Hittorie of the Indies, lib.u 53 



courage and refolution to travell by fea , with the fame 

 intent to difcover the land which they call AntitthQ* 

 oppofiteto theirs, and that (according tothedifcourfe 

 of their Philofophie) it fliould be with an intent,not to 

 reft vntill they came in view of the landes they fought? 

 Surely there is no repugnancieor contrarietie in that 

 which wee fee happen at this day , and that of former 

 ages, feeing that the holy fcripture doth witnes, that 

 S&idmon tooke Matters and Pilots from Tyre and Sidon, 

 men very expert in Navigation, who by their indu- t.Tw 9. 

 ftry performed this voiagein three yeeres. To what * ^s 10 - 

 end thinke you doth it note the Arte of Manners, and 

 their knowledge , with their long voiage of three 

 yceres 3 but to give vs to vnderftand, that Solomons fleetc 

 failed through the great Ocean { Many arc of this opi 

 nion, which thinke that S.AaguJlws had fmallreafon 

 to wonder at the greatnes of the Ocean , who might 

 well conie&ure , that it was not fb difficult to faile 

 through, confidering what hath been fpokenof Solo 

 mons Navigation. But to fay the truth, I am of a con 

 trary opinion, neither can I perfwade my felfe,that the 

 firft Indians came to this new world, ofpurpofc,by a 

 determined voiage; neither will I yeeld, that the An 

 cients hadknowledgein the Art of Navigation,where- 

 by men at this day pafTe the Ocean , from one part to 

 another, where they pleafe, the which they performc 

 with an incredible fwiftnes and refolution ; neither do 

 I finde in all Antiquities, any markes or teftimonies of 

 fb notable a thing, and of fb great importance . Be- 

 fides, Ifindenot, that in ancient bookes there is any 

 mention made of the vfc of the Adamant or Load- 

 ftone,noroftheCompafTetofaileby: yea, Ibeleeve 

 they had no knowledge thereof. And if we take away 



E 3 the 



