THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE a.d. 



1576. 



Certaine other reasons, or arguments to proove 

 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 usually 

 call Moluccaes, continually haunted for gaine, and dayly 

 travelled for riches therein growing. These Islands, 

 although they stand East from the Meridian, distant 

 almost halfe the length of the worlde, in extreame heate, 

 under 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 unto us. Our neighbours I call the Portugals in 

 comparison of the Molucchians for neerenesse unto us, 

 for like situation Westward as we have, for their usuall 

 trade with us, 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. Their voyage is very well understood 

 of all men, and the Southeasterne way round about 1 By the 

 Afrike by the Cape of Good hope more spoken of, better Southeast. 

 knowen and travelled, then that it may seeme needfull 

 to discourse thereof any further. 



The second way lyeth Southwest, betweene the West 2 By the 

 India or South America, and the South continent, through Southwe ^ 

 that narrow straight where Magellan first of all men that 

 ever we doe read of, passed these latter yeeres, leaving 

 thereunto therefore his name. The way no doubt the 

 Spaniardes would commodiously take, for that it lyeth 

 neere unto their dominions there, could the Easterne 

 current and levant windes as easily suffer them to returne, This is an er- 

 as speedily therwith they may be carried thither : for rmr ' 

 the which difficultie, or rather impossibility of striving 

 against the force both of winde and streame, this passage 

 is litle or nothing used, although it be very well knowen. 



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