xl 
APPENDIX. 
It seems evident from the remarks here quoted below, that the 
rate of sailing in Pliny’s time was greatly superior to that which 
Moreover, what say you to this, which was seen no longer since than the summer 
past; when Valerius Marianus a Senatour of Rome, and late Lord Pretour, 
embarked and took ship at Puteoli, and in nine daies sailed to the said Alexandria, 
and yet he had hut a very mild and still wind to helpe him in that voiage? Is not 
this a strange and sovereign hearhe thinke you, that in a seven-night space can 
fetch Gades from as far as the Streights of Gibraltar, or Hercules’ pillars, into the 
harbour of Ostia in Italie ? can shew (I say) the kingdome of Catalogue in Spain 
before the said port-town in foure daies, Provance in three, and Barbarie in twain? 
For C. Flaccus, lieutenant under Vibius Crispus the Pro-consutl, did as much as I 
speak of, and that with no great forewind, but a most gentle and mild gale. Oh 
the audacious boldnesse of this world, so rash, so full of sin and wickednesse, that 
man should sow and cherish any such thing as might receive and swallow the 
winds, stormes, and tempests; as if the float and tide alone were not sufficient to 
carrie so prowd a creature ! But now are we ’growne to this passe, that sailes big- 
ger than the ships themselves will not serve our turnes. For albeit one must be 
sufficient to carrie the biggest crosse-yard that can be devised, yet are not we con- 
tent with a single maine-saile thereupon, unlesse we set up saile upon saile, top and 
top-gallant : unlesse (I say) wee have foresailes and sprit-sailes in the prow, misns 
also hoisted up and desplaied in the poupe ; and all to set us more forward upon 
our death, and to hasten our end. Finally, is there ought againe so admirable, as 
that of so small a graine as the lini-seed, there should grow that which is able to 
carrie too and fro in a moment, this round globe of the earth; the same being so 
slender a stalke as it is, and not growing high from the ground ? considering with- 
all, that twisted it is not entire and whole in the stem : but before it can be occu- 
pied it must bee watered, dried, braked, tew-tawed, and with much labour driven and 
reduced in the end to bee as soft and tender as wooll: and all to doe violence to 
nature and mankind even in the highest degree, in such sort, as a man is not able to 
proceed so farre in execration as is due unto this invention. The first deviser 
whereof I have inveighed against in convenient place elsewhere, and not without 
desert : as who could not bee content that a man should die upon the land, but he 
must perish upon the sea, to feed hadockes there, without the honour of sepulture. 
“ In tlie booke but next before this, I gave warning and advertised men, that for 
to enjoy come and other victuals necessarie for this life and suffisance and plentie, 
w'e should beware of wind and rain. And now behold, man is so wicked and ungra- 
cious, his w’it so inventive, that he wdll be sowing, tending, and plucking that wdth 
his own hand w'hich cals for nothing else at sea but wind ; and never rests till burn- 
ing bee come. See moreover how well this unhappie hand of his speeds, for there is 
