ring great honour to their King, making his name famous and
bringing a speciall and great profite of all kindes of spices into their
Countrie, which thereby is spread throughout all the worlde, yet that
sufficed not, for that the Englishmen (not inferiour to any nation in the
world for arte of nauigation) haue likewise vndertaken the Indian voyage,
and by their said voyages into those Countries, made the same commonly
knowne vnto their Country, wherein Sir Frances Drake, and M. Candish are
chiefly to bee commended, who not onely sayled into the East Indies, but
also rounde about the world, with most prosperous voyages, by which their
voyages, ours haue beene furthered and set forwarde, for that the condition
of the Indies is, that the more it is sayled into, the more it is
discovered, by such as sayle the same, so strange a Countrey it is: So that
besides the famous voyages of the Countries aforesaid, in the ende certain
people came into Holland (a nation wel known) certifying them, that they
might easily prepare certaine shippes to sayle into the East Indies, there
to traffique and buy spyces etc. By sayling straight from Hollande, and
also from other countries bordering about it, with desire to see strange
and rich wares of other Countries, and that should not be brought vnto them
by strangers, but by their owne countrey men, which some men would esteeme
to be impossible, considering the long voyage and the daungers thereof,
together with the vnaccustomed saylinges and little knowledge thereof by
such as neuer sayled that way, and rather esteeme it madnesse, then any
point of wisedome, and folly rather then good consideration. But
notwithstanding wee haue seene foure ships make that voyage, who after many
dangers hauing performed their voyage, returned againe and haue brought
with them those wares, that would neuer haue beene thought coulde haue
beene brought into these countries by any Holland ships; but what shoulde I
herein most commende eyther the willingnesse and good performance of the
parties, or the happinesse of their voyage? whereof that I may giue the
reader some knowledge, I will shew what I haue hearde and beene informed
of, concerning the description of the Countries, customes, and manners of
the nations, by them in this voyage seene and discouered, which is as
followeth.

In the yeere of our Lord 1595. vpon the 10. day of the month of March,
there departed from Amsterdam three ships and a Pinnace to sayle