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 RESOLUTIONCONFIDENCE 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 friends in the best manner 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 themselves 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.Ӡ

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 but 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 proceed, notwithstanding the disheartening representations made to him.

Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 239. The Will found on board witnessed by Sir Hugh Willoughby was in the possession of Purchas (Pilgrims, vol. iii. p. 463).

"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 exceedingly increase their Captain's carefulnesse."t

In this resolute spirit he again put to sea. "Master Chanceler held on his course towards that unknown 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 hee (according to his great and singular courtesie) looked pleasantly upon them, comforting them by signes and gestures, refusing those dueties and reverences of theirs and taking them up in all loving sort from the ground. And it is strange to consider how much favour afterwards in that place, this humanitie of his did purchase to himself. For they being dismissed spread by and by a report abroad of the arrival of a strange nation of a singular gentleness and

*Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 246.
† Ib.

courtesie; whereupon the common people came together offering to these newecome ghests victuals freely."*

We may not follow further the movements of this intrepid navigator, or repeat the circumstances of his overland journey to Moscow, and his very curious and interesting account of Russia. He was received in the most cordial manner, and effected the necessary arrangements for a safe and extensive commercial intercourse.

Ib.

CHAP. XXXII.

CHARTER TO THE COMPANY OF MERCHANT ADVENTURERS-SEBASTIAN CABOT NAMED GOVERNOR FOR LIFE-GRANT OF PRIVILEGES BY THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA TO CABOT AND OTHERS-AN AMBASSADOR FROM THE EMPEROR EMBARKS WITH RICHARD CHANCELLER-SHIPWRECK-CHANCELLOR PERISHES-RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT OF THE AMBASSADOR IN LONDON.

THE success of Chancellor gave a new impulse, and the dignity of a Charter, to the Association of Merchant Adventurers.*

In the instrument of incorporation Sebastian Cabot is named, as has been stated, Governor for Life, as "the chiefest setter forth" of the Enterprise.

There is preserved+ "A copie of the first privileges granted to the English merchants, by John Vasilivich, by the Grace of God, Emperor of Russia, Great Duke of Novogrode, Moscovia," &c. After the recital it grants "unto Sebastian Cabota, Governor, Sir George Barnes, Knight, &c. Consuls, Sir John Gresham, &c., assistants, and to the communaltie of the afore-named fellowship, and to their successors for ever, and to the successors of every of them, these articles, grants, immunities, franchises, liberties, and privileges, and every of them hereafter following, expressed and declared, videlicet." Then follow ten clauses or articles placing the contemplated commercial intercourse on the most liberal and secure footing. Passing a little onward we find an Ambassador from the Emperor arriving in England. This incident is connected with the melancholy death of Richard Chancellor, in whose ship the Ambassador had embarked. That intrepid navigator

* Dr Robertson (History of America, book ix.) heedlessly represents the Charter to have preceded the voyage of Sir Hugh Willoughby,

† Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 265.