A briefe and summary discourse upon the intended voyage
to the hithermost parts of America
: written by Captaine Carlile in April, 1583. for the better inducement
to satisfie such Merchants of the Moscovian companie
and others, as in disbursing their money towards the
furniture of the present charge, doe demand forthwith
a present returne of gaine, albeit their said particular
disbursements are required but in very slender summes,
the highest being 25. li. the second at 12. li. 10. s.
and the lowest at 6. pound five shillings.
WHEN the Goldsmith desireth to finde the certaine goodnesse of a piece of golde, which is newly offered unto
him, he presently bringeth the same to the Touchstone,
where, by comparing the shewe or touch of this new
piece with the touch or shew of that which he knoweth
of old, he foorthwith is able to judge what the value is
of that, which is newly offered unto him. After the
example whereof I have thought it good to make some
briefe repetition of the particular estate of many other
forren voyages and trades already frequented and knowen
unto us, whereby we may be the better able to conceive
and judge what certaine likelihood of good there is to
be expected in the voyage, which is presently recommended unto your knowledge and resolution.
And first to lay downe that of Moscovia, whose beginning is yet in the remembrance of many: It is well
knowen, that what by the charges of the first discovery,
and by the great gifts bestowed on the Emperour and
his Nobilitie, togither with the leud dealing of some of
their servants, who thought themselves safe enough from
orderly punishment, it cost the company above fourescore
thousand pounds, before it could be brought to any
profitable reckoning. And now that after so long a
patience and so great a burthen of expences, the same
began to frame to some good course and commoditie:
It falleth to very ticklish termes, and to as slender likelihood of any further goodnesse, as any other trade that
may be named.
For first the estate of those Countreys and the Emperours dealings, are things more fickle then are by every
body understood.
Next, the Dutchmen are there so crept in as they daily
augment their trade thither, which may well confirme
that uncertainty of the Emperors disposition to keepe
promise with our nation.
Thirdly, the qualitie of the voyage, such as may not
be performed but once the yeere.
Fourthly, the charges of all Ambassadours betweene
that Prince and her Majesty, are alwayes borne by the
merchants stocke.
And lastly, the danger of the king of Denmarke, who
besides that presently he is like to enforce a tribute on
us, hath likewise an advantage upon the ships in their
voyage, either homewards or outwards whensoever he
listeth to take the opportunitie.
The badde dealings of the Easterlings are sufficiently
knowen to be such towards our merchants of that trade,
as they doe not onely offer them many injuries overlong
to bee written, but doe seeke all the meanes they can,
to deprive them wholy of their occupying that way:
and to the same purpose have of late cleane debarred
them their accustomed and ancient priviledges in all their
great townes.
The traffique into Turkie, besides that by some it is
thought a hard point to have so much familiaritie with
the professed and obstinate enemie of Christ: It is likewise a voyage which can not be made but at the devotion,
and as it were in the danger of many states, who for
sundry respects are apt to quarell with us upon sudden
occasions, and the presents to be given away in
Turkie
this yeere, cost little lesse then two thousand pounds.
As for the trades into all the partes of Italie
, it may
easily be considered by every one of judgement, that the
same stand in the like termes touching the passages, as
that of Turkie, and that many times our shippes being
taken in the way by the Gallies of Alger, our poore
Mariners after the losse of their goods and travell, are
set at such excessive ransoms before they can bee freed
of their slaverie, as for the most part they are no way
able to discharge. As for example, at this instant there
are some prisoners, poore ordinarie Mariners, for whose
releasing there must be payed two hundred Duckets the
man, for some three hundred, yea, foure or five hundred
Duckets the man for some of them. And how enviously
the Venetians doe already oppose themselves against our
frequenting into their parts, may appeare by the late
customs which they have imposed as well upon our English merchandize which we bring them, as also upon such
their merchandize which we fetch from them.
The trade into Barbarie groweth likewise to worse
termes then before times, and when it was at the best,
our merchants have bene in danger of all their goods
they had there, whensoever it happened the king to die.
For untill a new were chosen, the libertie of all disordered
persons is such, as they spoile and wrong whom they
list, without any redresse at all.
Touching Spaine and Portugall, with whom wee have
very great trade, and much the greater, by meanes of
their venting a good part of our wares in their Indies,
as also of the provision they have from the same, wherewith are made many of our returnes from them againe:
It falleth out that twise the yeere ordinarily we send our
Fleetes into those parts: So that whensoever the king
of Spaine listeth to take the opportunitie, hee may at
these seasons deprive us not onely of a great number of
our very good ships, but also of our honestest and ablest
sort of Mariners that are to bee found in our whole
Realme againe, which is a matter of no small conse
quence: for it is to be noted, that when hee shall take
a quarell in hand, though it be but his owne particularly,
yet hath he the meanes to put in hazard as well those
our shippes which are in his owne Countreys of Spaine
and Portugall, as also all others which shall bee bound
to any the partes of all Italie
or of Turkie either. And
further whosoever hee bee that is but meanely affected
in Religion, as of necessitie becommeth every ordinarie
man and good Christian to be, cannot but be agrieved
in his heart to consider, that his children and servants
whom hee desireth to have well brought up, are in these
trades of Spaine and Portugall, and all Italie
, forced to
denie their owne profession, and made to acquaint themselves with that which the Parents and Masters doe
utterly deny and refuse, yea which many of them doe in
their owne hearts abhorre as a detestable and most wicked
doctrine.
But who shall looke into the qualitie of this voyage,
being directed to the latitude of fortie degrees or thereaboutes, of that hithermost part of America
, shal find it
hath as many points of good moment belonging unto it,
as may almost be wished for.
1 As first it is to be understood, that it is not any
long course, for it may be perfourmed too and fro in
foure moneths after the first discoverie thereof.
2 Secondly, that one wind sufficeth to make the passage, whereas most of your other voyages of like length,
are subject to 3. or 4. winds.
3 Thirdly, that it is to be perfourmed at all times of
the yeere.
4 Fourthly, that the passage is upon the high sea,
wherby you are not bound to the knowledge of dangers,
on any other coast, more then of that Countrey, and of
ours here at home.
5 Fiftly, that those parts of England
and Ireland
,
which lie aptest for the proceeding outward or homeward upon this voyage, are very well stored of goodly
harbours.
6 Sixtly, that it is to bee accounted of no danger at
all as touching the power of any forreine prince or state,
when it is compared with any the best of all other voyages
before recited.
7 And to the godly minded, it hath this comfortable
commoditie, that in this trade their Factours, bee they
their servants or children, shall have no instruction or
confessions of Idolatrous Religion enforced upon them,
but contrarily shall be at their free libertie of conscience,
and shall find the same Religion exercised, which is most
agreeable unto their Parents and Masters.
As for the merchandising, which is the matter especially looked for, albeit that for the present we are not
certainely able to promise any such like quantitie, as is
now at the best time of the Moscovian trade brought
from thence: So likewise is there not demanded any such
proportion of daily expences, as was at the first, and as
yet is consumed in that of Moscovia and other.
But when this of America
shall have bene haunted and
practised thirtie yeeres to an ende, as the other hath bene,
I doubt not by Gods grace, that for the tenne shippes
that are now commonly employed once the yeere into
Moscovia, there shall in this voyage twise tenne be
imployed well, twise the yeere at the least. And if for
the present time there doe fall out nothing els to bee
found then the bare Fishing, yet doubt I not after the
first yeeres planting, but by that matter only to serve
halfe a dozen of your best sort of ships, although my
supply of people doe not follow me so substantially, as
in all reason may be well looked for.
But when it is asked what may be hoped from thence
after some yeeres, it is first to be considered, that this
situation in fourtie degrees, shall bee very apt to gather
the commodities either of those parts which stand to
the Southward of it, as also of those which are to the
Northward.
In the Northerlie may be expected not onely an especiall
good fishing for Salmon, Codde, and Whales, but also
any other such commodities, as the
Easterne Countreys
doe yeeld us now: as Pitch, Tarre, Hempe, and thereof
cordage, Masts, Losshe hides, rich Furres, and other
such like without being in any sort beholding to a king
of Denmarke, or other prince or state that shall be in
such sort able to command our shippes at their pleasure,
as those doe at this day, by meanes of their strait
passages and strong shipping.
As for those partes which lie West and to the Southwardes, it may well bee hoped they will yeeld Wines
with a small helpe, since the grapes doe growe there of
themselves alreadie very faire and in great abundance.
Olives being once planted, will yeelde the like Oyle as
Spaine, Province and Italie
. The Countrey people being
made to know, that for Waxe and honie, we will give
them such trifling things as they desire of us, and shewing them once the means how to provide the same, the
labour thereof being so light, no doubt but in short time
they will earnestly care to have the same in good quantitie
for us. Besides, what great likelihoode there is of good
meanes to make Salt, which may serve for the fishing
of those partes, may well enough appeare unto them, who
can judge the qualitie of such places as are required to
make the same in.
Thus much for the beginning, because they may bee
had with an easie kinde of travell: but when it may
have pleased God to establish our people there any such
time as they may have planted amongst them in sundry
partes of the Countrey, and that by gentle and familiar
entreating them, they bee made to see what is better for
them then they doe as yet understand of, and that in so
many sorts of occasions as were infinite to be set downe :
It is to bee assuredly hoped, that they will daily by
little and little forsake their barbarous and savage living,
and growe to such order and civilitie with us, as there
may be well expected from thence no lesse quantitie and
diversitie of merchandize then is now had out of Dutchland, Italie
, France or Spaine. And as the bordering
neighbours are commonly the aptest to fall out with us,
so these parts being somewhat remote, are the liker to
take, or give lesse occasion of disquiet. But when it is
considered that they are our own kindred, and esteemed
our own countrey nation which have the government,
meaning by those who shall be there planted, who can
looke for any other then the dealing of most loving and
most assured friends?
There are further to be considered these two poynts of
good importance, concerning the matter of trade. The
one is, that by the good prospering of this action, there
must of necessitie fall out a very liberall utterance of our
English Clothes into a maine Country, described to bee
bigger then all Europe
, the larger part whereof bending
to the Northward, shall have wonderfull great use of
our sayde English Clothes, after they shall come once to
knowe the commodite thereof. The like will bee also of
many other things, over many to bee reckoned, which
are made here by our Artificers and labouring people, and
of necessitie must bee provided from hence.
The other is, if there be any possible meanes to finde
a sea passage or other fresh water course, which may
serve in some reasonable and convenient sort, to transport
our marchandize into the
East Indian Sea, through any
of these Northerly partes of America
, it shall be soonest
and most assuredly perfourmed by these who shall
inhabite and first grow into familiaritie with the Inland
people.
What Minerall matter may fall out to bee found, is
a thing left in suspence, untill some better knowledge,
because there be many men, who having long since expected some profits herein, upon the great promises that
have bene made them, and being as yet in no point
satisfied, doe thereupon conceive that they be but wordes
purposely cast out for the inducing of men to bee the
more ready and willing to furnish their money towards
the charge of the first discoverie.
But nowe to answere some others who begin with an
other objection, saying: That it is not for the Marchants
purse to continue the charges of transporting and planting: and that since these hundred men which are nowe
to bee planted, will cost foure thousand pound: It is
then to bee thought, that the charge of a farre greater
number, will bee also a farre greater summe of money.
Whereunto I answere, that in all attemptes unknowen,
especially such a one as this is, wherewith wee are
presently in hand, the first charges are commonly adventured in more desperate kinde, then those that followe
upon some better knowledge: and therewith it falleth
out, that whereas one adventureth in the first enterprise,
an hundred for that one will of themselves bee willing
and desirous to adventure in the next, if there bee never
so little more appearance, that the intended matter is by
some knowledge of our owne, found true in some poynts
of our first presumption.
The examples are many, and may easily bee remembred
by those who be Marchants, even in their ordinarie and
dayly trades, as well as in extraordinarie attempts, which
of late yeeres have fallen into those termes of some
likelyhood, as is aforesayde. So then no doubt, but
when certaine reports shall bee brought by them who
directly come from thence, that such a Countrey and
people they have themselves seene, as is by us spoken of,
but that then there will come forwarde a greater number
of those, who nowe neither have heard any thing of the
matter, as also of others, who presently make such
frivolous scruple, and will not otherwise be satisfied, then
by the report of Saint Thomas. I speake not this by the
Marchants whom for their freedoms of trade I would not
have pressed to any further charge then this first preparation, but rather by such as have great affection to hazard
the changing of their estates, and would be well content
to goe in the voyage if they might onely be assured that
there is such a Countrey, & that their money should not
be wasted to nothing in the preparations.
The right examination of this point must bee the
contrary sequell of the common Proverbe that is used,
Nothing venture, nothing have: so on the other side by
venturing, many great good profites are found out, to the
wonderfull benefite of the Common weale, and to those
especially in private, who take on them the hazard of their
life and travell, or substance in the first attempts: and
therefore I would wish that they, who (God be thanked)
are well able to spare that which is required of each one
towardes the undertaking of this adventure, be well content and willing to imploy the same, since the sequell in
good and substantiall reason doth promise, not onely a
great commoditie in particular to the Marchant, who shall
here at home exercise the trade of Marchandise: but also
to an infinite number of other, who presently live in poore
estate, and may by taking the opportunitie of this discoverie, alter the same to a far better degree. Wherefore to make some conclusion upon this point of the
Marchants misdoubt, who suspecteth lest this first disbursement without returne of present gaine, should not
be all his charge, but that afterwards he might yet further
be urged to continue the like again, as hath happened in
the discovery of the Moscovian trade: It may suffice to
consider, that this is not an action which concerneth onely
the Marchants particularly, but a great deale more the
generall sort of people throughout all England
: And that
when such relation shall be returned, as that it may bee
found a matter worthy the following, the whole generalitie
will not refuse to contribute towards the furtherance
thereof, rather then it should sinke for want of any
reasonable supply.
But as it is a very little time, since I have beene
throughly resolved to trie my fortune in the matter, so it
is more then time the preparation were in hand already,
and therefore no fit time now to make any number of
ignorant men to understand with reason the circumstance
that belongeth to a matter of so great consideration and
importance.
To those who have any forward mindes in well doing
to the generalitie of mankind, I say thus much more, that
Christian charitie doth as greatly perswade the furtherance
of this action, as any other that may be layed before us,
in as much as thereby wee shall not onely doe a most
excellent worke, in respect of reducing the savage people
to Christianitie and civilitie, but also in respect of our
poore sorte of people, which are very many amongst us,
living altogether unprofitable, and often times to the great
disquiet of the better sort. For who knoweth not, how
by the long peace, happie health, and blessed plentifulnesse, wherewith God hath endued this Realme, that the
people is so mightily encreased, as a great number being
brought up, during their youth in their parents houses,
without any instruction how to get their livings after their
parents decease, are driven to some necessitie, whereby
very often for want of better education they fall into
sundry disorders, and so the good sort of people, as I
sayde before, are by them ordinarily troubled, and themselves led on to one shamefull ende or other, whereas if
there might bee found some such kinde of imployment as
this would be, no doubt but a greater part of them
would be withheld from falling into such vile deedes : and
in steade thereof, proove greatly serviceable in those
affaires, where they might be so imployed.
This I speake of mine owne experience, having seene
divers come over to the warres of the lowe Countreys
during my residence in the same, who here had beene very
evill and idle livers, and by some little continuance with
us, have growen to be very industrious in their facultie,
which I can assure you, was a more painefull maner of
living then in this action is like to fall out, and withall to
a purpose of farre lesse value, in respect of their particular
recompence, then with an assured kind of good hope is
looked for in this.
Thus you see in every point that may bee wished for
in a good action and voyage, there is matter and reason
enough to satisfie the well disposed. But nowe to growe
somewhat neerer the quicke, and to shewe you some
greater appearance, then hath beene yet spoken of touching the trade which is the onely subject wherewith I doe
meane to intermeddle at this time, because my addresse
hereby is chiefly to men of such like facultie: you may
understande by that which followeth, the circumstance of
a little discourse, which doeth concerne these matters
very directly.
In the yeere 1534. James Carthier, of S. Malo made
his first discoverie of those partes of America
, which lie
to the Westwardes, and as it were on the backeside of
Newfoundland
. In which voyage his principall intention
was to seeke out the passage, which hee presumed might
have beene found out into the
East Indian Sea, otherwise
called the passage to Cathaya, but this yere he went no
higher then the
Island of the Assumption in the great
bay of S. Laurence, and so returned backe into France.
The next yeere following hee went with greater provision into the Grand bay againe, where he keping the
Northerly shoare, ran up the great River that comes
downe from Canada
and other places, untill at last with
his small pinnesses, (having left his great shipping by
the way) he arrived at Hochelaga
towne, being three
hundreth leagues within the entrance of the Grand bay.
In which travaile he had spent so much of the yeere,
that it was nowe the moneth of October, and therefore
thought it convenient, for the better enforming himselfe
at large in this discoverie, to winter it out in those partes,
which he did at a place called by himselfe Holy Crosse.
This winter fell out to bee a very long and hard winter,
as many times the like happeneth with us in these partes,
and the savage people, who for the most part make but
a slender kinde of provision, even as it were from hande
to mouth, fell into some scarcitie of victuals; yet did
they not refuse to serve the Frenchmen, with any thing
they had all the winter long, albeit at somewhat higher
prices towardes the ende when the neede was most, as
with our selves the like happeneth at such times.
But when the French had their wants served all the
yeere, and that as yet they sawe not any appearance of
their intended matter, which was the discoverie of the
passage, and yet imagining by the signes wherewith the
willing people endevoured to declare their knowledge in
that poynt, that some good matter might bee had from
them, if they might have beene well understoode, they
resoulved with themselves to take some of the sufficientest
men of that countrey home into France, and there to
keepe them so long, as that having once atchieved the
French tongue, they might declare more substantially
their minde, and knowledge in the sayde passage, concluding this to be the meane of least charge, of least
travaile, and of least hazard.
And when they came to bethinke themselves, who
might bee meetest for it, they determined to take the
King, as the person who might bee best infourmed of
such partes as were somewhat remote from his owne
Countrey, as also that for the respect of him, the people
would bee alwayes readie, and content to doe them any
further service, when it should happen them to returne
thither againe about the discoverie.
Thus the poore king of the Countrey, with two or
three others of his chiefe companions comming aboorde
the French shippes, being required thither to a banquet,
was traiterously caryed away into France, where hee lived
foure yeeres, and then dyed a Christian there, as Thevet
the French Kings Cosmographer doeth make mention.
This outrage and injurious dealing did put the whole
Countrey people into such dislike with the French, as
never since they would admit any conversation or
familiaritie with them, untill of late yeeres, the olde
matter beginning to grow out of minde, and being the
rather drawen on by gifts of many trifling things, which
were of great value with them, they are as (I sayde)
within these two or three yeeres content againe to admit
a traffique, which two yeeres since was begunne with a
small barke of thirtie tunnes, whose returne was found
so profitable, as the next yeere following, being the last
yeere, by those Marchants, who meant to have kept
the trade secret unto themselves, from any others of
their owne Countrey men, there was hired a shippe of
fourescore tunnes out of the
Isle of Jersey, but not
any one Mariner of that place, saving a ship boy. This
shippe made her returne in such sorte, as that this yeere
they have multiplyed three shippes, to wit, one of nine score
tunnes, another of an hundreth tunnes, and a third of foure
score tunnes: which report is given by very substantiall
and honest men of Plimmouth, who sawe the sayd shippes
in readinesse to depart on their voyage, and were aboord
of some of them.
Here is at this instant in the towne a man of Gernsey,
Lewis de Vike, who reporteth to have credibly heard, that
by this last yeeres voyage the Frenchmen got foureteene
or fifteene hundreth for every one hundreth: But how
soever it be, it carrieth good likelyhood of some notable
profite, in asmuch as they doe so greatly, and thus
suddenly encrease the burthen and number of their ships
this present yeere.
Nowe, if in so little as two yeeres time this voyage of
the Northerne partes bee growen to such good passe as
hath beene declared unto you: it is worth the thinking
on to consider what may be hoped for from the Southerne
part, which in all reason may promise a great deale more.
And so, as one who was never touched with any indirect
meaning, I presume to wish and perswade you to some
better taking of this matter to heart, as a thing which I
do verely thinke will turne to your greater and more
assured commodity, then you receive by any other voyage,
as yet frequented of so short and safe a course as this
hath: dealing herein no otherwise with you for your
severall small summes, then I doe with my selfe, both for
more of mine owne, then is required of any one of you:
besides the hazard and travaile of my person, and the
totall imployment of my poore credit, which (I thanke
God) hath hitherto passed cleare and unspotted in matters
of greater importance and difficultie, then is like to fall out
in this matter betweene you and me.
