Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
PRE- AND EARLY COLONIAL LITERATURE
1.6.1 From A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land
of Virginia
(1588)
Preface
TO THE RIGHT WORTHIE AND HONORABLE, SIR WALTER RALEGH,
KNIGHT, SENESCHAL OF THE DVCHIES OF CORNEWALL AND EXETER,
AND L. WARDEN OF THE STANNARIES IN DEUON AND CORNEWALL, T.B.
WISHETH TRUE FELICITIE.
SIR, seeing that the parte of the Worlde, which is betwene the FLORIDA
and the Cap BRETON nowe nammed VIRGINIA, to the honneur of yours most
souueraine Layde and Queene ELIABET, hath ben descouuerd by yours
meanes. And great chardges. And that your Collonye hath been theer established
to your great honnor and prayse, and noelesser prot vnto the common welth:
Yt ys good raison that euery man euertwe him selfe for to showe the benet which
they haue receue of yt. Theerfore, for my parte I haue been allwayes Desirous for
to make yow knowe the good will that I haue to remayne still your most humble
særuant. I haue thincke that I cold faynde noe better occasion to declare yt, then
takinge the paines to cott in copper (the most diligent ye and well that wear in
my possible to doe) the Figures which doe leuelye represent the forme and maner
of the Inhabitants of the sane countrye with theirs ceremonies, sollemne feastes,
and the manner and situation of their Townes of Villages. Addinge vnto euery
gure a brief declaration of the same, to that ende that cuerye man cold the better
vnderstand that which is in liuely represented. Moreouer I haue thincke that
the aforesaid gures wear of greater commendation, If somme Histoire which
traitinge of the commodites and fertillitye of the rapport which Thomas Hariot
hath lattely sett foorth, and haue causse them booth togither to be printed for
to dedicated vnto you, as a thiuge which by reigtte dooth allreadye apparteyne
vnto you. Therfore doe I creaue that you will accept this little Booke, and take yt
In goode partte. And desiring that fauor that you will receue me in the nomber
of one of your most humble seruantz, besechinge the lord to blese and further
you in all yours good doinges and actions, and allso to preserue, and keepe you
allwayes in good helthe. And so I comitt you unto the almyhttie, from Franckfort
the rst of Apprill 1590.
Your most humble seruant,
THEODORVS de BRY.
TO THE ADVENTVRERS, FAVORERS, AND VVELVVILLERS OF THE
ENTERPRISE FOR THE INHABITTING AND PLANTING IN VIRGINIA.
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