This book examines the 1583 voyage of Sir Humphrey Gilbert to North America. This was England's first attempt at colonization beyond the British Isles, yet it has not been subject to thorough scholarly analysis for more than 70 years. An exhaustive examination of the voyage reveals the complexity and preparedness of this and similar early modern colonizing expeditions. Prominent Elizabethans assisted Gilbert by researching and investing in his expedition: the Printing Revolution was critical to their plans, as Gilbert’s supporters traveled throughout England with promotional literature proving England’s claim to North America. Gilbert’s experts used maps and charts to publicize and navigate, while his pilots experimented with new navigating tools and practices.
Though he failed to establish a settlement, Gilbert created a blueprint for later Stuart colonizers who achieved his vision of a British Empire in the Western Hemisphere. This book clarifies the role of cartography, natural science, and promotional literature in Elizabethan colonization and elucidates the preparation stages of early modern colonizing voyages.
Author(s): Nathan J. Probasco
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 285
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction: A Single Oar
Chapter 2: A Chronicle of European Exploration: Establishing Gilbert’s Claim to North America
John Dee and Staking England’s Claim to North America
The May River and the Limits of the Spanish Empire
Richard Hakluyt the Elder and Selecting a Colony Site
George Peckham and Dismissing Native American Land Rights
Conclusion
Chapter 3: Diverse Texts for Diverse Audiences: The Promotional Literature of Gilbert’s Expedition
John Florio’s shorte narration: Introducing English Readers to Norumbega
Richard Hakluyt’s Divers Voyages: Gaining Investments Through England’s Claim to Norumbega
Stephen Parmenius’s De Navigatione … Humfredi Gilberti: An Appeal to Elizabeth and Other Humanists
David Ingram’s adventures & travailes: The First Account of Norumbega by an Englishman
Christopher Carleill’s breef and sommarie discourse: Appeals to London and Muscovy Company Merchants
Sir George Peckham’s True Report: Seeking a Follow-up to Gilbert’s Expedition
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Proving Cartography’s Worth: The Maps of Gilbert’s Expedition
John Dee’s “Atlantis” Map: Envisioning an Anglo-North America
“Sr Humfray Gylbert knight his charte”: England’s First Colonial Guide Chart
Richard Hakluyt’s Printed Maps: Promoting the Colonization of North America
Thomas Bavin’s Mapmaking: Claiming North America for England
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Experience over Theory: The Nautical Science of Gilbert’s Expedition
Written Sources of Navigational Information
Robert Norman’s Newe Attractiue and William Borough’s Discovrs of the Cumpas: Experimenting with New Navigational Instruments
Navigating to the Minute: England’s First Attempt to Determine Longitude at Sea
Navigation in Theory: To Africa, the Caribbean, and Norumbega
Navigation in Practice: To Newfoundland, Sable Island, and Norumbega
Conclusion
Chapter 6: Competition Drives Innovation: Assembling Gilbert’s Expedition
Attracting Investors Big and Small
Recruiting Sailors, Soldiers, and Other Crewmembers
Acquiring Ships and Provisions
Conclusion
Chapter 7: A New and Improved England: The Proposed Composition of Gilbert’s Colony
Seeking Profitability Through Trade
Profiting Through Land Sales and Rents, Discoveries and Assaults
The Structure of the Colony
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Conclusion: The Mid-Elizabethan Transition
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Manuscripts
Printed
Secondary Sources
Index
