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for those poor soldiers having been many years without wine； a few
draughts made them merry； in which mood they vaunted of Guiana and the
riches thereof； and all what they knew of the ways and passages； myself
seeming to purpose nothing less than the entrance or discovery thereof； but
bred in them an opinion that I was bound only for the relief of those
English which I had planted in Virginia； whereof the bruit was come
among them； which I had performed in my return； if extremity of weather
had not forced me from the said coast。
I found occasions of staying in this place for two causes。 The one was
to be revenged of Berreo； who the year before； 1594； had betrayed eight of
Captain Whiddon's men； and took them while he departed from them to
seek the Edward Bonaventure； which arrived at Trinidad the day before
from the East Indies： in whose absence Berreo sent a canoa aboard the
pinnace only with Indians and dogs inviting the company to go with them
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into the woods to kill a deer。 Who like wise men； in the absence of their
captain followed the Indians； but were no sooner one arquebus shot from
the shore； but Berreo's soldiers lying in ambush had them all；
notwithstanding that he had given his word to Captain Whiddon that they
should take water and wood safely。 The other cause of my stay was； for
that by discourse with the Spaniards I daily learned more and more of
Guiana； of the rivers and passages； and of the enterprise of Berreo； by
what means or fault he failed； and how he meant to prosecute the same。
While we thus spent the time I was assured by another cacique of the
north side of the island； that Berreo had sent to Margarita and Cumana for
soldiers； meaning to have given me a cassado （blow） at parting； if it had
been possible。 For although he had given order through all the island that
no Indian should come aboard to trade with me upon pain of hanging and
quartering （having executed two of them for the same； which I afterwards
found）； yet every night there came some with most lamentable complaints
of his cruelty： how he had divided the island and given to every soldier a
part； that he made the ancient caciques； which were lords of the country； to
be their slaves； that he kept them in chains； and dropped their naked
bodies with burning bacon； and such other torments； which I found
afterwards to be true。 For in the city； after I entered the same； there were
five of the lords or little kings； which they call caciques in the West Indies；
in one chain； almost dead of famine； and wasted with torments。 These are
called in their own language acarewana； and now of late since English；
French； and Spanish； are come among them； they call themselves captains；
because they perceive that the chiefest of every ship is called by that name。
Those five captains in the chain were called Wannawanare； Carroaori；
Maquarima； Tarroopanama； and Aterima。 So as both to be revenged of the
former wrong； as also considering that to enter Guiana by small boats； to
depart 400 or 500 miles from my ships； and to leave a garrison in my back
interested in the same enterprise； who also daily expected supplies out of
Spain； I should have savoured very much of the ass； and therefore taking a
time of most advantage； I set upon the Corps du garde in the evening； and
having put them to the sword； sent Captain Caulfield onwards with sixty
soldiers； and myself followed with forty more； and so took their new city；
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THE DISCOVERY OF GUIANA
which they called St。 Joseph； by break of day。 They abode not any fight
after a few shot； and all being dismissed； but only Berreo and his
companion （the Portuguese captain Alvaro Jorge）； I brought them with me
aboard； and at the instance of the Indians I set their new city of St。 Joseph
on fire。 The same day arrived Captain George Gifford with your lordship's
ship； and Captain Keymis； whom I lost on the coast of Spain； with the
galego； and in them divers gentlemen and others； which to our little army
was a great comfort and supply。
We then hasted away towards our purposed discovery； and first I called
all the captains of the island together that were enemies to the Spaniards；
for there were some which Berreo had brought out of other countries； and
planted there to eat out and waste those that were natural of the place。 And
by my Indian interpreter； which I carried out of England； I made them
understand that I was the servant of a queen who was the great cacique of
the north； and a virgin； and had more caciqui under her than there were
trees in that island； that she was an enemy to the Castellani in respect of
their tyranny and oppression； and that she delivered all such nations about
her； as were by them oppressed； and having freed all the coast of the
northern world from their servitude； had sent me to free them also； and
withal to defend the country of Guiana from their invasion and conquest。 I
shewed them her Majesty's picture； which they so admired and honoured；
as it had been easy to have brought them idolatrous thereof。 The like and a
more large discourse I made to the rest of the nations； both in my passing
to Guiana and to those of the borders； so as in that part of the world her
Majesty is very famous and admirable； whom they now call EZRABETA
CASSIPUNA AQUEREWANA； which is as much as 'Elizabeth； the Great
Princess； or Greatest Commander。' This done； we left Puerto de los
Espanoles； and returned to Curiapan； and having Berreo my prisoner； I
gathered from him as much of Guiana as he knew。 This Berreo is a
gentleman well descended； and had long served the Spanish king in Milan；
Naples； the Low Countries； and elsewhere； very valiant and liberal； and a
gentleman of great assuredness； and of a great heart。 I used him according
to his estate and worth in all things I could； according to the small means I
had。
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I sent Captain Whiddon the year before to get what knowledge he
could of Guiana： and the end of my journey at this time was to discover
and enter the same。 But my intelligence was far from truth； for the country
is situate about 600 English miles further from the sea than I was made
believe it had been。 Which afterwards understanding to be true by Berreo；
I kept it from the knowledge of my company； who else would never have
been brought to attempt the same。 Of which 600 miles I passed 400；
leaving my ships so far from me at anchor in the sea； which was more of
desire to perform that discovery than of reason； especially having such
poor and weak vessels to transport ourselves in。 For in the bottom of an
old galego which I caused to be fashioned like a galley； and in one barge；
two wherries； and a ship…boat of the Lion's Whelp； we carried 100 persons
and their victuals for a month in the same； being all driven to lie in the rain
and weather in the open air； in the burning sun； and upon the hard boards；
and to dress our meat； and to carry all manner of furniture in them。
Wherewith they were so pestered and unsavoury； that what with victuals
being most fish； with the wet clothes of so many men thrust together； and
the heat of the sun； I will undertake there was never any prison in England
that could be found more unsavoury and loathsome； especially to myself；
who had for many years before been dieted and cared for in a sort far more
differing。
If Captain Preston had not been persuaded that he should have come
too late to Trinidad to have found us there （for the month was expired
which I promised to tarry for him there ere he could recover the coast of
Spain） but that it had pleased God he might have joined with us； and that
we had entered the country but some ten days sooner ere the rivers were
overflown； we had adventured either to have gone to the great city of
Manoa； or at least taken so many of the other cities and towns nearer at
hand； as would have made a royal