A particuler discourse concerninge the greate necessitie and manifolde
comodyties that are like to growe to this Realme of Englande by the
Westerne discoveries lately attempted, Written In the yere 1584 by
Richarde Hackluyt of Oxforde at the requeste and direction of the righte
worshipfull Mr. Walter Raghly [Raieigh] nowe Knight, before the comynge
home of his Twoo Barkes: and is devlded into xxi chapiters, the Titles
whereof followe in the nexte leafe.
1. That this westerne discoverie will be greately for the inlargement of
the gospell of Christe whereunto the Princes of the refourmed relligion
are chefely bounde amongest whome her Majestie is principall.
2. That all other englishe Trades are growen beggerly or daungerous,
especially in all the kinge of Spaine his Domynions, where our men are
dryven to flinge their Bibles and prayer Bokes into the sea, and to
forsweare and renownce their relligion and conscience and consequently
theyr obedience to her Majestie.
3. That this westerne voyadge will yelde unto us all the commodities of
Europe, Affrica, and Asia, as far as wee were wonte to travell, and
supply the wantes of all our decayed trades.
4. That this enterprise will be for the manifolde imploymente of nombers
of idle men, and for bredinge of many sufficient, and for utterance of
the greate quantitie of the commodities of our Realme.
5. That this voyage will be a great bridle to the Indies of the kinge of
Spaine and a means that wee may arreste at our pleasure for the space of
teime weekes or three monethes every yere, one or twoo hundred saile of
his subjectes shippes at the fysshinge in Newfounde Iande.
6. That the rischesse that the Indian Threasure wrought in time of
Charles the late Emperor father to the Spanishe kinge, is to be had in
consideracion of the Q. moste excellent Majestie, leaste the contynuall
commynge of the like threasure from thence to his sonne, worke the
unrecoverable annoye of this Realme, whereof already wee have had very
dangerous experience.
7. What speciall meanes may bringe kinge Phillippe from his high Throne,
and make him equal to the Princes his neighbours, wherewithall is shewed
his weakenes in the west Indies.
8. That the limites of the kinge of Spaines domynions in the west Indies
be nothinge so large as is generally imagined and surmised, neither
those partes which he holdeth be of any such forces as is falsely geven
oute by the popishe Clergye and others his suitors, to terrffie the
Princes of the Relligion and to abuse and blinde them.
9. The Names of the riche Townes lienge alonge the sea coaste on the
northe side from the equinoctiall of the mayne lande of America under
the kinge of Spaine.
10. A Brefe declaracion of the chefe Ilands in the Bay of Mexico beinge
under the kinge of Spaine, with their havens and fortes, and what
commodities they yeide.
11. That the Spaniardes have executed most outragious and more then
Turkishe cruelties in all the west Indies, whereby they are every where
there, become moste odious unto them, whoe woulde joyne with us or any
other moste willingly to shake of their moste intollerable yoke, and
have begonne to doo it already in dyvers places where they were Lordes
heretofore.
12. That the passage in this voyadge is easie and shorte, that it cutteth
not nere the trade of any other mightie Princes, nor nere their
Contries, that it is to be perfourmed at all tymes of the yere, and
nedeth but one kinde of winde, that Ireland beinge full of goodd havens
on the southe and west sides, is the nerest parte of Europe to it, which
by this trade shall be in more securitie, and the sooner drawen to more
Civilitie.
13. That hereby the Revenewes and customes of her Majestie bothe
outwardes and inwardes shall mightely be inlarged by the toll, excises,
and other dueties which without oppression may be raised.
14. That this action will be greately for the increase, mayneteynaunce
and safetie of our Navye, and especially of greate shippinge which is
the strengthe of our Realme, and for the supportation of all those
occupacions that depende upon the same.
15. That spedie plantinge in divers fitt places is moste necessarie upon
these luckye westerne discoveries for feare of the daunger of being
prevented by other nations which have the like intentions, with the
order thereof and other reasons therewithall alleaged.
16. Meanes to kepe this enterprise from overthrowe and the enterprisers
from shame and dishonor.
17. That by these Colonies the Northwest passage to Cathaio and China may
easely quickly and perfectly be searched oute aswell by river and
overlande, as by sea, for proofe whereof here are quoted and alleaged
divers rare Testymonies oute of the three volumes of voyadges gathered
by Ramusius and other grave authors.
18. That the Queene of Englande title to all the west Indies, or at the
leaste to as moche as is from Florida to the Circle articke, is more
lawfull and righte then the Spaniardes or any other Christian Princes.
19. An aunswer to the Bull of the Donacion of all the west Indies
graunted to the kinges of Spaine by Pope Alexander the VI whoe was
himselfe a Spaniarde borne.
20. A brefe collection of certaine reasons to induce her Majestie and the
state to take in hande the westerne voyadge and the plantinge there.
21. A note of some thinges to be prepared for the voyadge which is sett
downe rather to drawe the takers of the voyadge in hande to the presente
consideracion then for any other reason for that divers thinges require
preparation longe before the voyadge, without which the voyadge is
maymed.
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