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 vnknowne,
vnlesse it were such as the Grecians and Romanes for
their owne glories and aduantages thought good to
declare. But to come to the matter of voyages
by sea, it is euident to all the world, what voyage
Iason with certaine yong Grecian Princes made to Colchos
in the Oriental Countries to winne the golden Fleece,
as also the trauels by Hercules performed into Libia
in the West partes, to winne the Aurea Mala, or golden
apples of Hesperides, which notwithstanding neither
for length, daunger, nor profite, are any thing comparable
to the nauigations and voyages, that of late within
the space of one hundreth years haue been performed
and made into the East and West Indies, whereby in
a manner there is not one hauen on the sea coast, nor
any point of land in the whole world, but hath in
time beene sought and founde out. I will not
at this present dispute or make an argument, whether
the Countries and nations of late yeares found out
and discouered, were knowne to the auncients, but
this is most certaine, that not any strange worke or
aduenture was, or euer shall be performed, but by the
speciall grace, fauour and mightie hand of God, and
that such are worthy perpetual memory, as with noble
minds haue sought to effect, and be the first enterprisers
thereof, and with most valiant courages and wisedomes,
haue performed such long and dangerous voyages into
the East and West Indies, as also such Kinges and
Princes, as with their Princely liberalities haue imployed
their treasures, shippes, men and munitions to the
furtherance and performance of so worthy actes, which
notwithstanding in the end turned to their great aduancementes
and inriching with great treasures, which by those
meanes they haue drawn, and caused in great aboundance
to be brought from thence, in such manner, that the
King of Spaine nowe liuing, (hauing both the Indies
in his possession, and reaping the abundant treasures
which yearly are brought out of those countries) hath
not only (although couertly) sought all the means
he could to bring all Christendome vnder his dominion,
but also (that which no King or country whatsoeuer
although of greater might then he hath euer done)
hee is not ashamed to vse this posie, Nec spe, nec
metu. And although the first founders and discouerers
of those Countries haue alwayes sought to hinder and
intercept other nations from hauing any part of their
glorie, yet hereby all nations, and indifferent persons
may well know and perceiue 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