Sir John Wolstenholm, Sir Dudley Digges, and others, being firmly persuaded of the existence of a passage to the northwest, which had hitherto been diligently sought and invariably missed, determined to send out an adventure on their own account. A vessel called the Discovery, of fifty-five tons, was accordingly purchased, and supplied with victuals for six months. The master appointed, was Henry Hudson; who had considerable reputation as a navigator, having previously made three voyages to the northward. One had been directed along the east coast of Greenland: one had been intended to find a passage, eastward, between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, which failed; and one had, in the first instance, been directed also to the north-east, but was eventually diverted to the coast of America, and led to the discovery of Hudson's river.

The Discovery sailed from Gravesend on the 17th of April; and on the 9th of June arrived off Frobisher's Straits. Keeping a westerly course, Hudson saw a flat, open country in latitude 60° N., which he named Desire Provoked. This was on the 8th of July. On the 11th he reached some rocks and islands, which he designated ISLES OF God's Mercy. They were in latitude 62° 9′ N. The next place noted was Hold with Hope, a bay, in latitude 61° 24′ N. Then, between 61° 33′ and 62° 44′, he saw a land, which he named Magna or Nova Brittania.