V.] 
THE MUSCOVY COMPANY. 
217 
England for the discoverie of landes, territories, isles, dominions, 
and seigniories unknowen,” commonly called '' the Muscovy 
Company.” Sebastian Cabot, then almost an octogenarian, was 
appointed governor for the term of his natural life, and a 
number of privileges were conferred upon it by the rulers 
both of England and Eussia. At the same time negotiators, 
merchants, and inquirers were sent by different ways from 
England to Eussia in order to confirm the amity with that 
country, and more thoroughly examine the, at least to England, 
new world, which had now been discovered in the East. But a 
detailed account of these journeys does not enter into the plan 
of this work. 
With this, however, men were not content. They considered 
Chancelor’s voyage as but the first step to something far more 
important, namely, the opening of the North-East Passage to 
China and India. While Chancelor himself the year after his 
return was sent along with several merchants to the White 
Sea, a further attempt was planned to reach the east coast of 
Asia by the same route. A small vessel, the Searclithrift, was 
fitted out for this purpose and placed under the command of 
Stephen Burrough.^ The most important occurrences during 
the voyage were the following :— 
start was made from Eatcliffe to 
Black wall and Grays. Here Sebastian Cabot came on board, 
together with some distinguished gentlemen and ladies. They 
were first entertained on board the vessel and gave liberal 
presents to the sailors, alms being given at the same time to a 
number of poor people, in order that they might pray for good 
luck and a good voyage ; “ then at the signe of the Christopher, 
^ The voyage is described in Hahluyt, 1st Edition, p. 311. It is inserted 
in the list of contents in the following terms: The voyage of Steven 
Burrough towarde the river Ob, intending the discoverie of the north-east 
passage. An. 1556.” It appears from the introduction to Hakluyt’s work 
that the narrative was revised by Burrough himself. In the text Burrowe 
is written instead of Burrough. 
