CHAP. III.
Of the North parts of the New World (Groenland, Estotiland, Meta Incognita, and other Places) vnto New Fraunce.
AMerica is commonly diuided by that Isthmus, or necke and narrow passage of Land at Darien, into two parts; the one called Northerne America, or Mexicana; the other Southerne, or Peruana. This tren∣deth betwixt the Darien and Magellan Straits: that, from thence Northwards, where the Confines are yet vnknowne. For it is not yet fully discouered, whether it ioyneth somewhere to the Continent of Asia, or whether Groenland, and some other parts, accounted Ilands, ioyne with it. These were discouered before the dayes of Columbus, and yet remaine almost couered in obscuritie, and were therefore iustly tearmed a 1.1 Meta Incognita, by Great Elizabeth, the best knowne and most renowmed Ladie of the World. The first knowledge that hath come to vs of those parts, was by Nicholas and Antonie Zeni, two brethren, Ve∣netians. Happie Italie, that first, in this last Age of the World, hast discouered the great Discouerers of the World, to whome we owe our M. Paulus, Odoricus, Vert••mannus, for the East; Columbus, Vespucius, Cabot, for the West; these noble Zeni for the North: and the first encompassing the Worlds wide compasse, vnto Pigafetta's Discourse, companion of Magellan in his iourney: that I speake not of the paines of Russelli, Ramusius, Boterus, and a world of Italian Authors, that (I thinke more then any other Language) haue by their historicall labours discouered the World to it selfe. Vn∣happie Italie, that still hast beaten the bush, for others to catch the Bird, and hast in∣herited nothing in these Easterne and Westerne Worlds, excepting thy Catholike clayme, whereby the Catholike and Spanish Sword makes way for the Catholike∣Romane Crowne and Keyes: Neither the Sword of Paul, nor the Keyes of Peter; for both these were b 1.2 spirituall. But to returne to our Venetians. c 1.3 In the yeare 1380 Master Nicolo Zeno being wealthie, and of a haughtie spirit, desiring to see the fashions of the World, built and furnished a Shippe at his owne charges, and passing the Straits of Gibraltar, held on his course Northwards, with intent to see England and Flanders. But a violent Tempest assayling him at Sea, hee was carried hee knew not whither, till at last his Shippe was cast away vp∣on the Isle of Frisland; where the men and most part of the goods were saued.