Greenland, thirtiene great Ships and two Pinnasses, vnder the Command of
Beniamin Ioseph, and Thomas Edge, all which Ships were well appointed
with all manner of Artillerie for defence, and other necessaries for the
making of their Voyage and for Discouerie. This yeere the Hollanders set
out for Greenland eighteene great Ships, whereof foure of them were of
the States man of Warre, Ships with thirtie pieces of Ordnance a piece.
This yeere the Dutch stayed and fished for the Whale perforce, they were
farre stronger then the English, which was a cause that the English
Ships came home halfe laden, and the Dutch with a poore Voyage. This
yeere the Companie Discouered vnto the Northwards of Greenland, as farre
as 80 Degrees odde Minuts, in the Ship Thomazen, as by her daily
Iournall doth appeare at large[1353]; in which Ship was imployed Thomas
Sherwin, and William Baffin, being the second Voyage they were imployed
into those parts. And some Ilands to the Eastwards of Greenland, were
Discouered by foure Ships imployed in that seruice, as by their Iournall
more at large appeareth.
[1353] Dit journaal is afgedrukt bij: Purchas, Pilgrimes. III p. 720
volg.
In the yeere 1615 the Companie set out for Greenland, two sayle of great
Ships and two Pinnasses, vnder the Command of Beniamin Ioseph, and
Thomas Edge, who following their Instructions, arriued vpon the Coast of
Greenland the sixth of Iune, which they found to bee much pestered with
Ice, and being foggie weather, they runne into the Ice, so farre, that
they were fast in it fourteene dayes before they could cleare themselues
of it. This yeere also the Hollanders set out fourteene sayle of ships,
whereof three of them were States Men of warre of great force, they
killed Whales in Horn-sound, Bel-sound and Faire-hauen, and stayed vpon
the coast of Greenland perforce, as they did the former yeere; whereby
the English came home halfe laden. This yeere also the King of Denmarke
sent vnto Greenland three of his ships, Men of warre, to demand a toll
of the English; but they had none payd them: for they fell with the
Fore-land in 79 degrees, where Captaine Edge was, and he denyed payment
of any toll, alledging that the Countrey of Greenland belonged to the
King of England[1354]. These were the first Danish ships that euer came
to Greenland, who had for their Pilot one Iames Vaden, an Englishman to
bring them thither[1355].
[1354] Zie over dit voorval: hiervóor p. 238, 39.
[1355] „Vn-English English to serue Dutch, Spanish, Dane, against
their owne.” (Noot van Purchas.)
In the yeere 1616 the Company set out for Greenland eight Sayle of great
ships, and two Pinnasses vnder the command of Thomas Edge, who following
his course, arriued in Greenland about the fourth of Iune, hauing
formerly appointed all his ships for their seuerall Harbours, for their
making of their Voyage vpon the Whale, and hauing in euery Harbour a
sufficient number of expert men, and all prouisions fitting for such a
Voyage. This yeere it pleased God to blesse them by their labours, that
they full laded all their ships with Oyle, and left an ouer-plus in the
Countrey, which their ships could not take in. They imployed this yeere
a small Pinnasse vnto the East-ward, which discouered the East-ward part
of Greenland, Namely, the Iland called now Edges Iland, and other Ilands
lying to the North-wards as farre as seuentie eight degrees, this
Pinnasse was some twentie tunnes, and had twelue men in her, who killed
one thousand Sea-horses on Edges Iland, and brought all their Teeth home
for London. This was the first yeere that euer the Company full laded
all their ships sent to Greenland, and this yeere they made twelue or
thirteene hundred tunnes of Oyle in Greenland by the fourteenth of
August. All the ships arriued in safety in the Riuer of Thames, in the
moneth of September. The Hollanders had this yeere in Greenland foure
ships, and those kept together in odde places, not easily to bee found,
and made a poore Voyage.
In the yeare 1617 the Company set out for Greenland fourteene Sayle of
ships, and their two Pinnasses furnished and manned with a sufficient
number of men and all other prouisions fitting for that Voyage, vnder
the command of Thomas Edge. They departed from Grauesend, about the
foure and twentieth of Aprill, and arriued vpon the Coast of Greenland,
the eight and twentieth of May all in safety.
At our first comming vpon the Coast this yeere, I met with a Dutch
shippe of two hundred tunnes, which I commanded aboard, the Captaynes
name was Cocke, who told mee there were ten Sayle of Dutch vpon the
Coast, and two men of Warre, and that he came to make a Voyage vpon the
Whale. I shewed him the Kings Commission, and commanded him by vertue
thereof to depart from the Coast, willing him to acquaint the rest of
his Countrey-men with it. And further, I told him that if I met with him
or any Dutch ships hereafter, I would take from them what they had
gotten, and thus hauing entertayned him aboord with me courteously, I
let him goe without taking any prouisions from him. At his departure
from mee, hee promised hee would but stay to meet with two of his
Consorts, which he had lost company with the day before, and then hee
would directly goe for Flushing, and acquaint his Merchants, that the
English Captayne would not suffer him to stay vpon the Coast of
Greenland; but it seemeth at his meeting with his Consorts, they agreed
altogether to goe into Horn-sound, and there they killed some few Whales
which they saued in Blubber. I vnderstanding of it, gaue order to my
Vice-admirall when he was laden, that he should goe into Horne-sound,
and put the Flemmings from thence, and take what they had gotten, which
he did accordingly: but the goods he tooke from the Dutch ships, were
not worth to the English twentie pounds, for it was but Blubber and
Finnes, which they had no need of, in regard they had killed as many
Whales as would lade their ships, and more then they could carry or
saue. This yeere the English made nineteene hundred tunnes of Oyle in
Greenland, and all their ships arriued at home in the moneths of August
and September in safetie. They also employed a ship of sixtie tunnes,
with twenty men in her, who discouered to the Eastward of Greenland, as
farre to the North-wards as seuentie nine degrees, and an Iland which he
named Witches Iland, and diuers other Ilands as by the Map appeareth,
and killed store of Sea-horses there, and then came into Bel-sound:
where hee found his lading of Oyle, left by the Captayne which he tooke
in. This yeere the Hull men set a small ship or two to the East-wards of
Greenland, for the Hull men still followed the steps of the Londoners,
and in a yeere or two called it their Discouery, which is false and
vntrue, as by Oath in the Admiraltie doth appeare. The Dutch likewise
practise the same course.
In the yeere 1618 some difference hauing passed betweene the English and
some Zelanders, the yeere before[1356], in King Iames his Newland, alias
Greenland (which Zelanders were neuer in those parts before, and vpon
promise of the present departure) were permitted to passe elsewhere with
their prouisions which they had, and comming to Cherrie Iland, and
meeting with one English Interloper of Hull; namely Marmaduke[1357], he
animated the said Zelanders to returne back for Greenland, alleaging
vnto them, that the Companies ships were in each seuerall Harbour busied
about their Voyage, and that none would stirre from his Harbours to
molest them, and that they being three ships of force, might returne to
a Harbour in that Countrey, called Hornsound, and there make a Voyage
perforce, which the said Zelanders did attempt, and there manned out
diuers Shallops, hauing many Biskainers, and killed store of Whales,
setting those English at nought. Whereupon Captayne Thomas Edge, chiefe
Commander of the English Fleet, hauing laden those ships that were in
Harbour with him, and presently sent for William Hely, his
Vice-admirall, giuing him order (who was not then full laden, but in
good forwardnesse) to fit the ship he was in, and goe to Horne-sound
afore-said, and put the said Zelanders from thence: which the said Hely
presently put in execution. But before his comming thither, the
Zelanders had notice by an English Surgeon, that if they did not depart,
the English Vice-admiral would come presently and force them from
thence. Whereupon the Zelanders laded all the goods they had in two
ships, and sent them away before the comming of the English
Vice-admirall, leauing one ship behind, with certaine cashe of Blubber,
and two Whales and an halfe vncut vp, in a brauado to trye if the
English would meddle with them or not, which said ship and goods there
left, were surprized by the said English Vice-admirall, the goods
detayned to the Companies vse, and the ship restored there to the
Zelanders; which ship hauing in her ten cast Peeces, and sixtie men, and
hauing intelligence of one of the Companies ships, at that time laden in
the Countrey with one hundred and eightie tunnes of Oyle, the Zealander
gaue out he would lie in waite and take that ship of the Companies and
her lading, and carrie her to Zeland. For preuention whereof, the said
Vice-admirall tooke sixe Peeces of Ordnance, and some Powder from the
ship of Zeland, which were in England restored to the owners.
[1356] Hier volgt dus nogmaals een verhaal van het voorgevallene met
de Zeeuwen in 1617 van eene andere hand dan het voorgaande. De
schrijver is denkelijk William Haley, de hier meermalen genoemde
„Vice-admirall”, van wien Purchas zeer vele bouwstoffen voor dit
gedeelte van zijn werk ontving.
[1357] Zie over Thomas Marmaduke o. a.: hiervóor p. 71.
In which said yeere 1618 the Zelanders sending ouer for restitution of
the goods taken from them. A new Company commixt of English, Scottish
and Zelanders, through the meanes of one Sir Iohn Conningham[1358]
Knight, procured a grant for setting forth of shipping to those parts,
which might vtterly haue ouerthrowne and spoiled the trade of the first
discouerers thereof: and to that end diuers of the chiefe men were hired
by the new Company that had been seruants to the first discouerie, and
much shipping and prouisions agreed for. Whereupon there was an
agreement, that the East-India Aduenturers should ioyne stocke with the
Moscouia Aduenturers, and be one ioynt Companie for that trade of King
Iames his Newland. The Scottish Companies Patent thereupon dissolued, to
the Moscouia Companies great trouble and cost, in taking of all the
prouisions they had bespoken, and paying ready money for the same,
hauing no vse thereof, but great part spoyled, and came to little good,
and in ioyning vnfortunately with the East India Companie, in which
yeere, and the next yeere after, their Voyages proued very ill, and they
were losers, and much vexed and crossed in their proceedings, to the
great dis-heartning and detriment of the Moscouia Companie: yet that
yeere 1618 they set forth thirteene ships and two Pinnasses, vnder the
command of the said Captaine Thomas Edge, who arriuing vpon the coast of
King Iames his Newland, in the beginning of Iune separated themselues to
seuerall Harbours for accomplishing of their Voyages, the most part
being ships of no force. Presently after in all Harbours where the
English were, arriued great store of ships of Zeland, in warlike manner,
being ships of great force, who continued in the same Harbours amongst
the English, setting two boats to the English one, with Biskainers, with
a full purpose to driue the English from their Harbours, and to reuenge
the iniurie (as they termed it) done them the yeere before: and for that
the Scottish Patent was dissolved; wherein many Flemmings were to be
interested. And to that purpose towards the latter end of July, ten
Saile of the said Zelanders, being at a Harbour called the Foreland,
where the said William Heley, Vice-admirall of the English Fleet that
yeere, was in the ship Pleasure, Master Robert Salmon, with one English
ship and a Pinnasse there of no force, set vpon the said English
Vice-admirall, threatning, if hee would not yield presently, to dispoyle
him of ship and goods, not permitting to take his men aboord. And with
two of their chiefest ships layd the English Vice-admirall aboord, there
being but seuen English aboord the ship, which they detayned for foure
and twentie houres, the Zelanders not daring to enter, making many
brauadoes and attempts, thinking to make the English to yeeld, and stand
to their mercy, which was refused. And thereupon fiue of those Zelanders
ships; namely, the Fortune of Camphire, burthen foure hundred tunnes,
with eighteene cast Peeces, besides brasse Bases and Murtherers,
Captaine Hubreght Cornelisson; the Saint Peter of Flushing, burthen
three hundred tunnes, with eighteene cast Peeces, Captaine Cornelius
Cooke; the Salamander of Flushing, two hundred tunnes, fourteene cast
Peeces, Captaine Adrian Peeterson; the Cat of Delph Hauen, with sixteene
cast Peeces, Abraham Leuerstick[1359] being Captaine and Generall of the
Zelanders, and William Johnson of Milliworth[1360], in a ship with
fourteene cast Peeces: all which, after much conference passed betwixt
the said Zelanders and William Hely: which said Zelanders gaue out many
vnciuill speeches against the Kings Maiestie, not esteeming his
Commission; alledging that there was good law in Flanders for what they
did. And on Sunday the nineteenth of Iuly 1618 did forcibly set vpon the
said English Vice-admirall, fiue together plying their great Ordnance,
small Shot, and Murderers, seeking what in them lay to kill and spoile
all the English that were aboord: who resisted their force, and in spite
of all their opposers set sayle, saluting them with their Ordnance, and
maintayning fight against them till their Sayles were shot downe, some
of their chiefe men slaine, others hurt, and their ship forced either to
anchor, or run ashoare. The Zelanders vsed the English very vnkindly,
rifling their ship of all their goods, and taking away all their
munition and artillery, not leauing any goods ashoare, but burning vp
the Caske, not permitting the English to take in fresh water, but shot
their Boat thorow in going ashoare, and minding, as they protested and
swore vnto the said William Hely, that they would take and ransacke all
the English ships in the Countrey, and carrie the English Captaine to
Zeland: hauing as they said, that yeere in those parts 23 sayle of well
appointed ships, onely to ouerthrow all the English, all which were to
meet in Scotland outward bound. After the surprising of the said English
Vice-admirall, all the rest of the English ships being dispersed farre
asunder, could not ioyne together, being in all places hindred by the
Flemmings: and by that meanes the English Voyage vtterly ouerthrowne, to
the extraordinary great losse and charge of the Companie, the most part
of their ships returning home without any goods.
[1358] Op de kantteekening door Purchas „Cunningham” genoemd.
[1359] „Abraham Leuerstick”, elders (Muller, Mare Clausum. p. 376)
„abraham dirksen, general des Flamends” genoemd, heette Abraham
Dirksz. Leverstein, en was de zoon van den oprichter der kleine N.
C.
[1360] Deze, elders eenvoudig „guilliaume millworth” genaamd, was
schipper van het schip de Engel, varende voor de kamer der N. C. te
Hoorn. (Muller, Mare Clausum. p. 376.) Waarschijnlijk heette hij
Willem Jansz. Molenwerff, en was zoon of broeder van Jan Jansz.
Molenwerff, den energieken bewindhebber van de kamer der N. C. te
Hoorn. (Zie hiervóor p. 178, 181.)
The next yeere 1619 the said Muscouia and East India Companies set out
nine ships, and two Pinnasses, vnder the command of the said Captaine
Edge, in which yeere, diuers Hollanders being in the Northermost Harbour
in the Countrey, employing great quantitie of Boats in chasing the Whale
there, off into the Sea, put them by their vsuall course, so that the
Companies ships, being fiue of the nine, in the two Northermost
Harbours, were disappointed of their Voyage in those Harbours; and
thinking to better it in the other Harbours, the foresaid William Heley
sending a Shallop with ten men in her, with Letters to the said Captaine
Edge, of their ill successe to the Northwards, the said Shallop was cast
away, and all the men lost: and the said Captaine being laden, sent a
Pinnasse to the said Heley in August, aduertising him of his departure,
thinking all the ships to the Northward had been laden, wishing them to
haste home. By meanes of which Shallops casting away, the Voyage was
greatly hindred to the Companies exceeding great losse, in that the
Hollanders did as then bring ouer great quantitie of Whale oyle, and
sold it at vnder rates, so that the Companie was forced to keepe theirs
on their hands twelue moneths, and sell it afterwards at a very small
price[1361], and lost one ship in her returne homewards neere Yarmouth:
which did so much dishearten the said Companie, that they dissolued
againe, and thought verily to haue aduentured no more thither (their
successe those two yeeres past, in which the East India Companie ioyned
with them was so bad, that any that would buy their prouision might
enioy the benefit of the Trade there.) At which time, the worthie and
famous Merchants Aduenturers; namely, Ralph Freeman, Beniamin Deicrowe,
George Strowd, with Captaine Thomas Edge, all brethren of the Moscouia
Companie, pitying the down-fall of so worthie a Trafficke, in which
yeerely so many poore Land-men receiued great comfort, and breeding of
Mariners, at their owne charge compounded with the said Companie, and
tooke that Trade into their hands. In which yeere 1620 they set out
seuen sayle of ships, vnder the command of William Goodlad, and the said
William Heley; in which said yeere, by reason of great store of
Flemmings and Danes in the foresaid Northermost Harbours, their ships
had ill successe to the Northwards, and were forced to passe from
Harbour to Harbour to seeke to make a Voyage, but could not, and so
returned home halfe laden, with seuen hundred tunnes of Oyle.
[1361] Uit deze plaats blijkt, dat de N. C. tot zelfs in Engeland
onder de oogen der Moscovische Compagnie gelegenheid vond hare
goederen te verkoopen, een feit in den tekst (p. 127, 28)
voorbijgezien.
The next yeere 1621 the foresaid Aduenturers hired, and set forth eight
ships, seuen for the Whale Voyage, and one to the South-eastwards vpon
Discouerie, vnder the command aforesaid, which yeere in one of their
chiefest Harbours their Voyage was ouerthrowne, by reason of the
foresaid Flemmings and Danes, being to the Northward, as aforesaid,
putting the Whale by her course, and in all places in the Countrey
generally disheartned, and out of hope to haue made any Voyage that
yeere, whereby to haue earned their bread. Yet it pleased God afterwards
in some Harbours, Whales hitting in, a Voyage was performed, and 1100
tunnes of Oyle brought home, to the great encouragement of the said
Aduenturers: otherwise that Trade had beene vtterly ouerthrowne.
The yeere following 1622 the said Aduenturers at their owne charge set
forth nine ships, vnder the command aforesaid, and therein employed
diuers Land-men, many of which afterwards proue good Sea-men, and are
fit for any Sea seruice. Eight of which ships were appointed to make
their Voyage vpon the Whale, and one to goe on discouerie to the
South-eastwards. But ille successe happening, one of their greatest
ships of burthen, whereof Iohn Masson was Master, hauing in her two
hundred tuns of Caske, Coppers, and diuers prouisions, was vnfortunatly
cast away against a piece of Ice, vpon the coast of King Iames Newland,
foure leagues from the shoare, in which ship perished nine and twentie
men, and the remainder being three and twenty, were by the prouidence of
the Almightie miraculously saued in a Shallop, coasting, thirtie leagues
afterwards to meet with some other ships to find some succour, hauing
neither bread nor drinke, nor any meanes whereby to get any food: and so
remayned three dayes in extreme cold weather, being in a small Boat
ready to bee swallowed vp of euery waue, but that God prouided better
for them. Many of which people their hands and feet rotted off, being
frozen, and they died in the Countrey. The rest of the ships returned
home laden, bringing in them 1300 tuns of Oyle, yet the foresaid chiefe
Harbour could not performe their full lading there, by reason of the
Flemmings and Danes being to the Northwards, as aforesaid, which doth
yeerely hinder the Companies ships from making a Voyage[1362].
[1362] Ontleend aan: Purchas, Pilgrimes. III p. 466-470.--Het
bovenstaande is het tweede hoofdstuk van dit verhaal. Het eerste
bevat een vrij uitvoerig overzicht der Engelsche ontdekkingen in het
noorden van Willoughby af (1553) tot 1611, en sluit zich dus hier
aan. Dit hoofdstuk vervolgt de geschiedenis der Engelsche
walvischvangst blijkbaar tot aan het jaar, dat het opstel geschreven
werd. Het derde hoofdstuk eindelijk handelt over de verschillende
soorten van walvisschen, terwijl een aanhangsel eene beschrijving
van Spitsbergen bevat, waarbij de bekende en meermalen herdrukte
kaart van dit eiland gevoegd is.
BIJLAGE XVI. (p. 196-217, 229-233.)
CORTE DEDUCTIE ende Remonstrantie van wegen de Bewinthebbers ende
Participanten vande respectiue oude Noortse Compagnien ouer Delft,
Hoorn, Enckhuijsen, Vlissingen ende Vere, ouergegeuen aende Hooge
ende Mogende Heeren de Staten Generael der Vereenichde Nederlandtse
Provintien.
Hooge ende Mogende Heeren, alsoo door verscheyden navigatien gedaen
bijde Ingesetenen deser Vereenichde Provintien, om de Noortse
quartieren, onder andere nieuwe ende onbekende landen ontdect sijn
geworden de costen van t’ landt alsnu genaemt Spitsbergen, ende men doen
ter tijt als oock daerna bevonden heeft dat ontrent de selve Costen ende
inde Baijen ofte Inwijcken vant lant jaerlijcx haer waeren onthoudende
menichte van Walvisschen ende andere Zeemonsters, sulcx datmen
presumeerde met groote apparentie, dat aldaer een goede negotie conde
gemaect worden, met de selve Walvisschen, aldaer te gaen vangen ende den
traen ende Walvischvinnen daervan in dese landen innebrengende, Soo Ist
dat eenige Coopluyden inwoonders deser geunieerde Provintien daerop
gelet hebbende, hebben met maelcanderen geraden geuonden de apparentien
vande voorszeide negotie nader te doen ontdecken ende tot dijen eijnde
Inden Jare 1611[1363] eenige Schepen geequipeert ende na de voorszeide
costen wtgesonden, de welcke na veele zeijlens ende menichfuldige
periculen van ijs storm ende anders de selve costen aengedaen hebben
ende nijet alleene nader besocht maer soo wel in dat selve jaer als
eenige navolgende het Landt eene goede streeck langs om de noort verder
als oijt te vooren hebben opgedaen ende beseijlt, Ende hoewel d’ selve
Schepen, gelijck mede de gene die daerna ten fijne voorszeid
uijtgesonden werden, genoug waren voorsien met volck ende gereetschappen
totte Walvischvangst dienende, soo heeft nochtans (doorde cleene
ervarentheijt dije men doen ter tijt daertoe hadde) de negotie haer
voort eerste soo wel nyet connen succederen, ofte hebben eenige jaeren
met groote schade hijer te lande wederomme moeten innekeeren tot dat
eijntelijcken de wetenschappe na veele moeijtens ende ondersouckens
toenemende de sake nijet allene tot een beter gestaltenisse is gebracht,
maer oock verscheijden landen ende eijlanden totte Walvischneringe
bequaem ontdeckt ende beuaren sijn geworden, sulcx dat de effecten
daervan tot merckelijcken dienst ende voordeel soo vant gemeene landt
als veele ingesetenen vandijen hebben begunnen te strecken, ende voort
toecommende noch te verwachten staet dat door noch vorder ontdeckinge
van onbekende landen ende zeen (daertoe jaerlijcx seer wert getracht)
slandts welstant ende Reputatie meer ende meer geuordert sal werden,
ingevalle de voorszeide Neeringe in vrede ende verseeckerheyt onder
faveur ende protectie van Uwe Ho: Mo: langer in dese landen mach
continueren,