114 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



vessel was lost, but that Hayes's narrative clearly showed that this took 

 place near Cape Breton.' 



In the Transactions of this society for 1896 appears a paper by Dr. 

 Brymner, Dominion Archivist, in which, ignoring Hayes's narrative, he 

 assumes throughout that it took place on Sable Island. The question is 

 not of great importance, but as everything connected with the expedition 

 is of interest, and particularly as it concerns the fate of him who has been 

 well named the father of English colonization in America, it may be 

 worth while examining the matter more carefully. 



There are two accounts of the event, one by Clarke, master of the 

 "Delight," the other by Hayes of the " Grolden Hinde," both of which 

 are given by Hakluy t. The part of the first which concerns our present 

 subject is as follows : 



"A relation of Eichard Clarke, of Wej^mouth, master of the ship 

 called the Delight, going for the discouery of Norembega, with Sir 

 Humfrey Gilbert, 1583. Written in excuse of that fault of casting 

 away the ship and men imputed to his ouersight. 



" Departing out of Saint lohn's Harborough in the Newfoundland 

 the 20 of August, unto Cape Eaz, from thence we directed our course 

 unto the ile of Sablon, or the Isle of Sand, which the Generall Sir Hum- 

 frey Gilbert would willingly haue seene. But when we came within 

 twentie leagues of the isle of Sablon we fell to controuersie of our course. 

 The Generall (Gilbert) came up in his Frigat and demanded of mee 

 Eichard Clarke, Master of the Admirall, what course was best to keepe ; 

 I said that westsouthwest was best, because the wind was at South and 

 night at hand and vnknowen sands lay off a great way from the land. 

 The Generall commanded me to go Westnorthwest. I told him againe 

 that the Isle of Sablon was Westnorthwest, and but fifteen leagues off, 

 and that he should be vpon the island before day if bee went that course. 

 The Generall sayd my reckoning was vntrue, and charged me in Her 

 Maiesties name and as I would shewe myself in her Countrey to follow 

 him that night.^ I, fearing his threatenings because he presented Her 

 Maiesties person, did follow his comiuandement, and about seven oClock 

 in the morning the ship sti'oke on ground, where shee was cast away. 

 Then the Generall went oft to sea — the course that I would haue had 

 them go before — and saw the ship cast away, men and all, and was not 

 able to save a man for there was not water upon the sand for either of 

 them, much less for the Admiral that drew fourteen feet." 



Hayes's account is more particular, and has generally been accepted 

 as trustworthy. We give it somewhat condensed : " We departed from 



1 Cape Breton is used here and tliroughout this paper, except where otherwise 

 indicated, for the cape so named. Tliis name was not given to the islaiid till some 

 time later. 



- Here Hakliiyt has the following marginal note : " Herein Clarke vntruely 

 chargeth Sir Humfrey Gilbert." 



