Robert Record

Here he speakes : ' For your commodities I will shortly set forthe suche a book of navigation' quaere de hoc libro 'as I dare saie shall partly satisfy and contente not onely your expectation but also the desire of a great nomber beside. Wherein I will not forget specialy to touche bothe the old attempte for the northerly navigations and the late good adventure with the fortunate successe in discovering that voyage which no man before you durst attempt sith the time of king Alfred his reigne, I meane by the space of 700 yeare, nother ever any before that time had passed that voiage except onely Ohthere that dwelt in Halgolande who reported that jorney to the noble king Alurede, as it doeth yet remain in auncient recorde of the old Saxon tongue. In that book also I will show certain meanes how without great difficultie you may saile to the North-east Indies and so to Camul Chinchital and Balor which be countries of great commodities ; as for Chatai lieth so far within the land toward the South Indian seas that the journey is not to be attempted untill you be better acquainted with those countries that you must first arrive at. At London the XII day of November 1557.'