THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE 



To harpe no longer upon this string, & to speake a 

 word of that just commendation which our nation doe 

 indeed deserve : it can not be denied, but as in all former 

 ages, they have bene men full of activity, stirrers abroad, 

 and searchers of the remote parts of the world, so in this 

 most famous and peerlesse governement of her most 

 excellent Majesty, her subjects through the speciall 

 assistance, and blessing of God, in searching the most 

 opposite corners and quarters of the world, and to speake 

 plainly, in compassing the vaste globe of the earth more 

 then once, have excelled all the nations and people of the 

 earth. For, which of the kings of this land before her 

 Majesty, had theyr banners ever scene in the Caspian sea? 

 which of them hath ever dealt with the Emperor of 

 Persia, as her Majesty hath done, and obteined for her 

 merchants large & loving privileges ? who ever saw before 

 this regiment, an English Ligier in the stately porch of 

 the Grand Signor at Constantinople ? who ever found 

 English Consuls & Agents at Tripolis in Syria, at Aleppo, 

 at Babylon, at Balsara, and which is more, who ever heard 

 of Englishman at Goa before now ? what English shippes 

 did heeretofore ever anker in the mighty river of Plate ? 

 passe and repasse the unpassable (in former opinion) 

 straight of Magellan, range along the coast of Chili, Peru, 

 and all the backside of Nova Hispania, further then any 

 Christian ever passed, travers the mighty bredth of the 

 South sea, land upon the Luzones in despight of the 

 enemy, enter into alliance, amity, and traffike with 

 the princes of the Moluccaes, & the Isle of Java, double 

 the famous Cape of Bona Speranza, arive at the Isle of 

 Santa Helena, & last of al returne home most richly 

 laden with the commodities of China, as the subjects of 

 this now florishing monarchy have done ? 



Lucius Florus in the very end of his historic de gestis 

 Romanorum recordeth as a wonderfull miracle, that the 

 Seres, (which I take to be the people of Cathay, or China) 

 sent Ambassadors to Rome, to intreate frindship, as 

 moved with the fame of the majesty of the Romane 



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