&l^'
H^.^
^â– 3^
REPORT FOR 1867.
The Hakluyt Society lias now readied tlie twentietli year
of its existence. Since tlie second year, two volumes have
regularly been delivered to Members ; and their value is
established by the price they fetch_, when, on rare occasions,
a complete set gets into the market. At a recent sale, the
whole series was purchased for £16. 16s., the price charged
to Members being then only £15. 15s.
But, besides attaining the main objects of the Society,
namely, the supply of carefully edited editions of rare or
unpublished voyages, travels, and other geographical
records, to subscribers, the Council may congratulate the
Members on the high position that many of their volumes
have attained in English literature, both as regards intrinsic
merit and practical usefulness. The Society^s labours have
been pretty equally distributed over the great divisions of
the world. Out of the thirty-eight volumes forming the
series, twelve relate to discoveries and explorations in the
New World, twelve to the continent and islands of Asia,
six to the Arctic Regions, three to Russia, one to Aus-
tralia, and four to general voyages or circumnavigations.
Most of these volumes are of such a character that no
future students or authors who write upon the subjects to
which they relate can fail to consult them. Thus, Sir
Robert Schomburgk^s Guiana is essential to any author
who treats of Sir Walter RaleigFs life and acts; the "World
Encompassed^^ to tlie biogi'aplier of Drake; the ''^Select
Letters^^ to any future life of Columbus. Tlie historian of
Arctic exploration will find the only carefully edited editions
of the voyages of Barentz, Hudson, and Frobisher in the
Society^s series. Mr. Major^s ^''Voyages to Terra Aus-
tralis^^ is the main source whence histories of the future
wealthy states of the southern Continent will take their
rise. And Colonel Yule^s laborious and admirably edited
work will in future be the standard authority on all ques-
tions relating to the early intercourse between Europe and
the far East.
With regard to practical usefulness the works of the
Hakluyt Society stand equally high. In the Report for
1865 it will be remembered that the great practical value of
one of the Society's volumes in navigating a ship through
intricate channels, was noticed. Captain Penny, who is
well known as the commander of one of the expeditions
which went in search of Sir John Franklin, reported that,
when Parry's chart failed him, he was enabled to guide his
ship through the Savage Group into Fox's Channel by the
aid of the volume on Hudson's Bay, edited by Mr. Barrow.
Explorers in the Amazon Valley and the region of the
Andes, are furnished, by Mr. Markham, with portable
editions of the leading discoverers of former times, whose
footsteps they are following. Equally important to the
traveller in the East are the editions of Galvano, Middleton,
Jordanus, Yarthema, Conti, and others.
The Society's volumes are quoted by historians, such as
Helps and others ; by those who write the lives or portions
of the lives of great explorers, of Hawkins or Drake, Colum-
bus or De Soto, Raleigh or Frobisher or Hudson; by travel-
lers and explorers ; and by those who study the antiquities
of India or South America ; and the use of these volumes is
essential to the adequate treatment of their respective sub-
jects.
These are facts wMcli may be verified by any one, and
tliey afibrd just cause for congratulation to tlie Members of
the Hakluyt Society. The results of twenty years of labour
have, we believe, been alike satisfactory to subscribers and
practically useful both to students and to explorers.
In looking forward, the Council are happy to be able to
report that several valuable works have been undertaken by
editors. Many others have been suggested for publication,
and indeed the mine from which these rich ores are ex-
tracted is practically inexhaustible.
The two volumes of Colonel Yule^s ^^ Cathay and the Way
Thither", have been delivered to Members since the last
General Meeting.
The following work is nearly ready and will shortly be
delivered: — ^^The Three Voyages of Sir Martin Frobisher,"
with a selection from his letters now in the State Paper
Office. Edited by Rear-Admiral E. Collinson, C.B.
Several other works have been undertaken by editors,
but the next that will be ready for delivery will probably
be — "Events in the Philippine Islands," by the Doctor Anto-
nio de Morga, Alcalde of the Royal Audience of New Spain,
published at Mexico in 1609. To be translated and edited
by the Houble. Heniy Stanley.
Mr. Stanley has lately discovered that the description of
the coast of East Africa and Malabar (the volume issued in
1866) which was attributed, in the title-page, to Duarte
Barbosa, on the authority of Ramusio, was in reality written
by Magellan. A brief notice on the subject by Mr. Stanley
will be issued to Members with the next delivery, for inser-
tion into their copies of the volume in question.
The Council regret to have to announce that, owing to
the lamented death of the well known traveller Dr. Barth,
the important work by Leo Africanus, the great repository
of African geographical knowledge, is again without an
e litor.
4
The following Six Members retire from the Council, viz. —
1. E. W. Grey, Esq.
2. John W. Kaye, Esq.
3. Count de Lavradio.
4. Thomas K. Lynch, Esq.
5. Sir C. Nicholson, Bart.
6. Major-Gen. Sir Henry Eawlinson, K.O.B., M.P.
Of this number, the three following are proposed for re-
election, viz. —
1. Sir C. Nicholson, Bart.
2. R. W. Grey, Esq.
3. Major-Gen. Sir Henry Eawlinson, K.C.B., M.P.
And the names of the following gentlemen are proposed
for election —
1. Sir Walter Elliot, K.S.I.
2. Eear- Admiral Alfred Eyder, E.N.
3. W. E. Frere, Esq.
STATEMENT OF THE ACCOUNTS OF THE SOCIETY
FOR THE YEAR 1866-67.
Balance at Banker's at last Audit. £468 12 Mr. Richards, for Printing JE331 15
Received by Bankers during the [ ]\[r. 'Weller, for Maps 61 6
year 241 19
£710 11
Transcriptions 6
AVoodcut for "Frobisher's Voyages" 8 8
Gratuity to Agent's Foreman 5
Expended in Petty Cash 3 14 3
416 3 9
Present Balance at Banker's 293 1 6
Present Balance in Petty Cash .. 15 9
£710 11
Examined and approved May 23rd, 1867.
CHAELES BAGOT PHILLIMORE.
WILLIAM NEVILLE STUET.
THE
HAKLUYT SOCIETY.
President.
SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISOX, Bart., K.C.B., G.C.St.S. F.R.S., F.R.G.S., D.C.L.
Mem. Imp. Acad. So. St. Petersburg, Coit. Mem. Inst. Fr., <fcc. &c.
Vice-Presidents
Re.\r- Admiral C. R. DRTNKWATER BETHT'NE, C.B.
The Rioht Hon. SIR DAVID DUND.VS.
Council.
The Right Hon. H. V. ADDIXOTON.
Key. G. p. BADGER, F.R.G.S.
J. BARROW, Esq,, F.R.S.
E. H. BUNBUKY, Esq.
P1.EAR-ADMIKAL R. COLLINSON, C.B.
Sir WALTER ELLIOT, K.S.T.
Sir henry ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S.
General C. FOX.
W. E. FRKRE, Esq.
R. W. GREY, Esq.
JOHN WINTER JONES, Esq., F.S.A.
R. H. MAJOR, Esq., F.S.A.
Sir CHARLES NICHOLSON, B.art.
Captain SHERARD OSBORN, R.N., C.B.
M.vtor-Generai. Sir HENRY C. RAW-
LINSON, K.C.B.. M.P.
REAR-.\nMiRAL ALFRED RYDER, R.N.
Viscount STRANGFORD.
Honorary Secretary— c R. markham, Esq.
Bankers— Mr.-^sns. I;.\N>;0M^ BOrVERIE. and Co.. 1, Pai.t. Mai.t. East.
ji)e l^akltlgt ^OCietp, which is eftabUnied for the
purpofe of printing rare or unpubhfhed Voyages
and Travels, aims at opening by this means an eafier access
to the fources of a branch of knowledge, which yields to
none in importance, and is fiipcrior to moft in agreeable
variety. The narratives of travellers and navigators make
us acquainted v^ith the earth, its inhabitants and pro-
du6lions ; they exhibit the growth of intercourfe among
mankind, with its effe6ls on civilization, and, while inftruft-
ing, they at the fame time awaken attention, by recounting
the toils and adventures of thofe who firft explored unknown
and diftant regions.
The advantage of an Affociation of this kind, confifts not
merely in its syftem of literary co-operation, but alfo in its
cconom}'. The acquirements, tafte. and difcrimination of
1 866.
a number of individuals, who feel an intereft in the fame
purfuit, are thus brought to a6l in voluntary combination,
and the ordinary charges of publication are alfo avoided, fo
that the volumes produced are diftributed among the
Members (who can alone obtain them) at little more than
the coft of printing and paper. The Society expends the
whole of its funds in the preparation of works for the
Members ; and fince the coft of each copy varies inverfely
as the whole number of copies printed, it is obvious that
the members are gainers individually by the profperity of
the Society, and the confequent vigour of its operations.
Gentlemen defirous of becoming Members of the Hakluyt
Society fhould intimate their intention to the Secretary,
Mr. Clements R. Markham, 21, Ecclejlon Square, S. IV.,
or to the Society's Agent for the delivery of its
volumes, Mr. Richards, 37, Great Queen Street, Lincoln s
Inn Fields ; when their names will be recorded, and, on
payment of their fubfcription of ;^i : i to Islx. Richards,
they will receive the volumes iffued for the year.
Neiv Members have, at prefent (1867), tJie privilege of
pnr chafing the complete fet of the publications of the Society
for previous yeaj^s for sixteen guineas, biit have not the pozuer
of f electing ajiy particular volume.
The Members are requefted to bear in mind that the
power of the Council to make advantageous arrangements,
will depend, in a great meafure, on the prompt payment of
the subscriptions, which are payable in advance on the
1st of January, and are received by Mr. Richards, 37,
Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Poft Office
Orders fhould be made payable to ]\IR. THOMAS RICHARDS,
at the Wefl Central Office. High Holborn.
WORKS ALREADY ISSUED.
1— The Observations of Sir Richard Hawkins, Knt.
In his Voyage into the South Sea in 1593. Reprinted from the edition of
1622, and edited by Capt C. R. Drinkwater Bethune, R.N., C.B.
Iffiiedfor 1848.
2— Select Letters of Columbus.
With Original Documents relating to the Difcovery of the New World. Tranf-
lated and Edited by R. H. Major, Esq., of the Britifh Mufeum.
IJfiiedfor 1849,
3— The Discoverie of the Empire of Guiana,
By Sir Walter Ralegh, Knt. Edited, with copious Explanatory Notes, and a
Biographical Memoir, by SiR Robert H. Schomburgk, Phil.D., etc.
Iffucdfor 1850.
4— Sir Francis Drake his Voyage, 1595,
By Thomas Maynarde, together with the Spanifh Account of Drake's attack
on Puerto Rico, Edited from the Original MSS., by W. D. Cooley, Esq.
If tied for 1850.
5— Narratives of Early Voyages
Undertaken for the Difcovery of a Paffage to Cathaia and India, by the North-
weft, with Selections from the Records of the worlliipful Fellowfhip of the
Merchants of London, trading into the Eaft Indies ; and from MSS. in the
Library of the Britifli Mufeum, now firft publiflied; by Thomas Rundall, Esq.
/Jfiied Jori^Si.
6— The Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia,
Expreffmg the Cofmographie and Commodities of the Country, together with
the manners and Cuftoms of the people, gathered and obferved as well by
thofe who went firft thither as collected by William Strachey, Gent., the firil
Seci'etary of the Colony ; now firfl Edited from the original manufcript in the
Britifh Mufeum, by R. H. Major, Esq., of the Britifh Mufeum.
IJfued for 1851.
7— Divers Voyages touching the Discovery of America
And the Islands adjacent, colle(51:ed and publifhed l)y Richard Hakluyt,
Prebendary of Briftol in the year 1582. Edited, with Notes and an intro-
duction, by John Winter Jones, Esq., of the Britifh Mufeum.
Ifuedfor 1852.
8— A Collection of Documents on Japan.
With a Commentary by Thomas Rundall, Esq.
Ifiu'dfor 1852.
9— The Discovery and Conquest of Florida,
By Don Ferdinando de Soto. Tranflated out of Portuguefe by Richard
Hakluyt; and Edited, with notes and an introdudion, by W. B. Rye, Esq.,
of the Britifh Mufeum. IJfued for 1853.
10— Notes upon Russia,
Being a Tranflation from the Earlieft Account of that Country, entitled Reruni
Muscoviticarum Commentarii, by the Baron Sigifmund von Herberftein,
Ambaffador from the Court of Germany to the Grand Prince Vafdey Ivanovich,
in the years 15 17 and 1526. Tavo Volumes, Tranflated and Edited, with
Notes and an IntroducT:ion, by R. H. Major, Esq., of the Britifn Mufeum.
Vol. 1. Tffncdfv 1853.
11— The Geography of Hudson's Bay.
Bemg the Remarks of Captain W. Coats, in many Voyages to that locality,
between the years 1727 and 175 1. With an Appendix, containing Extrac1:s
from the Log of Captain Middleton on his Voyage for the Difcovery of the
North-west Passage, in H.M.S. "Furnace," in 174 1-2. Edited by John-
Barrow. Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A.
12— Notes upon Eu&sia. Vol. 2.
13— Three Voyages by the Northeast,
Iffued fo7- 1854.
Iff lied for 1854.
Towards Cathay and China, undertaken by the Dutch in the years 1594, 1595,
and 1596, with their Difcovery of Spitzbergen, their refidence often months in
Novava Zemlya, and their safe return in two open boats. By Gen-it de Veer.
Edited by C. T. Beke, Esq., Ph.D., F.S.A.
Iffuedfo) 1855.
14-15— The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China and
the Situation Thereof.
Compiled by the Padre Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza. And now Reprinted
from the Early Tranflation of R. Parke. Edited by SiR George T.
Staunton, Bart. With an Introduclion by R. H. ^NI.ajor, Esq. 2 vols.
Iffuedfor 1855.
16— The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake.
Being his next Voyage to that to Nombre de Dios. Collated, with an
unpublifhed Manufcript of Francis Fletcher, Chaplain to the Expedition.
With Appendices illuftrative of the fame Voyage, and Introduclion by W. S.
W. Vaux, Esq., M.A. Iffuedfo riSs^.
17— The History of the Tartar Conquerors who Subdued China.
From the French of the Pere D'Orleans, 1688. Tranflated and Edited by the
Earl of Ellesmere. With an IntroducT:ion by R. H. Major, Esq.
IfTuedfor 1856.
18— A Collection of Early Documents on Spitzberge-n and Gree-nland,
Confifting of: a Tranflation from the German of F. Martin's important work
on Spitzbergen, now very rare ; a Tranflation from Isaac de la Peyrere's
Relation de Greenland; and a rare piece entitled "God's Power and Pro-
vidence fhowed in the miraculous prefervation and deliverance of eight
Engliflimen left by mifchance in Greenland, anno 1630, nine months and
twelve days, faithfully reported by Edward Pelham." Edited, with Notes, by
Adam White, Esq., of the Britifh Mufeum.
Iffiied for 1857.
19- The Voyage of Sir Henry Middleton to Bantam and the Maluco Islands.
From the rare Edition of 1606. Edited by Bolton Corney, Esq.
Iffuedfor 1857.
20-Eussia at the Close of the Sixteenth Century.
Comprifing "The- Ruffe Commonwealth" by Dr. Giles Fletcher, and Sir
Jerome Ilorfey's Travels, now firft printed entire from his manufcript in the
Britifli Mufeum. Edited by E. A. Bond, Esq., of the Britifli Mufeum.
Iffuedfor 1858.
21— The Travels of Girolamo Benzoni in America, in 1542-56.
Tranflated and Edited by Admiral W. H. Smith, F.R.S., F.S.A.
Iffuedfor 1858.
22— India in the Fifteenth Century.
Being a CollecHon of Narratives of Voyages to India in the centuiy preceding
the Portuguefe difcovery of the Cape of Good Hope ; from Latin, Perfian,
Ruffian, and Italian Sources, now firfl tranflated into Englifli. Edited, with
an Introduclion by R. H. Major, Esq., F.S.A.
Iffuedfor 1859.
23— Narrative of a Voyage to the West Indie- ani Mexico,
In the years 1599- 1602, with Maps and Illuflration.s. By Samuel Champlain.
Tranflated from the original and unpublifhed Manufcript, with a Biographical
Notice and Notes by Alice Wilmere.
Iffuedfor 1859.
24— Expeditions into the Valley of the Amazons
During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries : containing the Journey of
Cionzalo Pizarro, from the Royal Commentaries of Garcilaffo Inca de la Vega ;
the Voyage of Francifco de Orellana, from the General Hiftory of Herrera ;
and the Voyage of Criftoval de Acuna, from an exceedingly fcarce narrative
written by himfelf in 1641. Edited and Tranflated by Clements R.
Markham, Esq. Iffuedfor i866.
25— Early Indications of Australia.
A Colledlion of Documents (hewing the Early Difcoveries of Auflralia to the
time of Captain Cook. Edited by R. H. ' Major, Esq., of the Britifli
Mufeum, F.S.A. I//ued for 1^60.
26— The Embassy of Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo to the Court of Timour, 1403-6.
Tranflated, for the firft time, with Notes, a Preface, and an Introductory Life
of Timour Beg. By Clements R. Markham, Esq.
Iffuedfor 1861.
27— Henry Hudson the Navigator.
The Original Documents in which his career is recorded. Collecfled, partly
Tranflated, and Annotated, with an Introduclion by George Asher, LL.D.
Iffuedfor iS6\.
28— The Expedition of Ursua and Aguirre,
In search of El Dorado and Omagua, A. D. 1560-61. IVanflated from the
" Sexta Nolicia Hiflorical" of Fray Pedro Simon, by W. Bollaert, Esq.;
with an Introduclion by Cle:ments R. Markham, Esq.
Iffuedfor 1862.
29— The Life and Acts of Don Alonzo Enriquez de Guzman.
Tranflated from a Manufcript in the National Library at Madrid, and edited,
with Notes and an Introdudlion, by Clements R. Markham, Esq.
Iffitcdfor 1862.
30— Discoveries of the World by Galvano
From their firfl original unto the year of our Lord 1555. Reprinted, with the
original Portuguefe text, and edited by Vice- Admiral Bethune, C. B.
IJftiedfor 1863.
31— Marvels described by Friar Jordanus,
Of the Order of Preachers, native of Severac, and Bifliop of Columbum ; from
a parchment manufcript of the Fourteenth Century, in Latin, the text of which
has recently been Tranflated and Edited by Colonel H. Yule, C.B.,
F.R.G.S., late of H.M. Bengal Engineers.
Iffiiedfor 1863.
32— The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema
In Syria, Arabia, Perfia, India, etc., during the Sixteenth Century. Tranflated
by J. Winter Jones, Esq., F. S.A., and edited, with Notes and an Intro-
du6lion, by the Rev. George Percy Badger.
I[fuedfor\%b^.
33 -The Travels of Cieza de Leon in 1532-50
From the Gulf of Darien to the City of La Plata, contained in the firfl part of
his Chronicle of Peru (Antwerp 1554). Tranflated and edited, with Notes
and an Introdu6lion, by Clements R. Markham, Esq.
Ifftiedfor\%6^.
34— The Narrative of Pascual de Andagoya.
Containing the earlieft notice of Peru. Tranflated and edited, with Notes and
an Introdudlion, by Clements R. Markham, Esq.
Iffuedfor 1865.
35— The Coasts of East Africa and Malabar
In the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, by Duarte Barbofa. Tranflated
from an early Spanifh manufcript by the Hon. Henry Stanley.
I/fjiedfor 1865.
36— Cathay and the Road Thither.
A Collection of all mmor notices of China, previous to the Sixteenth
Century. Tranflated and edited by Colonel H. Yule, C.B. Vol. i.
IJfiudfor 1866.
37— Cathay and the Road Thither. Vol. 2.
IJjfuedfor 1866.
38— The Three Voyages of Sir Martin Frobisher.
With a Seledlion from Letters now in the State Paper Office. Edited by
Rear- Admiral Collinson, C.B.
Iffuedfor 1867.
OTHER WORKS UNDERTAKEN BY EDITORS.
Events in the Philippine Iflands by Dodlor Antonio de Morga, Alcalde of the
Royal Audience of New Spain, publifhed at Mexico in 1609. Tranflated
and edited by the Hon. Henry Stanley.
Journeys of Caterino Zeno and other Italians to Perfia in the Fifteenth and
Sixteenth Centuries. Tranflated and edited by Charles Grey, Esq.
The Travels of Jofafa Barbaro and Ambrogio Contarini in Tana and Perfia.
Tranflated from Ramufio by E, A. RoY, Esq., and edited, virith an
Introdudlion, by Viscount Strangford.
The Royal Commentaries of the Ynca Garcilaffo de la Vega ; tranflated and
edited by Clements R. Markham, Esq.
The Voyages of Davis and Baffin in fearch of a North Wefl Paffage, together
w^ith the "Seaman's Secrets" of Davis. Edited by Captain Sherard
OsBORN, R.N., C.B.
Hans Stade. Adventures in Brazil in the Sixeeenth Century. Tranflated
and edited by Captain R. F. Burton, H.M. Conful at Santos.
Pigafetta's Narrative of the Voyage of Magalhaens, from the Italian text of
Amoretti. Tranflated and edited by M. Frederick de Hellwald.
"The Seyyeds of the Al Boo Said" ; an account of Oman from the immigra-
tion of the Azdites from Mareb in a.d. 118; containing information
refpe(5ling Oman, the coaft of Mekran, the Perfian Gulf, and the eaft
coafl of Africa during the i6th and 17th centuries; to be tranflated
from the Arabic, and edited by the Rev. George P. Badger, F.R.G.S.
The Fifth Letter of Hernan Cortes, describing his Voyage to Honduras in
1525-26. Tranflated and edited by Don Pascual Gayangos.
Rofmital's Embaffy to England, Spain, etc., in 1466. Edited by R. C.
Graves, Esq.
WORKS SUGGESTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR PUBLICATION.
Voyages of Alvaro de Mandana and Pedro Fernandez de Quires in the South
Seas, to be tranflated from Suarez de Figueroa's " Hechos del Marques
deCaiiete," and Torquemada's "Monarquia Indiana."
Inedited Letters, etc., of Sir Thomas Roe during his Embaffy to India.
John Huigen van Linschoten. Difcourfe of a Voyage mi to the Eaft Indies;
to be reprinted from the Enghfh tranflation of 1598,
The Voyage of John Saris to India and Japan in 161 1 -13, from a manufcript
copy of his Journal, dated 161 7.
The Topographia Chriftiana of Cosmas Indicopleufles.
Bernhard de Breydenbach, 1483-84, a.d. Travels in the Holy Land.
Felix Fabri, 1483. Wanderings in the Holy Land, Egypt, etc.
Vova"-e of Du Quefne to the Eaft Indies in 1692, from a manufcript Journal
' "^by M. C. * ^ * *'
El Edrifi's Geography.
Narrative of Giovanni da Verrazzano, a Florentine, concerning the land called
New France, difcovered by him in the name of his Majefty : written at
Dieppe, A.D. 1524.
Voyage made by Captain Jaques Cartier in 1535 and 1536 to the ifles of
Canada, Hochlega, and Saguenay.
Nicolo and Antonio Zeno. Their Voyages to Frifland, Eftotiland, Vinland,
Engroenland, etc.
Ca da Mofto. Voyages along the Weftern Coaft of Africa in' 1454 : tranllated
from the Italian text of 1507.
The Difcovery and Conquefh of the Canary Illands, by Bethencourt in 1402-25.
Leo Africanus.
L dos Santos. The Hillory of Eallern Ethiopia. 1607.
Joam de Caftro. Account of a Voyage made Ijy the Portuguefe m 1541,
from the city of Goa to Suez.
Bethencourt. The Difcovery and Conqueft of the Canary Iflands, A. D. 1 402-25.
John and Seballian Cabot. Their Voyages to America.
Willoughby and Chancellor. Their Voyages to the North-east.
Icelandic Sagas narrating the Difcovery of America.
The Voyage of Vafco de Gama round the Cape of Good Hope in 1497.
Tranflated from a contemporaneous manufcript, accompanied by other
documents, forming a monograph on the life of De Gama.
La Argentina. An account of the Difcovery of the Provinces of Rio de la
Plata from 1512 to the time of Domingo Martinez de Irala; by Ruiz
Diaz de Guzman.
LAWS OF THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.
I. The oljject of this Society fliall be to print, for diflribution among its
members, rare and vaUiable Voyages, Travels, Naval Expeditions, and other
geographical records, from an early period to the beginning of the eighteenth
century.
II. The Annual Subfcription fliall be One Guinea, payable in advance on
the ist January.
III. Each member of the Society, having paid his Subfcription, fhall be
entitled to a copy of every work produced by the Society, and to vote at the
general ineetings within the period fubfcribed for ; and if he do not fignify,
before the clofe of the year, his wifh to refign, he fhall be confidered as a mem-
ber for the fucceeding year.
IV. The management of the Society's affairs fhall be vefted in a Council
confifling of twenty-one members, viz., a Prefident, two Vice-Prefidents, a
Secretary, and feventeen ordinaiy members, to be elected annually ; but
vacancies occurring between the general meetings fliall be filled up "by the
Council.
V. A General Meeting of the Subfcribers fhall be held annually. The
Secretary's Report on the condition and proceedings of the Society fhall be then
read, and the Meeting fhall proceed to elect the Council for the enfuing year.
VI. At each Annual Election, fix of the old Council fhall retire, of whom
three fhall be eligible for re-eleclion.
VII. The Council fliall meet every month, excepting Augufl, September
Odlober, and November, for the difpatch of bufinefs, three forming a quorum,
including the Secretary, and the Chaimian having a cafling vote.
VIII. Gentlemen preparing and editing works for the Society, fhall receive
twenty-five copies of fuch works refpeclively, and an additional twenty-five
copies if the work is alfo tranflated.
RULES FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE SOCIETY S VOLUMES.
I. The Society's produ(5lions will be delivered without any charge, within
three miles of the General Pofl Office.
II. They will be forwarded to any place beyond that limit, the Society
paying the cofl of booking, but not of carriage ; nor will it be anfwerable in
this cafe for any lofs or damage.
III. They will be delivered by the Society's agent, Mr. Thos. Richards,
37, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, to perfons having written
authority of fubfcribers to receive them.
IV. They will be fent to the Society's correfpondents or agents in the prin-
cipal towns throughout the kingdom ; and care fhall be taken that the charge
for carriage be as moderate as poffible.
IJST OF MEMBERS
OF
THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.
Addington, The Right Hon. II. U., 78, Eaton-place, S.W.
Admiralty (The), 2 copies^
All Souls College, Oxford.
Allport, Franklin, Esq., 156, Leadenhall-street.
Anderson, H. L., Esq., 5, Leinster-gardens, Bayswater.
Antiquaries, the Society of.
Army and Navy Club, 13, St. James's-square.
Arrowsraith, John, Esq. 35, Hereford-square, South Kensington.
Astor Library, New York
Athenseum Club, The, Pall Mall.
Athenaeum Library, Boston, U.S.
Badger, Rev. George Percy, F.R.G.S., 7, Dawsou-place, Bayswater.
Bain, James, Esq., 1, Haymarket.
Bank of England Library and Literary Association.
Barrow, J., Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., 17, Hanover-terrace, Regent's Park.
Batho, J. A., Esq., 49, Upper Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square.
Bell, Rev. Thomas, Berbice.
Benzon, E. L. S., Esq., Sheffield.
Berlin, The Royal Library of.
Bethune, Admiral C. R. Drinkwater, C.B., 4, Cromwell-road.
Bibliotheque Imperiale, Paris.
Birmingham Library (The)
Birmingham, The Central Library.
Blackie, Dr. Walter G., Villafield, Glasgow.
Bowring, Sir John, LL.D., Athenaeum Club,
British Museum {copies presented)
II
Brodhead, J. R., Esq., New York.
Broughton, Lord, 42, Berkeley-square.
Brown, J. A., Esq., Newcastle-place, Clerkenwell.
Brown, J. M., Esq., Portland, U.S.
Brown, R., Esq., King's Langley, Herts.
Brown, W. H., Esq., Chester.
Brownrigg, Sir Robert C, Bart., 12, Eaton-place.
Bruce, John, Esq., F.S.A., 5, Upper Gloucester-street, Dorset-square.
Bunbury, E. H., Esq., 35, St. James's-street.
Burton, Captain Richard F., H.M. Vice-Consul, Santos, Brazil.
Cambridge University Library.
Campkin, Henry, Esq., F.S.A., Reform Club, Pall Mall.
Canada, The Parliament Library.
Canada (Upper), Department of Public Instruction for.
Cannon, Charles, Esq., British Museum.
Carlton Club, Pall Mall.
Cartwright, Henry, Esq., Barbican Lodge, Gloucester.
Cautley, Sir Proby, K.C.B., India Office.
Christie, Jonathan Henry, Esq., 9, Stanhope-street, Hyde-park-gardens
Churchill, Lord Alfred S., F.R.G.S., 16, Rutland Gate.
Collinson, Rear-Admiral, C.B., The Haven, Ealing.
Colonial Office (The), Downing-street.
Congress, Library of. United States.
Cooper, Lieut.-Colonel E. H., 5, Bryanstone-square.
Cotton, R. W., Esq., Barnstaple.
Delft, Royal Academy of.
Dilke, Sir C. Wentworth, Bart, 76, Sloane-street.
Ducie, Earl of, ], Belgrave-square, S.W.
Dundas, Rt. Hon. Sir David, 13, King's Bench Walk, Temple
Dundas, George, Esq., 9, Charlotte-square, Edinburgh.
Dundas, John, Esq., 25, St. Andrew's-square, Edinburgh.
Duprat, M. B., Paris.
Duprat, Chevalier Alfredo.
Ecole Normale, Montreal.
Elliot, Sir Walter K.S.I., Wolflee, Edinburgh.
Ellis, Sir Henry, K.H,, F.R.S., 24, Bedford-square.
Ely, Miss, Philadelphia.
12
Forbes, Captain Charles Stuart, R.N., K. 3, Albany.
Foreign Office (The).
Forster, John, Esq., Palace Gate House, Hyde Park Gate, W,
Fox, General, 1, Addison-road, Kensington.
Franklin, Lady, Upper Gore-lodge, Kensington-gore.
Frere, W. E., Esq.
Fuller, Thomas, Esq., 119, Gloucester-terrace, Hyde Park
Gayangos, Don Pascual de, Madrid.
Gladdish, William, Esq., Gravesend.
Glasgow College.
Goodenough, Capt. J. G., R.l^., F.R.G.S., H.M.S. Minotaur,
Grey, Charles, Esq., India Office, S.W.
Grey, R. W., Esq., 47, Belgrave-square.
Griffith and Farran, ^Messrs., 21, Ludgate-t-treet.
Grinnell, Cornelius, Esq., F.R.G.S., 180, Piccadilly.
Grote, A., Esq., Calcutta.
Hall, Rear Admiral Sir William H., K.C.B., 48, Phillimore-gardens,
Campden Hill.
Harcourt, Egerton, Esq., Whitwell Park, York.
Hardinge, Captain E., R.X., F.R.G.S., 32, Hyde Park Square.
Harker, Turner James, Esq., 10, Northampton Park, Islington.
Harris, Captain H., R.N., 3o, Gloucester- terrace, Bayswater.
Hellwald, Frederick de, 9, Tiirkenstrasse, Vienna.
Holmes, James, Esq., 4, New Ormond-street.
Home Office (The), Whitehall.
Horner, Rev. J. S. H., Wells Park, Somersetshire.
Hull Subscription Library.
India Office, 20 cojjies.
Johnson, W., Esq., R.N., F.R.G.S., North Grove House, Southsea.
Jones, J. AVinter, Esq., F.S.A., British ]Sluseum.
Kuowks. John. Esq., 42. Moorgate-strect.
Lavradio, His Excellency the Count de, 12, Gloucester-pl., Portman-sq.
Liverpool Free Public Library.
London Institution, Finsbury Circus.
London Library, 12, St. James's-square.
Lott, Capt. E. G,, 159, Parliament-street, Liverpool.
Loyes, Edw., Esq., 33, Paternoster-row.
Lucas, Samuel, Esq., 6, Cork-street, W.
Lynch, Thomas Kerr, Esq., 31, Cleveland-square, "W.
M'Calmont, Robert, Esq., 87, Eaton-square.
Mackenzie, John W., Esq., Edinburgh.
McClintock, Commodore Sir Leopold, R.N., F.R.G.S , Port Royal,
Jamaica.
IVIacready, W. C, Esq , Sherborne House, Dorset.
Madras Literary Society.
Maguire, Captain Rochfort, R.N.
Major, R. H., Esq., F.S.A., British Museum.
Malcolm, W. Elphinstone, Esq., Burnfoot, Langholm, Carlisle.
Mantell, Walter, Esq., New Zealand.
Markham, Clements R., Esq., 21, Eccleston-square, S.W.
Markham, Lieut. Albert H.
Massie, Admiral T. L., R.N., Chester.
Maxwell, Sir Wm, Stirling, of Keir, Bart., M.P., 7, Park-street.
Melbourne, Public Library of, per Mr. Guillaume.
Mere wether, Lieut. Col. W. L., C.B.
Moore, Adolphus W., Esq., India Office.
Munich, Royal Library at.
Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey, Bart., K.C.B., F.R.S., &c., 16,
Belgrave-square.
Murray, John, Esq., F.R.G.S., Albemarle-street.
Naval College (Royal), Portsmouth.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Literary and Scientific Institute.
New York State Library.
Nicholson, Sir Charles, Bart., F.R.G.S., 26, Devonshire-place, W.
Northbrook, Lord, Stratton, Micheldever Station, Hants.
Ommanney, Rear Admiral Erasmus, C.B.. 6, Talbot-square.
Oriental (Jlub, Hanover- square.
Osborn, Captain Sherard, R.N., C.B., F.R.G.S., 119, Gloucester Terrace,
Hyde-park.
Ouvry, F., Esq., F.S.A., 66, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Paine, W. Dunkley, Esq., Cockshutt Hill, Reigate.
Palmer, John L., Esq., R.N., H.M.S. Topaze, Pacific Station.
Peabody Institute, Baltimore, U.S.
Peacock, Septimus, Esq., Alexandria.
Perry, Sir Erskine, 36, Eaton-place.
Petit, Rev. J. Louis, The Uplands, Shiffnal.
Petit, Miss, 9, New-square, Lincoln's Inn.
Phillimore, Charles B., Esq., F.R.G.S., 25, Upper Berkeley-street.
Plo\yden, W. H. Chicheley, Esq., F.R.S.
Porcher, Captain Edwin, R.N., F.R.G.S., H.M.S. Sparrowhawk.
Pacific Station.
Portland, His Grace the Duke of.
Potts, Captain H. H., 1, Somerfield- terrace, Maidstone.
Powis, Earl of, 45, Berkeley-square.
Prescott, Admiral Sir Henry, K.C.B., Senior United Service Cluh.
Rawlinson, Major- General Sir H., K.C.B., M.P., 1, Hill-street,
Berkeley-square.
Reed, F. J., Esq., 3, Gresham-street, City.
Richard, John E., Esq., Wandsworth, Surrey.
Royal Geographical Society, 1-5, Whitehall-place {copies pi'esented)
Royal Society, Burlington House.
Rushout, The Hon. Miss, 26, Onslow-square, Brompton.
Ryder, Rear Admiral Alfred, R.N., 5, Victoria- street, Westminster.
Rye, W. B., Esq., British Museum.
Sassoon, David, Esq., F.R.S., 17, Cumberland-terrace, Regent's-park.
Sedgwick, Rev. Professor, Trinity College, Cambridge.
Sheffield, Earl of, 20, Portland-place.
Simpson, Lieutenant.
Smith, Edmund, Esq., Hull.
Smith, George, Esq., 21, Russell-square.
Smith, J., Esq. (Messrs. Smith and Elder.)
Somers, Earl, 33, Princes-gate, Hyde Park.
Somerville, Captain Phillip, R.N., 61, Belgrave-square, Brighton.
Sotheby, Mrs., Kingston.
Spottiswoode, William, Esq., F.R.S., 50, Grosveaor-place.
Stanford, Mr. E., Charing-cross.
Stanley, Lord, M.P., 23, St. James's-square, S.W.
Stanley, Elon. Henry, 40, Dover-street, W.
St. Andrew's University.
St. David's, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of, Abergwili, Carmarthen .
Stewart, M. J. Maxwell Shaw, Esq., Calcutta
Strangford, Viscount, 58, Cumberland-street.
Stuart, Alexander, Esq., New York.
Stuart, R. L., Esq., New York.
Stubbs, Commander Edward, R.N., Raleigh Cottage, Harrow.
Stockholm, Royal Library of.
Thomas, Edward, Esq., Athenaeum Club.
Thomas, Luke, Esq., Carlton-villa, Blackheath Park.
Tolstoy, George, Esq., St. Petersburgh.
Toronto University.
Trade, the Board of, Whitehall.
Traveller's Club, 106, Pall Mall.
Trinity College, Cambridge.
Trinity Corporation, Tower Hill.
Union Society, Oxford
United Service Institution, Scotland Yard.
Van de Weyer, His Excellency M. Sylvaiu, .3, Grosvenor-square.
Vefyk, His Excellency Ahmed EfFendi, Constantinople.
Victoria Librai*y and Reading Rooms, Hong Kong.
Vienna Royal Imperial Library.
Vivian, Geo., Esq., 11, Upper Grosvenor-street.
Van Ryckevorsel, II., Consul de Venezuela, Conseiller a la Regence de
Rotterdam.
Watkinson Library, Hertford, Connecticut, U.S.
Watts, Thomas, Esq., British Museum.
Webb, Captain John Sydney, The Trinity House.
Webb, William Frederick, Esq., Newstcad Abbey.
Wellington, the Duke of, K.G., Apslej House, Piccadilly.
Whiteman, Mrs., Theydou Grove, Epping.
Wilkinson, John, Esq., 3, Wellington-street, Strand.
Williams, T., Esq., Northumberland-house, Strand.
Willis and Sotheran, ^Messrs., Strand
Wilson, Edward S., Esq., Hull.
W^olff, Sir H. Drummond, K.C.M.G., 15, Rutland-gate.
Woodd, Basil T., Esq., M.P., Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough.
Young, Allen, Esq., R.N.R., Riversdale, Twickenham.
WORKS ISSUED BY
CJe llafelugt 0otitt^.
THREE VOYAGES OF ilARTIN FROBISHER.
M.DCCC.I.XVir.
T. RICHARDS, '^7 , GREAT QUKKN STREET. W.
MARTINUS FROBISHERUS, EQUES AURATTJS.
THE
THREE VOYAGES
MARTIN FROBISHER,
IN SEARCH OF A PASSAGE TO
CATHAIA AND INDIA BY THE NORTH-WEST,
A.D. 1576-8,
Itepinnltb from ih Jfirst €Mtioit of Ijaklugt's 0oj)agi;s,
WITH SELECTIONS FROM
MANUSCEIPT DOCUMENTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM
AND STATE PAPER OFFICE.
Kear-Admiral RICHARD COLLINSON,
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.
M.DCCC.LXVU.
.1
â– ^.'
C^ ( t o<
TO
HENRY GRIXNELL, ESQ.,
OF NEW YORK,
THIS EDITION OF MARTIX FROBISHER's THREE VOYAGES IN SEARCH
OF A PASSAGE TO CATHAIA BY THE N.^W.
IS DEDICATED,
AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION,
NOT OXLY FOR HIS CORDIAL AND GENEROUS CO-OPERATION
IN THE SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND HIS COMPANIONS,
BUT ALSO FOR THE
INTEREST HE HAS SHOWN IN, AND THE AID HE HAS AFFORDED TO,
POLAR EXPLORATION IN THE PRESENT DAY,
BY MIS OBEDIENT SERVANT,
RICHARD COLLINSON.
107201
COUNCIL
THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.
SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON, Bart., K.C.B., G.C.St.S., F.R.S., D.C.L.. Corr.
Mem. Inst. F., Hou. Mem. Imp. Acad. Sc. Petersburg, etc., etc., Prestdknt.
Rear-Admiral C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B. \
[ Vice-Presidents.
The Rt. Hon. Sir DAVID DUNDAS, M.P. )
The Right Hon. H. U. ADDINGTON.
Rev. G. p. BADGER, F.R.G.S,
J. BARROW, Esq., F.R.S.
E. H. BUNBURY, Esq.
Rear-admiral R. COLLINSON, C.B.
Sir henry ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S.
General C. FOX.
R. W. GREY, Esq.
JOHN WINTER JONKS, Esq., F.S.A.
JOHN W. KAYE, Esq.
His Excellency the COUNT DE LAVRADIO.
THOMAS K. LYNCH, Esq.
R. H. MAJOR, Esq., F.S.A.
Sir CHARLES NICHOLSON, Bart.
C.\PTAiN SHERARD OSBORN, R.N. , C.B.
M-UOR-General Sir HENRY C. RAWLINSON, K.C.B
Viscount STRANGFORD.
CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, Esq., F.S.A., Honorauy Secretary.
INTEODUCTION.
Five years after the discovery of America by Columbus,
the Englisl], baffled in their attempts to reach Kathay
by the N.E., turned their attention in another direc-
tion, and on the morning of the 24th of June, 1497,
Newfoundland was discovered by John Cabot. Thus
began those series of memorable voyages which have
been continued, unto our day, with but short inter-
ruption, until the northern seaboard of the American
continent has been perfectly discovered. The annals
of these Arctic voyages have been read and re-read,
published and re-published, evincing the deep interest
which generation after generation has taken in these
touching records of skill and daring, perseverance and
long-suffering ; and well may we turn to them with
pride and pleasure, exhibiting as they do such proof of
that spirit of maritime enterprise which always has been
Great Britain's boast and glory.
In the year 1500 the discovery of the Cabots was
followed up by Caspar de Cortereal, in two ships from
Lisbon, and attention was attracted to the value of
the fisheries on the coast of Newfoundland, and in
1504 small vessels from Biscav, Bretap'ne, and Nor-
Yin INTRODUCTION.
mancly resorted thither for this purpose. In 1506
Jean Denys drew a map of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ;
and in 1517 no less than fifty Spanish, French, and
Portuguese ships were employed in this fishery. In
1527, E. Thorne of Bristol (who assisted the Cabots in
the equipment of their vessels for the first voyage)
sailed with two ships for the discovery of the N.W.
passage, but was never after heard of.
in 1534 Jacques Cartier sailed from St. Malo with
two ships, and explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In
1536 an attempt was made by one hundred and twenty
Englishmen to form a settlement on Newfoundland,
but they suffered the extremity of famine.
In 1548 the English fishery on the American coast
had become an object of national importance and legis-
lative encouragement.
The result of these discoveries was published to the
world in Gerard Mercator's Mappe Monde, in 1569 ;
and as this date will bring us to the period when we
are told (see p. 70) " Captaine Frobisher began first
with himself to devise and then with his friendes to
conferre, and layd a plaine platte unto them that that
voyage was not only possible by the Northweast, but
also, as he coulde prove, easie to bee performed," this
Avill be the place to describe the arrangement which
has been adhered to in this edition of Frobisher s
voyages. The text is taken from the first edition of
Hakluyt's voyages (1578), in the Grenville library at
the British Museum, an extremely rare book, with two
maps, to be found in only one other copy. On the
requisition of our President, and by the kindness of
INTRODUCTION. IX
the gentlemen in charge of the manuscripts at the British
Museum and at the public Eecord Office, access has
been obtained to several important documents hitherto
unpublished, and which have been arranged previous
and subsequent to the several voyages to which they
refer. George Beste, the author, served in the second
and third voyages ; and in his preface to the first
voyage will be found a curious account of the know-
ledge of the world at that period, which will greatly
interest those who are not already familiar with
Hakluyt's volumes.
I am indebted to Mr. W. B. Eye, of the British
Museum, for the following account of the expenses of
the first voyage, which is abstracted from the report of
the Commissioners on the Public Eecords, folio, 1837.
The amount of subscription to the first voyage amounted to
£875,
Bill for Maps and Nautical Instruments.
£ s. d.
Paid for a book of cosmographie in French of Andreas
Thevet . . . . .240
Paid to Humphry Cole and others —
For a greate globe of metal in blanke in a case . 7 13 4
For a great instrument of brasse named Armilla
Tolomei or Hemisperium . . ,468
For an instrument of brasse named Sphera Nautica 4 6 8
For a great instrument of brasse named Compassum
Meridianum . . . ,468
For a great instrument of brasse named Holometrum
Geometricum , , . .400
For a great instrument of brasse named Horologium
Universale . . • .268
For a ringe of brasse named Annulus Astronomicus 1 10
For a little standing level of brasse . ,068
For an instrument of wood a stafe named Balestetta lo 4
INTKODUCTION.
£ s.
d.
. 5
3 1 6
8
. 6
8
. 2
. 1
()
. 10
()
. 6
8
. 3
4
. 1
. 3 3
. 17
. 3 10
For a very great carte of navigation
For a great mappe nniversall of Mercator in prente
For three other small mappes prented
For 6 cartes of navigation written in blacke parcli
ment whereof 4 ruled playne & 2 rounde
For a Bible Englislie great volume
For a cosmograpliical glasse & castell knowlege
For a new World of Andreas Thevett Englishe &
French .
For a Regiment of ^ledena (Spanishe)
For Sir John Mandevylle (EngHshe)
For 20 compasses of divers sorts
For 18 hower glasses
For a astrolalmim
The following drugs shew the contents of a shijo's medicine
chest in Queen Elizabeth's reign: — Ambra Grisi oriental, Cibetti,
Masche oriental, Agallorbi, Eigne Aloes, Rubarbi agarisi, Tur-
penti, Dragridii, Cipri India, Turmerick, Calam aromatica, Irios,
Galanga, Myrrha fine, Mastichus, Ai^genti ^4ti, Ladderi, Aumne
Gomme, Oppoponax, Oppen, Allocs, Bellzonica, Styrax Calmuc,
Myrobboralia chebue BeUerichi, Indioru citrini, Ledoria, Spica
Is'ardi, Cardamomi, Ligne Rhode, Colucuthes, Magarite, Boli
oriental, Lapis Lazuli, Cantatri Citemi, Corralina, Coralli Rubili,
Borax, Camphora, Castorium.
Among the payments made l)y Michael Lok for the
furniture of the first voyage the following occur —
For bote byre of Mr. Furbisher following his bussy-
ness alle this tyme . . .10 lO
Paid to Ducke upholster for beddinge for Mr. Cap-
tayne Frobiser . . . . 3 16 5
Paid for a bottell of aqua^-ite for Mr. Frobiser paid it
to his manne Borrowes . . .0 10
Paid to Mr. Frobiser on accompte as followithe for
beare and breade at launchinge of the Gabriell and
for maryners djmers then , . .0 I'J
Paid to ivicholas Cooke for aquavite 3 hogsheads paid
to Anthonye Duffildc bruer . . . 13 18
INTEODUCTION,
XI
l^ii(.l for V tonne of beui'e at 42s. boiiglit of my Lord
Admiral by Arthm- Pett . . .10 1<)
Paid to Mr. Frobiser at divers tymes for his paynes
takeing on this voyage & his endevor untill his
retorne which was paid to clere him out of Eng-
land one the voyage . . . 8()
Paid for divers implements of houshold necessarye for
the shippes furniture as folio withe : —
For a great kettle pan brasse with 3'ron ball
For a great bassone of brasse to bake one
For a bakinge pan of 3'ron with cover
For a chaffinge dish of brasse .
For a skimer of brasse
For a greate jDotte of yron for meat
For a little pane brasse with handle yrone
For a tryvet yrone
For ij fringe joanes
For a drippinge pane yron
For a grydyron
For ij spyttes
For a payre of potte hokes
For a slyse of yron
For a fleshoke of yron
For ij hokes yron flat
For a clever great choppinge knyfe of jron
For iij wooden platters Muskovia painted
For a great bassone or ewar of pewtar
For iij pynte bottes of beare & wjjie
For a saltesellar of pewtare
Summe of all the said charges of furnyture of the
said shippes outwardes coste as followithe : —
For implements howshold
For wages of men
For instrumentes of navigatione
For vyttelles
For ordonans munition
For tackelinge of shippes
For buyldinge the shippe Gabriell & the pynace
(newe) ....
For the shipe MicJcael with furnitur of her bought
Sommc outwardes of shippinge... £1205 11 8
. 18
. C>
8
. 2
8
. (J 4
. 1
4
. 6
8
. 1
4
. 1
4
. 5
() 2
. () 1
. 3
4
.
8
.
8
.
8
.
8
. 1
6
. 1
6
. 6
8
. 5
4
. 1
8 11
213 17
50 14
387 14
10
100 8
4
172 5
6
152
4
120
xil INTRODUCTION.
In the State Papers subsequent to the first voyage
will be found —Michael Loks account of his connection
with Captain Frobiser, p. 87 ; Mr. Lockes discours
touching the cure, p. 92 ; and an account of the cost
provision, together with the names of the venturars in
the second voyage, p. 103.
The subscriptions for the second voyage amounted
to £5,150. The expedition consisted of 143 persons,
viz., 36 officers and gentlemen, 14 mynars and fynars,
64 mariners on board the Ayde, 16 in the Michael,
and 13 in the Gabriel.
The account of the second voyage will be found at
p. ] 1 7. The collection of State Papers subsequent to
the second voyage contains, among other things — The
bryefe account of the expenses of the second voyage,
and the names of the venturars, p. 164 ; the trials of
the ore, p. 170.
The third voyage was undertaken upon a much
larger scale, consisting of the ships Ayde, Michael,
Gabriel, and Judith, belonging to the Company, to-
gether with nine other ships hired for the voyage, and
arrangements were made for Captain E. Fenton, with
one hundred men, to establish a fort at Meta Incog-
nita. The ships brought home 1,296 tons of ore, which
were deposited at Dartford, and considerable works
seem to have been carried on there in smelting and
refining the ore.
The State Papers relative to the outfit for the third
voyage contain — A proportion of the charges for a
thyrd voyage, p. 209 ; the inventorie of the ship Ayde
(a curious document describing her rig and furniture),
p. 218.
INTRODUCTION. xiii
The third voyage commences at p. 225. The State
Papers subsequent to the third voyage relate princi-
pally to the difficulty experienced in collecting the
subscriptions, pp. 319-321 ; Mr. Lok's accounts and the
answers thereto, pp. 325, 326, 332 ; all the stock of
the venturers in all the three voyages, p. 358 ; the abuses
of Captain Furbisher against the Company e, p. 359.
On the conclusion of the third voyage, when it was
discovered that the ore would yield no return, Messrs.
Neale and WiUiam Baynham were appointed, by letters
dated August 12th, 1580, and May 6th, 1581, to audit
the accounts. This report recapitulates the names of
all the sul)scribers for the three voyages and the build-
ings at Dartford. The subscriptions for the three
several voyages amounted to £20,345, of which the
Queen advanced £4,000. In the account of the pro-
perty of the Company it is mentioned that Thomas
Allen received of Captain Frobisher two ingots of fine
gold, weighing 9 pennyweights 8 grains, and two in-
gots of fine silver, weighing 7 ounces 1 8 pennyweights,
which said gold and silver proceeded of the melting
and working of four cwts. of the ore brought from
Meta Incognita in the second voyage. That of the
foresaid workes done at Dartford in the melting and
rifining 16 tonnes of ore whereof proceeded 210
ounces of fine silver mixed with gold, which was de-
livered to Eichard Young.
Amongst the assets of the Company is stated to be
at Dartford 1,300 tons of ore remaining, valued at
£13 : 6 : 8 per ton = £l,733 : 6 : 8. No further in-
formation can be collected respecting the ore, but it is
XIV TNTEODUCTTON.
to be presumed that it did not turn out so valuable,
1)eeause we find it subsequently recited that the like
ore may be obtained for £6 a ton, whereas this cost
the Company £16.
In the appendix will be found a list of the relics of
the Frobisher expedition brought home by Mr. C. F.
Hall in 1863, wdiich are now deposited at the Eoyal
Geographical Society ; and I am one of those who believe
that his exertions in exploring King AYilliam's Land
for the journals and records of the Franklin expedition
will be attended with success. When this island was
visited by Sir L. McClintock and Captain Hobson, the
ground was covered with snow. Mr. Hall intends
passing the summer upon it, and the knowledge he
has obtained of the Esquimaux language and character
during his two years' residence in Frobisher Sound
will enable him to gain their confidence.
The two maps which accompany the narrative are
facsimiles of those in the first edition of Hakluyt (1578).
The island " Croc land,'' in the N.W. corner of the
second map, is in all prol)ability a misprint in the
original, as in Mercators " Mappe Monde" (1569)
there appears an island called Groetland in this posi-
tion.
The portrait is taken from the Herwologia, and has
been engraved by Mr. Scott.
In Watts' Bibliotheca Britannia, ed. 1824, the fol-
lowing account is given of Frobisher's voyages : —
" A true report of Mr. Martin Frobisher his third
and last voyage, 334 o, 1577.
" A true report of the last voyage into the west and
INTRODUCTION. XV
nortliern regions, etc., worthely atcheiued by Captaine
Frobishor, of the said voyage the first Finder and
General!, 846 ?', 1578.
" A Prayse k reporte of Maister Martin Frobishers
Voyage to Meta Incognita, 225 g, 1579.
" A Welcome home to Mr. M. Frobisher & all those
gentlemen and souldiers that have been with him this
last ioiirney in the countrey called Meta Incognita,
which welcome was written since this booke was put
to the printing & ioyned to the same booke for a true
testimony of Cliurchyardes good will for the further-
ance of Maister F.'s fame, 225 f"
In the Bihliotlieca Grenvilliana, under Frobisher,
p. 259, vol. i, is the following : —
" A true discourse of the late voyages of discoverie
for the finding of tlie passage to Cathaya by the Nortli-
weast, vnder the conduct of Martin Frobisher, Generall :
Deuided into three bookes, London, by Henry Bynny-
man, maps, 4 to., 15 78.''
This is the first account of all the three voyages of
Frobisher in 1576-77-78 by George Beste, who sailed
with him : it is extremely rare ; a separate and differ-
ent narrative of the second voyage only by Settle, who
likewise sailed with Frobisher, was printed in 1577, in
1 2mo., and is also extremely rare ; but the peculiar
value of this copy is in its possessing the two maps.*
"La Navigation du Cap. Martin Forbisher Anglois es
regions de west et nordwest en I'annee 1577. Pour
Antoine Chuppen." 1578, woodcut, 8vo.
This French translation is of great rarity.
* These are the two maps which are o-iven in this edition.
XVI INTRODUCTION.
"De Martini Forbisseri Angii Navigatione in regione
occidentis et septentrionis. Narratio Historia ex Gal-
lico sermon e in Latinum translata por Joan. Tho.
Frugium Noribergse in off. Catharine Gerlachen." 1580,
8vo.
This is the first Latin edition of Frobisher's second
Voyage.
"Historia navigationis Martini Forbisseri Angii Prae-
toris sive Capitanii A.c. 1577 ex Angiia in septentrionis
et occidentis tractum suscepta ephemerides sive diarii
more conscripta et stilo triennioque post ex Gallico in
Latinum sermonem a J. T. Freigio translata Hamburgi
sumptibus J. Naumanni." 1675, plate, 4to.*
It appears that the account of the voyage was also
translated into Italian, as in Lowndes' Biographical
Manual there is the following : — " Sco^Dumento dello
Stretto Artico et de Meta Incognita dar Geo. Lor.
Anania." Naples, 1582, 8vo.
In the Restituta, by Sir Egerton Brydges, vol. ii,
will be found " A Eythm Decasybillical upon this last
luckie voyage of worthie Captaine Frobisher," of which
the following are the first and third verses : —
I.
" Through sundrie foming frefces and storming streiglites,
That venturous knight of Ithac's soyle did sayle ;
Against the force of S3a'en's cauhned heightes
His noble skill and courage did prevaile.
His hap was hard, his hope yet nothing fraile ;
Not ragged rocks, not sinking sertes or sands,
His stoutness stayed from viewing foreign lands.
* I am indebted to our Vice-President, the Right Hon. Sir
David Dundas, for the loan of a copy of this curious volume,
as well as for references, which have assisted me greatly in
drawing up this account. Ed.
INTRODUCTION. Xvii
III.
" A right heroical heart of Britanne blood,
Vlysses' match in skill and martial might,
For Princes fame and conntries special good,
Through brackish seas where I^Teptune reignes by right,
Hath safely sailed in perils great despight.
The golden fleece like Jason hath he got.
And rich retourned saunce losse or lucklesse lot."
Abkaham Fleming.
In conclusion, I have to acknowledge the assistance
and ready help which I have received from Mr. E. H.
Major of the British Museum, whose knowledge, not
only of what was required, but where it was to be
obtained, has been of the greatest service to me in
preparing this edition.
Sm MAETIN FROBISIIER, Knt.
" A most valourous man, and one that is to be reckoned
amongst the faraousest men of our age for counsell and glory
gotten at sea." Camden, ord edition, 1635, p. 438.
The following account of the life of Sir Martin
Frobislier has been derived from Fuller's Wortliies,
Camden, Campbell's Lives of the Admirals, Barrow's
Naval Worthies of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, Notes and
Queries, p. 478, June 11th, 185.9, History and Anti-
quities of Doncaster, by Dr. Miller, and MS. papers in
the British Museum.
Dr. Miller says — "It appears that Francis Frobisher*
was mayor of Doncaster in 1535, and was probably
the father of Martin. Unfortunately, the parish re-
gister does not commence the baptisms until 1558.
However, I have found the baptism of several of his
relations, viz.: 1561, May 30th, Christian, daughter of
William Frobisher; 1564, March 2nd, Darcye, son of
the same; 1566, March 18th, Matthew, son of the
same; 1567, Jan. 18th, Elizabeth, daughter of the
same. In Manerser's Account of Yorkshire Families
it is stated that the father of Sir Martin Frobisher re-
sided some time at Finningley; his mother was daugh-
ter to Mr. Rogers of Everton. His grandfather Wil-
* llistortj and Aniiqu.itics of Doncaster.
XX THE LIFE OF
liam married Margaret, daughter of AVilliam Boynton,
of Burmston, Esq. His great great grandfather,
Francis, was recorder of Doncaster, and married
Christian, daughter of Sir Brian Hastings, Knt."
Campbell, in his Lives of the Admirals, tells us that
his father bred him to the sea, but we have little
account of his early years.
In the State Paper Office {Domestic, Elizaheth, vol.
xl, June 11th, 1566) there is a paper entitled Exami-
nation of Martin Frobisher, of Normanton, co. of York,
on suspicion of his having fitted out a vessel to go to
sea as a pirate ; and there is little doubt but that he
was engaged on a voyage to Guinea about this time.
Campbell continues — "He distinguished himself first
by undertaking the discovery of the north-west pas-
sage, wherein he had no success ; yet it gained him
great reputation, as he discovered a new promontory
or cape, which he called the Queen's Foreland. In
1577 he undertook a second expedition, and in 1578
a third, in all which he gave the highest proof of his
courage and conduct in providing for the safety of his
men, and yet pushing the discovery he went upon as
far as it was possible ; so that, notwithstanding his
disappointment, he still preserved his credit in spite of
a little accident, which would certainly have over-
turned the good opinion entertained of a less esteemed
commander."
Among the State Papers [Domestic, Elizabeth, cxlvi,
1580) there is a grant to M. F. (Martin Frobisher) of
the office of clerk of H.M. ships ; and in the same
scries, vol. cli, 17, 1581, is a j^etition of Isabel Fur-
SIE, MARTIN FROBISHER. XXI
Lusher, complainiDg that Capt. F. (whome God forgive)
had spent all the money left her and her children by
Thomas Euggat, her first husband. It is however to
be hoped that he was not long in getting over the
difficulties occasioned by the failure of the north-west
ore, for we find him in 1585 commanding the Prim-
rose as vice-admiral, Sir F. Drake being admiral in the
Elizaheth Bonaventiire, in the fleet that was sent to
the West Indies, when the booty brought home was
£60,000 and two hundred pieces of brass cannon; and
there is no doubt that in this expedition he must have
added to the reputation which he had already gained,
for when the country was threatened with invasion by
the Spanish Armada, the Lord High Admiral, in
writing to the Queen, says — " Sir F. Drake, Mr. Haw-
kins, Mr. Frobisher, and Mr. T. Fenner are those
whom the world doth judge to be men of the greatest
experience that this realm hath." Hoisting his flag on
board the Triumj^h, one of the lai'gest ships in the
navy, he, in company with Sir F. Drake in the lie-
venge, and Sir J. Haw^kins in the Victory, made the
first attack on the Spaniards, and took an important
part in each of the actions which led to the dispersion
of the Armada, and therein did such excellent service,
that he was among the number of the few knights
made by the Lord High Admiral on that signal occa-
* A.D. 1588. Stowe's Aimals, p. 1255. Upon Friday there-
fore, being the 26 of the moneth of July, ceasing from fighting,
the Lord Admiral (as well for their good deserts and honorable
service, as also to encourage others to the hke valor) was desirous
Xxii THE LIFE OF
He then appears to have remained in the Triumph
to watch the Narrow Seas, as several documents in the
State Paper Office prove the exertions which were
made to provision the fleet under Sir M. Frobisher.
In 1590 he commanded an expedition to the coast of
Spain and the Islands, and in 1592 he took charge of
the fleet fitted out by Sir Walter Raleigh ; and though
he had but three ships, yet he made a shift to burn
one rich galleon and to bring home another. In 1591
the King of Spain sent 3,000 troops to the neighbour-
hood of Brest, where they had taken up a strong posi-
tion. Queen Elizabeth being applied to for assistance,
ordered a squadron to be prepared under the command
of Sir Martin Frobisher, and in the course of the opera-
tions against Fort Crozon, addressed him the following
characteristic letter : —
" Elizabeth E.
" Trustie and welbeloved, wee greet you well : wee
have seen your letter to our Threasuror and our Ad-
myrall, and thereby perceive your love of our service,
also by others your owne good carriage, whereby you
have wonne yourself reputation ; whereof, for that wee
to advance certaine personages to the degree of knigbthood, for
that, behaving themselves manfully, as well ^^nth their ships as
their good advice, the^^ were worthie that degree of honor, and
so much the more worthie in that, being farre separated from all
courtly favour, which manie times imparteth the chiefest honours
unto the least deserving men, they declared their valour in the
eyes of either fleet.
Therefore the two Lords, viz., the Lord Howard and the Lord
Sheffield, Roger Townesend, John Hawkins and Martin Fro-
bisher were called foorth, and the order of knighthood given
them bv the Lord H, Admirall as their general!.
SIR MARTIN FROBl.SHER. XXlll
imagine it wil be comfort unto you to understand, wee
have thought good to vouchsafe to take knowledge of
it by our owne hande writinge.
"Wee know you are sufficiently instructed from out*
Admyrall, besides your owne circumspection, howe to
prevent any soddaine mischeife by fire or otherwise
upon our fleete under your charge ; and yet do wee
thinke it will worke in you the more impression to be
by ourselfe againe remembred, who have observed by
former experience that the Spaniards, for all their
boaste, will truste more to their devices than they dare
in deed with force look upon you. For the rest of my
directions, we leave them to such letters as you shall
receave from our Counsaile.
" Given under our privie signet at our mansion of
Richmond the 14th of November, in the thirty-sixth
yeare of our reigne, 1594.
" L. S.
" To our trustie and welbeloved
" Sir Martine Furbussher, knight."*
This letter can only have reached him on his return
to Plymouth after the fort was taken, when Campbell
tells us, "The garrrison defended themselves bravely
till such time as Sir Martin landed his sailors, and
desperately storming the place, carried it at once, but
with the loss of several captains. Sir Martin himself
received a shot in his side, and this, through want of
skill in his surgeon, proved the cause of his death,
which happened at Plymouth within a few days after
his return."
* Cottonian MS., Otho, 2, 9.
XXIV THE LIFE OF
The followino' letter to the Lord Hioh Admiral must
have been written fourteen days before his death.
" Englan[d]. — My humble dutie my honorable good
L[ord] the viith [of this] mounth by a batterie, under-
mininge and a verie dan[gerous] assault wee have
taken this fort with the losse [of ] of our people
but non of any accoumpt. They [defended] it verie
resolutlie. And never asked mercie. S[o] [they] were
put all to the swoord savinge five or six th[at] hid
themselfes in the rockes, many of them were slaine
[with] our Cannonn and greatt ordenaunce in defend-
inge o[f the] breatch with there Captaine one Perithos :
" It was tyme for us to goa through with it for Don
[John] is advanst within six leagges of our armie with
a[n] intente to have succoured them. Sir John No[rris]
doth rise this daie and doth martch towarde th[em] to
a place called old Croydon : —
"Wee are about to gett in our ordenaunce as fast as
w[e] can and so to make our repaire homewardes. Sir
J[ohn] Norris would willinglie have some five hundred
of [the] sayllers for his bettar streinght against the
da[ie] of meetinge with don John w[hi]ch I would
verie willinglie have don yf we had vittles to con-
tin [ent all] our fleett heare for the tyme : —
"I was shoott in with a bullett at the bat trie alons^st
[the] huckell bone. So as I was driven to have
an ins[ision] made to take out the bullett. So as
I am neither [able] to goa nor ride. And the mari-
ners are verie unwiplinge] to goa except I goa with
them my self e : yett [yf] I find it to come to an ex-
tremitie we will [try] what we are able : yf we had
SIR MARTIN FROBISHER. XXV
vittles it were [verie] easilie done but heare is non to
be had. I ha[ve sente] accordinge to you"" honours
derections tow shipp[es to] Plymouth and Dartmouth,
we most presentlie s[ailej away yf they come not to
us with vittles : —
" This bearer is able to certiffie you' honours [with]
all thinges at large. So with my humble p[rayers] to
the Almyghtie for you'" increasse in hon[our].
" Croydon this viiith of Novembre, 1594.
" Your honours most h[umble]
" to comande
"Mr. Mondaie arived the xxviiith of Octobre at
Breste and brought with him a thousand crownes for
our vittlinsfe the which was distributed amongst the
shippes.
" Martin Froobiser.''*
In the register of St. Andrew's parish, Plymouth,
1594, there appears the following : —
"Nov. 22nd. Sir Martin Frobisher, knight, being
at the fort built against Brest by the Spaniards, de-
ceased at Plymouth this day, whose entrails were here
interred, but his corpse was carried hence to be buried
in London."
"Thus fell," says Camden, "a man of undaunted
courage, inferior to none of that age in experience and
conduct, or the reputation of a brave commander."
Fuller, in his Worthies of England, says he w^as
" verie valiant, but withal harsh and violent t (faults
* Caligula, E ix, Pars i, f. 206.
t In the State Paper Office, Domestic, Elizabeth, ecxix, August
10th, there is the following evidence of unbecoming words
C
XXVI LIFE OF SIR MARTIN FROBISHER.
which may be dispensed with in one ot his profession),
and our chronicles loudly resound the signal service in
'88 for which he was knighted/'
Camden, in the third edition, 1635, p. 433, thus
speaks of him : — " Neither was this victory gotten by
the English without bloud, very many valliant souldiers
being slaine, and Sir Martine Fourbisher hurt with a
small shot in the hip, who, when he had brought back
the fleet to Plimmouth, dyed, a most valorous man, and
one that is to be reckoned amongst the famousest men
of our age for counsell and glory gotten at sea, as by
the things which I have before spoken plainly ap-
peareth."
Campbell concludes thus : — " He was one of the
most able seamen of his time, of undaunted courage,
great presence of mind, and equal to almost any
undertaking, a true patriot, yet in his courage blunt,
and a very strict observer of discipline, even to a de-
gree of severity, which hindered his being beloved."
spoken by Sir Martin Frobislier against Sir Francis Drake,
calling him a cowardly knave and traitor.
STATE PAPERS PREVIOUS TO THE FIRST
VOYAGE.
I. NOTE OP NAVIGATIONS HERETOFORE ATTEMPTED.
II. A DISCOVERY OF LANDS BEYOND THE EQUINOCTIAL.
III. A DISCOURSE CONCERNING A STRAIGHTE TO BE DISCOVERED
TOWARDE THE NORTHWESTE.
IV. A REPLY TO THE ABOVE DISCOURSE.
STATE PAPERS PREVIOUS TO TH'E" MBST YOYA^xli}
[Colonial, No. 21. Domestic, cvi, No. 77. ^^iz., 1575 ?]
A NOTE OP CERTAYNE NAVIGATIONS HERTOFFORE ATTEMPTED
FOR THE DTSCOVERTE OF A PASSAGE THROUGHE THE
STRAIGHTES OAVT OF THE NORTHE SEA INTO THE SOUTH SEA.
In the countrey of America towardes the northe, aboute the sixtie
degree, there is an elbowe of a land lying verie farre into the sea, which
is called the head of Laborer. And on the southe side there is a verie
broade bay lying towardes the weste, and of suche a breadth that it
semeth, bothe in the verie entry and after, to be a greate sea, ffor yt
lyeth oute aboute three or foure hundred myles, and hathe verie many
ilandes, and all the yere throughe there are in the same huge heapes of
ise, which bay is called Dusmeudas.
Anno 1496. In the yere of our Lord 1496, in the reigne of kyng
Henry the Seventh, Sebastian Cabotte, who afterward was chieffe pilot
of Spayne, was sent oute of England by the said king, with two shippes,
to fynd oute the passage oute of the Northe Sea unto the South, that
the way into the countrey s which are called Mangi Sepango and Cataya
might be opened ; which Sebastiane Cabotte, going furth on his voyage
by the coastes of the ilandes, that so he might come into America about
the sixtie degree, found greate mountains of ise and ilandes covered
with snowe in the moneth of Julie when he was but under the sixtie
degree onlie towardes the north, which countrey, finding contrary to his
expectacion, he went round aboute, and beholding so greate abundance
of ise, was in doubte that he should find any waye, and therfore re-
tourned into England again, which hilles of ise there growe because
dyvers rivers of swcete waters round downe from either side of the pro-
montory which is not of the salte sea water ; ffor this is to be noted,
that the sea it self never freesethe. This daylie experience which we
have by the shippes which yerelie go oute of England into Moscovia
teacheth us whiche in the somer season retorne from thence into Eng-
land in fyve monethes space. At which tyme of the yere oure countrey
men fynd no suche ise or snowe there. Althoughe they passe under the
72 or 73 degree which is xij. or xiij. degrees nerer the Pole than Cabot was.
Anno 1500, Moreover, in the yere of our Lord 1500, one Gaspar
Cortesreales, a pilot of Portingale from the northe parte of America was
in these ilandes with two shippes, and brought with hym from thence
threescore captyves or slaves.
But to find oute the passage oute of the North Sea into the Southe
we must sayle to the 60 degree, that is, from 66 unto 68. And this pas-
B 'i
4 STATE PAPERS
sage is called tli^, X^rowe Sea or Streicte of the three Bretheren ; in
which passage, at no t jme in the yere, is ise wonte to be found. The
.ikii^se '|S ,ihe £wifte;ro,na,yng downe of sea into sea. In the north side of
this passage, John Scolus,i a pilot of Denmerke, was in anno 1476.
The southe side also of this passage was found of a Spanyard in anno
1541, who, travayling oute of Newe Spayne with a certain band of
souldiers, was sent by the vice roy into this coaste ; who, when he was
come to this coaste, found certain shippes in a certain haven which
came thither oute of Cataya laden with merchandise, having in theire
ffiagges hanging oute of the foreshippes certain burdes paynted called
alcatrizge. The mariners also declared by signes that they came oute of
Cataya into that port in xxx. dayes.
[Lansdowne MS., C, fol. 142-6.]
A DISCOVERY OF LANDS BEYOND THE EQUINOCTIAL.
1. The matter hit selfe that is oflfred to be attempted.
2. That hit is feisible.
3. What meanes we haue commodiously to attchiue yt.
4. The Commodities to grow of hit.
5. An awnswere of suche difficulties and matters as maie be obiected.
6. That there is no injurie offred to any Prince or countreye, nor any
offence of amitie.
7. The offer for performinge therof withoute her Majestie's chardge.
8. Matters thought vppon to be praied for her Majestie's good allow-
ance of the Enterprise and direction of the procedinge, alwaies both re-
ferring the particularities therof to further consideration and to your
Lordships' advice and judgement.
1. The matter hit self that is offred to be attempted.
The discouerie, traffique and enioyenge for the Queues Majestic and
her subiectes of all or anie landes, islandes and countries southe-
wardes beyonde the sequinoctial, or where the Pole Antartik hathe
anie elevation above the Horison, and which landes, islandes and
countries be not alredie possessed or subdued by or to the vse of anie
Christian Prince in Europe as by the charts and descriptions shall appere.
2. That hit is feisible.
The seas and passage, as farre as Bresill and Magellanes streight and
the Portugal's navigations to the Moluccas, which all doe lie beyonde
the zona torrida, beinge ofte and dailie passed bie theise nations and
knowen to oure owen mariners doe shew hit possible. And the more for
1 The person here referred to is the Polish pilot John Szkolny, whose name
is misspelt Scolvus by "NVytfliet (Descript. Ptol. Augmentum, Lovanii, 1597,
p. 188) ; Pontanus (Eeriim. Danicarum Historia, Amst., 1631, p. 703); and
Horn {Ulyssea, Ludg. Bat., 1671, p. 335). He was, as here stated, in the
service of Christian II, King of Denmark in 1476, and is said to have landed
on the coasts of Labrador, after passing Norway, Greenland, and the Fries-
land of the Zeni.
PREVIOUS TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. D
that the landes which we seke lieng not onelie beyonde the said zone,
but also beyonde the course of the Portugalls saylynge, and approch-
inge more to the Pole, from the sequinoctial draweth stylle more to the
temper of Englonde and the knowen regions of Europe.
3. The meanes that we haue to attchiue hit.
Ships of our owen wel prepared.
The weste contrie lienge the apteste of all partes of Englonde for
navigation southewarde.
]\Iarriners and sailers to whome the passage as most thither is knowen.
The good and welkome commodities that from Englond shalbe caried
to that people, who, lienge in the temper of Englond and other partes
of Europe, cannot but lyke well of clothe wherin we most habounde,
and the transportation wherof is most necessarie for our people at home.
4. The commodities, etc.
The enlarginge of Christian faithe which those naked barbarous
people are most apte to receiue, and especiallie when hit shal not carie
with hit the unnaturall and incredible absurdities of papistrie.
The grete honor to her Majestic to have encresed the faith and her
d[ominions].
The aptnes and, as hit were, a fatall convenience that since the Por-
tugall hathe atteined one parte of the newefounde worlde to the Este,
the Spaniarde an other to the Weste, the Frenche the thirde to the
Northe, nowe the fourthe to the southe is by God's providence lefte for
Englonde, to whom the other in tymes pastgi rauc b cB ^ fyrste offred.
The encrese of the nauigation of Englonde, of which commoditie,
both for welthe and safFetie, euoughe can not be saide.
The lyklihoode of bringinge in grete tresure of gold, sylver and perle
into this relme from those countries, as other Princes haue oute of the
lyke regions.
The enrichinge of the relme with all other sortes of commodities that
the same landes doe beare, which are lyke to be infynite and had with
small price and for the onelie fetchinge ; and accordinge to the diversy-
ties of clymes, yt is moste lykelie that the manifolde diversytie of com-
modities wilbe fownde and muste nedes habunde, for that by traffique
and exportance they haue not hitherto bene wasted.
The settinge of our idle and nedie people to worke and providinge for
theim bothe in the travaile of the navigation and the worke of clothes
and thinges to be caried thither.
The avoydinge of discommodities and perills that we be nowe sub-
iecte vnto, when the welthe and worke of our laude and people de-
pendethe partlie vpon the will of our skante trustie neighbours for
ventinge our clothes and commodities.
The abatinge of the prices of spices and suche commodities that we
now haue at the Portugals and Spauiardes handes, wherby they encrese
their riches vppon our losse, when much spices and suche lyke here
6 STATE PAPERS
spente and bought deare of theim do with the lesse quantitie consume
the vallewe of our clothes that thej receiue.
The encrese of the quantitie of golde and sylver that shalbe brought
cute of Spaine hit self into Englond when the commodities cominge
oute of Spaine, becominge this waie cheper, and so lesse countervailing
the vallewe of our clothes caried thyther, the ouerplus shal come more
plentifullie hither in treasure.
That we shall receiue lesse of spices and suche commodities from
Spaine havinge them from elswhere : and so the more of the retorne of
our commodyties from theim in gold and sylver, which nedes muste be
a grete commoditie when at this daie recevinge muche of our spices and
southerne wares from Spaine and at dere prices : yet the sylver brought
from thence is said to be the chief furniture of her Majesties mynte.
5. Answere to the difficulties, etc.
The passinge of the vjJiote [Jiot] clyme or zona torrida. This hathe
bene passed vi tymes by Magellans. The zona torrida is yerlie in everie
voyage of the Portugalle to the Moluccas passed iiij tymes, and everie
voyage of the Spaniardes to Brasyle hit is passed twice. Sondrie of our
owen nation and some suche as are to goe in these voyages haue passed
hit to Guynie, Brasyle and other places.
The Portugals whole navigation to the Moluccas, besydes his iiij tymes
in everie voyage passinge vnder the aequinoctial, liethe whollie nigh the
same lyne.
The contries that we seke soe lie that our course contiuuethe not nere
the lyne, but crossinge the same, styll hastethe directlie to the temper
of our owen regions.
5. The perils of the Portugals or Spaniards violence that shall envie
our passage. Our strengthe shalbe suche as we feare hit not, besydes
that we meane to kepe the Ocean and not to enter in or nere any their
portes or places, kepte by their force.
The dispeopling of Englonde. It is no dispeoplinge. The people
abonde as apperethe by the nomber greter then can welbe provided for:
and the dailie losse by execution of lawe, and no evill pollicie to dis-
burthen the land of some excesse of people.
The wastinge of marriners and furniture of shippinge. It is the
encrese of marriners and the skylfulleste sorte and the provisyon of
shippinge as by the ensample of Spaine and Portugal!, and the Frenche
is sene who haue by meanes of their traffique to the Indies and the
Newfondlande a grete nomber of grete ships more then ere that tyme
they had or could set on work.
The absence of merriners and shippinge in farre voyages when we
male nede them at home. This reason is generall against all naviga-
tion to forren partes which yet is the verie true defense of the relme.
And in all theise reasons is to be noted that none are to passe withowt
her Majestie's permission, and as to her heighnes and her counsell
from tyme to tyme shall apere mete to be spared.
PREVIOUS TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 7
6. That there is no injurie, &c. ;
The Ffrenche have their portiou to the northwarde directlie contrarie
to that which we seke.
For the places alredie subdued and inhabited by the Spaniard or
Portugall Ave seke no possession nor interest. But if occasion be free
frendlie traffique with theim and their subiectes which is as lawful! as
muche wjthout iniurie as for the Quenes subiectes to traffiques as
merchants in Portugall or Spaine hit self.
The passage by the same seas that they doe, offringe to take nothing
from them that they haue or clayme to haue ; is not prohibited nor can
be without iniurie or offense of amitie on their parte that shall forbyd hit.
The voyages to Guynea and traifikinge in Mexico and in the verie
places of the Spaniards possession hathe in the president of Hawkyns
voyage bene defended by her Majestic and counsell as frendlie and
lawfull doenges ; much more this which is but passinge in the open sea
by theim to places that they nether hold nor knowe. Besyde that not
onelie trafyke but also possession, plantinge of people and habitation
hathe bene alredie iudged lawfull for other nations in suche places as
the Spaniardes or Portugals haue not alredie added to ther possession.
As is proved by her Majesties most honorable and lawfull graunte to
Thomas Stucle and his companie for terra Florida. Also the Ffrenche
mens inhabitynge in Florida and Bresile, who albeit they acknowledge
the Pope's authoritie in suche thiuges as they grant to perteine to him,
yet in this vniuersall and naturail right of traffique and temporall
dominion they haue not holden them bounde by his power ; but do
expounde his donation to the Spaniardes and Portugals either as a
matter not perteyninge to the Pope's authoritie, or at leste not byndinge
any other persons princes or nations but the Spaniards or Portugals
onelie, who onelie submitted themselues, and were parties to the Pope's
judgment in that behalf. s
7. The offre for performinge, &c.
The gentlemen that offre this enterprise shall at their charge and
adventure of them selves and suche as shall willinglie ioyne themselves
to their companie performe the whole voyage at their owen chardges
and toward the same shall set forward iiij good ships, wherin they will
emploie v. Mil., viz., 2,00Ull. in shippinge and furniture, 2,00011. in
victails and necessaries for the companie, and one 1,00011. in clothe and
merchandise fytte for the people ; wherwithe we truste hit wille
atchived. And afterward as God shall prospere or sende occasion they
will at their owen charge pursue the same.
8. Matters thought vpon, &c. :
That her Majestic wilbe plesed to give her letters patentes to the
authors and fellowship of this voyage in nature of a Corporacion.
That hit will please her Majestye in the same letters patentes to [put]
wordes of her good allowance and Ijkinge ef their good meaninge [and]
8 STATE PAPERS
add suche francbize and priveledge as in this case is requisyte [and]
in the lyke bathe bene graunted.
That hit will plese her Maiestie by the same letters patentes to
stablishe some forme of gouernance and authoritie in some persons of
the companie of this adventure so as by some regimente, obedience,
quiet vnitie and order male be preserved.
That hit will also plese her Majestic to give her Highnes speciall
letters bothe of testimonial! that these adventures be her h[ighnes]
subiectes enterprisinge this voyage with her favore and also her letters
of commendations to all princes and peoples for their lovinge and
favorable enterteinement and traffique.
That some speciall rules and orders suche as the companie shall
thincke mete to be kepte emongste theim male be confirmed by her
Maiesties authorytie, and further supplie of lyke ordinances to be
made from tyme to tyme by the gouerners of her Highnes, to be
appointed for the direction of the voyage ; for the agreement and
obedience of the parties, for the contribution and charge, for the
equallitie and partytion ; and severallie orders to be appointed by her
I\Iajestie for the stablishinge of her Majesties domynion and amitie in
suche places. as the shall arrive vnto, where the same shalbe to be donne,
and for the rate and trew answering of her Majesties portion. Theise
thinges brieflie at the fyrste we haue thought mete to exhibite to your
honore, who are hable therof to judge muche better then we are hable
to shewe. Howbeit yf your l[ordship] shall not be satisfied in any-
thinge concerninge this matter, hit male plese you to assigne the same,
that w[e] male attende upon you wythe suche resolucion as we can give
therin.
[Lansdoxcne 21S., C, No. 4.]
A DISCOUKSE CONCEKNINGE A STRAIGHTE TO BE DISCOVERED
TOWAKDE THE NORTHWESTE, PASSINGE TO CATHAIA AND
THE ORIENTALD INDIANS, AVITH A CONFUTACION OF THEIR
ERROIJR THAT THINKE THE DTSCOYERYE THEROF TO BE
MOSTE CONVENIENTLYE ATTEMPTED TO THE NORTHE OF BAC-
CALAOS.
Consideringe Groynelande is well knowen to be an ilande, and that
it is not conioyned to America in any parte, there is no cause of doubte
but that upon the northe of Baccalaos the seas are open and no straighte
to be there discovered, neither was it ever doubted but that America
v/as an ilande if it were not ioyned with Oathaia. So that the straighte
is there and not upon the Baccalaos to be fownde. And this is also by
Sebastian Cabottos navigacion to be moste manifestly approved, who
sailinge to the northweste of Nona Francia founde the seas open many
dales sailinge, till by the mutynie of the mariners he was caused to
retorne.
PREVIOUS TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 9
This straighte that disioynethe Asia and America of Gerardus Mer-
cator and other moderne cosmographers is called the Straighte of Anian,
and liethe by their descriptions at the leaste northweste. So that from
Inglonde it is not lesse then 200 grades distaunte.
Now let vs consider which were the more conveniente waie to dis-
cover the said straighte, either passinge vnder the congeled Artike
circle, for so highe the maine of America rechethe, or by passinge the
straighte of Magilianus to ascendo from the equinoctiall alonge the
westerne course of that Atlanticali Ilande, as Plato semethe in his
Timzeo to terme it.
The which shall the better apeare if the comoditie and discomodities
of the one and the other be compared.
Ffirst therfore of the southerne voiadge, the discomodities are only
these :
The lengthe of the jorneye and the crossinge twise of Zona Torrida.
The lengthe of the jorneye is easilie examined, considering Magilianus
Straite is not above 120 grades distaunte from the west of Inglonde,
and from this straighte to Anian Straighte, as they are by cosmo-
graphers supposed, are not so many grades more, so that the vttermoste
of that voiadge is not above 240 grades sailinge. By the other northerne
passadge we shall, as is before shewed, be enforced to saile 200 grades
in longitude and in latitude 10 grades at the leaste to ascende to the
climate of the Baccalaos, northerne Cape, and then 10 degrees more
descendinge to the supposed place of Anian Straighte. So that there
diiTer not betwene these courses above 20 grades in true computacion.
It wilbe obiected that the grades in the one are acompted in circle of
position which are equall to grades equinoctiall, and in the other by
grades of paralelle not 30 grades distaunte from the pole, so that al-
thoughe in nomber of grades they smally differre, yet in quantitie the
southerne voiadge is farre the greater. Heere I awnswere, true it is
that the degrees of the equinoctiall differ in quantitie from the degrees
of a paralelle in CO grades of latitude, for so is the paralelle that is like
in the northerne navigacion to be passed, and the difference is exactlie
to be knowen ; and by supputation the proportion is fownde dupla,
every grade of the one being doble in quantitie to a degree in the
other, so as the one voiadge maie be truly saide to be doble to the other
at the leaste. But consideringe that in discoverye of newe unknowen
seas I muste neither beare stiffs saile by nighte ne yet in the dale when
fogges or mistes shall happen (which in these partes are almoste con-
tynuallye) wheras contrarywise in the other, passinge altogether by
seas knowen and alredy discovered, even till we come to the straighte
soughte, I nede not refuse nighte or dale to packe on saile for my* moste
speede, being no lesse cleere in those whote and temperate zones then
darke and mistie in the other. And therfore albeit in quantitie the
grades differ, yet all circumstaunces dulye waied I may well affirme that
10 STATE PAPERS
in one natural! daie, and so consequently in one weeke or mouethe, I will
passe more grades of my southerne voidage then can be passed of the
other.
But more particularly to examine the trothe, admitte (the soone being
in the tropique of Cancer,) I hoise saile departinge Inglonde folowinge the
soone before he come to the equinoctiall lyne, I maie easilie reache
Magilianus Straightes and bestowe three weekes at the leaste in plat-
tinge and discoveringe the ilandes and other commodities for fortifica-
tion of the said straightes if neede were. And then before the soone
aryve to the Brumale tropique I maie withe facilitie aryve to the
Straightes of Anian. So haue I nowe one whole quarter of a yeare to
discover the said straighte and to make plattes of every bale, roade,
porte or chanell therein, and to sounde all suche places as in that pas-
sadge maie cause perill. In which tyme the soone wilbe arrived againe
to the equinoctiall, aprochinge to the congeled Artike circle. And so
haue I the whole Summer to retorne from the Northerne Seas, and the
3 firste monethes to employe in trafique with Cathaia or any other
ilandes to the saide straighte adioyninge, which may sufficiently occupie
the fleete till the seas be resolued. But contrariewise by the northe, it
is vtterly iupossible or not without extreme perills of liefe and expence
of victualles, without any advauntage in the meane, to discover the said
straighte, as by the reasons ensuinge shalbe manifeste.
The distante of the Straightes of Anian to the northweste course
beinge 200 grades in longitude maketh COuO myles, alowinge 30 miles
to a grade, for suche is the quantitie of a grade in 60 of latitude.
Herto if we maye adioyne 1200 myles, which is the quantitie of 10
grades ascendinge and 10 desceudinge tofore mencioned, there amount-
ethe 7200 myles.
Nowe consideringe the seas and ayre vnder the Artike circle are so
congeled that they are navigable only 3 monethes in the yeare, wherof
it is requisite to reserve at the leaste one monethe to retorne, if the said
passadge if the said passadge^ sholde not be mette withall. Then ex-
am3'ne howe farre in the moyetie of that quarter a man maie passe, and
the possibilitie of this voiadge will soone apeare.
It cannot be (consideringe the nighte muste not be navigate for
daunger of the coaste, and many tymes in the dale we muste beare
slacke saile by reson of mistes and ffogges) that in one dale we sholde
saile above one grade or two at the vttermcste, and so in the meane
tyme before lymyted not possible to reache the thirde parte of the waie
to the desired straighte, the winde being alwaie favorable. I omitte
infynite impedymentes that maie lette, as newe landes, ilandes, capes
or other, also bayes entering into the contynente, which muste be
thoroughly searched, or els the thinge we seeke mighte easilie be pre-
termitted. Seing therfore without thies impedimentes there is no tyme
1 Sic dnplicatur in MS.
PREVIOUS TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 11
sufficieute, howe impossible it is, all circumstances considered, to doe
any good this waie, any man male easilie judge.
Again e the discomodities by reason of the heate in the one are
nothinge so manye nor so extreame in the Southe as those of the colde
preceding in the l^orthe. The one beinge tempered by the coole of the
nighte, which are alwaies nighe equall to the dale. And the dietinge of
rnen so well knowen in those partes that no daunger is to be feared.
But in the Northe bothe dale and nighte being freesing colde, not only
men's bodies, but also the very lynes and tacklinge are so frosen, that
with very greate difficultie maryners can handell their sailes, I omytte
the rages of the seas and tempestuous wether, wherwith we shalbe farre
more ofte endaungered in the Northe then in the Southe. Then seinge
by this that hathe bene saide it manifestlye apearethe that by the
Southe in one yeare, the straighte maie be discovered, and by the
Northe it cannot be in a furre longer tyme, let vs also examyne,
whether in the meane tyme, the one or the other voiadge, for any other
accident, maye happen to be more serviceable or commodious. Wherin
this is apparaunte, that whatsoever Northerne Ilande shalbe discovered,
there is no other commoditie to be expected from it then only sutche as
our Moscovian adventurers bring from Ruscia, seinge they are bothe
subiecte to the artike cirkell. But from any lande that shall in the
other voiadge be founde, we are assured to expecte, golde, siluer, pearle,
spice, riche grayne, and suche moste precious marchaundize, besides
countreis of moste excellente temperature to be inhabited, if we thinke
it necessary, and if we aryve to tymely to enter the said straighte
of Anian, yet haue we Cathaia, and all the Orientall Indians open vnto
vs for trafique, besides the waste occeane to the Southe, which cannot
but be replenished with numbers of Ilandes, the leaste wherof mighte
aboundantly suffice to furnisheour navie with the forenamed comodities.
If gemmes, turkesses, rubies, and other precious juells sholde not be there
fownde, wherof there cannot but be greate abouudaunce in somme of
them. Considering that in the ilande of Ormus and St. Laurence
lyinge in the same temperature and clymate there was of olde tyuie
great plentie ; and in this our age in these barbarous ilandes more
likely to be founde, being not yet ever soughte and sifted by men of
knowledge.
By this conference it maie apeare that as by the Southerne voyadge
this Straighte of Auian may more sooner and withe farre lesse perill
and exspence be discovered then by the Northerne ; so dothe it also
for comodities if this streighte were not founde, as farre excell the other
as golde, siluer, and spice dothe waxe tarre and tallow, and in ease and
safetie to the travailer as furre excedinge as the dale dothe the nighte,
or the somer the winter ; and yet I denie not that after the straighte
shall once be founde, and all the chanels and roades sounded, the capes,
fforlands, and bayes perfectly discovered, the enterchaungeable course of
12 STATE PAPERS.
curante tried, perfecte plattes and cartes of every goolfe and passadge
made, and every parte and harboroughe in his due longitude and
latitude, situate in such sorte that both daie and nighte in the cleere and
ffogge a man neede not feare to packe on saile with all celeritie to
exploicte his voyadge without any doubte or scrupule, but that this
waie he maie safelye comodiouslie and most spedelye passe into that
' reatche ' riche and bountifull sea abounding with innumerable ilandes
of incomperable ritches and unknowen treasure. But whosoever shall
before suche exacte discouerye made that waies attempte the same I
a.verre he shall proceade to the shame and dishonor of him selfe to the
destruction and ruyne of his ' countrey ' companye, and to the vtter
discouradgmente of this nation ffurther to adventure in this gainfull
honeste honorable enterprise. And reporte me to the judgment of the
wise, these reasons before alleaged well weyed.
[Otko B., viii, fol. 216 (225). Colonial, 23.]
KEPLY TO THE DISCOURSE.
North passage or straighte of
67 degrees, and is not so daungerous as [the passage to] [Mus]covia is
which is in 72 degrees and the[rfore] [moste] [da]ngerous for coulde
and ise and notwithstaudeing [that the] passage to Muscovia is traded
V. monethes in the [yeare].
And this passage by the northwest at 67 degrees [oughte] to be
searched, and the same may be sayled in xxx"e da[ies from] England
to the said passage of 67 degrees.
The which passage beinge knowne wolde make a grete tra[de in] those
weste partes, where be manye riche merchandizes, and [the] passage lyeth
farre from anye prince that might hinder y[t].
And I thinke verely that with the value of ccc'i of mon[nye] this
passage might be knowne and truely certefied by mea[nes] of some of
the shippes that trade yerely to Iselande for fyshe.
Ffor this passage is to be sayled from Iselande in viii. or x. dai[es],
and they havinge ccc^i allowed them towards their charges wolde wil-
lingly searche the said passage, and ii. or iii. to be sent from hence in
the said shippes to bringe true knowledge of the same.
And be yt remembered this passage at 67 degrees to Catayo is but
6,000 leagues, and to passe by the streight of Magilanus to the said
Catayo is 15000 leagues. As also the passage of 67 degrees in the
moneth of June ther is no darke nightes, but is brighte daye all the
24 howers.
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SOVTH
HAKLoyr. s. I. T. irmii
A TRUE DISCOURSE
OF THE
LATE VOYAGES OF DISCOVERIE FOR
FINDING OF A PASSAGE TO CATHAYA, BY THE
NORTH-WEAST, UNDER THE CONDUCT OF
MARTIN FROBISHER GENERAL.
DEVIDED INTO THREE BOOKES.
/;/ tJie First whereof is shewed, his first voyage. Wherein
also by the way is sette out a Geographicall description of the
Worlde, and what partes thereof have bin discovered by the
Navigations of the Englishmen. Also, there are annexed
certayne reasons, to prove all partes of the Worlde
habitable, with a generall Mappe adjoyned.
Ill the Second, is set out his second voyage, with the
adventures and accidents thereof
/;/ the third, is declared the strange fortunes which
hapned in the third, with a several! description of the countrey
and the people there inhabiting. With a particular Card
thereunto adjoined of Meta Incognita, so farre forth as
the secretes of the voyage may permit
A T L O N D ON,
Imprinted by Henry Bynnyman, servant to the right Honourable Sir
Christopher Hatton, Vizchamberlaine.
AnJio Domini 1578,
I rcu ivts d(p< i no rUa&O^
r'l
A TRUE DISCOURSE
OF THE
LATE VOYAGES OF DISCOVERIE FOR
FINDING OF A PASSAGE TO CATHAYA, BY THE
NORTH-WEAST, UNDER THE CONDUCT OF
MARTIN FROBISHER GENERAL.
DEVIDED INTO THREE BOOKES.
Ill the First whereof is shewed, his first voyage. Wherein
also by the way is sette out a Geographicall description of the
Worlde, and what partes thereof have bin discovered by the
Navigations of the Englishmen. Also, there are annexed
certayne reasons, to prove all partes of the Worlde
habitable, with a generall Mappe adjoyned.
Ill the Second, is set out his second voyage, with the
adventures and accidents thereof.
In the third, is declared the strange fortunes which
hapned in the third, with a several! description of the countrey
and the people there inhabiting. With a particular Card
thereunto adjoined of Mcta Incognita, so farre forth as
the secretes of the voyage may peraiit.
uMiVERSlTY
\ OF
A T L O N D ON,
Imprinted by Henry Bynnyman, servant to the right Honourable Sir
Christopher Hatton, Vizchamberlaine.
Attno Domini 1578,
AVHAT COMMODITIES AND INSTRUCTIONS
MAY BE REAPED BY DILIGENT READING
THIS DISCOURSE.
1. First, by example may be gathered, how a discoverer
of new countries is to procecde in his first attempt of any
discoverie.
2. Item, how he shoulde be provided of shipping, victuals,
munition, and choice of men.
3. Howe to proceede and deale with straunge people, be
they never so barbarous, cruell and fierce, eyther by lenitie
or otherwise.
4. How trade of marchandize may be made withoute
money.
5. How a pilot may deale, being environed wyth moun-
taines of ise in the frosen sea.
6. How lengths of dayes, chaunge of seasons, sommers
and winters, do differ in sundry regions.
7. How dangerous it is to attempt new discoveries, either
for the length of the voyage or the ignorance of the lan-
guage, the want of interpreters, newe and unaccustomed
elementes and ay res, straunge and unsavery meats, daunger
of theeves and robbers, fiercenesse of wilde beasts and fishes,
hugenesse of wooddes, daungerousnesse of seas, dreade of
tempestes, feare of hidden rockes, steepenesse of moun-
taines, darknesse of sodaine falling fogges, continuall paines
taking withoute anye reste, and infinite others.
16 WHAT INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE REAPED.
8. How pleasaunt and profitable it is to attempt new dis-
coveries, either for the sundry sights and shapes of strange
beastes and fishes, the wonderful workes of nature, the dif-
ferent manners and fashions of diverse nations, the sundry
sortes of gouernmente, the sight of straunge trees, fruite,
foules, and beastes, the infinite treasure of pearle, gold and
silver, the newes of new found landes, the sundry positions
of the sphere, and many others.
9. How valiaunt captaines use to deale upon extremitie,
and otherwise.
10. How trustie souldiers dutifully use to serue.
11. Also here may be seene a good example to be ob-
serued of any priuate person, in taking notes, and making
obseruations of al such things as are requisite for a dis-
couerer of new countries.
12. Lastly, the reader here may see a good paterne of a
well governed service, sundrye instructions of matters of
cosmographie, geographic, and navigation, as in reading
more at large may be seene.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY SINGULAR GOOD MAYSTER,
SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON, KNIGHT, CAPTAINE OF THE
QUEENES MAJESTIES GARDE, VIZCHAxMBERLAINE TO
HIR HIGHNESSE, AND ONE OF HIR MAJESTIES
MOST HONOURABLE PRIVIE COUNSALE.
Right honorable, when I first entencled the voyaore of dis- r^be
' ^ o F.^istle De-
coverie wyth Mr. Frohislier, for the finding of the passage to ^^''^^^'^^•^
Cataya (beyng a matter in oure age above all other notable)
I applyed myselfe wholy to the science of cosmographie, and
secrets of navigation, to the ende, I might enable myselfe the
better for the service of my countrie,not only to understande
what I read and heard others speake, but also to execute in
efifect, and practise with my owne hands, the dutie and office
appertayning to a marriner : and so thereby be better able to
make a true reporte of al occurrents in the same voyage.
And for that now the common reporte thereof is so vaine and
uncertaine, by cause some men rather contendyng what they
are able to say, than considering what in truth they should
and ought to say, whereby, by sundrie men's fantasies, sundry
untruths are spred abroad, to the gret slaunder of this so
honest and honorable an action, I have thought good to lay-
open to your honorable judgement, the plain truth, and ful
discourse of the whole service, which I have taken upon me
(though altogether unable) to write, and to dedicate unto
your Honor especially, for these speciall causes following.
Firste, the world doth witnesse, and I myselfe by good proofe
18 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
have tasted and found, being a man by your honorable good-
nesse and good countenance, specially supported, and even
(as it were) the handy worke of your owne hands, how-
honorable a regard you beare to vertue, howe readye to
countenance the meanest man that truely serveth his countrie,
howe willing to give unto suche both grace and opinion with
hir Majestic, howe ready to procure rewarde there, for those
that shall justlye merite the same. And there withall con-
sidering the sounde judgement you have to discern, as wel
in this, as in al other causes of waight. And knowing wel
what place you hold with hir highnesse, (who for the faith-
full service you dayly doe hir, as wel in courte, as common
weale, whyche nowe by the true tuchstone of time, and long
experience, shee hath founde, and therefore conlirmeth
a faste and sure opinion in you wyth the chiefest) I have
specially thought it necessarye, besides my dutie (whiche
above all the worlde my alleageaunce reserved, I owe
you moste) for these respects to make relation of this
service unto your Honoure above others. And for that this
action, both for the worthinesse of the attempt, for the good
and quiet government, for the greate and marvelous daun-
gers, for the straunge and unknowne accidents of the un-
knowne corners of the worlde, above all others, may appeare
moste notable and famous : I have bene the rather desirous to
take some pain therein, and what I have a ship-boorde
rudely and unorderly framed or observed, to commend to
your honourable construction the same : being willing rather
to hazarde mine own shame, by shewing my selfe an insuffi-
cient writer which perchance maye seeme somewhat besides
my profession) than that so honest and worthy attempts of
our owne nation, with the example of so wel a governed
service, should lye hidden from your Honour's sight. And
for that I will be injurious to no man, whyche in this action
hath borne place, and well discharged the same, and that
those men with the manor of their dayly proceedings there,
by name may be knowen unto you, I have in their place
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 19
remembred them in order as becommeth : and have not onely
named each principall, but everye private person (if by any
speciall service hee hath merited the same) to the ende, that
the wel deserving man, receyving the due commendation of
his deserte, may be encouraged to continue, and take pleasure
in wel doing after, and others being animated by like ex-
ample, may for hope of like reward also, desire to deserve
wel.
By this discourse, it may please your Honour to behold
the greate Industrie of oure present age, and the invincible
mindes of our Englishe nation, who have never lefte anye
worthy thing unattempted, nor anye parte almoste of the
whole world unsearched, whome lately, neyther stormes
of seas by long and tedious voyages, danger of darke fogs
and hidden rockes in unknown coastes, congealed and frozen
seas, with mountains of fleeting ise, nor yet present dayly
before their face, coulde anye white dismay, or cause to desiste
from intended enterprises ; but rather preferring an honour-
able death before a shameful retourne, have (notwithstanding
the former dangers,) after many perillous repulses, recovered
their desired port. So that, if now the passage to Cataya
thereby be made open unto us, (which only matter hytherto
hath occupied the finest heades of the world, and promiseth
us a more riches by a nearer way than eyther Spaine or
Portugale possesseth) whereof the hope (by the good Indus-
trie and great attemptes of these men is greatly augmented)
or if the golde ore in these new discoveries founde out, doe
in goodnesse as in greate plenty aunswere expectation, and
the successe do foUowe as good, as the proofe thereof hitherto
made, is great, we may truely infer, that the Englishman in
these our dayes, in his notable discoveries, to the Spaniard
and Portingale is nothing inferior : and for his hard adven-
tures, and valiant resolutions, greatly superior. For what
hath the Spaniarde or Portingale done by the southeast and
southweast, that the Englishman by the northeast and north-
weast hath not countervailed the same ? c 2
20 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
And albeit I confesse that the Englishe have not hytherto
had so ful successe of profit and commoditie of pleasaunt
place (considering that the former nations have happily
chanced to travel by more temperate clymates, where they
had not onlye good meates and drinkes, but all other things
necessarie for the use of man) all whiche things, the English,
travelling by more intemperate places, and as it were with
mayne force, making waye throughe seas of ise, have wanted,
which notwithstanding argueth a more resolution : for Biffi-
ciliora imlcliriora, that is, the adventure the more hard the
more honorable : yet concerning the perfecter knowledge of
the world, and geographicall description, (wherein the pre-
sent age and posteritie also, by a more universal understand-
ing is much furthered, as appeareth by my universall mappe
with pricked boundes here annexed) herein, the Englishman
deserveth chiefe honour above any other. For neyther
Spaniard nor Portugale, nor anye other besides the English,
have bin found, by so great dangers of ise, so neare the Pole,
to adventure any discoverie, whereby the obscure and un-
knowen partes of the world (which otherwise had laine hid)
have bin made knowen unto us.
So that it may appeare, that by our Englishmen's indus-
tries, and these late voyages, the world is grown to a more
fulnesse and perfection ; many unknowen lands and ilands,
(not so much as thought upon before) made knowen unto us :
Christ's name spred : the Gospell preached; infidels like to
be converted to Christianitle, in places where before the name
of God had not once bin hearde of: shipping and seafaring
men, have bin employed : navigation and the navie (which
is the chief strength of our realm) maintayned : and gentle-
men in the sea service, for the better service of their country,
wel experienced. Al whiche things are (no doubt) of so
gret importance, as being wel wayed, may seeme to counter-
vayle the adventures charges ; although the passage to
Cataya were not found out, neither yet the golde ore prove
good, wher of both the hope is good and gret. But not-
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 21
withstanding all these, even in this (if no otherwise) hyr
most excellent Majestic hath reaped no small profit, that she
may now stand assured, to have many more tried, able and
sufficient men against time of need, that are (which without
vaunt may be spoken) of valour gret, for any great adven-
ture, and of governement good for any good place of service.
For this may truly be spoken of these men, that there hath
not bin seene in any nation, being so many in number, and
so far from home, more civill order, better governement, or
agreement. For even from the beginning of the service
hitherto, there hath neither passed mutinie, quarrel, or
notorious fact, either to the slaundcr of the men, or daunger
of the voyage, although the gentlemen, souldiers, and mar-
riners (whiche seldome can agree) were by companies matched
togither.
But I may perchance (right Honourable) seeme to dis-
course somewhat too largely, especially in a cause that (as a
partie) somewhat concerneth my selfe ; which I doe, not for
that I doubt of your honorable opinion already conceived of
the men, but for that I know, the ignorant multitude is rather
ready to slander, than to give good encouragement by due
commendation to good causes, who, respecting nothinge but
a present gaine, and being more than needefully suspitious
of the matter, do therwithall condemn e the men, and that
without any further respect, either of their honest intents,
either of their wel performing the matter they dyd undertake
(which according to their direction, was specially to bring
home ore) either else of their painful travel (which for their
Prince, and the publicke profile of their countries cause they
have sustained.)
But by the way, it is not unknown to the world, that this
our native country of England in al ages hath bred up (and
specially at this present aboundeth w4th) many forward and
valiant minds, fit to take in hand any notable enterprise ;
wherby appeareth, that if the Englishman had bin in times
paste as fortunate and foreseeing to acceot occasion offered,
^2 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
as he hath bin always forwarde in executing anye cause once
taken in hand, he had bin worthily preferred before all
nations of the worlde, and the Weast Indies had now bin in
the possession of the Englishe.
For Coliimhus, the firste Discoverer of the Weast Indies,
made firste offer thereof, with his service, to King Henrij the
seaventh, then Kyng of Englande, and was not accepted :
Whereuppon, for want of entertainement here, hee was forced
to go into Spaine, and offered there (as before) the same to
Ferdinajido, Kyng of Castyle, who presently acceptyng the
occasion, did first himselfe, and now his successors, enjoy the
benefite thereof.
Also Sehastian Cabota, being an Englishman, and born in
Bristoioe, after he had discovered sundrie parts of new found
lande, and attempted the passage to Cataya by the North-
west, for the King of England, for lacke of entertainment
here, (notwithstanding his good desert) was forced to seeke
to the Kinge of Spaine, to whose use hee discovered all that
tract of Brazil, and about the famous river Rio de la Plata,
and for the same, and other good services there, was after-
wards renowmed, by title of Piloto Maggiore, that is Graunde
Pylote, and constituted chiefe officer of the Contractation
house of Sivilla : in whiche house are handled all matters
concerning the Weast Indies, and the revenues therof ; and
further, that no Pylot shoulde be admitted for any discoverie
but by his direction.
But there hath bin two speciall causes in former age, that
have greatly hindered the English nation in their attempts.
The one hath bin, lacke of liber alitie in the nobilitie, and the
other want of skill in the cosmographie, and the arte of navi-
gation. Whiche kinde of knowledge is verye necessary for
all oure noblemen, for that wee being ilanders, our chiefest
strength consisteth by sea. But these twoo causes are nowe
in this present age (God be thanked) very well reformed ; for
not only hir majestie now, but all the nobilitie also, having
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 23
perfect knowledge in Cosmographie, doe not only with good
wordes countenance the forward minds of men, but also with
their purses do liberally and bountifully contribute unto the
same, whereby it cometh to passe, that navigation, whiche in
the time of King Henry the 7th was very rawe, and toke (as
it were) but beginning (and ever since hath had by little and
little continuall increase) is now in hir Majestie's raign
growen to his highest perfection.
Thus right Honorable, as I have in these my first travels
in these late voyages, upon such occasions as passed there,
nowe rendered your honour this bare and true accompte :
so being further resolved to offer myself a continual sacrifice
with the first, for hir Majestic and my country, in thys or
any other like service, I intend (God willing) according to
this beginning, if any thing hereafter fall out worth the
memorie to present your honoure therewithall, and from time
to time to advertise you of every particular. And in all
these things which I deliver now, or shal hereafter advertise,
1 humbly praye, your honour would vouchsafe to give some
credit thereunto, and rather to thinke, I may be deceived,
than that I meane to deceive, colour, or conceale any thing,
for I neither can, nor wil, use any flourish in the matter, but
a bare truth in all : and thereupon I give my poore credite
unto your honour in pawne. And herein I humbly pray
pardon, for my rude order of writing, which proceedeth from
the barren brayne of a souldier and one professing armes,
who desireth rather to be wel thought of with your honour,
for his well meaning, than for anye hys cunning writing
at all.
And thus, having presumed to present these untimely and
unripe fruites to your honoures beste and favourable con-
struction, I humbly take my leave, beseeching God to blesse
you, as I do faithfully serve, and will honor you ever.
The handie worke.of your Honours handes and faithfully
to serve you ever,
George Reste.
THE PRINTER TO THE READER.
Forasmuch as (gentle Reader) these three voyages lately
made by our countrymen performed, do both for the matter
of discoverie, for the strange and unknown accidentes, for
the rare and hard adventures, and also for the good and dis-
crete order of government, appeare above all others most
notable and famous : I have bin specially desirous, by all
meanes possible 1 could, to procure the publication thereof,
thinking it too great an injurie to our common wealth, to
burie in oblivion so worthy attemptes of our owne nation, and
to hide the ensample of so good and so well a governed ser-
vice. And for that (as I understand) many trifling Pamphlets
have bin secretly thrust out, not only without the consent of
the captaynes and executioners of the same, but also rather
to the great disgrace of the worthy voyage, than otherwise,
I having intelligence of a substantial! discourse w^hiche was
diligently written thereof, and privately dedicated to my very
Honourable Mayster, Sir Christopher Hatton Knight, by a
gentleman of his own, who was personally present a captain
in all the same service ; I have, without making privie the
authour, procured his coppie out of the handes of a friende
of mine, w^ho had the writing and perusing therof, and have
presumed to publish and imprint the same, to the ende that
thereby I mighte (gentle reader) as well satisfye thy greedy-
expectation, by unfolding these newe and unknowen matters,
whereof the nature of man is most desirous, as also to per-
forme that dutie whiche I owe unto my sayde Honourable
Mayster, in publishing such things as are directed unto him.
And for that the mater is worthy to passe under the protec-
tion of his honourable name, I have heerein bin willing,
rather to beare the burthen of the authores private dis>
THE PRINTER TO THE READER. 25
pleasure, if therewith he should afterwards be offended, than
not by publishing the same, seeme not only to do a publicke
injarie unto my native countrey, but also shew a lighte
regarde of my duetie, in obscuring the doyngs and travels of
him, or anye of his, whose honour (as I am chiefely bound")
I tender more than my owne safetie. And albeit I have in
a fewe places somewhat altered from my copie, and wronged
therby the authoure, and have soughte to conceale upon good
causes some secretes not fitte to be published or revealed to
the world (as the degrees of longitude and latitude, the dis-
tance, and true position of places, and the variation of the
compasse,) and whiche neverthelesse, by a generall, and par-
ticular mappe concerning the same, heereunto annexed, is so
sufficiently explained, that easilie anything apperteyning
unto the voyage, or in this discourse mentioned, may sensibly
be understode ; and though the matter be entirelie the
authours owne, yet am I contented (for thy sake) rather than
the same shoulde not be published, to beare the burthen of
blame, and to abide the reprofe of the faultes escaped, taking
upon me that reproche of presumption, and hazarding my
name to the world, all which things the author peradventure
taketh for so great disgraces, as willingly he would not ad-
venture in his owne name the publishing thereof. But
specially, for that the commendation of a historic consisteth
in truthe and playnenesse, I have desired to bring forth, and
prefer (before other pamphlets) the same, knowing that the
authore thereof, in nothing more than in truth, desireth to
maynteyne credite with this honourable personage, unto
whome with his owne hand written, he hath privately dedi-
cated the same, as by the epistle dedicatorie may appeare.
If therefore thou shalte accept my well meaning in good
parte, and yeelde but deserved prayse to the authoure for
doing, and thankes to me for publishing the same, it shall
suffice to make me thinke my travell well therein employed.
And so fare you well.
THE FYRST BOOKE
OF THE FIRST VOYAGE OF MARTIN FROBISHER, ESQUIER,
CAPTAYNE GENERALL FOR THE DISCOVERIE OF THE
PASSAGE TO CATAYA AND THE EAST INDIA, BY
THE NORTHWEAST,
FIRST ATTEMPTED IN ANNO BOM. 1576, THE 15. OF MAY.
Man is borne not only to serve his owne turne (as Tullie
sayeth), but his kinsfolke, friends, and the common wealth
offi^^ib â– ^^P^cially, loke for some furtherance at hys handes, and some
frutes of his laboure : where upon sundry men finding them-
selves as it were tyed by this bond and dutie of humane
society, have willinglye endeavoured sundry wayes to shew
themselves profitable members of their common weale. Some
men by study of the minde, have employed themselves to
give out good lawes and ordinances for governement, as Solon,
Lycurgus, and others. Some have spente their time in de-
vising artes and sciences, for the better sharpening of man's
witte, and the easier expressing his conceytes, as in time past
Aristotle for Logicke and Philosophic, Cicero and Demos-
thenes for Rethoricke, Euclide and others for Arithmeticke
and Geometric. Others againe by long and diligent obser-
vation, have found out the motion and courses of the celestiall
Orbes, that thereby man might have the distinction of
Astronomie. timcs and seasous, the better to direct his doings both for
taking paynes and rest, as occasion and circumstances doth
require. Some delight in feates of armes, thereby to be
better able to defend their countreys from the force of the
enimie, and rightfully (when occasion is) to enlarge their
THE FIRST VOYAGE, ETC. 27
dominions. And many others in sundrie faculties and
sciences, have both heretofore, and especially now in these
later dayes do so bestow and employ their time, that
rightly they may be sayd to have deserved the name of pro-
fitable members in the common wealth ; so that now by con-
tinuall practise, and exercising of good wittes, the world is
waxed finer, and growen to more perfection, not only in all
the speculative artes and sciences, but also in the practicall
application of the same, to man's use, whereof as the one
doth exceedingly delighte the inward mind, in seeing the
sequele of things by arte and reason, so the other in the
mechanicall and practicall application (whiche of late yeares, ™^^^j^5J;®
more than ever heeretofore hath bin used) dothe so pleasure ^°®-
and profite the world, that this time only may rightely be
called the liberall and flourishing age. For when was there
ever heard of such abundance of gold and silver (whiche no
doubt being well used, is the great benefite and good bless-
ing of God to mankind) as in these our dayes. No, Solomon
himselfe, with all the pretious mettall of Opliir^ which he
(one only king) had in that only place, can not be comparable
to the great store of golde, and all other mettals, which dayly
are digged out of the bowels of the earth, almost in all parts
of the world, and now lately in the supposed hard and con-
gealed frozen lands, almost under the Poles. Yea, now every
private man can witnesse this with me, that he is no more
contented with the wealthe and riches that his auncesters
hadde, but thinkes himself base miuded, if by his Industrie
he encrease not his privat wealth proportionallie, as the whole
world increaseth in common wealth, and not only of gold
and silver is such great encrease, but also of all other things,
serving as well for pleasure and delightes of the mind, as
for the necessarie uses of man's life. For, as we are placed Abundance
^ -"^ of all
in these lower elementes firste to know and acknosvledge '^'"°^-
the high Creator, and then thankefully to take the fruition of
things for oure mayntenance, which are especially two, that
28 THE FIRST YOTAGE
Towhatend is, meate and drinke to susteyne the bod5^ and coverture
man is *
created. ^o defend the same from the rigor of heate and cold, and so
thereby to glorifie God in his workes : what age hath bin
ever heeretofore, that hath so abounded with store, not only
of necessarie meates, but also of pleasant and delectable con-
fections, to delight man withal : for whatsoever sundry sorte
of corne, grayne, and meates former yeares have had, we
not only have all the same in farre greater abundance, but
thereunto are added thousandes of new things simple and
compound, never heretofore scene or heard of. And as
for coverture to defende the bodye, the matter is growen
to such excellencie of architecture and building, to such
finenesse of cloth and silkes of all sortes and colours ; that
man studieth no more to multiplye the encrease thereof; so
much as to devise fashions, to make it serve more for orna-
ment, than for necessarie uses. And the chiefest cause of all
these effects (next after y^ divine Providence) is the search-
ing wit of man, whiche being more curious and inquisitive
of new and strange devises than heeretofore, bringeth out
dayly more strange inventions, and causeth others, through
emulation, to do the like — not only in providing y^ necessary
things aforesaid, but also a continual care and constancie to
find out other new arts, occupations, and faculties. For to
remember one or two inventions for al, found out of late
Printing of yearcs. The use and benefite of printino^ bookes, a devise
bookes. " r D '
SO commodious and necessarie, saving within these few yeares
in respect, hath layne utterly hid and unknowen. The arte
The arte of of War is uowc ffrowcn to that excellencie, that if Achilles,
v.arre. ^ ^
Alexander the Great, Julius Csesar, and other, should come
in these later dayes, they themselves would more admire and
wonder at the courages of our men, their engines, and their
policies in warre, than the ignorant and barbarous multitude
in their daj'es did to them in celebrating their solemnities
with all the honor that might be. But to drawe neere to my
purposed scope, that is to discourse of inventions by way of
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 29
discoveries, I say, that one of the excellentest artes that ever
hath bin devised is the arte of navigation, which in times ^^"'s^^^'"''-
past was so raw and unknowen, that no man durst travel by-
sea, saving only alongst the shore : and if by wind, currant,
or tempest, he were driven against his will so far from the
land that he lost the sight thereof, he made no other ac-
compte but to be cast away, his vessell was so rude and his
skill so little.
In those dayes they knew not the singular use and benefite
of the loadestone, called in Latin Magiies, whiche, besides the Jjjjfe^*°^®
property of drawing iron unto it, it directeth, and with oppo- ™^s°®^-
site poyntes sheweth two principall partes of the worlde, the
north and the south, and that more distinctly than the rising
of the sunne doth shew east and west (excepte it be onely
in the dayes of ^quinoctium which is but twice a yeare),
whiche rare propertie of the loadestone, if any man desire at
large to see, let him put the sayd stone into a round dish,
and they both so together in some vessel of water, wherein
they might swim at pleasure voluntarily, which dish when
it standeth still then doe the two principall and opposite
poyntes of the stone firmely and constantly poynt out north
and south ; and if, before the quarters of north and south
were knowen, by this experience he may find out the two
principal poyntes of the stone; so that the one being knowen,
the other can not be wanting. And that a man may be the
better persuaded of this effect, let him remove or turn round
the dish after it hath once stoode still, and he shall ever
finde it to returne constantly to the same poynt againe. Also
a pillier or piece of Steele being but touched with the fore-
said Magnes, playing ^quilibra upon some piramid or point,
receyveth such virtue that it produceth like effect. Where-
unto, if wood or paper in circular forme devided into o2 JiTrty"^
equall parts be handsomely compacted, it will distinguishe the com-
passe.
and poynte out all parts of the horizon, and direct into all
coasts of the worlde, and that onely by the influent spirite
10
THE FIRST voyage;
The varia-
tion of the
needle.
New dis-
coveries.
of the two principall poyntes respecting ever nortli and
south.
This excellent propertie and benefite of the lodestone I
the rather remember at large, because some seamen whiche
knowe this rare and miraculous efFecte as well as I, doe not
sufficiently admire the same, bycause it is now so commonly
knowen, and yet indeede is to be preferred before all pre-
tious stones in the worlde, whiche only tend to ornament,
and have no other vertue, whereas this serveth to so ne-
cessarie use. The vertue of this stone, as it is not long
since it was first found, so in these dayes it is like to receive
his perfection concerning his north-easting and north-west-
ing to be brought in rule, and particularly in this noble
voyage of our worthy Captaine 3Iarti?ie Frohisher, who, as
you shall after understande in the discourse, hath diligentlye
observed the variation of the needle. And such observations
of skylfull pylotts is the onlye waye to bring it in rule ; for
it passeth the reach of naturall philosophy. The making
and pricking of cardes, the shifting of sunne and moone, the
use of the compasse, the houre-glasse for observing time,
instrumentes of astronomic to take longitudes and latitudes
of coun treys, and many other helps, are so commonly knowen
of every mariner now adayes, that he that hathe bin twice at
sea, is ashamed to come home if he be not able to render ac-
counte of all these particularities. By whiche skill in navi-
gation is brought to passe that the people of Europe can as
easilye and far more easilier make long voyages by sea than
by lande, whereby hathe come to passe that within the
memorie of man within these foure-score yeares, there hath
beene more newe countries and regions discovered than in
five thousande yeares before; yea, more than halfe the worlde
hath beene discovered by men that are yet (or might very
well for their age be) alive. When I name the world in this
sense, I meane the uppermoste face and superficies of the
earth and sea, which, unite together, make one globe or
OF. MARTIN FROBISHER. 31
sphere. And this face of the earth whiche Almightie God
hath given man as most convenient place to inhabite in,
thorowe the negligence of man hathe, until of late dayes, layne
so hidde and unknowen that he hathe loste the fruition and
benefit of more than halfe the earth.
A marvellous thing, that man, who hath always abhorred
so muche thraldome and restrainte, and so greedily desired
liberty, coulde be contented so many thousande yeares, to be
shut up in so narrow bounds. For it is to be thought that
only such countries in times paste have bin known as either
did bounde and hang togither, or else were separated by
very narrow seas, as are Europa, Affrica, and Asia, out of
which from either to other a man may travaile by lande, or
else shall finde in some places very narrow seas separating
them, and so mighte saile from the one to the other onelye
by lande-markes wythoate the arte of navigation, bycause
the one was wythin a ken of the other.
For even the greate strength and stoutnesse of Hercules The west
° ° end of the
himselfe, when out of Grcecia westward he had travelled "^"^ '^°^^'^®*
and conquered all the regions and countries comming to the
straight betweene Spaine and Barbaric, made accompte to
have beene at the west ende of the worlde, and therefore
there created two pillers as a perpetual monument of his
fame, whiche to this day are called Hercules Columnce, the
pillers of Hercules, the one standing in Spaine of Europe,
the other in Affrica, and called the straight Fretum Hercu-
leum : and nowe commonlye is named the straightes of Ma-
lega or Gibraltar. And having come so farre westwarde,
contented himselfe, and said, No?i plus ultra, no further.
Likewise, Alexander ^Magnus, out of Macedo7iia in Greece,
passing throw Arme?iia, Persia, and India, comming to the
great River Ganges, and conquering all these countries (al-
thoughe he was persuaded that Asia extended somewhat
further into the east and north-east) yet knowing them
not to be very great countries, and thinking them to be
The east
end of the
old worlde.
32 THE FIRST VOYAGE
of small moment, erected there certaine aultars, wliiche are
yet called Arce Alexandrince , as beyond whicli no man
else in tliose dayes had passed, or neede to passe more east-
warde, and this was accompted as it were a bounder of the
easte side of the worlde, althoughe indeede Asia doeth ex-
tende further, twenty degrees, and is environed with Mare
Eoum, and the straight Anian, which our Captaine Frobisher
pretendeth to finde out.
Touching the south parts of the world towards Affrica,
Ptolomeus King oiJEgipt, a famous cosmographer, w^ho was
more sollicite and curious in describing al the face of the
earth than any king before him or after (excepte of late dayes),
delivered in plat described and knowen only sixteen degrees
u?e%w*^ ""^ beyond y^ equinoctiall to the southwardes or pole Antartique,
ward. ''"'^ and that bounder was called Montes Lunee, out of whiche
the greate river Nilus is supposed to have his beginning and
spring. And, as for the knowen land on the north partes of
the world, Thyle being one of y^ ilands of Orcades (more
probably than Iseland), was so long pronounced and con-
Theendof tinucd Ultima, that it was esteemed a ^reat erroure for
the old ^ '^
•world uorth-
\yard.
anye man to imagine anye lande more north than that.
Thus have I briefly named the foure principall bounders
of the worlde, which was onely known from the beginning
of the worlde (as some thinke) untill within these eighty last
yeares. That is, the Straights of Gibraltar or Malaga west-
ward. The east part of Asia beyond the Arse Alexandrinae
eastwarde. Vltima Thyle by Scotlande northward, and six-
teen grades beyond the equinoctiall southward. But these six-
teen degrees of south latitude are to be understoode only in
the continent of Africa, whiche extendeth not passyng seventy
degrees in longitude. Therefore, whatsoever countries or re-
gions have since been discovered and knowne beyonde 180
The greate degrees in longitude, 60 degrees in north latitude, and 16
(iiscov6ri6S
ofiateyeres. degrees in south latitude, all the commendation, honour, re-
noume, glorie, and fame thereof, must be attributed to the
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 3S
Englishmen, Spaniardes, Portingales, Frenchmenne, and
Italians, whose valiaunt courage and high mindes be suche
that either they alreadye have, or shortly will discover and
searche out every narrowe corner of the world. By these
means valours and industries, the knowne regions of the
worlde, whiche before were divided into three partes ; that
is, Europa, Affrica, and Asi#, are now made sixe, by addi-
tion of other three. For like as the whole massie frame of
the world being firste divided into two principall regions,
the one elementiall, the other heavenly, the elementiall con-
taineth foure partes ; that is, the four elements, the earth,
the water, the ayre, and the fyre : the heavenly region, al-
though one yet for diversitie of motion, may be compted
two ; that is, Primum Mobile, moving onelye uppon the
poles, Articke and Antarticke, and all the reste of orbes and
planets, moving uppon the poales of the zodiacke are by this
difference of motion imagined two, whereby ariseth the num-
ber of sixe substances partes of the world ; that is, the foure
elements and the two varieties of orbes. So likewise the in-
feriour world, I meane the superjices of the earth, is also
divided into sixe partes ; that is, Europa, Affrica, Asia, J^vkfeTkito
Terra Septentrionalis , America, and Terra Austrialis, whose ^^^p*^^"^^^-
bounders bycause this division seemeth somewhat strange, I
thought good for the more particularitie, here briefly to
repeate.
THE CHIEFE BOUNDERS OF THE PRINCIPALL PARTES OF
THE WORLD.
Europa is bounded on the weast side with our Weaste Europa.
Ocean; on the south side wyth Mare Mediterraneum; on the
east V7\xh.31are^geum, Pontiis Euxinus,^ndi the river Tanices,
folowing the meridian thereof northwarde; on the north side
it was thoughte sometime to be bounded with islandes —
Hebrides, Orcades, and Hyperborei monies in Sarmatia of
Europe. But nowe, by the navigation of the Englishemen,
])
34
THE FIRST VOYAGE
Africa.
Asia.
Terra
Septen-
trionalis.
the boundes are extended unto that sea which compasseth
Norway, Laplande, and Moscovia.
Affrica is bounded westwarde with the sea Atlanticum;
southward with the South Ocean, passing by Cape d'Buona
Speranza; eastwarde with the Ked Sea; and northwarde by
the sea Mediterraneum.
Asia is bounded on the soutfi side with the South Ocean ;
on the easte side with Mare Eoum, and the Straighte A?iia?i;
on the north side with the Scithian Sea ; on the weaste side
M'ith the meridian of the river Taiiais, and parte of the
sea Mediterraneum, as Pontus Enxinus, Mare Egeum, Sinus
Issicus, and the Red Sea.
Terra Septentrionalis is divided from Asia by the Scythian
Sea, from Europe by the North Sea aboute Iselande^ called
in times past Mare Coiigelatum, the Frosen Sea, and from
America is divided by Frobisher's Straights. It lyeth rounde
about the Pole Artike, and is included by a paralell passing
about 70 degrees in north latitude, as it is also more at large
described in Mercators and Ortelius Universall Mappes.
This parte of the world hath beene most or onely made
knowen by the Englishmen's industrie. For, as Mercato
mentioneth out of a probable author, there was a frier of
Oxforde, a greate mathmatician,^ who himselfe went verye
farre north above 200 yeares agoe, and, with an astrolabe,
described almoste all the lande aboute the Pole, finding it
divided into foure partes or ilandes by foure greate guttes,
indrafts, or channels, running violently and delivering them-
selves into a monstrous receptacle and swallowing sincke,
with suche a violent force and currant, that a shippe beyng
entred never so little within one of these foure indraftes,
cannot be holden backe by the force of any great winde,
but runneth in headlong by that deepe swallowing sinke into
1 Nicholas de Linna, i.e., of Lynn in Norfolk, whose voyage to the
Arctic regions in 1360 is quoted by Mercator in his map of the world
dated 1569, from the Itinerary of Jacob Croyen of Bois le Due, and also
referred to by Dr. John Dee. See HaMvyt, vol. i, pp. 121, 122.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 35
the bowels of the earth. Hee reporteth that the south-weast
parte of that lande is a fruitfull and a holesome soyle. The
north-east part (in respect of England) is inhabited with a
people called Pygmoei, whiche are not at the uttermoste Pismei.
above foure foote highe. One of these foure greate mons-
trous gulfes wyth hys violent raging course followeth the
meridian of the fortunate ilandes, and receiveth the ocean
with three mouths, and is frozen over three moneths in the
yeare, and is 37 leagues in breadth. The next eastwarde
beyonde the iland Vagats is at 110 degrees in longitude and
receyveth the East Ocean with five mouths, and, being nar-
rowe and swifte, is never frozen. The third is at 190 de-
grees in longitude, and receiveth the East Ocean with nine-
teen receits. The fourth is at 280 degrees in longitude.
All these indraftes and raging channels runne directly to-
wards a point under the Pole, where is also said to be a
monstrous srret mountain of wonderful arret heisrht and about ^ ^'"^^^
o >D o rock under
35 leagues in compasse at the foot. thepoie.
Guilielmus Postellus saith, that here under and aboute the
Pole is best habitation for man, and that they ever have con-
tinuall daye, and know not what night and darknesse meaneth.
But this seemeth contrary to the principles of the sphere, continual
•^ r r r 7 ^ay for ever.
whyche alloweth well that they shoulde see the sunne halfe
a yeare togither without any night. During the time of his
being in the north signes from the one Equinoctimn to the
other, yet, that in y^ other halfe they shold have continuall
night without any day. But I thinke Postellus (being a good
astronomer) doubted nothing of y^ reason of y^ sphere, but
meaneth y* for their great twilights, and y ° high swelling of
y® erth, and y® high mountaine under the Pole, they have
continual light; but hereof you shall heare more at large
hereafter in this treatise, when I speake of the temperature
of y*^ north regions. This so particular a description of y"^
land and countries lying about the Pole, argueth that this
Oxford iv'iev tooke great pains therein, and induceth great ^fri^r of
and Rich
Chancelor,
36 THE FIRST VOYAGE
probabilitie and likelihood of y^ truth thereof, bicause he ob-
served so diligently by measure, the bredth of the indrafts,
what time, and how long they continued frosen, and with
how manye mouths or receipts every one of them received
the ocean.
Upon y® bounds and description of this part of the erth, I
have y^ longer staid, because I find it discovered only by the
English nation. And although y® greatest part herof was
made knowen 200 and odde yeres past, yet some bounders
thereof were described and set out by y^ travel of Sr. Hugh
Willoby Knight, an Englishman, who ventured and lost his
\viii?u"hby ^^^^ ^^ y^ cause, and so died an honorable death, and with
him Ric. Chancelor, chiefe Pilot in that voyage, in an. 1554,
who discovered and founde out, y* Norway and Sweden &c.,
conjoined not to Gronelancl^ or any part of y^ Northern re-
gions, as one firme and continent, but y^ by sea a man might
travel to y*^ country of Moscovia, and a gret way more est-
ward, as far as the gret river Obby. Also oure worthy
General Ca. Frobisher in his three last voyages, wherof we
are briefly to entreat in these three books, hath discovered
and described a gret part of ye Southwest bounds thereof,
and meneth (God willing) not only to describe the one halfe
therof in going to Cataia by y*^ Northwest, but also to put in
triall, whether he may return into England by the Northeast,
and so also to describe y^ other part, which to do, is one of
y® waightiest matters of the world, and a thing that will cause
other Princes to admire y^ fortunate state, and y^ gret valor
of y® English nation. But to retourne againe to the bounding
of the other parts of the world.
America. America an ilande is included on the east side with the
sea Antartique; on the weast side with Mare del Sur, or
Mare Pacificum ; on the south side it is bounded wyth the
straight of Magellanus ; and on the north with Frobisher's
straights.
AuTtraiis. Terra Australis seemeth to be a great firme land, lying
Frobisher
3 voyages
OF MARTIN niOBISHER. 37
under and aboute the south pole, being in many places a
fruitefull soyle, and is not yet thorowly discovered, but onlye
seene and touched on the north edge therof, by the travaile
of the Portingales and Spaniards, in their voyages to their
East and Weast Indies.
It is included almost by a paralell, passing at 40 degrees
in south latitude, yet in some places it reacheth into the sea
with greate promontories, even into the tropicke Capricornus.
Onely these partes of it are beste knowen, as over against
Capo d" huona Speranza (where the Portingales see popin-
gayes commonly of a wonderfull greatnesse,) and againe it is
knowen at the south side of the straight of Magellanus, and
is called Terra del Fuego.
It is thoughte this southlande, about the pole Antartike, is
farre bigger than the north land aboute the pole Artike ; but
whether it be so or not, we have no certaine knowledge, for
we have no particular description hereof, as we have of the
lande under and aboute the north pole.
Thus I have briefly butted and bounded out all the parts
of the earth, according unto thys latter division into sixe
parts. Which, that it might be more apparent and sensible
to every man's understanding, 1 have hereunto adjoyned an
universall map, wherein my minde was to make knowne to
the eye what countries have been discovered of late yeares,
and what before of olde time. The olde knowen partes have
their boundes traced and drawen with whole lines, the newe
discovered countries have theyr bounds drawen wyth points
or broken lines, Avhereby the reader shall at the firste sight
see both the shape and fashion of the whole universall
face of the earth, compared all togyther, and also all the
severall partes thereof, whether they were of old time dis-
covered, or of late yeares, the which mappe, though it be
roughly framed, withoute degrees of longitude or latitude, yet
is it sufficient for the purpose it was ordeyned, for heerein, as
in all the rest of this discourse, of the three voyages of our
38 THE FIRST VOYAGE
worthy Generall Captayne Frobisher, my intente is, more to
sette out simply the true and playne proceeding and handling
of the whole matter, than to use circumstance of more words,
or fyne eloquent phrases, wherein if I shoulde once goe about
to entangle myselfe, it would doe nothing else, but bewray
my owne ignorance, and lack of schole skyll. Therefore, of
me there is nothing else to be loked for, but such playne
talke and writing, as souldiers and marriners doe use in theyr
dayly meetings and voyages, and this of necessity must anye
man use that will dealewith suche a matter as thys is, although
he were curious to the contrarie.
By this discourse and mappe, is to be scene, the valiante
courages of men in this later age within these eighty yeares,
that have so muche enlarged the boundes of the worlde, that
now we have twice and thrice so muche scope for oureearthlie
peregrination, as we have hadde in times past, so that nowe
men neede no more contentiously to strive for roume to build
an house on, or for a little turffe of ground, of one acre or
two, when greate countreys, and whole worldes, offer and
reache out themselves, to them that will first voutsafe to pos-
sesse, inhabite, and till them. Yea, there are countreys yet re-
mayning withoute maysters and possessors, whiche are fertile
to bring forth all manner of come and grayne, infinite sortes
of land, cattell, as horse, elephantes, kine, sheepe, great
varietie of flying fowles of the ayre, as phesants, partridge,
quayle, popingeys, ostridges, etc., infinite kinde of fruits, as
almonds, dates, quinces, pomgranats, oringes, etc., holesome,
medicinable, and delectable. Greate varietie of floures con-
tinuallie springing, winter and sommer, beautifull for coloure,
odififerous, and comfortable. Abundance of faire hilles and
valleys, furnished with all maner woddes and pleasante rivers.
Millions of newe fashions, and strange beastes and fishes, both
in sea and fresh waters. Mountaines bringing forth all maner
of mettals, as gold, silver, yron, etc. All sorts of pretious
stones and spices, in all which land wanteth nothing that may
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 39
be desired, eyther for pleasure, profit, or necessarie uses.
Which sundrey countreys to possess and obteyne, as it is an
easie thing, so would I not have our Englishe nation to be
slacke therein, least perhaps agayne they overshoote them-
selves, in refusing occasion offered, as it was in the time of
King Henry the seventh, when all the West Indies were^fespro-
firste profered to the Englishmen, to be given into their iugiiV ^
handes, whiche they little regarding, was afterwards offered
to the Spaniards, who presently accepted the occasion, and
now enjoy the infinite treasure and commoditie thereof. I
would not wishe Englishmen to be now unlike themselves,
for in all the later discoveries the English nation hath bin as
forward as any other. As firste, by their navigations north-
eastward, the bounds of Europe were made perfect on the
north syde, for Ptolomie, Strabo, and al other geographers
lefte it described but onley to the ilandes Orcades in Irelande,
and Hyperboreas Montes in Sarmatia, and finding the land J/'r^^JJ,"/^
on the north side of Germany, Poland, Moscovia, and Asia, ^nj^rsh?''^
to extend northward, they left it confusedly, and knew not
whether it reached to the pole as one firme lande, or whether
it were devided by some sea they knew not. But this doubt
hath long since bin dissolved, by the valiant attempt of Sr.
Hugh Willoughby Knight, who (as I said before) in this
noble discoverie, died an honourable death, and the voyage
hath since been perfected by y^ two brethren the Borowes, BarowJ's.
and other valiant yong men of our time eastward, beyonde
y® great Biver Obij, as farre as y^ empire of y^ great Cam or
Cane of Tartaria, as appeereth in my general mapp by
y^ pricked bounds thereof. That voyage was then taken in
hand, of y^ valiant Knight, with pretence to have gone east- •
ward to the rich countrey of Cataya, and was grounded
briefely upon these reasons. First, bicause there was a
unicornes home found upon the coast of Tartaria by the
Biver Obij, which (said he) was like by no other ways to
come thither, but from India or Cataya, where the saide
40
THE FIRST VOYAGE
Eeasous to
prove the
passage by
the norih-
Commodi-
ties by
Moscovie
voyage.
unicornes are only found, and that by some sea bringing it
thither. Also a fisherman of Tartaria reporteth, y* he sailed
verye farre south-eastward, and found no end of sea, or
likelyhoode therof. Lastly, a Tartarian, inhabiting neere
y® Scithian Sea, rejDorted such a streame and currant to runne
there continually, towards the west, that if you cast anything
therein, it would presently be caried out of your sight towards
the west, whereby necessarily foloweth, ther should be some
passage to some larger sea, wherein this continual streame
might emptie itself. And by y® experience of this voyage,
it was found, y^ the frozen zones were not frozen, but
habitable and navigable, a thing y* almost all the old philo-
sophers did deny, and went about with sundry reasons to ini'
pugne, for in this voyage to Moscovia, our men passed beyond
seventy-two degrees in north latitude, wheras y^ frosen zone
beginneth at sixty-six degrees and a halfe. This enterprise,
although it toke not effect, to finde y^ passage to Cataya east-
ward, because y^ worthy knight, the chief author therof, dyed
in y^ way thither, yet hath it bin very beneficiall to England,
in finding out y® trace to S. Nicholas, both for y^ maintenance
of y^ navie, and the yerely profit is reaped therby, the which
voyage is known to be more dangerous and painful, than any
y® Spanyards or Portugals have ever dealt in, for they being
borne in a somewhat bote countrey, hapnedto deale with
easie voyages, although they were long out, not much differ-
ing from their own temperature.
And I thinke, a man mighte be bolde to saye, that in all
their long voyages, to the East and West Indies, they were
never so muche distressed and oppressed with so infinite
numbers, and sundrie kindes of dangers, as oure valiante
Generall Captayne Frobisher, and his companye were in
every one of these his three voyages, as readyng it. you shall
understand more at large. And yet they courageously per-
sist and continue on their purposed enterprise, and will not
surceasse untill they have (God willing) found oute that long
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 41
wished passage to Cataya, to the everlasting renoune, glorie,
and fame of the English nation.
Also, the valor of the Englishmen, did first of all discover
and finde out all that part of America, whiche nowe is called
Baccalaos : for Sebastian Cabot, an Englishman, borne in
Bristow, was by commandment of Kyng Henry the seaventh
in anno 1508, furnished with shipping, munition, and men,
and sayled along all that tract, pretending to discover the
passage to Cataya, and went alande in many places, and
brought home sundry of the people, and manye other things
of that countrey, in token of possession, beeing (I say) the
firste Christians that ever there sette foote on land.
Also, the sayde Englishman Cabot, did first discover, at the
procurement of the Kyng of Spayne, ail that other porte of
America, adjoyning next beyond Brasill, lying aboute the
famous river called Rio de la Plata.
Also, the Englishmen have made sundrye voyages to
Guinea and Binny, although the Spanyardes and Portu-
galles, bycause of their neare dweelling thereunto, got
thyther the firste starte of them, and there prevented them
in building townes and castels, whereby appeareth, that the
English nation, by their long and dangerous navigations,
have diligently and paynefuUie searched out by sea the
temperature of all the zones, whether they were burning,
frosen, hot, colde, or indiflferent, even from the pole Artike
to the equinoctiall, and crossing it also passed beyonde the
tropicke of Capricorne, and returned agayne. And there-
fore, as we are inferioure to no other nation, in making
greate and long voyages by sea, so knowe I no nation com-
parable unto us in taking in hande long travels and voy-
ages by lande. For what nation is it that hath ever had
such a long trade by land as is the Englishmans into Persia,
which, besides two monethes sayling by sea along the weast i^ngiish
meiie great
"" by
and northerne coastes of Norway and Lapland, by Ward- /aJJ^"^''^
house unto the Bay of Saint Nicholas, it remayneth more in
Persia.
42 THE FIRST VOYAGE
voyage by land and fresh rivers, aboute three thousande
Enoflishe mvles : for from the merchantes house at Saint
Nicholas, by the river Duina and Lughana, to the citie
Volugda, is compted seaven hundred English miles ; from
thence to the citie Yearuslaue, standing upon the great river
Volga, travelling by only land, is reckned about one hun-
dred and forty miles, where the merchants making new ship-
ping for the freshe river Volga, goe eastwarde aboute seven
hundred miles : then the sayde river turning agayne south
by many windings, at the last by the greate citie Astracan,
delivereth it selfe into the south side of the Sea Caspium,
that tract beinsf above nine hundred miles : then after in
two or three dayes, with a good winde crossing the Caspium
Sea, they arrive at a port named Bilbill, where after by
lande journeying with camels in one and twenty dayes.
Voyage to being almost six hundred miles, they come to the famous
city of Tauris or Teuris, being the greatest citie of Persia
for trade of merchandise. This long and paynefull voyage
by land was taken in hand by a worthy gentleman, Mayster
Anthony Jenkenson, who made thereof a plat, with the first
particular description that I have scene of the whole coun-
trey of Moscovia whiche is yet extant, and therefore the
Englishmen are to be preferred before all other nations in
making long voyages by lande. The Spanyards and Por-
tugalles undoubtedly are worthye immortal fame and glorie,
for their greate enterprises and good successes they have
therein : yet have they never scene nor hard such straunge
and extraordinarie accidents of the sphere as hath happened
unto the Englishmen. For neyther Spaniarde nor Portugal
ever sawe in all their long voyages, the sun and the moone
to make whole and perfect revolutions above the horizon, as
our men yearely do see in their voyage to Moscovia, where
when they abide any time at Wardhouse they see the sunne
goe continually above ground the space of above two moneths
togither, where if they take not great heed, they shall not
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 43
know what day of the moneth it is, after the order of our Day of two
'' months.
calender, for that they have no nights. But yet bycause once
everye twenty-four houres the sunne draweth neare to the
horizon in the north parts, it is there commonly shadowed
with vapours and thicke fogges, whiche usually rise from
the earth, and seeme a little to shade we the bodye of the
sunne ; and that lowest approaching of the sun to the earth-
ward, they counte night, and so make good enough reckning
of the days of the moneth, according to our usuall fashion.
But one inconvenience there is that dismay eth and deterreth
moste men (though they be of valiant courage) from taking
in hande long voyages, eyther by sea or by lande, and that
is the newe and uncustomed elements, and the extreme
ayres of hot and cold, whereby (as some think) if they
travel far northward, they shall be frozen to death in the
harde congealed and frozen sea : and again, if they travel
far toward the south, they fear they should be parched and
broyled to death with the extreme heat of y^ middle burn-
yng zone : or else if perhaps they escape alive, yet at least
they shold be burned as black as a cole, as the Indians or
black Moors there are ; and this to believe they are partlye
perswaded by the sight of those Indians, and partlye by the
perswasions of certaine philosophers, who went with reasons
to prove that between the two tropicks was no dwelling or
being for the extreme heate, the sunne beating on them con-
tinuallye : neyther neare eyther pole, for the extreme frostes,
colde and snow whiche continuallye hath there (from the
beginning of the world as some thinke) increased, the sunne
being so farre distante from them. "Which opinion of some,
bycause it importeth very much, I thought good here to
do my indevour to refell, both bycause I know the con-
trarie by my owne experience, and also for that I finde the
course of the sunne in zodiacke (which God hath ordayned
to give light and life to all things) can induce no such kinde
of extremitie : and so, lastly, to confirme all partes of the
worlde to be habitable.
that Torrida
Zeno IS
habitable
44 THE FIRST VOYAGE
EXPERIENCES AND REASONS OF THE SPHERE, TO PROVE AL
PARTES OF THE WORLD HABITABLE, AND THEREBY TO
CONFUTE THE POSITION OF THE FIVE ZONES.
First it may be gathered by experience of our English-
men in an. 1553 ; for Captain Windam made a voyage with
merchandise to Guinea, and entred so far within the Torrida
U)''{!rolT''^ ^ona, that he was within three or four degrees of the Equi-
noctial, and abiding there certain moneths, returned with gain.
Also the Englishmen made another voyage verye pros-
perous and gainful!, an. 1554, to y® Coasts of Binin, lying
east from Guinea, being within three degrees of y^ Equinoc-
tial, And yet it is reporteth of a truth, that al y® tract from
Cape de las Palmas, trending by C. de tres PuntaSy alongst
Benin, until the He of Saint Thomas (which is perpendicu-
lar under the Equinoctial) : al y'^ whole bay is more subject
to many bloming and smothering heates, with infectious
and contagious ayres than any other place in al Torrida
Zo7ia, and the cause thereof is some accidents in y*^ land.
Eor it is most certain that mountains, seas, woods, and lakes,
etc., may cause through their sundrie kind of situation
sundry straunge and extraordinarie effects whych the reason
of the clynie otherwise woulde not give. I mention these
voyages of oure Englishemenne, not so much to prove that
Torrida Zona may be, and is inhabited, as to shew their
readynesse in attempting long and dangerous navigations.
We also among us in England have blacke Moores, Ethio-
pians, out of all partes of Torrida Zona, whiche after a small
continuance can wel endure the colde of our countrey, and
why should not we as well abide the heate of their countrey.
But what shoulde I name anye more experiences, seeying
that all the coastes of Guynea and Bynnin are inhabited of
Portugals, Spanyards, French, and some Englishmen, and
there have built castels and townes. Onely this I will say
to the merchants of London that trade yeerely to Marochus,
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 45
it is very certayne that the greatest part of the burning zone Marodius
J -J or o more liote
is far more temperate and coole in June than the country of Se^eqSr'
Marochus, as shall appeere by these reasons and experiences ""°"^'^*
following. For let us first consider the breadth and big-
nesse of this burning zone (which, as every man knoweth,
is forty-seven degrees cache tropicke, whiche are the bounders
thereof) being twenty-three degrees and a halfe distant from
the Equinoctiall. Imagine againe two other paralels on each
side the Equinoctiall one, eyther of them distant from the
Equinoctiall about twentie degrees, whiche paralels maye
be described eyther of them twice a yeare by the sunne
beinge in the firste degrees of Gemini the eleventh of May,
and in Leo the thirtenth of July, having north latitude.
And agayne, the sunne beeyng in the first degrees of Sagit-
tarius the twelfth of November, and in Aquarius the ninth
of January, havyng south latitude, I am to prove by expe-
rience and reason that all that distance included between
these two parralels last named (conteyning fortye degrees
in latitude, goyng rounde aboute the earthe, according to
longitude) is not only habitable, but the same most frutefull
and delectable, and that if anye extremitie of heate bee the
same not to bee within the space of twentye degrees of the
Equinoctiall on eyther side, but onely under and about the
two tropicks, and so proportionally the nearer you do ap-
proache to either tropicke the more you are subject to ex-
tremitie of heate (if any suche be), and so Marochus being
scituate but six or seven degrees from the Tropicke of
Cancer, shall be more subject to heate than any place under
the Equinoctiall line.
And first by the experience of sundrie men, yea thousands
travailers and merchaunts to the East and Weast Indies in
many places, both directly under, and harde by the Equinoc-
tiall, they with one consent affirme that it aboundeth in the
middest of Torrida Zona with all manor of grain, hearbes,
grasse, fruite, wood, and cattell, that we have here, and
46 THE FIRST VOYAGE
thousands other sortes farre more holesome, delectable, and
pretious than anye wee have in these northerne climates, as
very well shall appeare to him that w41 reade the Histories
and Navigations of such as have travelled Arabia, India.
intra and extra, Gangem, the Ilandes Moluccse, America,
f/ui7fu/°"'' etc., which all lye about y® middle of y® burning zone, where
fhe emii^^"^ it is truly reported that the great hearbes, as are radishe,
noctiaii. lettuce, colewortes, borage, and suche like, doe waxe ripe,
greater, more saverie and delectable in taste than ours within
sixteene dayes after the seed is sowen. Wheat being sowed
the first of Februarie, was found ripe the firste of May, and
generally, where it is lesse fruitefuU, the wheate will be ripe
the fourth moneth after the seede is sowne, and in some
places will bring forth an eare as bigge as the wriste of a
man's arme, containing a thousand graines. Beanes, pease,
etc., are there ripe twice a yeare. Also grasse being cutte
downe will growe up in sixe dayes above one foot highe.
If our cattell be transported thither within a small time their
yong ones become of bigger stature and more fatte than ever
they would have been in these countries. There are found
Great trees, in cveric wood in great numbers such timber trees as twelve
men holding handes togither are not able to fadome. And
to be short, all they that have bene there, with one consent
commodi- affirme that there are the goodlyest greene meddowes and
pictures playucs, the faireste mountaines, covered with all sorts of
under the n • ^ r ' it
equinoc- trces and fruits, the fairest vallies, the s^oodliest pleasaunt
tiall. ' .... .
fresh rivers, stoared with infinite kinde of fishes, the thickest
woods, greene and bearing fruite al the whole yeare, that are
in al the worlde. And as for gold, silver, and al other kinde
of metals, al kind of spices, and delectable fruites, both for
delicacie and health, are there in such abundance as hitherto
they have bene thought to have bene bred no where else
but there. And in conclusion, it is now thought that no
where else but under the Equinoctiall, or not far from
thence, is the earthlye Paradise and the only place of per-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 47
fection in the world. And that these things may seeme the
lesse strange bycause it hath bin accompted of the old philo-
sophers that there could nothing prosper for the extreme
heate of the sunne continually going over their heades in
the zodiacke, I thoughte goode here to alleage suche na-
turall causes as to mee seeme verie substanciall and sure
reasons. First, you are to understande that the sunne doeth
worke his more or lesse heate in these lower parts by two Heat is
caused by
meanes, the one is by the kind of ansrle that the sun-beames twomeanes,
' •' *-* that IS. by
doeth make with the earth, as in all Torrida Zona^ it maketh of\â„¢Teand
perpendicularly righte angles in some place or other at noone unuancT.""
and towardes the two Poles very oblique and uneven angles.
And the other meane is the longer or shorter continuance
of the sunne above the horizon. So that wheresover these
two causes do most concurre there is moste excesse of heate;
and when this one is wanting the rigor of the heate is lesse.
For though the sunne-beames do beate perpendicularly upon
any region subject to it, if it hath no continuance or abode
above the horizon to worke his operation in, there can no
bote effect proceede. For nothing can be don in a momente.
And this seconde cause, mo7'a supra horizontem^ the time of
the sunne's abiding above the horizon, the old philosophers
hence remembered, but regarded only the manner of angles
y* the sun-beames made with the horizon, which if they
were equall and right, the heate was the greater, as in
Torrida Zona ; if "they were unequall and oblique, the heat
was the lesse, as towardes both Poles, which reason is very
good and substancial ; for the perpendicular beames reflect Note thys
. * reason.
and reverberate m themselves, so that the heate is doubled,
every beame striking twice, and by uniting are multiplied
and continue strong in forme of a columne. But in our lati-
tude of fifty and sixty degrees the sun-beams descend obli-
que and slanting wise, and so striketh but once and departeth,
and therefore oure heate is the lesse for any effect that the
angle of the sun's beames make. Yet, because we have a
48 THE FIRST VOYAGE
longer continuance of the sunne's presence above the hori-
zon than they have under the Equinoctiall, by whiche con-
tinuance the heate is increased, for it shineth to us xvj or
xviij houres sometime, when it continueth with them but
twelve houres alwayes.
And againe, oure night is very shorte, wherein colde
vapors use to abound, being but six or eight houres long,
whereas theirs is alwayes twelve houres long, by which two
advantages of long dayes and shorte nights, thoughe we
wante the equalitie of angle, it commeth to passe that in
sommer oure heate here is as greate as theirs is there, as hath
bin proved by experience, and is nothing dissonant from
good reason.
Therefore, whosoever wil rightly way the force of colde
and heate in any region, muste not onelye consider the angle
that the sunne beames make, but also the continuance of the
same above the horizon. As firste to them under the equi-
noctiall the sunne is twice a yeare at noone in their zenith
perpendicular over their heades, and therfore during the ii
houres of those two dayes the heat is very urgent, and so
perhaps it will be in four or five days more, an houre everye
daye, untill the sunne in his proper motion, have crossed the
equinoctial!, so that this extreame heate caused by the per-
pendicular angle of the sunne beames, endureth but two
houres of two dayes, in a yeare.
But if any man say the sunne maye scalde a good while,
before and after it come to the meridian, so farre forthe as
reason leadeth, I am content to allow it, and therefore I will
measure and proportion the sunne's heate, by comparing the
angles there, with the angles made here in England, bicause
this temperature is best knowen to us. As for example, the
11th day of March, when under the equinoctiall it is halfe
hdure past eight of the clocke in the morning, the sun will
be in the east about thirty-eight degrees above the horizon,
bycause there it riseth always at six of the clock, and moveth
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 49
every hour fifteen degrees, and so high very neare will it be
with us at London the saide 11th of March at noone. And
therefore looke what force the sunne hath with us at noone,
the 11th of March, the same force it seemeth to have under
the equinoctial at half houre past eight in the morning, or
rather lesse force under the equinoctiall. For with us the
sunne had beene alreadye sixe houres above the horizon, and
so had purified and clensed all the vapours, and thereby his
force encreased at noone, but under the equinoctiall, the
sunne having been uppe but two and half houres hadde suffi-
cient to doe, to purge and consume the cold and moyst vapors
of the long night past, and as yet had wrought no effect of
heate. And therefore I may boldely pronounce, that there
is much less heate at halfe houre past eight under the
equinoctiall, than is with us at noone fa fortiori). But in
Marche, we are not onlye contented to have the sunne
shining, but we greately desire the same. Likewise the 11th
of June, the sunne in our meridian is sixty-two degrees highe
at London ; and under the equinoctiall it is so high after ten
of the clocke, and seeing then it is beneficiall with us, a
'fortiori^ it is beneficial to them after ten of the clocke.
And thus have we measured the force of the sun's greatest
heate, the hottest dayes in the yeare, under the equinoctiall,
that is, in March and September, from sixe tyll after tenne
of the clocke in the morning, and from two untill sunne set.
And this is concluded, by respecting only the first cause of
heate, which is the consideration of the angle of y® sunnes
beames, by a certaine similitude, that whereas the sunne
shineth never above twelve houres, more than eight of them
would be coole and pleasant even to us, much more to them
that are acquainted alwayes with suche warme places. So
there remayneth lesse than foure houres of any excessive
heate, and that only in the two sommer dayes of the yare,
that is, the 11th of March, and the 14th of September, for
under the equinoctiall, they have two sommers the one in
E
50 THE FIRST VOYAGE
March, and the other in September, which are our spring and
autumne ; and likewise two winters, in June and December,
which are our somraer and winter, as may well appeare to
him that hath onelye tasted the principles of the sphere.
But if the sunne be in eyther tropicke, or approaching neare
thereunto, then may we more easilye measure the force of
his meridian altitude, that it striketh upon the equinoctial.
As for example, the twelfth of June, the sunne will be in the
first degree of cancer. Then loke what force the heate of
the sunne hath under the equinoctiall, y^ same force and
greater, it hath in all that paralel, where the pole is elevated
betweene forty-seven and forty-eight degrees. And there-
F?ance \s as ^ore PaHs iu Frauce, the 12th daye of June, sustayneth
uSder the morc hcatc of the sunne, than Saint Thomas Ilande, lying
equinoctiall . .^. iitt' " ^
in June. nccre the same meridian, doth likewise at noone, or the
ilandes Taprobana, Molucco, or the firme lande of Peru in
America, which all lye underneath the equinoctial. For
upon the 12th day of June aforesaid, the sunne beames at
noone doe make an Isocheles triangle, whose vertex is the
center of the sunne, the lasts a lyne extended from Saint
Thomas Ilande, under the equinoctiall, unto Paris in France\
neare the same meridian; therefore the two angles of the
base, must needes be equall p 5, primi, ergo the force of the
heate equall, if there were no other cause, than the reason of
the angle, as the olde philosophers have appointed. But
bycause at Paris the sun riseth two houres before it riseth
to them under the equinoctiall, and setteth likewise two
houres after them, by means of the obliquity of the horizon,
in which time of the sunnes presence 4 houres in one place
more than the other, it worketh some effect more in one
place than in the other, and being of equall height at noone,
it muste then needes follow to be more bote in the paralell
of Paris than it is under the equinoctiall. Also this is an
other reason, that when the sun setteth to them under the
equinoctiall, it goeth very deep and lowe under their hori-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. * 51
zon, almost even to their antipodes^ whereby their twylights
are very shorte, and their nis^hts are made verye extreame The twy-
•J ' o •' lights are
darke and long, and so the moysture and coldenesse of the ^i^g^J^ifts"^
long nightes wonderfully encreaseth, so that at length the '^^^l^^
sun rising can hardly in many houres consume and drive nocSmian
away the colde humoures and moyst vapours of the nighte
paste, whiche is cleane contrarye in y® paralel of Paris. For
y® sun goeth under their horizon but verye little, after a
sloping sorte, whereby their nights are not verye darke, but
lightsome ; as looking into the north in a cleare night with-
oute cloudes, it doeth manifestlye appeare their twylightes
are long, for the paralel Cancer cutteth not the horizon of
Paris at right angles (but at angles very uneven and unlike),
as it doth the horizon of the equinoctiall. Also the sommer
day at Paris is sixteene houres long and the night but
eight ; where contrarie wise, under the equinoctial, the day
is but twelve houres long, and so long is also the nighte, in
what soever paralel the sun be ; and therefore looke what
oddes and diiFerence of proportion there is betweene the
sunnes abode above the horizon in Paris and the abode it
hath under the equinoctiall (it being in Cancer), the same
proportion would seeme to be between the heate of the one
place and heate of the other : for other things (as the angle
of the whole arcke of the sunnes progresse that day in both
places) are equall.
But under the equinoctiall, the presence and abode of the
sunne above the horizon is equall to his absence and abode
under the horison, cache being twelve houres. And at
Paris the continuance and abode of the sunne is above the
horizon sixteene houres long and but eight hours absence,
whiche proportion is double, from whiche, if the proportion
of the equalitie be subtracted to find the difference, there
will remaine stil a double proportion ; whereby it seemeth
to followe, that in June the heate at Paris were double to
the heate under the equinoctiall. For (as I have saide) the
E 'Z
52 ^ THE FIRST VOYAGE
angle of the sunne beames are in all points equall, and the
cause of difference is Mora solis supra horizoritem, the
stave of the sunne in the one horizon more than in the
other. Therefore, whosoever could finde out in what pro-
portion the angle of the sunne beames heateth, and what
encrease the sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto, it
might expresly be sette downe what force of heate and cold
is in all regions.
Thus you partely see, by comparing a clymate to us well
knowe and familiarlye acquainted by lyke height of the
sunne in bothe places, that under the equinoctiall in June is
no excessive heate, but a temperate ayre, rather tendinge to
colde. For as they have there for the moste parte a con-
tinuall moderate heate, so yet sometime they are a little
They use pintchcd wyth colde, and use the benefite of fyre as well as
a-.d have ^ - • i i v j i
needeof ^gg espcciallve in the evening when they goe to bedde ;
fire under } tr ^ c j <~j
n^ocUaS!" foi^ ^s they lye in hanging beddes tyed faste in the upper
parte of the house, so wyll they have fyres made on both
sides their bed, of which two fires, y^ one they devise super-
stitiouslye to drive awaye spyrites, and the other to keep
away from them the coldnesse of the nights.
Also in many places of Torrida Zona, especially in the
higher landes somewhat mountainous, the people a little
shrinke at the colde, and are often forced to provide them-
coide inter- sclvcs clothiug, SO that y^ Spaniards have found in the West
mingled , . .
uDdiJ'thl^ /w6?ees many people clothed, especially m winter ; whereby
equinoctial], ^ppeareth, that with their heate there is colde intermingled,
else would they never provide this remedy of clothing,
which to them is rather a griefe and trouble than otherwise.
For when they go to warres they wil putte off al their appa-
rell, thinking it to be cumbersome, and wil alwayes goe
naked, y* they thereby might be more nimble in their flight.
Some there be that thinke y^ middle zone extreme hot, by-
cause y^ people of y® countrie can and do live withoute
clothing, wherein they childishly are deceived, for oure clime
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 53
rather tendeth to extreamitie of colde, bicause we cannot
live without clothing : for this our dubble lining, furring
and wearing so many cloths, is a remedy against extremitie,
and argueth not y^ goodnesse of y® habitation, but incon-
venience and injury of cold : and that is rather y^ moderate,
temperate, and delectable habitation, where none of these
troublesome things are required, but that we may live naked
and bare, as nature bringeth us forth. Others again imagine
y® midle zone to be extreme bote, bycause the people of
Affrica, especially y^ Ethiopians, are so cole blacke, and
their haire, like wooll, curled short, which blacknesse and
curled haire they suppose to come only by y® parching heate
of y® sun, which how it should be possible I cannot see. For
even under the equinoctiall in America, and in y^ East
Indies, and in the Hands Moluccce y^ people are not blacke
but white, with Ions? haire uncurled as we have : so that if Ktiiiopians
, , ^ blacke with
the Ethiopians blacknesse came by the heate of the sune, curiedhaire.
why shoulde not those Atnericans and Indians also be as
blacke as they, seeyng the sunne is equally distant from
them both, they abiding in one paralel : for the concave
and convex superjices of the orbe of the sun is concentrike
and equidistant to y^ earth, except any man should imagine
somewhat of Aux [Arx] Solis and Oppositum, whiche indif-
ferently may be applied as wel to y^ one place as to the other.
But y'^ sunne is thought to give no otherwise heate but by way
of angle in reflection, and not by his neerenes to y® earth ;
for throughout al Africa, yea in y^ middest of y® middle
zone, and in all other places, upon y^ tops of mountains. The sunne
• 1 1 1 • 1 • 1 ' heateth not
there lyeth contmuall snow, which is nerer to the orbe of by bis near-
'' nesse, but
the sunne than y® people in the valley by so muche as the flgx^o^^^^'"
height of these mountaynes amount unto; and yet the sunne,
notwithstanding his nerenesse, can not melt the snow, for
want of convenient place of reflexions. Also the middle
region of the ayre, where all the hayle, frost and snowe is
engendered, is neerer unto the sunne than the earth is, and
54 THE FIRST VOYAGE
yet there continueth perpetuall colde, bycause there is
nothing that the sunnes beames may reflect against, whereby
appeareth the neerenesse of the body of y® sunne worketh
nothing. Therefore, to returne again to the blacke Moores,
1 my selfe have seene an Ethiopian as blacke as a cole
A blacke brouofht into Ensjlande, who takinsf a faire En^lishe w^oman
Moures son & D ' o o
Engfand. to wife, bcgattc a Sonne in all respects as blacke as the father
was, although England were his native countrey and an
English woman his mother : whereby it seemeth this black-
nesse proceedeth rather of some natural infection of that
man, whiche was so strong, that neyther y® nature of y«
clime neyther the good complexion of the mother concur-
ring coulde any thing alter, and therefore we can not impute
it to y® nature of the clime. And for a more fresh example
our people of Meta Incognita (of whome and for whome
thys discourse is taken in hande) that were broughte this
last yeare into Englande, were all generallie of the same
coloure that many nations be lying in the middest of the
middle zone. And this their coloure was not only in the
face, whiche was subjecte to sunne and ayre, but also in
their bodies, which were still covered with garments as
oures are, yea the verye suckinge childe of twelve moneths
age hadde his skinne of the very same coloure that most
have under the equinoctiall ; which thing can not proceed
by reason of the clime, for that they are at least tenne de-
grees more towards the north than we in Englande are ; no,
the sunne never commeth neere their zenith by 40 degrees,
for in eff'ect they are within three or four degrees of that
which they call the frosen zone, whereby it followeth that
there is some other cause than the clymate, or the sunnes
perpendicular reflection, that shoulde cause the Ethiopians
great blacknesse. And the most probable cause to my
judgemente is, that this blacknesse proceedeth of some natu-
rall infection of the first inhabitants of that countrey, and so
all the whole progenie of them descended are still pointed
The coloure
of the
people in
Meta Incog
uita.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 55
with the same blot of infection. Therefore it shall not be
farre from our purpose to examine the first originall of these
blacke men, and how by lineall discente they have hitherto 'rfce cause
continued this blacke. Tt manifestly and plainely appeareth biaSsse.
by holy Scripture that after the generall inundation and
overflowing of the earth, there remained no more men alive
but Noe and his three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japeth, who
only were lefte to possesse and inhabit the whole face of the
earth : therefore all the land that untill this daye hath bin
inhabited by sundry discents, must needes come of the off-
spring eyther of Sem, Cham, or Japhet, as the onely sonnes
of Noe, who all three being white and their wives also, by
course of nature should have begotten and brought forth
white children. But the en vie of our great and continuall
enemie the wicked spirit is such, that as he could not suffer
our old father Adam to live in the felicitie and angelike
state wherein he was first created, but tempting him sought
and procured his ruine and fal : so againe, finding at this
floud none but a father and three sonnes living, he so caused
one of them to transgresse and disobey his fathers com-
mandement, that after him all his posteritie shoulde be
accursed. The fact of disobedience was this. When Noe The Arke
of Noe.
at the commandement of God had made and entered the
Arke, and the floud gates of heaven were opened, so that
the whole face of the earth, every tree and mountaine was
covered with abundance of water, he straightly commanded
his sonnes and their wives, that they should with reverance
and feare behold the justice and mighty power of God, and
that during the time of the floud, while they remained in
the Arke, they should use continence and absteine from
carnall copulation with their wives : and many other pre-
ceptes he gave unto them, and admonitions touching the
justice of God in revenging sinne and his mercie in deliver-
ing them who nothing deserved it. Which good instructions
and exhortations notwithstanding, his wicked sonne Cham
56
THE FIRST VOYAGE
chus ye disobejed, and being persuaded that the first child borne
ac^u^ed ^^^r the flood (by right and law of nature) should inherit
and possesse all the dominion of the earth, he, contrarie to
his fathers commandement, while they were yet in the Arke
used company with his wife, and craftily went about thereby
to disinherit the offspring of his other two brethren ; for
the which wicked and detestable fact, as an example for con-
tempte of Almightie God and disobedience of parents, God
would a Sonne shuld be borne whose name was Chus, who
not only itselfe, but all his posteritie after him, should be so
black and lothsome that it might remaine a spectacle of dis-
obedience to all the world. And of this blacke and cursed
Chus came all these blacke Moores which are in Africa, for
after the water was vanished from off the face of the earth
and that the land was drie, Sem chose that part of the land
to inhabit in which now is called Asia, and Japhet had that
which now is called Europa wherein we dwell, and Africa
Africa was remained for Cham and his blacke sonne Chus, and was
called
chamesis. called Chauicsis after y® fathers name, being perhaps a
cursed, dry, sandy, and unfruiteful ground, fit for such a
generation to inhabit in. Thus you see y* the cause of y®
Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and natural infection of
blood and not the distemperature of the clymate, which also
may be proved by this example, that these black men are
found in all partes of Africa, as well withoute the tropicks
as within, even unto Capo d^ buona Speranza southward,
where by reason of the sphere should be the same tempera-
ture that is in Spayne, Sardigna, and Sicilia,^ where all be
of very good complexions. Wherefore I conclude that the
blacknesse proceedeth, not of the hotenesse of the clime, but
as I sayd of the infection of bloud, and therfore this their
argumente gathered of the Africans blacknesse is not able to
destroy the temperature of the middle zone. We may there-
fore very well be assertayned, that under the equinoctiall is
' In HaJcluyt, it stands thus "Sicilia, Morea, and Candie."
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 57
the most pleasant and delectable place of the world to dsvell
in, where, although the sunne for two houres in a yeare be
directe over their heads, and therefore the heate at that time
somewhat of force, yet bycause it commeth so seldome and
continueth so small a time, when it commeth it is not to be
wayed, but rather the moderate heate of other times is all Spemure
the yeare to be remembered. And if the heate at any time equinoctiaii.
should in the shorte day waxe somewhat urgent, the cold-
nesse of the long night there would easilie refreshe it,
according as Honterus^ sayth, speaking of the temperature
under the equinoctiaii.
Quodq. die solis violento incanduit cestu
Hutnida nox reficit^ paribusq. refrUjerat horis.
If the heate of the sunne in the day time doe burne or
parch any thing, the moysture of the night dothe coole and
refresh the same againe, the sunne being as long absente in
the night as it was present in the day. Also our author of
the Sphere, Joannes d' Sacrobosco,^ in the chapter of the
Zodiacke, deriveth the etimologie of Zodiacus, of the Greeke
word Zoe, which in Latin signifyeth Vita, life, for out of
Aristotle he alledgeth, that secundum accessum et recessum
solis ill Zodiaco f Jlunt generationes et corruptiones in rebus
inferioribus : according to the sunnes going to and fro in
the zodiake, the inferiour bodies take their causes of genera-
tion and corruption. Then it folio weth, that where there is
most going too and fro there is most generation and corrup-
tion : whiche must needes be betweene the two tropikes, for
there the sunne goeth too and fro most, and no where else
but there. Therefore betweene the two tropikes, that is, in ^qu*|f/oc?itii
the midle zone, is greatest increase, multiplication, genera- geES.
» Joannes Honterus or Honter of Cronstadt in Transilvania, in the 3rd
Book of his Rudimentorum Cosraographicorum libri quatuor, 1573.
' John Holy wood, better known as Joannes de Sacrobosco, the famous
author of the Sphcera Mundi, an astronomical work which maintained its
reputation for four centuries. He was a native of Yorkshire, and died
in 1256.
58 THE FIRST VOYAGE
tion and corruption of things ; which also we find by expe-
rience, for there is sommer twice in the yeare and twice
winter, so that they have two harvests in the yeare and con-
tinuall spring. Seing then the middle zone falleth out so
temperate, it resteth to declare where the hottest part of the
world should be, for we fynde some places more hote than
others. To answere this doubt, reason persuadeth the hotest
place in the worlde to be under and aboute the two tro-
pickes, for there more than in anye other place doe both the
Greatest causcs of hcatc coucurrc, that is. the perpendicular fallino:
heate under ' ' r ir O
thetropiks. Qf ^j^g g^j^ beames at right angles, and a greater continuance
of the sunne above the horizon (the pole there being ele-
vated three or foure and twentie degrees). And as before
I concluded, that though the sunne were perpendicular to
them under the equinoctiall, yet bycause the same continued
but a small tyme (theyr dayes being short and theyr nightes
long), and theyr speedie departure of the sunne from their
zenith, bycause of the suddayne crossing of the zodiacke
with the equinoctiall, and that by such continuall course and
recourse of hote and colde the temperature grew moderate.
So now to them under y^ two tropikes, the sun having
once by his proper permotion declined 20 degrees from the
equinoctiall, beginneth to draw neere theyr zenith, which
may bee (as before) aboute the eleventh day of May, and
then beginneth to send his beames almost at right angles,
about which tyme the sunne entreth into the first degree of
Gemini, and with this almost right angle the sunne beames
will continue untill it be past Cancer, that is, the space of
two moneths every day at nooue, almost perpendicular over
their heads, being then the time of Sohtithwi JEstiuale,
whiche so long continuance of the sun aboute their zenith
maye cause an extreame heate (if anye be in the world) but
of necessitie farre more heate than can bee under the equi-
noctiall, where the sunne hathe no suche long abode in the
zenith, but passeth away therehence very quickly. Also
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 59
under the tropikes the day is longer by an houre and a halfe
than it is under the equinoctiall, wherefore the heate of the
sunne, having a longer tyme of operation, must needes be
encreased, especially seeing the nighte, wherein colde and
moysture doe abounde under the tropikes is lesse than it is
un(;ler the equinoctiall. Therefore I gather that under the
tropikes is the hottest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, but
of any other parte of the worlde, especially bycause there
both causes of heate doe concurre, that is, the perpendicular
falling of the sunne beames two moneths togyther, and the
longer abode of the sunnes presence above the horizon.
And by this meanes more at large is proved that Marochus
in sommer is farre more bote than at any tyme under the
equinoctiall, bycause it is situate so neere the tropike
Cancer, and also for the length of their dayes. Neyther
yet doe I thinke that the regions scituate under the tropikes '
are not habitable, for they are founde to be verye frutefuU
also, although Marochus and some other partes of Africa
neere the tropike, for the drynesse of the native sandie soile
and some accidentes, maye seeme to some to be intemperate
for overmuch heate. For Ferdinandus Ouiedus,^ speaking
of Cuba and Hispaniola, ilands of America, lyinsj hard under cuba.
i- ' y J^ o Hispaniola.
or by the tropike Cancer, sayeth that these ilandes have as
good pasture for cattell as any other countrey in the world.
Also they have most holesome and cleere water and tem-
perate ayre, by reason whereof the beards of beastes are
much bigger, fatter, and of better tast than any in Spayne,
bycause of the rank pasture, whose moysture is better di-
gested in the hearbe or grasse by continuall and temperate
heate of the sunne, whereby being made more fatte and
unctious, it is of better and more stedfast nourishment. For
continuall and temperate heate dothe not only draw much
moysture out of the earth, to the nourishmente of suche
things as growe and are engendred in that clyme, but dothe
' Oviedo, the Spanish traveller and historian.
Under the
tropics is a
moderate
temj
ture
60 THE FIRST VOYAGE
also by moderation preserve the same from ^^utrifying, di-
gesting also and condensating or thickening the sayd moyst
"mpe?a-^ nourishmento into a gummie and unctions substance, whereby
appeareth also that under the tropikes is both holesome,
fratefull, and pleasant habitation; whereby, lastly, it fol-
loweth that al the middle zone, whiche untyll of late dayes
hathe bin compted and called the burning, broyling, and
parched zone, is now found to bee the most delicate, tem-
perate, commodious, pleasaunte, and delectable part of the
world, and especially under the equinoctiall.
Havyng nowe sufficiently at large declared the tempera-
ture of the middle zone, it remayneth to speake somewhat
also of the moderate and continuall heate in colde regions,
as well in the nighte as in the daye all the sommer long,
and also how these regions are habitable to the inhabitantes
of the same, contrarie to the opinion of olde writers.
OF THE TEMPERATURE OF COLDE REGIONS ALL THE SOMMER
LONG, AND ALSO HOWE IN WINTER THE SAME IS HABIT-
ABLE, ESPECIALLY TO THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.
The colde regions of the worlde are those whiche, tending
towarde the pole artike and antartike, are withoute the cir-
cuit or bounds of the seaven climates, which, agreeable to
the opinion of the olde writers, is founde and sette out in
our authore of the Sjihere, Joannes de Sacrobosco, where he
playnely sayeth, that without the seaventh climate, which is
bounded by a parallel passing at fiftie degrees in latitude,
all the habitation beyonde that to be discommodious and
intoUerable : but Gemma Phrisius, a late writer, finding
England and Scotland to be withoute the compasse of those
climates wherein he knew to be very temperate and good
habitation, added thereunto two other climates, the utter-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 61
most paralell whereof passeth by 56 degrees in latitude, and
therein comprehendeth over and above the first computation,
England, Scotland, Denmarke, Moscovia, etc., which all are
rich and mightie kingdomes.
The old writers, pers waded by bare conjecture, went
aboute to determine of those places, by comparing them to
their own complexions, bycause they felt them to be hardly
tolerable to themselves, and so toke thereby an argument of
the whole habitable earth, as if a man borne in Morochus, or
other part of Barbaric, should at the latter end of sommer,
upon the suddayne, eyther naked, or wyth hys thinne ves- ^J{^â„¢;
ture, be broughte into England, he would judge this region MaSus
presently not to be habitable, bycause he being broughte up land/
in so warme a countrey, is not able heere to live, for so
sodaine an alteration of the cold ayre ; but if the same man
hadde come at the beginning of sommer, and so afterwarde
by little and little by certaine degrees, had felt and ac-
quainted himselfe with the frost of autumne, it would have
seemed by degrees to harden him, and so to make it far
more toUerable, and by use after one yeere or two, the ayre
woulde seeme to hym more temperate. It was compted a
greate matter in the olde time, that there was a brasse pot
broken in sunder with frozen water in Ponilms, which after
was broughte and shewed in Delphis, in token of a miracu-
lous cold region and winter, and therefore consecrated to the
Temple of Apollo.
This effect being wroghte in the paralell of 48 degrees in
latitude, it was presentlye compted a place verye hardlye
and uneasily to be inhabited for the greate colde. And
howe then can suche men define uppon other regions very
farre without that paralell, wh'er they were inhabited or
not, seeing that in so neare a place they so grossely mistooke
the matter, and others their followers being contented with
the inventions of the olde authors, have persisted willingly
in the same opinion, with more confidence than consideration
62 THE FIRST VOYAGE
of the cause, so lightly was that opinion received, as touching
the unhabitable clime neare and under the Poles.
Therefore I am at this present to prove y* all the land lying
nirth^ betweene the laste climate even unto the point directly under
habuabie!^^ either Poles, is or maye be inhabited, especially of suche
creatures as are ingendred and bredde therein. For indeed
it is to be confessed, that some particular living creature
cannot live in every particular place or region, especially
wyth the same joy and felicitie, as it did where it was first
bredde, for the certaine agreement of nature that is betweene
the place, and the thing bredde in that place, as appeareth
Elephant. \yj i\^q elephant, which being translated and brought out of
the second or third climate, though they may live, yet will
they never ingender or bring forth yong. Also wee see the
like in many kinds of plants and hearbs : for example, the
Orange tree, orange tree, although in Naples they bring forth fruit
abundantly, in Rome and Florence they will beare onlye
faire greene leaves, but not any fruite : and translated into
England, they will hardly beare either flowers, fruite, or
leaves, but are the next winter pinched and withered with
colde : yet it followeth not for this, that England, Rome, and
Florence should not be habitable.
In the proving of these colde regions habitable, I shall be
verye shorte, bicause the same reasons serve for this purpose,
which were alleaged before in the proving the middle zone
Two causes to be temperate, especially seeing all heate and colde pro-
ceede from the sunne, by the meanes eyther of the angle his
beames doeth make with the horizon, or else by y® long or
shorte continuance of the sun's presence above ground : so
that if the sunnes beames do heate perpendicularlye at righte
angles, then there is one cause of heate, and if the sunne doe
also long continue above the horizon, then the heate thereby
is muche encreased by accesse of this other cause, and so
groweth to a kind of extremitie. And these ii causes, as I
said before, doe moste concurre under the two tropickes, and
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 63
therefore there is the greatest heate of y® worlde. And like-
wise, where both these causes are most absent, there is
greatest want of heate, and encrease of colde (seeing that
colde is nothing but the privation and absence of heat), and
if one cause be wanting and the other present the effect will
grow indifferent. Therefore this is to be understanded, that
the nearer anye region is to the equinoctiall the higher the
sunne doeth rise over their heades at noone, and so maketh
either righte or neare righte angles, but the sun tarryeth
with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter
dayes, with longer and colder nights, to restore the domage
of the daye paste, by reason of the moisture consumed by
vapour. But in such reasons, over the which the sun riseth
lower (as in regions extended towardes eyther pole) it maketh
there unequall angles, but the sunne continueth longer, and
maketh longer dayes, and causeth so much shorter and
warmer nights, as retayning warme vapoures of the daye
paste. For there are found by experience sommer nights in ^g°*j.".e^^^^
Scotland and Gothland very hot, when under the equinoctiall g^f^ eights
they are found very colde. This benefit of the sunnes long equmociiaii.
continuance and encrease of the day, doth augment so muche
the more in colde regions, as they are nearer the poles, and
ceaseth not encreasing, until it come directly under the point
of the pole articke, where the sunne continueth above
grounde the space of sixe moneths or halfe a yeare togither, ^^^^^^^^
and so the daye is halfe a yere longe, that is the time of ^"'^^'^ ^'
y^ suns being in the north signes, from the first degree of
Aries until the last of Virgo, that is all the time from our 10
day of March, untill the 14th of September. The sun there-
fore during the time of these 6 moneths without any offence
or hinderaunce of the nighte, gy veth his influence upon those
landes with heate that never ceaseth during that time, which
maketh to the great increase of sommer, by reason of the
sunnes continuance. Therefore it followeth, that though the
sunne be not there very high over their heads to cause right
64 THE FIRST VOYAGE
angle beams and to give great heate, yet the sun being there
sometime almost 24 degrees high, doth caste a convenient and
meane heate which there continueth without hinderance of
the night the space of six moneths (as is before saide) during
whiche time there foloweth to be a convenient, moderate and
temperate heat, or else rather it is to be suspected the heat
there to be very great, both for continuance and also qtiia
virtus unita crescit, the vertue and strength of heat united in
one encreaseth. If then there be suche a moderate heat
under the poles, and the same to continue so long time, what
shoulde move the olde writers to saye there cannot be place
for habitation. And that the certaintie of this temperate
heat under both the poles might more manifestlye appeare,
lette us consider the position and qualitie of the sphere, the
length of the day, and so to gather the heighte of the sunne
at all times, and by consequent the quantitie of his angle, and
so lastely the strength of his heate.
Those landes and regions lying under the pole and having
the pole for their zenith, muste needes have the equinoctiall
circle for their horizon, therefore the sunne entring into the
north signes, and describing every 24 houres a paralell to
the equinoctiall by the diurnall motion of Primam Mohile,
the same paralels must needes be wholely above the horizon,
and so looke how many degrees there are from the fyrst of
Aries to the last of Virgo, so many whole revolutions there
are above theyr horizon y* dwell under the pole, whiche
The sun amouuteth to 182, and so manye of oure dayes the sunne
settethin continucth with them. Durin^ whych tyme they have there
a 182 dayes. ^ o^ J J ^ J
continuall daye and lighte withoute anye hinderaunce of
moiste nightes. Yet it is to be noted that the sunne being
in the fyrst degree of Aries, and laste degree of Virgo, maketh
his revolution in the very horizon, so that in these 24 houres
Horizon halfc the body of the sunne is above the horizon and the
and equi-
noctiall one other halfe is under this only center, describinsr both the
under the j ^ <=>
pole. horizon and the equinoctiall circle.
OF MARTIN FKOBISHER. 65
And therefore seeing the greatest declination of the snn is
almost 24 degrees, it followeth his greatest height in those
countries to be almost 24 degrees. And so high is the sun London,
at noone to us in London about y^ 29 of October, being in
the 15 degree of Scorpio, and likewise the 21 of January-
being in the 15 of Aquarius. Therefore looke what force
the sun at noone hath in London the 29th of October, the
same force of heate it hathe, to them that dwell under the pole,
the space almost of two moneths, during the time of the
sommer solstitium, and that without intermingling of any
colde night : so that if the heate of the sunne at noone coulde
be well measured in London (which is verve harde to do,
bycause of the long nights, whiche engender greate moysture
and colde), then woulde manifestlye appeare by expresse
numbers the maner of the heate under the 23oles, which cer-
tainly must needes be to the inhabitants verye commodious
and profitable, if it inclyne not to over much heate, and if
moysture do not want.
For as in October in England we find temperate aire, and
have in our gardens hearbes and floures notwithstanding our
colde nights, how much more shoulde they have y^ same
good ay re, being continual without night. This heate of
ours continueth but one houre while the sunne is in y^ meri-
dian, but theirs continueth a long time in one height. This
our heate is weake, and by the coolenesse of the night van-
isheth ; that heate is strong, and by continual accesse is still
increased and strengthened. And thus by a similitude of
the equal height of the sunne in both places, appeareth the commo-
dious under
commodious and moderate heate of the regions under thet^^po'es.
poles.
And surely I can not thinke that the divine providence
hath made any thing uncommunicable, but to have given
such order to all things that one way or other the same
shoulde be emploied, and that every thing and place should
be tollerable to the next. But especiallye all things in this
F
66 THE FIRST VOYAGE
lower world be given to man to have dominion and use
thereof. Therefore wee neede no longer to doubt of the
temperate and commodious habitation under the poles during
the tyme of sommer.
And al the controversie consisteth in the winter, for then
the sun leaveth those regions, and is no more seene for the
space of other sixe months, in the which time al the sunncs
course is under their horizon for the space of halfe a yeare,
and then those regions (saye some) muste needs be de-
uuder\h^e^^ formed with horible darkenesse and continuall nyghte,
^^ ^' whiche maye be the cause that beastes can not seeke theyr
foode, and that also the cold should then be intollerable.
By which double evils al living creatures should be con-
strayned to die, and were not able to indure the extremitie
and injurie of winter and famine ensuing thereof, but that
all things shoulde perish before the sommer folowing, when
they should bring forth their broode and yong, and that for
these causes y^ said clime about the pole shold be desolate
and not habitable. To al which objections maybe answered
in this manner : first, that thoughe the sun be absent from
them those five months, yet it followeth not there should be
such extreame darkenesse, for as the sunne is departed under
Thetwy- their horizon, so is it not farre from them. And not so
lights give ^
tife^poie'^^'^ soone as the sunne falleth, so sodainely commeth the darke
thTwinter. night, but the evening doth substitute and prolong the daye
a good while after by twilight. After which time the resi-
due of y^ night receiveth light of the moone and starrcs
untill the breake of the day, which giveth also a certain e
light before the sunnes rising, so that by these means the
nights are seldom dark, which is verified in all parts of the
v.orld. but least in the middle zone under the equinoctiall,
where the twylights are short and the nights darker than
in any other place, bycause the sun goeth under their
horizon so deepc, even to their a?itipodes. Wee see in Eng-
lande in the sommer nisfhts. when the sun g-oeth not far
Ob' :.[AKTIN FROBISHER. 67
under the horizon, that by the light of the moone and stars
wee may travel al night, and if occasion were do some other
labour also. And there is no man that doubteth whether
our cattel can see to feede in y^ nights, seeing wee are so
well certified thereof by our experience : and by reason of
the sphere, our nights should be darker than any time of^t^^^,"f'^\^
under the poles.
The astronomers consent that the sun, descending from
our upper hemisphere at the 18 paralell under the horizon,
maketh an end of twylight, so that at length the darke night
ensueth, and that afterward in the morning, the sun ap-
proaching againe within as many paralels, doth drive away
y® night by accesse of y^ twylight. Againe, by the position
of the sphere under y^ pole, the horizon and the equinoctiall
are al one. These revolutions therefore that are paralell to
the equinoctiall are also paralel to the horizon, so that the
sun descending under y® horizon, and there describing cer-
tain paralels not farre distant, doeth not bringe darke nights
to those regions until it come to the paralels distant 18
degrees from y® equinoctiall, that is, about y^ SI degree of
Scorpio, which wil be about y® 4 day of our November and
after the winter solstitium, y^ sun retourning backe againe
to y® 9 degree of Aquarius, whiche wil be aboutc y^ 19 of
January, during which time only, that is from y^ 4 of No-
vember untill the xix day of January, which is about six
weeks space, those regions do want y*" commoditie of twy-
lights. Therefore, during y^ time of these said six moneths But six
... weeks dark
of darknesse under y*' poles, y^ night is destitute of y^ benefit under the
of y^ sun, and y® said twilights, only for y*^ space of six weeks
or thereabout. And yet neither this time of six weeks is
without remedy fro heaven. For y^ moone with hir en-
creased light hathe accesse at that time and illuminateth the
moneths, lacking light every one of themselves severally
halfe the course of y^ moneth, by whose benefite it commeth
to passe y* v® ni^ht named extreame dark possesseth those
F 'I
68 THE FIRST VOYAGE
regions no longer than one moneth, neither that continually
or al at one time, but this also divided into two sorts of
shorter nights, of y^ which either of them endureth for y^
space of 15 dayes, and are illuminate of y^ moone accord-
ingly. And this reason is gathered out of the sphere,
whereby we may testifie y* the sommers are warme and
fruitful, and the winters nights under the pole are tollerable
to livinar creatures. And if it be so that the winter and time
of darknes there be very cold, yet hath not nature left them
Ju^/es'ofThat unprovided therefore. For there y^ beasts are covered with
prSedfo? haire so muche the thicker in how much the vehemencie of
cold is greater, by reason wherof the best and richest furres
are broughte out of the coldest regions. Also the foules of
these cold countries have thicker skins, thicker feathers, and
more stored of down than in other hot places. Our Eng-
lishmen that travel to S. Nicholas, and go a fishing to Ward-
house, enter far within the circle artike, and so are in the
frozen zone ; and yet there, as well as in Iseland, and all
along those northern seas, they finde the greatest store of
the greatest fishes that are, as whales, etc., and also abund-
ance of meane fishes, as herings, coddes, haddockes, brettes,
etc., whiche argueth, that the sea as well as the land, maye
bee and is well frequented and inhabited in the colde
countries.
But some, perhaps, will marvel there should be such
temperate places in y® regions aboute y® poles, when at
under degrees in latitude, our Captaine Frobisher and
his companye were troubled wyth so manye and so great
mountaines of fleeting ise, with so great stormes of colde,
with such continuall snow on toppes of mountaines, and
with such barren soyle, there being neither woodde or trees,
but lowe shrubbes, and suche like. To al w^iich objections
Annbjec- may be answered thus: — First, those infinite ilandes of ise
lionofMeta tit i i • • c • i
Incognita, wcrc engendered and congealed m time oi winter, and now
by the gret heate of sommer were thawed, and then by
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 60
ebbeSj floudes. windes, and currants, were driven to and fro,
and troubled the fleete, so that this is an argument to prove
the heat in sommer there to be great, that was able to thaw
so monstrous mountaines of ise. As for continuall snow on
tops of mountains, it is ther no otherwise than is in the
hottest parte of the middle zone, where also lyeth great
snowe al the sommer long uppon toppes of mountaines,
bycause there is not sufficient space for the sunnes reflec-
tion wherby the snowe should be molten. Touching the
colde stormy windes, and the barrennesse of the country, it
is there, as it is in Cornioall and Devonshire in England,
which parts, thoughe we know to be fruitful and fertile, yet
on the north side therof al alongst the coast within seaven
or eight myles off the sea, there can neither hedge nor tree
grow, althoughe they be diligently by art husbanded and
scene unto ; and the cause therof are the northerne driving
windes, whiche, coming from the sea, are so bitter and sharp,
that they kill al y® yong and tender plants, and suff'er scarce
anything to grow, and so is it in y° ilands of 31eta Incognita, Meta in-
which are subject most to east and northerne winds, which "'liabited.
y^ last were choked up y^ passage so with ise, that the fleet
could hardly recover their port ; yet, notwithstanding all
the objections that may be, the countrey is habitable, for
there are men, women, children, and sundrie kind of beastes
in great plentie, as beares, dere, hares, foxes, and dogges :
all kind of flying fowles, as duckes, seamews, wilmots,
partriches, larkes, crowes, hawkes, and such like, as in the
thirde booke you shall understand more at large. Then it
appeareth, that not only the middle zone, but also the zones
about the poles are habitable, which thing being well con-
sidered, and familiarly knowen to our generall Captaine captaine
Frobisher, as well for that he is thoroughly furnished of the
knowledge of the sphere, and all other skilles apperteyning
to the art of navigation, as also for the confirmation he hath
of the same by many yeares experience, both by sea and
70
THE FIRST VOYAGE
land, and being persuaded of a new and neerer passage to
Cataya, than by Capo d'buona Speranza, which the Portu-
galles yeerly use. He began first with himselfe to devise,
and then with his friendes to conferre, and layde a playne
platte unto them, that that voyage was not onely possible by
the north-weast, but also, as he coulde prove, easie to bee
performed. And further, he determined and resolved wyth
himselfe, to go make full proofe thereof, and to accomplishe,
or bring true certificate of the truth, or else never to retourne
againe, knowing this to be the onely thing of the worlde
that was left yet undone, whereby a notable mind mighte
be made famous and fortunate. But although his will were
great to performe this notable voyage, whereof hee had con-
ceyved in his mind a great hope, by sundry sure reasons
and secret intelligence, w^hiche heere, for sundry causes, 1
leave untouched — yet he wanted altogither meanes and
abilitie to set forward and performe the same. Long tyme
he conferred with his private friendes of these secretes, and
made also manye offers for the performing of the same in
eff'ect unto sundry merchants of our countrey, above fifteen
yeares before he attempted the same, as by good witnesse
shall well appeare (albeit some evill willers whiche challenge
to themselves the frutes of other mens laboures, have
greately injured him in the reportes of the same, saying that
they have bin the first authors of that action, and that they
have learned him the M^ay, which themselves, as yet, have
never gone). But perceyving that hardly he was hearkened
unto of the merchants, whiche never regarde vertue withoute
sure, certayne, and present gaynes, hee repayred to the courte
(from whence, as from the fountaine of oure commonwealth,
all good causes have theyr chiefe encrease and mayntenance),
and there layde open to manye great estates and learned men,
the plot and summe of hys devise. And amongst manye honour-
able myndes whyche favoured hys honest and commendable
enterprise, he was specially bounde and beholdyng to the
OF MAllTIN FKOBISHER. 71
ryghte honoLirable Ambrose Dudley, Earle of Warwicke, "
whose favourable mynde and goo^T^isposition, hath alwayes
bin readye to countenance and advance all honest actions
wyth the authors and executors of the same ; and so by
meanes of my lorde hys honourable countenance, hee recyved
some comforte of hys cause, and by little and little, with no
small expense and payne, brought hys cause to some perfec-
tion, and hadde dravven togither so many adventurers and
suche summes of money as myghte well defray a reasonable
charge, to furnishe hymselfe to sea withall.
He prepared two small barkes of twentie and fyve and ^j!'"^jj^g"j!^st
twentie tunne a peece, wherein hee intended to accomplish ^°i^°®-
his pretended voyage. Wherefore, beeying furnished wyth
the foresayde two barkes and one small pinnesse of tenne
tunne burthen, havyng therein victuals and other necces-
saries for twelve monethes provision, he departed uppon the
sayde voyage from Blackewall the fiftenth of June, Anno
Domi?ii 1576.
One of the barkes wherein he wente, was named the
Gabriell and the other the Michaell, and sayling north- g^^i'^feJi*"'^
weast from Englande uppon the firste of July, at length he
hadde sighte of a highe and ragged lande, whiche he judged
Freeselande (whereof some authours have made mention),
but durst not approche the same by reason of the greate
store of ise that lay alongst the coast, and the greate mistes
that troubled them not a little.
Not farre from thence hee lost companye of his small pin- ^?J.t.<,c.
nesse, whiche, by meanes of the greate storme, he supposed ^°^'-
to bee swallowed uppe of the sea, wherein he lost onely
foure men.
Also the other barke named the Michaell mistrusting the ^^^^^n
matter, conveyed themselves privilie away from him, and Jfoâ„¢'^
retourned home wyth greate reporte that he was cast awaye.
The worthye captayne, notwithstanding these discomfortes,
although his mast was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen
'2
THE FIRST VOYAGE
overboorde wyth extreame foule weather, continued hys
course towardes the north-weast, knowing that the sea at
length must needes have an endyng, and that some lande
shoulde have a beginning that way ; and determined, there-
fore, at the least, to bryng true proofe what lande and sea
the same myght bee, so farre to the northweastwardes,
beyonde anye man that hathe heeretofore discovered. And
the twentieth of July hee hadde sighte of a highe lande,
whyche hee called Queene Elizabeth's Forlande, after hyr
Majesties name, and say ling more northerlie alongst the
coast he descried another forlande with a greate gutte, bay,
or passage, deviding as it were, two maynelands or conti-
nents asunder. There he met with store of exceeding great
ise al this coast along, and coveting still to continue his
course to the northwardes, was alwayes by contrarie winde
deteyned overthwarte these straytes, and could not get
beyonde. Within few days after he perceyved the ise to be
well consumed and gone, eyther there engulfed in by some
swifte currants or in draftes caried more to the southwardes
of the same straytes, or else conveyed some other way ;
wherefore he determined to make profe of this place to see
how far that gutte had continuance, and whether he mighte
Carrie himselfe through the same into some open sea on the
backe syde, Avhereof he conceyved no small hope, and so
entred the same the one-and-twentieth of July, and passed
above fyftie leagues therein, as hee reported, having upon
eyther hande a greate mayne or continent ; and that land
uppon hys right hande as hee sayled westward, he judged to
be the continente of Asia, and there to bee devided from the
fir me of America, whiche lyeth uppon the lefte hande over
against the same.
This place he named after his name Frobisher's Streytes,
lyke as Magellanus at the south-weast ende of the worlde
having discovered the passage to the South Sea (where
America is devided from the continente of that lande whiche
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. To
lyeth under the south pole), and called the same straites
Magellanes streightes. After he hadde passed 60 leagues
into this foresayde strayte hee wente ashore, and founde
signe where fire had bin made.
He saw mightie deere y^ seemed to be mankind, which Deere.
ranne at him, and hardly he escaped with his life in a nar-
row way, where he was faine to use defence and policie to
save his life.
In this place he saw and perceyved sundry tokens of the
peoples resorting thither, and being ashore upon the toppe
of a hill, he perceived a number of small things fleeting in
the sea afarre off", whyche hee supposed to be porposes or
scales, or some kinde of strange fishe ; but coming nearer, ^^J^^^f^^^g
he discovered them to be men in small boates made of leather, salvage.
And before he could descende downe from the hyll certain
of those people had almost cut off" his boate from him, having
stoUen secretly behinde the rocks for that purpose, where he
speedily hasted to his boate and bente himselfe to his holberte,
and narrowly escaped the daunger and saved his bote. After-
wards he had sundry conferences with them, and they came
aborde his ship, and brought him salmon and raw fleshe and Salmon.
fishe, and greedily devoured the same before our mens faces.
And to shewe their agilitie, they tryed many maisteries upon
the ropes of the ship after our mariners fashion, and appeared
to be very strong of theyr armes and nimble of their bodies.
They exchaunged coates of scale and beares skinnes, and
suche like, with oure men, and received belles, looking-
glasses, and other toyes in recompence thereof againe. After
great curtesie and many meetings, our mariners, contrarie to
theyr captaines dyrection, began more easily to trust them,
and five of oure men going ashoare, were by them inter-
cepted with theyr boate, and were never since hearde of to Five E.ig-
^ ./ ' lishinen
this daye againe. So that the captaine being destitute of j^^^t';^.^;^^^''
boate, barke, and al company, had scarcely sufficient number
to conduct back his bark againe. He coulde nowe neither
74 THE FIRST VOYAGE
convey himselfe ashore to rescue his men (if he had bin
able), for want of a boate ; and again, the subtile traytours
were so warie as they would after that never come within
our mens danger. The captaine, notwithstanding, desirous
to bring some token from thence of his being there, was
greatly discontented that he had not before apprehended
some of them. And therefore to deceive the deceivers he
wrought a prettie pollicie, for knowing well how they greatly
delighted in our toyes, and specially in belles, he rang a
pretie lowbel, making wise that he would give him the same
that would come and fetch it. And bycause they would not
come within his daunger for feare, he iiung one bell unto
them, which of purpose he threw short that it might fal into
the sea and be lost. And to make them more greedie of the
matter he rang a lowder bell, so that in the ende one of them
came neare the ship side to receive the bell, which, when he
thought to take at the captaine's hand he was thereby taken
ufe'&^ himself; for the captain being redily provided, let the bel
savage. ^^^ ^^^^ cought the man fast, and plucked him with maine
force boate and al into his bark out of the sea. AYherupon,
when he founde himself in captivitie, for very choUer and
disdain, he bit his tong in twayne within his mouth : not-
withstanding, he died not therof, but lived untill he came in
Englande, and then he died of colde which he had taken
at sea.
Nowe with this newe pray (whiche was a sufficient wit-
nesse of the captaines farre and tedious travell towards the
unknowne partes of the worlde, as did well appeare by this
strange Infidel, whose like was never seen, red, nor harde
of before, and whose language was neyther knowne nor
Frobishers understoodc of auyc) the saide Captaine Frobisher retourned
returne.
homeward, and arrived in England in August folowing,
an. 1576, where he was highly commended of all men for
his great and notable attempt, but specially famous for the
great hope he brou'ght of the passage to Cataya, which he
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 75
doubted nothing at all to find and passe through in those
partSj as he reporteth.
And it is especially to be remembred at the first arrivall
in those partes, there laye so great store of ise all the coaste
along so thicke togither, that hardely his boate coulde passe
unto the shoare. At lengthe, after diverse attempts, he
commaunded his company if by anye possible meanes they
could get ashore, to bring him whatsoever thing they could
first find, whether it were living or dead, stocke or stone, in
token of Christian possession, which thereby he toke in The taking
behalfe of the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, thinkinsr of Meta
. . Incognita.
that therby he might justify the having and enjoying of y®
same things that grew in these unknowne partes.
Some of his companye broughte floures, some greene
grasse, and one brought a peece of a blacke stone, much
lyke to a seacole in coloure, whiche by the waight seemed
to be some kinde of mettall or mynerall. This was a thing
of no accompt in the judgement of the captain at the first How the
• 1 A T r 1 • 1 • c ^^^ foun„
Sight. And yet for novelty it was kept, m respect of the t>y chance
place from whence it came.
After his arrival in London, being demanded of sundrie
his friendes what thing he had brought them home of that
country, he had nothing left to present them withall but a
peece of this black stone. And it fortuned a gentlewoman,
one of y® adventurers wives, to have a peece thereof, which
by chance she threw and burned in the fire, so long, that
at the length being taken forth and quenched in a little
vinegre, it glistered with a bright Marquesset of golde.
Whereupon the matter being called in some question, it was
brought to certain goldfinders in London to make assay
therof, who indeed found it to hold gold, and that very
ritchly for the quantity. Afterwards, the same goldfinders
promised great matters thereof if there were anye store to be
found, and ofii'ed themselves to adventure for the serchinsr ^^^ny
^ adventures.
ol those partes from whence the same was brought. Some,
ore
found
76 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF MARTIN FROBISHER.
that had great hope of the matter, sought secretly to have a
lease at hir Majesties hands of those places, whereby to
enjoy the masse of so great a publike pYo6.t unto their owne
private gaines.
In conclusion, the hope of the same golde ore to be
founde, kindled a greater opinion in the heartes of many to
advaunce the voyage againe. Whereupon preparation was
second voy- made for a newe voyage against the yeare following, and
sionwas the captaiuc more specially directed by commission lor the
forye searching^ more of this s^olde ore than for the searchins^ any
bringing SO o J
of ore. further of the passage. And being wel accompanied with
diverse resolute and forward gentlemen, hir Majestic then
lying at the right honourable the Lord of War wicks house
in Essex, came to take theyr leaves, and kissing hir high-
nesse hands, with gracious countenance and comfortable
Avords departed towardes their charge.
STATE PAPERS SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST
VOYAGE.
I. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST VOYACxE. ANONYMOUS, BUT
APPARENTLY BY MICHAEL LOK.
II. MICHAEL LOKS ACCOUNT OP HIS CONNECTION WITH CAPTAIN
PROBISHER.
III. MR. LOCKES DISCOARS TOUCHING THE EURE.
IV. MR. MARTIN FURBISHERS PETITION TO HER MAJESTIC.
V. A BRIEFE NOTE OF THE COSTE OF THREE SHIPPS.
VI. A NOTE OF PROVISION AND FURNYTURE FOR THE SAME.
VII. SHIPPINGE THOWGHT MEET TO BE EMPLOYED.
VIII. THE NAMES OF THE VENTURERS.
IX. REPORT ON THE OUTFIT FOR THE SECOND VOYAGE.
X. ARTICLES OF GRAUNT FROM THE QUEENS MAJESTIE TO THE
COMPANY OF KATHAY.
XI. ARTICLES CONSENTED TO AND FULLY AGREEDE BY THE COMPANY
OF KATHAY.
STATE PAPERS SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE.
[Otho, E., viii, fol. 46 (47) ; Colonial, 27.]
EAST INDIA BY THE NORTHWESTw[aIID].
Captayn hath now allready and hath put that matter owt of [all
dowbt] that he there hath found the same seas [passing from J the one into
the other. Neither nede I [say anythi]ng touching the naturall riches
and infinit t[reas]or and the great traffik of rich merchandise th[at] is in
those cuntries of Kathay, China, India, and [other] cuntries therabouts,
for that every boke of histo[ry or] cosmography of those parts of the
world, which a[re] to be had in euery prynters shop, doo declare [the]
same at large : and the cuntries of Spayn and Portingale doo fynde and
feele the same to their great ioy. But of the matters that chiefly moved
me to enterprise and avance this new voyage, and to venture my mony
therein so largely : I will say briefly that three things chiefly moved me
thereto. First : The great hope to fy[nde] our English seas open into
the seas of East India by that way, which I conceved by the great
likelyhood therof which I found in reading the histories of many mens
travailes toward that parte of the world, whereby we might have passage
by sea to those rich cuntries for traffik of merchandize, which was the
thing I chiefly desyred. Secondly : I was assured by manifolde good
proofs of dy vers travailers and histories, that the cuntries of Baccaleaw,
Canada, and the new fownd lands thereto adioining, were full of j)eoplc
and full of such commodities and merchandize, as are in the cuntries
of Lappia, Russia, Moscovia, Permia, Pechora, Samoietza, and the
cuntries thereto adioyning, which are furres, hydes, wax, tallow, oyle,
and other. Whereby yf yt should happen those new lands to stretch to
the north pole so that we could not have passage by sea that way which
we sought to the northwestward to pas into East India, yet in those same
new lands to the northwestward might be established the like trade of
merchandize, as is now, in the other sayd cuntries of the that
on the sea coasts to the northwestwards [abunda]nce of
fish of many kyndes, and of wha[les and other grejat fisshes wherof
the trane oyle is made [and the best] place for fisshing therof that
is in any pla[ce in the w]orld whereby would allso grow to the
80
STATE PAPERS
realm, and [to all the] followers therof great riches and benefit. And now,
to speake of the good mynde and sufficient [courage] of this rare and vali-
ant Captayn Martyn Froby[sher], who hath thus put his lyfe in so great
hazard and endured such great labours for the benefit of his cuntry,
as the like is not to be read of in any history, yf his dooings and theirs
be duly consydered and compared. My eloquence and wit are
unsufficient duly to declare the same. Nevertheles, according to ray
small talent therein, I will briefly show my good will towards him in
declaring the truthe of him and his dooings according to my knowledge
and true information had thereof, referring his due commendations
therefore unto other whom God shall move in due tyme to doo the same,
according to his great good deserts. He was borne at of
honest parentage — jentlemen of a good house and antiquity, who, in
his youth for lak of good scholes therabout, sent him to London, being
of the age of yeres, where he was put to Sir John York, kfnght, now
deceased, being his kinsman ; who, perceiving him to be of great spirit
and bould courage, and naturall hardnes of body, sent him in the ship
named to the bote cuntry of Guinea in company of other
ships which were set owt by dyvers merchants of London, Anno Domini
in which voyage &c., [t]hus being furnished with ship[s and all
other things] necessary in as ample manner as the [funds supplied] would
reach : in the name of God he set [sail and depa]rted withall on his voyage
from Ratclyfe the vii day of June, anno domini 1576, and [Gr]aves-
end the xii day of June aforesayd. And bei[ng ath]wart of Harwith the
xiii day with a contrary wynd he put into Harwich, and departed agayn
from thence [on the] xiiii day, and passing along the coast northwards
with skant wyndes was put agayn to Harwich three tym[es], and
arived at Yarmouth Road the xviii-i^ day, and set sail from thence the
xixth day, and with fayr weather arived at the He of Shotland the
xxvi day of June, wher[e] they ankered one tyde to refresh their water.
And the same day at night set sayle agayne with a large wynd and fayr
weather on their way northwestward untill th[e] xxx*ii day, wheron
the weather grew to very great storm, which continued untill the viii
day of July, in which tyme they could beare no manner of sayle. And
in the sayd night they lost the sight of their small pynnes having three
men therein, which they could never syns here of, though they used all
possible diligence and means that the weather would suffer to seke and
save the same. And when the storm ceased they set sayle
and passed along on their way agayn, and on the xi^ii day of July they
had sight of land vnknown to them, for they could not come to set fote
theron for the marvellous haboundance of monstrous great Hands of ise
which lay dryving all alongst the coast therof. But by coniecture had
owt of histories and cartes of cosmography yt should seeme to be the
great Hond of Friselaud, which they saw all along by the eastern syde
therof. And bearing in nerer to discover the same, they found yt mar-
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 81
veilous high, and full of high ragged roks all along by the coast, and
some of the Hands of ise were nere yt of such heigth as the clowds
hanged about the tops of them, and the byrds that flew about them were
owt [of sight] they lost [shi]p Michael, to their great discom-
for[ture] [u]ntill their return to London for that [com]pany of
that ship Michael being to make discovery of newe lands nor cou-
[rage] that he possessed at his departure from [Being] now (rather
willingly then by force), separated from their captayn, and put to
their own shift [and gove]rnment, toke counsa!ile with his mariners and
com[rades] in the ship what they were best to doo. And among [them]-
selves concluded (as they say), that having yet a good [ti]me of the yere,
and iudging themselves to be not far from [the] new land named Labrador,
they wolde procede accor[din]g to their commission, at the least, to see
that land and proceeding within iiij dayes, they saw that land, and found
i it] so compassed with monstrous high Hands of ise Acting [b]y the sea
shore, that they durst not approche with [th]eir ship, nor land theron
with their bote. And [so] in great discomfort cast about with the ship
the [n]ext day : and set their course bak agayn homward to [L]ondon,
where they arived the first day of September. And in this mean tyme
the sayd captayn with his ship Gabriel (as is sayd before) being overset
with a sea which they shipped on the xiij day of July in the rage [of] an
extreme storm which cast the ship flat on her syde. And being open in
the wayste, fylled her with water so as she lay still for sunk : and would
not weare nor steare with any help of the helm : and could never have
rysen agayn but by the marveilous work of God's great mercy to help
them all. In this distres when all the men in the ship had lost their
courage, and did dispayre of lyfe : the captayne like himselfe with
valiant courage stood up and passed alongst the ship's side in the
chayn wales lying on her flat syde, and caught holde on the weather
leche of the foresaile and in the weather coyling of the ship, the foreyard
brake. And to lighten the ship, they cut over the misn maste. And
the mariners allso would have cut over the mayn maste, which the
capit[ayn] [u]pright agayn being full of w[ater]. And so with the
rolling of the both sydes, the water yssued and withall [m]any things
Acting over the ships sydes. [An]d so they put the ship before the sea all
[that day] and next night in that storm : wherin allso they their mayn
maste afterward, and mending it ag[ayn]. And the storm being ceased,
and being now owt of [hope] any more to mete with his other ship : yet
sti[ll de]termined alone to follow his enterprise and voyage a[ccor]ding
to commission to the uttermost of his power. A[nd] rather to make a
sacrifice onto God of his lyfe than to return home withowt the dis-
covery of K[athay] except by compulsion of extreme force and necessity.
And so returned to the course of his way toward t[he] Land of Labrador,
according to commission. And by fay [re] and by fowle on the xxixth
Jay of July the capitayn himself first had sight of a new land of a mar-
G
82 STATE PAPERS
veilous great heith : which by the account of the course and way they
iudged to be the Land of Labr[ador] as in dede upon good proof after-
ward they iudge yt s[till] so to be. The hed land wherof he named
Elizabeth Foreland in memory of the Queue's Majestic. And drawing
still nere thereto in great comfort, when they approched nere they fownd
the sea-shore full of monstrous high Hands and mountayns of ise Acting
and driving with the wyndes and tydes and streams so as they durst not
yet approche with their ship to land theron. Nevertheles remayniug
still with hope by some means of serch to fynde a safe place to enter
with the ship ; and passing still to and fro along the coste, still in the
sight of land as occasion required to avoyd dangers : within the tyme of
xvj dayes the yse being well consumed and gone : they did land in three
or four places upon Hands, and the master of the ship did land upon the
first iland and named it Halls Hand after his own name, and there
repayred his ship of her laks and leaks they fo[un]d y[t] betwene two
great mayn [whjich they named Frobysher's streict, by [reason of
his] name who discovered yt : and many ilands good harboroughs
for ships which they dis[covered as] they passed. And on the xixth day
of August [they fjownd an iland which liked thera, and named yt
by the naem of one of the mariners which first [espyed] the same. And
thereon they landed. And the capi[tayn] and six of his men went to the
top of an high mouu[tain] therof to discover about them : and there theie
espyed [vij] strange botes with men rowing toward that iland. [Wh]er-
upon in great haste they ran down agayn to recover [thejir own bote which
hardly they recovered before the ari[va]ll of those vij botes. But so he
returned to his ship [wijth his bote to put all in readynes for defence yf
rede [sh]ould be. And sent aland his skyf with men, [to] vewe the
men and have speache with them as they could. They made of friend-
ship to our men for desyre to have [th]em on land to take their rest.
And by signes yt was agreed that one of their men came in the skyf
aborde the ship, and in pledge for him one of our men went on land to
them. And this man being in the ship made great wondering at all
things : and the capitayn gave him to taste of the ship's meat and drink
and wyne : but he made no countenance of liking any. And he gave
him and other tryfles which he liked well and toke them with
him to land where he was delyvered and our man received bak agayn.
And hereby the captayn perceiving these strange people to be of coun-
tenance and conversation proceding of a nature geven to fyersnes and
rapyne, and he being not yet well prepared in his ship for defence, he
set sayle presently, and departed thens to take more tyme to prepare for
defence to an other iland which they named by name of being
very nere to the mayn land (on the northern syde) which they named on
land. But be[in]g no [\v] [w]ynde contrary they passed from [th]e west-
ern land : and there ankered [and] prepared them selves to defend the best
they [could as] nede should be ; which was no force having so [small a]
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 83
ship now armed with so faynt and weake men [who had] so great labours
and disseases suffered at the sea [the] captayn only excepted, whose force
and courag[e never] fayled for all his labours passed. And on this [wes]t-
ern shore the capitayn with of his men went on [shore] on an iland
mynding to have gone to the top of an high [moun]tayn to discover what
he could of the straiets of the sea [and] land about, and there he saw far
the two hed lands at [the] furdest end of the straiets and no likelyhood of
land to th[e] northwards of them and the great open betwene th[em] which
by reason of the great tydes of flood which they found comming owt of
the same, and for many other good reasons they iudged to be the West
Sea, whereby to pas to Cathay and to the East India. And on this syde
the sa[ydj hedlands they saw many ilands not far asonder. A[nd] there
allso they found the walls of xij olde houses of the cuntry-like cottages
but no people in them. Which cottages seemed rather to have byn
woork 'of houses, th[an] dwelling houses where they perchance used to
dres leather, trane oyle of some whales, or scales, or other great fisshes,
of whose bones they saw there great store. And withall they allso
espyed in a valley right under them iij houses covered with leather of
seales skyns like tents, and allso two dogs. And presently to avoyd
danger the captayn with his men repayred to the bote at the sea shore
and assone as they were entred they espyed a great bote of that cuntry
with men therin hard by them behynde a rok, who made signes of freend-
ship (by laying their head in their hands) to them : to come on land and
take their rest. But the captayn would not trust them, but made signes
to them to come into his ship. And the master of our ship being one in
the bote was his ship before. An[d we]nt on laud to the people
being who received him and led him by the [hand into their] houses,
or rather cottages. And they thus [having got the] master among them,
some of them made secret [signs to the] man for pledge in our bote
that he should es[cape out] of the bote into the water, which signes th[e
cap]itayn perceived. And, therefore, having in his han[d a f]ayer long
partezan gylt, he held the poynt therof [to] the strange mans brest,
threatening by signes to [ki]ll him yf he did ones stir. And thus the
master [wjas led into their houses and there saw their manner of [f]oode
and lyfe, which is very strange and beastly, as hereafter shall be shewed.
And he being returned to the bote [and] entred therein the stranger
kept for pledge was delyvered on land, and presently an other of those
strange men went willingly in the capitayns bote aboord the ship to see
the same : to whom was given many tryfles of haberdash, which pleased
him well. And he being in the ship the capitayn had talke with him by
signes in a bargayn which they made that he should be their pylot
through the Streiets into the West Sea : to pas in his little bote rowing
before the ship thither : which he agreed onto, and made signes that in
two dayes rowing he should be there : and for his labour he should have
many tryfling things which there were shewed him, and layd owt for him.
84 STATE PAPERS
Yet yf they had thus passed no trust could have byn geven to such a
pylot then the capitayn had sene good cause. And hervpon this strange
pylot was caryed back agayn to land in our ship bote to the end to pre-
pare himself in his own bote. And bycause the capitayn did wisely
forsee that these strange people are not to be trusted for any cause nor
shew of freendship that they would make, and allso did see the foolish
mynde of the mariners that should row the bote with him to be desyrous
at the land to have some traffik with the people for their danger
of los of all of his men to go with them, and he had greater
confidence than them that they should set that strange [pylot
on lan]d at the poynt of a certayn rok of that i[land which hej
assigned them : which was within his own sight and [so he might ha]ve
rescued them yf any force should have byn off[ered a"" gainst them. And
that so done they should furth[with] return back to the ship. But these
foolish men, be[iug] five of them in all in the bote, having set on land
thi[s] stranger at the place appointed : the capitayn being [in] the ship
saw them quietly put of their bote, and immedia[tely contrary to his
commandment and charge geven th[ey] rowed furder beyond that poynt
of the land owt of hi[s] sight, and there landed iij of them, and the
other twayn reste[d] in the bote a little from the land so as he saw them
agayn, to whom owt of the ship they made signes and noyse as well as
they could to call them to the ship. And immediat[e]ly these two men
with the bote rowed into the land agayn to their fellowes owt of his
sight, and after that hower he never saw them, nor could here anything
of them. And thus the capitayn having lost his bote and five of his
best men, to his great discomfort he still remayned with the ship there
at anker all that day and next night hoping to here of them agayn.
But he could not here or know anything of them : and thereby he
iudged they were taken and kept by force. Wherefore the next morn-
ing, which was the xx day of August, he set sayle with the ship and
passed along by their houses, as nere as he could, and caused his trum-
pet to sound and shot a pece of ordonance over the houses but not to
touche them. But with all this he could see nothing nor here of his
bote or men. And therfere passed from thens to a bay not far of, where
he ankered all that day and next night : and from thens returned bak
agayn the next morning to the same place where he lost his bote, and
there they of the land had sight of his ship. And he hard them of the
land laugh or rather not lightly to make peace agayn [with
them but rath]er depart from thens to other places ther[e to try
and f]ynde some other people of that land to whom [their late doi]ngswere
unknown, and of them to take some pry[soners for] his own men, which
he did for the space of thr[ee days], and fynding none other people,
he then determined of all his men in the ship (except the master)
to re[tu]rn agayn to the same place where he lost his bote and men.
And being there come to anker vnder that iland, he perceived that all
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 50
the men were gone from thens and their houses t llso, which was to his
f^reatest discomfort : for [t]hat he remayned then in dispayre of the
recovery of his bote and men any more. Whereby allso being thus
maymed and disarmed he uttered dispayred how to procede furder on
his voyage toward Cathay. And most of all other was oppressed with
sorrow that he should return back agayn to his cuntry bringing any
evidens or token of any place whereby to certify the world where he had
byn. And so remayning in this great perplexity and sorrow more
willing to dy than to lyve in that state : suddenly he espyed a number
of the botes and men of that cuntry comming towards the ship. Wherat
he was revived though he weak state being duly consydered, he had the
more cause to be affrayd. But he with courage (more than a man) pre-
sented, armed, and prepared his ship with all things within necessary
for defence ; and allso without he covered the chayn wales and shrowds,
and all other places (where the enemy might take any hold on 'places'
any ropes to clamber into the ship) with canvas fast nayled to the ships
sydes. So as they could take no hold thereby to enter into the ship
being so low and so nere to the water. And in the waste of the
ship he placed a pece of ordonance mynding to shote to synk one of
their great botes having xx men therein. And so with the ship
under sayle to have recovered some of them for prisoners, yf otherwise
he could not come by any of them to redeme his own men. And
when their botes being appr[oa]ch[ed] and perceiving the
defens made men mustering in the ships waste fearfullnes
of the men which stood before pece of ordonance they parting
from yt pece appered to them : therwith they all themselves
with their botes, and would approche no n[erer] but drew together in
counsaile. And therupon we w[ent] to the contrary syde of the ship from
the pece of ordonance, and so stayed far of, and onely one bote with one
man therin, which was he that first of all came into the ship, approched
very nere to 'to' the ships syde making signes of freendship that we
should on land and ta[ke] our rest. Wherat the capitayn likewise made
him signes of freendship as though that he would so doo, and thus en-
tertayned him with signes of freendship, and placed him self at the
waste of the ship at the syde alone having at his fete in secret his
weapons, and caused all his men to withdraw from him, whereby he
might appere to them open as though without any malice. And made
offer of small things to geve him at the ship's syde, but the man a while
stood in susspition and wolde not approche. Wheropon the captain cast
into the sea a shirt and other things that would swym which the streame
caryed from the ship, and he toke them up. And likewise made offer of
a bell in his hand, which he toke of him hard at the ships syde.
W^herwithall one of the mariners mynded with a botehoke to have
taken holde of his bote, which the man espyed and so suddenly put of
his bote far from the ship, and in a long tyrae would no more approche,
S6 STATE PAPERS
which was no small gr cf to the capitayn and the rest. Yet at the last
with the fayr offers and entisements with gifts of the capitayn he ap-
proached agayn with his bote to the ships syde, but stood upon garde with
his ore in one hand ^ .xt to the ship ready to put of his bote agayn suddenly
yf nede should havubyn through any cause of suspition that he might have
perceived. And in this order of dealing in the presence of the rest of
all his company he toke on bell more at the cap[tayn's hands]
self wherebv the ship into the [r]est of our men. But the capi[tayn]
mischief as might happen offred him freendly countenance
and made a short arme [and let the] bell fall into the sea to move the
man the to approche more nere within him. Whereat the [man
seemed] to be greatly sory for the los thereof and therevpon sudde[nly
the] capitayn called for an other bell which allso he [rea]ched to him
with a short arme, and in that reache [he] caught holde on the man's
hand, and with his other hand [he] caught holde on his wrest ; and sud-
denly by mayn force of strength plucked both the man and his light
bote owt of the sea into the ship in a tryse and so kept him withowt
any shew of enmity, and made signes to him presently that yf he would
bring his v men he should go againe at liberty, but he would not seem
to vnderstand his meaning, and therefore he was still kept in the ship
with sure garde. This was done in the presence of all the rest of his
fellows being within an arrow shote of the ship, whereat they were all
marvellously amased and thereopon presently cast them selves into
counsell and so departed in great haste toward the land with great hal-
lowing or howling showts after their manner ; like the howling of
wolves or other beasts in the woods. And the capitayn with his ship
remayned still there all that day, and ankered iij leges from thens all
the night and the next day but could here no newes of his men nor bote
nor could perceive by the prysoner that wold come agayn. Whereupon
having this strange man prisoner in his ship he toke counsaile with the
master and other in the ship what were best to be done. And they all
'air agreed that consydering their evell and weak state by the los of
their bote and five of their best men, and the weaknes and little
hability of the rest of the men that were left in the ship, being but xiij
men and boyes so tyred and sik with laboure of their hard voyage,
passed as they were neither hable well to precede in any long voyage
toward the tyme of winter nor yet of return home already passed
than to pro[ceed] any further with so great danger of the vtt[er loss of
the] enterprise for ever after if they should way. And therefore on the
•XXV day of Aug[ust they set] sayle with their ship keping their course
ba[ck to]ward England, and in theirway they had sight of the Hand Frise-
land, which they discovered round about but did not land thereon through
the diffi[culty] of the monstrous great yse which lay fleeting still by [the]
land. And after they departed from thens they endu[red] contynually
extreme storms of weather but the w[ynde] still in their favour home-
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 87
wards. So as by the xxvth cla[y] of September they were on the coast of
Scotland in sight of the lies of Orkney, and passed from thens so as they
aryved at Harwich on the ij day of October in safety where they taryed
to refresh their sick and weake men, and so came to London with their
ship Gabriel the ixth day of October and there were ioyfully received with
the great admiration of the people, bringing with them their strange
man and his bote, which was such a wonder onto the whole city and to
the rest of the realm that heard of y t as seemed never to have happened
the like great matter to any man's knowledge. Wherefore I being not
hable to geve to this capitayn his due commendation for this great and
strange attempt so well accomplished I leave the dooing thereof to
other which are better hable to enter therinto, that his good renown
may lyve for ever according to the woorthines of his well dooings in
this matter so greatly appertayning to the benefit of this whole realme
of England which he is determined still to follow Avith the travaile of
his body and spending of his lyfe ontill he have brought the same to
such perfection as is desyred.
And because that I have heard report of many strange tales and
fayned fables touching the personage and manners of this strange man,
I have thought good therefore to declare the very truthe thereof to
satisfy the world and allso to expres his picture as well as may be done
with ink and paper. He was a very good shape and
strongly pight made his head, his nek, his brest a very
brode face and very fat and fu[llj his body. But his legs shorter and
smaller [than the projportion of his body required, and his hands
h]is heare cole blak and long hanging and 'tyer' tyed [in a knot] above
his forehead. His eyes little and a little [cole] blak beard. His cullor
of skyn all over his bo[dy and fa]ce of a dark sallow, much like to the
tawny Mores, [or ra]ther to the Tartar nation, whereof I think he was.
[His] countenance sullen or churlish and sharp withall.
Colonial 27. Otho E. viii, fol. 41 (42.)
PASSED ANNO 1577.
[The] gracious favor of Allmighty God hath byn [alwaies my Pro]-
tector these xlv yeres in manner following [and I trust the] same will
still protect me allso the rest of my [life to] his glory, to others benefit,
and to the cum[fort of J me and myne.
My late father Sir William Lok, knight, alderman of [Lon]dou, kept
me at scholes of grammer in England [un]till I was xiij yeres olde,
which was a.d. 1545, [and] he being sworn servant to King Henry
VllJth [as] his mercer ; and allso his agent beyond the seas [in] dyvers
affayres, he then sent me over seas to Flan[d]ers and France to learn
those languages and to know the world. Synce which tyme I have con-
tynned these xxxij yeres in travaile of body and study of mynde, fol-
88 STATE PAPERS
lowing my vocation in the trade of merchandise, Tvhereoft I have spent
the first XV yeres in contynuall [tjravaile of body, passing through
almost all the cun[t]ries of Christianity, namely owt of England [i]nto
Scotland, Ireland, Flanders, Germany, France, Spayne, Italy, and
Grece, both by land and by sea, not without great labours, cares, dan-
gers and expenses of mony incident ; having had the charge (as capi-
tayn) of a great ship of burden 1000 tuns by the space of more then iij
yeres in dyvers voyages in the Levant Seas wherewithall I returned into
England. In which travailes besides the knowlege of all those famous
'common' languages of those cuntries I sought also for the knowledge
of the state of all their commonwealths chiefly in all matters apperteining
to the traffique of merchants. And the rest of my tyme I have spent in
England under the happy raigne of the Queues Majestic now being.
Where by a certayn forcible inclination of mynde I have byn drawn
contynually as my vocation and care for my family wolde. Cos-
mo [graphy] arts appertening as in voiages I could get for my
mony. And [also] acquyring by dyvers conferences with many [foreign]
nations, travailers and merchants fa[miliar knowledge] of the state of the
whole worlde as might [appert]ayn to the benefit of myn aturall cuntry
w[ith the] maintenance of myselfe and my family by the tr[ade in] mer-
chandise according to my vocation. And as [Horatius]' sayth : Impigerex-
tremos currit mercator adindos : Pauperiemfugiens per saxa, per mare, per
ignes. The diligent merchant runneth to the furdest Indians flying poverty
by roks, by seas, by fyers ; as by m[a]nifold notes thereof in writing and
remaining still by m[e], which being put together wolde not be con-
teined in an[y] hundred shetes of paper that I have made for my own
pryvate satisfaction yt may appere. Whereby I am perswaded of great
matters. And of late by God's good providence renuyng myne old
acquayntance with Martyn Frobisher gentleman ; and fynding him
sufficient and ready to execute the attemp[t] of so great matters, I
ioyned with him, and to my power advanced him to the world with
credit and above myne own power for my parte furnisshed him with
things necessary for his fust voyage lately made to the northwestward
for the discovery of Cathay and other new cuntries, to thintent the
whole world might be opened unto England which hitherto hath byn
hydden from yt by the slowthfulnes of some and policy of other. In
the which voyage allready made by that way are discovered such new
lands as the world now doth talk of which very shortly by God's grace
the world shall playnly see to yelde to the Queues Majestic great honor,
and to the whole realm infinit treasor and benefit, which God graunt
and make us thankfull.
And bycause that of late dayes syns the return home of Martyn
Frobisher, dyvers men speake dyversly of his dooings.
' Epis. I, i, 45. Should be —
Per mare pauperiem fugiens, i-er oaxa, per igues.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 89
MONETH OF ANNO 1574.
[Martjyn Frobisher brought a letter under the [cjertayn of the
Quenes Majesties most hoiiora[ble Privy] Cownsaile directed to the
Cumpany of Moseo[via] conteining this effect: That, forasmuch as [the
discovjery of the cuntry of Cathay by sea wold be t[o En]gland, a
matter of great commodity, and they being a [cumjpany priveleged and
encorporated for the discovery of [n]ewe trades. Against whose privelege
they would not [atjtempt any matter without their licence. Therefore
[I exjhorted and perswaded them to attempt that matter now [o]nce
agayn, themselves, after xx yeres allready past, syns their first enterprise
thereof. Or els, to grant their licence to others which are desyrous
now to 'attept' at[t]empt the same. Uppon the recept of which letter
the said Cumpany assembled themselves at their Court, to consyder the
same: And thereunto made answer by their letter, requiring to have
conference with the parties that were desyrous to attempt that matter
that thereby they might determyn what were mete to be done
therein. Wherupon the sayd Martyn Frobisher agayn repayred to
the sayd Cumpany with order for himselfe and others not then named
to have conference with them ; and theruppon the Cumpany appointed
certayn of them selves, namely, Mr. George Barn, now Shrief of
London, William Jowerson and Steven Borough, mariner ; and me, as
their agent, having the charge of all their busynes to understand the
ground of this case. And in the conference of the matter, we perceiving
the purpose to be to the northwestward, and no good evidence shewed
by the parties for the proof of the matter : upon one relation therof
made to they Company, they suspected some other matter to be meant
by the parties. And forasmuch as they themselves with their very
great charges allready had discovered more than half the way to Cathay
by the northeastward, and purposed to doo the rest so sone as they
might have good ad[vice] [a]ny good [grjeatly hurtful to them
to to any others. And therefore appo[inted] Heyward their
Governour, and man and me to certify the right honoraj^ble LordJ
[Burjghley, Lord High Treasorer of England of [the s]tate of the matter ;
which they did in the p[resence of] Martyn Frobisher aforesayd. Yet
neverth[eless] very shortly afterward by the sute of the say[d] Martyn
Frobysher, an other letter was brought [to the] Cumpany, requiring
them either to attempt the matt[er] them selves or to grant licence to
other to doo yt by the northwestwards, wherupon for dyvers consydera-
tions then moving the Cumpany they did grant licence and privilege
therof to me and Martyn Frobisher and such other as would be ven-
turers with us in the sa[mel as appereth by the writings under their
common sea[l], dated in the moneth of February, Anno Domini 1574.
Wherupon presently we made such preparation for ship[s], and all
90 STATE PAPERS
Other necessaries as we could. But for lak of sufficient mony thereto
in due tyme the enterprise was stayed that yere. Xevertheles, by the
good assistance of the mony and favour of dy vers persons of honour and
worship, and others hereunder named the matter toke such effect the
yere following that we furnished two small barks of xxv tuns the pece :
the one named the Gabriell, wherof was Master Christofer Hall of Lyme-
hous, mariner. And the other named the Michaell wherof was Master
Owen Gryffyn of , mariner. And a small pinnes of x tun with
a close dek to sayle with them. And with them passed the sayd Martyn
Frobisher for capitayn and pylot ; and with them in all 34 persons,
whose names be hereunder : who departed together from Gravesend, on
their voyage, the xijth day of June, Anno Domini 1576. And, allthough
the world in all the yere, and other tyme before hering talke of this
purposed enterprise, did not beleve that yt wolde take any good effect ;
but rather the most of the others which were of [wi^sdom
and dignity in the common the enterprise and assist the same as
tyme. Wherin I will now speake p[recisely and s]ay the truthe that every
mans good dede [may have] his iust commendation. The learned man,
Mr. John Dee, hering the common [report] of this new enterprise and
understanding of the prepa[rations] for furniture of the ships being
thereby perswa[ded] that it would now procede, and having not byn ac-
quainLted] with our ' new enterprise', purpose in any parte before,
[abojut the xxth day of May, Anno 1576, of his own good na[tu]re
favoring this enterprise in respect of the service and commodity of his
naturall cuntry came unto me, desy[r]ing to know of me the reasons
'and' of my foundation and purpose in this enterprise, and offering his
furderance thereof with such instructions and advise, as by his learning
he could geve therin. Wherupon I coDceved a great good opinion of
him : and therefore apointed a tyme of meeting in my house, wherat
were present Martyn Frobysher, Steven Burrougb, Christofer Hall, with
other. Where freely and playnly I layd open to him at large my whole
purpose in the traffike of merchandise by those new partes of the world
lor the benefit of the realm by many meanes as well in the cuntries of
East India, yf the sea this way be open as allso otherwise, though that
this ' ne' new land should chance to bar us from the sea of India. And
allso declared such coniectures and probabilities as I had conceved of a
passage by sea into the same sea of East India by that way of the north-
west from England. And for the proof of these two matters I layd be-
fore him my bokes and authors, my cardes and instruments, and my
notes therof made in writing, as I hid made them of many yeres study
before. Which matters, when he had thus hard and sene, he answered
that he was right glad to know of me thus much of this matter, and
that he was greatly satisfyed in his desyre about his expectation, and
that I was so well grounded in this [purjpose he sh[e]wed me all[so]
his own. And allso shewed me I did very well like. And afterw[ards]
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 91
[the while] the ships remayned here, he toke pay[ns to learn the] rules
of geometry and cosmography for [the informat]ion of the masters and
mariners in the use of [the in]struments for navigation in their voyage
and fo[r casjuallties happening at sea which did them service whereby
he deserveth lust commendation. Allso [Sir] Humfrey Gilbert, knight,
hath byn of many yeres (as I am enformed) a great good wilier to this
like enterpr[ise]. And syns I came acquainted with him which was
abo[ut] Easter last, Anno Domini 1575, I have hard him make dyvers
good discourses in the favour therof, and allso his go[od] will and study
therein doth well appere in the boke which he made and put in prynt
in the monthe of May, Anno 157, for the mayntenance of the good hope
and likelyhood in this enterprise of new discovery. Whereby men may
see many good causes to move them to like well thereof. Allthough to
say the very truthe without geving any offence : neither that boke
comming out so late nor yet his former discourses, being none others
than were wel[l] known to us long before, were any manner of causes
o[r] instructions to the chief enterprises of this new voyage of discovery
to attempt the same or to direct us therin. And William Burrough,
allthough he was not so well perswaded of this enterprise, that he
would venter his money therein: yet, in respect of the service of his
cuntry, he did take paynes to procure a master and many mariners for
the ships. And gave his good advise in the furniture of the ships : and
did consent unto the opinion and mynde of the capitayn in the direction
of the ships course in the voyage which was to very good purpose.
And besides these men, I know none other worthy of name for any
thing done by them to the help of this enterprise, but onely the ven-
turers which did help the same.
\Ptlio, E., viii, fol. 45. b. (47) ; Colonial, 35.]
1 crave pardon with the reading of this writj^ing] xiij day
of October last, Mr. Fro[bysher gave me a] stone aboord his ship : Saying,
that acco[rding to his promi]se he did geve me the fyrst thinge that he
founde [in the new Ijand, which he gave me openly in the presence of
two [other] men, whome I know not. But Rowland York and many
[others] were then in the ship; and they for the strangers the[rof brake
off a] pece which they caryed away with them. Within the space of one
month after, I gave a small pece to [Mr.] Williams, saymaster of the
Towr, not telling what nor wh! ence]. He made proof and aunswered
that it was but a marquesite s[tone]. And theruppon, I gave an other
small pece to one Wheler g[oldJ fyner by Mr. Williams order. He
aunswered allso tha[t] he made proof and founde it but a marquesite
stone. And allso an other small pece to George >7edam : he aunswered
allso that he made proof and colde fynde no mettall therin.
7 t
92 STATE PAPERS
Herewithall I stayed, making small account of the stone, and at more
leysure musing more thereon. In the begynning of January I delivered
a small pece thereof to John Baptista Agnello, not telling what nor
from whence. But prayed him to prove what mettall was therein. And
within three dayes I came to hym for aunswer. He shewed me a very
little powder of gold : Saying, it came therowt, and willed me to give
him an other pece to make a better proof. I did so, and within three
dayes agayne, he shewed me more powder of golde. I tolde hym I
wold not beleve it, without better proof. He asked an other pece to
make a better proof: Saying, that he wold make anatomy thereof, I
gave it him : Saying, that I marveyled much of his doings, sith I had
given peces to other iij to make proof who could fynde no such thinge
therin : he aunswered me, ' Bisogna sapere adulare la natura', and so I
departed.
The xviij day of January he sent me by his mayde this little scrap of
paper written, No, 1, hereinclosed ; and thereinclosed the grayne of
gold, which afterward I delivered to your majesty, &c., 1577.
{^Colonial, 34. Domestic Eliz., cxii, No. 25.]
MR. LOCKES DISCOORS TOUCHING THE EWRE, 1577.
To the Quenes Moste Excellent ^latie,
Moste humbly I crave pardon, in troublinge yo^ ma^ie ^fjth the read-
ynge of this wrytynge.
In the xiij day of Octobar laste, Mr. Furbosher gave me a stone,
abord his shyp, sayenge, that accordynge to his promesse, he dyd gyve
me the fyrst thynge that he found in the newland, \f^^ he gave me
openly in presens of 2 yonge gentlemen whome I knowe not; but Row-
land York was then in the shyp, and they for the straungenes therof
brake of a pece wct> they caried awaye w^-'i them,
Vvlthin the space of one monthe after, I gave a small pece thereof to
Mr. Williams, saymaster of the Towar, not tellynge what nor whens.
He made proffe, and answered that it was but a markesyte stone. And
another small pece to one Whelar, goldfyner, by Mr. Williams order.
He answered also that he made proffe and found it but a markesyte
stone, and another small pece to George Nedam ; he answered also,
that he made prooffe and could fynd no mettal therin.
Herewithall I stayed, makynge small account of the stone.
And at more leysure musynge more theron, in the begynnynge of
Januarie, I delyvred a small pece thereof to John Baptista Agnello, not
tellynge what nor from whens, but prayed hym to prove what mettall
was therin ; and within iij dayes I came to hym for answere. He shewed
me a very litle powder of gold, sayenge it came therout, and wylled me
to gyve hym a better pece to make a better prooffe. I dyd so, and
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 98
within iij dayes agayne he shewed me more powdar of gold. I told hym
I would not beleve yt without better proofFe. He asked another pece to
make a better prooffe, sayenge that he would make anatomic therof. I
gave it hym, sayenge that I marvayled moche of hys doynges, sythe I
had gyven peces to other iij to make prooffe, who could fynd no suche
thinge therin. He answered me, ' Bisogna sapere adulare la natura'.
And so I departed.
The xviij day of Januarie he sent me by his mayde this lytle scrap of
paper hereinclosed, wrytten, No. 1, and therinclosed the grayne of gold
wfb afterwardes I delyvred to yor Ma^i^,
And herevppon I had large conferens dyvers tymes w^^^ hym
parsawdynge, exhortinge, and conjuringe hym by many causes of great
importaunce betwene us, to tell me the trewthe hereof. He satisfyed me
by all dewtyfull meanes of honesty and of Christianitie that it was trew.
Whervppon he entred into many discourses w*^ me, yf we might have
sum quantyte therof, for our owne use, and ernestly exhorted me to
secreatnes, and greatly pressed me to knowe where it was had I desyred
respyte of a few dayes, to consyder what were best to be done in the
matter.
The xxiiij day of Januarie, havynge resolved my sellfe of my dewtye
towardes yo'' Ma^J^ I dyd retorne to John Baptista, to avoyde suspicion
of doble dealyng -w^^ hym, at w^b tyme he entred agayne w^^h me, to have
sum quantyte therof for our owne accountt. Then I delt w^i^ hym sum-
what playne, and told hym, that it would be a hard matter for us to
have ytt, for that in trewthe it was had in the new land discovred by Mr.
Furboisher, wherof there is priviledge graunted to a companye. Wherto
he answered, that sum devyse might be made to lade it as stones, for
ballast of the shyp. Whervppon agayne I toke furder tyme to consyder
what might be done therin. And at my departynge he exhorted to
secreatnes, and specially to concealle his knowledge hereof.
The next day Mr. Furboisher at my table at dynner, was very desyrous
to know what was found in the stone he gave me. J answered, that I
had gyven prooffes to iij or iiij, and they found nothinge in ytt, savynge
one man found tynne and a litle sylver therin, w^ii was worthy of the
fetchynge awaye, wherat he was very glad.
The xxviij day, I delyvred to yo*" Ma^ie in wrytynge, the very trewe
information of all that I had knowen herein. And the same daye Mr.
Secretary Walsyngham, in yo»" Ma'^'es name sayd unto me, that in my
wrytynge I dyd proraes a thinge w^ii I had not delyvred. I answered
the very trewthe of my meanynge, that bycaus the bulke therof was
sumwhat great, I dyd reserve it to a second speche w^ii yo'-' Matie, at
Avhich tyme I dyd purpose to have declared more of this matter, and
jtrcsently I dyd delyver it to hym. And he said yo^' Ma^ie had told
hym theffect of my wrytynge, and therfore he wylled me to tell hym the
circumstance of this matter. I told hym presently theffect of all this
94
STATE PAPhKS
herebefore wrytten, and that John Baptista was the man, but that he
would not be acknowen to be the man. Neverthelesse I sayd he might
know the matter of hym by others then by me. Whervppon he answered
me, that he dyd thynk it to be but an alchamist matter, such as dyvers
others before had byn brought to yo^' Ma"^ by others without trewethe.
And in my presens he brake the stone into iij or iiij peces, whc^i he sayd
he would delyver to dyvers men to make prooffes. And so he lycensed
me to depart to London that night.
The xxxi day of Januarie, John Baptista sent for me agayne, as shall
appere by his second wrytynge hereinclosed, at w^ii tyme he devysed
that a ship might go secreatly out of sum place, and brynge the thynge
to another place farre from London. But I answered that was not pos-
sible, for that none knowe the place but C. Furbisher and the ship
master, who would not be corrupted. Then he thought to revele it to
the captayne. I said I thought he would reveale it to yo^ Matie, but I
devysed w^h hym, that I would send a ship to the place in company of
the captayne under culler of fysshynge, and when the captayne were
gone throughe to Kathai, the ship should lade this thinge for ballast,
and retorae hether. He allowed well of this devyse, and so I departed
for that tyme.
The i day of Februarie, I retorned to Mr. Secretarie, who sayd to me
that he had gyven peces of this ure to certayne very excellent men, and
that sura found nothinge therein, but one found a litle sylver, and that
Mr. Dyar had made proofFe therof, and found the lyke, and that hym
sellfe had scene the proffe made, wherby he was parswaded to be so, and
that Baptista dyd but play the alchemist w*'^ me. I answered that
yesterday I had spoken agayne w^^^ Baptista, and that he dothe styll
confyrme to me his former sayenges, and wyll justefie the same, but Mr.
Secretarie would not beleve me. Wheruppon I prayed hym to consyder
better of the matter, for that I was well assured that it was trew,
wheruppon he lycensed me to retorne to London.
The iiij day of Februarie, I went agayne to John Baptista, as
well to intertayne hym w^^ sum matter to avoide suspicion of doble
delynge untill I might have answere of Mr. Secretarie of yo'" Mat'^s
plesure herein, as also to urge more matter wherby more tryall of the
trewthe might be had. And I moved hym to know how he would deale
w^l" me, yf I should fynde meanes to send a shyp for this ure. After
longe discoursynge he resolved, that he had a frynde that would furnishe
a ship at his charges, and that yf I would gyve hym a man to shew hym
the place where he might have IGO tons hereof, he would gyve me £20
of money for every ton, within iij monthes after the arivall therof here,
and would put me in good assurans for the parformans therof, and at
the arivall in London he woulde teache me the art, yf he should chaunse
to dye. 1 told hym I would take tyme to consider whether he should
send a ship, or I send a shyp.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE.
95
The vi day of Februarie, I retorned to Mr. Secretarie, and gave hym
in wrytynge, this offer made to me by Baptista. He answered, it was
but devyses of alchamists, for that Baptista was but poore, and not able
to put suretyes, nevertheless he sayd he would consyder of the matter.
And so I retorned to London.
The xiij day I went to Baptista, and put of tyme, hopinge for better
answere of Mr. Secretarie. I said to Baptista that I was informed by a
frynd learned in the lawes, that we have a lawe termed tresor trouvee,
wherby it is not lawfull for any subject to dealle in suche a matter as
this, without lycens of the prynce, and therefore (meanynge to dryve
hym to dyscover the matter to yo^ Ma^if*, wherby you might be certified
of the trewthe) I sayd ther must be sum meanes found, to have a
lycence of yo^" Ma^ie for a ship to passe thether, or ells there is daungier
bothe of yo"^ jMa'ies dyspleasure, and also of the companye who are
privileged therin, wherin I sayd I woulde travaylle, yf he could not.
He answered, he had a frynd in the courte by whose meanes he would
move yoJ" Ma^Je therof.
The xvj day I went agayne to Mr. Secretarie for answere. He sayd
the matter had no good foundacion, excepte good suretyes might be put
for parformance, also that he had agayne caused others to make prooffe,
and that there was no suche thinge found therin. I said that I did
marvaile moche therat ; for that Baptista dothe styll ju stifle the matter,
and for prooffe therof. I would become bound to her Ma^J^ for the same.
He said he would not wishe me to venture so farre uppon the worde
of an alchamist. And so the matter rested untyll answere might be
had from yo^' Maii«J.
The xxvij day I had a letter from Baptista, w^^^ is the third writiuge
hereinclosed, Avherby yoi" Ma*''^' may parceave, what answere he receved
uppon his sute to have lycens for a ship to passe thether. Wheruppon
he would have preceded wt^i^ me, that I should send a ship thether in
secreat, accordinge to our first talke. Nevertheless, I parswaded hym
that he should wryte a lettar to yor Ma^ie^ wherby to gyve you know-
ledge of his meanynge in sendynge a ship thether, and to dysclose part
of the matter to yo^ Ma^^i^. Wherin my meanynge was, that uppon this
occasion I thought yo^ Ma^Je would have appointed sum to hvae had
full conferens w^^^ hym, to have serched the trewthe of this great matter
to your satisfaction.
The vi day of jMarche, I went agayne to Baptista, to know what
answere he had from yo^' Matie to his lettar. He said the answere was
dilatorie, so as he had no more courage in that sute. Wheruppon I
said to hym, that I had a frynd in the court, by whose meanes I would
attempt to have a lycens to send a shyp, for that without that lycens I
durst not deale therin. He bad me prove.
The vii day of Marche, I went agayne to Mr. Secretarie, and told hym
theffect that I had passed with Baptista, and he said that yf Baptista
96 STATE PAPERS
would put good suretyes for the parformans of payment, he would war-
rant me to have lycense for a shyp of 100 tons to fetch this ure. Wher-
uppon I retorned to Baptista as in myne owne name to know what
assurans I should have. He said I should have very good assurans to
my contentement ; but named no man, which I reported agayne unto
Mr. Secretarie, and offred my owne bond, and the ure to be delyvred
into yor Matins custody e at the arivall.
In this mean tyme entringe more deepely into the matter, and con-
syderynge that the weightynes therof would be myne utter undoynge yf
the matter were not good, I went agayne unto Baptista, and more
eftectually dyd enter into talk of the maner of the contract to delyver
hym c. tons of this ure. Wheruppon he offred me to pay xxx li. a ton,
being delyvred here at my charges, and the best assurans that I could
then gett was to have the ure in myne owne custodye, and for the rest I
must credit his honestie. That the ure was of sufficient valew to make
me ryche, I was so well perswaded of his honestie, that T was fully
resolved to put the whole matter in hasard, theruppon makynge this
account w* my selfe that the charges of the ship and the men to dyg
the ure would cost me x li. the ton, and I would gyve to yi' Ma^ie for
the lycens x li. the ton, and the other x li. the ton should be to reliefe
me and my children, yf that yo^' Ma^ie would not deale vf^^ this matter
for yourscllfe.
The xi day, I came agayne to Mr. Secretarie, and gave hym my re-
quest in wrytinge. That yf it were so that yr Ma^ie could not be satis-
fied of the trewthe of this matter, and were not mynded to deale therein
for yoursellfe, that for the triall of the matter I would venture on it at
my charges. Yf it would plese yf Ma'ie to gyve me lycens to bryng
hether iij c tons of this vre at my costes and charges, I would pay
yr Ma^ieiijm li. of money within one yere after the arrivall, and for
assurans would gyve my bond, and the ure into y Mamies custodie. He
said this demand was to great. I remytted it to his owne moderation.
He promysed he would move yor Ma^i^, and said I should have lycens
for a reasonable quantyte, which I dyd beleve verely to obtayne, con-
syderynge the manyfold refusall had more then x tymes ; and the great
dyscredite of my playne report made of the trewthe of the matter from
tyme to tyme, accordinge to my dewtye, and the reportes he had of
others to whome he had put the ure to proffe, who found no gold.
The xvi day of Marche I came agayne to Mr. Secretarie for answere.
He said he had no leysure as yet to move yo^" Ma^ie thereof, but he
would doo. He asked of me yf M. Furbisher knew of this matter, I
said no, nor none other parson by me, but onely yo^" Mati«, and he and
Baptista, which is the very trewthe.
In this meane tyme I was dayly urged by Baptista to fynishe the
contract betwene us as yo^' Ma^ie may parceave by his iij billes, No. 4,
5, 6, hereinclosed. Whereuppon, at the xix day of Marche I fynished
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 97
and subscribed the same, as yC Ma^ie may parceave by the same contract
hereinclosed, hopynge that eyther by yor Ma^'ps lycens, I should be able
to parforme the same, or ells that by yo^" Mamies favour I should be
dyscharged therof againste the said Baptista, sythe I dyd it onely for
the better tryall of the trewthe of this great matter, and dyd declare
theffect of all my doynges therin dayly vnto Mr. Secretary. And when
I came to the housse of Baptista to subscribe the same contract, I found
thereat subscribed the name of Sir John Barkley as suretye for Baptista
to parforme the covenantts ; a thynge very straunge unto me, for that I
never in all my lyffe had spoken wt'^ Sir John Barkley, neyther before
nor after.
The XX day, I came agayne to Mr. Secretarie, to know yo^ Ma'-i^^
plesure. He said he had moved jo^ Ma'^ie in the matter, but had no
answere. He asked agayne yf M. Furbysher knew of the matter, I said
no. He wylled me to imparte it to hym. I said I would, and so I dyd.
He prayed me to get hym another pece of the vre. I said I would.
The xxii day, I came to Mr. Secretarie, and brought hym another
pece of the vre. He wylled me in his name to carrye it to one Gef-
frey, a Frenchman, and to tell hym that it came out of Ireland, and
to wyl hym to make a proffe therof, and he to bringe reporte to hym.
T dyd accordingly delyuer it w* the message, and synce that howar I
never saw the same Jeffrey, nor never beiFore, but Mr. Secretary
hathe told me that he found nothinge therin, but a little sylver, as I
remember.
The xxviij day Marche, I was w^i^ others at howsse of Sir William
Wyntar in commyssyon by letters from yor Mamies Honourable Privye
Councell had by my procurement to consyder vppon all matters requi-
site for the furnyture and dyspache of M. Furbisher for Kathai, w^'i
busynes beinge done for that daye. Sir William Wyntar wylled me to
come to hym the next mornynge to talk wth hym in a matter of import-
annce. I came. He entred w^^ me in secret, prayenge me to tell hym
what I had found of the state of the vre brought home by M. Furbisher.
I refused that conferens, sayenge I knew not the matter, nor dyd vnder-
stand his meanynge. He said he knew the matter as well as I, and that
he desyred this conferens vppon good meanynge towards me. I refused
hym agayne, sayenge I knew nothynge, nor would tell nothynge. Then
he vrged me agayne, sayenge that yf I would not tell hym, he would tell
me. Then I asked hym, yf he had spoken vf^^ Sir John Barkley of late.
He sayd yea. Then I said, he might know moche of the matter. He
answered that he dyd know the whole matter. I answered I thought he
dyd not know all. And then presently he told me the whole effect of ail
my contract made wt^i^ John Baptista in wrytinge, and furder told me
that Sir John Barkley had opened the same to Sir William Morgan, and
Sir William Morgan vnto hym, and thervppon he and they and others
had made proffes therof in a howsse at Lambethe, and also hym sellf in
H
98 STATE PAPERS
his owne howsse w^^' his owne man, the prooffes wherof in gold he shewed
me presentlye in his chamber wyndowe, sayenge that it was moche rycher
then I was informed of, and that it was a matter to great for hym and
me to deale withall, and belonged onelye to the prynce. Then I told
hym that I was of hys mynde, and that therfore accordynge to my dewtye
I had alredy informed yo^" Ma^ie therof longe before, accordinge to the
trewthe that was informed me by Baptista, but that I was not credited
therin, and that this was (as styll it is) vnknowen to Baptista and to Sir
John Barkley. Wherathe was moche abashed, and sayd God hathe brought
us together this daye for suum good, for otherwyse I should have donesum-
what herein that should have hurte bothe you and me. And then he sayd
that it was our dewty that yo^' Matie should knowe hereof, and that hym
sellfe would certyfiy yo^" Ma^ie hereof, so as you should be right well assured
that it was trew. And said agayne that it was a farre greattar treasour then
was knowen ; which thynge in deed synce that tyme I have parceaved, by
a prooffe therof w^^ I have scene made by the same workmen, w^h holdethe
more than iiij onces of golde in c.lb. weight of vre, w^^ at iijli. of money
the once amounted xii^i. of money the c w^^^ is ccxl pounds of money for
every ton of the vre. And it is very likely that where this vre laye on
the face of the earthe, there is farre more ryche vre vndar the earthe.
But of this matter I thynke yo^ Ma^ie have byn fully certyffyed by Sir
William Wyntar and C. Furboisher, but onely I put in mynd of
yo^ Matie parte of my first wrytynge delyured, that yo^ Ma'ie gyve order
in this matter in secreto quanto si puo et con fortessa, et con expeditione,
least foray ne prynces sett footte therin. Whervppon that yo^ Matiemay
the better cousyder, I beseche yo^ Ma^i® to beholde the situation of the
world in this small carta herewithall presented trewly thoughe grossely
made accordynge to my skyll.
And thus by this means of the doynges of Sir John Barkley and Sir
William Morgan dealynge therin vf^^ others their parteners, and w^ii the
Douchemen their workmen vtterly without my knowledge, or ells by the
meanes of others, who have pece of the vre for proofi"es of others, and
not of me, the secreatnes of this great matter is discouitd so as it is
abroade.
And bycause that I doo vnderstand, aswell by aletter Lereinclosed re-
ceived from Baptista dated the iiij April, as also by credable report of
others that the blame is layed all on me, as author of the speche that
now is abroade of this great treasour. I doo by this wrytynge purge my
sellfe of that vntrew surmyse. And I doo call to wytnes heaven and
earthe, that herein I have symply and trewly sett downe in wrytynge,
the maner of all my procedynges in this matter. And I do yelde into
the handes of yC Ma"e all my goodes and my lyffe at jo^ pleasure, yf
other then this can be proved to be done by me in this matter.
And most humbly cravynge pardon of yo^" Ma tie for this my presumtion
and besechynge the same to accept my dewtyfull trew meanynge. I
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 99
beseche the lyvynge God to preserve yo'" Ma^i^ longe to raygne over us,
wtii all happy nes.
I humbly beseche yo'^ Matie to restore me the wrytynges of Baptista
when as you are well satisfyed in this matter.
Yo' Mat'es most humble subjecte,
Michael Lok.
The 22 April, 1577.
[Colonial 34. Domestic Eliz., cxii. No. 25, i.]
No. 1.
Questo poco oro e cauato fuori di quell poca minera mi mandacti, 6
vero mi donasti, di sorte che si truoua esser in ogni cento lib. oz. j. | di
oro finissimo, et largamente.
Jno Bapta Agnelo, Italiano, in Santa Helena in Londra. Adi 18
Janaro 1576. De la Mimera di Tramontana Maistro. nuovo.
No. 2.
Magf'" et Honor*io S^" Lok se vi piacera venir fin qui, io ho di gia pensato
al caso nostro, et sara di sorte che penso ne restarete satisfatto, et mi vi
racco*^".
Ho. yo. Giouabatta Agnello.
Adi 31 Janaro.
No. 3.
Magco et Honor"^^ S"* Loko. Hieri hebi risposta da sua Magta quale
mi fece dire che se io gli hauessi dimandato quelle io disiderauo, inanci
che lei hauessi concesso el priuilegio che uoi sapete, mi hauerebe concesso
quanto io desiderauo, ma che essendo detto priuilegio passato et con-
firmato, non Io volena romper, per tanto sara buono lasciar I'impresa.
Credo che il primo acordo facemo voi et io sarebe stato buono per voi et
per me senza cerchar fini oltra. Ogni cosa per il meglio. Et con questo
me vi racco<io di cuore. Questo di 27 Febo. del. 77 a natiuitate.
Ho Vo Giouabatta Agnello In Casa.
No. 4.
S^ mio Magco mi sara grato intender quelle habiamo h, fare accio 1'
amico mio si possi preparare per la giornata ha do fare, per tanto vi prego
faciamone vna fine, et mi vi racco*io.
Ho Vo Giouabatta Agnello. In Casa.
No. 5.
S'' Lok. Hieri vi scrissi I'vltima mia resolutione desiderandoui di
darmi vltima risposata dell' animo vo et no ho poi inteso altro. Hora
perche 1' amico mio se ne va damatina in paese, son forciato al risoluerlo
del tutto per tanto se per tutto hoggi no mi rissoluete del tutto : pretendo
H 'Z
100 STATE PAPERS
che tutto quelle habiamo di tempo in tempo conferito insieme sia del
tutto ancillato, rio vi delete poi di me et mi vi raccC^o.
Ho V" Giouabatta Agnello.
No. B.
Magf"' et Honor^oS'* Lok.
Considerando mediante le parole vostre mi dicesti hieri, circa la con-
fideiicia hauete in me per il negocio nostro, non posso mancare di darui
causa che non siate del tutto satisfatto ancora che voi non lo rechiedete,
vidi io adonque che quando farete fare 1' obligo d'accordo tra noi, fate
vi sia vn spacio di foso con vn sigillo per vu amico raio quale sara sigurta
per me di supplire, et m . . . tenire tutto quello io vi ho promesso, accio
non parsata che morendo io non possiate ottenese el desiderio vostro. Et
questo vorei fussi fatto dimane mero marti alia piu longa, et farmi sapere
a che hora protrete esser qui '^accio io anco possi fare che 1' amico mio
sia qui, et con questo mi vi racco'^^si cuore.
H'T V" Giouabatta Agnello. In Casa.
[Colonial 34. Domestic Eliz., cxii, No. 25, ii.]
Contratto fatto d'accordo fatta tra Michele Lok, Inghilese, raercante,
di Londra di vna parte, et Giouan Baptista Agnello, Vinetiano, residente
in Londra di altra parte, come seguita.
Detto Michele Lok ha venduto et vende a detto Giouan Baptista
Agnello la quantita di cento tonelli (si tanto si puo haueve) di vinti
centanari il tonello, cioe di libre cento et duodeci del peso di Londra per
ogani centanaro di terra o altra materia minerale di sorte tale quale
detto Michele ha datto al detto Giouan Baptista vna pezza per mostro,
laquale pezza sta posta in vna scatoletta sigillata con sigilli lori, et
detta scatoletta sta posta dentro vna cassetta serrata con due serra-
ture et le chaue di quelle sono in custodia loro, et detta cassetta e dato
in mano et custodia di per guardarla a vso loro per mostro
quando sara bisogno. La quale detta terra, o meteria minerale di sorte
sopra detta, o altrimenti di sorte tale quale detto Giouan Baptista o
altro per lui uuole truouare et eligere in la terra nuouamente discorpar-
ta per Martin Forbiser, o in gli altre terre circonvisine da discoprire,
detto Michele promette a sua speza fare cauare di terra, et carigare in
nave, et portare a Londra (Dio mandando la naue a saluamento) et iui
consignare a detto Giouan Baptista, lui pagando si come promette di
pagare al detto Michele il precio di trenta lire moneta d'Inghilterra
per ogni tonello di quella, fra termino di xij mesi dipoi consignata in
Londra, cioe ogni tre mesi la quarta parte dela valuta al precio sopra
detto di quanto montara la quantita consignata di tempo in tempo. Et
per piu causione et securta di detto jMichele, il detto Giouan Baptista,
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAG'S. 1*01
promette et si contenta che la detta terra et altr'a materia mineiale
restara in mano et puotere di detto Michele come roba sua propria jn
che il sia satisfatto di detto pagamento di danari, eccetto la parte di
quella che detto Michele ha da consignare al detto Giouan Baptista
auanti mano per lauorare sopra il quale di poi si hauera di fare il paga-
mento sopra detto di tempo in tempo. Et piu il detto Giouan Baptista
promette al detto Michele di insegnare a liu o a un altro che per lui
sara assegnato, il uero muodo et Arte che detto Giouan Baptista vsara
per cauare gli metalli dal detta terra o materia minerale, fra termino di
sei mesi dipoi la consignatione dela prima parte di detta terra o materia
minerale in Londra, et ancora dareli in scritto gli regoli et vero muodo
di detto arte. Et per complire questo contratto il detto Michele et il
detto Giovan Baptista mutualmente Fun a I'altero se obligamo loro per-
sone et heredi et tutti beni di complire quanto di sopra hamo promesso.
et vogliano che questo contratto et seritto sia di tanto vigore et forsa
quanto saria il meglio et piu valido scritto et obligatione che si puoteria
fare secondo gli leggi d'Inghilterra o di altri leggi qual si vuoglia per
accomplimento di quello. Et in fede di tutto ambe due hanno sotto
scritti et sigillati questo et un altro simile copia con loro mano proprio.
Fatto adi xix di Marco, Anno 1576, in Londra, by me,
Michael Lok.
Jo. Giouabatta Agnello prometo confirmare quanti di sopra e detto et
per fede de cio ho sotto scritto di mia propria mano et sogelato di
mio sugello. \_Seal.^
ly Jhon Barkeley, knighte, doo bynde my selfe, my heyres, executors,
and assings to fuUfyll all these covenants, articles, and agremts here above
written to, and w^^i one JNIychaell Lock, of the citie of London, merchant,
well one Jhon Baptyste Agnello hath promysed and here above co-
venanted to and wtb the above said Mychell Locke, yn as ample mann'' as
the sayde Jhon Baptyste ys bownde by the aforesayde covenants to full-
fill the same, yn wytnes wherof I have wrytten and syngned thys byll
w'-'i my owne hande and name, and sealyed the same also w*^ my scale
of armes even the 19'^ day of Marche, Ano. Dm. 1576, by me,
Jhon Barkeley.
ISeal.-}
^Colonial 34. Domestic Eliz., cxii, No. 25, iii.]
Magco et Honordo S'" Lok,
Mic venuto all' orecchie vn certo tuono inaspettato quale mi ha fatto
inarassiglia re molto, considerando la promessa vostra mi facesti di tener
el negocio nostro secrete la qual cosa nou hauete fatto, anci hauete cer-
cato per tutta Londra se vi fassi qual cuno sapessi far quello ch' io ho
fatto, senza proposito alcuno, et mancando della fede : piu oltra hauete
10^ STATE PAPERS
pr6-tertc alia iieginA di dargli piro dieci per tonello di vna ccerta vostra
mmera', fotiddiiidossi sopra le mie parole, il chi fu contra quello mi pro-
metesti. Et se pur si doucua prescrire a sua Ma^^ qualcosa, io 1' harei
potuto fare con piu fondamento et honesta che non hauete fatto voi,
perche io gli harei parlato con sostaneia et del mio et non farni bello
delle mie forti che come hauete fatto voi. Et piu mi prometeste di
venir h sugellare el vostro scritto, et non 1' hauete fatto. Et anco mi
prometeste di portarmi el restante della vostra minera, et non 1' havete
maneo fatto, per il che io considerando tutte queste vostre qualita io son
deliberato di non sequitar piu oltra, per tanto vi prego rimandatemi el
mio scritto, et cercato chi meglio vi parera, ch' io per me non me ne
voglio piu impaciare in conteniuno, et vi protest© oli non mandar per
detto minera per mio conto ch' io non la voglio hauer in conto niuno.
Et conquesto miracco^o di cuore, et prego Dio vi dia meglior fortuna con
altri. Questo di x Aprile del 77. In casa.
H'3 Vo Giouabatta Agnello.
Al Molto Magco Sr Michiel Lok.
1577 Jno Bapta Agnello. Rec^i the 3 April, 1577.
[Colonial^ East Indies, No. 28. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 31.]
MK. MARTIN FURBISHERS PETITION TO HER MAJ^^ TO BE GRANTED
TO HER IN RESPECT OP HIS TRAVAIL ALLREADY, AND HERE-
AFTER TO BE BESTOWED IN DISCOVERIE OP NEAV LANDS.
That it maye please yo^" Ma^Je in respect of the late discoveries I have
made to the north west, and my greate charges and travaill performed
therin to graunte to me and myne heires, for ever under yo^' Mamies let-
ters pattentes, the high Admirall-shipp by sea, as well of all those seas
alreadie by me discovered or hereafter to be discovered as also duringe
my life the government and order by land of suche people of what na-
ture soever they shalbe that shall inhabitt in any parte of those dis-
coveries made or to be made by me and the same to be executed by my
self or sufficiente deputie w^^ suche consideration of fee or allowunce for
thexecucion therof as shall beste please yor Matio to bestowe on me for
the same.
Ffurther, that it male please yo^" Matie to graunte me duringe my life
for my travaill and service performed in thies discoveries fyve powndes
of the cleare gaine of every c^^^. that shalbe brought owte of the landes
or islandes discovered or hereafter to be discovered by me to the north-
west. And after my deathe to myne heires forever xxs, 5, of every c"â„¢.
of cleare gaynes to be brought as aforesaid.
Item, that I male make free yerelie, duringe my life, of this voyage,
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 103
six persons, so that for the firste yere they comme not in w'h above cum.
stocke, and after to adventure as all others shall do by order.
And also that every shipp fraighted yerelie into thies new discoveries
in consideracion of the greate care I must take of theim bothe in ap-
pointinge apte men to take charge of their shipps, and also must in-
struct theim by sondrie orders and observacions how to holde companie
w^^ me shall, duringe my life, give me one toone fraight of every c.
toones to be brought from those places to be paide me in monie by the
owner or owners of those shipps accordinge to the value they shall re-
ceave or to carrie me the fraight of one toone at my choise.
[Colonial, East Indies, No. 32. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 33. )
A BRYEF NOTE OF THE COSTE AND CHARGE OF THE IIJ SHIPPS
AND FURNYTURE FOR THE SECOND VOYAGE FOR CATHAI,
ETC.
li.
For the shyp Ayde, to the Queues Matie . . . 750
For the ij barkes Gabriel and Michael, w^b almaner furny-
ture and ordonans ..... 400
For new buyldinge and translating the same ships and for
new tackelyng and implementes .
For ordenans and munytion new bought
For vyttelles .....
For wagys of men .....
For necessaryes, for the mynes and workmen
For marchandyse, for traffyke, and provision
Sum of all . . ^i.4400
This account is but gessed very nere the trewthe for that thaccounttes
are not yett brought in parfectlye.
And the whole stock of the venturars sett downe in certayntye as yet
dothe amonte but ..... 3000
Wherof is yet received but .... ^*.2500
And so thear lachethe in stock of the venturars to supplye
this whole charge ..... li.1400
Ffor the w^h summe of ^2.1400, the venturars are to take order pre-
sentlye to dyscharge the debt owinge to dyvers men for thinges had
for the furnyture of the said shyps and voyage, whiche is most humbly
beseched by Michael Lok, who hathe gyven his promesse to them for
the payment therof by order of the Coramyssyoners.
650
550
950
650
150
300
104 STATE PAPERS
{^Colonial, No. 29, Domestic Eliz.^ cxi, No. 49.]
A NOTE OF THE PROVISION AND FURNYTURE NECESSARYE FOR
THE SECOND YOYAGE FOR THE DYSCOURY'E OF KATHAI, &C.
A great peece of this charge cut of, for thare went but one shippe
and two barckes in this viage.
A shyp of cxi ton burden, w^ii tackelinge, ordenans, and li
munition ....... 1000
A ship of cxx ton burden, wtii tackelings, ordenans, and
munition ....... 800
ij barkes of burden xxv ton eche, wdi were in the first voiage,
w^^ their tackelinge, ordenans, and munition, wcii now they
have, and others to furnyshe and repayer the same, all . 450
V shallop, botes, wtii their takle and furniture, wherof ij
wtii close overlops at xx^^â– the pece, and iij open, at ilU the
pece ........
A ship of c ton burden, to be fraighted for fysshinge, in the
Stray tts where Furbysher was, and from thens to retorne,
wth one of the barks in valew ....
70
Sum of the shyps 2320^i
The vyttels for the 180 men, for the said ij shyps and ij
barkes, for xviij monthes, at xiijs. iiijc/. the monthe, for
eche man ....... ^^2160
To say in one ship 70 maryners, another 60 maryners, in
the ij barkes 30 mariners, and twenty men of ofiyces and
artyfyce.
The wages before hand of those 180 men, for their provi-
sion, at iiij^i the man, one w^^ another . . . UQQO
Sum of all this— ^I'oOSO
The marchandyse for stock, clothes, 50 carseys, 200 cottons,
40 frizes, 10 tyn ijm. leade, ijm. coppar, and kettelsijm.
and all other marchandyse .... ^{1200
Sum of all— ^z6280
That it would please the Queues Ma^ie to graunt her letters patentts
of priviledge in the Corparation to the fyrst Venturars and their suc-
cessors, in ample maner.
That it would please Her Ma"e also to graunt auctoritie to Mr.
Frobysher, for the governement of the men in obediens.
That warrant may be graunted to take vyttells at reasonable pryces, and
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 105
to prest men at reasonable wagys, and to take shyps at reasonable
praysement for the sarvyce of this voyage, yf the Quenes Ma'^ies shyps
doo not sarve.
That order may be taken by agrement of the venturars for offycers for
the good governement of the Company, and the mayntaynans of their
pry vyledges, and to take the charge of the whole busynes and accountts.
That the shyps may be redy to departe on their voyage by the x day
of Marche.
That men may be named by secret commission, to supplye the charge
of Mr. Frobysher and Mr. Hawlle, vppon any myshappe, and to be
kept secret vntill tyme of nede.
[Colonial 33. Dornestic Eliz. cxi. No. 48, i.J
26 of Marche, 1577.
SIIIPPINGE THOAVT MYET TO BE EMPLOYDE IN THE VIAGE
ENTENTED BY MR. EURBUSHEE, viz. :
Tons. Mariners. Soldiers.
The Ayde . . 200 65 25 ^
The Gabiiell . . 15 10 3 j. Men 115
The Myghell . . 25 10 2J
240 85 30
A preportion of vittouls for the said 115 men.
(Bysket 16 tons.) Item bysket for v monthes of 28 dales
to the monthe contayneng 140 dales after the rate of \li
per man per diem, xiiij'"'^ iij c. iij quarters at xiij s. iiij ct.
per c. . . . . . . . 95 16 8
(Meale 30 tons.) Item meale for xiij monthes contayneng
364 dales, 240 barrells contayneng eche barrell iiij
bushels wchmaketh 960 bushells at iiijs per bushell, 192^i
mor for the barrells and gryndinge at xxs. per barrell
19 10 mownts . . . . . . 211 10
(Biere 80^ tons.) Biere for vi monthes conteyaneng 168
dales after the computation of one gallone aman per daie
80^ ton at 211 5s per ton wtii caske iron whoopes and
chardges . . . . . . . 181 2 6
(Wyne 5 tons.) Malmsey and secke v tons at xx^i per ton 100
(Biefe 5 tons.) Bieffe for iij monthes having fleshe dales
48, at \li a man per diem, V\y^^ iiij*^ weight grose at
xiiijs per c weight 51 16 0. Item for baye sawlte to
preserve the same 55 bushels at ijs per bushell 5 10 0.
106
STATE PAPERS
Item for iiij tons ij hogsheads of caske to packe the same
in at xs per ton, 2 5 mounts ....
(Porke 15^ tons.) Porke for 15 lieke monthes contayneng
240 dales after the rate of III weight aman per diem,
xxiiijmi viijc xxiiij li weight at xiiijs per c weight
173 15 more for 186 bushels sawlte at ijs. 18 12
more for 15 ton ^ of caske at 10s per ton, 7 15 mownts
(Peasee 10 tons.) Item pease for 288 fleshe daies in the
18 monthes as afore saied allowinge to iiij men 1 qt of
pease per diem, 258 bushels at 3s per bushell 38 14
more for 10 tons of caske, 5 0.
(Stocke fyshe 2^ tons.) Stocke fyshe for 108 daies in ix
monthes, as afore saied at 1 quarter of a fyshe aman
per diem, iij^^^c fyshes at ijli per c . . .
(Butter 2 tons.) Butter for the saied 108 daies at 1 quarter
of a li weight eche man per diem, 3,105 li weight salte
at iiijd per ^4 51 15 more, for waste 250 li weight at
iiijd per li weight 4 3 4.
(Chiese 4 tons.) Chiese for other 108 daies at half-a-Zt
weight aman per diem 6210 li weight subtill more 500 li
weight for allowans of waste amowntinge in the wholle
to 6710 li weight at xvjs viijd per c weight
(Otmeale 1^ ton.) Item otemeale 40 bushels towardes the
suplyenge the want of fyshe
(Riese l^ ton,) Item riese for the lieke cause 2000 oz.
Item caske to stowe the saied otmeale and riese in iij
tons at xs per ton. ....
Item honney ij barrells at iij^i vis viijd per barrell
Item sallet oyle 1 hogshead
(Provision for store 8 tons.) Item vyneger 1 ton
Item aquaviete ij hogsheads
Item musterseed iiij bushels
Item candles xij c weight at iijd per li
Item baye sawlte v ton at iiijli per ton
(Woode 14 tons.) Item wood xiiij^i at xiijs iiijd per j^"
(Sea coales 30 tons.) Item sea coales 20 chawders at
xiijs iiijd per chawders .
(Charcoale 1 ton.) Item charcoales 1 loade
Item fyshinge nets, fyshinge lyenes, hooks, harpinge irons
and suche lieke nessesaries
(Provision for sick men.) Item to alio we the surgeone
towards the furneshinge of his cheaste
Proynes 2 firkens .
Item reasons, almonds, liccores, etc.
(Provision for the apparelling of the men.) Item wollinge
59 11
200 2
43 14
62
55 II
55
18
4
10
26
13
4
1
10
6
13
4
10
8
10
1
10
15
20
9
6
8
13
8
1
6
8
8
6 13 4
2
2
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE,
107
clothe for jirkens, breche and hose, canvas and lynnenge
clothe for dublets and sherts, hats, caps, and shewes, etc.
(Chardgs). Item for land carrage, wharffage, labras
packinge of bief and pork, water carriage, and other
extraordennarie, etc. . ,
(Rigging, wages, and vittailes.) Item for the rigginge,
wages, and vittails of Ix men for ij monthes to end the
last of Aprille next at xxijs vid aman per mensem
(Prest monney vppon wages.) Item for the too monthes
wages to be emprested to the company at i^li per man .
(Merchandizes). For provision of merchandizes .
(The Ayde). The Ayde the firste penny .
Item more to furnishe her w^^^ ordenance, takle, apparrell
and monytions, etc. .
(The Gabriel].) The Gabriell throwghly perfected in all
respects .......
(The Myghell.) The Myghell in lieke sorte
Item ij shallopes ......
2582 3 4
Sum of tons 226 tons ^
Sum of monney 3778^4 2 10
Item for the hier of a ship of cxx tons to waight
vpon the ships to the Straight, etc. . . 500^2." 4278 2 10
Item for divers extraordinary chardges . . . 221 17 2
Sum of all ^14500 J4500
100
30
127 10
230
500
750
450
180
180
24
[Colonial East Indies, No. 50. Domestic cxix, No. 41.]
THE NAMES OF THE VENTURARS IN THE SECOND VOYAGE FOR
CATHAIA, &C , BESYDES THEIR VENTURE IN THE FIRST
iJ^OYAGE.
The Queues Matie .
1000
The Privie Counsell.
The Lord Highe Treasorer, 50 . . . . .100
The Lord Highe Admirall
100
The Lord Chamberlayne, 50
100
The Erie of Warwyke, 50 .
100
The Erie of Bedford, 25 .
50
The Erie of Leycester
100
Mr. Treasorer
50
Mr. Controller
50
Mr. Secretarie Walsyngham
200
10»
STATE
PAPERS
Other Yenturars.
The Erie of Pembroke . . . . . .150
The Countesse of Warwyke
50
The Countesse of Pembroke, 25
50
The Lady Anne Talbot, 25
50
The Lord Hounsdon
50
The Lord Charles Howard
50
Sir Henry Wallop, and others
. 200
Sir Thomas Gresham
100
Sir Leonell Duckett, 25
50
Sir William Wynter
200
Mr. Phillip Sydney, 25
50
— William Pellam
50
— Thomas Randolphe, 25
50
— George Wyntar ,
100
— Edward Dyar, 25
50
— Symon Boyer, 25
—
— Anthonye Jenkynson, 2
5
50
— Mathew Smythe
50
— Gefirey Turvyle .
60
— William Payntar
50
— Richard Boylland
50
— Mathew Ffyld, 25
50
— Edward Hogan .
50
— Richard Yonge .
50
— Thomas Allyn .
50
— Christofer Huddesdon
50
— William Ormshamc, 25
50
— Robert Kyndersley
50
— Michael Lok
200
lColo7iial, 33. Domestic Eliz., cxi. No. 48, ii.]
YERE 1577.
THE VENTURERS IN THE SECOND VOYAGE FOR CATHAY, ETC.
In the first voyage as folowethe.
li.
The Quenes Ma^ie
. 500
50 My Lord Highe Treasuror
. 100
50 My Lord Highe Admiral!
. 100
50 The Erie of Sussex
. 100
The Erie of Bedford
. 25
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE.
109
50 The Erie of Warwyke
100
50 The Erie of Leycester .
100
The Erie of Pembroke .
100
My Lord Hounsdowne
50
My Lord Charles Howard
50
Sir Frauneys Knowells .
50
Sir James Croft
50
25 Mr. Francys Walsyngham
50
25 Mr. Phillip Sydney
50
My Lady Anne Talbot .
25
Mrs. Mary Sydney
25
100 Sir Thomas Gresham
200
25 Sir Leonell Ducket
50
Sir Henery Knevet
2.'>
Sir William Wyntar
50
25 Mr. Thomas Randall
50
Mr. George Wyntar
50
25 Anthony Jenkynson
50
William Sakford
. 25
William Kyllygrew
25
Symon Boyer
25
Geffrey Turvyle .
25
William Payton .
25
Richard Boyland
25
100 Michael Lok
300
50 Edmond Hogan .
100
Mathew Fyld
50
100 William Bond, yonger
200
25 Mathew Kyndersley
50
Robert Kyndersley
. 50
25 Christofer Androwes
50
25 Robert Martin .
50
850 Henry Lok
25
Thomas Marshe .
25
William Ormshaw
25
Olyffe Burre
100
Thomas Chester ^
"
25
Thomas Kelke
25
Thomas Aldworthe ^ 0^ ^ristow
Robert Halton i
-
25
'i
25
1225
All the 30 Marche 1577 li. 2000
110 STATE PAPERS
^Colonial, No. 33. Domestic Eliz., cxi, No. 48.]
REPORT UPON THE OUTFIT FOR THE SECOND VOYAGE.
It may please yor Lordships to understand, wheras you have by
yoi' letters, beringe date the xvii*^ of this present, requyred that wee
shulde take vppon vs the care of the thoroughe and speedy settinge
furthe to the seas of Mr. Furbusher, wth the shippinge thought meete
to passe vi^'^ him for the discoverie pretended. So it is that accordinge
to your honnorable comawndement wee have travelled in the same, and
do perceave as followeth : First, wee do finde as well by thexamynacion
of the said Mr. Furbusher, as also of the master that was wtii him in his
last viadge, and other of that company whom wee have particulerly ex-
amyned a part one from the other, and also vppon dyvers and sundry
other matters whiche wee have pervsed and weyed, that the supposed
Straight whiche Mr. Furbusher doth sett out is so farr fourth as we can
gather and judge a trueth, and therfore a thinge wurthie in our opynyons
to be followed. The nomber of shippes and other vessells w^ii the men
to go in them, the provicion of victuells to be made, w*^ all other neces-
saries fitt for to serve for the said viadge, wee have throughly considered
The charge therof, and haue sett downe the same in particulers whiche dothe amount
to set 3 ' -^
ships foorth to iiijâ„¢ v^ U, as by the said particulers subscribed w^i* our handes may
plainely appere, towardes the whiche wee do likewise finde that there is
Iiready^in ^^ proviciou as well in shippinge as other necesseries to the valewe of one
shipping thowsand powndes little more or lesse. So there is to be levied vppon
' suche as are, or will be the Adventurers, the residewe of the fornamed
To be yet some of iiijâ„¢ vc li, mowntinge to three thowsand five hundred powndes,
3500Zi. whiche matters before rehersed, wee have thought it meete and our
dueties to reveale the same, not only to yo^^ Honnors, but also to other
partners of that Company of Adventurers in the forsaid viage to
tll*e?that^ thend that the same beinge knowen, speedy order may be taken that
such as ar every person who hath entred into the Company, and sett downe suche
enti-ed into „ , .,, t ^^•^e>^•^L^ i
the Com- somes of money as they will adventure, that they do forthwith take order
dowa^thei^/* *o bringe in their said somes to Mr. Huggins, beinge appointed Treasorer
b?in?ujr?he ^^ *^^* Company, withoutt the whiche nothinge can be donne, and if it
samewt should be any longer deferred, tyme wolde not serve this yere to take the
Kothin'g can viage in hand. And thus havinge shewed to yC Lordshipps, and the
vniesseitbe I'sst, our travaills and opynyons in that behalf the whiche we leave to
ThTtyme"" ^^^ honnorablc consideracions, wee rest prayinge God to preserve you.
passeth,ai- London, the xxxt^^ of Marche. 1577.
most past '
for y is yere.
Yc Honnorable LL. to command,
W. Wynter, Tho. Randolph, G. Wynter,
A. Jenkinson, Edmond Hogan, Michael Lok.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. Ill
[Colo/iial, 30. Domestic, ELiz., ex, No. 21.]
ARTICLES OF GRAUNT FROM THE QUEENe's MAJESTIE TO THE
COM.PANYE OF KATHAI.
That A, B, C, D, etc., all the names of the fyrst venturers, with M. a corpora-
Lok and M. Frobisher, in the fyrst vyage and attempt made for discovery tinngs to be
of Kathai and other newlandes by the north west wards, shalbe one b^com- ^'^
Companye and corporation for ever to them and their successors. pressed in
That the sayd Companye shalbe named the Companye of Kathai. charter of
That they shall haue pour and auctoritie to admytt others into their
corporation at their pleasurs.
That they shall haue poure and lybertie to assemble them selves and
to kepe courtes when and wher they will.
That thosse which shalbe assembled being xv in nomber at the lest,
shall haue poure and auctoritie to chosse a governore, ii consulls, and xii
assistantts, to continew in their ofiyce for terrae of iij yeres now nex
comyng, and afterwards to chuse ij governors, iiij consulls, and xxiiij
assystantts, to contynew in offiyce for iij yeres, and so to be renewed or
changed from iij yeres to iij yeres.
That thosse which shalbe so assembled in court in nomber and order
afforsayd, which the governor, ij consulls, and xij assystantts, shall haue
full poure and auctorytie to make lawes and ordynances and actes from
tyme to tyme as they seme good for the good order and govermentt of
the Companye, which shall bynd all the Companye to the dew obsarva-
tiou therof, and maye sett fynes and penalties uppon the transgressors
therof, and comytt them to pryson and attache their goodes untill they
performe them.
That they may haue a sargant or offycer or twayne to execute their
lawes and actes.
That they maye revok their former lawes, and mak other new lawes,
as maye seme good from tyme to tyme for the good goverment of the
Companye.
Thac they may haue a common seal.
That they may sewe and be sewed in all the courtes of the reame by
name of the Company of Kathai.
That they may purchase landes and tennements to the vallewe of one
hundreth poundes rent, and may sell and mak leases.
That they may possesse and enjoye all their goodes.
That they may do all thinges in as ample and beneficiall manner as
any other corporation may doo.
That they and their successors, and their factors, servantes, deputies,
and assignes, shall haue free lybertie, poure, auctoritie, and pryveledge
for ever at their will and pleasure, to sayll, goo, and otherwysse by any
112
STATE PAPERS
As much meanes to passe to and from all seas, waters, iles, landes, countryes, etc.,
shall not be saylinge or otherwysse passinge from England, northward, westward, or
the former" sowthewarde, or by any other poynt of the sea corapasse, betwene the
charters of northe, the west, and the southe, aswel under our banners and ensis^nes
the mer- .
chants of as otherwysse without them, with whatsoever shipps and other vessells,
Moscovia to , . , ,, 1 11
be accorded, and with all manner vythuall, munition and furnyture and necessaryes for
the same, and with all manner of marchaundis and goodes for to seke, dys-
cover, and fynd whatsoever seas, waters, iles, landes, regions, countryes, pro-
vences, and other places whatsoever, of whatsoever geutells, heathen,
infidells, or other nations, sett and beinge in whatsoever part of the
world, which before this tyme, and before the late vyage of discovery
made by Martyne Frobysher to the northewestwards hath been un-
knowne, or not commonly frequented, by the subjects of our reame of
England for trade of marchaundise. And also in the same seas, waters,
iles, landes, countryes, regions, provences, and other places, and to and
from the same, shall and may frelye at their wills and pleasurs from
hence fourth for ever, use traffic and trade of merchaundise, and other-
wise doo what soever bussines and thinges to them shall seme good and
convenyent for their owne proper vantage, comoditie, and proffyt, with-
out theirby incuringe any manner of penaltie, forfayture, or other
molestation or trowble whatsoever, notwithstandinge any pryveledge or
other actes, lawes, or thinges whatsoever to the contrarye herof in any
wysse.
That none other parson, subject, nor denyson of our realmes and
domynions, nor any other of whatsover nation, not beinge free of this
Corporation or Companye, shall passe by any meanes to nor from any of
the sayd seas, landes, etc., nor vyssett the same, nor therin do any featt
of marchaundise, nor other business, without the speciall consent and
lycence of the sayd Companye, under their common seall, graunted in
courtt or otherwysse then for the afFayres and bussines of the sayd Com-
panye by their order, uppon payne of losse and forfeyteure, ipso facto,
of all shipes, vessells, and goodes whatsoever, transported to or from any
of the sayd countryes or places, or the vallew therof, the halfe to the
Queue, the other halfe to the Company, to be taken or sewed for by
seasure or accyon of debt or otherwysse in any of the Queue's courtes, etc.
That to their best poure and abilitie they may forbyd, withstand, and
repullse all other parsons of whatsoever nation that shall dysturbe or
interrupt them, or intermedle in their trade of marchaundis or other-
wysse in any their attemptes in any of the sayd seas, lands, countrys,
or other places before sayd, without therby incuringe any penalties or
daunger of our lawes, etc.
That of all the marchaundis which they shall carrye out of our reames
and domynions they shall pay no more nor greater custome, subsedy,
nor other dewties unto us nor to our heyres, then is now dewe or shall
be dew to us by our subjectes by the lawes and customes of our reame.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 113
That of all the goodes, wares, and raarchaundis which they shall
bringe into England from the countryes afforsayd they shall pay but
halfe eustome, subsedyes, and other dewties now dew to us. for the terme
of XX yeres now next ensewinge, and afterwardes shall paye to us and
our heyres for ever no more but 6£ of 100<£ of the vallew of the same
marchaundise that they shall bringe in, accordinge to the vallewation
therof, now vsed in our customs in London.
That they shall freeley and at their pleasure transport out of our
reames and domynions into any other reames and countryes all such
wares and marchaundis as they shall bringe in and not sell in our
domynions, free, without payment of any eustome or dewtie to us out-
wardes for the same, notwithstandinge any lawes to the countrarye, etc.
And furdermore, in consideration of the industry, good direction, and
great travayll of Michaill Lok of London, mercer, in the fyrst voyage
latelye attempted by Martyne Frobysher, gent., for dyscovery of Kathai
and other new landes by the northewestwards, we doo grauntt and will
that the sayd Michaill Lok shalbe the fyrst governore of the sayd Com-
panye, to contynew in that offyce for terme of his lyffe, except he will
resygne the same. And also in consideration of his great cost, charges,
and venture for the provision and furnyture of the forsayd fyrst voyage
of dyscoverye, we do graunt and will that he shall haue, receive, and
tak of the sayd Companye to his owne vse and behoffe for ever, the rate
of one of every hundreth of all the wares, goodes, and marchaundis that
shalbe browght into England or other countryes for accountt of the sayd
Companye, accordinge to the rate and vallewe therof in the payment of
eustome to the Queue's majestic.
And lykewyse, in consyderation of the industry, good order, and great
travayll of Martyne Frobysher, gent., in the execution of the fyrst voy-
age latly made in his own parson for the dyscovery of Cathai and other
new landes by the northewestwardes, we do grauntt and will that the
sayd Martyne Frobisher, dewringe terme of his naturall lyffe, shalbe
High Admyrall of all seas and waters, countryes, landes, and iles, as
well of Kathai as of all other countryes and places of new dyscovery.
And also in consyderation of his good sarvyce theirin, we do grauntt and
will that he shall haue, receave, and tak of the sayd Companye to his
owne proper vse and behoffe for ever the rate of one of every hundreth of
all the warres, goodes, and marchaundise that shalbe brought into
England or other countryes for accountt of the Companye, accordinge to
the rate and vallew therof in the payment of eustome to the Queue's
majestic.
That all the malle chyldren of all the fornamed parsons, which weare
fyrst venturers of the Companye, and also the heyres malle of every of
the sayd malle chyldren for ever, shalbe admytted into the lyberties and
pryveledges of the sayd Companye gratis from tyme to tyme.
I
114 STATE PAPERS
[Colonial, No. 31. Domestic Eliz., ex, No. 22.]
ARTICLES CONSENTED AND FULLY AGREEDE BY THE COMPANY
OF KATHAYE.
Thatt the Company shalbe named the Company of Kathay.
Thatt Michaell Lok shalbe Governour for vj yeres next ensuinge.
Thatt A. B. shalbe Consullor for iij yeres.
Thatt A. B. C. shalbe Assistante for iij yeres.
Thatt A. shalbe Agente for iij yeres, to doe all the buisness of the
Company, according to order of the Company, and shall have
stipende yerely.
Thatt Edmond Hogan shalbe Tresourror for iij yeres.
Thatt in consideracion of the industry, good direction, &payns takinge
of Michaell Lok in the first viage latly attempted for discouery of Kathay
& other new landes, by the Northwestwardes, and also of his great cost,
charges, and venture for the provision and furnyture of the same, he
shall haue, receiue & take of the Company to his owne vse for ever, the
rate of one of every 100, of all the wares, goodes and marchandise, thatt
shalbe brought into England or other countries for account of the Com-
pany, accordinge to the rate & valew therof in the payment of custome
to the Quene's Ma^ie.
Thatt in consideracion of the like industry, good order & great travile
of Martyn Frobisheir, gent., in the execution of the firste viage latly
made in his owne parson, for the discouery of Kathay and other new
landes by the Northwestwardes, he shalbe general Captayne by sea and
Admyrall of the shipps & navie of the Company duringe his life, and
shall have stipend yerely duringe his life, and also shall have,
receve & tak of the Company to his owne vse for ever the rate of one of
100 of all the wares, goodes and marchandise thatt shalbe brought into
England or other countries for accounpt of the Company, according to
the rate & valew therof in the payment of custome to the Quene's Ma'ie.
Thatt from hence forth for ever the some of one hundreth poundes of
Englishe money shalbe accompted one single parte or share in stok of
the Company.
Thatt every parson of this Company as well those w^^ now are the first
ventures as all others w^t hereafter shalbe free of this Company & wilbe
venturers, shall put into accompt for their stock one hr jdredth poundes
of English money, w^'^ shalbe accompted for one siagle parte and as
many more lik single partes as they please, nott beinge above five single
partes, and as the traffick from tyme to tyme will suffer to occupy great
stock.
Tliatt every one of the first venturers shall haue liberty to put in
stock doble nomber of single partes of any other of the venturers from
tyme to tyme.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE FIRST VOYAGE. 115
Thatt every new stock of new account from tyme to tyme shall con-
tenew for iij yeres, and att thatt tyme thaccompt therof shalbe clearly
made up and fynyshed, & therof divydent then shalbe made, <fe shalbe
paid to every one of the Company venturars in thatt accompt, or to the
heires or executors of those w^h shalbe deade in thatt meane tyme all
thatt shalbe founde dew to them vpon thaccompt accordinge to the rate
of their stok therin put.
Thatt all such parsons as shalbe admitted into the fredom of this
Company att this next cominge viage & venture to be made, shall paye
for a fyne xxx poundes towardes the charges and losses sustayned by the
venturers of firste viage made for discouery.
Thatt Mychaell Lok and Martyne Frobusher shalt haue libertye to
assigne x parsons to be admytted into the fredome of this Company
gratis, att their pleasure, thatt is to saye, each of them to assigne five
parsons.
Thatt no parson shalbe admitted into the fredome of this Company
after this next coming viadge to be made vntil the ende of iij yeres &
fynyshinge of that accompt.
Thatt all other parsons w^i shalbe admitted into the fredome of this
Company by redemption after the saide iij yeres tyme & ende of thatt
accompt, shall paye for afyne tow hundreth poundes of money, to the
vse and benefitt of the whole Company.
Thatt a competent howse and warehowse shalbe highred for the buis-
nes of the Company, and officers & servantts nedfull for the same.
Thatt all the goodes & marchaundise of the Company shalbe marked
wt'b the mark in the margent.
Thatt all the male children of all the forenamed parsons which weare
first venturers of this Company, & also the heires male of every of the
said male children for ever, shalbe admitted into the liberties & prive-
ledge of the saide Company (gratis) from tyme to tyme.
Thatt such of the Company as shall dye w'^^out male children may
give and assigne over his fredome of this Company to one other parson,
by his last will and testament.
[Colonial, East Indies, No. 26. Domestic, cxix. No. 32. J
A BRIEFF NOTE OF ALL THE COST AND CHARGE OF THE IJ
SHTPPS GABRIELL AND MICHAELL AND THEIR PYNNASSE
AVITH ALL THEIR FURNYTURE FOR THE FYRST VOYAGE
TO CATHAY, ETC., SENT WITH MARTYN FFURBISSHER IN
JUNE, ANNO 1567.
Iz.
Ffor the hull of the new shipp Gabriell . . . 83
For the new pynnasse of vij ton , . . . 20
For the shippe Micbaell, with old takle and furnyture . 120
116 STATE PAPERS, ETC.
For new takling and rigging them all
For ordenance and municion
For instrumentes of navegacion
For vittuall for the whole voyage
For men's wages paid before hand .
For marchandiz for traffick .
Sume of all the charge appering particularly bie
account ...... ^a418 17 4
And nowe wages and charges paid syns the retorne of
the shipps home untill the end of December anno. 1576 ^(195 111
Sume totall ..... liieVS 19 3
229
16
10
100
8
4
50
14
387
14
10
213
17
8
213
5
8
And all the whole stok of the adventurers sett down in
certaintie were but ..... 875
So there lakid in stok of the adventurers to supply the
whole charge ..... 11138 19 3
Ffor the which sume of ^i738 195 3d the venturers are to consider to-
wardes Mighell Lok, who did pay and disburse the same for them so
long tyme as thaccountes shall declare to his great hyndrans and
great danger if it had been lost.
After the retorne home of the said ij shipps were sold
divers parcells of the merchandiz and vittuall which
wold not kepe good as particularly by account apperith /ill 7 18 7
And all the rest of the shipps and goodes remayning were valued and
sold to the account of the second voyage as follows : —
For the marchandiz .....
For the ij shipps .....
For wyne and other victualls an divers implementes
Sume of the remayner sold and charged in account of the
second voyage .....
Sume of all the discharge of this first voyage amountes
So ther was left clare by this first voiage with the stok of
the adventurers must here untill God send better
successe ...... 800
And so restith still good in stok of this first voyage li75 Os Od which is
putt to the account of the second voiage with god
increasse ...... Ii75
liU8 5
5
400
147 15
3
696
8
813 19
3
ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND VOYAGE, WITH
THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO
MARTYNE FURBISHER.
Colonial J 39. Domestic EUz., cxiii. No. 12.
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO MARTYNE FFURBISHER, GENT., FOR ORDERS TO
BE OBSERVED IN THE VIAGE NOWE RECOMMENDED TO HIM FOR
THE NORTH WEST PARTS AND CATHAY.
1. Fyrst, you shall entre as Captayne Generall into the
chardge and government of theise three vessels, viz., the
Ayde, the Gabriell, and the Michaell, w*^^ all that apper-
taynethe to them whatsoever.
2. Item, you shall appoint for the furnishing of the sayd
vessels, the nomber of 120 persons, whereof xc shalbee
maryners, gonneers, carpenters, and other necessarie men to
serve for the vse of the shippes : the other xxx to bee
moyners, fyners, merchants, and other necessarie persons
bothe to accompanie and attend vppon you w*^^ nomber you
shall not in any wise exceade.
3. Item, the victualls for vij monthes w'''^ is delivered into
the sayd shippes for the provision of the foresayd persons,
you shall carefully see the same expended and preserved
without spoyle or hurt taking by negligence.
4. Item, you shall not receave into yo'" companie anie
disordred person as neere as you may, and vppon knowledge
had to remove them except such as you have received by our
order yat were prisoners and condemned persons.
5. Item, you shall vse all diligence possible to depart
w^'^ yo'^ sayd vessells from hence before the xx*^^ of this
118 INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO
present, and to take yo'^ course by north or the west as the
wynds will best serve you.
6. Item, in yo"" waye outwards you shall, if it bee no
hinderance to yo^ viage, sett on land vppon the coast of
Friesland vi of the condemned persons w*^^ you carie w^^ you,
w*^^ weapons and vittualls suche as you maye conveniently
spare : and yf hit can not be don outwards, you shall doe
yo'^ endeavour to accomplishe the same in yo^ returne ; to
which persons you shall give instructions howe they may by
their good behaviour wyn the goodwill of the people of that
country, and also learne the state of the same : and yf you
sett them a land in yo*' goyng outwards, then doe your best to
speake w^^ them in yor returne.
7. Item, when you shall bee past the lands of England,
Scotland, or Ireland, you shall direct yo^ course withe all
yo*" vessels to the island called Hawls Island, beyng in the
entrance of the supposed Straight w"'^ wee name Furbisher's
Straight, discovered by yo'" selfe this last yeare. And in
yo' jorney thitherwards you shall have a speciall regard so
to order the matter as yo'" vessels doe not loose the companie
one of the other : and yf anie wilfulnesse or negligence shall
appeare in anie person or persons that shall have chardge (or
otherwise) in doyng of the contrarie then you shall sharply
punishe the same to the example of the rest.
8. Item, at your arrivall at Havv^ls Island you shall seek a
good harborrowe for the shippes as nere the same island as
may bee, and there to place yo'^ shippes in saftie ; and from
thence you shall repare w^^^ suche vessels and furniture as is
apt to the place where the mynerall oore was had w*^^ you
brought hither the last yeare, and there to place the moyeners
and other men to worcke and gather the oores foreseeyng
that they maye bee placed as well from danger and malice
of the people as from anye other extreamitie that maye
happen.
9. Item, when you have placed yo'' moyeners and other
persons as before is sayd, you shall then embarck yo^" selfe in
MARTYNE FFURBISHER. 119
one of the small barcks and take the other barck also w^^ you,
leaving the Ayde behind you in the chardge of some discreet
person as well to receave and lade the oores w'^^ shalbe gotten
as also to succour the worckmen ; w^^ the w^^ twoe barcks
you shall repare towards the place where yo^ men and boate
was taken from you, aiid in the waye goynge you shall make
searche bothe for good harborrowes, and also for other
moyennes : and yf vppon prooffe you shall fynd moyenes to
bee richer than those from whence you came, then you shall
returne to the fyrst worckes and remove the moyeners and
shippe to those other moyenes as you shall see cawse : and
the worckmen beyng once well settled, then you w^^ the
barcks shall proceade for the searching owt of yo^ men lost,
and also to discover L or a c (so farr) leagues westward more
from that place as ye maye be certayne that you are entred
into the South Sea ; and in yo^ passage to learne all that you
can, and not to tarye so longe from the Ayde and worckmen
but that you bee able to retorne homewards w^^ the shippes
in due tyme.
10. Item, to consider what places maye bee the most aptest
to make fortification, yf neede requyre to the defence of the
moyeners and possessynge of the countrie, and to bring per-
fect plottes and notes thereof.
11. Item, yf it bee possible you shall leave some persons
to wynter in the Straight, givyng them instructions how they
maye observe the nature of the ayre and state of the countrie,
and what tyme of the yeare the Straight is most free from
yse : w*^ whome you shall leave a suflScient proportion of
vittals and weapons, and also a pynnesse w^^ a carpenter and
thinges necessarie so well as maye bee.
12. Item, yf it shall happen that the moyenes do not yeald
the substance that is hoped for, then you shall furnishe the
twoe barckes w*^ such as you maye take owt of the Ayde,
and therewithal! you shall proceade towards the discovering
of Cathaya w^^^ the two barcks and returne the Ayde for
England agayne.
V^O INSTRUCTIONS, ETC.
lo. Item, as you shall mistrust rather to muche than any
thinge to litle towching the matter of yo'" salftie, when you
happen to come to have conference w^^ the people of those
parts where you shall arrive : so agayne wee requyre you,
that in all yo^' doynges you doe so behave yo^' selfe, and to
cawse yo^' companie to doe the like towards the sayd people
as maye gyve lest cawse of offence, and to procure as muche
as in you shall lye to wynne bothe frendshippe and likynge.
14. Item, yf you fynd that the oore bee of that qualitie
aiid quantitie that is looked for, that then you doe procure
to lade so muche therof in all yo^' shipping as maye bee, all-
thoughe you doe leave owte other superfluouse thinges.
15. Item, you shall make yo'" returne homewards by the
west parts of Ireland, and so by the narrowe seas of England
to London, for that wee doe take the same to bee yo'" salfest
course. And because wee doe not knowe what other matters
maye happen to you in the tyme of yo' jorney, and therfore
can not prescribe what is to bee done for yo'' reliefe in suche
a case : wee doe therfore referre the consideration of the
same to yo'' good discretion, not doubtyng but that the order
w°^ you will take therin shalbe agreeable w^^ the good ex-
pectation that is conceaved of you.
16. Item, w^ee doe not thinke it good you should bringe
hither above the nomber of iij or iiij or 8 or tenne at the
most of the people of that countrie : whereof some to be ould
and the other yonge whome wee mynd shall not returne
agayne thither ; and therfore you shall have great care howe
you doe take them for avoidyng of offence towards them and
the contrie.
Lastlie we thincke it verie meete that you geve expresse
commaundement vnto the fyners and tryers of the oore that
they doe not dyscover the secreats of the riches of suche
moynes as by you shall be founde out vnto anie besids your
self and such others as to you shall be thought fit should be
made acquaynted therwith for her M^^® better service in
that behalf.
A TRUE REPORTE
OF SUCH THINGS AS HAPNED IN THE SECOND VOYAGE
OP CAPTAYNE FROBYSHER, PRETENDED FOR THE DIS-
COVERIE OF A NEW PASSAGE TO CATAYA, CHINA,
AND THE EAST INDIA, BY THE NORTH WEST.
ANNO DO. 1577.
Beyng furnished with one tall shippe of hir Majesties, named
y^ Ayde, of two hundreth tunne, and two other small barkes,
the one named the Gabriell, the other the Michael, about
thirtie tunne a peece, being fitlie appointed with men, muni-
tion, victuals, and all things necessary for the voyage, the
sayde Captayne Frobysher, with the rest of his companie,
came aboorde his shippes riding at Blackwall, intending
(with God's help) to take y^ first winde and tyde serving him,
the five and twentith day of May, in theyeare of oure Lorde
God, a thousande five hundred seventie and seaven.
The names of such gentlemen as attempted this discoverie,
and the number of souldyoures and mariners in each shippe
as followeth.
Boord the Ayde being Admirall, were y^ number of one c
men of all sorts, whereof xxx or more were gentlemen and
souldyers, the rest sufficiente and tall saylors.
Aboorde the Gabriell being Vice-admirall, were in all 18
persons, whereof sixe were souldyers, the rest mariners.
Aboorde the Michaell were sixteene persons, whereof five
were souldyers, the rest mariners.
Aboorde the Ayde was : General of the whole company
THE SECOND VOYAGE
for hir Majesty, Martin Frobisher ; his Lieutenant, George
Best ; his Aunciente, Kichar. Philpot ; Corporal of y^ shot,
Frauncis Forder ; the rest of y^ gentlemen, Henry Carew,
Edmund Stafford, John Lee, — Harvie, Mathew Kynersley,
Abraham Lyns, Robert Kynersley, Frauncis Brackenburye,
William Armshow ; the Mayster, Chrisofer Hall ; the Mate,
Charles Jackman ; the Pylotte, Andrew Dyer ; the M.
Gunner, Bichard Coxe.
Aboorde the Gabriell was : Captayne, Edward Fenton ;
one gentleman, William Tamfield ; the Mayster, AVilliam
Smyth.
Aboorde the Michaell was : Captaine, Gilbert Yorke ; one
gentleman, Tho. Chamberlaine ; the Mayster, James Beare.
On Whitsonday, being the 26 of May, anno 1577, earely
in the morning we wayed ancker at Blackwall, and fell that
tyde downe to Gravesende, where we remayned untill
Monday at night.
On Monday morning the 27 of May, aboorde the Ayde
we receyved all the Communion, by the Minister of
Gravesende, and prepared us, as good Christians towardes
God, and resolute men for all fortunes : and towards nighte
we departed to Tilburie Hope.
Tewsday the 28 of Maye, aboute nine of the clocke at
nighte, we arrived at Harwitch in Essex, and there stayed,
for the taking in of certaine victualles, until Friday, being
the thirtith of May, during whyche tyme came letters from
the Lordes of the Counsell, streightelye commaunding oure
Generall, not to exceede hys complemente and number ap-
poynted hym, whyche was, one hundred and twentye per-
sons : whereuppon he discharged many proper men, whiche
wyth unwilling myndes departed.
He also dismissed all hys condemned men, whyche he
thoughte for some purposes verie needefull for the voyage,
and towardes nyghte upon Friday, the one and thirtith of
May, we sette sayle, and putte to seas agayne. And sayling
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 123
northwarde alonsrst the east coastes of Ena^lande and Scot- The first
•^ ° arrival 1
lande, the seaventh day of June, wee arrived in Sainte departure
Magnus Sounde in Orckney Ilandes, called in Latine iSe!^"^'
Orcades, and came to ancker on the south syde of the Bay.
Heere oure companye goyng on lande, the inhabitants of
these ilandes beganne to flee, as from the enemie, where-
uppon, the Lieutenante wylled everye man to staye togyther,
and wente hymselfe unto theyr houses, to declare what wee
were, and the cause of oure comming thyther, whyche
beeyng understoode, after their poore manner they friendly
entreated us, and brought us for oure money, such things
as they had. And heere our goldfynders found a mine of ^i™r°fouid
silver." ''^^^"'"^^•
Orkney is the principall of the lies of Orcades, and
standeth in the latitude of 59 degrees and a halfe. The
countrey is much subject to colde, aunswerable for suche a
climate, and yet yeeldeth some frutes, and sufficient mayn-
tenance for the people contented so poorely to live.
There is plentie ynough of poultrey, store of egges, fishe,
and fowle.
For theyr bread, they have oaten cakes, and theyr drinke
is ewes milke, and in some partes ale.
Their houses are but poore without, and sluttish ynough
within, and the people in nature thereunto agreeable.
For theyr fire, they burne heath and turffe, the countrey
in most parts being voyde of woode.
They have greate wante of leather, and desire our olde
shoes, apparell, and old ropes (before money) for their
victuals, and yet are they not ignorant of the Vcdue of our
coine. The chiefe towne is called Kyrway. Sw towne
In this iland hath bin sometime an abbey, or a religious st.^ugnus
house, called Saint Magnus, being on the west side of the ile, so"caiied. ^
whereof this sound beareth name, through whyche we passed.
Their Governeure, or chiefe lorde, is called the Lord Robert
Steward, who at oure being there, as wee understoode, was
124
THE SECOND VOYAGE
Great
bodies of
trees dryv-
ing in the
seas.
Monstrous
fish and
strange
fowle lyving
only by the
sea.
Water being
blacke and
smooth
signifieth
land to be
Islands of
ice.
The firste
syght of
Freese-
lande.
in durance at Edenburgh, by the Regent's commaundement
of Scotlande.
After we had provided us heere of matter sufficiente for our
voyage, the eyght of June we sette sayle agayne, and passing
through Saint Magnus Sounde, having a merrie winde by
night, came cleere, and lost sight of all the lande, and keep-
ing our course west-north-west by the space of two dayes,
the wind shifted upon us, so that we lay in traverse on
y^ seas, with contrarie, making good (as neere as we could)
our course to the westward, and sometime to the northward,
as the winde shifted. And heereabout we met with three
sayle of English fishermen from Iseland, bound homewarde,
by whome we wrote our letters unto our friends in England.
We traversed these seas by the space of 26 dayes, without
sight of any land, and met with much drift woode and whole
bodyes of trees. We saw many monsterous fishe, and strange
fowle, whyche seemed to live only by the sea, being there so
farre distant from anye lande. At length, God favoured us
with more prosperous windes, and after we hadde sayled
foure dayes with good wind in the poupe, the fourth of July
the Michaell (being formost a head) shotte off a peece of
ordinance, and stroke all hir sayles, supposing that they
descryed land, whyche by reason of the thicke mistes, they
could not make perfit : howbeit, as wel our accompt, as also
the greate alteration of the water, whiche became more
blacke and smooth, dyd playnely declare we were not farre
off the coast. Our Generall sent his Maister aboorde the
Michaell (who had bin within the yeare before) to beare in
with the place, to make proofe thereof, who descried not the
lande perfect, but sawe sundrie huge ilands of ise, which
we deemed to be not past twelve leagues from the shore, for
about tenne of the clocke at night, being the fourth of July,
the weather being more cleere, we made the land perfect, and
knew it to be Freeseland. And the heigth being taken
heere, we founde oureselves to be in the latitude of 60
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. l^eV
degrees and a halfe, and were fallen with the southermost
parte of this land. Betweene Orkney and Freesland are
reckoned leagues.
This Freeseland sheweth a ragged and high lande, having
the mountaynes almost covered with snow alongst the coast
full of drift ise, and seemeth almost inaccessible, and is Jl^crSed^
thought to be an iland in bignesse not inferior to England,
and is called of some authours Weast Freeseland, I thinke,
bycause it lyeth more weast than anye part of Europe. It
extendeth in latitude to the northward, verie farre as
seemed to us, and appeareth by a description set out by
two breethren, Nicholaus and Antonius Genoa, who being
driven off from Ireland with a violent tempest, made ship-
wracke heere, and were the first knowen Christians that
discovered this lande, aboute three hundred yeares sithence ;
and they have in their sea cardes set out everie part thereof,
and described the condition of the inhabitants, declaring
them to be as civill and religious people as we.^ And for so
much of this land as we have sayled alongst, comparing
their carde with y*^ coast, we find it very agreeable. This
coast seemeth to have good fishing, for we lying becalmed, kkidS'^
let fall a hooke without anye bayte, and presently caught a ^ ^"^"
great fish called a hollibut, which served the whole com-
panie for a days meate, and is dangerous meate for sur-
fetting. And sounding about five leagues ofi^ from the shore,
our lead brought up in the tallow a kind of corall almost whuecoraii
white, and small stones as bright as christall : and it is not ^"""'^"^^•
to be doubted but that this land may be found very rich
* The brothers referred to are Niccolo and Antonio Zeno, of Venice,
the former of whom, in 1380, made a voyage to the north, and was driven
by a storm to the Faroe Islands, whence he dispatched a letter to his
brother Antonio, urging him to find means to join him, which he did.
The account was published at Venice, in 1558, by Francisco Marcolini,
a descendant of the Zeno, and was compiled from the fragments of letters
written by Antonio Zeno to Carlo, his brother. The Faroe Islands are
the " Friseland," here referred to.
126 THE SECOND VOYAGE
and beneficiall if it were throughly discovered, although
we saw no creature there but little birds. It is a marvellous
thing to behold, of what great bignesse and depth some
Monstrous ilandcs of isc be heere, some seventy some eighty fadome
ilesofisein ' '' o ./
w\'er/h?nc'e undcr watcr, besides that which is above, seemyng ilands
supposed more than halfe a mile in circuite. All these ise are in tast
freshe, and seeme to be bredde in the sounds thereabouts,
or in some land neere the pole, and with the wind and tides
are driven alongst the coastes. We found none of these
islands of ise salt in taste, whereby appeareth they were not
The opinion cougealcd of the ocean sea water, which is always salt, but
frosenseas of somc Standing or little moving lakes or great fresh waters
bye^^e-^'' nccre the shore, caused eyther by melted snow from the
rience. , n r i •
tops of mountains, or by continuall accesse of fresh rivers
from the land, and intermingling with y^ sea water, bearing
yet the dominion (by the force of extreame frost) may cause
some part of salt water to freese so with it, and so seeme a
little brackish, but otherwise y^ maine sea freeseth not, and
therefore there is no mare glaciate or frozen sea as the
opinion hitherto hath bin. Our general proved landing
here twice, but by y'' suddaine fall of mistes (whereunto this
coast is much subject) he was like to lose sight of his ships,
and being greatly endangered with the driving ise alongst
the coast, was forced aboord, and faine to surceasse his pre-
tence till a better oportunitie might serve : and having
spent four dayes and nights sailing alongst this land, find-
ing the coast subject to such bitter cold and continuall
mistes, he determined to spend no more time therein, but to
beare out his course towards y'' streights called Frobishers
straights, after y^ generals name, who being the firste that
ever passed beyonde fifty-eight degrees to the northwards,
for any thing hath bin yet knowen of certainty of New
found land, otherwise called y« continent or firme land of
America; discovered y*' said streights this last yeare 1576,
Frobishers and hoDCth that there wil be found a thorough passage into
straightes.
OF MARTIN FROBlSIiER. 1^7
the sea, which lieth on the back side of y^ said New found
land called Mare Pacificum or Mare de Sur, by the which
we maye go unto Cataya, China, the East India, and all the
dominions of the Great Cane of Tartaria. Betweene Freese-
land and the straights we had one great storme, wherin
y® Michael was somewhat in dangler, havino^ hir steera2;e Thesteer-
•' _ & ' C5 ^ S age Of the
broken and hir top mastes blowen over bord, and being not ^54^^^^^
past fifty leagues short of y^ straightes by our accompt, we ^^â„¢p^^*-
strooke sayle and lay a hull, fearing the continuance of the
storme, the wind being at the northeast, and having lost
company of the barkes in that flaw of wind, we happily
mette againe the 17 day of July, having the evening before
scene divers ilandes of fleeting ise, which gave an argument ^^e first
that we were not farre from land. Our Generall in y^ morn- s[rai\t3
ing from the maine top (y® weather being reasonable cleere)
descried land, but to be better assured, he sent the two
barkes two contrarie courses, wherby they might descrie
either the south or north forlande, the Ayde lying ofl" and
on at sea, with a small saile by an iland of ise, whiche was
the marke for us to meete togither agayne. And aboute
noone, the weather being more cleere, we made the North
Forlande perfite, which otherwise is called Halles Iland, and Haiies
^ ' ' iland.
also the small ilande bearing the name of the saide Hall,
whence the ore was taken uppe, whiche was broughte into
Englande this last yeare 1576, the said Hall being present
at the finding and taking up thereof, who was then maister
in the Gabriell withe Captayne Frobisher. At oure arrivall
heere, all the seas about this coast were so covered over with
huge quantitie of great ise that we thought these places
might only deserve the name of Mare Glaciate, and be called
the Isie Sea.
This North Forlande is thought to be devided from the The de-
scription
continente of the norther lande by a little sounde called of the
*' streyghtes.
Halle's Sounde, whiche maketh it an iland, and is thoughte
little lesse than the ile of AVight, and is the firste entrance of
128 THE SECOND VOYAGE
the streightes upon the norther side, and standeth in the
latitude of 62 degrees, 50 minutes, and is reckned from
Freeseland leagues. God having blessed us wyth so
happie a lande fall, we bare into the streightes whyche runne
in next hande weast, and somewhat to the northwarde, and
came as neere the shore as we mighte for the ise, and uppon
the eyghteenth day of July our Generall taking the gold
fynders with him, attempted to go on shore with a small
rowing pinnesse, upon the small iland where the ore was
taken up, to prove whether there were anye store thereof to
No more ^^ found, but he could not gette in all that iland a peece so
gold ore ' ^
Jhe"fym bigge as a walnutt, where the firste was founde, so that it
'^^"'^^' may seeme a greate miracle of God, that being only one rich
stone in all the iland, the same should be found by one of
our countrymen, whereby it shoulde appeare, God's divine
will and pleasure is, to have oure common wealth encreased
with no lesse abundance of His hyden treasures and golde
mynes than any other nation, and would that the fayth of
His Gospell and holy name should be published and en-
larged throughe all those corners of the earth, amongst these
idolatrous infidels. But oure men whiche sought the other
ilandes thereaboutes, found them all to have good store of
the ore, whereuppon our Generall with these good tidings
retourned aboorde aboute ten of the clocke at night, and was
joyfully welcomed of the companie with a volie of shotte.
E<rgesaud He brought egges, fowle, and a yong scale aboord, which
Metain- thc compauic hadde killed ashore, and having founde upon
to^catch^^ those ilandes ginnes set to catch fowle, and stickes new cut,
Sail. with other things, he well perceived that not long before
some of the countrey people had resorted thither. Having
therefore found these tokens of the peoples accesse in those
partes, and being in his firste voyage well acquainted with
their subtile and cruell disposition, he provided well for his
better safetie, and on Friday the ninteenth of July in the
morning early, with his best company of gentlemen and
OF MARTIN FRORISHKR. 129
souldioures to the number of fortie persons, went on shoare
aswell to discover the inlande and habitation of the people, as
also to fynd out some fitte harborowe for our shippes. iVnd
passing towardes the shoare with no small difficultie, by
reason of the abundance of ise whiche lay alongest the
coaste so thicke togither, that hardely any passage throuo-he
them might be discerned, we arrived at length upon the
maine of Halles greater iland, and founde there also, aswel
as in the other small ilands, good store of the ore. And
leaving his boats here with sufficient guarde passed up into
the countrey about two English miles, and recovered the top
of a high hill, on the top whereof our men made a columne
or crosse of stones heaped uppe of a good heighth togither
in good sorte, and solemnly sounded a trumpet, and said
certaine prayers, kneeling aboute the ancient, and honoured The build-
ing of a
the place by the name of Mount Warwicke, in remembrance caJr^""'
of the Right Honorable the Lord Ambrose Dudley, Erie of Ic'r '''"'â–
Warwick, whose noble minde and good countenaunce in this,
as in all other good actions, gave great encouragement and
good furtherance. This done, we retired our companies, not
seeing any thing here worth further discoverie, the countrie
seeming barren and full of ragged mountaines, in most parts
covered with snow. And thus marching towards our boats,
we espied certaine of the countrey people on the top of
Mount Warwicke with a flag, wafting us backe againe, and The fi.st
. 1 . Ti' , . sight of the
makmsT great noise, with cries like the mowms: of bulls. couDt^e
'-' " Of people
seeming greatly desirous of conference with us : wheruppon ^^ftingwith
the General, being therewith better acquainted, answered
them again with the like cries, whereat, and with the noise
of our trumpets, they seemed greatly to rejoyce, skipping,
laughing, and dancing for joy. And hereuppon we made
signes unto them, holding up two fingers, commanding two
of our men to go aparte from our companies, wherby they
might doe the like. So that forthwith two of oure menne
and two of theirs mettc togither a good space from companie,
K
The order
of their
traffic-.
loO THE SECOND VOYAGE
The meet- neither partie havins: their weapons about them. Our men
lug apart of r n l
SmeT E^^^ them pinnes and pointes, and such trifles as they had.
tTa?co'In-°^ And they likewise bestowed on our men two bowe cases,
and such things as they had. They earnestly desired oure
men to go uppe into their countrie, and our men offered
them like kindnesse aboorde oure shippes, but neyther parte
(as it seemed) admitted or trusted the others curtesie. Their
manner of traffic is thus : they doe use to laye down of their
marchandise uppon the ground, so much as they meane to
parte withall, and so looking that the other partie, with
whome they make trade, shoulde doe the like, they them-
selves doe departe, and then, if they doe like of their marte,
they come againe, and take in exchange the others marchan-
dise, otherwise, if they like not, they take their owne and
departe. The day being thus well neare spent, in haste we
retired our companies into our boates againe, minding forth-
with to searche alongst the coast for some harborowe, fitte
for our shippes ; for the present necessitie thereof was much,
considering that all this while they lay off and on between
the two lands, being continually subject, as well to great
danger of fleeting yse, which environed them, as to the so-
dain flawes which the coast seemeth much subject unto. But
when the people perceived our departure, with great tokens
of affection they earnestly called us backe againe^ following
us almost to our boates : where uppon our generall taking
his maister with him, who was beste acquainted with their
maner, went apart unto two of them, meaning, if they could
lay sure holde upon them, forcibly to bryng them abord,
with intent to bestowe certain toyes and apparell upon the
one, and so to dismisse him with all arguments of curtesie,
and retaine the other for an interpreter. The generall and
his maister being met with their two companions togither,
after they hadde exchanged certaine thinges the one with the
other, one of the salvages for lacke of better marchandise,
cutte off the tayle of his coate (which is a chiefe ornament
Another
meeting of
two of our
men with
two of
theirs.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 131
among them) and gave it unto oure general for a present.
But he presently upon a watchword given, with his maister
sodainely laid holde upon the two salvages. But the grounde
underfeete being slipperie, with the snow on the side of the
hill, thire handfast fayled, and their pray escaping, ranne
awaye, and lightlye recovered their bowe and arrowes,
which they had hid not farre from them behinde the rockes.
And being only two salvages in sight, they so fiercely, des-
perately, and with such furie assaulted and pursued our
srenerall and his maister, beins: altoo^ither unarmed, and not The Eug-
mistrustins^ their subtil ities, that they chased them to their ':^^.^^^ '"
^ 'J their boats.
boats, and hurte the generall in the buttocke with an arrow,
who the rather speedily fled backe, bycause they suspected
a greater number behind y® rocks. Our soldiers (which wer
commanded before to keepe their boates) perceiving the
danger, and hearing our men calling for shot, came speedily
to rescue, thinking there had bin a more number. But
when y® salvages heard y® shot of one of our calivers, and
yet (having first bestowed their arrows) they ran away, our
men speedily folowing them. But a servante of my Lorde
of Warwickes, called Nicholas Conyer, a good footeman, and
uncumbred with anye furniture, besides a dagger at his
backe, overtooke one of them, and beinsr a Cornishman, and one of that
o ' countrimen
a good wrastler, shewed his companion such a Cornishe '^'^®"-
tricke, that he made his sides ake against the grounde for a
moneth after. And so being stayed, he was taken alive, and
brought away, but the other escaped. Thus with their
straunge and newe praye, our men repaired to their boates,
and passed from the maine to a small iland of a myle com-
passe, where they resolved to tarrie all night, for even now
a sodaine storme was grown so great at sea, that by no
means they coulde recover their ships. And here every
man refreshed himselfe with a small portion of victualles,
whiche was laide into the boates for their dinners, having
neither eate nor drunke all the daye before. But bycause
k2
IS!'^ THE SKCOND VOYAGE
they knewe not howe long the storme might laste, nor how
far off the ships might be put to sea, nor whether they should
ever recover them againe or not, they made great spare of
their victualles, as it greatly behoved them. For they knew
ful wel, that the beste cheare the countrey coulde yeelde
them, was golden rockes and stones, a harde foode to live
withall, and the people more readie to eate them, than to
o-ive them wherewithall to eate. And thus keeping verie
good watche and warde, they lay there al night upon harde
cliffes of snowe and ise, both wette, cold, and comfortlesse.
These things thus hapning with the company on lande,
the danger of the shippes at sea was no lesse perilous. For
within one houre after the generalls departing in y" morn-
ino-, by negligence of the cooke in over heating, and the
The Aide \Yorkman in making the chimney, the Aide was set on fire,
set on fire. , i i • r i i i
and had bin the confusion of the whole, it by chaunce a boye
espying it, it hadde not bin speedily with great labour and
Gods helpe well extinguished.
This dav also, were diverse stormes and flawes, and by
nine of the clocke at night the storme was growen so great,
and continued suche untill the morning, that it putte our
shippes at sea in no small peril, for having mountaines of
fleeting ise on every side, we went romer for one, and loofed
for another, some scraped us, and some happily escaped us,
The great that the Icast of all of them were as dangerous to strike as any
rocke, and able to have split asunder the strongest shippe of
the worlde. Wee had a scope of cleare withoute ise (as God
would), wherein we turned, beyng otherwise compassed on
everye side about, but so much was the winde, as so little
was our sea room, that being able to beare only our fore-
coast, we cast so oft about, that we made fourteene hordes
in eight glasses running, being but foure houres : but God
being our best steresman, and by y^ industry of Charles
Jackman and Andrew Dyer, then maisters mates, both very
expert mariners, and Richard Cox, the maister gunner, with
danger of
those rocks
of ise.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 138
Other very careful! saylors, then within horde, and also by Nigiit wiih-
tii o 1 •! 1*1 •! T1 "^'^ darknes
the helpe or y® cleare nis^hts which are without darkenesse, intiiat
. , countrey.
we did happily avoyde those present daungers, whereat
since we have more marvelled than in the present daunger
feared, for that every man within horde, both better and
worse, had ynough to doe, with his handes to hale ropes,
and with his eyes to looke out for daunger. But the nexte
morning, being the 20 of July, as God would, the storme
ceased, and the general espying the shippes with his newe
captive and whole companie, came happilye aborde and re-
ported what hadde passed a shoare, whereupon, altogither
upon our knees, gave God humble and hartie thankes, for
that it hadde pleased him, from so speedy peril to send us
such speedie deliverance, and so from this norther shoare
we stroke over towards the southerland.
The one and twentieth of July, we discovered a bay,
which ranne into the lande, that seemed a likelv harborow omtirste
" commyDg
for our shippes, wherefore our general rowed thither with °°,';'j',e,.iaiid
hys boates, to make proofe thereof, and with his goldfinders sL-aigS!^
to searche for ore, having never assayed anye thing on the
south shoare as yet, and the first small iland whiche we
landed on, here all the sands and cliftes did so glister and
had so bright a marquesite, that it seemed all to be golde,
but upon tryal made, it proved no better than blacke leade Amyneof
and verified the proverb — All is not golde that shineth.
Upon the two and twentieth of July, we bare into the
sayd sounde, and came to anker a reasonable bredth off the
shoare, where, thynking our selves in good securitie, we
were greatly endangered with a peece of drift ise, which the
ebbe brought forth of the soundes, and came thwart us ere
we were aware. But the gentlemen and souldiers within
horde, taking great paynes at this pinche at the capstone,
overcame the most daunger thereof, and yet for all that
might be done, it t>troke on our sterne such a blowe, that we
feared least it had ijtrykcn away our rudder, and being forced
•ouud.
Smiths
Hand.
134 THE SECOND VOYAGE
to cut our cable in the hawse, were fayne to set our foresaile
to runne further up within, and if our sterage had not bin
stronger, than in the present time, we feared we had runne
the shippe upon the rocks, having a very narrowe channell
to turne in: but, as God woulde, al came well to passe. And
jaokmans this was nauicd Jackmans Sounde, after the name of the
maisters mate, who had first liking unto the place.
Upon a small ilande, within this sound, called Smiths
Hand (bycause he first set up his forge there), was founde a
myne of silver, but was not wonne out of the rockes without
great labour. Here our goldfynders made saye of suche ore
as they founde uppon the Northerlande, and founde foure
sortes thereof to holde golde in good quantitie. Upon an-
other small iland here was also founde a great deade fishe,
whiche, as it should seeme, had bin embayde with ise, and
was in proportion rounde like to a porpose, being about
The fynd- twclve footo lonsf, and in bi^jnesse answerable, havynsf a
iugofan ^' ^ ' .7 &
borne of two yardes long growing out of the snoute or nos-
trels. This home is wreathed and strayte, like in fashion
to a taper made of waxe, and maye truely be thoughte to be
the sea Unicorne. This home is to be scene and reserved
as a jewel, by the Queens majesties commandement in hir
wardrop of robes. The form whereof is here set down.
Tewsday, the three and twentyth of July, our general
with his best company of gentlemen, souldiers and saylers,
to the number of seaventie persons in all, marched with
aunciente displayde uppon the continent of the Southerlande
(the supposed continent of Americaj), where, commandyng
a trumpet to sounde a call for every man to repayre to the
auncient, he declared to the whole company, how much the
cause imported, for the service of hir majestic, our countrey,
our credites, and the safetie of our own lives, and therefore
required every man to be conformable to order and to be
directed by those he shoulde assigne. And appointed for
leaders, Captaine Fenton, Captain Yorke, and his lieutenant,
unicornes
home.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 135
George Beste ; whiche done, we cast our selves into a rinsf,
and altogither uppon oure knees, gave God humble thankes,
for that it had pleased him of his greate goodnesse in pre-
serving us from such imminent dangers, to bestow so great
and hidden treasures upon us his poore and un worthy e ser-
vants, beseeching likewise the assistance of his holy spirite
so to deliver us in saftie, into our countrey, whereby the
light and truth of these secretes being known, it might re-
bound to the more honor of his holy name, and consequently
to the advancement of our common wealth. And so, in as
good sorte as the place suffered, we marched towardes the
tops of the mountains, which were no lesse painful in clym-
ing, than dangerous in descending, by reason of their steepe-
nesse and ise. And having passed about five miles by such
unweldie wayes, we returned unto oure ships, without sighte
of any people, or likelyhoode of habitation. Here diverse
of the gentlemen desired oure general to suffer them to the
number of twentie or thirtie persons, to marche up thirtie or
forty leagues in the countrie, to the ende they mighte dis-
cover the inlande, and do some acceptable service for their
countrey. But he not contented with the matter he sought
for, and well considering the short time he had in hande, and
the greedie desire our countrey hath to a present savour and
retourne of gayne, bent his whole indevour onely to finde a
mine, to fraight his ships, and to leave the reste (by God's
help) hereafter to be well accomplished. And therefore the
twentie sixte of Julye he departed over to the Northlande
with the two barkes, leaving the Ayde riding in Jackmans
Sound, and ment (after he had founde convenient harborowe,
and fraight there for his shippes) to discover further for the
passage. The barkes came the same night to anker in a
sound, upon the Northerland, where the tydes did runne so
swifte, and the place so subject to indraftes of ise, that by
reason thereof they were greatly endangered, and having
Ibunde a very rich myne, and got almostc twentie tunne of
loG THE SECOND VOYAGE
ore togither, upon the 28 of July, the ise come driving into
the Sounde where the barkes road, in such sort, that they
were therewith greatly distressed. And the Gabriell riding
asterne the Michaell, had hir cable gaulde asunder in the
hawse, with a peece of driving ise, and lost another anker,
and having but one cable and ancker lefte ; for she has loste
two before, and the ise still driving uppon hir, she was (by
Gods helpe) wel fenced from the daunger of the rest, by one
great iland of ise which came a grounde harde aheade of hir,
which, if it had not so chaunced, I think, surely she had bin
cast upon the rockes with the ise. The Michael mored
ancker upon this great ise, and roade under the lee therof :
but about midnight, by the weyght of it selfe, and the setting
of the tydes, the ise brake within halfc the barke's length,
and made unto the companie within bord, a sodaine and
fearefull noyse. The next flounde towarde the morning we
weyed ancker and went further uppe the straightes, and
leaving our ore behinde us which we had digged, for hast,
Bears Igft the placc bv the name of Beares Sound, after the mas-
ters name of the Michael, and named the iland Lecesters
Iland. In one of the small ilands here, we founde a tombe,
wherin the bones of a dead man lay togither, and our savage
being with us and demanded (by signes) whether his coun-
treymen had not slain this man and eat his flesh so from the
bones, he made signes to the contrarie, and that he was slain
with wolves and wilde beastes. Here also was founde hid
under stones good stoare offish, and sundrie other things of
Bridles, the inhabitants : as sleddes, bridles, kettels of fishe skinnes,
knives, and . iiiti
oilier in- kuivcs of bouc, and such Other like. And our savage de-
ytiumeuts '-'
found hid clared unto us the use of all those things. And taking in
among toe o O
rocks. j^-g ]^^j^(j Qj-jg q£ tJiose couiitrcy brydels, he caughte one of
our dogges, and hampred him handsomely therein, as we do
our horses, and with a whip in his hande, he taught the
dogge to drawe in a sledde, as we doe horses in a coatche,
setting himselfe thereuppon like a guide: so that we might
Sound.
Lecester
Hand.
A tombe
â– with a dead
mans bone:
in it, found
at degrees
in latitude.
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 137
see, they use dogges for that purpose, as we doe our horses, ^^et^i"''^
great
dogges to
draw sleds
and little
And we founde since by experience, that the lesser sorte of dS^ieds
dosfores they feede fat, and keepe them as domesticall cattel dogs tor
^° •' . . their meate.
in their tentes, for their eating, and the greater sort serve
for the use of drawing theyr sleds.
The twentie ninth of July, about five leagues from Beare's Jountesses
Sound, we discovered a bay, which being fenced on eche ^^^^^'
side with small ilandes, lying of the mayne, whycli break
the force of the tydes, and make the place free from any in-
draftes of yse, did prove a very fitte harborow for our ships,
where we came to anker under a small iland, whiche now
togither with the sound, is called by the name of that right
honorable and vertuous lady, Anne, Countcsse of Warwicke.
And this is the furthest place that this yeare we have entred
uppc within the streyghtes, and is reconed from the cape of
the Queen's forelande, which is the entrance of the streights,
not above 30 leaorues. Upon this ilande was found ffood store Thirtie
, , . . leagues dis-
of the ore, which in the washing helde e^olde plainly to be covered
' o o L J Within the
seen: whereupon it was thoughte beste rather to loade here, stiajtes.
where there was store and indifferent good, than to seek
further for better, and spend time with jeopardie. And '
therefore oure generall setting the myners to worke, and
shewing fyrste a good president of a painefuU labourer and a
good
president
good
a good captaine in himselfe, gave good examples for others °^ l^s;
to follow him : whereuppon every man, both better and ca^^Sn ^
worse, with their best endevors, willingly laide to their help-
ing handes. And the nexte daye, being the 30 of July, the
MicJiaell was sente over to Jackmans Sounde for the Ayde
and whole companie to come thither. Upon the maine lande
over against the Countesse's Iland, we discovered and be-
helde to our great marvell, the poor caves and houses of '*^'i^\'"."»"
o ' ^ of their
those countrie people which serve them (as it shoulde seem) Jh°is^cotm-
for their winter dwellings, and are made two fadome under ^^^^'
grounde, in compasse rounde, like to an oven, being joyned
i'ast one bv another, having holes like to a fox or connv
138 THE SECOND VOYAGE
berrie, to keepe and come togither. They under- trench
these places with gutters, so that the water falling from
the hills above them, may slide away without their anoiance,
and are seated commonly in the foote of a hil, to shielde
them better from the colde winds, having their dore and
entrance ever open towardes the south.
bones^nsed From thc grouud upward they builde with whales bones,
JrmS! "^ ^or lacke of timber, whiche, bending one over another, are
handsomely compacted in the toppe togither, and are covered
over with scales' skinnes, whiche instead of tiles, fenceth them
from the rayne. In eache house they have only one roome,
having the one halfe of the floure raysed with broad stones
a foote higher than y^ other, whereon strawing mosse, they
make their nests to sleepe in. They defile these dennes
most filthylie with their beastly feeding, and dwell so long
The slut- in a place (as we thinke), untill their owne sluttishnesse
tishnesse
""eo^fr lothyng them, they are forced to seeke a sweeter ayre and a
new seate, and are (no doubt) a dispersed and wandring
nation, as the Tartarians, and live in hords and troupes,
withoute anye certayn abode, as may appeare by sundry
circumstances of our experience. Here our captive being
A si?ne set ashorc witli US, to declare y^ use of such thino-s as we saw,
up by the . o '
trve'^indTe ^^^J^ himsclfc alouc behind the company, and did set up
theS.^ five small stickes round in a circle, one by another, with one
smal bone placed just in y*^ middst of all: which thing when
one of our men perceived, he called us backe to behold
y^ matter, thinking that he had meant some charme or
witchcraft therin. But y"^ best conjecture we could make
thereof, was, that he would thereby his countreymen should
understand y' for our five men which they betrayed the last
yeare (whom he signified by y^ five sticks) he was taken and
kept prisoner, which he signified by y^ bone in y^ midst.
For afterwardes, when we shewed him the picture of his
countreyman, which y® last yeare was brought into England
(whose counterfet \\ c had drawne, with boale. and other fur-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 139
niture^ both as he was in his own, and also in English aparell)
he was upon the suddayne muche amazed therat, and be- The savage
r J ' captive
holding advisedly the same with silence a good while, as ^^S^lli^^}
though he would streyne courtesie whether shoulde begin pictui-r^
y® speech (for he thoughte him no doubte a lively creature)
at length, began to question with him, as with his com-
panion, and finding him dumme and mute, seemed to sus-
pect him, as one disdaynful, and would with a little help
have growen into choller at the matter, until at last by feel-
ing and handling, he founde him but a deceiving picture.
And then with great noyse and cryes, ceased not wondering,
thinking that we coulde make menne live or die at our
pleasure.
And thereuppon calling the matter to hys remembrance,
he gave us plainely to understande by signes, that he had
knowledge of the taking of our five men the last yeare, and
confessing the manner of eche thing, numbred the five men
upon his five fingers, and poynted unto a boate in our ship,
which was like unto that wherein our men were betrayed.
And when we made him signes that they were slaine and
eaten, he earnestly denied, and made signes to the contrarie.
The last of July, the Michael retourned with the Aijde to
us from the Southerlande, and came to anker by us in the
Countesse of Warwicks Sounde, and reported that since we
departed from Jackmans Sound, there happened nothing
among them there greatly worth the remembraunce, until
the thirtieth day of July, when certaine of our companie
being ashore upon a small iland within the said Jackmans
Sound, neare the place where the Ayde roade, didde espie ^J^^J^^f
a long boate with divers of the countrie people therein, to sonsof'E
the number of eighteene or twentie persons, whom so soone oue'bofaJ"
as oure men perceived, they retourned speedily aboorde, to
give notice therof unto our companie. They might perceive
these people climbing up the toppe of a hill, where, with a
flagge, they wafted unto our shippc^, and made great out-
140
THE SECOND VOYAGE
'J'he ap-
parell
founde
againe of
oure Eng-
lishmen
whiche the
yeare before
were taken
.-aiitive.
cries and noises, like so many bulls. Here uppon our men
did presently man forth a small skiff, having not above sixe
or seaven persons therein whiche rowed neare the place
where those people were, to prove if they could have any
conference with them. But after this small boate was sente
a greater, beeyng well appoynted for their rescue, if neede
required.
As soone as they espied our companye comming neare
them, they tooke their boates and hasted awaye, either for
feare, either else for pollicie, to drawe our men from rescue
further within their danger : wherefore our men construing
their comming thither was but to seeke advauntage, followed
speedily after them, but they rowed so swiftly aAvay that our
men could come nothing neare them. Howbeit they failed
not of their beste endeavour in rowing, and having chased
them above tw^o myles into the sea, returned into their
shippes againe.
The morning following, being the first of August, Cap-
taine Yorke, with the 3IichaeU, came into Jackman's Sound,
and declared unto the company there, that the laste night's
past, he came to anker in a certaine baye (which sithens
was named Yorkes Sounde), aboute foure leagues distant
from Jackmans Sound, being putte to lewarde of that place
for lacke of winde, where he discovered certaine tents of the
countrie people, where going with his companye ashoare,
he entred into them, but founde the people departed, as it
shoulde seem, for feare of their comming. But amongest
sundrie straunge things whiche in these tentes they founde
there was rawe and newe killed fieshe of unknown sortes,
with dead carcasses and bones of dogs, and I know not
what. They also beheld (to their greatest marvaile) a
dublet of canvas, made after the Englishe fashion, a shirt, a
girdle, three shoes for contrarie feete and of unequal big-
nesse, which they well conjectured to be the apparell of our
five poorc cuuntricmen w hiche were intercepted the laste
OF MAUTI\ FROBISHER. 141
yeare by these countrie people, aboiite fiftye leagues from
this place farther within the straightes. Wherupon, our
men being in good hope that some of them might be here,
and yet living, the captaine devising for the best, lefte his
mind behind him in writing w4th pen, yncke, and paper also,
whereby our poore captive countriemen, if it mighte come
to their handes, misrhte knowe their friendes mindes, and a good de-
, , vice O' Cap-
of their arrivall, and likewise retourne their answer. And tame Yorke.
so without taking any thing away in their tentes, leaving
there also looking glasses, pointes, and other of our toyes
(the better to allure them by such friendly means) departed
aboorde hys barke, wyth intent to make haste to the Ayde,
to give notice unto the companye of all such things as he
had there discovered : and so ment to returne to these tents
againe, hoping, that he might by force or policie entrappe
or entice the people to some friendly conference. Which
things, when he had delivered to the company there, they
determined forthwith to goe in hande with the matter.
Hereuppon Caytaine Yorke, with the maister of the Ayde
and his mate (who, the night before, had bin at the tents,
and came over from the other side in the Michaell with him)
being accompanied with divers of the gentlemen and soul-
diers, to the number of 30 or 40 persons, in two small rowing
pinnesses, made towardes the place where the night before
they discovered the tents of those people, and, setting Charls
Jackman, being the master mate, ashor with a convenient
number over lande, mening to compasse them on the one
side, whilst the captaine with his boats might entrap them
on the other side. But landing at last at y^ place where the
night before they left them, they found them with their
tents removed. Notwithstanding, our men which marched
up into y® countrie, passing over two or three tedious
mountains, by chance espied certaine tentes in a valley
underneath them neare unto a creek e by the sea side,
whiche, bycause it was not the place where the guide had
142 THE SECOND VOYAGE
bin the night before, they judged them to be another com-
pany, and besetting them about, determined to take them if
have^boafs^^ they could. But they having quickly descried our companie,
bigue°S launched one great and another small boate, being about 16
The Eng. or 18 persous, and very narrowly escaping, put themselves
lishmen ^ - i • t i
pursue ^Q gg^ Whereupon our souldiers discharged their calivers and
tnose peo- -t
cJumrey'* followed them, thinking the noise therof being hearde to our
boats at sea, our men there woulde make what speede they
might to that place. And therupon, indeede, our men whiche
were in the boats (crossing uppon them in the mouth of the
Tbe swift sounde, whereby their passage was let from getting sea
rowing of ' -^ -^ '-^
those peo- ;^.oon^e^ wherciu it had bin impossible for us to overtake them
by rowing) forced them to put themselves ashore upon a
point of lande within the said sound (which upon the occa-
The BiouJy ^[q^i of the slaughter there was since named the Bloudie
Point. ^
Point) whereunto our men so speedily followed, that they
hadde little leysure lefte them to make any escape. But so
Yorkes soouo as thcv landed, eche of them brake his oare, thinking
Sound. -^ ^
by that meanes to prevent us in carying awaye their boates
for want of oares. And desperately retorning upon our
men, resisted them manfullye in their landing, so long as
Ahotskir- thevr arrows and dartes lasted; and, after gathering up those
laisb be- *' e-. cj i
j?ngHshand arrows which our men shot at them, yea, and plucking our
Suat.'ey.^''* arrowcs out of their bodies, encountred afresh againe, and
maintained their cause, until both weapons and life utterly
failed them. And when they founde they were mortally
Thedespe- "wounded, beinsT isrnorant what mercy meaneth, with deadly
rate nature " ^ o o ^ ' ./
plop?e.^ furie they cast themselves headlong from off the rocks into
the sea, least perhaps their enemies shoulde receive glory or
praye of their dead carcasses ; for they supposed us be
like to be canibales, or eaters of mans flesh. In this con-
flict one of our men was dangerouslie hurt in the bellie with
one of their arrowes, and of them were slayne five or sixe.
The rest by flight escaped among the rockes, saving two
women, whereof the one being old and ougly, our men
e taking
he WO-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 143
thought she had bin a divell or some witch, and therefore
let her go: the other being yong, and combred with a suck-
ing childe at hir backe, hiding herselfe behinde the rocks,
was espied by one of oure men, who, supposing she had bin ^^^l
a man, shot through the heare of hir head, and pierced hir'chiid.
through the child's arme, whereupon she cried out, and was
taken, and our surgeon, meaning to heale hir child's arme,
applyed salves therunto. But, she not acquainted with such kind^o?sur-
kinde of surgerie, plucked those salves away, and, by con- NTtwr^'*^^'
tinuall licking with hir own tongue, not much unlike our
dogges, healed uppe the child's arme. And bycause the
daye was well neare spent, oure menne made haste unto the
reste of oure companie, which on the other side of the water
remained at the tents, where theye founde by the apparell,
letter, and other English furniture, that they were the same
companye whiche Captaine Yorke discovered the night be-
fore, having removed themselves from the place where he
left them. And now considering their sodaine flying from
our men, and their desperate manner of fighting, we beganne
to suspect that we hadde already heard the laste newes of
our men, whiche the laste yeare were betrayed of these peo-
ple. And considering, also, their ravenesse and bloudy dis-
position in eating anye kinde of rawe flesh or carrion,
howsoever stinking, it is to be thoughte that they had slaine
and devoured oure men. For the doublet whiche was
founde in their tentes had many therein, being made with
their arrowes and darts.
But nowe the night beinge at hande, our men with their
captives and suche poore stuflfe as they found in their tentes,
returned towardes their shippes ; when being at sea there
arose a sodaine flawe of winde, which was not a little dan-
gerous for their small boates. But, as God would, they
came all safely aboorde. And with these good newes they
retourned (as before mentioned) into the Countesse of War-
wicks Sound, unto us, and betweene Jackmans Sound,
144
THE SECOND VOYAGE
from whence they came, and the Countesse of Warwicks
Sound, betweene laud and land, beiuge thoughte the nar-
?(?wesfp'iace ^^^^cst placc of the straightes were judged nine leagues over
straightes ^t Icaste I and Jackmans Sounde being uppon the Souther-
over, lande, lyeth directlye almoste over againste ihe Countesses
Sound, as is reckned, scarce thirty leagues within the
straightes from the Queenes Cape, whiche is the entrance
of the Straightes of Southerland, being the supposed conti-
Queenes n^nt of America. This Cape being named Queene Eliza-
^*^®' beths Cape, standeth in the latitude of degrees and a
halfe to the northwardes of Newefound lande, and uppon
the same continent, for any thing that is yet knowen to the
contrarie.
Having now got a woman captive for the comfort of our
of ui'e m'?e^ niau, wc brought them both togither, and every man with
twISarfives silcncc desired to beholde the manner of their meeting and
entertain- entertainment, the whiche was more worth the beholdini<
ment. ^
than can be well expressed by writing. At theyr first en-
countering, they behelde cache the other very wistly a good
space, withoute speeche or worde uttered, with greate
change of coloure and countenance, as though it seemed the
greefe and disdeyne of their captivitie had taken away the
use of their tongues and utterance : the woman at the firsft
verie suddaynely, as though she disdeyncd or regarded not
the man, turned away and beganne to sing, as though she
minded another matter : but being agayne broughte to-
gyther, the man brake up the silence first, and with sterne
and stayed "countenance beganne to tell a long solemne tale
to the woman, whereunto she gave good hearing, and inter-
rupted him nothing till he had finished, and, afterwards
being grow en into more familiar acquaintance by speech,
were turned togither, so that (I think) the one would hardly
have lived without the comfort of the other. And, for so
muche as we could perceive, albeit they lived continually
togither, yet did they never use as man and wife, though
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 145
the woman spared not to do all necessarie things that apper-
teyned to a good huswife indifferently for them both, as in
making cleane their cabin, and every other thing that ap-
perteyned to his ease: for when hee was seasicke, shee would
make him cleane, she would kill and flea y® dogges for their
eating and dresse his meate. Only I thinke it worth the
noting the continencie of them both; for the man would
never shifte himselfe, except he had firste caused the woman
to depart out of his cabin, and they both were most shame-
fast least anye of their privie parts should be discovered, StiiSsr^"
eyther of themselves or any other body. Se'^of uiSa
On Monday, the sixth of August, the lieutenante, wyth Japiwes.
all the souldyers, for the better garde of the myners, and the
other things a shoare, pitched their tents in the Countesses
Ilande, and fortified the place for their better defence as well
as they could, and were to the number of forty persons :
when beinsf all at labour they misfht perceyve uppon the Auoiher
^ ./ o i ^ 1 r appearauce
toppe of a hill over against them a number of the countrey co^JJ^Jrie
people wafting with a flagge and making great outcries unto i'^'^p'®-
them, and were of the same companie whiche had encountred
lately our men upon the same shoare, being come to com-
playne their late losses and to entreate (as it seemed) for
restitution of the woman and chylde, whyche our men in the
late conflict had taken and brought away : whereuppon the
generall taking the savage captive with him, and setting the
woman where they mighte best perceyve hir, in the highest
place of the ilande, wente over so talk with them. Thys
captive at the fyrste enconntrie of hys friends, fell so out
into teares, that he could not speake a worde in a greate
space ; but, after a while, overcomming his kyndnesse, hee
talked at full wyth hys companyons, and bestowed friendly
uppon them suche toyes and trifles as we had gyven him,
whereby we noted that they are verie kynde one to the
other, and greatly sorrowfidl for the loss of their friendes.
Ourc generall by signes requyred his five men whyche they
L
the use of
writ ins?.
A letter
sent to tlie
five Kiig-
lish can-
tives.
146 THE SECOND VOYAGE
took captive the last yeare, and promised them not only to
releasse those whyche hee hadde taken, but also to reward
them wyth greate giftes and friendship. Oar savage made
signes in answere from them, that oure men shoulde be de-
lyvred us, and were yet living, and made signes lykewise
These peo. vinto US, that wee shoulde write oure letters unto them: for
pie know ' '
they knewe very -well the use we have of writing, and re-
ceyved knowledge thereof, eyther of oure poore captive
countreymen whyche they betrayed, or else by thys oure
newe captive who hathe scene us dayly write and repeate
agayne such wordes of hys language as we desired to learne :
but they, for thys nyght, bycause it was late, departed with-
out any letter, although they called earnestlie in haste for
the same. And the nexte mornyng earelie, beeyng the
seaventh of August, they called agayne for the letter,
whyche beeyng delyvred unto them, they speedily departed,
making signes wyth three fingers, and poyntyng to the
sunne, that they meante to returne wythin three dayes, un-
tyll whyche tyme we hearde no more of them : and, aboute
the tyme appoynted, they returned in suche sorte as you
shall after wardes heare.
Thys nyghte, bycause the people were very neere unto us,
the lieutenant caused the trumpet to sounde a call, and
everie man in the ilande repayring to the auntiente, he putte
them in mynde of the place so farre from theyr countrey
wherein they lived, and the danger of a multitude whyche
they were subject unto, if good watche and warde were
not kepte; for at everie lowe water the enimie myghte come
almost dryfoote from the mayne unto us, w^herefore hee
wylled every e man to prepare hym in good readynesse
uppon all soddayne occasions, and so giving the watch their
charge, the company departed to rest.
I thought the captaynes letter well worth the remembring,
not for the circumstance of curious enditing, but for the
substance and good meaning therein contayned, and there-
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. l47
fore have repeated heere the same, as by himselfe it was
hastilie written.
THE FORME OF MARTIN FROBISHERS LETTER TO THE
ENGLISHE CAPTIVES.
In the name of God, in whom we al beleve, who, I trust,
hath preserved your bodyes and souls amongst these infidels,
I commend me unto you. I will be glad to seeke by all
meanes you can devise, for your deliverance, eyther with
force or with any commodities within my shippes, which I
will not spare for your sakes, or anything else I can do for
you. I have aboord of theyrs a man, a woman, and a childe,
which I am contented to deliver for you ; but the man I
carried away from hence the laste yeare, is dead in Eng-
land. Moreover, you may declare unto them, that if they
deliver you not, I wyll not leave a manne alive in their
countrey. And thus unto God, whome I trust you do serve,
in haste I leave you, and to him we will dayly pray for you.
This Tuesdaye morning, the seaventh of August, anno 1577.
Yours to the uttermost of my power,
Martin Frobisher,
I have sent you by these bearers, pcnne, incke, and paper, rostsciipt.
to write backe unto me agayne, if personally you can not
come to certifye me of your estate.
Now, had the generall altered his determination for going
any further into the straights at this time, for any further '''|'e causo
discoverie of the passage, having taken a man and a woman f',ed noTui
of that countrey, whiche he thought sufficiente for the use Jcstraightes
of language; and having also mette wyth these people heere,
which intercepted his men the last yeare (as the apparell and
Knglislic furniture whiche was found in their tentes very
well declared), he knewe it was but labour lost to seeke
them further off, when he had found them there at hand.
And considering, also, the shorte time he had in hande, he
L 2
Bulwaike.
148 THE SECOND vm'AGP:
thoughte it best to bend his whole endevour for the getting
of rayne, and to leave the passage further to be discovered
hereafter. For his commission directed hym in this voyage
only for the searching of the gold ore, and to deferre the
further discouverie of the passage untill another tyme.
On Thurseday, the ninth of August, we beganne to make
a small fort for our defence in the Countesse Hand, and en-
trenched a corner of a cliffe, which on thre parts like a wall
of good heygth was compassed and well fenced with the sea,
and we finished the rest with caskes of earth to good pur-
pose, and this was called Bestes Bulwarke, after the lieu-
tenants name, who first devised the same. This was done
for that we suspected more least the desperate men might
oppresse us with multitude than any feare we had of their
force, weapons, or policie of battell, but as wisdome would
us in such place (so far from home), not to be of our selves
altogither carelesse : so the signes whiche cure captive made
unto us of the comming downe of his governoure or prince,
Their king which hc Called Catchoe, crave us occasion to foresee what
called ^
Catchoe. ii^\g]^i cusuc thereof; for he shewed by signes, that this
Catchoe was a man of higher stature far than any of our
honoured^ natiou is, and he is accustomed to be carried upon mens
shoulders.
Aboute midnighte the lieutenant caused a false alarme to
be given in the iland, to prove as well the readynesse of the
companie there a shoare, as also what help might be hoped
for upon the suddayne from the shyppes if neede so required,
and every part was found in good readynesse upon such a
suddayne.
Saturday, the eleventh of August, the people shewed
themselves agayne, and called unto us from the side of a hil
over against us. The generall (with good hope to heare of
hys men, and to have aunswer of his letter), wente over
unto them^ where they presented themselves, not above
thrte in sight, but were hidden in deedc in greater numbers
ged for
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 149
behynde the rockes, and makyng signes of delay with us to
entrappe some of us to redeeme theyr owne, did onely
seek advantage to trayne our boate aboute a poynte of lando
from sight of our companie : whereupon, our menne justly
suspecting them, kepte aloofe without their danger, and yette
sette one of our companie a shore, whyche tooke up a grcate a bifia.ei
blather whiche one of them offered us, and leavinge a looking Va^sg''"^
glass in the place, came into the boate agayne. In the meane
while, our men whyche stoode in the Countesses Hand to be-
hold, who might better discerne them, than those in the
boate, for that thev saw divers of the savaores creepin"^ be- ??"°r^t''|
' •' n r o the Knghsh
hynde the rocks towards our men: whereuppon the generall '^'^p^^^'^''-
presently returned without tidings of his men.
Concerning this blather which we receyved, our captive
made signes that it was given him to keepe water and drinke
in ; but we suspected rather it was gyven hym to swimmc '|'" what
and shifte away withall; for he and the woman sought divers Ijglivered!*^^
times to escape, having loosed our boates from a sterne our
shippes, and wee never a boate lefte to pursue them withall,
and had prevayled verie farrc, had they not bin verie timelie
espyed, and prevented therein.
After our generalls comming away from them, they mus-
tered themselves in our sight uppon the toppe of a hill, to iiiose
the number of twentic in a ranckc, all holdyn^jf handes over ii'iu"^\"g
' ./ o upon the
theyr heads, and dauncing, with greate noyse and songs to- '"" ^"'''"^^
gither, wee supposed they made thys daunce and shew for
us to understand, that we might take vew of theyr whole
companyes and force, meaninge belike, that we should doe
the same. And thus they continued uppon the hyll toppes
untyll nighte, when hearinge a peece of oure greate ordi-
nance, svhiche thundered in the hollo wnesse of the hygh
hylles, made unto them so fearefull a noyse, that they hadde
no greate wyll to tarrie long after. And this was done, more
to make them knowe oure force, than to do them anye hurte
at all.
A skirmish
showed to
150 THE SECOND VOYAGE
On Sunday, the twelfth of August, Captayne Fenton
trayned the companye, and made the souldyoures maine-
teyne skyrmishe among themselves, as well for theyr exer-
cise, as for the countrey people to beholde in what readynesse
those pec- Qurc monue were alwayes to bee founde ; for it was to bee
thoughte that they lay hydde in the hylles thereaboute, and
observed all the manner of our proceedings.
On Wensday, the foureteenth of August, our generall, wyth
two small boates, well appoynted ; for that he suspected the
countrey people to lye lurking thereaboute, wente up a cer-
tayne bay wythin the Countesses Sound, to search for ore,
and mette agayne wyth the countrey people, who so soone
as they saw our men, made greate outcryes, and with a
Their flags white flaggc made of blathers, sowed tbgythcr wyth the
made of
blathers, guttcs and siucwes of beastes, wafted us amayne unto them,
but shewed not above three of theyr companye. But when
wee came neere them, wee myght perceyve a greate multi-
tude creeping behynde the rocks, whyche gave us good
cause to suspecte theyr trayterous meaning : whcreuppon
we made them signes, that if they would lay their weapons
aside, and come forth, we woulde deale friendly with them,
although theyr intente was manifested unto us : but, for all
the signes of friendship we coulde make them, they came
still creeping towards us behinde the rockes to get more ad-
vantage of us, as though we had no eyes to see them, thinking
belike, that our single wittes could not discover so bare de-
vise and simple drifts of theyrs. Theyr spokesman earnestly
persuaded us, with many enticing notices, to come, eat, and
sleepe ashore, with great arguments of courtesie, and clap-
ping his bare handes over his head in token of peace and
innocencie, willed us to do the like. But, the better to
allure our hungry stomachs, he brought us a trimme bayte
of raw flesh, which, for fashion sake, with a boathooke, we
caught into our boate: but when the cunning cater perceived
his first cold morsell could nothing sharpen our stomacks,
OF AIA.RT1N' FROBISHER. 151
lie cast about for a new trayne of war me ileshe to procure
our appetites, wherefore he caused one of hys fellowes in Great
halting manner, to come forth as a lame man from behind
the rockes, and the better to declare his kindnesse in carving,
he hoysed him uppon his shoulders, and bringing him hard
to the water side where we were, lefte him there lymping,
as an easie pray to be taken of us. His hope was, that wc
would bite at this bayte, and spedily leape ashore within
their danger, whereby they might have apprehended some
of us, to ransome theyr friendes home againe, which before
we had taken : but, I doubt, our flesh is so sweete meate for
them, that they will hardly part from so good morsels, if we
come once ncre their handling. The gentlemen and soul-
diers had great will to encounter them ashore, but the gene-
rail more carefull by processe of time to winne them, than
wilfullie at the first to spoyle them, would in no wise ad-
mitte that any man shoulde put himselfe in hazarde ashore,
considering the matter he now entended was for the ore and
not for the conquest : notwithstanding, to prove this criples
footemanshippe, he gave liberty for one to shoote : where-
uppon, the criple having a parting blowe, lightly recovered
a rocke, and went awaye a true and no fained criple, and
hath learned his lesson for ever halting afore suche criples
againe. But his fellows whiche lay hid before, full quickely
there appeared in their likenesse, and maintained the skir-
mishe with theyr slings, bowes, and arrowes very fiercely,
and came as neere as the water suffered them : and with as
desperate minde as hath bin scene in any men, withoute
feare of shotte or any thing, followed us all along y^ coast,
but al their shot fel short of us, and are of little danger.
They had belay d al y^ coaste along for us, and being dis-
persed so, were not wel to be numbred, but we might dis-
cerne of them above one hundreth persons, and had cause
to suspect a greater number. And thus, withoute losse or
hurte, we returned to our shippes againe.
152 THE SECOND VOYAGE
Nowe, our worke growing towardes an end, and having
onely with five poore miners, and the helpe of a fewe gentle-
men and souldiers, brought aboorde almost twoo hundreth
tunne of golde ore, in the space of twentie dayes, every man
therewithal wel comforted, determined lustily to worke
afreshe for a bone voyage, to bring our laboure to a speedie
and happy ende.
And upon Wednesday, at night, being the one and
twentieth of August, we fully finished the whole worke.
And it was now good time to leave ; for, as the men were
wel wearied, so their shoes and clothes were well worne,
their baskets bottoms torne out, their tooles broken, and the
shippes reasonably well filled. Some with over-straining
themselves received hurtes not a little daungerous, some
having their bellies broken, and others their legges made
lame. And about this time y^ ise began to congeale and
freese about our ships sides a night, whiche gave us a good
argument of the sunnes declyning southwarde, and put us
in minde to make more haste homeward.
It is not a little worth the memorie, to the commendation
of the gentlemen and souldiers herein, who leaving all repu-
tation aparte with so great willingnesse, and with couragious
stomacks have themselves almost overcome in so short a
time, the difficultie of this so great a laboure. And this to
be true, the matter, if it be well wayed, without further
proofe, nowe brought home, dothe well witnesse, God graunt
for their forwarde mindes, they may be as well considered,
as theyr honest merites have well deserved.
Thurseday, the 22 of August, we plucked downe oure
tentes, and every man hasted homewarde, and making bone-
fires uppon the toppe of the highest mount of the ilanci, we
gave a vollie of shotte for a farewell, in honour of the right
Honourable Lady Anne, Countesse of Warwicke, whose
name it beareth, and so departed aboorde.
The 23 of August, having the wind large at west, wee
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 153
sette sayle from out of the Countesses Sound homeward, but
the winde calming, we came to anker within the poynt of
the same sound agayne.
The 24 of August, about three of the clocke in the morn-
ing, having the winde large at west, we sette sayle agayne,
and by nine of the clocke at nighte, we left the Queenes For-
land asterne us, and, being cleere of the Straytes, we bare
further into the mayne ocean, keeping our course more
southerly, to bring our selves the sooner under the latitude
of oure owne climate.
The wynde was very greate at sea, so that we laye a hull
all night, and had snowe halfe a foote deepe on the hatches, afo^tdeepe
From the 24 untill the 28, we had very muche winde,
but large keeping our course south south-east, and were
lyke to have lost the barkes, but by good happe we mette
agayne. The heygth being taken, we were in degrees
and a halfe.
The nine and twentieth of August, the winde blewe
muche at northeast, so that we coulde beare but onely a
hunt of our foresayle, and the barkes not being able to
carrie any sayle at all.
The Michaell lost company of us, and shaped hir course
towardes Orkney as we supposed, bycause that way was better
knowne unto them.
The thirtieth of August, with the force of the wynd, and a
surge of the sea, the mayster of the Gabriell and the boateson '^^^.^^^^^^
were stricken both overboorde, and hardly was the boateson st.iiSf'"^''
recovered, having holde on a roape hangmg overboorde m
the sea, and yet the barke was laced fore and afte with ropes
a breast high within boorde.
Thys mayster was called William Smyth, beeying but a
yong man, and a very sufficient maryner, who beeing all the
morning before exceeding pleasaunte, tolde hys captayne hee
dreamed that he was cast overboorde, and that the boateson
hadde hym by the hande, and could not save hym, and so
154 THE SECOND VOYAGE
immediately uppon the eude of hys tale, hys dreame came
right evelly to passe, and indeede the boteson in like sorte
helde hym by one hande, having hold on a rope with the
other, untill hys force fayled, and the mayster drowned. The
heygth being taken we found oure selves to bee in the
latitude of degrees and a halfe, and reckoned our selves
from the Queene's Cape homeward, about two hundreth
leagues.
The last of August, aboute midnighte we had two or three
great and suddayne flawes or stormes.
The firste of September, the storme was growne very
groate, and continued almoste the whole day and night, and
lying a hull to tarry for the barkes, our ship was much beaten
with the seas, every sea almoste overtaking oure poope, that
we were constrained with a bunte of oure saile, to try it oute,
and ease the rolling of oure shippe. And so the Gahriell
not able to beare any saile to keepe company with us, and
oure shippe being higher in the poope, and a tall shippe,
wheron the winde had more force to drive, went so fast
awaye, that we loste sighte of them, and lefte them to God and
their good fortune of sea. The seconde daye of September
in the morning, it pleased God of hys goodnesse to sonde us
riie rudder ^ (.^^[^-^g^ whcroby we perceived the rudder of oure shippe
torne in twaine, and almost ready to fall away. Wherefore
taking the benefite of the time, we flung halfe a dozen couple
of our best men overboard, who taking great paines under
water, driving plancks, and binding with ropes, did wel
strengthen and mend the matter, who returned the most
parte more than halfe deade out of the water, and as God's
pleasure was, the sea was calme untill the worke was finished.
The fifth of September, the height of the sun being taken,
we founde ourselves to be in the latitude of degrees
and a half. In this voyage commonly we took the latitude
of the place by y^ height of the sun, bycause the long day
taketh away the light not only of the polar, but also of all
of the Ayde
tome in
tw.iiiie.
OF MARTIN FROBTSHEK. 155
Other fixed starres. And here the north starre is so muche }^^.Y V^^
latitudes
elevated above the horizon, that with the stafFe it is hardly '^aylslakeu
to be wel observed, and the degrees in the Astrolobe are too \'oy^gl
small to observe minutes. Therefore we alwaies used the the staffe
thau Astro-
staffe and the sunne, as fittest instruments for this use. loi^e.
Having spent foure or five dayes in traverse of the seas
with contrarye winde, making oure souther way good as
neare as we could, to raise our degrees to bring ourselves
with the latitude of Sylley, we tooke the height the tenth of
September, and founde ourselves in the latitude of degrees
and ten minutes. The eleaventh of September about sixe
a clocke at night the wind came good southwest, we verde
short and sette oure course southest.
And upon Thursday, the twelfth day of September, taking
the height, we were in the latitude of and a halfe, and
reckened oure selves not paste one hundred and fiftie
leagues short of Sylley, the weather faire, the winde large
at west-south-west, we kepte our course southest.
The thirteenth daye the height being taken, we founde
ourselves to be in the latitude of degrees, the wind
west-south-west, then being in the height of Sylley, and we
kept our course east, to run in with the sleeve or channel so
called, being our narrow seas, and reckoned as shorte of
Sylley twelve leagues. Sonday, the fifteenth of September,
aboute foure of the clocke, wee began to sounde with oure
lead, and hadde grounde at sixty-one fadome depth, white
small sandie grounde, and reckned us upon the backe of
Sylley, and set our course easte and by north, eastc north-
easte, and north-east among.
The sixteenth of September, about eight of the clocke in
the morning sounding, we had sixty-five fadome osey sande,
and thought ourselves thwart of Saint Georges Channell a
a little within the bankes. And bearing a small spcile all
nighte, we made many soundings, whiche were aboute fortie
fadome, and so shallowc that we coulde not well tell where
we were.
156 THE SECOND VOYAGE
The seaventeenth of September we sounded, and had fortie
fadome, and were not farre off the landes end, branded sande
with small worms and cockle-shells, and were shotte be-
tweene Sylley and the landes ende, and bemg within the
baye, we were not able to double the pointe wyth a south and
by east way, but were fayne to make another boorde, the
wynde beeyng at southweast, and by weast, and yet could
not double the poynte, to come cleere of the landes ende, to
beare along the Channell : and the weather cleered up when
we were hard aboorde the shore, and we made the landes
ende perfite, and so put up alongst Sainte Georges Channell:
and the weather beeyng very foule at sea, we coveted some
harborough, bycause our steerage was broken, and so came
The arrivaii to aukcr in Padstowe roade in Cornewall. But riding there,
of the Ayde
in co7mmn ^ ^^^'Y daugcrous roade, we were advised by the countrey to
put to sea agayne, and of the two evils, to choose the lesse,
for there was nothing but present perill where we roade :
whereuppon we plyed along the Channell to gette to Londy,
from whence we were agayne driven, being but an open
roade, where our ancker came home, and with force of
weather put to seas agayne, and aboute the three and
Our coming twentith of September, arrived at Milforde Haven in Wales,
whyche beeyng a very good harborough, made us happy
men, that we hadde receyved suche longe desired safetie.
And more happie we helde our selves, not for the safetie of
ourselves so muche, as the comforte that we had that our
countrey shoulde thereby have perfecte knowledge of oure
discoverie, to the greate benefyte of oure common wealth.
Aboute one moneth after oure arrivaii heere, by order
rhe:urivaii froui the Lordes of the Counsell, the shippe came up to
Bristowe, where the ore was committed to keeping in the
castell there. Heere we founde the Gabriell, one of the
barkes, arrived in good safetie, who having never a man
within boorde very sufficient to bring home the shyppe, after
the mayster was lost, by good fortune, when she came upon
Jlnven.
nt the
Gabricll
at Bristow,
OF MARTIN FROBISHER. 157
the coast, mette with a shyppe of Bristowe at sea, who con-
ducted hir in safetie thither.
Here we heard good tidings also of the arrivall of the other ]S])®,^„,,^;
barke called the Michaell, in the north partes, whyche was the north
not a little joyful! unto us, that it pleased God so to bring us ^^
to a safe meeting agayne, and lost in all the voyage only one
man, besydes one that dyed at sea, whiche was sicke before man ci7ed in
he came aboord, and was so desirous to foUowe this enter-
prise, that he rather chose to dye therein, than not to be one
to attemptc so notable a voyage.
FINIS
[Another account of this Voyage was written by Master
Dionisi Settle, and will be found in tlic xii volume of
Pinkerion^ s Voyages and Travels. London, 181^.]
STATE PAPERS SUBSEQUENT TO THE
SECOND VOYAGE.
I. MR. LOCKES MEMORIAL.
II. ORDER FOR THE SHIPPES TO UNLOAD.
III. LIST OF THOSE THAT NOW DESYRE TO BE VENTUIlARS.
IV. WHAT MICHAEL LOK HATHE DONE FOR THE VOYAGE.
V. THE BRYEFE ACCOUNT OF THE EXPENSES OF THE SECOND VOYAGE.
STATE PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE TRIAL OF THE ORE
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
I. DR. BURCOT ON HIS TRIALE OF THE OWHE.
II. FROM MR. LOK WHAT CHARGES ARE REQUISITE FOR THE
FYNYNGE OF THE EWRE.
III. FROM MY LORDS TO MR. LOK TO COLLECT £900 OF THE VEN-
TURERS.
IV. FKOM MR. G. LE BRUM, TRYALL OF METAL FALLING NOT OWT.
V. FROM DR. BURCOT, A PROOFE OF HOW MUCH OOWLD AND SILVER
A POUND OF ORE YIELDETH.
VI. A LITTLE BUNDLE OF THE TRYEING OF THE NORTHWEST EWRE
VII. FROM DR. BURCHART TO MR. SECRETARY WALSYNGHAM TOUCHYNG
THE NORTHWEST EWRE.
VIII. A DECLARATION OF THE VALUE OF THE NORTHWEST EWRE.'
IX, FROM DR. BURCOT TOUCHYNG HIS CUNYNGE AND OFFER ABOUT
TRYINGE THE EWRE.
X. TO THE LORD TREASURER AND LORD CHAMBERLAIN ABOWTE
THE NORTHWEST EWRE.
XI. THE ACCOMPTE TAKEN AT MUSCOVIE HOUSE OF CC WEIGHT OF
THE EWRE.
STATE PAPERS
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
[Colonial ^\. Domestic Eliz., cxv. No. 35.]
MR. LOCKES MEMORIAL.
To the Queries Ma'i'^« most honorable Privye Councell.
Maye it please yo^ honors in most humble maner to be advertised.
The ij ships Ayde and Gabriell are arived at Bristowe in saffetve
accordinge to yo"" honors orders.
And yf yo^ honor's doo think it good to dyseharge the ure on land The dis-
there yt may please yof honors to gyve order (under correction) the '"Sft
that Mr. Furbisher may delyver the same by weight, and that ^"^'°^^®'
the same may be kept in the castell or other saffe place there under iiij
severall lokes and keys wherof one w'li the Mayor of Bristowe, one w'''
Sir Richard Barkley, one w^i Mr. Furbisher, and one w^'' Michael Lok,
or any other of the venturars as shall seeme good to yo'" honors. Also
there is to be payd presently uppon the dyschargenge of the ships
ladynge viij^' poundes of money or more for the wagys of the souldiars
and maryners wd' have sarved w^'^i doo remayne styll at charges of the
companye for meate and wagys untill they be payd the w*"!! sayd money The wages
cannot be found in London uppon interest nor exchange notw^^standinge mo'Jjey'for^
the dyllygens used by the Commyssyoners to take up the same wherefore Jf ^jfe m*^^®
for the provision therof restethe but ij meanes. Fyrstyf it would please "ei-sand
sowldiers
the Queues Ma^'^ to prest the same for iij monthes untill the ore may be
melted downe wc^^ may be receved of her Mamies customars or other
ofFycers at Brystowe or ells the same must be ceassed and collected of all
the venturars accordinge to the rate of their stok ventured wt' would be
but xxv'' for every c^' of their venture, but it would be very longe tyme
and moche dyfficultye in collection.
Also the ship Michael is now in the Ryver of Tamys arived in safFety
by Gods grace and the same ship must be presently dyscharged at
London. And the Comyssioners doo think good to put the ure in safFe ''""*' '^'^^•
custodye in the howsse wher S'' Willm Wynter dothe now dwell at tile me at
S*- Katheryns hyll, where they have alredy made a furnace to melt ^"°"'^""-
downe the same. May it please yo»" honors to gyve order that the same
may also be delyvred by weight and kept under iiij loks and keys to bo
M
162 STATE PAPERS
[in] the custodye of Sr William Wyntar, Mr. Thomas Randall, Mr.
Furbisher, and Michael Lok or others as to yo^ honors [semethe] good.
Also yt may please yo^ honors to gyve ordre and auctoritie to the sayd
To^PiJoyte Commyssioners w^b are S'' William Wyntar, Mr. Thomas Randall, George
sioners to ^Yy^tar, Anthonye Jenkynson, Edmond Hogan, Michael Lok. And to
melting. ^ joyne to them Mr. Furbisher or any others that yo^ honors shall lyke
that they maye consulte and determyne for the spedye meltynge downe
of the ure bothe at London and at Brystowe.
Michael ^^^ wheras Michael Lok for the advancement of this voyages for the
re^ue?t. space of iij yeres of his own goodwyll hathe taken the paynes and charge
of kepyng all accountts to reconynces frely w^^^out any recompence,and
hathe byn named tresourer, thoughe he hathe had but lytle tresour in
his kepynge. Now yf yC" honors doo lyke well of his doynges acordinge
to his small power yt may plese yo^ honors to ratifye hym in that offyce
to take charge of the money and treasour of this companye to account and
hereafter to cousyder of hyra for his paynes and doynges as to yo^ honors
shall seeme good or his defectes shall appere.
\_CoJonia.l, 55. Domestic Eliz., cxvi, No. 14.]
XIIJ DIE OCTOBRIS, 1577. A NOTE OF MONEY PRESENTLYE TO
BE DISBURSED FOR MARYNERS WAGES OF THE THREE
SHIPPES RETORNED W^" MR. FURBUSSHER.
In primis for the wages of an hundreth maryners in all the three
shipps, at severall rates, from x? to vj^' xiij' iiij'' for a man the moneth,
amounteth to the some of cxl'' the moneth, w^i from the ffirst of June
unto the last of October beinge ffyve monethes, amounteth in the hole
to ye somme of dcc^'.
At x« ye men. Item for wages for xxvj'' souldiors, for the sayde ffyve
monethes, as it shall please yo'" honors.
Item for recompence for xiiij gentilmen duringe the tyme aforesayde,
as it shall please yo^ honors to consyder of some reasonable porcion of
the adventure.
This money cannot yet be found to be taken uppon interest nor ex-
change.
And yf it be levied by collection uppon the venturars, it will come to
xxv'^ uppon everie c'' of ther venture.
Item, whether their honors doo continew in mynde that the ij ships
at Bristow shall discharge there or come to London.
Item, whether Michael Lok shall contynew still Treasorer or not.
Indorsed. For the ships of Cathai to be unladen.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
163
[Colonial, 55. Domestic Eliz., cxvi, No. 24.]
AN ORDEK OF MY LORDS, THE 16 OF OCTOBER, 1577, FOR PAY-
MENT TO BE MADE TO THE MARINERS AND SOULDIERS OF
THE CATHAY YIAGE.
Where as there is presently to bee disbursed for the discharge of
suche mariners and souldiers as have been employed in the viage to-
wards the northwest under Captayue Ffurbisher, the somme of eight
hundrethe powndes, yt is ordred that suche as have been adventurers
in the sayd viage should contribute toward the discharge of the sayd
somme of viij'^', after twentie in the hundrethe, pro rata, w^^ sayd con-
tribution is thought also meete to bee delivered into the handes of
Michaell Locke, Treasorer for the Companie, beynge appointed to give
bylles signed under his hand for suche sommes as he shall receave.
\_Colonial, East Indies, 54. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 44.]
These desyre now to be venturars in the goodes now come home,
well may be graunted uppon the whole stok now come home, or ells in
the next adventure, as yor honors shall thynk good.
My Lord Kepar ..... Ii25
Therle of Bedford ..... li^5
Mr. Controllar ..... li-16
The Erie of Oxford ..... Ii2^
My Lord Hunsdon ..... 1125
My Lord Charles Howard .... Ii25
My Lord of Comerland .... ^125
My Lord Cobham' ..... ^^25
My Lord Wharton . , . . . ^^25
Mr. Ilatton ...... /^25
Mr. Hennage ..... Ii2b
Mr. Horsey ...... Ii25
Sr Humfrey Gilbart ..... Ii25
Mr. Woolley ...... Ii26
William Kyllygrew ..... ^^25
Thomas Dudley ..... U25
Raffe Lane ...... ^^25
Hew Smythe . . . . . Ii26
John Dee ...... Ii25
Jeffrey Ducket ..... U-i^
Thomas Nyccolls ..... U^o
Added in another ink.
Ii6{)0
M 2
164
STATE PAPERS
Francis Mylles'^
.
1126
Laurens Tomson
.
mb
Arture Dawbney
.
lv26
John Capelin
.
li25
Thomas Cesar
•
li25
[Colonial East Indies, 70. Domestic Eliz.. cxxx, No. 35.]
THE NAMES OF THE VENTURARS OF BOTHE THE VOYAGES
MADE BY MAKTIN FURBUSHER,
GENT.
TO THE NORTH-WEST,
ANNO 1576 AND ANNO 1577.
Stok.
Cessement.
The Quenes Ma^ie . . . ^ilOOO
^i200
n the first voiage
lib^ The Lord Highe Treasorer . . ^zlOO
U20
The Lord highe Admyrall
^aoo
U20
libi) The Lord highe Chamberlayn
^aoo
' H20
50 The Erie of Warwyke .
ZzlOO
7/20
50 The Erie of Leycester .
/a 50
li30
Mr. Treasorer of the Q. Ma"*^ household ^/50
li\0
25 Mr. Secretarie Walsingham, for hym
sellffe and others . . . ^t400
li80
Mr. Secretarie Wyllson .
£2050.
lilO
The Erie of Pembroke .
Iil50
liSO
The Countesse of Vv arwyke
1150
U\0
The Countesse of Pembroke
li25
li5
The Lady Anne Talbot .
1125
lib
25 Mr. Phillip Sydney
li50
lilO
100 Sr Thomas Gresham
li200
UAO
25 Sr Leonell Duckett
li50
lilO
Sr William Wyntar
li200
urn
William Pellham
lioO
lilO
Edward Dyar
U25
lib
25 Thomas Randolphe
1150
lilO
George Wyntar .
li50
lilO
Mathew Smythe .
libO
mo
Symon Boyer
li25
lib
25 Anthony Jenkynson
li50
mo
Jeffrey Turvile .
li50
mo
William Payntar
li50
mo
Richard Bowlland
libO
mo
This and the foUowiiK' names arc addod in another ink.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
165
Robert Kyndersley
50 Edmoud Hogan .
25 Mathew Fylld .
Richard Yonge .
Thomas Allyn
William Ormshawe
li500
Christofer Hudson
Thomas Owen
John Dee
Julio Cesar
Eleazar Lok
Gerson Lok
Martin Furbushe'r
100 Michael Lok
100 William Burde li
100 William Bonde li
.£275^ 25 Mathew Kyndersley li
25 Christofer Androwes li
25 Robert Martyn li
li5{)
lilOO
li50
li50
li50
li25
lildOO
lin5
lilO
li20
lilO
lilO
lilO
li5
li2575
liiib
libO
lilO
li25
lis
li25
li6
libO
lilO
U25
U6
li25
li5
moo
li20
lilOOO
li200-
112^0
li20
1120
li 5
li 5
li 5
i:375
^500
Stok 875 Received the first voyage
^{1300
m575
Venturars Zi4875 of first and second voiages
li 275 of first voiage onelie
Received ^i5150 all the stok.
/i315
^^715
^ii030
Cessement.
Ii800 first voiage spent
^i4350 second voiage paid
Ii5l50 paid all the stok
outward.
Received by the said cessement
of 20ii for 100^^ stok ^a030
paid for the mynes /il98
paid for mens wagys of the
iij ships come home lil044
Somme paid the 24 ^i]242
Decembar 1577
166
STATE TAPERS
[Colonial, East Indies, 75. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 30.]
MICHAEL LOK HATHE DONE FOR THE VOYAGE OF CATHAI, AS
FOLOWETHE.
XXV yeres studye and travaylle to satisfye his knowledge thereof.
M^ poundes spent for thinges necessarie for his satisfaction of know-
ledge therof in bookes, maps, cartes, instrumentes, and gyftes to men for
conference therof; wherof is not one peny put to the account besydes all
his howshold charges.
M^ m^ cccc^^i powndes paid and disbursed by hym sellfe for furniture
of the first and second voyages over and above all that he received of all
other venturars w^h ^i2400 he dyd beare venture of in the same first and
second voyages untill the shyps retorned home.
Web said ^^â– 2400 was for the sums of venture wrytten uppon the names
folowinge, wc'i was not paid hym untill the ships retorned, and is not
yett all paid hym, but he had promes of sum of them.
My Lord Highe Treasuror .... U^^
My Lord of Leycester
S'' Thomas Gresham. .
Mr. Doctor Wyllson
George Wyntar
Symon Boyer, he gave pledge
Richard Owen
Julio Cesar
Thomas Cesar ^ M. L.
Eleazar Lok
li\ 00
liVQO
libO
H50
U'25
1125
li25
li25
li25
Summe
For Michael Lok hym sellfe .
For the second voiage. Sum
M. Lok in first voyage
Ventured by M. Lok
Indorsed. Mr. Lock's privat memorandum. 1576 and 1577.
[Colonial, 94. Domestic Eliz., cxxvi, No. 32.]
THE BRYEF ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND VOYAGE, 1577.
^i475
^aooo
^il475
^i825
^/2300
Rec^ of all the venturers
for their stokes . Iidl50
Paid for the A^de . . ^2850
For the Michaell and
Gahriell . . ^i400
For taklinge and rigginge ^i577
For ordnance and muni-
tion . ^i467
5 The last c appears to have been erased.
8UKSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
16'
ReC^ of supplie of
venturers to pay e
wages at retorne
oftheshippes .^il030
lackinge
My Lady Anne .
Talbot . m
The Erie Sus-
sexe
gr \Vm Winter .
SiTho.Greshame
li\0
III 12
UG
For vyttells . . /i963 18 3
For wages outwards . ^{600 12 ,9
For necessaries for the
mynes . . lil'23 8 4
For marchandyse . Ii346 5 ()
^i4328 17 6
For charges outwards . 21 2 6
^i4350
For losse spent first voiage liSOO
Sum paid . Ii5l50
Paid after the ships re-
torne ; paid outwards
above the stoke re-
ceived . . ^il 15 2
Paid for wages of mariners
and gentlemen at re-
tourne of the shipps . Iil582 15 5
Paid for wages of myners
and charges of tryall
4 of the ewer at London ^i324 1 8
li22 12 4 ^11908 12 3
For not rec^ in the sup-
plie of ^11030 . ^i22 12 4
Rest paid
^il931 4 7
lilOZO
^i901 4 7
TUE ACCOUNT OF MONY FOR TUIRD VOYAGE 1578.
Received as follow-^
OftheQ. Matie . i;i350
Of Mathew Feld . £35
Of M. Kindersley . £15
Of S"- Frances Knolles £67
Of Ed. Hoggan . £40
Of L. Pembroke . £202
Of La. Pembroke . £33
10
10
15
Paid as fallowii^
To W"i- Kerin, frestone £4
To Christ. Hawlle,
bristole . . £13
To J. Roberts, bellows £3 10
To Ff. Grene, bucher £100
To Mr. Frobiser . £400
To Pointell, baker . £100
168
STATE PATERS
Of Mr. P. Sydney . X67 10
OfMr.S.Walsingham £182 7
Of Jo.Somers . £67 10
Of Mr. S. Willson . £67 10
Of S^- Henry Wallop £67 10
OfRoberteKyndersley £67 10
Of M. Kindersley . £18 15
Of Erie Warwyke . £135
Of Countesse Warrike £35
Sum received £2452 7
To Mr. Fenton . £50
To Willson, caper,
5. 20. 20. £45
To Jonas, a quarter . £25
To Olyver Skiner, iron £3
To John Gonne, iron £3
To Jo. Roberts, bellowes £2
£20
£50
To Jo. Fysher, smithe £4
To N. Chanselar, 20.25. £35
To F. Shawe, buttar £50
To C. Hawle, bristowe £20
To Ed. Selman, bristowe £62
To F. Lee, shippe . £50
To Ro. Denam, a
quarter lent £12
To P. Barnston,
aquavite . £6
To Mr. Fenton, targats £10
To Ed. Selraan,bristowe £16
To Thomson, carpenter £30
To Hitchecoke, car-
penter
To Poyntell, baker ,
To Mathew, baker
pynnasses
To Ro. Denam, ad-
ditamentes
To Jeronias stoves .
To S. Burow, pynnasse
To Thomson, carpentar
To other od charges,
17 Aprill .
To Mr. Frobiser ace
40. 10. 10.
To Vyllers coUes
To Croker, smithe
To L. Admiralls man
To Stanley, currier,
for lether
To Mr. Fenton
To Mr. Furbusher,
bristowe .
To the shippe Hopewell £50
To Jonas . . £10
To John Ilayles,
Dartford . , £12
(J
5
8
10
£12
£10
£10
£6
£30
£60
£10
£5
£2
£5
£10
£16
£596 5
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
169
Receyt as ffollow*^^
OfMr.Dowgle . £33 15
Of Sr Tho.aresham. £70
Of Lord Tresorer . £100
The 2 May 1578
Of Sr Thomas Gresham £100
Of Rich. Young . £50
Of Christofer Hudson £67
Of Ed. Hogan . £95
£416 5
10
18
4
7
2
7
15
7
9
Somme paid £1958
Paid for second voyage £901
Sum paid £2860
Payments as follow^ii
Sum paid reste . £407
The 23 Aprill 1578.
To Thomas Willson,
coopar . . £10
ToThomson,carpentar £20
To Augar, chaundler £20
The 24 said [month].
ToMr.Hawle,Bristowe £12
To Chanselor purser. £8
To Shawe for butter £20
To Mr. More shipe Foy £48
To Mr. Rasheley
shipe Foy . £48
The 26 said
To Whitnall, coopar £10
To Morris, tente maker 1 1
To Baker, shipwright £16
To Poyntell, baker,
of Lymehouse
To Thomson, carpentar
To Vyllars, secoles .
To Mr. Fenton
To Chanselar purser
The 30 April, 1578
To men of Judeth
wagys . . ;
To Shaw, for fyst .
To Thomson, seacoles
The 3 May.
To Whitnall, coopar
To Willson, cans
To Ffrances Lee, ship
To Thomson, carpenter
To Eliot, brise
To Maryners, Judethe
wages
To Dowd, coopar
To Newson, clokemaker
To J. Roberts, bellowes
To Hopkins, smyth .
To 3J orris, tent maker
1005.
£50
£30
£21 5
£30
£13 18
578.
£110
£40
£18 10
£5
£4 4
£30
£20
£5
£55
£2
£6 12
£4 16
8
£2 15
6
£15
STATE PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE TRIAL OF THE ORE
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE.
[Colonial 11, Domestic Eliz. cxxii. No. 3.]
JANUARY 6th, 1577. FROM DR. BURCOTT OF HIS PROCEEDYNGE
IN THE TRIALL OF THE OWRE.
My humble commendacions Sir Walsingame I gyve you most hartie
thankes for your laboure and delygence for the performinge of your
promysse and the sendinge of my pattane and, I hope by Godes grace to
performe my promysse towardes you I had or this sertefied your Honore
the trewe matter off this ower and my proves butt God hathe towched
me so hard w^i^ the gowte that I have kept my bed this thre wekes and
do yett, and I sertefie your Honore off a trothe that I have mayd a
hundred dyvers sayes of sondry owers out of that lande, and I fynde not
such goodnes in yt as I thought to have founde not prosedinge half an
ounce, as the blacke ower ys and I have prepared and rested accordinge as
I promyssed you, and I cane bringe yt to no clay but I have moltine
doune a pounde, and hathe founde in yt fouer graynes as by this prove
I have sent you dothe appere that will come in a houndred weight
almoste thre quarters of an ounce that is nere xiiii ounces in a tonne and
I dout not when yt is right prepared yt will faule out in the great fyere
very well and I am mynded as sone as I am able W^ii my bodye I will
melte doune a hundred weight and send you that prove accordinglye.
So I byd you fare well w^^i^ my humble disier to advertyse the Queue's
Heignes and my Lord of Lasyter. Datum the vi of January.
Your humble to comand,
Burchard Kranrych.
To his honorable and singuler good frend Sir Fraunces Walsing e,
Seecret e to the heigh.
subsequp:nt to the second voyage. 171
[Colo'/iial, 79. Domestic L'liz., cxxii. No. 9.]
JANUARIE 19th, 1577. FROM MR. MICHAELL LOOKE, WHAT
CHARGES S^ WILL'm WINTAR AND THE REST VPPON THEIR
MEETYNGE HAVE THOUGHT PRESENTLY TO BE REQUISITE FOR
THE FYNYNG OF THE EAVRE AND OTHER THINGES TO BE
FURTHER DONE IN THAT BEHALF.
Right Honorable, accordinge to the commission of Her Mamies Privie
Councell directed to S"" W>^- Wyntar, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Dyar, Mr.
Mr. Yonge, Mr. Furbusher, and my sellf we all (except Mr. Randolph)
have syttogethers theise ij days past, and have consydered thervppon
as the tyme would suffer, and have had before us all the chyef work-
masters for the erectinge of the howsse and furnaces at the mylls at
Dartford, for the meltyng of the ewr brought by Mr. Furbusher, and as
nere as we can esteme the charges therof wylbe thus : —
For bryk, stone, tyles, lome, lyme sand, lathes, naylles, and work-
manship therof, for all the myllehows and iij furnaces, w«^
makinge the groundwork ..... liWO
For tymber, and all other stuffe and the carpentars workmanship
therof ; for the howsse of 84 foote long and 36 foote wyde, and
for the myll wheles, and the stampinge mylls, and the iij paier
bellowes for the furnaces, wherof ij for melting, and i for
drivinge or fynynge, and for all other engynes belonging
therto ........ Ii240
Sum hereof li400
For charges of a man to go to Germania, for ij chief workmasters
of meltinge and fyndynge mynes, and another man into
Yorkshier, for stuffe to melt the ewr .... ^^40
For to provyde wood and coles, and other thinnes extraordinarie
by estymation ....... lilOO
For wagys paid to the maryners and men come home w^h the
shyps, above the estimation made of 20 on 100 collected sum
li'dW includynge therin li200 alredy paid for charges of
buyldinges of furnaces and small proffes and sayes of the ewr
made by the handes of dyvers men. Sum . . . li'360
Sum of all li900
The said sum of ^i900 of money muste be provyded presentlye by col-
lection of the venturars or otherwysse.
And for the better and more spedye provision of the stuffe and men
rcquysyte for the buyldynges forsaid, it is thought requysyte to have
comyssion in Her Mart's name to be directed to S'' Will'm Wyntar, who
hathe alredy a sufficient warrant for the marine affaires.
112 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
This beinge done all the woorkes wilbe fynyshed and the ewr molten
and fyned w^h in vi or viij wekes tyme by Godes help.
We have also thought it good that Her Ma"e be moved for her
favourable letter to the Duke of Saxonia declaring the staying here of
Jonas for Her Mamies' sarvyce w^h shalbe sent by the parson that goethe
for workmen.
Of other matters this bearer Mr. Furbusher can informe yor Honor at
large, wherfore I end, and comytt yor Honor to the tuition of Almighty
God. From London the xix .Januarie, 1577.
Yor Michael Lok.
To the Right Honorable S^ Francys Walsmgham, Knyght,
Her Matins Chyef Secretarie, etc.,
Delyured at the Court.
Commission from Her Ma^ie
Letter to the Duke of Saxonie.
[Colonial, No. 80. Domestic Eliz., cxxii, No. 10.]
JANUARIE 19th, 1577. FROM MY L.L.'s TO MR. MICHAEL
LOCKE FOR THE COLLECTION OF 900lI. AMONG THE AD-
VENTURERS OF THE NORTH-WEST, ETC.
After 0^ hartie comendations where as for the buildyng of certayne
furnaces, and sendyng for skilfull men owt of Germanie for the tryall and
refinyng of the oore brought owt of the north-west : as also for the pay-
ment of certayn wages due to the mariners and others employed vnder
Mr. Furbusher, gent., in the last viage to the sayd north-west parts, we
are enformed the somes of 900Zi to be verie necessarie and presently re-
quired. Theise are to require you to repayre to all such as be Adven-
turers in the sayd viage, as from vs so appointed, and to collect and
gather of everie of them for the vses, purposes aforesayd, the sayd some
to be levied amongst them after xx^i in the hundredth, accordyng to the
rate of and proportion of everie of their Adventurers, and this to be done
w''Ji as convenient speede as you can, to the end that so good an enter-
prise and profitable as this viage is hoped will prove after so great
charges allreadie bestowed thereon ; no we be not hindered either for
want of so small a som or not prosecutyng the triall of the sayd oore.
And so we, etc.
[^Colonial 81. Domestic Eliz., cxxii, No. 17.]
JAN. 24tH, 1577. FROM MASTER GEOFFREY LA BBUM, TRYAL
METAL FALLING NOT OWT.
Monseigneur jay considere toutes ces espesses de mineres quil vous
ha pleu me bailler et ay trouve que la pluspart ne sont que mar-
SUBSKQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE. 173
chasites et non mineres lesquelles marchasites ont ordinairement tant
de souphre que quant il y auroit quelque peu de bon metal on ue le
pourroit tirer sans grant peine et perte quant a en faire preuve et essay
et essay certain il en faudroit bien davantage et ne se fault fier a deux
ny troys preuves seullement car tel morceau quon pense estre bon et
habonder dor ou dargent je ne sy trouve rien ou peu de chose le plus-
souvent et au contraire tel quon mesprise se trouve le meilleur quelque-
floys avec ce quil y ha divers noyens por extraire le pur metal et le
fault tenter par diverses voyes par ce que'n aulcunes minieres le metal
est encore tant crud quil sesauvit et perd en le fusion sil nest retenu
par cementations fixatives en oultres il est accompaigne de tant dor-
dures et impurtes comme de souphre, terre, pierre loppes et semblables
qu'on ne le depart qu'a grant peine de facon quon le doit esprouver
tantost avec selz tantost avec vifargent tantost la bruslant tantost la
cementant ou fondant avec savon plomb selpitre borax ou aultres qui
sont en grant nombre et trop longues a escrire. Quant a celle du
Cappe Forbisher elle merite bien tant de diverses preparations et sy jen
eusse eu nombre jen eusse tente plusieurs facons mais pour sy peu on
nose asseurer de rien seullement je vous peux tesmoigner que jen ay
brusle lave et purge puis joint avec plomb et mis en cendres ou
couppelle qui n'ha rien laisse de fin qui ne faict juger quil ny ha grant
profit par ce que les aultres voyes et moyens dextraire le fin sont de
grant const et labeur sur quantite, vray est que sy j'en auvis ugne
livre ou deux jessairoys quelque preparation par sel commun prepare
avec aultres ingrediens par le quel jay aultrefoys reduit des metaux
fort calcines (\\ie le borax, saint de verre nitre et aultres semblables ne
pouvoient reduire. Je nay bailie a Mons^ Marchant les fuses mineres
a vous reporter par ce que je ne scay sy les desires sy je peux recouvrer
davantage de celle du Capp*" Forbischer jen feray amples preuves jatten-
dois a vous en escrire jusque a ce que jeusse ven le fin de quelques
euvres que jay commences y a ja longe temps pour ta medecine aflSn de
vous en faire part en tesmoignage de tant de courtoysies et bienfaictz
que jay recevez de vous pour lesquels je suis et seray a tousjours oblige
a vostre grandeur, mais lesditz euvres restantz parfaites et mons"" Mar-
chant maiant adverty a midi de vostre commandement jay fait te pre-
senter po'' mexcuser et vous suplier me tenir au rang de voz treshumbles
et tresfideles serviteurs je prie Dieu Monseigneur quil augmente vostre
grandeur et tentretienne en longue et tresheureuse sante pour de plus
en plus servir a sa glore. Amen. De Londres ce Samedi 24'^ jour de
Janvier 1578.
Vostre treshumble et obeissant serviteur,
Geofiroy Le Brumen.
A Monseigneur
INIonseigneur de Vualsinghant.
174 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
[Colonial, 83. Domestic, Etiz., cxii, No. 5.3.]
21 FEBRA, 1577, FROM D. BURCCOTTE, WITH A PROOFFE HOW
MUCH GOULD AND SILUER A POWND, AND ONE HUNDRETHE
POWND WEIGHT TELDETH, W'^^ HE WILL WARRANT TO HOULD
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EWRE.
Please your Honore, I perceyve by your letter that you cane not come
so quycklye as I thought, therfore, I send you here by the captayne the
sylver and gold of a pound, and a hundred weight, wher by I will abyde
by yt off my credyt and honestlye that I will bringe twenttie tymes so
mvche out of every toune in the lyke ower as that was and never vnder
butt reyther above that rayte, and I pray you showe to the Quene that
Her Matie will be good lady vnto me, for I am lyke loss mvche this
springe to go about that busynes ; and that you will be ameane that
the captayne may be spedeley sett fourthe agayne w^^^ suche teachine
and instrucktine, as I have gyvene him, for yf he shall not go spedelye
and speciallye now this yeare yt wilbe the worste that ever came to Ing-
land, and that the ower may be brought hastelye frome Brestoo to Det-
forthe, and that the detymente that the captayne cane showe you be
prepared, and your Honore to come so hastelye as you cane to vysett
the place where the meltinge house shall stand. Now I send you the
trothe by the captayne how the house shall be ; and I trust to se you
shortleye. So I comytte your Honore to God in haste, this xxi^^ day of
Fabruary, 1578.
Your Honore to command,
Burchard Kraurych.
To his honorable and singuler good frend. Sir Frauncs Walsingame,
Secretorye to the Queues Heighnes, delyver this.
[^Colonial, 86. Domestic Eliz., cxxii, No. 62.]
A LITTLE BUNDLE OF THE TRYEING OF Y^ NORTHWEST EWRE.
BY D. BURCOT, JONAS SCHUTZ, BAPTISTA AGNILLO, ETC.
The doings of Jonas Shote in the newe mynes of golde.
In Januarye 1576, Jonas Shuts was brought acquainted w'ti John
Baptista Agnello, by the meanes of S^' John Barteley, and Sr William
Morgaine, knights, soo as in the same monthe of Januarye by the
meanes of the learninge of the sayd Baptista in alchimia and the know-
ledge of the said Jonas in myneralls and mettalls handelinge, the verye
firste golde was founde and discoueryed by them too bee in the first
peace of ewer whiche Mr. Furbusher brought home in his first voyadge,
the valwe of oz. 1 j in c. weight of the ewer, whiche ewer ^Nlr. Locke had
delyvered too the sayde Baptista in the same moneth of Januarye too
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE. 175
make proofFe thereof, wcii prooffe being made, hee, Mr. Locke, deljvered
the same too Her Ma^ie ymediately.
And afterwardes, in the same monethe, and in February, and Marche,
Baptista and Jonas made diuers other smale proofes thereof whereby
still they founde golde, whiche afterwardes was discouered too S^ Wil-
liam Winter by S'' William Morgaine.
In the beginninge of Aprill 1577, when S"" William Winter was as-
sured from Sr William Morgaine and Si" John Bartley, by the handy
woorke of Jonas, by prooffes W^^ he made in their owne presens, too
theire OAvne satisffaction that this was trewly the ewer of a mynd of
golde ; the sayde S'" William Winter justified the same too bee trewe
too my Lordes of the Queenes Mamies Honorable Pry vie Councell.
And vppon commission directyd from Her Ma^^^^ Pryve Councell too
S"^ William Winter, Mr. Thomas Randolphe, George Winter, and others,
by the procurement of Mr. Locke, they weare certyfied by wrytinge
geven by Jonas, of the riches of this ewer and order and chardges of
meltinge the same, and the buyldings and workemen thereof, and of all
things necessarie for the furniture of the mynes, w<^h all other couninge
men coolde fynde owte, wheareby Her Ma^ie & Her Pryve Councell
weare content too sett owtt a secounde voyadge for discouerye vnder
chardge of Mr. Furbusher.
And therevpon allsoo agreament was made wtb Jonas Shots by inden-
ture vnder the hand wrytinge of Si' William Winter and Mr Locke, that
he shoulde goe one the voyadge as cheife master of the mynes, and too
bee cheife workemaster therein above all other as well abroade as att
home, and att his retorne home too bee made denyson and too have a
good pencion for his enterteynement duringe his lyfe.
Allsoo in the newe lande all the voyadge Jonas made all the smale
prooffes, & sayes of all the ewer that was founde in the mynes theare
wcJi was laden in the shipps and brought home and certyfied the valewe
of the ryches thereof, whiche nowe is founde trewe.
Allsoo the ships beinge retorned home intoo Englande in the monethe
of September 1577, w^^i their full ladinge of that riche ewer too the
quantitie of clx tonnes, Jonas hathe wrought and donne therein as fol-
lowethe.
The fyste of October, 1577, Jonas begane too builde the furnaces at
Si- William Winter's house, and fynished the same and all things neces-
sary of his own devise.
The theirtie of October he had molten one hundrethe weight of the
ewer prepared and handelyd after his owne devise and order. And
thereby was founde that a tonne thereof doeth holde of fyne golde more
then the valewe of x\li. of mooney by wittnes of S'" William Winter, Mr.
Furbusher, Mr. Locke, and Robert Denhame & others whoe sawe the
woorkinge and prooffes theareof made, besydes the remnants of gold
remayninge in the slags, w«i> Jonas sayd coulde not be well brought
176 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
outt, butt in the greate woorkes, furnasses, w"^' he desyred might bee
builded accordinge too the plate that he woolde giue, that theirby hee
woould thorowghely knowe the nature of this ewer.
The theirde of November reporte was made too the Queenes Mamies
Privie Councell by Si' William Winter and others of the Commissioners
what was founde by Jonas workes, whiche did not satisfie them, and al-
thoughe Jonas him selfe and Denhame, declared too them this furnace
too bee not sufficient for the great works, yet woolde have them to
melte downe an other hundrethe weight for better tryall of the trewthe,
wcb Jonas sayde he was willinge, becavse this furnance and bellowse was
too smale and place not fytte yet for their commanndement he woolde
doe yt.
The twentethe of Novemb', Jonas had newe repaired his furnace at
Si" William Winters howse as well as that place woolde suffer. And in
that means tyme Baptista had taken vpon him too prepare the ewer too
greate effecte w^^ did not succeade well in the great works. And also
George Woolfe had taken vpon him to prepare the ewer too melte easely
wtii out any adetaments in the greate works wcb did not succede well.
The fourthe of Decemb' Jonas, w^^ danger of his lyffe, throughe the
smoke, had molten doune the secounde hundrethe weight of ewer
W^ provyd as the fyrst hundreth did better then xlli. the tonne in pure
golde as was certyfied to Her Mat's Councell by Ire of S^' Winter and
other Commissioners, whoe sawe the prooffes made, but still remayned
more gold in the slags whiche Jonas sayd onely the great woorkes must
bringe owt.
And hearevpon Jonas hade his patente graunted too him, he promised
too delyver at the leaste halfe oz. golde in everye hundrethe weight,
w^^ ys tenn oz. tonn and allsoo hoaped too cleare all chardgs of the
workinge and yf he did better yt should bee their proffitt and his creditt.
And thearevppon hee should have gonne to Brystowe too have builded
the furnaces theire for the greate woorkes.
Butt the syxte of Decemb' the Lords weare not yet well satisfied w^h
this seconnde prooffe made becavse of the remayners in the slags w^h was
enformed coolde not bee gotten owtt, butt chiefly they beleaved nothinge
that was donne becavse the goldesmithes and goldefyners of London and
manye other namyd counynge menu had made many prooffes of the
ewer and could fynde noe whitt of goolde therein, and therefore they
vouched too the Councell that theare was noe whitt of gold in this ewer
vppen gage of their lyffe and goodes.
And vppou the arryvall of Mr, Furbusher at the Coorte retorned from
Brystowe, the seventhe of Decemb' he stayed the woorks of Brystowe and
turned yt too farther prooffe too bee made at London, wherefore yt was
thought good too have conference therein wtii Mr. Burcott, whose doings
shall appere in articles a parte.
The tenthe Decemb', Jonas was browght too conference w^^ Mr. Bur-
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE. 177
cott, and vf^Hn iij or iiij dayes he dislyked the dealinge of Mr. Burcott
boethe for his evell manners and allso his ignorannee in divers points of
the works and handelynge of this ewer soo as as woold not anye more
deale w^^^ him.
The syxetenthe Decemb' Jonas w^ii Mr. Furbusher and Mr. Locke ryde
too diners placs too see water mills, for the workeinge of the ewer. And
at Deartforde Jonas lyked the mills best of all others for the comodious
water and place.
The twelfte of Januarye vpon newe comission too procead in the great
works, wee went again too Dertforde, w^'^ Jonas and Henricke, the mason,
and Sebastian, the carpenter, whoe was then newe come too London, and
measured owte the platt of grownd for errection of the buildings and
furnacs.
The fowertenth Januarye Jonas delyuered too all the Comissioners a
platt drawen by him of all the buildings of the howsse and mills and
furnasces w^^i was well lyked. But uppon newe conference wtii the
workemen yt was founde that the tyme woold bee soo longe in the
buildings, that yf that should be taryed for the money it woold be too
late too sett owt a newe voyadg this yeare.
The 21 diet. Mr. Furbusher devised that x tonn of ewer shold be
molten at Keswicke for the expedicon of the tryall.
The 22 diet. Jonas alleadged manye lacks theare and the Comissioners
sawe great coaste and longe tyme hanginge theare one allsoo soo that
Jonas oflferyd too make a theird great prooffe at London of a toonn by
CO weight at a tyme w'^ shoold suffice for a tryall of all w^h was well
lyked.
And the 23 daye Jonas gave informacon of certaine merkesytes too
melt the ewer w^h all w^h Denham or Coole shoold have sought abroade.
The 23 sayd John Baptista made offer of a newe great prooffe too be
wrought wtii a winde furnace, whearevpon he had a c weight of ewer
but yt succeeded not well.
The 30 of Januarye John Broed at Crepelgate had cc ewer too make
prooffe well (3icl succead well.
The 12 of February Jonas did melt doune cc of the ewer for his theird
prooffe at the howsse of S*" W>"- Winter w^^ great danger of his lyffe
thoroughe the smoke, and at the second tyme of the mealtinge thereof
The 18 February yt succeaded verye well in presensof the Comissioners,
found oz. 65 of silver and goold myxt, wheareof oz. 3^ was perfytted and
browght 1 qr. of oz. of fyne golde and oz. 3j of fyne sylver, the rest of the
oz.6^ of silver mixt was sonke intoo the test becavse the test was not drye
made thoroughe the hast of tyme and much gold remayned in the slegs.
All the doings of Jonas from the tyme too tyme was donn openly, and
Mr. Furbusher caryed all the secrets thereof too Mr. Burcott, too healpe
him, and all Mr. Burcott doings was in secrett, soo as none knoweth yt
but him selfe=
N
178 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
THE DOOINGS OP MR. BCRCOTT IN THE NEWE MYNES OF GOLDE.
Mr. Burcott had delyvered too him certaine smale peces of ewer
in Novemb' 1577, whereof he made sayes and proffes and founde golde
therein as Jonas had donne before.
The 9 Decemb' 1577, Mr. Locke and Mr. Furbusher brought Ires from
Mr. Secrytarye Walsingham vntoo Mr. Burcott and delyvered them too
him, and had suche conference w^h him therevpon that Mr. Burcott grew
too full promes too delyver halfe a oz. of fyne gold out of everye hundreth
of the ewer vppon certaine condicons sett doune in wry tinge, w^^i con-
dicons was sertyfied too Mr. Secrytarye who dislyked of them.
The 10 Decemb' Jonas was brought too conference w^h Burcott and
wtbin iij or iiij dayes he dislyked the dealinges of Mr. Burcott boethe for
his evell manners and ignorance in diuers points of the woorks and
handelynge of the ewer soo as he woold nott anye more deale w* him.
In fewe dayes afterwards when Mr. Burcott sawe that wee did cleave
still too Jonas dooings and made little accompt of his doings he made
great styre of his owne cunninge and soo wrought w^ii Mr. Furbusher
that he cam too bee harde againe and putt him selfe too the consideracon
of Her Ma^ie and Councell, and vouched too warrant the ewer too hold
soo muche gold as ys sayd and too gage his lande, goods, and lyffe for
the delyverye thereof whereby he was credityed and the matter lyked.
The 20 Decemb' JNIr. Furbusher woold that Mr. Burcott shoulde melt
a c of ewer in .Tonas furnace as Si" W"i "Winters howsse, w^h Jonas would
not suffer, therefore he willed Jonas too pull doune the secrets of his
furnace that Burcott might build a new after his manner, w^'^^ Jonas
did soo.
The 20 Januarye, or their about, Robert Denham told Mr. Locke that
he had a peace of strange ewer, wcii he proved too doo muche good in
the meltinge of our ewer and that he had yt from Mr. Burcotts housse
by his man w^h Mr. Burcott knewe not of. and shortly after, when Mr.
Lock sawe yt in his howse, of Denham, he sayd yt was yt and that he
had made prooffe thereof too hold syluer, copper, and leade, &c., that
Mr. Burcott called yt ewer of antymonie, &c., and had sayd too him that
yt held noe manner of mettell at all.
And Mr. Furbusher told Mr. Locke that Mr. Burcott sayed that Jonas
bellowes laye too hie, & that yt should lye lowe too blowe right into the
hole on the fore parte, and in fewe days afterwards he sayd againe that
Mr. Burcott woold have the bellowes lye more then a fote aboue the
hole as Jonas bellowes did lye.
Alsoo afterwards, Mr. Furbusher did shewe too Mr. Locke a paper
platt, made by Mr. Burcott, of the furnace that he woold have w*-h a
pott by yt. And nowe, at the 20 February, he shew^ed an other platt
thereof made cleane contrarye too the first, but even iust the coppie of
the plate of the furnaces, wheorw^ii Jonas doethe woorke.
SlIKSEQUKNT TO THR SFCoXl) VOYAGE. 179
The 21 Februarye, Mr. Burcot shewed too the Commissionei's and too
my Lorde Treasorer, his proofes made of ^ once of gold and 2 onces & ^
siluer, in one c of ewer, but the same was melted in potts w^h addita-
ments by halfe pounds in a pott w^^ is not the order of the great workes,
nor noe man but him selfe knoweth wate he puts in his additaments.
And alsoo he shewed a peace of antimonye ewer vouching that there
in was noe manner of mettal, but a proofFe thereof was made by the
Commissioners one the 22 daye, and they founde therein boethe siluer,
30 ouncs in a tonn, and some copper, and verye muche leade.
And Mr. Burcott sayed that w^ii out that antimonnye ewer he woold
not stand to his former promys of the golde and siluer too be delyveryed.
And Denham say the that Burcott did not knowe of the mettal Is that are
in that antymonie ewer vntill Thorsday, beinge the 20 Februarye, when
as he tolde yt too Burcott, and was the maun that did first fynde yt too
bee soo by his owne tryalls.
And Mr. Burcott was ignorannt of the weight of gold and sylver ac-
coumpted after xxiiii too a pennye weight, and xxiiii pennye weight too
the ounce vntill that Denham did shewe him his errore therein.
And yt is manyfest that Burcott was more ignorant then Jonas, in
the knowledge of the nature and workinge of this ewer ; for him selfe
Burcott doeth confesse that he hathe made more then fortye sondrye
wayes of tryall thereof, and yet is not well satisfied therein ; but Jonas
hathe made onely syxe proffs thereof, and those after the order of the
greate woorks.
[Colonial 82. Domestic Eliz., cxxii, No. 44.]
FKEKUARY 19, 1577. FROM DOCTOR BURCHATIT TO MR. SKORITATJY
AVALSYNGHAM TOUCHYNGE THE NORTH-WEST OWRK.
Your Honore remember what appountement you mayd w''' me in my
house and what promysse I mayde you. I have done so and moltine
doune a hundred weight and a pound, and I have the proves to show you
to save your Honores credyte and my honesty e, therfore appounte the
day and ower to ride to Detforthe to bring me ther to gyve me your
Honores countenance in the first enterpryce, for yfi'you do not go I will
not go that all worke mene and so many ofi" the comyssioners as y t shall
pleasse you to se and here oure determynacon and show suche things as
I have and cane do before them all for I esteame your Honore and
credytt as moche as my owne lyffe, and I doute yf I cane ryde y tt wt^out
a horse lytter, and yet I know of no eassye horse. And yfi'your Honore
will humble your selfe so muche and yett come once in my house an
ower or twane before we departe out ofi" London, I will show your Honore
bothe the pattrone off the meltinge house and the sayes prevelye betwene
180 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
you and me that my cloinges be not oncly wordes butt deeds. So God
increasse your llonore in health. Datum the xix off Fabruary 1577.
Your humble to comand,
Burchard Kranrych.
To Ills Ifonorable and very good frend S'' Frauncis Walsingame,
Secretary to the Queues Iieighnes.
Delyver this.
{Colonial 84. Doraestic Eliz., cxxxi, No. 52.]
l-EBRUARY 21, 1577. A DECLAKATION OF THE VALUE OF THE
NORTH-WEST EWRE BOTH FOE, GOLD AND SILVER BY PROOFS
THEREOF MADE BY DR. BURCOT.
My dutie done in most humble maner. It maye please yo^ Honor to
be advertized that Burchart hathe fynished and certefied two proffes of
the gold ewer, wherof one was of Hi w^it, and thother of one c weit.
Dennam hathe bene thonly man that he hathe admytted to be present
and privie w^^^ him in the seid proffes, and the same Dennam hathe
bene the fyar workman therof. and by vouchem^ of them two ye same
falle out as folow^'^ :
That proffe of the li w^i^ holdithe in silver . . xxi gr.
And in golde . . . . . . iii gr.
"Well is vii parts silver and an viii^'i parte gold
After that rate i c w^i' holdithe in silver . . iiii oz. dr. viii^l w^^n
And in gold ...... xiiii'' w^'t
And after the same rate the tonne holdithe in silver xxxviii oz.
And in gold ...... xiiii oz.
So the silver of a tonne at v^ ii'^ the oz. am<-b to . xxv'' vi« iiii'^
And the gold at lix« viii^' the oz. amountithe to . xli'* xv® iiiif'
Sum Ixvii'' xx"^'
That proffe of the c w^it holdithe in silver, ii oz. dr. V^ w^it vi gr
And in gold ...... xiii'^ w^it drs.
W'l' is nere about iiii parts silver and a \^^ parte gold
After that rate the tonne holdithe in silv^er . . li oz. v'^ w^it
And in gold ...... xiii oz. dr.
So the silver of a tonne amountithe to . . xiii'^ iiii« ix^'
And the gold of the siime to . . . . xl?' v^ vi''
Sum Iiii'' x« iii''
So a tonne answerable to the proffe made of the U w^'* ys richer then
that of the c w^'iU)V xiii''xi^ v'.
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE. 181
\_Colonial 85. Domestic Eliz., cxxii, No, 61.]
FKDRUARY 27, 1577. FROM D. BURCOTT TOUCHYNGE HIS
CUNYNGE AND OFFER ABOUT TRIYNGE THE EWRE.
My humble comendacons as I am informed that your Honore and
the rest be displeased w* me as thoughe I had mayd a false prove, wci- 1
will stand to the contrary to deathe and lyiFe that yt is as I have sent
onto you, therfore I have done yt w*^ my owne hand, and cane do yt
agayne save the last quarter w^^ Dennan hathe moltine doune, and
l*rought yt in agood way after the rayte, and in the dryvinge utterly
raared yt for iugnorance and unskylfulnes ; yt was in the night when I
cold not be at yt, and I wold not trust him further and I mayd that
quarter good after the rayte I sent, as for the detymente yt hathe layd
this ten yeare in my house and were ray invension to melt yt the eassier
and the soner, and ther is not so moche sylver in yt as you are informed
you for the ower is sufficient in him selfe to augement your Honore and
save my credytt because yt is corned to suche an exclemacion agaynest
my honestie and deface me w^hout acause I will make my selfe cleare,
let my have delyvered out of hand in hast to hundred weight be brought
in my house of that ower, and ij honest men and not false men to sec
the rostingc, be cause I have fornace mete for yt, and in the meane tyme
when y t is in rostingc I will ryde to the Tower-hill by your comandement
to mend Jonas fornace, or to make an new one, that will serve me, and
lett thes ij sworne men carrye the ower to the Tower when yt is rosted
and see yt moltine doune and puryfyed as I have sent you ; and lett mc
have al things nessessarye ; and yf yt please you and Sir Will'm Wynter
may be the men appounted to do yt, and Dennan be the workeman be-
cause he is the causer of this exclemacion as I cane tell you previlie,
when your Honore please betwne you and me you shall here the very
trothe. And yf I do not prove yt trewly corned out then take my body
and goods to your owne pleasure, and Jonas nor the captaynes, nor any
of ther confederats shall not come nye me, but them whome you please,
for yf Jonas had any couninge yt had longe since appered ; therfore he
shall learne nothinge of me untill yt be knowen that I am aperfytt
master above tlicm all. Datum the xxvii of Fabruary. God encrease
your Honore.
This prove Avilbe done out of hand after yt is rested, havinge all things
licscssary prepared. Appount atyme when you will and I will come to
yo'vi.
Yo^ humble to comand,
Burchard Kranrych.
To the Honorable Sir Fraunces Walsingame, Knight,
Secretary to the Queues Ma''^\ my sinjiulcr and very frend.
182 STATE PAPERS ON TRIAL OF THE ORE
[Colonial, 92. Domestic Eli:,., cxxiii, No. 7.]
11 MARCH, 1577. TO THE LORD TREASURER AM) LORD
CHAMBERLAYNE ABOWT THE NORTH-WEST VIAGE.
My verie good Lordes, Hir Ma"^ havyng been made acquaynted \f^^ the
certificats sent lately from the Commissioners appoynted to surveighc
the sondrie profis and trials made of the north-west ewre, and under-
standyng therby to hir good contentation that the richness of that earth
is like to fall owt to a good reaconyng is well pleased that a third viage
be taken in hand the plotte wherof consisteth chiefly in theise two poynts,
to witte, the charges of the shipping outwardes and some provision to be
made for a lOOmen to inhabite in those north-west partes : what the
whole charges of theise two matters will amount to yo'' Lordships may
perceave by that their bearers Mr. Ffurbesher and Mr. Locke will shew
you in writyng and otherwise by word. I have allreadie acquaynted my
Lord of Leceister how mch : and yf it might please yo^ Lordships to send
yo>' opinions of the two sayd points I would after impart it further to
others of my Lords and the Cowncell to thend that all their advises beyng
had hir Ma^ie may grow to some resolution for this newe and thu'd viage
and so order accordingly be given for warrant of hir owne part and other
men's likewise that be adventurers in this matter.
[^Colonial, 90. Domestic, ELiz., cxxiii, No. 5.]
THE ACCOMPT TAKEN AT MOSKOVIE HOUSE THE Vllj'^^^" OF MARCH
1577, OF CO WEIGHT OF Y^ EAVRE BROUGHT BY MR. FFORBISHER
MOLTON AND TRIED BY JONAS SHUTTZ AN ALMAINE ADSISTED
BY IIJ ENGLISHMEN, VIZ., HUMFREY' COLE JOHN BRODE AND
ROBERT DENHAM.
Of the said cc weight of ewre so molton and tryed
as aforesayd there proceaded in silver vj oz. vij*^
weight xiij graines di, wcii valued at v« the oz.
maketh in money .... xxxj« x^' ob.
And of the same ewre proceaded in gold v^ weight
V graines wci* at iiij^ the penny weight maketh in
money ..... xv'* vij'^ ob.
Sum, xlvijs vjrf.
(So at that rate j c weight of the said ewre will
make in money . . , , xxiij* ix'^
And a toonc of the said ewre by like accompt will
make in money , . . . xxiij^' xv*
SUBSEQUENT TO THE SECOND VOYAGE. 183
Tiiu charges of getting and fetting the said ewre
into the reahue as by particulers delivered by Mr.
Fforbiaei' doth appcre will not excede the tonne . viij''
Ho uppon view of this accompt for every viij^' de-
frayed the venturers shall gaine v^' w^h ariseth
uj)pon every hundred poundes above , . Ix''
W. Wyntar
Edward Dyer
Martin Frobiser
Rich. Young
Mathew Field
Edmond Ilogan
Michael Lok
Andrew Palmer
The charge for furnishing shippes for this next voyage as followeth : —
The charge to furnish iiij or v shippes w^i' 120 men, viz.,
solidiors, mynars, smithes, carpenters, and other men of
necessarie occupacions and to bring home viij'' tonne of
ewre as appeareth by particulers therof delivered by Mr.
Ffrobisher will amount to . . . vj^'' iiijc
Wherof must be defrayed presently for the furniture nowe
owtward thone moytie or els this yeres voyage wilbe
lost, viz. ..... iij"' ijc U.
Aud at the retorne of the shippes must be payed other . iijm ijc li
Ffor the provision of w^' money a levie must be made amonge
thadventurers after such rate that every one of them w^i' did before
adventure jc li. must now put in y xxx'' the moytie therof to be i>ayed
forthwith. And the other moytie to be readie against the retorne of the
shippes to clere the freight and men's wages.
STATE PAPERS CONCERNING THE TRIALL OF THE
EWR PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE.
I. MEMORANDUM FROM MY LORDS TO THE WARDEK OF THE MYNT
TOUCHING THE ORE.
H. FllOM MR. FENTON ON THE UNLADYNGE OF THE ORE AND DR,
DODDYNGS REPORT ON THE SICKNESS AND DEATH OF THE
MAN BROUGHT BY CAPT. FROBISHER FROM THE NORTH-WEST,
AND OF THE NATURE OF THE WOMAN OF THAT COUNTRY YET
LIVINGE.
III. FROM MR. LOCKE WHAT THE GOODNESS OF ORE IS DECLARED,
IV. FROM SIR W. WYNTER TOUCHYNGE THE GOOLD ORE.
y. FROM JONAS SCIIUTZ ON THE SAME.
VI. FROM DR. BURCOT ON THE SAME.
VII. FROM M, LOK OF .JONAS NEW METHOD OF TRIALS.
VIII. A NOTE OF ALL SUCH CHARGES IN MELTYNGE DOWN THE OWRE.
IX. AGNELL ON THE TRIAL OF THE ORE.
X. A NOTE OF CHARGE FOR THE TRIALL OF ONE TONNE OF THE
NORTHWEST ORE.
XI. FROM MR. FENTON, WHAT SDCCESSE HE HATHE IN TRAVELINGE
TO GET OWRE IN THE WEST COUNTRIE.
XII. A COUNT MADE OF XC OF ORE MELTYD AT DARTFORDE.
XIII. A NOTE OF THE VALUE OF 200 WETT OF OARE GOTTEN IN THIi
COUNTESSE OF WARWICKS ILANDE.
STATE PAPERS CONCERNING THE TRIALL OF THE
EWR PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE.
[Colonial, 56. Domestic Eliz., cxvi. No. 25.]
OCTOBEll 17, 1577. M^' FROM MY LORDS TO THE WARDEN AND
WOORKMASTER OF THE MYNT TOVCHYNGE THE ORE BROUGHT
OWT OF THE NORTH-WEST.
Alter our hartie commendacions. The Queenes Ma^i^s pleasure is
that certain oore brought into this realme by our loving trend Martin
Fturbusher, gent, out of the north-west partes, shalbe carved into the
Tower and layd in some convenyent place by you to be appointed for
that purpos, the said oore to be by him delyvered unto you by weight
and so by you receaved. And further that to the doare of the place
where the same shall lye there be fower severall lockes and keyes made,
whereof the said Ffurbusher to have one, you her heighnes oflacers two,
and Michaell Locke, tresorer of the Company of Adventurers into the
said north-west partes, the fourth. Whereof her Mai-ie hath appointed
us to geve you knowledge to thend you male take present order therein
accordinglic.
And so we bid you ffarewell. Ffrom the Castell of Windesor the
the xvjtii of October 1577.
Your loving frindes,
[no signatures.]
And further yt is meant y"^ you shall from tyme to tyme make de-
lyveryc of the seyd ore to be melted downe accordyngley as you shall
be dyrccted by the commyssyoners by us deputed to have the oversyght
of the scid meityng.
Ric. Martin, Warden of the Mint, (Blank) Samson, worckmaster of
the same.
1(S8 STATE PAPERS
[Colonial, 59. Domestic Eliz., cxviij. No. 40. |
25 NOVEMB. 1577. FROM MR. EDWARD FENTON. OF THE UN-
LADYN OF THE OORE IX THE AYD AND GABRIELL, AND HOW
MANIE TOONES OF THE SAYD OORE IS IN ETHER OF THE SAYD
VESSELS. TO HAVE ORDER FOR THE DISCHARDGE OF THE
MARINERS AND UNRIGGINGE THE SAYD VESSELS.
My dutie to yo^ honoi' most humblie used. Receaving letters from my
Generall the viij^i^ of this instante to make deliverie of such oure as re-
mayned in the Ayde and the Gahriell, whereof I had charge w^h letters
in like manner from yo^ ho^^" and others of her Ma^^ies counsouU directed
to S^" Richarde Barkely, Knight, Hugh Smith, Esquier, and the Maior
of Bristoll well I presentlie sent unto them notw^^^standing they mett not
abowt the receipte thereof till the xiiijtb daye of this instante (by reason
Sr Richard Barkely was ymployed elswhere in her Mamies service) Sithens
well time they have w-ii care and diligence attended that service and have
now in effect ended the same saving that a little porcion of oare founde in
removing of the caske[s] in the Ayd£ is not yet weighed, but wilbe furth-
Avtii dispatched. The quantitie of the oare in the Ayde (I suppose) wilbe
nigh 124 toones. And in the barke Gahriell 16 toones rd'i. All w^ii is
saffelie bestowed in the castell of Bristoll according to order appointed
therin. Thus much having so conveniente a messenger I thought good
to ymparte w^^ yor honor beseching the same to further the dispatch of
all such persons as have served in this action, whose service now rather
is chargeful to her Ma^i^ and other thadventurers then liking or bene-
ficeall to theim selves, Wherof the gentlemen ymployed in that action
(and attending heare thies ij moneths to small purpose) is greatlie
charged by the same whose good government in this service both before
and sithence their cominge hither on lande deserves (in myne opinion)
at her Ma'^i'^s handes bothe favo^ and recompence for so greate vertues
showed in so honorable an action wherin yoi' honors good favo^ and fur-
therance is chieflie to be craved for their comforts in the same. And
am (amongeste the rest speciallie) to recommende this gentleman
and bearer Mr. Carew to yo^' honors favoi* and countenaunce whose
readinesse wisdome and good government in this service deserves greate
comrnendacion and rather to be ymployed wth charge then to serve as now
he hath donne w^i I humblie besech yo'i to consider of hereafter for his
l)ctter advauncemente and creditt ; no lesse (I suppose) my Generall
will deliver of him for his desertes (wtiiout flatterin) doth thus much
challenges me to reaporte unto yo^ honor having well marked his be-
havior' in this service. It were to good purpose order were taken for the
unrigginge of the shippes (if heare they shall remayne) for wante wherof
their tackle and other thingcs grow to dekaie w^h would be saved if
rUKVlOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 189
order were taken what should be done in the same ; Besides the super-
Hius mariners and others now attending would be discharged w^i if it
had been performed vij weekes agoo had saved greate charges and been
to verie good purpose. All w^h I committ to be delt in as shall seeme
beste to yo^' honor craving pardon for my boldnesse do praye daieiie to
thalmightie to bless you in all yo^' honorable actions and sonde yo^much
encrease of honor. From Brystoll the xxv^h of November 1577.
Yor honors most humblie to commaunde,
Edward Fenton.
Postscript. — I am bolde to sende unto yoi" honor hereinclosed the
opinion of Mr. Docto^' Dodding towching the death of the man we
brought over w'-l^ us who often visited him in the time of his sicknes.
To the honorable my verie good frinde Frauncis Walsingham, Esquier,
principall secrcatarie to her Ma"^'^' and one of her highncs privie
counsaill at the Co^'te.
[^Colonial 50. Domestic Eliz. cxviii. No. 40, i.]
IXITTOR DODDYNGS REPORT OF THE SICKNESSE AND DEATH OF
THE MAN AT BRISTOLL W<^ CAPT. FURBISHER BROUGHT FROM
THE NORTH-WEST : AND OF THE NATURE OF THE WOMAN
OF THAT CONTRIE YET LIYYNGE.
In cadaveris dissecti latore sinistro, primum sese michi inspiciendro
obtulerunt costse du£c (casus vi et impetu quando capiebatur) prnsfractoj
dehisccntes adhuc, nee invicem agglutinatae : quarum cura (uti in tam
turbulentissimis temporibus rerumque navalium augustiis usu venire
solet) vel neglecta, vel (quod potius suspicor) morbus a nemine per-
ceptus inflamationem concitaverat : et pulmonis contusio (temporis pro-
gressu) putredinem itidcm contraxerat : quibus libere indies serpentibus,
cum per frigoris externi injuriam commotis tum per malam victus
rationem auctis, nee tamen per artem chirurgicam exterius interim
cmcndatis ncque per medicamenta interius retusis in pulmonis ulcus
insanabile preccpe. Ruebat et ingruebat malum puris putrefacti afluentia
maxima ejusdcm materia viscida et tenaci, ita pulmonis pars sinistra
undique scatebat ut nihil omnino per orane morbi tempus expuerit et
anhelitus fere retentus est constrictus, hue accedebat natura morbi
infestantis furore admodum debilitata : liberior apud nos victus ratio
quam aut hujus morbi fert malitia aut hominis fortassis consuetudo
quotidiana patiebatur, quod summa ducis summi cura liberalitasque
immensa corum apud quos divertebat effecerat : deceptis omnibus
opinione potius morbo latilate et indulgentia stultaquam male volentia,
sed cum asthma paulo ante mortem, morlnis iste baud obscure simili-
190 STATE PAPERS
tudine expressit, turn ab hydrope non omnino immunis erat : in thoracis
enim spacio sinistro iiii^ens aqufB opia et abuudautia (qualis a perspi-
cacibup et industriis auatoraicis raro visitur) conspiciebatur fluitare :
hsec moto corpore (uti rei eventus fidem fecit) agitabatur, et pulmonis
expirationem impediebat, pulmo denique ipse costis firmius quam quis-
quam putaret hserebat. Cerebri vulnerati apostematique (ut ita loquar)
prseter surditatera doloremque capitis intensissinium (quibus nunquam
non affligebatur) signa infinita extant et emergunt apertissima quse
nunc silentio (ne sira prolixior) sunt involvenda, quod lieni minutis-
simo detraxerat natura justse molis id stomacho capacissimo adjecisse visa
est cum foenore qui aqua refertus et distentus multo major quam
nostrorum hominum propter insanabilem (credo) ingluviem apparebat.
In cgeteris partibus Anglium diceres metum in quo a prirao ejus adventu
erat quamvis vultus hilarior et simulatus non mediocri arte occultabat
et ementiebatur, tamen gestus ipsius (sigillatim singula penitius
introspiciente me et suspicante omnia) vel eundem aperte prodiderunt
det exeruntque vel morbum letale (quod sepius sed surdis cecini)
prgesagiverunt impendentem, qu£e ex pulsibus dilucidiora quam ex ipso
innotuerunt et confirmabatur qui semper minores tardiores et debiliores,
quam rariores extiterunt, et rariores tamen quam aut etas juvenilis, aut
temperatura ejus biliosa eflagitabat. priori morbi insultu, cum vires
adhuc integre essent accersitus sanguinis missionem magna contentione
suadebam, quo et inflammationis aculei extiucti, et materia diminuta
jacerent : sed vetuit viri barbari, barbara nimis, insulsaque timiditas, et
eorum consilium quibuscum una navigabat, apud me prsevaluit. Denique
ea hora vocatus qu£e proxime horam prsecessit in quade vita discescit re-
peri cuncta mortem brevi minitantia, nimirum, interruptam fereque om-
nino abscissamloquelam dejectumappetitum, pulsum nullum, Quid multa!
Vires omnes facultatesque prostratas prorsus aliquantulum recreatus ad
se quasi e somno profundo redit nosque ejus familiares agnovit. animad-
verti sed medicamento, et verba nostra quae ediscerat pauca ut potuit,
eloquebatur vicissimque ad interrogata respondit satis apposite, cantele-
namque eandem (uti referunt qui utramque audiverant) clare cecinit,
qua astantes in littore ejus loci atque ordinis socii ultimum ipsius dis-
cessum vel deplorabant vel celebrabant. Hand aliter atque cigni qui
provideutes quid in morte sit boni cum cantu et voluptate moriuntur.
sed vix discesseram quando vitam cum morte commutaverat ; in hasc
ultima et nostra lingua edita virumpens verba ' Deus sit vobiscum.'
Angebar et vehementer dolebam non tarn ipsius morte quam quod
ref^inse nostrse serenissimee spes tanta ejus videndi quasi e manibus nunc
secundo exciderat. At moerore multo majore afficiuntur hujus novi
honoris solidique heroes vere Herculei tanquam exantlati laboris prae-
miis et spoliis spoliati quos jure optimo (dicam enim quod senceo)
manet a nobis observantia summa, qui itinera hasc marittima, devia ea
quidem aspera et plane ante hoc tempus inaccessa magnis suis sumpti-
PRKVIOUS TO THK TUTTID VOYAGE. 191
bus laboribus periculis majore regni et posteritatis commodo raaxitna
suorum nominum gloria superarunt et apperuerunt quod si uti acce-
perit, successerit, ut eadem facilitate has regni et reipublica animas
nervosque (sic enim a philosophis non inscite appellantur divitiae) qua
consequuti sumus, retineamus, nee priusquam accipiamus, ingratitudine
nostra amittamus (quid enim aliud metuam non video) quid retribuamus
Doniino pro omnibus quse tribuit nobis ab externis regibus nil spereraus
boni quia non volunt, nil metuamus mali, quia non audent. Verura
non eo hsec dice quo quenquam in peccatorum sordibus delitescentem in
utraraque aurem dormire suadeam, sed ut amorem sigillatim singulos ab
improbitate, et adigam ad res divinas universim. omnes acrius cele-
brandas : quid enim dici cogitarive potest absurdius quam cum Deus
optimus maxiraus sit ad dandum promptior et paratior nos ad promeren-
dum simus tardiores. Attamen semper erit ilia Dei veri, vera vox
agnoscenda non quia tu dignus sed quia mitis ego. Si incantantium
futilia fictiliaque praccaria, ceremoniseque inertes etludinsG in morbis pro-
fligandis quicquam potuissent, hie profecto (dum in vivis esset) ' Cali-
choughe' (namque hoc ei nomen erat) eosdem pullulantes ut hydras
amputasset et profligasset etenim hoc nemo fuit in hac arte excercitatior,
nemo in ipsa superstitione (ni fallor) confidentior : qui tot incantationes
usurpavit, quot dolorum termina emerserunt Mulieri laboranti turn e
morbillis (qui postridie, quando haec scripta sunt effloruerunt in cute
frequentissimi) cadaver ostendi, unaque (meo suasu) ad sepulturam
(quam nulla solemnitate de industria peractam esse volui, ne qua horror
ei injiceretur de hominibus apud nos sacrificandis) licet invita, adducta
est : ibique tamdiu detenta, donee terra undique coopertum esset cadaver :
ossa humana ostendi efFossa, fecique ut intelligeret omnes nos eodem
modo esse inhumandos, quo omnem ex animo de humana carne come-
denda (qu99 in ipsis altas radices egerat) adimerem scrupum: ipsaque
timorem deinceps deponere disceret. Sed ista aut prudentia et patientia
homines omnes nostros exuperat mulier, aut ab ipsis brutis animantibus
longe superatur humanitate, qua nihil omnino ejus morte commota est,
neque eam (quantum ex vultu intelleximus) aagre tulit : ita ut hoc
postremo ejus facto manefestius expresserit id quod longe antea conjec-
turis assequuti sumus, ilium prce se mirum in modum contempsisse, et
quamvis in uno eodemque lecto somnum capere solebat praeter colloquia
tamen nihil inter eos intercessisse, amplexus ejus abhorruisse. Vale.
Bristolliae 8° Novembris.
Tuus uti scis,
EdAvardus Doddinge.
Si nihil infesti durus vidisset Ulisses
Felix Penelope, sed sine laude foret.
192 STATE PAPERS
[Colonial East Indies, 57. Domestic, cxviii, No. 36.]
23llD OF NOYEMBEK, 1577. FROM MR. MICH. LOCKE. WHAT
THE GOODNESS OF THE GOLD ORE IS DECLARED.
Right honorable, — According to yo'^' letter sent me by Mr. Watter-
hows, I have had conferens wi^ii hym, and I have told hym my best
opynyon playnly, and I wyll furder that matter the best I can and wyll
joyne w*'* you therin for a part, yf it please you, wci' I hartely pray you.
The tryall of the ore brought home by Mr. Furbusher, moche paynes
and labour hathe passed of late agayne, yet it is not brought to par-
fection, the iij workmasters cannot yet agree togethers, eche is jelous of
other to be put out of the work and therby lothe to shew their conynge
or to use effectuall conferens ; but amongest them all we doo very
playnlye see and fynd that the ure is \evj ryche, and the worst of all
their doynges wyll yeld better then xl'' a ton, clere of charges. This
is assuredly trew, w^h may sufFyse to embrase the enterpryse. And
^v'tb in few dayes yor honor shalbe better certyffyed of better matter
herein when we have made better lykynge betwene the workmastars.
And thus I commytt yo^" h. to the tuition of almighty God. From Lon-
don, this xxiij November, 1577.
Yor h. most bounden,
INIichael Lok.
{Colonial 58. Domestic Eliz., cxviii. No. 39.]
Kov. 26th, 1577. from sir william wynter, touchynge
THE GOLD ORE AVHAT IT WILL YIELD.
^Ir. Furbusher beyng bounde towardes Bristowe for the dischardginge
of the maryners and takinge of order for the ships and ther furneture
well remayneth ther, hathe been enforsed to stale some what longer then
willingly he would have don frome the doinge of these thinges before
this tyme, because he hathe hade a desier that v^^^ his travaile and
others in comyssion tochinge this matter of the oore that he and they
nowghte have understanded what sertaine accompt was to be made of
the said oore to thend yo^" honur, and the rest of her Highnes cownsaile
myght have been perfatly enformed. What hathe ben don hether to
Mr. Furbusher will do yor honur to wyet. And albe hit the oore in re-
porte do not appiere to be of the vallew w^^ hathe ben looked for, yet yf
the woorkmen be to belyved who offereth ther lieves to performe that
w<ii they have set downe wti" ther handes, the commodittie is suche as
maye content resonable myendes, for my owne opynyon I belevc hit will
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 193
fawll owt better than the woorkemen hathe set hit doune, and that it
raaye so come to pase I will use all the travaile I cane possiblie; not so
muche for my pryvate gayne ftrewly) as in respect of the Q. Ma^ie that
her highnes good hoepe be not made frustrate, and yet I dowt not but
you beleve I ame worse able to beare a lose than her Matie is. And thus
most humbly takinge my leave, I rest, prainge God to kepe yow in
helthe. Tower Hill, the xxv^b of November, 1577.
Yo^" honnors ever to comawnde,
W. Wynter.
\_Colonial, 60. Domestic Eliz., cxviii, No. 41.]
NOVEMBER 25"^", 1577. FROM JONAS SCHUTZ TOUCHING THE
GOULD GORE.
Righte honnorable Mr. Secretarye Walsinghara, my humble dutie
premysed. These maye signifie unto youre honnoure that wheras I have
bene by order from the Queues Majestie and her most honnorable consail
appointed to trye the ore brought into the realme by Maister Captaine
Ffrobysher. Nowe, so it is that I have bene visited with sicknes and ame
as yt weake, so that I have not bene able to accomplishe my dutie in
tryall thereof, accordinge to my comyssion. And nowe, havinge re-
covered somewhat of my disease, I entende by the grace of Grod to
flfinishe the profe therof. And whearas I dyde promyse before youre
honnore halfe a nowce, I doo not mys dowte thereof. And yff the nexte
doth fall any better which I ame in good hope then shall it be showed
to youre honnore, and accordingelie one Saturdaye next to bringe a
sample therof to the courte. Thus muche I thoughte it my dutie to
signifie unto youre honnore. And so leavinge to trowble yo" further, I
reste prayinge the Almightie God to protecte yo". Ffrome the howsse
of Johne Nighelson, scituat in Easte Smythfeilde, the xx\^^ daye of
November, A" 1577.
Youre humble servaunte to commaunde,
Jonnas Schiitz.
Too the righte honorable Mr. Secretarie Walsinghame, one of the
Quenes Majestie previe consail.
[Colonial 62. Domestic Eliz., cxviii. No. 43.]
NOVR 26^" 1577. FROM D"^ BURCOT : WHAT HE THINCKETH THE
GOOLD OGRE WILL YEELD BY THE TONNE.
After most hartie and humble commendacions. Whereas the Queenes
Ma^ie ^as I perceave by yoi" honors lettres) hathe required me to make an
O
194 STATE PAPERS
assaye and to shewe my judgm^ in that ooyre wch Captayne Ffurbysher
brought into this lande, the triithe ys, I have so donne, and I desire
yor honoJ* to advertize her highnes that I have assayed and proved yt to
the uttermost by dyvers and sundry assayes, and fynde not therein
suche greate ryches as ys spoken and reported of. But the truthe ys, I
have founde that in an hundred weight there ys half an onze of golde
in the blacke ooyre that ys x ounces yn a tonne. Also, I fynde one
other redd ooyre bearinge twoo ounces in an hundred weight, that ys
ffortye ounces in a tonne. And yf the same be well husbanded by a
skyllfull and expert man, that blacke oore will yelde in the great fyer
half an ounce, and beare the charges of meltinge and puryfyenge of yt.
I wolde therfore wyshe her highnes to allowe some yeerely consyderacion
unto some expert and skyllfull man in the knowledge of myneralles that
yf any suche roughe wyeld and forrayne ooyre at any tyme, hereafter
happen to comme into this lande that he by his true assayes thereof may
certyfie her highnes of the juste encrease of the same at his owne charges
that thereby her Ma^ie and subjectes may not (as heretofore they have
bynne) be disceaved by suche vayne and untrue reports. And further
that suche skyllfull man maye teache otheres in the same experyence of
myneralles yf at any tyme hereafter the like vyage shalbe made for the
like or other ooyre whose knoweledge of the travellers maye greatly en-
crese the commodytie of the viage, whoe by his instruccions in the same
knoweledge may learne a brevyate and shorte assaye in the tryall thereof
w*^ out any charges, ffurnys, or other instrument. And that in suche
shorte tyme that they maye thereby make xij assayes in an houre, what
goodnes ys in suche ooyre, and then to take the good and leave the
badd. If age and sycknes did not so oppresse me, but that I were able
to travell therein myself, I wolde willinglie bestowe my dyligence in
that service. Thus I leave yo^" honoi* to Goddes direction, prayenge for
her Ma'i^s longe and prosperous raigne. Dated this xxvjtb of November,
1577. Yo^" honors at commaundemt,
Burchard Kraurych.
To the Right WoorshipfuU Sr Fraunces Walsingham, Knight, Chief
Secretary unto the Queenes Matie, my singuler good frende gyve these.
\_Colonial, 63. Domestic Eliz., cxviii, No. 54.]
30 NOVEMBER, 1577. FROM MICHAEL LOK, OF JONAS, NEAV
MANER OF TRYALLS OF THE GOOLD ORE.
Right honorable. I wrote you a letter vj daies past, w^^ I sent by
Mr. Furbusher, myndinge at that tyme my sellf and Jonas to have byn
wth yor honor at the court this daye. The onely cause of our staye was
that Jonas is raakinge triall of another order of meltinge to be used in
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 195
the grosse worke wherby to melt the ore, w^ii halfe the charges and tjme
of the ordinarie use of the grosse workes, and wtii all to receave the fyne
gold out of the fyer molten w^^ out any maner of yron or other matter of
the ore to hynder the same, wch work is already done after one maner in
grosse order, and found very good, and by Monday or Tewesday next
wilbe also finished after another maner, wcb is also hoped shall fawlle
out as good or rather better. And therw^^al we will repayre to yo^" honor
wtii full and parfect resolution of all matters to good lykynge by Gods
grace, or on Wednesday to Hampton Court bycause it is nerer. And
then, also, I wyll certyffy yo^ honor what I fynd in S^" L. Ducket and
Sr R. Heyward, for the matter declared to me by Mr. Waterhowsse this
mornyng, accordinge to yor letter received then, also of hym who sayethe
that he also wilbe w^h yor honor at the Court on Monday or Tewesday
next w^b answere therof.
That wcb I wrote yo^' honor in my letter sent by Mr. Furbusher touch-
inge the rychesse of the ure, is very trew. Yt grevethe me to see so
moche tyme lost before we begyn to gyve order for the makyng of the
furnasses for the grosse work, vf<^^ of necessyty must be done before we
shall have any goodnes when all is sayed and proved that can be done,
I know not wherto to impute the fault, but to a schisma growen amonge
us commissioners, throughe unbelefe, or I cannot tell what worse in
summe of us, w^b the tyme must open. And thus for this tyme humbly
1 take my leave and commytt yo^ honor to Godes protection. From
London, this 30 November, 1577.
Yor honors most bounden,
Michael Lok.
I send this berer, my servant, purposely w^h this letter, and yo^" honor
maye command hym to retorne at yor plesure.
To the right honorable Mr. Francys Walsingham, Chyef Secretarie of
the Queenes Mati^, &c.
Delyvred at the Court.
\_Colonial, 61. Domestic Eliz., cxviii, No. 42.]
A NOTE OF ALL SUCH CHARGES AS SHALL AMOUNT IN MYLTYNGE
DOWNE THE GOWLD OWRE, AND OTHER CHARGES AS FOL-
OWETH, BY MR. JONAS SHOWTES ACCOUNT.
Inprimis, every toune waight of owre to yeald the somme of . xxx^*
Item, for the byldynge of the worke howse and furnysses . iiijc^i
Item, for the charge of xij workemen wykely . . v'i
Item, for cole, wood, fflowshe, and lead, to mylte it doune
wykely ...... xv'^
O 2
196 STATE PAPERS
Item, that the sayd Jonas shall trye wth the sayd charges afore
say wykele ij tone wayte of owre vf<^^ shall yeald in fyne
gowld the somme of ... . xx""""^*'
.Jonnas Schiitz.
[Colonial, East Indies, 69. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 15.]
AGNELI.O ON THE TRIAL OF THE ORE.
Molto Magnifico et honorando Si" mio essellentissimo.
Non voici S^" mio che pensasti ch' io fussi cossi mal crento che attanti
che hora non fussi stato el debito mio ad responder alia vostra cortese
lettera scrittame di 7 del passato ma la causa e stata ch' io desiderame
di rispondemi con qualche sustantia, il che volendo fare son stato for-
ciato di far molte esperienze et prove per conoscer la natura di questa
minera portata in questo regno dal S^' Martino Furbisher ; ultimamente
di poi molte prove fatte ho trovato che bisogna separare la parte sul-
furea combustile con conservatione dell' oro che in essa si sitruova, et piu
glie necessario separare quanto si puo la parte terrestra, et ancora el
ferro che in essa si contiene, il che fatto detta minera sara piii facile
alia fusione et con maneo spesa, oltra di questo I'oro quale era disperso
per minima in gran quantita di terrestreita et materia ferrea, sara redotto
piu unito ad diversi recuperare et unirsi insieme. El quale effetto pen.so
haver trovato, la qual cosa se pensate possi suplire al desiderio di sua
Mata me gli oferisco paratissimo. Ma perche intendo che vi sono molti
che si proferiscono et fano proforte grande a sua Ma"^ io sarsi di opinione
che lei dettessi a cottare le loro proferte ch' io per me son di gia vechio
et impotente a durar piu faticha et tanto piii che questa non e raia pro-
fessione, per che veramente io non adoperai mai metalli, glie ben vero
che essendo io stato sempre desideroso de intendere i secreti de natura
ho pensato de intender la natura di questa minera come di sopra ho
detto. Non voici pere Sr mio che pensasti ch' io habbi detto questo con
intencione di non far piacer et servitio a sua Ma^a quando gli pincera
comand . . . le ma I'ho solamente detto per le cause sopra detto. Et cosi
facendo fine et pregando I'Altissimo vi conservi et prosperi, gli bascio
I'honorata mano. Di Lon. adi 20 di Decemb. del 77.
Tutto al comando di V. S.,
Giovanni Battista Agnello.
Colonial East Indies, No. 64. Domestic Eliz., cxix, 8.
A NOTE or THE CHARGES REQUISITE FOR THE TRIALL OF ONE
TONNE OF THE NORTH-WEST ORE.
Right honorable, — We have byn longe tyme about the second prooffe
of the ure, and doo well parceave that this foinace is not great ynoughe
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 197
for the common great workes of the meltinge and to bringe the work to
that parfection w^^ is desyred, and so moche hathe Jonas said unto us
from the begynnynge. And yet wee doo fynd by these two proffes made
of c weight of ure apece that the ure hathe in it more then the valew of
xl'^ of money in gold in everie ton weight, after the rate that we fynd
and sawe the said two proffes. Also in this meane tyme we have had
triall of dy vers maner of workynges made by sundry men for the bettar
preparynge of the ure that it might be easye in ye meltinge to avoyde
great charges, and we have had dyvers small prooffes made by them
wch have very good lyki-'ge, but we are not al)le to say assuredlye what
they wyll fawll out in the great worke uutill the fornaces be made for
the said workes. Thus is moche tyme passed awaye and moaey spent,
and yet our expectation not satisfied. Wherfore we have thoughte good
now to drawe this matter to the best end that we can. And uppon
conferens had vf^^ Jonas (whome we fynd very honest and trew in his
doinges, and as our judgement wyll leade us the parfectest workmaster
in this art of his profession). We have thus dealt w'^i hym as folowethe.
He sayethe that this here new proved is poore in respect of the pece of
ure brought last yere, and of sum other brought this yere, and of that
w h he knowethe may be brought the next yere, and that it is of a
strange nature, suche as he is not yet well acquaynted withall ; but he
doutethe not in the great work, he will learne to knowe it parfectlyc.
Neverthelesse, beinge, as it is or maye be, he dothe promysse to delyver
halfe an once of fyne gold out of everye hundreth weight therof at the
worst and least valew, and hopethe also assuredlie to delyver so moche
more gold as shall pay all charges of the meltinge and workinge therof,
wth an advantage wherein he will use his best cudevour, as well for the
servyce of her ^la^J^as for his owue credite. And for the reward of his
owne labour and industrye, he dothe reserve hym selfe to the good con-
sideration of her Ma"« and yo^" honor v{^^ the rest of the Lordes, de_
syrynge that whatsoever it be he maye be made sure therof duryng his
lyffe by her ^Ma'i®*^ letters pattenttes before he begyn the great workes
in the w<^h letters pattenttes he is contented ther shalbe a condicion sett
downe, that yf he doo not parforme that wch before is declared that then
he wyll take no benefite by that graunt. And he sayethe that he hathe
no doubt that in the Landelinge of the great workes his doynges sLalLe
suche as justelye shall deserve to augment his pencyon of lyvinge here-
after whatsoever ic shalbe now. And touchiuge the ordinarie charges
of workinge the ure to parfection, he is not able yet to saye justelye
what it wyll amount uppon the ton, untill he have made triall therof in
the great work ; but this much he sayethe that it wylbe under ten
poundes the ton, exceptiuge the charges of buyldynges of the work,
hovvsse and fornaces, aud so he wyll warrant it uppon forteyture of his
pencyou. And hereuppon he repayrethe to the Court to take sum end
â– vyih jqI li^ .^m\ i\^Q iQ^i yf ii^Q hL., w^^ beinge done, he wyll go pre-
198 STATE PAPERS
sently to Bristow to Mr. Furbusher, w^ii yo^ good lykynge, to vew a
place convenient to erect the workhowse and fornaces, and there to have
conferens wtii the workmasters that shall erect the same according to
the plat, that he wyll gyve them the charges wherof he cannot judge
wt^ out conferens had vf^^ them; but he thynkethe it wilbe under cc
poundes. Thus moche we have thought good to certifFy yo^' honor, and
in the rest therof hymsellffe shall satisfy you more at large, Robert*
Denham is one suche as may be able to doo good sarvyces to the Q.
Matie and stand the Company in great steade whatsoever should happen
to Jonas, and therefore it were good he mought be remembered, wcb we
referre to yo^ honors good consyderation. And thus God preserve
yo^" honor. From London, this vj December, 1577.
Yoi' honors to commaund,
W. Wynter,
Michael Loke.
To the right honorable S^' Ffrancys Walsingham, Knyght, one of her
Mamies principall Secretaries.
dct.
At the Court.
{Colonial, 65, Doinestic Eliz., cxix. No. 9.]
^^ 2 The great proofe of the black oure of Alom and chayne.
^) ^ Thee third proofe of thee read sand of Alom and chayne.
^ â– * Thee second proofe of thee read sand of Alom and cbeyne.
^) "^ Thee oure of Hynnesbury Gilles.
{Colonial, 66. Domestic Eliz., cxix, 10.]
ITJ MELTING FURNACES WILL MELT IIJ TON OF URE IN A DAY
AND NIGHT OR RATHER XIJ HOWARS VJ WORKMEN WYLL
SARVE THESE IIJ FURNACES AND ALL OTHER WORKES THERTO
BELONGING.
For vj men men's wagys and meate a daye . . x»
And for other ydle tyme of work . . x«
"VVciiis for iij tons xx« w^tiis j ton for . . vjs viij'^
* Kobert, originally written William, but altered.
2 A small piece of metal fixed to the paper by wax.
3 Mark of the seal wax only remains.
4 Part of the wax only left.
5 Wax only lei't.
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 199
For coles and wood to melt j ton j lode , . xxs
For leade j ton for j ton ure vf^^ leade wilbe gotten
agayne in the last almost iij quarters of it so is lost
but j quarter of j ton worthe x'* the ton, vi^^ is for
j ton of ure ..... iij''
For fyar to rost j ton ure . . . vj-? viij'^
For a man to attend the same j day . . xx^i
For mixture to melt the ure for j ton . . x*
iSum <£5 5 a ton ure charges.
IColonial, East Indies, 67. Domestic Eliz., cxix, No. 12.]
DOCTOR BURC0T3 ARTICLES AND CONDITIONS TO SERVE IN
FYNING OF THE NORTH-WEST ORE OR ANY OTHER MINERALS.
Right honorable,
We have vewed all the watter mylles neere London and
doo fynd the most of them to be tyde mylles wcli wyll not sarve to work
the ure.
Also we have vewed the Temple myll w^^ Jonas dothe well lyke for the
watter course, but the same hathe very little or no ground wheron to
buyld the workhowsses needfull nor no place there for habitation of the
workmen and ofiycers requysyt for the workes.
Also we have seene the mylles at Dartford, whose water course Jonas
doth allso lyke well. And consideryng the commoditie of the towne for
habitation of the offycers and workmen also the water passage from the
Tames to the towne and the good store of fewell in Kent, we thynk that
place good fo^ the purpose wherof this berar Mr. Furbusher can certyffy
yo"" H. particularlye referring all to the consyderation of yo^" H. and the
lords of Mamies honorable privie councell.
Also I have delyvred to Mr. Burkot yo^' H. letter and theruppon I and
Mr. Furbusher have had large talke wtii hym, and in the end we fynd
hym farre out of reasson, and from that w^ii he wrote to yor H. as you
shall parceave by the writinges herewt^all sent of his demandes ; also
Jonas is not wyllynge to joyne w^ii hym, and by our conferens had we
doo see that Burcot wold doo in the workes no more but the same
well Jonas would doo and wyll doo and in sum poynttes not so moche
nor so well as at yo^" H. commyng to London you shall more largely un-
derstand. The first thing that now is to be done for erection of the
workehowsses for the ure is this : to wryte yo'^ H. letters to Mr. Bartye,
husband of the Duchesse of Suffolk to send hether Sebastian, a dockeman
who now makethe certayne mylleworke for hym at Grymsthorp, w^ii
workman must make the bellowes wheeles and all other tymber-work.
Also yo'' letter to sum fryn[d] to send hether Hendrick the dockeman
200 STATE PAPERS
brykler or mason who is now in work at the glassehows in Sussex at a
place called Lokwoo'd, these ij men w^^ Jonas must presently vew and
measure the plat of ground for erection of the mylle and furnaces and
ordeyne for the plat of the work and for the stuffe to work wi^i^all and
buy Id w^i^all. Also uppon yo^" E. resolution what place you think most
meete to erect the workehowsses. The ownar therof must be agreed
w'^all presently e for the same before we can begynne the workes of
buyldynges. All other matters appertaynynge to the premysses may
staye untyll yor H. come to London.
And thus I commytt yo' honor to Almighty God.
Ffrom London the xiij of December, 1577.
Yo^ honors most bounden
Michael Lok.
To the right honorable S'' Francis Walsingham, knight, one of her
]\Iaties principall Secretaries
At the Court.
[Inclosure i.]
The 9^^ December, 1577.
Mr. Doctor Burcot shall doo as folowethe : —
1. He shalbe chyef master of the workes of provynge and meltinge the
ures here at home yerelye and in his owne parson shall see and ordayne
and command the same.
2. He shall delyver halfe an once at the least of fyne gold for every
hundred weight of the ure, free and clere of all charges of ffyer and ad-
ditions for the melting and mens labour for the workyng and all other
charges except the charges of buyldyng and instrumeuttes or \>orkyng
tooles.
And this shall he parforme or ells shall loose his pencion of cc'' and all
other intertaynement.
Mr. Doctor Burcot shall have as folowethe : —
1. A pencion of cc^' yerely during his lyffe.
2. And xx« day for his dyat when he or his deputye workethe.
3. And a better reward w^hen the mynes prove bettar and V^ before-
hand besydes his pencion. And this shalbe parformed to him by suffi-
cient bondes.
[Inclosure ii.]
Artycles oiF Burkard Krainghe ofi" the iteltine and ffyninge of that
coyre that ys brought into this land and that w^b here after shall come.
Inprimis that he will be a master teacher and instructor of Inglyshe-
men how they shall melte this presente blacke ooyre or any that comythe
here after to puryffie and fyne yt and bringe jt to parffyte gold.
Item he will also have suche men as he will chuse and apounte they
shalbe bound to the hole fellowshipe and unto him not to departe frome
this busynes w tiiout the masters lycense and good will havinge ther wages
reasouablye a})pounted unto them.
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 201
Item he will also erecte and buyld a meltene house w^h vj fornaces
axiltres, fyninge ovene vj pare off bellous vf^^ all other instrumentes
apperteyninge to suche a house of his owne device and knowlage pro-
fytable and mete for suche meltine at the fellowes cost and charges.
Item he will have too hundred pound ayeare duringe his naturall lyffe
quarterly to be payd and one hole quarter^ in hand, and the next
pament at oure Lady-day next followinge, and xxs a day for his charges
holy day and workie day as ofte as he ys in and aboute that busynes and
yf yt fortune him to be charged w^^ bodylie syckenes and be not able to
travile in the same arte and be present himselfe that he may have a
sufficiente man ther in his place in the meane tyme and the same ac-
countes and the xx^ to be payd monthly.
Item he will also have by that same meltine house sufficiente rostine
house, coyle house, v/^^ plentye of wood and coile.
Item the same Burkard hath takine upon him w^b hisaffore appounted
workemen and melters to bring out of the blacke oorye that ys present
alredye in this lande halfe an ounce of a hundred weight gold and be •
sydes that yt shall beare reasonable charges so that he may have the
same ooyre cleanely delyvered unto him w^^'out earthe drosse or stones
havinge wood and coile wth workemen at ye queues pryce.
Item will gyve a note what maner of bellowes and other instrumentes
nessessary appertayninge to the same mayd here in London and carryed
to suche a place as the Mr, and fellowes thinke mete to be buylden.
Item, he will instructe and teache to make proves and sayes to one
man that will go suche a vioage agayne to bringe over treasure and
ryches to pay for all and leave suche pooer and wyld ooryes behind yf
ther be suche ryches in the land.
Item he ys also content to travill his old body in the fellowshipes cost
and charge to vew se and fynd out in this land a place for buyldine suche
a house bothe mete and profytable for the beste cheape of meltine and
bringine in of the oorye.
Item, he will also make sayes of this ooryes that is in this land adver-
tyce the comyssioners of the ryches of the same of his owne cost and
charge, and in his owne house and showe and teache how yt shall be
brought oute in the greate fyer because he hathe his pension for
ye same.
Item, he will also have tow notable men in the fellowshipe that shalbe
bound unto him in a pare of indentures and he to them for the hole
fellowshipe wcb one of them shalbe appounted to pay him at altymes
for him and his men ther wages an his pension and xx^ a day.
Item, yf ther shall here after any more suche ooyre come into this
land W^ii shall beare the charges and be more profytable then thys ys
that where he hathe now xx'* a day then he shall have xl* a day,
' " liole quarter"' erasfcl, aud alured to tfyfti pound."
202 STATE PAPERS
Item, that yf he do not performe the afforesayd artyckles then he
shall losse his pittane and therto I have sette my hand.
Item, he will not have that his pension nor his xx-^ shalbe accounted
in the charges of the meltyng because yt is neyther for labourer nor
workmenes wages.
Item, will also have that alwayes ther shall remane a peace of mony
in the masters handes before hand in the buyldine and meltine to pay
his men in dew season and he shall make acounte every sennet or xiiij
dayes at y^ leaste and send yt to him that payes the men to make his
booke w^^ a trew accountes what is spent and payd.
Item, the M^ will also instructe and teache one of his secret and
bounden sarvantes and prentyce durynge his lyffe as he hathe partely
alredy done that yf yt happene that the same Mr dothe deseace or dye
that the same his mane shall knowe suche secretes and mystories wc^
every worke man and laborrer ought not to knowe so that his service
may be followed in his desseaces and after his deathe and to be joyned
now w^^ him in patent.
[Colonial 113. Domestic Eliz., cxxix. No. 2.]
JANUARY 2, 1578. FROM MR. EDWARD FENTON, WHAT SUCCESS E
HE HATHE HAD IN TRAVELING TO GET OWRE IN THE WEST
COUNTRIE.
My dutie to yoi" honor most humblie used. Makinge my L. of Bedforde
acc^uainted w^^^^ her Mamies commission and service I had in hande from
yor ho: he presentlye directed his favorable letters unto Mr. Edgcombe
(whose skill and indginete for that purpose and service his L. thought
most sufficiente) to whom I repaired accordinglie. And making him
acquainted therwt^ I desired his speedie good help and furtherance in
the same and sheifest to be furnished of that oure or minerall (Mr.
Burcott) affirmed to yo^ honor to have receved of him and gotten in his
growndes W^ he assured me by great othes was not true : for the, same
care .... delivered unto (Burcott) by one of his bretheren who
receavid the same of another man wch died longe time sithence, and
where he had the same he knowes not neither can it be learned of any
other. So that at my firste entraunce into the service I was voyde of
that hoope and helpe I cheiflie exspected at his handes for the presente
supplie of the same. Wherfore seinge the uncertentie of his help and
that he sayde he had procured some other sortes of oare but not readie
for me : I furthAvtii repaired into Cornewall to see what fruites I coulde
reape, and fonde owt for that purpose by myne owne travaill : And
coming amongest the mynes there (Christmas being at hand) and the
niyners being departed from their labours. Onlie in thende haping to
PREVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 203
one (Mr. Cosworth) receavoi" of her Mamies revenew there, w^^ whom using
some conferrence receavid bothe greate courtesie for my self and fur-
theraunce for the presente service I had in hande : he travailed with me
into sondrie places and to divers gentlemen of that shier at whose handes
and by whose meanes I was cheiflie to be holpen w^^ such mineralls as I
serched for viz., Mr. Goodolphin, Mr. Arundell, and others w^ii whom
after I had used some conferrence and given them some instructions
towchinge thaction furthw^i^ dispatched their letters to their servaunts
best acquainted w^^ those cawses to make presente serch for all oares and
mineralls remayninge in their workes from whom I have receavid such
sortes of oare as I have sente to London (to Mr. Looke) putt in severall
bagges marked w^h figures accordinge to a kalendar herwith inclosed to
yo"" honor.
But the oare (Mr. Burcott) had wherof Mr. Edgcombe delivered me a
peice, I showed to divers tynners and others of skill in mineralls, but
they never saw any suche in Cornwall or other places of their workinge.
Greator speede I could not make by reason thunfittnes of time as
absence of all workmen from their workes, neither a greator quantitie of
oare w^h sorte will best serve the purpose it is gotten for, wcii I coulde
not do having no skill therin my self muche lesse here acquainted
w^'^ any that could do the same. And therfore thought it not good to
entre into any further charges therin till I receaved yo^ honors further
pleasurs and certificatt w^^ sorte or sortes therof will best aggree
w^ii thaction it is provided for, w^^ I will most dutifullie and readelie
followe accordinge to suche orders as yo^ honors shall direct me for the
same. Humblie beseching yo^ ho : to direct yo'" favorable letters of
thanks to (Mr. Coswarth) for the greate courtesie he hath shewed me in
this service craving pardon for my boldness I beseche God to blesse
yo^" honors with good success in all yo*" actions. Ffrom Mount Edg-
combe the ijJeof Januarie, 1578.
Yo^" honors most humblie to commaunde,
Edward Fenton.
To the right honorable the Lords and others of her Mai^ies most
honorable Privie Counsaill.
haste.
[Colonial, 113. State Papers. Domestic, Elizabeth., Vol. 129, 2, i.]
THE KALLENDER OF SUCHE SORTS OF OARE AS I HAVE SENT IN
SOUNDRIE BAGGS, VIZ.:
The first sort or kynd being liek copper called myndick growethe in
St. Awstcll Clives 3 milles from the haven of Foye.
There is liek to be good stoarc therof.
204 STATE PAPERS
2. The second sort comonly called by the tynners calle, there is great
stoare and dyvers kynds therof growing in St. Tew and other places 3
milles from the sea syde : and from the haven of Foye vij milles.
3. The third sort lyke unto tynne or lead,* groweth in St, Awstell in
the severall grownd of Hughe Collyns of Tregonie, ij milles from the see
and vj from Foye.
4. The iiij'^i'sort growethe in the parishe of Piryn in the grownd of
(Mr. John Nance) and was one of the myues (Mr. Burcot) wrought for
silver : he gave to the honnor yerely v oz. of silver, it lyethe w^-i^in 2
milles of New Kaie a littell harbor now dekayed, the work standethe xxij
fethomes deape of water and the loade therof a foate broade.
5. The fift sort was gottin by me and Mr. Coswarthe in a silver work
of Bircotts, at New Kaie, hard by the see side and in the parishe of
St Collom (the lower, the loade scant a foat broade), I fownd also in a
howse hard by the same, certayn slage w^' he used to melt downe the
same oare wt i all, of what substaunce or from whence it came, I could
not learne; it is amongest the oore in this bagge.
6. The vy'^ contayneth 4 sorts of oore received from Mr. Barnard
Penrose dwelling nigh Helston.
7. The vij'^i sort was gotten in the parishe of S"^ Tannesse, her
Mats jland, hard uppon the see side, the loade not above a handfuU
broad.
8. The viij'i bagge coutaynethe 7 sorts of oare w^^^ their loads. Re-
ceived of Mr, Edgcombe.
Fower sorts of oare in 4 severall baggs, marked wi^'i the letter M., from
IVIr. Michell, of Trewroo.
Indorsed. The sortes of myneralls received from C. Fentou, from
Cornwall, the 8 Januarie, 1578.
[^Colonial, 131. State Pajiers. Domestic Miz., Vol. 129, No. 43.]
THE XVIJ DAYE OE FEBROAVARY IN AN" 1578, OF X'' OF ORE
MELTYD AT DARTFORDE. A COWNT MAJ)E OF X'^ OF ORE
MELTYD W^" CAME OUT OF THE JUDETH, AND 13''" OF ORE
W^" CAME OUT OF THE NORTHF, AND 3^ OF LECTAGE W^"
CAME FROME TOWER HIGHTT 26c IN ALL.
"Where of came iij^ ^ of ryche leade, and that beyinge fyude downe
there came viij oz. ot selver, lackynge ij'^ weyght, where of beynge
pariyd, came of gowlde one q.5 q*^ oz. and xviij grains.
Where of came out of the Itade ore and the lytarge, w^i^ was xvijc ^ oz.
I q3, wc'ms X oz.
1 In the toppe of this bagge you shall fyud ij peces of oare jello coller
gutien at New Kaie.
PRKVIOUS TO THE THIRD VOYAGE. 205
Then meltyd the lytarge wth the slags where out is come ije of leade,
â– vyfih ijc of leade howldeth v oz.
All so there dothe remayne in stone iij'^ ^, w^h howldyth all v oz.
There rema 
