Book XI, Chapter 64

FRom then, when first my Father, eare my birth, was one of those,
Did, through the Seas of ysie Rocks, the Muscouites disclose,
We shal our English Voyages, the cheefe at least, digest,
Of which in this her Highnes Raigne haue been perform'd the best,
And herea while let Mandeuil and his Beloued rest.
To name the diuers Peoples that in Europe be, weare much,
Not but remotest Regions, of our Natiues seene, we touch.
But, Moderns, Yee (of whom are some haue circum-sail'd the Earth)
Here pardon vs your Sailes, and giue your proper Praises bearth.
Infuse yee Penn-life too into ore-taken Fames by death.
Caboto (whose Cosmographie and selfe-proofe brake the Ise
To most our late Discouerers, Debtors to his Aduise)
Had vs, eare Spayne, possest of that which Spanyards now abuse,
But, he inuitin̄g, idly we did offred Gold refuse.
Yeat him to say for most the Meane, it weare not vs to shame,
Of English new Discoueries, that yeeld vs Wealth and Fame.
Reserue we to the Actors though (of whom lost some their Wealth,
Their liues a many, all at least indangered their health,
In trewer Perils, and more braue Achieuements, than the Tailes
Of Iason and Vlysses, of their fabled Sea-toyld Sailes)
The Glorie of the dangerous Gole: Nor let vs here forgit
(In which I first did breath this Ayre) London, preferring it.

Some Marchants theare, of Worth, did mind with Nations, then, vnknowne.
New Traffiques, & the Passe thereto was by Caboto showne.
By his Instructions and their costs three Ships were rigged out,
Hugh Willoughby the Admyrall, a Knight both wise and stoute.
Next place (whose braue performance of Imployments euer liue)
To Chancelor, grand Pilot for that Voyage, did they giue.
Now sayle they for the Northeast Parts, Cathayas Shores to finde:
Incountred with huge Seas of Ise, with stormie Gustes and Winde.
Scotland, Aegeland, Halgland, th'Isles of Roste, and Lofoot past,
Tempestiously Arzinas Rhode receiued Sir Hugh at last.
Theare he, and all of two his Ships, attempting bootles shiftes,
Weare in that Climate Frozen dead, shut vp with isie Driftes.
Thus died he and all with him, if so to die be death:
But no, saith Heauen, no, saith their Fame, suruiuing them on Earth.
Then Chancelor, his onely Ship remayning of that Fleete,
For Fynmarke, at the Wardhouse sayles with his Conforts to meete.
There day it is two months of length, and Mal-strands Poole it makes.
Such hidious rore, deuouring floods, that tenne miles distance shakes.
Wheare frustrate of his Friends in quest, with courage not deiect,
He for the Course preposed did his ventrous Sayles direct.

KIng Arthur, Malgo, Edgar, once to haue subdewd are saide
Orkney, Gotland, Island, and those former in that Traide:
Gronland, Wireland, Curland, and colde Scrikfyn them obayde,
Newland, with others, and those Isles wheare men, saue Eyes alone,
Are hid in hides of Beasts, and Beasts saue Fish, haue Fothernone.
Now Chancelor, ariuing mong'st the Laplande[…]s, at last,
They seeing vncouth Men and Shippes, weare wondringly agaste,
(For eare that day was heard no Shippe that churlish Pole had past.)
The Lapland Bay wheare he ariu'd, now cald Saint Nicholas Bay,
Though Russiah, fifteene hundreth Miles from Mosco is away:
Theare Winterd he at Newnox, till safe-Conduct being sent,
Thence to their King on swift-drawne Sleads through frozen waies he went.

Not like Sarmatian Scithians (for the Moscouites be so)
He found them plaine, but rather much in Pompe to ouer-floe,
They neuer in the Russian Courte till then did English see:
His intertainment therefore was as stately as might be.
In sundrie Roomes weare hundreds seene in Gold and Tyssue clad:
A Maiestie, Augustus-like, their King inthroned had.
Let passe what paste in speech betwixt our Pilot and their King:
Full well could Chancelor demeane himselfe in euery thing:
Let passe how in Basilius Court most royally he fead:
Suffise it that our Agent of his arrant thither spead:
That is, that Ours might trade with thē, of which large leaue is read.
More, not vnworthie note, here of our purpose is to say,
But this be first of Mandeuil remembred by the way.