The preparation to this Voyage, and what befell them in the way till they departed from Saldania.

The merchants of London, in the yeare of our Lord 1600, ioyned together and made a stocke of seventie-two thousand pounds, to bee imployed in ships and merchantdizes, for the discovery of a trade in the East India, to bring into this realme spices and other commodities. They bought foure great ships to be imployed in this voyage: the Dragon, of the burthen of six hundred tunne; the Hector, of the burthen of three hundred tunnes; the Ascention, of the burthen of two hundred and three score tunnes. These ships they furnished with men, victuals, and munition for twentie monethes, and sent in them, in merchandise and Spanish money, to the value of seven and twentie thousand pounds: all the rest of their stocke was spent and consumed about the shippes and other necessaries appertayning to them, with money lent to the mariners and saylers beforehand that went upon the voyage.

The merchants were suters to her Maiestie, who gave them her friendly letters of commendation, written to divers princes of India, offering to enter into a league of peace and amitie with them, the copies of which letters shall hereafter appeare in their places. And because no great action can be well carryed and accomplished without an absolute authoritie of justice, shee granted to the generall of their fleet, Master James Lancaster, for his better command and gouvernment, a commission of martiall law.