r Countreymen, (as Captaine Raimonde in the
Penelope, Maister Foxcroft in the Marchant Royall, and M. Iames Lancaster
in the Edward Bonauenture, vnto the said East Indies, by the Cape de Bona
Sperance, in Anno 1591, as also M. Iohn Newbery, and Raphael Fich ouer land
through Siria from Aleppo vnto Ormus and Goa, and by the said Raphael Fitch
himselfe to Bengala, Malocca, Pegu, and other places in Anno 1583. as at
large appeareth in a booke written by M. RICHARD HACLUTE a Gentleman very
studious therein, and entituled the English voyages, I thought it not
vnconuenient to translate the same into our mother tongue, thereby to
procure more light and encouragement to such as are desirous to trauell
those Countries, for the common wealth and commoditie of this Realme and
themselues. And knowing that all men are not like affected, I was so bold
to shrowd it vnder your worships protection, as being assured of your good
disposition to the fauoring of trauell and trauellers, and whereby it hath
pleased God to aduance you to that honourable title, which at this present
you beare, and so not fitter for the protection of any then your selfe: and
as a poore friend wishing all happines and prosperity in all your valiant
actions. Which if it please your worshippe to like and accept, it may
procure the proceeding in a more large and ample discourse of an East
Indian voyage, lately performed and set forth by one Iohn Hughen of
Linschoten, to your further delight. Wherewith crauing your fauor, and
beseeching God to blesse your worship, with my good Ladie your wife, I most
humbly take my leaue:

This 16. of Ianuarie.

1597.

Your Worships to commaunde.

W. PHILLIP.

To the Bayliefes, Burghemaisters, and Counsell of the town of Middelborgh
in Zeelande.

It may well bee thought (Right-worshipfull) as many learned men are of
opinion, that the actions and aduentures of the ancients long since done,
and performed, haue beene set forth with more show of wonder and
strangenesse then they in truth deserued: the reason as I think was,
because that in those daies there were many learned and wise men, who in
their writings sought by all meanes they could to excell each other,
touching the description of Countries and nations: And againe to the
contrarie, for want of good Historiographers and writers, many famous actes
and trauels of diuers nations and Countries lie hidden, and in a manner
buried vnder ground, as wholly forgotten and vnknow