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22. VOYAGES OF SIR HUGH WILLOUGHBY AND OTHERS, ,
And whereas many things feemed neceflary to be regarded in this fo hard and
difficult a matter, they firft made choice of certain grave and wife perfons in manner
of a fenate or company, which fhould lay their heads together and give their judg-
ments, and provide things requifite and profitable for all occafions: by this company
it was thought expedient; that a certain fum of money fnould publickly be collected
to ferve for the furnifhing of fo many fhips. And left any private man fhould be too
much oppreffed and charged, a courfe was taken, that every man willing to be of the
fociety fhould difburfe the portion of twenty and five pounds a-piece: fo that in fhort
time by this means the fum of fix thoufand pounds being gathered, the three fhips
were bought, the moft part whereof they provided to be newly built and trimmed.
But in this action, I know not whether I may more admire the care of the merchants,
or the diligence of the fhipwrights: for the merchants they get very {trong and well-
feafoned planks for the building ; the fhipwrights, they with daily travail, and their
greateft fkill, do fit them for the difpatch of the fhips: they calk them, pitch them,
and among the reft, they make one moft ftainch and firm, by an excellent and inge-
nious invention. For they had heard that in certain parts of the ocean, a kind of
worms is bred, which many times pierceth and eateth through the ftrongeft oak that
is: and therefore that the mariners, and the relt to be employed in this voyage might
be free and fafe from this danger, they cover a piece of the keel of the fhip with thin
fheets of lead: and having thus built the fhips, and furnifhed them with armour and
artillery, then followed a fecond care no lefs troublefome and neceflary than the for-
mer, namely, the provifion of victuals, which was to be made according to the time
and length of the voyage. And whereas they afore determined to have the eaft part
of the world faiied unto, and yet that the fea towards the fame was not open, except
they kept the northern tract, whereas yet it was doubtful whether there were any paf-
fage yea or no, they refolved to vidtual the fhips for eighteen months; which the
did for this reafon. For our men being to pafs that huge and cold part of the world,
they wilely forefeeing it, allow them fix months victual to fail to the place, fo much
more to remain there if the extremity of the winter hindred their return, and fo much
more alfo for the time of their coming home.
Now this provifion being made and carried aboard, with armour and munition of
all forts, fufficient captains and governors of fo great an enterprife were as yet want-
ing; to which office and place, although many men, (and fome void of experience)
offered themfelves, yet one Sir Hugh Willoughbie, a moft valiant gentleman, and well
born, very earnefily requefted to have that care and charge committed unto him: of
whom before all others, both by reafon of his goodly perfanage (for he was of a tall
ftature) as alfo for his fingular fkill in the fervices of war, the company of the mer-
chants made greateft accompt : fo that at the laft they concluded and made choice of
him for the general of this voyage, and appointed to him the admiral, with authority
and command over all the reft. And for the government of other fhips, although
divers men feemed willing, and made offers of themfelves thereunto, yet by a com-
mon confent one Richard Chancelor, a man of great eftimation for many good parts
of wit in him, was eleéted, in whom alone great hope for the performance of this
bufinefs refted. This man was brought up by one Mafter Henry Sydney, a noble
young gentleman, and very much beloved of King Edward, who at this time coming
to the place where the merchants were gathered together, began a very cloquent
fpeech or oration, and {pake to them after this manner following :
ce My
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