16 The ^(atitrallancf Moral/ 



called Pilots Prcritats, for that they remained ftill 

 in the prow. 



Of the properties and admirable virtue $f the Adamant 

 Jlone for Navigation , whereof the Ancients hadne 

 knowledge. CHAP. 17. 



BY that which hath been formerly fpoken 3 itap- 

 peares, that the Navigation to the Indies, is as cer- 

 taine, and as fhort, as wee are allured of the Adamant 

 ftone . And at this day , we fee many that have failed 

 {romLisbwe^o GVw/rom Siville to Mexico, and through 

 all the South fca,cven vntoCA/;w,and totheftraight of 

 Maggellan^nd that as certainely 5 & as eafily,as the Hus 

 bandman j>oeth from his Farmevnto theCitie. We 

 havealfo kenc men thiit have made fifteenc,yca, cigh- 

 teene voiages to the Indres,and we haveheard fpeake of 

 fome Ancients , which have made above tiventievio- 

 geSjpafring^and rcpafling the great Ocean,in the which 

 they have not fcene any fignes offuch as have trave 

 led, nor met with any paffengers to demand the way 

 of them. For as the Wife man faith >a (hip cutteth the 

 waves of the water, leaving noway where itpafleth, 

 nor any path in the flouds But by the vcrtue and pro- 

 perrie of the Adamant ftonc , it makes as it were a bea 

 ten path in this Ocean.The high Creator of all things*, 

 having imparted this vertuevntoit, that by the touch 

 of iron , ithath alwaies his morion and afpedl towards 

 the North , in what part of the world foever you be. 

 Some fearch what fliould be thecaufe of this wonder-: 

 full propertie, and imagine I know not what fimpathie. 

 Butformypart, I take more pleafure and content in 



the 



