* 1.1GReenland is a place in Nature nothing like vnto the Name: for certainly there is no place in the World, yet knowne and discouered that is lesse greene then it. It is couered with snow, both the Mountaines and the lower Lands, till about the beginning of Iune, being very Mountainous, and beareth neither grasse nor tree, saue onely such as grow vpon the Moores and heathie grounds, in the North parts of England, which we call Heath, or Ling. This groweth when the snow melteth, and when the ground beginneth to be vncouered. And on this doe the Deere feed in the Summer time, and become very fat therewithall in a moneths space, but how [ 20] they liue in the Winter time it is not easily to be imagined. For seeing at the end of May wee find the ground all couered with snow, it is very like, that in the time of Winter there is no part bare, where any thing can grow; especially during the time that the Sunne is altogether depressed vnder the horizon, which in the latitude of 77. degrees, continueth from the eighteenth of October till the fourth of Februarie. This Countrey by all probabilities hath neuer been inha∣bited by any people; notwithstanding, I thinke men might liue there, carrying thither good store of prouision of victuals, and other things necessary against the cold, which perhaps will be ve∣hement in the Winter time, by the former reasons; namely, because the Sunne remayneth so long vnder the Horizon.
Neuerthelesse, there will not be any continuance of darknesse, because the Sunne in his grea∣test [ 30] declination will be but 10. degrees vnder the Horizon, at this time of his being in the South of the Meridian in the former latitude of 77. degrees, which is once in foure and twentie houres; and therefore the time of their Noone will bee much lighter then our Night here in England, when the dayes are at the longest; for then is the Sunne 15. degrees vnder the Horizon at mid∣night, and yet the greatest darknesse is but like twi-light. And although it bee a generall saying, and a common receiued opinion, that the further North the greater cold, yet experience tea∣cheth, that it is not alwaies true. For at M••sco, and thereabouts in the Winter time, there is ex∣treme frosts and cold weather, insomuch that oftentimes men are brought home dead, being starued with cold; and many haue their noses and eares caused to fall off, through the extremity of the piercing aire: yet at Edenborrow, which is more Northerly by one degree and an halfe, [ 40] and in all places neere vnto it the aire is temperate, and the cold tolerable, the snow neuer lying any long time on the ground after it is fallen. Notwithstanding, wee haue snow remayning all the yeere long in diuers places of England, but the reason of this is, because the aire is euer war∣mest neere vnto the Sea shoare,* 1.2 (as Edenborrow standeth) and contrariwise the cold is most ve∣hement in places which are farthest remote from the Sea, as Mosco is situated.
All the Creatures that appeare vnto vs vpon the Land, are Deere, Beares, and Foxes, and sun∣drie sorts of wilde Fowle, as Cuthbert Duckes, Willockes, Stints, Sea-pigeons, Sea-parrets, Gulls, Noddies, &c. The Author addes a discourse of sending condemned men to inhabite there, with diuers proiects for their seruice there, for the further discouerie how best to bee effected, for such things as are most necessary for this employment of Whale-killing, &c. but because experience hath gi∣uen best instructions already, and destructions must otherwise be preuented, I haue forborne to detayne [ 50] the Reader in those (otherwise iudicious) speculations.
The Southermost part of Greenland stands in 76. degrees 30. minutes, which wee call, Point Looke out, and we haue discouered all the West side of the Land as farre vnto the Northwards as 80▪ degrees odde minutes: in which compasse wee haue already experience of sixe or eight good Harbours for the killing of the Whale; and on the East side we haue discouered as farre as 78. degrees, finding diuers Ilands, great and small, yeelding good Harbours, and store of Whales, and Sea-horses; and for a further discouery on the East side, I am perswaded it had beene farre greater, if the Dutch had not so disturbed vs in our proceedings, as also the Hull-men, who euer practised to follow our steps, after the discouerie within one yeere or two: as by our Masters Iournall more at large may appeare. The best actions haue their hindrances and crosses, and so [ 60] hath this had; for, the Dutch haue beene a bane to this Trade and Discouerie: The Hull-men haue done some bad seruice in this Action, for they were the first that carried the Dutch to the Tutches, as by Wi••••••dens Oath and Iournall appeares, they were also a cause of that bad Voyage,