The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ Of the Pole Antartike and the starres abowt the same And of the qualitie of the regions and disposition of the Elementes abowt the Equinoctiall line. Also certeyne secreates touchyng the arte of saylynge.

AMericus Uesputius in the Summarie of his vyages, wryteth in this maner as foloweth.

Departynge frome Lisbona (commonlye cauled Lusheburne) the .viii. day of May, in the yeare .1501. we sayled fyrst to the Ilan∣des of Canarie and from thense to Capouer∣de which the Ethiopians or blacke Moores caule Bisineghe,* 1.1* 1.2 beinge .xiiii. degrees on this syde the Equinoc∣tiall line. From whense directynge owre course towarde the South pole by the Southwest, we sawe no more land for the space of three moonethes and three dayes. Of whiche tyme durynge .xl. dayes, we had cruell fortune: In so muche that for that space,* 1.3 the heauen in maner neuer ceased thunderyng rorynge, and lyghtenynge with terrible noyse, and fearefull syghtes of fyery exhalations flyinge abowt in the ayer, and in maner continuall showers of rayne with darke clowdes co∣uerynge the heauen in such sorte that aswell in the day as in the nyght we coulde see none otherwyse but as when the moone giueth no lyght by reason of thicke and darke clowds The sea was in lyke case vnquieted with surgies and mon∣sters. After these greuous & cruel days, it plesed god to haue cōpassion on owr liues. For wee suddenly espied land wher¦by we recouered owr spirites and strength. This land which wee founde, is from Capo Uerde .700. leaques, although I∣suppose that we sayled more then .800. by reason of the cruel tempest and ignoraunce of the Pylottes and mariners where∣by wee were lyke to haue byn cast away.* 1.4 For wee were in suche daungerous places wanderynge in vnknowen coastes, that if I had not byn skylfull in the science of Cosmographie we had suerly peryshed,* 1.5 forasmuch as there was not one py∣lot that knewe where wee were by the space of fiftie leaques. In so much that if I had not in tyme prouyded for the safe∣garde of myne owne lyfe and them that were with me, with my quadrant and Astrolabie instrumentes of Astronomie,* 1.6 wee

had styl wandered lyke blynde men. But when in fine I had persuaded the pylots by demonstrations perteynynge to that arte, they gaue me great honour and confessed that the ordi∣narie pilottes and mariners ignorant in Cosmographi, are not to bee compared to men of speculatiue knowleage. &c.

Wee sayled by the coaste of the sayde lande .600. leaques And went oftentymes alande where wee were frendely and honorably interteyned of thinhabitauntes: In so much that considerynge theyr innocent nature, we sumtymes remayned with them .xv. or .xx. dayes. This firme lande begynneth be¦yonde the Equinoctiall line .viii. degrees towarde the pole Antartike. Wee sayled so farre by the sayde coaste that wee passed the wynter Tropyke towarde the pole Antartike by xvii. degrees and a halfe,* 1.7 where we had the Horizontal line eleuate fiftie degrees. Such thynges as I sawe there, are not yet knowen to men of owre tyme: as the people, theyr customes and maners, the fertilitie of the lande, the goodnes of the ayer, the fauourable influence of heauen and the pla∣nettes, and especially the order of the starres of the eyght sphere in the inferioure hemispherie or lower halfe circle of heauen towarde and abowt the South pole,* 1.8 wherof neyther the owlde or newe wryters haue made any mention to this daye.

To wryte particularly of the commodities and felicities of these regions, it wolde requyre rather a hole volume then a booke: And that such, as if Plinie had had knowleage of these thynges,* 1.9 he myght greatly haue increased his bookes of naturall histories. The trees gyue from them continually such sweete sauours as can scarsely bee imagined: And on euery part put furth such gummes, liquours, and iuses, that yf we knewe theyr vertues, I suppose we myght fynde in them marueylous medicins ageinst diseases and to mainteyne health. And suerly in my opinion, yf there bee any earthely Paradyse in the worlde,* 1.10 it can not bee farre from these regi∣ons of the south, where the heauen is so beneficiall and the elementes so temperate that they are neyther bytten with coulde in wynter, nor molested with heate in summer.* 1.11 The ayer also and the heauen is seldome darkened with clowdes, so that the dayes and nyghtes are euer cleare. Yet haue they sumtymes moyst dewes in the mornynge and euenyng for the* 1.12

space of three houres, whereby the grounde is marueylously refresshed. Lykewyse the firmament is marueylously adour∣ned with certeyne starres which are not knowen to vs, wher¦of I noted abowt .xx. to bee of suche clearenesse as are the starres of Uenus and Iupiter when they are nere vnto vs.* 1.13

And wheras hauynge the knowleage of Geometrie,* 1.14 I consi¦dered theyr circuite and dyuers motions, and also measured theyr circumference and diameter, I am well assured that they are much greater then men thynke them to bee. Amonge other, I sawe three starres cauled Canopi, wherof two were exceadynge cleare, and the thyrde sumwhat darke. The pole Antartike hath nother the greate beare nor the lyttle as is seene abowte owre pole.* 1.15 But hath foure starres whiche com∣passe it abowt in forme of a quadrangle.

[illustration]

¶When these are hydden, there is seene on the lefte syde a bryght Canopus of three starres of notable greatnesse, whi∣che beinge in the myddest of heauen, representeth this figure.

[illustration]

After these, succeade three other shynynge starres, whereof that which is in the myddest, is of measure .xii. degrees and a halfe in circumference.* 1.16 And in the myddest of these, is seene an other bryght Canopus. After this, folowe .vi. other shy∣nynge starres which in bryghtnesse passe al other that are in the eyght sphere. Of these, that that is in the middest in the superficiall part of the sayde sphere, hath the measure of his circumference .xxxii. degrees. After these foloweth an other great Canopus, but sumwhat darke. All these are seene in the parte of heauen cauled Via Lactea,* 1.17 that is the mylke waye: And beinge ioyned to the meridiane line, shewe this fygure here folowynge.

[illustration]

I sawe also there manye other starres, the dyuers motions wherof diligently obserued, I made a particular boke of the same, wherin I made mention of al such notable thyngs as I sawe and had knoweleage of, in this nauigation. The whi¦che booke I deliuered to the kynges maiestie, trustynge that he wyll shortly restore it me ageyne. In this hemispherie or halfe coompasse of the heauen,* 1.18 I diligently considered many thinges which are contrarie to thoppinions of philosophers. And amonge other thynges, I sawe a whyte raynebowe a∣bowt mydnyght,* 1.19 wheras other affirme that it hath foure co∣lours of the foure elementes, as redde of the fyer, greene of the earth, whyte of the ayer, and blewe of the water. But Aristotle in his booke intiteled Meteora,* 1.20 is of an other opinion For he sayth that the raynebowe is a reflection of the beames of the soonne in the vapoure of a clowde directly ageynste the soonne, as the shynyng of the same on the water, is reflected on a waule: And that the sayde clowde or vapoure tempereth the heate of the soonne: and beinge resolued into rayne, ma∣keth the grounde fertyle, and pourgeth the ayer. Also that is a token of abundaunt moysture. By reason wherof,* 1.21 sum are of opinion that it shall not appeare .xl. yeares before thende of the worlde, which shalbe a token of the drynesse of the ele∣mentes approchynge to the tyme of theyr conf••agration or consumyng by fyer. It is a pledge of peace betwene god and men, and is euer directly ouer ageynst the soonne. It is ther¦fore neuer seene in the South, bycause the soonne is neuer in the North. Neuerthelesse, Plinie sayth, that after the Equi¦noctial in Autumne, it is seene at al houres. And thus much haue I gathered owte of the commentaries of Land••nus vp∣pon the fourth boke of Uirgyl his Eneades, bycause I wold defraude no man of his trauayle. I sawe the sayd raynebowe twoo or three tymes. And not I onely, but also many other which were in my coompany. Lykewyse wee sawe the newe moone the selfe same day that shee ioyned with the soonne.* 1.22

Wee sawe furthermore vapours and burnynge flames flyinge

abowt heauen euery nyght.* 1.23 A lyttle before, I cauled this countrey by the name of Hemispherium (that is) the halfe sphere.* 1.24 Which neuerthelesse can not bee so named but by spe¦kynge improperlie in comparyson of owres. Yet forasmuche as it seemeth to represent suche a forme, I haue improperlye so named it.

Departynge therfore from Lisbona (as I haue sayde) be∣inge from the Equinoctiall line towarde the North abowt .xl degrees,* 1.25 wee sayled to this countrey whiche is beyonde the Equinoctiall .l. degrees:* 1.26 All which summe, maketh the num¦ber of .lxxxx. beinge the fourth part of the greatest circle ac∣cordynge to the trewe reason of the number tawght by the owlde autours. And by this demonstration it is manifest that wee measured the fourth parte of the worlde: Forasmuch as we that dwell in Lisbona on this syde the Equinoctial line a∣bowt .xl. degrees towarde the Northe, sayled frome thense lxxxx. degrees in lengthe meridionale angularly by an ouer∣thwart line, to thinhabitantes .l. degrees beyond the Equi∣noctiall. And that the thynge may bee more playnely vnder∣stode, imagine a parpendicular line to faule from the poyntes of heauen which are Zenith (that is the pricke ouer the head) to vs both standynge vpryght in the places of owre owne ha∣bitacions: and an other ryght line to bee drawne frome owre Zenith to theyrs:* 1.27 Then grauntynge vs to bee in the ryght line in comparyson to them, it must of necessitie folowe that they are in the ouerthwart line as halfe Anti∣podes in comparyson to vs: In suche sorte that the figure of the sayde lines make a triangle which is the quarter or fourth parte of the hole circle, as appea∣reth more playnely by the fygure here folowynge.

[illustration]

As touchyng the starres and reasons of Cosmographie, I haue gathered thus much owt of the vyage of Americus Uesputius. And haue thought good to ioyne hereunto that whiche Andreas de Corsali writeth in his vyage to East India as concernynge the same matter.* 1.28

After that we departed frome Lisbona, wee sayled euer with prosperous wynde, not passynge owt of the Southeast and Southwest. And passyng beyonde the Equinoctial line,* 1.29 we were in the heyght of .37. degrees of the other halfe cir∣cle of the earth. And trauersynge the cape of Bona Speran∣za a coulde and wyndy clime bycause at that tyme the soonne was in the north signes,* 1.30 wee founde the nyght of .xiiii. hou∣res. Here we sawe a marueylous order of starres, so that in the parte of heauen contrary to owre northe pole,* 1.31 to knowe in what place and degree the south pole was, we tooke the day with the soonne, and obserued the nyght with the Astro¦labie, and sawe manifestly twoo clowdes of reasonable byg∣nesse mouynge abowt the place of the pole continually nowe rysynge and nowe faulynge,* 1.32 so keepynge theyr continuall course in circular mouynge, with a starre euer in the myddest which is turned abowt with them abowte .xi. degrees frome the pole. Aboue these appeareth a marueylous crosse in the mydddest of fyue notable starres which compasse it abowt (as doth charles wayne the northe pole) with other starres whiche moue with them abowt .xxx. de∣grees distant from the pole,* 1.33 and make their course in .xxiiii. houres. This crosse is so fayre and bewtiful, that none other heuenly signe may be compared to it as may appeare by this fygure.

[illustration]

A. The pole Antartike. B. The Crosse. Hetherto Andreas de Corsali.

OF the lyke matters, and of the straunge rysynge of the soonne in the mornynge, and of the dyuers seasons of the yeare and motions of the Elementes in the coaste of Ethiope abowt the ryuer of Senega,* 1.34 and the riche region of Gambra where plentie of golde is founde,* 1.35 sumewhat be∣yonde Capo Uerde, Aloisius Cadamustus wryteth in this effecte.

Durynge the tyme that wee remayned vppon the mouth of the ryuer,* 1.36 we sawe the north starre but once: which appe∣red very lowe aboue the sea the height of a iauelen. We saw also syxe cleare, bryght, and great starres verye lowe aboue the sea. And considerynge theyr stations with owre coom∣passe,* 1.37 we founde them to stande ryght south, fygured in this maner.

[illustration]

WE iudged them to bee the chariotte or wayne of the south: But we sawe not the principall starre, as we coulde not by good reason, except we shuld first lose the syght of the north pole. In this place wee founde the nyght of the length of a .xi. houres and a halfe: And the day of .xii. houres and a halfe at the begynnynge of Iuly. This countrey is euer hotte al times of the yeare. Yet is there a certeyne varietie which they caule wynter.* 1.38 For from the moneth of Iuly to October, it rayneth continually in maner dayly abowt none after this sorte. There ryse continually cer¦teyne clowdes aboue the lande betwene the northeast and the south east,* 1.39 or from the east and southeast with greate thunde∣rynge and lyghtnynge and exceadynge great showers of raine At this tyme the Eth••opians begynne to sowe theyr seedes.* 1.40 They lyue commonly with hony, herbes, rootes, flesshe, and mylke. I had also intelligence that in this region by reason of the great heate of the ayer, the water that raineth in hotte:* 1.41 And that the soonne rysynge in the mornynge, makethe no cleare daylyght as it dooth with vs: But that halfe an houre after the rysyn••e, it appeareth troubeled, dymme and smoky. The whiche thynge,* 1.42 I knowe not to proceade of any other cause then of the lowenesse of the grounde in this contrey be∣inge without mountaynes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cabouerde
• * 1.2

  Besenegha.
• * 1.3

  A tempest.
• * 1.4

  The igno∣rance of Py∣lots and ma∣riners.
• * 1.5

  The vse of Cosmogra∣phie.
• * 1.6

  The vse of the ••uadrant and Astrola∣bie.
• * 1.7

  The pole Antartike.
• * 1.8

  The starre•• abowt the south pole.
• * 1.9

  Most plea∣sant & frutfull regions.
• * 1.10

  The earthlye Paradyse.
• * 1.11

  Continual tē∣peratnesse.
• * 1.12

  Moyst dewes
• * 1.13

  Starres vn∣knowen to vs
• * 1.14

  The vse of Geometri.
• * 1.15

  Notable stars in the inferi∣our hemis∣pherie.
• * 1.16

  Most bright and shynynge starres.
• * 1.17

  Lactea via.
• * 1.18

  The inferi∣our hemis∣ph••rie.
• * 1.19

  The rayne∣bowe.
• * 1.20

  Aristotle his opinion of the rayne∣bowe.
• * 1.21

  A stran••e opinion.
• * 1.22

  The newe mone.
• * 1.23

  Fyery exhala¦tions.
• * 1.24

  hemispheriū.
• * 1.25

  Lisbona.
• * 1.26

  The fou••th part of the worlde.
• * 1.27

  Z••nith.
• * 1.28

  The vyage of Andreas de Corsali.
• * 1.29

  The Equinoc¦tial line.
• * 1.30

  Cap. de Spe∣ranza.
• * 1.31

  The starres of the vnder hemispherie.
• * 1.32

  Cloudes a∣bowt the south pole.
• * 1.33

  A crosse of fyue starres.
• * 1.34

  The coastes of Ethiope.
• * 1.35

  Golde ••n E∣th••ope.
• * 1.36

  The vyage of Aloisius Cadamustus.
• * 1.37

  The chariote of the south pole.
• * 1.38

  The wynter abowt the Equinoctiall.
• * 1.39

  Raine and clowdes.
• * 1.40

  Thunder & lyghtnynge.
• * 1.41

  hot showres of rayne.
• * 1.42

  The day, and rysynge of t••e so••••ne.