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 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； 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。
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 return。 But it
pleased not God so much to favour me at this time。 If it shall be my
lot to prosecute the same； I shall willingly spend my life therein。
And if any else shall be enabled thereunto； and conquer the same； I
assure him thus much； he shall perform more than ever was done in
Mexico by Cortes； or in Peru by Pizarro； whereof the one conquered the
empire of Mutezuma； the other of Guascar and Atabalipa。 And whatsoever
prince shall possess it； that prince shall be lord of more gold； and
of a more beautiful empire； and of more cities and people； than either
the king of Spain or the Great Turk。
But because there may arise many doubts； and how this empire of Guiana
is become so populous； and adorned with so many great cities； towns；
temples； and treasures； I thought good to make it known； that the
emperor now reigning is descended from those magnificent princes of
Peru； of whose large territories； of whose policies； conquests；
edifices； and riches； Pedro de Cieza； Francisco Lopez； and others have
written large discourses。 For when Francisco Pizarro； Diego Almagro
and others conquered the said empire of Peru； and had put to death
Atabalipa； son to Guayna Capac； which Atabalipa had formerly caused
his eldest brother Guascar to be slain； one of the younger sons of
Guayna Capac fled out of Peru； and took with him many thousands of
those soldiers of the empire called orejones （〃having large ears；〃 the
name given by the Spaniards to the Peruvian warriors； who wore ear…
pendants）； and with those and many others which followed him； he
vanquished all that tract and valley of America which is situate
between the great river of Amazons and Baraquan； otherwise called
Orenoque and Maranon （Baraquan is the alternative name to Orenoque；
Maranon to Amazons）。
The empire of Guiana is directly east from Peru towards the sea； and
lieth under the equinoctial line； and it hath more abundance of gold
than any part of Peru； and as many or more great cities than ever Peru
had when it flourished most。 It is governed by the same laws； and the
emperor and people observe the same religion； and the same form and
policies in government as were used in Peru； not differing in any
part。 And I have been assured by such of the Spaniards as have seen
Manoa； the imperial city of Guiana； which the Spaniards call El
Dorado； that for the greatness； for the riches； and for the excellent
seat； it far exceedeth any of the world； at least of so much of the
world as is known to the Spanish nation。 It is founded upon a lake of
salt water of 200 leagues long； like unto Mare Caspium。 And if we
compare it to that of Peru； and but read the report of Francisco Lopez
and others； it will seem more than credible； and because we may judge
of the one by the other； I thought good to insert part of the 120。
chapter of Lopez in his General History of