Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/10

CHAPTER II.

Progress of maritime discovery—Henry VII., 1485-1509—His encouragement
of maritime commerce and treaties with foreign
nations—Voyages to the Levant—Leading English shipowners—Patent
to the Cabots, 1496—Discovery of the north-west coast of
America, June 21, 1497—Second patent, Feb. 3, 1498—Rival
claimants to the discovery of the North American continent—Sebastian
Cabot and his opinions—Objects of the second expedition—Third
expedition, March 1501—How Sebastian Cabot was employed
from 1498 to 1512—He enters the service of Spain, 1512—Letter of
Robert Thorne to Henry VIII. on further maritime discoveries—Sebastian
Cabot becomes pilot-master in Spain, 1518, and afterwards
(1525) head of a great trading and colonising association—Leaves
for South America, April 1526, in command of an expedition to the
Brazils—A mutiny and its suppression—Explores the river La Plata
while waiting instructions from Spain—Sanguinary encounter with
the natives—Returns to Spain, 1531, and remains there till 1549,
when he settles finally in Bristol—Edward VI., A.D. 1547-1553—Cabot
forms an association for trading with the north, known as the "Merchant
Adventurers"—Despatch of the first expedition under Sir H.
Willoughby—Instructions for his guidance, probably drawn up by
Cabot—Departure, May 20, 1553—Great storm and separation of the
ships—Death of Sir H. Willoughby—Success of Chancellor—His shipwreck
and death at Pitsligo—Arrival in London of the first ambassador
from Russia, Feb. 1557—His reception—Commercial treaty—Early
system of conducting business with Russia—The benefits conferred
by the Merchant Adventurers upon England—The Steelyard
merchants partially restored to their former influence—Cabot loses
favour with the court, and dies at an advanced age Pages 49-87


CHAPTER III.

Henry VIII. resolves to establish a permanent Royal Navy—Derives
his first supply of men from English fishermen—Royal fleet equipped
and despatched from Portsmouth—Its first engagement—Increase of
the French fleets—Extraordinary exertions of the English to meet
the emergency—The rapidity with which they supplied men and
vessels—Outfit of the ships—The Great Harry—Number and strength
of the fleet at the death of Henry VIII., 28 Jan., 1547—The Great
Michael—Trade monopolies—Mode of conducting business—Mistaken
laws—The Bridport petition—Chartered companies—Prices regulated
by law, and employment provided—The petition of the weavers—State
of the currency, A.D. 1549—Its depreciation—Corruption of
the government—Recommendation of W. Lane to Sir W. Cecil, who
acts upon it, A.D. 1551, August—The corruption of the council ex-*