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TERRA AVSTRALIS INCOGNITA.
WIth better hopes we may go forwards on the next Discovery, and try what may be done on TERRA AVSTRALIS, or the Southern Continent; though hitherto INCOGNITA also, almost as much unknown as the Arctick Ilands, which none but my good Frier of Oxon had the hap to meet with. A Continent conceived by our learned Brerewood, to be as large as Europe, Asia and Africk▪ and that upon such strength of Reasons, as cannot be easily over-born by any op∣posite. His Arguments in brief are these, 1. That as touching Latitude, some parts thereof come very neer to the Aequator, if they come not also on this side of it: and as for Longuitude, it keepeth along, though at several distances, the whole continual course of the other Continents. 2. It is clearly known, that in the other two Continents, the Land which lieth on the North side of that Line, is four times at the least as large as that which lies South thereof: and therefore since the earth is equally poized on both sides of her Center; it must needs be that the Earth in answerable measure and proportion must advance it self in some places above the Sea, on the South side of the Line, as it doth in others on the North. By consequence, what is wanting in the South parts of the other two Continents, to countervail the North parts of them, must of necessity be supplied in the Southern Continent.
The Country being so large, so free from the incumbrances of Frosts and Ice, and endless Winters; I have oft marvelled with my self that no further progress hath been made in Discovery of it: consi∣dering chiefly by the site and position of the Country, especially in those parts which lie nearest Asia, that there is nothing to be looked for elsewhere, either of profit or of pleasures, but may there be found. Whether it be, that there is some Nil ultra put to humane endeavours; or that this people are not yet made ripe enough to receive the Gospel; or that the great Princes of the Earth think it no good Policy to engage themselves in New Discoveries, till the Old be thorowly planted, and made sure unto them; or that the Merchant, who in matters of this nature hath a powerfull influence, thinks his hands full enough already; and being setled in so many and so wealthy Factories, will not adventure upon more. Which of all these, or whether all of these together be the cause of this stop, I am nor able to deter∣mine. Certain it is that here is a large field enough for Covetousness, Ambition, or Desire of glory to spend themselves in; enough to satisfie the greatest and most hungry appetite of Empire, Wealth, and Worldly pleasures; besides the Gallantry and merit of so brave an Action. Most which hath hitherto been done in it, hath been by the incouragements of the Vice Royes of New Spain, and Peru: by the first of which we came acquainted with the Coasts of Nova Guinea; by the Later, with those Countries called the Ilands of Solomon but whether Continent or Ilands, not yet fully known.
And yet we must not rob Magellanus of his part of the honour, who passing thorow the Streits, which now bear his name, discovered those parts of it which from the fire thence seen he called Terra del Furgo, found by the Hollanders of late under James le Maire to be an Iland. Nor do the English or the Dutch want their part herein, though what they did, was rather Accidental, then upon Design. For in the year 1593. Sir Richard Hawkins being bound for the Streits of Magellan, was by a cross winde driven on some part of this Continent, to which he gave the name of Hawkings his Mayden Land; A Promontory of it shooting into the Sea with three points he called Point Tremontein, and a pleasant Isle not far off, by the name of Fair Iland. Saying along these Coasts in the 50 Degree of Southern Latitude, for the space of 60 miles and upwards, he found the Country as he pass••d to be very pleasant; and by the fires which he saw in the night to be well inhabited. By the like accident, An. 1999. Sibald de Weert, a Hollander, in his return from the Streits of Magellan fell upon some Ilands of this Southern Continent, in the Latitude of 50 De∣grees and 40 Minutes, which he caused to be called Sibalds Ilands. And besides these we owe to the Portugals the discovery of such parts hereof, as they fell on in their way to the Eastern Indies; of which we have little but the names, as Psittacorum Terra, so called from the abundance of Parrats which they saw on the Coasts, over against the Cape of good Hope. 2 Beach, a Region yielding Gold, and possessed by Idolaters; with the two Kingdoms of 3 Lucach▪ and 4 Maletur; all three against the Isles of Java, from which little distant.
But the greatest light we have to see by into this dark business, is by the Voyages and Adventures of the Spaniards, employed by the two Vice-Royes of Peru, and Mexico, as before was said. For in the year 1543. the Governour of New-Spain then being, sent Villa Lobos with a Fleet towards the Mo∣luccos, who in that Voyage made a Discovery of a rich and flourishing Country which he named Nova Guinea, by others since his time called Terra de Piccinacoli; and in the year 1563, Castro the Licenti∣ate, then Vice-Roy of Peru, sent a Fleet from Lima, which under the conduct of Lopes Garcia de Castr••, discovered the Ilands of Solomon. To which if we subjoyn the success of the Hollanders in the Disco∣very of Fretum le Maire, and the Land, adjoyning: the best Description we can make of this Sou∣thern Continent, must be in the Chorography and History of their Adventures; viz. 1 Terra del Fogo, 2 Insulae Solomonis, 3 Nova Guinea: beginning first with Terra del Fogo, because neerest to us.
1. TERRA DEL FVEGO, l••es on the other side of the Streit of Magellane, heretofore thought to be a part of Terra Australis Incognita, or the Southern Continent, but is now discovered to be an Iland, by one Jacob Mayre of Amsterdam, accompanied by Cornelius Schouten of Horn, both Hollanders. They began their Voyage on the 15. of June. An. 1615 and on the 19. of January Following they fell even with the Streit of Magellan. On the 24. of the same Moneth they had the sight of another Streit,