A true discourse of the late voyages of discouerie, for the finding of a passage to Cathaya, by the Northvveast, vnder the conduct of Martin Frobisher Generall deuided into three bookes. In the first wherof is shewed, his first voyage ... Also, there are annexed certayne reasons, to proue all partes of the worlde habitable, with a generall mappe adioyned. In the second, is set out his second voyage ... In the thirde, is declared the strange fortunes which hapned in the third voyage ... VVith a particular card therevnto adioyned of Meta Incognita ...

¶ Articles and orders to be obserued for the Fleete, set dovvne by Captayne Frobisher Generall, and deliuered in wri∣ting to euery Captayne, as well for keeping company, as for the course, the 31. of May.

1 IN primis, to banishe swearing, dice, and cardplaying, and filthy communication, and to serue God twice a day, with the ordinarie seruice, vsually in Churches of En∣gland, and to cleare the glasse, according to the old order of England.

2 The Admirall shal carrie the light, and after his light be once put out, no man to go a head of him, but euery man to fitte his Sayles to follow as néere as they may, without dangering one another.

3 That no man shall by day or by night depart further from the Admirall, than the distance of one English Mile,

and as néere as they may, withoute daunger one of ano∣ther.

4 If it chance to growe thicke, and the wind contrary, eyther by daye, or by night, that the Admirall be forced to c••st aboute, before hir casting aboute, she shal gyue war∣ning, by shoot••ng off a péece, and to him shall answere the U••zeadmirall, and the Rereadmirall, with euery one of them a péece, if it be by nighte, or in a fogge, and that the Uizeadmiral sh••ll aunswere ••irste, and the Rereadmirall last.

5 That no man in the Fléete descrying any Sayle or Sayles, giue vppon anye occasion anye chace, before hée haue spoken with the Admirall.

6 That euerye euening, all the Fléete come vppe and speake with the Admirall, at seauen of the Clocke, or be∣twéene that and eyght, and if weather will not serue them all to speake with the Admirall, then some shall come to the Uizeadmirall, and receyue your order of your course of Maister Hall, chiefe Pylot of the Fléete, as he shal direct you.

7 If to any mā in the Fléete, there happē any mischāce, they shall presently shoote off two péeces by day, and if it be by night, two peeces, and shew two lightes.

8 If any man in y^e Fléete come vp in y^• night, and hale his fellow, knowing him not, he shal giue him this watch∣word, Before the world was God. The other shall aunswer him, if he be one of our Fléete After God came Christe his Sonne. So that if anye be founde amongst vs, not of oure owne company, he that firste descryeth anye such Sayle or Sayles, shall giue warning to the Admirall by himselfe, or any other that he can speake to that Sailes, better than he, being néerest vnto him.

9 That euery Ship in the Fléete, in the time of fogges, whiche continually happen with little windes, and most parte calmes, shall kéepe a reasonable noyse with Trum∣pet,

Drumme, or otherwise to kéepe themselues cléere one of another.

10 If it fall out thicke or misty that we lay it to Hull, the Admirall shall giue warning by a péece, and pu••ting out thrée lightes one ouer another, to the ende, that eu••ry man may take in his Sayles, and at his setting of Sayles agayne do the like, if it be not cléere.

11 If any man discouer land by nighte, that he giue the like warning, that he dothe for mischances, two lightes, and two péeces, if it be by day one péece, and putte out hys slagge, and strike all his Sayles he hath aboorde.

12 If any Shyppe shall happen to lose company by force of weather, then any suche Shippe or Shippes, shall gette hir into the Latitude of. .and so kéepe that Latitude, vn∣tyll they gette Freeselande. And after they be past the West partes of Freeselande, they shall gette them into the Latitude of. .and. .and not to the Northwarde of .and béeing once entred within the straytes, all suche Shyppes shall euerye watche shoote off a good péece, and looke out well for smoke and fire, whych those that gette in first, shall make euery night, vntill all the Fléete bée come togither.

13 That vppon the sighte of an Ensigne in the Mast of the Admirall, and a péece shot of, the whole Fléete, shal re∣paire to the Admirall, to vnderstande such conference, as the Generall is to haue with them.

14 If we chance to méete with any enimies, that foure Shyppes shall attend vpon the Admirall, viz. the Frances of Foy, the Moone, the Barke Dennis, and the G••brie•••••• and foure vpon my Lieutenant generall in the Iudith, viz. the Hopewell, the Armenall, the Beare, and the Salomon: and the other foure vpon the Uizadmirall, the Anne Fran∣ces, the Thomas of Ipswich, the Emanuell, and the Mi∣chaell.

15 If there happen any disordered person in the fléete, that he be taken and kept in safe custodie vntil he may con∣ueniently be brought aboorde the Admirall, and ther•• to re∣ceiue such punishment as his or their offences shal deserue.

By me Martine Frobysher.