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before； to get knowledge of the passages； and I had some light from
Captain Parker； sometime my servant； and now attending on your
Lordship； that such a place there was to the southward of the great bay of
Charuas； or Guanipa： but I found that it was 600 miles farther off than
they supposed； and many impediments to them unknown and unheard。
After I had displanted Don Antonio de Berreo； who was upon the same
enterprise； leaving my ships at Trinidad； at the port called Curiapan； I
wandered 400 miles into the said country by land and river； the particulars
I will leave to the following discourse。
The country hath more quantity of gold； by manifold； than the best
parts of the Indies； or Peru。 All the most of the kings of the borders are
already become her Majesty's vassals； and seem to desire nothing more
than her Majesty's protection and the return of the English nation。 It hath
another ground and assurance of riches and glory than the voyages of the
West Indies； an easier way to invade the best parts thereof than by the
common course。 The king of Spain is not so impoverished by taking three
or four port towns in America as we suppose； neither are the riches of Peru
or Nueva Espana so left by the sea side as it can be easily washed away
with a great flood； or spring tide； or left dry upon the sands on a low ebb。
The port towns are few and poor in respect of the rest within the land； and
are of little defence； and are only rich when the fleets are to receive the
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treasure for Spain； and we might think the Spaniards very simple； having
so many horses and slaves； if they could not upon two days' warning carry
all the gold they have into the land； and far enough from the reach of our
footmen； especially the Indies being； as they are for the most part； so
mountainous； full of woods； rivers； and marishes。 In the port towns of the
province of Venezuela； as Cumana； Coro； and St。 Iago （whereof Coro and
St。 Iago were taken by Captain Preston； and Cumana and St。 Josepho by us）
we found not the value of one real of plate in either。 But the cities of
Barquasimeta； Valencia； St。 Sebastian； Cororo； St。 Lucia； Laguna；
Maracaiba； and Truxillo； are not so easily invaded。 Neither doth the
burning of those on the coast impoverish the king of Spain any one ducat；
and if we sack the River of Hacha； St。 Martha； and Carthagena； which are
the ports of Nuevo Reyno and Popayan； there are besides within the land；
which are indeed rich and prosperous； the towns and cities of Merida；
Lagrita； St。 Christophoro； the great cities of Pamplona； Santa Fe de Bogota；
Tunxa； and Mozo； where the emeralds are found； the towns and cities of
Marequita； Velez； la Villa de Leiva； Palma； Honda； Angostura； the great
city of Timana； Tocaima； St。 Aguila； Pasto； ＇St。＇ Iago； the great city of
Popayan itself； Los Remedios； and the rest。 If we take the ports and
villages within the bay of Uraba in the kingdom or rivers of Darien and
Caribana； the cities and towns of St。 Juan de Rodas； of Cassaris； of
Antiochia； Caramanta； Cali； and Anserma have gold enough to pay the
king's part； and are not easily invaded by way of the ocean。 Or if Nombre
de Dios and Panama be taken； in the province of Castilla del Oro； and the
villages upon the rivers of Cenu and Chagre； Peru hath； besides those； and
besides the magnificent cities of Quito and Lima； so many islands； ports；
cities； and mines as if I should name them with the rest it would seem
incredible to the reader。 Of all which； because I have written a particular
treatise of the West Indies； I will omit the repetition at this time； seeing
that in the said treatise I have anatomized the rest of the sea towns as well
of Nicaragua； Yucatan； Nueva Espana； and the islands； as those of the
inland； and by what means they may be best invaded； as far as any mean
judgment may comprehend。
But I hope it shall appear that there is a way found to answer every
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man's longing； a better Indies for her Majesty than the king of Spain hath
any； which if it shall please her Highness to undertake； I shall most
willingly end the rest of my days in following the same。 If it be left to the
spoil and sackage of common persons； if the love and service of so many
nations be despised； so great riches and so mighty an empire refused； I
hope her Majesty will yet take my humble desire and my labour therein in
gracious part； which； if it had not been in respect of her Highness' future
honour and riches； could have laid hands on and ransomed many of the
kings and caciqui of the country； and have had a reasonable proportion of
gold for their redemption。 But I have chosen rather to bear the burden of
poverty than reproach； and rather to endure a second travail； and the
chances thereof； than to have defaced an enterprise of so great assurance；
until I knew whether it pleased God to put a disposition in her princely and
royal heart either to follow or forslow （neglect； decline； lose through sloth）
the same。 I will therefore leave it to His ordinance that hath only power in
all things； and do humbly pray that your honours will excuse such errors
as； without the defence of art； overrun in every part the following
discourse； in which I have neither studied phrase； form； nor fashion； that
you will be pleased to esteem me as your own； though over dearly bought；
and I shall ever remain ready to do you all honour and service。
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TO THE READER
Because there have been divers opinions conceived of the gold ore
brought from Guiana； and for that an alderman of London and an officer
of her Majesty's mint hath given out that the same is of no price； I have
thought good by the addition of these lines to give answer as well to the
said malicious slander as to other objections。 It is true that while we abode
at the island of Trinidad I was informed by an Indian that not far from the
port where we anchored there were found certain mineral stones which
they esteemed to be gold； and were thereunto persuaded the rather for that
they had seen both English and Frenchmen gather and embark some
quantities thereof。 Upon this likelihood I sent forty men； and gave order
that each one should bring a stone of that mine； to make trial of the
goodness； which being performed； I assured them at their return that the
same was marcasite； and of no riches or value。 Notwithstanding； divers；
trusting more to their own sense than to my opinion； kept of the said
marcasite； and have tried thereof since my return； in divers places。 In
Guiana itself I never saw marcasite； but all the rocks； mountains； all stones
in the plains； woods； and by the rivers' sides； are in effect thorough…
shining； and appear marvellous rich； which； being tried to be no marcasite；
are the true signs of rich minerals； but are no other than El madre del oro；
as the Spaniards term them； which is the mother of gold； or； as it is said by
others； the scum of gold。 Of divers sorts of these many of my company
brought also into England； every one taking the fairest for the best； which
is not general。 For mine own part； I did not countermand any man's desire
or opinion； and I could have afforded them little if I should have denied
them the pleasing of their own fancies therein； but I was resolved that gold
must be found either in grains； separate from the stone； as it is in most of
the rivers in Guiana； or else in a kind of hard stone； which we call the
white spar； of which I saw divers hills； and in sundry places； but had
neither time nor men； nor instruments fit for labour。 Near unto one of the
rivers I found of the said white spar or flint a very gre