A wonder beyond mans expectation,
In the preservation of eight men in Greenland from one season to another,
the like never knowne or heard of before, which eight men are come all safely from
thence in this last Fleet, 1631. whose names are these, William Fakely Gunner, Edward Pellham, Gun-
ners Mate, John Wise, Robert Goodfellow Seamen, Thomas Ayers Whalecutter, Henry Rett Cooper,
John Dawes, Richard Kellet Landmen. To the tune of Jasper Coningham.
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TO England comes strange tidings,
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from Greenland of eight men,
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Who there had their abidings,
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till season came agen:
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Beyond mans expectation,
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(as you shall understand)
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Was their strange preservation,
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within that barren land.
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Where nothing for mane sustenance,
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most part o'th yeare doth grow,
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No Sun at all on them did glance,
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the hils are hid with Snow:
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White Beares and Foxes monstrous,
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and other savage beasts,
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Within that Barren wilderness,
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upon each other feasts.
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So that in mans conjecture,
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no man could there live long,
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But God the great Protector,
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of all both old and young,
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Did shew his wondrous power,
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in helping these men there,
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Whom beasts did not devoure,
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nor hunger pinch too neare.
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These men abroad there wandred,
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to hunt for Venson there,
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Meane while the royall standard
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from heaven did appeare,
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I meane the Starre so constant,
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which when they doe perceive,
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They must perforce that instant
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hoyst Sayles and take their leave.
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The Captaine he commanding
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his men to goe abord,
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Alas there was no standing,
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the time would not afford,
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So that these men being absent,
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were left behinde on shore
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Because no time they had lent
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to linger any more.
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But when these men returned,
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and found the ship was gone,
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Alasse their hearts then burned,
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with woe they we forlorne:
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In pitious wise lamenting,
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their hard and heavy fate,
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At last they all consenting,
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(to grieve it was too late.)
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Then one man best experience'd
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in pollicy and cunning,
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The rest to try their wits incenc'd,
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quoth he, here is no running:
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And seeing we are left here
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in this unfertile place,
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Let's doe our best with hearty cheare,
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the rest leave to Gods grace.
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Then with this resolution
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they firmely all agreed.
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To search out the conclusion,
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and try how they could speed:
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A Cave they dig'd i'th ground then,
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to shrowd them from the cold,
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Wherein they lived sound men,
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most wondrous to behold.
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Their Venson they dry baked,
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which served them for bread,
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For drinke their thirst they slaked
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with Snow water, in stead
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Of English Beere and French Wine:
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to warme them they did burne
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Three hundred Tunne of Casks,
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which stood there for their tarne.
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The flesh of Beares they boyled,
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in stead of powdered Beefe,
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Their lives had all been spoyled,
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but for this course reliefe,
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In oyle which they had left there,
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with shirts and other clothes.
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They made lamps to burn most cleer,
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beleeve it on their oathes.
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And when their food was neare spent
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and fearing they should want
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Vittaile for the remaining time,
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they did begin to scant
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Themselves and feed but once a day,
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thus spare they did their meate,
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And fasting dayes they did observe,
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on which they naught did eate.
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In this their extremity,
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when they did famine feare,
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They spide to Sea horses
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that unto them were neare,
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And kild them as they asleepe
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on th'[?] were set to rest,
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Which fishes much comfort gave
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these men so sore opprest.
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The second part To the same tune.
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WHen much danger by these men
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they had past o're, much harme
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They did receive for want of clothes,
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wherewith to keepe them warme,
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For by time, and their toyling
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their clothes were worne bare,
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And torne, that they could not
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keepe out the piercing ayre.
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But misery that makes men
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industrious, was so kinde,
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To furnish them with a tricke
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to keepe them from the winde:
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Their needle of Whales bone[.]
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untwisted Ropes their thred,
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They sow'd their clothes, & handsomly
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their bodies covered.
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Foure of them watched only,
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whilst th' other foure did sleepe,
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Thus constantly and truly
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their houres they did keepe,
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Els't had beene impossible,
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they should themselves sustaine.
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Thus they were never idle,
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but still were taking paine.
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The Sabbath day they observed,
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and spent it piously,
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Yet not as they desired,
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nor yet so zealously
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No they would have beene willing
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that holy day to keepe,
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Because they had not any booke
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to keepe their eyes from sleepe.
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Thus in that strange fashion,
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they lived in that place,
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Till the ships of our English Nation,
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keeping their wonted space,
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Did come againe and view them,
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clad with the skinnes of Beares,
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The Captaine hardly knew them,
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his heart was full of feares.
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But when he truly found them
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so unexpectedly,
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To be all perfect sound men,
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he praised God on high
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Who had so well preserved
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these men of courage bold,
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Whom he thought to be starved
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with hunger and with cold.
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Now having past these dangers,
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they are come safe from thnce,
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And all both friends and strangers,
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not sparing for expence,
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Are joyfull for to see them,
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landing in their behalfe,
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That God which did free them,
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and brought them home so safe.
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So long they there had tarried,
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untill two of their wives
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Were in their absence married,
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not hoping of their lives.
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This was the Lords owne doing,
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to him be given praise
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For this strange wonder shewing,
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admired in our dayes.
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