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A Traverse-Booke made by M. John Davis in his passage.

Moneth. Dayes. Houres. Course. Leagues.

Elevation of the pole.
Deg. Min.

The winde. THE DISCOURSE.
May.
  19   W. S. W.
Westerly.		   50 30 N. E. This day we departed from Dartmouth at two of the clocke at night.
  20              
  21 35 W. S. W.
Westerly.		 50 50   N. E. This day we descried Silly N. W. by W. from us.
  22 15 W. N. W. 14     N. E. by E. This day at noone we departed from Silly.
  22 6 W. N. W. 6     N. E. by E.  
  22 3 W. N. W. 2        
  23 15 N. W. by W. 18     N. E.  
  23 39 W. N. W. 36 50 40   The true course, distance and latitude.
    3 W. N. W. 2     N. N. E.  
    6 N. W. by W. 5     N. E. by N.  
    3 W. N. W. 3     N. N. E.  
    12 W. N. W. 12     N. E.  
Noone the 24 24 W. N. W.
Northerly.		 25 51 16   The true course, distance, and latitude.
    3 W. N. W. 3     N. N. E.  
    3 W. N. W. 2½     N. by E.  
    6 W. by N. 5     N.  
    6 W. by N. 5     N.  
    2 S. ½     N. Now we lay upon the lee for the Sunshine, which had taken a leake of 500 strokes in a watch.
Noone the 25 24 W. by N. 20 51 30   The true course, distance and latitude.
    3 W. 3     N. N. W.  
    3 W. S. W. 2     N. W.  
    1 S. W. 1     W. N. W.  
    2 W. N. W. 1½     N.  
    3 W. N. W. 1½     N.  
    3         Calme.  
    4 W. N. W. 4     S. S. E.  
    5 W. 6     S. S. E.  
Noone the 26 24 W. by N.
Westerly.		 23 51 40   The true course, distance, &c.
    11 W. 16     S. S. E.  
    6 W. N. W. 2     S. S. E. We lay at hull with much winde, raine, and fog.
    7 W. 5     S. E.  
Noone the 27 24 W. Northerly. 23       The common course supposed.
Noone the 28 24 W. 20 52 13 E. S. E. We towed the pinnesse 18 houres of this day.
Noone the 28 28 W. by N.
Northerly.		 43 52 13   The true course, distance, &c.
Noone the 29 24 N. W. 30     S. by E.  
    6 N. W. 10     S.  
    3 N. by W. 2     W. by N.  
    3 W. by N. 3     W. by S.  
    12 N. W. 12     S. S. W.  
Noone the 30 48 N. W. by N. 65 54 50   The true course, &c.
    9 N. W. 12     S. W.  
    9 N. W. by W. 12     S. S. W.  
    3 W. N. W. 3     N. N. E.  
    3 W. by N. 4     N.  
  30 24 W. N. W.
Northerly.		 27 55 30   The true course, &c.
June
  1 12 W. 10     N. N. W.  
    9 N. W. 8     E. N. E.  
    3 N. W. 2½     E. N. E.  
  1 24 W. N. W.
Westerly.		 17 55 45   The true course, &c.
    12 N. W. 16     E. S. E.  
    6 N. W. 7     S.  
    6 N. W. 8     S. S. W.  
Noone the 2 24 N. W.
Northerly.		 32 56 55   The true course, &c.
Noone the 5 72 W. by S.
southerly.		 45 56 20   The true course, &c. drawen from divers traverses.
Noone the 6 24 S. W. 16     W. N. W.  
    7 S. W. by W. 6     W. by N.  
    5         Calme.  
    3 W. N. W. 1     S.  
Noone the 7 9 W. N. W. 12     S.  
    12 W. N. W. 20     S.  
    3 W. N. W. 4     S.  
Noone the 8 9 W. N. W. 7     S.  
    12 W. N. W. 5     S.  
Noone the 9 12 W. N. W. 13     S. E.  
Noone the 9 96 W. by N.
northerly.		 86 57 30   The true course, distance, & latitude for 96 houres.
    3 W. N. W. 4     S. E.  
    3 W. N. W. 2     S. E.  
    6 W. N. W. 1     Calme.  
Noone the 10 12 W. N. W. 16½     E.  
    7 W. N. W. 12     E.  
    2 N. W. 2     E.  
Noone the 11 15 N. W. 18     E. N. E.  
    12 N. W. 12     E. N. E.  
    12 N. W. 13     E. by S.  
Noone the 12 72 N. W. by W.
northerly.		 78 59 50   The true course, &c. for 72 houres.
Noone the 13 24 N. N. W.
Westerly.		 26 60 58 E. by N.  
Noone the 14 24 N. N. W. 32 62 30 N. E. This day in the morning at five of the clocke we discovered land being distant from us at the neerest place sixteene leagues. This land in generall lay Northwest and to the Westwards, being very mountainous. The winde was this day variable, and the aire sometime foggie, and sometime cleere. The foresayd land bare from us (so neere as we could judge) North, Northwest, and Southeast.
    9 W. N. W. 7     N.
    3 N. W. 2     N. N. E.
    3 N. W. by N. 2     N. E. by N.
  15 9 N. N. W. 8     N. E.  
Noone the 15 24 N. W.
Northerly.		 23 63 20   The true course, &c.
Noone the 16 24 N. N. E.
Easterly.		 14 64     The true course, &c. This 16 of June at 5 of the clocke in the afternoone, being in the latitude of 64 degrees, through Gods helpe we came to an anker among many low islands which lay before the high land. This 17 of June we set up our pinnesse. The 20 she was spoiled by the Savages. At midnight the 21 of June wee departed from this coast, our two barks for their fishing voyage, and my selfe in the pinnesse for the discovery. From midnight the 21 we shaped our course as followeth.*
  17            
  20            
*At mid-night ye 21 8 W. N. W. 7     S. E.
Noone the 22 4 N. W. 6     S. E.  
    13 N. W. 18     S. E.  
    11 N. 13     S. E. At this time we saw great store of whales.
Noone the 23 36 N. W. by N. 42 65 40   The true course, &c.
Noone the 24 24 N. by E.
Northerly.		 41 67 40 S. S. E. The true course, &c. Here the weather was very hot. This 24 of June at 6 of the clocke at night we met two savages at sea in their small canoas, unto whom we gave bracelets, and nailes, for skins & birds. At 9 of the clocke they departed from us. The next day at 7 of the clocke in the morning, there came unto us 30 savages 20 leagues off the shore, intreating us to goe to the shore. We had of them fish, birds, skinnes, darts, and their coats from their backs, for bracelets, nailes, knives &c. They remained with us foure houres, and departed.
  25            
Noone the 26 48 N.       S.
    3 N. W. 2     S. W.
    7 N. N. E. 10     S.  
    6 N. 8     S. W.  
    8 W. N. W. 5     S. E.  
Noone the 27 72 N. Westerly. 52 70 4   The true course, &c. for 72 houres.
Noone the 30 72 N. 43 72 12   The true course, &c. Since the 21 of this moneth I have continually coasted the shore of Gronland , having the sea all open towards the West, and the land on ye starboord side East from me. For these last 4 dayes the weather hath bene extreame hot and very calme, the Sun being 5 degrees above the horizon at midnight. The compasse in this place varieth 28 degrees towards ye West.
  30            
               
               
               
               
July
  1 30 W. by S.
Westerly.		 44 71 36 N. W. by N. The true course, &c. This day at noone wee coasted a mighty banke of ice West from us.
  2 24 S. E. 12 71 9    
Noone the 3 8 N. N. W. 11 71 40 N. This day we fell againe with the ice, seeking to double it out by the North.
Noone the 5 48 S. S. E. 36 70   N. The True course, &c.
  6 24 S. S. W. 22 69   Variable. The true course, &c. This 6 of July we put our barke thorow the ice, seeing the sea free on the West side: and having sailed 5 leagues West, we fell with another mighty barre; which we could not passe: and therefore returning againe we freed our selves the 8 of this moneth at midnight, and so recovered the sea through Gods favour, by faire winds, the weather being very calme.
  7            
  8            
               
               
               
Noone the 9 72 E. S. E. 7 68 50 Calme. The true course, &c.
Noone the 10 24 S. E. by S. 8 68 30 E. by N. The true course, &c. This day we coasted the ice.
Noone the 11 24 E. N. E. 11 1/2 68 45 Variable. The true course, &c.
Noone the 12 24 S. S. E. 16 68   N. N. W. The true course, &c.
  13 24 E. by S. 20     S. This day the p ople came to us off the shore, and bartered with us. Being within the Isles, & not finding good ankorage, we bare off againe into the sea.
Noone the 14 24 W. by N. 11 67 50 S. The true course, &c.
Noone the 15 24 W. S. W. 5 67 45 E. The true course, &c. This day a great current set us West 6 points from our course.
Noone the 16 24 S. W. by W.
westerly.		 23 67 10 S. The true course, &c. This day we fell wt a mighty banke of ice West of us.
Noone the 18 48 S. by W. 30 65 33 N. fog. The true course, &c. Codected by divers experiments.
Noone the 19 24 W. southerly. 13 65 30 S. fog. The true course, &c. This 19 of July at one a clocke in the afternoone we had sight of the land of Mount Ralegh, and by 12. of the clocke at night wee were thwart the Streights which (by Gods helpe) I discovered the first yere.
  20             The 20 day wee traversed in the mouth of the sayd Streights with a contrary winde, being West and faire weather.
  23             This 23 day at 2 of the clocke in the afternoone, having sailed 60 leagues Northwest, we ankered among an huge number of isles lying in the bottome of the sayd supposed passage, at which place the water riseth 4 fadome upright. Here as we rode at anker, a great whale passed by us, and swam West in among the isles. In this place a S. W. by W. moone maketh, a full sea. Here the compasse varied 30 degrees.
  24             The 24 day at 5 of the clocke in the morning we set saile, departing from this place, and shaping our course S. E. to recover the maine Ocean againe.
  25             This 25 we were becalmed almost in the bottome of the Streights, & had the weather marvellous extreame hot.
  26           S. E. This day being in the Streights, we had a very quicke storme.
  27           S. Being still in the Streight, we had this day faire weather.
Noone the 29       64     At this present we got cleere of the Streights, having coasted the South shore, the land trending from hence S. W. by S.
Noone the 30 24 S. S. W. 22 63     This day we coasted the shore, a banke of ice lying thereupon. Also this 30 of July in the afternoone we crossed over the entrance or mouth of a great inlet or passage, being 20 leagues broad, and situate betweene 62 & 63 degrees. In which place we had 8 or 9 great rases, currents or overfals, lothsomly crying like the rage of the waters under London bridge, and bending their course into the sayd gulfe.
  31 24 S. by W. 27 62   N. W. This 31 at noone, comming close by a foreland or great cape, we fell into a mighty rase, where an island of ice was carried by the force of the current as fast as our barke could saile with lum wind, all sailes bearing. This cape as it was the most Southerly limit of the gulfe which we passed over the 30 day of this moneth, so was it the North promontory or first beginning of another very great inlet, whose South limit at this present wee saw not. Which inlet or gulfe this afternoone, and in the night, we passed over: where to our great admiration we saw the sea falling down into the gulfe with a mighty overfal, and roring, and with divers circular motions like whirlepooles, in such sort as forcible streames passe thorow the arches of bridges.
August.
Noone the 1 24 S. E. by S. 16 61 10 W. S. W. The true course, &c. This first of August we fell with the promontory of the sayd gulfe or second passage, having coasted by divers courses for our savegard, a great banke of the ice driven out of that gulfe.
Noone the 3 48 S. S. E. 16 60 26 Variable.
Noone the 6 72 S. E.
Southerly.		 22 59 35 Variable wt
calme.		 The true course, &c.
  7 24 S. S. E. 22 58 40 W. S. W. The true course, &c.
  8 24 S. E. 13 58 12 W. fog. The true course, &c.
  9 24 S. by W. 13 57 30 Variable
& calme.		 The true course, &c.
  10 24 S. S. E. 17 56 40 S. W. by W. The true course, &c.
  11 24 S. E. easterly. 40 55 13 W. N. W. The true course, &c.
  12 24 S. E. easterly. 20 54 32 W. S. W. The true course, &c.
  13 24 S. S. E. 4 54   N. W. This day seeking for our ships that went to fish, we strooke on a rocke, being among many iles, and had a great leake.
Noone the 14 24 S. S. E. 28 52 40 N. W. This day we stopped our leake in a storme. The 15 of August at noon, being in the latitude of 52 degrees 12. min. and 16 leagues from the shore, we shaped our course for England , in Gods name, as followeth.*
*Noone ye 15       52 12 S. S. W. The true latitude.
  16 20 E. S. E. halfe
point S.		 50 51   S. W. The true course, &c.
  17 24 E. by S. 30 50 40 S. The true course, &c. This day upon the Banke we met a Biscaine bound either for the Grand Bay or for the passage. He chased us.
  18 24 E. by N.
northerly.		 49 51 18 W. The true course, &c.
  19 24 E. halfe point
north.		 51 51 35 Variable.
W. & S.		 The true course, &c.
  20 24 E. S. E. 31 50 50 S. W. The true course, &c.
Noone the 22 48 E. by N. 68 51 30 S. S. W. The true course, &c.
  23 24 E. by N.
Northerly.		 33 51 52 S. The true course, &c.
  24 24 E. by N. 31 52 10 Variable. The true course, &c. This 24 of August observing the variation, I found the compasse to vary towards the East, from the true Meridian, one degree.
Noone the 27 72 E.
Northerly.		 40 52 23 Variable
& calme.		 The true course, &c. for 72 houres.
Noone the 29 48 E. S. E. 47 51 28 Variable
W. & N.		 The true course, &c.
Noone the 31 48 S. E. by E.
Easterly.		 14 51 9 Variable. The true course, &c.
September
  2 48 E. Southerly. 65 51   N. W. The true course, &c.
  3 24 E. by S.
Easterly.		 24 50 50 W. N. W. The true course, &c.
  4 24 S. E. by E. 20 50 21 N. N. E. The true course, &c.
  5 24 S. E. by E. 18 49 48 N. N. E. The true course, &c. Now we supposed our selves to be 55 leagues from Sillie.
  6 24 E. by S. 15 49 40 N. The true course, &c.
  7 24 E. S. E. 20 49 15 N. N. W. The true course, &c.
  8 24 N. E. 18 49 40    
  9 24 W. S. W. 7 49 42    
  10 24 S. E. by E. 8½ 49 28 Variable.  
  11 24 N. E. by E. 10 49 45 Variable.  
  12 24 N. W. by W. 6 50   N. E.  
  13 24 E. by S.
southerly.		 15 49 47 N. E.  
  15             This 15 of September 1587 we arrived at Dartmouth .
Under the title of the houres, where any number exceedeth 24, it is the summe or casting up of so many other dayes and partes of days going next before, as conteine the foresayd summe.

The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the English Nation Made by Sea or Overland to the Remote & Farthest Distant Quarters of the Earth at any time within the compasse of these 1600 Yeares. Richard Hakluyt. New York. E. P. Dutton & Co.

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