impugned, so least it might be obiected that these things (gathered out of
ancient writers, which wrote so many yeeres past) might serue litle to
prooue this passage by the North of America, because both America and India
were to them then vtterly vnknowen: to remooue this doubt let this suffise:
[Sidenote: Aristotle lib. de mundo, cap. 2. Berosus lib. 5.] That Aristotle
(who was 300. yeeres before Christ) named Mare Indicum. Also Berosus (who
liued 330 yeres before Christ) hath these words, Ganges in India. Also in
the first chapter of Hester be these wordes, In the dayes of Assuerus which
ruled from India to Aethiopia, which Assuerus liued 580 yeeres before
Christ. Also Quintus Curtius (where he speaketh of the conquests of
Alexander) mentioneth India. Also, Arianus, Philostratus, and Sidrach in
his discourses of the warres of the king of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had
the most part of India vnder his gouernment. All which assureth vs, that
both India and Indians were knowen in those dayes.

These things considered, we may (in my opinion) not only assure our selues
of this passage by the Northwest, but also that it is nauigable both to
come and go, as hath bene prooued in part and in all, by the experience of
diuers, as Sebastian Cabota, Corterialis, the three brethren aboue named,
the Indians, and Vrdaneta the Frier of Mexico, &c.

And yet notwithstanding all this, there be some that haue a better hope of
this passage to Cataia by the Northeast then by the West, whose reasons
with my seuerall answeres ensue in the chapter following.


Certaine reasons alleaged for the proouing of a passage by the Northeast,
before the Queenes Maiestie, and certaine Lords of the Counsell, by
Master Anthoni Ienkinson, with my seuerall answers then vsed to the same.