orderly one vpon another, doe much more lighten the readers vnderstanding,
and confirme his iudgment, then if they had bene scattered in sundry
corners of the worke. Which methode I obserue from the highest North to the
lowest South.[3] Now where any country hath bene but seldome hanted, or any
extraordinary or chiefe action occureth, if I finde one voyage well written
by two seuerall persons, sometimes I make no difficultie to set downe both
those iournals, as finding diuers things of good moment obserued in the
one, which are quite omitted in the other. For commonly a souldier
obserueth one thing, and a mariner another, and as your honour knoweth,
Plus vident oculi, quàm oculus. But this course I take very seldome and
sparingly. And albeit my worke do cary the title of The English voyages,
aswell in regard that the greatest part are theirs, and that my trauaile
was chiefly vndertaken for preseruation of their memorable actions, yet
where our owne mens experience is defectiue, there I haue bene careful to
supply the same with the best and chiefest relations of strangers. As in
the discouery of the Grand Bay, of the mighty riuer of S. Laurence, of the
countries of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay, of Florida, and the Inland of
Cibola, Tiguex, Cicuic, and Quiuira, of The gulfe of California, and the
North westerne sea-coast to Cabo Mendoçino and Sierra Neuada: as also of
the late and rich discouery of 15. prouinces on the backside of Florida and
Virginia, the chiefest whereof is called the kingdome of New Mexico, for
the wealth, ciuil gouernment, and populousnesse of the same. Moreouer
because since our warres with Spaine, by the taking of their ships, and
sacking of their townes and cities, most of all their secrets of the West
Indies, and euery part thereof are fallen into our peoples hands (which in
former time were for the most part vnknowen vnto vs,) I haue vsed the
vttermost of my best endeuour, to get, and hauing gotten, to translate out
of Spanish, and here in this present volume to publish such secrets of
theirs, as may any way auaile vs or annoy them, if they driue and vrge vs
by their sullen insolencies, to continue our courses of hostilitie against