Stephen Burroughs (as hath been intimated) discover’d amongst other Places, about the Year 1556. the Straight of Vaigats.
Queen Elizabeths Foreland.
Forbisher’s Straight.
In the Year 1576. Sir Martin Forbisher setting forth with two Barques, after he had been out about five Weeks, had sight of a High-land, which he nam’d Queen Elizabeths Foreland: Thence Sailing more Northerly to the heighth of about sixty two Degrees, he descry’d a great Sea or Inlet, which he entred, and thence it took the Appellation of Forbisher’s Straight. About two years after proceeding to a farther discovery of it, he entred a good way into it, and took possession of the utmost Place he went to for Queen Elizabeth, who thereupon gave it the Name of Meta Incognita.
Anno 1580. Arthur Pett and Charles Jackman were sent out by the Russian Company, to make a Discovery of the River Ob, and passing the Straight of Waigats, took particular observation of the Islands and Places there, but not being able to pass much farther, by reason of the Ice, towards the latter end of the year they return’d.
Davis’s Straight.
In prosecution of this Discovery to the North-West, Captain John Davis of Sandruge in Devonshire, made three Voyages; his first Anno 1585. his second, 1587. in which he met with many strange Adventures; but the main thing that accru’d from these Voyages, was the finding of a mighty Through-let between vast and desart Islands, to which his Name gave the Appellation of Fretum Davis, or Davis’s Straight.
The next that went upon this Design was Captain George Weymouth, who from the Year 1585 to 1602 made several Expeditions, which produc’d large Relations of strange Accidents that befell them, but little of Discovery farther than what had been made before.
Cape Christianus.
Mr. James Hall, very noted for his Voyages to Groenland, (which before was by Captain Davis call’d Desolation) at his falling in with that Place nam’d a Head-land from the then King of Denmark, Cape Christianus, which some think to be no other than Cape Farewel.