Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 256

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Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.

MAY,

arrestes of his merchantes in the Empire, Flanders, France, and Spáine: foreseeing withall how beneficiall ample vent would rise to all degrees throughout his kingdome, and specially to the infiuite number of the poore sort distressed by lacke of worke. And although by a voy- age hereuppon taken in hande for this purpose by sir Hugh Willobie, and Richard Chauncellour a discouerie of the bay of St. Nicolas in Russia fell out, and a trade with the Muscouites; and after another trade for a time with the Persians by way of the Caspian sea ensued, yet the discouerie of the principall intended place followed not in his time, nor yet since, vntil you tooke your happie and renowned voyage about the worlde in hande, although sundrie attemptes, at the great charges of diuers honorable and well disposed persons, and good worshipfull merchants and others haue beene made since the death of that good king, in seeking a passage thither both by the northeast and by the northwest. But since it is so (as wee vnderstande) that your worshippe in your late voyage hath first of our nation in this age discouered the famous rich ilandes of the Luzones, or Philippinas, lying neare vnto thecoast of China, and haue spent some time in tak- ing good view of the same, hauing brought home three boyes borne in Manilla, the chiefe towne of the said ilands, besides two other young fellowes of good capacitie, borne in the mightie iland of Iapon, (which hereafter may serue as our interpretors in our first traficke thither) and that also yourselfe haue sailed along the coast of China not farre from the continent, and haue taken some knowledge of the present state of the same, and in your course haue found out a nota- ble ample vent of our clothes, especially our kersies, and are in pre- paring againe for the former voyage, as hee that would constantly perseuer in so good an enterprise: we are to thinke that the know- ledge and first discouerie of the same, in respect of our nation, hath all this time beene by the Almightie to you onely reserved, to your immortall glorie, and to the manifest shew of his especial favour borne towards you, in that besides your high and rare attempt of sail- ing about the whole globe of the earth, in so short a time of two yeares and about two monethes, you haue shewed yourselfe to haue that rare and especial care for your countrie, by seeking out vent for our clothes, that ought vpon due consideration to moue many thou- sands of English subiects to pray for you, and to loue and honor your name and familie for euer. For as you haue opened by your attempt the gate to the spoile of the great and late mightie, vniuersall, and infested enimie of this realme, and of all countries that professe true religion: so haue you by your great care wrought a way to imploie

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