dence. 



MARTIN FROBISHER ad. 



.578. 

 land nor sea, as farre as we could kenne : so that we 

 were faine to cut our cables to hang over boord for 

 fenders, somewhat to ease the ships sides from the great 

 and driry strokes of the yce : some with Capstan barres, 

 some fending off with oares, some with plancks of two 

 ynches thicke, which were broken immediatly with the 

 torce of the yce, some going out upon the yce to beare 

 it off with their shoulders from the ships. But the 

 rigorousnes of the tempest was such, and the force of the 

 yce so great, that not onely they burst and spoyled the 

 foresaid provision, but likewise so rased the sides of the 

 ships, that it was pitifull to behold, and caused the hearts 

 of many to faint. 



Thus we continued all that dismall and lamentable 

 night plunged in this perplexity, looking for instant 

 death: but our God (who never leaveth them destitute Godsprwi- 

 which faithfully call upon him, although he often punisheth 

 for amendements sake) in the morning caused the winds 

 to cease, and the fogge which all that night lay on the 

 face of the water to cleare : so that we might perceive 

 about a mile from us, a certaine place cleare from any 

 yce^ to the which with an easie breath of wind which our 

 God sent us, we bent our selves. And furthermore, hee 

 provided better for us then we deserved or hoped for : 

 for when we were in the foresaid cleare place, he sent us 

 a fresh gale at West or at West Southwest, which set us 

 cleare without all the yce. And further he added more : 

 for he sent us so pleasant a day as the like we had not of 

 a long time before, as after punishment consolation. 



Thus we joyfull wights being at libertie, tooke in all 

 our sailes and lay a hull, praysing God for our deliver- 

 ance, and stayed to gather together our Fleete : which 

 once being done, we seeing that none of them had any 

 great hurt, neither any of them wanted, saving onely they 

 of whom I spake before and the ship which was lost, 

 then at the last wee hoised our sailes, and lay bulting off 

 and on, till such time as it would please God to take 

 away the yce that wee might get into the Straights. 



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