The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

The booke made by the right worshipful M. Robert Thorne in the yeere 1527. in Siuil, to Doctour Ley, Lord ambassadour for king Henry the eight, to Charles the Emperour, being an information of the parts of the world, discouered by him and the king of Portingal: and also of the way to the Moluccaes by the North.

RIght noble and reuerend in &c. I haue receiued your letters, and haue procu∣red and sent to know of your seruant, who, your Lordship wrote, should be sicke in Merchena. I cannot there or els where heare of him, without he be returned to you, or gone to S. Lucar, and shipt. I cannot iudge but that of some conta∣gious sicknesse hee died, so that the owner of the house for defaming his house would bury him secretly, and not be knowen of it. For such things haue often times happened in this countrey.

Also to write vnto your Lordshippe of the new trade of Spicery of the Emperour, there is no doubt but that the Islands are fertile of Cloues, Nutmegs, Mace, and Cinnamom: and that the said Islands, with other there about, abound with golde, Rubies, Diamondes, Balasses, Gra∣nates, Iacinets, and other stones & pearles, as all other lands, that are vnder and neere the Equi∣noctiall. For we see, where nature giueth any thing, she is no nigard. For as with vs and o∣ther, that are aparted from the said Equinoctiall, our mettals be Lead, Tinne, and Iron, so theirs be Gold, Siluer, and Copper. And as our fruits and graines bee Apples, Nuts, and Corne, so theirs be Dates, Nutmegs, Pepper, Cloues, and other Spices. And as we haue Ieat, Amber, Cristall, Iasper, and other like stones, so haue they Rubies, Diamonds, Balasses, Saphyres, Iacinets, and other like. And though some say that of such precious mettals, graines, or kind of spices, and precious stones, the abundance and quantity is nothing so great, as our mettals, fruits or stones aboue rehearsed: yet if it be well considered, how the quantitie of the earth vnder the E∣quinoctiall to both the Tropicall lines, (in which space is found the sayd Golde, spices and preci∣ous stones) is as much in quantity, as almost all the earth from the Tropickes to both the Poles; it cannot be denied but there is more quantity of the sayd mettals, fruites, spices, and precious stones, then there is of the other mettals and other things before rehearsed. And I see that the preciousnes of these things is measured after the distance that is between vs, and the things that we haue appetite vnto. For in this nauigation of the Spicerie was discouered, that these Islands nothing set by golde, but set more by a knife and a nayle of iron, then by his quantitie of Golde: and with reason, as the thing more necessary for mans seruice. And I doubt not but to them should be as precious our corne and seedes, if they might haue them, as to vs their spices: & like∣wise the pieces of glasse that here we haue counterfeited are as precious to them, as to vs their stones: which by experience is seene daylie by them that haue trade thither. This of the riches of those countries is sufficient.* 1.1

Touching that your Lordship wrote, whether it may bee profitable to the Emperor or no? it may be without doubt of great profite: if, as the king of Portingal doth, he would become a mer∣chant, and prouide shippes and their lading, and trade thither alone, and defend the trade of these Islands for himselfe. But other greater businesse withholdeth him from this. But still, as now it is begunne to be occupied, it would come to much. For the shippes comming in safetie, there would thither many euery yere, of which to the Emperour is due of all the wares and iewels that come from thence the fift part for his custome cleare without any cost. And besides this hee put∣teth

in euery flote a certaine quantitie of money, of which hee enioyeth of the games pound and pounds like as other aduenturers doe.* 1.2 In a fleete of three shippes and a Carauel that went from this citie armed by the marchants of it, which departed in Aprill last past, I and my partener haue one thousand foure hundred duckets that we employed in the sayd fleete, principally for that two English men, friends of mine, which are somewhat learned in Cosmographie, should goe in the same shippes, to bring me certaine relation of the situation of the countrey, and to be expert in the nauigation of those seas, and there to haue informations of many other things, and aduise that I desire to knowe especially. Seeing in these quarters are shippes, and mariners of that countrey, and cardes by which they saile, though much vnlike ours, that they should procure to haue the said cards, and learne how they vnderstand them, and especially to know what nauigation they haue for those Islands Northwards, and Northeastward.

For it from the sayd Islands the sea did extend,* 1.3 without interposition of land, to saile from the North point to the Northeast poynt one thousand seuen hundred or one thousand eight hundred leagues, they should come to the New found Islands that we discouered,* 1.4 and so we should be nee∣rer to the sayd Spicerie by almost two thousand leagues then the Emperour, or the king of Por∣tingal are. And to aduise your Lordship whether of these Spiceries of the king of Portingal or the Emperours is neerer, and also of the titles that either of them hath, and howe our New found lands are parted from it, (for that by writing without some demonstration, it were hard to giue any declaration of it) I haue caused that your Lordship shall receiue herewith a little Mappe or Carde of the world:* 1.5 the which, I feare me, shall put your Lordship to more labour to vnder∣stand, then me to make it, onely for that it is made in so litle roome that it cannot be but obscurely set out, that is desired to be seene in it, and also for that I am in this science little expert: Yet to re∣medy in part this difficulty, it is necessary to declare to your Lordship my intent, with which I trust you shall perceiue in this Card part of your desire, if, for that I cannot expresse mine intent, with my declaration I doe not make it more obscure.

First, your Lordship knoweth that the Cosmographers haue diuided the earth by 360 de∣grees in latitude, and as many in longitude, vnder the which is comprehended all the roundnes of the earth: the latitude bring diuided into foure quarters, ninetie degrees amount to euery quarter, which they measure by the altitude of the Poles, that is the North and South starres, being from the line Equinoctiall till they come right vnder the North starre the said ninetie degrees: and as much from the sayd line Equinoctiall to the South starre be other ninety degress. And as much more is also from either of the sayd starres agayne to the Equinoctiall. Which imagined to bee round, is soone perceiued thus, 360 degrees of latitude to be consumed in the said foure quarters of ninetie degrees a quarter: so that this latitude is the measure of the worlde from North to South, and from South to North. And the longitude, in which are also counted other 360, is counted from West to East, or from East to West, as in the Card is set.

The sayd latitude your Lordship may see marked and diuided in the ende of this Card on the left hand:* 1.6 so that if you would know in what degrees of latitude any region or coast standeth, take a compasse, and set the one foot of the same in the Equinoctial line right against the said region, & apply the other foote of the compasse to the said region or coast, & then set the sayd compasse at the end of the Card, where the degrees are diuided. And the one foote of the compasse standing in the line Equinoctial, the other will shew in the scale the degrees of altitude or latitude that the said re∣gion is in. Also the longitude of the world I haue set out in the nether part of the Card, contei∣ning also 360 degrees: which begin to be counted after Ptoleme and other Cosmographers from an headland called Capo Verde, which is ouer against a little crosse made in the part Occidental, where the diuision of the degrees beginneth, and endeth in the same Capo Verde.

Now to know in what longitude any land is, your Lordship must take a ruler or a compasse,* 1.7 and set the one foot of the compasse vpon the land or coast whose longitude you would know, and extend the other foot of the compasse to the next part of one of the transuersall lines in the Orien∣tall or Occidental part: which done, set the one foot of the compasse in the said transuersal line at the end of the nether scale, the scale of longitude, and the other foot sheweth the degree of longi∣tude that the region is in. And your Lordship must vnderstand that this Card, though little, con∣teineth the vniuersall whole world betwixt two collaterall lines, the one in the Occidentall part descendeth perpendicular vpon the 175 degree, & the other in the Orientall on the 170 degree, whose distance measureth the scale of longitude. And that which is without the two said transuer∣sall lines, is onely to shew how the Orientall part is ioined with the Occident, and Occident with the Orient. For that that is set without the line in the Oriental part, is the same that is set within the other line in the Occidentall part: and that that is set without the line in the Occidentall part, is the same that is set within the line in the Orientall part, to shew that though this figure of the

world in plaine or flatte seemeth to haue an end, yet one imagining that this sayd Card were set vpon a round thing, where the endes should touch by the lines, it would plainely appeare howe the Orient part ioyneth with the Occident, as there without the lines it is described and figured.

And for more declaration of the said Card, your Lordship shall vnderstand, that beginning on the part Occidental within the line, the first land that is set out, is the maine land and Islands of the Indies of the Emperour. Which maine land or coast goeth Northward, and finisheth in the land that we found, which is called here Terra de Labrador. So that it appeareth the sayd land that we found, and the Indies to be all one maine land.

The sayd coast from the sayd Indies Southward, as by the Card your Lordshippe may see, commeth to a certaine straight Sea, called Estrecho de todos Santos:* 1.8 by which straight Sea the Spaniards goe to the Spiceries, as I shall declare more at large: the which straight Sea is right against three hundred fifteene degrees of longitude, and is of latitude or altitude from the Equinoctiall three and fifty degrees. The first land from the sayd beginning of the Card to∣ward the Orient are certaine Islands of the Canaries, and Islandes of Capo verde. But the first maine land next to the line Equinoctial is the sayd Capo verde, and from thence Northward by the straight of this sea of Italie. And so followeth Spayne, France, Flanders, Almaine, Den∣marke, and Norway, which is the highest parte toward the North. And ouer against Flanders are our Islands of England and Ireland. Of the landes and coastes within the streights I haue set out onely the Regions, diuiding them by lines of their limits, by which plainely I thinke your Lordship may see, in what situation euerie region is, and of what highnesse, and with what re∣gions it is ioyned. I doe thinke few are left out of all Europe. In the parts of Asia and Affrica I could not so wel make the sayd diuisiōs: for that they be not so wel knowen, nor need not so much. This I write because in the said Card be made the said lines & strikes, that your Lordship should vnderstand wherefore they doe serue. Also returning to the foresaid Capo verde, the coast goeth Southward to a Cape called Capo de buona speransa: which is right ouer against the 60. & 65. degree of longitude. And by this Cape go the Portingals to their Spicerie. For from this Cape toward the Orient, is the land of Calicut, as your Lordship may see in the headland ouer against the 130. degree. Frō the sayd Cape of Buona speransa the coast returneth to ward the line Equi∣noctial, and passing forth, entreth the red sea, & returning out, entreth again into the gulfe of Per∣sia, and returneth toward the Equinoctiall line, till that it commeth to the headland called Cali∣cut aforesayd, and from thence the coast making a gulfe, where is the riuer of Ganges, returneth toward the line to a headland called Malaca, where is the principall Spicerie: & from this Cape returneth and maketh a great gulfe, and after the coast goeth right toward the Orient, and ouer against this last gulfe and coast be many Islands, which be Islandes of the Spiceries of the Em∣perour. Upon which the Portingals and he be at variance.

* 1.9The sayd coast goeth toward the Orient, and endeth right against the 155. degrees, and after returneth toward the Occident Northward: which coast not yet plainely knowen, I may ioine to the New found lande found by vs, that I spake of before. So that I finish with this briefe de∣claration of the Card aforesayd. Well I know I should also haue declared how the coasts with∣in the straights of the Sea of Italie runne. It is playne that passing the streights on the North side of that Sea after the coast of Granado, and with that which pertaines to Spaine, is the coast of that which France hath in Italie. And then followeth in one piece all Italie, which laud hath an arme of the Sea, with a gulfe which is called Mare Adriaticum. And in the bottome of this gulfe is the citie of Venice. And on the other part of the sayd gulfe is Sclauonia, and next Grecia, then the streits of Constantinople, and then the sea called Euxinus, which is within the sayd streights: and comming out of the sayd streights, followeth Turcia maior (though now on both sides it is called Turcia.) And so the coast runneth Southward to Syria, and ouer against the sayd Turcia are the Islands of Rhodes, Candie, and Cyprus. And ouer against Italie are the Islands of Si∣cilia and Sardinia. And ouer against Spaine is Maiorca and Minorca. In the ende of the gulfe of Syria is Iudea. And from thence returneth the coast toward the Occident, till it commeth to the streights where we began, which all is the coast of Afrike and Barbarie. Also your Lord∣ship shall vnderstand that the coastes of the Sea throughout all the world. I haue coloured with yellow, for that it may appeare that all that is within the line coloured yellow, is to be imagined to be maine land or Islands: and all without the line so coloured to bee Sea: whereby it is easie and light to know it. Albeit in this little roome any other description would rather haue made it obscure then cleere. And the sayd coasts of the Sea are all set iustly after the maner and forme as they lie, as the nauigation approueth them throughout all the Card, saue onely the coastes and Isles of the Spicerie of the Emperour which is from ouer against the 160. to the 215. degrees of longitude, For these coastes and situations of the Islands, euery of the Cosmographers and

pilots of Portingal & Spayne do set after their purpose. The Spaniards more towards the O∣rient, because they should appeare to appertain to the Emperour: & the Portingals more toward the Occident, for that they should fal within their iurisdiction. So that the pilots and nauigants thither, which in such cases should declare the truth, by their industrie do set them falsly euery one to fauour his prince. And for this cause can be no certaine situation of that coast and Islands, till this difference betwixt them be verified.* 1.10 Now to come to the purpose of your Lordships demaund touching the difference between the Emperour and the king of Portingal, to vnderstand it better, I must declare the beginning of this discouerie. Though peraduenture your Lordship may say that in that I haue written ought of purpose, I fall in the prouerbe, A gemino ouo bellum: But your Lordship commanded me to be large, and I take licence to be prolixious, and shalbe perad∣uenture tedious, but your Lordship knoweth that Nihil ignorantia verbofius.

In the yeere 1484 the king of Portingal minded to arme certaine Caruels to discouer this Spicerie. Then forasmuch as he feared that being discouered, euery other prince woulde sende and trade thither, so that the cost and perill of discouering should be his, and the profite common: wherefore first hee gaue knowledge of this his minde to all princes Christened, saying that hee would seeke amongst the infidels newe possessions of regions, and therefore would make a cer∣taine armie: and that if any of them would helpe in the cost of the sayd armie, he should enioy his part of the profite or honour that should come of it. And as then this discouering was holden for a strange thing and vncertaine. Nowe they say, that all the Princes of Christendome answered, that they would be no part of such an armie, nor yet of the profit that might come of it. After the which he gaue knowledge to the Pope of his purpose, and of the answere of all the Princes, desi∣ring him that seeing that none would helpe in the costes, that he would iudge all that should bee found and discouered to be of his iurisdiction, and commannd that none other princes should in∣termeddle therewith. The Pope sayd not as Christ saith, Quis me consticui•• iudicem inter vos?* 1.11 He did not refuse, but making himselfe as Lord and Iudge of all, not onely granted that all that should be discouered from Orient to Occident, should be the kings of Portingal, but also, that vp∣on great censures no other Prince should discouer but he. And if they did, all to bee the kings of Portingal. So he armed a fleete, and in the yeere 1497 were discouered the Islands of Calicut, from whence is brought all the spite he hath.

After this in the yere 1492 the king of Spaine willing to discouer lands toward the Occident without making any such diligence, or taking licence of the king of Portingal, armed certaine Caruels, and then discouered this India Occidentall, especially two Islands of the sayd India, that in this Card I set forth, naming the one la Dominica, and the other Cuba, and brought cer∣taine golde from thence. Of the which when the king of Portingal had knowledge, he sent to the king of Spaine, requiring him to giue him the sayd Islands. For that by the sentence of the Pope all that should be discouered was his, and that hee should not proceede further in the discouerie without his licence. And at the same time it seemeth that out of Castil into Portingal had gone for feare of burning infinite number of Iewes that were expelled out of Spaine, for that they would not turne to be Christians, and carried with them infinite number of golde and siluer. So that it seemeth that the king of Spaine answered, that it was reason that the king of Portingal asked, and that to be obedient to that which the Pope had decreed, he would giue him the sayd Islands of the Indies. Nowe for as much as ••t was decreed betwixt the sayde kings, that none should receiue the others subiects fugitiues, nor their goods, therfore the king of Portingal should pay and returne to the king of Spaine a million of golde or more, that the Iewes had caryed out of Spaine to Portingal, & that in so doing he would giue these Islands, and desist from any more dis∣couering. And not fulfilling this, he would not onely not giue these Islands, but procure to disco∣uer more where him thought best. It seemeth that the king of Portingal would not, or could not with his ease pay this money. And so not paying that he could not let the king of Spaine to disco∣uer: so that he enterprised not toward the Orient where he had begun & found the Spicerie. And consented to the king of Spaine, that touching this discouering they should diuide the worlde be∣tweene them two. And that all that should be discouered from Cape Verde, where this Card be∣ginneth to be counted in the degrees of longitude, to 180 of the sayd scale of longitude, which is halfe the world toward the Orient, & finisheth in this Card right ouer against a litle crosse made at the said 180 degrees, to be the king of Portingals. And all the land from the said Crosse towarde the Occident, vntill it ioyneth with the other Crosse in the Orient, which conteineth the other hundreth and eightie degrees, that is the other halfe of the worlde, to be the king of Spaines. So that from the land ouer against the said hundreth & eighty degrees vntill it finish in the three hun∣dred and sixtie on both the ends of the Card, is the iurisdiction of the king of Spaine. So after this maner they diuided the world betweene them.

Now for that these Islands of Spicery fall neere the terme and limites betweene these prin∣ces (for as by the sayd Card you may see they begin from one hundred and sixtie degrees of longi∣tude, and ende in 215) it seemeth all that falleth from 160 to 180, degrees, should be of Portin∣gal: and all the rest of Spaine. And for that their Cosmographers and Pilots coulde not a∣gree in the situation of the sayde Islandes (for the Portingals set them all within their 180 degrees, and the Spaniards set them all without:) and for that in measuring, all the Cosmo∣graphers of both partes, or what other that euer haue bene cannot giue certaine order to mea∣sure the longitude of the worlde,* 1.12 as they doe of the latitude: for that there is no starre fixed from East to West, as are the starres of the Poles from North to South, but all mooueth with the moouing diuine: no maner can bee founde howe certainely it may bee measured, but by coniectures, as the Nauigants haue esteemed the way they haue gone. But it is manifest that Spaine had the situation of al the lands from Cape Verde, toward the Orient of y^e Portingals to their 180 degrees. And in all their Cardes they neuer hitherto set the saide Islands within their limitation of the sayd 180 degrees, (though they knewe very well of the Islands,) till now that the Spaniards discouered them. And it is knowen that the king of Portingal had trade to these Islands afore, but would neuer suffer Portingal to go thither from Calicut: for so much as he knew that it fell out of his dominion: least by going thither there might come some know∣ledge of those other Islands of the king of Spaine, but bought the cloues of Marchants of that countrey, that brought them to Calicut, much deerer then they would haue cost, if he had sent for them, thinking after this maner it would abide alwayes secret. And now that it is discouered he sendes and keepes the Spaniards from the trade all that he can.

Also it should seeme that when this foresaid consent of the diuision of the worlde was agreed of betweene them, the king of Portingal had already discouered certaine Islandes that lie ouer a∣gainst Cape Verde, and also certaine part of the maine land of India toward the South, from whence he fette Brasill, and called it the land of Brasil. So for that all should come in his terme and limites, hee tooke three hundred and seuentie leagues beyond Cape Verde: and after this, his 180 degrees, being his part of the worlde, should begin in the Carde right ouer against the 340 degrees, where I haue made a little compasse with a crosse, and should finish at the 160 de∣gree, where also I haue made another little marke. And after this computation without any con∣trouersie, the Islands of the spicery fal out of the Portingals domination. So that nowe the Spa∣niards say to the Portingals, that if they would beginne their 180 degrees from the sayde Cape Verde, to the intent they should extende more toward the Orient, and so to touch those Islandes of the Spicerie of the Emperour, which is al that is betweene the two crosses made in this Card, that then the Islands of Cape Verde and the lande of Brasil that the Portingals nowe obtaine, is out of the sayd limitation, and that they are of the Emperours. Or if their 180 degrees they count from the 370 leagues beyond the said Cape Verde, to include in it the said Islands and lands of Brasil, then plainely appeareth the said 180 degrees should finish long before they come to these Islands of the Spicerie of the Emperour: As by this Carde your Lordship may see. For their limits should begin at the 340 degrees of this Carde, and ende at the 160 degrees, where I haue made two little markes of the compasse with crosses in them.

So that plainely it should appeare by reason, that the Portingals should leaue these Islands of Cape Verde and land of Brasil, if they would haue part of the Spicerie of the Emperours: or els holding these, they haue no part there. To this Portingals say, that they will beginne their 180 degrees from the selfe same Cape Verde: for that it may extende so much more to∣ward the Orient, and touch these Islandes of the Emperours: and would winne these Islandes of Cape Verde and land of Brasil neuerthelesse, as a thing that they possessed before the consent of this limitation was made.

So none can verely tell which hath the best reason. They be not yet agreed, Quare sub Iudice lis est.

But without doubt (by all coniectures of reason) the sayd Islands fall all without the limita∣tion of Portingal, and pertaine to Spaine, as it appeareth by the most part of all the Cardes made by the Portingals, saue those which they haue falsified of late purposely.

But now touching that your Lordship wrote, whether that which we discouered toucheth any thing the foresayd coastes: once it appeareth plainely, that the Newefound land that we dis∣couered,* 1.13 is all a maine land with the Indies Occidentall, from whence the Emperour hath all the gold and pearles: and so continueth of coast more then 5000 leagues of length, as by this Carde appeareth. For from the said New lands it proceedeth toward the Occident to the Indies, and from the Indies returneth toward the Orient, and after turneth Southward vp tillit come to the Straits of Todos Sa••tos, which I reckon to be more then 5000 leagues.

So that to the Indias it should seeme that we haue some title,* 1.14 at least that for our discouering we might trade thither as other doe. But all this is nothing neere the Spicerie.

Now then it from the sayd New found lands the Sea be nauigable, there is no doubt, but sayling Northward and passing the Pole,* 1.15 descending to the Equinoctial line, we shall hit these Islands, and it should be a much shorter way, then either the Spaniards or the Portingals haue. For we be distant from the Pole but thirty and nine degrees, and from the Pole to the Equinoctiall be ninetie, the which added together, bee an hundred twenty and nine degrees, leagues 2489. and miles 7440: Where we should find these Islands. And the Nauigation of the Spaniards to the Spicerie is, as by this Carde you may see, from Spaine to the Islandes of Canarie, and from these Islandes they runne ouer the line Equinoctiall Southwarde to the Cape of the maine land of the Indians, called the Cape of Saint Augustine, and from this Cape Southwards to the straites of Todos Santos,* 1.16 in the which nauigation to the said straites is 1700. or 1800 leagues; and from these Straites being past them, they returne towarde the line Equinoctiall to the Islands of Spicerie, which are distant from the saide Straites 4200. or 4300. leagues.

The nauigation of the Portingals to the said Islandes is departing from Portingal South∣ward towarde the Cape Verde, and from thence to another Cape passing the line Equinoctial called Capo de bona speransa, and from Portingal to the Cape is 1800 leagues, and from this Cape to the Islands of Spicerie of the Emperour is 2500. leagues.

So that this nauigation amounteth all to 4300. leagues. So that (as afore is sayd,) if be∣tween our New found lands or Norway, or Island, the seas toward the North be nauigable, we should goe to these Islands a shorter way by more then 2000. leagues.

And though we went not to the sayd Islandes,* 1.17 for that they are the Emperours or kings of Portingal, wee shoulde by the way and comming once to the line Equinoctiall, finde landes no lesse riche of golde and Spicerie, as all other landes are vnder the sayd line Equinoctiall: and al∣so should, if we may passe vnder the North, enioy the nauigation of all Tartarie.* 1.18 Which should be no lesse profitable to ••ur commodities of cloth, then these Spiceries to the Emperour, and king of Portingal.

But it is a generall opinion of all Cosmographers, that passing the seuenth clime,* 1.19 the sea is all ice, and the colde so much that none can suffer it. And hitherto they had all the like opinion, that vnder the line Equinoctiall for much heate the land was vnhabitable.

Yet since (by experience is proued) no land so much habitable nor more temperate.* 1.20 And to con∣clude I thiuke the same should be found vnder the North, if it were experimented. For as all iudge, Nihil fit vacuum in rerum natura: So I iudge, there is no land vnhabitable, nor Sea in∣nauigable.* 1.21 If I should write the reason that presenteth this vnto me, I should be too prolixe, and it seemeth not requisite for this present matter. God knoweth that though by it I should haue no great interest,* 1.22 yet I haue had and still haue no litle mind of this businesse: So that if I had facul∣tie to my will, it should be the first thing that I woulde vnderstand, euen to attempt, if our Seas Northward be nauigable to the Pole, or no. I reason, that as some sickenesses are hereditarious, and come from the father to the sonne, so this inclination or desire of this discouerie I inheri∣ted of my father, which with another marchant of Bristow named Hugh Eliot, were the discoue∣rers of the New found lands, of the which there is no doubt, (as nowe plainely appeareth) if the mariners would then haue bene ruled, and followed their Pilots minde, the lands of the West In∣dies (from whence all the gold commeth) had bene ours.* 1.23 For all is one coast, as by the Carde ap∣peareth, and is aforesayd.

Also in this Carde by the coastes where you see C. your Lordship shall vnderstand it is set for Cape or headland, where I. for Iland, where P. for Port, where R. for Riuer. Also in all this little Carde I thinke nothing be erred touching the situation of the land, saue onely in these Ilands of Spicerie: which, for that (as afore is sayd) eueryone setteth them after his minde, there can be no certification how they stand. I doe not denie, that there lacke many things, that a consummate Carde should haue, or that a right good demonstration desireth. For there should be expressed all the mountaines and Riuers that are principall of name in the earth, with the names of Portes of the sea, the names of all principall cities, which all I might haue set, but not in this Carde, for the little space would not consent.

Your Lordship may see that setting the names almost of euery Region, and yet not of all, the roome is occupied. Many Islands are also left out, for the said lack of roome, the names almost of all Portes put to silence, with the roses of the windes or points of the compasse: For that this is not for Pilots to sayle by, but a summary declaration of that which your Lordship commanded. And if by this your Lordship cannot wel perceiue the meaning of this Card, of the which I would

not marueile, by reason of the rude composition of it, will it please your Lordship to aduise mee to make a bigger and a better Mappe, or els that I may cause one to be made. For I know my selfe in this and all other nothing perfect, but Licet semper discens, nunquam tamen ad perfectam scientiam perueniens. Also I know, to set the forme Sphericall of the world in Plano after the true rule of Cosmographie, it would haue bene made otherwise then this is: howbeit the demon∣stration should not haue bene so plaine.

And also these degrees of longitude, that I set in the lower part of this card, should haue bin set along by the line Equinoctiall, & so then must be imagined. For the degrees of longitude neere ei∣ther of the poles are nothing equall in bignesse to them in the Equinoctiall. But these are set so, for that setting them along the Equinoctial, it would haue made obscure a great part of the map. Many other curiosities may be required, which for the nonce I did not set downe, as well for that the intent I had principally was to satisfie your doubt touching the spicerie, as for that I lack leasure and time. I trust your Lordship correcting that which is erred, will accept my good will, which is to doe any thing that I may in your Lordships seruice. But from henceforth I knowe your Lordship will rather commaund me to keepe silence, then to be large, when you shall be wea∣ried with the reading of this discourse. Iesus prosper your estate and health.

Your Lordships Robert Thorne

1527.

ALso this Carde and that which I write touching the variance betweene the Emperour and the king of Portingall, is not to be shewed or communicated there with many of that court. For though there is nothing in it preiudiciall to the Emperour, yet it may be a cause of paine to the maker: as well for that noue may make these Cardes, but certaine appointed and allowed for masters, as for that peraduenture it would not sound well to them, that a stranger should know or discouer their secretes: and would appeare worst of all, if they vnderstand that I write touching the short way to the spicerie by our Seas. Though peraduenture of troth it is not to be looked to, as a thing that by all opinions is vnpossible, and I thinke neuer will come to effect: and therefore neither here nor else where is it to be spoken of. For to moue it amongst wise men, it should bee had in derision. And therefore to none I would haue written nor spoken of such things, but to your Lordship, to whom boldly I commit in this all my foolish fantasie as to my self. But if it please God that into England I may come with your Lordship, I will shew some con∣iectures of reason, though against the generall opinion of Cosmographers, by which shall appeare this that I say not to lacke some foundation. And till that time I beseeche your Lordship let it be put to silence: and in the meane season it may please God to send our two Englishmen, that are gone to the Spicerie, which may also bring more plaine declaration of that which in this case might be desired.

Also I knowe I needed not to haue beene to prolixe in the declaration of this Carde to your Lordship, if the sayd Carde had bene very well made after the rules of Cosmographie. For your Lordship would soone vnderstand it better then I, or any other that could haue made it: and so it should appeare that I shewed Delphinū natare. But for that I haue made it after my rude ma∣ner, it is necessary that I be the declarer or gloser of mine own worke, or els your Lordship should haue had much labour to vnderstand it, which now with it also cannot be excused, it is so grossely done. But I knew you looked for no curious things of mee, and therefore I trust your Lord∣ship will accept this, and hold me for excused. In other mens letters that they write they craue pardon that at this present they write no larger: but I must finish, asking pardon that at this pre∣sent I write so largely. Iesus preserue your Lordship with augmentation of dignities.

Your seruant Robert Thorne, 1527.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doctor Leys letters.
• * 1.2

  This was the fleete wherein Cabot discoue∣red the riuer of Plate, 1526;
• * 1.3

  Note.
• * 1.4

  The Newe found Islands discouered by the English.
• * 1.5

  A Mappe of the world.
• * 1.6

  To know the latitudes.
• * 1.7

  To know the longitudes.
• * 1.8

  Now called the straight of Magelane.
• * 1.9

  Note.
• * 1.10

  Doctor Leys demand.
• * 1.11

  The Pope re∣prehended.
• * 1.12

  The longi∣tudes hard to be found out.
• * 1.13

  New found land discoue∣red by the Englishmen.
• * 1.14

  Note.
• * 1.15

  To saile by the Pole.
• * 1.16

  Or the straites of Magelane.
• * 1.17

  Note
• * 1.18

  Benefite to England.
• * 1.19

  Obiection.
• * 1.20

  Answere.
• * 1.21

  A true opiniō.
• * 1.22

  A voyage of discouery by the Pole.

  M. Therne and M. Eliot disco∣uerers of New found land.
• * 1.23

  The cause why the West In∣dies were not ours: which also Sebastian Gabot writeth in an Epistle to Baptista Ra∣musius.