TO LORD CHARLES HOWARD 



Discoverie of Russia, the chiefe contents of this present 

 Volume, then I remembred the sage saying of sweet 

 Isocrates, That sonnes ought not onely to be inheriters 

 of their fathers substance, but also of their commendable 

 vertues and honours. But what speake I of your 

 ancestors honors (which to say the trueth, are very 

 great, and such as our Chronicles have notably blazoned) 

 when as your owne Heroicall actions from time to time 

 have shewed themselves so admirable, as no antiquitie 

 hath afFoorded greater, and the future times will not 

 in haste (I thinke) performe the like. To come to 

 some particulars, when the Emperors sister, the spouse 

 of Spaine, with a Fleete of an 130. sailes, stoutly and 

 proudly passed the narow Seas, your Lordship accom- 

 panied with ten ships onely of her Majesties Navie 

 Roiall, environed their Fleet in most strange and 

 warrelike sort, enforced them to stoope gallant, and 

 to vaile their bonets for the Queene of England, and 

 made them perfectly to understand that olde speach 

 of the prince of Poets ; 



Non illi imperium pelagi saevumque tridentem, 

 sed tibi sorte datum. 



Yet after they had acknowledged their dutie, your 

 lordship on her Majesties behalfe conducted her safely 

 through our English chanell, and performed all good 

 offices of honor and humanitie to that forren Princesse. 

 At that time all England beholding your most honorable 

 cariage of your selfe in that so weightie service, began 

 to cast an extraordinarie eie upon your lordship, and 

 deeply to conceive that singular hope which since by 

 your most worthie & wonderfull service, your L hath 

 more then fully satisfied. I meane (among others) that 

 glorious, triumphant, and thrise-happy victory atchieved 

 against that huge and haultie Spanish Armada (which 

 is notably described in the ende of this volume) wherein 

 being chiefe and sole Commander under her sacred and 

 roiall Majestie, your noble government and worthy 



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