Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/392

 memorie of Saauedra as then was almost lost. As all things else do fall into obliuion, which are not recorded and illustrated by writing.

In this yeere 1545. and in the moneth of Iune, there went a Iunk from the citie of Borneo, wherein went a Portugall called Peter Fidalgo, and, by contrary windes he was driuen towards the north; where he founde an Island standing in 9. or 10. degrees, that stretched it selfe to 22. degrees of latitude, which is called The Isles of the Luçones, because the inhabitants thereof were so named. It may haue some other name and harborowes, which as yet we know not: it runneth from the north vnto the southwest, and standeth betweene Mindanao and China.

They say they sailed along by it 250. leagues, where the land was fruitfull and well couered, and they affirme, that there they will giue two Pezos of gold for one of siluer: and yet it standeth not farre from the countrey of China.

In the yeere 1553. there went out of England certaine shipping, and as it appeered they sailed northward along the coast of Norway and Finmark, and from thence east, till they came betweene 70. and 80. degrees vnto Moscouie, for so far one of the ships went: but I know not what became of the rest: and this was the last discouerie made vntil this time. From this lande of Moscouie eastward you saile vnto Tartary, and at the farther end of it standeth the countrey and prouince of China. It is said that betweene China and Tartary there is a wall aboue 200. leagues in length, standing neere vnto 50. degrees of latitude.

Now I gather by all the precedent discoueries, that the whole earth is in circuite 360. degrees according to the Geometrie thereof: and to euery degree the ancient writers allow 17. leagues and a halfe, which amount vnto 6300. leagues yet I take it that euery degree is iust 27. leagues. Howsoeuer it be, all is discouered and sailed from the east vnto the west almost euen as the sunne compasseth it: but from the south to the north there is great difference; for towardes the north pole there is found discouered no more than 77. or 78. degrees, which come to 1326. leagues: and towards the south pole there is discouered from the Equinoctial to 52. or 53. degrees, that is, to the streit which Magellan passed through, which amounted to about 900. leagues; and putting both these saide maine sums togither, they amount