ABSTRACT

Alexander magnus (after he had woone all Grecia, and from thence entred into little and great Asia, and comming to the farthest parts of India, there found some difEcultie to passe) sayd, I f we had not gone forward, and persisted in our intent, which other men esteemed and held to be impossible, we had still remayned and stayed in the entry of Cilicia,* where

as now we haue ouerrunne and past through all those large and spacious countries: for nothing is found and effected all at one time, neither is any thing that is put in practise,

presently brought, to an end. To the which end, Cicero wisely saith, God hath giuen vs some things, and not all things, that our successours also might have somewhat to doe. Therefore we must not leaue off, nor stay our pretence in the middle of our proceedinges, as long as there is any commoditie to be hoped, and in time to be obtayned:. for that the greatest and richest treasures are hardliest.to be found. But to make no long digression from our matter, concerning the dayly furtheraunce of the most necessarie and profitable art of nauigation, that hath been brought to fall effect, not without great charges, labour, and paines; ouerslipping and not shewing with how long and troublesome labour and toyle, continually had, the passages to the East and West Indies, America, Brasilia, and other places, through the straight of Magellanes, in the South Sea, twise or thrise passing ynder the Line,1 and by those meanes other countries and ilands, were first found out and discouered.