The voyage of the foresaid M. Stephen Burrough, An. 1557. from Colmogro to Wardhouse, which was sent to seeke the Bona Esperanza, the Bona Confidentia, and the Philip and Mary, which were not heard of the yeere before.
May.
UPON Sunday the 23. of May, I departed with the
Searchthrift from Colmogro, the latitude whereof is 64.
degrees, 25. minutes, and the variation of the compasse,
5. degrees, 10 minutes from the North to the East.
Wednesday we came to the Island called Pozanka,
which Island is within foure leagues of the barre Berozova.
It floweth here at an East and by South moone full sea.
Saturday in the morning we departed from Pozanka,
and plied to the barre of Ber6zova Gooba, whereupon
wee came to anker at a lowe water, and sounded the said
Barre with our two Skiffes, and found in the best upon
the shoaldest of the barre 13. foote water by the rule.
It higheth upon this barre, in spring streames 3. foote
water: and an East Moone maketh a full sea upon this
barre.
Sunday in the morning wee departed from the barre of
Berozova, and plied along by the shoalds in five fadome,
untill I had sight of S. Nicholas roade, and then wee
cast about to the Northwards, and went with a hommocke,
which is halfe a mile to the Eastwards of Coya Reca,
which hommocke and S. Nicholas abbey lye Southsouthwest, and Northnortheast, and betweene them are 11.
leagues. Coia Reca is halfe a mile to the Eastwards of
Coscaynos. Coscaynos & the middes of the Island called
Mondeustova ostrove, which is thwart of the barre of
Berozova lieth South and by East, North and by West,
and betweene them are 4. leagues, or as you may say
from the Seaboord part of the barre to Coscaynos are 3.
leagues and a halfe.
Munday at a Northeast and by East sunne we were
thwart of Coscaynos.
Dogs nose lieth from Coscaynos Northnorthwest, and
betweene them are eight leagues: and Dogs nose sheweth
like a Gurnerds head, if you be inwardly on both sides
of it: on the lowe point of Dogs nose there standeth a
crosse alone.
June.
FROM Dogs nose to Foxenose are three leagues, North
and by West.
The 2. day of June I went on shoare 2. miles to the
Northwards of Dogs nose, and had the latitude of that
place in 65. degrees, 47. minutes. It floweth a shoare
at this place, at an East Moone full sea, and the shippe
lay thwart to wende a flood, in the off, at a Southsoutheast moone. So that it is to be understoode, that when
it is a full sea on the shoare, it is two points to ebbe,
before it be a lowe water in the off. The variation of
the Compasse at this place is 4. degrees from the North
to the East.
This day the Northnorthwest winde put us backe againe
with Dogs nose, where a ship may ride thwart of a salt
house, in 4. fadome, or 4. fadome and a halfe of water,
and have Landfange for a North and by West winde:
which Salt house is halfe a mile to the Southwards of
Dogs nose. Friday at a Southsouthwest Sunne, wee departed from
this Salt house. It is to be noted that foure miles to
the Northwards of Dogs nose there growe no trees on
the banke by the water side: and the bankes consist of
fullers earth. Over the cliffes there growe some trees:
so that Dogs nose is the better to be knowen because it
is fullers earth, and the like I have not seene in all that
Countrey.
A head of Foxe nose a league from the shoare there
are 15. fadome: betwixt Foxe nose and Zolatitsa there
are 6 leagues, I meane the Southerly part of Foxe nose.
Sunday I sounded the barre of Zolatitsa, which the
Russes told me was a good harborow, but in the best
of it I found but 4. foote water.
Munday, I had the latitude in 66. degrees, and then
was point Pentecost sixe leagues South of us.
Wednesday I went on land at
Crosse Island, and tooke
the latitude, which was 66. degrees 24 minutes.
We being one league Northeast of
Crosse Island, I
sawe the land on the Eastside, which I judged to be
Cape good fortune, and it was then Eastsoutheast of
us 9. leagues.
Cape grace is 7. leagues and a halfe Northeast from
Crosse Island.
There are 2. Islands 5. leagues Northnortheast from
Cape grace, the Southermost of them is a little long
Island almost a mile long, and the Northermost a little
round Island, and they are both hard aboord the shore.
Cape Race is from the Southermost Island North and
by West, and betweene them are two leagues, and from
that and halfe a league Northnorthwest, there is another
poynt. Betweene which poynt and
Cape Race, the Russes
have a Stanavish or harborow for their Lodias: and to
the Westwards of the sayd poynt, there is a shoale bay.
Three leagues and a halfe to Northwards of
Cape
Race, we had the latitude on the 10. day of this moneth
in 67. degrees 10. minutes. Riding within half a league
of the shoare in this latitude I found it to be a full sea
at a North and by East moone. I had where we roade
two and twentie fadoome, and the tallow which is taken
up is full of great broken shels, and some stones withall
like unto small sand congealed together.
From a South sunne that wee weyed, the winde being
at North and by East, wee drived to the windwards halfe
the ebbe, with the ships head to the Eastwards. And
then when we cast her head to the Westwards, we
sounded, and had 22. fadome broken shels, and gray
sand; this present day was very mistie, with frost on
the shrowds as the mist fell.
Friday in the morning at an East sunne, the mist brake
up a little, the winde being at North and by West a stifle
gale, our shrowdes and roapes over head being covered
with frost, and likely to be a storme: I thought it good
to seeke an harborow, and so plied roome with the Islands
which are two leagues to the Southwards of
Cape Race,
and within these Islands (thankes bee to God) we found
harborow for us. It higheth at these Islands two fadome
water: it floweth in the harborow at this place at a
Southsoutheast moone ful sea: and a sea boord it floweth
at a Southsouthwest moone a full sea. The Russes call
-this Island, Tri Ostrove.
You may come in betweene the little Island and the
great Island, and keepe you in the mids of the Sound,
and if you borrowe on any side, let it bee on the greatest
Island, and you shall have at a low water, foure fadome,
and three fadome and a halfe, and three fadome, untill
that you be shot so farre in as the narrowest, which is
betweene the Northermost point of the greatest Island,
and the Southerne point of the maine which is right
against it, and then hale to the Northwards with the
crosse which standeth in the maine, and you shall have
at a lowe water 10. foote water, and faire sand. And
if you be disposed to goe through the Sound to the Southwards, keepe the Northwest shoare aboorde, for on the
Island side after you be shotte so farre in as the crosse,
it is a shoale of rockes halfe the sound over: which rockes
do last unto the Southerly part of the great Island, and
rather to the Southwards. And if you be constrained to
seeke a harbor for Northerly windes, when you come out
of the sea, hale in with the Southerly part of the great
Island, giving the Island a faire birth, and as you shoote
towards the maine, you shall finde roade for all Northerly
windes, in foure fadome, five, sixe and seven fadome, at
a lowe water.
Also within this great Island (if neede bee) you may
have a good place to ground a ship in: the great Island
is almost a mile long and a quarter of a mile over.
This storme of Northerly winde lasted untill the 16.
of this moneth, and then the winde came Southerly, but
we could not get out for Ice. I went on shore at the
crosse, and tooke the latitude, which is 66. degrees, 58.
minutes, 30. seconds: the variation of the Compasse 3.
degrees and a halfe from the North to the East.
Thursday being faire weather, and the winde at North
we plied to the winde-wards with sailes and oares: wee
stopped the flood this day three leagues to the Northwards
of
Cape Race, two miles from the shoare, and had twentie
fadome water, faire gray and blacke sand, and broken
shels. And when the slake came wee wayed and made
aboord to the shoare-wards, and had within two cables
length of the shoare, eighteene fadomes faire gray and
blacke sand: a man may finde roade there for a North
winde, and so to the Westwards.
Two leagues to the Southward of Corpus Christi poynt,
you may have Landfang for a North and by East winde,
and from that to the Westwards in 23. fadome almost
a mile from shoare, and faire sand, and amongst the sand
little yong small limpets, or such like as growe upon
muscles: and within two cables length and lesse of the
shoare are eighteene fadomes, and the sounding aforesaid, but the yong limpets more plentifull. It was a full
sea where we roade, almost a mile from shoare, at a
South and by West moone: two leagues to the Southwards of Corpus Christi point is the uttermost land, which
land and
Cape Race lyeth South and halfe a point to
Westwards, and North and halfe a point to the Eastwards,
and betweene them are sixe leagues. Riding this day
sixe leagues to the Northwards of
Cape Race, the winde
at
Northnorthwest, with mist and frost, at noone the
sunne appeared through the mist, so that I had the latitude
in 67. degrees, 29. minutes.
Munday we were thwart of Corpus Christi point, two
leagues and a halfe from shoare, or rather more, where
we sounded, and had 36. fadoms and broken code shels,
with brannie sand, but the broken shels very thicke.
Tuesday in the morning we were shotte a head of Cape
gallant, which the Russes call Sotinoz. And as we were
shot almost halfe a league betwixt it, and Cape comfort,
the wind came up at the Northwest, and after to the
Northwards, so that we were faine to beare roome to
seeke a harbour, where we found good harbour for all
windes, and the least 7. fadome water betweene
S. Johns
Islands, and the maine.
After that we came to an ancre, we tooke the latitude,
which was 68. degrees 1. minute, after noone, the winde
at North with plentie of snowe.
At a West sunne there came aboord us certaine
Lappians in a boate, to the number of sixeteene persons,
and amongst them there were two wenches, and some
of them could speake the Russe
tongue: I asked them
where their abiding was, and they tolde mee that there
was a companie or heard of them, to the number of 100.
men, besides women and children, but a litle from us in
the river Iekonga.
They tolde me that they had bene to seeke meate
among the rockes, saying, If wee get no meate, wee eate
none. I sawe them eate rocke weedes as hungerly, as
a cowe doeth grasse when shee is hungrie. I sawe them
also eate foules egges rawe, and the yong birdes also that
were in the egges.
I observed certaine wordes of their language, which I thought good to set downe for their use, that hereafter shall have occasion to continue this voyage.
COWGHTIE coteat,
what call you this.
Poddythecke,come hither.
Avanchythocke,get the hence.
Anna, farewell.
Teyrve, good morrowe.
Iomme lemaufes,I thanke you.
Passevellie,a friend.
Olmvelke,a man.
Captella,a woman.
Alke,a sonne.
Neit,a daughter, or yong wench.
Oyvie,a head.
Cyelme,an eye.
Nenna,a nose,
Nealma,a mouth.
Pannea,teeth.
Neughtema,a tongue.
Seaman,a beard.
Peallee,an eare.
Teappat,the necke.
Voapt,the haire.
Keat,a hand.
Soarme,fingers.
Iowlkie,a legge.
Peelkie,the thombe, or great toe.
Sarke,wollen cloth.
Lein
,linnen cloth.
Payte, a shirt.
Tol,fire.
Keatse,water.
Murr
, wood.
Vannace,a boate.
Arica, an oare.
Nurr,a roape.
Peyve, a day.
Hyr,a night.
Peyvezea,the Sunne.
Manna, the Moone.
Laste,starres.
Cozam volka,whither goe you.
Ottapp, sleepe.
Tallye, that.
Keiedde pieve,a weeke.
Isckie,a yeere.
Kesse, Sommer.
Talve, Winter.
Iowksam,colde.
Parox, warme.
Abrye,raine.
Youghang, yce.
Keatykye,a stone.
Sellowpe, silver.
Solda, golde.
Tennae,tinne.
Veskue,copper.
Rowadt,yron.
Neybx, a knife.
Axshe, a hatchet.
Leabee, bread.
Iaevegoat,meale.
Pencka, the winde.
Iowte, A platter.
Kemnie,a kettle.
Keestes,gloves,
Sapege, shoes.
Conde
, a wilde Deare.
Poatsa,the labouring Deare.
Their words of number are
these as followeth.
OFTE,
1.
Noumpte, 2.
Colme, 3.
Nellye, 4.
Vitte
,5.
Cowte,6.
Keydeem,7.
Kaffts,8.
Owghchte,9.
Locke,10.
Ostretumbelocke,11.
Cowghtnumbelocke,12.
Colmenonbelocke,13.
Nellynombelocke,14.
Vittie nombelocke,15.
Cowtenombelocke,16.
Keydemnombelocke,17.
Kafts nombelocke,18.
Owght nombelocke,19.
Coffteylocke,20.
Colmelocke,30.
Nelly locke,40.
Vitte
locke,50.
Cowtelocke,60.
Keydemlocke,70.
Kaffstelocke,80.
Oughcheteloke,90.
Tewet.100.
June, cont.
25 Friday in the morning we departed from
Saint Johns
Island : to the Westwards thereof, a mile from the shoare,
we sounded, and had 36. fadoms, and oazie sand.
Juana Creos is from
Cape gallant Westnorthwest, and
halfe a point to the Northwards, and betweene them is 7.
leagues. The point of the Island, which is Cape comfort,
lyeth from Juana Creos, Northwest and by North, and
almost the 3. part of a point to the Westwards, and
betweene them are 3. leagues.
The Eastermost of S. Georges Islands, or the 7.
Islands, lyeth from Juana Creos Northwest, & halfe a
point to the Northwards, and betweene them are 14.
leagues & a halfe. The uttermost of the 7. Islands, &
Cape comfort lieth Northwest, & by North, Southeast,
and by South.
Under the
Southermost Island you shall finde good
roade for all Northerly windes from the Northwest to the
Northeast. From the Southeast part of the 7. Islands,
unto the Northwest part of them, are 3. leagues and a
halfe.
From the Northwest part of the Islands aforesaid, unto
S. Peters Islands, are 11. leagues Northwest.
26
S. Peters Islands rise an indifferent low point,
not seeming to be an Island, and as if it had a castle
upon it.
S. Pauls Islands lie from
S. Peters Islands Northwest
and to the Westwards, and betweene them are 6. leagues.
Within these Islands there is a faire sandy bay, and there
may be found a good roade for Northerly windes.
Cape Sower beere lyeth from
S. Pauls Islands Northwest and by West, and betweene them are 5. leagues.
Cape comfort, which is the
Island of Kildina, lieth from
Cape Sower beere, 6. leagues West Northwest, and it is
altogether a bay betweene them seeming many Islands in it.
From
Cape Bonaventure, to Chebe Navoloche are 10.
leagues Northwest, and a litle to the Westwards. Chebe
Navoloche is a faire point, wheron standeth a certaine
blacke, like an emptie butte standing a head.
From Chebe Navoloch to Kegor, is 9. leagues and
a halfe Northwest, and halfe a poynt to the Westwards.
Kegor riseth as you come from the Eastwards like 2.
round homocks standing together, and a faire saddle
betweene them.
27 It floweth where we road this Sunday to the Eastwards of Kegor, at a Southeast and by East moone, a full
sea: we roade in 15. fadome water within halfe a mile
of the shoare: at a Northwest Sunne the mist came
downe so thicke, that we were faine to come to an ancre
within lesse then a mile of the point that turneth to Doms
haff, where we had 33. fadome, and the sounding like to
the skurfe of a skalde head.
28 Munday at afternoone, wee came into the Sound of
Wardhouse, although it were very mistie. Then I sent a
man a shoare to know some newes, and to see whether
they could heare any thing of our ships.
29 Tuesday I went on shoare, and dined with the
Captaines deputie, who made mee great cheere: the
Captaine himselfe was not as yet come from Bergen
: they
looked for him every houre, and they said that he would
bring newes with him.
At a Northwest and by North sunne we departed from
Wardhouse, toward Colmogro.
30 Wednesday we came to Kegor, where we met with
the winde at
East Southeast, so that we were faine to go
in to a bay to the Westwards of the point Kegor, where a
man may moare 2. or 3. small ships, that shall not draw
past 11. or 12. foote water, for all windes, an East Northeast winde is the worst. It is a ledge of rocks, that
defendeth the Northerly winds from the place where they
moare. When we came into the bay we saw there a
barke which was of Dronton, & three or foure Norway
yeaghes, belonging to Northberne: so when I came a
shoare, I met first with the Dutchmen, amongst whom
was the Borrow-masters sonne of Dronton, who tolde
me that the Philip and Mary wintered at
Dronton, and
departed from thence for England in March: and withall
he shewed me that the Confidence was lost, and that he
had bought her sailes for his ship. Then the Dutch-men
caried me to their Boothe, and made me good cheere,
where I sawe the Lappians chepen of the said Dutchmen,,
both silver platters and dishes, spoones, gilt rings, ornaments for girdles of silver & gilt, and certaine things
made to hang about the necke, with silver chaines
belonging to them.
The Dutchmen bring hither mightie strong beere, I am
certaine that our English double beere would not be liked
of the Kerils and Lappians, as long as that would last.
Here I sawe the Dutchmen also have course cloth, both
blew, greene and redde, and sad horseflesh colour: And
hither they bring also Ottars cases and foxe cases, both
blacke and redde : our English foxe cases are but counterfaits unto them.
They would not let me understand any of their prises,
but as I otherwise understood they bartered 2. load of
silver for 100 of stockfish, and 2. loade is a doller. And
the Dutchmen told me, that they had made a notable good
yeere this present yeere 1557. They tolde me that they
should be faine to goe to Wardhouse with one lading,
and lay it on land there, and so come againe and fetch
another. The Borrowmasters sonne told me, that he
would go to Amsterdam
with his lading of stockfish, who
gave me a barrell of strong beere, and brought it in
aboord our ship himselfe.
After this I went among the Russes and Kerils, who
offered me fish to sell, and likewise the Lappians desired
me to looke upon their fish. I made them answere, that
I had nowe no wares nor money to barter with them,
and said that I came only to see if I might meete with
our English ships. Then they desired me that I would
come thither the next yeere: I said to them, If I should
come the next yeere, I thinke here would not be fish
ynough to serve the Dutchmen and us also. They
answered me, that if more ships did resort thither, there
would more people labour to kill and make fish: and
further they said, that some of them came thither a
fishing 8. weekes journey with Deere, which Deere will
travaile more speedily then horses will.
As I was thus in talke with the Kerils and Lappians,
the Emperour of Russia his deputie (who was there to
gather the tribute of the Lappians) sent for me to come
to his tent, who after familiar salutations, made me good
cheere. He demaunded of me, why none of our ships
came thither. I answered him, because we knew not the
place before now, neither yet heard of any faire that
was kept there. Then said he, If you will come hither,
here would more people resort to kill fish, I thinke it good
(said he) that you make a beginning. I tolde him, that
by the grace of God the next yeere, one English ship
should come thither.
Because I sawe the servants of the king of Denmarke
there also gathering the tribute, I asked Vasilie Pheodorvich the Russie
deputie, whether the Denmarks would not
be a let to us, if we should come to this Kegor. And he
said, no, they should not: for this land is my kings, and
therefore be bolde to come hither.
The Kerils and the Lappians solde no fish, untill the
said deputie had looked upon it, and had given them
leave to sell. I asked him what wares were best for us
to bring thither, and he said, silver, pearles, cloth, blewe,
red, and greene, meale, strong beere, wine, pewter, foxe
cases, and gold.
The Lappians pay tribute to the Emperour of Russia,
to the king of Denmarke, and to the king of Sweden
.
He tolde me that the
River Cola is little more then 20.
leagues to the Southwards of Kegor, where we should
have great plentie of salmon, if corne were any thing
cheape in Russia
: for then poore men would resort thither
to kill salmon.
The Dutchmen tolde me that they had made a good
yeere of this, but the Kerils complained of it, because
they could not sell all their fish, and that which they sold
was as pleased the Dutchmen, and at their own price. I
asked the Kerils at what price they sold their fish to the
Russes, & they said good cheape: wee sell 24. fishes for
4. altines. I thinke they solde little above 20. pence, the
25. fishes this yeere.
The Dutchmen tolde me that the best stockfish is made
at Kegor. I sawe at
Vasilies tent 7. or 8. javelins, and
halfe a dozen of bowes bent, with their budgets of
arrowes, & likewise swords with other weapons: Otherwise I sawe no weapons there.
I was also conveyed to their lodgings, which gathered
tribute for the king of Denmarke, where I sawe a paire
of bilbowes: and I asked whether they were for the Lappians (if neede were,) and they said no, but onely for
their owne company if they should chance to be unruly.
The Kerils and the Lappians are not to be trusted,
for they will steale as well as the Russes, if they may
conveniently come by any thing.
Concerning my voyage, because the winde was scant
to goe back againe to Colmogro, I tarried to the Eastwards of the poynt Kegor, and sent to land, and baked
two batches of bread in the ovens that the Kerils have
for their provision.
