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.

Exemplar Bullae Seu Donationis, Autoritate cuius, Epi∣scopus Romanus Alexander eius nominis sextus, con∣cessit et donauit Castellae regibus & suis successo∣ribus, regiones & Insulas noui orbis in Oce∣anooccidentali Hispanorum nauiga∣tionibus repertas.

ALexander Episcopus, seruus seruorū Dei, Cha∣rissimo in Christo filio Ferdinando Regi, et Cha∣rissimae in Christo filiae Elizabeth Reginae Ca∣stellae, Legionis, Aragonum, Siciliae, et Grana∣tae, illustribus, salutem et Apostolicam benedic∣tionem.

Inter caetera Diuinae maiestati beneplacita opera et cordis nostri desiderabilia, illu•• profecto potissimum existit vt fides catholica & Christiana religio nostris praesertim temporibus exaltetur ac vbilibet amplietur ac dilatetur, animarum{que} salus pro∣curetur, ac barbarae nationes deprimantur et ad fidem ipsam reducan∣tur. Vnde cum ad hanc sacram Petri sedem Diuina fauente clemen∣tia (meritis licet imparibus) euocati fueremus, cognoscentes vos tanquam veros catholicos reges et principes: quales semper fuisse no∣uimus, & a vobis praeclare gesta, toti pens orbinotissima demonstrāt, nedum id exoptare, sed omni conatu, studio, et diligentia, nullis labo∣ribus, nullis impensis, nullisque parcendo periculis, etiam proprium sanguinem effundendo efficere, ac omnem animum vestrum, omnesque conatus ad hoc iam dudum dedicasse, quemadmodum recuperato reg∣ni Granatae a tyrannis de Sarracenorum hodiernis temporibus per vos, cum tanta Diuini nominis gloria facta, testatur. Digne ducimur non immerito, et debemus illa vobis etiam sponte, ac fauorabiliter con∣cedere per quae huiusmodi sāctū ac laudabile ab immortali deo acceptū propositum, indies feruentiori animo ad ipsius dei honorem et ••mperij Christiani propagationem, prosequi valeatis. Sane accepimus que vos qui dudum animum proposu••ratis aliquas insulas et terras firma•• remotas et incognitas, ac per alios hactenus non repertas, quaerere et inuenire, vt illarum incolas et habitatores ad colendum redemptorem nostrum et fidem catholicam profitendum reduceretis, hactenus in ex∣pugnatione et recuperatione ipsius regni Granatae plurimum occupati, ••uiusmodi sanctum et laudabile propositum vestrum ad optatum finem

perducere nequiuistis: Sed tamem sicut Domino placuit, regno predicto recuperato, volentes desiderium vestrum adimp••ere, dilectum filium Christophorum Colonum, virum vtique dignum, et plurimum commendatum, ac tanto negotio aptum, cum na∣uigijs et hominibus ad similia instructis, non sine maximis labori∣bus, ac periculis, et expensis destinastis vt terras firmas et insulas re∣motas et incognitas, huiusmodi per mare vbi hactenus nauigatum non fuerat, diligenter inquireret. Qui tandem (Diuino auxilio fasta ex∣trema diligentia in mari Oceano nauigantes) certas insulas remotis∣simas, et etiam terras firmas, quae per alios hastenus reperte non fue∣rant, inuenerunt. In quibus plurimae gentes pacifice viuentes, et (vt assiritur) nudi incedentes, nec carnibus vescentes, inhabitant: Et vt praefati nuncij vestri possunt opinari, gentes ipsae in Insulis, et terris praedistis habitantes, credunt vnum deum creatorem in Coelis esse, ac ad fidem catholicam amplexandum et bonis moribus imbuen∣dum, satis apti videntur: Spesque habetur, quod si erudire••tur, no∣men saluatoris Domini nostri Iesu Christi in terris et insulis praedictis facile induceretur. Ac prefatus Christophorus in vna ex principa∣libus Insulis praedictis, iam vnam turrim satis munitam, in qua cer∣tos Christianos qui secum inerant in custodiam, et vt alias insulas ac terras firmas remotas et incognitas inquirerent posuit, construi et aedificari fecit. In quibus quidem Insulis et terris iam repertis, au∣rum, aromata, et aliae quam plurimae res praeciosae diuersi generis et diuersae qualitatis reperiuntur. Vnde omnibus diligenter, et praeser∣tim fidei catholicae exaltatione et dilatione (prout decet Catholicos Reges et Principes) consideratis, more progenitorum vestrorum clarae memoriae Regum, terras firmas et insulas predictas, illarumque inco∣las et habitatores, vobis diuina fauente clementia subijcere, et ad fi∣dem Catholicam reducere proposuistis. Nos itaque huiusmodi vestrum sanctum et laudabile propositum plurimum in domino com∣mendantes, ac cupientes vt illud ad debitum finem perducatur, et ip∣sum nomen saluatoris nostri in partibus illis inducatur, hortamus vos quamplurimum in domino, et per sacri lauacri susceptionem, qua mandatis Apostolicis obligati estis, et per viscera misericordiae Do∣mini nostri Iesu Christi attente requiribus, vt cum expeditionem ••u∣iusmodi omnino prosequi et assumere prona mente orthodoxae fidei zelo intendatis, populos in ••uiusmodi Insulis et terris degentes, ad Christianam religionem suscipiendum inducere

velitis et debeatis, nec pericula nec labores vllo vnquam tempore vos deterreant, firma spe fiduciaque conceptis, quod Deus omnipotens conatus vestros foeliciter prosequetur. Et vt tanti nego••ij prou••ntiam Apostolicae gratiae largitate donati, liberius et audacius assumatis, motu proprio non ad vestram vel alterius, pro vobis super hoc nobis oblatae petitionis instantiam, sed de nostra mera liberalitate, et ex certa scientia, ac de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine, omnes Insu••as et terras firmas inuentas et inueniendas, detestas et detegēdas versus Occidentem et Meridiem, fabricando et construendo vnam lineam a polo Arctico, scilicet Septentrione, ad polum Antarcticum, scilicet Meridiem, siue terrae firmae et insulae inuentae, et iueniendae sint, versus Indiā, aut versus aliam quamcumque partem, quae linea distet a qualibet insularum, quae vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores, et Cabo verde centum leucis, versus Occidentem et Meridiem. Itaque omnes insulae et terrae firmae repertae et reperiēdae, detectae et detegen∣dae a praefata linea versus Occidemtem et Meridiem, quae per alium Regem aut Principem Christianum non fuerint actualiter possesse vsque ad diem natiuitatis Domini Nostri Iesu Christi proxime praete∣ritum, a quo incipit annus praesens Millessimus Quadringentessi∣mus Nonogessimus tertius, quando fuerunt per nuncios et capitaneos vestros inuentae aliquae praedictarum insularum, Autoritate omnipo∣tentis Dei nobis in beato Petro concessa, ac viccariatus Iesu Christi, qua fungimur in terris, cum omnibus illarum dominijs, ciuitatibus, castris, locis, et villis, iuribusque et iurisdictionibus ac pertinentijs vni∣uersis vobis, heredibusque, et successoribus vestris (Castellae et Legi∣onis regibus) in perpetuum tenore praesentium donamus, concedimus, et assignamus: Vosque, et haeredes, ac successores prefatos illarum Do∣minos, cum plena, libera, et omnimoda potestate, autoritate, et iuris∣dictione, facimus, constituimus, et deputamus. Decernentes nihilo mi∣nus, per huiusmodi donationē, concessionē et assignationē nostrā, nul∣lo Christiano Principi, qui actualiter prefatas insulas et terras firmas possederit vsque ad predictum diem natiuitatis Domini nostri Iesu Christiius quaesitum, sublatum intelligi posse, aut auferri debere.

Et insuper mandamus vobis in vertute sanctae obedientiae (vt sicut pollicemini et non dubit••mus pro vestra maxima deuotione et regia magnanimitate vos esse facturos) ad terras firmas et insulas pre∣dictas, viros probos et Deum timentes, doctos, peritos, et expertos ad instr••endū incolas et habtaitores prefatos in fide chatholica, et bonis

moribus inbuendum, destinare debeatis, omnē debitam diligentiam in praemissis adhibentes. A quibuscumque personis, cuiuscunque dignita∣tis, etiā imperialis et regalis status, gradus, ordinis vel conditionis, sub excommunicationis latae sentētiae poena quā eo ipso, si contra fecerint incurrant, districtius inhibemus ne ad insulas et terras firmas in∣uentas et inueniendas, detectas et detegendas versus Occidentem et Meridiem, fabricando et construendo lineam a polo Arctico ad polum Antarcticum, siuae terrae firmae et Isulae inuentae et inueniendae sint versus Indiam aut versus aliam quamcumque partem, quae linea distet a qualibet insularum, que vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores, et Cabo verde centum lucis versus Occidentem et Meridem vt praefertur, pro mercibus habendis, vell qua∣uis alia causa accedere praesumat, absque vestra ac haeredum et successorum vestrorum praedictorum licentia speciali: Non obstanti∣bus constitutionibus et ordinationibus Apostolicis, caeterisque quibus∣cumque, in illo in quo imperia et dominationes et bona cuncta proce∣dunt: Confidentes quod dirigente Domino actus vestros, si huiusmodi sanctum ac laudabile propositum prosequamini, breui tempore cum foelicitate et gloria totius populi Christiani, vestri labores et conatus exitum felicissimum consequentur. Verum quia difficile foret prae∣sentes literas ad singula quaeque loca in quibus expediens fue∣rit deferri, volumus ac motu et scientia similibus decernimus, quod illarum transsumptis manu publici notarij inderogati sub∣scriptis, et sigillo alicuius personae in ecclesiastica dignitate consti∣tutae, seu curiae ecclesiastice munitis, ea prorsus fides in iudicio et ex∣tra ac alias vbilibet adhibeatur, quae praesentibus adhiberetur si essent adhibitae vel ostensae.

Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat banc paginam nostrae commen∣dationis, hortationis, requisitionis, donationis, concessonis, assignationis, constitutionis, deputationis, decreti, mandati, inhibitionis, et volun∣tatis, infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei, ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius, se nouerit incursurum.

Datum Romae apud sanctum Petrum, Anno incarnationis Dominicae 1593 quarto nonas Maij, Pontificatus nostri, anno primo.

The copie of the Bull or donation, by thauthoritie where∣of, Pope Alexander the syxt of that name, gaue and graunted to the kinges of Castile & their succes∣sours, the Regions and Ilandes founde in the west Ocean sea, by the nauigations of the Spanyardes.

ALexander Byshop, the seruaunt of the ser∣uauntes of God, to our most deare beloued sonne in Christ kyng Ferdinando, and to our deare beloued daughter in Christ Elizabeth Queene of Castyle, Legion, Aragon, Sicilie, and Granata, most noble princes, gretyng, and Apostolical benediction. Among other woorkes acceptable to the diuine maiestie, and accordyng to our hartes desyre, this certaynely is the chiefe, that the Catholyke fayth and Christian religion, specially in this our tyme, may in all places be exalted, amplified, and enlarged, whereby the health of soules may be procured, and the Barbarous nations subdued and brought to the fayth. And therefore whereas by the fauour of Gods clemencie (although not without equall desertes) we are called to this holy seate of Peter, and vnderstanding you to be true Catholyke princes, as we haue euer knowen you, and as your noble and woorthy factes haue declared in maner to the whole world, in that with all your studie, diligence, and industry, you haue spared no trauayles, charges, or peryls, aduenturyng euen the shedyng of your owne blood, with applying your whole myndes and endeuours herevnto, as your noble expeditions achyued in recouering the kyngdom of Granata from the tyrrany of the Sarracens in these our dayes, do plainly declare your factes, with so great glory of the diuine name. For the whiche, as we thynk you worthy, so ought we of our owne free wyl fauorably to graunt you al thynges, whereby you may dayly with more fer∣uent myndes, to the honour of God, and enlargyng the Christian Empire, prosecute your deuout and laudable purpose, most ac∣ceptable to the immortall God. We are credibly infourmed, that whereas of late you were determyned to seeke and fynde certayne Ilandes and fyrme landes, farre remote and vnknowen

(and not heretofore founde by any other) to the intent to bryng the inhabitantes of the same to honor our redeemer, & to professe the catholike fayth, you haue hytherto been much occupied in the expugnation and recouerie of the kyngdome of Granata, by rea∣son wherof you coulde not bryng your sayde laudable purpose to the ende desyred. Neuerthelesse, as it hath pleased almyghtie God, the foresayde kyngdome beyng recouered, wyllyng to ac∣complishe your sayde desyre, you haue, not without great labour, peryls, & charges, appoynted our welbeloued sonne Christopher Colonus (a man certesse wel commended, as most worthy and apt for so great a matter) well furnyshed with men and shippes, and other necessaries, to seeke (by the sea, where hytherto no man hath sayled) suche firme landes and Ilandes farre remote, and hytherto vnknowen, who (by Gods helpe) makyng diligent searche in the Ocean sea, haue founde certayne remote Ilandes & firme landes, whiche were not heretofore found by any other: in the whiche (as is sayde) many nations inhabite, lyuyng peace∣ably, and goyng naked, not accustomed to eate fleshe: and as farre as your messengers can coniecture, the nations inhabytyng the foresayd landes and Ilandes, beleeue that there is one God, creator in heauen, and seeme apt to be brought to the imbrasyng of the catholyke fayth, and to be imbued with good maners: by reason wherof, we may hope that yf they be well instructed, they may easyly be induced to receyue the name of our sauiour Iesus Christe. We are further aduertised, that the forenamed Chri∣stopher hath now buylded and erected a fortresse, with good mu∣nition, in one of the foresayde principall Ilandes, in the whiche he hath placed a garryson of certayne of the Christian men that went thyther with hym, aswell to thintent to defende the same, as also to searche other Ilandes and firme landes farre remote, and yet vnknowen. We also vnderstande, that in these landes and Ilandes lately founde, is great plentie of Golde and Spy∣ces, with diuers and manye other precious thynges, of sundrye kyndes and qualities. Therfore all thynges diligently consyde∣red (especially the amplyfying and enlargyng of the catholike fayth, as i•• behoueth catholike princes, folowyng the examples of your noble progenitours of famous memorie) whereas you are determined, by the fauour of almyghtie God, to subdue and

bryng to the catholyke fayth thinhabitantes of the aforesayde landes and Ilandes.

We greatly commendyng this your godly and laudable pur∣pose in our Lorde, and desyrous to haue the same brought to a due ende, and the name of our sauiour to be knowen in those partes, do exhort you in our Lorde, and by the receiuyng of your holy baptysme, wherby you are bound to Apostolical obedience, & earnestly require you by the bowels of mercie of our Lord Ie∣su Christ, that when you intende for the zeale of the Catholyke fayth to prosecute the sayde expedition, to reduce the people of the forsayde landes and Ilandes to the Christian relgion, you shall spare no labours at any tyme, or be deterred with any peryls, conceiuyng fyrme hope and confidence, that the omnipotent God wyll geue good successe to your godly attemptes. And that be∣yng auctorysed by the priuilege of the Apostolycall grace, you may the more freely and boldly take vppon you thenterpryse of so great a matter, we of our owne motion, and not eyther at your request, or at the instant petition of any other person, but of our owne mere liberalitie and certayne science, and by the ful∣nesse of Apostolycall power, do geue, graunt, and assigne to you, your heyres and successours, all the fyrme landes and Ilandes found, or to be foūd, discouered, or to be discouered, toward y^e west & south, drawing a lyne from the pole Artik to y^e pole Antartike (that is) from the North to the South: Contaynyng in this do∣nation, whatsoeuer fyrme landes or Ilandes are founde, or to be founde towarde India, or towarde any other part what so euer it be, beyng distant from, or without the foresayde line, drawen a hundred leagues towarde the West and South from any of the Ilandes whiche are commonly called De los Azores and Capo verde. All the Ilandes therefore, and fyrme landes, founde and to be founde, discouered and to be discouered, from the sayde line towarde the West and South, such as haue not actually ben heretofore possessed by any other Christian kyng or prynce, vntyll the daye of the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesu Christ laste paste, from the whiche begynneth this present yeere be∣yng the yeere of our Lorde .M.CCCC.lxxxxiii. when so euer any such shalbe founde by your messengers and captaynes, we by the aucthoritie of almyghty GOD, graunted vnto vs

in saint Peter, and by the office whiche we beare on the earth in the steede of Iesu Christ, do for euer, by the tenor of these pre∣sentes, geue, graunt, assigne, vnto you, your heyres, and suc∣cessours (the kynges of Castyle and Legion) all those landes and Ilandes, with theyr dominions, Territories, cities, castels, towres, places, and villages, with all the ryght, and iurisdic∣tions thereunto parteynyng: constitutyng, assignyng, and depu∣tyng, you, your heyres, and successours, the lordes thereof, with full and free power, aucthoritie, and iurisdiction: Decreeyng neuerthelesse by this our donation, graunt, and assignation, that from no Christian Prince, which actually hath possessed the foresayde Ilandes and fyrme landes, vnto the daye of the na∣tiuitie of our Lord beforesayd, theyr ryght obteyned, to be vnder∣stoode hereby to be taken away, or that it ought to be taken away. Furthermore we commaunde you in the vertue of ho∣ly obedience (as you haue promysed, and as we doubte not you wyll do vppon mere deuotion and princely magnanimitte) to sende to the sayde fyrme landes and Ilandes, honest, vertu∣ous, and learned men, suche as feare GOD, and are able to instruct thinhabitantes in the Catholyke fayth and good maners, applying all theyr possible deligence in the premisses. We fur∣thermore streightly inhibite all maner of persons, of what state, degree, order, or condition soeuer they be, although of Impe∣riall and regall dignitie, vnder the payne of the sentence of ex∣communicatiō, which they shal incurre if they do to the contrary, that they in no case presume, without speciall lycence of you, your heyres, and successours, to trauayle for merchaundies, or for a∣ny other cause, to the sayde landes or Ilandes, founde, or to be founde, discouered, or to be discouered, towarde the West and South, drawyng a lyne from the pole Artyke to the pole Antar∣tike, whether the firme landes and Ilandes, founde and to be founde, be situate toward India, or toward any other part, beyng distant from the line drawen a hundred leagues toward the west, from any of the Ilands commonly called De los Azores and Capo Verde: Notwithstandyng constitutions, decrees, and Apostoly∣call ordinaunces whatsoeuer they are to the contrary. In hym from whom Empyres, dominions, and all good thynges do pro∣ceede: Trustyng that almyghtie GOD, directyng your enter∣prices,

if you folowe your Godly and laudable attemptes, your labours and trauayles herein, shall in shorte tyme obtayne a hap∣pie ende, with felicitie and glory of all Christian people. But forasmuche as it shoulde be a thyng of great difficultie these let∣lers to be caryed to all suche places as shoulde be expedient, we wyll, and of lyke motion and knowledge do decree, that whyther so euer the same shal be sent, or wheresoeuer they shalbe receiued, with the subscription of a common notarie thereunto requyred, with the seale of any person constitute in ecclesiasticall dig∣nitie, or suche as are aucthorised by the Eclesiasticall court, the same fayth and credite to be geuen thereunto in iudgement▪ or els where, as shoulde be exhibyted to these presentes.

It shal therefore be lawefull for no man to infrynge or rashly to contrary this letter of our commendation, exhortation, re∣quest, donation, graunt, assignation, constitution, deputa∣tion, decreee, commaundement, inhibition, and determination. And if any shall presume to attempte the same, he ought to know that he shal therby incurre the indignation of almyghty God, and his holy Apostles Peter and Paule.

Geuen at Rome at saint Peters: In the yeere of thincarnation of our lorde M.CCCC.lxxxxiii. The fourth day of the nones of Maye, the fyrst yeere of our seate.