bition or cupidity of English adventurers.

The passage by the Cape of Good Hope, repeatedly accomplished by
circumnavigators of this nation, had now ceased to oppose any formidable
obstacle to the spirit of maritime enterprise; and the papal donation
was a bulwark still less capable of preserving inviolate to the
sovereigns of Portugal their own rich Indies. The first expedition ever
fitted out from England for those eastern regions, where it now
possesses an extent of territory in comparison of which itself is but a
petty province, consisted of three "tall ships," which sailed in this
year under the conduct of George Raymond and James Lancaster. After
doubling the Cape and refreshing themselves in Saldanha Bay, which the
Portuguese had named but not yet settled, the navigators steered along
the eastern coast of Africa, where the ship commanded by Raymond was
lost. With the other two, however, they proceeded still eastward; passed
without impediment all the stations of the Portuguese on the shores of
the Indian ocean, doubled Cape Comorin, and extended their voyage to the
Nicobar isles, and even to the peninsula of Malacca. They landed in
several parts, where they found means to open an advantageous traffic
with the natives; and, after capturing many Portuguese vessels laden
with various kinds of merchandise, repassed the Cape in perfect safety
with all their booty. In their way home they visited the West Indies,
where great disasters overtook them; for here their two remaining ships
were lost, and Lancaster, with the slender remnant of their crews, was
glad to obtain a passage to Europe on board a French ship which happily
arrived to their relief. But as far as respected the eastern part of
the expedition, their success had been such as strongly to invite the
attempts of future adventurers; and nine years after its sailing, her
majesty was prevailed upon to grant a charter of incorporation with
ample privileges to an East India company, under whose auspices
Lancaster consented to undertake a second voyage. Annual fleets were
from this period fitted out by these enterprising traders, and factories
of their establishment soon arose in Surat, in Masulipatam, in Bantam,
in Siam, and even in Japan. The history of their progress makes no part
of the subject of the present work; but the foundation of a mercantile
company which has advanced itself to power and importance absolutely
unparalleled in the annals of the world, form