The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

The Fleetes returning homeward.

HAuing now receiued Articles and directions for our returne homewards, all other things being in forwardnesse and in good order, the last day of August the whole Fleete departed

from the C••untesses sound, excepting the Iudith, and the Anne Francis, who stayed for the ta∣king in ••f fresh water, and came the next day and mette the Fleete lying off and on, athwart Beares sound, who stayed for the Generall, which then was gone ashore to dispatch the two Barkes and the Busle of Bridgewater, for their loading, whereby to get the companies and other things abo••rd.* 1.1 The Captaine of the Anne Francis hauing most part of his company ashore, the first of September went al••o to Beares sound in his Pinnesse to fetch his men aboord, but the wind grewe so great immediatly vpon their landing, that the shippes at Sea were in great dan∣ger, and some o•• them forci••ly pu•• from their ankers, and greatly feared to be vtterly lost, as the Hopewell, wherein was Captaine Carew and others, who could not tell on which side their danger was m••st: for h••uing mightie rockes threatning on the one side, and driuing Islands of cutting yce on the other side, they greatly feared to make shipwracke, the yce driuing so neere them that it touched the••r bolt-sprit. And by meanes of the Sea that was growne so hie, they w••re not able to put to sea wi••h their small Pinnesses to recouer their shippes. And againe, the shippes were not able to carrie or lie athwart for them, by meanes of t••e outragious windes and swel••ing s••as. The Generall wil••ed the Captaine of the Anne Francis with his company, for that night to lodge aboord the Busse of Bridgewater, and went himselfe with the r••st of his men aboord the Bar••es. But their numbers were so great, and the prouision of the Barkes so scant, that they pestered one another exceedingly. They had great hope that the next morning the wea∣ther would be faire, whereby they might recouer their shippes. But in the morning f••llowing it was much worse, for the storme continued greater, the Sea being more swollen, and the Fleete gone qu••te out of sight. So that now their doubts began to grow great: for the sh••p of Bridge∣water which was of greatest receit, and whereof they had best hope and made most account, roade so farre to leeward of the harborowes mouth, that they were not able for the rockes (that lay be∣tweene the wind and them) to lead it out to Sea with a saile. And the Barks were already so pe∣stered with men, and so slenderly furnished with prouision, that they had scarce meat for sixe dayes for such numbers.

The Generall in the morning departed to Sea in the Gabriel to seeke the Fleete, leauing the Busse of Bridgewater, and the Michael behind in Beares sound. The Busse set sayle, and th••ught by turning in the narrow channell within the harborow to get to windward: but being put to leeward more, by that meanes was faine to come to anker for her better safetie, amongst a num∣ber of rockes, and there left in great danger of euer getting forth againe. The Michael set sayle to follow the Generall, and could giue the Busse no reliefe, although they earnestly desi∣red the same. And the Capt••ine of the Anne Francis was left in hard election of two euils: ey∣ther to abide his fortune with the Busse of Bridgewater, which was doubtfull of euer getting forth, or else to bee towed in his small Pinnesse at the sterne of the Michael thorow the raging Seas, for that the Barke was not able to receiue or relieue halfe his company, wherein his dan∣ger was not a little perillous.

So after hee resolued to commit himselfe with all his company vnto that fortune of God and Sea, and was dangerously towed at the sterne of the Barke for many miles, vntill at length they espyed the Anne Francis vnder sayle, hard vnder their Lee, which was no small comfort vnto them. For no doubt, both these and a great number more had perished for lacke of victuals, and conuenient roome in the Barks without the helpe of the sayd Ship. But the honest care that the Master of the Anne Francis had of his Captaine, and the good regarde of duetie towardes his Generall, suffered him not to depart, but honestly abode to hazard a dangerous roade all the night long, notwithstanding all the stormy weather, when all the Fleete besides departed. And the Pinnesse came no sooner aboord the shippe, and the men entred, but shee presently shiuered and fell in pieces and sunke at the ships sterne, with all the poore mens furniture: so weake was the boat with towing, and so forcible was the sea to bruise her in pieces. But (as God would) the men were all saued.

At this present in this storme many of the Fleete were dangerously distressed, and were seue∣red alm••st all asunder. Yet, thanks be ••o God, all the Fleete arriued safely in England about the first of October, some in one place and some in another. But amongst other, it was most mar∣ueilous how the B••sse of Bridgewater got away, who being left behind the Fleete in great dan∣ger of neuer getting forth,* 1.2 was forced to seeke a way Northward th••row an vnknowen cha••nell full of rocks, vpon the backe side of Beares sound, and there by good hap found ••ut a way into the North sea, a very dangerous attemp••: saue that necessitie•• which hath no law, forced them to trie masteries. This aforesayd North sea is the same which lyeth vpon the backe side of Frobishers s••raits, where first the Generall himselfe in his Pinnesses, and after some other of our company

haue discouered (as they affirme) a great foreland, where they would haue also a great likeli∣hood of the greatest passage towards the South sea, or Mar del Sur.

The Busse of Bridgewater, as she came homeward, to the Southeastward of Friseland,* 1.3 disco∣uered a great Island in the latitude of 57 degrees and an halfe, which was neuer yet found before, and sailed three dayes alongst the coast, the land seeming to be fruitfull, full of woods, and a cham∣pion Countrey.

There died in the whole Fleet in all this voyage not aboue forty persons, which number is not great, considering how many ships were in the Fleet, and how strange fortunes we passed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Returne homew••rd.
• * 1.2

  An vnknowen channell into the Northeast, discouered by the Busse of Bridgewater.
• * 1.3

  A fruitful new Island disco∣uered.