474 THE PROGRESS OF MARITIME DISCOVERY. 
all beyond was enveloped in darkness. As little was known 
of the innumerable South Sea islands, for although some of the 
groups had been seen or visited by the Spaniards, their exist- 
ence was kept secret lest other seafaring nations should be 
tempted to explore the wastes of the Pacific. 
I have already mentioned that the desire to find a shorter 
route to the wealth of India was the chief inducement which 
led to the discoveries of Vasco de Gama, Columbus, and 
Magellan; this same motive also called forth the first attempts 
of the Dutch and English to find a northern passage to the 
southern seas. 
In the year 1553 Sir Hugh Willoughby and Chancellor left 
England on their memorable voyage of Arctic discovery, and 
steered to the north-east. In a stormy night they parted com- 
pany, never to meet again. For a long time nothing was heard 
of Willoughby, until some Russian sailors found on the dreary 
coast of Lapland two wrecks tenanted only by the dead. A note, 
dated January 1554, proved that then at least some of the un- 
fortunate navigators were still alive; but this was the last and 
only memorial of the mysterious end of the first Britons that 
ever ventured into the frozen seas. Chancellor was more fortu- 
nate. After having for a long time been driven about by storms, 
he discovered the White Sea, and on landing heard for the first 
time of Russia and her sovereign the Czar Ivan Vasiliovitch, 
who resided in a great town called Moscow. This unknown 
potentate the indefatigable seaman resolved to visit in his capital, 
where he was graciously received, and obtained permission for 
his countrymen to frequent the port of Archangel. Soon after 
his return to England he was sent back to Russia by Queen 
Mary, for the purpose of settling the terms of a treaty of 
commerce between the two nations; and, having satisfactorily 
accomplished his mission, once more set sail from the White 
Sea, accompanied by a Muscovite ambassador. But this time 
the return voyage was extremely unfortunate; two of the ships, 
richly laden with Russian commodities, ran ashore on the coast 
of Norway, and Chancellor’s own vessel was driven by a dreadful 
storm as far as Pitsligo in Scotland, in which bay it was wrecked. 
Chancellor endeavoured to save the ambassador and himself in 
a boat, but the small pinnace was upset, and, although the 
Russian reached the strand, the Englishman, after having 
