ine he found a wide and spacious open
Ocean of 900. leagues broad, which a little more to the Northward hath bene
set out as a Streight, and called in most mappes The Streight of Anian. In
which relation to the viceroy hee constantly affirmeth three seuerall
times, that there is a passage that way vnto the North parts of Asia.
Moreouer, because I perceiue by a letter directed by her Maiestie to the
Emperour of China (and sent in the last Fleet intended for those parts by
The South Sea vnder the charge of Beniamin Wood, chiefly set out at the
charges of sir Robert Duddeley, a gentleman of excellent parts) that she
vseth her princely mediation for obtaining of freedome of traffique for her
marchants in his dominions, for the better instruction of our people in the
state of those countries, I haue brought to light certaine new
aduertisements of the late alteration of the mightie monarchie of the
confronting yle of Iapan, and of the new conquest of the kingdome of Coray,
not long since tributarie to the king of China, by Quabacondono the monarch
of all the yles and princedomes of Iapan; as also of the Tartars called
Iezi, adioyning on the East and Northeast parts of Coray, where I thinke
the best vtterance of our natural and chiefe commoditie of cloth is like to
be, if it please God hereafter to reueile vnto vs the passage thither by
the Northwest. The most exact and true information of the North parts of
China I finde in a history of Tamerlan, which I haue in French, set out
within these sixe yeeres by the abbat of Mortimer, dedicated to the French
king that now reigneth, who confesseth that it was long since written in
the Arabian tongue by one Alhacen a wise and valiant Captaine, employed by
the said mighty prince in all his conquests of the foresaid kingdome. Which
history I would not haue failed to haue translated into English, if I had
not found it learnedly done vnto my hand.

And for an appendix vnto the ende of my worke, I haue thought it not
impertinent, to exhibite to the graue and discreet iudgements of those
which haue the chiefe places in the Admiraltie and marine causes of
England, Certaine briefe extracts of the orders of the Contractation house
of Siuil in Spaine, touching their gouernment in sea-matters: together with
The streight and seuere examination of Pilots and Masters before they be
admitted to take charge of ships, aswell by the Pilot mayor, and
brotherhood of ancient Masters, as by the Kings reader