VNlearned men are now at length assured by the renowned Voya­ges of Sir Francis Drake and M. Cauendish, and other worthy Persons, that in the last age compassed the World: As aunciently Mathematicians were by the roundnesse of the shadow in the Eclipse of the Moone. That the forme or figure which God gaue vnto the Sea and Earth, when his Wisedome set the Waters and dry Land apart, was Gloabe-like or Sp [...]a­ricall.

Wherein it is agreed there are two [Page 6] Poynts, correspondent to the North and South Poles of the Heauens, of ea [...]ie Creation in a Solide of that Na­ture, from which Centers by descri­bing seuerall Circles, we deriue our Paralells, whereof the largest in ex­tent, must of necessitie fall iust in the mid'st; the rest infallibly growing lesser and lesser, as they draw neerer and neerer to those Poles.

Whereas our Meridians being Circles that doe euer meete in both those poyntes of North and South, and so deuide the Orbe into iust [...], though they be not aequi­distant, yet are euer of one equall Circuite to the greatest Paralell, which we call the Aequinoctiall.

In which Line, all men obseruing that the S [...]nne in foure and twentie howers was carried round; and the most Learned, that one houre tooke vp 300. Leagues, or 900. Miles. It was concluded, that the Sunnes whole course was 24. times so much: so that the common best opinion of the greatest Compasse of the World, [Page 7] became 7200. L or 21600. M.

According to which Computati­on, Sea-men and Trauelers that goe directly North or South, doe find their Eleuation to alter one Degree of the 360. for 20. L. of way, and ha­ [...]ing sure meanes to tell how many Degrees or Partes of their M [...]ridian they are gone N. or S. They can proportion well inough their Di­staunce in Latitude, to be so many L. or Miles.

But in their course of Longitude, (which is from East to West) for want of Fixed helpes, they are con­strayned to turne backward, and by reckoning their L. or M. of way, to make accompt of so many parts or Degrees of their Paralell: But ha­uing not had due consideration of the aboue saide lessening of Parale [...]s, to distribute consequently fewer Miles or Leagues to eac [...] Degree, besides the too vncertaine ground; it hath fallen out that Lands sette foorth in Gloabes or Mappes, from such erroneous Cardes or Computa­tions, [Page 8] as touching Longitude or Di­stance East and West, are most ex­treamely false, especially in new discouered Northerne & Southerne Countries.

For which cause (setting by the authority of Handy-workes) the [...] C [...]erence of the Earth is to be lookt for in the Histories of such as traueld to describe the Worlde: Among the which in auncient time, the men that layde the firmest and most Artificiall grounds, and neerest to the best of Modern [...], were [...] Alexandrinus: And he whom [...] confutes Marinus Tyrius, the one of them by a Heauenly way of Eclips [...]s, most exact (if well obser­ued) thus argued. Such an Eclipse happen'd at M. Hora 8. and at N. at 9. therefore M. and N. differ in Longitude one hower, that is, the 24. part of the Aequinoctiall, that is, 15. Degrees, contayning euery one some 60. Miles. But on th [...] contra­ry, Marinus Tyrius proceeded thus: Such a man went from M. to N. Ver­sus [Page 9] occasum, or from N. to M. Versus exortum 7500. Stadi [...], whereof 500. are about 60. Miles, or one Degree of the Aequinoctiall; from which ex­perience he concluded, therefore M. and N. did differ 15. Degrees, that is one Hower in Longitude. Which course how euer M [...]chanicall as wee say; and seldome or neuer exact: Yet on firme Land, by small helpes giuen to a Man of ordinary vnderstanding, may easily be freed from a grosse errour: Whereas wee must confesse Ptolomey his learned Method is of such difficile obser­uing, that errour soone creepes in, and euery small one breeds a great mistaking.

And therefore seing (eyther way) Geographye depends on the reports of Trauellours (which Ptolomey cal's Historiam Peregrinationis) and Tra­uellours be seldome Math [...]maticians, but Merchants, Saylours, Souldiers, men that may vse common Rules and Instruments, not subtilties of nice and curious practise. There [Page 10] are that doe professe, they hold P [...]o­lomey his way much fitter, from the relations of Learned men, & Coun­tries where good Artes are flouri­shing, to rectifie precedent obserua­tions, then to delineate or set downe by heare-say, the distances from East to West, of farre remote newly dis­couered Countries. Nay, that con­fesse (vnder correction of the Lear­ned World tha [...] hath receiued it) they are not yet so fully well per­swaded of [...] his bounding the olde World of Europe, Africa, and Asia, betweene a Meridian of the [...] [...], and 12. howers or 180. Degrees, but rather doe ap­prooue Marinus Tyrius his exten­ding Asia into the East, as farre as 15. Howers, and that for these reasons.

If those men conceiue a right, that First. gesse that [...] for his aboade in [...], did Stile himselfe Alex­andrinus, in emulation of Mari [...], called Tyri [...], from the Towne of Tyr [...]. It cannot be denied but the Merchants of that Port were fel­lowes [Page 11] vnto Princes, and had in those dayes greater Trade then any; so that Marinus liuing there, was like to haue much better information then an other in an other corner; es­pecially being more auncient, and neerer to the Ass [...]ian and Persian Monarchies, to the Iourneys of A­lexander, Hercu [...], and Bacchus, and the businesse then most into the East. Hee could not but haue better helpes then Ptolomey, that liued when all went Westward.

The Merchauntes then traueling ouer firme Land, through plaine and 2. ly. open Countries by directions of the Heauens, wherein the men of those Times and Territories were best read; they were the better able to make perfect Iournals of their way, and consequently Marinus truer Computation of the Longitude of Plac [...]s.

Since [...] himselfe confes­seth, that the Landes from the F [...]tu­nate 3. ly. Islands, to the passage of the Ri­uer Euphra [...]es through H [...]apolis, were [Page 12] rightly laide by Tyri [...]s, being gathe­red from Mens voyages West-ward ouer Seas, and through the Wood­die, Mountanous, baren & then Bar­barous partes of Europ [...]: why should we not thinke his informatiō was as good, and more frequent from the Easterne richest Countries of the world; and so beleeue as well of his accompt Ad Turr [...] Lapideam, and thence Ad Sinar [...]m Metropolim? No­thing doubting what euer Ptolomey coniecture, his care to examine mens Relations, ere hee gaue them [...]redite, since though his worke vn­happily appeare not; yet out of his Confuters mouth, wee heare hee did reiect Phil [...]rs forged tale of [...] greatnesse.

How confidently soeuer Ptolomey, Fourthly. with stronger Arguments then those against his Longitude, condemne Marinus Tyrius for forcing Africa, as touching Latitude to reach beyond the Tropick [...] of Capricorne▪ whereas he will allow it to extende to not full 17. partes: Yet now infallible ex­perience [Page 13] hath taught vs, that Mari­nus in that then most difficult poynt, was much the better informed, a fayre occasion to doubt P [...]olomey, and trust him in the other.

5 ^ly. That Ptolomey was strangely abused in his vnderstanding of those partes, appeareth plainely, by his making Asia to turne downe to the South, and winding round to ioyne with Africa, conceiuing our great Sea of Zur, for that he heard but of a peece to be a Bay or Sinus, which in­deed he tearmed Magnus; but repor­ted to be lesse then either [...] or Persicus.

Last of all, seeing that although [...] Mela, & other of the An­cient, besides the late discouered Trueth it selfe, make A [...]ia to reach vnto the Sea; yet Pt [...]mey doth bound it East-ward Terra incognita: Why might not Marinus propor­tion more Degrees or Howers, were it but for that Land vnknowne▪ sure we are, P [...]olomey his fardest Meridia [...] doth leaue a great part of China East, [Page 14] his Sinus Magnus being but a peece of our South Sea, betweene Malacca and the Moluccaes, and his Aurea Chersonesus, in truth no other then the Moderne Sumatra, though by some Learned men mistaken for his Tapro­bane: and thus vnhappily wee fall vpon another Paradoxe; yet for the Trueths sake, can not but deliuer our opinion, that, that which hee cald Taproban [...], was our now Ce [...]lam. Not because Barrius, or Corsalus, or Varre­rius, or at last Or [...]elius conceiued so; nor yet for the plentie of Elephants, and other Riches which Ptolomey gaue to his Tapro [...]ane, and are in truth in our C [...]lam: Nor for the nee [...]nesse of the sound or name of the auncient Inhabitantes of Taprobane, cald by him Salaj, and his opposite Promon­tory in Jndia tearmd C [...]ry, to our Cei­lam, and the neighbour C. [...]: but for these, as we thinke vnanswe­rable reaso [...]s.

The Latitude (wherein as [...] First. and other, rightly iudge [...] err'd least) of our C [...]ilam being about [Page 15] 10. degrees Northerly, agreeth much better with Ptolomey his Tapro [...]ane, then Sumatra, that like his Aurea Chersonesus, lyeth vnder the Line.

2 ^ly. The Sholes & drownd Lands about our Ceilam shew that perhaps it hath been greater, if any should too strictly vrge Plinie his Magni­tude of Ta [...]robane, which Ptolomey placeth but a few degrees East-ward from his Riuer Indus, ouer against that part of Jndia where the Bracma­noj Magoj liu'd: and so is our Ce [...]lam now situate, from that Riuer, and op­posite to the Jndians; whose Priestes are called Bachmenes.

3 ^ly. Before his Taprobane, Ptolom [...] placeth. 1300. little Islands an vn­usuall Seamarke, no where in the world but before our Ceil [...]m, to wit the Isles of Mald [...]uar.

4 ^ly. Ptolomey his Tabrobane lay be­tweene the Mouths of the Riuers Jn­dus, and Ganges, almost indifferently, as our C [...]lam now doeth, whereas Su [...]atra not onely is beyond the Ri­uer Ganges, but our Go [...]pho de Bengala, [Page 16] his Sinus [...].

I but the Learned Merca [...]or was of other minde, whose sentence Ma­ginus & other Geographers approoue: Hee take [...] Su [...]tra to be Taprobane, and our Iapan for Au [...]ea Chersonesus, &c.

The trueth is, in his Vniuersall Mappe, a [...] in the quarter Cardes which Ho [...]dius drew from thence, the labour is so great to fitte the new discouered Countries in those Seas, to P [...]olomeys olde names: That he that will but reade Iudiciously Ptolomey himselfe, be it of Merc [...]tors owne edition, shall soone perceiue the errors which wee wish that lear­ned Man had not committed: For, for a taste, what can be weaker, then to deny Sumatra to be Chersonesus, because it is not a Peninsal [...], although the broken Groundes about it, and the neere [...]esse to the Maine witnesse perhaps it was: And although the Latitude and other circumst [...]nces accord; when the same hand doth make J [...]pan that hath no colour, no [Page 17] resemblance of an Jstmos, lying farre [...]rom the Continent, in 36. Degrees, of N. Eleuation to bee Ptolomey his C [...]rise o [...] Cherso [...]sus that wa [...] vnder the Aequinoctiall.

I but according to Ptolomey Cher­so [...]sus, must lie beyond the Riuer Ganges, as Taproban [...] on this side: and therefore Mercator finding the Riuer Cantam to be Ganges, had rea­son to reconcile P [...]olomey vnto him­selfe, &c.

Surely Mercator had small reason, b [...]sides will, so worse and worse to lime himselfe: The particular Nar­rations of Soli [...]s, and other descri­bers of those partes, from the Persi [...]us sinus and Island of the Sunne to Car­mani [...], so to Jndus, then Jn [...]ia intra Gangem, then [...] extra Gang [...]m, and so ad Ser [...]s, as well as [...] his enumeration of the Riuers, Moun­taines, Townes, and Head-landes, with their distances, shew plainely, that his Riuer Ganges was nothing neere so farre from Indus: and if that mightie Continent betweene In [...]s [Page 18] and Can [...] were but India intra Gan­gem, China it selfe must then be India extra Gang [...]m; and so vnlesse the Sea haue eate it vp, wee cannot guesse what is become of Sin [...]rum Regio, that P [...]olomey so often mentions to lye Eastward from India extra Gan­ge [...]. And surely if the Riuer of Ben­gala (which Linschot sayes the Indians doe call Gueng [...]) be not Ga [...]ges, fal­li [...]g out into a Sea so well knowne, and being of that breadth & deapth and length that the Indians supersti­tiously conceiue it comes from Pa­r [...]dise, it had ill lucke to scape the mention of our M. Ptolomey.

In a word, the seuerall Mouths of Ptolo [...]y his G [...]nges, especially the most distant, lay in the same Lati­tude, which is impossible for Cantam falling Eastward, and not full South into the Sea. Neither hath Ca [...]am a Bay like Golpho de B [...]ngala to an­swere Sinus Gangeticus; neither can there be, if Cantam were G [...]ges, be­yond it Eastward any trending of Land (as Ptolomey writes) so farre to [Page 19] the South, that there were Aethiopes: Neither is there beyond Cantam any Towne within the Tropicke, whereas Ptolomey in his 8. Booke of Caelestiall Obseruations, or Rectifications, reckons all the Cities of India extra Gang [...]m, and some of Sinarum Regio too, to haue Sole [...] in vertice bis in anno: All which, doe well agree with our opinion. But why doe wee pursue Mercator any further, whose first mistaking, notwithstanding all his witte and labour, brought him at last to place Cattigara si [...] arum statio, in 60. degrees of Northerly Latitude, which Ptolomey expressly layes be­yond the Aequinoctiall.

The clearer trueth is, that the Ri­uer Indus, of Ptolomey, by the vniuer­sall consent, falles into the Ocean neere Camb [...], from whence procee­ding Eastward, you come to his Pro­montory Cory our Cape Comorj, ouer against which lay his Taprobane our Ce [...]lam, from thence to his Sinus Gangeticus our Golpho de Bengala▪ so to his Riuer Ganges the Indian Guenga▪ [Page 20] then to our [...] his Chrise or Cher­sonesu [...], and last of all to his Sinus Mag­nus, a peece of our South Sea be­tweene Peg [...] or Si [...]m & the Islands of Spices, into some Port whereof, the comming of some Sinae to trade, occasioned his conceit of Ca [...]gara Sinarum St [...]o: All which against Mag [...]nus, and such as so easily swal­low Mercators Coniectures, may be much better iustified then their Po­sitions.

Now then, by this that hath been sayd, it may appeare, that P [...]lomeys Hem [...]sphere reacht litle beyonde Su­matra and Siam; so that not onely China, which by them that know it best, is [...]ayd to trend from 2 [...]. De­grees of Nor: Latitude 700. Leagues North-east ward, but a good part of Cauchin-China too, remaynes for P [...]o­lomey his Terra incognita, to make vp the 3. Howers, or 45. Degrees more of Marinus Ty [...]ius: vpon whose Computation, Columbus especially did found his so happy and renow­nedent erprize.

[Page 21]I, but how commeth it to passe, that all our moderne Maps contract euen Ptolomeys Hem [...]sphere, and make Sum [...]tra to extend to litle aboue 150. Degrees?

Why surely by the generall mista­king of his Ta [...]robane; and in parti­cular, by a tricke of the Portinga [...]es, the first and chiefe frequenters of those partes, they hauing by the Popes authoritie, fixt a Merd [...]an at the Islands of Cape V [...]rde, from which Westward the Castilia [...]s should haue all to 180. Degrees as themselues, the other Moytie Fastward: It fell out that the riches o [...] the [...] cald the Islands of Spices, set them both at oddes, and the [...] finding a short and easie passage from America thither, not onely chalenged those Islandes, but some part of India too, to [...]al within their limits: for preuen­tion whereof, to bring the [...] within their Hem [...]sphere, the Portin­ [...]ales in probabilitie shortned their Cardes: For at the meeting at Ba [...]os and Yelbes, betweene them, there was [Page 22] lost a 7. ^th parth of the world, and the [...] were they that shun'd the triall: But the Emperours occasions compelling him to yeeld to them, that else, (as the r [...]cordes declare) had litle right: the World hath since receiu'd the d [...]lineation of those partes from P [...]rtingal accompt.

But there is reason to imagine, that ere long, our skilfull frequenters of the East Ind [...]es, by obseruation of some on [...] Eclipse, will teach the truth; meane time, let vs ageee with the Spaniards the Maisters of those partes, and the Computation of our Maisters the old Geographers.

If therefore from the Meridian of the Fortunate Islands, in the Paralell of 37. (which is chosen as most emi­nent and fit to reckon on) wee may accompt to the farthest partes of C [...]ina, ouer against [...], lying in the same height 225. Degrees, or 15. howers, according to the Additions vnto Gemma Frisius Tables: there then remayne but 9. howers, or 135. Degrees, to make vp [...]he Comple­ment; [Page 23] which being ouer Seas, wee know both difficult and vncer­taine: But the best experience, from the coast of China to the most Ea­sterne part of [...], sets downe 200. L. From thence to the Backe of America in 37½. where Sir [...] Drake his Noua Albion should bee; you haue, by the estimate of Fran: [...] 900. more: in all 1100. L. whereof by the Dutch Computation 12: by the Spanish 14: by the Engl [...]sh 16: in that Paralell make one De­gree, which last as surest, though worst for vs, we follow, and do find from China vnto Noua [...] 69. Degrees.

Now from the Meridian of the [...] Westward to [...], or to keepe our Paralell to Uirginia by se­uerall Eclipses, obserued by seuerall men, there hath been found a diffe­rence of neare 60. Degrees or 4. Howers: so that the Remainder of the 135. is about 6 Degrees, or 300. English Miles betweene Virginia and Noua Albion.

[Page 24]For Co [...]firmation whereof, let vs remember that the India [...]s in [...] continually assure our people, that 12. daies iournie westward from the Fa [...]s, they haue a Sea, where they haue some-times seene such Shippes as ours. Let vs remember how Uas­ques de Coronado, sent to discouer the North of Ameri [...]a by the Viceroy; A [...]onio d [...] M [...]ndoza, labouring in his letters to perswade the Emperour what a large and ample Continent there was to inhabite, writeth, that at C [...]bola, hee was 150. L. from the South Sea, and a litle more from the North. Let vs remember how plainely Sir Francis Drake his Iornal, prooues that his N [...]a A [...]bion can be very litle further Westward then [...]; whereby see but how great a part of the Backe of America, is cleane wyp't away?

But if any yet doe doubt, let him looke into the Spanish Voyages, or Coll [...]cttions of Antonio de Herrera the Coronist [...] [...] for the King, and Contraction house, in whose de­scription [Page 25] of those partes the parti­cular distances & bounds of Guada­laiara, Zacat [...]cas, Nueu [...], Viscania, Ci­naloa, Cibola, and the rest, from Com­postela, Purification, S. Sebastian, on the South Sea, as from Mexico, and from [...] on the North, too long to sette downe here doe plainely shew, that Continent is nothing broad, how euer it be painted.

Now if any iudge wee haue not al­togeather prooued Asia to extende as farre as 15. Howers, let him consi­der for a supplement, of what may want thereof, that the Spaniards rec­kon 20. Degrees more then we haue done heere, to the West-Indies; and on the other side, from Noua Spagna, to the Philippinas 1700. L. as our Sir Francis Drake and Maister Cauendish doe aboue 2000. farre beyond ours of Francis Gu [...]lle.

If therefore our Streights had been discouered about Virginia, to runne Westward, 200. or 300. L. vnto a flowing Sea, wee thinke it might haue probably been iudged the Mar [Page 26] del zur: But lying in a Paralell more Northerly, (whereby those Leagues will take vp more Degrees) the Nor­therne backe of America, by the Card of Antonio de [...]; by the Voy­age of Juan de Fuca, a Pilot that liu'd [...]ourtie yeeres in those Countries; and by the relation of some Duteh­m [...]n; besides the Mappe of Gemma Frisius, appearing to trend North Eastward.

And for any thing wee yet can heare, no one Voyage to the contra­ry, wee see not but we may con­clude, that the Fludde our People mette, came from the Southerne Sea, and till we heare more Authenticall reasons then of feare, gronnded on false Cardes; bele [...]ue that our Indu­stry, by Gods grace, may this next Voyage manifest the Prophesie of Ba [...]ista Ra [...]usius, touching the Northwest Passage.