HIST 150: Transatlantic Slave Trade (Spring 2024)

"MY SOVERAIGNE GOOD LADY AND MYSTRES ,-Your Highnes may be advertised that this daye being the xvjth of September the Portyngales who should have dyrected us this pretended enterpryse have fledd and as I have certayne under standing taken passadge into France , havinge no cawse for that they had of me better entertaynement then appertayned to suche mean persons , and an army prepared sufficient to doe any resonable enterpryse , but it appeared that they could by no meanes performe their lardge promises , and so having gleaned a piece of money to our merchantes are fledd to deceive some other . And although this enterpryse cannot take effecte (which I think God hath provided for the best) I do ascertayne your highnes that I have provision sufficient and an able army to defend our chardge and to bring home (with gods help ) fortye thowsand markes gaynes without the offence of the lest of any of your highnes alyes or friends It shall be no dishonor unto your highnes that your owne servante and subjecte shall in suche an extremitie convert such an enterpryse and turn it both to your highnes honor and to the benefit of your whole realme which I will not enterpryse withowt your highnes consent , but am ready to do what service by your Matic shall be commaunded yet to shew your highnes the truth I should be undone if your Matie should staye the voyadge wherunto I hope your highnes will have some regard . The voyadge I pretend is to lade negroes in Genoya [Guinea ] and sell them in the west Indyes in troke [truck ] of golde perrels and Esmeraldes wherof I dowte not but to bring home great abondance to the contentation of your highnes and to the releife of a nomber of worthy servitures reddy nowe for this pretended voyadge which otherwise would shortly be dryven to great misery and reddy to commit any folly. Thus having advertysed your highnes the state of this matter do most humbly praye your highnes to signifye your pleasure by this bearer which I shall most willingly accomplish . From Plymouth the xvjth daye of September 1567."

: Lemon, Robert. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reigns of Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth, 1547-1580, preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office. Entry no. 7, London, England: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans and Roberts, 1856. Gale Primary Sources, State Papers Online