96 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



the Dutch, so that the wealth acquired by them in the British 

 seas might go to profit his own countrymen. It was the first 

 of the innumerable schemes of the kind which are to be found 

 scattered over the economic literature of the next two centuries. 

 Having reduced his plan to writing, he submitted it about 

 the year 1573 to the Earl of Leicester, in 1575 to Queen 

 Elizabeth, and in the following year he distributed copies to 

 men of influence, in the hope "that God would stir up some 

 good man to set out this work." It appears even to have been 

 brought to the notice of Parliament by Sir Leonard Digges, but 

 its consideration was deferred " for want of time." l The copy 

 presented to the Queen is preserved among the Burghley Papers 

 in the British Museum, 2 and the completed work, somewhat 

 enlarged, now very rare, was published (in black-letter) 

 on 1st January 1580 as "A New Year's Gift to England." 3 

 The plan of Hitchcock was to borrow 80,000 for three years, 

 when the whole amount would be repaid from the proceeds 

 of the fish sold. The shires were to be arranged in eight 

 groups, each group providing with its 10,000 fifty fishing 

 vessels of not less than 70 tons burthen, or 400 altogether.. 

 These were to be -built after the manner of " Flemysche Busses " 

 and distributed at eighty ports around the coast ; and at eight 

 of the chief ports (London, Yarmouth, Hull, Newcastle, Chester, 

 Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton) two " honest and substantial 

 men of credit" were to be appointed chief officers, to act as 

 treasurers, purveyors, and directors. Hitchcock estimated that 

 each ship when ready for fishing would cost 200 ; the crews 

 were to consist of a skilled master, twelve mariners or fisher- 



1 In the same year the author, at a dinner he gave at Westminster to the 

 burgesses representing "all the stately port towns of England," explained the 

 substance of his "plat"; several of them suggested that a subsidy should be 

 raised on land and goods to set the scheme afloat ; and the Speaker remarked that 

 " a Parliament had been called for a less cause." 



a Burghley Papers, A.D. 1572, MSS. Lansd. 14, No. 30. As the catalogue 

 states, the signature is erased, and the paper is entered as anonymous ; but careful 

 scrutiny shows that it was signed " Rob*- Hitchcock." 



3 A Pollitique Platt for the honour of the Prince, the greate profile of the publique 

 state, relief of the poore, presentation of the riche, reformation of Roges and Idle 

 persones, and the wealthe of thousandcs that knowes not liowe to Hue. Written /or 

 an Newyeres gift to Englande and the inhabitantes thereof, by Robert Hitchcok, 

 late of Cauersfeelde, in the Countie of Buckyngham, Gentleman. London, 1st- 

 Januarie 1580. 



