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 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 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 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
protest before the Majesty of God to be true； that there was found
among the prophecies in Peru； at such time as the empire was reduced
to the Spanish obedience； in their chiefest temples； amongst divers
others which foreshadowed the loss of the said empire； that from
Inglatierra those Ingas should be again in time to come restored； and
delivered from the servitude of the said conquerors。 And I hope； as we
with these few hands have displanted the first garrison； and driven
them out of the said country； so her Majesty will give order for the
rest； and either defend it； and hold it as tributary； or conquer and
keep it as empress of the same。 For whatsoever prince shall possess
it； shall be greatest； and if the king of Spain enjoy it； he will
become unresistible。 Her Majesty hereby shall confirm and strengthen
the opinions of all nations as touching her great and princely
actions。 And where the south border of Guiana reacheth to the dominion
and empire of the Amazons； those women shall hereby hear the name of a
virgin； which is not only able to defend her own territories and her
neighbours； but also to invade and conquer so great empires and so far
removed。
To speak more at this time I fear would be but troublesome： I trust in
God； this being true； will suffice； and that he which is King of all
Kings； and Lord of Lords； will put it into her heart which is Lady of
Ladies to possess it。 If not； I will judge those men worthy to be
kings thereof； that by her grace and leave will undertake it of
themselves。
The End