the countrey, that those that would land there, incur great danger. Our
Generall 3. dayes together attempted with the ship boate to haue gone on
shoare, which for that without great danger he could not accomplish, he
deferred it vntill a more conuenient time. All along the coast lie very
high mountains covered with snow, except in such places, where through the
steepenes of the mountaines of force it must needs fall. Foure dayes
coasting along this land, we found no signe of habitation. [Sidenote:
Friseland subiect to fogge.] Little birds, whiche we iudged to haue lost
the shore, by reason of thicke fogges which that Countrey is much subiect
vnto, came flying into our ships, which causeth vs to suppose, that the
Countrey is both more tollerable, and also habitable within, then the
outward shore maketh shew or signification.[52]
From hence we departed the eight of Iuly: and the 16. of the same, we came
with the making of land, which land our Generall the yeere before had named
The Queenes foreland, being an Island as we iudge, lying neere the supposed
continent with America: and on the other side, opposite to the same, one
other Island called Halles Isle, after the name of the Master of the ship,
neere adiacent to the firme land, supposed continent with Asia. [Sidenote:
Frobishers streight.] Betweene the which two Islands there is a large
entrance or streight, called Frobishers streight,[53] after the name of our
Generall, the firste finder thereof. This said streight is supposed to haue
passage into the sea of Sur, which I leaue vnknowen as yet.
It seemeth that either here, or not farre hence, the sea should haue more
large entrance, then in other parts within the frozen or vntemperate Zone:
and that some contrary tide, either from the East or West, with maine force
casteth out that great quantity of yce, which commeth floting from this
coast, euen vnto Friseland, causing that Countrey to seeme more vntemperate
then others, much more Northerly then the same.
I cannot iudge that any temperature vnder the Pole, the time of the Sunnes
Northerne declination being halfe a yere together, and one whole day,
(considering that the Sunnes eleuation surmounteth not 23. degrees and 30.
minuts) can haue power to [Sidenote: Islands of yce comparable to
mountaines.] dissolue such monstrous and huge yce, comparable to great
mountaines, except by some other force, as by swift currents and tides,
with the hope of the said day of halfe a yeere.
Before we came within the making of these lands we tasted cold stormes, in
so much that it seemed we had changed summer with winter, if the length of
the dayes had not remooued vs from that opinion.
[Sidenote: Captaine Frobisher his speciall care and diligence for the
benefite of his Prince and Countrey.] At our first comming, the straights
seemed to be shut vp with a long mure of yce, which gaue no litle cause of
discomfort vnto vs all: but our Generall, (to whose diligence imminent
dangers, and difficult attempts seemed nothing, in respect of his willing
mind, for the commoditie of his Prince and Countrey,) with two little
Pinnesses prepared of purpose, passed twise thorow them to the East shore,
and the Ilands thereunto adiacent: and the ship, with the two Barks lay off
and on something further into the sea, from the danger of the yce.
[Sidenote: The order of the people appearing on shoare.] Whilest he was
searching the Countrey neere the shoare, some of the people of the Countrey
shewed themselues leaping and dauncing, with strange shrikes and cries,
which gaue no little admiration to our men. Our Generall desirous to allure
them vnto him by faire meanes, caused kniues, and other things to be
profered vnto them, which they would not take at our hands: but being laid
on the ground, and the party going away, they came and tooke vp, leauing
some thing of theirs to counteruaile the same. [Sidenote: Fierce and bold
people.] At the length two of them leauing their weapons, came downe to our
Generall and Master, who did the like to them, commanding the company to
stay, and went vnto them: who after certaine dumbe signes, and mute
congratulations, began to lay handes vpon them, but they deliuerly escaped,
and ranne to their bowes and arrowes, and came fiercely vpon them, (not
respecting the rest of our companie which were readie for their defence,)
but with their arrowes hurt diuers of them: [Sidenote: One taken.] we tooke
the one, and the other escaped.
Whilest our Generall was busied in searching the Countrey, and those
Islands adiacent on the Eastshoare, the ship and barkes hauing great care,
not to put farre into the sea from him, for that he had small store of
victuals, were forced to abide in a cruell tempest, chancing in the night,
amongst and in the thickest of the yce, which was so monstrous, that euen
the least of a thousand had bene of force sufficient, to haue shiuered our
ship and barks into small portions, if God (who in all necessities, hath
care vpon the infirmitie of man) had not prouided for this our extremitie a
sufficient remedie through the light of the night, whereby we might well
discerne to flee from such imminent dangers, which we auoyded with 14.
Bourdes in one watch the space of 4 houres. [Sidenote: Richard Cox, Master
gunner. Master Iackman. Andrew Dier.] If we had not incurred this danger
amongst those monstrous Islands of yce, we should haue lost our Generall
and Master, and the most of our best sailers, which were on shoare
destitute of victuals: but by the valure of our Master Gunner, Master
Iackman, and Andrew Dier, the Masters Mates, men expert both in nauigation,
and other good qualities, wee were all content to incurre the dangers afore
rehearsed, before we would with our owne safetie, runne into the seas, to
the destruction of our sayd Generall, and his company.
The day following, being the 19. of Iulie, our captaine returned to the
ship, with report of supposed riches, which shewed it selfe in the bowels
of those barren mountaines, wherewith wee were all satisfied.
[Sidenote: Iackmans sound.] Within foure daies after we had bene at the
entrance of the streights, the Northwest and West winds dispersed the yce
into the sea, and made vs a large entrance into the streights, so that
without any impediment, on the 19. of Iulie we entred them, and the 20.
thereof, our Generall and Master with great diligence, sought out and
sounded the West shoare, and found out a faire Harborough for the ship and
barkes to ride in, and named it after our Masters mate, Iackmans sound, and
brought the ship, barkes and all their company to safe anker, except one
man, which died by Gods visitation.
At our first arriuall, after the ship rode at anker, our generall, with
such company as could well be spared from the ships, in marching order
entred the lande, hauing speciall care by exhortations, that at our
entrance thereinto, wee should all with one voyce, kneeling vpon our knees,
chiefly thanke God for our safe arriuall: secondly beseech him, that it
would please his diuine Maiestie, long to continue our Queene, for whom he,
and all the rest of our company in this order tooke possession of the
[Sidenote: Possession taken.] Countrey: and thirdly, that by our Christian
studie and endeuour, those barbarous people trained vp in Paganisme, and
infidelitie, might be reduced to the knowledge of true religion, and to the
hope of saluation in Christ our Redeemer. With other words very apt to
signifie his willing mind, and affection toward his Prince and Countrey:
whereby all suspicion of an vndutifull subiect, may credibly be iudged to
be vtterly exempted from his mind. All the rest of the Gentlemen and other
deserue worthily herein their due praise and commendation.
These things in this order accomplished, our Generall commanded all the
company to be obedient in things needfull for our owne safegard, to Master
Fenton, Master Yorke, and Master Beast his Lieutenant, while he was
occupied in other necessarie affaires, concerning our comming thither.
After this order we marched through the Countrey, with Ensigne displaied,
so farre as was thought needfull, and now and then heaped vp stones on high
mountaines, and other places in token of possession, as likewise to
signifie vnto such as hereafter may chance to arriue there, that possession
is taken in the behalfe of some other Prince, by those who first found out
the Countrey.
[Sidenote: Yce needfull to be regarded of sea faring men.] Who so maketh
nauigations to those Countreys, hath not onely extreme winds, and furious
sea to encounter withall, but also many monstrous and great Islands of yce;
a thing both rare, wonderfull, and greatly to be regarded.
We were forced sundry times, while the ship did ride here at anker, to haue
continuall watch, with boats and men ready with halsers to knit fast vnto
such yce, as with the ebbe and flood were tossed to and fro in the
harborough, and with force of oares to hale them away, for endangering the
ship.
Our Generall certaine dayes searched this supposed continent with America,
and not finding the commodity to answere his expectation, after he had made
triall thereof he departed thence with two little barks, and men sufficient
to the East shore being the supposed continent of Asia, and left the ship
with most of the Gentlemen, souldier, and sailers, vntill such time as he
either thought good to send or come for them.
[Sidenote: Stones glister with sparkles like gold.] The stones of this
supposed continent with America be altogether sparkled, and glister in the
Sunne like gold: [Sidenote: A common prouerb.] so likewise doth the sand in
the bright water, yet they verifie the old Prouerb: All is not gold that
glistereth.
[Sidenote: The sea Vnicorne.] On this West shore we found a dead fish
floating, which had in his nose a horne streight and torquet,[54] of length
two yards lacking two ynches, being broken in the top, where we might
perceiue it hollow, into the which some of our sailers putting spiders they
presently died. I saw not the triall hereof, but it was reported vnto me of
a trueth: by the verture whereof we supposed it to be the sea Vnicorne.
After our Generall had found out good harborough for the ship and barks to
anker in, and also such store of supposed gold ore as he thought himselfe
satisfied withall, he returned to the Michael, whereof Master Yorke
aforesaid was Captaine, accompanied with our master and his Mate: who
coasting along the West shore not farre from whence the ship rode, they
perceived a faire harborough, and willing to sound the same, at the
entrance thereof they espied two tents of Seale skins, vnto which the
Captaine, our said Master, and other company resorted. [Sidenote: The
people fled at the sight of our men.] At the sight of our men the people
fled into the mountaines: neuerthelesse they went to their tents, where
leauing certaine trifles of ours, as glasses, bels, kniues, and such like
things they departed, not taking any thing of theirs, except one dogge.
They did in like maner leaue behind them a letter, pen, yncke, and paper,
whereby our men whom the Captaine lost the yere before, and in that peoples
custody, might (if any of them were aliue) be advertised of our presence
and being there.
[Sidenote: Master Philpot. Master Beast.] On the same day after
consultation had, all the Gentlemen, and others likewise that could be
spared from the ship, vnder the conduct and leading of Master Philpot,
(vnto whom in our Generall his absence, and his Lieutenant Master Beast, al
the rest were obedient) went a shore, determining to see, if by faire means
we could either allure them to familiarity, or otherwise take some of them,
and so attaine to some knowledge of those men whom our Generall lost the
yeere before.
At our comming backe againe to the place where their tents were before,
they had remooued their tents further into the said Bay or Sound, where
they might if they were driuen from the land, flee with their boates into
the sea. We parting our selues into two companies, and compassing a
mountaine came suddenly vpon them by land, who espying vs, without any
tarrying fled to their boates, leauing the most part of their oares behind
them for haste, and rowed downe the bay, where our two Pinesses met them
and droue them to shore: but if they had had all their oares, so swift are
they in rowing, it had bene lost time to haue chased them.
[Sidenote: A fierce assault of a few.] When they were landed they fiercely
assaulted our men with their bowes and arrowes, who wounded three of them
with our arrowes; and perceiuing themselues thus hurt, they desperatly
leapt off the Rocks into the Sea, and drowned themselues: which if they had
not done, but had submitted themselues, or if by any meanes we could haue
taken them aliue (being their enemies as they iudged) we would both haue
saued them, and also haue sought remedy to cure their wounds receiued at
our hands. But they altogether voyd of humanity, and ignorant what mercy
meaneth, in extremities looke for no other then death: and perceiuing they
should fall into our hands, thus miserably by drowning rather desired death
then otherwise to be saued by vs: the rest perceiuing their fellowes in
this distresse, fled into the high mountaines. Two women not being so apt
to escape as the men were, the one for her age, and the other being
incombred with a yong child, we tooke. The old wretch, whom diuers of our
Saylers supposed to be eyther a deuill, or a witch, had her buskins plucked
off, to see if she were clouen footed, and for her ougly hew and deformity
we let her go: the yong woman and the child we brought away. We named the
place where they were slaine, Bloodie point: and the Bay or Harborough,
Yorks sound, after the name of one of the Captaines of the two Barks.
[Sidenote: Faire meanes not able to allure them to familiarity.] Having
this knowledge both of their fiercenesse and cruelty, and perceiuing that
faire meanes as yet is not able to allure them to familiarity, we disposed
our selues, contrary to our inclination, something to be cruel, returned to
their tents and made a spoyle of the same: where we found an old shirt, a
doublet, a girdle, and also shoes of our men, whom we lost the yeere
before: on nothing else vnto them belonging could we set our eyes.
[Sidenote: Boates of skinnes.] Their riches are not gold, siluer or
precious Drapery, but their tents and boates, made of the skins of red
Deare and Seale skins; also dogges like vnto woolues, but for the most part
black, with other trifles, more to be wondred at for their strangenesse,
then for any other commoditie needefull for our vse.
[Sidenote: Our departure from the West shoare.] Thus returning to our ship
the 3. August, we departed from the West shore supposed firme with America,
after we had ankered there 13. dayes: and so the 4. thereof we came to our
Generall on the East shore and ankered in a faire Harborough name Anne
Warwickes sound, vnto which is annexed an Island both named after the
Countesse of Warwicke, Anne Warwickes sound and Isle.
In this Isle our Generall thought good for this voyage, to fraight both the
ship and barkes, with such stone or supposed gold minerall, as he iudged to
counteruaile the charges of his first, and this his second nauigation to
these Countreys.
[Sidenote: The countrey people shew themselues vnto vs.] In the meane time
of our abode here some of the countrey people came to shew themselues vnto
vs, sundry times on the maine shore, neere adiacent to the saide Isle. Our
Generall desirous to haue some newes of his men, whom he lost the yeere
before, with some company with him repaired with the ship boat to common,
or signe with them for familiaritie, whereunto he is perswaded to bring
them. They at the first shew made tokens, that three of his fiue men were
aliue, and desired penne, ynck, and paper, and that within three or foure
dayes they would returne, and (as we iudged) bring those of our men which
were liuing, with them.
They also made signes or tokens of their king, whom they called Cacough,
and how he was carried on mens shoulders, and a man farre surmounting any
of our company, in bignesse and stature.
[Sidenote: Their vsage in traffique or exchange.] With these tokens and
signes of writing, penne, yncke, and paper was deliuered them, which they
would not take at our hands, but being laid vpon the shore, and the partie
gone away, they tooke vp: which likewise they do when they desire any thing
for change of theirs, laying for that which is left so much as they thinke
will counteruaile the same, and not coming neere together. It seemeth they
haue been vsed to this trade or traffique, with some other people
adioining, or not farre distant from their Countrey.
[Sidenote: The people shew themselues the third time.] After 4. dayes some
of them shewed themselues vpon the firme land, but not where they were
before. Our General very glad thereof, supposing to heare of our men, went
from the Island, with the boat, and sufficient company with him. They
seemed very glad, and allured him about a certaine point of the land:
behind which they might perceiue a company of the crafty villaines to lye
lurking, whom our Generall would not deale withall, for that he knew not
what company they were, and so with few signes dismissed them and returned
to his company.
[Sidenote: The people shew themselues againe on firme land.] An other time
as our said Generall was coasting the Countrey with two little Pinnesses,
whereby at our returne he might make the better relation thereof, three of
the crafty villans, with a white skin allured vs to them. [Sidenote: Their
first meanes to allure vs to shore.] Once again, our Generall, for that he
hoped to heare of his men, went towards them: at our comming neere the
shore whereon they were, we might perceiue a number of them lie hidden
behind great stones, and those 3. in sight labouring by all meanes possible
that some would come on land: and perceiuing we made no hast by words nor
friendly signes, which they vsed by clapping of their hands, and being
without weapon, and but 3. in sight, they sought further meanes to prouoke
vs therevnto. [Sidenote: Their second meanes.] One alone laid flesh on the
shore, which we tooke vp with the Boate hooke, as necessary victuals for
the relieuing of the man, woman, and child, whom we had taken: for that as
yet they could not digest our meat: whereby they perceiued themselues
deceiued of their expectation, for all their crafty allurements. [Sidenote:
Their third and craftiest allurement.] Yet once againe to make (as it were)
a full shew of their craftie natures, and subtile sleights, to the intent
thereby to haue intrapped and taken some of our men, one of them
counterfeited himselfe impotent and lame of his legs, who seemed to descend
to the water side, with great difficulty: and to couer his craft the more,
one of his fellowes came downe with him, and in such places where he seemed
vnable to passe, he tooke him on his shoulders, set him by the water side,
and departed from him, leauing him (as it should seeme) all alone, who
playing his counterfeit pageant very well, thought thereby to prouoke some
of vs to come on shore, not fearing, but that one of vs might make our
party good with a lame man.
[Sidenote: Compassion to cure a crafty lame man.] Our Generall hauing
compassion of his impotency, thought good (if it were possible) to cure him
thereof: wherefore he caused a souldier to shoote at him with his Caleeuer,
which grased before his face. The counterfeit villeine deliuerly fled,
without any impediment at all, and got him to his bow and arrowes, and the
rest from their lurking holes, with their weapons, bowes, arrowes, slings,
and darts. Our Generall caused some caleeuers to be shot off at them,
whereby some being hurt, they might hereafter stand in more feare of vs.
This was all the answere for this time we could haue of our men, or of our
Generals letter. Their crafty dealing at these three seuerall times being
thus manifest vnto vs, may plainely shew their disposition in other things
to be correspondent. We iudged that they vsed these stratagemes, thereby to
haue caught some of vs, for the deliuering of the man, woman and child whom
we had taken.
They are men of a large corporature, and good proportion: their colour is
not much vnlike the Sunne burnt Countrey man, who laboureth daily in the
Sunne for his liuing.
They weare their haire something long, and cut before either with stone or
knife, very disorderly. Their women weare their haire long and knit vp with
two loupes, shewing forth on either side of their faces, and the rest
foltred vpon a knot. Also some of their women race their faces
proportionally, as chinne, cheekes, and forehead, and the wrists of their
hands, wherevpon they lay a colour which continueth darke azurine.
They eate their meat all raw, both flesh, fish, and foule, or something per
boyled with blood and a little water which they drinke. For lacke of water
they will eate yce, that is hard frosen, as pleasantly as we will do Sugar
Candie, or other Sugar.
If they for necessities sake stand in need of the premisses, such grasse as
the countrey yeeldeth they plucke vp and eate, not deintily, or salletwise
to allure their stomacks to appetite: but for necessities sake without
either salt, oiles or washing, like brute beasts deuouring the same. They
neither vse table, stoole, or table cloth for comlines; but when they are
imbrued with blood knuckle deepe, and their kniues in like sort, they vse
their tongues as apt instruments to lick them cleane: in doing whereof they
are assured to loose none of their victuals.
[Sidenote: Dogges like vnto wolues.] They frank or keepe certaine dogs not
much vnlike Wolues, which they yoke togither, as we do oxen and horses, to
a sled or traile: and so carry their necessaries ouer the yce and snow from
place to place: as the captiue, whom we haue, made perfect signes.
[Sidenote: They eate dogs flesh.] And when these dogs are not apt for the
same vse: or when with hunger they are constrained for lacke of other
victuals, they eate them: so that they are as needfull for them in respect
of their bignesse, as our oxen are for vs.
They apparell themselues in the skins of such beasts as they kill, sewed
together with the sinewes of them. All the foule which they kill, they
skin, and make thereof one kind of garment or other to defend them from the
cold.
[Sidenote: Hoods and tailes to their apparell.] They make their apparel
with hoods and tailes, which tailes they giue when they thinke to gratifie
any friendship shewed vnto them: a great signe of friendship with them. The
men haue them not so side[55] as the women.
The men and women weare their hose close to their legges, from the wast to
the knee without any open before, as well the one kind as the other. Vpon
their legges they weare hose of leather, with the furre side inward two or
three paire on at once, and especially the women. In those hose they put
their kniues, needles, and other thing needfull to beare about. They put a
bone within their hose, which reacheth from the foote to the knee,
whereupon they draw the said hose, and so in place of garters they are
holden from falling downe about their feete.
They dresse their skinnes very soft and souple with the haire on. In cold
weather or Winter they weare the furre side inward: and Summer outward.
Other apparell they haue none but the said skinnes.
Those beasts, fishes, and foules, which they kill, are their meat, drinke,
apparell, houses, bedding, hose, shooes, threed, and sailes for their
boates, with many other necessaries whereof they stand in need, and almost
all their riches.
[Sidenote: Their houses of Seale skins and firre.] Their houses are tents
made of Seale skins, pitched vp with 4. Firre quarters foure square meeting
at the top, and the skins sewed together with sinews, and laid thereupon:
they are so pitched vp, that the entrance into them is alwayes South or
against the Sunne.