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.

§. II. Their cold, comfortlesse, darke and dreadfull Winter: the Sunnes absence, Moones light, Sunnes vnexpected returne with miraculous speed. Of Beares, Foxes, and many ma∣ny Wonders.

THe first of October, the Wind blew stiffe North-east, and after-noone it blew North, with a great storme and drift of Snow, whereby wee could hardly goe in the Wind, [ 10] and a man could hardly draw his breath, the Snow draue so hard in our faces, at which time we could not see two ships length from vs. The second before noone, the Sunne shone, and after noone it was cloudie againe, and it snew, but the vveather was still, the Wind being North,* 1.1 and then South, and vvee set vp our House, and vpon it wee placed a May-pole made of frozen Snow.

The third before noone, it was calme Sun-shine vveather, but so cold, that it was hard to bee indured, and after-noone it blew hard out of the West, vvith so great extreme cold, that if it had continued, we should haue beene forced to leaue our vvorke. The fourth, the Wind was West, and after-noone North, with great store of Snow, vvhereby vve could not vvorke: at that time vve brought our Anchor vpon the Ice to lye the faster, vvhen vvee lay but an Arrovv shot from [ 20] the Water, the Ice was so much driuen away.

The fifth, it blevv hard North-west, and the Sea vvas very open and vvithout Ice, as farre as vve could discerne, but vve lay still frozen as vve did before, and our ship lay two or three foot deepe in the Ice, and vvee could not perceiue otherwise, but that vvee lay fast vpon the ground, and then it vvas three fathome and a halfe deepe. The same day vve brake vp the lower deck of the fore-part of our ship, and vvith those Deales vve couered our Houses, and made it slope o∣uer head, that the Water might runne off, at vvhich time it vvas very cold. The sixth, it blew hard West South-west, but towards Eeuening, West North-west, with a great Snow, that wee could hardly thrust our heads out of the doore, by reason of the great cold. The seuenth, it was indifferent good weather, but yet very cold, and wee calk't our House, and brake the [ 30] ground about it at the foot thereof:* 1.2 that day the Wind went round about the Compasse.

The eight, all the night before it blew so hard, and the same day also, and snowed so fast, that we should haue smothered, if we had gone out into the Ayre; and to speake truth, it had not beene possible for any man to haue gone one ships length, though his life had layen thereon: for it was not possible for vs to goe out of the House or ship. The ninth, the Wind still continued North,* 1.3 and blew, and snowed hard, all that day the Wind as then blowing from the Land, so that all that day we were forced to stay in the ship, the weather was so foule.

The tenth, the weather was somewhat fairer, and the Wind calmer, and blew South-west, and West, and South-west, and that time the Water flowed two foote higher then ordinary, which we ghest to proceede from the first North-wind, which as then had blowne. The same [ 40] day the weather began to be somewhat better, so that we began to go out of our ship againe: and as one of our men went out, he chanced to meet a Beare, and was almost at him before hee knew it, but presently he ranne backe againe towards the ship, and the Beare after him; but the Beare comming to the place where before we had killed another Beare, and set her vpright, and there let her freeze (which was couered ouer with Ice, and yet one of her pawes reached about it) shee stood still, whereby our man got before her, and climbed vp into the ship, in great feare, crying, A Beare, a Beare; which we hearing, came aboue Hatches to looke on her, and to shoot at her, but we could not see her, by meanes of the exceeding great smoke, that had so sore tormented vs (while we lay vnder Hatches) in the foule weather which we would not haue indured for any money, but by reason of the cold and snowie weather, wee were constrayned to doe it, if wee [ 50] would saue our liues, for aloft in the ship we must vndoubtedly haue died? the Beare stayed not long there, but ranne away, the Wind then being North-east. The same day about Eeuening, it was faire weather, and we went out of our ship to the House, and carried the greatest part of our Bread thither.

The eleuenth, it was calme weather, the Wind being South, and somewhat warme, and then we carried our Wine and other Victuals on Land: and as we were hoysing the Wine ouer-boord, there came a Beare towards our ship, that had layen behind a piece of Ice, and it seemed that we had waked her with the noyse we made: for wee had seene her lye there, but wee thought her to be a piece of Ice; but as she came neere vs, we shot at her, and she ranne away, so we pro∣ceeded in our worke. The twelfth, it blew North, and somewhat Westerly, and then halfe of [ 60] our men kept in the House, and that was the first time that we lay in it, but wee indured great cold, because our Cabins were not made; and besides that wee had not Clothes enough, and we could keepe no fire because our Chimney was not made, whereby it smoked exceedingly.

The thirteenth, the Wind was North and North-west, and it began againe to blow hard, and

then three of vs went aboord the ship, and laded a Sled with Beere, but when wee had laden it; thinking to goe to our House with it, suddenly there rose such a Wind, and so great a storme and cold, that wee were forced to goe into the ship againe, because wee were not able to stay with∣out, and wee could not get the Beere into the ship againe, but were forced to let it stand with∣out vpon the Sled: being in the ship, wee indured extreame cold, because wee had but a few clothes in it.

The fourteenth, as wee came out of the ship, wee found the Barrell of Beere standing vpon the Sled, but it was fast frozen at the heads, yet by reason of the great cold, the Beere that purged out, froze as hard vpon the side of the Barrell as if it had bene glued thereon, and in [ 10] that sort wee drew it to our House, and set the Barrell an end, and dranke it first vp, but wee were forced to melt the Beere, for there was scant any vnfrozen Beere in the Barrell,* 1.4 but in that thicke Yeast that was vnfrozen lay the strength of the Beere, so that it was too strong to drinke alone, and that which was frozen tasted like water, and being melted we mixt one with the other, and so dranke it, but it had neither strength nor taste.

The fifteenth, the Wind blew North and East, and East South-east, that day we made place to set vp our doore, and shoueled the Snow away. The eighteenth, the Wind blew hard East South-east, and then we fetched our Bread out of the Scute which wee had drawne vp vpon the Land, and the Wine also which as then was not much frozen, and yet it had layne sixe Weekes therein, and not withstanding that it had oftentimes frozen very hard.* 1.5 The same day wee saw [ 20] another Beare, and then the Sea was so couered ouer with Ice, that wee could see no open water.

The nineteenth, the Wind blew North-east, and then there was but two men and a Boy in the ship, at which time there came a Beare that sought forcibly to get into the ship, although the two men shot at her with pieces of Wood, and yet she ventured vpon them,* 1.6 whereby they were in an extreame feare, each of them seeking to saue themselues, the two men leapt into the Ballast, and the Boy climbed into the foot Mast top, to saue their liues, meane time, some of our men shot at her with a Musket, and then shee ranne away. The twentieth, it was calme Sunne-shine weather, and then againe wee saw the Sea open, at which time wee went on boord to fetch the rest of our Beere out of the ship,* 1.7 where wee found some of the Bar∣rels [ 30] frozen in pieces, and the Iron hoopes that were vpon the Iosam Barrels were also fro∣zen in pieces.

The two and twentieth, the Winde blew coldly, and very stiffe North-east, with so great a Snow, that wee could not get out of our doores. The three and twentieth, it was calme weather, and the Winde blew North-east, then wee went aboord our ship, to see if the rest of our men would come home to the House; but wee feared that it would blow hard againe, and therefore durst not stirre with the sicke man, but let him lye still that day, for hee was very weake.

The foure and twentieth, the rest of our men beeing eight persons, came to the House, and drew the sicke man vpon a Sled, and then with great labour and paine,* 1.8 wee drew our [ 40] Boat home to our House, and turned the bottome thereof vpwards, that when time serued vs (if God saued our liues in the Winter time) wee might vse it: and after that, perceiuing that the ship lay fast, and that there was nothing lesse to be expected then the opening of the water, wee put our Anchor into the ship againe, because it should not be couered ouer and lost in the Snow, that in the Spring time wee might vse it: for we alwayes trusted in God that hee would deliuer vs from thence towards Summer time, eyther one way or other. The Sunne, when we might see it best and highest, began to be very low, and we vsed all the speed we could to fetch all things with Sleds out of our ship into our House, not onely meate and drinke, but all other necessaries, at which time the Wind was North.

The fiue and twentieth, wee fetcht all things that were necessary for the furnishing of our [ 50] Scute and our Boate: and when we had laden the last Sled, and stood readie to draw it to the House, our Master looked about him and saw three Beares behind the ship that were comming towards vs, whereupon hee cryed out aloud to feare them away, and wee presently leaped forth to defend our selues as well as we could: and, as good fortune was, there lay two Hal∣berds vpon the Sled, whereof the Master tooke one, and I the other, and made resistance against them as well as we could; but the rest of our men ranne to saue themselues in the ship, and as they ranne, one of them fell into a Clift of Ice, which grieued vs much: for we thought verily that the Beares would haue ranne vnto him, to deuoure him, but God defended him: for the Beares still made towardes the ship after the men that ranne thither to saue themselues. Meane time, wee and the man that fell into the Clift of Ice, tooke our aduantage, and [ 60] got into the ship on the other side, which the Beares perceiuing,* 1.9 they came fiercely to∣wards vs, that had no other Armes to defend vs withall, but onely the two Halberds, which wee doubting would not bee sufficient, wee still gaue them worke to doe by throw∣ing Billets and other things at them, and euery time we threw, they ranne after them as a Dogge vseth to doe at a Stone that is cast at him. Meane time, wee sent a man

downe vnder Hatches to strike Fire, and another to fetch Pikes, but wee could get no Fire, and so wee had no meanes to shoote: at the last, as the Beares came fiercely vpon vs, wee strooke one of them with a Halberd vpon the Snowt, wherewith shee gaue backe, when shee felt her selfe hurt, and went away, which the other two that were not so great as shee, perceiuing, ranne away: and wee thanked God that wee were so well deliuered from them, and so drew our Sled quietly to our House, and there shewed our men what had happened vnto vs.

The sixe and twentieth, the Wind was North, and North North-west, with indiffe∣rent faire weather: then wee saw open Water hard by the Land, but wee perceiued the Ice to driue in the Sea, still towards the ship. The seuen and twentieth, the Wind blew North-east, [ 10] and it snowed so fast, that wee could not worke without the doore. That day our men killed a White Foxe,* 1.10 which they flead: and after they had rosted it, ate thereof, which tasted like Conies flesh: the same day we set vp our Dyall, and made the Clocke strike, and wee hung vp a Lampe to burne in the night time,* 1.11 wherein we vsed the fat of the Bear•• which wee melt, and burnt in the Lampe.

The nine and twentieth, the Wind still blew North-east, and then wee fetched Segges from the Sea-side, and layd them vpon the Sayle that was spread vpon our House, that it might bee so much the closer and warmer: for the Deales were not driuen close together, and the foule weather would not permit vs to doe it. The thirtieth, the Winde yet continued North-east, and the Sunne was full aboue the Earth, a little aboue the Horizon. The one and thirtieth, the [ 20] Winde still blew North-east, with great store of Snow, whereby wee durst not looke out of doores.

The first of Nouember, the Wind still continued North-east, and then wee saw the Moone rise in the East when it beganne to bee darke,* 1.12 and the Sunne was no higher aboue the Horizon then we could well see it, and yet that day we saw it not, because of the close weather, and the great Snow that fell,* 1.13 and it was extreame cold, so that we could not goe out of the House.

The second, the Wind blew West, and somewhat South, but in the Eeuening it blew North, with calme weather,* 1.14 and that day we saw the Sunne rise South South-east, and it went downe South South-west, but it was not full aboue the Earth, but passed in the Horizon along by the Earth: and the same day one of our men killed a Fox with a Hatchet, which was flayed, roasted [ 30] and eaten. Before the Sunne began to decline, wee saw no Foxes, and then the Beares vsed to goe from vs.

The third, the Wind blew North-west with calme weather, and the Sunne rose South and by East, and somewhat more Southerly, and went downe South and by West, and somewhat more Southerly; and then we could see nothing but the vpper part of the Sunne aboue the Ho∣rizon, and yet the Land where wee were was as high as the Mast of our ship, then wee tooke the height of the Sunne, it being in the eleuenth degree, and fortie eight minutes of Scorpio, his Declination being fifteene degrees and twentie foure minutes, on the South-side of the E∣quinoctiall Line.

* 1.15The fourth, it was calme weather, but then wee saw the Sunne no more, for it was no [ 40] longer aboue the Horizon, then our Chirurgion made a Bath (to bathe vs in) of a Wine∣pipe, wherein wee entred one after the other, and it did vs much good; and was a great meanes of our health. The same day wee tooke a White Foxe, that oftentimes came a∣broad, not as they vsed at other times: for that when the Beares left vs at the setting of the Sunne, and came not againe before it rose, the Foxe to the contrarie came abroad when they were gone.

The fifth, the Winde was North, and somewhat West, and then wee saw open water vpon the Sea, but our shippe lay still fast in the Ice, and when the Sunne had left vs, wee saw the Moone continuall both day and night,* 1.16 and neuer went downe when it was in the highest degree. The sixt, the Winde was North-west, still weather, and then our men [ 50] fetcht a Sled full of Fire-wood, but by reason that the Sunne was not seene, it was very darke weather.

The seuenth, it was darke weather, and very still, the Winde West, at which time wee could hardly discerne the Day from the Night,* 1.17 specially because at that time our Clocke stood still, and by that meanes wee knew not when it was day, although it was day, and our men rose not out of their Cabins all that day; but onely to make water, and therefore they knew not whether the light they saw, was the light of the day or of the Moone; whereupon, they were of seuerall opinions, some saying, it was the light of the day, the others of the night: but as wee tooke good regard thereunto, wee found it to bee the light of the day about twelue of the clocke at noone. [ 60]

The eight, it was still weather, the Winde blowing South, and South-west. The same day our men fetcht another Sled of Fire-wood, and then also wee tooke a White Foxe, and saw open water in the Sea. The same day wee shared our Bread amongst vs, each man hauing foure pound and tenne ounces,* 1.18 for his allowance in eight dayes, so that then

we were eight dayes eating a Barrell of Bread, whereas before wee ate it vp in fiue or six dayes: we had no need to share our flesh and fish, for we had more store thereof; but our drinke failed vs, and therefore we were forced to share that also:* 1.19 but our best Beere was for the most part who∣ly without any strength, so that it had no sauour at all: and besides all this, there was a great deale of it spilt. The ninth, the Wind blew North-east, and somewhat more Northerly, and then we had not much day light, but it was altogether darke. The tenth, it was calme wea∣ther, the Wind North-west, and then our men went into the ship to see how it lay,* 1.20 and wee saw that there was a great deale of water in it, so that the ballast was couered ouer with water, but that it was frozen, and so might not bee pumpt out. The eleuenth, it was indifferent wea∣ther, the Wind North-west. The same day we made a round thing of Cable yarne, and like to a [ 10] Net, to catch Foxes withall, that wee might get them into the House,* 1.21 and it was made like a Trap, which fell vpon the Foxes as they came vnder it, and that day we caught one.

The twelfth, the Wind blew East, with a little light: that day wee began to share our Wine, euery man had two Glasses a day, but commonly our Drinke was water,* 1.22 which we melted out of Snow, which we gathered without the House. The thirteenth, it was foule weather, with great Snow, the Wind East. The fourteenth, it was faire cleere weather, with a cleere Skie full of Starres, and an East-wind. The fifteenth, it was darke weather, the Wind North-east, with a vading light. The sixteenth, it was weather with a temperate Ayre, and an East-wind. The seuenteenth, it was darke weather, and a close Ayre, the Wind East. The eighteenth, it was foule weather, the wind South-east: then the Master cut vp a packe of course Clothes, and diui∣ded [ 20] it amongst our men that needed it, therewith to defend vs better from the cold. The nine∣teenth, it was foule weather, with an East-wind, and then the Chist with Linnen was opened, and diuided amongst the men for shift, for they had need of them, for then our onely care was to find all the meanes we could to defend our bodie from the cold. The twentieth, it was faire still weather, the Wind Easterly, then wee washt our sheets, but it was so cold, that when wee had washt and wrung them, they presently froze so stiffe, that although wee layed them by a great fire, the side that lay next the fire thawed, but the other side was hard frozen, so that wee should sooner haue torne them in sunder then haue opened them,* 1.23 whereby wee were forced to put them into the seething water againe to thaw them, it was so exceeding cold. The one and twentieth, it was indifferent weather with a North-east wind, then we agreed that euery man [ 30] should take his turne to cleaue Wood, thereby to ease our Cooke, that had more then worke e∣nough to doe twice a day to dresse meate, and to melt Snow for our Drinke, but our Master and the Pilot were exempted from that Worke.

The two and twentieth, the Wind was South-east, it was faire weather, then wee had but seuenteene Cheeses, whereof one we ate amongst vs, and the rest were diuided to euery man one for his portion, which they might eate when he list. The three and twentieth, it was indiffe∣rent good weather, the Wind South-east, and as we perceiued that the Fox vsed to come oftner, and more then they were wont, to take them the better, wee made certaine Trappes of thicke Planckes, whereon wee laid stones, and round about them placed pieces of shards fast in the ground, that they might not digge vnder them, and so got some of the Foxes.* 1.24 The foure and [ 40] twentieth, it was foule weather, and the Wind North-east, and then wee prepared our selues to goe into the Bath, for some of vs were not very well at ease, and so foure of vs went into it, and when we came out, our Surgeon gaue vs a Purgation, which did vs much good, and that day we tooke foure Foxes. The fiue and twentieth▪ it was faire cleere weather, the Wind West; and that day we tooke two Foxes with Springs that we had purposely set vp.

The six and twentieth, it was foule weather, and a great storme with a South-west Wind, and great store of Snow, whereby wee were so closed vp in the House, that wee could not goe out, but were forced to ease our selues within the House. The seuen and twentieth, it was faire cleere weather, the Wind South-west, and then we made more Spinges to get Foxes, for it stood vs vpon to doe it, because they serued vs for meate, as if God had sent them purposely for vs, [ 50] for we had not much meate. The eight and twentieth of Nouember, it was foule stormie wea∣ther, and the Winde blew hard out of the North, and it snew hard, whereby wee were shut vp againe in our House, the Snow lay so closed before the doores.

The nine and twentieth, it was faire cleere weather, and a good Ayre: the Wind Northerly, and we found meanes to open our doore by shoueling away the Snow, whereby wee got one of our doores open, and going out,* 1.25 wee found all our Traps and Springes cleane couered ouer with Snow, which wee made cleane, and set them vp againe to take Foxes: and that day wee tooke one, which as then serued vs not onely for meate,* 1.26 but of the skinnes wee made Caps to weare vpon our heads, wherewith to keepe them warme from the extreame cold. The thirtieth, it [ 60] was faire cleere weather, the Wind West, and six of vs went to the ship, all well prouided of Armes to see how it lay: and when wee went vnder the fore Decke, wee tooke a Foxe aliue in the ship.

The first of December, it was foule weather with a South-west Wind,* 1.27 and great store of Snow, whereby we were once againe stopt vp in the House, and by that meanes there was so

great a smoake in the House, that we could hardly make f••re, and so were forced to lye all day in our Cabins,* 1.28 but the Cooke was forced to make fire to dresse our meate. The second, it was still foule weather, whereby wee were forced to keepe still in the House, and yet wee could hardly sit by the fire, because of the smoake, and therefore stayed still in our Cabins, and then we heated stones,* 1.29 which we put in our Cabins to warme our feet, for that both the cold and the smoake were vnsupportable.

The third, we had the like weather, at which time as we lay in our Cabins, wee might heare the Ice cracke in the Sea, and yet it was at the least halfe a mile from vs, which made a huge noyse, and we were of opinion, that as then the great Hils of Ice which wee had seene in the Sea, in Summer time, brake one from the other, and for that during those two or three dayes, be∣cause [ 10] of the extreame smoake, we made not so much fire as we commonly vsed to doe, it froze so sore within the House, that the Wals and the Roofe thereof were frozen two fingers thick with Ice,* 1.30 and also in our Cabins where we lay all those three dayes, while wee could not goe out: by reason of the foule weather, we set vp the Glasse of twelue houres, and when it was runne out, wee set it vp againe, still watching it lest wee should misse our time. For the cold was so great,* 1.31 that our Clocke was frozen, and might not goe, although we hung more waight on it then before.

The fourth, it was faire cleere weather, the Wind North-east, and then we began euery man by turne to digge open our doores that were closed vp with Snow,* 1.32 for we saw that it would be often to doe, and therefore we agreed to worke by turnes, no man excepted but the Master [ 20] and the Pilot. The fifth, it was faire weather with an East-wind, and then we made our Sprin∣ges cleane againe to take Foxes. The sixt, it was foule weather againe, with an Easterly Wind, and extreame cold, almost not to bee indured, whereupon wee lookt pittifully one vpon the o∣ther, being in great feare, that if the extreamitie of the cold grew to bee more and more, wee should all dye there with cold, for that what fire soeuer we made, it would not warme vs, yea, and our Sacke which is so hot,* 1.33 was frozen very hard, so that when wee were euery man to haue his part, we were forced to melt it in the fire, which wee shared euery second day about halfe a pint for a man, wherewith we were forced to sustayne our selues, and at other times wee dranke water, which agreed not well with the cold, and we needed not to coole it with Snow or Ice, but we were forced to melt it out of the Snow. [ 30]

The seuenth, it was still foule weather, and we had a great storme with a North-east Wind, which brought an extreame cold with it, at which time wee knew not what to doe, and while we sate consulting together, what were best for vs to doe, one of our companions gaue vs coun∣sell to burne some of the Sea-coales that we had brought out of the ship, which would cast a great heate and continue long,* 1.34 and so at Eeuening we made a great fire thereof, which cast a great heat: at which time wee were very carefull to keepe it in: for that the heate beeing so great a comfort vnto vs, we tooke care how to make it continue long: whereupon wee agreed to stop vp all the doores and the Chimney, thereby to keepe in the heate, and so went into our Cabins to sleepe, well comforted with the heate, and so lay a great while talking together; but at last we were ta∣ken with a great swounding and dazeling in our heads,* 1.35 yet some more then other some, which [ 40] we first perceiued by a sicke man, and therefore the lesse able to beare it, and found our selues to be very ill at ease, so that some of vs that were strongest, start out of their Cabins, and first o∣pened the Chimney, and then the doores, but he that opened the doore fell downe in a swound vpon the Snow, which I hearing, as lying in my Cabin next to the doore, start vp, and casting Vinegar in his face, recouered him againe, and so he rose vp: and when the doores were open, we all recouered our healths againe,* 1.36 by reason of the cold Ayre, and so the cold which before had beene so great an Enemy vnto vs, was then the onely reliefe that wee had, otherwise without doubt, we had dyed in a sudden swound, after that the Master, when we were come to our selues againe, gaue euery one of vs a little Wine to comfort our hearts.

The eight, it was foule weather, the winde Northerly, very sharpe and cold, but we durst lay no more coales on, as wee did the day before, for that our misfortune had taught vs, that to [ 50] shunne one danger we should not runne into another. The ninth, it was faire cleare weather, the skie full of Starres, then we set our doore wide open, which before was fast closed vp with Snow, and made our Springes ready to take Foxes. The tenth, it was still faire Star-light wea∣ther, the winde North-east: then wee tooke two Foxes, which were good meate for vs, for as then our victuals began to bee scant, and the cold still increased, whereunto their Skinnes serued vs for a good defence.* 1.37 The eleuenth, it was faire weather, and a cleere ayre but very cold, which hee that felt not would not beleeue, for our Shooes froze as hard as hornes vpon our feete, and within they were white frozen, so that we could not weare our shooes, but were forced to make great Pattents, the vpper part being Sheepe-skinnes, which we put on ouer three or foure payre of Sockes, and so went in them to keepe our feet warme. [ 60]

The twelfth, it was faire cleere weather with a North-west winde, but extreame cold, so that our House walls and Cabbins were frozen a finger thicke;* 1.38 yea, and the Cloathes vpon our backes were white ouer with Frost, and although some of vs were of opinion, that wee should

lay more coles vpon the fire to warme vs, and that we should let the chimney stand open, yet we durst not doe it, fearing the like danger we had escaped. The thirteenth, it was faire cleere wea∣ther, with an East winde: then we tooke another Foxe, and tooke great paines about preparing and dressing of our Springes, with no small trouble,* 1.39 for that if wee stayed too long without the doores, there arose blisters vpon our Faces and our Eares. The fourteenth, it was faire weather, the winde North-east, and the skie full of starres, then we tooke the height of the right shoulder of the Rens, when it was South South-west, and somewhat more Westerly (and then it was at the highest in our Compasse) and it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 20. degrees and 28. minutes, his Declination being 6. degrees and 18. minutes, on the North-side of the line, which Declina∣tion [ 10] being taken out of the height aforesayd, there rested 14. degrees, which being taken out of 90. degrees, then the height of the Pole was 76. degrees.

The fifteenth, it was still faire weather, the winde East: that day wee tooke two Foxes, and saw the Moone rise East South-east, when it was sixe and twentie dayes old, in the signe of Scor∣pio. The sixteenth, it was faire cleere weather, the winde East: at that time wee had no more Wood in the house, but had burnt it all: but round about our house there lay some couered ouer with Snow, which with great paine and labour we were forced to digge out, and so shouell away the Snow, and so brought it into the house, which wee did by turnes, two and two together, wherein we were forced to vse great speed, for wee could not long endure without the House,* 1.40 because of the extreame cold, although we wore the Foxes skinnes about our heads, and double [ 20] apparell vpon our backes.

The seuenteenth, the winde still held North-east, with faire weather and so great Frosts, that wee were of opinion, that if there stood a Barrell full of water without the doore, it would in one night freeze from the top to the bottome. The eighteenth, the winde still held North-east, with faire weather: then seuen of vs went out vnto the Ship to see how it lay, and being vnder the decke, thinking to finde a Foxe there, we sought all the holes but we found none; but when we entred into the Cabbin and had stricken fire to see in what case the ship was, and whether the water rose higher in it, there wee found a Foxe, which we tooke and carryed it home, and eate it, and then we found that in eighteene dayes absence (for it was so long since we had beene there) the water was risen about a finger high, but yet it was all Ice, for it froze as fast as it [ 30] came in, and the vessels which wee had brought with vs full of fresh water out of Holland, were frozen to the ground.

The nineteenth, it was faire weather, the winde being South: then we put each other in good comfort, that the Sunne was then almost halfe ouer, and ready to come to vs againe,* 1.41 which wee sore longed for, it being a weary time for vs to bee without the Sunne, and to want the greatest comfort that God sendeth vnto man heere vpon the earth, and that which rejoyceth euery li∣uing thing. The twentieth, before noone it was faire cleere weather, and then we had taken a Foxe, but towards Eeuening, there rose such a storme in the South-west, with so great a snow, that all the house was inclosed therewith. The one and twentieth, it was faire cleere weather,* 1.42 with a North-east winde, then we made our doore cleane againe, and made a way to goe out, and [ 40] clensed our Traps for the Foxes, which did vs great pleasure when we tooke them, for they see∣med as daintie as Venison vnto vs. The two and twentieth, it was foule weather, with great store of snow, the winde South-west, which stopt vp our doore againe, and wee were forced to digge it open againe, which was almost euery day to doe. The three and twentieth, it was foule weather, the wind South-west, with great store of snow, but wee were in good comfort that the Sunne would come againe to vs, for as we ghest, that day hee was in Tropicus Capricorni,* 1.43 which is the furthest Signe that the Sunne passeth on the South-side of the line, and from thence it turneth Northward againe. The foure and twentieth, being Christmasse Eeuen, it was faire weather, then wee opened our doore againe, and saw much open water in the Sea: for we had heard the Ice cracke and driue: although it was not day, yet we could see so farre. Towards [ 50] Eeuening it blew hard out of the North-east, with great store of Snow, so that all the passage that wee had made open before, was stopt vp againe. The fiue and twentieth,* 1.44 being Christmasse day, it was foule weather, with a North-west winde, and yet though it was foule weather, we heard the Foxes runne ouer our House, wherewith some of our men sayd, it was an ill signe;* 1.45 and while we sate disputing why it should bee an ill signe, some of our men made answer, that it was an ill signe because wee could not take them, to put them into the Pot or roast them, for that had beene a very good signe for vs.

The sixe and twentieth, it was foule weather, the winde North-west, and it was so cold that we could not warme vs, although wee vsed all the meanes we could with great fires,* 1.46 good store of cloathes, and with hot stones and billets, layd vpon our feete and vpon our bodies, as we lay [ 60] in our Cabbins; but notwithstanding all this, in the morning our Cabbins were frozen, which made vs behold one the other with sad countenance, but yet wee comforted our selues againe as well as we could, that the Sunne was then as low as it could goe, and that it now began to come to vs againe, and we found it to bee true: for that the Dayes beginning to lengthen, the Cold began to strengthen, but hope put vs in good comfort, and eased our paine. The seuen and twentieth, it

was still foule weather, with a North-west wind, so that as then wee had not beene out in three dayes together, nor durst not thrust our heads out of doores, and within the house it was so ex∣treame cold,* 1.47 that as we sate before a great Fire, and seemed to burne on the fore-side, we froze behind at our backes, and were all white as the Countrey-men vse to bee, when they come in at the gates of the Towne in Holland with their Sleds, and haue gone all night.

The eight and twentieth, it was still foule weather with a West wind, but about Eeuening it began to cleere vp, at which time one of our men made a hole open at one of our doores, and went out to see what newes abroad,* 1.48 but found it so hard weather that hee stayed not long, and told vs that it had snowed so much, that the Snow lay higher then our house, and that if he had stayed out longer, his eares would vndoubtedly haue beene frozen off. The nine and twentieth, [ 10] it was calme weather, and a pleasant ayre, the wind being Southward: that day, he, whose turne it was, opened the doore, and digged a hole through the Snow, where we went out of the house vpon steps,* 1.49 as if it had beene out of a Celler, at least seuen or eight steps high, each step a foote from the other, and then we made cleane our Springes for the Foxes, whereof for certaine dayes we had not taken any: and as we made them cleane, one of our men found a dead Foxe in one of them, that was frozen as hard as a stone, which he brought into the house, and thawed it before the fire, and after flaying it, some of our men eate it. The thirtieth, it was foule weather againe, with a storme out of the West, and great store of Snow, so that all the labour and paine that we had taken the day before to make steps to goe out of our house, and to clense our Springes, was all in vaine, for it was all couered ouer with Snow againe, higher then it was before. The one and [ 20] thirtieth, it was still foule weather, with a storme out of the North-west, whereby we were so fast shut vp into the house, as if wee had beene prisoners, and it was so extreame cold, that the fire almost cast no heate:* 1.50 for as we put our feet to the fire, we burnt our hose before we could feele the heate, so that we had worke enough to doe to patch our hose: and which is more, if we had not sooner smelt, then felt them, we should haue burnt them ere we had knowne it.

After that with great cold, danger, and disease, wee had brought this yeere vnto an end, we entred into the yeere of our Lord God 1597. the beginning whereof, was in the same man∣ner as the end of Anno 1596. had beene,* 1.51 for the weather continued as cold, foule, and Snowie,* 1.52 as it was before, so that vpon the first of Ianuary wee were inclosed in the House, the winde then being West: at the same time wee agreed to share our Wine euery man a [ 30] small measure full, and that but once in two dayes: and as we were in great care and feare that it would bee long before we should get out from thence, (and we hauing but small hope therein) some of vs spared to drinke wine as long as we could, that if we should stay long there, we might drinke it at our need. The second, it blew hard with a West wind, and a great storme with both Snow and Frost, so that in foure or fiue dayes, we durst not put our heads out of the doores, and as then by reason of the great cold, we had almost burne all our Wood; notwithstanding, we durst not goe out to fetch more wood, because it froze so hard, and there was no being without the doore, but seeking about we found some peeces of wood that lay ouer the doore, which we cloue, and withall cloue the blockes whereon we vsed to beate our Stock-fish, and so holpe our selues so well as we could. The third, it was all one weather, and we had little wood to burne. The [ 40] fourth, it was still foule stormie weather, with much Snow and great cold, the winde South-west,* 1.53 and we were forced to keepe in the house: and to know where the wind blew, we thrust a halfe-pike out at the Chimney with a little cloath or feather vpon it, but as soone as wee thrust it out, it was presently frozen as hard as a peece of wood, and could not goe about nor stirre with the wind.

The fifth, it was somewhat still and calme weather: then wee digged our doore open againe, that we might goe out, and carrie out all the filth that had beene made, during the time of our be∣ing shut in the house; and made euery thing handsome, and fetched in Wood which we cleft, and it was all our dayes worke to further our selues as much as we could, fearing least we should be shut vp againe: and as there were three doores in our portall, and for that our house lay coue∣red [ 50] ouer in Snow, wee tooke the middle doore thereof away, and digged a great hole in the snow, that lay without the house, like to a side of a vault, wherein we might goe to ease our selues, and cast other filth into it: and when we had taken paines all day, we remembred our selues that it was Twelfth Eeuen, and then we prayed our Master that we might be merrie that night, and sayd, that we were content to spend some of the Wine that night which we had spa∣red,* 1.54 and which was our share euery second day, and whereof for certayne dayes wee had not drunke, and so that night we made merrie, and drunke to the three Kings, and therewith we had two pound of Meale, whereof wee made pan-cakes with Oyle, and euery man a white Bisket, which we sopt in Wine: and so supposing that we were in our owne Countrey, and amongst our friends,* 1.55 it comforted vs as well as if we had made a great banquet in our owne house: and we al∣so [ 60] made tickets, and our Gunner was King of Noua Zembla, which is at least two hundred miles long, and lyeth betweene two Seas.

The sixt, it was faire weather, the wind North-east, then wee went out and cleansed our Traps to take Foxes, which were our Venison, and we digged a hole in the Snow, where our fire∣wood

lay, and left it close aboue like a vault; and from thence fetched out our Wood as we nee∣ded it. The seuenth, it was foule weather againe, with a North-west wind, and some Snow, and very cold, which put vs in great feare to be shut vp in the house againe. The eight, it was faire weather againe, the wind North: then wee made our Springes ready to get more Veni∣son: which wee longed for, and then wee might see and marke day-light,* 1.56 which then began to encrease, that the Sunne as then began to come towards vs againe, which put vs in no little comfort.

The ninth, it was foule weather, with a North-west wind, but not so hard weather as it had beene before, so that we might goe out of the doore to make cleane our Springes. The tenth, it was faire weather with a North wind: then seuen of vs went to our ship well armed, which [ 10] we found in the same state wee left it in, and in it wee saw many footsteps of Beares,* 1.57 both great and small, whereby it seemed that there had beene more then one or two Beares therein; and as we went vnder hatches, we strooke fire, and lighted a Candle, and found that the water was risen a foot higher in the ship. The eleuenth, it was faire weather, the wind North-east, and the cold began to be somewhat lesse, so that as then we were bold to goe out of the doores, and went about a quarter of a mile to a Hill, from thence we fetched certaine stones, which we layd in the fire, therewith to warme vs in our Cabins.

The twelfth, it was cleare weather, the wind North-west: that euening it was very cleare, and the skie full of Starres, then wee tooke the height of Oculus Tauri,* 1.58 which is a bright and well knowne Starre, and we found it to be eleuated aboue the Horizon 29. degrees and 54. mi∣nutes, [ 20] her declination being 15. degrees 54. minutes on the North side of the Line. This decli∣nation being subtracted from the height aforesaid, then there rested 14. degrees, which subtra∣cted from 90. degrees, then the height of the Pole was 76. degrees, and so by measuring the height of that Starre, and some others, wee ghessed that the Sunne was in the like height, and that we were there vnder 76. degrees, and rather higher then lower.

The thirteenth, it was faire still weather, the wind Westerly, and then wee perceiued that day-light began more and more to encrease, and we went out and cast Bullets at the bale of the Flag-staffe, which before we could not see when it turned about. The fourteenth, it was faire weather and a cleare light, the wind Westerly, and that day we tooke a Foxe. The fifteenth, it was faire cleere weather, with a West wind, and sixe of vs went aboord the ship, where wee [ 30] found the Bolck-vanger (which the last time that we were in the ship, wee flucke in a hole in the fore decke, to take Foxes) pulled out of the hole, and lay in the middle of the ship, and all torne in pieces by the Beares, as we perceiued by their footsteps.

The sixteenth, it was faire weather, the wind Northerly, and then we went now and then out of the house to stretch out our ioynts and our limbs with going and running, that we might not become lame, and about noone time we saw a certaine rednesse in the skie,* 1.59 as a shew or mes∣senger of the Sunne that began to come towards vs. The seuenteenth, it was cleare weather with a North wind, and then still more and more wee perceiued that the Sunne began to come neerer vnto vs, for the day was somewhat warmer, so that when we had a good fire, there fell great pieces of Ice downe from the walls of our house, and the Ice melted in our Cabins,* 1.60 and the [ 40] water dropped downe, which was not so before, how great soeuer our fire was; but that night it was cold againe.

The eighteenth, it was faire cleare weather, with a South-east wind, then our Wood began to consume, and so we agreed to burne some of our Sea-coles, and not to stop vp the Chimney, and then we should not need to feare any hurt, which we did, and found no disease thereby, but we thought it better for vs to keepe the Coles, and to burne our Wood more sparingly, for that the Coles would serue vs better when we should sayle home in our open Scute.

The one and twentieth, it was faire weather, with a West wind: at that time taking of Foxes began to fayle vs, which was a signe that the Beares would come againe, as not long af∣ter we found it to be true, for as long as the Beares stay away, the Foxes came abroad, and not [ 50] much before the Beares come abroad, the Foxes were but little seene.

The two and twentieth, it was faire weather with a West wind: then we went out againe to cast the Bullet, and perceiued that day-light began to appeare, whereby some of vs said, that the Sunne would soone appeare vnto vs, but William Barents to the contrary said, that it was yet two weekes too soone. The three and twentieth, it was faire calme weather, with a South-west wind: then foure of vs went to the ship, and comforted each other, giuing God thankes that the hardest time of the Winter was past, being in good hope that we should liue to talke of those things at home in our owne Countrey: and when we were in the ship, we found that the water rose higher and higher in it, and so each of vs taking a Bisket or two with vs, wee went home againe.

[ 60] The foure and twentieth, it was faire cleare weather, with a West wind: then I, and Iacob Heemskerke, and another with vs went to the Sea-side, on the South side of Noua Zembla, where contrary to our expectation, I first saw the edge of the Sunne,* 1.61 wherewith wee went speedily home againe, to tell William Barents, and the rest of our companions that ioyfull newes: but

William Barents being a wise and well experienced Pilot, would not beleeue it, esteeming it to be about fourteene dayes to soone for the Sunne to shine in that part of the World; but we ear∣nestly affirmed the contrarie, and said, that we had seene the Sunne.

The fiue and twentieth, and sixe and twentieth, it was misty, and close weather, so that wee could not see any thing: then they that layed the contrary wager with vs, thought that they had won: but vpon the seuen and twentieth day it was cleare weather, and then wee saw the Sunne in his full roundnesse aboue the Horizon,* 1.62 whereby it manifestly appeared that wee had seene it vpon the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary. And as we were of diuers opinions tou∣ching the same,* 1.63 and that wee said, it was cleane contrary to the opinions of all old and new Writers; yea, and contrary to the nature and roundnesse both of Heauen and Earth; some of vs [ 10] said, that seeing in long time there had beene no day, that it might be that we had ouerslept our selues, whereof we were better assured: but concerning the thing in it selfe, seeing God is won∣derfull in all his workes, we will referre that to his almightie power, and leaue it vnto others to dispute of, but for that no man shall thinke vs to be in doubt thereof, if wee should let this passe without discoursing vpon it, therefore we will make some declaration thereof, whereby we may assure our selues that we kept good reckoning.

You must vnderstand, that when we first saw the Sun, it was in the fift degr. and 25. min. of Aquarius, and it should haue staid according to our first ghessing, till it had entred into the 16. deg. and 27. min. of Aquarius, before he should haue shewed there vnto vs, in the height of 76. deg. Which we striuing and contending about it amongst our selues, could not be satisfied, but won∣dred [ 20] thereat, and some amongst vs were of opinion, that we had mistaken our selues, which ne∣uerthelesse we could not be perswaded vnto, for that euery day without sayle, wee noted what had past, and also had vsed our Clocke continually, and when that was frozen, wee vsed our Houre-glasse of twelue houres long, whereupon wee argued with our selues, in diuers wise, to know how we should finde out that difference, and leaue the trueth of the time, which to trie, wee agreed to looke into the Ephemerid••s made by Iosephus Sch••la, Printed in Venice, for the yeeres of our Lord 1589. till A. 1600. and we found therein, that vpon the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary, (when the Sun first appeared vnto vs) that at Venice the Clocke being one in the night time, the Moone and Iupiter were in coniunction, whereupon we sought to know when the same coniunction should be ouer or about the house where wee then were, and at last wee [ 30] found that the foure and twentieth day of Ianuary was the same day whereon the coniunction aforesaid happened in Venice,* 1.64 at one of the clocke in the night, and with vs in the morning, when the Sunne was in the East: for we saw manifestly that the two Planets aforesaid approa∣ched neere vnto each other, vntill such time as the Moone and Iupiter stood one iust ouer the other, both in the signe of Taurus, and that was at sixe of the clocke in the morning, at which time the Moone and Iupiter were found by our Compasse, to be in coniunction ouer our house, in the North and by East-point, and the South part of the Compasse was South South-west, and there we had it right South, the Moone being eight dayes old, whereby it appeareth, that the Sunne and the Moone were eight points different, and this was about sixe of the clocke in the morning: this place differeth from Venice fiue houres in longitude, whereby we may ghesse how [ 40] much we were neerer East then the Citie of Venice, which was fiue houres, each houre being 15. degrees, which is in all 75. degrees, that we were more Easterly then Venice, by all which it is manifestly to be seene, that wee had not fayled in our account, and that also wee had found our right longitude, by the two Planets aforesaid, for the Towne of Venice lieth vnder 37. degrees and 25. minutes in longitude, and her declination is 46. degrees and 5. minutes, whereby it fol∣loweth that our place of Noua Zembla, lieth vnder 112. degrees and 25. minutes in longitude, and the height of the Pole 76. degrees, and so you haue the right longitude and latitude, but from the vttermost point of Noua Zembla to the point of Cape de Tabin, the vttermost point of Tarta••ia, where it windeth Southward, the longitude differeth 60. degrees; but you must vn∣derstand,* 1.65 that the degrees are not so great as they are vnder the Equinoctiall Line, for right vn∣der [ 50] the Line a degree is fifteene miles, but when you leaue the Line, either Northward or South∣ward, then the degrees in longitude doe lessen, so that the neerer that a man is to the North or South Pole, so much the degrees are lesse: so that vnder the 76. degrees Northward, where we wintred, the degrees are but three miles and two third parts; whereby it is to be marked, that we had but 60. degrees to saile to the said Cape de Tabin, which is, 220. miles, so the said Cape lieth in 172. degrees in longitude as it is thought: and being aboue it, it seemeth that we should be in the Streight of Anian, where we may sayle boldly into the South, as the Land reacheth. Now what further instructions are to be had to know, where wee lost the Sunne vnder the said 76. degrees vpon the fourth of Nouember, and saw it againe vpon the foure and twentieth of Ianuary: I leaue that to be described, by such as make profession thereof, it sufficeth vs to haue [ 60] shewed, that it failed vs not to appeare at the ordinary time.

The fiue and twentieth of Ianuary, it was darke cloudy weather, the wind Westerly, so that the seeing of the Sunne the day before,* 1.66 was againe doubted of, and then many wagers were layd, and we still looked out to see if the Sunne appeared, the same day we saw a Beare, (which

as long as the Sunne appeared not vnto vs we saw not) comming out of the South-west towards our house, but when we shouted at her she came no neerer, but went away again. The six & twen¦tieth, it was faire cleare weather, but in the Horizon there hung a white or darke cloude, where∣by we could not see the Sunne, vvhereupon the rest of our companions, thought that we had mistaken our selues vpon the foure and twentieth day, and that the Sunne appeared not vnto vs, and mocked vs, but vve were resolute in our former affirmation, that vve had seene the Sunne, but not in the full roundnesse: That Eeuening the Sicke man that was amongst vs,* 1.67 was very vveake, and felt himselfe to bee extreame sicke, for he had layne long time, and vve comforted him as well as vve might, and gaue him the best admonition that vve could, but hee dyed not [ 10] long after midnight.

The twentie seuen it was faire cleare weather, with a South-west wind, then in the morning we digged a hole in the snow hard by the house, but it was still so extreame cold, that we could not stay long at worke, and so wee digged by turnes, euery man a little while, and then went to the fire, and another went and supplied his place, till at last wee digged seuen foot depth where wee went to burie the dead man, after that when we had read certaine Chapters, and sung some Psalmes, wee all went out and buried the man, which done we went in and brake our fasts, and while we were at meate, and discoursed amongst our selues, touching the great quantitie of snow that continually fell in that place, wee said that if it fell out, that our house should bee closed vp againe with snow, wee would finde the meanes to climbe out at the chimney, whereupon our [ 20] Master went to trie if hee could climbe vp through the chimney, and so get out, and while hee was climbing one of our men went forth of the doore, to see if the Master were out or not, who standing vpon the snow, saw the Sunne, and called vs all out, wherewith we all went forth,* 1.68 and saw the Sun in his full roundnesse, a little aboue the Horizon, and then it was without all doubt, that wee had seene the Sunne vpon the foure and twentieth of Ianuary, which made vs all glad, and we gaue God heartie thankes, for his grace shewed vnto vs, that that glorious light appeared vnto vs againe.

The eight and twentieth, it was faire weather, with a West wind, then we went out many times to exercise our selues, by going, running, casting of the ball, (for then we might see a good way from vs) and to refresh our ioynts, for wee had long time sitten dull, whereby many of vs [ 30] were very loose. The nine and twentieth, it was foule weather, with great store of snow, the wind North-west, whereby the house was closed vp againe with snow. The thirtieth, it was darke weather, with an East wind; and we made a hole through the doore, but wee shoueled not the snow very farre from the portall, for that as soone as we saw what weather it was, wee had no desire to goe abroad. The one and thirtieth, it was faire calme weather, with an East wind, then we made the doore cleane, and shoueled away the snow, and threw it vpon the house, and went out, and wee saw the Sunne shine cleere, which comforted vs, meane time we saw a Beare,* 1.69 that came towards our house, but wee went softly in, and watched for her till shee came neerer, and as soone as she was hard by we shot at her, but she ran away againe.

The first of February, being Candlemasse Eeue, it was boisterous weather, with a great storme, [ 40] and good store of snow, whereby the house was closed vp againe with snow,* 1.70 and we were con∣strained to stay within doors, the wind then being north-west. The second it was foule weather, and as then the Sunne had not rid vs of all the foule weather, whereby wee were somewhat dis∣comforted, for that being in good hope of better weather wee had not made so great prouision of wood as we did before. The third, it was faire weather, with an East wind, but very mystie, whereby wee could not see the Sunne, which made vs somewhat melancholy, to see so great a myst, and rather more then we had had in the Winter time, and then we digged our doore open againe, and fetched the wood that lay without about the doore into the house, which we were forced with great paine and labour to dig out of the snow. The fourth, it was foule weather, with great store of snow, the wind being South-west, and then wee were close vp againe with snow, but then wee tooke not so much paines as we did before, to dig open the doore, but when we had [ 50] occasion to goe out we climbed out at the chimney, and eased our selues, and went in againe the same way.

The fifth, it was still foule weather, the wind being East, with great store of snow, whereby wee were shut vp againe into the house, and had no other way to get out but by the chimney,* 1.71 and those that could not climbe out, were faine to helpe themselues within as wel as they could. The sixth, it was still foule stormy weather, with store of snow, and we still went out at the chim∣ney, (and troubled not our selues with the doore,) for some of vs made it an easie matter to climbe out at the chimney. The seuenth, it was still foule weather, with much snow, and a South-west wind, and we thereby forced to keep the house, which grieued vs more then when the Sun shined not, for that hauing seene it, and felt the heate thereof, yet wee were forced not to inioy it. The [ 60] eight, it began to be fairer weather, the wind being South-west, then wee saw the Sun rise South, South-east, and went downe South South-west, by the Compasse that we had made of Lead, and placed according to the Meridian of that place, but by our common Compasse it differed two points. The ninth, it was faire cleere weather, the wind South-west, but as then wee could not

see the Sunne, because it was close weather in the South, where the Sunne should goe downe. The tenth,* 1.72 it was faire cleare weather, so that wee could not tell where the wind blew, and then we began to feele some heat of the Sun, but in the Eeuening it began to blow somewhat cold out of the west.

The eleuenth, it was faire weather, the wind South, that day about noone, there came a Beare towards our house, and wee watched her with our Muskets, but shee came not so neere as wee could reach her, the same night wee heard some Foxes stirring, which since the Beares began to come abroad againe we had not much seene. The twelfth, it was cleere weather and very calme, the winde South-west, then we made our Traps cleane againe, meane-time there came a great Beare towards our house, which made vs all goe in, and wee leuelled at her with our Muskets, and as shee came right before our doore, we shot her into the brest, cleane through the heart, the [ 10] bullet passing through her body, and went out againe at her tayle, and was as flatte as a Counter, the Beare feeling the blow,* 1.73 leapt backwards, and ranne twentie or thirtie foot from the house, and there lay downe, wherewith wee leapt all out of the house, and ranne to her, and found her still aliue, and when she saw vs, shee rear'd vp her head, as if she would gladly haue done vs some mis∣chiefe, but we trusted her not, for that we had tryed their strength sufficiently before, and there∣fore wee shot her twice into the body againe,* 1.74 and therewith shee dyed? Then we ript vp her belly, and taking out her guttes, drew her home to the House where we slayed her, and tooke at least one hundred pound of fat out of her belly, which wee molt and burned in our Lampe. This Grease did vs great good seruice, for by that meanes we still kept a Lampe burning all night [ 20] long, which before wee could not doe, for want of Grease, and euery man had meanes to burne a Lampe in his Cabbin, for such necessaries as hee had to doe. The Beares skinne vvas nine foot long, and seuen foot broad.

The thirteenth, it was faire cleere vveather with a hard West winde, at whith time we had more light in our house by burning of Lampes, whereby we had meanes to passe the time away, by reading and other exercises, which before (when we could not distinguish Day from Night, by reason of the darkenesse, and had not Lamps continually burning) vvee could not doe. The foureteenth, it was faire cleere weather, with a hard West wind before noone, but after noone, it was still weather, then fiue of vs went to the Ship to see how it lay, and found the water to increase in it, but not much. The fifteenth, it was foule weather, with a great storme out of the [ 30] South-west, with great store of Snow, whereby the House was closed vp againe, that Night the Foxes came to de••oure the dead body of the Beare, vvhereby we were in great feare, that all the Beares thereabouts would come thither, and therefore wee agreed, as soone as we could to get out of the house to burie the dead Beare deepe vnder the Snow.

The sixteenth of February, it was foule weather, with great store of Snow and a South-west vvind, that day was Shroue-tuesday, then wee made our selues somewhat merrie in our great griefe and trouble, and euery one of vs dranke a draught of Wine.

The nineteenth, it vvas faire cleere vveather, vvith a South-west winde, then we tooke the height of the Sunne, vvhich in long time before vvee could not doe, because the Horizon vvas not cleere; as also for that it mounted not so high, nor gaue not so much shadow, as vve vvere to [ 40] haue in our Astrolabium, and therefore vve made an Instrument that was halfe round, at the one end hauing 90. degrees marked thereon, vvhereon we hung a thread vvith a Plumet of Lead, as the vvater Compasses haue, and therewith vve tooke the height of the Sunne, when it was at the highest, and found that it vvas 3. degrees eleuated aboue the Horizon, his Declination 11. degrees and 16. minutes, which being added to the height aforesayd, made 14. degrees and 16. minutes, vvhich substracted from 90. degrees, there rested 75. degrees and 44. minutes for the height of the Pole, but the aforesayd 3. degrees of height, being taken at the lowest side of the Sunne, the 16. minutes might well be added to the height of the Pole, and so it was iust 76. de∣grees, as we had measured it before. The twentieth, it was foule weather, with great store of Snow, the vvind South-west, vvhereby vve vvere shut vp againe in the house. [ 50]

The two and twentieth, it vvas cleere faire vveather, vvith a South-west vvind, then vve made ready a Sled to fetch more Wood, for need compelled vs thereunto; for as they say, hunger driueth the Wolfe out of his denne, and eleuen of vs went together, all well appointed with our Armes, but comming to the place where we should haue the Wood, we could not come by it, by reason it lay so deepe vnder the Snow, whereby of necessitie we were compelled to goe further, where with great labour and trouble we got some: but as vve returned backe againe therewith, it was so sore labour vnto vs, that we were almost out of comfort, for that by reason of the long cold and trouble that we had indured, vve vvere become so vveake and feeble, that vve had lit∣tle strength, and we began to bee in doubt, that we should not recouer our strengths againe, and should not be able to fetch any more Wood, and so we should haue dyed with cold, but the pre∣sent necessitie and the hope wee had of better weather, increased our forces, and made vs doe [ 60] more then our strengths afforded, and when we came neere to our house, we saw much open vvater in the Sea, which in long time we had not seene, which also put vs in good comfort, that things would bee better.

The fiue and twentieth, it was foule weather againe, and much Snow, with a North winde, whereby we were closed vp with Snow againe, and could not get out of our House.

The eight and twentieth of February, it was still weather, with a South-west wind, then ten of vs went and fetched another Sled full of Wood, with no lesse paine and labour then wee did before, for one of our companions could not helpe vs, because that the first joynt of one of his great Toes was frozen off, and so hee could doe nothing.

The first of March, it was faire still weather, the wind West but very cold, and we were forced to spare our Wood, because it was so great labour for vs to fetch it, so that when it was day,* 1.75 we exercised our selues as much as we might, with running, going, and leaping, and to them that [ 10] lay in their Cabins, wee gaue hot stones to warme them, and towards night we made a good fire, which we were forced to endure. The second, it was cold cleere weather, with a West wind, the same day we tooke the height of the Sunne, and found that it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 6. degrees and 48. minutes, and his Declination was 7. degrees and 12. minutes, which substracted from 90. degrees, resteth 76. degrees for the height of the Pole. The third, it was faire weather with a West wind, at which time our Sicke men were somewhat better, and sate vpright in their Cabins, to doe some thing to passe the time away, but after they found that they were too ready to stirre before their times. The fourth, it was faire weather, with a West wind, the same day there came a Beare to our House, whom we watcht with our Pieces, as wee did be∣fore, and shot at her, and hit her, but shee runne away, at that time fiue of vs went to our Ship, where we found that the Beares had made worke, and had opened our Cookes cupbord, that was [ 20] couered ouer with snow, thinking to finde some thing in it, and had drawne it out of the Ship where we found it.

The seuenth, it was still foule weather and as great a winde, so that wee were shut vp in our House, and they that would goe out, must climbe vp through the Chimney,* 1.76 which was a com∣mon thing with vs, and still we saw more open water in the Sea, and about the Land, whereby wee were in doubt that the Ship in that foule weather, and driuing of the Ice, would bee loose (for as then the Ice draue) while we were shut vp in our House, and wee should haue no meanes to helpe it. The eight, it was still foule vveather, with a South-west storme, and great store of Snow, whereby vve could see no Ice in the North-east, nor round about in the Sea, whereby vve [ 30] were of opinion, that North-east from vs there was a great Sea. The ninth, it was foule vvea∣ther, but not so foule as the day before, and lesse snow, and then vve could see further from vs, and perceiue that the vvater vvas open in the North-east, but not from vs towards Tartaria, for there vve could still see Ice in the Tartarian Sea, otherwise called the Ice Sea, so that vve vvere of opinion, that there it was not very wide, for vvhen it was cleere vveather, vve thought many times that wee saw the Land and shewed it to our companions, South and South-east from our house, like a hilly Land, as land commonly showeth it selfe, when we see it.

The eleuenth, it was cold, but faire Sun-shine vveather, the vvind North-east, then we tooke the height of the Sunne vvith our Astrolabium, and found it to bee eleuated aboue the Horizon 10. degrees and 19. minutes, his Declination was 3. degrees and 41. minutes, which being added [ 40] to the height aforesayd, made 14. degrees, which substracted from 90. degrees, there resteth 76. degrees for the height of the Pole. Then twelue of vs went to the place where wee vsed to goe, to fetch a Sled of Wood, but still vve had more paine and labour therewith, because we were vveaker, and when we came home vvith it, and were very vvearie, we prayed the Master to giue each of vs a draught of Wine, which hee did, vvherewith we were somewhat releeued and com∣forted, and after that were the willinger to labour, vvhich vvas vnsupportable for vs, if meere extremitie had not compelled vs thereunto, saying oftentimes one vnto the other, That if the Wood vvere to be bought for Money, we would giue all our Earnings or Wages for it.

The twelfth, it was foule weather, the Winde North-east, then the Ice came migh∣tily driuing in, which the South-west Wind had beene driuen out, and it was then as cold, as it [ 50] had bin before in the coldest time of Winter.

The fifteenth, it was faire vveather, the Wind North, that day wee opened our doore to goe out, but the cold rather increased then diminished, and was bitterer then before it had beene.

The sixteenth, it vvas faire cleere weather, but extreame cold with a North Wind, which put vs to great extreamitie, for that vve had almost taken our leaues of the cold, and then it be∣gan to come againe. This continued till the one and twentieth.

The one and twentieth, it vvas faire weather, but still very cold, the Wind North, the same day the Sunne entred into Aries in the Equinoctiall Line, and at noone vvee tooke the height of the Sunne, and found it to be eleuated 14. degrees aboue the Horizon, but for that the Sunne [ 60] was in the middle Line, and of the like distance from both the Tropickes,* 1.77 there was no decli∣nation, neither on the South nor North side, and so the 14. degrees aforesayd being substracted from 90. degrees, there rested 76. degrees for the height of the Pole. The same day,* 1.78 we made shooes of Felt or Rugge, which we drew vpon our feete, for vve could not goe in our shooes, by reason of the great cold, for the shooes on our feet vvere as hard as hornes, and then vve fetcht a

Sled full of Wood home to our house, with sore and extreame labour, and with extremitie of cold which we indured, as if March meant to bid vs farewell, for our hope and comfort was, that the cold could not still continue in that force, but that at length the strength thereof would bee broken.

The three and twentieth, it was very foule weather, with infernall bitter cold, the wind North-east, so that we were forced to make more fire, as we had beene at other times, for then it was as cold as euer it had beene, and it froze very hard in the floore and vpon the walls of our house. The foure and twentieth, it was alike cold, with great store of snow, and a North wind, whereby we were once againe shut vp into the house, and then the Coles serued vs well, which before by reason of our bad vsing of them, we disliked of. The sixe and twentieth, it was faire [ 10] cleare weather, and very calme, then we digd our selues out of the house again, and went out, and then we fetcht another Sled of Wood, for the great cold had made vs burne vp all that we had.

The eight and twentieth, it was faire weather, the wind South-west, whereby the Ice draue away very fast. The same day, sixe of vs went aboord the ship to see how it lay, and found it still in one sort; but we perceiued that the Beares had kept an euill fauoured house therein.

* 1.79The second of Aprill, it was faire weather, the wind North-east and very calme, then wee tooke the height of the Sunne, and found it to be eleuated aboue the Horizon 18. degrees and 40. minutes, his declination being 4. degrees and 40. minutes, which being substracted from the height aforesaid, there rested 14. degrees, which taken from 90. degrees, the height of the Pole was 76. degrees. [ 20]

The sixt, it was still foule weather, with a stiffe North-west wind, that night there came a Beare to our house,* 1.80 and we did the best we could to shoot at her, but because it was moist wea∣ther, and the cocke foisty, our Peece would not giue fire, wherewith the Beare came boldly to∣ward the house, and came downe the staires close to the doore, seeking to breake into the house, but our Master held the doore fast to, and being in great haste and feare, could not barre it with the piece of Wood that wee vsed thereunto; but the Beare seeing that the doore was shut, shee went backe againe, and within two houres after shee came againe, and went round about and vpon the top of the house, and made such a roaring, that it was fearefull to heare, and at last got to the chimney, and made such worke there, that wee thought shee would haue broken it downe, and tore the sayle that was made fast about it in many pieces, with a great and fearefull [ 30] noise, but for that it was night, we made no resistance against her, because wee could not see her, at last she went away and left vs.

The fourteenth, it was faire cleare weather, with a West wind, then we saw greater hills of Ice round about the ship, then ouer we had seene before, which was a fearefull thing to behold, and much to be wondred at, that the ship was not smitten in pieces. The fifteenth, it was faire calme weather with a North wind, then seuen of vs went aboord the ship, to see in what case it was, and found it to be all in one sort, and as wee came backe againe, there came a great Beare toward vs, against whom we began to make defence, but she perceiuing that, made away from vs, and we went to the place from whence shee came to see her Den,* 1.81 where we found a great hole made in the Ice, about a mans length in depth, the entrie thereof being very narrow, and with∣in [ 40] wide, there we thrust in our Pikes to feele if there was any thing within it, but perceiuing it was empty, one of our men crept into it, but not too farre, for it was fearefull to behold, after that we went along by the Sea-side, and there we saw, that in the end of March, and the be∣ginning of Aprill, the Ice was in such wonderful manner risen and piled vp one vpon the other, that it was wonderfull, in such manner as if there had beene whole Townes made of Ice, with Towres and Bulwarkes round about them.

The sixteenth, it was foule weather, the wind North-west, whereby the Ice began some∣what to breake. The seuenteenth, it was faire cleare weather, with a South-west wind, and then seuen of vs went to the ship, and there we saw open water in the Sea, and then wee went ouer the Ice-hills as well as we could, to the water, for in sixe or seuen moneths we had not gone [ 50] so neere vnto it, and when we got to the water, there we saw a little bird swimming therein, but as soone as it espied vs, it diued vnder the water, which we tooke for a signe, that there was more open water in the Sea then there had beene before, and that the time approached that the water would open.

The eighteenth of Aprill, it was faire weather, the wind South-west, then wee tooke the height of the Sunne, and it was eleuated aboue the Horizon 25. degrees and 10. minutes, his declination 11. degrees and 12. minutes, which being taken from the height aforesaid, there rested 13. degrees and 58. minutes, which substracted from 90. degrees, the height of the Pole was found to be 75. degrees 58. minutes; then eleuen of vs went with a Sled to fetch more Wood, and brought it to the house, in the night there came another Beare vpon our house, which [ 60] we hearing, went all out with our Armes, but the Beare ran away.

The eight and twentieth, it was faire weather, with a North wind, then we tooke the height of the Sunne againe, and found it to bee eleuateed 28. degrees and 8. minutes, his declination 14. degrees and 8. minutes, which substracted from 90. degrees, there rested 76. degrees for the

height of the Pole. The nine and twentieth, it was faire weather, with a South-west wind, then we played at Colfe, both to the ship, and from thence againe homewards, to exercise our selues. The thirtieth, it was faire weather, the wind South-west, then in the night wee could see the Sunne in the North (when it was in the highest) iust aboue the Horizon, so that from that time wee saw the Sunne both night and day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  May-pole of Snow.
• * 1.2

  Extreme Snow
• * 1.3

  Hence it may seeme, that the course of the Tides and Sea is from the North.
• * 1.4

  Beere melted▪
• * 1.5

  Sea couered with Ice.
• * 1.6

  Beare assault•• the ship▪
• * 1.7

  Barrels and I∣ron hoopes broken with Ice.
• * 1.8

  All come to the House.
• * 1.9

  Fight with Beares.
• * 1.10

  White Foxe.
• * 1.11

  Beares fat for Lampe.
• * 1.12

  Nouember.
• * 1.13

  Sun & Moone.
• * 1.14

  Sun riseth South South-east, and goeth downe South South-west, not full aboue the Earth.

  Foxes succeed Beares.
• * 1.15

  They see the Sun no more after the third of Nouember, Stilo nouo, or our Octob. 24.
• * 1.16

  Moone conti∣nually seene in the Sunnes ab∣sence.
• * 1.17

  Darknesse.
• * 1.18

  Bread shared and Beere.
• * 1.19

  Beere strength lesse with frost.
• * 1.20

  Ship ballast couered with water.
• * 1.21

  Fox-trap.
• * 1.22

  Wine shared. Drinke water.
• * 1.23

  Ill washing.
• * 1.24

  Bathing and purging.
• * 1.25

  Store of Snow.
• * 1.26

  Fox-skin-caps.
• * 1.27

  December.
• * 1.28

  Lye still in Ca∣bins.
• * 1.29

  Stone heated to heat them. Cold and Smoake.

  Ice cracking noyse.
• * 1.30

  Ice in the House.
• * 1.31

  Clock frozen.
• * 1.32

  Doore digged open.
• * 1.33

  Cold stronger then fire and Sacke.
• * 1.34

  Sea-coale fire.
• * 1.35

  Swounding & stifling by the Cole-vapour and closenesse.
• * 1.36

  Benefit of cold
• * 1.37

  Shooes on feet frozen within. They weare no shooes.
• * 1.38

  Clothes on their backes frozen.
• * 1.39

  Cold blisters▪
• * 1.40

  Extreame and terrible free∣zing.
• * 1.41

  Sunnes com∣fort.
• * 1.42

  House inclo∣sed with snow.
• * 1.43

  Sun in Tropicus Capricorni. 24. Decem. Stilo nouo.
• * 1.44

  Cold Christ∣masse.
• * 1.45

  Ill signe in∣deed.
• * 1.46

  Cold inuinci∣ble.
• * 1.47

  Burne before, freeze behind.
• * 1.48

  Snow higher then the house
• * 1.49

  Snow-steps.
• * 1.50

  Fire conque∣red, heat smelt before felt.
• * 1.51

  An. Dom. 1597.
• * 1.52

  Ianuary.
• * 1.53

  Vane.
• * 1.54

  Three Kings of Cullen.
• * 1.55

  King of Noua Zembla.
• * 1.56

  Day-light espied.
• * 1.57

  Beares in the ship.
• * 1.58

  Oculus Tauri.
• * 1.59

  Aurora blusheth to lie so long in bed.
• * 1.60

  Cold relenteth
• * 1.61

  Sunne appea∣reth againe, Ian. 24.
• * 1.62

  Sun fully seen.
• * 1.63

  How the Sun which they had lost the 4. of Nouember did appeare to them againe vpon the 24. of Ianuary, which was very strange, and contrary to all learned mens opinions.
• * 1.64

  Difference of longitude be∣twixt Venice and their win∣tring place.
• * 1.65

  Note for deg. of longitude.
• * 1.66

  Beares returne with the Sun.
• * 1.67

  Sicke man dieth.
• * 1.68

  The Summer▪
• * 1.69

  Beare.
• * 1.70

  February.
• * 1.71

  They goe out at the chim∣ney.
• * 1.72

  Heat of the Sunne.
• * 1.73

  Beare slaine.
• * 1.74

  100. Pound of fat taken out of a Beare, vse∣full for Lamps.
• * 1.75

  March.
• * 1.76

  Note.
• * 1.77

  Sol in Aries.
• * 1.78

  Shoots of Felt and Rugge.
• * 1.79

  Aprill.
• * 1.80

  Beare assault the house.
• * 1.81

  Beares Den.