iniury done to any Christian prince, by crossing them in any of their vsed
trades, whereby they might take any iust occasion of offence.

Thus haue I briefly shewed you some part of the grounds of mine opinion,
trusting that you will no longer iudge me fantasticke in this matter:
seeing I haue conceiued no vaine hope of this voyage, but am perswaded
thereunto by the best Cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed
both by reason and certaine experiences.

Also this discouery hath bene diuers times heretofore by others both
offered, attempted and performed.

It hath bene offered by Stephen Gomes vnto Carolus the fift Emperour, in
the yeere of our Lord God 1527, as Alphonso Vllua testifieth in the story
of Carolus life: who would haue set him forth in it (as the story
mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long warres had
not caused him to surcease the same.

[Sidenote: This discouery offered.] And the king of Portugall fearing least
the Emperour would haue perseuered in this his enterprise, gaue him to
leaue the matter vnattempted, the summe of 350000 crownes: and it is to be
thought that the king of Portugall would not haue giuen to the Emperour
such summes of money for egges in mooneshine.

[Sidenote: This discovery attempted.] It hath bene attempted by Sebastian
Cabota in the time of king Henry the seuenth, by Corterialis the Portugall,
and Scolmus the Dane.

[Sidenote: This discouery performed.] And it hath bene performed by three
brethren, the Indians aforesaid, and by Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico.