wind being North-east we being forced to lie still. The fift▪ it was faire Sun-shine weather, and very calme, and at euening when we had supped, the Ice compassed about vs againe, and wee were hard enclosed therewith, the ship beginning to lie vpon the one side, and leaked sore, but by Gods grace it became staunch againe, wherewith we were wholly in feare to lose the ship, it was in so great danger: at which time wee tooke counsell together, and carried our old socke Sayle, with Powder, Lead, Peeces, Muskets, and other furniture on Land, to make a Tent a∣bout our Scute that we had drawne vpon the Land, and at that time we carried some Bread, and Wine on Land also, with some Timber, therewith to mend our Boat, that it might serue vs in time of need.
The sixt, it was indifferent faire Sea-weather, and Sun-shine, the wind being West, whereby we were somewhat comforted, hoping that the Ice would driue away, and that wee might get [ 10] from thence againe. The seuenth, it was indifferent weather againe, but we perceiued no ope∣ning of the water, but to the contrary, it lay hard enclosed with Ice, and no water at all about the ship, no not so much as a bucket full. The same day, fiue of our men went on Land, but two of them came backe againe, the other three went forward about two miles into the Land, and there found a Riuer of sweet water, where also they found great store of Wood that had beene driuen thither, and there they found the footsteps of Harts and Hinds, as they thought, for they were clouen footed, some greater footed then others, which made them iudge them to be so.
The eight, it blew hard East North-east, which was a right contrary wind to doe vs any good, touching the carrying away of the Ice, so that we were still faster in the Ice, which put vs in no small discomfort. The ninth, it blew North-east, with a little snow, whereby our ship [ 20] was wholly enclosed with Ice, for the wind draue the Ice hard against it, so that we lay three or foure foot deepe in the Ice, and our Sheck in the after Steuen, brake in pieces, and the ship began to be somewhat loose before, but yet it was not much hurt. In the night time, two Beares came close to our ship side, but we sounded our Trumpet, and shot at them, but hit them not, because it was darke, and they ranne away. The tenth, the weather was somewhat better, because the wind blew not so hard, and yet all one wind.
The eleuenth, it was calme weather, and eight of vs went on Land, euery man armed, to see if that were true as our other three companions had said, that there lay Wood about the Riuer, for that seeing we had so long woond and turned about, sometime in the Ice, and then againe got out, and thereby were compelled to alter our course, and at last saw that we could not get out of [ 30] the Ice, but rather became faster, and could not loose our ship, as at other times we had done, as also that it began to be Winter, we tooke counsell together what we were best to doe, according to the time, that we might winter there, and attend such aduenture as God would send vs: and after we had debated vpon the matter (to keepe and defend our selues both from the cold, and wilde beasts) we determined to build a house vpon the Land, to keepe vs therein as well as wee could, and so to commit our selues vnto the tuition of God, and to that end we went further in∣to the Land, to find out the conuenientest place in our opinions, to raise our house vpon, and yet we had not much stuffe to make it withall, in regard that there grew no trees, nor any other thing in that Countrey conuenient to build it withall: but wee leauing no occasion vnsought, as our men went abroad to view the Countrey, and to see what good fortune might happen vn∣to [ 40] vs, at last we found an vnexpected comfort in our need, which was, that we found certaine trees roots and all, (as our three companions had said before) which had beene driuen vpon the shoare, either from Tartaria, Muscouia, or else where; for there was none growing vpon that Land, wherewith (as if God had purposely sent them vnto vs) we were much comforted, being in good hope that God would shew vs some further fauour; for that Wood serued vs not onely to build out house, but also to burne, and serue vs all the Winter long, otherwise without all doubt, we had died there miserably with extreme cold.
The twelfth, it was calme weather, and then our men went vnto the other side of the Land, to see if they could find any Wood neerer vnto vs, but there was none. The thirteenth, it was calme but very misty weather, so that we could doe nothing, because it was dangerous for vs to [ 50] goe into the Land, in regard that we could not see the wilde Beares, and yet they could smell vs, for they smell better then they see. The fourteenth, it was cleare Sun-shine weather, but very cold, and then we went into the Land, and layed the Wood in heapes one vpon the other, that it might not bee couered ouer with the Snow, and from thence meant to carrie it to the place where we intended to build our house.
The fifteenth in the morning, as one of our men held watch, we saw three Beares, whereof the one lay still behind a piece of Ice, the other two came close to the ship; which wee percei∣uing, made our Peeces ready to shoot at them, at which time there stood a Tub full of Beefe vp∣on the Ice, which lay in the water to be seasoned, for that close by the ship there was no water: one of the Beares went vnto it, and put in his head to take out a piece of the Beefe, but she fa∣red [ 60] therewith as the Dog did with the Pudding, for as she was snatching at the Beefe, shee was shot into the head, wherewith she fell downe dead, and neuer stirred: the other Beare stood still, and looked vpon her fellow, and when shee had stood a good while, shee smelt her fellow,