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go THIRD VOYAGE OF THE DUTCH
-at the ifland named Wardhuis, and it remained there at anchor until the tenth of O&o-
ber, when it continued its courfe; and on the eighteenth of November entered the
Meufe, after a voyage of four months and fixteen days.
THIRD VOYAGE OF THE DUTCH AND ZEALANDERS BY THE NORTH,
ALONG NORWAY, MOSCOVY, AND TARTARY, TO PASS TO THE KING-
DOMS OF CATHAY AND CHINA, BY PERMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM, 1596.
AFTER thefe two voyages, which had failed of the defired fuccefs, the idea of un-
dertaking a third was not relinquifhed ; but their High Mightinefles were unwilling to
countenance the attempt. Neverthelefs it was decreed, that if there were individuals,
cities, or corporations, willing to bear the expences of the voyage, they would not be
prevented; and that if they could’ furnifh fufficient proofs of having fucceeded, and
pafled, the ftate would make a confiderable recompenfe in money, and the fum was
ftipulated.
The council of the city of Amfterdam, which was not difcouraged, ordered two
veflels to be equipped, at the commencement of the year 1596, and the crews engaged
under two conditions, which were, that they fhould be paid according to a certain rate if
they returned without having fucceeded ; or according to another certain rate if they
accomplifhed their defign. The recompenfe to be made in the latter cafe was confi-
derable. They took as few married perfons as poflible, left their affection for their
families fhould occafion them to think too much of return.
The two veffels were ready to fail at the beginning of May. James Heemfkerk was
appointed mafter and fteward, as before, and William Barentfz firft pilot of one, and
John Cornelifz Ryp was appointed fteward of the other.
On the eighteenth of May they departed from Vlie, and on the twenty-fecond were
in fight of Hitlandt of Faverhill*. On the thirtieth they. found themfelves in lat. 69°
24’, and on the firft of June they experienced no night.
On the fecond of June, at half paft ten in the morning, they fawa furprifing pheno-
menon in the heavens. On each fide of the fun appeared a mock-fun, with a rainbow
pafling through thefe three funs. There were befides two other rainbows, one furround-
ing the funs, the other croffing the true fun, the loweft part of which was elevated 28°
above the horizon. At noon they obferved the altitude with the aftrolabe, and found
themfelves in lat. 71°.
The veffel of John Cornelifz being always to windward of that of William Barentfz,
without coming up to him, induced Barentfz to ftand to the N. E., in order to come to
the wind and join him, thinking that he lay too much to the weft; and indeed this ap-
peared in the end. In the evening, wnen they had joined, Barentfz told him they lay
too much to weftward, and that he mutt bear to the eaft. Cornelifz anfwered, that he
did not with to enter the ftraits of Weigats.
They then failed N. E. and by N., and were nearly fixty leagues in the main fea.
Barent{z was of opinion that they fhould rather bear to the E. N.E. than to the N.N.E.,
on account of their having drifted fo much to the weft. He even thought that they
fhould fteer to the eaft, at leaft for fome time, and until they had recovered what they had
® Probably Faverhill in Shetland.
loft,
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