 | |  |
TO THE HAND.
Least I should wrong any in dedicating this Booke to one: I have
concluded it shal be particular to none. I found it only dedicated to
a Hand, and to that hand I addresse it. Now for that this businesse
is common to the world, this booke may best satisfie the world,
because it was penned in the Land it treateth of. If it bee disliked of
men, then I would recommend it to women, for being dearely
bought, and farre sought, it should be good for Ladies. When all
men rejected Christopher Collumbus: that ever renowned Queene
Izabell of Spaine, could pawne her Jewels to supply his wants; whom
all the wise men (as they thought themselves) of that age contemned.
I need not say what was his worthinesse, her noblenesse, and their
ignorance, that so scornefully did spit at his wants, seeing the whole
world is enriched with his golden fortunes. Cannot this successfull
example move the incredulous of this time, to consider, to conceave,
and apprehend Virginia, which might be, or breed us a second
India? hath not England an Izabell, as well as Spaine, nor yet a
Collumbus as well as Genua?
no lesse then was worthy Collumbus, their certainties more, their
experiences no way wanting, only there wants but an Izabell, so it
were not from Spaine.
T. A.
7. Evidently the initials of Thomas Abbay, who is listed as a "diligent observer" on
the title page of the Proceedings, appears as author of the address "To the Reader" (Pro-
ceedings, sig. A2r-v), and is mentioned as a gentleman of the second supply that arrived
late in Sept. 1608 (ibid., 52). He is otherwise unidentified.
| | |