All that hath been said, concerning the people of the new world, is but conjecturall, and full of uncertainties; nor can we ever looke for any evident or more probable discoveries in this kind, unlesse there bee some hopes of inventing means for our conveyance thither. The possibilitie of which, shall bee the subject of our enquiry in this last Proposition.
And, if we doe but consider by what steps and leasure, all arts doe usually rise to their growth, we shall have no cause to doubt why this also may not hereafter be found out amongst other secrets. It hath constantly yet been the method of providence, not presently to shew us all, but to leade us on by degrees, from the knowledge of one thing to another.
‘Twas a great while, ere the Planets were distinguished from the fixed stars and some time after that, ere the morning and evening starre were found to be the same. And in greater space (I doubt not) but this also, and other as excellent mysteries will be discovered. Time, who hath alwayes been the father of new truths, and hath revealed unto us many things, which our Ancestors were ignorant of, will also manifest to our posteritie,1 that which wee now desire, but cannot know. Veniet tempus (saith Seneca) quo ista quae nunc latent, in lucem dies extrahet, & longioris aevi diligentia. Time will come, when the indeavors of after ages, shall bring such things to light as now lie hid in obscuritie. Arts are not yet come to their solstice. But the industrie of future times, assisted with the labors of their forefathers, may reach that height which wee could not attaine to. Veniet tempus quo posteri nostri nos tam aperta nescisse mirentur. As wee now wonder at the blindnesse of our Ancestors, who were not able to discerne such things, as seeme plaine and obvious unto us; so will our posterity, admire our ignorance in as perspicuous matters.
In the first ages of the world the Ilanders thought themselves either to bee the only dwellers upon earth, or else if there were any other, they could not possibly conceive how they might have any commerce with them, being severed by the deepe and broade Sea. But after times found out the invention of ships, in which notwithstanding, none but some bold, daring men durst venture, according to that of the Tragoedian.2
Audax nimium qui freta primus
Rate tam fragili perfida rupit.3
Too bold was he,4 who in a ship so fraile,
First venturd on the trecherous waves to saile.5
And yet now, how easie a thing is this even to a timorous and cowardly nature? And questionlesse, the invention of some other means for our conveiance to the Moone, cannot seeme more incredible to us, than this did at first to them, and therefore we have no just reason to bee discouraged in our hopes of the like successe.
Yea, but (you will say) there can be no sayling thither, unlesse that were true which the Poëts doe but faine, that she made her bed in the Sea. Wee have not now any Drake, or Columbus, to undertake this voyage, or any Daedalus to invent a conveiance through the ayre.
I answer, Though wee have not, yet why may not succeeding times, rayse up some spirits as eminent for new attempts and strange inventions, as any that were before them? Tis the opinion of Keplar,6 that as soone as the art of flying is found out, some of their nation will make one of the first Colonies, that shall transplant into that other world. I suppose, his appropriating this preheminence to his owne Countreymen, may arise from an overpartiall affection to them. But yet thus far I agree with him, That when ever that Art is invented, or any other, wherby a man may be conveyed some twenty miles high, or thereabouts, then, tis not altogether improbable that some or other may be successefull in this attempt.
For the better clearing of which I shall first lay downe, and then answer those doubts that may make it seeme utterly impossible.
These are chiefly three.
The first, taken from the naturall heavinesse of a mans body, whereby it is made unfit for the motion of ascent, together with the vast distance of that place from us.