CHAP. XVI. The Voyage of Master IOHN KNIGHT, (which had beene at Groenland once before 1605. Captaine of a Pinnasse of the King of Denmarke) for the Discouery of the North-west Passage, begun the eighteenth of Aprill 1606.
I Set sayle from Grauesend in a Barke of fortie tunnes, called the Hope-well,* well [ 20] victualled and manned at the cost of the Worshipfull Companies of Moscouie, and the East Indie Merchants, for the Discouerie of the North-west Passage the eighteenth of Aprill 1606. and arriued the sixe and twentieth of the same mo∣neth in the Ile of Orkney, in a Sound called Pentlefrith.* Heere wee were stayed with contrary winds at West and North-west, and with much storme and foule weather aboue a fortnight. In which meane space, I entertained two men of this Countrey, which are both lustie fellowes at Sea and Land, and are well acquainted with all the Harbours of these North parts of Scotland. These men brought vs into a very good Harbour,* called Saint Margarites Hope, where we had the Sea open to vs for all winds that are good for vs to proceed [ 30] on our Voyage. In this Countrey we found little worthy of Relation. For it is poore, and hath no wood growing vpon it. Their Corne is Barley and Oates. Their fire is Turffe, their houses are low and vnseemely without, and as homely within.
Vpon Munday the twelfth of May, I set sayle from Saint Margarites Sound or Hope in Ork∣ney, at nine of the clocke in the morning, our course being West and by South: and at eight of the clocke at night, the Hill called Hoyce, did beare West Southerly eleuen or twelue leagues, and the Stacke South and by East Easterly three leagues and an halfe, the winde beeing at East South-east.
This day was for the most part calme, and sometimes wee had a fresh gale of winde: our course was West and by South, halfe a point Southerly. This day I passed by two small Ilands.* [ 40] The one of them is called, the Clete, and the other the Run. They are distant foure leagues the one from the other. The course betweene them is South-west and North-east. The Southermost is called the Clete, and is the lesser of the twaine: it is distant from the North-east part of Lewis, called the Bling-head, seuen leagues: and the course betwixt them is North-west and South-east. Also this Bling-head is distant from the Farr• Headpunc;* of the Hieland of Scotland West and by North halfe a point Westerly, and is distant seuenteene leagues. Also the course betweene Bling-head and the North-west part of Lewis, is West and by South halfe a point Westerly, and faire low Land without Wood. There is good riding all along the shoare, the winde beeing off the Land, and in some places are very good Harbours for all winds. From eight to twelue at night, we ran sixe leagues West South-west.
This morning we had a fresh gale of wind at East North-east: our course was South-west and [ 50] by West two houres fiue leagues. From two to ten South-west, and by South 20. leagues. From ten to twelue West South-west sixe leagues. The latitude at noone was 58. degrees 27. minutes.*
From Wednesday at noone till Thursday at noone, was for the most part raine and fogge, the wind at North-east and by East: our course was West halfe a point Southerly: our latitude at noone being Thursday, 58. degrees 23. minutes. From Thursday at noone till Friday at noone, being the sixteenth, our way was West Southerly about twentie leagues: the latitude at noone was 58. degrees 19. minutes. This night the wind was sometimes variable betweene the South and by West and South-east, with faire weather, the Magneticall Declination 18. degrees: the height of the Pole was 58. degrees 10. minutes.* Also in the morning the Sunne beeing tenne degrees aboue the Horizon, was distant from the East to the North-wards of the East twen∣tie [ 60] two degrees.
From Friday at noone vntill midnight was little wind Southerly, and sometimes calme, and from midnight till twelue at noone the next day a stiffe gale of wind at East North-east. This foure and twentie houres I judged our way to be made good West, something Southerly thirtie Page 828 leagues. The latitude at noone was 58. degrees 10. minutes. Also the sunne did rise fiftie degrees to the Northward of the East.
From Saturday at noone being the seuenteenth, till Sunday at noone being the eighteenth, our course was West and by South a stiffe gale of wind fiftie leagues, being close weather, we made no obseruation of latitude.
From Sunday at noone till Munday at noone I steered away West and West and by South, ha∣uing a storme at East and by North: our course was West and Southerly fiftie leag••s.
From Munday at noone till midnight, our course was West and Southerly: and from that time till noone West and by North and West among. I iudged wee sayled fortie leagues these [ 10] foure and twentie houres, being for the most part foggie. The latitude at noone was 57. degrees 50. minutes.
From Tuesday at noone till noone on Wednesday, our course was West and by North fortie fiue leagues,* being foggie weather without obseruation. Here wee had a current, which I iudge setteth to the Northwards.
From Wednesday at noone till Thursday at noone, being the two and twentieth, our course was West and by North fiftie leagues with much fogge and close weather, and much▪ winde at North-east and by East.
From Thursday at noone till midnight, our course was West and by North. Then the winde came to the North: wee tooke in our mayne course, and I spooned away with our fore-saile till Friday, the winde being at North North-east, I iudged our way West South-west, the [ 20] twelue houres that I spooned about fifteene leagues, the other twelue houres West Norther∣ly fiue and twentie leagues.* This three and twentieth day, wee saw many Gulles and much Rock-weed.
From Friday at noone till Saturday at noone, I iudged our way to bee made South-west and by West,* but it proued West and by South, rather Westerly, twentie leagues by reason of a cur∣rent, that I iudge setteth to the North-eastward. The latitude at noone was 57. degrees 53. minutes. The variation of the Compasse was about a point to the Westward. This forenoone and all night the wind was at North a very hard gale; wee spooned with our fore-sayle. Also this forenoone, we saw much Sea Tange and Rock-weed.
From Saturday at noone till Sunday at noone, our course was Southward about twentie [ 30] leagues, the wind being Northerly. This day we saw much Rock-weed and Drift-wood. The latitude was fiftie seuen degrees.* The variation was to the Westward thirteene degrees or there∣about. The sunne being fiue degrees high in the morning, was twentie foure degrees to the Northward of the East.
From Sunday at noone till two of the clocke the next day in the morning, beeing Munday, our course was West North-west, we made our way West and by North twentie leagues, hauing a fresh gale at South-east and by East: it fell calme till foure of the clocke: then it blew an easie gale at West South-west, wee stemming North-west, &c. betweene that and North North-east the wind being variable.* The wind freshed toward noone. This morning we saw an Owle.
The latitude at noone the eight and twentieth, was 57. degrees 57. minutes. The variation [ 40] of the Compasse was fourteene degrees and an halfe to the West. This day wee had blacke water, and many ouer-falls,* streame leeches, and sets of currents, as it seemed to the Northward, and some to the Westward.
The thirtieth, we found our latitude to be fiftie eight degrees. Heere it seemed that we were in a tyde gate, which I iudged to set North and South, or that it was the Eddie of the currents, which we saw the other day. Also wee saw white Fowles, which cheeped like Spar-hawkes. Also we saw driuing many dead Cowes.
The one and thirtieth, the sunne being fiftie degrees aboue the Horizon, I found it to bee twentie seuen degrees to the Eastward of the South: againe in the afternoone, the sunne beeing fiftie degrees high,* it was distant from the South to the Westward fiftie one degrees: at noone [ 50] it was 55. degrees 6. minutes, the height of the Pole was 58. degrees 3. minutes. The variation of the Compasse was twentie foure degrees toward the North-west. Our way made these twentie foure houres was not aboue sixe leagues West, being little wind for the most part.
From Saturday at noone till two of the clocke it was calme: then it began to blow an easie gale at North. At night I obserued the sunne setting, and found it to set twentie one degrees to the Westward of the North, the winde continuing variable betweene the North and the West North-west till noone, being the first of Iune. Then I found my selfe by obseruation to be in the latitude of 57. degrees 35. minutes. I iudged our way from noone to noone West and by South or thereabout thirteene leagues.
From Sunday at noone till ten of the clocke the same Euening, it was calme. Then it began [ 60] to blow a stiffe gale of wind at South South-east. Our course was West till noone, the next day being Munday, twentie three leagues. This day wee saw many blacke Fowles like Willockes flying in flockes together.*
The fourth my latitude at noone, was 56. degrees 40. minutes. The latitude next day at Page 829 noone was fiftie sixe degrees. The variation of the Compasse by the Scale was twentie degrees, and by my other Instrument twentie foure degrees to the West.* The sunne was twentie two degrees and an halfe high, and to the North of the West thirtie degrees by the Instrument, and twentie sixe degrees by the Scale.
Our latitude at noone the eleuenth, was fiftie eight degrees. And at night the sunne did set fourteene degrees to the Westward of the North, and did rise fiftie degrees to the Eastward of the North.
The thirteenth, the Ice seemed to be dispersed thinner with the wind, or some other accident: then I set sayle with our two courses, but was forced to take them in againe, and moo••d to ano∣ther great Iland of Ice, about a mile to the Westward of the other▪ Here setteth some smal 〈◊〉 [ 10] to the South-westward. For the great fla•e• of Ice that we•e somewhat deep,* draue to the South∣ward, and the other small Ice which was sto•ie draue with the wind, which wa• variable betwixt the North-west and the North. Here we were in sight of Land, which bore West South-west from vs, shewing in some parts like Ilands. Our latitude at noone was 57. degrees 25. minutes.
From Friday at noone till eight of the clocke at night, wee cont••ued moored to the afore∣said Ice: then it fell calme, and I loosed and •owed to the West-ward with our Oares, hoping to get thorough, till twelue of the clocke, then the Ice grew very thicke. I moored againe till foure of the clocke the next morning. Then we rowed and sayled with an easie gale of wind till eight of the clocke the next morning b•ing Saturday. Then it began to blow a fresh gale Easterly, and we cunned the ship among the Ice with ou• Oares till noone. Our latitude was fiftie eight de∣grees. [ 20] From Saturday at noone till midnight wee guided our shippe to the Westward among the Ice with our Oares, hoping to get thorough: but wee were suddenly compassed about with many great Ilands of Ice, and continued so distressed with a sore storme of wind at South-east, be∣ing foggie and thicke weather: we were so bruised betweene mightie great Ilands of Ice, that we were in danger euery minute to be crushed in pieces with force of the heauing and setting of the said Ice with the great Sea that the wind made, had not God of his mercie prouided for vs: for our owne endeuours did little auaile to our helpe, though wee employed all our industries to the vttermost of our powres.
The nineteenth, we descryed the Land of America, which riseth like eight Ilands:* the Nor∣thermost part of it did beare North and by West about fifteene leagues from vs. I obserued the [ 30] latitude, and found my selfe to be in 56. degrees and 48. minutes. The variation of the Compasse was twentie fiue degrees to the Westward. All this Coast sheweth like broken Land or Ilands; and the tyde of floud commeth from the Northward.
Tuesday the foure and twentieth all the morning, there blew a storme Northerly, and such a suffe of the Sea, and so much Ice came in, that our fasts brake that were fast on shoare, and our Rudder was driuen from our sterne with the force of mightie Ilands of I•e; so that we were for∣ced to hale close into the bottome of the Coue to saue our clothes, furniture and victuals: wee did our best, but before we had done, our ship was halfe full of water: the night comming vpon vs being wearie, we tooke a little rest.
On Wednesday, we went hard to worke when the ship was on ground, to get the water out [ 40] of her, and to stop so many of her leakes as we could come by, and to saue so much of our bread as we could; and some went to building our shallop. Also I caused our Boate to be lanched ouer the Iland; and sent my Mate Edward Gorrell, with three others,* to seeke for a better place where to bring our ship on ground, if it were possible, to mend her againe. But they returned without any certaintie by reason of the abundance of Ice, which choked euery place. They found wood growing on the shoare.
Thursday being faire weather.] Here Master Iohn Knight ended writing in this Iournall. On this Thursday the sixe and twentieth of Iune in the morning, our Master caused some of our men to goe aboord our ship, to saue what things they could.* And hee and Edward Gorrell his Mate, and his brother, and three more of our Company tooke the Boate, carrying with them [ 50] foure Pistols, three Muskets, fiue Swords, and two halfe Pikes for to goe ouer to a great Iland, which was not aboue a mile from our ship, to looke if they could find any Harbour or any Coue, to get our ship into for to mend her. Also he carried an Equinoctiall Diall with him, and pa∣per to make a Draught of the Land. When they were passed ouer to the other side, our Master his Mate, and his brother, and one more went on shoare, leauing two of vs in the Boate with one Musket, one Sword, and an halfe Pike to keepe it: which two stayed in the Boate from ten of the clocke in the morning, vntill eleuen of the clocke at night, but could heare no newes of them after their departure vp into the top of the Hill.* Then did the Trumpettor sound two or three times, and the other did discharge his Musket two or three times, and so they came away to the [ 60] other side to the West of the Company, where the ship was: where they were watching for our comming; who seeing vs two comming and no more, they maruelled where the rest of the company were. When wee came on shoare, they enquired for our Master and the rest of our company. But we could tell them no newes of them after their departure out of the Boat, but that we did see them goe vp to the top of the Iland. Which report did strike all our men into a Page 830 great feare to thinke in what extremitie we were, because we did want our Master and three of our best men,* and our Ship lay sunke, and we had nothing to trust to but our Shallop, which was not at that time halfe finished. This night lying on shoare in our Tent, which was betweene two Rocks,* we kept very good watch, for feare of any peoples sudden assaulting of vs: or if our Master and his company had trauailed so farre, that they could not come againe that night, and would shoote a Musket, that wee might heare them. But they came not at all.
The next day being Friday, and the seuen and twentieth of Iune, wee consulted to goe ouer seuen of vs with our Boate, to try if we could see or learne any news of our Master, or any of our [ 10] men; for we were afraid that they were either surprised by the Sauages of the Countrie, or else deuoured by the wilde Beasts. So we tooke with vs seuen Muskets, and Swords, and Targets, and such prouision as we had in the Ship, and went downe to the Sea-side, but wee could not get o∣uer for Ice. At length we returned, with much adoe to get on shoare, land went to our Ship, to saue what things we could all that day.
On Saturday, the eight and twentieth, we did likewise saue what things we could, and gat all our things out of our Ship, and made her cleane in hold, hauing faire weather, hoping in God to saue her, and to mend all things, as well as we could; for she lay vpon hard rocks: wherefore we kept her as light as we could, for beating and bruising of her hull. That night about nine of the clocke, it began to raine very sore, and so continued all night: and about one of the clocke [ 20] at night, our Boate-Swaine and our Steward being at watch, and their watch almost out, the Steward went aboord the Ship to pumpe, leauing the Boate-Swaine at watch some Musket shot length from our Tent:* while he was in pumping, there came ouer the rocks a great sort of the Countrey people toward the place where the Boate-Swaine was: who when they saw him, they shot their arrowes at him, running toward him as fast as they could. Whereupon hee dis∣charged his Musket at them, and fled to our Tent as fast as hee could, thinking they had beset vs, they were so many of them in sight. The Steward hearing his Musket goe off, came out of the Ship, and as he was comming, saw the Sauages running to our Shallop, and cryed out to vs that were asleepe in our Tent, to come to rescue the Boate-Swaine, and the Shallop. We made what haste we could; when we came towards them, and saw so many of them in our Shallop, [ 30] we were afraid we were betraid. At this time it rained very sore; yet calling our wits together, we sent two of our men backe vnto our Tent,* the rest of vs made toward them, and shot at them some three or foure Muskets: who when they saw vs shoote, they stood in our Shallop, and held vp their hands vnto vs, calling one to another. Then thought we with our selues, that we were better to dye in our defence in pursuing of them, then they vs, being but eight Men and a great Dogge. When they saw vs marching toward them so fiercely, our Dogge being formost, they ranne away:* but we durst not pursue them any further, for it was in the night, and they were in sight aboue fiftie men. Thus we recouered our Shallop. Then we sent some more of our men to our Tent to keepe it; and the rest followed toward the place whither they fled. But before we could ouertake them, they were gotten into their Boates, and were rowing away [ 40] through the Ice;* which was so thicke, that they could not passe away, but stucke fast; for their Boates were very great: wee seeing them sticke fast in the Ice, some setting with Oares, and some rowing, came so neere them, as we could, and shot at them some dozen shot, before they could get cleere: which shot caused them to cry out very sore one to another; for their Boates were full of men.* As farre as we could iudge, they be very little people, tawnie coloured, thin or no beards, and flat nosed, and Man-eaters.
On Sunday, the nine and twentieth, all day long we gat such things as we could aboord our Shippe, for feare they should come ouer with more men, and beset vs, our Ship lying betweene two great Rocks, and all without so full of Ice, that we could not passe any way to Sea, no not with a Boate. That day, two of our men kept watch vpon the Rocks, to giue vs warning, if [ 50] they did come ouer with Boats. Then did our Carpenter make what shift hee could with our Shallop, and did tench her in some places, but neither calke• her, nor pitched her. Then did wee take her, and bring her downe close to the Shippe, and there shee did stand all night.
On Munday, the thirtieth day in the morning we went to worke to cut the Ice with Axes and Pick-axes, to get our Shippe; for all about the Iland was nothing but Ice, and no place to ride free neither with Shippe nor Boate. That night it pleased God, that wee got her out, and came away rowing with our Oares; but she was exceeding leake, and our Shallop too: and, which was worse, we had neuer a Rudder to stirre our Ship withall. Wee rowed all that night among the Ice. [ 60]
The first and second dayes of Iuly, we continued also rowing vp and downe among the floting and driuing Ice, with little hope of recouering our Countrey.
The third of Iuly, we had a gale of winde at North, and a great current setting to the South∣ward:* Then made we fast our Ship to an Iland of Ice, and went to worke, and to stow her things within boord, to make her stiffe; for wee had neuer a whit of balast in her. Then did our Carpenter make what shift he could, to hang our Rudder, hauing nothing conuenient in our Page 831 Ship to make Gudgins, nor Pintels. Then were we forced to breake open our Masters Chest, and to take all the Iron bands off it, to make fast two Pick-axes, for two Pintels,* and to binde our Rudder• withall. So, as it pleased God, that night we hanged our Rudder, hauing but two Pin∣tels and a Cable through the middle of it, to keepe it to with two tacks. Then were we in good hope to get cleare of the Ice, because wee had some steerage, though it was but bad: for before, we durst beare but little sayle, our Ship being so leake, and her stemme so sore beaten with the rocks and Ice, and hauing no steerage, but were forced to rowe with our Oares, till wee were all sore and weary.
The next day about tenne of the clocke in the morning, the winde came to the West North-west, [ 10] and was faire weather: so we steered away East and by North, to get vs out of the Bay: And at noone, the watch being out,* which was the third watch that we had after we came out of the Countrey (for before, continually we did watch all, to keepe our Shippe cleare of the Ice, as neere as we could) we began to Pumpe our Shippe, but could not make her sucke in a thou∣sand stroakes, if she had stood but one halfe houre vnpumped. Then were wee forced to vnrom∣age our Ship, to see if we could finde our leakes. We soone found a great many of leakes, but not that which caused vs to Pumpe so sore. At the last, we found it close abaft our forefoot, where her keele was splintred in two or three places, where the Sea came running in so fast,* that it was not possible to keepe her free with both our Pumps, and wee could not come to it to stop it; for it was vnder the timbers. Then did wee take our maine Bonnet, and basted it with Occom, and [ 20] put it ouerboord, right against our leake, which eased vs some foure or fiue hundred stroakes in an houre. Then vpon consultation had among our selues, wee resolued to shape our course towards Newfound Land, to see if we could get any place to mend our Ship, hoping there to meete with some English or French men. At this time we had one of our men very sicke, and another had his hand very sore splitted; and most of vs all were so sore with rowing and pumping, that we were scarce able to stirre, but that we must perforce.
The fift of Iulie, wee shaped our course for New found Land, with the winde at West South-west.
The one and twentieth, the winde was at South South-west; and we fell with the Land,* be∣ing nothing but broken Ilands. Then we stood to the Westward, being in the latitude of 49. de∣grees [ 30] and an halfe.
The two and twentieth was faire weather, and the winde very variable: and about sixe of the clocke at night, the winde came to the West North-west. Then we steered in among the I∣lands, to see if we could finde any harbour to mend our Shippe; for she was very leake.* When we were come in among them, we found nothing but broken Ilands, and a great current, which did set from Iland to Iland, and had no ground at an hundred fathoms. That night we were ve∣ry sore intangled with sunken Rocks, and in great danger of casting away our Ship, hauing very thicke weather: wherefore we kept to and fro all that night.*
The foure and twentieth of Iuly, in the morning, we spied some dozen Shallops, which were fishing some two leagues from vs. Then wee made what way wee could toward them,* &c. [ 40] We remained in this Bay of Fogo, in repairing our Shippe, and refreshing of our selues, vntill the two and twentieth of August. Then taking our leaues of our kinde and louing friends, with giuing them most heartie thankes for their goodnesse towards vs, we put forth to the Sea, and with an indifferent and reasonable good passage we arriued safely in Dartmouth in Deuonshire, and sent word to London vnto our owners, of the losse of our Master and his three companions, and of the dolefull successe of our Voyage, the foure and twentieth day of September, 1606.
The rest of this Iournall, from the death of Master Iohn Knight, was written by Oliuer Browne, one of the Company.
