The Voyages of the English Nation to Newfoundland , to the Isles of Ramea, and the Isles of Assumption otherwise called Natiscotec, situate at the mouth of the River of Canada, and to the coastes of Cape Briton, and Arambec, corruptly called Norumbega, with the Patents, letters, and advertisements thereunto belonging.
The voyage of the two ships, whereof the one was called the Dominus vobiscum, set out the 20 day of May in the 19 yere of king Henry the eight, and in the yere of our Lord God 1527. for the discoverie of the North partes.
MASTER ROBERT THORNE of Bristoll, a notable member and ornament of his country, as wel for his learning, as great charity to the poore, in a letter of his to king Henry the 8 and a large discourse to doctor Leigh , his Ambassadour to Charles the Emperour, (which both are to be seene almost in the beginning of the first volume of this my work) exhorted the aforesaid king with very waighty and substantial reasons, to set forth a discovery even to the North Pole. And that it may be knowne that this his motion tooke present effect, I thought it good herewithall to put downe the testimonies of two of our Chroniclers. M. Hall, and M. Grafton, who both write in this sort. This same moneth (say they) king Henry the 8 sent 2 faire ships wel manned & victualled, having in them divers cunning men to seeke strange regions, & so they set forth out of the Thames the 20 day of May in the 19 yeere of his raigne, which was the yere of our Lord. 1527. And whereas master Hal, and master Grafton say, that in those ships there were divers cunning men, I have made great enquirie of such as by their yeeres and delight in Navigation, might give me any light to know who those cunning men should be, which were the directers in the aforesaid voyage. And it hath bene tolde me by sir Martine Frobisher, and M. Richard Allen, a knight of the Sepulchre, that a Canon of Saint Paul in London , which was a great Mathematician, and a man indued with wealth, did much advance the action, and went therein himselfe in person, but what his name was I cannot learne of any. And further they told me that one of the ships was called The Dominus vobiscum, which is a name likely to be given by a religious man of those dayes: and that sayling very farre Northwestward, one of the ships was cast away as it entred into a dangerous gulph, about the great opening, betweene the North parts of Newfoundland , and the countrey lately called by her Majestie, Meta Incognita. Whereupon the other ship shaping her course towards Cape Briton, and the coastes of Arambec, and oftentimes putting their men on land to search the state of those unknowen regions, returned home about the beginning of October, of the yere aforesayd. And thus much (by reason of the great negligence of the writers of those times, who should have used more care in preserving of the memories of the worthy actes of our nation,) is all that hitherto I can learne, or finde out of this voyage.The voyage of M. Hore and divers other gentlemen, to Newfoundland , and Cape Briton, in the yere 1536 and in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8.
ONE master Hore of London, a man of goodly stature and of great courage, and given to the studie of Cosmographie, in the 28 yere of king Henry the 8 and in the yere of our Lord 1536 encouraged divers Gentlemen and others, being assisted by the kings favour and good countenance, to accompany him in a voyage of discoverie upon the Northwest parts of America : wherein his perswasions tooke such effect, that within short space many gentlemen of the Innes of court, and of the Chancerie, and divers others of good worship, desirous to see the strange things of the world, very willingly entred into the action with him, some of whose names were as followeth: M. Weekes a gentleman of the West countrey of five hundred markes by the yeere living. M. Tucke a gentleman of Kent. M. Tuckfield. M. Thomas Buts the sonne of Sir William Buts knight, of Norfolke, which was lately living, and from whose mouth I wrote most of this relation. M. Hardie, M. Biron, M. Carter, M. Wright, M. Rastall Serjeant Rastals brother, M. Ridley, and divers other, which all were in the Admyrall called the Trinitie, a ship of seven score tunnes, wherein M. Hore himselfe was imbarked. In the other ship whose name was the Minion, went a very learned and vertuous gentleman one M. Armigil Wade, Afterwardes Clerke of the Counsailes of king Henry the 8 and king Edward the sixth, father to the worshipfull M. William Wade now Clerke of the privie Counsell, M. Oliver Dawbeney marchant of London , M. Joy afterward gentleman of the Kings Chappel, with divers other of good account. The whole number that went in the two tall ships aforesaid, to wit, the Trinitie and the Minion, were about sixe score persons, whereof thirty were gentlemen, which all we mustered in warlike maner at Graves-end, and after the receiving of the Sacrament, they embarked themselves in the ende of Aprill. 1536. From the time of their setting out from Gravesend , they were very long at sea, to witte, above two moneths, and never touched any land untill they came to part of the West Indies about Cape Briton, shaping their course thence Northeastwardes, untill they came to the Island of Penguin, which is very full of rockes and stones, whereon they went and found it full of great foules white and gray, as big as geese, and they saw infinite numbers of their egges. They drave a great number of the foules into their boates upon their sayles, and tooke up many of their egges, the foules they flead and their skinnes were very like hony combes full of holes being flead off: they dressed and eate them and found them to be very good and nourishing meat. They saw also store of beares both blacke and white, of whome they killed some, and tooke them for no bad foode. M. Oliver Dawbeny, which (as it is before mentioned) was in this voyage, and in the Minion, told M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple these things following: to wit, That after their arrivall in Newfoundland , and having bene there certaine dayes at ancre, and not having yet seene any of the naturall people of the countrey, the same Dawbeney walking one day on the hatches, spied a boate with Savages of those parts, rowing downe the Bay toward them, to gaze upon the ship and our people, and taking vewe of their comming aloofe, hee called to such as were under the hatches, and willed them to come up if they would see the natural people of the countrey, that they had so long and so much desired to see: whereupon they came up, and tooke viewe of the Savages rowing toward them and their ship, and upon the viewe they manned out a ship-boat to meet them and to take them. But they spying our ship-boat making towards them, returned with maine force and fled into an Island that lay up in the Bay or river there, and our men pursued them into the Island, and the Savages fledde and escaped: but our men found a fire, and the side of a beare on a wooden spit left at the same by the Savages that were fled. There in the same place they found a boote of leather garnished on the outward side of the calfe with certaine brave trailes, as it were of rawe silke, and also found a certaine great warme mitten: And these caryed with them, they returned to their shippe, not finding the Savages, nor seeing any thing else besides the soyle, and the things growing in the same, which chiefly were store of firre and pine trees. And further, the said M. Dawbeny told him, that lying there they grew into great want of victuals, and that there they found small reliefe, more then that they had from the nest of an Osprey, that brought hourely to her yong great plentie of divers sorts of fishes. But such was the famine that increased amongst them from day to day, that they were forced to seeke to relieve themselves of raw herbes and rootes that they sought on the maine: but the famine increasing, and the reliefe of herbes being to little purpose to satisfie their insatiable hunger, in the fieldes and deserts here and there, the fellowe killed his mate while he stooped to take up a roote for his reliefe, and cutting out pieces of his bodie whom he had murthered, broyled the same on the coles and greedily devoured them. By this meane the company decreased, and the officers knew not what was become of them; And it fortuned that one of the company driven with hunger to seeke abroade for reliefe found out in the fieldes the savour of broyled flesh, and fell out with one for that he would suffer him and his fellowes to sterve, enjoying plentie as he thought: and this matter growing to cruell speaches, he that had the broyled meate, burst out into these wordes: If thou wouldest needes know, the broyled meate that I had was a piece of such a mans buttocke. The report of this brought to the ship, the Captaine found what became of those that were missing, & was perswaded that some of them were neither devoured with wilde beastes, nor yet destroyed with Savages: And hereupon hee stood up and made a notable Oration, containing, Howe much these dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched the Scriptures from first to last, what God had in cases of distresse done for them that called upon him, and told them that the power of the Almighty was then no lesse, then in al former time it had bene. And added, that if it had not pleased God to have holpen them in that distresse, that it had bene better to have perished in body, and to have lived everlastingly, then to have relieved for a poore time their mortal bodyes, and to bee condemned everlastingly both body and soule to the unquenchable fire of hell. And thus having ended to that effect, he began to exhort to repentance, and besought all the company to pray, that it might please God to looke upon their miserable present state, and for his owne mercie to relieve the same. The famine increasing, and the inconvenience of the men that were missing being found, they agreed amongst themselves rather then all should perish, to cast lots who should be killed: And such was the mercie of God, that the same night there arrived a French ship in that port, well furnished with vittaile, and such was the policie of the English, that they became masters of the same, and changing ships and vittailing them, they set sayle to come into England . In their journey they were so farre Northwards, that they sawe mighty Islands of yce in the sommer season, on which were haukes and other foules to rest themselves being weary of flying over farre from the maine. They sawe also certaine great white foules with red bils and red legs, somewhat bigger then Herons, which they supposed to be Storkes. They arrived at St. Ives in Cornewall about the ende of October. From thence they departed unto a certaine castle belonging to sir John Luttrell, where M. Thomas Buts, and M. Rastall and other Gentlemen of the voyage were very friendly entertained: after that they came to the Earle of Bathe at Bathe, and thence to Bristoll, so to London . M. Buts was so changed in the voyage with hunger and miserie, that sir William his father and my Lady his mother knew him not to be their sonne, untill they found a secret marke which was a wart upon one of his knees, as hee told me Richard Hakluyt of Oxford himselfe, to whom I rode 200. miles onely to learne the whole trueth of this voyage from his own mouth, as being the onely man now alive that was in this discoverie. Certaine moneths after, those Frenchmen came into England , and made complaint to king Henry the 8: the king causing the matter to be examined, and finding the great distresse of his subjects, and the causes of the dealing so with the French, was so mooved with pitie, that he punished not his subjects, but of his owne purse made full and royall recompence unto the French. In this distresse of famine, the English did somewhat relieve their vitall spirits, by drinking at the springs the fresh water out of certaine wooden cups, out of which they had drunke their Aqua composita before.An act against the exaction of money or any other thing by any officer for licence to traffique into Iseland & Newfoundland , made in An. 2. Edwardi sexti.
FORASMUCH as within these few yeeres now last past, there have bene levied, perceived & taken by certaine of the officers of the Admiraltie, of such Marchants, and fishermen as have used and practised the adventures and journeys into Iseland, Newfoundland , Ireland , and other places commodious for fishing, and the getting of fish, in and upon the Seas or otherwise, by way of Marchants in those parties, divers great exactions, as summes of money, doles or shares of fish, and such other like things, to the great discouragement & hinderance of the same Marchants and fishermen, and to no little dammage of the whole common wealth, and thereof also great complaints have bene made, & informations also yerely to the kings Majesties most honourable councell: for reformation whereof, and to the intent also that the sayd Marchants and fishermen may have occasion the rather to practise & use the same trade of marchandizing, & fishing freely without any such charges and exactions, as are before limited, wherby it is to be thought that more plentie of fish shall come into this Realme, and thereby to have the same at more reasonable prices: Be it therfore enacted by the king our soveraigne Lord, and the lords and commons in this present parliament assembled, and by authoritie of the same, that neither the Admiral, nor any officer, or minister, officers or ministers of the Admiraltie for the time being, shall in any wise hereafter exact, receive, or take by himselfe, his servant, deputie, servants, or deputies of any such Marchant or fisherman, any summe or summes of money, doles or shares of fish, or any other reward, benefit or advantage whatsoever it be, for any licence to passe this Realme to the sayd voyages or any of them, nor upon any respect concerning the said voyages, nor any of them, upon paine to forfeit for the first offence treble the summe, or treble the value of the reward, benefite or advantage, that any such officer or minister shall hereafter have or take of any such Marchants or fishermen. For the which forfeiture the party grieved, and every other person or persons whatsoever he or they be, shall and may sue for the same by information, bill, plaint, or action of debt in any of the kings courts of recorde: The king to have the one moitie, and the party complaining the other moitie: in which suite no essoigne, protection, or wager of law shall be allowed. And for the second offence the party so offending not only to lose and forfeite his or their office or offices in the Admiraltie, but also to make fine and ransome at the kings will and pleasure. By this acte it appeareth, that the trade out of England to Newfound land was common and frequented about the beginning of the raigne of Edward the 6. namely in the yeere 1548. and it is much to be marveiled, that by the negligence of our men, the countrey in all this time hath bene no better searched.A letter written to M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple, conteining a report of the true state and commodities of Newfoundland , by M. Anthonie Parkhurst Gentleman, 1578.
MASTER HAKLUYT,
after most heartie commendations,
with like thankes for your manifold kindnesse to me
shewed, not for any merits that hitherto have beene mine,
but wholly proceeding, I must needs confesse, of your
owne good nature, which is so ready prest to benefit
your countrey and all such poore men as have any sparke
in them of good desires, that you do not onely become
their friend, but also humble your selfe as servant in
their affaires: for which I would to God I were once in
place where I might cause your burning zeale to bee
knowen to those that have authoritie, power, and abilitie
to recompense your travelling mind and pen, wherewith
you cease not day nor night to labour and travell to
bring your good and godly desires to some passe, though
not possibly to that happy ende that you most thirst for:
for such is the malice of wicked men the devils instruments in this our age, that they cannot suffer any thing
(or at least few) to proceed and prosper that tendeth to
the setting forth of Gods glory, and the amplifying of
the Christian faith, wherein hitherto princes have not bene
so diligent as their calling required. Alas, the labourers
as yet are few, the harvest great, I trust God hath made
you an instrument to increase the number, and to moove
men of power, to redeeme the people of Newfoundland
and those parts from out of the captivitie of that spirituall
Pharao, the devill.
Now to answer some part of your letter touching the
sundry navies that come to Newfoundland
, or Terra nova,
for fish: you shal understand that some fish not neere
the other by 200. leagues, and therefore the certaintie
is not knowen; and some yeres come many more then
other some, as I see the like among us: who since my
first travell being but 4. yeeres, are increased from 30.
sayle to 50. which commeth to passe chiefly by the
imagination of the Westerne men, who thinke their neighbours have had greater gaines then in very deed they
have, for that they see me to take such paines yeerely
to go in proper person: they also suppose that I find
some secret commoditie by reason that I doe search the
harbors, creekes and havens, and also the land much
more then ever any Englishman hath done. Surely I
am glad that it so increaseth, whereof soever it springeth.
But to let this passe, you shall understand that I am
informed that there are above 100. saile of Spaniards
that come to take Cod (who make all wet, and do drie it
when they come home) besides 20. or 30. more that come
from Biskaie to kill Whale for Traine. These be better
appoynted for shipping and furniture of munition, then
any nation saving the Englishmen, who commonly are
lords of the harbors where they fish, and do use all
strangers helpe in fishing if need require, according to
an old custome of the countrey, which thing they do
willingly, so that you take nothing from them more then
a boat or twaine of salt, in respect of your protection of
them against rovers or other violent intruders, who do
often put them from good harbor, &c. As touching
their tunnage, I thinke it may be neere five or sixe
thousand tunne. But of Portugals there are not lightly
above 50. saile, and they make all wet in like sorte,
whose tunnage may amount to three thousand tuns, and
not upwarde. Of the French nation and Britons, are
about one hundred and fiftie sailes, the most of their
shipping is very small, not past fortie tunnes, among
which some are great and reasonably well appointed,
better then the Portugals, and not so well as the
Spaniards, and the burden of them may be some 7000.
tunne. Their shipping is from all parts of France and
Britaine, and the Spaniards from most parts of Spaine,
the Portugals from Aviero and Viana
, and from 2. or 3.
ports more. The trade that our nation hath to Island
maketh, that the English are not there in such numbers
as other nations.
Now to certifie you of the fertilitie and goodnesse of
the countrey, you shall understand that I have in sundry
places sowen Wheate, Barlie, Rie, Oates, Beanes, Pease
and seedes of herbes, kernels, Plumstones, nuts, all which
have prospered as in England
. The countrey yeeldeth
many good trees of fruit, as Filberds in some places, but
in all places Cherie trees, and a kind of Pearetree meet
to graffe on. As for Roses, they are as common as
brambles here: Strawberies, Dewberies, and Raspis, as
common as grasse. The timber is most Firre, yet plentie
of Pineapple trees: fewe of these two kinds meete to
maste a ship of threescore and ten: But neere Cape
Briton, and to the Southward, big and sufficient for any
ship. There be also Okes & thornes, there is in all the
countrey plentie of Birch and Alder, which be the meetest
wood for cole, and also willow, which will serve for many
other purposes. As touching the kindes of Fish beside
Cod, there are Herrings, Salmons, Thornebacke, Plase,
or rather wee should call them Flounders, Dog fish, and
another most excellent of taste called of us a Cat, Oisters,
and Muskles, in which I have found pearles above 40.
in one Muskle, and generally all have some, great or
small. I heard of a Portugall that found one woorth
300. duckets: There are also other kinds of Shel-fish, as
limpets, cockles, wilkes, lobsters, and crabs: also a fish
like a Smelt which commeth on shore, and another that
hath the like propertie, called a Squid: these be the fishes,
which (when I please to bee merie with my old companions) I say, doe come on shore when I commaund
them in the name of the 5. ports, and conjure them by
such like words: These also bee the fishes which I may
sweepe with broomes on a heape, and never wet my foote,
onely pronouncing two or three wordes whatsoever they
be appoynted by any man, so they heare my voyce: the
vertue of the wordes be small, but the nature of the fish
great and strange. For the Squid, whose nature is to
come by night as well as by day, I tell them, I set him a
candle to see his way, with which he is much delighted,
or els commeth to wonder at it as doe our fresh water
fish, the other commeth also in the night, but chiefly in
the day, being forced by the Cod that would devoure
him, and therefore for feare comming so neere the shore,
is driven drie by the surge of the Sea on the pibble and
sands. Of these being as good as a Smelt you may take
up with a shove-net as plentifully as you do Wheate in
a shovell, sufficient in three or foure houres for a whole
Citie. There be also other fishes which I tell those that
are desirous of strange newes, that I take as fast as one
would gather up stones, and them I take with a long pole
and hooke. Yea marrie say they, wee beleeve so, and
that you catch all the rest you bring home in that sort,
from Portugals and Frenchmen. No surely, but thus I
doe: with three hookes stretched foorth in the ende of
a pole, I make as it were an Eele speare, with which I
pricke those Flounders as fast as you would take up
fritters with a sharpe pointed sticke, and with that toole
I may take up in lesse then halfe a day Lobsters sufficient
to finde three hundred men for a dayes meate. This
pastime ended, I shewe them that for my pleasure I take
a great Mastive I have, and say no more then thus: Goe
fetch me this rebellious fish that obeyeth not this Gentleman that commeth from Kent
and Christendome, bringing
them to the high water marke, and when hee doubteth
that any of those great Cods by reason of shelving ground
bee like to tumble into the Sea againe, hee will warily
take heede and carrie him up backe to the heape of his
fellowes. This doeth cause my friendes to wonder, and
at the first hearing to judge them notorious lies, but
they laugh and are merrie when they heare the meanes
howe each tale is true.
I tolde you once I doe remember how in my travaile
into Africa
and America
, I found trees that bare Oisters,
which was strange to you, till I tolde you that their
boughes hung in the water, on which both Oisters and
Muskles did sticke fast, as their propertie is, to stakes
and timber.
Nowe to let these merrie tales passe, and to come to
earnest matters againe, you shall understand, that Newfoundland
is in a temperate Climate, and not so colde as
foolish Mariners doe say, who finde it colde sometimes
when plentie of Isles of yce lie neere the shore: but up
in the land they shall finde it hotter then in England
in many parts of the countrey toward the South. This
colde commeth by an accidentall meanes, as by the yce
that commeth fleeting from the North partes of the
worlde, and not by the situation of the countrey, or
nature of the Climate. The countrey is full of little
small rivers all the yeere long proceeding from the mountaines, ingendred both of snow and raine: few springs
that ever I could finde or heare of, except it bee towards
the South: in some places or rather in most places great
lakes with plentie of fish, the countrey most covered with
woods of firre, yet in many places indifferent good grasse,
and plentie of Beares every where, so that you may kill of
them as oft as you list: their flesh is as good as yong
beefe, and hardly you may know the one from the other
if it be poudred but two dayes. Of Otters we may take
like store. There are Sea Guls, Murres, Duckes, wild
Geese, and many other kind of birdes store, too long to
write, especially at one Island named Penguin, where wee
may drive them on a planke into our ship as many as
shall lade her. These birdes are also called Penguins,
and cannot flie, there is more meate in one of these then
in a goose: the Frenchmen that fish neere the grand baie,
doe bring small store of flesh with them, but victuall themselves alwayes with these birdes. Nowe againe, for Venison plentie, especially to the North about the grand baie,
and in the South neere Cape Race, and Plesance: there
are many other kinds of beasts, as Luzarnes and other
mighty beastes like to Camels in greatnesse, and their
feete cloven, I did see them farre off not able to discerne
them perfectly, but their steps shewed that their feete
were cloven, and bigger then the feete of Camels, I
suppose them to bee a kind of Buffes which I read to bee
in the countreyes adjacent, and very many in the firme
land. There bee also to the Northwards, Hares and
Foxes in all parts so plentifully, that at noone dayes they
take away our flesh before our faces within lesse then
halfe a paire of buts length, where foure and twentie
persons were turning of drie fish, and two dogs in sight,
yet stoode they not in feare till wee gave shot and set the
dogs upon them: the Beares also be as bold, which will
not spare at midday to take your fish before your face,
and I beleeve assuredly would not hurt any bodie unlesse
they be forced.
Nowe to shew you my fancie what places I suppose
meetest to inhabite in those parts discovered of late by
our nation: There is neere about the mouth of the grand
Bay, an excellent harbour called of the Frenchmen Chasteaux, and one Island in the very entrie of the streight
called Bell Isle, which places if they be peopled and well
fortified (as there are stones and things meete for it
throughout all Newfound land) wee shall bee lordes of
the whole fishing in small time, if it doe so please the
Queenes Majestie, and from thence send wood and cole
with all necessaries to Labrador
lately discovered: but I
am of opinion, and doe most stedfastly beleeve that we
shall finde as rich Mines in more temperate places and
Climates, and more profitable for fishing then any yet we
have used, where wee shall have not farre from thence
plentie of salt made by fire undoubtedly, and very likely
by the heate of the Sunne, by reason I finde salt kerned
on the rockes in nine and fortie and better: these places
may bee found for salte in three and fortie. I know
more touching these two commodities last remembred then
any man of our nation doeth; for that I have some
knowledge in such matters, and have most desired the
finding of them by painefull travaile, and most diligent
inquirie. Now to be short, for I have bene over long by
Master Butlers means, who cryed on mee to write at
large, and of as many things as I call to minde woorthy
of remembrance: wherefore this one thing more. I could
wish the Island in the mouth of the river of Canada
should bee inhabited, and the river searched, for that
there are many things which may rise thereof, as I will
shew you hereafter. I could find in my heart to make
proofe whether it be true or no that I have read and
heard of Frenchmen and Portugals to bee in that river,
and about Cape Briton. I had almost forgot to speake
of the plentie of wolves, and to shew you that there be
foxes, blacke, white & gray: other beasts I know none
save those before remembred. I found also certain Mines
of yron and copper in S. Johns, and in the Island of
Yron, which things might turne to our great benefite, if
our men had desire to plant thereabout, for proofe whereof
I have brought home some of the oare of both sortes.
And thus I ende, assuring you on my faith, that if I had
not beene deceived by the vile Portugals descending of
the Jewes and Judas kinde, I had not failed to have
searched this river, and all the coast of Cape Briton, what
might have bene found to have benefited our countrey:
but they breaking their bands, and falsifying their faith
and promise, disappointed me of the salte they should
have brought me in part of recompense of my good service
in defending them two yeeres against French Rovers, that
had spoyled them, if I had not defended them.
By meanes whereof they made me lose not onely the
searching of the countrey, but also forced mee to come
home with great losse above 600. li. For recompence
whereof I have sent my man into Portugall to demaund
justice at the Kings hand, if not, I must put up my
supplication to the Queenes Majesty & her honourable
councell, to grant me leave to stay here so much of their
goods as they have damnified mee, or else that I may
take of them in Newfound land, as much fish as shall be
woorth 600. li. or as much as the salte might have made.
I pray you advertise mee what way I were best to take,
and what hope there will bee of a recompence if I follow
the suite: many there are that doe comfort me, and doe
bid me proceede, for that her Majestie and the councell
doe tender poore fisher men, who with me have susteined
three hundred pound losse in that voyage. And to conclude, if you and your friend shall thinke me a man
sufficient and of credite, to seeke the Isle of S. John, or
the river of Canada
, with any part of the firme land of
Cape Briton, I shall give my diligence for the true and
perfect discoverie, and leave some part of mine owne
businesse to further the same: and thus I end, committing you to God. From Bristow the 13. of November,
1578.
Yours to use and command
ANTHONY PARCKHURST.
ANTHONY PARCKHURST.
The Letters Patents graunted by her Majestie to Sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, for the inhabiting and planting of our people in America .
ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England
, &c.
To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting.
Know ye that of our especiall grace, certaine science and
meere motion, we have given and granted, and by these
presents for us, our heires and successours, doe give and
graunt to our trustie and welbeloved servaunt Sir Humfrey
Gilbert of Compton, in our Countie of Devonshire knight,
and to his heires and assignes for ever, free libertie and
licence from time to time and at all times for ever here
after, to discover, finde, search out, and view such
remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countreys and territories not actually possessed of any Christian prince or
people, as to him, his heires & assignes, and to every or
any of them, shall seeme good: and the same to have,
hold, occupie and enjoy to him, his heires and assignes
for ever, with all commodities, jurisdictions and royalties
both by sea and land: and the sayd sir Humfrey and all
such as from time to time by licence of us, our heires
and successours, shall goe and travell thither, to inhabite
or remaine there, to build and fortifie at the discretion of
the sayde sir Humfrey, and of his heires and assignes,
the statutes or actes of Parliament made against Fugitives, or against such as shall depart, remaine, or continue
out of our Realme of England without licence, or any
other acte, statute, lawe, or matter whatsoever to the
contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And wee doe
likewise by these presents, for us, our heires and successours, give full authoritie and power to the saide Sir
Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and every of them, that
hee and they, and every, or any of them, shall and may
at all and every time and times hereafter, have, take, and
lead in the same voyages, to travell thitherward, and to
inhabite there with him, and every or any of them, such
and so many of our subjects as shall willingly accompany
him and them, and every or any of them, with sufficient
shipping, and furniture for their transportations, so that
none of the same persons, nor any of them be such as
hereafter shall be specially restrained by us, our heires
and successors. And further, that he the said Humfrey,
his heires and assignes, and every or any of them shall
have, hold, occupy & enjoy to him, his heires or assignes,
and every of them for ever, all the soyle of all such lands,
countries, & territories so to be discovered or possessed as
aforesaid, and of all Cities, Castles, Townes and Villages,
and places in the same, with the rites, royalties and
jurisdictions, as well marine as other, within the sayd
lands or countreys of the seas thereunto adjoyning, to be
had or used with ful power to dispose thereof, & of every
part thereof in fee simple or otherwise, according to
the order of the laws of England
, as nere as the same
conveniently may be, at his, and their will & pleasure, to
any person then being, or that shall remaine within the
allegiance of us, our heires and successours, paying unto
us for all services, dueties and demaunds, the fift part of
all the oare of gold and silver, that from time to time, and
at all times after such discoverie, subduing and possessing
shall be there gotten: all which lands, countreys and
territories, shall for ever bee holden by the sayd Sir
Humfrey, his heires and assignes of us, our heires and
successours by homage, and by the sayd payment of the
sayd fift part before reserved onely for all services.
And moreover, we doe by these presents for us, our
heires and successours, give and graunt licence to the
sayde Sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires or assignes, and
to every of them, that hee and they, and every or any of
them shall, and may from time to time, and all times for
ever hereafter, for his and their defence, encounter,
expulse, repell, and resist, as well by Sea as by land, and
by all other wayes whatsoever, all, and every such person
and persons whatsoever, as without the speciall licence
and liking of the sayd Sir Humfrey, and of his heires
and assignes, shall attempt to inhabite within the sayd
countreys, or any of them, or within the space of two
hundreth leagues neere to the place or places within such
countreys as aforesayd, if they shall not bee before
planted or inhabited within the limites aforesayd, with the
subjects of any Christian prince, being in amitie with
her Majesty, where the said sir Humfrey, his heires or
assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or any of their
associates or companies, shall within sixe yeeres next
ensuing, make their dwellings and abidings, or that shall
enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter unlawfully to
annoy either by Sea or land, the said sir Humfrey, his
heires or assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or
any of their companies: giving and graunting by these
presents, further power and authoritie to the sayd sir
Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and every of them
from time to time, and at all times for ever hereafter to
take and surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoever, all
and every person and persons, with their shippes, vessels,
and other goods and furniture, which without the licence
of the sayd sir Humfrey, or his heires or assignes as
aforesayd, shall bee found traffiquing into any harborough
or harboroughs, creeke or creekes within the limites aforesayde, (the subjects of our Realmes and dominions, and
all other persons in amitie with us, being driven by force
of tempest or shipwracke onely excepted) and those
persons and every of them with their ships, vessels, goods,
and furniture, to detaine and possesse, as of good and
lawfull prize, according to the discretion of him the sayd
sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and of every or any
of them. And for uniting in more perfect league and
amitie of such countreys, landes and territories so to bee
possessed and inhabited as aforesayde, with our Realmes
of England and Ireland
, and for the better encouragement
of men to this enterprise: wee doe by these presents
graunt, and declare, that all such countreys so hereafter
to bee possessed and inhabited as aforesayd, from thencefoorth shall bee of the allegiance of us, our heires, and
successours. And wee doe graunt to the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and to all and every of
them, and to all and every other person and persons,
being of our allegiance, whose names shall be noted or
entred in some of our courts of Record, within this our
Realme of England, and that with the assent of the sayd
sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, shall nowe in this
journey for discoverie, or in the second journey for
conquest hereafter, travel to such lands, countries and
territories as aforesaid, and to their and every of their
heires: that they and every or any of them being either
borne within our sayd Realmes of England or Ireland
,
or within any other place within our allegiance, and
which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any the lands,
countreys and territories, with such licence as aforesayd,
shall, and may have, and enjoy all the privileges of free
denizens and persons native of England
, and within our
allegiance: any law, custome, or usage to the contrary
notwithstanding.
And forasmuch, as upon the finding out, discovering and
inhabiting of such remote lands, countreys and territories,
as aforesayd, it shall be necessarie for the safetie of all
men that shall adventure themselves in those journeys or
voiages, to determine to live together in Christian peace
and civill quietnesse each with other, whereby every one
may with more pleasure and profit, enjoy that whereunto
they shall attaine with great paine and perill: wee for
us, our heires and successours are likewise pleased and
contented, and by these presents doe give and graunt to
the sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for ever,
that he and they, and every or any of them, shall and
may from time to time for ever hereafter within the sayd
mentioned remote lands and countreys, and in the way by
the Seas thither, and from thence, have full and meere
power and authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, governe
and rule by their, and every or any of their good discretions and pollicies, as well in causes capitall or criminall,
as civill, both marine and other, all such our subjects and
others, as shall from time to time hereafter adventure
themselves in the sayd journeys or voyages habitative or
possessive, or that shall at any time hereafter inhabite
any such lands, countreys or territories as aforesayd,
or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any
the sayd place or places, where the sayd sir Humfrey
or his heires, or assignes, or any of them, or any of his
or their associats or companies, shall inhabite within sixe
yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such
statutes, lawes and ordinances, as shall be by him the
said sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, or every, or any
of them devised or established for the better governement
of the said people as aforesayd: so alwayes that the sayd
statutes, lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conveniently may, agreeable to the forme of the lawes &
pollicy of England
: and also, that they be not against
the true Christian faith or religion now professed in the
church of England
, nor in any wise to withdraw any of
the subjects or people of those lands or places from the
allegiance of us, our heires or successours, as their
immediate Soveraignes under God. And further we doe
by these presents for us, our heires and successours, give
and graunt full power and authority to our trustie and
welbeloved counseller, sir William Cecill knight, lord
Burleigh, our high treasurer of England
, and to the lord
treasurer of England
of us, for the time being, and to
the privie counsell of us, our heires and successours, or
any foure of them for the time being, that he, they, or
any foure of them, shall, and may from time to time and
at all times hereafter, under his or their handes or seales
by vertue of these presents, authorize and licence the sayd
sir Humfrey Gilbert, his heires and assignes, and every
or any of them by him and themselves, or by their or any
of their sufficient atturneys, deputies officers, ministers,
factors and servants, to imbarke and transport out of
our Realmes of England and Ireland
, all, or any of his or
their goods, and all or any the goods of his or their
associates and companies, and every or any of them, with
such other necessaries and commodities of any our
Realmes, as to the said lord treasurer or foure of the
privie counsell of us, our heires, or successours for the
time being, as aforesayd, shall be from time to time by
his or their wisedoms or discretions thought meete and
convenient for the better reliefe and supportation of him
the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, and every
or any of them, and his and their, and every or any of
their said associates and companies, any act, statute,
lawe, or other thing to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
Provided alwayes, and our will and pleasure is, and
wee doe hereby declare to all Christian Kings, princes
and states, that if the said Sir Humfrey, his heires or
assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence
or appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter
robbe or spoile by Sea or by land, or doe any act of
unjust and unlawfull hostilitie to any of the Subjects of
us, our heires, or successours, or any of the Subjects
of any King, prince, ruler, governour or state being then
in perfect league and amitie with us, our heires or
successours: and that upon such injurie, or upon just
complaint of any such prince, ruler, governour or state,
or their subjects, wee our heires or successors shall make
open proclamation within any the portes of our Realme
of England commodious, that the said Sir Humfrey, his
heires or assignes, or any other to whom these our Letters
patents may extend, shall within the terme to be limited
by such proclamations, make full restitution and satisfaction of all such injuries done, so as both we and the
saide Princes, or others so complayning, may holde us
and themselves fully contended: And that if the saide
Sir Humfrey, his heires and assignes, shall not make or
cause to bee made satisfaction accordingly, within such
time so to be limited: that then it shall bee lawfull to us,
our heires and successors, to put the said Sir Humfrey,
his heires and assignes, and adherents, and all the
inhabitants of the said places to be discovered as is aforesaide, or any of them out of our allegiance and protection,
and that from and after such time of putting out of protection the saide Sir Humfrey, and his heires, assignes,
adherents and others so to be put out, and the said places
within their habitation, possession and rule, shal be out
of our protection and allegiance, and free for all Princes
and others to pursue with hostilitie as being not our
Subjects, nor by us any way to bee advowed, maintained
or defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor to our
protection, dominion or allegiance any way belonging,
for that expresse mention, &c. In witnesse whereof, &c.
Witnesse our selfe at Westminster
the 11. day of June,
the twentieth yeere of our raigne. Anno Dom. 1578.
Per ipsam Reginam, &c.
