Page:Royalnavyhistory01clow.djvu/734

 were captured, and rich cargoes of sugar, dye-wood, and cotton were brought home. But Captain Barker fell in one of the skirmishes, and several other valuable officers lost their lives. Lancaster was engaged on this service from September, 1594, to July, 1595, when he brought his ship back to Blackwall in safety. These two expeditions showed him to be an able, prudent, and courageous officer, well qualified for the high trust that was about to be placed in him.

In 1599 the merchants and adventurers of London projected an expedition, and eventually formed a company, with the object of establishing a trade with the East Indies. A sum of £72,000 was subscribed, and the preparations were steadily pushed forward throughout the autumn. On the 10th of December Captain James Lancaster was appointed "general" of the fleet, with a commission of martial law from the queen. His flag was on board the Dragon, a ship, formerly named the Scourge of Malice, which had been bought from the Earl of Cumberland for £3700. She was of 600 tons burden, and had a crew of two hundred and two men. The chief pilot was John Davis, the Arctic navigator, who had just returned from the East Indies as pilot of the first Dutch India fleet. The "vice-admiral" was the Hector, of 300 tons, and a crew of one hundred and eight men, commanded by John Middleton. The Ascension, of 260 tons, with a crew of eighty-two men, was under William Brand; and John Hayward commanded the Susan, of 240 tons, and eighty-eight men. The Guest was to accompany the fleet as a victualler.

On the 31st of December, 1599, Queen Elizabeth laid the foundation stone of the British Empire in India. The Charter of Incorporation of the East India Company was granted to George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, and two hundred and fifteen knights, aldermen, and merchants; Alderman Sir Thomas Smith being chosen the first governor of the company, and James Lancaster and John Middleton being in the list of the first directors. The queen, in council, framed this great instrument with foresight and wisdom, and, it would almost seem, with some prevision of the future. Her majesty had cordially and graciously approved of the voyage before the issue of the Charter, and she sent John Mildenhall as her envoy to the great Emperor Akbar at Agra, by way of Constantinople and Persia.