A true reporte, of the late discoueries, and possession, taken in the right of the Crowne of Englande, of the new-found landes: by that valiaunt and worthye gentleman, Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight Wherein is also breefely sette downe, her highnesse lawfull tytle therevnto, and the great and manifolde commodities, that is likely to grow thereby, to the whole realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular. Together with the easines and shortnes of the voyage. Seene and allowed.

The fourth Chapiter sheweth, howe that the trade traficke and planting in those Countries, is likely to prooue very profi∣table to the whole Realme in generall. (Book 4)

NOW to shew howe the same is most likely to prooue ve∣ry profitable and beneficiall gene∣rallie to the whole Realme. It is verye certaine, that the greatest Iewell of this Realme, and the cheefest strength and force of the same, for defence or offence, in martiall matter and manner is the multitude of Shippes, Maisters and Marriners, ready to assist the moste stately & royall Nauie of her Maiestie, which by reason of this voyage shall haue, both increase and maintenaunce: And it is well knowne, that in sundry places of this Realme, Shippes haue beene built and sette foorth of late dayes for the trade of fishing onely:* 1.1 Yet not withstanding the fishe which is taken and brought into England by the English Nauie of Fishermen, will not suffice for the expence of this realme foure moneths, if there were none els brought of straungers. And the cheefest cause why our Englishmē doo not goe so farre westerly, as the especiall fishing places doo lie, both for plenty and greatnes of fish, is for that they haue no succour and known safe harbour in those partes. But if our nation were once planted there, or neere there∣aboutes: whereas they now fish but for two monethes in

the yeere, they myght thē fish so long as pleased thēselues or rather at theyr comming find such plenty of Fish rea∣die taken, salted & dryed, as might be sufficient to fraught them home without long delay, (God graunting that salt may be found there) whereof Dauid Ingram (who tra∣uelled in those Countries as aforesayde) saith that there is great plentie: and withall the Climate dooth giue greate hope, that though there were none naturallye grow∣ing, yet it might aswell be made there by arte, as it is both in Rochell and Bayon, or els where. VVhich beeing brought to passe, shall encrease the number of our ships and Marriners, were it but in respect of fishing onelie: but much more in regarde of the sundry Marchaundises and commodities which are there founde and had in greate aboundance.

Moreouer, it is wel known that all Sauages, as wel those that dwell in the South, as those that dwell in the North, so soone as they shall begin but a little to taste of ciuillitie, will take meruailous delight in any garment be it neuer so simple: As a shirt, a blewe, yellow, redde, or greene Cotten cassocke, a Cappe or such like, and will take incredible paynes for such a trifle.

For I my selfe haue heard this reporte made sundrye times, by diuers of our Countreymen, who haue dwelt in the sotherly partes, of the VVest Indies, some 12. yeeres together, and some of lesse time: That the people in those partes,* 1.2 are easily reduced to ciuilitie bothe in manners and garments. VVhich beeing so, what vente for our English clothes will thereby ensue, and howe great benefit to all such persons & Artificers whose names are coated in the margent, I doo leaue to the iudgment of such as are dis∣crete.

And questionles heereby it will also come to passe,* 1.3 that all such Townes and Villages, as bothe haue beene and nowe are vtterlye decayed and ruinated (the poore people thereof beeing not sette a worke by reason of the transportation of rawe VVooll of late dayes, more exces∣siuely then in tymes past) shall by this meanes be restored to theyr pristinate wealth and estate, all which doo like∣wise tende to the enlargement of our Nauie and maynte∣naunce of our nauigation.

To what ende neede I endeuour my selfe by arguments to prooue, that by this voyage, our nauie and nauigation shall be enlarged, when as there needeth none other reason then the manifest and late example of the neere Neigh∣bours to this Realme, the Kings of Spayne, and Portingall who since the first discouery of the Indias, haue not one∣lye mightily enlarged theyr dominions, greatly enritched themselues and theyr subiectes: but haue also by iust ac∣count trebbled the number of theyr Shippes, Maysters and Marriners, a matter of no small moment & importaunce.

Besides this,* 1.4 it will prooue a generall benefite vnto our Country, that through this occasion, not onely a greate number of men which doo nowe liue ydlely at home, and are burdenous, chargeable, & vnprofitable to this Realme, shall heereby be sette on worke, but also children of 12. or 14. yeeres of age or vnder, may bee kept from ydlenes, in making of a thousand kindes of trifeling thinges, which will be good Marchandize for that Country. And more∣ouer, our ydle women, (which the Realme may well spare) shal also bee imployed on plucking, drying, and sorting of Feathers, in pulling, beating, & working of Hempe, & in gathering of Cotten, & dyuers things right necessary for dying. All which thinges are to bee found in those Coun¦tries

most plentifully.* 1.5 And the men may imploy thēselues in draging for Pearle, working for Mynes, and in matters of husbandry, and likewise in hunting the VVhale for traine, and making Caskes to put the same in: besides, in fishing for Codde, Salmon and Herring, drying, salting▪ & barrelling the same, and felling of Trees, hewing and saw¦ing of them, and such like woorke, meete for those persons as are no men of arte or science.

Many other thinges may be founde to the greate reliefe and good emploiemnts of no small number, of the natu∣rall subiectes of this Realme, which doo nowe liue heere ydlelie to the common annoy of the whole state.* 1.6 Neither may I heere omitte the great hope and likely hoode of a passage by the Graunde bay, into the South Seas, confir∣med by sundrie Aucthors to be founde leading to Cataia, the Moluccos and Spiceries, whereby may ensue as general a benefite to the Realme or greater, then yet hath beene spoken off, without eyther such charges, or other inconue∣niences, as by the redious tract of time & perrill, which the ordinarie passage to those partes at this day doth minister. And to conclude this argument withall, it is well knowne to all men of sounde iudgemēt, that this voyage is of grea∣ter importaunce, and will be founde more beneficiall to our Countrey, then all other voyages at this day in vse and trade amongst vs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cox the M••ster.
• * 1.2

  Clothiers. Wolmen. Carders. Spinners. Weauers. Fullers, Sheremen▪ Diers.
• * 1.3

  Drapers. Clothiers. Cappers Hatters. &c. And ma¦ny decayed townes re∣payred.
• * 1.4

  The ydle persons of this Realm shall by oc∣casion of this iourney be wel em∣ployed and sette on worke.
• * 1.5

  Hempe doth growe neere Saint Lawrence Riuer na∣turally.
• * 1.6

  Reade the beginning of the boke intituled, di¦uers voya∣ges touch∣ing the dis∣couery of America.