The name is absent

62 The Rice Institute Pamphlet

man is the first three voyages made to the Brazil coast by
William Hawkins, father of the famous Sir John, between
1530 and 1532. Hawkins had been a Plymouth merchant
engaged in overseas trade for some time, exporting cloth
and tin from England to Western European ports. The
only direct information we have about these early Hawkins
voyages is an account in Hakluyt, probably obtained by
word of mouth from Sir John. In Hakluyt the chronology is
confused, and he speaks in the title to the story in one edi-
tion of one voyage to Brazil, and in another of two such
voyages, whereas in fact the text makes it clear that there
were three. In the account, William Hawkins is spoken of as
“a man for his wisedome, valure, experience, and skill in sea
causes much esteemed, and beloved of K. Henry the 8,” and
as “being one of the principall Sea-Captaines in the West
parts of England in his time. . . .” The ship that he armed
and sent out to Brazil was the Paul, belonging to himself;
and in her he made “three long and famous voyages unto the
coast of Brasil, a thing in those dayes very rare, especially to
our Nation....”

Once there, Hawkins distinguished himself by his wise
and fair dealings with the Indians; we do not know how
long he spent in Brazil, but he is said to have grown “into
great familiarity and friendship with them.” “Insomuch,”
adds Hakluyt, “that in his second voyage, one of the savage
kings of the countrey of Brasil, was contented to take ship
with him, and to be transported hither into England: where-
unto M. Haukins agreed. . . .” The initiative in the trans-
action is thus obscured by Hakluyt: that the savage was
“contented” sounds as if he had been invited; that Hawkins
“agreed” sounds more as if he had invited himself. Weighing
both phrases, one is inclined to think that perhaps the Indian

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