Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/363

 *what better for his purpose, made saile towards the firme land and citie of Panama, where he might vnlade the cloues and marchandise which he had, that so in cartes it might be carried fower leagues to the riuer of Chagre, which they say is nauigable running out into the North sea not far from Nombre de Dios, where the ships ride, which come out of Spaine: by which way all kinde of goods might be brought vnto them in shorter time, and with lesse danger, then to saile about the Cape of Bona Sperança. For from Maluco vnto Panama they saile continually betweene the Tropickes and the line: but they neuer found winde to serue that course, and therefore they came backe againe to Maluco very sad, because Saavedra died by the way: who if he had liued meant to haue opened the land of Castillia del Oro and New Spaine from sea to sea.

Which might haue beene done in fower places: namely from the Gulfe of S. Michael to Vraba, which is 25. leagues, or from Panama to Nombre de Dios being 17. leagues distance: or through Xaquator a riuer of Nicaragua, which springeth out of a lake three or fower leagues from the South sea, and falleth into the North sea; whereupon doe saile great barks and crayers. The other place is from Tecoantepec through a riuer to Verdadera Cruz in the Bay of the Honduras, which also might be opened in a streight.

Which if it were done, then they might saile from the Canaries vnto the Malucos vnder the climate of the Zodiake in lesse time and with much lesse danger, then to saile about the Cape de Bona Sperança, or by the streight of Magelan, or by the Northwest. And yet if their might be found a streight there to saile into the sea of China, as it hath beene sought, it would doe much good.

In this yeere 1529, one Damian de Goes a Portugal being in Flanders, after that he had trauailed ouer all Spaine, was yet desirous to see more countreyes, and fashions, and diuersities of people; and therefore went ouer into England and Scotland, and was in the courts of the kings of those parts: and after that came againe into Flanders, and then trauailed through Zealand, Holland, Brabant, Luxenburge, Suitzerland, and so through the cities of Colon, Spyres, Argentine, Brasill, and other parts of Alemaine, and then came backe againe into Flanders: and from thence he went into France through Picardie, Normandie,