Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

To the Reader.

I Thought good here to giue an account of my course. Hauing spent much time in that other World, so little known to This (Tartaria and China) that the parts least known might be made best known: I haue comne neerer home, to Russia, and her neighbours, the neerer, or Chrim Tartars, the Sa∣moyeds, and others; whereof Doctor Fletchers Story being so elaborate (where, though the centre bee Russia, yet his circumference is more generall) and by men iudicious which haue in those parts en∣ioyed most honourable employment, and exactest intelligence, commended; I haue giuen him the first place. And if some terme bee mollified, or some few things omitted, it is not to defraud Thee of the [ 10] Historie (which for substance is whole, as by perùsall is found) but not to defraud our industrious Coun∣trymen in their merchandizing mysterie, wherein some perhaps would hence seeke occasion of vndermi∣ning. For like cause I haue giuen the next place to Captaine Edge, (the one our gowned Generall by Land, the other in his generall Historie also by Sea) as deserued by his ten yeeres Voyages, and his other Merits. As for the question of Willoughbies Land, I list not to dispute it; but I thinke, neither Hollander (as is also confessed by the French Booke, called, The Historie of Spitsberghe a 1.1 on the Dutch behalfe) nor any other haue found any such Lands as his Storie describes, but some part of those which now with a generall name wee call, Greenland (howsoeuer the makers of Maps and Globes may create Lands and Ilands at pleasure, especially in vnknowne places) and the first setled, ordinary, and or∣derly Voyages for the Whale-killing, and the most for discouerie in those parts haue beene made by the [ 20] English, their gaynes awakening the Hollander to that enterprise, and that also (as elsewhere in the World) by English guides. That which I most grieue at in this contention, is the detention of further discouery to the Pole and beyond (where it is not likely to be colder then here, and at the Arctike circle: as in the Red Sea, Ormus, and the Countrey about Balsara on this side the Tropike, is found greater heat then vnder the Line it selfe) the desire of gayne euery where causing debate, and consequently losse of the best gaine both in Earth and Heauen. Merchants might get the World, and giue vs the World better, if Charitie were their Needle; Grace, their Compas; Heauen their Hauen, and if they would take their height by obseruing the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the Scripture-astrolabe, and soun∣ding their depth by a Leading Faith, and not by a Leadden bottomlesse Couetousnesse: that is, if they would seeke the Kingdome of Heauen first, all things should bee added; they should finde [ 30] World enough in the Indian, and Polare Worlds, and wee and they should arriue at better knowledge of the Creator and Creatures. And of all men (that I may a little further answere that Historie of Spits∣berghe) I would be glad to see agreement betwixt the English, and Dutch, both because I honour that Nation, as hath appeared in this whole worke of Voyages, in which and of which the Dutch are so great a part: and because in Region, Religion, Originall Nation, ingenious and ingenuous disposition, and (that which here brings both on our Stage) the glory of Nauigation, they are so neere vs, and worthie to be honored. It is true that euery where the English hath beene the elder Brother, a Doctor, and Ductor, to the Hollanders, in their Martiall feats at home, and Neptunian exploits abroad, (that I mention not their permitted wealthie fishing on the English shoare) whom had they followed with as true and due respect, as with happie successe; quarrels had not so distracted and distorted both sides. I appeale to [ 40] Dutch ingenuitie, if euer they did any thing wholly New (but giue names) in remotest Nauigations, without English lights. Columbus an Italian had the honour of finding America, and the Spaniards the happinesse. But for the North America, and the whole Northern New World, Cabota b 1.2 borne or bred at least in England, was either Actor or Author. For the Dutch, I haue shewed, for the compassing of the World, and for the East Indies before, that our Drake, Candish, Mellis, Dauis, Adams, &c. were their Fore-runners, Pilots, and Guides: Yea, their New-found Land Voyages, and all the Nor∣therne coast of America were discouered by Sebastian Cabota, and other Englishmen. I adde their New Straights Southwards from those of Magelane were discouered before by Drake, as in the Map of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage presented to Queene Elizabeth, still hanging in His Maiesties Gallerie at White Hall, neere the Priuie Chamber, and by that Map wherein is Cabotas Picture, the first and [ 50] great Columbus for the Northerne World) may be seene. In which Map, the South of the Magelane Straits is not a Continent, but many Ilands, and the very same which they haue stiled in their Straits. Barneuels Ilands had long before beene named by the most auspicate of Earthly Names, (and let them∣selues be Iudges, with which the other is as little worthie to be mentioned, as a kind Mother, and an vn∣kind Traitor. The Name Elizabeth c 1.3 is expressed in golden Letters, with a golden Crowne, Garter, and Armes affixed: The words ascribed thereunto are these, Cum omnes ferè hanc partem A••stra∣lem Continentem esse putent, pro certo sciant Insulas esse Nauigantibus peruias, earum{que} au∣stralissimam ELIZABETHAM à D. Francisco Draco Inuentore dictam esse. The same height of 57. degrees, and South-easterly situation from the Magelan Westerne Mouth giue further euidence. [ 60] And my learned friend Master Brigges told me, that he hath seene this plot of Drakes Voyage cut in * 1.4

Siluer by a Dutchman (Michael Mercator, Nephew to Gerardus) many yeeres before Scouten or Maire intended that Voyage. As for Noua Zemla by Stephen Burrough, and others, long before discouered, they also haue giuen new names, which I enuie not: onely I feare a vae soli, and hate ingra∣titude both ours and theirs. But too much of this. Next to this more generall Discourse shall follow the Dutch Northerne Voyages, and the English North-easterne: after which wee will take a more com∣plementall leaue of that Continent, and from thence visite the Northerly and North-westerne Discoue∣ries; at once hunting for a New World and a New passage to This.

Notes

• a 1.1

  H. G. A. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the En••••••sh as∣sertion ••or W••l∣loughby, sayth, Il est ••ien v••ay que nos Mari∣niers n'ont trou∣ve au die lieu de 72. degrees aul∣cun Pays.

  72. in Sir Hugh Willoughbies Booke perhaps was mistaken for 77. their fi∣gure of 7. and that of 2. in old writing, being very like each other, ••o that the last 7. with a little touch of the running Pen might appeare. 2. His hand, I am sure, is of the old fashion of that time, as appeares by a Will I haue with his hand, and perhaps all of his hand. Some Engl••sh Maps haue made an Iland in that height where none is: and the Dutch Willeb••rd Iles (which they say are eight in 73.) haue small like••i∣hood: perhaps Sir Hugh Wil∣loughbie might misreckon, by not knowing the variation of the Compas and Sea ••ules: which I take to be most lik••ly, and H. G. A. confesseth also.
• b 1.2

  Sebastian Cabota the English Columbus, sonne of Iohn a Venetian, bred heere, and Discouerer for Henry the Seuenth, of America; and first Gouernour of the Moscouie Companie.
• c 1.3

  In the said Map is Queene Elizabeths Picture, with Neptune yeelding his Trident, and Triton sounding her Fame, with these Verses, Te Deus aequoreusdonat Regina Tridente, Et Triton laudes efflat vbique tuas.
• * 1.4

  Sir F. Drake first finder of the S. Sreights, cal∣led Maires.