I Am called Captaine Ferdinand De Quir, a moſt humble ſeruant and ſubiect of your Maieſties, who in all ſubmiſsion do ſhew vnto you, that this is the eighth Petition, which by mee hath beene preſented to your Maieſties view, to perſwade the conduction of ſome Colonies, vnto the land which your Maieſtie hath commanded to be diſcouered in the Countrey of Terra Australis incognita. And yet to this houre no reſolution is taken in this affaire, neither haue I receiued any anſwere or hope, whereby I might reſt aſſured to obtaine my diſpatch, although I haue attended fourteene moneths in your Court, and haue imployed fourteene yeeres in this Diſcouery, vnto the which I haue beene induced by the meere goodneſſe of the cauſe, and in the aſſuredneſſe of the ſame haue obdurated my ſelfe againſt all difficulties and contradictions whatſoeuer. I haue deſperately expoſed my ſelfe to a thouſand perils both by ſea and land, I haue diminiſhed and ſuncke my eſtate, I haue beene trauailed with many afflictions in my perſon, and ſuffered ſuch ſtrange and extraordinary croſſes, tha • they ſeeme almoſt incredible to my ſelfe 〈◊〉 and all, that ſo Religious an vndertake ſhould not vnworthily be abandoned. In regard • whereof, I doe moſt humbly beſeech your Maieſtie in the bowels of the Diuine Charitie, that you would be pleaſed to take order that I be not depriued of the fruits of this deſigne, which with ſuch inſtance I doe deſire and which with ſo much iuſtice are due vnto my continuall paines and trauaile: nor that I be debarred from the effects of ſo conſiderable and well-grounded a requeſt, whoſe •• incipall ſcope is the glorie of God, and of •• our Maieſtie, and from whence infinite benefits are likely to iſſue forth, which will liue •• long as the fabricke of the world ſhall ſubſiſt, and after the diſſolution thereof will re •• aine to all Eternitie.

Touching the extent of theſe Regions •• wly diſcouered, grounding my iudgment 〈◊〉 that which I haue ſeene with mine owne •• es, and vpon that which Captaine Lewes •• ez de Torres Admirall of my Fleet hath repreſented vnto your Maieſtie, The length •• er of is as great as all Europe & Aſia the leſſe, •• to the Sea of Bachu, Perſia, and all the Iles, •• ell of the Ocean, as of the Mediterranean 〈◊〉 , taking England & Iſland into this account. 〈◊〉 This vnknowne Countrey is the fift part 〈◊〉 the Terreſtriall Globe, and extendeth it •• fe to ſuch length, that in probabilitie it is twice greater in Kingdoms and Seignories, •• en all that which at this day doth acknowledge ſubiection and obedience vnto your ••• aieſtie.

Theſe Regions know no neighbourhood either of Turkes or Moores, or of any other Nation which attempteth warre vpon co ••• ning Countreys. The land which we h ••• diſcouered is all ſeated within the To ••• Zone, and a great tract thereof reacheth vnto the Equinoctiall Circle, which is eleuated 〈◊〉 them to 90. degrees aboue the Horizon, and in ſome places a little leſſe. And if 〈◊〉 ſucceſſe prooue anſwerable vnto the hop •• there will be found Antipodes vnto the better part of Africke, vnto all Europe, and to the greater portion of Aſia. But you muſt obſerue, that as the Countreys which wee haue diſcouered in 15. degrees of latitude, are better then Spaine, ſo the other which are oppoſed to their eleuation, muſt by proportion and analogie prooue ſome terreſtriall Paradiſe.

All thoſe quarters ſwarme with an incredible multitude of Inhabitants, wherof ſome are white, others blacke and in colour like vnto thoſe which the Spaniards call Mu •••• or halfe-Moores, & others of a mingled complexion. Some weare their haire long, black, and ſcattered, others haue their haire criſped and thicke, & others very yellow and bright. Which diuerſitie is an apparant argument, that there is commerce and communication amongſt them. And this conſideration together with the bounty which Nature hath beſtowed on the ſoile, their inexperience of Artillerie and Guns, and their vnskilfulneſſe in labouring in Mines, with other ſemblable circumſtances, doth induce mee to inferre, that all the Countrey is rich & well-peopled. It ſeemeth they know little what belongeth to artificiall trades; for they haue neither fortifications nor walles, and liue without the awe of Kings or lawes. They are a ſimple people cantoned into ſeuerall ſexts, and factions, & exerciſe much diſagreement amongſt themſelues. The Armes which they vſe are bowes and arrowes, which are not poiſoned or ſteeped in the iuice of venemous hearbes, as the cuſtome is of many other Countreys; They do alſo carrie clubs, truncheons, pikes, darts to hurle with the arme, all which are framed only of wood. They doe couer themſelues frō the waſte or girdling-place downe to the halfe of their thighes, they are very ſtudious of cleanlines, tractable, gleeful, & wonderouſly addicted to be gratefull vnto thoſe that doe them a courteſie, as I haue experienced many times. The which doth build in me a beliefe, that with the aſsiſtance of God, if they may be gently and amiably intreated, they will bee found very docible and eaſie of manage, and that wee ſhall without much worke accommodate our ſelues vnto them. And it is moſt neceſſary to obſerue this way of ſweetnes, eſpecially in the beginning, that the inhabitants may be drawne along to this ſo holy and ſauing an end, whereof we ought to take a particular care and zeale, aſwell in ſmall things, as in matters of more importance. Their houſes are built of wood, couered and tiled with Palme-tree leaues, they haue pitchers and veſſels made of earth, they are not without the myſterie of weauing, and other curioſities of that kind. They worke on Marble, they haue Flutes, Drummes, and wooden ſpoones, they ſet apart certaine places for Oratories & prayers, and for Churchyards. Their Gardens are artificially ſeuered into beds, bordered and faſhioned with diſtinct limits; Mother of Pearle and the ſhels which containe Pearle, they haue in much vſe and eſtimation, of which they make wedges, raſors, ſawes, culters, and ſuch like inſtruments; They alſo doe make thereof Pearles and great beads to weare about their neckes. They that doe dwell in the Ilands, haue boates very artificially made, and exceedingly commodious for ſailing, which is a certaine argument that they confine vpon other Nations that are of a more poliſhed and elegant behauiour. And this alſo they haue of our husbandry, that they cut Cockes and gelde Boares.

Their bread is vſually made of three ſorts of rootes, which grow there in great abundance. Neither doe they imploy much labour in making this bread, for they doe onely roſte the rootes vntill they are ſoft and tender. They are very pleſant to the taſte, wholſome and nouriſhing, they are of a good length, there being of them of an Ell long, and the halfe of that in bigneſſe.

There is great ſtore of excellent fruits in theſe Countreys. There are ſixe kindes of Maple trees, Almond trees of foure ſorts, and other trees called Obi, reſembling almoſt in fruit and greatneſſe our Quince trees. Innumerable Wallnut trees are found there, and of Citron trees the Barbarians haue no dearth, nor of other great and excellent fruits, which we haue ſeene and taſted. They haue moreouer Sugar-Canes, large in ſize and in great plenty, they haue knowlegde of our ordinarie Apples; they haue Palme-trees without number, out of which there may eaſily bee drawne a iuice, which will make a liquor alluding much to wine, as alſo whey, vineger, and hony, the kernels thereof are exceeding ſweet. And they haue fruits which the Indians call Cocos, which being greene doe make a kind of twine, and the pith is almoſt like in taſte vnto the creame of milke: When they are ripe they ſerue for meat and drinke both by land and ſea. And when they wither and fall from the tree, there ſweateth out an oyle from them, which is very good to burne in lampes, and is medicinable for wounds, and not vnpleaſant tobe eaten. Of their rindes or barkes there are made bottles, and other like veſſels, and the inner skin doth ſerue for tow or moſſe to ſtop and cloſe vp the leakes in ſhippes. Men doe make Cables and other cordage of them, which are of ſufficient ſtrength to draw a Canon, and are fit for other domeſticke vſes. But that which is more ſpeciall, they do there vſe the leaues of Palme trees, which they amaſſe together, to make ſailes of them for veſſels of ſmall bulke and burthen. They make likewiſe fine thinne mattes of them, and they doe ſerue for tiles to couer the houſe without, and for hangings to cloath the houſe within. And theſe houſes are built of the branches of trees that are ſtreight and long, of which they doe likewiſe make pikes, and other ſorts of weapons, as alſo oares to row with, and vtenſils for the houſe. You are to note, that theſe Palme-trees reſemble Vines, from whence they gather their materials for Wine all the yeere long, which they make without much coſt, or labour. Amongſt their herbage and garden fruits; Wee haue ſeene Melons, Peares great and little, and ſundry ſorts of pot-hearbes. And they haue alſo beanes. For fleſh, they are ſtored with a great number of Hogges which are like vnto ours, they haue Hennes, Capons, Partriges, Duckes, Turtles, Pigeons, Stocke-doues, and Goats, as one of my Captaines doth relate. And the Indians themſelues haue aſſured vs that there are Cowes and Oxen. There are alſo ſundry ſorts of fiſh, Harghi, Perſereyes, Lize, Soles, Troutes, Shads, Macabiſes, Caſanes, Pampani, Pilchards, Thorne-backs or Skate-fiſh, Cuculi, Congers, Porpoſes, Rochets, Muskles, Lobſters, and many other, the names whereof I cannot now remember. But it is probable that there are diuers other kinds, ſince thoſe which I haue recounted were taken hard by our ſhips. And vpon ripe and ſerious conſideration of that which I haue repreſented vnto you, a man may eaſily collect, that ſuch plentifull and different varieties of all things, may yeeld large meanes to inhabite there, with great and ſingular delights. There is ſtuffe for Marchpanes and ſweet confections of all ſorts, without borrowing any ſpice for the compoſition of them elſwhere. And for my Mates the Marriners, beſides thoſe particulars which I haue before ſet downe, there will be no want of Gammons, Sauſages, and other ſalt meats which hogges doe yeeld; neither of vineger, ſpiceries, and other ſauces that ſerue for delicacy, and to awake the appetite. And you muſt obſerue, that many of theſe things, are the ſame with thoſe which wee haue in our parts, and poſſibly they are there in greater abundance; by all which it is eaſily to be coniectured, that this Countrey is fit for the production of all that which groweth in Europe.

The riches which I haue ſeene in thoſe parts, is Siluer and Pearle; another Captaine in his Relation, doth report that he hath ſeen Gold, which are the three moſt precious darlings that lie and are cheriſhed in the boſome of Nature. Wee haue alſo both of vs ſeene many Nutmegs, much Maſticke, Ginger, and Pepper. There is alſo Cinnamum; and it is likely that Cloues may bee found in thoſe parts, ſince ſo many other ſorts of Spiceries and aromaticall drugges doe proſper there; and that the rather, becauſe theſe Countryes lie very neere the parallell of the Iles of Terr • natte, Bachian, and the Moluccos. There an • likewiſe materials for all ſorts of ſilke, and we • haue ſeene Aniſe-ſeed, and excellent good Ebony, as alſo other kinds of wood proper for the building of as many ſhippes as one will deſire, and ſtuffe to make ſailesf or the ſame. Three ſorts of materials there are wherewithall to make cordage, and one o •• them is very like vnto our hempe. More ouer out of the oyle of Cocos, whereof I haue already made mention, there is a kind of bi • tuminous ſtuffe extracted, called Galagald which may bee well vſed for pitch. They make alſo a kinde of roſen with which the Indians pitch their boats, which they call Piraques. And ſince there are Goates and Cowes in thoſe parts, without queſtion we • ſhall haue Goat-skins, leather, tallow, and fleſh in full abundance. The Bees which we haue ſeene there doe make proofe, that there will be no ſcarcety of hony and waxe. And there is good appearance to diſcouer many other things which are not yet known, to ſay nothing touching thefor me and ſite of the Countrey. Vnto all which if that be adioyned, which the induſtry of man may contribute to thoſe parts, ſince there is ſuch aboundance of commodities which the Countrey it ſelfe doth yeeld, and ſuch hope to tranſport thither thoſe things which grow with vs, the beſt and choiſeſt whereof that Peru and new Spaine bring foorth, I haue reſolued to tranſferre thither; it is to be hoped, that this will ſo enrich that Countrey, that it will be able to nouriſh and furniſh not only the Inhabitants of the ſame, and thoſe of America, but giue an acceſſion vnto Spaine it ſelfe both of riches and extent of Command: and this may be accompliſhed after the maner which I haue proiected, and will vnfold vnto thoſe which ſhall lend an aſsiſting hand for the guiding and conſummation of this worke.

Now by that land which we haue already diſcouered outwardly and along the ſhores, without entrance into the inward parts, we doe conceiue a certaine argument, that as much riches, commodities, and greatneſſe, may be hoped for from thence, as we haue already in theſe Countreyes. And you may be pleaſed to vnderſtand, that my principall ayme was to take a view only of theſe ample regions which wee haue diſcouered: for by reaſon of many ſickeneſſes which haue weakened me, and ſome other chances whereof I will at this time make no mention, I was not able to ſuruay all which I deſired, neither could I in a full moneth haue ſeene all that, which I was of my ſelfe inclinable to view.

You are not to make your iudgement of the Indians that inhabit theſe Countreys, according to the honour of the people here, or conceiue them to be affected with the ſame deſires, pleaſures, neceſsities, or eſtimation of things that we are: But you are to make account that they are a people whoſe care is ſtudiouſly placed vpon this, that they may liue eaſily in this world, and paſſe their dayes with the leaſt paine and perturbation they can. And this is indeed their practiſe, for they doe not beſtow themſelues on thoſe things, which with ſuch vexation and torment we here labour to obtaine.

There are found in this Countrey as many comodities, both for the ſupport & delectation of the life of man, as may be expected from a ſoile that is manureable, pleaſant and very temperate. It is a fat and a fertile land, wherein many places Clay is found, which will prooue of excellent vſe to build houſes, and to make tiles and brickes, and will ſerue for Whatſoeuer is vſually made of earth. There is no dearth of Marble and other good ſtones, wherewith if there be occaſion there may be built ſtructures of greater State and Magnificence.

The Countrey aboundeth in wood, fit for all workes and vſes, whereunto the ſame is commonly put. There are ſpatious & goodly plaines, and fields that are diuided and interlaced with brookes, trenches, and riuers. There are great and high rockes, ſundry torrents, riuers great and little, on which watermilles for corne may with much commodiouſneſſe be built and placed, as alſo Engins to make Sugar, Tucking-milles, Forges, and all other inſtruments which in their vſe doe require water.

We haue found Salt-pits there, and which is a note of the fertilitie of the ſoile, there are in many places Canes whereof ſome are fiue or ſixe handfuls thicke, with fruit anſwerable to that proportion. The top of that fruit is very ſmall and hard, and the skin thereof is exceeding ſweet. There are alſo Flints for fire, equall in goodneſſe with thoſe of Madrid. The bay of Saint Iames and Saint Philip hath twenty leagues of banke, and is without mudde; Into which there is a ſure and ſafe entrance both by day and night. It is ſheltered and couered with many houſes, which in the day time we haue ſeene a farre off to ſend foorth ſmoake, and in the night to ſhew foorth fire.

The Hauen called The true Croſſe is of that ſpacious capacitie, that it is able to containe a thouſand Shippes. The botome as I haue ſaid is without mudde, and hath a blackiſh coloured ſand wherewithall it is couered. There are no gulfes or deepe pits, but an aſſured and eaſie anchorage in what part ſoeuer you will, from forty to halfe a fadome; and it is betweene the mouthes of two riuers, the one whereof is as great as that of Quadalguiuer, & hath mud of a fadom deepe, ouer which our Shaloppes and boates did paſſe.

For the other riuer, when our Skiffs went to water there, they found the entrance ſafe and eaſie. And a man may from the very mouth of the riuer take in as much freſh water as he will. The place where ſhips may be vnloaded hath three leagues of grauell, mingled with little flints blackiſh and very heauie, which will ſerue for balaſte for ſhippes. The banke is ſtraight and vnited, on which much greene graſſe doth grow and proſper, and that makes me to conceiue that the Sea doth not beat or rage thereupon; I obſerue that the trees are ſtreight, and the branches not diſmembred, which is a token that there are no tempeſts there. Touching the Port, beſides the commodities which I haue already diſcourſed of, there is one of maruellous pleaſure and contentation. And that is, that at the dawning of the day you ſhal heare from a wood which is neere at hand, a ſweet and various harmony of a thouſand birdes of all ſorts, among which we could diſtinguiſh the Nightingales, Black-birds, Quailes, Goldfinches, Swallowes almoſt without number, Parrochitos, and one Parret we marked there, and creatures of ſundrie other kinds, euen downe to Graſſe-hoppers, and Fieldcrickets.

Euerie Morning and Euening wee receiued a moſt odoriferous ſweet ſmell, ſent vnto our noſtrells from the infinite diuerſitie of Flowers and Hearbes which grow there, amongſt which we obſerued the bloſſomes of Oranges and Baſil. All which (with a number of other varieties) doth make vs thinke that the ayre is cleare and healthie, and that the nature of the place is of a good temperature. The Hauen & the Bay are therfore of the greater eſtimation, becauſe they haue the neighbourhood of ſo many goodly Ilands that are there, and eſpecially of thoſe ſeuen, which are ſaid to haue two hundreth leagues of extent: and ſurely one of them (which is ſome twelue leagues diſtant from the Hauen) is fiftie leagues in circuit. In briefe SIR, I doe affirme vnto your Maieſtie, that you may giue commaund to haue a goodly and great Citie built in this Port and Bay, which are in fifteene degrees and fortie minutes of the Southerne Eleuation, and thoſe that ſhall inhabite there, ſhall haue plentie of riches, and all other conueniencies which they can deſire. Time will ſhew and diſcouer all theſe commodities, and in this place there may be made the diſcharge and vnloading of all the wares and merchandizes of the Countries of Chilly, Peru, Panania, Macaraqua, Guttimala, New-Spaine, Terre-natte, and the Philippines, all which Countries are vnder the commaund of your Maieſtie. And if you ſhall acquire vnto your ſelfe the Dominion of theſe Seigniories which I do now preſent, I doe make ſo great an eſteeme of them, that beſides their being the Key of all the reſt, they will (in my opinion) prooue another China or Iapan, and equallize the other rich Ilands which are on this ſide of Aſia, in trafique of curious and pretious merchandizes, to ſpeake nothing of the augmentation and extent of your power, and the eſtabliſhment which you may make vnto your ſelfe of your Dominions, by the acceſſion of ſo great a Countrie. That which I haue giuen vnto your viewe in my diſcourſe, is of much ſlenderneſſe, in regard of that which I doe probably conceiue of this land, the which I am readie to make appeare in the preſence of Mathematicians. Neither will I vexe this paper to demonſtrate vnto you, that theſe Countries will be able at the firſt aboord to nouriſh twentie thouſand Spaniards. In ſumme, this is SIR, the world whereof Spaine is the Center, and that which I haue related, is the nayle by which you may iudge of the whole bodie, which I pray you to take into your obſeruation.

You may iudge by that which I haue alreadie repreſented, what the goodneſſe and temperature of the ayre is: whereunto this may be added for a further teſtimonie, that although all our Companie were ſtrangers, yet neuer a one of them was ſicke, albeit they were in continuall trauell and labour, and did ſometimes ſweat, and ſometimes take wet. They dranke water faſting, and fed manie times on that which the earth did there bring forth. Neither had they any regard to keepe themſelues from the Serenes, nor from the Moone or Sunne, which indeed in thoſe parts is not ouer-vehement. Onely about Mid-night, they couered themſelues with Wooll, and did lye and repoſe themſelues thereupon. And for the Inhabitants, they are commonly healthie, and many of them verie aged, although they haue nothing but the bare earth for their pallet: which is an argument of the wholeſomeneſſe and pureneſſe of the ſoyle. For if it were a wet and weeping ground, or had any viciouſneſſe in the mould, they would raiſe their lodgings higher from the earth, as they doe that liue in the Philippines, and other Countries which I haue viewed. And this is further confirmed by their Fleſh and Fiſh, which although it bee vnſalted, yet will it keepe ſweete, and without corruption two daies. And the fruits which are brought from thence are exceeding good, as wee had proofe by two that I tooke care to bring along with mee, although they had not their full maturitie and grouth when I gathered them from the Tree. Wee haue not ſeene any barren and ſandie ground, nor any Thiſtles, or trees that are thornie or whoſe rootes doe ſhew themſelues, no Mariſhes or Fennes, no Snow vpon the Mountaines, no Snakes or Serpents, no Crocodiles in the Riuers, no Wormes that vſe with vs to hurt and conſume our Grayne, and to worke vs ſo much diſpleaſure in our houſes, no Fleas, Cater-pillers, or Gnats. This is a Prerogatiue that hath the aduauntage of all the priuiledges that nature hath beſtowed on other places, and is worthie to be compared, or rather preferred before any delicacie of the Countries of India, ſome of which are abandoned and vnhabited, meerely by reaſon of theſe incommodities, and of ſundrie others that are diſtaſtfull vnto the Inhabitants, as my ſelfe haue oftentimes beene witneſſe.

Theſe (SIR) are the vertues and excellencies of the Countries which I haue diſcouered, of which I haue already taken the poſſeſſion in the name of your Maieſtie, and vnder your Royall-Banner, as appeareth by the Acts which I keepe ſafely in my power, whereunto I proceeded after this enſuing manner.

Firſt (SIR) wee erected a Croſſe, and built a Church in honour of our Ladie of Loretto. Then wee cauſed twentie Maſſes to be celebrated there, and our troupes made haſt thither to gaine ſome Indulgences. We alſo made a ſolemne Proceſſion, and obſerued the Feaſt of the bleſſed Sacrament, the which was carried in Proceſſion, your Banner being euer diſplayed, and marching before it, through a great Circuit of Countries, which were honoured with the preſence of the ſame.

In three ſeuerall places wee ſet vp your Titles, in euerie one of which wee prepared and erected two Columnes, with the Armes of your Maieſtie tricked and garniſhed thereupon: ſo that I may with good right affirme, that ſince this will challenge to be one of the Parts of the World, the Impreſſe of Plus vltra is accompliſhed, and becauſe it ſtretcheth vnto the continent, whether it be forward or behind it skills not, the bounds of your Dominions are with much ſpaciouſneſſe enlarged. Now all this which I haue performed, receiueth its root from this the faithfull zeale which I beare vnto your Maieſtie, that to all the Titles which you alreadie doe poſſeſſe, you may adjoyne this which I repreſent, and that the name of TERRA AVSTRALIS INCOGNITA may be blazoned and ſpread ouer the face of the whole world to the glorie of God, who hath reuealed this Countrie, and hath giuen mee the grace to guide my courſe thither, and to returne to the preſence of your Maieſtie, before whom I do preſent & proſtrate my ſelfe with the ſame affection and zeale vnto this worke which I had before, and which hath growne vp with mee as it were from my cradle, and for the nobleneſſe and worth thereof, I doe ſtill tender and cheriſh the ſame with the greateſt loue that can be.

I doe confidently beleeue, that your Maieſtie doth vſe ſo much prudence in your Councels, and are ſo magnanimous and full of Chriſtian pietie, that you will (with your beſt care) embrace all the conducements which may further the habitation of theſe new-diſcouered Countries. And the principall reaſon to put a tye and obligation vpon vs not to leaue them abandoned, is, in regard that this is the ſole ordinarie way to eſtabliſh the knowledge of God, and faith amongſt them, and to bring to paſſe that his name may be adored and called vpon, where the Deuill vſurpeth ſo much reuerence and inuocation. And this ought to bee embraced with the more readineſſe, becauſe it is the channell to conuay and diſperſe all aboundance of commodities amongſt your ſubiects. And hereby you ſhall be eaſed of many diſturbances and vexations, which will aſſuredly be put vpon you, in caſe the Heretickes ſhould enter & neſtle there, and ſhould vent their erronious doctrines amongſt them, whereby they would conuert all the bleſſings which I haue hitherto recounted vnto you, into aſſured incommodities and miſchiefes, and would arrogate vnto themſelues the name of the Lords of the Indias, to the vtter ruine and deſolation of thoſe countries. I make no queſtion but your Maieſty well weigheth of what importance this danger of which I ſpeak may proue, & what euil conſequence ſome other hazards may carrie with them, which are either at this time imminent, or may ſucceed hereafter. And if this ſhould happen, it would coſt you innumerable thouſands of gold and men, before you ſhall be able to giue a remedie vnto the ſame. Acquire therefore SIR, whiles that occaſion is offered you (that one day you may purchaſe heauen vnto your ſelfe;) acquire (I ſay) with a little mony which you miſ-place vpon Peru, a neuer-dying reputation, and this New-world with all the benefits which it reacheth out vnto you. And ſince there is none that craueth a reward for this good tidings that is brought you concerning ſo great and ſingular a bleſſing, which God hath bin pleaſed to lock vp vntil your happie time, I am he SIR, that doe demaund it, and my humble requeſt vnto you is only this, that you would be of that gratiouſneſſe vnto mee, as to diſpatch and giue me mine anſwer: for the Gallions are readie to hoyſe ſayle, and I haue much way to goe, and many things muſt be fitted and diſpoſed for the voyage. There is no houre paſſes, which carryeth not with it an aſſured loſſe both in regard of ſpirituall and temporal bleſſings, the dammage wherof can neuer be made vp, or repaired.

If vpon a bare ſuſpition Chriſtoferus Columbus did purſue his deſigne with ſo much obſtinacie, you are not to account it ſtrange in me, if the things which I haue beheld with mine eyes, and touched with mine hands, doe put ſome kind of conſtraint vpon me to be importunate.

Let it therefore pleaſe your Maieſtie, amongſt ſo many expedients which you haue at hand, to ſeuer and put apart ſome one for the accompliſhment of this worke, that after all theſe languiſhments, I may at length meet with the ſucceſſe of my deſires. I doe aſſure you that you will find my propoſitions moſt iuſt, and that I ſhall be of ſufficiencie to giue you ſatisfaction in all things. This, SIR, is a great worke, againſt which the deuill doth bandy himſelfe with all the puiſſance hee may; And it is not conſonant to reaſon, to abandon theſe Countreys to his tyranny and power, which doe know your Maieſtie for their Patron and Defender.