GEORGE BESTS DISCOURSE ad 



1578. 



twenty tunne a piece, wherein he intended to accomplish 

 his pretended voyage. Wherefore, being furnished with 

 the foresayd two barks, and one small pinnesse of ten 

 tun burthen, having therein victuals and other necessaries 

 for twelve moneths provision, he departed upon the sayd 

 voyage from Blacke-wall the 15 of June anno Domini 

 1576. 



One of the barks wherein he went was named The 

 Gabriel, and the other The Michael ; and sailing North- 

 west from England upon the 11 of July he had sight 

 of an high and ragged land, which he judged to be 

 Frisland (whereof some authors have made mention) but 

 durst not approch the same by reason of the great store 

 of ice that lay alongst the coast, and the great mists that 

 troubled them not a litle. Not farre from thence he 

 lost company of his small pinnesse, which by meanes of 

 the great storme he supposed to be swallowed up of the 

 Sea, wherein he lost onely foure men. 



Also the other barke named The Michael mistrusting The Michael 

 the matter, conveyed themselves privily away from him, returned 

 and returned home, with great report that he was cast 

 away. 



The worthy captaine notwithstanding these discomforts, 

 although his mast was sprung, and his toppe mast blowen 

 overboord with extreame foule weather, continued his 

 course towards the Northwest, knowing that the sea at 

 length must needs have an ending, & that some land 

 should have a beginning that way ; and determined there- 

 fore at the least to bring true proofe what land and sea 

 the same might be so farre to the Northwestwards, be- 

 yond any man that hath heretofore discovered.^ And the 

 twentieth of July he had sight of an high land, which he 

 called Queene Elizabeths Forland, after her Majesties 

 name. And sailing more Northerly alongst that coast, 

 he descried another forland with a great gut, bay, or 

 passage, divided as it were two maine lands or continents 

 asunder. There he met with store of exceeding great 

 ice all this coast along, and coveting still to continue his 



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