is, without abilitie to performe the same, I wil at at leasure make you
partaker of another simple discourse of nauigation, wherein I haue not a
little trauelled, to make my selfe as sufficient to bring these things to
effect, as I haue bene readie to offer my selfe therein.
And therein I haue deuised to amend the errors of vsuall sea cards, whose
common fault is to make the degrees of longitude in euery latitude of one
like bignesse.
And haue also deuised therein a Spherical instrument, with a compasse of
variation for the perfect knowing of the longitude.
And a precise order to pricke the sea card, together with certaine
infallible rules for the shortning of any discouery, to know at the first
entring of any fret whether it lie open to the Ocean more wayes then one,
how farre soeuer the sea stretcheth itself into the land.
Desiring you hereafter neuer to mislike with me, for the taking in hande of
any laudable and honest enterprise: for if through pleasure or idlenesse we
purchase shame, the pleasure vanisheth, but the shame remaineth for euer.
[Sidenote: Pereas qui vmbras times.] And therefore to giue me leaue without
offence, alwayes to liue and die in this mind, That he is not worthy to
liue at all, that for feare, or danger of death, shunneth his countreys
seruice, and his owne honour: seeing death is inevitable, and the fame of
vertue immortall. Wherefore in this behalfe, Mutare vel timere sperno.
* * * * *
Certaine other reasons, or arguments to prooue a passage by the Northwest,
learnedly written by M. Richard Willes, Gentleman.
Foure famous wayes there be spoken of to those fruitfull and wealthie
Islands, which wee doe vsually call Moluccaes, continually haunted for
gaine, and dayly trauelled for riches therein growing. These Islands,
although they stand East from the Meridian, distant almost halfe the length
of the worlde, in extreame heate, vnder the Equinoctiall line, possessed of
Infidels and Barbarians: yet by our neighbours great abundance of wealth
there is painefully sought in respect of the voyage deerely bought, and
from thence dangerously brought home vnto vs. Our neighbours I call the
Portugalls in comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse vnto vs, for
like situation Westward as we haue, for their vsuall trade with vs, for
that the farre Southeasterlings doe knowe this part of Europe by no other
name then Portugall, not greatly acquainted as yet with the other Nations
thereof. [Sidenote: 1 By the Southeast.] Their voyage is very well
vnderstood of all men, and the Southeasterne way round about Afrike by the
Cape of Good hope more spoken of, better knowen and trauelled, then that it
may seeme needefull to discourse thereof any further.
[Sidenote: 2 By the Southwest.] The second way lyeth Southwest, betweene
the West India or South America, and the South continent, through that
narrow straight where Magellan first of all men that euer we doe read of,
passed these latter yeeres, leauing therevnto therefore his name.
[Sidenote: This is an errour.] This way no doubt the Spaniardes would
commodiously take, for that it lyeth neere vnto their dominions there,
could the Easterne current and leuant windes as easily suffer them to
returne, as speedily therwith they may be carried thither: for the which
difficultie, or rather impossibility of striuing against the force both of
winde and streame, this passage is litle or nothing vsed, although it be
very well knowen.
[Sidenote: 3 By the Northeast.] The third way by the Northeast, beyond all
Europe and Asia, that worthy and renowmed knight sir Hugh Willoughbie
sought to his perill, enforced there to ende his life for colde, congealed
and frozen to death. And truely this way consisteth rather in the
imagination of Geographers, then allowable either in reason, or approued by
[Sidenote: Ortel. tab. Asiæ 3.] experience, as well it may appeare by the
dangerous trending of the Scythish Cape set by Ortelius vnder the 80 degree
North, by the vnlikely sailing in that Northerne sea alwayes clad with yce
and snow, or at the least continually pestred therewith, if happily it be
at any time dissolued: besides bayes and shelfes, the water waxing more
shallow toward the East, that we say nothing of the foule mists and darke
fogs in the cold clime, of the litle power of the Sunne to cleare the aire,
of the vncomfortable nights, so neere the Pole, fiue moneths long.
[Sidenote: 4 By the Northwest.] A fourth way to go vnto these aforesaid
happy Islands Moluccæ sir Humphrey Gilbert a learned and valiant knight
discourseth of at large in his new passage to Cathayo. The enterprise of
itselfe being vertuous, the fact must doubtlesse deserue high praise, and
whensoeuer it shal be finished, the fruits thereof cannot be smal: where
vertue is guide, there is fame a follower, and fortune a companion. But the
way is dangerous, the passage doubtfull, the voiage not throughly knowen,
and therefore gainesaid by many, after this maner.
[Sidenote: Ob. 1.] First, who can assure vs of any passage rather by the
Northwest then by the Northeast? do not both waves lye in equall distance
from the North Pole? Stand not the North Capes of eyther continent vnder
like eleuation? Is not the Ocean sea beyond America farther distant from
our Meridian by 30. or 40. degrees West, then the extreame poyntes of
Cathayo Eastward, if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true:
[Sidenote: In Theatro.] In the Northeast that noble Knight Syr Hugh
Willoughbie perished for colde: and can you then promise a passenger any
better happe by the Northwest? Who hath gone for triall sake at any time
this way out of Europe to Cathayo?
[Sidenote: Ob. 2.] If you seeke the aduise herein of such as make
profession in Cosmographie, Ptolome the father of Geographie, and his
eldest children, will answere by their mappes with a negatiue, concluding
most of the Sea within the land, and making an end of the world Northward,
neere the 63. degree. The same opinion, when learning chiefly florished,
was receiued in the Romanes time, as by their Poets writings it may
appeare: tibi seruiat vltima Thyle, said Virgil, being of opinion, that
Island was the extreme part of the world habitable toward the North. Ioseph
Moletius an Italian, and Mercator a Germaine, for knowledge men able to be
compared with the best Geographers of our time, the one in his halfe
Spheres of the whole world, the other in some of his great globes, haue
continued the West Indies land, euen to the North Pole, and consequently,
cut off all passage by sea that way.
The same doctors, Mercator in other of his globes and mappes, Moletius in
his sea Carde, neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former
continent, haue opened a gulfe betwixt the West Indies and the extreame
Northerne land: but such a one, that either is not to be trauelled for the
causes in the first obiection alledged, or cleane shut vp from vs in Europe
by Groenland: the South ende whereof Moletius maketh firme land with
America, the North part continent with Lappeland and Norway.
[Sidenote: Ob. 3.] Thirdly, the greatest fauourers of this voyage can not
denie, but that if any such passage be, it lieth subiect vnto yce and snow
for the most part of the yeere, whereas it standeth in the edge of the
frostie Zone. Before the Sunne hath warmed the ayre, and dissolued the yce,
eche one well knoweth that there can be no sailing: the yce once broken
through the continuall abode the sunne maketh a certaine season in those
parts, how shall it be possible for so weake a vessel as a shippe is, to
holde out amid whole Ilands, as it were of yce continually beating on eche
side, and at the mouth of that gulfe, issuing downe furiously from the
north, and safely to passe, when whole mountaines of yce and snow shall be
tumbled downe vpon her?
[Sidenote: Ob. 4.] Well, graunt the West Indies not to continue continent
vnto the Pole, grant there be a passage betweene these two lands, let the
gulfe lie neerer vs then commonly in cardes we finde it set, namely,
betweene the 61. and 64. degrees north, as Gemma Frisius in his mappes and
globes imagineth it, and so left by our countryman Sebastian Cabot in his
table which the Earle of Bedford hath at Cheinies: Let the way be voyde of
all difficulties, yet doeth it not follow that wee haue free passage to
Cathayo. For examples sake: You may trend all Norway, Finmarke, and
Lappeland, and then bowe Southward to Saint Nicholas in Moscouia: you may
likewise in the Mediterranean Sea fetch Constantinople, and the mouth of
Tanais: yet is there no passage by Sea through Moscouia into Pont Euxine,
now called Mare Maggiore. Againe, in the aforesaid Mediterranean sea, we
saile to Alexandria in Egypt, the Barbarians bring their pearle and spices
from the Moluccaes vp the Red sea or Arabian gulph to Sues, scarcely three
dayes iourney from the aforesayd hauen: yet haue wee no way by sea from
Alexandria to the Moluccaes, for that Isthmos or litle straight of land
betweene the two seas. In like maner although the Northerne passage be free
at 61 degrees of latitude, and the West Ocean beyond America, vsually
called Mar del Zur, knowen to be open at 40. degrees eleuation from the
Island Iapan, yea, three hundred leagues Northerly aboue Iapan: yet may
there be land to hinder the thorow passage that way by Sea, as in the
examples aforesaid it falleth out, Asia and America there being ioyned
together in one continent. Ne can this opinion seeme altogether friuolous
vnto any one that diligently peruseth our Cosmographers doings. Iosephus
Moletius is of that minde, not onely in his plaine Hemispheres of the
world, but also in his Sea card. The French Geographers in like maner be of
the same opinion, as by their Mappe cut out in forme of a Hart you may
perceiue: as though the West Indies were part of Asia. Which sentence well
agreeth with that old conclusion in the Schooles. Quicquid præter Africam
et Europam est, Asia est, Whatsoeuer land doeth neither apperteine vnto
Afrike nor to Europe, is part of Asia.
[Sidenote: Ob. 5.] Furthermore it were to small purpose to make so long, so
painefull, so doubtfull a voyage by such a new found way, if in Cathayo you
should neither bee suffered to land for silkes and siluer, nor able to
fetch the Molucca spices and pearle for piracie in those Seas. Of a law
denying all Aliens to enter into China, and forbidding all the inhabiters
vnder a great penaltie to let in any stranger into those countreys, shall
you reade in the report of Galeotto Perera there imprisoned with other
Portugals: as also in the Iaponish letters, how for that cause the worthy
traueller Xauierus bargained with a Barbarian Merchant for a great summe of
pepper to be brought into Canton, a port in China. The great and dangerous
piracie vsed in those Seas no man can be ignorant of, that listeth to reade
the Iaponish and East Indian historie.
[Sidenote: Ob. 6.] Finally, all this great labour would be lost, all these
charges spent in vaine, if in the ende our trauellers might not be able to
returne againe, and bring safely home into their owne natiue countrey that
wealth and riches, which they in forrein regions with aduenture of goods,
and danger of their liues haue sought for. By the Northeast there is no
way, the Southeast passage the Portugals doe hold as the Lords of those
Seas. At the Southwest Magellans experience hath partly taught vs, and
partly we are persuaded by reason, how the Easterne current striketh so
furiously on that straight, and falleth with such force into that narrow
gulph, that hardly any ship can returne that way into our West Ocean out of
Mar del Zur. The which if it be true, as truly it is, then wee may say that
the aforesayd Easterne current or leuant course of waters continually
following after the heauenly motions, loseth not altogether his force, but
is doubled rather by an other current from out the Northeast, in the
passage betweene America and the North land, whither it is of necessity
caryed: hauing none other way to maintaine it selfe in circular motion, and
consequently the force and fury thereof to be no lesse in the straight of
Anian, where it striketh South into Mar del Zur, beyond America (if any
such straight of Sea there be) then in Magellans fret, both straights being
of like bredth: as in Belognine Zalterius table of new France, and in Don
Diego Hermano de Toledo his Card for nauigation in that region we doe finde
precisely set downe.
Neuerthelesse to approue that there lyeth a way to Cathayo at the Northwest
from out of Europe, we haue experience, namely of three brethren that went
that iourney, as Gemma Frisius recordeth, and left a name vnto that
straight, whereby now it is called Fretum trium fratrum. We doe reade
againe of a Portugall that passed this straight, of whom Master Frobisher
speaketh, that was imprisoned therefore many yeeres in Lisbone, to verifie
the olde Spanish prouerbe, I suffer for doing well. Likewise Andrew
Vrdaneta a Fryer of Mexico came out of Mar del Zur this way into Germanie:
his Carde (for he was a great discouerer) made by his owne experience and
trauell in that voyage, hath bene seene by Gentlemen of good credite.
[Sidenote: Cic. 1. de orat. Arist, pri. Metaph.] Now if the obseruation and
remembrance of things breedeth experience, and of experience proceedeth
arte, and the certaine knowledge we haue in all faculties, as the best
Philosophers that euer were doe affirme: truely the voyage of these
aforesayd trauellers that haue gone out of Europe into Mar del Zur, and
returned thence at the Northwest, do most euidently conclude that way to be
nauigable, and that passage free. [Sidenote: Lib. 1. Geog. Cap. 2.] So much
the more we are so to thinke for that the first principle and chiefe ground
in all Geographie, as Ptolome saith, is the history of trauell, that is,
reports made by trauellers skilful in Geometrie and Astronomie, of all such
things in their iourney as to Geographie doe belong. It onely then
remaineth, that we now answere to those arguments that seemed to make
against this former conclusion.
[Sidenote: Sol. 1.] The first obiection is of no force, that generall table
of the world set forth by Ortelius or Mercator, for it greatly skilleth
not, being vnskilfully drawen for that point: as manifestly it may appeare
vnto any one that conferreth the same with Gemma Frisius his vniuersall
Mappe, with his round quartered carde, with his globe, with Sebastian
Cabota his table, and Ortelius his generall mappe alone, worthily preferred
in this case before all Mercator and Ortelius other doings: for that Cabota
was not onely a skilful Sea man, but a long traueller, and such a one as
entred personally that straight, sent by king Henry the seuenth to make
this aforesayd Discouerie, as in his owne discourse of nauigation you may
reade in his carde drawen with his owne hand, that the mouth of the
Northwesterne straight lyeth neere the 318. Meridian, betweene 61. and 64.
degrees in the eleuation, continuing the same bredth about 10 degrees West,
where it openeth Southerly more and more, vntill it come vnder the tropicke
of Cancer, and so runneth into Mar del Zur, at the least 18 degrees more in
bredth there, then it was where it first began: otherwise I could as well
imagine this passage to be more vnlikely then the voyage to Moscouia, and
more impossible then it for the farre situation and continuance thereof in
the frostie clime: as now I can affirme it to be very possible and most
likely in comparison thereof, for that it neither coasteth so farre North
as the Moscouian passage doeth, neither is this straight so long as that,
before it bow downe Southerly towardes the Sunne againe.
[Sidenote: Sol. 2.] The second argument concludeth nothing. Ptolome knew
not what was aboue sixteene degrees South beyond the Equinoctiall line, he
was ignorant of all passages Northward from the eleuation of 63. degrees:
he knewe no Ocean sea beyond Asia, yet haue the Portugals trended the Cape
of Good hope at the South point of Afrike, and trauelled to Iapan an Island
in the East Ocean, betweene Asia and America: our merchants in the time of
king Edward the sixt discouered the Moscouian passage farther North than
Thyle, and shewed Groenland not to be continent with Lappeland and Norway:
the like our Northwesterne trauellers haue done, declaring by their
nauigation that way, the ignorance of all Cosmographers that either doe
ioyne Groenland with America, or continue the West Indies with that frosty
region vnder the north pole. As for Virgil he sang according to the
knowledge of men in his time, as an other poet did of the hot Zone.
[Sidenote: Ouid. 1. Meta.] Quarum quæ media est, non est habitabilis æstu.
Imagining, as most men then did, Zonam torridam, the hot Zone to be
altogether dishabited for heat, though presently wee know many famous and
worthy kingdomes and cities in that part of the earth, and the Island of S.
Thomas neere Æthiopia, and the wealthy Islands for the which chiefly all
these voyages are taken in hand, to be inhabited euen vnder the
Equinoctiall line.
[Sidenote: Sol. 3.] To answere the third obiection, besides Cabota and all
other trauellers nauigations, the onely credit of M. Frobisher[46] may
suffice, who lately through all these Islands of ice, and mountaines of
snow, passed that way, euen beyond the gulfe that tumbleth downe from the
North, and in some places though he drewe one inch thicke ice, as he
returning in August did, yet came he home safely againe.
[Sidenote: Sol. 4.] The fourth argument is altogether friuolous and vaine,
for neither is there any isthmos or strait of land betweene America and
Asia, ne can these two landes ioyntly be one continent. [Sidenote: Lib.
Geog.] The first part of my answere is manifestly allowed of by Homer, whom
that excellent Geographer Strabo followeth, yeelding him in this facultie
the price. The author of that booke likewise [Greek: perì kosmou] to
Alexander, attributed vnto Aristotle, is of the same opinion that Homer and
Strabo be of, in two or three places. Dionisius in [Greek: oikoumenaes
periaegaesi] hath this verse [Greek: otos hokeanos peridedrome gaian
hapasan.] So doth the Ocean Sea runne round about the worlde: speaking
onely of Europe, Afrike and Asia, as then Asia was trauelled and knowen.
[Sidenote: Note.] With these Doctours may you ioyne Pomponius Mela. cap. 2.
lib 1. Plinius lib. 2. cap. 67. and Pius 2. cap 2. in his description of
Asia. [Sidenote: Richard Eden.] All the which writers doe no lesse confirme
the whole Easterne side of Asia to be compassed about with the sea, then
Plato doeth affirme in Timæo, vnder the name Atlantis, the West indies to
be an Island, as in a special discoure thereof R. Eden writeth, agreeable
vnto the sentence of Proclus, Marsilius Ficinus, and others. Out of Plato
it is gathered that America is an island. Homer, Strabo, Aristotle,
Dionysius, Mela, Plinie, Pius 2. affirme the continent of Asia, Afrike, and
Europe to be enuironed with the Ocean. I may therefore boldly say (though
later intelligences thereof had we none at all) that Asia and the West
Indies be not tied together by any Isthmos or straight of land, contrary to
the opinion of some new Cosmographers, by whom doubtfully this matter hath
bin brought in controuersie. And thus much for the first part of my answere
vnto the fourth obiection.
[Sidenote: Lib. 2. Meteor. cap 1.] The second part, namely that America and
Asia cannot be one continent, may thus be prooued, [Greek: kata taen taes
gaes koilotaeta rhei kai ton potamon to plaethos.] The most Riuers take
downe that way their course, where the earth is most hollow and deepe,
writeth Aristotle: and the Sea (sayeth he in the same place) as it goeth
further, so it is found deeper. Into what gulfe doe the Moscouian riuers
Onega, Duina, Ob, powre out their streames Northward out of Moscouia into
the sea? Which way doeth that sea strike: The South is maine land, the
Easterne coast waxeth more and more shalow: from the North, either
naturally, because that part of the earth is higher Aristot. 2. Met. cap.
1. or of necessitie, for that the forcible influence of some Northerne
starres causeth the earth there to shake off the Sea, as some Philosophers
doe thinke: or finally for the great store of waters engendered in that
frostie and colde climate, that the bankes are not able to holde them.
Alber, in 2. Meteor. cap. 6. From the North, I say, continually falleth
downe great abundance of water. So that this Northeasterne currant must at
the length abruptly bow towards vs South on the West side of Finmarke and
Norway: or else strike downe Southwest aboue Groneland and Iseland, into
the Northwest straight we speake of, as of congruence it doeth, if you
marke the situation of that Region, and by the report of M. Frobisher
experience teacheth vs. And M. Frobisher the further he trauailed in the
former passage, as he tolde me, the deeper always he found the Sea. Lay you
now the summe hereof together. The riuers runne where the chanels are most
hollow, the Sea in taking his course waxeth deeper, the Sea waters fall
continually from the North Southward, the Northeasterne current striketh
downe into the straight we speak of, and is there augmented with whole
mointaines of yce and snowe falling downe furiously out from the land vnder
the North pole. [Sidenote: Plin. lib. 2. cap. 67] Where store of water is,
there is it a thing impossible to want Sea, where Sea not onely doeth not
want, but waxeth deeper, there can be discouered no land, finally, whence I
pray you came the contrary tide, that M. Frobisher mette withall after he
had sailed no small way in that passage, if there be any Isthmos or
straight of land betwixt the aforesayd Northwesterne gulfe, and Mar del
Zur, to ioyne Asia and America together? That conclusion frequented in
scholes Quicquid præter, &c. was meant of the partes of the world then
knowen, and so it is of right to be vnderstood.
[Sidenote: Sol. 5.] The fift obiection requireth for answere wisdome and
policie in the trauailer to winne the Barbarians fauour by some good
meanes: and so to arme and strengthen himselfe, that when he shal haue the
repulse in one coast, he may safely trauaile to an other, commodiously
taking his conuenient times, and discreetely making choise of them with
whom hee will throughly deale. To force a violent entry, would for vs
Englishmen be very hard, considering the strength and valour of so great a
Nation, farre distant from vs, and the attempt thereof might be most
perilous vnto the doers, vnlesse their part were very good.
Touching their lawes against strangers, you shall reade neuerthelesse in
the same relations of Galeotto Perera, that the Cathaian king is woont to
graunt free accesse vnto all foreiners that trade into his Countrey for
Marchandise, and a place of libertie for them to remaine in: as the Moores
had, vntill such time as they had brought the Loutea or Lieutenant of that
coast to be a circumcised Saracene: wherefore some of them were put to the
sword, the rest were scattered abroad: at Fuquien a great citie in China,
certaine of them are yet this day to be seene. As for the Iapans they be
most desirous to be acquainted with strangers. The Portingals though they
were straitly handled there at the first, yet in the ende they found great
fauor at the Prince his hands, insomuch that the Loutea or president that
misused them was therefore put to death. The rude Indian Canoa halleth
those seas, the Portingals, the Saracens, and Moores trauaile continually
vp and downe that reach from Iapan to China, from China to Malacca, from
Malacca to the Moluccaes: and shall an Englishman, better appointed then
any of them all (that I say no more of our Nauie) feare to saile in that
ocean? What seas at all doe want piracie? what Nauigation is there voyde of
perill?
[Sidenote: Sol. 6.] To the last argument. Our trauailers neede not to seeke
their returne by the Northeast, neither shall they be constrained, except
they list, either to attempt Magellans straight at the Southwest, or to be
in danger of the Portingals for the Southeast: they may returne by the
Northwest, that same way they doe goe foorth, as experience hath shewed.