Hind to dresse his foote, which he hurt by treading vpon a naile: At what
time we comforted ech other with hope of hard successe to be all past, and
of the good to come. So agreeing to cary out lights alwayes by night, that
we might keepe together, he departed into his Frigat, being by no meanes to
be intreated to tarie in the Hind, which had bene more for his security.
Immediatly after followed a sharpe storme, which we ouerpassed for that
time. Praysed be God.
[Sidenote: Our last conference with our Generall.] The weather faire, the
Generall came aboord the Hind againe, to make merrie together with the
Captaine, Master and company which was the last meeting, and continued
there from morning untill night. During which time there passed sundry
discourses, touching affaires past, and to come, lamenting greatly the
losse of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all of his bookes and
notes, and what els I know not, for which hee was out of measure grieued,
the same doubtles being some matter of more importance then his bookes,
which I could not draw from him: yet by circumstance I gathered, the same
to be the Ore which Daniel the Saxon had brought vnto him in the New found
land. [Sidenote: Circumstances to be well obserued in our Generall,
importing the Ore to be of a Siluer mine.] Whatsoeuer it was, the
remembrance touched him so deepe, as not able to containe himselfe, he beat
his boy in great rage, euen at the same time, so long after the miscarrying
of the great ship, because vpon a faire day, when wee were becalmed vpon
the coast of the New found land, neere vnto Cape Race, he sent his boy
aboord the Admirall, to fetch certaine things: amongst which, this being
chiefe, was yet forgotten and left behind. After which time he could neuer
conueniently send againe aboord the great ship, much lesse hee doubted her
ruine so neere at hand.
Herein my opinion was better confirmed diursely, and by sundry coniectures,
which maketh me haue the greater hope of this rich Mine. For where as the
Generall had neuer before good conceit of these North parts of the world:
now his mind was wholly fixed vpon the New found land. And as before he
refused not to grant assignements liberally to them that required the same
into these North parts, now he became contrarily affected, refusing to make
any so large grants, especially of S. Iohns, which certaine English
merchants made suite for, offering to imploy their money and trauell vpon
the same: yet neither by their owne suite, nor of others of his owne
company, whom he seemed willing to pleasure, it could be obtained.
Also laying downe his determination in the Spring following, for disposing
of his voyage then to be reattempted: he assigned the Captaine and Master
of the Golden Hind, vnto the South discouery, and reserued vnto himselfe
the North, affirming that this voyage had wonne his heart from the South,
and that he was now become a Northerne man altogether.
Last, being demanded what means he had at his arriuall in England, to
compasse the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the
next Spring: hauing determined vpon two fleetes, one for the South, another
for the North: Leaue that to mee (hee replied) I will aske a pennie of no
man. I will bring good tidings vnto her Maiesty, who wil be so gracious, to
lend me 10000 pounds, willing vs therefore to be of good cheere: for he did
thanke God (he sayd) with al his heart, for that he had seene, the same
being enough for vs all, and that we needed not to seeke any further. And
these last words he would often repeate, with demonstration of great
feruencie of mind, being himselfe very confident, and setled in beliefe of
inestimable good by his voyage: which the greater number of his followers
neuertheles mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those
secrets, which the Generall kept vnto himselfe. Yet all of them that are
liuing, may be witnesses of his words and protestations, which sparingly I
have deliuered.
Leauing the issue of this good hope vnto God, who knoweth the trueth only,
and can at his good pleasure bring the same to light: I will hasten to the
end of this tragedie, which must be knit vp in the person of our Generall.
[Sidenote: Wilfulnes in the Generall.] And as it was Gods ordinance vpon
him, euen so the vehement perswasion and intreatie of his friends could
nothing auaile, to diuert him from a wilfull resolution of going through in
his Frigat, which was ouercharged vpon their deckes, with fights, nettings,
and small artillerie, too cumbersome for so small a boate, that was to
passe through the Ocean sea at that season of the yere, when by course we
might expect much storme of foule weather, whereof indeed we had enough.
[Sidenote: A token of a good mind.] But when he was intreated by the
Captaine, Master, and other his well willers of the Hinde, not to venture
in the Frigat, this was his answere: I will not forsake my little company
going homeward, with whom I haue passed so many stormes and perils. And in
very trueth, hee was vrged to be so ouer hard, by hard reports giuen of
him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was rather rashnes, then
aduised resolution, to preferre the wind of a vaine report to the weight of
his owne life.
Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had prouision out of the Hinde, such
as was wanting aboord his Frigat. And so we committed him to Gods
protection, and set him aboord his Pinnesse, we being more then 300 leagues
onward of our way home.
By that time we had brought the Islands of Açores South of vs, yet wee then
keeping much to the North, vntill we had got into the height and eleuation
of England: we met with very foule weather, and terrible seas, breaking
short and high Pyramid wise. The reason whereof seemed to proceede either
of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, (as we see hilles and dales
vpon the land) vpon which the seas doe mount and fall: or else the cause
proceedeth of diuersitie of winds, shifting often in sundry points: al
which hauing power to moue the great Ocean, which againe is not presently
setled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had bene diuersitie of
windes. Howsoeuer it commeth to passe, men which all their life time had
occupied the Sea, neuer saw more outragious Seas. We had also vpon our
maine yard, an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen doe call
Castor and Pollux. But we had onely one, which they take an euill signe of
more tempest: the same is vsuall in stormes.
[Sidenote: A resolute and Christianlike saying in a distresse.] Munday the
ninth of September, in the afternoone, the Frigat was neere cast away,
oppressed by waues, yet at that time recouered: and giuing foorth signes of
ioy, the Generall sitting abaft with a booke in his hand, cried out vnto vs
in the Hind (so oft as we did approch within hearing) We are as neere to
heauen by sea as by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a
souldier, resolute in Iesus Christ, as I can testifie he was.
[Sidenote: Sir Humfrey Gilbert drowned.] The same Monday night, about
twelue of the clocke, or not long after, the Frigat being ahead of vs in
the Golden Hinde, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as it were in a
moment, we lost the sight, and withall our watch cryed, the Generall was
cast away, which was so true. For in that moment, the Frigat was deuoured
and swallowed vp of the Sea. Yet still we looked out all that night, and
euer after, vntill wee arriued vpon the coast of England: Omitting no small
saile at sea, vnto which we gaue not the tokens betweene vs, agreed vpon,
to haue perfect knowledge of each other, if we should at any time be
separated.
[Sidenote: Arriuall in England of the Golden Hinde.] In great torment of
weather, and perill of drowning, it pleased God to send safe home the
Golden Hinde, which arriued in Falmouth, the 22 day of September, being
Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flaw, comming from the
Southeast, with such thicke mist, that we could not discerne land, to put
in right with the Hauen.
From Falmouth we went to Dartmouth, and lay there at anker before the
Range, while the captaine went aland, to enquire if there had bene any
newes of the Frigat, while sayling well, might happily haue bene there
before vs. [Sidenote: A fit motion of the Captain vnto Sir Humfrey
Gilbert.] Also to certifie Sir Iohn Gilbert, brother vnto the Generall of
our hard successe, whom the Captaine desired (while his men were yet aboord
him, and were witnesses of all occurents in that voyage,) It might please
him to take the examination of euery person particularly, in discharge of
his and their faithfull endeauour. Sir Iohn Gilbert refused so to doe,
holding himselfe satisfied with report made by the Captaine: and not
altogether dispairing of his brothers safetie, offered friendship and
curtesie to the Captaine and his company, requiring to haue his barke
brought into the harbour: in furtherance whereof, a boate was sent to helpe
to tow her in.
Neuerthelesse, when the Captaine returned aboord his ship, he found his men
bent to depart, euery man to his home: and then the winde seruing to
proceede higher vpon the coast: they demanded monie to carie them home,
some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, (if the barke should be
caried into Dartmouth, and they discharged, so farre from home) or else to
take benefite of the wind, then seruing to draw neerer home, which should
be a lesse charge vnto the Captaine, and great ease vnto the men, hauing
els farre to goe.
Reason accompanied with necessitie perswaded the Captaine, who sent his
lawfull excuse and cause of his sudden departure vnto Sir Iohn Gilbert, by
the boate at Dartmouth, and from thence the Golden Hind departed, and tooke
harbour at Waimouth. [Sidenote: An ill recompense.] Al the men tired with
the tediousnes of so vnprofitable a voyage to their seeming: in which their
long expence of time, much toyle and labour, hard diet and continuall
hazard of life was vnrecompensed: their Captaine neuerthelesse by his great
charges, impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in the goodnes of God, and
his vndoubted prouidence following him in all that voyage, as it doth
alwaies those at other times, whosoeuer haue confidence in him alone. Yet
haue we more neere feeling and perseuerance of his powerfull hand and
protection, when God doth bring vs together with others into one same
peril, in which he leaueth them, and deliuereth vs, making vs thereby the
beholders, but not partakers of their ruine.
Euen so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies,
conspiracies, sicknesses, mortalitie, spoylings, and wracks by sea, which
were afflictions, more then in so small a Fleete, or so short a time may be
supposed, albeit true in euery particularitie, as partly by the former
relation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for their
sakes liuing, it pleased God to support this company, (of which onely one
man died of a maladie inueterate, and long infested): the rest kept
together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and
ending the voyage, which none els did accomplish, either not pleased with
the action, or impatient of wants, or preuented by death.
[Sidenote: Constancie in sir Humfrey Gilbert.] Thus haue I deliuered the
contents of the enterprise and last action of sir Humfrey Gilbert knight,
faithfully, for so much as I thought meete to be published: wherein may
alwaies appeare, (though he be extinguished) some sparkes of his vertues,
he remaining firme and resolute in a purpose by all pretence honest and
godly, as was this, to discouer, possesse, and to reduce vnto the seruice
of God, and Christian pietie, those remote and heathen Countreys of
America, not actually possessed by Christians, and most rightly
appertaining vnto the Crowne of England: vnto the which, as his zeale
deserueth high commendation: euen so, he may iustly be taxed of temeritie
and presumption (rather) in two respects.
[Sidenote: His temeritie and presumption.] First, when yet there was onely
probabilitie, not a certaine and determinate place of habitation selected,
neither any demonstration of commoditie there in esse, to induce his
followers: neuertheles, he both was too prodigall of his owne patrimony,
and too careles of other mens expences, to imploy both his and their
substance vpon a ground imagined good. The which falling, very like his
associates were promised, and made it their best reckoning to bee salued
some other way, which pleased not God to prosper in his first and great
preparation.
Secondly, when by his former preparation he was enfeebled of abilitie and
credit, to performe his designements, as it were impatient to abide in
expectation better opportunitie and meanes, which God might raise, he
thrust himselfe againe into the action, for which he was not fit, presuming
the cause pretended on Gods behalfe, would carie him to the desired ende.
Into which, hauing thus made reentrie, he could not yeeld againe to
withdraw though hee sawe no encouragement to proceed, lest his credite,
foyled in his first attempt, in a second should vtterly be disgraced.
Betweene extremities, hee made a right aduenture, putting all to God and
good fortune, and which was worst refused not to entertaine euery person
and meanes whatsoeuer, to furnish out this expedition, the successe whereof
hath bene declared.
But such is the infinite bountie of God, who from euery euill deriueth
good. [Sidenote: Afflictions needfull in the children of God.] For besides
that fruite may growe in time of our trauelling into those Northwest lands,
the crosses, turmoiles, and afflictions, both in the preparation and
execution of this voyage, did correct the intemperate humors, which before
we noted to bee in this Gentleman, and made vnsauorie, and lesse delightful
his other manifold vertues.
Then as he was refined, and made neerer drawing vnto the image of God: so
it pleased the diuine will to resume him vnto himselfe, whither both his,
and euery other high and noble minde, haue alwayes aspired.
* * * * *
Ornatissimo viro, Magistro Richard Hakluyto Oxonij in Collegio ædis
Christi, Artium et Philosophiæ Magistro, amico, et fratri suo.
S. Non statueram ad te scribere, cùm in mentem veniret promissum literarum
tuarum. Putabas te superiore iam Iunio nos subsecuturum. Itaque de meo
statu ex doctore Humfredo certiorem te fieri iusseram. Verùm sic tibi non
esset satisfactum. Itaque scribam ad te ijsdem ferè verbis, quia noua
meditari et [Greek: sunonumixein] mihi hoc tempore non vacat. Vndecimo
Iunij ex Anglia reuera tandem et seriò soluimus, portu et terra apud
Plemuthum simul relictis. Classis quinque nauibus constabat: maxima, quam
[Marginal note: Dominus Ralegh.] frater Amiralij accommodauerat, ignotum
quo comsilio, statim tertio die à nobis se subduxit. Reliqui perpetuò
coniunctim nauigauimus ad. 23. Iulij, quo tempore magnis nebulis intercepto
aspectu alij aliam viam tenuimus: nobis seorsim prima terra apparuit ad
Calendas Augusti, ad gradum circiter 50. cùm vltrà 41. paucis ante diebus
descendissemus spe Australium ventorum, qui tamen nobis suo tempore nunquam
spirauêre. [Sidenote: Insula penguin.] Insula est ea, quam vestri Penguin
vocant, ab auium eiusdem nominis multitudine. Nos tamen nec aues vidimus,
nec insulam accessimus, ventis aliò vocantibus. Cæterùm conuenimus omnes in
eundum locum paulò ante portum in quem communi consilio omnibus veniendum
erat, idqúe intra duas horas, magna Dei benignitate et nostro gaudio. Locus
situs est in Newfoundlandia, inter 47. et 48. gradum, Diuum Ioannem vocant.
Ipse Admiralius proter multitudinem hominum et angustiam nauis paulò
afflictiorem comitatum habuit et iam duos dysentericis fioloribus amisit:
de cæteris bona spes est. Ex nostris (nam ego me Mauricio Browno verè
generoso iuueni me coniunxeram) duo etiam casu quodam submersi sunt. Cæteri
salui et longè firmiores. Ego nunquam sanior. In hunc locum tertio Augusti
appulimus: quinto autem ipse Admiralius has regiones in suam et regni
Angliæ possessionem potestatemque vendicauit, latis quibusdam legibus de
religione et obsequio Reginæ Angliæ. Reficimur hoc tempore paulò hilariùs
et lautiùs. Certè enim et qualibus ventis vsi simus, et quàm fessi esse
potuerimus tam longi temporis ratio docuerit, proinde nihil nobis deerit.
Nam extra Anglos, 20 circiter naues Lusitanicas et Hispanicas nacti in hoc
loco sumus: eæ nobis impares non patientur nas esurire. Angli etsi satis
firmi, et à nobis tuli, authoritate regij diplomatis omni obsequio et
humanitate prosequuntur. Nunc narrandi erant mores, regiones, et populi.
Cæterùm quid narrem mi Hakluyte, quando præter solitudinem nihil video?
Piscium inexhausta copia: inde huc commeantibus magnus quæstus. Vix hamus
fumdum attigit, illicò insigni aliquo onustus est. Terra vniuersa [Marginal
note: In the south side of Newefoundland, there is store of plaine and
champion Countrey, as Richard Clarke found.] montana et syluestris: arbores
vt plurimùm pinus: ex partim consenuêre, partim nunc adolescunt: magna pars
vetustate collapsa, et aspectum terræ, et iter euntium ita impedit, vt
nusquam progredi liceat. Herbæ omnes proceræ: sed rarò à nostris diuersæ.
Natura videtur velle niti etiam ad generandum frumentum. Inueni enim
gramina, et spicas in similitudinem secales: et facilè cultura et satione
in vsum humanum assuefieri posse videntur. Rubi in syluis vel potiùs fraga
arborescentia magna suauitate. Vrsi circa tuguria nonnunquam apparent, et
conficiuntur: sed albi sunt, vt mihi ex peliibus coniicere licuit, et
minores quàm nostri. Populus an vllus sit in hac regione incertum est: Nec
vllum vidi qui testari posset. Et quis quæso posset, cùm ad longum progredi
non liceat? Nee minùs ignotum est an aliquid metalli sub sit montibus.
Causa eadem est, etsi aspectus eorum mineras latentes præ se ferat. Nos
Admiralio authores fuimus syluas incendere, quo ad inspiciendam regionem
spacium pateret: nec displicebat illi consilium, si non magnum incommodum
allaturum videretur. [Sidenote: The great heate of the sunne in summer.]
Confirmatum est enim ab idoneis hominibus, cum casu quopiam in alia nescio
qua statione id accidisset, septennium totum pisces non comparuisse, ex
acerbata maris vnda ex terebynthina, quæ conflagrantibus arboribus per
riuulos defluebat. Coelum hoc anni tempore ita feruidum est, vt nisi
pisces, qui arefiunt ad solem, assidui inuertantur, ab adustione defendi
non possint. Hyeme quàm frigidum sit, magnæ moles glaciei in medio mari nos
docuere. Relatum est à comitibus mense Maio sexdecim totos dies interdum se
inter tantam glaciem hæsisse, vt 60. orgyas altæ essent insulæ: quarum
latera soli apposita cum liquescerent, liberatione quadam vniuersam molem
ita inuersam, vt quòd ante pronum erat, supinum euaderet, magno præsentium
discrimine, vt consentaneum est. Aer in terra mediocriter clarus est: ad
orientem supra mare perpetuæ nebulæ: Et in ipso mari circa Bancum (sic
vocant locum vbi quadraginta leucis à terra fundus attingitur, et pisces
capi incipiunt) nullus ferme dies absque pluuia. Expeditis nostris
necessitatibus in hoc loco, in Austrum (Deo iuuante) progrediemur, tantò
indies maiori spe, quò plura de iis quas petimus regionibus commemorantur.
Hæc de nostris. Cupio de vobis scire: sed metuo ne incassum. Imprimis autem
quomodo Vntonus meus absentiam meam ferat, præter modum intelligere velim:
Habebit nostrum obsequium et officium paratum, quandiu vixerimus. Reuera
autem spero, hanc nostram peregrinationem ipsius instituo vsui futuram.
Nunc restat, vt me tuum putes, et quidem ita tuum, vt neminem magis. Iuuet
dei filius labores nostros eatenus, vt tu quoque participare possis. Vale
amicissime, suauissime, onrnatissime Hakluyle, et nos ama. In Newfundlandia
apud portum Sancti Iohannis 6. Augusti 1583.
STEPHANVS PARMENIVS
Budeius, tuus.
The same in English.
To the worshipfull, Master Richard Hakluit at Oxford in Christchurch Master
of Arts, and Philosophie, his friend and brother.
I had not purposed to write vnto you, when the promise of your letters came
to my mind: You thought in Iune last to haue followed vs your selfe, and
therefore I had left order that you should be aduertised of my state, by
Master Doctor Humfrey: but so you would not be satisfied: I will write
therefore to you almost in the same words, because I haue no leasure at
this time, to meditate new matters, and to vary or multiply words.
The 11. of Iune we set saile at length from England in good earnest, and
departed leauing the hauen and land behind vs at Plimmouth: our Fleete
consisted of fiue shippes: the greatest, which the Admirals brother had
lent vs, withdrew her selfe from vs the third day, wee know not vpon what
occassion: with the rest we sailed still together till the 23 of Iuly: at
which time our view of one another being intercepted by the great mists,
some of vs sailed one way, and some another: to vs alone the first land
appeared, the first of August, about the latitude of 50. degrees, when as
before we had descended beyond 41 degrees in hope of some Southerly windes,
which notwithstanding neuer blew to vs at any fit time.
It is an Island which your men call Penguin, because of the multitude of
birdes of the same name. Yet wee neither sawe any birds, nor drew neere to
the land, the winds seruing for our course directed to another place, but
wee mette altogether at that place a little before the Hauen, whereunto by
common Councell we had determined to come, and that within the space of two
houres by the great goodnesse of God, and to our great ioy. The place is
situate in Newfound land, betweene 47. and 48. degres called by the name of
Saint Iohns: the Admirall himselfe by reason of the multitude of the men,
and the smalnesse of his ship, had his company somewhat sickly, and had
already lost two of the same company, which died of the Flixe: of the rest
we conceiue good hope. Of our company (for I ioyned my selfe with Maurice
Browne, a very proper Gentleman) two persons by a mischance were drowned,
the rest are in safetie, and strong; for mine owne part I was neuer more
healthy. Wee arriued at this place the third of August: and the fift the
Admirall tooke possession of the Countrey, for himselfe and the kingdome of
England: hauing made and published certaine Lawes, concerning religion, and
obedience to the Queene of England: at this time our fare is somewhat
better, and dantier, then it was before: for in good sooth, the experience
of so long time hath taught vs what contrary winds wee haue found, and what
great trauell wee may endure hereafter: and therefore wee will take such
order, that wee will want nothing: for we found in this place about twenty
Portugall and Spanish shippes, besides the shippes of the English: which
being not able to match vs, suffer vs not to bee hunger starued: the
English although they were of themselues strong ynough, and safe from our
force, yet seeing our authoritie, by the Queenes letters patents, they
shewed vs all maner of duety and humanitie.