Description of the Ocean.
The Sea, that takes several Denominations from the Countreys which it washeth, and surrounding the dry Land, cuts out, and shapes so many winding Bays, Creeks, and Meandring Inlets, seems no where so much confin’d and penn’d into so narrow a Channel, as theStraightsofMagellan: From whence again, soon expatiating, it spreads it self into two immense, and almost boundless Oceans, that which opens to the North, gives terminaries to the four Regions of the Earth; that to the South, onely toAsiaandAmerica; both which, indeed, are but one continu’d Sea, extending it self round the Universal Globe.
This watry part of the World, that almost through all Ages lay Fallow, hath in these later times been Furrow’d by several Expert and Stout Captains, who now by their Art and Industry, have given a good Account of, and made clear Discoveries from East to West, where-ever the Sun rises or sets.
The Northern Bounds under theArtick-Zone, have been hitherto so obstructed with Ice, that the undertakings of such as adventur’d either to find by the North-East or North-West a Passage toIndia, have been utterly frustrate. Of the Southern, no such pains hath as yet been taken in the Discovery, so that for the most part it is yet unknown how far the Water, either deep or shallow, overspreads the Earth, onely thus much Experience hath made out, that theAntartickneeds lesser Line to Fathom, than theArtick-Ocean.
The Ancients had little knowledge in Navigation.
The antientGreeks,Phenicians, andRomans, or whosoever that were Renown’d by Antiquity, and Listed in the number of their famous Navigators, were no less Timerous than Ignorant concerning Maritim Affairs, and are not fit to stand in the least degree of competition with our later Voyagers.
Navigation is very ancient.
Of old, by an inviolable Law, made by Custom, according toPliny,Vigetiusand others, the Sea was lock’d up, from the eleventh ofOctober, to the tenth ofMarch, no Ships daring to venture forth, dreading short Nights, and foul Weather; neither in Summer, did they so much as once offer, unless driven by Storms, to attempt theOffin, or loose sight of Land; yet there is no question, but that several Nations in former Ages, made it their business, spending their whole time, and wearying themselves in the Practical Art of Navigation.
Geograph.lib. 1.
Hist. Nat.lib. 2. cap. 67.
Ultima Thule, suppos’d by some to beIreland.Vide Georgic.
The Voyage ofHanno.
OfEudoxus,Strab.l. 2.
The Sacred Scripture testifies, That the Kings ofJudea,Solomon,Jehosaphat,Ozias, and others, prepar’d several Fleets that Sail’d through remote Seas, freighting themselves with Gold fromOphir, and other Rarities, which were Imported to supply and enrich theHoly-Land. AndStraboalso tells us, That KingSolomonbeing contemporary withHomer, then discover’dIndia. AndPlinyrelates, That theRomans, in the Reign ofAugustus, passing theStraightsofGibraltar, and sleighting theNe plus ultra, CoastedSpain,France, andBelgium, leaving not at the Promontory of theCimbrians(now call’dShager-Riff) but also ventur’d into the Northern Ocean, which washesNorweyandLapland: But long before this, asAthenæusrelates,Phileas Taurominites, aGrecianCaptain, and several others pass’d theHerculean-Pillars, penetrating the Northern Seas as far asBritain, and adventuring, made the first Discovery ofThule: And to the Southward theAfricanCoasts withoutGibraltar, and beyondAtlas, were now and then explor’d by several expert Captains. But more remarkable is the Voyage ofHannoaCarthaginian, who out-sail’d these, and inspected the Coasts ofAfrica, as far as theGorgades: AndEudoxus Cyzicenus, flying from KingLathyrus, set Sail from theArabianGulph, and passing theGreat-Cape, came to an Anchor at last in the Mouth ofGibraltar, having discover’d all the Eastern, Southern, and Western parts ofAfrica.
Strange Voyage of someIndians.
OfMenelaus.
Moreover, it deserves special observation, That an antientSwedishKing, asCornelius Neposrelates, sent as a Rarity and great Present to theRomanConsulMetellus Celer, someIndians, who loosing their course, hatter’d up and down with perpetual Storms and stress of Weather, were at last driven into the Northern Ocean, where they suffer’d Shipwrack; yet saving themselves, Landed on his Coast:Aristonicus Gramaticusrelates, ThatMenelausSailing from theSackofTroy, became so great a Voyager, that leaving theStraights, he surroundedAfrica, and discoveringIndia, after eight years re-measuring the same way he went, return’d with great Riches in safety to his own Kingdom: Which is consentaneous toHomer, who saith,Odyss.l. 4.
1. The Commentators onHomerhave been very inquisitive to find outMenelausVoyage intoÆthiopia.Cratessuppos’d that he pass’d out at theStraights, doubled the SouthernCape, and so arriv’d thither.Eratosthenesconjectures, that in the time ofHomertheStraightsMouth was an Isthmus, and theÆgyptianIsthmus overflow’d by the Sea, which afforded him a shorter passage. But that is most probable whichStrabodelivers, that he then went to the borders ofÆthiopia, when he pass’d upÆgyptto the City ofThebes; the Borders ofÆthiopiabeing not far distant from thence inStrabo’s time, probably very near it inHomer’s.
1. The Commentators onHomerhave been very inquisitive to find outMenelausVoyage intoÆthiopia.Cratessuppos’d that he pass’d out at theStraights, doubled the SouthernCape, and so arriv’d thither.Eratosthenesconjectures, that in the time ofHomertheStraightsMouth was an Isthmus, and theÆgyptianIsthmus overflow’d by the Sea, which afforded him a shorter passage. But that is most probable whichStrabodelivers, that he then went to the borders ofÆthiopia, when he pass’d upÆgyptto the City ofThebes; the Borders ofÆthiopiabeing not far distant from thence inStrabo’s time, probably very near it inHomer’s.
Remarkable Voyage of anIndianintoEgypt,
OfPtolemy
And also ofCleopatra.
That which theGrecianGeographers relate concerningPtolomy Euergetes, King ofEgypt, is not to be forgotten, That sending Pilots, Commission’d to take the Soundings, and settle the Land-marks in theArabianGulph, they found by chance a forsaken Vessel, onely in it one Man half dead, lying among several other breathless Bodies, of whom, being refresh’d with convenient Cordials, they enquir’d his Fortune, but he being unable to give them any present satisfaction, neither understanding what the other said, they sent him to the Court, where soon having got a smattering of Greek, he inform’dEuergetes, that he was a NativeIndian, driven from their course into the place where they found him by stress of Weather, and that his company were famish’d, all their Provision spent in their Wandrings from their intended Voyage; Thus being kindly entertain’d, he also promis’d the King to open his Passage (if so he pleas’d) intoIndia. The King slept not upon this Intelligence, but immediately prepar’d a Fleet Freighted with such Commodities as were advis’d; with which setting forth by the Conduct of this theirIndianPilot, they Anchor’d in their desir’d Port, and brought the King in return from thence a richCargoof Silk, Spices, costly Drugs, and precious Gems.Cleopatra, about sixty years after, intending not to lose the advantages reap’d by the former discoveries, equipp’d another and greater Navy; which passing through the Red-Sea, found the Stern of a Ship, on which was Presented a Horse, whereby some of the more knowing Sea-men judg’d, that it had been aGibraltarVessel, and Sailing aboutAfrica, there by sad accident suffer’d a Wrack. This Stern was afterwards set up, and fix’d as a Memorial in the Market-place ofMemphis.
TheVenetianswere the first that drove a trade fromEuropeto theEast-Indies.
How they went their journeys.
In these later times, the first that endeavor’d to drive anEuropeanTrade inAfrick, and held Commerce withIndia, was the State ofVenice, who Sail’d from thence through theAdriatick, into theMediterranean-Sea: So Steering forAlexandria, where unlading their Goods, from thence they carry’d them over Land, and Shipping again in theArabianGulph, Sail’d directly forIndia. Thus by Land and Water, were exchang’d several Commodities, and theIndianGrowth and rich Products of the Oriental World plentifully Transported toVenice, and from thence, allEuropehad ample Accommodation, until anEgyptian Sultansuffer’d the Way to be infested by Thieves and Murdering Robbers, that so they were enforc’d to remove thence, and Discharge their several Cargoes atAleppo; from whence, on Mules and Camels, they carry’d their Goods toBabylon, so toBalsarum, and then toOrmus, where they Re-ship’d thence, directly standing forIndia.
Thus they enjoy’d the benefit of so great a Trade and Commerce, until thePortuguesefound a Passage by Sea, saving the Expence and trouble of carrying Goods so far by Land toIndia; Of which here we will a little inlarge.
By what means thePortuguesecame first to discover the Coasts ofAfricaandIndia.
WhyAfricawas no further discover’d.
John, the first King ofPortugal, who took from theMoors, by force of Arms,Septa, anAfricanCity, having five Sons;Henryhis fourth behav’d himself so gallantly in the Leaguer ofSepta, that after he became Master of the place, this Prince made many bold Excursions in several Parties against the Enemy, bringing in daily great store of Booty; so growing rich, he Rigg’d out two new Vessels to make farther Discoveries along the Coast ofAfrica. Yet this his Expedition went on but slowly, being much taken off in Building there a new City, then call’dTarzanabala, and sinceVilla Infantis; but being Admonish’d by a Dream, and Check’d for his laying thus aside his first Design of Navigation; he soon after,Anno 1410.set forth the Ships that he intended, which he the more accelerated, being inform’d by some of his PrisonersNatives, thatAfricaspread from the Basis ofMount-Atlas, very far towards the South: This Mountain then was the Terminary of Navigation that way, because thereabouts a long Ridge or Shelf of Sands thrust its Point under Shallow Waters so far out into the Ocean, that none durst venture to Sail into theOffin, being out of sight of Land to double this conceal’dCape.
Who first ventur’d into theOffin.
Madera’s, by whom peopled.
The first that attempted to find Deep Water, and get round about, discovering several unknown Coasts, and Uninhabited Isles belonging to that Region, wereJoannes Gonsalves,Tristan Varseus, andÆgidius Annius; amongst which were theMadera’s, andSt. George de Picho, which PrinceHenryfirst Planted withPortuguese, and others since withNetherlanders. He also obtain’d a Grant from PopeMartinthe Fifth, of all the discover’d Territories East-ward from theCanaries, for ever to be the undoubted Right, and belonging to the Crown ofPortugal.
By whomGennywas discover’d.
AfterHenry’s Decease,Anno 1460.the business of Navigation and Discoveries of new Countreys, lay neglected, because KingAlphonsoturmoyl’d in a Civil War, his Crown being at stake, had not leisure to think or look after uncertain improvements by Sea; yet at last having quell’d his Enemies, he ventur’d forth some Ships, who Sail’d as far as the RiverZenaga, and came to Anchor before the City ofGenny, famous since for Trade, which gave its denomination to the Countrey and Coasts ofGuiny, where they dealing, Barter’d for Ivory, Gold, Slaves, and also got so much footing into the Countrey, that they suddenly rais’d up a Fort, and Man’d it with a strong Garrison, Shipping their Slaves forLisbon.
Johnthe Second succeeding his FatherAlphonso, had a great design uponArabiaandIndia, and if possible, was ambitious to open a Passage from theAtlantick, to theOriental-Seas. But the difficulty lay in Steering so often from sight of Land, venturing into the Main Ocean, obstructed by so many dangerous Shoals that lay so far out into theOffin.
For the Northern Constellations theAstrolabewas in use long before.
At that time flourish’d three famous Mathematicians,Rhoderick,Joseph, andMartin Bohemus, Pupils bred up byJoannes Monteregius; with which the King consulting, perswaded, that they would by their Art invent some Instrument, that by Southern Constellations, the Pole being depress’d, the Navigator might know where he was, and in what height; so guessing what distance they were from this or that Countrey; they accordingly Club’d Learning, and by their great Study, found out what since hath prov’d so useful and beneficial to Seamen, theAstrolabe; which help having obtain’d, the Sailers encourag’d, more frequently ventur’d into remote and unknown Seas.
Remarkable passage ofJaques Cano.
Discovery ofCongo.
Johnthe Second, seeks to discoverIndiaby water.
After these, KingJohnofPortugalsentJaques Canowith a Fleet, who Sailing, found the RiverZaires, where he erected a Pillar with an Inscription,LatinandPortuguese, signifying by whom, and in what Kings Reign theseAfricanCoasts were discover’d: Here he also met some of the Natives, who more civiliz’d than the rest, told him, That they had a mighty King, who Raigning over them, kept his Court some few days Journey up in the Countrey, to whomCanosending his Agents, detain’d fourAfricansas Pledges, which he carry’d with their free consent toPortugal, promising to bring them back in fifteen Months, who before that time having got some smatterings of their Tongue, inform’d them, that their Native Soyl was call’dCongo, whither returning by the appointed time, they were according to their agreement, exchang’d for thePortuguese, andCanoaddress’d himself with rich Presents to their King, whom he found sitting in their manner on an Ivory Throne, being from the middle upwardNaked, his nether parts cover’d with long Silken Skirts, a Golden Armlet on his left Arm, athwart his Shoulders hung a Horses Tail, their Badge of Royal Dignity:Canohumbly laid the Presents down at the Kings feet, amongst which was a Gilded Flag, or Pennon with a Cross, which PopeInnocentthe Eighth had Consecrated with great Ceremony. After this, many of that Nation became Christians, and the King himself receiv’d Baptism. But in short time, by the Instigations of their Diabolical Priests, and others, Christianity loosing ground, grew out of countenance: Mean while, KingJohnthe Second vigorously Prosecuted the business of Discovery, sendingJewsandChristiansby Land fromAlexandriaand other parts ofEgypttoIndia, and from thence to explore the Coasts on the Eastern side ofAfrica, to theGreat-Cape; if so a way might be found fit for Navigators, having doubled that Point, to Traffick with the Oriental parts of the World.
Vasques de Gama, his expedition.
After this Princes Death the Work lay sill a while, but in short time, KingEmanuelhis Successor freshly undertook the business once more, sendingVasques de Gamawith four Ships, who passing through many Dangers with great Difficulties, Anchor’d at last beforeCalecut, and was the first of theEuropeansthat found a way to theEast-Indies.
Christopher Columbus’s.
Dividing of the earth.
ButChristopher Columbus, five Years beforeGama’s Expedition to the East, had been employ’d in Western Discoveries, which prov’d so very successful, that he found no less than another World; which soon after, fromAmericus Vesputius, was call’dAmerica: So that the Division of the World by the Antients, (concerning which they had so long err’d, and were utterly mistaken) was now made manifest by Experience, and undisputable Demonstration; for formerly the whole World was known by no other names thanAsia,Africa, andEurope, but now, those three are found to make but one Part of what incircles the Universal Globe; because in the South lies a second, known no further than by its Coastings and Superficial Margents; the third part being the New-World, ourAmerica.
A query, ifAmericawas known to the Ancients.
Atlantica. Plato in Crisis & Timæo.
Here it will not seem amiss, having prov’d thatAfricawas more than Coasted by the Ancients, to ingage and search with some scrutiny concerning thisAmerica; First, Whether at any time ’twas known by the Ancients? And next, by what People, and when first Inhabited? About the former, the Learned of these later times Jangle amongst themselves, for some of them will needs ascribe so much Honor to Antiquity, declining the Worthy Praise of those that made so wonderful a Discovery, as if they of old, and many Ages before, had done the same, or at least, that this New-World to them was not unknown, maintaining this their bold Assertion from the Authority of what they find, both in AncientGreek, andLatinAuthors: First, especially in the LearnedPlato, who, as you know at large, describes a NewAtlantis, lying beyond theStraightsofGibraltar; whose Coast is surrounded with two vast Seas that are Sow’d thick with scatter’d Islands. By these Seas they understand the Atlantick and Southern-Sea, by the many Isles,Cuba,Hispaniola,Jamaica,California, and others, which lie sprinkled along the Coasts ofAmerica. But it cannot be made out, thatPlatodescribes ought but a Fancy, his ownIdea, not a Countrey that ever was, is, or shall be, though he sets it forth so Accurately, and with such Judgment, as if he had taken a Survey of the place, and found such a Land indeed.
Diod. Sic.lib. 6.
Arist. de Mirandis in Natura auditis.
In like manner,Diodorus Siculusundertakes to prove, ThatAmericawas known to the Antients; telling a Story, how thePhenicianswere driven by a Stormfrom the Coasts ofAfricaWest-ward, falling at last upon a great and altogether unknown Island, which our late Expositors take forAmerica; Must it therefore be so? Surely not, for it is onely a bare Story, without any Proof or the least Testimony. They endeavor to makeAristotlebolster up their opinion that he had a knowledge of this New-World, which with no small pains they pump from these Words: “Beyond theHerculeanPillars, certainCarthaginianMerchants penetrated the Atlantick Ocean so far, that at last they found a vast, yet un-inhabited Island, producing nothing but Herbage, Plants, and Wild-Beasts, yet interlac’d with many Meandring Rivers, abounding with several sorts of Fish, lying some days Sail from the Continent; they Landing, found a Soyl so fertile, and Air so temperate, that there they setled, and were the first Planters of that Isle. But theCarthaginianshaving intelligence thereof, Prohibited all Persons whatsoever, upon Pain of Death, to go thither, fearing the place being so much commended, all the People would be ready to flock thither, and desert their own, and so utterly unfurnish and debilitate their then growing Common-wealth.”
Æneid.lib. 6.
But how could theCarthaginiansfindAmerica, without the use of the Compass? How happen’d it, that they were so taken with the fertility of this their New-found-Land, when the Adjacent Countreys and Fields aboutCarthageare every where Flourishing, and most Luxurious? So that it may better be suppos’d, that whatAristotlefound so long since, may rather be theCanary-Isles, orGreat-Brittain, thanAmerica. TheGreekshaving then also made some Inspection into theBrittish-Isles. They would also make you believe, thatVirgilthe Prince of Latin Poets, had known the New-World in these Verses;Æneid.lib. 6.
Americawas not known to the Ancients.
But what of all this? Who finds in any of these Writings, any Marks ofAmerica, or the least Description thereof? Though we cannot deny that the Antient Sages and Wise Philosophers of former times might easily make out, and no question did, that the Earth and Sea made the perfect Figure of a Globe; first from the round Shadow of the Earth that Ecclipses the Moon; the different Risings and Settings of the Celestial Luminaries; and the still Variation of the Pole; so that the Earth and Sea making one Ball, they might easily conjecture, that the South-side of the Equinoctial might be Inhabited as well as the North: But all this was more grounded upon Natural Reason and Right Judgement, than any Experience of theirs, or the least certain knowledge thereof, which since these later times had the first happiness to obtain; so laying these Conjectures aside, there have been none more grosly erroneous, and so utterly mistaken in this Point, than some of the Ancients, and especially the Fathers of the Church.
Lactant.l. 3. c. 24.
Lactantius Firmianus, and St.Austin, who strangely jear’d at as ridiculous, and not thinking fit for a Serious Answer the Foolish Opinion ofAntipodes, oranother Habitable World beyond theEquator: At which,LactantiusDrolling, says,What, Forsooth, here is a fine Opinion broach’d indeed; anAntipodes!heigh-day! People whose Feet tread with ours, and walk Foot to Foot with us; their Heads downwards, and yet drop not into the Sky! There, yes, very likely, the Trees loaden with Fruit grow downwards, and it Rains, Hails, and Snows upwards; the Roofs and Spires of Cities, tops of Mountains, point at the Sky beneath them, and the Rivers revers’d topsi-turvy, ready to flow into the Air out of their Channels!
Lactant.error concerning ourAntipodes.
As also St.Austin. de Civit. Deil. 16. c. 9.
But these seeming witty Observations ofLactantius, though they may serve for a Jest, yet are not grounded on any serious Reasons; for the Earth and Sea being Globular, making one Universal Ball; all Materials whatsoever that belong to this great Body, sink by a natural Propensity towards its Center; so that where-ever we Travel, our Feet are downwards, and our Heads upwards, the Sky above, and the Earth beneath; neither need they fear, that any where the Earth should Moulder and drop into the Clouds: But St.AustinReasons better, admitting that the Earth and Sea make a Universal Globe; yet it no way follows, that inhabited Countreys should lye opposite to our Northern, nay, altogether impossible, seeing that side which is ourAntipodesis all nothing but Sea; and should we allow, that there were Land and Water mixt as ours is, who could prove, that they were Peopled? or how could any get thither, over such Vast and Immense Seas? or possibly pass the extream heat of the Torrid Zone, not to be endur’d by any living Creature? And what then becomes of Sacred Scripture, which says positively,That all Men were deriv’d fromAdam,and after the Floud, fromNoahand his three Sons? Therefore the Nations of theAntipodesmust be of another Abstract, there being no possibility (as they suppos’d) of passing from this World to that: But since the Discovery of theEastandWest-Indies, Experience, the best Mistress, hath taught, that in the South are mighty Lands and vast Territories, and that as far as they have been Penetrated, are found to be full of People, extending their Dominions from East to West. And though St.Austindeny’d this now well-known Truth, yet long before his time,Cicero,Pliny, and others amongst theGreeksandRomans, divided the Earth under fiveZones; whichVirgildescribes thus:
Macrob. in Somnio Scipionis.l. 2. c. 5.
Vide Carpent. Geograph.
WithVirgil,Pliny, and the Prince of Latin Orators agree, who saith, “You see, that those that inhabit the Earth dwell in Countreys so separated one from another, that it is impossible they should have any Commerce; some of them are ourAntipodes, walking with their Heads downwards, some their Feet against our sides, others, as we, with their Heads upright. You see how the same Earth seems to be Swath’d about with Rolls, of which, two separated by the other three, are at utmost distance one from the other, lying equi-distant under the Vertick Points of Heaven, always cover’d with Snow and Ice; but the middlemost and greatest is scorch’d by the violentheats of the Sun: Two Tracts are Habitable, one to the South, ourAntipodes, the other North, which we Inhabit.”
Plinylib. 2.
AndPlinyalso affirms, though against the Vulgar Opinion, this truth, “That the Earth is round about inhabited, and that people walk Foot to Foot in most parts thereof; though every one be ready to ask why ourAntipodesdrop not into the Sky; which question, ourAntipodesmay also ask concerning us.”
But although the Ancients upon these and the like Demonstrations well understood, that there was a Habitable World towards the South under ourHorizon, yet they could not make out or believe, that there was any possibility to pass thither; And, according as St.Austinconceiv’d, That the Earth produc’d nothing under either Pole, by reason of excessive cold, and that theEquinoxsorMiddle-Zone, was not to be penetrated, because of the insufferable heat.
Macrob. in Somno Scip.lib. 2.
AndMacrobiussaith, “That theEquinoctialCircle, theArtickandAntartick Lines, bind the two HabitableZones, and make Temperate by the excessive Neighboring Heats and Colds; and these Countreys onely give Animation, and comfortable Enjoyment to all Living Creatures.”
Moreover, St.Austinin some places seems to clear his own Doubts, saying, “That People, if they could find a means to Sail those Vast and Undiscover’d Seas, might make Land, raising new Stars under another Sky.”
How beasts came on remote Islands.
A Learned Father, searching after the Original of all sorts of Beasts which multiply by Generation, concludes, That they must derive themselves from those that were sav’d withNoahin the Ark. But how came they to the Isles? To those adjacent and near the Main Land, they might easily Swim; to the remoter, they were Transported.
And chiefly the wild.
Austinis contradicted.
How men came to new Countreys.
But this Doubt is not altogether clear’d, for the Domestick and other Creatures fit for Humane use and Sustenance were thus brought thither: Yet how comes it to pass, that Voracious and Wild Creatures are also found there, such as Wolves, Tigers, Lions, and other Beasts of Prey? This puzzle putting St.Austinto a stand, he had no other means to get off, but by saying, that by God’s Commands or Permission, the Angels convey’d them thither; If so, why might not God please to Plant Men there in like manner, and the rather, the Earth being created for Humane use? But what needed this, when Men can in Ships Transport themselves, either of their own accord for curious Inquest, to find new Countreys, or else enforc’d by stress of Weather, to far remoter, and altogether unknown Lands: Besides, though the Earth is here and there divided by large Bays and vast Seas, yet nevertheless, in other places it is all continu’d Land, or at least parted by some narrow In-let or Sea; so that there was no difficulty for a crouded Plantation to go over, and so ease themselves in another Countrey, till then not Inhabited; therefore none need to question, but that fromAdam, or nearer, fromNoah’s three Sons,Sem,Ham, andJaphet, those, as well as we, were extracted, that Inhabit this our other World.
Reasons whyAmericawas so long unknown.
Who first sail’d on the Ocean.
Several opinions of the Antients concerning it.
Brittainsamongst the first Inventors of Navigation.
But one question is to be observ’d, How first after the expiration of so many Ages in these our later times, a New-World was discover’d, altogether unknown to the Antients, when they in the greatness of their Parts and Undertaking, Prowess and Prudence, were no ways inferior to the Modern, and every way as fit for great Designs and grand Exploits? We need not scruple or make the least doubt, but the Sea hath been Navigated of old; but the first attempters set forth unexperienc’d, in as pittiful and ill-contriv’d Vessels. TheHeathensascribe the Art of Navigation, first to theCretans, who under the Conduct ofNeptune, set forth a Navy to explore Foraign Countries. ButPlinylong before gives the Invention of this Art toErythra, King ofEgypt, who upon Pieces of Timber, conjoyn’d and brac’d together, crept along the Shores, and ventur’d to Discover the Isles in theRed-Sea. But others give that honor to theTrojans, andMicians, when with a Fleet by Sea, they InvadedThrace: Others, to theBrittains, who made little Vessels of Leather, and were the first that by this Invention found how to Float upon the Waters: Some plead, that theSamothracianswere first; Others, thatDanæusbefore all, found a way by Sea fromEgypttoGreece. But without all Contradiction,Noah’s Ark was the Pattern or Sample, that succeeding Ages imitating, built their Ships by; and the more probable, because his Offspring multiplying so fast, that they were enforc’d to inlarge their Colonies, by passing Seas, and other broad Rivers, to settle their Super-numeraries there.
The first Inventers of several things belonging to Shipping.
SoJasonInvented a Ship, which he call’dArgos, whichSesostrisKing ofEgypttook as his Pattern. Next, theBiremis, a Galley with double Banks of Oars, was made by theErythreans; with treble Banks, by theCorinthian Amocles; the addition of theQuadruple, theCarthaginiansboast; of theQuinqueremis Nesichthon,Alexander the Great, brought them to twelve Banks;Ptolomy Soter, to fifteen;Demetrius,AntigonusSon, doubled them to thirty;Ptolomy Philadelphus, to forty; and last of all,Philopaterrais’d them to fifty Banks of Oars.HippusaTirian, was the first that set Ships upon the Stocks; theRhodiansa Ketch, and theBataviansa Boat; theCopesmade the first Oar;Dedalusthe Mast and Boltsprit;Piscusthe Beak; theTyrrheansthe Anchor;Tiphysthe Rudder; taking example from the motion of a Kites Stern;Icarusfound Sails, fancy’d by the Poets for Wings, though some ascribe that honor to his FatherDedalus.
Why in former Ages no remote Countreys were discover’d.
Minoswas the first that Ingag’d in a Sea-Fight, whereby we may easily conjecture, that of old none adventur’d far into theOffin, or to remote Countreys, not daring to trust their so sleight contriv’d Vessels. But these later times have strangely and suddenly improv’d this growing Art of Navigation, yet pitch’d not to that height at first, as boldly to adventure, and loose sight of Land.
The manner of the Antients Sailing.
Of theRomans.
WhyAmericawas so lately known.
TheTyriansfirst understood how to Steer their Course by the North-Star, and when dark and foul Weather had Clouded the Sky, that they could neither see Heaven or Earth, but onely Sea, they directed their Course by the Wind; and if they doubted the change thereof, they let some Birds flie, whom they follow’d, supposing that they stood directly to the nearest Land. But these are but poor helps, and blind Guides to shew you Land from the middle of the boundless Ocean. It is certain, that theRomansin the time ofJulius CæsarandAugustus, stretch’d the Bounds of that Empire Eastward toEuphrates, theRhyne, and theDanube, and Westward to theOceanandMount Atlas, Sailing up and down theMediterranean, with great Fleets, which stoutly endur’d the violence both of Waves and Weather; but all this made them not so hardy, as once to think or look after new Worlds. But after theRomanpower decreas’d, by several Eruptions of theGoths,Vandals,Huns,Normans,Lumbards, and other Northern Countreys, which swarm’d with People, that overflow’d all places like a Deluge, so thatEuropewas every where puzzel’d and Imbroyl’d, their whole business consisting in conjoyning Forces to withstand such bold Invaders, and so vexatious an Enemy.
And farther East,Asiawas at the same time little better, still trembling at the daily Alarms and Incursions of theScythians,Persians, andSaracens; and afterwards theTurksgrowing upon them more than any of the former, expected no other than a sad Catastrophe, so that the known World had too muchwork cut out for them by these Distractions and Alterations of Government, then to go in Quest of uncertainties, to find they know not where, another.
Hieron. inc. 2.Ephes.
Here also is added by St.Jerom, what an antient Writer saith,Great care hath been taken in Computing the Age of this World, and if there be another which Commenc’d not with ours, (asClemensmentions in his Epistles)where are scituate those Seas and Lands that make that second World? Or is a part of that, in whichAdamwas Created? Or may it not rather Metaphorically be taken for Worldly Affairs, govern’d by the Prince of the Air, ruling in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience?
The Antients opinion of an unknown world.
ButPliny,Cicero, andVirgil, the best in their kind of Latin Writers, concur, That there may be a habitable World under ourHorizon, in the temperate SouthernZone, beyond the extream heat, and on this side of theAntartickcolds.
In Comment. superObad. v. 19, 20, 21.
And they of the south shall possess the mount ofElau,and they of the plain, thePhilistines:and they shall possess the fields ofEphraim,and the fields ofSamaria,andBenjaminshall possessGilead.And the captivity of this host of the children ofIsraelshall possess that of theCanaanites,even untoZarephath,and the captivity ofJerusalem,which is inSepharad,shall possess the Cities of the south. And saviors shall come upon mountZion,to judge the mount ofEsau,and the kingdom shall be the LORDS.
But what signifies all this to the Discovery ofAmerica, which lies not onely under the scorching Heats of theEquinox, but under the Frosts and Snows of theArtickandAntartick-Poles? Yet less probable is that whichLodowick Leo, anAugustineFrier takes out ofObadiah; as if that Prophet in the three last Verses of hisProphecyshould speak of theSpaniards, which should not onely discover and ConquerAmerica, but also Convert the Inhabitants to theChristian Faith, because those that are inSepharad, should Inherit and Possess the Cities of the South,And Saviours shall arise from the Mountains ofZion,to judge the Mount and Wealth ofEsau.
IfAmericais known in the Scripture.
But certainly,Obadiahmeant no other than the Restauration of theJewsfrom the Captivity ofBabylon, who after their return, should grow more powerful than ever, and they, led by theirMessias, obtain the height of all felicity, who would send hisEvangelistsandApostlesto declare Salvation to the utmost Borders of the Earth. It is true, that theRabinsExpoundSepharadto beSpain, and therefore he concludes, thatObadiahProphesi’d of theSpaniard, and their Conquests inAmerica; so they would prove, thatAmericawas long known before Christ.
Solomon’s Fleet sail’d not toPeru.
And lastly, It signifies as little whatPinedaandLevinus Lemniusdrive at, ThatSolomonfirst finding the use of the Compass, Rigg’d a Navy atEzion-Geber, which from theRed-Seahad no indirect Course to theStraightsofMagellan; from whence he might Lade his Vessels with the Gold ofPeru. In whose Description it shall be manifested, thatPeruis notOphir, as some without any shew of Reason or Truth would make us believe.
Solomondid not find the Compass.
But as concerning KingSolomon’s finding out the use of theMagnet, it is soon said, but not easily proved; for though that Prince exceeded all Man-kind in Wisdom and Learning, and was perfect in the Operations, and knew the Occultest Secrets of Nature, understanding what e’re belong’d to Plants, from the Cedar ofLibanus, to Hysop, and the meanest Shrub that grows upon the Wall; yet it nothing makes out, that he knew the Mystery of the Navigable use of theLoad-Stone: But suppose he did know, there is no where any mention of it; and if this excellent thing, theCompass, had been found inSolomon’s time, how came it afterwards so utterly to be lost?
Load-stone, by whom found.
Strange operations of the Loadstone.
De subtilitatel. 7.
Variance of the Compass.
Genebrad. Chron.
When, and by whom the Compass was found.
Albertus Magnusmistakes, when he ascribes the knowledge of theCompasstoAristotle, of which he himself makes not the least mention; neitherGalen,Alexander Aphrodisiensis,Pliny,Lucretius, nor any of theRoman,Greek,Arabian, or other Countrey Writers whatsoever. Some give the honor thereof to anIndian, others to a Shepherd inMount Ida, whose Clouted Shooes being full of Hob-Nails, the Iron sticking fast to the Stones on which he stood, stopt hismotion. And although the Antients found out many Secrets of Nature, amongst which this of theLoad-Stone, Attracting Iron, as being its proper Food; and the three sorts of theMagnet, of which some will not draw Steel, found byTheamedesaGreekAuthor, and other since, well known Properties: Yet they never attain’d that knowledge, that theLoad-Stonewould ease Pain, and stop the effusion of Blood, though the edge piercing the Skin, open’d the Vein: asHieronimus Cardanusexperienc’d on himself and others, which he had fromLaurentius Guascus, a great Chyrurgeon. Much less, that the Needle of theCompassbeing touch’d by theLoad-Stoneon the Northside of theEquinox, respects the North; but depressing theArtick, and raising theAntartickPole, it looks as stedfastly towards the South: But far less dreamt they of its several variations, according to the Coasts that are nearest; as when you come from the Islanddel Cuervo, the Point varies more West; but Sailing towards theEquinox, it varies Eastward; by which we may absolutely conclude, that without this use of theLoad-Stone, first found byFlavius MelviusaNeapolitan, in the Year 1303. it was altogether impossible to reachAmerica. So thatJoseph de Acostamistakes, who gives the honor of the finding so great a benefit to Navigation, to someMahumetanSea-men whichVasques de Gamamet with nearMosambique, who had Sail’d those Seas by the use thereof; whereasGama’s Expedition was above a hundred years afterMelfius, who liv’d in such a juncture of time for Mathematical Learning, that few Ages boasted the like: For then flourish’d inEngland, and were Contemporaries, besides others abroad,Richard Wallingford,Nicolas de Lynna,John Halifax,Walter Britte,John Duns, andJohn de Lignarys, all eminent in Astronomical Arts, belonging to Navigation, and doubtless, no small helps toMelfiusin this his happy Invention.
Lastly, We will relate what hath been held as a seeming Testimony, (thatAmericawas known to theEuropeansbefore the Birth of our Saviour) by an antique Meddal of the EmperorAugustus, digg’d out of the Ground inPeru, and sent to his Holiness atRome, which may well be reckon’d with the like Cheat contriv’d byHermicus Cajadus,Anno 1505.nearSyntra, a Town inPortugal, where three Marbles Ingraven with antient Characters, concerning a Prophecy of discovering theEast-Indiesby thePortuguese, in the Reign of KingEmanuel, were privately bury’d under Ground, and not long after, by a pretended accident digg’d out, which made such a bustle amongst the Learned, that several tired themselves about the explanation of the suppos’d Sibylline Prediction.