Richard Hakluyt, Discourse of Western Planting, 1584

A particular discourse concerning the great necessity and manifold commodities that are like to grow to this Realm of England by the Western discoveries lately attempted, Written In the year 1584 by Richard Hakluyt of Oxford at the request and direction of the right worshipful Sir Walter Raieigh (excerpts)

A brief collection of certain reasons to induce her Majesty and the state to take in hand the western voyage and the planting there:

That this western discovery will be greatly for the enlargement of the gospel of Christ whereunto the Princes of the reformed religion are chiefly bound amongst whom her Majesty is principal.

That all other English Trades are grow beggarly or dangerous, especially in all the king of Spain's Dominions, where our men are driven to fling their Bibles and prayer books  into the sea, and to forswear and renounce their religion and conscience and consequently their obedience to her Majesty

That this western voyage will yield unto us all the commodities of Europe, Africa, and Asia, as far as we were wont to travel, and supply the wants of all our decayed trades.

That this enterprise will be for the manifold employment of numbers of idle men, and for bredinge of many sufficient, and for utterance of the great quantity of the commodities of our Realm.

That this voyage will be a great bridle to the Indies of the king of Spain and a means that we may arrest at our pleasure for the space of time weeks or three months every year, one or two hundred sail of his subjects ships at the fishing in Newfoundland. .

That the richness that the Indian Treasure wrought in time of Charles the late Emperor father to the Spanish king, is to be had in consideration of the Queen, most excellent Majesty, least the continual coming of the like treasure from thence to his son, work the unrecoverable annoy of this Realm, whereof already we have had very dangerous experience.

What special means may bring king Phillip from his high Throne, and make him equal to the Princes his neighbors, wherewithal is showed his weakness in the west Indies.

That the limits of the king of Spain's dominions in the west Indies be nothing so large as is generally imagined and surmised, neither those parts which he holdeth be of any such forces as is falsely given out by the popish Clergy and others his suitors, to terrify the Princes of the Religion and to abuse and blind them.

That the Spaniards have executed most outrageous and more then Turkish cruelties in all the west Indies, whereby they are every where there, become most odious unto them, who would join with us or any other most willingly to shake of their most intolerable yoke, and have begun to do it already in divers places where they were Lords heretofore.

That the passage in this voyage is easy and short, that it cutteth not near the trade of any other mighty Princes, nor near their Countries, that it is to be performed at all times of the year, and needeth but one kind of wind, that Ireland being full of good havens on the south and west sides, is the nearest part of Europe to it, which by this trade shall be in more security, and the sooner drawn to more Civility.

That hereby the Revenues and customs of her Majesty both outward and inward shall mightly be enlarged by the toll, excises, and other duties which without oppression may be raised.

That this action will be greatly for the increase, maintenance and safety of our Navy, and especially of great shipping which is the strength of our Realm, and for the support of all those occupations that depend upon the same.

That special planting in divers ft places is most necessary upon these lucky western discoveries for fear of the danger of being prevented by other nations which have the like intentions, with the order thereof and other reasons therewithal alleged.

That by these Colonies the Northwest passage to China may easily, quickly, and perfectly be searched out as well by river and overland, as by sea

That the Queen of England's title to all the west Indies, or at the least to as much as is from Florida to the Circle artic, is more lawful and right than the Spaniards or any other Christian Princes.