CANADA HISTORY - DOCUMENTS EMPIRE

1584 Richard Hakluyt, Discourse of Western Planting

Analysis of the Document - (The Document follows below the Analysis)

Richard Hakluyt’s Discourse of Western Planting (1584) was a foundational document advocating for English colonization of North America. Written to convince Queen Elizabeth I and other influential figures of the economic, political, and religious benefits of establishing English colonies, Hakluyt argued that colonization would provide a strategic counter to Spain, spread Protestant Christianity, and open new markets for English goods. Though it primarily focused on the English context, the document had lasting implications for Canada’s future, as it laid early groundwork for later British expansion into North America.

The Discourse of Western Planting was deeply informed by Hakluyt’s knowledge of geography and trade. He believed that colonizing the New World would enhance England’s global power, offering new avenues for economic growth through trade and resource extraction. This vision would resonate in British North America’s eventual development, particularly in Canada, where British control of fur trade routes and vast natural resources would become cornerstones of imperial strategy.

One of Hakluyt’s central arguments was that English colonies would serve as a bastion of Protestantism in the face of Catholic Spain’s dominance in the Americas. By spreading Protestantism, Hakluyt saw colonization as part of a divine mission. Though this religious motivation was aimed at England’s interests, it influenced the later cultural and religious dynamics in British North America, where Protestant English settlers would come into contact—and at times conflict—with the Catholic French in regions like Quebec.

Hakluyt also stressed the strategic and geopolitical importance of the Americas. Colonizing North America would provide a base for English ships to counter Spanish influence and secure valuable trading routes. This idea of using North America as a base for strategic interests would later be echoed in British Canada’s role in imperial defense, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries as the British Empire sought to maintain control over its North American territories in the face of challenges from other European powers and the United States.

The implications of Discourse of Western Planting on Canada’s history are indirect but significant. Though Hakluyt himself did not focus on what would become Canada, his arguments helped shape English colonial policies that ultimately led to British settlement in North America. His advocacy for colonization inspired later efforts, including those that brought settlers to Newfoundland and the Hudson Bay region, which would become central to Canada’s early economy through the fur trade.

Hakluyt’s work also contributed to the mindset that British expansion into North America was not only desirable but essential for England’s survival as a global power. The spirit of this expansionism influenced British policies in the 18th century, particularly after the Seven Years’ War when Britain acquired French Canada. The long-term effects of Hakluyt’s vision played out in the shaping of Canada’s political and economic structures under British rule, culminating in its emergence as a key part of the British Empire in the 19th century.

In sum, Hakluyt’s Discourse of Western Planting was more than just a colonial blueprint; it was a document that echoed through the corridors of British imperial history, influencing the development of Canada’s identity within the British Empire. Though written in a different era and for different immediate purposes, its arguments helped lay the intellectual groundwork for the colonization and exploitation of the resources and peoples of North America, including Canada.

A particuler discourse concerninge the greate necessitie and manifolde comodyties that are like to growe to this Realme of Englande by the Westerne discoveries lately attempted, Written In the yere 1584 by Richarde Hackluyt of Oxforde at the requeste and direction of the righte worshipfull Mr. Walter Raghly [Raieigh] nowe Knight, before the comynge home of his Twoo Barkes: and is devlded into xxi chapiters, the Titles whereof followe in the nexte leafe.

1. That this westerne discoverie will be greately for the inlargement of the gospell of Christe whereunto the Princes of the refourmed relligion are chefely bounde amongest whome her Majestie is principall.

2. That all other englishe Trades are growen beggerly or daungerous, especially in all the kinge of Spaine his Domynions, where our men are dryven to flinge their Bibles and prayer Bokes into the sea, and to forsweare and renownce their relligion and conscience and consequently theyr obedience to her Majestie.

3. That this westerne voyadge will yelde unto us all the commodities of Europe, Affrica, and Asia, as far as wee were wonte to travell, and supply the wantes of all our decayed trades.

4. That this enterprise will be for the manifolde imploymente of nombers of idle men, and for bredinge of many sufficient, and for utterance of the greate quantitie of the commodities of our Realme.

5. That this voyage will be a great bridle to the Indies of the kinge of Spaine and a means that wee may arreste at our pleasure for the space of teime weekes or three monethes every yere, one or twoo hundred saile of his subjectes shippes at the fysshinge in Newfounde Iande.

6. That the rischesse that the Indian Threasure wrought in time of Charles the late Emperor father to the Spanishe kinge, is to be had in consideracion of the Q. moste excellent Majestie, leaste the contynuall commynge of the like threasure from thence to his sonne, worke the unrecoverable annoye of this Realme, whereof already wee have had very dangerous Experience.

7. What speciall meanes may bringe kinge Phillippe from his high Throne, and make him equal to the Princes his neighbours, wherewithall is shewed his weakenes in the west Indies.

8. That the limites of the kinge of Spaines domynions in the west Indies be nothinge so large as is generally imagined and surmised, neither those partes which he holdeth be of any such forces as is falsely geven oute by the popishe Clergye and others his suitors, to terrffie the Princes of the Relligion and to abuse and blinde them.

9. The Names of the riche Townes lienge alonge the sea coaste on the northe side from the equinoctiall of the mayne lande of America under the kinge of Spaine.

10. A Brefe declaracion of the chefe Ilands in the Bay of Mexico beinge under the kinge of Spaine, with their havens and fortes, and what commodities they yeide.

11. That the Spaniardes have executed most outragious and more then Turkishe cruelties in all the west Indies, whereby they are every where there, become moste odious unto them, whoe woulde joyne with us or any other moste willingly to shake of their moste intollerable yoke, and have begonne to doo it already in dyvers places where they were Lordes heretofore.

12. That the passage in this voyadge is easie and shorte, that it cutteth not nere the trade of any other mightie Princes, nor nere their Contries, that it is to be perfourmed at all tymes of the yere, and nedeth but one kinde of winde, that Ireland beinge full of goodd havens on the southe and west sides, is the nerest parte of Europe to it, which by this trade shall be in more securitie, and the sooner drawen to more Civilitie.

13. That hereby the Revenewes and customes of her Majestie bothe outwardes and inwardes shall mightely be inlarged by the [...] which without oppression may be raised.

14. That this action will be greately for the increase, mayneteynaunce and safetie of our Navye, and especially of greate shippinge which is the strengthe of our Realme, and for the supportation of all those occupacions that depende upon the same.

15. That spedie plantinge in divers fitt places is moste necessarie upon these luckye westerne discoveries for feare of the daunger of being prevented by other nations which have the like intentions, with the order thereof and other reasons therewithall alleaged.

16. Meanes to kepe this enterprise from overthrowe and the enterprisers from shame and dishonor.

17. That by these Colonies the Northwest passage to Cathaio and China may easely quickly and perfectly be searched oute aswell by river and overlande, as by sea, for proofe whereof here are quoted and alleaged divers rare Testymonies oute of the three volumes of voyadges gathered by Ramusius and other grave authors.

18. That the Queene of Englande title to all the west Indies, or at the leaste to as moche as is from Florida to the Circle articke, is more lawfull and righte then the Spaniardes or any other Christian Princes.

19. An aunswer to the Bull of the Donacion of all the west Indies graunted to the kinges of Spaine by Pope Alexander the VI whoe was himselfe a Spaniarde borne.

20. A brefe collection of certaine reasons to induce her Majestie and the state to take in hande the westerne voyadge and the plantinge there.

21. A note of some thinges to be prepared for the voyadge which is sett downe rather to drawe the takers of the voyadge in hande to the presente consideracion then for any other reason for that divers thinges require preparation longe before the voyadge, without which the voyadge is maymed.