ABSTRACT

You must know that in the times when our Amerigo Vespucci discovered the New World, there lived in our city a merchant whose name was Messer Ansaldo degli Ormanni, who, though very rich, still desired to double his wealth. He provisioned a fine ship, and began to trade with the newly discovered lands of the West. And having made the voyage successfully two or three times with notable gain, he wished to travel on a fourth trip, but no sooner had his vessel left Cadiz than a furious storm arose, and he drifted for many days without knowing whither he was sailing.