TO SIR ROBERT CECIL 



out of England, by the commaundement of king Henry 

 the seventh, and the South part thereof before any other 

 Christian people of late hath bene planted with divers 

 English Colonies by the royal consent of her sacred 

 Majestie under the broad scale of England, whereof one 

 as yet remaineth, for ought we know, alive in the 

 countrey. Which action, if upon a good & godly peace 

 obtained, it shal please the Almighty to stirre up her 

 Majesties heart to continue with her favourable coun- 

 tenance (as upon the ceasing of the warres of Granada, hee 

 stirred up the spirite of Isabella Queene of Castile, to 

 advaunce the enterprise of Columbus) with transporting of 

 one or two thousand of her people, and such others as 

 upon mine owne knowledge will most willingly at their 

 owne charges become Adventurers in good numbers with 

 their bodies and goods ; she shall by Gods assistance, in 

 short space, worke many great and unlooked for effects, 

 increase her dominions, enrich her cofers, and reduce 

 many Pagans to the faith of Christ. The neglecting 

 hitherto of which last point our adversaries daily in many 

 of their bookes full bitterly lay unto the charge of the 

 professors of the Gospell. No sooner should we set 

 footing in that pleasant and good land, and erect one or 

 two convenient Fortes in the Continent, or in some Hand 

 neere the maine, but every step we tread would yeeld us 

 new occasion of action, which I wish the Gentrie of our 

 nation rather to regard, then to follow those soft unprofit- 

 able pleasures wherein they now too much consume their 

 time and patrimonie, and hereafter will doe much more, 

 when as our neighbour warres being appeased, they are 

 like to have lesse emploiment then nowe they have, 

 unlesse they bee occupied in this or some other the like 

 expedition. And to this ende and purpose give me leave 

 (I beseech you) to impart this occurrent to your honour- 

 able and provident consideration : that in the yere one 

 thousand five hundred eighty and seven, when I had 

 caused the foure voyages of Ribault, Laudonniere, and 

 Gourges to Florida, at mine owne charges to bee printed 



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