America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

Who first sail’d on the Ocean.

Several opinions of the Antients concerning it.

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.

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.

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.

The manner of the Antients Sailing.

Of the Romans.