remote lands, countreys and territories, as aforesayd, it shall be
necessarie for the safetie of all men that shall aduenture themselues in
those iourneys or voiages, to determine to liue together in Christian peace
and ciuill quietnesse each with other, whereby euery one may with more
pleasure and profit, enioy that whereunto they shall attaine with great
paine and perill: wee for vs, our heires and successors are likewise
pleased and contented, and by these presents doe giue and graunt to the
sayd sir Humfrey and his heires and assignes for euer, that he and they,
and euery or any of them, shall and may from time to time for euer
hereafter within the sayd mentioned remote lands and countreys, and in the
way by the Seas thither, and from thence, haue full and meere power and
authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, gouerne and rule by their, and euery
or any of their good discretions and pollicies, as well in causes capitall
or criminall, as ciuill, both marine and other, all such our subiects and
others, as shall from time to time hereafter aduenture themselues in the
sayd iourneys or voyages habitatiue or possessiue, or that shall at any
time hereafter inhabite any such lands, countreys or territories as
aforesayd, or that shall abide within two hundred leagues of any the sayd
place or places, where the sayd sir Humrrey or his heires, or assignes, or
any of them, or any of his or their associats or companies, shall inhabite
within sixe yeeres next ensuing the date hereof, according to such
statutes, lawes and ordinances, as shall be by him the said sir Humfrey,
his heires and assignes, or euery, or any of them deuised or established
for the better gouernment of the said people as aforesayd: so alwayes that
the sayd statutes, lawes and ordinances may be as neere as conueniently
may, agreeable to the forme of the lawes and pollicy of England: and also,
that they be not against the true Christian faith or religion now professed
in the church of England, nor in any wise to withdraw any of the subiects
or people of those lands or places from the allegiance of vs, our heires or
successours, as their immediate Soueraignes vnder God. And further we doe
by these presents for vs, our heires and successours, giue and graunt full
power and authority to our trustie and welbeloued counseller, sir William
Cecill knight, lord Burleigh, our high treasurer of England, and to the
lord treasurer of England of vs, for the time being, and to the priuie
counsell of vs, our heires and successours, or any foure of them for the
time being, that he, they, or any foore of them, shall, and may from time
to time and at all times hereafter, vnder his or their handes or seales by
vertue of these presents, authorize and licence the sayd sir Humfrey, his
heires and assignes, and euery or any of them by him and themselues, or by
their or any of their sufficient atturneys, deputies, officers, ministers,
factors and seruants, to imbarke and transport out of our Realmes of
England and Ireland, all, or any of his goods, and all or any the goods of
his or their associates and companies, and euery or any of them, with such
other necessaries and commodities of any our Realmes, as to the said lord
treasurer or foure of the priuie counsell of vs, our heires, or successours
for the time being, as aforesayd, shall be from time to time by his or
their wisedoms or discretions thought meete and conuenient for the better
reliefe and supportation of him the sayd sir Humfrey, his heires and
assignes, and euery or any of them, and his and their, and euery or any of
their said associates and companies, any act, statute, lawe, or other thing
to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
Prouided alwayes, and our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby declare
to all Christian Kings, princes and states, that if the said Sir Humfrey
his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence or
appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter robbe or spoile by Sea or
by land, or doe any act of vniust and vnlawfull hostilitie to any of the
Subiects of vs, our heires, or successours, or any of the Subiects of any
King, prince, ruler, gouernour or state being then in perfect league and
amitie with vs, our heires or successours: and that vpon such iniurie, or
vpon iust complaint of any such prince, ruler, gouernour or state, or their
subiects, wee, our heires or successours shall make open proclamation
within any the portes of our Realme of England commodious, that the said
Sir Humfrey, his heires or assignes, or any other to whom those Letters
patents may extend, shall within the terme to be limited by such
proclamations, make full restitution and satisfaction of all such iniuries
done, so that both we and the saide Princes, or others so complayning, may
holde vs and themselues fully contended: And that if the saide Sir Humfrey,
his heires and assignes, shall not make or cause to bee made satisfaction
accordingly, within such time so to be limited: that then it shall bee
lawfull to vs, our heires and successours, to put the said Sir Humfrey, his
heires and assignes, and adherents, and all the inhabitants of the said
places to be discouered as is aforesaid, or any of them out of our
allegiance and protection, and that from and after such time of putting out
of our protection the saide Sir Humfrey, and his heires, assignes,
adherents and others so to be put out, and the said places within their
habitation, possession and rule, shal be out of our protection and
allegiance, and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostilitie
as being not our Subiects, nor by vs any way to bee aduowed, maintained or
defended, nor to be holden as any of ours, nor to our protection, dominion
or allegiance any way belonging, for that expresse mention &c. In witness
whereof, &c. Witnesse ourselfe at Westminster the 11. day of Iune, the
twentieth yeere of our raigne. Anno Dom. 1578.
Per ipsam Reginam, &c.
* * * * *
De Nauigatione Illustris et Magnanimi Equiris aurati Humfredi Gilberti, ad
deducendam in nomun Orbem coloniam susceptâ, Carmen hepizatikou Stephani
Parmenii Bvdeii.
Ad eundem illustrem equitem autoris præfatio.
Reddenda est, quàm fieri potest breuissime, in hoc vestibulo, ratio facti
mei, et cur ita homo nouus et exterus, in tanta literatissimorum hominum
copia, quibus Anglia beat est, versandum in hoc argumento mihi putanerim:
ita enim tu, fortissime Gilberte, foetum hunc nostrom in lucem exire
voluisti. In seruitute et barbarie Turcica, Christianis tamen, magno
immortalis Dei beneficio, parentibus natus, aliquam etiam ætatis partem
educatus; postquam doctissimorum hominum opera, quibus tum Pannoniæ nostræ,
tum imprimis saluæ adhuc earum reliquiæ florescunt, in literis adoleuissem,
more nostrorum hominum, ad inuisendas Christiani orbis Academias ablegatus
fui. Qua in peregrinatione, non solùm complura Musarum hospitia, sed multas
etiam sapienter institutas respublicas, multarum Ecclesiarum probatissimas
administrationes introspeximus, iam fermè triennio ea in re posito. Fuerat
hæc nostra, profectio ita à nobis comparata, vt non tantùm mores et vrbes
gentium videndum, sed in familiaritatem, aut saltem notitiam illustriorum
hominum introeundum nobis putaremus, Cæterum, vt hoc à nobis sine inuidia
dici possit, (certè enim taceri absque malicia nullo modo protest) non
locus, non natio, non respublica vlla nobis æquè ac tua Britannia
complacuit, quamcunque in partem euentum consilij mei considerem. Accedit,
quòd præter omnem expectationem meam ab omnibus tuis ciuibus, quibus
comaliqua consuetudo mihi contigit, tanta passìm humanitate acceptus essem,
vt iam (sit hoc saluo pietate à me dictum) suauissimæ Anglorum amicitiæ
fermè aboleuerint desiderium et Pannoniarum et Budæ meæ, quibus patriæ
nomen debeo. Quas ab caussas cùm sæpenumero animus fuisset significationem
aliquam nostræ huius voluntatis et existimationis edendi; accidit vtique
secundùm sententiam, vt dum salutandis et cognoscendis excellentibus viris
Londini operam do, ornatissimus ac doctissimus amicas meus Richardus
Hakluytus ad te me deduxerit, explicato mihi præclarissimo tuo de ducenda
propediem colonia in nouum orbem instituto. Quæ dum aguntu, agnoscere
portui ego illud corpus et animum tuum sempiterna posteritatis
commemoratione dignum, et agnoui profectò, eaque tali ac tanta obseruantia
prosequi coepi; vt cum paulò post plura de tuis virtutibus, et rebus gestis
passim audissem, tempus longè accommodatissimum existimarem esse, quo
aliqua parte officij studijque nostri, ergà te et tuam gentem perfungerer.
Hoc est primum ouum, vnde nostrum [Greek: hepizatikon] originem ducit.
Reliquum est, vt eas et redeas quàm prosperrimè, vir nobilissime, et
beneuolentia tua, autoritate, ac nomine, tueare studium nostrum. Vale
pridie Kalen. Aprilis 1583.
Ad Thamesin.
Amnis, inoffensa qui tàm requiete beatus
Antipodum quæris iam tibi in orbe locum:
Nunc tibi principium meritæ, pro tempore, laudis
Fecimus, et raucæ carmina prima tubæ.
Tum cum reddideris, modo quam dimittimus, Argo,
Ornatu perages gaudia festa nouo.
Quæ noua tàm subitò mutati gratia coeli?
Vnde graues nimbi vitreas tenuantur in auras?
Duffugiunt nebulæ, puroque nitentior ortu
Illustrat terras, clementiaque æquora Titan?
Nimirum posuere Noti, meliorque resurgit
Evrys, et in ventos soluuntur vela secundos,
Vela quibus gentis decus immortale Brittanniæ
Tendit ad ignotum nostris maioribus orbem
Vix notis Gilebertvs aquis. Ecquando licebit
Ordiri heroas laudes, et fecta nepotum
Attonitis memoranda animis? Si coepta silendum est
Illa, quibus nostri priscis ætatibus audent
Conferri, et certare dies: quibus obuia plano
Iamdudum Fortvna solo, quibus omne per vndas
Nereidvm genus exultat, faustoque tridenti
Ipse pater Netevs placabile temperat æquor.
Et passim Oceano curui Delphines ab imo
In summos saliunt fluctus, quasi terga pararent
In quibus euectæ sulcent freta prospera puppes,
Et quasi diluuium, tempestatesque minatur
Follibus inflatis inimica in uela physeter.
Et fauet AEGAEON, et qui Neptvnia PROTEVS
Armenta, ac turpes alit imo in gurgite phocas.
Atque idem modò ab antiqua virtute celebtat
Sceptra Chaledonidvm: seclis modò fata futuris
Pandit, et ad seros canit euentura minores.
Vt pacis bellique bonis notissima vasto
Insula in Oceano, magni decus Anglia mundi;
Postquam opibus diues, populo numerosa frequenti,
Tot celebris factis, toto caput extulit orbe;
Non incauta sui, ne quando immensa potestas
Pondere sit ruitura suo, noua moenia natis
Quærat, et in longum extendat sua regna recessum:
Non aliter, quàm cùm ventis sublimibus aptæ
In nidis creuere grues, proficiscitur ingens
De nostra ad tepidum tellure colonia Nilvm.
Euge, sacrum pectus, tibi, per tot secula, soli
Seruata est regio nullis regnata Monarchis.
Et triplici quondam mundi natura notata
Margine, et audacim quarto dignata Colvmbvm;
Iam quintâ lustranda plagâ tibi, iamque regenda
Imperio superest. Evropam Asiamqve relinque,
Et fortunatam nimiùm, nisi sole propinquo
Arderet, Libyen: illis sua facta viasque
Terminet Alcides: abs te illustranda quietscit
Parte alis telus, quam non Babylonia sceptra,
Non Macedvm inuictæ vires, non Persica virtus
Attigit, aut vnquam Latiæ feriere secures.
Non illo soboles Mahometi mugijt orbe:
Non vafer Hispanvs, coelo, superisque relictis,
Sacra Papæ humano crudelia sanguine fecit.
Illic mortales hominumque iguota propago;
Siue illi nostræ veniant ab origine gentis,
Seu tandem à prisca Favnorvm stirpe supersint
Antiqua geniti terra, sine legibus vrbes
Syluasque et pingues habitant ciuilibus agros:
Et priscos referunt mores, vitamque sequuntur
Italiæ antiquæ, et primi rude temporis æuum:
Cum genitor nati fugiens Satvrus ob iram
In Latio posuit sedem, rudibusque regendos
In tenues vicos homines collegit ab agris.
Aurea in hoc primùm populo coepisse feruntur
Secula, sicque homines vitam duxisse beati;
Vt simul argenti percurrens tempora, et æris,
Degener in durum chalybem vilesceret ætas;
Rursus in antiquum, de quo descenderat, aurum
(Sic perhibent vales) æuo vertente rediret.
Fallor an est tempus, reuolutoque orbe videntur
Aurea pacificæ transmittere secula gentes?
Fallor enim, si quassatas tot cladibus vrbes
Respicio, et passim lacerantes regna tyrannos:
Si Mahometigenis Asiam Libyamqve cruento
Marte premi, domitaque iugum ceruice subire:
Iamque per Evropæ fines immane tribunal
Barbari adorari domini, Dacisqve, Pelasgisqve
Æmathiisqve, omnique solo quod diuidit Hebrvs,
Et quondam bello inuictis, nunc Marte sinistro
Angustos fines, paruamque tuentibus oram
Pannoniæ populis, et prisca in gente Libvrnis.
Tum verò in superos pugnas sine fine cieri
Patribus Avsoniis; ardere in bella, necesque
Sarmaticas gentes: et adhuc à cæde recenti
Hispanvm sancto Gallvmqve madere cruore.
Non sunt hæc auri, non sunt documenta, sed atrox
Ingenio referunt ferrum, et si dicere ferro
Deteriora mihi licet, intractabile saxum.
At verò ad niueos alia si parte Britannos
Verto oculos animumque, quot, ô pulcherrima tellus
Testibus antiquo vitam traducis in auro?
Namque quòd hoc summum colitur tibi numen honore
Quo superi, atque omnis geniorum casta iuuentus
Ilius ad sacra iussa vices obit, arguit aurum.
Quòd tàm chara Deo tua sceptra gubernat Amazon,
Quàm Dea, cum nondum coelis Astræa petitis
Inter mortales regina erat, arguit aurum.
Quòd colit haud vllis indusas moenibus vrbes
Aurea libertas, et nescia ferre tyrannum
Securam ætatem tellus agit, arguit aurum.
Quòd regio nullis iniuria gentibus, arma
Arma licet ferruginea rubicunda quiete,
Finitimis metuenda gerit tamen, arguit aurum.
Quòd gladij, quòd mucrones, quòd pila, quòd hastæ
In rastros abiere, et bello assueta iuuentus
Pacem et amicitias dulces colit, arguit aurum.
Denique si fas est auro connectere laudes
Æris, et in pacis venerari tempore fortes;
Quot natos bello heroas, quot ahænea nutris
Pectora? Sint testes procerum tot millia, testes
Mille duces, interque duces notissima mille
Illa cui assurgunt Mvsæ, quam conscia Pallas
Lætior exaudit, Gileberti gloria nostri.
Illius auxillum, et socialia prælia amici
Mirantur Belgæ, et quamuis iniustus Ibervs
Commemorat iustas acies, domitasque per oras
Martia victrices formidat Hibernia turmas.
Illum oppugnatæ quassatis turribus arces,
Ilium expugnatæ perruptis moenibus vrbes,
Fluminaque et portus capti, hostilique notatum
Sanguine submersæ meminere sub æquore classes.
Hic vbi per medios proiectus Seqvana Celtas
Labitur, et nomen max amissurus, et vndas.
Omnia si desint, quantum est ingentibus ausis
Humani generis pro pace bonoque pacisci
Tàm varies casus, freta tanta, pericula tanta?
Linquere adhuc teneram prolem, et dulcissima sacri
Oscula coniugij, numerantemque ordine longo
Avcheriam digitis in mollibus, æquora mille
Formidanda modis, atque inter pauca relatos
Avcherios exempla suos, fratremque patremque;
Qui dum pro patria laudem et virtute sequuntur,
Obsessi in muris soli portisque Caleti,
Præposuere mori, quàm cum prodentibus vrbem,
Et decus Albionvm, turpi superesse salute.
Quòd si parua loquor, nec adhuc fortasse fatenda est
Aurea in hoc iterum nostro gens viuere mundo,
Quid vetat ignotis vt possit surgere terris?
Auguror, et faueat dictis Devs, auguror annos,
In quibus haud illo secus olim principe in vrbes
Barbara plebs coeat, quàm cùm noua saxa vocaret
Amphion Thebas, Troiana ad moenia Phoebvs.
Atque vbi sic vltrò iunctas sociauerit ædes,
Deinde dabit leges custodituras easdem;
In quibus ignari ciues fraudumque, dolique,
A solida assuescant potius virtute beari;
Quàm genio et molli liquentia corpora vita
In Venerem ignauam, pinguemque immergere luxum:
Quàm nummos, quam lucra sequi, quam propter honores
Viuere ad arbitrium stolidæ mutabile plebis.
Non illic generi virtus, opibusue premetur
Libertas populi, non contrà in deside vulgo
Oppugnabit opes ciuis sub nomine pauper:
Quisque suo partem foelix in iure capesset.
Tum sua magna parens ingenti foenore tellus
Exiguo sudore dabit bona: cura iuuentam
Nulla adiget senio, nec sic labor ocia tollet,
Quo minus è virtute petant sua commoda ciues.
O mihi foelicem si fas conscendere puppim:
Et tecum patria (pietas ignosce) relicta
Longinquum penetrare fretum, penetrare sorores
Mecum vnà Aonias, illic exordia gentis
Prima nouæ ad seros transmittere posse nepotes!
Sed me fata vetant, memoraturumque canora
Inclyta facta tuba, ad clades miserabilis Istri
Inuitum retrahunt. His his me fata reseruent:
Non deerit vates, illo qui cantet in orbe
Aut veteres populos, aut nostro incognita coelo
Munera naturæ; dum spreto Helicone manebit
Ilia Aganippæis sacrata Oxonia Musis.
Dum loquor in viridi festinant gramine Nymphæ,
Impediuntque comas lauro, et florentis oliuæ
Frondibus armantur, dominatricemque frequentes
Oceani immensi longè venerantur Elisam.
Illa autem ad gelidum celsis de turribus amnem
Prospicit, et iamiam Tamesino in patre tuetur
Paulatim obliquis Gilebertum albescere velis.
Sic dea Peliaco spectasse è vertice Pallas
Fertur Iasonios comites, ad Phasidos vndas
Vix benè dum notis committere carbasa ventis.
Diva faue, nutuque tuo suscepta parari
Vela iuua; Si sola geris dignissima totum
Talibus auspicijs proferri sceptra per orbem.
Proptereà quia sola tuos ita pace beasti
Tranquilla populos, vt iam te principe possint
Augere imperij fines. Quia sola videris
Quo niueae Charites, quo corpore Delia virgo
Pingitur, et iusto si sit pro teste vetustas.
Talibus audimus quondam de matribus ortos
Semideos homines: tali est de sanguine magnus
Siue Hector genitus, siue Hectore maior Achilles:
Duntaxat sine fraude vlla, sine crimine possint
Vila tibi veterum conferri nomina matrum,
Quæ sexum factis superas, quæ patribus audes,
Nympha, dijs dignas laudes æquare Latinis.
Mentior infoelix, nisi sic in corpore virtus
Lucet formoso, ceu quæ preciosior auro est
Gemma, tamen pariter placituro clauditur auro.
Mentior, et taceo, nisi sola audiris vbique
Induperatorum timor aut amor, inter et omnes
Securam requiem peragis tutissima casus:
Dum reliqui reges duro quasi carcere clausi
Sollicitis lethi dapibus, plenoque fruuntur
Terrificis monstris furtiua per ocia somno.
Mentior et taceo, solam nisi viuere ciues
Æternùm cupiunt: quando nec verbere toruo,
Nec cædis poenæue thronum formtdine firmas:
Sed tibi tot meritis maiestas parta, et inermis
Ad patulos residet custos clementia postes:
Vt quot penè rei iustum meruere tribunal,
Tot veniam grato narrent sermone clientes.
Nec tamen admittis, nisi quod iustumque piumque
Agnoscit probitas, et quæ potes omnia, solis
Legibus vsurpas cautas sanctissima vires.
Nec mala formidas: si quidem quasi fune ligatur
Consilio fortuna tibi: Nullum impia terret
In castris Bellona tuis: Quin pronus adorat
Gradivvs tua iussa pater, sequiturque vocantem
Quacunque ingrederis grato victoria plausu.
Dumque fores alijs, vitamque et regna tuetur
Ianitor externus, cingunt tua limina ciues:
Dumque alijs sordet sapientia regibus, almo
Pegasidvm tu fonte satur, tot Appollinis artes
Aurea vaticina fundis quasi flumina lingua.
Nil nostri inuenere dies, nil prisca vetustas
Prodidit, in linguis peragunt commercia nullis
Christiadvm gentes, quas te, diuina virago,
Iustius Aoniæ possint iactare sorores.
Audijt hæc inundus, cunctisque in finibus ardet
Imperio parere tuo: et quæ fortè recusat
Miratur vires regio tamen. Hinc tua sceptra
Incurua Mahometigenæ ceruice salutant:
Hinc tua pugnaces properant ad foedera Galli:
Dumque sibi metuit toties tibi victus Ibervs,
Nescia Romano Germania Marte domari
Quærit amicitias Britonvm: procul oscula mittit
Virgineis pedibus Lativm, longéque remoti
Pannones in tutos optant coalescere fines.
Quinetiam quæ submisso diademate nuper
Obtulit inuictis fascesque fidemque Britannis.[A]
Nonne vides passis vt crinibus horrida dudum
Porrigit ingentem lugubris America dextram?
Et numquid lacrymas, inquit, soror Anglia, nostras
Respicis, et dura nobiscum in sorte gemiscis?
An verò nescisse potes, quæ tempora quantis
Cladibus egerimus? postquam insatiabilis auri,
Nam certè non vllus amor virtutis Iberos
In nostrum migrare soluum, pietasue coegit.
Ex illo, quæ sacra prius væsana litabam
Manibus infernis, sperans meliora tuumque
Discere posse Devm, iubeor mortalibus aras
Erigere, et mutas statuas truncosque precata
Nescio quod demens Romanvm numen adoro.
Cur trahor in terras? si mens est lucida, puris
Cur Devs in coelis rectà non quæritur? aut si
A nobis coelum petitur, cur sæpe videmus
Igne, fame, ferro subigi, quocunque reatu
Oenotriæ sedis maiestas læsa labascit?
Non sic relligio, non sic me iudice gaudet
Defendi sua regna Devs, quod si optimus ille est;
Quòd si cuncta potest, et nullis indiget armis.
Mitto queri cædes, exhaustaque moenia bello:
Mitto queri in viles tot libera corpora seruos
Abiecta, immanique iugum Busiride dignum.
Te tantum fortuna animet tua, te tua virtus:
Si tibi tam plenis habitantur moenibus vrbes,
Vt nisi in excelsum crescant, coeloque minentur
Ædes aeriæ; quanquam latissima, desit
Terra tamen populo: Si tot tua flumina nigrant
Turrigeras arces imitatæ mole carinæ,
Quot non illa natant eadem tua flumina cygni.
Si tibi iam sub sole iacens penetratus vtroque est
Mundus, vtroque iacens peragrata est terra sub axe.
Ni frustrà gelidam vectus Wilobeivs [B] ad arcton
Illa in gente iacet, cui dum Sol circinat vmbras,
Dimidio totus vix forsitan occidit anno.
Ni frustrà quæsiuit iter, duraque bipenni
Illo Frobiservs [C] reditum sibi in æquore fecit,
Horridum vbi semper pelagus, glacieque perenni
Frigora natiuos simulant immitia montes.
Ni frustrà per Cimmerios, syluisque propinqua
Flumina Riphæis eoa profectus ad vsque est
Moenia Iencisonvs, [D] Persasqve et proxima Persis
Bactra, et Bactrorvm confines regibus Indos.
Ni frustrà, quod mortali tot secla negarant,
Hac tuus immensum nuper Dracvs [E] ambijt orbem,
Quà patri Oceano clausas circumdare terras
Concessit natura viam, mediaque meare
Tellure, et duplici secludere littore mundos.
Iam si fortuna, iam si virtute sequare
Digna tua; sunt monstra mihi, sunt vasta gigantum
Corpora, quæ magno cecidisse sub Hercvle non sit
Dedecus, Ogigivs non quæ aspernetur Iaccvs.
Quæ si indigna putas, tantaque in pace beata
Auersare meos multo vt tibi sanguine fines
Inuidiosa petas: est nobis terra propinqua,
Et tantum bimari capiens discrimen in Isthmo.
Hanc tibi iamdudum primi inuenere Brittanni,
Tum cum magnanimus nostra in regione Cabotvs [F]
Proximus à magno ostendit sua vela Colvmbo.
Hæc neque vicina nimiùm frigescit ab arcto,
Sole nec immodico in steriles torretur arenas:
Frigus et æstatem iusto moderamine seruat,
Siue leues auras, grati spiracula coeli,
Seu diæ telluris opes, et munera curas.
Pone age te digno tua sceptra in honore, meoque
Iunge salutarem propius cum littore dextram.
Sit mihi fas aliquam per te sperare quietem,
Vicinoque bono lætum illucescere Solem.
Quòd si consilijs superum, fatisque negatum est
Durare immensum magna infortunia tempus:
Quòd si de immerita iustum est ceruice reuelli
Ignarum imperij dominum, populique regendi;
Quòd si nulla vnquam potuit superesse potestas,
Ni pia flexilibus pareret clementia frenis
Obsequium. A mita quæsita potentia Cyro
Amissa est sæuæ soboli. Parcendo subegit
Tot reges Macedvm virtus, tot postera sensim
Abscidit a parto tandem inclementia regno.
Et quod Romvleis creuit sub patribus olim
Imperium, diri semper minuêre Nerones.
[Sidenote A: Noua Albion.]
[Sidenote B: Hugo Willobeius eques auratus.]
[Sidenote C: Martinus Frobisherus eques auratus.]
[Sidenote D: Antonius Ienkinsonus.]
[Sidenote E: Franciscus Dracus eques auratus.]
[Sidenote F: Sebastianus Cabotus.]
* * * * *
A report of the voyage and successe thereof, attempted in the yeere of our
Lord 1583 by sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, with other gentlemen assisting
him in that action, intended to discouer and to plant Christian
inhabitants in place conuenient, vpon those large and ample countreys
extended Northward from the cape of Florida, lying vnder very temperate
Climes, esteemed fertile and rich in Minerals, yet not in the actuall
possession of any Christian prince, written by M. Edward Haies gentleman,
and principall actour in the same voyage, who alone continued vnto the
end, and by Gods speciall assistance returned home with his retinue safe
and entire.
Many voyages haue bene pretended, yet hitherto neuer any thorowly
accomplished by our nation of exact discouery into the bowels of those
maine, ample and vast countreys, extended infinitely into the North from 30
degrees, or rather from 25 degrees of Septentrionall latitude, neither hath
a right way bene taken of planting a Christian habitation and regiment vpon
the same, as well may appeare both by the little we yet do actually
possesse therein, and by our ignorance of the riches and secrets within
those lands, which vnto this day we know chiefly by the trauell and report
of other nations, and most of the French, who albeit they can not challenge
such right and interest vnto the sayd countreys as we, neither these many
yeeres haue had opportunity nor meanes so great to discouer and to plant
(being vexed with the calamnities of intestine warres) as we haue had by
the inestimable benefit of our long and happy peace: yet haue they both
waies performed more, and had long since attained a sure possession and
settled gouernment of many prouinces in those Northerly parts of America,
if their many attempts into those forren and remote lands had not bene
impeached by their garboils at home.