a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1577- 



out sight of any people, or likelihood of habitation. 

 Here diverse of the Gentlemen desired our Generall to 

 suffer them to the number of twentie or thirtie persons 

 to march up thirtie or fortie leagues in the countrey, to 

 the end they might discover the Inland, and doe some 

 acceptable service for their countrey. But he not con- 

 tented with the matter he sought for, and well consider- 

 ing the short time he had in hand, and the greedie 

 desire our countrey hath to a present savour and returne 

 of gaine, bent his whole indevour only to find a Mine 

 to fraight his ships, and to leave the rest (by Gods 

 [III. 66.] helpe) hereafter to be well accomplished. And therefore 

 the twentie sixe of July he departed over to the North- 

 land, with the two barkes, leaving the Ayde ryding in 

 Jackmans sound, and ment (after hee had found con- 

 venient harborow, and fraight there for his ships) to 

 discover further for the passage. The Barkes came the 

 same night to ancker in a sound upon the Norther- 

 land, where the tydes did runne so swift, and the place 

 was so subject to indrafts of yce, that by reason thereof 

 they were greatly endangered, & having found a very 

 rich Myne, as they supposed, and got almost twentie 

 tunne of Ore together, upon the 28 of July the yce 

 came driving into the sound where the Barkes rode, in 

 such sort, that they were therewith greatly distressed. 

 And the Gabriell riding asterne the Michael, had her 

 Cable gauld asunder in the hawse with a peece of 

 driving yce, and lost another ancker, and having but 

 one cable and ancker left, for she had lost two before, 

 and the yce still driving upon her, she was (by Gods 

 helpe) well fenced from the danger of the rest, by one 

 great Hand of yce, which came a ground hard a head 

 of her, which if it had not so chanced, I thinke surely 

 shee had beene cast upon the rockes with the yce. The 

 Michael mored ancker upon this great yce, and roade 

 under the lee thereof: but about midnight, by the 

 weight of it selfe, and the setting of the Tydes, the 

 yce brake within halfe the Barkes length, and made 



298 



