"7. Item, that the merchants, and other skilful persons in writing shall daily write, describe, and put in memorie the navigation of each day and night, with the points, and observations of the lands, tides, elements, altitude of the sunne, course of the moon and starres, and the same so noted by the order of the Master and Pilot of every ship to be put in writing, the Captaine-generall assembling the masters together once every weeke (if winde and weather shall serve) to conferre all the observations, and notes of the said ships, to the intent it may appeare wherein the notes do agree, and wherein they dissent, and upon good debatement, deliberation, and conclusion determined, to put the same into a common leger, to remain of record for the company: the like order to be kept in proportioning of the Cardes, Astrolabes, and other instruments prepared for the voyage, at the charge of the Companie.' "27. Item, the names of the people of every Island, are to be taken in writing, with the commodities and incommodities of the same, their natures, qualities, and dispositions, the site of the same, and what things they are most desirous of, and what commodities they will most willingly depart with, and what mettals they have in hils, mountains, streames, or rivers, in, or under the earth."+ Attention to moral and religious duties is strictly enjoined. "12. Item, that no blaspheming of God, or detestable swearing be used in any ship, nor communication of ribaldrie, filthy tales, or ungodly talke to be suffered in the company of any ship, neither dicing, tabling, nor other divelish games to be frequented, whereby ensueth not onely povertie to the players, but also strife, variance, brauling, fighting, and oftentimes murther, to the utter destruction of the parties, and provoking of God's most just wrath, and sworde of vengeance. These, and all such like pestilences, and contagions of vices, and sinnes to be eschewed, and the offenders once monished, and not reforming, to be punished at the discretion of the captaine and masters, as appertaineth."+ "13. Item, that morning and evening prayer, with other common services appointed by the King's Maiestie, and lawes of this realme, to be read and saide in every ship daily by the minister in the admirall, and the marchant or some other person learned in other ships, and the bible or paraphrases to be read devoutly and Christianly to God's honour, and for his grace to be obtained, and had by humble and heartie praier of the navigants accordingly."Ş There is much good sense in the following hints : "22. Item, not to disclose to any nation the state of our religion, but to passe it over in silence, without any declaration of it, seeming to bear with such laws and rights as the place hath where you shall arrive."|| * Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 226. + Ibid. p. 228. § Ibid. || Ibid. vol. i. p. 228. "23. Item, for as much as our people and shippe may appear unto them strange and wonderous, and theirs also to ours; it is to be considered, how they may be used, learning much of their natures and dispositions, by some one such person, as you may first either allure, or take to be brought aboord your ships, and there to learn as you may, without violence or force, and no woman to be tempted, or intreated to incontinence, or dishonestie."* "26. Item, every nation and region is to be considered advisedly, and not to provoke them by any disdaine, laughing, contempt, or such like, but to use them with prudent circumspection, with all gentlenes, and curtesie, and not to tarry long in one place, untill you shall have attained the most worthy place that may be found in such sort as you may returne with victuals sufficient, prosperously."+ The difficulties experienced, from timidity and incredulity, are apparent from a passage of the 32nd item, in which he speaks of the obstacles which had "ministered matter of suspicion in some heads, that this voyage could not succeed for the extremitie of the North Pole, lacke of passage, and such like, which have caused wavering minds, and doubtful heads, not only to withdraw themselves from the adventure of this voyage, but also dissuaded others from the same, the certainte whereof, when you shall have tried by experience, &c."+ CHAP. XXXI. THE EXPEDITION DROPS DOWN TO GREENWICH-SALUTES-ANIMATING SCENE PROCEED TO SEA-VESSELS SEPARATED-FATE OF SIR HUGH WILLOUGHBY-CHANCELLOR REACHES WARDHOUSE-EARNESTLY DISSUADED FROM PROCEEDING FURTHER HIS GALLANT RESOLUTION-CONFIDENCE OF THE CREW IN HIM-REACHES ARCHANGEL-EXCELLENT EFFECT OF OBSERVING CABOT'S INSTRUCTIONS AS TO DEPORTMENT TOWARDS THE NATIVES-SUCCESS OF CHANCELLOR. ON the 20th May, the squadron, consisting of three ships, dropped down to Greenwich: "The greater Shippes are towed downe with boates, and oares, and the Mariners being all apparelled in Watchet or skie-coloured cloth, rowed amaine, and made way with diligence. And being come neere to Greenewich, (where the Court then lay) presently upon the newes thereof, the Courtiers came running out, and the common people flockt together, standing very thicke upon the shoare the privie Counsel, they lookt out at the windowes of the Court, and the rest ranne up to the toppes of the towers: the shippes hereupon discharge their Ordinance, and shoot off their pieces after the manner of warre, and of the sea, insomuch that the tops of the hilles sounded therewith, the valleys and the waters gave an Eccho, and the Mariners, they shouted in such sort, that the skie rang againe with the noyse thereof. One stood in the poope of the ship, and by his gesture bids farewell to his friendes in the best maner hee could. Another walkes upon the hatches, another climbes the shrowds, another stands upon the maine yard, and another in the top of the shippe. To be short, it was a very triumph (after a sort) in all respects to the beholders. But (alas) the good King Edward (in respect of whom principally all this was prepared) hee only by reason of his sicknesse was absent from this shewe, and not long after the departure of these Ships, the lamentable and most sorrowful accident of his death followed."* There was some delay at Harwich; "yet at the last with a good winde they hoysted up sayle, and committed them * Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 245. selves to the sea, giving their last adieu to their native countrey, which they knew not whether they should ever returne to see againe or not. Many of them looked oftentimes backe, and could not refraine from teares, considering into what hazards they were to fall, and what uncertainties of the sea they were to make triall of." :"* Chancellor himself was moved. "His natural and fatherly affection, also, somewhat troubled him, for he left behinde him two little sonnes, which were in the case of orphanes if he spedde not well."+ After touching at Rost Island, and at a group called the Cross of Islands, it was agreed that in the event of a separation the ships should rendezvous at the Castle of Wardhouse in Norway. On the very day of the council at which this arrangement was made a furious tempest arose that dispersed the vessels. The story of the gallant Chief of the Expedition is brief and horrible. Failing to make the contemplated progress to the eastward, it was resolved to winter in Lapland, and arrangements for that purpose were commenced on the 18th September. The rigour of the climate proved fatal to all. The two ships were long afterwards discovered with no living thing on board. A Journal was found of the incidents of the voyage, and a Will of Gabriel Willoughby, attested by Sir Hugh, dated as late as January, 1554. Over the frightful scenes witnessed by him who was reserved as the last victim of the elements there is thrown, like a pall, impenetrable darkness. As he stiffened into death, by the side of his unburied messmates, he saw the savage region yielded back, without further struggle, to the “unknown and also wonderful" wild beasts whose fearful numbers about the ships are noted in the last entry of the Journal.‡ Chancellor was more fortunate. He reached Wardhouse in safety, and having remained there several days resolved to pro + Ib. * Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 245. Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 236. The Will found on board witnessed by Sir Hugh Willoughby was in the possession of Purchas; (Pilgrims, vol. iii. p. 463.) ceed, notwithstanding the disheartening representations made to him. Remaining stedfast and immutable in his first resolution, he determined either to bring that to passe which was intended or els to die the death.* "And as for them which were with Master Chanceler in his Shippe, although they had great cause of discomfort by the losse of their companie (whom the foresaid tempest had separated from them) and were not a little troubled with cogitations and perturbations of minde, in respect of their doubtful course: yet notwithstanding, they were of such consent and agreement of minde with Master Chanceler, that they were resolute, and prepared under his direction and government, to make proofe and triall of all adventures, without all feare or mistrust of future dangers. Which constancie of minde in all the companie did excedingly increase their Captain's carefulnesse."+ "Master Chan In this resolute spirit he again put to sea. celer held on his course towards that unknowen part of the world, and sailed so farre, that he came at last to the place where he found no night at all, but a continuall light and brightnesse of the sunne shining clearly upon the huge and mightie sea. And having the benefite of this perpetuall light for certaine dayes, at the length it pleased God to bring them into a certaine great bay, which was one hundreth miles or thereabout over. Whereinto they entered somewhat farre and cast anchor." He had now reached the Bay of St. Nicholas. Landing near Archangel, then only a castle, there becomes visible the influence of Cabot's injunction, as to gentleness of deportment towards the natives, and its happy result. "And looking every way about them it happened that they espied a farre off a certain fisher boate which Master Chancellor, accompanied with a fewe of his men, went towards to commune with the fishermen that were in it, and to knowe of them what countrey it was, and what people, and of what maner of living they were but they being amazed with the strange greatnesse of his shippe (for in those parts before that time they had never seen the like) beganne presently to avoyde and to flee: but hee still following them at last overtooke them, and being come to them, they (being in greate feare, as men halfe dead) prostrated themselves before him, offering to kisse his feete: but hce (according to his great and singular courtesie) looked pleasantly upon them, comforting them by signes and gestures, refusing those dueties and reverences |