The maner how our Admirall was lost.
UPON Tewsday the 27 of August, toward the evening,
our Generall caused them in his frigat to sound, who
found white sande at 35 fadome, being then in latitude
about 44 degrees.
Wednesday toward night the wind came South, and
wee bare with the land all that night, Westnorthwest,
contrary to the mind of master Cox: neverthelesse wee
followed the Admirall, deprived of power to prevent a
mischiefe, which by no contradiction could be brought
to hold other course, alleaging they could not make the
ship to worke better, nor to lie otherwaies.
The evening was faire and pleasant, yet not without
token of storme to ensue, and most part of this Wednesday night, like the Swanne that singeth before her death,
they in the Admiral, or Delight, continued in sounding
of Trumpets, with Drummes, and Fifes: also winding
the Cornets, Haughtboyes : and in the end of their jolitie,
left with the battell and ringing of dolefull knels.
Towards the evening also we caught in the Golden
Hinde a very mighty Porpose, with a harping yron,
having first striken divers of them, and brought away part
of their flesh, sticking upon the yron, but could recover
onely that one. These also passing through the Ocean, in
heardes, did portend storme. I omit to recite frivolous
reportes by them in the Frigat, of strange voyces, the
same night, which scarred some from the helme.
Thursday the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew
vehemently at South and by East, bringing withal raine,
and thicke mist, so that we could not see a cable
length before us. And betimes in the morning we were
altogether runne and folded in amongst flats and sands,
amongst which we found shoale and deepe in every three
or foure shippes length, after wee began to sound: but
first we were upon them unawares, untill master Cox
looking out, discerned (in his judgement) white cliffes,
crying (land) withall, though we could not afterward
descrie any land, it being very likely the breaking of
the sea white, which seemed to be white cliffes, through
the haze and thicke weather.
Immediatly tokens were given unto the Delight, to
cast about to seaward, which, being the greater ship,
and of burden 120 tunnes, was yet formost upon the
breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not the
danger, before they felt the same, too late to recover
it: for presently the Admirall strooke a ground, and
had soone after her sterne and hinder partes beaten in
pieces: whereupon the rest (that is to say, the Frigat
in which was the Generall and the Golden Hinde) cast
about Eastsoutheast, bearing to the South, even for our
lives into the windes eye, because that way caried us to
the seaward. Making out from this danger, wee sounded
one while seven fadome, then five fadome, then foure
fadome and lesse, againe deeper, immediatly foure
fadome, then but three fadome, the sea going mightily
and high. At last we recovered (God be thanked) in some
despaire, to sea roome enough.
In this distresse, wee had vigilant eye unto the
Admirall, whom wee sawe cast away, without power to
give the men succour, neither could we espie any of the
men that leaped overboord to save themselves, either in
the same Pinnesse or Cocke, or upon rafters, and such
like meanes, presenting themselves to men in those
extremities: for we desired to save the men by every
possible meanes. But all in vaine, sith God had determined their ruine: yet all that day, and part of the next,
we beat up and downe as neere unto the wracke as was
possible for us, looking out, if by good hap we might espie
any of them.
This was a heavy and grievous event, to lose at one
blow our chiefe shippe fraighted with great provision,
gathered together with much travell, care, long time, and
difficultie. But more was the losse of our men, which
perished to the number almost of a hundreth soules.
Amongst whom was drowned a learned man, an Hungarian, borne in the citie of Buda
, called thereof Budaeus,
who of pietie and zeale to good attempts, adventured in
this action, minding to record in the Latine tongue, the
gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in
this discoverie, to the honour of our nation, the same being
adorned with the eloquent stile of this Orator, and rare
Poet of our time.
Here also perished our Saxon Refiner and Discoverer
of inestimable riches, as it was left amongst some of us
in undoubted hope.
No lesse heavy was the losse of the Captaine Maurice
Browne, a vertuous, honest, and discreete Gentleman,
overseene onely in liberty given late before to men, that
ought to have bene restrained, who shewed himselfe a
man resolved, and never unprepared for death, as by his
last act of this tragedie appeared, by report of them that
escaped this wracke miraculously, as shall bee hereafter
declared. For when all hope was past of recovering the
ship, and that men began to give over, and to save themselves, the Captaine was advised before to shift also for
his life, by the Pinnesse at the sterne of the ship: but
refusing that counsell, he would not give example with
the first to leave the shippe, but used all meanes to exhort
his people not to despaire, nor so to leave off their labour,
choosing rather to die, then to incurre infamie, by forsaking his charge, which then might be thought to have
perished through his default, shewing an ill president unto
his men, by leaving the ship first himselfe. With this
mind hee mounted upon the highest decke, where hee
attended imminent death, and unavoidable: how long, I
leave it to God, who withdraweth not his comfort from
his servants at such times.
In the meane season, certaine, to the number of
foureteene persons, leaped into a small Pinnesse (the
bignes of a Thames
barge, which was made in the New
found land) cut off the rope wherewith it was towed, and
committed themselves to Gods mercy, amiddest the
storme, and rage of sea and windes, destitute of foode,
not so much as a droppe of fresh water. The boate seeming overcharged in foule weather with company, Edward
Headly a valiant souldier, and well reputed of his companie, preferring the greater to the lesser, thought better
that some of them perished then all, made this motion to
cast lots, and them to bee throwen overboord upon whom
the lots fell, thereby to lighten the boate, which otherwayes
seemed impossible to live, offred himselfe with the first,
content to take his adventure gladly: which nevertheles
Richard Clarke, that was Master of the Admirall, and one
of this number, refused, advising to abide Gods pleasure,
who was able to save all, as well as a few.
The boate was caried before the wind, continuing sixe
dayes and nights in the Ocean, and arrived at last with
the men (alive, but weake) upon the New found land,
saving that the foresayd Headly, (who had bene late sicke)
and another called of us Brasile
, of his travell into those
Countreys, died by the way, famished, and lesse able to
holde out, then those of better health. For such was
these poore mens extremitie, in cold and wet, to have no
better sustenance then their owne urine, for sixe dayes
together.
Thus whom God delivered from drowning, hee appointed
to bee famished, who doth give limits to mans times, and
ordaineth the manner and circumstance of dying: whom
againe he will preserve, neither Sea, nor famine can confound. For those that arrived upon the Newe found land,
were brought into France by certaine French men, then
being upon that coast.
After this heavie chance, wee continued in beating the
sea up and downe, expecting when the weather would
cleere up, that we might yet beare in with the land, which
we judged not farre off, either the continent or some
Island. For we many times, and in sundry places found
ground at 50, 45, 40 fadomes, and lesse. The ground
comming upon our lead, being sometimes oazie sand, and
otherwhile a broad shell, with a little sand about it.
Our people lost courage dayly after this ill successe, the
weather continuing thicke and blustering, with increase of
cold, Winter drawing on, which tooke from them all hope
of amendement, setling an assurance of worse weather to
growe upon us every day. The Leeside of us lay full of
flats and dangers inevitable, if the wind blew hard at
South. Some againe doubted we were ingulfed in the
Bay of S. Laurence, the coast full of dangers, and unto us
unknowen. But above all, provision waxed scant, and
hope of supply was gone, with losse of our Admirall.
Those in the Frigat were already pinched with spare
allowance, and want of clothes chiefly: Whereupon they
besought the Generall to returne for England
, before they
all perished. And to them of the Golden Hinde, they made
signes of their distresse, pointing to their mouthes, and
to their clothes thinne and ragged: then immediately they
also of the Golden Hinde, grew to be of the same opinion
and desire to returne home.
The former reasons having also moved the Generall to
have compassion of his poore men, in whom he saw no
want of good will, but of meanes fit to performe the action
they came for, resolved upon retire: and calling the Captaine and Master of the Hinde, he yeelded them many
reasons, inforcing this unexpected returne, withall protesting himselfe, greatly satisfied with that hee had seene, and
knew already.
Reiterating these words, Be content, we have seene
enough, and take no care of expence past: I will set you
foorth royally the next Spring, if God send us safe home.
Therefore I pray you let us no longer strive here, where
we fight against the elements.
Omitting circumstance, how unwillingly the Captaine
& Master of the Hinde condescended to this motion, his
owne company can testifie: yet comforted with the
Generals promises of a speedie returne at Spring, and
induced by other apparant reasons, proving an impossibilitie, to accomplish the action at that time, it was
concluded on all hands to retire.
So upon Saturday in the afternoone the 31 of August,
we changed our course, and returned backe for England
,
at which very instant, even in winding about, there passed
along betweene us and towards the land which we now
forsooke a very lion to our seeming, in shape, hair and
colour, not swimming after the maner of a beast by
mooving of his feete, but rather sliding upon the water
with his whole body (excepting the legs) in sight, neither
yet diving under, and againe rising above the water, as
the maner is, of Whales, Dolphins, Tunise, Porposes, and
all other fish: but confidently shewing himselfe above
water without hiding: Notwithstanding, we presented our
selves in open view and gesture to amase him, as all
creatures will be commonly at a sudden gaze and sight of
men. Thus he passed along turning his head to and fro,
yawning and gaping wide, with ougly demonstration of
long teeth, and glaring eies, and to bidde us a farewell
(comming right against the Hinde) he sent forth a
horrible voyce, roaring or bellowing as doeth a lion, which
spectacle wee all beheld so farre as we were able to discerne
the same, as men prone to wonder at every strange thing,
as this doubtlesse was, to see a lion in the
Ocean sea, or
fish in shape of a lion. What opinion others had thereof,
and chiefly the Generall himselfe, I forbeare to deliver:
But he tooke it for Bonum Omen, rejoycing that he was to
warre against such an enemie, if it were the devill.
The wind was large for England
at our returne, but
very high, and the sea rough, insomuch as the Frigat
wherein the Generall went was almost swalowed up.
Munday in the afternoone we passed in the sight of
Cape Race, having made as much way in little more then
two dayes and nights backe againe, as before wee had
done in eight dayes from
Cape Race, unto the place where
our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and
speed back againe, is to be imputed unto the swift current,
as well as to the winds, which we had more large in our
returne.
This munday the Generall came aboord the Hind to
have the Surgeon of the Hind to dresse his foote, which
he hurt by treading upon a naile: At what time we
comforted ech other with hope of hard successe to be all
past, and of the good to come. So agreeing to cary out
lights alwayes by night, that we might keepe together,
he departed into his Frigat, being by no meanes to be
intreated to tarie in the Hind, which had bene more for
his security. Immediatly after followed a sharpe storme,
which we overpassed for that time. Praysed be God.
The weather faire, the Generall came aboord the Hind
againe, to make merrie together with the Captaine,
Master, and company, which was the last meeting, and
continued there from morning untill night. During
which time there passed sundry discourses, touching
affaires past, and to come, lamenting greatly the losse
of his great ship, more of the men, but most of all of
his bookes and notes, and what els I know not, for which
hee was out of measure grieved, the same doubtles being
some matter of more importance then his bookes, which
I could not draw from him: yet by circumstance I
gathered, the same to be ye Ore which Daniel the Saxon
had brought unto him in the New found land. Whatsoever it was, the remembrance touched him so deepe,
as not able to containe himselfe, he beat his boy in great
rage, even at the same time, so long after the miscarying
of the great ship, because upon a faire day, when wee
were becalmed upon the coast of the New found land,
neere unto
Cape Race, he sent his boy aboord the
Admirall, to fetch certaine things: amongst which, this
being chiefe, was yet forgotten and left behind. After
which time he could never conveniently send againe
aboord the great ship, much lesse hee doubted her ruine
so neere at hand.
Herein my opinion was better confirmed diversly, and
by sundry conjectures, which maketh me have the greater
hope of this rich Mine. For where as the Generall had
never before good conceit of these North parts of the
world: now his mind was wholly fixed upon the New
found land. And as before he refused not to grant
assignements liberally to them that required the same
into these North parts, now he became contrarily affected,
refusing to make any so large grants, especially of S.
Johns, which certaine English merchants made suite for,
offering to imploy their money and travell upon the same:
yet neither by their owne suite, nor of others of his
owne company, whom he seemed willing to pleasure, it
could be obtained.
Also laying downe his determination in the Spring
following, for disposing of his voyage then to be reattempted: he assigned the Captaine & Master of the
Golden Hind, unto the South discovery, and reserved
unto himselfe the North, affirming that this voyage had
wonne his heart from the South, and that he was now
become a Northerne man altogether.
Last, being demanded what means he had at his arrivall
in England
, to compasse the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the next Spring: having
determined upon two fleetes, one for the South, another
for the North: Leave that to mee (hee replied) I will
aske a pennie of no man. I will bring good tidings unto
her Majesty, who wil be so gracious, to lend me 10000
pounds, willing us therefore to be of good cheere: for
he did thanke God (he sayd) with al his heart, for that
he had seene, the same being enough for us all, and
that we needed not to seeke any further. And these
last words he would often repeate, with demonstration
of great fervencie of mind, being himselfe very confident,
and setled in beliefe of inestimable good by this voyage:
which the greater number of his followers nevertheles
mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those
secrets, which the Generall kept unto himselfe. Yet all
of them that are living, may be witnesses of his words
and protestations, which sparingly I have delivered.
Leaving the issue of this good hope unto God, who
knoweth the trueth only, & can at his good pleasure
bring the same to light: I will hasten to the end of this
tragedie, which must be knit up in the person of our
Generall. And as it was Gods ordinance upon him, even
so the vehement perswasion and intreatie of his friends
could nothing availe, to divert him from a wilfull resolution of going through in his Frigat, which was overcharged upon their deckes, with fights, nettings, and
small artillerie, too cumbersome for so small a boate,
that was to passe through the
Ocean sea at that season
of the yere, when by course we might expect much storme
of foule weather, whereof indeed we had enough.
But when he was intreated by the Captaine, Master,
and other his well willers of the Hinde, not to venture
in the Frigat, this was his answere: I will not forsake
my little company going homeward, with whom I have
passed so many stormes and perils. And in very trueth,
hee was urged to be so over hard, by hard reports given
of him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was
rather rashnes, then advised resolution, to preferre the
wind of a vaine report to the weight of his owne life.
Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had provision
out of the Hinde, such as was wanting aboord his Frigat.
And so we committed him to Gods protection, & set
him aboord his Pinnesse, we being more then 300 leagues
onward of our way home.
By that time we had brought the
Islands of Acores
South of us, yet wee then keeping much to the North,
until we had got into the height and elevation of England
: we met with very foule weather, and terrible seas,
breaking short and high Pyramid wise. The reason
whereof seemed to proceede either of hilly grounds high
and low within the sea, (as we see hilles and dales upon
the land) upon which the seas doe mount and fall: or
else the cause proceedeth of diversitie of winds, shifting
often in sundry points: al which having power to move
the great Ocean, which againe is not presently setled,
so many seas do encounter together, as there had bene
diversitie of windes. Howsoever it commeth to passe,
men which all their life time had occupied the Sea, never
saw more outragious Seas. We had also upon our maine
yard, an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen
doe call Castor and Pollux. But we had onely one, which
they take an evill signe of more tempest: the same is
usuall in stormes.
Munday the ninth of September, in the afternoone,
the Frigat was neere cast away, oppressed by waves,
yet at that time recovered: and giving foorth signes of
joy, the Generall sitting abaft with a booke in his hand,.
cried out unto us in the Hind (so oft as we did approch
within hearing) We are as neere to heaven by sea as.
by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a
souldier, resolute in Jesus Christ, as I can testifie he
was.
The same Monday night, about twelve of the clocke,
or not long after, the Frigat being ahead of us in theGolden Hinde, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as
it were in a moment, we lost the sight, and withall our
watch cryed, the Generall was cast away, which was too
true. For in that moment, the Frigat was devoured and
swallowed up of the Sea. Yet still we looked out all
that night, and ever after, untill wee arrived upon the
coast of England
: Omitting no small saile at sea, unto
which we gave not the tokens betweene us, agreed upon,
to have perfect knowledge of each other, if we should
at any time be separated.
In great torment of weather, and perill of drowning,
it pleased God to send safe home the Golden Hinde,
which arrived in Falmouth, the 22 day of September,
being Sonday, not without as great danger escaped in
a flaw, comming from the Southeast, with such thicke
mist, that we could not discerne land, to put in right
with the Haven.
From Falmouth we went to Dartmouth
, & lay there
at anker before the Range, while the captaine went aland,
to enquire if there had bene any newes of the Frigat,
which sayling well, might happily have bene before us.
Also to certifie Sir John Gilbert, brother unto the Generall
of our hard successe, whom the Captaine desired (while
his men were yet aboord him, and were witnesses of all
occurrents in that voyage,) It might please him to take
the examination of every person particularly, in discharge
of his and their faithfull endevour. Sir John Gilbert
refused so to doe, holding himselfe satisfied with report
made by the Captaine: and not altogether dispairing of
his brothers safetie, offered friendship and curtesie to
the Captaine and his company, requiring to have his
Barke brought into the harbour: in furtherance whereof,
a boate was sent to helpe to tow her in.
Neverthelesse, when the Captaine returned aboord his
ship, he found his men bent to depart, every man to his
home: and then the winde serving to proceede higher
upon the coast: they demanded money to carie them
home, some to London
, others to Harwich
, and elsewhere, (if the barke should be caried into Dartmouth
,
and they discharged, so farre from home) or else to take
benefite of the wind, then serving to draw neerer home,
which should be a lesse charge unto the Captaine, and
great ease unto the men, having els farre to goe.
Reason accompanied with necessitie perswaded the
Captaine, who sent his lawfull excuse and cause of his
sudden departure unto sir John Gilbert, by the boate
of Dartmouth
, and from thence the Golden Hind departed,
and tooke harbour at
Waimouth. Al the men tired with
the tediousnes of so unprofitable a voiage to their seeming: in which their long expence of time, much toyle
and labour, hard diet and continuall hazard of life was
unrecompensed : their Captaine neverthelesse by his great
charges, impaired greatly thereby, yet comforted in the
goodnes of God, and his undoubted providence following
him in all that voyage, as it doth alwaies those at other
times, whosoever have confidence in him alone. Yet have
we more neere feeling and perseverance of his powerfull
hand and protection, when God doth bring us together
with others into one same peril, in which he leaveth
them, and delivereth us, making us thereby the beholders,
but not partakers of their ruine.
Even so, amongst very many difficulties, discontentments, mutinies, conspiracies, sicknesses, mortalitie,
spoylings, and wracks by sea, which were afflictions,
more then in so small a Fleete, or so short a time may
be supposed, albeit true in every particularitie, as partly
by the former relation may be collected, and some I
suppressed with silence for their sakes living, it pleased
God to support this company, (of which onely one man
died of a maladie inveterate, and long infested): the
rest kept together in reasonable contentment and concord, beginning, continuing, and ending the voyage,
which none els did accomplish, either not pleased with
the action, or impatient of wants, or prevented by death.
Thus have I delivered the contents of the enterprise
and last action of sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, faithfully,
for so much as I thought meete to be published: wherein
may alwaies appeare, (though he be extinguished) some
sparkes of his vertues, he remaining firme and resolute
in a purpose by all pretence honest and godly, as was
this, to discover, possesse, and to reduce unto the service
of God, and Christian pietie, those remote and heathen
Countreys of America, not actually possessed by Christians, and most rightly appertaining unto the Crowne
of England: unto the which, as his zeale deserveth high
commendation: even so, he may justly be taxed of
temeritie and presumption (rather) in two respects.
First, when yet there was onely probabilitie, not a
certaine & determinate place of habitation selected, neither
any demonstration of commoditie there in esse, to induce
his followers: nevertheles, he both was too prodigall of
his owne patrimony, and too careles of other mens
expences, to imploy both his and their substance upon
a ground imagined good. The which falling, very like
his associates were promised, and made it their best
reckoning to bee salved some other way, which pleased
not God to prosper in his first and great preparation.
Secondly, when by his former preparation he was
enfeebled of abilitie and credit, to performe his designements, as it were impatient to abide in expectation better
opportunitie and meanes, which God might raise, he
thrust himselfe againe into the action, for which he was
not fit, presuming the cause pretended on Gods behalfe,
would carie him to the desired ende. Into which, having
thus made reentrie, he could not yeeld againe to withdraw, though hee sawe no encouragement to proceed,
lest his credite foyled in his first attempt, in a second
should utterly be disgraced. Betweene extremities, hee
made a right adventure, putting all to God and good
fortune, and which was worst, refused not to entertaine
every person and meanes whatsoever, to furnish out this
expedition, the successe whereof hath bene declared.
But such is the infinite bountie of God, who from
every evill deriveth good. For besides that fruite may
growe in time of our travelling into those Northwest
lands, the crosses, turmoiles, and afflictions, both in the
preparation and execution of this voyage, did correct
the intemperate humors, which before we noted to bee
in this Gentleman, and made unsavorie, and lesse delightfull his other manifold vertues.
Then as he was refined, and made neerer drawing
unto the image of God: so it pleased the divine will to
resume him unto himselfe, whither both his, and every
other high and noble minde, have alwayes aspired.
