This aftemoone we tooke in two or three skiffes lading of stones to ballast
our shippe withall. It hyeth here four foot water, and floweth by fits,
vncertaine to be iudged.
Friday (14) we rode still in the sound, the wind at Southwest, with very
much raine, and at the end of the raine it waxed againe mistie.
Saturday (15) there was much wind at West, and much raine, and then againe
mistie.
Sunday (16) was very mistie and much winde.
Munday (17) very mistie, the winde at Westnorthwest.
Tuesday (18) was also mistie, except at noone: then the sunne brake out
through the mist, so that we had the latitude in 70 degrees 10 minutes: the
afternoone was misty againe, the wind being at Westnorthwest.
Wednesday (19) at three of the clocke afternoone the mist brake vp, and the
wind came at Eastnortheast, and then we weyed, and went South and by East,
vntil seuen of the clocke, eight leagues, thinking to haue had sight of the
sandie hilles that are to the Eastwards of the riuer Pechora. At a
Northwest sunne we took in our maine saile, because the wind increased, and
went with a foresaile Westnorthwest, the wind being at Eastnortheast: at
night there grewe so terrible a storme, that we saw not the like, although
we had indured many stormes since we came out of England. It was wonderfull
that our barke was able to brooke such monstrous and terrible seas, without
the great helpe of God, who neuer fayleth them at neede, that put their
sure trust in him.
Thursday (20) at a Southsouthwest sunne, thanks be to God, the storme was
at the highest, and then the winde began to slake, and came Northerly
withall, and then I reckoned the Westermost point of the riuer Pechora to
be South of vs 15 leagues. At a Westsouthwest sunne we set our maine sayle,
and lay close by the winde, the winde being at Northwest and by North,
making but little way, because the billow went so high: at midnight wee
cast about, and the shippe caped Northnortheast, making little way.
Friday (21) at noone we had the latitude in 70 degrees 8 minutes, and we
sounded, and had 29 fadomes sand, and in maner, stremy ground. At West
sunne we cast about to the Westwards, and a little after the wind came vp
at West.
Saturday (22) was calme: the latitude this day at noone was 70 degrees and
a terce, we sounded heere, and had nine and forty fadomes and oze, which
oze signified that we drew towards Noua Zembla.
And thus we being out of al hope to discouer any more to the Eastward this
yeere, wee thought it best to returne, and that for three causes.
The first, the continuall Northeast and Northerly winds, which haue more
power after a man is past to the eastwards of Caninoze, then in any place
that I doe know in these Northerly regions.
Second, because of great and terrible abundance of ice which we saw with
our eies, and we doubt greater store abideth in those parts: I aduentured
already somewhat too farre in it, but I thanke God for my safe deliuerance
from it.
Third, because the nights waxed darke, and the winter began to draw on with
his stormes: and therefore I resolued to take the first best wind that God
should send, and plie towards the bay of S. Nicholas, and to see if wee
might do any good there, if God would permitt it.
This present Saturday we saw very much ice, and were within two or three
leagues of it: it shewed vnto vs as though it had beene a firme land as
farre as we might see from Northwest off vs to the Eastwards: and this
afternoone the Lord sent vs a little gale of wind at South, so that we bare
cleere of the Westermost part of it, thanks be to God. And then against
night it waxed calme againe, and the winde was at Southwest: we made our
way vntill Sunday (23) noone Northwest and by West, and then we had the
latitude in 70 degrees and a halfe, the winde at Southwest: there was a
billow, so that we could not discerne to take the latitude exactly, but by
a reasonable gesse.
Munday (24) there was a pretie gale of wind at South, so that wee went West
and by South, the latitude this day at noone was 70 degrees 10 minutes: wee
had little winde all day: at a Westnorthwest sunne we sounded, and had 29
fadoms blacke sandie oze, and then we were Northeast 5 leagues from the
Northeast part of the Island Colgoieue.
Tuesday (25) the wind all Westerly we plyed to the windwards.
Wednesday (26) the wind was all Westerly, and calme: wee had the latitude
this day in 70 degrees 10 minutes, we being within three leagues of the
North part of the Island Colgoieue.
Thursday, (27) we went roome about the Westermost part of the Island,
seeking where we might finde a place to ride in for a Northwest wind, and
could not find none, and then we cast about againe to the seawards, and the
winde came at Westsouthwest, and this morning we had plenty of snow.
Friday, (28) the winde being at Southwest and by West, we plied to the
windewards.
Saturday (29) the winde being at South we plyed to the Westwards, and at
afternoone the mist brake vp, and then we might see the land seuen or eight
leagues to the Eastwards of Caninoz: we sounded a little before and had 35
fadoms and oze. And a while after wee sounded againe, and had 19.
