CERTAIN OTHER REASONS OR ARGUMENTS TO PROVE A PASSAGE BY THE NORTH-
WEST
Learnedly written by Master Richard Willes, Gentleman.



Four famous ways there be spoken of to those fruitful and wealthy
islands, which we do usually call Moluccas, continually haunted for
gain, and daily travelled for riches therein growing. These
islands, although they stand east from the meridian, distant almost
half the length of the world, in extreme heat under the equinoctial
line, possessed of infidels and barbarians, yet by our neighbours
great abundance of wealth there is painfully sought in respect of
the voyage dearly bought, and from thence dangerously brought home
to us. Our neighbours I call the Portuguese, in comparison of the
Molucchians for nearness unto us, for like situation westward as we
have for their usual trade with us; for that the far south-
easterings do know this part of Europe by no other name than
Portugal, not greatly acquainted as yet with the other nations
thereof. Their voyage is very well understood of all men, and the
south-eastern way round about Africa, by the Cape of Good Hope, more
spoken of, better known and travelled, than that it may seem needful
to discourse thereof any farther.

The second way lieth south-west, between the West Indies, or South
America, and the south continent, through that narrow strait where
Magellan, first of all men that ever we do read of, passed these
latter years, caving thereunto therefore his name. This way, no
doubt, the Spaniards would commodiously take, for that it lieth near