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
At this present in this storme many of the Fleete were dangerously
distressed, and were seuered almost all asunder. Yet, thanks be to God, all
the Fleete arriued safely in England about the first of October, some in
one place and some in another. [Sidenote: An vnknowen channell into the
Northeast discouered by the Busse of Bridgewater.] But amongst other, it
was most maruellous how the Busse of Bridgewater got away, who being left
behind the Fleete in great danger of neuer getting forth, was forced to
seeke a way Northward thorow an vnknowen channell full of rocks, vpon the
backe side of Beares sound, and there by good hap found out a way into the
North sea, a very dangerous attempt; save that necessitie, which hath no
law, forced them to trie masteries. This aforesayd North sea is the same
which lyeth vpon the backe side of Frobishers straits, where first the
Generall himselfe in his Pinnesses, and after some other of our company
haue discouered (as they affirme) a great foreland, where they would also
haue a great likelihood of the greatest passage towards the South sea, or
Mar del Sur.
[Sidenote: A fruitful new Island discouered.] The Busse of Bridgewater, as
she came homeward, to the Southeastward of Friseland, discouered a great
Island in the latitude of 57 degrees and an halfe, which was neuer yet
found before, and sailed three dayes alongst the coast, the land seeming to
be fruitfull, full of woods, and a champion[88] countrey.
There died in the whole Fleete in all this voyage not aboue forty persons,
which number is not great, considering how many ships were in the Fleet,
and how strange fortunes we passed.
A generall and briefe description of the Countrey, and condition of the
people, which are found in Meta Incognita.
Hauing now sufficiently and truly set forth the whole circumstance, and
particuler handling of euery occurrent in the 3. voyages of our worthy
Generall, Captaine Frobisher, it shal not be from the purpose to speake
somewhat in generall of the nature of this Countrey called Meta Incognita,
and the condition of the sauages there inhabiting.
[Sidenote: A Topographical description of Meta Incognita.] First therefore
touching the Topographical description of the place. It is now found in the
last voyage, that Queene Elizabeths Cape being situate in latitude at 61.
degrees and a halfe, which before was supposed to be part of the firme land
of America, and also al the rest of the South side of Frobishers straites,
are all seuerall Islands and broken land, and like wise so will all the
North side of the said straites fall out to be as I thinke. And some of our
company being entred aboue 60. leagues within the mistaken straites in the
third voyage mentioned, thought certainely that they had discryed the firme
land of America towards the South, which I thinke will fall out so to be.
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