The writer, after noticing the country was overrun by Cæsar Claudius, &c. says,

"So voyde was this Ile of good shyppes at the entring of the Romaines, that we finde noe mention made of them in histories of that tyme, neyther did the Brittaines, when they had learned the making use of warlike shippes, seeke thereby to defende theire country, but suffered othar to be lordes of the seas; thorough which sufferaunce, their ennemies did not onely chuse theire landing, without any kinde of displeasure, but also were able to bark themselues safelie, and contynually, withe ayde from othar places, till they had accomplished theire whole desire; which to bring to passe, they spared not to kill without mercye, wickedlye to spoile the fruites of the earthe, to burne and overthrowe castles, townes, and cities, to ravish wives. and maidens, to make slaves of nobilitie, and of their slaves gentlemen, and finally, to use all kinde of crueltie and tyranny."

Again, "It is often tymes sene that he whiche hathe to defend him selfe withall, is not soe soone sett uppon, as he that wantethe a weapon, according to the olde proverbe, weapon biddes peace; wherfore Ithinke it possible, yea and very lykely to, that our enemy, us allwais provided and able to keep the seas against him, will not so redelye attempt to molest us, as he would otherwise, considdring that he cannot doe it without his owne perrill. And if it so chaunce the matter to be staied, then are we delivered without blood shed, or losse from those euills that might haue followed. But admitt that he wear soe adventurus, that notwithstanding our navy on the seas he wolde attempt to goe throughe withe the matter, yet have we thadvantage of

him dyvirés ways, for if we see our selves of sufitient force to encountre withe him, and therwithe thinke it good so to doe; then may we valliantly give him the charge, fighte withe him, and beate him from our coaste."

Here the author argues, an inferior navy would sufficiently destroy an invading enemy, to force them to return "to get repaired, trymmidd, strengthened, and augmented," and that upon a second attempt,

"All thoughe our navye should be the lesse in nomber, and inferior as it might be thoughte to encounter or give any charge, yet sholde it be of sufficient force to receve the charge and to defend it selfe, not withstanding the enemy weare two or thre shippes against one; for in giving the charge is a greater daunger then in receving the charge, and especially uppon so forceable, woorthy, and warlyke a navy as the navye of England is: for meting or coping with our navye he shall fynde nothing but blowes, renting, tearing, sinking, fyering, slaughter and spoiling; for as muche as he must come in the face of the cannone, in the eye of the ordenaunce, and as he comethe nerer, so shall he feell the pay of the musket, calyver, and bowe; and when he comethe to hand blowes, he must feele the push of the pyke, and the waight of the brown bill, laid on with the might and hardy courage of our English men, whos quarell being to defend their natyve contry from enemyes, their goods from spoile, their wyves and children from thraldom, and themselves from beastly slaughter and slavery, they wolde no doubt fight more stoutely and withe better courage, then thenemy whoes quarrell is grounded but uppon mallice and the

wining of glory and domynion. Moreover ours sholde with the better hope be moved therto, knowing the strengthe of our navye to be suche, as wantethe neither goodly great nor bewtefull shippes, whoe of mould are so cleane made beneath, of proportion so fine above, of sayle so swift, the portes fighte and romes in them so well devised, with thordenance so well placed, that none of any other regeion maye seem comparable unto them; in whiche also is planted suche a deale of tirreble and deadly ordenance as is not a little mervelus to behoulde, some having iij tyers and some iiij, one above another, all charged withe brasse, that is to saye withe cannons, culverens, sakars, mynions, falcons, and foulers, and also smaler peeces of all sortes withe their shott apartayning; as rounde, cloven, cheyne, crosbarre, and haill shott, all of iron, withe dyvers sortes of fyerwoorkes, besyde their furniture of smaller peces or hand weapons, as musket, calyver, and suche lyke, every shipp being manned to the uttermoste, as some withe iij, iiij, v, vi, vij, viij C men apece, whose valliant myndes in the tyme of fight ar stired up with the courageous sounde of trompete, droms, fifes, and their sprites revyved withe the pleasant sight of topparmours, streamours, banners, flaggs, ensignes, and pendantes ; so that our shippes, passing other in strengthe, swiftnes, and warlyke bewty, and being manned withe valliante captains, boldned maryners, stoute gonners, and hardy soldiers, I conclude that we are lyke to have the better, or" [here the writer repeats his opinion of the necessity the enemy would be under of giving up the enterprize, from loss of men and want of amunition, of returning home to refit, during which] "the navy (of this country) myght be repayred withe force, and strength

VOL. V.

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strengthe reddy to receyve him, and to give him as good a wellcome as he hadd a farewell."] This is followed by a doubt that no one or two Princes could sustain such a charge. Then from the example of Scipio Africanus, who could not expel Hannibal out of Italy, the expedient of cutting off succours and invading the country of the enemy is suggested; but that, unless the navy is well supported, aid cannot safely be received from other powers. The necessity of preserving 66 mayne tymber," and "to repayre our shippes, to make new in places of thoulde, and the rather while those connying carpenters yet lyve which searve the Prince at this present;" to fill the store houses with double furniture, as anchors, cables, &c. " and all maner of warlyke bravery that might encourage or kendle the hartes of woorthy servitors." The muskett and calyver are recommended in preference, as the "longbowe, crosbowe, and darte, cannot be used without greate roome." While of the other a man layeth foorthe no more but the nose of his pece out, at a loopehole lesse then haife the breadthe of a mannes. hand, wherout his eye dyrecteth him to doe his feate." With respect to number of "the Queenes Maiesties owne shipps, which shoulde allwaies lye in reddynes, they myght be 40 saylles." In "further troubles then might ther be chosen in this realme, amongst many, 40, 50, or more, tall marchantes shipps to joyne with them, sufficient nomber, with God's helpe, to withstand such enemyes." Then follows a distribution on the coasts of England, and Scotland, and the Irish seas, with the reason "whether the Scotts be our friendes.

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or our enemyes, for keeping upon their coasts."

In providing for emergent want of vessels, the writer proposes an allowance in building marchantes. shippes:

shipps: "to any that should buyld a shippe able to stowe or carye two houndred tonns in caske or above." And "in voyages eyther to Spaine, Ittalie, the part of Turkey, Barbari, the Indies, the Islands, Hambroe, Danske, the Narue Muscovia, Burdeus and suche lyke places, wher suche shippes may best be fraighted, the saide great shippes of 200 tonns to be first fraighted foorthe and sett on woorke uppon payment of some great penaltye for ofending." And "now to come to the places in England where theis shippes should and myght best be occupied and mayntayned, I will first begyne with the citty of Bristoe, wher hathe ben and yet are a woorshipfull company of marchants and owners whiche I suppose woulde mayntaine and occupie 3. Then next to it is Falmouth, Perrin, and Truro, a good porte, but I supose their wantethe bothe marchants and trafficke of marchandies, wherfor I let them passe, and soe come to Plimouthe, and that contrye whiche I thinke wolde mayntain 1. Then might be appointed. to Dartmouth, Totness, and Excetour, 2. To Southampton, 1. To the citty of London, 12. wiche, 1. To Yarmouth and Norwich, 1. and Yorke, 2. To Newcastle, 1. And to the great haven of Milford, withe the rest of the portes and havens on the coast of Wales, and that parte of England, I omytt to say any thing, because I knowe them not, but referr it to others that know the coast; also to the citty and haven or ryver of Waterforde, in Ireland, might be apointed 1. And for the rest of the portes, havens, and places of Irelande, I comitt to others that know them. And in this manner I thinke they might be well disposed; not onely because the trade of marchandis in those places is dillegentlye followed, but

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To Ips

To Hull

a'so