Newsday.com - Full Text of Robert Juet's Journal

Friday, Aug. 28.

Fair and hot weather, the wind at south-south-west. In the morning at six o'clock we weighed, and steered away north twelve leagues till noon, and came to the point of the land; and being hard by the land in five fathoms, on a sudden we came into three fathoms; then we bore up and had but ten foot water, and joined to the point. Then as soon as we were over, we had five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve and thirteen fathoms. Then we found the land to trend away north-west, with a great bay and rivers. But the bay we found shoal; and in the offing we had ten fathoms, and had sight of breaches and dry sand. Then we were forced to stand back again; so we stood back south-east by south three leagues. And at seven o'clock we anchored in eight fathoms water; and found a tide set north-west, and north-north-west, and it rises one fathom and flows south-south-east. And he that will thoroughly discover this great bay, must have a small pinnace, that must draw but four or five foot water, to sound before him. At five in the morning we weighed, and steered away to the eastward on many course, for the more norther land is full of shoals. We were among them, and once we struck, and we went away; and steered away to the south-east. So we had two, three, four, five, six, and seven fathoms, and so deeper and deeper.

August 29.

Fair weather, with some thunder and showers, the wind shifting between the south-south-west, and the north-north-west. In the morning we weighed at the break of day, and stood towards the northern land, which we found to be all islands to our sight, and great storms from them, and are shoal three leagues off. For we coming by them, had but seven, six, five, four, three, and two and a half fathoms, and struck the ground with our rudder, we steered off south-west one glass, and had five fathoms. Then we steered south-east three glasses, then we found seven fathoms, and steered north-east by east, four leagues, and came to twelve and thirteen fathoms. At one o'clock, I went to the top-mast head, and set the land, and the body of the islands did bear north-west by north. And at four o'clock, we had gone four leagues east-south-east, and north-east by east, and found but seven fathoms, and it was calm, so we anchored. Then I went again to the top-mast head, to see how far I could see land about us, and could see no more but the islands. And the southern point of them did bear north-west by west, eight leagues off. So we rode till midnight. Then the wind came to the north-north-west, so we weighed and set sail.

Sunday, August 30.

In the morning between twelve and one, we weighed and stood to the eastward, the wind at north-north-west, we steered away and made our way east-south-east. From our weighing till noon, eleven leagues. Our soundings were eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen fathoms till day. Then we came to eighteen, nineteen, twenty, and to twenty-six fathoms by noon. Then I observed the sun, and found the height to be 39 degrees 5 minutes, and we saw no land. In the afternoon, the wind came to north by west; so we lay close by with our fore-sail, and our mail-sail, and it was little wind until twelve o'clock at midnight, then we had a gale a little while. Then I sounded, and all the night our soundings were thirty, and thirty-six fathoms, and we went little.

August 31.

Fair weather and little wind. At six'o'clock in the morning we cast about to the northward, the wind being at the north-east, little wind. At noon it fell calm, and I found the height to be 38 degrees 39 minutes. And the streams had deceived us, and our sounding was thirty-eight fathoms. In the afternoon I sounded again, and had but thirty fathoms. So that we found both by our observations and our depths. From noon till four o'clock in the afternoon, it was calm. At six o'clock we had a little gale southerly, and it continued all night, some times calm, and sometimes a gale; we went eight leagues from noon to noon, north by east.

Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Fair weather, the wind variable between east and south, we steered away north-north-west. At noon we found our height to be 39 degrees 3 minutes. We had soundings thirty, twenty-seven, twenty-four, and twenty-two fathoms, as we went to the northward. At six o'clock we had twenty-one fathoms. And all the third watch till twelve o'clock at mid-night, we had soundings twenty-one, twenty-two, eighteen, twenty-two, twenty-one, eighteen, and twenty-two fathoms, and went six leagues near hand north-north-west.

Sept. 2.

In the morning close weather, the wind at south in the morning; from twelve until two o'clock we steered north-north-west, and had sounding twenty-one fathoms, and in running one glass we had but sixteen fathoms, then seventeen, and so shoaler and shoaler until it came to twelve fathoms. We saw a great fire, but could not see the land, then we came to ten fathoms, whereupon we brought our tacks aboard, and stood to the eastward east-south-east, four glasses. Then the sun arose, and we steered away north again, and saw land from the west by north, to the north-west by north, all like broken islands, and our soundings were eleven and ten fathoms. Then we luffed in for the shore, and fair by the shore we had seven fathoms. The course along the land we found to be north-east by north.From the land which we first had sight of, until we came to a great lake of water, as we could judge it to be, being drowned land, which made it rise like islands, which was in length ten leagues. The mouth of the lake hath many shoals and the sea breaks upon them as it is cast out of the mouth of it. And from that lake or bay, the land lies north by east, and we had a great stream out of the bay; and from thence our sounding was ten fathoms, two leagues from land. At five o'clock we anchored being little wind, and rode in eight fathoms water, the night was fair. This night I found the land to haul the compass 8 degrees. For to the northward off us we saw high hills. For the day before we found not above two degrees of variation. This is very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land to see.

Sept. 3.

The morning misty until ten o'clock, then it cleared, and the wind came to the south-south-east, so we weighed and stood to the northward. The land is very pleasant and high, and bold to fall withal. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we came to three great rivers. So we stood along the northernmost, thinking to have gone into it, but we found it to have a very shoal bar before it, for we had but ten foot water. Then we cast about to the southward, and found two fathoms, three fathoms, and three and a quarter, till we came to the sourthern side of them, then we had five and six fathoms, and anchored. So we sent in our boat to sound, and they found no less water than four, five, six and seven fathoms, and returned in an hour and a half. So we weighed and went in, and rode in five fathoms, ooze ground, and saw many salmons, and mullets, and rays very great. The height is 40 degrees 30 minutes.

Sept. 4.

In the morning as soon as the day was light, we saw that it was good riding farther up. So we sent our boat to sound, and found that it was a very good harbour; and four and five fathoms, two cables length from the shore. Then we weighed and went in with our ship. Then our boat went on land with our net to fish, and caught ten great mullets, of a foot and a half long a piece and a ray as great as four men could haul into the ship. So we trimmed our boat and rode still all day. At night the wind blew hard at the north-west, and our anchor came home, and we drove on shore, but took no hurt, thanked be God, for the ground is soft sand and ooze. This day the people of the country came aboard of us, seeming very glad of our coming, and brought green tobacco, and gave us of it for knives and beads. They go in deer skins loose, well dressed. They have yellow copper. They desire clothes, and are very civil. They have great store of maize or Indian wheat, whereof they made good bread. The country is full of great and tall oaks.

Sept. 5.

In the morning as soon as the day was light, the wind ceased and the flood came. So we heaved off our ship again into five fathoms water, and sent our boat to sound the bay, and we found that there was three fathoms hard by the southern shore. Our men went on land there, and saw great store of men, women and children, who gave them tobacco at their coming on land. So they went up into the woods, and saw great store of very goodly oaks, and some currants. For one of them came aboard and brought some dried, and gave me some, which were sweet and good. This day many of the people came aboard, some in mantles of feathers, and some in skins of divers sorts of good furs. Some women also came to us with hemp. They had red copper tobacco pipes, and other things of copper they did wear about their necks. At night they went on land again, so we rode very quiet, but durst not trust them.

Sunday, Sept. 6.

In the morning was fair weather, and our master sent John Colman, with four other men in our boat over to the north side to sound the other river, being four leagues from us. They found by the way shoal water two fathoms; but at the north of the river eighteen, and twenty fathoms, and and very good riding for ships; and a narrow river to the westward between two islands. The land they told us were as pleasant with grass and flowers, and goodly trees, as ever they had seen, and very sweet smells came from them. So they went in two leagues and saw an open sea, and returned; and as they came back, they were set upon by two canoes, the one have twelve, the other fourteen men. The night came on and it began to rain so that their match went out; and they had one man slain in the fight which was an Englishman, named John Colman, with an arrow shot into his throat, and two more hurt. It grew so dark that they could not find the ship that night, but laboured to and fro on their oars. They had so great a stream that their grapnel would not hold them.

Sept 7.

Was fair, and by ten o'clock they returned aboard the ship, and brought our dead man with them, whom we carried on land and buried, and named the point after his name. Colman's Point. Then we hoisted in our boat and raised her side with waste boards for defence of our men. So we rode still all night, having good regard to our watch.

Sept. 8.

Was very fair weather, we rode still very quietly. The people came aboard us, and brought tobacco and Indian wheat, to exchange for knives and beads, and offered us no violence. So we fitting up our boat did mark them, to see if they would make any show of death of our man; which they did not.

Sept. 9.

Fair weather. In the morning, two great canoes came aboard full of men; the one with their bows and arrows, and the other in show of buying of knives to betray us; but we perceived their intent. We took two of them to have kept them and put red coats on them and would not suffer the other to come near us. So they went on land, and two others came abord in a canoe; we took the one and let the other go; but he which we had taken, got up and leaped over-board. Then we weighed and went off into the channel of the river, and anchored there all night.

Sept. 10.

Fair weather, we rode till twelve o'clock. Then we weighed and went over, and found it shoal all the middle of the river, for we could find but two fathoms and a half, and three fathoms for the space of a league; then we came to three fathoms, and anchored, and rode all night in soft oozy ground. The bank is sand.

Sept.11.

Was fair and very hot weather. At one o'clock in the afternoon, we weighed and went into the river, the wind at south-south-west, little wind. Our soundings were seven, six, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, thirteen and fourteen fathoms. Then it shoaled again, and came to five fathoms. Then we anchored and saw that it was a very good harbour for all winds, and rode all night. The people of the country came aboard of us, making show of love, and gave us tobacco and Indian wheat, and departed for that night; but we durst not trust them.

Sept. 12.

Very fair and hot. In the afternoon at two o'clock we weighed, the wind being variable, between the north and the north-west; so we turned into the river two leagues and anchored. This morning at our first rode in the river, there came eight and twenty canoes full of men, women and children to betray us; but we saw their intent, and suffered none of them to come aboard us. At twelve o'clock they departed. They brought with them oysters and beans, whereof we bought some. They have great tobacco pipes of yellow copper, and pots of earth to dress their meat in. It floweth south-east by south within.

Sunday, Sept. 13.

Fair weather; the wind northerly; at seven o'clock in the morning, as the flood came we weighed and turned four miles into the river; the tide being done we anchored. Then there came four canoes aboard, but we suffered none of them to come into our ship; they brought very great store of very good oysters aboard, which we bought for trifles. In the night I set the variation of the compass, and found it to be 13 degrees. In the afternoon we weighed and turned in with the flood two leagues and a half further and anchored all night, and had five fathoms soft oozy ground, and had a high point of land, which shewed out to us, bearing north by east five leagues of us.

Sept. 14.

In the morning being very fair weather, the wind south-east, we sailed up the river twelve leagues, and had five fathoms and five fathoms and a quarter less, and came to a strait between two points, and had eight, nine and ten fathoms; and it trended north-east by north one league, and we had twelve, thirteen and fourteen fathoms; the river is a mile board; there is very high land on both sides. Then we went up north-west, a league and a half deep water; then north-east by north five miles; then north-west by north two leagues and anchored. The land grew very high and mountainous; the river is full of fish.

Sept. 15.

The morning was misty until the sun arose, then it cleared; so we weighed with the wind at south, and ran up into the river twenty leagues, passing by high mountains. We had a very good depth, as six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, and thirteen fathoms, and great store of salmon in tne river. This morning our two savages got out of a port and swam away. After we were under sail they called to us in scorn. At night we came to other mountains, which lie from the river's side; there we found very loving people, and very old men, where we were well used. Our boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish

Sept. 16.

The sixteenth, fair and very hot weather. In the morning our boat went again to fishing, but could catch but few, by reason their canoes had been there all night. This morning the people came aboard and brought us ears of Indian corn and pompions and tobacco, which we bought for trifles. We rode still all day, and filled fresh water; at night we weighed and went two leagues higher, and had shoal water so we anchored till day.

Sept. 17.

The seventeenth fair sun-shining weather, and very hot. In the morning as soon as the sun was up, we set sail and ran up six leagues higher, and found shoals in the middle of the the channel, and small islands, but seven fathoms water on both sides. Towards night we borrowed so Rear the shore that we grounded: so we laid out our small anchor, and heaved off again. Then we borrowed on the bank in the channel and came aground again; while the flood ran we heaved off again and anchored all night.

Friday, Sept. 18.

The eighteenth in the morning was fair weather, and we rode still. In the afternoon our master's mate went on land with an old savage, a governor of the country, who carried him to his house and made him good cheer.

Sept. 19.

The nineteenth was fair and hot weather. At the flood, being near eleven o'clock, we weighed and ran higher up two leagues above the shoals, and had no less water than five fathoms we anchored and rode in eight fathoms the people of the country came flocking aboard, and brought us grapes and pompions, which we bought for trifles; and many brought us beavers' skins, and otters' skins, which we bought for beads, knives and hatchets. So we rode there all night.

Sunday, Sept. 20.

The twentieth in the morning was fair weather. Our master's mate with four men more went up with our boat to sound the river, and found two leagues above us but two fathoms water, and the channel very narrow, and above that place seven or eight fathoms. Toward night they returned: and we rode still all night.

Sept. 21.

The twenty-first was fair weather, and the wind all southerly: we determined yet once more to go farther up into the river, to try what depth and breadth it did bear, but much people resorted aboard, so we went not this day. Our carpenter went on land and made a fore-yard, and our master and his mate determined to try some of the chief men of the country, whether they had any treachcry in themi. So they took them down into the cabin and gave ihem so much wine and aqua-vita, that they were all merry, and one of them had his wife with him, who sat as modestly, as any of Our countrywomen would do in a strange place. In the end one of them was drunk, who had been aboard of our ship all the time that we had been there; and that was strange to them for they could not tell how to take it: the canoes and folks went all on shore, but some of them came again and brought stropes of beads; some bad six seven, eight, nine, ten, and gave him. So he slept all night quietly.

Sept. 22.

The two and twentieth was fair weather: in the morning our master's mate and four more of the company went up witho ut boat to sound the river higher up. The people of the country came not aboard till noon, but when they came and saw the savages well they were glad. So at three o'clock in the afternoon they came aboard and brought tobacco and more beads and gave them to our master, and made all oration, and shewed him all the country round about. Then they sent one of their company on land, who presently returned and brought a great platter full of venison, dressed by themselves and they caused him to eat with them: then they made him reverence and departed all save the old man that lay aboard. This night at ten o'clock, our boat returned in a shower of rain from sounding of athe river, and found it to be at an end for shipping to go in. For they had been up eight or nine leagues, and found but seven foot water, and unconstant soundings.

Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The three and twentieth, fair weather. At twelve o'clock we weighed and went down two leagues to a shoal that had two channels one on the one side, and another on the other, and had little wind, whereby the tide laid us upon it. So there we sat on the ground the space of an hour till the flood came. Then we had a little gale of wind it the west; so we got our ship nto deep water, and rode all night very well.

Sept. 24.

The four and twentieth was fair weather; the wind at the north-west, we weighed and went down the river seven or eight leagues; and at half ebb we came on ground on a bank of ooze in the middle of the river, and sat there till the flood; then we went on land and gathered good store of chestnuts. At ten o'clock we came off into deep water, and anchored.

Sept. 25.

The five and twentieth was fair weather, and the wind at south a stiff gale. We rode still, and went on land to walk on the west side of the river, and found good ground for corn, and other garden herbs, with great store of goodly oaks, and walnut trees, and chestnut trees, yew trees, and trees of sweet wood in great abundance, and great store of slate for houses, and other good stones.

Sept. 26.

The six and twentieth was fair weather, and the wind at south a stiff gale; we rode still. In the morning our carpenter went on land with our master's mate and four more of our company to cut wood. This morning two canoes came up the river from the place where we first found loving people, and in one of them was the old man that had lain aboard of us at the other place. He brought another old man with him who brought more strips of beads and gave them to our master, and showed him all the country there about, as though it were at his command. So he inade the two old men dine with him, and the old man's wife; for they brought two old women and two young maidens of the age of sixteen or seventeen years with them, who behaved themselves very modestly. Our master gave one of the old men a knife, and they gave him and us tobacco; and at one o'clock they departed down the river, making signs that we should come down to them, for we were within two leagues of the place where they dwelt.

Sunday, Sept. 27.

The even and twentieth, in the morning, was fair weather, but much wind at the north we weighed and set our fore-topsail, and our ship would not float, but ran on the oozy bank at half ebb. We laid out anchor to heave her off, but could not; so we sat from half flood, then we set our foresail and main-topsail, and got down six leagues. The old man came aboard, and would have had us anchor and go on land to eat with him, but the wind being fair we would not yield to his request, so he left us, being very sorrowful for our departure. At five o'clock in the afternoon, the wind came to the south south-west; so we made a bord or two, and anchor, in fourteen fathoms water. Then our boat went on shore to fish right against the ship. Our master's mate and boatswain and three more of the company, went on land to fish, but could not find a good place. They took four or five and twenty mullets, breams, basses and barbils, and returned in an hour. We rode still all night.

Sept. 28.

The eight and twentieth being fair weather, as soon as the day was light we weighed at half ebb, and turned down two leagues below water, for the stream doth run the last quarter ebb, then we anchored till high water. At three o'clock in fle afternoon we weighed and turned down three leagues until it was dark, then we anchored.

Sept. 29.

The nine and twentieth was dry close weather, the wind at south and south by west we weighed early in the morning, and turned down three leagues bv a low water, and anchored at the lower end of the long reach for it is six leagues long. Then there came certain Indians in a canoe to us, but would not come aboard. After dinner there came the canoe with other men, whereof three came aboard us; they brought Indian wheat which we bought for trifles. At three o'clock in the afternoon we weighed, as soon as the ebb came, and turned down to the edge of the mountains, or the northernmost of the mountains, and anchored, because the high land bath many points and a narrow channel, and hath rnany eddy winds; so we rode quietly all night in seven fathoms water.

Sept. 30.

The thirtieth was fair weather, and the wind at south-east a stiff gale between the mountains. We role still the afternoon. The people of the country came aboard us, and brought some small skins with them, which we bought for knive and tritles. This is a very pleasant place to build a town on. The road is very near, and veiw good for all winds, save an east north-esat wind. The mountains look as if some metal or mineral were in them; for the trees that grew on them were all blasted, and some of them barren with few or no trees on them. The people brought a stone aboard like to emery, (a stone used by glaziers to cut glass,) it would cut iron or steel; yet being bruised small, and water put to it, it made a colour like black lead glistenng; it is also good for painters' colours. At three o'clock they departed, and we rode still all night.

Thursday, Oct. 1.

The first of October, fair weather, the wiid variable between west and the nnrth. In the morning we weighed at seven o'clock with the ebb, and got down below the mountains, which was seven leagues; then it fell calm and the flood was come, and we anchored at twelve o'clock. The people of the mountains came aboard us, wondering at our ship and weapons. We bought some small skins of them for trifles. This afternoon one canoe kept hanging under our stern with one man in it, which we could not keep from thence, who got up by our rudder to the cabin window, and stole out ny pillow, and two shirts, and two bandeleeres. Our master's mate shot at him, and struck him on the breast, and killed him. Whereupon all the rest fled away, some in their canoes, and so leaped out of them into the water. We manned our boat and got our things again. Then one of them that swam got hold of our boat, thinking to overthrow it but our cook took a sword and cut off one of his hands, and he was drowned. By this time the ebb was come, and we weighed and got down two leagues-by that time it was dark; so we anchored in four fathoms water, and rode well.

Oct. 2.

The second, fair weather. At break of day we weighed, Ilie wind being at north-west, and got down seven leagues then tlie flood was come strong, so we anchored. Then came one of the savages that swarn away from us at our going up tlte river, with many others, thinking to betray us. But we perceived their intent, and suffered none of them to enter our ship. Whereupon two canoes full of men, with their bows and arrows, shot at us after our stern, in recompense whereof we discharged six muskets, and killed two or three of them. Then above a hundred of them came to a point of land to shoot at us. There I shot a falkon at them, and killed two of them, whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Yet they manned off another canoe with nine or ten men, which came to meet us; so I shot at it also a falcon, and shot it through, and killed one of them. Then our men with their muskets killed three or four more of them. So they went their way. Within a while after, we got down two leagues beyond that place and anchored in a bay clear from all danger of them on the other side of the river, where we saw a very good piece of ground; and hard by it there was a cliff that looked of the colour of white green, as though it were either a copper or silver mine; and I think it to be one of them by the trees that grow upon it; for they be all burned, and the other places are green as grass; it is on that side of the river that is called Manna-hata. There we saw no people to trouble us, and rode quietly all night, but had much wind and rain.

Oct. 3.

The third was very stormy, the wind at east north- east. In the morning, in a gust of wind and rain, our anchor came home, and we drove on ground, but it was oozy. Then as we were about to heave out an anchor, the wind came to the north north-west, and drove us off again. Then we shot an anchor, and let it fall in four fathoms water, and weighed the other. We had much wind and rain with thick weather, so we rode still all night.

Oct. 4.

The fourth was fair weather, and the wind at north north-west we weighed and came out of the river, into which we had run so far. Within a while after, we came out also of the great mouth of the great river, that runneth up to the north- west, borrowing upon the more northern side of the same, thinking to have deep water, for we had sounded a great way with our boat at our first going in, and found seven, six, and five fathoms. So we came out that way, but we were deceived, for we had but eight feet and a half water; ad so to three, five, three, and two fathoms and a half; and then three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten fathoms; and by twelve o'cock we were clear of all the inlet. Then we took in our boat, and set our mainsail and spritsail, and our topails, and steered away east south-east, and south-east by east, off into the main sea; and the land on the southern side of the bay or inlet did bear at noon west and by south four leagues from us.

Oct. 5.

The fifth was fair weather, and the wind variable between the north and the east. We held on our course south- east by east. At noon I observed and found our height to be 39 degrees 30 minutes. Our compass varied six degrees to thewest.

We continued our course toward England without seeing any land by the way, all the rest of this month of October; and on the seventh day of November, stilo novo, being Saturday, by the grace of God, we safely arrived in the range of Dartmouth in Devonshire, in the year 1609.

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