A comprehensive survey of English seafaring and commerce from the accession of Henry VII to 1558, combining accounts of exploration with analysis of trade and naval organization. It reconstructs early patronage of voyages, the Cabot expeditions, Anglo‑Portuguese and African voyages, and attempts at a northeast passage, while mapping the growth of overseas trade routes. The work outlines mercantile institutions and privileges, disputes with the Hanseatic League, relevant treaties and diplomacy, and developments in ports, ship types, and manpower, emphasizing the close interdependence of mercantile and naval practices in Tudor maritime policy.
