THE STRANGE AND DANGEROUS VOYAGE OF Captain THOMAS JAMES, in his intended Discovery of the Northwest Passage into the South Sea. WHEREIN THE misery's ENDURED BOTH Going, Wintering, Returning; and the Rarities observed, both Philosophical and Mathematical, are related in this journal of it. Published by His MAJESTY'S command. To which are added, A Plate or Card for the Sailing in those Seas. divers little Tables of the Author's, of the Variation of the Compass, etc. WITH An Appendix concerning Longitude, by Master HENRY GELLIBRAND Astronomy Reader of Gresham College in London. AND An Advise concerning the Philosophy of these late Discoveries, By W. W. LONDON, Printed by john Legatt, for john Partridge. 1633. TO THE KING'S MOST excellent and Sacred MAJESTY. Most dread Sovereign, THAT my unskilful self was made choice of for this employment, and my undertaking in it encouraged by Your gracious commandment; I must ever account of for the greatest honour, that ever yet befell me. Many a Storm, and Rock, and Mist, and Wind, and Tide, and Sea, and Mount of Ice, have I in this Discovery encountered withal; Many a despair and death had, almost, overwhelmed me; but still the remembrance of the Account that I was to give of it to so gracious a Majesty, put me in heart again; made me not to give way to mine own fears, or the infirmities of humanity. Your Majesty in my employment (like a true Father of your Country) intended the good of your Subjects: and who is not bound to bless God for your Royal care in it? Had it, now, been my fortune, to have done my Country this service, as to have brought home the news of this supposed and long sought for Passage; then should the Merchant have enjoyed the sweetness of the hoped profit, and the Subject have been sensible of the benefit of your Majesty's royal intentions in it. I have done my good will in it: and though not brought home that news, yet shall I here divulge those observations; which may (I hope) become some way beneficial unto my Country. The Account of them, I here, in all humility, offer unto your most judicious Majesty. Your gracious acceptance of what I had done, though I had not done what was expected, emboldeneth me to do so: and since your Majesty was pleased to signify your desires, of having a Brief of my Voyage presented unto you: that word became a Command unto me, to draw this rude Abstract of it. Your Majesty will please to consider, That they were rough elements, which I had to do withal: and will, with favour, vouchsafe to pardon, if a Seaman's style be like what he most converseth with. In the plainness therefore of well-meaning, since your Majesty hath been so gracious to me, as to appoint me your Servant, I am now bound to vow you my service: and it shall be my honour to be commanded it: and I shall account no dangers too great, in the going thorough it. These are the resolutions of Your Majesty's humblest Subject and Servant, THOMAS JAMES. To my worthy friend and fellow-Templar Captain JAMES. I Have perused your journal. To commend it, were to dispraise it; Good wine needs no Ensign: Mos est faeda coloribus abdere: yet this I must needs say, you have showed yourself to be a Master of your Art. The * Miles in acle probatur Gubernator in tempestate dignoscitur. worth of a Warrior and Pilot is never discovered but in storms and skirmishes, and how many skirmishes of storms and tempests you have past, this journal of yours doth sufficiently manifest: Go on then, and as you have begun well, so when any good occasion is offered, second your good beginnings with suitable proceedings: and let not the cold entertainment you have had in the frozen Seas frieze up your affections in undertaking other worthy employments. So may you deserve, with Columbus, Drake, and Frobusher, to have the remembrance of you smell sweetly in the nostrils of posterity, when you are in the dust. Farewell, From the Inner Temple, THOMAS NASH. THe Printer desires to be excused to the Courteous Reader, if in an Argument of this Nature, the Compositer, not throughly acquainted with terms of Navigation, hath sometimes, which he feareth, and in some words mistaken the Author's mind; as in flowed for stood etc. promising a future amends (if Occasion proffer itself) by a more exact Impression. Farewell. THE PREPARATIONS TO THE VOYAGE. Having been for many years importuned, by my Honourable and worshipful friends; to undertake the discovery of that part of the world, which is commonly called The Northwest Passage into the South Sea; and so to proceed to japan, and to round the world to the Westward; Being pressed forward withal, by signifying to me the earnest desire the Kings most excellent Majesty had, to be satisfied therein: I acquainted my much Honoured friends the Merchants of Bristol therewith: who as ever they have been Benefactors and Aduancers of them that pursue the ways of Honour: together with the enlargement and benefit of his Majesty's Kingdoms: did freely offer to be at the charge of furnishing forth shipping for this purpose. And now being thus enabled, I addressed myself to the Honourable Sir Thomas Roe, Knight (as to a learned, and furthest employed traveller by Sea and Land, this day in England) who joyfully presented theirs and mine own voluntary willingness, to do his Majesty's Service in this kind: who most graciously accepted of the offer; and encouraged me by many favours in my weak undertake. Wherefore with all speed I contrived in my mind, the best model I could; whereby I might effect my design. The Adventurers moneys were instantly ready, and put into a Treasurer's hand: that there might be no want of present pay, for any thing I thought necessary for the Voyage. I was ever of the opinion, that this particular action might be better effected by one ship, then by two consorted: because in those Icy Seas, so much subject to fogs, they might be easily separated; I forbear to speak of storms and other accidents: as that a Rendezvous in discoveries, cannot surely, or without much hindrance be appointed: and that speedy perseverance is the life of such a business. Wherefore I resolved to have but one Ship, the Shipboate, and a Shallop. A great Ship (as by former experience I had found) was unfit to be forced thorough the Ice: wherefore I made choice of a well-conditioned, strong Ship, of the burden of seventy Tun: and in God and that only Ship, to put the hope of my future fortunes. The Ship resolved upon, and that in less time than 18. months our voyage could not be effected: I next considered how our Ship of seventy Tuns in bulk and weight might now be proportioned; in victuals, namely, and other necessaries: this was all done, as contractedly as we could: and the number of men it would serve, at ordinary allowance, for the forementioned time; was found to be twenty two, a small number to perform such a business, yet double sufficient to sail the Ship, with provident carefulness. The Baker, Brewer, Butcher, and others, undertake their Offices upon their credits; knowing it to be a general business, and their utter undoing if they failed in performance, but truly they proved themselves Masters in their Arts; and have my praise for their honest care: in them consisting a great part of the performance of the voyage. The Carpenters go in hand with the Ship: to make her as strong and serviceable, as possibly in their understandings they could. Every thing being duly proportioned, and my small number of men known; I began to think of the quality and ability they should be of. Voluntary loiterers I at first disclaimed, and published I would have all unmarried, approved, able, and healthy Seamen: in a few days an abundant number presented themselves; furnished with general sufficiency in marine occasions; I first made choice of a Boateswayne; and some to work with him, for fitting the rigging of the Ship: and as things went forward, shipped the subordinate Crew; and all things being perfectly ready, I shipped the Master's mates, and last of all, the Master of my Ship, and my Lieutenant. The whole company were strangers to me, and to each other (as by way of familiarity) but yet privately recommended by worthy Merchants, for their ability and faithfulness. I was sought to by diverse, that had been in places of the chiefest command in this action formerly; and others also that had used the Northerly Icy Seas: but I utterly refused them all, and would by no means have any with me that had been in the like voyage, or adventures, for some private reasons unnecessary here to be related; keeping thus the power in my own hands I had all the men to acknowledge immediate dependence upon myself alone; both for direction and disposing of all, as well of the Navigation, as all other things whatsoever. In the mean time, the better to strengthen my former studies in this business, I seek after journals, Plots, Discourses; or whatever else might help my understanding. I set skilful workmen to make me Quadrants, Staffs, Semicircles, etc. as much, namely, as concern the Fabric of them: not trusting to their Mechannicke hands, to divide them; but had them divided by an ingenious practitioner in the Mathematics. I likewise had Compasse-needles made after the most reasonablest and truest ways that could be thought on: and by the first of April, every thing was ready to be put together into our hopeful Ship. In the mean space, I made a journey up to London, to know his Majesty's further pleasure; and to make known to him my readiness: who calling for the forementioned Honourable Knight, I speedily after received his Majesty's Royal Letters; with directions for proceeding in my voyage, and my discharge: whereupon I had forth the Ship into the Road, expecting a fair wind to begin the voyage. A Voyage for the discovering a Passage to the South Sea. THE second of May, May 2. 1631. I took my leave of the Worshipful Merchant Adventurers in this Action, in the City of Bristol: and being accompanied with a Reverend Divine, one Master Thomas Palmer, and diverse of the Merchants, with others of my kindred and native Countrymen; I repaired aboard. Here Master Palmer made a Sermon: exhorting us to continue brotherly love amongst us, and to be bold to profess the true Christian Religion wherever we should happen, in this our peregrination. After they had received such entertainment, as my estate could afford them; they departed for Bristol. This afternoon, I made review of all things; aswell of clothes, and other necessaries, as of victuals; and where there was found any want, we were presently furnished. The third of May (after Prayer for a prosperous success to our endeavours) 3. about three a clock in the afternoon we came to Sail: and Stood down the Channel of Severne, with little wind, but slowly got forward to the Westward of Lundie; and then the wind opposed itself so strongly against us, that we were driven to bear up and come to an Anchor in Lundie-Rode the fifth in the evening; where we remained until the eighth in the morning. Now hoping the wind would favour us, we came to Sail; but we were forced to put into Milford: where we came to an Anchor about midnight. Here we remained till the seventeenth in the morning; when with the first favouring wind, we proceeded and doubled about Cape Clear of Ireland. May 22. The two and twentieth we were in Latitude 51: 26. and the Blaskes did bear of us North-east, about twelve leagues off: which Blaskes is in Lat. 52. 4. Here I ordered the course that should be kept: which was generally West Northwest, as the wind would give leave: which in this Course and distance, is very variable and unconstant. june 4. The fourth of june we made the land of Groynland: standing in with it to have knowledge of the trending of it; It proved very thick foul weather; and the next day, 5. by two a clock in the morning, we found ourselves encompassed about with Ice: and endeavouring to clear ourselves of it (by reason we could not see far about us) we were the more engaged, and struck many fearful blows against it: At length we made fast to a great piece, (it blowing a very storm) and with poles wrought day and night to keep off the Ice; in which labour we broke all our poles. 6. The sixth, about two a clock in the morning, we were beset with many extraordinary great pieces of Ice, that came upon us, as it were with wilful violence: and doubtless had crushed us to pieces, if we had not let fall some Sail which the Ship presently felt. In scaping that danger, we ran against another great piece, that we doubted whether our Ship had not been staved to pieces. But pumping, we found she made no water. The former pieces of Ice, had crushed our Shallop all to pieces; wherefore I caused our long Boat speedily to be had up from betwixt the Decks, and put over Board: by help whereof we again recovered our broken Shallop; and had her up on the Decks, intending to new build her. All this day, we did beat, and were beaten fearfully, amongst the Ice; it blowing a very storm. In the evening, we were enclosed amongst great pieces; as high as our Poop: and some of the sharp blue corners of them, did reach quite under us. All these great pieces (by reason it was the outside of the Ice) did heave and set, and so beat us; that it was wonderful how the Ship could endure one blow of it; but it was Gods only preservation of us, to whom be all honour and glory. In this extremity, I made the men to let fall, and make what Sail they could; and the Ship forced herself thorough it: though so tossed and beaten, as I think never Ship was. When we were clear, we said the pumps, and found her staunch: upon which we went instantly to prayer, and to praise God for his merciful delivery of us. The seventh and eighth days, 7. & 8. we endeavoured to double about Cape Farewell; being still pestered with much Ice. The ninth, 9 we were in Lat. 59 00. and we made account the Cape Farewell bare of us due East, and some ten leagues off. The Blaskes in Ireland, is in Lat. 52. 4. and Cape Farewell in Lat. 59 00. The course is West Northwest: and the distance about 410. leagues: I know very well these Latitudes, courses and distance, do not exactly agree with Mathematical conclusions: but thus we found it by practice. The variation of the Compass in Lat. 52. 30. and 30. leagues to the Westward of Ireland, is about 3. 00. to the Eastward; in Lat. 57 00. about 310. leagues, West Northwest, from the Blaskes, the Compass doth vary 9 00. to the Westward: in Lat. 59 15. some 40 leagues to the Eastward, of Cape Farewell, the variation is about 14. 45. In this course I have been observant whether there were any Currant that did set to the N. E. as some have written there did, and that as well in Calm weather, as otherways: But I could not perceive any. The winds here are variable; and the Sea of an unsearchable depth. We have not seen from Ireland hitherto, any Whales or other Fish; The weather, for the most part, was foggy and misty, that wets as bad as rain. The tenth, 10. all the morning, was very foul weather: and a high-growne Sea: although we had Ice not far off about us, and some pieces, as high as our Top-mast-head. Our long Boat, which we were fain to Tow at Stern (by reason we were building our Shallop on our Decks) broke away, and put us to some trouble to recover her again. This we did, and made means to have her into the Ship, though very much bruised: and that I had two men sore hurt, and like to be lost in the having of her in. By eight a clock this evening, we were shot up as high as Cape Desolation: for finding here the Land to trend away North and by East, we certainly knew it to be the Cape. It stands in Lat. 60. 00. and the Land from Cape Farewell to it, trends N. W. the distance about 40. leagues. The distance from Cape Desolation, to the South end of the Island of Resolution, is about 140. leagues: the course West, half a point North. The Lat. of the South end of the Island, being 61. 20. some 12. leagues to the Westward of Cape Desolation, the variation is 16. 00. In this course, we were much tormented, pestered and beaten with the Ice: many pieces being higher than our Top-mast-head. In our way, we saw many Grampusses amongst the Ice; and it seemeth the Sea is full of them: The weather for the most part, a stinking fog; and the Sea, very black: which I conceive to be occasioned by reason of the fog. The seventeenth at night, 17. we heard the rut of the shore, as we thought: but it proved to be the rut against a bank of Ice, that lay on the shore. It made a hollow and a hideous noise, like an over-fall of water: which made us to reason amongst ourselves concerning it: for we were not able to see about us, it being dark night, and foggy. We stood off from it, till break of day; then in again: and about 4. a clock in the morning we saw the Land above the fog: which we knew to be the Island of Resolution. This last night was so cold, that all our Rigging and sails were frozen. We endeavoured to compass about the Southern point of the Island: for that we were so much pestered with the Ice, and blinded with a very thick fog. Here runs a quick tide into the Strait; but the ebb is as strong as the flood; The fog was of such a piercing nature, that it spoilt all our Compasses, and made them flag; and so heavy withal, that they would not traverse. Wherefore I would advise any, that shall Sail this way hereafter, to provide Compasses of Muscovia Glass, or some other matter, that will endure the moisture of the weather. As the fog cleared up, we could see the entrance of the Strait, to be all full of Ice close thronged together. Endeavouring to go forward, we were fast enclosed amongst it; and so drove to and again with it, finding no ground at 230. fad. 4. leagues from the shore. The twentieth in the morning, we had got about the Southern point of the Island; 20 and the wind came up at West, and drove both us and the Ice upon the shore. When we were driven within two leagues of the shore, we came amongst the most strangest whirlings of the Sea, that possibly can be conceived; There were diverse great pieces of Ice aground in 40. fad. water, and the ebb coming out of the broken grounds of the Island, amongst these Isles of Ice, made such a distraction that we were carried round: sometimes close by the Rocks; sometimes close by those high pieces: that we were afeard they would fall upon us. We were so beaten likewise with the encountering of the Ice, that we were in a most desperate estate: We made fast two great pieces of Ice to our sides, with our Kedger and Grapnels, that drew 9 or 10. fad. that so they might be aground before us, if so be we were driven on the shore. But that design failed us: and now from the top seeing in amongst the Rocks, I sent the Boat (for now we had finished her) to see if she could find some place of security: but she was no sooner parted, but she was enclosed, and driven to hale up on the Ice, or else she had been crushed to pieces. They ran her over the Ice from piece to piece: and in the mean space, with the whirling and encountering of the Ice, the two pieces broke away from our sides, and carried away our Kedger and Grapnels: Then we made signs to the Boat, to make all the haste she could to us: which she perceiving, did: the men being with much difficulty enforced to hale her over many pieces of Ice. In the mean space, we made some Sail; and got to that piece of Ice, that had our Grapnel on it: which we again recovered. By this time, was our Boat come; and We put afresh Crew into her, and sent her to fetch our Kedger: which she endeavoured with much danger of Beat and Men. By this time, the Ship was driven so near the shore, that we could see the Rocks under us and about us: and we should be carried with the whirlings of the waters, close by the points of Rocks, and then round about back again: and all this, notwithstanding the Sail we had abroad; that we expected continually when she would be beaten to pieces. In this extremity, I made them to open more Sail, and to force her in amongst the Rocks and broken grounds: and where there was many great pieces of Ice aground. We went over Rocks, that had but 12. or 13. foot water on them; and so let fall an Anchor. This Anchor had never been able to wind up the Ship, but that, (by good fortune) the Ship ran against a great piece of Ice, that was aground. This rush, broke the Main knee of her Beak head, and a corner of it: tore away 4. of our main Shrouds, and an Anchor that we had at the Bow, fastened into it: and so stopped her way, that she did wind up to her Anchor. We saw the sharp Rocks under us, and about us; and had but 15. foot water: being also in the sides way, where all the Ice would drive upon us: Our Boat we could not see; which made us doubt she had been crushed to pieces. In her, was the third part of our company: but by and by we saw her come about a point amongst the Rocks. She had recovered our Kedger; which made us something joyful; With all speed we laid out Hawsers to the Rocks; and every one did work to the best of his strength, to Warp her out of this dangerous place, to the Rocks sides: where we had 3. fad. water, and were under the shelter of a great piece of Ice that was aground, which should keep off the Ice, that otherwise would have driven upon us. Here we lay very well all the ebb; but when the stood came, we were assaulted with pieces of Ice, that every half hour put us into despayrable distress. We did work continually, and extremely, to keep off the Ice. At full Sea, our great piece of Ice (which was our buckler) was afloat; and do what we could, got away from us, and left us in a most eminent danger, by reason of the Ice that drove in upon us. But the ebb being once made, this great piece of Ice came again aground very favourable to us; and sheltered us all the rest of the, ebb. All night we wrought hard, to shift our Cables and Hawsers; and to make them fast aloft on the Rocks, that the Ice might the better pass under them. All day, and all night, it snowed hard; and blew a very storm at West; which drove in all the Ice out of the Sea upon us. In working against the violence of the Ice, the flooke of our Kedger was broken; two arms of our Grapnels, and two Hawsers, our Shallop being again very much bruised: whereupon to work we go on all hands to repair it. This tide, 21 the Harbour was choked full of Ice; so that it did seem firm and unmovable: but when the ebb was made, it did move. Some great pieces came aground; which did alter the course of the other Ice, and put us on the Rocks. Here, notwithstanding all our uttermost endeavours, she settled upon a sharp Rock; about a yard above the Main Mast; and as the water ebbed away, she hung after the Head, and heeled to the Offing. We made Cables and Hawsers aloft to her Masts, and so to the Rocks; straining them tough with our Tackles: but she as the water ebbed away, sunk still; that at length she was so turned over, that we could not stand in her. Having now done all to the best of our understandings (but to little purpose) we went all upon a piece of Ice and fell to prayer; beseeching God to be merciful unto us. It wanted yet an hour to low-water: and the tide did want a foot and a half to ebb, to what it had ebbed the last tide. We were careful observers of the low-waters, and had marks by stones and other things which we had set up, so that we could not be deceived. The Ship was so turned over, that the Portlesse of the Forecastle, was in the water: and we did look every minute, when she would overset. Indeed at one time, the Cables gave way; and she sunk down half a foot at that slip: but unexpectedly it began to flow, and sensibly we perceived the water to rise apace; and the Ship withal. Then was our sorrow turned to joy, and we all fell on our knees, praising God for his mercy, in so miraculous a deliverance. As soon as she was freed from this Rock, we wrought hard to get her further off. All the flood, we were pretty quiet from the Ice: but when the ebb was made, the Ice came all driving again upon us; which put us to a great extremity. We got as many pieces betwixt us and the Rocks, as we could; to fence us from the Rocks. There came a great piece upon our quarter, which was above 300. of my paces about, but it came aground. Thus did diverse great pieces beside; which was the occasion, that this tide the Harbour was quite choked up: so that a man might go any way over it, from side to side. When it was three quarters ebb, these great pieces that came aground, began to break with a most terrible thundering noise: which put us in a great fear, that those about us would break us all to pieces. But God preserved us. This morning the water veered to a lower ebb than the last tide it had done, 22. by two foot; whereby we saw God's mercies apparent in our late extremity. That flood, we had some respite from our labours; but after full sea, our hopes ebbed too. The great piece that was by us, so stopped the Channel, that the Ice came all driving upon us; so that now, undoubtedly we thought we should have lost our Ship. To work thereupon we go, with axes, bars of iron, and any thing proper for such a purpose; to break the corners of the Ice, and to make way for it to drive away from us. It pleased God to give good success to our labours; and we made way for some, and fended off the rest; and got so much of the softer sort of the Ice betwixt us and the Rocks, that we were in pretty security. But at low-water, those pieces that were aground, breaking; kept a most thundering noise about us. This day I went ashore; and built a great Beacon with stones upon the highest place of the Island; and put a Cross upon it; and named this Harbour, The Harbour of God's Providence. In the Evening, the Harbour was fuller of the Ice, than ever it had been since we came hither: and the greater pieces grounded, and stopped the rest, that none went out the ebb, but the Ship lay, as if she had lain in a bed of Ice. The three and twentieth day in the morning, 23. with the flood, the Ice drove up amongst the broken grounds; and with the ebb, drove all out (it being then very calm) except one extraordinary great piece: which coming aground not far from us, settled itself in such a manner, that we much feared him. But there came no more great Ice after him: otherwise, we must have expected as great danger, as at any time heretofore. I took the boat, and went ashore upon the Eastern side; to see if I could find any place freer from danger then this unfortunate place: where amongst the Rocks, I descried a likely place. From the top of the Hill where I was, I could see the Ship. It was now almost low water: at which instant the forementioned piece of Ice broke with a terrible noise into four pieces: which made me doubtful it had not spoilt the Ship; it being full half mast high. I made what haste I could to the boat, and so to the Ship, to be satisfied: where I found all well, God be thanked: for that the Ice had broken from the Ship-ward. I instantly sent away the boat, to sound the way to a Cove that I had found: which was a very dangerous passage for the boat. At her return, we un-moord the Ship: and with what speed possible warped away from amongst this terrible Ice. We were not a mile from them, but they broke all to pieces: and would surely have made us bear them company, but that God was more merciful unto us. We got about the Rocks, and so into this little Cove which I had so newly discovered. Here we made fast to the Rocks; and thought ourselves in indifferent safety: which being done, I went ashore again, to wander up and down, to see what I could discover. I found it all broken Rocky grounds: and not so much as a tree, herb, or grass upon it: Some Ponds of water there were in it, which were not yet thawed, and therefore not ready for the fowl; We found not in the snow any footing of Deer, or Bears, but Foxes we saw one or two. We found where the Saluages had been; but it was long since. They had made five hearths; and we found a few firebrands about them; and some heads of Foxes, and bones of Foxes; with some Whalebones. I could not conceive, to what purpose they should come thither; for we could find none or very little wood on the shores side, and no fish at all; though we did daily endeavour to take some. But it may be, the season was not yet come. I named this Cove by the Master's name of my Ship, Prices Cove. The Latitude of it is 61. 24. the Variation. The firebrands and chips which I spoke of, had been cut with some hatchet or other good instrument of iron: from the top of the hills, we could see the Lands that are on the South shore; and commonly called Sir Thomas Buttons Isles: They did bear South and by East, half a point Easterly: some 14. or 15 leagues distant upon the change day, it flows here seven a clock and a half; and the tide highest at most three fad. The flood comes from the Eastwards, and thither it returns. I have been observant from the top of the hills; whence I might descry the great pieces of Ice, 2. or 3. leagues from the shore, drive to and again with the flood and ebb indifferently. Hence I collected that assuredly there is no currant sets in here, but that it is a mere tide. near the shore, the eddies whitle into twenty manners; when the ebb is made: which is, because it comes out of the broken ground amongst the Ice that is aground near the shore: Besides which reason, there be diverse Rocks lying under water; on which you shall have now 30. then 12. and anon but 8. and then 20. fad. And these uncertainties, occasion such distractions. I would therefore advise none to come too near those dangerous shores, for fear he lose his ship, and so by consequence all: The last night, we took better rest than we had done in ten nights before. And this morning being the 24. 24. there sprung up a fair gale of wind at East: and after prayer we unfastened our Ship, and came to sail, steering betwixt great pieces of Ice, that were aground in 40. fad. and twice as high as our topmast head. We went forth of this Cove, upon the flood, and had none of those whirlings of the waters, as we had at our going into it. We endeavoured to gain the North shore; kept ourselves within a league of the shore of the Island of Resolution, where we had some clear water to sail thorough. In the Offing, it was all thick thronged together, as might be possible. By 12. a clock, we were fast enclosed, and notwithstanding it blew very hard at East, yet we could make no way through it: but the hard corners of the Ice did grate us with that violence, as I verily thought it would have grated the planks from the Ships sides. Thus we continued in torment, till the day, driving to and again in the Ice; not being able to see an acre of sea from topmast head. This 26. 26. was calm Sunshine weather; and we took the Latitude & Variation. The Latitude is, the Variation we sounded, and had ground at 140. fad. small white sand. I caused the men to lay out some fishing lines; but to no purpose: for I could not perceive that bait had been so much as touched. The nights are very cold: so that our rigging freezes: and the fresh ponds of water stand upon the Ice, above half an inch thick. The 27. 27. there sprung up a little gale at Southeast: and the Ice did something open. Hereupon we let fall our foresail, and forced the Ship thorough the throng of Ice. In the Evening, the wind came contrary, at W. N. W. and blew hard: which caused us to fasten to a great piece, to which we remained moored till the 29. I am resolved, 28. that here is no currant: and that by many experiments which I have made. Namely, by taking marks on the land; and noting our drift to and again, with the ebb and flood, for many days together; as well in calm weather, as otherways. By all these experiments I found exactly, that the tide was no stronger there, then that betwixt England and France. This morning, 29. there sprung up a fine gale at E. and the Ice did open something, so that we did force the Ship thorough it with her foresail. By 12. a clock, we were gotten into some open water, with a fine gale of wind at East, and so clear weather, that we could see the Island of Resolution. The North end did bear of us E. N. E. some 12. leagues off. From this 29. till the 5. of july, july 5. we sailed continually thorough the Ice, with variable winds and fogs, and sometimes calm. The 5. at noon, we had a good observation, and were in Latitude 63. 15. and then we saw Salisbury Island, bearing W. by N. some 7. leagues off: with much Ice betwixt it and us: to weather which, we were driven to stand to the Northward. Soon after, we saw Prince Charles his Cape, and Mill Island: and to the North-north-west, (and in deed, round about us) the Sea most infinitely pestered with Ice. This did grieve me very much: for whereas I had determined to prosecute the discovery to the Northwestward, I saw it was not possible this year. We were moreover driven back again with contrary winds; still closed and pestered with Ice: and with all the perils and dangers, incident to such adventures: so that we thought a thousand times, that the Ship had been beaten to pieces. By the fifteenth day of july, 15. we were got betwixt Digges Island and Nottinghams' Island: not being able to get more Northward. There for an hour or two, we had some open water. But before I proceed further, it were not amiss in some manner to describe the Strait, which begins at the Island of Resolution, and ends here at Digges Island. If you go down into the Bay, the Strait is about 120. leagues long; and trends W. N. W. and E. S. E. generally. In the entrance, it is about 15. leagues broad; and then on the Southward side, is a great Bay. About the midst, it is likewise about 15. leagues broad: and then the Land opens something wider: so that betwixt Digges Island, and Cape Charles, it is about 20. leagues broad. Betwixt which two stands Salisbury Island, and Nottingham Island. If it be clear weather, you may see both the South and the North shores: ordinarily, the depth in the middle of the Strait, is 120. faddomes, white sand. A certain tide runs in it, and no Current: The North shore, is the straightest, and the clearest from Ice too. Alongst the North shore, you have many low small Lands: which cannot be seen far off from the land: and in many places, the land makes as if it had small sounds into it. The Main land on both sides, is indifferent high land. And so much for discourse may suffice: referring you to the Plot for the particulars. Being now resolved of the impossibility to do any thing to the Northwestward, 16. for the reasons aforesaid: I gave order to the Master of my Ship to Steer away, W. S. W. to have a sight of Mansfeilds' Island; which the next day by three a clock in the afternoon, we had: having had so much dangerous foul weather amongst the Ice, that we struck more fearful blows against it, than we had ever yet done. This was the first day that we went to half allowance of bread Flesh days: and I ordered things as sparingly as I could. Two of our men complain likewise of sickness; but soon afterward recovered. In the evening we came to an Anchor: and I sent the Boat ashore to try the tides. They brought me word, that whilst the Boat was ashore, it flowed about some three foot: and as we found by the Ship, and by the Ice; the water at that time came from the W. S. W. and that the highest tides (so far as they could perceive) it had not highed above two fathom: They found that the Saluages had been upon it; by certain fires which they found, and heaps of stones, Tracks of other beasts, but Foxes they could not find. The wind was so contrary, and the weather so foggy; that we were fain to spend some powder to recover our Boat again. Next morning being the 17. 17. the wind came something favourable: and we weighed. The shore being something clear of Ice (though very thick all to the Offing) we stood alongst it S. and S. by W. some 10. leagues. In the afternoon, the wind came contrary: and we came again to an Anchor, within a mile of the shore: for to Sea-boord, was all thick Ice, and unpassable. I went ashore myself, to be resolved of the tide, and found whilst I was a shore, that it did flow two foot: and at that time the flood came from the S. W. by W. I doubted it was an half tide; which afterwards I found to be true. I found where the Saluages had been upon the Island; but could see little or no drift wood on the shore; no beasts on the Island, nor fishes in the Sea. It flows on the change day, about a eleven a clock. We saw some fowl on it: of which we killed one, and returned aboard. This Island is very low land; little higher than a dry sand-banke. It hath Ponds upon it of fresh water, but no grass: and is utterly barren of all goodness. The 18. in the morning, the wind came something favourable; 18. and we weighed and came to Sail: for the Ice was all comen about us. We endeavoured to proceed to the Westward; intending to fall with the Western land, about the Latitude 63. 00. By twelve a clock, (having been much pestered) we were comen to a firm range of Ice: but it pleased God that the wind larged, and we stowed away S. S. W. At noon in Lat. 62. 00. by 4. in the evening (having scaped dangerous blows) we were come (as we thought) into an open Sea; and joyfully steered away West, and W. by N. although that joy was soon quailed. By ten at night, we heard the rut of the Ice: and it grew a thick fog, and very dark with it: nevertheless we proceeded, and the nearer we came to it, the more hideous noise it made. By three in the morning, the 19 we were come to it, 19 and as it did clear a little, we could see the Ice: which were as thick rands of Ice, as any we had yet seen. These being unpassable, and moreover the wind at N. W. we stowed alongst it, hoping to weather it to the Southward: but at last, we became so blinded with fog, and so encompassed with Ice, that we could go no further. The 20. in the morning (notwithstanding the fog) 20. we endeavoured to get to the Westward; our Ship beating and knocking all this while most fearfully. In this wilfulness we continued till the 21: 21. when being fast amongst the Ice, I observed we were in Lat. 60. 33. and then looking what damage our Ship might have received, we could perceive that below the plate of Iron, which was before her Cut-water, she was all bruised and broken: the two knees she had before, to strengthen her, spoilt and torn: and many other defects, which we could not by any means come to mend. Notwithstanding all this, and the extraordinary thick fog (that we could not see a Pistol shot about us) we proceeded with the hazard of all. Till the 27: 27. which was the frist time we had clear weather to look about us: The wind withal came up at South, and the Ice did open something: so that we made some way thorough it to the Westward. In the evening, we were fast again, and could go no further: the wind veering from the South to the East; and blowing a fresh gale. This occasioned our griefs the more; that with a good wind, we could not go forward: putting therefore a Hawser upon a piece of great Ice, to keep the Ship close to it, we patiently expected for better fortune. Since we came from mansfield's Island, our depth was commonly 110. and 100 fad. oozye ground. Now the water begins to showlde: for this present 27. driving fast to and again in the Ice, we have but 80. fad. ground as before. The 28. and 29. we were so fast enclosed in the Ice, 28. that notwithstanding, we put abroad all the sail that was at yards; and that it blew a very hard gale of wind; the Ship stirred no more than if she had been in a dry Dock. Hereupon we went all boldly out upon the Ice, to sport and recreate ourselves, letting her stand still, under all her Sails. It was flat, extraordinary large Ice: the worst to deal withal, that we had yet found. I measured some pieces: which I found to be 1000 of my paces long. This was the first day that our men began to murmur: thinking it impossible to get either forwards or backwards. Some were of the opinion, that it was all such Ice, betwixt us and the shore. Others, that the Bay was all covered over: and that it was a doubt whether we could get any way, or to any land, to winter in. The nights were long; and every night it did so freeze, that we could not sail amongst the Ice by night, nor in the thick foggy weather. I comforted and encouraged them, the best I could: and to put away these cogitations, we drank a health to his Majesty on the Ice; not one man in the Ship; and she still under all her sails. I most ingeniously confess, that all their murmuring was not without reason; wherefore doubting that we should be frozen up in the Sea: I ordered that fire should be made but once a day, and that but with a certain number of shides, that the Steward should deliver to the Cook by tale, the better to prolong our fuel whatsoever should happen. The 30. 30. we made some way thorough the Ice: we heaving the Ship with our shoulders, and with Mauls and Crows of Iron, breaking the corners of the Ice, to make way. As we got forwards, the water shoalded apace: so that I believe it to be some Island. At noon we observed thorough the fog, with the Quadrant, upon a piece of Ice: and were in Lat. 58. 54. our depth 30. fad. We put out hooks, to try to catch some fish, but to no purpose; for there is not any in this Bay. The 31. 31. we laboured as aforesaid: and got something forward. At noon we were in Lat. 58. 40. our depth 23. fad. It was very thick hazye weather; or else I think we should have seen the land. The first of August, August 1. the wind came up at West; which drove us to the Eastward: where our depth increased to 35. fad. At noon (by observation with the Quadrant, on the Ice) we were in Lat. 58. 45. At six a clock this evening, we might perceive the Ice to heave and set a little: which was occasioned by a swelling Sea, that came out of the South-West. This did comfort us very much: hoping shortly we should get out of the Ice. The second, 2. it did blow hard at South-West, and yet we could not feel the forementioned swelling Sea: which did again quench the hopes we had formerly conceived. The third, 3. we did see a little open water to the Northwestward; and did feel a swelling Sea from the West: which doth assure us, that there is an open Sea to the Westward. The fifth, 5. we saw the Sea clear: but could by no means work ourselves to it with our sails: wherefore about six in the evening, we let fall an Anchor in 50. fad. water; and stood all with poles and oars to fend off the Ice, and let it pass to Leewards. We continued this labour all night. In the morning, 6. the wind came up at North-West, and we weighed with much joy, as hoping now to get into an open Sea to the Southward. This by noon we had done; and were in Lat. 58. 28. very free of Ice. The wind did large upon us: so that we stood away North-West, to get up as high to the Northward as we could: and so to come coasting to the Southward. We went to prayer, and to give God thanks for our delivery out of the Ice. The ninth, 9 (being in Lat. 59 40.) we came again to the Ice, which lie very thick to the North: since we came out of the Ice, our depth increased to 110. and now decreaseth again: So that I think we approached towards the shore. The tenth proved very thick foggy weather; 10. the wind contrary, and the water showlding apace, we came to an Anchor in 22. fad. The eleventh in the morning, 11. we weighed, and made in for the shore; and about noon saw the land: our depth being 16. fad. in Lat. 59 40. The land to the North of us, did trend North by East, and so made a point to the Southward, and trended away West by South, which we followed: making it for that place, which was formerly called Hubberts Hope. And so it proved indeed: but it is now hopeless. Two or three words now, concerning the Bay that we have passed over. It is from Digges Island, to this Wester land (in latitude aforesaid) about 160. leagues, the course West South West, the variation The tides do set in the middle of the Bay, East and West, as we have often tried by our led aground: but nearer the shores, as they are forced by the land; I am of the opinion that in the Ocean, or in large Bays, the tides do naturally set East and West, and that this doth give little hope of a passage. The greatest depth we had in the Bay, was 110. fad. and so shoalding, as you approach to land, we coasted round about this forementioned little Bay; which is some 18. leagues deep in 8. and 6. fad. and in the bottom of it, we were in two fathom and a half water, and saw the firm land, almost round about us. Then we proceeded to the Southward six and seven fathom water; within sight of the breach of the shore: keeping the lead continually going, and in the night we would come to an Anchor. This night being little wind, we came to an Anchor with our Kedger: but in weighing of him, we lost him, having no more aboard us. The 12. 12. we were in Lat. 58. 46. some two leagues from the shore. The variation is about 17. deg. The 13. 13. in the afternoon (it being something hazye) we saw some breaches ahead us: our depth was 9 and 10. fad. and luffing to clear ourselves of them, we suddenly struck upon the Rocks: the Ship then being under our two top-sails, Foresail and Spreetsayle: with a fresh gale of wind. In this fearful accident, we struck all our sails amain; and it did please God to send two or three good swelling Seas, which did heave us over the Rocks, into 3. fad. and presently into three fathom and a half; where we chopped to an Anchor: and said the pumps: but we found she made no water, although she had three such terrible blows, that we thought her Mast would have shivered to pieces, and that she had been assuredly bulged. We hoist the Boat overboard, and double maned her: to go seek and sound a way, out of this perilous place. She was no sooner gone, but there rose a fog; so that we were fain to spend some powder, that she might hear whereabouts we were. The wind dulled something; otherwise, it had been doubtful whither she could ever have recovered to us again. After she had been absent two hours, she brought us word, that it was all Rocks and breaches, round about us: and that withal, she had found a way, where there was not less than two fad. and a half: and that afterwards, the water did deepen. We did presently way, and follow the Boat, and past over two ledges of Rocks, on which there was scarce 14. foot water. Then it did deepen to 3. 4. and so to 14. fad. than it shoulded again to 9 It being now night, we came to an Anchor: where we ride indifferent well all the night. In the morning, the wind came contrary; so that we could not go that way we intended to clear ourselves: and therefore we went to work; to fit our holds, to splise our Cables; and made ready two shot, and so placed them in the Hold, that they might upon all occasions run clear; the ends of them being fastened to the main Mast. We likewise looked to our Ankers, and fitted our spare ones. We got out our long Boat from betwixt the decks; which was very much broken and bruised. The Carpenter went to work to fit her, (for I intended to tow the Shallop at Stern) and so to have the Boats ready at an instant, either to lay out Ankers, or to be serviceable to what God should be pleased to try our faith and patience withal: for in him was our only trust, and our hope upon his favour, in our honest endeavours. At noon, in Lat. 57 45. we could see the land from the N. W. to the S. E. by E. with Rocks and breaches: and the Rocks that we came over, dry above water: whereby I knew it flows here two faddomes at least. At noon, I sent the Boat off to sound to the Eastward: because the water shoulded, when we came to an Anchor. She brought us word, the shouldest water she had been in, was 7. fad. We intending thereupon to way, the wind came Easterly: so that we could not budge: but lay here the 14. all night, 14. with a stiff gale of wind. The 15. in the evening, 15. our Cable galded off: by reason of which perilous and sudden accident, in which we had not time to put a Buoy to it, we lost our Anchor, and were driven into 4. fad. water, before we could set our sails. This when we had done, we stowed South Southeast, the wind being at East, but the water shoulded to 3. fad. Then we stowed North north-east, and it did deepen by degrees to ten fadd. and because it grew dark, we came to an Anchor, and rid a good stress all night. In the morning the 16. 16. the wind came up at North a fresh gale: and we weighed and came to sail. By nine a clock, it grew to be a very storm: and we turned to and again, in 10. fad. water. In the evening, the wind dulled: and we stood South-west, to have a sight of Port Nelson: which course we stood all night, by the Stars, being in Lat. 57 25. the variation, about 17. degrees. The 17. in the morning, 17. we stood South: and our depth decreased by degrees to 8. faddomes. At noon we had good observation: being in Latitude 57 15. and we make account, that we are some 6. or 7. leagues of the Southern side of Port Nelson. Here the colour of the water changed: and was of a puddlelish and sandy red colour. We stood into 6. fad. and could not see the land from Top-mast-head: so night coming on, and it beginning to blow hard at East by South, we stood off again into 10. and 12. faddomes: where the water was again of the colour of the Sea. The 18. as the wind and weather favoured us, 18. and the storm was broken up: we stood in again South, and came again into thick puddlelish water: into 8. 7. and 6. fad. and then off again: for that it grew thick foggy weather: keeping our lead continually going, night and day. The 19 being fine clear Sunshine weather; 19 we stood in again into the thick puddleish water, into 8. fad. where we came to an Anchor, to try the tides: For that from Top-mast-head, we could not now see the land. We were at noon (by good observation) in Latitude 57 20. and the tide did set N. W. by W. and S. E. by E. It did run two knolls and a half in two glasses; I resolved, that this was nothing but shoalds to the land. In the afternoon it began to snuffle and blow; so that we had much ado to get up our Anchor. This being done, we stood East South East: but the water shoalded apace. Then we stood East, and it deepened a little: In the evening, the wind came up at West; and then we stood East Southeast, into 10. and 8. and afterwards Southeast, as our depth did guide us by our lead, and the colour of the water into 7. and 6. faddomes. The 20. 20. at 6. in the morning, we saw the land: it being a very low flat land. We stood into 5. faddomes, to make it the better: and so stood alongst it. At noon we were in lat. 57 00. We named it, The new Principality of South Wales; and drank a health in the best liquor we had to Prince Charles his Highness, whom God preserve. We stood alongst it; and came to a point where it trends to the Southward: near to which point, there are two small Lands. In the evening it was calm, and we came to an Anchor. The tide set as aforesaid. There we rid all that night, and the next day: by reason the wind was contrary. There went a chopping short Sea: and the Ship did labour at it, exceedingly leaping in Spreetsayle yard, Forecastell, and all: for as yet we had not trimmed her well, to ride. About nine at night, it was very dark: and it did blow hard. We did perceive by the lead the Ship did drive, wherefore bringing the Cable to Capstang, to heave in our Cable (for we did think we had lost our Anchor) the Anchor hitcht again, and upon the chopping of a Sea, threw the men from the Capstang. A small rope in the dark, had gotten foul about the Cable, and about the Master's leg too: but with help of God he did clear himself, though not without sore bruising. The two Mates were hurt; the one in the head; the other in the arm. One of our lustiest men, was strooken on the breast with a bar, that he lay sprawling for life: another had his head betwixt the Cable; and hardly escaped. The rest were flung, where they were sore bruised: But our Gunner (an honest and a diligent man) had his leg taken betwixt the Cable and the Capstang: which wrung off his foot, and tore all the flesh off his leg, and crushed the bone to pieces, and sorely withal bruised all his whole body: in which miserable manner he remained crying till we had recovered ourselves, our memory and strengths to clear him. Whilst we were putting him and the rest down to the Chirurgeon; the Ship drove into should water; which put us all in fear: we being so sorely weakened by this blow, which had hurt eight of our men. It pleased God, that the Anchor held again: and she rid it out all night. By midnight, the Chirurgeon had taken off the Gunner's leg at the gartering place; and dressed the others that were hurt and bruised: after which we comforted each other as well as we could. The 22. 22. we weighed; and stood a little off into deeper water; expecting a better wind. Which in the afternoon favoured us. We stood in again for the shore, and alongst it we proceeded. It is very should about four leagues off, and full of breaches. The 23. 23. at noon, we were in latitude 56. 28. In the evening, the wind came contrary: and we were fain to turn to and again. All this month, the wind hath been very variable, and continued not long upon one point: yet it happened so, that we can get but little forward. The 26. 26. there sprung up a fine gale at West, but very thick weather: nevertheless we stood into 7. and 6. fad. the water very thick and puddlelish. At noon, it cleared; and we could see that we were embayed in a little Bay: the land being almost round about us. We stood out of it, and so alongst it, in sight; till the 27. 27. in the morning: when we came to higher land than any we had yet seen, since we came from Nottingham Island. We stood into it, and came to an Anchor in 5. fathom. I sent off the Boat, well maned and armed; with order in writing what they were to do: and a charge to return again, before Sunset: The evening came, and no news of our Boat: we shot and made false fires; but had no answer: which did much perplex us, doubting that there had some disaster befallen her, through carelessness, and in her we should lose all. We aboard, at present, were not able to weigh our Anchor, nor sail the Ship. At last we saw a fire upon the shore; which made us the more doubtful, because they did not answer our shot, nor false fires with the like. We thought withal, that it had been the Saluages, who did now triumph in their conquest. At length they came, all safe and well: and excused themselves, in that upon their coming ashore, it did ebb so suddenly, that a bank of sand was so presently dry without them, as they could not come away, till that was covered again: and with that they pacified me: They reported, that there was great store of drift wood, on the shore: and a good quantity growing on the land. That they saw the tracks of Dear and Bears: good store of Fowl; (of which they had killed some) but no sign of people. That they passed over two little rivers, and came to a third; which they could not pass: That it did flow very near three faddomes, sometimes; as appeared by the shore. That it was low water at four a clock; that the flood came from the Northwest: and that it flowed half tied; which both they and we had perceived by the Ship. At low water, we had but three fathom, where we did ride. The wind began to blow hard at East, whereupon we weighed and stood to the Northward till midnight: Then in again; and in the morning we saw the land: and then it began to blow hard, and as we stood off, it increased to a very storm; so that at length we could not maintain a pair of courses; but tried under our Main course, all day and all night: sometime turning her head, to the Landward: sometime to the Offing. The 29. 29. in the morning, we made account we had droven back again, some 16. or 18. leagues: and in the morning (as it cleared) we saw a Ship to Leeward of us some three or four leagues: so we made sail and bore up with her. She was then at an Anchor in 13. fadd. It was his Majesty's Ship, and Captain Fox commanded in her. I saluted him according to the manner of the Sea, and received the like of him. So I stood in to see the land, and thought to tack about, and keep weather of him, and to send my Boat aboard of him: but the wind shifted, so that for that time I could not. In the evening, I came to weather of him, and sent my Boat aboard of him; who presently weighed, and stood off with me till midnight: and then we stood in again. In the morning Captain Fox and his friends, came aboard of me: where I entertained them in the best manner I could: and with such fresh meat as I had gotten from the shore; I told him, how I had named the land, The South Principality of Wales. I showed him how far I had been to the Eastward: where I had landed; and in brief, I made known to him, all the dangers of this Coast, as far as I had been. He told me, how himself had been in Port Nelson: and had made but a Cursory discovery hitherto: and that he had not been aland; nor had not many times seen the land. In the evening, after I had given his men some necessaries, with Tobacco and other things which they wanted: he departed aboard his Ship: and the next morning, stood away South South-west: since which time, I never saw him. The wind something favouring me, I stood in for the shore; and so proceeded alongst it, in sight. This month of August ended with Snow and Hail; the weather being as cold, as at any time I have felt in England. We coasted alongst the shore in 10. September 1. faddomes, and when it cleared; in sight of land. At length the water shoalded to 6. and 5. fadd. and as it cleared, we saw it all breaches to Leeward: so we hulled off, North North-east, but still raised land. By night, we had much ado to get safely out of this dangerous Bay. At midnight, the wind came up at South, and so we took in our sails, and let the Ship drive to the Northward into deeper water. This day, was the first time, the Chirurgeon told me, that there were diverse of the men tainted with sickness. At noon, we were in latitude 55. 12. The second, 2. we stood in again for the shore; but as we came in to should water, it began to blow: the weather being winterly and foul; threatening a storm: wherein we were not deceived, for that in standing off, we had a violent one. By midnight it broke up; 3. and the third in the morning, we stood in again: and by a 11. we saw it. Here we found the land to trend South Southeast and South: so that we knew, we were at a Cape Land: and named it Cape Henrietta Maria: by her Majesty's name; Who had before named our Ship. At noon, we were in latitude 55. 05. and that is the height of the Cape. From Port Nelson to this Cape, the land trends (generally) East Southeast, but makes with points and Bays: which in the particulars doth alter it a point, two or three. The distance is about one hundred and thirty leagues: the variation at this Cape taken by Amplitude, is about sixteen degrees. A most should and perilous coast: in which there is not one Harbour to be found. The third day in the afternoon, 3. we had a tearing storm at North; which continued till midnight, in extreme violence. The fourth in the morning (the storm being broke up) we stood in again, 4. South-West. The weather was very thick, and we sounded continually: but by noon it cleared and we saw the land. Here it did trend South by East, and the tides did set alongst it, with a quick motion. In the evening, there came a great rolling Sea out of the North North-east, and by eight a clock, it blew very hard at Southeast, and by reason of the encounter of the wind and this great Sea: the Sea was all in a breach; and to make up a perfect tempest, it did so lighten, snow, rain, and blow, all the night long, that I was never in the like: We shipped many Seas; but one most dangerous: which racked us fore and aft: that I verily thought it had sunk the Ship: It struck her with such a violence. The Ship did labour most terribly in this distraction of wind and waves: and we had much ado to keep all things fast in the hold, and betwixt decks. The fifth in the morning, 5. the wind shifted South-West, but changed not his condition; but continued in his old anger and fury. In the afternoon, it shifted again to the Northwest, and there showed his uttermost malice; and in that tearing violence, that nor I, nor any that were then with me, ever saw the Sea in such a breach. Our Ship was so tormented, and did so labour; with taking it in on both sides, and at both ends: that we were in a most miserable distress, in this so unknown a place. At eight a clock in the evening, the storm broke up: and we had some quietness in the night following: not one having slept one wink in 30. hours before. If this storm had continued Easterly, as it was at first, without God's goodness we had all perished. The sixth, 6. the wind was at South-west, so that we could do no good to the Westward. We spent the time therefore, in trimming of our Ship: we brought all our coals (which for the most part was great Coal) aft: as we also did some other things; and all to lighten her afore. Others did pick our bread; whereof there was much wet: for do what we could, we shipped abundance of water betwixt decks: which ran into the hold, and into our bread-roome: for the Sea, indeed, so continually overracked us, that we were like jonas in the Whale's belly: We over-looked our Tacks and Shoots, with other Riggings of stress: because that henceforward, we were to look for no other but Winter weather: This evening our Boateswayne (a painful man, and one that had laboured extremely these two or three days) was very sick: swooning away three or four times: insomuch that we thought verily, he would presently have died. The seventh in the morning, 8. the wind came up at Southeast, and we stood away South-west, under all the sail we could make. In this course, we saw an Island and came close aboard it: and had twenty fadd. water, which was some comfort to us: for hitherto, we could not come within four or five leagues of the shore, at that depth. This Island stands in 54. 10. The afternoon, we stood away South-west, and in the evening, had the shoalding of the Western shore, in 10. 8. and 7. fadd. but it was so thick, that we could not see the land. It is about 14. leagues, betwixt this Island and the Main. The eight was thick, 9 foggy, and calm: which so continued till the ninth about six in the morning. The wind then coming up at South South-west: (though very foggy) we stood to the Eastward: keeping our lead going continually. In the evening, the water shoalded to 10. and 9 fadd: wherefore we stood off and on, all night. The tenth we made it: finding it an Island, 10. of about 8. or 9 leagues long. It stands in latitude 53. 5. and about 15. leagues from the Western shore. The part of it, that we coasted, trends' West Northwest: I named it my Lord weston's Island; We stood still away to the Eastward: it being broken foggy weather. In the afternoon, we descried land to the Eastward of us: which made like three hills, or hummockes: Towards them we sail; keeping our lead still going: and very circumspect. At length we also saw land to the Southward of us: whereupon we loof up, and now make for that: by course as we had set it in the thick dark fog. We came in amongst such low broken grounds, breaches, and rocks; that we knew not which way to turn us: but God be thanked it was but little wind; and so we came to an Anchor; Soon after it cleared; at which time we could see nothing but sands, rocks, and breaches, round about us: that way only excepted, which we came in. I sent presently the Boat to sound amongst the shoalds and rocks: that if we should be put to extremity, we might have some knowledge which way to go. This night proved calm and fair weather: and we rid quietly. The eleventh in the morning, 11. I went in the Boat ashore myself: and whilst I was a land, I sent the Boat about amongst the broken grounds, to sound. I found this Island, utterly barren of all goodness: yea of that which I thought easily to have found: which was Scurvygrass, Sorrell, or some herb or other, to have refreshed our sick people. I could not perceive that the tide did flow here (ordinarily) above two foot. There was much drift wood on the shore: and some of it drove up very high, on the North side of the Island: whereby I judged that the storms were very great at North, in the Winter. Thus I returned aboard; and sent many of our sick men to another part of the Island, to see if they themselves could fortunately find any relief for their griefs. At noon, by good observation, we were in latitude 52. 45. In the evening, our men returned comfortless: and then we weighed and stood to the Westward, coming to an Anchor under another Island, in 20. faddomes. The twelfth in the morning, 12. it began to blow hard at Southeast, which was partly of the shore; and the Ship began to drive: it being soft oozie ground. We heaved in our Anchor thereupon, and came to sail under two courses. Whilst the most were busy in heaving out of top-sails: some, that should have had special care of the Ship ran her ashore upon the rocks: out of mere carelessness, in looking out and about or heaving of the lead, after they had seen the land all night long, and might even then have seen it, if they had not been blinded with self conceit, and been enviously opposite in opinions. The first blow, struck me out of a dead sleep, and I running out of my cabin; thought no other at first, but I had been wakened (when I saw our danger) to provide myself for another World. After I had controlled a little passion in myself, and had checked some bad counsel that was given me, to revenge myself upon those that had committed this error: I ordered what should be done to get off these Rocks and stones. First we halde all our sail abacke-slayles; but that did no good, but make her beat the harder. Whereupon we struck all our sails amain; and furdeld them up close, tearing down our stern, to bring the Cable thorough the cabin to Capstang: and so laid out an Anchor to heave her asterne. I made all the water in hold to be staved: and set some to the pumps to pump it out, and did intend to do the like with our Beer; Others I put to throw out all our Coals: which was soon and readily done. We quoyld out our Cables into our long boat; all this while, the Ship beating so fearfully, that we saw some of the sheathing swim by us. Then stood we, as many as we could, to the Capstang: and heaved with such a good will, that the Cable broke, and we lost our Anchor. Out, with all speed, therefore, we put another: We could not now perceive whether she did leak or no; and that by reason we were employed in pumping out the water, which we had bulged in hold: though we much doubted, that she had received her death's wound: wherefore we put into the Boat the Carpenter's tools, a barrel of bread, a barrel of powder, six muskets, with some match; and a tinder-boxe, fish, hooks and lines, pitch and okum: and to be brief, whatever could be thought on in such an extremity. All this we sent ashore, to prolong a miserable life for a few days. We were five hours thus beating; in which time she struck 100 blows: insomuch that we thought every stroke had been the last that it was possible she could have endured. The water, we could not perceive in all this time, to flow any thing at all: at length, it pleased God, she beat over all the Rocks: though yet we knew not whether she were staunch. Whereupon, to pumping we go on all hands, till we made the pumps suck: and then we saw how much water she did make in a glass. We found her to be very leaky; but we went to prayer and gave God thanks it was no worse: and so fitted all things again, and got further off and came to an Anchor. In the Evening, it began to blow very hard at W. S. W. which if it had done whilst we were on the Rocks, we had lost our Ship without any redemption. With much ado, we weighed our Anchor, and let her drive to the Eastward amongst the broken grounds and Rocks: the boat going before, sounding. At length, we came amongst breaches; and the boat made signs to us that there was no going further. Amongst the Rocks therefore we again came to an Anchor, where we did ride all night: and where our men which were tired out with extreme labour, were indifferent well refreshed. Here I first noted, that when the wind was at S. it flowed very little or no water at all; so that we could not bring our Ship aground to look to her: for we did pump almost continually. The 13. at noon we weighed, 13. and stood to the Westward: but in that course, it was all broken grounds, shoald and sunken Rocks: so that we wondered with ourselves, how we came in amongst them in a thick fog. Then we shaped our course to the Northward: and after some consultation with my associates, I resolved to get about this land, and so to go down into the bottom of Hudsons' Bay; and see if I could discover a way into the River of Canada: and if I failed of that, then to winter on the main Land; where there is more comfort to be expected, then among Rocks or Lands. We stood alongst the shore, in sight of many breaches. When it was night, we stood under our foresail; the lead still going. At last, the water shoalded upon us, to 10. fad. and it began to blow hard. We tackte about, and it did deepen to 12. and 14. fad. but by and by, it shoalded again to 8. fad. Then we tacked about again; and suddenly it shoalded to 6. and 5. fad. so we struck our sail amain, and chopped to an anchor: resolving to ride it out for life and death. We rid all night a great stress; so that our bits did rise, and we thought they would have been torn to pieces. At break of day the 14. 14. we were joyful men: and when we could look about, we descried an Island some 2. leagues off, at W. by N. and this was the should that lay about it. Here did run a distracted, but yet a very quick Tide: of which we taking the opportunity, got up our Anchor, and stood N. W. to clear ourselves of this should. In the afternoon, the wind came up at N. E. and we stood alongst the Eastern shore in sight of a multitude of breaches. In the Evening, it began to blow a storm not sayle-worthy; and the sea went very high, and was all in a breach. Our shallop, which we did now tow at stern, being moored with two hawsers, was sunken: and did spin by her mooring, with her keel up, 20. times in an hour. This made our ship to hull very broad; so that the sea did continually over-rake us: yet we endured it, and thought to recover her. All night, the storm continued with violence, and with some rain in the morning: it then being very thick weather. The water shoalded apace; with such an overgrown sea withal, that a sail was not to be endured: and what was as ill, there was no trusting to an Anchor. Now therefore began we to prepare ourselves, how to make a good end, of a miserable tormented life. About noon as it cleared up, we saw two Lands under our lee; whereupon we bore up to them: and seeing an opening betwixt them, we endeavoured to get into it before night: for that there was no hope of us, if we continued out at sea, that night. Therefore come life, come death, we must run this hazard. We found it to be a good sound: where we rid all night safely, and recovered our strengths again, which were much impaired with continual labour. But before we could get into this good place, our shallop broke away (being moored with 2. hawsers) and we lost her to our great grief: Thus now had we but the Ship boat, and she was all torn and bruised too. This Island was the same that we had formerly coasted the Wester side of; and had named my Lord weston's Island. Here we remained till the 19 in which time it did nothing but snow and blow extremely, insomuch that we durst not put our boat overboard. This 19 19 The wind shifted N. N. E. and we weighed and stood to the Southward: but by noon the wind came up at S. and so we came to an Anchor under another Island, on which I went ashore, and named it The Earl of Bristols Island. The Carpenter wrought hard in repairing our boat: whilst I wandered up and down on this desert Island, I could not perceive, that ever there had been any Saluages on it: and in brief, we could find neither Fish, Fowle, nor Herb upon it; so that I returned comfortless aboard again. The tides do high about some 6. Foot: now that the wind is Northerly. The flood comes from the North: and it doth flow half tied; The full sea this day, was at one a clock. Here, seeing the winds continue so Northerly, that we could not get about to go into Hudsons' Bay; we considered again what was best to do, to look out for a wintering place. Some advised me to go for Port Nelson: because we were certain that there was a Cove, where we might bring in our Ship. I liked not that counsel; for that it is a most perilous place, and that it might be so long ere we could get thither, that we might be debarred by the Ice. Moreover, seeing it was so cold here, as that every night our rigging did freeze: and that sometimes in the Morning, we did shovel away the snow half a foot thick off our decks: and in that Latitude too: I thought it far worse in the other place. I resolved thereupon, to stand again to the Southward, there to look for some little Creek or Cove for our Ship. The 21. 21. the wind came up at N. and we weighed: although it was a very thick fog, and stood away S. W. to clear ourselves of the shoalds that were on the point of this Island. This Island is in Lat. 53. 10. When we were clear, we steered away S. At noon the fog turned into rain: but very thick weather; and it did thunder all the afternoon: which made us doubt a storm: for all which, we adventured to proceed. In the evening, the wind increased; and blew hard: wherefore we took in all our sails, and let her drive to the Southward, heaving the lead every glass. Our depth, when we took in our sails, was 30. fadd. and it did increase to 45▪ which was a great comfort to us in the dark: At midnight, our depth began suddenly to decrease; and as fast as the lead could be heaved, it shoalded to 20. fadd. wherefore we chopped to an Anchor and trimmed our Ship aft, to mount on the Sea, and fitted all things to ride it out. There was no need to bid our men watch; not one of them put his eyes together all the night long. We rid it out well all the night: although the Sea went very lofty: and that it did blow very hard. The 22. in the morning, when we could look about us; we saw an Island under our Lee some league off: 22. all being shoalds and breaches, betwixt us and it. At noon (with the help of the windward tied) we attempted to have up our Anchor: although the Sea still went very lofty▪ joining all our strengths therefore, with our best skills; God be thanked, we had it up: but before we could set our sails, we were driven into nine fadd. Endeavouring thereupon to double a point, to get under the Lee of this Island; the water shoalded to 7. 6. and 5. fadd. but when we were about, it did deepen again and we come to an Anchor in a very good place; And it was very good for us, that we did: for the wind increased to a very storm. Here we rid well all the night, took good rest, and recovered our spent strengths again. The last night and this morning, it did snow and hail, and was very cold: nevertheless I took the Boat and went ashore to look for some Creek or Cove to have in our Ship; for she was very leaky: and the company becomne sickly and weak, with much pumping and extreme labour. This Island when we came to the shore; it was nothing but ledges of rocks, and banks of sand: and there went a very great surfe on them. Nevertheless I made them row thorough it; and ashore I got with two more, and made them row off without the breaches; and there to come to an Anchor and to stay for me: I made what speed I could to the top of a hill, to discover about: but could not see what we looked for: Thus because it began to blow hard, I made haste towards the Boat again. I found that it had ebbed so low, that the Boat could not by any means come near the shore for me: so that we were fain to wade thorough the surfe and breaches to her: in which, some took such a cold, that they did complain of it to their dying day. But now it began to blow hard, so that we could not get but little to windward toward our Ship: for the wind was shifted since we went ashore, & return to the shore, we could not, by reason of the surfe. Well: we row for life, they in the Ship, let out a Buoy by a long warp; & by God's assistancè we got to it: and so haled up to the Ship; where we were well welcomed, & we all rejoiced together. This was a premonition to us; to be careful how we sent off the Boat; for that it was winter weather already. I named this Island, Sir Thomas Roes Island: It is full of small wood; but in other benefits not very rich: and stands in latitude 52. 10. At noon, we weighed: seeing an Island that bare South Southeast of us, some four leagues off; which was the highest land we had yet seen in this Bay: but as we came near it, it suddenly shoalded to 6. 5. and 4. fadd. Wherefore we struck our sails amain, and chopped to an Anchor: but it was very foul ground, and when the Ship was wound up, we had but three fadd. at her Stern. As it cleared, we could see the breaches all alongst under our Lee: holding it safe therefore to stay long here; we settled every thing in order, for the Ship to fall the right way. We had up our Anchor, got into deeper water; and stood over again for Sir Thomas Roes Island: which by night we brought in the wind of us; some two leagues off: which did well shelter us. The tides run very quick here amongst these shoalds; and their times of running ebb, or flood, be very uncertain: Their currants, are likewise so distracted, that in the night there is no sailing by the Compass: wherefore we were fain to seek every night some new place of security to come to an Anchor. The 24. 24. in the morning, it did lower, and threaten a storm: which made us with the windward tide, weigh to get nearer under the Island. It was very thick foggy weather: and as we stood to the Northeastward, we came to very uncertain depths: at one cast, 20. fadd. the next 7. then 10. 5. 8. and 3. and coming to the other tack, we were worse than we were before, the Currants making a fool of our best judgements, in the thick fog when we could see no landmarks. It pleased God, that we got clear of them: and endeavoured to get under the Lee of the Island. This being not able to do, we were fain to come to an Anchor in 35. fadd. some two leagues off the shore: All this afternoon (and indeed all night too) it did snow and hail: and was very cold. The 25. 25 we weighed, and thought to get to the Eastward: but as we tacked to and again, the wind shifted so in our teeth, that it put us within a quarter of a mile of the very shore: where we chopped to an Anchor and rid it out for life and death. Such miseries as these, we endured amongst these shoalds and broken grounds: or rather more desperate than I have related: (very unpleasant perchance to be read) with snow, hail, and stormy weather, and colder than ever I felt it in England in my life. Our shoote-Anker was down twice or thrice a day: which extreme pains made a great part of the company sickly. All this lasted with us, until the 30. of this month of September: which we thought would have put an end to our miseries: for now we were driven amongst rocks, shoalds, over-falles, and breaches round about us; that which way to turn, we knew not; but there ride amongst them, in extremity of distress. All these perils, made a most hideous and terrible noise, in the night season: and I hope it will not be accounted ridiculous, if I relate with what meditations I was affected, now and then, amongst my ordinary prayers: which I here afford the Reader, as I there conceived them; in these few ragged and teared Rhymes. OH, my poor soul, why dost thou grieve to see So many Death's muster to murder me? Look to thyself, regard not me; for I Must do (for what I came) perform, or die. So thou mayst free thyself from being in A dunghill dungeon; A mere sink of sin, And happily be freed, if thou believe, Truly in God through Christ, and ever live. Be therefore glad yet: ere thou go from hence, For our joint sins, let's do some penitence, Unfeignedly together. When we part, I'll wish the Angel's joy, with all my heart. We have with confidence relied upon A rusty wire, touched with a little Stone, Encompassed round with paper, and alas To house it harmless, nothing but a glass, And thought to shun a thousand dangers, by The blind direction of this senseless fly. When the fierce winds shattered black nights asunder, Whose pitchy clouds, spitting forth fire and thunder, Hath shaken the earth, and made the Ocean roar; And run to hide it, in the broken shore: Now thou must Steer by faith; a better guide, 'Twill bring thee safe to heaven against the tide Of Satan's malice. Now let quiet gales Of saving grace, inspire thy zealous sails. The first of October was indifferent fair weather; October 1. and with a windward tide, out went our Boat, to sound a channel to help us out of this perilous place. The Boat, within two hours she returned: and told us, how she had been away where there was not less than 12. fadd. We presently, thereupon weighed; but found it otherwise: and came amongst many strange razes, and over-falles, upon which there went a very great and breaking Sea: As we proceeded, the water shoalded to 6. fadd. Well! there was no remedy, we must go forward: happy be lucky; seeing there neither was any riding; and as little hope to turn any way with a sail, but that there appeared present death in it. It pleased God so to direct us, that we got thorough it: having no less than five several, and all very uncertain depths. The water, sometimes deepened to 20. fadd. then upon a sudden, it shoalded to 7. 6. and 5. faddomes: so we struck all our sails amain, and chopped to an Anchor, where we rid till midnight, for life and death: it blowing a merciless gale of wind, and the Sea going very lofty, and all in a breach. The ground was foul ground too, insomuch that we doubted our Cable, every minute. The second in the morning was little wind: 2. wherefore taking the opportunity of the tide, the Boat went forth to sound: which returning again in two hours, told us how they had sounded about that should, and had found a place of some safety to ride in; and had been in no less water than five fathom. We weighed; and found our Cable galled in two places: which had soon failed us, if the foul weather had continued. We stood the same way, that the Boat did direct us: but it proved so calm, that we came to an Anchor in 18. fathom. I took the Boat, and went ashore on an Island, that was to the Southward of us: which I named, The Earl of Danbyes' Island: From the highest place in it, I could see it all broken grounds and shoalds, to the Southward: and rather worse, than any thing better, then that which we had been in▪ I found that the Saluages had been upon it: and that it was full of wood. I made haste to the Boat to sound the Bay for fear of shoalds and sunken Rocks: but found it indifferent good. Toward the Evening, it began to blow hard: wherefore we made towards the Ship. She put forth a Buoy and a warp; and we rowing for life to recover her, were put to Lee-ward of her: but by getting hold of the warp, we halde up to her. The boat we left half full of water: ourselves being as wet as drowned rats; and it made us the more rejoice, that we had escaped this great danger. All night, we had a very hard rode-steede; it blowing a most violent gale of wind, with snow and hail. The third about noon, 3. the wind dulled; and we had up our Anchor, standing in further into the Bay into four fad. and a half water. Here we came again to an Anchor, with our second Anchor: for many of our men are now sick; and the rest so weakened, that we can hardly way our shoote-Anchor; I took the Boat, and went presently ashore to see what comfort I could find; This was the first time, that I put foot on this Island; which was the same that we did after winter upon. I found the tracks of Deer, and saw some Fowl: but that that did rejoice me most, was, that I did see an opening into the Land, as if it had been a river. To it we make with all speed, but found it to be barred; and not 2. foot water at full sea on the Bar: and yet within, a most excellent fine Harbour, having 4. fad. water. In the Evening I returned aboard, bringing little comfort for our sick men, more than hopes. The 4. 4. it did snow and blow very hard; yet I got ashore, and appointed the boat to go to another place, (which made like a River) and to sound it. In the mean time, I went with four more, some 4. or 5. miles up into the Country; but could find no relief all that way for our sick, but a few Berries only. After we had well wearied ourselves in the troublesome woods, we returned to the place I had appointed the boat to tarry for me: where at my coming I still found her, she having not been where I had ordered her, for it had blown such a fierce gale of wind, that she could not row to windward. Thus we returned aboard, with no good news. It continued foul weather, with snow and hail, and extreme cold; till the 6. when with a favouring wind, we stood in nearer to the shore, and here moored the ship. The 7. 7. it snowed all day; so that we were fain to clear it of the Decks with shovels; and it blew a very storm withal. It continued snowing and very cold weather, and it did so freeze, that all the bows of the Ship, with her beakhead, was all Ice: about the Cable also, was Ice as big as a man's middle. The bows of the boat were likewise frozen half a foot thick, so that we were fain to hew and beat it off. The Sun did shine very clear; and we tore the top-sails out of the tops, which were hard frozen in them, into a lump: so that there they hung a Sunning all day, in a very lump; the Sun not having power to thaw one drop of them. After the Boat was fitted, we rowed towards the shore: but could not come near the place where we were used to land, for that it was all thickened water with the snow, that had fallen upon the sands, that are dry at low water. This made it so difficult to row, that we could not set through it with 4. oars: yet something higher to the Westward, we got ashore. Seeing now the winter to come thus extremely on upon us, and that we had very little wood aboard; I made them fill the boat, and went aboard and sent the Carpenter and others to cut wood; others to carry it to the water side: whilst the boat brought it aboard, for I doubted that we were likely to be debarred the shore, and that we should not go to and again with the boat. It was miserable and cold already aboard the Ship: every thing did freeze in the Hold, and by the fire side: Seeing therefore that we could no longer make use of our sails (which be the wings of a Ship) it raised a many of doubts in our minds, that here we must stay and winter. After we had brought so much wood aboard, as we could conveniently stowe, and enough as I thought would have lasted 2. or 3. months: The sick men desired that some little house or hovel might be built a shore, whereby they might be the better sheltered, and recover their healths. I took the Carpenter (and others whom I thought fit for such a purpose) and choosing out a place, they went immediately to work upon it. In the mean space, I myself accompanied with some others, wandered up and down in the Woods, to see if we could discover any signs of Savages, that so we might the better provide for our safeties, against them. We found no appearance that there was any on this Island▪ nor near unto it: The snow by this time was half leg high; and stalking through it, we returned comfortless to our Companions: who had all this time wrought well upon our house. They aboard the Ship, took down our top-sails in the mean while, and made a great fire upon the hearth in the hatch way; so that having well thawed them, they folded them up, and put them betwixt decks, that if we had any weather, they might bring them again to yard: Thus in the Evening we returned aboard. The 12. 12. we took our main sail from the yard which was hard frozen to it: and carried it ashore, to cover our house withal: being first fain to thaw it by a great fire; By night they had covered it; and had almost hedged it about: and the six builders did desire to lie in it ashore that night, which I condescended unto: having first fitted them with Muskets and other furniture; and a charge to keep good watch all night. Moreover they had a shore 2. Greyhounds (a dog and a bitch) which I had brought out of England, to kill us some Deer, if happily we could find any. By the 13. 13. at night, our house was ready; and our six builders desired they might travel up into the Country to see what they could discover. The 14. 14. betimes in the morning, being fitted with munition, and their order to keep together (but especially to seek out some Creek or Cove for our Ship) they departed. We aboard, took down our two top-masts and their rigging: making account if we did remove, to make use of our foresail and mizzen. The 15. 15. in, the Evening our hunters returned very weary, and brought with them a small, leave Dear, in 4. quarters: which rejoiced us all, hoping we should have had more of them, to refresh our sick men withal. They reported, that they had wandered above 20. miles, and had brought this Deer above 12. mile: and that they had seen 9 or 10. more: The last night, they had a very cold lodging in the woods; and so it appeared, for they looked all almost starved, nor could they recover themselves in 3. or 4. days after. They saw no sign of Savages, nor of any ravening wild beasts, nor yet any hope of harbour. The 17. 17. my Lieutenant and 5. more, desired they might try their fortunes in travelling about the Island. But they had far worse luck than the others, although they endured out all night, and had wandered very far in the snow (which was now very deep) and returned comfortless and miserably disabled with the coldness. But what was worse than all this, they had lost one of their company, john Barton, namely our Gunner's mate; who being very weary, merely to save the going about, had attempted to go over a pond that was a quarter of a mile over; where when he was in the very midst, the Ice broke and closed upon him, and we never saw him more. Considering these disasters, I resolved to fish no more with a golden hook: for fear, I weakened myself more with one hunting, then 20. such dear Deers could do me good. Being now assured, that there was no Savages upon the Island, nor yet about us on the other Lands: no nor on the main neither, as far as we could discover, (which we further proved by making of fires) and that the cold season was now in that extremity, that they could not come to us, if there were any: we comforted and refreshed ourselves, by sleeping the more securely. We changed our Island garrison, every week; and for other refreshing we were like to have none till the Spring. From this 10. to the 29. it did (by interims) snow and blow so hard, that the boat could hardly adventure ashore, and but seldom land, unless the men did wade in the thick congealed water, carrying one another. We did sensibly perceive withal, how we did daily sink into more miseries. The land was all deep covered with snow; the cold did multiply; and the thick snow water did increase: and what would become of us, our most merciful God and preserver knew only. The 29. 29. I observed an Eclipse of the Moon, with what care possibly I could both in the trial of the exactness of our instruments, as also in the observation: I refer you to the observation in the latter end of this Relation: where it is at large described. This month of October ended with snow and bitter cold weather. The first of November I cast up accounts with the Steward concerning our victual: November 1. the third part of our time being this day out. I found him an honest man: for he gave me an account every week what was spent; and what was still in the hold remaining under his hand: I would take no excuse of leakage or other waste; unless he did daily show it me. Every month, I made a new survey; and every six months, put what we had spared, by itself: which now was at least a month's provision of Bread; and a fortnight's of Pease and Fish, etc. The 3. 3. day the boat endeavoured to get ashore; but could not set thorough the thick congealed water. The 4. 4. they found a place to get ashore; and so once in 2. or 3. days, till the 9 bringing Beer to our men ashore in a barrel, which would freeze firmly in the house in one night. Other provision they had store. The Ice Beer being thawed in a kettle, was not good: and they did break the Ice of the ponds of water, to come by water to drink. This pond-water had a most loathsome smell with it: so that doubting lest it might be infectious, I caused a Well to be sunk near the house. There we had very good water: which did taste (as we flattered ourselves with it) even like milk. The 10. 10. (having store of boards for such a purpose) I put the Carpenter to work, to make us a little boat which we might carry (if occasion were) over the Ice and make use of her, where there was water. At noon I took the Latitude of this Island, by 2. Quadrants: which I found to be 52. 00. I urged the men to make traps to catch Foxes: for we did daily see many. Some of them were pied, black and white: whereby I gathered that there was some black Foxes; whose skins, I told them, were of a great value: and I promised, that whosoever could take one of them, should have the skin for his reward: Hereupon, they made diverse traps: and waded in the snow (which was very deep) to place them in the woods. The 12. 12. our house took a fire, but we soon quenched it: We were fain to keep an extraordinary fire, night and day: and this accident, made me order a watch to look to it continually: seeing, that if our house and clothing should be burnt, that all we were but in a woeful condition. I lay ashore, till the 17. all which time, our miseries did increase. It did snow and freeze most extremely. At which time, we looking from the shore towards the Ship, she did look like a piece of Ice, in the fashion of a Ship: or a Ship resembling a piece of Ice. The snow was all frozen about her; and all her forepart firm Ice: and so was she on both sides also. Our Cables froze in the hawse, wonderful to behold. I got me aboard: where the long nights I spent, with tormenting cogitations: and in the day time, I could not see any hope of saving the Ship. This I was assured of, that it was most impossible to endure these extremities long. Every day the men must bear the Ice off the Cables: while some within board; with the Carpenters long Calking Iron, did dig the Ice out of the hawses: in which work, the water would freeze on their clothes and hands, and would so benumb them, that they could hardly get into the Ship, without being heaved in with a rope. The 19 19 our Gunner (who as you may remember, had his leg cut off) did languish unrecoverably: and now grew very weak: desiring, that for the little time he had to live, he might drink Sack altogether, which I ordered he should do. The 22. 22. in the morning he died. An honest and a strong-hearted man. He had a close-boorded cabin in the Gun-roome; which was very close indeed: and as many clothes on him, as was convenient (for we wanted no clothes:) and a pan with coals, a fire continually in his cabin. For all which warmth, his plaster would freeze at his wound, and his bottle of Sack at his head. We committed him at a good distance from the Ship unto the Sea. The three and twentieth, 23. the Ice did increase extraordinarily: and the snow lay on the water in flakes, as it did fall, much Ice withal drove by us: yet nothing hard all this while. In the evening after the watch was set, a great piece came athwart our hawse; and four more followed after him: the least of them a quarter of a mile broad: which in the dark did very much astonish us, thinking it would have carried us out of the Harbour, upon the shoalds Easter point, which was full of rocks. It was newly congealed, a matter of two inches thick: and we broke thorough it, the Cable and Anchor enduring an incredible stress, sometimes stopping the whole Ice. We shot off three Muskets, signifying to our men ashore, that we were in distress: who answered us again, but could not help us. By ten a clock, it was all past; nevertheless we watched carefully: and the weather was warmer than we had felt it any time this month. In the morning at break of day, I sent for our men aboard, who made up the house, and arrived by 10. being driven by the way, to wade thorough the congealed water; so that they recovered to the Boat, with difficulty. There drove by the Ship many pieces of Ice, though not so large as the former, yet much thicker: One piece came foul of the Cable, and made the Ship drive. As soon as we were clear of it, we joined our strengths together, and had up our Eastermost Anchor: and now I resolved to bring the Ship aground: for no Cables nor Ankers could hold her: But I will here show you the reasons, why I borough her no sooner aground. First, it was all stony ground: some stones lying dry, three or four foot above water: so that it was to be suspected, that it was the like all about us. Secondly, it did ordinarily flow but two foot and a half here; and if she should bed deep in the sands, we could not ever come to dig her out again: for that she would not be dry, by four or five foot. Thirdly, it was a loose sand which might rise with the surfe, or so mount about her: that all our weak powers could not heave it away in the next spring time. Fourthly, we doubted the tides would not high so much in the summer, as they did now. Fifthly, we could not bring her out of the tides way; which doth run something quick here: and the Ice, beside, might drive and mount up upon her, and so overset her, or tear her, and carry away her planks, iron works and all: so that we should have nothing left to finish our Pinnace with. Sixtly, if it did blow a storm at Northwest, or thereabouts; the water would flow ten foot, and upwards: and that wind being of the shore, it would blow away all the Ice, and there would come in an extraordinary great surfe about the should Ester-point; which was occasioned by a deep overfall. Moreover, she would beat extremely: and if she were put up by the Sea or that surfe, it was very doubtful that we should never have her off again. For these reasons we endured all the extremity: still hoping upon some good and fortunate accident. But now all our provident designs we saw to become foolishness; and that a great deal of miserable labour had been spent in vain by us. With the flood we weighed our Westermost Anchor, perceiving God's assistance manifestly: because it happened to be fine warm weather, otherwise we had not been able to work. The wind was now South: which blew in upon the shore; and made the lowest tides. We brought the Ship into 12. foot water: and laid out one Anchor in the Offing, and another in should water, to draw her aland at command. Our hope also was, that some stones that were to the Westward of us, would fend off some of the Ice. We then being about a mile from the shore, about ten a clock in the dark night, the Ice came driving upon us; and our Ankers came home. She drove some two Cables length: and the wind blowing on the shore, by two a clock she came aground; and stopped much Ice: yet she lay well all night, and we took some rest. The five and twentieth, 25. the wind shifted Easterly: and put abundance of Ice on us. When the flood was made, we encouraged one another, and to work we go: drawing home our Ankers by main force, under great pieces of Ice, our endeavour being to put the Ship to the shore. But to our great discomforts, when the half tide was made; (which was two hours before high water) the Ship drove amongst the Ice to the Eastward (do what we could) and so would have on the should Rocks. As I have formerly said, these two days and this day, was very warm weather: and it did rain, which it had not yet but once done, since we came hither: otherwise, it had been impossible we could have wrought. Withal, the wind shifted also to the South: and at the very infant, blew a hard puff: which so continued for half an hour. I caused our two Topsails to be had up from betwixt decks, and we hoist them up with ropes in all haste, and we forced the Ship ashore, when she had not half a Cables length to drive on the Rocky shoalds. In the Evening we broke way thorough the Ice, and put an Anchor to shoareward in five foot water: to keep her to the shore, if possible it might be. Here Sir Hugh Willoughby came into my mind, who without doubt was driven out of his Harbour in this manner, and so starved at sea. But God was more merciful to us. About nine a clock at night, the wind came up at North-West, and blew a very storm. This wind was of the shore: which blew away all the Ice from about us, long before we were afloat. There came in a great rolling Sea withal, about the point; accompanied with a great surfe on the shore. And now were we left to the mercy of the Sea, on the ground. By ten, she began to roll in her dock: and soon after, began to beat against the ground. We stood at the Capstang, as many as could: others at the Pumps: for we thought that every fifth or sixth blow would have staved her to pieces. We heaved to the uttermost of our strengths, to keep her as near the ground as we could. By reason of this wind, it flowed very much water: and we drew her up so high, that it was doubtful, if ever we should get her off again. She continued thus beating, till two a clock the next Morning, and then she again settled. Whereupon we went to sleep, to restore nature: seeing the next tide we expected to be again tormented. The six and twentieth, 26. in the morning tide, our Ship did not float; whereby we had some quietness. After prayers, I called a consultation of the Master, my Lieutenant, the Mates, Carpenter, and Boateswayne; to whom I proposed, that now we were put to our last shifts; and therefore they should tell me what they thought of it: Namely, whether it were not best, to carry all our provision ashore: and that when the wind should come northerly, it were not safest to draw her further off, and sink her. After many reasonings they allowed of my purpose: and so I communicated it to the Company, who all willingly agreed to it. And so we fell to getting up of our provisions: first our bread, of which we landed this day two Dryfats with a Hogshead of Beef: having much ado to set the Boat thorough the thick congealed water. In the Evening, the wind came up at North-East, and East: and filled the Bay choakefull of Ice. The twenty seventh, 27. the Bay continued full of Ice, which I hoped would so continue and freeze, that we should not be put to sink our Ship. This day we could land nothing. The twenty eighth, 28. at break of day, three of our men went ashore over the Ice, unknown to me: and the wind coming upat West, drove the Ice from betwixt us and the shore, and most part out of the Bay also: And yet not so, that the Boat could go ashore for anything. I made the Carpenter fit a place against all sudden extremities: for that with the first North-West, or northerly wind, I meant to effect our last project. In the run of her, on the starboard side; he cut away the sealing and the plank to the sheathing, some four or five inches square; some four foot high from the keel of her, that so it might be boared out, at an instant. We brought our bread which was remaining in the Bread-roome, up into the great cabin; and likewise all our powder; setting much of our light dry things betwixt decks. The nine and twentieth at five a Clock in the Morning, 29. the wind came up at West North-West, and began to blow very hard. It was ordinary for the wind to shift from the West by the North, round about. So first I ordered the Cooper to go down in hold, and look to all our Cask: those that were full, to maul in the bungs of them: those that were empty, to get up, or if they could not be gotten up, to stave them. Then to quoil all our Cables upon our lower tire: and to lay on our spare Ankers, and any thing that was weighty, to keep it down from rising. By seven a Clock, it blew a storm at North-West, our bitter enemy. The Ship was already bedded some two foot in the sand, and whilst that was a flowing, she must beat. This I before had in my consideration: for I thought she was so far driven up, that we should never get her off. Yet we had been so ferrited by her last beating, that I resolved to sink her right down, rather than run that hazard. By nine a cloak, she began to roll in her dock, with a most extraordinary great Sea that was come; which I found to be occasioned by the formentioned overfall. And this was the fatal hour, that put us to our wit's end. Wherefore I went down in hold with the Carpenter, and took his auger and board a hole in the Ship, and let in the water. Thus with all speed, we began to cut out other places, to boar thorough, but every place was full of nails. By ten, notwithstanding, the lower tire was covered with water, for all which, she began so to beat in her dock, more and more: that we could not work, nor stand to do any thing in her. Nor would she sink so fast as we would have her: but continued beating double blows; first abaft, and then before, that it was wonderful, how she could endure a quarter of an hour with it. By twelve a clock, her lower Tire rose: and that did so counter-beate on the inside, that it beat the bulk heads of the Bread-roome, powder-roome, and fore piece, all to pieces: and when it came betwixt decks, the chests fled wildly about: and the water did flash and fly wonderfully: so that now we expected every minute, when the Ship would open and break to pieces. At one a clock she beat off her Rudder: and that was gone, we knew not which way. Thus she continued beating, till three a clock: and then the Sea came up on the upper deck: and soon after, she began to settle. In her, we were fain to sink the most part of our bedding and clothes: and the Surgeon's Chest with the rest. Our men that were ashore, stood looking upon us: almost dead with cold, and sorrows to see our misery and their own. We looked upon them again: and both upon each other with woeful hearts. Dark night drew on; and I bade the Boat to be haled up; and commanded my loving companions to go all into her: who (in some refusing compliments) expressed their faithful affections to me; as loath to part from me. I told them, that my meaning was to go ashore with them. And thus, lastly, I forsook the Ship. We were seventeen poor souls, now in the Boat: and we now imagined that we were leapt out of the Frying pan into the fire: The ebb was made; and the water extraordinary thick congealed, with snow: so that we thought assuredly, it would carry us away into the Sea. We thereupon doublemand four oars: appointing four more to sit ready with oars: and so with the help of God we got to the shore; haling up the Boat after us. One thing was most strange, in this thick water: namely, That there went a great swelling Sea. Being arrived upon the land, we greeted our fellows the best we could: at which time they could not know us, nor we them by our habits nor voices: so frozen all over we were, faces, hair, and apparel. And here I mean to take breath awhile, after all this long and unpleasant Relation of our miserable endeavours: Craving leave first of all to speak a word or two in general. The winds, since we came hither, have been very variable and unconstant: and till within this fortnight, the Southerly wind was the coldest. The reason I conceive to be, for that it did blow from the Main land; which was all covered with snow: and for that the North winds came out of the great Bay which hitherto was open. Add to that; we were now under a South Bank which did shelter us: so that we were not so sensible of it. A Northwest, a Northwest by North, and a North-North-west wind (if it blew a storm) would raise the Tides extraordinarily: and in brief, from the West Northwest, to the North North-east; would raise the tides in proportion, as they did blow from the middle point: The wind being on the opposite points (if it blew) it would flow very little at all. The harder it blew, the less water it would flow. If it were little wind, or calm; it would flow indifferently. The tides do high ordinarily (without being forced) about three foot: but being forced with the forementioned winds; upward of ten foot. I could perceive no difference betwixt Neape and spring tides: It flows half tied: that is; the flood comes from the Northward: and thither returns again, two hours before it be high water: and it is commonly so seen, in most Bays or Inlets. The Wintering. AFter we had haled up the Boat, we went alongst the breach side in the dark, towards our house, where we made a good fire, and with it, and bread and water, we thawde and comforted ourselves, beginning after that to reason one with another, concerning our Ship. I required that every one should speak his mind freely. The Carpenter, (especially) was of the opinion, that she was foundered; and would never be serviceable again. He alleged, that she had so beaten, that it was not possible, but that all her joints were loose, and seams open: and that by reason it flowed so little water, and no Creek nor Cove being near, wherein to bring her aground, he could not devose how he might come to mend it. Moreover, her Rudder was lost, and he had no Iron-worke to hang on another. Some alleged, that we had heaved her up so high upon the sands, that they thought we should never have her off again: and that they were assured she was already dockt three foot. Others, that she lay in the Tides way; and that the Ice might tear her to pieces off the ground: besides which, two of our Ankers we could not now get from under the Ice: which when the Ice broke (which would be of a great thickness by the Spring) would break our Ankers to pieces, and then we should have no Ankers to bring us home withal: supposed we got off the ship, & that she proved sound also. I comforted them the best I could with such like words: My Masters and faithful Companions: be not dismayed for any of these disasters, but let us put our whole trust in God. It is he that giveth, and he that taketh away: he throws down with one hand, and raiseth up with another. His will be done. If it be our fortunes to end our days here, we are as near heaven, as in England; and we are much bound to God Almighty for giving us so large a time of repentance, who as it were daily calls upon us, to prepare our solues for a better life in heaven. I make no doubt, but he will be merciful to us, both here on earth, and in his blessed Kingdom: he doth not in the mean time deny, but that we may use all honest means to save and prolong our natural lives withal: and in my judgement, we are not yet so far past hope of returning into our native Countries, but that I see a fair way by which we may effect it. Admit the Ship be foundered (which God forbid, I hope the best) yet have those our own nation, and others, when they have been put to these extremities, even out of the wrack of their lost Ship, built then a Pinnace, and recovered to their friends again. If it be objected, that they have happened into better Climates, both for temperateness of the air, and for pacificke and open Seas: and provided withal, of abundance of fresh victual: yet there is nothing too hard for courageous minds: which hitherto you have shown, and I doubt not will still do, to the uttermost. They all protested to work to the uttermost of their strength, and that they would refuse nothing that I should order them to do, to the uttermost hazard of their lives. I thank them all: and to the Carpenter for his cheerful undertaking, I promised to give him so much plate presently, as should be worth ten pound sterling: and if so be I went to England in the Pinnace, I would give her him freely, and fifty pounds in money over and above, and would moreover gratify all them, that I should see painful and industrious. Thus we then resolved, to build us a new Pinnace, with the timber we should get upon the Island: that so in the spring, if we found not the Ship serviceable; we might tear her up, and plank her with the Ships planks. And so for this night we settled ourselves close about the fire: and took some rest till daylight. The thirtieth betimes in the morning, 30. I caused the Chirurgeon to cut the hair of my head short, and to shave away all the hair of my face: for that it was become intolerable; and that it would be frozen so great with Ice-sickles. The like did all the rest: November. and we fitted ourselves to work. The first thing we were to do, was to get our clothes and provisions ashore: and therefore I divided the company. The Master and a convenient company with him, were to go aboard; and to get things out of Hold. The Cock-swaine with his ging, were to go in the Boat, to bring and carry things ashore. Myself with the rest, to carry it half a mile thorough the snow, unto the place where we intended to build a Storehouse; As for the heavier things, we purposed to lay them upon the Beache. In the afternoon, the wind was at South South-west, and the water veerd to so low an ebb, that we thought we might get something out of our Hold: we launched our Boat therefore: and with oars, set thorough the thick congealed water: It did freeze extreme hard: and I did stand on the shore with a troubled mind, thinking verily that with the ebb the Boat would be carried into the Sea; and that then we were all lost men. But by God's assistance they got safely to the Ship and made a fire there, to signify their arrival aboard. They fell presently to work; and got something out of the Hold, upon the decks: but night coming on, they durst not adventure to come ashore, but lay on the bed in the great cabin, being almost starved. The first of December was so cold, December 1. that I went the same way over the Ice to the Ship, where the Boat had gone yesterday. This day we carried upon our backs in bundles 500 of our fish: and much of our bedding and clothes; which we were fain to dig out of the Ice. The second was mild weather: 2. and some of the men going over the Ice, fell in, and very hardly recovered: so that this day we could land nothing, neither by Boat nor back: I put them therefore to make us a Storehouse ashore. In the evening, the wind came up at West: and the Ice did break and drive out of the Bay: It was very deep and large Ice: that we much doubted it would have spoilt the Ship. The third day, 3. there were diverse great pieces of Ice that came athwart the Ship: and she stopped them, yet not so, that we could go over them. We found a way for the Boat: but when she was loaden, she drew four foot water, and could not come within a slight-shot of the shore. The men therefore must wade thorough the thick congealed water; and carry all things out of the Ship upon their backs. Every time they waded in the Ice, it so gathered about them, that they did seem like a walking piece of Ice, most lamentable to behold. In this extreme cold evening, they cut away as much Ice from about the Boat as they could, and picked it with hand-spikes out of her, and endeavouring to hoist her into the Ship. There being small hope, that she could go to and again any more. But use what means they could, she was so heavy, that they could not hoist her in: but were fain there to leave her in the tackles by the Ships side. The fourth being Sunday, 4. we rested; and performed the Sabbath duties of a Christian. The fifth and sixth were extreme cold: 5. & 6. and we made bags of our store shirts: and in them carried our loose bread over the Ice ashore upon our backs. We also digged our clothes and new sails with hand-spikes of iron, out of the Ice: and carried them ashore, which we dried by a great fire. The seventh day was so extremely cold, 7. that our noses, cheeks, and hands, did freeze as white as paper. The eighth and ninth, 8. & 9 it was extreme cold; and it did snow much, yet we continued our labour; in carrying and rolling things ashore. In the evening the water raised the Ice very high: and it did break two thoughts of our Boat: and break in the side of her: but for that time, we could not help it. The tenth, 10. our Carpenter found timber to make a Keel, and a Stern for our Pinnace: the rest wrought about our provisions, until the 13. day: and that we spent in digging our boat out of the Ice: which we were fain to do to the very Keel: and dig the Ice out of her, and then we got her up on the Ice: in which doing, many had their noses, cheeks and fingers, frozen as white as paper. The cold now increased most extremely. By the 19 we could get no more things out of our Hold: but were fain to leave 5. barrels of Beef and Pork, all our Beer; and diverse other things: which were all firm frozen in her. The one and twentieth was so cold, 21 that we could not go out of the house. The three and twentieth we went to have our boat ashore; 23. running her over our oars: but by 10. a clock there came such a thick fog, that it was as dark as night. I made them give over, and make what haste we could to the shore: which we had much ado to find, for the time, losing one another. At the last we met all at the house, the miserablest frozen, that can be conceived. Upon diverse, had the cold raised blisters as big as walnuts. This we imagined to come, by reason that they came too hastily to the fire. Our Well was now frozen up: so that dig as deep as we could, we can come by no water. Melted snow-water is very unwholesome: either to drink or to dress our victuals. It made us so shortbreathed, that we were scarce able to speak. All our Sack, Vinegar, Oil, and every thing else that was liquid, was now frozen as hard as a piece of wood, and we must cut it with a hatchet. Our house was all frozen on the inside, and it froze hard within a yard of the fires side. When I landed first upon this Island, I found a spring under a hills side: which I then observing, had caused some trees to be cut for marks to know the place again by. It was about three quarters of a mile from our house. I sent 3. of our men which had been formerly with me, thither upon the 24. These wading thorough the snow, at last found the place, and shoveling away the snow, they made way to the very head of it. They found it spring very strongly: and brought me a Can of it, for which I was right joyful. This spring continued all the year; and did not freeze: but that we could break the Ice and come to it. We laboured very hard, these three or four days, to get wood to the house, which we found to be very troublesome, through the deep snow. We then settled our bedding and provisions, providing to keep Christmas day holy: which we solemnised in the ioyfullest manner we could: So likewise did we Saint john's day: upon which we named the wood we did winter in, in memory of that Honourable Knight Sir john Winter, Winter's Forest. And now in stead of a Christmas Tale, I will here describe the house that we did live in, with those adjoining. When I first resolved to build a house, I chose the most warmest and convenientest place and the nearest the Ship withal. It was amongst a tuft of thick trees, under a South bank; about a flightshot from the Seas side. True it is, that at that time we could not dig into the ground, to make us a Hole or Cave in the earth, (which had been the best way) because we found water within 2. foot digging: and therefore that project failed. It was a white light sand; so that we could by no means make up a mudwall. As for stones, there were none near us: which, moreover, were all now covered with the snow. We had no boards for such a purpose; and therefore, we must do the best we could, with such materials as we had about us. The house was square; about 20. foot every way: as much namely, as our mayne-Course could well cover: first we drove strong stakes into the earth, round about: which we watteled with boughs, as thick as might be, beating them down very close. This our first work was six foot high on both sides, but at the ends, almost up to the very top. There we left 2. holes, for the light to come in at: and the same way the smoke did vent out also. Moreover, I caused at both ends, three rows of thick bush trees: to be stuck up, as close together as might be possibly. Then at a distance from the house, we cut down trees: proportioning them into lengths of six foot; with which we made a pile on both sides, six foot thick, and six foot high: but at both ends, ten foot high, and six foot thick: We left a little low door to creep into; and a portal before that, made with piles of wood, that the wind might not blow into it. We next of all fastened a rough tree aloft over all: upon which we laid our rafters; and our Main Course over those again: which lying thwart-wayes over all, did reach down to the very ground, on either side. And this was the Fabric of the outside of it. On the inside, we made fast our bonnet sails, round about. Then we drove in stakes and made us bedstead frames; about three sides of the house: which bedsteads were double, one under another: the lower-most, being a foot from the ground: These, we first filled with boughs, than we laid some spare sails on that, and then our bedding and clothes. We made a Hearth or Causey in the middle of the house, and on it, made our fire: some boards we laid round about our Hearth, to stand upon: that the cold damp should not strike up into us. With our Wast-clothes, we made us Canopies and Curtains: others did the like with our small sails. Our second house was not passed 20. foot distant from this, and made for the watteling much after the same manner, but it was less, and covered with our fore-Course: It had no piles on the South side: but in lieu of that, we piled up all our Chests, on the inside: and indeed the reflex of the heat of the fire against them, did make it warmer than the Mansion house. In this house, we dressed our victual: and the subordinate crew did refresh themselves all day in it. A third house, (which was our store-house) we likewise made, some twenty paces off from this; for fear of firing. This house was only a rough tree fastened aloft: with rafters laid from it to the ground, and covered over with our new suit of sails. On the inside, we had laid small trees, and covered them over with boughs: and so stored up our Bread, and Fish in it; about two foot from the ground: the better to preserve them. Other things lay more carelessly. Long before Christmas, our mansion house was covered thick over with Snow: almost to the very roof of it. And so likewise was our second house: but our Storehouse, all over: by reason we made no fire in it. Thus we seemed to live in aheape, and Wilderness of Snow; forth adores we could not go, but upon the snow: in which we made us paths middle deep in some places: and in one special place, the length of ten steps. To do this, we must shovel away the Snow first; and then by treadding, make it something hard underfoot: The Snow in this path, was a full yard thick under us. And this was our best gallery for the sickemen: and for mine own ordinary walking. And both houses and walks, we did daily accommodate more and more, and make fitter for our uses. The twenty seventh, 27. we got our Boat ashore: and fetched up some of our provisions from the beach side into the Storehouse: and so by degrees did we with therest of our provisions: with extremity of cold and labour, making way with shovels thorough the deep Snow; even from the Seaside unto our Storehouse. And thus concluded we the old year. 1631. january, 1632. The first of january (and for the most part all the month) was extreme cold. The sixth, 6. I observed the latitude, with what exactness I could (it being very clear Sunshine weather) which I found to be 51. 52. This difference, is by reason that here is a great Refraction. The one and twentieth, 21. I observed the Sun to rise like an Ouall, alongst the Horizon: I called three or four to see it, the better to confirm my judgement: and we all agreed, that it was twice as long as it was broad. We plainly perceived withal, that by degrees as it gate up higher, it also recovered his roundness. The six and twentieth, 26. I observed, when the Eastern edge of the Moon did touch the Planet Mars, the Lion's heart was then in the East quarter 21. 45. above the Horizon: but all this was not done with that exactness, that I have done other observations. The thirtieth and one and thirtieth, 30. & 31. there appeared in the beginning of the night, more Stars in the firmament, than ever I had before seen by two thirds. I could see the Cloud in Cancer full of small Stars: and all the via lactea, nothing but small Stars: and amongst the Plyades, a great many small Stars. About ten a Clock, the Moon did rise; and then a quarter of them was not to be seen. The wind for the most part of this month, hath been Northerly, and very cold: the warmest of which time we employed ourselves in fetching Wood, working upon our Pinnace and other things that happened. In the beginning of this month, the Sea was all firmly frozen over, so that we could see no water any way. I hope it will not seem tedious to the Readers, if I here deliver mine own opinion, how this abundance of Ice comes to be engendered. The Land that encircles this great Bay, (which lies in a broken Irregular form, making many little should Bays, and Guts, being, moreover, full of Lands and dry sands) is for the most part low and flat, and hath flat shoalds adjoining to it, half a mile or a mile, that are dry at low water. Now you must know, that it flows half tied (as I have often experienced) that is, from whence the flood cometh, the water thither returneth, two hours before it be high water, or full Sea. It seldom raines, after the middle of September: but snows: and that Snow will not melt on the Land nor Sands; At low water when it snows (which it doth very often) the sands are all covered over with it; which the half tide carries officiously (twice in twenty four hours) into the great Bay, which is the common Rendezvous of it, Every low water, are the sands left clear, to gather more to the increase of it. Thus doth it daily gather together in this manner, till the latter end of October, and by that time hath it brought the Sea to that coldness, that as it snows, the snow will lie upon the water in flakes without changing his colour; but with the wind is wrought together; and as the winter goes forward, it begins to freeze on the surface of it, two or three inches or more in one night: which being carried with the half tide, meets with some obstacle, (as it soon doth) and then it crumples and so runs upon itself, that in a few hours it will be five or six foot thick. The half tide still flowing, carries it so fast away, that by December it is grown to an infinite multiplication of Ice. And thus by this storing of it up, the cold gets the predomination in the Sea (which also furnisheth the Springs and water, in the low flat lands) that it cools it like itself. This may appear by our experience, though in all this, I freely submit myself unto the better learned. Our men found it more mortifying cold to wade thorough the water in the beginning of june when the Sea was all full of Ice; then in December, when it was increasing. Our Well, moreover, out of which we had water in December, we had none in july. The ground at ten foot deep, was frozen. The quantity of the Ice, may very easily be made to appear, by Mathematical Demonstration: and yet I am not of the opinion, that the Bay doth freeze all over. For the one and twentieth, the wind blowing a storm at North, we could perceive the Ice to rise something in the Bay. February, 1632. The cold was as extreme this month, as at any time we had felt it this year: and many of our men complained of infirmities. Some, of sore mouths; all the teeth in their heads being loose, their gums swollen, with black rotten flesh; which must every day be cut away. The pain was so sore on them, that they could not eat their ordinary meat. Others complained of pain in their heads, and their breasts: Some of weakness in their backs; Others of aches in their thighs and knees: and others, of swellings in their legs. Thus were two thirds of the company, under the Surgeon's hand. And yet nevertheless, they must work daily; and go abroad to fetch wood, and timber; notwithstanding the most of them had no shoes to put on. Their shoes, upon their coming to the fire, out of the snow, were burnt and scorched upon their feet: and our store-shooes were all sunk in the Ship. In this necessity they would make this shift: To bind clouts about their feet, and endeavoured by that poor help, the best they could to perform their duties. Our Carpenter likewise is by this time fall'n sick to our great discomforts. I practised some observations by the rising and setting of the Sun, calculating the time of his rising and setting, by very true running glasses. As for our Clock and Watch, notwithstanding we still kept them by the fires side, in a Chest wrapped in clothes, yet were they so frozen, that they could not go. My observations by these Glasses, I compared with the Stars coming to the Meridian. By this means we found the Sun to rise twenty minutes before it should: and in the evening to remain above the Horizon twenty minutes (or thereabouts) longer than it should do. And all this by reason of the Refraction. Since now I have spoken so much of the cold, I hope it will not be too coldly taken, if I in a few words make it someway to appear unto our Readers. We made three differences of the cold: all according to the places. In our house, In the woods: and in the open Air, upon the Ice, in our going to the ship. For the last, it would be sometimes so extreme, that it was not indurable: no clothes were proof against it; no motion could resist it. It would, moreover, so frieze the hair on our eyelids, that we could not see: and I verily believe, that it would have stifled a man, in a very few hours: we did daily find by experience, that the cold in the Woods would freeze our faces, or any part of our flesh that was bare; but it was yet not so mortifying as the other. Our house on the outside, was covered two thirdparts with Snow; and on the inside frozen, & hang with Icesickles. The clothes on our beds would be covered with hoar frost: which in this little habitacle, was not far from the fire. But let us come a little nearer to it. The Cook's Tubs, wherein he did water his meat, standing about a yard from the fire, and which he did all day ply with melted Snow-water: yet in the night season, whilst he slept but one watch, would they be firm frozen to the very bottom. And therefore was he feign to water his meat in a brass Kettle close adjoining to the fire; and I have many times both seen and felt by putting my hand into it; that side which was next the fire, was very warm, and the other side an inch frozen; I leave the rest to our Cook; who will almost speak miracles of the cold. The Surgeon, who had hung his bottles of syrups, and other liquid things as conveniently as he could to preserve them, had them all frozen: our Vinegar, Oil, and Sack, which we had in small Cask in the house, was all firm frozen. It may further in general be conceived, that in the beginning of june, the Sea was not broken up: and the ground was yet frozen, and thus much we found by experience, in the burying of our men: in setting up the King's Standard towards the latter end of june: and by our Well, at our coming away in the beginning of july: at which time upon the land for some other reasons, it was very hot weather. March, 1632. The first of this month being Saint David's day, 1. we kept Holiday, and solemnised it in the manner of the Ancient Britain's: praying for his Highness' happiness Charles Prince of Wales. The fifteenth, 15. one of our men thought he had seen a Dear: whereupon he with two or three more desired that they might go to see if they could take it: I gave them leave: but in the Evening they returned so disabled with cold, which did rise up in blisters under the soles of their feet and upon their legs, to the bigness of Walnuts; that they could not recover their former estate (which was not very well) in a fortnight after. The six and twentieth, 16. three more desire that they also might go out to try their fortunes: but they returned worse disabled, and even almost stifled with the cold. This Evening, the Moon rose in a very long Ovale alongst the Horizon. By the last of this month, the Carpenter had set up 17. ground timbers: and 34. Staddles; and (poor man) he proceedeth the best he can, though he be fain to be led unto his labour. In brief, all this month hath been very cold. The wind about the N. W. The snow as deep as it hath been all this winter; But to answer an objection that may be made, You were in a wood (may some men say unto us) and therefore you might make fire enough to keep you from the cold. It is true, we were in a wood; and under a South-banke too: or otherwise, we had all starved. But I must tell you withal; how difficult it was to have wood in a wood: And first, I will make a muster of the tools we had: The Carpenter in his Chest had 2. Axes indeed: but one of them was spoiled in cutting down wood to pile about our house before Christmas; When we came first a land, we had but two whole hatchets, which in a few days broke 2. inches below the Sockets. I called for 3. of the Cooper's hatchets: The Carpenter's axe and the Cooper's best hatchet I caused to be locked up: The other 2. hatchets to be new helued, and the blades of the 2. broken hatchets, to be put into a cleft piece of wood, and then to be bound about with rope yame as fast as might be: which must be repaired every day. And these were all the cutting tools we had: moreover the 6. of February the Carpenter had out his best axe about something, and one of the company in his absence, by his undiscreet handling of it, broke that too, two inches below the Socket: we must henceforth order these pieces of tools the best we could: wherefore I gave order, that the Carpenter should have one of the Cooper's hatchets: they that looked for timber in the woods, the other: and they that cut down wood to burn, were to have the 2. pieces. And this was before Christmas. The three that were appointed to look crooked timber, must stalk and wade, (sometimes on all four) thorough the snow: and where they saw a tree likely to fit the mould: they must first heave away the snow, and then see if it would fit the mould: if not, they must seek further: if it did fit the mould; then they must make a fire to it, to thawe it: otherwise it could not be cut. Then cut it down, and fit it to the length of the mould: and then with other help, get it home: a mile thorough the snow. Now for our firing. We could not burn green wood, it would so smoke, that it was not indurable: yea the men had rather starve without in the cold, then sit by it. As for the dry wood, that also was bad enough in that kind: for it was full of Turpentine, and would send forth such a thick smoke, that would make abundance of soot: which made us all look, as if we had been free of the company of Chimneysweepers. Our clothes were quite burnt in pieces about us: and for the most part, we were all without shoes: But to our Fuellers again. They must first (as the former) go up and down in the snow: till they saw a standing dry tree: for that the snow covered any that were fallen. Then they must hack it down with their pieces of hatchets: and than others must carry it home thorough the snow. The boys with Cuttleasses, must cut boughs for the Carpenter: for every piece of timber that he did work, must first be thawed in the fire: and he must have a fire by him, or he could not work. And this was our continual labour, throughout the forementioned cold: besides our tending of the sick, and other necessary employments. April. 1632. The first of this month being Easter-day, 1. we solemnised as religiously as God did give us grace. Both this day and the 2. following Holidays were extreme cold: And now sitting all about the fire, we reasoned and considered together upon our estate; We had 5. men (whereof the Carpenter was one:) not able to do any thing. The Boateswayne and many more, were very infirm: and of all the rest, we had but 5. that could eat of their ordinary allowance. The time and season of the year came forwards apace: and the cold did very little mitigate. Our Pinnace was in an indifferent forwardness: but the Carpenter grew worse and worse: The Ship (as we then thought) lay all full of solid Ice: which was weight enough to open the seams of any new and sound vessel: especially of one that had laid so long upon the ground as she had done. In brief, after many disputations, and laying open of our miserable and hopeless estates, I resolved upon this course: that notwithstanding it was more labour, and though we declined, weaker still and weaker: yet that with the first warm weather, we would begin to clear the Ship: that so we might have the time before us, to think of some other course. This being ordered, we looked to those tools we had, to dig the Ice out of her: we had but 2. Iron bars ashore: the rest were sunk in the Ship: and one of them was broken too. Well! we fell to fitting of those bars, and of 4. broken shovels that we had: with which we intended (as after we did) to dig the Ice out of her: and to lay that Ice on a heap, upon the Larboard bow, and to sink down that Ice to the ground so fast, that it should be a Barricadoe to us, when the Ice broke up; which we feared would tear us all to pieces. The 6. was the deepest snow we had all this year: 6. which filled up all our paths and ways, by which we were used to go unto the wood: This snow was something moister and greater, than any we had had all this year: for formerly it was as dry as dust; and as small as sand, and would drive like dust with the wind. The weather continued with this extremity, 15. until the 15. at which time our spring was harder frozen, than it had been all the year before. I had often observed the difference betwixt clear weather and misty Refractious weather: in this manner. From a little hill which was near adjoining to our house; in the clearest weather, when the Sun shone with all the purity of air, that I could conceive: we could not see a little Island; which bore off us South Southeast, some four leagues off: but if the weather were misty (as aforesaid) than we should often see it, from the lowest place. This little Island I had seen the last year, when I was on Danby Island: 13. The 13. I took the height of it instrumentally; standing near the Seas side: which I found to be 34. minutes: the Sun being 28. degrees high. This shows, how great a Refraction here is. Yet may this be noted by the way; That I have seen the land elevated, by reason of the refractious air; and nevertheless, the Sun hath risen perfect round. The sixteenth was the most comfortable Sunshine day, 16. that came this year: and I put some to clear off the snow from the upper decks of the Ship; and to clear and dry the great cabin, by making fire in it. Others I put to dig down thorough the Ice, to come by our Anchor, that was in should water, which the 17. in the afternoon we got up, 17. and carried aboard. The eighteenth, 18. I put them to dig down thorough the Ice, near the place where we thought our Rudder might be. They digged down, and came to water: but no hope of finding of it: we had many doubts, that it might be sanded: or that the Ice might have carried it away already, the last year: or if we could not recover it by digging before the Ice broke up, and drove, there was little hope of it. The nineteenth we continued our myning work aboard the Ship; 19 and returned in the Evening to Supper ashore: This Day, The Master and two others, desired that they might lie aboard: which I condescended to: for indeed they had lain very discommodiously all the winter, and with sick bedfellows: as I myself had done; every one in that kind taking their fortunes. By lying aboard, they avoided the hearing of the miserable groan: and lamenting of the sick men all night long: enduring (poor souls) intolerable torments. By the one and twentieth, 21. we had laboured so hard, that we came to see a Cask; and could likewise perceive that there was some water in the Hold. This we knew could not be thawed water; because it did still freeze night and day very hard aboard the Ship, and one the land also. By the three and twentieth in the Evening, 23. we came to pierce the forementioned Cask: and found it was full of very good Beer, which did much rejoice us all: especially the sickemen, notwithstanding that it did taste a little of bulgewater. By this we at that time thought that the holes we had cut to sink the Ship, were frozen, and that this water had stood in the Ship all the Winter. The four and twentieth, 24. we went betimes in the morning to work: but found that the water was risen above the Ice where we had left work, about two foot: for that the wind had blown very hard at North, the night before. In the morning, the wind came about South, and blew hard, and although we had little reason for it; we yet expected a lower veer of the water. I there upon put them to work on the outside of the Ship: that we might come to the lower hole, which we had cut in the Sterne-Shootes. With much labour by night, we digged down thorough the Ice to it; and found it unfrozen (as it had been all the Winter) and to our great comforts, we found that on the inside, the water was ebbed even with the hole: and that on the outside, it was ebbed a foot lower. Hereupon I made a shot-boord to be nailed on it: and to be made as tied as might be, to try if the water came in any other way. To the other two holes, we had digged on the inside: and found them frozen? Now I did this betimes, that if we found the Ship foundered, we might resolve of some course to save, or prolong our lives, by getting to the main before the Ice were broken up: for, as for our Boat, it was too little, and bulged, besides that. Our Carpenter was by this time past hope: and therefore little hope had we of our Pinnace. But which was worst of all, we had not four men able to travel through the Snow over the Ice, and in this miserable estate were we at this present. The 25. we satisfied our longing: 25. for the wind now coming about Northerly, the water rose by the Ships side (where we had digged down) a foot and more above the Hold: and yet did not rise within board. This did so encourage us, that we fell very lustily to digging, and to heave out the Ice, out of the ship. I put the Cook and some others, to thaw the pumps: who by continual pouring of hot water into them; by the 27. in the morning they had cleared one of them: which we saying, found that it did deliver water very sufficiently. Thus we fell to pumping: and having cleared two foot water, we then left to have a second trial. Continuing our work thus, 28. in digging the Ice; by the 28. we had cleared our other pump: which we also found to deliver water very well: We found likewise, that the water did not rise any thing, in Hold. The 29. it reigned all day long, 29. a sure sign to us, that winter was broken up. The 30. we were betimes aboard at our work: 30. which day, 31. and the one and thirtieth, were very cold, with snow and hail: which did pinch our sick men more than any time this year. This evening being May Even; we returned late from our work to our house: and made a good fire, and chose Ladies, and did ceremoniously wear their names in our Caps: endeavouring to revive ourselves by any means. And because you hear us in this merry humour; I will make known to you what good cheer we kept at Christmas and Easter: and how we had dieted ourselves all the winter. At our coming forth of England, we were stored with all sort of Sea provisions: as Beef, Pork, Fish, etc. but now that we had little hope of refreshing, our Cook did order it in this manner. The Beef which was to serve on Sunday-night to Supper; he did boil on Saterday-night, in a Kettle full of water, with a quart of Oaterneale, about an hour: Then taking the Beef out, he boiled the rest till it came to half the quantity: And this we called porridge: which with bread we did eat, as hot as we could: and after this we had our ordinary of fish. Sunday dinner, we had Pork and Pease: and at night the former boiled Beef made more porridge. In this manner our Tuesday's Beef was boiled on the Monday nights: and the Thursdays, upon the Wednesdays. And thus all the week (except Friday night) we had some warm thing in our bellies every supper. And (surely) this did us a great deal of good. But soon after Christmas, many of us fell sick, and had sore mouths: and could neither eat Beef, Pork, Fish, nor Porridge. Their diet was only this: They would pound Bread, or Oatmeal in a mortar, to meal: then fry it in a frying pan, with a little oil, and so eat it. Some would boil Pease to a soft paste, and feed as well as they could, upon that. For the most part of the winter, water was our drink. In the whole winter, we took not above a dozen Foxes: many of which would be dead in the traps, two or three days, oftentimes; and then when the blood was settled, they would be unwholesome. But if we took one alive, that had not been long in the trap, him we boiled, and made broth for the weakest sick men of him: the flesh of it being soft boiled they did eat also. Some white partridges we killed: but not worth the mentioning towards any refreshing. We had three sorts of sickemen. Those that could not move nor turn themselves in their Beds, who must be tended like an Infant. Others that were as it were creepled with scurvy Aches. And others last, that were something better. Most of all had sore mouths. You may now ask me, how these infirm men could work? I will tell you: Our Surgeon (which was diligent, and a sweet-conditioned man, as ever I saw) would be up betimes in the mornings; and whilst he did pick their Teeth, and cut away the dead flesh from their Gums, they would bathe their own thighs, knees, and legs. The manner whereof way this: There was no tree, bud, nor herb; but we made trial of it: and this being first boiled in a Kettle, and then put in a small Tubs, and Basins: they put it under them, and covering themselves with clothes upon it; this would so mollify the grieved parts, that although, when they did rise out of their Beds, they would be so crippled, that they could scarce stand: yet after this done half an hour, they would be able to go (and must go) to wood, thorough the Snow, to the Ship, and about their other business. By night, they would be as bad again: and then they must be bathed, anointed, and their mouths again dressed, before they went to Bed. And with this diet, and in this manner, did we go thorough our miseries. I ever doubted, that we should be weakest in the Spring; and therefore had I reserved a Tun of Alicant Wine unto this time. Of this, by putting seven parts of water, to one of wine, we made some weak Beverage: which (by reason that the wine by being frozen, had lost his Virtue) was little better than water. The sicker sort had a Pint of Alicant a day, by itself; and of such poor Aqua vitae too, as we had, they had a little dram allowed them next their hearts every morning; and thus we made the best use of what we had, according to the seasons. May, 1632. The first, 1. we went aboard betimes, to heave out the Ice. The second, 2. it did snow and blow, and was so cold, that we were fain to keep house all day. This unexpected cold at this time of the year did so vex our sick men; that they grew worse and worse: we cannot now take them out of their beds, but they would swoon: and we had much ado, to fetch life in them. The third, 3. those that were able, went aboard betimes to heave out the Ice. The Snow was now melted in many places upon the Land, and stood in plashes: and now there came some Cranes, and Geese to it. The fourth, 4. while the rest wrought aboard, I and the Surgeon went with a couple of pieces, to see if we could kill any of these fowl for our sick men, but never did I see such wildfowl: They would not endure to see any thing move. Wherefore we returned within 2. hours, not being able to endure any longer stalking thorough the snow, and the wet plashes. I verily thought that my feet and legs would have fallen off, they did so torment me with aching. The 6. john Wardon, 6. the Master of my Ships chief Mate died, whom we buried in the Evening (in the most Christianlike manner we could) upon the top of a bare hill of sand: which we called Brandon Hill. The weather continued very cold: freezing so hard in a night, that it would bear a man. By the 9 we were come to, 9 and got up our five barrels of Beef and Pork, and had found 4. Butts of Beer, and one of Cydar, which God had preserved for us: It had laid under water all the winter; yet we could not perceive that it was any thing the worse. God make us ever thankful for the comfort it gave us. The 10. it did snow and blow so cold, 10. that we could not stir out of the house: yet nevertheless, by day the snow vanisheth away apace on the land. The 11. we were aboard betimes, 11. & 12. to heave out Ice. By the 12. at night, we had cleared out all the Ice, out of the Hold: and found likewise our store-shooes which had laid soaked in the water all the winter: but we dried them by the fire, and fitted ourselves with them. We struck again our Cables into the Hold; there stowed we a But of Wine also, which had been all the Winter on the upper deck, and continued as yet, all firm frozen. We fitted the Ship also: making her ready to sink her again, when the Ice broke up. We could hitherto find no defect in her: and therefore well hoped, that she was stanch. The Carpenter, nevertheless, did earnestly argue to the contrary: alleging, that now she lay on the ground, in her Dock; and that the Ice had filled her defects: and that the Ice was the thing that kept out the water: but when she should come to labour in the sea; then doubtless, she would open. And indeed we could now see quite through her seams, betwixt wind and water. But that which did trouble us as ill as all this, was the loss of her Rudder: and that she now lay in the very strength of the Tide: which, when ever the Ice drove, might tear her to pieces. But we still hoped the best. The 13. 13. being the Sabbath Day, we solemnised; giving God thanks for those hopes and comforts we daily had: The weather by daytime was pretty and warm: but it did freeze by night: yet now we could see some bare patches of land. The 14. 14. we began a new sort of work. The Boatswain and a convenient number sought ashore the rest of our Rigging: which was much spoilt by pecking of it out of the Ice: and this they now fell to fitting, and to serving of it. I set the Cooper to fit our Cask, although (poor man) he was very infirm: my intent being, to pass some Cables under the Ship, and so to Buoy her up with these Cask; if otherwise we could not get her off. Some others, I ordered to go see, if they could kill some wildfowl for our sick men: who now grew worse and worse. And this is to be remembered, that we had no shot, but what we did make of the Aprons of our Guns and some old pewter that I had: for the Carpenters-sheet-lead, we durst not use. The 15. I manured a little patch of ground, 15. that was bare of snow; and sowed it with Peason: hoping to have some of the herbs of them shortly, to eat: for as yet we can find no green thing to comfort us. The 18. our Carpenter William Cole died, 18. a man generally bemoaned of us all: as much for his innate goodness, as for the present necessity we had of a man of his quality. He had endured a long sickness, with much patience, and made a very godly end. In the Evening, we buried him by Master Wardon: accompanied with as many as could go: for 3. more of our principal men, lay then expecting a good hour. And now were we in the most miserable estate, that we were in all the voyage. Before his extreme weakness, he had brought the Pinnace to that pass, that she was ready to be bolted and trenneld; and to be joined together to receive the plank: so that we were not so discouraged by his death, but that we did hope of ourselves to finish her: if the Ship proved unserviceable. This our Pinnace was 27. foot by the Keel, 10. foot by the Beam, and 5. foot in Hold: she had 17. ground timbers, 34. principal Staddles, and 8. short Staddles. He had contrived Her with a round stern, to save labour: and indeed she was a well proportioned Vessel. Her burden was 12. or 14. Tun. In the Evening, the Master of our Ship, after burial returning aboard Ship, and looking about her: discovered some part of our Gunner; under the Gun-roome ports. This man, we had committed to the Sea at a good distance from the Ship, and in deep water, near 6. months before. The 19 in the morning, 19 I sent men to dig him out, he was fast in the Ice, his head downwards, and his heel upward, for he had but one leg; and the plaster was yet at his wound: In the afternoon, they had digged him clear out: after all which time, he was as free from noisomeness, as when we first committed him to the Sea. This alteration had the Ice and water, and time only wrought on him: that his flesh would slip up and down upon his bones, like a glove on a man's hand. In the Evening we buried him by the others. This day, one George Vgganes (who could handle a tool best of us all) had indifferent well repaired out boat: and so we ended this mournful week. The snow was by this time prettily well wasted in the woods: and we having a high tree, on the highest place of the Island, which we called our watch-tree; from the top of it we might see into the sea, but found no appearance of breaking up yet. This 20. being Whit-Sunday, 20. we sadly solemnised, and had some taste of the wildfowl: but not worth the writing. The one and twentieth, 21. was the warmest Sunne-shine-day, that came this year. I sent 2. afowling: and myself taking the Master, the Surgeon, and one more, with our pieces and our Dogs, we went into the woods to see what comfort we could find. We wandered from the house eight miles; and searched with all diligence: but returned comfortless, not an herb nor leaf eatable, that we could find. Our Fowlers had as bad success. In the woods, we found the Snow partly wasted away, so that it was passable. The ponds were almost unthawd: but the Sea from any place we could see all firm frozen. The snow doth not melt away here with the Sun or rain; and so make any land-floods; as in England: but it is exhaled up by the Sun, and sucked full of holes, like honey-combs: so that the sand whereon it lies, will not be at all wetted. The like observation we also had: that let it rain ever so much, you shall see no land-floods after it. The two and twentieth, 22. we went aboard the Ship: and found that she had made so much water, that it was now risen above the ballast, which made us doubt again of her soundness. We fell to pumping, and pumped her quite dry. And now by day sometimes, we have such hot gloomes, that we cannot endure in the Sun: and yet in the night it would freeze very hard. This unnaturalness of the season, did torment our men, that they now grew worse and worse daily. The three and twentieth, 23. our Boatswayne (a painful man) having been long sick, which he had heartily resisted, was taken with such a painful ache in one of his thighs; that we verily thought he would have presently died. He kept his bed all day in great extremity: and it was a maxim amongst us; that if any one kept his bed two days, he could rise no more. This made every man to strive to keep up, for life. The four and twentieth was very warm Sunshine: 24. and the Ice did consume by the shores side, and cracked all over the Bay, with a fearful noise. About three in the afternoon, we could perceive the Ice with the ebb to drive by the Ship. Whereupon I sent two with all speed unto the Master, with order: to beat out the hole, and to sink the Ship: as likewise to look for the Rudder, betwixt the Ice. This he presently performed: and a happy fellow, one David Hammon, pecking betwixt the Ice, struck upon it, and it came up with his lance: who crying that he had found it, the rest came and got it up on the Ice, and so into the Ship. In the mean space, with the little drift that the Ice had, it began to rise and mount into high heaps against the should shores, and rocks: and likewise against the heap of Ice, which we had put for a Barricado to our Ship: but with little harm to us. Yet we were fain to cut away 20. fathom of Cable which was frozen in the Ice. After an hour, the Ice settled again, as not having any vent outwards. Oh! this was a joyful day to us all: and we gave God thanks for the hopes we had of it. The five and twentieth was a fine warm day; 25 and with the ebb, the Ice did drive against the Ship, and shake her shrewdly. The six and twentieth, 26. I took the Chirurgeon with me, and went again to wander the woods: and went to that Bay, where last year we had lost our man john Barton. But we could find no sign of him, nor of other relief. By the eight and twentieth it was pretty and clear, 28. betwixt the Ship and the shore, and I hoped the Ice would no more dangerously oppress us. Wherefore I caused the lower hole to be firmly stopped: the water then remaining three foot, above the Ballast. The nine and twentieth, 29. being Prince Charles his birth day; we kept Holiday, and displayed his Majesty's Colours: both aland and aboard; and named our habitation Charles Town; by contraction Charlton: and the Island, Charlton Island. The thirtieth we launched our Boat; 30. and had intercourse sometimes betwixt the Ship and the shore by Boat: which was news to us. The last of this month, we found on the Beach some Vetches, to appear out of the ground; which I made the men to pick up, and to boil for our sick men. This day, we made an end of fitting all our Rigging and sails: and it being a very hot day, we did dry and new make our Fish in the Sun: and ayred all our other provisions. There was not a man of us at present, able to eat of our salt provisions, but myself and the Master of my Ship. It may be here remembered, that all this Winter we had not been troubled with any rheums, nor flegmaticall diseases. All this month the wind hath been variable, but for the most part Northerly. june. 1632. The four first days, it did snow, hail, and blow very hard; and was so cold, that the Ponds of water did freeze over: and the water in our Cans did freeze in the very house: our clothes also that had been washed and hung out to dry, did not thaw all day. The fifth, 5. it continued blowing very hard in the broad side of the Ship: which did make her swag and wallow in her Dock for all she was sunken: which did much shake her. The Ice withal did drive against her, and gave her many fearful blows. I resolved to endeavour to hang the Rudder; and when God sent us water, (notwithstanding the abundance of Ice that was yet about us) to have her further off: In the afternoon, we under-run our small Cable to our Anchor, which lay astern in deep water; and so with some difficulty gate up our Anchor: This Cable had lain slack underfoot, and under the Ice, all the Winter: and we could never have a clear slatch from Ice, to have it up, before now; we found it not a jot the worse. I put some to make Colrakes; that they might go into the water, and rake a hole in the sands to let down our Rudder. The sixth, 6. we went about to hang it. And our young lustiest men took turns, to go into the water, and to rake away the sand: but they were not able to endure the cold of it half a quarter of an hour, it was so mortifying: yea, use what comforts we could, it would make them swoon and dye away. We brought it to the Sternepost: but were then fain to give it over, being able to work at it no longer. Then we plugged up the upper holes, within board: and fell to pumping the water again out of her. The seventh we wrought something about our Rudder, 7. but were again forced to give over; and to put out our Cables overboard, with Messengers unto them: the Ankers lying to that pass, that we might keep her right in her dock, when we should have brought her light. By the eighth at night, 8. we had pumped all the water out of her: and she at a high water would fleet in her dock, though she were still dockt in the sands, almost fourefoot. This made us to consider what was to be done. I resolved to heave out all the Ballast: for that the bottom of her being so soaked all the winter, I hoped was so heavy, that it would bear her. If we could not get her off that way, I then thought to cut her down to the lower deck, and take out her Masts: and so with our Cask to Buoy her off. The ninth, 9 betimes in the morning we fell to work, we hoist out our Beer and Cydar, and made a raft of it; fastening it to our shoare-Anker: The Beer and Cydar sunk presently to the ground: which was nothing strange to us; for that any wood or pipeslaves that had laid under the Ice all the winter, would also sink down, so soon as ever it was heaved overboard: This day we heaved out ten ton of Ballast. And here I am to remember God's goodness towards us: in sending those forementioned green Vetches. For now our feeble sick men, that could not for their lives stir these two or three months, can endure the air and walk about the house: our other sick men gather strength also: and it is wonderful to see how soon they were recovered. We used them in this manner: Twice a day we went to gather the herb or leaf of these Vetches, as they first appeared out of the ground: then did we wash and boil them, and so with Oil and Vinegar that had been frozen, we did eat them: It was an excellent sustenance and refreshing: the most part of us ate nothing else: we would likewise bruise them, and take the juice of them, and mix that with our drink: we would eat them raw also, with our bread. The eleventh was very warm weather, 11. and we did hang our Rudder. The tides did now very much deceive us: for a Northerly wind would very little raise the water. This made us doubt of getting off our Ship. The thirteenth I resolved of the Latitude of this place, 13. so that having examined the Instruments, and practised about it this Fortnight, I now found it to be in 52 degrees, and 3 minutes. The foureteenth we had heaved out all the Ballast, 14. and carried all our Yards, and every thing else of weight ashore, so that we now had the Ship as light as possible it could be. The fifteenth we did little but exercise ourselves: 15. seeing that by this time, our men that were most feeble, are now grown strong, and can run about. The flesh of their gums became settled again, and their teeth fastened: so that they can eat Beef with their Vetches. This day I went to our Watch-tree: but the Sea (for any thing I could perceive to the contrary) was still firm frozen: and the Bay we were in, all full of Ice, having no way to vent it. The sixteenth was wondrous hot, 16. with some thunder and lightning, so that our men did go into the ponds ashore, to swim and cool themselves: yet was the water very cold still. Here had lately appeared diverse sorts of flies: as Butterflies, Butchers-flyes, Horseflyes: and such an infinite abundance of bloodthirsty Muskitoes, that we were more tormented with them, than ever we were with the cold weather. These (I think) lie dead in the old rotten wood all the winter, and in summer they revive again. Here be likewise infinite company of Ants, and Frogs in the ponds upon the land: but we durst not eat of them; they looked so speckled like Toads. By this time were there neither Bears, Foxes, nor Fowl to be seen: they are all gone. The seventeenth, 17. the wind came Northerly, and we expecting a high Tide, in the morning betimes, put out our small Cable asterne out at the Gun-roome-port: but the morning Tide we had not water by a foot. In the Evening I had laid marks, by stones, etc. and me thoughts the water did flow apace. Making signs therefore for the Boat to come ashore; I took all that were able to do any thing with me aboard: and at high water (although she wanted something to rise clear out of her dock) yet we heaved with such a good will, that we heaved her thorough the sand into a foot and a half deeper water. Further than so, we durst not yet bring her, for that the Ice was all thick about us. After we had moored her, we went all to prayers: and gave God thanks, that had given us our ship again. The 18th. 18. we were up betimes: the Cooper, and some with him, to fill fresh water: myself with some others, to gather stones at low-water; which we pyling up in a heap, at high water the Cock-swaine and his Ging, fetched them aboard: where the Master with the rest stood them. The Ship at low water had a great lust to the offing: by which means we could the better come and stop the two upper holes firmly: after which we fitted other convenient places, to make others to sink her, if occasion were. The ninteenth, 19 we were all up betimes to work, as afore specified: these two days, our Ship did not fleet: and it was a happy hour, when we got her off, for that we never had such a high Tide all the time we were here. In the Evening, I went up to our Watch tree: and this was the first time I could see any open water, any way: except that little by the shoareside, where we were. This put us in some comfort, that the Sea would shortly break up: which we knew must be to the Northward; seeing that way we were certain, there was above two hundred leagues of Sea. The 20. 20. we laboured as aforesaid. The wind at N. N. W. The tide rose so high, that our Ship fleeted, and we drew her further off, into a foot and a half deep water. Thus we did it by little and little; for that the Ice was still wonderful thick about us. The 22. 22. there drove much Ice about us, and within us, and brought home our Sterne-Anker. At high water (notwithstanding all the Ice) we heaved our Ship further off: that so she might lie afloat at low-water. The next low-water, we sounded all about the Ship: and found it very foul ground, we discovered stones 3. foot high, above the ground, and 2. of them within a Ships breadth of the Ship: whereby did more manifestly appear God's mercies to us: for if when we forced her ashore, she had strooken one blow against those stones, it had bulged her. Many such dangers were there in this Bay: which we now first perceived, by the Ices grounding and rising against them. In the Evening, we towed off the Ship, unto the place she rid the last year, and there moored her. Shering the Ship, night and day, flood and ebb, amongst the dispersed Ice that came athwart of us. The 23. 23. we laboured in fetching our provisions aboard: which to do, we were fain to wade to carry it to the boat a full flightshot: and all by reason the wind was Southerly. This morning, I took an Observation of the Moons coming to the South, by a Meridian line of 120. yards long: which I had rectified many weeks beforehand. The 24. 24. I took another Observation of the Moons coming to the Meridian: for which I refer you to the observations in the latter end of this journal. Whereas I had formerly cut down a very high tree, and made a Cross of it, to it I now fastened (uppermost) the Kings and Queen's Majesty's Pictures; drawn to the life: and doubly wrapped in lead, and so close, that no weather could hurt them. Betwixt both these I affixed his Majesty's Royal Title: Viz. Charles the first King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland: as also of Newfoundland, and of these Territories, and to the Westward, as far as Nova Albion, and to the Northward to the Latitude of 80. degrees, etc. On the outside of the lead, I fastened a shilling and a sixpences of his Majesty's Coin: under that, we fastened the King's Arms, fairly cut in lead: and under that, the Arms of the City of Bristol. And this being Midsummer-Day, we raised it on the top of the bare Hill, where we had buried our dead fellows: formally by this ceremony taking possession of these Territories, to his Majesty's use. The wind continuing Southerly and blowing hard, put all the Ice upon us: so that the Ship now rid amongst it, in such apparent danger, that I thought verily we should have lost her. We laboured, flood and ebb, both with poles and oars, to heave away and part the Ice from her. But it was God that did protect and preserve us: for it was passed any man's understanding, how the Ship could endure it, or we by our labour save her. In the night, the wind shifted to the Westward, and blew the Ice from us: whereby we had some rest. The 25. 25. in the morning, the Boateswayne with a convenient crew with him, began to rig the Ship: the rest fetching our provisions aboard. About 10. a clock, when it was something dark, I took a Lance in my hand; and one with me with a Musket and some fire, and went to our watch-tree; to make a fire on the eminentest place of the Island: to see if it would be answered: Such fires I had formerly made, to have knowledge if there were any Saluages on the main or the Lands about us. Had there been any, my purpose was to have gone to them, to get some intelligence of some Christians, or some Ocean Sea thereabouts. When I was come to the tree, I laid down my Lance, and so did my Consort his Musket: and whilst myself climbed up to the top of the tree, I ordered him to put fire unto some low tree thereabouts. He, (unadvisedly) put fire to some trees that were to windward: so that they (and all the rest too by reason it had been very hot weather) being sear and dry, took fire like flax or hemp: and the wind blowing the fire towards me, I made haste down the tree. But before I was half way down, the fire took in the bottom of it, and blazed so fiercely upwards, that I was fain to leap off the tree, and down a steep hill, and in brief, with much ado, escaped burning. The moss on the ground was as dry as flax: and it would run most strangely, and like a train along the earth. The Musket and the Lance were both burnt. My Consort at last came to me, and was joyful to see me: for he thought verily I had been burned. And thus we went homeward together, leaving the fire increasing, and still burning most furiously. We could see no answer of it. I slept but little all night after: and at break of day, I made all our Powder and Beef, to be carried aboard. This day, I went to the hills, to look to the fire: where I saw how it did still burn most furiously: both to the Westward, and Northward: leaving one upon the hills to watch it, I came home immediately, and made them take down our new suit of sails, and carry them to the seas-side, ready to be cast in, if occasion were, and to make haste to take down our houses. About noon, the wind shifted Northerly; and our Sentinel came running home, bringing us word that the fire did follow him at hard heels, like a train of powder. It was no need to bid us take down and carry all away to the seaside. The fire came towards us with a most terrible rattling noise: bearing a full mile in breadth: and by that time we had uncovered our houses and laid hand on, to carry away our last things: the fire was come to our Town and seized on it, and (in a trice) burned it down to the ground. We lost nothing of any value in it: for we had brought it all away into a place of security. Our dogs, in this combustion, would sit down on their tails, and howl, and then run into the Sea, on the shoalds, and there stay. The wind shifted Easterly: and the fire ranged to the Westward, seeking what it might devour. This night, we lay all together aboard the Ship, and gave God thanks, that had Shipped us in her again. The twenty seven, 27. twenty eight, and twenty nine; we wrought hard, in fetching our things aboard, as likewise our water, which we must tow off with the ebb, and bring it to the Ship with the flood. Moreover, we must go about the Easter-point for drift-wood: for our tools were all so spent, that we could cut none. Wherefore, about some three days agone, I had caused our Pinnace to be sawed to pieces, and with that we stowed our Cask, intending to burn it at low waters, and such other times, as we could not work in carrying things aboard. I employed the men in fetching stones: and we did build three Tombs over our three dead fellows; filling them up with sand in a decent and handsome fashion. The least Tomb, had two tons of stones about it. The thirtieth, we most earnestly continued our labour: and brought our sails to yard: and by eleven a clock at night had made a priddy Ship: meaning to have finished our business with the week and the month, that so we might the better solemnize the Sabbath ashore to morrow, and so take leave of our wintering Island. The wind hath been variable a great while: and the Bays are now so clear of Ice, that we cannot see a piece of it: for it was all gone to the Northward. Hoping therefore that it give content to some Readers: I will relate the manner of the breaking of it up. It is first to be noted, that it doth not freeze (naturally) above six foot: the rest, is by accident. Such is that Ice that you may see here, six fathom thick. This we had manifest proof of, by our digging the Ice out of the Ship: and by digging to our Ankers, before the Ice broke up. In May, when the heat increaseth, it thaws first on the should by the shore side: which when it hath done round about, than the courses of the tides (as well by the ebb and flood, as by their rising and falling) do so shake the main Ice, that it cracks and breaks it. Thus, when it hath gotten room for motion; then runs one piece of it upon another: and so bruises and grinds itself against the shoalds and rocks, that it becomes abbreviated, insomuch that a Ship may have well passage thorough it. Besides this; much of it is thrust upon the shoalds, where it is much consumed by the heat of the Sun. The season here in this Climate, is most unnatural: for in the day time, it will be extreme hot: yea not indurable in the Sun, which is, by reason that it is a sandy country. In the night again, it will freeze an inch thick in the ponds, and in the tubs about and in our house: And all this, towards the latter end of june. The Muskitoes upon our coming away, were most intolerable. We tore an old Ancient in pieces, and made us bags of it to put our heads in: but it was no fortification against them. They would find ways and means to sting us, that our faces were swollen hard out in pumples, which would so itch and smart, that we must needs rub and tear them. And these flies, indeed, were more tormenting to us, than all the cold we had heretofore endured. july. 1632. The first of this month being Sunday, we were up betimes. And I caused our Ship to be adorned the best we could: our Ancient on the Poop, and the King's Colours in the main top. I had provided a short brief of all the passages of our voyage to this day: I likewise wrote in what state we were at present, and how I did intend to prosecute the discovery, both to the Westward, and to the Southward, about this Island. This Brief discourse I had concluded, with a request to any Noble minded Travaylor that should take it down, or come to the notice of it: that if we should perish in the Action, then to make our endeavours known to our Sovereign Lord the King. And thus with our Arms, Drum and Colours, Cook and Kettle, we went ashore, and first we marched up to our eminent Cross, adjoining to which we had buried our dead fellows. There we read morning prayer, and then walked up and down till dinner time. After dinner we walked to the highest Hills, to see which way the fire had wasted. We descried that it had consumed to the Westward, sixteen miles at least, and the whole breadth of the Island: near about our Cross and dead, it could not come: by reason it was a bare sandy Hill. After Evening prayer, I happened to walk alongst the Beach side: where I found an herb resembling Scurvygrass. I made some to be gathered: which we boiled with our meat to supper: It was most excellent good, and far better them our Vetches. After supper we went all to seek and gather more of it: which we did, to the quantity of two bushels which did afterwards much refresh us: And now the Sun was set, and the Boat comen ashore for us: whereupon we assembled ourselves together, and went up to take the last view of our dead, and to look unto their Tombs, and other things: here leaning upon mine arm, on one of their Tombs I uttered these lines, which though perchance they may procure laughter in the wiser sort (which I shall be glad of) they yet moved my young and tenderhearted companions at that time with some compassion. And these they were. I Were unkind, unless that I did shed, Before I part, some tears upon our dead: And when my eyes be dry, I will not cease In heart to pray, their bones may rest in peace: Their better parts, (good souls) I know were given, With an intent they should return to heaven. Their lives they spent, to the last drop of blood, Seeking God's glory, and their Country's good, And as a valiant Soldier rather dies, Then yields his courage to his Enemies: And stops their way, with his hewed flesh, when death Hath quite deprived him of his strength and breath: So have they spent themselves; and here they lie, A famous mark of our Discovery. We that survive, perchance may end our days In some employment meriting no praise; And in a dunghill rot: when no man names The memory of us, but to our shames. They have outlived this fear, and their brave ends, Will ever be an honour to their friends. Why drop ye so, mine eyes? Nay rather pour My sad departure in a solemn shower. The Winter's cold, that lately froze our blood, Now were it so extreme, might do this good, As make these tears, bright pearls: which I would lay, Tombed safely with you, till Doom's fatal day. That in this Solitary place, where none Will ever come to breathe a sigh or groan, Some remnant might be extant, of the true And faithful love, I ever tendered you. Oh, rest in peace, dear friends, and let it be No pride to say the sometime part of me. What pain and anguish doth afflict the head, The heart and stomach, when the limbs are dead: So grieved, I kiss your graves: and vow to dye, A Foster-father to your memory. Farewell. So fastening my brief to the Cross, which was securely wrapped up in Lead: we presently took Boat and departed: and never put foot more on that Island. This Island and all the rest, (as likewise the main) is a light white sand; covered over with a white moss, and full of shrubs and low bushes: excepting some bare hills, and other patches. In these bare places, the sand will drive with the wind like dust. It is very full of trees, as Spruce and juniper: but the biggest tree I saw, was but a foot and a half over. At our first coming hither, we saw some Dear and killed one: but never any since. Foxes, all the winter we saw many, and killed some dozen of them: but they went all away in May. Bears we saw but few, but killed none: we saw some other little beasts. In May there came some fowl, as Ducks and Geese: of which we killed very few. White Partridges we saw; but in small quantities: nor had we any shot, to shoot at them. Fish we could never see any in the Sea: nor no bones of fish on the shore side: excepting a few Cockleshells: and yet nothing in them neither. Other things remarkable I have before mentioned. OUR DISCOVERY and coming Home. july, 1632. MVnday being the second of july, we were up betimes: about Stowing and fitting our Ship, and weighing of our Ankers, which when the last was a trip, we went to prayer, beseeching God to continue his mercies to us, and rendering him thanks for having thus restored us. Our Ship we found no defect in; we had abundance of such provisions, as we brought out of England: and we were in indifferent health, and did gather strength daily. This being done, we weighed, and came cheerfully to sail. The wind at Northwest, bad to get away. Wherefore we stood over to Danby Island, to take in more wood; and there to be ready to take the opportunity of a fair wind. I went ashore myself with the Boat: for that some of the company had told me, they had seen some stakes the last year droven into the ground. When we came ashore, whilst some gathered wood, I went to the place: where I found two stakes, droven into the ground about a foot and a half, and firebrands, where a fire had been made by them. I pulled up the stakes, which were about the bigness of my arm; and they had been cut sharp at the ends, with a hatchet, or some other good Iron tool, and driven in as it were with the head of it. They were distant about a stones-throw, from the water side. I could not conceive, to what purpose they should be there set; unless it were for some mark for boats. This did augment my desire, to speak with the Saluages: for without doubt they could have given notice of some Christians, with whom they had some commerce. About 4. in the Evening, I returned aboard with a boats lading of wood: and the wind something favouring, we weighed; with our lead seeking out a Channel amongst these perilous shoalds. In the Evening, the wind opposing itself; we came to Anchor betwixt Charleton Island, and that Island we named the last year, (in memory of that Honourable Gentleman Master Thomas Carie, one of the Bedchamber to the King) Caries Island: where we rid all night. The 3. at break of day, 3. we weighed with a bare wind, and sounding up and down for a Channel, we were many times in 5. and 4 fad. water. The wind larging upon us, we stood away West: by noon, we saw all Ice to the Northward of us. Endeavouring, therefore, to compass about the Westerpoint of Charleton Island: and so to seek to the southward: We found it all shoalds, Rocks, and breaches. By 4. in the afternoon, we saw the Western-land; but all full of Ice: whereupon, as the wind favoured us, we stood alongst it in sight to the Northward. The fourth was calm, but so very thick fog withal, 4. that we could not see a pistol-shot about us. Wherefore we came to an Anchor, and there rid all this day and the next night. The fifth, 5. at three in the morning, we weighed: but Ice being all about us, we knew not which way to turn us now to avoid telling the same thing 20 times: we were continually, till the 22. so pestered and tormented with Ice; that it would seem incredible to relate it: sometimes we were so blinded with fog, that we could not see about us: and being now become wilful in our endeavours, we should so strike against the Ice, that the forepart of the Ship would crack again; and make our Cook and others to run up all amazed, and think the Ship had been beaten all to pieces. Indeed we did hourly strike such unavoidable blows, that we did leave the hatches open, and 20. times in a day, the men would run down into the hold, to see if she were bulged. Sometimes, when we had made her fast in the night, to a great piece of Ice; we should have such violent storms, that our fastening would break: and then the storm would beat us from piece to piece most fearfully: Other-while, we should be fast enclosed amongst great Ice, as high as our poop. This was made (as I have formerly said) by one piece running upon another: which made it draw 8. or 10. fad▪ water. Besides which, the lower-most would rise from underneath, and strike us under the bulge, with pieces of 5. 6. yea of 8. ton, that many times we have pumped clear water for an hour together, before we could make the pump suck▪ Amongst these several and hourly dangers, I overheard the men murmur; and say that they were happy that I had buried: and that if they had a thousand pounds, they would give it, so they lay fairly by them: for we (say they) are destined to starve upon a piece of Ice. I was fain to endure all this with patience: and to comfort them up again, when I had them in a better humour. The 22. having been vexed with a storm all last night, 22. and this morning with a thick fog; we drove in 13. fathom water. About noon, it cleared; and we saw the land: and at the instant, had a good observation: whereby we knew it to be Cape Henrietta Maria. I made the Master stand in with it; and in the mean time we fitted a Cross, and fastened the King's Arms, and the Arms of the City of Bristol to it; we came to an Anchor within a mile of the shore, in 6. fadd. water: so we hoist out the boat, and took our Arms and our Dogs, and went ashore. Upon the most eminent place, we erected the Cross: and then seeking about, we soon saw some Deer; and by and by more and more. We stole to them with the best skill we had, and then put our Dogs on them: but the Deer ran clear away from them at pleasure. We tired the Dogs, and wearied ourselves, but to no purpose: neither could we come to shoot at them. I saw in all, about a dozen (old and young) very goodly beasts. We took half a dozen young Geese, on the pools, by wading in to them; and so returned to our Boat vexed, that now we had found a place where there was refreshing, and we could get none of it. Whereas, therefore, we had kept our Dogs with a great deal of inconvenience aboard the Ship, all the winter; and had pardoned them many misdemeanours, (for they would steal our meat out of the steeping tubs) in hope they might hereafter do us some service: and seeing they now did not; and that there was no hope they could hereafter: I caused them to be left ashore. They were a Dog and a Bitch: Buck Dogs, of a very good race. The Dog had a collar about his neck, which it may be hereafter, may come to light. I did see no sign at all, of any Saluages: nor could we find any herbs, or other refreshing here. In the Evening, (being returned aboard) and the wind blowing fair at South; I caused the Master to weight, and come to sail, and to lose no time. For we did hope for an open Sea to the Northwest. This Cape hath a very should point, that lies off it: which we endeavoured to compass about. Sailing therefore amongst shattered Ice, we came to very should water, (4. and 5. fathom deep) and could not avoid it. At length, standing North, the water deepened; but we came withal amongst great pieces of Ice; which by reason of some open water, there went a pretty sea. These hard pieces of Ice, made a most fearful noise. It proved a fair Moonshine night: otherwise it had gone ill with us. We turned amongst this Ice, staying the Ship sometimes within her length, of great pieces, as bad as Rocks: but by reason we were often forced to bear up, we did sagge upon the main rend of Ice, and that we thought would it be worse for us; we let fall an Anchor, and stood all on the decks to watch the Ices shearing of the Ship, (to and again) to avoid it. Thus having poles and oars to fend it, we could not keep ourselves so clear, but many pieces came foul of us. We broke two of our great poles with it: which were made to be handled by four men, besides some other damages. At break of day, we weighed; and sought all ways to clear ourselves of Ice: but it was impossible. I conceive it impertinent to relate every particular day's passages; which was much alike to us. Our endeavours were sometimes with our sails; giving and receiving 500 fearful blows in a day. Sometimes, we would stop at an Anchor, when we could get a little open water: and so suffer the Ice to drive to Leeward: Otherwhiles, we should be enclosed amongst it; and than it would so break, and rise, and leap up under us; that we expected to be beaten every hour to pieces. Moreover, we should have such storms in the dark nights, that would break the mooring we had made fast to some piece of Ice for security in the night season: and then we should beat most dangerously from piece to piece till daylight, that we could see to make her fast again. I forbear to speak of thick fogs which we had daily; which did freeze our Rigging day and night: Besides all which, we should come into most uncertain depths: sometimes 20. fathom: next cast 10. next 15. then 9 Rocky foul ground. The great deep Ice withal, driving on these uncertain depths, did so distract the tides, and deceive us so much in our accounts, 30. that by the thirtieth we were driven back so far, to the Eastward, and to the Southward of the Cape; that at five a clock in the evening, it bore Northwest of us some three leagues off, contrary to our expectations. With all these mischiefs, our Ship is now becomne very leaky: that we must pump every half watch. Here I called a consultation: and after consideration of all our experience, we were all of the same opinion; that it was impossible to get to the Northward, or to the Eastward; by reason of the Ice. Wherefore I resolved upon this course: When the wind blew South, it would blow the Ice off the South shore, than we would seek to get to the Westward, betwixt it and the shore. I must confess that this was a desperate resolution: for all the coast we knew to be should and foul ground, all rocks, and stones: so that if the wind should shift to the Northward, there would be (without God's mercies) little hope of us. But here we must not stay: The nights grew long; the cold so increased, that betwixt the pieces of Ice, the Sea would be frozen. I caused the Ship to be fitted, and places convenient again prepared to sink her the second time, if so be we were put to extremities. We presently put our project in execution (the wind being at South) and got about the shoalds of the Cape; standing then into the shoareward, to get betwixt it and the Ice: we came into four fathom water (very foul rocky ground) thinking to come to an Anchor all night, and let the Ice drive to Leeward. But still there was so much Ice betwixt us and the shore, that we were fain to bear up amongst it into deeper water, and to let the Ship drive amongst it. The wind increasing, we endured a most dangerous dark night of it. In the morning. we fell to work, to get the Ship again out of the Ice into some clear water, which we saw West by South of us. Some of our company out upon the Ice, to heave her with their shoulders: whilst others stood aboard with poles. The rest stood to spill and fill the sail. By nine in the morning, we had gotten into some clear water: and stood West and by South; and into four fathom water, foul ground. But being not able to weather some rands of Ice, which did drive; we were fain to stand off again, and (when the evening grew dark) to come to an Anchor. About midnight, there came a great piece of Ice, (which we could not avoid) athwart of our Cable; and made the Ship drive and drag her Anchor. This drove her into should water, it being very rocky and foul ground. We brought the Cable to Capstang, and heaved with such a courage, that we heaved home our Anchor from under it. Thus we did endeavour (the best we could) to keep ourselves in eight and ten fathom water. It then pleased God, that the wind blew alongst the shore: otherwise it had gone far worse with us. August. 1632. The first of this month at break of day, when we could see a little about us, 1. we fell to struggle and strive again with the Ice; and to get in nearer to the shore. There, by reason the wind was opposite to come to an Anchor, we let the Ice drive to Leeward: hoping that there was a clear Sea to the Westward. The Ice drove very thick upon us, and one piece came foul of us; which did touch our Spreetsayle Yard, and made the Ship drive: But we soon cleared ourselves of it. Then we weighed, and stood in nearer to the shore: but the water shoalded, and there were so many great rands of Ice betwixt us and the shore, that there was no coming to an Anchor. So we turned betwixt the Ice: many pieces of it being aground in should water; and few pieces distant one from the other a Cables length. This day, we saw two Sea Morses on the Ice. The second in the morning, 2. we were glad of the break of day: having most dangerously turned amongst the Ice all night, and endured many a heavy blow. We stood in again to the shoareward; to see if we could get some clear water: for to the Northward it was all impassable Ice. We stood into five and four fathom: but still all encompassed with Ice. So we stood off again into deeper water: and in the Evening we were enclosed amongst extraordinary great pieces. It was a very thick fog withal: so that we made fast the Ship to a great flat piece, and went to sleep and refresh ourselves after our extreme pains taking. The third, fourth and fifth, 3. 4. & 5. we were enclosed amongst very great Ice: and it blew such a storm of wind, that we sometimes endeavouring to get forward to the Westward, did strike such heavy blows, that made all the forepart of the Ship crack again. Then we would give over working and let her alone amongst it; but then the Ice would break and rise under us, that would endanger as bad us as the former. Our ship doth make above a tun of water every watch, which we must pump out, beside our other labour. God think on us, and be merciful to us amongst all these dangers. The fifth at noon, 5. we were in Latitude 55. 30. The Cape bearing off us Southeast, by East, some twelve leagues off. And this is all we have gotten, since the two and twentieth of july. All night it blew a violent gale of wind, at West, North-West: and about midnight, our hawser (by which we had made fast to a piece of Ice) broke, and we lost 14. fathom of it. We beat all night most fearfully, being tossed from piece to piece, because that in the dark we durst not venture our men to go forth on the Ice, for fear of losing them. All the sixth, 6. the storm endured, and drove us again with the Ice, almost to the Cape. The seventh was the most comfortablest day we had, 7. since we came out of our wintering place; the wind came up fair at East; and we got (although with our former inconveniences and dangers) nearer to the shore, and into some open water, making good way to the Westward. Moreover, our leak now stopped of its own accord: so that now we pumped but little. We sailed all night; keeping good watch on the forecastell: bearing up for one, and looffing for another. Thus did we the eighth also, but then the wind shifting to the Northwest, it drove the Ice on the shore: and we came to an Anchor, in eight faddom water. The main Ice, we had some two mile to windward of us: but the set of the tide kept it off from us. At noon we were in Latitude 55. 34. In the Evening, a range of Ice drove upon us, which made us weigh, and stand in nearer the shore, into six faddom, and there to come to an Anchor. The wind increasing about midnight, the Ship did drive, and was quickly in five faddom water: wherefore we let fall our Shoot-anchor; and both held her. But that that troubled us, was, that was expected every minute, when the main Ice would come upon us: and then there would be no hope, but to be put ashore. The ninth, 9 in the morning, we weighed our second Anchor: the Ice being within less than a mile of us. About eight in the morning, a point of it came foul of us: which we prevented, by weighing, and came to an Anchor in three faddom and a half water. The wind continued North North-West, which was in on the shore. This morning, I caused all our empty Cask to be filled with water, and the Ship to be left unpumpt: and the places looked to, that we had prepared to sink her. For we were at present in as apparent danger, as any time this voyage: and (to our great griefs) it was all foul rocky ground. The danger of this was, if we made fast to a piece of Ice that drew deep water; then, as soon as it came to ground on these rocks, it would break all to pieces, and betray us to our destruction. About noon, there came foul of us the point of a range of Ice; which we resolved to endure the extremity of, with an Anchor: thinking to ride, and break through it, we now perceiving some open water beyond it. Thrusting therefore, and fending with our poles; at last a great piece came thwart our hawser, and there went a pretty Sea amongst it. The Ship did now fall upon it so violently, that I expected every blow, she would beat out her bows. At length, she did drive with it, so that I thought the Cable had been broken. We brought it to Capstang to heave it in: but found that our Shoote-Anker was broken in the middle of the shank. We presently set our sails thereupon: endeavouring that way to edge in amongst the Ice off of this perilous shore. It pleased God to favour our labour so, that by eight in the Evening we got off into seven faddom: and a dark night coming on, we made fast to the biggest piece we could find. It blew fairly all night: but about midnight, the wind came up at North, which was more on the shore then before. 10. By break of day, on the tenth, we were driven into four faddom, very foul ground: so that the lead did fall off the rocks three or four foot, we set our sails, and used our uttermost endeavours to edge off. Some of us went upon the Ice to hale her: others stood with poles to thrust by night. At night we had gotten off, into eight faddom: and made fast to the biggest piece we could find. If any man should ask why we now kept so near to the shore, in this continual danger: I answer; Because that in the offing, the Ice was so extraordinary thick, that we could make no way, any way through it. Moreover, when we were in that great thick Ice, and that the wind came up fair at South or Southeast or East, we could not get out of it. Wherefore we chose to run this adventure; and so prevent and overcome all dangers with God's assistance and our extreme labour. The eleventh in the morning was a thick fog: 11. yet there sprung up a gale of wind at East: and we made in for the shore. From the eleventh till the foureteenth, the wind continued fair: and we made all the sail we could (night and day) as the Ice would suffer us. We had the shore in sight by day, on one side, and the Ice within two miles, on the other: and we sailed amongst dispersed pieces; luffing for one, and bearing up for another. The 14. at noon, 14. we were in Latitude 57 55. In the Evening, we were embayed in Ice; and stood S. W. to clear ourselves of it, but could not. But seeing from topmast head, clear water over it, we put into it: but there rose a very thick fog, and night came on withal, that we were fain to fast to a piece of Ice, expecting day and better weather. The 15. in the morning, (although the fog was very thick) we endeavoured to get out of the Ice, and stood away West: but within 2. hours the water shoalded from 40. fathom to 25. whereby we knew that we had the shoalding of the Western-shoare. Then we shaped our course to the Northward; the fog continuing so thick, that we could not see a pistol-shot about us. We had not stood this way 2. hours, but we heard the rut of the Ice a-head of us, which made the most hideous noise, of any we had heard this voyage. We haled our tacks aboard, and stood to the Westward, in this day darkness: hearing of it sometimes, and sometimes seeing of it: which was very large, deep, and high Ice, above the water. We weathered it all, except some few pieces, and got into open water. About Sunset, there came a sudden gust at N. N. W. and before we could handle our sails, it was with us, and put us to some trouble. It dallied with us by gusts, till 9 a clock: and then it fell into a most violent storm. We considered where we might have the clearest drift: and so took in all, and let her drive, her head to the shoareward. Before midnight, the water shoalded on us, to 15. fadd. Then we turned her head to the Eastward: and set our main Course low set, but as much as she could endure. The water deepned but little; and we knew that we were on those rocky shoalds, which we struck on the last year. God be merciful to us. Here was the first great breaking Sea that we had this year. The 16. 16. in the morning, we were driven to a great Rand of Ice; to avoid which, we set our fore-course too: and stood to the shoareward, in 13. fad. water: and then about again. We stood in, a mile into the Ice: but there went such a great swelling Sea in it, that it was not indurable: so we stood out again. About 3. a clock in the afternoon, the storm broke up; and blew fair at N. W. which proved good for us: for we had not drift for 4. hours: Besides, it was but 2. leagues betwixt the shoalds and the Ice. We set all our sails, and endeavoured to weather the Ice: but in the Evening we were still pestered with it. By midnight, we knew not which way to turn; nor what to do: so we took in all our sails, and let her drive amongst it. The Ice beat us on every side: for there went amongst it a very great full Sea. The 17. 17. in the morning, when we could see about us; we were in the midst of the Ice: but with the last storm it was all broken into mammocks, as big as a boat of 3. or 4. Tons, which did give us many a heavy blow in the dark night. If this storm had taken us amongst it, it had beaten us all to pieces, without God's miraculous preservation. We made sail, and endeavoured to clear ourselves of it to the Northward, which by 8. in the morning, we had done. We than went to prayer, and gave God hearty thanks, that had delivered us out of it. For we were hourly, for the space of six weeks, as it were in the jaws of death: yea never any (that I have heard of) have been so long, in such long nights, upon a foul should shore, tormented with Ice, as we have now been. At noon we were in Latitude 58. 20. Now as touching the dissolution or ruining of the Ice; we found that this storm had torn and shattered this Rande of Ice, which was on the outside: although it must have a long time, to work into the main body of it. I have in july, and in the beginning of August, taken some of the Ice into the Ship; and cut it square, 2. foot, and put it into the boat, where the Sun did shine on it with a very strong reflex about it. And notwithstanding the warmth of the Ship: (for we kept a good fire) and all our breathe, and motions; it would not melt, in 8. or 10. days. It was our practice when we should be two days together fast to a piece of Ice, to set marks on it, to see how it did consume: but it yielded us small hope of dissolving. We could not in that time, perceive any diminution by the sinking of it or otherwise. Nevertheless, I think that it is ruined with storms, or consumed with heat some years: or else the Bay would be filled choke-full: But I confess, that these secrets of nature are past my apprehension. Being out of it (but no otherways then that we yet saw it from off the decks, all to the Eastward) I ordered the Master to steer away North and by East, keeping the shoalding of the Wester-shoare. The 18. 18. at noon, we were in Latitude 59 30. The 19 19 we continued our course betwixt the N. N. E. and the N. by E. and at noon were in Lat. 61. 7. some 12. leagues off the shore. I ordered the Master, to shape his course North-East, to look to that place betwixt Caries Swans-nest, and Ne ultra. The 20. 20. we were in Latitude 61. 45. This day we saw some few Seals about the Ship. The one and twentieth the water shoalded; so that we 21. made account we did approach the land: but about noon, the wind came up at N. E. our direct opposite. We looft as near it as we could, and as it larged, we came to stand East, and East and by North. The two and twentieth, 22. we fell with the land to the Westward of Caries Swans-nest: Where we had forty fathom, three leagues off. We stood in, within a league of the shore, into thirteen fathom: and seeing the land to the southward of us, we compassed about it: it being Caries Swans-nest: which is in Latitude 52. degr. 00. Minutes. All the 23. 23. we sailed North-East; and for the most part in sight of land. The four and twentieth at noon, 24. (by judgement) we were in Latitude 63. 30. having sailed a North-East course. All this day was a very thick fog: which about one a clock, cleared a little: so that I expected to see the land. Some of our men being better sighted, spied it out about some two leagues off from us. I knew it could be no other than Nottingham Island: though it were something contrary to the expectation of our best Mariners. We stood into it to make it. It was the North end of it: and it bare off us, due East. I was soon assured of it; and I ordered the Master to shape his course North-West, and by North. Both he and others were unwilling: but without much ado, submitted themselves: (how loath so ever) for that it was so very foul thick weather. The reasons of my resolution were these: The time of the year was far spent; and the discommodities of Winter came upon us: and therefore would I make the shortest way, betwixt the lands already discovered. If I found an open Sea, I had my desire, and did then intend to proceed to the uttermost of our power: if we met with the land, I should then finish the discovery: it being not passing fifteen leagues from land to land, and not passing ten leagues from Nottingham Island, to the main of the North shore. We made what sail we could; it blowing a very stiff gale of wind until eight in the Evening: than it began to blow fiercely: and we took in our topsails, and stood under our two courses and Bonnets. At nine, it blew a violent storm at South, Southeast, so that we took in our foresail, and let her drive North-West. All the night it continued an extraordinary storm: so that we heaved the Lead, every half watch: But the Ship did drive so fast, that she would be passed the Lead, before there was twenty faddom of line out, all the night being exceeding cold withal. The five and twentieth, 25. the storm continued in his uttermost malice, and did so perplex us, that there were but few that did sleep or eat a bit these twenty four hours. About six a clock in the afternoon, the Storm began to slaken: yet blew there a fierce gale of wind betwixt the South and South-West. We stood West, North-West, and made a North-West way, when suddenly the Sea became very smooth. We reasoned thereupon amongst ourselves, what might be the cause of it. We all thought it, to be the Lee-ward tide; nothing doubting what afterwards we encountered. The Ship had very quick way in this smooth water. The six and twentieth, by two a clock in the morning, we were suddenly come in amongst the Ice: and it pleased God, 26. that the Moon at the instant gave us so much light, that we could see a little about us. We would have stayed the Ship, but it was so thick to windward, and so near us, that we durst not. We than bore up in this unexpected accident; and (I verily believe) did not scape striking, the length of a foot, against the Ice as hard as rocks, two or three times: the Ship now having way, after twelve leagues a watch. Then we stood close by a wind to the Eastward; expecting day, that we might see about us. We could from topmast head see the Ice to the North North-West, the Northwest, and so round about by the South, to the East, and some there was to Leeward of us. It was all flat sound Ice, in main rands: and the Sea as smooth as a well amongst it. This struck us all into a dump: whereupon I called a consultation of my Associates: namely, Arthur Price, Master: William Clements, Lieutenant; john Whittered, Master's Mate; Nathaniel Bilson, Chirurgeon; and john Palmer, Boateswayne: requiring them to advise and counsel me, how to prosecute our business to effect. These all went together, and reasoned amongst themselves; and then brought me their opinions in writing, under their hands: Videlicet, Our advice is, that you repair homeward, from this present twenty sixth: and that for these reasons. First, for that the nights are long and so extreme cold withal; that we can hardly handle our sails, and rigging. Secondly, the times are now subject to stormy and gusty weather: as witnesseth the present season: it having continued a storm ever since the twenty fourth, and doth yet continue, no weather to discover in. Thirdly, we doubt whether Hudsons' straits be so clear of Ice, that it may be passable in convenient time: (winter coming now on apace) before we be frozen up: seeing the Ice lies here all over the Sea in rands and ranges. Fourthly, we must have a set of fair weather, to pass the Strait; which we may stay a long time; for, if we neglect the first opportunity. Fiftly, for that our Ship is very leaky, so that in foul weather we are fain to pump every glass: which is great labour. Moreover, we know her to be so sorely bruised with rocks, and blows of the Ice; that she is no more to be adventured amongst it, but in saving of our lives homewards. Besides all this, our men grow very weak and sickly, with extreme labour. Sixthly, the season of the year is so far spent, that we can expect no other weather, than we have had; both lately and at present: That is to say, snow and fog; freezing our rigging, and making every thing so slippery, that a man can scarce stand: And all this, with the wind Southerly; which if it should come to the Northward; then we are to expect far worse. Seventhly and lastly, that the Ice lies all in thick rands and ranges, in the very way we should go: as you and all men here may see. And therefore we conclude, as aforesaid; That there is no possibility of proceeding further: wherefore we here counsel you to return homeward: hoping that God will give us a favourable passage, and return us home safe into our native countries: If we take time, and not tempt him too far, by our wilfulness. Indeed most of these reasons were in view; and I could not tell what to say to oppose them: no nor any reason could I give, how we might proceed further: wherefore (with a sorrowful heart, God knows) I consented, that the helm should be borne up, and a course shaped for England: well hoping, that his Majesty would graciously censure of my endeavours, and pardon my return. And although we have not discovered populous kingdoms, and taken special notice of their Magnificence, power, and policies, brought samples home of their riches and commodities: pried into the mysteries of their trades, and traffic: nor made any great fight against the enemies of God and our Nation: yet I wish our willingness in these desert parts may be acceptable to our Readers. When we bore up Helm, we were in latitude 65. 30. at least; Northwest and by North, from Nottingham Island. Some were of an opinion, that we were further to the Northward: but by reason it was by judgement, I chose to set down the lesser distance. The twenty seventh, 27. the wind came up at Northwest: with which wind we could not have gone on our design. That wind made no great swelling Sea. By noon, we were athwart of Cape Charles: so that we went in betwixt that Cape, and Mill Lands. The last night it did snow very much; & was very cold: so that all our rigging & sails were frozen, and all the land covered over with snow. And here, (sithence I have formerly spoken that it snows very much) it will not be amiss to consider of the reasons of it. When I was upon Charleton Island, (our wintering place) and in june, when the snow was cleereliest gone off the ground; I have in the nights, (& some of them following the hottest days) observed, whether there fell any dew or no: but I could never perceive any, & (under correction of the learned) from moss and sand, little (me thoughts) was to be expected. Now, of what was exhaled from the snowy Ice, and cold Sea; could there probably be returned but the like again. Generally, we continued on our course, blinded with foggy and dirty weather; and that, intermixed with snow, and frost; amongst dispersed pieces of Ice: many of them higher than our Topmast head. With great variety of winds, we were also driven within three leagues of both shores: so that the last of this month, we were in the narrow of the Strait: which is about fifteen leagues over: the South shore was much pestered with Ice. September. 1632. The first, 1. & 2. and second, we continued our endeavour to get on our way. The third in the evening, as the weather cleared up; we did see the South end of the Island of Resolution. These three days and nights had been extreme cold, 3. with fog and frost: insomuch that our men in the evening, could hardly take in our top-sails and Spreetsayle. We have sailed thorough much mountainous Ice; fare higher than our Topmast head. But this day we sailed by the highest that I ever yet saw: which was incredible, indeed, to be related. Now as the wind comes Easterly, we feel another Sea, out of the Ocean, and the Ship labours with another motion, than she hath done with any that ever we observed, to come out of the Westward. From the third to the eighth, 8. we had variety of winds; and were gotten clear out of the straits: but were now comen into such a tumbling Sea, (the weather dirty and gusty, and by interims calm again) that the Ship did so labour, and roll, that we thought verily she would have rolled her Masts by the board. This made her so leaky, that we were fain to pump every glass: yea, her seams did so open aloft, that we lay all wet in her. This was the last day that we saw any Ice. The wind now favouring us; we made all the haste we could homeward. By the way, (having endeavoured, observed, and experimented some things in my unfortunate voyage) I perfected up my said observations: which being after commanded to publish; I here most submissly offer unto the judicious Readers: and rain our private opinion withal, concerning the faiseablenesse of the Action intended; which was to find a passage into the South Sea. What hath been long ago fabled by some Portugese's, that should have comen this way out of the South Sea: the mere shadows of whose mistaken Relations have comen to us: I leave to be confuted by their own vanity. These hopes have stirred up from time to time, the more active spirits of this our Kingdom, to research that merely imaginary passage. For mine own part, I give no credit to them at all; and as little to the vicious, and abusive wits of later Portugeses and Spaniards: who never speak of any difficulties: as should water, Ice, nor sight of land: but as if they had been brought home in a dream or engine. And indeed their discourses are found absurd: and the plots, (by which some of them have practised to deceive the world) mere falsities: making Sea where there is known to be main land: and land, where is nothing but Sea. Most certain it is, that by the only industry of our own Nation, those Northern parts of America have been discovered, to the Latitude of 80. degrees, and upwards. And it hath been so curiously done, (the labours of several men being joined together) that the main land hath been both seen and searched; and they have brought this supposed passage to this pass; that it must be to the North, of sixty six degrees of Latitude. A cold Clime, pestered with Ice, and other discommodities, and where the Spaniards dispositions, and their weak Speak Ships, can hardly long endure it. And withal, it is thus known, that the entrance of Hudsons' straits is but 15. leagues broad: in the middle not so much. And betwixt Salisbury Island, and the main; that it is but 8. leagues. Then proceeding to the Northwards, towards the forementioned Latitude: it is but 15. leagues from main to main. This in length, is but about a hundred and forty leagues: as may more plainly appear by the Map. Most infinitely pestered withal it is with the Ice, until August, and some years not passable then: yea I believe the strait is never clear of Ice thoroughly. Now most probable it is, that there is no passage: And that for these reasons following. First, that there is a constant Tide flood and ebb, setting into Hudsons' straits: the flood still coming from the Eastward: which as it proceeds, (correspondent to the distance,) it altars his time of full sea. This also entering into Bays, and broken ground, it becomes distracted, and reverses with half tides. Secondly, here is no small fish; as Cod, etc. and very few great ones, which are rarely to be seen. Nor are there any bones of Whales, Sea-horses, or other great fish, to be found on the shore: nor any drift-wood. Thirdly, that we found the Ice in the Latitude of 65. 30. to be lying all over the sea in rants: and I am most certain, that the shoalds and shoald-Bayes are the mother of it. Had there now been any Ocean beyond it, it would have been broke all to pieces: for so we found it coming thorough the Strait into the Sea, to the Eastward. Fourthly, the Ice seeks his way to the Eastward, and so drives out at hudson's Strait: which I have often observed being aland, upon the Island of Resolution, and driving amongst the Ice in the Strait. Now admit there were a passage, yet is it known, that it is partly narrow, for a hundred and forty leagues, and to be infinitely pestered with Ice withal: as every one have found, who have gone that way. Comparing therefore some observation taken at Bantam, Gulolo, and at Firando in japan: and the distance betwixt japan and the Wester-part of Califurnia: with the observations taken at Charleton Island, (referring all to the Meridian of London) and then the distance betwixt the Meridian's of Cape Charles, and the Wester-part of Califurnia, will be found to be about 500 leagues, in the Latitude of 66. 00. where yet the Meridian's incline very much together. To this may be added, that near about Cape Charles, the variation is 29 degrees to the West: which is a probable argument, that there is much land to the Westward: and that this strait must be very long, and that you have no time to pass it but in August and September: when the nights are so long, and the weather so cold, that it will not be indurable. Add to this, That neither can any great Ships, which are fit for carrying of Merchandise, endure the Ice, and other discommodities: without extraordinary danger. Moreover, a thousand leagues is sooner sailed to the Southward, and about the Cape de Bona Speranza, (where the winds are constant) and that with safety, than a hundred in these seas, where you must daily run the hazard of losing Ship and lives. Put hereunto, that comfort for the sick, or refreshing for your men, here is none to be had in these quarters. Towards the latter end of August, and in September, the weather grows tempestuous, and the winds incline to be Westerly, that there will be but small hope of performing your voyage this way. But let us (by way of imagination only) enlarge this Strait, in this Latitude; and free it of Ice: yet what advantage, in speedy performance, will be gotten by this passage, if the winds be withal considered? To japan, China, and the Northern parts of Asia, it may be the nearer cut: but in Navigation, the farthest way about, is well known, in fewer days to be performed, yea with dat pains, and more safety of Ship and goods. Again; to the East Indies, and other parts, where we have the greatest Commerce and employment of shipping; the other way is as near. What benefit of Trade might have been obtained in those Northern parts of Asia, I will not presume to speak of: holding that there is a great difference betwixt those parts, and the Northern parts of America; whereas I am sure that there is none in any place where I have been, all this voyage. The two and twentieth of October, 22. we arrived in the Road of Bristol: having been hindered and crossed with much contrary tempestuous winds and weather. The Ship being brought into Harbour, and halde dry aground to look to her: it was there found; that all her Cut-water and Stern were torn and beaten away, together with fourteen foot of her Keel; much of her sheathing cut away: her bows broken and bruised, and many timbers cracked within board: and under the Starboard bulge, a sharp Rock had cut thorough the sheathing, the plank, and an inch and a half into a timber that it met withal. Many other defects there were beside, so that it was miraculous how this vessel could bring us home again. Being all here arrived; we went all to Church, and gave God thanks for his preservation of us amidst so many dangers. I very well know, that what I have here hastily written, will never discourage any noble spirit, that is minded to bring this so long tried Action to absolute effect. And it is likely withal, that there be some, who have a better understanding, and a surer way of prosecuting of it, than myself have. To whose designs I wish a happy success. And if they do but make a review of what hath been done, and give more certain Celestial observations, Hydrographical descriptions, or exacter practice in Navigation: it will be a most commendable labour. For although I have spent some years of my ripest age, in procuring vain intelligence from foreign Nations: and have travailed unto diverse Honourable and Learned personages of this kingdom, for their instructions; have bought up whatever I could find in print, or manuscript, and what plot or paper soever conducing to this business, that possibly I could procure; and have served voluntary beside; and spent some time in rendering a relation (since my coming home) and expended withal of my own moneys, in my foresaid endeavours, and in furnishing of extraordinary necessaries, above two hundred pounds in ready money: yet I repent not myself, but take a great deal of comfort and joy, in that I am able to give an account (in some reasonable way) of those parts of the world; which heretofore I was not so well satisfied in. FINIS. THE COPY OF THE Letter I left at CHARLETON, fastened to the Cross the first of july, 1632. BE it known to any that shall haply arrive here, on this Island of Charleton: That whereas our Sovereign Lord Charles the first, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, etc. having a desire to be certified, whether there were any passage, or not, by the Northwest or Northwestward, thorough these Territories, into the South Sea: Some of the better-minded Merchants, of the Worshipful Company of Merchant-aduenturers of the City of Bristol, to satisfy his Majesty therein; did voluntarily offer to set forth a convenient Ship for that purpose, well maned, victualled, and furnished with all other necessaries. This free offer of theirs was not only commended; but graciously accepted of his Majesty. Whereupon, they fitted and furnished forth a Ship, called the Henrietta Maria, of the burden of seventy Tuns, victualled for eighteen months A number thought convenient to manage such a business, was twenty two, whereof nineteen were choiceable men, two yonkers, and my unworthy self their Commander. All which, the Bristol Merchants did most judiciously and bountifully accommodate, and had in a readiness, the first of May, 1631. The third of May, we began our Voyage out of the Road of Bristol; commonly called Kings Road: Passing about the Cape Clear of Ireland, upon many courses, but reduced to a West Northwest, we sailed along: and upon the 4. of june, we made the land of Groynland to the Northward of Cape Farewell: where for the space of two days, we were dangerously engaged amongst the Ice. Being clear of it, we doubled Cape Farewell to the Southward, and so continued our course to the Westward; continually sailing and thrusting the Ship thorough much Ice. The 19 of june, we made the Island of Resolution: & endeavouring to compass about it to the Southward, we were taken with a strong Westerly wind, which drove the Ice, and it us, upon the shore. In that distress, (seeing it was broken grounds and main inlets into it,) I sent the Shallop to seek & sound a place, for our refuge; but when she was departed, she was in as great danger as we: and could not return to us, by reason of the Ice. We being now driven very near the rocks, were fain to set our Sails, and force the Ship into an opening: adventuring her amongst unknown dangers, to avoid apparent; before we could moor her in a place (as we thought) safe from danger. The 22. of june (this Inlet being full of Ice,) that Ice upon the ebb, so jambde one piece into another, that it altered the ordinary course of it, & it came upon the Ship, and put her against the rocks: notwithstanding our utmost resistance. As the water ebbed away, the Ship hung by the Keel upon a rock; and heeled to the Offing. As soon as we perceived this, we made fast some Hawsers to her Masts, and to the rocks, to hold her upright. But all in vain; she sunk still, as the water ebbed away: so that she was so turned over, that we could not stand in her. Hereupon, we got all upon a piece of Ice, looking upon her, & praying God to be merciful to us. The rock that she hung upon, was a little abaft the main Mast; which made her hang after the head: and she sunk over so much, that the Portlasse of the Forecastell was in the water. At length, it pleased God, the flood came; before it had ebbed so low as the tide before and after, by a foot: and the Ship rose, and was safe and sound. And thus were we miraculously delivered. With the first wind, we proceeded to the Westward: continually being pestered with so much Ice, that it was about the middle of july, before we could attain to Sir Dudley Digges Island. And here I was put to my consideration: for whereas by my directions, I was to search especially two places; one from Digges Island to the Northward; and failing there, to go to the Checks and Hubberts Hope, and so to search it to the Southward; I now finding the Sea much pestered with Ice in the latitude of 64. 00. and as far as we could see to the Northward; and that the time was so far spent, as that before I could do any thing that way, it would be Aug. & then as much trouble to return again to Digges Island: and that by that time, the year would be so far spent, the nights so long and cold; that I feared I should be forced with shame to return into England again that year. Wherefore I took my way to the Westward, by mansfield's Island; on which I landed twice, still hindered and encumbered with Ice. Thence I proceeded to the Westward; hoping for an open Sea in the Bay. We were there more troubled with Ice, then in any place before: so that it was the eleventh day of August, before we had sight of the Western land; which we made in latitude 59 30. something to the Southward of the Cheques. We were not able to attain thither, by reason of the contrary winds and Ice: but were observant of the currant of the tides: which after, by experience, we found to come from the Northward. We coasted alongst the shore, in sight of land; and in 10. fathom water, to the Southward: and entered that Inlett, which heretofore was called Hubberts Hope: which was the very place, where the passage should be, as it was thought by the understandingest and learnedest intelligencer of this business in England. We sailed to the very bottom of it, into three faddom water: and found it to be a Bay of some 18. or 19 leagues deep. From thence we proceeded to the Southward, in sight of land for the most part; and although I was as careful to keep the lead always going (it blowing a fresh gale of wind, and a pretty big Sea) our depth 8. 9 10. fathom: yet before the lead was up, the Ship struck upon a flat rock: (she then being under foresail, fore topsail, main topsail, and Spreetsayle) and gave three fore knocks, and got over it. Being past this danger, we proceeded, and past by Port Nelson. Finding the land trend to the Eastward, we began our discovery of it more carefully: because that no man (that ever I could hear or read of) did ever see this land before. We stood into six and five fathom: for it is very low land, and trends for the most part East Southeast, and East by South. The seven and twentieth of August, I entered upon it, and in the name of the Merchant's Adventurers of Bristol, took possession of it, to his Majesty's use; naming it, The New South-west Principality of Wales. I brought from the land, some small trees and herbs, and killed diverse sorts of fowl; in sign of seizure, which I brought aboard. Not long after, (being put back to the Westward with contrary winds) we spoke with Captain Fox, in a Ship of his Majesties, set forth for the same purpose that we were: I invited him aboard, and entertained him with such fare, as we had taken in this new discovered land: and made him relation of all our endeavours: The like did he to us, and withal told us, that he had been in Port Nelson: where he had put up a Shallop, and found there many things which Sir Thomas Button had left there. The next day, he departed from us, and stood to the Westward; and we never saw him since. His Ship, He, and all his Company, were very well. We continued our discovery to the Eastward, and came to the Easter point, which is in latitude 55. 06. which we named it Cape Henrietta Maria. There the land trends to the Southward, and we followed it in sight; but were put off with foul weather; which being overblown, we stood in again for the Wester-shoare (that we might leave no part unseen) and followed it again to latitude 54. 40. The second time we also put off, with like foul weather: which made us stand to the Eastward. In this way we passed by some Lands, and happened amongst broken grounds, and rocks; in latitude 53. 30. where we came to an Anchor, and sheltered ourselves some few days, shifting Rhodes. Now the Winter began to come on, and the nights to be long and cold; that amongst these dangerous places, we were fain to spend the day to look for security for the night. Here, by misfortune, our Ship came aground; and that amongst great stones, as big as a man's head; where she did beat for the space of five hours, most fearfully. In this time, we lightened her, and carried some of our things ashore: so that by the great favour of God, we got her off again, whereupon we named this Island, the Island of God's favour. After that again, amongst those Rocks, we were put to many extremities. At length, (having a gentle Southerly wind) we stood alongst the Eastershoare, to the Northward: now looking for a convenient place to winter in. And here again, were we assaulted with a violent storm, in which we lost our Shallop, and were driven amongst diverse dangers: and seeing an opening betwixt two Lands, we ventured to go in, in very foul weather. We found it to be a very good Sound, and there we came to an Anchor. We landed on one of them, which we named the Lord weston's Island; and maned out our old Ship boat upon it. The other Island we named my Lord of Bristols Island. Parting from hence, we stood to the southward, to look for a wintering place: because the time of discovery was passed for this year. Many were our troubles amongst these Lands, shoalds, and broken grounds; which made us strain our ground tackle for life, many a time. The 6. of October, we arrived in this Bay; it seeming a very likely place to find a Harbour in: but searching the likeliest places, we found it all so should flats and Rocks, and stony by the shore side; that we could by no means bring our Ship near the shore, but were forced to ride a league off, in 3. fathom and a half water. The winter came on apace, the weather proved tempestuous; and the cold so multiplied, that our sails froze in lumps to the yards, unmanuable. Neither could our only boat go from the Ship, by reason of the weather. About the middle of October, I caused a house to be made ashore where our sick men might the better recover: but always with an intent to take it down, if we found otherwhere, a place for our Ship. I sent likewise men afoot (seeing the boat could not go) to discover the Island, and to see if they could find some Creek or Cove; but all in vain, we spent the time with hope of fairer weather, till now the Cables began to freeze in the house, and the Ship to be frozen over with the sprewe of the Sea: so that we were fain to shovel the snow off our decks. Moreover, the water began so to congeal by the shore side, that the boat could hardly get ashore. Yet for all that, if the wind blew N. W. there went a very great surfe on the shore, and such a great Sea in the Bay, that there was no bringing of our Ship aground. Besides this, she would have then lain open to the E. and S. E. and S. and indeed the nearest land, all about that way, was 2. leagues off. Hereupon, we continued out the extremity, at an Anchor. The 29. of November, the Ice came about us on all sides, and put us from our ground tackle, and would have driven us out of the Bay upon Rocks and shoalds (where undoubtedly we had perished) but that by God's great goodness, it proved so warm a day (the wind at S.) that suddenly we brought up some sail, and hoist it up with ropes, and so forced her ashore; where she beat all that night very sorely. The Ship being now grounded and quiet, we considered what was best to do with her, and resolved to sink her: but the next tide, before we had any of our provisions ashore, the wind came N. W. so that the Ship beat most fearfully. We got all our dry provisions up to the upper deck, and made a hole to sink her: but before she was sunk, she beat so extraordinarily, that we all thought she had been foundered. Being sunk down so low, that the water came on the upper deck, we took our boat and went all ashore, in such pitiful cold weather, that we were all so white frozen, that some sick men that were ashore before, did not know us one from another. The next day we fell to land our provisions; first our Bread, Fish, and dry things, the men driven to wade in the water up to the middles, most lamentable to behold. Within 2. days, what with great flat pieces that stuck about us, and that which froze, it was becomne firm Ice, betwixt the Ship and the shore: so that then we were fain to carry all things on our backs a mile from the Ship to the house. Within few days, the hold became so frozen, that we could not get all our things out of it, but were fain there to leave it frozen, till the next year. Then we made us 2. other houses: our first house was our Mansion house, wherein we did all lie together: our other was to dress our victual; and the third for a store-house: which we built a pretty distance off, for fear of fire. And now we considered of the estate we were in, we all doubted that the Ship was foundered: especially our Carpenter. But suppose she were sound: yet was it a question, whether we could get her off in the Summer, when the tides are low. Moreover, she might be spoilt, lying in the tides way, when the Ice broke up: and then we should be destitute of any vessel to bring us home. The Carpenter undertook to build a Pinnace, of the burden of 12. or 14. tons, that should be ready by the Spring: that if we found the Ship unserviceable, we might tear her up, and plank her with the Ships plank. Upon this we resolved, and by May brought it to that pass, that she was ready to be joined together, to receive the plank. But God mercifully provided otherwise for us: We endured a bitter cold winter, in which it pleased God to visit us with sickness: so that in the beginning of May 1632. there was but myself and the Master and Surgeon perfectly sound: and he began to find some defect also. About the beginning of April, we began to dig the Ice out of our Ship, which by the middle of May, we had effected. The 24. of May, the Ice began to break up betwixt the Ship and the shore: and about the middle of june, we had off our Ship, and found her to be staunch and sound, contrary to all our expectations. Before this time, about the middle of May, our Carpenter died: and with him, the hope of our Pinnace: Master Wardon died the 6. of May: our Gunner Richard Edward's had his leg broken (which was cut off) at the Capstang in August 1631. and languished till the 22. of November: on which day he died. These three men lie buried here under these Tombs of stones. We lost another man; one john Barton our Quartermaster, who miscarried in the little Bay that is due West from this Cross 3. mile: the Ice breaking under him, so that he sunk down, and we never saw him more. The two Pictures which are wrapped in lead, and fastened uppermost on this Cross, are the lively pictures of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, Charles, the first; and Queen Mary his wife; King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, etc. The next under that, is his Majesty's Royal Arms: the lowermost is the Arms of the City of Bristol. And now we are in a readiness to depart this day, and I intent to prosecute our discovery to the Westward, in this Latitude of 52. 03. and to the southward also, although with little hope. Failing there, I mean to haste to Diggs Island, and endeavour to discover to the Northward. Thus having had some experience of the dangers of the Ice, shoalds, and Rocks of unknown places: I thought it necesary to leave this testimony of us and our endeavours, if God should take us into his heavenly Kingdom, and frustrate our return into our native Country. Wherefore I desire any noble minded Traveller, that shall take this down, or come to the knowledge of it: that he will make relation of it to our Sovereign Lord the King's Majesty, and to certify his Grace, that we cannot as yet find any hope of a passage this way: and that I do faithfully persever in my service: accounting it but my duty, to spend my life to give his Majesty contentment; whom I beseech God to bless with all happiness. And that they would likewise advertise our worshipful Aduenterers, of all our fortunes; and that if as aforesaid we perish, it was not by any want or defect in Ship or victual, or other necessaries; all which we have in abundance for four months and above: which if occasion be, we can prolong to six months. Thus being at present unable to express a grateful mind otherwise but in my prayers to God: I heartily beseech him to pour out his bountiful blessing upon all their honest endeavours, and to continue their noble dispositions in Actions of this kind. And I faithfully promise, that if I shall come where the like Letters and Tokens shall be left, to make a true relation of it, as it shall be desired. So desiring the happiness of all mankind, in our general Saviour Christ jesus: I end. Charleton, july the second. 1632. Thomas james. THE NAMES OF THE several Instruments, I provided and bought for this Voyage. A Quadrant of old seasoned Pearetree-wood, artificially made: and with all care possible divided with Diagonals, even to minutes. It was of four foot (at least) Semidiameter. An Equilateral Triangle of like wood; whose Radius was five foot at least; and divided out of Petiscus Table of Tangents. A Quadrant of two foot Semid. of like wood: and with like care projected. The Sights, Centres, and every other part of them looked to, and tried with convenient Compasses: to see if they had been wronged or altered. And this continually, before they were made use of. Staffs for taking Altitudes and Distances in the heavens. A Staff of seven foot long; whose Transome was four foot; divided into equal parts by way of Diagonals, that all the figures in a Radius of ten thousand, might be taken out, actually. Another of six foot, near as convenient: and in that manner to be used. Master's Gunters cross-staff. Three Jacob's Staffs, projected after a new manner: and truly divided out of the Table of Tangents. Two of Master Davis Backe-staves: with like care made and divided. Of horizontal Instruments. Two Semicircles, two foot Semidiameter: of seasoned Pearetree wood: and divided with Diagonals, to all possible exactness. Six Meridian Compasses, ingeniously made; besides some doozens of others, more common. Four Needles in square boxes, of six inches Diameter: and other six, of three inches Diameter. Moreover, four special Needles, (which my good friends Master Allen and Master Marre gave me) of six inches diameter: and touched curiously, with the best Loadstone in England. A Loadstone to refresh any of these, if occasion were: whose Poles were marked, for fear of mistaking. A Watch-clocke, of six inches Diameter: and another lesser Watch. A Table every day Calculated; correspondent to the Latitude: according to Master Gunter's directions in his book; the better to keep our Time and our Compass, to judge of our Course. A Chest full of the best and choicest Mathematical books, that could be got for money in England: as likewise Master Hackluite, and Master Purchas: and other books of journals and Histories. Study Instruments, of all sorts. I caused many small Glasses to be made; whose part of time, I knew to a most insensible thing: and so divided and appropriated the Loggline, to them: making use of Wilbrordus, Snellius his numbers of feet answering to a Degree: and approved of by Master Gunter. I made a Meridian-line, of 120. yards long: with six Plumb-lines hanging in it: some of them being above 30. foot high, and the weights hung in a hole in the ground, to avoid wind. And this to take the Suns or Moons coming to the Meridian. This line we verified, by setting it by the Pole itself, and by many other ways. Two pair of curious Globes; made purposely: the workman being earnestly affected to this Voyage. This was the manner that we took the variation of the Compass, and that as often as conveniently we could, but diverse of the Tables by negligence of my Boy are lost: but these (I hope) may suffice to give satisfaction of our care in Navigation. july 13th. 1631. These 13. Azimuths with the Altitu. Dec. were taken upon a great piece of Ice, with three Needles together: then the Declination was not equated, the last three set forth by themselves, proves the rest: viz. the Azimuth of West with his variation: the Azimuth at due West, And the variation by the Altitude and Azimuth at due West. These were taken twenty leagues to the Eastward of Salisbury Island; and 2. quad. one of 4. another of 2. foot Semid. Semicircle of 2. foot Semid. La. De on. AL. ☉ AZM F. T. AZ F. Var. 63 01 20 14 39 42 77 50 S 50 11 S 27 39 63 01 20 14 35 33 90 00 62 12 S 27 48 63 01 20 14 34 24 76 30 N 65 07 S 27 23 63 01 20 14 31 24 80 18 N 72 12 S 27 30 63 01 20 14 30 57 78 53 N 73 21 S 27 46 63 01 20 14 29 00 74 50 N 77 28 S 27 42 63 01 20 14 27 10 71 00 N 98 42 N 27 42 63 01 20 14 25 52 68 28 N 96 02 N 27 34 63 01 20 14 25 00 66 40 N 94 16 N 27 36 63 01 20 14 24 00 64 50 N 92 16 N 27 26 63 01 20 14 23 30 64 00 N 91 18 N 27 44 63 01 20 14 22 50 27 35 N 89 58 N 27 33 63 01 20 14 22 30 61 24 N 89 18 N 27 44 The mean Var on is 27. 36. The variation of the Altit: and Azim: of West. 27 33. The variation of the Azimuth of West. 27. 48. The variation by Azim. at due West. 27. 35. The mean of these three is 27 38. july 22. 1631. These three Azimuths and Altitudes were taken upon a piece of Ice the Magnetical Azimuths by the Sun's shade in the water, the air thick of fog, that the Sun gave no perfect shade otherways: 10. leagues West from mansfield's Island. La. Decl. AL. ☉. AZM F. T. AZ Fr Var. 60 33 18 25 34 06 90 00 S 64 34 S 25 26 60 33 18 25 31 34 84 48 N 70 08 S 25 04 60 33 18 25 18 25 71 35 N 82 54 N 25 21 The mean is 25. 17 july 24. 1631. These 11 Azimuths, were taken upon a piece of Ice about the middle of the great Bay: some of them by the shade, and some by the sight of the Sun in the water, the weather being thick of fog. La. Decl. AL. ☉. AZM F. T. AZ F. Var. 59 20 17 40 36 44 82 50 S 59 04 S 22 46 59 20 17 40 35 44 83 40 S 61 18 S 22 22 59 20 17 40 33 02 90 00 67 14 S 22 46 59 20 17 40 29 49 84 25 N 73 40 S 21 55 59 20 17 40 27 25 79 50 N 75 10 S 22 00 59 20 17 40 26 27 78 10 N 87 14 S 22 14 59 20 17 40 23 48 72 35 N 84 38 S 22 47 59 20 17 40 21 16 68 47 N 88 38 S 22 35 59 20 17 40 20 40 67 30 N 90 00 22 30 59 20 17 40 20 10 67 00 N 89 00 N 22 12 59 20 17 40 19 34 66 00 N 88 10 N 22 10 The mean is 22d. 23. 21. july 31th. 1631. These several Azimuths were taken upon a piece of Ice: 50. leagues off the Wester-shoare. AL. ☉. AZ. M F. T. AZ F. Var. 24 00 76 26 N 99 20 N 22 54 Latitude 23 35 76 00 N 98 38 N 22 38 58 43 43 22 50 75 00 N 97 18 N 22 18 22 05 73 40 N 96 04 N 22 24 Declina. 20 32 71 20 N 93 32 N 22 12 15 43 43 18 40 67 55 N 90 24 N 22 29 18 30 67 30 N 90 02 N 22 32 The mean is 22. 29. 34. August 1. 1631. These several Azimuths were taken upon a piece of Ice: about 40. leagues off the Wester-shoare. AL. ☉. AZ. M F. T. AZ F. Var. 26 36 83 05 N 104. 36 N 21 31 Latitude 25 24 81 25 N 103. 06 N 21 41 50. 45. 24 26 78 38 N 100, 42 N 22 04 22 30 75 16 N 97 22 N 22 06 21 31 73 50 N 95 42 N 21 5 Declina. 20 10 71 27 N 93 24 N 21 57 15. 25. 18 42 68 40 N 90 58 N 22 18 18 07 67 25 N 89 56 N 22 31 The mean is 22. 00. August. 5th. 1631. These Azimuths were taken upon a piece of Ice, and calculated by all the figures of the Canon about 40. leagues off the Wester-shoare. AL. ☉. AZ. M F. T. AZ F. Var. 23 14 79 12 N 101. 02 N 21 50 Latitude 22 11 76 40 N 99 12 N 22 32 58. 37. 21 11 75 11 N 97 28 N 22 17 20 00 73 02 N 95 48 N 22 46 18 59 71 24 N 93 47 N 22 23 Declina. 17 15 68 35 N 90 53 N 22 18 14. 12. 16 42 67 28 N 90 00 22 32 15 39 65 32 N 88 18 N 22 46 The mean is 22. 25. 30. These observations were taken the 10th. of November: 1631. the Lat. 52. 03. the difference may be conceived, to grow by reason of the Sun's low Altitude and Refraction. The others about the Summer Solstice, where difference of Meridian's is avoided, and are more exact. Alt. ☉. AZ. M. T. AZ. Var. West. G. M. G. M. G. M. G. M. 14 25 42 25 16 11 16 14 14 00 45 25 27 30 17 55 13 15 47 25 29 54 17 31 12 18 48 10 32 33 15 37 12 03 49 20 33 16 16 04 11 41 51 07 34 15 16 52 10 57 53 25 36 04 17 21 9 42 55 25 38 38 16 27 9 15 57 45 40 00 17 14 8 50 58 37 40 52 17 45 The means is 16. 57 West. An Appendix touching Longitude. LAtitude and Longitude are two primary affections of the Earth, by the help of these two, doth the Geographer strive to represent the parts of the Earth that they may keep Symmetry and Harmony with the whole. Latitude then is an arch of the Meridian, comprehended between the Aequator and a Parallel; but Longitude is an arch of the Aequator, intercepted by the Prime Meridian and the Meridian of a Place, the difference of Longitudes being the difference of two Meridian's. The measure of the former is the Meridian, the Aequator of this latter. For the exact settling of Latitudes we have many and absolute helps, so that the Error if any happen, aught to be imputed to the imperfect handling of the Artist. But the Longitude of a Meridian is that which hath, and still wearieth, the greatest Masters of Geography. Nevertheless hath not the wise Creator left Man unfurnished of many excellent helps to attain his desire: For besides Eclipses, especially of the Moon, (whose leisure we must often wait, and perhaps go without, if the Heavens be not propitious to us) we have the Concourse of quick paced inferior Planets, with superior slow ones, or their Appulses with some fixed Star of known place, or else some other Artifice derived from Motions and Positions. As for the Magnetical Needle to argue a Longitude from its Variation, is altogether without ground. And though well furnished Seamen are able by their dead Reckonings (as they term them) to determine the difference of Meridian's somewhat near, yet by reason of the unknown quantity of a Degree in a given measure (which is the Rule of the Ships way) Varieties of adverse winds, Different sets of Tides, and other involved encumbrances, they come often wide of the mark they aim at. The best way yet known to the world, is that which is deduced from the Celestial Apparences, which being performed by judicious Artists, may in short time rectify our Geographical and Hydrogaphicall Charts hitherto in most places foully distorted. It is my intent here, to give an instance from two several observations drawn from the Celestial Bodies, by the Author of this discourse, in his discovery for the N. W. at the bottom of the Bay, being his wintering place, and called by the name of Charloton▪ which for judgement, Circumspection and Exactness may compare with most: The first from the Eclipse of the Moon; The second from the Moon's Mediation of Heaven, or Her coming to the Plane of his Meridian of Charleton. The Captain then mindful of the Lunar Eclipse which was to happen October 29. Anno 1631. was waiting on the Moon with his Instruments, but by reason of the Interposition of the clouds, could made no Observation on the beginning of her Obscuration, but at her Emersion or Totall Recovery of Light, the heavens being more Serene, he took the Altitude of the Superior Limb of the Moon 29. gr. 11. m. The Latitude of Charlton being 52. gr. 3. min. At that very time, myself with some friends found the exact time of the Moon's Emersion at London in Gresham College (by a Quadrant of six foot Radius, actually cut to each minute of the Quadrant) to be Octob. 29. 13. h. 7. m. 28 sec. or Octob. 30. d. at one of the clock, seven minutes, and about a half in the morning. Now because the Tables of the Celestial Motions, lately published by that most Learned and Industrious Lansberg, do much amuse, the world with that lofty title of Perpetuity, it shall not be amiss to inquire after the time of the Captain's Observation from them, that so by comparing the one with the other we may obtain the difference of Meridian's, which is the matter now sought after. The middle motions of the Luminaries answerable to the equal time of the Emersion of the Moon, are these which follow. Sex. Gr. M. S. The middle motion of the Sun 3. 47. 39 26. Centre of the ☉ 3 15 49 58 Apogaeun of the ☉ 1 35 45 44 The middle motion of the Longitude of the) 2 59 29 1 Anomaly of the) 0 5 11 30 Latitude of the) 4 32 8 15 The Prosthaphaeresis of the Aequinox— 0 0 12 30 Being thus furnished with these middle motions we are next to inquire for the true places of the Luminaries & their Concomitants, as their right Ascensions, the Declination, Latitude, Semidiameter, Parallax, & Refraction of the ☽, that so the true Altitude of the ☽ centre, and consequently the time of the Emersion may be had at Charleton. For the Sun's true place. Sex. Gr. M. S. The middle motion of the ☉ Centre.— 3. 15. 49. 58 The Prosthaphaeresis of the Centre add.— 0. 1 37. 0 The Proportional Scruples.— 1. The middle motion of the ☉ Apogaeum.— 1. 35. 45. 44 The true motion of the Apogaeum subtr.— 1. 37. 22. 44 The middle motion of the ☉ is— 3. 47. 39 26 The Anomaly of the ☉ orb— 2. 10. 16. 42 The Prosthaphaeresis of the ☉ orb— 0. 1. 32. 43 The excess to be added— 0. 0. 0. 20 The absolute Prosthaph. of the ☉ orbe subtr. 0. 1. 33. 3 The mid. mot. of the ☉ from the true Aequi. 3. 47. 51. 56 The true mot. of the ☉ from the true Aequi. 3. 46. 18. 53 Therefore the ☉ true place was in ♍— 0. 16. 8. 53 And his right Ascention— 223. 49. 53 For the Moon's true place. The Anomaly of the ☽ Center— 5. 59 18. 2 The Prosthaphaeresis of the ☽ Center— 0. 0. 5. 36 The proportional Scruples— 0. The Anomaly of the ☽ orb— 0. 5. 11. 30 The Aequated Anomaly of the ☽ orb— 0. 5. 5. 54 The Prosthaphaeresis of the ☽ orbe subtr.— 0. 0. 24. 4. The mid. mot. of the ☽ Longitude from the ☉. 2. 59 39 1 The true motion of the ☽ Longit. from the ☉. 2. 59 14. 57 The mid. mot. of the ☉ from the true aequin. 3. 47. 51. 56 The true mot. of the ☽ from the true aequin. 0. 47. 6. 53 Therefore the ☽ true place was in ♉— 0. 17. 6. 53 For the ☽ Latitude The middle motion of the ☽ Latitude. 4. 32. 8. 15. The ☽ absolute Prosthaph. of her Orb subtr. 0. 0. 24. 4. The ☽ true motion of Latitude. 4. 31. 44. 11. The ☽ Northern Latitude was. 0. 0. 9 5. And her Reductive Scruples Subtr. 0. 0. 0. 26. But the ☽ true motion in her proper Orb was 0. 17. 6: 53: Therefore the ☽ true place reduced to the Yclept ♉. 17. 6. 27. And because the North Lat. of the ☽ was 0: 9: 5: Therefore will her Right ascens be. 44: 35: 10 And her Declination— 17: 7: 49 And because we have the distance of the Moon. From the earth in Semidiameters of the earth 64 15 Therefore shall the ☽ apparent Semidiam: be— 0. 15. And her parallax of Altitude. 0. 47. 0. Now because the Altitude of the limb of the ☽ was found by observation to be— 29: 11: If we shall subtract her Semidiameter— 0: 15: And the refraction— 0: 2: We have the apparent Altitude of the ☽ centre— 28: 54: To this if we add the parallax of Altitude— 0: 47: We shall have the true Altitude of the ☽ Center: 29: 41: Having thus the Latitude of the place, the ☽ true Altitude with her declination, by the resolution of a Spherical Triangle according to the 11 Problem, lib. 2. Part. 2. of our British Trigonometry we have the distance of the ☽ from the Meridian— 63: 26: And by comparing this Arch with the difference of the ascensions of the Luminaries, the Time of the ☽ total recovery of her light at Charlton will be 7. hou. 49. min. 28. sec. Which subtr. from the time of the Emersion at London. 13 hou. 7. min. 28. sec. The difference of Meridian's in respect of time will be 5: h. 18: m. o. So that Charlton is removed from London Westwards, 79. gr. 30. m. This may likewise be confirmed by a second different observation made at the instant of the Moon's Culmination or Mediation of Heaven, at which time the Altitude of the brightest Star in the Asterisme of the Northern Crown, (being of the second Magnitude) was found to be 33. gr. 27. m. Easterly. Ann. 1632. june 23. It may be Problematically delivered after this manner. Having the Latitude of a Place, with the Altitude of a known fixed Star at the moment of the ☽ culmination, to find the Longitude. This fixed Star is of known longitude and latitude, therefore was his Declination 27: 59: and right ascension 229. 46. Now by the resolution of a Spherical Triangle of 3. known sides we have the distance of this Star from the Meridian, and by consequence the right ascension of the ☽, whence we conclude her Culmination to be with the 28: 10: m. of ♑. but the Moon's true place was much less. Here note that the scrupulosity of time is unknown, and therefore we cannot argue the ☽ true place from thence (though I grant it might be evinced) for that were to beg the Question, and to know that first, which we look after. In the next place we are to inquire with what point of the Ecliptic the ☽ did culminate with us here at London, that so from the difference of her places, of the like affection, we may deduce the difference of Meridian's. Observation on the ☽ Culmination hear at London we made none, therefore must we have recourse to the aforesaid Tables of Lansberg, and from thence calculate the same. Now because the ☽ was not far removed from the ☉ opposite point. It will not be amiss to inquire first the ☽ place at midnight. Sex. Gr. M. S. The ☉ opposite place at midnight in ♑ 0 11. 18. 15. The ☽ true place at midnight reduced to the Ecliptic was in ♑— 0. 23. 33. 18. The South Latitude of the Moon was— 0. 4. 56. 38 Therefore the difference of Ascensions will be— 14. 6. 0 The Diurnal motion of the Moon— 14. 24 0 Therefore the Moons proper motion answerable to the difference of Ascensions is— 0. 33. 50 Which added to the Moon's true place at midnight 23. 33. 18 Gives us the Moon's true place reduced to the Ecliptic at her Culmination at London— 24. 7. 8 Now because the ☽ Southern Latitude was 4. 56. 38, the Arch therefore of the Ecliptic comprehended between the Moon's true place and the culminating point of the Yclept. will Trigonometrically be found to be 54: m. 38. s. which added to the ☽ true place before found gives us the culminating point of the Eclipti. 25. gr. 1. m. 46. s. which is less than that found at Charleton: the difference being 3. 8. 24. therefore is the place of Observation Westerly of London. Having therefore the ☽ Diurnal motion and the difference of the culminating points we conclude the Meridian of Charlton to be distant from this of London 5. h. 14. m. of time or 78. 30. of the Equator. The difference between that of the Eclipse, and this latter observation is only 4. minutes of time or one degree, a difference easily pardoned, especially if we shall compare the same with some other places, yea even such as border nearly on each other. To give an instance on 2 eminent places which lie in the heart of Europe, Rome & Norenberg: Their difference of Longitude Regiomontanus makes 36. Werner 32. Appian 34. Maestlin and Origan 33. Stofler 18. Maginus 26. Schoner 12. Mercator and Hondius as much. Stadius 13. jansonius' 10. Longomontaus 16. Lausberg: 10. Kepler by 2. observations on 2 Lunar Eclipses, but 4 minutes of time. This variety among these great Artists, will I hope pardon us this difference of 4. m. and be a means to encourage our English Seamen and others, to make such or the like observations in foreign parts as the heavens shall be offered unto them. H. GELLIBRAND. To the venerable Artists and younger Students in Divinity, in the famous University of CAMBRIDGE. YOU nobly-witted, and ingenuously-studied Academians: whose excellency in all kinds of learning, all foreign Universities do admire, and none attain unto. I here present you a Voyage to Cholcos', though not the Golden-fleece with it: the Search, I mean, but not the finding; of that so much talked of, so often sought for, North-West Passage, and nearer way into the South-Sea. That, wherein so much Time and Treasure have been expended, so many brave Spirits employed, and yet none discovered. Perchance, there is no such Passage to be found: and that the Spaniards, by the gullery of their false Sea-Cards, and the fable of an old Greek Pilot; have but diverted our English and Dutch Seamen, from their golden Indieses. This plot of theirs hath taken, for these many years: and it appears to be but a plot, for that themselves never make use of this Passage. For mine own part, I suppose that the Philosopher's stone is in the North-West Passage. My argument for it is, For that there's so much Philosophy in the way to it. So much, and such variety: such variety, and that so various, (I think) from what is received in the Schools: that it were well worth the disquisition of an University, (and I wish you the first honour of it) either to find out, how these Observations may be reduced to Aristotle's Philosophy: or whether they need any other enquiry, and aught to be examined by some other Rules, than Aristotle hath yet light upon. This is my purpose of inscribing it unto you. Of this one thing am I confident: that you are all so rational, and ingenuous, as to prefer Truth, before Authority: Amicus Plato, amicus Aristoteles, but magis amica veritas. Your Sciences, then, being Liberal; your Studies, I know, have so far passed into your manners, that your minds are so too, and that such as have already profited beyond the credulity required in a young learner, and are themselves promoted to be Masters of the Arts; though they still reverence their old Greek Tutor, yet they will not suffer that of Pythagoras' School, so to domineer in Aristotle's, as to let an Ipse dixit, go away with it: much less allow it the authority of a Mayor's hammer, with one knock to silence all arguments. Upon this confidence, I, with all due respects, here prefer two Propositions unto your discussing. The first this, Whether those Rules of Aristotle's Philosophy be to be allowed so Universal, that they hold all the world over. The second this, Whether they ought to be so magisterial, as to prescribe against all other examinations. The first of these, I shall but problematically propound unto you: but in the second, I hope a man of my clothing, may be allowed the freedom of being something more earnest. But that I may not come with prejudice to the making of these motions, or be thought, upon some ignorance or ambition, to speak against the incomparable Aristotle; I shall desire all my fellow Academians to allow me so much discretion, as to know, That he that shall in your hear, oppose your Aristotle; does like the Ship here spoken of, run against a Rock, endanger his own bulge, and the staving of his vessel. No, I so far honour the old Aristotle, that I well allow him to be Master and Moderator of the Schools: and that there is the same respect due to him in the Schools, which, by Reason and long Custom, is due to one of the King's Ships in the Narrow Seas; That in acknowledgement of a Sovereignty, every other name ought to strike sail to him. Aristotle (it must be confessed) hath made all learning beholding to him: no man hath learned to confute him, but by him; and unless he hath ploughed with his heifer. He had the most incomparable wit, and was the most Logical and demonstrative deliverer of himself, of all the Sons of nature: One, who best of all deserved to be called Her Principal Secretary: one, who not only adorns a Library, but makes it: Qui habet Aristotelem, habet Bibliothecam, is truer of him, then of the Great Comparer. This is my opinion of him; and I wish him more studied. 'tis not, 1. therefore, the name, or the authority of the great Aristotle, that my Propositions meddle withal: but whether his observations gathered out of this part of the world alone, could, like a royal Pass or a Commission, carry a man all the world over? It must be confessed, That in respect of the Equinoctial and the Latitude that Aristotle lived in, he was but a Northern man: and 'twas his own Rule, that Nihil agit extra Sphaeram activitatis suae. So then, it would be put to voices to consider, whether he that knew but these Northern parts, and the Mediterranean Sea; could possibly make such collections, by what was here to be learned, as should be unfaileable in the Southern Haemisphere and the two Indieses? Plainly, those that are conversant in the navigations and books of voyages into those parts; have found so many contrarieties to observe; that it were rather tedious, then difficult, to fill up a Notebook with them. The Ancients, we know (as if they had measured the world by the Yeard-wand) restrained the limits of temperature, and habitation, by the five Zones: without consideration of any interloping or concurring causes, which experience hath now found out, to have quite altered their observation. I add, that a good leisure and diligence might observe, how in the contrary part of the world, there be found clean contrary Causes and Effects, unto those in this part of the world. The Southwind there, brings cold and Winter: and the North, is the rainy wind. How will the Thunder and the Wind, be made agree with Aristotle's definition of a Meteore? In some places of the Mountains Andes by Peru, it thunders ever. The East-Indyes have their Monsons' and their steady winds, constant for six months together: and who shall assign their causes? Then the doctrine of the Tides, nothing so uncertain: which ebb and flow in some places, different; and in others contrary, to the Moon and her motions. This (as I remember) is Aristotle's definition of a Meteore, Aristoteles, 1. Meteor 1. That it is, An imperfect mixed body, generated out of an infirm and inconstant concretion of the Elements; which therefore cannot be durable. Now the Monson, is both constant in his continuance this year, and in his return next year; most constantly keeping his seasons half year one way, and half year another way, for all ages: nothing more constantly or durably; and therefore nothing like Aristotle's Meteore. And so for the Thunder upon the Andes: it is first perpetual; secondly, not caused by a dry exhalation, (as Aristotle wills) but hanging over such hills as are covered with snow and a perpetual winter. Witness the Thunder on the Alps also: yea and that in the middle of the Sea, 500 leagues from shore, or any thing that is dry. yea, it frequently both Snows and Thunders upon the Andes, at one instant: and in dry places that are hard by, scarce ever Thundering. But not to pass the Line for it; You see in this little Book, how Charlton Island, which is no more Northerly than your Cambridge; is yet so unsufferably cold, that it is not habitable: and that there encounter so many different, (at least so seeming) occurrences of nature, as were well worth the disquisition of a Philosopher. I could, (in my small reading) instance in many many other particulars: which I had rather should be found out by some industrious searchers after Nature, in the Modern Relations of our Discoverers, then in this my short Proposition. 'tis not to be doubted, but that the careful reading of our Books of Voyages, would more elucidate the History of Nature, and more conduce to the improvement of Philosophy, than any thing that hath been lately thought upon. These Navigations have in part fulfilled that of the Prophet, Dan. 12. 4. Many shall pass to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. This, I suppose, might be observed from this study, That the great and infinite Creator hath so disposed and varied every thing, that it is impossible for man's reason and observation to conclude him: and therefore, though vulgar and received Philosophy, may give a man a general hint, all the world over; yet no Universal and unfayling certainty. This brings me to my Second Proposition, 2. That seeing God will not have his works, (no more than his Kingdom) to come by observation; Luke 17. 20. Whether, then, ought any humane dictates to be so Magisteriall, as to prescribe against all other examination? No humane study more conduces to the setting forth of God's glory, than the contemplation of his great works, in Philosophy: for though a smattering knowledge in Second Causes, warps the mind towards Atheism; yet a higher speculation of them, brings about again to Religion. No man, I believe, will think it fit for us to have a Pope in Philosophy; one, that no body shall presume to censure of: but all be bound to advance his decretals, above the Holy Scriptures. This is the scandal that myself, and diverse good men take, at the undue authority in some heats pinned upon the Stagerite. I am sorry that the Israelites dotage upon Salomon's Philosophy, Suidas, & Rabbini. should have caused the zealous Hezekiah to call in and to suppress those unualuable Physics: for fear, I suppose, lest their credit should have as much derogated from the authority of the Holy Scriptures; as the brazen Serpent (which he destroyed about the same time) had done from Religion. None will believe, that Salomon's Philosophy was contrary to the Scriptures; seeing the Scripture commends Solomon for them. 'twas not Hezekiahs' fear, therefore, (or not only) lest there might have been a competition between them, but a neglect of one of them: he was jealous lest the Scripture might have any writing set up by it, though not against it. Can Divines, then, be blamed for speaking, when they hear Aristotle's Philosophy to be solely magnified, and the study of the Scripture Philosophy, disrespected? Or that when 'tis confessed, That such a thing is true in Divinity, and yet the Moderating of the point determine for Philosophy? Nay, to hear it called absurd and ridiculous, to have Scripture urged at all, in point of Philosophy? No doubt there is, But whatsoever is false in Divinity, is also false in Nature, how much show of truth soever it passes with, in Philosophy. Philosophy hath taken its turn in the Schools: and the holy Texts by the Schoolmen, have even been submitted unto Aristotle's: yea, to the great corruption of Theology, as the complaint is, hath this man been so far advanced, That Contra est Philosophus, & Contra est Apostolus; have familiarly passed up and down, for equal Oppositions: so that it hath been a measuring cast oftentimes, betwixt the Prophet and the Peripatetic: and by foul play hath the measure been made to stand the harder at the Peripatetic, for that the Prophet hath been enforced to comply with him by a wrested interpretation. Thus had S. Paul need give his caveat unto Theologie, as well as unto Theologues, Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy. All this were to no purpose, unless the Text of God were excellent in this kind; and embellished, here and there, with most admirable Philosophy. What incomparably rare footsteps of it, have we in the Books of Genesis, job, and the Psalms? How noble a Study than were it, and how worthy the leisure of some excellently learned; to bestow some time upon it? Valesius the Physician, hath in his Sacra Philosophia done something in this kind: who yet might have done better, here and there, for the honour of the Scriptures. I am not so sottish to believe, That every particular is to be drawn out of Scripture: 'tis none of my doteage, that. Or that God in Scripture did intend, every where, the accurateness of Philosophy; or stand to be so curious in definitions and decisions. Nor so foolish would I be thought, as to have all Philosophy taken in pieces, and new moulded by the Scriptures. Nor, that nothing should be determined on, till a Text confirmed it. But this, perchance, might profitably be thought upon: That where the Scriptures have any thing in this kind, it should more reverently be esteemed; Collections out of scattered places, (as is done out of Aristotle) made: these compared, and their Resultances observed. This, surely, would amount to more, then is yet thought of: and, a- Gods name, let Scholars be so bold with Aristotle, as to examine him upon good assurance, by what is Truth's Touchstone: Received Philosophy is a most necessary handmaid to the Scriptures; but let her not be set above her Lady, nor no competition be maintained betwixt them. Something else remains to be thought of: That seeing the same God, who gave Aristotle these good parts; hath, in like manner, raised up many excellent Spirits more: whether it were not injurious unto what is done, and a discouragement to what might be done; to have the inventions or observations of those excellent wits and great industries, so abashed with Aristotle's authority; that they can have no credit in the world, for that his Dictates have preoccupated all good opinion? Let it not then be thought unequal, to examine the first cogitations of the old Philosophy, by the second thoughts of our more modern Artists: for that the same improvement may by this means accrue unto our Physics, that hath advanced our Geography, our Mathematics, and our Mechanics. And let it not be thought so insolent, to refuse Aristotle's authority singly, where his reason is not so concluding; seeing other men have taken the boldness to do that before us, in several kinds. Some have perfected, and others controlled his Ethics, by the Scriptures: as Scultetus, Wallaeus and some others. justin Martyr surnamed the Philosopher, hath purposely written Contra dogmata Aristotelis: Basson and Gassendus, (two brave men) have newly written pointblank against him: nor have they taken away all liberty, from those that are to follow them. And thus, with renewing my former protestation for mine own respects to Aristotle, I conclude my two Propositions: which I desire may receive a favourable construction from all ingenuous, imcapricious Scholars. I meant them, out of good will to promote learning; to encourage and countenance future undertake: and in such a case, a little too much saying, may be thought not to have exceeded an honest Rhetorication: for I would not be thought too earnest in it. The hint for all this, I took from this book: which in mine own and some better judgements; is (to say no more) as well done, and enriched with as sure and useful observations, as any in this kind. I was desired by the able Author, and some other friends; to overlook the written Copy of it, and to amend the English here and there; in which I did not despair of doing something: for that, in my younger time, I had a little acquainted myself with the language of the Sea. That which put me in the head to inscribe it unto your Names (most excellently learned Academians) was, for that the place of this Wintering, was within a minute or two, of the height of our Cambridge. Which my prayer to God is, that your Studies may make famous. Yours William Watts.