Cape Farewell being still pestered with much Ice The ninth we were in Lat. 59. 00. and we made account the Cape Farewell bare of vs due East and some ten leagues off The Blaskes in Ireland is in Lat. 52. 4. and Cape Farewell in Lat. 59. 00. The course is West North-west and the distance about 410. leagues I know very well these Latitudes courses and distance doe not exactly agree with Mathematicall conclusions but thus we found it by practice The variation of the Compasse in Lat. 52. 30. and 30. leagues to the Westward of Ireland is about 3. 00. to the Eastward in Lat. 57. 00. about 310. leagues West North-west from the Blaskes the Compasse doth vary 9. 00. to the West-ward in Lat. 59. 15. some 40 leagues to the East-ward of Cape Farewell the variation is about 14. 45. In this course I haue bin obseruant whether there were any Currant that did set to the N. E. as some haue written there did and that as well in Calme weather as other-wayes But I could not perceiue any The windes here are variable and the Sea of an vnsearchable depth We haue not seene from Ireland hitherto any Whales or other Fish The weather for the most part was foggie and mistie that wets as bad as raine The tenth all the morning was very foule weather and a high-growne Sea although we had Ice not farre off about vs and some pieces as high as our Top-mast-head Our long Boate which we were faine to Towe at Sterne by reason we were building our Shallop on our Decks broke away and put vs to some trouble to recouer her againe This we did and made meanes to haue her into the Ship though very much bruised and that I had two men sore hurt and like to be lost in the hauing of her in By eight a clocke this euening we were shot vp as high as Cape Desolation for finding here the Land to trend away North and by East we certainly knew it to be the Cape It stands in Lat. 60. 00. and the Land from Cape Farewell to it trends N. W. the distance about 40. leagues The distance from Cape Desolation to the South end of the Iland of Resolution is about 140. leagues the course West halfe a point North. The Lat. of the South end of the Iland being 61. 20. some 12. leagues to the Westward of Cape Desolation the variation is 16. 00. In this course we were much tormented pestered and beaten with the Ice many pieces being higher then our Top-mast-head In our way we saw many Grampusses amongst the Ice and it seemeth the Sea is full of them The weather for the most part a stinking fogge and the Sea very blacke which I conceiue to be occasioned by reason of the fogge The seuenteenth at night we heard the rutt of the shoare as we thought but it prooued to be the rutt against a banke of Ice that lay on the shoare It made a hollow and a hideous noyse like an ouer-fall of water which made vs to reason amongst our selues concerning it for we were not able to see about vs it being darke night and foggie We stood off from it till breake of day then in againe and about 4. a clocke in the morning wee saw the Land aboue the fogge which we knew to be the Iland of Resolution This last night was so cold that all our Rigging and Sayles were frozen Wee endeauoured to compasse about the Southern point of the Iland for that we were so much pestered with the Ice and blinded with a very thicke fogge Here runnes a quicke tyde into the Straight but the ebbe is as strong as the flood The fogge was of such a piercing nature that it spoiled all our Compasses and made them flagge and so heauy withall that they would not trauerse Wherefore I would aduise any that shall Sayle this way hereafter to prouide Compasses of Muscouia Glasse or some other matter that will endure the moisture of the weather As the fogge cleered vp we could see the entrance of the Straight to be all full of Ice close thronged together Indeauouring to goe forward wee were fast inclosed amongst it and so droue to and againe with it finding no ground at 230. fad 4. leagues from the shoare The twentieth in the morning we had got about the Southerne point of the Iland and the winde came vp at West and droue both vs and the Ice vpon the shoare When we were driuen within two leagues of the shoare we came amongst the most strangest whirlings of the Sea that possibly can bee conceiued There were diuers great pieces of Ice a-ground in 40. fad water and the ebbe comming out of the broken grounds of the Iland amongst these Iles of Ice made such a distractiō that we were carryed round sometimes close by the Rocks sometimes close by those high pieces that we were afeard they would fall vpon vs. We were so beaten likewise with the encountering of the Ice that we were in a most desperate estate We made fast two great pieces of Ice to our sides with our Kedger and Grapnels that drew 9. or 10. fad that so they might be a-ground before vs if so be we were driuen on the shoare But that designe fayled vs and now from the top seeing in amongst the Rocks I sent the Boate for now wee had finished her to see if shee could finde some place of securitie but shee was no sooner parted but shee was inclosed and driuen to hale vp on the Ice or else shee had beene crushed to pieces They ranne her ouer the Ice from piece to piece and in the meane space with the whirling and incountring of the Ice the two pieces brake away from our sides and carryed away our Kedger and Grapnels Then we made signes to the Boate to make all the haste shee could to vs which shee perceiuing did the men being with much difficultie inforced to hale her ouer many pieces of Ice In the meane space we made some Sayle and got to that piece of Ice that had our Grapnell on it which wee againe recouered By this time was our Boate come and We put afresh Crue into her and sent her to fetch our Kedger which shee endeauoured with much danger of Beate and Men. By this time the Ship was driuen so neere the shoare that we could see the Rocks vnder vs and about vs and we should be carryed with the whirlings of the waters close by the points of Rocks and then round about backe againe and all this notwithstanding the Sayle we had abroad that wee expected continually when shee would be beaten to pieces In this extremitie I made them to open more Sayle and to force her in amongst the Rocks and broken grounds and where there was many great pieces of Ice aground We went ouer Rocks that had but 12. or 13. foot water on them and so let fall an Anker This Anker had neuer bin able to winde vp the
and recreate our selues letting her stand still vnder all her Sayles It was flat extraordinary large Ice the worst to deale withall that we had yet found I measured some pieces which I found to be 1000. of my paces long This was the first day that our men began to murmure thinking it impossible to get either forwards or backe-wards Some were of the opinion that it was all such Ice betwixt vs and the shoare Others that the Bay was all couered ouer and that it was a doubt whether we could get any way or to any land to winter in The nights were long and euery night it did so freeze that we could not sayle amongst the Ice by night nor in the thicke foggie weather I comforted and incouraged them the best I could and to put away these cogitations wee dranke a health to his Maiestie on the Ice not one man in the Ship and shee still vnder all her sayles I most ingeniously confesse that all their murmuring was not without reason wherefore doubting that we should be frozen vp in the Sea I ordered that fire should be made but once a day and that but with a certaine number of shides that the Steward should deliuer to the Cooke by tale the better to prolong our fewell whatsoeuer should happen The 30. we made some way thorow the Ice we heauing the Ship with our shoulders and with Mawles and Crowes of Iron breaking the corners of the Ice to make way As we got forwards the water shoalded apace so that I beleeue it to be some Iland At noone we obseru'd thorow the fogge with the Quadrant vpon a piece of Ice and were in Lat. 58. 54. our depth 30. fad We put out hookes to try to catch some fish but to no purpose for there is not any in this Bay The 31. we laboured as aforesaid and got something forward At noone we were in Lat. 58. 40. our depth 23. fad It was very thicke hazye weather or else I thinke we should haue seene the land The first of August the winde came vp at West which droue vs to the Eastward where our depth increased to 35. fad At noone by obseruation with the Quadrant on the Ice we were in Lat. 58. 45. At sixe a clocke this euening we might perceiue the Ice to heaue and set a little which was occasioned by a swelling Sea that came out of the South-West This did comfort vs very much hoping shortly we should get out of the Ice The second it did blow hard at South-West and yet we could not feele the forementioned swelling Sea which did againe quench the hopes we had formerly conceiued The third wee did see a little open water to the North-westward and did feele a swelling Sea from the West which doth assure vs that there is an open Sea to the Westward The fift we saw the Sea cleere but could by no meanes worke our selues to it with our sayles wherefore about sixe in the euening wee let fall an Anker in 50. fad water and stood all with poles and oares to fend off the Ice and let it passe to Leewards We continued this labour all night In the morning the winde came vp at North-West and we wayed with much ioy as hoping now to get into an open Sea to the Southward This by noone we had done and were in Lat. 58. 28. very free of Ice The winde did large vpon vs so that we stood away North-West to get vp as high to the Northward as we could and so to come coasting to the Southward We went to prayer and to giue God thanks for our deliuery out of the Ice The ninth being in Lat. 59. 40. we came againe to the Ice which lye very thicke to the North since we came out of the Ice our depth increased to 110. and now decreaseth againe So that I thinke we approched towards the shoare The tenth prooued very thicke foggie weather the winde contrary and the water showlding apace we came to an Anker in 22. fad The eleuenth in the morning we wayed and made in for the shoare and about noone saw the land our depth being 16. fad in Lat. 59. 40. The land to the North of vs did trend North by East and so made a point to the Southward and trended away West by South which we followed making it for that place which was formerly called Hubberts Hope And so it prooued indeed but it is now hopelesse Two or three words now concerning the Bay that we haue past ouer It is from Digges Iland to this Wester land in latitude aforesaid about 160. leagues the course West South West the variation The tydes doe set in the middle of the Bay East and West as we haue often tryed by our ledde aground but neerer the shoares as they are forced by the land I am of the opinion that in the Ocean or in large Bayes the tydes doe naturally set East and West and that this doth giue little hope of a passage The greatest depth we had in the Bay was 110. fad and so shoalding as you approch to land we coasted round about this forementioned little Bay which is some 18. leagues deepe in 8. and 6. fad and in the bottome of it we were in two faddome and a halfe water and saw the firme land almost round about vs. Then we proceeded to the Southward sixe and seuen faddome water within sight of the breach of the shoare keeping the lead continually going and in the night we would come to an Anker This night being little winde we came to an Anker with our Kedger but in waying of him we lost him hauing no more aboord vs. The 12. we were in Lat. 58. 46. some two leagues from the shoare The variation is about 17. deg The 13. in the afternoone it being something hazye we saw some breaches ahead vs our depth was 9. and 10. fad and luffing to cleere our selues of them we suddenly strooke vpon the Rocks the Ship then being vnder our two Top-sayles Foresayle and Spreetsayle with a fresh gale of winde In this fearefull accident wee strooke all our sayles amaine and it did please God to send two or three good swelling Seas which did heaue vs ouer the Rocks into 3. fad and presently into three faddome and a halfe where we chopt to an Anker and sayed the pumps but we found shee made no water although shee had three such terrible blowes that we thought her Mast would haue shiuered to pieces and that she had bin assuredly bulged Wee hoyst the Boate ouer-boord and double man'd her to goe seeke and sound a way out of this perilous place Shee was no sooner gone but there rose a fogge so that we were faine to spend some powder that shee might heare whereabouts we were The winde duld something otherwise it had beene doubtfull whither shee could euer haue recouered to vs againe After shee had beene absent two houres she brought
forementioned piece of Ice brake with a terrible noyse into foure pieces which made me doubtfull it had not spoyled the Ship it being full halfe mast high I made what haste I could to the boate and so to the Ship to be satisfied where I found all well God be thanked for that the Ice had broken from the Ship-ward I instantly sent away the boate to sound the way to a Coue that I had found which was a very dangerous passage for the boate At her returne we vn-moord the Ship and with what speede possible warpt away from amongst this terrible Ice We were not a mile from them but they brake all to pieces and would surely haue made vs beare them company but that God was more mercifull vnto vs. We got about the Rocks and so into this little Coue which I had so newly discouered Here we made fast to the Rockes and thought our selues in indifferent safety which being done I went ashoare againe to wander vp and downe to see what I could discouer I found it all broken Rockie grounds and not so much as a tree herbe or grasse vpon it Some Ponds of water there were in it which were not yet thawed and therefore not ready for the fowle We found not in the snow any footing of Deere or Beares but Foxes we saw one or two We found where the Saluages had beene but it was long since They had made fiue hearths and we found a few firebrands about them and some heads of Foxes and bones of Foxes with some Whale-bones I could not conceiue to what purpose they should come thither for we could finde none or very little wood on the shoares side and no fish at all though we did dayly indeauour to take some But it may be the season was not yet come I named this Coue by the Masters name of my Ship Prices Coue. The Latitude of it is 61. 24. the Variation The firebrands and chips which I spake of had beene cut with some hatchet or other good instrument of iron from the top of the hills we could see the Ilands that are on the South shore and commonly called Sir Thomas Buttons Iles They did beare South and by East halfe a point Easterly some 14. or 15 leagues distant vpon the change day it flowes here seuen a clocke and a halfe and the tyde highest at most three fad The flood comes from the Eastwards and thither it returnes I haue beene obseruant from the top of the hills whence I might descry the great pieces of Ice 2. or 3. leagues from the shoare driue to and againe with the flood and ebbe indifferently Hence I collected that assuredly there is no currant sets in here but that it is a meere tyde Neere the shoare the eddies whitle into twenty manners when the ebbe is made which is because it comes out of the broken ground amongst the Ice that is aground neere the shoare Besides which reason there be diuers Rockes lying vnder water on which you shall haue now 30. then 12. and anon but 8. and then 20. fad And these vncertainties occasion such distractions I would therefore aduise none to come too neere those dangerous shoares for feare hee lose his ship and so by consequence all The last night we tooke better rest then we had done in tenne nights before And this morning being the 24. there sprung vp a faire gale of wind at East and after prayer we vnfastened our Ship and came to saile steering betwixt great pieces of Ice that were a-ground in 40. fad and twice as high as our top-mast head Wee went forth of this Coue vpon the flood and had none of those whirlings of the waters as we had at our going into it We indeauoured to gaine the North shoare kept our selues within a league of the shoare of the Iland of Resolution where we had some cleere water to saile thorow In the Offing it was all thicke throngd together as might be possible By 12. a clocke we were fast inclosed and notwithstanding it blew very hard at East yet we could make no way through it but the hard corners of the Ice did grate vs with that violence as I verily thought it would haue grated the plankes from the Ships sides Thus we continued in torment till the day driuing to and againe in the Ice not being able to see an acre of sea from top-mast head This 26. was calme Sun-shine weather and we tooke the Latitude Variation The Latitude is the Variation we sounded and had ground at 140. fad small white sand I caused the men to lay out some fishing lines but to no purpose for I could not perceiue that baite had beene so much as touched The nights are very cold so that our rigging freezes and the fresh ponds of water stand vpon the Ice aboue halfe an inch thicke The 27. there sprung vp a little gale at South-East and the Ice did something open Hereupon we let fall our foresayle and forced the Ship thorow the throng of Ice In the Euening the winde came contrary at W. N. W. and blew hard which caused vs to fasten to a great piece to which we remained moord till the 29. I am resolued that here is no currant and that by many experiments which I haue made Namely by taking markes on the land and noting our drift to and againe with the ebbe and flood for many dayes together as well in calme weather as otherwayes By all these experiments I found exactly that the tide was no stronger there then that betwixt England and France This morning there sprung vp a fine gale at E. and the Ice did open something so that we did force the Ship thorow it with her fore-saile By 12. a clocke we were gotten into some open water with a fine gale of wind at East and so cleere weather that we could see the Iland of Resolution The North end did beare of vs E. N. E. some 12. leagues off From this 29. till the 5. of Iuly wee sayled continually thorow the Ice with variable winds and fogges and sometimes calme The 5. at noone we had a good obseruation and were in Latitude 63. 15. and then wee saw Salisbury Iland bearing W. by N. some 7. leagues off with much Ice betwixt it and vs to weather which we were driuen to stand to the Northward Soone after we saw Prince Charles his Cape and Mill Iland and to the North-north-west and in deed round about vs the Sea most infinitely pestered with Ice This did grieue mee very much for whereas I had determined to prosecute the discouery to the North-westward I saw it was not possible this yeere Wee were moreouer driuen back againe with contrary windes still closed and pestered with Ice and with all the perils and dangers incident to such aduentures so that we thought a thousand times that the Ship had bin beaten to pieces By the fifteenth day of Iuly we were got betwixt
Digges Iland and Nottinghams Iland not being able to get more Northward There for an houre or two we had some open water But before I proceed further it were not amisse in some manner to describe the Straight which begins at the Iland of Resolution and ends here at Digges Iland If you goe downe into the Bay the Straight is about 120. leagues long and trends W. N. W. and E. S. E. generally In the entrance it is about 15. leagues broad and then on the Southward side is a great Bay About the middest it is likewise about 15. leagues broad and then the Land opens something wider so that betwixt Digges Iland and Cape Charles it is about 20. leagues broad Betwixt which two stands Salisbury Iland and Nottingham Iland If it be cleere weather you may see both the South and the North shoares ordinarily the depth in the middle of the Straight is 120. faddomes white sand A certaine tyde runnes in it and no Current The North shoare is the straightest and the cleerest from Ice too Alongst the North shoare you haue many low small Ilands which cannot be seene farre off from the land and in many places the land makes as if it had small sounds into it The Maine land on both sides is indifferent high land And so much for discourse may suffice referring you to the Plot for the particulars Being now resolued of the impossibilitie to doe any thing to the North-westward for the reasons aforesaid I gaue order to the Master of my Ship to Steere away W. S. W. to haue a sight of Mansfeilds Iland which the next day by three a clocke in the after-noone we had hauing had so much dangerous foule weather amongst the Ice that we strooke more fearefull blowes against it then we had euer yet done This was the first day that wee went to halfe allowance of bread Flesh dayes and I ordered things as sparingly as I could Two of our men complaine likewise of sickenesse but soone afterward recouered In the euening wee came to an Anker and I sent the Boate ashoare to try the tydes They brought mee word that whilest the Boat was ashoare it flowed about some three foote and as wee found by the Ship and by the Ice the water at that time came from the W. S. W. and that the highest tydes so farre as they could perceiue it had not highed aboue two faddome They found that the Saluages had beene vpon it by certaine fires which they found and heapes of stones Tracks of other beasts but Foxes they could not finde The winde was so contrary and the weather so foggie that wee were faine to spend some powder to recouer our Boate againe Next morning being the 17. the winde came something fauourable and wee wayed The shoare being something cleere of Ice though very thicke all to the Offing wee stood alongst it S. and S. by W. some 10. leagues In the after-noone the winde came contrary and we came againe to an Anker within a mile of the shoare for to Sea-boord was all thicke Ice and vnpassable I went ashoare my selfe to be resolued of the tyde and found whilest I was a shoare that it did flow two foote and at that time the flood came from the S. W. by W. I doubted it was an halfe tyde which afterwards I found to be true I found where the Saluages had beene vpon the Iland but could see little or no drift wood on the shoare no beasts on the Iland nor fishes in the Sea It flowes on the change day about a eleuen a clocke We saw some fowle on it of which we killed one and returned aboord This Iland is very low land little higher then a dry sand-banke It hath Ponds vpon it of fresh water but no grasse and is vtterly barren of all goodnesse The 18. in the morning the winde came something fauourable and we weyed and came to Sayle for the Ice was all comne about vs. We endeauoured to proceed to the Westward intending to fall with the Westerne land about the Latitude 63. 00. By twelue a clocke hauing beene much pestered we were comne to a firme range of Ice but it pleased God that the winde larged and wee stowed away S. S. W. At noone in Lat. 62. 00. by 4. in the euening hauing scaped dangerous blowes wee were come as wee thought into an open Sea and ioyfully steered away West and W. by N. although that Ioy was soone quayled By ten at night we heard the rut of the Ice and it grew a thicke fogge and very darke with it neuerthelesse we proceeded and the neerer we came to it the more hideous noyse it made By three in the morning the 19. we were come to it and as it did cleere a little we could see the Ice which were as thicke rands of Ice as any we had yet seene These being vnpassable and moreouer the winde at N. W. we stowed alongst it hoping to weather it to the Southward but at last we became so blinded with fogge and so incompassed with Ice that we could goe no further The 20. in the morning notwithstanding the fogge we endeauoured to get to the Westward our Ship beating and knocking all this while most fearefully In this wilfulnesse we continued till the 21 when being fast amongst the Ice I obserued we were in Lat. 60. 33. and then looking what damage our Ship might haue receiued we could perceiue that below the plate of Iron which was before her Cut-water shee was all bruised and broken the two knees she had before to strengthen her spoyled and torne and many other defects which we could not by any meanes come to mend Notwithstanding all this and the extraordinary thicke fogge that we could not see a Pistoll shot about vs we proceeded with the hazzard of all Till the 27 which was the frist time we had cleere weather to looke about vs The winde withall came vp at South and the Ice did open something so that we made some way thorow it to the Westward In the euening we were fast againe and could goe no further the winde veering from the South to the East and blowing a fresh gale This occasioned our griefes the more that with a good winde wee could not goe forward putting therefore a Hawser vpon a piece of great Ice to keepe the Ship close to it we patiently expected for better fortune Since we came from Mansfields Iland our depth was commonly 110. and 100. fad oozye ground Now the water begins to showlde for this present 27. driuing fast to and againe in the Ice we haue but 80. fad ground as before The 28. and 29. we were so fast inclosed in the Ice that notwithstanding we put abroad all the sayle that was at yards and that it blew a very hard gale of winde the Ship stirred no more then if shee had beene in a dry Docke Hereupon we went all boldly out vpon the Ice to sport
thirtie leagues the variation at this Cape taken by Amplitude is about sixteene degrees A most shoald and perilous coast in which there is not one Harbour to be found The third day in the afternoone we had a tearing storme at North which continued till midnight in extreme violence The fourth in the morning the storme being broke vp we stood in againe South-West The weather was very thicke and we sounded continually but by noone it cleered and we saw the land Here it did trend South by East and the tydes did set alongst it with a quicke motion In the euening there came a great rowling Sea out of the North North-east and by eight a clocke it blew very hard at South-east and by reason of the incounter of the winde and this great Sea the Sea was all in a breach and to make vp a perfect tempest it did so lighten snow raine and blow all the night long that I was neuer in the like We shipt many Seas but one most dangerous which rackt vs fore and aft that I verily thought it had sunke the Ship It strooke her with such a violence The Ship did labour most terribly in this distraction of winde and waues and we had much adoe to keepe all things fast in the hold and betwixt decks The fift in the morning the winde shifted South-West but changed not his condition but continued in his old anger and fury In the afternoone it shifted againe to the North-west and there showed his vttermost malice and in that tearing violence that nor I nor any that were then with mee euer saw the Sea in such a breach Our Ship was so tormented and did so labour with taking it in on both sides and at both ends that we were in a most miserable distresse in this so vnknowne a place At eight a clocke in the euening the storme brake vp and we had some quietnesse in the night following not one hauing slept one winke in 30. houres before If this storme had continued Easterly as it was at first without Gods goodnesse we had all perished The sixt the winde was at South-west so that wee could do no good to the Westward We spent the time therefore in trimming of our Ship we brought all our coales which for the most part was great Coale aft as we also did some other things and all to lighten her afore Others did picke our bread whereof there was much wet for doe what we could we shipt abundance of water betwixt decks which ranne into the hold and into our bread-roome for the Sea indeed so continually ouer-rackt vs that we were like Ionas in the Whales belly We ouer-looked our Tacks and Shoots with other Riggings of stresse because that henceforward we were to looke for no other but Winter weather This euening our Boate-swayne a painefull man and one that had laboured extremely these two or three dayes was very sicke swouning away three or foure times insomuch that wee thought verily he would presently haue dyed The seuenth in the morning the winde came vp at South-east and we stood away South-west vnder all the sayle we could make In this course we saw an Iland and came close aboord it and had twentie fadd water which was some comfort to vs for hitherto we could not come within foure or fiue leagues of the shoare at that depth This Iland stands in 54. 10. The afternoone we stood away South-west and in the euening had the shoalding of the Westerne shoare in 10. 8. and 7. fadd but it was so thicke that we could not see the land It is about 14. leagues betwixt this Iland and the Maine The eight was thicke foggie and calme which so continued till the ninth about sixe in the morning The winde then comming vp at South South-west though very foggy we stood to the Eastward keeping our lead going continually In the euening the water shoalded to 10. and 9. fadd wherefore we stood off and on all night The tenth we made it finding it an Iland of about 8. or 9. leagues long It stands in latitude 53. 5. and about 15. leagues from the Westerne shoare The part of it that we coasted trends West North-west I named it my Lord Westons Iland We stood still away to the Eastward it being broken foggie weather In the afternoone we discryed land to the Eastward of vs which made like three hils or hummockes Towards them we sayle keeping our lead still going and very circumspect At length wee also saw land to the Southward of vs whereupon we loofe vp and now make for that by course as we had set it in the thicke darke fogge We came in amongst such low broken grounds breaches and rockes that we knew not which way to turne vs but God be thanked it was but little winde and so we came to an Anker Soone after it cleered at which time we could see nothing but sands rocks and breaches round about vs that way onely excepted which we came in I sent presently the Boate to sound amongst the shoalds and rocks that if wee should be put to extremitie we might haue some knowledge which way to goe This night prooued calme and faire weather and we rid quietly The eleuenth in the morning I went in the Boate ashoare my selfe and whilst I was a land I sent the Boate about amongst the broken grounds to sound I found this Iland vtterly barren of all goodnesse yea of that which I thought easily to haue found which was Scuruy-grasse Sorrell or some herbe or other to haue refreshed our sicke people I could not perceiue that the tyde did flow here ordinarily aboue two foot There was much drift wood on the shore and some of it droue vp very high on the North side of the Iland whereby I iudged that the stormes were very great at North in the Winter Thus I returned aboord and sent many of our sicke men to another part of the Iland to see if they themselues could fortunately finde any reliefe for their griefes At noone by good obseruation we were in latitude 52. 45. In the euening our men returned comfortlesse and then we weyed and stood to the Westward comming to an Anker vnder another Iland in 20. faddomes The twelfth in the morning it began to blow hard at South-east which was partly of the shoare and the Ship began to driue it being soft oozie ground We heaued in our Anker thereupon and came to sayle vnder two courses Whilest the most were busie in heauing out of Top-sayles some that should haue had speciall care of the Ship ranne her ashoare vpon the rocks out of meere carelesnesse in looking out and about or heaving of the leade after they had seene the land all night long and mought euen then haue seene it if they had not been blinded with selfe conceit and beene enuiously opposite in opinions The first blow stroke me out of a dead sleepe and I running out of
vs word that it was all Rocks and breaches round about vs and that withall shee had found a way where there was not lesse then two fad and a halfe and that afterwards the water did deepen We did presently way and follow the Boate and past ouer two ledges of Rocks on which there was scarce 14. foot water Then it did deepen to 3. 4. and so to 14. fad then it shoulded againe to 9. It being now night we came to an Anker where we ride indifferent well all the night In the morning the winde came contrary so that wee could not goe that way we intended to cleere our selues and therefore we went to worke to fit our holds to splise our Cables and made ready two shot and so placed them in the Hold that they might vpon all occasions runne cleere the ends of them being fastned to the maine Mast. We likewise lookt to our Ankers and fitted our spare ones We got out our long Boate from betwixt the decks which was very much broken and bruised The Carpenter went to worke to fit her for I intended to tow the Shallop at Sterne and so to haue the Boats ready at an instant either to lay out Ankers or to be seruiceable to what God should be pleased to try our faith and patience withall for in him was our only trust and our hope vpon his fauour in our honest endeauours At noone in Lat. 57. 45. wee could see the land from the N. W. to the S. E. by E. with Rocks and breaches and the Rocks that we came ouer dry aboue water whereby I knew it flowes here two faddomes at least At noone I sent the Boate off to sownd to the Eastward because the water shoulded when we came to an Anker Shee brought vs word the shouldest water she had beene in was 7. fad We intending thereupon to way the winde came Easterly so that we could not budge but lay here the 14. all night with a stiffe gale of winde The 15. in the euening our Cable galded off by reason of which perilous and sudden accident in which wee had not time to put a Buoy to it we lost our Anker and were driuen into 4. fad water before we could set our sayles This when we had done we stowed South South-East the winde being at East but the water shoulded to 3. fad Then wee stowed North north-east and it did deepen by degrees to ten fadd and because it grew darke we came to an Anker and rid a good stresse all night In the morning the 16. the winde came vp at North a fresh gale and we wayed and came to sayle By nine a clocke it grew to be a very storme and we turned to and againe in 10. fad water In the euening the winde duld and wee stood South-west to haue a sight of Port Nelson which course we stood all night by the Starres being in Lat. 57. 25. the variation about 17. degrees The 17. in the morning we stood South and our depth decreased by degrees to 8. faddomes At noone we had good obseruation being in Latitude 57. 15. and wee make account that we are some 6. or 7. leagues of the Southerne side of Port Nelson Here the colour of the water changed and was of a puddlelish and sandy red colour We stood into 6. fad and could not see the land from Top-mast-head so night comming on and it beginning to blow hard at East by South we stood off againe into 10. and 12. faddomes where the water was againe of the colour of the Sea The 18. as the winde and weather fauoured vs and the storme was broken vp we stood in againe South and came againe into thicke puddlelish water into 8. 7. and 6. fad and then off againe for that it grew thicke foggie weather keeping our lead continually going night and day The 19. being fine cleere Sun-shine weather we stood in againe into the thicke puddleish water into 8. fad where we came to an Anker to try the tydes For that from Top-mast-head we could not now see the land We were at noone by good obseruation in Latitude 57. 20. and the tyde did set N. W. by W. and S. E. by E. It did runne two knols and a halfe in two glasses I resolued that this was nothing but shoalds to the land In the after-noone it began to snuffle and blow so that we had much adoe to get vp our Anker This being done we stood East South East but the water shoalded apace Then we stood East and it deepened a little In the euening the winde came vp at West and then we stood East South-east into 10. and 8. and afterwards South-East as our depth did guide vs by our lead and the colour of the water into 7. and 6. faddomes The 20. at 6. in the morning we saw the land it being a very low flat land Wee stood into 5. faddomes to make it the better and so stood alongst it At noone wee were in lat 57. 00. We named it The new Principality of South Wales and drank a health in the best liquor we had to Prince Charles his Highnesse whom God preserue We stood alongst it and came to a point where it trends to the Southward neere to which point there are two small Ilands In the euening it was calme and we came to an Anker The tyde set as aforesaid There we rid all that night and the next day by reason the winde was contrary There went a chopping short Sea and the Ship did labour at it exceedingly leaping in Spreet-sayle yard Forecastell and all for as yet we had not trimmed her well to ride About nine at night it was very darke and it did blow hard Wee did perceiue by the lead the Ship did driue wherefore bringing the Cable to Capstang to heaue in our Cable for we did thinke we had lost our Anker the Anker hitcht againe and vpon the chopping of a Sea threw the men from the Capstang A small rope in the darke had gotten foule about the Cable and about the Masters legge too but with helpe of God hee did cleere himselfe though not without sore bruising The two Mates were hurt the one in the head the other in the arme One of our lustiest men was strooken on the brest with a bar that he lay sprawling for life another had his head betwixt the Cable and hardly escaped The rest were flung where they were sore bruised But our Gunner an honest and a diligent man had his legge taken betwixt the Cable and the Capstang which wrung off his foote and tare all the flesh off his legge and crushed the bone to pieces and sorely withall bruised all his whole body in which miserable manner hee remained crying till we had recouered our selues our memory and strengths to cleere him Whilest we were putting him and the rest downe to the Chirurgion the Ship droue into shoalde water which put vs all in feare we
being so sorely weakened by this blow which had hurt eight of our men It pleased God that the Anker held againe and shee rid it out all night By midnight the Chirurgion had taken off the Gunners legge at the gartering place and drest the others that were hurt and bruised after which we comforted each other as well as we could The 22. wee weyed and stood a little off into deeper water expecting a better winde Which in the afternoone fauoured vs. Wee stood in againe for the shoare and alongst it wee proceeded It is very shoald about foure leagues off and full of breaches The 23. at noone we were in latitude 56. 28. In the euening the winde came contrary and we were faine to turne to and againe All this moneth the winde hath beene very variable and continued not long vpon one point yet it happened so that we can get but little forward The 26. there sprung vp a fine gale at West but very thicke weather neuerthelesse wee stood into 7. and 6. fad the water very thicke and puddlelish At noone it cleered and we could see that we were imbayed in a little Bay the land being almost round about vs. We stood out of it and so alongst it in sight till the 27. in the morning when we came to higher land then any we had yet seene since we came from Nottingham Iland We stood into it and came to an Anker in 5. faddome I sent off the Boate well man'd and arm'd with order in writing what they were to doe and a charge to returne againe before Sunne-set The euening came and no newes of our Boate we shot and made false fires but had no answer which did much perplex vs doubting that there had some distaster befalne her through carelesnesse and in her we should lose all Wee aboord at present were not able to wey our Anker nor sayle the Ship At last we saw a fire vpon the shoare which made vs the more doubtfull because they did not answer our shot nor false fires with the like Wee thought withall that it had beene the Saluages who did now triumph in their conquest At length they came all safe and well and excused themselues in that vpon their comming ashoare it did ebbe so suddenly that a banke of sand was so presently dry without them as they could not come away till that was couered againe and with that they pacified mee They reported that there was great store of drift wood on the shoare and a good quantitie growing on the land That they saw the tracks of Deere and Beares good store of Fowle of which they had killed some but no signe of people That they past ouer two little riuers and came to a third which they could not passe That it did flow very neere three faddomes sometimes as appeared by the shoare That it was low water at foure a clocke that the flood came from the North-west and that it flowed halfe tyde which both they and we had perceiued by the Ship At low water we had but three faddome where we did ride The winde began to blow hard at East whereupon we weyed and stood to the Northward till midnight Then in againe and in the morning wee saw the land and then it began to blow hard and as we stood off it increased to a very storme so that at length wee could not maintaine a payre of courses but tryed vnder our Maine course all day and all night sometime turning her head to the Landward sometime to the Offing The 29. in the morning we made account we had drouen backe againe some 16. or 18. leagues and in the morning as it cleered wee saw a Ship to Leeward of vs some three or foure leagues so wee made sayle and bore vp with her Shee was then at an Anker in 13. fadd It was his Maiesties Ship and Captaine Foxe commanded in her I saluted him according to the manner of the Sea and receiued the like of him So I stood in to see the land and thought to tacke about and keepe weather of him and to send my Boat aboord of him but the winde shifted so that for that time I could not In the euening I came to weather of him and sent my Boat aboord of him who presently weighed and stood off with mee till midnight and then we stood in againe In the morning Captaine Foxe and his friends came aboord of mee where I entertained them in the best manner I could and with such fresh meat as I had gotten from the shoare I told him how I had named the land The South Principality of Wales I shewed him how farre I had beene to the Eastward where I had landed and in briefe I made knowne to him all the dangers of this Coast as farre as I had beene He told mee how himselfe had beene in Port Nelson and had made but a Cursory discouery hitherto and that he had not beene aland nor had not many times seene the land In the euening after I had giuen his men some necessaries with Tobacco and other things which they wanted hee departed aboord his Ship and the next morning stood away South South-west since which time I neuer saw him The winde something fauouring mee I stood in for the shoare and so proceeded alongst it in sight This moneth of August ended with Snow and Haile the weather being as cold as at any time I haue felt in England We coasted alongst the shoare in 10. faddomes and when it cleered in sight of land At length the water shoalded to 6. and 5. fadd and as it cleered we saw it all breaches to Leeward so we hull'd off North North-east but still raised land By night we had much adoe to get safely out of this dangerous Bay At midnight the winde came vp at South and so we tooke in our sayles and let the Ship driue to the Northward into deeper water This day was the first time the Chirurgion told mee that there were diuers of the men tainted with sicknesse At noone we were in latitude 55. 12. The second we stood in againe for the shoare but as we came in to shoald water it began to blow the weather being winterly and foule threatning a storme wherein we were not deceiued for that in standing off wee had a violent one By midnight it broke vp and the third in the morning wee stood in againe and by a 11. wee saw it Here wee found the land to trend South South-east and South so that we knew we were at a Cape Land and named it Cape Henrietta Maria by her Maiesties name Who had before named our Ship At noone we were in latitude 55. 05. and that is the height of the Cape From Port Nelson to this Cape the land trends generally East South-east but makes with points and Bayes which in the particulars doth alter it a point two or three The distance is about one hundred and
came vp at S. and so we came to an Anker vnder another Iland on which I went ashoare and named it The Earle of Bristols Iland The Carpenter wrought hard in repairing our boate whilest I wandered vp and downe on this desart Iland I could not perceiue that euer there had beene any Saluages on it and in breefe we could finde neither Fish Fowle nor Hearbe vpon it so that I returned comfortlesse aboord againe The tydes doe high about some 6. Foot now that the wind is Northerly The flood comes from the North and it doth flow halfe tyde The full sea this day was at one a clocke Here seeing the windes continue so Northerly that we could not get about to goe into Hudsons Baye we considered againe what was best to doe to looke out for a wintering place Some aduised me to goe for Port Nelson because we were certaine that there was a Coue where we might bring in our Ship I likte not that counsell for that it is a most perilous place and that it might be so long ere we could get thither that we might be debard by the Ice Moreouer seeing it was so cold here as that euery night our rigging did freeze and that sometimes in the Morning we did shouell away the snow halfe a foote thicke off our deckes and in that Latitude too I thought it farre worse in the other place I resolued thereupon to stand againe to the Southward there to looke for some little Creeke or Coue for our Ship The 21. the winde came vp at N. and we wayde although it was a very thicke fogge and stood away S. W. to cleere our selues of the shoalds that were on the point of this Iland This Iland is in Lat. 53. 10. When we were cleere we steerd away S. At noone the fogge turned into raine but very thicke weather and it did thunder all the afternoone which made vs doubt a storme for all which wee aduentured to proceed In the euening the winde increased and blew hard wherefore we tooke in all our sayles and let her driue to the Southward heauing the lead euery glasse Our depth when we tooke in our sayles was 30. fadd and it did increase to 45 which was a great comfort to vs in the darke At midnight our depth began suddenly to decrease and as fast as the lead could be heaued it shoalded to 20. fadd wherefore we chopt to an Anker and trimmed our Ship aft to mount on the Sea and fitted all things to ride it out There was no need to bid our men watch not one of them put his eyes together all the night long We rid it out well all the night although the Sea went very loftie and that it did blow very hard The 22. in the morning when we could looke about vs we saw an Iland vnder our Lee some league off all being shoalds and breaches betwixt vs and it At noone with the helpe of the windward tyde we attempted to haue vp our Anker although the Sea still went very loftie Ioyning all our strengths therefore with our best skils God be thanked we had it vp but before we could set our sayles wee were driuen into nine fadd Indeauouring thereupon to double a point to get vnder the Lee of this Iland the water shoalded to 7. 6. and 5. fadd but when we were about it did deepen againe and we come to an Anker in a very good place And it was very good for vs that we did for the winde increased to a very storme Here wee rid well all the night tooke good rest and recouered our spent strengths againe The last night and this morning it did snow and hayle and was very cold neuerthelesse I tooke the Boate and went ashoare to looke for some Creeke or Coue to haue in our Ship for shee was very leaky and the company becomne sickly and weake with much pumping and extreme labour This Iland when wee came to the shoare it was nothing but ledges of rocks and bankes of sand and there went a very great surfe on them Neuerthelesse I made them rowe thorow it and ashoare I got with two more and made them rowe off without the breaches and there to come to an Anker and to stay for mee I made what speed I could to the top of a hill to discouer about but could not see what we looked for Thus because it began to blow hard I made haste towards the Boate againe I found that it had ebbed so low that the Boate could not by any meanes come neere the shoare for mee so that we were faine to wade thorow the surfe and breaches to her in which some tooke such a cold that they did complaine of it to their dying day But now it began to blow hard so that we could not get but little to windward toward our Ship for the wind was shifted since we went ashoare return to the shoare we could not by reason of the surfe Well we row for life they in the Ship let out a Buoy by a long warpe by Gods assistancè we got to it and so haled vp to the Ship where we were well welcom'd we all reioyc'd together This was a premonition to vs to be carefull how we sent off the Boate for that it was winter weather already I named this Iland Sir Thomas Roes Iland It is full of small wood but in other benefits not very rich and stands in latitude 52. 10. At noone we weyed seeing an Iland that bare South South-east of vs some foure leagues off which was the highest land we had yet seene in this Bay but as we came neere it it suddenly shoalded to 6. 5. and 4. fadd Wherefore we strooke our sayles amaine and chopt to an Anker but it was very foule ground and when the Ship was winded vp we had but three fadd at her Sterne As it cleered we could see the breaches all alongst vnder our Lee holding it safe therefore to stay long here we settled euery thing in order for the Ship to fall the right way We had vp our Anker got into deeper water and stood ouer againe for Sir Thomas Roes Iland which by night we brought in the winde of vs some two leagues off which did well shelter vs. The tydes runne very quicke here amongst these shoalds and their times of running ebbe or flood be very vncertaine Their currants are likewise so distracted that in the night there is no sayling by the Compasse wherefore we were faine to seeke euery night some new place of securitie to come to an Anker The 24. in the morning it did lower and threaten a storme which made vs with the windward tyde wey to get neerer vnder the Iland It was very thicke foggie weather and as we stood to the North-eastward we came to very vncertaine depths at one cast 20. fadd the next 7. then 10. 5. 8. and 3. and comming to the other tacke we were worse then we were
before the Currants making a foole of our best iudgements in the thicke fogge when we could see no land-marks It pleased God that we got cleere of them and endeauoured to get vnder the Lee of the Iland This being not able to doe wee were faine to come to an Anker in 35. fadd some two leagues off the shoare All this afternoone and indeed all night too it did snow and hayle and was very cold The 25. wee weyed and thought to get to the Eastward but as wee tackt to and againe the winde shifted so in our teeths that it put vs within a quarter of a mile of the very shoare where we chopt to an Anker and rid it out for life and death Such miseries as these we indured amongst these shoalds and broken grounds or rather more desperate then I haue related very vnpleasant perchance to be read with snow haile and stormy weather and colder then euer I felt it in England in my life Our shoote-Anker was downe twice or thrice a day which extreme paines made a great part of the company sickly All this lasted with vs vntill the 30. of this moneth of September which we thought would haue put an end to our miseries for now we were driuen amongst rocks shoalds ouer-falles and breaches round about vs that which way to turne we knew not but there ride amongst them in extremitie of distresse All these perils made a most hideous and terrible noyse in the night season and I hope it will not be accounted ridiculous if I relate with what meditations I was affected now and then amongst my ordinary prayers which I here affoord the Reader as I there conceiued them in these few ragged and teared Rimes OH my poore soule why doest thou grieue to see So many Deaths muster to murther mee Looke to thy selfe regard not mee for I Must doe for what I came performe or die So thou mayst free thy selfe from being in A dung-hill dungeon A meere sinke of sinne And happily be free'd if thou beleeue Truly in God through Christ and euer liue Be therefore glad yet ere thou goe from hence For our ioynt sinnes let 's doe some penitence Vnfainedly together When we part I le wish the Angels Ioy with all my heart We haue with confidence relyde vpon A rustie wyre toucht with a little Stone Incompast round with paper and alasse To house it harmelesse nothing but a glasse And thought to shun a thousand dangers by The blind direction of this senselesse flye When the fierce winds shatter'd blacke nights asunder Whose pitchie clouds spitting forth fire and thunder Hath shooke the earth and made the Ocean roare And runne to hide it in the broken shoare Now thou must Steere by faith a better guide 'T will bring thee safe to heauen against the tyde Of Satans malice Now let quiet gales Of sauing grace inspire thy zealous sayles The first of October was indifferent faire weather and with a windward tyde out went our Boate to sound a channell to help vs out of this perilous place The Boat within two houres shee returned and told vs how shee had beene away where there was not lesse then 12. fadd We presently thereupon weyed but found it otherwise and came amongst many strange races and ouer-falles vpon which there went a very great and breaking Sea As we proceeded the water shoalded to 6. fadd Well! there was no remedy we must goe forward happy be luckie seeing there neither was any riding and as little hope to turne any way with a sayle but that there appeared present death in it It pleased God so to direct vs that we got thorow it hauing no less then fiue seuerall and all very vncertaine depths The water sometimes deepened to 20. fadd then vpon a sudden it shoalded to 7. 6. and 5. faddomes so we strooke all our sayles amaine and chopt to an Anker where wee rid till midnight for life and death it blowing a mercilesse gale of winde and the Sea going very loftie and all in a breach The ground was foule ground too insomuch that wee doubted our Cable euery minute The second in the morning was little winde wherefore taking the opportunitie of the tyde the Boate went forth to sound which returning againe in two houres told vs how they had sounded about that shoald and had found a place of some safetie to ride in and had beene in no lesse water then fiue faddome We weyed and found our Cable galled in two places which had soone failed vs if the foule weather had continued We stood the same way that the Boat did direct vs but it prooued so calme that wee came to an Anker in 18. faddome I tooke the Boate and went ashoare on an Iland that was to the Southward of vs which I named The Earle of Danbyes Iland From the highest place in it I could see it all broken grounds and shoalds to the Southward and rather worse then any thing better then that which we had beene in I found that the Saluages had beene vpon it and that it was full of wood I made haste to the Boate to sound the Baye for feare of shoalds and sunken Rockes but found it indifferent good Toward the Euening it began to blow hard wherefore we made towards the Ship She put forth a Buoy and a warpe and we rowing for life to recouer her were put to Lee-ward of her but by getting hold of the warpe we halde vp to her The boate we left halfe full of water our selues being as wet as drown'd rats and it made vs the more reioyce that we had escapt this great danger All night we had a very hard rode-steede it blowing a most violent gale of wind with snow and haile The third about noone the wind duld and we had vp our Anker standing in further into the Baye into foure fad and a halfe water Here we came againe to an Anker with our second Anker for many of our men are now sicke and the rest so weakened that we can hardly way our shoote-Anchor I tooke the Boate and went presently ashoare to see what comfort I could find This was the first time that I put foote on this Iland which was the same that we did after winter vpon I found the tracks of Deere and saw some Fowle but that that did reioyce me most was that I did see an opening into the Land as if it had beene a riuer To it we make with all speede but found it to be barr'd and not 2. foote water at full sea on the Barre and yet within a most excellent fine Harbour hauing 4. fad water In the Euening I return'd aboord bringing little comfort for our sicke men more then hopes The 4. it did snow and blow very hard yet I got ashoare and appointed the boate to goe to another place which made like a Riuer and to sound it In the meane time I went with foure more some 4. or 5. miles vp
into the Countrey but could find no releefe all that way for our sicke but a few Berries onely After we had well wearied our selues in the troublesome woods wee return'd to the place I had appointed the boate to tarry for me where at my comming I still found her she hauing not beene where I had ordered her for it had blowne such a fierce gale of wind that she could not row to wind-ward Thus we return'd aboord with no good newes It continued foule weather with snow and haile and extreme cold till the 6. when with a fauouring winde we stood in neerer to the shoare and here moord the ship The 7. it snow'd all day so that we were faine to cleare it of the Decks with shouels and it blew a very storme withall It continued snowing and very cold weather and it did so freeze that all the bowes of the Ship with her beake-head was all Ice about the Cable also was Ice as bigge as a mans middle The bowes of the boate were likewise frozen halfe a foote thicke so that we were faine to hew and beate it off The Sunne did shine very cleere and we tore the top-sayles out of the tops which were hard frozen in them into a lumpe so that there they hung a Sunning all day in a very lumpe the Sunne not hauing power to thawe one drop of them After the Boate was fitted we rowed towards the shoare but could not come neere the place where we were vsed to land for that it was all thickned water with the snow that had fallen vpon the sands that are dry at low water This made it so difficult to row that we could not set through it with 4. oares yet something higher to the West-ward we got ashoare Seeing now the winter to come thus extremely on vpon vs and that we had very little wood aboord I made them fill the boate and went aboord and sent the Carpenter and others to cut wood others to carry it to the water side whilest the boate brought it aboord for I doubted that we were likely to be debar'd the shoare and that we should not goe to and againe with the boate It was miserable and cold already aboord the Ship euery thing did freeze in the Hold and by the fire side Seeing therefore that we could no longer make vse of our sayles which be the wings of a Ship it raised a many of doubts in our mindes that here we must stay and winter After we had brought so much wood aboord as we could conueniently stowe and enough as I thought would haue lasted 2. or 3. moneths The sicke men desired that some little house or houell might be built a shoare whereby they might be the better sheltered and recouer their healths I tooke the Carpenter and others whom I thought fit for such a purpose and choosing out a place they went immediately to worke vpon it In the meane space I my selfe accompanied with some others wandered vp and downe in the Woods to see if we could discouer any signes of Salvages that so we might the better prouide for our safeties against them We found no appearance that there was any on this Iland nor neere vnto it The snow by this time was halfe legge high and stalking through it we returned comfortlesse to our Companions who had all this time wrought well vpon our house They aboord the Ship tooke downe our top-sayles in the meane while and made a great fire vpon the hearth in the hatch way so that hauing well thaw'd them they folded them vp and put them betwixt deckes that if we had any weather they might bring them againe to yard Thus in the Euening we returned aboord The 12. we tooke our maine sayle from the yard which was hard frozen to it and carryed it ashoare to couer our house withall being first faine to thawe it by a great fire By night they had couered it and had almost hedged it about and the sixe builders did desire to lye in it ashoare that night which I condiscended vnto hauing first fitted them with Muskets and other furniture and a charge to keepe good watch all night Moreouer they had a shoare 2. Grey-hounds a dogge and a bitch which I had brought out of England to kill vs some Deere if happily we could finde any By the 13. at night our house was ready and our sixe builders desired they might trauell vp into the Country to see what they could discouer The 14. betimes in the morning being fitted with munition and their order to keepe together but especially to seeke out some Creeke or Cove for our Ship they departed We aboord tooke downe our two top-masts and their rigging making account if we did remooue to make vse of our fore-sayle and mizzen The 15. in the Euening our hunters returned very weary and brought with them a small leaue Deere in 4. quarters which reioyced vs all hoping we should haue had more of them to refresh our sicke men withall They reported that they had wandered aboue 20. miles and had brought this Deere aboue 12. mile and that they had seene 9. or 10. more The last night they had a very cold lodging in the woods and so it appeard for they lookt all almost starued nor could they recouer themselues in 3. or 4. dayes after They saw no signe of Salvages nor of any rauening wild beasts nor yet any hope of harbour The 17. my Lieutenant and 5. more desired they might try their fortunes in trauelling about the Iland But they had farre worse lucke then the others although they endured out all night and had wandered very farre in the snow which was now very deepe and returned comfortlesse and miserably disabled with the coldnesse But what was worse then all this they had lost one of their company Iohn Barton namely our Gunners mate who being very weary meerly to saue the going about had attempted to goe ouer a pond that was a quarter of a mile over where when he was in the very middest the Ice brake and closed vpon him and we neuer saw him more Considering these disasters I resolued to fish no more with a golden hooke for feare I weakned my selfe more with one hunting then 20. such deare Deeres could doe me good Being now assured that there was no Salvages vpon the Iland nor yet about vs on the other Ilands no nor on the maine neither as farre as we could discouer which we further proued by making of fires and that the cold season was now in that extremity that they could not come to vs if there were any we comforted and refreshed our selues by sleeping the more securely We changed our Iland garrison euery weeke and for other refreshing we were like to haue none till the Spring From this 10. to the 29. it did by interims snow and blow so hard that the boate could hardly aduenture ashoare and but seldome land vnlesse the men did wade in
not be gotten vp to staue them Then to quoile all our Cables vpon our lower tyre and to lay on our spare Ankers and any thing that was weighty to keepe it downe from rising By seuen a Clocke it blew a storme at North-West our bitter enemy The Ship was already bedded some two foote in the sand and whilst that was a flowing shee must beate This I before had in my consideration for I thought she was so farre driuen vp that we should neuer get her off Yet we had bin so ferrited by her last beating that I resolued to sinke her right downe rather then runne that hazzard By nine a cloke she began to rowle in her docke with a most extraordinary great Sea that was come which I found to be occasioned by the formentioned ouerfall And this was the fatall houre that put vs to our wits end Wherefore I went downe in hold with the Carpenter and tooke his auger and board a hole in the Ship and let in the water Thus with all speed we began to cut out other places to boare thorow but euery place was full of nailes By tenne notwithstanding the lower tyre was couered with water for all which she began so to beate in her docke more and more that we could not worke nor stand to doe any thing in her Nor would she sinke so fast as we would haue her but continued beating double blowes first abaft and then before that it was wonderfull how she could indure a quarter of an houre with it By twelue a clocke her lower Tyre rose and that did so counter-beate on the inside that it beat the bulke heads of the Bread-roome powder-roome and fore piece all to pieces and when it came betwixt deckes the chests fled wildly about and the water did flash and flie wonderfully so that now we expected euery minute when the Ship would open and breake to pieces At one a clocke shee beat off her Rudder and that was gone we knew not which way Thus shee continued beating till three a clocke and then the Sea came vp on the vpper decke and soone after shee began to settle In her wee were faine to sinke the most part of our bedding and clothes and the Chirurgions Chest with the rest Our men that were ashoare stood looking vpon vs almost dead with cold and sorrowes to see our misery and their owne We lookt vpon them againe and both vpon each other with woefull hearts Darke night drew on and I bade the Boate to be haled vp and commanded my louing companions to goe all into her who in some refusing complements expressed their faithfull affections to mee as loth to part from me I told them that my meaning was to goe ashoare with them And thus lastly I forsooke the Ship We were seuenteene poore soules now in the Boate and we now imagined that we were leapt out of the Frying pan into the fire The ebbe was made and the water extraordinary thicke congealed with snow so that we thought assuredly it would carry vs away into the Sea We thereupon doublemand foure oares appointing foure more to sit ready with oares and so with the helpe of God we got to the shoare haling vp the Boate after vs. One thing was most strange in this thicke water namely That there went a great swelling Sea Being arriued vpon the land we greeted our fellowes the best we could at which time they could not know vs nor we them by our habits nor voyces so frozen all ouer wee were faces haire and apparell And here I meane to take breath awhile after all this long and vnpleasant Relation of our miserable endeauours Crauing leaue first of all to speake a word or two in generall The winds since we came hither haue beene very variable and vnconstant and till within this fortnight the Southerly winde was the coldest The reason I conceiue to be for that it did blow from the Maine land which was all couered with snow and for that the North winds came out of the great Bay which hitherto was open Adde to that we were now vnder a South Banke which did shelter vs so that we were not so sensible of it A North-west a North-west by North and a North-North-west winde if it blew a storme would raise the Tydes extraordinarily and in briefe from the West Northwest to the North North-east would raise the tydes in proportion as they did blow from the middle point The wind being on the opposite points if it blew it would flow very little at all The harder it blew the lesse water it would flow If it were little winde or calme it would flow indifferently The tydes doe high ordinarily without being forced about three foot but being forced with the forementioned winds vpward of ten foot I could perceiue no difference betwixt Neape and spring tydes It flowes halfe tyde that is the flood comes from the Northward and thither returnes againe two houres before it be high water and it is commonly so seene in most Bayes or Inlets The VVintering AFter we had haled vp the Boate we went alongst the breach side in the darke towards our house where we made a good fire and with it and bread and water wee thawde and comforted our selues beginning after that to reason one with another concerning our Ship I requir'd that euery one should speak his mind freely The Carpenter especially was of the opinion that she was founderd and would neuer be seruiceable againe He alledged that she had so beaten that it was not possible but that all her Ioints were loose and seames open and that by reason it flowed so little water and no Creeke nor Coue being neere wherein to bring her aground he could not deuise how he might come to mend it Moreouer her Rudder was lost and he had no Iron-worke to hang on another Some alledged that we had heaued her vp so high vpon the sands that they thought we should neuer haue her off againe and that they were assured she was already dockt three foote Others that she lay in the Tydes way and that the Ice might teare her to pieces off the ground besides which two of our Ankers we could not now get from vnder the Ice which when the Ice brake which would be of a great thickenesse by the Spring would breake our Ankers to pieces and then we should haue no Ankers to bring vs home withall supposed we got off the ship that she proued sound also I comforted them the best I could with such like words My Masters and faithfull Companions be not dismaide for any of these disasters but let vs put our whole trust in God It is he that giueth and he that taketh away he throwes downe with one hand and raiseth vp with another His will be done If it be our fortunes to end our dayes here we are as neere heauen as in England and we are much bound to God Almighty for giuing vs so large a time of repentance
when it was something darke I tooke a Lance in my hand and one with me with a Musket and some fire and went to our watch-tree to make a fire on the eminentest place of the Iland to see if it would be answered Such fires I had formerly made to haue knowledge if there were any Saluages on the maine or the Ilands about vs. Had there beene any my purpose was to haue gone to them to get some intelligence of some Christians or some Ocean Sea thereabouts When I was come to the tree I laid downe my Lance and so did my Consort his Musket and whilest my selfe climed vp to the top of the tree I ordered him to put fire vnto some low tree therabouts He vnaduisedly put fire to some trees that were to wind-ward so that they and all the rest too by reason it had beene very hot weather being seare and dry tooke fire like flaxe or hempe and the wind blowing the fire towards me I made haste downe the tree But before I was halfe way down the fire tooke in the bottome of it and blazed so fiercely vpwards that I was faine to leape off the tree and downe a steepe hill and in briefe with much adoe escapt burning The mosse on the ground was as dry as flaxe and it would runne most strangely and like a traine along the earth The Musket and the Lance were both burnt My Consort at last came to me and was ioyfull to see me for he thought verily I had bin burned And thus we went homeward together leauing the fire increasing and still burning most furiously We could see no answer of it I slept but little all night after and at breake of day I made all our Powder and Beefe to be carried aboord This day I went to the hils to looke to the fire where I saw how it did still burne most furiously both to the Westward and Northward leauing one vpon the hils to watch it I came home immediately and made them take downe our new suite of sayles and carry them to the seas-side ready to be cast in if occasion were and to make haste to take downe our houses About noone the winde shifted Northerly and our Sentinell came running home bringing vs word that the fire did follow him at hard heeles like a traine of powder It was no neede to bid vs take downe and carry all away to the sea-side The fire came towards vs with a most terrible rattling noyse bearing a full mile in breadth and by that time wee had vncouered our houses and laid hand on to carry away our last things the fire was come to our Towne and seazed on it and in a trice burnt it downe to the ground We lost nothing of any value in it for we had brought it all away into a place of security Our dogges in this combustion would sit downe on their tayles and howle and then runne into the Sea on the shoalds and there stay The winde shifted Easterly and the fire ranged to the Westward seeking what it might deuoure This night we lay all together aboord the Ship and gaue God thankes that had Shipt vs in her againe The twentie seuen twentie eight and twentie nine wee wrought hard in fetching our things aboord as likewise our water which we must towe off with the ebbe and bring it to the Ship with the flood Moreouer we must goe about the Easter-point for drift-wood for our tooles were all so spent that we could cut none Wherefore about some three dayes agone I had caused our Pinnace to be sawed to pieces and with that we stowed our Caske intending to burne it at low waters and such other times as we could not worke in carrying things aboord I employed the men in fetching stones and we did build three Tombs ouer our three dead fellowes filling them vp with sand in a decent and handsome fashion The least Tombe had two tunnes of stones about it The thirtieth we most earnestly continued our labour and brought our sayles to yard and by eleuen a clocke at night had made a priddy Ship meaning to haue finished our businesse with the weeke and the moneth that so we might the better solemnize the Sabbath ashoare to morrow and so take leaue of our wintering Iland The winde hath been variable a great while and the Bayes are now so cleere of Ice that we cannot see a piece of it for it was all gone to the Northward Hoping therefore that it giue content to some Readers I will relate the manner of the breaking of it vp It is first to be noted that it doth not freeze naturally aboue sixe foot the rest is by accident Such is that Ice that you may see here sixe faddome thicke This we had manifest proofe of by our digging the Ice out of the Ship and by digging to our Ankers before the Ice broke vp In May when the heate increaseth it thawes first on the shoald by the shoare side which when it hath done round about then the courses of the tydes as well by the ebbe and flood as by their rising and falling doe so shake the maine Ice that it cracks and breakes it Thus when it hath gotten roome for motion then runnes one piece of it vpon another and so bruises and grinds it selfe against the shoalds and rocks that it becomes abbreuiated insomuch that a Ship may haue well passage thorow it Besides this much of it is thrust vpon the shoalds where it is much consumed by the heate of the Sunne The season here in this Climate is most vnnaturall for in the day time it will be extreme hot yea not indurable in the Sunne which is by reason that it is a sandy countrey In the night againe it will freeze an inch thicke in the ponds and in the tubs about and in our house And all this towards the latter end of Iune The Muskitoes vpon our comming away were most intolerable Wee tore an old Auncient in pieces and made vs bagges of it to put our heads in but it was no fortification against them They would finde wayes and meanes to sting vs that our faces were swolne hard out in pumples which would so itch and smart that we must needs rubbe and teare them And these flyes indeed were more tormenting to vs then all the cold we had heretofore indured Iuly 1632. The first of this month being Sunday we were vp betimes And I caused our Ship to be adorned the best we could our Ancient on the Poope and the Kings Colours in the maine top I had prouided a short briefe of all the passages of our voyage to this day I likewise wrote in what state we were at present and how I did intend to prosecute the discouery both to the Westward and to the Southward about this Iland This Briefe discourse I had concluded with a request to any Noble minded Trauaylor that should take it downe or come to the notice of it that if we
should perish in the Action then to make our indeuours knowne to our Soueraigne Lord the King And thus with our Armes Drumme and Colours Cooke and Kettle we went ashoare and first we marcht vp to our eminent Crosse adioyning to which we had buried our dead fellowes There we read morning prayer and then walked vp and downe till dinner time After dinner we walkt to the highest Hils to see which way the fire had wasted We descryed that it had consumed to the Westward sixteene miles at least and the whole bredth of the Iland neere about our Crosse and dead it could not come by reason it was a bare sandy Hill After Euening prayer I happened to walke alongst the Beach side where I found an herbe resembling Scuruy-grasse I made some to be gathered which we boyld with our meate to supper It was most excellent good and farre better them our Vetches After supper we went all to seeke and gather more of it which we did to the quantity of two bushels which did afterwards much refresh vs And now the Sunne was set and the Boat comne ashoare for vs whereupon we assembled our selues together and went vp to take the last view of our dead and to looke vnto their Tombes and other things here leaning vpon mine arme on one of their Tombes I vttered these lines which though perchance they may procure laughter in the wiser sort which I shall be glad of they yet moued my young and tender-hearted companions at that time with some compassion And these they were I Were vnkind vnlesse that I did shead Before I part some teares vpon our dead And when my eyes be dry I will not cease In heart to pray their bones may rest in peace Their better parts good soules I know were giuen With an intent they should returne to heauen Their liues they spent to the last drop of bloud Seeking Gods glory and their Countries good And as a valiant Souldier rather dyes Then yeelds his courage to his Enemies And stops their way with his hew'd flesh when death Hath quite depriu'd him of his strength and breath So haue they spent themselues and here they lye A famous marke of our Discouery We that suruiue perchance may end our dayes In some imployment meriting no praise And in a dung-hill rot when no man names The memory of vs but to our shames They haue out-liu'd this feare and their braue ends Will euer be an honour to their friends Why drop ye so mine eyes Nay rather powre My sad departure in a solemne showre The Winters cold that lately froze our bloud Now were it so extreme might doe this good As make these teares bright pearles which I would lay Tomb'd safely with you till Doomes fatall day That in this Solitary place where none Will euer come to breathe a sigh or grone Some remnant might be extant of the true And faithfull loue I euer tenderd you Oh rest in peace deare friends and let it be No pride to say the sometime part of me What paine and anguish doth afflict the head The heart and stomake when the limbes are dead So grieu'd I kisse your graues and vow to dye A Foster-father to your memory Farewell So fastning my briefe to the Crosse which was securely wrapt vp in Lead we presently tooke Boat and departed and neuer put foote more on that Iland This Iland and all the rest as likewise the maine is a light white sand couered ouer with a white mosse and full of shrubs and low bushes excepting some bare hils and other patches In these bare places the sand will driue with the wind like dust It is very full of trees as Spruse and Iuniper but the biggest tree I saw was but a foote and a halfe ouer At our first comming hither we saw some Deare and kild one but neuer any since Foxes all the winter we saw many and kild some dozen of them but they went all away in May. Beares we saw but few but kild none we saw some other little beasts In May there came some fowle as Duckes and Geese of which we kild very few White Partridges we saw but in small quantities nor had we any shot to shoot at them Fish we could neuer see any in the Sea nor no bones of fish on the shoare side excepting a few Cockle-shels and yet nothing in them neither Other things remarkeable I haue before mentioned OVR DISCOVERY and comming Home Iuly 1632. MVnday being the second of Iuly we were vp betimes about Stowing and fitting our Ship and waying of our Ankers which when the last was a trippe wee went to prayer beseeching God to continue his mercies to vs and rendering him thanks for hauing thus restored vs. Our Ship we found no defect in we had abundance of such prouisions as we brought out of England and we were in indifferent health and did gather strength daily This being done we wayed and came cheerefully to sayle The winde at North-west bad to get away Wherefore we stood ouer to Danby Iland to take in more wood and there to be ready to take the opportunitie of a faire winde I went ashoare my selfe with the Boate for that some of the company had told me they had seen some stakes the last yeer drouen into the ground When we came ashoare whilest some gatherd wood I went to the place where I found two stakes drouen into the ground about a foote and a halfe and firebrands where a fire had beene made by them I puld vp the stakes which were about the bignesse of my arme and they had beene cut sharpe at the ends with a hatchet or some other good Iron toole and driuen in as it were with the head of it They were distant about a stones-throw from the water side I could not conceiue to what purpose they should be there set vnlesse it were for some marke for boats This did augment my desire to speake with the Saluages for without doubt they could haue giuen notice of some Christians with whom they had some commerce About 4. in the Euening I returned aboord with a boats lading of wood and the winde something fauouring we wayde with our lead seeking out a Channell amongst these perilous shoalds In the Euening the winde opposing it selfe we came to Anker betwixt Charleton Iland and that Iland we named the last yeere in memory of that Honourable Gentleman Master Thomas Carie one of the Bed-chamber to the King Caries Iland where we rid all night The 3. at breake of day we wayde with a bare winde and sounding vp and downe for a Channell we were many times in 5. and 4 fad water The winde larging vpon vs we stood away West by noone we saw all Ice to the North-ward of vs. Indeauouring therefore to compasse about the Westerpoint of Charleton Iland and so to seeke to the South-ward We found it all shoalds Rockes and breaches By 4. in the afternoone we saw the western-Western-land but all full
OF THE Letter I left at CHARLETON fastened to the Crosse the first of Iuly 1632. BE it knowne to any that shall haply arriue here on this Iland of Charleton That whereas our Soueraigne Lord Charles the first King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith c. hauing a desire to be certified whether there were any passage or not by the North-west or Northwestward thorow these Territories into the South Sea Some of the better-minded Merchants of the Worshipfull Company of Merchant-aduenturers of the Citie of Bristoll to satisfie his Maiestie therein did voluntarily offer to set forth a conuenient Ship for that purpose well man'd victualed and furnished with all other necessaries This free offer of theirs was not only commended but graciously accepted of his Maiestie Whereupon they fitted and furnished foorth a Ship called the Henrietta Maria of the burthen of seuentie Tuns victualed for eighteene moneths A number thought conuenient to mannage such a businesse was twentie two whereof nineteene were choiceable men two yonkers and my vnworthy selfe their Commander All which the Bristow Merchants did most iudiciously and bountifully accommodate and had in a readinesse the first of May 1631. The third of May we began our Voyage out of the Rode of Bristoll commonly called Kings Rode Passing about the Cape Cleere of Ireland vpon many courses but reduced to a West North-west we sayled along and vpon the 4. of Iune wee made the land of Groynland to the Northward of Cape Farewell where for the space of two dayes we were dangerously ingagde amongst the Ice Being cleere of it we doubled Cape Farewell to the Southward and so continued our course to the Westward continually sayling and thrusting the Ship thorow much Ice The 19. of Iune we made the Iland of Resolutiō endeuouring to cōpasse about it to the Southward we were taken with a strong Westerly wind which droue the Ice and it vs vpon the shoare In that distresse seeing it was broken grounds and maine inlets into it I sent the Shallop to seek sound a place for our refuge but when she was departed she was in as great danger as we and could not returne to vs by reason of the Ice We being now driuen very neere the rocks were faine to set our Sayles and force the Ship into an opening aduenturing her amongst vnknowne dangers to auoyd apparent before we could moore her in a place as we thought safe from danger The 22. of Iune this Inlet being full of Ice that Ice vpon the ebbe so Iambde one piece into another that it altred the ordinary course of it it came vpon the Ship and put her against the rocks notwithstanding our vtmost resistance As the water ebd away the Ship hung by the Keele vpon a rocke and heeld to the Offing As soone as we perceiued this we made fast some Hawsers to her Masts and to the rocks to hold her vpright But all in vaine shee sunke still as the water ebb'd away so that she was so turned ouer that we could not stand in her Hereupon we got all vpon a piece of Ice looking vpon her praying God to be mercifull to vs. The rocke that she hung vpon was a little abaft the maine Mast which made her hang after the head and shee sunke ouer so much that the Portlasse of the Forecastell was in the water At length it pleased God the flood came before it had ebd so low as the tyde before and after by a foote and the Ship rose and was safe and sound And thus were we miraculously deliuered With the first winde we proceeded to the Westward continually being pestred with so much Ice that it was about the middle of Iuly before we could attaine to Sir Dudly Digges Iland And here I was put to my consideration for whereas by my directions I was to search especially two places one from Digges Iland to the Northward and fayling there to goe to the Checks and Hubberts Hope and so to search it to the Southward I now finding the Sea much pestred with Ice in the latitude of 64. 00. and as farre as we could see to the Northward and that the time was so farre spent as that before I could do any thing that way it would be Aug. then as much trouble to returne againe to Digges Iland and that by that time the yeere would be so farre spent the nights so long and cold that I feard I should be forced with shame to returne into England againe that yeere Wherefore I tooke my way to the Westward by Mansfields Iland on which I landed twice still hindred and incumbred with Ice Thence I proceeded to the Westward hoping for an open Sea in the Bay We were there more troubled with Ice then in any place before so that it was the eleuenth day of August before we had sight of the Western land which we made in latitude 59. 30. something to the Southward of the Checkes Wee were not able to attaine thither by reason of the contrary winds and Ice but were obseruant of the currant of the tydes which after by experience we found to come from the Northward We coasted alongst the shoare in sight of land and in 10. faddome water to the Southward and entred that Inlett which heretofore was called Hubberts Hope which was the very place where the passage should be as it was thought by the vnderstandingest and learnedest intelligencer of this businesse in England We sayld to the very bottome of it into three faddom water and found it to be a Bay of some 18. or 19. leagues deepe From thence we proceeded to the Southward in sight of land for the most part and although I was as carefull to keepe the lead alwaies going it blowing a fresh gale of winde and a pretty bigge Sea our depth 8. 9. 10. faddome yet before the lead was vp the Ship strook vpon a flat rocke she then being vnder foresayle fore top-sayle maine top-sayle and Spreetsayle and gaue three fore knocks and got ouer it Being past this danger we proceeded and past by Port Nelson Finding the land trend to the Eastward wee began our discouery of it more carefully because that no man that euer I could heare or reade of did euer see this land before Wee stood into sixe and fiue faddome for it is very low land and trends for the most part East South-east and East by South The seuen and twentieth of August I entred vpon it and in the name of the Merchants Aduenturers of Bristoll tooke possession of it to his Maiesties vse naming it The New South-west Principalitie of Wales I brought from the land some small trees and herbs and killed diuers sorts of fowle in signe of seysure which I brought aboord Not long after being put backe to the Westward with contrary winds we spake with Captaine Fox in a Ship of his Maiesties set forth for the same purpose that we were I inuited him aboord
and entertained him with such fare as we had taken in this new discouered land and made him relation of all our endeauours The like did he to vs and withall told vs that he had beene in Port Nelson where he had put vp a Shallop and found there many things which Sir Thomas Button had left there The next day he departed from vs and stood to the Westward and we neuer saw him since His Ship He and all his Company were very well We continued our discouery to the Eastward and came to the Easter point which is in latitude 55. 06. which we named it Cape Henrietta Maria. There the land trends to the Southward and we followed it in sight but were put off with foule weather which being ouer-blowne we stood in againe for the Wester-shoare that we might leaue no part vnseene and followed it againe to latitude 54. 40. The second time wee also put off with like foule weather which made vs stand to the Eastward In this way we past by some Ilands and happened amongst broken grounds and rocks in latitude 53. 30. where wee came to an Anker and sheltred our selues some few dayes shifting Rodes Now the Winter began to come on and the nights to be long and cold that amongst these dangerous places wee were faine to spend the day to looke for securitie for the night Here by misfortune our Ship came aground and that amongst great stones as bigge as a mans head where shee did beate for the space of fiue houres most fearefully In this time we lightened her and carried some of our things ashoare so that by the great fauour of God we got her off againe whereupon we named this Iland the Iland of Gods fauour After that againe amongst those Rockes we were put to many extremities At length hauing a gentle Southerly winde we stood alongst the Eastershoare to the Northward now looking for a conuenient place to winter in And here againe were we assaulted with a violent storme in which we lost our Shallop and were driuen amongst diuers dangers and seeing an opening betwixt two Ilands we ventered to goe in in very foule weather We found it to be a very good Sound and there we came to an Anker We landed on one of them which we named the Lord Westons Iland and man'd out our old Ship boate vpon it The other Iland we named my Lord of Bristols Iland Parting from hence wee stood to the South-ward to looke for a wintering place because the time of discouery was past for this yeere Many were our troubles amongst these Ilands shoalds and broken grounds which made vs straine our ground tackle for life many a time The 6. of October we arriued in this Bay it seeming a very likely place to finde a Harbour in but searching the likeliest places we found it all so shoald flats and Rocks and stony by the shoare side that we could by no meanes bring our Ship neere the shoare but were forced to ride a league off in 3. faddome and a halfe water The winter came on apace the weather proued tempestuous and the cold so multiplied that our sailes froze in lumps to the yards vnmanuable Neither could our onely boate goe from the Ship by reason of the weather About the middle of October I caused a house to be made ashoare where our sicke men might the better recouer but alwayes with an intent to take it downe if we found other-where a place for our Ship I sent likewise men afoote seeing the boate could not goe to discouer the Iland and to see if they could find some Creeke or Coue but all in vaine we spent the time with hope of fairer weather till now the Cables began to freeze in the house and the Ship to be frozen ouer with the sprewe of the Sea so that we were faine to shouell the snow off our decks Moreouer the water began so to congeale by the shoare side that the boate could hardly get ashoare Yet for all that if the wind blew N. W. there went a very great surfe on the shoare and such a great Sea in the Bay that there was no bringing of our Ship aground Besides this she would haue then laine open to the E. and S. E. and S. and indeed the neerest land all about that way was 2. leagues off Hereupon we continued out the extremity at an Anker The 29. of Nouember the Ice came about vs on all sides and put vs from our ground tackle and would haue driuen vs out of the Bay vpon Rockes and shoalds where vndoubtedly we had perished but that by Gods great goodnesse it proued so warme a day the winde at S. that suddenly we brought vp some sayle and hoyst it vp with ropes and so forst her ashoare where shee beat all that night very sorely The Ship being now grounded and quiet wee considered what was best to doe with her and resolued to sinke her but the next tyde before we had any of our prouisions ashoare the winde came N. W. so that the Ship beat most fearefully We got all our dry prouisions vp to the vpper decke and made a hole to sinke her but before she was sunke she beat so extraordinarily that we all thought she had beene foundered Being sunke downe so low that the water came on the vpper decke we tooke our boate and went all ashoare in such pittifull cold weather that we were all so white frozen that some sicke men that were ashoare before did not know vs one from another The next day we fell to land our prouisions first our Bread Fish and dry things the men driuen to wade in the water vp to the middles most lamentable to behold Within 2. dayes what with great flat pieces that stucke about vs and that which froze it was becomne firme Ice betwixt the Ship and the shoare so that then we were faine to carry all things on our backs a mile from the Ship to the house Within few dayes the hold became so frozen that we could not get all our things out of it but were faine there to leaue it frozen till the next yeere Then we made vs 2. other houses our first house was our Mansion house wherein we did all lye together our other was to dresse our victuall and the third for a store-house which we built a pretty distance off for feare of fire And now we considered of the estate we were in we all doubted that the Ship was foundered especially our Carpenter But suppose she were sound yet was it a question whether we could get her off in the Summer when the tydes are low Moreouer she might be spoyled lying in the tydes way when the Ice brake vp and then we should be destitute of any vessell to bring vs home The Carpenter vndertooke to build a Pinnace of the burthen of 12. or 14. tunnes that should be ready by the Spring that if we found the Ship vnseruiceable we might teare her vp and planke