Sir Humphrey Gilberts Voyage to Newfoundland | Page 8

in manner
following.
Every ship had delivered two bullets or scrolls, the one sealed up in
wax, the other left open; in both which were included several
watchwords. That open, serving upon our own coast or the coast of
Ireland; the other sealed, was promised on all hands not to be broken up
until we should be clear of the Irish coast; which from thenceforth did
serve until we arrived and met all together in such harbours of the
Newfoundland as were agreed for our rendezvous. The said
watchwords being requisite to know our consorts whensoever by night,
either by fortune of weather, our fleet dispersed should come together
again; or one should hail another; or if by ill watch and steerage one
ship should chance to fall aboard of another in the dark.
The reason of the bullet sealed was to keep secret that watchword while
we were upon our own coast, lest any of the company stealing from the
fleet might bewray the same; which known to an enemy, he might
board us by night without mistrust, having our own watchword.
Orders agreed upon by the Captains and Masters to be observed by the
fleet of Sir Humfrey Gilbert.
First, The Admiral to carry his flag by day, and his light by night.
2. Item, if the Admiral shall shorten his sail by night, then to shew two
lights until he be answered again by every ship shewing one light for a
short time.
3. Item, if the Admiral after his shortening of sail, as aforesaid, shall
make more sail again; then he to shew three lights one above another.
4. Item, if the Admiral shall happen to hull in the night, then to make a
wavering light over his other light, wavering the light upon a pole.
5. Item, if the fleet should happen to be scattered by weather, or other
mishap, then so soon as one shall descry another, to hoise both topsails
twice, if the weather will serve, and to strike them twice again; but if
the weather serve not, then to hoise the maintopsail twice, and
forthwith to strike it twice again.
6. Item, if it shall happen a great fog to fall, then presently every ship to
bear up with the Admiral, if there be wind; but if it be a calm, then
every ship to hull, and so to lie at hull till it clear. And if the fog do

continue long, then the Admiral to shoot off two pieces every evening,
and every ship to answer it with one shot; and every man bearing to the
ship that is to leeward so near as he may.
7. Item, every master to give charge unto the watch to look out well, for
laying aboard one of another in the night, and in fogs.
8. Item, every evening every ship to hail the Admiral, and so to fall
astern him, sailing through the ocean; and being on the coast, every
ship to hail him both morning and evening.
9. Item, if any ship be in danger in any way, by leak or otherwise, then
she to shoot off a piece, and presently to bring out one light; whereupon
every man to bear towards her, answering her with one light for a short
time, and so to put it out again; thereby to give knowledge that they
have seen her token.
10. Item, whensoever the Admiral shall hang out her ensign in the main
shrouds, then every man to come aboard her as a token of counsel.
11. Item, if there happen any storm or contrary wind to the fleet after
the discovery, whereby they are separated; then every ship to repair
unto their last good port, there to meet again.
OUR COURSE /agreed upon/.
The course first to be taken for the discovery is to bear directly to Cape
Race, the most southerly cape of Newfoundland; and there to harbour
ourselves either in Rogneux or Fermous, being the first places
appointed for our rendezvous, and the next harbours unto the northward
of Cape Race: and therefore every ship separated from the fleet to
repair to that place so fast as God shall permit, whether you shall fall to
the southward or to the northward of it, and there to stay for the
meeting of the whole fleet the space of ten days; and when you shall
depart, to leave marks.
Beginning our course from Scilly, the nearest is by west-south- west (if
the wind serve) until such time as we have brought ourselves in the
latitude of 43 or 44 degrees, because the ocean is subject much to
southerly winds in June and July. Then to take traverse from 45 to 47
degrees of latitude, if we be enforced by contrary winds; and not