discoverie. 



a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



*553- 



remedie (as it then appeared) wanting to their desires, for 

 the avoyding of so great an inconvenience : for seeing 

 that the wealth of the Spaniards and Portingales, by the 

 discoverie and search of newe trades and Countreys was 

 marveilously increased, supposing the same to be a course 

 and meane for them also to obteine the like, they there- 

 upon resolved upon a newe and strange Navigation. 

 And whereas at the same time one Sebastian Cabota, a 

 man in those dayes very renowmed, happened to bee 

 in London, they began first of all to deale and consult 

 diligently with him, and after much speech and conference 

 3. Ships fur- together, it was at last concluded that three shippes should 

 nishedfor the b ee prepared and furnished out, for the search and dis- 

 coverie of the Northerne part of the world, to open a way 

 and passage to our men for travaile to newe and un- 

 knowen kingdomes. 



And whereas many things seemed necessary to bee 

 regarded in this so hard and difficult a matter, they first 

 make choyse of certaine grave and wise persons in maner 

 of a Senate or companie, which should lay their heads 

 together, and give their judgements, and provide things 

 requisite and profitable for all occasions : by this companie 

 it was thought expedient, that a certaine summe of money 

 should publiquely bee collected to serve for the furnish- 

 ing of so many shippes. And lest any private man 

 should bee too much oppressed and charged, a course was 

 taken, that every man willing to be of the societie, should 

 disburse the portion of twentie and five pounds a piece : 

 so that in short time by this meanes the summe of sixe 

 thousand pounds being gathered, the three shippes were 

 bought, the most part whereof they provided to be newly 

 built and trimmed. But in this action, I wote not 

 whether I may more admire the care of the Marchants, or 

 the diligence of the Shipwrights : for the Marchants, they 

 get very strong and well seasoned plankes for the build- 

 ing, the Shippewrights, they with daily travaile, and their 

 greatest skill doe fltte them for the dispatch of the 

 shippes : they calke them, pitch them, and among the 



240 



