The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part IHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
[Sidenote: The French are but vsurpers vpon our right.] The French, as they
can pretend lesse title vnto these Northerne parts then the Spanyard, by
how much the Spanyard made the first discouery of the same continent so far
Northward as vnto Florida, and the French did but reuiew that before
discouered by the English nation, vsurping vpon our right, and imposing
names vpon countreys, riuers, bayes, capes, or head lands, as if they had
bene the first finders of those coasts: [Sidenote: The French also
infortunate in those North parts of America.] which iniury we offered not
vnto the Spaniards, but left off to discouer when we approached the Spanish
limits: euen so God hath not hitherto permitted them to establish a
possession permanent vpon anothers right, notwithstanding their manifolde
attempts, in which the issue hath bene no lesse tragicall then that of the
Spanyards, as by their owne reports is extant.
[Sidenote: A good incouragement for the English nation, to proceed in the
conquests of the North America.] Then seeing the English nation onely hath
right vnto these countreys of America from the cape of Florida Northward by
the priuilege of first discouery, vnto which Cabot was authorised by regall
authority, and set forth by the expense of our late famous king Henry the
seuenth: which right also seemeth strongly defended on our behalfe by the
powerfull hand of almighty God, withstanding the enterprises of other
nations: it may greatly incourage vs vpon so iust ground, as is our right,
and vpon 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 countreys apperteining vnto the
crowne of England: [Sidenote: The due time approcheth by all likelihood of
calling these heathens vnto Christianity.] the same (as is to be
coniectured by infallible arguments of the worlds end approching) being now
arriued vnto the time by God prescribed of their vocation, if euer their
calling vnto the knowledge of God may be expected. [Sidenote: The word of
God moueth circularly.] Which also is very probable by the reuolution and
course of Gods word and religion, which from the beginning hath moued from
the East, towards, and at last vnto the West, where it is like to end,
vnlesse the same begin againe where it did in the East, which we were to
expect a like world againe. But we are assured of the contrary by the
prophesie of Christ, whereby we gather, that after his word preached
thorowout the world shalbe the end. And as the Gospel when it descended
Westward began in the South, and afterward spread into the North of Europe:
euen so, as the same hath begunne in the South countreys of America, no
lesse hope may be gathered that it will also spread into the North.
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