A Norombega Item
Sprague' Journal of Maine History
Volume 9, No. 1
1921
Published by John Francis Sprague
Dover, Maine
page 35

A Norombega Item
(Contributed by Nellie C. Dodge, Ellsworth, Maine)

I find the following on page 52 of an old English book entitled:
"God's Wonders in the Great Deep, recorded in Several wonderful
and amazing accounts of Sailors who have met with unexpected 
Deliverance from Death when in greatest danger."  Gravesend;
Re-printed by R. Pacock, and sold by the Booksellers in Paternoster
Row, 1803."

Rich(d). Clark of Weymouth, was master of a ship called the 
Delight, which in 1583, went with Sir H. Gilbert for the discovery
of Noremberga; it happened that the ship struck on the ground,
and was cast away.  Of those that escaped shipwreck, sixteen got
into a small boat of a ton and a half, and had but one oar to work
with.  They were seventy leagues from land, and the weather foul.
The boat being over burthened, Mr. Hedley made a motion to cast
lots, that those four who drew the shortest should be thrown over-
board, provided if one lot fell on the master, yet he should be 
preserved for all their safeties.  The master disavowed the accept-
ance of any such privilege, replying that they should live and die
together.  On the fifth day Mr. Hedley and another died, whereby
their boat was lightened.  Five days and nights they saw the sun
and stars but once, so that they only kept up their boat with their
single oar, and the sea drove it.  They continued four days without
sustenance, except what the weeds in the sea and the salt water
did afford.  On the seventh day they had sight of Newfoundland, 
and came to the south part thereof.  All the time of their being
at sea the wind kept south; if it had shifted she had never come 
to land; but it turned to the north in half an hour after.  Being
all come to shore, they gave God praise for their miraculous de-
liverance.  There they remained three days and three nights, making 
a plentiful repast upon berries and with pease.  After five days 
rowing along the shore, they happened to meet a Spanish ship of 
St. John de Luz, who brought them to Biscay, where the visitors
of the Spanish Inquisition came aboard, but by the master's favour,
and some general answers they escaped; yet fearing a second search,
by going twelve miles one night, they got into France, and safely 
arrived in England."

(c) 1998
Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~meandrhs>  
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