Ixxvi author's preface. 



I form'd to myself the design of giving them Satisfaction. 

 But you will find when you have read my History, that my 

 Design could not be executed. After my return, I could 

 neither refuse them the demand they made of seeing my 

 Journal, nor excuse my self from answering a hundred 

 Questions they ask'd concerning things which I had not 

 inserted in it, but which were, however, still in my Memory. 

 I have met no Body ever since who has not been very In- 

 quisitive, and I have endeavour'd to satisfie the curiosity of 

 my Friends to the utmost of my Power. Tho' if I may be 

 so free, I have met with Persons who have been so Impor- 

 tunate, that they became troublesome with their Inquiries. 



To save my self answering an infinite number of Ques- 

 tions, and being continually teaz'd by the like importunity, 

 it one day came into my mind that the best way to do it 

 would be to write down a Ptelation of my Voyage and 

 Adventures, and to shew it to those of my Friends and 

 Acquaintance who desir'd to see it. Accordingly I wrote 

 these Memoirs, they were presently seen in the World, and 

 I fancy'd I saw in the looks of those that had read them, 

 when they returned them, an air of Content, which I took 

 for a very good Omen, and was pleasM with it. I perceiv'd 

 they interested themselves in every thing that had happen'd 

 to Me, and some of them went so far as to say, ' Print them,''- 

 fear nothing, the Book will he very Entertaining: A Man 

 shou'd he Modest, hut not a Covjard. There is something in 

 them very extraordinary and singular, with which all the 

 World will he j^lcasd. Take your Friends words for it, and 

 publish them:.' Thus did they perswade me. To which tliey 

 added one thing that weigh'd very much with me, and help'd 

 to overcome the repugnance I had to Print them ; which 

 was their naming to me a great number of false Voyages, 

 and some of them ill-enough related, which, however, went 



1 " Some said, ' John, print it ! ' others said ' Not so.' 

 Some said, ' It might do good,' others said, ' A'o .' ' " 



(Jo!in Bunyan's Apology, 1670.) 



