{Transcriber's Note: Archaic typography which displays the letter "s" in aform that resembles the letter "f" has been transposed to the modern "s."British, archaic and inconsistent spellings have been left as in theoriginal, as have capitalization and italicisation. A few obvioustypographical errors have been changed. Margin notes are indicated wherethey occur in the text with {MN} and inserted in full at the end of theparagraph to which they refer.}
To the Right Honourable
WILLIAM Earl of PEMBROKE,
Lord Steward of His Majesty's most Honourable Houshold.
ROBERT Earl of LINDSEY,
Great Chamberlain of England,
HENRY Lord HUNSDON,
Viscount ROCHFORD, Earl of DOVER,
And all your Honourable Friends and Well-willers.
My Lords,
Sir Robert Cotton, that most Learned Treasurer of Antiquity, having byperusal of my General History, and others, found that I had likewiseundergone divers other as hard hazards in the other Parts of the World,requested me to fix the whole Course of my Passages in a Book by it self,whose noble Desire I could not but in part satisfie; the rather, becausethey have acted my fatal Tragedies upon the Stage, and racked my Relationsat their Pleasure. To prevent therefore all future Misprisions, I havecompiled this true Discourse. Envy hath taxed me to have writ too much,and done too little; but that such should know, how little I esteem them,I have writ this, more for the satisfaction of my Friends, and all generousand well disposed Readers. To speak only of my self were intolerableIngratitude; because, having had so many Co-Partners with me; I cannotmake a Monument for my self, and leave them unburied in the Fields, whoseLives begot me the Title of a Soldier; for as they were Companions with mein my Dangers, so shall they be partakers with me in this Tomb.
For my Sea Grammar (caused to be Printed by my worthy Friend, Sir SamuelSaltenstall) hath found such good Entertainment abroad, that I have beenimportuned by many noble Persons, to let this also pass the Press. Many ofthe most eminent Warriours, and others, what their Swords did, their Penswrit: Though I be never so much their inferiour, yet I hold it no greatErrour, to follow good Examples; nor repine at them will do the like.
And now, My most Honourable good Lords, I know not to whom I may betterPresent it, than to your Lordships, whose Friendships, as I conceive, areas much to each others, as my Duty is to you all; and becaus