_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.]