Sir Humphrey Gilberts Voyage to Newfoundland | Page 4

he
took possession of the harbor of St. John and founded his colony, but
on the return voyage he went down with his ship in a storm south of the
Azores.
The following narrative is an account of this last voyage of Gilbert's,
told by Edward Hayes, commander of "The Golden Hind," the only one
to reach England of the three ships which set out from Newfoundland
with Gilbert.
The settlement at St. John was viewed by its promoter as merely the
beginning of a scheme for ousting Spain from America in favor of
England. The plan did not progress as he hoped; but after long delays,
and under far other impulses than Gilbert ever thought of, much of his
dream was realized.

SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT'S VOYAGE TO NEWFOUNDLAND

A report of the Voyage and success thereof, attempted in the year of
our Lord 1583, by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Knight, with other gentlemen
assisting him in that action, intended to discover and to plant Christian
inhabitants in place convenient, upon those large and ample countries
extended northward from the Cape of Florida, lying under very
temperate climes, esteemed fertile and rich in minerals, yet not in the
actual possession of any Christian prince. Written by Mr. Edward
Hayes, gentleman, and principal actor in the same voyage,[*] who
alone continued unto the end, and, by God's special assistance, returned

home with his retinue safe and entire.
[*] Hayes was captain and owner of the /Golden Hind/, Gilbert's Rear-
Admiral.
Many voyages have been pretended, yet hitherto never any thoroughly
accomplished by our nation, of exact discovery into the bowels of those
main, ample, and vast countries extended infinitely into the north from
thirty degrees, or rather from twenty-five degrees, of septentrional
latitude, neither hath a right way been taken of planting a Christian
habitation and regiment (government) upon the same, as well may
appear both by the little we yet do actually possess therein, and by our
ignorance of the riches and secrets within those lands, which unto this
day we know chiefly by the travel and report of other nations, and most
of the French, who albeit they cannot challenge such right and interest
unto the said countries as we, neither these many years have had
opportunity nor means so great to discover and to plant, being vexed
with the calamities of intestine wars, as we have had by the inestimable
benefit of our long and happy peace, yet have they both ways
performed more, and had long since attained a sure possession and
settled government of many provinces in those northerly parts of
/America/, if their many attempts into those foreign and remote lands
had not been impeached by their garboils at home.
The first discovery of these coasts, never heard of before, was well
begun by John Cabot the father and Sebastian his son, an Englishman
born, who were the first finders out of all that great tract of land
stretching from the Cape of Florida, into those islands which we now
call the Newfoundland; all which they brought and annexed unto the
crown of England. Since when, if with like diligence the search of
inland countries had been followed, as the discovery upon the coast and
outparts thereof was performed by those two men, no doubt her
Majesty's territories and revenue had been mightily enlarged and
advanced by this day; and, which is more, the seed of Christian religion
had been sowed amongst those pagans, which by this time might have
brought forth a most plentiful harvest and copious congregation of
Christians; which must be the chief intent of such as shall make any
attempt that way; or else whatsoever is builded upon other foundation
shall never obtain happy success nor continuance.
And although we cannot precisely judge (which only belongeth to God)

what have been the humours of men stirred up to great attempts of
discovering and planting in those remote countries, yet the events do
shew that either God's cause hath not been chiefly preferred by them, or
else God hath not permitted so abundant grace as the light of His word
and knowledge of Him to be yet revealed unto those infidels before the
appointed time. But most assuredly, the only cause of religion hitherto
hath kept back, and will also bring forward at the time assigned by God,
an effectual and complete discovery and possession by Christians both
of those ample countries and the riches within them hitherto concealed;
whereof, notwithstanding, God in His wisdom hath permitted to be
revealed from time to time a certain obscure and misty knowledge, by
little and little to allure the minds of men that way, which else will be
dull enough in the zeal of His cause, and thereby to prepare us unto a
readiness for