The Discovery of Guiana | Page 5

nor time, as it
is said before, to perform the same.
There were on this discovery no less than an hundred persons, who can
all witness that when we passed any branch of the river to view the land
within, and stayed from our boats but six hours, we were driven to
wade to the eyes at our return; and if we attempted the same the day
following, it was impossible either to ford it, or to swim it, both by
reason of the swiftness, and also for that the borders were so pestered
with fast woods, as neither boat nor man could find place either to land
or to embark; for in June, July, August, and September it is impossible
to navigate any of those rivers; for such is the fury of the current, and
there are so many trees and woods overflown, as if any boat but touch
upon any tree or stake it is impossible to save any one person therein.
And ere we departed the land it ran with such swiftness as we drave
down, most commonly against the wind, little 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