ABSTRACT
[In 1 the name of Jesu, Amen. I, Francesco Alvarez, priest of the mass, who by special command of the King Don Emanuel 2 our lord, whom may God keep in His holy glory, went with Odoardo Galvan, 3 gentleman of his household, and of his Council, who was secretary to the King Don Alfonso and the King Don Giovanni his son 4 until his death, and who was sent by the King Don Emanuel as Ambassador to the King Prester John, have decided to write down everything that happened on this journey, and the countries where we were, and their characteristics, customs and practices, which we found there, and how they conform to Christianity, not censuring or approving their customs and usages, but leaving everything to my readers (who could instruct me) to praise, amend or correct as shall seem best to them. And as speaking sometimes of one country and then of another I may seem to have confused them, I say that we were in those lands for six years continuously, during which I tried to learn about a great part of the countries, kingdoms and lordships of the said Prester John, and their customs and practices, some by 39seeing them and some by hearing of them from someone who knew them well. 1 As I learnt of them so I have written them down, that is to say, declaring things seen to have been seen and things heard of to have been heard of. I swear upon my soul that I shall tell no lie and as I hope and trust in Our Lord God that at my death He may hold our confession to be true, so shall this present writing be, for to lie to our neighbours is to lie to God.]
