The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)Veer, Gerrit de
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The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)
Veer, Gerrit de
Barentsz, Willem, approximately 1550-1597; Northeast Passage
And how that in the last Voyage, the Shippe was so inclosed by
the Ice, that it was left there, whereby the men were forced to build a
house in the cold and desart Countrie of Noua Zembla, wherin
they continued 10. monthes togeather, and neuer saw nor
heard of any man, in most great cold and extreame
miserie; and how after that, to saue their liues, they
were constrained to sayle aboue 350. Duch
miles, which is aboue 1000. miles English,
in litle open Boates, along and ouer the
maine Seas, in most great daunger,
and with extreame labour, vn-
speakable troubles, and
great hunger.
Imprinted at London for T. Pauier.
1609.
To the Right Worshipfull,
Sir Thomas Smith Knight, Gouernour
of the Muscouy Company, &c.
Right Worshipfvll: Being intreated by some of my Friends, and
principally by M. Richard Hakluyt (a diligent obseruer of all
Proceedings in this nature) to Translate and publish these three yeares
Trauelles and Discoueries of the Hollanders to the North-east; I could
not deuise how to consecrate my Labours so properly to any, as to your
selfe, considering not onely the generall good affection the whole
Kingdome takes notice, that you beare to all Honorable actions of this
kinde, be they for Discouerie, Traffique, or Plantation; but also in
respect of that particular charge, most worthily recommended to your
care, ouer the Trade of the English in those North-east Partes.
Many attempts and proffers (I confesse) there haue bin to find a
passage by those poorest parts to the richest; by those barbarous, to
the most ciuile; those vnpeopled, to the most popular; those Desarts,
to the most fertile Countries of the World: and of them all, none (I
dare say) vndertaken with greater iudgement, with more obdurate
Patience, euen aduersus Elementa, aduersus ipsam in illis locis rerum
naturam, then these three by the Hollanders.
If any of our Nation be employed that way in time to come, here they
haue a great part of their Voiage layd open, and the example of that
industrious people (first excited to this and other famous Voyages, by
imitation of some of ours) for the conquering of all difficulties and
dangers; those people (I say) that of all Christians, and for aught I
know, of all Adams Posteritie, haue first nauigated to 81 Degrees of
Northerly Latitude, and wintered in 76, where they had no Inhabitants,
but Foxes, Beares, and Deare, to keepe them company.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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