¶ To the Reader.
Because there haue bin diuers opinions conceiued of the gold oare broght
from Guiana, and for that an Alderman of London and an officer of her
Maiesties Mint, hath giuen out that the same is of no price, I haue
thought good by the addition of these lines to giue answer aswel to the
said malicious slander, as to other obiections. It is true that while we
abode at the yland of Trinidad, I was informed, by an Indian, that not
far from the Port, where we ancored, there were found certaine mineral
stones which they esteemed to be gold, and were thereunto perswaded the
rather for that they had seene both English and Frenchmen gather, and
imbark some quantities therof: vpon this likelyhood I sent 40. men and
gaue order that each one should bring a stone of that mine to make trial
of the goodnes: which being performed, I assured them at their returne
that the same was Marcasite, and of no riches or value: notwithstanding
diuers, trusting more to their owne sence, then to my opinion, kept of
the said Marcasite, and haue tried therof since my returne in diuers
places. In Guiana it selfe I neuer saw Marcasite, but al the rocks,
mountains, al stones in the plaines, woods, and by the riuers side are
in effect throughshining, and seem maruelous rich, which being tried to
be no Marcasite, are the true signes of rich minerals, but are no other
then El madre del oro (as the Spaniards terme them) which is the mother
of gold, or as it is said by others the scum of gold: of diuers sorts of
these many of my company brought also into England, euery one taking the
fairest for the best, which is not general. For mine own part I did not
countermand any mans desire, or opinion, and I could haue aforded them
litle if I should haue denied them the pleasing of their owne fancies
therein: but I was resolued that gold must be found either in graines
separate from the stone (as it is in most of the riuers of Guiana) or
els in a kind of hard stone, which we call The white spar, of which I
saw diuers hils, and in sundry places, but had neither time nor men, nor
instruments fit for labour. Neere vnto one of the riuers I found of the
said White sparre or flint a very great ledge or banke, which I
endeuoured to breake by al the meanes I could, because there appeared on
the outside some smal graines of golde, but finding no meane to worke
the same vpon the vpper part, seeking the sides and circuit of the said
rocke, I found a clift in the same from whence with daggers, and with
the head of an axe, we got out some smal quantitie therof, of which kind
of white stone (wherin gold engendred) we saw diuers hils and rocks in
euery part of Guiana, wherein we traueiled. Of this there haue bin made
many trials, and in London it was first assaid by M. Westwood a refiner
dwelling in Woodstreet, and it held after the rate of 12000. or 13000.
pounds a tunne. Another sort was afterward tried by M. Bulmar and M.
Dimock Assay-master, and it held after the rate of 23000 li. a tunne.
There was some of it againe tried by M. Palmer comptroller of the Mint,
and M. Dimock in goldsmiths hal, and it held after 26900. li. a tun.
There was also at the same time, and by the same persons a trial made of
the dust of the said mine which held 8. li. 6. ounces weight of gold in
the 100: there was likewise at the same time a triall of an image of
copper made in Guiana, which held a third part of gold, besides diuers
trials made in the countrey, and by others in London. But because there
came ill with the good, and belike the said Alderman was not presented
with the best, it hath pleased him therefore to scandall all the rest,
and to deface the enterprize as much as in him lieth. It hath also bene
concluded, by diuers, that if there had bin any such oare in Guiana, and
the same discouered, that I would haue brought home a greater quantitie
thereof: first I was not bound to satisfie any man of the quantitie, but
such only as aduentured, if any store had bin returned thereof: but it
is very true that had al their mountaines bene of massie gold, it was
impossible for vs to haue made any longer stay to haue wrought the same:
and whosoeuer hath seene with what strength of stone the best gold oare
is inuironed, hee will not thinke it easy to be had out in heapes, and
especially by vs, who had neither men, instruments, nor time (as it is
said before) to performe the same. There were on this discouery no lesse
then 100. persons, who can all witnesse, that when we past any branch of
the riuer to view the land within, and staied from our boats but 6.
houres, wee were driuen to wade to the eyes, at our returne: and if we
attempted the same, the day following it was impossible either to ford
it, or to swim it, both by reason of the swiftnesse, and also for that
the borders were so pestred with fast woods, as neither boat nor man
could find place, either to land or to imbarke: for in Iune, Iuly,
August and September, it is impossible to nauigate any of those riuers:
for such is the fury of the current, and there are so many trees and
woods ouerflowne, as if any boat but touch vpon any tree or stake, it is
impossible to saue any one person therein: and yer [ed: before] we
departed the land it ranne with such swiftnes, as wee draue downe most
commonly against the wind, little lesse then 100. miles a day: Besides
our were no other then whirries, one little barge, a small cockboat, and
a bad Galiota, which we framed in hast for that purpose at Trinidad, and
those little boats had 9. or 10. men a piece, with all their victuals,
and armes. It is further true, that we were about 400. miles from our
ships, and had bene a moneth from them, which also we left weakly manned
in an open road, and had promised our returne in 15. dayes. Others haue
deuised that the same oare was had from Barbary, and that we caried it
with vs into Guiana: surely the singularitie of that deuice I doe not
well comprehend: for mine owne part, I am not so much in loue with these
long voyages, as to deuise, therby to cozen my selfe, to lie hard, to
fare worse, to be subiected to perils, to diseases, to ill sauors, to be
parched and withered, and withall to sustaine the care and labour of
such an enterprize, except the same had more comfort, then the fetching
of Marcasite in Guiana, or buying of gold oare in Barbary. But I hope
the better sort will judge me by themselves, and that the way of deceit
is not the way of honour or good opinion: I have herein consumed much
time, and many crownes, and I had no other respect or desire then to
serue her Majestie and my country thereby. If the Spanish nation had
bene of like beliefe to these detracters, we should litle have feared or
doubted their attempts, wherewith we now are daily threatned. But if we
now consider of the actions both of Charles the 5. who had the
maidenhead of Peru, and the abundant treasures of Atabalipa, together
who the affaires of the Spanish king now liuing, what territories he
hath purchased, what he hath added to the acts of his predecessors, how
many kingdoms he hath indangered, how many armies, garisons, and nauies
he hath and doth mainteine, the great losses which he hath repaired, as
in 88. aboue 100 saile of great ships with their artillery, and that no
yere is lesse vnfortunate but that many vessels, treasures, and people
are deuoured, and yet notwithstanding he beginneth againe like a storme
to threaten shipwrack to vs all: we shall find that these abilities rise
not from the trades of sacks, and Siuil oringes, nor from ought els that
either Spaine, Portugal, or any of his other prouinces produce: it is
his Indian gold that indangereth and disturbeth all the nations of
Europe, it purchaseth intelligence, creepeth into counsels, and setteth
bound loyaltie at libertie, in the greatest Monarchies of Europe. If the
Spanish king can keepe vs from forren enterprizes, and from the
impeachment of his trades, either by offer of inuasion, or by besieging
vs in Britaine, Ireland, or elsewhere, hee hath then brought the worke
of our peril in great forwardnes. Those princes which abound in treasure
haue great aduantages ouer the rest, if they once constraine them to a
defensiue war, where they are driuen once a yere or oftener to cast lots
for their own garments, and from such shal all trades and entercourse be
taken away, to the general losse and impouerishment of the kingdom and
common weale so reduced: besides when our men are constrained to fight,
it hath not the like hope, as when they are prest and incouraged by the
desire of spoile and riches. Farther, it is to be douted how those that
in time of victory seeme to affect their neighbor nations, wil remaine
after the first view of misfortunes, or il successe; to trust also to
the doubtfulnes of a battel, is but a fearefull and vncertaine
adventure, seeing therein fortune is as likely to preuaile, as vertue.
It shall not be necessary to alleage all that might bee said, and
therefore I will thus conclude, that whatsoeuer kingdome shall be
inforced to defend it selfe, may be compared to a body dangerously
diseased, which for a season may be preserued with vulgar medicines, but
in a short time, and by litle and litle, the same must needs fall to the
ground, and be dissolued. I have therefore laboured all my life, both
according to my smal power, and perswasion, to aduance al those
attempts, that might either promise return of profit to our selues, or
at least be a let and impeachment to the quiet course and plentifull
trades of the Spanish nation, who in my weake judgement by such a warre
were as easily indangered and brought from his powerfulnes, as any
prince of Europe, if it be considered from how many kingdoms and nations
his reuenues are gathered, and those so weake in their owne beings, and
so far seuered from mutual succour. But because such a preparation and
resolution is not to be hoped for in hast, and that the time which our
enemies imbrace, cannot be had againe to aduantage, I wil hope that
these prouinces, and that Empire now by me discouered shal suffice to
inable her Maiestie and the whole kingdome, with no lesse quantities of
treasure, then the king of Spaine 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 Maiestie wil vndertake it, I
wil be contented to lose her highnesse fauour and good opinion for euer,
and my life withall, if the same be not found rather to exceed, then to
equal, whatsoeuer is in this discourse promised or declared. I will now
referre the Reader to the following discourse, with the hope that the
perillous and chargeable labours and indeuors of such as thereby seeke
the profit and honour of her Maiestie, and the English nation, shall by
men of qualitie and vertue receiue such construction, and good
acceptance, as themselves would looke to be rewarded withall in the
like.