}576, MARTIN FROBISHER. 79 



his then coming into Ireland (i.e. before 1560), 

 told him there, that he came from Mar del Sur into 

 Germany thro' this N.W. passage, and shewed 

 Salvaterra (at that time being then with him in 

 Mexico) a sea card, made by his own experience 

 and travel in that voyage, wherein was plainly set 

 down and described this N.W. passage, agreeing in 

 all points with Ortelius's map. 



' And further, this friar told the King of Por- 

 tugal (as he returned by that country homeward) 

 that there was (of certainty) such a passage N. W. 

 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 

 known to any nation. For that (said the king) if 

 England had knowledge and experience thereof, 

 it would greatly hinder both the King of Spain 

 and me. This friar (as Salvaterra reported) was 

 the greatest discoverer by sea that hath been in 

 our age; also Salvaterra being persuaded of this 

 passage by the Friar Urdaneta, and by the com- 

 mon opinion of the Spaniards inhabiting America, 

 offered most willingly to accompany me in this 

 discovery, which of like he would not have done 

 if he had stood in doubt thereof" 



This Urdaneta was with Magelhanes on his dis- 

 covery of a passage into the South Seas, round 

 America; many years after this he took holy 

 orders, and, residing in New Spain, was applied to 

 by the King of Spain to pilot Legaspi's squadron 



