- OPINIONS Ol THE ANCIENTS. 



L B - l - Straight of Gibraltar&quot;, hath beene taken for a Proverbe. 

 Thus we see by the beginning of this Proverbe, how the 

 Ancients were obstinately setled in this opinion; as also by 

 the bookes of Poets, Historiographers, and ancient Cosnio- 

 graphers, that the end and bounds of the earth were set at 

 Cadiz in Spaine, where they plant the pillars of Hercules ; 

 there they set the limits of the Ro inane Empire, and there 

 they describe the boundes of the world. And not onely 

 prophane writers speake in this sort, Lut also the holy 

 Scripture, to apply it selfe to our phrase saith, &quot; That the 

 edict of Augustus Ca3sar was published, to the end that all 

 the world should be taxed ; and of Alexander the great, 

 that he stretched forth his Empire even to the end and 

 vttermost bounds of the earth. And in another place they 

 say, that the Gospell did flourish and increase through the 

 vniversall world. For the holy Scripture by an vsuall 

 phrase, calleth all the wo ride, that which is the greatest 

 part thereof, and was at that time discovered and knowne. 

 And the Ancients were ignorant that the East Indian Sea, 

 and that of the West were navigable, wherin they have 

 generally agreed. ]&amp;gt;y reason whereof, Plinie writes as a 

 a certain e tructh, that the seas whic i are betwixt two 

 lands take from vs a iust moitie of the habitable earth. 

 For, saith he, we cannot passe thither, neyther they come 

 hither. Finally, Tullie, Macrobius, Pomponius Mela, and 

 the ancient Writers, hold the same opinion. 



CHAP ix. Of Aristuilcs opinion toucJiiny the new }\ r urldc, 

 and what abused him to malic him deny it. 



Besides all the former reasons there was yet an other, 

 which mooved the Ancients to beleeve it to be impossible for 

 men to passe to this new world ; the which they held, for 

 that besides the vastnesse of the great Ocean, the heate of 



