the whole sea ouer, they were brought many times to the extreamest point of
perill, mountaines of yce tenne thousand times scaping them scarce one
ynch, which to have striken had bene their present destruction, considering
the swift course and way of the ships, and the unwieldinesse of them to
stay and turne as a man would wish: yet they esteemed it their better
safetie, with such perill to seeke Sea-roome, then without hope of euer
getting libertie to lie striuing against the streame, and beating against
the Isie mountaines, whose hugenesse and monstrous greatnesse was such,
that no man would credite, but such as to their paines sawe and felt it.
And these foure shippes by the next day at noone got out to Sea, and were
first cleare of the yce, who now enioying their owne libertie, beganne a
new to sorrow and feare for their fellowes safeties. And deuoutly kneeling
about their maine Mast, they gaue vnto God humble thankes, not only for
themselues, but besought him likewise highly for their friendes
deliuerance. And euen now whilst amiddest these extremities this gallant
Fleete and valiant men were altogither ouerlaboured and forewatched, with
the long and fearefull continuance of the foresayd dangers, it pleased God
with his eyes of mercie to looke downe from heauen to sende them helpe in
good time, giuing them the next day a more favourable winde at the West
Northwest, which did not onely disperse and driue foorth the yce before
them, but also gaue them libertie of more scope and Sea-roome, and they
were by night of the same day following perceiued of the other foure
shippes, where (to their greatest comfort) they enioyed againe the
fellowship one of another. Some in mending the sides of their ships, some
in setting vp their top Mastes, and mending their sayles and tacklings;
Againe, some complayning of their false Stemme borne away, some in stopping
their leakes, some in recounting their dangers past, spent no small time
and labour. So that I dare well auouch, there were neuer men more
dangerously distressed, nor more mercifully by Gods prouidence deliuered.
And hereof both the torne ships, and the forwearied bodies of the men
arriued doe beare most euident marke and witnesse. And now the whole Fleete
plyed off to Seaward, resoluing there to abide vntill the Sunne might
consume, or the force of winde disperse these yce from the place of their
passage; and being a good birth off the shore, they tooke in their sailes,
and lay adrift.
[Sidenote: Another assault.] The seuenth of Iuly as men nothing yet
dismayed, we cast about towards the inward, and had sight of land, which
rose in forme like the Northerland of the straights, which some of the
Fleete, and those not the worst Marriners, iudged to be the North Foreland:
howbeit other some were of contrary opinion. [Sidenote: Fogge, snow, and
mistes hinder the Mariners markes.] But the matter was not well to be
discerned by reason of the thicke fogge which a long time hung vpon the
coast, and the new falling snow which yeerely altereth the shape of the
land, and taketh away oftentimes the Mariners markes. And by reason of the
darke mists which continued by the space of twentie dayes togither, this
doubt grewe the greater and the longer perilous. [Sidenote: A swift current
from the Northeast.] For whereas indeede we thought ourselues to be vpon
the Northeast side of Frobishers straights, we were now caried to the
Southwestwards of the Queenes Foreland, and being deceiued by a swift
current comming from the Northeast, were brought to the Southwestwards of
our said course many miles more then we did thinke possible could come to
passe. The cause whereof we haue since found, and it shall be at large
hereafter declared.
[Sidenote: A current.] Here we made a point of land which some mistooke for
a place in the straightes called Mount Warwicke: but how we should be so
farre shot vp so suddainely within the said straights the expertest
Mariners began to maruell, thinking it a thing impossible that they could
be so farre ouertaken in their accounts, or that any current could deceiue
them here which they had not by former experience prooued and found out.
Howbeit many confessed that they found a swifter course of flood then
before time they had obserued. And truely it was wonderfull to heare and
see the rushing and noise that the tides do make in this place with so
violent a force that our ships lying a hull were turned sometimes round
about euen in a moment, after the maner of a whirlepoole, and the noyse of
the streame no lesse to be heard afarre off, then the waterfall of London
Bridge.
[Sidenote: Iames Beare a good Mariner.] But whilst the Fleete lay thus
doubtfull amongst great store of yce in a place they knew not without sight
of Sunne, whereby to take the height, and so to know the true eleuation of
the pole, and without any cleere of light to make perfite the coast, the
Generall with the Captaines and Masters of his ships, began doubtfully to
question of the matter, and sent his Pinnesse aboord to heare each man's
opinion, and specially of Iames Beare, Master of the Anne Francis, who was
knowen to be a sufficient and skillfull Mariner, and hauing bene there the
yere before, had wel obserued the place, and drawen out Cardes of the
coast. [Sidenote: Christopher Hall chiefe Pylot.] But the rather this
matter grew the more doubtfull, for that Christopher Hall chiefe Pilot of
the voyage, deliuered a plaine and publique opinion in the hearing of the
whole Fleete, that hee had neuer seene the foresayd coast before, and that
he not could make it for any place of Frobishers Streits, as some of the
Fleete supposed, and yet the landes doe lie and trend so like, that the
best Mariners therein may bee deceiued.
The tenth of Iuly, the weather still continuing thicke and darke, some of
the ships in the fogge lost sight of the Admirall and the rest of the
fleete, and wandering to and fro, with doubtfull opinion whether it were
best to seeke backe againe to seaward through great store of yce, or to
follow on a doubtfull course in a Sea, Bay, or Streites they knew not, or
along a coast, whereof by reason of the darke mistes they could not
discerne the dangers, if by chance any rocke or broken ground should lie of
the place, as commonly in these parts it doth.
The Viceadmirall Captaine Yorke considering the foresayd opinion of the
Pylot Hall, who was with him in the Thomas Allen, hauing lost sight of the
Fleete, turned backe to sea againe hauing two other ships in company with
him.
Also the Captain of the Anne Francis hauing likewise lost companie of the
Fleete, and being all alone, held it for best to turne it out to sea
againe, vntill they might haue cleere weather to take the Sunnes altitude,
and with incredible paine and perill got out of the doubtfull place, into
the open Sea againe, being so narrowly distressed by the way, by meanes of
continuall fogge and yce, that they were many times ready to leapt vpon an
Island of yce to auoide the present danger, and so hoping to prolong life
awhile meant rather to die a pining death.
[Sidenote: Hard shifts to saue mens liues.] Some hoped to saue themselues
on chestes, and some determined to tie the Hatches of the ships togither,
and to binde themselues with their furniture fast thereunto, and so to be
towed with the ship bote ashore, which otherwise could not receiue halfe of
the companie, by which meanes if happily they had arriued they should
eyther haue perished for lacke of foode to eate, or else should themselues
haue beene eaten of those rauenous, bloodie, and Men-eating people.
The rest of the Fleete following the course of the Generall which led them
the way, passing vp aboue sixtie leagues [Sidenote: The coast along the
Southside of Gronland 60 leagues.] within the saide doubtfull and supposed
straights, hauing alwayes a faire continent vpon their starreboorde side,
and a continuance still of an open Sea before them.
[Sidenote: Mistaken straights which indeed are no straights.] The Generall
albeit with the first perchance he found out the error, and that this was
not the olde straights, yet he perswaded the Fleete alwayes that they were
in their right course, and knowen straights. Howbeit I suppose he rather
dissembled his opinion therein then otherwise, meaning by that policie
(being himselfe led with an honourable desire of further discouerie) to
induce the Fleete to follow him, to see a further proofe of that place.
[Sidenote: Frobisher could haue passed to Cataia.] And as some of the
companie reported, he hath since confessed that if it had not bene for the
charge and care he had of the Fleete and fraughted ships, he both would and
could haue gone through to the South Sea, called Mar del Sur, and dissolued
the long doubt of the passage which we seeke to find to the rich countrey
of Cataya.
1 Of which mistaken straights, considering the circumstance, we haue great
cause to confirme our opinion, to like and hope well of the passage in this
place. [Sidenote: Faire open way.] For the foresaid Bay or Sea, the further
we sayled therein, the wider we found it, with great likelihood of endlesse
continuance. [Sidenote: Reasons to prooue a passage here.] And where in
other places we were much troubled with yce, as in the entrance of the
same, so after we had sayled fiftie or sixtie leagues therein we had no let
of yce or other thing at all, as in other places we found.
[Sidenote: Great indrafts.] 2 Also this place seemeth to haue a maruellous
great indraft, and draweth vnto it most of the drift yce, and other things
which doe fleete in the Sea, either to the North or Eastwards of the same,
as by good experience we haue found.
[Sidenote: A current to the West.] 3 For here also we met with boordes,
lathes, and diuers other things driuing in the Sea, which was of the wracke
of the ship called the Barke Dennis, which perished amongst the yce as
beforesaid, being lost at the first attempt of the entrance ouerthwart the
Queenes forelande in the mouth of Frobishers straights, which could by no
meanes haue bene so brought thither, neither by winde nor tyde, being lost
so many leagues off, if by force of the said current the same had not bene
violently brought. For if the same had bene brought thither by tide of
flood, looke how farre the said flood had carried it, the ebbe would haue
recarried it as farre backe againe, and by the winde it could not so come
to passe, because it was then sometime calme, and most times contrarie.
[Sidenote: Nine houres flood to three houres ebbe.] And some Mariners doe
affirme that they haue diligently obserued, that there runneth in this
place nine houres flood to three ebbe, which may thus come to passe by
force of the sayd current: for whereas the Sea in most places of the world,
doth more or lesse ordinarily ebbe and flow once euery twelue houres with
sixe houres ebbe, and sixe houres flood, so also would it doe there, were
it not for the violence of this hastening current, which forceth the flood
to make appearance to beginne before his ordinary time one houre and a
halfe, and also to continue longer than his naturall course by an other
houre and a halfe, vntill the force of the ebbe be so great that it will no
longer be resisted: according to the saying, Naturam expellas furca licet,
vsque recurret. Although nature and naturall courses be forced and resisted
neuer so much, yet at last they will haue their owne sway againe.
4 [Unnumbered in original--KTH] Moreouer it is not possible that so great
course of floods and current, so high swelling tides with continuance of so
deepe waters, can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some
open Sea beyond this place, which argueth the more likelihood of the
passage to be hereabouts. Also we suppose these great indrafts doe grow and
are made by the reuerberation and reflection of that same currant, which at
our comming by Ireland, met and crossed vs, of which in the first part of
this discourse I spake, which comming from the bay of Mexico, passing by
and washing the Southwest parts of Ireland, reboundeth ouer to the
Northeast parts of the world, as Norway, Island, &c. where not finding any
passage to an open Sea, but rather being there encreased by a new accesse,
and another current meeting with it from the Scythian Sea, passing the bay
of Saint Nicholas Westward, it doth once againe rebound backe, by the
coastes of Groenland, and from thence vpon Frobishers straights being to
the Southwestwardes of the same.
[Sidenote: The Sea moueth continually from East to West.] 5 And if that
principle of Philosophie be true, that Inferiora corpora reguntur à
superioribus, that is, if inferior bodies be gouerned, ruled, and carried
after the maner and course of the superiors, then the water being an
inferior Element, must needes be gouerned after the superior heauen, and so
follow the course of Primum from East to West.[84]
[Sidenote: Authoritie.] 6 But euery man that hath written or considered any
thing of this passage, hath more doubted the returne by the same way by
reason of a great downefall of water, which they imagine to be thereabouts
(which we also by experience partly find) than any mistrust they haue of
the same passage at all. [Sidenote: Hard but yet possible turning backe
again.] For we find (as it were) a great downefall in this place, but yet
not such but that we may returne, although with much adoe. For we were
easier carried in one houre then we could get forth againe in three. Also
by another experience at another time, we found this current to deceiue vs
in this sort: That wheras we supposed it to be 15 leagues off, and lying a
hull, we were brought within two leagues of the shore contrarie to all
expectation.
Our men that sayled furthest in the same mistaken straights (hauing the
maine land vpon their starboord side) affirme that they met with the outlet
or passage of water which commeth thorow Frobishers straights, and
followeth as all one into this passage.
Some of our companie also affirme that they had sight of a continent vpon
their larboord side being 60 leagues within the supposed straights: howbeit
except certaine Ilands in the entrance hereof we could make no part perfect
thereof. All the foresaid tract of land seemeth to be more fruitfull and
better stored of Grasse, Deere, Wilde foule, as Partridges, Larkes,
Seamewes, Guls, Wilmots, Falcons and Tassel gentils, Rauens, Beares, Hares,
Foxes, and other things, than any other part we haue yet discouered, and is
more populous. [Sidenote: Traffique.] And here Luke Ward, a Gentleman of
the companie, traded marchandise, and did exchange kniues, bels, looking
glasses, &c. with those countrey people, who brought him foule, fish,
beares skinnes, and such like, as their countrey yeeldeth for the same.
Here also they saw of those greater boats of the countrey, with twentie
persons in a peece.
Now after the Generall had bestowed these many dayes here, not without many
dangers, he returned backs againe. And by the way sayling alongst this
coast (being the backeside of the supposed continent of America) and the
Queenes Foreland, he perceiued a great sound to goe thorow into Frobishers
straights. [Sidenote: Returne out of the mistaken straights.] Whereupon he
sent the Gabriel the one and twentieth of Iuly, to prooue whether they
might goe thorow and meete againe with him in the straights, which they
did: and as wee imagined before, so the Queenes foreland prooued an Iland,
as I thinke most of these supposed continents will. And so he departed
towardes the straights, thinking it were high time now to recouer his Port,
and to prouide the Fleete of their lading, whereof 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 fleete he was so entangled by reason of
the darke fogge amongst a number of Ilands and broken ground that lye off
this coast, that many of the shippes came ouer the top of rockes, which
presently after they might perceiue to lie dry, hauing not halfe a foote
water more then some of their ships did draw. And by reason they could not
with a smal gale of wind stemme the force of the flood, whereby to goe
cleare off the rockes, they were faine to let an anker fall with two bent
of Cable togither, at an hundred and odde fadome depth, where otherwise
they had bene by the force of the tides caried vpon the rockes againe, and
perished: [Sidenote: Great dangers.] so that if God in these fortunes (as a
mercifull guide, beyond the expectation of man) had not carried vs thorow,
we had surely perished amidst these dangers. For being many times driuen
hard aboord the shore without any sight of land, vntill we were ready to
make shipwracke thereon, being forced commonly with our boats to sound
before our ships, least we might light thereon before we could discerne the
same; it pleased God to giue vs a cleare of Sunne and light for a short
time to see and auoyde thereby the danger, hauing bene continually darke
before, and presently after. Manie times also by meanes of fogge and
currents being driuen neere vpon the coast, God lent vs euen at the very
pinch one prosperous breath of winde or other, whereby to double the land,
and auoid the perill, and when that we were all without hope of helpe,
euery man recommending himselfe to death, and crying out, Lord now helpe or
neuer, now Lord looke downe from heauen and saue vs sinners, or else our
safetie commeth too late: euen then the mightie maker of heauen, and our
mercifull God did deliuer vs: so that they who haue bene partakers of these
dangers doe euen in their soules confesse, that God euen by miracle hath
sought to saue them, whose name be praysed euermore.
Long time now the Anne Francis had layne beating off and on all alone
before the Queenes foreland, not being able to recouer their Port for yce,
albeit many times they dangerously attempted it, for yet the yce choaked vp
the passage, and would not suffer them to enter. [Sidenote: Anne Francis
met with some of the fleete.] And hauing neuer seene any of the fleete
since twenty dayes past, when by reason of the thicke mistes they were
seuered in the mistaken straights, they did now this present 23 of Iuly
ouerthwart a place in the straights called Hattons Hedland, where they met
with seuen ships of the Fleete againe, which good hap did not onely reioyce
them for themselues, in respect of the comfort which they receiued by such
good companie, but especially that by this meanes they were put out of
doubt of their deare friends, whose safeties long time they did not a
little suspect, and feare.
At their meeting they haled the Admirall after the maner of the Sea, and
with great ioy welcommed one another with a thundring volly of shot. And
now euery man declared at large the fortunes and dangers which they had
passed.
[Sidenote: Francis of Foy.] The foure and twentieth of Iuly we met with the
Francis of Foy, who with much adoe sought way backe againe, through the yce
from out of the mistaken straights, where (to their great perill) they
prooued to recouer their Port. [Sidenote: Bridgwater ship.] They brought
the first newes of the Vizadmirall Captaine Yorke, who many dayes with
themselues, and the Busse of Bridgewater was missing. They reported that
they left the Vizeadmirall reasonably cleare of the yce, but the other ship
they greatly feared, whom they could not come to helpe, being themselues so
hardly distressed as neuer men more. Also they told vs of the Gabriel, who
hauing got thorow from the backside, and Western point of the Queenes
foreland, into Frobishers straights, fell into their company about the cape
of Good hope.
And vpon the seuen and twentieth of Iuly, the ship of Bridgewater got out
of the yce and met with the Fleete which lay off and on vnder Hattons
Hedland. They reported of their maruellous accidents and dangers, declaring
their ship to be so leake that they must of necessitie seeke harborow,
hauing their stem so beaten within their huddings, that they had much adoe
to keepe themselues aboue water. They had (as they say) fiue hundreth
strokes at the pump in lesse then halfe a watch, being scarce two houres;
their men being so ouerwearied therewith, and with the former dangers that
they desired helpe of men from the other ships. [Sidenote: The Streits
frozen ouer.] Moreouer they declared that there was nothing but yce and
danger where they had bene, and that the straights within were frozen vp,
and that it was the most impossible thing of the world, to passe vp vnto
the Countesse of Warwicks sound, which was the place of our Port.
The report of these dangers by these ships thus published amongst the
fleete, with the remembrance of the perils past, and those present before
their face, brought no small feare and terror into the hearts of many
considerate men. So that some beganne priuily to murmure against the
Generall for this wilfull manner of proceeding. Some desired to discouer
some harborow therebouts to refresh themselues and reform their broken
vessels for a while, vntill the North and Northwest windes might disperse
the yce, and make the place more free to passe. Other some forgetting
themselues, spake more vndutifully in this behalfe, saying: that they had
as leeue be hanged when they came home, as without hope of safetie to seeke
to passe, and so to perish amongst the yce.
[Sidenote: A valiant mind of M. Frobisher.] The Generall not opening his
eares to the peeuish passion of any priuate person, but chiefly respecting
the accomplishment of the cause he had vndertaken (wherein the chiefe
reputation and fame of a Generall and Captaine consisteth) and calling to
his remembrance the short time he had in hand to prouide so great number of
ships their loading, determined with this resolution to passe and recouer
his Port, or else there to burie himselfe with his attempt.
Notwithstanding somewhat to appease the feeble passions of the fearefuller
sort, and the better to entertaine time for a season, whilest the yce might
the better be dissolued, he haled on the Fleete with beleefe that he would
put them in harborow: thereupon whilest the shippes lay off and on under
Hattons Hedland, he sought to goe in with his Pinnesses amongst the Ilandes
there, as though hee meant to search for harborowe, where indeede he meant
nothing lesse, but rather sought if any Ore might be found in that place,
as by the sequele appeared.
In the mean time whilest the Fleete lay thus doubtfull without any certaine
resolution what to do, being hard aboord the lee-shore, there arose a
sodaine and terrible tempest at the Southsoutheast, whereby the yce began
maruellously to gather about vs.
Whereupon euery man, as in such case of extremitie he thought best, sought
the wisest way for his owne safety. The most part of the Fleete which were
further shot vp within the straights, and so farre to the leeward, as that
they could not double the land following the course of the Generall, who
led them the way, tooke in their Sayles, and layde it a hull amongst the
yce, and so passed ouer the storme, and had no extremitie at all, but for a
short time in the same place.
Howbeit the other ships which plyed out to Seaward, had an extreme storme
for a long season. And the nature of the place is such, that it is subiect
diuersely to diuers windes, according to the sundry situation of the great
Alps and mountaines there, euery mountaine causing a seuerall blast, and
parrie, after the maner of a Leuant.
[Sidenote: Snow in Iuly.] In this storme being the sixe and twentieth of
Iuly, there fell so much snow, with such bitter cold aire, that we could
not scarse see one another for the same, nor open our eyes to handle, our
ropes and sayles, the snow being aboue halfe a foote deepe vpon the hatches
of our ship, which did so wet thorow our poore Mariners clothes, that hee
that had fiue or sixe shifts of apparell had scarce one drie threed to his
backe, which kinde of wet and coldnesse, together with the ouerlabouring of
the poore men amiddest the yce, bred no small sicknesse amongst the fleete,
[Sidenote: Extreme winter.] which somewhat discouraged some of the poore
men, who had not experience of the like before, euery man perswading
himselfe that the winter there must needes be extreme, where they found so
vnseasonable a Sommer.
[Sidenote: Great heat in Meta Incognita.] And yet notwithstanding this cold
aire, the Sunne many times hath a maruellous force of heate amongst those
mountaines; [Sidenote: Vnconstant weather.] insomuch that when there is no
breth of winde to bring the colde aire from the dispersed yce vpon vs, we
shall be wearie of the blooming heate and then sodainely with a perry[85]
of winde which commeth downe from the hollownesse of the hilles, we shall
haue such a breth of heate brought vpon our faces as though we were entred
within some bathstoue or hote-house, and when the first of the pirry and
blast is past, we shall haue the winde sodainely a new blow cold againe.
In this storme the Anne Francis, the Moone, and the Thomas of Ipswich, who
found themselues able to hold it vp with a saile, and could double about
the Cape of the Queenes foreland, plyed out to the Seaward, holding it for
better policie and safetie to seeke Sea roome, then to hazard the
continuance of the storme, the danger of the yce, and the leeshore.
And being vncertaine at this time of the Generals priuate determinations,
the weather being so darke that they could not discerne one another, nor
perceiue which way he wrought, betooke themselues to this course for best
and safest.