age north-west
from England, and that he meant to publish the same; which done, the king
most earnestly desired him not in any wise to disclose or make the
passage known to any nation. For that (said the king) _if England had
knowledge and experience thereof_, _it would greatly hinder both the King
of Spain and me_. This friar (as Salva Terra reported) was the greatest
discoverer by sea that hath been in our age. Also Salva Terra, being
persuaded of this passage by the friar Urdaneta, and by the common
opinion of the Spaniards inhabiting America, offered most willingly to
accompany me in this discovery, which of like he would not have done if
he had stood in doubt thereof.

And now, as these modern experiences cannot be impugned, so, least it
might be objected that these things (gathered out of ancient writers,
which wrote so many years past) might serve little to prove this passage
by the north of America, because both America and India were to them then
utterly unknown; to remove this doubt, let this suffice, that Aristotle
(who was 300 years before Christ) named the Indian Sea. Also Berosus
(who lived 330 before Christ) hath these words, _Ganges in India_.

Also in the first chapter of Esther be these words: "In the days of
Ahasuerus, which ruled from India to Ethiopia," which Ahasuerus lived 580
years before Christ. Also Quintus Curtius, where he speaketh of the
Conquest of Alexander, mentioneth India. Also Arianus Philostratus, and
Sidrach, in his discourses of the wars of the King of Bactria, and of
Garaab, who had the most part of India under his government. All which
assumeth us that both India and Indians were known in those days.

These things considered, we may, in my opinion, not only assure ourselves
of this passage by the north-west, but also that it is navigable both to
come and go, as hath been proved in part and in all by the experience of
divers as Sebastian Cabot, Corterialis, the three brethren above named,
the Indians, and Urdaneta, the friar of Mexico, etc.

And yet, notwithstanding all which, there be some that have a better hope
of this passage to Cathay by the north-east than by the west, whose
reasons, with my several answers, ensue in the chapter following.

CHAPTER VIII.
CERTAIN REASONS ALLEGED FOR THE PROVING OF A PASSAGE BY THE NORTH-EAST
BEFORE THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY, AND CERTAIN LORDS OF THE COUNCIL, BY MASTER
ANTHONY JENKINSON, WITH MY SEVERAL ANSWERS THEN USED TO THE SAME.