Section II., 1897. [ 113 ] Trans. R.S.C. 



IV. — Termination of Sir Humphrey Gilhert's Expedition. 

 By the Eev. George Patterson. D.JD., LL.D., F.E.S.C. 



(Read 24th June, 1897.) 



On the 11th June, 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, under a commission 

 received, some time previous from Queen Elizabeth, authorizing himself, 

 his heirs and assigns to discover, occupy and possess such remote " heathen 

 lands not actually possessed of any Christian prince or people, as should 

 seem good to him or them," sailed from Causand Bay, near Plymouth, 

 with five vessels, forming the jîioneer expedition of English colonization 

 in America. Two days after, one of the vessels, the " Raleigh," so-called 

 from his step-brother, Sir Walter Ealeigh. at Avhose expense she had been 

 fitted out, deserted and returned to England. 



The other four reached Newfoundland in safety, and on the 5th of 

 August he landed and took possession of the island in the Queen's name. 

 Here various troubles arose, in consequence of which one of the vessels 

 was sent back to England with a number of the men. 



On the 20th of the same month, with the three remaining vessels, he 

 set sail from St, John's for the west. These vessels were the " Delight '' 

 of 120 tons burthen (usually spoken of as the Admiral). Maurice Browne, 

 captain, and Richard Clarke, master ; the " Golden Hinde," 40 tons 

 burthen, in which was Edward Hayes, captain and owner, and AVilliam 

 Cox, of Limehouse, master; and the "Squirrell," a cockle-shell of ten 

 tons, called the frigate, in which it is said "The Generall (that is the 

 commander, viz., Gilbert himself) made choice to goe, the same being 

 most conuenient to discouer vpon the coast and to search into euery 

 harVjor or creeke, whicli a great ship could not doe." 



Eight days after sailing, or carh' in the morning of the 29th, the 

 " Delight '" was lost, and of those on board, reported as numbering nearly 

 a hundred, but probably considerably less, only fourteen escaped by 

 putting to sea in the pinnace. 



In consequence of this disaster and other troubles, Gilbert resolved 

 to return to England with his two remaining vessels. On the way the 

 " Squirrel," in which he had sailed, foundered with all on board, and his 

 career was brought to an untimely close. 



AVhere did the wreck take place, which was the means of bringing 

 the expedition to such an unfortunate termination ? In a note to my 

 paper on Sable Island, read before this society at their meeting in 1894, 

 and published in the Transactions of that year, I mentioned that some 

 writers had supposed that it was there that Sir Humphrey's leading 



