Augustine, and from this Cape Southwardes to the straytes of Todos Sanctos,Or the straites of Magelan. in the whiche Nauigation to the sayde straites is 1700. or 1800. leagues: and from these straytes being past them, they returne towarde the line Equinoctiall to the Ilandes of spicerie, whiche are distante from the sayde straites 4200. or 4300. leagues.
The Nauigation of the Portingalles to the sayd Ilands is, departing from Portingale Southwarde towarde the Capo verde, and from thence to another Cape passing the lyne equinoctiall called Capo de bona speransa, and from Portingale to the cape is 1800. leagues, and from this cape to the Ilandes of spicerie of the Emperour is 2500. leagues.
So that by this nauigation amounteth all to 4300. leagues. So that as afore is sayde, if betweene our Newe founde landes of Norway, or Islande the Seas towarde the north be Nauigable, wee shoulde goe to these Ilandes a shorter way by more then 2000 leagues. And though wee went not to the saide Ilandes,Note. for that they are the Emperours or Kinges of Portingale, wee shoulde by the way, and comming once to the line Equinoctiall, finde landes no lesse riche of Golde and spicerie, as all other landes vnder the saide line Equinoctiall: and also shoulde, if wee may passe vnder the North, enioye the Nauigation of all Tartarie.Benefite to Englande.
Which should bee no lesse profitable to our commodities of clothe, then these spiceries to the Emperour, and king of Portingale.
But it is a generall opinion of all Cosmographers that passing the seuenth clyme, the sea is all ice,Obiection. the colde so much that none can suffer it. And hitherto they had all the like opinion that vnder the lyne Equinoctiall for muche heate the lande was inhabitable.
Yet since by experience is proouedAnswers. no lande so much habi-table
