may take in their fraught there, and would be a good friend in time of need to the inhabitants of New foundland.

The returnes made by the Westerne ships, are commonly deuided into three parts, one for the owner of the ship, another for the Master and his companie, the third for the victuallers: which course being still permitted, wil be no hindrance to the plantation, go there neuer so many, but a meanes of transporting that yearly for little or nothing, which otherwise will cost many a hundred of pounds.

If a ship can gaine twentie, thirtie, fiftie in the 100, nay 300 for 100. in 7 moneths, as you see they haue done; spending twise so much time in going and coming as in staying there: were I there planted, seeing the varietie of the fishings in their seasons serueth the most part of the yeare, and with a little labour we might make all the salt we need vse. I can conceiue no reason to distrust, but the doubling and trebling their gaines that are at all the former charge, and can fish but two moneths in a yeare: and if those do giue 20. 30. or 40. Shillings for an acre of land, or ship carpenters, forgers of iron, &c., that buy all things at a deare rate, grow rich; when they may haue as good of all needful necessaries for taking (in my opinion) should not grow poore, and no commodity in Europe doth more decay then wood.

Master Dee recordeth in his Brittish Monarchie [1577], that King Edgar had a nauie of 4000 saile, with which he yearely made his progresse about his famous Monarchie of Great Brittaine, largely declaring the benefit thereof: whereupon it seemes he proiected to our most memorable Queene Elizabeth, the erecting of a Fleete of 60 saile, he called a little Nauie Royall; imitating the admired Pericles Prince of Athens, that could neuer secure that tormented estate, vntill he was Lord and Captain of the Sea.

At this none need wonder; for who knowes not, her Royall Maiestie during her life, by the incredible aduentures of her Royall Nauy, and valiant souldiers and seamen, notwithstanding all trecheries at home, the protecting and defending [of] France and Holland, and reconquering Ireland, yet all the world by sea or land both feared, loued, and admired good Queen Elizabeth.

Both to maintaine and increase that incomparable honour (God be thanked) to her incomparable Successour, our most Royall Lord and Soueraigne King Iames, &c., this great Philosopher hath left this to his Maiestie and his kingdomes consideration:

That if the Tenths of the Earth be proper to God, it is also due by Sea: the Kings high wayes are common to passe, but not to dig for Mines or any thing: so Englands coasts are free to passe, but not to fish but by his Maiesties prerogatiue.

His Maiesty of Spaine permits none to passe the Popes order for the East and West Indies, but by his permission, or at their perils. If all that world be so iustly theirs, it is no iniustice for England to make as much vse of her own shores as strangers do, that pay to their own Lord, the tenth, and not to the owner of those liberties any thing to speake of; whose subiects may neither take nor sell any in their territories: which small tribute would maintain this little Nauie Royall, and not cost his Maiestie a penny; and yet maintaine peace with all forreiners, and allow them more courte-sie, then any nation in the world affoords to England.

It were a shame to alleage, that Holland is more worthy to enioy our fishings as Lords thereof, because they haue more skill to handle it then we, as they can our wooll and vndressed cloth, notwithstanding all their wars and troublesome disorders.

To get mony to build this Nauy, he saith, who would not spare the 100 peny of his Rents, and the 500 peny of his goods; each seruant that taketh 40.s. wages 4.d.; and euery forreiner of 7 yeares of age 4.d. for 7 yeares; not any of these but they will spend 3 times so much in pride, wantonnesse, or some superfluitie. And do any men loue the securitie of their estates, that of themselues would not be humble su[i]ters to his Maiestie to do this of free will as a voluntary beneuolence, or but one halfe of this (or some such other course as I haue propounded to diuers of the Companies) free from any constraint,