The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions (1594, 1595, and 1596)Veer, Gerrit de
History
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 were it for nothing else, but to register the miraculous prouidence
of the Creator, and his admirable and vnspeakable workes in these
congealed Climats, vnknowen vtterly to the Ancients, and to demonstrate
how much we are obliged to his omnipotent fauour, for planting vs in so
temperate, so ciuill, and so Religious a part of the World, as this
blessed Island; I thinke omission in this kinde were little lesse than
Sacriledge.
As it is, I humbly desire you to vouch-safe it your protection, and to
esteeme mee,
Alwayes deuoted to your seruice,
William Phillip.
THE FYRST PART
OF THE
NAUIGATION INTO THE NORTH SEAS..
It is a most certaine and an assured assertion, that nothing doth more
benefit and further the common-wealth (specially these countries [230])
then the art and knowledge of nauigation, in regard that such countries
and nations as are strong and mightie at sea, haue the meanes and ready
way to draw, fetch, and bring vnto them for their maintenaunce, all the
principalest commodities and fruites of the earth, for that thereby
they are inabled to bring all necessary things for the nourishment and
sustentation of man from the vttermost partes of the world, and to
carry and conuay such wares and marchendizes [As the art of nauigation
more increaseth, so there are daily more new countries found out.]
whereof they haue great store and aboundance vnto the same places,
which by reason of the art of nauigation, and the commodities of the
sea, is easily to be effected and brought to passe. Which nauigation as
it dayly more and more increaseth (to the great woonder and admiration
of those, that compare the sea-faring and nauigation vsed in our
forefathers times, yea and that also that hath beene practised in our
age, with that which now at this present is daily furthered and sought
out), so there are continually new voiages made, and strange coasts
discouered; the which [Diligence and continuance effect that which is
sought.] although they be not done by the first, secōd, or third
voiage, but after, by tract of time, first brought to their full
effect, and desired commoditie, and the fruits thereof, by continuance
of time reaped. Yet we must not be abasht, nor dismayed, at the labour,
toile, trauaile, and dāgers sustayned in such uoiages, to that end
made, although as I said [We must not leaue of by some mens dislike or
dispraise in our proceedings.] before the benefit thereof be not had
nor seene in the first, second, third, or more uoiages; for what labour
is more profitable, and worthier praise and commendation, then that
which tendeth vnto the common good and benefit of all men; Although
such as are vnskilfull, contemners, and deriders of mens diligence and
proceedings therein, at the first esteeme it an vnprofitable and
needlesse thing, when as the end prooueth beneficiall and commodious.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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