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. Whereof, indeed, we had enough.

But when he was entreated by the captain, master, and other his well- willers of the /Hind/ not to venture in the frigate, this was his answer:

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 25 of 28
Words from 12937 to 13460 of 14986