Sir Humphrey Gilberts Voyage to Newfoundland | Page 5

the execution of His will, against the due time ordained of
calling those pagans unto Christianity.
In the meanwhile it behoveth every man of great calling, in whom is
any instinct of inclination unto this attempt, to examine his own
motions, which, if the same proceed of ambition or avarice, he may
assure himself it cometh not of God, and therefore cannot have
confidence of God's protection and assistance against the violence (else
irresistible) both of sea and infinite perils upon the land; whom God yet
may use as an instrument to further His cause and glory some way, but
not to build upon so bad a foundation. Otherwise, if his motives be
derived from a virtuous and heroical mind, preferring chiefly the
honour of God, compassion of poor infidels captived by the devil,
tyrannizing in most wonderful and dreadful manner over their bodies
and souls; advancement of his honest and well-disposed countrymen,
willing to accompany him in such honourable actions; relief of sundry
people within this realm distressed; all these be honourable purposes,
imitating the nature of the munificent God, wherewith He is well
pleased, who will assist such an actor beyond expectation of many.
And the same, who feeleth this inclination in himself, by all likelihood
may hope or rather confidently repose in the preordinance of God, that
in this last age of the world (or likely never) the time is complete of
receiving also these gentiles into His mercy, and that God will raise
Him an instrument to effect the same; it seeming probable by event of
precedent attempts made by the Spaniards and French sundry times,

that the countries lying north of Florida God hath reserved the same to
be reduced into Christian civility by the English nation. For not long
after that Christopher Columbus had discovered the islands and
continent of the West Indies for Spain, John and Sebastian Cabot made
discovery also of the rest from Florida northwards to the behoof of
England.
And whensoever afterwards the Spaniards, very prosperous in all their
southern discoveries, did attempt anything into Florida and those
regions inclining towards the north, they proved most unhappy, and
were at length discouraged utterly by the hard and lamentable success
of many both religious and valiant in arms, endeavouring to bring those
northerly regions also under the Spanish jurisdiction, as if God had
prescribed limits unto the Spanish nation which they might not exceed;
as by their own gests recorded may be aptly gathered.
The French, as they can pretend less title unto these northern parts than
the Spaniard, by how much the Spaniard made the first discovery of the
same continent so far northward as unto Florida, and the French did but
review that before discovered by the English nation, usurping upon our
right, and imposing names upon countries, rivers, bays, capes, or
headlands as if they had been the first finders of those coasts; which
injury we offered not unto the Spaniards, but left off to discover when
we approached the Spanish limits; even so God hath not hitherto
permitted them to establish a possession permanent upon another's right,
notwithstanding their manifold attempts, in which the issue hath been
no less tragical than that of the Spaniards, as by their own reports is
extant.
Then, seeing the English nation only hath right unto these countries of
America from the Cape of Florida northward by the privilege of first
discovery, unto which Cabot was authorised by regal authority, and set
forth by the expense of our late famous King Henry the Seventh; which
right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalf by the powerful
hand of Almighty God withstanding the enterprises of other nations; it
may greatly encourage us upon so just ground, as is our right, and upon
so sacred an intent, as to plant religion (our right and intent being meet
foundations for the same), to prosecute effectually the full possession
of those so ample and pleasant countries appertaining unto the crown of
England; the same, as is to be conjectured by infallible arguments of

the world's end approaching, being now arrived unto the time of God
prescribed of their vocation, if ever their calling unto the knowledge of
God may be expected. Which also is very probable by the revolution
and course of God's word and religion, which from the beginning hath
moved from the east towards, and at last unto, the west, where it is like
to end, unless the same begin again where it did in the east, which were
to expect a like world again. But we are assured of the contrary by the
prophecy of Christ, whereby we gather that after His word preached
throughout the world shall be the end. And as the Gospel when it
descended westward began in the south, and afterward