THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE \ 



&c. Which words of the Prophet together with my ; 

 cousins discourse (things of high and rare delight to my | 

 yong nature) tooke in me so deepe an impression, that I \ 

 constantly resolved, if ever I were preferred to the Uni- \ 

 versity, where better time, and more convenient place might ; 

 be ministred for these studies, I would by Gods assistance i 

 prosecute that knowledge and kinde of literature, the doores , 

 whereof (after a sort) were so happily opened before me. | 



According to which my resolution, when, not long 

 after, 1 was removed to Christ-church in Oxford, my ; 

 exercises of duety first performed, I fell to my intended | 

 course, and by degrees read over whatsoever printed or | 

 written discoveries and voyages I found extant either in i 

 the Greeke, Latine, Italian, Spanish, Portugall, French, or ; 

 English languages, and in my publike lectures was the '■ 

 first, that produced and shewed both the olde imperfectly ■ 

 composed, and the new lately reformed Mappes, Globes, ! 

 Spheares, and other instruments of this Art for demonstra- ■ 

 tion in the common schooles, to the singular pleasure, and ! 

 generall contentment of my auditory. In continuance of ] 

 time, and by reason principally of my insight in this ! 

 study, I grew familiarly acquainted with the chiefest ! 

 Captaines at sea, the greatest Merchants, and the best | 

 Mariners of our nation : by which meanes having gotten ) 

 somewhat more then common knowledge, I passed at ! 

 length the narrow seas into France with sir Edward 

 Stafford, her Majesties carefull and discreet Ligier, where ; 

 during my five yeeres aboad with him in his dangerous [ 

 and chargeable residencie in her Highnes service,^il both | 

 heard in speech, and read in books other nations miracu- I 

 lously extolled for their discoveries and notable enterprises < 

 by sea, but the English of all others for their sluggish ■ 

 security, and continuall neglect of the like attempts i 

 especially in so long and happy a time of peace, either j 

 ignominiously reported, or exceedingly condemned : j 

 which singular opportunity, if some other people our 1 

 neighbors had beene blessed with, their protestations are | 

 often and vehement, they would farre otherwise have I 



XVIU 



