INTO THE TERRA-NOVA COUNTRY 19 



where they perished slowly one by one till not a single 

 member was left. 



It is necessary to say a few words concerning the first 

 writer upon the Beothicks. Captain Richard Whitbourne, of 

 Exmouth, after having served as captain of his own ship 

 against the Spanish Armada in 1588, made many voyages 

 to Newfoundland for the purpose of fishing and establishing 

 colonies there. He made his first voyage to that country 

 in 1582, with the intention of trading with "the savage 

 people" and killing whales. He says of it: "But this our 

 intended Voyage was overthrown by the indiscretion of our 

 captaine, and faint-heartedness of some Gentlemen of our 

 Company. Whereupon we set sail from thence and bare 

 into Trinity Harbour in Newfoundland : where we killed 

 great store of Fish, Deere, Beares, Beavers, Scales, Otters, 

 and such like, with abundance of sea-fowle : and so returning 

 for England, we arrived safe at Southampton." ^ 



On his second voyage in 1586 the gallant Captain had 

 the command of a "worthy shipp, set forth by one Master 

 Crooke of Southampton." He witnessed the taking posses- 

 sion of Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey Gilbert in the name 

 of Queen Elizabeth. After this he made many interesting 

 voyages to Newfoundland. One of the most striking passages 

 in his book relates to his meeting and detention by the famous 

 arch-pirate, Peter Easton, " whom I did persuade much to 

 desist from his evil course." It is interesting to note that 

 in 1608 one of Captain Whitbourne's ships was intercepted 



' " A Discourse and Discovery of Newfoundland, with many reasons to prove 

 how worthy and beneficiall a Plantation may be there made, after a far better 

 manner than now it is— together with the laying open of certaine enormities and 

 abuses committed by some that trade to that countrey, and the means laid down 

 for reformation thereof." By Capt. Richard Whitbourne of Exmouth in the county 

 of Devon. London, 1622. Republished in 1870 at Guildford by Mr. Thomas 

 Whitbourne under the title of" Westward Hoe for the New-found-land." 



