The history of trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes As Moscouia, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Ægypte, Ethiopia, Guinea, China in Cathayo, and Giapan: vvith a discourse of the Northwest passage. Gathered in parte, and done into Englyshe by Richarde Eden. Newly set in order, augmented, and finished by Richarde VVilles.

The Repartition and diuision of the Indies and newe world, betweene the Spaniardes and the Portugales.

THis matter concernyng the trade of Spi∣ces, and the new worlde of the Indies, by reason of the great ryches therof, was of great importaunce, and very difficult to be limitted, and drawen forth by lines. By rea∣son wherof, it was necessary and conuenient to seeke wyse and worshipfull men, experte in Nauigations, in Cosmographie, and the Mathematical sci∣ences. The Emperour for his syde chose and named, for Iudges of the possession, the Licentiate Acuna, one of the kynges coun∣sayle, also the Licentiate Barrientos, of the counsayl of the orders,

the licentiate Petro Manuel, Auditor of the courte of the Chaun∣cerie in Valladolith. For Iudges of the propertie, he chose Don Fernando Colono, the sonne of Christopher Colonus: Also Doctor Sancho Salaya, Peter Ruiz of Villegas, Fryer Thomas Duran, Simon of Alcazaua, and Iohn Sebastian of Cano. His aduocate and Atturney, he made the licentiate Iohn Rodriguez of Pisa: and for his fyscall Doctour Ribera, and his Secretarie, Barthalo∣me Ruiz of Castaneda. He also appoynted that Sebastian Cabote, Steuen Gomes, Nunnio Gracia, Diego Riuero, beyng all experte Pilottes, and cunnyng in makyng cardes for the sea, should bee present, and bryng foorth theyr Globes and Mappes, with other instrumentes necessarie to declare the situation of the Ilandes of the Malucas, about the which was al the contention & strife. But order was taken, that they should shew theyr myndes on neyther syde, nor enter into the company of the other, but when they were called. All these, and dyuers other, went togeather to a towne called Badaioz: and as many Portugales came to Elbes, or rather more. For they brought with them two Fiscalles and two Aduocates. The principall of them, was the licentiate An∣tonie de Asseuedo, Diego Lopes of Sequeyra, the Clarke of the weyghtes and rece••ptes, who had before been gouernour in In∣dia. Also Peralfonso of Melo, Clarke, Simon of Tauira, with dyuers other, whose names I knowe not. Before they mette to∣geather, the one parte remaynyng at Badaioz, and the other in Elbes, there was muche adoe among them, before they coulde agree vppon the place where they should meete, and who should speake fyrst: For the Portugales doe greatly weygh such circum∣stances. At the laste, they concluded to meete togeather at Caya, a litle ryuer which diuideth Castile from Portugale, stan∣dyng in the myd way betweene Badaioz and Elbes. And when they were assembled togeather one day at Badaioz, and an other day at Elbes, and saluted the one the other, both parties were sworne that they should proceede and speake accordyng to truth, iustice, and equitie. The Portugales refused Simon de Alcaza∣ua, bycause he was a Portugale, and Fryer Thomas Duran, bycause he had sometyme ben Preacher to theyr Kyng: So that Simon was by consent put out of the company, in whose roome was placed maister Antonie of Alcaraz. Yet fell they not

to reasonyng the matter, vntyll the Fryer was put out. They were many dayes in beholdyng Globes, Mappes, and Cardes of the sea, and hearyng what myght be sayde, both sydes allea∣gyng for the ryght whiche they pretended. But the Portugales standyng in vayne contention, sayde very angerly, The Ilandes of Maluca, wherevppon theyr meetyng and reasonyng was at that present, fell on theyr parte, and was of theyr conquest: and that they both had been there, and had them in theyr possession before Iohn Sebastian had euer seene them: Lykewyse that the lyne should be drawen from the Iland of Bonauista, or the Ilande called de la Sal, whiche are the most Easterly Ilandes from Ca∣bouerde, and not from the Ilande of Santanton, or sainct Antonie, which lyeth towarde the Weste, and are .lxxxx. leagues the one from the other. All this was no more but to contend, and the other of the Malucas, is vntrue: But they that haue a naugh∣tie matter, must set it foorth with woordes and brabbelyng. Here they founde howe greatly they were deceyued, in that they de∣maunded that the lyne should be drawen three hundred threescore and tenne leagues more to the West, from the Ilandes of Ca∣bouerde (as appeareth hereafter) and not one hundred, accordyng to the assignement of the Popes Bull. The Spanyardes on the contrary parte affyrmed, and made demonstration, that not only the Ilandes of Lurney, Gilolo, Zubut, and Tidore, with the other Ilandes of the Malucas: but as well Samatra, Malacha, and a great parte of China, should belong to the Castilians, and that those countreys fell on theyr syde, and on the parte of theyr con∣quest: Also, that Magallanes and Iohn Sebastian were the first Christian men that founde them, and obteyned them for the Em∣perour, as the letters and presentes of Almanzor doe testifie. And although the Portugales had been there fyrst, yet went they thyther after the donation of the Pope: neyther got they any ryght or iuste tytle thereby. For although they shoulde drawe the lyne by Buena Vista, what inconuenience should folow ther∣of, sith as well by the one way as the other, the Ilandes of the Malucas muste parteyne to the Castilians? yea and moreouer, the Ilandes of Cabouerde shoulde also parteyne to the Castili∣ans, forsomuche as drawyng the lyne by Buena Vista, the I∣landes of the Malucas doe remayne within the lyne on the

Emperours syde. They continued in these controuersies for the space of two monethes, without any resolution or end made. For the Portugales prolonged and put of the matter, fleeyng from the sentence with cauillations and colde reasons, to the ende that they myght dissolue that assembly without any conclusion or determination: for so it stoode them vpon The Castilians which were the Iudges of the propertie, drue a lyne in the great globe three hundred and .70. leagues from sainct Antonies Ilande, ly∣ing by Weste Cabo Verde, accordyng to the intreatie and deter∣mination which was agreed vppon, betweene the Catholyke Princes and the kyng of Portugale. These Iudges gaue sen∣tence vppon this matter, callyng the contrary parte before them vppon the brydge of Caya, in the yeere .1524. The Portugales could neyther disturbe or deferre the sentence, nor yet would they allowe it to be iust, and accordyng to ryght: Saying that there was not sufficient processe made, that they should passe to the gi∣uyng of sentence: and so departed, threatenyng to sleye the Ca∣stilians, as many as they should fynde in the Ilandes of the Ma∣lucas: For they knewe ryght well that theyr countreymen the Portugales, had already taken the shyppe called the Trinitie, and had also taken the Castilians in Tidore. Then also departed our men, takyng theyr iourney to the Courte, gyuyng vp to the Em∣perour all their writinges and declaration what they had done. And according to this declaration must be signed and marked all Globes and Mappes whiche good Cosmographers & maisters doe make. The line also of the repartition and last diuision of the newe world of the Indies, ought to passe (litle more or lesse) by the poyntes of Humos and Buen Abrigo, as I haue sayde in an o∣ther place. And thus shall it appeare euidently, that the Ilandes of spices, and also the great Ilande of Samotra, doe parteyne to Castile. But the lande of Brasile parteyneth to the kyng of Portu∣gale, where the Cape of sainct Augustine is, being .viii. degrees beneath the Equinoctiall. This lande reacheth from the poynte of Humos to the poynte of Buen Abrigo, and is in length North and South .viii. hundred leagues: being also some way two hun∣dred leagues East and West.

And heere after these serious matters, wee will rehearse one mery thyng, whiche was this. It so chaunced that as

Frances de Melo, Diego Lopes of Sequeyra, and other of those Por∣tugales of this assembly, walked by the ryuers syde of Guadiana, a litle boye, who stoode keepyng his mothers clothes which shee had washed, demaunded of them whether they were those men that parted the worlde with the Emperour. And as they answe∣red, yea: he tooke vp his sherte and shewed them his bare arse, saying, Come and drawe your lyne heere through the myddest. Which saying was afterward in euery mans mouth, and laugh∣ed at in the towne of Badaios: yea euen among the Commissio∣ners them selues, of whom some were angry, and some maruey∣led at the saying of the chylde.

Notes

• The arbytrers on the Empe∣rours syde.
• Sebastian Cabote.
• Instruments of Cosmogra∣phie.

  The Ilandes of Maluca.
• The Arbitrers on the Portu∣gales syde.
• The place where they mette.
• The order of theyr proces.
• The Portu∣gales.
• Contention for drawyng the lyne of the di∣uision.
• Howe the Por∣tugales were deceyued.
• The Spany∣ardes allega∣tions.
• Samatra. Malacha. China. Magallanes.
• Buena Vista.
• The Ilandes of Cabo Verde.
• The Portu∣gales cauil∣lations.
• The lyne of diuision.
• The sentence.
• The Portu∣gales threaten death to the Castilians.
• The line of the last diuision.
• The great I∣lande of Sa∣motra.

  The lande of Brasile, partey∣neth to the Portugales.
• A mery tale.