The seventh day of May 1586, we departed out of Dartmouth haven, foure sailes, to wit, the Mermaid, the Sunshine, the Mooneshine, and the Northstarre. In the Sunshine were sixteene men, whose names were these: Kichard Pope, maister; Marke Carter, maisters mate; Henry Morgan, purser; George Draward, John Mandie, Hugh Broken, Philip Jane, Hugh Hempson, Richard Borden, John Filpe, Andrew Madocke, William Wolcome, Robert Wagge (carpenter), John Bruskome, William Ashe, Simon Ellis.

Our course was West northwest, the seventh and eight dayes: and the ninth day in the morning we were on head of the Tarrose of Syllie. Thus coasting along the South part of Ireland the 11 day, we were on head of the Dorses : and our course was South southwest untill six of the clocke the 12 day. The 13 day our course was Northwest. We remained in the company of the Mermaid and the Moonesliine, untill we came to the latitude of 60 degrees: and there it seemed best to our Generall, M. Davis, to divide his fleet, himselfe sailing to the Northwest and to direct the Sunshine, wherein I was, and the pinnesse called the Northstar, to seeke a passage Northward betweene Groenland and Island, to the latitude of 80 degrees, if land did not let us.