58 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN 
The next daie, being the 1 of August, about 8 a-clock be¬ 
fore noone, there came a shallop aboard the Desire, w th 11 
Dutchmen that belonged to one of the Hollanders 7 ships 
that wee had latelie sent forth of Bel Sound. The occasion 
of their so comeing was this: Six of these men had gon 
ashoare from their ship to kill some venison; and, landeing at 
the time of a high water, they made fast their shallop; and 
so left her, safe enough, as they supposed, and went up into 
the land: but, when the water fell againe, the shallop was 
split! upon a rock, and by that meanes they were forced to 
staie ther. Nowe, they that were in the ship, considering 
that their fellowes staied verie long, began to doubt of some 
unwelcome euent that hindered their retourne; and ther- 
fore they sent 5 men more in another shallop to knowe the 
cause of their so long absence. When these men last sent 
forth came ashoare, they found the other men, who tould 
them the occasion of their staie. Then went they all aboard 
the shallop, and rowed towards their ship; but the aire was 
growen to be verie mistie, and such a thick, fog increased, 
that they could not by anie meanes find their ship: wherfore 
they were faine to rowe to the shoare againe. Then followed 
stormie weather, the winde bloweing of the shoare, w ch caused 
the ship to haile further of to sea ; so that, when the aire was 
cleare, notwithstanding, they could not see her: wherby they 
were much discouraged, being in a place that could yeild them 
but little comforte. And thus they contynued 8 daies: in w ch 
time they liued w th the flesh of 2 bucks and a beare, w ch they 
had killed,— being eleuen men; and more they could not 
kill, because their powder was spent. Then, seeing our ships 
come by, they rowed fast, and came aboard of us. And so 
wee brought them into England, where they had some monie 
alowed them, for their work at sea, by the Company of Mos- 
couy Merchants; although (God be praised) wee never stood 
any need of their helpe: and so they were free to departe 
homeward, when they could gett shipping. 
