[1738 edition]

Courteous and friendly reader,

There are some passages in my book that are not so well placed as could have been wished. Some errors may have escaped the press, the printer being much encumbered with other concerns. Thou art lovingly entreated to excuse, amend, or censure it as thee please. But remember that it was written by one that was a poor common sailor and an illiterate [uneducated] man.

—Benjamin Lay