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1578.
June 11. |
3. Letters Patent to Sir Humphrey Gylberte, of Compton, co.
Devon, and to his heirs and assigns. To discover remote heathen
and barbarous lands not possessed by any Christian Prince or
people and to hold and enjoy same with all commodities, jurisdictions,
and royalties both by sea and land. Said Sir Humphrey and all
who by license from us our heirs and successors shall travel thither,
to inhabit there and build and fortify, at the discretion of said
Sir Humphrey, the statute against fugitives or any other law to the
contrary notwithstanding. With power to take to inhabit there so
many of our subjects as shall willingly accompany him with
shipping and furniture so that none be specially restrained by us
our heirs and successors. To hold and enjoy the soil so to be
discovered, and all cities, towns, castles, and villages with the
royalties and jurisdictions and power to dispose of same according
to the laws of England paying the fifth part of gold and silver, to
be holden for ever by said Sir Humphrey his heirs and assigns of
us our heirs and successors by homage. With power for defence to
resist by sea and land all attempting to inhabit within said
countries, or within 200 leagues thereof, without the special license
of said Sir Humphrey, where within six years next ensuing he or
his associates shall make their dwellings, or that shall attempt
unlawfully to annoy either by sea or land said Sir Humphrey and
to seize their ships and goods, our subjects driven by tempest or
shipwreek only excepted, and to detain as lawful prize. All such
countries hereafter to be possessed and inhabited as aforesaid shall
be of the allegiance of us our heirs and successors, and all whose
names shall be entered in some of our Courts of Record with the
assent of said Sir Humphrey his heirs and assigns, shall now in this
journey for discovery, or in the second journey for conquest, hereafter travel to said countries, being born within our allegiance shall
enjoy all the privileges of free denizens and persons native of
England and within our allegiance, any law or custom to the
contrary notwithstanding. With power to punish, pardon, and
govern all who adventure in said voyages or inhabit said countries,
or within 200 leagues of same, or shall inhabit within six years
next ensuing according to laws established by said Sir Humphrey
for the better government of said people as aforesaid so they be
agreeable to the laws of England. With power to Sir Wm. Cecil
Lord Burleigh, or to the Lord Treasurer for the time being, and any
four of the Privy Council, to license said Sir Humphrey to transport
the goods of his or their associates and other necessary commodities,
any law to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always that if
said Sir Humphrey or any other by his license rob or spoil by sea
or land the subjects of any King or Prince in amity with us and
after proclamation shall not make restitution and satisfaction, said
Sir Humphrey and all inhabitants of said countries so to be
discovered be put out of our allegiance and protection, and it shall
be free to all to pursue them with hostility as not being our
subjects. "The 11th day of June the twenteth yere of our raigne,"
i.e., 11 June 1578. [Patent Roll, 21 Eliz., part 4, m. 8.] This is
the only patent on this roll which has the regnal year, and as will
be remarked it is enrolled on the Patent Roll of 21 Eliz., which
regnal year did not commence until 17 Nov. 1578. Printed
Hakluyt III., 174–176, but with the concluding words "Anno
Domini 1578," which are not on the Patent Roll
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Sept. 23.
Greenway. |
4. Sir Humphrey Gylberte to Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham.
Knowing him to be his principal patron as well as furthering and
procuring him her Majesty's favour and license for performance of
his sea voyage, as also many other ways having found him his good
and honorable friend, thinks it his duty to signify that he left this
port of Dartmouth on the 23rd instant, September, accompanied by
11 sail, well victualled for a year, and furnished with 500 choice
soldiers and sailors. Their stay so long in these parts proceeded
through his London shipping not coming down till 25th August,
Trusts this will be no impeachment to their enterprise, the season of
the year serving very fit for their travel. Is and will be ever ready
to do him any service that shall lye in his power, praying a continuance of his favour and good speeches to Her Majesty for the
better supportation of the writer's poor credit. 1 p. [Dom. Eliz.,
Vol. 125, No. 70.] |
Nov. 12
Plymouth |
5. Sir Humphrey Gylberte to Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham.
Has ever found him his most honorable friend, so in his greatest
extremities, he means such as by false suggestions may hazard his
credit, he will never despair to tind less favour. During the long
contrary winds Mr. Knowles has forsaken Gylberte's company,
and drawn as many as he could allure. Complains that he
(Gylberte) never offered such cause as might either be a discredit
to sustain, or any occasion to break off so honest an enterprise.
Once before Knowles refused the journey, but was reconciled by
Sir John Gilbert "and the breach by me omitted and forgotten."
Knowles often and openly persuaded Gylberte's company and
gentlemen to his disgrace, and has often and openly said he
accounted himself equal in degree to the best Knight and better
than the most in England (sic). Describes the intollerable
disorders "committed by Knowles to my great disgrace; when I
entreated him to my table he answered me that he had money
to pay for his dinner as well as I, and that he would leave my
trencher for those beggars that were not able to pay for their
meals, which seemed a bare thanks for my good will." He
threatened to hang a Captain and Gentleman of Gylberte's company called Morgan [Miles Morgan who was lost at sea soon after]
in living little or nothing inferior to Knowles; refused to deliver
up two of his men for the murder of John Leonard in Plymouth;
and let a notorious pirate go "which bred me great slander of
suspicion of piracy." Told Knowles privately by way of counsel,
as his friend without quarrel or words of offence, that he used him
(Gylberte) somewhat too disdainfully, considering the good will he
bare him and the place he held, and that if he used himself in this
sort and upheld such as offended, by his countenance, it would not
only kindle dislike between them, but also breed faction and
sedition. Upon this only it pleased Knowles to take hold, saying
that Gylberte called him proud and seditious and so heinously
racked it, that Knowles left his company and consort. Knowles it
seems has by some of his company been persuaded to run a shorter
course, which Gylberte prays God may turn to Knowles advancement and credit "for he hath store of notorious evil men about
him as Loveles (sic) and Callice with others." Assures Walsingham
that he (Gylberte) is for strength, as well able to perform that
which he undertook as he desired, having of his own ships seven
sail well manned and victualled. "As you have been always the
pillar unto whom I leant, so I hope you will always remain in my
just occasions such a one as I in good will and service desire to
deserve; if God of his mercy do but give me leave and happily to
return. I then hope you shall find that I will at last perform
somewhat of that which I in thought and good will have with
myself long promised" 2 pp. [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 126, No. 44.] |
Nov. 18.
Plymouth |
6. Sir Humphrey Gylberte to Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham.
Because he weighs in equal balance with life his Honor's good
opinion of him. sends inclosed certificate under the hands of the
Mayor of Plymouth and others present when Gylberte publicly
desired Knowles to declare all the causes that moved him to mislike,
all of which are particularly set down in said Certificate. Truly
can guess no other cause but that Knowles' pretence was to break
off from the beginning and run this course, thereby to have colour
to arm to sea, and there withal either to learn Gylberte's enterprise
and so undertake the discovery of himself as one moved thereunto
through ambition and disdain, or else to run some shorter course.
Beseeches his Honor to impart this certificate to the Queen's
Majesty. Lord Leicester and Mr. Vice Chamberlain. His principal
care is to satisfy Walsingham above all others, because his Honor
was the only means of Gylberte's license, and therefore as his
patron he studies principally next unto her Majesty, to maintain
himself in his good opinion. Trusts God willing to bring all things
to good pass, these crosses and thwarts notwithstanding. Moreover
Gylberte's cousin Denys accompanies Knowles in this his breach
and retires from their consort, because Gylberte blamed him for
striking a sailor with his naked sword, who thereupon challenged
Gylberte. "If I have informed your Honor otherwise than truth.
then judge me a villian and a knave." Encloses, |
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6. i. Certificate of the causes of Mr. Knowles' forsaking the
journey and consort of Sir Humfrey Gylberte, alleged
before John Hele, Mayor of Plymouth, and divers other
gentlemen, 5 Nov. 1578. That Gylberte said Knowles
was factious, seditious, and proud, to which Gylberte
replied; he never called Knowles factions or seditious,
but said that if he gave countenance to men of evil
and disordered behaviour then he should nourish faction
and sedition, which words were spoken privately: but
Knowles would not be satisfied with Gylberte's public
denial, except he would openly swear upon a book, which
Gylberte refused, saying oaths ought to be reserved for
Judges. Gylberte denied not, accusing Knowles of pride,
for he spoke words to Gylberte's disgrace and disdain,
as despising his knighthood, saying he took himself
to be a better man than 20 knights: that he had
submitted and embased himself to serve under Sir
Humfrey; and that when the latter had Knowles to
dinner, he answered he had money to pay for his dinner
as well as Gylberte, and would leave his trencher for those
not able to pay for their meals. "And yet notwithstanding
Sir Humphrey Gylberte took not it as any quarrell but
seemed loth to leave his company, but no courtesy or
patience of his part could persuade or content him."
Signed by Wm. Hawkins, W. Rauley. Myles Morgan,
John Robartes, Edmond Eltofte, and Henrie Noell.
Together, 4 pp. [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 126, Nos. 46, 46 I.] |
| Nov. 18. |
7. Names of the ships, officers, and gentlemen which accompanied Henry Knollis in his voyage begun 18 Nov. 1578. The
Elephant, Admiral, 150 tons, Henry Knollis, Captain, his brother,
Francis Knollis, Lieut., Old Morse, Master, number of gentlemen,
soldiers, and mariners, 100, well victualled for a whole year. The
bark Denye, Vice-Admiral, called the Fame, a frigate of 72 ft. long,
Edward Denye, Captain, number of gentlemen, soldiers, and
mariners, 30. The French bark the Francis, of 70 tons, Gregory
Fenton, Captain, whole number 30 Total 160. Capt. Sharpam
and Mr. Foscue (sic) are also near in a readiness with five ships
victualled for a year for 200 persons, bound in a like voyage. 1 p.
[Dom. Eliz., Vol. 126, No. 49.] |
| Nov. 19. |
8. "The names of all the ships, officers, and gentlemen, with
the pieces of ordnanee in them, and the number of all the soldiers
and mariners gone in the voyage with Sir Humphrey Gylberte,
Knight. General in the same, for a discovery to be made by him
who took the seas from Plymouth with seven sails, the 19th day of
Nov. 1578." Ann Ager, Admiral, 250 tons, Sir Hump. Gylberte,
General, Henry Pedly, Master, number of gentlemen, soldiers, and
mariners. 126. The Hope of Greneway, Vice-Admiral, 160 tons,
Carye Rawlye. brother to Sir H. Gylberte, Captain, number of
gentlemen, soldiers, and mariners, 80. The Falcon, Her Majesty's
ship of 100 tons, Capt. Walter Rawlye, brother to Sir H. Gylberte,
Ferdinando the Portugal, Master, number of gentlemen, soldiers,
and mariners, 70. The Red Lyon, 110 tons, Myles Morgan,
Captain, number of gentlemen, soldiers, and mariners, 53. The
Gallion, 40 tons. Richard Veall, Captain, number of gentlemen,
soldiers, and mariners, 28. The Swallow, 40 tons, John Vernye,
Captain. number of soldiers and mariners, 24. The Little Frigate
or Squirrel of 8 tons, with 8 soldiers and mariners. The whole
number of gentlemen, soldiers, and mariners in this fleet, 365 (sic
should be 389.) Well victualled with beef for 3 months, fish and
biscuits for a year at 3 biscuits a day for each man, with peas
and bones for a year, besides particular provisions. 2 pp. [Dom.
Eliz., Vol. 126, No. 49.] |
Nov. 21.
Greneway. |
9. Sir John Gilberte to Sec. Sir Francis Walsingham. Presents
himself as one altogether ready to serve him with his poor ability,
for Walsingham's great and favorable courtesies to Gilberte's poor
brother Sir Humphrey divers and sundry times showed. Beseeches
that he may be accepted into his Honor's favor as one of that house
that is dedicated to his service, as he knows his good uncle Sir
Arthur Champernoune with his brother and others had great
courtesies from his Honor. His brother has emboldened him to
write, and has assured him of Walsingham's favour, to whom he
has made Sir John known by speeches, although not by person.
1 p. [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 126, No. 50.] |
| Dec. 20. |
10. Sir John Gilberte to Sec. Sir Francis Walsingham. It is
reported in Court that his brother was not victualled to much
effectual purpose for such a voyage, and so scant furnished in every
way as not in ease to perform the same. Whereunto he will
answer that he himself made his brother's proportion, and was
acquainted with the bestowing of the same in every ship. Protests
and avows upon his honesty and credit that his brother's ships
were victualled with bread, beef, fish, beans and peas, meal, and
such other as was requisite for a long voyage, for one whole year,
by the judgment of the most best advised honors and masters in all
this county. Hopes his Honor will give credit herein, for he has
the books of every particular to show and signify the same to such
of the Lords of the Council as doubteth hereof. Doubts not yet (if
God will) his brother shall perform his voyage: he hath all his
own ships yet with him, saving one only, wherein Mr. Noell and a
brother of Gylberte's were, which had so dangerous a leak as by
no means able to perform the voyage. Prays he will not conceive
that Gylberte would for affection to his brother abuse his Honor
with untruths. 1 p. [Dom. Eliz., Vol. 127, No. 44.] |
