South, then before recited, for then it should cut off Ciremissi, and Turbi
Tartari, with Vzesucani, Chisani, and others from the Continent of Asia,
which are knowen to be adioyning to Scythia, Tartaria, &c. with the other
part of the same Continent.
And if there were any thorowe passage by the Northeast, yet were it to
small ende and purpose for our traffique, because no shippe of great burden
can Nauigate in so shallow a Sea: and ships of small burden are very vnfit
and vnprofitable, especially towards the blustering North to performe such
a voyage.
To prooue that the Indians aforenamed, came only by the Northwest, which
induceth a certaintie of our passage by experience.
Cap. 7.
It is as likely that they came by the Northwest, as it is vnlikely that
they should come, either by the Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, or from
any other part of Africa or America, and therefore this Northwest passage
hauing bene alreadie so many wayes prooued, by disproouing of the others,
&c. I shall the lesse neede in this place, to vse many words otherwise then
to conclude in this sort, That they came onely by the Northwest from
England, hauing these many reasons to leade me thereunto.
1 First, the one halfe of the windes of the compasse might bring them by
the Northwest, bearing alwayes betweene two sheats, with which kind of
sayling the Indians are onely acquainted, not hauing any vse of a bow line,
or quarter winde, without the which no ship can possibly come either by the
Southeast, Southwest or Northeast, having so many sundry Capes to double,
whereunto are required such change and shift of windes.
2 And it seemeth likely that they should come by the Northwest, [Marginal
note: True both in ventis obliquè flantibus, as also in ventis ex diamentro
spitantibus.] because the coast whereon they were driuen, lay East from
this our passage, And all windes doe naturally driue a ship to an opposite
point from whence it bloweth, not being otherwise guided by Arte, which the
Indians do vtterly want, and therefore it seemeth that they came directly
through this our fret, which they might doe with one wind.
3 For if they had come by the Cape de buona Sperança, then must they (as
aforesaid) haue fallen vpon the South parts of America.
4 And if by the fret of Magellan, then vpon the coasts of Afrike, Spaine,
Portugall, France, Ireland or England.
5 And if by the Northeast, then vpon the coasts of Cerremissi, Tartarji,
Lappia, Island, Terra de Labrador, &c. and vpon these coasts (as aforesaid)
they haue neuer bene found.
So that by all likelihood they could neuer haue come without shipwracke
vpon the coastes of Germanie, if they had first striken vpon the coastes of
so many countries, wanting both Arte and shipping to make orderly
discouery, and altogether ignorant both in the Arte of Nauigation, and also
of the Rockes, Flats, Sands or Hauens of those parts of the world, which in
most of these places are plentifull.
6 And further it seemeth very likely, that the inhabitants of the most part
of those countries, by which they must haue come any other way besides by
the Northwest, being for the most part Anthropophagi, or men eaters, would
haue deuoured them, slaine them, or (at the least wise) kept them as
wonders for the gaze.
So that it plainely appeareth that those Indians (which as you haue heard
in sundry ages were driuen by tempest vpon the shore of Germanie) came
onely through our Northwest passage.
7 Moreouer, the passage is certainely prooued by a Nauigation that a
Portugall made, who passed through this fret, giuing name to a promontorie
farre within the same, calling it after his owne name, Promontorium
Corterialis, neere adioyning vnto Polisacus fluuius.
8 Also one Scolmus a Dane entred and passed a great part thereof.
9 Also there was one Saluaterra, a Gentleman of Victoria in Spaine, that
came by chance out of the West Indias into Ireland, Anno 1568. who affirmed
the Northwest passage from vs to Cataia, constantly to be beleeued in
America nauigable. And further said in the presence of sir Henry Sidney
(then lord Deputie of Ireland) in my hearing, that a Frier of Mexico,
called Andrew Vrdaneta, more then eight yeeres before his then comming into
Ireland, told him there, that he came from Mar del Sur into Germany through
this Northwest passage, and shewed Saluaterra (at that time being then with
him in Mexico) a Sea Card made by his owne experience and trauell in that
voyage, wherein was plainly set downe and described this Northwest passage,
agreeing in all points with Ortelius mappe.
And further, this Frier tolde the king of Portugall (as he returned by that
countrey homeward) that there was (of certainty) such a passage Northwest
from England, and that he meant to publish the same: which done, the king
most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the passage
knowen to any nation: [Marginal note: The words of the king of Portugall to
Andro Vrdaneta a Frier, touching the concealing of this Northwest passage
from England to Cataia.] For that (said the King) if England had knowledge
and experience thereof, it would greatly hinder both the king of Spaine and
me. This Frier (as Saluaterra reported) was the greatest Discouerer by sea,
that hath bene in our age. Also Saluaterra being perswaded of this passage
by the frier Vrdaneta, and by the common opinion of the Spaniards
inhabiting America, offered most willingly to accompanie me in this
Discouery, which of like he would not haue done if he had stood in doubt
thereof. [43]
[Sidenote: An obiection.] And now as these moderne experiences cannot be
impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of
ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to
prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India
were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise:
[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle
(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who
liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in
the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which
ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before
Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of
Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in
his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had
the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that
both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes.
These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues
of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to
come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of
diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named,
the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c.
And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of
this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons
with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following.
Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast,
before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by
Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same.
Cap. 8.
Because you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me, as
what doth serue for my purpose, I haue here added the reasons of Master
Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman, and a great traueller, who conceiued
a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs, to be by the Northeast,
then by the Northwest.
[Sidenote: The Northwest passage assented vnto.] He first said that he
thought not to the contrary, but that there was a passage by the Northwest
according to mine opinion: but assured he was, that there might be found a
nauigable passage by the Northeast from England, to goe to all the East
parts of the world, which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes.
[Sidenote: The first reason.] The first was that he heard a Fisherman of
Tartaria say in hunting the Morce, that he sayled very farre towards the
Southeast, finding no end of the Sea: whereby he hoped a thorow passage to
be that way.
[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that the
Tartarians were a barbarous people, and vtterly ignorant in the Arte of
Nauigation, not knowing the vse of the Sea Card, Compasse or Starre, which
he confessed to be true: and therefore they could not (said I) certainly
know the Southeast from the Northeast, in a wide sea, and a place vnknowen
from the sight of the land.
Or if he sailed any thing neere the shore, yet he (being ignorant) might be
deceiued by the doubling of many points and Capes, and by the trending of
the land, albeit he kept continually alongst the shore.
[Sidenote: Visus nonnunquam fallitur in suo obíecto.] And further, it might
be that the poore Fishermen through simplicitie thought that there was
nothing that way but sea, because he saw no land: which proofe (vnder
correction) giueth small assurance of a Nauigable sea by the Northeast, to
goe round about the world, For that be iudged by the eye onely, seeing we
in this our cleare aire doe account twentie miles a ken at Sea.
[Sidenote: The second reason or allegation.] His second reason is, that
there was an Vnicornes horne found vpon the coast of Tartaria, which could
not come (said he) thither by any other meanes then with the tides, through
some fret in the Northeast of Mare Glaciale, there being no Vnicorne in any
part of Asia, sauing in India and Cataia: which reason (in my simple
iudgement) forceth as litle.
[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] First, it is doubtfull whether those
barbarous Tartarians do know an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no: and if it were
one, yet it is not credible that the Sea could haue driuen it so farre,
being of such nature that it will not swimme.
Also the tides running too and fro, would haue driuen it as farre backe
with the ebbe, as it brought it forward with the flood.
There is also a beast called Asinus Indicus (whose horne most like it was)
which hath but one horne like an Vnicorne in his forehead, whereof there is
great plenty in all the North parts thereunto adioyning, as in Lappia,
Noruegia, Finmarke, &c. as Iacobus Zieglerus writeth in his historie of
Scondia.
And as Albertus saieth, there is a fish which hath but one horne in his
forehead like to an Vnicorne, and therefore it seemeth very doubtfull both
from whence it came, and whether it were an Vnicornes horne, yea, or no.
[Sidenote: The third and last reason or assertion.] His third and last
reason was, that there came a continuall streame or currant through Mare
Glaciale, of such swiftnesse (as a Colmax told him) that if you cast any
thing therein, it would presently be carried out of sight towards the West.
[Sidenote: The answer or resolution.] Whereunto I answered, that there doth
the like from Mæotis Palus, by Pontus Euxinus, Sinus Bosphorus, and along
the coast of Græcia, &c. As it is affirmed by Contarenus, and diuers others
that haue had experience of the same: and yet that Sea lieth not open to
any maine Sea that way, but is maintained by freshets as by Tanais,
Danubius, &c.
In like maner is this current in Mare Glaciale increased and maintained by
the Dwina, the riuer Ob, &c.
Now as I haue here briefly recited the reasons alleaged, to prooue a
passage to Cataia by the Northeast, with my seuerall answeres thereunto: so
will I leaue it to your iudgement, to hope or despaire of either at your
pleasure.[44]
How that the passage by the Northwest is more commodious for our traffique,
then the other by the East, if there were any such.
Cap. 9.
First, by the Northeast (if your windes doe not giue you a maruelous
speedie and luckie passage) you are in danger (being so neere the Pole) to
be benighted almost the one halfe of the yeere, and what danger that were,
to liue so long comfortlesse, voide of light, (if the cold killed you not)
each man of reason or vnderstanding may iudge.
[Sidenote: Some doubt of this.] 2 Also Mangia, Quinzai, and the Moluccæ are
neerer vnto vs by the Northwest, then by the Northeast, more then two fiue
parts, which is almost by the halfe.
3 Also we may haue by the West a yeerely returne, it being at all times
nauigable, whereas you haue but 4. moneths in the whole yeere to goe by the
Northeast: the passage being at such eleuation as it is formerly expressed,
for it cannot be any neerer the South.
4 Furthermore, it cannot be finished without diuers wintrings by the way,
hauing no hauens in any temperate climate to harbour in there: for it is as
much as we can well saile from hence to S. Nicholas, in the trade of
Moscouia, and returne in the nauigable season of the yeere, and from S.
Nicholas to Cerimissi Tartari, which stande at 80 degrees of the
Septentrional latitude, it is at the least 400 leagues, which amounteth
scarce to the third part of the way, to the end of your voyage by the
Northeast.
5 And yet after you haue doubled this Cape, if then there might be found a
nauigable Sea to carie you Southeast according to your desire, yet can you
not winter conueniently, vntil you come to 60 degrees, and to take vp one
degree running Southeast, you must saile 24 leagues and three foure parts,
which amounteth to 495 leagues.
6 Furthermore, you may by the Northwest saile thither with all Easterly
windes, and returne with any Westerly windes, whereas you must haue by the
Northeast sundry windes, and those proper, according to the lying of the
coast and Capes, you shalbe inforced to double, which windes are not
alwaies to be had, when they are looked for: whereby your iourney should be
greatly prolonged, and hardly endured so neere the Pole. As we are taught
by sir Hugh Willoughbie, who was frozen to death farre neerer the South.
7. Moreouer, it is very doubtfull, whether we should long inioy that trade
by the Northeast, if there were any such passage that way, the commodities
thereof once knowen to the Moscouite, what priuilege so euer hee hath
granted, seeing pollicy with the masse of excessiue gaine, to the inriching
(so greatly) of himselfe and all his dominions would perswade him to
presume the same, hauing so great opportunitie to vtter the commodities of
those countries by the Narue.
But by the Northwest, we may safely trade without danger or annoyance of
any prince liuing, Christian or Heathen, it being out of all their trades.
8 Also the Queenes Maiesties dominions are neerer the Northwest passage
then any other great princes that might passe that way, and both in their
going and returne, they must of necessitie succour themselues and their
ships vpon some part of the same, if any tempestuous weather should happen.
Further, no princes nauie of the world is able to incounter the Queenes
Maiesties nauie, as it is at this present: and yet it should be greatly
increased by the traffike insuing vpon this discouerie, for it is the long
voyages that increase and maintaine great shipping.
Now it seemeth necessarie to declare what commodities would growe thereby,
if all these things were, as we haue heretofore presupposed, and thought
them to be: which next adioyning are briefly declared.
What commodities would ensue, this passage once discouered.
Cap. 10.
First, it were the onely way for our princes, to possesse the wealth of all
the East parts (as they terme them) of the world, which is infinite: as
appeareth by the experience of Alexander the great, in the time of his
conquest of India, and other the East parts of the world, alleaged by
Quintus Curtius, which would be a great aduancement to our countrey, a
wonderfull inriching to our prince, and an vnspeakable commoditie to all
the inhabitants of Europe.
2 For through the shortnesse of the voyage, we should be able to sell all
maner of merchandize, brought from thence, farre better cheape then either
the Portugall or Spaniard doth or may do. And further, we should share with
the Portugall in the East, and the Spaniard in the West, by trading to any
part of America, thorow Mar del Sur, where they can no maner of way offend
vs.
3 Also we might sayle to diuers very rich countreys, both ciuill and
others, out of both their iurisdictions, trades and traffikes, where there
is to be found great abundance of golde, siluer, precious stones, cloth of
gold, silkes, all maner of spices, grocery wares, and other kinds of
merchandize of an inestimable price, which both the Spaniard and Portugall,
through the length of their iournies, cannot well attaine vnto.
4 Also we might inhabite some part of those countreyes, and settle there
such needy people of our countrey, which now trouble the common wealth, and
through want here at home are inforced to commit outragious offences,
whereby they are dayly consumed with the gallowes.
5 Moreouer, we might from all the aforesaid places haue a yeerely returne,
inhabiting for our staple some conuenient place of America, about Sierra
Neuada, or some other part, whereas it shal seeme best for the shortning of
the voyage.
6 Beside vttering of our countrey commodities, which the Indians, &c. much
esteeme: as appeareth in Hester, where the pompe is expressed of the great
king of India, Assuerus, who matched the coloured clothes, wherewith his
houses and tents were apparelled, with gold and siluer, as part of his
greatest treasure: not mentioning either veluets, silkes, cloth of gold,
cloth of siluer, or such like, being in those countreyes most plentifull:
whereby it plainly appeareth in what great estimation they would haue the
clothes of this our countrey, so that there would be found a farre better
vent for them by this meanes, then yet this realme euer had: and that
without depending either vpon France, Spaine, Flanders, Portugall,
Hamborow, Emden, or any other part of Europe.
7 Also, here we shall increase both our ships and mariners, without
burthening of the state.
8 And also haue occasion to set poore mens children to learne handie
craftes, and thereby to make trifles and such like, which the Indians and
those people do much esteeme: by reason whereof, there should be none
occasion to haue our countrey combred with loiterers, vagabonds, and such
like idle persons.
All these commodities would grow by following this our discouery, without
iniury done to any Christian prince, by crossing them in any of their vsed
trades, whereby they might take any iust occasion of offence.
Thus haue I briefly shewed you some part of the grounds of mine opinion,
trusting that you will no longer iudge me fantasticke in this matter:
seeing I haue conceiued no vaine hope of this voyage, but am perswaded
thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed
both by reason and certaine experiences.
Also this discouery hath bene diuers times heretofore by others both
offered, attempted and performed.
It hath bene offered by Stephen Gomes vnto Carolus the fift Emperour, in
the yeere of our Lord God 1527, as Alphonso Vllua testifieth in the story
of Carolus life: who would haue set him forth in it (as the story
mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long warres had
not caused him to surcease the same.
[Sidenote: This discouery offered.] And the king of Portugall fearing least
the Emperour would haue perseuered in this his enterprise, gaue him to
leaue the matter vnattempted, the summe of 350000 crownes: and it is to be
thought that the king of Portugall would not haue giuen to the Emperour
such summes of money for egges in mooneshine.
[Sidenote: This discovery attempted.] It hath bene attempted by Sebastian
Cabota in the time of king Henry the seuenth, by Corterialis the Portugall,
and Scolmus the Dane.
[Sidenote: This discouery performed.] And it hath bene performed by three
brethren, the Indians aforesaid, and by Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico.
Also diuers haue offered the like vnto the French king, who hath sent two
or three times to haue discouered the same: The discouerers spending and
consuming their victuals in searching the gulfes and bayes betweene Florida
and Terra de Labrador, whereby the yce is broken to the after commers.
So that the right way may now easily be found out in short time: and that
with little ieopardie and lesse expences.
For America is discouered so farre towards the North as Cape Frio,[45]
which is 62 degrees, and that part of Grondland next adioyning is knowen to
stand but at 72 degrees. [Sidenote: The labour of this discouerie shortned
by other mens trauell.] So that wee haue but 10 degrees to saile North and
South, to put the world out of doubt hereof: [Sidenote: Why the kings of
Spaine and Portugal would not perseuer in this discovery.] and it is likely
that the king of Spaine, and the king of Portugall would not haue sit out
all this while, but that they are sure to possesse to themselues all that
trade they now vse, and feare to deale in this discouery, least the Queenes
Maiestie hauing so good opportunitie, and finding the commoditie which
thereby might ensue to the common wealth, would cut them off, and enioy the
whole traffique to herselfe, and thereby the Spaniards and Portugals, with
their great charges, should beate the bush, and other men catch the birds:
which thing they foreseing, haue commanded that no pilot of theirs vpon
paine of death, should seeke to discouer to the Northwest, or plat out in
any Sea card any thorow passage that way by the Northwest.
Now, and if you will indifferently compare the hope that remaineth, to
animate me to this enterprise, with those likelihoods which Columbus
alleaged before Ferdinando the king of Castilia, to prooue that there were
such Islands in the West Ocean, as were after by him and others discouered
to the great commodity of Spaine and all the world: you will thinke then
this Northwest passage to be most worthy trauell therein.
For Columbus had none of the West Islands set foorth vnto him, either in
globe or card, neither yet once mentioned of any writer (Plato excepted,
and the commentaries vpon the same) from 942 yeeres before Christ, vntill
that day.
Moreouer, Columbus himselfe had neither seene America nor any other of the
Islands about it, neither, vnderstood he of them by the report of any other
that had seene them, but only comforted himselfe with this hope, that the
land had a beginning where the Sea had an ending: for as touching that
which the Spaniards doe write of a Biscaine, which should haue taught him
the way thither, it is thought to be imagined of them, to depriue Columbus
of his honour, being none of their countrey man, but a stranger borne.
And if it were true of the Biscaine, yet did he but roue at the matter, or
(at the least) gathered the knowledge of it, by coniectures onely.
And albeit myselfe haue not seene this passage nor any part thereof, but am
ignorant of it as touching experience (as Columbus was before his attempt
made) yet haue I both the report, relation, and authoritie of diuers most
credible men, which haue both seene and passed through some and euery part
of this discouery, besides sundry reasons for my assurance thereof: all
which Columbus wanted.
These things considered, and indifferently weighed togither, with the
wonderfull commodities which this discouery may bring, especially to this
realme of England: I must needes conclude with learned Baptista Ramusius,
and diuers other learned men, who said, that this discouery hath bene
reserued for some noble prince or worthie man, thereby to make himselfe
rich, and the world happie: desiring you to accept in good part this briefe
and simple discourse, written in haste, which if I may perceiue that it
shall not sufficiently satisfie you in this behalfe, I will then impart
vnto you a large discourse, which I haue written onely of this discouery.