Molluccæ, India, and all other places in the East, in much shorter time,
than either the Spaniard, or Portugal doeth, or may doe, from the neerest
parte, of any of their countreys within Europe.

What moued these learned men to affirme thus much, I know not, or to what
ende so many and sundry trauellers of both ages haue allowed the same:
[Marginal note: We ought by reasons right to haue a reuerent opinion of
worthy men.] But I coniecture that they would neuer haue so constantly
affirmed, or notified their opinions therein to the world, if they had not
had great good cause, and many probable reasons, to haue lead them
therevnto.

[Sidenote: A Nauigation of one Ochther made in king Alfreds time.] Now
least you should make small accompt of ancient writers or of their
experiences which trauelled long before our times, reckoning their
authority amongst fables of no importance: I haue for the better assurance
of those proofes, set downe some part of a discourse, written in the Saxon
tongue and translated into English by M. Nowel seruant to Sir William
Cecil, lord Burleigh, and lord high treasurer of England, wherein there is
described a Nauigation which one Ochther made, in the time of king Alfred,
king of Westsaxe Anno 871. the words of which discourse were these:
[Sidenote: A perfect description of our Moscouie voyage.] Hee sailed right
North, hauing alwaies the desert land on the Starborde, and on the Larbord
the maine sea, continuing his course, vntill hee perceiued that the coast
bowed directly towards the East, or else the Sea opened into the land he
could not tell how farre, where he was compelled to stay vntil he had a
westerne winde, or somewhat upon the North, and sayled thence directly East
alongst the coast, so farre as hee was able in foure dayes, where he was
againe inforced to tary vntill hee had a North winde, because the coast
there bowed directly towards the South, or at least opened he knew not howe