AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1592. 



manded. The smith hammers out another of more 

 substance & strength then the former. The Monke 

 returnes to the mountains, and lets downe the chaine & 

 the cauldron : but with the like successe that he had 

 before. Neither did the caldron only vanish & melt away : 

 but also, upon the sudden there came out of the depth a 

 flame of fire, which had almost consumed the Frier, & 

 his companions. Then they all returned so astonished, 

 that they had small list afterward to prosecute that 

 attempt, &c. What great difference is there betweene 

 these two censures ? In a fiery hill of West India they 

 search for gold : but in mount Hecla of Island they 

 seeke for hel. Howbeit they wil perhaps reject this as a 

 thing too new, & altogether unknowen to ancient writers. 

 Why therefore have not writers imagined the same prison 

 of soules to be in Chimaera an hill in Lycia (which, by 

 report, flameth continually day and night) that is in 

 mount Hecla of Island ? Why have they not imagined 

 the same to be in the mountaines of Ephesus, which 

 being touched with a burning torch, are reported to 

 conceive so much fire, that the very stones & sand lying 

 in the water are caused to burne, & from the which (a 

 staffe being burnt upon them, & trailed after a man on 

 the ground) there proceede whole rivers of fire, as Plinie 

 testifieth ? Why not in Cophantrus a mountaine of 

 Bactria, alwayes burning in the night ? Why not in the 

 Isle of Hiera, flaming in the midst of the sea? Why 

 not in Aeolia in old time likewise burning for certaine 

 daies in the midst of the sea ? Why not in the field of 

 Babylon burning in the day season ? Why not in the 

 fields of Aethiopia glittering alwaies like stars in the 

 night.'' Why not in the hill of Lipara opening with a 

 wide and bottomlesse gulfe (as Aristotle beareth record) 

 whereunto it is dangerous to approch in the night : 

 from whence the sound of Cymbals and the noyse of 

 rattles, with unwonted and uncouth laughters are heard.'' 

 Why not in the field of Naples, neare unto Puteoli? 

 Why not in the Pike of Teneriffa before mentioned, like 



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