Then we espying a fayre sound, supposed it to goe into the Straights
betweene the Queenes foreland and Iackmans sound, which proued as we
imagined. For our Generall sent forth againe the Gabriel to discouer it,
who passed through with much difficulty: for there ran such an extreme
current of a tide, with such a horrible gulfe, that with a fresh gale of
wind they were scarce able to stemme it: yet at length with great trauaile
they passed it, and came to the Straights, where they met with the Thomas
Allen, the Thomas of Ipswich, and the Busse of Bridgewater: who altogether
aduentured to beare into the yce againe, to see if they could obtaine their
wished Port. But they were so incombred that with much difficultie they
were able to get out againe, yet at the last they escaping, the Thomas
Allen, and the Gabriel bare in with the Westerne shore, where they found
harbour, and there moared their ships vntill the fourth of August, at which
time they came to vs in the Countesse of Warwicks sound. The Thomas of
Ipswich caught a great leake which caused her to cast againe to Seabord and
so was mended.
We sailed along still by the coast vntill we came to the Queenes foreland,
at the point whereof we met with part of the gulfe aforesaid, which place
or gulfe (as some of our Masters doe credibly report) doeth flow nine
houres, and ebs but three. At that point wee discouered certaine lands
Southward, which neither time nor opportunitie would serue to search. Then
being come to the mouth of the Straights, we met with the Anne Francis, who
had laine bulting vp and downe euer since her departure alone, neuer
finding any of her company. We met then also the Francis of Foy, with whom
againe we intended to venture and get in: but the yce was yet so thicke,
that we were compelled againe to retyre and get vs on Sea bord.
[Sidenote: An horrible snowe fell in Iuly.] There fell also the same day
being the 26. of Iuly, such an horrible snow, that it lay a foot thick vpon
the hatches which frose as it fell.
We had also at other times diuers cruell stormes both of snow and haile,
which manifestly declared the distemperature of the Countrey: yet for all
that wee were so many times repulsed and put backe from our purpose,
knowing that lingering delay was not profitable for vs, but hurtfull to our
voyage, we mutually consented to our valiant Generall once againe to giue
the onset.
The 28. day therefore of the same Iuly we assayed, and with little trouble
(God be praysed) we passed the dangers by day light. [Sidenote: The time of
our setting forward, &c.] Then night falling on the face of the earth, wee
hulled in the cleare, til the chearefull light of the day had chased away
the noysome darkenesse of the night: at which time we set forward towards
our wished Port: by the 30. day wee obteined our expected desire, where we
found the Iudith, and the Michael: which brought no smal ioy vnto the
General, and great consolation to the heauie hearts of those wearied
wights.
The 30. day of Iuly we brought our ships into the Countesse of Warwicks
sound, and moared them, namely these ships, The Admirall, the Rearadmirall,
the Francis of Foy, the Beare Armenel, the Salomon, and the Busse of
Bridgewater: which being done, our Generall commaunded vs all to come a
shore vpon the Countesses Iland, where he set his Miners to worke vpon the
Mine, giuing charge with expedition to dispatch with their lading.
Our Generall himselfe, accompanied with his Gentlemen, diuers times made
rodes into sundry partes of the Countrey, as well to finde new Mines, as
also to finde out and see the people of the Countrey. [Sidenote: The
Countesse of Sussex Iland.] He found out one Mine vpon an Island by Beares
sound, and named it the Countesse of Sussex Island. [Sidenote: Winters
Fornace.] One other was found in Winters Fornace, with diuers others, to
which the ships were sent sunderly to be laden. [Sidenote: Dauids Sound.]
In the same rodes he mette with diuers of the people of the Countrey at
sundry times, as once at a place called Dauids sound: who shot at our men,
and very desperately gaue them the onset, being not aboue three or foure in
number, there being of our Countrey men aboue a dozen: but seeing
themselues not able to preuaile, they tooke themselues to flight; whom our
men pursued, but being not vsed to such craggie cliffes, they soone lost
the sight of them, and so in vaine returned.
[Sidenote: The policie of the people for the safetie of themselues.] We
also saw of them at Beares sound, both by Sea and land in great companies:
but they would at all times keepe the water betweene them and vs. And if
any of our ships chanced to be in the sound (as they came diuers times,
because the Harbor was not very good) the ship laded, and departed againe:
then so long as any ships were in sight, the people would not be seene. But
when as they perceiued the ships to be gone, they would not only shew
themselues standing vpon high cliffes, and call vs to come ouer vnto them:
but also would come in their Botes very neere to vs, as it were to brag at
vs: whereof our Generall hauing aduertisement, sent for the Captaines and
Gentlemen of the ships, to accompany and attend vpon him, with the Captaine
also of the Anne Francis, who was but the night before come vnto vs. For
they, and the Fleebote hauing lost vs the 26. day in the great snow, put
into an harbour in the Queenes foreland, where they found good Oare,
wherewith they laded themselues, and came to seeke the Generall: so that
now we had all our Shippes, sauing one Barke, which was lost, and the
Thomas of Ipswich, who (compelled by what furie I knowe not) forsooke our
company, and returned home without lading.
[Sidenote: Their speedie flight at our Generalls arriual.] Our Generall
accompanied with his Gentlemen, (of whom I spake) came altogether to the
Countesse of Sussex Island, neere to Beares sound: where he manned out
certaine Pinasses, and went ouer to the people: who perceiuing his
arriuall, fledde away with all speede, and in haste left certaine dartes
and other engines behinde them, which we found: but the people we could not
finde.
The next morning our Generall perceiuing certaine of them in botes vpon the
Sea gaue chase to them in a Pinnesse vnder saile, with a fresh gale of
winde, but could by no meanes come neere vnto them: for the longer he
sailed, the further off he was from them: which well shewed their cunning
and actiuitie. Thus time wearing away, and the day of our departure
approching, our Generall commaunded vs to lade with all expedition, that we
might be againe on Seaboard with our ships: for whilest we were in the
Countrey, we were in continual danger of freesing in: for often snowe and
haile often falling, the water was so much frosen and congealed in the
night, that in the morning we could scarce rowe our botes or Pinnesses,
especially in Diers sound, which is a calme and still water: which caused
our Generall to make the more haste, so that by the 30. day of August we
were all laden, and made all things ready to depart.
[Sidenote: Gentlemen should haue inhabited the Countrey.] But before I
proceede any further herein, to shew what fortune befell at our departure,
I will turne my penne a litle to M. Captaine Fenton, and those Gentlemen
which should haue inhabited all the yeere in those Countries, whose valiant
mindes were much to be commended: For doubtlesse they had done as they
intended if lucke had not withstoode their willingnesse.
For the Barke Dionyse which was lost, had in her much of their house which
was prepared and should haue bene builded for them, with many other
implements. Also the Thomas of Ipswich which had most of their prouision in
her, came not into the Streights at all: neither did we see her since the
day we were separated in the great snow, of which I spake before. For these
causes, hauing not their house, nor yet prouision, they were disappointed
of their pretence to tarie, and therefore laded their ships, and so came
away with vs.
[Sidenote: An house tricked and garnished with diuers trinkets.] But before
we tooke shipping, we builded a litle house in the Countesse of Warwicks
Island, and garnished it with many kinds of trifles, as Pinnes, Points,
Laces, Glasses, Kombes, Babes on horsebacke and on foote, with innumerable
other such fansies and toyes: thereby to allure and entice the people to
some familiaritie against other yeeres.
Thus hauing finished all things we departed the Countrey, as I sayd before:
but because the Busse had not lading enough in her, she put into Beares
sound to take in a little more. In the meane while the Admirall, and the
rest without at Sea stayed for her. And that night fell such an outragious
tempest, beating on our shipps with such vehement rigor, that anchor and
cable auailed nought: for we were driuen on rockes and Islands of yce,
insomuch that (had not the great goodnesse of God bene miraculously shewed
to vs) we had bene cast away euery man. This danger was more doubtfull and
terrible, then any that preceded or went before: for there was not any one
shippe (I thinke) that escaped without damage. Some lost anchor and also
cables, some botes, some Pinnesses: some anchor, cables, boates, and
Pinnisses.
This boystrous storme so seuered vs from one another, that one shippe knewe
not what was become of another. The Admirall knewe not where to finde the
Viceadmirall or Rearadmirall, or any other ship of our company. Our
Generall being on land in Beares sound could not come to his shippe, but
was compelled to goe aboord the Gabriel where he continued all the way
homeward: for the boystrous blasts continued so extreamely and so long a
time, that they sent vs homewarde (which was Gods fauour towardes vs) will
we, nill we, in such haste as not any one of vs were able to keepe in
company with other, but were separated. And if by chance any one Shippe did
ouertake other, by swiftnesse of sayle, or mette, as they often did: yet
was the rigour of the wind so hidious, that they could not continue company
together the space of one whole night.
[Sidenote: Our entring the coastes dangerous.] Thus our iourney outward was
not so pleasant, but our comming thither, entering the coasts and countrey,
by narrow Streights, perillous yce, and swift tides, our times of aboade
there in snowe and stormes, and our departure from thence the 31. of August
with dangerous blustering windes and tempests, which that night arose, was
as vncomfortable: separating vs so as we sayled, that not any of vs mette
together, vntill the 28. of September, which day we fell on the English
coastes, betweene Sylley and the landes ende, and passed the channell,
vntill our arriuall in the riuer of Thames.
* * * * *
The report of Thomas Wiars passenger in the Emanuel, otherwise called the
Busse of Bridgewater, wherein Iames Leech was Master, one of the ships in
the last Voyage of Master Martin Frobisher 1578. concerning the
discouerie of a great Island in their way homeward the 12. of September.
The Busse of Bridgewater was left in Beares sound at Meta incognita, the
second day of September behinde the Fleete in some distresse, through much
winde, ryding neere the Lee shoare, and forced there to ride it out vpon
the hazard of her cables and anchors, which were all aground but two. The
third of September being fayre weather, and the winds North northwest she
set sayle, and departed thence, and fell with Frisland on the 8. day of
September at sixe of the clocke at night, and then they set off from the
Southwest point of Frisland, the wind being at East, and East Southeast,
but that night the winde veared Southerly, and shifted oftentimes that
night: but on the tenth day in the morning, the wind at West northwest
faire weather, they steered Southeast, and by south, and continued that
course vntil the 12. day of September, when about 11. a clocke before
noone, they descryed a lande, which was from them about fiue leagues, and
the Southermost part of it was Southeast by East from them, and the
Northermost next, North Northeast, or Northeast. The master accompted that
the Southeast poynt of Frisland was from him at that instant when hee first
descryed this new Islande, Northwest by North, 50. leagues. [Sidenote: The
Island in length 25 leagues. This Iland is in the latitude of 57. degrees
and 1 second part.] They account this Island to be 25. leagues long, and
the longest way of it Southeast, and Northwest. The Southerne part of it is
in the latitude of 57. degrees and 1 second part or there about. They
continued in sight of it, from the 12. day at a 11. of the clocke, till the
13. day three of the clocke in the afternoone, when they left it: and the
last part they saw of it, bare from them Northwest by North. [Sidenote: Two
harboroughs in this Island.] There appeared two Harboroughs vpon that
coast: the greatest of them seuen leagues to the Northwards of the
Southermost poynt, the other but foure leagues. There was very much yce
neere the same land, and also twenty or thirty leagues from it, for they
were not cleare of yce, till the 15. day of September after noone. They
plyed their Voyage homewards, and fell with the West part of Ireland about
Galway, and had first sight of it on the 25. day of September.
* * * * *
Notes framed by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Esquire, giuen to
certaine Gentlemen that went with M. Frobisher in his Northwest
discouerie, for their directions: And not vnfit to be committed to print,
considering the same may stirre vp considerations of these and of such
other things, not vnmeete in such new voyages as may be attempted
hereafter.
That the first Seate be chosen on the seaside, so as (if it may be) you may
haue your owne Nauie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your Seate safe from
the enemie: and so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in open rode abroade
without, to be dispersed with all windes and tempests that shall arise.
Thus seated you shall be least subiect to annoy of the enemie, so may you
by your Nauie within passe out to all parts of the world, and so may the
Shippes of England haue accesse to you to supply all wants, so may your
commodities be caryed away also. This seat is to be chosen in a temperate
Climat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood,
seacoles or turfe, with fish, flesh, graine, fruites, herbes, and rootes,
or so many of those as may suffice every necessitie for the life of such as
shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer,
copper, quicksiluer, or of any such precious thing, the wants of those
needful things may be supplyed from some other place by sea, &c.
Stone to make Lyme of; Slate stone to tyle withall, or such clay as maketh
tyle; Stone to wall withall, if Brycke may not bee made; Timber for
buylding easely to be conueied to the place; Reede to couer houses or such
like, if tyle or slate be not--are to be looked for as things without which
no Citie may be made nor people in ciuil sort be kept together.
The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without
traffique, or by traffique and by trade of marchandise. If they shall liue
without sea traffique, at the first they become naked by want of linnen and
woollen, and very miserable by infinite wants that will otherwise ensue,
and so will they be forced of themselues to depart, or else easely they
will be consumed by the Spanyards, by the Frenchmen, or by the naturall
inhabitants of the countrey, and so the enterprise becomes reprochfull to
our Nation, and a let to many other good purposes that may be taken in
hand.
And by trade of marchandise they can not liue, except the Sea or the Land
there may yeelde comoditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall
regard of that poynt, and so to plant, that the naturall commodities of the
place and seate may draw to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that
by your owne Nauigation you may cary the same out, and fetch home the
supply of the wants of the seate.
Such Nauigation so to be employed shall, besides the supply of wants, be
able to encounter with forreine force.
And for that in the ample vent of such things as are brought to you out of
England by Sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that
all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland
people be vsed: so shall you haue firme amitie with your neighbours, so
shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique, and so
shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers and seuerall commodities of
the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands, without the
ayde of some portable or Nauigable riuer, or ample lake, and therefore to
haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite: And so is it of effect for
the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands.
Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity.
For so may you best discouer all the natural commodities of their countrey,
and also all their wants, al their strengths, all their weaknesse, and with
whom they are in warre, and with whom confederate in peace and amitie, &c.
which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence.
And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be
matters that are to be respected. For if it be so that you may let in the
salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flats, where the sunne is of
the heate that it is at Rochel, in the Bay of Portugal, or in Spaine, then
may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie
for the fishing, and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt.
Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as
that at Burdeaux, as that in Portugal, or as that about Siuil in Spaine, or
that in the Islands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a workeman to
put in execution to make Wines, and to dresse Resigns[56] of the sunne and
other, &c.
Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or
Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe; Then you may be
assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme, considering that our great
trade of clothing doeth require oyle, and weying how deere of late it is
become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if
you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed.
Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles,
or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a
notable thing fitte for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall
in the West Indies on that firme.
Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether, &c. It will be a
marchandize right good, and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether
after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne manner.
Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges, Almonds, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges,
Lemonds, Potatoes, &c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs,
Almonds, Sugar, Marmelade, Sucket, &c.
Or if great woods be found, if they be of Cypres, chests may be made, if
they be of some kinde of trees, Pitch and Tarre may be made, if they be of
some other, then they may yeeld Rosin, Turpentine, &c. and all for trade
and traffique, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made, likewise, ships
and houses, &c.
And because traffique is a thing so materiall, I wish that great
obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally, in what
commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour, and to
send vs notice home, that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be
thought of to raise trades.
Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole
country or any more than the scope of a citie, yet if we might enioy
traffique, and be assured of the same, we might be much inriched, our Nauie
might be increased, and a place of safetie might there be found, if change
of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme, which are things
of great benefit. But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle, we
might so vse the matter, as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles,
sacks, resignes, orenges, lemonds, Spanish skins, &c. Nor vpon France for
woad, baysalt, and Gascoyne wines, nor on Eastland for flaxe, pitch, tarre,
mastes, &c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly
inrich our doubtfull friends, as we doe, but should purchase the
commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe: and
should by our owne industries and the benefities of the soyle there cheaply
purchase oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes,
boords, fish, golde, siluer, copper, tallow, hides and many commodies:
besides if there be no flatts to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood
you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there.
If you can keepe a safe Hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the
neere neighbours, yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or
other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present.
If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable
riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first winter, to be
seasoned for ships, barks, boates, and houses.
And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing
mill may be placed, it would doe great seruice, and therefore consideration
would be had of such places.
And if such port and chosen place of settling were in possession and after
fortified by arte, although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in,
and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours, nor any
victuals: yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue every
necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next
neighbours, and so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue
victual, or by meanes hereupon to be vsed, to force the next neighbours to
amitie. And keeping a nauy at the settling place, they should find out
along the tract of the land to haue traffique, and at diuers Islands also.
And so this first seat might in time become a stapling place of the
commodities of many countreys and territories, and in time this place might
become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernor. And if the place
first chosen should not so well please our people, as some other more
lately found out: There might be an easie remoue, and that might be raised,
or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour.
If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be
found marshie and boggie, then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed
thither. For arte may worke wonderful effects therein, and make the soyle
rich for many vses.
To plant vpon an Island in the mouth of some notable riuer, or vpon the
point of the land entring into the riuer, if no such Island be, were to
great end. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the
land, then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles, and
traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer, or on both, or the
linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for
dominion.
Such riuers found, both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage
of such as shall pierce the same. These are to be couered with doubles of
course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the
sauage from the rower.
Since euery soile of the worlde by arte may be made to yeeld things to
feede and to clothe man, bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile
without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same,
and to draw it to more perfection. And if you finde not fruites in your
planting place to your liking, we shall in fiue drifats[57] furnish you
with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your
planting, as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite,
and the yeere next following, as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as
Calice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of
strong durable good sider to drinke, and these trees shall be able to
encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to
beare, as may suffice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first
setling may stand you in great stead, if the soile haue not the commoditie
of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt
after things that yeeld present reliefe, without trouble of carriage
thither, therefor I make mention of these thus specially, to the end you
may haue it specially in minde.
* * * * *