42 TAESISH A GENERAL TERM. 



LlB - * East Indian Sea, but of the Mediterranean Sea, which hath 

 no issue into the Indian. Whereby it doeth plainely ap- 

 peare that the voyage which Solomons Fleet made, parting 

 from Asiongaber (whereas the shippes of king losophat 

 were lost), went by the redde Sea to Tharsis and Ophir, the 

 which is directly testified in the Scripture. The which 

 voyage was very different from that which ionas pretended 

 to Tharsis ; seeing that Asiongaber is the port of a Cittie of 

 Idumea, seated vpon the Straight, whereas the red sea ioynes 

 with the great Ocean. From this Ophir and this Tharsis 

 they brought to Salomon gold, silver, Elephants teeth, 1 

 Monkies, Indian Cocks, 2 and their voyage was of three yeeres ; 

 all which without doubt ought to bee vnderstood of the East 

 Indies, which is fruitfull and aboundant of all these thinges, 

 as Pliuie testifieth, and our owne experience doth witnes. 

 From our Peru doubtlesse they could not bring any Ele 

 phants teeth, those beastes beeing vnknowne there; but 

 they might well bring gold, silver, and pleasant monkies. 3 

 Finally, the holy Scripture, in my opinion, doth commonly 

 vnderstand by this word of Tharsis, eyther the great Sea, 

 or farre and strange Regions. So as he supposeth that the 

 prophecies which speake of Tharsis (seeing the spirit of 

 Prophecie may comprehend all things) may often be applied 

 to things of our new world. 



CHAP. xv. Of the Propliecie of Aldias, which some doe 

 interpret to be the Indies. 



Many say and affirme that in the holy Scripture it was 

 foretold long before that this new worlde should be con 

 verted to lesus Christ by the Spanish nation, and to this 

 purpose they expound the text of the Prophecie of Abdias, 

 which say th thus : &quot; And the transmigration of this host of 



1 &quot;Marfil.&quot; 2 u Paves/ 3 &quot; Monos muy graciosos.&quot; 



