Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/248

 of great draught vnable to enter, anchored without the harbour in a wilde roade at sea, about two miles from shore.

From whence the General wrote letters to master Ralfe Lane, being gouernour of those English at Virginia, and then at his Fort about sixe leagues from the Rode in an Island which they call Roanoac, wherein especially he shewed how ready he was to supply his necessities and wants, which he vnderstood of, by those he had first talked withall.

The morow after, Master Lane himselfe and some of his company comming vnto him, with the consent of his captaines he gaue them the choice of two offers, that is to say: Either he would leaue a ship, a pinnesse, and certaine boates with sufficient Masters and Mariners, together furnished with a moneths victuall, to stay and make farther discouery of the countrey and coastes, and so much victuall likewise as might be sufficient for the bringing of them all (being an hundred and three persons) into England, if they thought good after such time, with any other thing they would desire, and that he might be able to spare.

Or els if they thought they had made sufficient discouerie already, and did desire to returne into England, he would giue them passage. But they, as it seemed, being desirous to stay, accepted very thankfully and with great gladnesse, that which was offred first. Whereupon the ship being appointed and receiued into charge by some of their owne company sent into her by Master Lane, before they had receiued from the rest of the Fleete the prouision appoynted them, there arose a great storme (which they sayd was extraordinary and very strange) that lasted three dayes together, and put all our Fleete in great danger, to bee driuen from their anchoring vpon the coast. For we brake many Cables, and lost many Anchors: and some of our Fleete which had lost all (of which number was the ship appointed for Master Lane and his company) was driuen to put to sea in great danger, in auoyding the coast, and could neuer see vs againe vntill we mette in England. Many also of our small Pinnesses and boates were lost in this storme.

Notwithstanding after all this, the Generall offred them (with consent of his Captaines) an other ship with some prouision, although not such a one for their turnes, as might haue bene spared them before, this being vnable to be brought into their Harbour. Or els if they would, to giue them passage into Eng