But Confidently Showing Himself Above Water
Without Hiding:
Notwithstanding, we presented ourselves in open view
and gesture to amaze him, as all creatures will be commonly at a
sudden gaze and sight of men.
Thus he passed along turning his head to
and fro, yawing and gaping wide, with ugly demonstration of long
teeth, and glaring eyes; and to bid us a farewell, coming right
against the /Hind/, he sent forth a horrible voice, roaring or
bellowing as doth a lion, which spectacle we all beheld so far as we
were able to discern the same, as men prone to wonder at every strange
thing, as this doubtless was, to see a lion in the ocean sea, or fish
in shape of a lion. What opinion others had thereof, and chiefly the
General himself, I forbear to deliver: but he took it for /bonum
omen/, rejoicing that he was in war against such an enemy, if it were
the devil. The wind was large for England at our return, but very
high, and the sea rough, insomuch as the frigate, wherein the General
went, was almost swallowed up.
Monday in the afternoon we passed in sight of Cape Race, having made
as much way in little more than two days and nights back again, as
before we had done in eight days from Cape Race unto the place where
our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed back again,
is to be imputed unto the swift current, as well as to the winds,
which we had more large in our return. This Monday the General came
aboard the /Hind/, to have the surgeon of the /Hind/ to dress his
foot, which he hurt by treading upon a nail: at which time we
comforted each other with hope of hard success to be all past, and of
the good to come. So agreeing to carry out lights always by night,
that we might keep together, he departed into his frigate, being by no
means to be entreated to tarry in the /Hind/, which had been more for
his security. Immediately after followed a sharp storm, which we over
passed for that time, praised be God.
The weather fair, the General came aboard the /Hind/ again, to make
merry together with the captain, master, and company, which was the
last meeting, and continued there from morning until night. During
which time there passed sundry discourses touching affairs past and to
come, lamenting greatly the loss of his great ship, more of the men,
but most of all his books and notes, and what else I know not, for
which he was out of measure grieved, the same doubtless being some
matter of more importance than his books, which I could not draw from
him: yet by circumstance I gathered the same to be the ore which
Daniel the Saxon had brought unto him in the Newfoundland. Whatsoever
it was, the remembrance touched him so deep as, not able to contain
himself, he beat his boy in great rage, even at the same time, so long
after the miscarrying of the great ship, because upon a fair day, when
we were becalmed upon the coast of the Newfoundland near unto Cape
Race, he sent his boy aboard the Admiral to fetch certain things:
amongst which, this being chief, was yet forgotten and left behind.
After which time he could never conveniently send again aboard the
great ship, much less he doubted her ruin so near at hand.
Herein my opinion was better confirmed diversely, and by sundry
conjectures, which maketh me have the greater hope of this rich mine.
For whereas the General had never before good conceit of these north
parts of the world, now his mind was wholly fixed upon the
Newfoundland. And as before he refused not to grant assignments
liberally to them that required the same into these north parts, now
he became contrarily affected, refusing to make any so large grants,
especially of St. John's, which certain English merchants made suit
for, offering to employ their money and travail upon the same yet
neither by their own suit, nor of others of his own company, whom he
seemed willing to pleasure, it could be obtained. Also laying down his
determination in the spring following for disposing of his voyage then
to be re-attempted: he assigned the captain and master of the /Golden
Hind/ unto the south discovery, and reserved unto himself the north,
affirming that this voyage had won his heart from the south, and that
he was now become a northern man altogether.
Last, being demanded what means he had, at his arrival in England, to
compass the charges of so great preparation as he intended to make the
next spring, having determined upon two fleets, one for the south,
another for the north; /Leave that to me/, he replied, /I will ask a
penny of no man. I will bring good tiding unto her Majesty, who will
be so gracious to lend me 10,000 pounds/, willing us therefore to be
of good cheer; for /he did thank God/, he said, /with all his heart
for that he had seen, the same being enough for us all, and that we
needed not to seek any further/. And these last words he would often
repeat, with demonstration of great fervency of mind, being himself
very confident and settled in belief of inestimable good by this
voyage; which the greater number of his followers nevertheless
mistrusted altogether, not being made partakers of those secrets,
which the General kept unto himself. Yet all of them that are living
may be witnesses of his words and protestations, which sparingly I
have delivered.
Leaving the issue of this good hope unto God, who knoweth the truth
only, and can at His good pleasure bring the same to light, I will
hasten to the end of this tragedy, which must be knit up in the person
of our General. And as it was God's ordinance upon him, even so the
vehement persuasion and entreaty of his friends could nothing avail to
divert him of a wilful resolution of going through in his frigate;
which was overcharged upon the decks with fights, nettings, and small
artillery, too cumbersome for so small a boat that was to pass through
the ocean sea at that season of the year, when by course we might
expect much storm of foul weather.
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