Thou hast here an essay of Fancy, where Invention is shewed with Judgment. It was not the Author’s intention (I presume) to discourse thee into a beleife of each particular circumstance. Tis fit thou allow him a liberty of conceite; where thou takest to thy selfe a liberty of judgment. In substance thou hast here a new discovery of a new world, which perchance may finde little better entertainment in thy opinion, than that of Columbus at first, in the esteeme of all men. Yet his than but poore espiall of America, betrayed unto knowledge soe much as hath since encreast into a vaste plantation. And the then unknowne, to be now of as large extent as all other the knowne world.
That there should be Antipodes was once thought as great a Paradox as now that the Moon should be habitable. But the knowledge of this may seeme more properly reserved for this our discovering age: In which our Galilœusses, can by advantage of their spectacles gaze the Sunne into spots, and descry mountaines in the Moon. But this, and more in the ensuing discourse I leave to thy candid censure, and the faithfull relation of the little eyewitnesse, our great discoverer.
E.M.[Note_1]