Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/690

 566 BIBLIOGRAPHY Biblio- In the meantime, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who believed he gr aphy. had discorered Terra Australia, had petitioned Phillip the Third of Spain to colonise that country lest it should be taken possefsion of by the English. All the known memorials of Quiros have been recently published (Madrid, 1877-82), together with the narratives of his two voyages (1595 and 1606), preceded by that of Mendana to the Solomon Islands (1567). One of the Quiros memorials falling into the hands of Gresley, Secretary to the English Embassy at the Spanish Court, was by him forwarded to his Government in 1610.* Raleigh's 6r8t colony in North America (1 587) had not succeeded ; but other settlements in Virginia and N€w England, despite Spanish protests, were now being founded with some measure of success. Sir James Lancaster, who had made voyages to the East Indies frequently, proposed to have a ship sent through the Straits of Magellan to the Solomon Islands, but without result. James the First was not favourable to colonies. In the last year of his reign, 1624-5, an eminent London merchant — probably the most enter- prising one of his time — Sir William Courteen, desiring to extend hiJs trside to the Terra Australis, petitioned the king for the privilege of establising colonies there. Sir William, who was joint owner of more than twenty ships of burden, employing four or five thousand seamen, already carried on an extensive trade on his own account to Portugal, Spain, Guinea, and the West Indies. The following is a copy of hisj)etition : — To the Kings Moet Excellent Ma^«. The humble petition of Sir William Courteen, Knt., most humbly abewetb unto your Ma^«, — That all lands in y« south parts of j* world called Tena Australis Inoogoita, extending eastwards and westwards from y* Straights of Le Maire together with all ye adjacente islandes, kc^ are yet undiscovered or being discovered are not yet traded unto .by any of your Ma^«* subjects. And your petitioner being very willing att his owne charges which wilbe very greate, to indeavour y« discovery thereof and settle Collonies and a plantation there which he hopeth will tend to ye glory of God, ye reducing of Lifidells to Christianity, ye honour of your Ma^'*, ye inlaigem^ of your Ma^'** Territories and Do- minions, ye increase of your Ma^** Customs and revenue, and ye Navigation and imployment of your Ma^^^" subjects : Your pet' therefore humbly desireth y Ma^ to bee pleased to grante to him his heires and assignes all ye said lands islands and territories, with power to discover ye same to erect colonies and a plantation there and Courts of Justices officers and ministers for ye settling and govermnge of ye said colonies and plantations, and those which are or shall inhabit or be there, and power to administer justice and to execute marshall law by land and sea, and for your pef and those whom hee shall employ to defend themselves • An English traoslation was printed in London, 1617 ; reprinted 1723. Digitized by VjOOQIC