RICHARD HAKLUYT 



and stand accountable for his owne doings, I have referred 

 every voyage to his Author, which both in person hath 

 performed, and in writing hath left the same : for I am 

 not ignorant of Ptolomies assertion, that Peregrinationis 

 historia, and not those wearie volumes bearing the titles 

 of universall Cosmographie which some men that I could 

 name have published as their owne, beyng in deed 

 most untruly and unprofitablie ramassed and hurled 

 together, is that which must bring us to the certayne 

 and full discoverie of the world. 



Moreover, I meddle in this worke with the Naviga- 

 tions onely of our owne nation : And albeit I alleage 

 in a few places (as the matter and occasion required) some 

 strangers as witnesses of the things done, yet are they none 

 but such as either faythfully remember, or sufficiently con- 

 iirme the travels of our owne people : of whom (to speake 

 trueth) I have received more light in some respects, then 

 all our owne Historians could affoord me in this case, 

 Bale, Foxe, and Eden onely excepted. 



And it is a thing withall principally to be considered, 

 that I stand not upon any action perfourmed neere home, 

 nor in any part of Europe commonly frequented by 

 our shipping, as for example : Not upon that victorious 

 exploit not long since atchieved in our narow Seas agaynst 

 that monstrous Spanish army under the valiant and 

 provident conduct of the right honourable the lord 

 Charles Howard high Admirall of England : Not upon 

 the good services of our two woorthie Generals in their 

 late Portugall expedition : Not upon the two most 

 fortunate attempts of our famous Chieftaine Sir Frauncis 

 Drake, the one in the Baie of Cales upon a great part of 

 the enimies chiefest shippes, the other neere the Islands 

 upon the great Carrack of the East India, the first 

 (though peradventure not the last) of that imployment, 

 that ever discharged Molucca spices in English portes : 

 these (albeit singular and happy voyages of our re- 

 nowmed countrymen) I omit, as things distinct and 

 without the compasse of my prescribed limites, beyng 



