APPENDIX A 



2 45 



Portingall ; or the Spaniardes alone, by the want of whose 

 traffick there is no necessity of such decaye and losses as partly 

 appeared by the late reslrainte betwene yo 1 ' Ma** and them. 

 And the forces of the Spaniardes, and Portingalls, being there 

 so much decayed as aforesaid ; the French of necessitie shalbe 

 brought vnder your highnes eye assuring yo r Ma 1 * the case 

 being as it is, it were better a thousand folcle thus to gayne the 

 start of them, rather then yerely to submitt o r selves subiect to 

 hauc all the marchauntes shippes of this Realme stayed in theire 

 handes ; wherby they shalbe armed at our costes, to beale vs 

 \v th roddes of our owne making, and our selves thereby spoyled 

 both of our wealth and strength. . . . 



But if yo r highnes will permit me, w fh my associates, eyther 

 overtly or covertly to perfourme the foresaide enterprise : then 

 \v th the gayne thereof there may be easely such a competent 

 companie transported to the \Y. I. as may be liable not only to 

 disposses the S. thereof, but also to possesse for ever yo 1 ' Ma* io 

 and Realme therew th , and thereby not only to countervaile, but 

 by farr to surmount w lh gaine, the aforesaid supposed losses : 

 besides the gowld and silver Mynes, the profitt of the soyle, and 

 llie inward and outward customes from thence. By w ch meanes 

 yo r highnes doubtfull frendes, or rather apparaunte enemyes, 

 shall not only be made weake, and poore, but ther\v th yo r selfe, 

 and Realme, made strong and rich, both by sea, and lande, 

 aswell there, as here. And where both is wrought vnder one, 

 it bringeth a most happy conclusion. . . . By w ch meanes also 

 yo r Ma til! shall ingraffe and glcvve to yo r crovvne, in effect all 

 the Northerne, and Southerne viages of the world, so that none 

 shalbe then well hable to crosse the seas, but subiect to yo 1 ' 

 highnes devocion : considering the great increase of shipping 

 that will growe, and be maynetayned by those long vyages, 

 extending them selves so many sundrie wayes. And if I may 

 perceave that yo r highnes shall like of this enterprise, then will 

 I most willinglie exprcsse my simple opinion, w ch waye the 

 \V. I. maye w th owt difficultie be more surprised, and defended, 

 w tb out w ch resolucion, it were but labour lost. But if yo r Ma** 

 like to do it at all, then would 1 wish yo r highnes to consider 

 that delay doth often tymes prevent the perfourmaunce of good 

 thinges : for the winges of mans life are plumed w lh the feathers 

 of death. And so submitting my self to y v Ma tios favourable 



