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.

CHAP. III. A briefe Declaration of this my Voyage of discouery to Greeneland, and towards the West of it, as followeth: being set forth by the right Worshipfull Sir THOMAS SMITH, Gouernour of the right Wor∣shipfull Company of new Trades, &c. writ∣ten by IONAS POOLE.

WEE set sayle at Blacke-wall the eleauenth of Aprill, 1611. with foure Shippes: [ 10] The one called the Mary-margaret, of burthen one hundred and fiftie Tuns, with nine and fortie Men and Boyes. The next the Elizabeth, of burthen sixtie Tuns,* 1.1 with eighteene Men and Boyes. The third was called the Amitie, of burthen sea∣uentie Tunnes, with foure and twentie Men and Boyes. The fourth was cal∣led the Resolution, with about sixteene Men and Boyes: the Resolution was appointed to goe to Saint Nicholas in Russia, in hope to make two Voyages thither this yeare. The Amitie was to goe to Pich••ra or Nouazembla, there to see if they could make a Voyage by way of trade,* 1.2 or by killing of Mohorses, &c. The Mary-margaret was appointed to keepe the Elizabeth companie to Greeneland, abouesaid, there to kill the Whale, for which purpose we had sixe men of Saint Iohn de Luz, with all things fitting for that purpose. The Elizabeth was appointed to see if it [ 30] weare possible to passe from Greeneland towards the Pole, and to search in those Stas what like∣lihood of a passage that way, &c. But before we were as farre to the Northwards as the latitude of sixtie fiue, we were all separated, by reason of contrarie windes:* 1.3 and foule weather the Eli∣zabeth, in which Ship I was, was stok••d, that the water which was in her could not come to the Pumpe, but lay vpon the balast, which was the cause we could beare no sayle to keepe the Ma∣ry-margaret companie.

Yet by the thirteenth day of May I came to Cherie Iland, and the foureteenth I spake with the Amitie. The sixteenth day I met with the Mary-margaret,* 1.4 which kept mee companie to Greeneland, but in our passage thither we saw a banke of Ice to the East wards of vs, aboue for∣tie leagues long. The nine and twentieth of May,* 1.5 we anchored in a place named (by me the last [ 30] yeare) Crossroad, but before we got thither, wee were much troubled with Ice and contrarie windes, and we found almost all the sounds full of Ice,* 1.6 that the Biscainers could not strike one Whale, although they saw diuers, which as they said were of the best kinde of Whales.

I staid there till the sixteenth of Iune, in which time we set vp our shalops and ranged some part of the Coast, but found little, by reason the beaches were couered with Snow and Ice. Like∣wise in the same time, I was put out of the roade with Ice, and stood out West and by North into the Sea about foureteene leagues, where I found a banke of Ice; then I stood into the sound againe and got off the Shalop which was in the roade, at which time (which was about the elea∣uenth of Iune) I stood to the Sea againe and had a storme at South, which sunke our Shalop, and I saw the Ice lye close to the Land in 80. degrees. Then I went into Crosse roade againe, and had [ 40] a Shalop from the Mary-margaret,* 1.7 and because I perceiued the Ice aboue said to lye close to the land, and vnpossible to passe that way there running verie strong Tides, in the which it is dangerous dealing with the Ice: I determined to stand to the Southwards alongst the said Ice, to see if I could finde the Sea open that way, and so get to the Westwards of the said Ice, and then proceeded on my Voyage: but I found it to lye the next hand South South-west and South-west and by South, and ranne alongst it about one hundred and twentie leagues,* 1.8 at which time I supposed my selfe neere Greenland, as it is laied downe by Hudson and others, and cal∣led Hold with hope:* 1.9 I ranne neere fortie leagues to the West wards of the Eastermost part of the said Land, as it is laid downe, and by my accounts I was to the Southwards of it, neere the la∣titude 74. degrees, where I saw abundance of Whales by the sides of the Ice; for I sailed all this [ 50] time sometimes in, and sometimes by the said Ice, and sounded most commonly each watch,* 1.10 but had no ground at 160.140.180. and 200. fathomes.

Then the winde came to the North-west, and I perceiuing the Ice to trend still to the South∣wards, determined to stand to Greeneland, from whence I came, there to make my Voyage and likewise to try the certaintie concerning the misplacing of the Land, but the next day, being about the seauen and twentieth of Iune, the winde came to the North▪ and I stood for Cherie Iland, and came to it the nine and twentieth of the same Moneth, where I found that place of my being, when I supposed I should haue found Land, did beare from Cherie Iland West and by South, aboue one hundred twentie fiue leagues.* 1.11 When I came to the Iland I saw about three [ 60] hundred Morses on land, but a storme comming they went all into the Sea.

The twelfth of Iuly, we slue aboue two hundred;* 1.12 and by the three and twentieth day wee had taken all their fat Hides and Teeth, which with the Victuals we had laded the ship: then I determined to hale vp a shalop to goe to Greeneland, to search if I could finde any Land or Ilands, that might proue beneficiall the next yeere, and likewise to search for Teeth and Whales

Finnes. The foure and twentie, and fiue and twentie dayes, it was very much wind at North, which caused the Sea to goe so high that we could not land. Yet at eight aclocke at night the wind ceased, and I went on land where I found certayne of the Marie Margaret•• men, by whom I vnderstood, that the said ship was cast away, and that Master Thomas Edge seruant to the right Worshipfull Company,* 1.13 &c. with Stephen Bennet Master of the said shippe, and others to the number of thirtie persons, were arriued on the South side in three Boats, and that they parted from two Boats in Greenland with nine men in them.

Immediately Master Edge and Master Bennet came aboard, and I weighed and stood to the West side of the Iland, and anchored there, and put neere one hundred Morse hides on land, and some emptie caske, and haled vp a shallop. The six and twentieth day about noone, we weighed [ 10] and stood to the South-west side of the Iland, and sent men on land to hale vp two shallops there. And at mid-night I set sayle for Greenland, carrying with mee two Biscaine shallops, determi∣ning there to try the Blubber of those Morses we had killed, and bring it to Oyle, and to bring all the Oyle, Teeth, and Finnes which they had gotten in that Countrey. And after diuers winds, but indifferent faire weather, I arriued at Blacke-point the last of Iuly, and hauing the wind at North, I was perswaded by diuers that had gone that way to go betwixt the Iland and the Mayne, but when I was almost through, and in sight of that place where the Mary Mar∣garet lyeth sunke, I could not find water enough for the ship, yet I was told there was enough by diuers that had gone that way in the shallops. Here we stayed two dayes to buoy the chan∣nell, which is shoald and narrow, for we had at three quarters floud, but eleuen foot water. [ 20]

The third of August I got ouer, and about eight of the clock•• at night▪ I anchored neere the Mary Margaret, the Sunne being in 79. degrees, and there I found a shippe of Hull conducted thither by one Nicholas Woodcock,* 1.14 he being in one of the Boats which stayed in Greenland, when those came from thence that came to Cherrie Iland. The ships name was called the Hopewell, one Thomas Marmaduke being Master. Here we found that hee had slaine aboue one hundred and thirtie Mohorses, which were left on land when Master Thomas Edge came from thence with the Boats aforesaid, and we did determine to kill at my arri••all. Assoone as the ship was moo∣red, wee got out Blubber and sent it on land to bee brought into Oyle, and wee followed our worke till the seuenth of August at noone, at which time hauing Oyle by the ships side, we put out all the Blubber which was in hold, saue two tunnes and a halfe, supposing the ship had bal∣last [ 30] enough in her, for there was twelue tunnes of Hides, which were the chiefest cause of the losse of the ship, and nine tunnes of Oyle, and aboue seuen tunnes of ballast, a Hogshead and a Barrell of Teeth: besides halfe a tunne of stones, all which was about nine and twentie tunne weight, and to any vnpartiall mans judgement, sufficient to shift a Barke of sixtie tunnes. But as the last But went out of her, the ship began to held, and with all a great many men went to leeward, there being at that time aboue ••orty aboard. Then the hides which lay in hold, slid to leeward, and brought her altogether downe, then euery man made shift to saue his life, and I being farre from the hatches, could not get vp so soone as others did. At which time I saw death before mine eyes two wayes,* 1.15 one if I stayed in hold, I was sure to be drowned: the other if I went vp the hatches, I was in election to be slaine, for downe at the hatches fell hogsheads [ 40] of beere and diuers other things, the least of them being sufficient to beate a mans bones, and in attempting to get vp, I was beaten downe twice and hurt. But it was not the will of God to take my life from mee then, but to reuiue me, to plucke me euen from the jawes of death, and by swimming and crawling I got into the Sea cleere of the ship where a Boat tooke me vp, and blessed bee God, no man perished at that so dangerous an accident. We being all got into three Boats, went to the Hull ship, where we found but small comfort: for Duke told vs plainly, wee should not come aboard his ship, and caused Pikes and Launces to bee brought to keepe vs out. Then Master Edge and diuers others desired him to let mee come aboard, which hee did, and with much adoe I got aboard, hauing mine head broke to the skull, and my brow that one might see the bare bones, and by mine eare I had a sore wound, likewise the ribs on my right side were [ 50] all broken and sore bruised, and the collar bone of my left shoulder is broken, besides my backe was so sore, that I could not suffer any man to touch it.

That which followeth, being further accusation of Marmaduke, is omitted. And I haue here added out of his Brother Randolph Poole their returne; omitting the former part of his Relations of the same Voyage.

In this our great distresse, Thomas Marmaduke Master of the shippe of Hull, professed great kindnesse towards vs, promising vs passage, and that he would try if he could recouer our ship: but hee deferred the time one whole weeke, till shee was full of oze, so that when wee came to weigh her, both her Cables burst, and so we left her to all our sorrowes, without hope of reco∣uerie. Then we went aboard the ship of Hull, which God had prepared for our succour, where [ 60] our Merchant agreeing for the fraight, we got the goods aboard; namely, about twentie, or one and twentie tunnes and an halfe of Oyle, and a Barrell of Beares Oyle, about tenne tunnes of Whales Finnes bound vp in an hundred and sixe bundels, in euery one thirtie Finnes, and in some more, fiue Hogsheads of Morses Teeth, and one and twentie odde paire. And if our ship had not miscarried, the Voyage had beene much better.

The nineteenth of August, we directed our course for England, the weather being reasona∣ble faire, and the wind for the most part betwixt the North and the West:* 1.16 and wee continued our course homeward all that moneth.

Vpon Tuesday the third of September, about two of the clocke in the morning,* 1.17 we were im∣bayed with land, and were neere the shoare before we were aware. Wee steered backe North and by East: and at twelue of the clocke we found our selues to be on the West side of the Iles of Orkney, and steered East into a great sound, called Pentlow Fryth,* 1.18 where wee beeing entred there came a Boat from the shoare, which brought vs fresh meat, and one of the men directed vs through the Sound. This Sound lyeth in the latitude of 58. degrees and 36. minutes, and the course [ 10] through, is East North-east, and West South-west, it floweth there on the change day, South South-east and North, North-west halfe a tyde, nine foote high or thereabout. At the en∣trance in on the North side, there is an high red Mountayne, and the Sound there is twelue miles ouer: but farther in the land is somewhat lower, and the Sound narrower. You may sayle along the North shoare two miles off the land in fortie or fiftie fathomes; and on the said shoare about foure miles East South-east. From the red Cliffe there is a Bay, into which you may steere North by West, giuing the West point of the entrance into the said Bay a good birth: for there the water is shoald and fowle ground: but in the middle of the entrance, 30.20.18.12.10.6. and 5. fathomes: but wee anchored in 10. fathomes, fine sandie ground.

The fift of September at an East South-east Sunne wee set sayle, keeping our course aboue [ 20] mentioned, leauing fiue small Ilands on our larboord side, and one Iland on our starboord side: and so keeping an high Cliffe, which lyeth into the Sea on Scotland side, open of a low Land in the sound on the same shoare, we sayled out as before is said.

Vpon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 day at a North Sunne, we anchored in Humber mouth: there it floweth on the change day West South-west. Vpon the eight day we arriued at Hull, safely and well in bo∣dy, but much distressed and impayred in our states, which God at his good pleasure can restore.

At our first comming to this Country of Greenland, the Mountaynes and Valleyes thereof, ex∣cept it were some few places, were all couered with snow▪ but ere we went away, the tops of the high Hils, and the lower Plaines appeared greene with Mosse▪ and some little quantitie of grasse. This Countrey, and likewise the seas in these parts, are subiect to maruellous thicke and [ 30] mistie weather, especially when the sunne with his most forcible heat melteth the Ice and snow, whose vapours obscure the light of the sunne, making small difference betweene the day there, and the irkesome night in other places.

We found in this Countrey many fat. Deere, which we killed with our Peeces and Dogges at our pleasure, which was a great refreshing to vs in that vnquoth place: many white Beares,* 1.19 with white, grey, and dunne Foxes. We found also abundance of Fowle: namely, Cul••idines, sea Pidgeons, white land Partridges, wild Geese, Willockes, and many other Fowles. Among which I noted the nature of one, which we called an All••n; who (like to the great fishes, which eate vp the small, or like to some great men, which deuoure all the labours of the poore) when some smaller Birds haue gotten any thing, then he leaueth not beating of them, till they haue cast [ 40] vp what they haue eaten, which he laying hold of deuoureth vp: and so with little meate in their gorges, and few feathers on their backes, he leaueth them to get more, not for themselues but for him. We found on the shoares many huge Morses.

There is great store of fresh water in euery Valley,* 1.20 which proceedeth most of the melted snow. On euery Beech is great plentie of drift wood, but neuer a bush nor tree groweth in those quarters, as farre as we haue hitherto discouered.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Foure Ships.
• * 1.2

  See Sup. l. 3.
• * 1.3

  The Ships se∣parated.
• * 1.4

  Cherie Iland.
• * 1.5

  Crosse Rode.
• * 1.6

  Ice a hinde∣rance to Whale killing and discouery▪
• * 1.7

  80. Degrees.
• * 1.8

  New discouery
• * 1.9

  Hold with Hope▪
• * 1.10

  S••ore of Whales.
• * 1.11

  Cherie Iland.
• * 1.12

  Three hundred Mo••ses.
• * 1.13

  Mary Margaret lost.
• * 1.14

  Ship of Hull.
• * 1.15

  Double dan∣ger.
• * 1.16

  They returne homeward.
• * 1.17

  September 3.
• * 1.18

  Orkney Ilands Pentlow Fryth. in 58. degrees 36. minutes.
• * 1.19

  Many fat Deere, white Beares, white, grey, and dun Foxes.

  Abundance of sundry Fowles. Allen a deuou∣ring Fowle.
• * 1.20

  Many huge Morses.