against the Isie mountaines, whose hugenesse and monstrous
greatnesse was such, that no man would credite, but
such as to their paines sawe and felt it. And
these foure shippes by the next day at noone got out
to Sea, and were first cleare of the yce, who now
enioying their owne libertie, beganne a new to sorrow
and feare for their fellowes safeties. And deuoutly
kneeling about their maine Mast, they gaue vnto God
humble thankes, not only for themselues, but besought
him likewise highly for their friendes deliuerance.
And euen now whilst amiddest these extremities this
gallant Fleete and valiant men were altogither ouerlaboured
and forewatched, with the long and fearefull continuance
of the foresayd dangers, it pleased God with his eyes
of mercie to looke downe from heauen to sende them
helpe in good time, giuing them the next day a more
favourable winde at the West Northwest, which did
not onely disperse and driue foorth the yce before
them, but also gaue them libertie of more scope and
Sea-roome, and they were by night of the same day
following perceiued of the other foure shippes, where
(to their greatest comfort) they enioyed againe the
fellowship one of another. Some in mending the
sides of their ships, some in setting vp their top
Mastes, and mending their sayles and tacklings; Againe,
some complayning of their false Stemme borne away,
some in stopping their leakes, some in recounting
their dangers past, spent no small time and labour.
So that I dare well auouch, there were neuer men more
dangerously distressed, nor more mercifully by Gods
prouidence deliuered. And hereof both the torne
ships, and the forwearied bodies of the men arriued
doe beare most euident marke and witnesse. And
now the whole Fleete plyed off to Seaward, resoluing
there to abide vntill the Sunne might consume, or
the force of winde disperse these yce from the place
of their passage; and being a good birth off the shore,
they tooke in their sailes, and lay adrift.
[Sidenote: Another assault.] The seuenth of Iuly
as men nothing yet dismayed, we cast about towards
the inward, and had sight of land, which rose in forme
like the Northerland of the straights, which some of
the Fleete, and those not the worst Marriners, iudged
to be the North Foreland: howbeit other some
were of contrary opinion. [Sidenote: Fogge, snow,
and mistes hinder the Mariners markes.] But the matter
was not well to be discerned by reason of the thicke
fogge which a long time hung vpon the coast, and the
new falling snow which yeerely altereth the shape of
the land, and taketh away oftentimes the Mariners
markes. And by reason of the darke mists which
continued by the space of twentie dayes togither, this
doubt grewe the greater and the longer perilous. [Sidenote:
A swift current from the Northeast.] For whereas indeede
we thought ourselues to be vpon the Northeast side
of Frobishers straights, we were now caried to the
Southwestwards of the Queenes Foreland, and being deceiued
by a swift current comming from the Northeast, were
brought to the Southwestwards of our said course many
miles more then we did thinke possible could come to
passe. The cause whereof we haue since found,
and it shall be at large hereafter declared.