intercourfe with every part o f the civilizecl world; or to its
intrinfic value, as capable of fupplying many articles o f general
confumption to the mother-country ; or as a port folely for the
numerous and valuable fleets of the Eaft-India Company to
refreih a t ; to aflemble in time o f war for convoy; to re-efta-
blifli the health o f their fickly troops, worn down by the debilitating
effe£ts o f expofure to a warm climate ; and to feafon, in
the mild and moderate temperature of Southern Africa, fuch of
thofe from Europe as may be deftined for fervice in the warmer
climate of their Indian fettlements. ^
In the early voyages undertaken by the Britilh merchants
trading to the Eaft Indies, the Cape was always made the general
rendezvous and place of refreihment; and it was then confi-
dered of fuch importance that a formal poffefiion was taken of
it by two commanders of the Company s Ihips in the year 1620,
in the name of King James of Great Britain, a period o f thirty
years antecedent to the eftablifliment of the colony by the
United Provinces. The particulars o f this tranfa£tion are entered
at full length on the records o f the Eaft-India Company ; and,
as the reafoning then upon it will more ftrongly apply at this
time, it may not be amifs to infert an extra£t from them.
“ James, b y the grace o f God, king of Great Britain, France,
“ and Ireland, Defender, o f the Faith, Sffc. : Know all men, by
“ the prefent publication hereof, that according to our bounden
“ duties to our Sovereign Lord the King, James, by the Grace
« of God, King of Great Britain, £sV. and the State■,
“ We, Andrew Shillinge and Humphrey Fitzherbert, chief
u commanders o f the two fleets at prefent bound for Surat and
« Bantam, Ssfc. upon a good confideration, and by a confult-
“ ation holden on Ihore, the firft o f July 1620, of both fleets, on
“ the coaft of Africa, in the bay of Saldania aforefaid, for and
“ in the name of the faid high and mighty Prince James, and
“ for and in the name of the whole continent near adjoining, fo
“ far to be extended as that at prefent no Chriftian prince nor
“ potentate have any fort or garrifon for plantation within the
“ limits aforefaid; and our Sovereign Lord the King to be
* thereunto entitled Lord or Prince, or by any other name or
“ title whatfoever that ihall feem beft unto his gracious wifdom.
“ Dated, proclaimed, executed, and fubfcribed in the Bay
“ of Saldania, the third day o f July 1620.
(Signed) “ H u m p h r e y F i t z h e r b e r t ,
“ A n d r e w S h i l l i n g e .”
E X T R A C T .
“ Notwithftanding all which, may it pleafe your worihips to
“ be certified, that we whofe names are hereunto fubfcribed,
“ tending his Majefty’s fupremacy and fovereignty more than
“ our own fafetys ; and falling into the confideration of the
“ conveniency o f this bay of Saldania, by us fo called, fituate
“ and being in the latitude of 340 or thereabout South lati-
tude, for the better profecution of your trade to the Eaft
“ Indies, upon a full and general confultation holden on ihore
b 2 “ b y