1556. CHAXCELOR AND BUROUGH. 73 



ward VI., and the prospects of vast profits which a 

 trade with this extensive empire held forth, were 

 deemed to have amply compensated the melancholy 

 fate of Sir Hugh Willoughby, the supposed loss of 

 the two ships, and the failure of the expedition in 

 its main object ; and Philip and Mary, who were 

 now on the throne, were readily prevailed on to grant 

 a new charter '' to the community of merchants 

 adventurers," and to appoint Sebastian Cabota 

 governor thereof for the term of his natural life. 

 A commission was also issued, constituting Richard 

 Chancelor, George Killingworth, and Richard 

 Gray commissioners from Philip and Mary, to carry 

 a letter to, and to treat with, the Czar of Moscovie 

 concerning the commercial priveleges and immu- 

 nities which he might be pleased to grant to this 

 newly chartered company. The Edward Bona- 

 venture and the Philip and Mary were the ships 

 appointed to carry out the commissioners, who, on 

 their arrival at Archangel, were escorted to Mosco, 

 where they were well received, and, we are told, 

 made a profitable voyage. But though commerce 

 was the immediate, it was not the only, object of 

 this second expedition. By an article of their 

 instructions the adventurers were particularly di- 

 rected " to use all wayes and meanes possible to 

 learne howe men may passe from Russia, either by 

 land or by sea, to Cathaia." And so anxious was 

 the company to follow up the attempt at a north- 

 east passage to the Indian seas, that, without 



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