i88 A. D. 1588. 



and in the many private expeditions and adventures of our people to 

 America, Africa, &c. * 



Both before and after the year 1588, upon Spain's complaining that 

 the Englifli fliips frequented the Indian feas, Queen Elizabeth (as Cam- 

 den and others obferve) declared that the ocean was free to all, foraf- 

 rauch as neither nature, nor regard of public ufe, do permit the exclu- 

 five pofTefTion thereof. The like anfwer fhe made to the king of Den- 

 mark, who fet up a claim to the fovereignty of the feas of Norway and 

 Iceland, becaufe he was lord of the flaores on both fides, faying, that 

 the kings of England never prohibited the navigation and fifhing on 

 the Irilh fea or channel, even though they be lords alfo of both fhores. 

 Yet in the cafe of the Ruflia company's fhips, we have feen under the 

 year 1583, the queen partly complied with the Danlfli claim. How 

 different this ftile is from that of the writers in the two following reigns, 

 and of fome even of later times on this fubjed:, will be feen in its pro- 

 per place. 



In this fime flimous year, the cheft at Chatham was founded, being a 

 contribution for the relief of maimed and fuperannuated Englifh mari- 

 ners, out of which penfions are paid to them for life, by the advice of 

 Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, &c. It was at firflonly a volun- 

 tary monthly contribution of the mariners out of their pay, for the 

 fuccour of their wounded brethren, but was afterward made perpetual 

 by Queen Elizabeth. By an ad of the rump parliament [anno 1649, 

 e. 24] for aboliflung deans and chapters, and felling their lands, we 

 find that this chefi; had been ufually kept at the Hill-houfe at Chatham, 

 which, with its gardens, &c. had belonged to the dean and chapter of 

 Ilochefi;er. Till the noble foundation of Greenwich hofpital by King 

 William III, this was the only charity of that kind for diftrefit;d failors. 

 Gibfon, in his additions to Camden's Britannia, obferves that the navy 

 of England has always owed more to the county of Kent than to all 

 the other counties of England together, on account of the niunber and 

 importance of the ])laces of that county fubfervient to the royal navy, 

 which, befides Chatham yards, docks, &c. h.as Greenwich, Deptford, 

 Woolwich, Sheernefs, and Dover fubfervient to it. How much thefe 

 dock-yards, fiore-houfes, &c. have been increafed and improved fince 

 Camden's time, and even fince the firfi; edition of Gibfon's additions 

 (anho 1692), would require a volume fully to defcribe. And there are 

 additions, enlargements, and very ufeful and beautiful improvements 

 conftantly making to thofe places, and alfo to the two famous ports of 

 .Portfmouth and Plymouth, infomuch that th^e king's yards alone ap- 

 pear like large towns of thwmfelves. And as a beginning is made for 



* Tl:c truth of tills decay may be doulited, if Has any year oftliis rfntun' psffeJ V,-it?liOi;t fome- 

 rpported only by the autliority cf a rciiionftrance. body a!'(.-iting tlir.t the coiiiitry was ruined ? 7!f. 



