_A brief Discourse of divers Voyages made unto the goodly Country of_
Guinea _and the great River of the_ Amazons; _relating also the
present Plantation there._
It is not unknown how that most Industrious and honourable Knight, Sir
_Walter Rawleigh,_ in the Year of Our Lord 1595, taking the Isle of
_Trinidado,_ fell with the Coast of _Guiana,_ Northward of the Line 10
degrees, and coasted the Coast, and searched up the River _Oranoco;_ where
understanding that twenty several Voyages had been made by the Spaniards;
in discovering this Coast and River, to find a passage to the great City
of _Mano,_ called by them the _Eldorado,_ or the Golden City: he did his
utmost to have found some better Satisfaction than Relations: {MN-1} But
means failing him, he left his trusty Servant _Francis Sparrow_ to seek
it, who wandring up and down those Countries, some fourteen or fifteen
years, unexpectedly returned; I have heard him say, he was led blinded
into this City by _Indians;_ but little Discourse of any purpose, touching
the largeness of the report of it; his body seeming as a Man of an
uncurable Consumption, shortly died here after in _England._ There are
above thirty fair Rivers that fall into the Sea, between the River of
_Amazons_ and _Oranoco,_ which are some nine degrees asunder. {MN-2} In
the year 1605, Captain _Ley_, Brother to that noble Knight, Sir _Oliver
Ley,_ with divers others, planted himself in the River _Weapoco,_ wherein
I should have been a Party; but he died, and there lies buried, and the
supply miscarrying, the rest escaped as they could.
* * * * *
{MN-1} Sparrow _left to seek the great city of_ Mano.
{MN-2} Captain _Charles Ley._
{MN} Sir _Thomas Roe,_ known to be a most Noble Gentleman, before he went
Lord Ambassadour to the Great _Mogul,_ or the Great _Turk,_ spent a year
or two upon this Coast, and about the River of the _Amazons,_ {MN-2}
wherein he most imployed Captain _Matthew Morton,_ an expert Sea-man in
the discovery of this famous River, a Gentleman that was the first shot,
and mortally supposed wounded to Death, with me in _Virginia,_ yet since
hath been twice with command in _East-Indies;_ {MN-3} Also Captain
_William White,_ and divers others worthy and industrious Gentlemen, both
before and since, hath spent much time and charge to discover it more
perfectly, but nothing more effected for a Plantation, till it was
undertaken by Captain _Robert Harcote_ 1609.
* * * * *
{MN-1} Sir _Thomas Roe._
{MN-2} Captain _Morton._
{MN-3} Captain _White._
{MN} This worthy Gentleman, after he had by Commission made a discovery
to his mind, left his Brother _Michael Harcote,_ with some fifty or sixty
Men in the River _Weapoco,_ and so presently returned to _England,_ where
he obtained by the favour of Prince _Henry_ a large Patent for all that
Coast called _Guiana,_ together with the famous River of _Amazons,_ to him
and his Heirs: but so many troubles here surprized him, though he did his
best to supply them, he was not able, only some few he sent over as
Passengers, with certain _Dutch_ Men, but to small purpose. Thus this
business lay dead for divers years, till Sir _Walter Rawleigh,_
accompanied with many valiant Soldiers and brave Gentlemen, went his last
Voyage to _Guiana,_ amongst the which, was Captain _Roger North,_ Brother
to the Right Honourable the Lord _Dudley North,_ who upon this Voyage,
having stayed, and seen divers Rivers upon this Coast, took such a liking
to those Countries, having had before this Voyage, more perfect and
particular Information of the excellency of the great River of the
_Amazons,_ above any of the rest, by certain _English_ Men returned so
rich, from thence in good Commodities, they would not go with Sir _Walter
Rawleigh_ in search of Gold; that after his return for _England_, he
endeavoured by his best Abilities to interest his Country and State in
those fair Regions, which by the way of Letters Patents unto divers Noble
Men and Gentlemen of Quality, erected into a Company and Perpetuity for
Trade and Plantation, not knowing of the Interest of Captain _Harcote._
* * * * *
{MN} Captain _Harcote._
{MN} Whereupon accompanied with 120 Gentlemen and others, with a Ship, a
Pinnace and two Shallops, to remain in the Country, he set Sail from
_Plimouth_ the last of _April_ 1620, and within seven Weeks after he
arrived well in the _Amazons,_ only with the loss of one old Man: Some
hundred Leagues they ran up the River to settle his Men, where the sight
of the Country and People so contented them, that never Men thought
themselves more happy: Some _English_ and _Irish_ that had lived there
some eight years, only supplied by the _Dutch,_ he reduced to his Company
and to leave the _Dutch:_ having made a good Voyage, to the value of more
than the charge, he returned to _England_ with divers good Commodities,
besides, Tobacco: So that it may well be conceived, that if this Action
had not been thus crossed the Generality of _England_ had by this time
been won and encouraged therein. But the time was not yet come, that God
would have this great business effected, by reason of the great Power the
Lord _Gundamore,_ Ambassadour for the King of _Spain,_ had in _England,_
to cross and ruin those Proceedings, and so unfortunate Captain _North_
was on this business, he was twice committed Prisoner to the Tower, and
the Goods detained, till they were spoiled, who beyond all others, was by
much the greatest Adventurer and Loser.
* * * * *
{MN} Captain _Roger North._
{MN} Notwithstanding all this, those that he had left in the _Amazons,_
would not abandon the Country. Captain _Thomas Painton,_ a worthy
Gentleman; his Lieutenant dead. Captain _Charles Parker,_ Brother to the
Right Honourable the Lord _Morley,_ lived there six years after; Mr.
_John Christmas,_ five years; so well, they would not return, although
they might, with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and others: All thus
destitute of any supplies from _England._ But all Authority being
dissolved, want of Government did more wrong their Proceedings, than all
other crosses whatsoever. Some relief they had sometime from the _Dutch,_
who knowing their Estates, gave what they pleased, and took what they
list. Two Brothers, Gentlemen, _Thomas_ and _William Hixon,_ who stayed
three years there, are now gone to stay in the _Amazons,_ in the Ships
lately sent thither.
* * * * *
{MN} _Nota bene._
The business thus remaining in this fort, three private Men left of that
Company, named Mr. _Thomas Warriner, John Rhodes,_ and _Robert Bims,_
having lived there about two years, came for _England,_ and to be free
from the disorders that did grow in the _Amazons,_ for want of Government
amongst their Country-men, and to be quiet amongst themselves, made means
to let themselves out for St. _Christophers;_ their whole number being but
fifteen Persons that payed for their Passage in a Ship going for
_Virginia,_ where they remained a year before they were supplied, and then
that was but four or five Men. Thus this Isle, by this small beginning,
having no interruption by their own Country, hath not got the start of the
Continent and main Land of _Guinea,_ which hath been laid apart, and let
alone until that Captain _North,_ ever watching his best opportunity and
advantage of time in the State, hath now again pursued, and set on foot
his former design. Captain _Harcote_ being now willing to surrender his
Grant, and to joyn with Captain _North,_ in passing a new Patent, and to
erect a Company for Trade and Plantation in the _Amazons,_ and all the
Coast and Country of _Guinea_ for ever. Whereupon, they have sent this
present year in _January,_ and since 1628, four Ships, with near two
hundred Persons; the first Ship with 112 Men, not one miscarried; the rest
went since, not yet heard of and are preparing another with their best
Expedition; and since _January_ is gone from _Holland,_ 100 _English_ and
_Irish,_ conducted by the old Planters.
This great River lieth under the Line, the two chief Head Lands North and
South, are about three degrees asunder, the mouth of it is so full of many
great and small Isles, it is an easie matter for an unexperienced Pilot to
lose his way. It is held one of the greatest Rivers in _America,_ and as
most Men think in the World; and cometh down with such a fresh, it maketh
the Sea fresh, more than thirty Miles from the Shoar. Captain _North_
having seated his Men about an hundred Leagues in the Main, sent Captain
_William White,_ with thirty Gentlemen and others, in a Pinnace of thirty
Tun, to discover further, which they did some two hundred Leagues, where
they found the River to divide it self in two parts, till then all full of
Islands, and a Country most healthful, pleasant and fruitful; for they
found food enough, and all returned safe and in good health: In this
discovery, they saw many Towns well inhabited, some with three hundred
People, some with five, six, or seven hundred; and of some they understood
to be of so many thousands, most differing very much, especially in their
Languages: Whereof they suppose by those _Indians,_ they understand are
many hundreds more, unfrequented till then by any _Christian,_ most of
them stark naked, both Men, Women and Children, but they saw not any such
Giant-like Women as the Rivers name importeth. But for those where Captain
_North_ hath seated his Company, it is not known where Indians were ever
so kind to any Nation, not sparing any pains, danger or labour, to feed
and maintain them. The _English_ following their Buildings, Fortifications
and Sugar-works; for which they have sent most expert Men, and with them
all things necessary for that purpose; to effect which, they want not the
help of those kind Indians to produce; and many other good Commodities,
which (God willing) will ere long make plain and apparent to this Kingdom,
and all the Adventures and Well-willers to this Plantation, to be well
worthy the cherishing and following with all alacrity.
* * * * *