264 GREENLAND. 



factors that had hcere at home beene convicted bv Law for 

 some haynous crimes committed ; and that both with promise 

 of pardon for their faults, and with addition of rewards also, 

 if so be they would undertake to remaine in Greenland but 

 one whole yeare, and that every way provided for too, both 

 of Clothes, Victuals, and all things else that might any way 

 be needfull for their preservation. These poor wretches 

 hearing of this large proffer, and fearing present execution 

 at home, resolved to make tryall of the adventure. 



The time of yeare being come, and the ships ready to de- 

 part, these condemned creatures are imbarked, who after a 

 certain space there arriving, and taking a view of the deso- 

 lateness of the place, they conceived such a horrour and 

 inward feare in their hearts, as that they resolved rather to 

 returne for England to make satisfaction with their lives for 

 their former faults committed, than there to remaine,- though 

 with assured hope of gaining their pardon ; Insomuch as the 

 time of the yeare being come that the ships were to depart 

 from these barren shoares, they made knowne their full in- 

 tent unto the Caj)taine, who, being a pittifull and a merciful! 

 Gentleman, would not by force constrainc them to stay in 

 that place, which was so contrary to their minds ; but, hav- 

 ing made his voyage by the time expired, hee againe im- 

 barked and brought them over with him to England ; where, 

 through the intercession and meanes of the worshipfull com- 

 panie of Muscovie merchants, they escaped that death which 

 they had before beene condemned unto. The remembrance 

 of these two former stories, as also of a third (more terrible 

 than both the former, for that it was likely to be our own 

 case), more miserably now affrighted us : and that was the 

 lamentable and unmanly ends of nine good and able men, 

 left in the same place heretofore by the selfe same Master 

 that now left us behindc ; who all dyed miserably upon the 

 place, being cruelly disfigured after their deaths by the 

 savage beares and hungry foxes, which are not oncly the 



