Polar Regions in the Twentieth Century 
century, and Istoma journeyed from the White 
Sea to Trondhjem in 1496. 
This extended maritime venture by England, 
into unknown and distant seas, was viewed as an 
enterprise of unusual difficulty. The utmost care 
was exercised in preparations; ships were built 
specially suited to northern waters, the crews were 
selected men, and the outfitting was made by 
experts. The undertaking was recognized as a 
national enterprise, and the departure of the squad- 
ron of three ships, on May 30, 1553, under Sir 
Hugh Willoughby, was marked by salutes and 
other demonstrations of public enthusiasm in which 
the court and the populace equally participated. 
Nordenskiold points out that it was historic; he 
says, ‘All was joy and triumph, it seemed as if 
men foresaw that the greatest maritime power 
the history of the world can show, was that day 
born.” 
Willoughby and Derfouth perished with their 
crews on the coast of Lapland, but Chancellor ex- 
tended Britain’s trade, not with China but through 
Russia. (See Chapter XV.) The voyage of 
Burrough, 1556, reached the Petchora, and brought 
information as to Novaya Zemlya and of the 
Russian mariners’ fishing and sailing as far as the 
Ob. Such intelligence not only seemed to forecast 
success, but international complications demanded 
further attempts. 
In 1580 Philip II endeavored to ensure a con- 
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