writers, which wrote so many years past) might serve little to prove
this passage by the north of America, because both America and India
were to them then utterly unknown; to remove this doubt, let this
suffice, that Aristotle (who was 300 years before Christ) named the
Indian Sea. Also Berosus (who lived 330 before Christ) hath these
words, GANGES IN INDIA.

Also in the first chapter of Esther be these words: "In the days of
Ahasuerus, which ruled from India to Ethiopia," which Ahasuerus
lived 580 years before Christ. Also Quintus Curtius, where he
speaketh of the Conquest of Alexander, mentioneth India. Also
Arianus Philostratus, and Sidrach, in his discourses of the wars of
the King of Bactria, and of Garaab, who had the most part of India
under his government. All which assumeth us that both India and
Indians were known in those days.

These things considered, we may, in my opinion, not only assure
ourselves of this passage by the north-west, but also that it is
navigable both to come and go, as hath been proved in part and in
all by the experience of divers as Sebastian Cabot, Corterialis, the
three brethren above named, the Indians, and Urdaneta, the friar of
Mexico, etc.

And yet, notwithstanding all which, there be some that have a better
hope of this passage to Cathay by the north-east than by the west,
whose reasons, with my several answers, ensue in the chapter
following.