in the Riuer They fish till they fill their crops of middle fish and if it be great they bring it in the beake and come to the Barke where they cast all the fish they haue fished forcing them to cast it and in this manner they fish the quantitie they will till they haue to their contentment after they haue fished for the Barke they vntye them and let them goe fish for themselues after they be full they come to the Boats and are put in the Coops these birds doe fish very much The King doth giue for a fauour to the Rulers one or two of these Barkes according as the person is of qualitie for the maintayning of his house with fresh fish Though that the Chinas commonly are ill-fauoured hauing their faces and noses flat and are beardlesse with some few haires in the points of the chinne some notwithstanding there are which haue very good faces and well proportioned with great eyes their beards well set and their noses well shapen but these are few and it may be they are of other Nations They weare long Coats commonly with plaites after our good ancient vse with a flappe ouer the breast to tye on the side and all in generall haue very long sleeues to their coats they weare commonly blacke Coats of Linnen or of very fine Serge or course of
feare lest this vndertaking would cost our liues with a People so cruell The next day George Mendez and two others of our companie were carried with a band of Horse-men about the Castle to view it and then brought to the Mitaquer to whom he professeth great facilitie of effecting his purpose which so contented him that he sware by the Rice he eate to present vs to the King and to fulfill his promises presently taking off the remainder of our Irons Hee made vs to eate neere him and did vs other honour After which George Mendez as Camp-master appointed store of Chists Boxes and matterials to fill vp the ditch and three hundred large scaling Ladders able to hold each three Souldiers against the next morning to be made ready two hours before day All this was happily effected the ditch filled and Mendez with two others of vs first scaled the wall and set vp the Tartars Colours fiue thousand Tartars gallantly seconding so that with a hote skirmish the besieged were all slaine and the Castle taken the gates opened to the Mitaquer who with great ceremonies tooke thereof possession He caused George Mendez and the rest of vs to eate neere him razed the Castle and taking Mendez with him on horse-backe returned to his Tent giuing him 1000. Taeis and each of vs 100. the cause of much emulation in some of our companie who by his meanes had obtayned libertie Thence the Mitaquer marched by places desolate to a good Towne by the Riuers side called Lautimey the people whereof were fled the Towne these barbarians fired as they did other places where they came The next day they burned Bunxay a sowne field of aboue sixe leagues circuit most Wheat and came to the Hill Pommitay and the next day to the Riuer Palemzitau within two leagues of the Kings Campe. Guijay Paran sonne of the King of Persia at the Castle of Lautir by the Kings appointment stayed for him to whom Mitaquer on his knees deliuered his Scimitar hauing first kissed the ground fiue times Hee welcomed him with honourable termes and after that stepping backe two or three paces with a new ceremonie and with a voyce high and seuere as he which represented the Kings person said He whose rich border of his garment my mouth continually kisseth whose great power ruleth ouer others by Land and on the Iles of the Sea sends to tell thee by mee his Slaue that thy honourable comming is as welcome to his presence as the sweet Summer morning wherein the bathing of cold water most delights the flesh and that without delay thou hastenest to heare his voice mounted on this Horse richly furnished out of his Treasurie with mee that thou mayest be equall in honour with the principall of his Court and they which see thee thus honoured may know that thou art a strong member whose valour deserues this reward Thus with great state and pompe they went to the King and fifteene dayes after he brought vs to the Tents of the King well horsed then in the sumptuous House of Nacapirau When he came to the Trenches hee descended from his Litter wee from our Horses and asked leaue of Nautaran to enter which granted he againe went to his Litter and we followed on foot at the next passage he descended and went in leauing vs to expect him An houre after he returned with foure faire Boyes gallantly arayed in greene and white with their golden Xorâ—as on their feet to whom all the people rose vp and drawing their Scimitars laid them on the ground saying three times A hundred thousand yeeres liue the Lord of our heads Wee lying prostrate with our faces on the ground one of the Boyes said to vs with a loude voice Reioyce yee men of the Worlds end for the houre of your desire is comne in which the libertie which the Mitaquer promised you in the Castle of Nixianco shall bee granted you Lift vp your heads from the ground and your hands to Heauen giuing thankes to the Lord which made the Stars Wee answered as wee were taught Let it bee our fortune that his foot tread on our heads the Boy answered The Lord grant your request These foure Boyes with Mitaquer guided vs on thorow a Gallerie standing on sixe and twentie Pillars of Brasse from which wee entred a great Hall of timber in which stood Mogores Persians Berdios Calaminhans and Bramas thence wee came to another Hall called Tigihipau where were great store of armed men in fiue files quite thorow the Hall their Swords garnished with Gold There Mitaquer performed some ceremonies swearing on the Maces which the foure Boyes carried kneeling and kissing the ground three times Then we passed another gate and came to a square great Hall like the Cloister of a Monasterie in which stood foure files of brazen Images like Sauages with Maces and Crownes seuâ—n and twentie spannes high and sixe broad which the Tartars said were the three hundred and sixty Gods which made the dayes of the yeere which the Tartar King had taken out of a Temple called Angicamoy in the Citie Xipatom in a Chappell of the Sepulchres of the Kings of China to carrie home in triumph In this Hill was a Garden of strange herbs and flowers and therein a Tent vpon twelue turned posts of Camphire wood in which was a Throne all garnished with much curiositie of Gold and Siluer workes representing very liuely the Sunne Moone Starres Cloudes In the midst of the Throne stood a siluer great Statue called Abicaunilancor that is God of the health of Kings taken also from Angicamoy about which stood foure and thirtie Idols as big as children about sixe yeeres old in two rankes set on their knees and hands lifted vp as in veneration At the entrie of the Tent were foure Boyes gorgeously arayed which went about it with Censers and at the sound of a Bell prostrated themselues on the ground and censing said Let our crie come vnto thee as a sweet sauour that thou mayest heare vs. That Tent was guarded by sixtie Halbarders standing a pretie distance from it round about Beyond that Hill wee entred another place where were foure rich roomes in which were many great persons Thence we followed Mitaquer and the Boyes vnto a great Hall like a Church where stood sixe Porters with Maces which with new ceremonie let vs in Here was the King of Tartars accompanied with his Grandes among which were the Kings of Pafua Mecuy Capimper Raia Benam and the Anchesacotay and other Kings to the number of fourteene all in rich attire placed at the foot of the Throne two or three paces distant and a little further off stood two and thirtie faire women playing on diuers Instruments The King sate on the Throne encompassed with twelue Boyes on their knees with small Scepters of gold on their shoulders amongst which was a faire Damsell which euer and anone fanned the King This was the sister of Mitaquer who
three of our men stayed by the Scute to build her to our minds and for that it was a Herring Scute which are made narrow behind therefore they sawed it off behind and made it a broad stearne and better to brooke the Seas they built it also somewhat higher and drest it vp as well as they could the rest of our men were busie in the house to make all other things ready for our Voyage and that day drew two Sleds with victuals and other goods vnto the ship that lay about halfe way betweene the house and the open water that after they might haue so much the shorter way to carrie the goods vnto the water side when wee should goe away at which time all the labour and paines that wee tooke seemed light and easie vnto vs because of the hope that wee had to get out of that wilde Desart irkesome fearefull and cold Countrey The fift it was foule weather with great store of haile and snow the wind West which made an open water but as then we could doe nothing without the house but within we made all things ready as Sayles Oares Masts Sprit Rother Swerd and all other necessarie things The sixt in the morning it was faire weather the wind North-east then wee went with our Carpenters to the ship to build vp our Scute and carried two sleds full of goods into the ship both victuals and Merchandise with other things which wee meant to take with vs after that there rose very foule weather in the South-west with snow haile and raine which wee in long time had not had whereby the Carpenters were forced to leaue their worke and goe home to the house with vs whereby also we could not be drie because wee had taken of the Deales therewith to amend our Boat and our Scute there lay but a sayle ouer it which would not hold out the water and the way that lay full of snow began to be soft so that wee left off our shooes made of Rugge and Felt and put on our Leather shooes The eight it was faire weather and wee drew the wares to the ship which wee had packed and made ready and the Carpenters made ready the Scute so that the same euening it was almost done the same day all our men went to draw our Boat to the ship and made ropes to draw withall such as wee vse to draw with in Scutes which wee cast ouer our shoulders and held fast with all our hands and so drew both with our hands and our shoulders which gaue vs more force and specially the desire and great pleasure wee tooke to worke at that time made vs stronger The tenth wee carried foure Sleds of goods into the ship the wind then being variable and at euening it was Northerly and wee were busie in the house to make all things ready the Wine that was left we put into little vessels that so wee might diuide it into both our vessels and that as wee were enclosed by the Ice which wee well knew would happen vnto vs wee might easilier cast the goods vpon the Ice both out and into the Scutes as time and place serued vs. The eleuenth it was foule weather and it blew hard North North-west so that all that day we could doe nothing and we were in great feare left the storme would carrie the Ice and the ship both away together which might well haue come to passe then wee should haue beene in greater miserie then euer wee were for that our goods both victuals and others were then all in the ship but God prouided so well for vs that it fell not out so vnfortunatly The twelfth it was indifferent faire weather then we went with Hatchets Halberds Shouels and other instruments to make the way plaine where we should draw the Scute and the Boat to the water side along the way that lay full of knobs and hills of Ice where wee wrought sore with our Hatchets and other instruments and while we were in the chiefest of our worke there came a great leane Beare out of the Sea vpon the Ice towards vs which we iudged to come out of Tartaria for we had seene of them twenty or thirty miles within the Sea and for that wee had no Muskets but onely one which our Surgeon carried I ranne in great haste towards the ship to fetch one or two which the Beare perceiuing ranne after mee and was very likely to haue ouer taken me but our companie seeing that left their worke and ranne after her which made the Beare turne towards them and left me but when she ran towards them she was shot into the body by the Surgeon and ranne away but because the Ice was so vneuen and hilly she could not goe farre but being by vs ouertaken we killed her out right and smote her teeth out of her head while she was yet liuing The thirteenth it was faire weather then the Master and the Carpenters went to the ship and there made the Scute and the Boat ready so that there rested nothing as then but onely to bring it downe to the water side the Master and those that were with him seeing that it was open water and a good West wind came backe to the house againe and there hee spake vnto William Barents that had beene long sicke and shewed him that he thought it good seeing it was a fit time to goe from thence and so willed the companie to driue the Boat and the Scute downe to the water side and in the name of God to beginne our Voyage to sayle from Noua Zembla then William Barents wrote a Letter which he put in a Muskets charge and hanged it vp in the Chimney shewing how he came out of Holland to sayle to the Kingdome of China and what had happened vnto vs being there on Land with all our crosses that if any man chanced to come thither they might know what had happened vnto vs and how we had beene forced in our extremitie to make that house and had dwelt ten moneths therein and for that wee were put to Sea in two small open Boats and to vndertake a dangerous and aduenturous Voyage in hand the Master wrote two Letters which most of vs subscribed vnto signifying how wee had stayed there vpon the Land in great trouble and miserie in hope that our ship would bee freed from the Ice and that we should sayle away with it againe and how it fell out to the contrary and that the ship lay fast in the Ice so that in the end the time passing away and our victuals beginning to faile vs we were forced for the sauing of our owne liues to leaue the ship and to sayle away in our open Boats and so to commit our selues into the hands of God Which done he put into each of our Scutes a Letter that if wee chanced to lose one another or that by stormes or any other misaduenture we happened to be cast away that then by
the weather being somewhat better wee agreed amongst our selues to leaue Noua Zembla and to crosse ouer to Russia and so committing our selues to God we set sayle with a North-west Wind and sayled South South-west till the Sunne was East and then we entred into Ice againe which put vs in great feare and about the South-west Sunne got cleere thereof and entred into the large Sea where we saw Ice and then what with sayling and rowing we had made twentie miles and so sailing forwards wee thought to approch neere vnto the Russian Coast but about the North-west Sunne we entred into Ice againe and then it was very cold The fourth about the South-east Sunne being gotten out of the Ice we sayled forward with a North-west Wind and held our course Southerly and when the Sunne was South at noone time we saw the Coast of Russia lying before vs whereat we were exceeding glad and going neerer vnto it we strooke our sayles and rowed on Land and found it to be very low Land like a bare Strand that might be flowed ouer with the water there we lay till the Sunne was South-west but perceiuing that there wee could not much further our selues hauing as then sayled from the Point of Noua Zembla from whence we put off thither full thirtie miles wee sayled forward along by the Coast of Russia with an indifferent gale of Winde and when the Sunne was North we saw another Russian Iolle or ship which we sayled vnto to speake with them and being hard by them they came all aboue Hatches and wee cryed vnto them Candinaes Candinaes whereby we asked if we were about Candinaes but they cryed againe and said Pitzora Pitzora to shew vs that wee were there abouts and for that wee sayled along by the Coast where it was very dry supposing that we held our course West and by North that so we might get beyond the Point of Candinaes we were wholy deceiued by our Compasse that stood vpon a Chist bound with Iron bands which made vs vary at least two Points whereby we were much more Southerly then wee thought our course had beene and also farre more Easterly for wee thought verily that we had not beene farre from Candinaes and wee were three dayes sayling from it as after we perceiued and for that we found our selues to bee so much out of our way we stayed there all night till day appeared The twelfth of August it was faire weather at which time the Sunne being East wee saw a Russia Lodgie come towards vs with all his sayles vp wherewith we were not a little comforted which we perceiuing from the Strand where we lay with our Scutes we desired the Master that we might goe vnto him to speake with him and to get some victuals of them and to that end we made as much haste as we could to launch out our Scutes and sayled toward them and when we got to them the Master went into the Lodgie to aske them how farre wee had to Cardinaes which we could not well learne of them because wee vnderstood them not they held vp their fiue Fingers vnto vs but we knew not what they meant thereby but after we perceiued that thereby they would shew vs that there stood fiue Crosses vpon it and they brought their Compasse out and shewed vs that it lay North-west from vs which our Compasse also shewed vs which reckoning also we had made but when we saw we could haue no better intelligence from them the Master went further into their Ship and pointed to a barrell of Fish that he saw therein making signes to know whether they would sell it vnto vs shewing them a peece of eight Rials which they vnderstanding gaue vs one hundred and two Fishes with soâ—e Cakes which they had made of Meale when they sodde their Fish and about the South Sunne wee left them The sixteenth of August in the Morning sayling forward North-west we perceiued that we were in a Creeke and so made towards the Russian Lodgie which we had seene on our starre-boord which at last with great labour and much paine wee got vnto and comming to them about the South-east Sunne with a hard winde we asked them how farre we were from Sembla de Cool or Kilduin but they shooke their heads and shewed vs that wee were on the East-side of Zembla de Candinaes The seuenteenth lying at Anchor in the Morning at breake of day wee saw a Russian Lodgie that came sayling out of the white Sea to vvhom we rowed that vve might haue some instruction from him and when we boorded him vvithout asking or speaking vnto him he gaue vs a loafe of Bread and by signes shewed vs as well as he could that hee had seene our Companions and that there vvas seuen men in the Boate but wee not knowing well what they sayd neither yet beleeuing them they made other signes vnto vs and held vp their seuen Fingers and pointed to our Scute thereby shewing that there was so many men in the Boate and that they had sold them Bread Flesh Fish and other victuals and while wee stayed in their Lodgie vve saw a small Compasse therin which we knew that they had bought of our chiefe Boatson which they likewise acknowledged About mid-night wee found a fall of fresh Water and then we went on Land to fetch some and there also wee got some Leple-leaues and as wee thought to row forward we were forced to sayle because the flood was past and still we lookt earnestly out for the point of Cardinaes and the fiue Crosses whereof we had beene instructed by the Russians but we could not see it The Eighteenth in the Morning the Sunne being East we puld vp our Stone which we vsed in steed of an Anchor and rowed along by the Land till the Sunne was South and then we saw a point of Land reaching into the Sea and on certayne signes of Crosses which as vve went neerer vnto we saw perfectly and when the Sunne was West we perceiued that the Land reached West and South-west so that thereby we knew it certainely to bee the point of Candinaes lying at the mouth of the white Sea which we were to crosse and had long desired to see it This Point is easily to bee knowne hauing fiue Crosses standing vpon it which are perfectly to be discerned and hauing a good North-east vvind which was not for vs to slacke we set forward in the Name of God and when the Sunne was North-west we past the Point and all that night and the next day sayled with a good Wind and all that time rowed but while three Glasses were runne out and the next Night after ensuing hauing still a good vvind in the Morning about the East North-east Sunne we saw Land on the West-side of the white Sea which we found by the rushing of the Sea vpon the Land before we saw it and perceiuing it to bee full of Clifts and not low
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
durst not without the Emperour of Russia his licence Whereupon I answered that the Emperours Maiestie when he was raigning was very gracious vnto our Nation aboue all other strangers and shewed what great priuiledges hee had bestowed on our people and how by the English-mens meanes at the first what a trade is now at Arkania and what profit came not onely into his Maiesties Treasurie but also into all parts of his Dominions which in time might be brought hither and withall shewed the Emperours priuiledge Wherefore then they began to put away feare and willed vs to stay fiue or sixe dayes vntill he had sent for the chiefest men of the Townes-men who were abroad and then they would giue vs an answer Then I desired that we might haue an house to be in and not to stay without doores So he gaue libertie to any that would to entertayne vs whereto there was one Callem that made answer that he would whereupon wee went with him and were in an Ambar of his vntill wee receiued answer from them In the meane time wee made much of them and feasted them with our Aqua vitae Biscuit and Figs that we might the better obtayne their loue The foure and twentieth the Customers came to giue vs our answere and told vs that they had concluded that we might stay if wee would but they must write vp to the Musko of our being here So we thanked them and gaue them such entertaynment as we could and sent presents to sixe of them of the chiefest which they tooke very thankfully and promised what fauour they could So this night I made ready my Letters to send for England The fourth of August fiue and twentie Lodyas arriued at the Towne laden with Meale and others which were bound for Molgomsey but by reason of contrary winds they were forced into Pechora and came vp to the Towne of Pustozer and vnladed to make sale The sixe and twentieth we remoued from the house where we were at the first vnto a Poles house who is christened Russe where we are to remayne all the Winter The nine and twentieth the frost was so strong that the Ozera was frozen ouer and the Ice driuing in the Riuer to and againe brake all the nets so that they got no Salmon no not so much as for their owne victuals The second of September the frost brake vp againe and it was open weather The eight of September there was a Soyma which the Towns-men bought that went downe the Riuer to haue gone for Iugoria and had a faire wind but they neglecting two dayes sayling that would haue carried them forth of the Riuer to the Sea the wind came contrary so that they were wind-bound and could not get any further and on the nineteenth gaue ouer their Voyage and came vp to the Towne The thirteenth of October the frost was so extreme that the Ozera stood in one night that men did walke on it the next day and so continued all the Winter after The twelfth of Nouember there went two men of Penega to Vst-zilma to buy Squerrils and Beauers and other commodities The thirteenth the Sunne arose at South and by East by the Compasse and set at South-west and by West The foure and twentieth there went diuers men with at the least three or fourescore Sleds drawne with Deere to a place called Slobodca where they hold a Mart from the beginning of December to the middle thereof and they carried fresh-water fish thither with whom William Pursgloue went into Russia The sixe and twentieth the Sunne arose at South and by West by the Compasse and set at South-west and by West The first of December the Sunne arose at South and by West Westerly by the Compasse and set South-west and by West Southerly The fourth the Towns-men of Pechora went ouer land into Iugoria to trade with the Inhabitants there and the Samoyeds The eleuenth Marmaduke Wilson said that he saw the Sunne but it was but the way of the Sunnes beames The thirteenth I saw the Sunnes beames my selfe but I could not see the Sun it selfe although I watched it very strictly The fourteenth it was snowie and stormie weather and continued so vntill the foure and twentieth day which was close weather also The fiue and twentieth being Christmas day I saw the Sunne and it rose at South and by West and set at South-west and by South it hauing the neathermost part of it all the way iust with the Horizon The sixe and twentieth it was stormy and snowy weather and so continued vntill the end of the moneth The second of Ianuarie the Sunne arose at South somewhat Westerly and set South-west a little Southerly it mounting a pretie height aboue the Horizon The fift William Pursgloue returned from Colmogro The eleuenth the Sunne arose at South by East by the Compasse and set at South-west and by West The twelfth there came a command from the Patriarch that there should bee a generall Fast both for young and old not exempting the sucking babes which began the thirteenth continuing three dayes space they neither eating nor drinking so much as water neither admitted they their sucking Babes saue those that fainted to whom they gaue a few Figs and a little water The nineteenth the Inhabitants of Pustozer that went into Iugoria returned from thence hauing had but an hard Voyage by reason of the Warres which the Samoyeds had amongst themselues so that they durst not goe into Molgomsey where they catch the most part of the Sables which come into Russia The three and twentieth came the Carratchey which is the chiefe of the Samoyeds but they had no commodities to speake of by reason of the Warres so that they neither durst trade with the Samoyeds of Molgomsey neither hunt for the Sables themselues which at other times they were wont to doe The thirtieth I had the chiefe Carratchey his sonne his sonnes sonne and his brothers sonne at Dinner and had some conference with him who told mee that they had seene ships in the Vaygats two yeeres one after another but they durst not bee seene of them but fled from them for the Russes told them that they would kill them or carrie them away prisoners Yet they seemed to be glad of our comming when they saw our behauiour and the entertaynment that they had of vs Neuerthelesse they are very timerous and vnreasonable couetous as by more acquaintance I perceiued by them The second of February the most part of the Samoyeds went to Slobodca with their commodities because in the Summer they had beene together by the eares with the Samoyeds of Callenose and had slayne one or two of them wherefore they went to agree with them and to pay ransome for some of their men that were taken afterwards The fifteenth the Sunne arose at South-east a little Southerly and set at West and by South Westerly The sixteenth the Sunne arose at
abundance of Sea Fowles as Willocks Gulles Noddies Sea-mewes a small Fowle like a Willocke and diuers others as wilde Geese Sea-pidgeons Oxbirds and such like whereof Master Thomas Welden killed so many with his Peece that we almost laded our Boate with them The same night we shot three heaps of fishing-lines but when we haled them wee found neither fish nor bayte for the Seales had eaten them all off The ninth day Master Welden and our Master went on shoare to see what they could finde They went in the fore-noone about eight of the clocke and came againe about foure in the after-noone very weary seeing nothing but small Foxes almost like Dogges in euery respect saue their smell and their tayles In the meane time the Masters Mate and my selfe obserued the Sunne and found that part of the Iland to be in 74. degrees and 45. minutes The tenth day we weighed hauing the wind Southerly and found the Land to trend away East South-east The length of this side is about ten miles good ground We had not sailed past sixe miles but we saw a sandie Bay against which we came to an Anchor in nine fathomes We had not furled our Sayles but we saw many Morses swimming by our ship and heard withall so huge a noyse of roaring as if there had beene an hundred Lions Immediately wee manned our Boate wherein was Master Welden and sixe men more we landed and sâ—w abundance of Morsses on the shoare close by the Sea-side and drawing neere vnto them wee perceiued that they were all of the same company which wee had seene before It seemed very strange to vs to see such a multitude of Monsters of the Sea lye like Hogges vpon heapes In the end wee shot at them not knowing whither they could runne swiftly or seize vpon vs or no. To be briefe wee had but three Peeces Master Welden a Fowling Peece my selfe a Musket and another a Musket Their Peeces were spoyled instantly For Master Weldens was cloyed the other man when hee had shot one by himselfe thought to knocke him on the head with the stock but split his Peece I shot still and some when they were wounded in the flesh would but looke vp and lye downe againe Some were killed with the first shot and some would goe into the Sea with fiue or sixe shot they are of such an incredible strength When all our Powder and shot was spent wee would blow their eyes out with a little Pease shot and then come on the blind side of them and with our Carpenters Axe cleaue their heads But for all that we could doâ— of aboue a thousand we killed but fifteene We tooke off their heads and when we had done we went stragling vp and downe to see what we could find I found the first Tooth that was cast vpon the Iland and going a little farther alone I found as many Teeth more as I and three men more could carrie which filled an Hogshead all which we did deliuer to Master Welden The next day following being the eleuenth day we went on shoare againe and killed about sixe more And afterward wee went vp into the Land and saw nothing but Fowle and Foâ—es I perceiued in deed a great print of a Beares foote and after that many other footings but yet saw no Beare or other wild beast The twelfth wee weighed from thence and stood to the Eastward wee had not gone past foure miles but we found the Land to fall away South-east and by South The length of this side is about twelue miles All this side we went close by the shoare with our Boate and the ship sayled along about three miles off We went oftentimes on shoare but could see nothing on all that side but Fowle and abundance of Drift Wood the most part whereof was Firres which haue beene beaten vp and downe the Sea This day being Sunday about eight of the clocke at night we anchored within two miles of the place where we arriued at the first The same night wee went on shoare and in a Bay vnder an huge Cliffe of a Rocke vpon the Beach wee found neere a thousand Morses wee killed thirtie or thereabouts and when wee had taken off their heads we went aboord The thirteenth wee went on shoare againe and with our Pieces fell a killing of the beasts One of our company named Richard Lang-castle split his Piece and with all his hand but Master Welden with Salues of his owne healed it so skilfully that he hath the vse of it againe We killed that day sixtie Morses all the heads whereof were very principall When we had done wee went about a mile to the Eastward to see what wee could finde And landing at a Bay where Master Bennit had beene the yeere before and found a piece of Lead Vre wee looked for the same but found none The same day returning aboord wee set sayle for Pechingo in Lapland where wee arriued the fiue and twentieth of Iuly and stayed there foure dayes at which time we set sayle for Cola and arriued there the eight of August where wee continued till the sixteenth day at which time we departed thence for England and arriued in the Thames the fifteenth of October of the yeere aforesaid 1604. When wee came to London because Sir Francis Cherie Knight and Merchant was at the charges of this Discouerie this Iland was called Cherie Iland The third Voyage to Cherie Iland performed by Master WELDEN Merchant and STEPHEN BENNET Master in the yeere 1605. IN the yeere aboue said wee set sayle from London the first of May with one ship of sixtie tunnes and two and twentie men and boyes The three and twentieth of the said moneth we were taken by a ship of Dunkirke They tooke from vs two Hogsheads of strong Beere our Muskets a Fowling Peece of Master Weldens which cost three pounds sterling After the Captayne had misused vs at his pleasure though we were in peace with his Countrey he let vs goe The eight and twentieth of Iune we put off from Assumption Point which is a place not farre from the North Cape and about 70. degrees in latitude but by contrarie winds wee were put backe againe Yet the second of Iuly we came to Cherie Iland and anchored on the South-east side and hauing a Shallop in pieces to set vp we carried it on shoare and went to worke vpon it and the third day after we had it on flote The sixth day we entred into a Coue hauing all our men on shoare with shot and jauelings and slue abundance of Morses The yeere before we slue all with shot noâ— thinking that a jaueling could pierce their skinnes which we found now contrarie if they be well handled for otherwise a man may thrust with all his force and not enter or if he doe enter he shall spoyle his Lance vpon their bones for they will strike with their fore-feet
our Voyage and to proceed on our Discouerie as soone as God should blesse vs with Winde And this I can assure at this present that betweene 78. degrees and ½ and 82. degrees by this way there is no passage but I thinke this Land may bee profitable to those that will aduenture it In this Bay before spoken of and about this coast we saw more abundance of Seales then we had seene any time before swimming in the water At noone this day hauing a stiffe gale of wind at North we were thwart of Collins Cape standing in 81. degrees and a halfe and at one of the clocke the Cape beare North-east off vs. From thence I set our course West South-west with purpose to keepe in the open Sea free from Ice and sayled in that course 16. leagues At ten this night we steered away South-west with the wind at North a hard gale vntill eight the next morning 18. leagues The seuenteenth in the morning a good gale at North at eight we altered our course and steered away South till eight in the Eeuening and ranne 12. leagues This day proued reasonable cleere and warme The eighteenth in the morning the wind encreased at South and by East with thicke fogge All this after-noone and night proued close weather little fogge and reasonable warme The nineteenth at eight in the morning the wind at South with thicke fogge we steered South-east 4. leagues till noone then the wind vered more large wee steered South-east and by East 4. leagues till foure then wee vered shete and steered East and by South Easterly 15. leagues till eight the next morning This day after the morning proued reasonable cleere and warme The twentieth in the morning little wind at eight this morning wee saw Land ahead of vs vnder our Lee and to weatherward of vs distant from vs 12. leagues being part of Newland It is very high mountainous Land the highest that we had seene vntill now As we sayled neere it we saw a Sound ahead of vs lying East and west The Land on the Norther side of this Sounds mouth trendeth neerest hand West North-west and East South-east 12. leagues in our sight being 10. leagues from vs. And the Land on the Souther side being 8. or 10. leagues in our sight at this time trendeth South South-east and North North-west from eight to noone was calme This day by obseruation we were in 77. degrees 26. minutes On the Norther side of the mouth of this Inlet lie three Ilands not farre the one from the other being very high mountainous Land The farthest of the three to the North-west hath foure very high Mounts like heapes of Corne. That Iland next the Inlets mouth hath one very high Mount on the Souther end Here one of our companie killed a red billed Bird. All this day after the morning and all night proued calme enclining rather to heare then cold This night wee had some warme rayne The one and twentieth all the fore-noone calme at foure in the after-noone we had a small gale of wind at South South-east with fog we steered away East to stand in with the Land and sayled 3. leagues vntill mid-night then the wind came at North-east we cast about and steered South 10. leagues till eight the next morning The two and twentieth at eight in the morning much wind at East and variable with short sayle wee steered 3. leagues South and by East then came downe very much wind wee strooke a hull All this after-noone and night proued very much wind with raine The three and twentieth all the fore-noone was very much wind at South with raine and fogge At foure this after-noone wee saw Land bearing North-east of vs 6. leagues from vs. Then we had the wind at South South-west wee steered away South-east and South-east and by East 4. leagues the Sea being very much growne We accounted we had hulled North-west and by North 22. leagues and North 3. leagues Then fearing with much wind to be set on a lee shoare we tackt about and made our way good West and by North halfe a point Northerly all this night with much wind The foure and twentieth in the morning much wind as afore and the Sea growne This morning wee strooke our mayne Top-mast to ease our ship and sayled from the last Eeuening eight to this noone 15. leagues West and by North halfe a point Northerly From twelue to eight 6. leagues as afore with the wind at South and by West at eight we tackt about with the winde at South South-west and lay South-east and by East with much winde and the Sea growne The fiue and twentieth was a cleere morning we set our mayne Top-mast we saw Land bearing North of vs and vnder our Lee we sayling South-east and by East Then the wind scanted we cast about and lay South-west and by West 2. leagues ½ till noone Then it began to ouer-cast and the wind to scant againe we cast about and lay South-east and by South the wind at South-west and by West and sayled in that course 3. leagues till foure in the after-noone Then the wind scanted againe and we sayled 3. leagues South Now seeing how contrarie the winde proued to doe the good which wee desired this way I thought to proue our fortunes by the West once againe and this Eeuening at eight wee being the latitude of 78. with the better and from Land 15. leagues which leagues part whereof beare from the North-east to the East off vs we steered away West with the wind at South-east and cleere weather The sixe and twentieth all this day proued rayne with thicke fog and an hard gale of wind at East and by North and East North-east From the last Eeuening at eight to this noone wee ranne 25. leagues from noone till mid-night 19. leagues the wind at East and by South from mid-night till two the next morning 2. leagues West The seuen and twentieth extreme thicke fog and little wind at East and by South Then it proued calme and the Sea very loftie Wee heard a great rutte or noise with the Ice and Sea which was the first Ice we heard or saw since we were at Collins Cape the Sea heauing vs West-ward toward the Ice Wee heaued out our Boat and rowed to towe out our ship farther from the danger which would haue beene to small purpose by meanes the Sea went so high but in this extremitie it pleased God to giue vs a small gale at North-west and by West we steered away South-east 4. leagues till noone Here we had finished our Discouerie if the wind had continued that brought vs hither or if it had continued calme but it pleased God to make this North-west and by West wind the meane of our deliuerance which wind wee had not found common in this Voyage God giue vs thankfull hearts for so great deliuerance Here we found the want of a good ship-boat as once we had done before at Whales
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-east point 17. degrees
hot that it would scald a Fowle From hence the first of Iune we put to Sea for Groneland but to the West wee saw Land as we thought for which we beare the best part of a day but it proued but a foggie banke So wee gaue it ouer and made for Gronland which we raysed the fourth of Iune Vpon the Coast thereof hung good store of Ice so that our Master could not attayne to the shoare by any meanes The Land in this part is very Mountaynous and full of round Hils like to Sugar-loaues couered with snow We turned the Land on the South side as neere as the Ice would suffer vs. Our course for the most part was betweene the West and North-west till we raysed the Desolations which is a great Iland in the West part of Groneland On this Coast we saw store of Whales and at one time three of them came close by vs so as wee could hardly shunne them then two passing very neere and the third going vnder our ship wee receiued no harme by them praysed bee God From the Desolations our Master made his way North-west the wind being against him who else would haue gone more to the North but in this course we saw the first great Iland or Mountayne of Ice whereof after we saw store About the latter end of Iune we raysed Land to the North of vs which our Master tooke to bee that Iland which Master Dauis setteth downe in his Chart. On the West side of his Streight our Master would haue gone to the North of it but the wind would not suffer him so we fell to the South of it into a great Rippling or ouer-fall of current the which seâ—teth to the West Into the current we went and made our way to the North of the West till we met with Ice which hung on this Iland Wherefore our Master casting about cleered himselfe of this Ice and stood to the South and then to the West through store of floting Ice and vpon the Ice store of Seales We gained a cleere Sea and continued our course till wee meete Ice first with great Ilands and then with store of the smaller sort Betweene them we made our course North-west till we met with Ice againe But in this our going betweene the Ice we saw one of the great Ilands of Ice ouerturne which was a good warning to vs not to come nigh them nor within their reach Into the Ice wee put ahead as betweene two Lands The next day we had a storme and the wind brought the Ice so fast vpon vs that in the end we were driuen to put her into the chiefest of the Ice and there to let her lie Some of our men this day fell sicke I will not say it was for feare although I saw small signe of other griefe The storme ceasing we stood out of the Ice where wee saw any cleere Sea to goe to which was sometime more and sometime lesse Our course was as the Ice did lye sometime to the North then to the North-west and then to the West and to the South-west but still inclosed with Ice Which when our Master saw he made his course to the South thinking to cleere himselfe of the Ice that way but the more he stroue the worse he was and the more inclosed till we could goe no further Here our Master was in despaire and as he told me after he thought he should neuer haue got out of this Ice but there haue perished Therefore hee brought forth his Card and shewed all the company that hee was entred aboue an hundred leagues further then euer any English was and left it to their choice whether they would proceed any further yea or nay Whereupon some were of one minde and some of another some wishing themselues at home and some not caring where so they were out of the Ice but there were some who then spake words which were remembred a great while after There was one who told the Master that if he had an hundred pounds hee would giue fourescore and ten to be at home but the Carpenter made answere that if hee had an hundred hee would not giue ten vpon any such condition but would thinke it to be as good money as euer he had any and to bring it as well home by the leaue of God After many words to no purpose to worke we must on all hands to get our selues out and to cleere our ship After much labour and time spent we gained roome to turne our ship in and so by little and little to get cleere in the Sea a league or two off our course being North and North-west In the end we raysed Land to the South-west high Land and couered with Snow Our Master named this Land Desire prouokes Lying here wee heard the noyse of a great ouer-fall of a tyde that came out of the Land for now we might see well that wee had beene embayed before and time had made vs know being so well acquainted with the Ice that when night or foggie or foule weather tooke vs we would seeke out the broadest Iland of Ice and there come to anchor and runne and sport and fill water that stood on the Ice in Ponds both sweete and good But after we had brought this Land to beare South of vs we had the tyde and the current to open the Ice as being carried first one way and then another but in Bayes they lye as in a pond without mouing In this Bay where wee were thus troubled with Ice wee saw many of those Mountaynes of Ice aground in sixe or seuenscore fathome water In this our course we saw a Beare vpon a piece of Ice by it selfe to the which our men gaue chase with their Boat but before they came nigh her the tyde had carried the Ice and the Beare on it and ioyned it with the other Ice so they lost their labour and came aboord againe We continued our course to the North-west and raysed Land to the North of our course toward which we made and comming nigh it there hung on the Eastermost point many Ilands of floting Ice and a Beare on one of them which from one to another came towards vs till she was readie to come aboord But when she saw vs looke at her she cast her head betweene her hinder legges and then diued vnder the Ice and so from one piece to another till she was out of our reach We stood along by the Land on the Southside ahead of vs wee met with Ice that hung on a point of Land that lay to the South more then this that we came vp by which when our Master saw he stood in for the shoare At the West end of this Iland for so it is we found an Harbour and came in at a full Sea ouer a Rocke which had two fathome and an halfe on it and was so much bare at a low water But by
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
himselfe great matters by his meanes and therefore would haue all the Kniues and Hatchets which any man had to his priuate vse but receiued none but from Iohn King the Carpenter and my selfe To this Sauage our Master gaue a Knife a Looking-glasse and Buttons who receiued them thankefully and made signes that after hee had slept hee would come againe which hee did When hee came hee brought with him a Sled which hee drew after him and vpon it two Deeres skinnes and two Beauer skinnes Hee had a scrip vnder his arme out of which hee drew those things which the Master had giuen him Hee tooke the Knife and laid it vpon one of the Beauer skinnes and his Glasses and Buttons vpon the other and so gaue them to the Master who receiued them and the Sauage tooke those things which the Master had giuen him and put them vp into his scrip againe Then the Master shewed him an Hatchet for which hee would haue giuen the Master one of his Deere skinnes but our Master would haue them both and so hee had although not willingly After many signes of people to the North and to the South and that after so many sleepes he would come againe he went his way but neuer came more Now the Ice being out of the Sounds so that our Boat might go from one place vnto another a company of men were appointed by the Master to go a fishing with our net their names were as followeth William Wilson Henry Greene Michael Perce Iohn Thomas Andrew Moter Bennet Mathewes and Arnold Lodlo These men the first day they went caught fiue hundred fish as big as good Herrings and some Troutes which put vs all in some hope to haue our wants supplied and our Commons amended but these were the most that euer they got in one day for many dayes they got not a quarter so many In this time of their fishing Henry Green and William Wilson with some others plotted to take the net and the shallop which the Carpenter had now set vp and so to shift for themselues But the shallop being readie our Master would goe in it himselfe to the South and South-west to see if hee could meete with the people for to that end was it set vp and that way wee might see the Woods set on fire by them So the Master tooke the Sayue and the Shallop and so much victuall as would serue for eight or nine dayes and to the South hee went They that remained aboord were to take in water wood and ballast and to haue all things in a readinesse against hee came backe But hee set no time of his returne for he was perswaded if he could meet with the people hee should haue flesh of them and that good store but hee returned worse then hee went forth For hee could by no meanes meete with the people although they were neere them yet they would set the woods on fire in his sight Being returned hee fitted all things for his returne and first deliuered all the bread out of the bread roome which came to a pound a piece for euery mans share and deliuered also a Bill of Returne willing them to haue that to shew if it pleased God that they came home and he wept when hee gaue it vnto them But to helpe vs in this poore estate with some reliefe the Boate and Sayue went to worke on Friday morning and stayed till Sunday noone at which time they came aboord and brought fourescore small Fish a poore reliefe for so many hungry bellies Then we wayed and stood out of our wintering place and came to an Anchor without in the mouth of the Bay from whence we wayed and came to an anchor without in the Sea where our bread being gone that store of cheese we had was to stop a gap whereof there were fiue whereat the company grudged because they made account of nine But those that were left were equally diuided by the Master although he had counsell to the contrarie for there were some who hauing it would make hast to bee rid thereof because they could not gouerne it I knew when Henrie Greene gaue halfe his bread which hee had for fourteene dayes to one to keepe and prayed him not to let him haue any vntill the next Munday but before Wednesday at night hee neuer left till hee had it againe hauing eaten vp his first weekes bread before So Wilson the Boatswaine hath eaten in one day his fortnights bread and hath beene two or three dayes sicke for his labour The cause that moued the Master to deliuer all the Cheese was because they were not all of one goodnesse and therefore they should see that they had no wrong done them but euery man should haue alike the best and the worst together which was three pounds and a halfe for seuen dayes The wind seruing we weighed and stood to the North-west and on Munday at night the eighteenth day of Iune wee fell into the Ice and the next day the wind being at West we lay there till Sunday in sight of Land Now being here the Master told Nicholas Simmes that there would be a breaking vp of chests and a search for bread and willed him if hee had any to bring it to him which hee did and deliuered to the Master thirty cakes in a bagge This deed of the Master if it bee true hath made mee maruell what should bee the reason that hee did not stop the breach in the beginning but let it grow to that height as that it ouerthrew himselfe and many other honest men but there are many deuices in the heart of man yet the counsell of the Lord shall stand Being thus in the Ice on Saturday the one and twentieth of Iune at night Wilson the Boatswayne and Henry Greene came to mee lying in my Cabbin lame and told mee that they and the rest of their Associates would shift the Company and turne the Master and all the sicke men into the shallop let them shift for themselues For there was not fourteen daies victual left for all the Company at that poore allowance they were at and that there they lay the Master not caring to goe one way or other and that they had not eaten any thing these three dayes and therefore were resolute either to mend or end and what they had begun they would goe through with it or dye When I heard this I told them I maruelled to heare so much from them considering that they were married men and had wiues and children and that for their sakes they should not commit so foule a thing in the sight of God and man as that would bee for why should they banish themselues from their natiue Countrie Henry Greene bad me hold my peace for he knew the worst which was to be hanged when hee came home and therefore of the two he would rather be hanged at home then starued abroad and for the good will they
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
as was the Geographicall partition of the Iland it selfe mentioned before at the end of the first Chapter diuided into North East South and West quarter And againe they diuided the Fourths into Thirds except the North quarter For this as it was larger then the rest was parted into Fourths But these Thirds they subdiuided againe into their parts some Tenths and others somewhat otherwise For the which not finding a fit name I haue retayned the proper name of the Countrey that which with them is Hreppar wee may counterfeitly call Reppae vnto the which also we may imagine no vnapt Etymon from the word Repo For here was the first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them that executed any publike Office for equitie either of opinion and judgement and the equall ballancing of mindes to be preserued in the rest of the Magistrates worthily ought to begin there vnlesse any would rather thinke they had respect heere vnto Reeb that is to say Coards with the which the diuision was made after the most ancient manner of the Hebrewes themselues Euery Reppa regularly contayned twentie Inhabitants at the least for oftentimes it contayned more limited by a certayne increase of the wealth of their Family vnder which they might not be reckoned to the poorer Reppes to the richer they might Moreouer in euery Third as also in the Fourths of the North Tetrade which Iurisdictions in times past they called Pyng at this day also Syslu herad they appointed three more famous places consecrated to the Seat of Iustice and Iudgements besides also dedicated to Ethnicke Sacrifices which they call Hoff we call them Holy Places and Temples Euery Chappell after the manner of this Countrey was sumptuously built whereof wee reade of two of one hundred and twentie foot long One in the Iurisdiction of Washdall of North Island the other in Rialarnes of South Island and this surely sixtie foot broad Moreouer euery such holy place had a kind of Chappell adjoyning This place was most holy Heere stood the Idols and Gods made with hands vpon a low stoole or a certayne Altar about which the cattle which were to be sacrificed vnto them were orderly placed But the chiefe and middlemost of the Gods was Iupiter by them called Por from whom these Northerne Kingdomes yet call Thors day Thorsdagh The rest of the Gods were collateral vnto it whose certayne number and names I haue not heard Yet in the ancient forme of oath whereof mention shall be made hereafter three besides Thorus are specially noted by name Freyr Niordur and As whereof the third to wit As I thinke to be that famous Odinus not accounted the last among those Ethnicke Gods of whom I made mention before Synecdochically called As because hee was the chiefe of the people of Asia who came hither into the North for in the singular number they called him As which in the plurall they called Aesar or Aeser This Odinus as aforesaid for his notable knowledge in Deuillish Magicke whereby like another Mahomet hee affected a Diuinitie after his death was reckoned among the number of the Gods from whom at this day Wednesday is called Odens Dagur the day of Odinus whereupon peraduenture I shall not vnaptly call Odin Mercurie as Thor Iupiter Yet the ancients honoured Odin in the place of Mars and such as were slaine in the warres they say were sacrificed to Odin And the companions or Sonnes of Odin were Freyr and Nâ—ordur who through the same artes which their Father or Prince Odinus practised obtayned an opinion of Diuinitie I haue before aduertised you that chiefly in the North Countrey Kings after their death are honoured for Gods But the worshipping of them hath not yet come vnto the Islanders wherefore we will speake nothing of them in this place Before that seate of the Gods placed in the foresaid Temples stood an Altar erected couered aboue with Iron that it might not be hurt with fire which must bee continually there A Caldron also or brasen vessell was set vpon the Altar to receiue the bloud of the sacrifices with an holy water sticke or sprinkle to bedew the standers by with the bloud of the sacrifices Besides on the Altar a siluer Ring was kept or of copper of twentie ounces which being anointed with the bloud of the sacrifices they who executed any office pertayning to Iustice being now readie to take their oath religiously handled while they were sworne Foure-footed beasts for the most part were appointed for sacrifices to bee conuerted to the food of the Sacrificers Although in the meane space I finde a lamentable matter that the blinde Ethnicks in the foresaid place of Rialarnes vsed also humane sacrifices where at the doore of the Temple was â— very deepe Pit wherein the humane sacrifices were drowned which Pit was called Blotkellda from the Sacrifice Also in West Island in the Prouince of Thornsthing in the middle of the Market place there was a round circle into the which men appointed to be sacrificed to the Gods were gathered who being violently smitten against an exceeding great stone set there were cruelly slaine The indignitie whereof that stone is reported to haue declared many ages after by the bloudy colour which no shower of raine or water could euer wash away An abominable crueltie surely yet not wanting examples deriued euen from the most ancient times I omit those of later time and found in the neare bordering Countries as the humane sacrifices of the French whereof Cicero pro Fonteio speaketh and also the custome of nearer bordering Countries I doe not mention the Roman sacrifices among which Luperca Valeria appointed to be sacrificed was deliuered from present death by an Eagle Let the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sacrificing of noble Virgins of the Greekes not be remembâ—ed with whom Helena was likewise freed from imminent perill of sacrificing by the benefit of an Eagle But who is it that can be ignorant of Benhennon or Gehennon of the Hebrewes and their crueltie farre greater then this exercised not vpon slaues or guiltie persons but euen vpon their dearest children Concerning which matter I thought good to set downe the wordes of Christoph. Adricomus Delphus Gehennon saith he was a place in the suburbs of Ierusalem ouer against the East vnder the Mountayne of Offence neare the Fish poole of the Fuller most pleasant like Tempe In this Valley stood a Pauilion and the brasen Idol of Moloch cunningly wrought in the shape of a King bâ—llow within whose head resembling a Calfe the other parts a man had armes stretched forth to sacrifice children who through the vehement heat of the Idol were burned amidst those cursed embracements For when by the fire put vnder in the concauity of the Idoll it became all fiery then the most wicked parents with incredible crueltie deliuered their dearest children to wit their Sonnes and Daughters to be burned within these detestable
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
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
kill the Whale About a West North-west sunne they went away the winde at South The twentieth the Biscaine shallop came aboord of vs from the Foreland and told vs that they had strooken three Whales which brake away The two and twentieth wee rid still the winde being at North-west with snowe and frost The fiue and twentieth we got the Whale on flote hauing stopped her leake We were no sooner off but it blew most fiercely so that the Whales long Boate and our shallop brake from the Whales sterne and were split in pieces on the Ice that lay on shoare The same day about a South sunne two men came from Faire Foreland and told vs that Master Edge was come from the South in the Pinnasse and had spoken with one Nicolas Woodcock an English man which was my Mate to this Countrey of Greenland in the yeere 1610. The said VVoodcocke was now Pilot of a ship of Saint Sebastian in Biscay and rid in Ice Sound Moreouer they spake with the men of the Boate of the Diana and saw the Hollanders Boate but spake not with their men The two men abouesaid told vs likewise that Iohn Chapel our Baske with fiue English men had killed a Whale and betwixt them and another shallop they had slaine another and had them both on shoare The seuen and twentieth we rid still and our Carpenter went to worke to mend the knee of our beake-head And I went to see what Morses were on Land where I found neere one hundred and fiftie The eight and twentieth the shallop that had all English men in her saue one Baske came aboord for prouision and told me that they and Iohannes Chapel had slaine a great Whale close by our ship which towed them off into the Sound and our long Boate followed them At the same time we saw sixe Whales close by the ships side as we rode in harbour and we saw great store in the Sound and within one houre there were so many about our ships and in the Sound that we could not count them About a North-west sunne our long Boate brought the men that strooke the Whale abouesaid and towed their shallop on land for the said Whale had sunke her with his taile The same time our Carpenter went to worke on the broken shallop and I went to the place where the Morses lay where I found about three hundred on land Then I went aboord the Whale to get some harping Irons for they had all but I could get but one because the rest of the Basks had laid them vp enuying that one Baske that went with all English men had done so much because by their good wills they would not haue vs to haue any insight into this businesse Moreouer hee that had the chiefest command in this voyage did greatly condemne the going of so many English men with that one Baske either for feare they should kill none and lose all their prouision for the said vse or for feare that our men should kill the Whale aswell and as soone as they yet was there none of the other Boates but had lost more then they had lost And as for killing there was not one Whale killed with one Boate alone saue ours with all English saue the Baske aforesaid which slue three without the helpe of any other Boate. This day the Basks slue another Whale at the Foreland The nine and twentieth the broken shallop was mended and I went to the Foreland to see whether the other shallops would come where the ships rode in harbour where abundance of Whales were still The same time the Basks killed another Whale Then I romaged my ship and put caske on land All this day it was calme The last of Iune one came from the Foreland and told vs that the Basks had slaine two great Whales All this day likewise it was calme and there lay abundance of huge Whales in the harbour about our ships One of the whales abouesaid Iohannes with the fiue English men slue without any of the others helpe For they stood on the land flouting and saying that it was vnpossible for them to kill him and would not once lanch their Boates to helpe them yet hee was one of the greatest that were killed this yeere All this day the whales lay so thicke about the ship that some ran against our Cables some against the Ship and one against the Rudder One lay vnder our beake-head and slept there a long while At which time our Carpenter had hung a stage close by the water whereon his tooles lay And wee durst not molest the said whale for feare he should haue ouerthrowne the stage and drowned all his tooles In the end he went away and carried the ships head round his taile being foule of the Cable The first of Iuly at a North North-east Sunne the shallops came to kill whales in the harbour where we rid and strooke three which all brake away The same day Iohannes strooke a whale that smit in the side of his shallop and split it Now wee perceiued the whales to begin to goe out of the Bayes The second day the Basks slue three great whales faire by our ships in lesse then foure houres vvhich vvee vvith our long Boate and men towed into harbour and made fast to our ship And the Basks vvent with their shallops to Faire Foreland The seuenth day wee had abundance of Ice about our ships which vvith the winde and the tyde draue out off another Sound The eight vve rid still and vvere troubled vvith much Ice by reason of a storme that blue at South-vvest and by vvest c. The rest is omitted as hauing nothing of note but ordinarie accidents CHAP. V. A Iournall of the Voyage made to Greenland with sixe English ships and a Pinnasse in the yeere 1613. Written by Master WILLIAM BAFFIN BY the prouidence of Almightie God wee departed from Queenborough the thirteenth day of May with sixe good Ships viz. The Tigre Admirall the Matthew Vice-admirall the Sea-horse called the Gamaliel the Reare-admirall the Desire the Annula and the Richard and Bernard with the Iohn and Francis shortly to follow The one and twentieth day faire weather the winde Southward wee still making to the Northwards This morning wee had sight of Land on the Coast of Norway it lying East and by North off about twelue or fourteene leagues This day at noone we were in the latitude of 61. degrees and 30. minutes the variation of the Compasse at Scoutes-nes is eight degrees East it being about ten or twelue leagues off wee hauing made a North way halfe East about thirtie leagues The three and twentieth at noone in the latitude of 65. degrees and 45. minutes in which place the Needle of Declination doth dippe vnder the Horizon 63. degrees and 30. minutes by that Instrument which declineth 54. at London The thirtieth day about three of the clocke wee espied the land of Greenland
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 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-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
bloud to the hell of their owne consciences let vs set forward out of this infortunate Iland and not stay in any place else till in small Boates wee come by water to Elzinore in Denmarke where wee ioyfully got aboard once more and are hoysing vp sailes for Sweueland Yet euen in this sun-shine day a storme fals vpon vs too for our Officers not hauing sufficient money to furnish vs with victuals wee were enforced to pawne our Auncient and Lieutenant Walton for the safe returne of the Shippe with condition that they should not be released vntill a sufficient summe of money was sent to defray all charges So that we left our Officers behinde vs but the King of Sweueland did afterwards release them and then they came to vs. But before their comming wee hauing a good winde landed at a place called Newleas in Sweue and from thence were carried to Stockholme the Kings seate and there was the King at the same time betweene which two places it was a daies march on horsebacke Vpon this our arriuall at Stockholme wee met with the rest that had gone before vs and with diuers others of our Countrimen that came out of the Low-countries as before is related In this place we lay so long and had such poore meanes that wanting money to buy foode wee wanted foode to maintaine life and so a number of vs were readie to statue till in the end our miseries making vs desperate we fell together by the eares with the Burgers of the Towne in which scambling confusion and mutinie euery man got one thing or other of which he made present money to relieue his body withall yet lay wee at the walles of the Citie crying out continually for money money till our throates grew hoarse with bauling but the stones of the walles gaue more comfort to vs then the Inhabitants One day aboue all the rest wee heard that the King was to ride a Hunting and wee imagining that all the abuses wrongs and miseries which wee endured proceeded from some vnder-hand hard dâ—aling and packing of our Captaines and Officers resolued to gather about the King at his comming forth and to cry out for money but the King being angry as wee supposed came riding amongst vs drawing his Pistoll from the Saddle-bow as if hee purposed to haue shot some of vs but seeing none of vs to shrinke from him nor to be dismayed hee rode backe againe wee following him and desiring hee would either giue vs money or else to kill vs out-right one amongst the rest whose name was William Attane spake to the King aloud thus I hold it honour to dye by the hands of a King but basely to starue to death I will neuer suffer it Vpon these our clamours the King looking better vpon our necessities sent money the next day and immediately after gaue vs a moneths meanes in money and two moneths meanes in cloath to make vs apparrell Of the cloath wee receiued some part but the money being payed was by our Captaines sent into England to their wiues no part of it euer comming to the poore common Souldiours hands for presently vpon this wee were commanded aboord the Ships with promise that when wee were aboord wee should haue our money But being in the Shippes vnder hatches away were wee carried with prouision onely of one moneths victuals when by reason of the weather wee were forced to lye eight weekes at Sea in all which time wee had nothing but pickelled Herrings and salt Stremlings with some small quantitie of hard dryed meates by which ill dyet many of our men fell sicke and dyed In the Shippe wherein I was wee liued foureteene dayes without bread all our best foode being salt Herrings which wee were glad to eate raw the best of vs all hauing no better sustenance At the last it pleased God to send vs to a place called Vfrasound in Fynland where wee landed Fynland being subiect to the King of Sweueland From Vfrasound wee were to goe to Weyborough a chiefe Towne in the Countrie of Fynland where wee no sooner arriued but our Souldiors ranne some one way and some another so long that the Captaines were left alone with the Shippes This running away of them being done onely to seeke foode so great was their hunger By this carelesse dispersing themselues they lost the command of the whole Countrey which they might easily haue had if they had beene vnited together and not onely were depriued of that benefit but of Horses also which were allowed by the King for them to ride vpon So that what by the reason of the tedious Iourney which wee were to trauell being fourescore leagues and what by reason of the extreame cold being a moneth before Christmas at which time the Snow fell and neuer went off the ground vntill Whitsontide following but all the Raine and all the Snow that fell freezing continually diuers of our men were starued to death with the Frost Some lost their fingers some their toes some their noses many their liues insomuch that when wee all met at Weyborough wee could make no more but one thousand and foure hundred able men and yet when we were landed at Vfrasound wee were two thousand strong the extremity of the cold Countrey hauing killed so many of our Souldiours in so little time At our landing at Weyborough wee had good hopes to receiue better comforts both of money and victuals for the Inhabitants told vs the King had allowed it vs and in that report they spake truth yet contrary to our expectation wee lay there about foureteene dayes and had nothing but a little Rice of which we made bread and a little butter which was our best reliefe Drinke had we none nor money our Captaines gaue vs certaine letherne pelches onely made of Sheeps skins to keepe vs from the cold At this place we receiued armes to defend vs against the enemy and six Companies that were allowed by the King for Horsemen receiued Horses there From thence wee were to march into Russia where our enemies continued But the iourney was long and vncomfortable for wee marched from Newyeares day vntill Whitsontide continually in Snow hauing no rest but onely a little in the nights So that the miseries and misfortunes which wee endured vpon the borders of Fynland were almost insufferable by reason the number of them seemed infinite For all the people had forsaken their houses long before wee came because they were euermore oppressed by Souldiours by which meanes we could get neither meate nor drinke but were glad to hunt Cats and to kill them or any beasts wee could lay hold on and this wee baked and made them serue for daily sustenance The greatest calamitie of all was wee could get no Water to drinke it had beene so long frozen vp and the Snow so deepe that it was hard to say whether wee marched ouer Water or vpon Land So that wee were
the Hauen of Saint Iohn the third day of August written in haste 1527. By your seruant Iohn Rut to his vttermost of his power I haue by me also Albert de Prato's originall Letter in Latin stile almost as harsh as the former English and bearing the same date and was indorsed Reuerend in Christo Patri Domino Domino Cardinali Domino Legat◠Angliae and began Reuerendissime in Christo Pater salutem Reuerendissime Pater plaeceat Reuerendissima peternitati vestra scire Deo fauente post quam exiuimus à Plemut quae fuit x. Iunij c. the substance is the same with the former and therefore omitted Datum apud le Baya Saint Iohan in Terris Nouis die x. Augusti 1527. Reuer Patr. vest humilis seruus Albertus de Prato the name written in the lowest corner of the sheet The voyage of Captaine GEORGE WEYMOVTH intended for the discouerie of the North-west Passage toward China with two flye Boates. ON Sunday the second day of May 1602. in the afternoone I weighed anchor and set saile from Redcliffe with two Fly-boates the one called the Discouery of seuentie Tunnes and the other called the God speed of sixtie Tunnes to discouer the North-west passage hauing in my ships fiue and thirtie men and boyes throughly victualled and abundantly furnished with all necessaries for a yeere and an halfe by the right Worshipfull Merchants of the Moscouie and Turkie Companies who for the better successe of the voyage prouided mee of a great trauailer and learned Minister one Master Iohn Cartwright The Master vnder mee in the Discouerie was one William Cobreth a skilfull man in his profession and in the God speed one Iohn Drewe and Mate in the said ship one Iohn Lane The first of Iune we descried Buquhamnes in the Latitude of 57. degrees The second day we saw the Point of Buquhamnes North-west from vs being a very smooth land and the land by it to the Southward riseth with many Homocks There lyeth a ledge of Rockes hard by the Nesse in a sandie Bay faire by the shore When we came neer the land we met with a fisher Boat and I agreed with one of the fisher men to carry me betweene the Isles of Orkney because I was not acquainted with the coast The fourth day at ten of the clocke wee descried the Isles of Orkney Some of those Southerne Ilands are prettie high land but the Northerne Iland which is called the Start is very low land There is no danger giuing the shore a good birth vnlesse it be by the Norther point of the Start there doth a ledge of Rockes lye a mile from the shoare At noone I found my selfe to be in the latitude of 59. degrees and 30. minutes the point of the Start bearing West and at one of the clocke in the afternoone we saw a faire I le which bare North-east and by North from vs and at eight of the clocke at night wee were North of the Start Then I directed my course West and by North. The fifth day about ten of the clocke in the morning we ranne some tenne leagues and then we saw two small Ilands some two leagues off and at eight and nine of the clocke we saw foure or fiue Boats of Fisher-men and spake with one of them and they were Scottish-men The sixt in the morning fell much raine and lasted till nine of the clocke and at ten of the clocke it cleared vp and became very faire weather and very temperate and warme and our course was West The seauenth the winde was at East and by North faire weather and our course West The eight at noone I obserued the Sunne and found vs to be in 59. degrees and fortie seuen minutes and we ran West South-west The twelfth day we held our course West the winde at East North-east with fogge in the morning at noone I obserued the Sunne and found my selfe in 57. degrees and 55. minutes the variation here was nothing at all The thirteenth at noone our course was West and by North the winde at North-east with fogge some three or foure houres and then cleare againe the ayre very warme as in England in the moneth of May. The foureteenth was faire weather and the winde at East North-east and our course West and by North. The fifteenth much raine all the forenoone our course West the winde at East and by North. The sixteenth the winde was at North North-east with much raine winde and fogge In the forenoone being very cold and at noone I obserued the Sun and found vs to be in 57. degrees and 35. minutes we found the variation to be eleuen degrees Westward and by that meane I found my selfe to be one degree more to the Southward then we should haue bin by our course for we could not see the Sunne in 96. houres before this day at noone and at our last obseruation before this which was the twelfth day we could not finde any variation at all Then we stood close by a winde to the Westward the winde being at North North-east The seauenteenth wee ranne North and by West the winde at North North-east faire weather This day we saw many gray Gulles and some Pigions The eighteenth at noone I obserued the Sunne and found our selues to be in the latitude of 59. degrees and 51. minutes And then we first descried a great Iland of Ice which lay North from vs as farre as we could ken it from the head of our maine topmast and about two of the clocke in the afternoone we saw the South part of Groneland North from vs some ten leagues As we coasted this Ice to the Northward we found it to be a maine banke of Ice for we saw the other end of it to beare West North-west from vs the winde being at South South-west little winde Then we ranne West South-west to cleere vs of the Ice The nineteenth the winde was at East South-east with some small raine The twentieth our course was West North-west the winde being at North and by East little winde This day sometimes we came into blacke water as thicke as puddle and in sailing a little space the water would be cleare againe Seeing this change of water so often to be thick and cleare againe so suddenly we imagined it had beene shallow water then we founded and could fetch no ground in one hundred and twenty fathomes and the Sea was so smooth that we could discerne no current at all At this time I reckoned the Cape of desolation to beare North North-east twentie foure leagues from vs. The one and twentieth the winde was variable The two and twentieth we were in the latitude of 60. degrees and 37. minutes the winde being at West wee ranne North and by West The seauen and twentieth the winde was at West South-west then our course was North-west and by North the weather faire and warme as in England in
hands The sixt we came to Flâ—câ—rie into which harbour by Gods helpe we came at two a clocke in the afternoone The seauenth day we supplied our wants of wood and water The eight day about two a clocke in the afternoone we set sayle forth of the harbour of Flecoriâ— about six a clock it fell calme till about eight about which time the Nasâ— of Norway by the Danish men called Lyndis-â—ose bare next hand North-west of vs sixe leagues off at which time I directed my course West North-west finding the compasse varied 7. degrees 10. minutes to the Eastwards of the true North. The thirteenth we had sight of the Hand of Faire I le and also of the South-head of Shâ—tland called Swimborne hâ—ad which are high Lands at noone the Iland of Faire Ile bearing West halfe a point Northerly foure leagues off I made obseruation and found vs in the latitude of 59. degrees 20. minutes This night about seuen a clocke wee came about an English league to the Northwards of the North-west and of Faire I le wee met with a great race of a tyde as though it had beene the race of Portland it setting North North-west Being out of the said race I directed my course West and by North hauing the winde North-east and by North this euening Faire Ile bearing East South-east foure leagues Swimborne head North-east and by North eight leagues the Iland of Foolâ— North-east and by East seuen leagues I found by exact obseruation the compasse to be varied to the East-ward of the true North 60. degrees 10. minutes The fourteâ—â—th in the morning the winde came to the East South-east wee steering West and by North away this morning the Iland of Faire Ile did shew in my sight to bee about ten leagues off at which time we did descrie two of the Westermost Ilands of Orkney which did beare South-west and by South The eighteenth the winde at North-west and by West wee laid it away South-west and by West and sometimes South-west This day 〈◊〉 noone wee were in the Latitude of 58. degrees 40. minutes The nineteenth day the winde at South-west and South-west and by West wee lying as the night before being at noone in the Latitude of 59. degrees and a halfe The foure and twentieth day the winde at North-east and by East we steering still with a fresh gale West South-west this euening we looked to haue seene Busse Iland but I doe verily suppose the same to be placed in a wrong Latitude in the Marine Charts The sixe and twentieth at noone wee were in the latitude of 57. degrees 45. minutes The thirtieth day in the morning betweene seuen and eight the weather began to cleere and the Sea and winde to waxe lesse wee looking for the Lion and the Pinnasse could haue no sight of them we supposing them to bee a sterne off vs we standing still vnder our courses This day the winde came to the North-east and by East being very cold weather we lying North North-west away Making my obseruation at noone I found vs in the latitude of 59. degrees 15. minutes our way North North-west fortie leagues This afternoon between one and two a clock we descried Land it bearing North North-east off vs about ten leagues off North-east by North off vs about ten leagues it being a very high ragged land lying in the latitude of 59. degrees 50. minutes lying alongst South-east and by South and North-west and by North. This Head-land wee named after the Kings Maiesties of Denmarke because it was the first part of Groenland which we did see This afternoone about one a clock bearing in for the shoare we saw an Iland of Ice which bore West South-west of vs three leagues off so hauing the wind at East South-east we bore in for the shoare where wee found so much Ice that it was impossible either for vs or any other ship to come into the shoare without great danger yet wee put our selues into the Ice as wee thought conuenient being incumbred and compassed about with the same in such sort as the Captaine my selfe the Boatswaine with another of our companie were forced to goe ouerboord vpon an Iland of Ice to defend it from the ship at which time I thought it conuenient to stand off into the Sea againe and so being cleere of the Ice to double Cape Desolation to the North-westwards of which I doubted not but to find a cleer coast so standing away all this night West South-west to cleere vs of the Ice which lay farre from the shoare being very thicke towards the Land with great Ilands of Ice that it is wonderfull This euening the Cape Christian bearing North-east and by East fiue leagues I found the Compasse varied 12. degrees 15. minutes to the North-westwards Moreouer standing to Seaward from the foresaid Cape we came in blacke water as thicke as though it had beene puddle water we sayling in the same for the space of three houres The one and thirtieth in the morning faire weather with the winde somewhat variable wee steering away North-west and by West betweene foure and fiue in the morning we had sight of the Lion againe but not of the Pinnasse They being a Sea-boord off and hauing espied vs they stood with vs at which time the Captaine Lieutenant and Steereman came aboord vs earnestly intreating mee to bestow a Sea Chart of the Steerman and to giue him directions if by tempestuous weather they should lose vs they protesting and swearing that they would neuer leaue vs as long as winde and weather would permit them to keepe companie with vs. By whose speechees I being perswaded did giue them a Sea Chart for those Coasts telling them that if they would follow me that by Gods assistance I would bring them to a part of the Land void without pester of Ice and also harbour the ships in good Harbour by Gods helpe they swearing and protesting that they would follow mee so long as possibly they could with which oathes and faire speeches I rested satisfied thinking they had thought as they had sworne but it fell out otherwise So hauing made an end with vs about noone they went aboord againe wee being this day in the latitude of 59. degrees 45. minutes hauing stood all the night before and this forenoone also so nigh the shoare as wee could for Ice the Cape Christian South South-east and North North-west and from the Cape to Cape Desolation the Land lyeth East and by South and West and by North about fiftie leagues This day betweene one and two a clocke the Vice-admirals Boat being newly gone aboord it fell very hasie and thicke so that wee could not see one another by reason of the fog therefore our Captaine caused to shoote off certaine Muskets with a great peece of Ordnance to the intent the Lion might heare vs which heard of them they presently stood with vs at which time
compâ—st with Ice we hearing to the same the winde comming vp to the East South-east we 〈◊〉 South to the Ice were forced to loose for one Iland and to beare roome for another till about foure a clocke when by Gods helps 〈…〉 cleere off the same the winde comming vp to the South-east and by South wee lay South-west and by South off all this night The two and twentieth thicke weather the winde 〈◊〉 before This morning about seuen a clocke we saw a saile West and by South of vs we standing to him for it was our Vice admirall the Lion who had beene greatly troubled with the Ice wee being glad to meete one another againe The eight and twentieth about foure in the morning the storme ceased the winde comming vp to the West South-west About three a clocke wee set our sailes standing South-east away But being vnder saile we spyed great bankes and Ilands of Ice to leeward of vs lying off East and by South which Ice I did iudge to lye off Cape Desolation about eight leagues off the which by reason of the fogge we could not 〈◊〉 The nine and twentieth about sixe in the morning the winde came vp to the North-east and by North we making saile went South South-east away till noone with a stiffe gale wee seeing in the morning pieces of drift Ice to windward of vs hauing at noone a shrinke of the same I found vs in the latitude of 39. degrees 46. minutes hauing from noone to noone made a South-east and by South way eight leagues The one and thirtieth the winde continuing wee holding still our course with the winde still at North North-west with faire and cleere weather it blowing very much so that wee stood away vnder a couple of courses low set the Sea very 〈◊〉 growne being in the â—â—titude of 59. degrees 10. minutes hauing made an East South-east way somewhat Easterly foure and thirtie leagues This afternoone after my obseruation wee saw some Ilands of Ice 〈◊〉 some drift Ice I something maruelling of the same knowing both by my account and my 〈◊〉 â—â—seruation that we were shot too farre from 〈◊〉 part of Groinland that was described 〈…〉 Marine Chart. For the southermost part described therein is not in the latitude of 60. degrees and we being now in the latitude of 59. degrees ten minutes Cape Desolation bearing West North-west halfe Northerly about sixtie foure leagues and Cape Christian which was the next known part of Groenland North-west and by West westerly eight and thirtie leagues so holding our course East South-east away about foure a clocke we had sight of Land being very high Land it lying alongst East South-east about sixteene leagues the westermost part seemed either to fall away East North-east and the southermost point bearing East northerly fell away East and by North. This Land is very high hauing the Hills couered with snow the shoare being very thicke with Ice this place because I knew not whether it was of the Mayne or an Iland I named Frost Iland after the name of the ship The first of September at noone I made obseruation and found vs in the latitude of 58. degrees hauing made a South-east and by South way southerly sixe and twentie leagues This day at noone I directed my course East and by South This afternoone about sixe a clock it fell calme and so continued all the night following This euening I found the variation 10. degrees 50. minutes Northwesting The fourth day the winde at East and by South we lying South and by East hauing a shrinke of the sunne about noone I did suppose vs in the latitude of 57. degrees 20. minutes hauing made a South-east and by South way southerly about ten leagues all this day and the night following we lay as before The eight day faire weather the winde as before it being almost calme wee going away as before being at noone in the latitude of 58. degrees 36. minutes hauing made an East North-east way northerly twentie leagues by reason of the great southerly Sea All this afternoone and the night following it was for the most part calme This euening I found the Compasse varied about two degrees 45. minutes northwesting The ninth day also faire weather the winde southerly a fresh gale our course still East being at noone in the latitude of 58. degrees 40. minutes our way East and by North easterly twelue leagues This afternoone the winde came vp to the South or South and by East with raine This night about midnight thicke weather with raine the winde comming to the South-east we lying East North-east and North-east and by East with the stemme The tenth day about two in the morning the winde came vp to the South South-west wee steering our course East being at noone in the latitude of 59. degrees 10. minutes hauing made an East and by North way easterly foure and fortie leagues wee hauing a fresh gale westerly This day wee saw one of the Fowle the which are on the Iland of Bas in Scotland called Bas Geese This euening I found the Variation 1. degree 4. minutes northeasting The eighteenth this forenoone about nine a clocke wee espyed land rising somewhat ragged the Eastermost point of the same bearing South-east and by South and the Westermost part South and by West about eight leagues These Ilands by my account and obseruation I found to be the Ilands of Ferris being at noone in the obseruation of 62. degrees 5. minutes The nineteenth I set a little Rocke called the Monke which lyeth off to the South-east end it being about fiue a clocke East South-east of vs three leagues off This night about ten a clocke it fell calme The twentieth wee did see the streame had set vs to the Northwards This streame setteth vnder the Ilands of Farre next hand East and West So casting about wee stood to the westwards lying West South-west and sometimes West and by South and sometimes South-west it being very raynie weather about midnight it fell calme and so continued all night vnto the morning The first of October in the afternoone about foure of the clocke we had sight of The Holmes The second day wee steered away South-east and by South and South South-east for The Col. And about eight of the clocke this night wee came into Turco where wee rode all the day following The third day at night the winde came to the North-east so wee weighed and came into Elsenor Road. The fourth day by the prouidence of God we arriued in our desired Port of Copen Hauen 1606. The seuerall burthens and numbers of men employed in the ships of the Fleet aforesaid were as followeth THe Trust being Admirall was of sixtie tunnes had eight and fortie men The Lion Vice-admirall was of seuentie tunnes had eight and fortie men The Vrin or Eagle Reare-admirall of one hundred tunnes had fiftie men The Gilliflowre was of fortie tunnes had sixteene men
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
doth confine with Costarica on the West side it hath in length East and West fiftie leagues and in breadth fiue and twentie a Mountainous Countrie full of bushes without Pastures or Cattle Wheate Barley little Millet or little Pulse but full of Gold with many vaines of it and rich Mines in the Riuers and breaches and those Indians that are are in warre it hath the Citie of the Conception fortie leagues from Nombre de Dios to the West where the Gouernour and the Officers which they of Panama at this present doe prouide are resident The Village of Trinitie stands six leagues to the East of the Conception by Sea for yee cannot goe by Land neere to the Riuer of Bethleem at three leagues from the Sea The Citie of Sancta Fe stands twelue leagues from the Conception to the South with melting houses and Deputie Officers The Citie of Charles in the coast of the South Sea neere to the Sea fiftie leagues from the Citie of Sancta Fe to the East all the Indians of this gouernment are in warre There is no Port of name in the two Coasts South and North of this gouernment and in all the bounds of the Counsell are the Riuers Ports and points following The Bay of Carabaco or of Saint Hierome in the coast of the North Sea and the confines of Veragua and to the East of it and of the Riuer of the Trinitie of the Conception and of Bethlehem where was the first inhabiting that the first Admirall made in Terra firme of all that Orbe in the yeare 1503. which continued not and right against the Shield an Iland and the Riuer of Chagre and more to the East a league the Portete to the place where the Admirall came discouering the same yeere and the Ports of Langostas twelue leagues from Nombre de Dios to the West and the Port de Gallinas or of Hennes nine degrees and the Port of Bonauenture six Portobelo fiue and right against it the Ilands of the Lookings and those of the Prouisions or Bastimentos and hauing Nombre de Dios two leagues the Riuer of Sardinilla and the Iland of Sardina foure and the Riuer of Millet or Mayz and the Riuer of Snakes or Culebras eight and at the entry of the Gulfe of Vraba where in the yeare 1509. the Bachiller Enciso built the Citie of Sancta Marie of Darien This Bachiller Enciso was he that published that in the Prouince which was called Castilla del Oro there were places where the gold was fished with nets which encouraged many people to goe to the Indies which passed in the yeare 1514. with Peter Arias Danila and the President Basco Nunnez of Balboa went 1513. from the Darien in demand of the South Sea and discouered it The Point of the Iland of Captiua stands right against the Mountaines of Saint Blas and the Iland of Comagre and the Iland of Pinos more within the Gulfe of Vraba and in the inward Port of it the Port of Nilcos neere to the mouth of the Riuer of Darien which diuideth the bounds of this Counsell and those of the Gouernement of Cartagena and there is Culata de Vraba where in the yeare 1510. Alonso of Oieda inhabited Saint Sebastian of Vraba This Gulfe stands in 8. degrees it hath foureteene leagues of longitude into the Lands and in the entrie it hath six in breadth and a little forward fiftie and at the end foure and fiue leagues within was the Citie of Sancta Marie the auncient of Darien In the South Sea stands the Cape of Sancta Marie and point de Guerra of Warre and toward Panama the Gulfe of Parita or Paris where stands Nata the point of Chiame the Countrie of that Cazique Chiapes the friend of Basco Nunnez of Balboa which holpe him in his discouery and passed the Port of Panama the Riuer of Chepo and the Balsa or of Congos in the inner part of the Gulfe of Saint Michael North and South from the Iland of Pearles and the Point or Port of Pinyas at the entrie of the Gulfe on the South side which is fiftie leagues from Panama and twentie ouerthwart to the Gulfe of Vraba and Puerto Quemado or Burnt Hauen neere to the Cape of Corrientes in 5. degrees of altitude Septentrionall THe bounds of the Counsel of the New Kingdome hath in length East and West three hundred leagues and as many North and South wherein are comprehended the Prouinces of the New Kingdome the gouernments of Sancta Martha and Cartagena and part of that of Popayan for borders the Prouinces of the Dorado or new Stremadura the Prouince of New Kingdome which is that which the Counsell gouerneth it hath in length from East to West foureteen leagues and eightie in breadth North and South of plaine ground for the most part with Valleys and hils and good Pastures for all sort of Cattle which are in abundance and in many places Wheate Miller and the fruits of Castile and generally much Gold and very fine and Mines of Copper Steele and the Countrie men for the most part are able men great traffickers and doe weare Cotten cloath And the Townes that be in the Kingdome of Spaniards are the Citie of Sancta Fe of Bogota which was built at the foote of Bogota so called by the Cazique which was called Bogota which the President Gonçalo Ximenez of Quesada built and gaue the name to the Citie and to the Kingdome because he was of Granada though in the discouery the President Belalcazar and Nicholas Federman had part it stands 72. degrees and a halfe of longitude from the Meridian of Toledo which by a greater circle may be one thousand foure hundred and fortie leagues and 4. degrees on this side of the Equinoctial it hath more then six hundred housholds in it is resident the Counsell the Kings Officers and Royall treasurie and Melting house the Cathedrall Metropolitane whose suffragans are Popayan Cartagena and Sancta Marta with a Monasterie of Dominicke and another of Franciscane Friers and in her borders more then fiftie thousand tributarie Indians and the Lake of Guatauita which was a worshipping place of the Indians where it is reported that they did cast great summes of Gold in offring to the Idols The Village of Saint Michael in the bounds of Sancta Fe twelue leagues from it to the North was built for trafficke with the Pauche Indians because being of a hot Countrie it did them hurt to goe to Sancta Fe which is cold The Citie of Tocayma fifteene leagues from Sancta Fe to the West somewhat inclined to the North with a Monasterie of Dominicke Friers was inhabited the yeare 1545. by the Captaine Hernando Vanegas in the border of the maine Riuer Pati which runneth into the Riuer Magdalene It hath no gold and is most hot and by night there falleth no Deaw in it In all the Kingdome there is
the Port of Cauyete and the Iland of Mocha more to the South and the Port of Cauten which is that of the Imperiall and to the South the landing place and the Riuer of Tolten before the Port of Valdinia and past this the Point of the Galley and more to the South the great Bay or Port of Osorno in the Riuer de las Canoas and to the South of it about thirtie leagues to the Lake de los Coronados the broadest Riuer of this Realme and at the end of this Realme the Lake of Aucud HONDIVS his Map of the MAGELLAN Streight FRETUM Magellani The Ports Capes and Points of the Coast of the one and the other Sea vnto the Streighr although they be many and some are not pointed in the Cardes of Nauigation it appeareth not wholly neither is there any certaine relation of all And the most knowne of the Coast from Chile vnto the Streight which runneth from Valdinia about an hundred leagues to the West South-west are the Cape of Saint Andrew in seuen and fortie degrees from whence the Coast turneth directly to the South vnto the Streight by the Cape of Saint Roman in eight and fortie degrees and neere vnto it the Iland of Saint Catalina neere to the great Bay which they call Hartichoked and within it the Bay of our Lady and the Iland of Santa Barbara and more forward the Ports of Hernan Gallego in eight and fortie degrees two third parts and the Bay of The Kings eighteene leagues from the Port of Hernan Gallego and the Bay of Saint Iohn in fiftie degrees one third part the Cape of Saint Francisco in one and fiftie whereby some Channels doe enter into the Land and the Iland de la Campana or of the Bell eleuen leagues from Saint Francis also with some Channels which haue not beene nauigated within the Land and the Bay of Saint Lazarus in two and fiftie degrees with Channels on the sides which enter very broad and long to the one and the other parts which haue not beene nauigated and a great Sea of Ilands which alwayes was said to bee at the South side neere to the mouth of the Streight the which Sir Richard Hawkins denyeth for hee saith That at this mouth of the Streight on the South side he found no more then foure small Ilands and one in the middest like a Sugar loofe and that at the least they are distant from the mouth of the Streight sixe leagues and the great Sea is on the one side and he holdeth for certaine it is that which they say is the firme Land of the South side of the Streight and that there is no firme land The Streight though they haue past it from the South to the North side by order of the Vice-roy Don Franciscus of Toledo Peter Sarmiento and Antonie Pablo Corso and it is knowne it stands from 52. to 53. degrees of altitude where it draweth most to the South and that in length it hath one hundred and ten â—eagues or one hundred and fifteene little more or lesse and in breadth from one to tenne it hath neuer beene nauigated to an end from the South Sea to the North Sea nor the Pyrats that haue past it from the North to the South are vnderstood to haue returned by it The aboue said Sir Richard Hawkins saith that he sailed many dayes by the Straight and affirmeth that all the Countrie on the South side is no firme Land but many Ilands which reach to 56. degrees the which he might know because he sayled to the same 56. degrees through the middest of those Ilands and seeing he found nothing but Sea hee followed his course againe through by the Straight and that this cannot be so farre the differences of Seas which the many entrings doe cause that are among those Ilands and that the habiting of them is of people on the North side which doe passe to those Ilands to sustaine themselues of fishings and in their seasons returne to their Countries and that he comprehended this of many things especially of not hauing seene any seated inhabitating but some Cabbins which the Indians doe make for a time The same said Sir Francis Drake that it hapned him when he passed the Straight the yeare 1579. who after his comming out into the South Sea he ran along with tempests compassing this Sea vnto the mouth of the North Sea and by the same way he had runne he made sure his nauigation to the South Sea The parts most famous of the Straight at the entring of the South are the Cape Desseado or Desired in 53. degrees and the Channell of all Saints two and twentie leagues from the mouth very broad and large and past it the port of the Treason and afterward another great large Channell which runneth to the North-west and Rowlands Bell a great Rocke in the middest at the beginning of a Channell They gaue it this name of one of Magellanes fellowes called Rowland who went to reacknowledge it which was a Gunner the point of possession which is foure leagues from the Cape of Virgenes at the entring of the North Sea in 52. degrees and a halfe of altitude when Peter Sarmiento and Antonie Pablo Corso by order which they had to reknowledge the Straight for it had beene commanded long before for to see if it were a more easie nauigation to the South Sea then that of Panama they viewed the two narrow places that at the entrie of the North and it seemed to Peter Sarmiento that the one was so narrow that with Artillerie it might be kept and so much he perswaded it that although the Duke of Alua affirmed it was impossible the Armie which Iames Flower carried vnfruitfully was sent about it and in the end was knowne that that nauigation is dangerous and the flowing of two Seas which come to meete in the middest of the Straight doe withdraw themselues with such furie ebbing in some places more then sixtie fathoms that when the Shippes did carry nothing but Cables to preserue themselues from loosing that which they had sayled they would goe full froaghted In foure hundred leagues there is of Coast from the mouth of the Straight vnto the Riuer of Plate which runneth altogether North-east and South-west there is the Riuer of Saint Ilefonsus twelue leagues from the Cape of the Virgenes the a Gallizian Riuor and the Bay of Saint Iames foureteene leagues from the Riuer of Sancta Cruz in 50. degrees and at the mouth an Iland called of the Lyons and the Port of Saint Iulian in 49. degrees and the Riuer of Iohn Serrana to the South of the Ilands of Duckes in 47 degrees the Riuer of Cananor in 45. degrees the Cape of Saint Dominicke before the Cape of three Points and the Land de los Humos or of the Smoakes in 38. degrees the Point of Sancta Hellene and of Saint Apollonia in 37. degrees before the White
hauing found such a King And thou noble young man and our most mightie Lord be confident and of a good courage that seeing the Lord of things created hath giuen thee this charge hee will also giue thee force and courage to manage it and thou mayest well hope that hee which in times past hath vsed so great bountie towards thee will â—pt now deny thee his greater giftâ— seeing he hath giuen thee so great a charge which I wish thee to enioy many yeeres King Moteçuma was very attentiue to this Discourse which being ended they say hee was so troubled that endeuouring thriâ—e to answere 〈◊〉 hee could not speake being ouercome with teares which joy and content doe vsually cause in signe of great humility In the end being come to himselfe he spake briefly I were too blind good King of Tescuco if I did not know that what thou hast spoken vnto me proceeded of meere fauour is pleaseth you to shew me seeing among so many noble and valiant men within this Realme you haue made choice of the least sufficient and in truth I find my selfe so incapeable of a charge of so great importance that I know not what to doe but to beseech the Creatour of all created things that hee will fauour mee and I intreate you all to pray vnto him for me These words vttered hee beganne againe to weepe He that in his election made such shew of humility and mildnesse seeing himselfe King began presently to discouer his aspiring thoughts The first was hee commanded that no plebeian should serue in his house nor beare any Royal Office as his Predecessors had vsed til then blaming them that would be serued by men of base condition commanding that all the noble and most famous men of his Realme should liue within his Palace and exercise the Offices of his Court and House Whereunto an old man of great authoritie who had somtimes bin his Schoolemaster opposed himselfe aduising him to be careful what he did and not to thrust himselfe into the danger of a great inconuenience in separating him selfe from the vulgar and common people so as they should not dare to looke him in the face seeing themselues so reiected by him He answered that it was his resolution and that he would not allow the Plebeians thus to goe mingled among the Nobles as they had done saying that the seruice they did was according to their condition so as the Kings got no reputation and thus he continued firâ—â— in his resolution Hee presently commanded his Counsell to dismisse all the Plebeians from their charges and offices as well those of his Houshold as of his Court and to prouide Knightâ— the which was done After hee went in person to an enterprize necessary for his Coronation At that time a Prouince lying farre off towards the North Ocean was reuolted from the Crown whither he led the flower of his people well appointed There he warred with such valour and dexteritie that in the end hee subdued all the Prouince and punished the Rebels seuerely returning with a great number of Captiues for the Sacrifices and many other spoyles All the Cities made him solemne receptions at his returne and the Lords thereof gaue him water to wash performing the offices of seruants a thing not vsed by any of his Predecessors Such was the feare and respect they bare him In Mexico they made the Feasts of his Coronation with great preparations of Dances Comedies Banquets Lights and other inuentions for many dayes And there came so great a wealth of Tributes from all his Countreyes that strangers vnknowne came to Mexico and their very enemies resorted in great numbers disguised to see these Feasts as those of Tlascalla and Mechonacan the which Moteçuma hauing discouered he commanded they should be lodged and gently intreated and honoured as his owne person He also made them goodly Galleries like vnto his owne where they might see and behold the Feasts So they entred by night to those Feasts as the King himselfe making their Sports and Maskes And for that I haue made mention of these Prouinces it shall not be from the purpose to vnderstand that the Inhabitants of Mechonacan Tlascalla and Tapeaca would neuer yeeld to the Mexicans but did alwayes fight valiantly against them yea sometimes the Mechoâ—acans did vanquish the Mexicans as also those of Tapeaca did In which place the Marquesse Don Ferrand Cortes after that hee and the Spaniards were expelled Mexico pretended to build their first Citie the which hee called as I well remember Segure dela Frontiere But this peopling continued little for hauing afterwards reconquered Mexico all the Spaniards went to inhabite there To conclude those of Tapeaca Tlascalla and Mechonacan haue beene alwayes enemies to the Mexicans although Moteçuma said vnto Cortes that hee did purposely forbearâ— to subdue them to haue occasion to exercise his men of warre and to take numbers of captiues This King laboured to bee respected yea to be worshipped as a God No Plebeian might looke him in the face if he did he was punished with death he did neuer let his foot on the ground but was alwayes carried on the shoulders of Noblemen and if he lighted they laid rich Tapistrie whereon hee did goe When hee made any Voyage hee and the Noblemen went as it were in a Parke compassed in for the nonce and the rest of the people went without the Parke enuironing it in on euery side hee neuer put on a garment twice nor did eate or drinke in one vessell or dish aboue once all must be new giuing to his attendants that which had once serued him so as commonly they were rich and sumptuous Hee was very carefull to haue his Lawes obserued And when he returned victor from any warre hee fained sometimes to goe and take his pleasure then would hee disguise himselfe to see if his people supposing hee were absent would omit any thing of the feast or reception If there were any excesse or defect hee then did punish it rigorously And also to discerne how his Ministers did execute their Offices hee often disguised himselfe offering gifts and presents to the Iudges prouoking them to doe in-justice If they offended they were presently punished with death without remission or respect were they Noblemen or his Kinsmen yea his owne Brethren Hee was little conuersant with his people and seldome seene retyring himselfe most commonly to care for the gouernment of his Realme Besides that he was a great Iusticier and very Noble he was very valiant and happy by meanes whereof hee obtayned great victories and came to this greatnesse as is written in the Spanish Histories whereon it seemes needlesse to write mere I will onely haue a care hereafter to write what the Books and Histories of the Indies make mention of the which the Spanish Writers haue not obserued hauing not sufficiently vnderstood the secrets of this Countrey the which are things very worthy to
of a Biscay ship The fourth and fifth Whales killed The sixt whale killed Three hundred Morses Biscainers enuie The seuenth Whale killed The eight Whale killed The ninth and tenth Whales killed The eleuenth twelfth and thirteenth Whales killed Ascension day Greenland attayned in eighteene dayes A ship of Saint Iohn de Luz Eight Spaniards on the coast The Generall was Captaine Beniamin Ioseph after slaine in fight with a Carrike Dutch ship No night the 23. of May. Diuers strangers Lat. 78. deg 24. minut Ship of Biscay Snowe Greene harbour Low sound His Maiesties Armes and a Crosse set vp at Low-nesse Snowe Thomas Bonner English man Master and Pilot. 76. deg 55. min. declination 67. deg 30. min. Variation 12. deg 14. min. Abundance of Ice An Iland in 72 degrees on the Coast of Groinland Three and twentie whales killed A man slaine Latitude 78. deg 7. min. Note A South South west Moone maketh a full Sea here A Biscayn ship of 700. tuns Many rockes full of Fowle Lisets Ilands Eighteene Whales killed Three Whales killed by the English Eight thirtie Whales killed August 1. Latitude 77. degrees 40. minutes Variation 13. degrees 11. minutes Latitude 79. degrees 14. minutes This was Maâ— Cudners ship of London Latitude 79. degrees 8. minutes Sunnes refraction Note M. Cudner of London William Gourdon Variation 1. degree 5. min. Rost Ilands or Rosten 68. dâ—g no min. Thâ— variâ—tion 4 degrees 8. minutes East Variation 5. dâ—g 3. minutes East The lying of the land about Scoutsnesse We went forth to Sea We met with Ice in 75. deg 10. minutes Eleuen Sayles fast in the Ice M. Th. Sherwin Iune We goe cleere off the Ice Wee met with the Mary An-Sarah We came to the Fore land We proceeded to the Northwards Maudlen Sound Hackluyts Head-land We anchoreâ— in Maudlen Sound I went forth in a shallop We set sayle out of Maudlen Sound and followed the Ice Prince Charles Iland in 78. degrees 40. minutes Wee stood againe for shoare Eleuen Holland ships We anchored in Sir T. Smiths Bay We went forth of Sir T. Smiths Bay We were driuen backe againe into Crosse-road We set sayle out of Crosse-road One shallop to the Northward The other into Maudlen Sound The Kings Armes set vp in Trinitie Harbour Trinitie Harbor is vnder the parallel of 79. degrees 34. minutes We came to an anchor in Faire Hauen No Whales were yet come in The shallop returned from the Northwards Cape Barrèn Saddle Iland A Storme Iulie The Whales began now to come in Two Whales escaped We came forth of Faire hauen We met with Ice and stood to the Northwards Our Shallop came to vs. We returned towards Faire hauen We intended to discouer in Shallops I went forth in the one Shallop Master Baffin came to me in the other Shallop Red-beach Wee hailed our Shallop vpon the Ice We returned to our Shallop We were vnder saile and came to an anchor againe We killed a Whale August We went to the Northwards with our Shallops We got to the shoare of Red Beach with out Shallops We walked ouer Red-beach The Kings armes are set vp at Wiches Sound We passed ouer Wiches Sound We found Beach Finâ— We met with the Hartsease Shallop Note The end of Sir Thomas Smiths Inlet discouered We returned towards our Ship A storme began when we were amongst Ice We get forth of the Ice We came aboord our ship The Holland Discouerers go homewards Our Ship went forth to Sea We met with Ice eight leagues from the Shore We plyed off and on the Ice two dayes Wee anchored againe in the North Harbor I went to the Eastwards in a shallop Ice was newly frozen in Red-cliffe Sound I intended to go once to Point Desire A great snow began I could not passe for Ice The originall cause of Ice at Sea I went backe againe to Red-beach I returned towards our ship Point Welcome The Kings Armes are set vp againe at Point Welcome I went into Red cliffe Sound Point Deceit I came aboord our ship A Whale lay sunken fourteene dayes The Hartseasâ— anchored by vs. Warme weather in the end of August We set sayle to the Eastward The Thomasinâ— returnes for England We stood to the westwards Wee met with Ice We left the Ice and came for England A storme beganne A Corpo Santo It is often seen at the end of stormes Hackluyts Headland Perill and escape Note Errour of Grouland Fogges High Hill Drift wood Note Sir T. Smiths Iland Mount Hackluyt Hudsons Hold-with-hope questioned as before also Ships of the King of Denmarke Terrible Disaster Flemmings Peter Goodford drowned Cold and heate strangely variable Tobacco lighted by the Sun at midnight Gods mercy to England whiles warres haue infested thâ— rest of the World A. Thuan-bister l. 135. Iam. 3. Exod. 1. Al. Gwagninâ— descript Mosc George brother to the Emperor done to death Hee addes principal Nobles here omitted * 700. women at one time 378. prisoners at another 500. Matrons and Virgins of noble bloud exposed to be rauished by the Tartars in his sight at another time c. * A Secretarie cutting off his priuities he died presently which the Emperour construing to be done purposely caused him there instantly to eate whâ—t he had cut off * Or Theodor Sir Ierom Horsey The death of Iuan Vasiliwich 1584. April 18. Lord Boris adopted as the Emperors third sonne The day of Pheodor his coronation Iohn de Wale Chare Sibersky Prince of Siberia taken prisoner brought to Mosco Sophet Keri Alli King of the Crims arriuall at Mosco The new Emperor Pheodore Iuanowich his Lâ—tters and Requests to the Queene Master Horseys voyage from Mosco to England ouer land 1586. Thuan. hist. lib. 120. Diuorce vrged D. Fl. S.I.H. Boris his plot Thuan. hist. lib. 135. sec. Demetrius slain some tell that one pretended his colâ—er stood awry in mending it cut his throate * It was in the Northern parts at Duglets * Some write that he caused diuers places in Mosco to be fiâ—red and then afterwards out of his owne cost repaired them D. Flet. Death of Theodore The Empresse succeedeth Russians vse of fortie dayes mourning for an Emperours death The Queene turneth Nun. Boris his willing vnwillingnesse Boris his speech Boris Emperor His Wife Son Daughter Tartars Russian New yeere Boris crowned His policies P. Basman * Where the censorious bitternesse also seemeth too much to insult on Bâ—ris his dâ—sasters Tedious Title Strange request His audience P. Basman Emperours glorie Princes splendour Pollaxes Counsell and Nobilitie Plate Dining roomâ— Change of Rayment Two hundred Nobles guests Three hundred noble Seruitors Garlike and Onions Drinkes Meads Memory of Q. Elizabeth Gifts Newes of Demetrius Princes pomp Peter Basman Oucsinia the Princesse Second audience Citizens Souldiers Golden Seale Great dinner Ambassadors departure Sled-passage Emperor Boriâ— his death New christened Emperors person His respect to his sonne * Because he had done more for him then might lawfully be commanded
be knowne as we shall see hereafter It chanced thâ—t Motâ—çuma hauing reigned many yeeres in great prosperitie and so puft vp in his conceit as he caused himselfe to be serued and feared yea to be worshipped as a God that the Almighty Lord began to chastice him and also to admonish him suffering euen the very Deuils whom he worshipped to tell him these heauy tydings of the ruine of his Kingdome and to torment him by Visions which had neuer beene seene wherewith hee remayned so melancholy and troubled as he was void of judgement The Idoll of those of Châ—lolâ— which they called Quetzacoalt declared that a strange people came to possesse his Kingdomes The King of Tescuco who was a great Magitian and had conference with the Deuill came one day at an extraordinary houre to visit Moteçuma assuring him that his Gods had told him that there were great losses preparing for him and for his whole Realme many Witches and Sorcerers went and declared as much amongst which there was one did very particulary foretell him what should happen and as hee was with him hee told him that the pulses of his feete and hands failed him Moteçuma troubled with these newes commanded all those Sorcerers to be apprehended but they vanished presently in the Prison wherewith he grew into such a rage that he might not kill them as hee put their wiues and children to death destroying their Houses and Families Seeing himselfe importuned and troubled with these aduertisements hee sought to appease the anger of his Gods and for that cause hee laboured to bring a huge stone thereon to make great Sacrifices For the effecting whereof hee sent a great number of people with Engins and Instruments to bring it which they could by no meanes mooue although being obstinate they had broken many Instruments But as they stroue still to raise it they heard a voyce joyning to the stone which said they laboured in vaine and that they should not raise it for that the Lord of things created would no more suffer those things to be done there Moteçuma vnderstanding this commanded the Sacrifice to be performed in that place and they say the voyce spake againe Haue I not told you that it is not the pleasure of the Lord of things created that it should bee done and that you may well know that it is so I will suffer my selfe to bee transported a little then after you shall not mooue mee Which happened so indeed for presently they carried it a small distance with great facilitie then afterwards they could not mooue it till that after many Prayers it suffered it selfe to bee transported to the entry of the Citie of Mexico where suddenly it fell into the Lake where seeking for it they could not find it but it was afterwards found in the same place from whence they had remooued it wherewith they remayned amazed and confounded At the same time there appeared in the Element a great flame of fire very bright in the forme of a Pyramide which beganne to appeare at midnight and went still mounting vntill the Sunne rising in the morning where it stayed at the South and then vanished away It shewed it selfe in this sort the space of a whole yeere and euer as it appeared the people cast forth great cryes as they were accustomed beleeuing it was a presage of great misfortune It happened also that fire tooke the Temple when as no body was within it nor neere vnto it neyther did there fall any lightning or thunder whereupon the Guards crying out a number of people ranne with water but nothing could helpe so as it was all consumed and they say the fire seemed to come forth of pieces of timber which kindled more by the water that was cast vpon it There was a Comet seene in the day time running from the West to the East casting an infinite number of sparkles and they say the forme was like to a long tayle hauing three heads The great Lake betwixt Mexico and Tescuco without any winde earthquake or any other apparant signe began sudainly to swell and the waues grew in such sort as all the buildings neere vnto it fell downe to the ground They say at that time they heard many voices as of a woman in paine which said sometimes O my children the time of your destruction is come and otherwhiles it said O my children whither shall I carry you that you perish not vtterly There appeared likewise many Monsters with two heads which being carried before the King sudainly vanished There were two that exceeded all other Monsters being very strange the one was the Fishers of the Lake tooke a Bird as bigge as a Crane and of the same colour but of a strange and vnseene forme They carried it to Moteçuma who at that time was in the pallace of teares and mourning which was all hanged with blacke for as he had many Pallaces for his recreation so had he also others for times of affliction wherewith he was then heauily charged and tormented by reason of the threatnings his gods had giuen him by these sorrowfull aduertisements The Fishers came about noone setting this Bird before him which had on the top of his head a thing bright and transparent in forme of a Looking-glasse wherein he did behold a warlike Nation comming from the East armed fighting and killing He called his Diuines and Astronomers whereof there was a great number who hauing seene these things and not able to yeelde any reason of what was demanded of them the Bird vanished away so as it was neuer more seene whereupon Moteçuma remained very heauy and sorrowfull The other which happened was a Laborer who had the report of a very honest man he came vnto him telling him that being the day before at his worke a great Eagle flew towards him and tooke him vp in his talents without hurting him carrying him into a certaine Caue where it left him The Eagle pronouncing these words Most mighty Lord I haue brought him whom thou hast commanded me This Indian Laborer looked aboue on euery side to whom he spake but he saw no man Then he heard a voyce which said vnto him Doost thou not know this man whom thou seest lying vpon the ground and looking thereon he perceiued a man to lye very heauy asleepe with royall ensignes flowers in his hand and a staffe of perfumes burning as they are accustomed to vse in that Country whom the Labourer beholding knew it was the great King Moteçuma and answered presently Great Lord this resembles our King Motezuma The voice said againe Thou sayest true behold what he is and how hee lies asleepe carelesse of the great miseries and afflictions prepared for him It is now time that he pay the great number of offences he hath done to God and that he receiue the punishment of his tyrannies and great pride and yet thou seest how carelesse he lyes blinde in his owne miseries and without any
feeling But to the end thou maiest the better see him take the staffe of perfumes he holds burning in his hand and put it to his face then shalt then finde him without feeling The poore laborer durst not approach neere him nor doe as he was commanded for the great feare they all had of this King But the voice said Haue no feare for I am without comparison greater than this King 〈◊〉 destroy him and defend him doe therefore what I command thee Whereupon the Laborer tooke the staffe of perfumes out of the Kings hand and put it burning to his nose but he moued not 〈◊〉 shewed any feeling This done the voice said vnto him that seeing he had found the King so sleepie he should goe awake him and tell him what he had seene Then the Eagle by the same commandement tooke the man in hs talents and set him in the same place where he found him and for accomplishment of that which he had spoken he came to aduertise him They say that Moteçuma looking on his face found that he was burnt the which he had not felt till then wherewith he continued exceeding heauie and troubled In the foureteenth yeare of the raigne of Moteçuma which was in the yeare of our Lord 1517. there appeared in the North Seas Shippes and men landing whereat the Subiects of Moteçuma wondred much and desirous to learne and to be better satisfied what they were they went aboord in their Canoes carrying many refreshings of meates and stuffes to make apparrell vpon colour to sell them The Spaniards receiued them into their Shippes and in exchange of their victuals and stuffes which were acceptable vnto them they gaue them chaines of false Stones red blew greene and yellow which the Indians imagined to be precious stones The Spaniards inforning themselues who was their King and of his great power dismissed them willing them to carry those Stones vnto their Lord saying that for that time they could not goe to him but they would presently returne and visite him Those of the coast went presently to Mexico with this message carrying the representation of what they had seene painted on a cloath both of the Shippes Men and Stones which they had giuen them King Moteçuma remained very pensiue with this message commanding them not to reueale it to any one The day following he assembled his Counsell and hauing shewed them the painted cloathes and the Chaines he consulted what was to be done where it was resolued to set good watches vpon all the Sea coasts to giue present aduertisement to the King of what they should discouer The yeare following which was in the beginning of the yeare 1518. they discouered a Fleete at Sea in the which was the Marquise of Valle Don Fernande Cortes with his companions newes which much troubled Moteçuma and conferring with his Counsell they all said that without doubt their great and auncient Lord Queztzalâ—oalt was come who had said that he would returne from the East whither he was gone The Indians held opinion that a great Prince had in times past left them and promised to returne Of the beginning and ground of which opinion shall be spoken in another place They therefore sent fiue principall Ambassadors with rich presents to congratulate his comming saying they knew well that their great Lord Queztzalcoalt was come and that his seruant Moteçâ—ma sent to visite him for so he accounted himselfe The Spaniards vnderstood this message by the meanes of Marina an Indian woman whom they brought with them which vnderstood the Mexican tongue Fernande de Cartes finding this a good occasion for his entry commanded to decke his Chamber richly and being set in great state and pompe he caused the Ambassadors to enter who omitted no shewes of humilitie but to worship him as their god They deliuered their charge saying that his seruant Moteçuma sent to visit him and that he held the Country in his name as his Lieutenant that he knew well it was the Topâ—lcin which had beene promised them many yeares since who should returne againe vnto them And therefore they brought him such Garments as he was wont to weare when he did conuerse amongst them beseeching him to accept willingly of them offering him many presents of great value Cortes receiuing the presents answered that he was the same they spake of wherewith they were greatly satisfied seeing themselues to be curteously receiued and intreated by him To conclude the day after this Ambassage all the Captaines and Commanders of the Fleete came vnto the Admirall where vnderstanding the matter and that this Realme of Moteçuma was mighty and rich it seemed fit to gaine the reputation of braue and valiant men among this people and that by this meanes although they were few they should be feared and receiued into Mexico To this end they discharged all their Artillery from their Shippes which being a thing the Indians had neuer heard they were amazed as if heauen had fallen vpon them Then the Spaniards beganne to defie them to fight with them but the Indians not daring to hazard themselues they did beate them and intreate them ill shewing their Swords Lances Pertuisans and other armes wherewith they did terrifie them much The poore Indians were by reason hereof so fearefull and amazed as they changed their opinion saying that their Lord Topilcin came not in this troupe but they were some gods their enemies came to destroy them When as the Ambassadors returned to Mexico Moteçuma was in the house of audience but before he would heare them this miserable man commanded a great number of men to be sacrificed in his presence and with their bloud to sprinkle the Ambassadors supposing by this ceremony which they were accustomed to doe in solemne Ambassages to receiue a good answer But vnderstanding the report and information of the manner of their Ships Men and Armes he stood perplexed and confounded then taking counsell thereon he found no better meanes then to labor to stop the entry of these strangers by Coniurations and Magicke Arts. They had accustomed often to vse this meanes hauing great conference with the Deuill by whose helpe they sometimes obtained strange effects They therefore assembled together all the Sorcerers Magitians and Inchanters who being perswaded by Moteçuma they tooke it in charge to force this people to returne vnto their Country For this consideration they went to a certaine place which they thought fit for the inuocation of their Deuils and practising their Arts a thing worthy of consideration They wrought all they could but seeing nothing could preuaile against the Christians they went to the King telling him that they were more then men for that nothing might hurt them notwithstanding all their Coniurations and Inchantments Then Moteçuma aduised him of another policie that faining to be very well contented with their comming he commanded all his Countries to serue these celestiall gods that were come into his Land The