The Authors Epiftle Dedicatory.
in a great part of the Univerfe, not only in Europe but Iike-
wife in Afia 51 having travelled over the moft confiderable
and confpicuous part of thefe wide-extended Coun-
tries, when your Imperial Majefty did in the Year 1692
command me to go upon an EmbafTy to the King of
China 5 and that Journey being by the Grace of God,
and yourCzarifh Majefty's bountiful protection, brought
to a happy conclufion in the Year 169%.
Befldes, moft Illuftrious Monarch, your Majefty's
Royal Pleafure has lodged an Obligation upon me to
impart to the curious World what I faw and obferv'd
in my Journey 5 and my ingagement is ftili inforc'd by
this confideration, that your Imperial Majefty's Do-
minions out of Europe, are for the moft part unknown,
in regard that only Ruffians, arad no German had hi-
therto travell'd thro' great Tartary to China : How-
ever, I have here to the utmoft of my Power affected
truth and brevity, leaving the more prolix accounts to
thofe who make it their bufinefs to defcribe Countries.
In the next place, moft Serene Monarch, my prin-
cipal aim in this forry Performance, is to give the
whole World to know, that befides your Imperial Ma-
jefty's known Puiffant Monarchy 5 there are many
other unknown Forreign Countries, Confines, and ad-
jacent People, who in effect owe their Safety and Se-
curity to your Czarifh Majefty's goodnefs, and in pro-
cefs of time can't avoid ftooping and paying due ho-
mage to }rour Imperial Majefty's Soveraign Authority.
At Icaft, mofl Puijjant Soveraign and Lord, all clear and
impartial Heads, muft needs be fenfible that your
Czarifh Majclty's whole Empire, with the Kingdoms,
Principalities and Countries therein included, is juftly
compared to a Terreftrial Paradife., For   h^[