person if by any speciall seruice hee hath merited the same to the ende that the well deseruing man receiuing the due commendation of his deserte maye bee encouraged to continue and take pleasure in well dooyng after and others being animated by like example maye for hope of lyke rewarde also desire to deserue well By this Discourse it may please your Honour to behold the greate industrie of oure present age and the inuincible mindes of oure Englishe nation who haue neuer lefte anye worthy thing vnattempted nor anye parte almoste of the whole worlde vnsearched whome lately neither stormes of Seas by long and tedious voyages daunger of darke fogs and hidden rockes in vnknowne coastes congealed and frosen Seas with mountaines of fleeting Ise nor yet presente death dayly before their face coulde anye whit dismaye or cause to desiste from intended enterpises but rather preferring an honourable death beefore a shamefull retourne haue notwithstanding the former daungers after manye perillous repulses recouered their desired Porte So that if nowe the passage to CATAYA thereby be made open vnto vs which only matter hitherto hath occupied the finest heades of the worlde and promiseth vs a more riches by a nearer way than either Spaine or Portugale possesseth whereof the hope by the good industrie and greate attemptes of these men is greatelye augmented or if the Golde Ore in these new Discoueries founde oute doe in goodnesse as in great plentie aunswere expectation and the successe do folow as good as the proofe thereof hitherto made is great wee may truely inferre that the Englishman in these our dayes in his discoueries to the Spaniarde and Portingale is nothing inferior and for his hard aduentures and valiant resolutions greatly superior For what hath the Spaniarde or Portingale done by the Southeast and Southweast that the Englishman by the Northeast and Northweaste hath not counteruailed the same And albeit I confesse that the Englishe haue not hytherto had so ful successe of profit and commoditie of pleasaunt place considering that the former nations haue happily chanced to trauel by more temperate clymates where they had not onlye good meates and drinkes but all other things necessarie for the vse of man all whiche things the English trauelling by more intēperate places as it were with mayne force making waye thorowe seas of Ise haue wāted which notwithstanding argueth a more resolution for Difficiliora pulchriora that is the aduēture the more hard the more honorable yet concerning the perfecter knowledge of the world and Geographicall description wherin the present age and posteritie also by a more vniuersal vnderstāding is much furthered as appeareth by my vniuersall Mappe with pricked boundes here annexed herein the Englishman deserueth chiefe honor aboue any other For neyther Spaniard nor Portugale nor anye other besides the English haue bin found by so great daungers of Ise so neare the Pole to aduenture any discouerie wherby the obscure and vnknowen partes of the world which otherwise had laine hid haue bin made knowen vnto vs. So that it may appeare that by oure Englishmens industries and these late voyages the world is grown to a more fulnesse and perfection many vnknowen lands and Ilands not so much as thought vpon before made knowen vnto vs Christs name spred the Gospell preached Infidels like to be conuerted to Christianitie in places where before the name of God hath not once bin hearde of Shipping and Seafaring mē haue ben employed nauigation and the Nauie which is the chief strength of our Realm maintayned and Gentlemen in the Sea seruice for the better seruice of their Country wel experienced Al whiche things are no doubt of so gret importāce as being wel wayed may seeme to counteruayle the aduentures charges although the passage to CATAYA were not found out neither yet the golde ore proue good wher of both the hope is good gret But notwithstanding all these euen in this if no otherwise hyr most excellent Maiestie hath reaped no small profit that she may now stand assured to haue many more tried able sufficient men against time of need that are which with out vaūt may be spoken of valour gret for any great aduēture of gouernemēt good for any good place of seruice For this may truly be spoken of these men that there hath not bin seene in any nation being so many in nūber so far frō home more ciuill order better gouernement or agreement For euen from the beginning of the seruice hitherto there hath neither passed mutinie quarrel or notorious fact either to the slaunder of the men or daunger of the voyage although the Gentlemen Souldiors and Marriners whiche seldome can agree were by companies matched togither But I may perchaunce right Honourable seeme to discourse somewhat too largely especially in a cause that as a partie somewhat concerneth my selfe which I doe not for that I doubt of your Honorable opinion already conceiued of the men but for that I knowe the ignorant multitude is rather ready to slaunder than to giue good encouragement by due commendation to good causes who respecting nothing but a present gaine and being more than needefully suspitious of the matter do therwithall condemne the men and that without any further respect either of their honest intents either of their wel performing the matter they dyd vndertake whiche according to their direction was specicially to bring home Ore either else of their painful trauel whiche for their Prince and the publike profite of their Countries cause they haue sustained But by the way it is not vnknown to the world that this our natiue country of England in al ages hath bred vp and specially at this present aboūdeth with many forward and valiāt minds fit to take in hād any notable enterprise wher by appeareth that if the Englishman had bin in times paste as fortunate and foreseeing to accept occasion offered as he hath bin alwayes forwarde in executing anye cause once taken in hand he had bin worthily preferred before all nations of the worlde and the Weast Indies had now bin in the possession of the Englishe For Columbus the firste Discouerer of the Weaste Indies made firste offer thereof with his seruice to King Henry the seauenth then Kyng of Englande and was not accepted Wherevppon for want of entertainement here hee was forced to go into Spaine and offred there as before the same to Ferdinando Kyng of Castyle who presently acceptyng the occasion did first himselfe and now his successors enioy the benefite thereof Also Sebastian Cabota being an Englishman and borne in Bristowe after he had discouered sundrie parts of new found lande and attempted the passage to CATAYA by the Northweast for the King of England for lacke of entertainment here notwithstanding his good desert was forced to seeke to the Kyng of Spaine to whose vse hee discouered all that tract of Brasile aboute the famous riuer Rio de la Plata and for the same and other good seruices
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
in durance at Edenburgh by the Regents commaundement of Scotlande After we had prouided vs héere of matter sufficiente for our voyage the eyght of Iune we sette sayle agayne and passing through Saint Magnus sounde hauing a merrie winde by night came cléere and lost sight of all the lande and kéeping oure course West Northwest by the space of two dayes the winde shifted vpon vs so that we lay in trauerse on the Seas with contrarie making good as néere as we could our course to the Westward and sometime to the Northward as the winde shifted And héereabout we met with thrée Sayle of English fishermen from Iseland bouÌ„d homewarde by whome we wrote our letters vnto oure friends in England We trauersed these Seas by the space of .26 dayes without sight of any land and met with much drift wodde and whole bodyes of trées We saw many monsterous Fishe and strange Fowle whyche sémed to liue only by the Sea being there so farre distant from anye land At length God fauoured vs with more prosperous windes and after we hadde sayled foure dayes with good wind in the Pâ—upe the fourth of Iuly the Michaell being formost a head shotte off a péece of Ordinance and stroke all hir sayles supposing that they descryed land whyche by reason of the thicke mistes they could not make perfit howbeit as wel our accompt as also the greate alteration of the water whiche became more blacke and smooth dyd playnely declare we were not farre off the coast Our Generall sent his Maister aboorde the Michaell who had bin within the yeare before to beare in with the place to make proofe thereof who desâ—ryed not the land perfecte but sawe sundrie huge Ilands of Ise which we déemed to be not past twelue leagues froÌ„ the shore for about tenne of the clocke at night being the fourth of Iuly the weather being more cléere we made the land perfect and knew it to be Fréeseland And the heigth being taken héere we founde oure selues to be in the Latitude of .60 Degrées and a halfe and were fallen with the Southermost parte of this land Betwéene Orkney and Freeseland are reckned leagues This Freeseland sheweth a ragged and high lande hauing the Mountaynes almost couered ouer with Snow alongst the coast full of drift Ise and séemeth almost inaccessible is thought to be an Iland in bignesse not inferior to England and is called of some Authours Weast Freeseland I thinke bycause it lyeth more Weast then anye part of Europe It extendeth in Latitude to the Northward verie farre as séemed to vs and appeareth by a description set out by two bréethren Venetians Nicholaus and Antonius Genoa who being driuen off from Ireland with a violent tempest made Shipwracke héere and were the first knowen Christians that discouered this lande aboute thrée hundred yeares sithence and they haue in their Sea-Cardes set out euerie part thereof and described the condition of the inhabitants declaring them to be as ciuill and Religious people as we And for so much of this land as we haue sayled alongst comparing their Carde with the coast we find it very agréeable This coast séemeth to haue good fishing for we lying becalmd let fall a hooke without anye bayte and presently caught a great fish called a Hollibut which serued the whole companie for a dayes meate and is dangerous meate for surfetting And sounding about fyue leagues off froÌ„ the shore our leade brought vp in the tallow a kind of Corrall almost white and small stones as bright as Christall it is not to be doubted but that this laÌ„d may be found very rich and beneficiall if it were throughly discouered although we saw no creature there but little birds It is a maruellous thing to behold of what great bignesse and depth some Ilandes of I se be héere some .70 some .80 fadome vnder water besides that which is aboue séemyng Ilands more than halfe a mile in circuite All these Ise are in tast freshe and séeme to be bredde in the sounds thereaboutes or in some land néere the pole and with the wind tides are driuen alongst the coastes We fouÌ„d none of these Ilands of Ise salt in tast wherby appeareth they were not congealed of the Ocean Sea water which is always salt but of some standing or little mouing lakes or great fresh waters néere the shore caused eyther by melted snow froÌ„ tops of Mountaines or by continuall accesse of fresh riuers froÌ„ the laÌ„d and intermingling with the Sea water bearing yet the dominion by the force of extreame frost may cause some part of salt water to fréese so with it so séeme a little brackish but otherwise the maine sea fréeseth not therefore there is no Mare Glaciale or frosen Sea as the opinion hytherto hath bin Our General proued laÌ„ding here twice but by the suddaine fall of mistes wherevnto this coast is much subiect he was like to lose sight of his Ships being greatly endangered with the driuing Ise alongst the coast was forced aboord and faine to surceasse his preteÌ„ce till a better oportunitie might serue and hauing spent .4 days nights sailing alongst this laÌ„d finding the coast subiect to such bitter cold continuall mistes he determined to spend no more time therin but to beare out his course towards the streights called Frobishers straightes after the Generals name who being the firste that euer passed beyonde .58 degrées to the Northwards for any thing hath bin yet knoweÌ„ of certainty of New found laÌ„d otherwise called the continent or firme laÌ„d of America discouered the said streights this last yeare .1576 and hopeth that there wil be found a thorough passage into the sea which lieth on the back side of the said new found laÌ„d called Mare pacificum or Mare de Sur by the which we maye go vnto Cataya China the East India and all the dominioÌ„s of the Great Cane of Tartaria Betwéene Freeseland the straights we had one great storme wherin that Michael was somewhat in daÌ„ger hauing hir Stéerage broken hir top Mastes bloweÌ„ ouer bord being not past .50 leagues short of the straights by our accoÌ„pt we strooke sayle lay a hull fearing the coÌ„tinuance of the storme the wind being at the Northeast and hauing lost company of the Barkes in that flaw of wind we happily mette againe the .17 day of Iuly hauing the euening before séene diuers Ilandes of fléeting Ise which gaue an argument that we were not farre from land Our Generall in the morning froÌ„ the maine top the weather being reasonable cléere descried laÌ„d but to be better assured he sent the two Barkes two coÌ„trarie courses wherby they might discrie either the South or North forlande the Ayde lying off on at Sea with a small saile by an Iland of Ise whiche was the marke for vs to méete togither agayne And aboute noone the weather being more cléere
we made the North Forlande perfite which otherwise is called Halles Iland and also the small Ilande bearing the name of the saide Hall whence the Ore was taken vppe whiche was broughte into Englande this last yeare 1576. the sayd Hall being present at the finding and takyng vp thereof who was then Maister in the Gabriell with Captayne Frobysher At oure arriuall héere all the Seas about this coast were so couered ouer with huge quantitie of great Ise that we thought these places mighte only deserue the name of Mare Glaciale and be called the Isie Sea. This North forlande is thought to be deuided from the continente of the Norther lande by a little sounde called Halles sound whiche maketh it an Iland and is thoughte little lesse than the I le of Wight and is the firste entrance of the streightes vpon the Norther side and standeth in the Latitude of .62 Degrées â—â— Minutes and is reckned from Freeseland leagues God hauing blessed vs wyth so happie a lande fall we bare into the streightes whyche runne in next hande Weast and somewhat to the Northwarde and came as néere the shore as we mighte for the Ise and vpon the eyghtéenth day of Iuly our Generall taking the Goldfiners with him attempted to go on shore with a small rowing Pinnesse vpoÌ„ the small Iland where the Ore was taken vp to proue whether there were anye store thereof to be found but he could not gette in all that Iland a péece so bigge as a Walnut where the firste was found so that it may séeme a great miracle of God that being only one rich stone in all the Iland the same should be found by one of our Countreymen whereby it shoulde appeare Gods diuine will and pleasure is to haue oure common wealth encreased with no lesse abundance of his hydden treasures and golde mynes than any other nation and would that the fayth of his Gospell and holy name should be published and enlarged throughe all those corners of the earth amongest those Idolatrous Infidels But oure men whiche sought the other Ilandes thereaboutes found them all to haue good store of the Ore wherevppon our Generall with these good tidings retourned aboorde aboute ten of the clocke at night and was ioyfully welcomed of the company with a volie of shotte He brought Egges Fowle and a yong Seale aboord which the companie hadde killed ashore and hauing founde vpon those Ilandes ginnes set to catch fowle and stickes newe cut with other things he well perceiued that not long before some of the countrey people had resorted thither Hauing therefore founde those tokens of the peoples accesse in those partes and being in his firste voyage well acquainted with their subtile and cruell dispotion he prouided well for his better safetie and on Friday the nintéenth of Iuly in the morning earely with his best companie of Gentlemen and souldioures to the number of fortie persons went on shoare aswell to discouer the Inlande and habitation of the people as also to fynd out some fitte harborowe for our shippes And passing towardes the shoare with no small difficultie by reason of the abundance of Ise whiche lay alongest the coaste so thicke togither that hardely any passage throughe them might be discerned we arriued at length vpon the maine of Halles greater Iland and founde there also aswel as in the other small Ilands good store of the Ore. And leauing his boats here with sufficient guarde passed vp into the countrey about two Englishe miles and recouered the toppe of a highe hill on the top whereof our men made a Columne or Crosse of stones heaped vppe of a good heigth togither in good sorte and solempnely sounded a Trumpet and said certaine prayers knéeling aboute the Ancient and honoured the place by the name of Mount Warwicke in remembrance of the Right Honorable the Lord Ambrose Dudley Erle of Warwick whose noble minde and good countenaunce in this as in all other good actions gaue great encouragement and good furtheraÌ„ce This done we retired our companies not séeing any thing here worth further discouerie the couÌ„trie séeming barren and full of ragged mountaines in most parts couered with Snow And thus marching towards our boats we espied certaine of the countrie people on the top of Mount Warwicke with a flag wafting vs backe againe making great noise with cries like the mowing of Bulles séeming greatly desirous of conference with vs whervppon the General being therewith better acquainted answered them again with the like cries whereat and with the noise of our trumpets they séemed greatly to reioyce skipping laughing and dauncing for ioy And herevppon we made signes vnto them holding vp two fingers coÌ„maunding two of our menne to goe aparte from our companies whereby they might doe the like So that forthwith two of oure menne and two of theirs mette togither a good space from companie neither partie hauing their weapons about them Our men gaue them pinnes and pointes and sued trifles as they had And they likewise bestowed on our men two bowe cases and suche things as they had They earnestlye desired oure menne to goe vppe into their Countrie and our men offered them like kindnesse aboorde oure shippes but neyther parte as it séemed admitted or trusted the others curtesie Their manner of trafficke is thus they doe vse to lay downe of their marchandise vppon the ground so much as they meane to parte withall and so looking that the other partie with whome they make trade shoulde doe the like they themselues doe departe and then if they doe like of their marte they come againe and take in exchange the others marchandise otherwise if they like not they take their owne and departe The daye being thus well nearâ— spent in haste we retired our companies into our boates againe minding forthwith to searche alongest the coast for some harborowe fitte for oure shippes for the present necessitie thereof was much considering that all this while they lay off and on betwéen the two lands being continually subiect aswell to great danger of fléeting yse which enuironed them as to the sodâ—in flawes which the coast seemeth much subiect vnto But when the people perceiued our departure with great tokeÌ„s of affection they earnestly called vs backe againe following vs almost to our boates wherevpon our Generall taking his Maister with him who was beste acquainted with their maner went apart vnto two of them meaning if they could lay sure holde vpon them forcibly to bring them aboord with intent to bestow certain toyes and apparell vpon the one and so to dismisse him with all arguments of curtesie and retaine the other for an Interpreter The Generall his Maister being met with their two coÌ„panions togither after they hadde exchanged certaine thinges the one with the other one of the Saluages for lacke of better marchandise cutte off the tayle of his coate whiche is a chiefe ornament among them and gaue
shal carrie the light and after his light be once put out no man to go a head of him but euery man to fitte his Sayles to follow as néere as they may without dangering one another 3 That no man shall by day or by night depart further from the Admirall than the distance of one English Mile and as néere as they may withoute daunger one of another 4 If it chance to growe thicke and the wind contrary eyther by daye or by night that the Admirall be forced to câ—st aboute before hir casting aboute she shal gyue warning by shootâ—ng off a péece and to him shall answere the Uâ—zeadmirall and the Rereadmirall with euery one of them a péece if it be by nighte or in a fogge and that the Uizeadmiral shâ—ll aunswere â—irste and the Rereadmirall last 5 That no man in the Fléete descrying any Sayle or Sayles giue vppon anye occasion anye chace before hée haue spoken with the Admirall 6 That euerye euening all the Fléete come vppe and speake with the Admirall at seauen of the Clocke or betwéene that and eyght and if weather will not serue them all to speake with the Admirall then some shall come to the Uizeadmirall and receyue your order of your course of Maister Hall chiefe Pylot of the Fléete as he shal direct you 7 If to any maÌ„ in the Fléete there happeÌ„ any mischaÌ„ce they shall presently shoote off two péeces by day and if it be by night two peeces and shew two lightes 8 If any man in the Fléete come vp in y night and hale his fellow knowing him not he shal giue him this watch-word Before the world was God. The other shall aunswer him if he be one of our Fléete After God came Christe his Sonne So that if anye be founde amongst vs not of oure owne company he that firste descryeth anye such Sayle or Sayles shall giue warning to the Admirall by himselfe or any other that he can speake to that Sailes better than he being néerest vnto him 9 That euery Ship in the Fléete in the time of fogges whiche continually happen with little windes and most parte calmes shall kéepe a reasonable noyse with Trumpet Drumme or otherwise to kéepe themselues cléere one of another 10 If it fall out thicke or misty that we lay it to Hull the Admirall shall giue warning by a péece and puâ—ting out thrée lightes one ouer another to the ende that euâ—ry man may take in his Sayles and at his setting of Sayles agayne do the like if it be not cléere 11 If any man discouer land by nighte that he giue the like warning that he dothe for mischances two lightes and two péeces if it be by day one péece and putte out hys slagge and strike all his Sayles he hath aboorde 12 If any Shyppe shall happen to lose company by force of weather then any suche Shippe or Shippes shall gette hir into the Latitude of .. and so kéepe that Latitude vntyll they gette Freeselande And after they be past the West partes of Freeselande they shall gette them into the Latitude of .. and .. and not to the Northwarde of and béeing once entred within the straytes all suche Shyppes shall euerye watche shoote off a good péece and looke out well for smoke and fire whych those that gette in first shall make euery night vntill all the Fléete bée come togither 13 That vppon the sighte of an Ensigne in the Mast of the Admirall and a péece shot of the whole Fléete shal repaire to the Admirall to vnderstande such conference as the Generall is to haue with them 14 If we chance to méete with any enimies that foure Shyppes shall attend vpon the Admirall viz. the Frances of Foy the Moone the Barke Dennis and the Gâ—brieâ—â— â— and foure vpon my Lieutenant generall in the Iudith viz. the Hopewell the Armenall the Beare and the Salomon and the other foure vpon the Uizadmirall the Anne Frances the Thomas of Ipswich the Emanuell and the Michaell 15 If there happen any disordered person in the fléete that he be taken and kept in safe custodie vntil he may conueniently be brought aboorde the Admirall and therâ— to receiue such punishment as his or their offences shal deserue By me Martine Frobysher Oure departure fâ—om England HAuing receiued these articles of direction we departed from Harwich the one and thirtith of May. And sayâ—ing alongest the South partes of England westward wée at length came by the coaste of Ireland at Cape Cleare the sixth of Iune and gaue chace there to a small barke which was supposed to be a Pyrat or Rouer on the Seas but it fell out in déede that they were poore menne of Bristowe who hadde mette with suche company of Frenchmen as hadde spoyled and slayne manye of them and left the rest so sore wounded that they were lyke to perishe in the Sea hauing neyther hande nor foote hole to helpe themselues withall nor victuals to susteyne theyr hungrie bodyes Oure Generall who well vnderstandeth the office of a Souldioure and an Englishman and knoweth well what the necessity of the sea meaneth pitying much the miserie of the poore men releiued them with Surgerie and salues to heale their hurtes and with meate and drinke to comfort their pining hartes Some of them hauing neither eate nor drunck more than oliues stinking water in many days before as they reported And after this good déed done hauing a large winde we kept our course vppon our saâ—de voyage withoute staying for the taking in of freshe water or any other prouision whereof many of the fléete were not throughly furnished and sayling towardes the Northwest partes from Ireland we mette with a greate currant from oute of the Southwest which carryed vs by our reckning one point to the Northestwardes of our said course whiche currant séemed to vs to continue it selfe towardes Norway and other the Northeast partes of the World whereby we may be induced to beléeue that this is the same whiche the Portugalles méete at Capo d'buona speranza where striking ouer from thence to the straytes of Magellanes and finding no passage there for the narrownesse of the sayde straytes runneth alongst into the greate Bay of Mexico where also hauing a let of lande it is forced to strike backe agayne towardes the Northeast as we not only héere but in another place also further to the Northwardes by good experience this yeare haue founde as shall be héereafter in his place more at large declared Nowe had wée sayled aboute fouretéene dayes without sight of any land or any other liuing thing except certayne Fowles as Wylmots Nodies Gulles c. whiche there séeme only to liue by Sea. The twentith of Iune at two of the clocke in the morning the Generall descryed land and found it to be Weast Freeseland now named Weast England Héere the Generall and other Gentlemen wente ashore being the fyrste knowen Christians that we haue true notice of that euer set
foote vpon that ground and therefore the Generall toke possession thereof to the vse of our Soueraigne Lady the Quéenes Maiestie and discouered héere a goodly harborough for the Shippes where were also certaine little Boates of that Countrey And being there landed they espyed certayne tents and people of that Countrey which were as they iudge in all sorts very like those of Meta Incognita as by theyr apparell and other things whych wée found in theyr tentes appeared The sauage and simple people so soone as they perceyued our men comming towards them supposing there had bin no other Worlde but theirs fledde fearefully away as men muche amazed at so strange a sight and creatures of humane shape so farre in apparell complexion and other things different from themselues They left in their tents all their furniture â—or haste behinde them where amongst other things were founde a boxe of small nayles and certayne redde Hearings boordes of Fyrre trée well cutte with dyuers other things artificially wroughte whereby it appeareth that they haue trade with some ciuill people or else are in déede themselues artificiall workemen Oure menne broughte awaye wyth them onelye twoo of theyr Dogges leauing in recompence belles looking-glasses and dyuers of oure Countrey toyes behynde them This Countrie no doubte promiseth good hope of great commoditie and riches if it maye be well discouered The discription whereof you shall finde more at large in my seconde booke Page .5 Some are of opinion that this Weaste Englande is firme lande with the Northeast partes of Meta Incognita or else with Groenlande And their reason is bicause the people apparell boates and other thinges are so like to theirs and an other reason is the multitude of Ilandes of Ise whyche laye betwéene it and Meta Incognita doeth argue that on the North side there is a bâ—y whyâ—h cannot be but by coÌ„ioyning of these two lands togither And hauing a fayre and large winde wée departed from thence towardes Frobyshers straites the thrée and twentith of Iune But fyrste we gaue name to a byghe clyffe in Weast England the laste that was in oure sight and for a certaine similitude we called it Charing Crosse. Then we bare Southerly towards the Sea bycause to the Northwardes of this coaste wée mette wyth muche driuing Ise whyche by reason of the thicke mistes and weather might haue bin some trouble vnto vs. On Monday the laste of Iune wée mette with manye greate Whales as they hadde béene Porposes This same daye the Salamander being vnder both hir corses and bonets hapned to strike a grâ—â—te Whale with hir â—ull stemme wyth suche a blow that the ship stoode stil and stirred neither forwarde nor backeward The Whale thereat made a great and vgly noise and caste vp his body and tayle and so went vnder water and within twoo dayes after there was founde a greate Whale dead swimming aboue water which we supposed was that the Salamander stroke The seconde daye of Iuly early in the morning wée hadde sighte of the Quéenes forelande and bare in with the lande all the daye and passyng thorow great quantitie of Ise by nighte were entered somewhat within the straites perceiuing no waye to passe further in the whole place being froâ—en ouer from the one side to the other and as it were with many walles mountaines and bulwarkes of yse choaked vppe the passage and denied vs entraunce And yet doe I not thinke that this passage or the Sea hereaboutes is frosen ouer at anye time of the yeare albeit it séemed so vnto vs by the abundaunce of Ise gathered togyther whyche occupyed the whole place But I doe rather suppose these Ise to bée bredde in the hollowe soundes and freshets thereaboutes whyche by the heate of the Sommers Sunne béeyng loosed doe emptie themselues wyth the ebbes into the Sea and so gather in great abundance there togither And to speake somewhat here of the auntiente opinion of the frosen Sea in these partes I doe thinke it to be rather a bare coniecture of menne than that euer anye manne hathe made experience of anye suche Sea. And that whiche they speake of Mare Glaciale may be truely thought to be spoken of these partes for this maye well be called in deede the ysie Sea but not the frosen Sea for no Sea consisting of salte water caÌ„ be frosen as I haue more at large herein shewed my opinioÌ„ in my seconde booke page .6 for it seemeth impossible for any Sea to be frosen which hath his course of ebbing and flowing especiallye in those places where the tides doe ebbe and flowe aboue tenne fadâ—me And also all these aforesaide Ise which we sometime met a hundreth mile from lande being gathered out of the salt Sea are in taste fresh and being dissolued become swéet and holesome water The cause why thys yeare we haue béene more combred with Ise than at other times before may be by reason of the Easterly and Southerly windes whyche brought vs more timely thither now than wee looked for Whiche blowing from the Sea directlye vppon the place of our straites hath kept in the Ise and not suffered them to be caryed out by the ebbe to the maine Sea where they woulde in more shorte time haue béene dissolued And all these fléeting Ise are not onelye so daungerous in that they winde and gather so neare togither that a man maye passe sometimes tenne or twelue myles as it were vpon one firme Ilande of Ise But also for that they open and shutte togither againe in suche sorte wyth the tydes and Sea-gate that whilest one Shyppe followeth the other with full sayles the Ise whyche was open vnto the foremoste will ioyne and close togyther before the latter can come to followe the fyrste whereby manye tymes oure Shippes were broughte into greate daunger as béeyng not able so sodainelye to take in oure sayles or staye the swifte waye of oure Shippes Wée were forced manye tymes to stemme and strike great rockes of Ise and so as it were make way through mightie mountaines By which means some of the fléete where they founde the yse to open entred in and pasâ—ed so farre within the daunger thereof with continuall desire to recouer their port that it was the greatest wonder of the world that they euer escaped safe or were euer heard of againe For euen at this present we missed two of the fléete that is the Iudyth wherein was the Lieuetenaunt general Captaine Fenton and the Michael whome both wée suppoposed hadde bene vtterlye lost hauing not heard any tydings of them in moe than twentie dayes afore And one of our fléete named the Barke Dennys being of an hundereth Tunne burden séeking way in amongst these Ise receiued such a blowe with a rocke of Ise that she sunke downe therewith in the sighte of the whoale fléete Howbeit hauing signified hir daunger by shooting of a péece of great ordinaunce newe succour of other shippes came so readily vnto them that
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
but touched with the foresaid Magnes playing Aequilibra vpoÌ„ some Piramid or point receyueth such vertue that it produceth like effect Whervnto if wood or paper in circular forme deuided into .32 equall parts be handsomely compacted it will distinguishe and poynte out all parts of the Horizon and direct into all coasts of the worlde and that onely by the inâ—luent Spirite of the two principall pointes respecting euer North and South This excellent propertie and benefite of the Lodestone I the rather remember at large bycause some Seamen whiche knowe this rare and miraculous effecte as well as I doe not sufficiently admire the same bycause it is now so commonlye knowen and yet indéede is to be preferred before all pretious stones in the worlde whiche only tend to ornament and haue no other vertue whereas this serueth to so necessarie vse The vertue of this stone as it is not long since it was first found so in these dayes it is like to receiue his perfection concerning his Northeasting and Northwesting to be brought in rule particularly in this noble voyage of our worthy Captain Martine Frobisher who as you shall after vnderstande in the discourse hath diligentlye obserued the variation of the Néedle And suche obseruations of skilfull Pylots is the onelye waye to bring it in rule for it passeth the reach of naturall Philosophy The making and pricking of Cardes the shifting of Sunne and Moone the vse of the compasse the houre glasse for obseruing time instrumentes of Astronomie to take Longitudes and Latitudes of Countreys and many other helps are so commonly knowen of euery Mariner now adayes that he that hathe bin twiâ—â— at Sea is ashamed to come home if he be not able to â—ender accompte of all these particularities By whiche skill in Nauigation is brought to passe that the people of Europe can as easilye and farre more easilier make long voyages by Sea than by lande whereby hathe come to passe that within the memorie of man within these foure score yeares there hathe béene moe newe Countries and regions discouered than in fiue thousande yeares before yea more than halfe the worlde hathe béene discouered by men that are yet or might very well for their age be aliue When I name the world in this sense I meane the vppermoste face anâ— Superficies of the Earth and Sea which vnite togither make one Globe or Sphere And this face of the Earth whiche Almightie God hath giuen man as most conuenient place to inhabite in thorowe the negligence of man hathe vntill of late dayes layne so hidde and vnknowne that he hathe loste the fruition and benefit of more than halfe the earth A maruellous thing that man who hath always abhorred so muche thraldome and restrainte and so gréedily desired libertie coulde be contented so many thousande yeres to be shut vp in so narrow bounds For it is to be thought that onely such Countries in times paste haue bin known as either did bounde and hang togither or else were separated by very narrow Seas as are Europa Affrica Asia out of which from either to other a man maye trauaile by lande or else shal finde in some places very narrow Seas separating them and so mighte saile from the one to the other onelye by lande markes wythoute the Arte of Nauigation bycause the one was wythin a ken of the other For euen the greate strength and stoutnesse of Hercules himselfe wheÌ„ out of Graecia Westward he had trauelled conquered al the Regions and Countries comming to the straight betwéene Spaine and Barbarie made accompte to haue béene at the Weast ende of the worlde and therefore there erected two Pillers as a perpetual monument of his fâ—â—e whiche to this daye are called Herculeae Columnae the Pâ—llâ—â—s of Hercules the one standing in Spaine of Europe the other in Affrica and called the straight Fretum Herculeum and nowe commonlye is named the straightes of Malâ—ga or Gibraltar And hauing come so farre Westward conteÌ„ted himselfe and said Non plus vltra no further Likewise Alexander Magnus out of Macedonia in Greece passing thorow Armenia Persia and India comming to the great Riuer Ganges conqueryng all these Countrâ—es â—althoughe he was perswaded that Asia extended somewhat further into the East and Northeast yet knowing them not to be verye greate Countries and thinking them to be of small moment erected there certaine Aultars whiâ—he are yet called Arae Alexandrinae as beyond which no man else in those dayes had passed or néede to passe more Eastwarde and this was accompted as it were a â—ounder of the Easte side of the worlde althoughe indéede Asia doeth extende further .20 degrées and is enuironed with Mâ—re Eoâ—m and the straight Anian which our Captaine Frobisher pretendeth to finde out Touching the South parts of the world towards Affrica Ptolomeus King of Aegipt a famous Cosmographer who was more sollicite and curious in describing al the face of the Earth than any King before him or after excepte of late dayes deliuered in plat described knowen only 16. degrées beyond the Equinoctiall to the Southwardes or pole Antartique and that bounder was called Montes Lunae out of whiche the greate riuer Nilus is supposed to haue his beginning spring And as for the known land on the North parts of the world Thyle being one of the Ilands of Orcades more probably than Iseland was so long pronounced and continued Vltima that it was estéemed a greate erroure for anye man to imagine anye lande more North than that Thus haue I briefly named the foure principall bounders of the worlde whiche was onely known from the beginning of the worlde as some thinke vntill within these 80. last yeres That is the straights of Gibraltar or Malega Weastward The East part of Asia beyond Arae Alâ—xandrinae Eastwarde Vltima Thyle by Scotâ—ande Northward .16 Grades beyoÌ„d the Equinoctiall Southward But these 16. degrées of South latitude are to be vnderstoode only in the continent of Affrica whiche extendeth not passyng .70 degrées in longitude Therefore whatsoeuer Countries or Regions haue since béene discouered and knowne beyonde 180. degrées in longitude .60 degrées in North latitude and 16. degrees in South latitude all the commendation honour renoume glorie and fame therof must be attributed to the Englishmen Spaniardes Portingales Frenchmenne and Italians whose valiaunt courage and high mindes be suche that either they alreadye haue or shortly will dyscouer and searche out euery narrowe corner of the world By these mens valours and industries the knowne Regions of the worlde whiche before were diuided into thrée partes that is Europa Affâ—ica and Asia are now made sixe by addition of other thrée For like as the whole Massie frame of the world being firste diuided into two principall regions the one Elementall the other Heauenly the Elementall containeth foure partes that is the foure Elements the Earth the Water the Ayre and the Fyre the Heauenly Region although one
the which voyage is knoweÌ„ to be more daÌ„gerous painful thaÌ„ any y Spanyards or Portugals haue euer dealt in for they being borne in a somewhat hote couÌ„trey hapned to deale with easie voyages although they were loÌ„g out not much differing froÌ„ their own teÌ„perature And I thiâ—ke a man mighte be bolde to saye that in all their long voyages to the East and West Indies they were neuer so muche distressed and oppressed with so infinite numbers and sundrie kindes of dangers as oure valiante Generall Captayne Frobisher and his companye were in euery one of these his thrée voyages as readyng it you shall vnderstand more at large And yet they couragiously persist and continue on their purposed enterprise and will not surceasse vntill they haue God willing found oute that long wished passage to Cataya to the euerlasting renowne glorie and fame of the English nation Also the valor of the English men did first of all discouer and finde out all that part of America whiche nowe is called Bâ—ccâ—laos for Sebastian Cabot an Englishe man borne in Bristow was by commandement of Kyng Henry the seauenth in Anno .1508 furnished with Shipping munition and men and sayled along all that tract pretending to discouer the passage to Cataya and went alande in many places and brought home sundry of the people and manye other things of that Countrey in token of possession béeing I say the firste Christians that euer there sette foote on land Also the sayde Englishman Cabot did first discouer at the procurement of the King of Spayne all that other porte of America adioyning nexte beyond Brasill lying aboute the famous Riuer called Rio de la plata Also the English men haue made sundrye voyages to Guinea and Bynny although the Spanyardes and Portugalles bycause of their néere dwelling therevnto get thyther the firste starte of them and there preuented them in building Townes and Castels whereby appeareth that the English nation by their long and dangerous Nauigations haue diligently and paynefullie searched out by sea the temperature of all the Zones whether they were burning frosen hot colde or indifferent euen from the Pole Articke to the Equinoctiall and crossing it also passed beyonde the Tropicke of Capricorne and returned agayne And therefore as we are inferioure to no other nation in making greate and long voyages by Sea so knowe I no Nation comparable vnto vs in taking in hande long trauels and voyages by lande For what Nation is it that hath euer had such a long trade by land as is the Englishmens into Persia which besides two Monethes sayling by Sea along the Weast and Northerne coastes of Norwey and Lapland by Wardhouse vnto the Bay of Saint Nicholas it remayneth more in voyage by land and fresh riuers aboute thrée thousande Englishe myles for from the Merchantes house at Saint Nicholas by the Riuer Duina and Sughana to the Citie Volugda is compted seauen hundred English miles from thence to the Citie Yearuslane standing vpon the great Riuer Molga trauelling by only land is reckned about .140 miles where the Merchants making new Shipping for the freshe Riuer Volga goe Eastwarde about .700 myles then the sayde Riuer Volga turning agayne South by many windings at the last by the greate Citie Astracan deliuereth it selfe into the South side of the Sea Caspium that tract being aboue nine hundred miles then after in two or thrée dayes with a good winde crossing the Caspium Sea they ariue at a port named Bilbill where after by lande iourneying with Camels in one and twenty dayes being almost .600 myles they come to the famous Citie of Tauris or Teuris being the greatest Citie of Persia for trade of Merchandise This long and paynefull voyage by land was taken in hand by a worthy Gentleman Mayster Anthony Ienkenson who made therof a Plat with the firste particular description that I haue séene of the whole Countrey of Moscouia whiche is yet extant and therefore the Englishmen are to be preferred before all other Nations in making long voyages by lande The Spanyards and Portugalles vndoubtedly are worthye immortal â—ame and glorie for their greate enterprises and good â—uccesses they haue therein yet haue they neuer seene nor hard such straunge and extraordinarie accidents of the Sphere as hath happâ—ned vnto the Englishmen For neyther Spâ—niaâ—de nor Portugal euer sawe in all their long voyages Sunne and the Moone to make whole and perfect reuolutions aboue the Horizon as our men yearely do sée in their voyage to Moscouia where when they abide any time at Wardehouse they sée the Sunne goe continually aboue ground the space of aboue two moneths togither where if they take no great héede they shal not know what day of the moneth it is after the order of our Calender for that they haue no nighâ—s But yet bycause once euerye 24. houres the Sunne draweth neare to the Horizon in the North parts it is there commonly shadowed with vapours and thicke fogges whiche vsually rise from the Earth and seeme a little to shadâ—we the bodye of the Sunne and that lowest approching of the Snn to the Earthward they counte night and so make good ynough reckning of the days of the moneth according to our vsuall fashion But one inconuenience there is that dismayeth and deterreth moste men though they be of valiant courage from taking in hande large voyages eyther by sea or by lande and that is the newe and vncustomed elements and the extreme ayres of hot cold wherby as some think if they trauel far Northward they shall be frosen to death in the harde congealed frosen sea and again if they trauel far toward the South they feare they should be parched and broyled to death with the extreme heate of the middle burnyng or else if perhaps they escape aliue yet at least they shold be burned as black as a cole as the Indians or Black Moores there are thys to belieue they are partlye perswaded by the sight of those Indians and partlye by the persuasions of certaine Philosophers who went about with reasons to proue that betwéen the 2. Tropicks was no dwelling or being for the extreme heate the Sunne beating on them continuallye neyther neare eyâ—her Pole for the extreme frostes colde and snow whiche continuallye hath there frâ—m the beginning of the world as some thinke increased the Sunne being so farre distante from them Which opinion of some bycause it importeth very much I thought good here to do mâ— indeuour to refell both bycause I know the contrarie by my owne experience and also for that I finde the course of the Sunne in Zodâ—acke which God hath ordaâ—ned to giue light life to all things can induce no such kinde of â—xâ—remitie and so lastly to confirme all partes of the worlde to be habitable Experiences and reasons of the Sphere to proue al partes of the world habitable and â—hereby to conâ—ute the position of the fiue Zones FIrst it may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen
fro most and no where else but there Therefore betwéene the two Tropikes that is in the midle Zone is greatest increase multiplication generation and corruption of things which also we find by experience for there is Sommer twice in the yeare and twice Winter so that they haue two Haruests in the yeare and continuall spring Seing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate it resteth to declare where the hotest part of the World should be for we fynde some places more hote than others To answere this doubt reason persuadeth the hotest place in the Worlde to be vnder and about the two Tropickes for there more than in anye other place doe both the causes of heate concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames at righte Angles and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horison the Pole there being eleuated thrée or foure and twentie degrées And as before I concluded that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the Equinoctiall yet bycause the same continued but a small tyme theyr dayes being short and theyr nightes long and theyr spéedie departure of the Sunne from their Zenith bycause of the suddayne crossing of the Zodiake with the Equinoctiall and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and cold the temperature grew moderate So now to theÌ„ vnder the two Tropikes the Sun hauing once by his proper permotioÌ„ declined .20 degrées from the Equinoctial beginneth to draw néere theyr Zenith which may bée as before aboute the eleuenth day of May and then beginneth to send his beames almost at right Angles about which tyme the Sunne entreth into the first degrée of Gemini and with this almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it be past Cancer that is the space of two Monethes euery day at noone almost perpendicular ouer their heads being then the time of Soâ—stitium Aestiuale whiche so long continuance of the Sun aboute their Zenith maye cause an extreame heate if anye be in the world but of necessitie farre more heate than can bée vnder the Equinoctiall where the Sunne hathe no suche long abode in the Zenith but passeth away therehence very quickly Also vnder the Tropikes the day is longer by an houre and a halfe than it is vnder the Equinoctiall wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer tyme of operation must néedes be encreased especially séeing the nighte wherein colde and moysture doe abounde vnder the Tropikes is lesse than it is vnder the Equinoctiall Therefore I gather that vnder the Tropikes is the hotest place not onely of Torrida Zona but of any other parte of the Worlde especially bycause there both causes of heate doe concurre that is the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two Monethes togyther and the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison And by this meanes more at large is proued that Marochus in Sommer is farre more hote than at any tyme vnder the Equinoctiall bycause it is scituate so néere the Tropike Cancer and also for the length of their dayes Neyther yet doe I thynke that the Regions scituate vnder the Tropikes are not habitable for they are founde to be verye frutefull also although Marochus and some other partes of Africa néere the Tropike for the drynesse of the natiue sandie soyle and some accidentes maye séeme to some to be intemperate for ouermuch heate For Ferdinandus Ouiedus speaking of Cuba and Hispaniola Ilands of America lying hard vnder or by the Tropike Cancer sayeth that these Ilandes haue as good pasture for Cattell as anye other Countrey in the world Also they haue most holesome and cléere water and temperate ayre by reason whereof the heards of Beasâ—es are muche bigger fatter and of better tast then any in Spayne bycause of the rancke pasture whose moysture is better digested in the hearbe or grasse by continuall and temperate heate of the Sunne whereby being made more fatte and vnctious it is of better and more stedfast nourishment For continuall and temperate heate dothe not only draw much moysture out of the earth to the nourishmente of suche things as growe and are engendred in that Clime but dothe also by moderation preserue the same from putrifying digesting also and condensating or thickning the sayd moyst nourishmente into a gummie and vnctious substance whereby appeareth also that vnder the Tropikes is both holesome frutefull and pleasant habitation whereby lastly it followeth that al the middle Zone whiche vntyll of late dayes hathe bin compted and called the burning broyling and parched Zone is now found to bée the most delicate temperate commodious pleasaunte and delectable part of the World and especially vnder the Equinoctiall Hauyng nowe sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle Zone it remayneth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall heate in colde Regions as well in the nighte as in the day all the Sommer long and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitantes of the same contrarie to the opinion of the olde writers Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long and also hovve in Winter the same is habitable especially to the inhabitants thereof THe colde Regions of the Worlde are those whiche tending towarde the Pole Artike and Antartike are without the circuit or bounds of the seauen Climates which agréeable to the opinion of the old Writers is founde and sette out in oure Authour of the Sphere Iohannes de Sacrobosco where hée playnely sayeth that without the seauenth Climate which is bounded by a Paralell passing at fiftie degrées in Latitude all the habitation beyonde that to be discommodious and intollerable but Gemma Phrisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to be withoute the compasse of those climates wherein he knew to be very temperate and good habitation added therevnto two other Climates the vttermost Paralell whereof passeth by .56 degrées in Latitude and therein comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation England Scotland Denmarke Moscouia c. which all are rich and mightie Kingdomes The old writers perswaded by bare coniecture wente aboute to determine of those places by comparing them to their owne complexions bycause they felt them to be hardlie tolerable to themselues and so toke thereby an argument of the whole habitable earth as if a Man borne in Morochus or other part of Barbarie should at the later end of Sommer vpon the suddayne eyther naked or with hys thinne vesture be broughte into England he woulde iudge this Region presently not to be habitable bycause he being broughte vp in so warme a Countrey is not able héere to liue for so sodaine an alteration of the colde ayre but if the same man hadde come at the beginning of Sommer and so afterwarde by little and little by certaine degrées had felt acquainted himselfe with the Frost of Autumne it would haue séemed by degrées to harden him and so to make it far more tollerable and by
childes arme And bycause the daye was well neare â—pent oure menne made haste vnto the reste of oure companie which on the other side of the water remained at the â—entes where they founde by the apparell â—eâ—ter and other Englishe furniture that they were the same companye whiche Capitaine Yorke discouered the night before hauing remoued theÌ„selues froÌ„ the place where he left theÌ„ And now considering their sodaine flying from our men and their desperate manner of fighting we beganne to suspecte that we hadde already hearde the laste newes of our men whiche the laste yeare were betrayed of these people And considering also their rauennesse and bloudy disposition in eating anye kinde of rawe fleshe or carrâ—eâ— howsoeuer stincking it is to be thoughte that they had sâ—aine and deuoured oure men For the doublet whiche was sounâ—e in their tents had many holes therein being made with their arrowes and dartes But nowe the night being at hande our men with their captiues and suche poore stuffe as they founde in their tentes returned towardes their shippes when being at Sea there arose a sodaine flawe of winde whiche was not a little daungerous for their small boates But as God would they came all safely aboorde And with these good newes they retourned as before mentioned into the Countesse of Warwicks sound vnto vs And betwene Iackmans sounde from whence they came and the Countesse of Warwickes sound betwene land land being thoughte the narrowest place of the straights were iudged nine leagues ouer at leaste and Iackmans sounde being vppon the Southerlande lyeth directlye almoste ouer againste the Countesses sound as is reckned scarce thirty leagues within the straightes from the Queenes Cape whiche is the entrance of the straights of Southerland being the supposed continent of America This Cape béeing named Queene Elizabethe Cape standeth in the Latitude of degrées and a halfe to the Northwardes of Newe found lande and vpon the same continent for any thing that is yet knowen to the contrarie Hauing now got a woman captiue for the comforte of our man we broughte them both togither and euery man with silence desired to beholde the manner of their meeting and entertaynement the whiche was more worth the beholding than can be well expressed by writing Aâ— theyr first encountring they behelde each the other very wistly a good space withoute spéeche or worde vttered with greate change of coloure and countenaunce as though it séemed the gréefe and disdeyne of their captiuitie had taken away the vse of their tongs and vtterance the woman at the first verie suddaynely as though she disdeyned or regarded not the man turned away and beganne to sing as though she minded another matter but being agayne broughte togâ—ther the man brake vp the silence first and with sterne and stayed countenance beganne to tell a long solemne tale to the woman wherevnto she gaue good hearing and interrupted him nothing till he had finished afterwards being growen into more familiar acquayntance by spéech were turned togither so that I thinke the one would hardly haue liued without the comfort of the other And for so muche as we coulde perceiue albeit they liued continually togither yet did they neuer vse as man and wife though the woman spared not to do all necessarie things that apperteyned to a good huswife indifferently for them both as in making cleane their Cabin and euery other thing that apperteyned to his ease for when hée was Seasicke shee would make him cleane she would kill and flea the Dogges for their eating and dresse his meate Only I thinke it worth the noting the continencie of them both for the man would neuer shift himselfe except he had firste caused the woman to depart out of his Cabin and they both were most shaâ—â— fast least anye of their priuie parts should bée discouered eyther of themselues or any other body On Monday the sixth of August the Lieutenante wyth all the Souldyers for the better garde of the Myners and the other things a shore pitched their tents in the Countessâ—â— Ilande and fortifyed the place for their better defence as well as they could and were to the number of forty persons when being all at labour they might perceyue vppon the toppe of a hill ouer against them a number of the countrey people wasting with a flagge and making great out cryes vnto them and were of the same companie whyche had encountred lately our men vpon the other shore béeing come to complayne their late losses and to entreate as it seemed for restitution of the Woman and Chylde whyche our men in the late conflict had taken and brought away wherevpon the Generall taking the sauage Captiue with him and setting the Woman where they mighte best perceyue hir in the highest place of the Ilande wente ouer to talke with them Thys Captiue at the fyrste encountrie of hys friendes fell so out into teares that he coulde not speake a worde in a greate space but after a whyle ouercomming his kyndnesse hée talked at full wyth hys companyons and bestowed friendly vppon them suche toyes and trifles as we hadde gyuen hym whereby we noted that they are verie kynde one to the other and greately sorowfull for the losse of their friendes Oure Generall by signes requyred hys fyue men whyche they tooke Captiue the last yeare and promised them not only to releasse those whyche hée hadde taken but also to rewarde them wyth greate giftes and friendship Our Sauage made signes in aunswere from them that oure men shoulde bée delyuered vs and were yet lyuing and made signes lykewise vnto vs that wee shoulde write oure letters vnto them for they knâ—we very well the vse wée haue of writting and receyued knowledge thereof eyther of oure poore Captiue Countreâ—men whyche they betrayed or else by thys oure newe â—aptiue who hathe séene vs dayâ—y write and â—epeate agayne suche wordes of hâ—s language as we desâ—red to learne but they for thys nyghte bycause it was 〈◊〉 departed without any letter although theâ— called â—arneâ—â—lie in hast for the same And the nexte mornyng earâ—lie beeyng the seauenth of August they called agayne for the Letter whyche béeyng delyuered vnto them they spéedily departed makyng signes wyth thrée fingers and poyntyng to the Sunne that they meante to returne wythin thrée dayes vntâ—ll whyche tyme wée hearde no more of them and aboute the tyme appoynted they returned in suche â—orte as you shall afterwardes heare Thys nyghte bycause the people were very néere vnto vs the Lieutenaunte caused the Trumpet to sounde a call and euerie man in the Ilande repayring to the â—untiente hée putte them in mynde of the place so farre from theyr Countrey wherein they lyued and the daunger of a multitude whyche they were subiect vnto if good watche and wâ—rde were not kepte for at euerie lowe water the Enimie myghte come aâ—most dryfoote from the mayne vnto vs wherefore hée wylled euerye man to prepare hym in good
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
in the mouth of Frobishers straytes whiche coulde by no meanes haue bin so brought thither neyther by winde nor tide being lost so many leagues off if by force of the sayde Currant the same had not bin violently brought For if the same hadde bin brought thither by the tyde of fludde looke how farre in the said fludde had caried it the ebbe woulde haue recaryed it as farre backe agayne and by the winde it could not so come to passe bycause it was then sometime calme and most times contrary And some Marriners doe affyrme that they haue diligently obserued that there runneth in this place nine houres floud to thrée ebbe which may thus come to passâ— by 〈◊〉 oâ— the saide currant for whereas the Sea in most places oâ— the world doth more or lesse ordinarily ebbe and flow once euery tweâ—ue houres with sixe houres ebbe and siâ—e houres floud so also would it doe there were it not for the violenâ—e of this hastning currant which forceth the â—loud to mâ—ke appearance to beginne before his ordinary time one houre and a halfe and also to continue longer than his natural course by an other houre and a halfe â—ntil the foâ—ce of the ebbe be so greate that it will no longer bâ— resisted according to the saying Naturam expellas furca liâ—â—t â—â—men vsq recurrit Although nature and nâ—turall courses be forced and resisted neuer so muche yet at lâ—ste it will haue their own sway â—gaâ—ne Moreouer it is not possible that so great course of flouds and currant so highe swelling tides with continuaunce of so déepe waters can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some open Sea beyonde thâ—s place which argueth the more likelihood of the passâ—ge to be hereaboutes Also we suppose these great indrafts do growe and are made by the reueâ—beration and reflection of that same Currant whiche at oure comming by Irelande mette and crossed us of whiche in the firste parte of this discourse I spake whyche comming from the bay of Mexico passing by and washing the Southweast parts of Ireland rebouÌ„deth ouer to the Northest parts of the world as Norway Islande c. where not finding any passage to an open Sea but rather is there encreased by a new accesse and another Currant meéeting with it from the Scythian Sea passing the bay of Saint Nicholas Westwarde doeth once againe rebound backe by the coasts of Groenland and from thence vppon Frobishers straites being to the Southwestwardes of the same 5 And if that principle of Philosophie be true that Inferiora corpora reguntur à superioribus that is if inferior bodies be gouerned ruled and caried after the maner and course of the superiors theÌ„ the water being an inferior Element muste néedes be gouerned after the superior Heauen and so to followe the course of Primum mobile from East to Weast 6 But euerye man that hathe written or considered anye thing of this passage hath more doubted the retourne by the same way by reason of a greate downefall of water whyche they imagine to be thereaboutes which we also by experience partly find than any mistruste they haue of the same passage at all For we find as it were a great downfall in this place but yet not suche but that we may return althoughe with muche adoe For we were easilyer caried in in one houre than we coulde gette forth againe in thrée Also by an other experience at an other time we founde thys currant to deceiue vs in this sort That whereas we supposed to bée 15. leagues off and lying a hull we were brought within .2 leagues of the shoare contrarie to al expectation Oure menne that sayled furthest in the same mistaken straites hauing the maine lande vppon their starboorde side affyrme that they mette with the outlet or passage of water whiche commeth thorowe Frobyshers straites and followeth as all one into this passage Some of oure companye also affyrme that they hadde sight of a contineÌ„t vpon their larbordside being .60 leagues within the supposed straites howbeit excepte certaine Ilandes in the entraunce hereof we could make no part perfect thereof All the foresaid tract of land séemeth to be more fruitful and better stored of Grasse Déere Wilde foule as Partridges Larkes Seamews Guls Wilmots FalcoÌ„s and tassell Gentils Rauens Beares Hares Foxes and other things than any other parte we haue yet discouered is more populous And here Luke Ward a Gentleman of the company traded merchandise did exchange kniues bells looking glasses c. with those countrey people who brought him foule fishe beares skinnes and suche like as their couÌ„trey yéeldeth for the same Here also they saw of those greater boates of the Country with twentie persons in a péece Nowe after the Generall hadde bestowed these manye dayes here not without many daungers he returned backe againe And by the way sayling alongest this coaste being the backeside of the supposed continent of America and the Queenes forelande he perceiued a great sounde to goe thorowe into Frobyshers straites Wherevppon he sente the Gabriell the one and twentith of Iuly to proue whether they mighte go thorowe and méete againe with him in the straites whiche they did and as we imagined befoâ—e so the Queenes forelande proued an Ilande as I thinke most of these supposed continentes will. And so he departed towardes the straites thinking it were highe time nowe to recouer hys Porte and to prouide the fléete of their lading wherof he was not a little carefull as shall by the processe and his resolute attempts appeare And in his returne with the rest of the fléete he was so entangled by reason of the darke fogge amongest a number of Ilandes and broken ground that lyeth of this coast that many of the ships came ouer the top of rocks which presently after they might percâ—iue to ly a drie hauyng not halfe a foote water more than some of their ships did draw And by reason they coulde not with a small gale of wind stem the force of the floud wherby to go cleare of the rocks they were faine to let an ancker fall with twoo bent of Cable togither at a C. and odde fadome deapth where otherwise they hadde bin by the force of the tides caried vpon the rocks again perished so that if God in these fortunes as a merciful guyde beyond the expectatioÌ„ of man had not caried vs thorow we had surely more than .x. M. times perished amiddest these dangers For being many times driuen harde aboorde the shoare withoute any sighte of lande vntill we were readye to make shipwracke thereon héeyng forced commonlye with oure boates to sounde before oure shippes leaste we might light thereon before we coulde discerne the same It pleased God to giue vs a cleare of Sunne and light for a shorte time to sée and auoide thereby the daunger hauing bin continuallye darke before and presently after Manye times also by meanes of fogge and currants
forward the Ship and so the Ship bearing before hir the yse so one yse driuing forward another should at leÌ„gth get scope searoome And hauing by this meanes at length put their enimies to slight occupyed the cléere place for a prettie season among sundry Mountaynes and Alpes of Ise. One there was founde by measure to be .65 fadome aboue water which for a kind of similitude was called Salomons porch Some thinke those Ilands eight times so muche vnder water as they are aboue bycause of their moÌ„strous weight But now I remeÌ„ber I saw very strange wonders men walking running leaping shoting vpon the maine seas .40 miles from any land without any Shippe or other vessell vnder them Also I saw fresh Riuers running amidst the salt Sea a hundred myle from land which if any man will not beléeue let him know that mâ—ny of our company lept out of their Shippe vppon Ilandes of Ise and running there vppe and downe did shoote at buttes vppon the Ise and with their Caliuers did kill greate Ceales whicâ—e vâ—e to lye and sléepe vpon the Ise and thâ—s Ise melting aboue at the toppe by reâ—lection of the Sunne came downe in sundrye streames whyche vniting togither made a prettie brooke able to driue a Mill. The sayd Captayne Fenton recouered his Porte tenne dayes before any man and spente good time in searchyng for mine and found good store thereof which bycause it proued good was after called Fentons Fortune He also discouered aboute tenne Miles vp into the Countrey where he perceyued neyther Towne Uillage nor likelyhode of habitatiâ—n but séemeth as he sayth barrennous as the other parts which as yet we haue entred vpon but their victuals and prouision went so scante with them that they had determined to returne homeward within seauen dayes after if the Fléete had not then arriued The Generall after his arriual in the CouÌ„tesses sound spent no time in vayne but immediately at his first laÌ„ding called the chiefe Captaynes of his Councell togither and consulted with them for the spéedier executioÌ„ of such things as then they had in hand As first for searching and finding out good Minerall for the Miners to be occupyed on Then to giue good orders to be obserued of the whole company on shore And lastly to consider for the erecting vp the Forte and House for the vse of them whiche were to abide there the whole yeare For the better handling of these and all other like important causes in this seruice it was ordeined from hir Maiestie and the Councell that the Generall should call vnto him certayne of the chiefe Captaynes and GentlemeÌ„ in councell to coÌ„ferre consult and determine of al occurreÌ„ts in this seruice whose names are here as folow Captayne Fenton Captayne Yorke Captayne Best Captayne Carew Captayne Philpot. And in Sea causes â—o haue as assistants Christopher Hâ—l and Câ—arles IackmaÌ„ â—eing both very gooâ— Pyloâ—s 〈…〉 ficient Mariners wheâ—eof â—he one was chiâ—fâ— Pylot of â—he voyage and the other for the discouerie From the place oâ— our habitation weastward Maister Selmâ—n was appointed Notarie to register the whole manner of procéeding â—n these affaires that true relation thereof might be made iâ— it pleased hir Maiâ—stie to require it The first of August euery Captaine by order from the General his counsell was commaunded to bring ashore vnto the Counâ—esses Iland al such gâ—ntlemen soulâ—iouâ—s and Myners as were vnder their charge with suchâ— prouision as they had of victuals tents and things necessarye for the spéedie getting togither of Mine and fraught for the shippes The Muster of the men being taken and the victuals with all other things viewed and considered euery maÌ„ was set to his charge as his place and office required The Myners were appointed where to worke and the Mariners discharged their shippes Uppon the seconde of August was published and proclaymed vppon the Countesse of Warwickes Iland with sound of Trumpet certain orders by the general and hys counsel appointed to be obserued of the companye during the time of their abiding there The copie whereof here followeth Orders set down by M. Frobisher Esquire Captaine Generall for the voyage to Cataya to be obserued of the companie during the timâ— of thâ—ir abode in Meta Incognitâ— Pâ—blâ—shed the second day of August Anno .1578 1 IN primis the Generall in hir Maiesties name straightly chargeth and commaundeth that no person or persons with Boate nor Pinnesse shall go ashoare for any cause but to the Countesse of Warwickes Ilande and Winters Fornace without licence of the general or his deputies And if they fortune at anye time hauing licence to méete with any of the Countrey people that they shall not enter into any conference or armes wyth them vntyl they haue giuen intelligence thereof to the Generall or hys Lieutenaunt 2 Item that no person of what calling soeuer he bée shal make an assay of any maner of mettal matter or Ore in the partes nowe called Meta Incognita but only suche as shal be appointed by the General or in his absence by his Lieutenaunt to doe the same nor that anye person shall take vp and kepe to his priuate vse anye parte or parcel of Ore pretious stone or other matter of commoditie to be had or founde in that lande but he the sayde person so seased of such Ore stone or other matter of commoditie shall with al spéede as soone as he can detect the same and make deliuerie thereof to the Generall or his Lieuetenaunt Generall vppon paine to forfaite for euerye suche ounce thereof the value treble of anye wages he is to receiue after the daye of such offence committed And further to receyue suche punishmente as to hyr Maiestie shall séeme good 3 Item that no shippe or shippes shall take vppon them to loade any manner of Ore without licence of the General or he that shal be appointed deputie for him for the view of the same 4 Item that all the Maisters of euerye shippe or shippes within the Fleete shal vpon Mundaye next comming by foure of the clocke in the morning wyth all the moste parte of theyr companies make theyr repayre to the Countesses Ilande aforesayde there to viewe and make suche places for loading and vnloading of Ore and other thyngs as shall be moste commodious and méete for that purpose 5 Item that no person or persons within this seruice by sea or lâ—nde shall vse anye discouered spéeches swearyng brauling or cursing vppon payne of imprysonmente 6 Item that no person or persons eyther by Sea or lande shal drawe his or theyr weapons in quarrellyng manner to the intente to offende or disturbe the quiete of anye person or persons wythin thys seruice vppon paine that being so taken he or they whatsoeuer immediately to loose his right hande 7 Item that no person or persons shall washe their handes or anye other things in the Spring vppon the Countesses Ilande where the water is vsed and preserued for the dressing
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
that shall be appoynted to call for them vpon payne or losse of his or their wages and treble the value of them or him that shall be founde giltie the one halfe thereof to be giuen vnto him that shal apprehend any suche person and the other halfe at hir Maiesties appoyntmeÌ„t and the partie found guiltie therein to be apprehended as a fellon 4 Item that no person or persoos conuey or carrie out of any Ship or Shippes any Ore or stone or other commoditie whatsoeuer were had or found in the land called Meta Incognita before they come in the place appoynted which is against Dartford créeke in the Riuer of Thames and then and there to deliuer none to anye person or persons but such as shall be appoynted by hir Highnesse most honorable priuie Counsell vpon the payne and danger abouesayd 5 Item forasmuche as in my voyage hither bounde I landed vpon Freeseland and diuers other of the said Fléete which land I named West England from which laÌ„d some brought stones Ore and other coÌ„modities whereby hereafter they might vse coulorable meanes to conuey as well Ore stones and other things found in the abouesayd land I do therefore charge euery person and persons in the sayd Fléete to deliuer or cause to be deliuered al maner of Ore stones and other commodities founde as well there as héere to the Captaynes of euery Shippe or Shippes to be redeliuered by him or them to the Generall vpon payne and danger abouesayd 6 Item that if any Shippe or Shippes by force of weather shall be separated from the Admirall and afterwards happen to fall or shall be in danger to fall into the handes of their enimies that then all and euery suche Shippe or Shippes shall haue speciall regard before his falling into theyr handes to conuey away and cast into the Seas all soche plattes or Cardes as shall be in any suche Shippe or Shippes of the abouesayde discouered lande and all other kâ—â—wleâ—â—es thereof 7 Item that if any such Shippe or Shippes by force of weather shall be separated from the Fléete or Admirall and shall afterwardes arriue at any Port in England that then in suche case he shall not depart from that Porte but shall giue order and aduertisemente to Michaell Locke Treasourer of the companye by whome hée or they shall haue order from the Lordes of the priuie Councell what they shall do 8 Item forasmuch as sundry of the Fléetes companies haue had lent theÌ„ Crowes of Iron â—ledges pikeares shouels spades hatchets aâ—es and diuers other instrumentes for Mines and mining vsâ—d And also dyuers of the sayde kind of instruments aboue named was lefte at the Countesse of Suâ—lex Mine by the Aydes companye and are yet kept from their knowledge by such as wrought at the sayd Mâ—ne which instruments do apperteyne to the righte honorable and worshipfull company of the abouesayde discouerie I do therefore charge all Captaynes and Maysters of euery Shippe or Shippes to make it knowen to his or their companyes to the end that all such instrumentes as well those lente as those that are otherwise deteyned and kept away may be agayne restored and broughte aboord the Admirall vpon payne and danger expressed in the third Article By me Martin Frobisher The Fleetes returning homevvard HAuing nowe receyued Articles and direction for oure returne homewardes all other things being in forwardnesse and in good order the last day of August the whole Fléete departed from the Countesses sound excepting the Iudith and the Anne Frances who stayed for the taking in of fresh water and came forth the next daye and mette the Fléete lying off and on athwart Beares sounde who stayed for the Generall which then was gone ashore to dispatch the two Barkes and the Busse of Bridewater for their loading whereby to get the companyes and other things aboorde The Captayne of the Anne Frances hauing most part of his company ashore the first of September went also to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch hys men aboorde but the winde grew so great immediately vppon their landing that the Shippes at Sea were in great danger and some of them hardly put from their Anckers and greately feared to be vtterly lost as the Hopewell wherein was Captayne Carew and others who could not tell on which side their danger was most for hauing mightie Rockes threatning on the one side and driuing Ilands of cutting Ise on the otherside they greatly feared to make shipwrack the Ise driuing so neare theÌ„ that it touched their borde sprete And by meanes of the sea that was growne so hie they were not able to put to seas with their smal Pynnesses to recouer their shippes And againe the ships were not able to tarrie or lye athwarte for them by meanes of the outrageous windes swelling seas The General willed the Captaine of the Anne France with his companye for that nighte to lodge aboorde the Busse of Bridgewater went himself with the rest of his men aborde the barkes But their numbers were so great and the prouision of the Barkes so scant that they pestered one another excéedingly They had good hope that the nexte morning the weather woulde be fayre wherby they might recouer their shippes But in the morning following it was farre worse for the storme continâ—ed greater the sea being more swollen the Fléete gone quite out of sighte So that now their doubts beganne to growe great for the ship of Bridgewater which was of greatest receit and wherof they had best hope and made most accompt roade so far to leewarde of the harborow mouth that they were not able for the rockes that lay betwéene the winde and them to leade it out to sea with a sayle And the Barkes were so alreadie pestered with meÌ„ and so slenderly furnished of prouision that they had scarce meate for sixe dayes for such numbers The Generall in the morning departed to sea in the Gabriel to seke for the Fléete leauing the Busse of Bridgewater and the Michael behinde in Beâ—res sound The Busse set sayle and thought by turning in the narrowe channell within the harborow to get to windewarde but bâ—ing put to léewarde more by that meanes was fayne to come to Ancker for hir better safetie amongst a number of rockes and there left in great danger of euer getting forth againe The Michaell set sayle to follow the Generall and could giue the Busse no reliefe although they earnestly desired the same And the Captaine of the Anne Frances was leâ—â—e in haâ—de election of two euils either to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater which was doubtfull of euer getting forthe or else to be towed in his smal Pinnesse at the sâ—â—rne of the Michael thorow the raging seas for that the Barke was not able to receiue or releeue halfe his company wherin his daunger was not a little perillous So after resolued to committe himselfe withall his company vnto that fortune of God and sea hée was
thing of vs They delight in Musicke aboue measure and will kepe time and stroke to any tune which you shal sing both with their voyce heade hande and féete and wyll sing the same tune aptlye after you They will rowe with our Ores in our boates and kepe a true stroke with oure Mariners and séeme to take great delight therein They liue in Caues of the Earth and hunte for their dinners or praye euen as the Beare or other wilde beastes do They eate rawe fleshe and fishe and refuse no meate howsoeuer it be stincking They are desperate in their fighte sullen of nature and rauenous in their manner of féeding Their sullen and desperate nature doth herein manifestly appeare that a companie of them being enuironed of our men on the toppe of a hie cliffe so that they coulde by no meanes escape our handes finding themselues in this câ—se distressed chose rather to cast themselues hâ—â—dlong downe the rockes into the Sea and so to be bruseâ— and drowned rather than to yeelde themselues to our mens mercies For their weapons to offende their enâ—â—ies or kill their pray withâ—l they haue Dartes slings bowes and arrows headed with sharp stones bones and some with yron They are exceeding friendly and kinde harted one to the other mourne greatly at the losse or harme of their fellowes and expresse their griefe of minde when they paâ—t one from an other with a mournefull song and Dirges They are very shamefast in bewraying the secretes of nature and verye chaste in the maner of their liuing for wheÌ„ the maÌ„ which we brought froÌ„ thence into England the last voyage should put of his coat or discouer his whole body for chaÌ„ge he would not suffer the woman to be present but put hir forth of hys Cabyn And in all the space of two or thrée monethes while the man liued in companie of the woman there was neuer any thing séene or perceiued betwéene them more than might haue passed betwéene brother and sister but the woman was in all things very seruiceable for the man attending him carefully when he was sicke and he likewise in al the meates whiche they did eate togither would carue vnto hir of the swéetest fattest and best morsels they had They wondred muche at all our things and were afraide of our horses and other beastes out of measure They beganne to growe more ciuill familiar pleasaunt and doâ—ibâ—e amongst vs in a verye shorte time They haue boates made of leather and couered cleane ouer sauing one place in the middle to sit in plaÌ„cked within with timber and they vse to rowe therein with one Ore more swiftly a great deale than we in our boates can doe with twentie They haue one sort of greater boates wherin they can carrie aboue twentie persons and haue a Mast with a Sayle thereon whiche Sayle is made of thinne Skinnes or bladders sowed togither with the sinewes of fishes They are good fishermen and in their small Boates béeing disguised with their coates of Ceales skinnes they deceyue the Fishe who take them rather for their fellowe Ceales than for deceyuing men They are good marke men With their dart or arrowe they will commonly kill Ducke or any other foule in the head and commonly in the eye When they shoote at a greate fishe with anye of theyr Dartes they vse to tye a bladder therevnto whereby they may the better finde them agayne and the fishe not able to carrie it so easily away for that the bladder dothe boy the darte will at length be wéerie and dye therewith They vse to traffike and exchange their commodities with some other people of whome they haue such things as their miserable Countrey and ignorance of arte to make denyeth them to haue as barres of iron heads of iron for their dartes néedles made fouresquare certayne buttons of copper whiche they vse to weare vppon theyr forheads for ornament as our Ladyes in the Court of England do vse great pearle Also they haue made signes vnto vs that they haue sene gold and such bright plates of mettals whiche are vsed for ornaments amongst some people with whome they haue conference We fouÌ„d also in their tents a Guinney Beane of redde couloure the which dothe vsually grow in the hote Countreys whereby it appéereth they trade with other Nations whiche dwell farre off or else themselues are greate trauellers They haue nothing in vse among them to make fyre withall sauing a kind of Heath and Mosse which groweth there And they kindle their fyre with continuall rubbing and fretting one sticke againste an other as we do with flints They drawe with dogges in sleads vpon the Ise and remoue their tents therwithal wherein they dwel in soÌ„mer when they goe a hunting for their praye and prouision againste Winter They do sometime parboyle their meate a little and séeth the same in kettles made of beasts skins they haue also pannes cutte and made of stone very artificially they vse preaty ginnes wherewith they take foule The women carry their sucking children at their backes and doe féede them with rawe fleshe whiche firste they doe a â—ittle chawe in their mouths The women haue their faces marked or painted ouer with small blewe spottes they haue blacke and long haire on their heades and trimme the same in a decent order The men haue but little haire on their faces and very thinne beardes For their common drincke they eate Ise to quench their thirst withal Their earth yéeldeth no graine or fruite of sustenaunce for man or almost for beast to liue vppon and the people will eate grasse and shrubs of the grounde euen as oure Kine doâ— They haue no woodde growing in theyr countrey thereaboutes and yet wée finde they haue some timber among them whiche we thinke doth grow farre off to the Southwardes of this place about Canada or some other part of newe founde land for there belike the trées standing on the cliffes of the Sea side by the waight of Ise and snowe in Winter ouercharging them with waighte when the Sommers thawe commeth aboue and also the Sea vnderfretting them beneath whiche winneth daylye of the land they are vndermined and fall down from those cliffes into the Sea and with the tydes and currants are driuen to and fro vpon the coastes further off and by coniecture are taken vppe here by these countrie people to serue them to plancke and strengthen their boates withall and to make dartes bowes and arrowes and suche other things necessarie for their vse And of this kind of drift woodde wée finde all the Seas ouer great store whiche being â—utte or sawed asunder by reason of long driuing in the Sea is eaten of wormes and full of hoales of whych sorte their 's is founde to be We haue not yet founde anye venomous Serpent or other hurtefull thing in these partes but there is a kinde of small flye or gnat that stingeth and offendeth sorelye leauing many red spots in they face other