there were People here before the coming over of _Ingulfus_) were call’d
_Papæ_ or _Pappæ_, and the East side of the Island, _Papey_, which
agrees very well with the Names of two little Islands on the Coast of
_Scotland_, _Pappa_ and _Westrepappa_, from which many conjecture, as
also from several Crosses and Bells found upon the Place, that there
hath been in former Ages a resort of the _Irish_, and of the People of
the North-West parts of _Scotland_.
[Sidenote: The Division of _Iseland_.]
The Eastern Bound of _Iseland_ is call’d _Austurhorn_; the Western,
_Randesandur_; the Northern, _Langanes_; and the Southern, _Reicranes_.
The Island being divided according to the four Quarters of the World,
_North-Island_ is sever’d from _East-Island_ by the aforesaid Promontory
of _Langanes_; from _West-Island_ by _Rutafiordur_ Bay; from
_South-Island_, by vast and unpassable Desarts. Between _South-Island_
and _East-Island_ runneth the River _Jocolsu_, through the Desarts of
_Solseimasande_. Between _South-Island_ and _West-Island_ a famous River
nam’d _Albis_, which emptieth it self into the Bay of _Bargarfiord_.
[Sidenote: _Schetland_ the _Thule_ of the Ancients.]
’Tis a vulgar Opinion, that this Island is the same which the Ancients
call’d _Thule_; but upon consideration it will appear, that by the
_Ultima Thule_ taken notice of by _Virgil_, _Claudian_, _Statius_,
_Pythias Massiliensis_, _Pliny_, _Seneca_, _Solinus_, _Tacitus_, and
others, is meant one of the _British_ Isles, amongst which were
comprehended the Isles on the North of _Scotland_, as the _Orcades_, and
some others, the utmost of which we call _Schetland_, and is very
probable to be this _Ultima Thule_ of the Ancients.
[Sidenote: _Nova Zembla_, when first discover’d.]
_Nova Zembla_, lying under seventy six Degrees of Northern Latitude, and
a hundred and twelve Degrees and twenty five Minutes of Longitude, and
being reckon’d above two hundred Miles in length, was, together with the
River _Puora_, and Straights of _Weygats_, discover’d, (and, as it is
thought, first of all) by _Stephen Burrough_, who was sent out by the
_Muscovia_ Company in the Year 1556. to find out a Way to _Cathay_ by
the North-East.
Afterwards one _Oliver Bunel_, a _Dutch_-man, mov’d with the hope of
Gain, went from _Enkhuissen_ to _Pecora_; where (having first discover’d
_Costinfarca_ in _Nova Zembla_) he lost all by Shipwrack.
The _States-General_ nothing discourag’d with the little success of
these two Voyagers, sent forth two Ships under the Command of _Hugo
Linschot_, to the Straights of _Weygats_, and two others under _William
Barrents_, who were to go directly Northwards for _Nova Zembla_:
_Linschot_ went fifty Miles beyond the Straights, but the Northerly
Winds and late Season of the year forc’d him to hasten back with all
possible speed. _William Barents_ and his Company were necessitated in
the Year 1596. being not able to get off, in regard the Ice increas’d
upon them more and more, to take up their Winter Quarters there in a
Cottage, which they made a shift to cast up for their present necessity,
having much ado to defend themselves against the Bears, that continually
assaulted them.
[Sidenote: Description of the Countrey.]
This Countrey is generally deliver’d to be a barren and desart Countrey,
full of Wood indeed, but the Boughs as bare of Leaves, as the Ground of
Grass; also very incommodious to be travell’d through, by reason of its
desartness, and the danger of Bears, great fierce Foxes, and such like
ravenous Beasts, which feed onely upon Flesh, and which are the onely
Beasts this Countrey harbors.
In a _Journal_ of Mr. _Henry Hudson_, there is to be found a much more
favorable Description of the Countrey: “Generally (saith he) the Land of
_Nova Zembla_ that we have seen, is to a Man’s Eye a pleasant Land, much
Main High-land with no Snow on it, looking in some places green, and
Deer feeding thereon, and the Hills partly cover’d with Snow, and partly
bare.”
It should seem to have been a receiv’d Opinion from the first Discovery
of _Nova Zembla_, that it was inhabited by _Pygmies_, it being several
times, in the _Journals_ of some Voyages, mention’d particularly by the
Name of _The Land of Pygmies_, but upon what certain Ground cannot in
the least be discover’d; for we find not from the _Russians_ (to whom
the Place, by reason of its Vicinity, is probable to have been first
known) any other Account of the Inhabitants, but that they are a People
wholly destitute of civil Manners, and unlimited by Law or Religion,
saving that they seem to give some kind of Adoration to the Sun, Moon,
and North-star, and have some Qualities which speak them rational
Creatures; whereas the _Pygmies_ (if there be any such Creatures) are
thought to have nothing of Humane but their Shape onely.
[Sidenote: _Willoughby-Island._]
Besides _Nova Zembla_ there is not far from it another Island, known by
the Name of _Willoughby-Island_, from Sir _Hugh Willoughby_, the first
Discoverer; they both are of the Dominions of the _Czar_ of _Russia_.
_Several Attempts for the discovery of the_ North-West Passage.
What hath been discover’d of Sea in the North or South parts of the
World, is of no less Consequence than what hath been discover’d of Land,
and the _Straight_ of _Hudson_ Northward, is no less considerable than
the _Straight_ of _Magellan_ South; we shall therefore compleat this
Discourse of the _Artick Region_ with a brief Mention of what Capes,
Bays, Sounds, &c. have been found out by those that have attempted to
find a Passage by the North-West to the _East-Indies_.
Not to insist upon the fabulous Stories of King _Arthur_’s first
conquering _Ireland_, and then Sailing into the Northern Seas, and
subduing _Scantia_, _Iseland_, _Groenland_, and (as the Story saith)
many other Islands beyond _Norway_ even under the _Pole_, or of
_Malgo_’s subduing _Ireland_, _Iseland_, the _Orcades_ and _Norway_, or
_Octher_’s Reports to King _Alfred_ of his Voyages to the North-East
parts beyond _Norway_, or the Voyages of the two famous _Venetian_
Brethren, _Nicolo_ and _Antonio Zeni_, or of _Marcus Paulus Venetus_,
_Odoricus_ and _Vertomannus_; the first _English_-man we hear of, that
made an Expedition into those Northern Seas, was Sir _Hugh Willoughby_,
before taken notice of for the Discovery of _King James’s Newland_ and
_Willoughby-Island_, in the Year of our Lord 1553.
_Stephen Burroughs_ (as hath been intimated) discover’d amongst other
Places, about the Year 1556. the _Straight_ of _Vaigats_.
[Sidenote: _Queen Elizabeths Foreland._]
[Sidenote: _Forbisher’s Straight._]
In the Year 1576. Sir _Martin Forbisher_ setting forth with two Barques,
after he had been out about five Weeks, had sight of a High-land, which
he nam’d _Queen Elizabeths Foreland_: Thence Sailing more Northerly to
the heighth of about sixty two Degrees, he descry’d a great Sea or
Inlet, which he entred, and thence it took the Appellation of
_Forbisher’s Straight_. About two years after proceeding to a farther
discovery of it, he entred a good way into it, and took possession of
the utmost Place he went to for Queen _Elizabeth_, who thereupon gave it
the Name of _Meta Incognita_.
_Anno 1580._ _Arthur Pett_ and _Charles Jackman_ were sent out by the
_Russian_ Company, to make a Discovery of the River _Ob_, and passing
the _Straight_ of _Waigats_, took particular observation of the Islands
and Places there, but not being able to pass much farther, by reason of
the Ice, towards the latter end of the year they return’d.
[Sidenote: _Davis’s Straight._]
In prosecution of this Discovery to the North-West, Captain _John Davis_
of _Sandruge_ in _Devonshire_, made three Voyages; his first _Anno
1585._ his second, 1587. in which he met with many strange Adventures;
but the main thing that accru’d from these Voyages, was the finding of a
mighty Through-let between vast and desart Islands, to which his Name
gave the Appellation of _Fretum Davis_, or _Davis’s Straight_.
The next that went upon this Design was Captain _George Weymouth_, who
from the Year 1585 to 1602 made several Expeditions, which produc’d
large Relations of strange Accidents that befell them, but little of
Discovery farther than what had been made before.
[Sidenote: _Cape Christianus._]
Mr. _James Hall_, very noted for his Voyages to _Groenland_, (which
before was by Captain _Davis_ call’d _Desolation_) at his falling in
with that Place nam’d a Head-land from the then King of _Denmark_, _Cape
Christianus_, which some think to be no other than _Cape Farewel_.
_Anno 1606._ Mr. _John Knight_ was set out by the King of _Denmark_, of
the Passages of whole Voyage little or nothing memorable is recorded.
[Sidenote: _Hudson’s Straight and Bay._]
The next and most famous Attempter in the discovery of the _North-West
Passage_, was _Henry Hudson_, who is said to have discover’d farther
Northward to the _Pole_ than any before him. From the Year 1607 to 1610
he made several Voyages, being set out by Sir _Thomas Smith_, Sir
_Dudley Diggs_, and Mr. _John Wostenholm_, with others that were his
great Friends, and Advancers of such publick Designs. In his last Voyage
the Isles of _Gods Mercy_, _Prince Henry’s Foreland_, _King James’s
Cape_, _Queen Annes Cape_, _Diggs’s Island_, _Cape Wostenholm_, _The
King’s Foreland_, _Mount Charles_, _Cape Salisbury_, &c. were first
taken notice of and nam’d, and, which were his principal Discoveries,
and therefore worthily retaining his Name, _Hudson’s Straight and Bay_;
but in his return homeward he was set upon in his Cabbin by one _Green_,
_Wilson_, and others of their Conspiracy, and together with his Son
_John Hudson_, _Tho. Widdows_, _Arn. Ludlow_, _Sidrach Faner_, and two
or three more, was put over into a small Shallop, in which they were
forc’d to seek their Fortune, and in all likelihood perish’d, for they
were never heard of after. Not long after _Green_ going on Shore upon a
strange Island, was shot from an Ambuscade of Salvages into the Heart;
the like End had _Wilson_, and three more of the Conspirators dy’d of
their mortal Wounds, the rest with much ado got home in a very sick and
weak Condition, through the Hardships they had sustain’d, and want of
Provisions.
There was also another _Hudson_, who _Anno 1608._ went to the heighth of
eighty one Degrees, and gave Names to certain Places, which continue to
this day, as _Whale-Bay_, _Hackluit’s Headland_, and _Hudson’s Touches_.
[Sidenote: _Button’s Bay._]
By the Assistance of Prince _Henry_, and those other Noble Persons above
mention’d, Captain _Thomas Button_ set out in the Year 1612. and is said
to have pass’d _Hudson’s Straight_, and leaving _Hudson’s Bay_ to the
South, to have Sail’d two hundred Leagues South-Westward over a Sea
above eighty Fathoms deep, which at length he discover’d to be another
great Bay, since call’d _Button’s Bay_; He is said also to have
discover’d a great Continent, which he call’d _New Wales_.
[Sidenote: _Baffin’s Bay._]
Several other Voyagers there were in this great Attempt of the
_North-West Passage_, as Captain _Gibbons_, _Robert Bylot_, _William
Baffins_, and Captain _William Hawkridge_, who though they all came
short of the main Enterprize, yet every one found out some new Cape,
Bay, or Promontory, or open’d a farther Passage than had been before, as
_Bylot_ made known _Cape Comfort_; _Baffin_, the Inlet call’d from him
_Baffins Bay_, as also Sir _James Lancaster’s Sound_; _Hawkridge_, a
farther Passage into _Lumly_’s Inlet.
From the Year 1616. to 1631. the Business slept, and then a Voyage was
undertaken by Captain _Luke Fox_, who at his Return gave very good hopes
and encouragement, that the Work, so long in prosecution, was not
impossible to be effected; nevertheless, by reason of the late
troublesom Times it was again wholly laid aside for almost forty years;
but in the Year 1668. several Persons of Honor undertook to revive the
Work, and so that purpose furnish’d out two Ships, which set forth in
_June_, and return’d about the beginning of _October_ the Year
following, giving so satisfactory an Account of their Voyage, that in
the Year 1670. the same Adventurers thought fit to send out two Ships
more, so furnish’d, as to endure a Wintering there, which they did, with
greater hopes than ever of finding out the _North-West Passage_, besides
a handsom Cargo of rich Furrs, which made it more than a saving Voyage;
so that ’tis suppos’d this will not be the last Attempt, but that
another will suddenly follow. And it may well be observ’d, that nothing
considerable hath been done, in this grand Enterprize, but by the
_English_.
_A brief View of what Places are posses’d at this day in the_
West-Indies
_by the_ English, Spaniards, French, Portuguese, _and_ Dutch.
The _English_ possess in _Northern America_, _New England_, the Bay of
_Trinity_, _Chincet_, and a part of _Terra Nova_, or _New-found Land_;
_Virginia_, part of _Florida_, now call’d _Carolina_, the _Bermudas_, or
_Summer-Islands_, _New Holland_, which they took from the _Dutch_ An.
1664. with _New Amsterdam_ and _Fort Orange_; _Terra Mariæ_, or
_Mary-Land_, part of the Isles call’d _Lucaies_; among the _Antillæ_ or
_Caribbee-Islands_, _Barbados_, _Anguilla_, part of _St. Christophers_,
_Montserrat_, _Nieves_ or _Mevis_, _Antego_, _Dominico_, and _St.
Vincent_; the Isle of _St. Catherine_, otherwise call’d _Providence_,
_Jamaica_, the Isles of _Curacao_ and _Trinity_, several Colonies at
_Surinam_ and _Sinamari_, with several Forts upon the Coast of _Guiana_;
and lastly, the Haven _Porto Bello_, once the _Spaniards_.
The _Spaniards_ possess the greatest and best part of _America_, wherein
they have a vast number of very considerable Towns. In _Northern
America_ they have 1. _New Spain_, in which are the _Audiences_ of
_Mexico_, _Guadalajara_, and _Guatimala_. 2. The Islands _Cuba_ and
_Hispaniola_ (excepting some parts towards the West, which are in
possession of the _French_), _Boriquen_, &c. also _St. Augustine_ and
_St. Matthew_ in _Florida_, and a part of _New Mexico_. In _Southern
America_, _Castilla d’ Oro_ or _Golden Castile_, otherwise call’d _Terra
Firma_, in which are the _Audiences_ of _Panama_, and the new Realm of
_Granada_; next _Peru_, in which are the _Audiences_ of _Quito_, _Lima_,
and _La Plata_; lastly, _Chili_ and _Paraguay_, which comprehends the
Countreys of _Tucuman_ and _La Plata_.
The _French_ have in _Canada_, or _Nova Francia_, _Montreal_, the Rivers
_Quebeck_, _Tadousack_, and some Places upon the great River of _St.
Lawrence_; also _Accadie_, or _Nova Scotia_, the Isle of _Cape Breton_,
with the Fort _St. Peter_, from whence they Traffick to _Nepigiquit_,
with the Salvages of that Coast; part of the Isle of _Terre-Neuve_,
_Pemptagoet_, _St. Jean_, _Port-Royal_, and other Fortresses. Among the
_Caribbee-Islands_, part of _St. Christophers_, _St. Bartholomew_, _St.
Crux_, _St. Martin_, _Guadalupe_, _Deseado_, _Marigalante_, _Todos los
Sanctos_, _Martinico_, _St. Alousie_ and _Granada_; likewise some
Colonies on the West of _Hispaniola_. Upon the Continent of _Southern
America_, on the Coast of _Guiana_, the Isle _Cayene_, where stands the
Fort of _St. Michael de Ceperoux_, now _Fort Louis_; also the Colonies
of _Mathouri_ and _Armire_, _Courrou_, _Coonama_ and _Comaribo_.
The _Portuguese_ possess all the Coast of _Brasile_ in _Southern
America_, with several _Capitania_’s or _Præfectures_ thereof.
The _Dutch_ have onely the Isles of _St. Eustace_ and _Saba_, the Town
of _Coro_ in _Terra Firma_, the Colonies _Boron_, _Esquib_, _Berebie_,
_Aperwaque_, and others, on the Coast of _Guiana_.
_FINIS._
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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Added closing quotes to all quoted passages.
2. The Section numbering was irregular. Corrected the numbers which
were obvious. Appended an "a" to the second of a duplicate. There
were no section ones. And a few items did not get section numbers.
3. There seemed to be no clear distinction between why some topics were
Chapters and others just sections Sections.
4. P. 15, changed “In v.ta Heliogabali” to “In vita Heliogabali”.
5. P. 35, changed “Consutius” to “Confutius”.
6. P. 74, changed “Aso” to “Also”.
7. P. 123, changed “Chineses” to “Chileses”.
8. P. 230, changed “and the rather” to “and he rather”.
9. P. 396, changed “next it” to “next to it”.
10. P. 611, changed “Year 1231.” to “Year 1531.”
11. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
12. Retained anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as
printed.
13. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
14. Superscripts are denoted by a caret before a single superscript
character or a series of superscripted characters enclosed in
curly braces, e.g. M^r. or M^{ister}.