ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1527- 



correcting that which is erred, will accept my good will, 



which is to doe any thing that I may in your Lordships 



service. But from henceforth I knowe your Lordship 



will rather commaund me to keepe silence, then to be 



large, when you shall be wearied with the reading of this 



discourse. Jesus prosper your estate and health. 



Your Lordships 



Robert Thorne 1527. 



ALso this Carde and that which I write touching the 

 variance betweene the Emperour and the king of 

 Portingall, is not to be shewed or communicated there 

 with many of that court. For though there is nothing 

 in it prejudiciall to the Emperour, yet it may be a cause 

 of paine to the maker : as well for that none may make 

 these Cardes, but certaine appointed and allowed for 

 masters, as for that peradventure it would not sound well 

 to them, that a stranger should know or discover their 

 secretes : and would appeare worst of all, if they under- 

 stand that I write touching the short way to the spicerie 

 by our Seas. Though peradventure of troth it is not to 

 be looked to, as a thing that by all opinions is unpossible, 

 and I thinke never will come to effect : and therefore 

 neither here nor else where is it to be spoken of. For to 

 move it amongst wise men, it should bee had in derision. 

 And therefore to none I would have written nor spoken 

 of such things, but to your Lordship, to whom boldly I 

 commit in this all my foolish fantasie as to my self. But 

 if it please God that into England I may come with 

 your Lordship, I will shew some conjectures of reason, 

 though against the generall opinion of Cosmographers, 

 by which shall appeare this that I say not to lacke some 

 foundation. And till that time I beseeche your Lordship 

 let it be put to silence : and in the meane season it may 

 please God to send our two Englishmen, that are gone to 

 the Spicerie, which may also bring more plaine declaration 

 of that which in this case might be desired. 



Also 1 knowe I needed not to have beene so prolixe in 



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