Columbus did not see the continent of America until two years later, in 1498, his first discoveries being the islands of the West Indies.
It was not until the year 1553 that an attempt was made to discover a North-west passage to Cathaya or China.

Sir Hugh Willonghby was put in command of the expedition, which consisted of three ships,--the Bona Esperanza, the Bona Ventura (Captain Chancellor), and the Bona Confidentia (Captain Durforth),--most probably ships built by Venetians.

Sir Hugh reached 72 degrees of north latitude, and was compelled by the buffeting of the winds to take refuge with Captain Durforth's vessel at Arcina Keca, in Russian Lapland, where the two captains and the crews of these ships, seventy in number, were frozen to death.

In the following year some Russian fishermen found Sir John Willonghby sitting dead in his cabin, with his diary and other papers beside him.
Captain Chancellor was more fortunate.

He reached Archangel in the White Sea, where no ship had ever been seen before.