haue made thereof a particular booke, which by Gods helpe I will bring with mee: Wherein I haue described the countrie, the monstrous fishes, y͏ͤ costomes and lawes of Frisland, Island, Estland, the kingdome of Norway, Estotiland, Drogio, and in the ende the life of master Nicolo, the knight our brother, with the discouerie which he made and of Groland. I haue also written the life and acts of Zichmni, a Prince as worthie of immortall memory, as any that euer liued, for his great valiancie and singuler humanitie, wherein I haue described the discouerie of Engroueland on both sides, and the Citie that he builded. Therefore I will speake no further hereof in this letter, hoping to be with you very shortly, and to satisfie you in sundrie other thinges by worde of mouth. All these letters were written by master Antonio to master Carlo his brother. And it greeueth me, that the booke and diuers other writings concerning these purposes, are miserably lost: For I beeing but a child, when they came to my handes, and not knowing what they were, (as the manner of children is) I tore them, and rent them in peeces, which now I cannot call to remembrance but to my greef. Notwithstanding, that the memory of so many good thinges shoulde not bee lost: whatsoeuer I could get of this matter, I haue discouered and put in order, in the former discourse, to the ende that this age might bee partly satisfied, to y͏ͤ which wee are more beholden for the great discoueries made in those partes, then to any other of the time past, beeing most studious of the relations of the discoueries of strange Countries, made by the great mindes, and industry of our auncetours.
Iohn Baptista Ramusio, died in Padua
in Iuly, 1557.
