36 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



of toys and trifles, which it was thought would delight the " savage 

 people." 



On the 11th June, 1583, the vessels set sail with a favourable wind 

 and pleasant weather, which did not last long as by nightfsill a thunder 

 storm and gale sprung up. On Thursday night, two days after sailing, 

 Gilbert was informed that the largest vessel, the "Eawley," called the 

 vice-admiral, was in distress from the illness of her captain and many 

 of her crew ; at midnight it was discovered that she had turned back. 

 Why she did so, with a favourable breeze for her destination, was not 

 known at the time, but Hayes states that it was afterwards credibly 

 reported that the ship arrived in great distress at Plymouth, the crew 

 having been attacked by a contagious disease. 



The weather from this time appears to have been very unpleasant 

 and the voyage dangerous from head winds and fogs, in the course of 

 which the '' Swallow " and the " Squirrel " parted company with the 

 others, the fog having concealed their movements from each other. To 

 add to the danger many icebergs were met with drifting south with a 

 current whose existence was only guessed at by the drifting of the ice- 

 bergs. On the 30th of July land was obscurely seen through the fog, 

 but where it was they could not tell, no observations having been possible 

 for some days, the only indications they had being the soundings they 

 were able to obtain on the banks, which they had crossed a few days 

 before, and which are described as extending into the south infinitely, 

 rather a strong expression, although the great bank extends a long way 

 in that direction. 



When they fell in with the " Swallow " at Conception Bay, the 

 crew, it was found, had been at their old trade of piracy, for most, if not 

 all of them, had been pirates before being taken into Gilbert's service, 

 being taken redhanded in the act of i^lundering some French vessels 

 which they had captured in St. George's Channel. Whilst separated 

 from the others, before reaching Newfoundland, the "Swallow" fell in 

 with a fishing vessel on her return to Europe, which they plundered of 

 everything portable, including sails and tackle, so that the pirate crew of 

 the " Swallow " were well provided with clothing and provisions when 

 thej' rejoined Gilbert. What became of the plundernd ship is not 

 known. 



On arriving at St. John's, the " Squirrel " was found lying off the 

 harbour, having been prevented from entering evidently as a measure of 

 precaution against a jiiratical attack. Gilbert, however, pushed his way 

 in with his vessels, read his commission, took formal possession of the 

 island, wiis received with all honour by the temporary authorities who 

 kept order in the fishing fleets of the various nations collected there, and 

 a levy was made on all the vessels, not only in St. John's, but in the 

 various harbours on the coast, to supply the present wants of the new 



