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.] _Albertus Magnus_ mistakes, when he ascribes the knowledge of the _Compass_ to _Aristotle_, of which he himself makes not the least mention; neither _Galen_, _Alexander Aphrodisiensis_, _Pliny_, _Lucretius_, nor any of the _Roman_, _Greek_, _Arabian_, or other Countrey Writers whatsoever. Some give the honor thereof to an _Indian_, others to a Shepherd in _Mount Ida_, whose Clouted Shooes being full of Hob-Nails, the Iron sticking fast to the Stones on which he stood, stopt his motion. And although the Antients found out many Secrets of Nature, amongst which this of the _Load-Stone_, Attracting Iron, as being its proper Food; and the three sorts of the _Magnet_, of which some will not draw Steel, found by _Theamedes_ a _Greek_ Author, and other since, well known Properties: Yet they never attain’d that knowledge, that the _Load-Stone_ would ease Pain, and stop the effusion of Blood, though the edge piercing the Skin, open’d the Vein: as _Hieronimus Cardanus_ experienc’d on himself and others, which he had from _Laurentius Guascus_, a great Chyrurgeon. Much less, that the Needle of the _Compass_ being touch’d by the _Load-Stone_ on the Northside of the _Equinox_, respects the North; but depressing the _Artick_, and raising the _Antartick_ Pole, 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 Island _del Cuervo_, the Point varies more West; but Sailing towards the _Equinox_, it varies Eastward; by which we may absolutely conclude, that without this use of the _Load-Stone_, first found by _Flavius Melvius_ a _Neapolitan_, in the Year 1303. it was altogether impossible to reach _America_. So that _Joseph de Acosta_ mistakes, who gives the honor of the finding so great a benefit to Navigation, to some _Mahumetan_ Sea-men which _Vasques de Gama_ met with near _Mosambique_, who had Sail’d those Seas by the use thereof; whereas _Gama_’s Expedition was above a hundred years after