Purchas his pilgrimes. part 1 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. I. Of Europe compared with the other parts of the World. [ 50]

THree parts of the World haue beene three times * 1.1 visited by our more laborious then learned Muse: the Fourth for whose sake that triple-worke receiued so of∣ten suruay, hath seemed forgotten. Asia, Africa, and America, haue first bin discouered to our Reader, not as enioying the first and best place, but offering their readie seruice and best attendance vnto Europe; the least in quantity, and last in discourse, but greatest in those things which for greatnesse and goodnesse deserue the most applause and admiration. Our method hath not obserued that Feast-masters rule, at the beginning to set forth good Wine, and when men haue well drunke, then that which is worse; but we haue kept the good Wine vntill now: following His example, who in the first Creation made [ 60] Man last; in humane and reasonable designes, allots the last execution, to the first intentions; in Religions Mysteries sends the Gospel after the Law, giues Heauen after Earth, and reserues Himselfe for the last seruice, to be our exceeding great reward; when God shall be all in all vnto his seruants. Him I beseech that here also he will turne our water into Wine, that we may be able

to giue Feastiuall entertainment vnto our Guests, that as Europe excels the other parts of the World, so my Muse may here exceed her wonted selfe, and present it vnto you in ornaments of Art, Industry and Syncerity, befitting such a Subiect. Hard were our hap to suffer shipwracke in the Hauen; to faile in the last Act would marre the Comaedie; to be a stranger at home, and like the Lapwing to flie most and cry lowdest, being farthest from the Nest, were to trauell of vanitie, and bring forth folly,* 1.2 or with the wilde Prodigall in the Gospell to be still trauelling from himselfe. We are now in manner at home; when most remote, neuer out of European li∣mits, and therefore need not ••eare (as before) burning or frozen Zones, huge Oceans, new Con∣stellations, vnknowne Lands, vnpassable Deserts, vncouth Monsters, Sauage beasts, more beast∣ly and monstrous men. We need not follow the out-worne foot-prints of rare vncertaine Tra∣uellers, [ 10] where Truth herselfe is suspicious in such forren disguised habit, nor need wee doubt to want guides, except the store become a sore, and plentie troublesome. Only we may feare in this taske frequent Censurers, not rigid Catoes, or seuerer iudicious Iudges, but capricious Nouices, which hauing comne to their Lands sooner then their wits, would think the World might con∣demne them of ill-spent time, if they should not spend an indigested censure on the Bookish Trauels of others. Bu•• I should be like them if I should feare them, shallow and emptie. How∣euer, I haue aduentured on this European Stage: wherein we are first to consider the more generall Occurrences, and after that the particular Regions. Of the former sort are the Names, Bounds▪ Excellencies, Languages.

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Notes

• * 1.1

  The fourth time it is now on the Pres••e. Io. 2.10. Gen. 15.1. 1. Cor. 15.28. Dedit se in me∣ritum, da••its se in praemium. Ber.
• * 1.2

  Luke 15.17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.