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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
and when it is at the best； it is a perilous and a fearful place； the rest of the
Indies for calms and diseases very troublesome； and the sea about the
Bermudas a hellish sea for thunder； lightning； and storms。
This very year （1595） there were seventeen sail of Spanish ships lost
in the channel of Bahama； and the great Philip； like to have sunk at the
Bermudas； was put back to St。 Juan de Puerto Rico； and so it falleth out in
that navigation every year for the most part。 Which in this voyage are not
to be feared； for the time of year to leave England is best in July； and the
summer in Guiana is in October； November； December； January； February；
and March； and then the ships may depart thence in April； and so return
again into England in June。 So as they shall never be subject to winter
weather； either coming； going； or staying there： which； for my part； I take
to be one of the greatest comforts and encouragements that can be thought
on； having； as I have done； tasted in this voyage by the West Indies so
many calms； so much heat； such outrageous gusts； such weather； and
contrary winds。
To conclude； Guiana is a country that hath yet her maidenhead； never
sacked； turned； nor wrought； the face of the earth hath not been torn； nor
the virtue and salt of the soil spent by manurance。 The graves have not
been opened for gold； the mines not broken with sledges； nor their images
pulled down out of their temples。 It hath never been entered by any army
of strength； and never conquered or possessed by any Christian prince。 It
is besides so defensible； that if two forts be builded in one of the provinces
which I have seen； the flood setteth in so near the bank； where the channel
also lieth； that no ship can pass up but within a pike's length of the artillery；
first of the one； and afterwards of the other。 Which two forts will be a
sufficient guard both to the empire of Inga； and to an hundred other
several kingdoms； lying within the said river； even to the city of Quito in
Peru。
There is therefore great difference between the easiness of the
conquest of Guiana； and the defence of it being conquered； and the West
or East Indies。 Guiana hath but one entrance by the sea； if it hath that； for
any vessels of burden。 So as whosoever shall first possess it； it shall be
found unaccessible for any enemy； except he come in wherries； barges； or
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canoas； or else in flat…bottomed boats； and if he do offer to enter it in that
manner； the woods are so thick 200 miles together upon the rivers of such
entrance； as a mouse cannot sit in a boat unhit from the bank。 By land it is
more impossible to approach； for it hath the strongest situation of any
region under the sun； and it is so environed with impassable mountains on
every side； as it is impossible to victual any company in the passage。
Which hath been well proved by the Spanish nation； who since the
conquest of Peru have never left five years free from attempting this
empire； or discovering some way into it； and yet of three…and…twenty
several gentlemen； knights； and noblemen； there was never any that knew
which way to lead an army by land； or to conduct ships by sea； anything
near the said country。 Orellana； of whom the river of Amazons taketh
name； was the first； and Don Antonio de Berreo； whom we displanted； the
last： and I doubt much whether he himself or any of his yet know the best
way into the said empire。 It can therefore hardly be regained； if any
strength be formerly set down； but in one or two places； and but two or
three crumsters （Dutch； Kromsteven or Kromster； a vessel with a bent
prow） or galleys built and furnished upon the river within。 The West Indies
have many ports； watering places； and landings； and nearer than 300 miles
to Guiana； no man can harbour a ship； except he know one only place；
which is not learned in haste； and which I will undertake there is not any
one of my companies that knoweth； whosoever hearkened most after it。
Besides； by keeping one good fort； or building one town of strength；
the whole empire is guarded； and whatsoever companies shall be
afterwards planted within the land； although in twenty several provinces；
those shall be able all to reunite themselves upon any occasion either by
the way of one river； or be able to march by land without either wood； bog；
or mountain。 Whereas in the West Indies there are few towns or provinces
that can succour or relieve one the other by land or sea。 By land the
countries are either desert； mountainous； or strong enemies。 By sea； if any
man invade to the eastward； those to the west cannot in many months turn
against the breeze and eastern wind。 Besides； the Spaniards are therein so
dispersed as they are nowhere strong； but in Nueva Espana only； the sharp
mountains； the thorns； and poisoned prickles； the sandy and deep ways in
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the valleys； the smothering heat and air； and want of water in other places
are their only and best defence； which； because those nations that invade
them are not victualled or provided to stay； neither have any place to
friend adjoining； do serve them instead of good arms and great multitudes。
The West Indies were first offered her Majesty's grandfather by
Columbus； a stranger； in whom there might be doubt of deceit； and besides
it was then thought incredible that there were such and so many lands and
regions never written of before。 This Empire is made known to her
Majesty by her own vassal； and by him that oweth to her more duty than
an ordinary subject； so that it shall ill sort with the many graces and
benefits which I have received to abuse her Highness； either with fables or
imaginations。 The country is already discovered； many nations won to her
Majesty's love and obedience； and those Spaniards which have latest and
longest laboured about the conquest； beaten out； discouraged； and
disgraced； which among these nations were thought invincible。 Her
Majesty may in this enterprise employ all those soldiers and gentlemen
that are younger brethren； and all captains and chieftains that want
employment； and the charge will be only the first setting out in victualling
and arming them； for after the first or second year I doubt not but to see in
London a Contractation…House （the whole trade of Spanish America
passed through the Casa de Contratacion at Seville） of more receipt for
Guiana than there is now in Seville for the West Indies。
And I am resolved that if there were but a small army afoot in Guiana；
marching towards Manoa； the chief city of Inga； he would yield to her
Majesty by composition so many hundred thousand pounds yearly as
should both defend all enemies abroad； and defray all expenses at home；
and that he would besides pay a garrison of three or four thousand soldiers
very royally to defend him against other nations。 For he cannot but know
how his predecessors； yea； how his own great uncles； Guascar and
Atabalipa； sons to Guiana…Capac； emperor of Peru； were； while they
contended for the empire； beaten out by the Spaniards； and that both of
late years and ever since the said conquest； the Spaniards have sought the
passages and entry of his country； and of their cruelties used to the
borderers he cannot be ignorant。 In which respects no doubt but he will be
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brought to tribute with great gladness； if not； he hath neither shot nor iron
weapon in all his empire； and therefore may easily be conquered。
And I further remember that Berreo confessed to me and others； which
I protes