ABSTRACT
My desire is to shew unto my reader what parts of America I travelled through, and did abide in, observing more particularly the state, condition, strength, and commodities of those countries which lie southward from Mexico. It is further my desire, nay the chief ground of this my history, that whilst my country doth here observe an Englishman, become American, travelling many thousand miles there, as may be noted from St John de Ulhua to Mexico, and from thence southward to Panama, and from thence northward again to Cartagena, and to Havana, God’s goodness may be admired, and his providence extolled who suffered not the meanest and unworthiest of all his creatures to perish in such unknown countries; to be swallowed by North or South Sea, where shipwrecks were often feared; to be lost in wildernesses where no tongue could give directions; to be devoured by wolves, lions, tigers, or crocodiles, which there so much abound; to fall from steepy rocks and mountains, which seem to dwell in the aerial region, and threaten with fearful spectacles of deep and profound precipices, a horrid and inevitable death to those that climb up to them; to be eaten up by the greedy earth which there doth often quake and tremble, and hath sometimes opened her mouth to draw in towns and cities; to be stricken with those fiery darts of Heaven and thunderbolts which in winter season threaten the rocks and cedars; to be enchanted by Satan’s instruments, witches and sorcerers, who there as on their own ground play their pranks more than in the parts of Christendom; to be quite blinded with Romish errors and superstitions, which have double blinded the ourblind heathenish idolaters; to be wedded to the pleasures and licentiousness which do there allure; to be glutted with the plenty and dainties of fish, flesh, fowls, and fruits, which do there entice; to be puffed up with the spirit of pride and powerful command and authority over the poor Indians, which doth there provoke; to be tied with the cords of vanity and ambition, which there are strong; and finally to be glued in heart and affection to the dross of gold, silver, pearls, and jewels, whose plenty there doth bind, blind, captivate, and enslave the soul. Oh, I say, let the Lord’s great goodness and wonderful providence be observed who suffered not an English Stranger in all these dangers to miscarry, but was a guide unto him there in all his travels, discovered unto him as to the spies in Canaan, and as to Joseph in Egypt, the provision, wealth, and riches of that world, and safely guided him back to relate to England the truth of what no other English eye did ever yet behold.
