I.

SECT. attempts to find out what was called a north-west

passage thereto, the minds of the nation seem to 1549. have been at this time turned towards a discovery

of what was called the north-east passage. This was, in all probability, a more preponderating cause which induced them to hold Mr. Cabot's talents in such high request; and this strange infatuation of the nation about these passages might probably also be one cause of preventing their attention at this time to the more substantial and practicable pur, suits of Cabot's discoveries in America.

In the reign of Queen Mary, her marriage with Philip, king of Spain, necessarily put a stop to any thing whatever, that might possibly interfere with the affairs of that nation in America. Thus, from a singular series of causes, did sixty years elapse from the time when the English first discovered North America, before they had made any

effectual efforts to avail themselves of the advantages resulting from that discovery.

1553.

SECTION II.*

The reign of Elizabeth favourable to maritime adventures-Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the first conductor of an English colony to America -Letters Patent to him for that purpose-Characteristic incidents * relative to Sir Humphrey Gilbert-his first voyage unsuccessful→→ sails a second time for America-takes possession of Newfound hand-is lost on his return to England.

II.

The reiga

beth fa

A VARIETY of concurrent circumstances, SECT. contributed to render the reign of Elizabeth favourable to the growth of the maritime power of Eng-_1558. land. The intercourse which had subsisted for of Eliza some time between the English and Spanish na- vourable tions, through the alliance of their monarchs, espe- time adcially in the reign of Mary, immediately preceding, ventures. had diffused among the English a considerable knowledge, not only of the general naval affairs of Spain, but more particularly of their American dis

to mari

* The author had prepared a distinct section, to be inserted here, containing a sketch of the attempts of the French protestants, under the direction and patronage of admiral Coligny, to plant colonies, about this time, in that part of the continent of America, now called South Carolina, in consequence of the oppressions which these protestants experienced from the civil war then raging in France. The emigration of the French Hugonots, under Ribaut and Laudonniere—the cruel massacre of them by the Spanish catholics, under Menendez, and the just retaliation inflicted upon the Spaniards by the Chevalier de Gorgues, form a very interesting part of American history. But as the reader would probably consider these events, as bearing but a slight relation to the history to which this volume is intended as an introduction, it has been thought most proper to suppress that section.

II.

SECT. coveries and settlements. The wealth, which was

supposed to flow in upon the Spanish nation, from 1558. that source, would naturally allure the English to

some endeavours to participate in these advantages. The accession of Elizabeth to the throne of England, together with the restoration of the reformed religion, in the course of a few years placed the two nations in a state of hostility towards each other. Queen Elizabeth early foresaw this, and neglected nothing that might keep up and promote a maritime spirit among her people. She therefore, in a particular manner, manifested her approbation of the naval exploits of captain Hawkins, Sir Francis Drake, and other great mariners. It must be observed here, that soon after the discovery of the northern part of America by Cabot, and especially that part of it, denominated by him Newfoundland, divers other European nations resorted to that coast, for the great emoluments to be derived from the fishery on its banks. Insomuch, indeed, that some of them affected to claim the right of the first discovery of that country. But, as that claim appeared to be without foundation, and as the advantages of the fishery, would be much enhanced to any nation that might have possession of that island, the able ministry of that politic princess, could not be insensible to the advantages of making a settlement thereon. Added to this, the extensive progress, which the Spanish nation had now made in the colonisation of South America, could not fail to excitę the ardent emulation of the English, in following their example by a like colonisation of the north. Indeed, the danger of anticipation must have been

II.

now urgent; for, it appears by an account publish- SECT.
ed in the year 1578,* that there were fifty sail of
English ships, one hundred sail of Spaniards, fifty 1558.
of Portuguese, and one hundred and fifty French,
employed in that year, in the fishery on that coast.
It was evident, therefore, that so extensive and in-
viting a continent as North America, could not
now remain much longer without some attempts by
some nation, to fix settlements thereon.

At this period then, Sir Humphrey Gilbert is
mentioned by historians, with the distinction due to phrey Gil.
the conductor of the first English colony to Ame- conductor
rica. He was a native of Devonshire ; inherited
good estate, and had early rendered himself conspi- glish colo-
cuous by his military services in France, Ireland, America.
and Holland. Having afterwards turned his atten-
tion to naval affairs, he published a discourse con-
cerning the probability of a north-west passage to
the Indies; which discovered no inconsiderable
portion, both of learning and ingenuity, mingled
with the enthusiasm, the credulity, and sanguine ex-
pectations which incite men to new and hazardous
undertakings.t With the honourable desire of in-

II.

SECT. creasing his private fortune, by the pursuit of the

public service, he applied to Elizabeth for permis1578. sion to carry his schemes into effect. He repre

sented to her the expediency of settling all those countries upon the continent of America, which had been formerly discovered by Cabot, because other. wise it was not at all unlikely, that the French, who had often reviewed those places, would be desirous of supplanting the English, and because it was very far from being improbable, that those countries abounded with very rich minerals. * Upon these suggestions, he easily obtained from the queen, letters patent, vesting in him sufficient powers for

this purpose.

It has been observed, that this being the first charter to a colony granted by the crown of England, the articles of it merit particular attention, as they unfold the ideas of that age with respect to the nature of such settlements. +

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