y Historiographers: And thinking with myselfe to whome I were best to
dedicate the same, I found it not fitter for any then for the right
worshipfull Gouernours of this famous Towne of Middelborgh, wherein for the
space of 19 yeares I haue peaceably continued, specially because your
worships do not onely deale with great store of shipping, and matter
belonging to nauigation, but are also well pleased to heare, and great
furtherers to aduance both shipping and traffiques, wherein consisteth not
onely the welfare of all marchants, inhabitants, and cittizens of this
famous City, but also of all the commonwealth of the vnited Prouinces,
hoping your worships wil not onely accept this my labour, but protect and
warrantise the same against all men: Wherewith I beseech God to blesse you
with wisedome, and godly policie, to gouerne the Commonwealth: Middleborgh
this 19 of October 1597.

Your worships seruant to command

BERNARDT LANGHENEZ.

A briefe description of a voyage performed by certaine Hollanders, to and
from the East Indies, with their aduentures and successe.

The ancient Historiographers and describers of the world haue much
commended, and at large with great prayse set downe the diuers and seuerall
voyages of many noble and valiant Captains (as of Alexander Magnus,
Seleucus, Antiochus, Patrocles, Onesecritus) into the East Indies, which
notwithstanding haue not set downe a great part of those coontries
[sic--KTH], as not being as then discouered, whereby it is thought and
iudged by some men, that India is the full third part of all the world,
because of the great Prouinces, mighty citties and famous Islands (full of
costly marchandises, and treasures from thence brought into all partes of
the worlde) that are therein: Wherein the auncient writers were very
curious, and yet not so much as men in our age: They had some knowledge
thereof, but altogether vncertaine, but we at this day are fully certified
therein, both touching the countreys, townes, streames and hauens, with the
trafiques therein vsed and frequented, whereby all the world, so farre
distant and seperated from those strange nations, are by trade of
marchandises vnited therevnto, and therby commonly knowne vnto them: The
Portingalles first began to enterprise the voyage, who by art of nauigation
(in our time much more experienced and greater then in times past, and
therefore easilier performed) discouered those wild Countries of India,
therein procu