SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT'S VOYAGE TO NEWFOUNDLAND

By Edward Hayes

 PREPARER'S NOTE

 This text is one of the items included in Voyages and Travels: Ancient and Modern and was prepared from a 1910 edition, published by P F Collier & Son Company, New York. 

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the founder of the first English colony in NorthAmerica, was born about 1539, the son of a Devonshire gentleman, whose widow afterward married the father of Sir Walter Raleigh. He waseducated at Eton and Oxford, served under Sir Philip Sidney's father inIreland, and fought for the Netherlands against Spain. After his returnhe composed a pamphlet urging the search for a northwest passage toCathay, which led to Frobisher's license for his explorations to thatend. 

In 1578 Gilbert obtained from Queen Elizabeth the charter he had longsought, to plant a colony in North America. His first attempt failed, and cost him his whole fortune; but, after further service in Ireland, he sailed again in 1583 for Newfoundland. In the August of that year hetook possession of the harbor of St. John and founded his colony, buton the return voyage he went down with his ship in a storm south of theAzores. 

The following narrative is an account of this last voyage of Gilbert's, told by Edward Hayes, commander of "The Golden Hind, " the only one toreach England of the three ships which set out from Newfoundland withGilbert. 

The settlement at St. John was viewed by its promoter as merely thebeginning of a scheme for ousting Spain from America in favor ofEngland. The plan did not progress as he hoped; but after long delays, and under far other impulses than Gilbert ever thought of, much of hisdream was realized. 

SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT'S VOYAGE TO NEWFOUNDLAND

A report of the Voyage and success thereof, attempted in the year ofour Lord 1583, by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Knight, with other gentlemenassisting him in that action, intended to discover and to plantChristian inhabitants in place convenient, upon those large and amplecountries extended northward from the Cape of Florida, lying under verytemperate climes, esteemed fertile and rich in minerals, yet not in theactual possession of any Christian prince. Written by Mr. EdwardHayes, gentleman, and principal actor in the same voyage, [*] who alonecontinued unto the end, and, by God's special assistance, returned homewith his retinue safe and entire. 

 [*] Hayes was captain and owner of the _Golden Hind_, Gilbert's Rear-Admiral. 

Many voyages have been pretended, yet hitherto never any thoroughlyaccomplished by our nation, of exact discovery into the bowels of thosemain, ample, and vast countries extended infinitely into the north fromthirty degrees, or rather from twenty-five degrees, of septentrionallatitude, neither hath a right way been taken of planting a Christianhabitation and regiment (government) upon the same, as well may appearboth by the little we yet do actually possess therein, and by ourignorance of the riches and secrets within those lands, which unto thisday we know chiefly by the travel and report of other nations, and mostof the French, who albeit they cannot challenge such right and interestunto the said countries as we, neither these many years have hadopportunity nor means so great to discover and to plant, being vexedwith the calamities of intestine wars, as we have had by the inestimablebenefit of our long and happy peace, yet have they both ways performedmore, and had long since attained a sure possession and settledgovernment of many provinces in those northerly parts of _America_, iftheir many attempts into those foreign and remote lands had not beenimpeached by their garboils at home. 

The first discovery of these coasts, never heard of before, was wellbegun by John Cabot the father and Sebastian his son, an Englishmanborn, who were the first finders out of all that great tract of landstretching from the Cape of Florida, into those islands which we nowcall the Newfoundland; all which they brought and annexed unto the crownof England. Since when, if with like diligence the search of inlandcountries had been followed, as the discovery upon the coast andoutparts thereof was performed by those two men, no doubt her Majesty'sterritories and revenue had been mightily enlarged and advanced by thisday; and, which is more, the seed of Christian religion had been sowedamongst those pagans, which by this time might have brought forth a mostplentiful harvest and copious congregation of Christians; which mustbe the chief intent of such as shall make any attempt that way; or elsewhatsoever is builded upon other foundation shall never obtain happysuccess nor continuance. 

And although we cannot precisely judge (which only belongeth to God)what have been the humours of men stirred up to great attempts ofdiscovering and planting in those remote countries, yet the events doshew that either God's cause hath not been chiefly preferred by them, orelse God hath not permitted so abundant grace as the light of His wordand knowledge of Him to be yet revealed unto those infidels before theappointed time. But most assuredly, the only cause of religion hithertohath kept back, and will also bring forward at the time assigned by God, an effectual and complete discovery and possession by Christians bothof those ample countries and the riches within them hitherto concealed;whereof, notwithstanding, God in His wisdom hath permitted to berevealed from time to time a certain obscure and misty knowledge, bylittle and little to allure the minds of men that way, which else willbe dull enough in the zeal of His cause, and thereby to prepare us untoa readiness for the execution of His will, against the due time ordainedof calling those pagans unto Christianity. 

In the meanwhile it behoveth every man of great calling, in whom is anyinstinct of inclination unto this attempt, to examine his own motions, which, if the same proceed of ambition or avarice, he may assure himselfit cometh not of God, and therefore cannot have confidence of God'sprotection and assistance against the violence (else irresistible) bothof sea and infinite perils upon the land; whom God yet may use as aninstrument to further His cause and glory some way, but not to buildupon so bad a foundation. Otherwise, if his motives be derived froma virtuous and heroical mind, preferring chiefly the honour of God, compassion of poor infidels captived by the devil, tyrannizing in mostwonderful and dreadful manner over their bodies and souls; advancementof his honest and well-disposed countrymen, willing to accompany himin such honourable actions; relief of sundry people within this realmdistressed; all these be honourable purposes, imitating the nature ofthe munificent God, wherewith He is well pleased, who will assist suchan actor beyond expectation of many. And the same, who feeleth thisinclination in himself, by all likelihood may hope or rather confidentlyrepose in the preordinance of God, that in this last age of the world(or likely never) the time is complete of receiving also these gentilesinto His mercy, and that God will raise Him an instrument to effect thesame; it seeming probable by event of precedent attempts made by theSpaniards and French sundry times, that the countries lying north ofFlorida God hath reserved the same to be reduced into Christian civilityby the English nation. For not long after that Christopher Columbus haddiscovered the islands and continent of the West Indies for Spain, John and Sebastian Cabot made discovery also of the rest from Floridanorthwards to the behoof of England. 

And whensoever afterwards the Spaniards, very prosperous in all theirsouthern discoveries, did attempt anything into Florida and thoseregions inclining towards the north, they proved most unhappy, and wereat length discouraged utterly by the hard and lamentable success ofmany both religious and valiant in arms, endeavouring to bring thosenortherly regions also under the Spanish jurisdiction, as if God hadprescribed limits unto the Spanish nation which they might not exceed;as by their own gests recorded may be aptly gathered. 

The French, as they can pretend less title unto these northern partsthan the Spaniard, by how much the Spaniard made the first discovery ofthe same continent so far northward as unto Florida, and the French didbut review that before discovered by the English nation, usurping uponour right, and imposing names upon countries, rivers, bays, capes, orheadlands as if they had been the first finders of those coasts; whichinjury we offered not unto the Spaniards, but left off to discoverwhen we approached the Spanish limits; even so God hath not hithertopermitted them to establish a possession permanent upon another's right, notwithstanding their manifold attempts, in which the issue hath beenno less tragical than that of the Spaniards, as by their own reports isextant. 

Then, seeing the English nation only hath right unto these countriesof America from the Cape of Florida northward by the privilege of firstdiscovery, unto which Cabot was authorised by regal authority, and setforth by the expense of our late famous King Henry the Seventh; whichright also seemeth strongly defended on our behalf by the powerful handof Almighty God withstanding the enterprises of other nations; it maygreatly encourage us upon so just ground, as is our right, and upon sosacred an intent, as to plant religion (our right and intent being meetfoundations for the same), to prosecute effectually the full possessionof those so ample and pleasant countries appertaining unto the crown ofEngland; the same, as is to be conjectured by infallible arguments ofthe world's end approaching, being now arrived unto the time of Godprescribed of their vocation, if ever their calling unto the knowledgeof God may be expected. Which also is very probable by the revolutionand course of God's word and religion, which from the beginning hathmoved from the east towards, and at last unto, the west, where it islike to end, unless the same begin again where it did in the east, whichwere to expect a like world again. But we are assured of the contrary bythe prophecy of Christ, whereby we gather that after His word preachedthroughout the world shall be the end. And as the Gospel when itdescended westward began in the south, and afterward begun in the southcountries of America, no less hope may be gathered that it will alsospread into the north. 

These considerations may help to suppress all dreads rising of hardevents in attempts made this way by other nations, as also of the heavysuccess and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentlemanour countryman, Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight, who was the first of ournations that carried people to erect an habitation and government inthose northerly countries of America. About which albeit he had consumedmuch substance, and lost his life at last, his people also perishing forthe most part: yet the mystery thereof we must leave unto God, and judgecharitably both of the cause, which was just in all pretence, and ofthe person, who was very zealous in prosecuting the same, deservinghonourable remembrance for his good mind and expense of life in sovirtuous an enterprise. Whereby nevertheless, lest any man should bedismayed by example of other folks' calamity, and misdeem that God dothresist all attempts intended that way, I thought good, so far as myselfwas an eye-witness, to deliver the circumstance and manner of ourproceedings in that action; in which the gentleman was so unfortunatelyencumbered with wants, and worse matched with many ill-disposed people, that his rare judgment and regiment premeditated for those affairs wassubjected to tolerate abuses, and in sundry extremities to hold on acourse more to uphold credit than likely in his own conceit happily tosucceed. 

The issue of such actions, being always miserable, not guided by God, who abhorreth confusion and disorder, hath left this for admonition, being the first attempt by our nation to plant, unto such as shall takethe same cause in hand hereafter, not to be discouraged from it; but tomake men well advised how they handle His so high and excellentmatters, as the carriage is of His word into those very mighty andvast countries. An action doubtless not to be intermeddled with basepurposes, as many have made the same but a colour to shadow actionsotherwise scarce justifiable; which doth excite God's heavy judgmentsin the end, to the terrifying of weak minds from the cause, withoutpondering His just proceedings; and doth also incense foreign princesagainst our attempts, how just soever, who cannot but deem the sequelvery dangerous unto their state (if in those parts we should grow tostrength), seeing the very beginnings are entered with spoil. 

And with this admonition denounced upon zeal towards God's cause, alsotowards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable unto this actionof planting Christian people and religion in those remote and barbarousnations of America (unto whom I wish all happiness), I will now proceedto make relations briefly, yet particularly, of our voyage undertakenwith Sir Humfrey Gilbert, begun, continued, and ended adversely. 

When first Sir Humfrey Gilbert undertook the western discovery ofAmerica, and had procured from her Majesty a very large commission toinhabit and possess at his choice all remote and heathen lands notin the actual possession of any Christian prince, the same commissionexemplified with many privileges, such as in his discretion he mightdemand, very many gentlemen of good estimation drew unto him, toassociate him in so commendable an enterprise, so that the preparationwas expected to grow unto a puissant fleet, able to encounter a king'spower by sea. Nevertheless, amongst a multitude of voluntary men, theirdispositions were diverse, which bred a jar, and made a division in theend, to the confusion of that attempt even before the same was begun. And when the shipping was in a manner prepared, and men ready uponthe coast to go aboard, at that time some brake consort, and followedcourses degenerating from the voyage before pretended. Others failedof their promises contracted, and the greater number were dispersed, leaving the General with few of his assured friends, with whom headventured to sea; where, having tasted of no less misfortune, he wasshortly driven to retire home with the loss of a tall ship and, more tohis grief, of a valiant gentleman, Miles Morgan. 

Having buried, only in a preparation, a great mass of substance, wherebyhis estate was impaired, his mind yet not dismayed, he continued hisformer designment, and purposed to revive this enterprise, good occasionserving. Upon which determination standing long without means to satisfyhis desire, at last he granted certain assignments out of his commissionto sundry persons of mean ability, desiring the privilege of his grant, to plant and fortify in the north parts of America about the river ofCanada; to whom if God gave good success in the north parts (where thenno matter of moment was expected), the same, he thought, wouldgreatly advance the hope of the south, and be a furtherance unto hisdetermination that way. And the worst that might happen in that coursemight be excused, without prejudice unto him, by the former suppositionthat those north regions were of no regard. But chiefly, a possessiontaken in any parcel of those heathen countries, by virtue of his grant, did invest him of territories extending every way 200 leagues; whichinduced Sir Humfrey Gilbert to make those assignments, desiring greatlytheir expedition, because his commission did expire after six years, ifin that space he had not gotten actual possession. 

Time went away without anything done by his assigns; insomuch thatat last he must resolve himself to take a voyage in person, for moreassurance to keep his patent in force, which then almost was expired orwithin two years. In furtherance of his determination, amongst others, Sir George Peckham, Knight, shewed himself very zealous to the action, greatly aiding him both by his advice and in the charge. Other gentlemento their ability joined unto him, resolving to adventure their substanceand lives in the same cause. Who beginning their preparation from thattime, both of shipping, munition, victual, men, and things requisite, some of them continued the charge two years complete withoutintermission. Such were the difficulties and cross accidents opposingthese proceedings, which took not end in less than two years; many ofwhich circumstances I will omit. 

The last place of our assembly, before we left the coast of England, was in Cawset Bay, near unto Plymouth, then resolved to put unto thesea with shipping and provision such as we had, before our store yetremaining, but chiefly the time and season of the year, were too farspent. Nevertheless, it seemed first very doubtful by what way to shapeour course, and to begin our intended discovery, either from the southnorthward or from the north southward. The first, that is, beginningsouth, without all controversy was the likeliest, wherein we wereassured to have commodity of the current which from the Cape of Floridasetteth northward, and would have furthered greatly our navigation, discovering from the foresaid cape along towards Cape Breton, and allthose lands lying to the north. Also, the year being far spent, andarrived to the month of June, we were not to spend time in northerlycourses, where we should be surprised with timely winter, but to covetthe south, which we had space enough then to have attained, and theremight with less detriment have wintered that season, being more mildand short in the south than in the north, where winter is both long andrigorous. These and other like reasons alleged in favour of the southerncourse first to be taken, to the contrary was inferred that forasmuch asboth our victuals and many other needful provisions were diminished andleft insufficient for so long a voyage and for the wintering of so manymen, we ought to shape a course most likely to minister supply; and thatwas to take the Newfoundland in our way, which was but 700 leagues fromour English coast. Where being usually at that time of the year, anduntil the fine of August, a multitude of ships repairing thither forfish, we should be relieved abundantly with many necessaries, which, after the fishing ended, they might well spare and freely impartunto us. Not staying long upon that Newland coast, we might proceedsouthward, and follow still the sun, until we arrived at places moretemperate to our content. 

By which reasons we were the rather induced to follow this northerlycourse, obeying unto necessity, which must be supplied. Otherwise, wedoubted that sudden approach of winter, bringing with it continualfog and thick mists, tempest and rage of weather, also contrariety ofcurrents descending from the Cape of Florida unto Cape Breton and CapeRace, would fall out to be great and irresistible impediments unto ourfurther proceeding for that year, and compel us to winter in those northand cold regions. Wherefore, suppressing all objections to the contrary, we resolved to begin our course northward, and to follow, directly aswe might, the trade way unto Newfoundland; from whence, after ourrefreshing and reparation of wants, we intended without delay, by God'spermission, to proceed into the south, not omitting any river or baywhich in all that large tract of land appeared to our view worthy ofsearch. Immediately we agreed upon the manner of our course and ordersto be observed in our voyage; which were delivered in writing, unto thecaptains and masters of every ship a copy, in manner following. 

Every ship had delivered two bullets or scrolls, the one sealed upin wax, the other left open; in both which were included severalwatchwords. That open, serving upon our own coast or the coast ofIreland; the other sealed, was promised on all hands not to be broken upuntil we should be clear of the Irish coast; which from thenceforthdid serve until we arrived and met all together in such harbours ofthe Newfoundland as were agreed for our rendezvous. The said watchwordsbeing requisite to know our consorts whensoever by night, either byfortune of weather, our fleet dispersed should come together again; orone should hail another; or if by ill watch and steerage one ship shouldchance to fall aboard of another in the dark. 

The reason of the bullet sealed was to keep secret that watchword whilewe were upon our own coast, lest any of the company stealing from thefleet might bewray the same; which known to an enemy, he might board usby night without mistrust, having our own watchword. 

Orders agreed upon by the Captains and Masters to be observed by thefleet of Sir Humfrey Gilbert. 

First, The Admiral to carry his flag by day, and his light by night. 

2. Item, if the Admiral shall shorten his sail by night, then to shewtwo lights until he be answered again by every ship shewing one lightfor a short time. 

3. Item, if the Admiral after his shortening of sail, as aforesaid, shall make more sail again; then he to shew three lights one aboveanother. 

4. Item, if the Admiral shall happen to hull in the night, then to makea wavering light over his other light, wavering the light upon a pole. 

5. Item, if the fleet should happen to be scattered by weather, or othermishap, then so soon as one shall descry another, to hoise both topsailstwice, if the weather will serve, and to strike them twice again; butif the weather serve not, then to hoise the maintopsail twice, andforthwith to strike it twice again. 

6. Item, if it shall happen a great fog to fall, then presently everyship to bear up with the Admiral, if there be wind; but if it be a calm, then every ship to hull, and so to lie at hull till it clear. And ifthe fog do continue long, then the Admiral to shoot off two piecesevery evening, and every ship to answer it with one shot; and every manbearing to the ship that is to leeward so near as he may. 

7. Item, every master to give charge unto the watch to look out well, for laying aboard one of another in the night, and in fogs. 

8. Item, every evening every ship to hail the Admiral, and so to fallastern him, sailing through the ocean; and being on the coast, everyship to hail him both morning and evening. 

9. Item, if any ship be in danger in any way, by leak or otherwise, then she to shoot off a piece, and presently to bring out one light;whereupon every man to bear towards her, answering her with one lightfor a short time, and so to put it out again; thereby to give knowledgethat they have seen her token. 

10. Item, whensoever the Admiral shall hang out her ensign in the mainshrouds, then every man to come aboard her as a token of counsel. 

11. Item, if there happen any storm or contrary wind to the fleet afterthe discovery, whereby they are separated; then every ship to repairunto their last good port, there to meet again. 

OUR COURSE _agreed upon_. 

The course first to be taken for the discovery is to bear directly toCape Race, the most southerly cape of Newfoundland; and there to harbourourselves either in Rogneux or Fermous, being the first places appointedfor our rendezvous, and the next harbours unto the northward of CapeRace: and therefore every ship separated from the fleet to repair tothat place so fast as God shall permit, whether you shall fall to thesouthward or to the northward of it, and there to stay for the meetingof the whole fleet the space of ten days; and when you shall depart, toleave marks. 

Beginning our course from Scilly, the nearest is by west-south-west(if the wind serve) until such time as we have brought ourselves inthe latitude of 43 or 44 degrees, because the ocean is subject much tosoutherly winds in June and July. Then to take traverse from 45 to 47degrees of latitude, if we be enforced by contrary winds; and not to goto the northward of the height of 47 degrees of septentrional latitudeby no means, if God shall not enforce the contrary; but to do yourendeavour to keep in the height of 46 degrees, so near as you canpossibly, because Cape Race lieth about that height. 

NOTE. 

If by contrary winds we be driven back upon the coast of England, thento repair unto Scilly for a place of our assembly or meeting. If we bedriven back by contrary winds that we cannot pass the coast of Ireland, then the place of our assembly to be at Bere haven or Baltimorehaven. If we shall not happen to meet at Cape Race, then the placeof rendezvous to be at Cape Breton, or the nearest harbour unto thewestward of Cape Breton. If by means of other shipping we may not safelystay there, then to rest at the very next safe port to the westward;every ship leaving their marks behind them for the more certainty of theafter comers to know where to find them. The marks that every man oughtto leave in such a case, were of the General's private device writtenby himself, sealed also in close wax, and delivered unto every shipone scroll, which was not to be opened until occasion required, wherebyevery man was certified what to leave for instruction of after comers;that every of us coming into any harbour or river might know who hadbeen there, or whether any were still there up higher into the river, ordeparted, and which way. 

Orders thus determined, and promises mutually given to be observed, every man withdrew himself unto his charge; the anchors being alreadyweighed, and our ships under sail, having a soft gale of wind, we beganour voyage upon Tuesday, the 11 day of June, in the year of our Lord1583, having in our fleet (at our departure from Cawset Bay) theseships, whose names and burthens, with the names of the captains andmasters of them, I have also inserted, as followeth:--1. The _Delight_, alias the _George_, of burthen 120 tons, was Admiral; in which went theGeneral, and William Winter, captain in her and part owner, and RichardClarke, master. 2. The bark _Raleigh_, set forth by Master WalterRaleigh, of the burthen of 200 tons, was then Vice-Admiral; in whichwent Master Butler, captain, and Robert Davis, of Bristol, master. 3. The _Golden Hind_, of burthen 40 tons, was then Rear-Admiral; in whichwent Edward Hayes, captain and owner, and William Cox, of Limehouse, master. 4. The _Swallow_, of burthen 40 tons; in her was captain MauriceBrowne. 5. The _Squirrel_, of burthen 10 tons; in which went captainWilliam Andrews, and one Cade, master. We were in number in all about260 men; among whom we had of every faculty good choice, as shipwrights, masons, carpenters, smiths, and such like, requisite to such an action;also mineral men and refiners. Besides, for solace of our people, andallurement of the savages, we were provided of music in good variety;not omitting the least toys, as morris-dancers, hobby-horse, andMay-like conceits to delight the savage people, whom we intended towin by all fair means possible. And to that end we were indifferentlyfurnished of all petty haberdashery wares to barter with those simplepeople. 

In this manner we set forward, departing (as hath been said) out ofCawset Bay the 11 day of June, being Tuesday, the weather and wind fairand good all day; but a great storm of thunder and wind fell the samenight. Thursday following, when we hailed one another in the evening, according to the order before specified, they signified unto us out ofthe Vice-Admiral, that both the captain, and very many of the men, were fallen sick. And about midnight the Vice-Admiral forsook us, notwithstanding we had the wind east, fair and good. But it was aftercredibly reported that they were infected with a contagious sickness, and arrived greatly distressed at Plymouth; the reason I could neverunderstand. Sure I am, no cost was spared by their owner, MasterRaleigh, in setting them forth; therefore I leave it unto God. By thistime we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not a little grieved with theloss of the most puissant ship in our fleet; after whose departure the_Golden Hind_ succeeded in the place of Vice-Admiral, and removed herflag from the mizen into the foretop. From Saturday, the 15 of June, until the 28, which was upon a Friday, we never had fair day withoutfog or rain, and winds bad, much to the west-north-west, whereby we weredriven southward unto 41 degrees scarce. 

About this time of the year the winds are commonly west towards theNewfoundland, keeping ordinarily within two points of west to the southor to the north; whereby the course thither falleth out to be long andtedious after June, which in March, April, and May, hath been performedout of England in 22 days and less. We had wind always so scant from thewest-north-west, and from west-south-west again, that our traverse wasgreat, running south unto 41 degrees almost, and afterwards north into51 degrees. Also we were encumbered with much fog and mists in mannerpalpable, in which we could not keep so well together, but werediscovered, losing the company of the _Swallow_ and the _Squirrel_upon the 20 day of July, whom we met again at several places uponthe Newfoundland coast the 3 of August, as shall be declared in placeconvenient. Saturday, the 27 July, we might descry, not far from us, asit were mountains of ice driven upon the sea, being then in 50 degrees, which were carried southward to the weather of us; whereby may beconjectured that some current doth set that way from the north. 

Before we came to Newfoundland, about 50 leagues on this side, we passthe bank, which are high grounds rising within the sea and under water, yet deep enough and without danger, being commonly not less than 25 and30 fathom water upon them; the same, as it were some vein of mountainswithin the sea, do run along and form the Newfoundland, beginningnorthward about 52 or 53 degrees of latitude, and do extend into thesouth infinitely. The breadth of this bank is somewhere more, andsomewhere less; but we found the same about ten leagues over, havingsounded both on this side thereof, and the other toward Newfoundland, but found no ground with almost 200 fathom of line, both before andafter we had passed the bank. The Portugals, and French chiefly, have anotable trade of fishing upon this bank, where are sometimes an hundredor more sails of ships, who commonly begin the fishing in April, andhave ended by July. That fish is large, always wet, having no land nearto dry, and is called cod fish. During the time of fishing, a manshall know without sounding when he is upon the bank, by the incrediblemultitude of sea-fowl hovering over the same, to prey upon the offalsand garbage of fish thrown out by fishermen, and floating upon the sea. 

Upon Tuesday, the 11 of June we forsook the coast of England. So againon Tuesday, the 30 of July, seven weeks after, we got sight of land, being immediately embayed in the Grand Bay, or some other great bay;the certainty whereof we could not judge, so great haze and fog did hangupon the coast, as neither we might discern the land well, nor take thesun's height. But by our best computation we were then in the 51degrees of latitude. Forsaking this bay and uncomfortable coast (nothingappearing unto us but hideous rocks and mountains, bare of trees, andvoid of any green herb) we followed the coast to the south, with weatherfair and clear. We had sight of an island named Penguin, of a fowl therebreeding in abundance almost incredible, which cannot fly, their wingsnot able to carry their body, being very large (not much less thana goose) and exceeding fat, which the Frenchmen use to take withoutdifficulty upon that island, and to barrel them up with salt. But forlingering of time, we had made us there the like provision. 

Trending this coast, we came to the island called Baccalaos, being notpast two leagues from the main; to the north thereof lieth Cape St. Francis, five leagues distant from Baccalaos, between which goeth in agreat bay, by the vulgar sort called the Bay of Conception. Here we metwith the _Swallow_ again, whom we had lost in the fog, and all hermen altered into other apparel; whereof it seemed their store was soamended, that for joy and congratulation of our meeting, they sparednot to cast up into the air and overboard their caps and hats in goodplenty. The captain, albeit himself was very honest and religious, yetwas he not appointed of men to his humour and desert; who for the mostpart were such as had been by us surprised upon the narrow seas ofEngland, being pirates, and had taken at that instant certain Frenchmenladen, one bark with wines, and another with salt. Both which werescued, and took the man-of-war with all her men, which was the sameship now called the _Swallow_; following still their kind so oft as, being separated from the General, they found opportunity to rob andspoil. And because God's justice did follow the same company, evento destruction, and to the overthrow also of the captain (though notconsenting to their misdemeanour) I will not conceal anything thatmaketh to the manifestation and approbation of His judgments, forexamples of others; persuaded that God more sharply took revenge uponthem, and hath tolerated longer as great outrage in others, by how muchthese went under protection of His cause and religion, which was thenpretended. 

Therefore upon further enquiry it was known how this company met with abark returning home after the fishing with his freight; and because themen in the _Swallow_ were very near scanted of victuals, and chieflyof apparel, doubtful withal where or when to find and meet with theirAdmiral, they besought the captain that they might go aboard this_Newlander_, only to borrow what might be spared, the rather becausethe same was bound homeward. Leave given, not without charge to dealfavourably, they came aboard the fisherman, whom they rifled of tackle, sails, cables, victuals, and the men of their apparel; not sparing bytorture, winding cords about their heads, to draw out else what theythought good. This done with expedition, like men skilful in suchmischief, as they took their cockboat to go aboard their own ship, itwas overwhelmed in the sea, and certain of these men there drowned;the rest were preserved even by those silly souls whom they had beforespoiled, who saved and delivered them aboard the _Swallow_. What becameafterwards of the poor _Newlander_, perhaps destitute of sails andfurniture sufficient to carry them home, whither they had not less torun than 700 leagues, God alone knoweth; who took vengeance not longafter of the rest that escaped at this instant, to reveal the fact, andjustify to the world God's judgments indicted upon them, as shall bedeclared in place convenient. 

Thus after we had met with the _Swallow_, we held on our coursesouthward, until we came against the harbour called St. John, about fiveleagues from the former Cape of St. Francis, where before the entranceinto the harbour, we found also the frigate or _Squirrel_ lying atanchor; whom the English merchants, that were and always be Admiralsby turns interchangeably over the fleets of fishermen within the sameharbour, would not permit to enter into the harbour. Glad of so happymeeting, both of the _Swallow_ and frigate in one day, being Saturday, the third of August, we made ready our fights, and prepared to enterthe harbour, any resistance to the contrary notwithstanding, there beingwithin of all nations to the number of 36 sails. But first the Generaldespatched a boat to give them knowledge of his coming for no illintent, having commission from her Majesty for his voyage he had inhand; and immediately we followed with a slack gale, and in the veryentrance, which is but narrow, not above two butts' length, the Admiralfell upon a rock on the larboard side by great oversight, in that theweather was fair, the rock much above water fast by the shore, whereneither went any sea-gate. But we found such readiness in the Englishmerchants to help us in that danger, that without delay there werebrought a number of boats, which towed off the ship, and cleared her ofdanger. 

Having taken place convenient in the road, we let fall anchors, thecaptains and masters repairing aboard our Admiral; whither also cameimmediately the masters and owners of the fishing fleet of Englishmen, to understand the General's intent and cause of our arrival there. They were all satisfied when the General had shewed his commission andpurpose to take possession of those lands to the behalf of the crown ofEngland, and the advancement of the Christian religion in those paganishregions, requiring but their lawful aid for repairing of his fleet, andsupply of some necessaries, so far as conveniently might be affordedhim, both out of that and other harbours adjoining. In lieu whereof hemade offer to gratify them with any favour and privilege, which upontheir better advice they should demand, the like being not to beobtained hereafter for greater price. So craving expedition of hisdemand, minding to proceed further south without long detention in thoseparts, he dismissed them, after promise given of their best endeavourto satisfy speedily his so reasonable request. The merchants with theirmasters departed, they caused forthwith to be discharged all the greatordnance of their fleet in token of our welcome. 

It was further determined that every ship of our fleet should deliverunto the merchants and masters of that harbour a note of all theirwants: which done, the ships, as well English as strangers, weretaxed at an easy rate to make supply. And besides, commissioners wereappointed, part of our own company and part of theirs, to go into otherharbours adjoining (for our English merchants command all there) to levyour provision: whereunto the Portugals, above other nations, did mostwillingly and liberally contribute. In so much as we were presented, above our allowance, with wines, marmalades, most fine rusk or biscuit, sweet oils, and sundry delicacies. Also we wanted not of fresh salmons, trouts, lobsters, and other fresh fish brought daily unto us. Moreoveras the manner is in their fishing, every week to choose their Admiralanew, or rather they succeed in orderly course, and have weekly theirAdmiral's feast solemnized: even so the General, captains, and mastersof our fleet were continually invited and feasted. To grow short in ourabundance at home the entertainment had been delightful; but after ourwants and tedious passage through the ocean, it seemed more acceptableand of greater contentation, by how much the same was unexpected in thatdesolate corner of the world; where, at other times of the year, wildbeasts and birds have only the fruition of all those countries, whichnow seemed a place very populous and much frequented. 

The next morning being Sunday, and the fourth of August, the General andhis company were brought on land by English merchants, who shewed untous their accustomed walks unto a place they call the Garden. But nothingappeared more than nature itself without art: who confusedly hathbrought forth roses abundantly, wild, but odoriferous, and to sense verycomfortable. Also the like plenty of raspberries, which do grow in everyplace. 

Monday following, the General had his tent set up; who, beingaccompanied with his own followers, summoned the merchants and masters, both English and strangers, to be present at his taking possession ofthose countries. Before whom openly was read, and interpreted unto thestrangers, his commission: by virtue whereof he took possession inthe same harbour of St. John, and 200 leagues every way, invested theQueen's Majesty with the title and dignity thereof, had delivered untohim, after the custom of England, a rod, and a turf of the same soil, entering possession also for him, his heirs and assigns for ever; andsignified unto all men, that from that time forward, they should takethe same land as a territory appertaining to the Queen of England, andhimself authorised under her Majesty to possess and enjoy it, andto ordain laws for the government thereof, agreeable, so near asconveniently might be, unto the laws of England, under which all peoplecoming thither hereafter, either to inhabit, or by way of traffic, should be subjected and governed. And especially at the same time fora beginning, he proposed and delivered three laws to be in forceimmediately. That is to say the first for religion, which in publicexercise should be according to the Church of England. The second, formaintenance of her Majesty's right and possession of those territories, against which if any thing were attempted prejudicial, the party orparties offending should be adjudged and executed as in case of hightreason, according to the laws of England. The third, if any personshould utter words sounding to the dishonour of her Majesty, he shouldlose his ears, and have his ship and goods confiscate. 

These contents published, obedience was promised by general voice andconsent of the multitude, as well of Englishmen as strangers, prayingfor continuance of this possession and government begun; after this, theassembly was dismissed. And afterwards were erected not far from thatplace the arms of England engraven in lead, and infixed upon a pillar ofwood. Yet further and actually to establish this possession taken in theright of her Majesty, and to the behoof of Sir Humfrey Gilbert, knight, his heirs and assigns for ever, the General granted in fee-farm diversparcels of land lying by the water-side, both in this harbour of St. John, and elsewhere, which was to the owners a great commodity, beingthereby assured, by their proper inheritance, of grounds convenient todress and to dry their fish; whereof many times before they did fail, being prevented by them that came first into the harbour. For whichgrounds they did covenant to pay a certain rent and service unto SirHumfrey Gilbert, his heirs or assigns for ever, and yearly to maintainpossession of the same, by themselves or their assigns. 

Now remained only to take in provision granted, according as every shipwas taxed, which did fish upon the coast adjoining. In the meanwhile, the General appointed men unto their charge: some to repair and trim theships, others to attend in gathering together our supply and provisions:others to search the commodities and singularities of the country, to befound by sea or land, and to make relation unto the General what eitherthemselves could know by their own travail and experience, or by goodintelligence of Englishmen or strangers, who had longest frequented thesame coast. Also some observed the elevation of the pole, and drew plotsof the country exactly graded. And by that I could gather by each man'sseveral relation, I have drawn a brief description of the Newfoundland, with the commodities by sea or land already made, and such also as arein possibility and great likelihood to be made. Nevertheless the cardsand plots that were drawn, with the due gradation of the harbours, bays, and capes, did perish with the Admiral: wherefore in the descriptionfollowing, I must omit the particulars of such things. 

That which we do call the Newfoundland, and the Frenchmen _Baccalaos_, is an island, or rather, after the opinion of some, it consistethof sundry islands and broken lands, situate in the north regions ofAmerica, upon the gulf and entrance of a great river called St. Lawrencein Canada; into the which, navigation may be made both on the south andnorth side of this island. The land lieth south and north, containing inlength between 300 and 400 miles, accounting from Cape Race, which isin 46 degrees 25 minutes, unto the Grand Bay in 52 degrees, ofseptentrional latitude. The land round about hath very many goodly baysand harbours, safe roads for ships, the like not to be found in any partof the known world. 

The common opinion that is had of intemperature and extreme cold thatshould be in this country, as of some part it may be verified, namelythe north, where I grant it is more cold than in countries of Europe, which are under the same elevation: even so it cannot stand with reasonand nature of the clime, that the south parts should be so intemperateas the bruit hath gone. For as the same do lie under the climes ofBretagne, Anjou, Poictou in France, between 46 and 49 degrees, so canthey not so much differ from the temperature of those countries: unlessupon the out-coast lying open unto the ocean and sharp winds, it mustindeed be subject to more cold than further within the land, where themountains are interposed as walls and bulwarks, to defend and to resistthe asperity and rigour of the sea and weather. Some hold opinion thatthe Newfoundland might be the more subject to cold, by how much it liethhigh and near unto the middle region. I grant that not in Newfoundlandalone, but in Germany, Italy and Afric, even under the equinoctial line, the mountains are extreme cold, and seldom uncovered of snow, in theirculm and highest tops, which cometh to pass by the same reason thatthey are extended towards the middle region: yet in the countries lyingbeneath them, it is found quite contrary. Even so, all hills havingtheir descents, the valleys also and low grounds must be likewise hotor temperate, as the clime doth give in Newfoundland: though I am ofopinion that the sun's reflection is much cooled, and cannot be soforcible in Newfoundland, nor generally throughout America, as in Europeor Afric: by how much the sun in his diurnal course from east to west, passeth over, for the most part, dry land and sandy countries, before hearriveth at the west of Europe or Afric, whereby his motion increasethheat, with little or no qualification by moist vapours. Whereas, on thecontrary, he passeth from Europe and Afric unto American over the ocean, from whence he draweth and carrieth with him abundance of moist vapours, which do qualify and enfeeble greatly the sun's reverberation uponthis country chiefly of Newfoundland, being so much to the northward. Nevertheless, as I said before, the cold cannot be so intolerable underthe latitude of 46, 47, and 48, especial within land, that it should beunhabitable, as some do suppose, seeing also there are very many peoplemore to the north by a great deal. And in these south parts there becertain beasts, ounces or leopards, and birds in like manner, whichin the summer we have seen, not heard of in countries of extreme andvehement coldness. Besides, as in the months of June, July, August andSeptember, the heat is somewhat more than in England at those seasons:so men remaining upon the south parts near unto Cape Race, until afterholland-tide (All-hallow-tide--November 1), have not found the cold soextreme, nor much differing from the temperature of England. Thosewhich have arrived there after November and December have found the snowexceeding deep, whereat no marvel, considering the ground upon thecoast is rough and uneven, and the snow is driven into the places mostdeclining, as the like is to be seen with us. The like depth of snowhappily shall not be found within land upon the plainer countries, whichalso are defended by the mountains, breaking off the violence of windsand weather. But admitting extraordinary cold in those south parts, above that with us here, it cannot be so great as in Swedeland, muchless in Moscovia or Russia: yet are the same countries very populous, and the rigour of cold is dispensed with by the commodity of stoves, warm clothing, meats and drinks: all of which need not be wanting in theNewfoundland, if we had intent there to inhabit. 

In the south parts we found no inhabitants, which by all likelihood haveabandoned those coasts, the same being so much frequented by Christians;but in the north are savages altogether harmless. Touching thecommodities of this country, serving either for sustentation ofinhabitants or for maintenance of traffic, there are and may be madedivers; so that it seemeth that nature hath recompensed that only defectand incommodity of some sharp cold, by many benefits; namely, withincredible quantity, and no less variety, of kinds of fish in the seaand fresh waters, as trouts, salmons, and other fish to us unknown; alsocod, which alone draweth many nations thither, and is become the mostfamous fishing of the world; abundance of whales, for which also is avery great trade in the bays of Placentia and the Grand Bay, where ismade train oil of the whale; herring, the largest that have been heardof, and exceeding the Marstrand herring of Norway; but hitherto wasnever benefit taken of the herring fishing. There are sundry otherfish very delicate, namely, the bonito, lobsters, turbot, with othersinfinite not sought after; oysters having pearl but not orient incolour; I took it, by reason they were not gathered in season. 

Concerning the inland commodities, as well to be drawn from this land, as from the exceeding large countries adjoining, there is nothing whichour east and northerly countries of Europe do yield, but the like alsomay be made in them as plentifully, by time and industry; namely, resin, pitch, tar, soap-ashes, deal-board, masts for ships, hides, furs, flax, hemp, corn, cables, cordage, linen cloth, metals, and many more. Allwhich the countries will afford, and the soil is apt to yield. The treesfor the most in those south parts are fir-trees, pine, and cypress, allyielding gum and turpentine. Cherry trees bearing fruit no bigger than asmall pease. Also pear-trees, but fruitless. Other trees of some sortto us unknown. The soil along the coast is not deep of earth, bringingforth abundantly peasen small, yet good feeding for cattle. Rosespassing sweet, like unto our musk roses in form; raspises; a berry whichwe call whorts, good and wholesome to eat. The grass and herb dothfat sheep in very short space, proved by English merchants which havecarried sheep thither for fresh victual and had them raised exceedingfat in less than three weeks. Peasen which our countrymen have sown inthe time of May, have come up fair, and been gathered in the beginningof August, of which our General had a present acceptable for therareness, being the first fruits coming up by art and industry in thatdesolate and dishabited land. Lakes or pools of fresh water, both on thetops of mountains and in the valleys; in which are said to be musclesnot unlike to have pearl, which I had put in trial, if by mischancefalling unto me I had not been letted from that and other goodexperiments I was minded to make. Fowl both of water and land in greatplenty and diversity. All kind of green fowl; others as big as bustards, yet not the same. A great white fowl called of some a gaunt. Upon theland divers sort of hawks, as falcons, and others by report. Partridgesmost plentiful, larger than ours, grey and white of colour, andrough-footed like doves, which our men after one flight did killwith cudgels, they were so fat and unable to fly. Birds, some likeblackbirds, linnets, canary birds, and other very small. Beasts ofsundry kinds; red deer, buffles, or a beast as it seemeth by the tractand foot very large, in manner of an ox. Bears, ounces or leopards, somegreater and some lesser; wolves, foxes, which to the northward a littlefarther are black, whose fur is esteemed in some countries of Europevery rich. Otters, beavers, marterns; and in the opinion of most menthat saw it, the General had brought unto him a sable alive, which hesent unto his brother, Sir John Gilbert, Knight, of Devonshire, but itwas never delivered, as after I understood. We could not observethe hundredth part of creatures in those unhabited lands; but thesementioned may induce us to glorify the magnificent God, who hathsuper-abundantly replenished the earth with creatures serving for theuse of man, though man hath not used the fifth part of the same, whichthe more doth aggravate the fault and foolish sloth in many of ournations, choosing rather to live indirectly, and very miserably to liveand die within this realm pestered with inhabitants, then to adventureas becometh men, to obtain an habitation in those remote lands, in whichnature very prodigally doth minister unto men's endeavours, and for artto work upon. For besides these already recounted and infinite more, themountains generally make shew of mineral substance; iron very common, lead, and somewhere copper. I will not aver of richer metals; albeit bythe circumstances following, more than hope may be conceived thereof. 

For amongst other charges given to enquire out the singularities ofthis country, the General was most curious in the search of metals, commanding the mineral-man and refiner especially to be diligent. Thesame was a Saxon born, honest, and religious, named Daniel. Who aftersearch brought at first some sort of ore, seeming rather to be iron thanother metal. The next time he found ore, which with no small show ofcontentment he delivered unto the General, using protestation that ifsilver were the thing which might satisfy the General and his followers, there it was, advising him to seek no further; the peril whereof heundertook upon his life (as dear unto him as the crown of Englandunto her Majesty, that I may use his own words) if it fell not outaccordingly. 

Myself at this instant liker to die than to live, by a mischance, couldnot follow this confident opinion of our refiner to my own satisfaction;but afterward demanding our General's opinion therein, and to have somepart of the ore, he replied, _Content yourself, I have seen enough; andwere it but to satisfy my private humour, I would proceed no further. The promise unto my friends, and necessity to bring also the southcountries within compass of my patent near expired, as we have alreadydone these north parts, do only persuade me further. And touching theore, I have sent it aboard, whereof I would have no speech to be made solong as we remain within harbour; here being both Portugals, Biscayans, and Frenchmen, not far off, from whom must be kept any bruit ormuttering of such matter. When we are at sea, proof shall be made; ifit be our desire, we may return the sooner hither again. _ Whose answerI judged reasonable, and contenting me well; wherewith I will concludethis narration and description of the Newfoundland, and proceed to therest of our voyage, which ended tragically. 

While the better sort of us were seriously occupied in repairing ourwants, and contriving of matters for the commodity of our voyage, othersof another sort and disposition were plotting of mischief; some castingto steal away our shipping by night, watching opportunity by theGeneral's and captains' lying on the shore; whose conspiraciesdiscovered, they were prevented. Others drew together in company, andcarried away out of the harbours adjoining a ship laden with fish, setting the poor men on shore. A great many more of our people stoleinto the woods to hide themselves, attending time and means to returnhome by such shipping as daily departed from the coast. Some weresick of fluxes, and many dead; and in brief, by one means or other ourcompany was diminished, and many by the General licensed to return home. Insomuch as after we had reviewed our people, resolved to see an end ofour voyage, we grew scant of men to furnish all our shipping; it seemedgood thereof unto the General to leave the _Swallow_ with such provisionas might be spared for transporting home the sick people. 

The captain of the _Delight_ or Admiral, returned into England, in whosestead was appointed captain Maurice Browne, before the captain of the_Swallow_; who also brought with him into the _Delight_ all his men ofthe _Swallow_, which before have been noted of outrage perpetrated andcommitted upon fishermen there met at sea. 

The General made choice to go in his frigate the _Squirrel_, whereofthe captain also was amongst them that returned into England; the samefrigate being most convenient to discover upon the coast, and to searchinto every harbour or creek, which a great ship could not do. Thereforethe frigate was prepared with her nettings and fights, and overchargedwith bases and such small ordnance, more to give a show, than withjudgment to foresee unto the safety of her and the men, which afterwardwas an occasion also of their overthrow. 

Now having made ready our shipping, that is to say, the _Delight_, the_Golden Hind_, and the _Squirrel_, we put aboard our provision, whichwas wines, bread or rusk, fish wet and dry, sweet oils, besides manyother, as marmalades, figs, limons barrelled, and such like. Also we hadother necessary provision for trimming our ships, nets and lines to fishwithal, boats or pinnaces fit for discovery. In brief, we were suppliedof our wants commodiously, as if we had been in a country or some citypopulous and plentiful of all things. 

We departed from this harbour of St. John's upon Tuesday, the 20 ofAugust, which we found by exact observation to be in 47 degrees 40minutes; and the next day by night we were at Cape Race, 25 leagues fromthe same harborough. This cape lieth south-south-west from St. John's;it is a low land, being off from the cape about half a league; withinthe sea riseth up a rock against the point of the cape, which thereby iseasily known. It is in latitude 46 degrees 25 minutes. Under this capewe were becalmed a small time, during which we laid out hooks and linesto take cod, and drew in less than two hours fish so large and in suchabundance, that many days after we fed upon no other provision. Fromhence we shaped our course unto the island of Sablon, if conveniently itwould so fall out, also directly to Cape Breton. 

Sablon lieth to the seaward of Cape Breton about 25 leagues, whither wewere determined to go upon intelligence we had of a Portugal, during ourabode in St. John's, who was himself present when the Portugals, abovethirty years past, did put into the same island both neat and swine tobreed, which were since exceedingly multiplied. This seemed unto us veryhappy tidings, to have in an island lying so near unto the main, whichwe intended to plant upon, such store of cattle, whereby we might atall times conveniently be relieved of victual, and served of store forbreed. 

In this course we trended along the coast, which from Cape Racestretcheth into the north-west, making a bay which some called Trepassa. Then it goeth out again towards the west, and maketh a point, which withCape Race lieth in manner east and west. But this point inclineth to thenorth, to the west of which goeth in the Bay of Placentia. We sent menon land to take view of the soil along this coast, whereof they madegood report, and some of them had will to be planted there. They sawpease growing in great abundance everywhere. 

The distance between Cape Race and Cape Breton is 87 leagues; in whichnavigation we spent eight days, having many times the wind indifferentgood, yet could we never attain sight of any land all that time, seeingwe were hindered by the current. At last we fell into such flats anddangers that hardly any of us escaped; where nevertheless we lost ourAdmiral (the _Delight_) with all the men and provisions, not knowingcertainly the place. Yet for inducing men of skill to make conjecture, by our course and way we held from Cape Race thither, that thereby theflats and dangers may be inserted in sea cards, for warning to othersthat may follow the same course hereafter, I have set down the bestreckonings that were kept by expert men, William Cox, Master of the_Hind_, and John Paul, his mate, both of Limehouse. . . . Our course weheld in clearing us of these flats was east-south-east, and south-east, and south, fourteen leagues, with a marvellous scant wind. 

Upon Tuesday, the 27 of August, toward the evening, our General causedthem in his frigate to sound, who found white sand at 35 fathom, beingthen in latitude about 44 degrees. Wednesday, toward night, the windcame south, and we bare with the land all that night, west-north-west, contrary to the mind of Master Cox; nevertheless we followed theAdmiral, deprived of power to prevent a mischief, which by nocontradiction could be brought to hold another course, alleging theycould not make the ship to work better, nor to lie otherways. Theevening was fair and pleasant, yet not without token of storm to ensue, and most part of this Wednesday night, like the swan that singeth beforeher death, they in the Admiral, or _Delight_, continued in sounding oftrumpets, with drums and fifes; also winding the cornets and hautboys, and in the end of their jollity, left with the battle and ringing ofdoleful knells. Towards the evening also we caught in the _Golden Hind_a very mighty porpoise with harping iron, having first stricken diversof them, and brought away part of their flesh sticking upon the iron, but could recover only that one. These also, passing through the oceanin herds, did portend storm. I omit to recite frivolous report by themin the frigate, of strange voices the same night, which scared some fromthe helm. 

Thursday, the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew vehemently at southand by east, bringing withal rain and thick mist, so that we couldnot see a cable length before us; and betimes in the morning we werealtogether run and folded in amongst flats and sands, amongst whichwe found shoal and deep in every three or four ships' length, after webegan to sound; but first we were upon them unawares, until Master Coxlooking out, discerned, in his judgment, white cliffs, crying _Land!_withal; though we could not afterward descry any land, it being verylikely the breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white cliffs, through the haze and thick weather. 

Immediately tokens were given unto the _Delight_, to cast about toseaward, which, being the greater ship, and of burthen 120 tons, was yetforemost upon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not thedanger, before they felt the same, too late to recover it; for presentlythe Admiral struck aground, and has soon after her stern and hinderparts beaten in pieces; whereupon the rest (that is to say, thefrigate, in which was the General, and the _Golden Hind_) cast abouteast-south-east, bearing to the south, even for our lives, into thewind's eye, because that way carried us to the seaward. Making out fromthis danger, we sounded one while seven fathom, then five fathom, thenfour fathom and less, again deeper, immediately four fathom then butthree fathom, the sea going mightily and high. At last we recovered, Godbe thanked, in some despair, to sea room enough. 

In this distress, we had vigilant eye unto the Admiral, whom we saw castaway, without power to give the men succour, neither could we espy anyof the men that leaped overboard to save themselves, either in thesame pinnace, or cock, or upon rafters, and such like means presentingthemselves to men in those extremities, for we desired to save the menby every possible means. But all in vain, sith God had determined theirruin; yet all that day, and part of the next, we beat up and down asnear unto the wrack as was possible for us, looking out if by good hapwe might espy any of them. 

This was a heavy and grievous event, to lose at one blow our chief shipfreighted with great provision, gathered together with much travail, care, long time, and difficulty; but more was the loss of our men, which perished to the number almost of a hundred souls. Amongst whom wasdrowned a learned man, a Hungarian (Stephen Parmenius), born in thecity of Buda, called thereof Budoeus, who, of piety and zeal to goodattempts, adventured in this action, minding to record in the Latintongue the gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in thisdiscovery, to the honour of our nations, the same being adorned with theeloquent style of this orator and rare poet of our time. 

Here also perished our Saxon refiner and discoverer of inestimableriches, as it was left amongst some of us in undoubted hope. No lessheavy was the loss of the captain, Maurice Browne, a virtuous, honest, and discreet gentleman, overseen only in liberty given late beforeto men that ought to have been restrained, who showed himself a manresolved, and never unprepared for death, as by his last act ofthis tragedy appeared, by report of them that escaped this wrackmiraculously, as shall be hereafter declared. For when all hope was pastof recovering the ship, and that men began to give over, and to savethemselves, the captain was advised before to shift also for his life, by the pinnace at the stern of the ship; but refusing that counsel, hewould not give example with the first to leave the ship, but used allmeans to exhort his people not to despair, nor so to leave off theirlabour, choosing rather to die than to incur infamy by forsakinghis charge, which then might be thought to have perished through hisdefault, showing an ill precedent unto his men, by leaving the shipfirst himself. With this mind he mounted upon the highest deck, where heattended imminent death, and unavoidable; how long, I leave it to God, who withdraweth not his comfort from his servants at such times. 

In the mean season, certain, to the number of fourteen persons, leapedinto a small pinnace, the bigness of a Thames barge, which was made inthe Newfoundland, cut off the rope wherewith it was towed, and committedthemselves to God's mercy, amidst the storm, and rage of sea and winds, destitute of food, not so much as a drop of fresh water. The boatseeming overcharged in foul weather with company, Edward Headly, avaliant soldier, and well reputed of his company, preferring the greaterto the lesser, thought better that some of them perished than all, madethis motion, to cast lots, and them to be thrown overboard upon whomthe lots fell, thereby to lighten the boat, which otherways seemedimpossible to live, and offered himself with the first, content to takehis adventure gladly: which nevertheless Richard Clarke, that was masterof the Admiral, and one of this number, refused, advising to abideGod's pleasure, who was able to save all, as well as a few. The boat wascarried before the wind, continuing six days and nights in theocean, and arrived at last with the men, alive, but weak, upon theNewfoundland, saving that the foresaid Headly, who had been late sick, and another called of us Brazil, of his travel into those countries, died by the way, famished, and less able to hold out than those ofbetter health. . . . Thus whom God delivered from drowning, he appointedto be famished; who doth give limits to man's times, and ordaineth themanner and circumstance of dying: whom, again, he will preserve, neither sea nor famine can confound. For those that arrived upon theNewfoundland were brought into France by certain Frenchmen, then beingupon the coast. 

After this heavy chance, we continued in beating the sea up and down, expecting when the weather would clear up that we might yet bear inwith the land, which we judged not far off either the continent or someisland. For we many times, and in sundry places found ground at 50, 45, 40 fathoms, and less. The ground coming upon our lead, being sometimecozy sand and other while a broad shell, with a little sand about it. 

Our people lost courage daily after this ill success, the weathercontinuing thick and blustering, with increase of cold, winter drawingon, which took from them all hope of amendment, settling an assurance ofworse weather to grow upon us every day. The leeside of us lay full offlats and dangers, inevitable if the wind blew hard at south. Some againdoubted we were ingulfed in the Bay of St. Lawrence, the coast full ofdangers, and unto us unknown. But above all, provision waxed scant, and hope of supply was gone with the loss of our Admiral. Those in thefrigate were already pinched with spare allowance, and want of clotheschiefly: thereupon they besought the General to return to England beforethey all perished. And to them of the _Golden Hind_ they made signsof distress, pointing to their mouths, and to their clothes thin andragged: then immediately they also of the _Golden Hind_ grew to be ofthe same opinion and desire to return home. 

The former reasons having also moved the General to have compassion ofhis poor men, in whom he saw no want of good will, but of means fit toperform the action they came for, he resolved upon retire: and callingthe captain and master of the _Hind_, he yielded them many reasons, enforcing this unexpected return, withal protesting himself greatlysatisfied with that he had seen and knew already, reiterating thesewords: _Be content, we have seen enough, and take no care of expensepast: I will set you forth royally the next spring, if God send us safehome. Therefore I pray you let us no longer strive here, where wefight against the elements. _ Omitting circumstance, how unwillingly thecaptain and master of the _Hind_ condescended to this motion, his owncompany can testify; yet comforted with the General's promise of aspeedy return at spring, and induced by other apparent reasons, provingan impossibility to accomplish the action at that time, it was concludedon all hands to retire. 

So upon Saturday in the afternoon, the 31 of August, we changed ourcourse, and returned back for England. At which very instant, even inwinding about, there passed along between us and towards the land whichwe now forsook a very lion to our seeming, in shape, hair, and colour, not swimming after the manner of a beast by moving of his feet, butrather sliding upon the water with his whole body excepting the legs, in sight, neither yet diving under, and again rising above the water, as the manner is of whales, dolphins, tunnies, porpoises, and allother fish: but confidently showing himself above water without hiding:notwithstanding, we presented ourselves in open view and gesture toamaze him, as all creatures will be commonly at a sudden gaze and sightof men. Thus he passed along turning his head to and fro, yawing andgaping wide, with ugly demonstration of long teeth, and glaring eyes;and to bid us a farewell, coming right against the _Hind_, he sent fortha horrible voice, roaring or bellowing as doth a lion, which spectaclewe all beheld so far as we were able to discern the same, as men proneto wonder at every strange thing, as this doubtless was, to see a lionin the ocean sea, or fish in shape of a lion. What opinion others hadthereof, and chiefly the General himself, I forbear to deliver: but hetook it for _bonum omen_, rejoicing that he was in war against suchan enemy, if it were the devil. The wind was large for England at ourreturn, but very high, and the sea rough, insomuch as the frigate, wherein the General went, was almost swallowed up. 

Monday in the afternoon we passed in sight of Cape Race, having made asmuch way in little more than two days and nights back again, as beforewe had done in eight days from Cape Race unto the place where our shipperished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed back again, is to beimputed unto the swift current, as well as to the winds, which wehad more large in our return. This Monday the General came aboard the_Hind_, to have the surgeon of the _Hind_ to dress his foot, which hehurt by treading upon a nail: at which time we comforted each otherwith hope of hard success to be all past, and of the good to come. So agreeing to carry out lights always by night, that we might keeptogether, he departed into his frigate, being by no means to beentreated to tarry in the _Hind_, which had been more for his security. Immediately after followed a sharp storm, which we over passed for thattime, praised be God. 

The weather fair, the General came aboard the _Hind_ again, to makemerry together with the captain, master, and company, which was the lastmeeting, and continued there from morning until night. During whichtime there passed sundry discourses touching affairs past and to come, lamenting greatly the loss of his great ship, more of the men, but mostof all his books and notes, and what else I know not, for which he wasout of measure grieved, the same doubtless being some matter of moreimportance than his books, which I could not draw from him: yet bycircumstance I gathered the same to be the ore which Daniel the Saxonhad brought unto him in the Newfoundland. Whatsoever it was, theremembrance touched him so deep as, not able to contain himself, hebeat his boy in great rage, even at the same time, so long after themiscarrying of the great ship, because upon a fair day, when we werebecalmed upon the coast of the Newfoundland near unto Cape Race, he senthis boy aboard the Admiral to fetch certain things: amongst which, thisbeing chief, was yet forgotten and left behind. After which time hecould never conveniently send again aboard the great ship, much less hedoubted her ruin so near at hand. 

Herein my opinion was better confirmed diversely, and by sundryconjectures, which maketh me have the greater hope of this rich mine. For whereas the General had never before good conceit of these northparts of the world, now his mind was wholly fixed upon the Newfoundland. And as before he refused not to grant assignments liberally to themthat required the same into these north parts, now he became contrarilyaffected, refusing to make any so large grants, especially of St. John's, which certain English merchants made suit for, offering toemploy their money and travail upon the same yet neither by theirown suit, nor of others of his own company, whom he seemed willing topleasure, it could be obtained. Also laying down his determinationin the spring following for disposing of his voyage then to bere-attempted: he assigned the captain and master of the _Golden Hind_unto the south discovery, and reserved unto himself the north, affirmingthat this voyage had won his heart from the south, and that he was nowbecome a northern man altogether. 

Last, being demanded what means he had, at his arrival in England, tocompass the charges of so great preparation as he intended to makethe next spring, having determined upon two fleets, one for the south, another for the north; _Leave that to me_, he replied, _I will ask apenny of no man. I will bring good tiding unto her Majesty, who willbe so gracious to lend me 10, 000 pounds_, willing us therefore to beof good cheer; for _he did thank God_, he said, _with all his heart forthat he had seen, the same being enough for us all, and that we needednot to seek any further_. And these last words he would often repeat, with demonstration of great fervency of mind, being himself veryconfident and settled in belief of inestimable good by this voyage;which the greater number of his followers nevertheless mistrustedaltogether, not being made partakers of those secrets, which the Generalkept unto himself. Yet all of them that are living may be witnesses ofhis words and protestations, which sparingly I have delivered. 

Leaving the issue of this good hope unto God, who knoweth the truthonly, and can at His good pleasure bring the same to light, I willhasten to the end of this tragedy, which must be knit up in the personof our General. And as it was God's ordinance upon him, even so thevehement persuasion and entreaty of his friends could nothing avail todivert him of a wilful resolution of going through in his frigate;which was overcharged upon the decks with fights, nettings, and smallartillery, too cumbersome for so small a boat that was to pass throughthe ocean sea at that season of the year, when by course we might expectmuch storm of foul weather. Whereof, indeed, we had enough. 

But when he was entreated by the captain, master, and other hiswell-willers of the _Hind_ not to venture in the frigate, this was hisanswer: _I will not forsake my little company going homeward, with whomI have passed so many storms and perils. _ And in very truth he was urgedto be so over hard by hard reports given of him that he was afraid ofthe sea; albeit this was rather rashness than advised resolution, toprefer the wind of a vain report to the weight of his own life. Seeinghe would not bend to reason, he had provision out of the _Hind_, suchas was wanting aboard his frigate. And so we committed him to God'sprotection, and set him aboard his pinnace, we being more than 300leagues onward of our way home. 

By that time we had brought the Islands of Azores south of us; yet wethen keeping much to the north, until we had got into the height andelevation of England, we met with very foul weather and terrible seas, breaking short and high, pyramid-wise. The reason whereof seemed toproceed either of hilly grounds high and low within the sea, as we seehills and vales upon the land, upon which the seas do mount and fall, or else the cause proceedeth of diversity of winds, shifting often insundry points, all which having power to move the great ocean, whichagain is not presently settled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had been diversity of winds. Howsoever it cometh to pass, menwhich all their lifetime had occupied the sea never saw more outrageousseas, we had also upon our mainyard an apparition of a little fire bynight, which seamen do call Castor and Pollux. But we had only one, which they take an evil sign of more tempest; the same is usual instorms. 

Monday, the 9 of September, in the afternoon, the frigate was near castaway, oppressed by waves, yet at that time recovered; and giving forthsigns of joy, the General, sitting abaft with a book in his hand, criedout to us in the _Hind_, so oft as we did approach within hearing, _Weare as near to heaven by sea as by land!_ Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a soldier, resolute in Jesus Christ, as I can testify hewas. 

The same Monday night, about twelve of the clock, or not long after, thefrigate being ahead of us in the _Golden Hind_, suddenly her lights wereout, whereof as it were in a moment we lost the sight, and withal ourwatch cried _the General was cast away_, which was too true. For in thatmoment the frigate was devoured and swallowed up of the sea. Yet stillwe looked out all that night, and ever after until we arrived upon thecoast of England; omitting no small sail at sea, unto which we gavenot the tokens between us agreed upon to have perfect knowledge of eachother, if we should at any time be separated. 

In great torment of weather and peril of drowning it pleased God tosend safe home the _Golden Hind_, which arrived in Falmouth the 22 ofSeptember, being Sunday, not without as great danger escaped in a flawcoming from the south-east, with such thick mist that we could notdiscern land to put in right with the haven. From Falmouth we went toDartmouth, and lay there at anchor before the Range, while the captainwent aland to enquire if there had been any news of the frigate, which, sailing well, might happily have been before us; also to certify SirJohn Gilbert, brother unto the General, of our hard success, whom thecaptain desired, while his men were yet aboard him, and were witnessesof all occurrences in that voyage, it might please him to take theexamination of every person particularly, in discharge of his and theirfaithful endeavour. Sir John Gilbert refused so to do, holding himselfsatisfied with report made by the captain, and not altogether despairingof his brother's safety, offered friendship and courtesy to the captainand his company, requiring to have his bark brought into the harbour; infurtherance whereof a boat was sent to help to tow her in. 

Nevertheless, when the captain returned aboard his ship, he found hismen bent to depart every man to his home; and then the wind serving toproceed higher upon the coast, they demanded money to carry them home, some to London, others to Harwich, and elsewhere, if the barque shouldbe carried into Dartmouth and they discharged so far from home, or elseto take benefit of the wind, then serving to draw nearer home, whichshould be a less charge unto the captain, and great ease unto the men, having else far to go. Reason accompanied with necessity persuaded thecaptain, who sent his lawful excuse and cause of this sudden departureunto Sir John Gilbert, by the boat of Dartmouth, and from thence the_Golden Hind_ departed and took harbour at Weymouth. All the men tiredwith the tediousness of so unprofitable a voyage to their seeming, inwhich their long expense of time, much toil and labour, hard diet, andcontinual hazard of life was unrecompensed; their captain neverthelessby his great charges impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in thegoodness of God, and His undoubted providence following him in all thatvoyage, as it doth always those at other times whosoever have confidencein Him alone. Yet have we more near feeling and perseverance of Hispowerful hand and protection when God doth bring us together with othersinto one same peril, in which He leaveth them and delivereth us, makingus thereby the beholders, but not partakers, of their ruin. Even so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, conspiracies, sicknesses, mortality, spoilings, and wracks by sea, which wereafflictions more than in so small a fleet or so short a time may besupposed, albeit true in every particularity, as partly by the formerrelation may be collected, and some I suppressed with silence for theirsakes living, it pleased God to support this company, of which onlyone man died of a malady inveterate, and long infested, the rest kepttogether in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and ending the voyage, which none else did accomplish, either notpleased with the action, or impatient of wants, or prevented by death. 

Thus have I delivered the contents of the enterprise and last action ofSir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight, faithfully, for so much as I thought meetto be published; wherein may always appear, though he be extinguished, some sparks of his virtues, be remaining firm and resolute in a purposeby all pretence honest and godly, as was this, to discover, possess, andto reduce unto the service of God and Christian piety those remote andheathen countries of America not actually possessed by Christians, andmost rightly appertaining unto the crown of England, unto the which ashis zeal deserveth high commendation, even so he may justly be taxed oftemerity, and presumption rather, in two respects. First, when yet therewas only probability, not a certain and determinate place of habitationselected, neither any demonstration if commodity there _in esse_, toinduce his followers; nevertheless, he both was too prodigal of his ownpatrimony and too careless of other men's expenses to employ both hisand their substance upon a ground imagined good. The which falling, verylike his associates were promised, and made it their best reckoning, tobe salved some other way, which pleased not God to prosper in his firstand great preparation. Secondly, when by his former preparation he wasenfeebled of ability and credit to perform his designments, as it wereimpatient to abide in expectation better opportunity, and means whichGod might raise, he thrust himself again into the action, for which hewas not fit, presuming the cause pretended on God's behalf would carryhim to the desired end. Into which having thus made re-entry, he couldnot yield again to withdraw, though he saw no encouragement to proceed;lest his credit, foiled in his first attempt, in a second should utterlybe disgraced. Between extremities he made a right adventure, putting allto God and good fortune; and, which was worst, refused not to entertainevery person and means whatsoever, to furnish out this expedition, thesuccess whereof hath been declared. 

But such is the infinite bounty of God, who from every evil derivethgood. For besides that fruit may grow in time of our travelling intothose north-west lands, the crosses, turmoils, and afflictions, bothin the preparation and execution of this voyage, did correct theintemperate humours which before we noted to be in this gentleman, andmade unsavoury and less delightful his other manifold virtues. Thenas he was refined, and made nearer drawing unto the image of God so itpleased the Divine will to resume him unto Himself, whither both his andevery other high and noble mind have always aspired.