Timana； Tocaima； St。 Aguila； Pasto； ＇St。＇ Iago； the great city of
Popayan itself； Los Remedios； and the rest。 If we take the ports and
villages within the bay of Uraba in the kingdom or rivers of Darien
and Caribana； the cities and towns of St。 Juan de Rodas； of Cassaris；
of Antiochia； Caramanta； Cali； and Anserma have gold enough to pay the
king's part； and are not easily invaded by way of the ocean。 Or if
Nombre de Dios and Panama be taken； in the province of Castilla del
Oro； and the villages upon the rivers of Cenu and Chagre； Peru hath；
besides those； and besides the magnificent cities of Quito and Lima；
so many islands； ports； cities； and mines as if I should name them
with the rest it would seem incredible to the reader。 Of all which；
because I have written a particular treatise of the West Indies； I
will omit the repetition at this time； seeing that in the said
treatise I have anatomized the rest of the sea towns as well of
Nicaragua； Yucatan； Nueva Espana； and the islands； as those of the
inland； and by what means they may be best invaded； as far as any mean
judgment may comprehend。
But I hope it shall appear that there is a way found to answer every
man's longing； a better Indies for her Majesty than the king of Spain
hath any； which if it shall please her Highness to undertake； I shall
most willingly end the rest of my days in following the same。 If it be
left to the spoil and sackage of common persons； if the love and
service of so many nations be despised； so great riches and so mighty
an empire refused； I hope her Majesty will yet take my humble desire
and my labour therein in gracious part； which； if it had not been in
respect of her Highness' future honour and riches； could have laid
hands on and ransomed many of the kings and caciqui of the country；
and have had a reasonable proportion of gold for their redemption。 But
I have chosen rather to bear the burden of poverty than reproach； and
rather to endure a second travail； and the chances thereof； than to
have defaced an enterprise of so great assurance； until I knew whether
it pleased God to put a disposition in her princely and royal heart
either to follow or forslow （neglect； decline； lose through sloth） the
same。 I will therefore leave it to His ordinance that hath only power
in all things； and do humbly pray that your honours will excuse such
errors as； without the defence of art； overrun in every part the
following discourse； in which I have neither studied phrase； form； nor
fashion； that you will be pleased to esteem me as your own； though
over dearly bought； and I shall ever remain ready to do you all honour
and service。
TO THE READER
Because there have been divers opinions conceived of the gold ore
brought from Guiana； and for that an alderman of London and an officer
of her Majesty's mint hath given out that the same is of no price； I
have thought good by the addition of these lines to give answer as
well to the said malicious slander as to other objections。 It is true
that while we abode at the island of Trinidad I was informed by an
Indian that not far from the port where we anchored there were found
certain mineral stones which they esteemed to be gold； and were
thereunto persuaded the rather for that they had seen both English and
Frenchmen gather and embark some quantities thereof。 Upon this
likelihood I sent forty men； and gave order that each one should bring
a stone of that mine； to make trial of the goodness； which being
performed； I assured them at their return that the same was marcasite；
and of no riches or value。 Notwithstanding； divers； trusting more to
their own sense than to my opinion； kept of the said marcasite； and
have tried thereof since my return； in divers places。 In Guiana itself
I never saw marcasite； but all the rocks； mountains； all stones in the
plains； woods； and by the rivers' sides； are in effect thorough…
shining； and appear marvellous rich； which； being tried to be no
marcasite； are the true signs of rich minerals； but are no other than
El madre del oro； as the Spaniards term them； which is the mother of
gold； or； as it is said by others； the scum of gold。 Of divers sorts
of these many of my company brought also into England； every one
taking the fairest for the best； which is not general。 For mine own
part； I did not countermand any man's desire or opinion； and I could
have afforded them little if I should have denied them the pleasing of
their own fancies therein； but I was resolved that gold must be found
either in grains； separate from the stone； as it is in most of the
rivers in Guiana； or else in a kind of hard stone； which we call the
white spar； of which I saw divers hills； and in sundry places； but had
neither time nor men； nor instruments fit for labour。 Near unto one of
the rivers I found of the said white spar or flint a very great ledge
or bank； which I endeavoured to break by all the means I could；
because there appeared on the outside some small grains of gold； but
finding no mean to work the same upon the upper part； seeking the
sides and circuit of the said rock； I found a clift in the same； from
whence with daggers； and with the head of an axe； we got out some
small quantity thereof； of which kind of white stone； wherein gold is
engendered； we saw divers hills and rocks in every part of Guiana
wherein we travelled。 Of this there have been made many trials； and in
London it was first assayed by Master Westwood； a refiner dwelling in
Wood Street； and it held after the rate of twelve or thirteen thousand
pounds a ton。 Another sort was afterward tried by Master Bulmar； and
Master Dimock； assay…master； and it held after the rate of three and
twenty thousand pounds a ton。 There was some of it again tried by
Master Palmer； Comptroller of the Mint； and Master Dimock in
Goldsmith's Hall； and it held after six and twenty thousand and nine
hundred pounds a ton。 There was also at the same time； and by the same
persons； a trial made of the dust of the said mine； which held eight
pounds and six ounces weight of gold in the hundred。 There was
likewise at the same time a trial of an image of copper made in
Guiana； which held a third part of gold； besides divers trials made in
the country； 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 scandal all the rest； and to
deface the enterprise as much as in him lieth。 It hath also been
concluded by divers that if there had been any such ore in Guiana； and
the same discovered； that I would have brought home a greater quantity
thereof。 First； I was not bound to satisfy any man of the quantity；
but only such as adventured； if any store had been returned thereof；
but it is very true that had all their mountains been of massy gold it
was impossible for us to have made any longer stay to have wrought the
same； and whosoever hath seen with what strength of stone the best
gold ore is environed； he will not think it easy to be had out in
heaps； and especially by us； who had neither men； instruments； nor
time； as it is said before； to perform the same。
There were on this discovery no less than an hundred persons； who can
all witness that when we passed any branch of the river to view the
land within； and stayed from our boats but six hours； we were driven
to wade to the eyes at our return； 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 swiftness； and also for that the borders were so
pestered with fast woods； as neither boat nor man could find place
either to land or to embark； for in June； July； August； and September
it is impossible to navigate any of those rivers； for such is the fury
of the current； and there are so many trees and woods overflown； as if
any boat but touch upon any tree or stake it is impossible to save any
one person therein。 And ere we departed the land it ran with such
swiftness as we drave down； most commonly against the wind； little
less than an hundred miles a day。 Besides； our vessels were no other
than wherries； one little barge； a small cock…boat； and a bad galiota
which we framed in haste for that purpose at Trinidad； and those
little boats had nine or ten men apiece； with all their victuals and
arms。 It is further true that we were about four hundred miles from
our ships； and had been a month from them； which also we left weakly
manned in an open road； and had promised our return in fifteen days。
Others have devised that the same ore was had from Barbary； and that
we carried it with us into Guiana。 Surely the singularity of that
device I do not well comprehend。 For mine own part； I am not so much
in love with these long voyages as to devise thereby to cozen myself；
to lie hard； to fare worse； to be subjected to perils； to diseases； to
ill savours； to be parched and withered； and withal to sustain the
care and labour of such an enterprise； except the same had more
comfort than the fetching of marcasite in Guiana； or buying of gold
ore 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 crowns； and I
had no other respect or desire than to serve her Majesty and my
country thereby。 If the Spanish nation had been of like belief to
these detractors we should little have feared or doubted their
attempts； wherewith we now are daily threatened。 But if we now
consider of the actions both of Charles the Fifth； who had the
maidenhead of Peru and the abundant treasures of Atabalipa； together
with the affairs of the Spanish king now living； what territories he
hath purchased； what he hath added to the acts of his predecessors；
how many kingdoms he hath endangered； how many armies； garrisons； and
navies he hath； and doth maintain； the great losses which he hath
repaired； as in Eighty…eight above an hundred sail of great ships with
their artillery； and that no year is less infortunate； but that many
vessels； treasures； and people are devoured； and yet notwithstanding
he beginneth again like a storm to threaten sh