high and fayre trees, wee being not past 7. or 8. leagues from the shore, the countrey seeming vnto vs plaine without anye shewe of hils, and approching neerer within foure or fiue leagues of the land, we cast an ancker at ten fadome water, the bottome of the Sea being plaine with muche Ocias and fast holde on the South side, as farre as a certaine point or Cape situate vnder that Latitude of nine and twentie degrees and a halfe, which we haue named Cape Francois.
Wee coulde espie neither Riuer nor Bay, wherefore wee sent our Boates furnished with men of experience, to sounde and knowe the coast neere the shore: who returning to vs about one of the clock at after noone, declared that they had founde among other thinges viii. fadome of water at the harde bancke of the sea. Wherevpon hauing diligently wayed vp our Anckers, and hoysted vp our sayles with wind at will, we sayled and vewed the coast all along with vnspeable pleasure, of the odorous smell and beawtie of the same. And because there appeared vnto vs no signe of any Porte, about the setting of the sunne we cast ancker againe: which done, we did behold to and fro the goodly order of the woods wherewith God hath decked euery way the sayd land. Then perceiuing towarde the North a leaping and a breaking of the water, as a streame falling out of the lande into the Sea. For the whiche wee set vp sayles againe to double the same while it was yet day. And as wee had so done, and passed beyond it: there appeared vnto vs a fayre entrie of a faire riuer which caused vs to cast Ancker agayne there nerer the land: to the end the next day we might see what it was, and though that the winde blew for a time vehemently to the shoreward: yet the hold and Anckerage was so good, that one cable and one Ancker helde vs fast, with out danger or sliding.
The next day in the morning, being the first of May, wee assayed to enter this Porte, with two newe barges and a boate well trimmed, finding little water barges whiche might haue astonied and caused vs to returne backe to shipborde, if God had not speedily brought vs in. Where finding 36. fadome water, entred into a goodly and great riuer,which
