historicalgeogra00psal

The Epiflle Dedicatory.
about Things never fo weighty and
intricate] muft be allow'd (ome Minutes
to unbend, I fubmifliyely beg
You would plcafe to beftow fome of
them upon this Treatife , well-knowings
if Your Lordlhip fmile upon it^
the V/orld cannot diflike it.
The Europeans have fuch obfcure
and various Notions of Japan ^ and
efpecially of our Ifland Formofa^
that they can believe nothing for
truth that has been faid of it. But
the prevailing Reafon for this my
Undertaking was, becaufe the Jefuits^
I found , had impos'd fo many Stories^
and fuch grofs Fallacies upon the
Publickj that they might the better
excufe themfelves from thofe bafe
Anions, which defervedly brought
upon them that fierce Perfecution in
Japan : I thought therefore it would
not be unacceptable if I publifh'd a
fliort Defcription of the Ifland Formofa^
and told the Reafons why this
wicked Society, and at laft all that
profefs'd