Quotes from Laurence Bergreen

Unwilling to commit the entire fleet to the river, he dispatched Santiago, the smallest ship

As Magellan expected, Molino accepted the deal, as cruel as it was.

The Spice Islands were too valuable to entrust to the luck and skill of a single explorer.

By royal order, his monthly salary went directly to his wife, Beatriz.

This last group repaired the hundreds of casks and buckets aboard the ships by replacing hoops or staves

explore its murky and seductive reaches. Santiago spent two days sailing upstream

Quesada knelt on the deck of Trinidad, and Molino stood over him

Dee contemplated extending the English sphere of influence across the globe.

Castile's regent, Cardinal Ximenes de Cisneiros, had just died on his way to assist the inexperienced King Charles

and sealing leaks. There was also a complement of divers aboard the fleet, whose job it was to swim under the ships

You must so conduct this voyage of discovery that you do not encroach upon the demarcation

King Charles conferred the title of captain on both Magellan and Faleiro.

The ship's barber, another specialist, was deceptively named because trimming beards

asked his master for forgiveness, but received none.

boundaries of the Most Serene King of Portugal, my very dear Uncle and Brother

sowed the seeds of bitter disputes at sea. The

was the least of his responsibilities. He served as the onboard dentist, doctor, and surgeon

then with one powerful blow, he severed Quesada's head from his neck.

In this deeply idiosyncratic work dating from 1577

The fleet's barber was named Hernando Bustamente, who shipped out aboard Concepción

Magellan ordered a detail to draw and quarter Quesada's body.

Magellan could only have marveled at the speed with which his plan to reach the Spice Islands had come together.

At the time, England's tiny navy, hardly more than twenty vessels

Magellan, who left nothing to accident, had an assignment for Pigafetta; the young Italian diplomat