The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part IHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
againe towards the Northeast,[82] as we not onely here, but in another
place also, further to the Northwards, by good experience this yeere haue
found, as shalbe hereafter in his place more at large declared.
Now had we sayled about fourteene dayes, without sight of any land, or any
other liuing thing, except certaine foules, as Wilmots, Nodies, Gulles, &c.
which there seeme onely to liue by sea.
[Sidenote: West England.] The twentieth of Iune, at two of the clocke in
the morning, the Generall descried land, and found it to be West Frisland,
now named west England. Here the Generall, and other Gentlemen went ashore,
being the first knowen Christians that we haue true notice of, that euer
set foot vpon that ground: and therefore the Generall took possession
thereof to the vse of our Soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie, and
discouered here a goodly harborough for the ships, where were also certaine
little boates of that countrey. And being there landed, they espied
certaine tents and people of that countrey, which were (as they iudge) in
all sorts, very like those of Meta Incognita, as by their apparell, and
other things which we found in their tents, appeared.
The Sauage and simple people so soone as they perceiued our men comming
towards them (supposing there had bene no other world but theirs) fled
fearefully away, as men much amazed at so strange a sight, and creatures of
humane shape, so farre in apparell, complexion, and other things different
from themselues. They left in their tents all their furniture for haste
behind them, where amongst other things were found a boxe of small nailes,
and certaine red Herrings, boords of Firre tree well cut, with diuers other
things artificially wrought: whereby it appeareth, that they haue trade
with some ciuill people, or else are indeede themselues artificiall
workmen.
Our men brought away with them onely two of their dogs, leauing in
recompense belles, looking-glasses, and diuers of our countrey toyes
behinde them.
This countrey, no doubt, promiseth good hope of great commoditie and
riches, if it may be well discouered. The description whereof you shall
finde more at large in the second voyage.
[Sidenote: Frisland supposed to be continent with Greenland.] Some are of
opinion, that this West England is firme land with the Northeast partes of
Meta Incognita, or else with Groenland. And their reason is, because the
people, apparel, boates, and other things are so like to theirs: and
another reason is, the multitude of Islands of yce, which lay betweene it
and Meta Incognita, doth argue, that on the North side there is a bay,
which cannot be but by conioyning of the two lands together.
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