A relation of ten years in Europe, Asia, Affrique, and America all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by Richard Fleckno.

XXII To Madamoiselle de Beauvais, from Lisbon, Anno 45. (Book 22)

Madamoiselle,

YOu will wonder, that having seen the Court of the world, in Paris, Rome, and Constantinople; the City of it, in Venice, Genoa, and Lisbon; the Garden, in Provence, Anda∣luzia, and Italy; and the Paradise of it where you are, that I should now go see the Desart and Wildernesse of it in Affrique and America, the one (all the Coast along) nothing but barren sand, and the other where I am going (the Brasils) all overgrown with woods and Trees; And that too in midst of so great de∣sire to return for Flanders, as never any thing

was more ardently desired; but when you hear my reasons for it, you will absolve me, Madamoiselle, I'me sure of Legerity or change of resolution.

B•• pleased to know then, that just upon point of my Embarquement for Flanders, un∣derstanding of the losse of the Battail of Lens, I thought it no ways fit to render the joy I hop'd to conceive at sight of my friends in Flanders abortive by their general sadnesse there; Wherefore casting about for some di∣version for a year or so, till your losses might be recovered or forgot, there opportunely of∣fered it self unto me, the voyage of Brasil, which having propos'd unto the King (with∣out whose permission no stranger can under∣take that Voyage) his Majesty not only gave me permission, but 200 Crowns aiut a de costa for my voyage, when a hundred other con∣siderations began to encourage me to the un∣dertaking it (besides the ardent thirst I had of voyaging, which nothing but the whole oce∣an could quench) first having seen so many ra∣rities of the Brasils in Portugal; I thought it worthy my voyage thither to fetch you some of them. ••ly. According to the antient ex∣piation of fire and and water, I thought it fit to passe whole Oceans, and the Torrid zone, before I approacht unto your presence. 3ly. Having somewhat in me of the Philosopher

and Astrologer, I imagined it richly worth my journey, to see the stars of the other pole, and nature of the other Hemiphere. And last∣ly my desire of seeing all the world is so insati∣ate (whether the more one sees of it, the less he is satisfied, or that it satisfies so much, as one has still a desire of seeing more) as just like another Alexander, not thinking one world sufficient, I am seeking another forth; Mean time (Madamoiselle) your goodnesse will pardon this presumption of mine (who ought not to stir out of one Room into ano∣ther without your permission) that I dare pre∣sume to goe out of one world into another without your Licence, being as I am

Madamoiselle,

Your, &c.