Page 39 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

HOW LANCASTER INITIATED EASTERN TRADE 39

his introduction to the volume of Davis’s Voyages in the
ITakluyt Society’s publications, states that “ as a seaman
combining scientific knowledge and skilled pilotage with
the qualities of a fearless and determined explorer John
Davis stands foremost among the navigators of the great
Queen.” This reputation was earned by an almost con­
tinuous service at sea from the day in 1585 when he sailed
on his first voyage of discovery to the frozen North. Three
separate expeditions were conducted by him in this direc­
tion, and he served besides with the Earl of Cumberland
off the Azores in 1585 and with Cavendish on his voyage
to the South Seas in 1591. But the achievement which
helped to recommend him most to the promoters of the
enterprise with which we are dealing was the successful
piloting of the Dutch Admiral Houtman’s fleet on its
memorable voyage to the East in 1597. Ilis appointment
on that occasion was due to the recommendation of the
Earl of Essex, and there was afterwards a suspicion on
the part of the Dutch that he had been sent by his noble
patron to spy upon their movements. It is an unworthy
suggestion, not supported by the smallest evidence. Davis
discharged his duties to his Dutch employers honourably
and well. It was, indeed, largely to his bravery and re­
sourcefulness that the ship in which he sailed was saved
from capture on the occasion of a treacherous attack made
upon it off Acheen, in Sumatra. His narrative of Hout­
man’s voyage, which is the classic account of that under­
taking, represents him as a shrewd and intelligent observer,
as a seaman wedded to his profession and as a man zealous
for the reputation of the Western races.
Five ships composed the fleet which Lancaster had under
his command. They were not in any sense homogeneous,