[Sidenote: The description of Rose Island.] Rose Island in S. Nicholas Baie
is full of Roses damaske and red, of violets and wild Rosemarie: This
Island is neere 7. or 8. miles about, and good pasture, and hath the name
of the roses.
The snow here about the midst of May is cleared, hauing bin two moneths in
melting, then the ground is made dry within 14. dayes after, and then the
grasse is knee high within a moneth. Then after September the frost commeth
in, the snow is a yard deepe vpon plaine ground. The Island hath Firre and
Birch, and a faire fresh spring neere the house built there by the English.
* * * * *
The way discouered by water by vs Thomas Southam and Iohn Sparke, from the
towne of Colmogro, by the Westerne bottome of the Baie of S. Nicholas,
vnto the citie of Nouogrod in Russia, containing many particulars of the
way, and distance of miles, as hereafter foloweth. Anno 1566.
We departed from Colmogro about 10. of the clocke afore noone in a Lodia or
Barke, which we hired to bring vs along the coast to a place called Soroka,
and in the sayd barke we hired 6. mariners, and a boy to conduct vs to the
place before rehearsed.
The Lodia or barke was of the burden of 25. tunnes or thereabout, wherewith
we valed downe the riuer of Dwina, the winde being then calme, vnto a
monasterie, called S. Michael where we were, constrained to anker because
of a contrary wind which there met vs.
[Sidenote: A verst is but 3 quarters of an english mile.] From Colmogro to
this monasterie are 50. versts or miles of Russia, at which place we taried
till the 21. day in the morning, and then hauing the wind somewhat faire,
we set saile and departed thence.
21 We departed, from the monasterie of S. Michael, hauing the wind somewhat
faire, and arriued at Rose Island, ouer and against the monasterie of S.
Nicholas, the 22. day at 2. of the clocke in the morning, which is 35.
miles distant from the monasterie of S. Michael. By reason of contrary wind
and tide we were constrained to tary there all that day.
23 We departed from the monasterie of S. Nicholas at 7. of the clocke in
the euening, and came to an anker at the Beacons, and continued there vntil
halfe an houre past 10. of the clocke, and then set from thence, the wind
being South: our course was West vntil 5. of the clock in the morning, when
as we came to an anker against Newnox towne, where we continued vntil the
25. day.
[Sidenote: At this towne Newnox Richard Chanceller in his first voyage,
with his companie ashipboard were relieved.] The sayd towne of Newnox is
from the monasterie of S. Nicholas 35.
