A.D. 



1553- 



[I. H4-] 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



Master Henry 

 Sidney his 

 Oration. 



and appoynted to him the Admirall with authoritie and 

 commaund over all the rest. And for the governement 

 of other ships although divers men seemed willing, and 

 made offers of themselves thereunto, yet by a common 

 consent one Richard Chanceler, a man of great estimation 

 for many good partes of wit in him, was elected, in whom 

 alone great hope for the performance of this businesse 

 rested. This man was brought up by one Master Henry 

 Sidney, a noble young Gentleman and very much beloved 

 of King Edward, who at this time comming to the place 

 where the Marchants were gathered together, beganne a 

 very eloquent speech or Oration, and spake to them after 

 this maner following. 



My very worshipfull friends, I cannot but greatly 

 commend your present godly and vertuous intention, 

 in the serious enterprising (for the singular love you 

 beare to your Countrey) a matter, which (I hope) will 

 proove profitable for this nation, and honourable to 

 this our land. Which intention of yours wee also of 

 the Nobilitie are ready to our power to helpe and 

 further : neither doe wee holde any thing so deare and 

 precious unto us, which wee will not willingly forgoe, 

 and lay out in so commendable a cause. But princi- 

 pally I rejoyce in my selfe, that I have nourished and 

 maintained that witte, which is like by some meanes 

 and in some measure, to profite and steede you in this 

 worthy action. But yet I would not have you ignorant 

 of this one thing, that I doe now part with Chanceler, 

 not because I make little reckoning of the man, or that 

 his maintenance is burdenous and chargeable unto mee, 

 but that you might conceive and understand my good 

 will and promptitude for the furtherance of this busi- 

 nesse, and that the authoritie and estimation which hee 

 deserveth may be given him. You know the man by 

 report, I by experience, you by wordes, I by deedes, 

 you by speech and companie, but I by the daily triall 

 of his life have a full and perfect knowledge of him. 

 And you are also to remember, into howe many perils 



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