Then To Take
Traverse From 45 To 47 Degrees Of Latitude, If We Be Enforced By
Contrary Winds; And Not
To go to the northward of the height of 47
degrees of septentrional latitude by no means, if God shall
Not
enforce the contrary; but to do your endeavour to keep in the
height of 46 degrees, so near as you can possibly, because Cape
Race lieth about that height.
NOTE.
If by contrary winds we be driven back upon the coast of England,
then to repair unto Scilly for a place of our assembly or meeting.
If we be driven back by contrary winds that we cannot pass the
coast of Ireland, then the place of our assembly to be at Bere
haven or Baltimore haven. If we shall not happen to meet at Cape
Race, then the place of rendezvous to be at Cape Breton, or the
nearest harbour unto the westward of Cape Breton. If by means of
other shipping we may not safely stay there, then to rest at the
very next safe port to the westward; every ship leaving their
marks behind them for the more certainty of the after comers to
know where to find them. The marks that every man ought to leave
in such a case, were of the General's private device written by
himself, sealed also in close wax, and delivered unto every ship
one scroll, which was not to be opened until occasion required,
whereby every man was certified what to leave for instruction of
after comers; that every of us coming into any harbour or river
might know who had been there, or whether any were still there up
higher into the river, or departed, and which way.
Orders thus determined, and promises mutually given to be observed,
every man withdrew himself unto his charge; the anchors being already
weighed, and our ships under sail, having a soft gale of wind, we
began our voyage upon Tuesday, the 11 day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1583, having in our fleet (at our departure from Cawset Bay)
these ships, whose names and burthens, with the names of the captains
and masters of them, I have also inserted, as followeth: - 1. The
/Delight/, alias the /George/, of burthen 120 tons, was Admiral; in
which went the General, and William Winter, captain in her and part
owner, and Richard Clarke, master. 2. The bark /Raleigh/, set forth by
Master Walter Raleigh, of the burthen of 200 tons, was then Vice-
Admiral; in which went Master Butler, captain, and Robert Davis, of
Bristol, master. 3. The /Golden Hind/, of burthen 40 tons, was then
Rear-Admiral; in which went Edward Hayes, captain and owner, and
William Cox, of Limehouse, master. 4. The /Swallow/, of burthen 40
tons; in her was captain Maurice Browne. 5. The /Squirrel/, of burthen
10 tons; in which went captain William Andrews, and one Cade, master.
We were in number in all about 260 men; among whom we had of every
faculty good choice, as shipwrights, masons, carpenters, smiths, and
such like, requisite to such an action; also mineral men and refiners.
Besides, for solace of our people, and allurement of the savages, we
were provided of music in good variety; not omitting the least toys,
as morris-dancers, hobby-horse, and May-like conceits to delight the
savage people, whom we intended to win by all fair means possible. And
to that end we were indifferently furnished of all petty haberdashery
wares to barter with those simple people.
In this manner we set forward, departing (as hath been said) out of
Cawset Bay the 11 day of June, being Tuesday, the weather and wind
fair and good all day; but a great storm of thunder and wind fell the
same night. Thursday following, when we hailed one another in the
evening, according to the order before specified, they signified unto
us out of the Vice-Admiral, that both the captain, and very many of
the men, were fallen sick. And about midnight the Vice-Admiral forsook
us, notwithstanding we had the wind east, fair and good. But it was
after credibly reported that they were infected with a contagious
sickness, and arrived greatly distressed at Plymouth; the reason I
could never understand. Sure I am, no cost was spared by their owner,
Master Raleigh, in setting them forth; therefore I leave it unto God.
By this time we were in 48 degrees of latitude, not a little grieved
with the loss of the most puissant ship in our fleet; after whose
departure the /Golden Hind/ succeeded in the place of Vice-Admiral,
and removed her flag from the mizen into the foretop. From Saturday,
the 15 of June, until the 28, which was upon a Friday, we never had
fair day without fog or rain, and winds bad, much to the west-north-
west, whereby we were driven southward unto 41 degrees scarce.
About this time of the year the winds are commonly west towards the
Newfoundland, keeping ordinarily within two points of west to the
south or to the north; whereby the course thither falleth out to be
long and tedious after June, which in March, April, and May, hath been
performed out of England in 22 days and less. We had wind always so
scant from the west-north-west, and from west-south-west again, that
our traverse was great, running south unto 41 degrees almost, and
afterwards north into 51 degrees. Also we were encumbered with much
fog and mists in manner palpable, in which we could not keep so well
together, but were discovered, losing the company of the /Swallow/ and
the /Squirrel/ upon the 20 day of July, whom we met again at several
places upon the Newfoundland coast the 3 of August, as shall be
declared in place convenient. Saturday, the 27 July, we might descry,
not far from us, as it were mountains of ice driven upon the sea,
being then in 50 degrees, which were carried southward to the weather
of us; whereby may be conjectured that some current doth set that way
from the north.
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