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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries




[Sidenote: Thomas Walsingham writeth that he had once 1100. strong
shippes.] The roll of the huge fleete of Edward the third before Calice,
extant in the kings wardrobe in London, whereby the wonderfull strength of
England by sea in those days may appeare.

The South fleete.

The Kings /Shippes 25. Lyme /Ships 4.
\Mariners 419. \Mariners 62.
London /Shippes 25. Seton /Ships 2.
\Mariners 662. \Mariners 25.
Aileford /Shippes 2. Sydmouth /Ships 3.
\Mariners 24. \Mariners 62.
Hoo /Shippes 2. Exmouth /Ships 10.
\Mariners 24. \Mariners 193.
Maydstone /Shippes 2. Tegmouth /Ships 7.
\Mariners 51. \Mariners 120.
Hope /Shippes 2. Dartmouth /Ships 31.
\Mariners 59. \Mariners 757.
New Hithe /Shippes 5. Portsmouth /Ships 5.
\Mariners 49. \Mariners 96.
Margat /Shippes 15. Plimouth /Ships 26.
\Mariners 160. \Mariners 603.
[1]Motue /Shippes 2. Loo /Ships 20.
\Mariners 22. \Mariners 315.
Feuersham /Shippes 2. Yalme /Ships 2.
\Mariners 25. \Mariners 47.
Sandwich /Ships 22. [2]Fowey /Ships 47.
\Mariners 504. \Mariners 770.
Douer /Ships 16. Bristol /Ships 22.
\Mariners 336. \Mariners 608.
Wight /Ships 13. Tenmouth /Ships 2.
\Mariners 220. \Mariners 25.
Winchelsey /Ships 21. Hasting /Ships 5.
\Mariners 596. \Mariners 96.
Waymouth /Ships 15. Romney /Ships 4.
\Mariners 263. \Mariners 65.
Rye /Ships 9. Swanrey /Ships 1.
\Mariners 156. \Mariners 29.
Hithe /Ships 6. Ilfercombe /Ships 6.
\Mariners 122. \Mariners 79.
Shoreham /Ships 20. [4]Patricke- /Ships 2.
\Mariners 329. stowe \Mariners 27.
[3]Soford /Ships 5. Polerwan /Ships 1.
\Mariners 80. \Mariners 60.
Newmouth /Ships 2. Wadworth /Ships 1.
\Mariners 18. \Mariners 14.
Hamowl /Ships 7. Kardife /Ships 1.
hooke \Mariners 117. \Mariners 51.
Hoke /Ships 11. Bridgwater /Ships 1.
\Mariners 208. \Mariners 15.
Southhapton /Ships 21. Kaermarthen /Ships 1.
\Mariners 576. \Mariners 16.
Lymington /Ships 9. Caileches- /Ships 1.
\Mariners 159. worth \Mariners 12.
Poole /Ships 4. Mulbrooke /Ships 1.
\Mariners 94. \Mariners 12.
Wareham /Ships 3. Summe of the /Ships 493.
\Mariners 59. South fleete \Mariners 9630.

[Footnote 1: Or, Morne.]
[Footnote 2: Or, Foy.]
[Footnote 3: Or, Seford.]
[Footnote 4: Or, Padstow.]

The North fleete

Bamburgh /Ships 1. Waynefleet /Ships 2.
\Mariners 9. \Mariners 49.
Newcastle /Ships 17. Wrangle /Ships 1.
\Mariners 314. \Mariners 8.
Walrich /Ships 1. [2]Lenne /Ships 16.
\Mariners 12. \Mariners 382.
Hertilpoole /Ships 5. Blackney /Ships 2.
\Mariners 145. \Mariners 38.
Hull /Ships 16. Scarborough /Ships 1.
\Mariners 466. \Mariners 19.
Yorke /Ships 1. [3]Yearnmouth /Ships 43.
\Mariners 9. \Mariners 1950. or 1075.
Ranenser /Ships 1. Donwich /Ships 6.
\Mariners 27. \Mariners 102.
Woodhouse /Ships 1. Orford /Ships 3.
\Mariners 22. \Mariners 62.
[1]Stokhithe /Ships 1. Goford /Ships 13.
\Mariners 10. \Mariners 303.
Barton /Ships 3. Herwich /Ships 14.
\Mariners 30. \Mariners 283.
Swinefleete /Ships 1. Ipswich /Ships 12.
\Mariners 11. \Mariners 239.
Saltfleet /Ships 2. Mersey /Ships 1.
\Mariners 49. \Mariners 6.
Grimesby /Ships 11. [4]Brightlingsey /Ships 5.
\Mariners 171. \Mariners 61.
Colchester /Ships 5. Boston /Ships 17.
\Mariners 90. \Mariners 361.
Whitbanes /Ships 1. Swinhumber /Ships 1.
\Mariners 17. \Mariners 32.
Malden /Ships 2. Barton /Ships 5.
\Mariners 32. \Mariners 91.
Derwen /Ships 1. The Summe /Ships 217.
\Mariners 15. of the North \Mariners 4521.
fleete

The summe totall of /Ships 700.
all the English fleete \Mariners 14151.

[Footnote 1: Stockhith]
[Footnote 2: Or, Linne]
[Footnote 3: Or, Yermouth]
[Footnote 4: Now Brickelsey]

Estrangers their ships and mariners

Bayon /Ships 15. Flanders /Ships 14.
\Mariners 439. \Mariners 133.

Spayne /Ships 7. Gelderland /Ships 1.
\Mariners 184. \Mariners 24.

Ireland /Ships 1.
\Mariners 25.

The summe of all the Estrangers /Ships 38.
\Mariners 805.

The summe of expenses aswell of wages & prests as for the expenses of the
kings houses, and for other gifts and rewards, shippes and other things
necessary to the parties of France and Normandie, and before Calice, during
the siege there, as it appeareth in the accompts of William Norwel keeper
of the kings Wardrobe from the 21. day of April in the 18 yeere of the
reigne of the said king vnto the foure and twentieth day of Nouember in the
one and twentieth yeere of his reigne, is iii. hondreth xxxvii. thousand
li. ix. s. iiii. d.

* * * * *

A note out of Thomas Walsmgham [Footnote: Thomas Walsingham, a native of
Norfolk and Benedictine monk of St. Albans. He wrote _A History of
England, from 1273 to the Death of Henry V_, and _Ypodigma
Neustriæ_. His writings contain very little original information.]
touching the huge Fleete of eleuen hundred well furnished ships wherewith
King Edward the third passed ouer vnto Calais in the yeere 1359.

Anno gratiæ 1359. Iohannes Rex Franciæ sub vmbra pacis, & dolose obtulit
Regi Angliæ Flandriam, Picardiam, Aquitaniam, aliasque terras quas
equitauerat & vastarat: pro quibus omnibus ratificandis, idem Rex Edwardus
in Franciam nuncios suos direxit: quibus omnibus Franci contradixerunt.
Vnde motus Rex Angliæ, celeriter se & suos præparauit ad transfretandum,
ducens secum principem Walliæ Edwardum suum primogenitum, ducem Henricim
Lancastriæ & ferè proceres omnes, quos comitabantur vel sequebantur poene
mille currus, habuitque apud Sanwicam instructas optime vndecies centum
naues, & cum hoc apparatu ad humiliandum Francorum fastum Franciam
nauigauit, relicto domino Thoma de Woodstock filio suo minore admodum
paruulo Anglici regni custode, sub tutela tamen.

The same in English.

In the yeere of our Lord 1359. Iohn the French king craftily, and vnder
pretence of peace offered vnto Edward the third king of England, Flanders,
Picardie, Gascoigne, and other territories which he had spoyled and wasted,
for the ratifying of which agreement the foresaid king Edward sent his
ambassadors into France, but the Frenchmen gainsaied them in all their
articles and demaunds. Whereupon the king of England being prouoked,
speedily prepared himselfe and his forces to crosse the seas, carying with
him Edward Prince of Wales his heire apparant, and Henry duke of Lancaster
and almost all his Nobles, with a thousand wagons and cartes attending vpon
them. And the said king had at Sandwich eleuen hundred ships exceedingly
well furnished: with which preparation he passed ouer the seas, to abate
the Frenchmens arrogancie, leauing his yonger sonne Thomas of Woodstocke,
being very tender of age as his vicegerent in the Realme of England, albeit
not without a protectour, &c.

* * * * *

The voyage of Nicholas de Lynna a Franciscan Frier, and an excellent
Mathematician of Oxford, to all the Regions situate vnder the North pole,
in the yeere 1360. and in the raigne of Edward the 3. king of England.

[Sidenote: The words of Gerardus Mercator in the foote of his general Map
vpon the description of the North partes.] Quod ad descriptionem partium
Septentrionalium attinet, eam nos accipimus ex Itinerario Iacobi Cnoyen
Buscoducensis qui quædam ex rebus gestis Arthuri Britanni citat, maiorem
autem partem & potiora, a Sacerdote quodam apud Regem Noruegiæ, An. Dom.
1364. didicit. Descenderat is ex illis quos Arthurus ad has habitandas
insulas miserat, & referebat, An. 1360. Minoritam quendam Anglum Oxonieasem
Mathematicum in eas insulas venisse, ipsisque relictis ad vlteriora arte
Magica profectu descripsisse omnia, & Astrolabio dimensum esse in hanc
subiectam formam ferè, vti ex Iacobo collegimus, Euripos illos quatuor
dicebat tanto impetu ad interiorem voraginem rapi, vt naues semel ingressæ
nullo vento retroagi possent, neque verò vnquam tantam ibi ventum esse, vt
molæ frumentariæ circumagendæ sufficiat. Simillima his habet Giraldus
Cambrensis (qui floruit, An. 1210.) in libro de mirabilibus Hyberniæ, sic
enim scribit. Non procul ab insulis Hebridibus, Islandia, &c. ex parte
Boreali, est maris quædam miranda vorago, in quam à remotis partibus omnes
vndique fluctus marini tanquam ex condicto fluunt, & recurrunt, qui in
secreta naturæ penetralia se ibi transfundentes, quasi in Abyssum vorantur.
Si verò nauem hac fortè transire contigerit, tanta rapitur, & attrahitur
fluctuum violentia, vt eam statim irreuocabiliter vis voracitatis
absorbeat.

Quatuor voragines huius Oceani, a quatuor oppositis mundi partibus
Philosophi describunt, vnde & tam marinos fluctus, quàm & Æolicos flatus
causaliter peruenire nonnulli coniectant.

The same in English.

Touching the description of the North partes, I haue taken the same out of
the voyage of Iames Cnoyen of Hartzeuan Buske, which alleageth certaine
conquests of Arthur king of Britaine: and the most part, and chiefest
things among the rest, he learned of a certaine priest in the king of
Norwayes court, in the yeere 1364. This priest was descended from them
which king Arthur had sent to inhabite these Islands, and he reported that
in the yeere 1360, a certaine English Frier, a Franciscan, and a
Mathematician of Oxford, came into those Islands, who leauing them, and
passing further by his Magicall Arte, described all those places that he
sawe, and tooke the height of them with his Astrolabe, according to the
forme that I (Gerard Mercator) haue set downe in my mappe, and as I haue
taken it out of the aforesaid Iames Cnoyen. Hee sayd that those foure
Indraughts were drawne into an inward gulfe or whirlepoole, with so great a
force, that the ships which once entred therein, could by no meanes be
driuen backe againe, and that there is neuer in those parts so much winde
blowing, as might be sufficient to driue a Corne mill.

Giraldus Cambrensis (who florished in the yeere 1210, vnder king Iohn) in
his booke of the miracles of Ireland, hath certaine words altogether alike
with these videlicet:

[Sidenote: There is a notable whirlepoole on the coast of Norway, caled
Malestrando (Mælstrom), about the latitude of 68.] Not farre from these
Islands (namely the Hebrides, Island &c.) towards the North there is a
certaine woonderful whirlpoole of the sea, whereinto all the waues of the
sea from farre haue their course and recourse, as it were without stoppe:
which, there conueying themselues into the secret receptacles of nature,
are swallowed vp, as it were, into a bottomlesse pit, and if it chance that
any shippe doe passe this way, it is pulled, and drawen with such a
violence of the waues, that eftsoones without remedy, the force of the
whirlepoole deuoureth the same.

The Philosophers describe foure indranghts of this Ocean sea, in the foure
opposite quarters of the world, from whence many doe coniecture that as
well the flowing of the sea, as the blasts of the winde, haue their first
originall.

* * * * *

A Testimonie of the learned Mathematician master Iohn Dee, [Footnote: Born
in London in 1537. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He
was a man of vast erudition, but being, in Mary's reign, suspected of
devoting himself to the "black art," a mob broke into his house and
destroyed his library, museum, and mathematical instruments, said to be
worth £2,000; and he himself was cast into prison. He was in great favour
with Queen Elizabeth, who is said to haue paid him a salary, employed him
on secret political missions, and visited him at Mortlake. He professed
to be able to raise the dead, and had a magic ball (in reality a lump of
black lead), in which he pretended to read the future, and which was
afterwards in Horace Walpole's collection at Strawberry Hill. In 1596. he
was made Warden of Manchester College, and died in 1608.] touching the
foresaid voyage of Nicholas De Linna.

Anno 1360. (that is to wit, in the 34. yeere of the reigne of the
triumphant king Edward the third) a frier of Oxford, being a good
Astronomer, went in companie with others to the most Northren Islands of
the world, and there leauing his company together, hee transited alone, and
purposely described all the Northerne Islands, with the indrawing seas: and
the record thereof at his returne he deliuered to the king of England.
[Sidenote: Inuentio Fortunata.] The name of which booke is Inuentio
Fortunata (aliter fortunæ) qui liber incipit a gradu 54. vsque ad polum.
Which frier for sundry purposes after that did fiue times passe from
England thither, and home againe.

It is to be noted, that from the hauen of Linne in Norfolke (whereof the
foresaid Francisan frier tooke his name) to Island, it is not about a
fortnights sailing with an ordinarie winde, and hath bene of many yeeres a
very common and vsuall trade: which further appeareth by the priuileges
granted to the Fisher men of the towne of Blacknie in the said Countie of
Norfolke, by king Edward the third for their exemption and freedome from
his ordinary seruice in respect of their trade to Island. [Sidenote: An 2.
& 4. & 31. Edwardi tertij.]

* * * * *

The voyage of Henry Earle of Derbie, after Duke of Hereford and lastly king
of England by the name of Henry the fourth, An. Dom 1340. into Prussia
and Lettowe against the infidels, recorded by Thomas of Walsingham

[Sidenote: An. Dom. 1390.] Dominus Henricus Comes de Derbie per idem tempos
profectus est in le Pruys, vbi cum adjutorio marescalli dictæ patriæ &
cujusdam Regis vocati Wytot deuicit exercitum Regis de Lettowe, captis
quatuor ducibus, & tribus peremptis & amplius quam trecentis, de
valentioribus exercitus sapradicti pariter interemptis. Ciuitas quoque
vocatur [Marginal note: Alias Vilna] Will in cujus castellum Rex de Lettowe
nomine Skirgalle confugerat, potenti virtute dicti Comitis maximè atque
suorum capta est. Namque qui fuerunt de familia sua primi murum ascenderant
& vexillum ejus super muros, cæteris vel torpentibus vel ignorantibus,
posuerunt. Captaque sunt ibi vel occisa quatuor millia plebanorum, fratre
Regis de Poleyn inter cæteros ibi perempto, qui aduersarius nostri fuit
Obsessumque fuit castrum dictæ Ciuitatis per quinque hebdomadas: Sed
propter infirmitates, quibus vexabatur exercitus magistri de Pruys & de
Lifland noluerunt diutiùs expectare. Facti sunt Christiani de gente de
Lettowe octo. Et magister de Lifland duxit secum in suam patriam tria
millia captiuorum.

The same in English.

About the same time L. Henry the Earle of Derbie trauailed into Prussia,
where, with the helpe of the Marshall of the same Prouince, and of a
certaine king called Wytot, hee vanquished the armie of the king of
Lettowe, with the captiuitie of foure Lithuanian Dukes, and the slaughter
of three, besides more then three hundred of the principall common
souldiers of the sayd armie which were slaine. The Citie also which is
called Wil or Vilna, into the castle whereof the king of Lettow named
Skirgalle fled for his sauegard, was, by the valour of the sayd Earle
especially and of his followers, surprised and taken. For certaine of the
chiefe men of his familie, while others were slouthfull or at least
ignorant of their intent, skaling the walles, aduanced his colours
thereupon. And there were taken and slaine foure thousand of the common
souldiers, and amongst others was slaine the king of Poland his brother,
who was our professed enemie. And the castle of the foresaid Citie was
besieged for the space of fiue weekes: but by reason of the infirmities and
inconueniences wherewith the whole armie was annoyed, the great masters of
Prussia and of Lifland would not stay any longer. There were conuerted of
the nation of Lettowe eight persons vnto the Christian faith. And the
master of Lifland carried home with him into his countrey three thousand
captiues.

* * * * *

The voyage of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester into Prussia, in the
yeere 1391. written by Thomas Walsingham.

Eodem tempore dux Glouerniæ Dominus Thomas de Woodstock [Marginal note:
Filius natu minimus Edwardi 3.], multis moerentibus, iter apparauit versùs
le Pruys: quem non Loudinensium gemitus, non communis vulgi moeror retinere
poterant, quin proficisci vellet. Nam plebs communis tàm Vrbana quàm
rustica metuebant quòd eo absente aliquod nouum detrimentum succresceret,
quo præsente nihil tale timebant. Siquidèm in eo spes & solatium totus
patriæ reposita videbantur. Ipse verò mòx, vt fines patriæ suæ transijt,
illicò aduersa agitatus fortuna, nunc hàc nunc illàc turbinibus procellosis
circumfertur; & in tantum destituitur, vt de vita etiam desperaret.
[Sidenote: Reditus.] Tandem post Daciam, post Norwagiam, post Scoticam
barbariem non sine mortis pauore transcursam, peruenit Northumbriam, & ad
castellum se contulit de Tinnemutha velut assylum antiquitus notum sibi:
vbi per aliquot dies recreatus iter assumpsit versus manerium suum de
Plashy, magnum apportans gaudium toti regno, tam de eius euasione, quàm de
aduentu suo.

The same in English.

At the same time the Duke of Glocester Lord Thomas of Woodstock (the
yongest sonne of Edward the third) to the great griefe of many, tooke his
iourney towards Prussia: whom neither the Londoners mones nor yet the
lamentation of the communaltie could restraine from his intended
expedition. For the common people both of the Citie and of the countrey
feared lest in his absence some newe calamitie might happen; which they
feared not while he was present. For in him the whole nation seemed to
repose their hope and comfort. Howbeit hauing skarce passed as yet the
bounds of his owne countrey, he was immediatly by hard fortune tossed vp
and downe with dangerous stormes and tempests, and was brought into such
distresse, that he despaired euen of his owne life. At length, hauing not
without danger of death, sailed along the coastes of Denmarke, Norway, and
Scotland, he returned into Northumberland, and went to the castle of
Tinmouth as vnto a place of refuge knowen of olde vnto him; where, after
hee had refreshed himselfe a fewe dayes, hee tooke his iourney toward his
Mannour of Plashy, bringing great ioy vnto the whole kingdome, aswell in
regard of his safetie as of his returne.

* * * * *

The verses of Geofrey Chaucer in the knights Prologue, who liuing in the
yeere 1402. [Footnote: Chaucer died 25. October, 1400, according to the
inscription on his tombstone at Westminster. Urry, in his edition of
Chaucer, folio, 1721, p. 534, attributes the _Epistle to Cupid_ to Thomas
Occleue, Chaucer's scholar, but does not give his authority.] (as hee
writeth himselfe in his Epistle of Cupide) shewed that the English
Knights after the losse of Acon, were wont in his time to trauaile into
Prussia and Lettowe, and other heathen lands, to aduance the Christian
faith against Infidels and miscreants, and to seeke honour by feats of
armes.

The English Knights Prologue.

[Sidenote: Long trauaile.]
A Knight there was, and that a worthie man,
that from the time that he first began
to riden out, he loued Cheualrie,
trouth, honour, freedome, and Curtesie.
full worthy was he in his lords warre:
and thereto had hee ridden no man farre,
As well in Christendome as in Heathennesse,
and euer had honour for his worthinesse.

[Sidenote: Alexandria.]
At Alisandre hee was, when it was wonne:
full oft time hee had the bourd begon
abouen all nations in Pruce,
In Lettowe had hee riden, and in Ruce,
no Christen man so oft of his degree:
In Granade at the siege had he bee
At Algezer[1]: and ridden in Belmarye:
At Leyes [2] was hee, and also at Satalye,[3]
when they were wonne: and in the great see
at many a Noble armie had hee bee.
At mortall battailes had he bin fifteene,
And foughten for our faith at Tramissen,[4]
in listes thries, and aye slayne his foe:

This ilke worthie Knight had bin also,
sometime with the lord of Palathye [5]
ayenst another Heathen in Turkie.

Written in the lustie moneth of May
in our Palace, where many a million
of louers true haue habitation,
The yeere of grace ioyfull and iocond,
a thousand, foure hundred and second.

[Footnote 1: Algezer in Granado.]
[Footnote 2: Layas in Armenia. Froysart. lib. 3. cap. 40.]
[Footnote 3: Satalie in the mayne of Asia neere Rhods.]
[Footnote 4: Tremisen is in Barbarie.]
[Footnote 5: Or, Palice. Froysart lib. 3. cap. 40.]

* * * * *

The original proceedings and successe of the Northren domestical and forren
trades and traffique of this Isle of Britain from the time of Nero the
Emperour, who deceased in the yeere of our Lord 70. vnder the Romans,
Britons, Saxons, and Danes, till the conquest: and from the conquest,
vntill this present time, gathered out of the most authenticall histories
and records of this nation.

* * * * *

A testimonie out of the fourteenth Booke of the Annales of Cornelius
Tacitus, proouing London to haue bene a famous Mart Towne in the reigne
of Nero the Emperour, which died in the yeere of Christ 70.

At Suetonius mira constantia medios inter hostes Londinium perrexit,
cognomento quidem coloniæ non insigne, sed copia negociatorum & commeatu
maxime celebre.

The same in English.

But Suetonius with wonderfull constancie passed through the middest of his
enemies, vnto London, which though it were not honoured with the name and
title of a Romane Colonie, yet was it most famous for multitude of
Marchants and concourse of people.

* * * * *

A testimome out of Venerable Beda (which died in the yeere of our Lord
734.) proouing London to haue bene a Citie of great traffike and
Marchandize not long after the beginning of the Saxons reigne.

Anno Domminæ incarnationis sexcentesimo quarto Augustinus Britanniarum
Archiepiscopus ordinauit duos Episcopos, Mellitum videlicet & Iustum:
Mellitum quidem ad prædicandum prouinciæ Orientalium Saxonum, qui Tamesi
fluuio dirimuntur à Cantia & ipsi Orientali Mari contigui, quorum
Metropolis Londonia Ciuitas est super ripam præfati fluminis posita & ipsa
multorum emporium populorum, terra marique venientium. [Footnote: Beda
Ecclesiasticæ historiæ Gentis Anglornm lib. 2. cap 3.]

The same in English.

In the yeere of the incarnation of Chnst 604. Augustine Archbishop of
Britaine consecrated two Bishops, to wit Mellitus and Iustus. He appoynted
Mellitus to preach to the East Saxons which are diuided from Kent by the
riuer of Thames, and border vpon the Easterne sea, whose chiefe and
Metropolitane Citie is London seated vpon the banke of the aforesaid riuer,
which is also a Marte Towne of many nations, which repayre thither by sea
and by land.

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