A true reporte, of the late discoueries, and possession, taken in the right of the Crowne of Englande, of the new-found landes: by that valiaunt and worthye gentleman, Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight Wherein is also breefely sette downe, her highnesse lawfull tytle therevnto, and the great and manifolde commodities, that is likely to grow thereby, to the whole realme in generall, and to the aduenturers in particular. Together with the easines and shortnes of the voyage. Seene and allowed.

To the Right Honou∣rable Sir Fraunces Walsingham Knight, principall Secretarie to the Queene, her most excellent Maiestie.

HOW much more hap∣pie might I account my selfe, (right honourable Sir) if I had so well applied my time in this Vniuersitie, as through my more dilligent studye, I were able to handle the matter, (which I haue in this Treatise taken vp∣pon me) as the worthynes thereof dooth meryte.

Truely Sir I was for a time, drawen into a doubtfull ballaunce, whether I should proceede therein, as my af∣fection intised me, or leaue it off, as good discretion aduised mee. Eftsoones haue I righte hartely wished that some of those rype, and perfect witts, adorned with like iudgement, (wherewith God hath plentifully blessed this our age) woulde haue imploied their pennes, lear∣nedly to haue sette foorth thys cause: But seeing that in wishing, I doo fynde nothing, but to wish, and that the case so standeth, as eyther the thyng, right woorthye bothe knowledge, and practise, shall styll

lie in a slumber, or rather rest buryed in the graue of obliuion, vnlesse I doo make publique my weak∣nesse and insufficiencye, and therby subiect my selfe to the diuersitye of mens iudgements, I haue made choyse, rather to indure the disgrace of the one, then that my Countrey shoulde sustaine the inconuenience of the other, trusting that your honour (who hath hetherto beene a principall Patron of this Action) will vpon my humble sute vouchsafe your fauourable pro∣tection heereof. For wee doo reade (right honoura∣ble) that Archimedes in respecte of his grauitie and wisedome) helde that reputation amongst the Syracu∣sans, that whatsoeuer he allowed, was accounted for good: which historye, if I shoulde apply vnto your honour perticularlie, as both aptlie and truely I could, I might (in the opinion of some men) incurre the sus∣pition of flattery, and receiue from your Honour but the like aunswer, which King Theseus made vnto blind Oedipus.

I doo not (quoth hee) O Oedipus, honour my selfe with other mens words, but with mine owne works. In silence therefore will I passe your ready and ver∣tuous disposition, bothe honourably to fauour, and fauourably to further all such attemptes as seeme plea∣sing to GOD and profitable to your Countrey, both which (by the testimony of good writers, the opini∣nion of wise men, and experience of great trauailors, these VVesterne Discoueries doo certainly promise. In regarde whereof, I doo the rather presume to pre∣ferre this Pampflet to bee Patronized by so woorthy a personne, whereby my escapes may bee the more easilye excused, my willing paynes the better accep∣ted,

and the voyage more effectually supplyed.

Thus beeing lothe any longer to detayne your ho∣nour from your weightye affayres, I humblye take leaue, beseeching GOD manie yeeres to lengthen your life, with much encrease of honour. From my lodging in Oxforde, the tweluth of Nouember.

Your Honours poore Scholler, in all seruice to vse. G. P.