ad. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1553- 



likelihood of successe in the voyage, passing such dangers 



of the seas, perils of ice, intollerable coldes, and other 

 impediments, which by sundry authors & writers, have 

 ministred matter of suspition in some heads, that this 

 voyage could not succede for the extremitie of the 

 North pole, lacke of passage, & such like, which have 

 caused wavering minds, and doubtful heads, not onely to 

 withdraw themselves from the adventure of this voyage, 

 but also disswaded others from the same, the certaintie 

 wherof, when you shall have tried by experience, (most 

 certaine Master of all worldly knowledge) then for declar- 

 ation of the trueth, which you shall have experted, you 

 may by common assent of counsell, sende either by land, 

 or otherwaies, such two or one person, to bring the same 

 by credite, as you shal think may passe in safetie : which 

 sending is not to be done, but upon urgent causes, in 

 likely successe of the voyage, in finding of passage, in 

 towardlines of beneficiall traffike, or such other like, 

 whereby the company being advertised of your estates 

 and proceedings, may further provide, foresee, and deter- 

 mine that which may seeme most good and beneficiall for 

 the publike wealth of the same : either providing before 

 hand such things, as shall bee requisite for the continu- 

 ance of the voyage, or else otherwise to dispose as 

 occasion shall serve : in which things your wisedomes and 

 discretions are to be used, and shewed, and the contents 

 of this capitule, by you much to be pondred, for that you 

 be not ignorant, how many persons, as well the kings 

 Majestie, the Lords of his honorable Counsel, this whole 

 companie, as also your wives, children, kinsfolkes, allies, 

 friends and familiars, be replenished in their hearts with 

 ardent desire to learne and know your estates, conditions, 

 and welfares, and in what likelihood you be in, to obtain 

 this notable enterprise, which is hoped no lesse to succeed 

 to you, then the Orient or Occident Indias have to the 

 high benefite of the Emperour, and kings of Portingal, 

 whose subjects industries, and travailes by sea, have 

 inriched them, by those lands and Islands, which were to 



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