THE PEOPLING OF THE NEW WOULD. 45 



CHAP. xvi. By wliat meanes the first men might come to the 

 Indies, the which was not willingly, nor of set purpose. 



Now it is time to make answer to such as say there are !*&quot;&amp;gt; i. 

 no Antipodes, and that this region where we live cannot bee 

 inhabited. The huge greatnes of the Ocean did so amaze 

 S. Augustine as he could not conceive how mankind could 

 passe to this new-found world. But seeing on the one side 

 wee know for certaine that many yeeres agoe there were 

 men inhabiting in these parts, so likewise we cannot deny 

 but the scripture doth teach vs cleerely that all men are 

 come from the first man, without doubt we shall be forced 

 to beleeve and confesse that men have passed hither from 

 Europe, Asia, or Affricke, yet must wee discover by what 

 meanes they could passe. It is not likely that there was an 

 other Noes Arke by the which men might be transported 

 into the Indies, and much lesse any Angell to carie the 

 first man to this new world, holding him by the haire of the 

 head, like to the Prophet Abacuc ; for we intreat not of the 

 mightie power of God, but only of that which is conform 

 able vnto reason, and the order and disposition of humane 

 things. Wherefore these two things ought to be held for 

 wonderfull and worthie of admiration, yea, to bee numbred 

 among the secrets of God. The one is, how man could 

 passe so huge a passage by Sea and Lande ; the other is, 

 that there beeing such multitudes of people they have yet 

 beene vnknowne so many ages. For this cause I demaund, 

 by what resolution, force or Industrie, the Indians could 

 passe so large a Sea, and who might be the Inventer of so 

 strange a passage ? Truely I have often times considered 

 thereof with my selfe, as many others have done, but never 

 could I finde any thing to satisfie mee. Yet will I say what 

 I have conceived, and what comes presently into my minde, 

 seeing that testimonies faile mee whom I might follow, 



