94 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
Young Davis, master of his friend Sir Humphrey 
Gilbert's Discourse on a North-west Passage to Cathay, 
was deeply interested in an enterprise which would so 
greatly benefit his country, and was filled with a desire 
to undertake the leading of such an expedition. His 
friend Adrian Gilbert — at this time a neighbour, having 
rented the manor house of Stoke Gabriel — was equally 
enthusiastic. The two friends rode up to London to- 
gether, and Gilbert introduced Davis to Dr Dee, the 
famous alchemist and mathematician at Mortlake, and 
to the great statesman Sir Francis Walsingham. The 
four experts examined all available sources of informa- 
tion, and consulted together. The great difficulty was 
to ascertain the position of Sir Martin Frobisher's dis- 
coveries, which could not be reconciled with the Zeno 
map. Still, the main object of finding a passage was 
most important, and a successful appeal was made to 
the merchants of London. Sir Walter Raleigh entered 
into the plans of the friend of his boyhood with charac- 
teristic ardour, and he induced the Queen to grant 
a charter for the discovery to John Davis, Adrian Gilbert, 
and himself. Raleigh recommended his associates to the 
good offices of Master William Sanderson, a wealthy 
merchant and one of the most enlightened adventurers 
of his time, who resolved to give liberal support to the 
expedition. He superintended the preparations, and his 
relative, John Janes, went out as supercargo. In the 
spring of 1585 Davis was busily engaged in fitting out 
at Dartmouth. He had two small vessels, the Sunshine 
of London of 50 tons, and the Moonshine, built at 
Dartmouth, of only 35 tons. Davis and Janes were in 
the Sunshine with the master, William Eston, a master's 
mate, gunner, boatswain, carpenter, eleven seamen, four 
musicians to please the natives, and a boy. The Moon- 
shine was commanded by William Bruton, with John 
Ellis as master. 
On the 7th June, 1585, the two ships left Dartmouth 
harbour. With Eston the master, Davis made a careful 
survey of the provisions and a calculation of the time 
they would last. They consisted of salt meat and cod, 
biscuit and peas, butter and cheese, with beer. The 
clothing was entirely woollen. As contrary winds de- 
