If Loyall Duty may bee counted presumption? then doubtlesse the best of
my meanest worth must beg pardon, for clayming so Royall a Patronage:
Yet to whom should I prostrate my Pen and Pilgrimage? if not unto your
Sacred Majesty: Nay, none so able to Receive it, none so powerfull
to Protect it; and none so justly to claime it, as your Soveraigne
Selfe. The Subject treateth of my tedious and curious Travailes, in
the best and worst parts of the world; which being begunne in Your
hopefull Infancy, are now finally accomplished in the fulnesse of
Your thrice blessed Majority.
The generall Discourse it selfe, is most fixed upon the Lawes,
Religion, Manners, Policies, and Government of Kings, Kingdomes,
People, Principalities and Powers; and therefore so much the more
fit for your Majesty. The defect resting onely in me, the worthlesse
Author, in handling a rare and plentifull Subject, with a homely and
familiar Stile; no wayes fit for Soveraignity to peruse.
Yet (Royall Sir) vouchsafe to remember how thankefully Alexander,
received a small Cup of Water; and what a high Value was set upon
the Widdowes Mite. If I have made use of my poore Talent, the profit
redoundeth unto my Country; which being shaddowed under your auspicuous
Favour, shall leave a greater stampe to the Worke, and a deeper
impression, of future knowledge, to the curious Understanders. And
how often wont your ever blessed Father, graciously to peruse Lines
of mine, of far lesser note then these be: Yea, and (viva voce) the
punctuall Discourse of all my three Voyages, which are now layd open
to the Vulgar World; and therefore I dare humbly expect a greater
favour for a larger and more serious Taske.
So likewise your owne Princely adventures beyond Seas, in measuring
large Kingdomes, & the glassie face of the great Ocean: have invited
me to lay prostrate my painefull peregrinations, at your Sacred
feete. Humbly beseeching your Regall goodnesse, to remarke the
matter and manner of this Worke; howsoever the Gift, & the Giver
bee deficient. And questionlesse as the Bee, gathereth sweetest
Hony out of sowrest Flowers, your Royall understanding may finde
something, to underprope the Defects of my nothing; and my soule to
exult in the smallest sparke of your Gracious Clemency. And lastly,
the grievous Sufferings, tortures, and torments, I sustayned in
Malaga, being taken as a Spye for your Late Fathers Fleete, exposed
agaynst Algier: and condemned to death by their bloody Inquisition
for the Gospells sake. These (I prostrate say) doe command me to
present the perfect passage thereof, unto your Royall & Religious
consideration. Sufficient Certificates, and infallible approbations
are annexed to the Tragicall discourse it selfe; and it also humbly
bequeathing all, unto your Princely piety and pitty, to Commiserate
both my case and cause. Wherefore (and as duty bindeth) I shall ever
beseech God to preserve your Royall Raigne from wicked Achitophells,
to guard your Sacred person with Heavenly Angels, and to guide your
Monarchicke State, with faithful and Religious Counsellours.