50 VIRTUES OF THE LOAD-STONE. 



CHAP. xvu. Of the properties and admirable vertue of the 



Adamant stone for Navigation, whereof the Ancients 



had no knowledge. 



LIB. i. By that which hath been formerly spoken, it appeares 

 ~~ that the Navigation to the Indies is as certaine and as 

 short as wee are assured of the Adamant stone. And at 

 this day we see many that have sailed from Lisbone to Goa, 

 from Siville to Mexico, and through all the South sea, even 

 vnto China, and to the straight of Magellan, and that as 

 certainely and as easily as the Husbandman goeth from 

 his Farme vnto the Citie. We have also seene men that 

 have made fifteene, yea, eighteene voiages to the Indies, 

 and we have heard speake of some Ancients which have 

 made above twentie voiges, passing and repassing the 

 great Ocean, in the which they have not seene any signes 

 of such as have traveled nor met with any passengers to 

 Sap. iv. demand the way of them. For as the Wise man saith, &quot;a 

 ship cutteth the waves of the water leaving no way where it 

 passeth, nor any path in the flouds.&quot; 1 But by the vertue and 

 propertie of the Adamant stone it makes as it were a beaten 

 path in this Ocean. The high Creator of all things having 

 imparted this vertue vnto it, that by the touch of iron it 

 hath alwaies his motion and aspect towards the North, in 

 what part of the world soever you be. Some search what 

 should be the cause of this wonderfull propertie, and ima 

 gine I know not what sirnpathie. But for my part I take 

 more pleasure and content in the consideration of these 

 wonders to praise the power and greatnes of the Almightie, 

 and reioyce in the contemplation of his admirable workes, 

 and to say with Solomon, speaking vpon this subiect, &quot; O 



1 &quot; As a ship that passeth over the waves of the water, which, when 

 it is gone by, the trace thereof cannot be found, neither the pathway of 

 the keel in the waves.&quot; Wisdom of Solomon, v. 10. 



