The voyage of M. Charles Leigh, and divers others to
Cape Briton and the Isle of Ramea.
THE Hopewell of London of the burthen of 120 tunnes,
whereof was M. William Crafton, and the Chancewel of
London of the burthen of 70 tunnes, wherof was M.
Steven Bennet, bound unto the river of Canada
, set to
sea at the sole and proper charge of Charles Leigh and
Abraham Van Herwick of London merchants (the saide
Charles Leigh himselfe, and Steven Van Herwick brother
to the sayd Abraham, going themselves in the said ships
as chiefe commanders of the voyage) departed from
Graves-end on Fryday morning the 8 of April 1597. And
after some hindrances, arriving at Falmouth
in
Cornewal
the 28 of the said moneth put to sea againe. And with
prosperous windes the 18 of May we were upon the
banke of Newfoundland
. The 19 we lost the Chancewel.
The 20 we had sight of land and entred within the bay
of Assumption, where our men contrary to my knowledge
fought with a French ship: and afterward in the same
bay wee met with our consort. Whereupon we presently
put to sea againe: and the next day we arrived at Caplen
bay, where we remained by extremitie of foule weather,
and to mend a pinnes of 7 or 8 tunnes (which was given
us at
Farrillon by M. Wil. Sayer of Dartmouth the
Admiral of that place) untill the last of May. On which
day departing from thence in the afternoone we put in
to Rogneuse to seeke Shallops but could find none. The
first of June we set saile from Rogneuse, and the second
we put roome to a bay under the
Northside of Cape
Raz being inforced in by an extreme storme. The 4 we
set saile, and this day we saw a great Island of yce.
The 5 at night we lost the Chancewell in a fog at the
mouth of the bay of Placentia
. The 11 at Sunne setting
we had sight of
Cape Briton. And the 12 by reason of
contrary windes we cast anker under the Northeast ende
of the
Isle of Menego to the North of
Cape Briton in
16 fathome reasonable ground. In that place we caught
great store of Cods, which were larger and better fish
then any in Newfoundland
. The 13 wee weyed anker
againe, and being becalmed about a league from the
shore we fell to fishing where the Cods did bite at least
20 fathomes above ground, and almost as fast as we
could hale them into the ship. The 14 we came to the
2
Islands of Birds, some 23 leagues from Menego: where
there were such abundance of Birds, as is almost incredible to report. And upon the lesse of these
Islands
of Birds, we saw great store of Morsses or
Sea Oxen,
which were a sleepe upon the rockes: but when we
approched nere unto them with our boate they cast themselves into the sea and pursued us with such furie as
that we were glad to flee from them. The 16 we arrived
at
Brians Island, which lyeth 5 leagues West from the
Island of Birds. About this Island ther is as great
aboundance of cods as in any place can be found. In
litle more then an houre we caught with 4 hookes 250
of them. Here we caught also a great Turbut which
was an elle long and a yard broad: which was so great
that the hooke could not hold her into the ship: but
when she was above water she bent the hooke & escaped.
In this Island we found exceeding good ground both
for come and meadow, & great store of wood, but of
smal groweth. Springes of fresh water we found none
in all the Island, but some standing pooles of raine water.
The same day at night we weyed anker againe. The
17 we had stormy weather. The 18 we came to the
Isle
of Ramea, where we appointed to meet with our consort.
And approching neere unto the harborough of Halabolina
we cast anker in 3 fadomes water and sent our great
boate into the harborough, with the masters mate and
some dozen more of the company: who when they came
in, found 4 ships. Namely 2 of Saint Malo in
Britaigne,
and two of Sibiburo adjoyning to Saint John de luz being
the French Kings subjects, whom they supposed to have
bene of Spaine, and so affirmed unto us. Whereupon
wee went presently into harborough, finding but eleven
foote and an halfe of water upon the barre and a mightie
great current in, when wee had cast anker we sent
presently to speake with the masters of all the ships:
but those onely of Saint Malo came aboord, whom wee
entertained very friendly, and demaunded of whence the
other two shippes were. They sayde as they thought of
Saint John de Luz or Sibiburo. Then we presently sent
our boate for the Masters of both the sayd shippes, to
request them to come aboord, and to bring with them
their Charters parties and other evidences, to the ende
we might knowe of whence they were. At which message
one of the sayde Masters came aboord, with the Pilote
and Masters mate of the other shippe: whom when we
had examined, they sayd that they were of Sibiburo, and
the French Kings subjectes. We requested them for our
better securitie in the harborough peaceably to deliver
up their powder and munition: promising them that if
we found them to be the French Kings subjectes it
shoulde be kept in safetie for them without diminishing.
But they woulde not consent thereunto: whereunto we
replyed, that unlesse they would consent thereunto we
would hold them to be our enemies. They not consenting, we sent the boate well manned to fetch their powder
and munition from aboorde their ship: but straightly
commanded our men not to touch any thing else in the
ship upon their further perill: which they promised to
performe. When they came aboorde the saide ships
which were mored together, they were resisted by force
of armes, but quickly they got the victorie: which done,
they fell presently to pillaging of the Baskes, contrary
to their promise: whereupon we sent another to forbidde
them; but when he came to them, none was more ready
of pillage then he. Whereupon I went my selfe, and
tooke away from our men whatsoever they had pillaged,
and gave it againe to the owners: onely I sent aboord
our owne ship their powder and munition to be kept in
safetie until we knew farther what they were. When I
had done, I gave the Baskes possession of their shippe
againe and tolde them they should not loose the valewe
of one peny if they were the French Kings subjects.
Then I caryed away all our men, and also tooke with
me two or three of the chiefest of them, and when I
came aboord went to examining of them, and by circumstances found one of the ships to belong to France:
whereupon I tolde the master of the said ship, that I was
throughly satisfied that he was of France and so dismissed
him in peace. Of the other ship we had great presumption that she was of Spaine, but had no certaine proofe
thereof, wherefore wee dismissed them likewise in peace.
After I had thus dismissed them, our ships company
fell into a mutiny, and more then half of them resolved
to cary one of those ships away. But they were prevented
of their evill purpose by ayde which the saide ships
received from their countreymen in the other harborough:
For the next morning, which was the twentieth of June,
very earely there were gathered together out of all the
ships in both harboroughs, at the least 200 Frenchmen
and Britons, who had planted upon the shore three pieces
of Ordinance against us, and had prepared them selves
in al readinesse to fight with us, which so soone as we
had discried them gave the onset upon us with at least
an hundred small shot out of the woods. There were
also in a readines to assault us about three hundred
Savages. But after we had skirmished a while with them,
we procured a parley by one of the men of Saint Malo,
whose ship rowed hard by us: In which parley they
required some of our men to come on shore unto them
whereupon wee requested M. Ralph Hill and the Boatswaines mate to go on shore to them: whom when they
had they detained as prisoners; and then required the
powder and munition, which we had of the Baskes in
possession; which we surrendred unto them in safetie
as our intent alwayes was, which done, there came aboord
unto us one Captaine Charles, who was captaine of the
great ship of Saint Malo, which rode in the other harborough: who challenged our great boate which we had
at
Farrillon to be his. And while we were in talke with
him about the two Baskes which at first we thought to
be Spaniards, wee had almost bene betraied. For the
said Captaine Charles with halfe a dozen more of his
company kept themselves aboord of our ship and held
us in a talke, while thirtie or fortie others should have
entred our ship unawares from one of the ships of S.
Malo, which professed to be our friend, & unto whom
we shewed all courtesie. But we perceiving their treacherous intent, threatned to set fire on the said ship,
which was then thwart our hawse, from which they
would have entred. By which resolution of ours God
did discourage them from effecting their mischievous
purposes. Now the said captaine Charles when he saw
himself prevented of his wicked intents, took his boat
presently to go on shore, and promised that all things
should be ended in peace betweene us, and that he would
send us our two men againe. But when he was on shore
he presently sent for our great boat which he claimed
to be his, & withall commanded us out of the harborough;
but he sent not our men as he promised, we being now
the weaker side did not only deliver his boat but also
determined to be gon and then requested them to help
us with our anker which was on shore; but they would
not. Then we desired them to cut the bent of the cable
upon the anker on shore (for we durst not send our boat
lest they should have kept from us both our boat and
men) which they promised to do for us, as also to send
our men; but when they were on shore, they would do
neither. We therefore seeing their falshood in every
thing, durst no longer tary for feare of farther treachery;
wherefore we concluded to cut our cable in the hawse;
which we did, & so departed the harborow about 9 of
the clock, leaving two of our men with our cable & anker,
and 20 fadoms of a new hawser behind us. And as we
were going away, they made great shewes of friendship,
and dranke unto us from the shore; but more for feare
then love, and requested us to come on shore for our
men, whom then they delivered. The same morning in
passing over the barre before the harborowes mouth, and
by that time that we had all our men aboord, our ship
came on ground upon the sands; where we lay some 8
houres: during which time, at low water we trimmed
our ship without boord, and by the great providence of
God found our leake which then we stopped. About six
of the clocke at night we got our ship on float againe,
and that night ankered within part of the barre, which
then because of the wind we could not passe. But it
pleased God to send us faire weather all that night, and
the next day by noone we had gotten our ship cleane
over the bar. The 21 day after we got over the barre
the wind arose at east & eastsoutheast, we blew right
into the bay: which if it had come before we were cleere
of the bar, we had both ship and men perished in the
sands. The same day, because the wind kept us within
the bay, we went to the
Isle Blanch, where the ships of
the other harborow had their stages: but it was at least
two leagues from their ships: where we hoped by friendship to procure a shallope & assurance of our cable and
anker againe. But when we had approched nere the
shore with our ship, & weaved them with a white flag,
they in sted of comming unto us, sent their message
by a bullet out of a piece of great ordinance, which they
had placed on shore of purpose against us; so that they
would neither speake with us, nor permit us to come
nere them. Thus we departed, and would have put to
sea that night: but there was much wind at East, which
kept us within the bay, & inforced us to come to an
anker under
Isle Blanch. The next morning being the
22, we put to sea, and about 12 of the clocke the same
day, the wind being at Northeast and foule weather, the
master sayd he could not ply up to Grande Coste, because
of the leeshore, & the wind against us, and therefore
asked what we should do. I asked then how farre we
had to the river of
cape Briton: he sayd a little way.
Then sayd I, If it be not farre, we were best to go
thither to trade with the Savages while the wind is contrary, and to take in water & balist, which we wanted.
To which the master sayd, that if I would he would cary
us thither. I thinking it to be the best course, sayd I
was content, so farre forth as that from thence we tooke
the first faire wind for Grande Coste. Hereupon the
master willed him at the helme to keepe his course southeast and southeast and by south. Presently after I asked
him how many leagues we had to the sayd river, and
from the sayd river to Grande Coste. He then sayd that
we had 40 leagues to the river, and from the river to
Grande Coste 120 leagues. Hereupon I said I would not
consent to go so far out of our way, but willed him to
keep his directest course for Grande Coste; which he did.
Within one halfe houre afterwards the 23 day the gunner
and company of the ship presented me & the master with
a request in writing to returne for England
or to goe
for the
Islands of Acores for a man of war, for they
would not proceed on their voyage to Grande Coste; and
therefore do what I could they turned the helme homewards. The 14 of June we sent our boat on shore in a
great bay upon the Isle of
Cape Briton for water. The
25 we arrived on the West side of the
Isle of Menego,
where we left some caske on shore in a sandy bay, but
could not tary for foule weather. The 26 we cast anker
in another bay upon the maine of
Cape Briton. The 27
about tenne of the clocke in the morning we met with
eight men of the Chancewell our consort in a shallope;
who told us that their ship was cast away upon the maine
of
Cape Briton, within a great bay eighteene leagues
within the Cape, and upon a rocke within a mile of the
shore, upon the 23 of this moneth about one of the clocke
in the afternoone: and that they had cleered their ship
from the rocke: but being bilged and full of water, they
presently did run her up into a sandy bay, where she
was no sooner come on ground, but presently after there
came aboord many shallops with store of French men,
who robbed and spoiled all they could lay hands on, pillaging the poore men even to their very shirts, and using
them in savage maner: whereas they should rather as
Christians have aided them in that distresse. Which
newes when we heard, we blessed God, who by his divine
providence and unspeakeable mercy had not onely preserved all the men, but brought us thither so miraculously
to ayd and comfort them. So presently we put into the
road where the Chancewell lay; where was also one ship
of Sibiburo, whose men that holpe to pillage the Chance
well were runne away into the woods. But the master
thereof which had dealt very honestly with our men stayed
in his ship, and came aboord of us: whom we used well,
not taking any thing from him that was his, but onely
such things as we could finde of our owne. And when
we had dispatched our businesse, we gave him one good
cable, one olde cable and an anker, one shallop with mast,
sailes, and other furniture, and other things which
belonged to the ship. In recompense whereof he gave
us two hogsheads of sider, one barrell of peaze, and 25
score of fish. The 29 betimes in the morning we departed
from that road toward a great Biskaine some 7 leagues
off of 300 tun, whose men dealt most doggedly with the
Chancewels company. The same night we ankered at
the mouth of the harborow, where the Biskain was. The
30 betimes in the morning we put into the harborow;
and approching nere their stage, we saw it uncovered,
and so suspected the ship to be gone: whereupon we
sent our pinnesse on shore with a dozen men, who when
they came, found great store of fish on shore, but all
the men were fled: neither could they perceive whether
the ship should be gone, but as they thought to sea.
This day about twelve of the clocke we tooke a Savages
boat which our men pursued : but all the Savages ran
away into the woods, and our men brought their boat
on board. The same day in the afternoone we brought
our ship to an anker in the harborow: and the same day
we tooke three hogsheads and an halfe of traine, and
some 300 of greene fish. Also in the evening three of
the Savages, whose boat we had, came unto us for their
boat; to whom we gave coats and knives, and restored
them their boat againe. The next day being the first of
July, the rest of the Savages came unto us, among whom
was their king, whose name was Itarey, and their queene,
to whom also we gave coats and knives, and other trifles.
These Savages called the harborow Cibo. In this place
are the greatest multitude of lobsters that ever we heard
of: for we caught at one hawle with a little draw net
above 140. The fourth of July in the morning we
departed from Cibo. And the fift we cast anker in a
reasonable good harborow called New Port under an
Island some eight leagues from Cibo, and within three
leagues from the English port. At this place in pursuing
certaine shallops of a ship of Rochel, one of them came
aboord, who told us, that the Biskainer whom we sought,
was in the English port with two Biskainers more, and
two ships of Rochel. Thereupon wee sent one of our
men in the Rochellers shallop to parle with the admiral
& others our friends in the English port, requesting them
ayd for the recovery of our things, which the other ship
called the Santa Maria of S. Vincent (whereof was Master
Johannes de Harte, and Pilot Adame de Lauandote) had
robbed from the Chancewell. To which they answered,
that if we would come in unto them in peace, they would
assist us what they might. This answere we had the
sixt day: and the seventh in the fornoone we arrived in
the English port, and cast anker aloofe from the other
ships: which done, I went aboord the Admirall, to desire
the performance of his promise: who sent for Johannes
de Harte, who was contented to restore most of our
things againe: whereupon I went aboord his ship to have
them restored. This day and the eighth I spent in procuring such things as they had robbed; but yet in the
end we wanted a great part thereof. Then we were
briefe with them, and willed them either to restore us
the rest of our things which they had, or els we would
both inforce them to doe it, and also have satisfaction
for our victuals and merchandises which by their meanes
were lost in the Chancewell. The ninth in the morning
wee prepared our ship to goe neere unto them. Whereupon their Admirall sent his boat aboord, and desired
to speake with mee: then I went aboord unto him, and
desired to have our things with peace and quietnesse,
proffering to make him and the Masters of the two ships
of Rochel our umpires, and what they should advise I
would stand unto. Heereupon he went aboord the other
ship to make peace; but they would heare no reason,
neither yet condescend to restore any thing els which
they had of ours. Then I desired that as I came in
peace unto them, they would so set me aboord my ship
againe: which they denied to doe, but most unjustly
detained me and Stephen van Herwicke who was with
me. A while after our shallop came with foure men to
know how I did, and to fetch me aboord: but so soone
as she came to the Admirals ships side, his men entred,
and tooke her away, detaining our men also as prisoners
with us. Then presently all the three Biskainers made
toward our ship, which was not carelesse to get the winde
of them all: and having by the mercy of God obtained
the same, shee then stayed for them: but when they
saw they had lost their advantage, they presently turned
their course, making as great haste in againe as they
did out before. Afterwards I attempted twise to goe
aboord, but was still enforced backe by the two other
Biskainers, who sought our lives: so that in the end the
Master of the Admirall was inforced to man his great
boat to waft us: and yet notwithstanding they bent a
piece of great ordinance at us: for we were to passe by
them unto our ship: but we rescued our shallop under
our Masters great boat; and by that meanes passed in
safety. The next morning being the tenth of the moneth,
we purposed if the winde had served our turne, to have
made them to repent their evill dealing, and to restore
us our owne againe, or els to have suncke their ships if
we could. But the winde served not our turne for that
purpose; but caried us to sea: so that the same morning
wee tooke our course toward the bay of S. Laurence in
Newfoundland
: where wee hoped to finde a Spanish ship,
which as we had intelligence, did fish at that place. The
thirteenth day we had sight of
S. Peters Islands. And
the foureteenth day being foggy and misty weather, while
we made towards the land, we sent our shallop before
the shippe to discover dangers: but in the fogge, through
the mens negligence which were in her, she lost us: yet
we kept on our course, thinking that although we could
not see them, yet they might see our ship: and comming
into sixteene fathoms water we cast anker, supposing our
selves to be neere the shore: and in the evening it pleased
God to give us for the space of one quarter of an houre
clere weather, by which we found our selves to be
imbayed, and also had sight of our shallop, which was
at the point of a land about one league from us. The
same night we went further into the same bay, where
we had very good riding. The fifteenth we went on
shore, and in that place found footing of deere, and before
we returned we killed one. The eighteenth we departed
toward S. Laurence: the same evening we had sight of
S. Laurence, and sent off our boat in the night with our
Master and sixteene men to surprise the Spanyard, which
lay in
Litle S. Laurence; who presently upon the entrance
of our men surrendred up their ship and goods. The
nineteenth in the morning before day, the Master of our
ship with two more, and three Spanyards, tooke a boat
and came foorth to meet our shippe, but being foggy,
he cast anker by the mouth of the harborow (thinking
in faire weather to put out to our ship, which through
the current and foggy weather was put five or sixe leagues
to leeward: & while they were at anker in the boat they
were surprised again by certaine Basks of S. John de
Luz who were in Great S. Laurence hard by. These
Basks with their forces (having received intelligence by
one of the Spanyards, who sleeping on shore, escaped
unto them overland) on the sudden surprised the sayd
boat with our Master and others: and then presently
made unto the ship; but our men aboord defended them
off. In the end they threatned that unlesse they would
yeeld, they would kill M. Crafton and our other men
before their eyes. So at last upon M. Craftons intreaty
and our mens, to save their lives, they yeelded up the
ship againe, upon condition, that they should not injury
any of our men, but should let them all with their
weapons peaceably depart: yet when our men had yeelded,
they brake their covenant, profering them great violence,
threatning to kill them, disarming them, stripping their
clothes from their backs, and using them more like dogs
then men. After they had thus robbed our men of their
prize and weapons, they presently towed the shippe with
their boats out of that harborow into Great S. Laurence,
where their owne shippes did ride, and within lesse then
an houre after they had caried our prize away, our shippe
arrived in the bay : where after we had bene a while at
anker, our shallop came aboord unto us, with most part
of our sixteene men, who tolde us the whole story before
recited, as also that captaine Laurence had caried away
our Master, and Stephen van Herwicke prisoners, and
turned the rest of our men on shore in the woods, without
either meat, drinke, or almost any apparell. The 20 all
our men came aboord, except the two prisoners: and
the same day we tooke with our boats three of the
Spanyards shallops, with five hogsheads of traine oile in
ech of them, & in one boat foure Spanyards; but the
men of the other two shallops fled on shore. The same
day also we tooke the Master of one of the ships which
was in the harborow with three other of his men, whom
we detained prisoners to ransome M. Crafton & Stephen
van Herwick. The 22 captaine Laurence sent them
aboord, and we also released all our prisoners, except one
Spanyard, who was boatswaine of the Spanish ship, whom
we kept with us: and the same day we set saile from
thence. The 24 we had advice of our Spanyard of certain
Leagers which were in the harborow of cape S. Mary.
Whereupon the same night, being within five or six
leagues of the harborow, I sent off our two shallops with
thirty men to discover the harborow, and to surprise the
enemy. The 25 in the morning we approched the harborow with our ship, and in the mouth thereof we espied
three shallops, two whereof were ours, and the third of
a ship of Rochel, which they had surprised with foure
men in her: who told them that there were but two ships
in the harborow, whereof one was of Rochel, and the
other of Bell isle. And as we were discoursing with the
Rochellers, we had sight of the ships: whereupon we
sent our boat aboord the Rocheller to certifie him that
we were his friends, and to request him not to hinder
our fight with the enemy. This message being sent, we
made all the haste we could unto the ship of Bell isle,
which first began with us with three great shot, one
whereof hit our maintopsaile, but both the other missed
us. And we also sent one unto them: then being
approched nere unto them ten or twelve of us went in
a shallop to enter them, and we caried also a warpe
with us to make fast unto their ship, whereby our ship
might the better come up to ayd us. And when we
boorded them in our boat, they betooke themselves to
their close fights, playing chiefly upon us with shot &
pikes out at two ports, between which we entred very
dangerously, escaping neere dangers both by shot & pike.
Some of our men were wounded, but no great harme
was done. And mine owne piece in entring, was shot
out of my hand into the sea; which shot also burst one
side of the ladder, by which I entred. We had not long
bene aboord, but through the helpe of God we caused
them to yeeld unto our mercy. There were of them in
the ship above forty men, most whereof we sent aboord
of our shippe, there to be kept in holde, with order to
our chyrurgion to dresse the wounded men, one of which
was wounded unto death. That done, we had then time
to view our prize, which we found of great defence, and
a notable strong ship, almost two hundred tun in burden,
very well appointed, and in all things fitted for a man of
warre. They had also foureteene or fifteene men more,
which were then absent from the ship; otherwise we
should have had the hoter fight. The same day we got
our sailes to the yard, and our top masts on end, and
rigged the shippe what we could. The 26 day we got
some oile aboord, and there we taried untill the second
of August, fitting our selves for the sea, and getting fish
aboord as weather served us. During our abode there
we divided our men, and appointed to ech ship their
company, my selfe and my friends being resolved to take
our passage in the prize; wherein when we were shipped,
and the company, there arose great enmity against us
by the other shippe, which afterward was quieted. The
second day of August, having taken in water and wood,
we put to sea from that harborow in company of the
Hopewell
, with purpose to go directly to Parlican, which
is an harborow in the North part of Newfoundland
, where
we expected another prize. But when we came to sea
we found our sailes so olde, our ropes so rotten, and
our provision of bread and drinke so short, as that we
were constrained to make our resolution directly for England
: whereupon we drew out our reasons the fourth day
of August, and sent them aboord the Hopewell
, to certifie
them the cause of our resolution for England
: wherat
they were generally offended, thinking and saying, that
we in the prize went about to cousin and deceive them.
To conclude, they sent us word that they would keepe
us company for England
. But I had given William
Crafton commission before to go for the
Islands of the
Acores, and there to spend his victuals for a man of
warre. The next day being the fift of August, having a
faire winde, we put off from the coast of Newfoundland
,
and kept our course directly for England
, the Hopewell
keeping us company untill midday, whenas having lost
us in a fogge, she shot off two pieces of ordinance, and
we answered her with three: afterwards we spake not
with her, supposing that she went for the Islands. The
27 of August, drawing neere the coast of England
, we
sounded and found ground at seventy fadoms. Some of
the mariners thinking we were in Bristow channell, and
other in Silly channell: so that through variety of judgements, and evill marinership we were faine to dance the
hay foure dayes together, sometimes running to the
Northeast, sometimes to the Southeast, then againe to
the East, and Eastnortheast. Thus did we spend faire
winds, and lose our time untill the last of August. And
then it pleased God that we fell with the
Island of Lundy
within the channel of Bristoll; from whence we shaped
our course: and after divers dangers, the third of
September we met with the Tramontane of the Queene
off of Dartmouth
; to the captaine whereof we gave
certaine things that he had need of. The fift of September
I landed on the outside of the
Isle of Wight, and within
few dayes after it pleased God to bring the ship in safety
to London
, where she was made prize as belonging to the
enemies of this land.
Certaine observations touching the countreys and places
where we travelled.
THE Newfoundland
we found very subject to fogs and
mists. The ground of it is very rocky: and upon it
there is great store of firre trees, and in some places red;
and about the shore it hath great abundance of cod-fish.
We were on land in it in foure severall places: 1 At
Caplin bay and Farrillon: 2 At
Cape Rase: 3 At the
harborow of Lano, which lieth foure leagues to the West
beyond
Cape Laurence: 4 At S. Marie port.
The Island
of Menego for the soile is much like Newfoundland
, but the fish about it, as also throwout the
Grande Bay within
Cape Briton, is much larger and better
then that of the Newfoundland
. This Island is scant two
leagues long, and very narrow. In the midst of it, a great
way within the wood is a great poole. Here we were
thrise on shore: once at the East side, and twise at the
West.
The three Islands of birds are sandy red, but with the
multitude of birds upon them they looke white. The
birds sit there as thicke as stones lie in a paved street.
The greatest of the Islands is about a mile in compasse.
The second is little lesse. The third is a very little one,
like a small rocke. At the second of these three lay
on the shore in the Sunshine about thirty or forty seaoxen or morses: which when our boat came nere them,
presently made into the sea, and swam after the boat.
Brions Island wee found to be very good, and sandy
ground. It hath in it store of firre trees. It is somewhat
more then a league long, and about three leagues in
compasse. Here we were on land once, and went from
the one side of it to the other.
The Island
of Ramea
we tooke to be like ground as
Brions Island, having also abundance of firre trees. It
seemeth to be in length about twelve or thirteene leagues
at least. We were there in harborow, but not on shore,
which we much desired, and hoped to have bene: but the
conflict which we had there with the Basks and Britons,
mentioned before, prevented us.
The
Isle Blanche likewise seemeth in quality of the
ground and bignesse of it to be much like
Brions Island
aforesayd, but somewhat lesse. We were not on shore
upon. it, but rode before it at anker.
The land of
Cape Briton we found to be somewhat like
the Newfoundland
, but rather better. Here toward the
West end of it we saw the clouds lie lower then the hils:
as we did also at
Cape Laurence in Newfoundland
. The Easterly end of the land of
Cape Briton is nothing so
high land, as the West. We went on shore upon it in
five places: 1 At the bay where the Chancewell was
cast away: 2 At Cibo: 3 At a little Island betweene Cibo
and the New port: 4 At the New port: And 5 at Port
Ingles, or the English port.
Concerning the nature and fruitfulnesse of
Brions
Island,
Isle Blanche, and of Ramea
, they do by nature
yeeld exceeding plenty of wood, great store of wild come
like barley, strawberries, gooseberries, mulberies, white
roses, and store of wilde peason. Also about the sayd
Islands the sea yeeldeth great abundance of fish of divers
sorts. And the sayd Islands also seeme to proffer,
through the labour of man, plenty of all kinde of our
graine, of roots, of hempe, and other necessary commodities.
Charles Leigh.