known to stand but at 72 degrees; so that we have but 10 degrees to
sail north and south to put the world out of doubt hereof; and it is
likely that the King of Spain and the King of Portugal would not
have sat out all this while but that they are sure to possess to
themselves all that trade they now use, and fear to deal in this
discovery lest the Queen's Majesty, having so good opportunity, and
finding the commodity which thereby might ensue to the commonwealth,
would cut them off and enjoy the whole traffic to herself, and
thereby the Spaniards and Portuguese with their great charges should
beat the bush and other men catch the birds; which thing they
foreseeing, have commanded that no pilot of theirs, upon pain of
death, should seek to discover to the north-west, or plat out in any
sea-card any through passage that way by the north-west.

Now, if you will impartially compare the hope that remaineth to
animate me to this enterprise with those likelihoods which Columbus
alleged before Ferdinando, the King of Castilia, to prove that there
were such islands in the West Ocean as were after by him and others
discovered, to the great commodity of Spain and all the world, you
will think then that this North-West Passage to be most worthy
travel therein.

For Columbus had none of the West Islands set forth unto him either
in globe or card, neither yet once mentioned of any writer (Plato
excepted, and the commentaries upon the same) from 942 years before
Christ until that day.

Moreover, Columbus himself had neither seen America nor any other of
the islands about it, neither understood he of them by the report of
any other that had seen them, but only comforted himself with this