CHAP. XXVIII. STAGNATION OF TRADE IN ENGLAND-CABOT CONSULTED BY THE MERCHANTS-URGES THE ENTERPRISE WHICH RESULTED IN THE TRADE TO RUSSIA-PRELIMINARY DIFFICULTIES-STRUGGLE WITH THE STILYARD -THAT MONOPOLY BROKEN DOWN-EARNESTNESS OF EDWARD VI. ON THE SUBJECT-HIS MUNIFICENT DONATION TO CABOT AFTER THE RESULT WAS DECLARED. It is only from detached notes, such as those already referred to, and which meet the eye as it were by accident, that we can now form an idea of the diffusive nature of Cabot's services. One Great Enterprise, however, stands by itself, and was destined to exercise an important influence on the commerce and naval greatness of England. An opportunity was afforded to Cabot of putting in execution a plan "which he long before had had in his mind,"* by its happening, incidentally, to fall in with the purposes of the London merchants. The period was one of great commercial stagnation in England. "Our merchants perceived the commodities and wares of England to be in small request about us and near unto us, and that those merchandises which strangers, in the time and memory of our ancestors, did earnestly seek and desire, were now neglected and the price thereof abated, although they be carried to their own parts."+ In this season of despondency Cabot was consulted, and the suggestions which he made were adopted: "Sebastian Caboto, a man in those days very renowned, happening to be in London, they began first of all to deal and consult diligently with him, and after much search and conference together, it was at last concluded, that three ships should be prepared and furnished out for the search and discovery of the northern * Eden's Decades, fol. 256. part of the world, to open a way and passage to our men, for travel to new and unknown kingdoms "* Such is the authentic history of the impulse given to English commerce at this interesting crisis. The influence of Cabot is not only attested by the passage quoted, but in the Letters Patent of Incorporation it is declared† that, in consideration of his having" been the chiefest setterforth of this journey or voyage, therefore we make, ordain, and constitute him, the said Sebastian, to be the first and present governor of the same fellowship and community by these presents, to have and enjoy the said office of governor to him, the said Sebastian Cabota, during his natural life, without amoving or dismissing from the same room." But a difficulty was encountered in the alleged exclusive privileges of a very powerful body, whose odious monopoly had long exercised its baneful influence on English commerce and manufactures: "The time was now at length come, that the eyes of the English nation were to be opened, for their discovering the immense damage which was sustained, by suf fering the German merchants of the house or college in London, called the Steelyard, so long to enjoy advantages in the duty or custom of exporting English cloths, far beyond what the native English enjoyed; which superior advantages possessed by those foreigners began, about this time, to be more evidently seen and felt, as the foreign commerce of England became more diffused. The Cities of Antwerp and Hamburgh possessed, at this time, the principal commerce of the northern and middle parts of Europe; and their factors, at the Steelyard, usually set what price they pleased on both their imports and exports; and having the command of all the markets in England, with joint and united stocks, they broke all other merchants. Upon these considerations, the English company of merchant adventurers made pressing remonstrances to King Edward the Sixth's Privy Council. These Hanseatics were, moreover, accused (and particularly the Dantzickers) of defrauding the customs, by colouring, or taking under their own names, as they paid little or no custom, great quantities of the merchandise of other foreigners not entitled to their immunities. They were also accused of having frequently exceeded the bounds of even the great privileges granted to them by our Kings; yet, by the force of great presents, they had purchased new grants." "Having, for the last forty-five years, had the sole command of our commerce, (says the author) they had reduced the price of English wool to one shilling and six-pence per stone. The Steelyard merchants were also excused from aliens duties, Voyage of Richard Chancellor, Hakluyt, vol. 1. p. 243. † Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 268. + Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii. p. 80 M'Pherson's Annals of Com. merce, vol. ii. p. 109 and yet all their exports and imports were made in foreign bottoms; which was a very considerable loss to the nation."* "This is the substance of the whole business during King Edward the Sixth's reign, of reversing the privileges of the Steelyard merchants, taken from our histories, but more particularly from I. Wheeler's Treatise of Commerce, published in quarto, in the year 1601; and, as he was then Secretary to the Merchant Adventur ers' Company, it may be supposed to be, in general, a true account, and is surely an useful part of commercial history. Wheeler adds, that by reversing these pri vileges, our own merchants shipped off in this year forty thousand cloths for Flanders. Rapin, in his History of England, observes, that the Regent of Flanders, as well as the City of Hamburgh, earnestly solicited to have the Steelyard merchants re-instated; but to no purpose."t The extraordinary interest felt by Edward himself on this subject is manifest from his Journal, in which the incidents are noted.‡ "18th January, 1551. This day the Stíliard put in their answer to a certain complaint, that the merchant adventurers laid against them.” "25th January, 1551. The answer of the Stiliard was delivered to certain of my learned Counsel to look on and oversee." “18th February, 1551. The merchant adventurers put in their replication to the Stiliards answer." "23rd February, 1551. A decree was made by the Board, that upon knowledge and information of their charters, they had found; First, that they were no sufficient Corporation. 2. That their number, names, and nation, was unknown. 3. That when they had forfeited their liberties, King Edward IV. did restore them on this condition, that they should colour no strangers' goods, which they had done. Also, that whereas in the beginning they shipped not past 8 clothes, after 100, after 1000, after that 6000 now in their name was shipped 44000 clothes in one year, and but 1100 of all other strangers. For these considerations sentence was given, that they had forfeited their liberties, and were in like case with other strangers." The difficulties which had to be struggled with, may be inferred from the pertinacity with which the defeated party followed up the matter, even after a decision had been pronounced. Thus, the following entries are found in the Journal of the young King: "28th February, 1551. There came Ambassadors from Hamburg and Lubeck, to speak on the behalf of the Stiliard merchants." "2d March 1551. The answer for the Ambassadors of the Stiliard was com • Ibid. † Ibid. # Published in Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. ii. from the Cotton MSS. mitted to the Lord Chancellor, the two Secretaries, Sir Robert Bowes, Sir John Baker, Judge Montague, Griffith Solicitor, Gosnold, Goodrich, and Brooks." "2d May, 1551. The Stiliard men received their answer; which was, to confirm the former judgment of my Council." The important agency of Cabot, in a result so auspicious not merely to the interests of commerce but to the public revenue, may be judged of from a donation bestowed on him, a few days after the decision.* "To Sebastian Caboto, the great seaman, 200 pounds, by way of the king's majesty's reward, dated in March, 1551." • Strype's Historical Memorials, vol. ii. p. 495. CHAP. XXIX. PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION-PRECAUTIONS AS TO TIMBERSHEATHING OF THE VESSELS NOW FIRST RESORTED TO IN ENGLANDEXAMINATION OF TWO TARTARS-CHIEF COMMAND GIVEN TO SIR HUGH WILLOUGHBY-RICHARD CHANCELLOR-STEPHEN BURROUGH-WILLIAM BURROUGH-ARTHUR PET-THIS EXPEDITION CONFOUNDED WITH ANOTHER BY STRYPE AND CAMPBELL. A TRIUMPH having been obtained over the obstacles which had heretofore impeded the career of English commerce, preparations were diligently made for the Expedition. The measures adopted for the safety of the ships indicate the presence of great skill and providence; "strong and wellseasoned planks for the building" were provided, and the historian of the expedition is struck with one noyel precaution. To guard against the worms "which many times pearceth and eateth through the strongest oak," it was resolved to "cover a piece of the keel of the shippe with thinne sheets of leade."* This is the first instance in England, of the practice of sheathing, but it had long before been adopted in Spain, and had thus engaged the attention of Cabot. It may, indeed, have been originally suggested by him, as the first use of it is referred to 1514, two years before which time we find him passing into the service of Ferdinand, and advancing rapidly to posts of distinction as his value became apparent. Information was eagerly sought in every quarter as to the countries which the Expedition might visit. There were "two Tartarians" employed about the young king's stables. These persons were hunted up and an interpreter provided, "by whom they were demanded touching their country and the manners of their nation." But the poor creatures had • Hakluyt, vol. i. p. 243. |