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STRANGE AND
WONDERFUL THINGS
happened to RICHARD HASLETON,
born at Braintree in Essex,
in his Ten years Travels in many
foreign countries.
PENNED AS HE DELIVERED
it from his own mouth.
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LONDON,
Printed by A. I. [ABEL JEFFES] for WILLIAM BARLEY,
and are to be sold at his shop in Gratious
[_Gracechurch_] street, near Leaden Hall.
1595.
[The following Text has been printed from the only extant
copy of the original edition, by the kind permission of
WAKEFIELD CHRISTIE-MILLER, Esq. of Britwell Court, Bucks.]
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_To the Worshipful Master RICHARD STAPAR, one of the
Worshipful Company of Merchants Adventurers of this
honourable city of London, trading to Turkey and the
Eastern Kingdoms._
Your Worship's faithful well-willer W[ILLLAM] BARLEY
wisheth all fortunate and happy success in all your
enterprises, with increase of worldly worship;
and, after death, the joys unspeakable.
WORSHIPFUL SIR. The many reports of your rare virtues generally spoken
of all honest travellers who hath tasted the benefit of your bounty:
not only in our home born country where you have your residence; but
in those far countries where your honest Factors trade. By whose
worshipful and express command given [to] them, and the good they daily
do for all men which seek them; your Worship is accounted and called
the Pattern of Bounty: especially of such as are, in their travail
[_here meaning_ labours _as well as_ journeys] distressed with want;
which with money are relieved, as well as [with] other great cost
[that] their [_the Factors'_] favour or friendship can procure. So
that not only the poor and needy are pleasured thereby; but those that
swim in most abundance. All proceeding of your most kind and courteous
disposition.
The remembrance of which [having] moved a longing desire in me,
in some sort, to explain your worthiness and fame, by your bounty
gained: it had never such opportunity until this time when, perusing
my store of Papers and Writings of sundry men's labours, I chanced on
this pamphlet; which importeth the troublesome travails of our near
neighbour, born at Braintree in Essex, named RICHARD HASLETON.
Whose miseries as they were many (being in the hands both of Christian
and heathen enemies, for GOD and our country's cause; and his escapes
from death so often, and so wonderful); with the constant enduring
of the same: his preservation; and safe return to England, where his
longing desire so often wished him.
All which considered, with your Worship's love to all travellers,
emboldened me the rather under your Worship's patronage to publish
the same; especial zeal procuring me thereunto. And partly in regard
of your many favours to the said HASLETON in his miseries
extended; [and partly] that your Worship's good ensample may lighten
others to such good actions.
Hoping your Worship will accept of it no less friendly than I offer it
willingly: which if you do, then is my desire satisfied, and myself
rest bounden to your Worship's worthiness. Ever beseeching the Giver of
all good to increase the number of such worthy-minded subjects; by whom
our Prince and country are, in foreign parts, so much honoured.
Your Worship's
To command in what I may,