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DEPT. OF PROVRICOAL SECRETARY Province of Manitoba ROOM 137 — PHONE WH 6-7439 October 22, 1965. LEGISLATIVE BUILDING DOG WOMMOPEG PAAMFTOMA

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY October 31, 1631: The 75-ton pinnace Charles dropped anchor in a British harbour on this date after a six months' voyage of discovery in . The captain, a genial Yorkshireman, Luke Foxe by naze chronicled the return of his ship and company with the following words: "I came into the Downes with all my men recovered and sound, not having lost one man or boy, nor any manner of tackling, having beene forth neere 6 montheths, all glory be to God." The boat, named in honor of Britain's king and described as being half- rotten, had been loaned by the admiralty on the advice of Sir , who had also offered to loan his charts, journals and papers relating to his own voy- age of discovery made 19 years earlier. Foxe had sailed into the Bay through seeking the . Prevented from exploring to the north by solid ice flows he turned south and reached the northeastern extremity of a group of small, low-lying is- lands at the north end of Churchill Bay which Button had named Hubbart's Hope. This island point, which is joined to the mainland at low tide, is now known as Hubbart Point. On August 8, Foxe reached the place where Button had wintered, opposite the mouth of the river he had named for his sailing master, Francis Nelson. For 12 days, the pinnace swung with the tide at anchor while Foxe re- erected Buttcn's cross and found the notice Button had left, stating his inten- tion to abandon his ship Resolution. (Scurvy had killed so many of Button's men of he had only enough to sail home with one/his ships -- The Discovery, formerly captained by .) Then southward, Foxe pointed his bows, to link up the explorations of Button and Hudson. On August 29, in that lonely expanse of sea, unexplored land and sky -- suddenly, out of a sheltered cove, sailed another ship -- flying at her forepeak, "the Union Flag of Greater Britain." It was Captain Thomas James in his ship, the Henrietta Maria, which had been named for England's French queen. He too was on a voyage of discovery and Foxe was astounded to learn that Captain James, like himself carried a letter ad- dressed to the Emperor of Japan that he was to present, if he was successful in finding that elusive passage. Captain Foxe dined aboard the Henrietta that night and the next morning on a compass bearing of south-south west, the Charles drew away from Captain James' ship. The season was getting late and while James prepared to spend the winter, Luke Foxe trimmed his sails and headed for home. He had taken the advice not to winter in this strange and terrible land, given him by Button, who had learned the terrible tribute in life that would be exacted. Captain James gave his name to the southward extension of Hudson Bay today known as . -30-