SIR HUGH WILLOUGHBY. 225 



This revival of the spirit of northern dis- 

 covery very shortly succeeded the return of 

 Sebastian Cabot to England in 1549. His 

 reputation as an able navigator was at that 

 time so firmly established, that Edward VI. con- 

 stituted him " Governour of the mysterie and 

 discouerie of regions, dominions, islands, and 

 places vnknowne," and granted him a pension of 

 166/. 13s. 4:d. per annum, " in consideration of 

 the good and acceptable services done, and to 

 be done." * Cabot who originated this expedi- 

 tion, drew up a code of instructions for the 

 persons engaged in it, which a modern writer of 

 great eminence observes, "do him infinite honour, 

 not only for the chaste style in which they are 

 written, but also for the liberal and enlightened 

 sentiments which run throughout this early per- 

 formance."! 



The expedition consisted of the Bona Espe- 

 ranza, of 120 tons, the Edward Bonaventura of 

 160 tons, and the Bona Confidentia of 90 tons. 



There were several candidates for the com- 

 mand of this expedition, but the choice fell upon 

 Sir Hugh Willoughby, " both by reason of his 

 goodly personage, as also for his singular skill 

 in the seruices of warre." He was accordingly 



* 



Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 31. 

 f Chronological History of Voyages in the Arctic Regions. 



Q 



A.D. 



1553. 



