thereabouts: and two other Little Barkes likewise, the one called The
Gabriel, whereof Master Fenton, a Gentleman of my Lord of Warwikes, was
Captaine: accompanied with seuen score Gentlemen, souldiers, and sailers,
well furnished with victuals, and other prouision necessarie for one halfe
yeere, on this his second voyage, for the further discouering of the
passage to Cathay, and other Countreys, thereunto adiacent, by West and
Northwest nauigations: which passage or way, is supposed to bee on the
North and Northwest part of America: and the said America to be an Island
inuironed with the sea, where through our Merchants may haue course and
recourse with their merchandize, from these our Northernmost parts of
Europe, to those Orientall coasts of Asia, in much shorter time, and with
greater benefite then any others, to their no little commoditie and profite
that do or shall frequent the same. Our said Captaine and General of this
present voyage and company hauing the yeere before, with two little
pinnesses, to his great danger, and no small commendations, giuen a worthy
attempt towards the performance thereof, is also prest, when occasion shall
be ministred (to the benefite of his Prince, and natiue Countrey) to
aduenture himelfe further therein. As for the second voyage, it seemeth
sufficient that he hath better explored and searched the commodities of
those people and Countreys, which in his first voyage the yeere before he
had found out.

[Sidenote: The Islands Orcades, or Orkney.] Vpon which considerations, the
day and yeere before expressed, we departed from Blacke Wall to Harwich,
where making an accomplishment of things necessary, the last of May we
hoised vp sailes, and with a merrie winde the 7. of Iune we arriued at the
Islands called Orcades, or vulgarly Orkney, being in number 30. subiect and
adiacent to Scotland where we made prouision of fresh water; in the doing
wherof our Generall licensed the Gentlemen and souldiers for their
recreation to go on shore. [Sidenote: The Orcadians upon smal occasion flee