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 the 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 what 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 overpassed 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 of 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 New Found Land. 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 New Found Land, 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 New Found Land. 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 S. 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, could it be obtained. Also laying down his determination in the spring following, for disposing of his voyage then to be 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 tidings unto Her Majesty, who will be so gracious, to lend me £10,000, 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 demonstrations 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 from 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 wishers of the Hind, not to venture in the frigate, this was his answer: I will not forsake my little company going homeward, with whom I have passed so many storms and perils. And in very truth, he was urged to be so overhard, by hard reports given of him, that he was afraid of the sea, albeit this was rather rashness, than advised resolution, to prefer the wind of a vain report to the weight of his own life. Seeing he would not bend to reason, he had provision out of the Hind, such as was wanting aboard his frigate. And so we committed him to God's protection, and set him aboard his pinnace, we being more than 300 leagues onward of our way home. By that time we had brought the Islands of Azores south of us, yet we then keeping much to the north, until we had got into the height and elevation of England: we met with very foul weather, and terrible seas, breaking short and high pyramid wise. The reason whereof seemed to proceed either of hilly grounds high and low within the sea (as we see hills and dales upon the land), upon which the seas do mount and fall: or else the cause proceedeth of diversity of winds, shifting often in sundry points; all which, having power to move the great ocean, which again is not presently settled, so many seas do encounter together, as there had been diversity of winds. Howsoever it cometh to pass, men which all their lifetime had occupied the sea, never saw more outrageous seas. We had also upon our mainyard an apparition of a little fire by night, which seamen do call Castor and Pollux. But we had only one, which they take an evil sign of more tempest: the same is usual in storms. Monday the ninth of September, in the afternoon, the frigate was near cast away, oppressed by waves, yet at that time recovered: and giving forth signs of joy, the General sitting abaft with a book in his hand, cried out unto us in the Hind (so oft as we did approach withir hearing): We are as near to heaven by sea as by land. Reiterating the same speech, well beseeming a soldier, resolute in Jesus Christ, as I can testify he was. The same Monday night, about twelve of the clock, or not long after, the frigate being ahead of us in the Golden Hind, suddenly her lights were out, whereof as it |