The totall discourse, of the rare adventures, and painefull peregrinations of long nineteene yeares travailes from Scotland, to the most famous kingdomes in Europe, Asia, and Affrica Perfited by three deare bought voyages, in surveying of forty eight kingdomes ancient and modern; twenty one rei-publicks, ten absolute principalities, with two hundred islands. ... divided into three bookes: being newly corrected, and augmented in many severall places, with the addition of a table thereunto annexed of all the chiefe heads. Wherein is contayed an exact relation of the lawes, religions, policies and governments of all their princes, potentates and people. Together with the grievous tortures he suffered by the Inquisition of Malaga in Spaine ... And of his last and late returne from the Northern Isles, and other places adjacent. By William Lithgow.

The Prologue to the Reader.

IUdicious Lector: If good Bookes may be termed wise guides, then certainely true Histories may be termed perfit O∣racles; Secret Counsellours, private Schoole-masters: Familiar friends to cherish Knowledge, and the best Intelligencers for all intendments, be∣ing duely pondred, and rightly used. This labourious Worke then of mine, depending on this Preamble, is only composed of mine owne Eie-sight, and occular experience; (pluris est occulatos test is unus, quam auriti decem) being the perfit mirrour, and lively Portraicture of true understanding, excelling farre all inventions whatsoever, either Poeticke, or Theorick, And now to shunne Ingratitude, which I disdain as Hell, I thought it best to exhibit the profit of my painfull Tra∣vailes to the desirous World, for two respects; for as my dangerous adventures have beene wrought out from the in∣finite variety of variable Sights, innumerable toyles, pleasures, and inevitable sorrowes; so doth it also best simpathize with reason, and most fitting that I should ge∣nerally dispose of the same, to the temperate iudgements of the better sort, the sound and absolute opinions of the Judicious, and to the variable censures of calumni••us Criticks, who run at randon in the fields of other mens Labour, but can not find the home-bred way in their owne

close grounds; and therefore the different disposition of the good and bad, doe best concurre with the interchangeable occurrences of the matter.

Neverthelesse, for thy more easier understanding, I have divided this History into ten Parts, and they also into three Bookes; which being seriously perused, doubtlesse thy Labour shall receive both profit and pleasure. Accept them therefore with the same love, that I offer them to thee, since they cost thee nothing but the Reading, how deare soever they are to me. But understand me better, I scorne to draw my Pen to the ignorant Foole, for I contemne both. To the Wise I know it will be welcome, to the profound Historian yeeld Knowledge, Contempla∣tion, and direction: and to the understanding Gentle∣man, insight, instruction, and recreation: and to the true bred Poet fraternall love, both in meane and manner. Now as touching the hissing of snakish Papists, a tush for that snarling Crew; for as this Worke, being fensed with experience and garnished with trueth, is more then able to batter downe the stinging venome of their despightfull Waspishnes: so also they may clearely see therein, as in a Mir∣rour, their owne blindnes, and the damnable errours of their blind Guiders, Deceiuers and Idolaters: And aboue all the cruell infliction imposed vpon me, by the mercilesse Inquisi∣tion of their profession in Malaga; which for Christs sake I constantly suffered, in Tortures, Torments, and Hunger.

And lastly, they may perceive Gods miraculous Mercy, in discovering and delivering me from such a concealed and inhumane murther.

And now referring the well set Reader to the History it selfe, where satisfaction lyeth ready to receive him, and expectation desirous of deserved thankes. I come to talke

talke with the scelerate Companion: If thou beest a Villain, a Ruffian, a Momus, a Knave, a C••rper, a Critick, a Bubo, a Buffon, a stupid Asse, and a gnawing Worme with envious Lips, I bequeath thee to a Carnifi∣ciall reward, where a hempen Rope will soone dispatch thy snarling slander, and free my toylesome Travailes and now painefull Labours, from the deadly poyson of thy sharpe edged calumnies, and so goe hang thy selfe; for I neither will respect thy Love, nor regard thy Malice: and shall ever and alwayes remaine,

To the Courteous still Observant: And to the Criticall Knave as he deserveth. William Lithgow.