A.D. 



c. 1380-90. 



Ships laden 

 with fish at 

 Frisland, for 

 Flanders, 

 Britain, Eng- 

 land, Scotland, 

 Norway and 

 Denmarke. 

 But not to be 

 proved that 

 ever any came 

 thence. 



A letter sent by 

 M. N. Zeno, 

 from Frisland 

 to his brother 

 M. Antonio 

 in Venice. 

 The end of 

 the first 

 letter. 



[III. 123] 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



the chiefe citie of that Island, situate on the Southeast 

 side of the Isle, within a gulfe, as there are many in that 

 Island. In this gulf or bay there is such great abundance 

 of fish taken, that many ships are laden therewith to serve 

 Flanders, Britain, England, Scotland, Norway, and Den- 

 marke, and by this trade they gather great wealth. 



And thus much is taken out of a letter, that M. Nicolo 

 sent to M. Antonio his brother, requesting that he would 

 seeke some meanes to come to him. Wherefore he who 

 had as great desire to travaile as his brother, bought a 

 ship, and directed his course that way : & after he had 

 sailed a great while and escaped many dangers, he arrived 

 at length in safetie with M. Nicolo, who received him very 

 joyfully, for that he was his brother not onely in flesh and 

 blood, but also in valour and good qualities. M. Antonio 

 remained in Frisland and dwelt there for the space of 

 14 yeres, 4 yeres with M. Nicolo, and 10 yeres alone. 

 Where they came in such grace and favour with the 

 Prince, that he made M. Nicolo Captaine of his Navy, 

 and with great preparation of warre they were sent forth 

 for the enterprise of Estland, which lyeth upon the coast 

 betweene Frisland and Norway, where they did many 

 dammages : but hearing that the king of Norway was 

 coming towardes them with a great fleet, they departed 

 with such a terrible flaw of winde, that they were driven 

 upon certaine sholds : were a great part of their ships 

 were cast away, the rest were saved upon Grisland, a great 

 Island but dishabited. The king of Norway his fleete 

 being taken with the same storme, did utterly perish 

 in those seas : Whereof Zichmni having notice, by a ship 

 of his enemies that was cast by chance upon Grisland, 

 having repayred his fleet, and perceiving himself Northerly 

 neere unto the Islands, determined to set upon Island, 

 which together with the rest, was subject to the king 

 of Norway : but he found the countrey so well fortified 

 and defended, that his fleete being so small, and very 

 ill appointed both of weapons and men, he was glad to 

 retire. And so he left that enterprise without performing 



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