The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation
Chapter 2 : Hygon ho Brochthonos.Ossoi gaian echousi Brotoi henos ekpephyasi hos allaela horan ethne

Hygon ho Brochthonos.

Ossoi gaian echousi Brotoi henos ekpephyasi hos allaela horan ethnesi charma physei.

Hos de thaliplagktos metekiathen ethnea pleista, hoikoi mimnazous axiagastos ephy.

Exocha Brettanoi d', alloin schisthentes erantai, idmenai allothroun phyla polysperea.

Indous hesperious kai eoous, Aithiopas te kai Moschous, kai pant eschatounta genae.

Touton d' oia malista, klyta, klytos Haklyutos graphen ariphradeos, mnaem aei essomenon.]

In nauales RICHARDI HAKLUYTI Commentarios.

Anglia magnarum foecunda puerpera rerum, siue solum spectes n.o.bile, siue salum; Quae quantum sumptis se n.o.bilitauent armis, siue domi gessit praelia, siue foris; Multorum celebrant matura volumina: tantae Insula materiem paruula laudis alit.

At se in quot, qualesque, & quando effuderit oras, qua fidit ignotum peruia cla.s.sis iter, Solius Hakluyti decus est, praediuite penna ostendisse suis ciuibus ausa mari Quaecunque idcirco celeri gens Anglica naui, Oceani tristes spernere docta minas, A primi generisque & gentis origine gessit, qua via per fluctus vlla pattre potest, Siue decus laudemque secuta, vt & hostibus alas demeret, atque suis laeta pararet opes: Hoc opus Hakluyti; cui debet patria multum, cui multum, patriae quisquis amicus erit Qui re namque magis se nostra Britannta iactat, quam quod sit praeter caetera cla.s.se potens?

Quam prius obsessam tenebris sic liberat, vt nunc quisque sciat quam sit n.o.bile cla.s.sis opus.

Quam si Daedalice vtemur surgemus in altum, sin autem Icarice, quod voret, aequor habet.

RICH. MVLCASTER.

Eiusdem in eundem

Qui graui primus cecinit camoena Aureum vellus, proceresque Graecos, quos sibi adiunxit comites Ianson Vectus in Argo Naue, quam primum secuisse fluctus praedicant salsos, sibi comparauit Inde non vnquam moritura magnae praemia famae Tanta si merces calamum secuta Vnicae nauis referentis acta, Quanta Rachardum manet Hakluytum gloria? cuius Penna descripsit freta mille, mille Insulae nostrae celeres carinas, Quae per immensi loca peruolarunt omnia mundi Senties gratam patriam, tuaeque Laudis aeternum memorem, & laboris: Quae tua cura, calamoque totum ibit in orbem: Quam doces omni studio fouere Nautic.u.m robur, validamque cla.s.sem.

Hac luet quisquis violentus Anglo vsserit hostis.

In eximium opus R. HAKLUYTI de Anglorum ad disiunctissimas regiones nauigationibus GVLIELMI CAMDENI Hexastichon.

Anglia quae penitus toto discluditur orbe, Angulus...o...b..s erat, paruus & orbis erat.

Nunc c.u.m sepositos alios detexent orbes, Maximus...o...b..s honos, Orbis & orbis erit.

At quid Haklute tibi monstranti haec debeat orbis?

Laus tua, crede mihi, non erit orbe minor.

Di Marc' Antonio Pigafeta Gentilhuomo Vicentino

Ignota mi starei, con poco honore Sepolta nell' oscure, antiche carte, S'alcun de figli miei con spesa & arte Non hauesse hor scoperto il mio splendore

Ramusio pria pieno d' ardente amore Manifesto le mie piu riche parte, Che son la doue il Maragnon diparte, E doue il Negro allaga, e'l Gange scorre, Hakluyto poi senza verun risguardo Di fatica o di danno accolt' ha insieme, Ci c' ha potuto hauer da typhi Inglesi.

Onde vedra.s.sie dove bella sguardo, E la Dwina agghiaccia, e l' Obi freme, Et altri membri miei non ben palesi.

EXTRACT FROM OLDYS'S LIBRARIAN, 1738.

(Article Hakluyt's Voyages.) p. 137.

Oldys (having given a list of the contents of the three volumes of Hakluyt) concludes,

This summary may sufficiently intimate what a treasury of maritime knowledge it is, wherefore we shall here take our leave of it, with referring only to a needful observation or two:

And first, As it has been so useful to many of our authors, not only in Cosmography, and Navigation, but in History, especially that of the glorious reign in which so many brave exploits were atchievcd; As it has been such a LEADING STAR TO THE NAVAL HISTORIES since compiled; and saved from the wreck of oblivion many exemplary incidents in the lives of our most renowned navigators; it has therefore been unworthily omitted in the English historical library. And lastly, though the first volume of this collection, does frequently appear, by the date, in the t.i.tle page, to be printed in 1599, the reader is not thence to conclude the said volume was then reprinted, but only the t.i.tle page, as upon collating the books we have observed, and further, that in the said last printed t.i.tle page, there is no mention made of the Cadiz Voyage; to omit which, might be one reason of reprinting that page; for it being one of the most prosperous and honourable enterprizes that ever the Earl of Ess.e.x was ingaged in, and he falling into the Queen's unpardonable displeasure at this time, our author, Mr. Hakluyt, might probably receive command or direction, even from one of the patrons to whom these Voyages are dedicated, who was of the contrary faction not only to suppress all memorial of that action in the front of this book, but even cancel the whole narrative thereof at the end of it, in all the copies (far the greatest part of the impression) which remained unpublished. And in that castrated manner the volume has descended to posterity; not but if the castration was intended to have been concealed from us, the last leaf of the preface would have been reprinted also, with the like omission of what is there mentioned concerning the insertion of this Voyage. But at last, about the middle of the late King's reign, an uncastrated copy did arise, and the said Voyage was reprinted from it, whereby many imperfect books have been made complete.

EXTRACT FROM ZOUCH'S LIFE OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, page 317.

Every reader conversant in the annals of oar Naval transactions will cheerfully acknowledge the merit of Richard Hakluyt, who devoted his studies to the investigation of those periods of the English history, which regard the improvement of navigation and commerce. He had the advantage of an academical education. He was elected Student of Christ-Church in Oxford in 1570, and was therefore contemporary with Sidney at the University. To him we are princ.i.p.ally indebted for a clear and comprehensive description of those n.o.ble discoveries of the English nation made by sea or over land to the most distant quarter of the earth. His incomparable industry was remunerated with every possible encouragement by Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Philip Sidney. To the latter, as to a most generous promoter of all ingenious and useful knowledge, he inscribed his first collection of voyages and discoveries, printed in 1582. Thus animated and encouraged, he was enabled to leave to posterity the fruits of his unwearied labours--an invaluable treasure of nautical information, preserved in volumes, which even at this day, affix to his name a brilliancy of reputation, which a series of ages can never efface or obscure.

CERTEINE TESTIMONIES CONCERNING K. ARTHUR AND HIS CONQUESTS OF THE NORTH REGIONS, TAKEN OUT OF THE HISTORIE OF THE KINGS OF BRITAINE.

WRITTEN BY GALFRIDUS MONUMETENSIS, AND NEWLY PRINTED AT HEIDELBERGE, ANNO 1587.

Lib 9. cap. 10.

Anno Christi, 517. Arthurus, secundo regni sui anno subiugatis totius Hyberniae partibus, cla.s.sem suam direxit in Islandiam, eamque debellato populo subiugauit. Exin diuulgato per caeteraa insulas rumore, qud ei nulla Prouincia resistere poterat, Doldauius rex Gotlandiae, & Gunfacius rex Orcadum vltro venerunt, promissoque vectigali subiectionem fecerunt. Emensa deinde hyeme, reuersus est in Britanniam, statumque regni in firmam pacem renouans, moram duodecim annis ibidem fecit.

The same in English.

In the yere Of Christ, 517. king Arthur in the second yeere of his reigne, hauing subdued all parts of Ireland, sailed with his fleet into Island, and brought it and the people thereof vnder his subiection. The rumour afterwards being spread thorowout all the other Islands, that no countrey was able to withstand him, Doldamus the king of Gotland, and Gunfacius the king of Orkney, came voluntarily vnto him, and yeelded him their obedience promising to pay him tribute. The Winter being spent, he returned into Britaine, and establis.h.i.+ng his kingdome in perfect peace, he continued there for the s.p.a.ce of twelue yeres.

Lib 9. cap. 12.

Missis deinde in diuersa regna Legatis, inuitantur tam ex Gallijs quam ex collateralibus Insulis Oceani qui ad curiam venire deberent, &c. Et paul post: Ex collateralibus autem Insulis Guillaumurius rex Hyberniae, Maluasius rex Islandiae, Doldauius rex Gotlandiae, Gunnasius rex Orchadum, Lot rex Noruegiae, Aschihus rex Danorum.

The same in English.

After that king Arthur sending his messenger into diuers kingdomes, he summoned such as were to come to his Court, as well out of France, as out of the adiacent Islands of the sea, &c. and a little after: From those adiacent Islands came Guillaumarius king of Ireland, Maluasius king of Island, Doldauius king of Gotland, Gunnasius king of Orkney, Lot the king of Norway, and Aschilius the king of Denmarke.

Lib 9. cap. 19.

At reges caeterarum Insularam, quoniam non duxerant in morem equites habere, pedites quot quisque debebat, promittunt, ita vt ex s.e.x Insulis, videlicet, Hyberniae, Islandiae, Gotlandiae, Orcadum, Noruegiae, atque Daciae, s.e.xies viginti millia essent annumerata.

The same in English.

But the kings of the other Islands, because it was not their custome to breed vp horses, promised the king as many footmen, as euery man was bound to send: so that out of the six Islands, namely of Ireland, Island, Gotland, Orkney, Norway, and Denmarke, the king had sixe score thousand souldiers sent him.

A testnnome of the right and appendances of the crowne of the kingdome of Britaine, taken out of M. Lambard, his [Greek: Arkaionomia], fol 137.

pag. 2.

Arthurus qui fuit quondam inclytissimus Rex Britonum, vir magnus fuit & animosus, & miles ill.u.s.tris. Parum fuit ei regnum istud, non fuit animus eius contentus regno Britanniae. Subiugauit igitur sibi strenue Scantiam totam, quae modo Norweia vocatur, & omnes insulas vltra Scantiam, scz.

Islandiam, & Grenlandiam, quae sunt de appendicijs Norweiae, & Suechordam, & Hyberniam, & Gutlandiam, & Daciam, Semelandiam, Winlandiam, Curlandiam, Roe, Femelandiam, Wirelandiam, Flandriam, Cherelam, Lappam, & omnes alias terras & insulas, Orientalis Oceani vsque Russiam (in Lappa scilicet posuit Orientalem metam regni Britanniae) & multas insulas vltra Scantiam, vsque dum sub Septentrione, quae sunt de appendicibus Scantiae, quae modo Norweia vocatur. Fuerunt autem ibi Christiani occulte. Arthurus autem Christia.n.u.s optimus fuit, & fecit eos baptizari, & vnum Deum per totam Norweiam venerari, & vnam fidem Christi semper inuiolatam custodire, & suscipere.

Ceperunt vniuersi proceres Norweiae vxores suas de n.o.bili gente Britonum tempore illo, vnde Norwegienses dic.u.n.t se exijsse de gente & sanguine regni huius. Impetrauit enim temporibus illis Arthurus rex a domino Papa, & a Curia Romana, quod confirmata sit Norweia, in perpetuum coronae Britanniae in augmentum regni huius, vocauitque illam dictus Arthurus Cameram Britanniae.

Hac ver de causa dic.u.n.t Norwegienses, se debere in regno isto cohabitare & dic.u.n.t se esse de corpore regni huius, scilicet de corona Britanniae.

Maluerunt enim manere in regno isto, quam in terra eorum propria. Terra enim eorum arida est, & montuosa, & sterilis, & non sunt ibi segetes nisi per loca. Ista ver opulenta est, & fertilis, & cresc.u.n.t hic segetes, & caetera vniuersa. Qua ex causa saepius per vices gesta sunt bella atrocissima inter Anglos & Norwegienses, & interfecti sunt innumerabiles. Occupauerunt ver Norwegienses terras multas & insulas regni huius, quas adhuc detinent occupatas, nec potuerunt vnquam postea penitus euelli. Tandem mod confederati sunt n.o.bis fide, & sacramento, & per vxores suas, quas postea ceperunt de sanguine nostro, & per affinitates, & coniugia. Ita demum const.i.tuit, & eis concessit bonus rex Edouardus propinquus noster (qui fuit optimus filius pacis) per commune consilium totius regni. Qua de causa possent, & debent praedicti de caetero n.o.bisc.u.m cohabitare, & remanere in regno, sicut coniurati fratres nostri.

The same in English.

Arthur which was sometimes the most renowmed king of the Britains, was a mightie, and valiant man, and a famous warriour. This kingdome was too litle for him, & his minde was not contented with it. He therefore valiantly subdued all Scantia, which is now called Norway, and all the Islands beyond Norway, to wit, Island and Greenland, which are apperteining vnto Norway, Sweueland, Ireland, Gotland, Denmarke, Someland, Windland, Curland, Roe, Femeland, Wireland, Flanders, Cherilland, Lapland, and all the other lands & Islands of the East sea, euen vnto Russia (in which Lapland he placed the Easterly bounds of his Brittish Empire) and many other Islands beyond Norway, euen vnder the North pole, which are appendances of Scantia, now called Norway. These people were wild and sauage, and had not in them the loue of G.o.d nor of their neighbors, because all euil commeth from the North, yet there were among them certeine Christians liuing in secret. But king Arthur was an exceeding good Christian, and caused them to be baptized, and thorowout all Norway to wors.h.i.+p one G.o.d, and to receiue and keepe inuiolably for euer, faith in Christ onely. At that time all the n.o.ble men of Norway tooke wiues of the n.o.ble nation of the Britaines, whereupon the Norses say, that they are descended of the race and blood of this kingdome. The aforesayd king Arthur obteined also in those dayes of the Pope & court of Rome, that Norway should be for euer annexed to the crowne of Britaine for the inlargement of this kingdome, and he called it the chamber of Britaine. For this cause the Norses say, that they ought to dwell with vs in this kingdome, to wit, that they belong to the crowne of Britaine: for they had rather dwell here then in their owne natiue countrey, which is drie and full of mountaines, and barren, and no graine growing there, but in certeine places. But this countrey of Britaine is fruitfull, wherein corne and all other good things do grow and increase, for which cause many cruell battels haue bene oftentimes fought betwixt the Englishmen and the people of Norway, and infinite numbers of people haue bene slaine, & the Norses haue possessed many lands and Islands of this Empire, which vnto this day they doe possesse, neither could they euer afterwards be fully expelled. But now at length they are incorporated with vs by the receiuing of our religion and sacraments, and by taking wiues of our nation, and by affinitie, and marriages. For so the good king Edward (who was a notable mainteiner of peace) ordeined and granted vnto them by the generall consent of the whole kingdome, so that the people may, and ought from hencefoorth dwell and remaine in this kingdome with vs as our louing sworne brethren.