for a more fresh example our people of Meta Incognita of whome and for whome thys discourse is taken in hande that were broughte this last yeare into Englande were all generallie of the same coloure that many Nations be lying in the middest of the middle Zone And this their couloure was not only in the face whiche was subiecte to Sunne and Ayre but also in their bodies which were still couered with garments as oures are yea the very sucking childe of twelue Moneths age hadde his skinne of the very same couloure that most haue vnder the Equinoctiall which thing can not procéede by reason of the clime for that they are at least tenne degrées more towards the North than we in Englande are no the Sunne neuer commeth néere their Zenith by .40 Degrées for in effect they are within thrée or four degrées of that which they call the frosen Zone and as I said fortie degrées from the burning Zone whereby it foloweth that there is some other cause than the Clymate or the Sunnes perpendicular reflection that shoulde cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse And the most probable cause to my iudgemente is that this blacknesse procéedeth of some naturall infection of the first inhabitāts of that Countrey and so all the whole progenie of them descended are still poluted with the same blot of infection Therefore it shall not be farre from our purpose to examine the first originall of these blacke men and how by lineall discente they haue hitherto continued thus blacke It manifestly and plainely appeareth by holy Scripture that after the generall Inundation and ouerflowing of the Earth there remayned no moe mē aliue but Noe his thrée sonnes Sem Cham and Iaphet who only were lefte to possesse inhabit the whole face of the earth therefore all the land that vntill this daye hath bin inhabited by sundry discents must néedes come of the ofspring eyther of Sem Cham or Iaphet as the onely sonnes of Noe who all thrée being white and their wiues also by course of nature should haue begotten and brought forth white children But the enuie of our great and continuall enimie the wicked Spirit is such that as he could not suffer our old Father Adam to liue in the felicitie Angelike state wherein he was first created but tempting him sought procured his ruine fal So againe finding at this floud none but a father and thrée sonnes liuing he so caused one of them to transgresse disobey his fathers commandement that after him all his posteritie shoulde be accursed The fact of disobedience was this When Noe at the commandement of God had made entred the Arke the fludgates of Heauen were opened so that the whole face of the earth euery trée Mountaine was couered with abundāce of water he straitely commanded his sonnes their wiues that they should with reuerence feare behold the iustice and mighty power of God that during the time of the floud while they remained in the Arke they should vse cōtinēcie absteine frō carnall copulation with their wiues many other preceptes he gaue vnto thē admonitions touching the iustice of God in reuenging sinne his mercie in deliuering thē who nothing deserued it Which good instructions exhortatiōs notwithstāding his wicked sonne C ham disobeyed and being persuaded that the first child borne after the floud by right law of nature should inherit possesse all the dominion of the earth he contrarie to his fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke vsed cōpany with his wife craftily went about thereby to disinherit the ofspring of his other two bréethren for the which wicked and detestable fact as an example for contempte of Almightie God and disobedience of parents God would a sonne shuld be borne whose name was Chus who not only it selfe but all his posteritie after him should be so blacke lothsome that it might remaine a spectacle of disobedience to all the World. And of this blacke cursed Chus came al these blacke Moores which are in Africa for after the water was vanished frō off the face of the earth and that the land was drie Sem chose that part of the land to inhabit in which now is called Asia and Iaphet had that which nowe is called Europa wherin we dwel and Africa remained for Cham his blacke sonne Chus was called Chamesis after the fathers name being perhaps a cursed dry sandy vnfruteful groūd fit for such a generatiō to inhabit in Thus you sée that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse infection of bloud not the distemperature of the clymate which also may be proued by this example that these black men are found in all partes of Africa as well withoute the Tropicks as within euen vnto Capo d'buona Speranza Southward where by reason of the Sphere should be the same temperature as is in Spayne Laddigna and Sicilia where all be of very good complexions Wherefore I conclude that the blacknesse procéedeth not of the hotenesse of the Clime but as I sayd of the infection of bloud and therfore this their argumente gathered of the Africans blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone We may therefore very well be assertayned that vnder the Equinoctiall is the most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in where although the Sunne for two houres in a yeare be directe ouer their heads and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force yet bycause it commeth so seldome and continueth so small a time when it commeth it is not to be wayed but rather the moderate heate of other times is all the yeare to be remembred And if the heate at any time should in the shorte daye ware somewhat vrgent the coldnesse of the long night there would easilie refreshe it according as Honterus sayth speaking of the temperature vnder the Equinoctiall Quodque die solis violento incanduit aestu Humida nox reficit paribusque refrigerat horis If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing the moysture of the nighte dothe coole and refresh the same againe the Sunne being as long absente in the night as it was present in the day Also our Author of the Sphere Iohannes d' Sacro bosco in the Chapter of the Zodiacke deriueth the Etimologie of Zodiacus of the Gréeke word Zoe whiche in Latin signifyeth Vita life for out of Aristotle he alledgeth that Secundum accessum recessum solis in Zodiaco fiunt generationes corruptiones in rebus inferioribus according to the Sunnes going to and fro in the Zodiake the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation and corruption Then it foloweth that where there is most going too and fro there is most generation and corruption whiche must néedes be betwéene the two Tropikes for there the Sunne goeth too and
S r Martin Frobisher Knight The noble flames that glowd in his stout brest Could ne're be quencht nor by that â—â—â— opprest Of Northerne Seas His praise let him not â—rant Whose worth deserves a print of Adamant That he may still guide ships whose fame let grow So long as sea shall haue an Ebbe and flow A. H. A TRVE DISCOVRSE of the late voyages of discouerie for the finding of a passage to Cathaya by the Northvveast vnder the conduct of Martin Frobisher Generall Deuided into three Bookes In the first wherof is shewed his first voyage Wherein also by the vvay is sette out a Geographicall description of the Worlde and what partes thereof haue bin discouered by the Nauigations of the Englishmen Also there are annexed certayne reasons to proue all partes of the Worlde habitable with a generall Mappe adioyned In the second is set out his second voyage vvith the aduentures and accidents thereof In the thirde is declared the strange fortunes which hapned in the third voyage with a seuerall description of the Countrey and the people there inhabiting VVith a particular Card therevnto adioyned of Meta Incognita so farre forth as the secretes of the voyage may permit AT LONDON Imprinted by Henry Bynnyman seruant to the right Honourable Sir CHRISTOPHER HATTON Vizchamberlaine Anno Domini 1578. What commodities and instructions may be â—eaped by diligent reading this Discourse 1 FIrst by example may be gathered how a Discouerer of new Countries is to procéede in his first attempt of any Discouerie 2 Item how he shoulde be prouided of shipping victuals munition and choice of men 3 Howe to procéede and deale with straunge people be theâ— neuer so barbarous cruell and fierce eyther by lenitie or otherwise 4 Howe trade of Marchandize maye be made withoute money 5 How a Pilot may deale being enuironed wyth mountaines of Ise in the frosen Sea. 6 How lengths of dayes chaunge of seasons Sommers and Winters do differ in sundry regions 7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries either for the length of the voyage or the ignoraunce of the language the want of Interpretors newe and vnaccustomed Elementes and ayres straunge and vnsauery meats daunger of théeues and robbers fiercenesse of wilde beasts and fishes hugenesse of wooddes daungerousnesse of Seas dreade of tempestes feare of hidden rockes stéepenesse of mountaines darkenesse of sodaine falling fogges continuall paines taking withoute anye reste and infinite others 8 How pleasaunt and profitable it is to attempt newe Discoueries either for the sundry sights shapes of straÌ„ge beastes and fishes the wonderful workes of nature the different manners and fashions of diuâ—rse nations the sundyâ— sortes of gouernemente the sight of straunge trées fruite foules and beastes the infinite treasure of Pearle Gold and Siluer the newes of new found landes the sundrie positions of the Sphere and many others 9 How valiaunt Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie and otherwise 10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue 11 Also here may be seene a good exaÌ„ple to be obserued of any priuate person in taking notes and making obseruations of al such things as are requisite for a Discouerer of new Countries 12 Lastly the Reader here maye sée a good paterne of a well gouerned seruice sundrye instructions of matters of Cosmographie Geographie and Nauigation as in reading more at large may be séene ¶ TO THE RIGHT HOnorable my singular good Mayster Sir Christopher HattoÌ„ Knight Capitaine of the Queenes Maiesties Garde Vizchamberlaine to hir Highnesse and one of hir Maiesties moste honourable priuie Counsayle RIGHT honorable when I first entended the voyage of Discouerie wyth Mr. Frobisher for the finding of the passage to Cataya beyng a matter in oure age aboue all other notable I applyed my selfe wholy to the scieÌ„ce of Cosmographie secâ—ets of Nauigation to the ende I mighte enable my sâ—lfâ— the better for the seruice of my Countrie not onely to vnderstande what I read and hearde others speake but also to execute in effect and practise with my owne hands the dutie and office appertayning to a Marriner and so thereby be better able to make a true reporte of all occurrents in the same voyage And for that now the common reporte therof is so vaine and vncertaine bycause some men rather contendyng what they are able to say than considering what in truth they should and ought to say whereby by sundrie mens fantasies sundry vntruths are spred abroad to the gret slaunder of this so honest and honorable an action I haue thought good to lay open to your honourable iudgement the plain truth and ful discourse of the whole seruice which I haue taken vpon me though altogither vnable to write and to dedicate vnto your Honor especiâ—lly for these speciall causes following Firste the world doth witnesse and I my selfe by good proofe haue tasted fouÌ„d being a maÌ„ by your Honorable goodnesse and good couÌ„tenance specially supported and euen as it were the handy worke of youre owne hands how honorable a regard you beare to Vertue howe readye to countenaunce the meanest man that truely serueth his Countrie howe willing to giue vnto suche both grace and opinion with hir Maiestie howe ready to procure rewarde there for those that shall iustlye merite the same And therewithall considering the sounde iudgement you haue to discern as wel in this as in al other causes of waight And knowing wel what place you hold with hir highnesse who for the faithfull seruice you dayly doe hir as well in Courte as common Weale whyche nowe by the true tuchstone of time and long experience shee hath founde and therefore confirmeth a faste and sure opinion in you wyth the chiefest I haue specially thoughte it necessarye besides my dutie whiche aboue all the worlde my alleageaunce reserued I owe you moste for these respects to make relation of this seruice vnto your Honoure aboue others And for that this action both for the worthinesse of the attempt for the good and quiet gouernment for the greate and maruellous daungers for the straunge and vnknowne accidents of the vnknowne corners of the worlde aboue all others may appeare moste notable and famous I haue bene the rather desirous to take some paine therein and what I haue aship-boorde rudely and vnorderly framed or obserued to commend to youre Honourable construction the same being willing rather to hazarde mine own shame by shewing my selfe an insufficient writer whiche perchaunce maye sâ—eme somewhat besides my profession than that so honest and worthy attemptes of our owne nation wiâ—h the example of so well a gouerned seruice should ly hidden from your Honours sight And for that I wil be iniurious to no man whiche in this action hath borne place and well discharged the same and that those men with the maner of their dayly proceedings there by name maye be knowne vnto you I haue in their place remembred them in order as becommeth and haue not onely named each principall but euerye priuate
yet for diuersitie of motion may be compted two that is Primum Mobile mouing onelye vppon the poles Articke and Antarticke and all the reste of Orbes and Planets mouing vppon the poales of the Zodiacke are by this difference of motion imagined two wherby ariseth the number of sixe substanciall partes of the world that is the foure Elements and the two varietiâ—s of Orbes So likewise the inferiour world I meane the Superficies of the Earth is also diuided into sixe partes that is Europa Affrica Asia Terra Septentrionalis America Terra Austrialis whose bounders bycause this diuision séemeth somewhat strange I thought good for the more particularitie here briefly to repeate The chiefe bounders of the principall parts of the vvorld EVropa is bounded on the Weast side with oure Weaste Ocean on the South side wyth Mare Mediterâ—aneum on the East with Mare Aegeum Pontus Euxinus and the riuer Tanais folowing the Meridian thereof Northwarde On the North side it was thoughte sometime to be bounded with Ilandes Hebrides Orcades and Hyperboreâ— montes in Sarmatia of Europe But nowe by the nauigation of the Englishemen the boundes are extended vnto that Sea whiche compasseth Norway Laplande and Moscouia Affrica is bounded Westwarde with the Sea Atlanticum Southward with the South Ocean passing by Cape d'buona Speranza Eastwarde with the red Sea and Northwarde by the Sea Mediterraneum Asia is bounded on the South side with the South Ocean on the Easte side with Mare Eoum and the straighte Anian on the North side with the Scithian Sea on the Weaste side with the Meridian of the riuer Tanaâ—â— paâ—te of the Sea Mediterraeneum as Pontus Euxinus Mare Egeum Sinus Issicus and the red Sea. Terra Septentrionalis is diuided from Asia by the Scythian Sea from Europe by the North Sea aboute Iseland called in times past Mare Congelaâ—um the frosen Sea and froÌ„ America is deuided by Frobishers straits It lyeth rounde about the Pole Artike is included by a Paralell passing aboute .70 degrées in North latitude as it is also more at large described in Mercators and Ortelius vniuersall Mappes This parte of the world hath béene most or onely made knowen by the Englishmens industrie For as Mercator mentioneth out of a probable Author there was a Frier of Oxforde a greate Mathmatician who himselfe went verâ—â— farre North aboue .200 yeares agoe and with an Astrolabe described almoste all the lande aboute the Pole fâ—â—ding it diuided into foure partes or Ilandes by foure gâ—eate gutters indrafts or channels running violently aâ—d deliuering themselues into a mostrous receptacle and swallowing sincke with suche a violent force and currant that a Shippe beyng entred neuer so little within one of tâ—ese foure indraftes câ—nnot be holden backe by the force of any great winde but runneth in headlong by that déepe swâ—llâ—wing sincke into the bowels of the earth Hée reportâ—th that thâ— Southweast parte of that lande is a fruitfull and a holesome soyle The Northeast part in respect of England is inhabited with a people called Pygmaei whyche are not at the vttermoste aboue foure foote highe One of these foure greate monstrous gulfes wyâ—h hys violent raging course followeth the Meridiâ—n of the fortunate Ilandes aâ—d receiueth the Ocean with thâ—ée mouths and is frosen oâ—er thrée moneths in the yeare and is .37 leagues in bâ—â—adth the neâ—te Eastwarde beyonde the Ilande Vagâ—ts is 〈…〉 degrees in longitude and receyueth the East Ocean wâ—th â—â—ue months and being narrowe and swifte is neuer frosen The third is at 19â— degrées in longitude â—â—ceiuâ—th the East OceaÌ„ with ninetéen receits The fourth is at â—â—â— degrées in longitude Al these indraftes raging channels runne directly towards a point vnder the Pole where is also said to be a monstrous gret Mountain of woÌ„derful gret height about .35 leagues in coÌ„passe at the foot Guiâ—â—elmus Postellus saith that here vnder and aboute the Pole is beste habitation for man and that they euer haue continuall daye and know not what night or darkenesse meaneth But this séemeth contrary to the principles of the Sphere whyche alloweth well that they shoulde sée the Sunne halfe a yeare togither without any night During the time of his being in the North signes from the one Equinoctium tâ— the other yet that in the other halfe they shold haue continuall night without any day But I thinke Postellus being a good Astronomer doubted nothâ—ng of y reason of the sphere but meaneth that for their great twilighâ—s the high swelling of the erth the high mouÌ„taine vnder the Pole they haue continuall light but hereof you shal heare more â—t large hereafter in this treatise wheÌ„ I speake of the â—epâ—rature of the North Regions This so particular a description of the land countries lying about the Pole argueth that this Oxford Frier tooke great pains therâ—in and â—ndurâ—th greâ—t probabilitie likelihood of the tâ—uth therof bicauâ—â— he obâ—â—â—ued so diligently by measure the bredth of the inâ—rafâ—â— wâ—â—t time and how long they coâ—tâ—nued frosen with how â—anâ—e mouths or receipts euery one of them receiued the Ocean UpoÌ„ the bounds descriptioÌ„ of this part of the erth I haue the loÌ„ger staid bicause I find it discouered only by the English nation And although the greatest part herof was maâ—e knowen .200 odde yeres past yet some bounders thereof were described set out by the trauel of S. Hugh Wiâ—â—oby â—night an Englishman who ventured lost his life in the cause so died an honorable death with him Ric. Chancelor chiefe Pilot in that voyage in An. 1554. who discouered founde out the Norway Lapland c. conioyned not to Groneland or any part of the Northern regions as one firme continent but that by sea a man might trauel to the country of Mâ—scâ—uâ—a a gret way more Estward as far as the gret riuer Obby â—lso oure worthy General Ca. Frobisher in his .3 last voiages wâ—er of we are briefly to entreat in these .3 books hath discouered described a gret part of the Southwest bouÌ„ds therof meneth God willing not only to describe the one halfe therof in going to Cataia by the Northwest but also to put in triaâ—â— whether he may return into EnglaÌ„d by the Northeast so also to discrybe the other paâ—t which to do is one of the waightiest matters of the world a thing that wil cause other Princes to admire the fortunate state the gret valor of the English natioÌ„ But to retourne againe to the bounding of the other parts of the worlde America an Ilande is included on the East side with the Sea Antartique On the Weast side with Mare del Sur or Mare Pâ—cificum On the South side it is bounded wyth the straight of Mâ—gellanus and on the North with Frobishers straights Terra Aâ—straliâ— séemeth to be a great firme land lying vnder and aboute the South pole being in many
procéede For nothing can be don in a momente And this seconde cause mora solis supra Horizontem the time of the Sunnes abiding aboue the Horizon the old Philosophers neuer remeÌ„bred but regarded only the manner of angles that the Sun beames made with the Horizon which if they were equall and right the heate was the greater as in Torrida Zona if they were vnequall oblique the heat was the lesse as towardes both poles which reason is very good substancial for the perpendicular beames reflect and reuerberate in themselues so that the heate is doubled euery beame striking twice by vniting are multiplied and continue strong in forme of a Columne But in our latitude of 50. .60 degrées the Sun beams descend oblique slanting wise so sthiketh but once departeth and therefore oure heate is the lesse for any effect that the angle of the Suns beames make Yet because we haue a longer continuaunce of the Sunnes presence aboue our Horizon than they haue vnder the Equinoctiall by whiche continuaunce the heate is increased for it shineth to vs .xvj. or .xviii. houres sometime when it continueth with them but twelue houres alwayes And againe oure night is very shorte wherein colde vapors vse to abound being but .6 or .8 houres long wheras theirs is alwayes twelue houres long by which two aduaÌ„tages of long dayes and shorte nights thoughe we wante the equalitie of Angle it commeth to passe that in Sommer oure heate here is as greate as theirs is there as hath bin proued by experience and is nothing dissonant from good reason Therefore whosoeuer wil rightly way the force of colde heate in any region muste not onelye consider the Angle that the Sunne beames make but also the continuaunce of the same aboue the Horizon As firste to them vnder the Equinoctiall the Sunne is twice a yeare at noone in their Zenith perpendicular ouer their heades the â—â—â—re during the .ij. houres of those two dayes the heat is very vrgent so perhaps it will be in .4 or .5 dayes more an houre euerye daye vntill the Sunne in his proper motion haue crossed the Equinoctiall so that this extreame heate caused by the perpendicular Angle of the Sunne beames endureth but two houres of two dayes in a yeare But if anye man say the Sunne maye sâ—alde a good while before and after it come to the Meridian so farre forthe as reason leadeth I am content to allowe it and therefore I will measure and proportion the Sunnes heate by comparing the Angles there with the Angles made here in England bicause this teÌ„perature is best knowen vnto vs As for example the .11 daye of Marche when vnder the Equinoctiall it is halfe an houre paste eight of the clocke in the morning the Sunne will be in the East bycause there it ariseth alwayes at six of the clocke and moueth euerye houre 15. degrees aboue the Horizon and so high verye neare wil it be with vs at London the saide .11 of March at noone And therfore looke what force the Sunne hath with vs at noone the .11 of March the same force hath it vnder the Equinoctiall at halfe houre paste eight in the morning or rather lesse force vnder the Equinoctiall For with vs the Sunne hadde béene alreadye six y houres aboue the Horizon and so had purified and clensed all the vapours and thereby hys force encreased at noone but vnder the Equinoctiall the Sunne hauing béen vppe butâ— 2½ houres hadde sufficient to doe to purge consume the colde and moyste vapoures of the long night and as yet had wrought no effect of heate And therefore I may boldely pronounce that there is muche lesse heate at halfe houre past eight vnder the Equinoctiall than is with vs at noone a fortiori Butte in Marche wée are not onelye contented to haue the Sunne shining but we greately desire the same Likewise the .11 of Iune the Sunne in oure Meridian is .62 degrées highe at London and vnder the Equinoctiall it is so high after .10 of the clocke and séeing then it is beneficiall with vs à fortiori it is beneficial to them after .10 of the clocke And thus haue we measured the force of the Suns greatest heate the hottest dayes in the yeare vnder the Equinoctiall that is in March and September from sixe tyll after tenne of the clocke in the morning and from two vntill sunne set And this is concluded by respecting only the first cause of heâ—te which is the consideration of the Angle of the Sunne beames by a certaine similitude that whereas the sunne shineth neuer aboue twelue houres more than eight of them would be coole and pleasaunt eueÌ„ to vs much more to them that are acquainted alwayes with suche warme places So there remayneth lesse than foure houres of anye excessiue heate that only in the two sommer dayes of the yeare that is the eleuenth of March and the fourtéenth of September for vnder the Equinoctiall they haue two sommers in March and September which are our spring and Autumne and likewise two winters in Iune and December which are our Sommer and Winter as may well appeare to him that hath onelye tasted the principles of the Sphere But if the sunne be in eyther Tropicke â—or approching neare therevnto then may we more easilye measure the force of his Meridian altitude that it striketh vpon the Equinoctial As for example the twelfth of Iune the sunne will be in the first degrée of Cancer Then loke what force the heate of the sunne hath vnder the Equinoctiall the same force and greater it hath in all that Paralel where the Pole is eleuated betwéene 47. and 48. degrées And therefore Paris in Fraunce the 12. daye of Iulye sustayneth more heate of the Sunne than Saint Thomas Ilande lying néere the same Meridian doth likewise at noone or the Ilandes Taprobana Moluccae or the firme lande of Peru in America which al lye vnderneath the Equinoctial For vpon the 12. day of Iune aforesayd the sunne beames at noone doe make an Isocheles Triangle whose Vertex is the Center of the Sunne the Basis a lyne extended from Saint Thomas Ilande vnder the Equinoctiall vnto Paris in Fraunce neare the same Meridian therfore the two Angles of the Base muste néedes be equall p. 5. primi Ergo the force of the heate equall if there were no other cause than the reason of the Angle as the olde Philosophers haue appointed But bycause at Paris the Sun riseth two houres before it riseth to them vnder the Equinoctiall setteth likewise two houres after theÌ„ by means of the obliquity of the HorizoÌ„ in which time of the Sunnes presence .4 houres in one place more thaÌ„ the other it worketh some effect more in the one place than in the other being of equall height at noone it muste then néedes follow to be more hote in the Paralell of Paris than it is vnder the Equinoctiall Also this is an other
vse after one yéere or two the ayre woulde séeme to hym more temperate It was compted a greate matter in the olde time that there was a brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Ponthus which after was broughte and shewed in Delphis in token of a miraculous cold region and Winter and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo This effecte being wroughte in the Paralell of .48 degrées in latitude it was presentlye compted a place verye hardly and vneasily to be inhabited for the greate cold And howe then can suche men define vppon other Regions very farre without that Paralell where they were inhabited or not séeing that in so neare a place they so grossely mistooke the matter and others their followers being conteÌ„ted with the inuentions of the olde Authors haue persisted willingly in the same opinion with more confidence thaÌ„ consideration of the cause so lightly was that opinion receiued as touching the vnhabitable Clime neare vnder the Poles Therfore I am at this present to proue that al the land lying betwéene the laste climate euen vnto the point directly vnder either Poles is or maye be inhabited especially of suche creatures as are ingendred and bredde therein For indéed it is to be confessed that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in euery particular place or region especially wyth the same ioy and felicitie as it did where it was firste bredde for the certaine agréement of nature that is betwéene the place and the thing bredde in that place as appeareth by the Elephant which being translated and brought out of the second or third climate though they may liue yet will they neuer ingender or bring forth yong Also wée sée the like in many kinds of plants and hearbs for example the OraÌ„ge trée although in Naples they bring forth fruit abundantly in Rome and Florence they wil beare only faire gréene leaues but not any fruite and translated into England they will hardly beare either flowers fruite or leaues but are the next winter pinched and withered with colde yet it followeth not for this that England Rome and Florence should not be habitable In the prouing of these colde regions habitable I shall be verye shorte bicause the same reasons serue for this purpose which were alleaged before in the prouing the middle Zone to be temperate especially séeing al heate cold procéede from the Sunne by the meanes eyther of the Angle his beames doeth make with the Horizon or else by the long or shorte continuance of the Suns presence aboue ground so that if the Sunnes beames do beate perpendicularlye at righte Angles then there is one cause of heate and if the Sunne doe also long continue aboue the Horizon then the heate thereby is muche encreased by accesse of this other cause and so groweth to a kind of extremitie And these .ij. causes as I said before doe moste concurre vnder the two Tropickes and therefore there is the greatest heate of the worlde And likewise where both these causes are most absent there is greatest want of heate and encrease of colde séeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heat and if one cause be wanting and the other present the effect will growe indifferent Therefore this is to bée vnderstanded that the nearer anye region is to the Equinoctiall the higher the Sunne doeth rise ouer their heads at noone so maketh either righte or neare righte angles but the Sun tarryeth with them so much the shorter time causeth shorter dayes with longer and colder nights to restore the domage of the daye paste by reasoÌ„ of the moisture consumed by vapour But in such regions ouer the which the Sun riseth lower as in regions extended towardes eyther pole it maketh there vnequall Angles but the Sunne continueth longer and maketh longer dayes causeth so much shorter and warmer nights as retayning warme vapoures of the daye paste For there are found by experience Sommer nights in Scotland and Gothland very hot when vnder the Equinoctiall they are found very colde This benefite of the Sunnes long continuaunce and encrease of the day doth augment so muche the more in colde regions as they are nearer the poles and ceaseth not encreasing vntil it come directly vnder the point of the Pole Articke where the Sunne continueth aboue grounde the space of sixe moneths or halfe a yeare togither so the daye is halfe a yere long that is the time of the Suns being in the North signes from the first degrée of Aries vntil the last of Virgo that is all the time from our .10 day of March vntill the .14 of September The Sun therfore during the time of these .6 moneths without any offence or hindraunce of the nighte gyueth his influence vpon those landes with heate that neuer ceaseth during that time which maketh to the great increase of Sommer by reason of the Sunnes continuaunce Therfore it followeth that though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads to cause right angle beams to giue great heate yet the Sun being there sometimes almâ—â—t 24. degrées high doth caste a conuenient and meane heate which there continueth without hinderaunce of the nighte the space of six moneths as is before saide during whiche time there foloweth to be a conuenient moderate and temperate heat or else rather it is to be suspected the heat there to be very great both for continuance also Quia virtus vnita crescit the vertue and strength of heat vnited in one encreaseth If then there be suche a moderate heat vnder the Poles and the same to continue so long time what shoulde moue the olde writers to say there cannot be place for habitation And that the certaintie of this temperate heat vnder both the Poles might more manifestlye appeare lette vs consider the position qualitie of the Sphere the length of the day and so to gather the heighte of the Sunne at all times and by consequent the quantitie of his Angle and so lastely the strength of his heate Those landes and regions lying vnder the pole and hauing the Pole for their Zenith muste néedes haue the Equinoctiall circle for their Horizon therefore the Sunne entring into the North signes and describing euery .24 houres a Paralell to the Equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primum Mobile the same Paralels must néedes be wholy aboue the Horizon and so looke howe many degrées there are froÌ„ the fyrst of Aries to the last of Virgo so many whole reuolutions there are aboue theyr Horizon that dwell vnder the Pole whiche amounteth to .182 and so manye of oure dayes the Sunne continueth with them During whiche tyme they haue there continuall daye and lighte withoute anye hinderaunce of moiste nightes Yet it is to be noted that the Sunne being in the fyrst degrée of Aries and laste degrée of Virgo maketh his reuolution in the very Horizon so that in these
greater by reason wherof the best richest furres are broughte out of the coldest regions Also the foules of these cold countries haue thicker skins thicker feathers more stored of down thaÌ„ in other hot places Our EnglishmeÌ„ that trauel to S. Nicholas and go a fishing to Ward house enter far within the circle Artike so are in the froseÌ„ Zone yet there as wel as in Iseland and all along those Northerne Seas â—hey finde the greatest store of the greatest fishes that are as Whales c. and also abundaunce of meane fishes as Herings Coddes Haddockes Brettes c. whiche argueth that the Sea as well as the Land maye bée and is well frequented and inhabited in the colde Countries But some perhaps wil maruel there should be such teÌ„perate places in the Regions aboute the Poles when at vnder degrées in latitude oure Capitaine Frobisher and his companye were troubled wyth so manye and so greate mountaines of fléeting Ise with so great stormes of colde with suche continuall snow on toppes of mountaines and with such barren soyle there being neither woodde or trées but lowe shrubbes and suche like To al which obiections may be answered thus First those infinite Ilandes of Ise were engeÌ„dred congealed in time of winter now by the gret heate of Sommer were thawed and then by ebbes flouds windes and currants were driuen to and fro and troubled the Fléete so that this is an argument to proue the heat in Sommer there to be great that was able to thaw so monstrous mountaines of Ise. As for continuall snow on tops of mouÌ„tains it is there no otherwise than is in the hottest parte of the middle Zone where also lyeth great snowe al the Sommer long vppon toppes of mountaines bycause there is not sufficient space for the Sunnes reflection wherby the snowe should be molten Touching the colde stormy windes and the barrennesse of the country it is there as it is in Cornwall Deuonshire in England which parts thoughe we know to be fruitful fertile yet on the North side therof al alongst the coast within seauen or eight myles off the Sea there can neither hedge nor trée grow althoughe they be diligently by Art husbanded séene vnto And the cause thereof are the Northerne driuing winds whiche coÌ„ming from the Sea are so bitter sharp that they kill al the yong and tender plaÌ„ts and suffer scarce any thing to grow and so is t in the Ilands of Meta Incognita which are subiect most to East Northesterne winds which the last yere choked vp the passage so with Ise that the Fléet could hardly recouer their Port yet notwithstanding all the obiections that may be the Countrey is habitable for there are Men Women Children and sundrie kind of Beastes in great plentie as Beares Dere Hares Foxes Dogges all kind of flying Fowles as Duckes Seamewes Wilmots Partriches Larkes Crowes Hawkes and such like as in the thirde Booke you shall vnderstand more at large Then it appeareth that not only the middle Zone but aâ—so the Zones about the Poles are habitable Which thing being wel considered and familiarly knowen to our Generall Captaine Frobisher as well for that he is throughly furnished of the knowledge of the Sphere and all other skilles apperteyning to the art of Nauigation as also for the confirmation he hath of the same by many yeares experience both by sea and land and being persuaded of a new and néerer passage to Cataya than by Capo d'buonâ— Speranzâ— which the Portugalles yéerely vse He began first with himselfe to deuise and then with his friendes to conferre and layde a playne platte vnto them that that voyage was not onely possible by the Northweast but also as he coulde proue easie to bée performed And further he determined and resolued wyth himselfe to go make full proofe thereof to accomplishe or bring true certificat of the truth or else neuer to returne againe knowing this to be the onely thing of the Worlde that was left yet vndone whereby a notable mind mighte be made famous and fortunate But although his will were great to performe this notable voyage whereof hée had conceyued in his mind a great hope by sundry sure reasons and secret intelligence whiche héere for sundry causes I leaue vntouched yet he wanted altogither meanes and abilitie to set forward and performe the same Long tyme he conferred with his priuate friendes of these secretes and made also manye offers for the performing of the same in effect vnto sundry Merchants of our Countrey aboue .xv. yeares before he attempted the same as by good witnesse shall well appeare albeit some euill willers whiche chalenge to themselues the frutes of other mens laboureâ— haue greately iniured him in the reportes of the same saying that they haue bin the first Authors of that Action and that they haue learned him the way which themselues as yet haue neuer gone But perceyuing that hardly he was hearkened vnto of the Merchantes whiche neuer regarde Uertue withoute sure certayne and present gaynes hée repayred to the Courte from whence as from the fountaine of oure common wealth all good causes haue theyr chiefe encrease and mayntenance and there layde open to manye great estates and learned men the plot and summe of hys deuise And amongst manye honourable myndes whyche fauoured hys honest and commendable enterprise hée was specially bounde and beholdyng to the ryghte Honourable Ambrose Dudley Earle of Warwike whose fauourable mynde and good disposition hathe alwayes bin readye to countenance and aduance all honest actions wyth the Authours and executers of the same and so by meanes of my Lorde hys honourable countenance hée receyued some comforte of hys cause and by little and little with no small expence and payne brought hys cause to some perfection and hadde drawen togyther so many aduenturers and suche summes of money as myghte well defray a reasonable charge to furnishe hymselfe to Sea withall He prepared two small Barkes of twentie and fyue and twentie tunne a péece wherein hée intended to accomplish hys pretended voyage Wherefore béeyng furnished wyth the foresayde two Barkes and one small Pinnesse of tenne tunne burthen hauyng therein victuals and other necessaries for twelue Monethes prouision he departed vppon the sayde voyage from Blacke wall the fiftenth of Iune Anno Domini 1576. One of the Barkes wherein hée wente was named the Gabriell and the other the Michaell and sayling Northweast from Englande vppon the firste of Iulâ— at length hée hadde sighte of a highe and ragged lande whiche hée iudged Freeselande whereof some Authoures haue made mention but durst not approche the same by reason of the greate store of Ise that lay alongst the coast and the greate mistes that troubled them not a little Not farre from thence hée lost companye of his small Pinnesse whyche by meanes of the greate storme he supposed to bée swallowed vppe of the Sea wherein
outcryes and with a white flagge made of blathers sowed togyther wyth the guttes and sinewes of beastes wafted vs amayne vnto them but shewed not aboue three of theyr companye But when wée came néere them wée myghte perceyue a greate multitude créeping behynde the Rockes whyche gaue vs good cause to suspecte theyr trayterous meaning wherevpon wée made them signes that if they would lay their weapoÌ„s aside and come forth we woulde deale friendly with them although theyr intente was manifested vnto vs but for all the signâ—â—â—f friendship we coulde make them they camâ— still créeping towards vs behinde the rockes to gette more aduantage of vs as though we had no eyes to sée them thinking belike that our single wittes could not discouer so bare deuises and simple driftes of theyrs Their spokesman earnestly persuaded vs with many enticing shewes to come eate and sléepe ashore with great arguments of courtesie and clapping his bare handes ouer his head in token of peace and innocencie willed vs to do the like But the better to allure our hungry stomackes he broughte vs a trimme bayte of raw flesh which for fashioÌ„ sake with a boatehooke we caught into our Boate but when the cunning Cater perceyued his first cold morssell could nothing sharpen our stomackes he cast about for a new trayne of warme fleshe to procure our appetites wherefore he caused one of hys fellowes in halting manner to come forth as a lame man from behind the rockes and the better to declare his kindnesse in caruing he hoysed him vppon his shoulders and bringing him hard to the water side where we were lefte him there lymping as an easie pray to be taken of vs His hope was that we would bite at this bayte spedily leape a shore within their danger whereby they might haue apprehended some of vs to raunsome theyr friendes home againe which before we had taken but I doubt our flesh is so swéet meate for them that they will hardly part from so good morsels if we come once nere their haÌ„dling The GeÌ„tlemen and Souldiers had great will to encounter them ashore but the Generall more carefull by processe of time to winne them than wilfullie at the firste to spoyle them woulde in no wise admitte that any man shoulde put himselfe in hazarde ashore considering the matter he now entended was for the Ore and not for the Conquest notwithstanding to proue this Criples footemanshippe hée gaue libertie for one to shoote wherevppon the Criple hauing a parting blowe lightly recouered a Rocke and went awaye a true and no fained Criple and hathe learned his lesson for euer halting afore suche Criples againe But his fellows whiche lay hid before full quickely then appeared in their likenesse and maintained the skirmishe with theyr slings bowes and arrowes verye fiercely and came as néere as the water suffered them and with as desperate minde as hath bin séene in any men without feare of shotte or any thing followed vs all along the coaste but all their shotte fell shorte of vs and are of little danger They had belayd al the coaste along and being dispersed so were not able to be numbred but we might discerne of them aboue one hundreth persons and to suspecte a greater number And thus without losse or hurte we returned to our shippes againe Nowe our worke growing towardes an end and hauing onely with fiue poore Miners and the helpe of a fewe Gentlemen and Souldiours brought aboorde almost twoo hundreth of golde ore in the space of twentie dayes euery man therewithall well comforted determined lustilye to worke afreshe for a boone voyage to bring our laboure to a spéedie and happy ende And vpon Wednesday at night being the one and twentith of August we fully finished the whole worke And it was now good time to leaue for as the men were wel wearied so their shoes and clothes were well worne their baskets bottoms torne out their tooles broken and the shippes reasonably well filled Some with ouer-straining themselues receiued hurtes not alittle daungerous some hauing their bellies broken and others their legges made lame And aboute this time the Ise beganne to congeale fréese about our shippes sides whiche gaue vs a good argument of the Sunnes declyning Southward and put vs in minde to make more hast homeward It is not a little worth the memorie to the commendation of the Gentlemen and Souldioures héerein who leauing all reputation aparte with so great willingnesse and with couragious stomackes haue themselues almost ouercome in so short a time the difficultie of this so great a laboure And this to be true the matter if it be well wayed without further proofe nowe brought home dothe well witnesse God graunt for their forwarde mindes they may be as well considered as their honest merites haue well deserued Thurseday the .22 of August we plucked downe oure tentes and euery man hasted homewarde and making bonefires vppon the toppe of the highest Mount of the Iland and marching with Auntiente displayd round aboute the Iland we gaue a vollie of shotte for a farewell in honour of the right Honourable Lady Anne Countesse of Warwicke whose nâ—me it â—eareth and so departed aboorde The .23 of August hauing the wind large at West wée sette Sayle from out of the Countesses sound homeward but the winde calming we came to Ancker within the poynt of the same sound agayne The .24 of August about thrée of the clocke in the morning hauing â—he winde large at West we sette Sayle agayne and by nine of the Clocke at nighte we lefte the Quéenes forlande astâ—rne vs and being cléere of the Straytes we bare further into the mâ—yne Ocean kéeping our course more Southerly to bring our selues the sooner vnder the Latitude of our owne Câ—ymate The wynde was very greate at Sea so that we laye a hull all night and had Snowe halfe a foote déepe on the hatches Froâ—â—he 24. vntill the .28 we had very muâ—he winde but large kéeping our course South Southeast and were lyke to haue lost the Baâ—kes but by good happe we mette agayne The heygth being taken we were in Degrées and a halfe The nine and twentith of August the winde blewe muche at Northeast so that we couâ—de beare but onely a buâ—t of our foresayle and the Baâ—kes not being able to carrie any sayle at all The Michaell lost company of vs and shaped hir course towardes Orckney as we supposed bycause that way was better knowne vnto them The thirtith of August with the force of the wynd and a surge of the Sea the Mayster of the Gabriell and the Boateson were stricken both ouerboorde and hardly was the Boateson recouered hauing holde on a roape hanging ouerboorde in the Sea and yet the Barke was laced fore and afte with ropes a breast high within boorde Thys Mayster was called William Smyth béeyng but a yong man and a very sufficient Maryner who béeyng all the mornyng before excéeding pleasaunte tolde hys
hast to the Court â—éeing theÌ„ at Windsore to aduertise hir Maiesty of his properous procâ—eding and good successe in this last voyage and of the pleÌ„ty of gold Ore with other matters of importance which he hadde in these Septentrionall partes disâ—ouered He was courtâ—ously enterteyned and hartily wâ—lcomed of many noble men but especially for his great aduenture commended of hir Maiestie at whose hands he receyued great thankes and most gratious countenance according to his deserts Hir Highnesse also greatly commended the rest of the Gentlemen in this seruice for their great forwardnes in this so daÌ„gerous toyling and painefull attempte but especiallye shée praysed and reioiced that among them there was so good order of gouernement so good agreement euerye man so readye in his calling to doe whatsoeuer the General should commaunde which due commendation gratiously of hir Maiestie remembred gaue so greate encouragement to al the Captaines Gentlemen that they to continue hir highnesse so good and honorable opinion of them haue since neâ—ther spared laboure limme nor life to bring this matter so well begon to a happie and prosperous ende And finding that the matter of the gold ore had appearaunce mâ—de shew of great riches profite and the hope of the passage to CATAYA by this last voâ—age greatly encreased hir Maiestie appointed speciâ—l Commissioners chosen for this purposeâ— Gentlemen of great iudgement art skill to looke thorowly into the cause for the true trial due examination therof for the full handling of al matters therevnto appertaining And bicause that place country hathe neuer heretofore bin disâ—ouered and therefore had no speciall name by which it might be called known hir Maiestie named it very properly Meta Incognita as a marke and bouÌ„ds vtterly hitherto vnknown The coÌ„missioners after sufficieÌ„t triall proofe made of the Ore hauing vnderstood by sundrie reasons substanciall grouÌ„ds the possibilitie likelihoode of the passage aduertised hir highnes that the cause was of importance the voyage gretly worthy to be aduaÌ„ced again Wherevpon preparatioÌ„ was made of ships al other things necessary with such eâ—pedition as the time of the yere theÌ„ required And bycause it was assuredly made accompt of that the coÌ„moditie of Mines there already discouered wold at that least counteruaâ—â—e in all respects the adueÌ„turers charge giue further hope likelihood of greter matters to follow it was thought néedful both for the better guard of those parts alredy fouÌ„d for further discouery of the Inland secreats of those countries also for further search of the passage to Cataya whâ—rof the hope continually more more encreaseâ—h that certain numbers of chose â—oâ—diers discréete men for those purposes should be asâ—igâ—â—d to inhabite there Whervpon theâ—e wâ—s a sâ—râ—ng â—orâ—â— or house of timber artificially frâ—med â—â—â—ingly deuised by a notable learned man here at home iâ— ships to be carryed thither wherby â—hose meÌ„ that were apointed there to winter make their abode the whole yeare might aswel be defeÌ„ded from the danger of the falling snow and colde ayre as also be fortified from the force or offenâ—e of those Countrie people which perhaps otherwise with too greate coÌ„panâ—es multitudes might oppresse them And so this greate aueÌ„ture notable exploit many wel minded and â—orward yoÌ„g Gentlemen of our countrey willingly hâ—ue offered tâ—emselues And firste Captaine Fenton Lieuâ—â—â—â—â—t Gâ—â—â—rall for Captaine Frobysher and in charge of the â—oÌ„pany with him there Capitaine Beâ—t Captaiâ—e 〈◊〉 vnto whose good discretions the gouernment of 〈◊〉 was chiefly commended who as men not regaâ—ding pâ—rill in respect of the profite and common wealth of their Counâ—rie were willing to abide the fâ—â—sâ—e brâ—â—nt aduâ—nture oâ— those daungers among a sauâ—ge and brutishe kinde of people in a place hitherto euer thoght â—or eâ—treme cold not habitable The whole number of men whiche had offered were appointed to inhabite Meta Incâ—gnita al the yeare were one hundreth persons wherof â—l shoulde be Marriners for the vse of ships .30 Miners for gathering the golde Ore togyther for the next yeare 3â— souldiers for the better guarde of the rest within which last nuÌ„ber are included the gentlemen Goldâ—iners Bâ—kers CarpeÌ„ters al other necessary persons To othe of the Captaines was assigned one ship as wel for the further searching of the coast countrie there as for to returne bring backe their companies againe if the necessitie of the place so vrged or bâ— miscarying oâ— the fléete in the yeare following they mighte be disappointed of their further prouision Being therefore thus furnished with all necessaries there were ready to depart vpon the said voyageâ— xv Sayle of good Shippes whereof the whole number was to returne agayne with their loading of gold Ore in the end of the Sommer except those thrée Shippes which should bée left for the vse of those Captaynes whiche should inhabite there the whole yeare And being in so good readynesse the Generall with all the Captaynes came to the Court then lying at Greenewich to take their leaue of hir Maiestie at whose hands they all receyued great encouragemente and gracious countenance Hir Highnesse besides other good giftes and greater promises bestowed on the Generall a faire Cheyne of Gold and the rest of the Captaynes kissed hir hande tooke their leaue and departed euery man towardes their charge The names of the Shippes with their seuerall Captaynes 1 In the Ayde being Admirall vvas the Generall Captayne Frobisher 2 In the Tho. Allen Viceadmirall Ca. Yorke 3 In the Iudith LieutenaÌ„t General Ca. FeÌ„ton 4 In the Anne Frances Capâ—ayne Best 5 In the Hopevvell Captayne Carevv 6 In the Beare Captayne Filpot 7 In the Thomas of Ipsvvich Cap. Tanfield 8 In the Emanuell of Exceter Ca. Courtney 9 In the Frances of Foy Captayne Moyles 10 In the Moone Captayne Vpcot 11 In the Ema of Bridgevvater Ca. Nevvton 12 In the SalamoÌ„ of VVeymouth Ca. Randal 13 In the Barke Dennis Captayne Kendall 14 In â—he Gabriell Captayne Haruey 15 In the Michaell Captayne Kinnersley The sayd .xv. Sayle of Shippes arriued and mette togyther at Harwitch the seauen and twentith day of May Anno .1578 where the Generall and the other Captayne 's made view and mustered theyr companyes And euery seuerall Captayne receyued from the Generall certayne Articles of direction for the better kéeping of order and company togither in the way which Articles are as followeth ¶ Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete set dovvne by Captayne Frobisher Generall and deliuered in writing to euery Captayne as well for keeping company as for the course the 31. of May. 1 IN primis to banishe swearing dice and cardplaying and filthy communication and to serue God twice a day with the ordinarie seruice vsually in Churches of England and to cleare the glasse according to the old order of England 2 The Admirall
some of the Fléete and those not the worst Marriners iudged to be the North forlande howbeit othersome were of contrary opinion But the matter was not well to be discerned by reason of the thicke fogge whiche a long time hung vppon the coast and the newe falling Snowe which yearely altereth the shape of the land and taketh away oftentimes the Marriners markes And by reason of the darke mistes whiche continued by the space of twenty dayes togither this doubt grew the greater and the longer perillous For wheras indéede we thought our selues to be vpon the Northeast side of Frobishers straytes we were now carried to the Southweastwards of the Queenes forlande and being deceyued by a swift Currant comming from the Northeast were broughte to the Southweastwardes of oure sayd course many miles more than we dyd thinke possible could come to passe The cause whereof we haue since found and shall be at large héereafter declared Héere we made a poynt of land which some mistooke for a place in the straytes called Mount Warwicke but howe we shoulde be so farre shotte vp so suddaynely within the sayde straytes the expertest Mariners began to maruell thinking it a thing impossible that they coulde be so farre ouertaken in their accomptes or that any Currant coulde so deceyue them héere whiche they had not by former experience proued and found out Howbeit many confessed that they founde a swifter course of floud than before time they had obserued And truly it was wonderfull to heare and sée the rushling and noyse that the tydes do make in thys place with so violente a force that oure Shippes lying a-hull were turned sometimes rounde aboute euen in a momente after the manner of a whirlepoole and the noyse of the streame no lesse to be hearde a farre off than the waterfall of London Bridge But whilest the Fléete lay thus doubtfull amoÌ„gst great store of Ise in a place they knewe not withoute sighte of sunne whereby to take the height and so to know the true eleuation of the pole and withoute any cleare of lighte to make perfite the coast the Generall with the Captaynes and Maysters of his Shippes beganne doubtfully to question of the matter and sent his Pinnesse aboorde to heare each mans opinion and specially of Iames Beare Mayster of the Anne Frances who was knowen to be a sufficiente and skilful Mariner and hauing bin there the yeare before had well obserued the place and drawne out Cardes of the coast But the rather this matter grew the more doubtful for that Christopher Hâ—ll chiefe Pylot of the voyage deliuered a playne and publike opinion in the hearing of the whole Fléete that he had neuer séene the foresayde coast before and that he could not make it for any place of Frobishers straytes as some of the Fléete supposed and yet the lands do lye and trend so like that the best Mariners therin may be deceyued The tenth of Iuly the weather still continuing thicke and darke some of the Shippes in the fogge lost sighte of the Admirall and the rest of the Fléete and wandering too and fro with doubtfull opinion whether it were best to séeke backe againe to seaward through great store of Ise or to follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea bay or straytes they knew not or alongst a coast whereof by reason of the darke mistes they coulde not discerne the daungers if by chance any Rocke or brokeÌ„ ground should lye of the place as commonly in these partes it doth The Uizeadmirall Captayne Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the Pylot Hall who was with him in the Thomas Allen hauing lost sight of the Fléete turned backe to Sea agayne hauing two other Shippes in company with him Also the Captaine of the Anne Fraunces hauing likewise lost companye of the Fléete and being all alone helde it for best to turne it out to Sea agayne vntyll they mighte haue cléere weather to take the Sunnes Altitude and with incredible payne and perill got out of the doubtfull place into the open Sea agayne being so narrowly distressed by the way by meanes of continuall fogge and Ise that they were many times ready to leape vpon an Ilande of Ise to auoyde the present daunger and so hopyng to prolong life a while meante rather to dye a pining death Some hoped to saue themselues on chestes and some determined to tye the Hatches of the Shippes fast togyther and to bynde themselues wyth theyr furniture fast therevnto and so to bée towed with the Shippeboate ashore whyche otherwise coulde not receyue halfe of the companye by whyche meanes if happilie they hadde arriued they shoulde eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate or else shoulde themselues haue bene eaten of those rauenous bloudye and Man eating people The rest of the Fléete following the course of the Generall whyche ledde them the way passed vp aboue .60 Leagues within the sayd doubtfull and supposed straytes hauyng alwayes a fayre continente vppon their starreboorde syde and a continuance still of an open Sea before them The Generall albeit with the fyrste perchance he found out the error and that this was not the old straytes yet he persuaded the Fléete alwayes that they were in theyr righte course and knowne straytes Howbeit I suppose he rather dissembled hys opinion therein than otherwyse meaning by that policie being hymself ledde with an honorable desire of further discouerie to enduce the fléete to follow him to sée a further proofe of that place And as some of the company reported he hath since confessed that if it had not bin for the charge and care he had of the Fléete and fraughted Shippes he both would and could haue gone through to the South Sea called Mare del Sur and dissolued the long doubt of the passage which we séeke to find to the ritch Countrey of Cataya 1 Of which mistaken straytes considering the circumstance we haue greate cause to confirme oure opinion to like and hope well of the passage in this place For the foresaide bay or Sea the further we sayled therein the wyder we found it with great likelyhoode of endlesse continuance And where in other places we were muche troubled wyth Ise as in the entrance of the same so after we had sayled 50. or .60 leagues therein we had no lette of Ise or other thing at all as in other places we found 2 Also this place séemeth to haue a maruellous greate indraft and draweth vnto it most of the drift yse and other things which do fléete in the Sea eyther to the North or Eastwardes of the same as by good experience we haue founde 3 For héere also we mette with boordes latthes and diuers other things driuing in the Sea which was of the wracke of the shippe called the Barke Dennys which perished amongst the Ise as beforesaid being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the Quéens foreland
theyr Captayne Mayster Tanfieldes mynde as by due examination before the Lordes of hir Maiesties most Honorable priâ—te Counsell it hathe since bin proued to the greate discredite of the Pilot Coxe who specially persuaded his company againste the opinion of hys sayde Captayne to returne home And as the Captayne of the Anne Frances dothe witnesse euen at theyr conference togither Captaâ—ne Tâ—nfield tolde hym that hee did not alittle suspect the sayde Pylot Coxe saying that he had neyther opinion in the man of honest duetie manhoode or constancie Notwythstanding the sayde Shippes departure the Captayne of the Anne Frances béeyng desirous to putte in execution hys former resolutions went with hys Shyppeboate béeyng accompanyed also wyth the Moones Skyffe to proue amongst the Ilandes whiche lye vnder Hâ—ttons headland if anye conueniente harborough or any knowledge of the Fléete or anye good Ore was there to bée founde The Shyppes lying off and on at Sea the whyle vnder Sayle and searching through manye soundes they saw them all full of manye dangers and broken grounde yet one there was which séemed an indifferent place to harborough in and whiche they did very diligently sounde ouer and searched agayne Héere the sayde Captayne founde a great blacke Iland whervnto he had good liking certifying the coÌ„pany therof they wer somewhat coÌ„forted with the good hope of his words rowed chéerefully vnto the place where when they arriued they found such plentie of blacke Ore of the same sorte whiche was broughte into Englande thys last yeare that if the goodnesse myghte aunswere the greate plentye thereof it was to be thoughte that it might reasonably suffise all the golde gluttons of the worlde Thys Ilande the Captayne for cause of his good happe called after his owne name Bestes blessing and wyth these good tydings returning aboorde hys Shyppe the ninth of August about tenne of the Clocke at nighte he was ioyfully welcomed of hys companye who before were discomforted and greatelie expected some better fortune at hys handes The nexte daye béeyng the tenth of August the weather reasonably fayre they put into the foresayde harborough hauing their Boate for theyr better securitie sounding before theyr Ship. But for all the care and diligence that coulde be taken in soundyng the Channell ouer and ouer agayne the Anne Frances came agrounde vppon a a suncken Rocke within the Harborough and lay thereon more than halfe drye vntill the nexte floud when by Gods Almighty prouidence contrarye almost to all expectation they came afloate agayne béeyng forced all that tyme to vndersette theyr Shyppe wyth their mayne yarde whyche otherwyse was lykely to ouersette and putte thereby in dâ—unger the whole companye They hadde aboue two thousande strokes togyther at the Pumpe before they coulde make theyr Shyppe frée of the water agayne so sore shée was brused by lying vppon the Rockes The Moone came safely and roade at Ancker by the Anne Fraunces whose helpe in theyr necessitie they coulde not well haue missed Nowe whilest the Marriners were romaging theyr Shyppes mending that whiche was amisse the Miners followed their laboure for getting togither of sufficient quantitie of Ore and the Carpenters endeuouâ—ed to doe theyr beste for the making vppe of the boate or pinnesse whiche to bring to passe they wanted two speciall and moste necessary things that is certaine principal timbers that are called Knées whiche are the chiefest strength of any boate also nayles wherwithal to ioyne the plancks togither Wherevpon hauing by chance a Smyth amongest them and yet vnfurnished of his necessarie tooles to worke and make nayles withall they were faine of a gunnne chamber to make an aâ—â—ile to worke vppon and to vse a pickare in stéede of a sledge to beate withall and also to occupy two small bellowes in stéede of one payre of greater Smiths bellowes And for lacke of small Iron for the easier making of the nayles were forced to breake their tongs grydiern and fiershouell in péeces The eleauenth of August the Captaine of the Anne Fraunces taking the Maister of hys Ship with hym went vp to the toppe of Hattons Hedland whych is the highest lande of all the straites to the ende to descry the situation of the Country vnderneath and to take a true plot of the place whereby also to sée what store of Ise was yâ—t â—â—fte in the straites as also to searche what Mine matter or fruite that soyle might yéelde And the rather for the honor the said Captaine doth owe to that Honorable name which himselfe gaue therevnto the laste yeare in the highest parte of this Hedlande he caused his companye to make a Columne or Crosse of stone in token of Christian possession In this place there is plentie of blacke Ore and diuers preatie stones The seauentéenth of Auguste the Capitaines wyth their companies chaced and killed a greate white Beare whiche aduentured and gaue a fierce assaulte vpon twentie men being weapned And he serued them for good meat many dayes after The eightéenth of August the Pinnesse with muche adoe being set togyther the saide Captaine Beste determined to departe vppe the straites to proue and make trial as before was pretended some of his companye greatlye persuading him to the contrarie and specially the CarpeÌ„ter that set the same togither who saide that he would not aduenture himselfe therein for fiue hundreth poundes for that the boate hung togither but onelye by the strength of the nayles and lacked some of hir principall knées tymbers These wordes somewhat discouraged some of the company which should haue gone therin WherevpoÌ„ the Captaine as one not altogither addicted to his own selfe-wil but somewhat foreséeing how it might be afterwards spoken if contrarye fortune shoulde happen him Lo he hathe followed his own opinion and desperate resolutions and so thereafter it is befallen him calling the Maister Marriners of beste iudgement togyther declared vnto them howe muche the cause imported him in his credite to séeke out the Generall as wel to conferre with him of some causes of waight as otherwise to make due examination and triall of the goodnesse of the Ore wherof they had no assuraunce but by gesse of the eie and was wel like the other whiche so to cary home not knowing the goodnesse thereof might be asmuch as if they should bring so many stones And therefore hée desired them to delyuer their plaine and honest opinion whether the Pinnesse were sufficient for him so to aduenture in or no. It was aunswered that by carefull héede taking therevnto amongest the Ise and the foule weather the Pinnesse might suffise And herevppon the Maisters mate of the Anne Frances called Iohn Gray manfully and honestly offering himselfe vnto his Captain in this aduenture and seruice gaue cause to others of hys Marriners to follow the attempt And vpon the nintéenth of August the said Captain being accompanied with Captayne Vpcote of the Moone xviij persons in the small Pinnesse hauing conuenient portion of
togither for that some of the ships were behinde hande with their fraighte the time of the yeare passyng spéedily away The thirtith of August the Anne FraÌ„ces was brought a ground had .viij. great leakes mended whiche she had receiued by meanes of the rockes and Ise. This daye the Masons finished a house whiche Captaine Fenton caused to be made of lyme and stone vpon the Countesse of Warwickes Ilande to the ende we mighte proue againste the nexte yere whether the snowe coulde ouerwhelme it the frosts breake vppe or the people dismeÌ„ber the same And the better to allure those brutish vnciuill people to courtesie againste other times of oure comming we left therein dyuers of oure countrie toyes as belles and kniues wherein they specially delight one for the necessarie vse and the other for the great pleasure thereof Also pictures of men women in lead men a horsebacke looking lasses whistles and pipes Also in the house was made an ouen and breade lâ—stâ— baked therein for them to sée and taste We buryed the timber of our pretended forte with manye barrels of meale pease griste and sundrie other good things which was of the prouision of those whych should inhabite if occasion serued And instéede therof we fraight oure ships full of Ore whiche we holde of farre greater price Also here we sowed pease corne and other graine to proue the fruitfulnesse of the soyle against the next yeare Maister Wolfall on Winters Fornace preached a godly Sermon whiche being ended he celebrated also a Communion vpon the lande at the pertaking whereof was the Capitaine of the Anne Fraunces and manye other Gentlemen Soldiors Marriners Miners wyth hym The celebration of diuine mistery was the first signe seale confirmatioÌ„ of Christes name death passion euer knowen in all these quarters The said M. Wolfall made sermons celebrated the CoÌ„munion at sundrie other times in seuerall and sundrie Ships bicause the whole company could neuer méet togither at any one place The fléet now being in some good readinesse for their lading the General calling togither the GeÌ„tlemen Captains to consult told them that he was very desirous that some further discouery should be attempted that he woulde not only by Gods help bring home his Shippes laden with golde Ore but also meant to bring some certificat of a further discouerie of the Countrie which thing to bring to passe hauing sometime therein consulted they founde verye harde and almost inuincible And considering that alreadie they hadde spente some time in searching out the trending and fashion of the mistaken straites and hadde entred verye farre therein therefore it coulde not be saide but that by thys voyage they haue notice of a further discouery and that the hope of the passage thereby is muche furthered and encreased as appeared before in the discourse thereof Yet notwithstandyng if anye meanes mighte be further deuised the Capitaynes were contented and willing as the Generall shoulde appointe and commaunde to take anye enterprise in hande Whiche after long debating was found a thing verye impossible that rather consultation was to bée had of returning homewarde especiallye for these causes followyng First the darke foggy mistes the continuall fallyng Snowe and stormy weather which they commonly were vexed with and nowe daylye euer more and more increased haue no small argument of the Winters drawing neare And also the froste euerye nighte was so harde congealed within the sounde that if by euill happe they shoulde be long kepte in wyth contrarye windes it was greatlye to be feared that they should be shutte vppe there faste the whole yeare whyche being vtterly vnprouided woulde be their vtter destruction Againe drincke was so scant throughout al the Fléete by meanes of the greate leakage that not onely the prouision whiche was layde in for the habitation was wanting and wasted but also eache Shippes seuerall prouision spent and lost which many of oure companye to their greate griefe founde in their returne since for al the way homewards they dranke nothing but water And the great cause of this lekage and wasting was for that the great timber seacole which lay so waighty vpoÌ„ the barrels brake brused rotted the hoopes in â—uÌ„der Yet notwithstaÌ„ding these reasons alledged the Generall himselfe willing the rest of the GeÌ„tlemeÌ„ Captains euery man to looke to his seuerall charge and laâ—ing that against a day appoynted they shoulde be all in a readinesse to sette homeward himselfe went in his Pinnesse and discouered further Northward in the straytes and found that by Beares sound and Halles Iland the land was not firme as it was first supposed but all broken Ilandes in manner of an Archipelagus and so with other secret intelligence to himselfe he returned to the Fléete Where presentlye vpon his arriuall at the Countesses sound he began to take order for their returning homeward and first caused certayne Articles to be proclaymed for the better kéeping orders and courses in their returne which Articles were deliuered to euery Captayne and are these that follow ¶ Articles sette downe by Martin Frobisher Esquier Captayne Generall of the whole Fleete appoynted for the Northweast discoueries of Cataya published and made knowen to the Fleete for the better obseruing certayne orders and course in their returne homevvarde 1 FIrste and principallie he doth straytely charge and commaunde by vertue of hir Maiesties commission which he hath and in hir Maiesties name that euery Captayne and Captaynes Mayster and Maysters of the sayde Fléete do vigilently and carefully kéepe company with the Admirall and by no maner of meanes breake companye willingly now in our returne homewards vppon peyne of forfeture his or their whole frayte that shall be found culpable therein and further to receyue suche punishment as to hir Maiestie shal séeme good therein and also to answere all suche damages or losses as may happen or growe by dispersing and breaking from the Fléete And therefore for the better kéeping of companye the Generall straytely chargeth and commaundeth all the Maysters of these Shippes and euery of them that they repayre to speake with the Admirall once euery day if he or they may conuenientlye doe it vppon payne of forfeting of one tunne fraighte to hir Maiestie for euery daye neglecting the same 2 Item that euery Mayster in the sayde Fléete obserue and kéepe orderly and vigilantly all such Articles as were outwardes bounde drawen and published by the Generall in hyr Maiesties name whereof there was delyuered to euery Shippe a copie 3 Item that all Captaynes and Maysters of euerye Ship and Shippes doe proclayme and make it knowen to their company that no person or persons within the sayde Fléete of what condition soeuer doe take or kéepe to theyr vse or vses any Ore or stones of what quantitie so euer it be but forthwith vpon publication hereof to delyuer them and yéelde them to the custodie of the Captayne to deliuer vnto the Generall his officers
places where she stingeth They haue snowe and hayle in the beste time of their Sommer and the ground frosen thrée fadome déepe These people are greate inchaunters and vse manye charmes of Witchcraft for when their heads do ake they tye a great stone with a string vnto a sticke and with certaine prayers wordes done to the sticke they litte vp the stone froÌ„ ground which sometimes wyth all a mans force they cannot stir sometime againe they lifte as easily as a feather and hope thereby with certaine ceremonious words to haue ease and helpe And they made vs by signes to vnderstand lying groueling with their faces vppon the grounde and making a noise downewarde that they worshippe the Diuell vnder them They haue great store of Déere Beares Hares Foxes and innumerable numbers of sundry sortes of wilde Foule as Seamews Gulles Wilmotes Duckes c. wherof our men killed in one day fiftéene hundred They haue also store of Hawkes as Falcons Tassels c. whereof two alighted vpon one of our Shippes at theyr returne were brought into England which some thinke wil proue very good They haue also great heards of Dogs which they vse for theyr ready prouision to eate There are also greate store of Rauens Larkes and Partridges whereof the Countrey people féede All these Fowles are farre thicker clothed with downe and feathers and haue thicker skinnes than anye in England haue for as that Countrey is colder so nature hathe prouided a remedie therevnto Our men haue eaten of their Beares Hares Partriches Larkes and of their wilde Fowle and find them reasonable good meate but not so delectable as oures Their wilde Fowle must be all fleyne their skinnes are so thicke and they tast best fryed in pannes The Countrie séemeth to be muche subiecte to Earthquakes The ayre is very subtile piercing and searching so that if any corrupted or infected body especially with the disease called Morbus Gallicus come there it will presentlye breake forth and shewe it selfe and cannot there by anye kinde of salue or medicine be cured Their longest Sommers day is of greate length without any darke night so that in Iuly all the night long we might perfitely and easilie wright reade whatsoeuer had pleased vs which lightsome nightes were very beneficiall vnto vs being so distressed with abundance of Ise as wee were The Sunne setteth to them in the Euening at a quarter of an houre after tenne of the clocke and riseth agayne in the morning at thrée quarters of an houre after one of the clocke so that in Sommer theyr Sunne shineth to them twentie houres and a halfe and in the nighte is absent but thrée houres a halfe And although the Sunne be absent these 3 ½ houres yet is it not darke that time for that the Sunne is neuer aboue thrée or foure degrées vnder the edge of their Horizon the cause is that the Tropicke Cancer doth cutte their Horizon at very vneauen and oblique Angles But the Moone at any time of the yeare béeing in Cancer hauing North Latitude doth make a full reuolution aboue their Horizon so that sometimes they sée the Moone aboue .24 houres togither Some of oure companie of the more ignorant sort thought we mighte continually haue séene the Sunne and the Moone had it not bin for two or thrée high Mountaynes The people are nowe become so warye and so circumspecte by reason of their former losses that by no means we can apprehend any of them althoughe we attempted often in the laste voyage But to saye truth we could not bestowe any great time in pursuing them bycause of oure greate businesse in lading and other things To conclude I finde in all the Countrie nothing that maye be to delite in either of pleasure or of accompte only the shewe of Mine bothe of golde siluer stéele yron and blacke lead with diuers preaty stones as blewe Saphyre very perfect and others whereof we founde great plentie maye giue encouragement for men to séeke thyther And there is no doubt but being well looked vnto and thorowly discouered it wyll make our Countrie both rich and happye and of these prosperous beginnings will growe hereafter I hope moste happye endings Whiche GOD of hys goodnesse graunte to whom be all Prayse and Glorie Amen Cicero Oâ—fiâ—â— Lib. 1. Astronomie This is the flourishing age Abundance of all things To what end Man is created Printing of Bookes The arte of Warre Nauigation The Stone called Magnes Two and thirtâ— poynts of the compasse The variation of the Needle Newe discoueries The Wâ—east 〈◊〉 of â—â—e 〈…〉 The Eâ—st â—nd oâ—â—â—e old Worlâ—â— The ende of the old â—orld Southward The end of the olde â—orld Northward The greate discoueries of late yeres The Earthe deâ—ided into syxe partes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asâ—â— Terra Sâ—pâ—â—ntrionaâ—â—s Aâ—â—riâ—a 〈…〉 In Iune is greater heat at Paris than vnder the Equinoctial The Twylights are shorter and the nights darker vnder the Equinoctâ—alâ— al than at Paris They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the Equinoctiall The complexion of the people of Meta Incognica The cause of the EthiopiaÌ„s blackenesse The Arke of Noe. Chus y sonne of Cham accursed Aâ—frica was called Chamesis Under the Equinoctiall is greatest generation Greatest heare vnder the Tropiks Cuba Hispaniola Under the Tropickes is a modeâ—nte temperature Nine Climates A comparison betweene Marochus and England Al the North regions are habitable Elephant Orange tree â—â—uses 〈◊〉 Hote nightes neere◠〈◊〉 Colde nights vnder the Equinoctiall One day of sixe moneths The Sunne neuer letteth in a 18â— daâ—es Horizon and Equinoctial al on vnder the Pole. London CoÌ„moâ—ioâ—s dâ—elliâ—â— vnder y Poles The nightes vnder the Pole The twylights gyue light vnder the Pole almoste al the Winter The ending of twylight But sixe weekes dark vnder the Pole. The Creatures of that Countrie are are prouided for the colde An obiection of Meta Incognita Meta Incognita inhabited Captayne Frobiâ—her Frobishers first voyage Captayne Frobisher pretended this discouerie aboue .xv. yeares agoe Furniture for the firste voyage Gabriell and Michaell The Pinnesse lost The Michaell returned home Queene Elizabeths forlande Frobishers first entrance â—ithin in the sâ—reightes Frobishâ—rs sâ—reytes Deere The first sight of the Saluage Salmon Fiue Englishmen intercepted and raken Taâ—â—ng of y â— â—irsâ— Saâ—age Frobishers returne The taking possession of Meta Incognita â— â—ow the Ore was â—ounde â—â— câ—aunce Many aduentures In the secoÌ„d voyage commission was giuen only for the bringing of Ore. The number of men in this voyage The coÌ„demned men discharged The first ariuall after our departing from Englande â—â—â—ne of Siluer â—ound in Oâ—â—ney Kyrway the chiefe towne of Orkney Saint Magnus sound why so called Great bodies of trees dryuing in the Seas Monsâ—rous fisâ— strange Fowle â—yuiug only by the Sea. Water beeyng blacke and smooth signifyeth laÌ„d to be neere Ilandes of Ise. The fâ—rste fyght of Freeselande Freeseland desâ—ribâ—d On easie kind of Fishing Whyte Corrall