THE VOYAGERS 



back parts of America. Nor did he give up hope after 

 the tragic failure of that voyage. In the preface to ^^^^^W 

 The Seaman's Secrets^ his nautical handbook of 1594, and North West 

 still more earnestly and fully in The Worldes Hydrographical P^^^g^- 

 Description of 1595, he expounds the certainty of a 

 North West passage, and the gains that its discovery 

 would bring to England. Davis was a single-minded 

 seaman, whose life was given to trade and exploration 

 while others fought with Spain ; and the great idea that 

 dominated him sometimes kindles his language to an 

 almost poetic fervour. The North Pole, he says, is the y^^^ dignity of 

 place of greatest dignity in the world ; and the people the North 

 who dwell near it ' have a wonderful excellency, and 

 an exceeding prerogative above all nations of the earth.' 

 * How blessed may we think this nation to be : for they 

 are in perpetual light, and never know what darkness 

 meaneth, by the benefit of twilight and full moons, as 

 the learned in astronomy do very well know : which 

 people, if they have the notice of their eternity by the 

 comfortable light of the Gospel, then are they blessed 

 and of all nations most blessed. Why then do we 

 neglect the search of this excellent discovery, against 

 which there can be nothing said to hinder the same? 

 Why do we refuse to see the dignity of God's creation, 

 since it hath pleased his divine Majesty to place us the 

 nearest neighbour thereunto.^ I know there is no true 

 Englishman that can in conscience refuse to be a con- 

 tributor to procure this so great a happiness to his 

 country, whereby not only the Prince and mighty men 

 of the land shall be highly renowned, but also the 

 merchant, tradesman, and artificer mightily enriched.' 

 His eloquence was in vain : and his later years were 



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