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200
HISTOIIV OF INDIA.
[liOOK I
Tlioriio'a memorial.
Maritime enterprise uiuier Ed- w.ird VI.
A.D. 1547. "By this it appeareth, your grace liatli not onely a great advantage of tin; riches, but also your subjects shall not travell half of the way that <jther doe which go round about as aforesayd." Etrectsof This memorial, though containing little that is new and mucli that Is
eiToneous, seemed worthy of quotation, both becaase it gives a good account of the views entertained by the best geographers of the period, and because it appears to have had the effect of bestin-ing Henry to make a final effort of maritime discovery. As it led to no important results, and the accounts of it are scanty in the extreme, it is unnecessary to notice it further. In similar silence lies buried another expedition, undertaken, a few years after, at the expense, not of the crown, but of a wealthy inliabitant of London, who gave it an appearance so attractive that the youths of family and fortune were induced to embark along with him. Neither he nor his associates were well qualified for the task which they had undertaken; and disa.ster followed di.saster till famine reduced them to the dire necessity of cannibalism. They were preparing to cast lots for the next victim, when the capture of a French ve&sel furnished a small remnant with provisions and the means of regaining their native land.
On the accession of Edward VI., in 1547. an era more favourable to mari- time enterprise was anticipated, and would doubtless have been realized had his life been prolonged. Sebastian Cabot, as ardent and sanguine as ever, had arrived ; and the youthful monarch, smitten with kindred enthusiasm, had ap- pointed him grand-pilot of England, with a liberal .salary. Under the stimulus thus applied, a new scheme of discovery was soon arranged and zealoasly sup- ported by London merchants, "men of great wisdom and graxity." Robert Thorne, in the memorial above quoted, had pointed out three different du*ections in which experimental voyages might be made. Hitherto only one of them had been tried, but the results were most discouraging ; and it was therefore resolved that the next voyage should change the direction, and endeavour to discover a passage to the Indies by the north-east.
The requisite funds, amoimting to £6000, were raised in shares of £25 each, apportioned among the members of a kind of joint-stock companj' formed for the purpose. With this sum three vessels were built, and fitted up in a style with which Sebastian Cabot, who was governor of the company, and undertook the management of its nautical afFau's, was so well pleased as to declare that " the like was never in any realm seen used or known." The chief command was given to Sir Hugh Willoughby, who sailed in the principal vessel Under him, wiiioughby. ^^^ .^^ command of the second vessel, was Richard Chancellor. Besides a series of instructions drawn up by Cabot for the guidance of the officere and crew, the expedition was furnished by King Edward with a letter addressed to all "kings, princes, rulers, judges, and governors of the earth," requesting them "to permit unto these om- servants free passage by your regions and dominions, for they shall not touch anything of yours unwilling unto you," and promising " by the
Sir Hugli
