The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I — John Shaqi
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part IHakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation — Volume 12: America, Part I
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
[Sidenote: An obiection.] And now as these moderne experiences cannot be
impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of
ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to
prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India
were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise:
[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle
(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who
liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in
the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which
ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before
Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of
Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in
his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had
the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that
both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes.
These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues
of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to
come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of
diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named,
the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c.
And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of
this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons
with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following.
Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast,
before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by
Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same.
Cap. 8.
Because you may vnderstand as well those things alleaged against me, as
what doth serue for my purpose, I haue here added the reasons of Master
Anthony Ienkinson a worthy gentleman, and a great traueller, who conceiued
a better hope of the passage to Cataia from vs, to be by the Northeast,
then by the Northwest.
[Sidenote: The Northwest passage assented vnto.] He first said that he
thought not to the contrary, but that there was a passage by the Northwest
according to mine opinion: but assured he was, that there might be found a
nauigable passage by the Northeast from England, to goe to all the East
parts of the world, which he endeuoured to prooue three wayes.
[Sidenote: The first reason.] The first was that he heard a Fisherman of
Tartaria say in hunting the Morce, that he sayled very farre towards the
Southeast, finding no end of the Sea: whereby he hoped a thorow passage to
be that way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account