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INTRODUCTION. 



^TpHE idea of a paflage to the Eaft Indies by the 

 North Pole was fuggefted as early as the year 1527, 

 by Robert Thorne, merchant, of Briftol, as appears from 

 two papers preferred by Hackluit; the one addreffed to 

 king Henry VIII ; the other to Dr. Ley, the king's am- 

 baflador to Charles V. In that addrefTed to the king he 

 fays, " I know it to be my bounden duty to manifefl this 

 " fecret to your Grace, which hitherto, I fuppofe, has 

 " been hid." This fecret appears to be the honour and 

 advantage which would be derived from the difcovery of 

 a paflage by the North Pole. He reprefents in the 

 ftrongefl terms the glory which the kings of Spain and 

 Portugal had obtained by their difcoveries Eaft and Wefl", 

 and exhorts the king to emulate their fame by under- 

 taking difcoveries towards the North. He ftates in a 

 very maikrly ftyle the reputation that mull attend 

 the attempt, and the great benefits, fhould it be 



B crowned 



