A. D. i6i6. 28 -» 



dinary, the cautionary towns of Flufliing, Briel, and llammekins, were, 

 in the year 161 6, evacuated by King James's order: the fum due by 

 the ftates-general to England had been adjufled by Queen EHzabeth to 

 be eight milHons of gilders : but King James was prevailed on to ac- 

 cept 2,728,000 gilders, in lieu of the eight millions; and alio remitted 

 eighteen years interefl on the fame. This was a mod politic ftep in 

 the Dutch, lince, while England held thofe faftnefTes, the flates were 

 very much at the mercy of our nation. {^Fcedrra, V. xvi, p. 783.] 



King James gave a commiflion to Sir Walter Raleigh, and fuch 

 as he fliould join with him, to undertake a voyage unto the fouth 

 parts of America, or elfewhere in America, pofFefled and inhabited 

 by heathen and lavage people, to difcover fome commodities in thofe 

 countries that be neceflary and ]5rofitable for the fubjecls of thefe 

 our kingdoms. We being credibly informed, that there are diverfe 

 merchants and owners of fhips, and others, well difpofed to affifh 

 the faid Sir Walter Raleigh, in his enterprize, had they fufficient af- 

 furauce to enjoy their parts of the profits returned, in refped: of 

 the peril of law wherein the faid Sir Walter Raleigh now ftandeth ! 

 And we being alfo Informed, that diverfe other the kinfmen and 

 friends of the faid Sir Walter Raleigh, and diverfe captains and other 

 commanders, are alfo defirous to follow him, and to venture their lives 

 with him in this journey ; — we have granted full power to him, and 

 free liberty to carry and lead out of this realm, or eliewhere, all fuch 

 of our loving fubjeds as fliall Vvillingly accompany him, together with 

 fliips, arms, ammunition, wares,, merchandize, &c.: and he to be 

 the fole governor and commander ot the faid people, with power of 

 martial law, &c. ; and alfo power to appoint under him fuch captains, 

 officers, &c. as he fliall judge proper: and to bring home gold and fil- 

 ver, pretious ftoncs and other merchandize : and to difpofe thereof at 

 his and his partners pleafure, paying to us one fifth part of the gold, 

 lilver, and pretious flones, and alfo the ufual duties for the other mer- 

 chandize. And we do grant unto the faid Sir Walter Raleigh, that thefe 

 our letters patent fhall be firm and fufficient in law, 8cc. {Fcedcra, V. 

 xvi, /.. 789.] 



WiUiaai Baffin failed for the difcovery of a north-weft pafilige to 

 China, as far as the feventy-eighth degree of north latitude, and gave 

 name to a bay in thofe feas, but he returned home without being able to 

 find any ijafi!;ige. This undertaking was at the charge of Sir Thomas 

 Smith, Sir Dudley Diggs, Sir ]ohn Wolftenholme, &c. directors of the 

 Ruffia compiany, &c. In his letter to the laft named gentleman, he 

 fays, ' that having, in three years time, coafted all, or near all, the 

 ' circumference of Davis's ftraits, he found it to be no other than a 

 ' great bay, and no hopes of a paflage. But that fome advantage may 

 * be made of th's voyage, fince there are here very great plenty of thofe 

 ' whales called by the bifcayners, the grand bay whales ; the fame may 



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