the speciall policie, and valour of
these vnited Prouinces, in trauelling into both the Indies, in the faces,
and to the great grief of their many and mightie enemies. Whereby it is to
be hoped, that if they continue in their enterprises begun, they will not
onely draw the most part of the Indian treasures into these Countries, but
thereby disinherite and spoyle the Countrie of Spayne of her principall
reuenues, and treasures of marchandises and traffiques, which she
continually vseth and receyueth out of these countries, and out of Spayne
are sent into the Indies, and so put the King of Spaine himselfe in minde
of his foolish deuise which he vseth for a posie touching the new world,
which is, Non sufficit orbis, like a second Alexander magnus, desiring to
rule ouer all the world, as it is manifestly knowne. And because this
description is fallen into my handes, wherein is contayned the first voyage
of the Low-countrymen into the East Indies, with the aduentures happened
vnto them, set downe and iustified by such as were present in the voyage, I
thought it good to put it in print, with many pictures and cardes, whereby
the reader may the easilier perceyue and discerne, the natures, apparels,
and fashions of those Countries and people, as also the manner of their
shippes, together with the fruitfulnesse and great aboundance of the same,
hoping that this my labour will not onely be acceptable vnto all Marchants
and Saylers, which hereafter meane to traffique into those Countries, but
also pleasant and profitable to all such as are desirous to looke into so
newe and strange things, which neuer heretofore were knowne vnto our
nation. And againe for that all histories haue their particular commoditie,
(specially such as are collected and gathered together) not by common
report, from the first, seconde, or thirde man, but by such as haue seene
and beene present in the actions, and that are liuing to iustifie and
verifie the same: And although eloquence and words well placed in shewing a
history, are great ornamentes and beautifyinges to the same, yet such
reports and declarations are much more worthy credite, and commendabler for
the benefit of the commonwealth, which are not set down or disciphered by
subtill eloquence, but showne and performed by simple plaine men, such as
by copiousnesse of wordes, or subtiltie do not alter or chaunge the matter
from the truth thereof, which at this day is a common and notorious fault
in man