Pilgrimage, Book 8 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of the North parts of the New World (Groenland, Estotiland, Meta Incognita, and other Places) vntounto New Fraunce.
AMerica is commonly diuided by that Isthmus, or necke and narrow passage of Land at Darien, into two parts; the one called Northerne America, or Mexicana; the other Southerne, or Peruana. This trendeth betwixt the Darien and Magellan Straits: that, from thence Northwards, where the Confines are yet vnknowne. For it is not yet fully discouered, whether it ioyneth somewhere to the Continent of Asia, or whether Groenland, and some other parts, accounted Ilands, ioyne with it. These were discouered before the dayes of Columbus, and yet remaine almost couered in obscuritie, and were therefore iustly tearmed aDiscourse of Fro… shirs voyages by George Best. Voyage 3.Meta Incognita, by Great Elizabeth, the best knowne and most renowmed Ladie of the World. The first knowledge that hath come to vsus of those parts, was by Nicholas and Antonie Zeni, two brethren, Venetians. Happie Italie, that first, in this last Age of the World, hast discouered the great Discouerers of the World, to whome we owe our M. Paulus, Odoricus, Vert…mannus, for the East; Columbus, Vespucius, Cabot, for the West; these noble Zeni for the North: and the first encompassing the Worlds wide compasse, vntounto Pigafetta's Discourse, companion of Magellan in his iourney: that I speake not of the paines of Russelli, Ramusius, Boterus, and a world of Italian Authors, that (I thinke more then any other Language) hauehave by their historicall labours discouered the World to it selfe. Vnhappie Italie, that still hast beaten the bush, for others to catch the Bird, and hast inherited nothing in these Easterne and Westerne Worlds, excepting thy Catholike clayme, whereby the Catholike and Spanish Sword makes way for the CatholikeRomane Crowne and Keyes: Neither the Sword of Paul, nor the Keyes of Peter; for both these were b2.Cor.4.spirituall. But to returne to our Venetians. cThe discoueries of M. Nic. & Ant. Zeni gathered out of their letters by Francisco Marcolino. They are related by M. Hakluyt in his 3.vol part.121.In the yeare 1380 Master Nicolo Zeno being wealthie, and of a haughtie spirit, desiring to see the fashions of the World, built and furnished a Shippe at his owne charges, and passing the Straits of Gibraltar, held on his course Northwards, with intent to see England and Flanders. But a violent Tempest assayling him at Sea, hee was carried hee knew not whither, till at last his Shippe was cast away vponupon the Isle of Frisland; where the men and most part of the goods were saued. In vaine seemes that deliuerie, that deliuers vp presently to another Executioner. The Ilanders, like Neptunes hungrie groomes, or base and blacke gard, set vponupon the men whome the Seas had spared: but here also they found a second escape, by meanes of a Prince named Zichmui, Prince of that and many Ilands thereabouts: who being neere hand with his Armie, came at the out-cry, and chasing away the people, tooke them into protection.
This Zichmui had the yeare before giuen the ouerthrow to the King of Norway, and was a great aduenturer in feates of Armes. He spake to them in Latine; and placed them in his Nauie, wherewith he wonne diuerse Ilands. Nicole behaued himselfe so well, both in sauing the Fleet by his Sea-skill, and in conquest of the Ilands by his valour, that Zichmui made him Knight, and Captaine of his Nauie.
After diuerse notable Exploits, Nicolo armed three Barkes, with which he arrived in Engroneland: where he found a Monasterie of Friers, of the Preachers Order, and a Church dedicated to Saint Thomas, hard by a Hill, that casteth out fire like Vessvius and Aetna. There is a Fountaine of hot water, with which they heat the Church of the Monasterie, and the Friers chambers. It commeth also into the Kitchin so boyling hote, that they vse no other fire to dresse their meat; and putting their Bread into Brasse Pots without any water, it doth bake as it were in an hote Ouen. They hauehave also small Gardens, which are couered ouer in the Winter time, and being watered with this water, are defended from the violence of the Frost and Cold, and bring forth Flowers in their due seasons. The common people astonished with these strange effects, conceiue highly of those Friers, and bring them presents of Flesh and other things.
They with this Water, in the extremitie of the Cold, heat their Chambers, which also (as the other buildings of the Monasterie) are framed of those burning stones, which the mouth of the Hill casts forth. They cast water on some of them, whereby they are dissolued, and become excellent white Lime, and so tough, that being contriued in building, it lasteth for euer. The rest, after the fire is out, serue in stead of stones to make Walls and Vaults, and will not dissolue, or breake, except with some yron toole.
Their Winter lasteth nine moneths: and yet there is a faire Hauen, where this water falleth into the Sea, not frozen: by meanes whereof there is great resort of wilde Fowle and Fish, which they take in infinite multitudes. The Fishers Boates are made like to a Weauers Shuttle, of the skinnes of Fishes, fashioned with the bones of the same Fishes, and beeing sowed together with many doubles, they are so strong, that in foule weather they will shut themselues within the same, not fearing the force eyther of Sea, or Winde. Neither can the hard-hearted Rockes breake these yeelding Vessells. They hauehave also (as it were) a Sleeue in the bottome thereof, by which, with a subtile deuise, they conuey the water forth, that soaketh into them. The most of these Friers spake the Latine Tongue.
A little after this, Nicole returned, and died in Frisland, whither his brother Antonio had before resorted to him, and now succeeded both in his goods and honour; whome Zichmni employed in the Expedition for Estotiland: which happened vponupon this occasion. Six and twentie yeares before, foure Fisher-Boates were apprehended at Sea by a mightie and tedious storme; wherewith, after many dayes, they were brought to Estotiland, aboue a thousand myles West from Frisland: vponupon which, one of the Boates was cast away, and six men that were in it, were taken and brought to a populous Citie; where, one that spake Latine, and had beene cast by chaunce vponupon that Iland, in the name of the King asked them what countreymen they were; and vnderstanding their case, hee acquainted the King therewith. They dwelt there fiue yeares, and found it to be an Iland very rich, beeing little lesse then Iseland, but farre more fruitfull. One of them said saw Latine Bookes in the Kings Librarie, which they at this present doe not vnderstand. They hauehave a peculiar Language, and Letters, or Characters, to themselues. They hauehave Mines of Gold; and other Mettalls, and hauehave Trade with Engroneland. They sow Corne, and make Beere and Ale. They build Barkes (but know not the vse of the Compasse) and hauehave many Cities and Castles. The King sent these Fishermen with twelue Barkes Southwards, to a Countrey which they call Drogio: in which Voyage escaping dreadfull Tempests at Sea, they encountred with Canniballs at Land, which deuoured many of them. These Fishers shewing them the manner of taking Fish with Nets, escaped: and for the presents which they made of their Fish to the chiefe men of the Countrey, were beloued and honoured. One of these (more expert, it seemeth, then the rest) was holden in such account, that a great Lord made warre with their Lord to obtaine him: and so preuailed, that he and his companie were sent vntounto him. And in this order was he sent to fiue and twentie Lords, which had warred one with another to get him, in thirteene yeares space: whereby he came to know almost all those parts; which, he said, was a great Countrey, and (as it were) a New World. The people are all rude, and void of goodnesse: they goe naked, neither hauehave they wit to couer their bodies with the Beasts skinnes, which they take in Hunting, from the vehement cold. They are fierce, and eate their enemies, hauing diuerse Lawes and Gouernours. Their liuing is by Hunting.
Further to the Southwest, they are more ciuill, and hauehave a more temperate Ayre: They hauehave Cities and Temples dedicated to Idols, where they sacrifice men, and after eate them; and hauehave also some vse of Gold and Siluer.
He fledde away secretly, and conueying himselfe from one Lord to another, came at length to Drogio, where hee dwelt three yeares. After this time finding there certaine Boates of Estotiland, he went thither with them: and growing there very rich, furnished a Barke of his owne, and returned into Frisland; where hee made report vntounto his Lord of that wealthie Countrey. Zichumi prepared to send thither: but three dayes before they set forth, this Fisherman died. Yet taking some of the Mariners which came with him, in his stead, they prosecuted the Voyage, and encountred, after many dayes, an Iland; where tenene men, of diuerse Languages, were brought vntounto them, of which they could vnderstand none, but one of Iseland. He told them, That the Iland was called Icaria, and the Kings thereof called Icari, descended of the auncient pedegree of Dedalus, King of Scots: who conquering that Iland, left his sonne there for King, and left them those Lawes, which to that present they retained. And, that they might keepe their Lawes inuiolate, they would receiue no stranger. OnelyOnly they were contented to receiue one of our men, in regard of the Language, as they had done those tenne Interpreters.
Zichumi sayling hence, in foure dayes descried Land, where they found abundance of Fowle, and Birds egges, for their refreshing. The Hauen they called Cape Trin. There was a Hill, which burning, cast out smoake: where was a Spring, from which issued a certaine water like Pitch, which ranne into the Sea. The people of small stature, wilde, and fearefull, hidde themselues in Caues. Zichumi built there a Citie, and determining to inhabite, sent Antonio backe againe, with the most of his people, to Frisland.
This Historie I hauehave thus inserted at large, which perhaps, not without cause in some things, may seeme fabulous; not in the Zeni, which thus writ, but in the relations which they receiued from others. Howsoeuer, the best Geographers dAbrah. Ortel. Ch…rt. 6.Hak. vol.3. B…ero Magi…us.are beholden to these brethren, for that little knowledge they hauehave of these parts; of which, none before had written: nor since hauehave there beene any great in-land Discoueries.
Somewhat since there hath beene discouered by Gaspar Cortereale, a Portugall; Stephen Gomes, a Spaniard, and Sebastian Cabot: and more by later Pilots, of our Nation; but little of the disposition of the In-land people. Yea, it is thought to be all broken Ilands, and not inhabited, but at certaine seasons frequented by some Sauages, which come thither to fish. Such as wee can, in due order wee here bestow.
Sebastian *Ramus. in praesat. in 3.Vol.Cabot, in the yeare 1497, at the charge of King Henry the seuenth, discouered to the threescore and seuenth degree and a halfe of Northerly latitude, minding to hauehave proceeded for the search of Cathay, but by the mutinie of the Mariners was forced to returne. The Mappe of Sebastian Cabot, cut by eClem. Adams. Hak.… 3.p.1.6Clement Adams, relateth, That Iohn Cabot, a Venetian, and his sonne Sebastian, set out from Bristoll, discouering the Land, called it Prima Vista, and the Iland before it, S. Iohns. The inhabitants weare Beasts skinnes. There were white Beares, and Stagges farre greater then ours. There were plentie of Seales, and Soles aboue a yard long. Hee named (sayth Peter fP. M…rt Dec.3.l.6.Martyr) certaine Ilands gCodfish.Baccalaos, of the store of those fish, which the inhabitants called by that name, which with their multitudes sometimes stayed his Shippes. The Beares caught these Fish with their clawes, and drew them to land, and eat them. In the time of hRob. Fabian. ap.Hak.vbi sup.H.7. (William Purchas being then Mayor of London) were brought vntounto the King three men, taken in the New-found Iland: these were clothe… in Beasts skinnes, and did eate raw flesh. But Cabot discouered all along the Coast to that which since is called Florida; and returning, found great preparations for Warres in Scotland, by reason whereof, no more consideration was had to this Voyage. Whereupon he went into Spaine; and being entertained by the King and Queene, was sent to discouer the Coasts of Brasil, and sayled vp into the Riuer of Plate more then six score Leagues. He was made Pilot Maior of Spaine: and after that, Anno 1549, was constituted Graund Pilot of England By King Edward the sixt, with the yearely Pension of an hundred threescore and six pounds, thirteene shillings, foure pence: Where, in the yeare 1553, he was chiefe dealer and procurer of the Discouerie of Russia, and the North-east Voyages, iSr Hugh Willoughby. R. Chancelor. Stephen Burrow. Pet, and lac. written by Hugh Smith, & all in Hak. to.1.made by Sir Hugh Willoughby, R. Chauncelour, Stephen Burrough, and prosecuted by Pet, Iackman, and others, towards Nou… Zemla, Persia, Tartaria, as in Master Hakluyts first Tome appeareth.
Anno 1500 kOsorius de reb. Eman l.2.Gaspar Corteregalis, a Portugall, minding new Discoueries, set forth a Shippe at his owne charge from Lisbone; and sayling farre North, at last came to a Land, which for the pleasantnesse thereof, he called Greene. The men, as he reported, were barbarous, browne-coloured, very swift, good Archers, clothed in Beasts skinnes. They liue in Caues, or base Cottages, without any Religion, but obserue Soothsayings. They vsed Marriages, and were very iealous. Returning into Portugall, hee sayled thitherward againe, Anno 1501. But what became of him, none can tell. His brother Michael Corteregalis the next yeare set forth two Shippes to make search for his brother, but he also was lost. The King Emanuel grieued herewith, sent to enquire of them, but all in vaine. Their brother Vasco would hauehave put himselfe on this aduenture, but the King would not suffer him. The name Greene vponupon this occasion was left, and the Land was called lCorterealis, or Laborador, extendeth from 60. degrees to the Riuer of S. Lawrence. G. Bot.Ben.Terra Corteregalis. Thus farre Osorius. It reacheth, according to Boterus reckoning, to the 60. degree. Let vsus come to our owne: For of Stephen mSteph.Gomes.Gomes little is left vsus but a ieast.
This Gomes hauing beene with Magellan a few yeares before, in his Discouerie of the South Sea, enlarged with hopes of new Straits, in the yeare 1525 set forth to search this Northerly passage. But finding nothing to his expectation, he laded his Shippe with slaues, and returned. nGaspar E…s, l.2.c.25 Hist.Ind.. At his returne, one that knew his intent, was for the Moluccas by that way, enquiring what he had brought home, was told Esclavos, that is, Slaues. He, fore-stalled with his owne imagination, had thought it was said Clavos, and so posted to the Court to carrie first newes of this Spicie Discouerie, looking for a great reward: but the truth being knowne, caused hereat great laughter.
Sir Martin Frobisher oSr Mart. Frob.deserueth the first place, as being first that in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth sought the Northwest passage in three seuerall Voyages. The first whereof was written by Christopher pChrist.Hall.Dionise Settle. The Ellis. George Best.Hall; the second, by Dionise Settle; the third, by Thomas Ellis; and all in one Discourse by M. George Best: all which, at large, the Reader may finde in M. Hackluyts laborious Discouerie of Discoueries. To speake briefely what may best befit vsus in our Pilgrimage: Sir Martin Frobisher sayled from Blackwall, Iune the fifteenth; and the eleuenth of Iuly *1576.had sight of Frisland, but could not get on shore for the abundance of Ice, which was also accompanied with an extreame Fogge, as double gard to that Iland (vncertaine whether to fortifie, or to imprison them.) The twentieth of Iuly he had sight of an high Land, which hee named qQueenes Foreland, and opposit thereto Halls Isle, in 62. degrees, 50. min.Elizabeths Foreland. Here was he much troubled with Ice: but sayling more Northerly, descried another Foreland, with a great Gutte, Bay, or Passage, which he entred, calling it Frobishers Straits, supposing it to be the diuision of Asia and America. Hauing entred threescore Leagues, he went on shore, and was encountred with mightie Deere, which ranne at him, with danger of his life. Here had he sight of the Sauages, which rowed to his Shippe in Boates of Seales skinnes, with a Keele of Wood within them, like a Spanish Shallop, saue onelyonly they be flat in the bottoms, and sharpe at both ends. They eate raw Flesh and Fish, or rather deuo… red the same … had long blacke hayre, broad faces, flat noses, tawnie of colour, or like an Oliue (which neither Sunne or Winde, but Nature it selfe, imprinted on them, as appeared by their infants; and seemeth to be the generall Liuerie of America.) Their Apparrell was Seales skinnes: their women were painted or marked downe the cheekes and about the eyes with blew streekes. These Sauages intercepted fiue of our men, and the Boat: Ours also tooke one of theirs, which they brought into England, where they arriued the second of October, rGaspar. Ens, l.2.Hist. Ind. Occid. c. 26. affirmeth, that one Iohn Scolve a Polonian, this yeare 1576 sayled beyond Frisland and Groc…land, and thence, to Estorland and Labrador.1576. He had taken possession of the Countrey in right of the Queene, and commaunded his companie to bring eueryevery one somewhat, in witnesse of the same. One brought a peece of blacke Stone, like Sea-coale, which was found to hold Gold in good quantitie. Whereupon a second Voyage was made the next yeare 1577, to bring Ore. And comming to those Straits in Iuly, found them in manner shut vp with a long Mure of Ice, which sometime endangered their Shippes, especially on the nineteenth of that monethmonth. They found a great dead Fish, round like a Porepis, twelue foot long, hauing fSuch a horne was brought home two ... yeres since, found on shore in a desolate Island; & such an one was taken vp A. 1588. in the coast of Norfolke, and sold by an ignorant woman for 18. pence, which proued effectuall against poisons, as I was told by M. …ob. Salmon of Leegh, who had a peece of it.a Horne of two yards, lacking two ynches, growing out of the Snout, wreathed and streight, like a Waxe Taper, and might be thought to be a Sea-Vnicorne. It was broken in the toppe, wherein some of the Saylers said they put Spiders, which presently died. It was reserued as Iewell by the Queenes commaundement, in her Wardrobe of Robes. They went on shore, and had some encounter with the inhabitants, which were of so fierce and terrible resolution, that finding themselues wounded, they leapt off the Rockes into the Sea, rather then they would fall into the hands of the English. The rest fledde. One woman, with her child, they tooke and brought away. They had taken another of the Sauages before. This Sauage had before, in the Shippe, seene the Picture of his Countreyman, taken the yeare before, thought him to be aliue, and began to be offended, that hee would not answere him; with wonder thinking, that our men could make men liue and die at their pleasure. But strange were the gestures and behauiour of this man and the woman, when they were brought together; which were put into the same Cabbin, and yet gaue such apparant signes of shamefastnesse and chastitie, … be a shame to Christians to come so farre short of them.
Where they could hauehave any Trade with the Sauages their manner of … was, to lay downe somewhat of theirs, and goe then way, expecting, that … men should lay downe somewhat in lieu thereof; and if they like of their Mart, they come againe, and take it: otherwise, they take away their owne, and depart. They made signes, that their Catchoe or King, was a man of higher stature then any of ours, and that hee was carried vponupon mens shoulders … They could not learne what became of the fiue men they lost the yeare before: onelyonly they found some of their apparrell; which made them thinke they were eaten. They laded themselues with Ore, and so returned. And with fifteene sayle the next yeare 1578, a third Voyage for discouerie was made by the said Captaine and Generall. He went on shore the twentieth of Iune on Frisland tFrisland is in length 25. leagues: the Southerne part of it is in the latitude of 57. degrees, & one second. Thomas Wiars., which was named by them West England, where they espied certaine Tents and People like those of Meta, Incognita. The people fledde, and they found in their Tents a Boxe of small Nayles, redde Herrings, and Boords of Firre-tree well cut, with other thinges artificially wrought: whereby it appeareth, that they are workemen themselues, or hauehave tra…le with others. Some of them were of opinion, That this was firme Land with Meta Incognita, or with Gronland; whereunto the multitude of Ilands of Ice, betweene that and Me…a Incognita induced them. In departing from hence, the Salamander (one of their Shippes) being vnderunder both her Courses and Bonets, happened to strike on a great Whale with her full stemme, with such a blow, that the Shippe stood still, and neither stirred forward nor backwards. The Whale thereat made a great and hideous noyse, and casting vp his bodie and tayle, presently sanke vnderunder water. Within two dayes they found a Whale dead, which they supposed was this which the Salamander had stricken.
The second of Iuly they entred in with the Straits, the entrance whereof was barred with Mountaines of Ice, wherewith Barke Dennis was sunke, to the hinderance of their proiects. For in it was drowned part of a house, which they had intended to erect there for habitation. The men were saued. The other Shippes were in very great danger, the Seas mustering Armies of ycie souldiours to oppresse them, vsing other naturall stratagemes of Fogges and Snowes to further these cruell designes.
These Icie Ilands seeme to hauehave beene congealed in the Winter further North, in some Bayes, uIt seemeth they are of fresh waters, because the ice is fresh: and the Sunne melting the tops, causeth rills of fresh water to runne downe, which meeting together, make a prettie streame.or Riuers, and with the Summers Sunne being loosed, and broken out of their naturall prisons, offer themselues to all outrages, whereto the swift Currents and cold Windes will conduct them. Strange it is to see their greatnesse, some not lesse then halfe a myle about, and fourescore fathomes aboue water, besides the vnknowne depth beneath: strange the multitude; strange the deformed shapes: if this be not more strange, that they sometimes faue with killing, and suffer men to moore their Anchors on them, and to get vponupon them to worke against them, for the safegard of their Shippes: That bloudie enemies should entertaine them with disports, to walke, leape, shout, fortie myles from any Land, without any Vessell vnderunder them (according to M. Bests Riddle) and a hundred and tenne myles from Land should present them with running streames of fresh Waters, able to driue a Myll. The Floud was there nine houres, the Ebbe but three. A strong Current ranne Westwards. The people resemble much the Tartars, or rather the Samoeds, in Apparrell, and manner of liuing. It is colder here in 62. then 9. or 10. degrees more Northerly toward the North-east, which (it seemeth) comes to passe by the Windes, East, and North-east, which from the Ice bring so intollerable a cold. The people are excellent Archers; a thing generall throughout America. Besides Seales skinnes, they vse the skinnes of Deere, Beares, Foxes, and Hares, for Apparrell, and the cases also of Fowles sowed together. They weare in Summer the hayrie fide outward; in Winter, inward; or else goe naked. They shoot at the Fish with their darts. They kindle fire with rubbing one sticke against another. They vse great blacke Dogges, like Wolues, to draw their Sleds, and a lesse kinde to eate. They hauehave very thinne beards. In the best of Summer they hauehave Haile and Snow (sometimes a foot deepe, which freezeth as it falls) and the ground frozen three fathome deepe. They hauehave great store of Fowle, whereof our men killed in one day fifteene hundred. They hauehave thicker skinnes, and are thicker of Downe and Feathers then with vsus, and therefore must be flayed. The Sunne was not absent aboue three houres and a halfe; all which space it was very light, so that they might see to write and reade.
Hence is it, that those parts neere (and perhappes vnderunder) the Pole are habitable: the continuance of the Sunnes presence in their Summer, heating and warming with liuely cherishment all Creatures: and in the Winter, by his oblique motion, leauing so long a twi-light; and the increased light xThe Moone setteth not, nor the Sunne in the Polar regions; being in Cancer.of the Moone, the Sunnes great and diligent Lieu-tenant, the brightnesse of the Starres and whitenesse of the snow, not suffering them to be quite forlorne in darkenesse. The beasts, fowles, and fishes, which these men kill, are their houses, bedding, meat, drinke, hose, thread, shooes, apparell, and sailes, and boats, and almost all their riches. Besides their eating all things raw, they will eate grasse and shrubbes, like our kine: and morsels of Ice, to satisfie thirst. They hauehave no hurtfull creeping things, but Spiders; and a kinde of Gnat is there very troublesome. Timber they hauehave none growing, but as the vndermining water doth supplant and bring them from other places. They are great Inchanters. When their heads ake, they tye a great stone with a string into a sticke, and with certaine words effect, that the stone with all a mans force will not be lifted vp, and sometimes seemes as light as a feather; hoping thereby to hauehave helpe. They made signes, lying groueling with their faces vponupon the ground, making a noise downeward, that they worship the Diuell vnderunder them. There is no flesh or fish which they finde dead (smell it neuer so filthily) but they will eat it, without any other dressing. Their Deere hauehave skinnes like Asses, and feet large, like Oxen, which were measured seuen or eight inches in breadth. There are no Riuers or running Springs, but such as the Sunne causeth to come of snow. Sometimes they will perboile their meat a little, in kettles made of beasts skins, with the bloud and water which they drinke; and licke the bloudy knife with their tongues: This licking is the medicine also for their wounds. They seeme to hauehave trafficke with other Nations: from whom they hauehave a small quantitie of Iron. Their fire they make of Heath and Mosse. In their leather boats they row with one oare faster, then we can in our boats with all our oares.
Master Iohn Dauis yThe voyage of Master Dauis, written by Iohn Iames. Hak.to.3 p.100.in the yeare 1585. made his first voyage for this North-west Discouery, and in threescore and foure degrees, and fifteene minutes, they came on shore on an Iland, where they had sight of the Sauages, which seemed to worship the Sunne. For pointing vp to the Sunne with their hands, they would strike their breasts hard with their hands: which being answered with like action of the English, was taken for a confirmed league, and they became very familiar. They first leaped and danced with a kind of Timbrel, which they strucke with a sticke. Their apparell was of beasts and birds skinnes, buskins, hose, gloues, &c. Some leather they had which was dressed like the glouers leather. The sixt of August they discouered land in 66.40. They killed white Beares, one of whose forefeet were foureteene inches broad, so fat, that they were forced to cast it away. It seemed they fed on the grasse, by their dung, which was like to horse-dung. They heard dogges howle on the shore, which were tame: They killed one with a collar about his necke: he had a bone in his pisle; these it seemed were vsed to the sled, for they found two sleds.
The next yeare he made his second voyage, wherein hee found the sauage people tractable. They are great Idolaters, and Witches. They hauehave many Images which they weare about them, and in their boats. They found a graue, wherein were many buried, couered with Seales skinnes, and a Crosse laid ouer them. One of them made a fire of turfes, kindled with the motion of a sticke in a peece of a boord; which had a hole halfe thorow, into which he put many things, with diuers words and strange gestures: our men supposed it to be a sacrifice. They would hauehave had one of the English to stand in the smoke, which themselues were bidden to doe, and would not by any means; whereupon one of them was thrust in, and the fire put out by our men. They are very theeuish. They catraw fish, grasse and ice: and drinke salt water. Heere they saw a whirle-winde take vp the water in great quantitie, furiously mounting it vp into the aire, three houres together with little intermission. They found in 63. deg. 8. min. a strange quantitie of ice in one entire masse, so bigge, that they knew not the limits thereof, very high, in forme of land, with bayes and capes like high-cliffe land; they sent their Pinnesse to discouer it, which returned with information, that it was onelyonly ice. This was the seuenteenth of Iuly, 1586. and they coasted it till the thirtieth of Iuly. In 66. deg. 33. min. they found it very hotte, and were much troubled with a stinging Flie, called Muskito. All the Lands they saw seemed to be broken, and Ilands; which they coasted Southwards, till they were in foure and fiftie and a halfe, and there found hope of a passage. In the same voyage zHenry Morgan.he had sent the Sun-shine from him in 60. degr. which went to Iseland, and on the seuenth of Iuly had sight of Gronland, and were hindered from harbour by the ice. They coasted it till the last of Iuly. Their houses neere the Sea-side were made with peeces of wood, crossed ouer with poles, and couered with earth. Our men plaid at foot-ball with them of the Iland.
The third voyage was performed the next yeare, 1587. wherein Master aIohn Dauis in his Hydrographical description.Dauis discouered to the 73. degree, finding the Sea all open, and forty leagues betweene land and land, hauing Groenland (which for the lothsome view of the shore couered with snow, without wood, earth, or grasse to be seene, and the irkesome noise of the ice he called Desolation) on the East, and America on the West. The Spanish Fleete, and the vntimely death of Master Secretary Walsingham, (the Epitome and summary of Humane worthinesse) hindered the prosecution of these intended Discoueries.
Henry Hudson hath since discouered aboue nine degrees neerer the Pole, and after diuers voyages, with the losse of himselfe, by meanes of his mutinous and (as is supposed) murtherous companions, which returned the last yeare, hath gained more hope of this discouery of the South-sea, by a Northerly passage, then euer before.
Hesselius bHesselius Gerardus.Gerardus hath (I know not by what instructions) set forth this voyage, and discouery of Hudson, now this last Mart at Amsterdam, together with a Plat or Hydrographicall Mappe of the same: affirming that he followed the way which Captaine Winwood had before searched, by Lumleyes Inlet, in 61. degr. and so passed thorow the strait to 50. and 51. where he wintered, and once saw a man girded with a Crisse, or Dagger of Mexico, or Iapon, whereby he guessed that hee was not farre thence. After they had stayed heere eight monthes, they set saile Northwards, and found an open Sea. His Marriners perceiuing that he intended further search for discouery, mutinying for victuall, put him with some others into the boat, and there left him, and returned for England.
And now are men employed in hope of perfecting that, to the glory of our Nation, which vndaunted spirits amongstvs with such cost and danger hauehave attempted. Resolute, gallant, glorious attempts, which thus seeke to tame Nature, where shee is most vnbridled, in those Northeasterly, Northwesterly, and Northerly borders (where she shewes her selfe a cAs Borderers are most vnruly and lawlesse, so in these outborders of the world, the power of Natures greatest officers, the Sunne &c. is least seene.borderer indeed) and to subdue her to that Gouernment and Subiection, which GOD ouer all blessed for euer, hath imposed on all sensible Creatures to the Nature of man; resembling in one Image and abridgement, both GOD and the World, consisting of a spirituall and bodily, visible and inuisible …bsistence. How shall I admire your valour and courage, yee Marine Worthies, beyond all names of worthinesse, that neither dread so long, either presence or absence of the Sunne, nor those foggie mists, tempestuous windes, cold blasts, snowes and haile in the aire: nor the vnequall Seas, which might amaze the hearer, and amate the beholder, where the Tritons and Neptunes selfe would quake with chilling feare, to behold such monstrous Icie Ilands, renting themselues with terror of their owne massines, and disdaining otherwise, both the Seas soueraignety, and the Sunnes hottest violence, mustering themselues in those watery plaines, where they hold a continuall ciuill warre, and rushing one vponupon another, make windes and waues giuegive backe, seeming to rent the eares of others, while they rent themselues with crashing and splitting their congealed armours: nor the rigid ragged face of the broken lands, sometimes towring themselues in a loftie height, to see if they can finde refuge from those snowes and colds that continually beat them, sometimes hiding themselues vnderunder some hollow hills or cliffes, sometimes sinking and shrinking into valleyes, looking pale with snowes, and falling in frozen and dead swounes: dThese thing agree with the relations of those parts, which tell of Earth-quakes, breaking of cliffes, &c.sometimes breaking their neckes into the Sea, rather embracing the waters, then the aires crueltie; and otherwhile with horrible Earthquakes, in heat of Indignation shaking asunder, to shake off this cold and hea…. Great GOD, to whom all names of greatnesse are little, and lesse then nothing, let me in silence admire and worship thy greatnesse, that in this little heart of man (not able to serue a Kite for a break-fast) hast placed such greatnes of spirit, as the world is too little to fill; onelyonly thy selfe the prototype and samplar of this modell, canst of thine owne selfe, becomming all in all vntounto vsus, fill and more then satisfie. Thee I beseech, to prosper in this and like attempts, this Nation of ours, that as in greater light then to others, thou hast giuen vsus thy SONNF, the Sunne of right consnesse: so with him thou wilt giuegive all things, euen among other blessings, that thy Virgin TRVTH, by Virginian Plantation, or Northerly Discouery, may triumph in her conquests of Indian Infidels, maugre the bragges of that Adulteresse, that vaunteth eBoterus a zealous and slanderous Catholike, vseth these disgracefull speeches of this Discouery. Ma pare, che lae Natura si sia opposta à gli heretici, è a dissegni loro. part. 1. lib. 5.her selfe to be the only Darling of GOD and Nature.