THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE 



Portugall revealing the secret and most gainefuU trade 

 of Pegu, which is also confirmed by Caesar Fredericke a 

 Venetian, and M. Ralph Fitch now living here in London. 



And because our chiefe desire is to find out ample vent 

 of our wollen cloth, the naturall commoditie of this our 

 Realme, the fittest places, which in al my readings and 

 observations I find for that purpose, are the manifold 

 Islands of Japan, & the Northern parts of China, & the 

 regions of the Tartars next adjoyning (whereof I read, 

 that the countrey in winter is Assi fria como Flandes, that 

 is to say, as cold as Flanders, & that the rivers be 

 strongly overfrozen) and therefore I have here inserted 

 two speciall Treatises of the sayd Countries, the one 

 beginning pag. 68, the other, pag. 88 : which last dis- 

 course 1 hold to be the most exact of those parts that is 

 yet come to light, which was printed in Latine in Macao 

 a citie of China, in China-paper, in the yeere a thousand 

 HvG hundred and ninetie, and was intercepted in the 

 great Carack called Madre de Dios two yeeres after, 

 inclosed in a case of sweete Cedar wood, and lapped up 

 almost an hundred fold in fine calicut-cloth, as though it 

 had beene some incomparable Jewell. 



But leaving abruptly this discourse, I thinke it not 

 impertinent, before I make an end, to deliver some of the 

 reasons, that moved me to present this part of my 

 travailes unto your Honour. The reverend antiquitie in 

 the dedication of their workes made choyse of such 

 patrons, as eyther with their reputation and credite were 

 able to countenance the same, or by their wisedome and 

 understanding were able to censure and approove them, 

 or with their abilitie were likely to stand them or theirs in 

 steade in the ordinarie necessities and accidents of their 

 life. Touching the first, your descent from a father, that 

 was accounted Pater patriae, your owne place and credite 

 in execution of her Majesties inward counsailes and pub- 

 like services, added to your well discharging your forren 

 imployment (when the greatest cause in Christendome 

 was handled) have not onely drawen mens eyes upon you, 



Ixxii 



