THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE a.d. 



1576. 

 that there would be found a farre better vent for them 

 by this meanes, then yet this realme ever had : and that 

 without depending either upon 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 have 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 occa- 

 sion to have our countrey combred with loiterers, vaga- 

 bonds, and such like idle persons. 



All these commodities would grow by following this 

 our discovery, without injury done to any Christian 

 prince, by crossing them in any of their used trades, 

 whereby they might take any just occasion of offence. 



Thus have I briefly shewed you some part of the 

 grounds of mine opinion, trusting that you will no 

 longer judge me fantasticke in this matter : seeing I have 

 conceived no vaine hope of this voyage, but am per- 

 swaded thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, 

 the same being confirmed both by reason and certaine 

 experiences. 



Also this discovery hath bene divers times heretofore 

 by others both offered, attempted, and performed. 



It hath bene offered by Stephan Gomes unto Carolus 

 the fift Emperour, in the yeere of our Lord God 1527, [III. 23.] 

 as Alphonso Ullva testifieth in the story of Carolus life : 

 who would have set him forth in it (as the story men- 

 tioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his 

 long warres had not caused him to surcease the same. 



And the king of Portugall fearing least the Emperour 

 would have persevered in this his enterprise, gave him to This discovery 

 leave the matter unattempted, the summe of 350000 °ff ered > 

 crownes : and it is to be thought that the king of Portu- 

 gall would not have given to the Emperour such summes 

 of money for egges in mooneshine. 



187 



