A. D. 1539. 85 



that the French ph-ates or freebooters began to infefl: the Spanlfh Weft- 

 Indies. In the following year, Herrera reports that many Portuguefe 

 earavels traded to the ifland of Hifpaniola, who at their return did not 

 (as all the Spaniards were bound to do) carry their cargoes to the India 

 contractation-houfe at Seville, by which means the king was defrauded 

 of his duties. It was therefore ordained in that fame year that none 

 ihould take in any cargo at Hifpaniola without giving fecurlty to enter 

 the whole of it at the fiid houfe at Seville. 



1540. — It was now that the French made the firft attempt to eftablifli 

 a colony in Canada ; Cartier, already mentioned, having now failed again 

 from St. Malo with five fhips up the great river of St. Laurence, four 

 leagues above the liaven of St. Croix, where he, jointly with the baron 

 de Roberval, ererded a fort. Others place Roberval's firft fettlement at 

 Canada with 200 men and women in 1524. 



The ftate of fhipping, even in the port of London, was at this time 

 but low, compared with the prelent time. If we may give credit to 

 Wheeler's Treatife of commerce (410, 1601), who wrote in defence of the 

 company of the merchants-adventurers, to which company he was fe- 

 cretary, and who tefiifies confiderable knowlege in mercantile con- 

 cerns, he exprefsly afiTerts, that about fixty years before he v.rote, there 

 were not above four fiiips (befide thofe of the navy-royal) that were 

 above 1 20 tons each, within the river Thames. 



There being a great coolnefs at this time between King Henry VIII 

 of England and his nephew King James V of Scotland, who was ever- 

 much attached to the French intereft, the latter prepared a navy of fif- 

 teen fliips, with 2000 men in them, for fome enterprife. Lord Herbert 

 does not pretend certainly to know James's defign in thofe prepara- 

 tions, though it looked as if he hoped to annex Ireland to his crown, 

 fince about that time certain Irilh gentlemen came to invite him over 

 to their country, promifing to acknowlege him for their king ; and 

 that divers noblemen and gentlemen of Ireland fhould come over to do 

 him homage. It feems King James wanted not money at this time, his- 

 monafliical clergy givingjiim great fums to keep their houfes from be-^- 

 ing diflblved *. 



* Lord Herbert, in the ufual jealoufy of poli- the principal nohility, and a conipe'ciit iniiitarj'- 

 tlcians, fuppofed that a fleet could be equipped force. Landing in moft of the principal iflands, 

 for no -other purpofe but to dilturb the tranquil- lie carried with him the chiefs as lioliages for the 

 lity of the neighbouring nations ; but this Scot- peaceable behaviour of their clans ; and, for the 

 tifii fleet had a very different, and inuch more firft time fince the iflands were fubjecl to Scot- 

 laudable, deftination. land, peace and order prevailed in thufe diftant 



James V, king of Scotland, having extended the territories, 

 authority of the laws through all tiie rell of his With an attention to fcience worthy of an en- 



ilngdom, refolved that the remote highlands and lightened fovereign of a maritime country, James 



iflands fliould alfo be brought under regular au- carried with him Alexander Lindfay, an excellent 



thority. With this view he prepared a fleet of navigator and hydrographer, whofe chart of Scot- 



tivelvc (not fifteen) flout fliips, with which he land and the iflands, compiled from his obferva- 



himfelf failed from Leith. attended by. feveral of tions made in this voyage, and which has been re- • 



