Part 2

But _Christopher Columbus_, five Years before _Gama_’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, from _Americus Vesputius_, was call’d _America_: 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 than _Asia_, _Africa_, and _Europe_, 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, our _America_.

[Sidenote: A query, if _America_ was known to the Ancients.]

[Sidenote: _Atlantica. Plato in Crisis & Timæo._]

Here it will not seem amiss, having prov’d that _Africa_ was more than Coasted by the Ancients, to ingage and search with some scrutiny concerning this _America_; 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 Ancient _Greek_, and _Latin_ Authors: First, especially in the Learned _Plato_, who, as you know at large, describes a New _Atlantis_, lying beyond the _Straights_ of _Gibraltar_; 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 of _America_. But it cannot be made out, that _Plato_ describes ought but a Fancy, his own _Idea_, 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.

[Sidenote: _Diod. Sic._ lib. 6.]

[Sidenote: _Arist. de Mirandis in Natura auditis._]

In like manner, _Diodorus Siculus_ undertakes to prove, That _America_ was known to the Antients; telling a Story, how the _Phenicians_ were driven by a Storm from the Coasts of _Africa_ West-ward, falling at last upon a great and altogether unknown Island, which our late Expositors take for _America_; Must it therefore be so? Surely not, for it is onely a bare Story, without any Proof or the least Testimony. They endeavor to make _Aristotle_ bolster up their opinion that he had a knowledge of this New-World, which with no small pains they pump from these Words: “Beyond the _Herculean_ Pillars, certain _Carthaginian_ Merchants 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 the _Carthaginians_ having 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.”

[Sidenote: _Æneid._ lib. 6.]

But how could the _Carthaginians_ find _America_, 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 about _Carthage_ are every where Flourishing, and most Luxurious? So that it may better be suppos’d, that what _Aristotle_ found so long since, may rather be the _Canary-Isles_, or _Great-Brittain_, than _America_. The _Greeks_ having then also made some Inspection into the _Brittish-Isles_. They would also make you believe, that _Virgil_ the Prince of Latin Poets, had known the New-World in these Verses; _Æneid._ lib. 6.

_There, there’s the Prince, oft promis’d us before, Divine_ Augustus Cæsar, _who once more Shall Golden Days bring to th’_ Ausonian _Land, Kingdoms that once old_ Saturn _did command, And shall His power to_ India _extend, Beyond the Annual Circle, and beyond The Sun’s long Progress, where great_ Atlas _bears, Laden with Golden Stars, the glittering Sphears;_

Hic vir, hic est, tibi quem promitti sæpius audis, _Augustus Cæsar_, divûm genus, aurea condet Sæcula, qui rursus Latio, regnata per arva Saturno quondam, super & Garamantas & Indos Proferet imperium. Jacet extra sidera tellus, Extra anni Solisque vias, ubi cœlifer _Atlas_ Axem humero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum.

[Sidenote: _America_ was not known to the Ancients.]

But what of all this? Who finds in any of these Writings, any Marks of _America_, 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.

[Sidenote: _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 of _Antipodes_, or another Habitable World beyond the _Equator_: At which, _Lactantius_ Drolling, says, _What, Forsooth, here is a fine Opinion broach’d indeed; an_ Antipodes! _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!_

[Sidenote: _Lactant._ error concerning our _Antipodes_.]

[Sidenote: As also St. _Austin. de Civit. Dei_ l. 16. c. 9.]

But these seeming witty Observations of _Lactantius_, 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. _Austin_ Reasons 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 our _Antipodes_ is 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 from_ Adam, _and after the Floud, from_ Noah _and his three Sons_? Therefore the Nations of the _Antipodes_ must be of another Abstract, there being no possibility (as they suppos’d) of passing from this World to that: But since the Discovery of the _East_ and _West-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. _Austin_ deny’d this now well-known Truth, yet long before his time, _Cicero_, _Pliny_, and others amongst the _Greeks_ and _Romans_, divided the Earth under five _Zones_; which _Virgil_ describes thus:

_Five Zones the heav’ns infold, hot Sun-beams beat Always on one, and burns with raging heat. The two Extreams to this on each hand lies Muffled with Storms, fetter’d with cruel Ice. ’Twixt Cold and Heat, two more there are, th’ aboads Assign’d poor Mortals by th’ Immortal Gods._

Quinque tenent cælum zonæ: quarum una corusco Semper Sole rubens, & torrida semper ab igni: Quam circum extremæ dextra, lævaque trahuntur Cærulea glacie concretæ, atque imbribus atris. Has inter, mediamque, duæ mortalibus ægris Munere concessæ divum: via secta per ambas, Obliquus qua se signorum verteret ordo.

[Sidenote: _Macrob. in Somnio Scipionis._ l. 2. c. 5.]

[Sidenote: _Vide Carpent. Geograph._]

With _Virgil_, _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 our _Antipodes_, 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 violent heats of the Sun: Two Tracts are Habitable, one to the South, our _Antipodes_, the other North, which we Inhabit.”

[Sidenote: _Pliny_ lib. 2.]

And _Pliny_ also 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 our _Antipodes_ drop not into the Sky; which question, our _Antipodes_ may 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 our _Horizon_, yet they could not make out or believe, that there was any possibility to pass thither; And, according as St. _Austin_ conceiv’d, That the Earth produc’d nothing under either Pole, by reason of excessive cold, and that the _Equinoxs_ or _Middle-Zone_, was not to be penetrated, because of the insufferable heat.

[Sidenote: _Macrob. in Somno Scip._ lib. 2.]

And _Macrobius_ saith, “That the _Equinoctial_ Circle, the _Artick_ and _Antartick Lines_, bind the two Habitable _Zones_, 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. _Austin_ in 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.”

[Sidenote: 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 with _Noah_ in 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.

[Sidenote: And chiefly the wild.]

[Sidenote: _Austin_ is contradicted.]

[Sidenote: 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. _Austin_ to 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 from _Adam_, or nearer, from _Noah_’s three Sons, _Sem_, _Ham_, and _Japhet_, those, as well as we, were extracted, that Inhabit this our other World.

[Sidenote: Reasons why _America_ was so long unknown.]

[Sidenote: Who first sail’d on the Ocean.]

[Sidenote: Several opinions of the Antients concerning it.]

[Sidenote: _Brittains_ amongst 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. The _Heathens_ ascribe the Art of Navigation, first to the _Cretans_, who under the Conduct of _Neptune_, set forth a Navy to explore Foraign Countries. But _Pliny_ long before gives the Invention of this Art to _Erythra_, King of _Egypt_, who upon Pieces of Timber, conjoyn’d and brac’d together, crept along the Shores, and ventur’d to Discover the Isles in the _Red-Sea_. But others give that honor to the _Trojans_, and _Micians_, when with a Fleet by Sea, they Invaded _Thrace_: Others, to the _Brittains_, who made little Vessels of Leather, and were the first that by this Invention found how to Float upon the Waters: Some plead, that the _Samothracians_ were first; Others, that _Danæus_ before all, found a way by Sea from _Egypt_ to _Greece_. 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.

[Sidenote: The first Inventers of several things belonging to Shipping.]

So _Jason_ Invented a Ship, which he call’d _Argos_, which _Sesostris_ King of _Egypt_ took as his Pattern. Next, the _Biremis_, a Galley with double Banks of Oars, was made by the _Erythreans_; with treble Banks, by the _Corinthian Amocles_; the addition of the _Quadruple_, the _Carthaginians_ boast; of the _Quinqueremis Nesichthon_, _Alexander the Great_, brought them to twelve Banks; _Ptolomy Soter_, to fifteen; _Demetrius_, _Antigonus_ Son, doubled them to thirty; _Ptolomy Philadelphus_, to forty; and last of all, _Philopater_ rais’d them to fifty Banks of Oars. _Hippus_ a _Tirian_, was the first that set Ships upon the Stocks; the _Rhodians_ a Ketch, and the _Batavians_ a Boat; the _Copes_ made the first Oar; _Dedalus_ the Mast and Boltsprit; _Piscus_ the Beak; the _Tyrrheans_ the Anchor; _Tiphys_ the Rudder; taking example from the motion of a Kites Stern; _Icarus_ found Sails, fancy’d by the Poets for Wings, though some ascribe that honor to his Father _Dedalus_.

[Sidenote: Why in former Ages no remote Countreys were discover’d.]

_Minos_ was the first that Ingag’d in a Sea-Fight, whereby we may easily conjecture, that of old none adventur’d far into the _Offin_, 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.

[Sidenote: The manner of the Antients Sailing.]

[Sidenote: Of the _Romans_.]

[Sidenote: Why _America_ was so lately known.]

The _Tyrians_ first 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 the _Romans_ in the time of _Julius Cæsar_ and _Augustus_, stretch’d the Bounds of that Empire Eastward to _Euphrates_, the _Rhyne_, and the _Danube_, and Westward to the _Ocean_ and _Mount Atlas_, Sailing up and down the _Mediterranean_, 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 the _Roman_ power decreas’d, by several Eruptions of the _Goths_, _Vandals_, _Huns_, _Normans_, _Lumbards_, and other Northern Countreys, which swarm’d with People, that overflow’d all places like a Deluge, so that _Europe_ was 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, _Asia_ was at the same time little better, still trembling at the daily Alarms and Incursions of the _Scythians_, _Persians_, and _Saracens_; and afterwards the _Turks_ growing upon them more than any of the former, expected no other than a sad Catastrophe, so that the known World had too much work 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.

[Sidenote: _Hieron. in_ c. 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_, (as _Clemens_ mentions in his Epistles) _where are scituate those Seas and Lands that make that second World? Or is a part of that, in which_ Adam _was 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?_

[Sidenote: The Antients opinion of an unknown world.]

But _Pliny_, _Cicero_, and _Virgil_, the best in their kind of Latin Writers, concur, That there may be a habitable World under our _Horizon_, in the temperate Southern _Zone_, beyond the extream heat, and on this side of the _Antartick_ colds.

[Sidenote: _In Comment. super_ Obad. v. 19, 20, 21.]

[Sidenote: _And they of the south shall possess the mount of_ Elau, _and they of the plain, the_ Philistines: _and they shall possess the fields of_ Ephraim, _and the fields of_ Samaria, _and_ Benjamin _shall possess_ Gilead. _And the captivity of this host of the children of_ Israel _shall possess that of the_ Canaanites, _even unto_ Zarephath, _and the captivity of_ Jerusalem, _which is in_ Sepharad, _shall possess the Cities of the south. And saviors shall come upon mount_ Zion, _to judge the mount of_ Esau, _and the kingdom shall be the LORDS_.]

But what signifies all this to the Discovery of _America_, which lies not onely under the scorching Heats of the _Equinox_, but under the Frosts and Snows of the _Artick_ and _Antartick-Poles_? Yet less probable is that which _Lodowick Leo_, an _Augustine_ Frier takes out of _Obadiah_; as if that Prophet in the three last Verses of his _Prophecy_ should speak of the _Spaniards_, which should not onely discover and Conquer _America_, but also Convert the Inhabitants to the _Christian Faith_, because those that are in _Sepharad_, should Inherit and Possess the Cities of the South, _And Saviours shall arise from the Mountains of_ Zion, _to judge the Mount and Wealth of_ Esau.

[Sidenote: If _America_ is known in the Scripture.]

But certainly, _Obadiah_ meant no other than the Restauration of the _Jews_ from the Captivity of _Babylon_, who after their return, should grow more powerful than ever, and they, led by their _Messias_, obtain the height of all felicity, who would send his _Evangelists_ and _Apostles_ to declare Salvation to the utmost Borders of the Earth. It is true, that the _Rabins_ Expound _Sepharad_ to be _Spain_, and therefore he concludes, that _Obadiah_ Prophesi’d of the _Spaniard_, and their Conquests in _America_; so they would prove, that _America_ was long known before Christ.

[Sidenote: _Solomon_’s Fleet sail’d not to _Peru_.]

And lastly, It signifies as little what _Pineda_ and _Levinus Lemnius_ drive at, That _Solomon_ first finding the use of the Compass, Rigg’d a Navy at _Ezion-Geber_, which from the _Red-Sea_ had no indirect Course to the _Straights_ of _Magellan_; from whence he might Lade his Vessels with the Gold of _Peru_. In whose Description it shall be manifested, that _Peru_ is not _Ophir_, as some without any shew of Reason or Truth would make us believe.

[Sidenote: _Solomon_ did not find the Compass.]

But as concerning King _Solomon_’s finding out the use of the _Magnet_, 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 of _Libanus_, 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 the _Load-Stone_: But suppose he did know, there is no where any mention of it; and if this excellent thing, the _Compass_, had been found in _Solomon_’s time, how came it afterwards so utterly to be lost?

[Sidenote: Load-stone, by whom found.]

[Sidenote: Strange operations of the Loadstone.]

[Sidenote: _De subtilitate_ l. 7.]

[Sidenote: Variance of the Compass.]

[Sidenote: _Genebrad. Chron._]

[Sidenote: When, and by whom the Compass was found.]