[Sidenote: Ob. 1.] First, who can assure vs of any passage rather by the
Northwest then by the Northeast? do not both waves lye in equall distance
from the North Pole? Stand not the North Capes of eyther continent vnder
like eleuation? Is not the Ocean sea beyond America farther distant from
our Meridian by 30. or 40. degrees West, then the extreame poyntes of
Cathayo Eastward, if Ortelius generall Carde of the world be true:
[Sidenote: In Theatro.] In the Northeast that noble Knight Syr Hugh
Willoughbie perished for colde: and can you then promise a passenger any
better happe by the Northwest? Who hath gone for triall sake at any time
this way out of Europe to Cathayo?

[Sidenote: Ob. 2.] If you seeke the aduise herein of such as make
profession in Cosmographie, Ptolome the father of Geographie, and his
eldest children, will answere by their mappes with a negatiue, concluding
most of the Sea within the land, and making an end of the world Northward,
neere the 63. degree. The same opinion, when learning chiefly florished,
was receiued in the Romanes time, as by their Poets writings it may
appeare: tibi seruiat vltima Thyle, said Virgil, being of opinion, that
Island was the extreme part of the world habitable toward the North. Ioseph
Moletius an Italian, and Mercator a Germaine, for knowledge men able to be
compared with the best Geographers of our time, the one in his halfe
Spheres of the whole world, the other in some of his great globes, haue
continued the West Indies land, euen to the North Pole, and consequently,
cut off all passage by sea that way.

The same doctors, Mercator in other of his globes and mappes, Moletius in
his sea Carde, neuerthelesse doubting of so great continuance of the former
continent, haue opened a gulfe betwixt the West Indies and the extreame
Northerne land: but such a one, that either is not to be trauelled for the