C. R. M.

THE

True and perfect Description

of three Voyages,

so strange and woonderfull,

that the like hath neuer been

heard of before:

Done and performed three yeares, one after the other, by the Ships

of Holland and Zeland, on the North sides of Norway, Muscouia, and

Tartaria, towards the Kingdomes of Cathaia & China; shewing

the discouerie of the Straights of Weigates, Noua Zembla,

and the Countrie lying vnder 80. degrees; which is

thought to be Greenland: where neuer any man had

bin before: with the cruell Beares, and other

Monsters of the Sea, and the vnsupport-

able and extreame cold that is

found to be in those

places.

And how that in the last Voyage, the Shippe was so inclosed by

the Ice, that it was left there, whereby the men were forced to build a

house in the cold and desart Countrie of Noua Zembla, wherin

they continued 10. monthes togeather, and neuer saw nor

heard of any man, in most great cold and extreame

miserie; and how after that, to saue their liues, they

were constrained to sayle aboue 350. Duch

miles, which is aboue 1000. miles English,

in litle open Boates, along and ouer the

maine Seas, in most great daunger,

and with extreame labour, vn-

speakable troubles, and

great hunger.

Imprinted at London for T. Pauier.

1609.

To the Right Worshipfull,

Sir Thomas Smith Knight, Gouernour

of the Muscouy Company, &c.

Right Worshipfvll: Being intreated by some of my Friends, and

principally by M. Richard Hakluyt (a diligent obseruer of all

Proceedings in this nature) to Translate and publish these three yeares

Trauelles and Discoueries of the Hollanders to the North-east; I could

not deuise how to consecrate my Labours so properly to any, as to your

selfe, considering not onely the generall good affection the whole

Kingdome takes notice, that you beare to all Honorable actions of this

kinde, be they for Discouerie, Traffique, or Plantation; but also in

respect of that particular charge, most worthily recommended to your

care, ouer the Trade of the English in those North-east Partes.

Many attempts and proffers (I confesse) there haue bin to find a

passage by those poorest parts to the richest; by those barbarous, to

the most ciuile; those vnpeopled, to the most popular; those Desarts,

to the most fertile Countries of the World: and of them all, none (I

dare say) vndertaken with greater iudgement, with more obdurate

Patience, euen aduersus Elementa, aduersus ipsam in illis locis rerum

naturam, then these three by the Hollanders.

If any of our Nation be employed that way in time to come, here they

haue a great part of their Voiage layd open, and the example of that

industrious people (first excited to this and other famous Voyages, by

imitation of some of ours) for the conquering of all difficulties and

dangers; those people (I say) that of all Christians, and for aught I

know, of all Adams Posteritie, haue first nauigated to 81 Degrees of

Northerly Latitude, and wintered in 76, where they had no Inhabitants,

but Foxes, Beares, and Deare, to keepe them company.

And were it for nothing else, but to register the miraculous prouidence

of the Creator, and his admirable and vnspeakable workes in these

congealed Climats, vnknowen vtterly to the Ancients, and to demonstrate

how much we are obliged to his omnipotent fauour, for planting vs in so

temperate, so ciuill, and so Religious a part of the World, as this

blessed Island; I thinke omission in this kinde were little lesse than

Sacriledge.

As it is, I humbly desire you to vouch-safe it your protection, and to

esteeme mee,

Alwayes deuoted to your seruice,

William Phillip.

THE FYRST PART

OF THE

NAUIGATION INTO THE NORTH SEAS..

It is a most certaine and an assured assertion, that nothing doth more

benefit and further the common-wealth (specially these countries [230])

then the art and knowledge of nauigation, in regard that such countries

and nations as are strong and mightie at sea, haue the meanes and ready

way to draw, fetch, and bring vnto them for their maintenaunce, all the

principalest commodities and fruites of the earth, for that thereby

they are inabled to bring all necessary things for the nourishment and

sustentation of man from the vttermost partes of the world, and to

carry and conuay such wares and marchendizes [As the art of nauigation

more increaseth, so there are daily more new countries found out.]

whereof they haue great store and aboundance vnto the same places,

which by reason of the art of nauigation, and the commodities of the

sea, is easily to be effected and brought to passe. Which nauigation as

it dayly more and more increaseth (to the great woonder and admiration

of those, that compare the sea-faring and nauigation vsed in our

forefathers times, yea and that also that hath beene practised in our

age, with that which now at this present is daily furthered and sought

out), so there are continually new voiages made, and strange coasts

discouered; the which [Diligence and continuance effect that which is

sought.] although they be not done by the first, secōd, or third

voiage, but after, by tract of time, first brought to their full

effect, and desired commoditie, and the fruits thereof, by continuance

of time reaped. Yet we must not be abasht, nor dismayed, at the labour,

toile, trauaile, and dāgers sustayned in such uoiages, to that end

made, although as I said [We must not leaue of by some mens dislike or

dispraise in our proceedings.] before the benefit thereof be not had

nor seene in the first, second, third, or more uoiages; for what labour

is more profitable, and worthier praise and commendation, then that

which tendeth vnto the common good and benefit of all men; Although

such as are vnskilfull, contemners, and deriders of mens diligence and

proceedings therein, at the first esteeme it an vnprofitable and

needlesse thing, when as the end prooueth beneficiall and commodious.

If the famous nauigators Cortesius, Nonius, and Megalanes, [231] and

others, that in their times sought out and discovered the kingdomes,

countries, and ilands farre distant from vs, in the extreamest parts of

the world, for the first, second, or third voyage, that had succeeded

vnfortunately with them, had left off and giuen ouer their nauigatiō,

they had not afterward reaped nor enioyed the fruites, benefits, and

commodities thereof. [A thing not continued, can not be effected.]

Alexander magnus (after he had woone all Grecia, and from thence entred

into little and great Asia, and comming to the farthest parts of India,

there found some difficultie to passe) sayd, If we had not gone

forward, and persisted in our intent, which other men esteemed and held

to be impossible, we had still remayned and stayed in the entry of

Cilicia, [232] where [All things are effected in convenient time.] as

now we haue ouerrunne and past through all those large and spacious

countries: for nothing is found and effected all at one time, neither

is any thing that is put in practise, presently brought to an end. To

the which end, Cicero wisely saith, God hath giuen vs some things, and

not all things, that our successours also might have somewhat to doe.

Therefore we must not leaue off, nor stay our pretence in the middle of

our proceedings, as long as there is any commoditie to be hoped, and in

time to be obtayned: for that the greatest and richest treasures are

hardliest to be found. But to make no long digression from our matter,

concerning the dayly furtheraunce of the most necessarie and profitable

art of nauigation, that hath been brought to full effect, not without

great charges, labour, and paines; ouerslipping and not shewing with

how long and troublesome labour and toyle, continually had, the

passages to the East and West Indies, America, Brasilia, and other

places, through the straight of Magellanes, in the South Sea, twise or

thrise passing vnder the Line, [233] and by those meanes other

countries and ilands, were first found out and discouered.

Let vs looke into the White Seas, [234] that are now so commonly sayled

(on the north side of Muscouia), with what cumbersome labour and toyle

they were first discouered: What hath now made this voyage so common

and easie? is [That which in the beginning is hard, by continuance of

time is made easie and light.] it not the same, and as long a voyage as

it was, before it was fully knowne and found out? I, [235] but the

right courses, which at the first were to be sought, by crossing the

seas from one land to another, and are now to be held aloofe into the

seas and directly sayled, hath, of difficult and toylesome, made them

easie and ready voyages.

This small discourse I thought good to set downe, for an introduction

vnto the reader, in regard that I haue vndertaken to describe the three

voyages made into the North Seas, in three yeares, one after the other,

behind Norway, and along and about Muscouia, towardes the kingdome of

Cathaia and China: whereof the two last I myself holpe to effect; [236]

and yet brought them not to the desired end that we well hoped.

First, to shew our diligent and most toylesome labour and [The first

finding is hard, but the second attempt is easier.] paynes taken, to

find out the right course; which we could not bring to passe, as we

well hoped, wished, and desired, and possible might haue found it, by

crossing the seas, if we had taken the right course; if the ice and the

shortnesse of time, and bad crosses had not hindered vs: and also to

stoppe their mouthes, that report and say, that our proceeding therein

was wholly vnprofitable and fruitelesse; which peraduenture in time to

come, may turne vnto our great profite and commoditie. For he which

proceedeth and continueth in a thing that seemeth to be impossible, is

not to be discommended: but hee, that in regarde that the thing seemeth

to be impossible, doth not proceed therein, but by his faint

heartedness and sloath, wholly leaueth it off.

[Not the nearness of the North Pole, but the Ice in the Tartarian sea,

causeth the greatest cold.] Wee haue assuredly found, that the onely

and most hinderaunce to our voyage, was the ice, that we found about

Noua Zembla, [237] vnder 73, 74, 75, and 76 degrees; and not so much

vpon the sea betweene both the landes: [238] whereby it appeareth, that

not the nearenesse of the North Pole, but the ice that commeth in and

out from the Tartarian Sea, [239] about Noua Zembla, caused vs to feele

the greatest cold. Therefore in regard that the nearenesse of the Pole

was not the cause of the great cold that we felt, if we had had the

meanes to haue held our appoynted and intended course into the

north-east, we had peraduenture found some enteraunce: which course we

could not hold from Noua Zembla, because that there we entred amongst

great store of ice; and how it was about Noua Zembla, we could not

tell, before we had sought it; and when we had sought it, we could not

then alter our course, although also it is vncertaine, what we should

have done, if we had continued in our north-east course, because it is

not yet found out. But it is true, that in the countrie lying vnder 80

degrees, [240] (which we esteeme to be Greenland) there is both leaues

and grasse to be seene; wherein, such beastes as feed of leaues and

grasse, (as hartes, hindes, and such like beastes) liue: whereas to the

contrary in Noua Zembla, there groweth nether leaues nor grasse, and

there are no beastes therein but such as eate flesh, [241] as beares,

and foxes, &c.; although Noua Zembla lyeth 4, 5, and 6 degrees more

southerly from the Pole, then the other land aforesaid. It is also

manifest, that vpon [Comparison of the heate under the line, with the

cold under the North Pole.] the south and north side of the line of the

sunne on both sides, between both the tropicos, vnder 23 degrees and a

halfe, it is as hot as it is right vnder the Line. What wonder then

should it be, that about the North Pole also, and as many degrees on

both sides, it should not bee colder then right vnder the Pole? I will

not affirme this to bee true, because that the colde on both sides of

the North Pole hath not as yet beene discouered and sought out, as the

heat on the north and south side of the Line hath beene. Onely thus

much I will say, that although we held not our direct pretended [242]

course to the north-east, that therefore it is to be iudged, that the

cold would haue let our passage through that way, for it was not the

sea, nor the neerenesse vnto the Pole, but the ice about the land, that

let and hindered vs (as I sayd before) for that as soon as we made from

the land, and put more into the sea, although it was much [The resolute

intent and opinions of William Barents.] further northward, presently

we felt more warmth; and in yt opinion our pilote William Barents [243]

dyed, who notwithstanding the fearful and intollerable cold that he

endured, yet he was not discouraged, but offered to lay wagers with

diuers of us, that by Gods helpe he would bring that pretended voiage

to an end, if he held his course north-east from the North Cape. But I

will leaue that, and shewe you of the three voyages aforesaid, begun

and set forth by the permission and furtherance of the generall States

of the vnited Prouinces, and of Prince Maurice, as admirall of the sea,

and the rich towne of Amsterdam. Whereby the reader may iudge and

conceaue what is to bee done, for the most profite and advantage, and

what is to be left.

First you must understand, that in anno 1594 there was 4 ships set

foorth out of the vnited Prouinces, whereof two were of Amsterdam, one

of Zelandt, one of Enckhuysen, that were appointed to saile into the

North Seas, to discouer the kingdomes of Cathaia, and China, north-ward

from Norway, Muscouia, and about Tartaria; whereof William Barents, a

notable skilfull and wise pilote, was commander ouer the ships of

Amsterdam, and with them vpon Whit-sunday [244] departed from Amsterdam

and went to the Texel.

Upon the fifth of June they sailed out of the Texel, and hauing a good

wind and faire weather, vpon the 23 of June, they arrived at Kilduin in

Muscouia, [245] which for that it is a place well knowen and a common

voyage, I will make no further discription thereof.

The 29 of June, at foure of the clocke in the after noone, they set

saile out of Kilduin, and so 13 [52] or 14 [56] miles [246] out-right

sailed north-east, with a north north-west wind, and close weather.

The 30 of June they sayled east north-east 7 [28] miles, till the sunne

was east south-east [about half-past six o’clock in the morning], [247]

with a north wind, with 2 schower sailes, [248] there they cast out

their lead, at 100 fadome deepth, but found no ground.

From whence the same day they sailed east north-east [249] 5 [20]

miles, till the sunne was full south [¾ past 10, A.M.], hauing the wind

north, with 2 schower sailes, where once againe they cast out the lead

100 fadome deepe, but found no ground; and then from noone to night

[250] the same day, they sailed east, and east and by north 13 [52]

miles, till the sunne was north-west [¼ past 7, P.M.], and there

casting out their lead, they had ground at 120 fadome, the ground being

oasie, [251] and blacke durt.

The 1 of July, after they had sailed one quarter [252] 4 [16] miles

east, and east and by north, early in the morning they cast out the

lead, and found ground at 60 fadome, where they had an oasie small

sandy ground; and within an houre after they cast out the lead againe,

and had ground at 52 fadome, being white sande mixed with blacke, and

some-what oasie: after that they had sailed 3 [12] miles east and by

north, where they had ground at 40 fadome, being gray sand mixed with

white. From thence they sailed 2 [8] miles east-ward, with a north

north-east winde, there they had ground at 38 fadome, being red sand

mixed with black, the sunne being south-east and by east [¼ past 7,

A.M.]. From thence they sailed 3 [12] miles, east and by south, and

east south-east til noone, where they had the sunne at 70 degrees and

¾, [253] there they cast out the lead againe, and had ground at 39

fadome, being small gray sand, mixed with blacke stippellen [254] and

pieces of shels.

Then againe they sailed 2 [8] miles south-east, and then woond [255]

northward with an east north-east wind, and after sailed 6 [24] miles

north-east all that day, [256] with a south-east wind, till the sunne

was north north-west [¼ past 9 P.M.], the weather being cold; and the

lead being cast foorth they found ground at 60 fadome, being small gray

oasie sand, mixed with a little blacke, and great whole shels: [257]

after that the same euening to the first quarter, [258] they sailed 5

[20] miles, east north-east, and north-east and by east, and after that

east north-east, and north-east and by east 5 [20] miles, vntill the

second of July in the morning, and there they had 65 fadome deepe, the

ground oasie with black slime or durt.

The same day from morning till noone, they sailed 3 [12] or 4 [16]

miles east north-east, the wind blowing stiffe south-east, whereby at

noone they were forced to take [259] in the fore-saile, and driue with

a schower saile, [260] in mistie weather, for the space of 3 [12] or 4

[16] miles, vntill euening, holding east, and east and by south: after

that the winde blew south-west, and about 5 of the clocke in the

after-noone, they cast out the lead, but had no ground at 120 fadome.

That euening the weather cleared vp againe, and they sailed about 5

[20] miles before the wind, east north-east, for the space of 3 houres,

and then againe it began to be mistie, so that they durst not saile

forward, but lay hulling in the wind, [261] where vpon Sunday morning

being the 3 of July, when the sunne was north-east [½ p. 1, A.M.], they

cast out the lead and found ground at 125 fadome, being black durt or

slime.

From thence they sailed 8 [32] miles east north-east, till the sunne

was south-east [½ p. 7, A.M.], and casting out the lead, found ground

at 140 fadom, being blacke slimie durt, at which time they tooke the

high of the sun and found it to be 73 degrees and 6 minutes, and

presently againe they cast out the lead, and had 130 fadome deepth, the

ground being blacke slime. After that they sayled 6 [24] or 7 [28]

miles further east north-east, till the sunne was north-west [½ p. 7,

P.M.].

On Sunday in the morning, being the 3 of July, it was very faire and

cleare weather, the wind blowing south-west, at which time William

Barents found out the right meridien, taking the high of the sunne with

his crosse-staffe, [262] when it was south-east, and found it to be

eleuated in the south-east 28 degrees and a halfe, and when it had

passed ouer west and by north, it was but [263] 28 degrees and a half

aboue the horizon, so that it differed 5 points and a half, which being

deuided there rested 2 points and ¾; so that their compasse was altered

2 points and ¾, as it appeared the same day, when the sunne was in her

higth, betweene south south-west and south-west and by south, for the

sun was south-west and by south, and yet was not declined, and they had

73 degrees and 6 minutes.

The 4 of July in the morning, they sailed 4 [16] miles east and by

north, and casting out the lead found ground at 125 fadome, being

slimie. That night the weather was mistie againe, and in the morning

the wind was east; then they sailed 4 [16] miles south-east and by

south, till the sunne was east [½ p. 4, A.M.], and then againe they

cast out the lead, and found ground at 108 fadome, black durt; then

they wound north-ward, and sailed 6 [24] miles, north north-east, and

north-east and by north, vntill the sunne was south south-west [¾ p.

11, A.M.], and then they saw the land of Noua Zembla, lying south-east

and by east 6 [24] or 7 [28] miles from them, where they had black

durty ground at 105 fadome. Then they woond southward againe, and

sailed 6 [24] miles, south and by west, till the sunne was west

north-west [5, P.M.], there they had 68 fadome deepe, with durtie

ground as before, the wind being south-east.

Then they woond east-ward and sailed 6 [24] miles east and by south, at

which time, [264] William Barents took the height of the sunne with his

crosse-staffe, [265] when it was at the lowest, that is between north

north-east and east and by north, [266] and found it to bee eleuated

aboue the horizon 6 degrees and ⅓ part, his declination being 22

degrees and 55 minutes, from whence substracting the aforesaid height,

there resteth 16 degrees and 35 minutes, which being substracted from

90 degrees, there resteth 73 degrees and 25 minutes; which was when

they were about 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles from the land of Noua Zembla.

Then they woond east-ward and sailed 5 [20] miles, east and by south,

and east south-east, and past by a long point of land that lay out into

the sea, [267] which they named Langenes: and hard by that point

east-ward there was a great bay, where they went a land with their

boate, but found no people.

Three [12] or foure [16] miles from Langenes east north-east, there lay

a long [268] point, and a mile [4 miles] east-ward from the said point

there was a great bay, and upon the east side of the said bay, there

lay a rock not very high aboue the water, and on the west side of the

bay, there stood a sharpe little hill, easie to be knowne: before the

bay it was 20 fadome deepth, the ground small blacke stones, like

pease: from Langenes to Cape Bapo [269] east north-east it is 4 [16]

miles.

From Cape Bapo to the west point of Lombsbay north-east and by north

are 5 [20] miles, and betweene them both there are 2 creekes. Lombsbay

is a great wide bay, on the west side thereof hauing a faire hauen 6,

7, or 8, fadome deepe, black sand: there they went on shore with their

boate, and vpon the shore placed a beacon, made of an old mast which

they found there; calling the bay Lombsbay, because of a certaine kind

of beares [270] so called, which they found there in great aboundance.

The east point of Lombsbay is a long narrow point, and by it there

lyeth an island, and from that long point to seaward in, there is a

great creeke. [271] This Lombsbay lyeth vnder 74 degrees and ⅓ part.

From Lombsbay to the point of the Admirals Island, [272] they sailed 6

[24] or 7 [28] miles, north-east and by north. The Admirals Island is

not very faire on [273] the east side, but a farre off very flat, so

that you must shunne it long before you come at it; it is also very

vneuen, for at one casting off the lead they had 10 fadome deepe, and

presently at another casting of the lead they had but 6 fadome, and

presently after that againe 10, 11, and 12 fadome, the streame running

hard against the flats.

From the east end of the Admirals Island, to Cape Negro, [274] that is

the Black Pointe, they sailed about 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles, east

north-east; and a mile [4 miles] without the Black Point it is 70

fadome deepe, the ground slimie, as vpon Pamphius: [275] right eastward

of the Blacke Point, there are 2 sharpe pointed hills in the creeke,

that are easie to be knowen.

The 6 of July, the sunne being north [½ p. 10, P.M.], they came right

before the Blacke Point with faire weather: this Blacke Point lyeth

vnder 75 degrees and 20 minutes. From the Blacke Point to Williams

Island, [276] they sailed 7 [28] or 8 [32] miles, east north-east, and

between them both about halfe a mile [2 miles], there lay a small

island.

The 7 of July they sailed from Williams Island, and then William

Barents tooke the height of the sunne with his cross-staffe, [277] and

found it to be eleuated aboue the horizon [278] in the south-west and

by south 53 degrees and 6 minutes, [279] his declination being 22

degrees and 49 minutes, which being added to 53 degrees and 6 minutes,

make 75 degrees and 55 minutes. [280] This is the right height of the

pole of the said island. In this island they found great store of

driff-wood, and many sea-horses, being a kinde of fish [281] that

keepeth in the sea, having very great teeth, which at this day are vsed

insteed of iuorie or elephants teeth: there also is a good road for

ships, at 12 and 13 fadome deep, against all winds, except it be west

south-west and west windes; and there they found a piece of a Russian

ship, [282] and that day they had the wind east north-east, mistie

weather.

The 9 of July they entered into Beeren-fort, [283] vpon the road vnder

Williams Island, and there they found a white beare, which they

perceiuing, presently entered into their boate, and shot her into the

body with a musket; but the beare shewed most wonderfull strength,

which almost is not to be found in any beast, for no man euer heard the

like to be done by any lyon or cruel beast whatsoeuer: for

notwithstanding that she was shot into the bodie, yet she leapt vp, and

swame in the water, the men that were in the boate rowing after her,

cast a rope about her necke, and by that meanes drew her at the sterne

of the boat, for that not hauing seene the like beare before, they

thought to haue carryed her aliue in the shippe, and to have shewed her

for a strange wonder in Holland; but she vsed such force, that they

were glad that they were rid of her, and contented themselves with her

skin only, for she made such a noyse, and stroue in such sort, that it

was admirable, wherewith they let her rest and gave her more scope with

the rope that they held by her, and so drew her in that sort after

them, by that meanes to wearie her: meane time, William Barents made

neerer to her, [284] but the beare swome to the boate, and with her

fore-feet got hold of the sterne thereof, which William Barents

perceiuing, said, She will there rest her selfe; but she had another

meaning, for she vsed such force, that at last she had gotten half her

body into the boat, wherewith the men were so abashed, that they run

into ye further end of the boate, and thought verily to have been

spoiled by her, but by a strange means they were deliuered from her,

for that the rope that was about her necke, caught hold vpon the hooke

of the ruther, whereby the beare could get no further, but so was held

backe, and hanging in that manner, one of the men boldly stept foorth

from the end of the scute, [285] and thrust her into the bodie with a

halfe-pike; and therewith she fell downe into the water, and so they

rowed forward with her to the ship, drawing her after them, till she

was in a manner dead, wherewith they killed her out-right, and hauing

fleaed her, brought the skinne to Amsterdam.

The 10 of July, [286] they sailed out of Beren-fort for Williams

Island, and the same day in the morning got to the Island of Crosses,

[287] and there went on land with their pinnace, and found the island

to bee barren, and full of cliffes and rocks, in it there was a small

hauen, whereinto they rowed with their boat. This island is about halfe

a mile [2 miles] long, and reacheth east and west; on the west end it

hath a banke, about a third part of a mile [1⅓ mile] long, and at the

east end also another banke: vpon this island there standeth 2 great

crosses; the island lyeth about 2 [8] long miles from the firme land,

[288] and vnder the east-end thereof there is good road at 26 fadome,

soft ground; [289] and somewhat closer to the island on the strand, at

9 fadome, sandy ground.

From the Island of Crosses to the point of Cape Nassawe, [290] they

sailed east, and east and by north, about 8 [32] miles: it is a long

[291] flat point which you must be carefull to shunne, for thereabouts

at 7 fadome there were flats or sholes, very farre from the land: it

lyeth almost under 76 degrees and a halfe. From the west end of

Williams Island to the Island with the Crosses is 3 [12] miles, the

course north. [292]

From Nassaw Point they sailed east and by south, and east south-east 5

[20] miles, and then they thought that they saw land in north-east and

by east, [293] and sailed towards it 5 [20] miles north-east to discrie

it, thinking it to be another land, that lay northward from Noua

Zembla; but it began to blow so hard out of the west, that they were

forced to take in their marsaile, [294] and yet the wind rose in such

manner, that they were forced to take in all their sailes, and the sea

went so hollow, that they were constrained to driue 16 houres together

without saile, 8 [32] or 9 [36] miles east north-east.

The 11 of July their boat was by a great wave of the sea sunke to the

ground, and by that meanes they lost it, and after that they drave

without sailes 5 [20] miles, east and by south; at last, the sunne

being almost south-east [½ p. 7, A.M.], the wind came about to the

north-west, and then the weather began somewhat to clear up, but yet it

was very mistie. Then they hoysed vp their sailes againe and sailed 4

[16] miles till night, that the sunne was north and by east [11, P.M.],

and there they had 60 fadome deepth, muddie ground, and there they saw

certaine flakes of ice, [295] at which time vpon the 12 of July they

woond west, and held north-west, and sailed about a mile [4 miles] with

mistie weather, and a north-west wind, and sailed up and downe west

south-west 3 [12] or 4 [16] miles to see if they could find their boat

againe: after that they wound againe with the wind, [296] and sayled 4

[16] miles south-east, till the sunne was south-west [1, P.M.], and

then they were close by the land of Noua Zembla, that lay east and by

north, and west and by south; from thence they wound ouer againe till

noone, and sayled 3 [12] miles north and by west; and then, till the

sunne was north-west [¾ p. 6, P.M.], they held north-west and by north

3 [12] miles; then they wound east-ward and sailed 4 [16] or 5 [20]

miles north-east and by east.

The 13 of July at night, they found great store of ice, as much as they

could descrie out of the top, that lay as if it had been a plaine field

of ice; [297] then they wound west-ward ouer from the ice, and sailed

about 4 [16] miles west south-west, till the sunne was east and by

north [5 A.M.], and that they saw the land of Noua Zembla, lying south

south-east from them.

Then they wound north-ward againe and sailed 2 [8] miles, till the

sunne was east south-east [½ p. 6, A.M.], and then againe found great

store of ice, and after that sailed south-west and by south 3 [12]

miles.

The 14 of July they wound northward againe, and sayled with 2 schower

sailes [298] north and by east, and north north-east 5 [20] or 6 [24]

miles, to the height of 77 degrees and ⅓ part, [299] and entred againe

amongst the ice, being so broad that they could not see ouer it, there

they had no ground at 100 fadome, and then it blew hard west

north-west.

From thence they wound south-ward, and sailed south south-west 7 [28]

or 8 [32] miles, and came againe by the land, that shewed to be 4 or 5

high hilles. Then they wound northward, and till euening sayled north 6

[24] miles, but there againe they found ice.

From thence they wound south-ward, and sailed south and by west 6 [24]

miles, and then againe entred into ice.

The 15 of July, they wound south-ward againe, sayling south and by west

6 [24] miles, and in the morning were by the land of Noua Zembla

againe, the sunne being about north-east [½ p. 1, A.M.].

From thence they wound north-ward againe, and sayled north and by east

7 [28] miles, and entred againe into the ice. Then they wound

south-ward againe, the sunne being west [¾ p. 3, P.M.], and sailed

south south-west, and south-west and by south 8 [32] or 9 [36] miles,

vpon the 16 of July.

From thence they wound north-ward, and sailed north and by east 4 [16]

miles; after that againe they wound west-ward, and sailed west and by

south 4 [16] miles, and then they sailed north north-west 4 [16] miles,

and then the wind blew north north-east, and it froze hard; this was

upon the 17 of July.

Then they wound east-ward, and sailed east till noone, 3 [12] miles,

and after that east and by south 3 [12] miles; from thence about

euening they wound northward and sailed north and by east 5 [20] miles,

till the 18 of July in the morning; then they sailed north and by west

4 [16] miles, and there entred againe amongst a great many flakes of

ice, [300] from whence they wound southward, and close by the ice they

had no groūd at 150 fadom.

Then they sayled about 2 houres south-east, and east south-east, with

mystie weather, and came to a flake of ice, [301] which was so broad

that they could not see ouer it, it being faire still weather, and yet

it froze, and so sailed along by the ice 2 houres; after that it was so

mistie, that they could see nothing round about them, and sailed

south-west two [8] miles.

The same day William Barents tooke the height of the sun with his

astrolabium, and then they were under 77 degrees and a ¼ of the Pole,

[302] and sailed south-ward 6 [24] miles, and perceiued the firme land,

[303] lying south from them.

Then they sailed till the 19 of July in the morning, west south-west, 6

[24] or 7 [28] miles, with a north-west wind and mistie weather; and

after that south-west and south-west and by west 7 [28] miles, the

sunne being 77 degrees 5 minutes lesse. [304] Then they sailed 2 [8]

miles south-west, and were close by the land of Noua Zembla, about Cape

Nassaue. [305]

From thence they wound north-ward and sailed north 8 [32] miles, with a

west north-west wind and a mist, and till the 20 of July in the morning

north-east and by north 3 [12] or 4 [16] miles; and when the sunne was

east [½ p. 4, A.M.] they wound west, and till euening sailed south-west

5 [20] or 6 [24] miles, with mistie weather, and then south-west and by

south 7 [28] miles, till the 21 of July in the morning.

Then they wound north-ward againe, and from morning till euening sailed

north-west and by west 9 [36] miles, with mistie weather, and againe

north-west and by west [306] 3 [12] miles; and then wound south-ward,

and till the 22 of July in the morning sailed south south-west 3 [12]

miles, with mistie weather, and till euening south and by west, 9 [36]

miles, all mistie weather.

After that they wound north-ward againe, and sailed north-west and by

north 3 [12] miles, and then 2 [8] miles north-west; [307] and in the

morning being the 23 of July the wind blew north-west, and then they

cast out the lead, and had 48 fadome muddie ground.

Then they sailed 2 [8] miles north north-east and north and by east,

and 2 [8] miles north-east, at 46 fadome deepe; after that they wound

west-ward, and sailed west and by north 6 [24] miles; there it was 60

fadome deepe, muddy ground.

Then they wound eastward and sailed 3 [12] miles east and by north;

then againe 9 [36] or 10 [40] miles east, and east and by south; and

after that 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles east, and east and by south; and

after that 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles more, east and by south, till

euening, being the 24 of July; then againe 4 [16] miles south-east and

by east, the wind being east north-east.

Then they woond north-ward, and till the 25 of July in the morning

sailed north, and north and by west, 4 [16] miles; there they had 130

fadome deepe, muddie ground; then they sailed north-ward, where they

had 100 fadome deepe, and there they saw the ice in the north-east; and

then againe they sailed 2 [8] miles, north and by west.

Then they woond south-ward towards the ice, and sailed south-east one

mile [4 miles]; after that they wound north-ward againe, and sailed

north 6 [24] miles, and were so inclosed about with flakes of ice,

[308] that out of the top they could not discerne any thing beyond it,

and sought to get through the ice, but they could not passe beyond it,

and therefore in the evening they wound south-ward againe, and sailed

along by the ice, south and west by 5 [20] miles, and after that south

south-east 3 [12] miles.

The 25 of July at night, they took the height of the sunne, when it was

at the lowest between north and north-east, [309] and north-east and by

north, it being eleuated aboue the horizon 6 degrees and ¾, his

declinatiō being 19 degrees 50 minutes; now take 6 degrees ¾ from 19

degrees and 50 minutes, and there resteth 13 degrees 5 minutes, which

substracted from 90 there resteth 77 degrees lesse 5 minutes. [310]

The 26 of July, in the morning, they sailed 6 [24] miles south

south-east, till the sunne was south-west [1, P.M.], and then

south-east 6 [24] miles, and were within a mile of the land of Noua

Zembla, and then wound north-ward from the land, and sailed 5 [20]

miles north-west [311] with an east wind; but in the euening they wound

south-ward againe, and sailed south south-east 7 [28] miles, and were

close by the land.

Then they wound north-ward againe, and sailed north north-east 2 [8] or

3 [12] miles; from thence they wound south-ward, and sailed south

south-east 2 [8] or 3 [12] miles, and came againe to Cape Trust. [312]

Then they wounde againe from the land, north-east, about halfe a mile

[2 miles], and were ouer against the sandes of 4 fadome deepe, betweene

the rocke and the land, and there the sands were 10 fadome deepe, the

ground being small black stones; then they sailed north-west a little

while, till they had 43 fadome deepe, soft ground.

From thence they sailed north-east 4 [16] miles, upon the 27 of July,

with an east south-east wind, and wound south-ward againe, where they

found 70 fadome deepe, clay ground, and sayled south and south and by

east 4 [16] miles, and came to a great creek; and a mile and a halfe [6

miles] from thence there lay a banke of sande of 18 fadome deepe, clay

sandy ground, and betweene that sand or banke and the land it was 60

and 50 fadome deepe, the coast reaching east and west by the compasse.

In the euening they wound [stife [313]] north-ward, and sailed 3 [12]

miles north north-east; that day it was mistie, and in the night

cleare, and William Barents tooke the height of the sunne with his

crosse-staffe, [314] and found it to be eleuated aboue the horizon 5

degrees 40 minutes, his declination being 19 degrees 25 minutes, from

whence substracting 5 degrees 40 minutes, there resteth 13 degrees 45

minutes, which substracted from 90 rested 76 degrees 31 minutes [315]

for the height of the Pole.

Upon the 28 of July, they sailed 3 [12] miles north north-east, and

after that wound south-ward, and sailed 6 [24] miles south south-east,

and yet were then 3 [12] or 4 [16] miles from the land.

The 28 of July, the height of the sun being taken at noone with the

astrolobiū, it was found to be eleuated aboue the horizon 57 degrees

and 6 minutes, [316] her declination being 19 degrees and 18 minutes,

which in all is 76 degrees and 24 minutes, they being then about 4 [16]

miles from the land of Noua Zembla, that lay all couered ouer with

snow, the weather being cleare, and the wind east.

Then againe, the sunne being about south-west [1, P.M.], they wound

north-ward, and sailed one mile [4 miles] north north-east, and then

wound againe, and sailed another mile [4 miles] south-east, then they

wound north-ward againe, and sailed 4 [16] miles north-east and

north-east and by north. [317]

The same day [318] the height of the sunne being taken, it was found to

be 76 degrees and 24 minutes, and then they sailed north-east 3 [12]

miles, and after that north-east and by east 4 [16] miles, and vpon the

29 of July came into the ice againe.

The 29 of July the height of the sunne being taken with the

crosse-staffe, astrolabium, and quadrant, [319] they found it to bee

eleuated aboue the horizon 32 degrees, her declination being 19

degrees, which substracted from 32 there resteth 13 degrees of the

equator, which being substracted from 90 there rested 77 degrees; and

then the neerest north point of Noua Zembla, called the Ice Point,

[320] lay right east from them.

There they found certaine stones that glistered like gold, which for

that cause they named gold-stones, [321] and there also they had a

faire bay with sandy ground.

Upon the same day they wound south-ward againe, and sailed south-east

[322] 2 [8] miles betweene the land and the ice, and after that from

the Ice Point east, and to the south-ward [323] 6 [24] miles to the

Islands of Orange; and there they laboured forward [324] betweene the

land and the ice, with faire still weather, and vpon the 31 of July got

to the Islands of Orange. And there went to one of those islands, where

they found about 200 walrushen or sea-horses, lying upon the shoare to

baske [325] themselues in the sunne. This sea-horse is a wonderfull

strong monster of the sea, much bigger then an oxe, which keepes

continually in the seas, hauing a skinne like a sea-calfe or seale,

with very short hair, mouthed like a lyon, and many times they lie vpon

the ice; they are hardly killed vnlesse you strike them iust vpon the

forehead; it hath foure feet, but no eares, and commonly it hath one or

two young ones at a time. And when the fisher-men chance to find them

vpon a flake of ice [326] with their yong ones, shee casteth her yong

ones before her into the water, and then takes them in her armes, and

so plungeth vp and downe with them, and when shee will reuenge herselfe

vpon the boats, or make resistance against them, then she casts her

yong ones from her againe, and with all her force goeth towards the

boate; whereby our men were once in no small danger, for that the

sea-horse had almost stricken her teeth into the sterne of their boate,

thinking to ouerthrowe it; but by means of the great cry that the men

made, shee was afraid, and swomme away againe, and tooke her yong ones

againe in her armes. They haue two teeth sticking out of their mouthes,

on each side one, each beeing about halfe an elle long, and are

esteemed to bee as good as any iuorie or elophants teeth, specially in

Muscouia, Tartaria, and there abouts where they are knowne, for they

are as white, hard, and euen as iuory. [327]

Those sea-horses that lay basking [328] themselues vpon the land, our

men, supposing that they could not defend themselues being out of the

water, went on shore to assaile them, and fought with thē, to get their

teeth that are so rich, but they brake all their hatchets, curtle-axes,

[329] and pikes in pieces, and could not kill one of them, but strucke

some of their teeth out of their mouthes, which they tooke with them;

and when they could get nothing against them by fighting, they agreed

to goe aboard the ship, to fetch some of their great ordinance, to

shoot at them therewith; but it began to blow so hard, that it rent the

ice into great peices, so that they were forced not to do it; and

therewith they found a great white beare that slept, which they shot

into the body, but she ranne away, and entred into the water; the men

following her with their boat, and kil’d her out-right, and then drew

her vpon the ice, and so sticking a half pike vp-right, bound her fast

vnto it, thinking to fetch her when they came backe againe, to shoot at

the sea-horses with their ordinance; but for that it began more and

more to blow, and the ice therewith brake in peeces, they did nothing

at all.

After that W. Barents had begun this uoyage vpon the fifth of June,

1594, and at that time (as I sayd before) set saile out of the Texell,

the 23 of the same month arriving at Kilduin in Muscouia, and from

thence tooke his course on the north side of Noua Zembla, wherein he

continued till the first of August, with such aduentures as are before

declared, till he came to the Island of Orange: [330] after he had

taken all that paine, and finding that he could hardly get through, to

accomplish and ende his pretended [331] voyage, his men also beginning

to bee weary and would saile no further, they all together agreed to

returne back againe, to meet with the [Theire returne backe againe.]

other ships [332] that had taken their course to the Weygates, or

Straights of Nassawe, [333] to know what discoueries they had made

there.

The first of August they turned their course to saile backe againe from

the Islands of Orange, and sailed west and west by south 6 [24] miles

to the Ice Point.

From the Ice Point to the Cape of Comfort, [334] they sailed west and

somewhat south 30 [120] miles: betweene them both there lyeth very high

land, but the Cape of Comfort is very low flat land, and on the west

end thereof there standeth foure or fiue blacke houels or little hilles

like country houses. [335]

Upon the 3 of August, from the Cape of Comfort they wound north-ward,

and sailed 8 [32] miles north-west and by north, and north north-west;

and about noone they wound south-ward till euening, and sailed south

and by west, and south-south-west 7 [28] miles, and then came to a long

narrow point of land one Cape Nassaw. [336]

In the euening they wound north-ward againe, and sailed north and by

east 2 [8] miles; then the winde came north, and therefore they wound

west-ward againe, and sailed north north-west one mile [4 miles]; then

the wind turned east, and with that they sailed from the 4 of August in

the morning till noone west and by north 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles; after

that they sailed till euening south-west 5 [20] miles and after that

south-west 2 [8] miles more, and fell vpon a low flat land, which on

the east-end had a white patche or peece of ground.

After that they sailed till morning, being the 5 of August, west

south-west 12 [48] miles, [337] then south-west 14 [56] miles, and then

west 3 [12] miles till the 6 of August.

The 6 of August they sailed west south-west 2 [8] or 3 [12] miles; then

south-west, and south-west and by south, 4 [16] or 5 [20] miles; then

south-west and by west 3 [12] miles, and then south-west and by west 3

[12] miles; and after that west south-west and south-west and by south

3 [12] miles, till the 7 of August.

The 7 of August till noone they sailed 3 [12] miles west south-west,

then 3 [12] miles west, and then they wound south-ward till euening,

and sailed 3 [12] miles south-east and south-east and by east, then

againe west south-west 2 [8] miles, after that they sailed south 3 [12]

miles, till the 8 of August in the morning, with a west south-west

winde.

The 8 of August they sailed south-east and by south 10 [40] miles, and

then south-east and by east vntil euening 5 [20] miles, and then came

to a low flat land, that lay south-west and by south, and north-east

and by north, and so sailed 5 [20] miles more, and there they had 36

fadome deepe, 2 [8] miles from the land, the ground blacke sand; There

they sailed towards the land, till they were at 12 fadome, and halfe a

mile [2 miles] from the land it was stony ground.

From thence the land reacheth south-ward for 3 [12] miles, to the other

low point that had a blacke rocke lying close by it; and from thence

the land reacheth south south-east 3 [12] miles, to another point; and

there lay a little low island from the point, and within halfe a mile

[2 miles] of the land it was flat ground, at 8, 9, and 10 fadome deepe,

which they called the Black Island, [338] because it showed blacke

aboue; then it was very mistie, so that they lay in the wind [339] and

sailed 3 [12] miles west north-west; but when it cleared vp, they wound

towards the land againe, and the sunne being south [¼ to 11 A.M.], they

came right against the Blacke Island, and had held their course east

south-east.

There W. Barents tooke the height of the sunne, it being vnder 71

degrees and ⅓; and there they found a great creeke, which William

Barents iudged to be the place where Oliuer Brunel [340] had been

before, called Costincsarth. [341]

From the Blacke Island, they sailed south and south and by east to

another small [342] point 3 [12] miles, on which point there stood a

crosse, and therefore they called it the Crosse Point; [343] there also

there was a flat bay, and low water, [344] 5, 6, or 7 fadome deep, soft

ground. [345]

From Crosse Point they sailed along by the land south south-east 4 [16]

miles, and then came to another small [346] point, which behinde it had

a great creeke, that reached east-ward: this point they called the

Fifth Point or S. Laurence Point. [347] From the Fifth Point they

sailed to the Sconce Point [348] 3 [12] miles, south south-east, and

there lay a long blacke rocke close by the land, whereon there stood a

crosse; then they entered into the ice againe, and put inward to the

sea [349] because of the ice. Their intent was to saile along the coast

of Noua Zembla to the Wey-gates, but by reason that the ice met them

they wound west-ward, and from the 9 of August in the euening, till the

10 of August in the morning, sayled west and by north 11 [44] miles,

and after that 4 [16] miles west north-west, and north-west and by

west, the winde being north; in the morning [350] they wound east-warde

againe, and sailed vntill euening 10 [40] miles east and east and by

south; after that east and east and by north 4 [16] miles, and there

they saw land, and were right against a great creeke, where with their

boat they went on land, and there found a faire hauen 5 fadome deepe,

sandy ground. This creeke on the north side hath 3 blacke points, and

about the 3 points [351] lyeth the road, but you must keepe somewhat

from the 3 point, for it is stonie, and betweene the 2 and 3 point

there is another faire bay, for north-west, north, and north-east

winds, blacke sandy ground. This bay they called S. Laurence Bay, and

there they tooke the height of the sunne, which was 70 degrees and ¾.

From S. Laurence Bay, south south-east 2 [8] miles to Sconce Point,

there lay a long [352] blacke rocke, close by the land, [353] whereon

there stood a crosse; there they went on land with their boat, and

perceiued that some men had bin there, and that they were fled to saue

themselues; [354] for there they found 6 sacks with rie-meale buried in

the ground, and a heap of stones by the crosse, and a bullet for a

great piece, and there abouts also there stood another crosse, [355]

with 3 houses made of wood, after the north-countrey manner: and in the

houses they found many barrels of pike-staues, [356] whereby they

coniectured that there they vsed to take salmons, [357] and by them

stood 5 or 6 coffins, by graues, [358] with dead men’s bones, the

coffins standing vpon the ground all filled vp with stones; there also

lay a broken Russia ship, [359] the keele thereof being 44 foot long,

but they could see no man on the land: it is a faire hauen for all

winds, which they called the Meale-hauen, [360] because of the meale

that they found there.

From the black rocke or cliffe with the crosse, 2 [8] miles south

south-east, there lay a low island a little into the sea, from whence

they sailed 9 [36] or 10 [40] miles south south-east; there the height

of the sunne [361] was 70 degrees and 50 minutes, when it was south

south-west.

From that island they sailed along by the land 4 [16] miles south-east

and by south; there they came to 2 islands, whereof the uttermost lay a

mile [4 miles] from the land; those islands they called S. Clara.

Then they entered into the ice again, and wound inward to sea, in the

wind, [362] and sailed from the island [363] vntill evening, west

south-west 4 [16] miles, the wind being north-west; that evening it was

very mistie, and then they had 80 fadom deepe.

Then againe they sailed south-west and by west, and west south-west 3

[12] miles; there they had 70 fadome deepe, and so sayled till the

thirteenth of August in the morning, south-west and by west foure [16]

miles; two houres before they had ground at fiftie sixe fadome, and in

the morning at fortie five fadome, soft muddy ground.

Then they sayled till noone sixe [24] miles south-west, and had twentie

foure fadome deepe, black sandie ground; and within one houre after

they had two and twentie fadome deepe, browne reddish sand; then they

sailed sixe [24] miles south-west, with fifteene fadome deepe, red

sand; after that two [8] miles south-west, and there it was fifteene

fadome deepe, red sand, and there they sawe land, and sayled forward

south-west untill evening, till we were within halfe a mile [2 miles]

of the land, and there it was seven fadome deepe, sandy ground, the

land being low flat downes reaching east and west.

Then they wound from the land and sailed north, and north and by east 4

[16] miles; from thence they wound to land againe, and sayled til the

14 of August 5 [20] or 6 [24] miles south-west, sailing close by the

land, which (as they gesse [364]) was the island of Colgoyen; [365]

there they sailed by the lād east-ward 4 [16] miles; after that 3 [12]

miles east, and east and by south; then the weather became mistie,

whereby they could not see the land, and had shallow flat water [366]

at 7 or 8 fadome; then they took in the marsaile [367] and lay in the

wind [368] till it was cleare weather againe, and then the sunne was

south south-west [¾ p. 11 a.m.], yet they could not see the land: there

they had 100 fadome deepe, sandy ground; then they sailed east 7 [28]

miles; after that againe 2 [8] miles east south-east, and south-east

and by east; and againe till the 15 of August in the morning, 9 [36]

miles east south-east; then from morning till noone they sailed 4 miles

east south-east, and sailed over a flat or sand of 9 or 10 fadome

deepe, sandy ground, but could see no land; and about an houre before

noone it began to waxe deeper, for then wee had 12 and 13 fadome water,

and then wee sayled east south-east 3 [12] miles, till the sunne was

south-west [1 p.m.].

The same daye the sunne being south-west, [369] William Barents tooke

the height thereof, and found it to be elevated above the horizon 35

degrees, his declination being 14 degrees and ¼, so yt as there wanted

55 degrees of 90, which 55 and 14 degrees and ¼ being both added

together, made 69 degrees 15 minutes, which was the height of the Pole

in that place, the wind being north-west; then they sailed 2 [8] miles

more east-ward, and came to the islands called Matfloe and Delgoy,

[370] and there in the morning they meet with the other shippes of

their company, being of Zelandt and Enck-huysen, [371] that came out of

Wey-gates the same day; there they shewed each other where they had

bin, and how farre each of them had sailed, and discouered.

The ship of Enck-huysen had past the straights of Wey-gates, and said,

that at the end of Wey-gates he had found a large sea, [372] and that

they had sailed 50 [200] or 60 [240] miles further east-ward, and were

of opinion that they had been about the riuer of Obi, [373] that

commeth out of Tartaria, and that the land of Tartaria reacheth

north-east-ward againe from thence, whereby they thought that they were

not far from Cape Tabin, [374] which is ye point [375] of Tartaria,

that reacheth towards the kingdom of Chathai, north-east and then

south-ward. [376] And so thinking that they had discouered inough for

that time, and that it was too late in the yeare to saile any further,

as also that their commission was to discouer the scituation, and to

come home againe before winter, they turned againe towards the

Wei-gates, and came to an island about 5 miles great, lying south-east

from Wei-gates on the Tartarian side, and called it the States Island;

[377] there they found many stones, that were of a cristale mountaine,

[378] being a kind of diamont.

When they were met together (as I sayd before) they made signes of ioy,

discharging some of their ordinance, and were merry, the other shippes

thinking that William Barents had sailed round about Noua Zembla, and

had come backe againe through the Wei-gates: and after they had shewed

each other what they had done, and made signs of ioy for their meeting,

they set their course to turne backe againe for Holland; and vpon the

16 of August they went vnder the islands of Matfloe and Delgoy, and put

into the road, because the wind was north-west, and lay there till the

18 of August.

The 18 of August they set saile, and went forward west north-west, and

almost west and by north, and so sailed 12 [48] miles; and then west

and by south 6 [24] miles, and came to a sand of scarce 5 fadome deepe,

with a north-west wind; and in the evening they wound northward, and

sailed east north-east 7 [28] or 8 [32] miles, the wind being

northerly; and then they wound westward, and sailed till the 19 of

August in the morning, west 2 [8] miles; then 2 [8] miles south-west,

and after that 2 [8] miles south-east; there they wound west-ward

againe, and sailed till evening with a calme, and after that had an

east winde, and at first sailed west north-west, and north-west and by

west 6 [24] or 7 [28] miles, and had ground at 12 fadome: then till the

20 of August in the morning, they sayled west north-west, and

north-west and by west, 7 [28] miles with an easterly wind; and then

againe sailed west north-west, and north-west and by west 7 [28] miles;

then west north-west 4 [16] miles, and draue [379] forward till euening

with a calme: after that they sailed west north-west and north-west and

by west 7 [28] miles, and in the night time came to a sand of 3 fadome

deepe right against the land, and so sailed along by it, first one mile

north, then 3 [12] miles north north-west, and it was sandy hilly land,

and many points: [380] and then sailed on forward with 9 or 10 fadome

deepe, along by the land till noone, being the 21 of August, north-west

5 [20] miles; and the west point of the land, called Candinaes, [381]

lay north-west [382] from them 4 [16] miles.

From thence they sailed 4 [16] miles north north-west, and then

north-west and by north 4 [16] miles, and 3 [12] miles more north-west,

and north-west and by north, and then north-west 4 [16] miles, til the

22 of August in the morning: and that morning they sailed north-west 7

[28] miles, and so till euening west north-west and north-west and by

west 15 [60] miles, the wind being north; after that 8 [32] miles more,

west north-west; and then till the 23 of August at noone, west

north-west 11 [44] miles, the same day at noone the sunne was eleuated

aboue the horizon 31 degrees and ⅓ part, his declination was 11 degrees

and ⅔ partes; so that it wanted 58 degrees and ⅔ of 90 degrees, and

adding the declination being 11 degrees ⅔ to 58 degrees and ⅔ partes,

then the height of the Pole was 70 degrees and ⅓ part: then they sailed

north-west, and north-west and by west, till euening 8 [32] miles; and

then north-west and by west, and west north-west 5 [20] miles; and then

vntill the 24 of August in the morning, north-west and by west 6 [24]

miles; after that west, and west south-west 3 [12] miles, and then

passed close by the island of Ware-huysen [383] in the roade. From

Ware-huysen hither-ward, because the way is well knowne, I neede not to

write thereof, but that from thence they sailed altogether homeward,

and kept company together till they came to the Texel, where the ship

of Zelandt [The end of this voyage] past by, and William Barents with

his pinnace came vpon a faire day, [384] being the 16 of September,

before Amsterdam, and the ship of Enck-huysen to Enck-huysen, from

whence they were set foorth. William Barents’ men brought a sea-horse

to Amsterdam, being of a wonderfull greatnesse, which they tooke vpon a

flake of ice, and killed it.

A BRIEFE DECLARATION OF

A SECOND NAUIGATION MADE IN ANNO

1595, Behinde Norway, Moscouia,

and Tartaria, towards the kingdoms

of Cathaia and China.

The 4 ships aforesaid being returned home about harvest-time, in anno

1594, they were in good hope that the voiage aforesaid would be done,

by passing along through the Straights of Weygates, and specially by

the report made by the 2 ships of Zelandt and Enck-huysen, wherein John

Huyghen of Linschoten was committed, [385] who declared the manner of

their trauell in such sort, [386] that the Generall States and Prince

Maurice resolued, in the beginning of the next yeare, to prepare

certaine ships, not only (as they went before) to discouer the passage,

but to send certaine wares and merchandises thither, wherein the

marchants might lade what wares they would, with certaine factors to

sell the saide wares, in such places as they should arrive, neither

paying fraight nor custome. Peter Plantins, [387] a learned

cosmographer, being a great furtherer and setter forward of this

uoiage, and was their chiefe instructer therein, setting downe the

scituation of the coasts of Tartaria, Cathaia, and China; but how they

lye it is not yet sufficiently discouered, for that the courses and

rules by him set downe were not fully effected, by meanes of some

inconueniencies that fell out, which, by reason of the shortnesse of

time could not be holpen. The reasons that some men (not greatly

affected to this uoyage) vse to propound, to affirme it not possible to

be done, are taken (as they say) out of some old and auncient writers:

which is, yt 350 miles [388] at the least of the North Pole on both

sides are not to be sailed, which appeareth not to be true, for that

the White Sea, and farther north-ward, is now sayled and daily fisht

in, cleane contrary to the writings and opinions of auncient writers;

yea, and how many places hath bin discouered that were not knowne in

times past? It is also no marueile (as in the beginning of the first

description of this uoyage I haue sayd), [389] that vnder the North

Pole for 23 degrees, it is as cold on both sides, one as the other,

although it hath not beene fully discouered. Who would beleeue that in

the Periudan mountaines, [390] and the Alpes, that lye betweene Spaine,

Italie, Germanie, and France, there is so great cold, that the snow

thereon neuer melteth, and yet lye a great deale nearer the sunne, then

the countries lying on the North Seas doe, being low countries. [391]

By what meanes then is it so cold in those hilles? onely by meanes of

the deepe uallies, wherein the snow lyes so deepe, that the sunne

cannot shine upon the ground, by reason that the high hilles keepe the

sunne from shining on them. So it is (as I iudge) with the ice in the

Tartarian Seas, which is also called the Ice Sea, about Noua Zembla,

where the ice that commeth into those seas out of the riuers that are

in Tartaria and Cathaia, can not melt, by reason of the great quantitie

thereof, and for that the sun sheweth not high aboue those places, and

therefore casteth not so great a heat, as it can easily melt: which is

the cause that the ice lyeth there still, as the snowe doth in the

hilles of Spaine aforesayd, and that the sayd ice maketh it farre

colder there, then it is a greate deal neerer the Pole in the large

seas; [392] and although those places that are not discouered, cannot

bee so well described as if they were discouered, yet I thought good to

say thus much for a memoriall; and now I will proceed to the

declaration of the second uoyage made into the North Seas. [393]

In anno 1595, the generall States of the vnited prouinces, and Prince

Maurice, caused seuen shippes to bee prepared to sayle through the

Wey-gates, or the Straights of Nassaue, [394] to the kingdome of

Cathaia and China: two out of Amsterdam, two out of Zelandt, two out of

Enck-huysen, and one out of Roterdam: sixe of them laden with diuers

kindes of wares, marchandizes, and with money, and factors to sell the

said wares; the seuenth beeing a pinace, that had commission, when the

other shippes were past about the Cape de Tabin [395] (which is the

furthest point of Tartaria), or so farre that they might saile foorth

southward without any let or hinderance of the ice, to turne backe

againe, and to bring newes thereof. And I being in William Barents

ship, that was our chiefe pilote, [396] and James Hems-kerke chiefe

factor, [397] thought good to write downe the same in order as it is

here after declared, as I did the first uoyage, according to the course

and stretching of the land as it lyeth.

First, after we had been mustered at Amsterdam, and euery man taken an

oath that was then purposely ministered vnto vs, [398] vpon the 18 of

June wee sailed to the Texel, from thence to put to sea with other

ships that were appointed to meet vs at a certaine day; and so to begin

our uoiage in the name of God.

The 2 of July, wee set saile out of the Texel, in the morning at breake

of day, holding our course north-west and by north, and sayled about

sixe [24] miles.

After that wee sailed north north-west 18 [72] miles, till the 3 of

July in the morning, being then as we esteemed vnder 55 degrees; then

the wind being north-west, and north north-west, calme weather, we

sailed west and west and by south 4 [16] miles, till the 4 of July in

the morning: after that, the winde being north north-west and rather

more northerly, wee sayled west and west and by north 15 [60] miles,

till the 5 of July in the morning, and after that 8 [32] miles more,

till the sunne was west [¼ to 4 P.M.]

Then we wound about and sailed 10 [40] miles north-east, till the 6 of

July in the morning, and so held on our course for the space of 24 [96]

miles till the 7 July, the sunne being south [¾ p. 10 A.M.], and held

the same course for 8 [32] miles, till midnight.

Then wee wound about and sailed west south-west fourteene [56] miles,

till the ninth of July in the morning; and then againe wee wound

north-eastward till evening, and so sayled about tenne [40] miles.

And then eighteene [72] miles more, east-ward, [399] till the tenth of

July in the euening; then we wound about againe and sailed south-west,

eight [32] miles, till the 11 of July, the sunne then being south-east

[½ p. 7 A.M.]

Then wee wound north and north and by east, about sixteene [64] miles,

till the twelue of July, [400] and then north and by west tenne [40]

miles.

The 13 of July wee wound about againe, and sailed south-west and west

south-west 10 [40] miles, till about three houres before euening; then

wee wound againe, and sailed north north-east 10 [40] miles, till the

14 of July, the sunne being south south-east [9 A.M.], and then north

and by east and north north-east 18 [72] miles, till the 15 of July in

the morning: after that north and by east 12 [48] miles vntill euening;

then wee saw Norway, and then wee sayled north and by east 18 [72]

miles, till the 16 of July in the euening; at that time the sunne being

north-west [½ p. P.M.]; and vpon the 17 of July, north-east and

north-east and by north, 24 [96] miles, till the sunne was in the west

[¾ p. 3 P.M.]

Then againe wee sayled north-east, [401] 20 [80] miles, till the 18 of

July, the sunne being north-west; from thence wee sayled north-west and

by north 18 [72] miles, till the 19 of July, when the sunne was west.

From thence againe we wound about, north-east and by north and

north-east, till the 20 of July, while sixe glasses were run out, in

the first quarter, [402] and then stayed for our pinnace, that could

not follow vs because the wind blew so stiffe: that quarter [403] being

out, we saw our company lying to lee-ward, [404] to stay for vs, and

when wee were gotten to them, wee helde our course (as before) till

euening and sailed about 30 [120] miles.

Then we sayled south-east and by east 26 [104] miles, till the 21 of

July in the euening, when we set our watch, and held on the same course

for 10 [40] miles till the 22 of July, the sun being south south-east

[9 A.M.]: the same euening, [405] the sun being south south-west [¾ p.

11 A.M.], we saw a great whale right before our bough, [406] that lay

and slept, which by the rushing of the ship that made towards it, and

the noyse of our men, awaked and swamme away, or els wee must haue

sailed full vpon her; and so wee sayled eight [32] miles, till the

sunne was north north-west [¼ p. 9 P.M.].

The twenty-third [407] of July wee sayled south-east and by south

fifteene [60] miles, till the sunne was south south-west and saw land

about foure [16] miles from vs. Then wee wound of from the land, when

the sunne was about south south-west, and sayled twentie-foure [96]

miles till euening, that the sunne was north-west. [408]

After that we sayled north-ward tenne [40] miles, till the twenty-fifth

[409] of July at noone, and then north north-west eight [32] miles,

till mid-night; then wee wound about againe, and sayled east south-east

and south-east and by south, till the twenty sixe of July, the sunne

being south, and had the sunne at seauentie one degrees and ¼. [410]

The sunne being south south-west, wee wounde about againe and sayled

north-east and by north, till the seauen and twentie of July, the sunne

being south; being vnder 72 degrees and ⅓ partes. [411]

After that, wee sayled full north-east [412] 16 [64] myles, till the 28

of July, the sunne being east [½ p. 4 A.M.]. Then we wound about againe

south and by east, till the sunne was north-west, and sayled 8 [32]

miles. After that, south-east and by south 18 [72] miles, till the 29

[413] of July at midnight.

After that, we wound about againe, east and by north, and sayled eight

[32] miles, till the 30 of July, when the sunne was north [½ p. 10

P.M.]; then we wound south south-east, with [414] calme weather, till

the 31 of July, that the sunne was west north-west [415] [5 P.M.], and

sayled sixe [24] miles.

From thence wee sayled east-ward 8 [32] myles, till the first of August

about midnight, in calme faire weather, and saw Trumpsand [416]

south-east from vs, the sunne being north [½ p. 10 P.M.], and wee being

tenne [40] miles from the land; and so sayled till the sunne was east

[½ p. 7 P.M.], with a litle cold gale [417] out of the east north-east;

and after that, south-east 9 miles and a halfe [38 miles], till the

sunne was north-west.

Then we wound about againe, being halfe a mile [2 miles] from the land,

and sayled east and by north three [12] miles, till the 3 of August,

the sunne south-west [1 P.M.]; and then along by the land about 5 [20]

miles.

Then we wound about again, because there lay a rocke or sand, that

reached about a mile and a halfe [6 miles] out from the land into the

sea, whereon Isbrant, the uize-admiral, [418] stroke with his shippe:

but the weather being faire and good, he got off againe. When he stroke

vpon it, he was a litle before vs: and when we heard him cry out, and

saw his shippe in danger, wee in all haste wound about; and the wind

being north-east and by east, and south-east, and south-east and by

south, [419] wee sayled 5 [20] or 6 [24] myles along by the land, till

the sunne was south, vpon the 4 of August.

Then we tooke the height of the sunne, and found it to be seauentie and

one degrees and ¼. At which time till noone [420] wee had calme

weather: and hauing the wind southerly wee sayled east and by north,

till the fifth of August, the sunne being south-east [½ p. 7 A.M.], the

North Cape [421] lying about two [8] miles east from vs; and when the

sunne was north-west [½ p. 7 P.M.], the Mother and her Daughters [422]

lay south-ward from vs four [16] miles, and in that time we sailed

about fourteene [56] miles.

Then we sailed east north-east till the 6 of August, when wee had the

sunne west north-west [5 P.M.], and then Isbrandt, the uize-admiral,

came to vs with his ship, and so bating some of our sayles, [423] wee

sayled about 10 [40] miles.

Then wee hoysed vp our sayles againe, [424] till the sunne was

north-west, and after that halde vp againe [425] with an east and east

north-east wind, and sailed south and by west with a stiffe gale till

the 7 of August, that the sunne was south-east; then there came a ship

of Enckhuysen out of the White Sea, and then we esteemed that wee had

sailed about 8 [32] miles.

The sunne being south [¾ p. 10 A.M.], the North Cape lay south-west and

by south from vs about a mile and a halfe [6 miles], and the Mother and

her Daughters south-west from vs about 3 [12] miles; then hauing an

east and by north wind we wound about, and held our course north and by

east, and sailed 14 [56] miles till the 8 of August, when the sunne was

south-west [1 P.M.]; then we wound south and by east, and so held her

course till the 9 of August, that the sunne was south; and then we saw

a high point of land south-east from vs, and another high point of land

south-ward, [426] about 4 [16] miles from vs, as we gest, [427] and so

we sailed about 14 [56] miles: and then againe we wound north-east and

by north, till the 10 of August, the sun being east [½ p. 4 A.M.], and

sailed about 8 [32] miles; after that we wound south-ward againe, till

the sunne was north-west [½ p. 7 P.M.], and sailed, as we gest, 10 [40]

miles.

Then wee wound about againe, when the North Cape lay west and by south

from vs about 9 [36] miles, the North-kyen [428] being south and by

west from vs about 3 [12] miles, and sailed north north-east till the

11 of August, in very mistie weather 10 [40] miles, till the sunne was

south [¾ p. 10 A.M.]

From thence wee wound about againe, with an east north-east wind, and

sailed south-east and by south 8 [32] miles, till the sunne was

south-west [1 P.M.] vpon the 12 of August; then the North-kyen lying

south-west and by south from vs about 8 [32] miles, we lay and draue at

sea, in calme weather, [429] till the 13 of August, when the sunne was

south south-west [¾ p. 11 A.M.], and in that time sailed about 4 [32]

miles.

Then we sailed south-east and by east about 4 glasses, [430] and the

Iron-hogge with her companie (being marchants) [431] took their course

south-ward, and wee sailed till the 14 of August (when the sunne was

south) about 18 [72] miles, and from thence for the most part held one

course till the 15 of August, the sunne being east, and there we cast

out the lead and found 70 fadome deepe, and sailed 38 [152] miles till

the sunne was south.

The sunne being south, [432] and the height thereof being taken, it was

found to be 70 degrees and 47 minutes; then in the night time wee cast

out the lead, and found ground at 40 fadome, it being a bancke; the

sunne being north-west [½ p. 7 P.M.], we cast out the lead againe and

had ground at 64 fadome, and so wee went on east south-east till the 16

of August, the sunne being north-east [½ p. 1 A.M.], and there the line

being out, we found no ground at 80 fadome; and after that we sailed

east and east and by south, and in that time wee cast the lead often

times out, and found ground at 60 and 70 fadome, either more or lesse,

and so sailed 36 [144] miles, till the sunne was south.

Then we sailed east, and so continued till the 17 of August, the sunne

being east [½ p. 4 A.M.] and cast out our lead, and found 60 fadome

deepe, clay [433] ground; and then taking the height of the sunne, when

it was south-west and by south, we found it to be 69 degrees and 54

minutes, and there we saw great store of ice all along the coast of

Noua Zembla, and casting out the lead had 75 fadome soft[1] ground, and

so sayled about 24 [96] miles.

After that we held diuers courses because of the ice, and sayled

south-east and by east and south south-east for the space of 18 [72]

miles, till the 18 of August, when the sunne was east, and then wee

cast out the lead againe, and found 30 fadome soft [434] ground, and

within two houres after that 25 fadome, red sand, with small shels;

[435] three glasses [436] after that we had ground at 20 fadome, red

sand with blacke shels, [437] as before; then we saw 2 islands, which

they of Enckhuysen gaue the names of Prince Maurice and his brother,

[438] which lay from us south-east 3 [12] miles, being low land, and

then we sailed 8 [32] miles, till the sunne was south. [¾ p. 10 A.M.]

Then we sailed east, and oftentimes casting out the lead we found 20,

19, 18, and 17 fadome deepe, good grounde mixed with blacke shels,

[439] and saw the Wey-gates (the sunne being west) [¾ p. 3 P.M.], which

lay east north-east from vs about 5 [20] miles; and after that we

sailed about 8 [32] miles.

Then we sailed vnder 70 degrees, [440] vntill we came to the Wey-gates,

most part through broken ice; and when we got to Wey-gates, we cast out

our lead, and for a long time found 13 and 14 fadome, soft [441] ground

mixed with blacke shels; [442] not long after that wee cast out the

lead and found 10 fadome deepe, the wind being north, and we forced to

hold stifly aloofe, [443] in regard of the great quantity of ice, till

about midnight; then we were forced to wind north-ward, because of

certaine rocks that lay on the south side of Wey-gates, right before vs

about a mile and a halfe [6 miles], hauing ten fadome deepe: then wee

changed our course, and sailed west north-west for the space of 4

glasses, [444] after that we wound about againe east and east and by

south, and so entred into Wey-gates, and as wee went in, we cast out

the lead, and found 7 fadome deepe, little more or lesse, till the 19

of August; and then the sunne being south-east [½ p. 7 A.M.] we entered

into the Wey-gates, in the road, the wind being north.

The right chanell betweene the Image Point [445] and the Samuters land

[446] was full of ice, so that it was not well [447] to be past

through, and so we went into the road, which we called the Trayen Bay,

[448] because we found store of trayen-oyle there: this is a good bay

for the course of the ice, [449] and good almost for all windes, and we

may saile so farre into it as we will at 4, 5, and 3 fadome, good

anchor-ground: on the east side it is deepe [450] water.

The 20 of August, the height of the sunne being taken with the

crosse-staffe, [451] wee found that it was eleuated aboue the horizon

69 degrees 21 minuts, [452] when it was south-west and by south, being

at the highest, or before it began to descend.

The 21 of August we went on land within the Wey-gates [453] with foure

and fiftie men, to see the scituation of the countrey, and being 2 [8]

miles within the land, we found many vel-werck trayen, and such like

wares, [454] and diuers footsteps of men and deere; whereby wee

perceived that some men dwelt thereabouts, or else vsed to come

thither.

And to assure vs the more thereof, wee might perceiue it by the great

number of images, which we found there upon the Image or Beelthooke

[455] (so called by us) in great aboundance, whereof ten dayes after we

were better informed by the Samuters [456] and the Russians, when we

spake with them.

And when wee entered further [457] into the land, wee vsed all the

meanes we could, to see if we could find any houses, or men, by whom

wee might bee informed of the scituation of the sea [458] there abouts;

whereof afterwards wee had better intelligence by the Samuters, that

tolde vs, that there are certaine men dwelling on the Wey-gates, [459]

and vpon Noua Zembla; but wee could neither finde men, houses, nor any

other things; so that to have better information, we went with some of

our men further south-east into the land, towards the sea-side; [460]

and as we went, we found a path-way made with mens feete in the mosse

or marsh-ground, about halfe knee deepe, for that going so deepe wee

felt hard ground vnder our feete, which at the deepest was no higher

than our shoes; and as wee went forward to the sea coast, wee were

exceeding glad, thinking that wee had seene a passage open, where wee

might get through, because we saw so little ice there: and in the

euening entering into our ship againe, wee shewed them that newes.

Meanetime our maister [461] had sent out a boat to see if the Tartarian

Sea [462] was open, but it could not get into the sea because of the

ice, yet they rowed to the Crosse-point, [463] and there let the boate

lye, and went ouer the land to the West Point, [464] and there

perceiued that the ice in the Tartarian Sea lay full vpon the Russian

coastes, and in the mouth of Wey-gates.

The twentie three of August wee found a lodgie [465] or boate of

Pitzore, [466] which was sowed together with bast or ropes, [467] that

had beene north-ward to seeke for some sea-horses teeth, trayen, [468]

and geese, which they fetcht with their boat, to lade in certaine

shippes that were to come out of Russia, through Wey-gates.

Which shippes they sayd (when they spake with vs), were to saile into

the Tartarian Sea, by the riuer of Oby, [469] to a place called Vgolita

[470] in Tartaria, there to stay all winter, as they vsed to doe euery

yeere: and told vs that it would yet bee nine or tenne weekes ere it

began to freeze in that place, and that when it once began to freeze,

it would freeze so hard, that as then men might goe ouer the sea into

Tartaria (along vpon the ice), which they called Mermare. [471]

The 24 of August in the morning betimes, we went on board of the

lodgie, to haue further information and instruction of the sea on the

east side of Wey-gates, and they gaue vs good instruction such as you

haue heard.

The 25 of August we went againe to the lodgie, and in friendly maner

spake with them, we for our parts offering them friendship; and then

they gaue vs 8 fat geese, [472] that lay in the bottome of their boat:

we desired that one or two of them would goe with vs on board our ship,

and they willingly went with vs to the number of seuen; and being in

our ship they wondered much at the greatnesse and furniture of our

ship: and after they had seene and looked into it in euery place, [473]

we set fish, [474] butter, and cheese before them to eat, but they

refused it, saying that that day was a fasting day with them; but at

last when they saw some of our pickled-herrings, they eat them, both

heads, tayles, skin, and guts; [475] and hauing eaten thereof, we gaue

them a small ferkin of herrings, for the which they gaue vs great

thankes, knowing not what friendship they should doe vs to requite our

courtesie, and we brought them with our pinnace into the Traen-Bay.

About noone wee hoysed vp our anchors with a west north-west wind; the

course or stretching of Wey-gates is east to the Cruis point, [476] and

then north-east to the Twist point, [477] and somewhat more easterly:

From thence the land of Wey-gates reacheth north north-east, and north

and by east, and then north, and somewhat westerly; we sayled

north-east and east-ward [478] 2 [8] miles, by the Twist point, but

then we were compelled to saile backe again, because of the great store

of ice, and tooke our course to our road aforesaid; and sayling backe

againe wee found a good place by the Crosse point to anchor in, that

night.

The 26 of August in the morning we hoysed anchor, and put out our

forke-saile, [479] and so sailed to our old road, there to stay for a

more conuenient time.

The 28, 29, and 30 of August till the 31, the winde for the most part

was south-west, and William Barents our captaine sayled to the south

side of Wey-gates, and there went on land, [480] where wee found

certaine wilde men (called Samuters), [481] and yet not altogether

wilde, for they being 20 in number staid and spake with our men, being

but 9 together, about a mile [4 miles] within the land, our men not

thinking to find any men there (for that we had at other times beene on

land in the *Wey-gates, and saw none); at last, it being mistie

weather, they perceiued men, [482] fiue and fiue in a company, and we

were hard by them before [483] we knew it. Then our interpreter went

alone towards them to speake with them; which they perceiuing sent one

towardes vs, who comming almost to our men, tooke an arrow out of his

quiuer, offering to shoote at him; wherewith our interpretor, being

without armes, was afraide, and cryed vnto him, saying (in Russian

speach), shoote not, we are friends: which the other hearing, cast his

bow and arrowes to the ground, therewith giuing him to vnderstand that

he was well content to speake with our man: which done, our man called

to him once againe, and sayd, we are friendes; whereunto he made

answere and sayd, then you are welcome: and saluting one the other,

bended both their heades downe towardes the ground, after the Russian

manner. This done, [484] our interpreter questioned with him about the

scituation and stretching of the sea east-ward through the straightes

of Wey-gates; whereof he gaue vs good instruction, saying, that when

they should haue past a poynt of land about 5 dayes sayling from thence

(shewing [485] north-eastward), that after that, there is a great sea

(shewing towardes the south-east vpward [486]); saying, that hee knew

it very well, for that one had been there that was sent thither by

their king with certaine souldiers, [487] whereof he had been captaine.

The maner of their apparell is like as we vse to paint wild men; but

they are not [488] wilde, for they are of reasonable iudgement. They

are apparelled in hartes [489] skins from the head to the feete,

vnlesse it be the principallest of them, which are apparelled, whether

they bee men or women, like vnto the rest, as aforesayd, vnlesse it bee

on their heads, which they couer with certaine coloured cloth lyned

with furre: the rest wear cappes of hartes or buckes skinnes, the rough

side outwardes, which stand close to their heades, and are very fitte.

They weare long hayre, which they plaite and fold and let it hang downe

vpon their backes. They are (for the most part all) short and low of

stature, with broad flat faces, small eyes, short legges, their knees

standing outwards; and are very quicke to goe and leape. They trust not

strangers: for although that wee shewed them all the courtesie and

friendship that wee could, yet they trusted vs not much: which wee

perceiued hereby, that as vpon the first of September we went againe on

land to them, and that one of our men desired to see one of their

bowes, they refused it, making a signe that they would not doe it. Hee

that they called their king, had centinels standing abroad, to see what

was done in the countrie, and what was bought and sould. At last, one

of our men went neerer to one of the centinels, to speake with him, and

offered him great friendship, according to their accustomed manner;

withall giuing him a bisket, which he with great thankes tooke, and

presently eate it, and while he eate it, hee still lookt diligently

about him on all sides what was done.

Their sleades [490] stood alwayes ready with one or two hartes in them,

that runne so swiftly with one or two men in them, that our horses were

not able to follow them. One of our men shot a musket towards the sea,

wherewith they were in so great feare that they ranne and leapt like

mad men; yet at last they satisfied themselues when they perceiued that

it was not maliciously done to hurt them: and we told them by our

interpretor, that we vsed our peeces in stead of bowes, whereat they

wondered, because of the great blow and noyse that it gaue and made:

and to shew them what we could doe therewith, one of our men tooke a

flatte stone about halfe a handfull broad, and set it vpon a hill a

good way off from him: which they perceiuing, and thinking that wee

meant some-what thereby, 50 or 60 of them gathered round about vs, and

yet some-what farre off; wherewith hee that had the peece, shotte it

off, and with the bullet smote the stone in sunder, whereat they

woondred much more then before.

After that we tooke our leaues one of the other, with great friendship

on both sides; and when we were in our penace, [491] we al put off our

hattes and bowed our heades vnto them, sounding our trumpet: they in

their maner saluting vs also, and then went to their sleads againe.

And after they were gone from vs and were some-what within the land,

one of them came ryding to the shore, to fetch a rough-heawed image,

that our men had taken off the shore and carried into their boate: and

when he was in our boate, and perceiued the image, hee made vs a signe

that wee had not done well to take away that image; which wee

beholding, gaue it to him again: which when he had receiued, he placed

it vpon a hill right by the sea side, and tooke it not with him, but

sent a slead to fetch it from thence. And as farre as wee could

perceiue, they esteemed that image to be their god; [492] for that

right ouer against that place in the Wey-gates, which we called

Beelthooke, [493] we found certaine hundreds of such carued images, all

rough, about the heads being somewhat round, and in the middle hauing a

litle hill instead of a nose, and about the nose two cuttes in place of

eyes, and vnder the nose a cutte in place of a mouth. Before the

images, wee found great store of ashes, and bones of hartes; whereby it

is to be supposed that there they offered vnto them.

Hauing left the Samuters, the sunne being south-ward, [494] William

Barents, our captaine, spake to the admirall to will him to set sayle,

that they might goe forward; but they had not so many wordes together,

as was betweene them the day before; [495] for that when the admirall

and vize-admirall had spoken with him, [496] the admirall seeming to be

well contented therewith, said vnto him: Captaine, [497] what think you

were best for vs to doe? he made answere, I thinke we should doe well

to set sayle, and goe forward on our uoyage, that wee may accomplish

it. Whereunto the admirall answeared him, and sayd: Looke well what you

doe, captaine: [498] at which time, the sunne was north-west [½ p. 7

P.M.].

The 2 of September, a litle before sunne rising, wee put foorth our

anckor [499] to get out, for that the winde as then blew south

south-west; it being good weather to get out, and ill weather to lie

still: for we lay under a low bancke. [500] The admirall and

vize-admirall seeing vs making out, began also to hoyse their anckors,

and to set sayle.

When wee put out our focke-sayle, [501] the sunne was east and by south

[½ p. 5 A.M.]; and then we sayled to the Crosse-poynt, and there wee

cast anckor to stay for the vize-admirals pinnace; which with much

labour and paines in time got out of the ice, by often casting out of

their anckor, [502] and in the euening shee got to vs. In the morning,

about 2 houres before sunne rising, we set sayle, and by sunne rising

we got within a mile [4 miles] east-ward of the Twist-poynt, [503] and

sayled north-ward 6 miles, till the sunne was south [¾ p. 10 A.M.].

Then wee were forced to wind about, because of the great quantitie of

ice, and the mist that then fell; at which time the winde blew so

vncertaine that we could hold no course, but were forced continually to

winde and turne about, [504] by reason of the ice and the

vnconstantnesse of the wind, together with the mist, so that our course

was vncertaine, and we supposed that we had sailed south-ward vp

towardes the Samuters countrey, and then held our course south-west,

till the watchers [505] were north-west from vs; then we came to the

point of the States Island, [506] lying east-ward about a musket shot

from the land, having 13 fadome deepe.

The 4 of September, we hoysed anchor because of the ice, and sailed

betwene the firme land and the States Island, where wee lay close by

the States Island at 4 and 5 fadome deepe, and made our shippe fast

with a cable cast on the shoare; and there we were safe from the course

of the ice, [507] and diuers time went on land to get [508] hares,

whereof there were many in that island.

The 6 of September, some of our men went on shore vpon the firme land

to seeke for stones, which are a kinde of diamont, [509] whereof there

are many also in the States Island: and while they were seeking ye

stones, 2 of our mē lying together in one place, a great leane white

beare came sodainly stealing out, and caught one of them fast by the

necke, who not knowing what it was that tooke him by the necke, cried

out and said, Who is that that pulles me so by the necke? Wherewith the

other, that lay not farre from him, [510] lifted vp his head to see who

it was, and perceiuing it to be a monsterous beare, cryed and sayd, Oh

mate, it is a beare! and therewith presently rose vp and ran away.

The beare at the first faling vpon the man, bit his head in sunder,

[511] and suckt out his blood, wherewith the rest of the men that were

on land, being about 20 in number, ran presently thither, either to

saue the man, or else to driue the beare from the dead body; and hauing

charged their peeces and bent their pikes, [512] set vpon her, that

still was deuouring the man, but perceiuing them to come towards her,

fiercely and cruelly ran at them, and gat another of them out from the

companie, which she tare in peeces, wherewith all the rest ran away.

We perceiuing out of our ship and pinace that our men ran to the

sea-side to save themselues, with all speed entered into our boates,

and rowed as fast as we could to the shoare to relieue our men. Where

being on land, we beheld the cruell spectacle of our two dead men, that

had beene so cruelly killed and torne in pieces by the beare. Wee

seeing that, incouraged our men to goe backe againe with vs, and with

peeces, curtleaxes, [513] and halfe pikes, to set vpon the beare; but

they would not all agree thereunto, some of them saying, Our men are

already dead, and we shall get the beare well enough, though wee oppose

not our selues into so open danger; if wee might saue our fellowes

liues, then we would make haste; but now wee neede not make such

speede, but take her at an aduantage, with most securitie for our

selues, for we haue to doe with a cruell, fierce and rauenous beast.

Whereupon three of our men went forward, the beare still deuouring her

prey, not once fearing the number of our men, and yet they were thirtie

at the least: the three that went forward in that sort, were Cornelius

Jacobson, [514] maister of William Barents shippe, William Gysen,

pilote of the pinace, and Hans van Nufflen, William Barents purser:

[515] and after that the sayd maister and pilote had shot three times

and mist, the purser stepping somewhat further forward, and seeing the

beare to be within the length of a shot, presently leauelled his peece,

and discharging it at the beare, shot her into the head betweene both

the eyes, and yet shee held the man still faste by the necke, and

lifted vp her head, with the man in her mouth, but shee beganne

somewhat to stagger; wherewith the purser and a Scotishman [516] drew

out their courtlaxes, and stroke at her so hard that their courtlaxes

burst, [517] and yet she would not leaue the man. At last William

Geysen went to them, and with all his might stroke the beare vpon the

snowt with his peece, at which time the beare fell to the ground,

making a great noyse, and William Geyson leaping vpon her cut her

throat. The seuenth of September wee buryed the dead bodyes of our men

in the States Island, and hauing fleaed the beare, carryed her skinne

to Amsterdam.

The ninth of September, wee set saile from the States Island, [518] but

the ice came in so thicke and with such force, that wee could not get

through; so that at euening wee came backe againe to the States Island,

the winde being westerly. There the admirale and the pinace of Roterdam

fell on ground by certaine rockes, but gote off againe without any

hurt.

The tenth of September wee sayled againe from the States Island towards

the Wey-gates, and sent two boates into the sea to certifie vs what

store of ice was abroad; and that euening we came all together into

Wey-gates, and anckored by the Twist Point. [519]

The 11 of September in the morning, we sailed againe into the Tartarian

Sea, [520] but we fell into great store of ice, so that wee sailed back

againe to the Wey-gates, and anckored by the Crosse Point, and about

mid-night we saw a Russian lodgie, [521] that sailed from the

Beeltpoint [522] towardes the Samuters land. The 13 of September, the

sunne being south [¾ p. 10 A.M.], there beganne a great storme to blow

out of the south south-west, [523] the weather being mistie,

melancholly, [524] and snowie, [525] and the storme increasing more and

more, we draue through. [526]

The 14 of September the weather beganne to bee somewhat clearer, the

winde being north-west, and the storme blowing stiffe [527] out of the

Tartarian Sea; but at euening it was [528] faire weather, and then the

wind blewe north-east. The same day our men went on the other side of

Wey-gates on the firme land, [529] to take the depth of the channel,

and entered into the bough behinde the islands, [530] where there stood

a little howse made of wood, and a great fall of water into the land.

[531] The same morning we hoysed vp our anckor, [532] thinking once

againe to try what we could doe to further our uoyage; but our admirall

being of another minde, lay still till the fifteene of September.

The same day in the morning the winde draue in from the east end of the

Wey-gates, [533] whereby wee were forced presently to hoyse anchors,

and the same day sailed out from the west ende of the Wey-gates, with

all our fleete, and made home-wardes againe, and that day past by the

islands called Matfloe and Delgoy, [534] and that night wee sayled

twelue [48] miles, north-west and by west, till Saterday in the

morning, and then the winde fell north-east, and it began to snow.

The 16 of September, from morning to evening, wee sayled west

north-west 18 [72] miles, at 42 fadome deepe; in the night it snowed,

and there blew very much winde out of the north-east: the first quarter

[535] wee had 40 fadome deepe, but in the morning we saw not any of our

ships.

After that wee sailed all the night againe till the 17 of September in

the morning, with two schower sailes, [536] north-west and by west and

west north-west 10 [40] miles; the same day in the second quarter we

had 50 fadome deepe, and in the morning 38 fadome deepe, sandy ground

with blacke shels. [537]

Sunday in the morning wee had the winde north and north-west, with a

great gale, and then the admirals pinnace kept vs company, and sailed

by vs with one saile from morning to evening, south south-west and

south-west and by south, for the space of 6 [24] miles.

Then we saw the point of Candynaes [538] lying south-east from vs, and

then wee had 27 fadome deepe, redde sand with blacke shels. Sunday at

night wee put out our focke sayle, [539] and wound northward ouer, and

sayled all that night till Munday in the morning, 7 [28] or 8 [32]

miles north-east and north-east and by east.

The 18 of September in the morning, wee lost the sight of the pinnace

that followed vs, and till noone sought after her, but wee could not

finde her, and sailed [540] east-ward 3 [12] miles, and from noone till

night wee sailed north and by east foure [16] miles. And from Munday at

night till Tuesday in the morning, north-east and by north, seuen [28]

miles; and from morning till noone, north-east and by north, 4 [16]

miles; and from noone till night, north-east, [541] 5 [20] or 6 [24]

miles, at 55 fadome deepe; the same euening wee woond south-ward, and

sailed so till morning.

The 20 of September, wee sayled south and by west and south south-west,

7 [28] or 8 [32] miles, at 80 fadome deepe, black slimie ground; from

morning till noone wee sailed with both our marsh sailes, [542]

south-west and by west 5 [20] miles, and from noone to night west and

by south 5 [20] miles.

The 21 of September from night [543] till Thurseday in the morning, wee

sayled one quarter [544] west, and so till day, still west, 7 [28]

miles, at 64 fadome deepe, oasie ground.

From morning till noone, south-west 5 [20] miles, at 65 fadome deepe,

oasie ground: at noone wee wound north-ward againe, and for three

houres sayled north-east two [8] myles: then we wound westward againe,

and sayled till night, while halfe our second quarter was out, [545]

with two schoure sayles, [546] south south-west and south-west and by

south sixe [24] myles. After that, in the second quarter, wee wound

north-ward, and sayled so till Fryday in the morning.

The 22 of September wee sayled north and by east and north north-east 4

[16] miles: [547] and from morning till noone, north-east, 4 [16]

myles. Then wee wound west-ward againe, and sayled north-west and by

west and north-west three [12] miles. After that, the first quarter,

[548] north-west and by west, fiue [20] miles; the second quarter, west

and by north, foure [16] miles; and till Saterday in the morning, being

the 23 of September, west south-west and south-west and by west, foure

[16] miles. From Saterday in the morning till euening wee sayled with

two schoure sailes, [549] south-west and south-west and by west, 7 [28]

or 8 [32] miles, the winde being north north-west. In the euening we

wound north-ward, and sayled till Sunday in the morning, being the 24

of September, with two schoure sayles, very neare east, with a stiffe

north north-west wind, 8 [32] miles; and from morning till noone, east

and by south, three [12] miles, with a north winde. Then we wound

west-ward, and till euening sayled west south-west three [12] miles;

and all that night till Monday in the morning, the 25 of September,

west and by south, sixe [24] miles, the winde being north. In the

morning the wind fell north-east, and we sailed from morning till

euening west and west and by north, 10 [40] miles, hauing 63 fadome

deepe, sandy ground.

From euening till Tuesday in the morning, being the 26 of September, we

sailed west 10 [40] miles, and then in the morning wee were hard by the

land, about 3 [12] miles east-ward from Kildwin; [550] and then we

wound off from the land, and so held off for 3 houres together; after

that we wound towards the land againe, and thought to goe into Kilduin,

but we were too low; [551] so that after-noone we wound off from the

land againe, and till euening sailed east north-east 5 [20] miles; and

from euening til two houres before Wednesday in the morning, being the

27 of September, we sailed east 6 [24] miles; then we wound west-ward,

and till euening sailed west and by north 8 [32] miles, and in the

euening came againe before Kilduin; then wee wound farre off from the

land, and sailed 2 quarters [552] north-east and by east and east

north-east 6 [24] miles; and about [553] Friday in the morning, being

the 28 of September, wee wound about againe, and sayled with diuers

variable windes, sometimes one way, then another way, till euening;

then wee gest [554] that Kilduin lay west from vs foure [16] miles, and

at that time wee had an east north-east winde, and sayled north

north-west and north-west and by north, till Satterday in the morning

12 [48] or 13 [52] miles.

The nine and twentieth of September in the morning, wee sayled

north-west and by west foure [16] miles; and all that day till euening

it was faire, still, pleasant, and sunne-shine weather. In the euening

wee went west south-west, and then wee were about sixe [24] miles from

the land, and sayled till Sunday in the morning, beeing the 30 of

September, north north-west eight [32] miles; then wee wound towardes

the land, and the same day in the euening entered into Ward-house,

[555] and there wee stayed till the tenth of October. And that day wee

set sayle out of Ward-house, and vpon the eighteene of Nouember wee

arriued in the Maes.

The course or miles from Ward-house into Holland I haue not here set

downe, as being needlesse, because it is a continuall uoiage knowne to

most men.