SIR HUMPHKEY GILBERT. 31 



They had not proceeded far in this way, when a Spanish 

 ship fell in with them, the captain of which proved a 

 kind friend. He took them to St. Jean de Luz, in the 

 Bay of Biscay ; and when the Spaniards came on board, 

 told them they were poor fishermen cast away at New- 

 foundland. He set them on shore in the night, only 

 ten miles from the French frontiers, which they reached 

 before day broke, and, thus having escaped, travelled 

 to England through France, where they safely arrived 

 about the end of the year 1583. 



Their history having thus terminated, it will be proper 

 to go back to the Golden Hinde and Squirrel. The 

 crews of these ships, dispirited at the loss of the best 

 vessel of the squadron, still continued to beat about in 

 those thick fogs which are so common on the shores of 

 Newfoundland. The crew of the Squirrel, already on 

 short allowance, besought Sir Humphrey Gilbert to 

 return to England. The crew of the Golden Hinde 

 joined in the same request. Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 

 whose enthusiasm did riot seem abated by his disasters, 

 engaged them to accompany him again in the following 

 spring. On the 31st of August they altered their course, 

 during a fresh breeze and high sea, and directed it for 

 their native land. 



Sir Humphrey had hurt his foot, and, on the 2d 

 of September, went on board the Golden Hinde to get 

 it dressed by the surgeon of that ship. He repeated 

 the visit to partake of an entertainment with the captain, 

 master, and crew. He spoke of his disappointment on 

 losing his papers and some ore which the Saxon refiner 

 had procured in Newfoundland, which had been lost in 

 the Delight. The Squirrel was overloaded, having 

 heavy artillery on board, and things on deck so much- 

 above her tonnage, that her situation at that season of 

 the year was considered dangerous by those on boani 



