A future part of the subject will be understood more readily by noting here, that Frobisher was aware of the course taken on this occasion and of the loss of one of the ships in "a dangerous gulf between the North parts of Newfoundland and the country lately called by her Majesty Meta Incognita."

It is impossible to turn from this Expedition without adverting, in terms of indignation, to those who, instead of looking into the evidence which strikingly evinces the earnest and continued exertions of Henry VIII. in reference to this project, prefer the easier task of stringing together such paragraphs as the following:

"Neither was the turbulent, voluptuous, proud, and cruel disposition of Henry VIII. any great encouragement to men of abilities and enterprise to undertake voyages of discovery, and thereby expose themselves to the king's fickle and tyrannical temper in case of miscarriage."*

"But it is more difficult to discover what prevented this scheme of Henry VII. from being resumed during the reigns of his son and grandson, and to give any reason why no attempt was made either to explore the Northern Continent of America more fully, or to settle in it. Henry VIII. was frequently at open enmity with Spain: the value of the Spanish àcquisitions in America had become so well known, as might have excited his desire to obtain some footing in those opulent regions; and during a considerable part of his reign, the prohibitions in a papal bull would not have restrained him from making encroachments upon the Spanish dominions. But the reign of Henry was not favourable to the progress of discovery. During one period of it, the active part which he took in the affairs of the Continent, and the vigour with which he engaged in the contest between the two mighty rivals, Charles V. and Francis I. gave full occupation to the enterprising spirit both of the King and his Nobility. During another period of his administration, his famous controversy with the Court of Rome kept the nation in perpetual agitation and suspense: engrossed by those objects, neither the King nor the Nobles had inclination or leisure to turn their attention to new pursuits; and without their patronage and aid, the commercial part of the nation was too inconsiderable to make any effort of consequence."t

"That prince, (Henry VIII.) full of bustle, needy of money, and not devoid of intelligence, might have been supposed rather prompt to embark in such enterprises: but involved in so many disputes, domestic and theological, and studying, hough with little skill, to hold the balance between the two great continental rivals, Charles and Francis, he was insensible to the glory and advantages to be derived from Maritime Expeditions."

• Forster, Northern Voyages, p. 268.

† Dr Robertson's America, book ix.

Edinburgh Cabinet Library (vol. i. p. 98), by Professors Leslie and Jameson, and Hugh Murray, Esq.

CHAP. X.

VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND IN 1536.

It has been thought unnecessary to speak in detail of the Expedition of Verrazani in 1524, or of that of Cartier in 1534, as they did not advance beyond the points which former Navigators had rendered quite familiar.

Of a subsequent voyage from England, in 1536, our information, derived altogether from Hakluyt, is quite meagre, but there was evidently contemplated a more adventurous range of search. The scheme originated with "one Master Hore of London, a man of goodly stature and of great courage, and given to studie of cosmography."* Amongst the company, it is stated, were "many gentlemen of the Inns of Court, and of the Chancerie." One of the persons particularly spoken of, is “M. Rastall, Sergeant Rastall's brother," a name familiar in the Law, from the well-known "Entries" of the brother here alluded to. After a tedious passage, the gentlemen reached Cape Breton and proceeded Northward, but seem to have made little progress when they were arrested by famine, which became so pinching that one individual killed his companion "while he stooped to take up a root for his relief,”† and having appeased the pangs of hunger, hid the body for his own future use. It being ascertained that he had somewhere a concealed store of animal food, he was reproached for his base selfishness, "and this matter growing to cruel speeches," he stated plainly what he had done. The Chief of the Expedition was greatly shocked at this horrible discovery, "and made a notable oration, containing how much these dealings offended the Almightie, and vouched the Scrip

Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 129.

Ibid. vol. iii. p. 130.

# Ib.

tures from first to last what God had in cases of distresse done for them that called upon Him, and told them that the power of the Almighty was then no lesse than in all former time it had bene. And added, that if it had not pleased God to have holpen them in that distresse, that it had bene better to have perished in body, and to have lived everlastingly, than to have relieved for a poore time their mortal bodyes, and to be condemned everlastingly both body and soul to the unquenchable fire of hell."* But in vain did this good man, who was not himself of the Profession, entreat his associates to combat the unhappy tendency to prey on their fellow-creatures; and they were about to cast lots to ascertain who should be killed, when a French vessel unexpectedly arrived "well furnished with vittaile." Notwithstanding the amity of the two nations, it was decided, in the multitude of Counsellors, to consult their own safety at the expense of the new comers. The case being one of plain necessity, they resolved to act on the familiar maxim which permits the law to slumber in such emergencies, and to get possession of the French vessel, viewing it, doubtless, if any argument was had, in the light of the tabula in naufragio spoken of in the books.

The thing would seem to have been managed with fair words and characteristic adroitness. Hakluyt got his information from Mr Thomas Buts, of Norfolk, whom he rode two hundred miles to see," as being the only man now alive that was in this discoverie." Buts must have been very young at the time of the Expedition-probably in London as a student of law or articled to an attorney-and it can hardly be supposed that he was trusted with a prominent part at this interesting crisis, when there were on board men of the experience of Rastall and the others. Yet there was evidently a touch of vain-glory about his narrative to Hakluyt-something of the "pars fui”—and the old man, though long retired from business, kindled up at the reminiscence: "Such was the policie of the English that they became masters of the same, and

Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 130.

changing Ships and vittailing them they set sayle to come into England!"* The despoiled Frenchmen followed these harpies of the law, and made complaint to Henry VIII.

"The King causing the matter to be examined and finding the great distresse of his subjects, and the causes of the dealing with the French, was so moved with pitie that he punished not his subjects, but of his own purse made full and royal recompense unto the French."

It had been stated at the outset that the adventurers were "assisted by the King's favour and good countenance," which, with his subsequent clemency and generosity, may furnish a suitable answer to the silly tirade of Forster.

CHAP. XI.

EXPEDITION of corTEREAL IN 1574, AND RETROSPECT TO A PRETENDED VOYAGE BY A PERSON OF THE SAME NAME IN 1464.

THE long interval between the voyage of 1536 and that of Frobisher supplies nothing worthy of particular notice. One incident, however, may be glanced at, because it is probably connected with a misconception as to a pretended expedition of much earlier date.

In the work of Hakluyt published in 1582, we find the following passage:

“A verie late and great probabilitie of a passage by the North-West part of America in 58 degrees of Northerly latitude. An excellent learned Man of Por tugal of singular gravety, authoritie and experience tolde me very lately that one Anus Cortereal Captayne of the yle of Tercera about the yeare 1574 which is not above eight years past sent a shippe to discover the North West Passage of Ame rica and that the same shippe arriving on the Coast of the said America in fiftie éyghte degrees of Latitude found a great entrance exceeding deepe without all impediment of ice, into which they passed above-twentie leagues and found it alwaies to trende towards the South the lande lying low and plain on either side. And that they persuaded themselves verily that there was a way open into the South Sea. But their victuals fayling them and they beeing but one Shippe they returned backe agayne with joy."

Nothing further is heard on the subject.

One of the idlest of the numerous efforts to detract from the fame.of those who led the way in the career of discovery, is the assertion that Newfoundland was discovered by a person named Cortereal as early as 1464, twenty-eight years before the enterprise of Columbus. The following passage on the subject is found, in Mr Barrow's Chronological History of Voyages (p. 37).

"The first Navigator of the name of Cortereal, who engaged in this enterprise, was John Vaz Costa Cortereal, a Gentleman of the Household of the Infanta Don Fernando-who, accompanied by Alvaro Martens Hornea, explored the northern