The Discovery of Guiana | Page 6

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