a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1578. 



Part of the Within this ship that was drowned there was parcell 



house lost. Q f our nouse w hich was to bee erected for them that 



should stay all the winter in Meta Incognita. 



This was a more fearefull spectacle for the Fleete to 

 beholde, for that the outragious storme which presently 

 followed, threatned them the like fortune and danger. 

 For the Fleete being thus compassed (as aforesayd) on 

 every side with yce, having left much behinde them, 

 thorow which they passed, and finding more before them, 

 thorow which it was not possible to passe, there arose 

 a sudden terrible tempest at the Southeast, which blowing 

 from the maine sea, directly upon the place of the 

 Streites, brought together all the yce a sea-boorde of 

 us upon our backes, and thereby debard us of turning 

 backe to recover sea-roome againe : so that being thus 

 compassed with danger on every side, sundry men with 

 sundry devises sought the best way to save themselves. 

 Some of the ships, where they could find a place more 

 cleare of yce, and get a little birth of sea roome, did take 

 in their sayles, and there lay a drift. Other some 

 fastened & mored Anker upon a great Island of yce, 

 and roade under the Lee therof, supposing to be better 

 guarded thereby from the outragious winds, and the 

 danger of the lesser fleeting yce. And againe some 

 where so fast shut up, and compassed in amongst an 

 infinite number of great countreys and Islands of yce, 

 that they were faine to submit themselves and their ships 

 to the mercy of the unmercifull yce, and strengthened the 

 sides of their ships with junckes of cables, beds, Mastes, 

 plankes and such like, which being hanged over boord on 

 the sides of their ships, might the better defend them 

 from the outragious sway and strokes of the said 

 yce. But as in greatest distresse, men of best valour 

 are best to bee discerned, so it is greatly worthy 

 commendation and noting with what invincible minde 

 every Captaine encouraged his company, and with what 

 incredible labour the painefull Mariners and poore 

 Miners (unacquainted with such extremities) to the ever- 



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