THE FIRST VOYAGE TO GUINEA 



A.D. 



1553- 



A voiage made out of England unto Guinea and 

 Benin in Affrike, at the charges of certaine 

 marchants Adventurers of the Citie of London, 

 in the yeere of our Lord 1553. 



Was desired by certaine of my friends to 

 make some mention of this Voiage, that 

 some memorie thereof might remaine to 

 our posteritie, if either iniquitie of time 

 consuming all things, or ignorance creep- 

 ing in by barbarousnesse and contempt of 

 knowledge should hereafter bury in obli- 



vion so woorthie attempts, so much the greatlier to bee 

 esteemed, as before never enterprised by Englishmen, or 

 at the least so frequented, as at this present they are, 

 and may bee, to the great commoditie of our marchants, 

 if the same be not hindered by the ambition of such, as 

 for the conquering of fortie or fiftie miles here and there, 

 and erecting of certaine fortresses, thinke to be Lordes of 

 halfe the world, envying that other should enjoy the 

 commodities, which they themselves cannot wholy 

 possesse. And although such as have bene at charges in 

 the discovering and conquering of such landes ought by 

 good reason to have certaine privileges, preheminences, 

 and tributes for the same, yet (to speake under correc- 

 tion) it may seeme somewhat rigorous, and agaynst good 

 reason and conscience, or rather agaynst the charitie that 

 ought to be among Christian men, that such as invade the 

 dominions of other should not permit other friendly to 

 use the trade of marchandise in places neerer, or seldome 

 frequented of them, whereby their trade is not hindered 

 in such places, where they themselves have at their 

 owne election appointed the Martes of their traffike. 

 But forasmuch as at this present it is not my intent 

 to accuse or defend, approove or improove, I will cease 

 to speake any further hereof, and proceed to the descrip- 

 tion of the first voyage, as briefly and faithfully as I 



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