The strange and dangerous voyage of Captaine Thomas Iames, in his intended discouery of the Northwest Passage into the South Sea VVherein the miseries indured both going, wintering, returning; and the rarities obserued, both philosophicall and mathematicall, are related in this iournall of it. Published by his Maiesties command. To which are added, a plat or card for the sayling in those seas. Diuers little tables of the author's, of the variation of the compasse, &c. VVith an appendix concerning longitude, by Master Henry Gellibrand astronomy reader of Gresham Colledge in London. And an aduise concerning the philosophy of these late discouereyes, by W.W.

To the venerable Artists and youn∣ger Students in Diuinity, in the famous Vni∣uersity of CAMBRIDGE.

YOV nobly-witted, and inge∣nuously-studied Academians: whose excellency in all kinds of learning, all forraigne Vniuersi∣ties doe admire, and none atteine vnto. I here present you a Voy∣age to Cholcos, though not the Golden-fleece with it: the Searche, I meane, but not the finding; of that so much talkt of, so often sought for, North-West Passage, and neerer way into the South-Sea. That, wherein so much Time and Treasure haue beene expended, so many braue Spirits employed, and yet none discoue∣red. Perchance, there is no such Passage to be found: and that the Spaniards, by the gullery of their false Sea-Cards, and the fable of an old Greeke Pilote; haue but diuerted our English and Dutch Sea-men, from their golden Indyes. This plot of theirs hath taken, for these many yeeres: and it appeares to bee but a plot, for that themselues neuer make vse of this Passage. For mine owne part, I suppose that the Philosophers stone is in the North-West Passage. My argument for it is, For that theres so much Philoso∣phy in the way to it.

So much, and such variety: such variety, and that so various, (I thinke) from what is receiued in the Schooles: that it were well worth the disquisition of an Vniuersity, (and I wish you the first honour of it) either to find out, how these Obseruations may bee reduced to Aristotles Philosophy: or whether they need any other enquiry, and ought to be examined by some other Rules, then Aristotle hath yet light vpon. This is my purpose of inscribing it vnto you. Of this one thing am I confident: that you are all so rationall, and ingenuous, as to preferre Truth, before Authority: Amicus Plato, amicus Aristoteles, but magis amica veritas. Your Sciences, then, being Liberall; your Studies, I know, haue so farre passed into your maners, that your minds are so too, and that such as haue already profited beyond the credulity requi∣red in a yong learner, and are themselues promoted to be Masters of the Arts; though they still reue∣rence their old Greeke Tutor, yet they will not suffer that of Pythagoras Schoole, so to domineere in Aristo∣tles, as to let an Ipse dixit, goe away with it: much lesse allow it the authority of a Mayors hammer, with one knocke to silence all arguments.

Vpon this confidence, I, with all due respects, here preferre two Propositions vnto your discussing. The first this, Whether those Rules of Aristotles Phi∣losophy be to be allowed so Vniuersall, that they hold all the world ouer. The second this, Whether they ought to be so magisteriall, as to prescribe against all other exa∣minations. The first of these, I shall but problemati∣cally propound vnto you: but in the second, I hope a man of my cloathing, may bee allowed the free∣dome of being something more earnest.

But that I may not come with preiudice to the making of these motions, or bee thought, vpon some ignorance or ambition, to speake against the in∣comparable Aristotle; I shall desire all my fellow Aca∣demians to allow me so much discretion, as to know, That he that shall in your hearings, oppose your A∣ristotle; does like the Ship here spoken of, runne against a Rocke, endanger his owne bulge, and the stauing of his vessell. No, I so farre honour the old Aristotle, that I well allow him to bee Master and Moderator of the Schooles: and that there is the same respect due to him in the Schooles, which, by Reason and long Custome, is due to one of the Kings Ships in the Narrow Seas; That in acknowledgement of a Soue∣raignty, euery other name ought to strike sayle to him. Aristotle (it must be confest) hath made all learning beholding to him: no man hath learned to confute him, but by him; and vnlesse hee hath plowed with his heyfer. He had the most incomparable wit, and was the most Logicall and demonstratiue deliuerer of himselfe, of all the Sonnes of nature: One, who best of all deserued to be cald Her Principall Secreta∣ry: one, who not onely adornes a Library, but makes it: Qui habet Aristotelem, habet Bibliothecam, is truer of him, then of the Great Comparer. This is my opinion of him; and I wish him more stu∣dyed.

Tis not,* 1.1 therefore, the name, or the authority of the great Aristotle, that my Propositions meddle withall: but whether his obseruations gathered out of this part of the world alone, could, like a royall Passe or a Commission, carry a man all the world ouer?

It must be confest, That in respect of the Equi∣noctiall and the Latitude that Aristotle liued in, hee was but a Northern man: and twas his owne Rule, that Nihil agit extra Sphaeram actiuitatis suae. So then, it would bee put to voyces to consider, whether he that knew but these Northerne parts, and the Me∣diterranean Sea; could possibly make such collecti∣ons, by what was here to be learned, as should bee vnfaileable in the Southern Haemisphere and the two Indyes? Plainely, those that are conuersant in the nauigations and bookes of voyages into those parts; haue found so many contrarieties to obserue; that it were rather tedious, then difficult, to fill vp a Note∣booke with them.

The Ancients, wee know (as if they had measured the world by the Yeard-wand) restrained the limits of temperature, and habitation, by the fiue Zones: without consideration of any interloping or concur∣ring causes, which experience hath now found out, to haue quite altered their obseruation. I adde, that a good leisure and diligence might obserue, how in the contrary part of the world, there be found cleane contrary Causes and Effects, vnto those in this part of the world. The South-wind there, brings cold and Winter: and the North, is the rainy wind. How will the Thunder and the Wind, be made agree with Ari∣stotles definition of a Meteore? In some places of the Mountaines Andes by Peru, it thunders euer. The East-Indyes haue their Monsons and their steady winds, constant for sixe moneths together: and who shall assigne their causes? Then the doctrine of the Tydes, nothing so vncertaine: which ebbe and flow in some places, different; and in others contrary,

to the Moone and her motions. This (as I remember) is Aristotles definition of a Meteore,* 1.2 That it is, An imperfect mixt body, generated out of an infirme and in∣constant concretion of the Elements; which therefore can∣not be durable. Now the Monson, is both constant in his continuance this yeere, and in his returne next yeere; most constantly keeping his seasons halfe yeere one way, and halfe yeere another way, for all ages: nothing more constantly or durably; and therefore nothing like Aristotles Meteore. And so for the Thun∣der vpon the Andes: it is first perpetuall; secondly, not caused by a dry exhalation, (as Aristotle wills) but hanging ouer such hils as are couered with snow and a perpetuall winter. Witnesse the Thunder on the Alpes also: yea and that in the middle of the Sea, 500. leagues from shoare, or any thing that is dry. yea, it frequently both Snowes and Thunders vpon the Andes, at one instant: and in dry places that are hard by, scarce euer Thundering.

But not to passe the Line for it; You see in this little Booke, how Charlton Iland, which is no more Northerly then your Cambridge; is yet so vnsuffera∣bly cold, that it is not habitable: and that there en∣counter so many different, (at least so seeming) occur∣rences of nature, as were well worth the disquisition of a Philosopher. I could, (in my smal reading) instance in many many other particulars: which I had rather should be found out by some industrious searchers after Nature, in the Moderne Relations of our Disco∣verers, then in this my short Proposition. Tis not to be doubted, but that the carefull reading of our Books of Voyages, would more elucidate the History of Nature, and more conduce to the improuement of

Philosophy, then any thing that hath beene lately thought upon. These Navigations haue in part ful∣filled that of the Prophet,* 1.3 Many shall passe to and fro, and knowledge shall be encreased. This, I suppose, might be obserued from this study, That the great and infinite Creator hath so disposed and varied euery thing, that it is impossible for mans reason and obser∣uation to conclude him: and therefore, though vul∣gar and receiued Philosophie, may giue a man a generall hint, all the world ouer; yet no Vniuersall and vnfay∣ling certainty.

This brings mee to my Second Proposition,* 1.4 That seeing God will not haue his works, (no more then his Kingdome) to come by obseruation;* 1.5 Whether, then, ought any humane dictates to be so Magisteriall, as to prescribe against all other examination?

No humane study more conduces to the setting forth of Gods glory, then the contemplation of his great workes, in Philosophie: for though a smattering knowledge in Second Causes, warps the mind towards Atheisme; yet a higher speculation of them, brings about againe to Religion. No man, I beleeue, will thinke it fit for vs to haue a Pope in Philosophie; one, that no body shall presume to censure of: but all be bound to aduance his Decretalls, aboue the Holy Scriptures. This is the scandall that my selfe, and di∣uers good men take, at the vndue authority in some heates pinn'd vpon the Stagerite.

I am sorry that the Israelites dotage vpon Salomons Philosophie,* 1.6 should haue caused the zealous Hezekiah to call in and to suppresse those vnualuable Physicks: for feare, I suppose, lest their credit should haue as much derogated frō the authority of the Holy Scrip∣tures;

as the brazen Serpent (which he destroyed about the same time) had done from Religion. None will be∣leeue, that Salomons Philosophie was contrary to the Scriptures; seeing the Scripture commends Salomon for them. Twas not Hezekiahs feare, therefore, (or not onely) lest there might haue beene a competition betweene them, but a neglect of one of them: he was iealous lest the Scripture might haue any writing set vp by it, though not against it.

Can Diuines, then, be blamed for speaking, when they heare Aristotles Philosophy to be solely magni∣fied, and the study of the Scripture Philosophy, disre∣spected? Or that when tis confest, That such a thing is true in Diuinity, and yet the Moderating of the point determine for Philosophie? Nay, to heare it cald ab∣surd and ridiculous, to haue Scripture vrg'd at all, in point of Philosophy? No doubt there is, But whatso∣euer is false in Diuinity, is also false in Nature, how much show of truth soeuer it passes with, in Philoso∣phy. Philosophy hath taken its turne in the Schooles: and the holy Texts by the Schoolemen, haue euen been sub∣mitted vnto Aristotles: yea, to the great corruption of Theologie, as the complaint is, hath this man been so farre aduanced, That Contra est Philosophus, & Con∣tra est Apostolus; haue familiarly passed vp and down, for equall Oppositions: so that it hath been a measuring cast oftentimes, betwixt the Prophet and the Peripate∣tick: and by foule play hath the measure beene made to stand the harder at the Peripatetick, for that the Prophet hath beene enforced to comply with him by a wrested interpretation. Thus had S. Paul need giue his caveat vnto Theologie, as well as vnto Theologues, Be∣ware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy.

All this were to no purpose, vnlesse the Text of God were excellent in this kinde; and embellished, here and there, with most admirable Philosophy. What incomparably rare foot-steps of it, haue we in the Bookes of Genesis, Iob, and the Psalmes? How noble a Study then were it, and how worthy the lei∣sure of some excellently learned; to bestow some time vpon it? Valesius the Physician, hath in his Sacra Philosophia done something in this kinde: who yet might haue done better, here and there, for the ho∣nour of the Scriptures. I am not so sottish to beleeue, That euery particular is to be drawn out of Scripture: tis none of my doteage, that. Or that God in Scrip∣ture did intend, euery where, the accuratenesse of Philosophy; or stand to be so curious in definitions and decisions. Nor so foolish would I be thought, as to haue all Philosophy taken in pieces, and new moulded by the Scriptures. Nor, that nothing should be de∣termined on, till a Text confirmed it. But this, per∣chance, might profitably be thought vpon: That where the Scriptures haue any thing in this kinde, it should more reuerently be esteemed; Collections out of scattered places, (as is done out of Aristotle) made: these compared, and their Resultances obser∣ued. This, surely, would amount to more, then is yet thought of: and, a-Gods name, let Schollers be so bold with Aristotle, as to examine him vpon good assurance, by what is Truths Touch-stone: Receiued Philosophy is a most necessary hand-maid to the Scrip∣tures; but let her not be set aboue her Lady, nor no competition be maintained betwixt them.

Something else remaines to be thought of: That seeing the same God, who gaue Aristotle these good

parts; hath, in like manner, raised vp many excellent Spirits moe: whether it were not iniurious vnto what is done, and a discouragement to what might be done; to haue the inuentions or obseruations of those excellent wits and great industries, so abasht with Aristotles authoritie; that they can haue no credit in the world, for that his Dictates haue pre-occupated all good opinion? Let it not then be thought vne∣quall, to examine the first cogitations of the old Phi∣losophy, by the second thoughts of our more moderne Artists: for that the same improuement may by this meanes accrew vnto our Physicks, that hath aduanced our Geography, our Mathematicks, and our Mechanicks. And let it not be thought so insolent, to refuse Ari∣stotles authoritie singly, where his reason is not so concluding; seeing other men haue taken the bold∣nesse to doe that before vs, in seuerall kinds. Some haue perfected, and others controld his Ethicks, by the Scriptures: as Scultetus, Wallaeus and some others. Iustin Martyr sir-named the Philosopher, hath purpose∣ly written Contra dogmata Aristotelis: Basson and Gas∣sendus, (two braue men) haue newly written point∣blanck against him: nor haue they taken away all li∣berty, from those that are to follow them.

And thus, with renewing my former protestati∣on for mine owne respects to Aristotle, I conclude my two Propositions: which I desire may receiue a fa∣uourable construction from all ingenuous, imcaprici∣ous Schollers. I meant them, out of good will to pro∣mote learning; to encourage and countenance future vndertakings: and in such a case, a little too much saying, may be thought not to haue exceeded an ho∣nest Rhetorication: for I would not be thought too

earnest in it. The hint for all this, I tooke from this booke: which in mine owne and some better Iudge∣ments; is (to say no more) as well done, and enriched with as sure and vsefull obseruations, as any in this kinde. I was desired by the able Author, and some other friends; to ouer-looke the written Copy of it, and to amend the English here and there; in which I did not despaire of doing something: for that, in my yonger time, I had a little acquainted my selfe with the language of the Sea. That which put me in the head to inscribe it vnto your Names (most excellent∣ly learned Academians) was, for that the place of this Wintering, was within a minute or two, of the heighth of our Cambridge. Which my prayer to God is, that your Studies may make famous.

Yours William Watts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1.
• * 1.2

  Aristoteles, 1. Meteor 1.
• * 1.3

  Dan. 12. 4.
• * 1.4

  2.
• * 1.5

  Luke 17. 20.
• * 1.6

  Suidas, & Rabbini.