CH, XI] 
John Davis 
101 
The discoveries of Davis were most important. He 
converted the Arctic regions from a confused myth into 
a defined area. He not only described and mapped the 
extensive tracts explored by himself, but he clearly 
pointed out the work cut out for his successors. He 
lighted Hudson into his strait, as Luke Fox truly said. 
He lighted Baffin into his bay. He lighted Hans Egede 
to the scene of his Greenland labours. He did more. 
His true-hearted devotion to the cause of Arctic dis- 
covery, his patient scientific research, his loyalty to his 
employers, his dauntless courage and enthusiasm, his 
care for the welfare of his men, form an example which 
has been a beacon light to the best Arctic explorers for 
all time. 
When Davis returned from his last Arctic voyage, 
England was threatened by the Spanish Armada and 
there could be no thought but for her defence. Our 
Arctic navigator was also an expert pilot of the Channel, 
and had constructed a chart with soundings, mainly from 
his own surveys. His ability and zeal were well known, 
but he could only obtain the command of a small vessel 
of 20 tons called the Black Dog to act as tender to 
the Lord Admiral. She served throughout the war. 
Davis afterwards commanded the Drake to unite with 
the squadron of the Earl of Cumberland and prey upon 
Spanish commerce, joining him between Flores and Fayal 
in the Azores. These war services had the satisfactory 
result of enriching Davis with prize money and enabling 
him to undertake an expedition having geographical dis- 
covery 7 for its main object. 
The admirable character of the subsequent services 
of John Davis was due in great measure to the influence 
of his Arctic training and experience, but the plan of 
the present work makes it impossible to recount those 
services in detail. In joining the second expedition of 
Cavendish to the South Sea, the object of Davis was to 
discover the passage thither by the north, entering on 
the west side. In an evil hour Davis consented to unite 
forces with Cavendish, and commanded the Desire of 
120 tons, contributing a large sum to the expedition. 
The terrible story of the dangers and sufferings in the 
Straits of Magellan and how through them all Davis 
