Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. I. Greenland first discouered by Sir HVOH WILLOVGHEIE: the Voyages of FROBISHER, PET and IACKMAN, DAVIS, the Dutch; First Morse and Whale-killing, with further Discoueries.

THe Northerne parts of the World haue euer beene held to be Officina Gentium & velut Vagina Nationum,* 1.1 Natures Shop and Store-house of Men, better furni∣shed [ 30] then any other part of the Earth, and from whence those notable Inunda∣tions came first of the Cymbrians and Teutons, in the time of the antient Romans; and secondly of the Gothes and Vandals vnder Attila, to the confusion of things both Diuine and Humane in all the Southerne parts of Europe, as farre as Barba∣risme could preuaile against Ciuilitie and Religion. For remedie whereof the Townes alongst the Baltick Sea entred into a confederacy vnder the names of the Hans Townes,* 1.2 and vndertooke the keeping of those Northerne people, and the securing of these Southerne Kingdomes from any the like ouerflowings, vpon such Priuiledges and Immunities as were granted and agreed vnto them by all the Southerne Princes, and according to such Lawes as were made and proui∣ded for the maintenance and strength of the said Hans Townes, amongst which the supreme [ 40] and fundamentall Lawe was that none of these Nations so secured should haue trade or com∣merce in any parts beyond the Baltike Seas, to the end the barbarous people might not bee ena∣bled thereby to practise or moue against the Hans Townes: which was the cause together also with the extremitie of cold, that those Northerne Seas were neuer looked vnto vntill the yeere 1553. At which time the trade of this Kingdome waxing cold and in decay, and the Mer∣chants incited with the fame of the great masse of riches which the Portugals and Spaniards brought home yeerely from both the Indies, entred into a resolution, notwithstanding the pro∣hibition of the Hans Law to discouer the Northerne Seas, which so long had beene frozen and shut vp;* 1.3 and to see whether they could not affoord a passage to Cathay and the East Indies, and accordingly prouided three ships, and sent them forth vnder the command of Sir Hugh Willough∣bie, [ 50] Knight, who embarqued himselfe in a ship called, the Bona Esperança, Admirall of that Voy∣age, with Richard Chancellor Captaine of the Edward Bonauenture, together with a third ship, called the Bona Confidentia. These three ships falling downe from Ratcliffe, the tenth of May in the foresaid yeere went on their Voyage, and proceeding as farre as the Cape of Norway, they were seuered by a tempest. Chancellor after he had stayed at Ward-house seuen dayes, expe∣cting the Admirall and the other ships, according to a former appointment vpon any such ca∣sualtie, and hearing nothing of them, went on, and discouered the Bay of Saint Nicolas, and setled a trade there, which hath continued to these times.

Sir Hugh Willoughbie was driuen to the height of 72. * 1.4 where hee fell vpon an Iland, now knowne by the name of Willoughbie Land, and lieth from Sinam (vpon the Continent of Nor∣way [ 60] East and by North an hundred and sixtie leagues or thereabouts, from thence he went North and North-west, and within eight dayes after he fell vpon a Land which lay West South-west, and East North-east, betweene 74. and 75. degrees of latitude, and plying Westward along by

the Land, he was driuen by the wind to put to Sea againe, vntill the wind came about. Then they made towards the Land againe, and bare with it, but finding that place vnfit for landing, they haled out againe, running along the Land sixteene leagues North-west, where they found a faire Bay, went on Land and found the place inhabited. From thence they put to Sea againe, runne alongst the coast for fortie leagues together, till at length they came to an anchor within two leagues of the shoare, where they landed, and found two or three good Harbours.

Afterwards they entred into the Hauen which ranne vp into the Maine a∣bout two leagues,* 1.5 where they remained for the space of a weeke vpon the maine Land. They found Beares, great Deere, Foxes, and other beasts. They [ 10] sent out three men three dayes iourney to the South-West, and three others also full West, all which returned after diuers dayes trauelling, and found no people nor any likelihood of habitation. And this is that Land which now is called Greenland, or King Iames his New-land, and is knowne to the Hollanders by the name of Spitsbergen. Sir Hugh Willoughbie returned into Lapland, where he and his companie were frozen to death, in the Hauen called Arzina, neere Kegor.

The Muscouia Merchants hauing thus setled a trade in Russia, and being incorporated by the name of, The Merchants of England, for the discouerie of new trades, pursued their first reso∣lutions for finding a way to Cathay by the North-east, and in the yeere 1556. sent out Stephen Burrough, for discouerie of the Riuer Obb, who proceeding forwards in that Voyage discouered [ 20] the Riuer Pechora, the Streights of Vaigats and Nouazembla * 1.6; went on shoare vpon the Iland of Vaigats, and vpon the North Continent of Russia; met with the Samoeds, obserued their manner of life, their Religion, their Sacrifices to their rude and ill shaped Idols; and the yeere being spent, returned into Russia.

The Companie hauing sought for the North-east passage, and finding such difficulties as are mentioned in their particular Iournals, resolued to make triall, if the North-west part could not affoord a passage to the Indies, which was the first and maine scope of their Northerne Discoue∣ries. And in the yeere 1576. they sent forth Sir Martin Frobisher with two Barkes,* 1.7 who com∣ming into the heights of 62. or thereabouts, found a great Inlet,* 1.8 now knowne by the name of Frobishers Streights, into which he put himselfe, and sayled sixtie leagues with a mayne Land on [ 30] each side, and so for that yeere returned.

The next yeere following he made a second Voyage to that place, purposely to lade himselfe with a kind of Oare, which the yeere before he had found there, and gaue hope by the colour to yeeld Gold, and being laden with some quantitie, returned.

The yeere following, being 1578. hauing made tryall here of that Oare, and finding it not to fall out according to his expectation,* 1.9 hee was furnished out to proceed in the further disco∣uerie of those Streights, and entring into the same, made way so farre as hee thought fit, and then returned backe, hauing first taken possession thereof in the name of Queene Elizabeth of famous memorie, who called the place Meta incognita: he brought home some of the Natiues, and left some of his men there.

[ 40] In the yeere 1580.* 1.10 the Companie sent out a second Voyage for the discouerie of the Riuer Obb, and thence to goe on to Cathay;* 1.11 furnishing forth two ships vnder the command of Arthur Pet, and Charles Iackman, who following their instructions, arriued at Vaigats, passed those Streights with a particular obseruation of those Ilands and places therein, plyed along the East part of Nouazembla, and the North of Russia, and the Samoeds Countrey, so farre as the Ice would giue them leaue, and finding no possibilitie of passage by reason of the Ice, returned backe in the latter end of the yeere. By this time the Voyage of Saint Nicolas was knowne, and be∣come a beaten trade. And the Companie sent out yeerely thither ten or twelue ships, which returned fraighted with the commodities of that Countrey.

In the yeere 1583. by the leaue and admittance of the Moscouia Companie,* 1.12 Sir Humfrey Gilbert went out for the discouerie of the North part of Terra Florida,* 1.13 came into the great Ri∣uer [ 50] called, Saint Laurence in Canada, tooke possession of the Countrey, setled the gouernment of the fishing there which is so well knowne in these times.

In the yeere 1585. Master Iohn Dauis was furnished out at Dartmouth with two Barkes,* 1.14 for the discouerie of the North-west, came into the height of 66. plyed along the coast,* 1.15 obserued the probabilitie of a passage, and in the end of the yeere returned.

In the yeere following, being 1586. hee went on againe in the further discouerie thereof, found a great Inlet betweene 55. and 56. of latitude, which gaue him great hope of a passage,* 1.16 traded with the people there, and so returned.

In the yeere 1587. hee made a third Voyage to those places,* 1.17 followed his course to the North and North-west, to the Latitude of 67. degrees, hauing the Continent (which hee called Ame∣rica) [ 60] on the West side and Groineland, which hee named Desolation on the East, and going on the height of 86. degrees, the passage enlarged so that hee could not see the Westerne shoare. Thus he continued in the Latitude of 73. degrees in a great Sea free from Ice, of an vnmeasurable depth, but by the occasion of the departure of two Ships which were in company with him,

which hee left Fishing at a place, he returned home. This passage continueth the Name and me∣morie of the first Discouerer,* 1.18 and is called Fretum Dauis. And thus the Discouerie of the Nor∣thern Seas proceeded on from time to time, by the endeauour and charge of the Muscouia Com∣panie, vntill they had particularly discouered the Lands, Coasts, Ilands, Straights, Hauens, Bayes, Riuers and other places therein, and measured euery part thereof, by their often tracing to and fro: Together also with the obseruation of the Commodities and Aduantages, arising from euery part of the same, continuing euen vnto these times to haunt and frequent the parts which they had formerly found out; As by their yeerely Reportaries and Iournals may appeare, and that ei∣ther without emulation or competition of any other Nation, that euer came into those parts or enterprised any Discouerie there vntill of late yeeres, as appeares by this that followeth.

When Richard Chancelor had setled a trade with Iohn Vasilowich then Emperour of Russia, and [ 10] his Ambassadours had beene heere in England, to accomplish matters requisite for maintenance of the Amitie and Entercourse made and agreed vpon betweene these two Crownes; King Phi∣lip,* 1.19 Queene Marie, Dukes also at that time of Burgundie, and Soueraignes of all the Netherlands, made a grant of Priuiledge vnto the Muscouia Merchants for the sole Trade of those Seas, pro∣hibiting all others to haunt and frequent the same, without speciall Licence and consent of the sayd Companie: which grant of Priuiledge was accordingly enioyed without disturbance or in∣terloping of the Hollanders, who out of obedience either to the Prohibition made by their Soue∣raigne, or for that they durst not aduenture into these Seas, did not any way attempt to bee seene or appeare there, either for Discouerie or trade of Merchandize, for the space of fiue and [ 20] twentie yeeres,* 1.20 after the Port of Saint Nicholas was first Discouered and found out by the En∣glish. For the Company hauing as is aboue mentioned, made their first Discouerie in the yeere 1553. there was neuer heard of any Netherlander that frequented those Seas, vntill the yeere 1578.* 1.21 * 1.22 At which time they first began to come to Cola, and within a yeere or two after, one Iohn de Whale a Netherlander, came to the Bay of Saint Nichola••, being drawne thither by the perswasion of some English for their better meane of Interloping, which was the first man of that Nation that euer was seene there. And this as is formerly noted was fiue and twentie yeeres af∣ter it was Discouered by the Muscouia Merchants.* 1.23

Afterwards the Hollanders crept in more and more, and in the yeere 1594. they made out foure Ships for Discouerie of the North-east passage to China,* 1.24 the Master Pylot whereof was [ 30] William Barrents,* 1.25 these came vpon the Coast of Nouazembla to the Latitude of 77. degrees, drew backe againe towards the Straights of Vaigats, and then returned giuing Names vnto some places and Promontories vpon that Land.

In the yeere 1595. They sent out a second Voyage, tracing the way through the Straights of Vaigats in the same steps,* 1.26 as Pet and Iackman had formerly passed, and so returned.

In the yeere 1596. They set out a third Voyage with two Ships, the one of which shaped her course from the Cape of Norway,* 1.27 to an Iland in the Latitude of 74. degrees, which wee call Che∣rie Iland,* 1.28 and they call Beare Iland, and from thence to Greenland, where Sir Hugh Willoughbie had beene two and fortie yeeres before, for so long time there is betweene the first Discouerie thereof and the yeere 1596. And from thence to the North-east part of Nouazembla, in the [ 40] Latitude of 76. degrees, where they Wintred and lost their Ship, and came home with much difficultie.

In the yeere 1603. Stephen Bennet was imployed by the Companie, in a Ship called the Grace, to those parts Northwards of the Cape, and was at Cherie Iland and killed some Sea-horses, and brought home Lead Oare from thence.

In the yeere 1608. the said fellowship set foorth a Ship called the Hope-well, whereof William Hudson was Master, to discouer to the Pole, where it appeareth by his Iournall, that hee came to the height of 81. degrees, where he gaue Names to certayne places, vpon the Continent of Green∣land formerly discouered, which continue to this day, namely, Whale Bay, and Hackluit Head∣land, and being hindred with Ice, returned home without any further vse made of the Coun∣trey, [ 50] and in ranging homewards, hee discouered an Iland lying in 71. degrees, which hee named Hudsons Tutches.

Heere it is to bee vnderstood, that the Companie hauing by often resort and imployment to those parts, obserued the great number of Sea-horses at Cherie Iland, and likewise the multi∣tude of Whales, that shewed themselues vpon the coast of Greenland; They first applyed them∣selues to the killing of the Morces, which they continued from yeere to yeere with a Ship or two yeerely;* 1.29 in which Ships the Companie appointed Thomas Welden Commander, and in the yeere 1609. the Companie imployed one Thomas Edge their Apprentice,* 1.30 for their Northeren Voyage,* 1.31 and joyned him in Commission with the foresayd Welden. Now the often vsing of Che∣rie Iland, did make the Sea-horse grow scarse and decay, which made the Companie looke out [ 60] for further Discoueries.

* 1.32In the yeere 1610. the Companie set out two Ships, viz. the Lionesse for Cherie Iland, Tho∣mas Edge Commander;* 1.33 and the Amitie, for a Northerne Discouerie, the Master of which Ship was Ionas Poole: who in the moneth of May fell with a Land, and called it Greenland, this is the

Land that was discouered by Sir Hugh Willoughby long before, which Ship Amitie continued vp∣on the coast of Greenland, discouering the Harbours and killing of Morces, vntill the moneth of August, and so returned for England, hauing gotten about some twelue Tunnes of goods, and an Vnicornes * 1.34 horne.

In the yeere 1611. the Companie set foorth two Ships for Greenland, the Marie Margaret Admirall, burthen one hundred and sixtie tunnes, Thomas Edge Commander; and the Elizabeth,* 1.35 burthen sixtie tunnes, Ionas Poole Master, well manned and furnished with all necessarie Prouisi∣ons, they departed from Blackwall the twentieth of Aprill, and arriued at the Foreland in Green∣land in the Latitude of 79. degrees, the twentieth of May following, the Admirall had in her [ 10] six Biskayners expert men for the killing of the Whale:this was the first yeere the Companie set out for the killing of Whales in Greenland,* 1.36 and about the twelfth of Iune the Biskayners killed a small Whale, which yeelded twelue Tunnes of Oyle, being the first Oyle that euer was made in Greenland. The Companies two Shalops looking about the Harbour for Whales, about the fiue and twentieth of Iune rowing into Sir Thomas Smith his Bay, on the East side of the Sound saw on the shoare great store of Sea-horses: after they had found the Morses they presently rowed vnto the Ship, being in crosse Road seuen leagues off, and acquainted the Captayne what they had found. The Captayne vnderstanding of it, gaue order to the Master, Stephen Bennet, that he should take into his Ship fiftie tunnes of emptie Caske, and set sayle with the Ship to goe into Foule Sound. The Captayne went presently away in one Shallop with sixe men vnto the Sea-morse, [ 20] and tooke with him Lances,* 1.37 and comming to them they set on them and killed fiue hun∣dred Morses, and kept one thousand Morses liuing on shoare, because it is not profitable to kill them all at one time. The next day the Ship being gone vnto the place & well mored where the Morse were killed, all the men belonging to the Ship went on shoare, to worke and make Oyle of the Morses; and when they had wrought two or three dayes, it fortuned that a small quan∣titie of Ice came out of Foule Sound, and put the Ship from her Moring. The Master and ten men being a board of the Ship, let fall their Sheat anchor which brought the Ship vp to ride;* 1.38 the Ice comming vpon her againe, brought her Anchor home and ranne the Ship ashoare, where shee by the Masters weake Iudgement was cast away, and all their Bread spoyled not fit to eate. The Ship being cast away without hope of recouerie, the Commander Thomas Edge gaue order, that [ 30] all the Morse liuing on shoare should be let goe into the Sea, and so gaue ouer making of Oyle, and presently haled vp ashoare all his Shallops and Boates, being fiue, setting the Carpenter to trim them, the Saylers to make Sayles and Wastcloathes for the Boates, fit to serue them at Sea. Ha∣uing fitted their Boates as well as they could with the small prouision they had, being in num∣ber foure small Shallops and the ships Boate, they diuided their men into them equally with what prouisions of victuals they could well carrie, and after they had sayd Prayers all together on Land; being fiftie men they departed from the place where they lost their Ship, on the fif∣teenth of Iuly with the winde Southerly, and rowed thirtie or fortie leagues to the Southward, and then they lost companie of one Shallop and their ships Boate of Horne Sound, which two Boates met with a Hull Ship, and acquainted him with the losse of the London Ship, and that shee [ 40] had left on land goods woorth fifteene hundred pounds:* 1.39 So our men carryed the Hull Ship into Foule Sound, to take in the Companies goods and to kill some Sea-horses for her selfe at that place. The Captayne and two other Shallops put from the Coast of Greenland in the height of 77.1/••. Degrees, and set their course for Cherie Iland, which lyeth in 74. Degrees (—) sometimes Sayling and sometimes Rowing, and made Cherie Iland the nine and twentieth of Iuly,* 1.40 hauing beene in their Shallops at Sea fourteene dayes, and comming into the Iland with a great storme at North-west, with much difficultie they landed on the South side of the Iland.

Being on shoare, the Captayne sent three of his Saylers ouer land vnto the North roade, be∣ing three miles distant from that place, to see if the Elizabeth was there, and they saw a Ship ri∣ding in the North roade, and being ouer-joyed they returned backe vnto the Captayne to ac∣quaint [ 50] him, without staying to speake with any of the Ships companie, and by good hap the Master of the Elizabeth espyed men on the Shoare, being at that time weighing Anchor to set sayle for England, vpon which hee stayed and sent the Boate ashoare to see what men they were, and when the men of the Elizabeth came ashoare, they found them to bee men of the Mary Margaret, and so went aboard vnto the Master to acquaint him; whereupon the Master caused Anchor to bee weighed and went to the South side of the Iland, and there tooke in the Cap∣tayne, and hee being aboard vnderstanding what a poore Voyage the Elizabeth had made, gaue order to the Master to goe for Greenland, there to take in such Goods as the sayd Edge had left in Foule Sound. They departed from Cherie Iland the first of August, and arriued at Foule Sound the Fourteenth Dicto: where they found two Boates which they had lost companie of before, and [ 60] all their men being come thither with a Hull Ship which they met with, and brought to that place; which Ship had spent all the yeere in Horne Sound, and got little goods. The Elizabeth being mored, the Captayne gaue order vnto the Master to deliuer out of his Ship, all the goods hee had got at Cherie Iland, which was Sea-horse hydes and Blubber, being of little woorth▪ And to take in the Oyle and Whale-finnes, which were gotten by the Marie Margarets com∣panie,

the Master in vnlading of his Ship brought her so light, that vnfortunatly hee ouer-set her, hauing goods in her worth seuen hundred pounds.* 1.41 This ill chance happening vnto the two Lon∣don Ships, the Captayne of them agreed with Thomas Marmaduke Master of the Hull Ship, to take in the goods which was saued, at the rate of fiue pounds the Tun••e, which was a great rate (notwithstanding they had beene a meanes to get him goods worth fiue hundred pounds for the Hull Ship) and vpon the one and twentieth of August, 1611. they departed from Greenland in the Hope-well, being ninetie nine men in all, and arriued at Hull the sixth of September, where the sayd Edge tooke out the Companies goods, and Shipped them for London by order from the Companie. This yeere, Edge in coasting in the Shallops, discouered all the Harbours on the West side of Greenland.

[ 10]

Notes

• * 1.1

  W. Gemeticensis de Ducib. Nor∣man.
• * 1.2

  Hans Townes.
• * 1.3

  Cathay. See l. 2. cap. 1. of this whole Voyage. 212.
• * 1.4

  An errour in the lati∣tude, the Land stands in 77.
• * 1.5

  Greenland discouered by Sir Hugh Willoughbie. This Voyage was writ∣ten by Sir H. Will. and found in his ship. In Ianuarie after he was aliue, as appeares by a Will of Gab. Will. his kinsman, subscribed by Sir Hug. Willoughbie which Will I now haue, and keepe as a Relike of that wor∣thie discouerer and first finder of King Iames his New-land.
• * 1.6

  See Hackl. V▪ tom. 1. pag. 274.
• * 1.7

  1576.
• * 1.8

  Sir M. Frobisher Hakl. tom. 3.29. & seqq.
• * 1.9

  1578.
• * 1.10

  1580.
• * 1.11

  Pet and Iack∣man. Hak. to. 1. p. 445.
• * 1.12

  1583.
• * 1.13

  Sir H. Gilbert Hak. to. 3. p. 143.
• * 1.14

  1585.
• * 1.15

  Master Dauis Hak. to. 3. p. 98. & seq.
• * 1.16

  1586.
• * 1.17

  1587.
• * 1.18

  Fretum Dauis.
• * 1.19

  Hak. Tom. 1. pag. 297.
• * 1.20

  25.
• * 1.21

  1553.
• * 1.22

  1578.
• * 1.23

  25.
• * 1.24

  1594.
• * 1.25

  These Voiages follow.
• * 1.26

  1595.
• * 1.27

  1596.
• * 1.28

  I haue by me a French Storie of Spitsbergh, published 1613 by a Dutchman which writeth against this English allega∣tion, &c. but hotter argu∣ments then I am willing to answer.

  William Hudson Discouereth to 81. Degrees. Whale Bay. Hackluits Headland. Hudsons Tout∣ches.
• * 1.29

  Thomas Welden.
• * 1.30

  1609.
• * 1.31

  Thomas Edge the Author.
• * 1.32

  1610.
• * 1.33

  Ionas Poole first Namer of Greenland.
• * 1.34

  See B••ffins North-west Discouerie, Vnicorne, a Sea fishes Horne.
• * 1.35

  1611.
• * 1.36

  First Whale-killing.

  Biscayners v∣sed.
• * 1.37

  500. Morses killed.
• * 1.38

  Shipwracke by Ice.
• * 1.39

  Hull Ship.
• * 1.40

  Cherie Iland.
• * 1.41

  Ship ouer set.