The strange and dangerous voyage of Captaine Thomas Iames, in his intended discouery of the Northwest Passage into the South Sea VVherein the miseries indured both going, wintering, returning; and the rarities obserued, both philosophicall and mathematicall, are related in this iournall of it. Published by his Maiesties command. To which are added, a plat or card for the sayling in those seas. Diuers little tables of the author's, of the variation of the compasse, &c. VVith an appendix concerning longitude, by Master Henry Gellibrand astronomy reader of Gresham Colledge in London. And an aduise concerning the philosophy of these late discouereyes, by W.W.

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Title
The strange and dangerous voyage of Captaine Thomas Iames, in his intended discouery of the Northwest Passage into the South Sea VVherein the miseries indured both going, wintering, returning; and the rarities obserued, both philosophicall and mathematicall, are related in this iournall of it. Published by his Maiesties command. To which are added, a plat or card for the sayling in those seas. Diuers little tables of the author's, of the variation of the compasse, &c. VVith an appendix concerning longitude, by Master Henry Gellibrand astronomy reader of Gresham Colledge in London. And an aduise concerning the philosophy of these late discouereyes, by W.W.
Author
James, Thomas, 1593?-1635?
Publication
London :: Printed by Iohn Legatt, for Iohn Partridge,
1633.
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"The strange and dangerous voyage of Captaine Thomas Iames, in his intended discouery of the Northwest Passage into the South Sea VVherein the miseries indured both going, wintering, returning; and the rarities obserued, both philosophicall and mathematicall, are related in this iournall of it. Published by his Maiesties command. To which are added, a plat or card for the sayling in those seas. Diuers little tables of the author's, of the variation of the compasse, &c. VVith an appendix concerning longitude, by Master Henry Gellibrand astronomy reader of Gresham Colledge in London. And an aduise concerning the philosophy of these late discouereyes, by W.W." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68252.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 31, 2024.

Pages

Iuly. 1632.

The first of this month being Sunday, we were vp betimes. And I caused our Ship to be adorned the best we could: our Ancient on the Poope, and the Kings Colours in the maine top. I had prouided a short briefe of all the passages of our voyage to this day: I likewise wrote in what state we were at present, and how I did intend to prosecute the discouery, both to the Westward, and to the Southward, about this Iland. This Briefe discourse I had concluded, with a request to any Noble minded Trauaylor that should take it downe, or come to the notice of it: that if we should perish in the Action, then to make our indeuours knowne to our Soue∣raigne Lord the King. And thus with our Armes, Drumme and Colours, Cooke and Kettle, we went ashoare, and first we marcht vp to our eminent Crosse, adioyning to which we had buried our dead fellowes. There we read morning pray∣er, and then walked vp and downe till dinner time. After dinner we walkt to the highest Hils, to see which way the fire had wasted. We descryed that it had consumed to the Westward, sixteene miles at least, and the whole bredth of the Iland: neere about our Crosse and dead, it could not come: by reason it was a bare sandy Hill. After Euening prayer, I happened to walke alongst the Beach side: where I found an herbe resembling Scuruy-grasse. I made some to be gathered: which we boyld with our meate to supper: It was most excellent good, and farre better them our Vet∣ches. After supper we went all to seeke and gather more of

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it: which we did, to the quantity of two bushels which did afterwards much refresh vs: And now the Sunne was set, and the Boat comne ashoare for vs: whereupon we assem∣bled our selues together, and went vp to take the last view of our dead, and to looke vnto their Tombes, and other things: here leaning vpon mine arme, on one of their Tombes I vttered these lines, which though perchance they may pro∣cure laughter in the wiser sort (which I shall be glad of) they yet moued my young and tender-hearted companions at that time with some compassion. And these they were.

I Were vnkind, vnlesse that I did shead, Before I part, some teares vpon our dead: And when my eyes be dry, I will not cease In heart to pray, their bones may rest in peace: Their better parts, (good soules) I know were giuen, With an intent they should returne to heauen. Their liues they spent, to the last drop of bloud, Seeking Gods glory, and their Countries good, And as a valiant Souldier rather dyes, Then yeelds his courage to his Enemies: And stops their way, with his hew'd flesh, when death Hath quite depriu'd him of his strength and breath: So haue they spent themselues; and here they lye, A famous marke of our Discouery. We that suruiue, perchance may end our dayes In some imployment meriting no praise; And in a dung-hill rot: when no man names The memory of vs, but to our shames. They haue out-liu'd this feare, and their braue ends, Will euer be an honour to their friends. Why drop ye so, mine eyes? Nay rather powre My sad departure in a solemne showre. The Winters cold, that lately froze our bloud, Now were it so extreme, might doe this good, As make these teares, bright pearles: which I would lay, Tomb'd safely with you, till Doomes fatall day.

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That in this Solitary place, where none Will euer come to breathe a sigh or grone, Some remnant might be extant, of the true And faithfull loue, I euer tenderd you. Oh, rest in peace, deare friends, and let it be No pride to say the sometime part of me. What paine and anguish doth afflict the head, The heart and stomake, when the limbes are dead: So grieu'd, I kisse your graues: and vow to dye, A Foster-father to your memory.

Farewell.

So fastning my briefe to the Crosse, which was securely wrapt vp in Lead: we presently tooke Boat and departed: and neuer put foote more on that Iland. This Iland and all the rest, (as likewise the maine) is a light white sand; couered ouer with a white mosse, and full of shrubs and low bushes: excepting some bare hils, and other patches. In these bare places, the sand will driue with the wind like dust. It is very full of trees, as Spruse and Iuniper: but the biggest tree I saw, was but a foote and a halfe ouer. At our first comming hither, we saw some Deare and kild one: but neuer any since. Foxes, all the winter we saw many, and kild some dozen of them: but they went all away in May. Beares we saw but few, but kild none: we saw some other little beasts. In May there came some fowle, as Duckes and Geese: of which we kild very few. White Partridges we saw; but in small quantities: nor had we any shot, to shoot at them. Fish we could neuer see any in the Sea: nor no bones of fish on the shoare side: excepting a few Cockle-shels: and yet no∣thing in them neither. Other things remarkeable I haue before mentioned.

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