THIS yeere the King, In the 13. yere of king Henrie the vii. 1498. (by meanes of a Venetian whiche made himselfe very expert and cunning in knowledge of the circuite of the worlde and I­landes of the same, as by a Carde and other demonstrati­ons reasonable hee shewed) caused to man and victuall a shippe at Bristowe, Note. to searche for an Ilande, whiche, hee saide hee knewe well, was riche and replenished with riche commodities. Which Ship thus manned and victualed at the kinges cost, diuers mer­chants of London ventured in her small stockes, being in her as chiefe Patrone the saide Venetian. And in the com­panie of the saide shippe sayled also out of Bristowe Bristow. three or foure small ships fraught with fleight and grosse merchan­dizes, as course cloth, Caps, Laces, points and other trifles, and so departed from Bristowe in the beginning of May: William Pur­chas Maior of London. of whome in this Maiors time returned no tidings.

EXperience proueth that natural­ly all Princes bee desirous to ex­tend and enlarge their domini­ons and kingdomes. Wherfore it is not to bee maruelled, to see them euery day procure y ^e same, not regarding any cost, perill, and labour, that may thereby chaunce, but rather it is to bee marueiled, if there be any prince content to liue quiet with his owne dominions. For sure­ly the people would thinke he lacketh the noble courage and spirit of all other. The worlde knoweth that the desires of Princes haue beene so feruent to obtaine their purpose, that they haue aduentured and proued things to mans con­iecture impossible, the which they haue made possible, and al­so things difficult haue made facil, and thus to obtaine their purpose haue in maner turned vp and downe the whole worlde so many times, that the people inhabiting in the far­thest regiō of the occident haue pursued with great desires, labours and perils, to penetrate and enter into the farthest regions of the Orient: And in likewise those people of the said partes of the Orient haue had no lesse labour and desire to enter and penetrate into the farthest land of the Occident, and so following their purchase haue not seased vntill they [Page] could passe no farther by reason of the great Seas. This naturall inclination is cause, that scarsely it may bee saide there is any kingdome stable, nor king quiet, but that his owne imagination, or other Princes his neighbours doe trouble him. God and nature hath prouided to your Grace, and to your Gracious progenitors this Realme of Eng­lande, and set it in so fruitefull a place, and within suche li­mites, that it shoulde seeme to bee a place quiet and aparted from all the foresaide desires. One speciall cause is, for that it is compassed with the Sea: by reason thereof it seemes, this notwithstanding, their desires and noble cou­rages haue been most commonly like vnto others: and with marueilous great labours, costes and perilles, they haue tra­uelled and passed the Seas making warre not onely with kings and dominions nigh neighbours, but also with them of farre countries, and so hath wonne and conquered many riche and faire Dominions, and amplifted this your Graces Realme with great victorie and glory. And also nowe of late your Grace hauing like courage and desire, & not with­out iust cause, to enlarge this your kingdome and demaund your limites and tribute of the French king, which at that present hee restrained your Grace in person passed with a great power into France, putting your Graces person to great paine and labour, and without doubt victoriously you had conquered the saide Realme of Fraunce, as yee began; if your aduersarie had not reconciled him, and knowledged your Graces right and title: and so promised truely to pay the tribute then due, and fulfill your request in all thinges, and also desired your Grace for peace, the which of your cle­mencie you could not refuse.

Nowe I considering this your noble courage and desire, & also perceiuing that your Grace may at your plea­sure, to your greater glory, by a godly meane, with litle cost, perill, or labour to your Grace or any of your Subiectes, amplifie and inriche this your saide Realme, I knowe it is my bounde dutie to manifest this secrete vnto your Grace, [Page] which hitherto as I suppose hath beene hid: Note. which is that with a small number of shippes there may bee discouered diuers newe landes and kingdomes, in the whiche without doubt your Grace shall winne perpetuall glory and your Subiects infinite profite. To which places there is left one way to discouer, which is into the North: For that of the foure parts of the worlde it seemeth three partes are discouered by other Princes. For out of Spaine they haue discouered all the Indies and Seas Occidentall, and out of Portugale all the Indies and Seas Oriental: So that by this part of the Orient and Occident, they haue compassed the worlde. For the one of them departing to­warde the Orient, and the other towarde the Occident, met againe in the course or way of the middest of the day, and so then was discouered a great part of the same Seas and coastes by the Spaniardes. So that nowe rest to bee dis­couered the saide North partes, the which it seemeth to mee, is onely your charge and duetie. Because the si­tuation of this your Realme is thereunto neerest and ap­test of all other: Note. and also for that you haue alreadie taken it in hande: And in mine opinion, it will not seeme well to leaue so great and profitable an enterprise, seeing it may so easily and with so little coste, labour, and daunger, bee followed and obteined: Though heeretofore your Grace hath made theereof a proofe, and founde not the commoditie thereby as you trusted, at this time it shall bee no impediment. For there may bee nowe prouided remedies for thinges, then lacked, and the inconuenien­ces and lettes remooued that then were cause your Gra­ces desire tooke no full effect, which is, the courses to be chaunged, and followe the aforesaid new courses. And con­cerning the marriners, shippes, and prouision, an order may be deuised and taken meete and conuenient much better then hetherto. By reason whereof, and by Gods grace, no doubt your purpose shall take effect. Surely the coste heerein will bee nothing, in comparison to the great profite. [Page] The labour is much lesse, yea nothing at all, where so great honour and glory is hoped for: and considering well the courses, truly the dāger & way is shorter to vs, thē to spaine or Portugall, as by euident reasons appeareth. And nowe to declare some thing of the commoditie and vtilitie of this Nauigation and discouering, Note. it is very cleere and certaine, that the Seas that commonly men say, that with­out great danger, difficultie and perill, yea rather it is im­possible to passe, those same Seas bee nauigable and with­out any such daunger, but that shippes may passe and haue in them perpetuall cleerenesse of the day without any dark­nesse of the night: which thing is a great commoditie for the nauigants, to see at all tunes rounde about them, as well the safegardes as daungers, and howe great difference it is betweene the commoditie and perilles of other which lease the most parte of euery foure and twentie houres the saide light, and goe in darkenesse groping their way, I thincke there is none so ignorant but perceiueth this more plainely, then it can bee expressed: yea what a vantage shall your Graces Subiects haue also by this light to discouer the strange landes, countries, and coastes, for if they that bee discouered to sayle by them in darkenesse is with great danger, muche more then the coastes not discouered be dan­gerous to trauell by night or in darkenesse. Yet these dangers or darknesse hath not letted the Spaniardes and Portingals and other, to discouer many vnknowen realmes to their great perill, which considered (and that your Gra­ces Subiectes maye haue the saide lighte) it will seeme your Graces subiects to bee without actiuitie or courage, in leauing to doe this glorious and noble enterprise. For they being past this little way which they named so dangerous, which may bee ii, or iii. leagues before they come to y ^e Pole, and as much more after they passe the Pole, it is cleere that from thence foorth the Seas and landes are as temperat as in these partes, & that then it may be at the will and plea­sure of the marriners, to choose whether they will saile by y ^e [Page] coastes that bee colde, temperate, or hot. For they being past the pole, it is plaine they maye decline to what parte they list. If they will goe towarde the Orient they shall inioy the regions of all the Tartarians that extende towarde the mid­day, and from thence they may goe and proceede to the lande of y ^e Chinas, & from thence to the lande of Cathaio oriental, which is of all the mayne lande most orientall that can bee reckoned from our habitation. And if from thence they doe continue their nauigation, following the coaste that returns towarde the occident, they shall fall in Melassa, and so in all the Indees which we call orientall, and following that way may returne hither by the Cape of Bona Speransa: and thus they shall compasse the whole worlde. And if they will take their course after they be past the pole, towarde the occident, they shall goe in the backe side of the new found lande, which of late was discouered by your Graces subiectes, vntill they come to the backside and South seas of the Indees occi­dentalls. And so continuing their viage they may returne thorowe the straite of Magallanas to this countrey, and so they compasse also the worlde by that way, and if they goe this thirde way, and after they bee past the pole, goe right to­warde the pole Antartike, and then decline toward the lands and Ilands situated betweene the Tropikes, and vnder the Equinoctial, without doubt they shal find there y ^e richest lāds and Ilands of the worlde of Golde, precious stones, balmes, spices, and other thinges that wee here esteeme most: which come out of strang countreys, & may returne the same way.

By this it appeareth your Grace haue not onely a greate aduantage of the riches, but also your subiectes shall not tra­uell halfe of the way that other doe, which goe rounde a­bout as aforesaide.

RIght noble & reuerende in &c. I receiued your letters, & haue procured and sent to knowe of your seruant, who your Lorde­ship wrote shoulde bee sicke in Merchena. I can not there or els where heare of him, w ^tout he be returned to you, or gone to S. Lucar & shipt. I can not iudge but that of some contagi­ous sicknes he died, so that the owner of the house for defa­ming his house woulde bury him secretly, and not be known of it. For such things haue oftē times happened in this coun­trey.

Also to write to your Lordshippe of the newe trade of spicerie of the Emperour, there is no doubt but that the I­landes are fertile of cloues, nutmegs, mace, and cinnamon: And that the saide Ilandes, with other there about, abounde w ^t gold, Rubies, Diamonds, Balasses, Granates, iacincts & other stones & pearles, as al other lāds, that are vnder & nere y ^e equinoctial. For we see, where nature giueth any thing, she is no nigarde. For as with vs and other, that are aparted from the sayde equinoctiall, our mettalles be lead, tynne, and yron, so theirs be golde, siluer, and copper. And as our fruites and graines be aples, nuttes, and corne, so theirs bee [...]ates, nutmegges, pepper, cloues, and other spices. And as [Page] wee haue iette, amber, cristall, iasper, and other like stones, so haue they rubies, diamonds, balasses, saphires, Iacincts, and other like. And though some say that of such precious mettals, graines or kind of spices, and precious stones, the a­boundance and quantitie is nothing so great, as our mettals, fruites or stones aboue rehearsed: yet if it be well considered, how the quantitie of the earth vnder the equinoctiall to both the tropicall lines, (in which space is founde the said golde, spices and precious stones) to be as much in quantitie, as al­most all the earth from the tropickes to both the poles: it can not be denied but there is more quantitie of the said mettels, fruites, spices, and precious stones, then there is of the other mettels and other thinges before rehearsed. And I see that the preciousnesse of these thinges is measured after the distance that is betweene vs, and the things that we haue ap­petite vnto. For in this nauigation of the spicerie was disco­uered, that these Ilandes nothing set by golde, but set more by a knife and a nayle of yron, then by his quantitie of Golde: and with reason, as the thing more necessarie for mans ser­uice. And I doubt not but to them shoulde bee as precious our corne and seedes, if they might haue them, as to vs their spices: and likewise the peeces of glasse that heare wee haue counterfayted are as precious to them, as to vs their stones: which by experience is seene daylie by them that haue trade thither. This of the riches of those countries is sufficient.

Touching that your Lordship wrote, whether it may be profitable to the Emperour or no, it may be without doubte of great profit: if as the king of Portingall doth, he woulde become a marchant, and prouide shippes and their lading, and trade thither alone, and defende the trade of these Ilands for himselfe. But other greater busines withholdeth him from this. But still, as nowe it is begunne to bee occupied, it would come to much. For the ships comming in safetie, there would thither many euery yeere, of whiche to the Empe­rour is due of all the wares and Iuelles that come from [Page] thence the fift part for his custome cleare without any cost. And besides this he putteth in euery flote a certayn quantitie of money, of whiche hee enioyeth of the gaines pounde and poundes like as other aduenturers doe. In a flote of three shippes and a carauell that went from this citie armed by the marchauntes of it, which departed in Aprill last past, I and my partener haue 1400. Ducates that we employed in the sayde fleete, Note. principally for that two Englishmen friends of mine, whiche are somewhat learned in Cosmographie, shoulde goe in the same shippes, to bring mee certaine relati­on of the situation of the countrey, and to bee experte in the Nauigation of those seas, and there to haue informations of many other things, and aduise that I desire to know especi­ally. Seeing in these quarters are shippes, and marriners of that countrey, and cardes by which they sayle, though much vnlike ours: that they should procure to haue the said Cards, and learne howe they vnderstande them, and especially to know what Nauigation they haue for those Ilandes North­wardes, and Northeastwarde.

Note.For if from the sayde Ilandes the Sea do extende, without interposition of lande, to sayle from the North poynt to the Northeast poynt 1700. or 1800. leagues, they should come to the Newe founde Ilandes that wee discouered, and so wee shoulde bee neerer to the sayde spicerie by almost 2000. leagues then the Emperour, or the king of Portingal are. And to aduise your Lordshippe whether of these spice­ries of the King of Portingal or the Emperours is neerer, and also of the titles that eyther of them hath, and howe our Newe founde landes are parted from it, (for that by writyng without some demonstration, it were harde to giue any declaration of it,) I haue caused that your Lorde­shippe shall receyue herewith a little Mappe or Carde of the worlde: the whiche, I feare mee, shall put your Lord­shippe to more labour to vnderstande, then mee to make it, only for that it is made in so little roome that it cannot be but obscurely set out, y ^t is desired to be seene in it, & also for y ^t I am in this science litle expert: Yet to remedy in part this [Page] difficultie, it is necessary to declare to your Lordshippe my intent, with which I trust you shal perceiue in this card part of your desire, if, for that I cannot expresse mine intent, with my declaratiō I doe not make it more obscure.

First, your Lordship knoweth that the Cosmographers haue deuided the earth by 360. degrees in latitude, and as many in longitude, vnder the which is comprehended al the roundnesse of the earth: the latitude beeing deuided into 4. quarters, ninetie degrees amount to euerie quarter, which they measure by the altitude of the poles, that is the North and South starres, beeing from the line equinoctiall till they come right vnder the Noth starre the saide ninetie de­grees: and asmuche from the sayde line equinoctiall to the South starre bee other ninetie degrees. And asmuche more is also from eyther of the saide starres agayne to the equinoctiall. Which imagined to be rounde, is soone perceiued thus, 360. degrees of latitude to be consumed in the said foure quarters, of ninetie degrees a quarter, so that this latitude is the measure of the worlde from North to South, and from South to North. And the longitude, in which are also counted other 360. is counted frō West to East, or from East to West, as in the card is set. The said latitude your Lordship may see marked and deuided in the end of this carde on the left hande. To know the latitudes. So that if you woulde know in what degrees of latitude any region or coast stan­deth, take a compasse and set the one foote of the same in the equinoctiall line right against the said region, and apply the other foote of the compasse to the saide region or coast, and then set the sayd compasse at the ende of the carde, where the degrees are deuided. And the one foote of the cōpasse stan­ding in the line equinoctiall, the other will shewe in the scale the degrees of altitude or latitude that the sayd region is in. Also the longitude of the worlde I haue set out in the nether part of the carde, contayning also 360. degrees: which begin to be coūted after Ptolome and other Cosmo­graphers from an head land called Capo verde, which is o­uer against a little crosse made in the part occidentall, where [Page] the diuision of the degrees beginneth, & endeth in y ^e same Ca­po verde. To knowe the Longitudes. Nowe to knowe in what longitude any lande is, your Lordeshippe must take a ruler or a compasse, and set the one foote of the compasse vpon the lande or coast whose longitude you woulde knowe, and extende the other foote of the compasse to the nexte parte of one of the trans­uersall lines in the Orientall or Occidentall part: which done, set the one foote of the compasse in the saide trans­uersall lyne at the ende of the nether scale, the scale of longitude, and the other foote sheweth the degree of lon­gitude that the region is in. And your Lordshippe must vnderstande that this carde though little conteyneth the vniuersall whole worlde betwixte the twoo collaterall lines, the one in the Occidentall parte descendeth perpen­dicular vppon the 175. degree, and the other in the Orientall on the 170. degree, whose distaunce measu­reth the scale of longitude. And that whiche is without the two sayde transuersall lynes is onely to shew howe the Oriental part is ioyned with the Occident, & Occident with the Orient. For that that is set without the line in the Ori­ent parte, is the same that is set within the other line in the Occidentall parte: and againe that that is sette without the line in the Occidentall part, is the same that is set with­in the line on the Orientall parte: To shewe that though this figure of the worlde in playne or flat seemeth to haue an ende, yet one imagining that this sayde carde were set vpon a round thing, where the endes shoulde touche by the lines, it would plainely appeare howe the Orient part ioy­neth with the Occident, as there without the lines it is de­scribed & figured. And for more declaration of the said card, your Lordship shall vnderstand, that beginning on the parte Occidentall within the lyne, the first land that is set out, is y ^e mayne land & Iland of the Indies of y ^e Emperour. Which mayne lande or coast goeth Northwarde, and finisheth in the lande that wee founde, whiche is called heere Terra de Labrador. So that it appeareth the sayde lande that wee founde and the Indies to bee all one mayne lande. The [Page] sayd coast from the saide Indies Southwarde, as by the carde your Lordshippe may see, cōmeth to a certaine straite sea called Estrecho de todos Sanctos: Now called the streit of Ma [...] ­lane. by which straite Sea the Spaniardes goe to the spiceries, as I shall declare more at large: the which straite sea is right against the three hundred fifteene degrees of Longitude, and is of Latitude or altitude from the Equinoctiall fiftie three de­grees. The first lande from the sayd beginning of the carde towarde the Orient is certaine Ilandes of the Canaries & Ilandes of Capo verde. But the first mayne lande next to the line Equinoctiall is the sayde Capo verde, and from thence northwarde by the streite of this sea of Italie. And so followeth Spayne, Fraunce, Flaunders, Almaine, Denmarke and Norway, which is the highest parte tow­ard the North. And ouer against Flaunders are our Ilands of England and Irelande. Of the landes and coastes with­in the straites I haue set out onelye the Regions, deui­ding them by lynes of their lymittes, by whiche playnelie I thinke your Lordship may see, in what situatiō euery re­gion is, and of what highnesse, & with what regions it is ioy­ned. I doe thinke few are lefte out of all Europe. In the partes of Asia and Affrica I could not so well make the said diuisions: for that they be not so well knowen, nor neede not so muche. This I write because in the sayde carde bee made the sayde lynes and strikes, that your Lordshippe should vnderstande wherefore they doe serue. Also returning to foresayde Capo verde the coast goeth Southwarde to a cape called Capo de bona speransa: which is right ouer agaynst the sixtye and sixtie fifte degree of Longitude. And by this cape goe the Portingales to their spicerie. For from this cape towarde the Orient, is the Lande of Calicut, as your Lordshippe may see in the head lande o­uer against the 130. degree. From the said cape of Bona Spe­ransa the coast returneth toward the line Equinoctiall, and passing foorth entreth the read sea, & returning out entreth againe into the gulfe of Persia, and returneth towarde the Equinoctiall line, till that it commeth to the head­land [Page] called Callicut afore saide, and from thence the coast making a Gulfe, where is the riuer of Ganges, returneth towarde the line to a head lande called Malacha, where is the principall spicerie: And from this cape returneth and maketh a great gulfe, and after the coast goeth right toward the Orient, and ouer against this last gulfe and coast be ma­nie Ilandes, which be Ilandes of the spiceries of the Empe­rour. Vpon which the Portingales and he be at vartaunce. The said coast goeth towarde the Orient, and endeth right against the 155. degrees, and after returneth toward the oc­cident Northwarde: which coast not yet plainely knowne I may ioyn to the new found land found by vs, that I spake of before. So that I finishe with this a briefe declarati­on of the carde aforesayde. Well I knowe I shoulde also haue declared how the coastes within the streites of the Sea of Italie runne. It is plaine that passing the streites on the Northside of that Sea after the coast of Granado, and with that which pertaynes to Spayne, is the coast of that which Fraunce hath in Italie. And then followeth in one peece all Italie, which lande hath an arme of a sea with a gulfe which is called Mare Adriaticum. And in the bottome of this gulfe is the citie of Venice. And on the other part of the said gulfe is Sclauonia, and nexte Grecia, then the streites of Constantinople, and then the Sea called Euximus, which is within the saide streites: And com­ming out of the said straits floweth toward Turcia ma­ior. (Though now on both sides it is called Turcia.) And so the coast runneth Southward to Syria, and ouer against the said Turcia are the Ilādes of Rhodes, Candie, and Cy­prus. And ouer against Italie are the Ilandes of Sicilia & Sardinia. And ouer against Spaine is Maiorca and minor­ca. In the ende of the gulfe of Syria is Iudea. And from thence returneth the coast toward the Occident, till it com­meth to the streites where wee beganne, whiche all is the coast of Affricke or Barbarie. Also your Lordshippe shall vnderstande that the coastes of the Sea throughout all the world I haue coloured with yellow; for that it may appeare [Page] that all that is within the line coloured yellow, is to be ima­gined to be mayne land or Iland: and all without the sayde line so coloured to bee Sea: whereby it is easie and light to know it. Albeit in this little roome any other description would rather haue made it obscure then cleere. Also the sayd coasts of the Sea are all set iustly after the manner & forme as they lye, as the nauigation approoueth thē throughout all the carde, saue onely the coastes and Iles of the spicerie of y ^e Emperour which is from ouer against the 160. to the 215. degrees of Longitude. For these coastes & situations of the Ilands euery of the Cosinographers and pilots of Portin­gall and Spayne doe set after their purpose. The Spani­ards more towards the Orient, because they should appeare to appertaine to the Emperour: and the Portingalles more toward the Occident, for that they should fall within their iurisdiction. So that the Pilots & nauigants thither, which in such cases should declare y ^e truth, by their industrie doe set thē falsely euery one to fauour his prince. And for this cause can be no certaine situatiō of y ^e coast & Ilands, til this diffe­rence betwixte them be verified. Nowe to come to the purpose of your Lordshippes demaunde touching the diffe­rence betweene the Emperour and the king of Portingall, to vnderstād it better, I must declare y ^e beginning of this dis­couering. Though peraduēture your Lordship may say y ^t in that I haue writtē ought of purpose I fall in the Prouerbe, A gemino ouo bellum: But your Lordship commaunded me to be large, & I take licence to be prolixouse, & shalbe perad­uenture tedious, but your Lordship knoweth that nihil igno­rantia verbosius. In the yeere 1484. the king of Portingal minded to arme certaine caruelles to discouer this spicery. Then forasmuch as he feared that being discouered euerie other prince would send & trade thither, so y ^t the cost & peril of discouering should be his, & the profite common: where­fore first he gaue knowledge of this his mynd to al princes christened, saying y ^t he would seeke amōgst y ^e infidels newe possessiōs of regions, & therfore would make a certain army: & y ^t if any of thē would help in y ^e cost of y ^e said army he should [Page] enioy his parte of the profite or honour that shoulde come of it. And as then this discouering was holden for a straunge thing and vncertaine. Nowe they say, that all the Princes of Christendome aunsweared that they woulde bee no part of such an army, nor yet of the profite y ^t might come of it. After the which he gaue knowledge to the Pope of his purpose, & of the answere of all the Princes, desiring him y ^t seeing that none would helpe in the costes, that hee woulde iudge all that shoulde bee founde and discouered to be of his iurisdiction, and commaund that none other Princes should intermeddle therewith. The Pope saide not as Christ saith, Quis me constituit iudicem inter vos? He did not refuse, but making him selfe as Lorde and Iudge of all, not only graū ­ted that all that should be discouered from Oriēt to Occidēt should be the kings of Portingall, but also, that vpon great censures no other Prince should discouer but he: And if they did, all to be the kinges of Portingall. So he armed a fleete, and in the yeere 1487. was discouered y ^t Ilands of Calicut, from whence is brought all the spice he hath. After this in the yeere 1492. the king of Spaine willing to discouer landes towarde the Occident without making any such di­ligence, or taking licence of the king of Portingale, armed certayne caruelles, and then discouered this India Occiden­tall, especially two Ilandes of the saide India, that in this carde I set foorth named the one Ladominica, and the other Cuba, and brought certaine gold from thence. Of the which when the king of Portingall had knowledge, he sent to the king of Spayne, requiring him to giue him y ^e said Ilands. For that by the sentence of the Pope all that should be disco­uered was his, and that he should not proceede further in the discouerie without his licence. And at the same time it see­meth that out of Castill, into Portingale had gone for feare of burning infinite number of Iewes that were expelled out of Spayne, for that they would not turne to be Christians, & carried with thē infinite number of gold & siluer. So that it seemeth that the king of Spayne answered that it was reasō that the king of Portingall asked, and that to bee obedient to [Page] that which the pope had decreed, he would giue him the said Ilands of the Indies. Now for as much as it was decreed betwixt y ^e said kings, y ^t none should receiue y ^e others subiects fugitiues, nor their goodes, therefore the king of Portingale should pay and returne to the king of Spaine a million of Golde or more, that the Iewes had carried out of Spaine to Portingale; and that so doing he would giue these Ilandes and desist from any more discouering. And not fulfilling this he would not onely not giue these Ilands, but procure to discouer more where him thought best. It seemeth that the king of Portingale would not or could not with his ease pay this mony. And so not paying that he coulde not let the king of Spaine to discouer: so that hee enterprised not to­ward the Orient where he had begun and found the spicery. And consented to the king of Spaine that touching this dis­couering they should deuide the worlde betweene them two. And that all that should be discouered frō Capo verde, where this carde beginneth to be counted in the degrees of longi­tude, to 180. of the sayde scale of longitude, which is halfe the worlde toward the Orient, and finisheth in this carde right ouer against a little crosse made at the sayde 180. de­grees, to be the king of Portingalles. And all the lande from the sayde Crosse towarde the Occident, vntill it ioyneth with the other Crosse in the Orient, which contei­neth the other hundreth and eightie degrees, that is the other halfe of the worlde, to bee the king of Spaynes. So that from the lande ouer agaynst the sayde hundreth and eightie degrees vntill it finish in the three hundred and sixtie on both the endes of the carde, is the iurisdicti­on of the king of Spayne. So after this manner they deuided the worlde betweene them. Nowe for that these Ilandes of spicerie fall neere the terme and lymites be­tweene these Princes (for as by the sayde carde you maye see they beginne from one hundred and sixtie degrees of Longitude, and ende in 215.) it seemeth all that falleth from 160. to 180. degrees, shoulde bee of Portingall: [Page] and all the rest of Spayne. And for that their Cosmogra­phers and Pilots could not agree in the situation of the said Ilands (for the Portingals set them al within their 180. de­grees, and the Spaniards set them all without: & for that in measuring, all the Cosmographers of both partes, or what other that euer haue beene cānot giue certaine order to measure y ^e lōgitude of the world, The longitudes harde to be founde out. as they do of y ^e latitude: for y ^t there is no starre fixed frō East to West, as are y ^e starrs of the poles from North to South, but all mooueth with the mouing diuine:) no māner can be found how certainely it may be measured, but by coniectures, as the Nauigantes haue esteemed the way they haue gone. But it is manifest that Spayne had the situation of all the landes from Capo verde, towarde the Orient of the Portingales to their 180. degrees. And in all their cardes they neuer hitherto set the sayd Ilands within their limitatiō of the sayd 180. degrees: (Though they knew very well of the Ilandes,) til nowe that the Spaniards discouered them. And it is knowne that the king of Portingale had trade to these Ilands afore, but would neuer suffer Portingale to goe thither from Calicut: for so much as hee knewe that it fell out of his dominion: least by going thither there might come some knowledge of those other Ilandes of the king of Spayne, but bought the cloues of Merchauntes of that countrie, that brought them to Calicut, much deerer then they would haue cost, if he had sēt for thē, thinking after this maner it would abide alwaies secrete. And now that it is discouered he sendes and keepes the Spanierds from the trade all that he can. Also it should see me that when this foresaide consent of the diuision of the worlde was agreed of betweene them, the king of Por­tingale had alreadye discouered certayne Ilandes that lye ouer against Capo verde, and also certayne parte of the mayne lande of India towarde the South, from whence he fet Brasill, and called it the lande of Brasill. So for that all shoulde come in his terme and limites, bee tooke three hundred and seuentie leagues beyonde [Page] Capo verde: and after this, his 180. degrees, being his part of the worlde, shoulde beginne in the Carde right ouer a­gainst the 340 degrees, where I haue made a little com­passe with a crosse, and shoulde finishe at the 160. degree, where also I haue made an other little marke. And after this computation without any controuersie, the Ilandes of the spicerie fall out of the Portingales domination. So that nowe the Spaniardes say to the Portingales that if they woulde beginne their 180. degrees from the saide Capo verde, to the intent they shoulde extende more towarde the o­riente, and so to touche those Ilandes of the spicerie of the Emperour, which is all that is betweene the two crosses made in this carde, that then the Ilandes of Capo verde and the lande of Brasill that the Portingales nowe obtaine, is out of the sayde limitation, and that they are of the Empe­rours. Or if their 180. degrees they count from the 370. leagues beyonde the sayde Capo verde, to include in it the sayde Ilandes and landes of Brasill, then plainely appea­reth the saide 180. degrees shoulde finishe longe before they come to these Ilandes of the spicerie of the Emperour: As by this Carde your Lordeshippe may see. For their li­mittes shoulde beginne at the 340. degrees, of this Carde, and ende at 160. degrees, where I haue made two little marks of the compasse with crosses in them.

So that plainely it shoulde appeare by reason, that the Portingales shoulde leaue these Ilandes of Capo verde and land of Brasill, if they would haue part of the spicerie of the Emperours: or else holding these, they haue no parte there. To this the Portingales say, that they will beginne their 180. degrees from the selfe same Capo verde: for that it maye extende so muche more towarde the oriente and touche these Ilandes of the Emperours: and woulde winne these Ilandes of Capo verde and lande of Brasill ne­uer the lesse, as a thinge that they possessed before the con­sent of this limitation was made.

So none can verylye tell whiche hath the best reason.

They bee not yet agreed, Quare sub Iudice lis est. But without doubte by all coniectures of reason the sayde Ilandes fall all without the limitation of Portingale, and pertayne to Spaine, as it appeareth by the most parte of all the Cardes made by the Portingales, saue those they haue falsified of late purposely. But nowe touching that your Lordeshippe wrote, whether that which wee discouered tou­cheth any thing the foresayde coastes: New found lād discouered by the englishmen. once it appeareth plainely that the Newe founde lande that wee discouered is all a mayne lande with the Indies occidentall, from whence the emperour hath all the golde and pearles: and so continu­eth of coaste more then 5000. leagues of length, as by this Carde appeareth. For from the saide newe landes it pro­ceedeth toward the occidēt to the Indies, and from the In­dies returneth toward the orient, & after turneth southwarde vp till it come to the straytes of Todos Sanctos, whiche I reckon to bee more then 5000. leagues.

Note.So that to the Indians it shoulde seeme that wee haue some title, at least that for our discouering wee might trade thither as other doe. But all this is nothing neere the spicerie.

Nowe then (if from the sayde newe founde landes the Sea bee Nauigable, To sayle by the pole.) there is no doubte, but sayling Northwarde and passing the pole descending to the equi­noctiall lyne wee shall hitte these Ilandes, and it shoulde bee muche more shorter way, then eyther the Spaniardes or the Portingales haue. For wee bee distaunt from the pole but 39. degrees, and from the pole to the Equinoctiall bee 90. the which added together bee 129. degrees, leagues 2480. and myles 7440. Where wee shoulde finde these Ilandes. And the Nauigation of the Spaniardes to the spicerie is, as by this Carde you may see, from Spayne to the Ilandes of Canarie, and from these Ilandes they runne ouer the lyne Equinoctiall Southwarde to the cape of the mayne lande of Indians, called the Cape of Sainte [Page] Augustine, and from this Cape Southwardes to the straytes of Todos Sanctos, Or the straite [...] of Magelan. in the whiche Nauigation to the sayde straites is 1700. or 1800. leagues: and from these straytes being past them, they returne towarde the line Equinoctiall to the Ilandes of spicerie, whiche are di­stante from the sayde straites 4200. or 4300. leagues.

The Nauigation of the Portingalles to the sayd Ilands is, departing from Portingale Southwarde towarde the Capo verde, and from thence to another Cape passing the lyne equinoctiall called Capo de bona speransa, and from Portingale to the cape is 1800. leagues, and from this cape to the Ilandes of spicerie of the Emperour is 2500. leagues.

So that by this nauigation amounteth all to 4300. leagues. So that as afore is sayde, if betweene our Newe founde landes or Norway, or Islande the Seas towarde the north be Nauigable, wee shoulde goe to these Ilandes a shorter way by more then 2000 leagues. And though wee went not to the saide Ilandes, Note. for that they are the Emperours or Kinges of Portingale, wee shoulde by the way, and com­ming once to the line Equinoctiall, finde landes no lesse riche of Golde and spicerie, as all other landes are vnder the saide line Equinoctiall: and also shoulde, if wee may passe vnder the North, enioye the Nauigation of all Tartarie. Benefite to Englande.

Which should bee no lesse profitable to our commodities of clothe, then these spiceries to the Emperour, and king of Portingale.

Obiection. But it is a generall opinion of all Cosmographers that passing the seuenth clyme, the sea is all ice, the colde so much that none can suffer it. And hitherto they had all the like opi­nion that vnder the lyne Equinoctiall for muche heate the lande was inhabitable.

Answere. Yet since by experience is prooued no lande so much habi­table [Page] nor more temperate. Answere. And to conclude I thinke the same shoulde bee founde vnder the North, if it were expe­rimented. For as all iudge, Nihil fit vacuum in rerum natura: A true opinion. So I iudge there is no lande inhabitable, nor Sea innauigable. If I should write the reason that presenteth this vnto mee, I shoulde bee too prolixe, and it seemeth not requisite for this present matter. God knoweth that though by it I shoulde haue no great interest, yet I haue had and still haue no little minde of this businesse: A voyage of discouerie by the pole. So that if I had facultie to my will, it shoulde bee y ^e first thing that I woulde vnderstande, euen to attempt, if our Seas North­warde bee nauigable to the Pole, or no. I reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarious, M. Thorne and M. Eliot disco­uerers of New found land. & come from the father to the sonne, so this inclination or desire of this discouerie I inherited of my father, which with another merchant of Bri­stowe named hugh Eliot were the discouerers of the newe found lāds, The cause why the west Indees were not ours: which also Se­bastian Gabot writeth man epistle to Bap­tist Ramusius. of the which there is no doubt, as now plainly ap­peareth, if the marriners woulde then haue been ruled, and folowed their pilots mind, the lands of the west Indies, from whence all the gold commeth, had beene ours. For all is one coaste, as by the carde appeareth, and is aforesaide. Also in this carde by the coastes where you see C. your Lordship shall vnderstand it is set for Cape or head land, where I, for Iland, where P. for Port, where R. for Riuer. Also in al this little carde I thinke nothing be erred touching the situation of the land, saue onely in these Ilands of spicery: which, for that as afore is sayd, euery one setteth them after his minde, there can be no certification how they stand. I doe not denie, that there lacke many things, that a consūmate carde should haue, or that a right good demonstration desireth. For there should be expressed all the mountaines and riuers that are principall of name in the earth, with the names of Portes of the sea, the names of all principall cities, whiche all I might haue set, but not in this Carde, for the little space would not consent.

THis exhortation to king Henrie the eight, with the dis­course to Doctor Ley his Ambassadour in Spaine, was preserued by one master Emmanuel Lucar executour to master Robert Thorne, and was friendly imparted vnto mee by master Cyprian Lucar his sonne an honest Gentle­man and very forwarde to further any good and landable action. And that it may bee knowne that this motion tooke present effect with the king, I thought it good here­withall to put downe the testimonie of our Chronicle that the king set out shippes for this discouerie in his life time. master Hall and master Grafton in their Chronicles write both thus: This same moneth king Henry the eight sente two faire ships, well manned and victualed, hauing in them diuers cunning men, to seeke strange regions: and so they set foorth, out of the Thames the xx. day of May in the xix. yeere of his raigne. In the yeere of our Lorde. 1527.

I Wrote not to your Maiestie (most Chri­stian king) since the time wee suffered the tempest in the North partes, of the successe of the foure Ships, which your Maiestie sent forth to discouer new lands by the Ocean, thinking your Maiestie had been alreadie duly enformed thereof. Nowe by these presents I will giue your Maiestie to vn­derstand, howe by the violence of the windes wee were for­ced with y ^e two ships, the Norman and the Dolphin, in such euill case as they were, to lande in Britaine. Whereafter wee had repaired them in all pointes as was needefull and armed them very well, wee tooke our course a long by the coast of Spaine. Afterwardes with the Dolphin alone, wee determined to make discouerie of newe Countries, to prosecute the nauigation wee had alreadie begun, which I purpose at this present to recount vnto your Maiestie, to make manifest the whole proceeding of the matter. The 17 of Ianuarie, the yeere 1524. by the grace of God, wee departed from the dishabited Rocke, by the Isle of Madêra, appertaining to the king of Portingall, with fiftie men, with victuals, weapon, and other ship munition very well pro­uided and furnished for 8. monethes: And sayling westwards with a faire Easterly winde, in 25. dayes wee ranne 500. leagues, and the 20. of Februarie wee were ouertaken with as sharpe and terrible a tempest as euer any saylers suffe­red: whereof with y ^e diuine helpe & mercifull assistaunce of Almightie God, and the goodnesse of our ship accompanied [Page] with the good hap of her fortunate name wee were deliue­red, and with a prosperous wind followed our course West & by North. And in other 25. dayes wee made aboue 400. leagues more, where wee discouered a newe land, neuer be­fore seene of any man either auncient or moderne, and at the first sight it seemed somewhat lowe, but beeing within a quarter of a league of it, wee perceiued by the great fiers that wee sawe by the Sea coaste that it was inhabited: and saw that the lande stretched to the Southwards: in seeking some conuenient harborough whereby to come a lande, and haue knowledge of the place, wee sayled fiftie leagues in vaine, and seeing the lande to runn still to the Southwards wee resolued to returne backe againe towardes the North, where we found our selues troubled with the like difficulty: at length beeing in despaire to finde any port, wee caste anker vpon the coast, and sent our Boate to shore, where we sawe great store of people which came to the Sea side, and seeing vs to approche they fled away, and sometimes would stande still and looke backe, beholding vs with great admi­ration: but afterwardes beeing animated and assured with signes that wee made them, some of them came harde to the Sea side seeming to reioyce very muche at the sight of vs, and marueiling greatly at our apparell, shape and whitenes, shewed vs by sundry signes where wee might most commo­diously come a land with our Boat, offering vs also of their victuals to eate. Nowe I will briefly declare to your Maiestie their life and manners, as farre as wee coulde haue notice thereof: These people goe altogether naked except only that they couer their priuie partes with certaine skinnes of beastes like vnto Marterns, which they fasten vnto a narrowe girdle made of grasse verye artificially wrought, hanged about with tailes of diuers other beastes, which rounde about their bodies hang dangling downe to their knees. Some of them weare garlandes of byrdes feathers. The people are of colour russet, and not much vnlike the Saracens, their hayre blacke, thicke and [Page] not very long, which they tye togeather in a knot behinde & weare it like a taile. They are wel featured in their limbs, of meane stature and commonly somewhat bigger then we, brode breasted, strong armes, their legges and other partes of their bodies well fashioned, and they are disfigured in no­thing sauing that they haue somewhat brode visages, and yet not all of them: for wee sawe many of them well fauoured hauing blacke and great eyes, with a cheerefull and stedie looke, not strong of body yet sharpe witted, nymble and great runners, as farre as we coulde learne by experience, and in those two last qualities they are like to the people of the East partes of the worlde, and especially to them of the vttermost partes of China, wee coulde not learne of this people their manner of liuing, nor their particuler cu­stomes by reason of y ^e short abode we made on the shore, our companie being but small, and our ship ryding farre of in the Sea. And not farre from these we founde an other peo­ple, whose liuing wee thinke to bee like vnto theirs, (as heereafter I will declare vnto your Maiestie,) shewing at this present the situation and nature of the foresaide lande: The shore is all couered with small sande, and so ascendeth vpwardes for the space of fifteene foote rising in forme of little hilles about fiftie paces broade. And sayling forwards wee founde certaine small Riuers and armes of the Sea, that enter at certain creekes, washing the shore on both sides as the coast lyeth. And beyonde this wee sawe the open Countrie rising in height aboue the sandie shore with many fayre fieldes and plaines, full of mightie great woods, some verie thicke and some thinne, replenished with diuers sortes of trees, as pleasaunt and delectable to beholde as is possible to imagine. And your Maiestie may not thinke that these are like the woodes of Hercinia or the wilde De­sertes of Tartary, and the Northerne Coastes full of fruitelesse trees: But full of Palme trees, Bay trees, and high Cypresse trees, and many other sortes of trees vn­knowne in Europe, which yeeld most sweete sauours farre from the shore, the propertie whereof wee coulde not learne [Page] For the cause aforesaide, and not for any difficultie to passe through the woods: Seeing they are not so thicke but that a man may passe through them. Neither doe wee thinke that they part taking of the East worlde rounde a­bout them are all to geather voide of drugs or spicerie, and other richesse of golde, seeing the colour of the lande doth so much argue it and the lande is full of many beastes, as Stags, Deare and Hares, and likewise of Lakes and Pooles of Fresh water, with great plentie of foules, conue­nient for all kinde of pleasant game. This lande is in la­titude 34. Gr. 34. D. with good and holsome ayre, temperate, betweene hot and colde, no vehement windes doe blowe in those Regions, and those that doe commonly raigne in those Coastes, are the North West and West windes in the Sommer season, (in the beginning whereof wee were there) the skie cleere and faire with very little raine: and if at any time the ayre bee cloudie and mistie with the Sowtherne winde immediately it is dissolued and waxeth cleare and fayre agayne. The Sea is caulme, not boy­sterous, the waues gentle, and although all the shore bee somewhat lowe and with out harborough: yet it is not daungerous to the saylers beeing free from rockes and deepe, so that within foure or fiue foote of the shore, there is twentie foote deepe of water without ebbe or flood, the depth still increasing in such vniforme proportion. There is very good ryding at Sea: for any Ship beeing shaken in a tempest can neuer perishe there by breaking of her ca­bles, which wee haue proued by experience. For in the be­ginning of March (as is vsuall in all Regions) beeing in the Sea oppressed with Northerne windes and riding there, wee founde our anker broken before the earth fay­led or mooued at all. Wee departed from this place still running a long the coaste, which we found to trende towarde the East, and wee saw euerie where verie great fi­ers, by reason of the multitude of the inhabitants. While we rode on that Coaste partlie because it had no harborough, and for that wee wanted water, wee sent our Boat a shore [Page] with 25. men: whereby reason of great and continual waues that beate against the shore, being an open coast, without succour, none of our men coulde possible goe a shore without loosing our boate. We sawe there many people which came vnto the shore, making diuers signes of friendship, and shew­ing that they were content wee shoulde come a lande, and by trial we found thē to be very courteous & gentle as your ma­iestie shal vnderstand by the successe. Courteous and gentle people. To the intent we might sende them of our thinges, which the Indians commonly de­sier and esteeme as sheetes of Paper, glasses, belles, and such like trifles: Wee sent a young man one of our Marri­ners a shore, who swimming towards them, and being with­in 3. or 4. yeards off the shore, not trusting them, cast the thinges vpon the shore, seeking afterwardes to returne, hee was with such violence of the waues beaten vpon the shore, that he was so bruised that hee lay there almost dead, whiche the Indians perceiuing, ranne to catche him, and drawing him out they carried him a little way of from the sea: The young man perceiuing they caried him, beeing at the first dismaide, began then greatly to feare and cried out pitiously, likewise did the Indians which did accompanie him, going about to cheere him and giue him courage, and then setting him on the grounde at the foote of a little hill against the sunne, beganne to beholde him with great admiration, mar­ueiling at the whitenesse of his fleshe: And putting off his clothes they made him warme at a great fire, not without our great feare which remained in the boate, that they would haue rosted him at that fire and haue eaten him. The young man hauing recouered his strength, and hauing stayed a while with them, shewed them by signes that hee was desi­rous to returne to the shippe: And they with great loue clap­ping him fast about with many embracings, accompanying him vnto the sea, and to put him in more assurance, leauing him alone they went vnto a high grounde and stoode there, beholding him vntil he was entred into the boate. This yong man obserued as we did also, that these are of colour encli­ning to Blacke as the other were, with their fleshe ve­rie [Page] shining of meane stature, handsome visag, and dilicate limmes and of verie little strength: but of prompt witte, far­ther wee obserued not.

Departing from hence following the shore which tren­ded somewhat towarde the North in 50. leagues space, wee came to another lande which shewed much more faire and full of woods, being very great, where we rode at Ancker, and that wee might haue some knowledge thereof, wee sent 20. men a lande, which entred into the countrey about two leagues, and they founde that the people were fledde to the woods for feare, they sawe onely one olde woman with a young maide of 18. or 20. yeeres olde, which seeing our com­panie hid them selues in the grasse for feare, the olde woman caried two Infantes on her shoulders, and behinde her necke a childe of 8. yeeres olde: the yong woman was laden like­wise with as many: but when our men came vnto them, the women cryed out, the olde woman made signes that the men were fled vnto the woods, as soone as they sawe vs to quiet them and to winne their fauour, our men gaue them suche victuals as they had with them to eate, which the old woman receiued thankfully: but the yong woman disdained them al, and threwe them disdainefully on the grounde, they tooke a childe from the olde woman to bring into Fraunce, and go­ing about to take the young woman which was verye beaw­tifull & of tal stature, they could not possibly for y ^e great out­cries that shee made bring her to the sea, and especially ha­uing great woods to passe through, and being farre from the shippe, wee purposed to leaue her behinde bearing away the childe onely. We found those folkes to bee more white than those that we founde before, being clad with certaine leaues y ^e hang on boughes of trees, which they sowe together with thredes of wilde hempe, their heads were trussed vp after the same manner as the former were, their ordinarie foode is of pulse, whereof they haue great store, differing in colour & taste frō ours, of good & plasant taste. Moreouer they liue by fishing & fouling which they take with ginnes, and bowes made of hard wood the arrowes of Canes, being [Page] headed with the bones of fishe and other beastes. The beastes in these parts are much wilder thē in our Europe, by reason they are continually chased and hunted. Wee sawe many of their boates made of one tree 20. foote long, and 4. foote broade, which are not made with Iron, or stone, or any other kinde of metal, (because that in all this countrie for the space of 200. leagues whiche we ranne, wee neuer sawe one stone of any sort): they help themselues with fyre, burning so much of the tree as is sufficient for the hollownesse of the boate, the like they doe in making the sterne and the foreparte vntill it be fitte to saile vpon the sea. The lande is in situation, good­nesse and fairenes like the other: it hath woods like the other, thinne and full of diuers sortes of trees: but not so sweete be­cause the countrey is more northerly and cold.

Wee sawe in this Countrey many Vines growing na­turally, which growing vp take hold of the trees as they do in Lombardie, w ^c if by husbandmen they were dressed in good order, without all doubte they woulde yeelde excellent wines: for wee hauing oftentymes seene the fruite there­of dried, whiche was sweete and pleasaunt, and not diffe­ring from ours. Wee doe thinke that they doe esteeme the same, because that in euery place where they growe, they take away the vnder braunches growing rounde about, that the fruite thereof may ripen the better.

We found also roses, violettes, lillies, and many sorts of herbes, and sweete and odoriferous flowers different from ours. We knewe not their dwellinges, because they were farre vp in the lande, and wee iudge by manye signes that wee sawe, that they are of wood and of trees framed toge­ther.

Wee doe beleeue also by many coniectures and signes, that many of them sleeping in the fieldes, haue no other co­uer then the open skye. Further knowledge haue wee not of them, we thinke y ^t all the rest whose countreys we passed liue all after one manner, hauing our aboade three dayes in this cuntrey, riding on the coast for want of harboroughs, we [Page] concluded to departe from thence, trending along the shore betweene the North and the East, sayling onely in the day­time, & riding at ancker by night in the space of 100. leagues sayling, wee founde a very pleasant place, situated amongst certaine litle steepe hilles: from amiddest the which hilles there ran down into the sea a great streame of water, which within the mouth was very deep, & from y ^e sea to y ^e mouth of same with the tyde which wee found to rise 8. foot, any great vessell laden may passe vp.

But because wee rode at Ancker in a place well fensed from the winde, wee woulde not venture our selues without knowledge of the place, and wee passed vp with our boate onely into the sayde Riuer, and sawe the Countrey very wel peopled. The people are almost like vnto the others, and clad with the fethers of foules of diuers colours, they came to­wardes vs very cherefully, making great showtes of admi­ration, shewing vs where we might come to lande most safe­ly with our boate. We entred vp the said riuer into the lande about halfe a league, where it made a most pleasant lake a­bout 3. leagues in compasse: on the which they rowed from the one side to the other to the number of 30. of their small boates: wherein were many people whiche passed from one shore to the other to come and see vs, and beholde vpon the sodaine (as it is wont to fall out in sayling) a contrarie flawe of winde comming from the sea, wee were enforced to re­turne to our Shippe, leauing this lande to our great dis­contentment, The pleasant­nes and riches of the lande. for the great commoditie and pleasantnesse thereof whiche wee suppose is not without some ri­ches, all the hills shewing minerall matters in thē. We wei­ed Ancker, and sayled towarde the East, for so the coast tren­ded, and so alwayes for 50. leagues being in the sight there­of wee discouered and Ilande in forme of a triangle, The descriptiō of Claudia I­lande. dis­tant from the maine lande 3. leagues, about the bignesse of the Ilande of the Rodes, it was full of hilles couered with trees, Claudia was wife of King Francis. well peopled, for we sawe fires all along the coaste, wee gaue the name of it, of your Maiesties mother, not stay­ing there by reason of the weather being contrarie.

And wee came to another lande being 15. leagues distant from the Ilande, where wee founde a passing good hauen, The Countrey of Sir H. [...]. voyage. wherein being entred we founde about 20. small boates of the people which with diuers cries and wondrings came a­bout our shippe, comming no nerer then 50. paces towards vs, they stayed and behelde the artificialnesse of our ship, our shape & apparel, thā they al made a loud showte together de­claring that they reioyced: when we had something anima­ted them vsing their geastes, they came so neere vs that wee cast them certaine bells and glasses and many toyes, whiche when they had receiued they lookte on them with laughing & came without feare aborde our ship. There were amongst these people 2. kings of so goodly stature and shape as is pos­sible to declare, the eldest was about 40. yeeres of ag, the se­cond was a yong man of 20. yeres old. Their apparell was on this maner, the elder had vpō his naked body a harts skin wrought artificialie with diuers braunches like Damaske, his head was bare with the haire tyed vp behinde with diuers knottes: About his necke he had a large chaine, garnished with diuers stones of sundrie colours the young man was almost appareled after the same manner. This is the good­liest people and of the fairest conditions that wee haue found in this our voyage. They exceed vs in bignes, they are of the colour of brasse, some of thē encline more to whitnes: others are of yellowe colour, of comely visage with long & blacke heire which they are very carefull to trim and decke vp, they are blacke and quicke eyed. I write not to your Maiestie, of the other parte of their bodie, hauing all suche proportion as appertayneth to anye handsome man. The women are of the like conformitie and Beawtie, verie handsome and well fauoured, they are as well mannered and conti­nente as anye women, of good education, they are all naked saue their priuie partes whiche they couer with a Deares skinne braunched or embrodered as the men vse: there are also of them whiche weare on their armes verie riche skinnes of leopardes, they adorne their heades with diuers ornamentes made of their owne heire, whiche hange [Page] downe before on both sides their brestes, others vse other kinde of dressing them selues like vnto the women of Egypt and Syria, these are of the elder sorte: and when they are married they weare diuers toyes, according to the vsage of the people of the East as well men as women.

Among whom wee sawe many plates of wrought coper, which they esteeme more then golde, whiche for the colour they make no accompt of, for that among all other it is counted the basest, they make most accompt of Azure and red. The things that they esteemed most of al those which we gaue them were bels, cristall of Azure colour, and other toies to hang at their eares or about their necke. They did not de­sire cloth of silke or of golde, muche lesse of any other sorte, neither cared they for thinges made of steele and Iron, which wee often shewed them in our armour whiche they made no wonder at, and in beholding them they onely asked the arte of making them: the like they did at our glasses, which whē the behelde, they sodainely laught and gaue them vs againe. They are very liberal for they giue that which they haue, we became great friendes with these, and one day wee entred in­to the hauen with our shippe, where as before wee rode a league of at sea by reason of the contrary weather. They came in great companies of their small boates vnto the ship with their faces all be painted with diuers colours, shewing vs y ^t it was a signe of ioy, bringing vs of their victuals, they made signes vnto vs where wee might safest ride in the ha­uen for the safegarde of our shippe keeping still our compa­nie: and after we were come to an Ancker, we bestowed fif­teene dayes in prouiding our selues many necessary things, whether euery day the people repayred to see our ship bring­ing their wiues with them, whereof they are very ielous: and they themselues entring abrode the shippe and stayinge there a good space, caused their wiues to stay in their boates, and for al the intreatie we could make, offering to giue them diuers things, we could neuer obtaine that they would suffer them to come aborde our ship. And oftentimes one of the two kings comming with his queene, and many gentlemen for their pleasure to see vs, they all stayed on y ^e shore two hun­dred [Page] paces frō vs, sending a smal boate to giue vs intelligēce of their comming, saying they would come to see our shippe, this they did in token of safetye, and assoone as they had an­swere from vs they came immediatly, and hauing stayed a while to beholde it, they wondered at hearing the cryes and noyes of the marriners. The queene and her maids stayed in a very light boate, at an Iland a quarter of a leage off, while the king abode a long space in our ship vttering diuers con­ceites with geastures, viewing with great admiration, all the furniture of the shippe, demaunding the propertie of euerie thing perticularly. He tooke likewise great pleasure in beholding our apparell, and in tasting our meates, and so courteously taking his leaue departed. And sometimes our men staying for two or three dayes on a litle Ilande nere the ship for diuers necessaries, (as it is y ^e vse of seamen) he retur­ned with 7. or 8. of his gentlemen to see what we did, and as­ked of vs oft times if wee meant to make any long aboade there, offering vs of their prouision: then the king drawing his bowe and running vp and downe with his gentlemen, made much sporte to gratifie our men, wee were oftentimes within the lande 5. or 6. leagues, which we found as pleasant as is possible to declare very apt for any kinde of husbandry of corne, wine and oyle: for that there are plaines 25. or 30. leagues broad, open and without any impediment of trees of such fruitfulnesse, that any seede being sowne therein, will bring forth most excellent fruite. We entred afterwards in­to the woods which wee found so great and thicke, that any armie were it neuer so great might haue hid it selfe therein, the trees whereof are okes, cipres trees, and other sortes vn­knowen in Europe. We found Pomi appii, Damson trees, and Nutte trees, and many other sorts of fruits differing frō ours: there are beasts in great abundance, as hartes, deares, leopardes, and other kinds which they take with their nets & bowes which are their chiefe weapons, the arrowes whiche they vse are made with great cunning, and in steade of iron, they head them with smeriglio, w ^t iasper stone, & hard mar­ble & other sharp stones which they vse in stead of iron to cut [Page] trees, and make their boates of one whole piece of wood, ma­king it hollowe with great and wonderfull art, wherein 10. or 12. men may bee cōmodiously, their oares are shorte and broad at the ende, and they vse them in the sea without anye daunger, and by maine force of armes, with as great speedi­nesse as they liste them selues. We sawe their houses made in circuler or rounde fourme 10. or 12. foote in compasse, made with halfe circles of timber, seperate one from ano­ther without any order of building, couered with mattes of strawe wrought cunningly together, which saue them from the winde and raine, and if they had the order of building and perfect skil of workmāship as we haue: there were no doubt but y ^t they would also make eftsoones great and stately buil­dings. For all the sea coastes are full of cleare and glistering stones, and alablaster, and therefore it is full of good hauens and barbarours for ships. They mooue the foresaide houses from one place to another according to the commoditie of the place and season wherein they will make their aboade, and only taking of the couer, they haue other houses builded incontinent. The father and the whole familie dwell toge­ther in one house in great number: in some of them we sawe 25. or 30. persons. They feede as the other doe aforesaide of pulse whiche doe growe in that countrey with better order of husbandry thē in the others. They obserue in their sowing the course of the Moone and the rising of certaine starres, and diuers other customes spoken of by antiquitie. Moreo­uer, they liue by hunting and fishing. they liue long, and are seldome sicke, and if they chaunce to fall sicke at any time, they heale them selues with fire without any phisition, and they say that they die for very age. They are very pitiful and charitable towardes their neighbours, they make great la­mentations in their aduersitie & in their miserie, the kinred recken vp all their felicitie, at their departure out of life, they vse mourning mixt w ^t singing, w ^t continueth for a lōg space. This is asmuch as wee coulde learne of them. This lande is situated in the Paralele of Rome, in 41. degrees & 2. terces: [Page] but somewhat more colde by accidentall cause and not of nature, (as I will declare vnto your highnesse els where) describing at this present the situation of the foresaide coun­trie, which lyeth East and West, I say that the mouth of the hauen lyeth open to the South halfe a league broade, and being entred within it betweene the East and the North, it stretcheth twelue leagues: where it waxeth broder and bro­der, and maketh a gulfe aboute 20. leagues in compasse, wherein are fine small Islandes very fruitfull and pleasant, full of hie and broade trees, among the which Ilandes, any great Nauie may ryde safe without any feare of tempest or other daunger. Afterwardes turning towards the South and in the entring into the Hauen on both sides there are most pleasant hilles, with many riuers of most cleere water falling into the Sea.

In the middest of this entraunce there is a rock of free stone growing by nature apt to builde any Castle or For­tresse there, for y ^e keeping of the hauen. The fift of May be­ing furnished with all thinges necessarie, we departed from y ^e said Coast keeping along in the sight thereof, & we sayled 150 leagues finding it all wayes after one manner: but the lande somewhat higher with certaine mountaines all which beare a shewe of minerall matter, wee sought not to lande there in any place, because the weather serued our turne for sayling: but wee suppose that it was like to the former, the Coast ranne Eastward for the space of fiftie leagues. And trending afterwardes the North, wee founde another lande high full of thicke woods, the trees whereof were firres, Ci­presses and such like as are wont to growe in colde Coun­tries. The people differ much from the other, & looke how much the former seemed to be courteous and gentle: so much were these full of rudenesse and ill manners, and so barba­rous that by no signes that euer wee coulde make, wee could haue any kinde of trafficke with them. They cloth thēselues with Beares skinnes and Leopardes and sealles and other beastes skinnes. Their foode as farre as wee coulde per­cieue, [Page] repayring often vnto their dwellings wee suppose to bee by hunting and fishing, and of certaine fruites, which are a kinde of rootes, which the earth yeeldeth of her owne ac­cord. They haue no graine, neither sawe wee any kinde or signe of tyllage, neither is the lande, for the barrennes ther­of apt to beare frute or seed. If at any time we desired by ex­chaunge to haue any of their commodities, they vsed to come to the Sea shore vpon certaine craggie rocks, and wee stan­ding in our Boats, they let downe with a rope what it plea­sed them to giue vs, crying continually that wee should not approch to the lande, demanding immediately the exchange taking nothing but kniues, fishookes and tooles to cut with­all, neither did they make any account of our curtesie. And when we had nothing left to exchange with them, when we departed from them the people shewed all signes of discour­tesie and disdaine, as was possible for any creature to inuent. Wee were in despight of them two or three leagues within the lande, being in number 25. armed men of vs: And when wee went on shore they shot at vs with their bowes, making great outcries, and afterwardes fled into the woods. Wee founde not in this lande any thing notable, or of importance, sauing very great woods and certaine hilles, they may haue some mynerall matter in them, because wee sawe many of thē haue beadstones of Copper hanging at their eares. We departed from thence keeping our course North East along the coaste, which wee founde more pleasant champion and without woods, with high mountaines within the lande continuing directly along the coast for the space of fiftie leagues, wee discouered 32. Ilelandes lying all neare the lande, being small and pleasant to the viewe, high and ha­uing many turnings and windings betwene them, making many fayre harboroughes and chanels as they doe in the goulfe of Venice in Saluonia, and Dalmatia, wee had no knowledge or acquaintance with the people: wee suppose they are of the same maners and nature that the others are. Sayling Northeast for the space of 150. leagues we appro­ched [Page] to the lande that in times past was discouered by the Britons, which is in fiftie degrees. Hauing now spent all our prouision and victuals, and hauing discouered about 700. leagues and more of newe Countries, and being furnished with Water and Wood wee concluded to returne into Fraunce.

Touching the religion of this people, which wee haue founde for want of their language we could not vnderstand neither by signes nor gesture that they had any religion or lawe at all, or that they did acknowledge any first cause or mouer, neither that they worship the heauen or starres the Sunne or Moone or other Planets, and much lesse whe­ther they bee idolaters, neither coulde wee learne whether that they vsed any kinde of Sacrifices or other adorations, neither in their villages haue they any Temples or houses of prayer. We suppose that they haue no religion at all, and y ^t they liue at their owne libertie. And y ^t all this procee­deth of ignorance, for that they are very easie to bee persua­ded: and all that they see vs Christians doe in our diuine ser­uice they did the same with the like imitation as they sawe vs to doe it.

IN the yere of our Lord 1200. There was in the Citie of Ve­nice a famous Gentleman, na­med M. Marino Zeno, who for his great vertue and singular wisedome, was called and elec­ted gouernour in certain com­mon wealthes of Italy, in the administration whereof hee bore himselfe so discreetly, that hee was beloued of all men, and his name greatly reueren­ced of those that neuer knewe or sawe his person. And a­mong sundrie his worthie workes, this is recorded of him, that hee pacified certaine greeuous ciuile dissentions that arose among the Cittzens of Verona: whereas otherwise if by his graue aduise and great diligence, they had not beene preuented, the matter was likely to breake out in hot broiles of warre. Podesta. Hee was the first Agent that the common wealth of Venice kept in Constantinople in the yeere 1205. quan­do n'era patrona, conli baroni frācesi. This Gentleman had a sonne named M. Pietro, who was the father of the Duke Rinieri, which Duke dying with out issue, made his heyre M. Andrea, the sonne af M. Marco his brother. This M. Andrea was captaine generall and Procurator, a man of great reputation for many rare partes, that were in him. He had a sonne M. Rinieri, a worthie Senatour and pru­dent Councellour: Of whom descende M. Pietro Gene­rall of the league of the Christians against the Turkes, who was called Dragon, for that in his armes hee bare a Dragon. Hee was father to M. Carlo the famous Procurator and Generall againste the Genowayes in [Page] those cruel warres, when as almost all the chiefe princes of Europe did oppugne and seek to ouerthrow our Empire and libertie, where by his great valiancie and prowesse like an other Furius Camillus, he deliuered his Countrie from the present perill it was in, being readie to become a pray & spoyle vnto the enemie, wherefore hee was afterwarde sur­named, the Lion, and for an eternall remembrance of his for­titude and valiant exploits he gaue the Lion in his armes. M. Carlo had two brethren, M. Nicolo, the knight & Anto­nio, the father M. Dragon, of whom issued M. Caterino, the father of M. Pietro, this M. Pietro had sonnes M. Ca­terino, that dyed the last yeere, M. Francisco, M. Carlo, M. Battista, and M. Vincenzo. That M. Caterino was father to M. Nicolo, that is yet liuing. Now M. Nicolo, the knight, being a man of great courage and very nobly minded, after this foresaide warre of Genoua, that troubled so our prede­cessours, entred into a wonderfull great desire and fansie to see the fashions of the world, and to trauaile, and to acquaint himselfe with the manners of sundry nations & learne their languages, wherby afterwards vpō occasions hee might be y ^e better able to do seruice to his coūtrie & purchase to him­selfe credite & honor. Wherfore hee caused a shippe to bee made & hauing furnished her at his proper charges (as hee was very wealthie) hee departed out of our Seas & passing the straites of Gibralterra, he sailed for certaine dayes vpon y ^e Ocean keeping his course stil to y ^e Northwards, w ^t intent to see England and Flaunders. Where being assaulted in those Seas by a terrible tempest, was so tossed for the space of many dayes with the Sea and winde that hee knewe not where hee was, till at length hee discouered lande, and not beeing able any longer to sustaine the violence of the tem­pest the ship was cast away vpon the Isle of Friseland. The ship of M. N. Zeno cast a­way vpon Fris­land in anno. 1380. The men were saued, and most part of the goods that were in the Ship. And this was in the yeere 1380. The inhabitants of the Iland came running in great multitudes w ^t weapons to set vpon M. Nicolo and his men, who beeing sore wether beaten and ouerlaboured at Sea, and not knowing in what [Page] part of the worlde they were, were not able to make any re­sistaunce at all, much lesse to defende them selues couragi­ously, as it behooued them in such dangerous case. And they shoulde haue beene doubtlesse very discourteously en­treated and cruelly handeled, if by good hap there had not been hard by the place a Prince with armed people. Who vnderstanding, that there was euen at that present a great ship cast away vpon the Iland, came running at the noyse and outcries that they made against our poore Mariners, and driuing away the inhabitants, A forraine prince hapning to be in Frislād w ^t armed men. When M. Zeno suffered ship­wrack, there came vnto him and spake latin. spake in latine and asked them what they were and from whence they came, and per­ceiuing y ^t they were Italians, & all of one Countrie, he was surprised with marueilous great ioy. Wherefore promi­sing thē all, that they shoulde receiue no discourtesie, and that they were come into a place where they shoulde bee well v­sed and very welcome, he tooke them into his protection vp­on his faith. This was a great Lord and possessed certaine Ilands called Porland, lying one the Southside of Frisland being y ^e richest and most populous of all those partes, his name was Zichmni: Zichmni prince of Porland or duke of Zorani. & beside the said little Ilands, he was Duke of Sorani, lying within the land towards Scotland. Of these North partes I thought good to draw the copie of a Sea carde, which amongest other antiquities, I haue in my house, which although it be rotten through many yeres: yet it falleth out indifferent well, and to those that are de­lighted in these things, it may serue for some light to the vn­derstanding of that, which without it cannot so easily be con­ceiued. Zichmni being Lorde of those Seignories (as is said) was a very warlike and valiant man & aboue al things famous in Sea causes. And hauing this yeere before gi­uen the ouerthrowe to the king of Norway, who was Lord of the Ilande, Frisland the king of Nor­wayes. beeing desirous to winne fame by feates of armes, was come on land with his mē to giue the attēpt, for y ^e winning of Frisland, which is an Iland much bigger then Ireland. Wherefore seeing that M. Nicolo was a mā of iudgement and discretion, and very expert both in Sea mat­ters and martiall affaires, hee gaue him commission to goe aboord his nauie with all his men, charging the captaine to [Page] honour him and in all things to vse his counsaile. This Nauie of Zichmni was of thirteene vessels, wherof two on­ly were with oares, the rest small barkes, and one ship, with the which they sayled to the Westwardes and with little paines wonne Ledouo and Ilofe and diuers other small I­landes, and turning into a bay called Sudero, in the hauen of the towne named Sanestol they tooke certaine small Barks laden with salt fish. And heere they founde Zichmni, who came by land with his armie conquering all the countrie as he went, they staied here but a while but held on their course to the Westwards till they came to the other Cape of the goulfe or bay, then turning againe they found certaine Ile­landes and broken landes which they reduced all vnto the Seignorie and possession of Zichmni. These Seas for as much as they sayled, were in maner nothing but sholds and rocks, in sort that if M. Nicolo and the venetian mariners had not beene their Pilots, the whole Fleete in iudgement of all that were in it, had been cast away, so small was y ^e skill of Zichmnis men in respect of ours, who had been trained vp in the art and practise of nauigation all the daies of their life. Now the Fleete hauing doone such things, (as is decla­red) y ^e Captaine by the counsel of M. Nicolo, determined to goe a lande at a towne called Bondendon, to vnderstande what successe Zichmni had in his warres, where they heard to their great content, that he had fought a great battaile and put to flight the armie of his enemie: by reason of which vic­torie they sent Embassadours from all partes of the Ilande to yeeld the countrie vp into his handes, taking down their enseignes in euery towne and castell: They thought good to stay in that place for his comming, being reported for cer­taine that the would bee there very shortly. At his comming there was great congratulatiō and many signes of gladnes shewed, as wel for the victorie by lande as for that by Sea, for the which the venetians were honoured & extolled of all men, in such sort y ^t there was no talke but of them, and of y ^e great valour of M. Nicolo. Wherfore the Prince who was a great fauourer of valiant men and especially of those that [Page] could behaue them selues well at the Sea, caused M. Nico­lo to bee brought before him, and after hauing commended him with many honourable speeches, and praysed his great industrie and dexterie of wit, by the which, he acknowledged himselfe to haue receiued an inestimable benefite as the sa­uing of his Fleete and the winning of many places, he made him Knight, N. Zeno, made knight by Zichmni. and rewarded his men with many riche and bountifull giftes: Then departing from thence they went in triumphing maner towardes Friseland, the chief Citie of y ^e Ilande, Ships laden with fish at fris­land: for Flaun­ders, Britaine. England, Scotland, Norway, and Denmark. But not to bee proued that euer any came thēce. A letter sent by master. N. Zeno from Friseland to his brother, M. Antonio in Venice. End of the first letter. situate on the Southest side of the Isle, within a goulf, (as there are very many in that Iland). In this goulfe or bay there is such great abundance of fish taken, that many ships are laden therewith to serue Flaunders, Britaine, Eng­land, Scotland, Norway and Denmarke, and by this trade they gather great wealth.

And thus much is taken out of a letter, that M. Nicolo sent vnto M. Antonio his brother, requesting him that hee woulde seeke some meanes to come to him. Wherefore hee, who had as great desire to trauaile as his brother, bought a Ship, and directing his course that way, after hee had sayled a great while and escaped many dangers, hee ar­riued at length in safetie with M. Nicolo, who receiued him very ioyfully, for that hee was his brother not only in fleshe and blood, but also in valour and good qualities. M. An­tonio remained in Friselande and dwelt there for the space of fourteene yeeres, foure yeeres with M. Nicolo, and ten yeeres alone. Where they came into such grace and fa­uour with the Prince, that hee made M. Nicolo, Captaine of his Nauie, & with great preparation of warre they were sent foorth for the enterprise of Estlande, which lyeth vpon the coaste betweene Friseland and Norway, where they did many dōmages, but hearing that the king of Norway was comming towardes them with a great Fleet, they departed w ^t such a terrible flaw of wind y ^t they were driuē vpō certain sholdes. Where a great part of their ships were cast away, y ^e rest were saued vpō Grisland, a great Iland but dishabited. [Page] The king of Norway his fleete being taken with the same storme, did vtterly perishe in those seas. Whereof Zichmni hauing notice, by a shippe of his enemies, that was cast by chaunce vpon Grisland. Hauing repayred his fleete, and perceyuing him selfe northerly neere vnto the Islandes, de­termined to set vpon Islande, which together with the rest was subiect to the king of Norway: But he founde the coun­trey so well fortified and defended, that his fleete beeing so small and very ill appointed both of weapons and men, hee was gladde to retire. And so hee left that enterprise with­out perfourming any thing at all, and in the same chanelles he assaulted y ^e other Iles called the Islands, which are seuen Talas, Broas, Iscant, Trans, Mimant, Dambere, & Bres, and hauing spoyled them all, hee built a fort in Bres, where he left M. Nicolo, with certaine small barkes and men and munition. And nowe thinking he had done well for this voy­age, with those fewe shippes which were left hee returned into Frieslande. M. Nicolo remayning nowe in Bres de­termined vpon a time to goe forth and discouer lande, where­fore arming out their small barkes in the moneth of Iuly, Engrouelande. Preaching Fri­ers of S. Tho­mas. he sayled to the Northwardes, and arriued in Engrouelande. Where he founde a monastery of Fryers of the order of the Predicators, and a Church dedicated to S. Thomas harde by a hill, that casteth forth fire, like Vesuuius and Etna.

There is a fountayne of hot burning water with the whiche they heate the Churche of the monasterie and the Fryers chambers, it commeth also into the kitchen so boyling hotte, that they vse no other fire to dresse their meate, and putting their bread into brasse pottes without any water, it doeth bake as it were in a hot ouen. They haue also small gar­dens, couered ouer in the winter time, which being watered with this water are defended from the force of the snowe and colde, which in those parts being situate farre vnder the pole, is very extreeme; A notable [...] and by this meanes they produce flo­wers and fruites and herbes of sundrie sortes, euen as in o­ther temperate countreys in their seasons in suche sorte that the rude and sauage people of those partes seeing these su­pernaturall [Page] effectes doe take those Friers for Gods, and bring them many presentes as chickens, fleshe and diuers o­ther thinges, and haue them all in great reuerence as Lords. When the frost and snowe is great, they heate their houses in maner before said, and will by letting in the water or ope­ning the windowes, temper the heate and colde at their plea­sure. In y ^e buildings of the monastery they vse no other mat­ter but that which is ministred vnto them by the fire, for they take the burning stones, that are cast out as it were sparkles or ceindres at the firie mouth of the hill, and when they are most enflamed, cast water vpon them, wherby they are dissol­ued and become excellēt white lime and so tough that being contriued in building it lasteth for euer. And the very spar­kles after the fire is out of them do serue in steede of stones to make walles and vautes: for being once colde they will ne­uer dissolue or breake except they be cut with some irō toole, and the vautes that are made of them are so light that they need no sustentacle or proppe to holde them vp, and they wil endure continually very fayre and whole. By reason of these great commodities the friers haue made there so many buil­dings and walles, that it is a wonder to see. The couerts or roofes of their houses for the most part are made in this ma­ner, first they rayse the wall vp to his full height, then they make it enclining or bowing in by litle and litle in forme of a vaute. But they are not greatly troubled with raine in those partes, for that, by reason of the pole or colde climate, the first snowe being falne it thaweth no more for the space of nine moneths, for so long dureth their winter. They feede of the fleshe of wilde beastes & of fish, for where as the warme water falleth into the sea, there is a large and wide hauen, which by reason of the heate of the water, doeth neuer freeze all the winter, by meanes whereof there is suche concourse and flocks of sea foule and such aboundance of fishe, that they take thereof infinite multitudes, whereby they maintayne a great number of people rounde about whiche they keepe in continuale worke, both in building and taking of foules and fishe, and in a thousande other necessarie affaires and busines [Page] about the monasterie.

Their houses are builte about the hill on euery side, in fourme rounde, and 25. foote broade, and in mounting vp­wardes they goe narower and narower, leauing at the toppe a litle hole, whereat the ayre commeth in, to giue light to the house, and the flore of the house is so hot, that being with­in they feele no colde at all. Trade in som­mer time from Trondon to S. Thomas friers in Ingrouclād. Hither in the sommer time come many barkes from the Ilands there about, & from the Cape aboue Norway and from Trondon. And bring to the Friers al maner things that may be desired, taking in change there­of fishe which they drie in the sunne or in the colde, and skins of diuers kindes of beastes. For the which they haue wood to burne and timber verie artificially carued, and corne & cloth to make them apparell. For in change of the two foresayde commodities all the nations bordering rounde about them couet to trafficke with them, and so they without any trauell or expences haue that which they desire. To this monasterie resort Friers of Norway, Resort of friers from Norway & Sueden, to the monasterie in Ingrouelande called S. Thō. of Suetia and of other countreys but the most part are of the Islandes. There are continually in that part many barkes, whiche are kept in there by reason of the sea being frozen, wayting for the season of the yeere to dissolue the Ice. The fishers boates are made like vnto a we­uers shuttle, taking the skins of fishes, they fashiō them with the bones of the same fishes, and sowing thē together in ma­ny doubles they make them so sure and substanciall, that it is miraculous to see, how in tempests they will shut thēselues close within, and let the sea and winde carrie them, they care not whether, without any feare eyther of breaking or drow­ning. And if they chance to be driuen vpō any rocks, they re­maine sounde, without the least bruse in the worlde: And they haue as it were a sleeue in the bottome which is tied fast in y ^e middle, & when there cōmeth any water into their boat, they put it into the one halfe of y ^e sleeue, thē fastning y ^e ende of it w ^t two peeces of wood and loosing y ^e band beneath they conuey the water forth of the boate: and this they doe as often as they haue occasion without any perill or impediment at all.

Moreouer, the water of the monasterie being of sulphurious [Page] or brimstone nature is conueyed into the lodginges of the principall Friers by certaine vessels of brasse, tinne or stone so hotte that it heateth the place as it were a stowe, not carry­ing with it any stinke or other noysome smell.

Besides this they haue another conueyance to bring hot water with a wall vnder the ground to the ende it should not freese, vnto the middle of the court, where it falleth in­to a great vessel of brasse, that standeth in the middle of a boy­ling fountayne, and this is to heate their water to drinke and to water their gardens, and thus they haue from the hill the greatest commodities that may be wished, and so these Fry­ers employ all their trauaile and studie for the most part in trimming their gardins and in making faire and beawtifull buildings and especially handsome and commodious, ney­ther are they destitute of ingenious and painefull artificers for the purpose, for they giue very large payment, and to them that bring them fruites and seedes they are very boun­tifull and giue they care not what. So that there is great resort of workemen and maisters in diuers faculties, by rea­son of the good gaines and large allowance that is there.

The most of them speake the Latin tongue, and especially the superiours and principalls of the monasterie. In the monasta­rie S. Thomas most of them speake the latin tongue. and of the two letter. And this is as muche as is knowen of Engrouelande, which is all by the relation of M. Nicolo, who maketh also particular de­scription of a riuer, that he discouered, as is to be seene in the carde that I drewe. And in the ende M. Nicolo not be­ing vsed and acquainted with these cruell coldes, fell sicke, and a litle while after returned into Frislande, where he dy­ed. He left behinde him in Venice two sonnes, M. Giouanni and M. Toma, who had two sonnes M. Nicolo, the father of the famous Cardinal Zeno, and M. Pietro of whom descen­ded the other Zenos, that are liuing at this day.

N. Zeno died in Frislande.Now M. Nicolo being dead, M. Aotonio succeeded him both in his goods and in his dignities & honour, and albeit he at­tempted diuers wayes and made greate supplication hee coulde neuer obtaine licence to returne into his Countrey. For Zichmni had determined to make him selfe Lorde of [Page] the sea. Wherefore vsing alwayes the counsaile and ser­uice of M. Antonio, hee sent hym with some small barkes to the Westwardes, for that towardes those partes some of his fishermen had discouered certaine Ilandes verye rich and populous, whiche discouerie, M. Antonio in a letter to his brother M. Carlo, recounteth from point to point in this manner, sauing that wee haue chaunged some olde woordes, leauing the matter entire as it was

Sixe and twentie yeeres agoe there departed foure Fisher boates, the whiche a mightie tempest arising, 3. letter begin­neth from the second brother M. Antonio out of Frislande, to his other bro­ther in Venice named Master Carlo. Estotiland. 6. Fisher men taken. were tossed for the space of manye dayes verye desperately vpon the Sea, when at length the tempeste ceassyng and the weather waxing fayre they discouered an Ilande called Es­totilande, lying to the Westwardes aboue 1000. Miles from Frislande, vpon the whiche one of the boates was caste awaye, and sixe men that were in it were taken of the inhabitauntes and brought vnto a verye fayre and populous Citie, where the kyng of the place sent for manye in­terpreters, but there was none coulde bee founde that vn­derstoode the language of the fishermen, excepte one that spake Latin, Fishermen of Frislande spake latin. who was also cast by chaunce vpon the same I­lande, who in the behalfe of the kyng asked them what Countreymen they were, and so vnderstanding theyr case, rehearsed it vnto the King, who willed that they shoulde tarrie in the Countrey, wherefore they obeyinge his commaundement for that they coulde not otherwise doe, Sixe were 5. yeeres in Esto­tilande. dwelte fiue yeeres in the Ilande, and learned the lan­guage, and one of them was in diuers partes of the Ilande, and reporteth that it is a verye riche Countrey, One of the f sh­ers of Frisland reporteth of E­stotilande. Estotilande rich: abounding with al the com­moditie of the worlde. abounding with all the commodities of the worlde, and that it is little lesse than Islande, but farre more fruitefull, hauing in the middle thereof a verye hyghe mountayne, from the whiche there riseth foure Riuers, that passe throughe the whole Countrey.

The inhabitantes are very wittie people, and haue all the artes and faculties as wee haue: and it is credible, that in time past they haue had trafficke with our men, for he [Page] sayde that he sawe latin bookes in the Kings library, whiche they at this present doe not vnderstande, they haue a peculi­ar language and letters or caracters to them selues. They haue mines of all manner of mettals, Aboundance of golde. trade from esto­tiland, to En­groueland-skins, brimstone and pitche. Gold, corne, and bere, or ale. Many cities and castles. but especially they abounde with golde. They haue their trade in Engroueland from whence they bring skins and brimstone and pitch: And he saith that to y ^e southwards, there is a great populous coū ­trey very rich of gold. They sowe corne and make bere or ale, which is a kind of drinke that the north people doe vse as we do wine. They haue mightie great woods, they make their buildings with wals, and there are many cities & cast­els. They build smal barkes and haue sayling, but they haue not the lodestone nor know not the vse of the cōpasse. Wher­fore these fishers were had in great estimatiō, insomuch that the king sent them with 12. barkes to the southwardes to a countrey whiche they call Drogio: A countrey cal­led Drogio. but in their voyage they had suche countrary weather, that they thought all to haue perished in the sea, but yet escaping that cruell death, they fel into another more cruel. For they were takē in the countrey and the most parte of them eaten by the Sauage people, which feede vpon mans fleshe, as the sweetest meate in their iudgementes that is.

The 6. fishermē of frisland only saued, by shew­ing the maner to take fishe. The chiefest of the 6. fishers, specified before his cōpanionsBut that fisher with his fellowes shewyng them the ma­ner of taking fishe with nettes, saued their liues: and woulde goe euery day a fishing to the sea and in fresh riuers, and take great aboundance of fish and giue it to the chiefe men of the countrey, whereby hee got him selfe so great fauour, that hee was very well beloued and honoured of euery one.

The fame of this man being spred abroad in the countrey, there was a Lorde thereby that was verie desirous to haue him with him, and to see howe hee vsed his miraculous arte of catching fishe, in so muche that he made warre with the other Lorde, with whom hee was before, and in the ende preuayling, for that hee was more mightie and a better war­riour, In the space of 13. yeres in Drogi [...]. the fisherman was sent vnto him with the rest of his company. And for the space of thirteene yeeres that hee dwelt in those partes, he saith, that he was sent in this order [Page] to more than 25. Lordes, Sent to more then 25. lords, which continually warred amongst thē selues for the same fisherman. for they had continuall warre a­mongest them selues, this Lorde with that Lord and he with an other, onely to haue him to dwell with them, so that wan­dring vp and downe the Countrey without any certayne a­bode in one place, hee knewe almost all those partes. He saith that it is a very great countrey and as it were a newe world, the people very rude and voyde of all goodnesse, they goe all naked so that they are miserablie vexed with colde, neyther haue they the wit to couer their bodies w ^t beastsskins, w ^t they take in huntinge, they haue no kind of metal, they liue by hū ­ting, they carie certain lances of wood, made sharp at y ^e point, they haue bowes, the stringes whereof are made of beastes skinnes: They are a very fierce people, they make cruell warres one with another, and eate one an other, they haue gouernours and certayne lawes verye diuers amongest them selues. But the farther to the South westwardes, the more ciuility there is, the ayre being somewhat temperat, so that there they haue Cities, and temples to Idolls, where­in they sacrifice men and afterwardes eate them, they haue there some knowledge and vse of gold and siluer.

Nowe this fisher hauing dwelt so many yeeres in those countreys, purposed if it were possible to returne home in­to his countrey, but his companions dispayring euer to see it agayne, let him goe in Gods name, they kept them selues, where they were. Wherefore hee bidding them farewel, fledde through the woods towardes Drogio, and was verie well receiued of the Lorde that dwelt next to that place who knewe him and was a great enemie of the other Lorde, and so running from one Lorde to an other, being those by whō hee had passed before, after long time and many trauelles he came at length to Drogio where hee dwelt three yeeres. 3. yeres in Dr [...] ­gio. When as by good fortune he heard by y ^e inhabitants, y ^t there were certaine boates arriued vpon y ^e coast, wherfore entring into good hope to accōplish his intent, Where by happ arriued certaine boates from E­stotsland. he went to y ^e sea side & asking thē of what countrey they were, they answered of Es­totiland whereat he was exceeding glad, and requested that [Page] they woulde take him into them, He became in­terpreter for y ^e men that ariued at drogeo in the boates of Esto­tilande. Afterwards hee frequ nted that trade with them in such sort, that he became very rich. And so fur­nished a bark of his owne & re­turned to Fris­lande where hee reported the sto­ry to his Lorde Zichmni. Zichmni minded to [...]end M. An­tonio Zeno with a flee [...]e towards those partes of Estotilande. end of 3. letter. whiche they did verye wil­lingly, and for that hee had the language of the Countrey and there was none of them coulde speake it they vsed him for their interpreter.

And after that hee frequented that trade with them, in such sorte that hee became verye riche and so furnishing out a barke of his owne hee returned into Frislande, where hee made reporte vnto this Lorde of that welthie Countrey.

And hee is throughly credited because of the Mariners, who approoue many straunge thinges, that hee reporteth to bee true. Wherefore this Lorde is resolued to sende me foorth with a fleete towardes those partes, and there are so manye that desire to goe in the voyage, for the noueltie and strange­nesse of the thing, that I thinke we shall be very strongly ap­pointed, without any publike expence at all. And this is the tenor of the letter before mentioned which I haue heere set downe, to giue intelligence of an other voyage, that M. An­tonio made, being set out with many Barkes and men, not­withstanding hee was not captaine as hee had thought at the first hee shoulde, for Zichmni went in his owne person: & concerning this matter I haue a letter in forme as folow­eth. 4. letter be­ginneth frō M. Antonio in fris­land, to his bro­ther Carlo in Venice. The fisherman dead that should haue bin guid & interpreter. Certaine mar­riners taken in his steede which came with him frō Estotiland. Iuly Ile Ilofe. Our great preparation for the voyag of Estotiland, was begun in an vnluckie houre, for three dayes before our de­parture, the fisherman died, that shoulde haue been our guid: notwithstanding this Lorde woulde not giue ouer the enter­prize, but in steade of the fisherman tooke certayne Marri­ners that returned out of the Ilande with him, and so ma­king our nauigation to the Westwards, we discouered cer­tayne Ilandes subiect to Frislande, and hauing passed cer­tayne shelues we stayed at Ledouo for the space of 7. dayes to refreshe our selues, and furnish the fleete with necessarie prouision. Departing from hence we arriued the first of Iu­ly at the Ile of Ilofe, and for that the winde made for vs, wee stayed not there, but passed forth, & being vpon the maine sea, there arose immediatly a cruell tempest wherewith for eight dayes space wee were miserably vexed, not knowing where wee were, and a great part of the Barkes [Page] were cast away, afterwarde waxing faire wether we gathe­red vp the broken peeces of the Barkes that were lost, and sayling with a prosperous winde wee discouered lande at West. Wherefore keeping our course directly vpon it, Zichmni his first discouery of the Iland Icaria. wee arriued in a very good and safe harborough, where wee sawe an infinite companie of people readie in armes, come running very furiously to the water side, Infinit number of people in armes. as it were for de­fence of the Ilande. Wherefore Zichimni causing his men to make signes of peace vnto them, they sent tenne men vnto vs that coulde speake tenne languages, but wee coulde vnderstande none of them, except one that was of Island. An Island man in Icaria. He being brought before our Prince and asked, what was the name of the Iland, and what people inhabited it, and who gouerned it, answered, that the Iland was called Icaria, Icaria Ilande. All the kings y ^t had raigned in that Ilād were called Icari af­ter the name of the first king of y ^e place: which they say was the sonne of Deda­lus king of Scots. Icarius drow­ned. Icarian Sea. and that all the kinges that had raigned there, were called Icari, after the name of the first king of that place, which as they say was the sonne of Dedalus king of Scotland, who con­quering that Iland, left his sonne there for king, and left thē those lawes that they retaine to this present, and after this, he desiring to sayle further, in a great tempest that arose, was drowned, wherefore for a memoriall of his death, they call those Seas yet, the Icarian Sea, and the kings of the Iland Icari, and for that they were contented with that state, which god had giuē them, neither whold they alter one iote of their lawes and customes, they would not receiue any straunger, wherefore they requested our Prince, that hee woulde not seeke to violate their lawes, which they had receiued from that king of worthie memorie and obserued very duly to that present: which if hee did attempt, it woulde redounde to his manifest destruction, they being all resolutely bent rather to leaue their life, than to loose in any respect the vse of their lawes. Notwithstanding, that wee should not thinke they did altogether refuse the conuersation and trafficke with other men, they tolde vs for conclusion that they would wil­lingly receiue one of our men, The people of Icaria desirous of the Italian tongue. and preferre him to be one of y ^e chiefe amongest them, only to learne my language the Italian tongue, and to bee enformed of our maners and cu­stomes, [Page] as they had alreadie receiued those other tenne of tenne sundrie nations, Hauing in that Iland 10. men of ten sundry nations. that came vnto their Iland. To these things our Prince answered nothing at all, but causing his men to seeke some good harborough, hee made signes as though he would come on land, and sayling round about the Iland, hee espied at length a harborough on the East side of the Ilande, where he put in with all his Fleet, the mariners went on land to take in wood and water, which they did with as great speede as they coulde, doubting least they shoulde be assaulted by the inhabitants as it fell out in deed, for those that dwelt there abouts, making signes vnto the other with fire and smoke, put them selues presently in armes and the other comming to them, they came al running downe to the Sea side vpon our men, with bowes and arrowes and other weapons, that many were slaine and diuers sore wounded. And we made signes of peace vnto them, but it was to no purpose, for their rage encreased more and more, as though they had fought for life and liuing. Wherefore wee were forced to depart and to sayle along in a great circuite about the Iland, being alwaies accompanied vpon the hil tops and the Sea coast with an infinite multitude of armed men, Infinite multi­tude of armed men in Icaria. and so doubling the Cape of the Iland towardes the North, wee found many great sholdes amongst the which for the space of ten daies we were in continual danger of loosing our whole Fleete, but that it pleased God all that while to send vs very faire weather. Wherefore proceeding on till we came to y ^e East cape, we sawe the inhabitaunts still on the hill tops & by the Sea coast keepe with vs, and in making great out­cries & shooting at vs a farre of they vttered their olde spite­full affection towards vs. Wherefore we determined to stay in some safe harborough, and see if we might speak once againe with the Islander, but our determination was fru­strate, for the people more like vnto beastes than men, stood continually in armes w ^t intent to beat vs backe, if we should come on lande. Wherefore Zichmni seeing hee coulde not preuaile and thought if hee shoulde haue perseuered and [Page] followed obstinately his purpose, their victuals would haue failed them, Zichmni departed from Icari [...] Westwards. hee departed with a faire winde and sailed sixe dayes to the Westwards, but the winde chaunging to the Southwest and the Sea waxing rough wee sayled 4. dayes with the wind in the powpe and at length discouering land, Sight of land. wee were afraide to approch neere vnto it, being the Sea growen, and we not knowing what lande it was, but God prouided for vs, that the winde ceasing there came a greate calme. Wherefore some of our companie rowing to land with oares, returned and brought vs word to our great com­forte, that they had founde a very good Countrie and a better harborough, vpon which newes wee towed our ships & smal Barkes to land, and being entred into the harborough, wee sawe a farre of a great mountaine, y ^e cast forth smoke, which gaue vs good hope that we shoulde finde some inhabitantes in y ^e Iland, neither would Zichmni rest, although it were a great way of, 100. good soul­diers sent by Zichmni to search the coun­trie (which countrie is not named.) but send a 100. good souldiers to search the Countrie and bring report what people they were that inha­bited it, and in the meane time they tooke in wood & water for the prouision of the Fleete, and catcht great store of fishe and Sea foule and founde such abundance of birdes egges that our men that were halfe famished, were filled withall. Whiles we were riding here, began the moneth of Iune, Iune. The ayre so tē ­perate & sweete, as impossible to expresse it. at which time the ayre in the Iland was so temperate and plea­sant as is impossible to expresse, but when we coulde see no people at all, wee suspected greatly that this pleasant place was desolate and dishabited. Wee gaue name to the hauen calling it Trim, Hauen Trim. and the point that stretched out into y ^e sea wee called Capo di Trim. Capo di Trim. The 100, soul­diers returned which had been through the I­land, report what they sawe and found. The 100. souldiers that were sent foorth, eight dayes after returned, and brought worde that they had been through the Ilande and at the mountaine and that the smoke was a naturall thing proceeding from a great fire that was in the bottome of the hill, and that there was a spring from which issued, a certaine matter like pitch, which ran into the Sea, and that there aboutes dwelt greate multitudes of people half wilde, hiding thēselues in caues of [Page] the grounde, of small stature, and very fearefull, for as soone as they sawe them they fled into their holes, and that there was a great riuer and a very good harborough. Zichimni being thus enformed, and seeing that it had a holsome and pure ayre, and a very fruitefull soyle and fayre riuers with sundrie other commodities, fell into such liking of the place, that hee determined to inhabite it, and build there a Citie.

But his people being weary and faint with their long and tedious trauaile began to tumult and murmure, saying that they woulde returne into their Countrie, for that the winter was at hand, and if they entred into the harborough, they should not be able to come out againe before the next Som­mer. Zichmni deter­mining to re­maine in the new discouered land, kept with him his barkes with oares, and mē that were willing & sent the rest away homewards: Appointing Antonio Zeno chiefe captaine of them. Antonio Zeno had sight of Ne­ome, and knewe himselfe past Island. Ende of the 4. letter. A peece of a 5. letter. Wherefore hee retaining only the Barkes with Oares and such as were willing to stay with him, sent all the rest with the shippes backe againe, and willed that I, (though vnwilling) should bee their Captaine. I there­fore departing, sayled for the space of twentie dayes to the Estwards without sight of any land, then turning my course towardes Southeast in fiue dayes I discouered lande and founde my selfe vpon the Ile of Neome and knowing the Countrie, I perceiued I was past Islande: wherefore ta­king in some fresh victuals of the inhabitants being subiect to Zichmni, I sayled with a faire winde in three dayes to Frisland, where the people, who thought they had lost their Prince, because of his long absence, in this our voyage, re­ceiued vs very ioyfully.

What followed after this letter I know not but by con­iecture, which I gather out of a peece of an other letter, which I will set downe heere vnderneath: That Zichmni builte a towne in the port of the Iland that hee discouered, and that hee searched the Countrie very diligently and dis­couered it all, and also the riuers on both sides of Engroue­land, for that I see it particularly described in the Sea card, but the discourse or narration is lost. The beginning of the letter is thus. Beginning of the letter. Concerning those things that you de­sire to knowe of mee, as of the men and their manners and customes, of the beastes and the Countries adioyning, I [Page] haue made thereof a particular booke, which by Gods helpe I will bring with mee: Wherein I haue described the coun­trie, the monstrous fishes, y ^e customes and lawes of Frisland, Island, Estland, the kingdome of Norway, Estotiland, Dro­gio, and in the ende the life of master Nicolo, the knight our brother, with the discouerie which he made and of Gro­land. I haue also written the life and acts of Zichmni, a Prince as worthie of immortall memory, as any that euer liued, for his great valiancie and singuler humanitie, where­in I haue described the discouerie of Engroueland on both sides, and the Citie that hee builded. Therefore I will speake no further hereof in this letter, hoping to be with you very shortly, and to satisfie you in sundrie other thinges by worde of mouth. All these letters were written by master Antonio to master Carlo his brother. And it greeueth me, that the booke and diuers other writinges concerning these purposes, are miserably lost: For I beeing but a child, when they came to my handes, and not knowing what they were, (as the manner of children is) I tore them, and rent them in peeces, which now I cannot call to remembrance but to my greef. Notwithstanding, that the memory of so many good thinges shoulde not bee lost: whatsoeuer I could get of this matter, I haue disposed and put in order, in the former dis­course, to the ende that this age might bee partly satisfi­ed, to y ^e which wee are more beholden for the great discoue­ries made in those partes, then to any other of the time past, beeing most studious of the relations of the discoueries of strange Countries, made by the great mindes, and industry of our auncetours.

This discourse was collected by Ramusio Secretarie to the state of Venice, (or by the Printer Tho. Gi­unti.)

Iohn Baptista Ramusio, died in Padua in Iuly, 1557.

WHere as in the yeere of our Lorde God 1562. it pleased God to moue your honour, to choose and appoint vs, to dis­couer and view a certaine long coast of the West India, from the head of the lande called La­florida, drawing towarde the North part, vnto the head of Britons, distant from the saide head of Laflorida 900. leagues, or there about: to the ende wee might certifie you & make true report of the tempera­ture, fertilitie, Portes, Hauens, Riuers, and generally of all the commodities that bee seene and found in that lande, and also to learne what people were there dwelling, which thing you haue long time agoe desired, beeing stirred therevnto by this zeale: That Fraunce might one day through newe discoueries haue knowledge of strange Countries, and also thereof to receiue (by meanes of continuall trafficke) riche and inestimable commodities, as other nations haue done by taking in hand such farre nauigations, both to the honor and prowes of their kings and princes, & also to the encrease of great profite and vse to their common wealthes, countries & dominions, which is most of all w ^tout cōparisō to be conside­red & esteemed. It seemeth well y ^t yee haue been stirred here­unto euen of God aboue, & led to it by the hope & desire you haue that a number of brutishe people and ignorant of Iesus Christe, may by his grace come to some knowledge of his holy Lawes and Ordinaunces. So therefore it see­meth that it hath pleased God by his godly prouidence to [Page] reserue the care which hee hath had of their saluation vntill this time, and will bring them to our faith, at the time by himselfe alone foreseene and ordeined. For if it were need­full to shewe howe many from time to time haue gone about to finde out this great lande, and to inhabite there: who ne­uerthelesse haue alwaies failed & beene put by from their in­tention and purpose: some by feare of shipwrackes, and some by great windes and tempestes that droue them backe to their merueilous griefe. Of the which there was one a very famous stranger named Sebastian Gabota Sebastian Gabota. an excel­lent Pylot sent thither by king Henry, the yeere 1498. and many others, who neuer could attaine to any habitation nor take possession thereof one only foote of grounde, nor yet ap­proche or enter into these parties and faire riuers into the which God hath brought vs. Wherefore (my Lorde) it may bee well saide that the liuing God hath reserued this great lande for your poore seruantes and subiectes, as well to the ende they might bee made great ouer this poore people, & rude nation: as also to approue the former affection which our kings haue had vnto this discouerie.

For y ^e late king Frances the first (of happie memorie) a Prince endued with excellent vertues. The yeere 1524. sent a famous and notable man a Florentine, named Master Iohn Verarzan, Iohn Verarzā. to search and discouer the West parts as farre as might be: Who departing from Deepe with two vessels little differing from the making and bur­den of these two Pinnaces of the kinges, which your honour hath ordeined for this present nauigation. In the which land they haue found the eleuation the Pole, an viii. degrees. The Countrie (as he writeth) goodly, fruitfull, and so good tem­perature, that it is not possible to haue a better: beeing then as yet of no mā seen, nor discerned. But they being not able to bring to passe at this first voyage that which he had inten­ded, nor to arriue in any Port, by reason of sundrie incōueni­ences (which cōmōly happē) were cōstrained to return into Fraunce: where after his arriuall, he neuer ceassed to make [Page] suite vntill he was sent thither againe, where at last he died. The which occasion gaue small courage to sende thither a­gayne, and was the cause that this laudable enterprise was left of, vntill the yeere 1534. at which time his Maiestie, (de­siring alwayes to enlarge his kingdome, countreys and do­minions, and the aduauncing and ease of his subiectes) sent thither a Pilote of S. Mallowes, a briton, named Iames Cartier, Iames Cartier well seene in the art and knowledge of Nauigati­on, & especially of the North parts, commonly called the new land, led by some hope to find passage that waies to the south seas: Who being not able at his first going to bring any thing to passe, that he pretēded to do: was sent thither againe the yeere following, and likewise Le sire Hemerall, and as it is well knowen they did inhabite and builde, and plant the kings armies in the North part a good way in the lande, as farre as Tauadu and Ochisaon. Wherefore (my Lord) trust iustly that a thing so commendable and worthie to bee with good courage attempted, that God woulde guid and keepe vs, desiring alwayes to fulfill your commaundement. When wee had done your businesse, and made our prepara­tions the xviii. day of Februarie 1562 through the fauour of God wee departed with our two vessels out of the hauen of Claue de Grace into the road Caur: and the next day hoysted vp saile (the winde being in y ^e East) which lasted so fiue daies, that we coulde not arriue at the nauch that is from betweene the coast of Briton and Englande and the Iles of Surlinos and Wiskam: So that the Winde blowing with great fu­ry and tempest out of the West, and West Southwest, alto­gether contrary to our way and course, and all that we could doe was to none effecte, besides the great daunger of brea­king of our Mastes, as also to be hindered in our other la­bours. Wherefore as well to shonne many other inconueni­ences, which might follow to the preiudice and breach of our voyage, hauing regard also to the likely daunger of death, y ^e some of our gentlemen and souldiers being troubled with feuers and whot sicknesses, might haue fallen into: as also [Page] for other considerations, wee thought good to fall into the road of Brest in Britaine, to set there our sick folke on land, and suffer the tempest to passe. From whence (after wee had taried there two dayes) wee returned againe to Sea­warde to followe our nauigation, so that (my Lorde) albeit the winde was for a long season very much against vs, and troublesome: yet at the ende (God giuing vs through his grace and accustomed goodnesse a meetely fauourable winde) I determined with all diligence to proue a newe course which hath not beene yet attempted: trauersing the Seas of Oction 1800. Leagues at the least, whiche in deed is the true and short course that hereafter must be kept, to the honour of our nation, reiecting the old conserued opi­on, which to long time hath beene holden as true.

Which is, as it was thought a thing impossible to haue the winde at East, Northeast, and keepe the race and course wee enterprised, but that we shoulde be driuen towarde the region of Affrica, the Iles of Canaria, Madera, and other landes there aboutes. And the cause why we haue beene the more prouoked and assured to take this new race, hath bin be­cause that it seemed to euery one, that we might not passe nor goe in this Nauigation without the sight and touching of the Antillies and Lucaries, and there soiourne and take fresh waters and other necessaries, as the Spaniards doe in their voyage to new spaine: wherof (thanked be God) we haue had no neede, nor entered the chanell of Roham: which hath bin thought impossible. Foreseeing also that it was not expedient for vs to passe through the Ilandes, as wel to shune many in­conueniences that might happen in passing that way (wherof springeth nothing but innumerable quarrels, pleadings, cō ­fusions, and breach of al worthy enterprises, and goodly naui­gations, whereof ensueth complaintes and odious questions betweene the subiectes of the king and his friends and alies) as also to the ende they might vnderstand, that in the time to come (God hauing shewed vs such graces, as these his won­derfull benefites firste shewed to the poore people of this so [Page] goodly newe framing people, of so gentle a nature, and a countrey so pleasant and fruitefull, lacking nothing at all that may seeme necessarie for mans food) we would not haue to doe with their Ilandes, and other landes: which (for that they first discouered them) they keepe with much ielousie: trusting that if God will suffer the king (through your per­swation) to cause some part of this incomparable countrey to be peopled and inhabited with such a number of his poore subiectes as you shall thinke good, there neuer happened in the memory of man so great and good commoditie to France as this, and (my Lorde) for many causes, whereof a man is neuer able to say or write to the ful, as vnder the assured hope that we haue alwayes had in executing vprightly that which I had receiued in charge of you, God woulde blesse our wayes and nauigations. After we had constantly and with diligence in time conuenient determined vpon the way, wee shoulde haue thought it noysome and tedious to all our com­panie, if it had before bin knowē vnto any without tourning or wauering to or fro from their first ententiō. And notwith­standing that satan did often what he could to sowe many ob­stractes, troubles and lettes, according to his acustomed sub­tilties, so it is come to passe, that God by his onely goodnes hath giuen vs grace, to make the furthest arte and trauars of the seas, that euer was made in our memorie or knowledge, in longitude from the East to the West: and therefore was it commonly sayde both in Fraunce and Spaine, and also a­mong vs, that it was impossible for vs safely to ariue thither, whither the Lord did conduct vs. Al which perswaded but of igoraunce and lacke of attempting: which wee haue not bin afrayde to giue aduenture to prooue. Albeit that all Ma­riners Cardes doe set the Coastes with shipwrackes with­out portes or Riuers: which wee haue found otherwise as it followeth.

Thursday the last of Aprill at the breake of the day, wee discouered and clearely perceyued a fayre Coast, stret­chyng of a great length couered with an infinite number of [Page] high and fayre trees, wee being not past 7. or 8. leagues from the shore, the countrey seeming vnto vs plaine without anye shewe of hils, and approching neerer within foure or fiue lea­gues of the land, we cast an ancker at ten fadome water, the bottome of the Sea being plaine with muche Ocias and fast holde on the South side, as farre as a certaine point or Cape situate vnder that Latitude of nine and twentie degrees and a halfe, which we haue named Cape Francois.

Wee coulde espie neither Riuer nor Bay, wherefore wee sent our Boates furnished with men of experience, to founde and knowe the coast neere the shore: who returning to vs about one of the clock at after noone, declared that they had founde among other thinges viii. fadome of water at the harde bancke of the sea. Wherevpon hauing diligently wayed vp our Anckers, and hoysted vp our sayles with wind at will, we sayled and vewed the coast all along with vnspea­ble pleasure, of the odorous smell and beawtie of the same. And because there appeared vnto vs no signe of any Porte, about the setting of the sunne we cast ancker againe: which done, we did behold to and fro the goodly order of the woods wherewith God hath decked euery way the sayd land. Then perceiuing towarde the North a leaping and a breaking of the water, as a streame falling out of the lande into the Sea. For the whiche wee set vp sayles againe to double the same while it was yet day. And as wee had so done, and passed be­yond it: there appeared vnto vs a fayre entrie of a faire riuer which caused vs to cast Ancker agayne there nerer the land: to the end the next day we might see what it was, and though that the winde blew for a time vehemently to the shoreward: yet the hold and Anckerrage was so good, that one cable and one Ancker helde vs fast, with out danger or sliding.

The next day in the morning, being the first of May, wee assayed to enter this Porte, with two newe barges and a boate well trimmed, finding little water barges whiche might haue astonied and caused vs to returne backe to ship­borde, if God had not speedily brought vs in. Where find­ing 36. fadome water, entred into a goodly and great riuer, [Page] which as we went founde to encrease still in depth & large­nesse, boyling and roaring through the multitude of all kind of fish. This being entred wee perceiued a great number of y ^e Indians inhabitants there, comming along the sandes & Sea bankes, comming neare vnto vs, without any taking of feare or doubt, shewing vnto vs the easiest landing place: & thereupon we giuing them also on our parts thanks of as­surance and friendlinesse. Forthwith one of appearance, out of the best among them, brother vnto one of their kinges, or gouernours, commaunded one of the Indians to enter into the water: and to approch our boates to shew vs the coastes landing place. We seeing this (without any more doubting or difficultie) landed, and the messenger (after we had rewar­ded him with some looking glasse, and other pretie things of small value) ran incontinently toward his Lord: Who forth with sent mee his girdle, in token of assuraunce and friend­ship, which girdle was made of red leather, as well couered and coloured as was possible: and as I began to go towards him, hee set foorth and came and receiued me gently, and rei­sed after his maner all his men, following with great silence and modestie: yea more then our men did. And after we had a while with gentle vsage congratulated with him: we fell to the grounde a litle way from them, to call vpon the name of God, and to beseech him to cōtinue still his goodnesse to­wards vs, and bring to the knowledge of our sauiour Christ this poore people. While wee were thus praying (they sit­ting vpon the grounde, which was strawed and dressed with Bay bowes) behelde and hearkened vnto vs, very attentiue­ly without either speking or mouing: and as I made a signe vnto their king, lifting vp mine arme, and stretching foorth one finger, only to make them looke vp to heauen ward: He likewise lifting vp his arme towards heauen put foorth two fingers: whereby it seemed that he made vs to vnderstande, that they worshipped the Sunne and y ^e moone for Gods: as afterwardes wee vnderstoode it so. In the meane time their numbers increased, & thither came the kings brother, that was first with vs, their mother, wiues, sisters and chil­dren, [Page] and being thus assembled, they caused a great number of Bay boughes to bee cut, and therewith a place to be dres­sed for vs, distant from theirs two fadom. For it is their ma­ner to talke and bargaine sitting: and the chiefe of them to bee apart, from the meaner sort, with a shewe of great obe­dience to their kinges, superiours, and elders. They bee all naked, and of a goodly stature, mightie, & as well shapen & proportioned of body, as any people in y ^e world: very gentle, curteous, and of a good nature.

The most part of them couer their raines and priuities with faire Harts skinnes, painted most commonly with sun­drie colours: and the fore part of their body and armes, bee painted with pretie deuised workes, of Azure, red, and blacke, so well and so properly as the best Painter of Eu­rope coulde not amende it. The women haue their bo­dies painted with a certaine Herbe like vnto Mosse, where­of the Cedar trees, and all other trees bee alwayes couered. The men for pleasure doe alwayes trimme them selues therwith, after sundrie fashions: They bee of tauny colour, hauke nosed, and of a pleasant countenance. The women be well fauoured, and will not suffer one dishonestly to approch too neare them. But wee were not in their houses for we sawe none at that time.

After we had taried in this North side of the riuer the most part of the day (which riuer wee haue called May, Why the riuer of May was so called. for that wee discouered the same the firste day of the Moneth) wee congratulated, made aliaunce, and entred into ami­tie with them, and presented the king and his brethren with Gownes of blewe cloth garnished with yellowe Floure de­luces. And it seemed that they were sory for our departure: so that the most part of them entred into the water vp to the necke, to set our boates a flote.

Putting into vs sundry kinde of fishes, which with mer­ueilous speede they ranne to take in their packs, made in the water with great Reedes, so well and cunningly set togea­ther, after the fashion of a Laberinth, or Maze, with so many [Page] turnes and crookes, as it is impossible to do it without much cunning and industrie.

But desiring to imploy the rest of the day on the other side of this riuer, to viewe and know those Indians that wee sawe there. We trauersed thither, and without any diffi­cultie landed amongest them, who receiued vs very gently and with great humanitie: putting vs of their fruites, euen into our boates, Mulberies, Raspis, and such other fruites as they founde ready by the way.

Soone after this came thither the king with his brethren, and others with bowes and arrowes in their handes, vsing therewithall a goodly and a graue fashion, with their beha­uiour right souldierlike, and as warlike boldnes as may be. They were naked and painted as the other, their haire like­wise long, and trussed vp (with a lace made of herbes) to the top of their heads: but they had neither their wiues nor chil­dren in their companie. After we had a good while louingly enterteined and presented them with like gifts of habersher wares, cutting hookes and hatchets, and clothed the king & his brethren with like robes, as we had giuen to them on the other side: we entred and viewed the countrie thereaboutes, which is the fairest, fruitfullest, & pleasantest of al the world, abounding in hony, venison, wilde foule, forests, woods of all sortes, Palme trees, Cypresse and Cedars, Bayes y ^e high­est and greatest, with also the fayrest vines in all the world, with grapes according, which without natural art and with­out mans helpe or trimming will grow to toppes of Okes, and other trees that be of a wonderfull greatnesse & height. And the sight of the faire medowes is a pleasure not able to be expressed with tongue: full of Hernes, Curlues, Bitters, Mallards, Egrepths, woodcocks, & all other kinde of small birds: with Harts, Hindes, Buckes, wilde Swine, and all other kindes of wilde beastes, as we perceiued well both by their footing there, and also afterwardes in other places, by their crie and roaring in the night.

Also there be Conies & Hares: Silke wormes in meruei­lous number, a great deale fairer and better, then be our silk [Page] wormes. To bee short, it is a thing vnspeakeable to consider the thinges that bee seene there, and shalbe founde more and more, in this incomperable lande, which neuer yet broken with plough yrons, bringeth forth al things according to his first nature, wherewith the eternall God indued it. A­bout their houses they labour and till the grounde, sowing their fieldes with a graine called Mahis, whereof they make their meale: and in their Gardens they plant beanes, gourdes, cucumbers, Citrons, peason, and many other fruits and rootes vnknowen vnto vs. Their spades and mat­tocks be made of Wood, so well and fitly as is possible: which they make with certaine stones, oyster shelles & mus­cles, wherewith also they make their bowes and smal laun­ces: and cut & polish all sortes of wood, that they imploye a­bout their buildings, and necessarie vse: There groweth al­so many Walnut trees, Hasell trees, Cheritrees, very faire and great.

And generally wee haue seene, thereof the same simples and herbes that wee haue in Fraunce, and of the like good­nesse, sauour and taste. The people be very good archers, and of great strength: Their bowe stringes are made of Leather, and their arrowes of Reedes which they doe head with the teeth of fishes. As we now demaunded of them con­cerning y ^e land called Seuola, whereof some haue written not to bee farre from thence, and to bee situate within the lande, Seuola within xx. daies trauai­ling by boate of the riuer of May. and toward the Sea called the South Sea. They shewed vs by signes that which we vnderstood well enough, that they might goe thither with their Boates (by riuers) in twentie dayes. They that haue written of this kingdome and towne of Seuola, and other townes and kingdomes thereaboutes, say, that there is great aboundance of golde and siluer, precious stones, and other great riches: and that the people had their arrowes headed (in steede of yron) with sharpe pointed Turquesses. Thus the night appro­ching, it was conuenient for vs to returne by day a ship­boorde. Wee tooke leaue of them muche to their griefe, but more to ours without comparison, for that wee [Page] had no meane to enter the riuers with our shippe. And al­beit, it was not their custome eyther to eate or drinke from the Sunne rising till his going downe: yet the king open­ly woulde needes drinke with vs, praying vs verie gently to giue him the cuppe whereout we had drunke: and so making him to vnderstande that wee woulde see him againe the next day, we retired to our shippes, which lay aboue sixe leagues from the hauen to the sea.

The next day in the morning we returned to land againe, accompanied with the Captaines, Gentlemen, and Souldi­ers, and other of our small trope: cariyng with vs a Pillour or columne of harde stone, our kings armes graued therein, to plant and set the same in the enterie of the Porte in some high place, where it might bee easely seene, and being come thither before the Indians were assembled, we espied on the south syde of the Riuer a place very fitte for that purpose, vp­on a litle hill, compassed with Cypres, Bayes, Paulmes and other trees, with sweete smelling and pleasant shrubbes. In the middle whereof we planted the first bound or limit of his Maiestie. This done perceiuing our first Indians assem­bled, not without some misliking of those on the South parte, where we had set the limitte, who taried for vs in the same place where they met with vs the day before, seeming vnto vs that there is some enimitie betweene them and the others. But when they perceyued our long tarying on this side, they ran to see what we had done in that place where we landed first, and had set our limitte: which they vewed a great while without touching it any way, or abassing, or euer spea­king to vs therof at any time after. Howebeit we could skāt depart but as it were w ^t griefe of minde frō this our first alli­ance, they rowing vnto vs all along the riuer from all parts and presenting vs with some of their harts skins, painted and vnpainted, meale, litle cakes, freshe water, rootes like vnto Rinbabe which they haue in great estimation, and make ther­of a potion of medicine: also they brought litle bagges of redde colours and some small spices like vnto Vire, percey­uing [Page] among them selues fayre thinges painted as it had bin with graine of scarlet, showing vnto vs by signes that they had in the lande golde and siluer and copper: whereof wee haue brought some, Gold, siluer, and copper in Flori­da. Turquesses and aboundance of pearles. Marshes. Also lead like vnto ours which we shew­ed. Also turquesses and great aboundance of pearles whiche as they declared vnto vs they tooke out of oysters, whereof there is taken euer along the riuer side, & among the reedes, and in the marshes: and so merueylous aboundance as is skant credible: and we haue perceiued that there be as many and as faire pearles found there as in any countrey of the worlde. For wee sawe a man of theirs as we entered into our boates, that had a pearle hanging at a coller of golde and siluer about his necke, Pearles as big as acornes. as great as an Acorne at y ^e least. This man as he had taken fishe in one of their fishing packs there­by brought that same to our boates, and our men perceiuing the greatnesse therof, one of them putting his finger toward it, the man drewe backe, and woulde no more come neare the boate: not for any feare that he had that they woulde haue ta­ken his Coller & Pearle from him for he would haue giuen it them, for a looking glasse or a knife:

But that hee doubted lest they woulde haue pulled him in­to the boate, & so by force haue caried him away. He was one of the goodliest men of all the company. But for that we had no leasure to tary any longer with them, the day being well passed, whiche greeued vs, for the commoditie and great ri­ches, whiche as wee vnderstoode and sawe might bee gotten there, desiring also to employ the rest of the day with our se­conde aliance the Indians on the southside, as we perceiuer them the day before, which still taried looking for vs: Wee passed the riuer to their shore, where as wee founde them ta­riyng for vs, quietly and in good order, with newe paintings vpon their face, and feathers vpon their heade: the King with his Bowe and Arrowes lying by him, sate on the grounde strawed with boughes betweene his two brethren, whiche were goodly men and well shapen and of a wonderfull show of actiuities, hauing vpon their heades, one haire trussed [Page] vpright of heyght, of some kinde of wild beast gathered and wrought together with great cunning, wrethed and fasted after the forme of a Diademe. One of them had hanging a­bout his necke a rounde plate of redde copper well poli­shed, with one other lesser of Siluer in the middest of it, & at his eare a litle plate of Copper wherewith they vse to stripe the sweat from their bodies. They shewed vs that there was greatstore of this mettell within the countrey, about fiue or sixe daies iourney from thence, both in the southside & north­side of the same riuers, and that they went thither in their Boates. Which Boates they make but of one piece of a tree, woorking it whole so cunningly and featly, that they put in one of these boates fifteene or twentie persons, and go their wayes very safely. They that rowe stande vpright ha­uing their ores short after the fashion of a Peele. Thus being among them they presented vs with meale dressed & baked, very good & wel tasted, and of good nourishmēt, also beanes, and fish, as crabbes, lobstars, creuises, and many other kinde of good fishes, shewing vs by signes y ^t their dwellings were farre off, and if their prouision had been neere hande, they woulde haue presented vs with manye other refresh­inges.

The night nowe approching, we were faine to returne to our Shippe, very much to our griefe: for that wee durste not hazarde to enter with our Shippe, by reason of a barre of lande, that was at the enterie of the Porte, howe be it, at a full Sea there is two fadome and a halfe of water at the least, and it is but a leape ouer a surge to passe this Barre, not passing the length of two cables, and then forthwith e­uery where within sixe or seuen fadome water. So that it maketh a very fayre hauen, and Shippes of a meane burden from fourescore to a hundred tunnes may enter therein at all floodes, yea of a farre greater burthen, if there were French men dwelling there that might skoure the enterye as they doe in Fraunce: for there is nothing lacking for the lyfe of man. The situation is vnder the eleuation of xxx. degrees, a good climate healthfull, and of a good [Page] temperature, merueilous pleasāt, y ^e people good, & of a good and amiable nature, Gentlenes must be vsed towards them. which willingly will obay: yea be con­tent to serue those that shall with gentlenes and humanitie goe about to allure them, as it is needful for those that be sent thither hereafter so to doe, and as I haue charged those that be left there to do, to the ende they may aske and learne of thē where they take their gold, copper, and turquesses, and other thinges yet vnknowen vnto vs: by reason of the time we so­iourned there. For if any rude or rigorous meanes should be vsed towards this people, they woulde flie hither and thither through the Woods and Forests, and abandon their habita­tions and countreys.

The next day being the thirde day of May, desiring al­waies to finde out harbours to rest in, we set vp saile againe: And after we had raunged the coast as neere the shore as we could, there appeared vnto vs about seuen leagues of on this side of y ^e riuer of May a great opening or Bay of some riuer, whither with one of our boates we rowed, & there found one entrie almost like y ^t of the riuer of May, and within the same as great a depth, and as large a diuiding it selfe into many great streames, great and broade stretchinges towardes the high lande, with many other lesse, that diuide the coun­trey into faire and great landes and great number of small and fayre Medowes. Being entred into them about three leagues, wee found in a place very commodious, strong, and pleasant of situation, certayne Indians, who receiued vs ve­ry gently: Howe be it, we being somewhat neare their hou­ses, it seemed it was somewhat against their good willes that we went thither, for at their cries and noyses they made their wiues and children and hoshoulde stuffe to be caried into the Woods: Howe be it they suffered vs to goe into their hou­ses, but they themselues woulde not accompany vs thither. Their houses bee made of Wood fitly and close, set vpright and couered with Reedes: the most part of them after the fa­shion of a pauilion. But there was one house amongest the rest verie long and broade, with settles rounde about made [Page] of Reedes trimly couched together, which serue them both for beddes and seates, they be of height two foote from the grounde, set vpon great rounde pillers painted with red, ye­lowe, and blewe, well and trimlie polished: some sorte of this people perceiuing that we had in no maner wise hurted their dwellings nor gardens whiche they dressed very diligently, they returned all vnto vs before our inbarking, seeming very well contented by their giuing vnto vs water, fruites, and Hart skinnes. It is a place wonderfull fertill, and of strong situatiō, the ground fat, so that it is likely that it would bring forth Wheate and all other corne twise a yeere, Great fertilitie. and the com­modities for liuelihood, and the hope of more riches, bee like vnto those we found and considered vpon the riuer of May, without comming into the sea: this arme doth diuide, and maketh many other Iles of May, as also many other great Ilandes: by the which wee trauell from one Ilande to ano­ther, betweene lande and land. Note. And it seemeth that men may sayle without danger through al the countrey, and neuer en­ter into the great sea, which were a wonderfull aduantage.

This is the lande of Checere whereof some haue written, & which many haue gone about to find out, for y ^e great riches they perceiued by some Indians to be founde there. It is set vnder so good a climate, that none of our men (though wee were there in the hotest time of the yeere, the sunne entring into Cancer) were troubled with any sicknesses. The people there liue long and in great health and strength, so that the a­ged men goe without slaues, and are able to goe and runne like the youngest of them, who onely are knowen to be olde by the wrinckles in their face, and decay of sight. Wee de­parted from them verie friendly, & with their contentation. But the night ouertaking vs, we were constrayned to lye in our ships all that night, till it was day, floting vpon this ri­uer which we haue called Sene, The riuer of Sene. because that the entery of it is as broade as from hauer degrace vnto Honesleue. At the breake of the day wee espied out of the South syde one of the fayrest, pleasauntest, and greatest medowe grounde [Page] that might bee seene, into the which wee went, finding at the very entrie a long, faire, and great Lake, and an innumera­ble number of footesteps of great Hartes and Hindes of a wonderfull greatnesse, Heardes of tame Hartes. the steppes beeing all fresh and new, and it seemeth that the people doe nourishe them like tame Cattell in great heards: for we saw the steppes of an Indian that folowed them.

The Chanell and depth of this riuer of Seyne, is one y ^t side of the medowe that is in the Ile of May. Being retur­ned to our ships, we sayled to knowe more and more of this coast, goying as neere the shore as we coulde. And as wee had sayled about sixe or seuen leagues, there appeared vnto us another Bay, where we cast anker, and tarrying so all the night, in the morning wee went thither, and finding (by our founding) at the entrie many bankes and beatings, we durst not enter there with our great ship, hauing named the riuer Somme, which is 8. 9. 10. 11. fadome depth, diuiding it selfe into many great Ilands, and small goodly medow grounds and pastures, and euery where such abundance of fish as is incredible, and on the Weast Northwest side, there is a great riuer that commeth frō the countrie of a great length ouer: and another on the Northeast side, which returne into the Sea. So that (my Lord) it is a countrie full of hauens, ri­uers, Good hauens and riuers. and Ilands, of such fruitfulnes as cannot with tongue be expressed: and where in short time great and precious cō ­modities might bee found. 7. Great & good riuers. And besides this wee discouered and found also vii. riuers more, as great and as good, cutting and diuiding the land into faire and great Ilands. The In­dians inhabitants there be like in manners, & the countrie in fertillitie apt and commodious throughout to beare & bring foorth plentifully all that men would plant or sowe vpon it. There bee euery where the highest and greatest Firtrees y ^t can be seene, very well smelling, and where out might bee gathered (with cutting the only bark) as much Rosen, Tur­pentine, & Frākēsence, as men would desire. And to be short there lacketh nothing. Wherefore being not able to enter & lie with our great vessels there, we could make no long abi­ding, [Page] nor enter so farre into the riuers and countries as wee would faine haue done: for it is well knowne how many in­conueniences haue happened vnto men, not only in attemp­ting of newe discoueries, but also in all places by leauing their great vessels in the Sea, farre from the land, vnfurni­shed of the heads and best men. As for y ^t other riuers we haue giuen them names as followeth: and vnto the Ilandes ioy­ning vnto them, the same name that the next riuer vnto it hath, as you shall see by the portratures or Cardes Maps and Sea Cardes. y ^t I haue made thereof. As to the fourth name of Loire, to y ^e fift Char­net, to y ^e sixt Carō to the 7. riuer Belle, to y ^e 8. riuer Graūde, to the 9. port Royall, and to the tenth Belle Virrir.

Vpon Whitsunday the xxvii. day of May, after wee had perceiued and considered that there was no remedie, but to assay to find the meanes to harber our ships, as wel to amend and trimme them, as to get vs fresh water, wood, and other necessaries, whereof wee hauing opinion that there was no fayrer or fitter place for the purpose, then port Royall. Port royall a most excellent hauen. And when wee had sounded the entrie and the Chanell (thanked be God) wee entered safely therein with our shippes, a­gainst the opinion of many, finding the same one of the fay­rest and greatest Hauens of the worlde.

Howe be it, Note. it must be remembred least men approching neare it within seuen leagues of the lande, bee abashed and a­fraide on the Eastside, drawing towarde the Southeast, the grounde to be flatte, for neuerthelesse at a full sea, there is e­uery where foure fadome water, keeping the right Chanel.

In this part there are many riuers of meane bignesse and large, where without daunger the greatest shippes of the worlde might bee harboured, which wee founde, no In­dian inhabiting there aboutes. The Porte and Riuers side is neerer then tenne or twelue leages vpwardes into the countreys, although it bee one of the goodliest, best, and fruitefullest countreys that euer was seene, and where no­thing lacketh, and also where as good and likely com­modities bee founde as in other places thereby.

For wee founde there a great number of Pepertrees, Pepper tr [...]. [Page] the Pepper yet greene, and not ready to bee gathered: Also the best water of the world, and so many sortes of fishes that yee may take them without net or angle so many as ye will. Also an innumerable sort of wilde foule of all sortes, and in little Ilandes at the entrie of this hauen, on the East North­east side, there is so great number of Egrepes that the bus­shes bee all white and couered with them, so that one may take of the young ones with his hande as many as hee will carry away. There bee also a number of other foules, as Hernes, Bitters, Curlues. And to bee short, there is so ma­ny small byrdes that it is a strange thing to bee seene. Wee founde the Indians there more doubtfull and fearefull then the others before: Yet after we had been in their houses, and congregated with them, and shewed curtesie to those that we founde to haue abandoned there through boats meale, victu­all, and small housholde stuffe, and both in not taking awaye or touching any part thereof, and in leauing in that place where they dressed their meate, Kniues, Looking glasses, little Beades of glasse, A speciall note. which they loue and esteeme aboue golde and pearles, for to hang them at their eares and neck, and to giue them to their wiues and children: they were somewhat emboldened.

For some of them came to our boates, of the which wee carried two goodly and strong aboorde our shippes, clothing and vsing them as gently as it was possible. But they ceased not day nor nyght to lament, and at length they escaped a­way. Wherefore albeit, I was willing (according to your commaundement and memoriall) to bring away some of them with vs, A commande­ment. on the Princes behalfe and yours, I forbare to doe so for many considerations and reasons that they told mee, and for that we were in doubt that (leauing some of our men there to inhabite) all the Countrie, men, women, and children, woulde not haue ceased to pursue them for to haue theirs againe: seeing they bee not able to consider and way to what entent wee shoulde haue carried them away: & this may bee better doone to their contentation, when they haue better acquaintance of vs, and know that there is no suche [Page] crueltie in vs, as in other people and nations, of whom they haue beene beguiled vnder colour of good faith: whiche do­ing in the ende turned to the doers no good. This is the ri­uer of Iordain in mine opinion, The riuer of Iordan. whereof so much hath beene spokē, which is very faire & the coūtrie good, both for y ^t easie habitation, and also for many other things, which should bee long to write.

The twentie of May wee planted another columne or pillor grauen with the kinges armes on the South side, in a high place, of the entrie of a great riuer, which wee called Libourne: where there is a lake of fresh water very good, and on the same side a little lower towards the entrie of the Hauen is one of the fayrest fountaines that a man may drink of, which falleth by violence down to the riuer from an high place out of a red and sandy ground, and yet for all that fruitefull and of good ayre, where it shoulde seeme that the Indians haue had some faire habitation.

There we sawe the fayrest & the greatest vines with grapes according, and young trees, and smal woods, Exceeding faire and great vines very wel smel­ling, that euer were seen: wherby it appeareth to be the plea­santest & most commodious dwelling of al y ^e world. Where­fore (my Lorde) trusting you will not thinke it amisse (consi­dering the commodities that may be brought thence) if we leaue a number of men there, which may fortifie and prouide them selues of things necessary: Fortification most necessarie in all newe dis­coueries. for in all new discoueries it is the chiefest thing that may be done, at the beginning to fortifie and people the countrey. I had not so soone set forth this to our companie, but many of them affraid to tary there, yet with such a good will and ioly corage, that such a number did thus offer themselues, as we had much to do to stay their importunitie.

And namely of our shipmaisters and principall pilotes, 30. lefte behind at their owne suite and such as we could not spare. How bee it, wee lefte there but to the number of thirtie in all, Gentlemen, souldiers, and marriners, and that at their own suit and prayer, and of their owne free willes, and by the aduice and deliberation of the Gentlemen sent on the behalfe of the Prince and yours.

And haue left vnto the forehead and rulers (following therein your good will) Captaine Albert de la Pierria, a souldier of long experience, and the first that from the begin­ning did offer to tarry. And further by theyr aduice, choyse and will, inskaled and fortified them in an Iland They fortified in an Iland. on the north side, a place of strong situation and commomodious, vpon a riuer which wee named Chenonceau, and the habitation and Fortresse Charlefote.

After we had instructed and duly admonished them of that they shoulde doe (as well for their maner of proceeding, as for the good and louing behauiour of them) the xi. day of the moneth of Iune last past, we departed from port Royal: min­ding yet to range and view the coast vntill the xl. degrees of the eleuation: Fortie degrees of eleuation. But for as much as there came vpon vs trou­blesome and cloudie weather, very incommodious for our purpose, and considering also amongst many other thinges, that we had spent our cables and furniture thereof, which is the most principall thing that longeth to them that go to dis­couer countreys, where continually both night and day they must lie at ancker: also our victualls beeing perished and spilte, our lacke of Boateswaines to set forth our rowe bar­ges, and leaue our vessels furnished. The declaration made vnto vs of our Pilots and some others that had before been at some of those places, where we purposed to sayle, and haue been already found by some of the kings subiects, the daun­ger also and inconueniences that might thereof happen vnto vs: Mistes & fogs when they come. & by reason of the great mystes and fogges wherof the seasō was already come, we perceiued very well wheras we were, y ^t we could do no good, & that it was to late, & y ^e good & fit season for to vndertake this thing already past. Al these thinges thus well considered and wayed, and also for that we thought it meet and necessarie that your honour should with diligence be aduertised (through the help of God) to returne homewards to make relatiō vnto you of the effect of our na­uigation. Praying God that it may please him to keepe you in long health, and prosperitie.

THat the first Seate be chosen on y ^e seaside so as (if it may be) you may haue your owne Na­uie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your seat safe from the enemie. And so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in opē rode abroade without, to be disper­sed with all windes and tem­pests that shall arise. Thus seated you shall bee least subiecte to annoy of the enemie, so may you by your Nauie within, passe out to all partes of the worlde, and so may the shippes of Englande haue accesse to you to supply all wantes, so may your commodities be cari­ed away also. This seate is to bee chosen in temperate Cli­mat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood, seacoles, or curse, with fish, flesh, grayne, fruits, herbes and rootes, or so many of those, as may suffice very necessitie for the life of such as shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer, copper, quicksiluer, or of any suche precious thing, the wantes of diuers of those needfull thinges may be supplied from some other place by sea, &c.

• Stone to make Lyme of.
• Slate stone to tile withall or suche clay as maketh tyle,
• Stone to wall withal if [Page] Brycke may not bee made,
• Timber for building ease­ly to be conueied to the place,
• Reede to couer houses or such like, if tile or slate be not.

The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without trafficke, or by trafficke and by trade of mar­chandize. If they shall liue without sea trafficke, at the first they become naked by want of linen and wollen, and very miserable by infinite wantes that will otherwise ensue, and so will they be forced of them selues to depart, or els easely they will bee consumed by the Sp. by the Fr. or by the na­turall inhabithantes of the countrey, and so the interprice becomes reprochfull to our nation, and a lett to many o­ther good purposes that may be taken in hande.

And by trade of marchandize they can not liue, excepte the sea or the lande there may yeelde commoditie for com­moditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall re­garde of that point, and so to plant, that the naturall com­modities of the place and seate, may drawe to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that by your owne Nauigation you may carie the same out, and fetche home the supplye of the wantes of the seate.

Such nauigation so to bee employed, shall besides the supply of wantes, bee able to encounter with forreyne force.

And for that in the ample vente of suche thinges as are brought to you out of engl. by sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the inland people be vsed, so shall you haue firme amitie with your neyghbours, so shall you haue their inland commodities to maintayne trafficke, & so shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers & seue­rall commodities of the inland are not in great plentie to be brought to your handes, without the ayde of some portable or Nauigable ryuer, or ample lacke, and therefore to haue [Page] the helpe of suche a one is most requisite: And so is it of effecte for the dispersing of your owne commodities in ex­change into the inlandes.

Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland peo­ple then familiaritie. For so may you best discouer al the na­turall commodities of their countrey, and also all their wantes, all their strengthes, all their weakenesse, and with whome they are in warre, and with whome confiderate in peace and amitie, &c. whiche knowen, you may woorke many great effectes of greatest consequence.

And in your planting the consideration of the climate and of the soyle bee matters that are to bee respected. For if it be so that you may let in the salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flattes, where the sunne is of the heate that it is at Rochell, in the Bay of portingall, or in Spaine, then may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie for the fishing, and for trade of mar­chandize by making of Salt.

Or if the soyle and clymate bee such as may yeelde you the Grape as good as that at Burdeus, as that in Portin­gale, or as that about Siui in Spaine, or that in the Ilands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a woorkeman to put in execution to make wines, and to dresse Resings of the sunne and other, &c.

Or if you finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or Barbarie, in whiche you finde the Olif tree to growe: Then you may bee assured of a noble mar­chandize for this realme, considering that our great trade of clothing doth require oyle, and weying howe deere of late it is become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if you finde the wilde olif there it may be graffed.

Or if you can finde the berrie of Cochenile with whiche wee colour Stammelles, or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a notable thing fitt [Page] for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall in the west Indies on that firme.

Or if you haue hides of beastes fit for sole Lether, &c. It wilbe a marchandize right good, and the sauages there yet can not canne Lether after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne maner.

Or if the soyle shall yeelde Figges, Almondes, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges, Lemons, Potatos, &c. there may arise some trade and trafficke, by figges, almonds, su­gar, marmelade, Sucket &c.

Or if great woods bee founde, if they be of Cypres, chests may bee made, if they bee of some kinde of trees, pitche and tarre may be made, if they bee of some other then they may yeelde Rosin, Trupentine, &c. and al for trade and trafficke, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made: likewise ships and houses, &c.

And because trafficke is a thing so materiall, I with that great obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth natu­rally, in what commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeeld by indeuour, and to send vs notice home, that there­vppon wee may deuise what meanes may be thought of to rayse trades.

Nowe admit that we might not be suffered by the sauages to enioy any whole countrey or any more thē the scope of a Citie, yet if wee might enioy trafficke and be assured of the same, wee might bee much inriched, our Nauie might be increased, & a place of safetie might there be found, if change of religion or ciuill warres shoulde happen in this realme, which are thinges of great benefite. But if we may inioy any large Territorie of apt soyle, we might so vse the mat­ter, as we should not depende vpon Spaine for oyles, sacks, resinges, orenges, lemons, Spanish skinnes, &c. Nor vppon Fraunce for wood, baysalt, and gascoyne wines, nor on Est­lande for flaxe, pitch, tarre, mastes, &c. So we shoulde not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly inriche our doubt­full friendes, as we doe, but shoulde purchasse the commodi­ties that we want for halfe the treasure that now we do: but [Page] should by our own industries & the benefits of the soile there cheapely purches oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes, boordes, fishe, gold, siluer, copper, tallowe, hides and many commodities: besides if there be no flates to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there.

If you can keepe a safe hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the neere neyghbours, yet you may haue traf­ficke by sea vpon one shore or other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present.

If you finde great plenty of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first wynter, to bee seasoned for shippes, barkes, botes and houses.

And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing mill may be placed, it woulde doe great seruice, and therefore consideration woulde bee had of suche place.

And if such port & chosē place of setling were in possessiō & after fortified by art, although by y ^e land side our Englishmē were kept in, and might not inioy any traffick with the next neighbours, nor any vittel: yet might they vittel themselues of fishe to serue verie necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next neighbours, & so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue vittel, or by meanes herevpon to be vsed to force the next neighbours to amitie. And keeping a nauie at the setling place, they shoulde finde out along the tracte of the lande to haue trafficke, and at diuers Ilandes also. And so this first seate might in time become a stapling place of the commodities of many countreys and territories, and in tyme this place myght be­come of all the prouinces round about the only gouernour. And if the place first chosē should not so wel please our peo­ple, as some other more lately founde out: There might bee an easie remoue, and that might be rased, or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyde an ill neyghbour, &c.

If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient hauen and [Page] setling places be founde marshie and boggie, then men skil­ful in draining are to be caried thither. For arte may worke wonderfull effectes therein, and make the soyle rich for ma­ny vses.

To plante vppon an Ilande in the mouth of some nota­ble riuer, or vpon the poynt of the lande entring into the ri­uer, if no such Iland be, were to great ende. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the lande, then would arise great hope of planting in fertill soyles, and trafficke on the one or on thother side of the riuer, or on both, or the lin­king in amitie with one or other petie king contēding there for dominion.

Such riuers founde, both barges and boates may bee made for the safe passage of such as shal perce y ^e same. These to bee couered with doubles of course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the sauage from the rower.

Since euery soyle of the world by arte may be made to yeelde things to feede and to cloth man, bring in your re­turne a perfect note of the soyle without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amende the same, & to draw it to more perfectiō. And if you finde not fruits in your plan­ting place to your liking, we shal in v. drifats furnish you w ^t such kinds of plants to be caried thither y ^e winter after your planting, as shall the very next summer folowing, yeeld you some fruite, and the yere next folowing, as much as shal suf­fice a towne as big as Callice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of strong durable good sider to drinke, & these trees shalbe able to increase you within lesse then vii. yeres as many trees presently to beare, as may suf­fice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first setling may stand you in great steade, if the soyle haue not the com­moditie of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt after thinges that yeelde present re­liefe, without trouble of cariage thither, therefore I make mencion of these, thus specially, to the ende you may haue it specially in mynde.