THE PREFJCE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



Richard Hakluyt to the favourable Reader. 



Have thought it very requisite for thy 

 further instruction and direction in this 

 historie (Good Reader) to acquaint thee 

 brieflie with the Methode and order which 

 I have used in the whole course thereof : 

 and by the way also to let thee under- 

 stand by whose friendly aide in this my 

 travell I have bene furthered : acknowledging that ancient 

 speach to be no lesse true then ingenious, that the offence 

 is great, Non agnoscere per quos profeceris, not to speake 

 of them by whom a man in his indevours is assisted. 



Concerning my proceeding therefore in this present 

 worke, it hath bene this. Whatsoever testimonie I have 

 found in any authour of authoritie appertaining to my 

 argument, either stranger or naturall, I have recorded 

 the same word for word, with his particular name and 

 page of booke where it is extant. If the same were 

 not reduced into our common language, I have first 

 expressed it in the same termes wherein it is originally 

 written, whether it were a Latine, Italian, Spanish or 

 Portingall discourse, or whatsoever els, and thereunto in 

 the next roome have annexed the signification and trans- 

 lation of the wordes in English. And to the ende that 

 those men which were the paynefull and personall 

 travellers might reape that good opinion and just com- 

 mendation which they have deserved, and further, that 

 every man might answere for himselfe, justifie his reports, 



