The first Englishman known to have reached the continent of India by the Cape of Good Hope.
[HAKLUYT, Voyages, 1589.]
A Letter written from Goa, the principal [Portuguese] city of all the East Indies, by one THOMAS STEVENS an Englishman; and sent to his father, Master THOMAS STEVENS. Anuo 1579.
After most humble commendations: these shall be to crave your daily blessing, with like commendations unto my mother; and withal to certify you of my being, according to your will and my duty. I wrote unto you, taking my journey from Italy to Portugal, which letters I think are come to your hands: so that presuming thereupon, I think I have the less need at this time to tell you the cause of my departing; which nevertheless in one word I may conclude, if I do but name Obedience.
I came to Lisbon towards the end [i.e. the 26th] of March eight days before the departure of the ships, so late that if they had not been stayed about some weighty matters, they had been long gone before our coming: insomuch that there were others ordained to go in our places that the King's provision and ours also might not be in vain. Nevertheless our sudden coming took place, and the 4th of April five ships departed for Goa, wherein, besides shipmen and soldiers, there were a great number of children which in the seas bear out better
