aforesaid Streight of Gibraltar into the maine Ocean for the space of many
dayes, in the ende found a mighty and fruitfull yland, which they would
haue inhabited, but were forbidden by their Senate and chiefe gouernours.
Moreouer, aboue 300. yeeres after these wee haue the testimony of Diodorus
Siculus lib. 5 cap. 7. of the like mighty yland discouered in the Westerne
Ocean by the Tyrrheni, who were forbidden for certaine causes to inhabite
the same by the foresaid Carthaginians. And Senecca in his tragedie
intituled Medea foretold aboue 1500. yeeres past, that in the later ages
the Ocean would discouer new worlds, and that the yle of Thule would no
more be the vttermost limite of the earth. For whereas Virgile had said to
Augustus Caesar, Tibi seruiat vltima Thule, alluding thereunto he
contradicteth the same, and saith, Nec sit terris vltima Thule. Yea
Tertullian, one of our most ancient and learned diuines, in the beginning
of his treatise de Pallio alludeth vnto Plato his Westerne Atlantis, which
there by another name he calleth Aeon, saying Aeon in Atlantico nunc
quæritur. And in his 40. chapter de Apologetico he reporteth the same to be
bigger then all Africa and Asia.[2] Of this new world and euery speciall
part thereof in this my third volume I haue brought to light the best and
most perfect relations of such as were chiefe actours in the particular
discoueries and serches of the same, giuing vnto euery man his right, and
leauing euery one to mainteine his owne credit. The order obserued in this
worke is farre more exact, then heretofore I could attaine vnto: for
whereas in my two former volumes I was enforced for lacke of sufficient
store, in diuers places to vse the methode of time onely (which many worthy
authors on the like occasion are enforced vnto) being now more plentifully
furnished with matter, I alwayes follow the double order of time and place.
Wherefore proposing vnto my selfe the right situation of this New world, I
begin at the extreme Northerne limite, and put downe successiuely in one
ranke or classis, according to the order aforesaide, all such voyages as
haue bene made to the said part: which comming all together, and following