We coasted this land till the 28th day of August, finding it still to continue towards the south, from the latitude of 67 to 57degrees; we found marvellous great store of birds, gulls and mews, incredible to be reported, whereupon being calm weather we lay one glass upon the lee to prove for fish, in which space we caught one hundred of cod, although we were but badly provided for fishing, not being our purpose.This 28th, having great distrust of the weather, we arrived in a very fair harbour in the latitude of 56 degrees, and sailed ten leagues in the same, being two leagues broad, with very fair woods on both sides; in this place we continued until the 1st of September, in which time we had two very great storms.I landed, and went six miles by guess into the country, and found that the woods were fir, pine-apple, alder, yew, withy, and birch; here we saw a black bear; this place yieldeth great store of birds, as pheasant, partridge, Barbary hens, or the like, wild geese, ducks, blackbirds, jays, thrushes, with other kinds of small birds.Of the partridge and pheasant we killed great store with bow and arrows in this place; at the harbour-mouth we found great store of cod.
The 1st of September at ten o'clock we set sail, and coasted the shore with very fair weather.The third day being calm, at noon we struck sail, and let fall a cadge anchor to prove whether we could take any fish, being in latitude 54 degrees 30 minutes, in which place we found great abundance of cod, so that the hook was no sooner overboard but presently a fish was taken.It was the largest and best refet fish that ever I saw, and divers fishermen that were with me said that they never saw a more suaule, or better skull of fish in their lives, yet had they seen great abundance.
The 4th of September, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, we anchored in a very good road among great store of isles, the country low land, pleasant, and very full of fair woods.To the north of this place eight leagues we had a perfect hope of the passage, finding a mighty great sea passing between two lands west.The south land to our judgment being nothing but isles, we greatly desired to go into this sea, but the wind was directly against us.We anchored in four fathom fine sand.
In this place is fowl and fish mighty store.
The 6th of September, having a fair north-north-west wind, having trimmed our barque, we purposed to depart, and sent five of our sailors, young men, ashore to an island to fetch certain fish which we purposed to weather, and therefore left it all night covered upon the isle; the brutish people of this country lay secretly lurking in the wood, and upon the sudden assaulted our men, which when we perceived, we presently let slip our cables upon the halse, and under our foresail bore into the shore, and with all expedition discharged a double musket upon them twice, at the noise whereof they fled; notwithstanding, to our very great grief, two of our men were slain with their arrows, and two grievously wounded, of whom, at this present, we stand in very great doubt; only one escaped by swimming, with an arrow shot through his arm.These wicked miscreants never offered parley or speech, but presently executed their cursed fury.This present evening it pleased God farther to increase our sorrows with a mighty tempestuous storm, the wind being north-north-east, which lasted unto the 10th of this month very extreme.We unrigged our ship, and purposed to cut-down our masts;the cable of our shut anchor broke, so that we only expected to be driven on shore amongst these cannibals for their prey.Yet in this deep distress the mighty mercy of God, when hope was past, gave us succour, and sent us a fair lee, so as we recovered our anchor again, and new-moored our ship; where we saw that God manifestly delivered us, for the strains of one of our cables were broken; we only rode by an old junk.Thus being freshly moored, a new storm arose, the wind being west-north-west, very forcible, which lasted unto the 10th day at night.
The 11th day, with a fair west-north-west wind, we departed with trust in God's mercy, shaping our course for England, and arrived in the West Country in the beginning of October.
Master Davis being arrived, wrote his letter to Master William Sanderson of London, concerning his voyage, as followeth.
Sir,The Sunshine came into Dartmouth the 4th of this month: she hath been at Iceland, and from thence to Greenland, and so to Estotiland, from thence to Desolation, and to our merchants, where she made trade with the people, staying in the country twenty days.
They have brought home 500 seal-skins, and 140 half skins and pieces of skins.I stand in great doubt of the pinnace; God be merciful unto the poor men and preserve them if it be His blessed will.
I have now full experience of much of the north-west part of the world, and have brought the passage to that certainty, as that I am sure it must be in one of four places, or else not at all.And further, I can assure you upon the peril of my life, that this voyage may be performed without further charge, nay, with certain profit to the adventurers, if I may have but your favour in the action.Surely it shall cost me all my hope of welfare and my portion of Sandridge, but I will, by God's mercy, see an end of these businesses.I hope I shall find favour with you to see your card.I pray God it be so true as the card shall be which I will bring to you, and I hope in God that your skill in navigation shall be gainful unto you, although at the first it hath not proved so.
And thus with my most humble commendations I commit you to God, desiring no longer to live than I shall be yours most faithfully to command.From this 14th of October, 1586.
Yours with my heart, body and life to command, JOHN DAVIS.
