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. XVIII. A true Relation of such things as happened in the fourth Voyage for the Discouerie of the North-west Passage, performed in the yeere 1615. Written by WILLIAM BAFFIN. [ 50]

AFter three sundry Voyages towards the North-west, to the great charge of the Aduenturers:* 1.1 the last being vnder the command of Captaine Gibbins (in which was little or nothing performed.) Yet the Right Worshipfull Sir Dudley Digges Knight, Master Wostenholme Esquire, Master Alderman Iones, with others being not therewith discouraged, This yeere 1615. againe set forth the Discouery, a ship of fiftie fiue tunnes or thereabouts, which ship had beene the three former Voy∣ages on the action. The Master was Robert Bileth, a man well acquainted that way: hauing beene employed in the three former Voyages: my selfe being his Mate and Associate, with fourteene others and two Boyes.

The sixteenth, we weighed Anchor at Saint Katharines, and that tyde came to Blackwall, the [ 60] winde being at South South-west. The seuenteenth, wee went downe to Grauesend, and the eighteenth to Lee, where we anchored that night.

Vpon the sixt of May, we saw Land on the Coast of Groenland, on the East side of Cape Fare∣well: and that night we had a great storme:* 1.2 so wee kept a Southerly course to get about the Ice which lay on that shoare, and then kept our course vntill the seuenteenth day of May, all which forenoone we sayled by many great Ilands of Ice, some of which were aboue two hundred foot high aboue water (as I proued by one shortly after) which I found to be two hundred and fortie foot high, and if report of some men be true, which affirme,* 1.3 that there is but one seuenth part of the Ice aboue water, then the height of that piece of Ice, which I obserued was one hundred and fortie fathomes, or one thousand sixe hundred and eightie foote from the toppe to the bottome: this proportion I know doth hold in much Ice, but whether it doe so in all, I know not.

This seuenteenth of May, about noone we were come to the firme Ice, as one would suppose, [ 10] being in the latitude of 61. degrees 26. minutes or thereabout, being the latitude of the Sou••h part of the Ile of Resolution: we comming to this Ice,* 1.4 our Master asked my opinion concerning the putting into the Ice. My iudgement was it would be best for vs to stand, and ply it vp to the Northwards. Hee answered, we were on the North side of the South Channell, and much Ice we must passe through, and if that we could get some two or three leagues within the Ice, it would euery tide open, and we should get some thing onward of our way, hauing all the Channell to the South-wards of vs. So with this resolution we put within the Ice, the wind being at East North-east: this first entrance I liked not very well, scarce finding any place to put in our ships head, and being neere thirtie leagues from the shoare, towards Euening wee were fast amongst the Ice.

[ 20] But sometimes each day the Ice would a little open, we making what way we could towards the North-west in for the shoare till the two and twentieth day, hauing had the wind all Sou∣therly. Yet we plainly saw that we set to the Southwards, for all that wee could doe.

The two and twentieth day, the wind came vp at North North-west: then our Master de∣termined to stand forth againe. For if the wind should haue come to the North-east, it would be vnpossible for vs to fetch any part of the Channell, seeing wee droue so fast to the Southwards, with Southerly winds, and hauing so farre into the shoare, not hauing seene the Land.

Our Master was also determined to spend some twentie, or foure and twentie dayes in Fre∣tum Dauis, to see what hopes would be that wayes, supposing there would be little good to be [ 30] done in Hudsons Streights for this time limited: then we plying to get to Sea-ward, and so by eight a clock at night, the three and twentieth day, we were cleere of the thick Ice: againe, the Lord make vs thankfull, the wind at North-west and by North faire weather: but no sooner were we forth of the Ice, but that our Master changed his opinion: and beeing cleere of this thicke Ice wee stood to the Northward as much as the Ice and winde would giue vs leaue, run∣ning some thirteene leagues true North-east by North, being in the latitude of 61. degrees 50. minutes. The foure and twentieth day faire weather: the fiue and twentieth day, also faire wea∣ther, the wind at North and by West, till sixe a clocke, we hauing made a North-east by North way about twelue leagues and an halfe, our latitude at noone 62. degrees 20. minutes, at sixe a clocke the wind was at the North North-east. The sixe and twentieth day, all the forenoone [ 40] faire weather and cold: but in the afternoone it blew very hard, being close hasie weather, that about two a clocke this afternoone wee tooke in our sailes and hulled with our ship till the next morning at foure a clocke, all the time that we sayled this day we past through many led∣ges of Ice hauing great quantitie to the Northward of vs, and hauing runne about twentie one leagues true vpon a West course. And note where I put this word true, I meane the true course, the variation of the Compasse, and other accidents allowed.

The seuen and twentieth day close foggy weather with much snow freezing on our shrowds and tackling: the like we had not all this yeare before: but towards foure a clocke in the afternoone it began to cleere vp, and about fiue a clocke we saw Land, being the Iland of Resolution, and bearing West from vs about thirteene or fourteene leagues. This morning we set sayle, and stood [ 50] to and fro as the Ice would suffer vs, and at ten at night, wee moored our ship to a piece of Ice, the wind being at West.

The eight and twentieth day being Whitsunday, it was faire weather, but the winde was at the West, and West by North: al this day we were fast to the piece of Ice. Yet we plainly percei∣ued that we set a great deale more into the Streights with the floud. Then we set forth with the ebbe the nine and twentieth day, the wind was variable, and faire weather: about eleuen a clock we set saile and tacked to and fro along by the Iland. And about two a clocke the next mor∣ning, the wind came to the South South-east, but we had so much Ice that we could doe but lit∣tle good with a faire wind, the wind continued all this day and night a stiffe gale:* 1.5 this night (or rather Euening, because it was not darke at all) we were set within the point of the Iland: so [ 60] that now we were within the Streights.

The one & thirtieth day also faire weather, the wind for the most part at North North-west, the afternoone being cleere wee saw the point of the South shoare, called Buttons Iles, to beare from vs due South by the Compasse, which is indeed South South-east, somewhat Eastward,* 1.6 be∣cause here the Compasse is varied to the Westwards twentie foure degrees.

The first of Iune, wee had some snow in the forenoone, but very faire weather in the after∣noone, the wind at West North-west. We perceiuing the Ice to be more open close aboord the shoare, made the best way we could to get in, and to come to Anchor, if the place were conue∣nient; and by seuen a clocke we were in a good Harbour, on the North-west side of the Iland of Resolution, where an East South-east Moone maketh full Sea, or halfe an houre past seuen on the change day, as Sea-men account the water doth rise and fall, neere foure fathomes; the Com∣passe doth vary to the West 24. degrees 6. minutes, and is in longitude West from London 66. degrees 35. minutes. The breadth of the South Channell, or the distance betweene the Iland and the South shoare, is sixteene leagues, and the North Channell is eight miles wide in the narrowest place.

Vpon this Iland we went on shoare, but found no certaine signe of Inhabitants, but the tract [ 10] of Beares and Foxes, Rockes and stonie ground, hardly any thing growing thereon: it is indif∣ferent high Land to the Northward, hauing one high Hill or Hummocke on the North-east side, but to the Southward it falleth away very low.

The second of Iune in the morning the wind came vp at East South-east, with much snow and fowle weather: about noone wee weighed Anchor, and stood vp along by the Iland, so well as the Ice would giue vs leaue to get to the North shoare. Wee continuing our courses so neere the North shoare, as conueniently we could, with much variable weather and windes, but sted∣fast in continuance among Ice, till the eight day, hauing the wind full contrary to vs, and being somewhat neere a point of Land, or rather a company of Ilands, which after wee called Sauage Iles,* 1.7 hauing a great Sound or In-draught, betweene the North shoare and them. At sixe a clocke [ 20] we came to Anchor neere one of them, being the Eastermost sauing one. But whiles wee were furling our sailes,* 1.8 we heard and saw a great company of Dogges running vp and downe, with such howling and barking, that it seemed very strange. Shortly after we had moored our ship, we sent our Boat somewhat neerer the shoare, to see if they could perceiue any people; who retur∣ning, told vs that there were Tents and Boats, or Canowes, with a great many Dogges, but peo∣ple they saw none. After Prayer, when our men had supt, wee fitted our Boate and our selues with things conuenient: then my selfe with seuen others landed, and went to their Tents, where finding no people, we marched vp to the top of a Hill (being about a flight shot off) where we saw one great Canow or Boat, which had about fourteene men in it, being on the furthest, [ 30] or North-west point of the Iland,* 1.9 and from vs somewhat more then a Musket shot. Then I cal∣led vnto them, vsing some words of Groenlandish speech, making signes of friendship. They did the like to vs; but seeing them so fearefull of vs, and we not willing to trust them, I made ano∣ther signe to them, shewing them a Knife and other Trifles, which I left on the top of the Hill, and returned downe to their Tents againe. There wee found some Whale Finnes to the num∣ber of fortie or fiftie, with a few Seale skinnes which I tooke aboord, leauing Kniues, Beades, and Counters instead thereof; and amongst their houses I found a little bagge, in which was a company of little Images of men;* 1.10 one the Image of a woman with a child at her backe, all the which I brought away.

Among these Tents being fiue in number, all couered with Seales skinnes, were running vp [ 40] and downe,* 1.11 about thirtie fiue or fortie Dogges; most of them muzled. They were of our mun∣grell Mastiffes, being of a brinded blacke colour, looking almost like Wolues. These Dogges they vse in stead of Horses, or rather as the Lappians doe their Deere, to draw their sleds from place to place ouer the Ice: their sleds are shod or lined with great bones of fishes to keepe them from wearing, and their Dogges haue Collars and Furniture very fitting.

* 1.12These people haue their Apparell, Boots, Tents, and other necessaries much like to the Inha∣bitants in Groineland, sauing that they are not so neate and artificiall, seeming to bee more rude and vnciuill, ranging vp and downe as their fishing is in season. For in most places where wee came ashoare, we saw where people had beene, although not this yeere; but where their Habita∣tion or their abode in Winter is, I cannot well coniecture.

* 1.13This Iland lyeth in the latitude of 62. degrees 30. minutes, and in longitude West from Lon∣don, [ 50] 72. degrees or neere thereabouts, being sixtie leagues from the entrance of the Streights: here the Compasse doth varie 27. degrees 30. minutes, and a South-east Moone foure degrees East maketh a full Sea: it doth ebbe and flow almost as much water, as it doth at the Resolution, and here the floud commeth from the Eastward, although our Master was of opinion to the contrarie.

The tenth day in the morning, at sixe a clocke we set sayle, the winde at North, which con∣tinued not, but was very variable till noone, and then it came to North-west, we hauing sayled along by the shoare, about some nine leagues and an halfe North North-west, the Ice lying so thicke in the offen, that wee could not well get out of it: then perceiuing a good Harbour betweene two small Ilands and the Mayne, wee went in with our ship, where wee moored her, [ 60] and stayed till the twelfth day at Euening.

In this place it is high water on the change day, at nine of the clocke, or a South-east Moone maketh a full Sea: the latitude of this place is 62. degrees 40. minutes; and the floud doth come

from the Eastward, although our Master was perswaded otherwise, as well in this place, as at Saluage Ilands: for being among Ilands, euery point hath his seuerall set and eddie. But I going to the top of the Iland, plainely perceiued the Ice to come from the South-east, and from the North-west on the ebbe. In this place is no signe of people, as we could perceiue.

The sixteenth day, lying still in the Ice, the weather being very close and hasey, as it hath beene these six dayes: and being neere a great company of Ilands, in the afternoone, the winde being at West North-west, wee stood in amongst these Ilands, and in the euening we moared our Shippe to one of them in a small coue, the better to defend her from the Ice. In this place wee stayed all the seuenteenth day: and vpon the eighteenth, being Sunday, about eleuen a clocke [ 10] we set sayle, being almost calme, making the best way wee could to get forth. Here are a great company of Ilands, each hath his seuerall set and eddy, that the Ice doth so runne to and fro,* 1.14 and with such violence, that our Shippe was in more safetie further off then in this place: the lati∣tude of the Ile we rode by is 63. degrees 26. minutes, and longitude West from London, neere 72. degrees 25. minutes: the Compasse hath variation 27. degrees 46. minutes; and at a quar∣ter of an houre after nine on the Change day, doth make a full Sea. This Euening, and the next morning, wee had a faire steering gale of winde at South-east, wee standing along by the Land, it beeing all small broken Ilands, to a point of Land about twelue leagues in distance from the Ile wee put last from: which Point, I called Broken Point,* 1.15 it being indeede a point of broken Iles.

[ 20] On the nineteenth day, by twelue a clocke at noone, wee were about foure miles from the Point before named, fast inclosed with Ice, very faire weather; and well we might haue called this Point Fairenesse or Faire Point, for from this day till the thirtieth day, the weather was so faire, and almost, or altogether calme, that in few places elsewhere, finer weather could not be; and till the seuen and twentieth at night, wee were so fast inclosed vp with Ice, that at some times one could not well dippe a paile of water by the Ship sides: while wee were thus fast in the Ice, vpon the one and twentieth day, I saw both the Sunne and Moone at one time, as indeede it is vsuall in faire weather.

This one and twentieth, being faire weather, as afore is said, and I seeing both the Sunne and Moone so faire: I thought it a fit time to make an obseruation for the longitude.* 1.16

[ 30] But the two and twentieth day being very faire and cleare, and also calme, being almost as steedy as on shoare: it was no neede to bid me fit my Instrument of variation to take the time of the Moones comming to the Meridian, hauing also my quadrant ready to take the Sunnes almi∣canter, it being indifferent large, as of foure foote semi••••amiter: haue taken the variation of my needle as precisely as possible I could, which was 28. degrees 20. minutes West, and if any be desirous to worke the same, they may, but my worke was as followeth.

The Sunnes almicanter, at the instant when the Moone was on the Meridian, was 26. de∣grees 40. minutes: and the Sunnes declination for that time 23. degrees 6. minutes. By which three things giuen, I found the houre to be fiue a clocke 4. minutes 52. seconds, 1. third 4. fourths, or 76. degrees, 13. minutes, 16. seconds, of the equinoctiall afternoone: and according to Searles Ephe∣merides, [ 40] the Moone came to the Meridian at London at foure a clocke 54. minutes, 30. seconds: and after Origanus the Moone came to the Meridian at foure a clocke 52. minutes, 5. seconds, at Wittenberge the same day. Now hauing this knowne, it is no hard matter to finde the longitude of this place sought. For according to the Moones meane motion, which is 12. degrees a day, that is in time 48. minutes: and to this account, if she be on the Meridian at twelue a clock this day, to morrow it will be 48. min. past 12. So I hauing the time found by obseruation at this place, viz. 5. houres, 4. minutes, 52. seconds, 1. third 4. fourths: but in this I neede not come so precise: and at London, at 4. houres, 54. minutes, 30. seconds: which substracted from the former, leaueth 10. mi∣nutes, 22. seconds, 1. third, 4. fourths, now the Moones motion that foure and twentie houres, was 22. degrees, 38. minutes: which conuerted into time, is 50. minutes 25. seconds 20. thirds: then the proportion standeth thus; If 50. minutes, 25. seconds, 20. thirds, giue 360. degrees, what [ 50] shall 10. minutes, 22. seconds, 1. third, 4. fourths giue? the fourth proportionall, will be 74. degrees 5. minutes, which is West of London; because the Moone came later by 10. minutes, 22. seconds, and by the same working by Origanus Ephemerides, the distance is 91. degrees, 35. minutes, West of West. But whether be the truer, I leaue to others to iudge: in these workings may some er∣rour be committed, if it be not carefully looked vnto: as in the obseruation, and also in finding what time the Moone commeth to the Meridian, at the place where the Ephemerides is suppu∣tated for, and perchance in the Ephemerides themselues: in all which, the best iudicious may erre: yet if obseruations of this kinde, or some other, at places farre remote, as at the Cape Bo∣nasperanze, Bantam, Iapan, Noua Albion, and Magellan Straits, I suppose wee should haue a truer [ 60] Geography then we haue. And seeing I am entred to speake of celestiall obseruations, I will note another which I made the twenty sixt of April, being outward bound at Sea, by the Moones comming in a right line, with two fixed Starres; the one was the Lyons heart, a Starre of the first magnitude; the other a Starre in the Lyons rumpe, of the second magnitude, as followeth: The circumference or outward edge of the Moone, being in a right or straight line, with those

two Starres before named: at the instant I tooke the altitude of the South ballance, which was 2. degrees 38. minutes, because I would haue the time: but in this it is good to waite a fit time, as to haue her in a right line, with two Stars not farre distant, and those not to be much different in longitude, because the Moon will soone alter the angle or position, and such a time would be ta∣ken when the Moone is in the nintieth degree of the eclipticke aboue the horizon, for then there no paralell of longitude, but onely in latitude: but who so is painefull in these businesses, shall soone see what is needefull, and what is not: my obseruations were as followeth:

• Lyons heart Right assention 46. deg. 28. min. 30. sec. Lyons rumpe. Right assention 163. deg. 23. min. 00. se.
• Lyons heart Declination—13. deg. 57. mi. 30. sec. Lyons rumpe. Declination—22. deg. 38. min 00. se.
• Lyons heart Longitude—24. deg. 29. mi. 45. sec. Lyons rumpe. Longitude—5. deg. 53. min. 45. sec. [ 10]
• Lyons heart Latitude—00. deg. 26. min. 30. sec. Lyons rumpe. Latitude—14. deg. 20. min. 00. sec.
• Lyons heart Almicanter—33. deg. 40. min. 00. se. Lyons rumpe.

• Moones Paralax—00. deg. 47. min. 46. sec. North.
• Moones Latitude—03. deg. 20. min. 00. sec. North.
• Moones Almicanter—37, deg. 00. min. 00. sec. North.
• Latitude of the place—56. deg. 43. min.

These notes I haue set downe, that if any other be desirous to trie, they may spend a little time therein; my selfe haue spent some therein, and more I would haue spent, if leisure would haue permitted: but finding it not to my minde, I haue not here set downe my particular worke: the working of this obseruation I receiued from Master Rudston.* 1.17 [ 20]

But if it had pleased God, we had performed the action we were bound for, I would not feare but to haue brought so good contentment to the Aduenturers, concerning the true scituation of notable places, that small doubt should haue beene thereof: but seeing so small hopes are in this place, I haue not set downe so many obseruations as otherwise I would.

We lying here inclosed with the Ice with faire & calme weather (as before is said) till the seuen and twentieth day at euening, at which time we set sayle; the winde at South-east, an easie gale: all the eight and twentieth and nine and twentieth dayes, we made the best way through the Ice we could, but the nine and twentieth day, the Ice was more open then it had beene these ten dayes before, and at noone we saw Salisbury Iland, it bearing due West from vs.

The first of Iuly close foggie weather, with much raine, the winde at South South-east: by [ 30] noone this day we were some three leagues from the Land: but hauing much Ice by the shoare, we stood along the Iland to the Northward: and the next morning wee were faire by another small Ile, or rather a company of small Ilands, which after we called Mill Iland, by reason of grinding the Ice,* 1.18 as this night we made proofe thereof: at noone, being close to this Ile, wee took the latitude thereof, which is neere 64. degrees. Here driuing to and fro with the Ice all this day, till seuen or eight a clocke, at what time the Ice began to open and seperate; The Ice, as is said, beginning to open: we had not stood along by the Ile, on the East side thereof, an houre; but the Ice came driuing with the tide of floud from the South-east, with such swiftnesse, that it ouer went our Shippe hauing all our sayles abroad with a reasonable gale of winde, and put her out of the streame, into the eddy of these Iles. [ 40]

This Iland or Iles, lying in the middle of the channell, hauing many sounds running through them, with many points or headlands, encountering the force of the tide, caused such a rebound of water & Ice (which ran one way, and the streame another) our ship hauing met the Ice with the first of the floud, which put her so neere the shoare, that she was in the partition betweene the Ice, which the eddy caused to runne one way, and the streame the other, where shee endured great distresse; but God, which is still stronger then either Ice or streame, preserued vs and our Shippe from any harme at all. This continued till towards a high water, which was about one a clocke; then with no small trouble we got into the channell, and stood away to the North-west ward. After we had past some distance from this Iland, wee had the Sea more open then it was since we put first into the Straits; and sailed all the next day through an indifferent cleare [ 50] Sea, with the winde at South-west: but towards eight a clocke at night, wee were come a∣gaine into much Ice; this Ice being more thicker and bigger then any wee had beene among: this place where we began to be inclosed againe, is sixe and twenty leagues distant from the small Iland we were at last: and our true course North-west by West: after wee were fast in the Ice, we made but small way, yet we perceiued a great tyde to set to and fro. The next day, wee sounded, and had ground at one hundred & twentie fathoms, soft Osey ground: standing more Nor∣therly: the next morning we had ground at eightie fathoms, then the winde came to the North, and we setting somewhat Southward, had ground at a hundred and ten fathoms. Thus seeing this great abundance of Ice in this place, and the more we got to the North-west ward, the shoalder it was, the Ice also being foule and durtie, as not bred farre from shoare: our Master determined to stand to the Eastward, to be certainely informed of the tide. [ 60]

The sixt day in the morning, we brake in a planke and two timbers in our Ships bow, which after we had mended, we proceeded for to get to the East side, which we called the North shoare, because it is the Land stretching from the Resolution, on the North side of the Straits.

The seuenth day we saw the land, it being but low land, and the Sea is shoald, in respect of o∣ther places, hauing ten or twelue fathom about a league off from shoare, some thirty fathoms fiue or six leagues off shore, but further off some twenty or eighteene leagues, there is a hundred or a hundred and fiue fathoms; hauing very good channell ground, as small stones & shels, some twelue or foureteene leagues from shoare, but the further off the more Osey: and also here is a very great tide runneth to the Northward, which this euening we found to be the tyde of ebbe, for comming with our Shippe neere the shoare, about seuen a clocke, we hoysed out our Boate, then I with fiue other went on shoare, and found it to ebbe: we staied on shoare about an houre and a halfe, in which time the water fell about three foote and a halfe, and a South-south East Moone ma∣keth a full Sea, or halfe an houre past tenne, as Sea men account: we saw no signe of people to be [ 10] here this yeare, but in yeares heretofore they haue beene, as we might well see by diuers places▪ where their tents had stood: and perchance their time of fishing was not yet come, there being such great abundance of Ice as yet.

The eight day the winde was at West, and the ninth almost calme: wee reeking neere to this shoare the tenth day, our Master determined to stand for Nottinggams Iland▪* 1.19 to make triall of the tide there; yet the winde was at South-west, so that we were forced to turne, but towards night it came to the North North-west, so that then we stood away to the West wards, leauing the search of Nottinggams Ile, hauing a great swelling Sea, come out of the West with the winde which had blowne, which put vs in some hope: the eleuenth day in the morning, we saw Land West from vs, but had no ground at one hundred & thirty fathoms: so standing along by the Land [ 20] which here lay about North-west by North, the next morne we were thwart of a Bay: then standing ouer to the Northwards towards a faire Cape or head land which we saw, in the after∣noone it was almost calme, and being about a league from shoare, we hoysed out our Boat, and sent some of our men in her, to see what tide it was by the shoare, and from whence it came; they went from the Ship at fiue a clock, and came aboord againe at eight, who brought vs word, that it was falling water, and that it had eb'd while they were on shoare somewhat aboue two foot: also they affirmed, that the floud came from the Northward in this place, the which we also percei∣ued by the setting of our Ship, she setting a pace to the Northward, although no whit of winde: also we might see by the rocks, that the water was now falne: this put vs in great comfort and hope of a passage in this place.

[ 30] Then our Master called this Cape or head land, Cape Comfort, for the reasons beforesaid;* 1.20 also we had one hundred and fortie fathoms in depth, not a league from the shoare: and here a South by East Moone maketh a full Sea: the latitude of this Cape is 65. degrees 00. min. and 85. degrees 20. minutes West from London. But this our sudaine comfort was as soone quailed, for the next day hauing doubled the Cape, and proceeded not past ten or twelue leagues, but we saw the land trending from the Cape to the Westward, till it bare from vs North-east by East, and very thicke pestered with Ice, and the further we proceeded, the more Ice, and the more Northerly, the shoul∣der water and small shew of any tide. At six a clocke this afternoone, we sounded, & had ground in o••e hundred and thirty fathoms, soft Osey, hauing had at noone one hundred & fiftie fathoms.

This was the farthest of our Voyage, being in ••he latitude of 65. degrees 26. minutes, and longi∣tude [ 40] West from London 86. degrees 10. minutes: for seeing the land North-east by East, from vs about nine or ten leagues off, and the Ice so thicke: our Master was fully perswaded, that this was nought else but a Bay, and so tacked and turned the Shippes head homewards, without any far∣ther search.

The fourteenth day, the winde was for the most part at South-east, that we could make but small way backe againe: and the next morning very foule weather, we comming to an Anchor in a small Inlet, neere the Cape Comfort, on the North-west side thereof; here wee found, as on the other side, a South by East Moone, to make a full Sea; but from whence the floud came, we could not well see, it being so foule weather at Sea: in the afternoone the winde came to North by West: then we waied, and stood along to the Southwards by the shoare, with a stiffe gale of [ 50] winde, and very hasey. By the sixteenth day at noone we met with a great quantitie of Ice, ly∣ing some few leagues within the point of the Land: among this Ice we saw a great number of Sea Morse, not seeing any more in all the Straits but here, and these very fearefull, not suffering a Ship or Boat to come neere them: by eight a clock we were come to this Southern point, which I called Sea Horse point, where we came to anchor open in the Sea, the better to try the tide:* 1.21 here most apparently we found to all our companies sight, that in this place the tide of floud doth come from the South-east, and the ebbe from the Northwest. We weighed, and stood ouer with a stiffe gale of winde, which continued all this day, and toward night very foule weather & a sore storme: by tenne a clocke we were come to Anchor on the North-west side of Nottinghams Ile, [ 60] where are two or three smal Iles, lyeth off from the greater, which make very good Sounds & Har∣bors: about this Ile we had store of Ice, but nothing as we had heretofore in other places. We staied about this Iland til the seuen and twentieth day, hauing much foule weather, many stormes, often fogs, and vncertaine windes, many times we weighed anchor to goe to that side of the Ile, where this Ship road when Captaine Button was in her: finding in other places of this Ile the tyde of

floud to come from the South-east ward, and the time of high water on the change day, to be at halfe an houre past ten, and not at halfe an houre past seuen, as they supposed. In these ten dayes we staied about this Ile, we fitted our Ship with ballast, and other necessaries, as we had neede of.

Then proceeded as followeth the sixe and twentieth day, being indifferent faire weather, we passed betweene Salisburies Ile and Nottinghams Ile at the South Point thereof,* 1.22 I meane of Not∣tinghams Ile, where are many small low Iles, without the which had beene a fit place for vs to haue anchored, to haue found out the true set of the Tyde. But our Master being desirous to come to the same place where they had rode before, stood along by this Ile to the Westward, and came to an anchor in the eddy of these broken grounds, where the ship rode at no certaintie of Tyde.

The seuen and twentieth, the next morning the weather proued very foule with much raine [ 10] and winde, so that our Reger anchor would not hold the ship at eightie fathoms scope, but was driuen into deepe water, that wee were forced to set saile, the winde being at East, and then come to the East North-east and about noone at North-east, still foule weather, being vnder saile, we stood away towards Sea horse Point: our Master (as I suppose) was perswaded that there might bee some passage betweene that Point of Land and that Land which they called Swan Iland: so this afternoone we saw both Sea horse Point and Nottinghams Iland, the distance betweene them is not past fifteene or sixteen leagues,* 1.23 bearing the one from the other North-west and South-east.

The eight and twentieth day in the morning, wee were neere to Sea horse Point, the Land trending away West South-west so farre as wee saw, and very much pestred with Ice. At seuen [ 20] a clocke our Master caused vs to tacke about, and stood away South-east and by South.

* 1.24The nine and twentieth the next day at eleuen a clocke, we came to anchor at Digges Ile, ha∣uing very foule weather. At this place where we rode it lyeth open to the West, hauing two of the greatest Iles, breake off the force of the Flood, till the Tyde be well bent; for after the water were risen an houre and a halfe by the shoare, then would the ship ride truly on the Tyde of Flood all the Tyde after. Now the time of high water on the change day, is halfe an houre past ten or neere thereabout.

The thirtieth day, being faire weather, wee weighed and stood along close by Digges Ile, where we presently perceiued the Saluages to bee close on the top of the Rocks:* 1.25 but when they saw we had espyed them, diuers of them came running downe to the water side, calling to vs to [ 30] come to anchor, which we would haue done if conueniently we could. But in this place the wa∣ter is so deepe, that it is hard to finde a place to ride in, which we seeing lay to and fro with our ship, while some of our men in the Boat killed about some seuentie fowles, for in this place is the greatest number of fowles (whom we call Willocks) that in few places else the like are not seene,* 1.26 for if neede were we might haue killed many thousands, almost incredible to those which haue not seene it. Here also as we lay to and fro with our ship, wee had sufficient proofe of the set of the Tyde: but when our men were come aboord againe, we set all our sailes for homewards, ma∣king the best expedition we could; but on the third of August, wee were forced to come to an∣chor about thirtie leagues within the Resolution Ile on the North shoare. The next day wee weighed anchor: And the fifth day in the forenoone, we past by the Resolution Iland, but saw it [ 40] not: Thus continuing our courses (as in the briefe Iournall may be seene) with much contrarie windes and foule weather.

Wee had sight of Cape Cleere in Ireland the sixt of September: the next morning by day light, we were faire by Seely, and that night at two a clocke the next morne, we came to anchor in Plymouth Sound with all our men liuing, hauing onely three or foure sicke, which soone recouered.

The next yeere being againe employed in discouerie, amongst other instructions they receiued this. For your course you must make all possible haste to the Cape Desolation, and from thence, you William Baffin as Pilot, keepe along the Coast of Groenland and vp Fretum Dauis, vntill you come toward the [ 50] height of eightie degrees, if the Land will giue you leaue. Then for feare of inbaying, by keeping too Northerly a course, shape your course West and Southerly, so farre as you shall thinke it conuenient, till you come to the latitude of sixtie degrees: then direct your course to fall with the Land of Yedzo about that height, leauing your farther sayling Southward to your owne discretion, according as the time of the yeere and windes will giue you leaue, although our desires be, if your voyage proue so prosperous that you may haue the yeere before you, that you goe so farre Southerly as that you may touch the North part of Iapan, from whence or from Yedzo, if you can so compasse it without danger, we would haue you to bring home one of the men of the Countrey, and so God blessing you with all expedition to make your returne home againe.

[ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first by Huds•••• in which hee pe∣rished; the se∣cond by Sir Tho••a•• Button, the third by Captaine Gib∣bins.
• * 1.2

  Groenland. Cape Farewell▪
• * 1.3

  High Icie Ilands.
• * 1.4

  Ile of Resolution▪
• * 1.5

  No night.
• * 1.6

  Variation 24. degrees.
• * 1.7

  Sauage Iles.
• * 1.8

  Dogges.
• * 1.9

  Great Boat with 14. men.
• * 1.10

  Bagge of Ima∣ges.
• * 1.11

  Their Dogges described.
• * 1.12

  The people described.
• * 1.13

  Situation.
• * 1.14

  Many Ilands and seuerall tyde Sets.
• * 1.15

  Brok••n Point.
• * 1.16

  Obseruations of longitude.
• * 1.17

  Master Rudston.
• * 1.18

  Mill Iland.
• * 1.19

  Nottinggams Iland.
• * 1.20

  Cape Comfort.
• * 1.21

  Sea Horse point▪
• * 1.22

  Salisburie Ile.
• * 1.23

  Swan Iland.
• * 1.24

  Digges Ile.
• * 1.25

  Saluages.
• * 1.26

  Willocks.