The Pirate Queen (60 page)

Also this Petty Navy Royal will be the perfect means of very many other and exceeding great commodities redounding to this Monarchy; which our fishermen and their fisher-boats only, can never be able to compass or bring to pass: and those being such as are more necessary to be cared for presently [instantly] than wealth.

Therefore, the premise well weighed, above and before all other, this Plat [plan] of a Petty Navy Royal will, by GOD’s grace, be found the plain and perfect A.B.C., most necessary for the commons and every subject in his calling to be carefully and diligently musing upon, or exercising himself therein; till, shortly, they may be able in effect to read before their eyes, the most joyful and pleasant British histories by that Alphabet only deciphered, and so brought to their understanding and knowledge that ever to this or any kingdom in the whole world else, was known or perceived.

11. Furthermore, how acceptable a thing may this be to the Ragusyes
[Argosies],
Hulks, Caravels, and other foreign rich laden ships, passing within or by any of the sea limits of Her Majesty’s royalty; even there to be now in most security where only, heretofore, they have been in most jeopardy: as well by the ravin of the pirate, as the rage of the sea distressing them, for lack of succour, or good and ready pilotage! What great friendship in [sic the] heart of foreign Prince and subject! And what liberal presents and foreign contributions in hand will duly follow thereof, who cannot imagine?

12. Moreover, such a Petty Navy Royal,
said he,
would be in such stead, as though (a) one [fleet] were appointed to consider and listen to the doings of Ireland; and (b) another to have as good an eye, and ready hand for Scottish dealings; (c) another to intercept or understand all privy conspiracies, by sea to be communicated; and privy aids of men, munition or money be sea to be transported; to the endamaging of this kingdom, any way intended (d) another against all sudden foreign attempts: (e) another to oversee the foreign fishermen: (f) another against all pirates haunting our seas: and therewith as well to waft and guard our own merchant fleets as they shall pass and repass between this realm, and wheresoever else they may best be planted for their ordinary marts’ keeping; if England may not best serve that turn. And also to defend, help, and direct many of our foreign friends, who must needs pass by or frequent any of those seas, whose principal royalty, undoubtedly, is to the Imperial Crown of these British Islands appropriate.

One such Navy,
said he,
by royal direction, excellently well manned, and to all purposes aptly and plentifully furnished and appointed; and
now, in time of our peace and quiet everywhere, yet beforehand set forth to the foresaid seas
with their charges and commissions (most secretly to be kept from all foes and foreigners) would stand this common wealth in as great stead as four times so many ships would or could do; if, upon the sudden and all at once, we should be forced to deal for removing the foresaid sundry principal matters of annoyance: we being then utterly unready thereto, and the enemy’s attempt requiring speedy, and admitting of no successive, defeating.

13. To conclude herein. This Petty Navy Royal undoubtedly will stand the realm in better stead than the enjoying of four such forts or towns as Calais and Boulogne only could do. For this will be as great strength, and to as good purpose in any coast of England, Ireland, or Scotland, between us and the foreign foe, as ever Calais was for that only one place that it is situated in; and will help to enjoy the Royalty and Sovereignty of the Narrow Seas throughout, and of other our seas also, more serviceable than Calais or Boulogne ever did or could do: if all the provisos hereto appertaining be duly observed. Forasmuch as we intend now
peace only preserving,
and no invasion of France or any enemy on that main inhabiting; toward whom by Calais or Boulogne we need to let in our land forces &c. Much I know may be here said,
Pro et Contra,
in this case: but GOD hath suffered such matters to fall so out; and all to us for the best, if it be so, thankfully construed and duly considered.

For when all foreign Princes, our neighbours, doubtful friends, or undutiful people, subjects or vassals to our Sovereign, perceive such a Petty Navy Royal hovering purposely here and there, ever ready and able to overthrow any of their malicious and subtle secret attempts intended against the weal public of this noble Kingdom in any part or coast thereof: then every one of them will or may think that, of purpose, that Navy was made out only to prevent them, and none other; and for their destruction being bewrayed
[betrayed]
as they would deem. So that not one such foreign enemy would adventure, first, to break out into any notable disorder against us; nor homish subject or wavering vassal, for like respects, durst, the, privily muster to rebellion, or make harmful rodes
[inroads]
or dangerous riots in any English or Irish Marches.

But such matter as this, I judge you have, or might have heard of, ere now, by worshipful Master DYER; and that abundantly: seeing
Synopsis Reipublicae Britanicae,
was, at his request, six years past
[i.e., in 1570]
contrived; as by the methodical author thereof, I understand. Whose policy for the partings, meetings, followings, circuits &c., of the ships (to the foresaid Petty Navy Royal belonging) with the alterations both of times, places, and numbers &c., is very strange to hear.

So that, in total sum of all the foresaid considerations united in one, it seemeth to be almost a mathematical demonstration, next under the merciful and mighty protection of GOD, for a feasible policy to bring and preserve this victorious British Monarchy in a marvellous security. Whereupon, the revenue of the Crown of England and Wealth public will wonderfully increase and flourish; and then, thereupon, sea forces anew to be increased proportionally, &c. And so the Fame, Renown, Estimation, and Love or Fear of this British
Microcosmus,
all the whole and great World over, will be speedily be spread, and surely be settled, &c.

It is most earnestly and carefully to be considered that our herring fishings, against
[over]
Yarmouth chiefly, have not (so notably, to our great injury and loss and been traded, but from Thirty-six years ago hitherward.)
[This fixes the commencement of the Dutch herring fishery on the English coasts about 1540.]
In which time, as they have in wealth, and numbers of boats and men, by little and little increased, and are now become very rich, strong, proud, and violent; so, in the race
[course]
of the selfsame time running, the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk next to those fishing-places adjacent, are decayed in their navy to the number of 140 sail, and they
[of]
from threescore to a hundred tons and upwards
[each]
; besides Crayers and others. Whereupon, besides many other damages thereby sustained publicly, these coasts are not able to trade to Iceland, as in times past they have done; to no little loss yearly to the wealth public of this kingdom.

But the Herring Busses hither yearly restoring out of the Low Countries, under King PHILIP his dominion, are above five hundred.

Besides 100 or such a thing, of Frenchmen.

The North Seas fishing, within the English limits, are yearly possessed of 300 or 400 sail of Flemings
[Dutch]
; so accounted.

The Western fishings of Hake and Pilchards are yearly possessed by a great navy of Frenchmen; who yearly do great injuries to our poor countrymen, Her Majesty’s faithful subjects.

Strangers also enjoy at their pleasure the Herring fishing of Allonby, Workington, and Whitehaven on the coast of Lancashire.

And in Wales, about Dyfi
[the Dyfed]
and Aberystwyth, the plentiful Herring fishing is enjoyed by 300 Sail of strangers.

But in Ireland, Baltimore
[near Cape Clear]
is possessed yearly, from July to Michaelmas most commonly, with 300 Sail of Spaniards, entering there into the fishing at a Strait
[passage]
not so broad as half the breadth of the Thames against
[over]
Whitehall. Where, our late good King EDWARD VI’s most honourable Privy Council was of the mind once to have planted a strong bulwark
[fort]
; for other weighty reasons, as well as His Majesty to be Sovereign Lord of the fishing of Millwin and Cod there.

Black Rock
[co. Cork?]
is yearly fished by 300 or sometimes 400 sail of Spaniards and Frenchmen.

But to reckon all, I should be too tedious to you; and make my heart ache for sorrow, &c.

Yet surely I think it necessary to leave to our posterity some remembrance of the places where our rich fishings else are, about Ireland. As at Kinsale, Cork, Carlingford, Saltesses, Dungarven, Youghal, Waterford, La Foy, The Band, Calibeg
[Killibegs]
&c. And all chiefly enjoyed, as securely and freely from us by strangers, as if they were within their own Kings’ peculiar sea limits: nay rather as if those coasts, seas, and bays &c., were of their private and several purchases. To our unspeakable loss, discredit, and discomfort; and to no small further danger in these perilous times, of most subtle treacheries and fickle fidelity.

Dictum, Sapienti sat esto.

Appendix II

S
ince much of the book is spent in discussion of the flota and the treasure it carried, I thought the reader would be interested to see what a typical (though not large) flota from New Spain brought back to Seville, according to the Venetian Ambassador. This is what arrived at the
casa
in the same year as Drake’s plundering of the
San Felipe.

Report of all that the
Flotilla of New Spain
brings with it, August 1587

For the King

Eight thousand bars of silver.

Twelve cases of gold.

Three hundred thousand reals.

Twenty cases of pearls.

One case of emeralds.

For Private Individuals

Five millions of fused silver.

One thousand five hundred marks
^*
of pearls.

A great case of emeralds.

From San Domingo

Thirty-five thousand pieces of stamped leather.

Two hundred cases of sugar.

Twenty-two thousand quintals of ginger.

Four thousand quintals of guaiacum
(lignum vitae).

Fifty quintals of sarsaparilla.

Forty-eight quintals of cassia.

Sixty-four cases of linen.

From New Spain

One million nine hundred thousand pesos of silver for the King.

Two millions for private merchants.

One thousand one hundred marks
^*
of gold.

Five thousand six hundred cases of cochineal.

Sixty-four thousand pieces of stamped leather.

Twenty-five thousand pounds of indigo.

The value of the above, sixteen millions [ducats] in gold.

($4.42 billion or £2.39 billion today)

Endnotes

Abbreviations:

Introduction

1. Richard Hakluyt,
Tudor Venturers
(London, 1970), p. 201

2. Ibid., p. 200.

3. SP 94/2 fol. 78, 100.

Chapter 1.
The Lord’s Doing

1.
CSP—Spain
, vol. 1, p. 334.