f tide, that it set us to the north-west of the
Queen's Forehand, the back side of all the straits, where (through the
contagious fog having no sight either of sun or star) we scarce knew
where we were. In this fog the 10th July we lost the company of the
_Vice-Admiral_, the _Anne Francis_, the _Busse of Bridgewater_, and the
_Francis of Foy_.

The sixteenth day, one of our small barques, named the _Gabriel_, was
sent by our general to bear in with the land, to descry it, where, being
on land, they met with the people of the country, which seemed very
humane and civilised, and offered to traffic with our men, proffering
them fowls and skins for knives and other trifles, whose courtesy caused
us to think that they had small conversation with the other of the
straits. Then we bare back again, to go with the Queen's Forehand, and
the 18th day we came by two islands, whereon we went on shore, and found
where the people had been, but we saw none of them. This day we were
again in the ice, and like to be in as great peril as we were at the
first. For through the darkness and obscurity of the foggy mist we were
almost run on rocks and islands before we saw them: but God (even
miraculously) provided for us, opening the fogs that we might see
clearly, both where and in what danger we presently were, and also the
way to escape; or else, without fail we had ruinously run upon the rocks.

When we knew perfectly our instant case, we cast about to get again on
sea board, which (God be thanked) by might we obtained, and praised God.
The clear continued scarce an hour, but the fog fell again as thick as
ever it was.

Then the _Rear-Admiral_ and the _Bear_ got themselves clear without
danger of ice and rocks, struck their sails and lay a hull, staying to
have the rest of the fleet come forth, which as yet had not found the
right way to clear themselves from the danger of rocks and ice, until the
next morning, at what time the _Rear-Admiral_ discharged certain warning
pieces, to give notice that she had escaped, and that the rest (by
following of her) might set themselves free, which they did that day.
Then having gathered ourselves together, we proceeded on our purposed
voyage, bearing off, and keeping ourselves distant from the coast, until
the 19th day of July, at which time the fogs brake up and dispersed, so
that we might plainly and clearly behold the pleasant air which had so
long been taken from us by the obscurity of the f