with the commodities of the country at a place four leagues to the east of Lamina. His journal describes the people and the climate, and contains notes on the variation of the compass and on the native products, such as gold, elephants' teeth, dragons' blood, and cinnabar. He suggested instructions for those who would make a voyage to Guinea. They should make a chart with the correct latitudes of places; learn what commodities belong to each port; what help may be depended upon from the natives; ascertain particulars respecting water-supply; and explore the country both along the coast and inland. The voyage of John Lock was followed, from 1555 to 1557, by three voyages sent to Guinea by a merchant of London, named William Towerson, his ships fighting the Portuguese successfully, and bringing back gold and ivory.
The meagre history which Hakluyt has thus preserved, proves that there was an increasing spirit of enterprise among the merchants and seamen of our principal seaports for at least a century before the formation of the great companies gave an additional and abiding impulse to maritime discovery. Nor was this spirit of adventure confined to those whose regular business it was to make trading ventures and to navigate distant seas. Young gentlemen from inland counties, barristers from the Inns of Court, and even a canon of St. Paul's, came forward as volunteers; while the policy of the Government was generally to give reasonable encouragement to these undertakings, by sharing in the ventures, by occasionally even fitting out expeditions, and eventually by granting charters.
Young Edward VI. appears to have taken a personal interest in the advancement of the maritime prosperity of his country, and in the science which is a necessary part of a seaman's education. During his reign Sebastian, the son of John Cabot, returned to England, after having served the Spanish Government for many years, been initiated into all the secrets of the hydrographic office at Seville, and been entrusted with the high position of Chief Pilot. He in fact deserted; and application was made for his surrender by the Emperor Charles V., which was refused because it was thought that his services would be useful to England. Sebastian was very young at the time of the voyages of John Cabot, and it is doubtful whether he accompanied his father. When he returned from Spain he was an old man, and he was welcomed as a learned cosmographer, possessed of the secrets of the Spanish Government. In reality, he was a treacherous intriguer, disloyal to all his employers,
