THE FIRST RECORDED VOYAGE OF WILLIAM BAFFIN

Summary

To the Right Worshipfull Sir Christopher Hilyeards, Knt.

John Gatonbe wishethe in this life the contynvance of health and prosperities with great increase of worship, and everlasting felicitie in Christ our Saviour.

Purposing with myselfe to present this journall, or travis book, to you, which is ussally kept of seafayringe men and mariners, in ther navigation of long voyagiesand unknowne countryes; and having been lett thes two yeares, being travelling upon the sea to mayntayn my poore estat of wife and children; and this winter being at home, and remembring the manyfold corfcesies shewed by you to my anciente father, Nicholas Gatonbe, I thought good this simple labour, such as it is, to offer vnto you, right worshipful, desiring you to accept it, as a gift that proceedeth from such a one who hartily wisheth you well, and would, if ability served, present you with a better, seeing and knowing your worship and your ancesters have been alwayes well-wishers to this towne and the inhabitants of the same; wherefor I intreat your worship to pervse it over.

And, First, you shall see the setting out of our voyage, what adventures we had with our generall.

Secondly. The tym of our saylling.

Thirdly. Our travis upon the sea, with the windes and weyther we had.

Fourthly. The height of the poll observed.

Fifthly. The ice we saylled by, with the coldness of the aire.

Sixthly. The barrenness of the country, with huge mountayns lying full of snow.

Seventhly. The nature and conditions of the inhabitants and salvages of the same.

Eighthly. The thinges we bought of them for old iron, with that which happened vnto vs in the countrye.