These
Also, Passing Through The Ocean In Herds, Did Portend Storm.
I omit to
recite frivolous report by them in the frigate, of strange voices the
same night, which scared some from the helm.
Thursday, the 29 of August, the wind rose, and blew vehemently at
south and by east, bringing withal rain and thick mist, so that we
could not see a cable length before us; and betimes in the morning we
were altogether run and folded in amongst flats and sands, amongst
which we found shoal and deep in every three or four ships' length,
after we began to sound; but first we were upon them unawares, until
Master Cox looking out, discerned, in his judgment, white cliffs,
crying /Land!/ withal; though we could not afterward descry any land,
it being very likely the breaking of the sea white, which seemed to be
white cliffs, through the haze and thick weather.
Immediately tokens were given unto the /Delight/, to cast about to
seaward, which, being the greater ship, and of burthen 120 tons, was
yet foremost upon the breach, keeping so ill watch, that they knew not
the danger, before they felt the same, too late to recover it; for
presently the Admiral struck aground, and has soon after her stern and
hinder parts beaten in pieces; whereupon the rest (that is to say, the
frigate, in which was the General, and the /Golden Hind/) cast about
east-south-east, bearing to the south, even for our lives, into the
wind's eye, because that way carried us to the seaward. Making out
from this danger, we sounded one while seven fathom, then five fathom,
then four fathom and less, again deeper, immediately four fathom then
but three fathom, the sea going mightily and high. At last we
recovered, God be thanked, in some despair, to sea room enough.
In this distress, we had vigilant eye unto the Admiral, whom we saw
cast away, without power to give the men succour, neither could we
espy any of the men that leaped overboard to save themselves, either
in the same pinnace, or cock, or upon rafters, and such like means
presenting themselves to men in those extremities, for we desired to
save the men by every possible means. But all in vain, sith God had
determined their ruin; yet all that day, and part of the next, we beat
up and down as near unto the wrack as was possible for us, looking out
if by good hap we might espy any of them.
This was a heavy and grievous event, to lose at one blow our chief
ship freighted with great provision, gathered together with much
travail, care, long time, and difficulty; but more was the loss of our
men, which perished to the number almost of a hundred souls. Amongst
whom was drowned a learned man, a Hungarian (Stephen Parmenius), born
in the city of Buda, called thereof Budoeus, who, of piety and zeal to
good attempts, adventured in this action, minding to record in the
Latin tongue the gests and things worthy of remembrance, happening in
this discovery, to the honour of our nations, the same being adorned
with the eloquent style of this orator and rare poet of our time.
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