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 212

HISTORY OF INDIA.

[Book I.

A.U. 1582.

Queen Rlizabeth's eiiliglitened views.

Fenton's direct voyage to

the East.

Instructions for the voyage.

the ground, not so much of priority of di.scovery, as of a brutum fuLritea issued by the execrable pope, Alexander VI.

Queen Elizabeth had early struck at the root of all claims to monopolize the navigation of the ocean by declaring, in answer to tlie complaints of the Spanish ambassador against the En<?li.sh for navigatinfj the Indian seas, " that the ocean was free to all, fora.smuch as neither nature nor regard of public use do permit the exclusive possession thereof;" and again, " that as to Drake sailing on the Indian seas, it was as lawful for her subjects to do so as for the Spaniards ; since the sea and air are common to all men." This latter declaration was made in 1580; and evidence was soon given that, instead of being maintained merely as an abstract principle, the justice of which could not be disputed, it was hence- forth to be carried into practical operation. In the third volume of Hackluyt, pp. 754-757, there is a paper dated 9th Apiil, 1582, and entitled, "Instructions given by the right honourable the Lordes of the Counsell to Mr. Edward Fenton, Esquire, for the order to be observed in the voyage recommended to him for the East Indies and Cathay."

It appears from these "Instructions," which are twenty-four in number, that the direct, and, indeed, the exclusive route, intended for this voyage to "the East Indies and Cathay," was by the Cape of Good Hope. The ninth Instruc- tion is as follows : — " You shall use all diligence possible to depart from South- ampton with your sayd ships and vessels before the last of this present moneth of Aprill, and so goe on your course by Cape de Buena Esperan9a, not passing by the Streight of Magellan either going or returning, except upon great occasion incident that shall bee thought otherwise good to you, by the advise and consent of your sayd assistants, or foure of them at the least." The tenth Instruction, following out the same route, says, " You shall not passe to the northeastward of the 40 degree of latitude at the most, but shall take your right course to the isles of the JIulucos, for the better discovery of the north-west pas- sage, if without hinderance of your trade ; and within the same degree you can get any knowledge touching that passage, whereof you shall do wel to be inqui- sitive, as occasion in this sort may serve."

It does not exactly appear to what extent government had furnished the means of this voyage, but the language employed clearly implies that the lords of council possessed the entire control over it. Thus, at the very outset, they say (Instructions 1, 2, 3) : —

"First, you shall enter as captaine-generall iuto the charge and government of these shippes, the Beare gallion, the Edward Bonaventure, the barke Francis, and the small frigate, or pinnesse. Item, you shall appoint, for the furnishing of the vessels, in the -w hole to the number of 200 able persons, accompting in that number the gentlemen and their men, the ministers, cliirurgiaus, factors, &c., which sayd number is no way to be exceeded, whereof as many as may be to be sea-men ; and shall distribute them into every vessels, as by advise here before your going shall be thought meete. Item, for the more and better circumspect execu- tion, and determination in any waightie causes incident in this voyage, we will that you shall take unto you for assistants, Captaine Hawkins, (Viptaiue Ward," and six other per.^oii.s