LOPEZ VAZ AD. 



1572-87. 

 my part could never understand the certaintie thereof. 

 The world being thus divided, a Portugal-gentleman called 

 Fernando Magellanes born in a place of Portugall called Fernando 

 Punta de la barte, being of a good house, & very wel ^^<?^^^'^«^^- 

 seene in cosmographie, and an excellent Pilot, as also 

 being offended with Don Emanuel his Sovereigne, departed 

 out of Portugall into Spaine, and affirmed to the Councell 

 of Spaine, that the Isles of the Malucos were in that part 

 of the worlde which was allotted to the king of Spaine, 

 and that he would finde a shorter way thither then the 

 Portugales tooke, and layed before them such infallible 

 reasons, that the Councell giving credite unto his wordes, 

 sent him to sea with five ships and 400 men all very well 

 appointed. With these five ships setting saile from S. 

 l.ucar, he came to the coast of Brasill, where at that time 

 two places were inhabited by Portugales, and so sayling on 

 along that coast he passed by the river of Plate, which 

 river was discovered a little before by Solis. And not- 

 withstanding many stormes, and great mutinies among his 

 companie, he came at length unto 48 degrees, to the 

 Southwards of the river of Plate: where he found an har- 

 bour, which he named Puerto de Sant Julian, and PorteS.Julian. 

 wintered there : and there also he hanged 5 men, and put 

 on shore a Priest, because they would have made the com- 

 pany to stand against their captaine, and so to have 

 returned backe againe. But in the end having pacified 

 his men, he put to sea, and within 5 dayes after he found The discovery 

 the streights, which by him were so much desired: but fJ%'J'Jiif^^' 

 before he entered the said streights there befell such a 

 mutinie in one of his ships, that the same ship returned 

 backe againe. And so himselfe with the other foure ships 

 entering the streights, one of the said foure with all 

 the men therein was cast away at the very enterance: 

 which losse notwithstanding he proceeded on with the 

 other three ships, and passing many troubles and dan- 

 gers in this long discovery, ceased not to prosecute 

 his intended voyage. This discovery was at the first 

 thought very profitable unto the Spaniards, but of late 



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