n 1565, attempts to search
for a northwest passage were being seriously considered.
Humphrey
Gilbert was one of the strongest proponents of such a project.
Possibly in that same year, he began to prepare a pamphlet outlining
the advantages of a northwest route. Called A Discourse of a
Discoverie for a New Pasage to Cataia, its content was based on
various geographical writings and maps, including those of
Sebastian Cabot and
Abraham Ortelius.
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Humphrey Gilbert's world map, 1576
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In 1566, Humphrey Gilbert approached Queen Elizabeth with a proposal
for a multi-year voyage to search for this new route to Asia. Gilbert
and his backers sought the right to govern any newly discovered lands,
on behalf of the Queen, and a monopoly on trade there. The
Muscovy Company,
however, objected to this proposal, believing they already
held the rights to exploration in the northwest. Interest in the
project faded and Gilbert turned to soldiering in the Queen's forces,
in France, Ireland and the Netherlands; for this he was knighted
(1570).
Interest was revived, however, in 1574 when
Michael Lok and Martin
Frobisher began to plan their own voyage. Gilbert was brought into
these discussions as an adviser. Publication, finally, of his
Discourse in 1576 may have helped stimulate public interest
in the Frobisher-Lok initiative.
Gilbert himself turned his attentions to establishing a colony in
North America. In 1578 he was granted a licence "to discover,
take possession of, and govern any lands not already under the rule
of a Christian Prince".
His
voyage enabled him to establish the first
English colony on the northwest Atlantic coast (Newfoundland)
in 1583. Unfortunately, he and his ship were lost at sea on the return
voyage to England.
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