A.D. 1599.
too, whose bigotry and ambition were the great obstacles to it, had been called to his account; and negotiations were commenced under circumstances which promised a favourable result. Were anything wanting to prove that England was sincere in the matter, it might be found in the retrograde step which government took in regard to the projected voyage to India. Its approbation had been formally declared; and yet, under the impression that the Approval withdrawn. voyage might give umbrage to Spain, that approbation was expressly withdrawn. The committee of adventurers, fearing such a result, presented a long and elaborate memorial, in which they endeavoured to show, by a careful statement of all the localities in which the Spaniards could, with any show of reason, claim an exclusive right of trade, that the projected voyage would be so conducted as not to interfere in the least with the progress of the pending negotiations; but the lords of council answered that "it was more beneficiall for the generall state of merchandize to entertain a peace, then that the same should be hindred by the standing with the Spanische commissioners, for the mayntayning of this trade, to foregoe the oportunety of the concluding of the peace." To this answer no effectual reply could be made; and the adventurers, "fearing lest, after they were drawen into a charg, they shuld be required to desist their viage, did proceede noe further in the matter for this ye re, but did enter into the preparacion of a viage the next yere followinge."
Memorial of English merchants to the privy council. The memorial above referred to, furnishing an excellent summarry of the grounds on which the adventurers claimed and ultimately obtained permission merchants to establish an East Indian trade, possesses, independent of its interest as an historical document, intrinsic merits which justify a very liberal quotation. It is entitled, "Certayne Reasons why the English Merchants may trade into the East Indies, especially to such rich kingdoms and dominions as are not subjecte to the King of Spayne and Portugal; together with the true limits of the Portugals conquest and jurisdiction in those Oriental parts;" and proceeds as follows: —
"Whereas, right honorable, upon a treatie of peace betweene the crownes of England and Spayne like to ensue, that is not to be doubted, but that greate exception will bee taken agaynst the intended voyage of her majestie's subjects into the East Indies, by the Cape of Buena Sperança ; therefore the adventurers in the sayd intended voyage most humbly crave, at your honors' hands,to take perfecte knowledge of these fewe considerations underwritten.
"First, they desire that it wold please your honors to urge the commissioners of the Spanishe peace to put downe under their hands, the names of all such islands, cities, townes. places, castels, and fortresses, as they are actually, at this present, possessed of, from the sayd Cape of Buena Sperança, along the cost of Africa, on the cost of Arabia, in the East Indies, the Malucos, and other Oriential parts of the world: which, if they may bee drawne truly and faythfully to put downe, so that wee cannot be able, manifestly, to prove the contrarie, then wil wee be content, in noe sort, to disturbe nor molest them, wheresoever they are alreadie commanders and in actual authoritie.
"Secondly, if they wil not, by any meanes, bee drawne to this themselves, then wee, for your lordshippes' perfect instruction in this behalfe, wil take the paynes to doe it for them. That may please your honors, therefore, to understand, that these bee al the islands, cities,
