ROBERT THORNE'S BOOK a.d. 



1527. 



no certification how they stand. I doe not denie, that 

 there lacke many things, that a consummate Carde should 

 have, or that a right good demonstration desireth. For 

 there should be expressed all the mountaines and Rivers 

 that are principall of name in the earth, with the names of 

 Portes of the sea, the names of all principall cities, which 

 all I might have set, but not in this Carde, for the litle 

 space would not consent. 



Your Lordship may see that setting onely the names 

 almost of every Region, and yet not of all, the roome is 

 occupied. Many Islands are also left out, for the said 

 lack of roome, the names almost of all Portes put to 

 silence, with the roses of the windes or points of the 

 compasse : For that this is not for Pilots to sayle by, but 

 a summary declaration of that which your Lordship com- 

 manded. And if by this your Lordship cannot wel 

 perceive the meaning of this Card, of the which I would 

 not marveile, by reason of the rude composition of it, [I. 220.] 

 will it please your Lordship to advise mee to make a 

 bigger and a better Mappe, or els that I may cause one to 

 be made. For I know my selfe in this and all other 

 nothing perfect, but Licet semper discens, nunquam 

 tamen ad perfectam scientiam perveniens. Also I know, 

 to set the forme Sphericall of the world in Piano after the 

 true rule of Cosmographie, it would have bene made 

 otherwise then this is : howbeit the demonstration should 

 not have bene so plaine. 



And also these degrees of longitude, that I set in the 

 lower part of this card, should have bin set along by the 

 line Equinoctiall, & so then must be imagined. For the 

 degrees of longitude neere either of the poles are nothing 

 equall in bignesse to them in the Equinoctiall. But these 

 are set so, for that setting them a long the Equinoctial, it 

 would have made obscure a great part of the map. Many 

 other curiosities may be required, which for the nonce I 

 did not set downe, as well for that the intent I had prin- 

 cipally was to satisfie your doubt touching the spicerie, as 

 for that I lack leasure and time. I trust your Lordship 



179 



