in what great estimation they
would have the cloths of this our country, so that there would be found a
far better vent for them by this means than yet this realm ever had; and
that without depending either upon France, Spain, Flanders, Portugal,
Hamborough, Emden, or any other part of Europe.

7. Also here we shall increase both our ships and mariners without
burdening of the State.

8. And also have occasion to set poor men's children to learn
handicrafts, and thereby to make trifles and such like, which the Indians
and those people do much esteem; by reason whereof, there should be none
occasion to have our country cumbered with loiterers, vagabonds, and such
like idle persons.

All these commodities would grew by following this our discovery without
injury done to any Christian prince by crossing them in any of their used
trades, whereby they might take any just occasion of offence.

Thus have I briefly showed you some part of the grounds of my opinion,
trusting that you will no longer judge me fantastic in this matter,
seeing I have conceived no hope of this voyage, but am persuaded
thereunto by the best cosmographers of our age, the same being confirmed
both by reason and certain experiences.

Also this discovery hath been divers times heretofore by others both
proposed, attempted, and performed.

It hath been proposed by Stephen Gomez unto Carolus, the fifth emperor in
the year of our Lord 1527, as Alphonse Ullva testifieth in the story of
Carolus' life, who would have set him forth in it (as the story
mentioneth) if the great want of money, by reason of his long wars, had
not caused him to surcease the same.

And the King of Portugal, fearing lest the emperor would have persevered
in this his enterprise, gave him, to leave the matter unattempted, the
sum of 350,000 crowns; and it is to be supposed that the King of Portugal
would not have given to the emperor such sums of money for eggs in
moonshine.

It hath been attempted by Corterialis the Portuguese, Scolmus the Dane,
and by Sebastian Cabot in the time of King Henry VII.

And it hath been performed by the three brethren, the Indians aforesaid,
and by Urdaneta, the friar of Mexico.

Also divers have proposed the like unto the French king, who hath sent
two or three times to have discovered the same; the discoverers spending
and consuming their victuals in searching the gulfs and bays between
Florida and Labrador, whereby the ice is broken to the