and worshipfull aduenturers of all our proceedings,
I was appointed againe the second yere to search the
bottome of this straight, because by all likelihood
it was the place and passage by vs laboured for.
In this second attempt the marchants of Exeter, and
other places of the West became aduenturers in the
action, so that being sufficiently furnished for sixe
moneths, and hauing direction to search these straights,
vntill we found the same to fall into another sea
vpon the West side of this part of America, we should
againe returne: for then it was not to be doubted,
but shipping with trade might safely be conueied to
China, and the parts of Asia. We departed from
Dartmouth, and arriuing vpon the South part of the
coast of Desolation coasted the same vpon his West
shore to the latitude of sixtie six degrees, and there
anchored among the Isles bordering vpon the same,
where we refreshed our selues, the people of this place
came likewise vnto vs, by whom I vnderstood through
their signes that towards the North the sea was large.
At this place the chiefe ship whereupon I trusted,
called the Mermayd of Dartmouth, found many occasions
of discontentment, and being vnwilling to proceed
shee there forsook me. Then considering how I
had giuen my faith and most constant promise to my
worshipfull good friend Master William Sanderson,
who of all men was the greatest aduenturer in that
action, and tooke such care for the performance thereof,
that he hath to my knowledge at one time disbursed
as much money as any fiue others whatsoever, out of
his purse, when some of the companie haue bene slacke
in giuing in their aduenture: And also knowing
that I should loose the fauour of M. Secretary Walsingham,
if I should shrink from his direction; in one small
barke of 30 Tonnes, whereof M. Sanderson was owner,
alone without farther company I proceeded on my voyage,
and arriuing at these straights followed the same
80 leagues, vntill I came among many Islands, where
the water did ebbe and flow sixe fadome vpright, and
where there had bene great trade of people to make
traine. [Sidenote: The North Parts of America
all Islands.] But by such things as there we found,
wee knew that they were not Christians of Europe that
had vsed that trade: in fine by searching with
our boat, we found small hope to passe any farther
that way, and therefore recouered the sea and coasted
the shore towards the South, and in so doing (for
it was too late to search towards the North) we found
another great inlet neere 40 leagues broad, where
the water entred in with violent swiftnesse, this
we also thought might be a passage; for no doubt the
North partes of America are all Islands by ought that
I could perceiue therein: but because I was alone
in a small barke of thirtie tunnes, and the yeere
spent, I entred not into the same, for it was now the
seuenth of September, but coasting the shore towards
the South wee saw an incredible number of birds:
hauing diuers fishermen aboord our Barke they all concluded