FOOTNOTES:
[97] Froude’s ‘History of England,’ vol. iii. p. 248.
[98] Froude’s ‘History of England,’ vol. iii. p. 250, et seq.
[99] State Papers, vol. i. p. 828.
[100] Macpherson states that the name of the Great Harry was first given to the Lion, a Scotch ship belonging to Andrew Barton, which was taken by Lord Edward Howard in 1511 (vol. ii. p. 39).
[101] Mr. Spedding, in his elaborate edition of Lord Bacon’s works, has given [this plate (reduced)] as the title-page of his second volume; and in editing Lord Bacon’s paper entitled ‘The History of the Winds,’ has suggested that Bacon, when speaking of a ship “of 1200 tons,” must have had in his mind either this ship or the Prince Royal, which was built in 1610 by Phineas Pett of Emmanuel College, Cambridge (vol. v. p. 79). The whole of Bacon’s short treatise, and his details about the masts, sails, and rigging of large ships, is most interesting. See also[ Appendix No. 4: ‘Furniture of the Harry Grace à Dieu,’ Pepys’ Library, Cambridge].
[103] See also Macpherson, vol. ii. p. 42.
[104] 30,000l. Scots, estimated by the quantity of silver in the coins, was equivalent to about 50,000l. present value.
[105] The Great Michael was afterwards sold to the king of France.
[106] From the middle of the thirteenth to the close of the sixteenth century, wheat, which has always, in a greater or less degree, regulated the price of all other commodities, averaged about seven shillings the quarter; sometimes, however, reaching twenty shillings, and at other times sinking as low as eighteenpence the quarter. When the price was above the average, importation was allowed (3 Edw. IV. ch. 2); when below, exportation to foreign markets might be made (10 Hen. VI. ch. 1). By an Act of Henry VIII. the price of beef and pork was fixed at one halfpenny a pound, and mutton at three farthings. Fat oxen realised twenty-six shillings each, fat wethers three shillings and fourpence, and fat lambs twelvepence a piece. The best description of beer sold for one penny a gallon, while table-beer could be had for half that price. Spanish and Portuguese wines were sold at a shilling the gallon, but French and German sold for eighteenpence. These were the highest prices which could be obtained by the law, which in those days regulated all such matters; and if any fault was discovered in either the quality or the quantity, the dealers were punished by fine equivalent to four times the value of the wine which had been sold (28 Hen. VIII. ch. 14). These prices would appear ridiculously low were it not that, owing to the subsequent increase of the value of money, a penny then would purchase as much wine or beer as a shilling would now.
[107] Macpherson, ii. p. 70.
[108] Froude’s ‘History of England,’ vol. i. p. 52, etc.
[109] 27 Henry VIII. cap. 25, and Macpherson ii. p. 85.
[110] The spirit of the “Trades Unions” of the present day is almost as exclusive as anything in the Middle Ages.
[111] 2 & 3 of Philip and Mary, cap. 11.
[112] Macpherson (under A.D. 1544) notices a similar case on the part of the makers of coverlets at York (ii. p. 92).
[113] Harleian MSS. 660. See also, for debasement of the currency in the later years of Henry VIII., Hawkins’ ‘Silver Coins of England.’ Lond., 1841.
[114] Froude, Harleian MSS. 660.
[115] Burnet.
[116] MS. Domestic, Ed. VI.
[117] Froude, vol. v. p. 349.
[118] Domestic MSS., reign of Elizabeth.
[119] An organised system of smuggling, only less desperate in the way in which it was carried out, prevailed along the west coast of Sussex in 1826-1831.
[120] Froude, vol. viii. chap. xii. To this petition there was attached the following curious addition:—“Long peace, such as it is by force of the Spanish Inquisition, becometh to England more hurtful than open war. It is the secret and determined policy of Spain to destroy the English fleets and pilots, masters and sailors, by means of the Inquisition. The Spanish king pretends that he dare not offend the Holy House, while it is said in England we may not proclaim war against Spain for the revenge of a few, forgetting that a good war may end all these mischiefs. Not long since, the Spanish Inquisition executed sixty persons of St. Malo in France notwithstanding an entreaty to the king of Spain to stay them. Whereupon the Frenchmen armed and manned forth their pinnaces, and lay in wait for the Spaniards, and took a hundred and beheaded them, sending the Spanish ships to the shore with the heads, leaving in each ship only one man to relate the cause of the revenge, since which time the Spanish Inquisition has never meddled with those of St. Malo.”
[121] Froude, vol. viii. p. 447.
[122] In the midst of such terrible outrages it is surprising how peace with Spain was so long maintained, and this can only be accounted for by the strong religious feeling which then prevailed to such an extent among the people of both countries, that their governments, even if they had the power and inclination, do not seem to have used sufficient vigour in suppressing their individual revenge and love of plunder. Numerous vessels cleared from the ports of England and France to prey upon Spanish, Portuguese, and any other Papists whom they might encounter; and although their acts were not formally recognised by Elizabeth, the officers of customs were not restrained from supplying them with stores, arms, ammunition, and, indeed, with whatever they required for their lawless exploits. In December 1562 one of these piratical rovers, commanded by Jacques le Clerc, called by the Spaniards Pié de Pálo (“Timber leg”), sailed from Havre, and captured a Portuguese vessel worth forty thousand ducats, as well as a Biscayan ship laden with iron and wool, and afterwards chased another “Papist” ship into Falmouth, where he fired into her and drove her on shore. The captain of the Spaniard appealed for protection to the governor of Pendennis, but the governor replied that the privateer was properly commissioned, and that without special orders from the Queen he could not interfere. Pié de Pálo then took possession of her as a prize, and afterwards anchored under the shelter of Pendennis, waiting for further good fortune. As it was the depth of winter, and the weather being unsettled, five Portuguese ships, a few days later, were driven in for shelter. Ascertaining the insecurity of their position, they attempted to escape to sea again, but Pié de Pálo dashed after them and seized two out of the five, which he brought back as prizes.—Froude, vol. viii. pp. 450, 451.
[123] Flanders MSS., Rolls House.
[124] Flanders MSS., Rolls House.
[125] Sir Peter Carew to the Council, April 17, 1565, MSS. Domestic, Eliz., vol. xxxvi.
[126] Council Register, August 1565.
[127] Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 594; first voyage of Mr. John Hawkins. Macpherson thinks that this expedition was the first English slaving cruise (ii. p. 135).
[128] Da Silva to Philip, Nov. 5, 1563, MS. Simancas.
[129] So called from the port whence she had been purchased by Queen Elizabeth.—Macpherson, ii. 140.
[130] Froude, vol. viii. p. 474.
[131] These expeditions usually consisted of from two to four vessels, ranging from sixty-five to two hundred and fifty tons register each; and one or two pinnaces for the purpose of navigating shallow waters, ascending rivers and creeks, landing and shipping cargo, and so forth. They were, as a rule, fitted out and armed, ostensibly for protection, by a number of adventurers, who, having associated themselves together for the purpose, either chartered the requisite number of vessels, or found the capital to purchase and equip them for sea, the capital being divided into shares. Of these the person in charge of the expedition and the masters of the vessels generally held a considerable number. In a few instances, especially when the expedition consisted of only one vessel and a pinnace, the captain himself was the sole owner of ship and cargo. The rendezvous of these vessels after sailing from England was either Madeira or the Cape Verde Islands, whence they sailed wherever profit or plunder guided their course. Their profits in some instances were enormous.
[132] Froude, Da Silva to Elizabeth, October 6, 1567, Spanish MSS., Rolls House.
[133] Sir John Hawkins to Elizabeth, Sept. 15, 1567, Domestic MSS., Rolls House.
[134] The sum has been estimated at no less than one million of pounds sterling.
[135] Froude’s ‘History of England,’ vol. ix. p. 360.
[136] Froude, vol. ix. p. 370, et seq.; and Macpherson, ii. p. 146.
[137] Froude, vol. ix. p. 430.
[138] Domestic MSS., 1572.