Christopher Columbus fearing least if the king of Castile in like manner
(as the king of Portugall had done) should not condescend vnto his
enterprise, he should be inforced to offer the same againe to some other
prince, and so much time should be spent therein, sent into England a
certaine brother of his which he had with him, whose name was Bartholomew
Columbus, who, albeit he had not the Latine tongue, yet neuerthelesse was a
man of experience and skilfull in Sea causes, and could very wel make sea
cards and globes, and other instruments belonging to that profession, as he
was instructed by his brother. Wherefore after that Bartholomew Columbus
was departed for England, his lucke was to fall into the hands of pirats,
which spoiled him with the rest of them which were in the ship which he
went in. [Sidenote: The occasion why the West Indies were not discouered
for England.] Vpon which occasion, and by reason of his pouerty and
sicknesse which cruelly assaulted him in a countrey so farre distant from
his friends, he deferred his embassage for a long while, until such time as
he had gotten somewhat handsome about him with making of Sea Cards. At
length he began to deale with King Henry the seuenth the father of Henry
the eight, which reigneth at this present: vnto whom he presented a mappe
of the world, wherein these verses were written, which I found among his
papers: and I will here set them downe, rather for their antiquity then for
their goodnesse.

Thou which desireth easily the coasts of lands to know,
This comely mappe right learnedly the same to thee will shew:
Which Strabo, Plinie, Ptolomew and Isodore maintaine:
Yet for all that they do not all in one accord remaine.
Here also is set downe the late discouered burning Zone
By Portingals, vnto the world which whilom was vnknowen.
Whereof the knowledge now at length thorow all the world is blowen.