102 DISCOVERIES OF 1583. 



place. Here, in presence of the English traders and 

 the foreigners assembled, possession was taken, in 

 the queen's name, of the harbour and two hundred 

 leagues every way ; and three laws were immedi- 

 ately made and promulgated on the spot: 1. For 

 the public exercise of religion according to the 

 church of England ; 2. For maintaining her majes- 

 ty's right and possession, against which any party 

 offending, to be adjudged and executed as in case 

 of high treason; and 3. For preventing the utter- 

 ance of words sounding to the dishonour of her 

 majesty, the party offending to lose his ears, and 

 his ship and goods to be confiscated. Several par- 

 cels of land were granted out; but, it seems, " the 

 generall was most curious in the search of metals, 

 commanding the minerall man and refiner espe- 

 cially to be diligent." This man was a Saxon, 

 " honest and religious, named Daniel;" and he 

 brought to Sir Humphrey Vv^hathe called silver ore, 

 but the general would not have it tried or spoken 

 of till they got to sea, " as the Portugals, Biscains 

 and Frenchmen were not farre off." 



Sir Humphrey now embarked " in his small 

 frigate, the Squirrel," which, in fact, was a miser- 

 able bark of ten tons, and taking with him two 

 other ships, the Delight, commanded by Captain 

 Brown, and the Golden Hinde, by Captain Hayes, 

 proceeded on discovery to the southward; but the 

 Delight, with all the valuables on board, was; 

 v/recked among the flats and sands neai* Sable 



