The Right Honorable George Earl of Berkley,
    The Right Honorable James Lord Chandois. 
    Sir Matthew Andrews Knight,
    Sir John Bancks Baronet,
    Sir Samuel Barnardiston Baronet,
    Mr. Christopher Boone,
    John Bathurst Esquire,
    Sir Josia Child Baronet,
    Mr. Thomas Canham,
    Collonel John Clerk,
    Sir James Edwards Knight,
    Mr. Joseph Herne,
    Richard Hutchinson Esquire,
    James Hublon Esquire,
    Sir John Lethieullier Knight,
    Mr. Nathaniel Petton,
    Sir John Moor Knight,
    Samuel Moyer Esquire,
    Mr. John Morden,
    Mr. John Paige,
    Edward Rudge Esquire,
    Daniel Sheldon Esquire,
    Mr. Jeremy Sambrook,
    Robert Thomson Esquire.

Right Worshipful,

Since my return home to my Native Countrey of England, after a long and Disconsolate Captivity, my Friends and Acquaintance in our Converse together have been Inquisitive into the State of that Land in which I was Captivated; whose Curiosity I indeavour to satisfie.  But my Relations and Accounts of Things in those Parts were so strange and uncouth, and so different from those in these Western Nations, and withal my Discourses seeming so Delightful and Acceptable unto them, they very frequently called upon me to write what I knew of that Island of Ceilon, and to digest it into a Discourse, and make it more Publick; unto which motion I was not much unwilling, partly that I might comply with the Desires and Councels of my Friends, and chiefly that I might Publish and Declare the great Mercy of God to me, and Commemorate before all Men my singular Deliverance out of that Strange and Pagan Land, which as often as I think of or mention, I cannot but admire and adore the goodness of God towards me, there being in it so many notable Footsteps of his signal Providence.

I had then by me several Papers, which during my Voyage homeward from Bantam at leisure times I writ concerning the King and the Countrey, and concerning the English there, and of my Escape; which Papers I forthwith set my self to Peruse and draw into a Method, and to add what more might occur to my Thoughts of those Matters, which at length I have finished, contriving what I had to relate under four Heads.  The first concerning the Countrey and Products of it.  The second concerning the King and his Government.  The third concerning the Inhabitants, and their Religion and Customs, and the last concerning our Surprize, Detainment and Escape; In all which I take leave to Declare, That I have writ nothing but either what I am assured of by my own personal Knowledge to be true, and wherein I have born a great and a sad share, or what I have received from the Inhabitants themselves of such things as are commonly known to be true among them.  The Book, being thus perfected, it required no long Meditation unto whom to present it, it could be to none but your selves (my Honoured Masters) by