xl APPENDIX.

It seems evident from the remarks here quoted below, that the rate of sailing in Pliny’s time was greatly superior to that which Moreover, what say you to this, which was seen no longer since than the summer past; when Valerius Marianus a Senatour of Rome, and late Lord Pretour, embarked and took ship at Puteoli, and in nine daies sailed to the said Alexandria, and yet he had hut a very mild and still wind to helpe him in that voiage? Is not this a strange and sovereign hearhe thinke you, that in a seven-night space can fetch Gades from as far as the Streights of Gibraltar, or Hercules’ pillars, into the harbour of Ostia in Italie ? can shew (I say) the kingdome of Catalogue in Spain before the said port-town in foure daies, Provance in three, and Barbarie in twain?

For C. Flaccus, lieutenant under Vibius Crispus the Pro-consutl, did as much as I speak of, and that with no great forewind, but a most gentle and mild gale. Oh the audacious boldnesse of this world, so rash, so full of sin and wickednesse, that man should sow and cherish any such thing as might receive and swallow the winds, stormes, and tempests; as if the float and tide alone were not sufficient to carrie so prowd a creature ! But now are we ’growne to this passe, that sailes bigger than the ships themselves will not serve our turnes. For albeit one must be sufficient to carrie the biggest crosse-yard that can be devised, yet are not we content with a single maine-saile thereupon, unlesse we set up saile upon saile, top and top-gallant : unlesse (I say) wee have foresailes and sprit-sailes in the prow, misns also hoisted up and desplaied in the poupe ; and all to set us more forward upon our death, and to hasten our end. Finally, is there ought againe so admirable, as that of so small a graine as the lini-seed, there should grow that which is able to carrie too and fro in a moment, this round globe of the earth; the same being so slender a stalke as it is, and not growing high from the ground ? considering withall, that twisted it is not entire and whole in the stem : but before it can be occupied it must bee watered, dried, braked, tew-tawed, and with much labour driven and reduced in the end to bee as soft and tender as wooll: and all to doe violence to nature and mankind even in the highest degree, in such sort, as a man is not able to proceed so farre in execration as is due unto this invention. The first deviser whereof I have inveighed against in convenient place elsewhere, and not without desert : as who could not bee content that a man should die upon the land, but he must perish upon the sea, to feed hadockes there, without the honour of sepulture.

“ In tlie booke but next before this, I gave warning and advertised men, that for to enjoy come and other victuals necessarie for this life and suffisance and plentie, w'e should beware of wind and rain. And now behold, man is so wicked and ungracious, his w’it so inventive, that he wdll be sowing, tending, and plucking that wdth his own hand w'hich cals for nothing else at sea but wind ; and never rests till burning bee come. See moreover how well this unhappie hand of his speeds, for there is