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

Genebrad. Chron.

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 Melfius, who liv’d in such a juncture of time for Mathematical Learning, that few Ages boasted the like: For then flourish’d in England, and were Contemporaries, besides others abroad, Richard Wallingford, Nicolas de Lynna, John Halifax, Walter Britte, John Duns, and John de Lignarys, all eminent in Astronomical Arts, belonging to Navigation, and doubtless, no small helps to Melfius in this his happy Invention.

Lastly, We will relate what hath been held as a seeming Testimony, (that America was known to the Europeans before the Birth of our Saviour) by an antique Meddal of the Emperor Augustus, digg’d out of the Ground in Peru, and sent to his Holiness at Rome, which may well be reckon’d with the like Cheat contriv’d by Hermicus Cajadus, Anno 1505. near Syntra, a Town in Portugal, where three Marbles Ingraven with antient Characters, concerning a Prophecy of discovering the East-Indies by the Portuguese, in the Reign of King Emanuel, were privately bury’d under Ground, and not long after, by a pretended accident digg’d out, which made such a bustle amongst the Learned, that several tired themselves about the explanation of the suppos’d Sibylline Prediction.

CHAP. II.
Of the Original of the Americans, whence they came, when, how, and from what People Planted.

The original of the Americans much disputed on.

About the Original of the Americans, the Learned Dispute so much, that they find nothing more difficult in Story, than to clear that Point; for whether inquiry be made after the time, when the Americans first settled themselves where they now inhabit, or after what manner they came thither, either by Shipping or by Land; on purpose, or accidentally; driven by Storm, or else forc’d by a more powerful People, to remove from their old Plantations, and seek for new? or if any one should be yet more curious, asking the way that directed them out of another Countrey to this New World? or else enquire for those People, from whom the Americans deriv’d themselves? He will find several Opinions, and the Learned still Jangling.

Voyage l. 1. c. 8.

The time when America was first Peopled.