grees sowtherly of the said river mowth: or els, that you shall trend about the very northen and most easterly poynt of all Asia, passing by the province Ania, and then in the latitude of 46, keping still the land in vewe on your right hand (as nere as you may with safety) you may enter into Quinsay haven, being the chief city in the northen China, as I terme yt, for distinction sake, from the other better known.

And in, or about eyther, or both of these two warme places, you may (to great good purpose) be occupyed the whole wynter after your aryvall in those quarters: as, sometyme by sea, sometyme in notable fresh ryvers, sometymes in discrete vew, and noting down the situation of cities within land, &c.: and ever assaying to come by some chartes, or maps, of the cuntry, made and printed in Cathay or China; and by some of their bookes likewise, for language, &c.

You may have opportunity allso to sayle over to Japan Iland, where you shall fynde Christen men, Jesuites of many cuntries of Christendom, and perhaps some Englishemen; at whose hands you may have great instruction and advise for our affayres in hand. God be favorable to these attempts, greatly tending to his glory, and the great honour of this kingdome ! Amen^[1].

 Anno 1580. Δ. Maij. 15.

Right worshipfull Sir, and my moste especiall good frend; Whereas it pleased you in your letter dated the 8. of November, moste courteously to request that of me which your manifowld desertes of right might have commaunded, I have endeavored, accordinge to the utmoste of my power, which doth shewe the smalnes of my skill, to satisfie your request therein, and have noted the particular poinctes of the tower and clocke of Strasbourge; wherein, because I finde many thinges farr to exceed the reporte, therefore I feare to undertake this bould enterprice, to send them put downe in writinge. For as Allexander, which was the only monarch was