Page:Notes upon Russia (volume 2, 1851).djvu/212

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OF THE NORTHEAST FROSTY SEA

of the landes of the inferiour hemispherie, or halfe compase of the ball towarde the pole Antartike, there was nothyng knowen but that litle of the coaste of Brasilia vnto the streyght of Magellanus; also a part of Peru; also a litle aboue Affrike towarde the cape of Bona Speranza. Also that he marueyled without measure, that this thyng was no better consydered of Christian Princes, to whom God hath deputed this charge, hauyng euer on theyr counsail men of great learning, which may infourme them of this thing, being so marueylous and noble, wherby they may obtayne glory and fame by vertue, and be imputed among men as gods, by better demerites then euer were Hercules & Great Alexander, who traueyled onely into India; and that by makyng the men of this our Hemispherie knowen to them of the other halfe compasse of the ball beneathe vs, they myght by the tytle of this enter- pryse, without comparison, farre excell all the noble factes that euer were doone by Julius Cæsar, or any other of the Romane Emperours. Whiche thyng they myght easily bryng to passe, by assigning colonies to inhabite diuers places of that Hemispherie, in lyke maner as dyd the Romanes in pro- uinces newly subdued; whereby they myght not onely atteyne great riches, but also enlarge the Christian fayth and Empire, to the glory of God and confusion of infidels.

What is knowen of the lower hemispherie.

The lande of Brasile.

Peru.

The charg and dutie of Christian Princes.

Hercules and Alexander.

The colonies of the Romans in regions subdued.

The great Ilande of Saynet Laurence or Madasgascar.

The Ilandes of Taprobana or Giava.

After this, he spake of the Ilande of Saint Laurence, called in olde tvme Madasgascar, whiche is greater then the realme of Castile and Portugale, and reacheth from the xii degree towarde the Pole Antartike, unto the xxvi degree and a halfe, lying Northeast from the cape of Bona Speranza, and partly vnder the lyne of Tropicus Capricorni, beyng wel inhabited, and of temperate ayre, with abundance of all thynges neces- sary for the lyfe of man, and one of the moste excellent Ilandes that is founde this day in the worlde: And that, neuer- thelesse there is nothing knowen therof, except onely a fewe small Hauens by the sea syde, as the lyke ignoraunce re- mayneth of the greatest part of the Ilandes of Taprobana

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