A Letter of ROBERT FOTHERBY to Captaine EDGE, written in Crosse-rode, Iuly 15. 1615.
MAster Edge, By the mercy of God I came into Crosse-road on Thursday last, being driuen from Sea neere shoare by extreme tempest. At the beginning of the storme I was vnwittingly e••∣bayed with Ice aboue fortie leagues from land, in latitude 78. degrees and 30. minutes, but, thankes be [ 30] to God, I got cleare of it, yet not without much trouble and great danger. Hauing plyed vnder two coar∣ses to and againe so long till my Pinnasse was made leake with bearing, I tryed it vnder a mayne coarse and stem'd South-east and South-east and by South, notwithstanding I was hurried to the Northward, and fell right with the Foreland, which by reason of the misty storme we could not set till we were within a league of it; then I stood ouer the Bay and came to an anchor here, where I must be forced to stay till our sailes be mended▪ and a new mayne coarse be made, if not a fore coarse also. Then I purpose to goe to Sea againe, and to proceed in coasting the Ice to the Westward, if it hinder me to proceed Northward. I haue already coasted it from Hackluyts Headland to the latitude aforesaid, and intend to beginne againe so neare as I can at the place where I was put off with the storme. I came from Faire Hauen the fourth of Iuly, and then had there beene killed twelue Whales, besides one found dead, and another brought in by [ 40] Fra. Birkes, which he found at Sea before he came into Faire Hauen.
When I came in hither, here were three Ships and a Pinnasse of the King of Denmarks;* 1.1 they rid in deepe water about a league and a halfe from the Road, but weighed from thence, and the Admirall came to an anchor close by me, and sent to intreat me to come aboord of him; I went aboord and was cour∣teously entertayned by the Generall, who questioned me of the Country, and asked me by what right the English Merchants did resort and fish in this place: I told him, by the King of Englands right, who had granted a Patent to the Muscouie Company of Merchants, whereby he authorizeth them, and for∣biddeth all others to frequent these places. Then he entreated me to goe with him to Sir Tho. Smiths Bay, to the two Engl••sh ships there. I told him, it would be losse of time to me, because I had some businesse here to doe, and then to goe forth presently to Sea againe to prosecute my Discouery. He said, that he would [ 50] haue me goe with him to be witnesse what passed betwixt him and you, for he had matters of importance to acquaint you withall, which concerned our King and theirs, and therefore intreated me to giue direction presently to weigh and set saile, for I must needs goe with him: I replyed againe, that it would be a great losse vnto me of time, and I knew not how to answer it; but he told me peremptorily that I must goe with him. So seeing no remedie. I bad the Master be readie: then he presently weighed and kept me aboord him, but afterwards meeting with the two Captaines that came from you, he returned and anchored a∣gaine in Crosse-road. I receiued very courteous entertaynment of the Admirall, Vice-admirall, and of Captaine Killingham: but Captaine Killingham being aboord of me, went away as he seemed, disconten∣ted, because I would not giue him a young Morse I haue aboord, which I denyed to doe, because I writ to my Master from Faire Hauen, that such a thing I haue, and will bring aliue into England, if I may. [ 60] When he went off aboord of me, he said, he would shoot downe my flag: And soone after there came a shot which flue ouer vs, out of the Admirall, and I expected another; but soone after there came a man a∣boord of me out of the Admirall, to see if any of your men that came in the Shallop, would goe with them into the Bay, and he swore vnto me that the shot was made to call their Boat aboord, because they were ready to weigh. As farre as I can perceiue, their purpose is to see what Grant the King of England hath