Polar Explorations. 125 
By subsequent voyagers it was imagined, that by crossing 
the pole, either in a Nort est or a North East direction, 
the distance to the Indies would be curtailed, thus giving 
them the precious commodities of those golden regions, with- 
out the long, and then difficult voyage around the Cape of 
Good Hope. 
A North East passage was attempted in 1553 by Sir Hugh 
Willoughby, who commanded “a fleet of three ships, with 
pinnaces and boats,” equipped and furnished by the “ Compa- 
ny of Merchants Adventurers of London.” At North Cape 
one of the ships left the fleet and returned home. Being 
separated from the other he proceeded north, until forced by 
the severity of the weather into a river of Lapland, the ship 
was frozen up, and he with his ship’s company all perished. 
The notes of his voyage, and his last will, were found lying 
before him, by which it appears that they lived until January ; 
and itis affecting to observe, that three different companies 
were despatched in various directions, but after four days 
journey they returned to the ship, “ without finding any peo- 
ple, or any similitude of a habitation.”’* 
His consort, the Edward Bonaventure, commanded by Sir 
Richard Chancelor, pursued a North East course until they 
found themselves “in a sea where there was no night;” and 
at length followed some natives in a fishing boat, into a deep 
bay, to “ St. Michaels, the arncnancet.” On learning that 
this port belonged to Russia, Sir Richard left the ship and 
proceeded on sledges to Moscow, where he obtained letters 
from Czar John Bazilowitz to Edward VI, and procured 
some important commercial privileges for the English merch- 
merchants to “‘ attempt a passage by the North Pole to Japan 
and China.” In this voyage he discovered Spitzbergen, and 
" * Voyage of Sir Hugh Willoughby, Pinkerton’s Coll. p. 15. 
