WHat so euer he was ( right Honorable and Woorshipfull ) that first beleeued that the frame and coaptation of the body of man , with the functions , offices , and dueties of the partes and members of the same , knit togeather in a certayne vnitie to a common ministration , did represent a liuely image & similitude of a perfect Common wealth : I thinke that he was a man of no vulgar iudgement , or obiect minde , but rather of singuler wisedome and prudence , in the contemplation of diuine & humane things . For he sawe , that as in the small natiue seede of all growing or liuing things , is conteined the fourme that bringeth them to theyr perfection : so in certayne small and obscure members of the Common wealth , consisteth no small encrease to the perfection of the whole . He saw lykewise , that heerein , as in the body of man , representing the partes and members of the world ( as I haue sayde ) are dyuers parts of diuers and sundry actions & motions , greatly differing in fourme , number , and quantitie , yet all the same to be so knit togeather , and so to consent in one vniformitie , to the common profit of the whole , that a greater concord & harmonie can not be imagined , then is proportioned by the friendly vnitie of diuers and con●rary . He saw likewise in the same , such a mutuall compassion of part to part , and member to member , by one common sense exi●tent in them all , that no one part or member can feele eyther ioy or payne , but that in manner all the other are partakers thereof more or lesse , yf they be liuely members , and not withered , or otherwise vnsensate by reason of dead flesh , which only by cutting and burning ought to be diuided from the sound and whole . But as in man ( whome Plato calleth the lesse world ) the vigour and agilitie of the immortall soule and minde neuer ceasseth from continuall moouing , but is euer exercised in excogitations & inuentions of great things ( herein resembling God , whose caract it beareth ) by prouidence foreseeing , and by intelligence vnderstanding , and deuising what is to be done , and what to be eschewed , doth immmediatly mooue and rayse vp the faculties , powers , and members of the body to execute the same : Euen so , in the greater world , the prouidence of God , and vniuersall counsayle and consent of men , hath elected & appoynted certayne principall men , to beare like rule & aucthoritie in the body of the Common wealth , as hath the intellectiue soule in the members of our body to mooue and commaund the same . To Princes therefore , Counsaylours , Rulers , Gouernours , and Magistrates , as to the most intellectiue and sensitiue partes of the societie of men , hath God and Nature geuen preeminence and gouernaunce of the Common wealth , that by their prouidence , wisedome , and ayde , it may vniuersally florishe , not only by iust administration of good lawes , with due correction of malefactours , but also by lyberall rewarding of suche as haue well deserued , and especially by maynteinance of such Artes and Sciences , as the Common wealth can not well be without . And to drawe nearer to the applying of my similitude , I say , that what so euer Vertue , what so euer Arte. or the ingenious industry of men , hath to this day inuented , all the same is to be imputed to the beneuolence and liberalitie of such as haue honorably mainteyned , and freely rewarded the trauayles , paynes , and charges of them that haue spent theyr lyues , goodes , and wits ( as many haue done ) in the inuentions of necessarie and profitable Artes and Sciences . For euen as wholesome and temperate ayre , with seasonable weather , and fauourable influence of the heauens and planets , causeth fruitefulnes on the earth , and contrarywise , barrennes by the contrary : Euen so the fauour of Princes and Magistrates , nourisheth , augmenteth , and amplifyeth , all Artes and Sciences by liberalitie , and extinguisheth the same by miserable couetousnes and parcimonie . And although in some men of rare and noble nature , the desyre of honor and fame , only for vertues sake , and studie towarde their Countrey and Common wealth , haue mooued them ( in maner to their owne vndoing , through their great losse and hinderance ) to set foorth and inuent diuers thyngs for the commoditie of the common wealth , and other , rather then for their owne● yet vndoubtedly , who so well consydereth , and indifferently wayeth that I haue sayd , shall fynde and see by dayly experience , that in maner onely munificence , liberalitie , and reward , or the hope thereof , geueth spurres to them that attempt great and vertuous enterprises , as I could more largely proue by so many testimonies of hystories , both holy & prophane , that the rehearsall therof should be but tedious , and not greatly necessary for my purpose , especially writing vnto your Honors and Worships , of whose munificence , and liberalitie , I haue had great experience , both in my selfe , and others , who by your ayde and mayntenance , haue attempted , & perfourmed many goodly inuentions , vyages , nauigations , and discoueries of lands and seas , heretofore vnknowen . Wherein , what great charges you haue susteyned , and how liberall and constant you haue bee● in furthering the same , doth well declare , th●t hytherto you are rather losers then gayners thereby . The whcih thing doubtlesse , is more to your commendation , in that it may heereby appeare that you haue attempted the same , rather for knowledge and vertues sake , then for couetousnesse of gaynes : as is furthermore well knowen by your fyrst vyages of discouerie attempted to Cathay , by the Northeast seas , vpon certayne losse and detriment , for vncertayne hope eyther of gaynes , or of any such way to be found , otherwise then by certayne likely coniectures : not much vnlike to the shining flowres of Marchasytes , which outwardly appearing in minerall mountaynes , are signes and tokens whereby is coniectured what metall is contayned therein , and whether the same be to be folowed or not . And although it sometime so chaunce , that such signes are fayleable , shewing more in apparance , then they contayne in substance : yet are not such signes , tokens , or shewes to be contemned , but rather earnestly to be folowed , for as much as it hath been often prooued , and found by experience , that by folowing the same , haue been found great and ryche mynes of mettalles , as Georgius Agricola in his bookes De rebus metallices , dooth largely declare and prooue by many examples . But to write at large what great things haue proceeded of small and obscure beginnings , and in manner meere coniectures , it would so farre exceede the measure of an Epistle or Preface , that it would rather encrease to the iust quantitie of a booke . For in manner all the late discoueryes both of the Spanyards and Portugales , had theyr beginnings of such small coniectures , with vncertayne hope ( as it were praeter spem sub spe ) vntyll God and good happe , by the constant trauayle and valiant minde ●f such as fyrst attempted the same , gaue them to enioy that they hoped for . But what so euer they haue obteyned , and do enioy , this may I boldly say in your behalfe ( right Honorable and Worshypfull ) that there hath not lacked in you , eyther the lyke or greater promptnesse of minde , forwardnesse in attempting , magnificence in expences , or liberalitie in rewardes● For besyde the great charges , and losses that you haue been at otherwyse , what should I speake of the great giftes that you haue sent to the Emperour of Russia ? What of your last chargeable vyage of discouerie among the innumerable Rockes , Ilandes , and moueable mountaynes of yse in the frosen sea , by innumerable lands and Ilands vnknowne to the Antiques , euen vnder and farre within and beyond the circle Articke , where they thought that no lyuyng creature coulde drawe breath or lyfe for extreeme colde ? whereas neuerthelesse the same hath been by you discouered , euen vnto the mightie ryuer of Ob , that falleth into the Scythian Ocean , or Oceanus Hyperborei , not farre from the mountaynes called Hyperboreus , so named , because they are situate almost vnder the North Pole , and thought therefore to be inaccessible . A voyage doubtlesse of suche difficultie , and in maner impossibilitie , that considering the infinite dangers thereof ( as I haue learned by the information of Steuen a Burrough , that was then the chiefe Pilot of the same voyage ) it may seeme impossible that they should euer haue escaped , except the mightie hand of God , by the expert skylfulnesse of so excellent a Pilot , had deliuered them from those dangers . And although in deede ( as religion bindeth vs ) it is conuenient in all things to geue all honour , glory , and thanks to God : yet are we not thereby restrayned to be thankefull to such men , as by theyr arte , ingeniousnesse , trauayle , and diligence , haue dese●ued both iust commendation , and large rewarde . And therefore referring the reward to you ( right Honorable & Worshipfull , to whome it apperteyneth ) if I should not heere geue him at the least such commendation as in my iudgement he hath well deserued , I might seeme both to defraud him of his woorthy deserts , and also to forget the friendship and good will I beare him , only for his vertues and excellencie in his profession . For certainely when I consider how indigent and destitute this Realme is of excellent and expert Pilottes , I can doo no lesse of conscience , then , in respect of your owne commoditie , yea rather for the commoditie of the Queenes Mai●stie , and the whole Realme , to exhort you , and put you in remembrance ( although I may heerein seeme to put the Spurr●s to a running Horsse , as sayth the Prouerbe ) so to regard hym , and esteeme hym , and his faithfull , true , and paynefull seruice toward you , that he may thereby be further encouraged , and not discouraged , eyther for lacke of mayntenance , or otherwise by the iniurious assaults of such his enimies , as onely his vertues and excellency haue moued to beare him displeasure : as enuie doeth euer follow vertue , as sayth the Latine Prouerbe , Virtuti comes inuidia . And how true a sentence this is , is well verified by the saying of a certayne Philosopher ( whose name I do not remember ) who hearing one vaynely reioyce that he had no enimies , answeared , that that was a token he had done little good : meaning thereby ( as dayly experience p●oueth ) that if he had excelled in any vertue , he could not haue lacked some enimies . And hauing here touched ●o speake of enuie , I remember that when I was a young Scholler , I haue read in the Poet Hesiodus of two kyndes of enuie , whereof the one is called Inuidia , and the other Aemulatio , which is more tollerable then the first , for that it is ioyned with some vertue , and enuyeth that any should excell him in any excellent qualitie that he professeth . But for asmuch as this enuie of emulation proceedeth of some singuler vertue of them that are so maliced , they may herein reioyce , that they shall euer haue a hundred freends for one enimie : yea , and although they had none , yet is vertue a reward to it selfe , and to bee embraced for it selfe onely , as the Philosophers affyrme . What then shall we say to such , as forgetting this reward of vertue , do not onely fauour , but rather hynder the preferment and mayntenance of such expert men , more esteeming certayne Fyshermen that goe a trawling for fysh in Catches , or Mongers , and Dradgies for Oysters about the sandes , betweene the South furland and Wyntertonnesse , and the sandes about Temmes mouth , then they doo suche excellent Pilotes as are able without any Rutter or Carde of Nauigation , not onely to attempt long and farre vyages , but also to discouer vnknowen lands and Ilandes , as haue done of late yeeres many excellent men , to the great honor and enriching of theyr Prince and Countrey . But as touching Ste●en a B●rrough , the chiefe Pilot of your vyages of discouery , it may hereby well appeare , that he is neyther malitious nor enuious of his Arte and Science , in that hee desireth the same , for the common profite , to be common to all men : and for the same inte●t was the first that mooued certayne Worshipfull of your company , as Syr Wyllyam Garrerd , Mayster Wyllyam Mericke , Mayster Blase Sanders , and Mayster Edward Castlen , to haue this worke translated into the Englishe tongue : Who of theyr owne good nature , fauouring all vertuous studies , and the professours of the same , did soone enclyne to his ho●●st request heerein , and therewith not onely desired me , but also with liberall rewarde enterteyned me , to take in hand the translation . Which beyng now finished as well as my poore learning may perfourme , I desyre your Honors , and Worships , to accept in good part , as I haue meant heerein to grat●●●e you , and doo such seruice as my abilitie may suffice . Now therefore thys woorke of the Art of Nauigation , being publyshed in our v●lger tongue , you may be assured to haue more store of skilfull Pilots . Pilots , ( I say ) not Pirots , Rulers , nor Rouers , but such as by their honest behauiour and conditions , ioyned with art and experience , may do you honest and true seruice : Which is not to be looked for of such as being destitute aswell of the feare of God , as of all morall vertues , superabound in all notorious vices , accompting desperatnesse for boldnesse , rashnesse for hardines , impudencie for stoutnesse , and crueltie for manhood . What other thing ( I say ) is to be looked for of such , then of such trees , such fruites , Et mali corui , malum o●um . But f●rasmuch as these haue no place appoynted them in the body of our common wealth , which we haue here before compared to the members of the body of man : therefore are they no otherwise to be esteemed , then as excrements of the body , to whome Nature hath appoynted no place in the same , but lab●ureth continually to cast th●● foorth diuers wayes , least by their filthynesse they should infect the other members , euen as the pompe of the Shyp , if it be not auoyded , is noyous to the Ship , and all that are therein . But the wise and honest Pilotte , fyrst hauing before his eyes the feare of God , and putting his chiefe trust in him , shall secondarily trust in his Arte and Science , without any such vaine obseruations , as the supersticious Horoscopers ( Astrologiers I meane , and not Astronomers ) are accustomed to vse in the elections of houres , times , and dayes , by constellati●ns and aspectes of the Starres and Planets , as many fond men haue done , thynkyng thereby to haue escaped such dangers , as they haue thereby the rather fallen into , through contempt of Arte and Science , by foolish confidence in superstitious Astrologie : which for the vani●ie and vncertaintie thereof , the ryght Worshipfull , and of singuler learning in all Sciences , Syr Thomas Smyth , in my time the flowre of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge , and sometyme my Tutor , was accustomed to call Ingeniosissimam artem mentiendi , ( that is ) The most ingenious arte of lying . Omitting therefore the superstitious and phantasticall obseruations of the iudicials of Astrologie , it shal be better and more necessarie for all Pilottes that desyre to excell in their profession , to learne and obserue the principles of this Booke , whereby they may haue such knowledge of the Sphere , as may instruct them the making and vse of diuers goodly Astronomicall instruments pertayning to the arte of Nauigation , by knowledge of the moouings of the Sunne and Moone in their Spheres , and the other Planettes and fyxt Starres : thereby to attayne to the true knowledge of houres , tymes , and tydes , with the variation of the Compasse , and many other goodly naturall obseruations of weather , tempestes , and calmes , by certayne infallible signes and tokens of the same , very necessarie to be obserued , and this by the true principles of Astronomie , and not of Astrologie . And this is the true Astronomie , whereof the diuine Philosopher Plato hath written so diuine a sentence , that I haue thought the same heere woorthy to be alleaged , that by the aucthoritie of so famous an aucthour , we may know what is true Astronomie , with the vse and commoditie thereof . Therefore in his booke entituled Timeus vel de Natura , these are his words .

Rerum autem optimarum cognitionem , nobis oculi attulerunt . Nam haec que de mundo disputantur , nunquam inuenta fuissent , si neque Sydera , neque Sol , neque Coelum , suscipe potuissent . Cognitio vero diei ac noctis , ab oculis orta , fecit vt dimensione quadam mensium , annorumque ambitus metiremur , tempus cognosceremus , a● vniuersae naturae ordinem scrutaremur . Quibus ex rebus , Philosophiam adepti sumus .

That is to say , Our eyes haue brought vnto vs the knowledge of most excellent things . For whatsoeuer is disputed of the world , had neuer been inuented , if neyther the Starres , neyther the Sunne , neyther Heauen , could haue been seene . For the knowledge of the day and nyght , taking beginning at the eyes , cau●ed vs , as it were by certayne limits and boundes , to measure the circuites of monethes and yeeres , whereby we came to the knowledge of tymes , and the order of vniuersall nature . And heereby also we obteyne the knowledge of Philosophie . &c. And thus by the aucthoritie of diuine Plato , ( whome for his excellencie Cicero called Deum Philosophorum , that is , the God of Philosophers ) we may vnderstande , that the true Astronomie , is the perfect knowledge of the miraculous mouings of the Planets , Stars , and heauens ( and especially of the Sunne and Moone ) whereby is caused the varietie of times , and diuersitie of all natural things , by natural causes : as by the qualities of Elements , as hote , colde , moyst , and dry , which are augmented or diminished by the more or lesse influence of these two Luminaries , as they come neere vnto vs at sometimes , or depart farther from vs at other times , with diuers motions in diuers climates , which causeth not only varietie of tymes in sundrie climates , but also the varietie of dyuers complexions , fourmes , and disposit●ons of all creatures vnder the face of heauen , none other accidentall , contingent , voluntarie , or violent cause , to the contrary notwithstanding . And this is it that Plato meaneth by these woords , Vt tempus cognosceremus ac vniuersae naturae ordinem , &c. That is , to knowe the tymes and vniuersall order of nature . And doubtlesse , who so well consydereth the marueylous effectes that are caused , especially by the variable moouing of the Sunne in the Zodiacke , must needes acknowledge it to be the chiefe instrument and meane that God vseth in the generation , preserua●ion , and alteration of all creatures that are conteyned in the world of generation and corruption . And for this consyderation , certayne of the auncient Philosophers called it the soule of the world : Other , the eye : and other also the hart of the world . Plato also affyrmeth , that the soule of the world is the Sunne , and that all other lyuing things receiue lyfe from thence . And hereof commeth the saying of the Philosopher , Sol & homo , generant hominem : ( that is ) the Sunne and man , beget man . And therefore ( as wryteth Marcilius Ficinus ) of all Idolaters they are most tollerable that honor the Sunne for God . The which , although it be not , yet vndoubtedly are his effects so great and wonderfull in this inferiour world , that it may seeme in manner to be Gods Vicegerent , Liefetenant , and Viceroy , in all the works of nature , except where and when it pleaseth him in any thing miraculously , otherwise then by the common order and course of nature , to commaund the contrarie .

And if it may not be tedious vnto you ( right Honorable and Worshipfull ) it shal be a pleasure vnto me , for the better declaration hereof , to make a briefe discourse of the marueylous and strange effects that are caused by the Sunne : which perhaps few haue done , otherwise then dispearsedly here and there , as occasion hath serued . Fyrst therefore let vs consyder what it hath done ouer the Equinoctial lyne , and vnder both the Poles at one instant , diuersly and contraryly the one to the other . For so hath the infinite wisedome of the great God of nature , the supreame Architecture of the vniuersall world , disposed all things in such perfect order , that to them that are vnder the Equinoctial , and haue theyr Horizon passing by the two Poles , the day is of twelue houres , and the nyght as much , and theyr yeere also is deuided into twelue monethes : But they that dwell iust and perpendiculerly vnder our Pole , and that haue theyr Horizon passing ouer the sayd lyne , haue the day of the sixe monethes : That is to say , beginning from the tenth day of March , when the Sunne commeth ouer the sayde Horizon , vntill it returne to passe vnder the same at the tenth of September . And contrarywyse , one night of sixe moneths haue the inhabitantes vnder the Pole An●articke : whose yeere ( that is to say , all the course that the Sunne maketh by the twelue signes of the Zodiacke ) is accomplished in one day and one nyght : a thing doubtlesse most wonderfull and marueylous . Lykewise , when we haue sommer , they that are vnder our Pole , haue the day of sixe monethes , and they of the opposite or contrary Pole , haue their night of the same length . Againe , when it is winter with vs , then vnder our Pole is the night of the said sixe monethes , and vnder the opposite Pole , is the day of the same length . So that , as it were , course by course , when we haue the night , they haue the day : and contrarywyse , when we haue the day , they haue the night . The which , although it be so long , & of so great space of time , yet is it not continually obscured with darkenesse . For the Sunne maketh his course in such order , that the inhabitants of that part , liue not during that time altogeather in darknesses , as Moles liue vnder the ground , but as other creatures that liue vpon the globe and face of the Earth , they haue such lyght as may suffyse to susteyne and maynteyne their life . For the body of the Sunne declyneth no more either beneath the Equinoctial line , either aboue the same line ( which is the Horizon to both the Poles ) then 23. degrees , that is to say , no lower or higher then the Tropikes , which are no more then 23. degrees , or there about , from the sayd Equinoctial , that is their Horizon , as is aforesayd . And yet in these 23. degrees , he maketh not his course by the opposite Diameter , but goeth continually round about in circuite : so that his beames reuerberating heauen , represent such a manner of lyght , as wee haue in Sommer two houres before the Sunne rise . And this example whiche we haue taken of the diuersitie of the Horizons of the Equinoctial , and vnder the two Poles , is to demonstrate the marueylous effect that the Sunne maketh , departing from the xij . houres of the Equinoctiall ( that is to say , from Aries to Libra ) and comming by lytle and lytle , illuminating the Globe of the earth , and so reducing the yeere of xij . monethes , into one onely day , a●d one night , as is sayd before . Vnder the infinite varietie of the which course , sometyme with long dayes , and sometime with short , all the Inhabitants of the world are fourmed and disposed , of such strength and complexion of body , that euery of them are proportionate of the Climate assigned vnto them , be it hote or colde , and may dwell and abide there , as in their naturall place and temperament , not lamenting , or desiring to dwell elsewhere , so great a loue resteth in them to their natiue situation . But not to depart from the vyage which the Sunne maketh in one whole yeere , as sometime approching neere vnto vs , and sometime departing from vs , I say , that at one selfe same time , in diuers partes vpon the round Globe of the earth , it causeth the Spring , Sommer , Autumne , and Winter . And neuerthelesse , at the same instant and punct of time , it maketh day and high noone in one place , and nyght and midnight on the opposite part . The which varietie , although it appeare incomprehensible to the slendernesse of our wits , yet beholding the same with the eyes of vnderstanding , and therewith considering the vnestimable moouing that the Sunne maketh continually , we shall fynde it to be true , hauing respect to the diuers situations of the earth , as it is continually illuminate more or lesse by the Sunne . And this varietie is made with such a harmonie and consonancie , and such a lawe perpetuall and immutable , that yf any poynt or pricke thereof should fayle , it is to be doubted lest the Elements should be confounded together , and returne to their first Chaos .

And to haue sayd thus much of the wonderfull effects of the course of the Sunne , it may suffise for an example to prooue how necessary a thing it is , not onely for all Pilots and Sea men to haue the knowledge heereof , but also for all other such as shall attempt great and farre voyages in vnknowen lands , and strange countreys , as did of late Maister Ienkinson , a worthy Gentleman , set foorth by you , and mainteined at your charges , more like an Ambassadour sent from any Prince or Emperour , then from a company of Merchant men . Wherein , what commendation you haue deserued , to the increase of your perpetuall fame and honour , I referre it to that I haue sayd before . And as touching Maister Ienkinson , what trauayles , paynes , and dangers he hath susteyned , and hardly escaped , and what diligence and arte he hath vsed in the searching of strange countreys , and in the description of those his voyages , it were but in vayne for me to wryte much vnto you , vnto whome the same is better knowen then to me . And therefore to conclude , with rendering iust commendations both vnto you and him , I can say no more , but as Plato wryteth in his Booke De Legibus , Decens est eos ciues laudibus ornare , qui corporis vel animi viribus , res arduas praecláras que gesserunt , & legibus libenter paruerunt . That is to say , It is decent to commend those Citizens , that by theyr industry of body and minde , haue done great affayres , and haue wyllyngly obeyed good lawes . And thus eftsoones desiryng your Honors and Worships to accept in good part whatsoeuer I haue sayd of good will and affection toward you and your proceedings , and with your shield of iustice and auctoritie , to defend me against the assaults of such as are enimies to vertue , and captious of other mens doings , I rest at your commaundement to the vttermost of my power , to do you what seruice I may .

SO greatly were esteemed the inuentours of certayne Artes and Sciences in auncient time ( as wryteth Saint Augustine in his The fyrst inuentours of Artes . bookes De Ciuitate Dei ) that they tooke them not for mortall men , but honoured them as immortall gods . Isis. Isis arriuing in Egypt , ordeyned common weales with iust gouernaunce , gaue them lawes , and k●owledge of letters , and taught them also the vse of Flaxe . In consideration whereof , she was honoured of such as then knewe her , and reuere●ced of them that came after her : In so much , that they establ●shed a capitall penaltie or pun●shment of death , against all such as eyther in sport or in earnest affyrmed her to be an earthly woman , and not rather a d●uine Goddesse . Ceres . Ceres beyng of lyuely wit and cleere vnderstanding , The Cicilians . beholding in the Cicilians humane similitude and shape to the outward apparance , and inwardly the fiercen●sse of bruite beastes : brideled their customes , and refourmed them with newe Statutes , teaching them to tame Oxen to beare the yoke , to sowe Whe●te for their great commod●tie , to grinde in the Myll , to kneade in the ho●se , and to bake in the Ouen . In recompence whereof , they made sacrifice vnto her , and builded many sumptuous Temples in honour of her . Saturnus comming from Creta , Saturne gaue Lawes to the Latines . gaue lawes v●to the Latines , whereby they might gouerne them selues , and ●r●scr●bed them maners of lyuyng , teaching them to Tyll and Manure the ground , Tillage of the ground . and sowe Corne , and to geather ripe fru●tes in due season . And if Saturne were profitable to those nat●ons , and they not v●thankefull vnto him , in that they builded him aulters , celebrated vnto him festiuall dayes , and accompted him in the number of the heauenly Goddes , naming him also the father of the Gods . And ( if I say ) he was to them so profitable , and that world iudged so happy and prosperous for hauing so valiaunt a King , and so iust a Lawe geuer , that it was therefore by the mouthes of all men called , The Golden World , The g●lden worl●e , and ●aigne of Sa●urn● . The woort●y factes of Charles the fy●th . Sicilia . and Raigne of Saturne : Certes , except I greatly deceyue my selfe , this our time is nothyng inf●riour to that . For we knowe certaynely , that your Maiestie hath beene more profi●able to Spay●e , then euer was Saturne to the Latines : and also a more excellent Lawe geuer , in manner to all Europe , and further , to the newe World , lately d●scouered , then he that gaue lawes but onely to a l●ttle corner of Italie . Whereby I consider , that th● felicitie of your Maiesties time , ha●h been ●o l●ttle commendation to your dooings , in that you haue banished v●ce , honoured vertu● , punished offendours , a●d fauoured innocente● : so that the quiet haue thereby lyued more peaceably , the vnquiet restrayned , the good exalted , and the euyll chast●sed : In so muche that nowe , by reason of iust ministration of good order in yo●r Maiesties d●minions , they that walke in the nyght , goe in safet●e , wh●reas we knowe , that in other Prouinces , such as walke in the day goe in daunger and peryll . And therefore in th● most happie tyme of your Maiestie , it appeareth that Spayne is renewed , Spayn● reformed . not onely in the excellencie of Mechanicall or handy craftes , but also in the knowledge of letters , and discipline of warre : In so much , that she that sometyme lacked her selfe , may now abundantly minister to her neighbours that haue neede . And whereas to your imperiall Maiestie , it shoulde not suffice to ordeyne lawes , if power and armes shoulde fayle to defende and punyshe : who , comparable to your Maiestie , The triumphs and victo●ies of Charles the fy●th . enioyeth the one , and wanteth not the other , hauyng tryumphed ouer Ky●ges and Kyngdomes , enlarging also the name of Spayne in many vnknowen and barbarous Landes and Nations ? Greater duetie therefore owe your Subiectes vnto you , then euer dyd the Egyptians to Isis , or the Cicilians to Ceres , or the Latines to Saturne , for as muche as they haue receyued of your Ma●estie more common and profitable benefytes .

It is not long since your Maiestie hath forbydden and abolyshed the vse of Mules , Mules . and restored agayne the exerc●se of Armes , so lo●g out of vse , that the one w●th the other , hath been no small profite and commoditie to your Subiectes and Domini●ns . For by taking away the vse of Mules , is so encreased the ●umber of Horsses and Horssemen , horses and horsemen . that suche as before neuer durst or coulde in manner lyght vp vppon a Horsse , can nowe easily and aptly manedge them . So that you s●eme to haue reuiued the d●yes of Belle●ophon the sonne of Kyng Glaucus , Belleropho● . and lykewyse the tyme of Saturne , when men had fyrst the knowl●dge howe to make Horsses to abyde the brydle , and to bryng them vp to serue for dyuers vses and necessit●e● of men . And ryght sure I am , that by reason of suche laudable Statutes and Ordinaunces in your Dominions , shall fayle neyther Horsses nor Horssemen , as well for the Courte , as for the Campe .

Who knewe in manner howe to g●rde a Swoorde , Wearing of weapons and armour . b●fore that your Ma●estie permitted Weapons and Armour to bee worne , euen in your Courte , and that else-where all men myght doo the lyke ? before wh●che tyme dexteritie fayled , where courage abounded . Ouer and besyde the profite and commoditie that hath rysen heereof , what honour you haue obteyned by the same , is man●fest by Frauncis the Frenche Kyng , Frauncis the French king taken prisoner . who by your Maiestie beeyng taken pr●soner in the Parke of Pauia , was brought to Madrid , in the yeere a tho●sand fyue hundred twentie and fyue , where seeyng many young men in manner without beardes , and yet laden with Armour and Weapons , sayde , O happie Spayne , that bry●gest foorth and nouryshest men of Warre . In your most happie dayes also , the Christian Fayth is amplyfyed , The Christian faith ●nlarged . and in manner whole Spayne florisheth dayly more and more in sumptuous buyldyngs , The sumptuous buyldings and riches of Spayne . and is abundantly enryched in treasure brought from your Ind●es , farre surmounti●g the ryches of Solomon brought from Ophir . Yea , and to say the tru●th , consyderi●g the Nauies of Golde and Syluer , The Indies nauies of gold and syluer . which haue been ord●narily brought from thence to your Maiestie , thys tyme may rather be called the golden age , then that of Saturne . Not omitting a●so , that by your prosperous attemptes , haue beene discouered so many Landes and Ilandes , New landes and Ilandes discouered . heeretofore so vnknowen to the Cosmographers , Geographers , and Historiographers , that they neuer hearde of theyr names . Whiche neu●rthelesse , a●e now so well knowen to your Subiectes , that they haue troden them with theyr feete , and measured them by pases . Who before thys tyme euer hearde any ment●on of the ryche and large Prou●nce of Peru , Pe●u . or of the straights of Magalianes , The straights of Maga●●anes . or of the ryuer of Syluer , called Rio de la Plata . They in times past seemed to haue doone no small thyng , when they had knowledge of the fortunate Ilandes , Rio de la Plata . the wh●ch , since they were conquered by your Maiesties Graundfather , haue beene called the Ilandes of Canaria . The fortunate Ilande , or Canaries . And ●f it be , and hath been much to discouer and subdue this newe worlde : it is doubtlesse no lesse glory to your Maiestie , not onely to possesse a●d enioy it , but also that you dayly procure to send thither Iudges to gouerne with Lawes , Religion in the Indies . and Preachers to instructe in Doctrine , to bryng those Indians to the knowledge and honouring of the true GOD . And therefore consyderyng your Maiesties godly desyre a●d purpose , as touching these Nauigations , and the daungers of such as goe to discouer this newe worlde ( although it be not newe to the Spaniardes to trauayle into farre Countreys , The Spaniardes haue euer trauailed into f●r countries . for as much as in the dayes of Caius Caesar , the sonne of Augustus , were founde broken peeces of Spanish Shyppes , lost in the Gulfe of Arabie , as also Celius Antipater affyrmeth , that certayne Shyppes of Spayne were accustomed to sayle for Merchaundize to the East partes of Ethiope ) in consyderation heereof , haue I the more willingly published these my trauayles , for the furtheraunce of all suche as shall hereafter attempt the lyke Nauigation .

The antiqui●i● of Nauigation . And heere doo I not say that Nauigation is not a thyng of antiquitie . For we reade that in olde tyme , the Argonanti sayled to Colchos ,

Argonanti .

Colchos .