Henry Hudson's 1608 Expedition Sets Out

Happened: 1608-04-22

Description

Hudson left St. Katherine's Docks, on the Thames, London. According to Philip Vail, an Anglican priest blessed the voyagers, but Juet (master seaman) didn't take part in the religious ceremonies. He was busy entertaining friends in his quarters. Hudson was forced to turn out Juet's guests in order to get underway. "The nose of Master Juet was put much out of Joint," Vail says Hudson wrote in his journal. "When I desired to retire to my sleeping cabin, J. was still in foul humours, and had to be summoned to take the watch."

If true, this was an inauspicious start and indicates bad feelings between Juet and Hudson from even before the first day they sailed together. Chamberlain puts the date of sailing as April 25.

Expeditions

Objects