God's Power and Providence: showed, IN THE MIRACVlous Preservation and Deliverance of eight Englishmen, left by mischance in Green-land Anno 1630. nine months and twelve days.  
With a true Relation of all their miseries, their shifts and hardship they were put to, their food, etc. such as neither Heathen nor Christian men ever before endured.  
With a Description of the chief Places and Rarities of that barren and cold Country.  
Faithfully reported by EDWARD PELHAM, one of the eight men aforesaid.  
As also with a Map of GREEN-LAND.  
They that go down into the Sea in ships; that do business in great waters:  
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.  PSAL. 107.23, 24. 
LONDON, Printed by R. Y. for JOHN PARTRIDGE, and are to be sold at the Sign of the Sun in 〈…〉   

 modern bookplate 
ROBERT DAVIES of Lannerch Denbighshire    

To the right Worshipful Sir HUGH HAMMERSLY Knight, Alderman of the City of London, Governor of the Worshipful Company of the Muscovia Merchants: And to the Worshipful, Mr Alderman Freeman, Captain William Goodler; And to all the rest of the Worshipful Assistants and Adventurers in the said famous Company. Edward Pelham dedicateth both this and his future Labours.  
Right Worshipful and most famous Merchants:  
THe hard adventure my poor self and fellows underwent in your Worship's service, is a great deal pleasanter for others to read, than it was for us to endure. How ever hard, we have now endured it; and if ever after-ages shall speak of it, (as the world still doth of the Dutchman's hard Winter in nova Zembla:) thus much of the Voyage shall redound to your honours, that it was done by your Servants. This may also return to our countries' good; That if the first inhabiting of a Country by a Prince's Subjects (which is the King of Spain's best title to his Indieses) doth take possession of it for their Sovereign: Then is Green-land by a second right taken livery and Seisin of, for his Majesty's use; his Subjects being the first that ever did (and I believe the last that ever will) inhabit there. Many a rich return may your Worships in general, and the brave Adventurers in particular receive from this and all other places: and may your Servants be ever hereafter, warned to take heed by our harms. God send your Worship's long life, and much honour, and sufficient wealth, to maintain both. This is the hearty prayer of your Worship's poor servant  
Edward Pelham.   

To the Reader.  
COurteous Reader: That God may have the only glory of this our deliverance, give me leave to look back unto that voyage, which the Dutchmen made into Nova Zembla, in the year 1596. In which place, they having been (like ourselves) overtaken with the Winter, were there forced to stay it out as we were. Which being an Action so famous all the world over, encouraged me both to publish this of ours, as also now to draw out some comparisons with them: that so our deliverance, and God's glory may appear both the more gracious and the greater.  
This Nova Zembla stands in the Degree 76. North latitude: our wintering place is in 77. Degrees and 40. Minutes, that is, almost two Degrees nearer the North Pole than they were; and so much therefore the colder. The Dutch were furnished with all things necessary both for life and health; had no want of any thing: Bread, Beer, and Wine, they had good, and good store. Victuals they had God's plenty; and Apparel both for present clothing, and for shift too: and all this they brought with them in their Ship. We (God knows) wanted all these. Bread, Beer, and Wine we had none. As for meat, our greatest and chiefest feeding was the Whale Frittars, and those mouldy too; the loathsomest meat in the world. For our Venison, 'twas hard to find, but a great deal harder to get: and for our third sort of provision the Bears; 'twas a measuring cast which should be eaten first, We or the Bears, when we first saw one another; and we perceived by them, that they had as good hopes to devour us, as we to kill them. The Dutch killed Bears, 'tis true: but it was for their skins, not for their flesh. The Dutch had a Surgeon in their Company; we none but the great Physician to take care and cure of us. They had the benefit of Bathing and Purging: we of neither. They had their Ship at hand to befriend them; we had here perished, had not other Ships fetched us off. They had Card and Compass, we no direction.  
If the Dutch complained therefore of the extremity of the cold, (as well they might) and that when in building their house, they (as Carpenters use to do) put the iron nails into their mouths, they there froze, and stuck so fast, that they brought off the skin and forced blood: how cold, think you, were we, that were fain to maintain two fires, to keep our very mortar from freezing. The Dutch complained, that their walls were frozen two inches thick on the inside for all their fire: and if ours were not so, 'twas our pains and industry at first in building. The Dutchman's clothes froze upon their backs, and their shoes were like horns upon their feet: but that was their own ignorance; for they had Sea-coles enough with them, if they had known how to use them. If their drink and Sack were so hard frozen into lumps of ice, that they were fain to cut it out; how much harder was it for us, that were forced to make hot Irons our best toasts to warm the snow withal, for our morning's draughts? They used heated stones and billets to their feet and bodies, to warm them: which, though an hard shift, yet was it better than we had any.  
Lay now all these together, the distance of place, we being many miles more into the cold than they: the want both of meat and clothes; and that the house we lived in, we had but three days respite to build for nine months to come; and then may the world see, that the Dutch had the better provisions, and we the abler bodies. If therefore the Dutchman's deliverance were worthily accounted a wonder, ours can amount to little less than a miracle. The greater therefore our deliverance, the greater must be God's glory. And that's the Author's purpose in publishing of it. God keep the Readers from the like dangers. So prays he that endured what he here writes of  
Edw. Pelham.   

The names of the Men thus staying in GREEN-LAND, for nine months and twelve days.  
William Fakely, Gunner. Edward Pelham, Gunners mate, the Author of this Relation. john Wise, and Robert Goodfellow, Seamen. Thomas Ayers, Whale-cutter. Henry Bet, Cooper. john Dawes, and Richard Kellet, Land-men.  
 map of Greenland 
A Whale is ordinarily about 60 foot long  
When the whale comes above water the shallop rows towards him and being within reach of him the harpoiner darts his harpingiron at him out of both his hands and being fast they launce him to death  
The whale is cut up as he lies floating cross the stern of a ship the blubber is cut from the flesh by pieces 3 or 4 foot long and being razed is rowed on shore towards the coppers  
They place 2. or 3. coppers on a roe and the chopping boat on the one side and the cooling boat on the other side to receive the oil of the coppers, the chopped blubber being boiled is taken 〈◊〉 out of the coppers and put in wiker baskets or barrows throwg h which the oil is dreaned and runes into the cooler which is fall of water out of which it is conveyed by troughs into butts or hogsheads  
The manner of killing the Seamorces  
The manner of kil●●ing Bears  
The Seamorce is in quantity as big as an ox  
When the whale is killed he is in this man towed to the ships by two or three shallops made fast one to another.  
The pieces of blubber are towed to the shore side by a shallop and drawn on shore by a crane or carried by two man on a barrow to the two cutters which cuts them the breadt ʰ of a trencher and very thy & by two boys are carried with handhooks to the choppers  
Thus they make clean and scrape the whale fins  
A tent and Cooper's at work    

God's Power and Providence in the preservation of eight Men in GREENLAND, nine Months and twelve Days.  
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.  
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.  2. Cor. 1. ver. 9, 10. 
GREENLAND is a Country very fare Northward, situated in 77. degrees, and 40. minutes, that is, within 12. degrees and 20. minutes of the very North Pole itself. The Land is wonderful mountainous; the Mountains all the year long full of ice and snow: the Plains in part bare in Summer time. There grows neither tree not herb in it, except Scurvygrasse and Sorrel. The Sea is as barren as the Land, affording no fish but Whales, Sea-horses, Seals, & another small fish. And hither there is a yearly Fleet of English sent. We eight men therefore being employed in the service of the Right Worshipful Company of Muscowie Merchants, in the good ship called the Salutation of London, were bound for this Greenland aforesaid, to make a voyage upon Whales or Sea-horse, for the advantage of the Merchants, and the good of the Commonwealth. We set sail from London the first day of May, 1630. and having a fair gale, we quickly left the fertile banks of England's pleasant shores behindeus. After which, setting our comely sails to this supposed prosperous gale, and ranging through the boisterous billows of the rugged Seas, by the help and gracious assistance of Almighty God, we safely arrived at our desired Port, in Greenland, the eleventh of june following. Whereupon having moored our ships, and carried our cask ashore, we, with all expedition, fell to the fitting up of our Shallops, with all things necessary for our intended voyage. We were in company three Ships; all which were then appointed by the order of our Captain, Captain William Goodler, to stay at the Foreland, until the fifteenth of july; with resolution, that if we could not by that time make a voyage according to our expectation, then, to send one ship to the Eastward, unto a fishing place some fourscore leagues from thence; whither at the latter end of the year, the Whales use more frequently to resort. A second of the three ships was designed for Green-harbour, (a place some fifteen leagues distant to the Southward) thereto try her skill and fortune, if it were possible thereto make a voyage. The third ship (which was the same wherein we were) was appointed to stay at the Fore-land, until the twentieth of August. But the Captain having made a great voyage at Bell Sound, dispatches a Shallop towards our ship, with a command unto us to come to him at Bell Sound aforesaid: his purpose being, both to have us take in some of his Trane Oil, as also by joining our forces together, to make the Fleet so much the stronger for the defence of the Merchant's goods homeward bound, the Dunkirkers being very strong and rise at sea in those days. Upon the eighth day of Angust (thereupon) leaving the Foreland, we directed our course to the Southward, towards Green-harbour, thereto take in twenty of our men, which had out of ourships' company been sent into the lesser ship; for the furtherance of her voyage.  
But the wind being now contrary, our ship could no way lie our course. The fifteenth day, being calm and clear, and our ship now in the Offing, some four leagues from Black point, and about five from the Maiden's paps (which is a place famous, both for very good, and for great store of Venison,) our Master sent us eight men here named, altogether in a shallop for the hunting and killing of some Venison, for the ships provision. We thus leaving the ship, and having taken a brace of dogs along with us, and furnish ourselves with a snap-hance, two lances, and a tinder-boxe; we directed our course towards the shore, where in four hours we arrived, the weather being at that time fair and clear, and every way seasonable for the performance of our present intentions. That day we laid fourteen tall and nimble Deer along; and being very weary and throughly tired, first with rowing, and now with hunting, we fell to eat such victuals as we had brought along, agreeing to take our rest for that night, and the next day to make an end of our hunting, and so fairly to return to our ship again. But the next day, as it pleased God, the weather falling out something thick, and much ice in the Offing betwixt the shore and the ship (by reason of a Southerly wind driving alongst the coast) our ship was forced so fare to stand off into the Sea, to be clear of they ice, that we had quite lost the fight of her: neither could we assure ourselves, whether she were enclosed in the drift ice, or not: and the weather still growing thicker and thicker, we thought it our best course to hunt alongst the shore, and so to go for Greene-harbour, there to stay aboard the ship with the rest of our men, until our own ship should come into the Port.  
Coasting thus along towards Greene-harbour, we killed eight Deer more; and so at last having well loaden our Shallop with Venison, we still kept on our course towards Green-harbour: where arriving upon the seventeenth day, we found (to our great wonderment) that the ship was departed thence, together with our twenty men aforesaid. That which increased our admiration was, for that we knew they had not victuals sufficient aboard, to serve them (by proportion) homewards bound: which made us again to wonder what should be the reason of their so sudden departure.  
Perceiving ourselves thus frustrated of our expectation, and having now but bore three days (according to appointment) to the uttermost expiration of our limited time for our departure out of the Country; we thought it our best course to make all possible speed to get to Bell Sound, unto our Captain, fearing that a little delay might bring a great deal of danger. For the lightning therefore of our Shallop, that she might make the better way through the waters, we heaved our Venison overboard, and cast it all into the Sea. Having thus forsaken Green-harbour, with a longing desire to recover Bell Sound (from thence distant some sixteen leagues to the Southward) that night we got half way about the point of the Nesse, or point of land, called Lowness: But the darkness or misty fog increasing so fast upon us, that it was impossible for us to get further; even there between two rocks we coved from the seventeenth day at night, until the eighteenth day at noon. At which time the weather being somewhat clearer (though very thick still) we left the Nesse behind us, still desirous to recover Bell Sound: but having never a Compass to direct our course by, nor any of our company that was Pilot sufficient to know the land when he saw it, we were fain to grabble in the dark (as it were) like a blind man for his way, and so over-shot Bell point at least ten leagues to the Southward, towards Horn Sound.  
Some of us in the mean time knowing that it was impossible to be so long a rowing and sailing of eight leagues (for we did both row and sail) made enquiry, How the Harbour lay in? whereunto there was a ready answer made, That it lay East in. Taking the matter therefore into our better consideration, some of us judged, that it could not possibly be further to the Southward (our reason being, our observation of the lands rounding away and trenting towards the Eastward) and resolved thereupon to row no further on that Course, for the finding of Bell Sound. And though we were again persuaded by William Fakely our Gunner, (a proper Seaman, though no skilful Mariner, who had been in the Country five or six times before, which none of our Seamen had been) that it was further to the Southwards: yet we, trusting better to our own reasons than unto his persuasions, again returned towards the Northward: which was our best and directest Course indeed, for the finding of Bell Sound. Steering of which Course, we were now come within two miles of Bell Point; & the weather being fair and clear, we presently descried the tops of the lofty mountains. William Fakely thereupon looking about him, presently cries out unto us, That we were all this while upon a wrong Course: upon hearing of which words, some of our company (yea the most) were persuaded, to wend about the Boats head the second time, unto the Southwards: which one action was the main and only cause of our too late repentance, though for mine own part (as it is well known) I never gave consent unto their counsel.  
And thus upon the fatal twentieth day of August, (which was the utmost day of our limited time for staying in the Country) we again returned the quite contrary way, namely to the Southward. Thus utterly uncertain when and where to find the Sound; a thousand sad imaginations overtook our perplexed minds, all of us assuredly knowing, that a million of miseries would of necessity ensue, if we found not the ships, whereby to save our passage. In this distracted time of our thoughts, we were now again the second time run as fare to the Southward as at the first: and finding by all reason thereupon, how that there was no likelihood at all of finding any such place further to the Southward, we wended the Shallop the second time unto the Northward. William Fakely hereupon, being unwilling to condescend unto our agreement, still persuaded us, that That could not possibly be our Course: but we not trusting any longer unto his unskilful persuasions, (though all in him was out of good will, and strong conceit of his being in the rights) bent our Course to the Northward; and he not consenting to steer any longer, I took the Oar out of his hand to steer any longer, I took the Oar out of his hand to steer the Boat withal. The weather all this while continued fair and clear, and it pleased God at the very instant time, to send the wind Easterly: which advantage we thankfully apprehending, presently set sail. The wind increased fresh and large, and our Shallop swiftly running, we arrived the one and twentieth day at Bell point, where we found the wind right out of the Sound at East Northeast so fiercely blowing, that we could not possibly row to Wind-wards; but being forced to take in our sail, we were fain to betake ourselves unto our Oars, by help of which we recovered some two miles within the shore, where we were constrained for that time to Cove, or else to drive to Lee-wards.  
Thus finding this to be the very place we had all this while sought for, (he now also agreeing thereunto) we forth with sought out and found an harbour for our Shallop: and having brought her thereinto, two of our men were presently dispatched over land unto the Tent at Bell Sound, to see if the Ships were still there; of which, by reason of the times being expired, and the opportunity of the present fair wind, we were much afraid. The Tent being distant ten miles at the least from our Shallop, our men at their coming thither finding the ships to be departed out of the Road, and not being certain, whether or not they might be at Bottle Cove, (three leagues distant on the other side of the Sound) riding there under the Loom of the land; again return unto us with this sad news. The storm of wind hitherto continuing, about midnight fell stark calm: whereupon we, unwilling to lose our first opportunity, departed towards Bottle Cove; betwixt hope and fear of finding the ships there: whither coming the two & twentieth, and finding the ships departed, we, having neither Pilot, Plate, nor Compass for our directors to the Eastward, found ourselves (God he knoweth) to have little hope of any delivery out of that apparent danger. Our fears increased upon us, even whilst we consulted whether it were safest for us either to go or stay. If go, than thought we upon the dangers in sailing, by reason of the much ice in the way; as also of the difficulty in finding the place, when we should come thereabouts. If we resolved still to remain at Bell Sound, than we thought that no other thing could be looked for, but a miserable and a pining death, seeing there appeared no possibility of inhabiting there, or to endure so long, so darksome, and so bitter a winter.  
And thus were our thoughts at that time distracted, thus were our fears increased; nor were they causeless fears altogether. Well, we knew that neither Christian or Heathen people, had ever before inhabited those desolate and untemperate Climates. This also, to increase our fears, had we certainly heard; how that the Merchants having in former times much desired, and that with proffer of great rewards for the hazarding of their lives, and of sufficient furniture and provision of all things that might be thought necessary for such an undertaking, to any that would adventure to winter in those parts; could never yet find any so hardy, as to expose their lives unto so hazardous an undertaking: yea notwithstanding these proffers had been made both unto Mariners of good experience, and of noble resolutions, and also unto diverse other bold spirits; yet had the action of wintering in those parts, never by any been hitherto undertaken. This also had we heard, how that the company of Muscovie Merchants, having once procured the reprieve of some malefactors, that had here at home been convicted by Law for some heinous crimes committed; and that both with promise of pardon for their faults, and with addition of rewards also, if so be they would undertake to remain in Green-land but one whole year, and that every way provided for too, both of Clothes, Victuals, and all things else, that might any way be needful for their preservation: These poor wretches hearing of this large proffer, & fearing present execution at home, resolved to make trial of the adventure. The time of year being come, and the ships ready to departed, these condemned creatures are embarked, who after a certain space there arriving, and taking a view of the desolateness of the place; they conceived such a horror and inward fear in their hearts, as that they resolved rather to return for England to make satisfaction with their lives for their former faults committed, than there to remain, though with assured hope of gaining their pardon: Insomuch as the time of the year being come, that the ships were to departed from these barren shores, they made known their full intent unto the Captain: who being a pitiful and a merciful Gentleman, would not by force constrain them to stay in that place, which was so contrary to their minds; but having made his voyage by the time expired; he again embarked and brought them over with him into England; where, through the intercession and means of the Worshipful Company of Muscovie Merchants, they escaped that death, which they had before been condemned unto. The remembrance of these two former stories, as also of a third (more terrible than both the former, for that it was likely to be our own case) more miserably now affrighted us: and that was the lamentable and unmanly ends of nine good and able men, left in the same place heretofore by the self same Master that now left us behind: who all died miserably upon the place, being cruelly disfigured after their deaths by the savage Bears and hungry Foxes, which are not only the civilest, but also the only inhabitants of that comfortless Country: the lamentable ends and miscarriage of which men, had been enough indeed to have daunted the spirits of the most noble resolution.  
All these fearful examples presenting themselves before our eyes, at this place of Bottle Cove aforesaid, made us, like amazed men, to stand looking one upon another, all of us, as it were, beholding in the present, the future calamities both of himself and of his fellows. And thus, like men already metamorphosed into the ice of the Country, and already past both our sense and reason; stood we with the eyes of pity beholding one another.  
Nor was it other men's examples and miscarriages and fears alone, that made us amazed, but it was the consideration of our want of all necessary provision for the life of man, that already strooke us to the heart: For we were not only unprovided, both of clothes to keep us warm, and of food to prevent the wrath of cruel famine: but utterly destitute also we were of a sufficient house, wherein to shroud and shelter ourselves from the chilling cold. Thus for a space standing all mute and silent, weighing with ourselves the misery we were already fallen into, and knowing delay in these extremities to be the mother of all dangers, we began to conceive hope, even out of the depth of despair. Rousing up our benumbed senses therefore, we now lay out heads and counsels together, to bethink ourselves of the likeliest course for our preservation in that place; seeing that all hopes of gaining our passage into England, were then quite frustrate. Shaking off therefore all childish and effeminate fears, it pleased God to give us hearts like men, to arm ourselves with a resolution to do our best for the resisting of that monster of Desperation. An agreement thereupon by a general consent of the whole Company we then entered into, to take the opportunity of the next fair weather, and go for Green-harbour, to hunt and kill Venison for part of our winter provision.  
Having thus agreed amongst ourselves, the five and twentieth day of August, the weather and wind being both fair, we direct our course towards Green-harbour, some sixteen leagues (as I before told you) distant from Bell Sound: and the wind being fresh and fair, within the space of twelve hours we there arrived. Upon which place being now landed, the first thing we did, was to make us a Tent with the sail of our Shallop, pitched up and spread upon our Oars; a sorry one (God knows) though it were, yet under it we resolved to rest ourselves that night, to refresh our bodies with such food as we there had, and the next day to return again unto our hunting. The weather that night proving fair and clear, we made our sleep the shorter: (and alas what men could sleep in such an extremity!) and fitting ourselves and Shallop the best we might, to Coals Park we went, a place some two leagues distant from us, and well known unto Thomas Ayers, that was one of our Company, to be well stored with Venison. Coming ashore at which place, though we found not so many Dear as we indeed expected, yet seven we killed the same day, and four Bears to boot; which we also intended to eat.  
But the weather beginning now to overcast, and not likely to continue good for hunting; we that night returned again unto Green-harbour: where making us a Tent of our Sail and Oars (as is before described) we fell to eat of such meat as God had sent us, and betook ourselves to our rest upon it. Having rested ourselves a while, and now finding the weather to clear up, we broke off our sleep for that time, fitting ourselves and two dogs again to go a hunting; leaving William Fakely and john Daws behind us in the Tent at Green-harbour, as our Cooks (for the time) to dress some meat that we had, for our refreshment at our return.  
Departing thus from the Tent, we rowed towards Coles Park; in the way whither, upon the side of a hill, by the Sea side, we espied seven Dear feeding, whereupon presently ashore we went, and with our Dogs killed six of them, after which, the weather again overcasting, we thought it to little purpose to go any further at that time, but resolved to hunt all along the side of that hill, and so at night to return unto our Tent. Going thus along, we killed six Deer more; which we had no sooner done, but it began to blow and rain, and to be very dark: whereupon we hasted towards the Tent, there intending to refresh ourselves with victuals and with rest for that night, and the next day to return again unto our hunting. This purpose of ours was by the foul weather the next day hindered: for it fell so black, so cold, and so windy, that we found it no way fitting for our purpose. Lading therefore our own Shallop with Bears and Venison; and another Shallop which we there found haled up, and left by the Ships Company, as every year they use to do: lading this other Shallop, I say, with the Graves of the Whales that had been there boiled this present year, (which we there found in heaps fling upon the ground) we, dividing ourselves into two equal companies, that is to say, William Fakely with one Seaman and two Land-men with him, betaking themselves unto one Shallop; and Edward Pelham with another Seaman and two Land-men more with him, going into the other Shallop; we all committed ourselves unto the Sea, intending with the next fair weather to go to Bell Sound unto our Tent: which was the place we set up our Rest upon, to remain at all the Winter.  
Towards Bell Sound therefore we went, with a purpose there to lay up our Store of what victuals we had already gotten together; and with the next fair wind to come hither again, to try if it were possible for us there to provide ourselves of some more Venison for our Winter provision.  
Having thus laden both our Shallops, appointed our Company, and all ready now for our departure; we were overtaken with the night, and there forced to stay upon the place. The next day was Sunday; wherefore we thought it fit to sanctify the Rest of it, and to stay ourselves there until Monday, and to make the best use we could of that good day, taking the best course we could for the serving of God Almighty; although we had not so much as a Book amongst us all, the whole time that we stayed in that Country.  
The Sabbath day being shut up by the approaching night, we betook ourselves to our Rest: sleeping until the Sun awakened us by his beginning to show himself upon the Monday morning. The day was no sooner peeped, but up we got, fitting ourselves and business for our departure. The weather was fair and clear at the first; but after some four hours rowing, the sky began so to over taste, and the wind to blow so hard, that we could not possibly get to Bell Sound that night, but Coved half way, until the next morning; at which time we recovered Bottle Cove. To which place when we were once come, we found the wind (than at South-west) to blow so hard, that it was impossible for us to reach Bell Sound, but were forced to stay at Bottle Cove for that night. Our Shallops we made fast one unto another, with a Rope fastening the head of the one unto the stern of the other; and so casting our Grabnell or Anchor overboard, we left them riding in the Cove.  
But see now what a mischance, for the trial of our patience, and for the making of us to rely more upon his providence, than upon any outward means of our own; God now suffered to befall us: We being now all ashore, the South-west wind blew so hard and right into the Cove, that it made the Sea go high; our Anchor also coming home at the same time, both our Shallops casting alongst the shore, sunk presently in the Sea: wetting by this means our whole provision, the weather withal beating some of it out of the Boats, which we found swimming up and down the shore. For, coming out of our Tent in the mean time, judge you what a sight this was unto us, to see by mischance, the best part of our provision (the only hope of our lives) to be in danger utterly to be lost, (or at least spoilt with the Sea-water,) for which we had taken such pains, and run such adventures in the getting. In this our misery we saw no way but one (and that a very desperate one) namely, to run presently into the high-wrought Sea, getting by that means into our Shallops to save the remainder of our provisions, ready now to be washed quite away by the billows. A Halser thereupon we got, which fastening unto our Shallops, we, with a Crab or Capstang, by main force of hand heaved them out of the water upon the shore. This done, all along the Sea side we go; seeking there and taking up such of our provisions, as were swum away from our Shallops. Having by this means gleaned up all that could be gotten together, we resolved from thenceforth to let our Boats lie upon the shore, till such time as the weather should prove fair and better; and then to go over unto Bell Sound.  
The third of September the weather proving fair and good, we forthwith launched our Shallops into the water, and in them we that day got into Bell Sound. Thither so soon as we were come, our first business was, to take our provision out of our Shallops into the Tent: our next, to take a particular view of the place, and of the great Tent especially; as being the place of our habitation for the ensuing Winter. This which we call the Tent, was a kind of house (indeed) built of Timber and Board's very substantially, and covered with Flemish Tiles: by the men of which nation it had in the time of their trading thither, been builded. Fourscore foot long it is, and in breadth fifty. The use of it was for the Cooper's, employed for the service of the Company, to work, lodge, and live in, all the while they make cask for the putting up of the Trane Oil. Our view being taken, we found the weather beginning to alter so strangely, and the nights and frosts so to grow upon us, that we durst not adventure upon another hunting voyage unto Green-harbour; fearing the Sound would be so frozen, that we should never be able to get back to our Tent again. By land it was (we knew) in vain for us to think of returning: for the land is so mountainous, that there is no travelling that way.  
Things being at this pass with us, we bethought ourselves of building another smaller Tent with all expedition: the place must of necessity be within the greater Tent. With our best wits therefore taking a view of the place, we resolved upon the South side. Taking down another lesser Tent therefore, (built for the Land-men hard by the other, wherein in time of year they lay whilst they made their Oil) from thence we fetched our materials. That Tent furnished us with 150 Deale-boards, besides Posts or Stancheons, and Rafters. From three Chimneys of the Furnaces wherein they used to boil their Oils, we brought a thousand Bricks: there also found we three Hogsheads of very fine Lyme, of which stuff we also fetched another Hogshead from Bottle Cove, on the other side of the Sound, some three leagues distant. Mingling this Lime with the Sand of the Sea shore, we made very excellent good mortar for the laying of our Bricks: falling to work whereupon, the weather was so extreme cold, as that we were fain to make two fires to keep our mortar from freezing. William Fakely and myself undertaking the Masonry, began to raise a wall of one brick thickness, against the inner planks of the side of the Tent. Whilst we were laying of these Bricks, the rest of our Company were otherwise employed every one of them: some in taking them down, others in making of them clean, and in bringing them in baskets into the Tent: Some in making mortar, and hewing of boards to build the other side withal: and two others all the while, in flaying of our Venison. And thus having built the two outermost sides of the Tent with Bricks and Mortar, and our Bricks now almost spent, we were enforced to build the other two sides with Board's; and that in this manner. First, we nailed our Deal boards on one side of the Post or Stancheon, to the thickness of one foot; and on the other side in like manner: and so filling up the hollow place between with sand, it became so tied and warm, as not the least breath of air could possibly annoy us: Our Chimneys vent was into the greater Tent; being the breadth of one deal board, and four foot long. The length of this our Tent was twenty foot, and the breadth sixteen; the height ten: our ceiling being Deal boards five or six times double, the middle of one, joining so close to the shut of the other, that no wind could possibly get between. As for our door, besides our making it so close as possibly it could shut; we lined it moreover with a bed that we found lying there, which came over both the opening and the shutting of it. As for windows, we made none at all: so that our light we brought in through the greater Tent, by removing two or three tiles in the caves, which light came to us through the vent of our Chimney. Our next work was, to set up four Cabins, billeting ourselves two and two in a Cabbine. Our beds were the Deers skins dried, which we found to be extraordinary warm, and a very comfortable kind of lodging to us in our distress. Our next care than was for firing to dress our meat withal, and for keeping away the cold. Examinging therefore all the Shallops that had been left ashore there by the Ships, we found seven of them very crazy, and not serviceable for the next year. Those we made bold withal; broke them up, and carried them into our house, stowing them over the beams in manner of a floor; intending also to stow the rest of our firing over them, so to make the outer Tent the warmer, and to keep withal the snow from dryving through the tiles into the Tent: which snow would otherwise have covered every thing, and have hindered us in coming at what we wanted. When the weather was now grown cold, and the days short, (or rather no days at all) we made bold to stave some empty Cask that were there left the year before: to the quantity of 100 Tun at least. We also made use of some planks, and of two old Coolers (wherein they cooled their Oil) and of whatsoever might well be spared, without damnifying of the voyage the next year. Thus having gotten together all, the firing that we could possibly make, except we would make spoil of the Shallops and Coolers that were there; which might easily have overthrown the next year's voyage, to the great hindrance of the Worshipful Company, whose servants we being, were every way careful of their profit. Comparing therefore the samll quantity of our wood, together with the coldness of the weather, and the length of time that there we were likely to abide; we cast about to husband our stock as thriftily as we could, devising to try a new conclusion: Our trial was this. When we raked up our fire at night, with a good quantity of ashes and of embers, we put into the midst of it a piece of Elmen wood: where after it had lain sixteen hours, we at our opening of it found great store of fire upon it; whereupon we made a common practice of it ever after. It never went out in eight months together or thereabouts.  
Having thus provided both our house and firing; upon the twelfth of September a small quantity of drift ice, came driving to and fro in the Sound. Early in the morning therefore we arose, and looking every where abroad, we at last espied two Sea-horses lying asleep upon a piece of ice: presently thereupon taking up an old Harping Iron that there lay in the Tent, & fastening a Grapnel Rope unto it, out launched we our Boat to row towards them. Coming something near them, we perceived them to be fast asleep: which myself, then steering the Boat, first perceiving, spoke to the rowers to hold still their Oars, for fear of awaking them with the crashing of the ice; and I, skulling the Boat easily along, came so near at length unto them, that the Shallops even touched one of them. At which instant William Fakely being ready with his Harping Iron, heaved it so strongly into the old one, that he quite disturbed her of her rest: after which she receiving five or six thrusts with our lances, fell into a sounder sleep of death. Thus having dispatched the old one, the younger being loath to leave her dam, continued swimming so long about our Boat, that with our lances we killed her also. Haling them both after this into the Boat, we rowed ashore, flayed our Sea-horses, cut them in pieces, to roast and eat them. The nineteenth of the same month we saw other Sea-horses, sleeping also in like manner upon several pieces of ice: but the weather being cold, they desired not to sleep so much as before; and therefore could we kill but one of them: of which one being right glad, we returned again into our Tent.  
The nights at this time, and the cold weather increased so fast upon us, that we were out of all hopes of getting any more food before the next Spring: our only hopes were, to kill a Bear now and then, that might by chance wander that way. The next day therefore taking an exacter survey of all our victuals, and finding our proportion too small by half, for our time and company; we agreed among ourselves to come to Allowance, that is, to stint ourselves to one reasonable meal a day, and to keep Wednesdays and Fridays Fasting days; 
* These be the ●…eaps of the ●●…t of the ●●ale, which ●…e fling away ●●●er the Oil 〈◊〉 gotten out 〈◊〉 it.  excepting from the*. Frittars or Graves of the Whale (a very loathsome means) of which we allowed ourselves sufficient to suffice our present hunger: and at this diet we continued some three months or thereabouts.  
Having by this time finished what ever we possibly could invent, for our preservations in that desolate desert; our clothes & shoes also were so worn and torn (all to pieces almost) that we must of necessity invent some new device for their reparations. Of Roape-yarne therefore, we made us thread, & of Whalebones needles to sew our clothes withal. The nights were waxed very long, and by the tenth of October the cold so violent, that the Sea was frozen over: which had been enough to have daunted the most assured resolutions. At which time our business being over, and nothing now to exercise our minds upon; our heads began then to be troubled with a thousand sorts of imaginations. Then had we leisure (more than enough) to complain ourselves of our present and most miserable conditions. Then had we time to bewail our wives and children at home; and to imagine what news our unfortunate miscarriages must needs be unto them. Then thought we of our parents also, and what a cutting Corasive it would be to them, to hear of the untimely deaths of their children. Otherwhiles again, we revive ourselves with some comfort, that our friends might take, in hoping that it might please God to preserve us (even in this poor estate) until the next year. Sometimes did we  our griefs; complaining one while of the cruelty of our Master, that would offer to leave us to these distresses: and then presently again fell we, not only to excuse him, but to lament both him and his company, fearing they had been overtaken by the ice, and miserably that way perished.  
Thus tormented in mind with our doubts, our fears, and our griefs; and in our bodies with hunger, cold, and wants; that hideous monster of desperation, began now to present his ugliest shape unto us: he now pursued us, he now laboured to seize upon us. Thus finding ourselves in a Labyrinth, as it were, of a perpetual misery, we thought it not best to give too much way unto our griefs; fearing, they also would most of all have wrought upon our weakness. Our prayers we now redoubled unto the Almighty, for strength and patience, in these our miseries: and the Lord graciously listened unto us, and granted these our petitions. By his assistance therefore, we shaken off these thoughts, and cheered up ourselves again, to use the best means for our preservations.  
Now therefore began we to think upon our Venison, and the preserving of that; and how to order our firing in this cold weather. For fear therefore our firing should fail us at the end of the year, we thought best to roast every day half a Deer, and to stow it in hogsheads. Which we putting now in practice, we forthwith filled three Hogsheads and an half; leaving so much raw, as would serve to roast every Sabbath day a quarter: and so for Christmas day, and the like.  
This conclusion being made amongst us; then fell we again to bethink us of our miseries, both passed and to come: and how, (though if it pleased God to give us life, yet should) we live as banished men, not only from our friends, but from all other company. Then thought we of the pinching cold, and of the pining hunger: these were our thoughts, this our discourse to pass away the time withal. But as if all this misery had been too little, we presently found another increase of it: For, examining our provisions once more, we found that all our Frittars of the Whale were almost spoilt with the wet that they had taken: after which by lying so close together, they were now grown mouldy: And our Bear and Venison we perceived again not to amount to such a quantity, as to allow us five meals a week: whereupon we were fain to shorten our stomaches of one meal more: so that for the space of three months after that, we for four days in the week fed upon the unsavoury and mouldy Frittars, and the other three, we feasted it with Bear and Venison. But as if it were not enough for us to want meat, we now began to want light also: all our meals proved suppers now; for little light could we see; even the glorious Sun (as if unwilling to behold our miseries) masking his lovely face from us, under the sable veil of coal-black night. Thus from the fourteenth of October, till the third of February, we never saw the Sun; nor did he all that time, ever so much as peep above the Horizon. But the Moon we saw at all times, day and night (when the clouds obscured her not) shining as bright as she doth in England. The Sky, 'tis true, is very much troubled with thick and black weather all the Winter time: so that then, we could not see the Moon, nor could discern what point of the Compass she bore upon us. A kind of daylight we had indeed, which glimmered some eight hours a day unto us; in October time I mean: for from thence unto the first of December, even that light was shortened ten or twelve minutes a day constantly: so that from the first of December till the twentieth, there appeared no light at all; but all was one continued night. All that we could perceive was, that in a clear season now and then, there appeared a little glare of white, like some show of day towards the South: but no light at all. And this continued till the first of january, by which time we might perceive the day a little to increase. All this darksome time, no certainty could we have when it should be day, or when night: only myself out of mine own little judgement, kept the observation of it thus. First bearing in mind the number of the Epact, I made my addition by a day supposed, (though not absolutely to be known, by reason of the darkness) by which I judged of the age of the Moon: and this gave me my rule of the passing of the time; so that at the coming of the Ships into the Port, I told them the very day of the month, as directly as they themselves could tell me.  
At the beginning of this darksome, irksome time, we sought some means of preserving light amongst us: finding therefore a piece of Sheete-lead over a seam of one of the Coolers; that we ripped off, and made three Lamps of it: which maintaining with Oil that we found in the Cooper's Tent, and Roape-yarne serving us in steed of Candle-weekes, we kept them continually burning. And this was a great comfort to us in our extremity. Thus did we our best to preserve ourselves; but all this could not secure us: for we in our own thoughts, accounted ourselves but dead men; and that our Tent was then our darksome dungeon, and we did but wait our day of trial by our judge, to know whether we should live or dye. Our extremities being so many, made us sometimes in impatient speeches to break forth against the causers of our miseries: but then again, our consciences telling us of our own evil deservings; we took it either for a punishment upon us for our former wicked lives; or else for an example of God's mercy, in our wonderful deliverance. Humbling ourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, we cast down ourselves before him in prayer, two or three times a day, which course we constantly held all the time of our misery.  
The new year now begun, as the days began to lengthen, so the cold began to strengthen: which cold came at last to that extremity, as that it would raise blisters in our flesh, as if we had been burnt with fire: and if we touched iron at any time, it would stick to our fingers like Birdlime. Sometimes if we went but out adoors to fetch in a little water, the cold would nip us in such sort, that it made us as sore as if we had been beaten in some cruel manner. All the first part of the Winter, we found water under the ice, that lay upon the Bache on the Sea-shoare. Which water issued out of an high Bay or Cliff of ice, and ran into the hollow of the Bache, there remaining with a thick ice over it: which ice, we at one certain place daily digging through with pick-axes, took so much water as served for our drinking.  
This continued with us until the tenth of januarie: and then were we fain to make shift with snow-water; which we melted by putting hot Irons into it. And this was our drink until the twentieth of May following.  
By the last of januarie, were the days grown to some seven or eight hours long; and then we again took another view of our victuals: which we now found to grow so short, that it could no ways last us above six weeks longer. And this bred a further fear of famine amongst us. But our recourse was in this, as in other our extremities, unto Almighty God; who had helps, we knew, though we saw no hopes. And thus spent we our time until the third of February. This proved a marvellous cold day; yet a fair and clear one: about the middle whereof, all clouds now quite dispersed, and nights sable curtain drawn; Aurora with her golden face smiled once again upon us, at her rising out of her bed: for now the glorious Sun with his glittering beams, began to gild the highest tops of the lofty mountains. The brightness of the Sun, and the whiteness of the snow, both together was such, as that it was able to have revived even a dying spirit. But to make a new addition to our new joy, we might perceive two Bears, (a she one with her Cubbe) now coming towards our Tent: whereupon we strait arming ourselves with our lances, issued out of the Tent to await her coming. She soon cast her greedy eyes upon us; and with full hope of devouring us, she made the more haste unto us: but with our hearty lances we gave her such a welcome, as that she fell down upon the ground, tumbling up and down, and biting the very snow for anger. Her Cubbe seeing this, by flight escaped us. The weather now was so cold, that longer we were not able to stay abroad: retiring therefore into our Tent, we first warmed ourselves; and then our again to draw the dead Bear in unto us. We flaied her, cut her into pieces of a Stone weight or thereabouts, which served us for our dinners. And upon this Bear we fed some twenty days; for she was very good flesh, and better than our Venison. This only mischance we had with her: that upon the eating of her Liver, our very skins peeled off: for mine own part, I being sick before, by eating of that Liver, though I lost my skin, yet recovered I my health upon it. She being spent, either we must seek some other meat, or else fall aboard with our roast Venison in the Cask, which we were very loath to do for fear of famishing, if so be that should be thus spent, before the Fleet came out of England. Amidst these our fears, it pleased God to send diverse Bears unto our Tent; some forty at least, as we accounted. Of which number we killed seven: That is to say, the second of March one; the fourth, another; and the tenth, a wonderful great Bear, six foot high at least. All which we flayed and roasted upon wooden spits, (having no better kitchen-furniture than that, and a frying-pan, which we found in the Tent.) They were as good savoury meat, as any beef could be. Having thus gotten good store of such food, we kept not ourselves now to such strait allowance as before; but eat frequently two or three meal's a-day: which began to increase strength and ability of body in us.  
By this, the cheerful days so fast increased, that the several sorts of Fowls, which had all the Wintertime avoy ded those quarters, began now again to resort thither, unto their Summer-abiding. The sixteenth of March, one of our two Mastiff Dogs went out of the Tent from us in the morning: but from that day to this he never more returned to us, nor could we ever hear what was become of him. The Fowls that I before spoke of, constantly use every Spring time to resort unto that Coast, being used to breed there most abundantly. Their food is a certain kind of small fishes. Yearly upon the abundant coming of these Fowls, the Foxes which had all this Winter kept their Burrowes under the Rocks, began now to come abroad, and seek for their live. For them we set up three Traps like Rat-trappes, and baited them with the skins of these Fowls, which we had found upon the snow; they falling there in their flight from the hill whereupon they bred, towards the Sea. For this Fowl, being about the bigness of a Duck, hath her legs placed so close unto her rump, as that when they alight once upon the land, they are very hardly (if ever) able to get up again, by reason of the misplacing of their legs, and the weight of their bodies; but being in the water, they raise themselves with their pinions well enough. After we had made These Traps, and set them apart one from another in the snow, we caught fifty Foxes in them: all which we roasted, and found very good meat of them. Then took we a Bear's skin, and laying the flesh side upward, we made Springs of Whale's bone, wherewith we caught about 60. of those Fowls, about the bigness of a pigeon.  
Thus continued we until the first of May; and the weather then growing warm; we were now pretty able to go abroad to seek for more provision. Every day therefore abroad we went; but nothing could we encounter withal, until the 24. of May; when espying a Buck, we thought to have killed him with our Dog: but he was grown so fat and lazy, that he could not pull down the Dear. Seeking further out therefore, we found abundance of Willocks eggs; (which is a Fowl about the bigness of a Duck) of which eggs though there were great store, yet we being but two of us together, brought but thirty of them to the Tent that day; thinking the next day to fetch a thousand more of them: but the day proved so cold, with so much Easterly wind, that we could not stir out of our Tent.  
Staying at home therefore upon the 25. of May, we for that day omitted our ordinary custom. Our order of late (since the fair weather) was, every day, or every second day, to go up to the top of a mountain, to spy if we could discern the water in the Sea; which until the day before we had not seen. At which time, a storm of wind coming out of the Sea, broke the main ice within the Sound: after which, the wind coming Easterly, carried all the ice into the Sea, and cleared the Sound a great way, although not near the shore at first, seeing the clear water came not near our Tent by three miles at least.  
This 25. of May therefore, we all day staying in the Tent, there came two Ships of Hull into the Sound: who knowing that there had been men left there the year before; the Master (full of desire to know whether we were alive or dead) maned out a Shallop from the Ship; with order to row as fare up the Sound as they could, and then to hale up their Shallop, and travel over-land upon the snow unto the Tent. These men at their coming ashore, found the Shallop which we had haled from our Tent into the water, with a purpose to go seek some Sea-horses the next fair weather: the Shallop being then already fitted with all necessaries for that enterprise. This sight brought them into a quandary; and though this encounter made them hope, yet their admiration made them doubt, that it was not possible for us still to remain alive. Taking therefore our lances out of the Boat, towards the Tent they come; we never so much as perceiving of them: for we were all gathered together, now about to go to prayers in the inner Tent; only Thomas Ayers was not yet come in to us out of the greater Tent. The Hull men now coming near our Tent, haled it with the usual word of the Sea crying hay, he answered again with Ho, which sudden answer almost amazed them all, causing them to stand still, half afraid at the matter. But we within hearing of them, joyfully came out of the Tent; all black as we were with the smoke, and with our clothes all tattered with wearing. This uncouth sight made them further amazed at us: but perceiving us to be the very men left there all the year; with joyful hearts embracing us, and we them again, they came with us into our Tent. Coming thus in to us, we shown them the courtesy of the house, and gave them such victuals as we had; which was Venison roasted four months before, and a Cup of cold water; which for novelty sake they kindly accepted of us.  
Then fell we to ask them what news? and of the state of the Land at home? and when the London Fleet would come? to all which, they returned us the best answers they could. Agreeing then to leave the Tent; with them we went to their Shallop, and so a-board the Ship; where we were welcomed after the heartiest and kindest English manner; and there we stayed ourselves until the coming of the London Fleet, which we much longed for: hoping by them to hear from our friends in England. We were told that they would be there the next day; but it was full three days ere they came, which seemed to us as tedious a three days, as any we had yet endured: so much we now desired to hear from our friends, our wives and children.  
The 28. of May, the London Fleet came into the Port to our great comfort. A-board the Admiral we went, unto the right noble Captain, Captain William Goodler, who is worthy to be honoured by all Seamen for his courtesy and bounty. This is the Gentleman that is every year chief Commander of this Fleet; and right worthy he is so to be, being a very wise man, and an expert Mariner as most be in England, none dispraised. Unto this Gentleman right welcome we were; and joyfully by him received: he giving order, that we should have any thing that was in the Ship, that might do us good, and increase our strength; of his own charges giving us apparel also, to the value of twenty pounds' worth.  
Thus after fourteen days of refreshment, we grew perfectly well all of us: whereupon the noble Captain sent William Fakely, and john Wyse, (Masons own Apprentice) and Thomas Ayers the Whale-Cutter, with Robert Good fellow, unto Master Masons Ship, according as themselves desired. But thinking there to be as kindly welcomed, as the lost Prodigal; these poor men after their enduring of so much misery, which through his means partly they had undergone: no sooner came they a board his ship, but he most unkindly called them Runaways, with other harsh and unchristian terms, fare enough from the civility of an honest man. Noble Captain Goodler understanding all these passages, was right sorry for them, resolving to send for them again, but that the weather proved so bad and uncertain. I for mine own part, remained with the Captain still at Bottle Cove, according to mine own desire: as for the rest of us that stayed with him, he preferred the Land-men to row in the Shallops for the kill of the Whales; freeing them thereby from their toilsome labour ashore; bettering their Means beside. And all these favours did this worthy Gentleman for us.  
Thus were we well contented now to stay there till the twentieth of August; hoping then to return into our native Country: which day of departure being come, and we embarked, with joyful hearts we set sail through the foaming Ocean, and though crossed sometimes with contrary winds homeward bound; yet our proper ships at last came safely to an Anchor in the River of Thames: to our great joy and comfort, and the Merchant's benefit. And thus by the blessing of God came we all eight of us well home, safe and sound: where the Worshipful Company our Masters, the Muscovie Merchants, have since dealt wonderfully well by us. For all which most merciful Preservation, and most wonderfully powerful Deliverance, all honour, praise, and glory by unto the great God, the sole Author of it. He grant us to make the right use of it, Amen.  
FINIS.