Island where our pinnace was built readie to bee launched, and tore the two
vpper strakes, and carried them away onely for the loue of the yron in the
boords. While they were about this practise, we manned the Elizabeths boate
to goe a shore to them: our men being either afrayd or amazed, were so long
before they came to shore, that our Captaine willed them to stay, and made
the Gunner giue fire to a Saker, and layd the piece leuell with the boate
which the Sauages had turned on the one side because wee should not hurt
them with our arrowes, and made the boate their bulwarke against the
arrowes which we shot at them. Our Gunner hauing made all things readie,
gaue fire to the piece, and fearing to hurt any of the people, and
regarding the owners profite, thought belike hee would saue a Sakers shot,
doubting wee should haue occasion to fight with men of warre, and so shot
off the Saker without a bullet: we looking stil when the Sauages that were
hurt should run away without legs, at length wee could perceiue neuer a man
hurt, but all hauing their legges could carie away their bodies: wee had no
sooner shot off the piece, but the Master of the Sunneshine manned his
boate, and came rowing toward the Island, the very sight of whom made each
of them take that hee had gotten, and flee away as fast as they could to
another Island about two miles off, where they tooke the nayles out of the
timber, and left the wood on the Isle. When we came on shore, and sawe how
they had spoiled the boat, after much debating of the matter, we agreed
that the Elizabeth should haue her to fish withall: whereupon she was
presently caryed aboord, and stowed.
Now after this trouble, being resolued to depart with the first wind, there
fell out another matter worse then all the rest, and that was in this
maner. Iohn Churchyard one whom our Captaine had appoynted as Pilot in the
pinnace, came to our Captaine, and Master Brutton, and told them that the
good ship which we must all hazard our liues in, had three hundred strokes
at one time as she rode in the harbour: This disquieted vs all greatly, and
many doubted to goe in her. At length our Captaine by whom we were all to
be gouerned, determined rather to end his life with credite, then to
returne with infamie and disgrace, and so being all agreed, wee purposed to
liue and die together, and committed our selues to the ship. [Sidenote:
Isles in 64 degrees.] Now to 21. hauing brought all our things aboord,
about 11. or 12. of the clocke at night, we set saile and departed from
those Isles, which lie in 64. degrees of latitude, our ships being now all
at Sea, and wee shaping our course to goe, coasting the land to the
Northwards vpon the Easterne shore, which we called the shore of our
Merchants, because there we met with people which traffiqued with vs, but
here wee were not without doubt of our ship.
[Sidenote: Store of Whales in 67. degrees.] The 24. being in 67. degrees,
and 40. minutes, wee had great store of Whales, and a kinde of sea birds
which the Mariners call Cortinous. This day about sixe of the clocke at
night, we espied two of the countrey people at Sea, thinking at the first
they had bene two great Seales, vntill wee sawe their oares glistering with
the Sunne: they came rowing towardes vs, as fast as they could, and when
they came within hearing, they held vp their oares, and cryed Ilyaoute,
making many signes: and at last they came to vs, giuing vs birdes for
bracelets, and of them I had a darte with a bone in it, or a piece of
Vnicorns horne, as I did iudge. This dart he made store of, but when he saw
a knife, he let it go, being more desirous of the knife then of his dart:
these people continued rowing after our ship the space of 3. houres.
The 25. in the morning at 7. of the clocke we descried 30. Sauages rowing
after vs, being by iudgement 10. leagues off from the shore: they brought
vs Salmon Peales, Birdes, and Caplin, and we gaue them pinnes, needles,
bracelets, nailes, kniues, bels, looking glasses, and other small trifles,
and for a knife, a naile or a bracelet, which they call Ponigmah, they
would sell their boate, coates, or any thing they had, although they were
farre from the shore. Wee had but few skinnes of them, about 20. but they
made signes to vs that if wee would goe to the shore, wee should haue more
store of Chichsanege: they stayed with vs till 11. of the clocke, at which
time wee went to prayer, and they departed from vs.
[Sidenote: 72 deg. and 12 min. Betweene Gronland and the North of America
aboue 40. leagues.] The 28. and 29. were foggie with cloudes, the 30. day
wee tooke the heigth, and found our selues in 72. degrees and 12 minutes of
latitude both at noone and at night, the Sunne being 5. degrees aboue the
Horizon. [Sidenote: The Great variation of the compasse.] At midnight the
compasse set to the variation of 28. degrees to the Westward. [Sidenote:
London coast.] Now hauing coasted the land, which wee called London coast,
from the 21. of this present, till the 30. the Sea open all to the
Westwards and Northwards, the land on starboard side East from vs, the
winde shifted to the North, whereupon we left that shore, naming the same
Hope Sanderson, and shaped our course West, and ranne 40. leagues and
better without the sight of any land.
Iuly.
[Sidenote: A mightie banke of yce lying North and South.] The second of
Iuly wee fell with a mightie banke of yce West from vs, lying North and
South, which banke wee would gladly haue doubled out to the Northwards, but
the winde would not suffer vs, so that we were faine to coast it to the
Southwards, hoping to double it out, that wee might haue ran so farre West
till wee had found land, or els to haue beene thorowly resolued of our
pretended purpose.
The 3. wee fell with the yce againe, and putting off from it, we sought to
the Northwards, but the wind crossed vs.
The 4. was foggie: so was the 5. also with much wind at the North.
The 6. being very cleare, we put our barke with oares through a gap in the
yce, seeing the Sea free on the West side, as we thought, which falling out
otherwise, caused vs to returne after we had stayed there betweene the yce.
The 7. and 8. about midnight, by Gods helpe we recouered the open Sea, the
weather being faire and calme, and so was the 9. The 10. we coasted the
yce. The 11. was foggie, but calme.
The 12. we coasted againe the yce, hauing the wind at Northnorthwest.
[Sidenote: Extreme heate of the Sunne.] The 13, bearing off from the yce,
we determined to goe with the shoare and come to an anker, and to stay 5.
or 6. dayes for the dissoluing of the yce, hoping that the Sea continually
beating it, and the Sunne with the extreme force of heat which it had
alwayes shining vpon it, would make a quicke dispatch, that we might haue a
further search vpon the Westerne shore. Now when we were come to the
Easterne coast, the water something deepe, and some of our companie
fearefull withall, we durst not come to an anker, but bare off into the Sea
againe. The poore people seeing vs goe away againe, came rowing after vs
into the Sea, the waues being somewhat loftie. We truckt with them for a
few skinnes and dartes, and gaue them beads, nailes, pinnes, needles and
cardes, they poynting to the shore, as though they would shew vs some great
friendship: but we little regarding their curtesie, gaue them the gentle
farewell, and so departed.
[Sidenote: They were driuen West sixe points out of their course in 67.
degrees, 45. minutes.] The 14. wee had the wind at South. The 15. there was
some fault either in the barke, or the set of some current, for wee were
driuen sixe points beyond our course West. The 16. wee fell with the banke
of yce West from vs. The 17. and 18. were foggie. [Sidenote: Mount
Raleigh.] The 19.at one a clocke after noone, wee had sight of the land
which we called Mount Raleigh, and at 12. of the clocke at night, we were
thwart the streights which we discouered the first yeere. The 20. wee
trauersed in the mouth of the streight, the wind being at West, with faire
and cleare weather. The 21. and 22. wee coasted the Northerne coast of the
streights. [Sidenote: The Earle of Cumberlands Isles.] The 23. hauing
sayled threescore leagues Northwest into the streights, at two a clocke
after noone wee ankered among many Isles in the bottome of the gulfe,
naming the same The Earle of Cumberlands Isles, where riding at anker, a
Whale passed by our ship and went West among the Isles. [Sidenote: The
variation of the compasse 30. deg. Westward.] Heere the compasse set at
thirtie degrees Westward variation. The 23. wee departed, shaping our
course Southeast to recouer the Sea. The 25. wee were becalmed in the
bottome of the gulfe, the ayre being extreme hot. Master Bruton and some of
the Mariners went on shoare to course dogs, where they found many Graues
and Trane split on the ground, the dogs being so fat that they were scant
able to run.
The 26. wee had a prety storme, the winde being at Southeast. The 27. and
28. were faire. The 29. we were cleare out of the streights, hauing coasted
the South shore, and this day at noone we were in 62. degrees of latitude.
[Sidenote: The land trendeth from this place Southwest and by South. My
Lord Lumleys Inlet.] The 30. in the afternoone wee coasted a banke of yce,
which lay on the shore, and passed by a great banke or Inlet, which lay
between 63. and 62. degrees of latitude, which we called Lumlies Inlet. We
had oftentimes, as we sailed alongst the coast, great ruttes, the water as
it were whirling and ouerfalling, as if it were the fall of some great
water through a bridge.
[Sidenote: Warwicks Forland.] The 31. as we sayled by a Headland, which we
named Warwicks Foreland, we fell into one of these ouerfals with a fresh
gale of wind, and bearing all our sailes, wee looking vpon an Island of yce
betweene vs and the shoare, had thought that our barke did make no way,
which caused vs to take markes on the shoare: [Sidenote: A very forcible
current Westward.] at length wee perceiued our selues to goe very fast, and
the Island of yce which we saw before, was carried very forcibly with the
set of the current faster then our ship went. This day and night we passed
by a very great gulfe the water whirling and roaring as it were the
meetings of tydes.
August
[Sidenote: Chidleys cape.] The first of August hauing coasted a banke of
ice which was driuen out at the mouth of this gulfe, we fell with the
Southernmost cape of the gulfe, which we named Chidleis cape, which lay in
61 degrees and 10 minutes of latitude. The 2 and 3 were calme and foggie,
so were the 4, 5, and 6. The 7 was faire and calme: so was the 8, with a
litle gale in the morning. The 9 was faire, and we had a little gale at
night. The 10 we had a frisking gale at Westnorthwest. The 11. faire.
[Sidenote: The lord Darcies Island.] The 12 we saw fiue deere on the top of
an Island, called by vs Darcies Island. And we hoised out our boat, and
went ashore to them, thinking to haue killed some of them. But when we came
on shore, and had coursed them twise about the Island, they tooke the sea
and swamme towards Islands distant from that three leagues. When we
perceiued that they had taken the sea we gaue them ouer because our boat
was so small that it could not carrie vs, and rowe after them, they swamme
so fast: but one of them was as bigge as a good prety Cow, and very fat,
their feet as bigge as Oxe feet. Here vpon this Island I killed with my
piece a gray hare.
The 13 in the morning we saw three or foure white beares, but durst not go
on shore to them for lacke of a good boat This day we stroke a rocke
seeking for an harborow, and receiued a leake: and this day we were in 54.
degrees of latitude.
The 14 we stopt our leake in a storme not very outragious, at noone.
[Sidenote: The fishing place betweene 54 and 55 degrees of latitude.] The
15 being almost in 52 degrees of latitude, and not finding our ships, nor
(according to their promise) any kinde of marke, token, or beacon, which we
willed them to set vp, and they protested to do so vpon euery head land,
Island or cape, within twenty leagues euery way off from their fishing
place, which our captaine appointed to be betweene 54 and 55 degrees: This
15 I say we shaped our course homewards for England, hauing in our ship but
litle wood, and halfe a hogshead of fresh water. Our men were very willing
to depart, and no man more forward then Peerson, for he feared to be put
out of his office of stewardship: but because euery man was so willing to
depart, we consented to returne for our owne countrey: and so we had the 16
faire weather, with the winde at Southwest.
[Sidenote: Abundance of whales in 52 degrees.] The 17 we met a ship at sea,
and as farre as we could iudge it was a Biskaine: we thought she went a
fishing for whales; for in 52 degrees or thereabout we saw very many.
The 18 was faire, with a good gale at West.
The 19 faire also, with much winde at West and by South.
[They arrive at Dartmouth the 15 of September.] And thus after much
variable weather and change of winds we arriued the 15 of September in
Dartmouth anno 1587, giuing thanks to God for our safe arriuall.
* * * * *
A letter of the sayd M. Iohn Dauis written to M. Sanderson of London
concerning his forewritten voyage.
Good M. Sanderson, with Gods great mercy I haue made my safe returne in
health, with all my company, and haue sailed threescore leagues further
then my determination at my departure. I haue bene in 73 degrees, finding
the sea all open, and forty leagues betweene land and land. The passage is
most probable, the execution easie, as at my comming you shall fully know.
Yesterday the 15 of September I landed all weary; therefore I pray you
pardon my shortnesse.
Sandridge this 16 of September anno 1587.
Yours equall as mine owne, which by triall you shall best know,
IOHN DAVIS.
* * * * *
A Traverse-Booke made by M. Iohn Davis in his third voyage for the
discouerie of the Northwest passage. Anno 1587.
[In the following chart, the final column, THE DISCOVRSE, is moved to the
line after which it is aligned in the original--KTH]
Moneth D H Course. L Eleva- The winde. THE DISCOVRSE
a o e tion
y u a of the
e r g pole.
s. e u D M
s. e e i
s. g. n.
May
19 w.s.w. 50 30 n.e.
Westerly.
This day we departed from Dartmouth at two of the clocke at night.
20
21 35 w.s.w. 50 50 n.e.
Westerly.
This day we descried Silly N. W. by W. from vs.
22 15 w.n.w. 14 n.e. by e.
This day at noone we departed from Silly.
22 6 w.n.w. 6 n.e. by e.
22 3 w.n.w. 2
23 15 n.w. by w. 18 n.e.
23 39 w.n.w. 36 50 40
The true course, distance and latitude.
3 w.n.w. 2 n.n.e.
6 n.w. by w. 5 n.e. by n.
3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e.
12 w.n.w. 12 n.e.
Noone the 24 24 w.n.w. 25 51 16.
Northerly.
The true course, distance and latitude.
3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e.
3 w.n.w. 2-1/2 n. by e.
6 w. by n. 5 n.
6 w. by n. 5 n.
2 s. 1/2 n.
Now we lay vpon the lee for the Sunshine, which had taken a leake of 500
strokes a watch.
Noone the 25 24 w. by n. 20 51 30
The true course, distance and latitude.
Noone the 25 3 w. 3 n.n.w.
3 w.s.w. 2 n.w.
1 s.w. 1 w.n.w.
2 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n.
3 w.n.w. 1-1/2 n.
3 Calme
4 w.n.w. 4 s.s.e.
5 w. 6 s.s.e.
Noone the 26 24 w by n. 23 51 40
The true course, distance, &c.
Westerly.
11 w. 16 s.s.e.
6 w.n.w. 2 s.s.e.
We lay at hull with winde, raine, and fog.
7 w. 5 s.e.
Noone the 27 24 w. northerly 23
The common course supposed.
Noone the 28 24 w. 20 52 13 e.s.e.
We towed the pinnesse 18 houres of this day.
Noone the 28 28 w. by n. 43 52 13
Northerly.
The true course, distance, &c.
Noone the 29 24 n.w. 30 s. by e.
6 n.w. 10 s.
3 n. by w. 2 w. by n.
3 w. by w. 3 w. by s.
12 n. w. 12 s.s.w
Noone the 30 48 n.w. by n. 65 54 50
The true course, &c.
9 n.w. 12 s.w.
9 n.w. by w. 12 s.s.w.
3 w.n.w. 3 n.n.e.
Noone the 30 3 w. by n. 4 n.
30 24 w. n. w. 27 55 30
Northerly.
The true course, &c.
Iune 1 12 w. 10 n.n.w.
9 n.w. 8 e.n.e.
3 n.w. 2-1/2 e.n.e.
1 24 w.n.w. 17 55 45
Westerly.
The true course, &c.
12 n.w. 16 e.s.e.
6 n.w. 7 s.
6 n.w. 8 s.s.w.
Noone the 2 24 n.w. 32 56 55
Northerly
The true course, &c.
Noone the 5 72 w. by s. 45 56 20
Southerly
The true course &c., drawen from diurs trauerses.
Noone the 6 24 s.w. 16 w.n.w.
7 s.w. by w. 6 w. by n.
5 Calme.
3 w.n.w. 1 s.
Noone the 7 9 w.n.w. 12 s.
12 w.n.w 20 s.
3 w.n.w. 4 s.
Noone the 8 9 w.n.w. 7 s.
12 w.n.w. 5 s.
Noone the 9 12 w.n.w. 13 s.e.
Noone the 9 12 w.n.w 86 57 30
Northerly
The true course, distance, and latitude for 96 houres.
Noone the 9 3 w.n.w. 4 s.e.
3 w.n.w. 2 s.e.
6 w.n.w. 1 Calme
Noone the 10 12 w.n.w. 16-1/2 e.
7 w.n.w. 12 e.
2 n.w. 2 e.
Noone the 11 15 n.w. 18 e.n.e.
12 n.w. 12 e.n.e.
12 n.w. 13 e. by s.
Noone the 12 72 n.w. by w. 78 59 50
Northerly
The true course, &c. for 72 houres.
Noone the 13 24 n.n.w. 26 60 58 e. by n.
Westerly
Noone the 14 24 n.n.w. 32 62 30 n.e.
9 w.n.w. 7 n.
3 n.w. 2 n.n.e.
3 n.w. by n. 2 n.e. by n.
This day in the morning at fiue of the clocke we discouered land being
distant from vs at the neerest place sixteene leagues, This land in
generall lay Northwest and to the Westwards, being very mountainous. The
winde was this day variable, and the aire sometime foggie, and sometime
cleere. The foresayd land bare from vs (so neere as we could iudge)
North, Northwest, and Southeast.
15 9 n.n.w. 8 n.e.
Noone the 15 24 n.w.
Northerly 22 63 20
The true course, &c.
Noone the 16 24 n.n.e. 14 64
Easterly
The true course, &c. This 16 of Iune at 5 of the clocke in the
afternoone, being in the latitude of 64 degrees, through Gods helpe we
came to an anker among many low islands which lay before the high land.
Noone the 17
This 17 of Iune we set vp our pinnesse.
20
The 20 she was spoiled by Sauages. At midnight the 21 of Iune wee
departed from this coast, our two barks for their fishing voyage, and
myself in the pinnesse for the discouery. From midnight the 21 we shaped
our course as followeth.
At mid-
night the 21 8 w.n.w 7 s.e.
Noone the 22 4 n.w. 6 s.e.
13 n.w. 18 s.e.
11 n. 13 s.e.
At this time we saw great store of whales.
Noone the 23 36 n.w. by n. 42 65 40
The true course, &c.
Noone the 24 24 n. by e. 41 67 40 s.s.e.
northerly
2
The true course &c. Here the weather was very hot. This 24 of Iune at 6
of the clocke at night we met two sauages at sea in their small canoas,
vnto whom we gaue bracelets, and nailes, for skins and birds. At 9 of the
clocke they departed from vs.
Noone the 26 48 n. s.
3 n.w. 2 s.w.
The next day at 7 of the clocke in the morning, there came vnto vs 30
sauages 20 leagues off the shore, intreating vs to goe to the shore. We
had of them fish, birds, skinnes, darts, and their coats from their
backs, for bracelets, nailes, kniues, &c. They remained with vs foure
houres, and departed.
7 n.n.e. 10 s.
6 n. 8 s.w.
8 w.n.w. 5 s.e.
Noone the 27 72 n.
westerly 52 70 4
The true course for, &c. 72 houres.
Noone the 29 72 n. 43 72 12
30
The true course, &c. Since the 21 of this moneth I haue continually
coasted the shore of Gronland, hauing the sea all open towards the West,
and the land on the starboord side East from me. For these last 4 dayes
the weather hath bene extreame hot and very calme, the Sunne being 5
degrees aboue the horison at midnight. The compasse in this place varieth
28 degrees toward the West.
Iuly 1 30 w. by s. 44 71 36 n.w. by n.
westerley
The true course, &c. this day at noone we coasted a mighty banke of ice
West from vs.
2 24 s.e. 12 71 9
Noone the 3 8 n.n.w. 11 71 40 n.
This day we fell againe with the ice, seeking to double it out by the
North.
Noone the 5 48 s.s.e. 36 70 n.
The true course, &c.
6 24 s.s.w. 22 69 variable.
7
8
The true course, &c. This 6 of Iuly we put our barke thorow the ice,
seeing the sea free on the West side: and hauing sailed 5 leagues West,
we fell with another mighty barre, which we could not passe: and
therefore returning againe, we freed our selues the 8 of this moneth at
midnight, and so recouered the sea through Gods fauour, by faire winds,
the weather being very calme.
Noone the 9 72 e.s.e. 7 68 50 calme.
The true course, &c.
10 24 s.e. by s. 8 68 30 calme.
The true course, &c. This day we coasted the ice.
11 24 e.n.e. 11-1/2 68 45 variable.
The true course, &c.
12 24 s.s.e. 16 68 n.n.w.
The true course, &c.
13 24 e. by s. 20 s.
This day the people came to vs off the shore, and bartered with vs. Being
within the Isle, and not finding good ankorage, we bare off again into
the sea.
14 24 w. by n. 11 67 50 s.
The true course, &c.
15 24 w.s.w. 5 67 45 e.
The true course, &c. This day a great current set vs West 6 points from
our course.
16 24 s.w. by w. 23 67 10 s.
westerly
The true course, &c. This day we fell with a mighty banke of ice West of
vs.
Noone the 18 48 s. by w. 30 65 33 n. fog.
The true course, &c. Collected by diuers experiments.
19 24 w. 13 65 30 s. fog.
southerly
The true course, &c. This 19 of Iuly at one a clocke in the afternoone we
had sight of the land of Mount Ralegh, and by 12 of the clocke at night
wee were thwart the Streights which (by Gods helpe) I discouered the
first yere.
20
The 20 day wee trauersed in the mouth of the sayd Streights with a
contrary winde, being West and faire weather.
23
This 23 day at 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, hauing sailed 60
leagues Northwest, we ankered among an huge number of Isles lying in the
bottome of the sayd supposed passage, at which place the water riseth 4
fadome vpright. Here as we rode at anker, a great whale passed by vs, and
swam West in amongst the isles. In this place a S. W. by W. moone maketh
a full sea. Here the compasse varied 30 degrees.
24
The 24 day at 5 of the clocke in the morning we set saile, departing from
this place, and shaping our course S.E. to recouer the maine Ocean
againe.
25
This 25 we were becalmed almost in the bottome of the Streights, and had
the weather maruellous extreme hot.
26 s.e.
This day being in the Streights, we had a very quicke storme.
27 s.
Being still in the Streight, we had this day faire weather.
Noone the 29 64
At this present we got cleere of the Streights, hauing coasted the South
shore, the land trending from hence S. W. by S.
Noone the 30 s.s.w. 22 63
This day we coasted the shore, a banke of ice lying thereupon. Also this
30 of Iuly in the afternoone we crossed ouer the entrance or mouth of a
great inlet or passage, being 20 leagues broad, and situate betweene 62
and 63 degrees. In which place we had 8 or 9 great rases, currents or
ouerfals, lothsomly crying like the rage of the waters vnder London
bridge, and bending their course into the sayd gulfe.
Noone the 31 24 s. by w. 27 62 n.w.
This 31 at noone, comming close by a foreland or great cape, we fell into
a mighty rase, where an island of ice was carried by the force of the
current as fast as our barke could saile with lum wind, all sailes
bearing. This cape as it was the most Southerly limit of the gulfe which
we passed ouer the 30 day of this moneth, so was it the North promontory
or first beginning of another very great inlet, whose South limit at this
present wee saw not. Which inlet or gulfe this afternoone, and in the
night, we passed ouer: where to our great admiration we saw the sea
falling down into the gulfe with a mighty ouerfal, and roring, and with
diuers circular motions like whirlepooles, in such sort as forcible
streames passe thorow the arches of bridges.