that the tops of the hilles sounded therewith, the valleys and the waters gave an echo, and the mariners they shouted in such sort, that the skie rang againe with the noise thereof."* The result of this voyage, which held out such fair promises, was most disastrous to the gallant Sir Hugh Willoughby and his brave associates; who, with the whole of the merchants, officers and ship's company, as well as those of the Bona Confidentia, to the number of seventy persons, perished miserably from the effects of cold or hunger, or both, on a barren and uninhabited part of the eastern coast of Lapland, at the mouth of a river called Arzina, not far from the harbour of Kegor. The ships and the dead bodies of those who thus perished were discovered the following year by some Russian fishermen ; and by some papers found in the admiral's ship, and especially by the date of his Will, it appeared that Sir Hugh Willoughby and most of the company of the two ships were alive in January 1554. They had entered the river on the 18th of September preceding. No papers, however, were ever published to give the least account of their proceedings and sufferings, which is somewhat singular; as even common seamen, English, Dutch and Russians, who, at various times, have wintered in much higher latitudes, have kept regular journals of their proceedings. That of Sir Hugh is exceed * Clement Adams. Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 245. ingly meagre, terminates just after their arrival in the Arzina, and contains only the following paragraph respecting their distressed situation. "Thus remaining in this haven the space of a weeke, seeing the yeere farre spent, and also very evill wether, as frost, snowe and haile, as though it had been the deepe of winter, we thought it best to winter there. Wherefore we sent out three men south south-west, to search if they could find people, who went three dayes journey, but could finde none. After that we sent other three westward four dayes journey, which also returned without finding any people. Then sent we three men south-east three dayes journey, who in like sorte returned without finding of people or any similitude of habitation."* "It is singular," says Mr. Pennant, “that so very little has been preserved concerning that very illustrious character, Sir Hugh Willoughby. It appears that he was son of Sir Henry Willoughby, Knight and Baronet, by his third wife Elen, daughter of John Egerton, Esq. of Wrine Hall in Cheshire. Sir Hugh married Jane, daughter of Sir Nicholas Shelley, of Shelley, in the county of Nottingham, Knight; by her he had a son named Henry, of whom I do not find any account. They were originally of Riseley in Derbyshire; Sir Hugh is styled by Camden, of Riseley. They * Sir H. Willoughby's note. Hakluyt, vol. p. 236. changed their residence to Wollaton in Nottinghamshire, the princely and venerable seat of Lord Middleton, who acquired it by the marriage of his ancestor, Sir Perceval Willoughby, with Brigitta, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Francis Willoughby, founder of that noble pile. The portrait of the celebrated Sir Hugh is to be seen there; a whole length, in very large breeches, according to the fashion of the times, in a room hung with velvet, with a table covered with velvet, and a rich carpet. From his meagre appearance, the servant tells you that it represents the attitude in which he was found starved. This trivial account is all that is left of so great a name. A better fortune attended Master Richard Chancelor, in the Edward Bonaventure, who succeeded in reaching Wardhuys, in Norway, the appointed rendezvous of the little squadron. Here he waited seven days looking in vain for his consorts, and was preparing to depart, when meeting with "certaine Scottishmen" they earnestly attempted to dissuade him from the further prosecution of the voyage, magnifying the danger and using every effort to prevent his proceeding; but he was not to be discouraged with "the speeches and words of the Scots," and resolutely determined "either to bring that to passe which was intended, or els to die the death." Accordingly, on setting * Pennant's Arct. Zool. Sup. p. 32. out again," he held on his course towards that unknowen part of the world, and sailed so farre that hee came at last to the place where hee found no night at all, but a continuall light and brightnesse of the sunne shining clearly upon the huge and mighty sea." At length he entered into a very great bay, and seeing a fishing-boat, enquired of the people "what country it is, and what people, and of what maner of living they were;" but these men seeing the large ship were greatly alarmed and fled. At last, however, they were overtaken, and immediately fell on their knees, offering to kiss Master Chancelor's feet. The report being spread abroad of the arrival of a strange people" of singular gentlenesse and courtesie," the inhabitants brought them presents of provisions and entered readily and fearlessly into trade with them. Our navigators now learned that the name of the country was Russia or Moscovie, and that of their king Juan Vasilovich, who "ruled and governed farre and wide in those places." A negociation speedily commenced, the result of which was a journey, undertaken and performed by Master Chancelor, of nearly fifteen hundred miles, to a city called Mosco, where he was well received; and to his discreet and able representations England is indebted for the firm foundation of that commerce with Russia, which has continued almost without interruption ever since. The first interview with the Czar of Mosco is extremely interesting and curious. These adventurers were received with every mark of distinction, and invited to a splendid entertainment, at which were present the Czar and all his nobles. The display of gold and silver, the jewels and the rich robes, perfectly astonished the English travellers. The emperor kept them at great distance; but Chancelor saluted him only in the manner of the English court. On the second visit the Czar was more familiar. "The prince called them to his table to receive each a cup from his hand to drinke, and took into his hand Master George Killingworth's beard, which reached over the table, and pleasantlie delivered it the Metropolitane, who, seeming to blesse it, saide in Russ, 'this is God's gift;' as indeed at that time it was not only thicke, broad, and yellow coloured, but in length five foote and two inches of assize." Shortly after this he was dispatched with a proper escort to Archangel, with a letter from the Czar addressed to Edward VI., and sailing from thence the following spring arrived safely in England, RICHARD CHANCELOR, AND STEVEN BUROUGH. 1555 and 1556. The return of CHANCELOR to England with a letter from the Czar Vasilovich addressed to Ed |