The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Principal Navigations, Voyages,
Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation, Vol. XII., America, Part I.,
by Richard Hakluyt. http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/6/0/13605/13605.txt
** Transcriber's Notes **
The printed edition from which this e-text has been produced retains the
spelling and abbreviations of Hakluyt's 16th-century original. In this
version, the spelling has been retained, but the following manuscript
abbreviations have been silently expanded:
- vowels with macrons = vowel + 'n' or 'm'
- q; = -que (in the Latin)
- y'e = the; y't = that; w't = with
This edition contains footnotes and two types of sidenotes. Most footnotes
are added by the editor. They follow modern (19th-century) spelling
conventions. Those that don't are Hakluyt's (and are not always
systematically marked as such by the editor). The sidenotes are Hakluyt's
own. Summarizing sidenotes are labelled [Sidenote: ] and placed before the
sentence to which they apply. Sidenotes that are keyed with a symbol are
labeled [Marginal note: ] and placed at the point of the symbol, except in
poetry, where they are placed at a convenient point. Additional notes on
corrections, etc. are signed 'KTH'
** End Transcriber's Notes **
Notes framed by M. Richard Hakluyt of the middle Temple Esquire, giuen to
certaine Gentlemen that went with M. Frobisher in his Northwest
discouerie, for their directions: And not vnfit to be committed to print,
considering the same may stirre vp considerations of these and of such
other things, not vnmeete in such new voyages as may be attempted
hereafter.
That the first Seate be chosen on the seaside, so as (if it may be) you may
haue your owne Nauie within Bay, riuer or lake, within your Seate safe from
the enemie: and so as the enemie shalbe forced to lie in open rode abroade
without, to be dispersed with all windes and tempests that shall arise.
Thus seated you shall be least subiect to annoy of the enemie, so may you
by your Nauie within passe out to all parts of the world, and so may the
Shippes of England haue accesse to you to supply all wants, so may your
commodities be caryed away also. This seat is to be chosen in a temperate
Climat, in sweete ayre, where you may possesse alwayes sweete water, wood,
seacoles or turfe, with fish, flesh, graine, fruites, herbes, and rootes,
or so many of those as may suffice every necessitie for the life of such as
shall plant there. And for the possessing of mines of golde, of siluer,
copper, quicksiluer, or of any such precious thing, the wants of those
needful things may be supplyed from some other place by sea, &c.
Stone to make Lyme of; Slate stone to tyle withall, or such clay as maketh
tyle; Stone to wall withall, if Brycke may not bee made; Timber for
buylding easely to be conueied to the place; Reede to couer houses or such
like, if tyle or slate be not--are to be looked for as things without which
no Citie may be made nor people in ciuil sort be kept together.
The people there to plant and to continue are eyther to liue without
traffique, or by traffique and by trade of marchandise. If they shall liue
without sea traffique, at the first they become naked by want of linnen and
woollen, and very miserable by infinite wants that will otherwise ensue,
and so will they be forced of themselues to depart, or else easely they
will be consumed by the Spanyards, by the Frenchmen, or by the naturall
inhabitants of the countrey, and so the enterprise becomes reprochfull to
our Nation, and a let to many other good purposes that may be taken in
hand.
And by trade of marchandise they can not liue, except the Sea or the Land
there may yeelde comoditie. And therefore you ought to haue most speciall
regard of that poynt, and so to plant, that the naturall commodities of the
place and seate may draw to you accesse of Nauigation for the same, or that
by your owne Nauigation you may cary the same out, and fetch home the
supply of the wants of the seate.
Such Nauigation so to be employed shall, besides the supply of wants, be
able to encounter with forreine force.
And for that in the ample vent of such things as are brought to you out of
England by Sea, standeth a matter of great consequence, it behoueth that
all humanitie and curtesie and much forbearing of reuenge to the Inland
people be vsed: so shall you haue firme amitie with your neighbours, so
shall you haue their inland commodities to mainteine traffique, and so
shall you waxe rich and strong in force. Diuers and seuerall commodities of
the inland are not in great plenty to be brought to your hands, without the
ayde of some portable or Nauigable riuer, or ample lake, and therefore to
haue the helpe of such a one is most requisite: And so is it of effect for
the dispersing of your owne commodities in exchange into the inlands.
Nothing is more to be indeuoured with the Inland people then familiarity.
For so may you best discouer all the natural commodities of their countrey,
and also all their wants, al their strengths, all their weaknesse, and with
whom they are in warre, and with whom confederate in peace and amitie, &c.
which knowen you may worke many great effects of greatest consequence.
And in your planting the consideration of the clymate and of the soyle be
matters that are to be respected. For if it be so that you may let in the
salt sea water, not mixed with the fresh into flats, where the sunne is of
the heate that it is at Rochel, in the Bay of Portugal, or in Spaine, then
may you procure a man of skill, and so you haue wonne one noble commoditie
for the fishing, and for trade of marchandize by making of Salt.
Or if the soyle and clymate be such as may yeeld you the Grape as good as
that at Burdeaux, as that in Portugal, or as that about Siuil in Spaine, or
that in the Islands of the Canaries, then there resteth but a workeman to
put in execution to make Wines, and to dresse Resigns[56] of the sunne and
other, &c.
Or if ye finde a soyle of the temperature of the South part of Spaine or
Barbarie in the which you finde the Oliue tree to growe; Then you may be
assured of a noble marchandize for this Realme, considering that our great
trade of clothing doeth require oyle, and weying how deere of late it is
become by the vent they haue of that commoditie in the West Indies, and if
you finde the wilde Oliue there it may be graffed.
Or if you can find the berrie of Cochenile with which we colour Stammelles,
or any Roote, Berrie, Fruite, wood or earth fitte for dying, you winne a
notable thing fitte for our state of clothing. This Cochenile is naturall
in the West Indies on that firme.
Or if you haue Hides of beasts fitte for sole Lether, &c. It will be a
marchandize right good, and the Sauages there yet can not tanne Lether
after our kinde, yet excellently after their owne manner.
Or if the soyle shall yeeld Figges, Almonds, Sugar Canes, Quinces, Orenges,
Lemonds, Potatoes, &c. there may arise some trade and traffique by Figs,
Almonds, Sugar, Marmelade, Sucket, &c.
Or if great woods be found, if they be of Cypres, chests may be made, if
they be of some kinde of trees, Pitch and Tarre may be made, if they be of
some other, then they may yeeld Rosin, Turpentine, &c. and all for trade
and traffique, and Caskes for wine and oyle may be made, likewise, ships
and houses, &c.
And because traffique is a thing so materiall, I wish that great
obseruation be taken what euery soyle yeeldeth naturally, in what
commoditie soeuer, and what it may be made to yeelde by indeuour, and to
send vs notice home, that thereupon we may deuise what meanes may be
thought of to raise trades.
Now admit that we might not be suffered by the Sauages to enioy any whole
country or any more than the scope of a citie, yet if we might enioy
traffique, and be assured of the same, we might be much inriched, our Nauie
might be increased, and a place of safetie might there be found, if change
of religion or ciuil warres should happen in this realme, which are things
of great benefit. But if we may enioy any large territorie of apt soyle, we
might so vse the matter, as we should not depend vpon Spaine for oyles,
sacks, resignes, orenges, lemonds, Spanish skins, &c. Nor vpon France for
woad, baysalt, and Gascoyne wines, nor on Eastland for flaxe, pitch, tarre,
mastes, &c. So we should not so exhaust our treasure, and so exceedingly
inrich our doubtfull friends, as we doe, but should purchase the
commodities that we want for halfe the treasure that now wee doe: and
should by our owne industries and the benefities of the soyle there cheaply
purchase oyles, wines, salt, fruits, pitch, tarre, flaxe, hempe, mastes,
boords, fish, golde, siluer, copper, tallow, hides and many commodies:
besides if there be no flatts to make salt on, if you haue plentie of wood
you may make it in sufficient quantitie for common vses at home there.
If you can keepe a safe Hauen, although you haue not the friendship of the
neere neighbours, yet you may haue traffique by sea vpon one shore or
other, vpon that firme in time to come, if not present.
If you find great plentie of tymber on the shore side or vpon any portable
riuer, you were best to cut downe of the same the first winter, to be
seasoned for ships, barks, boates, and houses.
And if neere such wood there be any riuer or brooke vpon the which a sawing
mill may be placed, it would doe great seruice, and therefore consideration
would be had of such places.
And if such port and chosen place of settling were in possession and after
fortified by arte, although by the land side our Englishmen were kept in,
and might not enioy any traffique with the next neighbours, nor any
victuals: yet might they victuall themselues of fish to serue every
necessitie, and enter into amitie with the enemies of their next
neighbours, and so haue vent of their marchandize of England and also haue
victual, or by meanes hereupon to be vsed, to force the next neighbours to
amitie. And keeping a nauy at the settling place, they should find out
along the tract of the land to haue traffique, and at diuers Islands also.
And so this first seat might in time become a stapling place of the
commodities of many countreys and territories, and in time this place might
become of all the prouinces round about the only gouernor. And if the place
first chosen should not so well please our people, as some other more
lately found out: There might be an easie remoue, and that might be raised,
or rather kept for others of our nation to auoyd an ill neighbour.
If the soyles adioyning to such conuenient Hauen and setling places be
found marshie and boggie, then men skilful in drayning are to be caryed
thither. For arte may worke wonderful effects therein, and make the soyle
rich for many vses.
To plant vpon an Island in the mouth of some notable riuer, or vpon the
point of the land entring into the riuer, if no such Island be, were to
great end. For if such riuer were nauigable or portable farre into the
land, then would arise great hope of planting in fertil soyles, and
traffike on the one or on the other side of the riuer, or on both, or the
linking in amitie with one or other pettie king contending there for
dominion.
Such riuers found, both Barges and Boates may be made for the safe passage
of such as shall pierce the same. These are to be couered with doubles of
course linnen artificially wrought, to defend the arrow or the dart of the
sauage from the rower.
Since euery soile of the worlde by arte may be made to yeeld things to
feede and to clothe man, bring in your returne a perfect note of the soile
without and within, and we shall deuise if neede require to amend the same,
and to draw it to more perfection. And if you finde not fruites in your
planting place to your liking, we shall in fiue drifats[57] furnish you
with such kindes of plants to be carryed thither the winter after your
planting, as shall the very next summer following yeeld you some fruite,
and the yeere next following, as much as shall suffice a towne as bigge as
Calice, and that shortly after shall be able to yeeld you great store of
strong durable good sider to drinke, and these trees shall be able to
encrease you within lesse then seuen yeeres as many trees presently to
beare, as may suffice the people of diuers parishes, which at the first
setling may stand you in great stead, if the soile haue not the commoditie
of fruites of goodnesse already. And because you ought greedily to hunt
after things that yeeld present reliefe, without trouble of carriage
thither, therefor I make mention of these thus specially, to the end you
may haue it specially in minde.
* * * * *
A true discourse of the three Voyages of discouerie, for the finding of a
passage to Cathaya, by the Northwest, vnder the conduct of Martin
Frobisher Generall: Before which as a necessary Preface is prefixed a
twofolde discourse, conteining certaine reasons to proue all partes of
the World habitable. Penned by Master George Best, a Gentleman employed
in the same voyages.
What commodities and instructions may be reaped by diligent reading this
Discourse.
1 First, by example may be gathered, how a Discouerer of new Countries is
to proceede in his first attempt of any Discouerie.
2 Item, how he should be prouided of shipping, victuals, munition, and
choice of men.
3 How to proceede and deale with strange people, be they neuer so
barbarous, cruell and fierce, either by lenitie or otherwise.
4 How trade of Merchandize may be made without money.
5 How a Pilot may deale, being inuironed with mountaines of yce in the
frozen sea.
6 How length of dayes, change of seasons, Summers and Winters doe differ in
sundry regions.
7 How dangerous it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for the length of
the voyage, or the ignorance of the language, the want of Interpreters, new
and vnaccustomed Elements and ayres, strange and vnsauoury meates, danger
of theeues and robbers, fiercenesse of wilde beastes and fishes, hugenesse
of woods, dangerousnesse of Seas, dread of tempestes, feare of hidden
rockes, steepnesse of mountaines, darknesse of sudden falling fogges,
continuall paines taking without any rest, and infinite others.
8. How pleasant and profitable it is to attempt new Discoueries, either for
the sundry sights and shapes of strange beastes and fishes, the wonderfull
workes of nature, the different maners and fashions of diuers nations, the
sundry sortes of gouernment, the sight of strange trees, fruite, foules,
and beasts, the infinite treasure of Pearle, Golde and Siluer, the newes of
newe found landes, the sundry positions of the Sphere, and many others.
9. How valiant Captaines vse to deale vpon extremitie, and otherwise.
10 How trustie souldiers dutifully vse to serue.
11 Also here may bee seene a good example to be obserued of any priuate
person, in taking notes, and making obseruations of all such things as are
requisite for a Discouerer of newe Countries.
12 Lastly, the Reader here may see a good paterne of a well gouerned
seruice, sundry instructions of matters of Cosmographie, Geographie, and
Nauigation, as in reading more at large may be seene.
Experiences and reasons of the Sphere, to prooue all partes of the worlde
habitable, and thereby to confute the position of the fiue Zones.
[Sidenote: Experience to proue that Torrida Zone is habitable.] First, it
may be gathered by experience of our Englishmen in Anno 1553. For Captaine
Windam made a Voyage with Merchandise to Guinea, and entred so farre within
the Torrida Zona, that he was within three or foure degrees of the
Equinoctiall, and his company abiding there certaine Moneths, returned,
with gaine.
Also the Englishmen made another Voyage very prosperous and gainefull, An.
1554. to the coasts of Guinea, within 3. degrees of the Equinoctiall. And
yet it is reported of a trueth, that all the tract from Cape de las Palmas
trending by C. de tres puntas alongst by Benin, vnto the Ile of S. Thomas
(which is perpendiculer under the Equinoctial)[58] all that whole Bay is
more subiect to many blooming and smoothering heates, with infectious and
contagious ayres, then any other place in all Torrida Zona: and the cause
thereof is some accidents in the land. For it is most certaine, that
mountains, Seas, woods and lakes, &c, may cause through their sundry kinde
of situation, sundry strange and extraordinary effects, which the reason of
the clyme otherwise would not giue. I mention these Voyages of our
Englishmen, not so much to prooue that Torrida Zona may bee, and is
inhabited, as to shew their readinesse in attempting long and dangerous
Nauigations. Wee also among vs in England, haue blacke Moores, AEthiopians,
out of all partes of Torrida Zona, which after a small continuance, can
well endure the colde of our Countrey, and why should not we as well abide
the heate of their Countrey? But what should I name any more experiences,
seeing that all the coastes of Guinea and Benin are inhabited of Portugals,
Spanyardes, French, and some Englishmen, who there haue built Castles and
Townes. [Sidenote: Marochus more hote then about the Equinoctiall.] Onely
this I will say to the Merchants of London, that trade yeerely to Marochus,
it is very certaine, that the greatest part of the burning Zone is farre
more temperate and coole in Iune, then the Countrey of Marochus, as shall
appeare by these reasons and experiences following. For let vs first
consider the bignesse of this burning Zone (which as euery man knoweth, is
47. degrees) each Tropicke, which are the bounders thereof, being 28.
degrees and a halfe distant from the Equinoctiall. Imagine againe two other
Parallels, on each side the Equinoctiall about 20. degrees, which Paralels
may be described either of them twice a yeere by the Sunne, being in the
first degrees of Gemini the 11. of May, and in Leo the 13. of Iuly, hauing
North Latitude. And againe, the Sunne being in the first degrees of
Sagittarius, the 12. of Nouember, and in Aquarius the 9. of Ianuary, hauing
South latitude, I am to prooue by experience and reason that all that
distance included betweene these two Paralels last named (conteyning 40.
degrees in latitude, going round about the earth, according to longitude)
is not onely habitable, but the same most fruitfull and delectable, and
that if any extremitie of heate bee, the same not to be within the space of
twenty degrees of the Equinoctiall on either side, but onely vnder and
about the two Tropickes, and so proportionally the nearer you doe approch
to eyther Tropicke, the more you are subiect to extremitie of heate (if any
such be) and so Marochus being situate but sixe or seuen degrees from the
Tropicke of Cancer, shall be more subiect to heate, then any place vnder or
neere the Equinoctiall line.[59]
[Sidenote: Marueilous fruitfull soile vnder the Equinoctiall.] And first by
the experience of sundry men, yea thousands, Trauailers and Merchants, to
the East and West Indies in many places, both directly vnder, and hard by
the Equinoctiall, they with one consent affirme, that it aboundeth in the
middest of Torrida Zona with all manner of Graine, Hearbes, grasse, fruite,
wood and cattell, that we haue heere, and thousandes other sortes, farre
more wholesome, delectable and precious, then any wee haue in these
Northerne climates, as very well shall appeare to him that will reade the
Histories and Nauigations of such as haue traueiled Arabia, India intra and
extra Gangem, the Islands Moluccae, America, &c. which all lye about the
middle of the burning Zone, where it is truely reported, that the great
hearbes, as are Radish, Lettuce, Colewortes, Borage, and such like, doe
waxe ripe, greater, more sauourie and delectable in taste then ours, within
sixteene dayes after the seede is sowen. Wheate being sowed the first of
Februarie, was found ripe the first of May, and generally, where it is
lesse fruitfull, the wheate will be ripe the fourth moneth after the seed
is sowne, and in some places will bring foorth an eare as bigge as the
wrist of a mans arme containing 1000. graines; Beanes, peace, &c. are there
ripe twice a yeere. Also grasse being cut downe, will grow vp in sixe dayes
aboue one foote high. If our cattell be transported thither, within a small
time their young ones become of bigger stature, and more fat than euer they
would haue bene in these countreys. [Sidenote: Great trees.] There are
found in euery wood in great numbers, such timber trees as twelue men
holding handes together are not able to fathome. [Sidenote: Commodities and
pleasures vnder the Equinoctiall.] And to be short, all they that haue bene
there with one consent affirme, that there are the goodliest greene medowes
and plaines, the fairest mountaines couered with all sorts of trees and
fruites, the fairest valleys, the goodliest pleasant fresh riuers, stored
with infinite kinde of fishes, the thickest woods, green and bearing fruite
all the whole yeere, that are in all the world. And as for gold, siluer,
and all other kinde of Metals, all kinde of spices and delectable fruites,
both for delicacie and health, are there in such abundance, as hitherto
they haue bene thought to haue beene bred no where else but there. And in
conclusion, it is nowe thought that no where else but vnder the
Equinoctiall, or not farre from thence, is the earthly Paradise, and the
onely place of perfection in this worlde. And that these things may seeme
the lesse strange, because it hath bene accompted of the olde Philosophers,
that there coulde nothing prosper for the extreme heat of the Sunne
continually going ouer their heades in the Zodiacke, I thought good here to
alleadge such naturall causes as to me seeme very substantiall and sure
reasons.
[Sidenote: Heat is caused by two meanes that is by his maner of Angle and
by his continuance.] First you are to vnderstand that the Sunne doeth worke
his more or lesse heat in these lower parts by two meanes, the one is by
the kinde of Angle that the Sunne beames doe make with the earth, as in all
Torrida Zona it maketh perpendicularly right Angles in some place or other
at noone, and towards the two Poles very oblique and vneuen Angles. And the
other meane is the longer or shorter continuance of the Sunne aboue the
Horizon. So that wheresoeuer these two causes do most concurre, there is
most excesse of heat: and when the one is wanting, the rigor of the heat is
lesse. For though the Sunne beames do beat perpendicularly vpon any region
subiect vnto it, if it hath no continuance or abode aboue the Horizon, to
worke his operation in, there can no hote effect proceed. For nothing can
be done in a moment. [Sidenote: Note this reason.] And this second cause
mora Solis supra Horizontem, the time of the sunnes abiding aboue the
Horizon, the old Philosophers neuer remembred, but regarded onely the maner
of Angles that the Sunne beames made with the Horizon, which if they were
equall and right, the heat was the greater, as in Torrida Zona: if they
were vnequall and oblique, the heat was the lesse, as towards both Poles,
which reason is very good and substantiall: for the perpendicular beames
reflect and reuerberate in themselues, so that the heat is doubled, euery
beame striking twice, and by vniting are multiplied, and continue strong in
forme of a Columne. But in our latitude of 50. and 60. degrees, the Sunne
beames descend oblique and slanting wise, and so strike but once and
depart, and therefore our heat is the lesse for any effect that the Angle
of the Sunne beames make. Yet because wee haue a longer continuance of the
Sunnes presence aboue our Horizon then they haue vnder the Equinoctial; by
this continuance the heat is increased, for it shineth to vs 16. or 18.
houres sometime, when it continueth with them but twelue houres alwayes.
And againe, our night is very short, wherein cold vapours vse to abound,
being but sixe or eight houres long, whereas theirs is alwayes twelue
houres long, by which two aduantages of long, dayes and short nights,
though we want the equalitie of Angle, it commeth to passe that in Sommer
our heat here is as great as theirs is there, as hath bene proued by
experience, and is nothing dissonant from good reason. Therefore whosoeuer
will rightly way the force of colde and heat in any region, must not onely
consider the Angle that the Sunne beames make, but also the continuance of
the same aboue the Horizon. As first to them vnder the Equinoctiall the
Sunne is twice a yeere at noone in their Zenith perpendicular ouer their
heads, and therefore during the two houres of those two dayes the heat is
very vrgent, and so perhaps it will be in foure or fiue dayes more an houre
euery day, vntill the Sunne in his proper motion haue crossed the
Equinoctiall; so that this extreme heat caused by the perpendicular Angle
of the Sunne beames, endureth but two houres of two dayes in a yeere. But
if any man say the Sunne may scalde a good while before and after it come
to the Meridian, so farre foorth as reason leadeth, I am content to allow
it, and therefore I will measure and proportion the Sunnes heat, by
comparing the Angles there, with the Angles made here in England, because
this temperature is best knowen vnto vs. As for example, the 11. day of
March, when vnder the Equinoctiall it is halfe houre past eight of the
clocke in the morning, the Sunne will he in the East about 38. degrees
aboue the Horizon, because there it riseth alwayes at six of the clocke,
and moueth euery houre 15. degrees, and so high very neere will it be with
vs at London the said eleuenth day of March at noone. And therefore looke
what force the Sunne hath with vs at noone, the eleventh of March, the same
force it seemeth to haue vnder the Equinoctial at half an houre past eight
in the morning, or rather lesse force vnder the Equinoctiall, For with vs
the Sunne had bene already sixe houres aboue the horizon, and so had
purified and clensed all the vapours, and thereby his force encreased at
noone; but vnder the Equinoctiall, the Sunne hauing bene vp but two houres
and an halfe, had sufficient to doe, to purge and consume the cold and
moyst vapours of the long night past, and as yet had wrought no effect of
heate. And therefore I may boldly pronounce, that there is much lesse heate
at halfe an houre past eight vnder the Equinoctiall, then is with vs at
noone: a fortiori. But in March we are not onely contented to haue the
Sunne shining, but we greatly desire the same. Likewise the 11. of Iune,
the Sunne in our Meridian is 62 degrees high at London: and vnder the
Equinoctiall it is so high after 10 of the clocke, and seeing then it is
beneficial with vs; a fortiori it is beneficiall to them after 10 of the
clocke.
And thus haue wee measured the force of the Sunnes greatest heate, the
hottest dayes in the yeere, vnder the Equinoctiall, that is in March and
September, from sixe till after tenne of the clocke in the morning, and
from two vntill Sunne set. And this is concluded, by respecting onely the
first cause of heate, which is the consideration of the Angle of the Sunne
beames, by a certaine similitude, that whereas the Sunne shineth neuer
aboue twelue houres, more then eight of them would bee coole and pleasant
euen to vs, much more to them that are acquainted alwayes with such warme
places. So there remaineth lesse then foure houres of excessiue heate, and
that onely in the two Sommer dayes of the yeere, that is the eleueuth day
of March, and the fourteenth of September: for vnder the Equinoctiall they
haue two Sommers, the one in March, and the other in September, which are
our Spring and Autumne: and likewise two Winters, in Iune and December,
which are our Sommer and Winter, as may well appeare to him that hath onely
tasted the principles of the Sphere. But if the Sunne bee in either
Tropicke, or approaching neere thereunto, then may wee more easily measure
the force of his Meridian altitude, that it striketh vpon the Equinoctiall.
As for example, the twelfth of Iune the Sunne will be in the first degree
of Cancer. Then look what force the heate of the Sunne hath vnder the
Equinoctiall, the same force and greater it hath in all that Parallel,
where the Pole is eleuated betweene fourtie and seuen, and fourtie and
eight degrees. [Sidenote: Paris in France is as hote as vnder the
Equinoctiall in Iune.] And therefore Paris in France the twelfth day of
Iune sustaineth more heate of the Sunne, then Saint Thomas Iland lying
neere the same Meridian doeth likewise at noone, or the Ilands Traprobana,
Molluccae, or the firme lande of Peru in America, which all lye vnderneath
the Equinoctiall. For vpon the twelfth day of Iune aforesaide, the Sunne
beames at noone doe make an Isoscheles Triangle, whose Vertex is the Center
of the Sunne, the Basis a line extended from Saint Thomas Iland vnder the
Equinoctiall, vnto Paris in France neere the same Meridian: therefore the
two Angles of the Base must needs be equal per 5. primi,[60] Ergo the force
of the heat equal, if there were no other cause then the reason of the
Angle, as the olde Philosophers haue appointed. [Sidenote: In Iune is
greater heat at Paris then vnder the Equinoctiall.] But because at Paris
the Sunne riseth two houres before it riseth to them vnder the
Equinoctiall, and setteth likewise two houres after them, by meanes of the
obliquitie of the Horizon, in which time of the Sunnes presence foure
houres in one place more then the other, it worketh some effect more in one
place then in the other, and being of equall height at noone, it must then
needs follow to be more hote in the Parallel of Paris, then it is vnder the
Equinoctiall.
[Sidenote: The twilights are shorter, and the nights darker vnder the
Equinoctiall then at Paris.] Also this is an other reason, that when the
Sunne setteth to them vnder the Equinoctiall, it goeth very deepe and lowe
vnder their Horizon, almost euen to their Antipodes, whereby their
twilights are very short, and their nights are made very extreeme darke and
long, and so the moysture and coldnesse of the long nights wonderfully
encreaseth, so that at length the Sunne rising can hardly in many houres
consume and driue away the colde humours and moyst vapours of the night
past, which is cleane contrary in the Parallel of Paris: for the Sunne
goeth vnder their Horizon but very little, after a sloping sort, whereby
their nights, are not very darke, but lightsome, as looking into the North
in a cleare night without cloudes it doeth manifestly appeare, their
twilights are long: for the Parallel of Cancer cutteth not the Horizon of
Paris at right Angles, but at Angles very vneuen, and vnlike as it doeth
the Horizon of the Equinoctiall. Also the Sommer day at Paris is sixteene
houres long, and the night but eight: where contrarywise vnder the
Equinoctiall the day is but twelue houres long, and so long is also the
night, in whatsoeuer Parallel the Sunne be: and therefore looke what oddes
and difference of proportion there is betweene the Sunnes abode aboue the
Horizon in Paris, and the abode it hath vnder the Equinoctiall, (it being
in Cancer) the same proportion would seeme to be betweene the heate of the
one place, and heate of the other: for other things (as the Angle of the
whole arke of the Sunnes progresse that day in both places) are equall.
But vnder the Equinoctiall the presence and abode of the Sunne aboue the
Horizon is equall to his absence, and abode vnder the Horizon, eche being
twelue houres. And at Paris the continuance and abode of the Sunne is aboue
the Horizon sixteene houres long, and but eight houres absence, which
proportion is double, from which if the proportion of the equalitie be
subtracted to finde the difference, there will remaine still a double
proportion, whereby it seemeth to follow, that in Iune the heate of Paris
were double to the heate vnder the equinoctiall. For (as I haue said) the
Angles of the Sunne beames are in all points equall, and the cause of
difference is, Mora Solis supra Horizontem, the stay of the Sunne in the
one Horizon more then in the other. [Sidenote: In what proportion the Angle
of the Sun beames heateth.] Therefore, whosoeuer could finde out in what
proportion the Angle of the Sunne beames heateth, and what encrease the
Sunnes continuance doeth adde thereunto, it might expresly be set downe,
what force of heat and cold is in all regions.
Thus you partly see by comparing a Climate to vs well knowen and familiarly
acquainted by like height of the Sunne in both places, that vnder the
Equinoctiall in Iune is no excessiue heat, but a temperate aire rather
tendering to cold. [Sidenote: They vse and haue neede of fire vnder the
Equinoctiall.] For as they haue there for the most part a continuall
moderate heat, so yet sometime they are a little pinched with colde, and
vse the benefite of fire as well as we, especially in the euening when they
goe to bed, for as they lye in hanging beds tied fast in the vpper part of
the house, so will they haue fires made on both sides their bed, of which
two fires, the one they deuise superstitiously to driue away spirits, and
the other to keepe away from them the coldnesse of the nights.
[Sidenote: Colde intermingled with heate vnder the Equinoctiall.] Also in
many places of Torrida Zona, especially in the higher landes somewhat
mountainous, the people a little shrincke at the colde, and are often
forced to prouide themselues clothing, so that the Spaniards haue found in
the West Indies many people clothed, especially in Winter, whereby
appeareth, that with their heat there is colde intermingled, else would
they neuer prouide this remedy of clothing, which to them is rather a
griefe and trouble then otherwise. For when they goe to warres, they will
put off all their apparel, thinking it to be cumbersome, and will alwayes
goe naked, that they thereby might be more nimble in their fight.
Some there be that thinke the middle Zone extremely hot, because the people
of the countrey can, and doe liue without clothing, wherein they childishly
are deceiued: for our Clime rather tendeth to extremitie of colde, because
wee cannot liue without clothing: for this our double lining, furring, and
wearing so many clothes, is a remedy against extremetie, and argueth not
the goodnesse of the habitation, but inconuenience and iniury of colde: and
that is rather the moderate, temperate, and delectable habitation, where
none of these troublesome things are required, but that we may liue naked
and bare, as nature bringeth vs foorth.
[Sidenote: Ethiopians blacke, with curled haire.] Others againe imagine the
middle Zone to be extreme hot, because the people of Africa, especially the
Ethiopians, are so cole blacke, and their haire like wooll curled short,
which blacknesse and curled haire they suppose to come onely by the
parching heat of the Sunne, which how it should be possible I cannot see:
for euen vnder the Equinoctiall in America, and in the East Indies; and in
the Ilands Moluccae the people are not blacke, but tauney and white, with
long haire vncurled as wee haue, so that if the Ethiopians blacknesse came
by the heate of the Sunne, why should not those Americans and Indians also
be as blacke as they, seeing the Sunne is equally distant from them both,
they abiding in one Parallel: for the concaue and conuexe Superficies of
the Orb of the Sunne is concentrike, and equidistant to the earth; except
any man should imagine somewhat of Aux Solis, and Oppositum, which
indifferently may be applied aswel to the one place as to the other.
[Sidenote: The Sunne heateth not by his neerenesse, but onely by
reflection.] But the Sunne is thought to giue no otherwise heat, but by way
of Angle in reflection, and not by his neerenesse to the earth: for
throughout all Africa, yea in the middest of the middle Zone, and in all
other places vpon the tops of mountaines there lyeth continuall snow, which
is nearer to the Orbe of the sunne, then the people are in the valley, by
so much as the height of these moantaines amount vnto, and yet the Sunne
notwithstanding his neerenesse, can not the melt snow for want of
conuenient place of reflections. Also the middle region of the aire where
all the haile, frost, and snow is engendred, is neerer vnto the Sunne then
the earth is, and yet there continueth perpetuall cold, because there is
nothing that the Sunne beames may reflect against, whereby appeareth that
the neerenesse of the body of the Sunne worketh nothing.
[Sidenote: A blacke Moores sonne borne in England.] Therefore to returne
againe to the blacke Moores. I myself haue seen an Ethiopian as blacke as a
cole brought into England, who taking a faire English woman to wife, begat
a sonne in all respects as blacke as the father was, although England were
his natiue countrey; and an English woman his mother: whereby it seemeth
this blacknes proceedeth rather of some natural infection of that man which
was so strong, that neither the nature of the Clime, neither the good
complexion of the mother concurring, coulde any thing alter, and therefore
wee cannot impute it to the natureof the Clime. [Sidenote: The colour of
the people in Meta Incognita. The complexion of the people of Meta
incognita.] And for a more fresh example, our people of Meta Incognita (of
whom and for whom this discourse is taken in hande) that were brought this
last yeere into England, were all generally of the same colour that many
nations be, lying in the middest of the middle Zone. And this their colour
was not onely in the face which was subiect to Sunne and aire, but also in
their bodies, which were still couered with garments as ours are, yea the
very sucking childe of twelue moneths age had his sonne of the very same
colour that most haue vnder the equinoctiall, which thing cannot proceed by
reason of the Clime, for that they are at least ten degrees more towardes
the North then wee in England are, No, the Sunne neuer commeth neere their
Zenith by fourtie degrees: for in effect, they are within three or foure
degrees of that which they call the frozen Zone, and as I saide, fourtie
degrees from the burning Zone, whereby it followeth, that there is some
other cause then the Climate or the Sonnes perpendicular reflexion, that
should cause the Ethiopians great blacknesse. And the most probable cause
to my judgement is, that this blackenesse proceedeth of some naturall
infection of the first inhabitants of that Countrey, and so all the whole
progenie of them descended, are still polluted with the same blot of
infection. Therefore it shall not bee farre from our purpose, to examine
the first originall of these blacke men, and howe by a lineall discent they
haue hitherto continued thus blacke.
[Sidenote: The cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse.] It manifestly and
plainely appeareth by Holy Scripture, that after the generall inundation
and ouerflowing of the earth, there remained no moe men aliue but Noe his
three sonnes, Sem, Cham, and Iaphet, who onely were left to possesse and
inhabite the whole face of the earth: therefore all the sundry discents
that vntil this day haue inhabited the whole earth, must needes come of the
off-spring either of Sem, Cham, or Iaphet, as the onely sonnes of Noe, who
all three being white, and their wiues also, by course of nature should
haue begotten and brought foorth white children. But the enuie of our great
and continuall enemie the wicked Spirite is such, that as hee coulde not
suffer our olde father Adam to liue in the felicite and Angelike state
wherein hee was first created, but tempting him sought and procured his
ruine and fall: so againe, finding at this flood none but a father and
three sonnes liuing, hee so caused one of them to transgresse and disobey
his fathers commaundement, that after him all his posterity shoulde bee
accursed. [Sidenote: The Arke of Noe.] The fact of disobedience was this:
When Noe at the commandement of God had made the Arke and entred therein,
and the floud-gates of heauen were opened, so that the whole face of the
earth, euery tree and mountaine was couered with abundance or water, hee
straitely commaunded his sonnes and their wiues, that they should with
reuerence and feare beholde the iustice and mighty power of God, and that
during the time of the flood while they remained in the Arke, they should
vse continencie, and abstaine from carnall copulation with their wines: and
many other precepts bee gaue vnto them, and admonitions touching the
iustice of God, in renenging sinne, and his mercie in deliuering them, who
nothing deserued it. Which good instructions and exhortations
notwithstanding his wicked sonne Cham disobeyed, and being perswaded that
the first childe borne after the flood (by right and Lawe of nature) should
inherite and possesse all the dominions of the earth, hee contrary to his
fathers commandement while they were yet in the Arke, vsed company with his
wife, and craftily went about thereby to dis-inherite the off-spring of his
other two brethren: for the which wicked and detestable fact, as an example
for contempt of Almightie God, and disobedience of parents, God would a
sonne should bee borne whose name was Chus, who not [Sidenote: Chus the
sonne of Cham accursed.] onely it selfe, but all his posteritie after him
should bee so blacke and lothsome, that it might remaine a spectacle of
disobedience to all the worlde. And of this blacke and cursed Chus came all
these blacke Moores which are in Africa, for after the water was vanished
from off the face of the earth, and that the lande was dry, Sem chose that
part of the land to inhabite in, which nowe is called Asia, and Iaphet had
that which now is called Europa, wherein wee dwell, and Africa remained for
Cham and his blacke sonne [Sidenote: Africa was called Chamesis.] Chus, and
was called Chamesis after the fathers name, being perhaps a cursed, dry,
sandy, and vnfruitfull ground, fit for such a generation to inhabite in.
Thus you see, that the cause of the Ethiopians blacknesse is the curse and
naturall infection of blood, and not the distemperature of the Climate;
Which also may bee prooued by this example, that these blacke men are found
in all parts of Africa, as well without the Tropickes, as within, euen vnto
Capo de buona Speranza Southward, where, by reason of the Sphere, should be
the same temperature that is in Sicilia, Morea and Candie, where al be of
very good complexions. Wherefore I conclude, that the blacknesse proceedeth
not of the hotenesse of the Clime, but as I saide, of the infection of
blood, and therefore this their argument gathered of the Africans
blacknesse is not able to destroy the temperature of the middle Zone. Wee
may therefore very well bee assertained, that vnder the Equinoctiall is the
most pleasant and delectable place of the worlde to dwell in; where
although the Sunne for two houres in a yeere be direct ouer their heades,
and therefore the heate at that time somewhat of force, yet [Sidenote:
Greatest temperature vnder the Equinoctial] because it commeth so seldome,
and continueth so small a time, when it commeth, it is not to bee wayed,
but rather the moderate heate of other times in all the yeere to be
remembred. And if the heate at any time should in the short day waxe
somewhat vrgent, the coldnesse of the long night there would easily refresh
it, according as Henterus sayeth, speaking of the temperature vnder the
Equinoctiall.
Quodque die solis violento incanduit aestu,
Humida nox reficit, paribusque refrigerat horis.
If the heate of the Sunne in the day time doe burne or parch any thing, the
moysture of the night doeth coole and refresh the same againe, the Sunne
being as long absent in the night, as it was present in the day.
Also our Aucthour of the Sphere, Johannes de Sacro Bosco, in the Chapter of
the Zodiacke, deriueth the Etymologie of Zodiacus, of the Greeke word Zoe,
which in Latine signifieth Vita, life; for out of Aristotle hee alleadgeth,
that Secundum accessum et recessum solis in Zodiaco, fiunt generationes et
corruptiones in rebus inferioribus: according to the Sunnes going to and
fro in the Zodiake, the inferiour bodies take their causes of generation
and corruption. [Sidenote: Vnder the Equinoctiall is greatest generation.]
Then it followeth, that where there is most going to and fro, there is most
generation and corruption: which must needes be betweene the two Tropikes;
for there the Sunne goeth to and fro most, and no where else but there.
Therefore betweene the two Tropikes, that is, in the middle Zone, is
greatest increase, multiplication, generation, and corruption of things,
which also wee finde by experience; for there is Sommer twice in the yeere,
and twice Winter, so that they haue two Haruests in the yeere, and
continuall Spring. Seeing then the middle Zone falleth out so temperate, it
resteth to declare where the hottest part of the world should bee, for we
finde some places more hote then others.
To answere this doubt, reason perswadeth, the hotest place in[61] the world
to bee vnder and about the two Tropikes; for there more then in any other
place doe both the [Sidenote: Greatest heate vnder the Tropicks.] causes of
heate concurre, that is, the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames, at
right angles, and a greater continuance of the Sunne aboue the Horizon, the
Pole there being eleuated three or foure and twentie degrees. And as before
I concluded, that though the Sunne were perpendicular to them vnder the
Equinoctiall, yet because the same continued but a small time (their dayes
being short, and their nights long) and the speedie departure of the Sunne
from their Zenith, because of the suddeine crossing of the Zodiake with the
Equinoctiall, and that by such continuall course and recourse of hote and
colde, the temperature grew moderate, and very well able to bee endured: so
nowe to them vnder the two Tropikes, the Sunne hauing once by his proper
motion declined twentie degrees from the Equinoctial, beginneth to drawe
neere their Zenith, which may bee (as before) about the eleuenth day of
May, and then beginneth to sende his beames almost at right Angles, about
which time the Sunne entreth into the first degree of Gemini, and with this
almost right Angle the Sunne beames will continue vntill it bee past
Cancer, that is, the space of two moneths euery day at noone, almost
perpendicular ouer their heades, being then the time of Solstitium
Aestiuale: which so long continuance of the Sunne about their Zenith may
cause an extreeme heate (if any be in the world) but of necessitie farre
more heate then can bee vnder the Equinoctiall, where the Sunne hath no
such long abode in the Zenith, but passeth away there hence very quickly.
Also vnder the Tropikes, the day is longer by an houre and a halfe, then it
is vnder the Equinoctiall; wherefore the heate of the Sunne hauing a longer
time of operation, must needes be encreased, especially seeing the night
wherein colde and moysture doe abound vnder the Tropickes, is lesse then it
is vnder the Equinoctiall. Therefore I gather, that vnder the Tropickes is
the hotest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, but of any other part of the
world, especially because there both causes of heate doe concurre, that is,
the perpendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes together, and
the longer abode of the Sunnes presence aboue the Horison. And by this
meanes more at large is prooued, that Marochus in Summer is farre more
hote, then at any time vnder the Enoctiall, because it is situate so neere
the Tropick of Cancer, and also for the length of their dayes. Neither yet
doe I thinke, that the Regions situate vnder the Tropicks are not
habitable, for they are found to be very fruitfull also; although Marochus
and some other parts of Afrike neere the Tropike for the drinesse of the
natiue sandie soile, and some accidents may seeme to some to be intemperate
for ouer much heat. For Ferdinandus Ouiedus[62] speaking of Cuba and
Hispaniola, Ilands of America, lying hard vnder, or by the Tropike of
Cancer, saith, that these Ilands haue as good pasture for cattell, as any
other countrey in the world.
Also, they haue most holesome and cleare water, and temperate aire, by
reason whereof the heards of beastes are much bigger, fatter, and of better
taste, then any in Spaine, because of the ranke pasture, whose moysture is
better digested in the hearbe or grasse, by continuall and temperate heate
of the Sunne, whereby being made more fat and vnctious, it is of better and
more stedfast nourishment: For continuall and temperate heate doeth not
onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the nourishment of such
things as growe, and are engendred in that Clime, but doeth also by
moderation preserue the same from putrifying, digesting also, and
condensating or thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gumme and
vnctious substance, whereby appeareth also, that vnder the Tropikes is both
holesome, fruitefull, and pleasant habitation, whereby lastly it followeth,
that all the [Sidenote: Vnder the Tropickes is moderate temperature.]
middle Zone, which vntill of late dayes hath bene compted and called the
burning, broyling, and parched Zone, is now found to be the most delicate,
temperate, commodious, pleasant and delectable part of the world, and
especially vnder the Equinoctiall.
Hauing now sufficiently at large declared the temperature of the middle
Zone, it remaineth to speake somewhat also of the moderate and continuall
heate in colde Regions, as well in the night as in the day all the Sommer
long, and also how these Regions are habitable to the inhabitants of the
same, contrary to the opinion of the olde writers.
Of the temperature of colde Regions all the Sommer long, and also how in
Winter the same is habitable, especially to the inhabitants thereof.
The colde Regions of the world are those, which tending toward the Poles
Arctike, and Antarctike, are without the circuite or boundes of the seuen
Climates: which assertion agreeable to the opinion of the olde Writers, is
found and set out in our authour of the Sphere, Iohannes de Sacrobosco,
where hee plainely saith, that without the seuenth Climate, which is
bounded by a Parallel passing at fiftie degrees in Latitude, all the
habitation beyonde is discommodious and intolerable. [Sidenote: Nine
Climates.] But Gemma Frisius a late writer finding England and Scotland to
be without the compasse of those Climates, wherein hee knewe to bee very
temperate and good habitation, added thereunto two other Climates, the
vttermost Parallel whereof passeth by 56. degrees in Latitude, and therein
comprehendeth ouer and aboue the first computation, England, Scotland,
Denmarke, Moscouia, &c which all are rich and mightie kingdomes.
[Sidenote: A comparison betweene Marochus and England.] The olde writers
perswaded by bare conjecture, went about to determine of those places, by
comparing them to their owne complexions, because they felt them to bee
hardly tolerable to themselues, and so took thereby an argument of the
whole habitable earth; as if a man borne in Marochus, or some other part of
Barbarie, should at the latter end of Sommer vpon the suddeine, either
naked, or with his thinne vesture, bee brought into England, hee would
judge this Region presently not to bee habitable, because hee being brought
vp in so warme a Countrey, is not able here to liue, for so suddeine an
alteration of the colde aire: but if the same man had come at the beginning
of Sommer, and so afterward by little and little by certaine degrees, had
felt and acquainted himselfe with the frost of Autumne, it would haue
seemed by degrees to harden him, and so to make it farre more tollerable,
and by vse after one yeere or two, the aire would seeme to him more
temperate. It was compted a great matter in the olde time, that there was a
brasse pot broken in sunder with frosen water in Pontus, which after was
brought and shewed in Delphis, in token of a miraculous colde region and
winter, and therefore consecrated to the Temple of Apollo.
This effect being wrought in the Parallel of fouretie three degrees in
Latitude, it was presently counted a place very hardly and vneasily to be
inhabited for the great colde. And how then can such men define vpon other
Regions very farre without that Parallel, whether they were inhabited or
not, seeing that in so neere a place they so grossely mistooke the matter,
and others their followers being contented with the inuentions of the olde
Authors, haue persisted willingly in the same opinion, with more confidence
then consideration of the cause: so lightly was that opinion receiued, as
touching the vnhabitable Clime neere and vnder the Poles.
[Sidenote: All the North regions are habitable.] Therefore I am at this
present to proue, that all the land lying betweene the last climate euen
vnto the point directly vnder either poles, is or may be inhabited,
especially of such creatures as are ingendred and bred therein. For indeed
it is to be confessed, that some particular liuing creature cannot liue in
euery particular place or region, especially with the same ioy and
felicitie, as