The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 06 Madiera, the Canaries, Ancient Asia, Africa, etc.

"The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation" by Richard Hakluyt is a detailed record of England's adventures on the seas and its establishment of trade with far-off places in the late 1500s. It shares stories of voyages and the opening of markets with distant lands, highlighting the beginnings of English exploration and its first steps into colonization, especially in areas like Madeira and the Canary Islands. The collection begins by setting the scene of England's early explorations, including the story of an Englishman named Macham discovering Madeira back in the 1300s. This sets the stage for discussions about important sea routes and commercial activities that were valuable to England at the time. The writing also mentions important English figures, such as King Henry VII, and suggests the cultural and economic mixing that occurred between countries because of these voyages, serving as an introduction to the in-depth stories of England’s maritime achievements that follow.