LETTER OF SIR THOMAS BVTTON. 
53 
Kinge James, that beinge undertaken in a fitting waye, and a 
dewe season I made, and doe make, as full accounpt of the fea- 
siblenes of it, as I doe of any knowne chanel 1 that is best known© 
to us in these Norther partes, and to be performed with as little 
dainger, and was soe approved by His Matie to be; who inforst 
as manye, and as important questions, for his owne satisfactions, 
as if all the best experienst marriners of the Christian World 
had convented themselves togeather, to have drawne the in- 
tergatories. The same reasons have I delivered to many most 
honorable and knowinge persons, and to our best Mathamati- 
cians, as Mr. Briggs, Mr. Wells, and others, with all the'best 
masters and mariners of our Kingdom©, as alsoe to others, both 
Hollanders and French ; and in my discourse with any one of them 
all, they never went unsatisfied from me, of the probabilitie of 
it; and for farther accompt herein att presentt, f can give non; 
but if my journal!, or any other my notes or papers (with ought 
ells in me) may give His Matie any farther or fuller satisfaction, 
when I waight on His Highness, which I hope will be much 
sooner than is fitt for them to advaunce (for to sett out too 
tymelye, is to faule too soone into that danger, that too late a 
repentance cannot healpe them out on) I will doe my best, 
out of my auld experience, to affurther the good of it, and prevent 
the evells and inconveniencies that pretendinge men, of little 
experience, or not att all, may suddenly bring uppon it;—for I 
will bowldlie saye, that whoe shal be fitt to have the manedg- 
inge of this unparaleld busines, ought first to be soe religiouse, 
as to hould his end the happiest, that dyes for the glorye of God, 
the honor of his Kinge, and the publique good of his Countrye; 
all which, in this designe, have their severall and perticuler 
interest; and therefore he must not looke backe for feare of the 
dainger of either unknowne coastes, hideous© stormes, darke 
fend long© continewed mistes, to lye among© and all wayes to 
Fee more landes and islands of Ice, than he can see of sea, and 
oft tymes rocks under him in sight, when he shall, within thrice 
his ships lenght, fynde twentye fathom water; and to incounter 
this, under favor, must he be well armed, that shall undergo© 
this busines; for thrice sithence my being© there, hath it bin 
