THE SOUTHEEN HEAVENS. 15 



right, the which chanceth but in one houre of the night; LlBt T - 

 which is in divers seasons of the yeere in divers houres, 

 and often times it appeareth not in the whole night, so as 

 it is very difficult to take the heigth. And therefore the 

 most expert Pilots regard not the Crosse, taking the 

 heigth of the Sunne by the Astrolabe, by which they 

 know in what height they are: wherein commonly the 

 Portugals are more expert, as a Nation that hath more 

 discourse in the Arte of Navigation then any other. There 

 are also other starres in these southerne parts, which in 

 some sort resemble those of the North. That which they 

 call the Milken way, is larger and more resplendent in the viaiactea. 

 south parts, appearing therein those admirable blacke 

 spots, whereof wee have made mention. As for other 

 particularities, let others speake of them with greater 

 curiositie, and let this which wee have sayd suffice for this 

 time. 



CHAP. vi. That there is Land and Sea Under the two 

 Poles. 



It is no smal labour to have vnfolded this doubt with 

 this knowledge and resolution, that there is a Heaven in 

 these parts of the Indies, which doth cover them as in 

 Europe, Asia, and Affricke. And this point serveth often 

 against many Spaniards, who beeing here, sigh for Spaine, 

 having no discourse but of their countrie. They wonder, 

 yea, they grow discontented with vs, imagining that we 

 have forgotten and make small accompt of our native soyle. 

 To whom we answere, that the desire to returne into 

 Spaine doth nothing trouble vs, being as neere vnto 

 Heaven at Peru, as in Spaine : as saint lerorne saith well, 

 writing unto Paulinus ; That the gates of Heaven are as 

 neere vnto Brittanie, as to lerusalem. But although the 

 Heaven doth compasse in the world of all parts, yet must 



