Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/251

 of these mountaines, and the way which they continue couered with snow, for euen vnder the Equinoctiall line they haue as much snowe vpon their tops as in 52 degrees. Also it is worthy the remembrance, that all this countrey towarde the South sea is very fruitfull, and the people very discreete and gentle: but all the coast towardes Brasill vpon the North sea is poore, whereas neuer yet was found any commoditie of account, and the people themselues are very cruell and saluage; for the will of God is, that good and ciuill men should inhabite fruitfull countries.

And for the better vnderstanding hereof you must note, that all the land lying betweene the said ridge of mountaines and the South sea is called by the names of Chili, Peru, and Nunuo reino de Granada, which are the best and richest countreys in all the world:

and most part of the land from the said mountaines to the North sea is called Brasill, being a mountainous countrey, where as yet was neuer found either golde or siluer. From the said mountaines in the middle of the streights the land riseth high, till you come to the end of the streights where you enter into the South sea, in which place next the South sea the streights are very dangerous, by reason of the sholdes and rocks that lie on the North side. Thus Magellan after he had entered the South sea, within 60 dayes came to the Iles of Malucos, without touching at any land vntill he came thither:

and so seeking there to lade his ships at an Iland inhabited by Moores, he was by them treacherously slaine. Now the Spaniards being too few for the managing of all three ships, because many of them were dead, partly with sicknes, and partly with the hardnesse of the voiage, determined to abandon one of their said ships, and so manned the other two: which two being laden with spices and other riches knew not what course they were best to take: howbeit at length it was determined, that one of these two ships should go for Nueuo Espanna, and the other for the cape of Buena Esperança, and so for Spaine.

The ship that went for Spaine was called The Victorie, the Pilot whereof was a Biscain named Iuan Sebastian del Cano, to whom the king gaue great rewardes, and appointed him the globe for his armes, whereon was written: Primus omnium circundi disti me: that is, thou art the first man that euer sayled about me.