America and West Indies: Addenda 1574 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 9, 1675-1676 and Addenda 1574-1674. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1893.

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Citation:

'America and West Indies: Addenda 1574', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 9, 1675-1676 and Addenda 1574-1674, ed. W Noel Sainsbury( London, 1893), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol9/pp1-2 [accessed 29 November 2024].

COLONIAL PAPERS. AMERICA AND WEST INDIES.

ADDENDA. 1574–1674.



1574. March 22.	1. Petition of divers gentlemen of the west parts of England to the Queen. To allow of an enterprise by them conceived, and with the help of God, under the protection of her Majesty's most princely name and goodness, at their charges and adventure to be performed for discovery of sundry rich and unknown lands, fatally. and it seemeth by Gods providence, reserved for England and for the honor of her Majesty. Of which attempt petitioners have good and probable reasons to assure them easy and feasible means to attain it, and the commodities be large, without injury or just offence to any Prince of Christendom, as they will be ready to show where her Majesty shall command. And that her Majesty will give petitioners encouragement with her Royal Grant and Promise, that when their travels shall fall out to good and profitable effect, petitioners with their Company and Partners may have such assurance and privilege of her Majesty's most princely goodness, as it shall not be lawful for others to enjoy the fruit of their labours and adventures. "And we shall not only carry, together with the benefit of Christian faith, the most honorable renown, already largely known to the known world of your Majesty's most noble virtues and sovereignty into the farthest parts of the Earth, but also daily pray to God long to preserve your highness with all increase of honor and dominion." Endorsed, "Supplication of certain gentlemen in the west parts for a new navigation. Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Sir George Peckham, Mr. Carlile, and Sir Ri. Grenville and others, Voyages." [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 95, No. 63.]
March 22.	2. Certain Gentlemen of the West Country to the Lord [Lincoln] High Admiral of England. They are desirous to adventure themselves and their goods in matter of servier honorable and profitable to the Queen's Majesty and the Realm with like hope of benefit to arise to such as shall be adventurers therein: and having sundry ways good and probable causes to lead them both by their own understanding and the help of such whose skill and experience they have used, have conceived a means by discovery of certain new trades of navigation and traffic to advance the honour of their Sovereign Lady and Country, with enlarging the bounds of Christian religion, the beneficial utterance of the Commodities of England, the increase and maintenance of seamen, the relief of the people at home and sundry other commodities such as his wisdom can easily see to ensue thereof. Beseech him to peruse the inclosed Articles and command them to attend his Lordship, that they may make more ample declaration of the probability thereof, the means they have to attain it, the commodities to grow by it, the easy resolving of such difficulties as may be objected to without injury to any Prince or country or any just offence of amity, and lastly how the whole shall be performed without her Majesty's charge or adventure, or any other trouble more than her gracious allowance of their good meaning and direction of their proceedings. Beseech him to take the same into his protection and commend the same to her Majesty. Enclosed,
March 22.	2. i. The articles referred to in the preceding letter from certain Gentlemen of the West Country, divided into the following heads, viz.:—The matter itself offered to be attempted. That it is feasible. What means we have commodiously to achieve it. The commodities to grow of it. An answer of such difficulties and matters as may be objected. That there is no injury offered to any Prince or Country, or any offence of amity. The offer for performance thereof without Her Majesty's charge or adventure. Matters thought upon to be prayed for Her Majesty's good allowance of the enterprise and direction of the proceedings, always both referring the péculiarities thereof to farther consideration, and to his Lordship's advice and judgment. Together, 6 pp. [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 95, Nos. 64, 64 I.]