And here I shall not (as I suppose) commit any great inconuenience, or absurditie, in adding vnto this History of the new world, certaine particulars as touching the first discouery thereof, not commonly known.  Which discouerie al the writers of our time ascribe (and that not vnworthily) vnto Christopher Columbus.  For by him it was in a maner first discouered, made knowen, and profitably communicated vnto the Christian world, in the yeere of our Lord 1492. [Sidenote:  Estotiland first discouered.] [Sidenote:  The second discouerie thereof.] Howbeit I finde that the North part thereof called Estotiland, (which most of all extendeth toward our Europe and the Ilands of the same, namely, Groneland, Island, and Frisland) was long ago found out by certaine fishers of the Isle of Frisland, driuen by tempest vpon the shore thereof:  and was afterward about the yeere 1390 discouered a new by one Antonio Zeno a gentleman of Venice; which sayled thither vnder the conduct of Zichmni king of the saide Isle of Frisland, a prince in those parts of great valour, and renowned for his martiall exploits and victories.  Of which expedition of Zichmni there are extant in Italian certaine collections or abridgements gathered by Francisco Marcolino out of the letters of M. Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two gentlemen of Venice which liued in those partes.  Out of which collections I doe adde concerning the description of Estotiland aforesaid these particulars following.

Estotiland (saith he) aboundeth with all things necessary for mankinde.  In the mids thereof standeth an exceeding high mountaine, from which issue foure riuers that moisten all the countrie.  The inhabitants are wittie and most expert in Mechanicall arts.  They haue a kinde of peculiar language and letters.  Howbeit in this Kings Librarie are preserued certaine Latine bookes which they vnderstand not, being perhaps left there many yeeres before by some Europeans, which traffiqued thither.  They haue all kinde of mettals; but especially golde, wherewith they mightily abound.  They trafficke with the people of Groneland:  from whence they fetch skinnes, pitch and brimstone.  The inhabitants report that towardes the South, there are regions abounding with gold, and very populous:  they haue many and huge woods, from whence they take timber for the building of ships and cities, whereof and of castles there are great store.  The vse of the loadstone for Navigation is vnknowen vnto them. [Sidenote:  Drogio.] They make relation also of a certaine region toward the South, called Drogio, which is inhabited by Canibals, vnto whom mans flesh is delicate meat:  wherof being destitute they liue by fishing, which they vse very much.  Beyond this are large regions, and as it were a newe world:  but the people are barbarous and goe naked:  howbeit against the colde they cloth themselues in beastes skinnes.  These haue no kinde of metall:  and they liue by hunting.  Their weapons are certaine long staues with sharpe points, and bowes.  They wage warres one against another.  They haue gouernours, and obey certaine lawes.  But from hence more towardes the South the climate is much more temperate:  and there are cities, and temples of idoles, vnto whom they sacrifice liuing men, whose flesh they afterwards deuoure.  These nations haue the vse of siluer and gold.