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less than an hundred miles a day。 Besides； our vessels were no other
than wherries； one little barge； a small cock…boat； and a bad galiota
which we framed in haste for that purpose at Trinidad； and those
little boats had nine or ten men apiece； with all their victuals and
arms。 It is further true that we were about four hundred miles from
our ships； and had been a month from them； which also we left weakly
manned in an open road； and had promised our return in fifteen days。
Others have devised that the same ore was had from Barbary； and that
we carried it with us into Guiana。 Surely the singularity of that
device I do not well comprehend。 For mine own part； I am not so much
in love with these long voyages as to devise thereby to cozen myself；
to lie hard； to fare worse； to be subjected to perils； to diseases； to
ill savours； to be parched and withered； and withal to sustain the
care and labour of such an enterprise； except the same had more
comfort than the fetching of marcasite in Guiana； or buying of gold
ore in Barbary。 But I hope the better sort will judge me by
themselves； and that the way of deceit is not the way of honour or
good opinion。 I have herein consumed much time； and many crowns； and I
had no other respect or desire than to serve her Majesty and my
country thereby。 If the Spanish nation had been of like belief to
these detractors we should little have feared or doubted their
attempts； wherewith we now are daily threatened。 But if we now
consider of the actions both of Charles the Fifth； who had the
maidenhead of Peru and the abundant treasures of Atabalipa； together
with the affairs of the Spanish king now living； what territories he
hath purchased； what he hath added to the acts of his predecessors；
how many kingdoms he hath endangered； how many armies； garrisons； and
navies he hath； and doth maintain； the great losses which he hath
repaired； as in Eighty…eight above an hundred sail of great ships with
their artillery； and that no year is less infortunate； but that many
vessels； treasures； and people are devoured； and yet notwithstanding
he beginneth again like a storm to threaten shipwrack to us all； we
shall find that these abilities rise not from the trades of sacks and
Seville oranges； nor from aught else that either Spain； Portugal； or
any of his other provinces produce； it is his Indian gold that
endangereth and disturbeth all the nations of Europe； it purchaseth
intelligence； creepeth into counsels； and setteth bound loyalty at
liberty in the greatest monarchies of Europe。 If the Spanish king can
keep us from foreign enterprises； and from the impeachment of his
trades； either by offer of invasion； or by besieging us in Britain；
Ireland； or elsewhere； he hath then brought the work of our peril in
great forwardness。
Those princes that abound in treasure have great advantages over the
rest； if they once constrain them to a defensive war； where they are
driven once a year or oftener to cast lots for their own garments； and
from all such shall all trades and intercourse be taken away； to the
general loss and impoverishment of the kingdom and commonweal so
reduced。 Besides； when our men are constrained to fight； it hath not
the like hope as when they are pressed and encouraged by the desire of
spoil and riches。 Farther； it is to be doubted how those that in time
of victory seem to affect their neighbour nations will remain after
the first view of misfortunes or ill success； to trust； also； to the
doubtfulness of a battle is but a fearful and uncertain adventure；
seeing therein fortune is as likely to prevail as virtue。 It shall not
be necessary to allege all that might be said； and therefore I will
thus conclude； that whatsoever kingdom shall be enforced to defend
itself may be compared to a body dangerously diseased； which for a
season may be preserved with vulgar medicines； but in a short time；
and by little and little； the same must needs fall to the ground and
be dissolved。 I have therefore laboured all my life； both according to
my small power and persuasion； to advance all those attempts that
might either promise return of profit to ourselves； or at least be a
let and impeachment to the quiet course and plentiful trades of the
Spanish nation； who； in my weak judgement； by such a war were as
easily endangered and brought from his powerfulness as any prince in
Europe； if it be considered from how many kingdoms and nations his
revenues are gathered； and those so weak in their own beings and so
far severed from mutual succour。 But because such a preparation and
resolution is not to be hoped for in haste； and that the time which
our enemies embrace cannot be had again to advantage； I will hope that
these provinces； and that empire now by me discovered； shall suffice
to enable her Majesty and the whole kingdom with no less quantities of
treasure than the king of Spain hath in all the Indies； East and West；
which he possesseth； which if the same be considered and followed； ere
the Spaniards enforce the same； and if her Majesty will undertake it；
I will be contented to lose her Highness' favour and good opinion for
ever； and my life withal； if the same be not found rather to exceed
than to equal whatsoever is in this discourse promised and declared。 I
will now refer the reader to the following discourse； with the hope
that the perilous and chargeable labours and endeavours of such as
thereby seek the profit and honour of her Majesty； and the English
nation； shall by men of quality and virtue receive such construction
and good acceptance as themselves would like to be rewarded withal in
the like。
THE DISCOVERY＇*＇ OF GUIANA＇＋＇
＇*＇ Exploration
＇＋＇ The name is derived from the Guayano Indians； on the Orinoco。
On Thursday； the sixth of February； in the year 1595； we departed
England； and the Sunday following had sight of the north cape of
Spain； the wind for the most part continuing prosperous； we passed in
sight of the Burlings； and the Rock； and so onwards for the Canaries；
and fell with Fuerteventura the 17。 of the same month； where we spent
two or three days； and relieved our companies with some fresh meat。
From thence we coasted by the Grand Canaria； and so to Teneriffe； and
stayed there for the Lion's Whelp； your Lordship's ship； and for
Captain Amyas Preston and the rest。 But when after seven or eight days
we found them not； we departed and directed our course for Trinidad；
with mine own ship； and a small barque of Captain Cross's only； for we
had before lost sight of a small galego on the coast of Spain； which
came with us from Plymouth。 We arrived at Trinidad the 22。 of March；
casting anchor at Point Curiapan； which the Spaniards call Punta de
Gallo； which is situate in eight degrees or thereabouts。 We abode
there four or five days； and in all that time we came not to the
speech of any Indian or Spaniard。 On the coast we saw a fire； as we
sailed from the Point Carao towards Curiapan； but for fear of the
Spaniards none durst come to speak with us。 I myself coasted it in my
barge close aboard the shore and landed in every cove； the better to
know the island； while the ships kept the channel。 From Curiapan after
a few days we turned up north…east to recover that place which the
Spaniards call Puerto de los Espanoles （now Port of Spain）； and the
inhabitants Conquerabia； and as before； revictualling my barge； I left
the ships and kept by the shore； the better to come to speech with
some of the inhabitants； and also to understand the rivers； watering…
places； and ports of the island； which； as it is rudely done； my
purpose is to send your Lordship after a few days。 From Curiapan I
came to a port and seat of Indians called Parico； where we found a
fresh water river； but saw no people。 From thence I rowed to another
port； called by the naturals Piche； and by the Spaniards Tierra de
Brea。 In the way between both were divers little brooks of fresh
water； and one salt river that had store of oysters upon the branches
of the trees； and were very salt and well tasted。 All their oysters
grow upon those boughs and sprays； and not on the ground； the like is
commonly seen in other places of the West Indies； and elsewhere。 This
tree is described by Andrew Thevet； in his France Antarctique； and the
form figured in the book as a plant very strange； and by Pliny in his
twelfth book of his Natural History。 But in this island； as also in
Guiana； there are very many of them。
At this point； called Tierra de Brea or Piche； there is that abundance
of stone pitch that all the ships of the world may be therewith laden
from thence； and we made trial of it in trimming our ships to be most
excellent good； and melteth not with the sun as the pitch of Norway；
and therefore for ships trading the south parts very profitable。 From
thence we went to the mountain foot called Annaperima； and so passing
the river Carone； on which the Spanish city was seated； we met with
our ships at Puerto de los Espanoles or Conquerabia。
This island of Trinidad hath the form of a sheephook； and is but
narrow； the north part is very mountainous； the soil is very
excellent； and will bear sugar； ginger； or any other commodi