[PATTERSON] SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT'S EXPEDITION 117 



looking out discerned (in his judg-ment) white chtfs crying (lande) withal, 

 though we could not afterward descry any land, it being more likely the 

 breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be white cliftes, through the 

 haze and thicke weather. 



" Immediatly tokens were given vnto the Delight, to cast about 

 to seaward, which being the greater shippe, and of burden 120 tunnes, 

 was yet formost upon the broach, keeping so ill-watch, that they knewe 

 not the danger, before he felt the same, too late to recouer it ; for presently 

 the Admirall stroke aground and had soone after her sterne and hinder 

 partes beaten in peeces ; whereupon the rest (that is to say, the Frigat, 

 in which was the Grenerall, and the Grolden Hinde) cast about East 

 southeast bearing to the south, even for our lines into the windes eye, 

 because that way carried us to the seaward. Making out from this danger 

 we sownded one while seuen, then tiue fadome, then foure fadome and 

 lefse, againe deeper, immediatly foure fadome, then but three fadome, 

 the sea going mightily and high. At last we recouered, (God be thanked) 

 in some despaire, to sea roome enough. 



" In this distrefse we had vigilant eye vnto the Admirall, whom wee 

 sawe cast away, without power to give the men succour. But all in 

 vaine, sith Grod had determined their ruine ; yet all that day and part of 

 the next, we beat vp and downe as neere vnto the wracke as was pofsible 

 for vs, looking out if by good hap we might espie any of them. 



The writer then tells us how they afterward learned that fourteen 

 of the crew had leaped into the pinnace, which was towed astern, and 

 cutting her adrift put to sea without food or even fi-esh water. After 

 being driven before the wind for six days, and suffering incredible hard- 

 ship, they were picked up by some Frenchmen and carried to France. 

 The narrative then proceeds : 



'' After this heauie chance we continued beating tne sea up and 

 downe, expecting when the weather would cleere up, that wee might j^et 

 beare in with the land, which we judged not farre off, either the continent 

 or some Island. For we many times, and in sundry places, found ground 

 at 50, 45, 40 fadomes, and lefse. The ground coming vpon our lead 

 beeing sometimes oazie sande. and otherwhile a broad (qu bi'oken) shell, 

 with a little sand upon it. 



" Our people lost courage daj-ly after this ill-succefse, the weather 

 continuing thicke and blustering, with increase of cold Winter drawing 

 on, which tooke from them all hope of amendment, setting an afsurance 

 of worse weather to growe vpon vs euery day. The leeside of vs lay full 

 of flats and dangers ineuitable if the wind blew hard at South. Some 

 againe doubted ice were ingulphed in the Bay of 8. Lawrence, the coast 

 full of dangers, and vnto vs vnknowen. But aboue all prouision waxed 

 scant and hope of supply Avas gone, with lofse of our Admirall. ^ * 

 " So vpon Saturday in the afternoone of the 31 of August, we changed 

 our course, and returned backe to England. ^ * * :^ * 



