4 - Venture capital

Summary

In The Trumpet o[f] Fame: Or Sir Fraunces Drakes and Sir John Hawkins F[are] well (London, 1595), Henry Robarts, Devonshire sailor turned London poet and pamphleteer, robustly celebrates the sort of commercial adventure (which would soon be called “privateering”) that led in 1595–96 to the disastrous West Indian expedition that cost Drake, Hawkins, and many others their lives:

You Gallants bold, of Albions fertile soyle,

For Countries fame, on land and seas that toyle,

Searching with paine, the Confines of the earth,

Whose painfull toyle, all Nations admireth:

By whom enriched is your Countries store,

And some made rich, which earst was held but poore:

To you brave minds, whose thoughts doth reach the s[kie]

And scorne at home, like sluggards for to lie:

To you that fetch more woorth, then Iasons fleece,

To you I do my rustike Pen addresse,

For Countries honor, that spareth not your blood,

But ventures all, for Commons publike good…

(A3)

Signficantly, Robarts expands his encomium to include John Watts, an exemplary city merchant who financed voyages like Drake's and Hawkins's:

[B]e not omit, our Merchant of renown:

[F]or Londons honor, where he of worship is,

[A]n Alderman of credit great I wis,

[F]amous Wats, whose forward readinesse,

[I]n all attempts was never knowne to misse:

[W]ho in this fleete to quaile the enemies pride,

[F]oure gallant ships for warre he doth provide…

(B2v)