1584.
Jan. 7.
Paris. From my Lord Ambassador's House. |
31. Richard Hakluyt, Preacher [with Sir Edward Stafford], to
See. Sir Francis Walsingham. Understands his special favour
and good will towards him, as also his expectation of Hakluyt's
diligent inquiry of such things as may yield light unto our
Western discovery. Yields most humble thanks for the two
former, and for the latter has not nor will he omit any possible
diligence expecting intelligence from Roanne, Dieppe, and St. Malo
very shortly. Has seen in one man's house called Parossi the
value of five thousand crowns' worth of furs,—sables, beavers,
otters, and other sorts; great quantities of hides also brought
home and sent to the Low Countries. All these commodities and
others of no less value are brought out of the most nether parts of
those countries whereunto our voyage of inhabiting is intended.
"And now because I know that this present enterprise is like soon
to wax cold and fall to the ground unless in this second voyage all
diligence in searching out every hope of gain be used, and calling
to mind that your Honor made a motion heretofore unto me
whether I could be contented to go myself into the action, these
are to put your Honor out of doubt that for mine own part I am
most willing to go now in the same, this present setting forth, and
in the service of God and my country to employ all my ample
observations, reading, and conference whatsoever. For obtaining
leave of my Lord Ambassador here to depart, I doubt not but to
find means of myself, seeing he may have enough to supply my
room. For leave of my College and entertainment in this voyage
I will wholly refer it unto your Honor, who wish me so well as
you will not see my poor estate impaired. Because the time is
exceeding short I would desire your Honor's present answer, upon
sight whereof with wings of Pegasus I would soon fly into
England. I have talked twice with Don Antonio of Portugal and
with live or six of his best captains and pilots, one of whom was
born in the East India; they wish all prosperity to her Majesty
and yourself, and say that if the queen of England would join
with their Master, whose strength by sea they commend unto the
skies, that they would know how the king of Spain, our mortal
enemy, would easily be met withal, and she much enriched."
The Portugals have a voyage in hand with the French, preparing
at Newhaven, for the coast of Guinea. One Simon Andreas, born
in Savoy and now in Paris, has been lately in the Island of Japan;
with whom, by means of Dr. Pena, Hakluyt will have conference
in a day or two. Divers other intelligences, tending towards the
furtherance of our Western planting and discovery, he looks for
from sundry places very shortly. Has been told by Peroffe and
Andrew Thevett, the Kings Cosmographer, that Duke Joyeuse,
admiral of France, and the cardinal of Bourbon and their friends,
have had a meaning to send out certain ships to inhabit some place
of the North part of America, and to carry thither many friars and
other religious persons; but he thinks they be not in haste to do it.
3 pp [Dom Eliz., Vol. 167, No. 7.] |
March 25.
Westminster. |
32. Letters Patent to Walter Raleigh, Esq., and to his heirs and
assigns for ever, granting them free liberty to discover barbarous
countries not actually possessed of any Christian prince and
inhabited by Christian people, and to occupy and enjoy the same
for ever, with all commodities, jurisdictions, and privileges. They
and such as by license of her Majesty, her heirs and successors,
shall travel to inhabit there, to build and fortify at the discretion
of said Walter Raleigh, &c., the Acts of Parliament against
fugitives notwithstanding, with power to take such persons as shall
willingly accompany them to inhabit there; also to employ sufficient
shipping and furniture for transportation, excepting such as shall
be hereafter restrained by the Queen, &c., and to hold and enjoy
for ever the soil of all lands so to be discovered, and all cities,
castles, towns, villages, and places in the same, with the rights,
royalties, and jurisdiction, with power to dispose thereof according to the laws of England, reserving to her Majesty, &c., for
all services, the fifth part of gold and silver ore; all which lands
shall for ever be holden by said Walter Raleigh, &c., by homage and
by payment of said fifth part, with power to expulse and resist,
by sea and land all persons who without license attempt to inhabit
within said countries or within the space of two hundred leagues
near to the same, where they or any of their company shall within
six years next ensuing make their dwellings, or that shall attempt
unlawfully to annoy them; and to take all persons, with their
ships and goods, which without their license shall be found
trafficking within the limits aforesaid, those trading to Newfoundlands for fishing, as they heretofore have commonly used, or
being driven by force of tempest or shipwreck, only excepted, and
to detain such persons, ships, and goods, as of good and lawful
prize. All such countries to be of the allegiance of her Majesty,
&c., with license to said Walter Raleigh, and all persons whose
names shall be entered in some of her Majesty's Courts of Record
in England, that shall for discovery or conquest hereafter travel
and be inhabiting within said countries, to enjoy all the privileges
of free denizens of England, any law or custom to the contrary
notwithstanding. And it being necessary for the safety of all that
shall adventure in those voyages to live together in Christian peace
and civil quietness, full power is given to said Walter Raleigh,
&c., to punish, pardon, and govern and rule, in capital, criminal, and
civil causes, all adventurers in said voyages, or that shall inhabit
said countries, or within two hundred leagues of the same, within
six years next ensuing, according to such laws as by them shall
be established, so as said laws be, as near as may be, agreeable
to the laws of England, and not against the true Christian faith
or religion now professed in the Church of England, or withdraw
any of her Majesty's subjects from their allegiance; with power
to the Lord Treasurer and Privy Council to license said Walter
Raleigh, &c., to transport out of England and Ireland the goods of
their Associates and Companies, with other necessaries and commodities as to said Lord Treasurer and Privy Councillors shall be
thought meet for the supportation of said Walter Raleigh, &c.,
any law to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always that
if said Walter Raleigh, &c., shall by sea or land do any act of
unlawful hostility to the subjects of her Majesty or any Prince in
amity with her, and shall, after proclamation made, not make full
restitution and satisfaction, then it shall be lawful for her Majesty,
&c., to put them and all the inhabitants of said places out of her
Majesty's allegiance and protection, and it shall be free for all
Princes and others to pursue them with hostility, as not being
her Majesty's subjects. For that express mention of the yearly
value or certainty of the premises, or of any other grants to said
Walter Raleigh in these presents be not expressed, or any restraint
to the contrary before this time made, or any other matter whatever, in any wise notwithstanding. This has been collated with
the copy printed in Hakluyt III., 297–301, and several variations
have been found, but not of great importance. (Patent Roll, 26
Elizabeth, Part 1.) |
April 1.
Paris. |
35. Richard Hakluyt to Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham. The
famous disputations in all the parts of the mathematies, at present
held in Paris for gaining the lecture erected by the worthy scholar
Petrus Ramus, puts him in mind to solicit his Honor again and
again for the erection of a lecture of the Art of Navigation, about
which he had speech with his Honor Sir Francis Drake, Alderman
Barnes, and others. Sends the testament of Petrus Ramus newly
put out again in print, the provisions of which he explains, and
recommends should be put in execution in England, and Her
Majesty be induceed to erect such a lecture in Oxford, and the like
for the Art of Navigation in London, allowing to each 50l. yearly:
"In my simple judgment it would be the best hundred pounds
bestowed, that was bestowed these five hundred years in England."
How necessary are arithmetic and geometry for service of wars, as
is the art of navigation for our new discoveries, and long voyages
by sea. Such things as he has carefully sought out here in France
concerning the furtherance of the Western Discoveries, he has imparted to Mr. Carlile. His dealing with Horatio Palavisini to
become an adventurer in those western voyages. Among other
talk he alleged his Honor's good disposition to the same, which he
hearing of, replied very cheerfully that if he were moved thereunto
by the least word from His honor, he would put in his hundred
pound adventure or more. If Mr. Carlile be gone, yet it might
come in good time to serve Mr. Frobisher's turn. The Papists will
shortly set forth a confutation of the defence of the execution of
justice in England. French news. Earthquake in Geneva. Don
Antonio's Captains of his fleet not yet departed from Paris. 3 pp.
[Dom. Eliz., Vol. 170, No. 1.] |
