An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Seeing then, in those many ages, wherein that custom continued, of showing the strangest beasts that could be found all the world over at Rome, the Unicorn, among all the strange beasts, was never seen there, it gives a ground of strong suspicion, that there is no such animal in the whole compass of nature. Moreover, in these times, wherein no corner of the world hath been unsearched, and all things in them as well known to us, as those which are bred a• our own homes; •he […] is no man will say, that he ever saw this animal, except Ludovicus Vartomannus, ⟨p. 351⟩who writes that he had seen two. But it weakens his credit in this report, both that he is found in other matters to tell fables for truths, as also, because what he saith of the Unicorn, differs so much from what hath been said by others. Certain it is, that Garcias ab Horto, in those many years which he spent in India, as Physician to the Kings Vicegerent (in all which time, he had great acquaintance with very many learned men of that Country, and had the favour of their Kings, and was himself a most diligent searcher after such like matters, He, I say) did not only not see any Unicorn there, but could not get any certain information concerning him; only he met with some persons, who told him, that in the furthest parts of Africa they had seen a beast having but one horn. Yet, suppose these men told him the truth, it makes nothing as to the Unicorn so much spoken of, with which that, according to their observation, hath little agreement; that being an Amphibion, and having a horn not passing two handfuls in length. My own Country-man also, Johannes Hugonis Linschotius, who was an industrious inquirer after Natural things, having resided twelve whole years in the City Goa, one of the most famous among all the Cities of India, and to which is brought whatsoever is rare and of esteem in those Countries, did never see an Unicorn, nor yet hear by any worthy of credit, that there was any such animal in all those parts, and therefore accounts the report of an Unicorn to be merely fabulous; as may appear by what he writes in the 47th Chapter of his Itinerary; where speaking of the Rhinoceros he saith, that is taken by many for the Monocerote or Unicorn: Forasmuch as no other Unicorn is found or known, but only in reports and pictures.

Seing then, in those many ages, wherein that custome continued, of shewing the strangest beasts that could be found all the world over at Rome, the Unicorn, among all the strange beasts, was never seen there, it gives a ground of strong suspition, that there is no such animal in the whole compass of natue. Mreover, in these times, wherein no corner of the world hath been unsearcht, and all things in them as well known to us, as those which are bred a our own homes; he is no man will say, that he ever saw this animal, except Ludovicus Vartomannus,