The New Navigation and Discovery of the Kingdom of Muscovy | Page 7

of May the captains and mariners should
take shipping and depart from Ratcliffe upon the ebb, if it so pleased
God. They having saluted their acquaintance, one his wife, another his
children, another his kinsfolks, and another his friends dearer than his
kinsfolks, were present and ready at the day appointed, and having
weighed anchor, they departed with the turning of the water, and sailing
easily, came first to Greenwich. The greater ships were towed down
with boats and oars, and the mariners being all apparelled in watchet or
sky-coloured cloth, rowed amain, and made way with diligence. And
being come near to Greenwich (where the court then lay), presently
upon the news thereof the courtiers came running out, and the common
people flocked together, standing very thick upon the shore: the Privy
Council they looked out at the windows of the court, and the rest ran by
to the tops of the towers: the ships hereupon discharge their ordnance
and shoot off their pieces after the manner of war and of the sea,
insomuch that the tops of the hills sounded therewith, the valleys and
the waters gave an echo, and the mariners they shouted in such sort that

the sky rang again with the noise thereof. One stood in the poop of the
ship, and by his gesture bids farewell to his friends in the best manner
he could. Another walks upon the hatches, another climbs the shrouds,
another stands upon the main yard, and another in the top of the ship.
To be short, it was a very triumph (after a sort) in all respects to the
beholders. But, alas, the good King Edward (in respect of whom
principally all this was prepared) he only by reason of his sickness was
absent from this show, and not long after the departure of these ships,
the lamentable and most sorrowful accident of his death followed.
But to proceed in the matter. The ships going down with the tide, came
at last to Woolwich where they stayed and cast anchor, with purpose to
depart therehence again, as soon as the turning of the water and a better
wind should draw them to set sail. After this they departed and came to
Harwich, in which port they stayed long, not without great loss and
consuming of time; yet at the last with a good wind they hoisted up sail,
and committed themselves to the sea, giving their last adieu to their
native country, which they knew not whether they should ever return to
see again or not. Many of them looked oftentimes back, and could not
refrain from tears, considering into what hazards they were to fall, and
what uncertainties of the sea they were to make trial of.
Amongst the rest Richard Chanceler, the captain of the Edward
Bonaventure, was not a little grieved with the fear of wanting victuals,
part whereof was found to be corrupt and putrified at Harwich, and the
hogsheads of wine also leaked, and were not staunch; his natural and
fatherly affection also somewhat troubled him, for he left behind him
his two little sons, which were in the case of orphans if he sped not well;
the estate also of his company moved him to care, being in the former
respects after a sort unhappy, and were to abide with himself every
good or bad accident; but in the meantime while his mind was thus
tormented with the multiplicity of sorrows and cares, after many days'
sailing they kenned land afar off whereunto the pilots directed the ships;
and being come to it they land, and find it to be Rose Island, where
they stayed certain days, and afterwards set sail again, and, proceeding
towards the north, they espied certain other islands which were called
the Cross of Islands. From which places when they were a little
departed Master Willoughbie the General, a man of good foresight and
providence in all his actions, erected and set out his flag, by which he

called together the chiefest men of the other ships, that by the help and
assistance of their councils the order of the government and conduction
of the ships in the whole voyage might be the better: who being come
together accordingly, they conclude and agree that if any great tempest
should arise at any time, and happen to disperse and scatter them, every
ship should endeavour his best to go to Wardhouse, a haven or castle of
some name in the kingdom of Norway, and that they that arrived there
first in safety should stay and expect the coming of the rest.
The very same day in the afternoon, about four of the clock, so great a
tempest suddenly arose, and the seas were so outrageous, that the ships
could not keep their