A. D. 1588. 189 



the like end at Milford haven, it is to be hoped authority will effedu- 

 ally complete the fortifications, docks, &c. of that incomparable haven, 

 even in this generation. 



Dr. Gyles Fletcher being fent ambaflador to RufTia, obtained (though 

 not without difficulty) a renewal of certain former grants, fuch as li- 

 berty for the Englifh RufTia company to trade through Ruffia into Per- 

 lia ; alfo payment of part of the debts due by Ruflian fubjeds to that 

 company ; and that no Englifhman refiding in RufTia fliould be reputed 

 of the company, unlefs acknowleged and authorized by them. But the 

 czar would never be brought to allow the company its original exclufive 

 trade to this country ; for which, and other caufes, their trade was at 

 this time very much decayed *. 



A fhip and pinnace from London made a profperous voyage to Be- 

 nin on the wefl coaft of Africa. Queen Elizabeth alfo in the fame year 

 granted a patent for ten years to fome merchants of Exeter and other 

 towns in Devonfhire, and two London merchants, for an exclufive trade 

 to the rivers Senegal and Gambia in Guinea, becaufe the adventuring 

 of a new trade cannot be a matter of fmall charge and hazard to the 

 adventurers in the beginning : provided, however, that at any time 

 after the date hereof, the queen, or fix privy counfellors, may in writ- 

 ing revoke this patent, upon fix months notice. So here is another in- 

 ffance of little more than the name of an exclufive company to be de- 

 pended on for any certain determined time. 



1589 Queen Elizabeth, determined upon revenge for the Spanifli in- 



vafion, took the frugal method of authorizing and encouraging private ad- 

 venturers to undertake it at their own coft, the queen only fupplying them 

 with fix of her own fhips, to which the Dutch joined fome fliips. For 

 this end. Sir Francis Drake for the fea fervice, and Sir John N orris for 

 the army, procured many to join with them in fo promifmg a projed, 

 taking with them Don Antonio the pretender to the crown of Portugal. 

 Stow makes the number of fhips aflembled for that end to be 146, and 

 14,000 men (Camden fays i i,ODO foldiers and 1500 failors); but Rapin 

 only 80 fliips and 1 1,000 foldiers. With this force they landed at Co- 

 runna in Gallicia ; and the lower town they took, but could not the 

 higher. Next they took Peniche, and thence the army went over land, 

 and the fleet proceeded to Lifbon, to attack Portugal, in behalf of the 

 baflard Don Antonio prior of Crato (pretending to that crown in op- 

 pofition to Philip of Spain, in pofleflion of it) : Yet there were fo many 

 Spanifli troops in and near that city, that thty could not take it. After 

 taking Cafcais, at the mouth of the Tagus, to rccompenfe their charges 

 (fltys Camden), they took about fixty hulks (or fly-boats) of the Ger- 



* Camden fays, that Fletcher could obtain no___got in th- year l^S'j. \_/!nnjles a'! ar.. I5"5J 

 better auiwci fi>jai the c/.;ir than his predeccfibr /•/. 



