of August, the Lieutenant with all the Souldiers, for the better garde of
the Myners and other things a shore, pitched their tents in the Countesses
Island, 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 perceiue vpon the top of a hill ouer against them a number of
the countrey people wafting with a flag, and making great outcries vnto
them, and were of the same companie, which had encountred lately our men
vpon the other shore, being come to complaine their late losses, and to
entreate (as it seemed) for restriction of the woman and child, which our
men in the late conflict had taken and brought away; whereupon, the
Generall taking the sauage captiue with him, and setting the woman where
they might best perceiue her in the highest place in the Island, went ouer
to talke with them. This captiue at his first encounter of his friends fell
so out into teares that he could not speake a word in a great space, but
after a while, ouercomming his kindnesse, he talked at full with his
companions, and bestowed friendly vpon them such toyes and trifles as we
had giuen him, whereby we noted, that they are very kind one to another,
and greatly sorrowfull for the losse of their friends. Our Generall by
signes required his fiue men which they tooke captiue the last yeere, and
promised them, not only to release those which he had taken, but also to
reward them with great gifts and friendship. [Sidenote: Those people know
the vse of writing.] Our Sauage made signes in answere from them that our
men should be deliuered vs, and were yet liuing, and made signes likewise
vnto vs that we should write our letters vnto them, for they knew very well
the vse we haue of writing, and receiued knowledge thereof, either of our
poore captiue countreymen which they betrayed, or else by this our new
captiue who hath seene vs dayly write and repeate againe such words of his
language as we desired to learne: but they for this night, because it was
late, departed without any letter, although they called earnestly in hast
for the same. [Sidenote: A letter sent vnto the fiue English captiues.] And
the next morning early being the seuenth of August, they called againe for
the letter, which being deliuered vnto them, they speedily departed, making
signes with three fingers, and pointing to the Sunne, that they meant to
returne within 3 dayes, vntill which time we heard no more of them, and
about the time appointed they returned, in such sort as you shal afterwards
heare.
This night because the people were very neere vnto vs, the Lieutenant
caused the Trumpet to sound a call, and euery man in the Island repayring
to the Ensigne, he put them in minde of the place so farre from their
countrey wherein they liued, and the danger of a great multitude which they
were subiect vnto, if good watch and warde were not kept, for at euery low
water the enimie might come almost dryfoot from the mayne vnto vs,
wherefore he willed euery man to prepare him in good readinesse vpon all
sudden occasions, and so giuing the watch their charge, the company
departed to rest.
I thought the Captaines letter well worth the remembring, not for the
circumstance of curious enditing, but for the substance and good meaning
therein contained, and therefore haue repeated here the same, as by
himselfe it was hastily written.
The forme of M. Martin Frobishers letter to the English captiues.
In the name of God, in whom we all beleeue, who (I trust) hath preserued
your bodies and soules amongst these infidels, I commend me vnto you. I
will be glad to seeke by al meanes you can deuise for your deliuerance,
either with force, or with any commodities within my ships, which I will
not spare for your sakes, or any thing else I can doe for you. I haue
aboord, of theirs, a man, a woman, and a child, which I am contented to
deliuer for you, but the man which I caried away from hence the last yeere
is dead in England. Moreouer you may declare vnto them, that if they
deliuer you not, I will not leaue a man aliue in their countrey. And thus,
if one of you can come to speake with mee, they shall haue either the man,
woman, or childe in pawne for yon. And thus vnto God whom I trust you doe
serue, in hast I leaue you, and to him wee will dayly pray for you. This
Tuesday morning the seuenth of August. Anno 1577.
Yours to the vttermost of my power,
MARTIN FROBISHER.
[Sidenote: Postscript.] I haue sent you by these bearers, penne, ynke and
paper to write backe vnto me againe, if personally you cannot come to
certifie me of your estate.
[Sidenote: The cause why M. Frobisher entred no further within the streits
this yere.] Now had the Generall altered his determination for going any
further into the Streites at this time for any further discouery of the
passage, hauing taken a man and a woman of that countrey, which he thought
sufficient for the vse of the language: and hauing also met with these
people here, which intercepted his men the last yere, (as the apparell and
English furniture which was found in their tents, very well declared) he
knew it was but a labour lost to seeke further off, when he had found them
there at hand. And considering also the short time he had in hand, he
thought it best to bend his whole endeuour for the getting of Myne, and to
leaue the passage further to be discouered hereafter. For his commission
directed him in this voyage, onely for the searching of the Ore, and to
deferre the further discouery of the passage vntill another time.
[Sidenote: Bests bulwarke.] On Thursday the ninth of August we began to
make a small Fort for our defence in the Countesse Island, and entrenched a
corner of a cliffe, which on three parts like a wall of good height was
compassed and well fenced with the sea, and we finished the rest with
caskes of the earth, to good purpose, and this was called Bests bulwarke,
after the Lieutenants name, who first deuised the same. This was done for
that wee suspected more lest the desperate men might oppresse vs with
multitude, then any feare we had of their force, weapons, or policie of
battel; but as wisdome would vs in such place (so farre from home) not to
be of our selues altogether carelesse: [Sidenote: Their King called
Catchoe.] so the signes which our captiue made vnto vs, of the comming
downe of his Gouernour or Prince, which he called Catchoe, gaue vs occasion
to foresee what might ensue thereof, for he shewed by signes that this
Catchoe was a man of higher stature farre then any of our nation is,
[Sidenote: How he is honoured.] and he is accustomed to be caried vpon mens
shoulders.
About midnight the Lieutenant caused a false Alarme to be giuen in the
Island, to proue as well the readines of the company there ashore, as also
what helpe might be hoped for vpon the sudden from the ships if need so
required, and euery part was found in good readines vpon such a sudden.
Saturday the eleuenth of August the people shewed themselues againe, and
called vnto vs from the side of a hil ouer against vs. The General (with
good hope to heare of his men, and to haue answere of his letter) went ouer
vnto them, where they presented themselues not aboue three in sight, but
were hidden indeede in greater numbers behinde the rockes, and making
signes of delay with vs to entrappe some of vs to redeeme their owne, did
onely seek aduantage to traine our boat aboue a point of land from sight of
our companie: [Sidenote: A bladder changed for a looking glasse.] whereupon
our men iustly suspecting them, kept aloofe without their danger, and yet
set one of our company ashore which tooke vp a great bladder which one of
them offered vs, and leauing a looking glasse in the place, came into the
boate againe. [Sidenote: No newes of the English captives.] In the meane
while our men which stood in the Countesses Island to beholde, who might
better discerne them, then those of the boate, by reason they were on
higher ground, made a great outcrie vnto our men in the boate, for that
they saw diuers of the Sauages creeping behind the rockes towards our men,
wherupon the Generall presently returned without tidings of his men.
[Sidenote: To what end the bladder was delivered.] Concerning this bladder
which we receiued, our Captiue made signes that it was giuen him to keepe
water and drinke in, but we suspected rather it was giuen him to swimme and
shift away withall, for he and the woman sought diuers times to escape,
hauing loosed our boates from asterne our ships, and we neuer a boate left
to pursue them withall, and had preuailed very farre, had they not bene
very timely espied and preuented therein.
[Sidenote: Those people dancing vpon the hil toppes.] After our Generals
comming away from them they mustred themselues in our sight, vpon the top
of a hill, to the number of twenty in a rancke, all holding hands ouer
their heads, and dancing with great noise and songs together: we supposed
they made this dance and shew for vs to vnderstand that we might take view
of their whole companies and forced, meaning belike that we should doe the
same. And thus they continued vpon the hill tops vntill night, when hearing
a piece of our great Ordinance, which thundred in the hollownesse of the
high hilles, it made vnto them so fearefull a noise, that they had no great
will to tarie long after. And this was done more to make them know our
force then to doe them any hurt at all.
[Sidenote: A skirmish shewed to those people.] On Sunday the 12 of August,
Captaine Fenton trained the company, and made the souldiers maintaine a
skirmish among themselues, as well for their exercise, as for the countrey
people to behold in what readines our men were alwaies to be found, for it
was to be thought, that they lay hid in the hilles thereabout, and obserued
all the maner of our proceedings.
[Sidenote: Their flags made of bladders.] On Wednesday the fourteenth of
August, our Generall with two small boates well appointed, for that hee
suspected the countrey people to lie lurking thereabout, went vp a certaine
Bay within the Countesses sound, to search for Ore, and met againe with the
countrey people, who so soone as they saw our men made great outcries, and
with a white flag made of bladders sewed together with the guts and sinewes
of beasts, wafted vs amaine vnto them, but shewed not aboue three of their
company. But when wee came neere them, wee might perceiue a great multitude
creeping behinde the rockes, which gaue vs good cause to suspect their
traiterous meaning: whereupon we made them signes, that if they would lay
their weapons aside, and come foorth, we would deale friendly with them,
although their intent was manifested vnto vs: but for all the signes of
friendship we could make them they came still creeping towards vs behind
the rocks to get more aduantage of vs, as though we had no eyes to see
them, thinking belike that our single wits could not discouer so bare
deuises and simple drifts of theirs. Their spokesman earnestly perswaded vs
with many intising shewes, to come eate and sleepe ashore, with great
arguments of courtesie, and clapping his bare hands ouer his head in token
of peace and innocencie, willed vs to doe the like. [Sidenote: Great
offers.] But the better to allure our hungry stomackes, he brought vs a
trimme baite of raw flesh, which for fashion sake with a boat-hooke wee
caught into our boate: but when the cunning Cater perceiued his first cold
morsell could nothing sharpen our stomacks, he cast about for a new traine
of warme flesh to procure our appetites, wherefore be caused one of his
fellowes in halting maner, to come foorth as a lame man from behind the
rockes, and the better to declare his kindnes in caruing, he hoised him
vpon his shoulders, and bringing him hard to the water side where we were,
left him there limping as an easie prey to be taken of vs. His hope was
that we would bite at this baite, and speedily leape ashore within their
danger, wherby they might haue apprehended some of vs, to ransome their
friends home againe, which before we had taken. The gentlemen and souldiers
had great will to encounter them ashore, but the Generall more carefull by
processe of time to winne them, then wilfully at the first to spoile them,
would in no wise admit that any man should put himselfe in hazard ashore,
considering the matter he now intended was for the Ore, and not for the
Conquest: notwithstanding to prooue this cripples footemanship, he gaue
liberty for one to shoote: whereupon the cripple hauing a parting blow,
lightly recouered a rocke and went away a true and no fained cripple, and
hath learned his lesson for euer halting afore such cripples againe. But
his fellowes which lay hid before, full quickly then appeared in their
likenesse, and maintained the skirmish with their slings, bowes and arrowes
very fiercely, and came as neere as the water suffred them: and with as
desperate minde as hath bene seene in any men, without feare of shotte or
any thing, followed vs all along the coast, but all their shot fell short
of vs, and are of little danger. [Sidenote: An hundreth Sauages.] They had
belayed all the coast along for vs, and being dispersed so, were not well
to be numbred, but wee might discerne of them aboue an hundreth persons,
and had cause to suspect a greater number. And thus without losse or hurt
we returned to our ships againe.
Now our worke growing to an end, and hauing, onely with fiue poore Miners,
and the helpe of a few gentlemen and souldiers, brought aboord almost two
hundreth tunne of Ore in the space of twenty dayes, euery man therewithall
well comforted, determined lustily to worke a fresh for a bone[69] voyage,
to bring our labour to a speedy and happy ende.
And vpon Wednesday at night, being the one and twentieth of August, we
fully finished the whole worke. And it was now good time to leaue, for as
the men were well wearied, so their shooes and clothes were well worne,
their baskets bottoms torne out, their tooles broken, and the ships
reasonably well filled. Some with ouer-straining themselues receiued hurts
not a little dangerous, some hauing their bellies broken, and others their
legs made lame. And about this time the yce began to congeale and freeze
about our ships sides a night, which gaue vs a good argument of the Sunnes
declining Southward, and put vs in mind to make more haste homeward.
It is not a little worth the memorie, to the commendation of the gentlemen
and souldiers herein, who leauing all reputation apart, with so great
willingnesse and with couragious stomackes, haue themselues almost ouercome
in so short a time the difficultie of this so great a labour. And this to
be true, the matter, if it bee well weyed without further proofe, now
brought home doth well witnesse.
Thursday the 22 of August, we plucked downe our tents, and euery man hasted
homeward, and making bonefires vpon the top of the highest Mount of the
Island, and marching with Ensigne displayed round about the Island, wee
gaue a vollie of shotte for a farewell, in honour of the right honourable
Lady Anne, Countesse of Warwicke, whose name it beareth: and so departed
aboord.
[Sidenote: They returne.] The 23 of August hawing the wind large at West,
we set saile from out of the Countesses sound homeward, but the wind
calming we came to anker within the point of the same sound againe.
The 24 of August about three of the clocke in the morning, hauing the wind
large at West, we set saile againe, and by nine of the clocke at night, wee
left the Queenes Foreland asterne of vs, and being cleere of the Streites,
we bare further into the maine Ocean, keeping our course more Southerly, to
bring our selues the sooner vnder the latitude of our owne climate.
[Sidenote: Snow halfe a foote deepe in August.] The wind was very great at
sea, so that we lay a hull all night, and had snow halfe a foote deepe on
the hatches.
From the 24 vntil the 28 we had very much wind, but large, keeping our
course Southsoutheast, and had like to haue lost the Barkes, but by good
hap we met againe. The height being taken, we were in [70]degrees and a
halfe.
The 29 of August the wind blew much at Northeast, so that we could beare
but onely a bunt of our foresaile, and the Barkes were not able to cary any
sayle at all.
The Michael lost company of vs and shaped her course towards Orkney because
that way was better knowne vnto them, and arriued at Yermouth.
[Sidenote: The Master of the Gabriell strooken ouerboord.] The 30 of August
with the force of the wind, and a surge of the sea, the Master of the
Gabriel and the boatswain were striken both ouerboord, and hardly was the
boatswain recouered, hauing hold on a roape hanging ouerboord in the sea,
and yet the barke was laced fore and after with ropes a breast high within
boorde.
This Master was called William Smith, being but a yong man and a very
sufficient mariner, who being all the morning before exceeding pleasant,
told his Captaine he dreamed that he was cast ouerboord, and that the
Boatswain had him by the hand, and could not saue him, and so immediately
vpon the end of his tale, his dreame came right euilly to passe, and indeed
the Boatswain in like sort held him by one hand, hauing hold on a rope with
the other, vntill his force fayled, and the Master drowned. The height
being taken we found ourselues to be in the latitude of [71] degrees and a
halfe, and reckoned our selues from the Queenes Cape homeward about two
hundreth leagues.
The last of August about midnight, we had two or three great and sudden
flawes or stormes.
The first of September the storme was growen very great, and continued
almost the whole day and night, and lying a hull to tarrie for the Barkes
our ship was much beaten with the seas, euery sea almost ouertaking our
poope, so that we were constrained with a bunt of our saile to trie it out,
and ease the rolling of our ship. And so the Gabriel not able to beare any
sayle to keepe company with vs, and our ship being higher in the poope, and
a tall ship, whereon the winde had more force to driue, went so fast away
that we lost sight of them, and left them to God and their good fortune of
Sea. [Sidenote: The Rudder of the Aide torne in twain.] The second day of
September in the morning, it pleased God of his goodnesse to send vs a
calme, whereby we perceiued the Rudder of our ship torne in twaine, and
almost ready to fall away. Wherefore taking the benefite of the time, we
flung half a dozen couple of our best men ouer boord, who taking great
paines vnder water, driuing plankes, and binding with ropes, did well
strengthen and mend the matter, who returned the most part more then halfe
dead out of the water, and as Gods pleasure was, the sea was calme vntill
the worke was finished. The fift of September, the height of the Sunne
being taken, we found our selues to be in the latitude of [72] degrees
and a halfe. [Sidenote: How the latitudes were alwayes taken in this voyage
rather with the Staffe then Astrolabe.] In this voyage commonly wee tooke
the latitude of the place by the height of the sunne, because the long day
taketh away the light not onely of the Polar, but also of all other fixed
Starres. And here the North Starre is so much eleuated aboue the Horizon,
that with the staffe it is hardly to bee well obserued, and the degrees in
the Astrolabe are too small to obserue minutes: Therefore wee alwaies vsed
the Staffe and the sunne as fittest instruments for this vse.
Hauing spent foure or fiue dayes in trauerse of the seas with contrary
winde, making our Souther way good as neere as we could, to raise our
degrees to bring ourselues with the latitude of Sylley, wee tooke the
height the tenth of September, and found our selues in the latitude
of [73] degrees and ten minutes. The eleuenth of September about sixe a
clocke at night the winde came good Southwest, we vered sheat and set our
course Southeast.
And vpon Thursday, the twelfth of September, taking the height, we were in
the latitude of [74] and a halfe, and reckoned our selues not past one
hundred and fifty leagues short of Sylley, the weather faire, the winde
large at Westsouthwest, we kept our course Southeast.
The thirteenth day the height being taken, wee found our selues to be in
the latitude of [75] degrees, the wind Westsouthwest, then being in the
height of Sylley, and we kept our course East, to run in with the sleeue or
chanel so called, being our narrow seas, and reckoned vs short of Sylley
twelue leagues.
Sonday, the 15 of September about foure of the clocke, we began to sound
with our lead, and had ground at 61 fadome depth, white small sandy ground,
and reckoned vs vpon the backe of Sylley, and set our course East and by
North, Eastnortheast, and Northeast among.
The sixteenth of September, about eight of the clocke in the morning
sounding, we had 65. fadome osey[76] sand, and thought our selues thwart of
S. Georges channell a little within the banks. And bearing a small saile
all night, we made many soundings, which were about fortie fadome, and so
shallow, that we could not well tell where we were.
The seuenteenth of September we sounded, and had forty fadome, and were not
farre off the lands end, finding branded sand with small wormes and Cockle
shells, and were shotte betweene Sylley and the lands ende, and being
within the bay, we were not able to double the pointe with a South and by
East way, but were faine to make another boord, the wind being at Southwest
and by West, and yet could not double the point to come cleere of the lands
end, to beare along the channell: and the weather cleered vp when we were
hard aboord the shore, and we made the lands end perfit, and so put vp
along Saint Georges channel. [Sidenote: The arriual of the Aide at Padstow
in Cornewall.] And the weather being very foule at sea, we coueted some
harborough, because our steerage was broken, and so came to ancor in
Padstow road in Cornewall. But riding there a very dangerous roade, we were
aduised by the Countrey, to put to Sea againe, and of the two euils, to
chose the lesse, for there was nothing but present perill where we rode:
[Sidenote: Our comming to Milford Hauen.] whereupon we plyed along the
channell to get to Londy, from whence we were againe driuen, being but an
open roade, where our anker came home, and with force of weather put to
Seas againe, and about the three and twentieth of September, arriued at
Milford Hauen in Wales, which being a very good harborough, made vs happy
men, that we had receiued such long desired safetie.
About one moneth after our arriuall here, by order from the Lords of the
Counsell, the ship came up to Bristow, where the Ore was committed to
keeping in the Castel there. [Sidenote: The arriuall of the Gabriel at
Bristow.] Here we found the Gabriel one of the Barkes, arriued in good
safetie, who hauing neuer a man within boord very sufficient to bring home
the ship, after the Master was lost, by good fortune, when she came vpon
the coast, met with a ship of Bristow at sea, who conducted her in safety
thither.
[Sidenote: The Michael arriued in the North parts. Only one man died the
voyage.] Here we heard good tidings also of the arriuall of the other Barke
called the Michael, in the North parts, which was not a little ioyful vnto
vs, that it pleased God so to bring vs to a safe meeting againe, and wee
lost in all that voyage only one man, besides one that dyed at sea, which
was sicke before he came aboord, and was so desirous to follow this
enterprise, that he rather chose to dye therein, then not to be one to
attempt so notable a voyage.
The third voyage of Captaine Frobisher, pretended for the discouery of
Cataia, by Meta Incognita, Anno Do, 1578.