MARTIN FROB1SHER a.d. 



1578. 

 lasting renowne of our nation, did overcome the brunt of 

 these so great and extreme dangers : for some, even 

 without boord upon the yce, and some within boord upon 

 the sides of their ships, having poles, pikes, pieces of 

 timber, and Ores in their handes, stoode almost day and 

 night without any rest, bearing off the force, and breaking 

 the sway of the yce with such incredible paine and perill, 

 that it was wonderfull to beholde, which otherwise no 

 doubt had striken quite through and through the sides of 

 their ships, notwithstanding our former provision : for 

 plankes of timber of more then three inches thicke, and 

 other things of greater force and bignesse, by the surging 

 of the sea and billowe, with the yce were shivered and 

 cut in sunder, at the sides of our ships, so that it will 

 seeme more then credible to be reported of. And yet 

 (that which is more) it is faithfully and plainely to bee 

 prooved, and that by many substantiall witnesses, that our 

 ships, even those of greatest burdens, with the meeting of 

 contrary waves of the sea, were heaved up betweene 

 Islands of yce, a foote welneere out of the sea above their 

 watermarke, having their knees and timbers within boord [III. 79.] 

 both bowed and broken therewith. 



And amidst these extremes, whilest some laboured for 

 defence of the ships, and sought to save their bodies, 

 other some of more milder spirit sought to save the soule 

 by devout prayer and meditation to the Almightie, 

 thinking indeede by no other meanes possible then by 

 a divine Miracle to have their deliverance : so that there 

 was none that were either idle, or not well occupied, 

 and he that helde himselfe in best securitie had (God 

 knoweth) but onely bare hope remayning for his best 

 safetie. 



Thus all the gallant Fleete and miserable men without 

 hope of ever getting foorth againe, distressed with these 

 extremities remayned here all the whole night and part of 

 the next day, excepting foure ships, that is, the Anne 

 Francis, the Moone, the Francis of Foy, and the Gabriell, 

 which being somewhat a Seaboord of the Fleete, and 



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