ROBERT THORNE'S BOOK a.d. 



1527. 



Balasses, Saphyres, Jacincts, and other like. And though 

 some say that of such precious mettals, graines, or kind 

 of spices, and precious stones, the abundance and quan- 

 tity is nothing so great, as our mettals, fruits or stones 

 above rehearsed : yet if it be well considered, how the 

 quantitie of the earth under the Equinoctiall to both 

 the Tropicall lines, (in which space is found the sayd 

 Golde, spices and precious stones) is as much in quantity, 

 as almost all the earth from the Tropickes to both the 

 Poles ; it cannot be denied but there is more quantity of 

 the sayd mettals, fruites, spices, and precious stones, then 

 there is of the other mettals and other things before 

 rehearsed. And I see that the preciousnes of these 

 things is measured after the distance that is between us, 

 and the things that we have appetite unto. For in this 

 navigation of the Spicerie was discovered, that these 

 Islands nothing set by golde, but set more by a knife 

 and a nayle of iron, then by his quantitie of Golde : 

 and with reason, as the thing more necessary for mans 

 service. And I doubt not but to them should be as 

 precious our corne and seedes, if they might have them, 

 as to us their spices : & likewise the pieces of glasse 

 that here we have counterfeited are as precious to them, 

 as to us their stones : which by experience is seene daylie 

 by them that have trade thither. This of the riches 

 of those countries is sufficient. 



Touching that your Lordship wrote, whether it may Doctor Leys 

 bee profitable to the Emperor or no ? it may be without letters. 

 doubt of great profite : if, as the king of Portingal doth, 

 he would become a merchant, and provide shippes and 

 their lading, and trade thither alone, and defend the trade 

 of these Islands for himselfe. But other greater busi- 

 nesse withholdeth him from this. But still, as now it is 

 begunne to be occupied, it would come to much. For 

 the shippes comming in safetie, there would thither many 

 every yere, of which to the Emperour is due of all the 

 wares and jewels that come from thence the fift part 

 for his custome cleare without any cost. And besides 



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