Trade and exploration weren’t high on the royal agenda until the reign of Edward VI. After that, the Crown and the merchant community keenly backed voyages. Here are some of the most important voyages of the era:
1553: Hugh Willoughby and Richard Chancellor seek a North East passage
1562–1563: John Hawkins’ first slaving voyage
1564: John Hawkins’ second voyage.
1568: Hawkins’ third voyage – San Juan d’Ulloa
1576: Martin Frobisher reaches Meta Incognita – Baffin Land
1577–1580: Francis Drake sails round the world. Columbus, you were right – it’s round!
