JONAS POOLE. 285 



Pole : we are desirous, not only to discover a.d. 



lfii i 



farther to the northward along the said land, to 

 finde whether the same be an island or a mayne, 

 and which way the same doth trend, either to the 

 eastward or to the westward of the Pole ; as also 

 whether the same be inhabited by any people, or 

 whether there be an open sea farther northward 

 than hath beene already discovered. For accom- 

 plishing of all which our desires we have made 

 choice of you ; and, to that end, have entertayned 

 you into our service, for certayne years, upon a 

 stipend certayne : not doubting but you will so 

 carrie yourself in the businesse for which you 

 were so entertayned, as God may be glorified, 

 our country benefitted, yourself credited, and 

 we, in our desires, satisfied." 



By the sequel of this commission Poole was 

 directed to take under his convoy the Mary 

 Margaret, which was fitted solely for mercantile 

 purposes, and in which were six Biscayners, ex- 

 pert in the killing of the whale, and to accom- 

 pany her first to Cherie Island, and thence to 

 Whale Bay in Spitzbergen, where Poole was to 

 wait to get a little experience in the manner of 

 killing whales, as this was the first year in which 

 any English vessel had ventured upon that ha- 

 zardous occupation ; and having learnt the mode 

 of taking these animals, in case he should see 



