BEAR OR CHERIE ISLAND. 
279 
The next voyage of discovery in a north-east 
direction, was sent out by Sir Francis Cherie, alderman 
of London, in 1603. After proceeding as far east as 
Ward-huus and Kela, the 11 Godspeed” pushed north 
into the ocean, and on the 16th of August fell in with 
Bear Island. Unaware of its previous discovery by 
Barentz, Stephen Bennet—who commanded the ex¬ 
pedition—christened the island Cherie Island, in honour 
of his patron, and to this day the two names are used 
almost indiscriminately. 
In 1607, Henry Hudson was despatched by the 
Muscovy Company, with orders to sail, if possible, right 
across the pole. Although perpetually baffled by the 
ice, Hudson at last succeeded in reaching the north-west 
extremity of Spitzbergen, but finding his further 
progress arrested by an impenetrable barrier of fixed 
ice, he was forced to return. A few years later, Jonas 
Poole—having been sent in the same direction, instead 
of prosecuting any discoveries, wisely set himself to 
killing the sea-horses that frequent the Arctic ice-fields, 
and in lieu of tidings of new lands—brought back 
a valuable cargo of walrus tusks. In 1615, Fotherby 
started with the intention of renewing the attempt to 
