474 THE PROGRESS OP MARITIME DISCOVER If. 



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 Grama, 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 



