ces
accompanied by pillage, fire, and treasure seeking both on land and on
sea form exciting reading. _The Buccaneers and Marooners of America_
well deserves a place on the book shelf with those old world-wide
favorites _Robinson Crusoe_ and the _Swiss Family Robinson_.

GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS.

THE TRANSLATOR

TO THE

READER (OF 1684).

_THE present Volume, both for its Curiosity and Ingenuity, I dare
recommend unto the perusal of our English nation, whose glorious actions
it containeth. What relateth unto the curiosity hereof, this Piece, both
of Natural and Humane History, was no sooner published in the_ Dutch
Original, _than it was snatch't up for the most curious Library's of_
Holland; _it was Translated into_ Spanish _(two impressions thereof
being sent into_ Spain _in one year_); _it was taken notice of by the
learned Academy of Paris; and finally recommended as worthy our esteem,
by the ingenious Author of the_ Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious,
_printed here at_ London _about two years ago. Neither all this
undeservedly, seeing it enlargeth our acquaintance of Natural History,
so much prized and enquir'd for, by the Learned of this present Age,
with several observations not easily to be found in other accounts
already received from_ America: _and besides, it informeth us (with
huge novelty) of as great and bold attempts, in point of Military
conduct and valour, as ever were performed by mankind; without
excepting, here, either_ Alexander the Great, _or_ Julius Caesar, _or the
rest of the_ Nine Worthy's of Fame. _Of all which actions, as we cannot
confess ourselves to have been ignorant hitherto (the very name of_
Bucaniers _being, as yet, known but unto few of the_ Ingenious; _as
their Lives, Laws, and Conversation, are in a manner unto none) so can
they not choose but be admired, out of this ingenuous Author, by
whosoever is curious to learn the various revolutions of humane affairs.
But, more especially by our_ English Nation; _as unto whom these things
more narrowly do appertain. We having here more than half the Book
filled with the unparallel'd, if not inimitable, adventures and_ Heroick
_exploits of our own Country-men, and Relations; whose undaunted, and
exemplary courage, when called upon by our King and Country, we ought to
emulate._

_From whence it hath proceeded, that nothing of this kind was ever, as
yet, published in_ England, _I cannot easil