David B. Quinn - The voyages and colonising enterprises of Sir Humphrey Gilbert : Volume I

Volume I

Edited by
DAVID BEERS QUINN

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WORKS ISSUED BY

The Hakluyt Society

THE VOYAGES AND COLONISING ENTERPRISES OF SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT

SECOND SERIES
No, LXXXIV

ISSUED FOR 1939

SIR WILLIAM FOSTER, C.I.E., President.

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL BALDWIN OF BEWDLEY, K.G., P.C , Viee-President.

ADMIRAL SIR WILLIAM GOODINOUGH, G.C.B,, M.V.Q., Vim-President,

JAMES A. WILLIAMSON, ESQ., D.LIT., Vice-President.

J. N. L. BAKER, ESQ.

E. W. BOYILL, ESQ.

SIR RICHARD BURN, C.S.I.

PROF. SIR GEOFFREY CALLENDER, F.S.A.

PROF. FRANK DEBINHAM, M.A., O.B.E.

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR PERCY DOUGLAS, K.C.B., C.M.G.

E. W. GILBERT, ESQ., B.LITT.

DR. PHILIP GOSSE.

PROF. VINCENT T. HARLOW, D.LITT.

MALCOLM LETTS, ESQ., F.S.A.

PROF. A. P. NEWTON, D.LIT.

PROF. EDGAR PRESTAGE, D.LITT.

S. T. SHEPPARD, ESQ.

SIR PERCY SYKES, K.C.I.E., C.B., C.M.G.

PROF. E. G. R. TAYLOR, D.SC .

R. A. WILSON, ESQ.

EDWARD HEAWOOD, ESQ., Treasurer.

EDWARD LYNAM, ESQ., M.R.I.A., F.S.A., Hon. Secretary (British Museum, W.C.).

DAVID BEERS AND PH.D. QUINN

LECTURER IN HISTORY, QUEENS UNIVERSITY, BELFAST

VOLUME I

LONDON
PRINTED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY
1940

THESE volumes represent an attempt to assemble all the documents that throw any light on the voyages and colonising enterprises of Sir Humphrey Gilbert. Many of them have previously been printed, notably by Hakluyt and by Carlos Slafter in his Sir Humfrey Gilberte and his enterprise of colonization in America. A number are published for the first time. Wherever possible the original manuscripts have been used for the texts which have been printed. It is not, however, to be expected that all the extant materials have been discovered, and it is likely, in particular, that further agreements between Sir Humphrey Gilbert and adventurers with him in his colonising projects will be found in private collections. Enough has been found to illustrate clearly the preparatory and tentative character of his schemes. It would have been surprising if Gilberts plans had succeeded, but it is interesting and important that they should have been made, and they form the first stage in a series of attempts that were necessary before English settlements could be firmly planted in America. A few documents on Ireland have been included as Ireland was the earliest field for English colonisation in the sixteenth century and profoundly influenced the attempts to establish colonies in America.

While recent workers, notably Dr. J. A. Williamson and Professor E. G. R. Taylor, have done much to elucidate the colonising movement in the sixteenth century, little detailed attention has been paid to Sir Humphrey Gilbert. The pioneer biography by W. G. Gosling, published in 1911, remains the only study of any value and, though it contains a great deal of valuable material, it is out of date in certain respects. In the introduction I have attempted, besides making a brief analysis of the documents, to give an outline of his life, with some indication of the materials for a further study.

In making this collection I have received much assistance. I am particularly indebted to four people: to Alison Quinn for a great deal of labour on the documents and for assistance at almost every point in my study; to Miss Norah H. Evans, Assistant Librarian at Birkbeck College, for the careful preparation of my book-lists and for help in many other ways; to Mr. J. R. Carey, Lecturer in Spanish at Kings College, London, for translations; and to Mr. Edward Lynam for consistently valuable advice. Amongst those to whom I owe grateful thanks for advice, criticism, information, translations and transcripts are Dr. A. P. Newton, Dr. R. C. Anderson, Professor E. G. R. Taylor, Mr. Seymour de Ricci, Mr. J. W. Blake, Sir Wasey Sterry, Professor R. B. Merriman, Miss M. K. Dale, Mr. H. Beharrell, Miss A. M. C. Latham, Mrs. E. Hurstfield, Miss G. H. Hamilton and the late Mr. Hugh R. Watkin of Bovey Tracey. Acknowledgements are due to Commander Walter Raleigh Gilbert of Compton Castle, near Paignton; to the Marquess of Salisbury and Mr. J. V. Lyle for transcripts and permission to print documents from the Cecil MSS. at Hatfield House; to Sir Frederick and Lady Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe of Elvetham Hall, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, for giving me access to the Calthorpe MSS.; to Mr. George Brudenell of Deene Park, Peterborough, and Miss Joan Wake for transcripts of documents from the Brudenell MSS., which will shortly be published by Miss Wake; and to Mr. Arthur Snow, clerk of the Incorporation of Weavers, Tuckers and Shearmen of Exeter, for allowing me to examine the records of the Merchant Adventurers of Exeter. I have also received courteous assistance from the librarians, town clerks and archivists of the British Museum, Bodleian Library, Bristol, Dartmouth, Exeter, Lambeth Palace, the National Maritime Museum, the Public Record Office, and Totnes. My thanks are due, finally, to the Royal Geographical Society and to the National Portrait Gallery for facilities to reproduce the