Nauigation, which is read to this day in the Contractation house at Siuil.
The readers of which Lecture haue not only carefully taught and instructed
the Spanish Mariners by word of mouth, but also haue published sundry exact
and worthy treatises concerning Marine causes, for the direction and
incouragement of posteritie. The learned works of three of which readers,
namely of Alonso de Chauez, of Hieronymo de Chauez, and of Roderigo
Zamorano came long ago very happily to my hands, together with the straight
and seuere examining of all such Masters as desire to take charge for the
West Indies. Which when I first read and duely considered, it seemed to mee
so excellent and so exact a course as I greatly wished, that I might be so
happy as to see the like order established here with vs. This matter, as it
seemeth, tooke no light impression in the royall brest of that most
renowmed and victorious prince King Henry the eight of famous memory, who
for the increase of knowledge in his Seamen, with princely liberalitie
erected three seuerall Guilds or brotherhoods, the one at Deptford here
vpon the Thames, the other at Kingston vpon Hull, and the third at
Newcastle vpon Tine: which last was established in the 28. yeere of his
reigne. The chiefe motiues which induced his princely wisedome hereunto
himselfe expresseth in maner following: Vt magistri, marinarij,
gubernatores, & alij officiarij nauium, iuuentutem suam in exercitatione
gubernationis nauium transigentes, mutilati aut aliquo alio casu in
paupertatem collapsi, aliquod releuamen ad eorum sustentationem habeant,
quo non solum illi reficiantur, verum etiam alij iuuenes moueantur &
instigentur ad eandem artem exercendam, ratione cuius, doctiores & aptiores
fiant nauibus & alijs vasis nostris & aliorum quorumcunque in Mare
gubernandis & manutenendis, tam pacis, quam belli tempore, cum opus
postulet, etc. [Footnote: _Translation_ "That masters, mariners pilots, and
other officers of ships, who have passed their youth in the profession of
navigating vessels, being mutilated, or reduced to poverty through any
other cause, might have some means of subsistence, by which not only they