They came to anchor and lay by, until the three days passed, when they returned, one having in his hand a vine, and the other self-sown wheat. Karlsefne said that they had found a fruitful land. Afterward they were received into the ship, and they went on their way until a bay intersected the land. They steered the ship into the bay. On the outside was an island, and there was a great tide around the island. This they called Straumey. There was a great number of birds, and it was scarcely possible to find a place for their feet among the eggs. Then they steered into a long bay which they called Straumfiord, where they landed from their ships and began to prepare habitations. They brought with them all kinds of cattle, and they found sufficient pasturage. There were mountains and the prospect was pleasant; but they cared for nothing except to explore the land; there was a great abundance of grass. Here they wintered and winter was severe, and they did not have stores laid up, they began to be in want of food and failed to catch fish. So they sailed over to the island, hoping that they might find means of subsistence either on what they could catch or what was cast ashore. But they found little better fare though the cattle were better off. [A.D. 1008]. Afterward they prayed to God to send them food, which prayer was not answered as soon as desired. Then Thorhall disappeared and a search was made which lasted three days. On the morning of the fourth day Karlsefne and Biarne found him lying on the top of a rock; there he lay stretched out, with open eyes, blowing through his mouth, and muttering to himself. They asked him why he had gone there. He replied that it did not concern them and not to wonder as he was old enough to take care of himself without their troubling themselves with his affairs. They asked him to go home with them; this he did. After that a whale was cast up and they ran down to cut it up; nevertheless they did not know what kind it was. Neither did Karlsefne, though acquainted with whales, know this one. Then the cooks dressed the whale and they all ate of it and it made them all sick. Then Thorhall said, “It is clear now that the Red-beard is more prompt to give aid than your Christ. This food is a reward for a hymn which I made to my god Thor, who has seldom deserted me.” When they heard this none would eat any more, and threw what was left from the rock committing themselves to God. After this opportunity was given of going after fish, and there was no lack of food. They sailed into Straumfiord and had abundance of food and hunting on the mainland, with many eggs and fish from the sea.
Now they began to consider where they should settle next. Thorhall the Hunter wished to go northward around Wonder-strand and Kiarlarness to explore Vinland, but Karlsefne wished to go south west, thinking likely that there would be larger tracts of country the further they went south. Thorhall made ready at the island and only nine men went with him; all the rest of the ship folk went with Karlsefne. One day Thorhall was carrying water to his ship; he drank it and sang this verse:
People promised me when hither I
Came, then the best drink
I should have; but the country
I must denounce to all;
Here you are forced by hand
To bear the pail to the water,
I must bend me down to the spring;
Wine did not come to my lips.
Afterward they left the land and Karlsefne went with them to the island. Before they hoisted sail, Thorhall sang these verses:
Let us return
Home to our countrymen, Let the vessel try
The broad path of the sea;
While the persevering
Men who praise the land
Are building and boil the whales Here on Wonder-strand.
There upon they sailed northward around Wonder-strand and Kialarness. But when they wished to cruise westward, a storm came against them, and drove them to Ireland, where they were beaten and made slaves. There Thorhall passed his life.
Karlsefne, with Snorre and Biarne and the rest of his comrades, sailed south. They sailed long until they came to a river, which flowed from the land through a lake, and passed into the sea. Before the mouth of the river were great islands, and they were not able to enter the river except at the highest tide. Karlsefne sailed into the mouth of the river, and called the land Hop. There they found fields, where the land was low with wild corn, and where the land was high, were vines. Every river was full of fish. They made pits in the sand, where tide rose highest, and at low tide, sacred fish were found in these pits, and in the woods was a great number of all kind of beasts. Here they stayed half a month, enjoying themselves, but observing nothing new. Early one morning, on looking around, they saw nine skin boats, in which were poles that, vibrating toward the sun, gave out a sound like reeds shaken by the wind. Then Karlsefne said: “What think you, does this mean?” Snore said: “It is possible that it is a sign of peace; let us raise up a white shield and hold it toward them,” this they did. Then they rowed toward them, wondering at them, and came to land. These men were small of stature and fierce, having a bushy head of hair, and very great eyes and wide cheeks. They remained some time wondering at them, and afterward rowed southward around the cape. Here they spent the winter. No snow fell, and all their cattle fed under the open sky. They decided to explore all the mountains that were in Hop; which done, they went and passed the third winter [A.D. 1009] in Straum bay. At this time they had much contention among themselves, and the unmarried woman vexed the married. The first autumn, Snorre, Karlsefne’s son, was born, and he [was three years old] when they went away. They had a south wind, and came to Markland, and found five Skraellings, of whom one was a man, and two women, and two were boys. Karlsefne took the boys, and the others escaped and sank into the earth. They carried the boys away with them, and taught them the language, and they were baptized. The name of their mother was Vatheldi, and their father, Uvaege. They said that two kings ruled over the Skraellinger’s land; one was named Avalldania, and the other, Valldidia that they had no houses, but lived in dens and caves. In another part of the country, there was a region where the people wore white clothes, and shouted loud, and carried poles with flags. This they thought to be White-man’s land.
After this they came into Greenland, and passed the winter with Leif, son of Eric Red. Biarne Grimolfson was carried out into the Greenland sea, and came into a worm sea, which they did not observe, until the ship was full of worm holes. They considered what should be done. They had a stern boat, smeared with oil. They saw the wood covered with oil, the worms will not bore. The result of the council was, that as many should go into the boat as it would hold. It then appeared that the boat would not hold more than one-half of the men. Then Biarne ordered that the men should go in the boat by lot, and not according to rank. As it would not hold all, they accepted the saying, and when the lots were drawn, the men went out of the ship into the boat. The lot was, that Biarne should go down from the ship to the boat with one-half of the men. Then those to whom the lot fell, went down from the ship into the boat. When they had come into the boat, a young Icelander, who was the companion of Biarne said: “Now thus do you intend to leave me, Biarne?” Biarne replied, “That now seems necessary.” He replied with these words: “Thou art not true to the promise when I left my father’s house in Iceland.” Biarne replied: “In this thing I do not see my other way;” continuing, “What course can you suggest?” He said, “I see this, that we change places and thou come up here and I go down there.” Biarne replied: “Let it be so, since I see that you are so anxious to live, and are frightened by the prospect of death.” Then they changed places, and he descended into the boat with the men, and Biarne went up into the ship. It is related that Biarne, and the sailors with him in the ship, perished in the worm sea. Those who went in the boat, went on their course until they came to land, where they told all these things.
After the next summer, Karlsefne went to Iceland with his son Snorre, and he went to his own home at Reikianess. The daughter of Snorre, son of Karlsefne, was Hallfrida, mother to Bishop Thorlak Runolfson. They had a son named Thorbiorn, whose daughter was named Thoruna, mother of Bishop Biarne
. Thorgeir was the name of the other son of Snorre, Karlsefne’s son, father to Ingveld, and mother of the first bishop of Brand. And this is the end of the history.
THIRD NARRATIVE
That same summer came a ship from Norway to Greenland. The man was called Thorfinn Karlsefne who steered the ship. He was a son of Thord Hesthofde, a son of Snorre Thordarson, from Hofda. Thorfinn Karlsefne was a man of great wealth, and was in Brattahlid with Leif Ericsson. Soon he fell in love with Gudrid, and courted her, and she referred to Leif to answer for her. Afterward she was betrothed to him, and their wedding was held the same winter. At this time, as before, much was spoken about a Vinland voyage; and both Gudrid and others persuaded Karlsefne much to that expedition. Now this expedition was resolved upon, and they got ready a crew of sixty men, and five women; and then they made the agreement, Karlsefne and his people, that each of them should have equal share in what they made of gain. They had with them all kinds of cattle, having the intention to settle in the land, if they could. Karlsefne asked Leif for his houses in Vinland, but he said he would lend them, but not give them. Then they put to sea with the ship, and came to Leif ’s house safe, and carried up their goods. They soon had in hand a great and good prize, for a whale had been driven on shore, both large and excellent. They went to it and cut it up, and had no want of food. Their cattle went up into the land; but soon they were unruly, and gave trouble to them. They had one bull with them. Karlsefne let wood be felled and hewed for shipping it, and had it laid on a rock to dry. They had all the good of the products of the land, which were these: both grapes and wood, and other products. After that first winter, and when summer came [A. D. 1008], they were aware of Skraellings being there; and a great troop of men came out of the woods. The cattle were near to them, and the bull began to bellow and roar very loud. With that the Skraellings were frightened, and made off with their bundles—and these were of furs and sables and all sorts of skins; and they turned and wanted to go into the houses, but Karlsefne defended the doors. Neither party understood the language of the other. Then the Skraellings took their bundles and opened them, and wanted to have weapons in exchange for them, but Karlsefne forbade his men to sell weapons. Next he adopted this plan with them, that he told the women to bear out milk and dairy products to them. When they saw these things, they would buy them and nothing else. Now the trade for the Skraellings was such, that they carried away their winnings in their stomachs; and Karlsefne and his comrades got both their bags and skin goods, and so they went away. Next it is to be bold, that Karlsefne let a good strong fence be made around the habitation and strengthened it for defense. At this time Gudrid, Karlsefne’s wife, lay in of a male child, and the child was called Snorre. In the beginning of the next winter, came the Skraellings again to them, and in much greater numbers than before, and with the same kind of wares. Then said Karlsefne to the woman, “Now ye shall carry out the same kind of food as was best liked the last time, and nothing else. Then they saw that they threw their bundles in over the fence, while Gudrid sat in the door within, by the cradle of Snorre, her son. There came a shadow to the door, and a woman went in with a black kirtle on, rather short, with a snood around her head; clear yellow hair; pale, with large eyes, so large that none ever saw such eyes in a human head. She went to where Gudrid was sitting, and said: “What art thou called?” “I am called Gudrid; and what art thou called?” “I am called Gudrid,” said she. Then the goodwife, Gudrid, put out her hand to her, that she might sit down beside her. At the same time Gudrid heard a great noise, and the woman had vanished. At the same time one of the Skraellings was killed by one of Karlsefne’s house men, because he was about to take one of their weapons; and they made off as soon as possible, leaving behind them goods and clothes. No one had seen this woman but Gudrid. “Now,” says Karlsefne, “we must be cautions, and take counsel; for I think they will come the third time with hostility and many people. We shall now take the plan, that men go out to the ness and show themselves there, and the rest of our men shall go into the woods and make a clearance for our cattle against the time the enemy comes out of the forest; and we shall take the bull before us, and let him go in front.” So it happened that at the place where they were to meet, there was a lake on the one side, and the forest on the other. The plan which Karlsefne had laid down was adopted. The Skraellings came to the place where Karlsefne proposed to fight; and there was a battle there, and many of the Skraellings fell. There was one stout, handsome man among the Skraelling people, and Karlsefne thought that he must be their chief. One of the Skraellings had taken up an axe and looked at it in a while, and wielded it against one of his comrades and cut them down, so that he fell dead instantly. Then the stout man took the axe, looked at it awhile, and threw it into the sea as far as he could. Then they fled to the woods as fast as possible, and so ended the fight. Karlsefne stayed there with his men the whole winter; but toward spring he made known that he would not stay there any longer, and would return to Greenland. Now they prepared for their voyage and took much goods from thence—vines, grapes, and skin wares. They put to sea, and their ship came to Ericsfiord, and they there passed the winter.
The following summer [A. D. 1011], Karlsefne went to Iceland and Gudrid with him, and he went home to Reikianess. His mother felt that he had made a poor match, and for this reason Gudrid was not at home the first winter. But when she saw that Gudrid was a noble woman, she went home, and they got on well together. Halfrid was the daughter of Snorre Karlsefne, mother to Bishop Biorne Thorlak Runolfson. Their son was named Thorbiorn, and his daughter, Thoruna, mother to Bishop Biorne. Thorgeir was the son of Snorre Karlsefneson, father to Ingveld, mother of the first Bishop Brand. Snorre Karlsefneson had a daughter, Steinun, who married Einar, son of Grundarketil, son of Thorvald Krok, the son of Thorer, or Espihol; their son was Thorstein Rauglatr. He was father to Gudrun, who married Jorund of Keldum. Halla was their daughter, and she was mother to Flose, father of Valgerda, who was the mother of Herr Erland Sterka, father of Herr Hauk, the Lagman. Another daughter of Flose was Thordis, mother of Fru Ingigerd the Rich; her daughter was Fru Hallbera, Abbess of Stad, in Reikianess. Many other distinguished men in Iceland are the descendants of Karlsefne and Thurid, who are not here mentioned. God be with us. Amen.
DRAKE’S CIRCUMNAVIGATION
RICHARD HAKLUYT
The famous voyage of Sir Francis Drake into the South sea, and therehence about the whole Globe of the earth, begun in the yeere of our Lord 1577.
The 15. day of November, in the yeere of our Lord 1577, M. Francis Drake, with a fleete of five ships and barkers, and to the number of 164. men, gentlemen and sailers, departed from Plimmouth, giving out his pretended voyage for Alexandria: but the wind falling contrary, hee was forced the next morning to put into Falmouth haven in Cornewall, where such and so terrible a tempest tooke us, as few men have seene the like, and was in deed so vehement, that all our ships were like to have gone to wracke: but it pleased God to preserve us from that extremitie, and to afflict us onely for that present with these two particulars: The mast of our Admirall which was the Pellican, was cut over boord for the safegard of the ship, and the Marigold was driven ashore, and somewhat bruised for the repairing of which damages wee returned againe to Plimmouth, and having recovered those harmes, and brought the ships againe to good state, we set forth the second time from Plimmouth, and set saile the 13. day of December following.
The 25. day of the same moneth we fell with the Cape Cantin, upon the coast of Barbarie, and coasting along, the 27. day we found an Island called Mogador, lying one mile distant from the maine, betweene which Island and the maine, we found a very good and safe harbour for our ships to ride in, as also very good entrance, and voyde of any danger.
On this Island our Generall erected a pinnesse, whereof he brought out of England with him foure already framed. While these things were in doing, there came to the waters side some of the inhabitants of the countrey, shewing foorth their flags of truce, which being seen
e of our Generall, hee sent his ships boate to the shore, to know what they would: they being willing to come aboord, our men left there one man of our company for a pledge, and brought two of theirs aboord our ship, which by signes shewed our General, that the next day they would bring some provision, as sheepe, capons and hennes, and such like: whereupon our Generall bestowed amongst them some linnen cloth and shooes, and a javeling, which they very joyfully received, and departed for that time.
The next morning they failed not to come againe to the waters side, and our Generall againe setting out our boate, one of our men leaping over rashly ashore, and offering friendly to imbrace them, they set violent hands on him, offering a dagger to his throte if hee had made any resistance, and so laying him on a horse, caried him away: so that a man cannot be too circumspect and warie of himselfe among such miscreants.
Our pinnesse being finished, wee departed from this place the 30. and last day of December, and coasting along the shore, wee did descrie, not contrary to our expectation, certaine Canters which were Spanish fishermen, to whom we gave chase and tooke three of them, and proceeding further we met with 3. Caravels and tooke them also.
The 17. day of January we arrived at Cape Blanco, where we found a ship riding at anchor, within the Cape, and but two simple Mariners in her, which ship we tooke and caried her further into the harbour, where we remained 4. dayes, and in that space our General mustered, and trayned his men on land in warlike maner, to make them fit for all occasions.
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