Cape of Good Hope--called at first the Cape of
Storms--and across the Indian Ocean to the port of Calicut, there to
trade. There were dangers enough even on that voyage to tempt the most
adventurous: Moorish pirates off the coast of Morocco: European
pirates--English pirates--coming out of the rivers and ports of Western
Africa: storms off the Cape: hurricanes in the Indian Ocean: the rocks
and reefs of seas as yet unsurveyed: treachery of natives. Yet there
were never wanting men in plenty to volunteer for these long and
perilous voyages. At home, then, the spirit of enterprise, joined with
the spirit of adventure, achieved mighty things. The merchant
adventurers succeeding to some of the trade of the Hanseatic League,
established 'courts,' i.e. branches at Antwerp, Hamburg, and Dordrecht:
they had also courts at York, Hull, and Newcastle. Many other companies
were founded. There was the Eastland Company or merchants of Ebbing.
Their trade was with the Baltic. There was the 'Merchant Adventurers for
the discovery of Lands, not before known to, or frequented by, the
English.' This afterwards became the Russian Company. They sent out Sir
Hugh Willoughby with three ships to find a North-East passage to China.
He and all his men were frozen to death on the shores of Russian
Lapland. The Company afterwards took to whaling. There was also the
Turkey Company, which lasted to well into the present century. There was
the Royal African Company, which has been revived. There were the
Merchants of Spain: the Merchants of France: the Merchants of Virginia:
the East India Company: the Hudson's Bay Company: the South Sea Company:
the Guinea Company: the Canary Company. Some of these companies were
founded later, but they are all sprung from the spirit of enterprise,
first called into existence by Gresham when he built his Exchange and
brought the merchants together.

[Illustration: SHIPPING IN THE THAMES, CIRCA 1660.

(_From Pricke's 'South Prospect of London.'_)]

By leaps and bounds the prosperity of the City increased, and has still
continued to increase, for the three hundred years that have passed
since Queen Elizabeth opened the Royal Exchange. Whether this prosperity
will still further advance; whether forces, as yet unnoticed, will bring
about the decay of London, no one can venture to prophecy. Antwerp may
again become her rival: may perhaps surpass her; the port of Antwerp is
rising yearly in importance: and that of Hambu