Chap. IIL AMERICA 



As to their coming thither of themfelves, it may eafily be.confut.ed .; Wh 9 

 knows not, that there is no Countrey a continued Pafture, but luxurious Vales 

 feparated with inacceflible MoQntains, Lakes, and vaft Wilderneffes. ^ut Da- 

 vid Ingram relates, « That he faw fome Horfes in the Norchern Jmcrka^ which 

 " the Mexicans, and other Conquefts of the Spaniards never heard of: Where- 

 upon we may conclude, and we fuppofe without all peradventure, That the 

 Americans have abfoluteiy their Original from Tartary, which bordering J nm . 

 via, where j^oal/s Ark firft refted,hath aconvenient way, though beyond the 

 Ariick Circle, through a temperate Climate betwixt Heat and Cofd, to Cathay .ia 

 the fame Parallel with the neighboring America. 



45 



CHAP.IIL 



Firft Vifcovcrers of America. Cliriftopher Colonus 



his Expedition. 



CHrtftopber Colonus, generally (though by miftake) call'd Qolumbus, was 

 born in Jrbi^plo, a.Village in the Dominion of Genoa, near SaMona - his 

 Father liv'd by Fifhing in the Midland-Sea : So that Sebaftian Schroter, 

 and others befides him, are miftaken^ faying, Colonus was born in the City Cuctt. 

 reum, and defcended of the Noble Family <Pilijlrelli : For feter, Belarus, Colonus 

 his Countrey.man, gives unqueftionable Proofs of his mean Extras . and 

 amongft other things, That the Common- wealth of Genoa refus'd to receive 

 the great Legacy which Colonus left them in his Will, becaufe they fondly 

 thought it a derogation to their Honor, being fo great,* Republick, to take 

 any thing of Bequeft from a Fifhers Son ; Yet his Majqfty of Cajlile thought 

 othcrwife, not onely enriching him with Wealth, and a fair Revenue for his 

 Difcovery of the WeJIJndies ; but alfo, though of a low derivation, rais'd him 

 to great Honor, Ennobling him the firft of his Family with Dignities, Titles, 

 and Efcutcheon, which rank'd him in place among his Prime Nobility, 



Colonus, whom we fliall henceforth call Columbus, fpent his Youth near the 

 Sea, where he was bufie exploring the Winds, confidering their Natures, and 

 the Quarters whence they rofe, efpecially with the fetting of the Current from 

 the Atlantkk to the Uedkerrane. The Weftern Winds, which often, as well as the 

 Levant, blow feveral days together from the great Ocean, much amufing him, 

 hinted at: laft fome Notions, that there might be another World, and new Pla- 

 ces to be difcover'd, beyond the fetting of the Sun • and that the 2^> plus ultra 

 fliould not be, if he could help it, the commanding Terminary of the Earth 

 that way. He alfo fpent much time, being of a folid Judgment, in the Emen- 

 dationsbf Charts and Maps, then very much improvable : And the Tortwuefe, 

 who at that time had got the ftart in Navigation from all other People, being 

 then bufie to find a way by the South of Africa to the Eafidndies, not contented 

 to go by hearsay, he went himfelf in Perion a Voyage with them. Soon afc 

 ter Qolumbus fettled himfelf in the Ifiand Madera, where an Accident hapned, 

 which Francis Lope^ de Gome/a relates thus : l < The Matter of a Ship, whofe *"•" 

 « Name and Countrey lies buried in Oblivion (though fome would" have him 

 <c to be of Spain, fome an Andalnfwx or 'Bifcayncr, and others a Tortugucfe) Tra- 

 " ding to the Canaries and FUmmiJh*Ijles , was furpris'd by a hideous Tempeft 



Pit Eiz*ri Rjts Qtmtn. 

 Lb.**. 



Uh. u. Hi/?. Gwx', 



C , ),ij?otb.Ceh>tns\Vmk. 



Hi* Life, 



Strang? Accent, lift. 



a 



from 



